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High Quality (high + quality)
Terms modified by High Quality Selected AbstractsCompetition and the Incentive to Produce High QualityECONOMICA, Issue 279 2003Rachel E. Kranton Previous literature indicates that, when quality is a choice variable, firms have an incentive to produce high quality to maintain their reputations with consumers. The strategic interaction among firms and competition for market share is not considered. This paper finds that, when firms compete for market share, perfect equilibria in which firms produce high-quality goods need not exist. Competition for customers can eliminate the price premium needed to induce firms to maintain a reputation for high-quality production. In this case, economists and policy analysts should pay greater attention to the interaction among firms and the institutions, such as professional associations, that structure interfirm relations when considering whether firms have an incentive to produce high-quality goods. [source] High quality, high efficiency and ultrahigh In-content InGaN QWs , the problem of thermal stabilityPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 6 2008D. Fuhrmann Abstract InxGa1-xN/GaN quantum well (QW) structures with Indium concentrations above 30% suited for light emitters in the green and beyond have been investigated. The structures were optimized for homogeneous Indium distributions and abrupt interfaces. We obtained very high internal quantum efficiencies (IQE) of 80% and 70% for 460 nm and 510 nm emission wavelength, respectively. However, for high In concentrations the heterostructures are thermally less stable. This is evident from systematic studies including varied GaN cap temperatures and different post annealing procedures. For elevated temperatures we observe a reduction of the PL intensity, a broadening and a shift to higher energies of the PL lines without indication of phase separation. The reason is the soft indium-nitrogen bond, the degradation likely occurs by In interdiffusion or outdiffusion via defects in the structures. The critical temperatures are well below those typical for p-GaN contact layer growth and thus need to be considered in device applications. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Inhomogeneous volumetric Laplacian deformation for rhinoplasty planning and simulation systemCOMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL WORLDS (PREV: JNL OF VISUALISATION & COMPUTER ANIMATION), Issue 3-4 2010Sheng-hui Liao Abstract This paper presents an intuitive rhinoplasty planning and simulation system, to provide high quality prediction of postoperative appearance, and design patient specific nose prosthesis automatically. The key component is a novel volumetric Laplacian deformation tool inspired by the state-of-the-art differential surface deformation techniques. Working on the volumetric domain and incorporating inhomogeneous material from CT data make the new approach suitable for soft tissue simulation. In particular, the system employs a special sketch contour driving deformation interface, which can provide realistic 3D rhinoplasty simulation with intuitive and straightforward 2D manipulation. When satisfied with the appearance, the change of soft tissue before and after simulation is utilized to generate the individual prosthesis model automatically. Clinical validation using post-operative CT data demonstrated that the system can provide prediction results of high quality. And the surgeons who used the system confirmed that this planning system is attractive and has potential for daily clinical practice. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Using web-based technology in laboratory instruction to reduce costsCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2002Rita M. Powell Abstract The authors report the results of a project to reemphasize high quality, hands-on laboratory courses in the engineering curriculum while reducing their costs through the application of web-based teaching tools. The project resulted in substantial gains in productivity of faculty and staff, increased utilization of laboratory space, cost reductions in equipment, and improved quality of learning for our students. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 204,214, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.10029 [source] Particle Level Set Advection for the Interactive Visualization of Unsteady 3D FlowCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2008Nicolas Cuntz Abstract Typically, flow volumes are visualized by defining their boundary as iso-surface of a level set function. Grid-based level sets offer a good global representation but suffer from numerical diffusion of surface detail, whereas particle-based methods preserve details more accurately but introduce the problem of unequal global representation. The particle level set (PLS) method combines the advantages of both approaches by interchanging the information between the grid and the particles. Our work