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Possible Ways (possible + way)
Selected AbstractsPrediction of cardiovascular risk in people with diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 7 2003P. H. Winocour Abstract People with diabetes are at high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially if they have already developed vascular problems. For patients who are apparently free of vascular complications, risk tables are often used to assess the risk of cardiovascular events in the following years, and to decide on treatment with statins or anti-platelet therapy. These risk prediction tables include estimates of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and are based on populations, some of which only contained a very small number of people with diabetes. Multiple problems can be identified with these tables, and many seriously underestimate cardiovascular risk in people with diabetes. Possible ways of addressing this include using risk estimation tools based solely on diabetic populations, adding in additional traditional variables such as triglycerides or left ventricular hypertrophy, including novel cardiovascular risk factors, or intervening at a lower level of estimated risk in people with diabetes compared with non-diabetic subjects. Alternatively, estimates of individual risk could be abandoned and all people with diabetes could be treated with statins and other effective agents. Diabet. Med. 20, 515,527 (2003) [source] Analysis of microbial community functional diversity using sole-carbon-source utilisation profiles , a critiqueFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Juliet Preston-Mafham Abstract Information on functional diversity (metabolic potential) is essential for understanding the role of microbial communities in different environments. Variations of the commercially available BIOLOG bacterial identification system plates are now widely used to assess functional diversity of microorganisms from environmental samples, based on utilisation patterns of a wide range (up to 95) of single carbon sources. There are many problems as well as benefits of using the approach, but the former are often disregarded. Here the basis of the approach is summarised, including type of plate to use, treatment of samples, replication, incubation conditions, monitoring of plates, and statistical analysis. The pros and cons of its use are critically assessed, inherent biases and limitations are pointed out and methodological difficulties are considered. Possible ways of overcoming some of the difficulties are suggested. [source] The Intermediate Band Solar Cell: Progress Toward the Realization of an Attractive ConceptADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 2 2010Antonio Luque Abstract The intermediate band (IB) solar cell has been proposed to increase the current of solar cells while at the same time preserving the output voltage in order to produce an efficiency that ideally is above the limit established by Shockley and Queisser in 1961. The concept is described and the present realizations and acquired understanding are explained. Quantum dots are used to make the cells but the efficiencies that have been achieved so far are not yet satisfactory. Possible ways to overcome the issues involved are depicted. Alternatively, and against early predictions, IB alloys have been prepared and cells that undoubtedly display the IB behavior have been fabricated, although their efficiency is still low. Full development of this concept is not trivial but it is expected that once the development of IB solar cells is fully mastered, IB solar cells should be able to operate in tandem in concentrators with very high efficiencies or as thin cells at low cost with efficiencies above the present ones. [source] All fiber Yb-Ho pulsed laserLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 2 2009A.S. Kurkov Abstract For the first time we have suggested and realized passive Q-switched Yb-doped fiber laser with a saturable absorber based on Ho-doped fiber laser. The pulse duration was of 250 ns, the pulse energy , 70 , J, the peak power , 300 W. The laser is perspective for technology processes. Possible ways of laser characteristics improving are discussed. (© 2009 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Energy absorption and emission of harmonics by clusters subject to intense short laser pulsesLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 9 2008S.V. Popruzhenko Abstract Experimental and theoretical achievements in studies of atomic and metal clusters interacting with short intense infrared laser pulses are reviewed. The focus is made on the theoretical concepts describing the energy transfer from the laser field to the cluster nanoplasma and emission of laser harmonics from it. Both effects are considered assuming the collisionless regime, where the interaction of nanoplasma electrons with the self-consistent field dominates the individual collisions. The pivotal role of nonlinear resonances is underlined and described in detail. Possible ways for a further development of the theory and experimental perspectives are briefly discussed. (© 2008 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Experiments on robustness and deception in a coalition formation modelCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 4 2006M. V. Belmonte Abstract In the last few years coalition formation algorithms have been proposed as a possible way of modeling autonomous agent cooperation in multi-agent systems. This work is based on a previously proposed coalition formation model founded on game theory for a class of task-oriented problems that guarantees an optimum task allocation and a stable profit division. In this paper we study two properties of the model that are very important for application in real-life scenarios: robustness and tolerance to an agent's misbehavior. First, we study the robustness of this model as regards the effect the agent's failure has on the resultant profits of the coalition formation. Secondly, we also study the coalition formation model in the presence of misbehaving agents. Agents have some kind of execution autonomy, and they can deceive or mislead each other when they reveal their information, if they believe this will give them more profits. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Quality assurance of specialised treatment of eating disorders using large-scale internet-based collection systems: Methods, results and lessons learned from designing the Stepwise databaseEUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 4 2010Andreas Birgegård Abstract Computer-based quality assurance of specialist eating disorder (ED) care is a possible way of meeting demands for evaluating the real-life effectiveness of treatment, in a large-scale, cost-effective and highly structured way. The Internet-based Stepwise system combines clinical utility for patients and practitioners, and provides research-quality naturalistic data. Stepwise was designed to capture relevant variables concerning EDs and general psychiatric status, and the database can be used for both clinical and research purposes. The system comprises semi-structured diagnostic interviews, clinical ratings and self-ratings, automated follow-up schedules, as well as administrative functions to facilitate registration compliance. As of June 2009, the system is in use at 20 treatment units and comprises 2776 patients. Diagnostic distribution (including subcategories of eating disorder not otherwise specified) and clinical characteristics are presented, as well as data on registration compliance. Obstacles and keys to successful implementation of the Stepwise system are discussed, including possible gains and on-going challenges inherent in large-scale, Internet-based quality assurance. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source] A critical plane fatigue model with coupled meso-plasticity and damageFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 1 2008N. HUYEN ABSTRACT The work proposed in this paper is a possible way of modelling some local observations at the surface of mild steel specimens submitted to uniaxial and multiaxial loads. It is clearly seen that local plasticity, controlled by local microstructural heterogeneities, plays a fundamental role in microcrack nucleation and damage orientation is closely related to the applied loading mode. The framework of irreversible thermodynamics with internal variables for time-independent, isothermal and small deformations has been used to build a critical plane damage model by assuming the existence of a link between mesoplasticity and mesodamage. Non-associated plasticity and damage rules allow the evolution of some plastic slip before any damage nucleation, as seen during the observations. A key feature of this proposal is the capacity to reflect nonlinear damage accumulation under variable amplitude loading. [source] Trouble on the reef: the imperative for managing vulnerable and valuable fisheriesFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 3 2005Yvonne Sadovy Abstract Reef fishes are significant socially, nutritionally and economically, yet biologically they are vulnerable to both over-exploitation and degradation of their habitat. Their importance in the tropics for living conditions, human health, food security and economic development is enormous, with millions of people and hundreds of thousands of communities directly dependent, and many more indirectly so. Reef fish fisheries are also critical safety valves in times of economic or social hardship or disturbance, and are more efficient, less wasteful and support far more livelihoods per tonne produced than industrial scale fisheries. Yet, relative to other fisheries globally, those associated with coral reefs are under-managed, under-funded, under-monitored, and as a consequence, poorly understood or little regarded by national governments. Even among non-governmental organizations, which are increasingly active in tropical marine issues, there is typically little focus on reef-associated resources, the interest being more on biodiversity per se or protection of coral reef habitat. This essay explores the background and history to this situation, examines fishery trends over the last 30 years, and charts a possible way forward given the current realities of funding, capacity, development patterns and scientific understanding of coral reef ecosystems. The luxury live reef food-fish trade is used throughout as a case study because it exemplifies many of the problems and challenges of attaining sustainable use of coral reef-associated resources. The thesis developed is that sustaining reef fish fisheries and conserving biodiversity can be complementary, rather than contradictory, in terms of yield from reef systems. I identify changes in perspectives needed to move forward, suggest that we must be cautious of ,fashionable' solutions or apparent ,quick fixes', and argue that fundamental decisions must be made concerning the short and long-term values of coral reef-associated resources, particularly fish, for food and cash and regarding alternative sources of protein. Not to address the problems will inevitably lead to growing poverty, hardship and social unrest in many areas. [source] INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE ANALYSES OF CHANGE OF MIOMBO WOODLAND IN TANZANIA AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN LIVELIHOODGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2009LENNART STRÖMQUIST ABSTRACT. Landscapes bear witness to past and present natural and societal processes influencing the environment and human livelihoods. By