Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Primary Goal (primary + goal)
Selected AbstractsBenefits of moderate weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetesDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 3 2010Ken Fujioka Weight loss is a primary goal of therapy in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. This review examines whether positive patient outcomes are observed even after relatively small amounts of weight loss, that is, weight loss being more easily attainable in practice. Clinical studies demonstrate that therapeutic benefit rises with increasing weight loss, but that losses as low as 0.45,4 kg (1,9 lb) have positive effects on metabolic control, cardiovascular risk factors and mortality rates. Even the intention to lose weight, without significant success, can improve outcomes in patients with diabetes, presumably because of the healthy behaviours associated with the attempt. The current data support a continued focus on weight loss, including moderate weight loss, as a key component of good care for overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. [source] A cardiologist view of vascular disease in diabetesDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 4 2008Christopher J. Lockhart Diabetes mellitus is a potent risk factor for the development of a wide spectrum of cardiovascular (CV) complications. The complex metabolic milieu accompanying diabetes alters blood rheology, the structure of arteries and disrupts the homeostatic functions of the endothelium. These changes act as the substrate for end-organ damage and the occurrence of CV events. In those who develop acute coronary syndromes, patients with diabetes are more likely to die, both in the acute phase and during follow-up. Patients with diabetes are also more likely to suffer from chronic cardiac failure, independently of the presence of large vessel disease, and also more likely to develop stroke, renal failure and peripheral vascular disease. Preventing vascular events is the primary goal of therapy. Optimal cardiac care for the patient with diabetes should focus on aggressive management of traditional CV risk factors to optimize blood glucose, lipid and blood pressure control. Targeting medical therapy to improve plaque stability and diminish platelet hyper-responsiveness reduces the frequency of events associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden. In patients with critical lesions, revascularization strategies, either percutaneous or surgical, will often be necessary to improve symptoms and prevent vascular events. Improved understanding of the vascular biology will be crucial for the development of new therapeutic agents to prevent CV events and improve outcomes in patients with diabetes. [source] International Diabetes Federation: a consensus on Type 2 diabetes preventionDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 5 2007K. G. M. M. Alberti Abstract Aims, Early intervention and avoidance or delay of progression to Type 2 diabetes is of enormous benefit to patients in terms of increasing life expectancy and quality of life, and potentially in economic terms for society and health-care payers. To address the growing impact of Type 2 diabetes the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Taskforce on Prevention and Epidemiology convened a consensus workshop in 2006. The primary goal of the workshop and this document was the prevention of Type 2 diabetes in both the developed and developing world. A second aim was to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people who are identified as being at a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. The IDF plan for prevention of Type 2 diabetes is based on controlling modifiable risk factors and can be divided into two target groups: ,,People at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes ,,The entire population. Conclusions, In planning national measures for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes, both groups should be targeted simultaneously with lifestyle modification the primary goal through a stepwise approach. In addition, it is important that all activities are tailored to the specific local situation. Further information on the prevention of diabetes can be found on the IDF website: http://www.idf.org/prevention. [source] Hand-Held Echocardiogram Does Not Aid in Triaging Chest Pain Patients from the Emergency DepartmentECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2009Mayank Kansal M.D. Background: Accurate triage of emergency department (ED) patients presenting with chest pain is a primary goal of the ED physician. In addition to standard clinical history and examination, a hand-held echocardiogram (HHE) may aid the emergency physician in making correct decisions. We tested the hypothesis that an HHE performed and interpreted by a cardiology fellow could help risk-stratify patients presenting to the ED with chest pain. Methods: ED physicians evaluated 36 patients presenting with cardiovascular symptoms. Patients were then dispositioned to either an intensive care bed, a monitored bed, an unmonitored bed, or home. Following disposition, an HHE was performed and interpreted by a cardiology fellow to evaluate for cardiac function and pathology. The outcomes evaluated (1) a change in the level of care and (2) additional testing ordered as a result of the HHE. Results: The HHE showed wall motion abnormalities in 31% (11 out of 36) of the studies, but the level of care did not change after HHE for any patients who presented with chest pain to the ED. No additional laboratory or imaging tests were ordered for any patients based on the results of the HHE. Eighty-six percent (31 out of 36) of the studies were of adequate quality for interpretation, and 32 out of 36 (89%) interpretations correlated with an attending overread. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of abnormal wall motion in this population, hand-held echocardiography performed in this ED setting did not aid in the risk stratification process of chest pain patients. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 26, July 2009) [source] Allometric scaling of maximum population density: a common rule for marine phytoplankton and terrestrial plantsECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 5 2002Andrea Belgrano A primary goal of macroecology is to identify principles that apply across varied ecosystems and taxonomic groups. Here we show that the allometric relationship observed between maximum abundance and body size for terrestrial plants can be extended to predict maximum population densities of marine phytoplankton. These results imply that the abundance of primary producers is similarly constrained in terrestrial and marine systems by rates of energy supply as dictated by a common allometric scaling law. They also highlight the existence of general mechanisms linking rates of individual metabolism to emergent properties of ecosystems. [source] An Approach to Interdisciplinary Training in Postgraduate EducationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 2 2006P Brodin Aims, A primary goal for clinical graduate training is to provide the student with the expertise required for specialist treatment in the actual discipline. At the same time there is an increasing need for a broader perspective on specialist care and the students should be aware of the limitations inherent in own specialty. In order to plan treatment in the best interest of the patient, and to be prepared to take part in treatments involving other specialties, the students should be exposed to interdisciplinary cooperation throughout the training. An approach to joint academic and clinical training with the purpose of providing graduate students with a broader perspective on specialist care is described and discussed. Material and methods, During their first year graduate students in the 7 different disciplines complete a joint Core Curriculum consisting of 8 different courses to stimulate a scientific approach to their profession and understanding of basic biologic mechanisms. To create a learning environment focusing on the development of interdisciplinary competence, a joint clinic has been established. Teams of students from different disciplines have been organized in order to establish ,partnership' for the treatment of patients with complex problems. The students also take part in the sessions held by a faculty Team of experts for assessment and treatment planning of referred patients with complex problems. Furthermore, faculty members conduct courses and seminars for students from other disciplines and students also participate in selected parts of the regular program in other disciplines. Results, Formal evaluation has so far been conducted for the Core Curriculum. Most students respond that they are satisfied with the courses, and the curriculum has also been adjusted based on the comments. The students report that treatment of patients in need of interdisciplinary treatment has been facilitated by having ,partners' in other disciplines. Participation in the Team of expert's sessions has been appreciated, and the attendance at interdisciplinary courses and seminars has been good. Conclusions, Based on the experience over the last 5 years, the interdisciplinary aspects of graduate training should be expanded to stimulate a holistic approach also to specialist treatment. [source] Strategic Moral Diplomacy: Mandela, Qaddafi, and the Lockerbie NegotiationsFOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS, Issue 1 2005Lyn Boyd-Judson Understanding and mitigating the consequences of clashing moral perceptions should be a primary goal of diplomacy and foreign policy analysis. Personal interviews and primary documents about the Lockerbie negotiations are used to illustrate the dangerous collision of different moral claims in the international arena, the mistakes made by the United States and United Kingdom in handling this aspect of the negotiations, and South African President Nelson Mandela's use of strategic moral diplomacy to resolve the stalemate between Libya, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Mandela's strategy in these negotiations is an example of how an intelligent and pragmatic moral position, rather than the conventional image of an enemy as evil, can produce the desired strategic results,in this case, Colonel Qaddafi's handover of the two Libyan citizens accused of the Lockerbie bombing. [source] The c.43_44insCTG variation in PCSK9 is associated with low plasma LDL-cholesterol in a Caucasian population,,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 5 2006Pin Yue Abstract The genetic etiology of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is unclear in the majority of cases. Mutations in apolipoprotein B (APOB) are the only confirmed causes of FHBL. Recently, loss-of-function mutations of PCSK9 gene have been shown to be associated with the hypocholesterolemia phenotype. Our primary goal was to confirm that mutations in PCSK9 could be another cause of FHBL. Using the sequencing approach, we found that the c.43_44insCTG variation in PCSK9, a common in-frame insertion in both African