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Preliminary Assessment (preliminary + assessment)
Selected AbstractsChina's health insurance system in transformation: Preliminary assessment, and policy suggestionsINTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY REVIEW, Issue 3 2004Hans Jürgen Rösner As long ago as the 1980s, in tandem with its gradual implementation of market economy reforms, the Chinese central government also began to introduce changes in the field of social security as part of a move away from the dominant principle of state provision towards a greater espousal of the insurance principle. For demographic reasons, but also in an effort to get the private sector to pay a greater share of the cost, the intention was that future social security should be shaped in a way which combined universal, pay-as-you-go basic provision with individually funded supplementary provision. While the first half of the 1990s saw the establishment of a broadly uniform system of basic pensions, the 1998 attempt to introduce a general system of basic health insurance has not yet proved comprehensively successful, even for the population of the towns and cities, despite the success of pilot projects. This article, based on wide-ranging field studies, seeks to assess progress to date and future prospects for success, from a Chinese and an international perspective. Consideration is given to the situation of both the urban and rural populations. [source] Preliminary assessment of miniprobe sonography in the diagnosis of gastric varices and evaluation of treatment with HistoacrylJOURNAL OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES, Issue 1 2001Zhu Qi OBJECTIVE: In comparison with conventional endoscopy, the clinical value of miniprobe sonography (MPS) was assessed both in the diagnosis of gastric varices (GV) and in the evaluation of its treatment with the tissue adhesive agent Histoacryl. METHODS: Twelve patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension caused by hepatitis B in nine cases and hepatitis C in three cases were examined by MPS to verify the presence of gastric fundic varices before and after endoscopic treatment with Histoacryl. Curative efficacy of Histoacryl treatment was defined by the finding of variceal lumen obliteration characteristics in the ultrasonic image. RESULTS: Gastric fundic varices were detected in 10 patients by using MPS, however, only seven cases were detected by using conventional macroscopic examination. For gastric fundic varices, the diagnostic accuracies of standard endoscopy and MPS were 75% (9/12) and 100% (12/12), respectively. Furthermore, MPS was able to produce a practical ultrasonic image of complete or incomplete variceal vessel lumen obliteration for use in the assessment of the efficacy of endoscopic treatment with Histoacryl. CONCLUSIONS: Miniprobe sonography was found to be significantly superior to conventional macroscopic diagnosis in both the detection of fundic varices and the evaluation of the efficacy of endoscopic therapy. Moreover, MPS could play an important role in follow up and in evaluation of the need for further treatment. Therefore, MPS appears to be a safe and very useful clinical technique in evaluating patients with portal hypertension with respect to the detection of fundic varices and may help in selecting patients for appropriate therapy. [source] Safety of, and biological and functional response to, a novel metallic implant for the management of focal full-thickness cartilage defects: Preliminary assessment in an animal model out to 1 yearJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 5 2006Carl A. Kirker-Head Abstract Focal full-thickness cartilage lesions of the human medial femoral condyle (MFC) can cause pain and functional impairment. Affected middle-aged patients respond unpredictably to existing treatments and knee arthroplasty may be required, prompting risk of revision. This study assesses the safety of, and biological and functional response to, a metallic resurfacing implant which may delay or obviate the need for traditional arthroplasty. The anatomic contour of the surgically exposed MFC of six adult goats was digitally mapped and an 11 mm diameter full-thickness osteochondral defect was created. An anchor-based Co,Cr resurfacing implant, matching the mapped articular contour, was implanted. Each goat's contralateral unoperated femorotibial joint was used as a control. Postoperative outcome was assessed by lameness examination, radiography, arthroscopy, synoviocentesis, necropsy, and histology up to 26 (n,=,3) or 52 (n,=,3) weeks. By postoperative week (POW) 4, goats demonstrated normal range of motion, no joint effusion, and only mild lameness in the operated limb. By POW 26 the animals were sound with only occasional very mild lameness. Arthroscopy at POW 14 revealed moderate synovial inflammation and a chondral membrane extending centrally across the implant surface. Radiographs at POWs 14 to 52 implied implant stability in the operated joints, as well as subchondral bone remodeling and mild exostosis formation in the operated and