Capacity

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences29%
Life Sciences23%
Chemistry11%
Humanities and Social Sciences7%
Engineering7%
Earth and Environmental Science5%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting4%
Polymers and Materials Science3%
Psychology2%
5 Other Domains9%

Kinds of Capacity

  • DNA-bind capacity
  • IgE-bind capacity
  • absorbance capacity
  • absorbing capacity
  • absorption capacity
  • absorptive capacity
  • adaptive capacity
  • adsorption capacity
  • allostimulatory capacity
  • antibacterial capacity
  • antioxidant capacity
  • antioxidative capacity
  • attentional capacity
  • bearing capacity
  • binding capacity
  • biosynthetic capacity
  • bladder capacity
  • bonding capacity
  • buffer capacity
  • buffering capacity
  • building capacity
  • carboxylation capacity
  • carrying capacity
  • cation exchange capacity
  • cell stimulatory capacity
  • channel capacity
  • charge capacity
  • chelating capacity
  • children capacity
  • clonogenic capacity
  • coding capacity
  • cognitive capacity
  • community capacity
  • cranial capacity
  • cystometric capacity
  • debt capacity
  • decision-making capacity
  • decisional capacity
  • decreased capacity
  • delivery capacity
  • developmental capacity
  • differentiation capacity
  • diffusing capacity
  • diffusion capacity
  • digestive capacity
  • diminished capacity
  • discrimination capacity
  • dispersal capacity
  • dissipation capacity
  • dna repair capacity
  • drug loading capacity
  • dynamic binding capacity
  • effective capacity
  • electron transport capacity
  • elimination capacity
  • endocytic capacity
  • endurance capacity
  • enhanced capacity
    		•
  • equivalent antioxidant capacity
  • excess capacity
  • exchange capacity
  • exercise capacity
  • explanatory capacity
  • fertilizing capacity
  • field capacity
  • flight capacity
  • foaming capacity
  • foraging capacity
  • force capacity
  • force-generating capacity
  • forced vital capacity
  • formation capacity
  • full capacity
  • functional bladder capacity
  • functional capacity
  • functional residual capacity
  • generating capacity
  • generation capacity
  • germination capacity
  • good capacity
  • government capacity
  • greater capacity
  • growth capacity
  • heat capacity
  • heating capacity
  • high adsorption capacity
  • high binding capacity
  • high capacity
  • hospital capacity
  • human capacity
  • hydration capacity
  • hydraulic capacity
  • hydrogen capacity
  • ige binding capacity
  • immunostimulatory capacity
  • impaired capacity
  • increased capacity
  • individual capacity
  • infant capacity
  • infiltration capacity
  • inhibition capacity
  • inhibitory capacity
  • innovation capacity
  • innovative capacity
  • inspiratory capacity
  • institutional capacity
  • intellectual capacity
  • intrinsic capacity
  • invasive capacity
  • ion exchange capacity
  • ion-exchange capacity
  • iron binding capacity
  • iron-binding capacity
  • l capacity
  • language capacity
  • large capacity
    		•
  • large heat capacity
  • limited capacity
  • little capacity
  • load bearing capacity
  • load capacity
  • load carrying capacity
  • load-bearing capacity
  • load-carrying capacity
  • loading capacity
  • local capacity
  • low capacity
  • lower capacity
  • lung capacity
  • management capacity
  • managerial capacity
  • maximum bladder capacity
  • maximum capacity
  • maximum cystometric capacity
  • memory capacity
  • mental capacity
  • metabolic capacity
  • migration capacity
  • migratory capacity
  • motor capacity
  • neutralizing capacity
  • new capacity
  • organisational capacity
  • organizational capacity
  • own capacity
  • oxidation capacity
  • oxidative capacity
  • oxygen radical absorbance capacity
  • parental capacity
  • patient capacity
  • peak capacity
  • performance capacity
  • phagocytic capacity
  • photosynthetic capacity
  • physical capacity
  • physical work capacity
  • physiological capacity
  • political capacity
  • power capacity
  • predictive capacity
  • processing capacity
  • production capacity
  • proliferation capacity
  • proliferative capacity
  • protective capacity
  • radical absorbance capacity
  • radical scavenging capacity
  • radical-scavenging capacity
  • reduced capacity
  • regeneration capacity
  • regenerative capacity
  • regulatory capacity
  • remarkable capacity
  • removal capacity
    		•
  • repair capacity
  • replicative capacity
  • reproductive capacity
  • research capacity
  • reserve capacity
  • residual capacity
  • resource capacity
  • respiratory capacity
  • response capacity
  • retention capacity
  • scavenging capacity
  • secretory capacity
  • self-renewal capacity
  • service capacity
  • shear capacity
  • significant capacity
  • similar capacity
  • sorption capacity
  • spare capacity
  • specific heat capacity
  • state capacity
  • steroidogenic capacity
  • stimulatory capacity
  • storage capacity
  • student capacity
  • superior capacity
  • suppressive capacity
  • survival capacity
  • swelling capacity
  • synthesis capacity
  • synthetic capacity
  • system capacity
  • technical capacity
  • thermal capacity
  • total antioxidant capacity
  • total iron binding capacity
  • total iron-binding capacity
  • total lung capacity
  • transfer capacity
  • transport capacity
  • trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity
  • ultimate bearing capacity
  • unique capacity
  • uptake capacity
  • uterine capacity
  • vital capacity
  • walking capacity
  • water absorption capacity
  • water capacity
  • water retention capacity
  • water storage capacity
  • water transport capacity
  • water-holding capacity
  • work capacity

