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Short History (short + history)
Selected AbstractsA Short History of Western Architecture from Vitruvius to Rem KoolhaasARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Issue 1 2009Francesco Proto No abstract is available for this article. [source] A Short History Of Nitroglycerine And Nitric Oxide In Pharmacology And PhysiologyCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Neville Marsh SUMMARY 1. Nitroglycerine (NG) was discovered in 1847 by Ascanio Sobrero in Turin, following work with Theophile-Jules Pelouze. Sobrero first noted the ,violent headache' produced by minute quantities of NG on the tongue. 2. Constantin Hering, in 1849, tested NG in healthy volunteers, observing that headache was caused with ,such precision'. Hering pursued NG (,glonoine') as a homeopathic remedy for headache, believing that its use fell within the doctrine of ,like cures like'. 3. Alfred Nobel joined Pelouze in 1851 and recognized the potential of NG. He began manufacturing NG in Sweden, overcoming handling problems with his patent detonator. Nobel suffered acutely from angina and was later to refuse NG as a treatment. 4. During the mid-19th century, scientists in Britain took an interest in the newly discovered amyl nitrite, recognized as a powerful vasodilator. Lauder Brunton, the father of modern pharmacology, used the compound to relieve angina in 1867, noting the pharmacological resistance to repeated doses. 5. William Murrell first used NG for angina in 1876, although NG entered the British Pharmacopoeia as a remedy for hypertension. William Martindale, the pharmaceutical chemist, prepared ,. . . a more stable and portable preparation': 1/100th of a grain in chocolate. 6. In the early 20th century, scientists worked on in vitro actions of nitrate-containing compounds although little progress was made towards understanding the cellular mode of action. 7. The NG industry flourished from 1900, exposing workers to high levels of organic nitrites; the phenomena of nitrate tolerance was recognized by the onset of ,Monday disease' and of nitrate-withdrawal/overcompensation by ,Sunday Heart Attacks'. 8. Ferid Murad discovered the release of nitric oxide (NO) from NG and its action on vascular smooth muscle (in 1977). Robert Furchgott and John Zawadski recognized the importance of the endothelium in acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation (in 1980) and Louis Ignarro and Salvador Moncada identified endothelial-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) as NO (in 1987). 9. Glycerol trinitrate remains the treatment of choice for relieving angina; other organic esters and inorganic nitrates are also used, but the rapid action of NG and its established efficacy make it the mainstay of angina pectoris relief. [source] A Primer on Topological PersistenceCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2006Herbert Edelsbrunner The idea of topological persistence is to look at homological features that persist along a nested sequence of topo-logical spaces. As a typical example, we may take the sequence of sublevel sets of a function. The combinatorial characterization of persistence in terms of pairs of critical values and fast algorithms computing these pairs make this idea practical and useful in dealing with the pervasive phenomenon of noise in geometric and visual data. This talk will 1. recall the relatively short history of persistence and some of its older roots; 2. introduce the concept intuitively while pointing out where algebra is needed to solidify the more difficult steps; 3. discuss a few applications to give a feeling of the potential of the method in dealing with noise and scale. Besides the initial concept, the talk will touch upon recent extensions and their motivation. [source] AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CLIMBING DICENTRAS , THE GENUS DACTYLICAPNOS IN CULTIVATIONCURTIS'S BOTANICAL MAGAZINE, Issue 3 2008Nicholas Hind Summary The genus Dactylicapnos Wall. (Papaveraceae: Fumarioideae: Corydaleae) consists of annual and perennial climbers with half-hardy stems, tendrils on the leaves and, in most species, perennating, tuberous rootstocks. A short history of the genus is given here and its status is discussed. At present four species appear to be in cultivation and cultivation notes for these are provided. A description of the genus is given together with a synopsis, or nomenclator, of the species and associated names. [source] Faunal make-up, host range and infestation rate of weevils and tephritid flies associated with flower heads of the thistle Cirsium (Cardueae: Astaraceae) in JapanENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2004Akinori NAKAMURA Abstract From 1988 to 1998, we collected flower heads of 39 thistle taxa (35 taxa of Cirsium, one species each of Breea, Synurus, Saussurea and Arctium; Cardueae; Astaraceae) in Japan, mainly from Hokuriku and other parts of central Honshu, and kept them in the laboratory to breed weevils and tephritid flies, the core fauna. We report the faunal make-up, host plants, geographic