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Qualitative Aspects (qualitative + aspect)
Selected AbstractsQualitative aspects of sperm stock in males and females from Eupelmus orientalis and Dinarmus basalis (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) as revealed by dual fluorescencePHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2002David Damiens Abstract The quality of a sperm population can be characterized physiologically and its fecundity predicted by its viable : non-viable sperm ratio. To improve the knowledge of reproductive strategies in two ectoparasitoid hymenopteran species, Eupelmus orientalis Crawford (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) and Dinarmus basalis Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), the assessment of sperm viability using the dual fluorescence staining procedure SYBR-14 : propidium iodide was developed. The aim of the study was to provide a comparative test in vitro applicable to both sexes to study the evolution of sperm quality at various stages of the reproductive processes. The reliability of propidium iodide to detect non-viable sperm (stained in red) was confirmed in both species on the basis of two stress tests (ethanol and Triton X-100) but our study also revealed that propidium iodide concentrations must be adequately adjusted for each single species. This experiment also demonstrated the physiological heterogeneity of sperm populations in E. orientalis and D. basalis males and females. In both species, 40% of the sperm in the seminal vesicles was found to be non-viable. By contrast with E. orientalis, the populations of non-viable sperm estimated from the seminal vesicles of D. basalis were found to be strongly different from those observed in the spermatheca. From the present results, the population of viable sperm detected in the spermatheca of females from both species proved a reliable predictor of fertilization achieved in ovipositing females. [source] Emotional issues after kidney transplantation: a prospective psychotherapeutic studyCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2002Lyndsay S Baines Abstract:,Background:, Negative emotional states are the single most influential factor in determining quality of life after a successful kidney transplant. We designed a prospective study using psychotherapeutic principles to understand and intervene in emotional issues in adult recipients of first cadaver kidney transplants. Methods:, Forty-nine recipients of first cadaver kidney transplants were subjected to 12 sessions (at weekly intervals) of psychotherapy within 3 months of receiving their transplant. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was utilized as a measure of change in emotional state, pretherapy, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. A higher score on BDI was suggestive of psychological dysfunction. In the first instance, data was analysed within a quantitative framework, by virtue of the BDI. In the second instance, data was considered in terms of recurring themes described by patients during psychotherapy and was analysed qualitatively. In the third instance, both qualitative and quantitative data was considered in terms of individual patient's ability to achieve some feeling of having implemented some social, relational and vocational equilibrium into their everyday life. Recipients of live kidneys, paediatric transplants and patients who received more than one transplant were excluded, as emotional issues are different in this cohort of patients. All patients have completed 1 yr of follow up. None of the patients were on antidepressant medication before or after therapy. Results:, This is an ongoing study in which we are comparing individual vs. group therapy vs. controls (who receive no therapy). The total number of patients recruited will be 120 and the final report will be available in 2003,04. The results reported in this paper form the 49 patients in the individual arm of the study. All the patients in our study happened to be white people. There was significant improvement in the BDI scores following therapy. The mean score was 26.3 ± 7.9 before and 20.5 ± 8.8 after therapy (p = 0.001); the lowering of the scores remained sustained at 12 months. Multivariate analysis of age, gender, employment status, duration of dialysis (if in dialysis for more than 3 yrs) and psychotherapy given before transplantation did not affect the results of our study. For the qualitative aspect of the study, we grouped the emotional problems as expressed by the patients into three recurring themes (i) fear of rejection, (ii) feelings of paradoxical loss post-transplant despite having received a successful transplant and (iii) the psychological integration of the newly acquired kidney. Conclusions:, Psychotherapeutic intervention was an effective means of addressing emotional problems in recipients of kidney transplants. The recurring themes as identified above provided a baseline for psychotherapeutic exploration and resolution of these issues. Successful resolution of these issues was associated with lower BDI scores and the redefinition of normality in daily living post-transplant. [source] Excessive violence and psychotic symptomatology among homicide offenders with schizophreniaCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2006Taina Laajasalo Background,It is not currently known how psychotic symptoms are associated with the nature of violence among homicide offenders with schizophrenia, or, more specifically, whether different psychotic symptoms are differentially linked with excessive violence. Aim,To identify factors associated with the use of excessive violence among homicide offenders with schizophrenia. Methods,Forensic psychiatric examination statements and Criminal Index File data of 125 consecutive Finnish homicide offenders with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were analysed. Results,Nearly one-third of the cases in this sample involved extreme violence, including features such