    • Terms modified by Capacity

  • capacity act
  • capacity addition
  • capacity analysis
  • capacity building
  • capacity change
  • capacity constraint
    		•
  • capacity development
  • capacity evaluation
  • capacity expansion
  • capacity factor
  • capacity gain
  • capacity increase
    		•
  • capacity level
  • capacity management
  • capacity measurement
  • capacity model
  • capacity planning
  • capacity requirement
    		•
  • capacity retention
  • capacity test
  • capacity utilization
  • capacity value

    • Selected Abstracts

    BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS CRIME,

    CRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 4 2007
    JOIE ACOSTA
    First page of article [source]

    043.16 CAPACITY, DURATION and SPATIAL RESOLUTION OF WORKING MEMORY IN A FOOD-STORING and A NON-STORING BIRD

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 9 2000
    R. Biegler
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    EXPERIMENTAL MANIPULATION OF SEXUAL SELECTION PROMOTES GREATER MALE MATING CAPACITY BUT DOES NOT ALTER SPERM INVESTMENT

    EVOLUTION, Issue 4 2009
    Helen S. Crudgington
    Sexual selection theory makes clear predictions regarding male spermatogenic investment. To test these predictions we used experimental sexual selection in Drosophila pseudoobscura, a sperm heteromorphic species in which males produce both fertile and sterile sperm, the latter of which may function in postmating competition. Specifically, we determined whether the number and size of both sperm types, as well as relative testis mass and accessory gland size, increased with increased sperm competition risk and whether any fitness benefits could accrue from such changes. We found no effect of sexual selection history on either the number or size of either sperm morph, or on relative testis mass. However, males experiencing a greater opportunity for sexual selection evolved the largest accessory glands, had the greatest mating capacity, and sired the most progeny. These findings suggest that sterile sperm are not direct targets of sexual selection and that accessory gland size, rather than testis mass, appears to be an important determinant of male reproductive success. We briefly review the data from experimental sexual selection studies and find that testis mass may not be a frequent target of postcopulatory sexual selection and, even when it is, the resulting changes do not always improve fitness. [source]

    IDENTIFICATION OF NONMEAT INGREDIENTS FOR INCREASING FAT HOLDING CAPACITY DURING HEATING OF GROUND BEEF

    JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 4 2001
    E.T. ANDERSON
    ABSTRACT Eleven starch-, fiber-, and protein-based ingredients were evaluated for their fat holding capacity (FHC) in ground beef during heating. A test for FHC was developed where 20 g samples of 20% fat ground beef containing a 10% (wt/wt) addition of the selected ingredient were heated using low power microwave energy until internal temperatures were ,90C. Volumes of cooked-out water and fat were measured. FHC was determined based on the amount of fat released during cooking. High fiber ingredients retained more water and also had the highest FHC. Ground beef mixed with inner pea fiber retained the most fat, while the all-beef controls retained the least fat. Inner pea fiber appears to be a useful ingredient in the development of food products required to retain maximum amounts of fat during heating. [source]

