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Rapid Expansion (rapid + expansion)
Selected AbstractsRapid Expansion from Supercritical to Aqueous Solution to Produce Submicron Suspensions of Water-Insoluble DrugsBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 3 2000Timothy J. Young Stable suspensions of submicron particles of cyclosporine, a water-insoluble drug, have been produced by rapid expansion from supercritical to aqueous solution (RESAS). To minimize growth of the cyclosporine particles, which would otherwise occur in the free jet expansion, the solution was sprayed into an aqueous Tween-80 (Polysorbate-80) solution. Steric stabilization by the surfactant impedes particle growth and agglomeration. The particles were an order of magnitude smaller than those produced by RESS into air without the surfactant solution. Concentrations as high as 38 mg/mL for 400,700 nm particles were achieved in a 5.0% (w/w) Tween-80 solution. [source] BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH: Population expansion in an invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum: a test of the channelled diffusion modelDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5 2010Nathaniel P. Miller Abstract Aim, The greatest biodiversity impact of non-native plant species is caused by rapid expansion of colonist populations. Unfortunately, invasion has rarely been documented in real time at a population scale, and demographic mechanisms of invasion remain unclear. Our goal is to describe real-time expansion of populations, using channelled diffusion as a null model. Location, The study examined three populations of the invasive annual grass Microstegium vimineum in mature second-growth forests of south-eastern Ohio and nearby West Virginia, USA. Methods, Distributions were recorded in belt transects perpendicular to population edges over a period of 3 years. A second group of belt transects documented spread along five types of potential movement corridor. Observed changes in distribution were compared with predictions from a diffusion model. A seed-sowing experiment tested seed availability, microsite quality and proximity to potential movement corridors as factors controlling population spread. Results, Population boundaries showed little change over the study period. Colonization was limited by propagule availability over distances as little as 0.25 m, and to a lesser extent by litter cover. Populations did not advance along several potential movement corridors including unpaved roads, off-road vehicle trails and footpaths. Advance was observed along deer trails and stream courses but did not conform to the wave-form distribution predicted by diffusion theory. During the study, seeds were moved out of experimental plots by sheet flow and minor flooding events along small streams. Main conclusion, At a population level, invasion is driven by processes that are episodic in time and non-random in space , probably a common condition in non-native plant species. Spatially realistic models are likely to be more useful than diffusive models in managing invasions at these scales. [source] The role of Late Holocene climate variability in the expansion of yellow birch in the western Great Lakes regionDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5 2002Stephen T. Jackson Abstract. Pollen records from the western Great Lakes region of North America show substantial increases in birch pollen percentages during the late Holocene. The vegetational and population dynamics underlying the birch increase have received little attention, in part because of the inability to discriminate among species of birch based on pollen morphology. We used analyses of pollen and plant macrofossils from four lakes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to document that the birch pollen increase represents a regional expansion of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) populations, which was initiated c. 4500 years ago. Whether yellow birch invaded the region at this time or simply expanded from small, previously established populations is not clear, although it probably did not grow near our study sites before the expansion. The initial expansion occurred during an independently documented period of high moisture and high water levels in Lake Michigan. A subsequent expansion in yellow birch abundance and distribution occurred c. 3000 years ago, coinciding with a second period of increased moisture and high lake-levels. The yellow birch expansion may have been modulated by millennial-scale climate variability, with most rapid expansion occurring during relatively wet periods. [source] Magistrates' Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT): preliminary findings of a 12-month court diversion trial for drug offendersDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2002DAVID REILLY BSc(Psych Hons), MPsychol Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present a description and preliminary findings of a 12-month trial of a Local Court diversion programme, called MERIT for Magistrates' Early Referral into Treatment. The aim of MERIT is to divert eligible drug offenders to treatment and rehabilitation services. A total of 172 offenders were assessed and 131 entered the programme. The sources of referral were court (58%), police (17%) and self (10%). Main problem drugs were heroin (57%), cannabis (21%) and amphetamines (11%). The majority (85%) had previous convictions and 50% had been in jail. At the end of the trial period one-third (33%) completed the programme and one-third (33%) remained in treatment. Main treatment interventions were case management and out-patient