American and Caucasian populations, is associated with the hypocholesterolemia phenotype in three FHBL families. Then we tested whether this variation could be associated with lower cholesterol levels in the general population. A total of 403 subjects from a Caucasian population, in which hypobetalipoprotein (HBL) and normal groups were classified using standard criteria, were sequenced for this variation. The allele frequency of this variation in the HBL group was 0.186, but was only 0.128 in the normal lipid group. The mean plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol level in subjects heterozygous for this variant is significantly lower than that in the normal group (p<0.01). Heterozygous subjects also had higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels (p<0.01). In general, LDL-cholesterol concentration in individuals with PCSK9 c.43_44insCTG variation was ,10,15 mg/dL lower than that in normal individuals. We conclude that the c.43_44insCTG variant plays a role in lowering cholesterol in the general population. Hum Mutat 27(5), 460,466, 2006. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Processes governing river water quality identified by principal component analysisHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 16 2002I. Haag Abstract The present study demonstrates the usefulness of principal component analysis in condensing and interpreting multivariate time-series of water quality data. In a case study the water quality system of the lock-regulated part of the River Neckar (Germany) was analysed, with special emphasis on the oxygen budget. Pooled data of ten water quality parameters and discharge, which had been determined at six stations along a 200 km reach of the river between the years 1993 and 1998, were subjected to principal component analysis. The analysis yielded four stable principal components, explaining 72% of the total variance of the 11 parameters. The four components could be interpreted confidently in terms of underlying processes: biological activity, dilution by high discharge, seasonal effects and the influence of wastewater. From analysing the data of single stations separately, these processes were found to be active throughout the complete reach. Considering the oxygen budget of the river, the variance of biological activity, representing the counteracting processes of primary production and microbial degradation, was found to be most important. This principal component explained 79% of the observed variance of oxygen saturation. In contrast, the analysis of a reduced data set from the 1970s showed that oxygen saturation was then dominated by discharge and temperature variations. The findings indicate that the oxygen budget used to be governed directly by the emission of degradable matter, whereas nowadays eutrophication is most important for extreme oxygen concentrations. Therefore, controlling eutrophication has to be the primary goal, in order to mitigate the rare episodes of pronounced oxygen over- and undersaturation in the future. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Evaluating five dedicated automatic devices for haemoglobinopathy diagnostics in multi-ethnic populationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2009P. VAN DELFT Summary We have tested five haemoglobin (Hb) separation apparatuses, dedicated to haemoglobinopathy diagnostics. These are the four high performance liquid chromatography devices: VARIANT IIÔ, HA 8160, G7, Ultra2 and the Capillary Electrophoresis apparatus from Sebia. In the first place, we focussed on the capacity of all apparatuses to detect the most common structural variants relevant for public health, these being HbS, HbC, HbE, HbD-Punjab and HbO-Arab. We then compared how the high HbA2,-thalassaemia carriers were identified. All apparatuses were able to identify carriers of these traits with the expected sensitivity and specificity. With the primary goal of a high degree of conformity in basic diagnostics of haemoglobinopathies, we present the interpretation and the significance of the results on all apparatuses, and we comment on the unavoidable problems and solutions. [source] Pension reform in ChinaINTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY REVIEW, Issue 3 2008Felix Salditt Abstract This article analyses China's progress in creating a national old-age insurance system, providing a detailed description of the system and an assessment of the degree to which it has so far realised its primary goal of social security for more people. Since 1997, there have been many reforms, but despite progress, the scope of the system is limited, with the coverage rate among urban employees being below 50 per cent. The rural population largely remains outside the system, and it seems likely that the majority of the population will be dependent on family support for many years to come. There is a "demographic window" until around 2015 to address these shortcomings. Extending coverage through improved compliance by employees and companies as well as the continuing financial commitment towards the National Social Security Fund are crucial to create the financial and institutional basis that can cushion the effects of a much older population in the years ahead. [source] Signaling mechanisms in skeletal muscle: Acute responses and chronic adaptations to exerciseIUBMB LIFE, Issue 3 2008Katja S.C. Röckl Abstract Physical activity elicits physiological responses in skeletal muscle that result in a number of health benefits, in particular in disease states, such as type 2 diabetes. An acute bout of exercise/muscle