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Greater Emphasis (greater + emphasis)
Selected AbstractsPENTA 2009 guidelines for the use of antiretroviral therapy in paediatric HIV-1 infectionHIV MEDICINE, Issue 10 2009PENTA Steering Committee PENTA Guidelines aim to provide practical recommendations for treating children with HIV infection in Europe. Changes to guidance since 2004 have been informed by new evidence and by expectations of better outcomes following the ongoing success of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Participation in PENTA trials of simplifying treatment is encouraged. The main changes are in the following sections: ,When to start ART': Treatment is recommended for all infants, and at higher CD4 cell counts and percentages in older children, in line with changes to adult guidelines. The number of age bands has been reduced to simplify and harmonize with other paediatric guidelines. Greater emphasis is placed on CD4 cell count in children over 5 years, and guidance is provided where CD4% and CD4 criteria differ. ,What to start with': A three-drug regimen of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) with either a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a boosted protease inhibitor (PI) remains the first choice combination. Lamivudine and abacavir are the NRTI backbone of choice for most children, based on long-term follow-up in the PENTA 5 trial. Stavudine is no longer recommended. Whether to start with an NNRTI or PI remains unclear, but PENPACT 1 trial results in 2009 may help to inform this. All PIs should be ritonavir boosted. Recommendations on use of resistance testing, therapeutic drug monitoring and HLA testing draw from data in adults and from European paediatric cohort studies. Recently updated US and WHO paediatric guidelines provide more detailed review of the evidence base. Differences between guidelines are highlighted and explained. [source] A study into dentists' knowledge of the treatment of traumatic injuries to young permanent incisorsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 1 2005M. N. KOSTOPOULOU Summary. Objective., The aims of this study were to evaluate dentists' knowledge of the emergency treatment of traumatic injuries to young permanent incisors, and to investigate barriers to treatment. Design., A closed-ended questionnaire was sent to 1023 general dental practitioners (GDPs) and community dental officers (CDOs) in West/North Yorkshire and Humberside, UK. Methods., The questionnaire comprised 17 questions. Six questions asked for general information about the participants (i.e. profession, age, gender, year of graduation, training or education on dental trauma, and willingness to provide emergency care), 10 were relevant to the emergency treatment of crown fractures, root fractures, luxation and avulsion injuries, and the last question queried any perceived barriers to treatment. Results., Seven hundred and twenty-four questionnaires were returned, a response rate of 71%, and these indicated that dentists' knowledge of the emergency treatment of dentoalveolar trauma in children was inadequate. The CDOs were significantly more knowledgeable than the GDPs, as were younger and more recently graduated dentists compared with older ones. The GDPs regarded the difficulty of treating children and the inadequate fees of the UK National Health Service as important barriers to treatment. Dentists who attended continuing dental education courses on dental traumatology had a more thorough knowledge than those who did not. Conclusion., Overall, the dentists' knowledge of the emergency treatment of dentoalveolar trauma in children was inadequate. Greater emphasis on undergraduate and postgraduate education in this area is indicated. [source] Children in Foster Care: A Nursing Perspective on Research, Policy, and Child Health IssuesJOURNAL FOR SPECIALISTS IN PEDIATRIC NURSING, Issue 2 2001Mary Margaret GottesmanArticle first published online: 23 FEB 200 ISSUES AND PURPOSE. To examine the roles of public policy and poverty on the rising number of children in family foster care, and to examine the impact of different types of family foster care on children's well-being. CONCLUSIONS. Recent changes in welfare legislation increase the likelihood of family poverty, with a subsequent increase in the number of children in out-of-home care. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on preventing entry into out-of-home care, improving the quality of foster care, and giving children a voice in care decisions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Nurses have important roles to play in the prevention of family dissolution, the design of healthcare delivery systems for children in foster care, in evaluating and educating all types of foster families, and as advocates in legal and legislative proceedings. [source] Maintaining the integrity of older patients in long-term institutions: relatives' perceptionsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 5 2007Sari Teeri MSc Aim., To study relatives' views on how the integrity of older patients is maintained in long-term institutions in Finland. Background., Maintaining patient integrity is considered a key prerequisite for good quality care and treatment and a characteristic of ethical care. Institutionalization, dependence on others and vulnerability may all threaten the integrity of the older patient and, in this sense, pose ethical problems. Design/methods., The data for this descriptive and explorative survey were collected by questionnaires from 213 relatives of older patients in four long-term institutions in Finland. The response rate was 78%. Data were analysed using statistical methods. Results., Relatives rated the maintenance of patient integrity quite highly. The highest ratings were recorded for the maintenance of physical integrity and the lowest to the maintenance of psychological integrity. The main source of problems were patients' and/or relatives' wishes concerning elimination. There were also shortcomings in the provision of intimacy. Relatives who thought that admission to the long-term institution had been problematic, either for the patient or for themselves, felt that patient integrity was poorly maintained. Conclusion., The findings highlight the importance of nurses' efforts in long-term care facilities to preserve the integrity of patients and to maintain close contact and cooperation with relatives. Although relatives generally were quite pleased with how patient integrity was maintained, the results also provide evidence on problems that may threaten patient integrity. Relevance to clinical practice., Greater emphasis should be placed on the need for cooperation between older patients, their relatives and nursing staff, especially before admission to long-term