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Selected AbstractsOccupancy frequency distributions: patterns, artefacts and mechanismsBIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 3 2002MELODIE A. McGEOCH ABSTRACT Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain the shape of occupancy frequency distributions (distributions of the numbers of species occupying different numbers of areas). Artefactual effects include sampling characteristics, whereas biological mechanisms include organismal, niche-based and metapopulation models. To date, there has been little testing of these models. In addition, although empirically derived occupancy distributions encompass an array of taxa and spatial scales, comparisons between them are often not possible because of differences in sampling protocol and method of construction. In this paper, the effects of sampling protocol (grain, sample number, extent, sampling coverage and intensity) on the shape of occupancy distributions are examined, and approaches for minimising artefactual effects recommended. Evidence for proposed biological determinants of the shape of occupancy distributions is then examined. Good support exists for some mechanisms (habitat and environmental heterogeneity), little for others (dispersal ability), while some hypotheses remain untested (landscape productivity, position in geographic range, range size frequency distributions), or are unlikely to be useful explanations for the shape of occupancy distributions (species specificity and adaptation to habitat, extinction,colonization dynamics). The presence of a core (class containing species with the highest occupancy) mode in occupancy distributions is most likely to be associated with larger sample units, and small homogenous sampling areas positioned well within and towards the range centers of a sufficient proportion of the species in the assemblage. Satellite (class with species with the lowest occupancy) modes are associated with sampling large, heterogeneous areas that incorporate a large proportion of the assemblage range. However, satellite modes commonly also occur in the presence of a core mode, and rare species effects are likely to contribute to the presence of a satellite mode at most sampling scales. In most proposed hypotheses, spatial scale is an important determinant of the shape of the observed occupancy distribution. Because the attributes of the mechanisms associated with these hypotheses change with spatial scale, their predictions for the shape of occupancy distributions also change. To understand occupancy distributions and the mechanisms underlying them, a synthesis of pattern documentation and model testing across scales is thus needed. The development of null models, comparisons of occupancy distributions across spatial scales and taxa, documentation of the movement of individual species between occupancy classes with changes in spatial scale, as well as further testing of biological mechanisms are all necessary for an improved understanding of the distribution of species and assemblages within their geographic ranges. [source] Reliability in grid computing systems,CONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 8 2009Christopher Dabrowski Abstract In recent years, grid technology has emerged as an important tool for solving compute-intensive problems within the scientific community and in industry. To further the development and adoption of this technology, researchers and practitioners from different disciplines have collaborated to produce standard specifications for implementing large-scale, interoperable grid systems. The focus of this activity has been the Open Grid Forum, but other standards development organizations have also produced specifications that are used in grid systems. To date, these specifications have provided the basis for a growing number of operational grid systems used in scientific and industrial applications. However, if the growth of grid technology is to continue, it will be important that grid systems also provide high reliability. In particular, it will be critical to ensure that grid systems are reliable as they continue to grow in scale, exhibit greater dynamism, and become more heterogeneous in composition. Ensuring grid system reliability in turn requires that the specifications used to build these systems fully support reliable grid services. This study surveys work on grid reliability that has been done in recent years and reviews progress made toward achieving these goals. The survey identifies important issues and problems that researchers are working to overcome in order to develop reliability methods for large-scale, heterogeneous, dynamic environments. The survey also illuminates reliability issues relating to standard specifications used in grid systems, identifying existing specifications that may need to be evolved and areas where new specifications are needed to better support the reliability. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] EVOLUTION OF COLOR VARIATION IN DRAGON LIZARDS: QUANTITATIVE TESTS OF THE ROLE OF CRYPSIS AND LOCAL ADAPTATIONEVOLUTION, Issue 7 2004Devi M. Stuart-Fox Abstract Many animal species display striking color differences with respect to geographic location, sex, and body region. Traditional adaptive explanations for such complex patterns invoke an interaction between selection for conspicuous signals and natural selection for crypsis. Although there is now a substantial body of evidence supporting the role of sexual selection for signaling functions, quantitative studies of crypsis remain comparatively rare. Here, we combine objective measures of coloration with information on predator visual sensitivities to study the role of crypsis in the evolution of color variation in an Australian lizard species complex (Ctenophorus decresii). We apply a model that allows us to