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Viable Option (viable + option)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	47%
Life Sciences	15%
Humanities and Social Sciences	11%
Earth and Environmental Science	7%
Chemistry	5%
Psychology	3%
Engineering	3%

Selected Abstracts

Home Intravenous Antimicrobial Infusion Therapy: A Viable Option in Older Adults

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2007
(See editorial comments by Dr. Kevin High on pp 79
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether older adults and younger adults are equally able to administer home intravenous antimicrobial infusion therapy (home IV antimicrobials) without intensive support from home care agencies. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, a 100-bed tertiary care medical center. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who received home IV antimicrobials from July 1, 2000, through December 31, 2003. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic data, underlying medical conditions, indications for therapy, antimicrobial agents administered, concomitant medications, frequency of patient visits and phone calls, adverse events, and outcomes of infections. RESULTS: A total of 205 patients received 231 courses of home IV antimicrobials, with 107 courses in patients aged 60 and older and 124 courses in patients younger than 60. For both groups, the most common indication for therapy was osteoarticular infections, and the predominant pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Older patients were significantly more likely than younger patients to require the assistance of family members to help with the infusion and were more likely to be seen in urgent care or to call the infectious diseases pharmacist or physicians with questions. Overall, clinical outcomes and numbers of adverse events were similar in both groups, with the exception of nephrotoxicity, which was greater in the older group (P=.02). CONCLUSION: With appropriate support from a hospital-based home IV antimicrobials therapy team, home IV antimicrobial appears to be a viable option for older adults. [source]

Is Carotid Artery Stent Placement a Viable Option for Carotid Artery Stenosis in Patients Aged 80 years or Greater?

JOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 2 2010
Ramachandra P. Tummala MD
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Experimental Assessment of Coral Reef Rehabilitation Following Blast Fishing

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
HELEN E. FOX
arrecifes de Indonesia; recuperación de arrecife de coral; restauración de arrecifes Abstract:,Illegal fishing with explosives has damaged coral reefs throughout Southeast Asia. In addition to killing fish and other organisms, the blasts shatter coral skeletons, leaving fields of broken rubble that shift in the current, abrading or burying new coral recruits, and thereby slowing or preventing reef recovery. Successful restoration and rehabilitation efforts can contribute to coral reef conservation. We used field experiments to assess the effectiveness of different low-cost methods for coral reef rehabilitation in Komodo National Park (KNP), Indonesia. Our experiments were conducted at three different spatial scales. At a scale of 1 × 1 m plots, we tested three different rehabilitation methods: rock piles, cement slabs, and netting pinned to the rubble. Significantly more corals per square meter grew on rocks, followed by cement, netting, and untreated rubble, although many plots were scattered by strong water current or buried by rubble after 2.5 years. To test the benefits of the most successful treatment, rocks, at more realistic scales, we established 10 × 10 m plots of rock piles at each of our nine sites in 2000. Three years after installation, coverage by hard corals on the rocks continued to increase, although rehabilitation in high current areas remained the most difficult. In 2002 rehabilitation efforts in KNP were increased over 6000 m2 to test four rock pile designs at each of four rubble field sites. Assuming that there is an adequate larval supply, using rocks for simple, low-budget, large-scale rehabilitation appears to be a viable option for restoring the structural foundation of damaged reefs. Resumen:,La pesca ilegal con explosivos ha dañado a arrecifes de coral en el sureste de Asia. Además de matar a peces y otros organismos, las explosiones destruyen esqueletos de corales, dejando campos de escombros rotos que se mueven con la corriente, erosionando o enterrando a reclutas de coral nuevos y por lo tanto disminuyen o previenen la recuperación del coral. Esfuerzos exitosos de restauración y rehabilitación pueden contribuir a la conservación de arrecifes de coral. Usamos experimentos de campo para evaluar la efectividad de diferentes métodos de bajo costo para la rehabilitación de arrecifes de coral en el Parque Nacional Komodo (PNK), Indonesia. Desarrollamos nuestros experimentos en tres escalas espaciales diferentes. A una escala de parcelas de 1 x 1 m, probamos tres métodos de rehabilitación: pilas de rocas, losas de cemento y redes sobre el escombro. Crecieron significativamente más corales por metro cuadrado sobre rocas, seguido por el cemento, redes y escombro sin tratamiento, aunque muchas parcelas fueron dispersadas por la fuerte corriente de agua o enterradas por escombros después de 2.5 años. Para probar los beneficios del tratamiento más exitoso, rocas, a escalas más realistas, en 2000 establecimos parcelas de 10 x10 m con pilas de rocas en cada unos de nuestros nueve sitios. Tres años después, la cobertura de corales duros sobre las rocas continuó incrementando, aunque la rehabilitación en áreas con corrientes fuertes fue la más difícil. En 2002, los esfuerzos de rehabilitación en PNK se incrementaron a 6000 m2 para probar cuatro diseños de pilas de rocas en cada uno de los cuatro sitios con escombros. Asumiendo que hay una adecuada existencia de larvas, la utilización de rocas para rehabilitación simple, de bajo costo y gran escala parece ser una opción viable para la restauración de la base estructural de arrecifes dañados. [source]