care. Furthermore, increased efforts are needed in maintaining the integrity of older patients and in reducing ethically problematic situations. [source] soil-root-canopy interactionsANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001I J BINGHAM Summary When supplies of water and mineral nutrients are adequate, crop growth is determined by the amount of solar radiation intercepted over the season and the efficiency of its conversion into dry matter. Soil factors such as drought, nutrient availability, salinity, waterlogging, mechanical impedance and root-infecting pathogens can be a serious constraint to yield and operate through effects on the growth, photosynthetic activity and duration of the canopy, and on the partitioning of biomass to harvested parts. One approach to overcome restrictions on the canopy and enhance yield is to modify root systems so that they are better suited to the prevailing soil conditions. This might be achieved through genetic improvement or by cultural practices. A better understanding of the physiology of root systems is required to identify appropriate root traits for selection or management. Not only should this encompass considerations of the function of roots in the capture of water and nutrients and the provision of anchorage, but also new concepts about the role of chemical signals in the regulation of the canopy. Greater emphasis must be placed on field-based research. The growth, development and activity of roots in the field can differ markedly from those in most laboratory experiments, because field soils are more complex in structure and differ in their biological, chemical and physical properties. It is argued that a decline in field-based research of crop root systems, as seen in the UK over the last 15,20 years, could, if allowed to continue, generate a skills gap which may undermine future exploitation of discoveries made at the cell and molecular level. [source] Zebrafish as a model for long QT syndrome: the evidence and the means of manipulating zebrafish gene expressionACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2010I. U. S. Leong Abstract Congenital long QT syndrome (LQT) is a group of cardiac disorders associated with the dysfunction of cardiac ion channels. It is characterized by prolongation of the QT-interval, episodes of syncope and even sudden death. Individuals may remain asymptomatic for most of their lives while others present with severe symptoms. This heterogeneity in phenotype makes diagnosis difficult with a greater emphasis on more targeted therapy. As a means of understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying LQT syndrome, evaluating the effect of modifier genes on disease severity as well as to test new therapies, the development of model systems remains an important research tool. Mice have predominantly been the animal model of choice for cardiac arrhythmia research, but there have been varying degrees of success in recapitulating the human symptoms; the mouse cardiac action potential (AP) and surface electrocardiograms exhibit major differences from those of the human heart. Against this background, the zebrafish is an emerging vertebrate disease modelling species that offers advantages in analysing LQT syndrome, not least because its cardiac AP much more closely resembles that of the human. This article highlights the use and potential of this species in LQT syndrome modelling, and as a platform for the in vivo assessment of putative disease-causing mutations in LQT genes, and of therapeutic interventions. [source] The Effect of National Governance Codes on Firm Disclosure Practices: Evidence from Analyst Earnings ForecastsCORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Issue 6 2008John Nowland ABSTRACT Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question: This study examines whether voluntary national governance codes have a significant effect on company disclosure practices. Two direct effects of the codes are expected: 1) an overall improvement in company disclosure practices, which is greater when the codes have a greater emphasis on disclosure; and 2) a leveling out of disclosure practices across companies (i.e., larger improvements in companies that were previously poorer disclosers) due to the codes new comply-or-explain requirements. The codes are also expected to have an indirect effect on disclosure practices through their effect on company governance practices. Research Findings/Results: The results show that the introduction of the codes in eight East Asian countries has been associated with lower analyst forecast error and a leveling out of disclosure practices across companies. The codes are also found to have an indirect effect on company disclosure practices through their effect on board independence. Practical Implications: This study shows that a regulatory approach to improving disclosure practices is not always necessary. Voluntary national governance codes are found to have both a significant direct effect and a significant indirect effect on company disclosure practices. In addition, the results indicate that analysts in Asia do react to changes in disclosure practices, so there is an incentive for small companies and family-owned companies to further improve their disclosure practices. [source] PUBLIC PREFERENCES FOR REHABILITATION VERSUS INCARCERATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS: EVIDENCE FROM A CONTINGENT VALUATION SURVEY,CRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 4 2006DANIEL S. NAGIN Research Summary: Accurately gauging the public's support for alternative responses to juvenile offending is important, because policy makers often justify expenditures for punitive juvenile justice reforms on the basis of popular demand for tougher policies. In this study, we assess public support for both punitively and nonpunitively oriented juvenile justice policies by measuring respondents' willingness to pay for various policy proposals. We employ a methodology known as "contingent valuation" (CV) that permits the comparison of respondents' willingness to pay (WTP) for competing policy alternatives. Specifically, we compare CV-based estimates for the public's WTP for two distinctively different responses to serious juvenile crime: incarceration and rehabilitation. An additional focus of our analysis is an examination of the public's WTP for an early childhood prevention program. The analysis indicates that the public is at least as willing to pay for rehabilitation as punishment for juvenile offenders and that WTP for early childhood prevention is also substantial. Implications and future research directions are outlined. Policy Implications: The findings suggest that lawmakers should more actively consider policies grounded in rehabilitation, and, perhaps, be slower to