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Considerable Flexibility (considerable + flexibility)
Selected AbstractsSynthesis of pattern and process in biodiversity conservation assessment: a flexible whole-landscape modelling frameworkDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 3 2010Simon Ferrier Abstract Aim, To describe a general modelling framework for integrating multiple pattern- and process-related factors into biodiversity conservation assessments across whole landscapes. Location, New South Wales (Australia), and world-wide. Methods, The framework allows for a rich array of alternatives to the target-based model traditionally underpinning systematic conservation planning and consists of three broad modelling components. The first component models the future state (condition) of habitat across a landscape as a function of present state, current and projected pressures acting on this state, and any proposed, or implemented, management interventions. The second component uses this spatially explicit prediction of future habitat state to model the level of persistence expected for each of a set of surrogate biodiversity entities. The third component then integrates these individual expectations to estimate the overall level of persistence expected for biodiversity as a whole. Results, Options are explored for tailoring implementation of the framework to suit planning processes varying markedly in purpose, and in availability of data, time, funding and expertise. The framework allows considerable flexibility in the nature of employed biodiversity surrogates (species-level, discrete or continuous community-level) and spatial data structures (polygonal planning units, or fine-scaled raster), the level of sophistication with which each of the three modelling components is implemented (from simple target-based assessment to complex process-based modelling approaches), and the forms of higher-level analysis supported (e.g. optimal plan development, priority mapping, interactive scenario evaluation). Main conclusions, The described framework provides a logical, and highly flexible, foundation for integrating disparate pattern- and process-related factors into conservation assessments in dynamic, multiple-use landscapes. [source] Balancing the funds in the New Cooperative Medical Scheme in rural China: determinants and influencing factors in two provincesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2010Luying Zhang Abstract In recent years, the central government in China has been leading the re-establishment of its rural health insurance system, but local government institutions have considerable flexibility in the specific design and management of schemes. Maintaining a reasonable balance of funds is critical to ensure that the schemes are sustainable and effective in offering financial protection to members. This paper explores the financial management of the NCMS in China through a case study of the balance of funds and the factors influencing this, in six counties in two Chinese provinces. The main data source is NCMS management data from each county from 2003 to 2005, supplemented by: a household questionnaire survey, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with all local stakeholders and policy document analysis. The study found that five out of six counties held a large fund surplus, whilst enrolees obtained only partial financial protection. However, in one county greater risk pooling for enrolees was accompanied by relatively high utilisation levels, resulting in a fund deficit. The opportunities to sustainably increase the financial protection offered to NCMS enrolees are limited by the financial pressures on local government, specific political incentives and low technical capacities at the county level and below. Our analysis suggests that in the short term, efforts should be made to improve the management of the current NCMS design, which should be supported through capacity building for NCMS offices. However, further medium-term initiatives may be required including changes to the design of the schemes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Relations between stomatal closure, leaf turgor and xylem vulnerability in eight tropical dry forest treesPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 3 2003T. J. BRODRIBB ABSTRACT This study examined the linkage between xylem vulnerability, stomatal response to leaf water potential (,L), and loss of leaf turgor in eight species of seasonally dry tropical forest trees. In order to maximize the potential variation in these traits species that exhibit a range of leaf habits and phenologies were selected. It was found that in all species stomatal conductance was responsive to ,L over a narrow range of water potentials, and that ,L inducing 50% stomatal closure was correlated with both the ,L inducing a 20% loss of xylem hydraulic conductivity and leaf water potential at turgor loss in all species. In contrast, there was no correlation between the water potential causing a 50% loss of conductivity in