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Certain Types (certain + type)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	28%
Humanities and Social Sciences	14%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	13%
Life Sciences	12%
Chemistry	6%
Psychology	5%
Mathematics and Statistics	4%
Law and Criminology	3%
Engineering	3%
Earth and Environmental Science	3%
2 Other Domains	9%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Transplantation	10%
Oncology & Radiotherapy	7%
20 Other Subdomains	76%

Selected Abstracts

Certain type of chronic lung disease of newborns is associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in utero

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2007
YOKO HONMA
Abstract Background: Recent studies of chronic lung disease (CLD) of newborns emphasize the contribution of antenatal infection. However, the association of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection and CLD has been controversial. The purpose of the present paper was to determine whether U. urealyticum is associated with chorioamnionitis (CAM) and a certain type of CLD. Methods: One hundred and five infants <32 weeks of gestation who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Jichi Medical School Hospital, who underwent both histological and microbiological examinations and who survived to discharge were included. CAM was determined by histological examination. Placenta, gastric and tracheal aspirates, and nasopharyngeal swabs were cultured for Mycoplasma and other microorganisms. CLD was defined as oxygen needed at 28 days of age with symptoms of persistent respiratory distress and hazy or emphysematous and fibrous appearance upon X-ray. CLD was further divided into two subtypes according to the presence of antenatal infection. Results: CAM was associated with premature rupture of membrane (odds ratio [OR], 10.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.10,33.56), placental colonization of U. urealyticum (OR 6.73, 95%CI: 1.89,23.91), neonatal colonization of other microorganisms (OR 7.33, 95%CI: 1.22,44.13) and level of IgM (OR 1.06, 95%CI: 1.01,1.11). Comparisons between CLD and non-CLD patients showed that gestational age (OR 0.43, 95%CI: 0.30,0.61) and white blood cell count (WBC) at birth (OR 1.06, 95%CI: 1.01,1.11) were risk factors for CLD, while gestational age (OR 0.38, 95%CI: 0.23,0.64), neonatal colonization of U. urealyticum (OR 5.98, 95%CI: 1.17,30.6) and WBC (OR 1.08, 95%CI: 1.01,1.15) were independent risk factors for infection-related CLD compared with non-CLD. Within CLD, infection-related CLD was associated with neonatal colonization of U. urealyticum (OR 43.7, 95%CI: 2.84,673.8) and WBC (OR 1.27, 95%CI: 1.07,1.50). Conclusions: Placental colonization of U. urealyticum was significantly related to CAM; and neonatal colonization of U. urealyticum and leukocytosis at birth were risk factors for infection-related CLD. [source]

Enhanced efficacy of DNA vaccination against Her-2/neu tumor antigen by genetic adjuvants

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2004
Sun Young Chang
Abstract Certain types of malignant tumors overexpress Her-2/neu, a transmembrane glycoprotein of the class I receptor tyrosine kinase erbB family. To develop an effective Her-2/neu vaccine for selective immunotherapy of these malignancies, we prepared Her-2/neu DNA plasmid encoding the transmembrane and extracellular domain (pHM) and tested the ability of this construct to induce antitumor immunity in animal models. In addition, we investigated the effects of cytokine used as a genetic adjuvant. Modulation by factors that affect T-cell function or hematopoiesis, including interleukin-12, interleukin-15, interleukin-18, interleukin-23, Eta-1, Flt3L and GM-CSF, was studied in the forms of monocistronic and bicistronic plasmid. Our results demonstrated that vaccination of pHM could induce successful antitumor immunity against Her-2/neu-expressing murine tumor cells in BALB/c mice. We also showed that the antitumor activity of pHM was augmented by coadministration and coexpression of different cytokines. Despite the similar levels of gene expression, the antitumor effects of bicistronic plasmids coexpressing Her-2/neu antigen and cytokine were improved in comparison with coadministration of separate monocistronic plasmid. In particular, coexpression of interleukin-18 or GM-CSF with Her-2/neu increased antitumor activity in both preventive and therapeutic experiments. These findings can help in the decision concerning which of the various cytokine adjuvants should be used for the development of a Her-2/neu DNA vaccine. In addition, our results from a large panel of cytokine adjuvants in the various tumor models may provide an insight into the important immune components of antitumor immunity. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Simulation of X-ray frames from macromolecular crystals using a ray-tracing approach

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 6 2009
Kay Diederichs
An algorithm is described which simulates a data set obtained from a protein crystal using the rotation method. The diffraction pattern of an ideal crystal is specified by the orientation of the crystal's cell axes with respect to a specified laboratory coordinate system, the distance between the crystal and the detector, the wavelength and the rotation range per frame. However, a realistic simulation of an experiment additionally requires at least a plausible physical model for crystal mosaicity and beam properties. To explore the physical basis of reflection shape and rocking-curve variation, the algorithm simulates the diffraction of a real crystal composed of mosaic blocks which is illuminated with a beam of given divergence and dispersion. Ray tracing for each reflection leads to reflection shapes and rocking curves that appear realistic. A program implementing the algorithm may be used to reproducibly generate data sets that model different physical aspects (imperfections) of the crystal and the experiment. Certain types of systematic errors of the experimental apparatus may also be simulated. Further applications include teaching and characterization of the properties of data-reduction algorithms. [source]

Suicide decline in Australia: where did the cases go?