analysing landscape change at different spatial scales over time the effects on the environment and human livelihoods of various external and internal driving forces of change can be studied. This paper presents such an analysis of miombo woodland surrounding the Mkata plains in central Tanzania. The rich natural landscape diversity of the study area in combination with its historical and political development makes it an ideal observation ground for this kind of study. The paper focuses on long-term physical and biological changes, mainly based on satellite information but also on field studies and a review of documents and literature. The miombo woodlands are highly dynamic semi-arid ecosystems found on a number of nutrient-poor soil groups. Most of the woodlands are related to an old, low-relief geomorphology of erosion surfaces with relatively deep and leached soils, or to a lesser extent also on escarpments and steep Inselberg slopes with poor soils. Each period in the past has cast its footprints on the landscape development and its potential for a sustainable future use. On a regional level there has been a continual decrease in forest area over time. Expansion of agriculture around planned villages, implemented during the 1970s, in some cases equals the loss of forest area (Mikumi-Ulaya), whilst in other areas (Kitulangalo), the pre-independence loss of woodland was small; the agricultural area was almost the same during the period 1975,1999, despite the fact that forests have been lost at an almost constant rate over the same period. Illegal logging and charcoal production are likely causes because of the proximity to the main highway running through the area. Contrasting to the general regional pattern are the conditions in a traditional village (Ihombwe), with low immigration of people and a maintained knowledge of the resource potential of the forest with regards to edible plants and animals. In this area the local community has control of the forest resources in a Forest Reserve, within which the woody vegetation has increased in spite of an expansion of agriculture on other types of village land. The mapping procedure has shown that factors such as access to transport and lack of local control have caused greater deforestation of certain areas than during the colonial period. Planned villages have furthermore continued to expand over forest areas well after their implementation, rapidly increasing the landscape fragmentation. One possible way to maintain landscape and biodiversity values is by the sustainable use of traditional resources, based on local knowledge of their management as illustrated by the little change observed in the traditionally used area. [source] Gradualism, Transparency and the Improved Operational Framework: A Look at Overnight Volatility Transmission,INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, Issue 2 2009Silvio Colarossi This paper proposes a possible way of assessing the effect on interest rate dynamics of changes in the decision-making method, in the communication strategy and in the operational framework of a central bank. Through a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) specification, we show that the United States and the euro area displayed a limited but significant spillover of volatility from money market to longer-term rates. We then checked the stability of this phenomenon in the most recent period of improved policy-making and found empirical evidence to show that the transmission of overnight volatility along the yield curve had entirely disappeared. [source] How to select the right mouthrinses in periodontal prevention and therapy.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 4 2003Part II. Abstract:, Based on scientific proof, only few mouthrinse solutions can be recommended. However, it is impossible to construct an extended table that would provide precise recommendations or advices for mouthrinse utilisation related to any possible discomfort or diseases. Only reliable information on the drugs available against periodontal disease can be offered to the therapist. By evaluation of her or his individual experiences, she or he has to judge all the armamentarium she or he possesses to react in the best possible way in each specific situation. [source] Perspectives on the 21st century development of functional foods: bridging Chinese medicated diet and functional foodsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Yue Xu Functional foods, also known as nutraceuticals, medical foods or nutritional foods, are driving food markets around the world and are expected to be one of the emerging trends for the food industry in the new millennium. The concept of functional foods is rooted in a tradition, particularly in Asia, where people have always believed that a balanced diet and some herbal foods are therapeutic. However, while extensive studies in biochemistry and immunology, as well as clinical trials, have been conducted on selected functional foods or ingredients, the scientific features of most traditional herbals remain almost unknown. However, the fastest growing food market in the United States is that of herbal-based nutraceuticals such as ginseng, garlic and medical mushrooms. This review describes different aspects of functional foods and the Chinese medicated diet on the basis of current knowledge, discusses the building blocks for the science of functional foods and proposes a possible way to fuse a Chinese medicated diet into functional foods. [source] Using 1,3-butadiene and 1,3,5-hexatriene to model the cis-trans isomerization of retinal, the chromophore in the visual pigment rhodopsinINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 4-5 2002Fredrik Blomgren Abstract The short polyenes 1,3-butadiene and 1,3,5-hexatriene are used to model the cis-trans isomerization of the protonated