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Selected AbstractsPeptide Modified Electrodes as Electrochemical Metal Ion SensorsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 15 2006Edith Chow Abstract Sensors for the detection of metal ions are of considerable importance for enabling the monitoring of environmental samples for metal ion contamination directly in the field. This review outlines the use of peptides and amino acids as the recognition element of electrochemical sensors for metal ion detection. Initially the complexation of metals by peptides is discussed followed by the immobilization of peptides on electrode surfaces. Subsequently, the application of peptide modified electrodes for detecting metals is reviewed and finally challenges and future prospects are outlined. [source] GP prescribing of nicotine replacement and bupropion to aid smoking cessation in England and WalesADDICTION, Issue 11 2004Andy McEwen ABSTRACT Aims Prescribing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or bupropion for smoking cessation is of considerable importance to public health but little is known about prescribing practices. This paper examines general practitioners' (GPs') prescribing patterns in Britain where these drugs are reimbursed. The results have implications for other health-care systems considering introducing reimbursement. Design, participants and setting Postal survey conducted in 2002 of a random sample of 1088 GPs in England and Wales, of whom 642 (59%) responded. Measures Number of requests GPs reported having received from patients for NRT and bupropion over the past month, the number of prescriptions they reported issuing and ratings of attitudes to these medications. Findings GPs reported receiving an average of 4.3 requests for NRT and 1.9 for bupropion in the previous month. They reported issuing 3.5 prescriptions for NRT and 1.2 for bupropion. Almost all GPs accepted that NRT (95%) and bupropion (97%) should be reimbursable on National Health Service (NHS) prescription. However, a significant minority of those who received requests for prescriptions did not issue any (8% for NRT and 26% for bupropion). This was related to whether they thought these products should be available on NHS prescription for both NRT and bupropion (OR = 0.66, P < 0.05), which in turn was related to beliefs about whether smokers should have to pay for treatment themselves, the cost-effectiveness of NRT/bupropion and the low priority they would give NRT/bupropion in the drug budget. For bupropion, concern about side-effects independently predicted not prescribing [odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, P < 0.03]. Conclusion In the British health-care system, which has a well-established system for technology assessment and professionally endorsed guidelines, a significant minority of GPs decline all patient requests for stop-smoking medicines. [source] Aly/,REF, a factor for mRNA transport, activates RH gene promoter functionFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 11 2005Hiroshi Suganuma The rhesus (Rh) blood group antigens are of considerable importance in transfusion medicine as well as in newborn or autoimmune hemolytic diseases due to their high antigenicity. We identified a major DNaseI hypersensitive site at the 5, flanking regions of both RHD and RHCE exon 1. A 34 bp fragment located at ,191 to ,158 from a translation start position, and containing the TCCCCTCCC sequence, was involved in enhancing promoter activity, which was assessed by luciferase reporter gene assay. A biotin-labelled 34 bp probe isolated an mRNA transporter protein, Aly/REF. The specific binding of Aly/REF to RH promoter in erythroid was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The silencing of Aly/REF by siRNA reduced not only the RH promoter activity of the reporter gene but also transcription from the native genome. These facts provide second proof of Aly/REF as a transcription coactivator, initially identified as a coactivator for the TCR, enhancer function. Aly/REF might be a novel transcription cofactor for erythroid-specific genes. [source] Do changes in climate patterns in wintering areas affect the timing of the spring arrival of trans-Saharan migrant birds?GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005Oscar Gordo Abstract The life cycles of plants and animals are changing around the world in line with the predictions originated from hypotheses concerning the impact of global warming and climate change on biological systems. Commonly, the search for ecological mechanisms behind the observed changes in bird phenology has focused on the analysis of climatic patterns from the species breeding grounds. However, the ecology of bird migration suggests that the spring arrival of long-distance migrants (such as trans-Saharan birds) is more likely to be influenced by climate conditions in wintering areas given their direct impact on the onset of migration and its progression. We tested this hypothesis by analysing the first arrival dates (FADs) of six trans-Saharan migrants (cuckoo Cuculus canorus, swift Apus apus, hoopoe Upupa epops, swallow Hirundo rustica, house martin Delichon urbica and nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos), in a western Mediterranean area since from 1952 to 2003. By means of multiple regression analyses, FADs were analysed in relation to the monthly temperature and precipitation patterns of five African climatic regions south of the Sahara where species are thought to overwinter and from the European site from where FADs were