Psychoeducational intervention for caregivers of Indian patients with schizophrenia: a randomised-controlled trial

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009
P. Kulhara
Objective:, There are hardly any randomised-controlled trials of structured family interventions for schizophrenia from India. This study attempted to evaluate the impact of a structured psychoeducational intervention for schizophrenia, compared with standard out-patient treatment, on various patient- and caregiver-related parameters. Method:, Seventy-six patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia and their caregivers were randomly allocated to receive either a structured psychoeducational intervention (n = 38) consisting of monthly sessions for 9 months or ,routine' out-patient care (n = 38) for the same duration. Psychopathology was assessed on monthly basis. Disability levels, caregiver-burden, caregiver-coping, caregiver-support and caregiver-satisfaction were evaluated at baseline and upon completion. Results:, Structured psychoeducational intervention was significantly better than routine out-patient care on several indices including psychopathology, disability, caregiver-support and caregiver-satisfaction. The psychoeducational intervention package used was simple, feasible and not costly. Conclusion:, Structured psychoeducational intervention is a viable option for treatment of schizophrenia even in developing countries like India. [source]

Transport and environment: policy directions for europe

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2001
Robert Tinch
Transport externalities are among the most important environmental problems affecting quality of life in Europe. Forecasts suggest that past environmental improvements may now be rolled back by traffic growth, and current traffic trends are not sustainable. The theory of environmental policy proposes pricing external costs at their marginal social costs as one solution. Although full marginal social cost pricing is impracticable, advances in tolling technology and environmental valuation mean that it is now a viable option to approximate such charging. There are signs that the European Commission and other bodies are starting to favour pricing over regulatory instruments. However, often overlooked is the potential for non-convexities in the transport sector or between transport and the rest of the economy. For example it may be that small increases in resources for public transport would not result in welfare gains, whereas large increases would. Non-convexities would mean that market forces under marginal social cost pricing might lead away from the optimal transport system. This is one reason why pricing instruments cannot in themselves be a panacea for transport externalities or bring about a sustainable transport system. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [source]

Cognitive-behavioural therapy for individuals with bulimia nervosa and a co-occurring substance use disorder

EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 2 2009
Robyn Sysko
Abstract A significant percentage of individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) also can be diagnosed with a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD). Although studies have addressed the frequency of overlap between the disorders, etiology and shared personality traits, limited research is available about the treatment of these comorbid patients. Adapting cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) to serve as an integrated treatment for patients with both BN and a SUD is a viable option, as studies of CBT suggest that this form of treatment is efficacious for both disorders independently. The shared strategies in CBT for BN and SUDs facilitate the development of a combined treatment for individuals with both disorders with the addition of modules designed to address some common features of these disorders, such as motivation, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, reward sensitivity and impulsivity. Future research should begin to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated CBT in treating individuals with BN and a SUD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source]

Sources and transport of algae and nutrients in a Californian river in a semi-arid climate

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2007
NOBUHITO OHTE
Summary 1. To elucidate factors contributing to dissolved oxygen (DO) depletion in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel in the lower San Joaquin River, spatial and temporal changes in algae and nutrient concentrations were investigated in relation to flow regime under the semiarid climate conditions. 2. Chlorophyll- a (chl- a) concentration and loads indicated that most algal biomass was generated by in-stream growth in the main stem of the river. The addition of algae from tributaries and drains was small (c.15% of total chl- a load), even though high concentrations of chl- a were measured in some source waters. 3. Nitrate and soluble-reactive phosphorus (SRP) were available in excess as a nutrient source for algae. Although nitrate and SRP from upstream tributaries contributed (16.9% of total nitrate load and 10.8% of total SRP load), nutrients derived from agriculture and other sources in the middle and lower river reaches were mostly responsible (20.2% for nitrate and 48.0% for SRP) for maintaining high nitrate and SRP concentrations in the main stem. 4. A reduction in nutrient discharge would attenuate the algal blooms that accelerate DO depletion in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel. The N : P ratio, in the main stem suggests that SRP reduction would be a more viable option for algae reduction than nitrogen reduction. 5. Very high algal growth rates in the main stem suggest that reducing the algal seed source in upstream areas would also be an effective strategy. [source]