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 1 2009
Amr Abou Elnour
Abstract Objectives: To describe the causes of death codes assigned in Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) mortality data to deaths in Australia from 2000 to 2005 that were coded as intentional self-harm (suicide) in the National Coroners Information System (NCIS). Methods: Data for deaths in the period mid-2000 to end-2005 were obtained from the National Coroners Information System database (NCIS). We selected cases recorded in the NCIS as having intent at completion = intentional self-harm. The record linkage was done by the ABS and NCIS and did not form part of this project. Results: During the study period, 12,786 deaths recorded in NCIS were assigned intent at completion = intentional self-harm. Of these, 9,937 (77.7%) had been assigned ICD-10 underlying cause of death codes in the range normally reported as suicide (X60-X84), 1,135 had been assigned other ICD-10 codes and the remaining 1,714 (13.4%) NCIS records did not hold any ICD-10 codes. Conclusions: These findings confirm that routine mortality data have underestimated suicide mortality in Australia in recent years probably due to incomplete coroner data being available to ABS coders. Certain types of unintentional injury deaths have been over-estimated. Incomplete linkage of NCIS and ABS data in the source data used for this project complicates calculations of adjusted estimates and trends. [source]

Elevated Lp(a) with a small apo(a) isoform in children: risk factor for the development of premature coronary artery disease

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 12 2008
Albert Dirisamer
Background: levels of Lp(a) and low-molecular-weight apolipoprotein(a) isoform are strongly associated with the development of early cardiovascular disease. Certain types of apo(a) isoforms in combination with elevated levels of Lp(a) may be important in the determining of premature coronary artery disease. Therefore, we investigated the association of familial history of premature coronary artery disease and apo(a) size and Lp(a) levels in children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia using a novel method determining apo(a) isoforms. Methods and results: Isoforms were classified in six phenotype patterns: S1,S4, B, F and according to their K-IV repeats. Apo(a) isoforms were divided into two groups: low-molecular- and high-molecular apo(a) isoforms. In subjects with double-banded apo(a) isoforms containing a small- and a large-isoform Lp(a) each contribution was based on the intensity of staining of the two bands. The percentage of patients with elevated levels of Lp(a) and a small apo(a) isoform (i.e. elevated small-isoform Lp(a)) was 46% in the risk group and 20% in the control group, p < 0.05. The percentage number of children and adolescents with elevated Lp(a) levels was higher in the risk group, reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Elevated levels of small-isoform Lp(a) might be a strong and independent risk factor for the development of premature coronary artery disease in children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia. [source]

Anti-Homosexual and Gay: Rereading Sartre

HYPATIA, Issue 1 2007
CHRISTINE PIERCE
Jean-Paul Sartre's questions about anti-Semitism in Anti-Semite and Jew are ones we should want asked about heteronormativity,what causes it, what sustains it, why is so little being done about it, what should be done. Although the parallels between anti-Semitism and heteronormativity are not exact, relevant Sartrian ideas include nationalism, choosing to reason falsely, living in the future, and authenticity. Foremost is Sartre's claim that bigotry is not about ideas but a certain type of personality. [source]

Role of pathogenic T cells and autoantibodies in relapse and progression of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis in LEW.1AV1 rats

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1pt2 2009
Yoh Matsumoto
Summary Accumulating evidence suggests that T cells and autoantibodies reactive with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study, we have tried to elucidate the pathomechanisms of development and progression of the disease by analysing T cells and autoantibodies in MOG-induced rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which exhibits various clinical subtypes mimicking MS. Analysis using overlapping peptides revealed that encephalitogenic epitopes resided in peptide 7 (P7, residue 91,108) and P8 (residue 103,125) of MOG. Immunization with MOGP7 and MOGP8 induced relapsing,remitting or secondary progressive EAE. T cells taken from MOG-immunized and MOGP7-immunized rats responded to MOG and MOGP7 and sera from MOG-immunized rats reacted to MOG and MOGP1. Significant epitope spreading was not observed at either T-cell or antibody levels. Interestingly, sera from MOGP7-immunized rats with clinical signs did not react to MOG and MOG peptides throughout the observation period, suggesting that disease development and relapse in MOGP7-induced EAE occur without autoantibodies. However, MOGP7 immunization with adoptive transfer of anti-MOG antibodies aggravated the clinical course of EAE only slightly. Analysis of antibodies against conformational epitope (cme) suggests that anti-MOGcme may play a role in the pathogenicity of anti-MOG antibodies. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that relapse of a certain type of MOG-induced EAE occurs without autoantibodies but that autoantibodies may play a role in disease progression. Relapses and the progression of MS-mimicking EAE are differently immunoregulated so immunotherapy should be designed appropriately on the basis of precise information. [source]

Characterization of a broad pH range protease of Candida caseinolytica

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
M. Poza
Aims:,The study of a protease secreted by Candida caseinolytica for use in future industrial applications. Methods and Results:,Growth of Candida caseinolytica on a medium containing milk induced a rapid production of an extracellular enzyme able to hydrolyse casein. The crude extract was applied to both Sephacryl S-200 and DEAE-Biogel A columns, obtaining one peak of activity showing a molecular mass of , 30 kDa and three active peaks, respectively. These four peaks showed the same biochemical parameters. In all cases, an extremely broad pH range of action was determined. Conclusions:,Candida caseinolytica secretes high levels of an extracellular protease when grown either in rotary shakers or in batch-fermenters. Significance and Impact of the Study:,The biochemical properties of this enzyme suggest its possible industrial application in the brewing industry, in the formulation of certain type of detergents and in the fur and leather industries, among others. [source]