demonstrates that the PLS technique can be adapted to volumetric dye advection via streak volumes, and to the visualization by time surfaces and path volumes. We achieve this with a modified and extended PLS, including a model for dye injection. A new algorithmic interpretation of PLS is introduced to exploit the efficiency of the GPU, leading to interactive visualization. Finally, we demonstrate the high quality and usefulness of PLS flow visualization by providing quantitative results on volume preservation and by discussing typical applications of 3D flow visualization. [source] Growth, etching morphology and spectra of LiAlO2 crystalCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2008Taohua Huang Abstract ,-LiAlO2 single crystal was successfully grown by Czochralski method. The crystal quality was characterized by X-ray rocking curve and chemical etching. The effects of air-annealing and vapor transport equilibration (VTE) on the crystal quality, etch pits and absorption spectra of LiAlO2 were also investigated in detail. The results show that the as-grown crystal has very high quality with the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 17.7-22.6 arcsec. Dislocation density in the middle part of the crystal is as low as about 3.0×103 cm,2. The VTE-treated slice has larger FWHM value, etch pits density and absorption coefficient as compared with those of untreated and air-annealed slices, which indicates that the crystal quality became inferior after VTE treatment. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Crystal growth and magnetic properties of the copper coordination polymer [Cu(µ -C2O4)(4-aminopyridine)2(H2O)]nCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007A. V. Prokofiev Abstract In this paper, we consider various ways of crystal growth of the polymer [Cu(µ -C2O4)(4-aminopyridine)2(H2O)]n. Single crystals of the size of 1.5×1.5×0.2 mm3 have been grown by a slow diffusion technique from solutions of the monoammine copper complex and of the mixture of potassium oxalate and aminopyridine with the stoichiometric ratio. Magnetic susceptibility and ESR measurements have been performed on single crystals large enough for investigating anisotropic properties. The susceptibility can be well described within the model of a Heisenberg antiferromagnetic spin chain. The magnetic measurements reveal a small concentration of paramagnetic moments reflecting the high quality of the single crystals. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Hybrid platform for high-tech equipment protection against earthquake and microvibrationEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 8 2006Y. L. Xu Abstract To ensure the high quality of ultra-precision products such as semiconductors and optical microscopes, high-tech equipment used to make these products requires a normal working environment with extremely limited vibration. Some of high-tech industry centres are also located in seismic zones: the safety of high-tech equipment during an earthquake event becomes a critical issue. It is thus imperative to find an effective way to ensure the functionality of high-tech equipment against microvibration and to protect high-tech equipment from damage when earthquake events occur. This paper explores the possibility of using a hybrid platform to mitigate two types of vibration. The hybrid platform, on which high-tech equipment is installed, is designed to work as a passive isolation platform to abate mainly acceleration response of high-tech equipment during an earthquake and to function as an actively controlled platform to reduce mainly velocity response of high-tech equipment under normal working condition. To examine the performance of the hybrid platform, the analytical model of a coupled hybrid platform and building system incorporating with magnetostrictive actuators is established. The simulation results obtained by applying the analytical model to a high-tech facility indicate that the proposed hybrid platform is feasible and effective. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Role of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography in Heart TransplantationECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2002Paval Romano M.D. The number of centers that perform heart transplants has increased rapidly in recent years. Although transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TTE and TEE) are utilized frequently to diagnose and manage cardiac complications commonly found in this population postoperatively, little has been written about the routine use of intraoperative TEE. Intraoperative echo is ideally suited to identify acute complications during cardiac transplantation. This can include immediate signs of rejection, valvular abnormalities, and mechanical complications related to the surgical procedure. Many of these patients might require ventricular assist devices (VAD) to provide circulatory support, and intraoperative TEE can be used to verify correct positioning of the VAD hardware. In addition, many