Schiff base of retinal (PSBR) in rhodopsin (Rh). We employed the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method for calculation of the potential energy surfaces (PESs) in C2 symmetry. In the calculations, the central bond was twisted from 0 to 180° in the first singly excited singlet state (Sse), i.e., the state dominated by a configuration with one electron excited from HOMO to LUMO. It was found that the PES of 1,3-butadiene has a maximum whereas the PES of 1,3,5-hexatriene has a minimum for a twist angle of 90°. This is explained by a shift in border of single and double bonds in the Sse state. The first step in the cis-trans isomerization of PSBR, which is the formation of the C6C7 (see Scheme 1 for numbering) twisted PSBR in the first excited singlet state (S1), inside the protein binding pocket of the visual pigment Rh is modeled using crystal coordinates and the calculations performed on 1,3-butadiene and 1,3,5-hexatriene. More specifically, a plausible approximate structure is calculated in a geometric way for the C6C7 90° twisted PSBR, which fits into the protein binding pocket in the best possible way. It has been shown earlier that PSBR has an energy minimum for this angle in S1. The CASSCF method was used to investigate the wave function of the calculated structure of PSBR. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002 [source] Hatching asynchrony and maternal androgens in egg yolks of House WrensJOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Lisa A. Ellis Synchronously and asynchronously hatching clutches of House Wrens Troglodytesaedon usually do not differ in reproductive success. Thus late-hatching nestlings in asynchronously hatching clutches somehow overcome any age- and size-related disadvantages of hatching after their nest-mates. One possible way for them to do this is for female House Wrens to add maternal androgens to the yolk of late-hatching eggs. We tested this hypothesis in a wild population of House Wrens that produces both asynchronously and synchronously hatching clutches. Yolks of eggs from both types of clutches were biopsied and the eggs returned to their nests to hatch. Radioimmunoassays revealed that total androgen levels in the yolk varied within and among clutches. However, total androgen levels in yolks did not vary predictably with egg position in either synchronously or asynchronously hatching clutches. Thus, deposition of androgens in yolk did not follow the expected pattern based on the potential for sibling competition in House Wrens. [source] Effects of nickel poisoning on expression pattern of the 72/73 and 94 kDa stress proteins in rat organs and in the COS-7, HepG2, and A549 cell linesJOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2005N. Hfaiedh Abstract The present study deals with the effects of Ni on the expression level of three stress proteins, namely, the cytosolic HSP72 and HSP73, and the reticulum-associated GRP94. Experiments were carried out on "Wistar" female rats daily injected with 4 mg NiCl2 per kg body weight for 1, 3, 5, and 10 days. Another set of experiments were carried out using cell lines, derived from the monkey kidney (COS-7), and from human tumors of the lung (A549) and liver (HepG2). Cells were cultured for 4 days in the permanent presence of 100, 200, or 400 µM NiCl2. In control rats, stress proteins pattern was found to be tissue specific: two protein bands of 96 and 94 kDa were immunodetected with the anti-GRP94 antibody in kidney and liver extracts, whereas only the 96 kDa band was present in ovary extracts. HSP73 was present in kidney, liver, and ovary whereas HSP72 was only found in kidney. In kidney of nickel-treated animals, HSP73 and the 96 kDa proteins were overexpressed whereas HSP72 was strongly down regulated. No such effect was observed in liver or ovary. Similarly, in nickel-treated cell lines, HSP72 was downregulated and GRP94 (96 kDa protein) was overexpressed. HSP73 expression appeared moderately increased in A549 cells but decreased in COS-7 cells. Because long-term caloric restriction was reported to reduce free radical generation in cells, the effect of 1 month food restriction (50%) was tested in rats as a possible way to lower oxidative damages induced by Ni. No significant effect on HSP expression was observed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 19:12,18, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20056 [source] The effect of surface treatments on the fretting behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloyJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008Matteo Dalmiglio Abstract Stem modularity in total hip replacement introduces an additional taper joint between Ti-6Al-4V stem components with the potential for fretting corrosion processes. One possible way to reduce the susceptibility of the Ti-6Al-4V/Ti-6Al-4V interface to fretting is the surface modification of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Among the tested, industrially available surface treatments, a combination of two deep anodic spark deposition treatments followed by barrel polishing resulted in a four times lower material release with respect to untreated, machined fretting pad surfaces. The fretting release has been quantified by means of radiotracers introduced in the alloy surface by proton irradiation. In a simple sphere on flat geometry, the semispherical fretting pads were pressed against flat, dog-bone shaped Ti-6Al-4V fatigue samples cyclically loaded at 4 Hz. In this way a cyclic displacement amplitude along the surfaces of 20 ,m has been achieved. A further simplification consisted in the use of deionized water as lubricant. A comparison of the radiotracer results with an electrochemical material characterization after selected treatments by potentiostatic tests of modular stems in 0.9% NaCl at 40°C for 10 days confirmed the benefit of deep anodic spark deposition and subsequent barrel polishing for improving the fretting behavior of Ti-6Al-4V. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008 [source] Long-lasting infiltration anaesthesia by lidocaine-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles in hydrogel in ratsACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 9 2009Q.-Q. YIN Background: Infiltration of a long-lasting anaesthetic is helpful during the post-operative period. The recently developed local drug delivery system, biodegradable nanoparticles in a thermo-sensitive hydrogel (nanogel system), may possibly provide an extended duration of drugs. Therefore, we evaluated whether prolonged infiltration anaesthesia could be achieved by loading lidocaine into this delivery system. Methods: Thirty male rats were randomized into five groups of six rats each: saline; 2% hydrochloride lidocaine solution; lidocaine-loaded nanogel system and its compositing formulations, namely lido,nano gel; lido,nano; and lidogel. Durations of local anaesthesia with subcutaneously injected agents were measured by tail flick latency tests in a randomized, blind fashion. Results: Lido,nano gel produced effective anaesthesia for 360±113 min, compared with 150±33 min by lidogel, 180±37 min by lido,nano, and 110±45 min by lidocaine solution (P<0.001, means±SD), and elicited complete sensory blockade for 300±114 min, compared with 75±37 min by lidogel, 105±53 min by lido,nano, and 60±33 min by lidocaine solution (P<0.001, means±SD) without severe skin/systemic toxicity. Conclusion: Lidocaine-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles in hydrogel produced prolonged infiltration anaesthesia in rats without severe toxicity, indicating a possible way to develop long-lasting local anaesthetics. [source] Patients' experiences of hope and suffering during the first year following acute spinal cord injuryJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2005Vibeke Lohne MNSc Aims and objectives., The aim of this study was to explore patients' experiences of hope during the first year suffering from spinal cord injury. Background., There is a lack of substantial precision with regard to the concept of hope. Very few qualitative studies focusing on experiences of hope in spinal cord-injured patients have been identified in the literature. In this study, ,hope' was defined as future oriented towards improvement. Design and methods., Data were collected by means of personal interviews (n = 10) at the participants' homes in Norway. A phenomenological-hermeneutic approach, inspired by Ricoeur, was used to extract the meaning of the patients' experiences. The analysis was performed in several steps, as a hermeneutic process. Results., In this study, the findings revealed two main themes: ,The Vicious Circle' and ,Longing'. The vicious circle constituted aspects of suffering, and the common hope experienced by the subjects was therefore to leave the vicious circle. Experiences of suffering were experienced as feelings of loneliness, impatience, disappointment, bitterness and dependency. The ,Longing' was based on the subject's former life and was the source of awaked new hopes, which again was experienced comforting. Conclusions., Experiences of suffering created hope and longing. The meaning of hope was to find a possible way out of the circle and the hoping was experienced as a comfort. Relevance to clinical practice., Implications to nursing practice are listening to the suffering and longing individual and comforting the suffering by pointing towards possible future roads of hope. [source] A multicenter pharmacokinetic study of the B-domain deleted recombinant factor VIII concentrate using different assays and standardsJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 11 2003M. Morfini Summary., When the one-stage clotting assay is used in comparison with the chromogenic and immunological assays, plasma levels of factor (F)VIII are underestimated by 40,50% after infusion of B-domain deleted recombinant FVIII (BDD-rFVIII) in patients with hemophilia. A possible way to counteract the underestimation of FVIII levels by the one-stage assay is the adoption of a recombinant FVIII reference standard instead of a plasma standard. To evaluate the usefulness of such a standard [ReFacto® Laboratory Standard (RLS)], the pharmacokinetic parameters of a single dose of BDD-rFVIII (25 U kg,1) were evaluated in a multicenter study carried out in 18 patients with severe hemophilia A. The very low in vivo recovery, obtained with the combination of the one-stage assay and plasma reference standard, was increased up to the values obtained by the chromogenic assay when the results were expressed in terms of RLS. When the plasma standard was used, the one-stage/chromogenic ratio was 0.82 ± 0.12 for FVIII levels above 25 U dL,1 and 1.42 ± 0.99 for FVIII levels below 25 U dL,1. Using the RLS, the one-stage/chromogenic ratio increased to 1.01 ± 0.19 at FVIII levels above 25 U dL,1, as a consequence of a complete overlap of the two decays; however, at FVIII levels below 25 U dL,1, the one-stage/chromogenic ratio was still 1.6 ± 0.85. After the twelfth hour, FVIII concentrations obtained by chromogenic assay were always lower than those resulting from the one-stage clotting assay, independently of the standard used. Results obtained by chromogenic assay were not affected by the type of standard used. Compared with those obtained by the one-stage assay, higher values of clearance, lower volume of distribution area and shorter plasma half-life or mean residence time were obtained by chromogenic assay because of a shape change of the decay curve due to a shift to higher values in the first part (time interval 0,12 h) and to lower values in the second part of the decay curve (time interval 12,48 h). As a