A sociological perspective of consumption morality

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR, Issue 5 2007
Robert Caruana
This paper considers how a sociological perspective of morality can inform understandings of consumption. In light of recent research that identifies moral forms of consumption practice at a socio-cultural level (e.g. ,ethical consumers' and ,voluntary simplifiers') it is apparent that an important relationship between consumption, society and morality continues to be of relevance and interest to consumer research. However, research into ethical consumption, fair trade, sustainability, green consumption and more recently consumer citizenship presuppose certain assumptions about the moral nature of the subject at the centre of their investigations whilst not evidencing an explicit or coherent understanding of the underlying sociological conception of morality itself. Accordingly, there is a need for consumer researchers framing their studies at a sociological level to be clearer about the conceptual nature of morality and, moreover, how it relates in a meaningful way to the theoretical claims made in their research. In response, this paper examines the dominant paradigmatic conceptualisations that constitute a sociological perspective of morality. Particularly, it considers (1) how a number of key sociological perspectives on morality can locate streams of consumer research better than is currently the case, (2) how these perspectives suggest that current research into fair trade and ethical consumption invoke a certain type of morality whereas a broader concept is available and finally (3) how a pluralist sociological conception of morality will allow consumer researchers to reframe the types of questions they can ask and so too the types of answers they may find. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

An Extension of the Traditional Theory of Customer Discrimination: Customers Versus Customers

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003
Stephanie O. Crofton
This study provides an extension on the traditional theory of customer discrimination. The traditional theory looks at customer discrimination via a case in which customers discriminate against a certain type of employee. This paper considers a case of customer discrimination in which customers discriminate against another group of customers. This paper argues that if women choose to attend an all-women college, they are engaging in this previously unexamined form of customer discrimination. Economic theory predicts that firms catering to customers who discriminate will charge higher prices. Thus, this study tests for the existence of customer discrimination by estimating a tuition equation at women's colleges and coeducational schools using ordinary least squares and a dummy-interaction technique. This study finds that, all else held constant, women's colleges do charge higher tuition rates. [source]

Is An Agreement An Exchange of Intentions?

PACIFIC PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2004
Joe Mintoff
After briefly discussing the notion of intention and the principles governing intentions, I argue that a certain type of exchange of intentions , in which one person forms a conditional intention to act if the other does, and the other forms an unconditional intention to act on the presumption that the first will do what they have said , plays all these roles, and so conclude that an agreement is in fact an exchange of intentions. [source]

Certain type of chronic lung disease of newborns is associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in utero

Nonlinear organic reactions to proliferate acidic and basic molecules and their applications

THE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 1 2002
Kunihiro Ichimura
Abstract Acid amplifiers derived from a certain class of sulfonates suffer from autocatalytic decomposition in the presence of a strong acid to give corresponding sulfonic acids, which catalyze the decomposition of the parent sulfonates, leading to the liberation of more of the same sulfonic acids in an exponential manner. Five types of acid amplifiers displaying acid proliferation reactions are presented. A certain type of carbamate exhibits autocatalytic fragmentation to give the corresponding aliphatic amine and olefin together with carbon dioxide, whereas the generated amine is able to act as a catalyst for the fragmentation so that the carbamates are referred to as base amplifiers. Applications of acid and base amplifiers to photofunctional materials, including photoresists, are described as a consequence of the combination of the molecular amplifiers with photoacid as well as photobase generators. Practical applications of acid proliferation reactions in polymer films are discussed. © 2002 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Chem Rec 2: 46,55, 2002 [source]

