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Several Key Aspects (several + key_aspect)
Selected AbstractsPsoriasis: is the impairment to a patient's life cumulative?JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 9 2010AB Kimball Abstract Psoriasis is associated with significant physical and psychological burden affecting all facets of a patient's life , relationships, social activities, work and emotional wellbeing. The cumulative effect of this disability may be self-perpetuating social disconnection and failure to achieve a ,full life potential' in some patients. Health-related quality of life studies have quantified the burden of psoriasis providing predominantly cross-sectional data and point-in-time images of patients' lives rather than assessing the possible cumulative disability over a patient's lifetime. However, social and economic outcomes indicate there are likely negative impacts that accumulate over time. To capture the cumulative effect of psoriasis and its associated co-morbidities and stigma over a patient's life course, we propose the concept of ,Cumulative Life Course Impairment' (CLCI). CLCI results from an interaction between (A) the burden of stigmatization, and physical and psychological co-morbidities and (B) coping strategies and external factors. Several key aspects of the CLCI concept are supported by data similar to that used in health-related quality of life assessments. Future research should focus on (i) establishing key components of CLCI and determining the mechanisms of impairment through longitudinal or retrospective case,control studies, and (ii) assessing factors that put patients at increased risk of developing CLCI. In the future, this concept may lead to a better understanding of the overall impact of psoriasis, help identify more vulnerable patients, and facilitate more appropriate treatment decisions or earlier referrals. To our knowledge, this is a first attempt to apply and develop concepts from ,Life Course Epidemiology' to psoriasis research. [source] Northumbria's southern frontier: a reviewEARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE, Issue 4 2006Nick Higham Northumbria's southern frontier was arguably the most important political boundary inside pre-Viking England. It has, however, attracted little scholarly attention since Peter Hunter Blair's seminal article in Archaeo-logia Aeliana in 1948, which later commentators have generally followed rather uncritically. This essay reviews his arguments in the light of more recent research and casts doubt on several key aspects of his case: firstly, it contests his view that this boundary was fundamental to the naming of both southern and northern England and its kingdoms; secondly, it queries the supposition that the Roman Ridge dyke system is likely to have been a Northumbrian defensive work; thirdly, it critiques the view that the Grey Ditch, at Bradwell, formed part of the frontier; and, finally, it argues against the boundary in the west being along the River Ribble. Rather, pre-Viking Northumbria more probably included those parts of the eleventh-century West Riding of Yorkshire which lie south of the River Don, with a frontier perhaps often identical to that at Domesday, and it arguably met western Mercia not on the Ribble but on the Mersey. It was probably political developments in the tenth century, and particularly under Edward the Elder and his son Athelstan, that led to the Mercian acquisition of southern Lancashire and the development of a new ecclesiastical frontier between the sees of Lichfield and York on the Ribble, in a period that also saw the York archdiocese acquire northern Nottinghamshire. [source] Seismic control of smart base isolated buildings with new semiactive variable damperEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 6 2007S. Nagarajaiah Abstract A new semiactive independently variable damper, SAIVD, is developed and shown to be effective in achieving response reductions in smart base isolated buildings in near fault earthquakes. The semiactive device consists of four linear visco-elastic elements, commonly known as Kelvin,Voigt elements, arranged in a rhombus configuration. The magnitude of force in the semiactive device can be adjusted smoothly in real-time by varying the angle of the visco-elastic elements of the device or the aspect ratio of the rhombus configuration. Such a device is essentially linear, simple to construct, and does not present the difficulties commonly associated with modelling and analysing nonlinear devices (e.g. friction devices). The smooth semiactive force variation eliminates the disadvantages associated with rapid switching devices. Experimental results are presented to verify the proposed analytical model of the device. A H, control algorithm is implemented in order to reduce the response of base isolated buildings with variable damping semiactive control systems in near fault earthquakes. The central idea of the control algorithm is to design a H, controller for the structural system that serves as an aid in the determination of the optimum control force in the semiactive device. The relative performance of the SAIVD device is compared to a variable friction device, recently developed by the authors in a separate study, and several key aspects of performance are discussed regarding the use of the two devices for reducing the responses of smart base isolated buildings in near fault earthquakes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Limit Order Adjustment Mechanisms and Ex-Dividend Day Stock Price BehaviorFINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2005Keith Jakob Unlike the NYSE, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) does not adjust prices in the outstanding limit orders on ex-dividend days. We find that TSX ex-day stock price behavior differs from that on the NYSE in several key aspects. In each case, the TSX ex-day behavior is consistent with the lack of a limit order adjustment mechanism. Our findings confirm that market microstructure is an important factor that contributes to the observed Canadian ex-day price behavior. Our findings also resolve the puzzle