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Various Reasons (various + reason)
Selected AbstractsWhy Do Governments Delegate Authority to Quasi-Autonomous Agencies?GOVERNANCE, Issue 2 2006The Case of Independent Administrative Authorities in France In recent years, there has been a considerable degree of delegation from governments to quasi-autonomous agencies. Various reasons have been put forward to explain why governments decide to delegate authority in this way. Some reasons are based on a transaction-cost approach, such as credible commitments. Other reasons are more contextual. For instance, governments may be responding to a process of cross-national policy transfer. In the literature on delegation some hypotheses have already been tested. Specifically, evidence has been found suggesting that governments create agencies to commit credibly to particular policy choices. However, other hypotheses, particularly ones based on contextual explanations, have proved much more difficult to operationalize. This article aims to help fill this gap. It does so by focusing on the creation of Independent Administrative Authorities in France. Does the qualitative evidence in this particular case corroborate the quantitative studies that have been undertaken elsewhere? [source] Pulmonary Function and Ventilatory Limitation to Exercise in Congenital Heart DiseaseCONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, Issue 1 2009Paolo T. Pianosi MD ABSTRACT Pulmonary function in older children and adolescents following surgical repair of congenital heart disease is often abnormal for various reasons. Many of these patients report symptoms of exercise intolerance although the reason(s) for this symptom can be complicated and sometimes interrelated. Is it simply deconditioning due to inactive lifestyle, chronotropic or inotropic insufficiency? or could there indeed be ventilatory limitation to exercise? These are the questions facing the clinician with the increasing frequency of patients undergoing repair early in life and growing into adulthood. Understanding pulmonary functional outcomes and means of determining ventilatory limitation to exercise is essential to thoroughly address the problem. This article reviews pulmonary function in patients with congenital heart disease and then describes a newer technique that should be applied to determine ventilatory limitation to exercise. [source] The physiology of rodent beta-cells in pancreas slicesACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2009M. Rupnik Abstract Beta-cells in pancreatic islets form complex syncytia. Sufficient cell-to-cell electrical coupling seems to ensure coordinated depolarization pattern and insulin release that can be further modulated by rich innervation. The complex structure and coordinated action develop after birth during fast proliferation of the endocrine tissue. These emergent properties can be lost due to various reasons later in life and can lead to glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus. Pancreas slice is a novel method of choice to study the physiology of beta-cells still embedded in their normal cellulo-social context. I present major advantages, list drawbacks and provide an overview on recent advances in our understanding of the physiology of beta-cells using the pancreas slice approach. [source] Evaluation of the PESERA model in two contrasting environmentsEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 5 2009F. Licciardello Abstract The performance of the Pan-European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment (PESERA) model was evaluated by comparison with existing soil erosion data collected in plots under different land uses and climate conditions in Europe. In order to identify the most important sources of error, the PESERA model was evaluated by comparing model output with measured values as well as by assessing the effect of the various model components on prediction accuracy through a multistep approach. First, the performance of the hydrological and erosion components of PESERA was evaluated separately by comparing both runoff and soil loss predictions with measured values. In order to assess the performance of the vegetation growth component of PESERA, the predictions of the model based on observed values of vegetation ground cover were also compared with predictions based on the simulated vegetation cover values. Finally, in order to evaluate the sediment transport model, predicted monthly erosion rates were also calculated using observed values of runoff and vegetation cover instead of simulated values. Moreover, in order to investigate the capability of PESERA to reproduce seasonal trends, the observed and simulated monthly runoff and erosion values were aggregated at different temporal scale and we investigated at what extend the model prediction error could be reduced by output aggregation. PESERA showed promise to predict annual average spatial variability quite well. In its present form, short-term temporal variations are not well captured probably due to various reasons. The multistep approach showed that this is not only due to unrealistic simulation of cover and runoff, being erosion prediction also an important source of error. Although variability between the investigated land uses and climate conditions is well captured, absolute rates are strongly underestimated. A calibration procedure, focused on a soil erodibility factor, is proposed to reduce the significant underestimation of soil erosion rates. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Use of Anatomic M-Mode Echocardiography to Determine the Left Atrial Appendage Functions in Patients with Sinus RhythmECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2005Yekta Gurlertop M.D. Left atrial appendage (LAA) contractile dysfunction is associated with thrombus formation and systemic embolism. LAA function is determined by its flow velocities and fractional area change. This study was performed in order to determine the LAA functions with the anatomic M-mode echocardiography (AMME). Our study comprised 74 patients who had sinus rhythm and underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for various reasons. LAA fractional change (LAAFAC) was measured by manual planimetry in a transverse basal short-axis approach and LAA emptying and filling velocities also were measured. The AMME values were determined by an M-mode cross section from a cursor placed beneath the orifice of the LAA in transverse basal short-axis imaging. From these values LAA fractional shortening (LAAFS) and ejection fraction (LAAEF) were calculated. LAAEF was calculated by the Teicholz method. The comparisons were conducted, and no correlations between the LAA late filling and the anatomic M-mode values were found (for LAAFS r = 0.18; P > 0.05 and for LAAEF r = 0.19; P > 0.05). There were significant but poor correlations among the LAA late emptying with the anatomic M-mode measurements (for LAAFS r = 0.26; P < 0.05 and for LAAEF r = 0.30; P < 0.01), whereas, there were significant and good correlations between the LAAFAC and the anatomic M-mode values (for LAAFS r = 0.75; P < 0.01 and for LAAEF r = 0.78; P < 0.01). There were significant differences between the valvular heart disease group and the normal group, and between the valvular heart disease group and the ASD group (for LAAFAC P < 0.01, for LAAEF P < 0.01, for LAAFS P < 0.01). There was no difference between the normal group and the ASD group. Our study showed that the LAAEF and LAAFS in patients with sinus rhythm obtained via anatomical M-mode echocardiography is a new method, which can be used instead of left atrial appendage area change. [source] Control of aphids on wheat by generalist predators: effects of predator density and the presence of alternative preyENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 3 2009Katja Oelbermann Abstract There is evidence for both positive and negative effects of generalist predators on pest populations and the various reasons for these contrasting observations are under debate. We studied the influence of a generalist predator, Pardosa lugubris (Walckenaer) (Araneae: Lycosidae), on an aphid pest species, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae; low food quality for the spider), and its host plant wheat, Triticum spec. (Poaceae). We focused on the role of spider density and the availability of alternative prey, Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae; high food quality). The presence of spiders significantly affected plant performance and aphid biomass. Alternative prey and spider density strongly interacted in affecting aphids and plants. High spider density significantly improved plant performance but also at low spider density plants benefited from spiders especially in the presence of alternative prey. The results suggest that generalist arthropod predators may successfully reduce plant damage by herbivores. However, their ability to control prey populations varies with predator nutrition, the control of low-quality prey being enhanced if alternative higher-quality prey is available. [source] Molecular typing of meningococci: recommendations for target choice and nomenclatureFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 1 2007Keith A. Jolley Abstract The diversity and dynamics of Neisseria meningitidis populations generate a requirement for high resolution, comprehensive, and portable typing schemes for meningococcal disease surveillance. Molecular approaches, specifically DNA amplification and sequencing, are the methods of choice for various reasons, including: their generic nature and portability, comprehensive coverage, and ready implementation to culture negative clinical specimens. The following target genes are recommended: (1) the variable regions of the antigen-encoding genes porA and fetA and, if additional resolution is required, the porB gene for rapid investigation of disease outbreaks and investigating the distribution of antigenic variants; (2) the seven multilocus sequence typing loci,these data are essential for the most effective national, and international management of meningococcal disease, as well as being invaluable in studies of meningococcal population biology and evolution. These targets have been employed extensively in reference laboratories throughout the world and validated protocols have been published. It is further recommended that a modified nomenclature be adopted of the form: serogroup: PorA type: FetA type: sequence type (clonal complex), thus: B: P1.19,15: F5-1: ST-33 (cc32). [source] Oral hygiene and the need for treatment of the dependent institutionalised elderlyGERODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Sylvie Montal Objective:, To assessing the oral hygiene and treatment needs of a geriatric institution in southern France. Background:, For various reasons, the care demand from elderly people is low and difficult to determine, whereas their oral status would need long and complicated treatments. Materials and methods:, From 2003 to 2004, a cross-sectional study of 321 elderly patients was conducted at several geriatric services of Montpellier, France. The clinical evaluation of dental status was recorded together with medical information. Dental and prosthetic hygiene, status of dentures, caries experience, dependence conditions and treatment needs were evaluated. Results:, The prevalence of edentulism was 27%, with no gender difference (23% of the men and 29% of the women). Among them, 16.7% (upper jaw) and 18.1% (lower jaw) were totally edentulous with no denture. The mean number of decayed and missing teeth was 3.7 for men and 2.8 for women and 21.5 for men and 21.0 for women, respectively. The mean number of filled teeth was 0.8 for men and 1.3 for women, with no statistical difference according to gender for the three indexes. Most of the subjects needed prostheses (53%), 45.1% extractions and 30.6% conservative treatments. Only 2.4% did not need any treatment. Conclusion:, The prevalence of edentulism was relatively low, while the need for prosthodontic rehabilitation, especially for men, was still very high. The dental hygiene was globally inadequate. This evaluation emphasises the care demand and the need for help in oral hygiene procedures for the dependent institutionalised elderly. [source] The EFQM Excellence Model®: Higher Education's Latest Management Fad?