contralateral unoperated joints of some goats. By POW 26, histology revealed new trabecular bone abutting the implant. At POWs 26 and 52 MFC cartilage was metachromatic and intact in the operated and unoperated femorotibial joints. Proximal tibiae of some operated and unoperated limbs demonstrated limited subchondral bone remodeling and foci of articular cartilage fibrillation and thinning. The chondral membrane crossing the prosthesis possessed a metachromatic matrix containing singular and clustered chondrocytes. Our data imply the safety, biocompatibility, and functionality of the implant. Focal articular damage was documented in the operated joints at POWs 26 and 52, but lesions were much reduced over those previously reported in untreated defects. Expanded animal or preclinical human studies are justified. © 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res [source] ,Going out': the growth of Chinese foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia and its implications for corporate social responsibilityCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2005Stephen Frost Abstract Analysts have finally started to pay increasing attention to the rapidly rising levels of Chinese investment abroad. Deals such as Lenovo's purchase of IBM's PC production arm have sparked interest in a quiet revolution. The story now is not just about the flow of foreign investment in China, but also of the flow of China's investment into other countries. However, most interest so far has concentrated on big ticket investments in the West and the consequences for European and particularly US geopolitical interests. Of less concern thus far have been the implications of Chinese investment on corporate social responsibility. This paper is a preliminary assessment of the potential implications of Chinese investments: in particular, the effect on sanctions designed to improve human rights (with specific reference to Myanmar), and whether pressure can be maintained on foreign investors to comply with international standards and norms in the face of Chinese investment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Research reports on treatments for bipolar disorder: preliminary assessment of methodological qualityACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2005F. Soldani Objective:, To assess frequencies of types of publications about bipolar disorder (BD) and evaluate methodological quality of treatment studies. Method:, We classified 100 randomly selected articles (1998,2002) from five psychiatric journals with highest impact ratings, by topic areas, and assessed methods employed in treatment studies. Results:, Topics ranked: treatment (41%; 37% on pharmacotherapy) > biology (31%) > psychopathology (14%) = miscellaneous (14%). Of treatment studies, only 19% of original articles were randomized, 15% were relatively large (n , 50) but non-randomized, 65% were small non-randomized, case-series or -reports, and 53% relied on baseline-to-endpoint contrasts without a control group. Patient dropout rates were ,40% in 43% of prospective studies. Only two reports provided confidence intervals; one included a power analysis, and 53% included no references on study design or statistical methods. Conclusion:, Even in highly respected journals, the typical methodological quality of recent reports on therapeutics for BD was unexpectedly limited, and psychopathology and psychotherapies were little studied. [source] The alcohol industry and trade agreements: a preliminary assessmentADDICTION, Issue 2009Donald W. Zeigler ABSTRACT Aims To review trade agreements, their relation to alcohol control policy and examine the role of the alcohol industry in supporting and attempting to influence trade policy. Methods Review of peer review, public health advocacy literature (both pro and con on free trade), business, press and government documents on trade agreements, assess current and potential challenges by trade agreements to alcohol control policy and investigate the means and extent of industry influence in trade agreements. Findings ,Free' trade agreements reduce trade barriers, increase competition, lower prices and promote alcohol consumption. However, international treaties, negotiated by free trade experts in close consultation with corporate lobbyists and without significant, if any, public health input, governments and corporations contain significant provisions that will result in increased alcohol consumption and may challenge public health measures of other nations as constraints on trade. Conversely, alcohol control measures seek to reduce access and consumption, raise prices and restrict advertising and product promotion. The prospect is for increased alcohol consumption and concomitant problems throughout the world. Conclusions Trade agreements challenge effective alcohol control policies. The alcohol industry seeks to influence agreements and can be expected to work through trade agreements to reduce tariffs, increase market access and seek to restrict effective domestic regulations. Further research is needed on the impact of trade agreements and the ongoing