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Protection Strategies (protection + strategy)
Selected AbstractsMOROCCO: Industry Protection StrategyAFRICA RESEARCH BULLETIN: ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL SERIES, Issue 1 2009Article first published online: 9 MAR 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Facile Synthesis and Cleavage of Imidazolidines in a Novel Protection Strategy for the Preparation of Peptides Containing a Reduced Amide Bioisostere.CHEMINFORM, Issue 15 2003Jun Zhao Abstract For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text. [source] Distribution pattern of endangered bird species in ChinaINTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2006Fumin LEI Abstract In this study, we determined six "hotspots" for avian biodiversity conservation in China. We analyzed the distribution patterns of 183 threatened bird species in China in conjunction with geographical data to produce a distribution map that shows the concentrations of threatened species. The six biodiversity hotspots are: the western Tianshan Mountains; the Qilian and Hengduan mountains; southern Anhui, southern Jiangsu, and the Zhejiang Hills; the Songliao Plain and the northern region of the North China Plain; the island of Taiwan; and the island of Hainan. Based on our analysis of a species,habitat matrix, species were determined to be distributed mainly in broadleaved forest, grassland and meadows, urban and agricultural areas, wetlands, and bush. Most species were commonly found to have a range of three to five different habitat types. Apart from the six biodiversity hotspots, six ecological clusters were determined. Protection strategies indicating different levels of habitat priority among the biodiversity hotspots were also recommended. [source] Comparative response analysis of conventional and innovative seismic protection strategiesEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 5 2002S. Bruno Abstract The paper presents a numerical investigation aimed at evaluating the improvements achievable through devices for passive seismic protection of buildings based on the use of shape memory alloys (SMA) in place of conventional steel or rubber devices. To get some generality in the results, different resisting reinforced concrete plane frames were analysed, either protected or not. ,New' and ,existing' buildings were considered depending on whether seismic provisions are adopted in the building design or not. Base isolation and energy dissipation were equally addressed for both conventional and innovative SMA-based devices. Fragility analyses were performed using specific damage measures to account for comparisons among different damage types; the results were then used to estimate quantitatively the effectiveness of the various protection systems. More specifically, the assessment involved a direct comparison of the damage reduction provided by each protection system with respect to the severe degradation experienced by the corresponding non-protected frame. Structural damage, non-structural damage and damage to contents were used on purpose and included in a subsequent phase of cost analysis to evaluate the expected gains also in terms of economic benefits and life loss prevention. The results indicate that base isolation, when applicable, provides higher degrees of safety than energy dissipation does; moreover, the use of SMA-based devices generally brings about better performances, also in consideration of the reduced functional and maintenance requirements. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A novel fault management approach for DWDM optical networksINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NETWORK MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2006W. Fawaz Connection availability is considered as a critical metric when providing differentiated services in Wavelength-Division Multiplexing mesh networks. Indeed, one of the major concerns of optical network operators is related to improving the availability of services provided to their highest-class clients. Achieving this objective is possible through managing faults using the different classical protection schemes, namely the so-called dedicated and shared protection schemes. However, the majority of the work concerning protection schemes has considered the primary connections as equally important when contending for the use of the backup resources. As a main contribution in this paper, we therefore propose an improvement of the existing protection schemes through the introduction of relative priorities among the different primary connections contending for the access to the protection path. To evaluate numerically the benefits of the service differentiation feature introduced in our proposal, we first develop a mathematical model, based on which we derive explicit expressions for the average connection availabilities that result from both the classical protection schemes and the proposed priority-aware one. Through this model, we show how the availability of the highest-class clients is improved when deploying the proposed priority-aware protection scheme. Finally, with the same objective in mind, we develop a simulation study, where a given set of connection demands with predefined availability requirements is provisioned using different protection strategies. Through this study, we show that the priority-aware protection strategy satisfies service-availability requirements in a cost-effective manner compared with the classical protection schemes.Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON WATER RESOURCES OF THE TSENGWEN CREEK WATERSHED IN TAIWAN,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 1 2001Ching-pin Tung ABSTRACT: This study presents a methodology to evaluate the vulnerability of water resources in the Tsengwen creek watershed, Taiwan. Tsengwen reservoir, located in the Tsengwen creek watershed, is a multipurpose reservoir with a primary function to supply water for the ChiaNan Irrigation District. A simulation procedure was developed to evaluate the impacts of climate change on the water resources system. The simulation procedure includes a streamflow model, a weather generation model, a sequent peak algorithm, and a risk assessment process. Three climate change scenarios were constructed based on the predictions of three General Circulation Models (CCCM, GFDL, and GISS). The impacts of climate change on streamflows were simulated, and, for each climate change scenario, the agricultural water demand was adjusted based on the change of potential evapotranspiration. Simulation results indicated that the climate change may increase the annual and seasonal streamflows in the Tsengwen creek watershed. The increase in streamflows during wet periods may result in serious flooding. In addition, despite the increase in streamflows, the risk of water deficit may still increase from between 4 and 7 percent to between 7 and 13 percent due to higher agricultural water demand. The simulation results suggest that the reservoir capacity may need to be expanded. In response to the climate change, four strategies are suggested: (1) strengthen flood mitigation measures, (2) enhance drought protection strategies, (3) develop new water resources technology, and (4) educate the public. [source] Impact of an exercise and walking protocol on quality of life for elderly people with OA of the kneePHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2003Rosāngela Corrźa Dias Abstract Background and Purpose The knee is the weight-bearing joint most commonly affected by osteoarthritis (OA). The symptoms of pain, morning stiffness of short duration and physical dysfunction in the activities of daily living (ADL) can have an effect on many aspects of health, affecting quality of life. Regular and moderate physical activity adapted to individuals' life-styles and education, and joint protection strategies have been advocated as conservative management. The purpose of the present study was to assess the impact of an exercise and walking protocol on the quality of life of elderly people with knee OA. Method The study design was a randomized controlled clinical trial. The subjects comprised 50 elderly people, aged 65 or more, with knee OA who had been referred to the geriatric outpatient unit for rehabilitation. Changes in severity of pain and quality of life were compared between a control group (CG) and an experimental group (EG). Both groups participated in an educational session and the EG also received a 12-week exercise and walking protocol. Both groups were assessed at baseline and after three and six months by an independent observer. The Lequesne Index of Knee OA Severity (LI), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used as measurement instruments. Results In the CG, the measures of quality of life (SF-36), the HAQ and the LI between subjects did not yield statistically significant differences over the three measurement points. For the EG, there was a significant improvement in function, measured by HAQ, and decreasing OA symptom severity, measured by LI. For the SF-36 there were significant improvements in physical function, functional role limitation and pain. Comparisons between the groups showed statistically significant differences after three and six months for all measures, except for the SF-36 emotional domains. Conclusion The exercise protocol and walking programme had a positive effect on the quality of life of elderly individuals with knee OA. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Designing out vulnerability, building in respect: violence, safety and sex work policyTHE BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Teela Sanders Abstract One recent finding about the prostitution market is the differences in the extent and nature of violence experienced between women who work on the street and those who work from indoor sex work venues. This paper brings together extensive qualitative fieldwork from two cities in the UK to unpack the intricacies in relation to violence and safety for indoor workers. Firstly, we document the types of violence women experience in indoor venues noting how the vulnerabilities surrounding work-based hazards are dependent on the environment in which sex is sold. Secondly, we highlight the protection strategies that indoor workers and management develop to maintain safety and order in the establishment. Thirdly, we use these empirical findings to suggest that violence should be a high priority on the policy agenda. Here we contend that the organizational and cultural conditions that seem to offer some protection from violence in indoor settings could be useful for informing the management of street sex work. Finally, drawing on the crime prevention literature, we argue that it is possible to go a considerable way to designing out vulnerability in sex work, but not only through physical and organizational change but building in respect for sex workers rights by developing policies that promote the employment/human rights and citizenship for sex workers. This argument is made in light of the Coordinated Prostitution Strategy. [source] Insect repellents and sunscreen: implications for personal protection strategies against mosquito-borne diseaseAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 5 2009Cameron E. Webb Abstract Objective: To determine the protection times provided by insect repellent and sunscreen in combined formulations against biting mosquitoes. To determine if concurrent use of repellent and sunscreen influenced protection times. Methods: Insect repellent containing comparable concentrations of N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) with and without sunscreen were tested on human skin to determine the mean protection time (MPT) against Aedes aegypti (L.) in the laboratory. Further trials were undertaken to determine the effect on MPT of sunscreen reapplication over repellent every two hours. Results: There was no significant difference in the MPT provided by 80% DEET with (MPT±SE=770±54.8 minutes) and without (MPT±SE=830±20.2 minutes) sunscreen or 7.14% DEET with (MPT±SE =240±15.5 minutes) and 6.98% DEET without (MPT±SE =230±18.4 minutes) sunscreen. Reapplication of sunscreen resulted in a significantly lower MPT of a 17.0% DEET formulation when sunscreen