distribution and the attack levels of the insects. Results indicated that (i) three Larinus species (Curculionidae) and three species of tephritid flies (Tephritis, Urophora and Xyphosia) comprised the core fauna; (ii) two insect species belonging to the same taxonomic group (either Curculionidae (Larinus) or Tephritidae) tended to use different host plant species; (iii) two sympatric Larinus species (L. latissimus and L. meleagris) segregated the host plants seasonally in central Honshu (Cirsium blooming in spring and autumn, respectively); and (iv) two tephritid fly species, Xyphosia punctigera and Urophora sachalinensis, segregated geographically (the former on the Japan Sea side and the latter on the Pacific Ocean side). In comparison with their European counterparts, the weevils and tephritids of the Japanese Cirsium are characterized by a lower species richness and a lower degree of specialization in usage of the thistle flower heads, with gall-formers being distinctly under-represented, and callus tissue-feeders being absent. This reflects the fact that Japanese thistles are so closely related that hybridization frequently occurs, and also that the thistles have had a short history of interaction with the insects since the thistles' arrival in Japan. [source] Ribosomal RNA-targeted nucleic acid probes for studies in microbial ecologyFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 5 2000Rudolf Amann Abstract With readily applicable hybridization assays, mainly based on rRNA-targeted nucleic acid probes, and direct, cultivation-independent sequence retrieval, microbiologists can for the first time determine the true composition of microbial communities. Phylogenetic identification and exact spatiotemporal quantification of microorganisms will in the future become prerequisites for high quality studies in microbial ecology just as good taxonomy and solid quantification have always been for macroecology. This review is intended to give a short history of the development of rRNA-targeted nucleic acid probes and probe technologies, as well as of their application in microbial ecology. The current state of the art is described, and we will try to look into the future. Over the last decade, rRNA-targeted probes have become a handy tool for microbial ecologists. In order to speed up the transformation of microbial ecology from a mostly descriptive to a hypothesis-driven, experimental science more intense use must be made of the taxonomic precision and quantitativeness of rRNA-targeted probes. [source] A short history of sweat gland biologyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007K. Wilke Synopsis The axilla, especially its microflora and axillary sweat glands as well as their secretions, is the main target of cosmetic compositions such as deodorants or antiperspirants. There are three types of sweat glands present in the axillary skin, namely apocrine, eccrine and apoeccrine sweat glands. Here, we provide an overview of the morphological, structural and functional characteristics of the different gland types and present techniques that allow their clear distinction. Moreover, we describe different forms of perspiration as physical reactions to external and internal stimuli. Résumé Les glandes sudoripares axillaires et leurs sécrétions sont les points d'application principaux des produits antitranspirants et déodorants. Dans la peau axillaire, il y a trois formes différentes de glandes sudoripares appelées apocrines, eccrines et apoeccrines. Nous donnons une vue d'ensemble des propriétés fonctionnelles, morphologiques et structurelles des différentes glandes et présentons des techniques qui permettent leur distinction. Nous décrivons également les différents modes de transpiration corporelle entant que réactions physiques aux stimuli externes et internes. [source] Explaining Migration: A Critical ViewINTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 165 2000Joaquín Arango The article surveys the major contemporary explanations of migration, starting with the neo-classical theory, and then the array of theories and conceptual frameworks that have flourished in the last quarter of the century. The survey highlights the fact that in its relatively short history, theorising about migration has taken the form of a string of separate, generally unconnected theories, models, conceptual frameworks and empirical generalisations, rather than a cumulative sequence of contributions. As awhole, existing theories of migration can be faulted for focusing almost exclusively on the explanation of the causes of migration, to the detriment of other dimensions; for making ,grand claims' out of proportion with effective explanatory power; and for providing explanations ex-post rather than guiding empirical research and providing testable hypotheses. In addition to the difficulties that all the social sciences experience when trying to explainhuman behaviour, migration theories face special ones: its subject matter is hard to define, difficult to measure, extremely multifaceted and multiform, and thus resistant to theory-building. Whilst the reservoir