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Unique Situation (unique + situation)
Selected AbstractsContrasting alternative hypotheses about rodent cycles by translating them into parameterized modelsECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 3 2001Peter Turchin Ecologists working on population cycles of arvicoline (microtine) rodents consider three ecological mechanisms as the most likely explanations of this long-standing puzzle in population ecology: maternal effects, interaction with specialist predators, and interaction with the food supply. Each of these hypotheses has now been translated into parameterized models, and has been shown to be capable of generating second-order oscillations (that is, population cycles driven by delayed density dependence). This development places us in a unique situation for population ecology. We can now practice "strong inference" by explicitly and quantitatively comparing the predictions of the three rival hypotheses with data. In this review, we contrast the ability of each hypothesis to explain various empirically observed features of rodent cycles, with a particular emphasis on the well-studied case of Microtus agrestis and other small rodents in Fennoscandia (Finland, Sweden and Norway). Our conclusion is that the current evidence best supports the predation hypothesis. [source] Zur Geschichte der Geowissenschaften im Museum für Naturkunde zu Berlin.FOSSIL RECORD-MITTEILUNGEN AUS DEM MUSEUM FUER NATURKUNDE, Issue 1 2004Teil 6: Geschichte des Geologisch-Paläontologischen Instituts und Museums der Universität Berlin 1910--200 Abstract Die Entwicklung des Geologisch-Paläontologischen Instituts und Museums der Universität Berlin von einer Institution, die Geologie zusammen mit Paläontologie als eine Einheit vertrat, über eine Institution, die eine geotektonische Ausrichtung hatte, zu einer auf Paläontologie konzentrierten Institution wird nachvollzogen. Die beiden Institutsdirektoren am Anfang des 20sten Jahrhunderts waren Vertreter der allumfassenden Geologie des 19ten Jahrhunderts, während die beiden folgenden Direktoren eine Geologie ohne Paläontologie vertraten. Das führte zu einer Trennung der beiden Richtungen, und nach der III. Hochschulreform der DDR 1968 verblieb allein die sammlungsbezogene Paläontologie am Museum. Nach der Wiedervereinigung wurde ein Institut für Paläontologie mit biologischer Ausrichtung mit zwei Professuren, einer für Paläozoologie und einer für Paläobotanik, eingerichtet. The development of the Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut und Museum of the Museum für Naturkunde at the Humboldt University (formerly Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität) in Berlin from a geology-paleontology institution to a pure paleontology institution is described. The first two directors of the department in the beginning of the 20th century, Prof, von Branca and Prof. Pompeckj, represented a 19th century concept of a geology, which included paleontology, even vertebrate paleontology as the crown jewel of geology. They fought sometimes vigorously against a separation of paleontology from geology. The next two directors. Prof. Stille and Prof, von Bubnoff, were the leading geologists in Germany; to be a student of Stille was a special trade mark in geology of Germany. They represented a geology centered on tectonics. The separation of paleontology as separate section was prepared. The destructions of the Second World War, the following restaurations and the division of Germany into two States influenced strongly their directorships. The education of geologists at the Museum für Naturkunde ended with the III. University Reform of the German Democratic Republik in 1968. Paleontology was represented by the international renown vertebrate paleontologist, Prof. Dr. W. Gross, up to 1961. Since 1969, paleobotany was strengthened by the inclusion of the paleobotany unit of the Akademie der Wissenschaften into the museum. After reunification of Germany n 1990, the department was rebuild as a Institut für Palaontologie with close connection to biology, a unique situation in Germany. Two professorships, one for paleozoology, Prof. Schultze. and one for paleobotany, Prof. Mai, were established. The number of curators increased to ten from one under the first director of the 20th century. [source] Principles of evidence-based management using stage I,II melanoma as a modelINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 11 2002Tsu-Yi Chuang MD Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is the practice of integrating best research evidence with clinical expertise and patent values. 