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Selected AbstractsEstimation of genetic parameters of type traits in Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breedJOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 2 2002J. P. GUTIÉRREZ Ten type traits and a final score were analysed in 5868 records of the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed. Traits were grouped into two classes: (i) traits scoring skeletal and muscular development and (ii) traits scoring adjustment to the breed standard. Heritabilities were moderate to low, ranging from 0.04 to 0.26. Genetic correlations among traits were, in general, in the same direction as, but higher than, phenotypic correlations. The genetic variability shown, in general, for the analysed traits would justify the inclusion of morphological assessment in the Asturiana de los Valles beef cattle breed sire selection programme. Main characteristics of the current type classification system are criticized. The knowledge of (co)variances among type and economically important productive and reproductive traits is recommended before revision of the classification methodology. Schätzung genetischer Parameter für Exterieurmerkmale in der Asturiana de los Valles Fleischrinderrasse 5868 registrierte Asturiana de los Valles Tiere wurden bezüglich 10 Exterieurmerkmalen und eines Gesamtwertes auf der Basis einer gewichteten Berücksichtigung dieser Einzelmerkmale untersucht. Die Merkmale wurden in zwei Klassen unterteilt: (i) Merkmale, die Skelett- und Muskelentwicklung betreffen und (ii) rassespezifische Merkmale. Die Heritabilitäten lagen zwischen 0,04 und 0,26. Genetische Korrelationen zwischen den Merkmalen waren allgemein mit den phänotypischen Korrelationen gleichgerichtet, aber mit höheren Werten. Die aufgezeigte genetische Variabilität der untersuchten Merkmale würde deren Eingliederung in die morphologische Bewertung im Rahmen des Asturiana de los Valles Fleischrinder Selektionsprogrammes für Bullen rechtfertigen. Wichtige Charakteristika der gegenwärtigen Exterieurbeurteilung werden kritisiert. Es wird empfohlen erst (Ko-)varianzen zwischen Exterieur und ökonomisch wichtigen Produktions- und Reproduktionsmerkmalen zu ermitteln, bevor die Bewertungsmethodik überarbeitet wird. [source] Paddlefish Polyodon spathula juveniles food searching behaviour evoked by natural food odourJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 6 2007A. O. Kasumyan Summary Using the behavioural bioassay, food search behaviour was investigated in paddlefish Polyodon spathula juveniles (2.3, 3.0, 5.0, 15.0 and 35.0 cm TL; and 16, 23, 35, 50 and 130 days post-hatch respectively) evoked by Daphnia water extracts. Main characteristics of this behaviour were increased swimming speed, sinking to the lower water layer, short and straight trajectories in the odour cloud and opening of the mouth. These responses were seldom clearly pronounced and had a fairly short time-pattern. Biting and snapping, common in food search by many other species, were never observed. Ability to respond to food odour developed at the beginning of exogenous feeding. Olfactory sensitivity of P. spathula to natural food extract was relatively low, 10,1,10,2 g L,1, 2,3 orders of magnitude lower than in some sturgeons. It was concluded that olfaction plays a minor role in the food search behaviour of paddlefish. [source] Scheduling dispensing and counting in secondary pharmaceutical manufacturingAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2009Michele Ciavotta Abstract In this article, we describe a general methodology for operations scheduling in dispensing and counting departments of pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. The departments are modeled as a multiobjective parallel machines scheduling problem under a number of both standard and realistic constraints, such as release times, due dates and deadlines, particular sequence-dependent setup times, machine unavailabilities, and maximum campaign size. Main characteristics of the methodology are the modularity of the solution algorithms, the adaptability to different objectives and constraints to fulfill production requirements, the easiness of implementation, and the ability of incorporating human experience in the scheduling algorithms. Computational experience carried out on two case studies from a real pharmaceutical plant shows the effectiveness of this approach. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] New supported liquid membrane-capillary electrophoresis in-line arrangement for direct selective analysis of complex samplesELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 15 2006Leonor Nozal Abstract An in-line coupling of a micro-membrane extraction unit, based on supported liquid membrane, with commercially available capillary electrophoresis equipment is described. A main characteristic of this micro-membrane device, made from a simple Eppendorf tube, is that it permits the application of voltage in the acceptor solution to be applied during the extraction process. This has been shown as an alternative to enhance sensitivity, as the analytical signal achieved by applying 10,kV for 20,min was similar to that obtained without the application of voltage and with extraction time of 60,min. In addition, the design has been made permitting both in-line hydrodynamic and electrokinetic sample introduction into the electrophoretic capillary. The analytical potential of the proposed system has been demonstrated by the direct determination of nitroimidazoles from pig liver tissue. The high efficiency of the proposed system allowed the extraction and the determination of the analytes to be performed from a simple tissue homogenate obtained in water. The precision of the analysis of spiked samples, expressed in terms of relative standard deviation, was better than 4.8%. [source] SENSORY EVALUATION OF COOKED RICE IN RELATION TO WATER-TO-RICE RATIO AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIESJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 1 2007WEENA SRISAWAS ABSTRACT The effects of cooking water-to-rice (W/R) ratio on the sensory characteristics of cooked rice eating quality of 14 varieties of Thai rice were investigated in relation to their physicochemical properties. Milled rice samples were cooked with five W/R ratios ranging from 1.3 to 2.5 on a weight basis and presented to 12 trained panelists for sensory evaluation. A three-way analysis of variance and a principal component analysis identified the intensity of sensory hardness as the main characteristic of cooked rice. It decreased with increasing W/R ratio whereas sensory stickiness decreased. The overall acceptability based on appearance, texture and flavor attributes reached peak levels corresponding to optimum W/R ratios for different rice varieties, and was highly correlated with sensory hardness and stickiness. Partial least squares regression models of optimum W/R ratio and peak overall acceptability gave coefficients of determination of 0.991 and 0.980, respectively, thus indicating that the optimum W/R ratio and the acceptability ratings of cooked rice could be reliably predicted from the physicochemical properties such as the apparent amylose content, protein content, gel consistency, alkali-spreading value and grain elongation ratio of milled rice. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Sensory evaluation of cooked rice eating qualities is a difficult task to carry out routinely on a day-to-day basis. Presently, rice varieties are categorized according to grain dimensions and selective physicochemical traits that reflect on the eating quality of cooked rice. Though it has been long realized that the amount of water used for cooking and rice physicochemical properties highly influence the eating quality of cooked rice, no information is currently available on the quantitative evaluation of these factors. Results of this study showed that models could be developed to quantify the optimum amount of water for cooking rice of different varieties with the most desirable sensory eating qualities. The prediction of peak overall sensory acceptability scores that correspond to the optimum cooking water-to-rice ratio could be useful for categorizing rice varieties based on their impact on sensory eating quality and for the development of baseline information for consumers by the rice industry. [source] Hysteretic models that incorporate strength and stiffness deteriorationEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2005Luis F. Ibarra Abstract This paper presents the description, calibration and application of relatively simple hysteretic models that include strength and stiffness deterioration properties, features that are critical for demand predictions as a structural system approaches collapse. Three of the basic hysteretic models used in seismic demand evaluation are modified to include deterioration properties: bilinear, peak-oriented, and pinching. The modified models include most of the sources of deterioration: i.e. various modes of cyclic deterioration and softening of the post-yielding stiffness, and also account for a residual strength after deterioration. The models incorporate an energy-based deterioration parameter that controls four cyclic deterioration modes: basic strength, post-capping strength, unloading stiffness, and accelerated reloading stiffness deterioration. Calibration of the hysteretic models on steel, plywood, and reinforced-concrete components demonstrates that the proposed models are capable of simulating the main characteristics that influence deterioration. An application of a peak-oriented deterioration model in the seismic evaluation of single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems is illustrated. The advantages of using deteriorating hysteretic models for obtaining the response of highly inelastic systems are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Seismic base-isolation by use of a telescoping stepping mechanismEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2005Maria D. Martinez-Rodrigo Abstract A new base-isolation mechanism corresponding to a variance of the stepping A-shaped frame is proposed and its seismic performance is investigated numerically for strong ground accelerations with peak values in the range from 0.5 to 1g. In its simplest two-dimensional form, the system consists of a frame with two telescoping legs pinned at the apex at a sharp angle. The legs are attached to the foundation through a spring and a damper acting in parallel. Both the springs and viscous dampers have bilinear characteristics that make them very stiff in compression but very soft in tension. As the structure rocks sideways, the length of the loaded leg remains essentially constant while the length of the unloaded leg increases. When the ground acceleration changes direction, the process is reversed. The resulting system has three main characteristics: (i) as the structure steps on a rigid leg, the maximum acceleration that can be transmitted to the superstructure is limited to a value which is approximately independent of the amplitude of the ground motion; (ii) there is a systematic lifting of the superstructure with kinetic energy being systematically transformed into potential energy during the strong phase of the ground motion; and (iii) the system is slowly self-centering at the end of the earthquake. The seismic performance of the system is evaluated for a tall bridge pier and for a smaller frame that could be used in a multi-story building. The results obtained for the 1940 El Centro ground motion scaled to 1g and for the near-field Rinaldi ground motion recorded during the Northridge earthquake show that substantial reductions of the absolute acceleration can be obtained with reasonable relative displacements of the superstructure and small strokes in the isolation devices. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of high-risk HPV-infected women with HGSILENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 9 2008Rosa E. Álvarez-Rosero Abstract Genomic instability is one of the main characteristics of malignant tumors, including HPV-induced cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the use of assessing chromosome aberrations (CA) in peripheral blood lymphocytes as a biomarker for genomic instability in high-risk HPV-infected women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL). A total of 120 women were recruited for this study, following cytology/colposcopy evaluation and HPV DNA detection. The study groups consisted of 30 HPV(+) women with histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 and 30 HPV(+) women with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Two control groups, including 30 women HPV(,) and 30 women HPV(+), were recruited among women who were reported as cytology negative. Lymphocyte cell cultures were established for 52 hr, and 100 complete metaphase cells were evaluated per subject for CA analysis. The results show that women with CIS had significantly higher frequencies of both aneuploidy (0.67 ± 0.20 vs. 0.14 ± 0.08, P = 0.020) and tetraploidy (0.88 ± 0.23 vs. 0.17 ± 0.08, P = 0.013) in comparison with HPV(,) controls. These findings suggest the usefulness of peripheral blood lymphocytes to detect genomic instability associated with HPV-induced HGSIL. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] CAP Reform in the Dairy Sector: Remove Export Subsidies and Retain Milk QuotaEUROCHOICES, Issue 2 2004Zohra Bouamra-Mechemache Summary CAP Reform in the Dairy Sector: Remove Export Subsidies and Retain Milk Quota The reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy of June 2003 introduced major policy changes, In the dairy sector the aim is to decrease price distortions between the EU and world dairy markets through successive reductions in milk intervention prices. However, the milk quota system is still in place and successive increases in milk quotas are planned. The question is whether these dairy reforms are going in the right direction given the three main characteristics of the EU dairy sector. First the price inelasticity of both milk supply (due to quota) and domestic demand means that price distortion mainly affects the distribution of economic surplus between consumers and producers but does not generate significant net losses in economic welfare. Second, the ,large country' position of the EU on the world market means that the EU should remove all export subsidies, which will reduce EU exports and increase world prices. Third, the projected increase in EU aggregate demand for milk favours a reduction in all subsidies. The CAP is going in the right direction in the dairy sector. But to reduce price distortions all subsidies should be removed as soon as possible and the milk production quota should be retained. La réforme de la PAC laitiére: supprimer les subventions aux exportations et conserver les quotas La réforme de la PAC en juin 2003 est un changement majeur. En ce qui concerne le secteur laitier, l'idée consiste à diminuer les distorsions entre les prix européens et ceux du marché mondial par une série de réductions progressives du prix d'intervention. En même temps, le système des quotas reste en place et des accroissements progressifs sont envisageés pour les droits à produire. La question. est alors de savoir si une telle politique est bien orientée, compte tenu des trois caractéristiques principales du secteur laitier européen. En premier lieu, la faible élasticité-prix aussi bien de l'offre (à cause des quotas) que de la demande, implique que les distorsions, si elies affectent la répartition des bénéfices entre producteurs et consommateurs, ne génèrent pas de très grandes pertes sociales au niveau du bien-être global. Ensuite, l'importance de l'Union européenne sur les marchés mondiaux implique que l'UE doive réduire ses subventions à l'exportation, ce qui diminuera le volume des exportations et en fera remonter le prix, Enfin, l'accroissement prévisible de la demande globale européenne en produits laitiers devrait conduire G une réduction des subventions de toute sorte. La PAC est done sur la bonne voie en matière laitière. Mais pour réduire les distorsions, il faut le plus vite possible supprimer les subventions et conserver les quotas laitiers. Reform der GAP im Milchsektor: Abschaffung der Exportsubventionen und Beibehaltung der Milchquoten Die Reform der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik vom Juni 2003 führt zu erheblichen Politikänderungen. Im Milchsektor ist das Ziel, die Preisverzerrungen zwischen der EU und den Weltmärkten für Milchprodukte durch eine sukzessive Reduzierung der Milchinterventionspreise zu verringern. Das Milchquotensystem bleibt jedoch weiter bestehen und sukzessive Erhöhungen der Milchquoten sind geplant. Es ergibt sich die Frage, ob die Reform bei den vorhandenen drei Charakteristika im EU Milchsektor in die richtige Richtung geht. Erstens bedeuten das gegebene preisunelastische Angebot von Milch (wegen der Quotierung) und die Nachfrage im Inland, dass die Preisverzerrung sich vomehmlich auf die Verteilung der ökonomischen Rente zwischen Konsumenten und Produzenten auswirkt, nicht aber zu bedeutenden Wohlfahrtsverlusten führt. Zweitens fuhrt die Abschaffung aller Exporterstattungen für Milch und Milchprodukte dazu, dass die EU Exporte sinken und damit wegen der EU als relative großes Land die Weltmarktpreise für Milch steigen werden. Drittens begünstigt die vorausgesagte Zunahme in der aggregierten Milchnachfrage in der EU eine Reduzierung aller Subventionen. Die GAP entwickelt sich im Milchsektor in die richtige Richtung. Es sollten aber alle Subventionen so schnell wie möglich abgebaut und die Milchquote sollte aufrechterhalten werden, um Preisverzerrungen zu reduzieren. [source] ThaDD plus high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation does not appear superior to ThaDD plus maintenance in elderly patients with de novo multiple myelomaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Massimo Offidani Abstract Objectives:,With the aim to address the issue whether high-dose therapy (HDT) is required after new drugs combinations to improve outcome of elderly newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients, we compared the toxicity and the outcome of ThaDD plus maintenance to those of ThaDD plus HDT-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Methods: Sixty-two patients not eligible for HDT receiving six courses of ThaDD regimen plus maintenance with thalidomide were compared to 26 patients eligible for HDT treated with four courses of ThaDD followed by melphalan 100,200 mg/m2 and ASCT. The two groups were matched for the main characteristics except for age favouring the HDT group. Results and conclusions:,Complete remission (CR) obtained with ThaDD plus maintenance was 24% whereas it was 57% after ThaDD plus HDT-ASCT (P = 0.0232). However, after a median follow-up of 36 months, median time to progression (TTP) and progression free survival (PFS) of the group of patients undergone HDT were not significantly different to those of patients receiving ThaDD plus maintenance (32 vs. 31 months: P = 0.962; 32 vs. 29 months: P = 0.726, respectively). Five-year overall survival (OS) was 49% in the first group and 46% in the latter one (P = 0.404). As