Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Macro
Terms modified by Macro Selected AbstractsMICRO EMPIRICAL RESULTS OF A KALECKIAN-TYPE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION MODEL COMPARED WITH MACRO RESULTS FOR SOME EUROPEAN ECONOMIESMETROECONOMICA, Issue 2 2008James P. Gander ABSTRACT A micro economic model of the rate of capital accumulation that corresponds to a macro Kaleckian-type post-Keynesian investment function is hypothesized. Firm-level accounting data on industrial and commercial firms over the time period 1994,2000 for three European economies and the USA are used to test the consistency of the micro model with the macro model of Hein and Ochsen (2003, Metroeconomica, 54, pp. 404,33). The micro empirical results were very consistent with the macro results, suggesting a strong micro foundation to the macro investment function. In addition country differences and industry differences were included in the analysis. [source] Sensitivity analyses for four pesticide leaching modelsPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 9 2003Igor G Dubus Abstract Sensitivity analyses using a one-at-a-time approach were carried out for leaching models which have been widely used for pesticide registration in Europe (PELMO, PRZM, PESTLA and MACRO). Four scenarios were considered for simulation of the leaching of two theoretical pesticides in a sandy loam and a clay loam soil, each with a broad distribution across Europe. Input parameters were varied within bounds reflecting their uncertainty and the influence of these variations on model predictions was investigated for accumulated percolation at 1-m depth and pesticide loading in leachate. Predictions for the base-case scenarios differed between chromatographic models and the preferential flow model MACRO for which large but transient pesticide losses were predicted in the clay loam. Volumes of percolated water predicted by the four models were affected by a small number of input parameters and to a small extent only, suggesting that meteorological variables will be the main drivers of water balance predictions. In contrast to percolation, predictions for pesticide loss were found to be sensitive to a large number of input parameters and to a much greater extent. Parameters which had the largest influence on the prediction of pesticide loss were generally those related to chemical sorption (Freundlich exponent nf and distribution coefficient Kf) and degradation (either degradation rates or DT50, QTEN value). Nevertheless, a significant influence of soil properties (field capacity, bulk density or parameters defining the boundary between flow domains in MACRO) was also noted in at least one scenario for all models. Large sensitivities were reported for all models, especially PELMO and PRZM, and sensitivity was greater where only limited leaching was simulated. Uncertainty should be addressed in risk assessment procedures for crop-protection products. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Macro,micro analysis method for wave propagation in stochastic mediaEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4 2006T. Ichimura Abstract This paper presents a new analysis method, called macro,micro analysis method (MMAM) for numerical simulation of wave propagation in stochastic media, which could be used to predict distribution of earthquake strong motion with high accuracy and spatial resolution. This MMAM takes advantage of the bounding medium theory (BMT) and the singular perturbation expansion (SPE). BMT can resolve uncertainty of soil and crust structures by obtaining optimistic and pessimistic estimates of expected strong motion distribution. SPE leads to efficient multi-scale analysis for reducing a huge amount of computation. The MMAM solution is given as the sum of waves of low resolution covering a whole city and waves of high resolution for each city portion. This paper presents BMT and SPE along with the formulation of MMAM for wave propagation in three-dimensional elastic media. Application examples are presented to verify the validity of the MMAM and demonstrate potential usefulness of this approach. In a companion paper (Earthquake Engng. Struct. Dyn., this issue) application examples of earthquake strong motion prediction are also presented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Polythiacrown Macro- and Gigantocycles with Chiral Diacetal CoresEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2007Sarah Abramson Abstract We present a unique class of polythiacrown macro- and gigantocyclic[9] systems, consisting of ethylene 1,2-dithioglycol (ETG) to poly(ethylene thioglycol) (ETGn) bridges over one to six diacetal units of the cis -1,3,5,7-tetraoxadecalin (TOD) type. The latter is a dissymmetric, chiral moiety, incorporating a cavity with built-in high electron lone pair concentration, serving as the "core" of chiral macrocyclic host systems with good inclusion ability of ions and polar molecules. We describe two approaches: (i) the reactions of the 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)- cis -TOD podand (6) with ETG or higher ETGns (12n), in Cs2CO3 promoted processes, leading to the innate but uncontrolled formation of polythiacrown-TOD macrocycles having ETG/TOD ratios of 1:1 (7), 2:2 (8) and further 3:3,6:6 (111/m)10 macrocycles via open dithiol intermediates, and (ii) judicious preparation, using K2CO3, of oligomeric dibromide intermediates with ETGn:TOD ratios 1:2, 2:3 or 3:4 (14n/m), which led (with further ETGn) in a controlled way to the 2:2 (8n), or 3:3, 4:4 and 6:6 (11n/m) macro- and gigantocyclic systems. Altogether, the outcome of these processes depends on the relative concentrations of the reactants. Synthesis was accompanied by detailed (NMR and MS) spectroscopy. X-ray crystallographic analysis of a number of macrocycles, complemented by (MM & MD) computation, made possible valuable structural, stereochemical and conformational analysis. While sophisticated in their stereochemical features, these systems are readily prepared in enantiopure form and hold great promise of chemical reactivity in metal ion inclusion and molecular and chiral recognition.