Power cut in the countertransference

THE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Alessandra Cavalli
Abstract:, This paper is an attempt to describe and understand a certain type of defence that I shall call a ,power cut' because of its crippling and anti-relational nature. I will take extracts from a baby observation to show how this type of defence can be adopted from the beginning of life, followed by vignettes from my work with a young child and an adult patient which addresses the particular kind of difficulty the analyst has to face with patients who resort to such a defence. I am arguing that while defending from another, the patient is able to destabilize not only the connection between himself and this other, the analyst, but also that between the analyst and the analyst's internal world. I understand this as the violent re-enactment of the patient's uncontained and split off primitive experience. I see recovery from ,power cuts' as the main challenge for the analyst who is helping the patient to recover from an early failure in containment which has led to defective splitting. Only when the unthinkable experience of ,power cut' can become an experience that can be lived through and converted into a deintegrate, may integration be achieved. Translations of Abstract Cet article est une tentative de décrire et de comprendre un certain type de défenses que je nommerai « courts-circuits», du fait de leur nature invalidante et anti-relationnelle. Je présenterai des extraits d'une observation de nourrisson pour montrer comment ce type de défenses peut être adopté dès le début de la vie. Je poursuivrai par des vignettes de mon travail avec un jeune enfant et un patient adulte révélatrices du type de difficultés auxquelles est confronté l'analyste avec des patients relevant de ce type de défenses. Je montre que, tandis qu'il se défend d'un autre, l'individu est capable de déstabiliser non seulement le lien qui le relie à cet autre, l'analyste en l'occurrence, mais également le lien de l'analyste avec son propre monde interne. Je comprends cela comme une violente remise en acte de l'expérience primaire de clivage et d'absence de contenant. J'envisage la guérison des « courts-circuits» comme le défi majeur de l'analyste qui aide le patient à réparer la faille précoce du contenant primaire génératrice du clivage. Ce n'est que lorsque l'expérience impensable du « court-circuit » est devenue une expérience vivable pour le patient, que celle-ci peut se transformer en un dé-intégrat et ouvrir la voie à l'intégration. Dieser Text ist ein Versuch, einen bestimmten Abwehrtypus zu beschreiben und zu verstehen, den ich wegen seiner lähmenden und antibeziehungshaften Natur ,Stromsperre' nennen werde. Ich werde Auszüge aus einer Babybeobachtung heranziehen um zu zeigen, wie dieser Abwehrmodus vom Beginn des Lebens an aufgebaut werden kann. Es folgen Vignetten aus meiner Arbeit mit einem Kleinkind und einem erwachsenen Patienten die sich auf die bestimmte Art von Schwierigkeiten beziehen, die dem Analytiker bei Patienten begegnen, die sich in solcherart Abwehr flüchten. Ich zeige auf, daß, während er sich vor dem anderen schützt, der Patient nicht nur in die Lage gerät, die Verbindung zwischen ihm selbst und diesem anderen, dem Analytiker, zu destabilisieren, sondern auch jene zwischen dem Analytiker und des Analytikers innerer Welt. Ich verstehe dies als die gewaltsame Reinszenierung einer nicht eingebundenen und abgespaltenen primitiven Erfahrung des Patienten. Ich sehe die Behebung von ,Stromsperren' als Hauptherausforderung für den Analytiker an, der dem Patienten hilft, von einem frühen Versagen des Gehaltenwerdens zu genesen, daß zur Spaltung geführt hat. Nur wenn die undenkbare Erfahrung ,Stromsperre' zu einer Erfahrung werden kann, die durchlebt und in ein Nichtintegriertes überführt werden kann, mag Integration erreicht werden. Questo lavoro è un tentativo di descrivere e comprendere un certo tipo di difesa che chiamerò,corto circuito' per via della sua natura mutilante e antirelazionale. Presenterò estratti dall'osservazione del neonato per mostrare come questo tipo di difesa può essere adottata fin dagli inizi della vita seguiti da vignette del mio lavoro con un bambino e con un paziente adulto che indicano il particolare tipo di difficoltà che l'analista deve affrontare con pazienti che si aggrappano a tale difesa. Sostengo che mentre si difende dall'altro il paziente è capace di destabilizzare non solo le connessioni tra se stesso e questo altro, ma anche tra l'analista e il mondo interno dell'analista. Intendo con ciò il violento ripresentarsi della esperienza primaria del paziente non contenuta e scissa. Considero il riprendersi dalla ,corto circuito' come la sfida principale petr l'analista che sta aiutando il paziente a guarire dal precoce fallimento del contenimento che ha portato alla scissione. L'integrazione può essere raggiunta solo quando l'esperienza impensabile della ,corto circuito' può diventare una esperienza che si può attraversare e convertire in una reintegrazione. Este trabajo es una intento por de describir y comprender un cierto tipo de defensa que llamaré un ,corte de energía' a causa de su efecto paralizador y su naturaleza anti-relacional. Tomaré extractos de una observación de un bebé para mostrar cómo este tipo de defensa puede surgir al principio de la vida, seguido por viñetas de mi trabajo con un niño y un paciente adulto para explorar el tipo de dificultad que el analista tiene que encarar con pacientes que recurren a tal defensa. Discuto que al defenderse del otro, el paciente puede desestabilizar no sólo la conexión con él mismo y este otro, el analista, sino también entre el analista y el mundo interno del analista. Entiendo esto como la reconstrucción violenta sin contención y disociadora de la experiencia primitiva del paciente. ,Considero a ,estos cortes de energía' como el principal desafío para el analista que ayuda al paciente a recuperarse de un fracaso temprano en la contención que lo ha llevado a la disociación. Sólo cuando la experiencia inconcebible de ,corte de energía' pueda ser revivida y convertida en una desintegración, se puede lograr la integración. [source]

A data assimilation method for log-normally distributed observational errors

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 621 2006
S. J. Fletcher
Abstract In this paper we change the standard assumption made in the Bayesian framework of variational data assimilation to allow for observational errors that are log-normally distributed. We address the question of which statistic best describes the distribution for the univariate and multivariate cases to justify our choice of the mode. From this choice we derive the associated cost function, Jacobian and Hessian with a normal background. We also find the solution to the Jacobian equal to zero in both model and observational space. Given the Hessian that we derive, we define a preconditioner to aid in the minimization of the cost function. We extend this to define a general form for the preconditioner, given a certain type of cost function. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society [source]

Automated classification of Plasmodium sporozoite movement patterns reveals a shift towards productive motility during salivary gland infection

BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009
Stephan Hegge
Abstract The invasive stages of malaria and other apicomplexan parasites use a unique motility machinery based on actin, myosin and a number of parasite-specific proteins to invade host cells and tissues. The crucial importance of this motility machinery at several stages of the life cycle of these parasites makes the individual components potential drug targets. The different stages of the malaria parasite exhibit strikingly diverse movement patterns, likely reflecting the varied needs to achieve successful invasion. Here, we describe a Tool for Automated Sporozoite Tracking (ToAST) that allows the rapid simultaneous analysis of several hundred motile Plasmodium sporozoites, the stage of the malaria parasite transmitted by the mosquito. ToAST reliably categorizes different modes of sporozoite movement and can be used for both tracking changes in movement patterns and comparing overall movement parameters, such as average speed or the persistence of sporozoites undergoing a certain type of movement. This allows the comparison of potentially small differences between distinct parasite populations and will enable screening of drug libraries to find inhibitors of sporozoite motility. Using ToAST, we find that isolated sporozoites change their movement patterns towards productive motility during the first week after infection of mosquito salivary glands. [source]

Implications of Climatic Warming for Conservation of Native Trees and Shrubs in Florida

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
David W. Crumpacker
Climatic-envelope models are useful for simultaneous investigation of many plant species whose range-limiting mechanisms are poorly known. They are most effectively applied in regions with strong temperature and moisture gradients and low relief. Their required databases are often relatively easy to obtain. We provide an example involving the effect of six annual warming scenarios, ranging from +1° C to +2° C and from +10% to ,20% annual precipitation (some have greater warming in winter than in summer), on 117 native woody species in Florida (U.S.A.). Tree species at their southern range boundaries in several parts of Florida are likely to be negatively affected by as little as 1° C warming if it is greater in winter than in summer or is accompanied by a 20% decrease in annual precipitation. Potential species responses to an identical type of 1° C warming may be different for some conservation areas in the same region of Florida. Potentially extensive disruption of some major woody ecosystems is predicted under certain types of 1° C annual warming and under all types of 2° C annual warming that were investigated. Additional consideration of nonclimatic factors suggests that many potential effects on species and ecosystems are not underestimates of actual effects over a 100-year period of warming. We recommend monitoring for decreased fertility and viability of ecologically important, temperate woody species near their southern range limits in Florida. Early detection of such changes in fitness might then provide time for mitigations designed to alleviate more serious subsequent effects on biodiversity. Control of invasive, non-native plant species and prevention of their additional introduction, human-assisted translocation of native subtropical plant species into previously temperate parts of Florida, and restoration of more natural hydrological regimes are examples of potentially useful mitigations if climatic warming continues. Resumen: Los modelos de procesos ecológicos y los modelos empíricos han sido usados para relacionar predicciones de cambio climático con los efectos en especies de plantas y vegetación. Los modelos climáticos son útiles para la investigación simultánea de muchas especies de plantas cuyos mecanismos limitantes de rango son poco conocidos. Estos modelos son más eficientemente aplicados en regiones con gradientes de temperatura y humedad fuertes y con relieve bajo. Las bases de datos requeridas son a menudo relativamente fáciles de adquirir. Proveemos un ejemplo que involucra el efecto de seis escenarios anuales de calentamiento con un rango de +1° C a +2° C y de +10% a ,20% de precipitación anual (algunos con rangos de calentamiento mayores en el invierno que en el verano), en 117 especies leñosas nativas de Florida ( E.U.A.). Las especies de árboles en sus límites de rango al sur en diversas partes de Florida son más factibles de ser negativamente afectadas por tan poco como 1° C de calentamiento, si este es mayor en el invierno que en el verano o si es acompañado por una disminución de un 20% de precipitación anual. Las respuestas potenciales de las especies a un tipo idéntico de calentamiento de 1° C puede ser diferente para algunas áreas de conservación en la misma región de Florida. Se predicen perturbaciones potencialmente extensivas en algunos ecosistemas leñosos principales investigados bajo ciertos tipos de calentamiento anual de 1° C y bajo todos los tipos de calentamiento anual de 2° C. Las consideraciones adicionales de factores no climáticos sugieren que muchos efectos potenciales sobre las especies y ecosistemas no son subestimaciones de los efectos actuales sobre un período de calentamiento de 100 años. Se recomienda el monitoreo de la disminución de la fertilidad y viabilidad de especies leñosas templadas ecológicamente importantes cerca de los límites sureños de sus rangos en la Florida. La detección temprana de estos cambios en adaptabilidad pueden proveer tiempo para mitigaciones diseñadas para aliviar efectos posteriores más serios en la biodiversidad. Algunos ejemplos de mitigaciones potencialmente útiles en caso de que el calentamiento global continúe incluyen el control de especies de plantas invasoras no nativas y la prevención de su introducción adicional, la translocación asistida por humanos de plantas nativas subtropicales en partes previamente templadas de Florida y la restauración de regimenes hidrológicos más naturales. [source]

Corporate Governance and Financial Distress: evidence from Taiwan

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2004
Tsun-Siou Lee
Prior empirical evidence supports the wealth expropriation hypothesis that weak corporate governance induced by certain types of ownership structures and board composition tends to result in minority interest expropriation. This in turn reduces corporate value. However, it is still unclear whether corporate financial distress is related to these corporate governance characteristics. To answer this question, we adopt three variables to proxy for corporate governance risk, namely, the percentage of directors occupied by the controlling shareholder, the percentage the controlling shareholders shareholding pledged for bank loans (pledge ratio), and the deviation in control away from the cash flow rights. Binary logistic regressions are then fitted to generate dichotomous prediction models. Taiwanese listed firms, characterised by a high degree of ownership concentration, similar to that in most countries, are used as our empirical samples. The evidence suggests that the three variables mentioned above are positively related to the risk for financial distress in the following year. Generally speaking, firms with weak corporate governance are vulnerable to economic downturns and the probability of falling into financial distress increases. [source]