role of the industry. Advocates must recognize the inherent conflicts between unbridled free trade and public health, work to exclude alcohol from trade agreements, counter industry influence and protect alcohol control policies. [source] Perchlorate assessment of the Nakdong and Yeongsan watersheds, Republic of KoreaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2007Oscar Quiñones Abstract The objective of the present study was to conduct a preliminary assessment for perchlorate in surface water, drinking water, and wastewater treatment plant effluent samples obtained from the Nakdong and Yeongsan watersheds in the Republic of Korea. Samples were analyzed for perchlorate using ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection (IC-CD) and/or liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS). Method reporting limits were 5.0 ,g/L for IC-CD and 0.05 ,g/L for LC-MS/MS analysis. At perchlorate levels above 5.0 ,g/L, IC-CD and LC-MS/MS provided comparable results. The levels of perchlorate detected in the samples procured from the Yeongsan watershed were <5.0 ,g/L in each case. However, Nakdong watershed samples contained perchlorate at levels up to 60 ,g/L. The highest concentrations of perchlorate were found in surface water samples, although drinking water contained perchlorate at concentrations up to 35 ,g/L. In a subset of samples analyzed by LC-MS/MS, chlorate and bromate also were detected at concentrations ranging from <0.10 to 44 ,g/L and <0.10 to 2.6 ,g/L, respectively. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first perchlorate assessment reported for water sources in the Republic of Korea. [source] Evaluating and expressing the propagation of uncertainty in chemical fate and bioaccumulation modelsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2002Matthew MacLeod Abstract First-order analytical sensitivity and uncertainty analysis for environmental chemical fate models is described and applied to a regional contaminant fate model and a food web bioaccumulation model. By assuming linear relationships between inputs and outputs, independence, and log-normal distributions of input variables, a relationship between uncertainty in input parameters and uncertainty in output parameters can be derived, yielding results that are consistent with a Monte Carlo analysis with similar input assumptions. A graphical technique is devised for interpreting and communicating uncertainty propagation as a function of variance in input parameters and model sensitivity. The suggested approach is less calculationally intensive than Monte Carlo analysis and is appropriate for preliminary assessment of uncertainty when models are applied to generic environments or to large geographic areas or when detailed parameterization of input uncertainties is unwarranted or impossible. This approach is particularly useful as a starting point for identification of sensitive model inputs at the early stages of applying a generic contaminant fate model to a specific environmental scenario, as a tool to support refinements of the model and the uncertainty analysis for site-specific scenarios, or for examining defined end points. The analysis identifies those input parameters that contribute significantly to uncertainty in outputs, enabling attention to be focused on defining median values and more appropriate distributions to describe these variables. [source] Assessing the Semelparity Hypothesis: Egg-guarding and Fecundity in the Malaysian Treehopper Pyrgauchenia tristaniopsisETHOLOGY, Issue 10 2002Ulrich E. Stegmann According to the semelparity hypothesis, iteroparous insects should provide either no maternal care or less care than related semelparous species. We present field data on reproductive output and maternal care in the Southeast Asian treehopper Pyrgauchenia tristaniopsis (Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo) relevant to a preliminary assessment of the hypothesis. In a mark-recapture experiment, more females than expected under semelparity were found to have oviposited a second clutch (37%). Female longevity was a of 75 d. Both these estimates were highly conservative. Oviposition was successive resulting in a of 46 eggs per clutch. Females provided care for eggs only, occasionally scraping their legs along the sides of the clutch apparently attempting to deter Brachygrammatella sp. egg parasitoids (Trichogrammatidae). Females straddled their clutch for a of 27 d, i.e. until 8 d after the beginning of first instar hatching. First instars hatched successively over a period of 11 d. When a female deserted her clutch, it contained about 37% yet unhatched eggs. Egg-guarding effectively reduced egg mortality: the earlier a female was experimentally removed from her clutch the higher the egg mortality. Displacement experiments demonstrated that egg-guarding is a behaviour actively maintained despite disturbances and specifically directed towards the egg clutch but not to the feeding site. We interpret our findings as being in accordance with the weaker claim of the semelparity hypothesis, i.e. the iteroparous P. tristaniopsis provided