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2005Paul Temple Robert Birnbaum argues that higher education tends to adopt management fads , newly conceived techniques enjoying brief popularity but which fail to live up to their promoters' claims , at the point when the corporate sector and government are discarding them. Although fads may have failed in these sectors because of various reasons, their failure usually to engage with the complexity of higher education's structures and processes makes their failure here virtually inevitable. The European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model, it is argued here, is a classical fad in Birnbaum's sense, showing conceptual weaknesses and being unlikely to engage with the particular characteristics of higher education. The introduction of the Excellence Model into UK higher education is shown to have followed closely the path that Birnbaum has identified; there are also preliminary signs suggesting that it will decline along the predicted trajectory. [source] Effects of food availability on the distribution of migratory warblers among habitats in JamaicaJOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Matthew D. Johnson Summary 1Theoretical arguments suggest that distributions of migratory birds in winter should match patterns of food availability, but in reality the match between migrants and their food may be imperfect because, for various reasons, birds may be unable to ,track' food resources. We tested the hypothesis that food availability influences the distribution of migratory canopy-foraging insectivorous warblers wintering in Jamaica. 2Over a wide spatial scale (24 sites on the island), warbler abundance varied significantly among sites and habitats and was significantly dependent on measures of arthropod biomass. Alternative factors (vegetation characteristics, resident bird competitor abundance, predator abundance) were not correlated with warbler abundance. 3Over a short temporal scale (about 2 weeks) at a single site, warbler abundance increased as predicted quantitatively after a natural, rapid increase in arthropod biomass. 4Over a longer temporal scale (the duration of a winter), changes in density and persistence of individually marked American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla, L.) on six sites corresponded with concurrent fluctuations in arthropod biomass. 5These results document a strong association between arthropod biomass and warbler abundance in time and space, suggesting that warblers wintering in Jamaica distribute themselves in response to food resources. 6We hypothesize that dominance hierarchies and variable movement strategies operate in concert with birds' responses to food to influence the distribution of wintering warblers at different spatial scales. Whether food availability determines habitat quality remains to be investigated. [source] Management implications of the Macquarie Island trophic cascade revisited: a reply to Dowding et al. (2009)JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Dana M. Bergstrom Summary 1. The management of non-indigenous species is not without its complications. In Bergstrom et al.'s (2009) study, we demonstrated that feral cats Felis catus on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island were exerting top-down control on the feral rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus population, and that the eradication of the cats led to a substantial increase in rabbit numbers and an associated trophic cascade. 2. Dowding et al. (2009) claim our modelling was flawed for various reasons, but primarily that a reduction in the application of the rabbit control agent, Myxoma virus, coinciding with cat removal, was a major driver of rabbit population release. 3. We explore this proposition (as well as others) by examining rates of Myxoma viral release between 1991 and 2006 (with an attenuation factor for the years, 2003,2006) in association with presence/absence of cats against two estimates of rabbit population size. Myxoma viral release was a significant factor in the lower estimates of rabbit population, but the effect was small, and was not significant for higher rabbit population estimates. By contrast, the presence or absence of cats remained highly significant for both estimates. 4.Synthesis and applications. We re-affirm our position that top-down control of rabbit numbers by cats, prior to their eradication, was occurring on Macquarie Island. Nonetheless, we agree with Dowding et al. (2009) that systems with multiple invasive species represent complex situations that require careful scrutiny. Such scrutiny should occur in advance of, during, and following management interventions. [source] A 3-year analysis of plateletpheresis donor deferral pattern in a tertiary health care institute: Assessing the current donor selection criteria in Indian scenarioJOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 4 2008Rashmi Tondon Abstract Introduction: This study reports the frequency and nature of plateletpheresis deferrals and evaluates donors with low platelet count and hemoglobin levels so as to assess the possibility of reentry without hampering donor safety. Materials and methods: Three-year retrospective data of plateletpheresis deferral was collected. Data from actual procedures was also reviewed to analyze the safety of performing plateletpheresis in donors with low hemoglobin and platelet values. Results: Four hundred sixteen donors were deferred for various reasons among 1,515 screened (27.5%), of which 69.7% deferrals were because of low platelet count (55.8%) and less hemoglobin levels. Among the low platelet count donor group, 20.3% had a count between 141 and 149 × 109/L and 41.8% below 120 × 109/L. Of the 14% donors deferred for low hemoglobin, 62.1% had values in the range of 11.5,12.4 g/dL with normal mean corpuscular volume and red cell distribution width in most (86.2%) of them. Expected blood loss in each procedure varied between 20 and 30 mL, whereas RBC contamination in the product varied from 0 to 1.6 mL in 538 procedures. There were 176 donations with predonation platelet count <180 × 109/L (32.7%). None of the 14 procedures performed on donors with platelet count of 150 × 109/L showed evidence of thrombocytopenia or donor reaction. Conclusion: Lowering the cut-off value for plateletpheresis from 12.5 g/dL to 11.5 g/dL has no deleterious effect on donor safety as the blood loss is minimal. One-fifth deferrals can be reconsidered if the criteria of plateletpheresis donor selection are relaxed for hemoglobin and platelet count. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Chest sonography versus lateral decubitus radiography in the diagnosis of small pleural effusionsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 2 2003Igor Kocijan Abstract Purpose The aim of this prospective study was to assess the value of chest sonography in the radiologic diagnosis of small pleural effusions (relative to expiratory lateral decubitus radiography) and to suggest gray-scale sonographic criteria for detecting the presence of small pleural effusions. Methods Patients referred for abdominal or chest sonographic evaluation for various reasons were also examined for sonographic features of pleural effusion from May 1, 1997, until January 31, 2000. Patients who had evidence of small pleural effusions were included. Patients with no such evidence served as a control group. Subsequently, all patients underwent erect posteroanterior and expiratory lateral decubitus chest radiography. Results On chest sonography, 52 patients were found to have small pleural effusions. The control group consisted of 17 patients. The mean thickness of the pleural effusion was 9.2 mm on sonography and 7.6 mm on expiratory lateral decubitus radiography (p < 0.01). Compared with radiologic examination, chest sonography had a positive predictive value of 92% in the diagnosis of small pleural effusions in our study population. Conclusions Chest sonography showed a high degree of accuracy relative to that of lateral decubitus chest radiography in the diagnosis of small pleural effusions, which appeared as thin (usually 15 mm thick or less) anechoic areas that changed shape with the phases of respiration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 31:69,74, 2003 [source] China's booming livestock industry: household income, specialization, and exitAGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 6 2009Allan N. Rae China; Livestock industry; Specialization; Exit Abstract China's production of livestock products has generally kept pace with her rapidly increasing demand. Over-supply and market corrections for various livestock products took place over the latter part of the 1990s and large numbers of householders exited this type of production. Using household survey data, we estimate the relationship between a household's specialization in livestock production and household net income in 1995, and use a logit model to explore some predictors of household exit from livestock production over the following decade of market instability. We conclude that specialist livestock households with access to necessary skills, technologies, and markets increase their incomes from further livestock specialization in the base year, whereas those to whom livestock production is relatively unimportant can increase household incomes by diverting their resources away from animal husbandry. It was specialist rather than diversified livestock households that tended to bear the brunt of the adjustment to unfavorable price movements over the decade post-1995. Policy concerns include the exit of larger-scale specialized producers who tended to earn relatively high household incomes in 1995, barriers to the effective formation and operation of horizontal and vertical integration options to help mitigate market instability, the further development of insurance programs and markets for livestock producers, and development assistance to livestock households that for various reasons cannot increase scale and specialization. [source] CONDUCTING RESEARCH WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES: MEETING RECRUITMENT AND COLLABORATION CHALLENGESJOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY, Issue 1 2002Volker Thomas Family therapy outcome research with community agencies has been challenging for various reasons. In two recent research projects, it was found that providing active feedback to agencies about their clinical services via a clinical report and a research-asgency liaison were sucessful strategies to develop a collaborative atmosphere with agencies. Specifically, the two starategies improved agency and therapist recruitment, client and therapist motivation, and reduced therapist and client attrition. [source] Neuroimaging Curriculum for Neurology Trainees: Report from the Neuroimaging Section of the AANJOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 3 2003Rohit Bakshi MD ABSTRACT Neuroimaging plays a major role in the evaluation of patients with neurological disorders. Surveys of neurologists have revealed that most rely on their own readings of images for patient management, and a majority believe that neurologists should be allowed to officially interpret and bill for scan reviews. The importance of neuroimaging training for neurology residents has been stressed by the Association of University Professors of Neurology. Although there is a desire to promote the neuroimaging education of neurologists, no curricula have existed previously. The Neuroimaging Section of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) developed a task force of practicing neuroimagers to provide a neuroimaging curriculum for neurological trainees and training directors. The resulting curriculum is available on the Web sites of the AAN (http://www.aan.com) and the American Society of Neuroimaging (http://www.asnweb.org/education/curriculum.shtml) and will be updated as the need arises through evolving technology or breadth of applications. This curriculum should help in the design of neurology residency and fellowship programs and subspecialty path-ways in which adequate neuroimaging education and training are desired for various reasons, including certification and the demonstration of competency and proficiency. [source] Brief Intervention for Female Heavy Drinkers in Routine General Practice: A 3-Year Randomized, Controlled StudyALCOHOLISM, Issue 11 2000Mauri Aalto Background: Today, heavy drinking is a common health hazard among women. The evidence in favor of providing some kind of brief intervention to reduce drinking is quite convincing. However, we do not know if intervention works in a natural environment of routine health care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of long-lasting, brief alcohol intervention counseling for women in a routine general practice setting. Methods: In five primary care outpatient clinics in a Finnish town, 118 female early-phase heavy drinkers who consulted their general practitioners for various reasons were given brief alcohol intervention counseling. Intervention groups A (n= 40) and B (n= 38) were offered seven and three brief intervention sessions, respectively, over a 3-yr period. The control group C (n= 40) was advised to reduce drinking at baseline. Main outcome measures were self-reported weekly alcohol consumption, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Results: Depending on the outcome measure and the study group, clinically meaningful reduction of drinking was