quantify crypsis in terms of the visual contrast of the lizards against their natural backgrounds, as perceived by potential avian predators. We then use these quantitative estimates of crypsis to answer the following questions. Are there significant differences in crypsis conspicuousness among populations? Are there significant differences in crypsis conspicuousness between the sexes? Are body regions "exposed" to visual predators more cryptic than "hidden" body regions? Is there evidence for local adaptation with respect to crypsis against different substrates? In general, our results confirmed that there are real differences in crypsis conspicuousness both between populations and between sexes; that exposed body regions were significantly more cryptic than hidden ones, particularly in females; and that females, but not males, are more cryptic against their own local background than against the background of other populations. Body regions that varied most in contrast between the sexes and between populations were also most conspicuous and are emphasized by males during social and sexual signaling. However, results varied with respect to the aspect of coloration studied. Results based on chromatic contrast ("hue' of color) provided better support for the crypsis hypothesis than did results based on achromatic contrast ("brightness' of color). Taken together, these results support the view that crypsis plays a substantial role in the evolution of color variation and that color patterns represent a balance between the need for conspicuousness for signaling and the need for crypsis to avoid predation. [source] Towards consistent modes of e-health implementation: structurational analysis of a telecare programme's limited successINFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 6 2010Albert Boonstra Abstract Telecare is the use of information and communication systems to facilitate care delivery to individuals in their homes. Although the expectations of telecare are high, its implementation has proved complex. This case study demonstrates this complexity through a structurational analysis of a telecare implementation process. The paper shows how structuration concepts enable a combined analysis of actors' interactions with a technology and of the interaction among these actors from different institutional contexts. In this example, fragmented multi-actor agency induced an inconsistent implementation mode, leading to unsuccessful telecare appropriation. This paper concludes with a preliminary proposal for more consistent telecare implementation modes. These modes may better support the actors' reflexive monitoring and dialogue and inform further research. [source] Environmental conditions impinge on dragline silk protein compositionINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2008K.-H. Guehrs Abstract The silk formed in the major ampullate (MA) gland of the orb weaving spider Nephila clavipes is composed of two silk fibroins, which are called major ampullate spidroins 1 (MaSp1) and 2 (MaSp2). Analysis of proteolytic peptides and reactivity to spidroin type specific antibodies indicated that MaSp2 constituted only a minor part in the spinning dope as well as in the spun filaments. Upon starvation, a change in the silk's characteristic features was observed that was concomitant of a decrease in the contribution of MaSp2. The silk became less elastic and stiffer, which will better tailor its usability for the safety line, albeit at the expense of its employment as the web frame threads. In addition, since MaSp2 production requires greater ATP consumption, such a shift in the protein ratio cuts down on the energy costs to produce the silk. From this change in protein composition the spider might therefore benefit twice, by synthesizing ,cheaper' silk that into the bargain has properties that potentially can better support foraging in times of food shortage. [source] An adaptive resource reservation for vehicular mobile networksINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NETWORK MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2009I. Ben Hamida This paper presents the time-based bandwidth reservation (TBR) algorithm, suitable for handoff management in cellular systems. TBR is based on real-time measurements of mobile stations (position, velocity and acceleration). The scheme consists in sending reservation requests to the neighboring cells based on an extrapolation of the user's motion. The originality of our approach lies in dynamically adjusting the amount of time for which bandwidth has to be allocated and reserved in a cell. In addition, we propose an optimal channel requests arrangement (CRA) algorithm in order to improve the performance of TBR in terms of resource utilization. Finally, we propose VTBR, an adapted and extended version of TBR for better support of vehicular network specificities where service degradation or forced call termination may occur owing to frequent handoffs. Detailed simulation results for TBR and VTBR schemes and a comparison with the guard channel scheme are presented. The results show that TBR and VTBR can efficiently improve the flow dropping probability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Role of nurses in institutional ethics policies on euthanasiaJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 1 2006Chris Gastmans PhD Aim., This paper reports the findings of a survey that investigated whether Flemish Catholic hospitals and nursing homes had developed written ethics policies on euthanasia and how the role of nurses was described in these policies. Background., International research shows undeniably that nurses are confronted with patients requesting euthanasia. Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002 and in Holland since 2001. Because of the vagueness in formal documents and policies on the role of nurses in euthanasia, there is an increasing need to establish institutional ethics policies that clearly describe the role of nurses in the euthanasia process. Methods., We used a cross-sectional descriptive mail questionnaire to survey the general directors of Catholic hospitals and nursing homes in Belgium (Flanders). Data were collected between October 2003 and February 2004. Results., Of the 298 institutions targeted for survey, 81% of hospitals, 62% of nursing homes returned completed questionnaires. Of these, 79% of the hospitals and 30% of the nursing homes had a written ethics policy on euthanasia. The ethics policies of 87% of the hospitals and 77% of the nursing homes explicitly addressed the role of nurses in the euthanasia process. In the majority of hospitals and nursing homes, the ethics policies addressed the conscientious objections of nurses to euthanasia. Most hospitals and nursing homes voluntarily communicated their ethics policies to the nurses they employed. Conclusion., The written ethics policies of most Catholic healthcare institutions give explicit attention to the role of nurses in the euthanasia process. However, the meaning and content of the role of nurses, as indicated in these ethics policies, continue to be an issue. Further research is needed to verify how these policies are actually implemented within the institutions and whether they contribute to better support for nurses and to ethical care for patients. [source] ,Robust and Raring to Go?', Judges' Perceptions of Child WitnessesJOURNAL OF LAW AND SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007Fiona E. Raitt This article explores judicial perceptions of child witnesses. It considers the impact of recent legislation in England and Wales as well as in Scotland which classified all child witnesses as vulnerable and introduced a series of special measures to facilitate children's evidence. The article reports the findings of an empirical research study conducted with the judiciary in Scotland which suggests that judicial perceptions of child witnesses extend across a complex spectrum where a child may be viewed as vulnerable but is also likely to be seen as suggestible, reliable or resilient. The article advances two propositions. First, that the statutory conceptualization of children as invariably vulnerable has not displaced established beliefs concerning children's suggestibility and therefore has made little difference to perceptions of their ability to produce reliable testimony. Second, that focusing on children's potential for resilience rather than their vulnerability may prove a more productive conceptualization of children, one which could better support their capability as witnesses. [source] Soy Protein Isolate versus Meat-Based Low-Protein Diet for Dogs with Congenital Portosystemic ShuntsJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009S. Proot Background: Both presurgical preparation and long-term support of nonoperable dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) require optimal dietary management. Studies suggested that protein source may play an important role, with vegetable and dairy protein sources having better effects on hepatic encephalopathy (HE) than meat proteins. Objectives: Determine whether a low-protein test diet with soy as its main protein source results in better scores than a control diet with the same composition but with poultry as its main protein source in dogs with CPSS. Methods: In a double-blind cross-over study, 16 dogs received each diet for 4 weeks. Dogs in group T first received the test diet and then the control diet, whereas dogs in group C were fed the diets in the opposite order. Different variables (body weight, body condition score, HE score, fecal score, CBC, plasma tests of liver function including NH3, and coagulation tests) were measured at the start of the study and after completion of each diet. Results: One-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed. Plasma NH3 was significantly lower after the test diet than after the control diet. The test diet also resulted in significantly higher fibrinogen concentrations and lower prothrombin times. The HE score improved with both diets, with no significant difference between the 2 diets. Conclusions: Both diets achieved a significant improvement in HE score. The influence of the soy-based diet on plasma NH3 concentration and coagulation parameters suggests that such a diet decreases the risk for HE and gives better support of liver function. [source] Organizational culture as a hidden resourceNEW DIRECTIONS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES, Issue 144 2008Dennis McGrath This chapter illustrates how culture can serve as a resource to better support and assist at-risk students and offers recommendations for the development of culturally sensitive institutions through professional development for faculty, staff, and senior managers. [source] Training Needs of Administrators in the Nonprofit Sector: What Are They and How Should We Address Them?NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 3 2002Drew A. Dolan In increasing numbers, academic programs across the country are exploring how they can best meet the needs of nonprofit organizations. To better support the debate and decision-making processes of such programs, the author contributes information on training drawn from nearly six hundred nonprofit administrators, exploring variables that may influence the needs and examining the format for training most desired by those administrators. [source] Five years of progress in the Standardization of Proteomics Data 4th Annual Spring Workshop of the HUPO-Proteomics Standards Initiative April 23,25, 2007 Ecole Nationale Supérieure (ENS), Lyon, FrancePROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 19 2007Sandra Orchard Abstract Over the last five years, the Human