of theories, and especially of conceptual frameworks, available nowadays represents a clear improvement over the situation a few decades ago, their contribution toour knowledge of migration is still limited. [source] Squamous cell carcinoma arising from perineal lesion in a familial case of Hidradenitis suppurativaINTERNATIONAL WOUND JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009K Chandramohan ABSTRACT Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic dermatologic disorder characterised by multiple vesiculopustular cutaneous lesions in skin. It sometimes express autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. In some patients, it can give rise to squamous cell carcinoma of skin. Unlike the usual marjolin's ulcer which develops in chronic scars, this disease carries a grave prognosis with high recurrence rate and mortality. Here we are reporting the case of a 40-year-old gentle man with hidradenitis suppurativa, who presented with squamous cell carcinoma in the perianal region, and had multiple family members affected with HS. A short history and review of literature are discussed. Squamous cell carcinoma arising from HS is a major therapeutic challenge. This malignancy carries very high rates of recurrence and mortality. Careful surveillance of the lesions of HS, especially occurring in perineal region is very important to diagnose secondary malignancies. Similarly, meticulous surgical excision with careful resection of all sinus tracks and frozen section examination of margins are very important to eradicate the disease. [source] HUMAN CAPITAL MEASUREMENT: A SURVEYJOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SURVEYS, Issue 2 2010Giuseppe Folloni Abstract After a short history of the concept of human capital (henceforth HC) in economic thought (Section 1), this study presents the two main methods for estimating the value of the stock of HC , the retrospective and prospective one , with a review of the models proposed (Section 2). These methods are linked both to the theory of HC investment as a rational choice (Section 3), the literature analysing the contribution of HC investment to economic growth and the HC estimating method through educational attainment (Section 4). The more recent literature on HC as a latent variable is also assessed (Section 5) and a new method of estimation where HC is seen both as an unknown function of formative indicators and as a ,latent effect' underlying earned income is proposed (Section 6). Section 7 concludes. [source] The Critical Care Research Network: a partnership in community-based research and research transferJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2000.FRCPC, MSc(Epid), Sean P. Keenan MD The objectives of this study were to present a short history of the Critical Care Research Network (CCR-Net), describe its approach to health services research and to summarize completed and current research projects. In doing this, we explored the question is this research network accomplishing its goals? We reviewed the medical literature to identify studies on similar types of Networks and also the evidence supporting the methodology used by CCR-Net to conduct research using MEDLINE, HEALTHSTAR, CINAHL and the keywords network and health care or healthcare, benchmarking and health care or healthcare, and research transfer or research utilization. We also reviewed the bibliographies of retrieved articles and our personal files. In addition, we summarized the results of studies conducted by CCR-Net and outlined those currently in progress. A review of the literature identified studies on two similar networks that appeared to be succeeding. In addition, the literature was also supportive of the general process used by CCR-Net, although the level of evidence varied. Finally, the studies conducted to date within CCR-Net follow the suggested methodology. At the time of this preliminary communication CCR-Net appears to have adopted a valid approach to health services research within the area of Critical Care Medicine. Further direct evidence is required and appropriate studies are planned. [source] A short history of the development studies associationJOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2009Michael Tribe Abstract This paper outlines the origins of the Development Studies Association (DSA) in the 1960s together with the main features of the association since its formation in 1978. Some of the leading individuals in this evolution are identified, but it is made clear that institutional pressures have also been important over the years. Issues which threaten the Association include ,free-riding' (the obverse of which is ,externalities') as well as the linked question of those involved in ,development' who are neither members nor involved in the activities of the association. The paper also considers whether the DSA has ,made a difference', links the DSA to its European sister association, the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), and describes recent and prospective future developments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A short