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007) [source] Seed morphology of some species of Convolvulaceae from Egypt (Identification of species and systematic significance)FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 1-2 2007K. Abdel Khalik Seed morphology of 31 taxa belong to six genera of Convolvulaceae from Egypt were examined by using light and scanning electron microscopy. Macro- and micromorphological characters, including seed shape, colour, size, surface, epidermal cell shape, anticlinal boundaries, outer periclinal cell wall and relief of outer cell walls, are presented. Three types of basic anticlinal cell wall boundaries and three types of relief outer cell walls are recognized and four different shapes of the outer periclinal cell wall are described. A key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on seed characters is provided. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Morphologie der Samen einiger Arten der Convolvulaceae aus Ägypten (Bestimmung von Arten und systematische Bedeutung) Unter Anwendung von Licht- und Elektronenmikroskopie wurde die Morphologie der Samen von 31 Arten aus sechs Gattungen der Convolvulaceae untersucht. Berücksichtigt wurden die makro- und mikromorphologischen Merkmale der Samen umfassend äußere Form, Farbe, Größe, Oberfläche, Form der Epidermiszellen, antiklinale und periklinale Zellwände und Relief der äußeren Zellwände. Drei Typen basaler antiklinaler Zellwände und drei Typen des Reliefs der äußeren Zellwände wurden nachgewiesen; ferner werden vier Formen der äußeren periklinalen Zellwände beschrieben. Ein Schlüssel zur Bestimmung der untersuchten Taxa auf der Basis der Merkmale der Samen wird vorgelegt. [source] Seed morphology of Cuscuta L. (Convolvulaceae) in Egypt and its systematic significanceFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 3-4 2006K. N. Abdel Khalik The seed morphology of eight taxa of Cuscuta from Egypt has been studied using light and scanning electron microscopy, to determine the significance of seed coat features as taxonomic characters. Macro- and micromorphological characters, including seed shape, colour, size, epidermal cell shape, anticlinal boundaries, outer periclinal cell wall and relief of outer cell walls are presented. Three types of anticlinal cell wall boundaries are recognized and two different shapes of outer periclinal cell wall are described. The secondary sculpture of the cell wall varies from striate to micro-reticulate, and smooth to fine folds. A key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on seed characters is provided. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Samenmorphologie von Cuscuta L. (Convolvulaceae) in Ägypten und ihre systematische Bedeutung Die Morphologie des Samens von acht ägyptischen Cuscuta -Taxa wurde mittels Licht- und Elektronenmikroskopie untersucht, um die Bedeutung der Merkmale der Samenschale für die Taxonomie zu ermitteln. Makro- und mikromorphologische Merkmale einschließlich Samengestalt, Farbe, Größe, Form der Epidermiszellen, antiklinale Zellwände, äußere Periklinal-Zellwände und Relief der äußeren Zellwände umfassend, wurden untersucht. Drei Typen antiklinaler Zellwand-Umrisse und zwei unterschiedliche Formen der äußeren Periklinal-Zellwände werden beschrieben. Die sekundäre Skulptur der Zellwände variiert von striat bis mikro-reticulat, und von glatt zu leicht gefaltet. Ein Bestimmungsschlüssel basierend auf den Samenmerkmalen der untersuchten Sippen wird vorgelegt. [source] Macro- and Micro-Purge Soil-Gas Sampling Methods for the Collection of Contaminant VaporsGROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 1 2009Brian A. Schumacher Purging influence on soil-gas concentrations for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as affected by sampling tube inner diameter and sampling depth (i.e., system volume) for temporary probes in fine-grained soils, was evaluated at three different field sites. A macro-purge sampling system consisted of a standard, hollow, 3.2-cm outer diameter (OD) drive probe with a retractable sampling point attached to an appropriate length of 0.48-cm inner diameter (ID) Teflon® tubing. The macro-purge sampling system had a purge system volume of 24.5 mL at a 1-m depth. In contrast, the micro-purge sampling systems were slightly different between the field sites and consisted of a 1.27-cm OD drive rod with a 0.10-cm ID stainless steel tube or a 3.2-cm OD drive rod with a 0.0254-cm inner diameter stainless steel tubing resulting in purge system volumes of 1.2 and 7.05 mL at 1-m depths, respectively. At each site and location within the site, with a few exceptions, the same contaminants were identified in the same relative order of abundances indicating the sampling of the same general soil atmosphere. However, marked differences in VOC concentrations were identified between the sampling systems, with micro-purge samples having up to 27 times greater concentrations than their corresponding macro-purge samples. The higher concentrations are the result of a minimal disturbance of the ambient soil atmosphere during purging. The minimal soil-gas atmospheric disturbance of the micro-purge sampling system allowed for the collection of a sample that is more representative of the soil atmosphere surrounding the sampling point. That is, a sample that does not contain an atmosphere that has migrated from distance through the geologic material or from the surface in response to the vacuum induced during purging soil-gas concentrations. It is thus recommended that when soil-gas sampling is conducted using temporary probes in fine-grained soils, the sampling system use the smallest practical ID soil-gas tubing and minimize purge volume to obtain the soil-gas sample with minimal risk of leakage so that proper decisions, based on more representative soil-gas concentrations, about the site can be made. [source] Glia cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: New clues to understanding an old disease?MUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 6 2007Clemens Neusch MD Abstract In classic neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the pathogenic