    THE ANTARCTIC PSYCHROPHILE, CHLAMYDOMONAS RAUDENSIS ETTL (UWO241) (CHLOROPHYCEAE, CHLOROPHYTA), EXHIBITS A LIMITED CAPACITY TO PHOTOACCLIMATE TO RED LIGHT,

    JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
    Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss
    The psychrophilic Antarctic alga, Chlamydomonas raudensis Ettl (UWO241), grows under an extreme environment of low temperature and low irradiance of a limited spectral quality (blue-green). We investigated the ability of C. raudensis to acclimate to long-term imbalances in excitation caused by light quality through adjustments in photosystem stoichiometry. Log-phase cultures of C. raudensis and C. reinhardtii grown under white light were shifted to either blue or red light for 12 h. Previously, we reported that C. raudensis lacks the ability to redistribute light energy via the short-term mechanism of state transitions. However, similar to the model of mesophilic alga, C. reinhardtii, the psychrophile retained the capacity for long-term adjustment in energy distribution between PSI and PSII by modulating the levels of PSI reaction center polypeptides, PsaA/PsaB, with minimal changes in the content of the PSII polypeptide, D1, in response to changes in light quality. The functional consequences of the modulation in PSI/PSII stoichiometry in the psychrophile were distinct from those observed in C. reinhardtii. Exposure of C. raudensis to red light caused 1) an inhibition of growth and photosynthetic rates, 2) an increased reduction state of the intersystem plastoquinone pool with concomitant increases in nonphotochemical quenching, 3) an uncoupling of the major light-harvesting complex from the PSII core, and 4) differential thylakoid protein phosphorylation profiles compared with C. reinhardtii. We conclude that the characteristic low levels of PSI relative to PSII set the limit in the capacity of C. raudensis to photoacclimate to an environment enriched in red light. [source]

    INTRODUCTION: ENHANCING THE CAPACITY FOR SUSTAINABLE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

    JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2006
    Jason K. Levy James
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    ADJUSTMENT OF STREAM CHANNEL CAPACITY FOLLOWING DAM CLOSURE, YEGUA CREEK, TEXAS,

    JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2002
    Anne Chin
    ABSTRACT: In Yegua Creek, a principal tributary of the Brazos River in Texas, surveys of a 19 km channel reach downstream of Somerville Dam show that channel capacity decreased by an average of 65 percent in a 34 year period following dam closure. The decrease corresponds with an approximately 85 percent reduction in annual flood peaks. Channel depth has changed the most, decreasing by an average of 61 percent. Channel width remained stable with an average decrease of only 9 percent, reflecting cohesive bank materials along with the growth of riparian vegetation resulting from increased low flows during dry summer months. Although large changes in stream channel geometry are not uncommon downstream of dams, such pronounced reductions in channel capacity could have long-term implications for sediment delivery through the system. [source]

    LANDSCAPE ATTRIBUTES AS CONTROLS ON GROITHD WATER NITRATE REMOVAL CAPACITY OF RIPARIAN ZONES,

    JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2001
    Arthur J. Gold
    ABSTRACT: Inherent site factors can generate substantial variation in the ground water nitrate removal capacity of riparian zones. This paper examines research in the glaciated Northeast to relate variability in ground water nitrate removal to site attributes depicted in readily available spatial databases, such as SSUIRGO. Linking site-specific studies of riparian ground water nitrate removal to spatial data can help target high-value riparian locations for restoration or protection and improve the modeling of watershed nitrogen flux. Site attributes, such as hydric soil status (soil wetness) and geomorphology, affect the interaction of nitrate-enriched ground water with portions of the soil ecosystem possessing elevated biogeochemical transformation rates (i.e., biologically active zones). At our riparian sites, high ground water nitrate-N removal rates were restricted to hydric soils. Geomorphology provided insights into ground water flowpaths. Riparian sites located on outwash and organic/alluvial deposits have high potential for nitrate-enriched ground water to interact with biologically active zones. In till deposits, ground water nitrate removal capacity may be limited by the high occurrence of surface seeps that markedly reduce the time available for biological transformations to occur within the riparian zone. To fully realize the value of riparian zones for nitrate retention, landscape controls of riparian nitrate removal in different climatic and physiographic regions must be determined and translated into available spatial databases. [source]