as sadism, mutilation, sexual components or multiple stabbings. Excessive violence was a feature of acts when the offender was not the sole perpetrator or when there was a previous homicidal history. Positive psychotic symptoms, including delusions, were not associated with the use of excessive violence. Conclusions,These results highlight the importance of variables other than clinical state when examining qualitative aspects of homicidal acts, such as the degree and nature of violence, by offenders with schizophrenia. Further study is needed with a more specific focus on the qualities of the violence among different subgroups of offenders, but inclusive of those with psychosis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Establishment and recall of CD8+ T-cell memory in a model of localized transient infectionIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2006Katherine Kedzierska Summary:, The influenza A virus model of localized, transient respiratory infection provides a well-defined experimental system for dissecting the induction and maintenance of CD8+ T-cell memory. This review focuses on quantitative and qualitative aspects of the prominent DbNP366 - and DbPA224 -specific CD8+ T-cell responses in virus-infected B6 mice. The different virus-specific effector and memory sets are compared by phenotypic [CD62L, interleukin-7 receptor-, (IL-7R,), and IL-15R, expression] and functional [interferon-, (IFN-,), tumor necrosis factor-, (TNF-,), and IL-2 production] analyses. Most clonotypes [defined by T-cell receptor (TCR) CDR3, sequence] generated during the acute phase of infection survive into memory, with those expressing the more consensus ,canonical' TCRs being the major contributors to the recall response. The extent of clonal expansion and the size of memory CD8+ T-cell populations has been characterized for mice challenged with either wildtype or mutant viruses, where broadly equivalent DbNP366 and DbPA224 expression was achieved by disabling the peptides in their native configuration, then expressing them in the viral neuraminidase protein. Combining the clonotypic and antigen dose analyses led to a somewhat mechanistic conclusion that the magnitude of any virus-specific CD8+ T-cell response will be a direct function of antigen dose and the size of the naïve or memory CD8+ T-cell precursor pool. [source] Research Design in European Studies: The Case of Europeanization,JCMS: JOURNAL OF COMMON MARKET STUDIES, Issue 3 2009THEOFANIS EXADAKTYLOS In this article, we contribute to the debate on research design and causal analysis in European integration studies by considering the sub-field of Europeanization. First, we examine the awareness of research design issues in the literature on Europeanization through a review of the debate on causality, concept formation and methods. Second, we analyse how much of the discussion of the trade-offs in causal analysis in mainstream political science has percolated into Europeanization studies. We therefore construct a sample of the Europeanization literature, comparing it to a control group of highly cited articles on European integration. This enables us to control if some patterns are specific to the Europeanization literature or reflect a more general trend in European integration. We then look at trade-offs in the Europeanization sample and in the control group. Our findings indicate that awareness of research design is still low. Europeanization articles differ from the control group in the focus on mechanisms (rather than variables) and the qualitative aspects of time in politics. Complex notions of causality prevail in Europeanization but not in the control group and the cause-of-effects approach is preferred to effects-of-causes in the control group but not in Europeanization , in both cases, however, the difference is slight. We conclude by explaining differences and similarities and make proposals for future research. [source] Unemployment and liquidity constraintsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMETRICS, Issue 3 2007Vassilis A. Hajivassiliou We present a dynamic framework for the interaction between borrowing (liquidity) constraints and deviations of actual hours from desired hours, both measured by discrete-valued indicators, and estimate it as a system of dynamic binary and ordered probit models with panel data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. We analyze a household's propensity to be liquidity constrained by means of a dynamic binary probit model. We analyze qualitative aspects of the conditions of employment, namely whether the household head is involuntarily overemployed, voluntarily employed, or involuntarily underemployed or unemployed, by means of a dynamic ordered probit model. We focus on the possible interaction between the two types of constraints. We estimate these models jointly using maximum simulated likelihood, where we allow for individual random effects along with an autoregressive process for the general error term in each equation. A novel feature of our method is that it allows for the random effects to be correlated with regressors in a time-invariant fashion. Our results provide strong support for the basic theory of constrained behavior and the interaction between liquidity constraints and exogenous constraints on labor supply. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Distributional Effects of Public ExpenditureJOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SURVEYS, Issue 3 2000Gerd Schwartz It is commonly agreed that economic policies, including budgetary policies, can have potentially strong distributional effects. Traditional economic analysis held that economic policies affected the income distribution primarily through their impact on the rate of growth. More recently, it has come to be recognised that qualitative aspects of economic growth are probably more important than the rate of growth itself. While recent research has confirmed the potential role of expenditure policies as a redistributive tool, it has also shown that redistribution does not necessarily have to come at the expense of economic growth and efficiency. Although there are substantial analytical and technical problems to be faced in the design of equitable and cost-effective public expenditure programmes, unfavourable distributional outcomes of these programmes can usually be traced more to political and institutional pressures than to purely technical factors. JEL Classification number: H5 [source] Executive functions in individuals with Williams syndromeJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2010D. Menghini Abstract Background The present study was aimed at investigating working memory (WM) and executive functions capacities in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) as compared with mental-age matched typically developing (TD) children. Method In order to serve the study goal, a sizeable battery of tasks tapping WM as well as attention, memory, planning, categorisation, shifting and inhibition abilities was administered to 15 individuals with WS (mean chronological age of 19.11 and mean mental age of 6.10), and to a group of 15 TD children (mean chronological age of 7.6 and mean mental age of 6.9). Results Participants with WS showed deficits in both verbal and visual-spatial modalities for selective and sustained attention, short-term memory and WM, planning and inhibition. However, considering categorisation and shifting abilities, relatively unimpaired performance emerged on those tasks relying on verbal materials. Conclusions These findings are both relevant to improve our knowledge about certain qualitative aspects of the anomalous cognitive development in WS as well as for its eventual clinical implications. [source] Implicit memory is independent from IQ and age but not from etiology: evidence from Down and Williams syndromesJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2007S. Vicari Abstract Background In the last few years, experimental data have been reported on differences in implicit memory processes of genetically distinct groups of individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID). These evidences are relevant for the more general debate on supposed asynchrony of cognitive maturation in children with abnormal brain development. This study, comparing implicit memory processes in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) and Down syndrome (DS), was planned to verify the ,etiological specificity' hypotheses pertaining to the skill learning abilities of individuals with ID. Method A modified version of Nissen and Bullemer's (1987) Serial Reaction Time (SRT) task was used. The performances of three group were evaluated. The first group consisted of thirty-two people with WS (18 males and 14 females). The second group was comprised of twenty-six individuals with DS (14 males and 12 females). The two groups of individuals with ID were selected so that the groups were comparable as for mental age and chronological age. The third group consisted of forty-nine typically developed children with a mental age similar to that of the groups with WS and DS. Results The two groups of individuals with ID demonstrated different patterns of procedural learning. WS individuals revealed poor implicit learning of the temporal sequence of events characterizing the ordered blocks in the SRT task. Indeed, differently from normal controls, WS participants showed no reaction time (RT) speeding through ordered blocks. Most importantly, the rebound effect, which so dramatically affected normal children's RTs passing from the last ordered to the last block, had only a marginal influence on WS children's RTs. Differently from the WS group, the rate of procedural learning of the participants with DS was comparable to that of their controls. Indeed, DS and typically developed individuals showed parallel RT variations in the series of ordered blocks and, more importantly, passing from the last ordered to the last block. Therefore, a substantial preservation of skill learning abilities in this genetic syndrome is confirmed. Conclusions The results of the present study document that procedural learning in individuals with ID depends on the aetiology of the syndrome, thus supporting the etiological specificity account of their cognitive development. These results are relevant for our knowledge about the qualitative aspects and the underlying neurobiological substrate of the anomalous cognitive development in mentally retarded people. [source] Coffee and Cigarette Consumption and Perceived Effects in Recovering Alcoholics Participating in Alcoholics Anonymous in Nashville, TennesseeALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2008Michael S. Reich Background:, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members represent an important and relatively understudied population for improving our understanding of alcohol dependence recovery as over 1 million Americans participate in the program. Further insight into coffee and cigarette use by these individuals is necessary given AA members' apparent widespread consumption and the recognized health consequences and psychopharmacological actions of these substances. Methods:, Volunteers were sought from all open-AA meetings in Nashville, TN during the summer of 2007 to complete a questionnaire (n = 289, completion rate = 94.1%) including timeline followback for coffee, cigarette, and alcohol consumption; the Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale; coffee consumption and effects questions; the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND); and the Smoking Effects Questionnaire. Results:, Mean (±SD) age of onset of alcohol consumption was 15.4 ± 4.2 years and mean lifetime alcohol consumption was 1026.0 ± 772.8 kg ethanol. Median declared alcohol abstinence was 2.1 years (range: 0 days to 41.1 years) and median lifetime AA attendance was 1000.0 meetings (range: 4 to 44,209 meetings); average AA affiliation score was 7.6 ± 1.5. Most (88.5%) individuals consumed