advocate for punitive reforms in response to public concern over high-profile juvenile crimes. Additionally, our willingness to pay findings offer encouragement to lawmakers who are uncomfortable with the recent trend toward punitive juvenile justice policies and would like to initiate more moderate reforms. Such lawmakers may be reassured that the public response to such initiatives will not be hostile. Just as importantly, reforms that emphasize leniency and rehabilitation can be justified economically as welfare-enhancing expenditures of public funds. The evidence that the public values rehabilitation more than increased incarceration should be important information to cost-conscious legislators considering how to allocate public funds. Cost-conscious legislatures may become disenchanted with punitive juvenile justice policies on economic grounds and pursue policies that place greater emphasis on rehabilitation. They may be reassured, on the basis of our findings, that the public will support this move. [source] The implementation of nutritional advice for people with diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 10 2003Nutrition Subcommittee of the Diabetes Care Advisory Committee of Diabetes UK Abstract These consensus-based recommendations emphasize the practical implementation of nutritional advice for people with diabetes, and describe the provision of services required to provide the information. Important changes from previous recommendations include greater flexibility in the proportions of energy derived from carbohydrate and monounsaturated fat, further liberalization in the consumption of sucrose, more active promotion of foods with a low glycaemic index, and greater emphasis on the provision of nutritional advice in the context of wider lifestyle changes, particularly physical activity. Monounsaturated fats are now promoted as the main source of dietary fat because of their lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation and consequent lower atherogenic potential. Consumption of sucrose for patients who are not overweight can be increased up to 10% of daily energy derived from carbohydrate provided that this is eaten in the context of a healthy diet and distributed throughout the day. Evidence is presented for the effectiveness of advice provided by trained dieticians. The increasing evidence for the importance of good metabolic control and the growing requirement for measures to prevent Type 2 diabetes in an increasingly obese population will require major expansion of dietetic services if the standards in National Service Frameworks are to be successfully implemented. [source] East Timor Emerging from Conflict: The Role of Local NGOs and International AssistanceDISASTERS, Issue 1 2001Ian Patrick International assistance efforts have represented a conundrum for East Timorese seeking to assert their new independence and autonomy. While urgent needs have been met, local participation, involvement and capacity building have not been given adequate attention. This outcome is aptly demonstrated in the case of local non-government organisations (LNGOs). This paper specifically examines the role of LNGOs in the recovery of East Timor within the international assistance programme. It examines the challenges of rehabilitation efforts in East Timor with a particular focus on capacity building of East Timorese NGOs as part of a broader effort to strengthen civil society. The initial crisis response in East Timor highlighted tension between meeting immediate needs while simultaneously incorporating civil society actors such as NGOs and communities. It has been argued that local NGOs and the community at large were not sufficiently incorporated into the process. While it is acknowledged that many local NGOs had limited capacity to respond, a greater emphasis on collaboration, inclusion and capacity building was desirable, with a view to supporting medium and longer term objectives that promote a vibrant civil society, sustainability and self-management. [source] Female Adolescents and Their Sexuality: Notions of Honour, Shame, Purity and Pollution during the FloodsDISASTERS, Issue 1 2000Sabina Faiz Rashid This paper explores the experiences of female adolescents during the 1998 floods in Bangladesh, focusing on the implications of socio-cultural norms related to notions of honour, shame, purity and pollution. These cultural notions are reinforced with greater emphasis as girls enter their adolescence, regulating their sexuality and gender relationships. In Bangladeshi society, adolescent girls are expected to maintain their virginity until marriage. Contact is limited to one's families and extended relations. Particularly among poorer families, adolescent girls tend to have limited mobility to safeguard their ,purity'. This is to ensure that the girl's reputation does not suffer, thus making it difficult for the girl to get married. For female adolescents in Bangladesh, a disaster situation is a uniquely vulnerable time. Exposure to the unfamiliar environment of flood shelters and relief camps, and unable to maintain their ,space' and privacy from male strangers, a number of the girls were vulnerable to sexual and mental harassment. With the floods, it became difficult for most of the girls to be appropriately `secluded'. Many were unable to sleep, bathe or get access to latrines in privacy because so many houses and latrines were underwater. Some of the girls who had begun menstruation were distressed at not being able to keep themselves clean. Strong social taboos associated with menstruation and the dirty water that surrounded them made it difficult for the girls to wash their menstrual cloths or change them frequently enough. Many of them became separated from their social network of relations, which caused them a great deal of anxiety and stress. Their difficulty in trying to follow social norms have had far-reaching implications on their health, identity, family and community relations. [source] A catchment scale evaluation of the SIBERIA and CAESAR landscape evolution modelsEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 8 2010GR Hancock Abstract Landscape evolution models provide a way to determine erosion rates and landscape stability over times scales from tens to thousands of years. The SIBERIA and CAESAR landscape evolution models both have the capability to simulate catchment,wide erosion and deposition over these time scales. They are both cellular, operate over a digital elevation model of the landscape, and represent fluvial and slope processes. However, they were initially developed to solve research questions at different time and space scales and subsequently the perspective, detail and process representation vary considerably between the models. Notably, CAESAR simulates individual events