Proteome Organisation Proteomics Standards Initiative (HUPO PSI) has produced and released community-accepted XML interchange formats in the fields of mass spectrometry, molecular interactions and gel electrophoresis, have led the field in the discussion of the minimum information with which such data should be annotated and are now in the process of publishing much of this information. At this 4th Spring workshop, the emphasis was on consolidating this effort, refining and improving the existing models and in pushing these forward to align with more broadly encompassing efforts such as FuGE (Jones, A.R., Pizarro, A., Spellman, P., Miller, M., FuGE Working Group FuGE: Functional Genomics Experiment Object Model. OMICS 2006, 10, 179-184) and the Ontology for Biomedical Investigation (OBI). The effort to merge the existing mass spectrometry XML interchange formats, mzData and mzXML, into one single standard mzML yielded significant progress. Also the preliminary design of AnalysisXML was extended to include several new use cases and better support for quantification information. Finally the Molecular Interaction group discussed the development of a molecular interaction scoring system with accompanying gold standard data test sets. [source] PERSPECTIVE: Trends and Drivers of Success in NPD Practices: Results of the 2003 PDMA Best Practices Study,THE JOURNAL OF PRODUCT INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2009Gloria Barczak Since 1990, the Product Development & Management Association (PDMA) has sponsored best practice research projects to identify trends in new product development (NPD) management practices and to discern which practices are associated with higher degrees of success. The objective of this ongoing research is to assist managers in determining how to improve their own product development methods and practices. This paper presents results, recommendations, and implications for NPD practice stemming from PDMA's third best practices study, which was conducted in 2003. In the eight years since the previous best practices study was conducted, firms have become slightly more conservative in the portfolio of projects, with lower percentages of the total number of projects in the new-to-the-world and new-to-the-firm categories. Although success rates and development efficiencies have remained stable, this more conservative approach to NPD seems to have negatively impacted the sales and profits impact of the new products that have been commercialized. As formal processes for NPD are now the norm, attention is moving to managing the multiple projects across the portfolio in a more orchestrated manner. Finally, firms are implementing a wide variety of software support tools for various aspects of NPD. NPD areas still seriously in need of improved management include idea management, project leadership and training, cross-functional training and team communication support, and innovation support and leadership by management. In terms of aspects of NPD management that differentiate the "best from the rest," the findings indicate that the best firms emphasize and integrate their innovation strategy across all the levels of the firm, better support their people and team communications, conduct extensive experimentation, and use numerous kinds of new methods and techniques to support NPD. All companies appear to continue to struggle with the recording of ideas and making them readily available to others in the organization, even the best. What remains unclear is whether there is a preferable approach for organizing the NPD endeavor, as no one organizational approach distinguished top NPD performers. [source] Systematics and Biogeography of Hard Ticks, a Total Evidence ApproachCLADISTICS, Issue 1 2000J.S.H. Klompen Systematic relationships among the basal Ixodidae are examined using one morphological and three molecular data sets, 18S and 28S nuclear and 16S mitochondrial rDNA. Although different combinations of partitions are incompatible in a partition homogeneity test, combining them produces similar or better support for most major lineages through both additive and complementary effects. The different data sets are not complete for all taxa, but inclusion or exclusion of taxa with missing data for one or more data sets (8 of 29 ingroup taxa) does not influence overall tree topology and only weakly affects support levels. The only notable effect was based on gap treatment in the 28S data set. Gap treatment completely changes the arrangement and support levels for one basal node. The combined analyses show strong support for the Metastriata, a lineage including most endemic Australian Ixodes, and a lineage including the remaining Ixodes, but not for the Prostriata (=Ixodes s.l.). The distribution pattern of endemic Australian taxa (nearly all included in three exclusively Australian basal lineages) suggests that these lineages, and by extension the Ixodidae, originated after the isolation of Australia in the late Cretaceous, much more recently than previously indicated. [source] Virtual anatomy: An anatomist's playgroundCLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 3 2006Victor M. Spitzer Abstract Virtual anatomy presents significant advantages over the reality of a cadaver as it can provide different views and perspectives, portability, longevity, standardization, diversity and most importantly the opportunity to learn the anatomy of the living human body instead of the corpse. Virtual anatomy is the life-like appearance of visible anatomy, a good example of which is the evolution of the Visible Human. Racial and statistical diversity is already developing as the population of photographic "Visible Humans" is now at least 10. Virtual anatomy should include additional diversity and therefore, consideration should be given to the preparation of more visible anatomy that will better support