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Recent Innovations (recent + innovation)
Selected AbstractsSowing the Seeds of Progress: The Agricultural Biotechnology Debate in AfricaHISTORY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2008Noah Zerbe Recent innovations in agricultural biotechnology raise a number of questions for the future of farming in both the developed and developing worlds. Conflicting international agreements, particularly tensions between the World Trade Organization's Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, provoke debates between farmers, plant breeders, and indigenous communities over the extent of ownership rights in genetic resources. Further, trade disputes between the United States and the European Union help to shape the terrain on which biotechnology is developed. The future of agricultural biotechnology in Africa is largely a function of the outcome of these debates. [source] Characterization of amorphous solids with weak glass transitions using high ramp rate differential scanning calorimetryJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2008Derrick S. Katayama Abstract Measurement of the glass transition temperature (Tg) of proteins and other high molecular weight polymers in the amorphous state is often difficult, since the transition is extremely weak, that is, the ,Cp at the glass transition temperature is small. For example, little is known about the solid-state properties of hydroxyethyl starch (HES), which is beginning to become more commonly evaluated as a bulking agent in pharmaceutical products. For weak thermal events, such as the change in heat capacity at the Tg of a pure protein or large synthetic polymer, increased heating rate should produce greater sensitivity in terms of heat flow. Recent innovations in rapid scanning technology for differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) allow measurements on materials where the thermal events are difficult to detect by conventional DSC. In the current study, measurements of the Tg of proteins in the solid state, amorphous pharmaceutical excipients which have small ,Cp at the glass transition temperature, and bacterial spores, have all been made using high ramp rate DSC, providing information on materials that was inaccessible using conventional DSC methods. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:1013,1024, 2008 [source] Handling Weather Related Risks Through the Financial Markets: Considerations of Credit Risk, Basis Risk, and HedgingJOURNAL OF RISK AND INSURANCE, Issue 2 2007Linda L. Golden The profits of many businesses are strongly affected by weather related events, and insurance against weather related risks (acts of God) has been a traditional domain for transfer of (certain) of these risks. Recent innovations in the capital market have now provided financial instruments to transfer and hedge some of these risks. Unlike insurance solutions, however, using these financial derivative instruments creates a situation in which the return to the purchaser of the instrument is no longer perfectly correlated with the loss experienced. Such a mismatch creates new risks which must be examined and evaluated as part of ascertaining cost effective risk management plans. Two newly engendered risks, basis risk (the risk created by the fact that the return from the financial derivative is a function of weather at a prespecified geographical location which may not be identical to the location of the firm) and credit risk (the risk that the counterparty to the derivative contract may not perform), are analyzed in this article. Using custom tailored derivatives from the over the counter market can decrease basis risk, but increases credit risk. Using standardized exchange traded derivatives decreases credit risk but increases basis risk. Here also the effectiveness of using hedging methods involving forwards and futures having linear payoffs (linear hedging) and methods using derivatives having nonlinear payoffs such as those involving options (nonlinear hedging) for the purpose of hedging basis risk are examined jointly with credit risk. [source] Recent innovations in marine biologyMARINE ECOLOGY, Issue 2009Ferdinando Boero Abstract Modern ecology arose from natural history when Vito Volterra analysed Umberto D'Ancona's time series of Adriatic fisheries, formulating the famous equations describing the linked fluctuations of a predator,prey system. The shift from simple observation to careful sampling design, and hypothesis building and testing, often with manipulative approaches, is probably the most relevant innovation in ecology, leading from descriptive to experimental studies, with the use of powerful analytical tools to extract data (from satellites to molecular analyses) and to treat them, and modelling efforts leading to predictions. However, the historical component, time, is paramount in environmental systems: short-term experiments must cope with the long term if we want to understand change. Chaos theory showed that complex systems are inherently unpredictable: equational, predictive science is only feasible over the short term and for a small number of variables. Ecology is characterized by a high number of variables (e.g. species) interacting over wide temporal and spatial scales. The greatest recent conceptual innovation, thus, is to have realized that natural history is important, and that the understanding of complexity calls for