PERI-URBAN AGROFORESTRY IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON,

GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Issue 2 2000
VANESSA A. V. SLINGER
ABSTRACT. Together, urbanization and the search for sustainable development present a dilemma in the Brazilian Amazon: how to accommodate an expanding urban population while creating and maintaining sustainable production systems that feed the people and manage the forest. A unique peri-urban agroforestry project, implemented by a municipal government in western Amazonia and concerned with a citywide influx of rural agriculturalists and former forest-dwelling extractive producers, is examined as a source of food and self-determination. Peri-urban agroforestry seems to be a viable option for other Amazonian cities that are experiencing increasing urbanization and its associated problems. [source]

,New Green' Pragmatism in Germany , Green Politics beyond the Social Democratic Embrace?1

GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION, Issue 4 2004
Ingolfur Blühdorn
Coalitions with left-of-centre parties have traditionally been regarded as the only viable option for Green parties that have shed their stance of radical opposition. The German Greens are investigated as a case study putting this assumption into doubt. Historical analysis of their relationship with the Social Democratic Party reveals how they slipped into life-threatening dependency on the latter. A survey of consecutive reinterpretations of the positioning formula ,Neither right, nor left but ahead' maps the struggle for an independent Green identity. An appraisal of recent debates about Conservative, Green alliances investigates the basis for Green coalition politics beyond the Social Democratic embrace. [source]

On the technical feasibility of gas turbine inlet air cooling utilizing thermal energy storage

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2006
Y. H. Zurigat
Abstract The potential of using thermal energy storage (TES) in the form of ice or chilled water to cool gas turbine inlet air is evaluated for a remote oil field location in the Sultanate of Oman using local hourly typical meteorological year weather data. It is found that under the conditions investigated seasonal TES in chilled water storage tanks or ice bins for the location considered is prohibitively expensive and thus not recommended. Application of partial TES option shows that the cool storage does not result in any noticeable reduction in the chiller size. Hence, TES whether seasonal, partial, or full storage is not a viable option for the considered location, especially in the absence of time-of-use utility rate structure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Comparison of microvessel densities in rat prostate tissues treated with finasteride, bicalutamide and surgical castration: A preliminary study

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 2 2005
CEVDET KAYA
Abstract Background: A group of anti-androgens with different mechanisms of action and adverse effects have been investigated in patients with gross hematuria related to benign prostate hyperplasia; however, there is not yet any consensus about the standard management of these patients. The present study aims to identify if any one type of the hormonal intervention is superior in terms of the suppression of microvessel formation in the prostate. Materials and methods: A total of 28 mature, healthy male Sprague,Dawley rats (300 ± 50 g) were used in this study. The rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 7 per group). The effects of three different hormonal therapies on angiogenesis and microvascularity in rat ventral prostate were compared. Groups 1 and 2 were treated for 28 days with finasteride and bicalutamide, respectively, and rats from Group 3 underwent surgical castration. Following treatment, all rats included in the study underwent dissection of the ventral prostate and immunohistochemical analysis of microvessel density by factor VIII-related antigen. Results: The mean number of microvessels in the finasteride and bicalutamide groups was 24.5 (±8.44 SE) and 27 (±9.89 SE) respectively. In contrast, the castration and control groups had microvessel numbers of 12.9 (±5.35 SE) and 40.3 (±5.03 SE) respectively. Differences were statistically significant between all three treatment groups and the controls (P < 0.005); the number of microvessels in rat prostate tissues of the control group was significantly higher than the treatment groups. Mean microvessel densities in the bicalutamide and finasteride groups were significantly higher than microvessel densities in the castration group (P < 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference between mean microvessel number in rat prostate tissue treated with finasteride or bicalutamide (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Even though finasteride was not as effective as castration in reducing microvessel number, its effect was equal to that of bicalutamide in terms of suppressing the angiogenesis in prostatic tissue. Based on the findings of the present study, finasteride might offer a viable option in the management of macroscopic hematuria by inhibition of microvessel formation within the prostatic tissue. Further clinical studies are warranted. [source]