the virtual integration of all areas of physiology, kinematics, pathology and pathophysiology, development and evolution. Integration of anatomists with mathematicians, computer scientists, information scientists, physiologists, pathologists and clinicians (and LIST other basic scientist) is needed in order to facilitate this development. As this unfolds it is proposed, or challenged, that anatomists should maintain their position of responsibility for building anatomy as the foundation for all medical and healthcare education. In order to maintain that position they must understand and participate in this development and enjoy the rewards of teaching more visually empowering, functional, and clinical anatomy. The trip is a long one and is only about to begin but the train is leaving. Are you on board? Clin. Anat. 19:192,203, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Correlates of breastfeeding duration in an urban cohort from ArgentinaACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 8 2003S Berra Aim: To analyse factors associated with the duration of breastfeeding in a representative cohort of mothers and children, including socio-demographic and cultural characteristics, breastfeeding antecedents, perinatal factors and perinatal healthcare practices. Methods: The study was conducted in the city of Cordoba, between 1993 and 1998. Mother-child binomials from all public and private hospitals were asked to participate. Follow-up consisted of home visits at 30 d, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 50 mo. Information was obtained on 650 healthy newborns. Cessation of breastfeeding during the first 24 mo of life was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and factors associated with weaning were studied using Cox's proportional risk regression. Results. The median duration of breastfeeding was 4 mo. Factors associated with weaning were: the introduction of artificial formulas within 30 d postpartum [relative risk (RR) = 2.27; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.82,2.82]; breastfeeding of a previous child for less than 6 mo (RR=1.64; 95% CI = 1.32,2.02); delay in the first mother-child contact for over 90 min (RR=1.50; 95% CI = 1.17,1.93); mother's having completed primary or partially completed secondary education (RR= 1.40; 95% CI = 1.01,1.92) or completed secondary education or higher (RR= 1.59; 95% CI = 1.14,2.22); primiparous mother (RR= 1.39; 95% CI = 1.12,1.74) and; the mother recalling having been breastfed for less than 6 mo (RR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.01,1.61). Conclusions. The purpose of strategies to promote breastfeeding should be to eliminate inappropriate care practices, such as delay in the first mother-child contact, as well as reducing the impact of other factors leading to the introduction of artificial milk. Moreover, mothers need more and better support from professionals and peers. [source] Eukaryotic diversity and phylogeny using small- and large-subunit ribosomal RNA genes from environmental samplesENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 12 2009William Marande Summary The recent introduction of molecular techniques in eukaryotic microbial diversity studies, in particular those based in the amplification and sequencing of small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA), has revealed the existence of an unexpected variety of new phylotypes. The taxonomic ascription of the organisms bearing those sequences is generally deduced from phylogenetic analysis. Unfortunately, the SSU rDNA sequence alone has often not enough phylogenetic information to resolve the phylogeny of fast-evolving or very divergent sequences, leading to their misclassification. To address this problem, we tried to increase the phylogenetic signal by amplifying the complete eukaryotic rDNA cluster [i.e. the SSU rDNA, the internal transcribed spacers, the 5.8S rDNA and the large-subunit (LSU) rDNA] from environmental samples, and sequencing the SSU and LSU rDNA part of the clones. Using marine planktonic samples, we showed that surveys based on either SSU or SSU + LSU rDNA retrieved comparable diversity patterns. In addition, phylogenetic trees based on the concatenated SSU + LSU rDNA sequences showed better resolution, yielding good support for major eukaryotic groups such as the Opisthokonta, Rhizaria and Excavata. Finally, highly divergent SSU rDNA sequences, whose phylogenetic position was impossible to determine with the SSU rDNA data alone, could be placed correctly with the SSU + LSU rDNA approach. These results suggest that this method can be useful, in particular for the analysis of eukaryotic microbial communities rich in phylotypes of difficult phylogenetic ascription. [source] Carotenoid accumulation strategies for becoming a colourful House Finch: analyses of plasma and liver pigments in wild moulting birdsFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2006K. J. MCGRAW Summary 1Male House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) colour their sexually selected plumage with carotenoid pigments, and there has been much interest in the factors that affect their ability to become bright red rather than drab yellow. 2There is good support for the notions that health, nutritional condition and total carotenoid intake influence colour expression, but there are also suggestions that acquiring particular types of carotenoids from the diet may be important for developing red plumage. 3We used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to analyse the types and amounts of endogenous (in plasma and liver) and integumentary (in newly grown feathers) carotenoids in a wild, native population of moulting male and female House Finches from the south-western United States to determine the carotenoid-accumulation strategies for becoming optimally colourful. 