counselling, detoxification, residential rehabilitation and methadone maintenance. Police records showed that of the original 43 (33%) graduates only six had come to police notice, mainly for relatively minor offences. Early acceptance and preliminary results has led to an expansion of the MERIT programme across New South Wales. With the rapid expansion of drug courts and diversion programmes across Australia, descriptive studies are useful to provide beneficial data to assist policy makers and service providers to develop programmes. [source] The merging of community ecology and phylogenetic biologyECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 7 2009Jeannine Cavender-Bares Abstract The increasing availability of phylogenetic data, computing power and informatics tools has facilitated a rapid expansion of studies that apply phylogenetic data and methods to community ecology. Several key areas are reviewed in which phylogenetic information helps to resolve long-standing controversies in community ecology, challenges previous assumptions, and opens new areas of investigation. In particular, studies in phylogenetic community ecology have helped to reveal the multitude of processes driving community assembly and have demonstrated the importance of evolution in the assembly process. Phylogenetic approaches have also increased understanding of the consequences of community interactions for speciation, adaptation and extinction. Finally, phylogenetic community structure and composition holds promise for predicting ecosystem processes and impacts of global change. Major challenges to advancing these areas remain. In particular, determining the extent to which ecologically relevant traits are phylogenetically conserved or convergent, and over what temporal scale, is critical to understanding the causes of community phylogenetic structure and its evolutionary and ecosystem consequences. Harnessing phylogenetic information to understand and forecast changes in diversity and dynamics of communities is a critical step in managing and restoring the Earth's biota in a time of rapid global change. [source] Social and Commercial Entrepreneurship: Same, Different, or Both?ENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 1 2006James Austin Entrepreneurship has been the engine propelling much of the growth of the business sector as well as a driving force behind the rapid expansion of the social sector. This article offers a comparative analysis of commercial and social entrepreneurship using a prevailing analytical model from commercial entrepreneurship. The analysis highlights key similarities and differences between these two forms of entrepreneurship and presents a framework on how to approach the social entrepreneurial process more systematically and effectively. We explore the implications of this analysis of social entrepreneurship for both practitioners and researchers. [source] Altered effector functions of virus-specific and virus cross-reactive CD8+ T cells in mice immunized with related flavivirusesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Derek W. Trobaugh Abstract Memory cross-reactive CD8+ T-cell responses may induce protection or immunopathology upon secondary viral challenge. To elucidate the potential role of T cells in sequential flavivirus infection, we characterized cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses between attenuated and pathogenic Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and pathogenic West Nile virus (WNV). A previously reported WNV NS4b CD8+ T-cell epitope and its JEV variant elicited CD8+ T-cell responses in both JEV- and WNV-infected mice. The peptide variant homologous to the immunizing virus induced greater cytokine secretion and activated higher frequencies of epitope-specific CD8+ T cells. However, there was a virus-dependent, peptide variant-independent pattern of cytokine secretion; the IFN,+ -to-IFN,+TNF,+ CD8+ T-cell ratio was greater in JEV- than in WNV-infected mice. Despite similarities in viral burden for pathogenic WNV and JEV viruses, CD8+ T cells from pathogenic JEV-immunized mice exhibited functional and phenotypic profiles similar to those seen for the attenuated JEV strain. Patterns of killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) and CD127 expression differed by virus type, with a rapid expansion and contraction of short-lived effector cells in JEV infection and persistence of high levels of short-lived effector cells in WNV infection. Such cross-reactive T-cell responses to primary infection may affect the outcomes of sequential flavivirus infections. [source] Proliferation and interleukin,5 production by CD8hiCD57+ T cellsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Abstract CD8hiCD57+ T cells have previously been described as effector memory T cells with minimal expansion capacity and high susceptibility to activation-induced cell death. In contrast, we demonstrate here that CD8hiCD57+ T cells are capable of rapid expansion using multiple techniques including [3H]thymidine uptake, flow cytometric bead-based enumeration and standard haemocytometer counting. Previous reports can be explained by marked inhibition of activation-induced expansion and increased 7-amino-actinomycin,D uptake by CD8hiCD57+ T cells following treatment with CFSE, a dye previously used to measure their proliferation, combined with specific media requirements for the growth of this cell subset. The ability of CD8hiCD57+ T cells to further differentiate is highlighted by a distinct cytokine profile late after activation that includes the unexpected release of high levels of interleukin,5. These data indicate that CD8hiCD57+ T cells should not be considered