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Individual Stages (individual + stage)
Selected AbstractsEnhancement of biodegradability of industrial wastewaters by chemical oxidation pre-treatmentJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Dionissios Mantzavinos Abstract Chemical oxidation technologies are often employed for the treatment of complex industrial effluents that are not amenable to conventional biological methods. The role of chemical oxidation depends on the treatment objectives and may vary from partial remediation to complete mineralization. In the case of partial treatment, chemical oxidation aims at the selective removal of the more bioresistant fractions and their conversion to readily biodegradable intermediates that can subsequently be treated biologically. Coupling chemical pre-oxidation with biological post-treatment is conceptually beneficial as it can lead to increased overall treatment efficiencies compared with the efficiency of each individual stage. This paper reviews recent developments and highlights some important aspects that need to be addressed when considering such integrated schemes. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Delivery of Nucleic Acids via Disulfide-Based Carrier SystemsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 32-33 2009Sonja Bauhuber Abstract Nucleic acids are not only expected to assume a pivotal position as "drugs" in the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases, but could also act as molecular cues to control the microenvironment during tissue regeneration. Despite this promise, the efficient delivery of nucleic acids to their side of action is still the major hurdle. One among many prerequisites for a successful carrier system for nucleic acids is high stability in the extracellular environment, accompanied by an efficient release of the cargo in the intracellular compartment. A promising strategy to create such an interactive delivery system is to exploit the redox gradient between the extra- and intracellular compartments. In this review, emphasis is placed on the biological rationale for the synthesis of redox sensitive, disulfide-based carrier systems, as well as the extra- and intracellular processing of macromolecules containing disulfide bonds. Moreover, the basic synthetic approaches for introducing disulfide bonds into carrier molecules, together with examples that demonstrate the benefit of disulfides at the individual stages of nucleic acid delivery, will be presented. [source] Dynamics in Central European near-natural Abies-Fagus forests: Does the mosaic-cycle approach provide an appropriate model?JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008Rafat Podlaski Abstract Question: The mosaic-cycle concept of forest dynamics dominates in Central Europe. According to this concept intermediate-scale disturbances only accelerate the forest break-up under existing cycles of forest development. Is such an approach correct, or should new developmental cycles be elaborated for intermediate-scale disturbances? Location: Near-natural Abies alba - Fagus sylvatica forests in the ,wiétokrzyski National Park in Central Poland. In these forests intermediate-scale disturbances occurred between 1970 and 1990. Methods: Data were collected twice in areas surrounding 212 permanent sample points (in 1994 and 2004). Two increment cores were taken from 259 sample Abies trees. The effect of intermediate-scale disturbances on radial increment of Abies was assessed. Probabilities of stand transition during a 10-year period between individual stages and phases of development of the mixed forest were calculated. The development stages and phases were arranged into hypothetical succession series of successive changes. Results: In 1994 70 stands and in 2004, 47 stands representing stages and phases containing the older generation formed by trees > 100,150 years were found. Also, in 1994 142 and in 2004, 165 stands representing stages and phases containing the younger generations only, formed by trees < 100-150 years, were recorded. Stages and phases containing only younger generations do not occur in the existing forest development cycle which does not consider the influence of intermediate-scale disturbances separately. Two developmental cycles, which take into account the presence of the older generation and the younger generations only (under conditions of the occurrence of intermediate-scale disturbances), are proposed. Conclusion: The mosaic-cycle concept of forest dynamics can be used to analyse the dynamics of Central European near-natural mixed-species forests, but new developmental cycles should be elaborated for intermediate-scale disturbances. [source] DEA models for two-stage processes: Game approach and efficiency decompositionNAVAL RESEARCH LOGISTICS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 7 2008Liang Liang Abstract Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a method for measuring the efficiency of peer decision making units (DMUs). This tool has been utilized by a number of authors to examine two-stage processes, where all the outputs from the first stage are the only inputs to the second stage. The current article examines and extends these models using game theory concepts. The resulting models are linear, and imply an efficiency decomposition where the overall efficiency of the two-stage process is a product of the efficiencies of the two individual stages. When there is only one intermediate measure connecting the two stages, both the noncooperative and centralized models yield the same results as applying the standard DEA model to the two stages separately. As a result, the efficiency decomposition is unique. While the noncooperative approach yields a unique efficiency decomposition under multiple intermediate measures, the centralized approach is likely to yield multiple decompositions. Models are developed to test whether the efficiency decomposition arising from the centralized approach is unique. The relations among the noncooperative, centralized, and standard DEA approaches are investigated. Two real world data sets and a randomly generated data set are used to demonstrate the models and verify our findings. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2008 [source] Xiphograptus and the evolution of virgella-bearing graptoloidsPALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2010JÖRG MALETZ Abstract:, The virgellar spine is one of the most consistent features of the graptolite sicula. It is present in a large number of graptoloid groups, but evolved separately and independently in these as it is seen from the presence of the spine in either ventral (Axonophora) or dorsal (Phyllograptus, Xiphograptus) position. The evolution of the virgellar spine in the Pan-Bireclinata in the Upper Dapingian to Lower Darriwilian time interval is known to follow four main steps, from a simple rutellum, through a lamelliform rutellum and a lanceolate virgella to the true virgellar spine. For the xiphograptids and in Phyllograptus, the origin and early development is less well documented, but appears to follow a similar path. However, the individual stages are condensed, and a true virgellar spine emerges already in the Floian time interval. A virgellar spine was found in Didymograptellus bifidus, necessitating a revision of the diagnosis of the genus Didymograptellus. A number of species of the virgellate genera Xiphograptus, Yutagraptus and Didymograptellus are described from isolated material for the first time. The species are useful for the biostratigraphic correlation of endemic mid-continent North American faunas with the Pacific Type faunal realm. Xiphograptus artus sp. nov., Didymograptellus primus sp. nov. and Didymograptellus cowheadensis sp. nov. from the Cow Head Group of western Newfoundland are described as new. [source] The sense of smell in systemic lupus erythematosusARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2009Netta Shoenfeld Objective To assess the olfactory functions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and to examine the association between the sense of smell and disease activity and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Methods Olfactory functions in 50 SLE patients and 50 age- and sex-matched controls were evaluated using the Sniffin' Sticks test, the 3 stages of which are threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI) of different odors. TDI scores were analyzed according to SLE disease activity and CNS involvement. Results In both the SLE and control groups, smell deficit correlated with male sex and older age. A decrease in the sense of smell was observed in SLE patients (46%) and controls (25%) (P , 0.02), while loss of smell (anosmia) was documented only in SLE patients (10%). Total TDI scores and individual stages of smell correlated with SLE Disease Activity Index (P < 0.001) and CNS manifestations (P < 0.03). Conclusion Our findings suggest that there is a decrease in the sense of smell in SLE patients compared with healthy subjects and that the decrease in the sense of smell among SLE patients correlates with disease activity and CNS involvement. [source] Examination of the Validity of a Stages of Exercise Change AlgorithmJOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Heather A. Hausenblas The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of a stages of exercise change questionnaire with self-reported exercise, age, and body mass index (BMI) in 1,034 male and female community residents. It was found that the maintenance stage participants reported more strenuous exercise than did individuals in the other stages; and participants in the action stage reported more strenuous exercise than did individuals in the preparation and contemplation stages. There were no significant group differences among participants in the preparation, contemplation, and precontemplation stages for strenuous and moderate exercise. The maintenance stage participants engaged in more moderate exercise than did the preparation, contemplation, and precontemplation individuals; and the action stage participants reported more moderate exercise than did individuals in the preparation and precontemplation stages. The participants in the maintenance stage were older than were those in the action stage. No significant stage differences were found for mild exercise or BMI. Knowing an individual's stage of exercise change may provide researchers and practitioners with a mechanism for developing, testing, and delivering stage-matched exercise interventions. [source] Moderate Physical Activity and Its Relationship to Select Measures of a Healthy DietTHE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2004Frank Blakely MS ABSTRACT: Context: In rural communities, physical activity may influence and predict nutritional behaviors. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine if an individual's stage of participation in moderate physical activity was related to select measures of a healthy diet. Methods: Data were collected using a mail-in survey from a random sample conducted in the rural/frontier communities of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. A total of 6 communities, 2 from each state, were surveyed with approximately 575 surveys sent to each community. The response rate was 51.5%. Findings: Regression analysis revealed that there was a significant difference (P<.05) in select measures of a healthy diet between those in the maintenance stage of moderate levels of physical activity (physically active for 6 months or more) and those in precontemplation (not currently active and with no intention of starting), contemplation (not currently active but considering starting within the next 6 months), and preparation (not currently active but taking steps to become active within the next 30 days). Those in maintenance had a healthier diet. Additionally, women, older people, those with at least some college education, and those who were employed had healthier diets. Conclusions: These results lend preliminary support to the idea that moderate physical activity could act as a gateway behavior, a behavior that, if adopted, could lead to the adoption of other healthy behaviors. However, additional research is needed to confirm the nature, if any, of this relationship. [source] | |||||||||||||