collected. We obtained significant models for five species explaining 9,41% of the variation in FADs. The interpretation of the models suggests that: (1) The climate in wintering quarters, especially the precipitation, has a stronger influence on FADs than that in the species' potential European breeding grounds. (2) The accumulative effects of climate patterns prior to migration onset may be of considerable importance since those climate variables that served to summarize climate patterns 12 months prior to the onset of migration were selected by final models. (3) Temperature and precipitation in African regions are likely to affect departure decision in the species studied through their indirect effects on food availability and the build-up of reserves for migration. Our results concerning the factors that affect the arrival times of trans-Saharan migrants indicate that the effects of climate change are more complex than previously suggested, and that these effects might have an interacting impact on species ecology, for example by reversing ecological pressures during species' life cycles. [source] Richard II and the Succession to the CrownHISTORY, Issue 303 2006IAN MORTIMER The discovery and publication by Michael Bennett of Edward III's entailment of the crown upon his male descendants has raised many questions about the succession in Richard II's reign, very few of which have been examined by scholars. In addition, the supposed declaration by Richard that Roger Mortimer was the heir to the throne has continued to divide opinion. Two hypotheses have recently been put forward by scholars working independently to suggest that in the 1390s Richard pursued a deliberate policy of creating confusion as to the identity of his successor. A close examination of contemporary records and the continuation of the Eulogium Historiarum reveals that Richard II's declaration of the inheritance was made in parliament in 1386 and not 1385. This allows it to be re-contextualized within the crisis of that year and to form the basis of a more accurate appraisal of the succession question in the later 1380s and 1390s. The conclusion has considerable importance for historical understandings of Henry of Bolingbroke's part in the Appellants' crisis of 1387,8, relations between Richard and the Lancastrians in the 1390s, and the inheritance of the throne in 1399. [source] Gold Nanorods: From Synthesis and Properties to Biological and Biomedical ApplicationsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 48 2009Xiaohua Huang Abstract Noble metal nanoparticles are capable of confining resonant photons in such a manner as to induce coherent surface plasmon oscillation of their conduction band electrons, a phenomenon leading to two important properties. Firstly, the confinement of the photon to the nanoparticle's dimensions leads to a large increase in its electromagnetic field and consequently great enhancement of all the nanoparticle's radiative properties, such as absorption and scattering. Moreover, by confining the photon's wavelength to the nanoparticle's small dimensions, there exists enhanced imaging resolving powers, which extend well below the diffraction limit, a property of considerable importance in potential device applications. Secondly, the strongly absorbed light by the nanoparticles is followed by a rapid dephasing of the coherent electron motion in tandem with an equally rapid energy transfer to the lattice, a process integral to the technologically relevant photothermal properties of plasmonic nanoparticles. Of all the possible nanoparticle shapes, gold nanorods are especially intriguing as they offer strong plasmonic fields while exhibiting excellent tunability and biocompatibility. We begin this review of gold nanorods by summarizing their radiative and nonradiative properties. Their various synthetic methods are then outlined with an emphasis on the seed-mediated chemical growth. In particular, we describe nanorod spontaneous self-assembly, chemically driven assembly, and polymer-based alignment. The final section details current studies aimed at applications in the biological and biomedical fields. [source] The separation of Pterodroma madeira (Zino's Petrel) from Pterodroma feae (Fea's Petrel) (Aves: Procellariidae)IBIS, Issue 2 2008FRANCIS ZINO The taxonomic status of petrels from the North East Atlantic has long been a matter of debate. Breeding colonies of petrels occurring on the islands of Madeira, Bugio and Cape Verde were originally thought to be outlying populations of the polytypic species Pterodroma mollis. Subsequent taxonomic treatments have varied considerably in their classification of birds from these islands. The petrel populations on Madeira and Bugio represent some of Europe's rarest breeding birds and their exact species designation, and hence relation to conservation mandates, is a question of considerable importance. In this study we use molecular techniques alongside more traditional taxonomic characters to confirm the existence of two species of the genus Pterodroma in the Archipelago of Madeira. We also discuss identification of these species in the field and the implications for their conservation management. [source] McGrath v Riddell: A flexible approach to the insolvency distribution rules?INTERNATIONAL INSOLVENCY REVIEW, Issue 1 2010Blanca Mamutse The rules relating to the division of the insolvent estate assume considerable importance in the field of international insolvencies, where different legal systems interact. International instruments including the European insolvency