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Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences25%

Selected Abstracts

Molecular basis of antibiotic resistance and ,-lactamase inhibition by mechanism-based inactivators: perspectives and future directions

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2000
Christian Therrien
Abstract Antibacterial chemotherapy is particularly striking in the family of penicillins and cephalosporins. Over 40 structurally different ,-lactam molecules are available in 73 formulations and the majority of them are currently prescribed for medical use in hospitals. ,-Lactams are well tolerated by humans with few side effects. They interact very specifically with their bacterial target, the d -alanyl- d -alanine carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase usually referred to as dd -peptidase. The outstanding number of ,-lactamases produced by bacteria represent a serious threat to the clinical utility of ,-lactams. The discovery of ,-lactamase inhibitors was thought to solve, in part, the problem of resistance. Unfortunately, bacteria have evolved new mechanisms of resistance to overcome the inhibitory effects of ,-lactamase inactivators. Here, we summarize the diversified mechanistic features of class A ,-lactamases interactions with mechanism-based inhibitors using available microbiological, kinetic and structural data for the prototype TEM ,-lactamases. A brief historical overview of the strategies developed to counteract ,-lactamases will be presented followed by a short description of the chemical events which lead to the inactivation of TEM ,-lactamase by inhibitors from different classes. Finally, an update on the clinical prevalence of natural and inhibitor-resistant enzyme mutants, the total chemical synthesis to design and synthesize a new structure and produced a broad spectrum ,-lactamase inhibitor that mimics the ,-lactam ring, but does not contain it is discussed. [source]

Digital Photography and the Assessment of Therapeutic Results after Bleaching Procedures

JOURNAL OF ESTHETIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY, Issue 2003
WOLFGANG M. BENGEL DR MED DENT
ABSTRACT The therapeutic outcome of tooth-bleaching procedures can be assessed by different methods, one of them being digital photography. However, none of the methods seems to be perfect. In this overview factors are discussed that have an influence on color rendition and image brightness in (digital) photography. A photographic procedure is proposed that results in comparable images. Beginning with a short description of some digital cameras currently used in dental photography, the article discusses the influence of light and camera technology on image brightness and color rendition in detail. Even if a highly standardized procedure is performed, there remain factors that affect color and brightness that cannot be excluded completely. Therefore, a photographic procedure is proposed that includes a piece of gray card in the picture as a neutral reference object. In this way, color casts can be eliminated and image brightness can be fine tuned using a standard image-editing program (Adobe Photoshop®, Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Jose, CA, USA) before the relevant color values are metered by the same software. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE A photographic procedure using digital cameras is proposed that is relatively simple and sufficiently precise to allow the assessment of the therapeutic outcome of tooth-bleaching procedures. [source]

An action research project in a night shelter for rough sleepers

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2002
J. Payne ba jt hons dip social work postgrad cert action res
From October 1999 to June 2000, an action research project was undertaken in a homeless night shelter called Jimmy's. This project was grounded in user-consultation and sought the involvement of staff and management to institute tangible improvements in service delivery using the Power Audit. A brief overview of Jimmy's is given, then this research is placed in local and national context by describing policy development in homelessness. A brief description is given of the research methodology and a short description of the Power Audit. Following this, the lives and experiences of the guests (Jimmy's residents) are conveyed using ethnography. This tells of the development of relationships with guests, staff and management without which the project could not have succeeded. Finally, an overview is provided of the interview content and the practical changes made. [source]

SIMM: An integrated forecasting system for the Mediterranean area

METEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, Issue 4 2007
Antonio Speranza
Abstract Many ,high-impact' meteorological, marine and hydrological events in the Mediterranean area are characterized by horizontal spatial scales of the order of 10,100 km. Such events are, sometimes, driven by complex dynamical processes involving planetary scale atmospheric flows. Several international programs (ALPEX, POEM, MAP, PYREX, MEDEX) have improved the understanding of some of these processes. However, because of the Mediterranean's geomorphological structure, characterized by mountain chains (e.g. the Alps), semi-enclosed sea basins and small river catchments, many problems remain. It is clear that such problems have to be faced in the context of analysis-prediction systems bridging the gap between global and local scales of motion. These systems should allow for an adequate representation of key dynamical processes at all the relevant scales of motion. The Hydro-Meteorological-Marine System (,Sistema Idro-Meteo-Mare', SIMM) is a first step in developing an integrated system, adequately covering all scales of motion from global to local. A short description of the system is presented, highlighting scientific concepts behind design choices. A summary of the results of verification tests is also illustrated, together with a general evaluation of the whole process in planning, developing and running SIMM in order to assist future updates of the system, currently under development. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source]