    PRODUCT OFFERING, PRICING, AND MAKE-TO-STOCK/MAKE-TO-ORDER DECISIONS WITH SHARED CAPACITY

    PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002
    GREGORY DOBSON
    In an era of mass customization, many firms continue to expand their product lines to remain competitive. These broader product lines may help to increase market share and may allow higher prices to be charged, but they also cause challenges associated with diseconomies of scope. To investigate this tradeoff, we considered a monopolist who faces demand curves, which for each of its potential products, decline with both price and response time (time to deliver the product). The firm must decide which products to offer, how to price them, whether each should be make-to-stock (mts) or make-to-order (mto), and how often to produce them. The offered products share a single manufacturing facility. Setup times introduce disceonomies of scope and setup costs introduce economies of scale. We provide motivating problem scenarios, model the monopolist's problem as a non-linear, integer programming problem, characterize of the optimal policy, develop near-optimal procedures, and discuss managerial insights. [source]

    COLLABORATIVE CAPACITY AND STRATEGIES IN AREA-BASED INITIATIVES

    PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 2 2006
    HELEN SULLIVAN
    Despite considerable evaluator investment in examining partnership activity in UK public policy initiatives, little attention has been paid to the role of strategy in supporting the generation and harnessing of the resources necessary to collaborate effectively. This paper focuses on one of the first New Labour initiatives , Health Action Zones (HAZ) , and draws on national evaluation findings to delineate local strategies, assess their application in practice and reflect on their contribution to collaborative action. The paper argues that even within nationally constrained policy initiatives there is sufficient flexibility for local actors to select strategies to steer collaborative effort, but these strategies are informed by their operating context and are liable to change in response to experience and changes in context. In addition, the evaluation findings suggest that effective strategies are those which harness collaborative capacity across a range of dimensions. The paper concludes by identifying implications for theory, policy and evaluation. [source]

    THE CHOICE OF CAPACITY IN MIXED DUOPOLY UNDER DEMAND UNCERTAINTY,

    THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 3 2006
    YUANZHU LU
    We analyze the capacity choice of firms under demand uncertainty in a mixed duopoly market consisting of one private firm and one public firm. We define a two-stage game where firms choose capacity in the first stage without knowing which state of Nature is going to be realized, and output in the second stage knowing which state is realized. We address the question of maintaining over and under capacity in the equilibrium as a strategic device; and show that both symmetric and asymmetric outcomes can be realized. [source]

    RATIONAL CAPACITY AS A CONDITION ON BLAME

    ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY, Issue 2 2007
    Pamela Hieronymi
    First page of article [source]

    Mesoporous Hydrous Manganese Dioxide Nanowall Arrays with Large Lithium Ion Energy Storage Capacities

    ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009
    Dawei Liu
    Abstract Novel nanowall arrays of hydrous manganese dioxide MnO2,·,0.5H2O are deposited onto cathodic substrates by the potentiostatic method from a mixed aqueous solution of manganese acetate and sodium sulfate. The deposition is induced by a change of local pH resulting from electrolysis of H2O, and hierarchical mesoporous nanowall arrays are formed as a result of simultaneous precipitation of manganese hydroxide and release of hydrogen gas bubbles from the cathode. The morphology and lithium ion intercalation properties are found to change appreciably with the concentration of the precursor electrolyte, with a significant reduction in specific surface area with an increased precursor concentration. For example, mesoporous nanowall arrays deposited from 0.1,M solution possess a surface area of ,96,m2 g,1 and exhibit a stable high intercalation capacity of 256,mA hg,1 with a film of 0.5,µm in thickness, far exceeding the theoretical limit of 150,mA hg,1 for manganese dioxide bulk film. Such mesoporous nanowall arrays offer much greater energy storage capacity (e.g., ,230,mA hg,1 for films of ,2.5,µm) than that of anodic deposited films of the same thickness (,80,mA hg,1). Such high lithium ion intercalation capacity and excellent cyclic stability of the mesoporous nanowall arrays, especially for thicker films, are ascribed to the hierarchically structured macro- and mesoporosity of the MnO2,·,0.5H2O nanowall arrays, which offer large surface to volume ratio favoring interface Faradaic reactions, short solid-state diffusion paths, and freedom to permit volume change during lithium ion intercalation and de-intercalation. [source]