Citizenship Rights and Repatriation of Refugees

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION REVIEW, Issue 1 2003
Gaim Kibreab
This article examines the relationship between access to or lack of access to citizenship rights in countries of asylum and the propensity of refugees to return. It hypothesizes that in situations where refugees enjoy civil, social and economic citizenship rights in the context of favorable structural factors - relatively secure employment, self-employment, social services such as housing, schools, health care and social security - the importance of repatriation may diminish as a viable option. In North America, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, where refugees are able to enjoy rights of citizenship with definite prospects for becoming citizens (through naturalization) or denizens through acquisition of permanent status, and where favorable structural factors provide for the enjoyment of a decent standard of living, they tend to remain regardless of whether the conditions that prompted displacement are eliminated. The policy environments and the structural factors for refugees sheltering in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are the antithesis of those refugees in Developed Countries (DCs). As a result, millions of refugees in the South have been ,voting with their feet' homewards to recoup citizenship rights which they lost in connection with displacement and which they have been unable to achieve in exile. [source]

Relay Cropping of Sorghum and Legume Shrubs for Crop Yield Improvement and Striga Control in the Subsistence Agriculture Region of Tigray (Northern Ethiopia)

JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005
F. Reda
Abstract Striga hermonthica is a major constraint in the subsistence agriculture regions of northern Ethiopia. Low soil fertility and overall environmental degradation has contributed to the build up of the parasitic weed infestation. Improved cropping systems have to be introduced to address the interrelated problems of Striga and soil fertility decline. Thus, relay cropping of sorghum with legume shrubs was investigated at two locations representing different environments. Results showed that the output of the improved cropping system was dependent on ecological endowments. Relay cropping led to significant improvement in yield at Sheraro, at the site with relatively better weather and soil conditions. The legume shrubs resulted in significantly lower sorghum yield in a dryland location (Adibakel). Overall Striga infestation declined over the 3-year period; however, treatment differences were not apparent. Among the two legume shrubs, Sesbania sesban was better adapted to the dryland areas. Relay cropping could provide a viable option for farmers in both types of environments that are characterized by accelerated decline in natural resource base. However, it could mean compromising the yield of non-fertilized sorghum in the interest of long-term benefits of low incidence of Striga and more rewarding crop enterprise in dry areas. [source]

Home Intravenous Antimicrobial Infusion Therapy: A Viable Option in Older Adults

Skeletal Myoblast Transplant in Heart Failure

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 4 2003
Eugene K.W. Sim F.R.C.S.
Heart transplantation has emerged as a viable option but is fraught with problems of supply. Mechanical assist devices are extremely expensive and dynamic cardiomyoplasty has shown only limited success in the clinical setting. Recent insights into the pathogenesis of myocardial diseases and the progress made in the field of molecular biology have resulted in the development of new strategies at molecular as well as cellular levels for cardiac muscle repair. One such strategy is to augment ventricular function by means of cellular cardiomyoplasty through intracardiac cell grafting using adult and fetal cardiomyocytes, stem cells, and autologous skeletal myoblasts. (J Card Surg 2003; 18:319-327) [source]

Is use of translocation for the conservation of subpopulations of oribi Ourebia ourebi (Zimmermann) effective?

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
A case study
Abstract In South Africa, the oribi, Ourebia ourebi is an endangered small antelope that requires conservation management and intervention to prevent their extinction. Use of translocation for the conservation of subpopulations facing local extinction in the wild has been proposed. In this study, fifteen oribi from threatened populations were captured and released (November 2004) on a private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Radio telemetry was used to monitor the dispersal and survival of translocated oribi. Only one death occurred during that period. All other released oribi survived, and most remained in close proximity of the release site for more than a year postrelease. Reproduction also occurred. This suggests that, translocation could be a viable option for conserving wild populations of oribi, assuming that other factors, such as availability of suitable grassland habitat and that poaching has been curtailed, are met. Résumé En Afrique du Sud, l'oribi Ourebia ourebi est une petite antilope en danger qui requiert une gestion de la conservation et une intervention pour empêcher son extinction. On a proposé le recours à la translocation pour conserver les sous-populations confrontées à une extinction locale dans la nature. Dans le cadre de cette étude, 15 oribis de populations menacées ont été capturés pour être relâchés, en novembre 2004, dans une réserve de faune privée au KwaZulu-Natal, en Afrique du Sud. La radio-télémétrie a été utilisée pour suivre la dispersion et la survie des oribis déplacés. Il n'y eut qu'un mort pendant cette période. Tous les autres oribis relâchés ont survécu, et la plupart sont restés à proximité du site de lâcher pendant plus d'un an. Il y eut aussi des reproductions. Ceci suggère que la translocation peut être une option viable pour la préservation de populations sauvages d'oribis, pour autant que d'autres facteurs soient présents, comme la disponibilité d'habitats de prairies favorables, et que le braconnage soit sous contrôle. [source]

Endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal lesions: Advancement in the application of endoscopic submucosal dissection

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 8 2010
Abby Conlin
Abstract Curative endoscopic resection is now a viable option for a range of neoplastic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) with low invasive potential. Risk of lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in selecting appropriate lesions for endoscopic therapy, and assessment of invasion depth is vital in this respect. To determine appropriate treatment, detailed endoscopic diagnosis and estimation of depth using magnifying chromoendoscopy is the gold standard in Japan. En bloc resection is the most desirable endoscopic therapy as risk of local recurrence is low and accurate histological diagnosis of invasion depth is possible. Endoscopic mucosal resection is established worldwide for the ablation of early neoplasms, but en bloc removal using this technique is limited to small lesions. Evidence suggests that a piecemeal resection technique has a higher local recurrence risk, therefore necessitating repeated surveillance endoscopy and further therapy. More advanced endoscopic techniques developed in Japan allow effective en bloc removal of early GIT neoplasms, regardless of size. This review discusses assessment of GIT lesions and options for endoscopic therapy with special reference to the introduction of endoscopic submucosal dissection into Western countries. [source]

Palliative effect of lafutidine on oral burning sensation

JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 3 2009
M. Toida
Background:, Lafutidine is a unique histamine H2 -receptor antagonist (H2RA) that has a sensitizing effect on capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons (CSAN). This effect may make lafutidine useful for the treatment of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Methods:, To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lafutidine in patients with oral burning sensation, a randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients who had been receiving other H2RAs with no sensitizing effect on CSAN were randomly assigned to receive lafutidine 10 mg twice daily for 12 weeks, instead of the previous H2RAs, plus gargling with azulene sulfonate sodium (ASS) (lafutidine group, n = 36) or to continue to receive the previous H2RAs plus ASS gargling (control group, n = 35). The intensity of burning sensation was scored by means of a visual analog scale (VAS). Results:, Thirty-four patients in the lafutidine group and 30 in the control group completed the study. In the lafutidine group, the rate of improvement in the VAS score as compared with the baseline value was significant after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). The improvement rate was consistently higher in the lafutidine group than in the control group; the differences between the groups were significant (P < 0.05) after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Only two mild abdominal adverse events occurred in the lafutidine group, but neither required the termination of treatment. Conclusion:, Oral lafutidine is very safe and effective for reducing the intensity of oral burning sensation and may therefore be a viable option for the treatment of BMS. [source]

Vacuum drying of wood with radiative heating: II.

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2004
Comparison between theory, experiment
Abstract In part I of this work extensive experimental data sets for the vacuum drying of wood with radiative heating were presented for sapwood and heartwood of different species (Picea abies, Abies alba, and Fagus silvatica). These data sets are used here to validate two previously developed drying models. The first drying model, which is known as TransPore, is a comprehensive model able to capture the intricately coupled heat- and mass-transfer mechanisms that evolve throughout the drying process. The second model, which is known as Front_2D, uses a number of simplifying assumptions to reduce the complexity of the comprehensive model to a system that enables a semianalytical approach to be exploited for its solution. Although the first model provides a more accurate description of the entire process, the second model is able to produce representative solutions very efficiently in terms of overall computational times, making it a viable option for on-line control purposes. The comparison with experimental data highlights that both models are able to capture all of the observed trends, allowing them to be used with confidence for investigating the vacuum drying process at a fundamental level. The new contribution of this work lies in the fact that both models are used here for the first time to simulate drying at a reduced external pressure. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 108,118, 2004 [source]