regulation and the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency have provided a framework which governs the relationship between local and foreign distribution schemes. For English lawyers, questions remain however regarding the future role of the courts' statutory power to cooperate with the courts of ,relevant' countries or territories, and of the common law principle of universalism. An important issue connected to the determination of such questions is the established judicial approach to the pari passu rule, in the application of domestic law. This paper examines the manifestation of this tension in the litigation arising from the collapse of the HIH Casualty & General Insurance group of companies. It notes the scope which remains for continued resort to the statutory power of cooperation, and the potential for the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 to encourage a more flexible approach to resolving differences between distribution schemes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Multiple sclerosis: Empirical literature for the clinical health psychologistJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2001David C. Mohr This article reviews the empirical literature related to clinical health psychology in multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. As such, the interactions between medical and psychological variables are complex, and potentially of considerable importance to patients. Common neuropsychological and psychological problems associated with MS and their etiologies are reviewed. The effects of stress and depression on MS exacerbation are discussed, including clinical, immune, endocrine, and neuroimaging findings. The types of coping common in MS and their effects on adjustment are discussed. The empirical literature on psychological and neuropsychological intervention is reviewed. The small literature on caregiving in MS is also summarized. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 479,499, 2001 [source] The effect of drought stress and temperature on spread of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2000I. N. Smyrnioudis Summary 1 The effect of drought stress and temperature on the dispersal of wingless aphids Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and the pattern of spread of BYDV (barley yellow dwarf virus) within wheat plants in controlled environment chambers was quantified. Combinations of three different drought stress levels, unstressed, moderate and high stress level, and three different temperatures, 5 ± 1 °C, 10 ± 1 °C, and 15 ± 1 °C, were investigated. 2 With increased temperature there was an increase in the mean distance of visited plants from the point of release and in the number of plants visited and infected with BYDV. Drought stress had no effect on mean distance moved by aphids at any temperature or on plants infected with virus at 10 °C and 5 °C. When plants were drought stressed, the numbers of plants visited and infected were greater at 15 °C than at 10 °C and 5 °C. 3 A greater proportion of plants visited by aphids was infected with BYDV when plants were stressed than when not stressed. At 15 °C a greater proportion of these plants was infected than at lower temperatures. There was no difference between treatments in the numbers of aphids present at the end of the experiment. 4 It is concluded that drought stress and temperature are of considerable importance in virus spread. [source] Birds select conventional over organic wheat when given free choiceJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2010Ailsa J McKenzie Abstract BACKGROUND: Global demand for organic produce is increasing by ,4 billion annually. One key reason why consumers buy organic food is because they consider it to be better for human and animal health. Reviews comparing organic and conventional food have stated that organic food is preferred by birds and mammals in choice tests. RESULTS: This study shows the opposite result,that captive birds in the laboratory and wild garden birds both consumed more conventional than organic wheat when given free choice. There was a lag in preference formation during which time birds learnt to distinguish between the two food types, which is likely to explain why the present results differ from those of previous studies. A further experiment confirmed that, of 16 potential causal factors, detection by birds of consistently higher levels of protein in conventional seeds (a common difference between many organic and conventional foodstuffs) is the likely mechanism behind this pattern. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the current dogma that organic food is preferred to conventional food may not always be true, which is of considerable importance for consumer perceptions of organically grown food. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Negotiation, Power in Conciliation, and Review of Compensation ClaimsLAW & POLICY, Issue 3 2002Robert Guthrie Workers Compensation claims are not interpersonal disputes. Almost always they are disputes between individuals and corporations. Compensation insurers are "repeat players" in the system. Workers are often "one,shotters" who have little or infrequent contact with the system. Power inequality between the worker, employer, insurer, and those who are required to facilitate negotiations and resolve and settle disputes under compensation legislation are matters of considerable importance. This paper examines the effects of the implementation, in 1993, of informal dispute resolution processes in the Western Australian workers compensation system under the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 1981(WA), which excluded lawyers from the process. It argues that preexisting power imbalances have been aggravated by these procedural changes, and in particular, by the exclusion of legal practitioners from the dispute resolution process. The issues raised herein have general application to most workers compensation systems. [source] Bayesian optimal reconstruction of the primordial power spectrumMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 2 2009M. Bridges ABSTRACT The form of the primordial power spectrum has the potential to differentiate strongly between competing models of perturbation generation in the early universe and so is of considerable importance. The recent release of five years of Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe observations have confirmed the general picture of the primordial power spectrum as deviating slightly from scale invariance with a spectral tilt parameter of ns, 0.96. None the less, many attempts have been made to isolate further features such as breaks and cut-offs using a variety of methods, some employing more than ,10 varying parameters. In this paper, we apply the robust technique of the Bayesian model selection to reconstruct the optimal degree of structure in the spectrum. We model the spectrum simply and generically as piecewise linear in ln k between ,nodes' in k space whose amplitudes are allowed to vary. The number of nodes and their k -space positions are chosen by the Bayesian evidence so that we can identify both the complexity and location of any detected features. Our optimal reconstruction contains, perhaps, surprisingly few features, the data preferring just three nodes. This reconstruction allows for a degree of scale dependence of the tilt with the ,turn-over' scale occurring around k, 0.016 Mpc,1. More structure is penalized by the evidence as overfitting the data, so there is currently little point in attempting reconstructions that are more complex. [source] Relating the Central and the LocalNONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 4 2000Marilyn Taylor Although a number of valuable models of central-local relationships in the nonprofit sector have been developed, particularly in relation to federal structures, there has been a tendency to assume that in any given organizational relationship central-local structures will follow one common pattern. We argue that wider strategies are available: central dependency along one dimension may run with greater local autonomy along another. Such mixed tight-loose structures may be of considerable importance in the "boundaryless" organizational environment of the future. [source] Inter-Industry Wage Differentials in Great BritainOXFORD BULLETIN OF ECONOMICS & STATISTICS, Issue 2000Andrew Benito The paper considers the determination of earnings of private sector employees in Great Britain, focusing upon the importance of industry affiliation in this process. Whilst cross-sectional estimates, using waves 1 to 4 of the British Household Panel Survey, suggest industry status is of considerable importance, much of this variation is removed by estimating earnings equations by fixed effects methods. Estimated differentials are not inversely related to the steepness of age-earnings pro(r)les in an industry, do not appear to vary over time and are positively related to industry profitability. [source] NEW APPROACHES ON THE ARCHAIC TRADE IN THE NORTH-EASTERN IBERIAN PENINSULA: EXPLOITATION AND CIRCULATION OF LEAD AND SILVEROXFORD JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 2 2010NÚRIA RAFEL Summary A wide-ranging study based on compositional and isotopic analyses of minerals and manufactured objects from the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula and their respective archaeological and cultural contexts demonstrates significant lead mineral exploitation in the El Priorat area (Tarragona province) linked to Phoenician trade (seventh,sixth centuries BC). This exploitation continued, despite losing intensity, until the Romanization of the territory. Our project also aims to determine the nature and origin of the lead and silver supply in the northern Iberian territory surrounding the Phocaean enclave of Emporion, especially with regard to the demands of the colonial mint. The behaviour pattern of the circulation of lead, silver and copper in Catalonia in the period studied indicates a plurality of contemporary supply sources, although, at least from the fifth century BC onward, minerals and metals from the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula take on considerable importance. [source] Chemically-mediated host-plant location and selection by root-feeding insectsPHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Scott N. Johnson Abstract., Recent studies have shown that root-feeding insects can be of considerable importance in terms of agricultural damage, their indirect impacts on above-ground herbivores and their efficacy as biocontrol agents of weeds. To date, isolated studies have made it difficult to identify the mechanisms by which soil-dwelling insects locate and select host-plant roots. This review synthesizes 78 studies describing root location and selection. Soil insect herbivores do not rely on encountering roots at random, but orientate towards them using semiochemicals that enable specialist insects to distinguish host-plants from unsuitable plants. Secondary plant metabolites released into the rhizosphere (alcohols, esters