history of blebbingJOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 3 2008G.T. CHARRAS Summary Blebs are protrusions of the cell membrane. They are the result of actomyosin contractions of the cortex, which cause either transient detachment of the cell membrane from the actin cortex or a rupture in the actin cortex. Then, cytosol streams out of the cell body and inflates the newly formed bleb. During expansion, which lasts ,30 s, the bleb is devoid of actin and the surface area increases through further tearing of membrane from the cortex and convective flows of lipids in the plane of the membrane through the bleb neck. Once expansion slows, an actin cortex is reconstituted. First actin-membrane linker proteins, such as ezrin, are recruited to the bleb, then actin, actin-bundling proteins and finally myosin motor proteins. Retraction lasts ,2 min and is powered by myosin motor proteins. Though it has been less studied than other actin-based membrane protrusions such as lamellipodia or filopodia, blebbing is a common feature of cell physiology during cell movement, cytokinesis, cell spreading and apoptosis. This review will succinctly attempt to summarize what we know about the mechanisms involved in blebbing, when it appears in cell physiology and what open questions remain. [source] A short history of muddy floodsLAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2010J. Boardman Abstract The term ,muddy flood' has been used widely in the lowland, arable areas of western and central Europe to describe muddy runoff from arable fields that causes damage to property. There is some evidence that muddy floods are much more frequent in the last two decades than previously. It is clear though that there is very substantial under-reporting of the phenomena even in areas where they have been recognised for 20 years e.g. UK and France. Reconstructions based on questionnaires, news media and local authority records have had some success in historical analysis of muddy flood frequency but there is still a huge data deficiency. Records from some countries are woefully lacking e.g. Germany, Spain and Italy. Costs of muddy flooding are substantial especially in the loess belt of Belgium. The number of properties flooded in France suggests also that costs are high; similarly in England (UK) where costs for case studies are known but not for the country as a whole. There are two quite different solutions to the problem of muddy flooding. Protection can be provided by engineering devices: retention ponds, dams, trenches. This is an ,end of pipe' solution with severe cost implications and risks with regard to the design return period. Alternatively, land use change on relatively small areas of catchments, can be shown to be effective at reducing flood-risk hazard. A combination of the two has proved most effective at several sites in Europe. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Post-ice age recolonization and differentiation of Fucus serratus L. (Phaeophyceae; Fucaceae) populations in Northern EuropeMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 7 2003J. A. Coyer Abstract The seaweed Fucus serratus is hypothesized to have evolved in the North Atlantic and present populations are thought to reflect recolonization from a southern refugium since the last glacial maximum 18 000,20 000 years bp. We examined genetic structure across several spatial scales by analysing seven microsatellite loci in populations collected from 21 localities throughout the species' range. Spatial auto-correlation analysis of seven microsatellite loci revealed no evidence for spatial clustering of alleles on a scale of 100 m despite limited gamete dispersal in F. serratus of , 2 m from parental individuals. Pairwise , analysis suggested that the minimal panmictic unit for F. serratus was between 0.5 and 2 km. Isolation by distance was significant along some contiguous coastlines. Population differentiation was strong within the Skagerrak,Kattegat,Baltic Seas (SKB) (global ,= 0.17) despite a short history of , 7500 years. A neighbour-joining tree based on Reynold's distances computed from the microsatellite data revealed a central assemblage of populations on the Brittany Peninsula surrounded by four well-supported clusters consisting of the SKB, the North Sea (Ireland, Helgoland), and two populations from the northern Spanish coast. Samples from Iceland and Nova Scotia were most closely aligned with northwest Sweden and Brittany, respectively. When sample sizes were standardized (N = 41), allelic diversity was twofold higher for Brittany populations than for populations to the north and threefold higher than southern populations. The Brittany region may be a refugium or a recolonized area, whereas the Spanish populations most likely reflect present-day edge populations that have undergone repeated bottlenecks as a consequence of thermally induced cycles of recolonization and extinction. [source] A short history of new directions for evaluationNEW DIRECTIONS FOR EVALUATION, Issue 114 2007Lois-ellin Datta This chapter provides a brief history of New Directions for