of the chronic complications that patients with heart transplants are at risk for may be serious yet asymptomatic. Therefore, a high quality, complete intraoperative echocardiographic study might serve as an important baseline to compare postoperative changes. [source] Evidence for the effectiveness of sterile injecting equipment provision in preventing hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus transmission among injecting drug users: a review of reviewsADDICTION, Issue 5 2010Norah Palmateer ABSTRACT Aims To review the evidence on the effectiveness of harm reduction interventions involving the provision of sterile injecting equipment in the prevention of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among injecting drug users (IDUs). The interventions assessed were needle and syringe programmes (NSP), alternative modes of needle/syringe provision (pharmacies, vending machines and outreach) and the provision of injecting equipment other than needles/syringes. Methods Systematic searches of the English language literature to March 2007 were undertaken to identify systematic, narrative or meta-analytical reviews (also known as a review of reviews) of the impact of interventions on HCV transmission, HIV transmission or injecting risk behaviour (IRB). Critical appraisal criteria classified the reviews as either high quality (,core') or supplementary: a framework based on the quality of reviews, the reviewers' conclusions and the designs/findings of the primary studies was used to derive evidence statements. Results Three core and two supplementary reviews of injecting equipment interventions were identified. According to the proposed framework, this study found (a) insufficient evidence to conclude that any of the interventions are effective in preventing HCV transmission; (b) tentative evidence to support the effectiveness of NSP in preventing HIV transmission; (c) sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of NSP (and tentative evidence of an additional impact of pharmacy NSP) in reducing self-reported IRB; and (d) little to no evidence on vending machines, outreach or providing other injecting equipment in relation to any of the outcomes. Conclusions The evidence is weaker than given credit for in the literature. The lack of evidence for effectiveness of NSP vis-ŕ-vis biological outcomes (HCV and HIV incidence/prevalence) reflects the limitations of studies that have been undertaken to investigate these associations. Particularly for HCV, low levels of IRB may be insufficient to reduce high levels of transmission. New studies are required to identify the intervention coverage necessary to achieve sustained changes in blood-borne virus transmission. [source] Competition and the Incentive to Produce High QualityECONOMICA, Issue 279 2003Rachel E. Kranton Previous literature indicates that, when quality is a choice variable, firms have an incentive to produce high quality to maintain their reputations with consumers. The strategic interaction among firms and competition for market share is not considered. This paper finds that, when firms compete for market share, perfect equilibria in which firms produce high-quality goods need not exist. Competition for customers can eliminate the price premium needed to induce firms to maintain a reputation for high-quality production. In this case, economists and policy analysts should pay greater attention to the interaction among firms and the institutions, such as professional associations, that structure interfirm relations when considering whether firms have an incentive to produce high-quality goods. [source] Herding Behaviour and the Size of Customer Base as a Commitment to QualityECONOMICA, Issue 267 2000Chong Ju Choi This paper refers to herding behaviour as developed in Bikhchandani et al. (1992), Bannerjee (1992) and Choi and Scarpa (1994). We examine the behaviour of a potential customer who does not know how many of her predecessorsdecided not to purchase the product. We show that, ceteris paribus,a smaller (larger) customer base increases the likelihood of a positive(negative) cascade. Hence, a firm can signal its commitment to high quality(Schelling 1960) by choosing to develop a customer base that relies upon thecustomer's ,private' information rather than one that relies on an informational cascade. [source] The Quality of Local District Assessments Used in Nebraska's School-Based Teacher-Led Assessment and Reporting System (STARS)EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2005Susan M. Brookhart A sample of 293 local district assessments used in the Nebraska STARS (School-based Teacher-led Assessment and Reporting System), 147 from 2004 district mathematics assessment portfolios and 146 from 2003 reading assessment portfolios, was scored with a rubric evaluating their quality. Scorers were Nebraska educators with background and training in assessment. Raters reached an agreement criterion during a training session; however, analysis of a set of 30 assessments double-scored