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Information Network (information + network)
Selected AbstractsSkin sensitizing properties of the ethanolamines mono-, di-, and triethanolamine.CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 5 2009Data analysis of a multicentre surveillance network (IVDK, review of the literature Numerous publications address the skin sensitizing potential of the short chain alkanolamines triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolamine (DEA), monoethanolamine (MEA), which are not skin sensitizing according to animal studies. Regarding TEA, we analysed patch test data of 85 098 patients who had been tested with TEA 2.5% petrolatum by Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) to identify particular exposures possibly associated with an elevated risk of sensitization. Altogether, 323 patients (0.4%) tested positive. The profile of patch test reactions indicates a slightly irritant potential rather than a true allergic response in many cases. Although used widely, no exposure associated with an increased risk of TEA sensitization was identified. Therefore, the risk of sensitization to TEA seems to be very low. MEA and DEA were patch tested in a much more aimed fashion in 9602 and 8791 patients, respectively when prevalence of contact allergy was 3.8% and 1.8%. MEA is the prominent allergen in metalworkers with exposure to water-based metalworking fluids (wbMWFs); DEA is probably used in cutting fluids less frequently nowadays. Chronic damage to the skin barrier resulting from wbMWF, the alkalinity of ethanolamines (increasing from TEA to MEA), and other cofactors may contribute to a notable sensitization risk. [source] Changes of the patch test population (MOAHLFA index) in long-term participants of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology,, 1999,2006CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 1 2008Wolfgang Uter No abstract is available for this article. [source] FS04.5 Iodopropynylbutyl carbamate (IPBC) 0.2% is suggested for patch testing of patients with eczema possibly related to preservativesCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004Jochen Brasch Iodopropynylbutyl carbamate (IPBC)is a preservative that has been increasingly used for skin care products and cosmetics within the last years and the first cases of contact sensitization have meanwhile been reported. Therefore, a surveillance for IPBC contact allergy is now necessary. Our study was aimed to find out a suitable test concentration of IPBC for this purpose. The data 8106 patients tested by 23 centres of the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group (DKG) and the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK)in the time from May 2001 to July 2003 with IPBC in concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.5% were retrospectively evaluated. Criteria considered to determine the optimal test concentration of IPBC were the reaction index, the positivity ratio, the rate of crescendo reactions, and the relation of IPBC-reactions with MOAHLFA-indices, with irritant reactions to sodium lauryl sulfate, and with positive reactions to the most common standard contact allergens and 4 other preservatives. For statistical evaluations the exact McNemar test was applied and odds ratios were calculated according to the profile likelihood method, as derived from logistic regression analyses. The rate of positive reactions to IPBC increased from 0.5% with IPBC 0.1% to 1.7% with IPBC 0.5%, but there was a problem with sensitivity or specificity with both of these 2 concentrations. Therefore, we focused on IPBC 0.2%(0.8% positive reactions) and IPBC 0.3%(1.3% positive reactions) for further detailed analyses. An evaluation of the related parameters revealed that with IPBC 0.2% as compared to IPBC 0.3% a higher percentage of crescendo reactions, a higher reaction index, a lower number of doubtful reactions, a plausible association of positive reactions with reactions to other preservatives, nd no association with a pronounced skin irritability was found. In conclusion, we recommend to start with IPBC 0.2% for patch testing of all persons with contact dermatitis that may be related to preservatives. [source] The rise of methamphetamine in Southeast and East AsiaDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 3 2008REBECCA McKETIN Abstract Introduction and Aims. Southeast and East Asia has become a global hub for methamphetamine production and trafficking over the past decade. This paper describes the rise of methamphetamine supply and to what extent use of the drug is occurring in the region. Method and Design. The current review uses data collected through the Drug Abuse Information Network for Asia and the Pacific (DAINAP) and other available sources to analyse retrospectively methamphetamine trends within Southeast and East Asia. Results. Southeast and East Asia has experienced a methamphetamine epidemic in the past decade which began around 1997 and peaked in 2000,2001. While the situation has since stabilised in many countries, methamphetamine trafficking and use are still increasing in parts of the Mekong region and there is evidence of large-scale manufacture in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Methamphetamine is typically smoked or ingested, but injection of the drug is apparent. Conclusion. While the peak of the methamphetamine epidemic has passed in parts of Southeast and East Asia, attention is needed to minimise the potential consequences of spreading methamphetamine production, trafficking and use in the Mekong region and in the peninsular and archipelago of Southeast Asia. [source] Periorbital dermatitis: Causes, differential diagnoses and therapyJOURNAL DER DEUTSCHEN DERMATOLOGISCHEN GESELLSCHAFT, Issue 3 2010Alexandra Feser Summary Periorbital dermatitis is common and frequently difficult to treat. Patients with periorbital dermatitis often suffer severely because their disease is in such a visible location. Because of the variety of clinical appearance, the differential diagnostic considerations are often difficult. We examined the causes of periorbital dermatitis and compared the data of 88 patients from the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen to those of the German IVDK (Information Network of the Departments of Dermatology). Between 1999 and 2004, predominant causes