expected, a significantly higher incidence of grade 3,4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, infections, mucositis and alopecia were observed in the ThaDD plus HDT group. Our results suggest that in elderly MM patients ThaDD plus HDT, albeit significantly increases CR rate, seems to be equivalent to ThaDD plus maintenance in terms of TTP, PFS and OS. These results challenge the requirement for HDT consolidation in this subset of patients. [source] Research Techniques and Their Use in Managing Non,profit Organisations , An Illustration of DEA Analysis in NPO EnvironmentsFINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2003Jarmo Vakkuri This article examines nonprofit organisations from the managerial viewpoint. The objective is to study the applicability of efficiency information in managing NPOs. For this purpose important conceptual and methodological aspects are addressed. An efficiency measurement technique (DEA) is then analysed as a case in point, and its main characteristics critically reviewed. DEA applications in four NPO environments are examined. The aim is to pinpoint possibilities and limitations in using DEA,based efficiency information in the management process of NPOs. The article argues in favour of a more profound comprehension of the use of efficiency information and the application of research techniques. [source] The sedimentary records in Mediterranean rockshelters and caves: Archives of environmental changeGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2001Jamie C. Woodward It is important to develop rigorous methods and robust conceptual models for the interpretation of rockshelter and cave sediment records so that the cultural sequences they contain can be considered in their proper environmental context. Much of what we know about the prehistory of the Mediterranean region and adjacent areas has largely been pieced together from materials excavated from sedimentary sequences in these environments. The rockshelters and caves of the region form important environmental and sedimentary archives. Recent work has begun to consider if the remarkable climatic variability evident in the high resolution lacustrine and ice core records is manifest in the rockshelter and cave sediment records of the area. In this context, the two main characteristics of a rockshelter or cave site which control its usefulness as an archive of environmental change are the temporal resolution of the sedimentary record and the environmental sensitivity of the site. Many rockshelters and caves can be described as either Active Karst Settings (AKS) or Passive Karst Settings (PKS) and site type is an important influence on climatic sensitivity with a direct influence upon the usefulness of the sedimentary sequence as a proxy record of climate change. It is now clear that some sites may preserve detailed paleoclimatic records and the climatic signal may be represented by distinctive suites of micromorphological features, by variations in the input of allogenic sediment, or by fluctuations in the mineral magnetic properties of the fine sediment fraction. It can be argued that data derived from the analysis of bulk coarse-grained samples often lacks the stratigraphic resolution and environmental sensitivity that can be obtained from other approaches. The most favorable sites for detailed paleoclimatic reconstruction appear to be in active karst settings such as Theopetra Cave (Greece) and Pigeon Cave (Morocco) where micromorphological analyses offer insights into the stratigraphic record that are not otherwise obtainable. The temporal resolution of a site can only be established through a rigorous stratigraphic analysis and a comprehensive dating program. These are fundamental considerations in the study of rockshelter sediment records, especially when attempting to correlate between sites and draw comparisons with other proxy records of environmental change derived from sedimentary environments with rather different characteristics. Rockshelters and caves are part of a wider sediment system, and their investigation must be accompanied by detailed geomorphological, sedimentological, paleoecological, and geochronological studies of the off-site Quaternary record. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] A geometric and kinematic model for double-edge propagating thrusts involving hangingwall and footwall folding.GEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Issue 5-6 2010An example from the Jaca, Pamplona Basin (Southern Pyrenees) Abstract A new geometric and kinematic model is proposed for a particular type of fault-related folding based on the study of a natural example developed in Palaeogene carbonate rocks from the Jaca,Pamplona Basin (Southern Pyrenees). The example consists of a hangingwall anticline related to a reverse fault with variable displacement and a gentle footwall syncline. A detailed structural analysis of the structure and a cross-section, perpendicular to its axis and parallel to the transport direction, reveals that none of the previous published models of fault-related folds is able to simulate its main characteristics and reproduce its geometry. The main features of the new model are: double-edge propagating fault and folding developed in both the hangingwall and the footwall. A MATLAB-based program was created to calculate structural parameters such as shortening, structural relief and fault slip; obtain graphs of different parameters such as shortening versus slip along the fault, shortening versus fault length, and produce sections across forward models showing the different stages of fold growth. The model presented here gives an acceptable geometrical fit to the studied natural structure and provides a reasonable evolutionary history. In addition, the results obtained using the model are similar to those measured on the cross-section. As a final step the subsurface portion of the natural fold was completed following the constraints imposed by the model. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The E-economy and the Rise of Technocapitalism: Networks, Firms, and TransportationGROWTH AND CHANGE, Issue 4 2003Luis Suarez-Villa ABSTRACT The e-economy is part of a larger phenomenon, technocapitalism, that is transforming business organizations and the ways in which they transact, produce, and ship their goods. Technocapitalism is an evolution of market capitalism that is rooted in technological innovation and supported by such intangibles as creativity and knowledge. This paper considers first the main characteristics of networks that support the e-economy and its source phenomenon, the emergence of technocapitalism. Networks are thought to be the main vehicle through which the e-economy spreads, and they have major effects on the organization of business firms. The culture of technocapitalism, with its emphasis on continuous innovation and rapid adjustment, is largely behind the rising importance of networks. A second section then considers the deconstruction of business firms and its relation to networks, the e-economy, and the rise of technocapitalism. A historical perspective is provided to show the contrast with previous eras. The deconstruction of business organizations involves a major transformation of the norms and ways in which firms are run and structured. Finally, the likely implications for transportation and shipping of the rise of the e-economy, its networks, and the deconstruction of firms are discussed. The logistics, pricing, and infrastructure of shipping are likely to be substantially affected by the spread of the e-economy, its networks, and the deconstruction of firms. [source] How to model shallow water-table depth variations: the case of the Kervidy-Naizin catchment, FranceHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 4 2005Jérôme Molénat Abstract The aim of this work is threefold: (1) to identify the main characteristics of water-table variations from observations in the Kervidy-Naizin catchment, a small catchment located in western France; (2) to confront these characteristics with the assumptions of the Topmodel concepts; and (3) to analyse how relaxation of the assumptions could improve the simulation of distributed water-table depth. A network of piezometers was installed in the Kervidy-Naizin catchment and the water-table depth was recorded every 15 min in each piezometer from 1997 to 2000. From these observations, the Kervidy-Naizin groundwater appears to be characteristic of shallow groundwaters of catchments underlain by crystalline bedrock, in view of the strong relation between water distribution and topography in the bottom land of the hillslopes. However, from midslope to summit, the water table can attain a depth of many metres, it does not parallel the topographic surface and it remains very responsive to rainfall. In particular, hydraulic gradients vary with time and are not equivalent to the soil surface slope. These characteristics call into question some assumptions that are used to model shallow lateral subsurface flow in saturated conditions. We investigate the performance of three models (Topmodel, a kinematic model and a diffusive model) in simulating the hourly distributed water-table depths along one of the hillslope transects, as well as the hourly stream discharge. For each model, two sets of parameters are identified following a Monte Carlo procedure applied to a simulation period of 2649 h. The performance of each model with each of the two parameter sets is evaluated over a test period of 2158 h. All three models, and hence their underlying assumptions, appear to reproduce adequately the stream discharge variations and water-table depths in bottom lands at the foot of the hillslope. To simulate the groundwater depth distribution over the whole hillslope, the steady-state assumption (Topmodel) is quite constraining and leads to unacceptable water-table depths in midslope and summit areas. Once this assumption is relaxed (kinematic model), the water-table simulation is improved. A subsequent relaxation of the hydraulic gradient (diffusive model) further improves water-table simulations in the summit area, while still yielding realistic water-table depths in the bottom land. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Analytical and numerical solution of the elastodynamic strip load problemINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 1 2008A. Verruijt Abstract Analytical and numerical solutions of the elastodynamic problem of an instantaneous strip load on a half space are presented and compared. The analytical solution is obtained using the De Hoop,Cagniard method, and the numerical solution is obtained using the dynamic module of the finite element package Plaxis. The purpose of the paper is to validate the numerical solution by comparison with a completely analytical solution, and to verify that the main characteristics of the analytical solution are also obtained in the numerical solution. Particular attention is paid to the magnitude, the velocity, and the shape of the Rayleigh wave disturbances. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Parallel eigenanalysis of multiaquifer systemsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 15 2005L. Bergamaschi Abstract Finite element discretizations of flow problems involving multiaquifer systems deliver large, sparse, unstructured matrices, whose partial eigenanalysis is important for both solving the flow problem and analysing its main characteristics. We studied and implemented an effective preconditioning of the Jacobi,Davidson algorithm by FSAI-type preconditioners. We developed efficient parallelization strategies in order to solve very large problems, which could not fit into the storage available to a single processor. We report our results about the solution of multiaquifer flow problems on an SP4 machine and a Linux Cluster. We analyse the sequential and parallel efficiency of our algorithm, also compared with standard packages. Questions regarding the parallel solution of finite element eigenproblems are addressed and discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] ENSO history recorded in Agathis australis (kauri) tree rings.