concept of a cell-autonomous disease of motor neurons has been challenged increasingly in recent years. Macro- and microglial cells have come to the forefront for their role in multistep degenerative processes in ALS and respective disease models. The activation of astroglial and microglial cells occurs early in the pathogenesis of the disease and seems to greatly influence disease onset and promotion. The role of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells remains elusive. In this review we highlight the impact of nonneuronal cells in ALS pathology. We discuss diverse glial membrane proteins that are necessary to control neuronal activity and neuronal cell survival, and summarize the contribution of these proteins to motor neuron death in ALS. We also describe recently discovered glial mechanisms that promote motor neuron degeneration using state-of-the-art genetic mouse technology. Finally, we provide an outlook on the extent to which these new pathomechanistic insights may offer novel therapeutic approaches. Muscle Nerve, 2007 [source] Regionalising results from a detailed CGE model: Macro, industry and state effects in the U.S. of removing major tariffs and quotas,PAPERS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007Peter B. Dixon Regionalising CGE; state modelling; tariffs and quotas; U.S. trade; explaining CGE results Abstract., We describe a tops-down method for regionalising results from a detailed national CGE model. Using a 500-industry U.S. model, we generate macro and industry effects of removing major U.S. import restraints and translate these effects into employment results for U.S. states. Our results indicate that for most industries, the output change would be negligible but for sugar, butter and several textile industries output contractions would be large. The state employment changes are all between ,0.5 and 0.2 percent. We explain the results by elementary mechanisms in a way that does not require prior knowledge of the underlying CGE model. [source] Morphological characterization of the interaction between Diplocarpon rosae and various rose speciesPLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2005O. Blechert Blackspot, caused by Diplocarpon rosae, is the most severe and ubiquitous disease of garden roses, but information is lacking about genotype-specific forms of resistance and susceptibility of the host. Macro- and microscopic analyses of 34 rose genotypes with a defined monoconidial culture black spot inoculum identified susceptible and resistant rose genotypes and further genotype-specific subdivisions, indicating the presence of partial forms of resistance and different resistance mechanisms. In total, eight interaction types were characterized, five representing compatible (types 1,5) and three representing incompatible interactions (types 6,8). The incompatible interactions were characterized by the lack of any visible fungal structures beneath the cuticle (type 8), single-cell necroses (type 7) or necroses of larger cell clusters (type 6), the latter two types with penetration hyphae and haustoria in epidermal cells. [source] Integrative Model of Caregiving: How Macro and Micro Factors Affect Caregivers of Adults With Severe and Persistent Mental IllnessAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2005Winnie W. S. Mak PhD The study tested an integrative model of caregiving by examining the effects of sociocultural characteristics, interpersonal relations, mental health service structure, consumers' symptoms, objective burden, and evaluation of service systems on the subjective experiences of caregivers. The sample consisted of 428 caregivers of adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that ethnicity was the most significant sociocultural factor on caregivers' worry, personal growth, and benefits. Caregivers enrolled in managed care plans worried more about their consumers' welfare and felt less gratified by their experiences than their counterparts from fee-for-service plans. Implications to and partnerships among caregivers and mental health service systems were discussed. [source] Macro and Micro Goal Setting: In Search of CoherenceAPPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Marco De Haas In this article we discuss macro and micro goal setting approaches, focusing on the relations between goals at different organisational levels. Translating strategic goals in a top-down manner throughout the organisation is a rather complex process. In organisations, at least one intermediate level between macro (i.e. strategic) and micro (i.e. operational) goals can be distinguished: the level of meso (i.e. tactical) goal setting. The process of a strategic dialogue is introduced to arrive at organisational goal coherence, which is defined as consensus on goal priorities within single constituencies and between multiple constituencies at different organisational levels. This process is illustrated in a case study, in which the CATPCA method has been applied to empirically operationalise degrees of consensus. Effects of the strategic dialogue on organisational goal coherence are demonstrated. Dans cet article sont discute´s les approches de la fixation d' objectifs macro et micro et privile`gie´s les relations entre ces objectifs, aux diffe´rents niveaux de l'organisation. Traduire les objectifs strate´giques de haut en bas de l'organisation est un processus assez complexe. On peut distinguer au moins un niveau interme´diaire entre les objectifs macros (c'est a` dire strate´giques) et micro (c'est a` dire ope´rationnels): le niveau des objectifs meso (c'est a` dire tactiques). On pre´sente le processus d'une concertation strate´gique pour parvenir a` une cohe´rence des objectifs organisationnels. Ce processus est illustre´ par une e´tude de cas. La me´thode ,CATPCA' y a e´te´ applique´e pour rendre ope´rationnels les degre´s de consensus. On a ainsi de´montre´ les effets d'un dialogue strate´gique sur la cohe´rence des objectifs organisationnels. [source] Phytochemical intake and relationship to past health history in Japanese womenBIOFACTORS, Issue 1-4 2004Melissa K. Melby Abstract We calculated functional food factor (FFF) intakes using a new database and examined their relationship to health conditions commonly affecting Japanese women in midlife. One-day DRs were collected weekly for 6 months from 67 Japanese women, aged 45,55 yr, living in Kyoto prefecture, Japan. Macro- and micronutrient and FFF intake were calculated from the resulting 1528 DRs. Factor analysis and logistic regression were performed to identify relationships between FFFs and past health history. Fourteen of 17 FFF factors, as well as age, BMI and menopausal status, exhibited both positive and negative correlations with past history of hypertension, diabetes, allergy, migraine, and menopausal syndrome. [source] Thrombectomy during PCI for acute myocardial infarctionCATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 7 2008Are the randomized controlled trial data relevant to the patients who really need this technique? Abstract Macro and microembolization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEAMI) is frequent and may result in obstruction of the microvascular network with subsequent reduction in efficacy of reperfusion. Numerous mechanistic studies have shown that the presence and size of the culprit thrombus is the most powerful predictor of incidence of embolization and slow flow/no reflow. Techniques that have been used to reduce the incidence of these events include thrombectomy devices and embolic protection devices. Although numerous prospective randomized clinical trials have been performed to evaluate the role of thrombectomy devices in patients with STEAMI, the results of these trials are conflicting and they speak to both sides of the controversy. The Achilles heal of the majority of these trials is the premise that thrombectomy devices should be routinely used in all patients presenting with STEAMI even irrespective of the presence and size of the thrombus. Such a hypothesis is naively optimistic and it ignores the basic knowledge available to us regarding the relationship between thrombus burden and embolization. Nonetheless, clinicians are faced every day with the reality of making difficult decisions on how to best treat patients presenting with STEAMI and large thrombus burden. The current available "evidence-based medicine" cannot and should not be generalized to these patients because only a minority of these patients was included in these randomized clinical trials. In these patients, thrombectomy devices should be strongly considered as an integral part of the armamentarium available to reduce thrombus burden prior to definitive treatment. Whether a future clinical trial will provide a definitive answer in terms of clinical outcome difference is doubtful because such a trial will need to include large number of selected patients with STEAMI who both have large amount of myocardium at jeopardy and large thrombus burden, a difficult and possibly undoable study. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Cross-talk between macro- and microcirculationACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010M. E. Safar Abstract Physiologically, macro- and microcirculation differ markedly as macrocirculation deals with pulsatile pressure and flow and microcirculation with steady pressure and flow. Various such haemodynamic aspects correspond to a large heterogeneity in the structure and function of the vascular tree. In the past, diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus were classified on the basis of the structure and function of small and large arteries. The purpose of this paper is to review the cross-talk between the micro- and macrocirculation. We shall discuss this cross-talk from the perspective of the development, physiology and pathology of the entire arterial tree. [source] DISPUTES INVOLVING YOUTH STREET GANG MEMBERS: MICRO-SOCIAL CONTEXTS,CRIMINOLOGY, Issue 1 2005LORINE A. HUGHES This paper examines microsocial contexts of violent and nonviolent dispute-related incidents involving gang members. Data consist of reports of field observations of twelve black and eight white youth street gangs in Chicago between 1959 and 1962. Dispute-related incidents (N = 2,637) were classified according to three primary pretexts: normative or order violations, identity attacks and retaliation. Findings show that disputes associated with each of these generally unfolded consistently with expectations based on the extent to which status concerns were likely to be outweighed by such situational constraints as a close relationship between disputants and audience intervention. We suggest that understanding violence in the gang context will be enhanced greatly by further consideration of the microsocial level of explanation and linkages to its macro- and individual-level counterparts. [source] Health Care Supply Chain Design: Toward Linking the Development and Delivery of Care Globally,DECISION SCIENCES, Issue 2 2009Kingshuk K. Sinha ABSTRACT This article is motivated by the gap between the growing demand and available supply of high-quality, cost-effective, and timely health care, a problem faced not only by developing and underdeveloped countries but also by developed countries. The significance of this problem is heightened when the economy is in recession. In an attempt to address the problem, in this article, first, we conceptualize care as a bundle of goods, services, and experiences,including diet and exercise, drugs, devices, invasive procedures, new biologics, travel and lodging, and payment and reimbursement. We then adopt a macro, end-to-end, supply chain,centric view of the health care sector to link the development of care with the delivery of care. This macro, supply chain,centric view sheds light on the interdependencies between key industries from the upstream to the downstream of the health care supply chain. We propose a framework, the 3A-framework, that is founded on three constructs,affordability, access, and awareness,to inform the design of supply chain for the health care sector. We present an illustrative example of the framework toward designing the supply chain for implantable device,based care for cardiovascular diseases in developing countries. Specifically, the