as "end-stage" effector T cells incapable of proliferation, but represent a highly differentiated subset capable of rapid division and exhibiting novel functions separate from their previously described cytotoxic and IFN-, responses. [source] Rapid cortical reorganisation and improved sensitivity of the hand following cutaneous anaesthesia of the forearmEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2009Anders Björkman Abstract The cortical representation of various body parts constantly changes based on the pattern of afferent nerve impulses. As peripheral nerve injury results in a cortical and subcortical reorganisation this has been suggested as one explanation for the poor clinical outcome seen after peripheral nerve repair in humans. Cutaneous anaesthesia of the forearm in healthy subjects and in patients with nerve injuries results in rapid improvement of hand sensitivity. The mechanism behind the improvement is probably based on a rapid cortical and subcortical reorganisation. The aim of this work was to study cortical changes following temporary cutaneous forearm anaesthesia. Ten healthy volunteers participated in the study. Twenty grams of a local anaesthetic cream (EMLA®) was applied to the volar aspect of the right forearm. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed during sensory stimulation of all fingers of the right hand before and during cutaneous forearm anaesthesia. Sensitivity was also clinically assessed before and during forearm anaesthesia. A group analysis of functional magnetic resonance image data showed that, during anaesthesia, the hand area in the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex expanded cranially over the anaesthetised forearm area. Clinically right hand sensitivity in the volunteers improved during forearm anaesthesia. No significant changes were seen in the left hand. The clinically improved hand sensitivity following forearm anaesthesia is probably based on a rapid expansion of the hand area in the primary somatosensory cortex which presumably results in more nerve cells being made available for the hand in the primary somatosensory cortex. [source] Expression and localization of P2 nucleotide receptor subtypes during development of the lateral ventricular choroid plexus of the ratEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2007P. A. Johansson Abstract The choroid plexuses secrete cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and regulate the brain's internal environment via the blood,CSF barrier. The permeability properties of the blood,CSF interface have been studied previously in adult and immature brains, however, little is known about the development of CSF secretion and its modulation. ATP influences secretion in other epithelia via ionotropic P2X or metabotropic P2Y receptors. P2 receptors have frequently been found to be down-regulated in the postnatal period, suggesting a developmental role for purinergic and pyrimidine signalling. The present study investigated the expression of P2 receptors in lateral ventricular choroid plexus in relation to recent studies of aquaporin-1 expression and rapid expansion of the lateral ventricles in rat embryos. In the present study mRNAs for all known mammalian nucleotide receptor subtypes, except P2X7, were identified from as early as E15. P2X7 mRNA was detected from E18. Indications of differential expression patterns were observed for the different subtypes during development: an apparent increase in expression for P2Y2 and P2X7, a decline in P2X1-2,4, no detectable difference in expression levels for P2X6 and P2Y12-13 and transient expression peaks for P2X3,5 and P2Y1,4,6,14. P2X4,5,7 and P2Y1,4 receptor proteins were detected immunohistochemically in the choroidal epithelium from early in development (E15 or E18). Their differing developmental profiles suggest specific roles in the development of CSF secretion that may have particular relevance for the rapid expansion of the ventricles that occurs in the embryo. P2X5 and P2Y6 were also detected in the developing neuropendyma from P0 and P9, respectively. [source] Nordic Investments in the Former Soviet Baltic Frontier: A Survey of Firms and Selected Case StudiesGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES B: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2000Harley Johansen Nordic companies have been leaders in the rapid expansion of Western business into Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the St Petersburg area of Russia. While joint ventures were being developed prior to the demise of the USSR, investment rose sharply in early 1992. Our survey of companies from Nordic countries revealed a pattern of location and of adaptation to the conditions of former Soviet infrastructure, culture, politics and economy. Initial Nordic investment has renewed economic ties across the Baltic Sea, with inter-country links stronger between specific countries. Frustrations with changing government rules, communications, work ethic, quality expectations and other conditions were expressed in interviews with managers of Nordic companies in the Baltic area. Optimism was tempered by continued uncertainty about Russian governmental policies and market potential. [source] Assembling DNA into Advanced Materials: From Nanostructured Films to Biosensing and Delivery Systems,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2007Abstract The past decade has witnessed a rapid expansion in the design and assembly of engineered materials for biological applications. However, such applications place limitations on the molecular building blocks that can be used. Requirements for polymer-based building blocks include