consequence, the slope of the decay curve obtained by means of chromogenic assay was steeper. In conclusion, the more homogeneous results of in vivo recovery and pharmacokinetic analysis, due to the decrease of discrepancy between the two methods when RLS was used, make the cheaper and more widely used one-stage assay preferable to the more expensive chromogenic assay, on condition that the ReFacto specific standard has used. [source] Strategic management of the Tokyo taxi cab industry: an exploratory studyKNOWLEDGE AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT: THE JOURNAL OF CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION, Issue 1 2007Walter Skok Taxicabs are an indispensable means of transportation in Tokyo, as they provide a 24/7 door-to-door service for a daily average of 1.3 million people. In 2002, legislation was introduced to abolish restrictions on the number of taxicabs on the road. This relaxation of regulation, together with the corresponding recession, raised new issues such as increasing cab numbers and reducing drivers' wages. The wide variety of stakeholders involved within the taxicab industry have conflicting positions, resulting in little agreement on the possible way forward. An exploratory study was therefore undertaken in order to investigate the management of Tokyo's taxicab operations in order to formulate strategies for improving the service. Two related papers report on the study. This paper starts by providing an understanding of the current situation, examining the roles of the major stakeholders and outlining day-to-day operations. Academic frameworks, for example PEST, Critical Success Factors and the Cultural Web, from the strategic management literature, are used to identify the structure of the industry and analyse the environment in which it operates. The results found that Tokyo's taxicab industry is highly efficient operationally, due to the high standard of customer service, effective driver's learning scheme and active use of IT. However, a paradoxical situation has been identified where the demand for cabs has decreased even though the available vehicles have increased. Finally, a uniform method to measure the level of taxicab service is recommended. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Literacy in the secondary curriculumLITERACY, Issue 1 2001David Wray The much-signalled extension of the National Literacy Strategy from primary to secondary schools is now in full swing and many secondary teachers are actively looking for practical guidance on ways forward with this national priority. One way of providing such guidance is to outline a common language with which secondary teachers of all subjects can discuss the role of literacy within their subjects. This article puts forward one possible way of developing this common language, by building on the work of Freebody and Luke (1990) in Australia who suggest a literacy resource model. This model is applied to the teaching of literacy within the three core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. [source] Nanometric crystal defects in transmission electron microscopyMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 5 2006Robin Schäublin Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is revisited in order to define methods for the identification of nanometric defects. Nanometric crystal defects play an important role as they influence, generally in a detrimental way, physical properties. For instance, radiation-induced damage in metals strongly degrades mechanical properties, rendering the material stronger but brittle. The difficulty in using TEM to identify the nature and size of such defects resides in their small size. TEM image simulations are deployed to explore limits and possible ways to improve on spatial resolution and contrast. The contrast of dislocation loops, cavities, and a stacking fault tetrahedra (SFT) are simulated in weak beam, interfering reflections (HRTEM), and scanned condensed electron probe (STEM) mode. Results indicate that STEM is a possible way to image small defects. In addition, a new objective aperture is proposed to improve resolution in diffraction contrast. It is investigated by simulations of the weak beam imaging of SFT and successfully applied in experimental observations. Microsc. Res. Tech. 69:305,316, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Sustaining appearances: sustainable development and the fisheries of Lake VictoriaNATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 3 2001Kevin Crean Abstract The fisheries of Lake Victoria have undergone a major transformation over the last three decades. The character of the lake has been subject to the influence of many powerful factors including: substantial increases in fishing effort; growing integration into the global fish market; acceleration of anthropogenic activities in the catchment area; demographic change; the influence of adverse shifts in the climate; and introduction of exotic plant and animal species. The task of managing the lake's resources, therefore, has never been more daunting. This article argues that, in most cases, the authorities charged with achieving the goal of sustainable development for the fishery, have failed to address the symptoms,let alone the origins,of the current unsustainable tendencies embedded in the social, economic and political fabric of Lake Victoria's riparian States. It is these factors that directly impinge upon the success of management initiatives for the lake. The article argues that if sustainable development is to be achieved, then stakeholders must act in concert, eliminate unsustainable practices and reprogramme development plans to focus on realistic goals. A possible way forward will be to develop a participatory management system. [source] Overexpression of the acidic dehydrin WCOR410 