contraction improves glucose homeostasis by increasing skeletal muscle glucose uptake, while chronic exercise training induces alterations in the expression of metabolic genes, such as those involved in muscle fiber type, mitochondrial biogenesis, or glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein levels. A primary goal of exercise research is to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate these important metabolic and transcriptional events in skeletal muscle. In this review, we briefly summarize the current literature describing the molecular signals underlying skeletal muscle responses to acute and chronic exercise. The search for possible exercise/contraction-stimulated signaling proteins involved in glucose transport, muscle fiber type, and mitochondrial biogenesis is ongoing. Further research is needed because full elucidation of exercise-mediated signaling pathways would represent a significant step toward the development of new pharmacological targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(3): 145,153, 2008 [source] A nurse-led cardiac rehabilitation programme improves health behaviours and cardiac physiological risk parameters: evidence from Chengdu, ChinaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 10 2007Xiaolian Jiang MSc Aim., The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a cardiac rehabilitation programme on health behaviours and physiological risk parameters in patients with coronary heart disease in Chengdu, China. Background., Epidemiological studies indicate a dose-, level- and duration-dependent relationship exists between cardiac behavioural and physiological risks and coronary heart disease incidence as well as subsequent cardiac morbidity and mortality. Cardiac risk factor modification has become the very primary goal of modern cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Design methods., A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Coronary heart disease patients (n = 167) who met the sampling criteria in two tertiary medical centres in Chengdu, south-west China, were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (the cardiac rehabilitation programme) or control group (the routine care). The change of health behaviours (walking performance, step II diet adherence, medication adherence, smoking cessation) and physiological risk parameters (serum lipids, blood pressure, body weight) were assessed to evaluate the programme effect. Results., Patients in the intervention group demonstrated a significantly better performance in walking, step II diet adherence, medication adherence; a significantly greater reduction in serum lipids including triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein; and significantly better control of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at three months. The majority of these positive impacts were maintained at six months. The effect of the programme on smoking cessation, body weight, serum high-density lipoprotein, was not confirmed. Conclusions., A cardiac rehabilitation programme led by a nurse can significantly improve the health behaviours and cardiac physiological risk parameters in coronary heart disease patients. Nurses can fill significant treatment gaps in the risk factor management of patients with coronary heart disease. Relevance to clinical practice., This study raises attention regarding the important roles nurses can play in cardiac rehabilitation and the unique way for nurses to meet the rehabilitative care needs of coronary heart disease patients. Furthermore, the hospital,home bridging nature of the programme also created a model for interfacing the acute care and community rehabilitative care. [source] Empirical tests of life-history evolution theory using phylogenetic analysis of plant demographyJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Jean H. Burns Summary 1. A primary goal of evolutionary ecology is to understand factors selecting for the diversity of life histories. Life-history components, such as time-to-reproduction, adult survivorship and fecundity, might differ among species because of variation in direct and indirect benefits of these life histories in different environments or might have lower-than-expected variability because of phylogenetic constraints. Here, we present a phylogenetic examination of demography and life histories using a data base of 204 terrestrial plant species. 2. Overall, statistical models without phylogeny were preferred to models with phylogeny for vital rates and elasticities, suggesting that they lacked phylogenetic signal and are evolutionarily labile. However, the effect of phylogeny was significant in models including sensitivities, suggesting that sensitivities exhibit greater phylogenetic signal than vital rates or elasticities. 3. Species with a greater age at first reproduction had lower fecundity, consistent with a cost of delayed reproduction, but only in some habitats (e.g. grassland). We found no evidence for an indirect benefit of delayed reproduction via a decrease in variation in fecundity with age to first reproduction. 4. The greater sensitivity and lower variation in survival than in fecundity was consistent with buffering of more important vital rates, as others have also found. This suggests that studies of life-history evolution should include survival, rather than only fecundity, for the majority of species. 