Comparison of Repair Methods for Ceramic-Fused-to-Metal Crowns

JOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS, Issue 5 2006
Mutlu Özcan DMD
Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of four repair methods on the fracture load of repaired ceramic-fused-to-metal crowns. Materials and Methods: Metal-ceramic crowns were fractured, and the failure load was measured. The fractured metal-ceramic crowns (n = 9) were assigned randomly to the following treatment groups: (1) hydrofluoric acid (9.5%) etching, (2) air-particle abrasion (50 ,m Al2O3), (3) silica coating (30 ,m SiOx), and (4) the application of a layer of glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) (thickness: 0.12 mm) on the repair surface. The crowns were repaired with a highly filled resin composite and subjected to 3 repair cycles (n = 27). All specimens were stored in water at 37°C for 24 hours and then thermocycled (6000 cycles, 5°C to 55°C). The fracture load values for final failure of intact and repaired crowns were measured with a universal testing machine, and failure types were recorded. Results: No significant differences ( p > 0.05) were found between the final failure values for the groups treated with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid (376 N) and airborne particle abrasion with either Al2O3 (432 N) or SiOx (582 N) followed by silanization, respectively. Significantly, higher ( p < 0.0001) final failure values (885 N) were obtained with the use of the FRC layer when compared with the other repaired groups. There was no significant difference ( p > 0.05) between the final fracture load of intact crowns (872 N) and those repaired with FRC (885 N) (One-way ANOVA with repeated measures, Bonferroni test). No significant difference in fracture loads was found between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd repair cycles (558 N, 433 N, 485 N, respectively). Failure sites were predominantly at the alloy/veneering resin interface in Group 1; Groups 2 and 3 both showed more cohesive failures than Group 1. In the case of FRC, the failure pattern was exclusively cohesive between the two laminates of FRC layer. Conclusions: The conditioning methods (Groups 1 to 3) of the repair surfaces did not show differences between each other; each resulted in mean fracture loads at lower levels than that of the intact crowns. Addition of an FRC layer increased the fracture load to the level of intact crowns. This suggests that the use of FRC in repairs of metal-ceramic crowns might be a viable option. [source]

COOKING BEHAVIOR OF RICE AND BLACK GRAM IN THE PREPARATION OF IDLI, A TRADITIONAL FERMENTED PRODUCT OF INDIAN ORIGIN, BY VISCOGRAPHY

JOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 1 2009
BONG KYUNG KOH
ABSTRACT Pasting profile of coarse rice, fine rice as well as black gram was carried out individually, in combination, in flour as well as in batter form, before and after fermentation by Brabender Viscoamylograph. Lowest gelatinization temperature was seen in black gram among the three commodities studied. Coarse rice registered a peak viscosity (PV) of 1,300 BU, fine rice 1,030 BU and black gram 1,080 BU. Cold paste viscosity (CPV) was highest in fine rice, lowest in black gram and intermediate in coarse rice. Breakdown (BD) was least in fine rice, highest in coarse rice and black gram lay in between. Values of total setback indicated the strong reason for use of coarse rice in parboiling as well as in idli and dosa preparations. Physical combination of black gram, with fine as well as coarse rice, reduced PV on an average to an extent of 26,30%. CPV was highest in fine rice and black gram combination compared with that of coarse rice and black gram. BD was high in the physical mix of coarse rice and black gram. In comparison with physical mix of fine rice and black gram, in the batter form before fermentation, the PV and CPV reduced by 23 and 34%, respectively, but there was no BD in this mix, indicating restricted swelling behavior in the batter before fermentation. Almost all viscographic parameters reduced before fermentation in coarse rice and black gram compared with their physical combination. Highest relative BD (BDr) was noticed in the pasting profile of black gram alone, probably because of the presence of mucilaginous principle. BDr values increased in batter form to various extents, before and after fermentation, compared with physical combination of rice and black gram. After fermentation, in coarse rice and black gram, the BDr value was low compared with that in fine rice and black gram. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Fermented products are commonly ingested in India, especially in the southern states. Nowadays, batter is sold in public for the sake of convenience, as it is a common breakfast preparation. The practice is to use coarse rice for the preparation of idli, a steamed fermented product. It is generally not known how the rice behaves before and after fermentation while cooking. Hence, this work was planned, and results indicated the scientific basis for the usage of coarse rice in the preparation of rice products. The behavior of batter prepared from fine rice has also been described, although it is not an economically viable option. [source]

COMPARISON OF HSPF OUTPUTS USING FTABLES GENERATED WITH FIELD SURVEY AND DIGITAL DATA,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 5 2006
Nathan Staley
ABSTRACT: The Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN (HSPF) describes discharge from a stream reach based on function tables (FTABLES) that relate stream stage, surface area, volume, and discharge. For this study, five FTABLE scenarios were compared to assess their effect on daily discharge rates predicted using HSPF. Four "field-based" FTABLE scenarios were developed using detailed cross section surveys collected at predefined intervals along 14 reaches in the study watershed. A fifth "digital-based" scenario was developed using digital elevation models (DEMs) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Hydraulic Geometry Curves. The Smirnov k-sample test was used to compare average daily discharge rates simulated with HSPF using the five FTABLE scenarios. No significant difference in simulated stream discharge was found (p = 0.99) between the five FTABLE scenarios. Additional examination of the four field-based scenarios revealed that the number of cross sections per stream reach used to generate FTABLES had little effect on the resulting stage discharge relationship. These findings suggest that FTABLES generated using digital data are a viable option when simulating stream discharge with HSPF and that if field data are used to generate FTABLES, using fewer cross sections will not adversely affect simulated discharge predictions. [source]