biocompatibility, biodegradability, and stimuli-responsive behavior. Many traditional polymers used in materials science are limited in at least one of these areas, so new polymers need to be explored. As we outline here, DNA is one such polymer that shows promise in developing the next generation of ,smart' materials for biomedical and diagnostic applications. [source] Online end-to-end quality of service monitoring for service level agreement managementINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, Issue 4 2008Xiaoyuan Ta Abstract A major challenge in network and service level agreement (SLA) management is to provide Quality of Service (QoS) demanded by heterogeneous network applications. Online QoS monitoring plays an important role in the process by providing objective measurements that can be used for improving network design, troubleshooting and management. Online QoS monitoring becomes increasingly difficult and complex due to the rapid expansion of the Internet and the dramatic increase in the speed of network. Sampling techniques have been explored as a means to reduce the difficulty and complexity of measurement. In this paper, we investigate several major sampling techniques, i.e. systematic sampling, simple random sampling and stratified sampling. Performance analysis is conducted on these techniques. It is shown that stratified sampling with optimum allocation has the best performance. However, stratified sampling with optimum allocation requires additional statistics usually not available for real-time applications. An adaptive stratified sampling algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. Both theoretical analysis and simulation show that the proposed adaptive stratified sampling algorithm outperforms other sampling techniques and achieves a performance comparable to stratified sampling with optimum allocation. A QoS monitoring software using the aforementioned sampling techniques is designed and tested in various real networks. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Narrative, organizations and researchINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS, Issue 3 2005Carl Rhodes Given the rapid expansion of narrative approaches in management and organization theory in recent years, this paper investigates the contribution of this literature to the understanding of organizations and processes of organizing. The paper tells the story of the development of narrative approaches in organizational theory. Narrative's contribution to substantive areas of organization theory is evaluated. These developments are then reviewed in relation to an ongoing tension between story and science. We conclude by contemplating some of the criticisms, and the future, of narrative research. [source] The China rheumatology workforce: a status reportINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 4 2009Fengchun ZHANG Abstract This article aims to provide an accurate database of the rheumatology workforce in mainland China. A face-to-face survey was conducted in 2007 using a custom-designed questionnaire that included demographic information, educational background, training history, professional rank, years of working experience within the specialty, and workload. Potential rheumatology practitioners were identified by provincial rheumatology associations. The survey identified a total of 2216 rheumatologists. Seventy percent of the entire workforce had , 10 years of working experience. The number of male and female rheumatologists was equal, at ages of 41 years and above. At , 40 years of age, female rheumatologists predominated at 63%. The national rheumatologist density was 1.67 per million population. The rheumatology workforce in China is relatively young, indicating a rapid expansion. However, the supply of rheumatologists is still significantly below the demand level. [source] The Chengzhongcun Land Market in China: Boon or Bane?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008A Perspective on Property Rights Abstract With the rapid expansion of China's cities since the 1978 economic reform, more and more villages have been swallowed up by urban sprawl. The retention of collective land ownership in chengzhongcun has, on the one hand, made low-rent housing affordable for migrants; on the other hand, however, it has exposed chengzhongcun to many social, economic and environmental problems. Based on a case study of chengzhongcun in Guangzhou, and using an analytical framework of property rights, this article has found that maintaining collective land ownership in chengzhongcun has been socially and economically costly, but a redevelopment strategy without a complementary affordable housing scheme may be problematic. In order to solve the problems of chengzhongcun, an institutional reform of collective land is required. Résumé Les villes chinoises s'étant rapidement étendues depuis la réforme économique de 1978, un grand nombre de villages a été absorbé par les tentacules urbains. La préservation d'une propriété foncière collective dans les chengzhongcun a permis que les migrants accèdent à un logement à loyer modéré, tout en exposant cet habitat à de multiples problèmes sociaux, économiques et environnementaux. S'appuyant sur l'étude de cas du chengzhongcun de Guangzhou et sur un cadre analytique de droits de propriété, cet article montre que le maintien de la propriété foncière collective dans le chengzhongcun s'est révélé coûteux sur le plan social et économique et que, par ailleurs, une stratégie de réaménagement sans un système de logement complémentaire accessible pourrait être problématique. Résoudre les problèmes du chengzhongcun appelle à une réforme institutionnelle des