Evaluation ,how the journal came into being, key events in the life of the journal, and its purpose. [source] A short history of the field of regional sciencePAPERS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004David Boyce Regional science; history Abstract. The Regional Science Association was founded 50 years ago in December 1954; however, the institutional origins of the field were much earlier, perhaps when Walter Isard began his graduate studies in economics at Harvard University. This article briefly traces the history of the field of regional science and its association from those beginnings to the present. The focus of the article is the evolution of the association as an institution, and some of its major contributors, and to a much lesser extent, on the scope and scholarly content of the field. [source] A short history of the initial discovery of the Wolf,Hirschhorn syndrome,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 4 2008Kurt Hirschhorn Abstract Deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4 (4p-) was first described in 1961 [Hirschhorn and Cooper, 1961], and the second case of 4p- was published in 1965 [Hirschhorn et al., 1965]. This short history describes the original case and the sequence of events leading to the publications. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Caenorhabditis elegans proteomics comes of agePROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 4 2010Yhong-Hee Shim Abstract Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living soil nematode, is an ideal model system for studying various physiological problems relevant to human diseases. Despite its short history, C. elegans proteomics is receiving great attention in multiple research areas, including the genome annotation, major signaling pathways (e.g. TGF-, and insulin/IGF-1 signaling), verification of RNA interference-mediated gene targeting, aging, disease models, as well as peptidomic analysis of neuropeptides involved in behavior and locomotion. For example, a proteome-wide profiling of developmental and aging processes not only provides basic information necessary for constructing a molecular network, but also identifies important target proteins for chemical modulation. Although C. elegans has a simple body system and neural circuitry, it exhibits very complicated functions ranging from feeding to locomotion. Investigation of these functions through proteomic analysis of various C. elegans neuropeptides, some of which are not found in the predicted genome sequence, would open a new field of peptidomics. Given the importance of nematode infection in plants and mammalian pathogenesis pathways, proteomics could be applied to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying plant, or animal,nematode pathogenesis and to identify novel antinematodal drugs. Thus, C. elegans proteomics, in combination of other molecular, biological and genetic techniques, would provide a versatile new tool box for the systematic analysis of gene functions throughout the entire life cycle of this nematode. [source] Annotation: The use of psychotropic medications in children: a British viewTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 2 2003David Bramble Background: Prescribing practices relating to the use of psychotropic medication with mentally disordered children have changed significantly in Britain over recent years. Methods: I conducted a review of the modest body of empirical data available relating to the prescribing practices of child psychiatrists, paediatricians and general practitioners (primary care physicians). The data were obtained primarily from postal questionnaire studies but also from British drug studies and a government-sponsored evaluation of the efficacy of stimulant medication. Postgraduate training guidelines for the three principal clinical disciplines are also discussed. Results: Systematic evaluation of prescribing practices has a relatively short history. All the studies reviewed demonstrated consistent methodological weaknesses, the most important of which was reliance upon retrospective reports of prescribing practices from clinicians with no analysis of actual prescription data. No studies relating to the general use of psychotropic medication by paediatricians were found. Child psychiatrists and general practitioners appear to be using a range of drugs for a range of conditions; however, there was evidence of intra- and interdisciplinary variations in practice. It was also evident from the general practitioner data that drug treatments were frequently used for conditions best managed with behavioural methods (e.g., common sleep problems and enuresis). Government prescription data relating to methylphenidate use in ADHD reveal a dramatic rise over the past ten years. Currently, most child psychiatrists use this treatment compared to approximately half the profession only seven years ago. The use of newer antipsychotic agents as well as the SSRI antidepressants appears to be growing in child psychiatric practice. A majority of clinicians surveyed believed that medication was an important