Subsurface drainage for reversing degradation of waterlogged saline lands

LAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2006
D. P. Sharma
Abstract In irrigated agriculture of arid and semiarid regions waterlogging coupled with salinity is a serious problem. Experimental evidence at several locations has led to the realization that subsurface drainage is an essential intervention to reverse the processes of land degradation responsible for the formation of waterlogged saline lands. This paper presents the results of a study conducted from 1995 to 2000 to evaluate the impacts of subsurface drainage on soil properties, groundwater-table behaviour and crop productivity in a waterlogged saline area of 2200,ha. A subsurface drainage system was installed at 1·6,m depth with 60,m drain spacing covering an area of 1200,ha (23 blocks) during 1997,99 and compared with an undrained block of 1000,ha. Subsurface drainage facilitated the reclamation of waterlogged saline lands and a decrease in the soil salinity (ECe, dS,m,1) that ranged from 16·0 to 66·3,per,cent in different blocks. On average, 35·7,per,cent decrease in salt content was observed when compared with the initial value. Provision of subsurface drainage controlled the water-table below the root zone during the monsoon season and helped in bringing the soil to optimum moisture content for the sowing of winter crops. In the drained area, the increase in yields of different crops ranged from 18·8 to 27·6,per,cent. However, in the undrained area the yield of different crops decreased due to the increased waterlogging and soil salinity problems. Overall the results indicated that investment in subsurface drainage is a viable option for reversing the land degradation of waterlogged saline lands in a monsoon climate. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Changes in the rRNA levels of specific microbial groups in activated sludge during sample handling and storage

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
J.E. Keith
Abstract Aims:, To quantitatively analyse the changes in group-specific rRNA levels in activated sludge as a function of sample handling and storage procedure. Methods and Results:, Quantitative membrane hybridizations with 32P-labelled oligonucleotide probes were used to analyse the effects of different sample handling and storage conditions on the relative rRNA levels of the alpha, beta, and gamma-Proteobacteria, the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria group, and the mycolic acid-containing actinomycetes in activated sludge. Group-specific rRNA levels, expressed as percentages of total 16S rRNA detected with a universal probe, in samples maintained at room temperature significantly changed after 48 h. Group-specific rRNA levels in samples treated with chloramphenicol showed significant change after 72 h. Conclusions:, Sample storage at room temperature is a viable option if freezing or analysis can be performed within 24 h, while treatment with chlorampenicol can extend that time to at least 48 h. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Handling, shipping, and storage of environmental samples under several conditions may result in inaccurate determination of the microbial populations in microbial ecology studies. [source]

Petroleum product scarcity: a review of the supply and distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria

OPEC ENERGY REVIEW, Issue 1 2006
Osi S. Akpoghomeh
Nigeria ranks high among the comity of oil producers both at the world level and among the OPEC eleven. It is, therefore, paradoxical that the supply of all petroleum products is erratic and has declined sharply in the recent past. This paper thus reviews the petroleum product supply and distribution systems in the country to ascertain the extent to which the system may have contributed to the present product scarcity in Nigeria and, by extension, identify the causes of the present regime of petroleum product scarcity. The paper observes that the network density and connectivity of petroleum product distribution pipelines are low and both indicators consequently show the inadequacy/deficiency of the network in ensuring an efficient distribution system. The supply mode, on the other hand, has, over the years, demonstrated its inability to guarantee adequate supply due to factors including sabotage, vandalism, banditry and poorly maintained infrastructure. Further, the federal government and the major and independent marketers could not sustain the importation of petroleum products because of the shortfall between the landed cost of imported products and their selling prices in Nigeria, which made the business unprofitable. Finally, the paper examines the withdrawal by the federal government of subsidies on the price of petroleum products consumed locally. All the above factors together occasioned increases in the cost of products. In conclusion, this paper supports the call for the privatization of refineries and the depot/pipeline system as a viable option to end the supply problems. [source]

Before demand-side management is discarded, let's see what pieces should be kept

OPEC ENERGY REVIEW, Issue 1 2000
Clark W. Gellings
Over the last 15 years, demand-side management (DSM) in developed countries has been transformed from a start-up activity to a full-blown industry, and then down-sized to a modest activity. While DSM remains a part of some utilities' strategies to meet current and future customer needs, its image in developed countries has been tarnished and its future is in doubt. More than ever now, retail energy customers are demanding from the marketplace a broad range of energy products and services that satisfy their most important needs. The electric utility industry has evolved into an energy and energy services industry. Its strategies, of retaining customers, enhancing revenue and controlling costs through various programmes and initiatives, while meeting customer needs, do not necessarily include DSM; but, nor is DSM in conflict with them. It is now, therefore, time to move on from DSM in the developed world. However, in developing countries, where the growth in electric energy production and delivery systems has not kept pace with population, DSM remains a viable option. [source]