framework provides a lens for identifying an integrated system of continuous improvement and innovation initiatives relevant to bridging the gap between the demand and supply for high-quality, cost-effective, and timely care. Finally, we delineate directions of future research that are anchored in and follow from the developments documented in the article. [source] Addressing insulin resistance in Type 1 diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 9 2008T. T. L. Pang Abstract Type 1 diabetes is recognised to include an element of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is an independent risk factor for the development of macro- and microvascular complications of Type 1 diabetes and may also contribute to the development of the disease. This understanding comes at a time when the incidence of Type 1 diabetes appears to be rising and the public health burden from its vascular complications is high. A variety of safe and efficacious manoeuvres are available to redress insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes. So far however, clinical trials addressing insulin resistance in Type 1 diabetes have been small with only short periods of follow-up. Regardless, these trials have yielded promising results. This review examines the evidence for insulin resistance in the pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes and its complications, the problems associated with its measurement, and summarizes the trials aimed at reducing insulin resistance in Type 1 diabetes. This includes a meta-analysis of controlled trials of adjuvant metformin in Type 1 diabetes. [source] The influence of exercise on foot perfusion in diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 10 2007D. T. Williams Abstract Aims, Diabetic foot disease is associated with both macro- and microvascular disease. Exercise has both positive and negative effects on the perfusion of lower limbs with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). We aimed to measure changes in foot perfusion following a brief period of lower-limb exercise in individuals with and without Type 2 diabetes and non-critical PAOD. Methods, Subjects were allocated to groups according to the presence or absence of diabetes, PAOD on colour duplex imaging and clinically detectable peripheral neuropaÍthy. Transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2), transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (TcPCO2), ankle-brachial pressure indices, toe pressures and toe-brachial pressure indices (TBI) were measured. Results, One hundred and sixteen limbs were studied in 61 subjects. Post-exercise, toe pressure and TBI increased in the non-diabetic group with arterial disease, but not in the groups with diabetes. Foot TcPO2 values increased in groups with diabetes and TcPCO2 decreased in all groups with arterial disease. Increased chest TcPO2 and decreased TcPCO2 were demonstrated in the groups with diabetes. Conclusions, Elevations in foot TcPO2 and reductions in TcPCO2 indicate improved cutaneous perfusion response to local heating post-exercise. Elevated toe pressures in the non-diabetes group suggest that improved perfusion may be associated with enhanced lower limb macrovascular haemodynamics. However, improvements in TcPO2 and TcPCO2 at foot and chest sites in diabetes imply a global change in cutaneous perfusion. The results suggest that brief exercise results in an improvement in cutaneous perfusion in non-critical PAOD, particularly in individuals with diabetes. [source] Experimental esophageal carcinogenesis: technical standardization and resultsDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 4 2002J. A. Sallet SUMMARY., The aim of this research was to determine the occurrence of epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in Wistar rats. DEN was administered (250,300 g) in drinking water (10 mg/kg body weight) to four groups of rats for 72 h/week, for a duration of 90, 120, 150, or 200 days (groups T90, T120, T150, and T200). Ten animals whose drinking water did not contain DEN constituted the control group. All rats were sacrificed and their esophaguses studied macro- and microscopically. The control group did not exhibit either carcinomas or preneoplasic lesions. The T120 and T200 groups presented, respectively, 47 and 58 in situ carcinomas; 1 and 20 submucosal carcinomas (P < 0.05); 4 and 17 microinvasive carcinomas (P < 0.05); 4 and 11 advanced carcinomas (P < 0.05); and 1 and 1 cases of benign hyperplasia. Pulmonary and liver carcinomas were also found in the T200 group. The majority of advanced macroscopic lesions in the T200 group were polypoid, exophytic, and not microscopically invasive in the esophageal wall. This research confirms the effectiveness of the DEN in bringing about carcinogenesis in the Wistar rat esophagus and also shows that the lesions are dosage dependent. [source] Macro,micro analysis method for wave propagation in stochastic mediaEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4 2006T. Ichimura Abstract This paper presents a new analysis method, called macro,micro analysis method (MMAM) for numerical simulation of wave propagation in stochastic media, which could be used to predict distribution of earthquake strong motion with high accuracy and spatial resolution. This MMAM takes advantage of the bounding medium theory (BMT) and the singular perturbation expansion (SPE). BMT can resolve uncertainty of soil and crust structures by obtaining optimistic and pessimistic estimates of expected strong motion distribution. SPE leads to efficient multi-scale analysis for reducing a huge amount of computation. The MMAM solution is given as the sum of waves of low resolution covering a whole city and waves of high resolution for each city portion. This paper presents BMT and SPE along with the formulation of MMAM for wave propagation in three-dimensional elastic media. Application examples are presented to verify the validity of the MMAM and demonstrate potential usefulness of this approach. In a companion paper (Earthquake Engng. Struct. Dyn., this issue) application examples of earthquake strong motion prediction are also