during the main scoring session indicated that the math ratings remained reliable during scoring, while the reading ratings did not. Therefore, this article presents results for the 147 mathematics assessments only. The quality of local mathematics assessments used in the Nebraska STARS was good overall. The majority were of high quality on characteristics that go to validity (alignment with standards, clarity to students, appropriateness of content). Professional development for Nebraska teachers is recommended on aspects of assessment related to reliability (sufficiency of information and scoring procedures). [source] A Sheep Model for the Study of Focal Epilepsy with Concurrent Intracranial EEG and Functional MRIEPILEPSIA, Issue 8 2002Helen I. Opdam Summary: ,Purpose: We describe a sheep model of penicillin-induced seizure activity using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional MRI (fMRI). Methods: Ten adult sheep were used. Spikes and seizures were generated by instillation of 8,000,10,000 IU of penicillin into the right prefrontal cortex via a specially designed port. Bilateral intracranial EEG was acquired by using carbon fiber electrodes. Animals had behavioral characterization of their seizures and were then anesthetized for fMRI studies. Functional MRI was performed at 1.5 and 3 Tesla by measuring blood oxygen level,dependent (BOLD) weighted signal intensity at different times during the evolution of seizures. Results: Behavioral seizures were associated with electrographic seizures. Intracranial EEG obtained in the MR scanner was of high quality. Focal spiking and seizures were seen in all animals and developed 11.3 ± 11.2 s and 17.3 ± 12.1 min after penicillin administration, respectively. An average of 13 ± 4.8 seizures were seen per animal, each lasting 27.3 ± 12.3 s. Functional MR images with little parenchymal artefact were obtained. Regional BOLD signal-intensity changes were observed during seizures at the seizure focus and ipsilateral amygdala. Conclusions: We have developed an animal model of partial epilepsy in which seizures can be reliably elicited with concurrent fMRI and intracranial EEG. During unilateral electrographic seizures, focal BOLD signal changes occurred at the seizure focus and ipsilateral amygdala, suggesting the presence of a cortico,subcortical loop. This observation illustrates the potential of the model for understanding seizure generation, spread, and possibly the consequences of repeated seizures on the brain. [source] Adjustment of Parental Investment in the Dung Beetle Onthophagus atripennis (Col., Scarabaeidae)ETHOLOGY, Issue 12 2006Shigeki Kishi If parents can invest resources optimally per offspring, they should adjust the amount of investment in an offspring according to environmental heterogeneity. Many studies have demonstrated changes in egg size or the amount of resource supplied in response to environmental heterogeneity. However, it remains unclear whether parents simply know the resource type a priori or can assess resource quality and adjust the quantity of investment accordingly. We examined the parental capability to adjust the amount of investment per offspring by providing Onthophagus atripennis dung beetle parents with one of three dung types of different quality: monkey dung (high quality), cow dung (low quality), or a mixture of monkey and cow dung (medium quality). The beetle parents cooperatively produce dung brood masses each with one egg under the ground. The size of a brood mass, on which a larva can only feed until adult, represents a large part of the amount of investment. Parents produced a greater number of smaller brood masses given high-quality resource, while they compensated for low quality of the resource by providing a larger amount of the resource, at the cost of offspring number. However, despite this compensation in the amount of food, offspring raised on low-quality food was still smaller than offspring raised on high-quality food. Thus, O. atripennis parents assessed resource quality partly and adjusted the amount of resource provided for their offspring. [source] Highly Crystalline, Idiomorphic Na2Ti6O13 Whiskers Grown from a NaCl Flux at a Relatively Low TemperatureEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 19 2010Katsuya Teshima Abstract Well-developed, highly crystalline Na2Ti6O13 whiskers were successfully grown by cooling a NaCl flux at a relatively low temperature of 700 °C. The obtained Na2Ti6O13 whiskers were colorless and transparent. The whiskers grown at 700 °C were single phase and exhibit the lowest sizes of up to about 3.5 ,m,×,0.1 ,m. From the results of SEM, XRD, and TEM, it was confirmed that the Na2Ti6O13 whiskers have very good crystallinity and elongated in the [lang]010[rang] directions. Furthermore, the whiskers exhibited good photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet light irradiation. It is reasonable to suppose that NaCl can be adequately used to synthesize high quality and well-developed titanate whiskers in an environmentally