found in 27% to 75% of the heavy drinkers. Within all the groups, MCV significantly decreased. However, there were no statistically significant differences between study groups A, B, and C in the mean changes between the beginning and endpoint in the main outcome measures. Conclusions: The present study indicated that minimal advice, as offered to group C, was associated with reduced drinking as much as the brief intervention, as offered to groups A and B, given over a 3-yr period. Furthermore, in the routine setting of the general practice office, the effectiveness of the brief intervention may not be as good as in special research conditions. The factors possibly reducing the effectiveness in a routine setting are unknown. Thus, different methods of implementing brief intervention need to be evaluated to find better ways to support general practice personnel in their efforts to help heavy-drinking female patients to reduce their drinking. [source] Favorable Impact of a Vegan Diet with Exercise on Hemorheology: Implications for Control of Diabetic NeuropathyJOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 2 2003MF McCarty A little-noticed clinical report indicates that a low-fat, whole-food vegan diet, coupled with daily walking exercise, leads to rapid remission of neuropathic pain in the majority of type 2 diabetics expressing this complication. Concurrent marked improvements in glycemic control presumably contribute to this benefit, but are unlikely to be solely responsible. Consideration should be given to the possibility that improved blood rheology , decreased blood viscosity and increased blood filterability , plays a prominent role in mediating this effect. There is considerable evidence that neural hypoxia, secondary to impaired endoneurial microcirculatory perfusion, is a crucial etiologic factor in diabetic neuropathy; the unfavorable impact of diabetes on hemorheology would be expected to exacerbate endoneurial ischemia. Conversely, measures which improve blood fluidity would likely have a beneficial impact on diabetic neuropathy. There is indeed evidence that vegan diets, as well as exercise training, tend to decrease the viscosity of both whole blood and plasma; reductions in hematocrit and in fibrinogen may contribute to this effect. The fact that vegan diets decrease the white cell count is suggestive of an improvement in blood filterability as well; filterability improves with exercise training owing to an increase in erythrocyte deformability. Whether these measures influence the activation of leukocytes in diabetics , an important determinant of blood filterability , remains to be determined. There are various reasons for suspecting that a vegan diet can reduce risk for other major complications of diabetes , retinopathy, nephropathy, and macrovascular disease , independent of its tendency to improve glycemic control in type 2 patients. The vegan diet/exercise strategy represents a safe, ,low-tech' approach to managing diabetes that deserves far greater attention from medical researchers and practitioners. [source] Perspectives on the Past: A Study of the Spatial Perspectival Characteristics of Recollective MemoriesMIND & LANGUAGE, Issue 2 2007DOROTHEA DEBUS I begin by considering the ,Past-Dependency-Claim', which states that every recollective memory (or ,R-memory') has its spatial perspectival characteristics in virtue of the subject's present awareness of the spatial perspectival characteristics of a relevant past perceptual experience. Although the Past-Dependency-Claim might for various reasons seem particularly attractive, I show that it is false. I then proceed to develop and defend the ,Present-Dependency-Claim', namely the claim that the spatial perspectival characteristics of an R-memory depend on the spatial perspectival characteristics of perceptual experiences that the subject has at the time at which the R-memory occurs. Lastly, I discuss the phenomenon of so-called ,observer-memories', which presents a special challenge for any attempt to account for the spatial perspectival characteristics of R-memories. I argue that we have no good reason to deny that the relevant experiences should count as memories, and I show that we can account for the spatial perspectival characteristics of observer-memories with the help of the ,Present-Dependency-Claim'. More generally, the paper shows that certain events that occur in a subject's mental life (namely, a subject's R-memories) are necessarily dependent on other events that occur in the relevant subject's mental life (namely, on certain perceptual experiences). This more general conclusion in turn should be relevant for any attempt to develop an appropriate account of a subject's mental life as a whole. [source] How Can the United States Take the Initiative in the Current North Korean Nuclear Crisis?PACIFIC FOCUS, Issue 2 2005Jin H. Pak On September 19, 2005, the last day of the fourth round of six-party talks, a deal was announced in which North Korea pledged to end its nuclear program in return for a number of concessions. Within 24 hours of that announcement, North Korea clarified its position by stating that the United States "should not even dream" it would dismantle its nuclear weapons until it receives a light-water nuclear reactor. Despite four rounds of six-party talks over a three year period, it seems that almost no real progress has been made, except for North Korea; US intelligence officials estimate that North Korea could have made as many as 8 or 9 nuclear weapons already. So it seems North Korea has cleverly increased its bargaining position vis-à-vis the United States. As lengthy negotiations over the provision of a Light Water Reactor (LWR) will undoubtedly ensue, it can use that time to steadily increase its nuclear deterrent. Why did the United States agree to this sub-optimal outcome? Why was it so difficult for the United States to exert more influence on North Korea and the other countries in the six-party talks? The answer to these questions lies in the changing trends affecting Northeast Asian security dynamics. For various reasons that this article will explain, these trends affect the ability of the United States to take the initiative in the ongoing North Korean nuclear crisis. As long as the United States fails to account for various changes in Northeast Asian regional dynamics, its strategy will to deter North Korea from continuing its nuclear program will not succeed. [source] Comparison of Microvolt T-Wave