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Cost-effective Way (cost-effective + way)
Selected Abstractssofsog: a suite of programs to avoid inbreeding in plantation designsMOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES, Issue 2 2010J. FERNÁNDEZ Abstract Cost-effective ways of controlling inbreeding in conservation or productive plantations imply the allocation of individuals reducing the possibility of close relatives' mating and, consequently, limiting inbreeding. sofsog is a suite of programs, which helps to design plantation sites. First, if the plantation scheme involves several plots, it allows distribution of individuals available among different sites minimizing within-site global coancestry. Then, it yields a plantation design for each site, either following the classical permutated neighbourhood strategy or the recently developed method by Fernández and González-Martínez. This new method allows the implementation of different pollen dispersion kernels, and to include in the designing strategy any available information on individual relationships, reproductive success, differences in phenology, etc., via weighting or penalization matrices. Additionally, the package includes a tool for calculating the molecular coancestry (Identity By State) from codominant marker data. [source] Improving lipid management , to titrate, combine or switchINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 7 2004H. Schuster Summary Despite the benefits of statin therapy, cholesterol management remains suboptimal and many patients do not achieve their recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. The use of insufficient doses, limited drug effectiveness and poor patient compliance may contribute to the treatment gap. Options for improving lipid management include dose titration, combination therapy or prescribing a more efficacious statin. LDL-C reductions are generally modest when patients' current statin dose is titrated, and there may be an increased potential for adverse effects. Combining statin therapy with another lipid-modifying agent can provide additional LDL-C reductions, but cost, tolerability and compliance should be considered. In general, switching to a more efficacious statin is a cost-effective way of enabling more patients to achieve recommended targets without increasing dosages. When considering the options available, physicians should balance efficacy, cost and safety to enable more patients to attain LDL-C goals and achieve greater therapeutic gain from statin treatment. [source] Developing a new cost-efficient control strategy for an actual confectionery plant through the combined exploitation of experimental and numerical analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2003Piero Lunghi Abstract Achieving energy absorption reductions while improving indoor air quality is a major task when designing new air conditioning systems. A cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency without compromising the thermal comfort consists of developing better control. In the present work, an extensive experimental campaign has been coupled with a theoretical analysis with an effective approach. A simulation tool has been implemented and, through its predictions, an efficient control strategy has been developed in a system that resulted in significant energy savings and environmental benefits. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Conjunctive water management options: examples from economic assessment of system-level water saving through Liuyuankou Irrigation System, China,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 5 2007Shahbaz Khan économies d'eau à l'échelle d'un périmètre; modèle dynamique d'un système d'irrigation; fonctions de production et de profit; Chine Abstract The paper provides results of a study aimed at saving a substantial amount of water by maintaining deeper groundwater levels to prevent fallow evaporation and by reducing the cost of groundwater abstraction for lowland farmers. An integrated LIS economic appraisal model was developed that linked simulated response of hydrological modelling of different conjunctive management options with economic analysis. The simulation results of the LIS system dynamic model show that a combination of canal lining and pumping groundwater is the most cost-effective way to reduce non-beneficial evapotranspiration and increase water availability by saving up to 68 MCM of water. The simulation results of economic parameters indicated that canal lining and pumping also offer highest net economic benefits (¥21.98 million). Among other options, canal lining also indicates reasonably high net economic benefits (¥9.02 million). The model indicates a small increase in marginal value of water with canal lining (¥1.53,m,3) and pumping and canal lining (¥1.62,m,3). Among other options, the marginal capital cost of water saving for pumping and canal lining together was the lowest (¥0.096,m,3). However, the marginal capital cost of water saving for pumping and shifting canal water downstream was the most expensive (¥1.046,m,3). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. L'article présente les résultats d'une étude destinée à économiser des quantités d'eau substantielles en maintenant le niveau des nappes suffisamment bas pour éviter l'évaporation non bénéficiaire et en réduisant le coût des prélèvements d'eau souterraine pour les irrigants des parties basses du périmètre. Le modèle d'évaluation économique intégrée LIS (Liuyuankou Irrigation System) a été développé en reliant les réponses simulées de modélisation hydrologique de différentes options de gestion mixte à l'analyse économique. Les résultats des simulations du modèle LIS montrent que la combinaison du revêtement des canaux et du pompage d'eau souterraine est le moyen le plus efficient de réduire l'évapotranspiration non bénéficiaire et d'augmenter la disponibilité de l'eau en économisant jusqu'à 68 Mm3. Les simulations économiques indiquent que le revêtement des canaux et le pompage procurent les bénéfices économiques nets les plus élevés (21,98 millions de ¥). Parmi les autres options, le revêtement des canaux seul procure lui aussi des bénéfices économiques nets relativement élevés (9,02 millions de ¥). Le modèle indique une légère augmentation de l'utilité marginale de l'eau en cas de canaux revêtus (1,53 ¥ m,3) et en cas de combinaison revêtement + pompage (1,62 ¥ m,3). Parmi les autres options, le coût marginal d'économie de l'eau pour la même combinaison était le plus bas (0,096 ¥ m,3). Cependant, le coût marginal d'économie d'eau pour pompage et transfert vers l'aval était le plus coûteux (1,046 ¥ m,3). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Anthropogenic impacts on lake and stream ecosystems, and approaches to restorationJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2007MARTIN SØNDERGAARD Summary 1Freshwater ecosystems have long been affected by numerous types of human interventions that have a negative impact on their water quality and ecological state. Fortunately, in most western countries the input of sewage to freshwater systems has been reduced, but hydromorphological alterations, eutrophication-related turbidity and loss of biodiversity remain major problems in many parts of the world. Such impacts prevent the achievement of a high or good ecological state, as defined by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) or other standards. 2This paper synthesizes and links the findings presented in the seven papers of this special profile, focusing on the effects of anthropogenic stressors on freshwater ecosystems and on how to maintain and restore ecological quality. The papers cover a broad range of research areas and methods, but are all centred on the relationship between dispersal barriers, the connectivity of waterways and the restoration of rivers and lakes. 3The construction of dams and reservoirs disturbs the natural functioning of many streams and rivers and shore-line development around lakes may reduce habitat complexity. New methods demonstrate how reservoirs may have a severe impact on the distribution and connectivity of fish populations, and new techniques illustrate the potential of using graph theory and connectivity models to illustrate the ecological implications. Hydromorphologically degraded rivers and streams can be restored by addition of wood debris, but ,passive' restoration via natural wood recruitment may be preferable. The most cost-effective way to restore streams may also include information campaigns to farmers on best management practices. Removal of zooplanktivorous fish often has marked positive effects on trophic structure in lakes, but there is a tendency to return to turbid conditions after 8,10 years or less unless fish removal is repeated. 4Synthesis and applications. Development of new methods, as well as derivation of more general conclusions from reviewing the effects of previous restoration efforts, are crucial to achieve progress in applied freshwater research. The papers contained in this Special Profile contribute on both counts, as well as illustrating the importance of well-designed research projects and monitoring programmes to record the effects of the interventions. Such efforts are vital if we are to improve our knowledge of freshwater systems and to elaborate the best and most cost-effective recommendations. They may also help in achieving a good ecological state or potential in water bodies by 2015, as demanded by the European WFD. [source] Readmissions: a primary care examination of reasons for readmission of older people and possible readmission risk factorsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 5 2006Dip N, Linda Dobrzanska MSc, PG Cert HCE Aim., To identify the reasons that may have contributed to the emergency readmission of older people to a medical unit, within 28 days of hospital discharge. Background., The current UK Government has initiatives in place to monitor quality and service delivery of NHS organizations. This is achieved by setting, delivering and monitoring standards, one of which is ,emergency readmission to hospital within 28 days of discharge (all ages), as a percentage of live discharges'. Design/method., A year-long study examined reasons for unplanned readmission of patients (aged 77 and over) within 28 days of hospital discharge. The population was patients, registered with North Bradford PCT General Practitioners, readmitted to one of five care of older people wards in two local acute trust NHS hospitals. Patient records were scrutinized and data related to demography, diagnosis and readmission were collected using a structured extraction tool. Data analysis was undertaken using descriptive statistics and identification of differences and correlations within the data. Results., A pilot study indicated patients readmitted from home vs. other sources and patients discharged to home vs. other sources had a significantly shorter stay on readmission. The main study showed other significant findings. Patients who lived in care were readmitted sooner than those who lived at home: those discharged home vs. other sources and agreeing to increased social service provision had longer stays on readmission. Shorter length of stay on index admission (up to 72 hours) was associated with increased likelihood of earlier readmission. Conclusions., A framework of factors was identified and could be used to target resources to meet patients' needs more flexibly. Relevance to clinical practice., It is possible that the process of targeting resources to ,at-risk' patients might enable services to be delivered in a more cost-efficient and cost-effective way. [source] Outpatient mental health care, self-help groups, and patients' one-year treatment outcomesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Rudolf Moos Objective: To examine the association between the duration and amount of outpatient mental health care, participation in