4Four plant carotenoids , lutein, zeaxanthin, ,-cryptoxanthin and ,-carotene , were detected in plasma and liver. However, as was found previously, 11 carotenoids were observed in colourful plumage, with xanthophylls (e.g. lutein, dehydrolutein) predominant in yellow feathers and ketocarotenoids (e.g. adonirubin, 3-hydroxy-echinenone) in red feathers. This indicates endogenous modification of ingested carotenoids. 5Birds that accumulated more of one type of carotenoid in plasma and liver did not necessarily accumulate more of all other types, suggesting that individuals are not employing a simple ,more is better' strategy for coloration. Instead, when forward stepwise regression was used to examine the ability of individual types of carotenoids in plasma and liver to explain variation in red plumage pigments and plumage redness, we found that the lone variable remaining in all models was ,-cryptoxanthin concentration. 6This supports the idea that, unlike some other songbirds (e.g. yellow Carduelis finches), there is a specialized biochemical strategy that male House Finches follow to become red and most sexually attractive , to accumulate as much ,-cryptoxanthin in the body as possible. ,-Cryptoxanthin is a less common dietary carotenoid than the typical xanthophylls and carotenes in grains and fruits and may be limited enough in the diet that, to become colourful, House Finches might adopt selective foraging strategies for the most ,-cryptoxanthin-rich foods. [source] Phylogenetic analyses of marine sponges within the order Verongida: a comparison of morphological and molecular dataINVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Patrick M. Erwin Abstract. Because the taxonomy of marine sponges is based primarily on morphological characters that can display a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, current classifications may not always reflect evolutionary relationships. To assess phylogenetic relationships among sponges in the order Verongida, we examined 11 verongid species, representing six genera and four families. We compared the utility of morphological and molecular data in verongid sponge systematics by comparing a phylogeny constructed from a morphological character matrix with a phylogeny based on nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. The morphological phylogeny was not well resolved below the ordinal level, likely hindered by the paucity of characters available for analysis, and the potential plasticity of these characters. The molecular phylogeny was well resolved and robust from the ordinal to the species level. We also examined the morphology of spongin fibers to assess their reliability in verongid sponge taxonomy. Fiber diameter and pith content were highly variable within and among species. Despite this variability, spongin fiber comparisons were useful at lower taxonomic levels (i.e., among congeneric species); however, these characters are potentially homoplasic at higher taxonomic levels (i.e., between families). Our molecular data provide good support for the current classification of verongid sponges, but suggest a re-examination and potential reclassification of the genera Aiolochroia and Pseudoceratina. The placements of these genera highlight two current issues in morphology-based sponge taxonomy: intermediate character states and undetermined character polarity. [source] Jailed resources: conservation of resources theory as applied to burnout among prison guardsJOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 1 2007Jean-Pierre Neveu This study evaluates a salutogenic perspective of the burnout process. Building upon Hobfoll's (1989) Conservation of Resources theory, it proposes a simultaneous test of three hypothesized resources-based models. These competing models test the structure of burnout in relation to depleted resources (e.g., lack of skill utilization, of participation, of co-worker support, and of professional worth) and negative correlates (e.g., absenteeism and depression). SEM results provide equally good support for two resource-based models, although each of them proceeds from two different approaches (Leiter vs. Golembiewski). Of all burnout components, personal accomplishment is found to be least related to resources depletion, while emotional exhaustion is the most related to absenteeism and depression. Results are analyzed in light of existing literature and of the specific nature of the sample, a large population of French correctional officers (n,=,707). Implications for burnout theory and human resource management are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Itch in the community: associations with psychosocial factors among adultsJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 9 2007F Dalgard Abstract Background, Itch is a major symptom in dermatology but is little explored epidemiologically. Objective, To describe the prevalence and the severity of itch, and to explore its relation to psychosocial factors. Methods, The design was cross-sectional and population-based. A total of 40 880 adults in Oslo were invited to answer a questionnaire. Results, Twenty-seven per cent report itch. Individuals reporting itch were younger, the majority were female, were non-Norwegian, had lower income, were more distressed, had experienced more negative life events and had poorer social support. Individuals with poor support who had experienced more negative life events reported more itch than individuals with good support (15. 6% compared to 10. 