humility. This is not a return to the past, because now we can give proper value to statistical approaches aimed at formalizing the description and the understanding of the natural world in a rigorous way. Predictions can only be weak, linked to the identification of the attractors of chaotic systems, and are aimed more at depicting scenarios than at forecasting the future with precision. Ecology was originally split into two branches: autecology (ecology of species) and synecology (ecology of species assemblages, communities, ecosystems). The two approaches are almost synonymous with the two fashionable concepts of today: ,biodiversity' and ,ecosystem functioning'. A great challenge is to put the two together and work at multiple temporal and spatial scales. This requires the identification of all variables (i.e. species and their ecology: biodiversity, or autoecology) and of all connections among them and with the physical world (i.e. ecosystem functioning, or synecology). Marine ecosystems are the least impacted by human pressures, compared to terrestrial ones, and are thus the best arena to understand the structure and function of the natural world, allowing for comparison between areas with and areas without human impact. [source] A pilot study comparing the effectiveness of conventional training and virtual reality simulation in the skills acquisition of junior dental studentsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2003Frank Quinn The use of virtual reality (VR) in the training of operative dentistry is a recent innovation and little research has been published on its efficacy compared to conventional training methods. To evaluate possible benefits, junior undergraduate dental students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1 as taught by conventional means only; group 2 as trained by conventional means combined with VR repetition and reinforcement (with access to a human instructor for operative advice); and group 3 as trained by conventional means combined with VR repetition and reinforcement, but without instructor evaluation/advice, which was only supplied via the VR-associated software. At the end of the research period, all groups executed two class 1 preparations that were evaluated blindly by ,expert' trainers, under traditional criteria (outline, retention, smoothness, depth, wall angulation and cavity margin index). Analyses of resulting scores indicated a lack of significant differences between the three groups except for scores for the category of ,outline form', for group 2, which produced significantly lower (i.e. better) scores than the conventionally trained group. A statistical comparison between scores from two ,expert' examiners indicated lack of agreement, despite identical written and visual criteria being used for evaluation by both. Both examiners, however, generally showed similar trends in evaluation. An anonymous questionnaire suggested that students recognized the benefits of VR training (e.g. ready access to assessment, error identification and how they can be corrected), but the majority felt that it would not replace conventional training methods (95%), although participants recognized the potential for development of VR systems in dentistry. The most common reasons cited for the preference of conventional training were excessive critical feedback (55%), lack of personal contact (50%) and technical hardware difficulties (20%) associated with VR-based training. [source] Artificial neural networks model for the prediction of steady state phenol biodegradation in a pulsed plate bioreactorJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2008K Vidya Shetty Abstract BACKGROUND: A recent innovation in fixed film bioreactors is the pulsed plate bioreactor (PPBR) with immobilized cells. The successful development of a theoretical model for this reactor relies on the knowledge of several parameters, which may vary with the process conditions. It may also be a time-consuming and costly task because of their nonlinear nature. Artificial neural networks (ANN) offer the potential of a generic approach to the modeling of nonlinear systems. RESULTS: A feedforward ANN based model for the prediction of steady state percentage degradation of phenol in a PPBR by immobilized cells of Nocardia hydrocarbonoxydans (NCIM 2386) during continuous biodegradation has been developed to correlate the steady state percentage degradation with the flow rate, influent phenol concentration and vibrational velocity (amplitude × frequency). The model used two hidden layers and 53 parameters (weights and biases). The network model was then compared with a Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) model, derived from the same training data. Further these two models were used to predict the percentage degradation of phenol for blind test data. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the ANN model was superior to that of the MRA model and was found to be an efficient data-driven tool to predict the performance of a PPBR for phenol biodegradation. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Contesting meaning: Newfie and the politics of ethnic labellingJOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 4 2002Ruth King The ethnic label Newfie is a site of ideological dispute: for some, it is simply an informal term for residents and expatriates of the Canadian province of Newfoundland, for others it may function as an in,group term of solidarity which takes on negative connotations when used by non,Newfoundlanders, and for still others it is the equivalent of a racial slur. In this study we first trace the history of the term, a fairly recent innovation. We then examine present,day attitudes as expressed in (provincial and national) media discourse and in self,report data. We argue that debate over Newfie is part of a larger ideological struggle concerning the commodification of an ,invented' Newfoundland culture, which itself must be understood in terms of Newfoundland's socioeconomic position as Canada's poorest province. Finally, we compare the Newfie case to other instances of contested group labelling. [source] A recent innovation, ,cooperative' negotiation can promote early and efficient settlement through joint case managementALTERNATIVES TO THE HIGH COST OF LITIGATION, Issue 7 2009John Lande A new way of negotiating could provide a refuge for attorneys tired of the litigation mindset, and produce more control and better results. John Lande, of Columbia, Mo., provides the details on Cooperative practice. [source] Annual Banned-Substance ReviewDRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2010You have free access to this content The annual update of the list of prohibited substances and doping methods as issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) allows the implementation of most recent considerations of performance manipulation and emerging therapeutics into human sports doping control programmes. The annual banned-substance review for human doping controls critically summarizes recent innovations in analytical approaches that support the efforts of convicting cheating athletes by improved or newly established methods that focus on known as well as newly outlawed substances and doping methods. In the current review, literature published between October 2008 and September 2009 reporting on new and/or enhanced procedures and techniques for doping analysis, as well as aspects relevant to the doping control arena, was considered to complement the 2009 annual banned-substance review. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Seascape genetics and the spatial ecology of marine populationsFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 4 2008Kimberly A Selkoe Abstract Molecular tools perform at their best when integrated with other data and approaches. The value of integrating approaches is especially high when the underlying genetic signal is relatively weak, as occurs in many marine species. Recently, studies combining genetic, oceanographic, behavioural and modelling approaches have provided new insights into the spatial ecology of marine populations, in particular regarding larval migration, barriers to dispersal and source-sink population dynamics. In this perspectives piece, we explore the advantages of a multidisciplinary approach to marine population genetics by (i) providing a synthesis of what has been learned about connectivity from studies that combine genetic data with other tools, (ii) discussing how incorporation of ecological and oceanographic information into alternative hypotheses can boost inference when genetic power is low, and (iii) summarizing recent innovations in statistical population genetics that enable seamless integration of ecological, environmental and genetic data. These topics are covered in the context of how genetic inferences of connectivity and dispersal can contribute to pressing questions facing marine conservation and management. [source] Environmentally-friendly Aspects and Innovative Lightweight Traction System Technologies of the Shinkansen High-speed EMUsIEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2008Yoshiyasu Hagiwara Member Abstract In 1964, the Tokaido Shinkansen marked the start of the world's first commercial service high-speed railway that operates at over 200 km/h. Since then, the Tokaido Shinkansen has demonstrated successful business and technological advancement. With the speeding-up of the Shinkansen, environmental matters such as noise and vibration have become critical issues. Measures taken to counter noise and vibration,such as weight reduction and aerodynamics,also effect global environmental measures to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emission. With the introduction of the Series 300, there was a system change of applying an AC drive system, and the lightweight body realized performance improvement over the earlier Series 0. The high-speed EMUs have readily taken advantage of technological innovation such as those achieved in electronics technology. In particular, an innovative AC drive system comprising a power converter with a GTO thyristor and asynchronous motors realized a high-performance and lightweight traction system for high-speed EMUs in the 1990s. Furthermore, recent innovations in electronics technology, such as low switching loss power devices and high-power permanent magnets, have improved the AC drive systems of the high-speed EMUs of the 21st century. This article starts out by introducing environmentally friendliness of the Shinkansen trains in terms of low energy consumption by means of traction system change, and then proceeds to describe the recent technological innovations that have given birth to lightweight traction systems, such as the Permanent Magnet Synchronous traction Motor (PMSM) and power converters with train-draft-cooling systems. The article concludes by