Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Considerable Impact (considerable + impact)
Selected AbstractsUnderstanding the impact of painful diabetic neuropathyDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue S1 2003Cristian Quattrini Abstract Painful neuropathy is a common and often distressing complication of diabetes. It has considerable impact on the social and psychological well-being of affected individuals. There are two distinct forms of painful neuropathy: an acute and self-limiting form that resolves within a year or a chronic form that can go on for years. There are now a number of drugs available for the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, some may fail to respond to these drugs or may have unacceptable adverse side effects. When this is the case, the patient's quality of life can be severely affected. Health care professionals need to assess the full impact of painful neuropathy. In this article we review a number of instruments that are used to assess the severity of painful neuropathy and its impact on the quality of life. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Response of collembolan communities to land-use change and grassland successionECOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2007Matthieu Chauvat This study focuses on the long-term changes of collembolan communities occurring after the conversion of arable land to managed grassland. We analysed collembolan communities at grassland sites of different age that had been gradually converted over a period of 50 yr. Abundance and biomass responded rapidly and very positively to the conversion of arable land to grassland, while species richness was not affected. Collembolan assemblages changed only little during grassland maturation. The impact of land-use change on community structure was more obvious at the functional level because the colonization processes observed in our study mostly relied on hemiedaphic species. Vegetation and soil parameters were good predictors of collembolan community structure during development of managed grassland. The present study demonstrated that past landscape patterns and processes like land-use conversion and subsequent succession had a considerable impact on the present day pattern of species richness and community composition of Collembola within a landscape. Our results strongly differ from those obtained for other invertebrate groups, highlighting on the one hand the very diverse reactions of invertebrates to a common factor, and on the other hand the need to survey more than one taxa in order to draw conclusions on effects of land-use change on faunistic communities. [source] Recanting of life-time inhalant use: how big a problem and what to make of itADDICTION, Issue 8 2009Steven C. Martino ABSTRACT Aims To establish the prevalence of recanting of life-time inhalant use, identify correlates of recanting to gain insight to its causes and develop a method for distinguishing recanters who truly are versus are not life-time users of inhalants. Design and setting Longitudinal survey data from students in 62 South Dakota middle schools who were participating in a field trial to evaluate a school-based drug prevention program. Measurements At grades 7,8, participants reported on their life-time inhalant use, other drug use and drug-related beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. Findings Forty-nine per cent of students who reported life-time inhalant use at grade 7 recanted their reports a year later. Comparison of students who recanted inhalant use with those who did or did not report inhalant use consistently on drug-related beliefs, attitudes and behaviors at grades 7 and 8 suggested that, whereas some inhalant use recanting reflects denial of past behavior, some reflects erroneous initial reporting. Based on a latent mixture model fitted to the multivariate distribution of grade 7 and grade 8 responses of recanters and consistent reporters, we calculated the probability that each recanter was, in fact, a life-time inhalant user. An estimated 67% of the recanters in our sample appear to be life-time inhalant users who admitted use in grade 7 and then denied that use at grade 8; 33% appear to be students who reported use incorrectly at grade 7 and then corrected that error at grade 8. Conclusions Inhalant use recanting is a significant problem that, if not handled carefully, is likely to have a considerable impact on our understanding of the etiology of inhalant use and efforts to prevent it. [source] Pathologic expression of MHC class,II is driven by mitogen-activated protein kinasesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Isabelle Martins Abstract The class,II transactivator (CIITA) is the master regulator of MHC class,II molecules (MHC,II). In melanoma, the MHC,II are constitutively expressed due to an abnormal transcription of CIITA from its promoter,III (pIII), and requires the presence of a 1-kb enhancer located upstream from this latter. Since mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) have been shown to be activated in most melanomas, we sought to analyze their possible involvement in CIITA expression. Using chemical inhibitors and dominant-negative constructs of MAPK-ERK kinase (Mek1) and MAPK-JNK, we evidenced the inhibition of MHC,II and CIITA expression in melanoma cell lines displaying activated MAPK. Transcriptional regulation by MAPK is known to involve the AP-1 transcription factor family. Sequence analysis revealed an AP-1-responsive motif in the enhancer of CIITA pIII at ,5954/,5947 from the site of transcription initiation. Its mutagenesis reduced CIITA expression four- to fivefold in melanoma cell lines and alleviated the effect of dominant-negative constructs of the MAPK pathway. Together, our findings demonstrate that MAPK-ERK and MAPK-JNK are regulators of CIITA transcription in melanoma, and pinpoint an AP-1-responsive site in the CIITA gene pIII. This should have considerable impact on our understanding of the physio-pathologic