and aldehydes representing 37% of reported examples) underpin host-plant location and recognition, with 80% having ,attractant' properties. Insects feeding on a limited range of plants tend to exploit host-specific secondary metabolites, whereas nonspecialist feeders appear to use more general semiochemicals. When insects reach the roots, contact chemosensory cues act as either ,phagostimulants' (48% of the compounds being sugars) or feeding ,deterrents' (notably phenolic compounds). Twenty studies conclude that CO2 is the major primary plant metabolite that allows insects to locate to roots. However, several features of CO2 emissions from roots mitigate against it as a precise location cue. In addition to its lack of specificity, gradients of root emitted CO2 do not persist for long periods and vertical gradients of CO2 in the soil tend to be stronger than horizontal gradients. A conceptual model is presented, emphasizing the importance of soil properties (e.g. porosity, moisture) on chemical diffusion and insect motility. [source] Herbivore-Mediated Competition between Defended and Undefended Plant Species: A Model to Investigate Consequences of Climate ChangePLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2002C. F. Dormann Abstract: Optimal levels of anti-herbivore defence are determined not only by grazing pressure on the target plant, but also by the efficiency of the defence and by competitive interactions with neighbours. In the high Arctic on Svalbard, grazing by reindeer is a process that can be modelled without plant-to-herbivore feedback, as reindeer population sizes are not correlated with plant growth. However, growing conditions are extreme: a short season and low temperatures inhibit optimal growth. Therefore, it is possible to model anti-herbivore defence in competition in this system, assess how its optimum depends on grazing intensity and defence efficiency, and, finally, how global climate change will effect plant-plant interactions. This model, based on a Lotka-Volterra type competition and temperature-dependent growth, indicates that competition is of considerable importance even in extreme environments. Herbivory mediates displacement of the defended plant by releasing it from competition. This process is more pronounced under high grazing pressure than under low pressure. In other words, competition potentially magnifies the effect of herbivory. Elevated temperatures and a longer growing season have no qualitative impact on these processes, as the dominant defended plant profits most. [source] Cryogenic extinguishment of liquid pool firesPROCESS SAFETY PROGRESS, Issue 1 2010Yiannis Levendis Abstract Results on fire extinguishment using direct application of liquid nitrogen are presented in this article. This technique targets challenging fires, such as burning hazardous chemicals or fuels, in which cases prompt suppression or extinguishment is paramount to prevent explosions, avoid release of toxic fumes and avert environmental catastrophes. Liquid nitrogen is a rather environmentally benign extinguishing agent that does not cause property damage or groundwater contamination. Application of this cryogen onto a hot pyrolyzing/burning surface induces abrupt vaporization, spread and expansion. The pyrolyzing gases are inerted, the surface is cooled and hence its pyrolysis rate is reduced, air is separated from the fuel, and the fire extinguishes. To demonstrate this technique, experiments were conducted with pool fires of ethanol, propanol, and diesel fuel. To examine the underlying principles, analysis of the results was conducted based on simplified calculations. Sufficient quantities of the cryogen extinguished the fires nearly instantaneously. Half-liter quantities were sufficient to extinguish 1 m2 pool fires. The method of dispensing and distributing the cryogen on the pool fires proved to be of considerable importance. The existence of wind, which disturbed the flame, was not found to prevent extinguishment. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 2010 [source] A 2-DE MALDI-TOF study to identify disease regulated serum proteins in lung cancer of c-myc transgenic micePROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 4 2009Bijon Chatterji Abstract We previously reported targeted overexpression of c-myc to alveolar epithelium to cause lung cancer. We now extended our studies to the serum proteome of tumor bearing mice. Proteins were extracted with a thiourea-containing lysis buffer and separated by 2-DE at pH,4,7 and 3,10 followed by MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis. Forty-six proteins were identified in tumor bearing mice of which n,=,9 were statistically significant. This included disease regulated expression of orosomucoid-8, ,-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein-A1, apolipoprotein-C3, glutathione peroxidase-3, plasma retinol-binding protein, and transthyretin, while expression of apolipoprotein-E was decreased at late stages of disease. Moreover, serum amyloid P component was uniquely expressed at late stages of cancer. It is of considerable importance that most disease regulated proteins carried the E-Box sequence (CACGTG) in the promoter of the coding gene, therefore providing evidence for their regulation by c-myc. Notably, expression of ,-2-macroglobulin, transthyretin, ,-1-antitrypsin, and properdin was in common in different lung tumor models, but regulation of orosomucoid-8, apolipoprotein-A1, apolipoprotein-C3, apolipoprotein-E, glutathione peroxidase-3, plasma retinol-binding protein, and serum amyloid P