of periorbital dermatitis were allergic contact dermatitis (Erlangen 44 %, IVDK 32 %), atopic eczema (Erlangen 25 %, IVDK 14 %), airborne contact dermatitis (Erlangen 10 %, IVDK 2 %) and irritant contact dermatitis (Erlangen 9 %, IVDK 8 %). Less frequent causes for secondary eczematous periocular skin lesions were periorbital rosacea, allergic conjunctivitis or psoriasis vulgaris. Female gender, atopic skin diathesis and age of 40 years and older were identified as risk factors for periocular dermatitis. Common elicitors of periorbital allergic contact dermatitis were leave-on cosmetic products (face cream, eye shadow) and eye drops with the usual allergens being fragrances, preservatives and drugs. Exact identification of relevant contact allergens and allergen elimination are essential for successful treatment. Calcineurin inhibitors are the first-line therapy for facial atopic eczema. They may be also effective in periocular eczematous lesions of other origins although they are not approved for such use. [source] THE TRANSPORTABILITY OF JOB INFORMATION ACROSS COUNTRIESPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2008PAUL J. TAYLOR Three Occupational Information Network (O*NET) instruments (Generalized Work Activities, Basic and Cross-Functional Skills, Work Styles) were administered to 1,007 job incumbents, from 369 organizations, performing 1 of 3 jobs (first-line supervisor, office clerk, computer programmer) in New Zealand, China, and Hong Kong. Data from these countries were compared with archival data collected from 370 incumbents holding similar jobs in the United States. Hypothesized country differences, derived from cross-cultural theory, received limited support. The magnitude of differences in mean item ratings between incumbents from the United States and the other 3 countries were generally small to moderate in size, and rank-orderings of the importance and level of work activities and job requirements were quite similar, suggesting that, for most applications, job information is likely to transport quite well across countries. [source] A method to assess the sensitivity of sedimentary communities to fishing activitiesAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 3 2009Harvey Tyler-Walters Abstract 1.Methods of sensitivity assessment to identify species and habitats in need of management or protection have been available since the 1970s. 2.The approach to sensitivity assessment adopted by the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) assumes that the sensitivity of a community or biotope is dependent on the species within it. However, the application of this approach to sedimentary communities, especially offshore, is complex because of a lack of knowledge of the structural or functional role of many sedimentary species. 3.This paper describes a method to assess the overall sensitivity of sedimentary communities, based on the intolerance and recoverability of component species to physical disturbance. A range of methods were applied to identify the best combinations of abundant, dominant or high biomass species for the assessment of sensitivity in the sedimentary communities examined. 4.Results showed that reporting the most frequent species' sensitivity assessment, irrespective of the four methods used to select species, consistently underestimated the total sensitivity of the community. In contrast, reporting the most sensitive assessment from those species selected resulted in a range of biotope sensitivities from very low to very high, that was better able to discriminate between the sensitivities of the communities examined. 5.The assumptions behind the methodology, its limitations and potential application are discussed. © Crown copyright 2008. Reproduced with permission of Her majesty's stationery office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Simultaneous sodium lauryl sulphate testing improves the diagnostic validity of allergic patch tests.BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Results from a prospective multicentre study of the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group (Deutsche Kontaktallergie-Gruppe Summary Background, There is evidence that a higher skin susceptibility may induce nonspecific erythematous or weak positive reactions to contact allergens in patch testing. Objectives, To evaluate whether simultaneous application of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) along with diagnostic patch tests with contact allergens can provide information regarding skin irritability which may help to discriminate allergic from nonspecific irritant reactions to contact allergens. Methods, Between July 2001 and June 2003, this prospective study collected patch test data of 5971 patients from 19 centres in Germany and Austria in the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK). In addition to contact allergens (standard series and eight known ,problematic' allergens with a low reaction index and a high positivity ratio: 1,3-diphenylguanidine, amerchol L-101, benzalkonium chloride, benzoyl peroxide, cocamidopropyl betaine, octyl gallate, phenyl mercuric acetate and propylene glycol), patches with SLS 0·5% and 0·25% aq. were applied. Reactions to the allergens and to SLS were analysed at the IVDK data centre. The association between an erythematous or positive reaction to a certain allergen and an irritant reaction to SLS was assessed with logistic regression analysis, at the same time controlling for the influence of age and sex. Results, Of the 29 allergens of the standard series, 23 and 21 gave a higher percentage of nonspecific erythematous reactions in patients with an irritant reaction to 0·25% and 0·5% SLS, respectively, in comparison with SLS-negative patients. All eight ,problematic' allergens gave an increased percentage of nonspecific erythematous reactions. Similarly, 22 and 21 allergens of the standard series gave a higher percentage of positive allergic reactions in patients with an irritant reaction to 0·25% and 0·5% SLS, respectively, and seven of the eight ,problematic' allergens gave a higher percentage of positive allergic rections (exception: octyl gallate). For most allergens, the markers of skin reaction (reaction index and positivity ratio) were worse in SLS-positive patients. Differences were more pronounced when testing with SLS 0·25% than with SLS 0·5%. Conclusions, Because