treatment modality but also felt that they were relatively unskilled in the field and requested further training. Conclusions: Overall, a picture of both a growing and better informed use of psychotropic medication is emerging in Britain despite shortcomings in postgraduate training. Future research needs to evaluate prescribing practice in a more objective manner in order to improve training and also service developments in the field. [source] Genetic diversity in German draught horse breeds compared with a group of primitive, riding and wild horses by means of microsatellite DNA markersANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 4 2004K. S. Aberle Summary We compared the genetic diversity and distance among six German draught horse breeds to wild (Przewalski's Horse), primitive (Icelandic Horse, Sorraia Horse, Exmoor Pony) or riding horse breeds (Hanoverian Warmblood, Arabian) by means of genotypic information from 30 microsatellite loci. The draught horse breeds included the South German Coldblood, Rhenish German Draught Horse, Mecklenburg Coldblood, Saxon Thuringa Coldblood, Black Forest Horse and Schleswig Draught Horse. Despite large differences in population sizes, the average observed heterozygosity (Ho) differed little among the heavy horse breeds (0.64,0.71), but was considerably lower than in the Hanoverian Warmblood or Icelandic Horse population. The mean number of alleles (NA) decreased more markedly with declining population sizes of German draught horse breeds (5.2,6.3) but did not reach the values of Hanoverian Warmblood (NA = 6.7). The coefficient of differentiation among the heavy horse breeds showed 11.6% of the diversity between the heavy horse breeds, as opposed to 21.2% between the other horse populations. The differentiation test revealed highly significant genetic differences among all draught horse breeds except the Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldbloods. The Schleswig Draught Horse was the most distinct draught horse breed. In conclusion, the study demonstrated a clear distinction among the German draught horse breeds and even among breeds with a very short history of divergence like Rhenish German Draught Horse and its East German subpopulations Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldblood. [source] The fifth dimension: Theodor Kaluza's ground-breaking ideaANNALEN DER PHYSIK, Issue 9 2003D. Wuensch Abstract Theodor Kaluza (1885,1954) attracted the attention of the physical community since 1921 with his unified field theory of gravitation and electromagnetism in five dimensions. Despite Einstein's great interest in Kaluza's theory, 50 years elapsed before it contributed toward a paradigm shift in modern theoretical physics. The biography of this still unknown scientist is briefly presented along with an outline of his work in physics. A short history of the theories of unification and the dimensionality of space-time is followed by a discussion of the significance of Kaluza's five-dimensional unified theory in modern physics from the point of view of superstring and M-theory. [source] Alcoholic neuropathy is clinicopathologically distinct from thiamine-deficiency neuropathyANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 1 2003Haruki Koike MD Characteristics of alcoholic neuropathy have been obscured by difficulty in isolating them from features of thiamine-deficiency neuropathy. We assessed 64 patients with alcoholic neuropathy including subgroups without (ALN) and with (ALN-TD) coexisting thiamine deficiency. Thirty-two patients with nonalcoholic thiamine-deficiency neuropathy (TDN) also were investigated for comparison. In ALN, clinical symptoms were sensory-dominant and slowly progressive, predominantly impairing superficial sensation (especially nociception) with pain or painful burning sensation. In TDN, most cases manifested a motor-dominant and acutely progressive pattern, with impairment of both superficial and deep sensation. Small-fiber-predominant axonal loss in sural nerve specimens was characteristic of ALN, especially with a short history of neuropathy; long history was associated with regenerating small fibers. Large-fiber-predominant axonal loss predominated in TDN. Subperineurial edema was more prominent in TDN, whereas segmental de/remyelination resulting from widening of consecutive nodes of Ranvier was more frequent in ALN. Myelin irregularity was greater in ALN. ALN-TD showed a variable mixture of these features in ALN and TDN. We concluded that pure-form of alcoholic neuropathy (ALN) was distinct from pure-form of thiamine-deficiency neuropathy (TDN), supporting the view that alcoholic neuropathy can be caused by direct toxic effect of ethanol or its metabolites. However, features of alcoholic neuropathy is influenced by concomitant thiamine-deficiency state, having so far caused the obscure clinicopathological entity of alcoholic neuropathy. Ann Neurol 2003 [source] THE CO-OPERATIVE REFORM PROCESS IN TANZANIA AND SRI LANKAANNALS OF PUBLIC AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2010Johnston Birchall ABSTRACT**:,This article reports