terrains collectifs. [source] The Causes and Consequences of Immigrant Labour in the Construction Sector in MalaysiaINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 5 2005Suresh Narayanan ABSTRACT Malaysian construction is highly dependant on immigrant labour; immigrants account for nearly 70 per cent of its workforce. Although they have aided the sector's rapid expansion, it has not been without costs. This paper examines the impact of immigrant labour on construction. The main finding is that immigrants, being largely unskilled, did not contribute to skill formation. Instead, they accumulated skills on-the-job, which were lost when they returned home. There was no evidence that immigrants displaced domestic workers since they were concentrated in jobs rejected by Malaysians. Furthermore, unlike in earlier periods, legal immigrants were no longer a cheap option, given the regulations governing their employment. They were not used to cut costs per se, but were used because domestic workers were not available in sufficient numbers. Despite the large immigrant presence, the general wage level increased, though admittedly not as rapidly as it might have in their absence. The reliance on immigrant workers has increased the need for supervision and quality control, thereby reducing the savings in cost; nonetheless, immigrants have helped keep costs in check. Surprisingly, rising wages and the continued shortage of labour have not led to a widespread adoption of labour-saving methods. This is partly because productivity increases have managed to outpace wage increases, though this advantage is petering out. Also, immigrant presence has kept wages, as a proportion of total costs, manageable. The over reliance of the sector on immigrant labour is not desirable, especially since the majority is drawn from one source - Indonesia. Any disruption of supply from this source can undermine the Malaysian economy. To avoid this, Malaysia must vary its source of immigrant labour and intensify efforts to attract domestic workers by improving conditions in construction. [source] Age and growth of the Randall's threadfin bream Nemipterus randalli (Russell, 1986), a recent Lessepsian migrant in Iskenderun Bay, northeastern MediterraneanJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 3 2010D. Erguden Summary Randall's threadfin bream, Nemipterus randalli, first recorded in Iskenderun Bay in Turkey in 2008, seems to have increased in the region. The species, widespread in the western Indian Ocean and with a rapid expansion, appears to have migrated to the bay via the Red Sea. Although its presence in the region has been published, there has been little or no information as to age and growth parameters of this Lessepsian migrant in its new habitat. The present study aims to determine the basic age and growth parameters of the species colonized in the region. A total of 379 collected individuals were studied from November 2007 to October 2008. Total specimen lengths ranged from 4.80 to 21.50 cm, and weights from 1.10 to 138.36 g. Maximum age was 3 years for both sexes. The length,weight relationship was described as W = 0.0011 × L3.061 (r2 = 0.982). The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were: L, = 34.96 cm; K = 0.214 year,1; t0 = ,1.244 year for the entire population. These data were compared with results from studies made in other geographic areas. [source] Phylogeography of the introduced species Rattus rattus in the western Indian Ocean, with special emphasis on the colonization history of MadagascarJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2010Charlotte Tollenaere Abstract Aim, To describe the phylogeographic patterns of the black rat, Rattus rattus, from islands in the western Indian Ocean where the species has been introduced (Madagascar and the neighbouring islands of Réunion, Mayotte and Grande Comore), in comparison with the postulated source area (India). Location, Western Indian Ocean: India, Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and the islands of Madagascar, Réunion, Grande Comore and Mayotte. Methods, Mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b, tRNA and D-loop, 1762 bp) was sequenced for 71 individuals from 11 countries in the western Indian Ocean. A partial D-loop (419 bp) was also sequenced for eight populations from Madagascar (97 individuals), which were analysed in addition to six previously published populations from southern Madagascar. Results, Haplotypes from India and the Arabian Peninsula occupied a basal position in the phylogenetic tree, whereas those from islands were distributed in different monophyletic clusters: Madagascar grouped with Mayotte, while Réunion and Grand Comore were present in two other separate groups. The only exception was one individual from Madagascar (out of 190) carrying a haplotype that clustered with those from Réunion and South Africa. ,Isolation with migration' simulations favoured a model with no recurrent migration between Oman and Madagascar. Mismatch distribution analyses dated the expansion of Malagasy populations on a time-scale compatible with human colonization history. Higher haplotype diversity and older expansion times were found on the east coast of Madagascar compared with the central highlands. Main conclusions, Phylogeographic patterns supported the hypothesis of human-mediated colonization of R. rattus from source populations in either the native area (India) or anciently colonized regions (the Arabian Peninsula) to islands of the western Indian Ocean. Despite their proximity, each island has a distinct colonization history. Independent colonization events may have occurred simultaneously in Madagascar