self-help groups, and patients' casemix-adjusted one-year outcomes. Methods: A total of 2,376 patients with substance use disorders, 35% of whom also had psychiatric disorders, were assessed at entry to treatment and at a one-year follow-up. Information about the duration and amount of outpatient mental health care was obtained from a centralized health services utilization database. Results: Patients who obtained regular outpatient mental health care over a longer interval and patients who attended more self-help group meetings had better one-year substance use and social functioning outcomes than did patients who were less involved in formal and informal care. The amount of outpatient mental health care did not independently predict one-year outcomes. Conclusions: The duration of outpatient mental health care and the level of self-help involvement are independently associated with less substance use and more positive social functioning. The provision of low intensity treatment for a longer time interval may be a cost-effective way to enhance substance abuse and psychiatric patients' long-term outcomes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 273,287, 2001. [source] Development of a quick on-farm test to determine nitrate levels in soilJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005Urs Schmidhalter Abstract Crop management can be optimized and nitrogen (N) losses can be reduced with a better knowledge of soil-nitrogen availability, especially if this information becomes directly available on-site in a fast and cost-effective way. In this paper, simple on-farm methods to determine nitrate-N in field-moist soil samples immediately after sampling are described. The procedures include volumetric soil sampling, extraction based on manual shaking with tap water as universally available extractant, filtering soil/extractant mixtures on-site, on-site determination of the soil water content, and reflectometric nitrate measurements based on test strips. Using correction factors can compensate the impact of the temperature during the final nitrate measurement. An excellent agreement was found between the developed quick-test procedures and the standard laboratory procedure. The proposed quick-test has great potential to enable economical savings for farmers as well as benefiting the environment. Entwicklung eines Schnelltestes zur Bestimmung des Nitratgehaltes in feldfeuchten Böden vor Ort Eine bessere Kenntnis der Stickstoff (N)-Verfügbarkeit des Bodens trägt zu Verbesserungen in der Bewirtschaftung und zu reduzierten Stickstoffverlusten bei, insbesondere wenn diese Information unmittelbar vor Ort rasch und billig zur Verfügung steht. Einfache Schnellmethoden zur direkten Bestimmung von Nitrat in feldfeuchten Bodenproben unmittelbar nach der Entnahme vor Ort werden beschrieben. Die vereinfachte Prozedur ermöglicht es, volumenbezogene Bodenproben zu entnehmen und die Lagerungsdichte des Bodens verlässlich zu bestimmen. Als universal erhältliches Extraktionsmittel kann Leitungswasser eingesetzt werden. Minimale Schüttelzeiten für die Extraktion wurden bestimmt. Die Nitrat-Messungen werden danach im klaren Überstand der Lösung oder nach einer stark vereinfachten Filterprozedur reflektometrisch mit nitratsensitiven Teststäbchen durchgeführt. Der Bodenwassergehalt kann unmittelbar vor Ort vereinfacht bestimmt werden. Die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Nitrat-Bestimmung kann durch die Nutzung von Korrekturfaktoren kompensiert werden. Die vorgeschlagenen Schnelltestmethoden zeigten eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung mit Standardbestimmungen im Labor. Die Methoden sind anwenderfreundlich und können zu ökonomischen Einsparungen bei den Landwirten führen sowie einen Beitrag zur Entlastung der Umwelt leisten. [source] A New Method to Test the Effectiveness of Sunscreen Ingredients in a Novel Nano-surface Skin Cell MimicPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Rajagopal Krishnan Photophysical properties of sunscreens are commonly studied in solvent media, which do not mimic the skin, or in complex artificial skin systems, which are difficult to handle. In an earlier study, we showed that polystyrene nanosphere suspensions mimic the mixed polarity environment of skin cell systems. This paper presents a new method to quantify the effectiveness of sunscreens in the polystyrene nanosphere environment. This method utilizes the intrinsic UV-B fluorescence of polystyrene nanospheres. We studied three UV-B sunscreens by this new method and compared their extinction coefficients with observed values in solvent. The values follow the trend observed in solvents, but the ratio of their extinction coefficient in solvent to the value obtained by this new method is 1.3,1.8 instead of 1. This difference might be caused by the mixed polarity or the microgeometry of the nanosphere system. Regardless of the difference in the extinction coefficients, this new system can be used to test hundreds of chemicals for their sunscreening potential in a cost-effective way. One marked advantage of this new method is its ability to test both hydrophobic and hydrophilic sunscreening chemicals in the same environment. This is virtually impossible for current solvent-based models, which require different solvents for hydrophobic and hydrophilic chemicals. The new method also allows the simultaneous evaluation of a host of photophysical properties of sunscreening chemicals. [source] RE (RE = Sm, Eu, Gd)-doped CeO2 single buffer layers for coated conductors prepared by chemical solution depositionPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 7 2009Ruiping Sun Abstract Textured RE (RE = Sm, Eu, Gd)-doped CeO2 single buffer layers for coated conductors were prepared by a polymer assisted chemical solution deposition (PACSD) approach. The as-grown buffer layers on biaxially textured NiW(5%) alloy tapes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM). The thicknesses of these buffer layers have been determined to be over 150 nm, on which a YBCO film has been deposited with an onset transition temperature above 90 K and a critical current density of 1 MA cm,2. These results indicate that RE doping can increase the critical thickness of CeO2 and PACSD may be a cost-effective way to deposit CeO2. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Flame retarding effects of nanoclay on wood,fiber compositesPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007G. Guo This research article focuses on investigating the effects of nanoclay particles on the flame retarding characteristics of wood,fiber/plastic composites (WPC) using ASTM D635. The processing aspects of nanocomposites with WPC are presented. The processing techniques for controlling the degree of exfoliation and the cost aspect are also described. It turns out that the coupling agent used for wood,fibers is also effective for the exfoliation of clay, and therefore, no additional cost is required. This research indicates that the structure of nanocomposites (i.e., the degree of exfoliation) and the clay content used have a large impact on the flame retardancy of WPC. The flame retardancy is investigated as a function of these parameters. Based on this, a cost-effective way to improve flame retardancy of WPC is presented. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:308,313, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Cessation in the use of tobacco , pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic routines in patientsTHE CLINICAL RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2008Petter Quist-Paulsen Abstract Introduction:, Approximately one-third of the adult population in industrial countries and 70% in several Asian countries are daily smokers. Tobacco is now regarded as the world's leading cause of death. Approximately two-thirds of lifelong smokers eventually die because of smoking. Smoking cessation is the most effective action to reduce mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary heart disease. Objective:, The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of smoking cessation programmes in patients with smoking-related disorders. Methods:, Medline was searched for studies of interventions for smoking cessation in patients. Results:, In patients with cardiovascular diseases and COPD, smoking cessation programmes with behavioural support over several months significantly increase quit rates. The intensity of the programmes seems to be proportional to the effect. A long follow-up period is probably the most important element in the programmes. Even the most intensive programmes are very cost-effective in terms of cost per life-year gained. Effective programmes can be delivered by personnel without special education in smoking cessation using simple intervention principles. Conclusions:, In patients with smoking-related disorders, smoking cessation interventions with several months of follow-up are effective and easily applicable in clinical practice. Wider implementation of such programmes would be a cost-effective way of saving lives. Please cite this paper as: Quist-Paulsen P. Cessation in the use of tobacco , pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic routines in patients. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2008; 2: 4,10. [source] Perils and possibilities: achieving best evidence from focus groups in public health researchAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2 2009Karen Willis Abstract Objective: Focus group research is often seen as a cost-effective way of gathering evidence from multiple research participants about the diversity of their views, experiences or beliefs. Our objective is to argue that focus group research only fulfils its potential if analysis of individual views is extended to include analysis of interaction between participants, so that we learn more why people hold these views. Approach: We outline the literature on focus group research, contrasting the ,quick-and-easy' approach with the demands of studies that are designed, conducted and analysed in a methodologically rigorous way to yield high quality public health evidence. Conclusion: Well-conducted focus groups contribute good evidence for public health decision making. The challenges of conducting high-quality studies should not be underestimated, and must involve rigorous analysis of both interaction and content. [source] Determination of glutathione disulfide levels in biological samples using thiol,disulfide exchanging agent, dithiothreitolBIOMEDICAL CHROMATOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2009Burhan Ates Abstract A reverse-phase HPLC method incorporating dithiothreitol (DTT) reduction for quantitative determination of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in biological samples is described here. This method is based on our previous enzymatic reduction technique that uses N-1-(pyrenyl) maleimide (NPM) as a derivatizing agent. In our earlier method, glutathione disulfide (GSSG) was measured by first reducing it to GSH with glutathione reductase (GR) in the presence of NADPH. However, this is a very costly and time-consuming technique. The method described here employs a common and inexpensive thiol,disulfide exchanging agent, DTT, for reduction of GSSG to GSH, followed by derivatization with NPM. The calibration curves are linear over a concentration range of 25,1250 nm (r2 > 0.995). The coefficients of variations for intra-run precision and inter-run precision range from 0.49 to 5.10% with an accuracy range of 1.78,6.15%. The percentage of relative recovery ranges from 97.3 to 103.2%. This new method provides a simple, efficient, and cost-effective way of determining glutathione disulfide levels with a 2.5 nm limit of detection per 5 µL injection volume. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Recombinant murine growth hormone from E. coli inclusion bodies: Expression, high-pressure solubilization and refolding, and characterization of activity and structureBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 3 2010Amber Haynes Fradkin Abstract We expressed recombinant murine growth hormone (rmGH) in E. coli as a cost-effective way to produce large quantities (gram scale) of the protein for use in murine studies of immunogenicity to therapeutic proteins. High hydrostatic pressure was used to achieve high solubility and high refolding yields of rmGH protein produced in E. coli inclusion bodies. A two-step column purification protocol was used to produce 99% pure monomeric rmGH. Secondary and tertiary structures of purified rmGH were investigated using circular dichroism and 2D-UV spectroscopy. The purified rmGH produced was found to be biologically active in hypophysectomized rats. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source] Learning from James: Lessons about Policy and Practice for Schools' Special Provision in the Area of Literacy DifficultiesBRITISH JOURNAL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, Issue 2 2004Janice Wearmouth Janice Wearmouth is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Language Studies at the Open University in the UK. She has many years' experience of teaching and research in mainstream secondary schools and of developing and leading postgraduate development courses for teachers in the area of special and inclusive education. In this article, she argues that successive Governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have adopted policies in relation to special educational provision that are essentially technicist in character. These policies proceed from assumptions that are made about the clear and unproblematic nature of the issues and the responses that need to be made. In this model, difficulties in learning can be ,fixed' by selecting the most appropriate ,tool' in the most efficient and cost-effective way. The current focus on competency-based teacher education can be seen as a corollary of this approach. Drawing upon a personal account of the experience of having difficulties in literacy acquisition, this article presents a contrary view. Janice Wearmouth argues that the area of special educational needs in schools, including literacy difficulties, is fraught with uncertainty and conflicting viewpoints. Given this complex situation, the technicist responses of recent Governments in the UK seem inappropriate and inadequate, Janice Wearmouth suggests. She proposes that practice in relation to special educational needs in general, and literacy difficulties in particular, can be most effectively understood from the perspective of a reflective practitioner. Her article closes with a call for practitioner professional development to be reconceptualised in these terms. [source] Consumer preferences for quality characteristics along the cowpea value chain in Nigeria, Ghana, and MaliAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009Fulgence Joseph Mishili The production and trade of cowpea is a growing business in West Africa. But a better understanding of consumer preferences is essential to market development. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of cowpea grain quality characteristics on market price. The data for the study were collected from markets in Nigeria, Ghana, and Mali. Hedonic pricing methods provide a statistical estimate of premiums and discounts. The results indicated that cowpea consumers in Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria are willing to pay a premium for large cowpea grains. Bruchid damage is not statistically significant in any market. The impact of price on other cowpea quality characteristics such as skin color and texture and eye color vary locally. Implications for development of the cowpea value chain are as follows: (a) researchers should identify cost-effective ways to increase cowpea grain size because larger grain are preferred and (b) serving local markets requires a portfolio of grain skin and eye color and skin texture combinations. [EconLit citations: Q130]. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Comparative study of four candidate strategies to detect cervical cancer in different health care settingsJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2007Meherbano M. Kamal Abstract Aim:, Considering the differing but potentially supplementary properties of visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) and the cytological examination (CYTO) of cervical smears for the screening of cervical cancers, we examined the performance of these two tests and their combinations for the screening of cervical cancer in different health care settings. Methods:, In this cross-sectional diagnostic test performance evaluation study of 4235 female subjects in the reproductive age group, we assessed the screening performance of four strategies: VIA alone, CYTO alone, VIA and CYTO combined in a parallel fashion, and VIA and CYTO combined in tandem. Subjects were recruited from three settings: Hospital, Urban Community and Rural Community. Colposcopy was used as the reference standard. Screening performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, post-test probabilities and likelihood ratios (LR), diagnostic odds, area under receiver operating characteristic curve and LR ,2. Results:, Both VIA and CYTO when used alone had a low sensitivity but high specificity, especially in the Rural Community setting. A combination of the results of VIA and CYTO improved the diagnostic accuracy but the strategy using a parallel combination of VIA and CYTO was the most accurate. In general, all screening strategies using VIA and CYTO showed a modest screening performance. Conclusions:, In the settings of varying levels of health care and low resources, caution is needed for a generalized use of VIA for cervical cancer screening. Further evaluation of the cost-effective ways of combining VIA and CYTO is needed in these circumstances. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||