less maternal care than semelparous membracid species. Continued female feeding is discussed as a mechanism to display some level of care despite iteroparity. [source] Safety and preliminary immunogenicity of MenC/P64k, a meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine with a new recombinant carrierFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Antonio E. Pérez Abstract This study reports the preliminary assessment of the safety and immunogenicity of the first serogroup C conjugate vaccine candidate that includes meningococcal P64k recombinant protein as the carrier (MenC/P64k). Twenty volunteers were recruited for a double-blind, randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial, receiving a single dose of MenC/P64k (study group) and a single dose of the commercial polysaccharide vaccine AC (control group). Only mild reactions were observed. No statistical differences were detected between the antipolysaccharide C IgG responses of both groups as well as between bactericidal serum titre (P>0.05). The MenC/P64k vaccine was found to have a good safety profile, to be well tolerated and immunogenic. [source] Population dynamics and stock status of cobia, Rachycentron canadum, caught in Australian recreational and commercial coastal fisheriesFISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2010G. C. FRY Abstract, Age and growth of Rachycentron canadum (L.) was studied in northern and eastern Australia to provide data for a preliminary assessment of the stock and to explore possible fisheries management strategies using minimum legal lengths. Fish collected from commercial and recreational fisheries ranged in size and weight from 125 to 1633 mm fork length (FL) and 0.031 to 55 kg respectively. Annual growth increments in sectioned otoliths formed by November,December. Estimated ages ranged from 0 to 7 yr for both genders. Longevity was estimated to be at least 13 yr. Von Bertalanffy growth function parameters were L = 1160 mm FL, K = 0.63 yr,1 and t0 = ,0.21 yr,1. Rachycentron canadum reach 600 mm FL in their first year and over 1000 mm FL in 3 years. Natural and total mortalities were estimated at 0.35 yr,1 and 0.85 yr,1, respectively. Populations of R. canadum may be vulnerable to growth overfishing under the current minimum legal length of 750 mm total length (TL) in Queensland waters. An increase in minimum legal length to 850 mm TL is recommended. [source] Using vorticity to define conditions at multiple open boundaries for simulating flow in a simplified vortex settling basinINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 1 2007A. N. Ziaei Abstract In this paper a method is developed to define multiple open boundary (OB) conditions in a simplified vortex settling basin (VSB). In this method, the normal component of the momentum equation is solved at the OBs, and tangential components of vorticity are calculated by solving vorticity transport equations only at the OBs. Then the tangential vorticity components are used to construct Neumann boundary conditions for tangential velocity components. Pressure is set to its ambient value, and the divergence-free condition is satisfied at these boundaries by employing the divergence as the Neumann condition for the normal-direction momentum equation. The 3-D incompressible Navier,Stokes equations in a primitive-variable form are solved using the SIMPLE algorithm. Grid-function convergence tests are utilized to verify the numerical results. The complicated laminar flow structure in the VSB is investigated, and preliminary assessment of two popular turbulence models, k,, and k,,, is conducted. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Practical Approach to Lung Health in South Africa (PALSA) intervention: respiratory guideline implementation for nurse trainersINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 4 2006A. Bheekie d.pharm Aim:, This paper describes the design, facilitation and preliminary assessment of a 1-week cascade training programme for nurse trainers in preparation for implementation of the Practical Approach to Lung Health in South Africa (PALSA) intervention, tested within the context of a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial in the Free State province. PALSA combines evidence-based syndromic guidelines on the management of respiratory disease in adults with group educational outreach to nurse practitioners. Background:, Evidence-based strategies to facilitate the implementation of primary care guidelines in low- to middle-income countries are limited. In South Africa, where the burden of respiratory diseases is high and growing, documentation and evaluation of training programmes in chronic conditions for health professionals is limited. Method:, The PALSA training design aimed for coherence between the content of the guidelines and the facilitation process that underpins adult learning. Content facilitation involved the use of key management principles (key messages) highlighted in nurse-centred guidelines manual and supplemented by illustrated material and reminders. Process facilitation entailed reflective and experiential