with a greater emphasis on fluvial processes whereas SIBERIA averages erosion rates across annual time scales. This paper describes how both models are applied to Tin Camp Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, where soil erosion rates have been closely monitored over the last 10 years. Results simulating 10,000 years of erosion are similar, yet also pick up subtle differences that indicate the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two models. The results from both the SIBERIA and CAESAR models compare well with independent field data determined for the site over different time scales. Representative hillslope cross-sections are very similar between the models. Geomorphologically there was little difference between the modelled catchments after 1000 years but significant differences were revealed at longer simulation times. Importantly, both models show that they are sensitive to input parameters and that hydrology and erosion parameter derivation has long-term implications for sediment transport prediction. Therefore selection of input parameters is critical. This study also provides a good example of how different models may be better suited to different applications or research questions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Commonwealth of Australia [source] Are differences in guidelines for the treatment of nicotine dependence and non-nicotine dependence justified?ADDICTION, Issue 12 2009John R. Hughes ABSTRACT Despite the many similarities between nicotine dependence and other drug dependences, national guidelines for their treatment differ in several respects. The recent national guideline for the treatment of nicotine dependence has (i) less emphasis on detailed assessment; (ii) less emphasis on treatment of psychiatric comorbidity; (iii) less acceptance of reduction of use as an initial treatment goal; (iv) greater emphasis on pharmacological interventions; and (v) less emphasis on psychosocial treatment than national guidelines for non-nicotine dependences. These treatment differences may occur because (i) nicotine does not cause behavioral intoxication; (ii) psychiatric comorbidity is less problematic with nicotine dependence; (iii) psychosocial problems are less severe with nicotine dependence; and (iv) available pharmacotherapies for nicotine dependence are safer, more numerous and more easily available. However, it is unclear whether these treatment differences are, in fact, justifiable because of the scarcity of empirical tests. We suggest several possible empirical tests. [source] Incorporating the environment into structural funds regional programmes: evolution, current developments and future prospectsENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 2 2001Peter Roberts During the last two decades the environment has become an important element in a number of areas of member state and European Union policy. A key instrument for the delivery of environmental objectives is the European Union's Structural Funds. These Funds provide support for regional development programmes, which are developed and managed by partnerships representing the European Commission, member state governments and regional stakeholders. A potential model for these environmentally driven regional programmes is provided by the concept of ecological modernization. Environmental concerns have now been absorbed into the regional programmes and it is likely that in future even greater emphasis will be placed on the environmental (and social) dimensions of regional development. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [source] The academic environment: the students' perspectiveEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 2008K. Divaris (nci) Abstract Dental education is regarded as a complex, demanding and often stressful pedagogical procedure. Undergraduates, while enrolled in programmes of 4,6 years duration, are required to attain a unique and diverse collection of competences. Despite the major differences in educational systems, philosophies, methods and resources available worldwide, dental students' views regarding their education appear to be relatively convergent. This paper summarizes dental students' standpoint of their studies, showcases their experiences in different educational settings and discusses the characteristics of a positive academic environment. It is a consensus opinion that the ,students' perspective' should be taken into consideration in all discussions and decisions regarding dental education. Moreover, it is suggested that the set of recommendations proposed can improve students' quality of life and well-being, enhance their total educational experience and positively influence their future careers as oral health physicians. The ,ideal' academic environment may be defined as one that best prepares students for their future professional life and contributes towards their personal development, psychosomatic and social well-being. A number of diverse factors significantly influence the way students perceive and experience their education. These range from ,class size', ,leisure time' and ,assessment procedures' to ,relations with peers and faculty', ,ethical climate' and ,extra-curricular opportunities'. Research has revealed that stress symptoms, including psychological and psychosomatic manifestations, are prevalent among dental students. Apparently some stressors are inherent in dental studies. Nevertheless, suggested strategies and preventive interventions can reduce or eliminate many sources of stress and appropriate support services should be readily available. A key point for the Working Group has been the discrimination between ,teaching' and ,learning'. It is suggested that the educational content should be made available to students through a variety of methods, because individual learning styles and preferences vary considerably. Regardless of the educational philosophy adopted, students should be placed at the centre of the process. Moreover, it is critical that they are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. Other improvements suggested include increased formative assessment and self-assessment opportunities, reflective portfolios, collaborative learning, familiarization with and increased implementation of information and communication technology applications, early clinical exposure, greater emphasis on qualitative criteria in clinical education, community placements, and other extracurricular experiences such as international exchanges and awareness of minority and global health issues. The establishment of a global network in dental education is firmly supported but to be effective it will need active student representation and involvement. [source] A review of the effects of catch-and-release angling on black bass, Micropterus