Biosimilar epoetins and other "follow-on" biologics: Update on the European experiences,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2010
Wolfgang Jelkmann
After the patents of biopharmaceuticals have expired, based on specific regulatory approval pathways copied products ("biosimilars" or "follow-on biologics") have been launched in the EU. This article summarizes experiences with hematopoietic medicines, namely the epoetins (two biosimilars traded under five different brand names) and the filgrastims (two biosimilars, six brand names). Physicians and pharmacists should be familiar with the legal and pharmacological specialities of biosimilars: The production process can differ from that of the original, clinical indications can be extrapolated, glycoproteins contain varying isoforms, the formulation may differ from the original, and biopharmaceuticals are potentially immunogenic. Only on proof of quality, efficacy and safety, biosimilars are a viable option because of their lower costs. Am. J. Hematol. 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

A Missed Opportunity for Peace in Vietnam,1966

PEACE & CHANGE, Issue 1 2002
Robert Topmiller
Historians often point to the Geneva Conference in 1954 or South Vietnamese domestic turmoil in 1963 and 1964 as occasions when the U.S. might have avoided its eventual involvement in the Vietnam War. This article argues that the 1966 Buddhist crisis in South Vietnam also presented members of the Johnson administration with an opportunity to get out of Vietnam, but fear of the domestic and international repercussions from an American withdrawal rendered them incapable of pulling out. In rejecting withdrawal, Johnson and his advisors missed another chance to depart from Vietnam with far less political damage than some feared; pervasive dissatisfaction in Congress over the conflict, mounting questions among American citizens about the hostilities, and the realization among some officials that the nation had become hopelessly stalemated in a war few wanted to fight all made withdrawal a politically viable option. [source]

An analysis of the persistence and potency of film-coated seed protectant as influenced by various storage parameters

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 7 2009
Sherry Rachel Jacob
Abstract BACKGROUND: An efficient delivery system for seed-protectant chemicals is needed in light of several disadvantages of conventional seed treatment methods. This study evaluates the efficacy of film-coat application in maintaining the persistence and potency of imidacloprid on Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. seeds after simultaneous storage under ambient and regulated environment in paper and aluminium packages. RESULTS: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed 0.135 mg kg,1 of herbage material to be the threshold value beyond which absolute control was obtained, and with film coating the latter was achieved even with half-dosage seed treatment, irrespective of the storage condition. The technique provided early protection to the crop and also nullified the deleterious effects of ambient storage on the persistence and potency of the pesticide. CONCLUSION: Film coating enabled superior pesticide dosage as well as higher biological efficacy to be achieved. Hence, in addition to being an ecofriendly alternative, the technique would be a more economically viable option for storage of treated seeds. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Evaluation of a group cognitive behavioural intervention for women suffering from menopausal symptoms following breast cancer treatment

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Myra S. Hunter
Abstract Objective: To evaluate a group cognitive behavioural intervention to alleviate menopausal symptoms in women who have had treatment for breast cancer. Methods: A single group design was used with pre- and post-treatment assessment and a 3-months follow-up. Seventeen women who had completed active breast cancer treatment were treated. Following a 2-week daily diary assessment they were offered 6 (90,min) weekly sessions of Group cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). The CBT included information and discussion, relaxation and paced breathing and CBT to reduce stress and manage hot flushes (HF), night sweats (NS) and sleep. The primary outcome measure was Hot Flush Frequency and Hot Flush Problem Rating; secondary outcomes included the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and health-related quality of life (SF 36). Beliefs about HF were monitored in order to examine the effects of cognitive therapy. Results: HF and NS reduced significantly following treatment (38% reduction in frequency and 49% in problem rating) and improvements were maintained at 3 months follow-up (49% reduction in frequency and 59% in problem rating). Depressed mood, anxiety and sleep (WHQ) significantly improved, as did aspects of quality of life (SF 36) (emotional role limitation, energy/vitality and mental health). There was a significant reduction in negative beliefs about HF, NS and sleep following CBT. Conclusions: These results suggest that CBT delivered in groups might offer a viable option for women with troublesome menopausal symptoms following breast cancer treatment, but further controlled trials are needed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]