on findings from a three year study of co-operatives in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. The article asks three questions: why do co-operative sectors need reforming; what is the co-operative reform process; and why has reform succeeded in some countries but not others? It provides a short history of co-operatives in three phases: the colonial period, the post-colonial nationalist period and the period of market liberalisation. It shows that the control exercised by colonial governments was deepened under nationalist governments, with co-operatives becoming parastatals. Liberalisation brought a sustained attempt by international agencies to reassert the distinctive nature of co-operatives as member-owned businesses. However, co-ops were ill-prepared to adjust to a competitive market and the lifting of government regulation; many failed, some were corrupted, while a few became truly member-controlled. The article draws on documentary analysis and key informant interviews to provide accounts of the reform process in Tanzania and Sri Lanka. It finds that the process is incomplete and often contested. [source] Lethal outcome in xanthogranulomatous endometritis,APMIS, Issue 5 2006Case report Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is rare, mainly involving the kidneys, while primary xanthogranulomatous endometritis (XE) is a very unusual finding, histologically characterized by partial or complete replacement of the mucosa by granulation tissue with an abundance of foamy histiocytes, siderophages and multinucleated giant cells. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with a short history of abdominal pain and a palpable mass in the pouch of Douglas. Dilatation of the cervix drained a pyometra. Histological examination of the curettage rendered the diagnosis of XE. Microbiological studies revealed enterococcus spp. and Peptostreptococcus magnus. Despite antibiotic treatment the patient died of heart failure due to systemic inflammation. Autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of XE with transmural extension into the peritoneal cavity. Such a lethal course of XE is extraordinary. Proposed causes of XE include obstruction, infection and hemorrhage. Demonstration of enterococcus spp. and P. magnus supports the probable significance of bacteria in the development of XE. Because this condition may mimic malignant disease macroscopically and histologically, knowledge of XE is of major importance for both pathologists and gynecologists. [source] The Locarno Gregory Coudé Telescope after 1984 A short history and a summary of the most important resultsASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 4 2003M. Bianda Abstract Since 1988 the Locarno solar observatory is operated by a private Foundation (FIRSOL) which took it over after the dismantling of the institute by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeischaft (DFG) and the Universitäts Sternwarte Göttingen (USG). The instrument has been rebuilt, equipped with new electronics and already several scientific projects were successfully carried out. [source] The Australian Dental Journal , the first 50 years: a short history and commentaryAUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2006PM Bartold [source] Fault architecture, basin structure and evolution of the Gulf of Corinth Rift, central GreeceBASIN RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009R. E. Bell ABSTRACT The style of extension and strain distribution during the early stages of intra-continental rifting is important for understanding rift-margin development and can provide constraints for lithospheric deformation mechanisms. The Corinth rift in central Greece is one of the few rifts to have experienced a short extensional history without subsequent overprinting. We synthesise existing seismic reflection data throughout the active offshore Gulf of Corinth Basin to investigate fault activity history and the spatio-temporal evolution of the basin, producing for the first time basement depth and syn-rift sediment isopachs throughout the offshore rift. A major basin-wide unconformity surface with an age estimated from sea-level cycles at ca. 0.4 Ma separates distinct seismic stratigraphic units. Assuming that sedimentation rates are on average consistent, the present rift formed at 1,2 Ma, with no clear evidence for along-strike propagation of the rift axis. The rift has undergone major changes in relative fault activity and basin geometry during its short history. The basement depth is greatest in the central rift (maximum ,3 km) and decreases to the east and west. In detail however, two separated depocentres 20,50 km long were created controlled by N- and S-dipping faults before 0.4 Ma, while since ca. 0.4 Ma a single depocentre (80 km long) has been controlled by several connected N-dipping faults, with maximum subsidence focused between the two older depocentres. Thus isolated but nearby faults can persist for timescales ca. 1 Ma and form major basins before becoming linked. There is a general evolution towards a dominance of N-dipping faults; however, in