    Introduction: Why Reflect Collectively on Capacities for Change?,

    IDS BULLETIN, Issue 3 2010
    Peter Clarke
    ,Capacity development' implies a promise of growing self-reliance, national ownership and sustainability, yet practice seems consistently to fall short of this emancipatory promise. This introduction argues for a reframing of capacity development for emancipatory social change. Articles in this IDS Bulletin show how understanding and practice must engage with complexity, appreciate the importance of specific culture and context, and continually address the role of power in shaping relationships, understandings and practices. Values and leadership are fundamental drivers of capacity development processes. This IDS Bulletin argues against a deficit approach based on linear causal logic and replicable ,best practice'. Instead, practitioners are encouraged to develop a detailed understanding of the culture and dynamics of specific contexts, to detect energies for positive change and work to connect and facilitate them. Learning is at the centre of the approach. Capacity development is understood as a collective process of learning in action for social change. Support for capacity development processes demands a critical development practice that implies mutual learning, with an emphasis on reflective and experiential approaches. However, this reframing implies enormous challenges for development practice, and therefore considerable personal and organisational commitment. [source]

    General Flowshop Models: Job Dependent Capacities, Job Overlapping and Deterioration

    INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2002
    Gerd Finke
    Several extensions of the two-machine flowshop model that arise in industrial applications are considered. These modifications of the classical case concern buffer capacities that vary with the size of the part, and processing times that are variable and increase in situations of overlapping and long waiting periods between the different operations. [source]

    Texture and Quality Properties of Chinese Fresh Egg Noodles Formulated with Green Seaweed (Monostroma nitidum) Powder

    JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2008
    H.C. Chang
    ABSTRACT:, The objective of this study was to compare fresh Chinese noodles made with different levels of green seaweed. Green seaweed powder was incorporated in proportions of 4%, 6%, and 8% in noodles, which were made with or without additional eggs. Proximate compositions, cooking properties, textural intensities, and sensory qualities of noodles were assessed. The addition of seaweed powder increased the crude fiber contents of raw fresh noodles; the fiber contents were 0.100%± 0.015 to 0.449%± 0.013 for noodles made with eggs from 0% to 8% additional seaweed and 0.247%± 0.018 to 0.344%± 0.021 for those without eggs. Higher cooking yields were found in the noodles, due to water absorption during cooking by the fibers and polysaccharides in the seaweed. Significantly higher cooking yields (P < 0.05) were found in the noodles with 8% additional seaweed powder; water uptake readings measured 2.39 ± 0.38 and 2.43 ± 0.25 g H2O/g noodle for samples made without and with eggs, respectively. Higher water absorption by the seaweed led to softer and spongier textural intensities in the noodles. Breaking energy of cooked fresh egg noodles were 28.94 ± 3.42 to 6.43 ± 1.01 N × mm for 8% to 0% additional seaweed, and the intensities decreased as the amount of seaweed increased; the same pattern was observed in noodles without eggs, where readings were 8.66 ± 1.02 to 3.49 ± 0.25 N × mm. Capacities of extensibility measured 61.81 ± 2.04 to 30.74 ± 0.90 mm for fresh egg noodles with additional seaweed powder from 0% to 8%, and 47.46 ± 2.41 to 28.36 ± 2.25 mm for cooked fresh noodles without eggs. The results from Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that textural parameters were influenced not only by additional eggs and seaweed powder, but also by cooking properties. [source]

    The Role of Universities in Building Local Economic Capacities

    POLITICS & POLICY, Issue 2 2008
    Michael Taylor
    As the knowledge economy develops and intensifies, increasing pressure is being placed on universities to help in local economic capacity building to meet the challenges of globalization. This article explores this expanded university role from the perspective of the provision of policy analysis and advice they can provide. It proposes the use of mixed-methods analysis, combining informed empirical modeling and "intensive" case studies to reveal local economic processes. An analysis of Australia's regional problems to exemplify this approach highlights the significance of "enterprising human capital" in promoting regional economic growth and suggests a policy prescription that includes enterprising education. In contradistinction, using U.K. evidence, the pitfalls of entrepreneurship education are outlined as it relates to the role of universities in local economic capacity building. The study calls for dialogue to bring about radical rethinking of policy analysis, advice, and the role universities can play in local economic capacity building. [source]