Beyond frontiers of traditional project management: An approach to evolutionary, self-organizational principles and the complexity theory,results of the research program

PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010
Manfred Saynisch
Abstract This article speculates beyond current thinking in project management, asserting that traditional project management cannot fulfill the challenges and requirements for mastering increased complexity in society, economics, and technology. The new paradigmatic evolutionary-systemic and cybernetic-systemic research results (including self-organization or chaotic systems) in the more recent natural and social sciences were analyzed based on their relevance for a new perspective in project management. Selected results of the research program will be presented, including a short description of "Project Management Second Order (PM-2)" as a highlighted result and a new paradigm in project management. [source]

Observing the high redshift Universe using the VIMOS-IFU

ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 2 2004
S. Foucaud
Abstract We describe the advantages of using Integral Field Spectroscopy to observe deep fields of galaxies. The VIMOS Integral Field Unit is particularly suitable for this kind of study thanks to its large field-of-view (,1 arcmin2). After a short description of the VIMOS-IFU data reduction, we detail the main scientific issues which can be addressed using observations of the Hubble Deep Field South with a combination of Integral Field Spectroscopy and broad band optical and near-Infrared imaging. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

The Birth of a Chemical Society

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 32 2009
Gianfranco Scorrano Prof.
Abstract A short description of the events leading to the birth of the Italian Chemical Society is given. The first Italian Chemical Society was established in 1909, and resulted from the merging of the Milan and Rome sections. [source]

Organizational Attractiveness for Prospective Applicants: A Person,Organisation Fit Perspective

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2001
Filip Lievens
This study investigates which of four objective organisational characteristics determine the attractiveness of organisations for prospective applicants and the degree to which the Big Five personality factors moderate the effects of some of these organisational attributes. To this end, 359 final-year students (engineering and business majors, 71% men, mean age = 22.4 years) read short descriptions of organisations. These descriptions varied on four organisational characteristics (i.e. organisation size, level of internationalisation, pay mix, and level of centralisation). The students had to indicate their attraction to the organisation. Additionally, they provided self-ratings on a personality inventory. The results show that prospective applicants are more attracted to large-sized, medium-sized, decentralised, and multinational organisations. Next, the results indicate that several personality characteristics moderate the effects of organisational characteristics on attractiveness. For instance, the factor conscientiousness moderates the effect of organisational size, with subjects high on conscientiousness being more attracted to large-sized organisations. The factor openness/intellect moderates the effect of internationalisation, with subjects high on openness/intellect being more attracted to multinational organisations. Ca travail s'attache a` de´terminer lesquelles de quatre dimensions organisationnelles objectives sont a` l'origine de l'attirance exerce´e par les organisations sur de futurs candidats. Il cherche aussi a` pre´ciser dans quelle mesure les facteurs de personnalite´ du Big Five interfe`rent avec certaines de ces caracte´ristiques organisationnelles. Pour ce faire, 359 e´tudiants en fin d'e´tudes d'inge´nieur et de management (masculins a` 71 % et d'un âge moyen de 22,4 ans) ont lu de courtes descriptions d'organisations. Ces descriptions renvoyaient a` quatre dimensions organisationnelles, a` savoir la taille de l'entreprise, le degre´ d'internationalisation, les syste`mes de re´mune´ration et le niveau de centralisation. Les e´tudiants devaient mentionner si l'organisation les attirait. En outre, ils s'auto-e´valuaient a` travers un inventaire de personnalite´. Les re´sultats montrent que les futurs candidats sont plus attire´s par les organisations multinationales, de´centralise´es, de taille moyenne ou grande. Il est e´galement apparu que certaines caracte´ristiques personnelles modifient les effets des dimensions organisationnelles sur l'attirance. Par example, le facteur "sens des responsabilite´s" ("conscientiousness") agit sur l'impact de la taille de l'organisation, les sujets pre´sentant un sens des responsabilite´s e´leve´ se montrant plus attire´s par les grandes organisations. Le facteur "ouverture d'esprit" modifie les effets de l'internationalisation, les individus haut situe´s sur l'ouverture d'esprit e´tant davantage se´duits par les multinationales. [source]