Alternans Measurements Using Atrial Pacing Compared to Atropine AdministrationPACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 12 2007STEFAN WEBER M.D Background:Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) has been associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients (pts) with structural heart disease. MTWA has been shown to be a strong heart rate-dependent arrhythmia marker. However, in clinical practice some pts in which MTWA should be assessed are unable to perform physical exercise to increase heart rate due to various reasons. Methods:In this study, we investigated the feasibility of noninvasive MTWA measurement by using intravenous atropine to increase heart rate and compared the results to MTWA measurement by right atrial (RA) pacing during electrophysiologic (EP) study in 27 consecutive pts (53 ± 14 years; nine women). Determining the arrhythmia event-rate, a follow-up of 18 months was performed in all pts. Results:Using atropine, five pts (18%) did not reach the target heart rate (105 bpm). In the remaining group of pts, concordant results for MTWA assessment could be found in 21 pts (96%). Comparing MTWA positive tests there were slightly higher amplitudes using right atrial (RA) pacing than atropine (7.0 ± 2.3,V vs 6.3 ± 2.2,V, P = 0.03; r = 0.97). During follow-up all pts with a positive MTWA test had documented ventricular arrhythmias. There were no arrhythmic events in the MTWA negative group. Conclusion:Whenever target heart rate for MTWA evaluation is obtained by intravenous atropine, the results are comparable to RA pacing. In using atropine there has been observed no pharmacologically influenced increase of MTWA voltage leading to false positive MTWA results. Therefore the use of atropine can be recommended as a safe, non-invasive, and reliable method for MTWA assessment. [source] Benefits and costs of transport Classification, methodologies and policiesPAPERS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2001T.R. Lakshmanan Transport; benefits; costs; evaluation Abstract. This article aims to bring together insights from a broad body of recent literature concerned with the nature, the measurement and policy implications of benefits and costs of transport. It is argued that, for various reasons, transport cannot be treated as an,ordinary'economic sector, and the policy implications of a number of the sector's peculiarities are addressed. Explicit attention is given to spatial aspects and network elements, internal and external benefits and costs, and efficiency aspects and equity considerations in policy making. [source] CANDIDATE PERSISTENCE AND PERSONALITY TEST PRACTICE EFFECTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR STAFFING SYSTEM MANAGEMENTPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2010JOHN P. HAUSKNECHT Candidates persist in selection settings for numerous reasons, prompting several concerns regarding staffing-system management. Predictors of the propensity to retest and personality test practice effects were investigated among a sample of 15,338 candidates who applied for supervisory positions (and 357 who repeated the selection process) over a 4-year period with a large organization in the service industry. Results reveal greater likelihood of retesting among internal candidates and overall evidence of small-to-moderate personality test practice effects. Compared to passing candidates who retested for various reasons, failing candidates pursued alternative response strategies upon retesting and generated dimension-level practice effects that reached .40 to .60, whereas passing candidates generally replicated their initial profiles. For several subscales, low initial scores were associated with practice effects that exceeded a full standard deviation. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed. [source] The Origin of IntentionsPHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATIONS, Issue 4 2006Richard Scheer Professor Emeritus In contemporary discussions of the concept of intention, the assumption is made that an intention results from a person's decision, or resolution, or plan, or the like. And the intention persists, generally, until the appropriate action is carried out. However, intentions cannot be said to have temporal duration, or beginnings, or endings. And it is not necessary for a person who is intending to do something to have made a decision to do it, or a resolution, or anything else. It may be that a person acquires an intention because of the circumstances that he finds himself in. If one sees that a tricycle is in front of his car, he will move it. No decision is necessary, obviously, because running over it would be contrary to common sense. Or one may gradually come to realise that he is obliged to do something and thereupon acquires the intention to do it. By focusing on one kind of intention, the "desire-belief" theories have failed to realise that intentions originate in various ways, and for various reasons. [source] A strategy for quantitative bioanalysis of non-polar neutral compounds by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: determination of TS-962, a novel acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor, in rabbit aorta and liver tissuesRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 8 2001Jun-ichi Yamaguchi A strategy for the sensitive and reliable quantitative determination of non-polar neutral compounds in biological matrices by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry is described in the context of assay development for TS-962, a novel acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor, in rabbit aorta and liver tissues. The electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrum of this compound with a mobile phase of water/acetonitrile did not give abundant [M,+,H]+ ions, but did give alkali metal cation adducts such as [M,+,Na]+, [M,+,CH3CN,+,Na]+ and [M,+,K]+ ions. The cationized species are acknowledged as unsuitable precursor ions for selected reaction monitoring (SRM) for various reasons, such as difficulty in obtaining characteristic product ions in low-energy collision-induced dissociation, and irreproducibility of the adduct-ion intensities. To overcome this problem, a solution of 3.4,mM trifluoroacetic acid in 2-propanol was added to the mobile phase as a postcolumn additive, resulting in a decrease of the undesirable adduct formation and significant enhancement of [M,+,H]+ ion intensity. An attempt was then made to prevent the matrix effect by employing a column-switching system, which allowed direct injection of a large volume of 2-propanolic tissue homogenate (950,µL) followed by sufficient clean-up, separation, and ESI-SRM on-line. This enabled development of a sensitive and reliable assay method for TS-962 in rabbit aorta and liver tissues in the concentration range of 5,500,ng/g wet tissue using a 25-mg aliquot of tissue sample. Application of this method to the determination of aortic TS-962 levels at 24,h after repeated oral administration of this compound (3,mg/kg) once a day for 12 weeks to 1% cholesterol-fed rabbits is also presented. Results showed that TS-962 is well distributed to both the thoracic and abdominal aorta tissues, at levels higher than the 50% inhibitory concentration value of this compound for microsomal ACAT activity from rabbit aorta. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Incidence and Predictive Factors for Infectious Disease after Rituximab Therapy in Kidney-Transplant PatientsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2010N. Kamar Rituximab off-label use includes organ transplantation. We review the occurrence of infectious disease and its outcome after rituximab therapy. Between April 2004 and August 2008, 77 kidney-transplant patients received rituximab therapy [2,8 courses (median 4) of 375 mg/m2 each] for various reasons. Their results were compared with a control group (n = 902) who had received no rituximab. After a median follow-up of 16.5 (1,55) months for rituximab patients and 60.9 (1.25,142.7) months for control patients, the incidence of infectious disease was 45.45% and 53.9% (ns), respectively. The incidence of bacterial infection was similar between the two groups, whereas the viral-infection rate was significantly lower, and the rate of fungal infection was significantly higher in the rituximab group. Nine out of 77 patients (11.68%) died after rituximab therapy, of which seven deaths (9.09%) were related to an infectious disease, compared to 1.55% in the controls (p = 0.0007). In the whole population, the independent predictive factors for infection-induced death were the combined use of rituximab and antithymocyte-globulin given for induction or anti-rejection therapy, recipient age, and bacterial and fungal infections. After kidney transplantation, the use of rituximab is associated with a high risk of infectious disease and death related to infectious disease. [source] Feasibility of Left Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation Between Adults: An 8-Year, Single-Center Experience of 107 CasesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5p1 2006Y. Soejima Operative mortality for a right lobe (RL) donor in adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is estimated to be as high as 0.5,1%. To minimize the risk to the donor, left lobe (LL)-LDLT might be an ideal option in adult LDLT. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of LL-LDLT between adults based on a single-center experience of 107 LL-LDLTs performed over 8 years. The mean graft weight of LL grafts was 452 g, which amounted to 40.5% of the estimated standard liver volume of the recipients. The overall 1-, 3- and 5-year patient survival rates in LL-LDLT were 81.4, 76.9 and 74.7%, respectively, which were comparable to those of RL-LDLT. Twenty-six grafts (24.3%) were lost for various reasons with three losses directly attributable to small-for-size graft syndrome. Post-operative liver function and hospital stay in LL donors were significantly better and shorter than that in RL donors, while the incidence of donor morbidity was comparable between LL and RL donors. In conclusion, LL-LDLT was found to be a feasible option in adult-to-adult LDLT. Further utilization of LL grafts should be undertaken to keep the chance of donor morbidity and mortality minimal. [source] Magnification devices for endodontic therapyAUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009M Del Fabbro Background:, After the introduction of microsurgical principles in endodontics, involving new techniques for root canal treatment, there has been a continuous search for enhancing the visualization of the surgical field. It would be interesting to know if the technical advantages for the operator brought in by magnification devices like surgical microscope, endoscope and magnifying loupes, are also associated with advantages for the patient, in terms of improvement of clinical and radiographic outcomes. Objectives:, The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate and compare the effects of endodontic treatment performed with the aid of magnification devices versus endodontic treatment without magnification devices. We also aimed at comparing among them the different magnification devices used in endodontics (microscope, endoscope, magnifying loupes). Search strategy:, The Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched with appropriate search strategies. Handsearching included nine dental journals. The bibliographies of relevant clinical trials and relevant articles were checked for identifying studies outside the handsearched journals. Seven manufacturers of instruments in the field of endodontics and/or endodontic surgery, as well as the authors of the identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were contacted in order to identify unpublished or ongoing RCTs. There were no language restrictions. The last electronic search was conducted on 2nd April 2009, and the last handsearching was undertaken on 31st January 2009. Selection criteria:, All randomized and quasi-randomized trials comparing endodontic therapy performed with or without using one or more types of magnification device, as well as randomized and quasi-randomized trials comparing two or more magnification devices used as an adjunct to endodontic therapy were considered. Data collection and analysis:, Screening of studies and data extraction were conducted independently and in duplicate. The Cochrane Collaboration statistical guidelines were to be followed for data synthesis. Main results:, No trial could be included in the present review. All of the prospective trials that were identified, all dealing with endodontic surgery, had to be excluded for various reasons. Only one RCT was identified comparing three magnificators (magnifying loupes, surgical microscope, endoscope) in endodontic surgery. No RCT was found that compared the outcome of endodontic therapy using or without using a given