component was unique when the serum proteomes of c-myc and c-raf tumor bearing mice were compared. Therefore, candidate biomarkers to differentiate between atypical adenomatous hyperplasias (AAH) and bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas (BAC)/papillary adenocarcinomas (PLAC) can be proposed. [source] The determination of N- nitrosamines in foodQUALITY ASSURANCE & SAFETY OF CROPS & FOOD, Issue 1 2010Colin Crews Abstract Introduction N -nitrosamines are formed in food as a result of natural chemical interactions, but mainly through food processing activity. Most are potent carcinogens and their determination is therefore of considerable importance. They exist in various chemical forms and have been measured by colorimetric and spectroscopic methods following gas or liquid chromatography or as a total N -nitroso group by measurement of chemically released nitric oxide. Objectives To provide an overview of the available methods for the analysis of N -nitrosamines in food that includes recently developments. Methods The literature was reviewed from the discovery of the N -nitrosamine problem and the introduction on the N -nitroso-specific detector. Results The evaluation shows that analytical detection methods for volatile N -nitrosamines in food have changed little since the introduction on the N -nitroso-specific detector and that research into the occurrence and formation of both non-volatile N -nitrosamines and the apparent total N -nitroso content (ATNC) have declined. Methods for measuring the apparent total N -nitroso content have not been improved significantly in recent years. Conclusion Modern sample extraction techniques and mass spectrometric methods for the volatile N -nitrosamines have been applied more extensively to water analysis and offer a good opportunity to improve the determination of these carcinogens in food and make the analysis more widely available. Developments in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry should provide an avenue for renewed interest in non-volatile N -nitrosamines, and could help with the identification of novel compounds whose presence is suggested by the high apparent total N -nitroso content of some foods. [source] Fragmentation pathways of some benzothiophene radical cations formed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisationRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 5 2009Lisandra Cubero Herrera Polycyclic aromatic sulfur-containing compounds (PASHs) are commonly found in fossil fuels and are of considerable importance in environmental studies. This work presents detailed studies on the fragmentation patterns of radical cations formed from four representative PASHs, benzo[b]thiophene, dibenzothiophene, 4-methyldibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene, using tandem atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS/MS). Understanding these fragmentation patterns can be a useful aid in the analysis of PASHs employing APCI or electron ionization (EI-MS/MS), either alone or in conjunction with liquid or gas chromatography. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reconstruction of an atmospheric tracer source using the principle of maximum entropy.THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 610 2005I: Theory Abstract Over recent years, tracing back sources of chemical species dispersed through the atmosphere has been of considerable importance, with an emphasis on increasing the precision of the source resolution. This need stems from many problems: being able to estimate the emissions of pollutants; spotting the source of radionuclides; evaluating diffuse gas fluxes; etc. We study the high-resolution retrieval on a continental scale of the source of a passive atmospheric tracer, given a set of concentration measurements. In the first of this two-part paper, we lay out and develop theoretical grounds for the reconstruction. Our approach is based on the principle of maximum entropy on the mean. It offers a general framework in which the information input prior to the inversion is used in a flexible and controlled way. The inversion is shown to be equivalent to the minimization of an optimal cost function, expressed in the dual space of observations. Examples of such cost functions are given for different priors of interest to the retrieval of an atmospheric tracer. In this respect, variational assimilation (4D-Var), as well as projection techniques, are obtained as biproducts of the method. The framework is enlarged to incorporate noisy data in the inversion scheme. Part II of this paper is devoted to the application and testing of these methods. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Birds as tourism flagship species: a case study of tropical islandsANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 6 2009D. Veríssimo Abstract Species selected as flagships to promote conservation activities around the world are typically well known and charismatic mega-fauna. Unfortunately this limits the scope for applying the concept as some critical areas for biodiversity conservation, such as tropical islands, lack such species. In this study, we explore the potential to apply the concept of ,tourism flagship species' to tropical island birds of the Seychelles, an archipelago of considerable importance for conservation that is highly dependent on international tourism. In particular we wish to identify which species attributes are most influential with regard to their potential for fundraising among international tourists. Using a choice experiment approach