expression of MHC,II. [source] Fiscal Consolidation and Decentralisation: A Tale of Two Tiers,FISCAL STUDIES, Issue 2 2005Julia Darby Abstract This paper contributes to the established literature on fiscal consolidations by investigating the distinct behaviour of central and sub-central tiers of government during general government consolidation attempts. In the light of different degrees of decentralisation across OECD countries, and the different responsibilities devolved to sub-central tiers, we believe that this approach offers an illuminating insight into the analysis of fiscal consolidations and their success. We show that the involvement of the sub-central tiers of government is crucial to achieving cuts in expenditure, particularly in relation to the overall size of the government wage bill. In addition, central governments appear to exert a strong influence on the expenditure of sub-central tiers through their grant allocations, and control of these allocations appears to have a considerable impact upon the overall success of consolidation attempts. Finally, we demonstrate that there is a skewness in cuts towards sub-central capital expenditure both when central governments cut grant allocations and when sub-central governments engage in lone consolidation attempts. [source] Land Cover Characteristics in Ne Iceland with Special Reference to Jökulhlaup GeomorphologyGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 3-4 2003Petteri Alho ABSTRACT Subglacial eruptions in Vatnajbkull have accounted for several jökulhlaups (glacial outburst floods) in the Northern Volcanic Zone (NVZ). These events and aeolian processes have had a considerable impact on the landscape evolution of the area. Most of this area is occupied by barren land cover; the northern margin of the barren land cover is advancing northwards, burying vegetation under wind-blown sediment. This paper presents a land-cover classification based on a supervised Landsat TM image classification with pre-processing and extensive field observations. Four land cover categories were identified: (a) lava cover (34.8%); (b) barren sediment cover (39.0%); (c) vegetation (25.1%); and (d) water and snow (1.1%). The mapping of sand transport routes demonstrates that a major aeolian sand transportation pathway is situated in the western part of the study area. The sedimentary formation elongated towards the northeast is evidence of active and continuous aeolian sand transportation towards the north. Interpretation of the satellite image suggests that four main areas are affected by jökulhlaups along the Jökulsáá Fjöllum: Ásbyrgi, Grímsstaðir, Herðubreið,Möðrudalur, and the Dyngjujökull sandur. In addition, jökulhlaup-related sediment cover (8%) in the study area, together with erosional features, are evidence of a severe and extensive jökulhlaup-induced process of land degradation. [source] Impacts of extreme winter warming in the sub-Arctic: growing season responses of dwarf shrub heathlandGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2008S. BOKHORST Abstract Climate change scenarios predict an increased frequency of extreme climatic events. In Arctic regions, one of the most profound of these are extreme and sudden winter warming events in which temperatures increase rapidly to above freezing, often causing snow melt across whole landscapes and exposure of ecosystems to warm temperatures. Following warming, vegetation and soils no longer insulated below snow are then exposed to rapidly returning extreme cold. Using a new experimental facility established in sub-Arctic dwarf shrub heathland in northern Sweden, we simulated an extreme winter warming event in the field and report findings on growth, phenology and reproduction during the subsequent growing season. A 1-week long extreme winter warming event was simulated in early March using infrared heating lamps run with or without soil warming cables. Both single short events delayed bud development of Vaccinium myrtillus by up to 3 weeks in the following spring (June) and reduced flower production by more than 80%: this also led to a near-complete elimination of berry production in mid-summer. Empetrum hermaphroditum also showed delayed bud development. In contrast, Vaccinium vitis-idaea showed no delay in bud development, but instead appeared to produce a greater number of actively growing vegetative buds within plots warmed by heating lamps only. Again, there was evidence of reduced flowering and berry production in this species. While bud break was delayed, growing season measurements of growth and photosynthesis did not reveal a differential response in the warmed plants for any of the species. These results demonstrate that a single, short, extreme winter warming event can have considerable impact on bud production, phenology and reproductive effort of dominant plant species within sub-Arctic dwarf shrub heathland. Furthermore, large interspecific differences in sensitivity are seen. These findings are of considerable concern, because they suggest that repeated events may potentially impact on the biodiversity and productivity of these systems should these extreme events increase in frequency as a result of global change. Although climate change may lengthen the growing season by earlier spring snow melt, there is a profound danger for these high-latitude ecosystems if extreme, short-lived warming in winter exposes plants to initial warm temperatures, but then extreme cold for the rest of the winter. Work is ongoing to determine the longer term and wider impacts of these events. [source] Civil Servants, Economic Ideas, and Economic Policies: Lessons from ItalyGOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2005LUCIA QUAGLIA Building on theoretically oriented and empirically grounded research on two key macroeconomic institutions in Italy, this article explains how and why civil servants can engineer major policy changes, making a difference in a country's trajectory. Italy provides a challenging testing ground for this kind of analysis, as