summing up the environmentally friendly aspects of the Tokaido Shinkansen. Copyright © 2008 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Rock Art: A Potential Source of Information about Past Maritime Technology in the South-East Asia-Pacific RegionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Peter V. Lape It is possible that most or all boats and rig-types used in prehistoric times in the South-East Asia-Pacific region have completely disappeared from the record, and that those recorded by Europeans in the 17th century may have been relatively recent innovations. The purpose of this paper is to introduce to the literature a new source of information on ancient boat and rig designs. This source is the information encoded in rock-art depictions of watercraft. This paper provides a technical appraisal of 18 images of watercraft from the Tutuala region of East Timor. © 2007 The Authors [source] A Cross-Atlantic Dialogue: The Progress of Research and Theory in the Study of International MigrationINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION REVIEW, Issue 3 2004Alejandro Portes The articles included in this issue were originally presented at a conference on Conceptual and Methodological Developments in the Study of International Migration held at Princeton University in May 2003. The conference was jointly sponsored by the Committee on International Migration of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), the Center for Migration and Development (CMD) at Princeton, and this journal. Its purpose was to review recent innovations in this field, both in theory and empirical research, across both sides of the Atlantic. The conference was deliberately organized as a sequel to a similar event convened by the SSRC on Sanibel Island in January 1996 in order to assess the state of international migration studies within the United States from an inter-disciplinary perspective. A selection of articles from that conference was published as a special issue of International Migration Review (Vol. 31, No. 4, Winter), and the full set of articles was published as the Handbook of International Migration: The American Experience (Hirschman, Kasinitz and DeWind, 1999). [source] Cognitive behavioral therapy of negative symptomsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 8 2009Dimitri Perivoliotis Abstract Negative symptoms account for much of the functional disability associated with schizophrenia and often persist despite pharmacological treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a promising adjunctive psychotherapy for negative symptoms. The treatment is based on a cognitive formulation in which negative symptoms arise and are maintained by dysfunctional beliefs that are a reaction to the neurocognitive impairment and discouraging life events frequently experienced by individuals with schizophrenia. This article outlines recent innovations in tailoring CBT for negative symptoms and functioning, including the use of a strong goal-oriented recovery approach, in-session exercises designed to disconfirm dysfunctional beliefs, and adaptations to circumvent neurocognitive and engagement difficulties. A case illustration is provided. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 65:1,16, 2009. [source] Capillary columns in liquid chromatography: between conventional columns and microchipsJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 17-18 2004Yoshihiro Saito Abstract Liquid chromatography on columns with small internal diameters has been reviewed as the intermediate technique between conventional liquid chromatography and microchip separations. The development of micro column separations in the early years has been described, starting with the papers of Horváth and co-workers and Ishii and co-workers, continuing into the first part of the eighties, then making a leap in time to recent innovations with small-bore columns. Based on internal diameters a classification of the different analytical HPLC columns has been suggested. The advantages of small-bore columns have been discussed, with particular emphasis on the advantage of coupling to concentration sensitive detectors when the sample amount is limited. Open tubular columns are treated as a part of the historic background. The recent developments include a brief look into the current status of monolithic columns, the use of packed nano columns and micro columns with electrospray mass spectrometry, and the potential of two-dimensional comprehensive liquid chromatography. Finally, the coupling of sample preparation to analytical columns and the future applications of the novel technological improvements to the microchip separation methods have been discussed. [source] Robust estimation of spatially variable noise fieldsMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2009Bennett A. Landman Abstract Consideration of spatially variable noise fields is becoming increasingly necessary in MRI given recent innovations in artifact identification and statistically driven image processing. Fast imaging methods enable study of difficult anatomical targets and improve image quality but also increase the spatial variability in the noise field. Traditional analysis techniques have either assumed that the noise is constant across the field of view (or region of interest) or have relied on separate MRI acquisitions to measure the noise field. These methods are either inappropriate for many modern scanning