    Removal of dyes from water by poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) hydrogel,

    POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 11-12 2006
    Bahire Filiz Senkal
    Abstract The interaction between polymer and dye leading to polymer-dye complex formation exhibits many interesting and important practical features. For this purpose, a hydrogel was prepared by crosslinking copolymerization of vinyl pyrrolidone with tetraallyl ammonium bromide in aqueous solution, using K2S2O8 as a radical initiator. Dye extraction experiments were carried out simply by contacting wetted gel samples with aqueous dye solutions at room temperature. Capacities were determined by colorimetric analysis of the residual dye contents. The hydrogel swelled in water showing that reasonable high dye sorption capacity (0.71,1.13,g per gram of gel) was achieved. This material is also able to remove the anionic dyes completely even from highly diluted aqueous dye solutions. No trace absorbance was detected in the visible range, after processing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Modeling of the Intestinal Peptide Transporter hPepT1 and Analysis of Its Transport Capacities by Docking and Pharmacophore Mapping

    CHEMMEDCHEM, Issue 12 2008
    Alessandro Pedretti Dr.
    Abstract An early pharmacokinetic screen for peptidomimetic drugs should have the ability to predict molecules with high affinity for intestinal transporters, as peptide-like derivatives are seldom absorbed passively. Hence, the first objective of this study was to generate a reliable model for the structure of the hPepT1 protein, which is the main intestinal transporter involved in the absorption of both dietary peptides and peptidomimetics. The modeling was based on the resolved structure of the homologous bacterial lactose permease LacY using a fragmental strategy. The interaction capacities of the hPepT1 model were explored by docking a set of 50 known ligands. Despite the known predilection of hPepT1 for hydrophobic ligands, docking results unveiled the key role of the polar interactions stabilized by charged termini, especially concerning the ammonium head group. The docking results were further verified by developing a pharmacophore model that confirmed the key features required for optimal hPepT1 affinity. The consistency of the docking results and the agreement with the pharmacophore model afford an encouraging validation for the proposed model and suggest that it can be exploited to design peptide-like molecules with an improved affinity for such a transporter. [source]

    The Effect of Erythropoietin on Exercise Capacity, Left Ventricular Remodeling, Pressure-Volume Relationships, and Quality of Life in Older Patients With Anemia and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

    CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 3 2010
    Rose S. Cohen MD
    A prospective, open-label, 3-month study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and short-term clinical effect of subcutaneous erythropoietin injections in patients with anemia and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (ejection fraction, 55%±2%). Using a dose-adjusted algorithm to effect a rate of rise in hemoglobin not to exceed 0.4 g/dL,/wk, hemoglobin (10.8±0.3 to 12.2±0.3 g/dL) and red blood cell volume (1187±55 to 1333±38 mL) increased with an average weekly dose of 3926 units. Functional measures increased from baseline (6-minute walk test [289±24 to 331±22 m], exercise time [432±62 to 571±51 s], and peak oxygen consumption [8.2±0.7 to 9.4±0.9 mL/kg/min], all P<.05). End-diastolic volume declined significantly (8% volumetric decrease, 108±3 to 100±3 mL, P =.03), but there were no significant changes in left ventricular mass or estimated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Pressure-volume analysis demonstrated a reduction in ventricular capacitance at an end-diastolic pressure of 30 mm Hg without significant changes in contractile state. Congest Heart Fail. 2010;16:96,103. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

    Acute and Chronic Oral Magnesium Supplementation: Effects on Endothelial Function, Exercise Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients With Symptomatic Heart Failure

    CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 1 2006
    Johanna C. Fuentes MD
    Endothelial dysfunction is an important pathophysiologic mechanism in the progression of heart failure. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of acute and chronic oral magnesium supplementation on endothelial function in patients with symptomatic heart failure. Twenty-two symptomatic chronic heart failure patients were randomized to receive 800 mg oral magnesium oxide daily or placebo for 3 months. Data collected included large and small arterial elasticity/compliance, hemodynamic parameters, exercise capacity, and quality-of-life score at baseline, 1 week, and 3 months. Patients who received magnesium had improved small arterial compliance at 3 months from baseline compared with placebo. This study suggests that chronic supplementation with oral magnesium is well tolerated and could improve endothelial function in symptomatic heart failure patients. [source]

    Is Functional Capacity Related to Left Atrial Contractile Function in Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

    CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 5 2005
    Yukitaka Shizukuda MD
    The mechanisms underlying reduced exercise capacity in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NHCM) could include perturbations of ventricular relaxation, diastolic compliance, or compensatory atrial systolic function. We hypothesized that a loss of atrial contractility in NHCM patients leads to reduced functional capacity. To test this hypothesis, we compared resting noninvasive left atrial ejection phase indices in 49 consecutive patients with NHCM (ages 36±10 years; 41% female) and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (mean, 68%±8%) with objective metabolic exercise parameters. Left atrial active emptying fraction, ejection force, and kinetic energy failed to predict exercise capacity. Only left atrial total and active emptying volumes correlated weakly with minute volume/CO2 production slope (r=0.31 and r=0.33; p<0.05 for both). Furthermore, when subjects were stratified by New York Heart Association symptomatology, exercise parameters,but not atrial contractility,differed between groups. These data, obtained at rest, fail to suggest that NHCM-related heart failure symptoms are due to an atrial myopathy. [source]

    Conservation in Austral and Neotropical America: Building Scientific Capacity Equal to the Challenges

    CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
    JON PAUL RODRÍGUEZ
    First page of article [source]

    The Original Meaning of "Democracy": Capacity to Do Things, not Majority Rule

    CONSTELLATIONS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRITICAL AND DEMOCRATIC THEORY, Issue 1 2008
    Josiah Ober
    First page of article [source]

    Understanding Surge Capacity: Essential Elements

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
    Donna F. Barbisch RN
    As economic forces have reduced immediately available resources, the need to surge to meet patient care needs that exceed expectations has become an increasing challenge to the health care community. The potential patient care needs projected by pandemic influenza and bioterrorism catapulted medical surge to a critical capability in the list of national priorities, making it front-page news. Proposals to improve surge capacity are abundant; however, surge capacity is poorly defined and there is little evidence-based comprehensive planning. There are no validated measures of effectiveness to assess the efficacy of interventions. Before implementing programs and processes to manage surge capacity, it is imperative to validate assumptions and define the underlying components of surge. The functional components of health care and what is needed to rapidly increase capacity must be identified by all involved. Appropriate resources must be put into place to support planning factors. Using well-grounded scientific principles, the health care community can develop comprehensive programs to prioritize activities and link the necessary resources. Building seamless surge capacity will minimize loss and optimize outcomes regardless of the degree to which patient care needs exceed capability. [source]

    Improving Surge Capacity for Biothreats: Experience from Taiwan

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
    Fuh-Yuan Shih MD
    This article discusses Taiwan's experience in managing surge needs based on recent events, including the 1999 earthquake, severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, airliner crashes in 1998 and 2001, and yearly typhoons and floods. Management techniques are compared and contrasted with U.S. approaches. The authors discuss Taiwan's practices of sending doctors to the scene of an event and immediately recalling off-duty hospital personnel, managing volunteers, designating specialty hospitals, and use of incident management systems. The key differences in bioevents, including the mathematical myths regarding individual versus population care, division of stockpiles, the Maginot line, and multi-jurisdictional responses, are highlighted. Several recent initiatives aimed at mitigating biothreats have begun in Taiwan, but their efficacy has not yet been tested. These include the integration of the emergency medical services and health-facility medical systems with other response systems; the use of the hospital emergency incident command system; crisis risk-communications approaches; and the use of practical, hands-on training programs. Other countries may gain valuable insights for mitigating and managing biothreats by studying Taiwan's experiences in augmenting surge capacity. [source]

    Surge Capacity for Health Care Systems: Early Detection, Methodologies, and Process