learning, role-playing and non-judgemental feedback. Discussion and results:, Preliminary feedback showed an increase in trainers' self-awareness and self-confidence. Process and content facilitators agreed that the integrated training approach was balanced. All participants found that the training was motivational, minimally prescriptive, highly nurse-centred and offered personal growth. Conclusion:, In addition to tailored guideline recommendations, training programmes should consider individual learning styles and adult learning processes. [source] Migrants as Minorities: Integration and Inclusion in the Enlarged European Union,JCMS: JOURNAL OF COMMON MARKET STUDIES, Issue 4 2005RYSZARD CHOLEWINSKI The developing migration and asylum law and policy of the European Union aim to construct a common normative framework to address the admission and residence of diverse categories of third-country nationals in EU territory. The principles of minority protection, however, are absent from EU law, with the exception of some references in the new Constitutional Treaty and the incorporated Charter of Fundamental Rights, although they have been employed, to a certain degree, in a prescriptive and pragmatic way in the context of the accession of new Member States. However, increased EU attention to the concept of integration in recent Council policy pronouncements and newly adopted legal measures, aimed almost exclusively at lawfully resident third-country nationals, provides a space where migration policy and minority protection principles may engage more directly. This article undertakes a preliminary assessment of the points of convergence and divergence in these two sets of principles, and argues that greater convergence would result in a more coherent EU policy on integration. [source] Factors affecting the invasion success of Senecio inaequidens and S. pterophorus in Mediterranean plant communitiesJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007L. Caño Abstract Question: Plant invasions result from complex interactions between species traits, community characteristics and environmental variations. We examined the effect of these interactions on the invasion potential of two invasive Senecio species, S. inaequidens and S. pterophorus, across three Mediterranean plant communities in a natural park. Location: Catalonia, NE Spain. Methods: We carried out two series of experimental seedling transplantations, in the spring and fall of 2003, in grassland, shrubland and Quercus ilex forest. Competition with neighbouring plants and water availability were manipulated. We evaluated the survival, growth and reproduction with respect to each treatment combination. Results: Any habitat can be colonised if disturbance occurs. In the absence of disturbance, shrubland enhanced the survival of seedlings. Competition with resident vegetation dramatically reduced survival in grassland and forest when establishment occurred in the spring. However, establishment in the fall promoted invasion in grassland and shrubland, even in the undisturbed treatment. Grassland allowed the highest growth and reproductive performance of both species while forest was the most resistant habitat to invasion. S. inaequidens had a higher growth rate and a shorter pre-reproductive period than S. pterophorus. S. pterophorus produced more biomass and was more dependent on water availability than S. inaequidens. Conclusions: In the light of our results, we recommend surveying open shrublands and grasslands after periods of rainfall. Special attention should be paid to S. pterophorus, which is currently spreading. A preliminary assessment of the invasive-ness of this plant is given in this study. [source] A mark,recapture study of the caecilian amphibian Gegeneophis ramaswamii (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) in southern IndiaJOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 2 2003G. John Measey Abstract The potentially important ecology of subterranean predators of soil ecosystem engineers is poorly understood. This is especially true of caecilian amphibians (Gymnophiona) for which there are virtually no quantitative data. Results of the first field trials of permanent marking in caecilians are presented. A preliminary assessment is made of the efficacy of mark,recapture studies for estimating population size of Gegeneophis ramaswamii Taylor in 100 m2 of low intensity agriculture in Kerala, India. Over three sampling occasions spanning 58 days of the monsoon season, 114 individuals were captured, 104 marked and released, and 21 recaptured. Models estimate an open population of 60 individuals (95% confidence interval of 45.2 to 151.3), and a closed population of 236 (95% confidence interval of 174 to 351). A census interpretation of the raw capture data gives densities of about 0.31 to 0.48 m,2. Results suggest large movement in and out of the sampled area during the study. Despite caveats associated with these data, progress is made in identifying potential limitations and improvements in the methods used. This study highlights the paucity of knowledge of caecilian ecology, and