spp.: implications for conservation and management of populationsFISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007M. J. SIEPKER Abstract, This paper summarises recent peer-reviewed literature addressing the effects of catch-and-release angling on black bass, Micropterus spp., to facilitate management and conservation of these fish. Traditionally, the effects of catch and release have been evaluated by measuring mortality. Many recent studies have measured sublethal effects on physiology and behaviour. There is also greater emphasis on adding more realism to sublethal catch-and-release experiments through angler involvement in research activities and by conducting studies in the field rather than in laboratory environments. Owing to these advances, there have been a number of recent findings, which are summarised here, related to air exposure, gear (e.g. circle hooks) and the weigh-in procedure that are particularly relevant to black bass anglers, tournament organisers and fishery managers. Additional research is particularly needed for: (1) population-level effects of angling for nesting fish; (2) population-level effects of tournament-associated mortality; (3) effectiveness of livewell additives for enhancing survival; (4) consequences of fish displacement in competitive events; (5) effects of weigh-in procedures and other organisational issues on fish condition and survival; and (6) reducing barotrauma. [source] Cancer recurrence after total laryngectomy: Treatment options, survival, and complicationsHEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 5 2006Savitri C. Ritoe MD Abstract Background. A follow-up schedule to detect asymptomatic cancer recurrence is offered to all patients with laryngeal cancer. In this study, the therapeutic options, prognosis, and morbidity of patients with total laryngectomy, who were found to have cancer recurrence during this follow-up schedule were determined. Methods. Patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2000, and had cancer recurrence were included. Data from this group were analyzed retrospectively. Results. The prognosis was poor after the development of cancer recurrence. Curative therapy could only be offered to 27.5% of these patients. Only 5% of the patients were disease free at the end of the study period. Many patients with cancer recurrence needed interventions. A large proportion of them had complications. Conclusions. The follow-up schedule offered to patients after total laryngectomy should put greater emphasis on care than on early detection of cancer recurrence. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: 383,388, 2006 [source] Recent Changes in the Regulation of Financial Markets and Reporting in Canada,ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVES, Issue 1 2007Carla Carnaghan ABSTRACT The regulation of financial reporting and financial markets has undergone significant change in both the United States and Canada since 2000. In Canada, the regulatory regime is particularly complex and politically controversial, with much speculation about possible future directions. This paper's purpose is to explain the current regulatory environment as it stands in mid-2006 to assist those who teach or conduct research in this domain. On the basis of a review of existing regulations and related studies, this paper first provides an explanation of the major jurisdictional issues that affect financial reporting and regulation in Canada, including identifying the roles of the key players. Second, it identifies specific reporting changes that might be of particular relevance to prospective capital market researchers. Where relevant, comparisons are made with regulatory provisions in the United States, because the majority of capital markets research concerns U.S. securities exchanges regulation, and the Canadian regulations themselves often refer to U.S. regulations as a point of comparison. We find that the lack of a single national securities regulator in Canada and overlaps in federal and provincial jurisdiction and among regulatory bodies mean there is a large range of players involved in financial markets regulation. Ongoing efforts to improve integration include the new passport system, improved harmonization of securities regulation, and consideration of mergers between some of the involved organizations. Other changes have led to a greater emphasis in Canada on the regulation of continuous disclosure and corporate governance than was previously the case. Changes in specific reporting regulations and guidelines since 2002 have generally increased the amount of disclosure. [source] In situ methods of measurement,an important line of evidence in the environmental risk frameworkINTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2007Jim Wharfe Abstract A tiered framework provides a structured approach to assess and manage risk and underpins much of the legislation concerning chemicals and environmental management. Management decisions regarding appropriate controls can have high cost implications to the regulated community. The risk framework provides an evidence-based approach to reduce uncertainty in decision making. Traditional assessment is heavily dependent on laboratory-generated toxicity test data and estimations of exposure and effect. Despite many well documented demonstrations of in situ methodologies, they are rarely used by regulators to help improve assessment or to validate risk. Emerging legislation puts greater emphasis on environmental outcomes and represents a significant shift from the reliance on chemical measures alone toward biological responses that improve assessment and demonstrate ecological benefit. Diagnostic methods, that could include in situ-based measures, will help assess and manage environments failing to achieve good status and it is likely that a weight of evidence approach will be needed to help inform management decisions. The potential application of such measures in the risk framework is reviewed in the context of current and emerging legislation concerning chemicals. Effect measures on the basis of in situ methods provide an alternative line of evidence and can help reduce uncertainty in decision making. Criteria are presented to help select appropriate methods in a multiple-line, weight of evidence approach. [source] Performance measurement in industrial R&DINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS, Issue 2 2000Inge Kerssens-van Drongelen Currently, the need for R&D performance measurements that are both practically useful and theoretically sound seems to be generally acknowledged; indeed, the rising cost of R&D, greater emphasis on value management and a trend towards decentralization are escalating the need for ways of evaluating the contribution of R&D to corporate performance. However, although