the western Gulf strain is distributed across several active N- and S-dipping faults throughout rift history, producing a more complex basin geometry. [source] Oral 2, Silver hair in a 3-year-old childBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007R. Batchelor A 32-month-old girl of Pakistani origin presented to the paediatricians with a short history of abdominal pain, decreased appetite and lethargy and a history of developmental delay. She was referred to us when it was noted that her hair and eyebrows were silver in colour. While in hospital, she became progressively more unwell, developed neck stiffness and refused to walk. A diagnosis of acute meningitis was made and a prelumbar puncture computed tomographic scan showed hydrocephalus with enlarged third and lateral ventricles. She underwent a third ventriculostomy and insertion of a reservoir. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple focal ill-defined enhancement with larger enhancing masses in the cerebellum. These appearances were initially thought suggestive of widely disseminated lymphoma or leukaemia. Surgical biopsy of these lesions was performed and histology showed some evidence of histiocytic tumour with a degree of erythrophagocytosis and lymphophagocytosis. In view of the histology and the phenotypic features, Griscelli syndrome was considered. Blood and hair from the patient were analysed and she was confirmed to be homozygous for a mutation in the RAB27A gene, which has been described in Griscelli syndrome. She has subsequently undergone bone marrow transplantation. Griscelli syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting in partial albinism and a combined immunodeficiency.1 Our case is unusual in that the presentation was neurological with no evidence of cytopenia. Reference 1 Mancini AJ, Chan LS, Paller AS. Partial albinism with immunodeficiency: Griscelli syndrome: report of a case and review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998; 38:295,300. [source] Politics, leadership, and experience in designing Ontario's cabinetCANADIAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION/ADMINISTRATION PUBLIQUE DU CANADA, Issue 2 2001Ted Glenn Traditional approaches to this question stress the importance of representational imperatives (i.e., region, language and gender), the need for managerial capacity and collegiality in complex organizations, or a particular government's fiscal or policy program. While these approaches have merit, they fail to pay sufficient attention to the fact that cabinet decision-making systems are in the first instance very intimate reflections and extensions of the political instincts, personal aptitudes, and governing experience of first ministers. The author sets out to understand recent reforms to Ontario cabinet decision-making in precisely this way - how did Premier Michael Harris' sense of his government's mandate, his personal approach to decision-making, and the practical lessons learned over the course of his government's first mandate influence the design of Ontario's cabinet decision-making system between 1995 and 1999? This article begins with a short history of Ontario's cabinet decision-making system, focusing on the period from 1968 to 1995. It then provides details of reforms introduced between 1995 and 1999 and concludes with some thoughts on how Premier Harris' political instincts, personal aptitudes, and governing experience influenced these reforms. Sommaire: Pourquoi les systèmes de prise de décisions du Cabinet sont-ils conçus comme ils le sont? Les réponses traditionnelles à cette question soulignent l'impor-tance des impératifs de représentation (c.-à-d. la région, la langue et le sexe), le besoin de compétence en matière de gestion et la collégialité dans les organismes complexes, ou bien un programme politique ou budgétaire particulier du gouvernement. Ces approches sont valables, mais elles ne tiennent pas suffisamment compte du fait que les systemes de prise de décisions du Cabinet sont, avant tout, le fruit de reflexions très approfondies et d'instincts politiques, d'aptitudes personnelles, et de l'expérience gouvernementale des premiers ministres. L'auteur de cet article essaie de comprendre, précisément dans ce sens, les récentes réformes en matière de prise de décisions au Cabinet de 1'Ontario: comment est-ce que l'idée qu'a Michael Harris du mandat de son gouvernement, son approche personnelle face à la prise de décisions, et les leçons pratiques tirées de son premier mandat (1995,1999) ont-elles influencé la conception du système de prise de décisions du Cabinet de l'Ontario? L'auteur commence par brosser un bref historique du système de prise de décisions du Cabinet de l'Ontario, en se penchant tout particulièrement sur la période allant de 1968 A 1995. Ensuite, il présente en détail les réformes introduites de 1995 à 1999 et conclut par quelques réflexions sur la manière dont les instincts politiques du Premier ministre Harris, ses aptitudes personnelles et son expérience du gouvernement ont influencé ces réformes. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||