improves freezing tolerance in transgenic strawberry leavesPLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 5 2004Mario Houde Summary Progress in freezing tolerance (FT) improvement through plant breeding approaches has met with little success in the last 50 years. Engineering plants for greater FT through plant transformation is one possible way to reduce the damage caused by freezing. Here, we report an improvement of the selection procedure and the transfer of the wheat Wcor410a acidic dehydrin gene in strawberry. The encoded protein has previously been shown to be associated with the plasma membrane, and its level of accumulation has been correlated with the degree of FT in different wheat genotypes. The WCOR410 protein was expressed in transgenic strawberry at a level comparable with that in cold-acclimated wheat. Freezing tests showed that cold-acclimated transgenic strawberry leaves had a 5 °C improvement of FT over wild-type or transformed leaves not expressing the WCOR410 protein. However, no difference in FT was found between the different plants under non-acclimated conditions, suggesting that the WCOR410 protein needs to be activated by another factor induced during cold acclimation. These data demonstrate that the WCOR410 protein prevents membrane injury and greatly improves FT in leaves of transgenic strawberry. A better understanding of the limiting factors allowing its activation may open up the way for engineering FT in different plant organs, and may find applications for the cryopreservation of human tissues and organs. [source] Local and non-local ductile damage and failure modelling at large deformation with applications to engineeringPROCEEDINGS IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS & MECHANICS, Issue 1 2003Bob Svendsen Prof. Dr. The numerical analysis of ductile damage and failure in engineering materials is often based on the micromechanical model of Gurson [1]. Numerical studies in the context of the finite-element method demonstrate that, as with other such types of local damage models, the numerical simulation of the initiation and propagation of damage zones is strongly mesh-dependent and thus unreliable. The numerical problems concern the global load-displacement response as well as the onset, size and orientation of damage zones. From a mathematical point of view, this problem is caused by the loss of ellipticity of the set of partial di.erential equations determining the (rate of) deformation field. One possible way to overcome these problems with and shortcomings of the local modelling is the application of so-called non-local damage models. In particular, these are based on the introduction of a gradient type evolution equation of the damage variable regarding the spatial distribution of damage. In this work, we investigate the (material) stability behaviour of local Gurson-based damage modelling and a gradient-extension of this modelling at large deformation in order to be able to model the width and other physical aspects of the localization of the damage and failure process in metallic materials. [source] Can density functional theory (DFT) be used as an aid to a deeper understanding of tandem mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways?RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 17 2009Alexander Alex Prediction of tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) fragmentation for non-peptidic molecules based on structure is of immense interest to the mass spectrometrist. If a reliable approach to MS/MS prediction could be achieved its impact within the pharmaceutical industry could be immense. Many publications have stressed that the fragmentation of a molecular ion or protonated molecule is a complex process that depends on many parameters, making prediction difficult. Commercial prediction software relies on a collection of general heuristic rules of fragmentation, which involve cleaving every bond in the structure to produce a list of ,expected' masses which can be compared with the experimental data. These approaches do not take into account the thermodynamic or molecular orbital effects that impact on the molecule at the point of protonation which could influence the potential sites of bond cleavage based on the structural motif. A series of compounds have been studied by examining the experimentally derived high-resolution MS/MS data and comparing it with the in silico modelling of the neutral and protonated structures. The effect that protonation at specific sites can have on the bond lengths has also been determined. We have calculated the thermodynamically most stable protonated species and have observed how that information can help predict the cleavage site for that ion. The data have shown that this use of in silico techniques could be a possible way to predict MS/MS spectra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] ORIGINAL RESEARCH,SEXUAL PAIN DISORDERS: The Association between Sexual Function, Pain, and Psychological Adaptation of Men Diagnosed with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Type IIITHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008Sylvie Aubin PhD ABSTRACT Introduction., Prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is known to have a negative impact on quality of life, especially on intimate relationships and sexual function. Information is, however, missing on the contribution of demographic and psychological variables to sexual variables. Aim., We compared the sexual function of men with CPPS to men without pain, and examined the relationship between the sexual, demographic, and psychological measures in men with CPPS. Main Outcome Measures., Self-report questionnaires assessing demographic, pain, sexual function, and psychological adaptation. Methods., The sample consisted of 72 men diagnosed with CPPS and 98 men without