and using state-of-the-art econometric methods, we found that conservation attributes and physical appearance of the bird species are both important in terms of raising funds for conservation. Nevertheless, conservation attributes ranked higher in the respondents preferences. Our results suggest that there is considerable potential for a variety of species to effectively act as flagships in developing nations that are dependent on international tourism and rich in biodiversity but lack charismatic fauna. [source] Current concepts on human papillomavirus infections in childrenAPMIS, Issue 6-7 2010STINA SYRJÄNEN Syrjänen S. Current concepts on human papillomavirus infections in children. APMIS 2010; 118: 494,509. Current evidence is strong enough to conclude that human papillomavirus (HPV) can be transmitted both sexually and non-sexually. The debate on HPV infections in children still continues but it is more focused on HPV prevalence than on transmission modes. HPV DNA detection in amniotic fluid, foetal membranes, cord blood and placental trophoblastic cells all suggest HPV infection in utero, i.e. prenatal transmission. Based on recent meta-analysis, vertical transmission occurs in approximately 20% of cases. Most of the mucosal HPV infections in infants are incident, persistent infections in oral and genital mucosa being found in less than 10% and 2% respectively. The mother seems to be the main transmitter of HPV to her newborn, but subsequent HPV infections are acquired horizontally via saliva or other contacts. Bimodal peak prevalence is seen for skin warts, oral papillomas and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) in younger and older age groups, suggesting similar epidemiology. Of the clinical HPV diseases, juvenile-onset-RRP and genital condylomata are problematic; the former because of its life-threatening potential and the latter because of possible sexual abuse. HPV6 and 11 are the most common genotypes in both the lesions. Early in life, infections by the high-risk HPV genotypes may also remain persistent for a considerable period, and should be of considerable importance for HPV vaccination strategies. [source] Diversity and salt tolerance of native Acacia rhizobia isolated from saline and non-saline soilsAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 8 2009PETER H. THRALL Abstract Re-establishing native vegetation in stressed soils is of considerable importance in many parts of the world, leading to significant interest in using plant,soil symbiont interactions to increase the cost-effectiveness of large-scale restoration. However, effective use of soil microbes in revegetation requires knowledge of how microbe communities vary along environmental stress gradients, as well as how such variation relates to symbiont effectiveness. In Australia, shrubby legumes dominate many ecosystems where dryland salinity is a major issue, and improving plant establishment in saline soils is a priority of regional management agencies. In this study, strains of rhizobial bacteria were isolated from a range of Acacia spp. growing in saline and non-saline soils. Replicates of each strain were grown under several salinity levels in liquid culture and characterized for growth and salt tolerance. Genetic characterization of rhizobia showed considerable variation among strains, with salt tolerance and growth generally higher in rhizobial populations derived from more saline soils. These strains showed markedly different genetic profiles and generic affiliations to those from more temperate soils, suggesting community differentiation in relation to salt stress. The identification of novel genomic species from saline soils suggests that the diversity of rhizobia associated with Australian Acacia spp. is significantly greater than previously described. Overall, the ability of some symbiotically effective strains to tolerate high salinity is promising with regard to improving host plant re-establishment in these soils. [source] High school and university students' knowledge and attitudes regarding biotechnologyBIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION, Issue 2 2009A Turkish experience Abstract Biotechnology has a considerable importance in Turkish biology curriculum. This study was designed to explore or indicate Turkish high school and university students' knowledge and attitudes toward biotechnology. A total number of 352 high school and 276 university students were invited to the study. The Biotechnology Knowledge Questionnaire (BKQ) with 16 items and Biotechnology Attitude Questionnaire (BAQ) with 37 items were used as data collection instruments. The statistically significant correlation was observed between the level of biotechnology knowledge and the subdimensions of attitudes toward biotechnology. We found no statistically significant difference between high school and university students' knowledge of biotechnology. In contrast, university students showed more positive attitudes toward biotechnology than did high school students. However, the effect of gender was equivocal; therefore, it did not support a "gender paradox" hypothesis. Our results suggest that although students' appreciation of (agricultural) biotechnology is relatively positive, the understanding of biotechnology processes is superficial and attitudes toward shopping genetically modified products are therefore negative. The possible impact of current science and biology curriculum, and also biotechnology news given in media on Turkish students' views of biotechnology is discussed. [source] First Late Triassic