friendly process of crystal growth. [source] An Approach to the Synthesis of Silicon Carbide Nanowires by Simple Thermal Evaporation of Ferrocene onto Silicon WafersEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 25 2007Jun-Jie Niu Abstract Scales of silicon carbide nanowires (SiC-NWs) with high quality were synthesized by direct thermal evaporation of ferrocene onto silicon wafers at high temperature. Ferrocene decomposed into iron and carbon, which was subsequently treated with silicon to form SiC-NWs at high temperature. The SiC-NWs possess small diameters of , 20 nm and lengths of several ,ms. Furthermore, the samples show a uniform morphology, crystalline structure, and a very thin oxide layer. The main crystal direction of [111] was confirmed by high-resolution field-emission-transmission electron microscopy (HR-FETEM). The Raman scattering spectra showed two peaks at , 796 (TO) and , 980 cm,1 (LO) with varying intensity ratios at different positions. The band line fluctuation was contributed to the Raman selection rules. With reference to the experimental results, we suggested a tentative growth model according to the vapor,liquid,solid (VLS) mechanism. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007) [source] World dental research production: an ISI database approach (1999,2003)EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2006Jose Antonio Gil-Montoya The objective of this study was to obtain a geographic world map of scientific production in dentistry by analysing published papers. Articles and reviews in the Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine category published from 1999 to 2003 were accessed through the ISI database. The data were analyzed quantitatively (number of documents, number of researchers, productivity, interannual variation rate and relative specialization index), qualitatively (weighted impact factor, relative impact factor, citation rate per document and top 5 publications) and socioeconomically (number of documents per inhabitant and per dentist and in relation to the country's GDP). The USA, UK, Japan and Scandinavian countries were found to be the most productive countries (number of publications). Publications from Scandinavian countries were also of high quality as measured by Impact Factor and Citation Rate, while the UK had one of the highest productivity rates (number of documents per researcher). [source] Avoiding the effect of item wording by means of bipolar instead of unipolar items: An application to social optimismEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 2 2010Karl Schweizer Abstract Scales including positively and negatively worded items usually show an impaired degree of homogeneity. The transformation of unipolar positively and negatively worded items into bipolar items can avoid this disadvantageous effect. The precondition for this transformation is that each pair of items refers to the same topic. It is this topic that serves as the heading of the bipolar item. This scale construction method is demonstrated in the items of the social optimism scale (Schweizer & Schneider, 1997) that comprises unipolar items. The investigation of both the original and the transformed scales in a sample of 808 participants revealed equivalence and a high quality for both scales. Results of an additional sample confirmed the validity of both social optimism scales. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Seed supply for broadscale restoration: maximizing evolutionary potentialEVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2008Linda M. Broadhurst Abstract Restoring degraded land to combat environmental degradation requires the collection of vast quantities of germplasm (seed). Sourcing this material raises questions related to provenance selection, seed quality and harvest sustainability. Restoration guidelines strongly recommend using local sources to maximize local adaptation and prevent outbreeding depression, but in highly modified landscapes this restricts collection to small remnants where limited, poor quality seed is available, and where harvesting impacts may be high. We review three principles guiding the sourcing of restoration germplasm: (i) the appropriateness of using ,local' seed, (ii) sample sizes and population characteristics required to capture sufficient genetic diversity to establish self-sustaining populations and (iii) the impact of over-harvesting source populations. We review these topics by examining current collection guidelines and the evidence supporting these, then we consider if the guidelines can be improved and the consequences of not doing so. We find that the emphasis on local seed sourcing will, in many cases, lead to poor restoration outcomes, particularly at broad geographic scales. We suggest that seed sourcing should concentrate less on local collection and more on capturing high quality and genetically diverse seed to maximize the adaptive potential of restoration efforts to current and future environmental change. [source] Synthesis