it is generally portrayed as a highly politicized system in which political parties and politicians fully control public policies. Three general lessons can be learned, the first being that the role of civil servants in changing modes of economic governance depends on the resources that they master in the system in which they operate. "Intangible assets" are of primary importance in complex and perceived technical policies, such as monetary and exchange rate policy, which have high potential for "technocratic capture." Second, in these policies, certain intangible assets, such as specific bodies of economic knowledge or policy paradigms, have a considerable impact on policy making. Third, besides interactions in international fora, the professional training of civil servants is a mainstream way through which economic policy beliefs circulate and gain currency, laying the foundations for policy shifts. By highlighting the importance of the intangible assets of macroeconomic institutions, this research makes an unorthodox contribution to the primarily economic literature on central bank independence. [source] Use of the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire in Children and Adolescents With Headache: An Italian Pilot StudyHEADACHE, Issue 7 2003D. D'Amico MD Objectives.,To determine the suitability of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) Questionnaire for assessing disability in children and adolescents with headache and to obtain preliminary information about disability in different primary headaches. Background.,During the last decade, researchers have begun to employ standardized methodologies to investigate the global impact of primary headaches. Disease-specific instruments have been developed to measure headache-related disability. The MIDAS Questionnaire, which is the most extensively studied of these instruments, was designed to assess the overall impact of headaches over the 3 months before compilation. The MIDAS Questionnaire is an optimal tool to assess headache-related disability in adults. Methods.,Ninety-five patients aged 7 to 17 years with tension-type headache, migraine, or both completed the validated Italian form of the MIDAS questionnaire on 2 occasions. Test-retest reliability was assessed by the Spearman rank correlation test. The Cronbach , assessed internal consistency. The patients answered questions about the adequacy of the questionnaire. Results.,The Cronbach , was .8. Correlation coefficients were generally high for the overall MIDAS score and for the items investigating disability in school and in family/leisure activities; they were lower for the items about housework. Most patients thought that the MIDAS Questionnaire was useful (98.9%) and that it captured the impact of their headaches (58.9%); 41% thought that questions about disability in housework were useless, 44.2% suggested adding questions regarding inability to do homework. All primary headaches had a considerable impact on daily activities, but patients with migraine tended to have lower headache frequencies and lower total disability time; those with tension-type headache suffered more days in which activities, although performed, were substantially impaired. Conclusions.,The MIDAS Questionnaire is useful for assessing disability in children and adolescents with different primary headaches. Minimal changes in the phrasing and content of the items would be sufficient to render the MIDAS specific for the younger population with headache. [source] Evaluation and use of a synthetic quality control material, included in the European external quality assessment scheme for cystic fibrosis,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 8 2008Sarah Berwouts Abstract Assuring high quality within the field of genetic testing is fundamental, as the results can have considerable impact on the patient and his or her family. The use of appropriate quality control (QC) samples is therefore essential. Diagnostic laboratories mainly use patient samples as QC material, which of course include a maximum of two mutations per sample. Bearing in mind that some assays (such as for cystic fibrosis [CF] testing) can test for more than 100 mutations, multiplex QC materials including more than two mutations could save valuable time and reagents. Based on this need, synthetic multiplex controls have been developed by Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. (MMQCI) for CF. A synthetic control, containing six homozygous mutations and one polymorphism for CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), was evaluated by distributing it through the CF external quality assessment (EQA) scheme, along with the EQA samples in 2005. A total of 197 participants returned results of the yearly EQA scheme and 133 laboratories participated in the evaluation of the synthetic sample. Respectively, 76% and 73% of the participants were assigned as successful. This evaluation study revealed that the multiplex QC material performed well in the majority of assays and could be useful in method validation, as a tool to challenge interpretation skills, and as potential proficiency testing (PT) material. Hum Mutat 0, 1,8, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Relationship between cribra orbitalia and enamel hypoplasia in the early medieval Slavic population at Borovce, SlovakiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Z. Obertová Abstract Cribra orbitalia and enamel hypoplasia were examined in an early medieval (8th to beginning of 12th century AD) skeletal sample of 451 individuals from Borovce, Slovakia. More than 40% of these individuals died before reaching 20 years of age. The relationship between the occurrence of orbital and enamel lesions was analysed by focusing on the age-specific distribution, and on its influence on demographic parameters. Both features were found in 11.2% of the observed skulls. The presence of orbital and dental lesions showed a considerable impact on mortality as well as the life expectancy. Generally, the