5.Synthesis. Demographic matrix models can provide informative tests of life-history theory because of their shared construction and outputs and their widespread use among plant ecologists. Our comparative analysis suggested that there is a cost of delayed reproduction and that more important vital rates exhibit lower variability. The absolute importance of vital rates to population growth rates (sensitivities) exhibited phylogenetic signal, suggesting that a thorough understanding of life-history evolution might require an understanding of the importance of vital rates, not just their means, and the role of phylogenetic history. [source] THE INFLUENCE OF FUNDAMENTALS ON EXCHANGE RATES: FINDINGS FROM ANALYSES OF NEWS EFFECTSJOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SURVEYS, Issue 4 2010Rafael R. Rebitzky Abstract As we survey the literature of macroeconomic news in the foreign exchange market, we can by now look back on nearly 30 years of research. The first studies which analysed news effects on exchange rates were established in the early 1990s (see, for example, Dornbusch). Almost at the same time Meese and Rogoff published their influential paper, revealing the forecasting inferiority in exchange rates of structural models against the random walk. This finding has shocked the pillars of exchange rate economics and thus cast general suspicion on research focusing on fundamentals in this field. The eventual rising popularity of event studies can partly be attributed to the re-establishment of the,raison d'être,of exchange rate economics. This work focuses on systematically surveying this literature with particular respect to its primary goal, i.e. shedding light on the analytical value of fundamental research. Thus, its major findings are, first, fundamental news does matter, whereas non-fundamental news matters to a lesser degree. Second, news influences exchange rates via two separated channels, i.e. incorporating common information into prices directly or indirectly based upon order flow. Third, with a few exceptions the impact of fundamental news on exchange rates is fairly stable over time. [source] The Rationale for and Comparisons of Different Antiplatelet Treatments in Acute Coronary SyndromeJOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 2008PAUL A. GURBEL M.D. Fundamentally, acute coronary syndromes are platelet-centric diseases, resulting from platelet-rich thrombi that develop at the site of vessel wall injury. In addition to aggregation, platelets modulate a plethora of other important pathophysiologic processes, including inflammation and coagulation. Therefore, a primary goal of therapy in the acute setting should be treatment with agents that provide predictable and superior platelet inhibition to prevent further ischemic events that develop from unchecked high platelet reactivity. Translational research studies of patients undergoing percutaneous revascularization have clearly demonstrated that adverse thrombotic outcomes are associated with high platelet reactivity and the latter is now emerging as a potent measurable cardiovascular risk factor. The intensity of antithrombotic therapy is influenced by patient risk. In the highest risk patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers indicative of myonecrosis, current guidelines support the use of early therapy with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition, aspirin, and clopidogrel. [source] Toward a Neurobehavioral Profile of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisordersALCOHOLISM, Issue 9 2010Sarah N. Mattson Background:, A primary goal of recent research is the development of neurobehavioral profiles that specifically define fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which may assist differential diagnosis or improve treatment. In the current study, we define a preliminary profile using neuropsychological data from a multisite study. Methods:, Data were collected using a broad neurobehavioral protocol from 2 sites of a multisite study of FASD. Subjects were children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and unexposed controls. The alcohol-exposed group included children with and without fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). From 547 neuropsychological variables, 22 variables were selected for analysis based on their ability to distinguish children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure from nonexposed controls. These data were analyzed using latent profile analysis (LPA). Results:, The results indicated that a 2-class model best fit the data. The resulting profile was successful at distinguishing subjects with FAS from nonexposed controls without FAS with 92% overall accuracy; 87.8% of FAS cases and 95.7% of controls were correctly classified. The same analysis was repeated with children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure but without FAS and nonexposed controls with similar results. The overall accuracy was 84.7%; 68.4% of alcohol-exposed cases and 95% of controls were correctly classified. In both analyses, the profile based on neuropsychological variables was more successful at distinguishing the groups than was IQ alone. Conclusions:, We used data from 2 sites of a multisite study and a broad neuropsychological test battery to determine a profile that could be used to accurately identify children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. Results indicated that measures of executive function and spatial processing are especially sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure. [source] Residential Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment: Recommendations for Collaboration Between School Health and Substance Abuse Treatment PersonnelJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 9 