Investigation of growth kinetics and morphology of sodium fluorosilicate ice-analogue crystals in solutions and gels

CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2007
M. J. Krasi
Abstract The effect of growth method (solution or gel growth) and growth conditions on the morphology of ice analogue crystals (sodium fluorosilicate) has been studied. Many habits typical for atmospheric ice crystals (hexagonal columns, plates, different types of stars or dendrites) were obtained during experiments. The dependence of growth rate of basal and prism faces of columnar crystals on supersaturation was measured for crystals growing by evaporation of solvent. The experiments establish evaporation rate and growth rate ranges at which appearance of certain types of crystals is most probable. The experiments have also shown that good quality sodium fluorosilicate crystals can be obtained in TMS gel. These crystals were significantly bigger than those obtained in solution. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

The Art and Science of Surge: Experience from Israel and the U.S. Military

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
Boaz Tadmor MD
In a disaster or mass casualty incident, health care resources may be exceeded and systems may be challenged by unusual requirements. These resources may include pharmaceuticals, supplies, and equipment as well as certain types of academic and administrative expertise. New agencies and decision makers may need to work together in an unfamiliar environment. Furthermore, large numbers of casualties needing treatment, newer therapies required to care for these casualties, and increased workforce and space available for these casualties all contribute to what is often referred to as "surge." Surge capacity in emergency care can be described in technical, scientific terms that are measured by numbers and benchmarks (e.g., beds, patients, and medications) or can take on a more conceptual and abstract form (e.g., decisions, authority, and responsibility). The former may be referred to as the "science" of surge, whereas the latter, an equal if not more important component of surge systems that is more conceptual and abstract, can be considered the "art" of surge. The experiences from Israel and the U.S. military may serve to educate colleagues who may be required to respond or react to an event that taxes the current health care system. This report presents concrete examples of surge capacity strategies used by both Israel and the U.S. military and provides solutions that may be applied to other health care systems when faced with similar situations. [source]

Preventing Systemic Crises through Bank Transparency

ECONOMIC NOTES, Issue 2 2004
Ari Hyytinen
The banking system is known to be vulnerable to self-fulfilling crises that are caused by depositors' co-ordination failure. We show that transparency regulation may prevent certain types of systemic crisis by eliminating the possibility of coordination failure. (J.E.L.: G21, G28). [source]

Private Investment and Political Institutions

ECONOMICS & POLITICS, Issue 1 2002
David Stasavage
Recent research has demonstrated a negative link between macroeconomic and political uncertainty and levels of private investment across countries. This raises the question whether certain types of government institutions might help reduce this uncertainty. North and Weingast (1989) propose that political institutions characterized by checks and balances can have beneficial effects on investment by allowing governments to credibly commit not to engage in ex post opportunism with respect to investors. In this paper I develop and test a modified version of their hypothesis, suggesting that checks and balances, on average, improve possibilities for commitment, but that they are not a necessary condition for doing so. Results of heteroskedastic regression and quantile regression estimates strongly support this proposition. [source]

Cholinesterase and glutathione- S -transferase activities in freshwater invertebrates as biomarkers to assess pesticide contamination

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2010
Inês Domingues
Abstract Studies investigating the use of biomarkers in pesticide risk assessment have greatly increased in recent years; however, issues concerning the ecological meaning of enzymatic responses have proved controversial. Ideally a good biomarker response should be modulated by the environmental contaminants alone and demonstrate a predictable behavior towards certain types of toxins. As these premises are rarely observed, the present study aims to outline research that has contributed to an understanding of the behavior of two widely used biomarkers, cholinesterase and glutathione- S -transferase, describing environmental and biotic factors that affect their response in freshwater invertebrates. Studies were performed in the main classes of aquatic invertebrates with these biomarkers and conclusions were reached concerning their behavior towards the main classes of pesticides. Links between biomarker responses and conventional endpoints were evaluated so that ecological relevance could be attributed to enzymatic responses. Toxicity of mixtures was investigated, and cases of synergism and antagonism were pointed out as factors changing the expected toxicity of aquatic systems and leading to misinterpretations of biomarker responses. Finally, the use of biomarkers as a tool for biomonitoring and in situ assays was investigated, with discussion of advantages and disadvantages of their use. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:5,18. © 2009 SETAC [source]

Digestive bioavailability to a deposit feeder (Arenicola marina) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with anthropogenic particles,