recent research and writing on the subject shows that the challenge of developing such sound measurements has been taken up by many academics and organizations, it is also clear that there is no generally applicable approach. In this review, we consider various approaches for measuring the performance in industrial R&D and identify their key characteristics. We also include a brief summary of the ,history' of performance measurement in R&D, which shows that although there are some new ways of looking at the issue there are many examples from the past that can contribute to our current thinking. The approaches found in the literature and practice are very varied in their application, some being more suitable for the project level, others for the R&D department, and some for the development process or for the organization as a whole. Furthermore, the uses of the approaches tend to be different. For example, some approaches are intended to justify the continuation of investment in R&D to upper management, whilst others are more suited to support learning and self-correction by empowered R&D teams. In this paper these uses, or ,functions', of performance measurement and a taxonomy of typical subjects of measurement in R&D environments are explored. Finally, we conclude the review with a discussion of some limitations of the growing literature on R&D performance measurement. [source] Charity law reform: implementing the Strategy Unit proposalsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 3 2004Belinda Pratten This paper discusses the recommendations arising from the Strategy Unit review of charities and the wider voluntary sector in England and Wales and the government's response to these. The proposed reforms will involve an updating of charity law; changes to the regulatory framework governing the sector; and a greater emphasis on improving the accountability, transparency and performance of charities and voluntary organisations. In the main these proposals have been welcomed by the sector. In particular there is a clear recognition of the need to modernise the legal position of charities to reflect changes in society and changing public perceptions of what is, or should be, charitable. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications [source] The Rise and Fall of Chinese Immigration to Canada: Newcomers from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China1 and Mainland China, 1980,20002INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 3 2005Peter S. Li ABSTRACT An emerging perspective in the study of global diasporas stresses the effect of economic globalization and migration shifts in reshaping the population and identifying the formation of diaspora communities. This paper analyses the immigration patterns from Hong Kong and mainland China to Canada between the 1980s and 1990s, and shows that the migration shifts have been influenced by political and economic forces in Hong Kong and China, as well as changes in Canada's immigration policy. The imminent return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 and its uncertain political future in the 1990s were often cited as the main reasons for Hong Kong's large emigration in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In reality, the rising volume of Hong Kong emigration was prompted by the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident in China and its aftermath, and by the booming economy of Hong Kong in the early 1990s that created the means for many middle-class Chinese to emigrate. At the same time, Canada's expansion of the Business Immigration Program in the mid-1980s also benefited immigrant entrepreneurs from Hong Kong. In contrast, the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 did not deter the economic growth of China. Immigration from China rose after 1989 when Canada allowed Chinese students studying in Canada to immigrate, but it was after the mid-1990s that immigration from China expanded due to Canada's greater emphasis on admitting economic immigrants and to China's growing middle class. The continuous arrival of well-educated and urban-based immigrants from China is likely to change the population composition and identity complexity of the Chinese community in Canada. LES HAUTS ET LES BAS DE L'IMMIGRATION CHINOISE AU CANADA : LES NOUVEAUX VENUS ORIGINAIRES DE LA RÉGION ADMINISTRATIVE SPÉCIALE DE HONG KONG1 ET DE LA CHINE CONTINENTALE, 1980,2000 Une perspective émergente dans l'étude des diasporas mondiales souligne l'effet de la mondialisation économique et des glissements migratoires dans le remodelage des populations et l'identification de la formation des communautés issues des diasporas. Cet ouvrage analyse les comportements migratoires en provenance de Hong Kong et de la Chine continentale en direction du Canada entre les années 80 et 90, et montre que les glissements migratoires ont été influencés par des forces politiques et économiques à l',uvre à Hong Kong et en Chine, ainsi que par des changements intervenus au niveau de la politique canadienne d'immigration. Le retour imminent de Hong Kong à la Chine en 1997 et son avenir politique incertain dans les années 90 ont souvent été cités comme les principales raisons pour l'importante émigration qui s'est produite au départ de Hong Kong à la fin des années 80 et au début des années 90. En réalité, l'ampleur croissante de l'émigration en provenance de Hong Kong a été suscitée par les événements de la place Tiananmen qui ont eu lieu en 1989 et par leurs retombées, ainsi que par l'essor économique de Hong Kong au début des années 90, ayant procuréà bon nombre de Chinois de la classe moyenne les moyens d'émigrer. Parallèlement, l'expansion du programme d'immigration commerciale mis en place par le Canada au milieu des années 80 a également profité aux entrepreneurs immigrants de Hong Kong. Par comparaison, la crise financière asiatique de 1997 n'a pas produit d'effet dissuasif sur la croissance économique de la Chine. L'immigration en provenance de Chine continentale a augmenté après 1989, lorsque le Canada a autorisé les étudiants chinois se trouvant sur son sol à immigrer légalement, mais ce n'est qu'après le milieu des années 90 que l'immigration en provenance de Chine s'est accélérée sous l'effet de la politique canadienne facilitant l'entrée au Canada des immigrants économiques et aussi de la progression de la classe moyenne en Chine. L'arrivée continue d'immigrants chinois instruits et originaires des villes est susceptible de modifier la composition de la population et la complexité identitaire de la communauté chinoise au Canada. EL AUMENTO Y CAÍDA DE LA INMIGRACIÓN CHINA AL CANADÁ: RECIÉN LLEGADOS DE LA REGIÓN ADMINISTRATIVA ESPECIAL DE HONG KONG1 Y DE CHINA, 1980,2000 En los estudios realizados sobre las diásporas en el mundo, se