2002Ralph J. Wood ABSTRACT: Thousands of youth participate in residential substance abuse treatment each year. After completing treatment, many of these youth return to school. This study analyzed the process of substance abuse treatment at the Generations Youth Program, and identified opportunities for collaboration with school health personnel. A qualitative case study design was employed. Analysis of the treatment process revealed the primary goal of treatment was to assist youth in developing a belief in their ability to remain sober. This goal was achieved through a peer support network, development of self-control, and acquisition of treatment knowledge. Youth who develop these skills are successfully discharged from treatment and return to home and school. Opportunities exist for collaboration between school health and substance abuse treatment personnel to enable discharged youth to remain drug free. [source] Entrepreneurial Dispositions and Goal Orientations: A Comparative Exploration of United States and Russian EntrepreneursJOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2003Wayne H. Stewart Jr. We refine and extend the study of entrepreneurial dispositions by linking three classic hallmarks of the entrepreneur,achievement motivation, risk,taking propensity, and preference for innovation,to the goal orientations of United States and Russian entrepreneurs. The results suggest that entrepreneurial dispositions vary according to culture and the entrepreneur's primary goal for the venture. The results have important implications for theoretical development linking dispositions and entrepreneurial behavior in different settings and for entrepreneurial education and government policy. [source] Risk and resilience factors for posttraumatic stress symptomatology in Gulf War I veteransJOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 1 2007Dawne S. Vogt What factors distinguish war-exposed veterans who experience posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) from those who do not? This study used structural equation modeling procedures to examine the complex interplay among predeployment, war-zone, and postdeployment factors as they relate to PTSS in a sample of Gulf War I veterans. A primary goal was to determine to what extent previously documented associations among Vietnam veterans would replicate in this more contemporary veteran cohort. Results supported a multivariate etiological perspective on PTSS, with war-zone factors accounting for the largest proportion of variance in PTSS. The majority of hypothesized associations held, suggesting that the mechanisms underlying PTSS may be similar across veteran cohorts. [source] Co-Constructing Representations of Culture in ESL and EFL Classrooms: Discursive Faultlines in Chile and CaliforniaMODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009JULIA MENARD, WARWICK Based on qualitative research conducted in 3 university English as a foreign language classrooms in Chile and 3 community college English as a second language classrooms in California, this article examines the approaches used in teaching culture in these classrooms, the differences in how particular cultures (usually national cultures) were represented depending on teaching context, the processes by which these representations of culture were co-constructed by teachers and students, and the extent to which the observed cultural pedagogies seemed to cultivate interculturality. In particular, this article focuses on discursive faultlines (Kramsch, 1993), areas of cultural difference or misunderstanding that became manifest in classroom talk. Although teaching culture was not the primary goal in any of these classes, the teachers generally provided space for students to problematize cultural issues; however, this problematization did not necessarily lead to interculturality. The article concludes with implications for cultural pedagogies based on the observed interactions. [source] Generalizable mass spectrometry mining used to identify disease state biomarkers from blood serumPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 9 2003Padraic Neville Abstract We bring a "spectrum" of classical data mining and statistical analysis methods to bear on discrimination of two groups of spectra from 24 diseased and 17 normal patients. Our primary goal is to accurately estimate the generalizability of this small dataset. After an aggressive preprocessing step that reduces consideration to only 55 peaks, we conduct over 35 out-of-sample cross-validation simulations of logistic regression, binary decision trees, and linear discriminant analysis. Misclassification rates grow worse as the size of the holdout sample increases, with many exceeding 30 percent. The ability to generalize is clearly tempered by the statistical, instrumentation, and biophysical characteristics of the study. [source] The roots of empathy and aggression in analysisTHE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Richard Kradin Abstract:, Empathy and interpretation have complementary roles in analysis. Empathy diminishes psychological arousal, ego-defences, and promotes the therapeutic relationship. Interpretation, when adopted in the service of character analysis and the uncovering of unconscious conflict, represents one element of a larger set of interventions termed analytic aggression, whose primary goal is to promote insight. Psychoanalysis has been increasingly influenced by derivative theories that promote the therapeutic relationship. Clinical observations suggest that the application of analytic aggression has diminished