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Part A: kauri's potential as an ENSO proxy Abstract Although many of the main characteristics of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon have been established, uncertainties remain concerning its multidecadal- to millennial-scale evolution. Because of the shortness of the instrumental record, we need to resort to proxy-based reconstructions to investigate ENSO's history prior to the mid 19th century, but the available proxy data is limited in both time and space. Here we investigate the potential for ENSO reconstruction from the tree rings of Agathis australis (kauri). Kauri is a long-lived endemic New Zealand conifer and grows in an ENSO teleconnection region not previously represented in ENSO multi-proxy studies. A high quality 423 year kauri regional master chronology (AD 1580,2002) is constructed. Statistical analysis of the period AD 1876,2002 confirms previous findings that kauri tree rings carry a strong regional-scale climate signal and that ENSO is a significant contributor (predominantly via the western pole of the Southern Oscillation). Kauri carries a signal of both ENSO phases, but with a slight El Niño bias. Growth sensitivity is primarily registered through a five-season window, extending from March (prior to growth initiation in September) through to the following May, with strongest relationships across the middle three seasons (June,February). Relationships appear to be stationary. We conclude that kauri has sufficient ENSO event capture skill to make it a useful addition to future multi-proxy ENSO reconstruction efforts. It may also have potential for stand-alone reconstruction of multidecadal- to millennial-scale evolution of ENSO activity, especially ENSO robustness. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Ten-year climatology of summer monsoon over South China and its surroundings simulated from a regional climate modelINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Yiming Liu Abstract In a previous study by the authors, a regional climate model (hereafter the RCM) developed to study the summer monsoon over South China (SC) and the South China Sea (SCS) has been tested and found to be able to simulate to a large extent the precipitation over this region for the months of May and June. To examine the interannual variability of the summer monsoon here, it is necessary to establish a model climatology to serve as a comparison and to reduce or even remove any systematic model biases. This paper presents the analyses of such a 10-year climatology (1991,2000). The model was initialized on 1 April and integrated up to the end of June for the ten years. The initial atmospheric conditions and lateral boundary data used in this study are from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts ,40-year' reanalyses. The RCM can reproduce well the main features of the monsoon circulation and vertical structure of the atmosphere. The RCM can simulate the intensification and northwestward displacement of the south Asian upper anticyclones from May to June, as well as the low-level moisture transport from the Bay of Bengal to SC. In the simulation, the average SCS summer monsoon onset occurs in the fourth pentad of May, which is consistent with the results from previous observational research. In addition, the RCM can reproduce the main characteristics of the onset such as the change of the low-level zonal flow from easterly to westerly as well as the rapid increase in daily precipitation. The SC and SCS precipitation anomalies have the correct sign in almost all the years. The shortcomings of the model simulation include an under-prediction of the strength of the subtropical high over the Northwest Pacific and the moisture transport from the Bay of Bengal to the Indochina Peninsula (IC) and SCS. A cold bias in surface air temperature is also observed, with the 10-year mean biases of the simulated surface air temperature over SC, SCS and IC in May and June being about ,2.1 °C, ,2.4 °C and ,1.4 °C respectively. The 10-year mean biases of the simulated daily precipitation rate over SC, SCS and IC are about 2.0, ,3.8 and 3.5 mm d,1 respectively. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Blindness and bulimia nervosa: A description of a case report and its treatmentINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 3 2006Fernando Fernández-Aranda PhD Abstract Objective Blindness has rarely been described in the eating disorder (ED) literature. In case reports in which this condition has been reported before an ED, it was concluded that visual body image was not essential for the development of the ED. This is the first report in which bulimia nervosa (BN) and its treatment in a blind woman were described. Method We report a single diagnosed and treated case of BN in a blind, 47-year-old Spanish woman. This case presented as its main characteristics the late onset of the ED, restrictive dieting, binging, and consequent purging behavior characterized by vomiting and great difficulties of coping with stress. From the beginning, the woman's body image was not essential. The treatment consisted of 21 individual outpatient sessions, which followed a non,symptom-oriented cognitive-behavioral approach, in which problem solving and stress management strategies were employed. Results Before, after the treatment, and at the 6-month and 1-year follow-up, the clinical evolution of the patient was assessed. Conclusion Although a few descriptions of single case reports on blindness in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) have already been reported in the literature, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case in which this condition and its treatment have specifically been reported in an individual with BN. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Int J Eat Disord, 2006 [source] Thermodynamic optimization of global circulation and climateINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005Adrian Bejan Abstract The constructal law of generation of flow structure is used to predict the main features of global circulation and climate. The flow structure is the atmospheric and oceanic circulation. This feature is modelled as convection loops, and added to the earth model as a heat engine heated by the Sun and cooled by the background. It is shown that the dissipation of the power produced by the earth engine can be maximized by selecting the proper balance between the hot and cold zones of the Earth, and by optimizing the thermal conductance of the circulation loops. The optimized features agree with the main characteristics of global circulation and climate. The robustness of these predictions, and the place of the constructal law as a self-standing principle in thermodynamics, are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Analyzing the 24-hour blood pressure and heart-rate variability with self-organizing feature mapsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 1 2002G. Tambouratzis In this article, the self-organizing map (SOM) is employed to analyze data describing the 24-hour blood pressure and heart-rate variability of human subjects. The number of observations varies widely over different subjects, and therefore a direct statistical analysis of the data is not feasible without extensive pre-processing and interpolation for normalization purposes. The SOM network operates directly on the data set, without any pre-processing, determines several important data set characteristics, and allows their visualization on a two-dimensional plot. The SOM results are very similar to those obtained using classic statistical methods, indicating the effectiveness of the SOM method in accurately extracting the main characteristics from the data set and displaying them in a readily understandable manner. In this article, the relation is studied between the representation of each subject on the SOM, and his blood pressure and pulse-rate measurements. Finally, some indications are included regarding how the SOM can be used by the medical community to assist in diagnosis tasks. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] The normal and cancerous living cellINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 14 2006Janos Ladik Abstract We do not have a definition of the living and cancerous states; we can give only their main characteristics at the different levels of organization: cell, organ, and organism. A simple model is proposed for a normal eukaryotic cell based on Prigogine's equation of chemical kinetics with diffusion. In this model, possibly only a few hundred key biochemical reactions should be selected together with their rate and diffusion constants. To solve these coupled nonlinear partial differential equation systems, it is proposed that the model cell be subdivided into compartments and that the problem be worked out always for one compartment (finite element method). This is possible, since the most important biochemical reactions and reaction cycles occur in different parts of the cell. The solutions (concentrations) obtained in one compartment can be used as input to the other compartments (together with the components entering from the environment). As an example, the problem of 10 reactions and 3 compartments has been solved by discretizing the space coordinates and choosing time steps. The solutions obtained by solving the 10 differential equations directly and by the compartmentalization agree very well. The main obstacles to further progress lie in the right choice of reactions and compartments, as well as in the correct estimation of the rate and diffusion constants, which were measured in only a few cases. If such a model cell can be obtained, the solutions should be investigated to determine (i) for their stability (homeostasis); (ii) whether changing the input concentrations to a larger degree one would obtain a new stationary state showing the characteristics of a precancerous state; and (iii) a method of extracting those input concentrations, or functions of them, which are the most important regulatory parameters. If successful, this would provide a scientific definition of the living state in the normal and cancerous states, respectively, at least at the cell level. Finally, outline is provided showing how the model might be extended to multicellular cases, as well as the main difficulties of such a process. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006 [source] Portugal as a Semi-peripheral Country in the Global Migration SystemINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 3 2009Pedro Góis Although Portugal has traditionally produced many emigrants, the last 30 years have also shown increasing immigration. This increase in immigration has drawn attention away from the fact that significant emigration from Portugal continues. In this article, some of the main characteristics of migrations to and from Portugal are highlighted from a systemic perspective. The article shows that Portugal is both a receiving country and a sending country in the global migration system, and that it integrates several of the main migration systems at different levels. It is suggested that Portugal's participation in existing migration systems is best captured and explained by conceptualizing it as a semi-peripheral society, one that is part of a core region of the world system (the European Union) and displays a number of characteristics of both central and peripheral countries. The concept of semi-periphery enables one to recognize the existence of what could be termed a quasi or emergent migratory system: the Lusophone migration system, which one can conceive as communicating intensively with other macro migratory systems. Observing the country's migratory dynamics from the last two decades, and especially the migration flows that bond the Portuguese-speaking countries, one may view the Lusophone migration system as able to combine different levels of centers that (in some moments, and given certain conditions) could evolve into a bicephalous, or even tricephalous, center. These centers function as bonds among several other migration systems, and it is in the middle of this Lusophone migration system that the semi-peripheral role of Portugal becomes evident, as it can be core and periphery at the same time. [source] Shifting Paradigms of Globalization: The Twenty-first Century Transition Towards Generics in Skilled Migration from IndiaINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 5 2001Binod Khadria Globalization of human capital through international migration is no longer about global physical presence only; it is also about global applicability of skills across various fields of specialization. This marks the main characteristics of skilled migration from India to developed countries in the twenty-first century. The focus is shifting away from professionals in specific occupations, like doctors, engineers, scientists, architects, bankers, to information technology (IT) professionals embodying, in a way, more generic skills. In other words, it is the generic applicability of information and communications technology (ICT) which has led to large-scale migration of Indians skilled in IT. Moreover, the exodus comprises not only the fully trained and educated workers going abroad for employment, but also students - the semi-finished human capital - pursuing higher education in onshore as well as offshore universities of the developed countries. The new emigration is directed towards traditional host countries in the West such as the