the stem xylem, and the water potential at stomatal closure (,SC) amongst species. It was concluded that although both leaf and xylem characters are correlated with the response of stomata to ,L, there is considerable flexibility in this linkage. The range of responses is discussed in terms of the differing leaf-loss strategies exhibited by these species. [source] A synchrotron radiation study of the one-dimensional complex of sodium with (1S)- N -carboxylato-1-(9-deazaadenin-9-yl)-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino- d -ribitol, a member of the 'immucillin' familyACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION C, Issue 3 2010Graeme J. Gainsford The sodium salt of [immucillin-A,CO2H], (Imm-A), namely catena -poly[[[triaquadisodium(I)](,-aqua)[,-(1S)- N -carboxylato-1-(9-deazaadenin-9-yl)-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino- d -ribitol][triaquadisodium(I)][,-(1S)- N -carboxylato-1-(9-deazaadenin-9-yl)-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino- d -ribitol]] tetrahydrate], {[Na2(C12H13N4O6)2(H2O)7]·4H2O}n, (I), forms a polymeric chain via Na+,O interactions involving the carboxylate and keto O atoms of two independent Imm-A molecules. Extensive N,O,H...O hydrogen bonding utilizing all water H atoms, including four waters of crystallization, provides crystal packing. The structural definition of this novel compound was made possible through the use of synchrotron radiation utilizing a minute fragment (volume ,2.4 × 10,5,mm,3) on a beamline optimized for protein data collection. A summary of intra-ring conformations for immucillin structures indicates considerable flexibility while retaining similar intra-ring orientations. [source] The novel 2Fe,2S outer mitochondrial protein mitoNEET displays conformational flexibility in its N-terminal cytoplasmic tethering domainACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 7 2009Andrea R. Conlan A primary role for mitochondrial dysfunction is indicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. A widely used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is pioglitazone, a member of the thiazolidinedione class of molecules. MitoNEET, a 2Fe,2S outer mitochondrial membrane protein, binds pioglitazone [Colca et al. (2004), Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.286, E252,E260]. The soluble domain of the human mitoNEET protein has been expressed C-terminal to the superfolder green fluorescent protein and the mitoNEET protein has been isolated. Comparison of the crystal structure of mitoNEET isolated from cleavage of the fusion protein (1.4,Å resolution, R factor = 20.2%) with other solved structures shows that the CDGSH domains are superimposable, indicating proper assembly of mitoNEET. Furthermore, there is considerable flexibility in the position of the cytoplasmic tethering arms, resulting in two different conformations in the crystal structure. This flexibility affords multiple orientations on the outer mitochondrial membrane. [source] Supramolecular Assembly of an Amphiphilic GdIII Chelate: Tuning the Reorientational Correlation Time and the Water Exchange RateCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 3 2006Susana Torres Abstract We report the synthesis and characterization of the novel ligand H5EPTPA-C16 ((hydroxymethylhexadecanoyl ester)ethylenepropylenetriaminepentaacetic acid). This ligand was designed to chelate the GdIII ion in a kinetically and thermodynamically stable way while ensuring an increased water exchange rate (kex) on the GdIII complex owing to steric compression around the water-binding site. The attachment of a palmitic ester unit to the pendant hydroxymethyl group on the ethylenediamine bridge yields an amphiphilic conjugate that forms micelles with a long tumbling time (,R) in aqueous solution. The critical micelle concentration (cmc = 0.34 mM) of the amphiphilic [Gd(eptpa-C16)(H2O)]2, chelate was determined by variable-concentration proton relaxivity measurements. A global analysis of the data obtained in variable-temperature and multiple-field 17O NMR and 1H NMRD measurements allowed for the determination of parameters governing relaxivity for [Gd(eptpa-C16)(H2O)]2,; this is the first time that paramagnetic micelles with optimized water exchange have been investigated. The water exchange rate was found to be = 1.7×108 s,1, very similar to that previously reported for the nitrobenzyl derivative [Gd(eptpa-bz-NO2)(H2O)]2, ( = 1.5×108 s,1). The rotational dynamics of the micelles were analysed by using the Lipari,Szabo approach. The micelles formed in aqueous solution show considerable flexibility, with a local rotational correlation time of = 330 ps for the GdIII segments, which is much shorter than the global rotational correlation time of the supramolecular aggregates, = 2100 ps. This internal flexibility of the micelles is responsible for the limited increase of the proton relaxivity observed on micelle formation (r1 = 22.59 mM,1,s,1 for the micelles versus 9.11 mM,1,s,1 for the monomer chelate (20 MHz; 25,°C)). [source] | |||||||||||||