coffee and approximately 33% of coffee consumers drank more than 4 cups per day (M = 3.9 ± 3.9). The most common self-reported reasons for coffee consumption and coffee-associated behavioral changes were related to stimulatory effects. More than half (56.9%) of individuals in AA smoked cigarettes. Of those who smoked, 78.7% consumed at least half a pack of cigarettes per day (M = 21.8 ± 12.3). Smokers' FTND scores were 5.8 ± 2.4; over 60% of smokers were highly or very highly dependent. Reduced negative affect was the most important subjective effect of smoking. Conclusions:, A greater proportion of AA participants drink coffee and smoke cigarettes in larger per capita amounts than observed in general U.S. populations. The effects of these products as described by AA participants suggest significant stimulation and negative affect reduction. Fundamental knowledge of the quantitative and qualitative aspects of coffee and cigarette consumption among AA members will enable future research to discern their impact on alcohol abstinence and recovery. [source] Lancaster's characteristics approach revisited: product selection using non-parametric methodsMANAGERIAL AND DECISION ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2002Angel S. Fernandez-Castro In consumer theory, the principles of Lancaster's characteristics approach and hedonic pricing appear to offer the most promising insight into choice when qualitative aspects are important. The paper reconciles these principles with the family of non-parametric frontier estimation methods known as data envelopment analysis. It is shown that, with some straightforward adjustments, DEA is entirely consistent with the characteristics view of consumer choice found in the economics literature. In making Lancaster's ideas operational, the paper also addresses the theoretical concern voiced by Lancaster about combining indivisible products. The principles are illustrated with a case study involving the comparison of diesel cars. The paper concludes that the user will ultimately have to apply some judgement in choosing between competing efficient products. However, the analysis should help to restrict the number of products to be assessed to manageable proportions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Consistency and crossbreeding in French speaking regional science: An epistemological investigation,PAPERS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2003Claude Lacour Regional science; epistemology; semantic fields; crossbreeding phenomenon Abstract. This article assesses the output of French-speaking regional scientists based on published works in Revue d'Economie Régionale et Urbaine (1978,1999). We explore quantitative and qualitative aspects of regional science and make comparisons with Anglo-Saxon research. We focus on the topics, style and concepts studied and used over time. Our analysis scrutinises changes in the current patterns of thought used in French speaking regional science. We also demonstrate narrow and broad semantic fields according to regional science issues and explore the phenomenon of crossbreeding between fields of studies. [source] Physiological adaptation of Corynebacterium glutamicum to benzoate as alternative carbon source , a membrane proteome-centric viewPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 14 2009Ute Haußmann Abstract The ability of microorganisms to assimilate aromatic substances as alternative carbon sources is the basis of biodegradation of natural as well as industrial aromatic compounds. In this study, Corynebacterium glutamicum was grown on benzoate as sole carbon and energy source. To extend the scarce knowledge about physiological adaptation processes occurring in this cell compartment, the membrane proteome was investigated under quantitative and qualitative aspects by applying shotgun proteomics to reach a comprehensive survey. Membrane proteins were relatively quantified using an internal standard metabolically labeled with 15N. Altogether, 40 proteins were found to change their abundance during growth on benzoate in comparison to glucose. A global adaptation was observed in the membrane of benzoate-grown cells, characterized by increased abundance of proteins of the respiratory chain, by a starvation response, and by changes in sulfur metabolism involving the regulator McbR. Additional to the relative quantification, stable isotope-labeled synthetic peptides were used for the absolute quantification of the two benzoate transporters of C. glutamicum, BenK and BenE. It was found that both transporters were expressed during growth on benzoate, suggesting that both contribute substantially to benzoate uptake. [source] Emotion regulation therapy for generalized anxiety disorderCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 1 2004Douglas S. Mennin Generalized anxiety disorder is increasingly being recognized as a considerable mental health concern. However, it remains a poorly understood and insufficiently treated chronic disorder. Recent conceptualizations have highlighted the role of emotion acceptance, utilization and management as a core feature of the disorder. An emotion regulation perspective may shed light on treatment approaches to GAD. An integrative approach to treating GAD, entitled Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) is presented through the case of a young woman. ERT addresses cognitive, emotional and contextual factors of GAD and is divided into four phases: (1) psychoeducation, monitoring and developmental history; (2) skills training in somatic awareness and emotional knowledge, utilization and regulation; (3) use of these skills to confront core thematic issues using experiential exposure exercises; (4) and progress review, relapse prevention and termination processing. ERT was shown to successfully treat symptomatic, functional and qualitative aspects of the case presented, suggesting a future direction for therapeutic investigation of GAD.,Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||