observa el efecto que tienen la globalización económica y los cambios migratorios en la reconfiguración de la población y en la conformación de comunidades de la diáspora. En este artículo se examinan los patrones de inmigración de Hong Kong y China al Canadá en los años ochenta y noventa, y se demuestra que los cambios en la migración resultan de fuerzas políticas y económicas en Hong Kong y China, así como de cambios en la política de inmigración del Canadá. La inminente devolución de Hong Kong a la China en 1997 y la incertidumbre sobre su futuro político, fueron consideradas como la principal razón de la numerosa inmigración de Hong Kong a finales de los años ochenta y principios de los noventa. En realidad, el creciente número de emigrantes de Hong Kong se debió al incidente en la Plaza de Tiananmen en China en 1989 y a sus consecuencias, y al auge económico de Hong Kong a principios de los años noventa, que permitió que la clase media china pudiera emigrar. Al mismo tiempo, la ampliación del Programa de Inmigración Empresarial instaurado por el Canadá a mediados de los años ochenta también atrajo a empresarios inmigrantes provenientes de Hong Kong. Por su parte, la crisis financiera asiática de 1997 no afectó el crecimiento económico en la China. La inmigración de China aumentó tras 1989, cuando el Canadá autorizó a la inmigración de los chinos que estudiaban en el Canadá, pero fue ulteriormente, a mediados de los años noventa, que la inmigración desde China se amplió debido a que el Canadá decidió aceptar a inmigrantes económicos y a la creciente clase media proveniente de China. La continua llegada de inmigrantes chinos instruidos y de zonas urbanas, probablemente afecte la composición y complejidad de la identidad de la población china en el Canadá. [source] Lymphatics at the crossroads of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesisJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 6 2004Claudio Scavelli Abstract The lymphatic system is implicated in interstitial fluid balance regulation, immune cell trafficking, oedema and cancer metastasis. However, the sequence of events that initiate and coordinate lymphatic vessel development (lymphangiogenesis) remains obscure. In effect, the understanding of physiological regulation of lymphatic vasculature has been overshadowed by the greater emphasis focused on angiogenesis, and delayed by a lack of specific markers, thereby limiting this field to no more than a descriptive characterization. Recently, new insights into lymphangiogenesis research have been due to the discovery of lymphatic-specific markers and growth factors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, such as VEGF-C and VEGF-D. Studies using transgenic mice overexpressing VEGF-C and VEGF-D have demonstrated a crucial role for these factors in tumour lymphangiogenesis. Knowledge of lymphatic development has now been redefined at the molecular level, providing an interesting target for innovative therapies. This review highlights the recent insights and advances into the field of lymphatic vascular research, outlining the most important aspects of the embryo development, structure, specific markers and methods applied for studying lymphangiogenesis. Finally, molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of lymphangiogenesis are described. [source] BAYLOR UNIVERSITY ROUNDTABLE ON INTEGRITY IN FINANCIAL REPORTINGJOURNAL OF APPLIED CORPORATE FINANCE, Issue 3 2003Article first published online: 11 APR 200 At the center of the U.S. corporate governance controversy are questions about the integrity of the U.S. financial reporting system. Can investors trust the numbers now being reported in corporate financial statements? And, if not, what steps are being taken to bring about the return of investor trust and confidence? The academics and practitioners who took part in this discussion began by expressing their reluctance to describe the current situation as a "crisis." The consensus was that the recent governance failures are not the reflection of a general decline in corporate moral standards, but rather the work of a handful of opportunists who found ways to exploit some weaknesses in the present system. Part of the discussion focused on the expected benefits (and costs) of the heightened regulatory scrutiny provided by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the newly formed Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. But most of the panelists placed greater emphasis on the role of self-regulation in resolving problems such as the conflicts of interest within auditing and brokerage firms that played a major role in scandals like Enron and WorldCom. And rather than relying on more vigorous SEC oversight of financial statements, a number of panelists argued that top priority should be given to comprehensive reform of U.S. accounting standards, which are said to be a major source of confusion for both managers and investors. [source] Is Business Mistreating America's Model Minority?JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 8 2003G. Ronald Gilbert Business institutions are expected to treat customers of diverse backgrounds without bias. This study explores the relative satisfaction of Asians following service episodes at fast food establishments in the United States as compared to non-Asians. The study findings indicate Asians are less satisfied with both the personal service and the service settings in which fast food is provided them. The causes for the differences identified remain unclear. The results may bring to light a need to place greater emphasis on enabling businesses to become more culturally competent in terms of this growing minority group within the United States. [source] The biology of insularity: an introductionJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 5-6 2002Donald R. Drake Insular environments, ranging from oceanic islands to fragments of once-contiguous natural systems, have long been used by biologists to test basic principles of ecology, evolution and biogeography. More recently, insular environments have figured prominently in conservation ecology, where the aim has usually been to conserve species or assemblages unique to isolated habitats. Improving the level of communication among the evolutionary biologists, theoretical ecologists and conservation biologists who study insular biotas will work to the benefit of all. This volume was inspired by a recent conference on the ecology of insular biotas, in which participants from a wide range of disciplines came together to compare ecological processes across a variety of taxonomic groups inhabiting a wide range of isolated environments. In this introduction, we point out the themes underlying these very diverse contributions. First we elaborate on the value of islands for elucidating