Record of a Paleoentomofauna from South America (Malargüe Basin, Mendoza Province, Argentina)ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 4 2010Carsten BRAUCKMANN Abstract: Late Middle Triassic to early Late Triassic insects from Argentina have been previously described from the Bermejo and Cuyana Basins where they have been recovered from the Ischichuca-Los Rastros and Potrerillos-Cacheuta Formations, respectively. The insect fauna discussed herein was collected during field studies in 1986/1987 from the Llantenes section (Norian to Rhaetian? Late Triassic), which is situated in the Malargüe Basin in southern Mendoza province. The insect remains were found in the upper part of the Llantenes section (Llantenes Formation), which is built up of two coarsening-upwards cycles reflecting a deltaic progradation of a fluvial into a lacustrine environment (lower part), succeeded by repeated progradations into a floodplain-dominated environment (upper part; with finds of insects, conchostracans, fish remains, plant fragments, and drifted logs). The new finds represent the youngest Triassic insect records described from Argentina and even from South America in its entirety. There is only one contemporaneous fossil assemblage in Gondwana: in the Clarence/Moreton Basin (Aberdare Conglomerate; Late Norian) in Australia. The new Triassic insects include an impression of an isolated Mecopterida-like wing (Mendozachorista volkheimeri gen. et sp. nov.; Mendozachoristidae fam. nov.), coleopteran elytra of the Permosynidae (Ademosyne rosenfeldi sp. nov. and Ademosyne llantenesensis sp. nov.) and other isolated body fragments. This new Late Triassic entomofauna from Argentina is of considerable importance in the reconstruction of the biotic recovery of continental environments in Gondwana after the catastrophic mass extinction at the P/T boundary. [source] Information needs and prostate cancer: the development of a systematic means of identificationBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2004Jeremy Dale OBJECTIVE To design, from first principles, a valid and reliable scale for assessing the importance of specific items of information needed by patients with prostate cancer that would be straightforward to use in clinical settings, as despite its prevalence, there is little research focusing specifically on the information needs associated with prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Several stages of consultation and modification were used to inform the development of a scale which was then piloted on 96 patients with prostate cancer. Respondents were asked to rate the importance they placed on a range of prostate cancer-related topics of information, and the extent to which they felt these information needs had been met. The construct and content validity of the instrument were established and an exploratory factor analysis used to guide restructuring of the tool. Internal consistency/reliability was calculated using Cronbach's ,. RESULTS Using the scale showed that men with prostate cancer placed considerable importance on a broad range of information needs, most of which had been inadequately met. Age had a significant influence on the overall importance attributed to information, with younger patients having more need for information. The construct and content validity of the instrument were established. The factor analysis revealed four discrete factors which together explained >,68% of the variance, termed ,basics of prostate cancer care', ,disease management', ,physical well-being' and ,self-help'. Internal consistency/reliability was satisfactory (, = 0.91). CONCLUSIONS The basis of a tool capable of ascertaining the information needs of patients with prostate cancer was developed; it may offer clinicians a valid means of ascertaining information preferences and hence potentially enhance the quality of service provided. Further research is now required to refine the tool and test the effect of its longitudinal use in clinical practice on patient satisfaction and outcome. [source] National Competitiveness: A Question of Cost Conditions or Institutional Circumstances?BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2004Edmund R. Thompson The issue of national competitiveness is a matter of considerable importance to both managers and public policy makers alike. Business scholars reflect this importance by their annual production of international indices of country competitiveness. Nevertheless, the notion of national competitiveness is controversial and has both (i) a narrow, concise conception that relates primarily to cost conditions as determined by exchange rates, and (ii) a broader, more nebulous conception that comprises the institutional and systemic circumstances of an economy, such as legal, governmental, public policy and other factors framing countries' wider business environments. In practical managerial terms, national competitiveness is a combination of both these narrow and broad conceptions. However, exactly how important cost conditions as opposed to institutional circumstances are to national competitiveness from a practical business perspective has never been investigated and is not known. This study uses qualitative and quantitative data gathered from senior firm executives in a specimen economy to find out. Hierarchical regression analyses suggest that institutional circumstances are significantly more important than cost conditions to the competitiveness of an economy from a practical managerial viewpoint. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||