the need for long-term studies to elucidate further ecological information and to monitor populations. [source] Simulated rainfall evaluation of revegetation/mulch erosion control in the Lake Tahoe Basin,1: method assessmentLAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2004M. E. Grismer Abstract Revegetation of road cuts and fills is intended to stabilize those drastically disturbed areas so that sediment is not transported to adjacent waterways. Sediment has resulted in water quality degradation, an extremely critical issue in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Many revegetation efforts in this semiarid, subalpine environment have resulted in low levels of plant cover, thus failing to meet project goals. Further, no adequate physical method of assessing project effectiveness has been developed, relative to runoff or sediment movement. This paper describes the use of a portable rainfall simulator (RS) to conduct a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of a variety of erosion-control treatments and treatment effects on hydrologic parameters and erosion. The particular goal of this paper is to determine whether the RS method can measure revegetation treatment effects on infiltration and erosion. The RS-plot studies were used to determine slope, cover (mulch and vegetation) and surface roughness effects on infiltration, runoff and erosion rates at several roadcuts across the basin. A rainfall rate of ,60,mm,h,1, approximating the 100-yr, 15-min design storm, was applied over replicated 0·64,m2 plots in each treatment type and over bare-soil plots for comparison. Simulated rainfall had a mean drop size of ,2·1,mm and approximately 70% of ,natural' kinetic energy. Measured parameters included time to runoff, infiltration, runoff/infiltration rate, sediment discharge rate and average sediment concentration as well as analysis of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and dissolved phosphorus (TDP) from filtered (0·45,,m) runoff samples. Runoff rates, sediment concentrations and yields were greater from volcanic soils as compared to that from granitic soils for nearly all cover conditions. For example, bare soil sediment yields from volcanic soils ranged from 2,12 as compared to 0·3,3,g,m,2,mm,1 for granitic soils. Pine-needle mulch cover treatments substantially reduced sediment yields from all plots. Plot microtopography or roughness and cross-slope had no effect on sediment concentrations in runoff or sediment yield. RS measurements showed discernible differences in runoff, infiltration, and sediment yields between treatments. Runoff nutrient concentrations were not distinguishable from that in the rainwater used. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Mission applicability assessment of integrated power components and systemsPROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 6 2002R. P. Raffaelle The need for smaller, lightweight, autonomous power systems has increased with the current focus on micro- and nanosatellites. Small-area, high-efficiency, thin-film batteries and solar cells are an attractive choice for such applications. The NASA Glenn Research Center, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Lithium Power Technologies, MicroSat Systems, and others, have been working on the development of autonomous monolithic packages combining these elements, or what are called integrated power supplies (IPS). These supplies can be combined with individual satellite components and are capable of providing continuous power, even under intermittent illumination associated with a spinning or earth-orbiting satellite. This paper discusses the space mission applicability, benefits, and current development efforts associated with IPS components and systems. The characteristics and several mission concepts for an IPS that combines thin-film photovoltaic power generation with thin-film lithium ion energy storage are described. Based on this preliminary assessment, it is concluded that the most likely and beneficial application of an IPS will be for small ,nanosatellites' or in specialized applications serving as a decentralized or as a distributed power source or uninterruptible power supply. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Modern human cranial diversity in the Late Pleistocene of Africa and Eurasia: Evidence from Nazlet Khater, Pe,tera cu Oase, and HofmeyrAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Isabelle Crevecoeur Abstract The origin and evolutionary history of modern humans is of considerable interest to paleoanthropologists and geneticists alike. Paleontological evidence suggests that recent humans originated and expanded from an African lineage that may have undergone demographic crises in the Late Pleistocene according to archaeological and genetic data. This would suggest that extant human populations derive from, and perhaps sample a restricted part of the genetic and morphological variation that was present in the Late Pleistocene. Crania that date to Marine Isotope Stage 3 should yield information pertaining to the level of Late Pleistocene human