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 11 2004
Ian M. Voparil
Abstract Marine sediments around urban areas serve as catch basins for anthropogenic particles containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using incubations with gut fluids extracted from a deposit-feeding polychaete (Arenicola marina), we determined the digestive bioavailability of PAHs from fly ashes, coal dusts, diesel soots, tire tread materials, and urban particulates. We found that gut fluids solubilize significant concentrations of PAHs from two tire treads, two diesel soots, and the urban particulates. However, PAHs in fly ashes and coal dusts were not available to the digestive agents in gut fluid. Potential digestive exposure to PAHs is much greater than that predicted to be available from these materials using equilibrium partitioning theory (EqP). Amending an already-contaminated sediment with fly ash decreased phenanthrene solubilization by gut fluid. In contrast, addition of tire tread to the sediment resulted in increased solubilization of four PAHs by gut fluid. Therefore, addition of certain types of anthropogenic particles to sediments may result in an increase in bioavailable PAHs rather than a net decrease, as predicted by EqP. Difficulty in predicting the amount of change due to amendment may be due to interactions occurring among the mixture of compounds solubilized by gut fluid. [source]

Temporal distribution of clinical seizures over the 24-h day: A retrospective observational study in a tertiary epilepsy clinic

EPILEPSIA, Issue 9 2009
Wytske A. Hofstra
Summary Purpose:, Very few studies have evaluated seizure occurrence in humans over the 24-h day; data from children are particularly scarce. Circadian patterns in seizure occurrence may be of importance in epilepsy research and may have important implications in diagnosis and therapy. Methods:, We have analyzed clinical seizures of 176 consecutive patients (76 children, 100 adults) who had continuous electroencephalography (EEG) and video monitoring lasting more than 22 h. Several aspects of seizures were noted, including classification, time of day, origin, and sleep stage. Results:, More than 800 seizures were recorded. Significantly more seizures were observed from 11:00 to 17:00 h, and from 23:00 to 05:00 h significantly fewer seizures were seen. The daytime peak incidences were observed in seizures overall, complex partial seizures (in children and adults), seizures of extratemporal origin (in children), and seizures of temporal origin (in adults). Incidences significantly lower than expected were seen in the period 23:00 to 05:00 h in seizures overall, complex partial seizures (in children and adults), and in tonic seizures (in children). In addition, significantly fewer seizures of temporal (in children and adults) and extratemporal origin (in children) were observed in this period. Discussion:, The results suggest that certain types of seizures have a strong tendency to occur in true diurnal patterns. These patterns are characterized by a peak during midday and a low in the early night. [source]

Who is Looking for Nutritional Food Labels?: Wer sucht nach Nährwertangaben auf Lebensmitteln?: Mais qui donc s'occupe du contenu nutritionnel sur les étiquettes?

EUROCHOICES, Issue 1 2005
Andreas C. Drichoutis
Summary Who is Looking for Nutritional Food Labels? Obesity amongst the population in Europe is increasing at an alarming rate. Consequently, nutritional and lifestyle factors are implicated in the huge increase in several chronic diseases in Europe. The Southern Europeans tend to be amongst the worst, mth Greece being first in adult obesity mainly due to the replacement of the Mediterranean diet with ready-made and fast foods. People want to see change towards an environment that makes it easier to make healthy choices. The EU, in order to assist consumers make healthy food choices, tried to make nutritional information available to consumers through a food labelling law framework, which currently works on a voluntary basis with the perspective to change towards a mandatory system. We conducted a study in Greece in order to assess consumer use of nutritional food labels and determine which consumers use certain types of nutrient content information. We found that almost a third of consumers often use food labels and these are the more educated, who are more nutritionally knowledgeable. Many others do not, and to increase their chances of reading the labels one should improve their knowledge of nutrition havlng in mind that they are not big users of the media but get their information from informd sources. Mais qui donc s'occupe du contenu nutritionnel sur les etiquettes? La prevalence de I'obesitk augmente a un t a u toujours plus preoccupant en Europe. Les facteurs nutritionnels et les styles de vie sont par consequent impliquks dans l'Cnorme accroissement constati: de diverses pathologies chroniques. La situation est specialement mauvaise en Europe du sud, ou la Grece detient le record du taux d'obesite dans la population adulte, en particulier du fait du remplacement du fameux ,regime mediterraneen' par les plats prepares et la restauration rapide. Les gens souhaitent un environnement susceptible de leur faciliter le choix d'une alimentation saine. C'est pour cela que l'Union europkenne a tente de mettre des informations nutritionnelles a la disposition des consommateurs, en instituant un cadre legal pour l'etiquetage alimentaire Il fonctionne actuellement sur la base du volontariat, mais il a pour vocation d'evoluer vers un systeme obligatoire. Il est rendu compte ici d'une enquOte effectuee en Grkce pour determiner quels types de consommateurs utilisent quels genres dindications de contenu nutritionnel portees sur les etiquettes alimentaires, et dans quelle mesure. Environ un tiers des consommateurs utilisent souvent les contenus nutritionnels. Ce sont les plus eduques et les mieux informks. La plupart des autres negligent les etiquettes. Pour accroitre les chances que ces dernieres soient lues, il faudrait donc arneliorer les connaissances nutritionnelles, en gardant a l'esprit que les personnes concernkes utilisent peu les mkdias et tirent leurs informations de sources informelles. Wer sucht nach Nährwertangaben auf Die Fettleibigkeit in der europaischen Bevolkerung nimmt alarmierend schnell zu. Folglich spiegeln sich Ernahrung und Lebensstil in dem hohen Anstieg zahlreicher chronischer Erkrankungen in Europa wider. Fur die Sudeuropaer ergeben sich einige der schlechtesten Werte, wobei in Griechenland die Erwachsenenfettleibigkeit am ausgepriigtesten ist. Dies liegt hauptsachlich daran, dass die mediterrane Erniihrung von Fertiggerichten und Fast-Food abgelost wurde. Die Bevolkerung wiinscht sich eine Veriinderung hin zu einer Umgebung, die sie darin unterstutzt, der Gesundheit zutr;dgliche Entscheidungen zu treffen. Die EU wollte den Verbrauchern gesundheitlich relevante Informationen durch eine Kennzeichnung der Inhaltsstoffe der Lebensmittel verschaffen. Dieses System sieht gegenwartig lediglich eine freiwillige Kennzeichnung vor, ist aber als obligatorisch geplant. Wir fiihrten in Griechenland eine Studie durch, um zu beurteilen, inwiefern Nahrwertangaben auf Lebensmitteln den Verbrauchern nutzen, und um festzustellen, welche Verbraucher auf bestimmte Nahrwertangaben achten. Wir fanden heraus, dass beinahe ein Drittel aller Verbraucher auf die Lebensmittelkennzeich nung achten. Diese Verbraucher verfiigen uber eine hohere Bildung und kennen sich in Erniihrungsfragen relativ gut aus. Ein großer Anted der Verbraucher verfiigt uber keinerlei gesundheitliche Grundkenntnisse; um diesen Verbrauchern das Lesen der Etiketten zu ermoglichen, sollte man ihre Kenntnisse in Sachen Ernahrung verbessern und sich dabei vor Augen fiihren, dass diese Verbraucher die Medien nicht allzu intensiv nutzen, sondern ihre Informationen aus informellen Quellen beziehen. [source]