there is a convincing association between skin irritability (evaluated by SLS test) and the degree of skin reaction to contact allergens, the SLS test may help in deciding whether a doubtful erythematous or weakly ,positive' skin reaction should be interpreted as allergic or irritant. [source] Euroethics,a database network on biomedical ethicsHEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 3 2006Ylva Gavel Background:,euroethics is a database covering European literature on ethics in medicine. It is produced within Eurethnet, a European information network on ethics in medicine and biotechnology. Objectives:, The aim of Euroethics is to disseminate information on European bioethical literature that may otherwise be difficult to find. Methods:, A collaboration model for pooling data from different centres was developed. The policy was to accomplish data uniformity, while still allowing for local differences in terms of software, indexing practices and resources. Records contributed to the database follow common standards in terms of data fields and indexing terms. The indexing terms derive from two thesauri, Thesaurus Ethics in the Life Sciences (TELS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Combining elements from search tools developed previously, the developers sought to find a technical solution optimized for this data model. An approach relying on a thesaurus database that is loaded along with the bibliographic database is described. Results and conclusions:, The present case study offers examples of possible approaches to several tasks often encountered in database development, such as: merging data from diverse sources, getting the most out of indexing terms used in a database, and handling more than one thesaurus in the same system. [source] A theory of tie-set graph and its application to information network managementINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 4 2001Norihiko Shinomiya Abstract This paper presents a new circuit theoretical concept based on the principal partition theorem for distributed network management focusing on loops of an information network. To realize a simple network management with the minimum number of local agents, namely the topological degrees of freedom of a graph, a reduced loop agent graph generated by contracting the minimal principal minor is proposed. To investigate the optimal distribution of the loop agents, a theory of tie-set graph is proposed. Considering the total processing load of loop agents, a complexity of a tie-set graph is introduced to obtain the simplest tie-set graph with the minimum complexity. As for the simplest tie-set graph search, an experimental result shows that the computational time depends heavily on the nullity of the original graph. Therefore, a tie-set graph with the smallest nullity is essential for network management. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Rising African cassava production, diseases due to high cyanide intake and control measuresJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 12 2008Dulce Nhassico Abstract Cassava is the staple food of tropical Africa and its production, averaged over 24 countries, has increased more than threefold from 1980 to 2005, and the population has more than doubled over that time compared with a 1.5 times increase worldwide. Agriculturally, cassava performs very well but the roots and leaves contain cyanogenic glucosides that are dangerous to human health. These cyanogens sometimes produce acute intoxication leading to death, they exacerbate goitre and cretinism in iodine-deficient regions, cause konzo and are implicated in the occurrence of tropical ataxic neuropathy and stunting of children. Konzo is an irreversible paralysis of the legs with many thousands of cases, mainly amongst children, in Mozambique, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic and probably other tropical African countries. Attempts to alleviate cassava cyanide toxicity have included the development of an information network and distribution in developing countries of picrate kits, which measure total cyanide in cassava and urinary thiocyanate. A simple wetting method that reduces total cyanide in cassava flour three- to sixfold has been successfully field tested and is being introduced in Mozambique. Transgenic technology shows promise in increasing the rate of loss of cyanide from roots during processing. World health and agricultural bodies should pay more attention to emerging health problems associated with toxicity of cyanogens in cassava. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Mechanical innovation in the industrial revolution: the case of plough designECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 3 2003Liam Brunt Variations in levels of embodied technology generated variations in English plough prices in 1770. Using plough prices as a quality index, this article explains size and daily output of plough teams. It shows that variations in plough technology were due to technological change,not static optimization,and village plough technology was influenced by neighbouring villages. But technological advance was not constrained on the demand size: farmers purchased the best ploughs available. Rather, local supply of technology was the limiting factor. Technological change, urbanization, and information networks are rejected as explanations of local supply of technology. The key factor was market density. [source] Innovation and Innovators Inside Government: From Institutions to NetworksGOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2007MARK CONSIDINE Innovation and innovators inhabit an institutional space, which is partially defined by formal positions and partially by informal networks. This article investigates the role of politicians and bureaucrats in fostering innovation inside government and provides an empirical explanation of who the innovators are, whether this is mostly an attribute of position or role, or mostly an effect of certain forms of networking. The study uses original data collected from 11 municipal governments in Australia in order to define and describe the normative underpinnings of innovation inside government and to show the importance of advice and strategic information networks among politicians and senior bureaucrats (n = 947). Social network analysis is combined with conventional