highest mortality was observed among 0,4 year old individuals. The greatest discrepancy in the demographic parameters, however, appeared between the affected and unaffected individuals aged 10,14 and 15,19 years. In these two age groups the co-occurrence of both lesions was most frequently recorded. These individuals obviously had a history of sickness, and thus could not cope with further bouts of disease and with the increased physiological demands of pubertal growth. The missing correlation in younger age categories can be largely explained by the difficulty of macroscopically examining the permanent dentition, since an interrelationship between the age at hypoplasia development and the occurrence of cribra orbitalia was detected. Several differences between the individuals with enamel defects and both conditions were observed in the distribution of age at hypoplasia formation. According to these results, several factors, such as impaired health status, growth demands and diet, influence the development of enamel hypoplasia and cribra orbitalia in a particular population. It is possible that after reaching a certain threshold, the underlying factors act synergistically in a kind of vicious cycle as the balance between the immune system, metabolism, and exogenous factors such as pathogens and nutrition, is disturbed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prevalence and impact of oral pain in 8-year-old children in Sri LankaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2005N. RATNAYAKE Summary.,, Objective., The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and impact of oral pain in 8-year-old Sri Lankan children and their parents. Design., A cross-sectional study using a multistage cluster sampling technique was carried out in a sample of 614 children attending schools in the Education Division of Badulla, Uva province, Sri Lanka. Data were collected by means of a pre-tested questionnaire that was sent to each of the children and their parents. The children were also given an oral examination. Of the 614 questionnaires which were sent to parents, 30 were not returned and eight had to be excluded from the analysis because the respondents had answered only two questions. Therefore, the present analysis is limited to data from 576 children and their parents. Results., The lifetime prevalences of oral pain, as reported by the children and parents, were 49% and 53%, respectively. According to the children's report, 25% had experienced oral pain in the past 2 months while 31% of the parents reported that their child had experienced oral pain within the same period. Of those children who reported that they had experienced oral pain in the past 2 months, nearly 45% stated that the pain was severe. In 48%, the pain was triggered when biting. ,Presence of cavity/decayed tooth' was cited as the most common cause of oral pain (67%). Overall, 74% of children had experienced a negative impact as a result of the pain whilst 66% of the parents said that the child's pain had had an impact on them. Ethnic group, parental income and level of education, and the caries experience of the child were significantly associated with the reporting of oral pain in the past 2 months. Conclusions., The prevalence of oral pain was high among these children, and had a considerable impact on both the children and their parents. [source] Evaluation of a mobile learning organiser for university studentsJOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING, Issue 3 2005Dan Corlett Abstract This paper describes a 10-month trial of a mobile learning organiser, developed for use by university students. Implemented on a wireless-enabled Pocket PC hand-held computer, the organiser makes use of existing mobile applications as well as tools designed specifically for students to manage their learning. The trial set out to identify the most-used tools for such a learning device and their patterns and problems of usage. The primary uses of the organiser were communication, time-management and access to content. No single application took precedence. The results from an analysis of questionnaire surveys and focus groups indicate that there was a demand for institutional support of mobile learning, in particular to provide course content and timetabling information. Wireless connectivity was crucial to the usefulness of the organiser. Usability issues relating to the hardware and software had considerable impact on the students' usage and satisfaction with the system. [source] Short-term effects of a mandibular advancement device on obstructive sleep apnoea: an open-label pilot trialJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 8 2005G. AARAB summary, Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder, which is, among others, associated with snoring. OSA has a considerable impact on a patient's general health and daily life. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is frequently used as a ,gold standard' treatment for OSA. As an alternative, especially for mild/moderate cases, mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are prescribed increasingly. Their efficacy and effectiveness seem to be acceptable. Although some randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been published recently, most studies so far are case studies. Therefore, our department is planning a controlled RCT, in which MADs are compared with both nCPAP and a control condition in a parallel design. As a first step, an adjustable MAD was developed with a small, more or less constant vertical dimension at different mandibular positions. To test the device and the experimental procedures, a pilot trial was performed with 10 OSA patients (six mild, four moderate; one women, nine men; mean age = 47·9 ± 9·7 years). They all underwent a polysomnographic recording before as well as 2,14 weeks after insertion of the MAD (adjusted at 50% of the maximal protrusion). The apnoea,hypopnoea index (AHI) was significantly reduced with the MAD in situ (P = 0·017). When analysed as separate groups, the moderate cases showed a significantly larger decrease in AHI than the mild cases (P = 0·012). It was therefore concluded from this pilot study that this MAD might be an effective tool in the treatment of, especially, moderate OSA. [source] Influence of polyethylene creep behavior on wear in total hip arthroplastyJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2006Janaki R. Penmetsa Abstract After total hip arthroplasty (THA), polyethylene acetabular liner creep occurs quickly and serves to increases head,liner contact area and decrease contact pressures. What effect these early changes in contact mechanics will have on the wear behavior of the articulation remains unclear, and hence, selection or modification of polyethylene materials for optimal creep and wear performance is impossible. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of polyethylene creep behavior on volumetric wear and linear creep and wear penetration during simulated gait loading conditions. A finite element model of THA articulation was developed, and simultaneous numerical creep and wear simulation was performed to 10 million gait cycles with three levels of polyethylene creep behavior. Long-term volumetric wear and penetration were surprisingly unaffected by the polyethylene creep behavior due to the competing decrease in contact pressures coupled with increased contact area. In addition, variation in contact mechanics with the creep levels studied was only noteworthy in the initial postoperative period; after 1 million gait cycles, peak contact pressures and areas were within 13% regardless of the creep material behavior selected. Femoral head size had considerable impact on wear and penetration, while liner thickness primarily affected only early penetration. These results suggest that polyethylene creep behavior plays a major role in early penetration, but has little influence on the more important long-term volumetric wear. © 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 24:422,427, 2006 [source] HOST PARASITE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN FRESHWATER PHYTOPLANKTON AND CHYTRID FUNGI (CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA),JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Bas W. Ibelings Some chytrids are host-specific parasiticfungithat may have a considerable impact on phytoplankton dynamics. The phylum Chytridiomycota contains one class, the Chytridiomycetes, and is composed of five different orders. Molecular studies now firmly place the Chytridiomycota within the fungal kingdom. Chytrids are characterized by having zoospores, a motile stage in their life cycle. Zoospores are attracted to the host cell by specific signals. No single physical,chemical factor has been found that fully explains the dynamics of chytrid epidemics in the field. Fungal periodicity was primarily related to host cell density. The absence of aggregated distributions of chytrids on their hosts suggested that their hosts did not vary in their susceptibility to infection. A parasite can only become epidemic when it grows faster than the host. Therefore, it has been suggested that epidemics in phytoplankton populations arise when growth conditions for the host are unfavorable. No support for such a generalization was found, however. Growth of the parasitic fungus Rhizophydium planktonicum Canter emend, parasitic on the diatom Asterionella formosa Hassal, was reduced under stringent nutrient limitation,because production and infectivity of zoospores were affected negatively. A moderate phosphorous or light limitation favored epidemic development, however. Chytrid infections have been shown to affect competition between their algal hosts and in this way altered phytoplankton succession. There is potential for coevolution between Asterionella and the chytrid Zygorhizidium planktonicum Canter based on clear reciprocal fitness costs, absence of overall infective parasite strains, and possibly a genetic basis for host susceptibility and parasite infectivity. [source] Promises Made, Promises Broken: An Exploration of Employee Attraction and Retention Practices in Small BusinessJOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2001Jill Kickul Entrepreneurial organizations have undergone substantial workforce changes and transformations during the last two decades in order to compete successfully on a global scale. The ability to attract and retain reliable and competent employees has become a key component in developing an effective and sustainable competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the psychological contract and the types of promises made and communicated by small business organizations to attract and retain their employees. From a sample of 151 employees within small businesses, the results demonstrate that perceived unfulfilled promises can have a considerable impact on workplace attitudes, commitment, and intentions to leave the organization. Implications and recommendations for small businesses as well as directions for future research are discussed. [source] Chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps: the role of generic and specific questionnaires on assessing its impact on patient's quality of lifeALLERGY, Issue 10 2008I. Alobid Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) including nasal polyps is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa that, despite differing hypotheses of its cause, remains poorly understood. Primary symptoms are nasal blockage, loss of smell, rhinorrhea, and facial pain or pressure. Chronic rhinosinusitis causes significant physical symptoms, has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL), and can substantially impair daily functioning. A global evaluation of patients must include, together with nasal symptoms, nasal endoscopy, and CT scan, the measurement of QoL. To assess QoL in CRS, specific and generic questionnaires may be used. Chronic rhinosinusitis has a considerable impact on a patient's QoL but comorbidities, such