phenotypic diversity and its evolution in modern humans. The Nazlet Khater (NK) and Hofmeyr (HOF) crania from Egypt and South Africa, together with penecontemporaneous specimens from the Pe,tera cu Oase in Romania, permit preliminary assessment of variation among modern humans from geographically disparate regions at this time. Morphometric and morphological comparisons with other Late Pleistocene modern human specimens, and with 23 recent human population samples, reveal that elevated levels of variation are present throughout the Late Pleistocene. Comparison of Holocene and Late Pleistocene craniometric variation through resampling analyses supports hypotheses derived from genetic data suggesting that present phenotypic variation may represent only a restricted part of Late Pleistocene human diversity. The Nazlet Khater, Hofmeyr, and Oase specimens provide a unique glimpse of that diversity. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Approaches for assessing hazards and risks to workers and the public from contaminated landREMEDIATION, Issue 1 2007Michael Gochfeld Many public agencies and private entities are faced with assessing the risks to humans from contamination on their lands. The United States Department of Energy (US DOE) and Department of Defense are responsible for large holdings of contaminated land and face a long-term and costly challenge to assure sustainable protectiveness. With increasing interest in the conversion of brownfields to productive uses, many former industrial properties must also be assessed to determine compatible future land uses. In the United States, many cleanup plans or actions are based on the Comprehensive Environmental Responsibility, Compensation, and Liability Act, which provides important but incomplete coverage of these issues, although many applications have tried to involve stakeholders at multiple steps. Where there is the potential for exposure to workers, the public, and the environment from either cleanup or leaving residual contamination in place, there is a need for a more comprehensive approach to evaluate and balance the present and future risk(s) from existing contamination, from remediation actions, as well as from postremediation residual contamination. This article focuses on the US DOE, the agency with the largest hazardous waste remediation task in the world. Presented is a framework extending from preliminary assessment, risk assessment and balancing, epidemiology, monitoring, communication, and stakeholder involvement useful for assessing risk to workers and site neighbors. Provided are examples of those who eat fish, meat, or fruit from contaminated habitats. The US DOE's contaminated sites are unique in a number of ways: (1) huge physical footprint size, (2) types of waste (mixed radiation/chemical), and (3) quantities of waste. Proposed future land uses provide goals for remediation, but since some contamination is of a type or magnitude that cannot be cleaned up with existing technology, this in turn constrains future land use options, requiring an iterative approach. The risk approaches must fit a range of future land uses and end-states from leave-in-place to complete cleanup. This will include not only traditional risk methodologies, but also the assessment and surveillance necessary for stewards for long-term monitoring of risk from historic and future exposure to maintain sustainable protectiveness. Because of the distinctiveness of DOE sites, application of the methodologies developed here to other waste site situations requires site-specific evaluation © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Diagnostics for Joint Longitudinal and Dropout Time ModelingBIOMETRICS, Issue 4 2003Angela Dobson Summary. We present a variety of informal graphical procedures for diagnostic assessment of joint models for longitudinal and dropout time data. A random effects approach for Gaussian responses and proportional hazards dropout time is assumed. We consider preliminary assessment of dropout classification categories based on residuals following a standard longitudinal data analysis with no allowance for informative dropout. Residual properties conditional upon dropout information are discussed and case influence is considered. The proposed methods do not require computationally intensive methods over and above those used to fit the proposed model. A longitudinal trial into the treatment of schizophrenia is used to illustrate the suggestions. [source] Hydrogeological Characteristics of a Karst Mountainous Catchment in the Northwest of VietnamACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 3 2001V. T. TAM Abstract This paper presents a preliminary assessment of the hydrogeological characteristics of a karst mountainous catchment, the Suoi Muoi River catchment, in the northwest of Vietnam. The catchment is located at 600,700 m a.s.l. and covers an area of 284 km. Exposed limestone occupies 32% of the total catchment area. Various types of assessments have been carried out, including geological and hydrogeological field surveys, cave surveys, dye-tracer tests, meteorological and