was reapplied concurrently (MPT±SE=330±25.2 minutes), compared with DEET alone (MPT±SE =400±12.7 minutes). Conclusions: When combined in a single formulation with sunscreen, the MPT provided by both high and low concentrations of DEET is not reduced. However, if sunscreen is reapplied over insect repellent, protection times can be reduced significantly. Implications: In areas of endemic mosquito-borne disease, the reapplication of a low concentration repellent and sunscreen formulation may provide the most effective protection from biting mosquitoes while minimising the risk of overexposure to DEET. [source] Comprehensive neighbourhood mapping: developing a powerful tool for child protectionCHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 4 2002Sarah Nelson Abstract This paper proposes ,comprehensive neighbourhood mapping' as a schema for gathering and interpreting information within a given geographical area which is informed by imaginative thinking about the safety of children and young people from sexual crime. It would build upon current forms of profiling by local authorities, health authorities and central Government. CNM would actively involve local people, in partnership with agencies, in ,mapping' danger points and support points. Eight components are discussed, including environmental issues, locations of sex offenders, sites where teenagers meet and share information, supportive individuals and organizations. Some issues for pilot projects are discussed, including the need to set up planning and implementation groups and to integrate CNM into wider child protection and community safety strategies. CNM is grounded in an ecological perspective which sees partnership approaches as essential and believes an overarching view of neighbourhood needs, based on detailed local information and understanding of how different forms of harm interconnect, is crucial in developing child protection strategies. At times of acute official anxiety about community ,lynch-mob' reactions to known paedophiles, CNM aims to build communities which instead are informed and thoughtful about child protection. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Oxime Carbonates: Novel Reagents for the Introduction of Fmoc and Alloc Protecting Groups, Free of Side ReactionsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 17 2010Sherine N. Khattab Abstract Fmoc and Alloc protecting groups represent a consistent alternative to classical Boc protection in peptide chemistry. The former was established in the last decades as the ,-amino protecting group of choice, whereas the latter allows a fully orthogonal protection strategy with Fmoc and Boc. Usually, the introduction of the Fmoc and Alloc moieties takes place through their halogenoformates, azides, or activated carbonates. This rather simple reaction is accompanied by several side reactions, specially the formation of Fmoc/Alloc dipeptides and even tripeptides. The present work describes new promising Fmoc/Alloc-oxime reagents, which are easy to prepare, stable, and highly reactive crystalline materials that afford almost contaminant-free Fmoc/Alloc-amino acids in high yields by following a conventional procedure. Amongst the Fmoc-oxime derivatives, the N -hydroxypicolinimidoyl cyanide derivative (N -{[(9H-fluoren-9-yl)methoxy]carbonyloxy}picolinimidoyl cyanide) gave the best results for the preparation of Fmoc-Gly-OH, which is the most predisposed to give side reactions. The same Alloc-oxime analogue afforded the preparation of Alloc-Gly-OH in good yield, purity, and extremely low dipeptide formation, as analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC and NMR spectroscopy. [source] A novel fault management approach for DWDM optical networksINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NETWORK MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2006W. Fawaz Connection availability is considered as a critical metric when providing differentiated services in Wavelength-Division Multiplexing mesh networks. Indeed, one of the major concerns of optical network operators is related to improving the availability of services provided to their highest-class clients. Achieving this objective is possible through managing faults using the different classical protection schemes, namely the so-called dedicated and shared protection schemes. However, the majority of the work concerning protection schemes has considered the primary connections as equally important when contending for the use of the backup resources. As a main contribution in this paper, we therefore propose an improvement of the existing protection schemes through the introduction of relative priorities among the different primary connections contending for the access to the protection path. To evaluate numerically the benefits of the service differentiation feature introduced in our proposal, we first develop a mathematical model, based on which we derive explicit expressions for the average connection availabilities that result from both the classical protection schemes and the proposed priority-aware one. Through this model, we show how the availability of the highest-class clients is improved when deploying the proposed priority-aware protection scheme. Finally, with the same objective in mind, we develop a simulation study, where a given set of connection demands with predefined availability requirements is provisioned using different protection strategies. Through this study, we show that the priority-aware protection strategy satisfies service-availability requirements in a cost-effective manner compared with the classical protection schemes.Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Rapid solid-phase peptide synthesis using thermal and controlled microwave irradiationJOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 10 2006Bernadett Bacsa Abstract A rapid and efficient microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis method is described for the preparation of the nonapeptide WDTVRISFK, using conventional Fmoc/But orthogonal protection strategy. The synthesis protocol is based on the use of cycles of pulsed microwave irradiation with intermittent cooling of the reaction during the removal of the Fmoc protecting group and during the coupling. The desired nonapeptide was obtained in highest yield and purity by employing MicroKan technology. The chemical reactions were carried out in a single-mode microwave reactor, equipped with a fiber-optic probe to monitor the reaction temperature continuously. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Inbreeding Effects on Hatchery and Growout Performance of Pacific White Shrimp, Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannameiJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 4 2008Dustin R Moss In animal breeding programs, selection coupled with a narrow genetic base can cause high levels of inbreeding to occur rapidly (in one or two generations). Although the effects of inbreeding have been studied extensively in terrestrial animals and to a lesser extent in aquaculture species, little is known about the effects of inbreeding on penaeid shrimp. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of inbreeding on hatchery and growout performance of the Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei. The experiment was conducted over 2 yr, and data from two successive generations (G2 and G3) of inbred (sibling,sibling mating) and outbred families were analyzed. There were 11 inbred and 12 outbred families in G2 and 9 inbred and 10 outbred families in G3. Inbreeding coefficients (F) for outbred and inbred families were 0.00 and 0.25, respectively, for G2 and 0.00 and 0.375, respectively, for G3. Growth rates for outbreds and inbreds were similar in both G2 and G3. Hatch rate for inbred families was 33.1% lower than for outbred families in G2 and 47.1% lower in G3. Inbreeding depression (IBD) (relative change in phenotype per 0.1 increase in F) ± 95% CI for hatch rate was ,12.3 ± 10.1%. Hatchery survival for inbred families was 31.4% lower than for outbred families in G2 and 38.8% lower in G3. IBD for hatchery survival was ,11.0 ± 5.7%. Growout survival was 1.9% lower for inbred families than for outbred families in G2 and 19.6% lower in G3. IBD for growout survival was ,3.8 ± 2.9%. There was also a significant linear relationship between IBD estimates for survival traits and mean outbred survival. At high outbred survival, IBD was low (e.g., growout survival in G2), but IBD appeared to become more severe when outbred survival was lower. This suggests that stress (related to environment and/or life stage) may worsen IBD for survival traits. Results also indicate that moderate to high levels of inbreeding (>10%) should be avoided in commercial shrimp hatcheries because the cumulative effect of IBD on hatch rate and hatchery survival will significantly reduce postlarvae production. Thus, IBD can be significant enough to justify the use of inbreeding as a germplasm protection strategy (under certain scenarios) for genetic improvement programs. [source] Chemical Synthesis of Triple-Labelled Three-Helix Bundle Binding Proteins for Specific Fluorescent Detection of Unlabelled ProteinCHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 6 2005Torun Engfeldt Abstract Site-specifically triple-labelled three-helix bundle affinity proteins (affibody molecules) have been produced by total chemical synthesis. The 58 aa affinity proteins were assembled on an automated peptide synthesizer, followed by manual on-resin incorporation of three different reporter groups. An orthogonal protection strategy was developed for the site-specific introduction of 5-(2-aminethylamino)-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (EDANS) and 6-(7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-ylamino)-hexanoic acid (NBDX), constituting a donor/acceptor pair for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and a biotin moiety, used for surface immobilization. Circular dichroism and biosensor studies of the synthetic proteins and their recombinant counterparts revealed that the synthetic proteins were folded and retained their binding specificities. The biotin-conjugated protein could be immobilized onto a streptavidin surface without loss of activity. The synthetic, doubly fluorescent-labelled affinity proteins were shown to function as fluorescent biosensors in an assay for the specific detection of unlabelled human IgG and IgA. [source] Synthesis of Guanidinium-Modified Hyaluronic Acid HydrogelMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 13 2010Oommen P. Varghese Abstract In this report, a new guanidinylating reagent is presented, which was developed without any protection/deprotection strategy and was successfully employed for linking to hyaluronan in aqueous solution. The dually functionalised HA biopolymer bearing guanidinium and hydrazide groups was synthesised to form hydrogel in less than a minute when mixed with aldehyde-modified HA. This hydrogel exhibited higher storage modulus with enhanced stability in PBS when compared to the non-guanidine-containing gel. The gel shift assay showed that this biopolymer formed a stable complex with DNA as well as efficient gene transfection to cells that express HA-receptor CD44. The toxicity studies of this polymer with fibroblast cells revealed that the cells were almost 80% viable after 4,d of incubation at high HA concentration (2.5,×,10,3,M). [source] Synthesis and aggregation of amine-cored polyamidoamine dendrons synthesised without invoking a protection/deprotection strategyPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2006Amy SH King Abstract The synthesis of a series of amine-cored N,N -dimethyl-terminated polyamidoamine dendrons with the potential to be modified at their focal point is reported. The use of an aniline core enables the target molecules to be synthesised without resorting to the use of a time-consuming and expensive protection/deprotection strategy. After synthesising these molecules significant frothing in aqueous solution at millimolar concentrations was noticed, a property associated with aggregation. The critical micelle concentrations were therefore measured and found to occur at relatively low dilutions (in the range 10,4,10,5 mol L,1). Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||