of the relatively small ex-day price drop in Canada. [source] A metapopulation perspective for salmon and other anadromous fishFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 4 2007Nicolas Schtickzelle Abstract Salmonids are an important component of biodiversity, culture and economy in several regions, particularly the North Pacific Rim. Given this importance, they have been intensively studied for about a century, and the pioneering scientists recognized the critical link between population structure and conservation. Spatial structure is indeed of prime importance for salmon conservation and management. At first glance, the essence of the metapopulation concept, i.e. a population of populations, widely used on other organisms like butterflies, seems to be particularly relevant to salmon, and more generally to anadromous fish. Nevertheless, the concept is rarely used, and barely tested. Here, we present a metapopulation perspective for anadromous fish, assessing in terms of processes rather than of patterns the set of necessary conditions for metapopulation dynamics to exist. Salmon, and particularly sockeye salmon in Alaska, are used as an illustrative case study. A review of life history traits indicates that the three basic conditions are likely to be fulfilled by anadromous salmon: (i) the spawning habitat is discrete and populations are spatially separated by unsuitable habitat; (ii) some asynchrony is present in the dynamics of more or less distant populations and (iii) dispersal links populations because some salmon stray from their natal population. The implications of some peculiarities of salmon life history traits, unusual in classical metapopulations, are also discussed. Deeper understanding of the population structure of anadromous fish will be advanced by future studies on specific topics: (i) criteria must be defined for the delineation of suitable habitats that are based on features of the biotope and not on the presence of fish; (ii) the collection of long-term data and the development of improved methods to determine age structure are essential for correctly estimating levels of asynchrony between populations and (iii) several key aspects of dispersal are still poorly understood and need to be examined in detail: the spatial and temporal scales of dispersal movements, the origin and destination populations instead of simple straying rates, and the relative reproductive success of immigrants and residents. [source] Development and selection of ,, T cellsIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2007Na Xiong Summary:, Two main lineages of T cells develop in the thymus: those that express the ,, T-cell receptor (TCR) and those that express the ,, TCR. Whereas the development, selection, and peripheral localization of newly differentiated ,, T cells are understood in some detail, these processes are less well characterized in ,, T cells. This review describes research carried out in this laboratory and others, which addresses several key aspects of ,, T-cell development, including the decision of precursor cells to differentiate into the ,, versus ,, lineage, the ordered differentiation over the course of ontogeny of functional ,, T-cell subsets expressing distinct TCR structures, programming of ordered V, gene rearrangement in the thymus, including a molecular switch that ensures appropriate V, rearrangements at the appropriate stage of development, positive selection in the thymus of ,, T cells destined for the epidermis, and the acquisition by developing ,, T cells of cues that determine their correct localization in the periphery. This research suggests a coordination of molecularly programmed events and cellular selection, which enables specialization of the thymus for production of distinct T-cell subsets at different stages of development. [source] An integrative formulation-based cognitive treatment of bipolar disorders: Application and illustrationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2007Warren Mansell An integrative cognitive treatment for mood swings and bipolar disorders is summarized and then illustrated in a clinical case. In essence, it is proposed that multiple, extreme, and conflicting beliefs about changes in internal state, and the reciprocal impact of these beliefs on behavior, physiology, and the social environment, constitute the central mechanism that maintain and escalate bipolar symptoms. Using a case illustration with examples of therapy dialogue, several key aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy are explained, including the assessment of mood, beliefs, distressing imagery, and recurrent thinking; case formulation; therapeutic techniques; self-awareness; interpersonal factors during therapy; and systemic issues. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 63: 447,461, 2007. [source] Steerable catheters in minimally invasive vascular surgeryTHE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER ASSISTED SURGERY, Issue 4 2009Yili Fu Abstract Background Remote-controlled catheter navigation systems have recently been introduced into minimally invasive vascular surgery and some of them have already been applied in clinical practice. Steerable catheters with improved manoeuvrability play an important role in these innovations for conventional catheterization. Methods This review details the development of various steerable catheters, both in use clinically and under investigation. Comprehensive comparison and analysis in several key aspects are followed to reveal both the advantages and limitations of these catheters, as well as the requirements for relevant techniques. Results Steerable catheters are able to select direction in the distal end, and superior to conventional counterparts in many aspects. Differences between magnetic and active catheters mainly lie in function, safety, configuration of operating room and cost. They have similar requirements for miniaturization and slave insertion mechanisms. Conclusions Steerable catheters are rapidly evolving and still require technological refinements to extend current capabilities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||