9%). The strong association with psychosocial factors was confirmed in a logistic regression. Conclusion, There is a strong association between itch and psychosocial factors in the general population. [source] Exploring the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in black and minority ethnic groups and young mothers in the UKMATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION, Issue 3 2008Jenny Ingram Abstract UK health policy for many years has been to increase rates of breastfeeding because of the health benefits conferred on mothers and babies. World Health Organization recommends that babies should be breastfed exclusively for 6 months (without water or other fluids) and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence promotes the provision of peer supporters or breastfeeding support groups to increase breastfeeding rates. This study aimed to explore the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months with black and minority ethnic groups and with young mothers, and the strategies for overcoming these barriers, including peer support. Twenty-two mothers from Somali, Afro-Caribbean and South Asian communities or young mothers groups attended five focus groups. Transcripts were analysed using thematic and framework methods. There was enthusiasm for breastfeeding support groups, but with a wider remit to discuss other baby-related issues and provide general social support as well as support for breastfeeding. The Somali and South Asian women preferred the groups to be for their ethnic group, Afro-Caribbean women were keen that they should be open to all cultures and young mothers would like groups for their peers only. Encouraging mothers to breastfeed exclusively to 6 months should be promoted more and emphasized by health professionals when supporting women post-natally, and good support with breastfeeding management should be given to enable mothers to achieve this goal. Breastfeeding support groups may play a part in increasing breastfeeding continuation of breastfeeding, but for the groups studied this was not the greatest influence, with families and older women in the community having more influence in changing practice. [source] Fullerene C60 and hybrid C60/Ti films as substrates for adhesion and growth of bone cellsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 9 2008Marta Vandrovcova Abstract Thin films of fullerenes C60, Ti or binary C60/Ti composites (ratio C60versus Ti 1:1) were deposited on microscopic glass coverslips in a continuous or micropatterned form. The latter was created using a metallic mask with rectangular openings, and contained prominences from 108 ± 2 nm to 362 ± 5 nm in height. Some micropatterned C60 and C60/Ti films were irradiated with Au+ ions (energy 1.8 MeV, fluence 2 × 1014 cm,2), which led to the conversion of some C60 molcules into amorphous carbon (a-C). The films were then seeded with human osteoblast-like MG 63 cells (,17,000 cells/cm2). One and 3 days after seeding, the cells reached numbers which were usually similar or even higher in comparison with the values on control glass coverslips and standard cell culture polystyrene dishes. On micropatterned layers, the cells adhered and grew preferentially in grooves among the prominences (,57% to 90% of cells). On day 3 after seeding, this preferential colonization of the grooves disappeared in the ion-irradiated layers, which could be explained by a conversion of C60 into amorphous carbon and increased hydrophilia of the layer. Thus, all tested films gave good support to the adhesion and growth of bone-derived MG 63 cells. In addition, microstructured C60 and C60/Ti films containing prominences and grooves on their surface could be applied for regionally-selective cell adhesion and directed growth of cells. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] The sexual lives of men with mild learning disability: a qualitative studyBRITISH JOURNAL OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, Issue 1 2009Evan Yacoub Accessible summary ,,We talked to some men with learning disability about sex and relationships. Some people lived in the community, and some people lived in hospital. ,,The men knew quite a lot about sex. Most people said they got good support from their keyworkers. ,,Some people were asked for sex when they did not want it. Some people were made to have sex that was not safe. ,,We have some ideas about how men with learning disabilities can speak up for themselves about sex and relationships. Summary We aimed to explore in detail the sexual lives and behaviour of men with mild learning disabilities living both in community and in secure hospital settings. We wanted to generate hypotheses about them and identify potential unmet needs. We used a narrative interview that focused on areas such as relationships, sex education, contraception and the attitudes of others towards the participants' sexual lives and orientation. We used the constant comparative method to analyse transcribed interviews. Several clients reported engaging in unsafe practices despite being aware of the risks. Participants generally felt that services had shifted from a paternalistic to a more supportive approach towards their sexual lives and orientation. Experiences with other men were commonly reported. Several participants reported being pressurised into sex as adults. In our sample, sexual knowledge did not lead to safe sexual practices. The good rapport with services reported by the participants may be utilised to provide further education and empowerment to improve the safety of sexual practices in this group. Other ways of improved service delivery are suggested. [source] Mediating, Interactive, and Non-linear Effects in Service Quality and Satisfaction with Services ResearchCANADIAN JOURNAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, Issue 2 2002Gordon Fullerton This study examines a number of different hypotheses about the relationship between service quality and satisfaction with services and some important loyalty-related consequences of these constructs. The study confirms the general position in the service quality literature that satisfaction mediates the relationship between service quality and switching intentions, advocacy intentions, and willingness