surface water monitoring. Geological studies and cave surveys have identified the most important active cave/conduit systems within the catchment. Although these data are essential, they are insufficient to make a comprehensive appraisal of the hydrologic nature of the catchment under interest. An attempt was made to calculate a global water balance of the catchment, based on short-term (15 months) meteorological and streamflow records. The results show that, despite the existence of a number of substantial cavern conduit systems, the groundwater system of the catchment is governed by the fracture/fissure matrix. The cavern conduit systems only collect groundwater from the adjacent fracture matrix and/or connect topographically isolated surface watercourses. The groundwater storage of the cavern conduit systems appears to be regionally insignificant in comparison with the governed fracture matrix groundwater system. [source] Bone anchored hearing aids: a preliminary assessment of the impact on outpatients and cost when rehabilitating hearing in chronic suppurative otitis mediaCLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY, Issue 4 2008G.J. Watson Objectives:, To compare the difference in ENT and Audiology visits, treatments dispensed and potential savings pre- and post-bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) insertion in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media exacerbated by behind the ear hearing aids. Design:, A retrospective pilot study. Setting:, District General Hospital. Participants:, All patients who had BAHA inserted from January 2001 to January 2006. Parameters:, Age, gender, number of visits per month, treatments per month dispensed from the ENT and Audiology Departments and direct and limited indirect medical costs pre- and post-BAHA insertion. Results:, Twelve of 26 (46%) adult patients had BAHA inserted over the 5-year period for CSOM. The male to female ratio was 1 : 3 with a median age of 61 (range 29,81). The number of visits and treatments dispensed per month in the ENT Department fell from a mean of 0.42,0.33 (P < 0.08) and 0.22,0.14 (P < 0.02) respectfully. When the difference in medical cost was taken into account BAHA offered a potential saving of £627.80 per patient. Conclusion:, Although the initial acquisition of surgical equipment and BAHA sound processors is expensive, there is a reduction in the number of treatments and visits required for patients with chronic suppurative otitis media after BAHA is inserted leading to a reduction in average costs. [source] Reconstructing head models from photographs for individualized 3D-audio processingCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 7 2008M. Dellepiane Abstract Visual fidelity and interactivity are the main goals in Computer Graphics research, but recently also audio is assuming an important role. Binaural rendering can provide extremely pleasing and realistic three-dimensional sound, but to achieve best results it's necessary either to measure or to estimate individual Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF). This function is strictly related to the peculiar features of ears and face of the listener. Recent sound scattering simulation techniques can calculate HRTF starting from an accurate 3D model of a human head. Hence, the use of binaural rendering on large scale (i.e. video games, entertainment) could depend on the possibility to produce a sufficiently accurate 3D model of a human head, starting from the smallest possible input. In this paper we present a completely automatic system, which produces a 3D model of a head starting from simple input data (five photos and some key-points indicated by user). The geometry is generated by extracting information from images and accordingly deforming a 3D dummy to reproduce user head features. The system proves to be fast, automatic, robust and reliable: geometric validation and preliminary assessments show that it can be accurate enough for HRTF calculation. [source] The Effects of Fraud and Going-concern Risk on Auditors' Assessments of the Risk of Material Misstatement and Resulting Audit ProceduresINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDITING, Issue 3 2007Allen D. Blay This study uses audit file data to analyze the association between the auditors' preliminary assessments of going-concern and fraud risk and the planning and performance of the financial statement audit. We analyze the association between the above risks and the auditor's assessment of the risk of material misstatement (RMM) within the revenue cycle, and examine whether going-concern and fraud risk assessments have an effect on the persuasiveness, timing and extent of audit evidence gathered. Our results indicate that both fraud risk and going-concern risk are significantly related to RMM. Our results also indicate that although the effect of fraud risk is fully mediated by the RMM, moderate going-concern risk remains significantly related to our proxies for the persuasiveness and timing of audit evidence, even after controlling for RMM. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||