any pain condition. Self-report questionnaires measuring demographic, pain, and sexual function were completed once at the eligibility visit by all subjects. CPPS subjects completed additional questionnaires related to pain and psychological adaptation. Results., CPPS subjects differed from controls by reporting significantly less frequent sexual desire or thoughts, less frequent sexual activities, less arousal/erectile function, less orgasm function, and higher frequencies of genital pain during/after intercourse. When we adjusted for age and marital status, the difference between groups remained for thoughts/desire, frequency of sexual activity, and arousal/erectile function. Analysis of factors related to sexual function in CPPS subjects included pain status and psychological adaptation. Results showed that frequency of sexual activity decreased with increasing depression, whereas arousal/erectile function decreased with increasing pain symptoms and stress appraisal. Orgasm function decreased with increasing depression and pleasure/satisfaction decreased with increasing pain symptoms, stress appraisal, and decreasing belief of a relationship between emotions and pain. Conclusions., We found a differential sexual profile for men with CPPS when compared to men without pain. The results suggest that interventions addressing psychological factors affecting sexual responses should be further studied in prospective clinical trials as one possible way to improve sexual function and satisfaction in men with CPPS. Aubin S, Berger RE, Herman JR, and Ciol MA. The association between sexual function, pain, and psychological adaptation of men diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain syndrome type III. J Sex Med 2008;5:657,667. [source] Hydrogen production by photoautotrophic sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii pre-grown and incubated under high lightBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 4 2009Irina V. Tolstygina Abstract We have previously demonstrated that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can produce hydrogen under strictly photoautotrophic conditions during sulfur deprivation [Tsygankov et al. (2006); Int J Hydrogen Energy 3:1574,1584]. The maximum hydrogen photoproduction was achieved by photoautotrophic cultures pre-grown under a low light regime (25 µE,m,2,s,1). We failed to establish sustained hydrogen production from cultures pre-grown under high light (100 µE,m,2,s,1). A new approach for sustained hydrogen production by these cultures is presented here. Assuming that stable and reproducible transition to anerobiosis as well as high starch accumulation are important for hydrogen production, the influence of light intensity and dissolved oxygen concentration during the oxygen evolving stage of sulfur deprivation were investigated in cultures pre-grown under high light. Results showed that light higher than 175 µE,m,2,s,1 during sulfur deprivation induced reproducible transition to anerobiosis, although the total amount of starch accumulation and hydrogen production were insignificant. The potential PSII activity measured in the presence of an artificial electron acceptor (DCBQ) and an inhibitor of electron transport (DBMIB) did not change in cultures pre-grown under 20 µE,m,2,s,1 and incubated under 150 µE,m,2,s,1 during sulfur deprivation. In contrast, the potential PSII activity decreased in cultures pre-grown under 100 µE,m,2,s,1 and incubated under 420 µE,m,2,s,1. This indicates that cultures grown under higher light experience irreversible inhibition of PSII in addition to reversible down regulation. High dissolved O2 content during the oxygen evolving stage of sulfur deprivation has a negative regulatory role on PSII activity. To increase hydrogen production by C. reinhardtii pre-grown under 100 µE,m,2,s,1, cultures were incubated under elevated PFD and decreased oxygen pressure during the oxygen evolving stage. These cultures reproducibly reached anaerobic stage, accumulated significant quantities of starch and produced significant quantities of H2. It was found that elevation of pH from 7.4 to 7.7 during the oxygen producing stage of sulfur deprivation led to a significant increase of accumulated starch. Thus, control of pH during sulfur deprivation is a possible way to further optimize hydrogen production by photoautotrophic cultures. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 1055,1061. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Coping With Missing Attribute Values Based on Closest Fit in Preterm Birth Data: A Rough Set ApproachCOMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, Issue 3 2001Jerzy W. Grzymala-Busse Data mining is frequently applied to data sets with missing attribute values. A new approach to missing attribute values, called closest fit, is introduced in this paper. In this approach, for a given case (example) with a missing attribute value we search for another case that is as similar as possible to the given case. Cases can be considered as vectors of attribute values. The search is for the case that has as many as possible identical attribute values for symbolic attributes, or as the smallest possible value differences for numerical attributes. There are two possible ways to conduct a search: within the same class (concept) as the case with the missing attribute values, or for the entire set of all cases. For comparison, we also experimented with another approach to missing attribute values, where the missing values are replaced by the most common value of the attribute for symbolic attributes or by the average value for numerical attributes. All algorithms were implemented in the system OOMIS. Our experiments were performed on the preterm birth data sets provided by the Duke University Medical Center. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||