to pay more for the service. In particular, satisfaction is a strong mediator of the effects of service quality on customer retention. The study also finds good support for the existence of a non-linear relationship between satisfaction and these loyalty intentions. The nature of this non-linear relationship is such that the effect of satisfaction on these loyalty-related intentions is more positive at higher levels of satisfaction than it is at lower levels of satisfaction. This is consistent with emerging findings on the nature and consequences of customer delight. Résumé Cette étude examine un certain nombre de différentes hypothèses concernant le rapport entre la qualité de service et la satisfaction des clients, et passe en revue quelques conséquences importantes des ces hypothèses qui illuminent la loyauté des consommateurs envers produits et services. L'étude confirme la validité de la théorie dominante de la qualité de service, à savoir que la satisfaction réglemente le rapport entre la qualité de service et l'intention de commuter de service, comme entre la propensité de recommander un produit ou service et la volonté de supporter un prix plus élevé pour le même service. En particulier, la satisfaction régit les standards de la qualité de service et la retention de la clientèle. L'étude confirme également l'existence d'un rapport non-linéaire entre la satisfaction et la fidelité. Ce rapport indique que l'effet de la satisfaction sur la fidélité est proportionellement plus fort à des niveaux de satisfaction plus élevé qu'à des niveaux plus bas. Cette tendance par ailleurs est conforme à d'autres études récentes sur la nature et les conséquences de la satisfaction des clients. [source] Morphology versus molecules: resolution of the positions of Nymphalis, Polygonia, and related genera (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)CLADISTICS, Issue 3 2003Niklas Wahlberg The debate on whether to combine different data sets for simultaneous analysis has continued to the present day unabated. We have studied the effects of combining one morphological data set with four molecular data sets (two mitochondrial gene sequences and two nuclear gene sequences) for a group of butterflies belonging to the tribe Nymphalini using partitioned Bremer support. We particularly focus our attention on a group of species belonging to the genera Aglais, Inachis, Roddia, Nymphalis, Kaniska, and Polygonia. We find that, despite significant incongruence between most data partitions, all data partitions contribute positively to the support of most nodes in the most parsimonious trees found for the combined data set. We also find that the morphological data set resolves one particular node (Kaniska basal to Polygonia) with good support, while the molecular data sets are ambiguous about the existence of this node. We suggest that partitioned Bremer support allows one to critically appraise the robustness of each node in a given tree and thereby identify nodes that may change with the addition of new data and nodes that are likely to remain unchanged with new data. We also suggest that morphological data are still crucial to our being able to understand the relationships of extant organisms, despite published views to the contrary. Based on our results we suggest that Inachis should be synonymized with Aglais, Roddia with Nymphalis, and Kaniska with Polygonia. [source] Outcome of Oral Implant Treatment in Partially Edentulous Jaws Followed 20 Years in Clinical FunctionCLINICAL IMPLANT DENTISTRY AND RELATED RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006Odont Dr/PhD, Ulf Lekholm DDS ABSTRACT Background:, Most long-term follow-up studies of implants in partially edentulous jaws present their outcomes as mean values of implant survival and follow-up time, and few address the fate of the remaining teeth. Purpose:, The aim of this study was to investigate the results of oral implant treatment in partially edentulous jaws after 20 years, and simultaneously to assess what happens to teeth present at the time of implant placement. Materials and Methods:, Seventeen partially edentulous patients, of 27 originally treated individuals, were retrospectively reviewed after receiving implants from 1983 to 1985. The parameters studied were implant survival, prosthesis stability, marginal bone loss at teeth and implants, treatment complications, need for dental treatment, and patient's satisfaction with the outcome. Results:, The cumulative survival rate was 91%, when all 27 patients were assessed, that is, including the 10 dropouts. Of the 69 inserted and followed implants (Brånemark system®; Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden), six failed (8.7%) during the 20-year period, four during the first decade, and the remaining two during the second. A majority (n=4) of the losses were due to implant fractures, two after 8 years, and two after 17 years. In all, 10 of the original fixed bridges being followed (n=24) remained in function during the entire investigation period, whereas 12 were exchanged for new constructions after an average of 7 years. The mean marginal bone loss at teeth was 0.7 mm, and at implants it was 1.0 mm. The major complication observed during the second decade was veneer material fractures, which occurred 14 times in six patients. Component loosening and abutment- and bridge-locking screw fractures were the second most common problems seen, indicating material/component fatigue. Most patients were satisfied with their treatment and many mentioned that they did not think of the constructions as anything but a part of their own body. Conclusion:, Over the decades, treatment of partially edentulous jaws with turned titanium implants seems to function well and to provide patients with good support for fixed short-span bridge constructions. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||