and that many modern treatments may have become overly skewed towards empathic approaches. This paper explores ethical humanism, Jamesian typology, and feminine psychology, as factors that have contributed to the diminished emphasis on analytic aggression in practice. Eastern myth and Buddhist psychology are used to explicate the core features of narcissistic mental structuring and to support the continued importance of analytic aggression in its treatment. Case material is examined to elucidate the benefits and limits of analytic aggression. [source] A catalogue of stars suspected of bright active regionsASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 1 2009M. Zboril Abstract We present a catalogue of field stars across the HR diagram suspected of bright active regions in their atmospheres. We aim at developing the first version of a database of active stars with bright regions (bright spots). Using a variety of databases and the internet we found and gathered all relevant archival data starting about 1973 and being important for developing such a catalogue. We found that the phenomenon starspot is now common to a variety of spectral type and luminosity classes. Our primary goal was to identify active solar and late type stars suspicious of bright active regions but the search offers expanded results including young T Tauri stars, eclipsing binaries with equal or mixed spectral types components (Algols,WUMa stars) and in some cases other types of objects. Moreover, the light curves analyses for eclipsing binaries offer reliable estimates for spot properties and it was found that 20% of binaries in the catalogue had a spot located near the L point (neck zone). At present, the catalogue consists of 134 stars and overall characteristics for them are organised in several files in ASCII format. The catalogue is electronically available (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Technology for independence: a community-based resource center,BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW, Issue 1 2003Peter Blanck Ph.D. Despite the prominence of the disability civil rights model,with its values of inclusion and empowerment,the majority of social and policy research conducted to date has not sufficiently included the perspective of persons with disabilities in the research process and as uniquely qualified researchers themselves. This article describes a new project, "Technology for Independence: A Community-Based Resource Center" (CBRC). Over a five-year period, the CBRC will attempt to enhance community and consumer-directed disability organizations to design, implement, and disseminate research that promotes access to and use of assistive technology (AT). The CBRC will use strategies such as leadership training, participatory action research, technical assistance, web- assisted training, and annual symposia. A primary goal of the CBRC is to increase the capacity of community organizations to conduct research on AT that is scientifically rigorous and relevant to disability services, policy, and law. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On the Role of Baseline Measurements for Crossover Designs under the Self and Mixed Carryover Effects ModelBIOMETRICS, Issue 1 2010Yuanyuan Liang Summary It is well known that optimal designs are strongly model dependent. In this article, we apply the Lagrange multiplier approach to the optimal design problem, using a recently proposed model for carryover effects. Generally, crossover designs are not recommended when carryover effects are present and when the primary goal is to obtain an unbiased estimate of the treatment effect. In some cases, baseline measurements are believed to improve design efficiency. This article examines the impact of baselines on optimal designs using two different assumptions about carryover effects during baseline periods and employing a nontraditional crossover design model. As anticipated, baseline observations improve design efficiency considerably for two-period designs, which use the data in the first period only to obtain unbiased estimates of treatment effects, while the improvement is rather modest for three- or four-period designs. Further, we find little additional benefits for measuring baselines at each treatment period as compared to measuring baselines only in the first period. Although our study of baselines did not change the results on optimal designs that are reported in the literature, the problem of strong model dependency problem is generally recognized. The advantage of using multiperiod designs is rather evident, as we found that extending two-period designs to three- or four-period designs significantly reduced variability in estimating the direct treatment effect contrast. [source] Technological progresses in monoclonal antibody production systemsBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2010Maria Elisa Rodrigues Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become vitally important to modern medicine and are currently one of the major biopharmaceutical products in development. However, the high clinical dose requirements of mAbs demand a greater biomanufacturing capacity, leading to the development of new technologies for their large-scale production, with mammalian cell culture dominating the scenario. Although some companies have tried to meet these demands by creating bioreactors of increased capacity, the optimization of cell culture productivity in normal bioreactors appears as a better strategy. This review describes the main technological progresses made with this intent, presenting the advantages and limitations of each production system, as well as suggestions for improvements. New and upgraded bioreactors have emerged both for adherent and suspension cell culture, with disposable reactors attracting increased interest in the last years. Furthermore, the strategies and technologies used to control culture parameters are in constant evolution, aiming at the on-line multiparameter monitoring and considering now parameters not seen as relevant for process optimization in the past. All progresses being made have as primary goal the development of highly productive and economic mAb manufacturing processes that will allow the rapid introduction of the product in the biopharmaceutical market at more accessible prices. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source] Simulating the Dynamics of Spouted-Bed Nuclear Fuel Coaters,CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION, Issue 9 2007S. Pannala Abstract We describe simulation studies of the dynamics of spouted beds used for CVD coating of nuclear fuel particles. Our principal modeling tool is the Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFIX) code that was originally developed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) for fossil energy process applications. In addition to standard MFIX features that allow coupling of transient hydrodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and chemical kinetics, we employ special post-processing tools to track particle mixing and circulation as functions of operating conditions and bed design. We describe in detail one major feature of the dynamics, which is the occurrence of very regular spontaneous pulsations of gas and particle flow in the spout. These pulsations appear to be critically linked to the entrainment and circulation of solids, and they produce readily accessible dynamic pressure variations that can be used for direct comparisons of model predictions with experiments. Spouted-bed dynamics are important from a CVD perspective because they directly determine the magnitude and variability of the concentration and species gradients in the zone where reactant gases first come into contact with hot particles. As this unsteady spouted-bed environment differs from other types of CVD reactors, the design and scale-up of such reactors is likely to involve unique modeling issues. Our primary goal here is to lay the groundwork for how computational simulation can be used to address these modeling issues in the specific context of nuclear fuel particle coating. [source] Assessment of behavioural recovery following spinal cord injury in ratsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 9 2000Gillian D. Muir Abstract Behavioural recovery is one of the primary goals of therapeutic intervention in animal models of disease. It is necessary, therefore, to have the means with which to quantify pertinent behavioural changes in experimental animals. Nevertheless, the number and diversity of behavioural measures which have been used to assess recovery after experimental interventions often makes it difficult to compare results between studies. The present review attempts to integrate and categorize the wide variety of behavioural assessments used to measure recovery in spinal-injured rats. These categories include endpoint measures, kinematic measures, kinetic measurements, and electrophysiological measurements. Within this categorization, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of measurement. Finally, we make some recommendations regarding the principles for a comprehensive behavioural analysis after experimental spinal cord injury in rats. [source] Intermittent hypoxia and respiratory plasticity in humans and other animals: does exposure to intermittent hypoxia promote or mitigate sleep apnoea?EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Jason H. Mateika This review focuses on two phenomena that are initiated during and after exposure to intermittent hypoxia. The two phenomena are referred to as long-term facilitation and progressive augmentation of respiratory motor output. Both phenomena are forms of respiratory plasticity. Long-term facilitation is characterized by a sustained elevation in respiratory activity after exposure to intermittent hypoxia. Progressive augmentation is characterized by a gradual increase in respiratory activity from the initial to the final hypoxic exposure. There is much speculation that long-term facilitation may have a significant role in individuals with sleep apnoea because this disorder is characterized by periods of upper airway collapse accompanied by intermittent hypoxia, one stimulus known to induce long-term facilitation. It has been suggested that activation of long-term facilitation may serve to mitigate apnoea by facilitating ventilation and, more importantly, upper airway muscle activity. We examine the less discussed but equally plausible situation that exposure to intermittent hypoxia might ultimately lead to the promotion of apnoea. There are at least two scenarios in which apnoea might be promoted following exposure to intermittent hypoxia. In both scenarios, long-term facilitation of upper airway muscle activity is initiated but ultimately rendered ineffective because of other physiological conditions. Thus, one of the primary goals of this review is to discuss, with support from basic and clinical studies, whether various forms of respiratory motor neuronal plasticity have a beneficial and/or a detrimental impact on breathing stability in individuals with sleep apnoea. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||