statistical analysis in order to demonstrate the comparative importance of networks in explaining who innovates. [source] The Revenge of Distance: Vulnerability Analysis of Critical Information InfrastructureJOURNAL OF CONTINGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2004Sean P. Gorman The events of 11 September 2001 brought an increased focus on security in the United States and specifically the protection of critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure encompasses a wide array of physical assets such as the electric power grid, telecommunications, oil and gas pipelines, transportation networks and computer data networks. This paper will focus on computer data networks and the spatial implications of their susceptibility to targeted attacks. Utilising a database of national data carriers, simulations will be run to determine the repercussions of targeted attacks and what the relative merits of different methods of identifying critical nodes are. This analysis will include comparison of current methods employed in vulnerability analysis with spatially constructed methods incorporating regional and distance variables. In addition to vulnerability analysis a method will be proposed to analyse the fusion of physical and logical networks, and will discuss what new avenues this approach reveals. The analysis concludes that spatial information networks are vulnerable to targeted attacks and algorithms based on distance metrics do a better job of identifying critical nodes than classic accessibility indexes. The results of the analysis are placed in the context of public policy posing the question do private infrastructure owners have sufficient incentives to remedy vulnerabilities in critical networks. [source] Technological Scanning by Small Canadian ManufacturersJOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2001Louis Raymond Given that in many industries new production and information technologies have fundamentally changed the way in which firms must operate and compete, the technological aspect of environmental scanning has become a critical success factor for many small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. As little is presently known about how technological scanning manifests itself in these organizations and about what determines the nature and level of this activity, a survey study of 324 Canadian firms was done. Testing a research model resulted in identifying four interrelated dimensions of scanning activity, namely scanning objectives, type of information, information sources, and management practices. Key determinants of this activity were also identified, including the firms' strategy, environmental uncertainty, production technology, level of R&D, information networks, and the owner-manager's education level. [source] ICT-mediated diaspora studies: New directions in immigrant information behavior researchPROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2008Ajit Pyati Organizer/Convener A growing and sizeable area of study within information behavior research focuses on the information needs and behaviors of immigrant populations (see Chu, 1999; Fisher, Durrance & Hinton, 2004; Caidi & Allard 2005; Srinivasan & Pyati, 2007). Some of the unique needs of these populations include information to aid with coping skills and social inclusion, as well as culturally specific information resources. Moreover, immigrant communities have information networks that span national boundaries, which affects their needs and uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This panel will focus on the role of ICTs in mediating the information environments of immigrant and diasporic communities. While focusing on how ICTs mediate immigrant information needs, this panel also contextualizes immigrant information behavior research within globalization and diaspora studies. For instance, the concept of "e-diaspora" is a term gaining in popularity, but rarely invoked in relation to immigrant information behavior research. How do new media technologies mediate and influence the information needs and behaviors of immigrant populations? Are localized immigrant information needs mediated by diasporic information sources? The panelists will focus on ICT-mediated services for immigrant populations within the context of both local and global information environments. Questions addressed include: In what ways do diasporic information environments shape local immigrant information needs and their social inclusion into the host society? How does the "digital divide" manifest itself in studies of ICT-mediated immigrant information behavior? The issues addressed by the panel are both timely and critical as evidenced by the ongoing debates in Europe, North America and elsewhere on immigration policy, on integration and identity, and the role of ICTs in a globalized world. This international perspective will be reflected in the composition of the panel. [source] Modelling the adoption of organic horticultural technology in the UK using Duration AnalysisAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL & RESOURCE ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2003Michael Burton Duration Analysis, which allows the timing of an event to be explored in a dynamic framework, is used to model the adoption of organic horticultural technology in the UK. The influence of a range of economic and non-economic determinants is explored using discrete time models. The empirical results highlight the importance of gender, attitudes to the environment and information networks, as well as systematic effects that influence the adoption decision over the lifetime of the producer and over the survey period. [source] Scale-free networks in biology: new insights into the fundamentals of evolution?,BIOESSAYS, Issue 2 2002Yuri I. Wolf Scale-free network models describe many natural and social phenomena. In particular, networks of interacting components of a living cell were shown to possess scale-free properties. A recent study(1) compares the system-level properties of metabolic and information networks in 43 archaeal, bacterial and eukaryal species and claims that the scale-free organization of these networks is more conserved during evolution than their content. BioEssays 24:105,109, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 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