as asthma and atopy, have an accumulative negative effect. Both medical and surgical treatments lead to a similar improvement on the QoL of CRS and nasal polyp patients. [source] Enterobacteria-mediated nitrogen fixation in natural populations of the fruit fly Ceratitis capitataMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 9 2005A. BEHAR Abstract Nitrogen, although abundant in the atmosphere, is paradoxically a limited resource for multicellular organisms. In the Animalia, biological nitrogen fixation has solely been demonstrated in termites. We found that all individuals of field-collected Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata) harbour large diazotrophic enterobacterial populations that express dinitrogen reductase in the gut. Moreover, nitrogen fixation was demonstrated in isolated guts and in live flies and may significantly contribute to the fly's nitrogen intake. The presence of similar bacterial consortia in additional insect orders suggests that nitrogen fixation occurs in vast pools of terrestrial insects. On such a large scale, this phenomenon may have a considerable impact on the nitrogen cycle. [source] Occupational balance of women with rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative studyMUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 2 2004Tanja Stamm MSc MBA MagPhil OTR Abstract Objective: Occupational balance has been shown to be an important factor in maintaining health. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) reduces functional ability and quality of life and may thus reduce occupational balance. The aim of this qualitative pilot study was to explore occupational balance in women who have RA. Methods: Nine women with RA with past, but not current, paid work experience, no other confounding neuro-motor disease and with disease duration of 0.75,31 years were selected from an Austrian rheumatology outpatient clinic. Age range of the participants was 28,68 years. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed by the constant comparative method from an occupational perspective. Results: Three main categories emerged: (1) The participants experienced a process of change that affected their occupational balance. (2) This new state of occupational balance was characterized by changed levels of involvement in physical, mental, social and rest occupations and by a certain level of unpredictability of symptoms. (3) Overall, the new state of occupational balance was valued differently: positively, indifferently or negatively. Conclusion: RA was found to have a considerable impact on occupational balance. The experience is not invariably seen as negative as previous literature would suggest. Further research should explore the longitudinal dimension of occupational balance in people with RA. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Change in vegetation cover in East Timor, 1989,1999NATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 1 2004George A. Bouma Abstract Forest resources play a key role and provide many basic needs to communities in developing economies. To assess the patterns of vegetation cover change, as a corollary of resource utilization, satellite imagery, ground truth data, and image processing techniques can be useful. This article is concerned with identifying change in major vegetation types in East Timor between 1989 and 1999, using Landsat Thematic Mapper data. The results highlight a significant level of deforestation and decline in foliage cover. All major vegetation cover types declined from 1989 to 1999, and there was a sizeable increase in degraded woodlands. This decline has had considerable impact on the livelihoods of rural and urban communities. Causes for these changes include: economic exploitation of abundant resources; and implications of transmigration policies implemented during Indonesian rule, resulting in increased competition for land and woodland resources. As the new nation of Timor-Leste establishes itself, it must consider its current stock and distribution of natural capital to ensure that development efforts are geared towards sustainable outcomes. Without the knowledge of historical patterns of resource consumption, development efforts may, unwittingly, lead to continuing decline in forest resources. [source] Insomnia: guide to diagnosis and choice of treatmentPRESCRIBER, Issue 8 2008Sue Wilson PhD The tiredness and poor performance associated with insomnia have a considerable impact on quality of life. Our Drug Review considers when drug treatments are justified and which are preferred, followed by sources of further information and a review of prescription data. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd [source] Summary of recommendations of the first workshop on Postprocessing and Downscaling Atmospheric Forecasts for Hydrologic Applications held at Météo-France, Toulouse, France, 15,18 June 2009ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE LETTERS, Issue 2 2010John Schaake Abstract Hydrologists are increasingly using numerical weather forecasting products as an input to their hydrological models. These products are often generated on relatively coarse scales compared with hydrologically relevant basin units and suffer systematic biases that may have considerable impact when passed through the nonlinear hydrological filters. Therefore, the data need processing before they can be used in hydrological applications. This manuscript summarises discussions and recommendations of the first workshop on Postprocessing and Downscaling Atmospheric Forecasts for Hydrologic Applications held at Meteo France, Toulouse, France, 15,18 June 2008. The recommendations were developed by work groups that considered the following three areas of ensemble prediction: (1) short range (0,2 days), (2) medium range (3 days to 2 weeks), and (3) sub-seasonal and seasonal (beyond 2 weeks). Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society [source] The Industrial Tribunals and Wage Determination in the Australian Iron and Steel Industry, 1921,38AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 3 2000Malcolm Abbott It is believed in some quarters that the system of federal and state industrial tribunals in Australia has exercised a considerable impact on the determination of wages in Australia, making the average level of nominal wages more inflexible and wage differentials more equal in the interwar period. The purpose of this paper is to identify, through cross-country comparisons, the impact that the industrial tribunals had on the iron and steel industry labour market, an industry that played a crucial role in Australia's industrial development during the 1920s and 1930s. [source] The Role of Frugivorous Bats in Tropical Forest SuccessionBIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 4 2007Robert Muscarella Abstract Discussion of successional change has traditionally focused on plants. The role of animals in producing and responding to successional change has received far less attention. Dispersal of plant propagules by animals is a fundamental part of successional change in the tropics. Here we review the role played by frugivorous bats in successional change in tropical forests. We explore the similarities and differences of this ecological service provided by New and Old World seed-dispersing bats and conclude with a discussion of their current economic and conservation implications. Our review suggests that frugivorous New World phyllostomid bats play a more important role in early plant succession than their Old World pteropodid counterparts. We propose that phyllostomid bats have shared a long evolutionary history with small-seeded early successional shrubs and treelets while pteropodid bats are principally dispersers of the seeds of later successional canopy fruits. When species of figs (Ficus) are involved in the early stages of primary succession (e.g. in the river meander system in Amazonia and on Krakatau, Indonesia), both groups of bats are important contributors of propagules. Because they disperse and sometimes pollinate canopy trees, pteropodid bats have a considerable impact on the economic value of Old World tropical forests; phyllostomid bats appear to make a more modest direct contribution to the economic value of New World tropical forests. Nonetheless, because they critically influence forest regeneration, phyllostomid bats make an important indirect contribution to the economic value of these forests. Overall, fruit-eating bats play important roles in forest regeneration throughout the tropics, making their conservation highly desirable. [source] Drug allergy claims in children: from self-reporting to confirmed diagnosisCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 1 2008E. Rebelo Gomes Summary Background Poorly documented self-reported drug allergy (DAll) is a frequent problem in daily clinical practice and has a considerable impact on prescription choices. The diagnostic work-up of drug hypersensitivity (DHs) allows a better classification of the reactions and provides patients with more reliable information and recommendations for future treatments. Objective To assess the prevalence of self-reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and DAll in a paediatric population and to investigate children reporting suspected DAll in order to achieve a firm diagnosis. Design The first phase was based on a cross-sectional survey assessing the life occurrence of ADRs and self-reported DAll carried out at the outpatient clinic of a paediatric hospital. The second phase was based on the diagnostic work-up in children with parent-reported DAll, including detailed anamnesis and in vitro and in vivo investigations (skin and provocation tests). Participants One thousand four hundred and twenty-six parents responded to the initial survey. Sixty of the 67 patients with reported DAll were evaluated at the allergy clinic. Results The prevalences of self-reported ADRs and DAll were 10.2% and 6.0%, respectively. Most of the suspected allergic reactions were non-immediate cutaneous events attributable to ,-lactam antibiotics and occurred in very young children. Thirty-nine of the 60 patients consulting for evaluation had a plausible clinical history and were recommended further investigation. DHs was diagnosed in three children only, based on positive responses in skin (n=1) and oral provocation (n=2) tests. Conclusion ADRs are frequently reported in children, and many children are classified as having a DAll. After complete evaluation, only a few of these reactions can be attributed to DHs and DAll. Most of the patients (94% in this study) could actually tolerate the initially suspected drug. [source] Adult attachment style and core beliefs: are they linked?CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 5 2002Helen Platts Bowlby's attachment theory has had considerable impact on research in developmental psychology. Despite this, its relation to other literature and application to clinical practice have been poorly exploited. This paper seeks to outline the current conceptualization of adult attachment styles, and explore the evidence for a link between attachment style and psychopathology in adulthood. The paper also provides a review of the cognitive research on the beliefs people hold in relation to their attachment style. Furthermore, the importance of building on this theoretical and empirical base to examine the connections between adult attachment style and schemas is highlighted. The last part of the review explores how attending to both the concepts of attachment style and schema may contribute to developing clinical practice. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Synergistic, antagonistic and additive effects of multiple stressors: predation threat, parasitism and pesticide exposure in Daphnia magnaJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Anja Coors Summary 1Predation and parasitism are important factors in the ecology and evolution of natural populations and may, along with other environmental factors, interact with the impact of anthropogenic pollutants. 