presented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of plant diversity, plant productivity and habitat parameters on arthropod abundance in montane European grasslandsECOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2005Jörg Perner Arthropod abundance has been hypothesized to be correlated with plant diversity but the results of previous studies have been equivocal. In contrast, plant productivity, vegetation structure, abiotic site conditions, and the physical disturbance of habitats, are factors that interact with plant diversity, and that have been shown to influence arthropod abundance. We studied the combined effect of plant species diversity, productivity and site characteristics on arthropod abundance in 71 managed grasslands in central Germany using multivariate statistics. For each site we determined plant species cover, plant community biomass (productivity), macro- and micronutrients in the soil, and characterized the location of sites with respect to orographic parameters as well as the current and historic management regimes. Arthropods were sampled using a suction sampler and classified a priori into functional groups (FGs). We found that arthropod abundance was not correlated with plant species richness, effective diversity or Camargo's evenness, even when influences of environmental variables were taken into account. In contrast, plant community composition was highly correlated with arthropod abundances. Plant community productivity influenced arthropod abundance but explained only a small proportion of the variance. The abundances of the different arthropod FGs were influenced differentially by agricultural management, soil characteristics, vegetation structure and by interactions between different FGs of arthropods. Herbivores, carnivores and detritivores reacted differently to variation in environmental variables in a manner consistent with their feeding mode. Our results show that in natural grassland systems arthropod abundance is not a simple function of plant species richness, and they emphasize the important role of plant community composition for the abundance patterns of the arthropod assemblages. [source] Effects of lactate and acetate on the determination of serum ethyl glucuronide by CZEELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 23 2006Michaela Mrázková Abstract The analysis of ethyl glucuronide,(EtG), a marker of recent alcohol consumption, in serum with an optimized CZE assay is reported. The method uses a 0.1-mm,id fused-silica capillary of 50,cm effective length that is coated with linear polyacrylamide, a pH,4.4 nicotinic acid/,-aminocaproic acid (EACA) BGE, reversed polarity and indirect analyte detection. The assay is based on a 1:1 dilution of serum with deionized water and has LODs for EtG, lactate and acetate of 3.8×10,7,M, 2.60×10,6,M and 2.18×10,6,M, respectively. Separation of EtG from endogenous macro- and microcomponents (anionic serum components of high and low concentration, respectively) and its quantification are shown to be possible for a wide range of lactate (stacker) and acetate (destacker) concentrations, macrocomponents that have an impact on the CZE behavior of EtG and that change after intake of ethanol. The assay has been successfully applied to the analysis of EtG, lactate and acetate in (i),sera of volunteers that ingested known amounts of alcohol and (ii),samples of patients that were classified (teetotalers and social drinkers vs. alcohol abusers) via analysis of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin. [source] Improving the Evaluation of Rural Development Policy Pour une meilleure évaluation de la politique de développement rural Die Evaluation der Politik zur Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums verbessernEUROCHOICES, Issue 1 2010David Blandford Summary Improving the Evaluation of Rural Development Policy A previous EuroChoices (Vol. 7, No. 1) compared and contrasted approaches to rural development policy in the EU and US. This Special Issue focuses on the evaluation of these policies, drawing on a workshop held in June 2009 at OECD Conference Center in Paris. Evaluation is an activity that runs parallel with policymaking and is capable of contributing to effectiveness and efficiency at all stages. Evaluators, wherever they work and whatever aspect of rural development is their focus, face some common technical problems. These include multiple (and often ill-defined) policy objectives, the choice of appropriate indicators (especially the need to distinguish between outputs and outcomes), how to establish baseline values, where to draw boundaries in terms of impact and time, and the identification of additionality and causality. Ensuring that lessons learned from evaluation are actually applied is problematic. Experiences covered in this Issue include the use of macro and case-study approaches, and various schemes (investment in human and social capital, and agri-environment and forestry). There is an inherent tension between using a common approach across countries and regions in the interests of comparability and the flexibility needed to capture all the relevant factors in the diverse situations in which rural development actions take place. Un précédent numéro de EuroChoices (Vol. 7, No. 1) comparait et mettait en regard les approches de l'Union européenne et des États-Unis en terme de politique de développement rural. Ce numéro spécial est consacréà l'évaluation de la politique et tire parti d'un atelier qui s'est tenu en juin 2009 au Centre de Conférences de l'OCDE à Paris. L'évaluation va de pair avec l'élaboration des politiques et peut contribuer à améliorer l'efficacité et l'efficience à tous les stades. Quels que soient leur affiliation et l'aspect du développement rural sur lequel ils se concentrent, les évaluateurs sont confrontés à certains problèmes techniques communs. Il s'agit des objectifs multiples (et souvent mal définis) de la politique, du choix d'indicateurs pertinents (en particulier la nécessité de faire la différence entre produit et résultat), de la manière d'établir des valeurs de référence, de la fixation de limites en terme d'incidence et de durée, et de