UK, Canada, and the US, but also towards newly emerging destinations in continental Europe (Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Denmark), Australasia (Australia, New Zealand), East Asia (Japan, Republic of Korea), and South-East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia). By using mainly current information and informal data as reported in the media, this article perceives emerging trends and changes in the context of the global labour market for skills, and suggests a possible framework towards evolving strategies of remedial development. [source] Performance Measure Congruity and the Balanced ScorecardJOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 3 2007JÖRG BUDDE ABSTRACT This paper studies the incentive effects of a balanced scorecard within a multitask agency framework under both formal and relational contracts. First, the main characteristics of the balanced scorecard are analyzed with respect to performance measure congruity. It is shown that under complete verifiability, a properly designed balanced scorecard is capable of perfectly aligning the interests of owners and employees by means of an explicit contract. I then investigate whether subjective performance evaluation is beneficial when not all the scorecard measures are contractible. It emerges that congruity of the contractible scorecard measures constrains a purely implicit incentive contract, but the first-best solution may still be obtained through a combination of formal and relational contracts. Furthermore, a purely explicit contract in most cases can be improved by incorporating subjective rewards. [source] Changing Patterns in Family Farming: The Case of the Pampa Region, ArgentinaJOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE, Issue 3 2009CARLA GRAS In the past few decades, Argentine agriculture has been significantly reorganized. Changes include the marked growth of export production, the need for an increasing level of capital investment and technological incorporation into farms and the restructuring of public intervention. This paper examines the dynamics of farm exit and the adjustments made by capitalized family farmers in the Pampa region. We suggest transformations in family farms are the result of a substantial shift in their main characteristics which historically combined the use of family labour, a certain accumulation capacity and ownership status. In particular, we will discuss the different and changing patterns of farm operations and the adjustments made with respect to work and land tenure. [source] Do Nutrition Claims Matter to Consumers?JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2010An Empirical Analysis Considering European Requirements Q18; Q13; Q12; I18 Abstract EU Regulation 1924/2006 introduced a European legal framework for nutrition messages for food product labels. The study analyses consumer interest towards nutrition labelling and claims, and examines the information consumers consider important during their purchasing decisions, and the main characteristics of those consumers interested in nutrition claims and nutrition labelling use. A total of 1,025 northern Italian consumers were surveyed. We estimate one binary logit model to investigate the use of nutrition labelling, and seven other ordinal regression models to analyse consumer interest towards nutrition claims and labelling. Consumers who use nutrition labelling have characteristics different from those who use nutrition claims. Consumers using nutrition labelling show a marked interest in food safety concerns, use experts as their source of information and have specific dietary habits. For consumers concerned about nutrition claims, the survey shows significant links with attributes influencing purchasing behaviour, such as price, brand, certification, etc. Socio-demographic characteristics are statistically significant and show a positive link with age, gender and a negative linkage with income. [source] The development of an individual, demand driven approach in a long-lasting exemplarian action researchJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Ben Valkenburg Abstract In this contribution, the author aims to elucidate the core aspects of the individual, demand driven approach and the way this approach has been developed in action research projects spanning more than 15 years. First the authors describe the developments towards more client centred approaches of labour-market policies and care, which formed the background against which the individual, demand driven approach took shape. Then the authors sketch the main characteristics of the action research programme they have been involved in. As an example one of the projects of this programme will be elaborated further. In the fourth section of this contribution the authors give an overview of the four most distinctive aspects of the individual, demand driven approach. Then closes of with a few evaluative remarks. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Why do we need children's participation?JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2001The importance of children's participation in changing the city Abstract After examining the characteristics of the degradation of the urban environment and the costs that this entails for the child's development, in particular as far as play experience and autonomous mobility are concerned, the article goes on to discuss the role of the children's contribution to the promotion of real and consistent change in the city. The reasons underlying the recent increase in the number of experiments of children's participation are examined together with the main characteristics of this strategy as a privileged access to knowledge concerning the needs of our younger citizens and as an innovative resource in solving the city's problems. It is shown how children's participation experiences can lead to the acquisition of a fresh sensitivity and competence by city administrators and technicians. An analysis is made of several proposals made by children in the course of participation experiments followed by the authors in cities in Italy and abroad during 10 year's of activities in the ,The Children's City' project. These proposals confirm the children's capacity to identify the city's problems as they emerge and to propose solutions that are often innovative or useful for all members of the population. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||