protocols or are overly time-consuming for already lengthy scanning sessions. We propose a new, general framework for estimating spatially variable noise fields from related, but independent MR scans that we call noise field equivalent scans. These heuristic analyses enable robust noise field estimation in the presence of artifacts. Generalization of noise estimators based on uniform regions, difference images, and maximum likelihood are presented and compared with the estimators derived from the proposed framework. Simulations of diffusion tensor imaging and T2 -relaxometry demonstrate a 10-fold reduction in mean squared error in noise field estimation, and these improvements are shown to be robust to artifact contamination. In vivo studies show that spatially variable noise fields can be readily estimated with typical data acquired at 1.5T. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Where are we coming from?CANADIAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION/ADMINISTRATION PUBLIQUE DU CANADA, Issue 2 2003Are there any useful lessons from our administrative history? Beginning with the observation that many recent innovations in public organizations were foreshadowed under the United Canadas, 1841,1867, it asks why they were gradually abandoned over the first century of Confederation, only to be revived recently. For reasons of efficiency and democratic governance, the department became the keystone organization of Canadian public administration, and bureaucracy the key decision-making technology. Changes in economic conditions, technology, élite ideology and political culture led to the introduction of public management as an alternative to bureaucracy. Neither form has met all the needs of politicians, public servants and citizens. One lesson of the past is that other values, like representativeness, will assert themselves with the result that the system will continue to evolve. Sommaire: Cet article conteste la notion voulant que les conditions contemporaines sont si nouvelles qu'il n'y a pas de leçon utile à chercher dans I'histoire administrative. Partant de I'observation que plusieurs innovations récentes en organisation publique avaient leur pendant sous les Canadas Unis, 1841,1867, I'article cherche à comprendre pourquoi celles-ci furent graduellement abandonnées pendant le premier siècle de la Confédération puis redécouvertes récemment. Pour des raisons d'efficience et de gouveme démocratique, le ministère devint I'organisation de préférence au sein de I'administration publique canadienne, tandis que la bureaucratie devint le mode décisionnel préféré. Des changements aux conditions économiques, à la technologie, à I'idélogie des élites et à la culture politique ont menéà I'introdudion du management public comme alternative à la bureaucratie. Aucun de ces changements n'a satisfait tous les besoins des politiciens, des fonctionnaires et des citoyens. Le passé suggère que d'autres valeurs, telle la représentativité, vont s'imposer, poussant le système àévoluer encore. [source] Multicenter Study of Preferences for Health Education in the Emergency Department PopulationACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010M. Kit Delgado MD Abstract Objectives:, Emergency departments (EDs) are increasingly proposed as high-yield venues for providing preventive health education to a population at risk for unhealthy behaviors and unmet primary care needs. This study sought to determine the preferred health education topics and teaching modality among ED patients and visitors. Methods:, For two 24-hour periods, patients aged 18 years and older presenting to four Boston EDs were consecutively enrolled, and waiting room visitors were surveyed every 3 hours. The survey assessed interest in 28 health conditions and topics, which were further classified into nine composite health education categories. Also assessed was the participants' preferred teaching modality. Results:, Among 1,321 eligible subjects, 1,010 (76%) completed the survey, of whom 56% were patients and 44% were visitors. Among the health conditions, respondents were most interested in learning about stress and depression (32%). Among the health topics, respondents were most interested in exercise and nutrition (43%). With regard to learning modality, 34% of subjects chose brochures/book, 25% video, 24% speaking with an expert, 14% using a computer, and 3% another mode of learning (e.g., a class). Speaking with an expert was the overall preferred modality for those with less than high school education and Hispanics, as well as those interested in HIV screening, youth violence, and stroke. Video was the preferred modality for those interested in learning more about depression, alcohol, drugs, firearm safety, and smoke detectors. Conclusions:, Emergency department patients and visitors were most interested in health education on stress, depression, exercise, and nutrition, compared to topics more commonly targeted to the ED population such as substance abuse, sexual health (including HIV testing), and injury prevention. Despite many recent innovations in health education, most ED patients and visitors in our study preferred the traditional form of books and brochures. Future ED health education efforts may be optimized by taking into account the learning preferences of the target ED population. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:652,658 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||