2Our study aimed at identifying potential interactions between three stressors (predation threat, parasitism and pesticide exposure) and at exploring the predictability of their joint effects by using the model of independent action. We assessed in a full-factorial design the impacts of these stressors on key life-history traits and population growth rate of the water flea Daphnia magna. 3When applied as single stressors, predation threat and parasite challenge induced varying stressor-specific adaptive responses. The pesticide carbaryl was applied at a generally sublethal concentration, which caused low mortality only in first-brood offspring. 4Pesticide exposure interacted synergistically with parasite challenge regarding survival, which suggests immunomodulatory activity of the pesticide. Predation threat by phantom midge larvae showed antagonistic interactions for amount of first-brood offspring with both parasite challenge and carbaryl exposure. All stressors additively affected age and size at maturity, which added up to a considerable delay in the onset of reproduction in the three-stressor combination. The intrinsic rate of natural increase, r, reflected the non-additive and additive effects on single endpoints and showed significant synergistic interactions for all two-stressor combinations. The combination of all stressors resulted in a dramatic reduction of r compared to the stressor-free control. 5The model of independent action proved useful in quantitatively predicting effects of additively acting stressors, and in visualizing the occurrence and magnitude of non-additive effects in accordance with results of analysis of variances. 6Synthesis and applications. Cumulative additive effects and non-additive interactions of natural antagonists and pollutants are shown to result in considerable impacts on ecologically relevant parameters. As a starting point for an environmentally more realistic risk assessment of chemicals, it may be a valuable strategy to screen for non-additive effects among many stress factors simultaneously in simplified experimental designs by using the model of independent action. [source] Linking physiological traits to impacts on community structure and function: the role of root hemiparasitic Orobanchaceae (ex-Scrophulariaceae)JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2005G. K. PHOENIX Summary 1The hemiparasitic Orobanchaceae (ex-Scrophulariaceae) are characterized by a distinctive suite of ecophysiological traits. These traits have important impacts on host plants and non-host plants, and influence interactions with other trophic levels. Ultimately, they can affect community structure and functioning. Here, we review these physiological traits and discuss their ecological consequences. 2The root hemiparasitic Orobanchaceae form a convenient subset of the parasitic angiosperms for study because: they are the most numerous and most widely distributed group of parasitic angiosperms; their physiological characteristics have been well studied; they are important in both agricultural and (semi)natural communities; and they are tractable as experimental organisms. 3Key traits include: high transpiration rates; competition with the host for nutrients and haustorial metabolism of host-derived solutes; uptake of host-derived secondary metabolites; dual autotrophic and heterotrophic carbon nutrition; distinct carbohydrate biochemistry; high nutrient concentrations in green leaf tissue and leaf litter; and small (often hairless and non-mycorrhizal) roots. 4Impacts on the host are detrimental, which can alter competitive balances between hosts and non-hosts and thus result in community change. Further impacts may result from effects on the abiotic environment, including soil water status, nutrient cycling and leaf/canopy temperatures. 5However, for non-host species and for organisms that interact with these (e.g. herbivores and pollinators) or for those that benefit from changes in the abiotic environment, the parasites may have an overall positive effect, suggesting that at the community level, hemiparasites may also be considered as mutualists. 6It is clear that through their distinctive suite of physiological traits hemiparasitic Orobanchaceae, have considerable impacts on community structure and function, can have both competitive and positive interactions with other plants, and can impact on other trophic levels. Many community level effects of parasitic plants can be considered analogous to those of other parasites, predators or herbivores. [source] The institutional environment in the strategic decision of the emerging companies: the case of the Algerian sugar industryJOURNAL OF MULTI CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS, Issue 5-6 2009Mohamed Akli Achabou Abstract During these last years, Algeria, like some other developing countries, is undergoing important institutional changes. The structural adjustment plan (1990s) and the association agreement signed with the European Union (2005) are some of the political tools that guide these profound changes that have considerable impacts on the strategic behaviour of local enterprises. Beyond these mutations at national level, important policy changes are observed at the international level, like the recent reform of the European sugar policy that constitutes a considerable shifter on the behaviour of enterprises operating in the Algerian sugar refining industry. The present research aims to measure the weight of the institutional criteria on the strategic decision of sugar refining companies in Algeria, by the combination of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis and the analytical hierarchy process. The ultimate purpose is to contribute to the analysis of interactions that exist between institutional changes induced by the globalization process and the strategic choices of local enterprises in an emergent economy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||