of Cobalt/Polymer Multilayer Nanotubes,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 4 2005K. Nielsch Cobalt/polymer multilayer nanotubes (see Figure) are formed by wetting of alumina and silicon membranes by polystyrene containing a metallo,organic precursor, followed by a thermal decomposition process. This article describes the fabrication and magnetic properties of high quality, thin-walled ferromagnetic nanotubes. They might be very attractive for a broad range of potential applications ranging from biotechnology to magnetic storage devices. [source] Food quality influences habitat selection in DaphniaFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2008ELKE S. REICHWALDT Summary 1. The vertical distribution of Daphnia in stratified lakes strongly depends on the depth profiles of temperature and food resources. However, ecological requirements for these factors are slightly different for juvenile and adult Daphnia. 2. Here, I investigated whether food quality influences the habitat selection of Daphnia pulicaria at night and whether the habitat selection of juvenile and adult D. pulicaria is different. Daphnia were allowed to choose their optimal habitat in large, stratified water columns (plankton towers, Plön) that held either the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus (high quality) in the cold hypolimnion (Hypo-treatment) or S. obliquus in the warm epi- and cold hypolimnion (SCEN-treatment) or the non-toxic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus (low quality) in the warm epilimnion and S. obliquus in the cold hypolimnion (SYN treatment). 3. When food (S. obliquus) was present only in the hypolimnion (Hypo-treatment), juveniles and adults distributed similarly in the water column and spent most of their time in the interface between the warm and the food rich layer. 4. When food was present in the epilimnion and hypolimnion (SCEN- and SYN-treatments), juvenile and adult D. pulicaria moved into the warm and now also food-rich epilimnion, however, the magnitude of this shift depended on the food type and age class of Daphnia. Adult and juvenile D. pulicaria spent most of their time in the epilimnion when food there was of a high quality (S. obliquus; SCEN-treatment). However, compared to the juveniles, adult Daphnia spent significantly more time in the colder hypolimnion when epilimnetic food was of a low quality (S. elongatus; SYN-treament). 5. Therefore, habitat selection of adult D. pulicaria was affected by food quality whereas the habitat selection of juveniles was not. 6. Additional growth and reproduction experiments show that the food quality is likely to be responsible for the different habitat selection of juveniles and adults in the SYN-treatment. 7. In conclusion, my experiments show that D. pulicaria behaviourally reacts to the quality of its food source. [source] Does leaf quality mediate the stimulation of leaf breakdown by phosphorus in Neotropical streams?FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006MARCELO ARDÓN Summary 1. Lowland tropical streams have a chemically diverse detrital resource base, where leaf quality could potentially alter the effect of high nutrient concentrations on leaf breakdown. This has important implications given the extent and magnitude of anthropogenic nutrient loading to the environment. 2. Here, we examine if leaf quality (as determined by concentrations of cellulose, lignin and tannins) mediates the effects of high ambient phosphorus (P) concentration on leaf breakdown in streams of lowland Costa Rica. We hypothesised that P would have a stronger effect on microbial and insect processing of high- than of low-quality leaves. 3. We selected three species that represented extremes of quality as measured in leaves of eight common riparian species. Species selected were, from high- to low-quality: Trema integerrima > Castilla elastica > Zygia longifolia. We incubated single-species leaf packs in five streams that had natural differences in ambient P concentration (10,140 ,g soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) L,1), because of variable inputs of solute-rich groundwater and also in a stream that was experimentally enriched with P (approximately 200 ,g SRP L,1). 4. The breakdown rate of all three species varied among the six streams: T. integerrima (k -values range: 0.0451,0.129 day,1); C. elastica (k -values range: 0.0064,0.021 day,1); and Z. longifolia (k -values range: 0.002,0.008 day,1). Both ambient P concentration and flow velocity had significant effects on the breakdown rate of the three species. 