Mindset effects on information search in self-evaluation

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
Ute C. Bayer
Research on mindset theory (Gollwitzer & Bayer, 1999) observed that people in an implemental mindset show an orientation towards positive illusionary self-evaluations, whereas people in a deliberative mindset opt for accurate self-evaluations. In the present study, we tested whether these self-evaluative orientations and the associated search for certain types of self-relevant information (feedback) are moderated by low versus high self-views. With high self-view participants we observed the hypothesized mindset effects on information search, but we obtained the reverse pattern for low self-view participants. The latter finding points to self-defensiveness in low self-view individuals. Implications are discussed in terms of the consequences of accurate versus positive illusionary self-evaluations for the successful control of goal pursuits, and individual differences in mindset effects. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Selection of knowledge acquisition techniques based upon the problem domain characteristics of production and operations management expert systems

EXPERT SYSTEMS, Issue 2 2001
William P. Wagner
The application of expert systems to various problem domains in business has grown steadily since their introduction. Regardless of the chosen method of development, the most commonly cited problems in developing these systems are the unavailability of both the experts and knowledge engineers and difficulties with the process of acquiring knowledge from domain experts. Within the field of artificial intelligence, this has been called the ,knowledge acquisition' problem and has been identified as the greatest bottleneck in the expert system development process. Simply stated, the problem is how to acquire the specific knowledge for a well-defined problem domain efficiently from one or more experts and represent it in the appropriate computer format. Given the ,paradox of expertise', the experts have often proceduralized their knowledge to the point that they have difficulty in explaining exactly what they know and how they know it. However, empirical research in the field of expert systems reveals that certain knowledge acquisition techniques are significantly more efficient than others in helping to extract certain types of knowledge within specific problem domains. In this paper we present a mapping between these empirical studies and a generic taxonomy of expert system problem domains. In so doing, certain knowledge acquisition techniques can be prescribed based on the problem domain characteristics. With the production and operations management (P/OM) field as the pilot area for the current study, we first examine the range of problem domains and suggest a mapping of P/OM tasks to a generic taxonomy of problem domains. We then describe the most prominent knowledge acquisition techniques. Based on the examination of the existing empirical knowledge acquisition research, we present how the empirical work can be used to provide guidance to developers of expert systems in the field of P/OM. [source]

THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATORS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT:

FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 2 2005
A Response to Tippins, Wittmann
In their article, Tippins and Wittmann articulate a strong position against custody evaluators making specific custody recommendations to the court. This response will focus on my thoughts about their concepts and my belief that recommendations can be useful and appropriate some of the time, even though there may be significant problems with certain types of recommendations and problems with some evaluators. [source]

DNA base repair , recognition and initiation of catalysis

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 6 2009
Bjørn Dalhus
Abstract Endogenous DNA damage induced by hydrolysis, reactive oxygen species and alkylation modifies DNA bases and the structure of the DNA duplex. Numerous mechanisms have evolved to protect cells from these deleterious effects. Base excision repair is the major pathway for removing base lesions. However, several mechanisms of direct base damage reversal, involving enzymes such as transferases, photolyases and oxidative demethylases, are specialized to remove certain types of photoproducts and alkylated bases. Mismatch excision repair corrects for misincorporation of bases by replicative DNA polymerases. The determination of the 3D structure and visualization of DNA repair proteins and their interactions with damaged DNA have considerably aided our understanding of the molecular basis for DNA base lesion repair and genome stability. Here, we review the structural biochemistry of base lesion recognition and initiation of one-step direct reversal (DR) of damage as well as the multistep pathways of base excision repair (BER), nucleotide incision repair (NIR) and mismatch repair (MMR). [source]