l'identification des effets additifs et de la causalité. Il est difficile de s'assurer que les leçons tirées des évaluations sont effectivement retenues. Les expériences rapportées dans ce numéro comprennent des approches macroéconomiques ou fondées sur des études de cas, et couvrent différents programmes (investissements dans le capital social et humain, mesures agroenvironnementales, mesures forestières). Il existe une tension évidente entre l'utilisation d'une approche commune entre chaque pays et région, qui vise la comparabilité, et la flexibilité qui permet de prendre en compte l'ensemble des différents facteurs des situations variées dans lesquelles les mesures de développement rural sont appliquées. In einer vorherigen Ausgabe von EuroChoices (7:1) wurden Herangehensweisen an die Politik zur Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums in der EU und in den USA verglichen und diskutiert. Diese Sonderausgabe beschäftigt sich auf der Grundlage eines Workshops, der im Juni 2009 am OECD-Hauptsitz in Paris abgehalten wurde, mit Politikevaluation. Die Evaluation erfolgt parallel zur Politikgestaltung und kann in jeder Phase zur Steigerung von Wirksamkeit und Effizienz beitragen. Evaluatoren stehen einigen allgemeinen technischen Problemen gegenüber , ganz gleich, wo sie arbeiten und welchen Aspekten ländlicher Entwicklung sie sich widmen. Dazu zählen multiple (und oftmals unzureichend definierte) politische Ziele; die Auswahl von geeigneten Indikatoren (hier muss insbesondere zwischen Endprodukten und Ergebnissen unterschieden werden); die Frage, wie Ausgangswerte festzulegen und wo Grenzen im Hinblick auf Auswirkungen und den zeitlichen Rahmen zu setzen sind; sowie die Identifizierung von Additionalität und Kausalität. Es ist schwierig sicherzustellen, dass die Erkenntnisse aus der Evaluation auch umgesetzt werden. Die in dieser Ausgabe aufgegriffenen Erfahrungen berücksichtigen u.a. Makro- und Fallstudienansätze sowie verschiedene Maßnahmen (Investitionen in Human-/Sozialkapital sowie Agrarumwelt und Forstwirtschaft). Es besteht eine grundsätzliche Spannung zwischen einer im Interesse der Vergleichbarkeit einheitlichen länder- und regionenübergreifenden Herangehensweise und einer Flexibilität bei der Erfassung aller relevanten Faktoren in den verschiedenen Situationen, in denen ländliche Entwicklung stattfindet. [source] Nutritional supplements combined with dietary counselling diminish whole body protein catabolism in HIV-infected patientsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 1 2000Berneis Background Weight loss and protein malnutrition are frequent complications in HIV-infected patients. The effect of an oral nutritional supplement combined with nutritional counselling on whole body protein metabolism was assessed. Materials and methods HIV-infected individuals with a body mass index < 21 kg m,2 or CD4-T cells < 500 , L,1 in stable clinical condition were randomly allocated to [ 1] receive either oral nutritional supplements (containing 2510 kJ, complete macro- and micronutrients) and dietary counselling (n = 8), or [ 2] identical monitoring but no supplements or specific nutritional advice (controls, n = 7). Whole body leucine kinetics and leucine oxidation rate were determined by [1,13C]-leucine infusions and lean and fat mass were measured before and 12 weeks after intervention. Results Leucine oxidation (protein catabolism) decreased in the group receiving nutritional intervention from 0.33 ± 0.02 to 0.26 ± 0.02 ,mol kg,1 min,1 after 12 weeks (P < 0.05; P < 0.05 vs. control group) but remained unchanged in the control group. Whole body leucine flux showed a tendency to decrease in the intervention group from 1.92 ± 0.19 to 1.73 ± 0.14 ,mol kg,1 min,1 (P = 0.07) and remained unchanged in the control group (2.21 ± 0.16 and 2.27 ± 0.14 ,mol kg,1 min,1, respectively). Lean body mass determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis increased in the nutritional intervention group from 84 ± 2 to 86 ± 2 per cent (P < 0.05) and fat mass decreased from 17 ± 2 to 14 ± 2 per cent (P < 0.05) of total body weight whereas neither mass changed in the control group. Nutritional intervention had no significant effect on lymphocyte CD4 counts, on plasma TNFR 55, TNFR 75 and ILR 2 concentrations and on quality of life. Conclusions The data demonstrate an anticatabolic effect of nutritional supplements combined with dietary counselling in HIV-infected subjects. They suggest that diminished whole body protein catabolism resulted in a change of body composition (increased lean mass, decreased fat mass). [source] Synthesis and Properties of Organometallic PtII and PtIV Complexes with Acyclic Selenoether and Telluroether Ligands and Selenoether MacrocyclesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 21 2006William Levason Abstract The first series of planar dimethyl(selenoether)PtII complexes, [PtMe2L] [L = MeSe(CH2)nSeMe (n = 2 or 3), o -C6H4(CH2SeMe)2, [8]aneSe2 (1,5-diselenacyclooctane), or [16]aneSe4 (1,5,9,13-tetraselenacyclohexadecane)], have been obtained by treatment of [PtMe2(SMe2)2] with L in Et2O solution and characterised by VT 1H, 13C{1H}, 77Se{1H} and 195Pt{1H} NMR spectroscopy, electrospray MS and microanalysis. The corresponding dimethyl(telluroether)PtII complexes do not form under similar reaction conditions. The distorted octahedral [PtMe3I(L)] [L = o -C6H4(CH2SeMe)2, [8]aneSe2, [16]aneSe4 or MeC(CH2SeMe)3] form as stable complexes in good yield from reaction of PtMe3I with L in refluxing CHCl3 and have been characterised similarly. These all show bidentate selenoether coordination, with fast pyramidal inversion occurring at room temperature. The distorted octahedral coordination environment at PtIV is also confirmed from a crystal structure of [PtMe3I{o -C6H4(CH2SeMe)2}]. Rare examples of (telluroether)PtIV complexes, [PtMe3I{o -C6H4(CH2TeMe)2}] and the dinuclear [Me3Pt(,2 -I)2(,2 -MeTeCH2TeMe)PtMe3], have also been prepared and characterised similarly (and also by 125Te{1H} NMR spectroscopy). The [8]aneSe2 and [16]aneSe4 species are the first examples of alkyl PtII or PtIV complexes with (macro)cyclic selenoether coordination. Halide abstraction (TlPF6) from [PtMe3I(,2 -[16]aneSe4)] affords [PtMe3(,3 -[16]aneSe4)]PF6; a rare example of a cationic PtIV selenoether. The (diselenoether)PtII complexes undergo oxidative addition of MeI to yield the corresponding PtIV species [PtMe3I(diselenoether)]. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006) [source] Sol,Gel Derived Nanocomposites for Optical ApplicationsADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Peter W. de Oliveira This paper provides a selective description of the development of nanostructured materials and the fabrication of the devices for optical applications. Examples are interference coatings, refractive and diffractive lenses, and macro- and micro-GRIN (graded refractive index) optical elements. Hybrid materials containing nanoparticles are of particular interest for the production of optical elements because, by exploiting the intrinsic solid state properties of the nanoparticles, nanocomposites can be tailored to exhibit the desired properties. A particular advantage of wet chemical processing lies in its great flexibility for depositing functional coatings. [source] Polythiacrown Macro- and Gigantocycles with Chiral Diacetal CoresEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2007Sarah Abramson Abstract We present a unique class of polythiacrown macro- and gigantocyclic[9] systems, consisting of ethylene 1,2-dithioglycol (ETG) to poly(ethylene thioglycol) (ETGn) bridges over one to six diacetal units of the cis -1,3,5,7-tetraoxadecalin (TOD) type. The latter is a dissymmetric, chiral moiety, incorporating a cavity with built-in high electron lone pair concentration, serving as the "core" of chiral macrocyclic host systems with good inclusion ability of ions and polar molecules. We describe two approaches: (i) the reactions of the 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)- cis -TOD podand (6) with ETG or higher ETGns (12n), in Cs2CO3 promoted processes, leading to the innate but uncontrolled formation of polythiacrown-TOD macrocycles having ETG/TOD ratios of 1:1 (7), 2:2 (8) and further 3:3,6:6 (111/m)10 macrocycles via open dithiol intermediates, and (ii) judicious preparation, using K2CO3, of oligomeric dibromide intermediates with ETGn:TOD ratios 1:2, 2:3 or 3:4 (14n/m), which led (with further ETGn) in a controlled way to the 2:2 (8n), or 3:3, 4:4 and 6:6 (11n/m) macro- and gigantocyclic systems. Altogether, the outcome of these processes depends on the relative concentrations of the reactants. Synthesis was accompanied by detailed (NMR and MS) spectroscopy. X-ray crystallographic analysis of a number of macrocycles, complemented by (MM & MD) computation, made possible valuable structural, stereochemical and conformational analysis. While sophisticated in their stereochemical features, these systems are readily prepared in enantiopure form and hold great promise of chemical reactivity in metal ion inclusion and molecular and chiral recognition.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007) [source] Constitutional courts as veto players: Divorce and decrees in ItalyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2001MARY L. VOLCANSEK This article argues that constitutional courts in Western European parliamentary systems should be integrated into discussions of how public policies are changed, rather than being viewed as an external veto point. It attempts to bridge a gap between a judicial politics literature that focuses on the micro,level of individual judges' votes and comparative scholarship that operates at the macro,level. A model for viewing constitutional courts as veto players, as a third institutional actor, is proposed and is then illustrated using the cases of legalizing divorce and blocking the executive reissuing decree laws in Italy. The model considers both the indirect and direct influences that constitutional courts can exert on the policy,making process. It also facilitates understanding and explaining the role of courts, as well as legislatures and executives, in conducting the interactions and bargaining that result in policy change. [source] Fate of airborne metal pollution in soils as related to agricultural management.EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007Summary The fate of airborne metal pollutants in soils is still relatively unknown. We studied the incorporation of such airborne metal pollution in two soils under long-term permanent pasture (PP) and conventional arable land (CA). Both soils were located at an almost equal distance from a former zinc smelter complex and developed under comparable pedogenetic conditions. Profiles of total concentrations of Zn, chosen as a mobile, and Pb as a little- or non-mobile element, were examined and compared with macro- and micromorphological soil characteristics (soil colour, biological activity). The two soils showed different profiles of total Zn and Pb concentrations, with a marked decrease of concentrations of both elements under the plough layer in CA, whereas the decrease was more progressive in PP. However, the stocks of Zn and Pb for the 1-m soil profiles of CA and PP were comparable. Correlation of Zn and Pb concentration at different depths with total Fe contents and comparison with estimated data for the local geochemical background (LGCB), suggests transport of Zn from the surface to depth in CA and PP, and Pb movement in PP. In CA, 53% of Zn and 92.5% of Pb stocks derived from airborne metal pollution were located at depths < 26 cm. In PP, only 40% of Zn and 82% of Pb, derived from airborne pollution, were found in the A11 and A12 horizons (< 26 cm), the remaining 18% of the Pb stock being incorporated until 50 cm depth; one-third of total Zn stock ascribed to airborne pollution was found at depths > 50 cm. Studies of the composition of gravitational water collected in soils from the same study area suggest two mechanisms for metal movement. First, mobile metal ions (Zn2+) move in the soil solution and are intercepted by iron-clay complexes in deeper soil horizons. Second, observed only in PP, simultaneous movement of Zn and Pb is ascribed to bioturbation by earthworms. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||