5. Results supported our initial hypothesis that litter quality mediates the effect of high ambient P concentration on leaf processing by microbes and insects. The response of microbial respiration, fungal biomass and invertebrate density to high ambient P concentration was greater in Trema (high quality) than in Castilla or Zygia (low quality). Variation in flow velocity, however, confounded our ability to determine the magnitude of stimulation of breakdown rate by P. 6. Cellulose and lignin appeared to be the most important factors in determining the magnitude of P-stimulation. Surprisingly, leaf secondary compounds did not have an effect. This contradicts predictions made by other researchers, regarding the key role of plant secondary compounds in affecting leaf breakdown in tropical streams. [source] Morphology-Tunable Micro/Nanostructures: Characterization, Cathodoluminescence, and Field-Emission Properties of Morphology-Tunable CdS Micro/Nanostructures (Adv. Funct.ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 15 2009Mater. On page 2423, T. Y. Zhai et al. report that high quality and uniform 1D CdS micro/nanostructures with different morphologies can be fabricated through a simple and effective thermal evaporation process. Both cathodoluminescence and field-emission measurements are made and clear correlations between morphology, structure, and optical and field emission performance are established. [source] Geoelectric dimensionality in complex geological areas: application to the Spanish Betic ChainGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2004Anna Martí SUMMARY Rotational invariants of the magnetotelluric impedance tensor may be used to obtain information on the geometry of underlying geological structures. The set of invariants proposed by Weaver et al. (2000) allows the determination of a suitable dimensionality for the modelling of observed data. The application of the invariants to real data must take into account the errors in the data and also the fact that geoelectric structures in the Earth will not exactly fit 1-D, 2-D or simple 3-D models. In this work we propose a method to estimate the dimensionality of geoelectric structures based on the rotational invariants, bearing in mind the experimental error of real data. A data set from the Betic Chain (Spain) is considered. We compare the errors of the invariants estimated by different approaches: classical error propagation, generation of random Gaussian noise and bootstrap resampling, and we investigate the matter of the threshold value to be used in the determination of dimensionality. We conclude that the errors of the invariants can be properly estimated by classical error propagation, but the generation of random values is better to ensure stability in the errors of strike direction and distortion parameters. The use of a threshold value between 0.1 and 0.15 is recommended for real data of medium to high quality. The results for the Betic Chain show that the general behaviour is 3-D with a disposition of 2-D structures, which may be correlated with the nature of the crust of the region. [source] Three-dimensional VP and VP,/VS models of the upper crust in the Friuli area (northeastern Italy)GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2000G. F. Gentile 3-D images of P velocity and P - to S -velocity ratio have been produced for the upper crust of the Friuli area (northeastern Italy) using local earthquake tomography. The data consist of 2565 P and 930 S arrival times of high quality. The best-fitting VP and VP,/VS 1-D models were computed before the 3-D inversion. VP was measured on two rock samples representative of the investigated upper layers of the Friuli crust. The tomographic VP model was used for modelling the gravity anomalies, by converting the velocity values into densities along three vertical cross-sections. The computed gravity anomalies were optimized with respect to the observed gravity anomalies. The crust investigated is characterized by sharp lateral and deep VP and VP,/VS anomalies that are associated with the complex geological structure. High VP,/VS values are associated with highly fractured zones related to the main faulting pattern. The relocated seismicity is generally associated with sharp variations in the VP,/VS anomalies. The VP images show a high-velocity body below 6 km depth in the central part of the Friuli area, marked also by strong VP,/VS heterogeneities, and this is interpreted as a tectonic wedge. Comparison with the distribution of earthquakes supports the hypothesis that the tectonic wedge controls most of the seismicity and can be considered to be the main seismogenic zone in the Friuli area. [source] Changes in the physiology and feed quality of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) during regrowthGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2002R. P. Rawnsley Abstract A glasshouse study was undertaken to determine the physiological and morphological changes in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) during regrowth after defoliation. Individual plants were arranged in a mini-sward in a randomized complete block design. Treatments involved harvesting each time one new leaf had expanded (one-leaf stage), up to the six-leaf stage, with the plants separated into leaf, stubble (tiller bases) and roots. Stubble and root water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), stubble and leaf dry matter (DM), tiller number per plant and