and Grande Comore, whereas Mayotte would have been colonized from Madagascar. Réunion was colonized independently, presumably from Europe. Malagasy populations may have originated from a single successful colonization event, followed by rapid expansion, first in coastal zones and then in the central highlands. The congruence of the observed phylogeographic pattern with human colonization events and pathways supports the potential relevance of the black rat in tracing human history. [source] Juror Beliefs About Police Interrogations, False Confessions, and Expert TestimonyJOURNAL OF EMPIRICAL LEGAL STUDIES, Issue 2 2010Mark Costanzo Although there has been a rapid expansion in research on police interrogations and false confessions, little is known about the beliefs of potential jurors as to these issues. In collaboration with a trial research firm, we recruited 461 jury-eligible men and women who matched the demographic characteristics of jury pools in several states. Surrogate jurors responded to questions and statements in five areas: likely rates of false confessions for different crimes, the ability to discern true from false confessions, beliefs about false confessions, beliefs about permissible interrogation tactics, and beliefs about expert testimony on police interrogations. Results indicated that jurors believed that police interrogators are better than ordinary people at identifying lies and that this ability improves with experience. Jurors believed that they would be able to differentiate a true confession from a false confession by watching a videotape, but were less confident about making such a differentiation from an audio recording. A large majority of the sample reported that it would be helpful to hear expert testimony about interrogation techniques and reasons why a defendant might falsely confess to a crime. There were no significant gender differences. Compared to whites, nonwhite jurors had significantly less confidence in the abilities of the police and gave significantly higher estimates of false confession rates. Results are discussed in light of prior research and implications for jury decision making and expert testimony. [source] Survival at low temperature of larvae of the pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa from an area of range expansionAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Gernot Hoch Abstract 1,Larvae of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) develop throughout the winter, although their feeding activity and survival can be impaired by adverse climatic factors. The present study investigated the survival at low temperature of larvae originating from a population with range expansion in an alpine valley in Northern Italy. 2,The supercooling point of individually analysed larvae averaged at ,7 °C. This value insufficiently described the cold hardiness of the larvae; 39% of the tested larvae were alive when returned to room temperature immediately after freezing. When larval colonies inside their nest were exposed to ,17 °C for 1 h after gradual temperature decrease, survival was 70.4%. 3,Rearing of larvae in the laboratory at different day/night temperatures indicated an effect of cumulative chill injury on larvae. A logistic regression explained the relationship between negative thermal sum (h°C below 0 °C) received in the laboratory experiment and larval survival. A similar relationship was demonstrated between negative thermal sum and survival of larval colonies in the field. 4,In the laboratory experiment, some tested larvae were able to survive for up to 8 weeks without feeding depending on rearing temperature. As expected, feeding occurred only when larvae were reared at temperatures of 9 °C day/0 °C night. 5,We classify the larvae of T. pityocampa as being moderate freezing tolerant. The winter behaviour allows this species to track climate warming by a rapid expansion into those areas that become compatible with the insect's development. [source] Explaining organizational change in international development: the role of complexity in anti-corruption workJOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 8 2004Bryane Michael What explains the rapid expansion of programmes undertaken by donor agencies which may be labelled as ,anti-corruption programmes' in the 1990s? There are four schools of anti-corruption project practice: universalistic, state-centric, society-centric, and critical schools of practice. Yet, none can explain the expansion of anti-corruption projects. A ,complexity perspective' offers a new framework for looking at such growth. Such a complexity perspective addresses how project managers, by strategically interacting, can create emergent and evolutionary expansionary self-organisation. Throughout the ,first wave' of anti-corruption activity in the 1990s, such self-organization was largely due to World Bank sponsored national anti-corruption programmes. More broadly, the experience of the first wave of anti-corruption practice sheds light on development theory and practice,helping to explain new development practice with its stress on multi-layeredness, participation, and indigenous knowledge. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Deagglomeration of nanoparticle aggregates via rapid expansion of supercritical or high-pressure suspensionsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 11 2009Daniel To Abstract Deagglomeration of suspensions of alumina and titania nanopowders (i.e., nanoparticle aggregates) via rapid expansion of supercritical suspensions (RESS) or high-pressure suspensions (REHPS) was studied. The size distribution of fragmented nanopowders was characterized by online Scanning Mobility Particle Spectrometer (SMPS) and Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS), and by offline Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). SMPS and SEM measurements indicate that the average agglomerate sizes were well below 1 ,m, consistent with the length scales observed in our complementary RESS/REHPS mixing experiments using alumina and silica nanopowders. The APS measurements, on the other hand, were affected by reagglomeration during sampling and yielded an agglomerate size range of 1 to 3 ,m. Analysis of the RESS/REHPS process through compressible flow models revealed that both the shear stress in the nozzle and the subsequent impact of the agglomerates with the Mach disc in the free expansion region can lead to micron or sub-micron level deagglomeration. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Plasticization and spraying of poly (DL-lactic acid) using supercritical carbon dioxide: control of particle sizeJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2004Jianyuan Hao Abstract Exposure of poly(DL-lactic acid) (PDLLA), and related polymers, to supercritical CO2 (scCO2) at or below, physiological temperatures leads to very effective plasticization and liquefying of the polymers. The phenomenon arises from the high solubility and interaction of the scCO2 in the polymer. Under these unique conditions, temperature and solvent labile molecules can be mixed efficiently into the liquefied polymer. This liquefied polymer/drug/CO2 mixture can then be sprayed into a collecting chamber, and during this process particles of drug-loaded polymer are formed. This process is very different from rapid expansion and antisolvent based techniques that have been previously reported. In this article, we describe a method of controlling particle size during the spray process by introducing a backpressure of N2 in the collecting chamber. This backpressure dynamically regulates the loss of CO2 from the issuing polymer/CO2 mixture, leading to control over sprayed particle size. In situ observation of the viscosity of the plasticized polymer indicates that a backpressure of 68 bar or greater is necessary to ensure the production of fine particles. The influences of backpressure and saturation temperature on particle size for the sprayed products are discussed in terms of observed PDLLA/CO2 mixture viscosities. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93: 1083,1090, 2004 [source] Food and feeding habits of smooth-coated otters (Lutra perspicillata) and their significance to the fish population of Kerala, IndiaJOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 1 2005K. R. Anoop Abstract Feeding habits of smooth-coated otters Lutra perspicillata were studied by analysing spraints collected from around the Periyar Lake within the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India. Remains were identified by the comparison of body parts with a reference collection of appropriate prey species. Two methods were used to estimate the proportions of different prey consumed: frequency of occurrence and score-bulk estimate. The number of prey types in a spraint varied between one and seven. More prey species were found during low water levels (March,April). Fish was the major prey, followed by frogs, crabs, birds and insects. Throughout the study, the exotic tilapia and European carp constituted the major prey in the diet. The quantity of native Deccan mahsheer and endemic Periyar barb in the diet was insignificant. A higher intake of bottom-dwelling catfish was observed during periods of low water, probably because of the increased efficiency of otters to forage at these levels. By consuming large amounts of exotic species, such as tilapia and European carp, otters might contribute to the control of the rapid expansion of these species in the Periyar Lake and adjacent water bodies in the reserve. [source] Advances on the compositional analysis of glycosphingolipids combining thin-layer chromatography with mass spectrometryMASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2010Johannes Müthing Abstract Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), composed of a hydrophilic carbohydrate chain and a lipophilic ceramide anchor, play pivotal roles in countless biological processes, including infectious diseases and the development of cancer. Knowledge of the number and sequence of monosaccharides and their anomeric configuration and linkage type, which make up the principal items of the glyco code of biologically active carbohydrate chains, is essential for exploring the function of GSLs. As part of the investigation of the vertebrate glycome, GSL analysis is undergoing rapid expansion owing to the application of novel biochemical and biophysical technologies. Mass spectrometry (MS) takes part in the network of collaborations to further unravel structural and functional aspects within the fascinating world of GSLs with the ultimate aim to better define their role in human health and disease. However, a single-method analytical MS technique without supporting tools is limited yielding only partial structural information. Because of its superior resolving power, robustness, and easy handling, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is widely used as an invaluable tool in GSL analysis. The intention of this review is to give an insight into current advances obtained by coupling supplementary techniques such as TLC and mass spectrometry. A retrospective view of the development of this concept and the recent improvements by merging (1) TLC separation of GSLs, (2) their detection with oligosaccharide-specific proteins, and (3) in situ MS analysis of protein-detected