1 The term, Evidence-Based Medicine, was named in 1992 by a group led by Gordon Guyatt at McMaster University in Canada. The practice of EBM arose from the awareness of: 1the daily need for valid information pertinent to clinical practice; 2the inadequacy of traditional sources, like textbooks, for such information; 3the disparity between clinical enhancing skills and declining up-to-date knowledge and eventually, clinical performance; and 4the inability to spend more time in finding and assimilating evidence pertinent to clinical practice. EBM simply emphasizes three As: Access, Appraisal and Application. Access requires refining a clinical question into a searchable term and an answerable question and using search engines to track down the information. Appraisal is using epidemiological principles and methods to critically review evidence for its validity and applicability. Application is integrating the critically appraised evidence with clinical expertise and each patient's unique situation. The outcomes following such practices are then assayed. The last step involves evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency in executing the first two As and seeking ways for improvement. In this article, we describe the concept and steps of practising EBM and utilize melanoma as an example to illustrate how we integrate the best evidence to outline the management plan for stage I-II melanoma. [source] Should Australia introduce a vaccine injury compensation scheme?JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 5-6 2004D Isaacs Abstract: At least a dozen countries or states in the world have introduced vaccine injury compensation schemes. This paper argues that the Australian Government should introduce such a scheme, which may reduce litigation, and may improve consumer and provider confidence. The most important justification, however, is an ethical argument from justice and equity: introduction of a vaccine injury compensation scheme acknowledges the unique situation that routine childhood immunization is a public health measure, given and accepted in good faith, that may occasionally damage the recipient. [source] Mapping the motivations and intentions of technology orientated entrepreneursR & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2003Elizabeth Chell The role of entrepreneurs in stimulating growth in the small business economy has received significant interest in the last three decades. This growing interest is prompted, in part, by the government's assumption that the establishment and expansion of existing small firms could be greatly enhanced by the promotion of entrepreneurial education programmes in colleges and universities. Whilst there has been significant interest in the role, type and effect of entrepreneurs in the economy, few studies have examined the effect of entrepreneurial programmes on the progression of an idea through to commercialisation. This is because such research, whilst seemingly desirable, is problematic. Evidence can be gleaned through the development of suitable conceptual frameworks and methods, to assess the role and impact of entrepreneurial programmes on the commercialisation of products or processes, and the enhancement of entrepreneurial capabilities. To address this problem, the research will examine different approaches and frameworks that have been developed and applied hitherto. The objective of this will be to highlight the difficulties in assessing the motivations, cognitive and behavioural changes of entrepreneurs. Also, the research will demonstrate the need to undertake adequate controls, which illustrate possible improvement in entrepreneurial capabilities, networks, and credibility in comparison to students that embarked on courses without entrepreneurial elements. The process will confine itself to business development within the higher education (HEI) context. The MSEC has as its remit to provide opportunity, education, awareness and training to foster entrepreneurship within science and engineering departments across four universities in Greater Manchester. This setting will provide a unique situation in which to investigate the development of germinal technology businesses from the inception of an idea to the point of incubation, prototype development and investment. There is a requirement to understand the needs of the virgin entrepreneur, possible obstacles to commercialisation and the process of new venture creation. The methodology to be adopted has been identified, and forges new ground on combining positivist and phenomenological paradigms. The multi,paradigm approach supports the use of critical incident technique to reveal greater insights in to the personal and cognitive development of virginal entrepreneurs, the suitability of enterprise programmes to act as catalysts for venture creation, and their role in supporting technology transfer. The research will not only confine itself to examining undergraduate and postgraduate projects within MSEC's business creation unit, but will also continue to assess the experience of entrepreneurs' when they leave the programme. The research also documents the economic contribution of the programme, in terms of generation of new technology,based firms and the impact of entrepreneurs joining established small firms. Ultimately the aim is to build a long,term picture of the role of enterprise programmes in HEIs that will inform policy and practice. [source] | |||||||||||||