processes underlying ecosystem functioning, population dynamics of reintroduced species, and restoration of disturbed habitats, and emphasize those areas where the use of islands could be expanded. The second section focuses on the link between ecology and evolutionary processes in insular systems and includes examples from oceanic islands, naturally patchy habitats and recently fragmented habitats. The third section illustrates some of the ways that invasive alien species on oceanic islands affect plant,animal mutualisms, particularly seed dispersal and pollination. The final section, on consequences of habitat fragmentation, focuses mainly on studies that describe the consequences that fragmentation has for plants and animals as they are forced into artificially insular environments. We close with a study that points out the differences among types of insular systems and identifies gaps in our knowledge of insular biotas, particularly the importance of explicitly incorporating patch type, age and patch,matrix contrasts in research. Finally, we recommend a greater emphasis on linking ecological theory and applied research, and improving communication between those who ask basic ecological questions and those who use insular systems for conservation. [source] The role of specialist and general nurses working with people with multiple sclerosisJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 18 2009Alison While Aim., To describe the perceived role of nurses and other carers of people with multiple sclerosis from the perspective of different stakeholders (people with multiple sclerosis, non-specialist nurses, specialist nurses and other health care professionals). Background., Multiple sclerosis is one of the commonest causes of disability in young adults. People with multiple sclerosis require supportive care during the disease trajectory. The role of different health and social care providers has not been reported previously. Design., Survey. Method., Questionnaire data collected in 2002 during the first phase of scale development (health professionals n = 459; people with multiple sclerosis n = 65; total response rate 59·4%). The data were reanalysed to compare responses across sample groups. Results., There was consensus that neurologists and specialist nurses were the most appropriate professionals in the provision of specialist care with specialist nurses also being identified as key providers of emotional support. However, there were also significant differences in nominations reflecting the different perspectives of the stakeholder groups and a self-report bias. Each stakeholder group frequently emphasised their own perceived contribution to care. The different perspective of people with multiple sclerosis was also noteworthy with their greater emphasis on social care and lay support. Conclusions., The findings indicate a dissonance in the views of different stakeholders within the care system. The division of labour associated with nursing care requires further exploration. The contrasting paradigms of health care professionals and people with multiple sclerosis regarding models of disability were highlighted. Relevance to clinical practice., Multiple sclerosis, like other chronic illnesses, requires substantial nursing care. There is a growing number of specialist nurses in the workforce, however, little is known how their role interfaces with other nurses. [source] Using effectiveness studies for prescribing research, part 1JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2002N. Freemantle PhD Summary The process of evaluating pharmaceuticals has become highly conceptualized in contrast to the lack of formal rules for assessing effects of interventions on practice. We argue that clinical audit is a key factor prior to instigating an intervention and that randomized controlled evaluations are preferable. We discuss the need for small-scale experiments prior to full trials to validate the underlying concept of an intervention with the recognition that different approaches may be necessary. This includes open rather than blind assessments and greater emphasis on qualitative issues during development of interventions followed by quantitative appraisal of their impact. [source] Conducting suicide research in naturalistic clinical settings,JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2009David A. Jobes Abstract Unique challenges arise for clinical researchers designing studies focused on suicidal behaviors due to the inherently high-risk nature of such research. Traditional approaches to clinical trial design are briefly discussed, highlighting the limitations and obstacles of these approaches when working with suicidal individuals. Using their own personal experiences and setbacks from an ongoing clinical suicidology research program, the authors argue for greater emphasis on effectiveness and translational research designs conducted in naturalistic clinical settings to test the practical utility of empirically-supported treatments for suicidal behaviors, to gain new perspectives on suicidal individuals, and to better understand the nature of suicidal risk. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65:1,14, 2009. [source] Painful Steps of Progress from Crisis Planning to Contingency Planning: Changes for Disaster Preparedness in TurkeyJOURNAL OF CONTINGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2002Murat Balamir Excessive losses in natural disasters in Turkey are, to a large extent, a consequence of omissions and deficiencies in the structuring of ,disasters' and ,development' laws, as well as negligent land-use practices and avoidance of control in building processes. Two extreme forms of legal and organizational structures in disasters policy could be formulated as the ,fatalist' and ,self-reliance, models. Their contrasts can be investigated in terms of (a) the use of information concerning natural phenomena in formal planning procedures; (b) pre- or post-disaster emphasis in preparations; (c) the political or technical basis of decisions; (d) the extraordinary or routine nature of responses; (e) the general or specialized nature of financial sources used; (f) and their compatibility with the order of priorities in risk management. An evaluation of the conventional policy in Turkey clarifies a position closer to the ,fatalist' model and indicates the lines of action for improvements. However, after the 1999 earthquakes, the conventional approach in disaster policy has been restructured. With the newly introduced ,Obligatory Building Insurance', ,Building Control', and ,Professional Proficiency' systems, greater emphasis is now given to mitigation efforts, and the introduction of contingency planning practices is more likely to happen. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||