leaf quality (crude protein (CP), estimated metabolizable energy (ME) and mineral content) were measured to develop optimal defoliation management of cocksfoot-based pastures. WSC concentration in stubble and roots was highest at the five- and six-leaf stages. Mean WSC concentration (g kg,1 DM) was greater in stubble than roots (32·7 ± 5·9 vs. 9·4 ± 1·5 respectively). There was a strong positive linear relationship between plant WSC concentration and leaf DM, root DM and tillers per plant after defoliation (Adj R2 = 0·72, 0·88 and 0·95 respectively). Root DM plant,1 and tiller DM tiller,1 decreased immediately following defoliation and remained low until the three-leaf stage, then increased from the four-leaf stage. Tillers per plant remained stable until the four-leaf stage, after which they increased (from 9·9 ± 0·5 to 15·7 ± 1·0 tillers plant,1). Estimated metabolizable energy concentration (MJ kg,1 DM) was significantly lower at the six-leaf stage (11·01 ± 0·06) than at any previous leaf regrowth stage, whereas CP concentration (g kg,1 DM) decreased with regrowth to the six-leaf stage. Both the levels of ME and CP concentrations were indicative of a high quality forage throughout regrowth (11·37 ± 0·04 and 279 ± 8·0 for ME and CP respectively). Results from this study give a basis for determining appropriate criteria for grazing cocksfoot-based pastures. The optimal defoliation interval for cocksfoot appears to be between the four- and five-leaf stages of regrowth. Delaying defoliation to the four-leaf stage allows time for replenishment of WSC reserves, resumption of root growth and an increase in tillering, and is before herbage is lost and quality falls due to onset of leaf senescence. [source] Hypothyroidism and acquired von Willebrand's syndrome: a systematic reviewHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 3 2008E. MANFREDI Summary., Acquired von Willebrand's syndrome type I is the supposed main underlying cause of bleeding tendency in hypothyroid patients. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the published evidence on the association between hypothyroidism and acquired von Willebrand's syndrome. All published clinical epidemiological and interventional studies, case reports and in vitro studies that investigated the association between hypothyroidism and acquired von Willebrand's syndrome were identified by a computer-assisted search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases. A quality assessment was performed for clinical epidemiological studies. A total of 41 papers were included. A total of 22 epidemiological in vivo studies, two in vitro studies and 47 case reports were finally analyzed. No high quality in vivo study was identified. Almost all bleeding episodes described in the case reports were mucocutaneous. von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen value was available for 23 patients: median value 28 U/dL (range: 4,45); VWF activity was available for 24 patients: median value 28.5 U/dL (range: <3,55); factor VIII activity was available for 16 patients: median value 47 U/dL (range: 9,74). Acquired von Willebrand's syndrome may be the main factor responsible for bleeding diathesis in overt hypothyroid patients. Even if bleeding episodes are mainly mild and mucocutaneous, blood transfusion, drug administration or surgical procedure may be required. [source] Managing challenging behaviour in the community: methods and results of interactive staff trainingHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 3 2001Malcolm Gentry MA MPhil Abstract A necessary condition for a high quality of community care in relation to challenging behaviour is staff training in appropriate methods. This paper describes the application of a practical ,interactive staff training' approach with n = 101 staff, featuring the use of focused and experiential learning in teams. The findings indicated that the course was socially acceptable to the participants, led to a significant improvement in their knowledge of nonphysical methods, and resulted in written guidelines for managing their own clients' challenging behaviour. Furthermore, agreements were clarified on how these guidelines would be implemented by each team following training. Implications are drawn for improved evaluation of this promising training programme, including developing the measures of learning and adding a generalisation assessment. [source] Launch of the HILJ Strategic Plan 2010,2014HEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010Maria J. Grant The 2010-2014 strategic plan builds on the reputation of Health Information and Libraries Journal (HILJ) as a dynamic internationally inclusive journal and will ensure that the journal remains relevant to the day-to-day practices of its readership. The plan seeks to maintain the high quality of the journal, build on the already strong relationship with the Health Libraries Group (HLG), and find new ways to engage with the HILJ readers and writers. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||