magnification device. Authors' conclusions:, No objective conclusion can be drawn from the results of this review as no article was identified in the current literature that satisfied the criteria for inclusion. It is unknown if and how the type of magnification device affects the treatment outcome, considering the high number of factors that may have a significant impact on the success of endodontic surgical procedure. This should be investigated by further long-term RCTs with large sample size. Technical advantages of magnificators have been widely reported in low evidence level studies, but they should be systematically addressed to know if there can be the clinical indication for using a given magnification device for specific clinical situations, such as for molar teeth, or if they can all be used interchangeably. Well-designed RCTs should also be performed to determine the true difference in terms of treatment success rates between using or not using a magnification device in both conventional and surgical endodontic treatment, if any exist. Plain language summary:, Magnification devices for endodontic therapy. There are no data to draw a sound conclusion on the effect of adopting either a microscope, an endoscope, or magnifying loupes for better visualization in endodontic therapy, in terms of clinical outcomes. Though the use of magnification devices has often been associated with technical advantages for the operator and with an improved management of the root canal due to a better visualization of the operative field, it still has to be demonstrated that their use may lead to an improved treatment success rate. More long-term well-designed randomized trials with a large sample size are urgently needed to address the issues of the present review. [source] Geographic distribution of autism in California: A retrospective birth cohort analysis,AUTISM RESEARCH, Issue 1 2010Karla C. Van Meter Abstract Prenatal environmental exposures are among the risk factors being explored for associations with autism. We applied a new procedure combining multiple scan cluster detection tests to identify geographically defined areas of increased autism incidence. This procedure can serve as a first hypothesis-generating step aimed at localized environmental exposures, but would not be useful for assessing widely distributed exposures, such as household products, nor for exposures from nonpoint sources, such as traffic. Geocoded mothers' residences on 2,453,717 California birth records, 1996,2000, were analyzed including 9,900 autism cases recorded in the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) database through February 2006 which were matched to their corresponding birth records. We analyzed each of the 21 DDS Regional Center (RC) catchment areas separately because of the wide variation in diagnostic practices. Ten clusters of increased autism risk were identified in eight RC regions, and one Potential Cluster in each of two other RC regions. After determination of clusters, multiple mixed Poisson regression models were fit to assess differences in known demographic autism risk factors between the births within and outside areas of elevated autism incidence, independent of case status. Adjusted for other covariates, the majority of areas of autism clustering were characterized by high parental education, e.g. relative risks >4 for college-graduate vs. nonhigh-school graduate parents. This geographic association possibly occurs because RCs do not actively conduct case finding and parents with lower education are, for various reasons, less likely to successfully seek services. [source] Logistical Strategies and Risks in Canadian Grain MarketingCANADIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2000William W. Wilson Logistics management in grain marketing has become very important with the maturity of the industry. This is particularly critical in the Canadian grain marketing system, which has experienced disruptions for various reasons over many years. These problems have been the topic of numerous industry evaluations, have resulted in a complaint about service obligations during the 1996,97 crop year, and were addressed by the Estey Commission. A detailed model of the Canadian grain logistics system is developed in this paper to evaluate factors that cause disruptions, as well as the effect of several important logistics and marketing strategies on system performance. The results illustrate that there is sufficient randomness throughout the various functions of the system that it is expected that demurrage at the west coast would periodically be an important cost. The frequency of service disruptions and demurrage are affected by several factors, including the distribution of tough and damp grains, mis-graded grain and the level of exportable supplies. Several strategic variables affect system performance. These include the aggressiveness in selling relative to capacity and the level of beginning port stocks. La gestion de la logistique dans le commerce des céréales a acquis une grande importance maintenant que ce secteur a atteint la maturité. C'est particulièrement important dans le système canadien de mise en marché des céréales lequel, pour diverses raisons, a essuyé bien des perturbations ces dernières années. Les problèmes en cause ont fait l'objet de nombreuses évaluations du secteur. Ils ont même abouti au dépôt d'une plainte sur les obligations de service dans la campagne agricole 1996,1997 et ont étéétudiés par la Commission Estey. Dans la présente communication nous avons construit un modèle détaillé du système canadien de logistique du marché des céréales ainsi que de l'effet de plusieurs stratégies importantes de logistique et de commercialisation sur la performance du systeme. Les résultats obtenus montrent qu'il y a suffisamment d'aléatoire dans les diverses fonctions du systeme pour conclure que les frais de séjour à quai sur la côte ouest seraient périodiquement un important poste de dépense. La fréquence des perturbations des services et les coûts a quai sont associés à plusieurs facteurs dont la livraison de grain gourd et humide, de grain mal classé et le niveau des disponibilités exportables. Plusieurs variables stratégiques influent sur le fonctionnement du système, notamment l'agressivité manifestée dans la vente par rapport aux stocks disponibles et le niveau des stocks disponibles dans les ports au début de la campagne d'exportation. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||