GSLs directly on the TLC plate, are provided. The procedure works on a nanogram scale and was successfully applied to the identification of cancer-associated GSLs in several types of human tumors. The combination of these two supplementary techniques opens new doors by delivering specific structural information of trace quantities of GSLs with only limited investment in sample preparation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 29:425-479, 2010 [source] Recent developments in operational flood forecasting in England, Wales and ScotlandMETEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, Issue 1 2009Micha Werner Abstract This paper discusses developments in the last five to six years in the provision of operational flood forecasting in England, Wales, and Scotland. Before the formation of the Environment Agency (EA) in England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), flood forecasting capabilities were fragmented. Just over a decade ago both organisations received governmental mandates for the provision of flood forecasting and warning nationally, and have as a result in recent years established systems providing national coverage: the National Flood Forecasting System, and Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) Scotland. These have facilitated a rapid expansion of catchments for which forecasts are provided, and the common framework used has enabled a more rapid introduction of scientific advances in forecasting techniques. This paper gives an overview of some of these recent developments, as well as providing an outlook to further developments to be undertaken in the near future. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Bayesian inference of evolutionary history from chloroplast microsatellites in the cosmopolitan weed Capsella bursa - pastoris (Brassicaceae)MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 14 2005ALF CEPLITIS Abstract Besides showing an extraordinary degree of phenotypic variability, Capsella bursa-pastoris (Brassicaceae) is also one of the world's most common plant species and a serious weed in many countries. We have employed a coalescent-based Bayesian analysis of chloroplast microsatellite data to infer demographic and evolutionary parameters of this species. Two different demographic models applied to data from seven chloroplast microsatellite loci among 59 accessions show that the effective population size of C. bursa-pastoris is very small indicating a rapid expansion of the species, a result that is in accordance with fossil and historical data. Against this background, analysis of flowering time variation among accessions suggests that ecotypic differentiation in flowering time has occurred recently in the species' history. Finally, our results also indicate that mononucleotide repeat loci in the chloroplast genome can deteriorate in relatively short periods of evolutionary time. [source] Health care assistants' role, function and development: results of a national surveyNURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 4 2003The British Association of Critical Care NursesArticle first published online: 31 JUL 200 Summary ,,Intensive care has developed as a speciality since the 1950s; during this time there have been major technological advances in health care provision leading to a rapid expansion of all areas of critical care ,,The ongoing problem of recruiting appropriately qualified nurses has affected staffing levels in many units and continues to be a national problem. For many, the answer lies in employing health care assistants to support the work of registered nurses ,,A key aim of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses is to promote the art and science of critical care nursing by providing representation for its members, by responding to political and professional change and by producing and publishing position statements ,,A primary component of the work surrounding the development of this second position statement was the gathering of contemporary information in relation to the role of health care assistants within critical care units throughout the UK, through a survey of 645 critical care units within the UK ,,At present the impact upon the role of the critical care nurse is not fully understood, with research in this area suggesting that although there is a role for the health care assistant in the critical care environment, this should only be undertaken with a full analysis of this impact upon the work of the registered nurse [source] Position statement on the role of health care assistants who are involved in direct patient care activities within critical care areasNURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 1 2003The British Association of Critical Care Nurses Summary ,Intensive care has developed as a speciality since the 1950s, and during this time, there have been major technological advances in health care provision, leading to a rapid expansion of all areas of critical care ,The ongoing problem in recruiting qualified nurses in general has affected, and continues to be a problem for, all aspects of critical care areas ,During the past decade, nursing practice has evolved, as qualified nurses have expanded their own scope of practice to develop a more responsive approach to the complex care needs of the critically ill patient ,The aim of this paper is to present the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN) position statement on the role of health care assistants involved in direct patient care activities, and to address some of the key work used to inform the development of the position statement [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||