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
    Peter L. Estacio PhD
    Excessive demand on hospital services from large-scale emergencies is something that every emergency department health care provider and hospital administrator knows could happen at any time. Nowhere in this country have we recently faced a disaster of the magnitude of concern we now face involving agents of mass destruction or social disruption, especially those in the area of infectious diseases and radiological materials. The war on terrorism is not a conventional war, and terrorists may use any means of convenience to carry out their objectives in an unpredictable time line. Have we adequately prepared for the potentially excessive surge in demand for medical services that a large-scale event could bring to our medical care system? Are our emergency departments ready for such events? Surveillance systems, such as BioWatch, BioSense, the National Biosurveillance Integration System, and the countermeasure program BioShield, offer hope that we will be able to meet these new challenges. [source]

    State of Research in High-consequence Hospital Surge Capacity

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
    Carl H. Schultz MD
    High-consequence surge research involves a systems approach that includes elements such as healthcare facilities, out-of-hospital systems, mortuary services, public health, and sheltering. This article focuses on one aspect of this research, hospital surge capacity, and discusses a definition for such capacity, its components, and future considerations. While conceptual definitions of surge capacity exist, evidence-based practical guidelines for hospitals require enhancement. The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) definition and benchmarks are extrapolated from those of other countries and rely mainly on trauma data. The most significant part of the HRSA target, the need to care for 500 victims stricken with an infectious disease per one million population in 24 hours, was not developed using a biological model. If HRSA's recommendation is applied to a sample metropolitan area such as Orange County, California, this translates to a goal of expanding hospital capacity by 20%,25% in the first 24 hours. Literature supporting this target is largely consensus based or anecdotal. There are no current objective measures defining hospital surge capacity. The literature identifying the components of surge capacity is fairly consistent and lists them as personnel, supplies and equipment, facilities, and a management system. Studies identifying strategies for hospitals to enhance these components and estimates of how long it will take are lacking. One system for augmenting hospital staff, the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals, is a consensus-derived plan that has never been tested. Future challenges include developing strategies to handle the two different types of high-consequence surge events: 1) a focal, time-limited event (such as an earthquake) where outside resources exist and can be mobilized to assist those in need and 2) a widespread, prolonged event (such as pandemic influenza) where all resources will be in use and rationing or triage is needed. [source]

    Surge Capacity for Healthcare Systems: A Conceptual Framework

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
    Amy Kaji MD
    This report reflects the proceedings of a breakout session, "Surge Capacity: Defining Concepts," at the 2006 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference, "Science of Surge Capacity." Although there are several general descriptions of surge capacity in the literature, there is no universally accepted standard definition specifying the various components. Thus, the objectives of this breakout session were to better delineate the components of surge capacity and to outline the key considerations when planning for surge capacity. Participants were from diverse backgrounds and included academic and community emergency physicians, economists, hospital administrators, and experts in mathematical modeling. Three essential components of surge capacity were identified: staff, stuff, and structure. The focus on enhancing surge capacity during a catastrophic event will be to increase patient-care capacity, rather than on increasing things, such as beds and medical supplies. Although there are similarities between daily surge and disaster surge, during a disaster, the goal shifts from the day-to-day operational focus on optimizing outcomes for the individual patient to optimizing those for a population. Other key considerations in defining surge capacity include psychosocial behavioral issues, convergent volunteerism, the need for special expertise and supplies, development of a standard of care appropriate for a specific situation, and standardization of a universal metric for surge capacity. [source]

    Research Priorities for Surge Capacity

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
    Richard E. Rothman MD
    The 2006 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference discussed key concepts within the field of surge capacity. Within the breakout session on research priorities, experts in disaster medicine and other related fields used a structured nominal-group process to delineate five critical areas of research. Of the 14 potential areas of discovery identified by the group, the top five were the following: 1) defining criteria and methods for decision making regarding allocation of scarce resources, 2) determining effective triage protocols, 3) determining key decision makers for surge-capacity planning and means to evaluate response efficacy (e.g., incident command), 4) developing effective communication and information-sharing strategies (situational awareness) for public-health decision support, and 5) developing methods and evaluations for meeting workforce needs. Five working groups were formed to consider the above areas and to devise sample research questions that were refined further by the entire group of participants. [source]