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Refinement
Kinds of Refinement Terms modified by Refinement Selected AbstractsROMANO-EGYPTIAN RED LEAD PIGMENT: A SUBSIDIARY COMMODITY OF SPANISH SILVER MINING AND REFINEMENT*ARCHAEOMETRY, Issue 5 2009M. S. WALTON Samples of red pigment from a group of seven Roman-period Egyptian mummies, known as red-shroud mummies, are investigated. Elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ICP,TOFMS) shows that the samples contain mostly Pb (83,92% by weight), along with 0.2,2.0% Sn. All of the samples are found to have similar trace element distributions when normalized to the continental crust, suggesting that they share a common geological origin. Lead isotope ratios are found to match the mixed lead sources typically associated with Rio Tinto, Spain , a site extensively mined for silver during the first century ad. Raman microspectroscopy identifies the major phase of each sample to be red lead (Pb3O4) with a minor phase of lead tin oxide (Pb2SnO4). Lead tin oxide does not occur naturally, and its incidental occurrence within the sample indicates that the material was heated under oxidative conditions at temperatures in excess of 650°C. In archaeological contexts, the high-temperature oxidative treatment of lead is typically associated with metallurgical refinement processes such as cupellation. Based on this evidence, it is argued that the pigment was produced out of litharge associated with silver cupellation at the Rio Tinto site. [source] Area-Based Refinement for Selection of Reserve Sites with the Benefit-Function ApproachCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007ANNI ARPONEN algoritmo de selección de sitios; persistencia; peso de especies; relaciones especies-área; selección de reservas Abstract:,Optimization of resource use is necessary for efficient conservation planning. Many reserve-selection algorithms aim to identify representative but inexpensive networks, which may lead to selecting small sites due to their lower costs and collectively higher species richness. Nevertheless, larger sites would be preferable regarding species' long-term persistence. An area-based refinement can be used to overcome this problem. We used a reserve-planning framework in which continuous benefit functions valued representation (numbers of populations), and differential species weights were based on a species' local rarity and threatened status. We introduced a refinement based on the species-area relationship that provides relatively higher values for larger sites. We applied the proposed method to rich fen vegetation in southern Finland. The species-area refinement resulted in a network of significantly larger sites with minor trade-offs with representation (numbers of populations). Giving endangered species higher weights ensured that the trade-off occurred mostly between site size and representation of low-priority species. We recommend using a species-area refinement for practical, maximum-coverage conservation planning. Resumen:,La optimización del uso de recursos es necesaria para la planificación eficiente de la conservación. Muchos algoritmos para la selección de reservas tratan de identificar redes representativas pero poco costosas, que pueden conducir a la selección de sitios pequeños debido a sus costos menores y mayor riqueza de especies colectiva. Sin embargo, los sitios grandes serían preferibles para la persistencia de las especies a largo plazo. Para sobreponerse a este problema se puede utilizar un refinamiento basado en el área. Utilizamos un marco de referencia para la planificación de reservas en el que las funciones de beneficio continuas valoraron la representación (número de poblaciones), y los pesos diferenciales de las especies se basaron en la rareza local de una especie y en su estatus de amenaza. Introdujimos un refinamiento basado en la relación especies-área que proporciona valores relativamente mayores a los sitios grandes. Aplicamos el método propuesto a la rica vegetación de ciénegas en el sur de Finlandia. El refinamiento de las especies-área resultó en una red de sitios significativamente más grandes con desequilibrios menores en la representación (número de poblaciones). La asignación de valores más altos a las especies en peligro aseguró que el desequilibrio ocurriera principalmente entre el tamaño del sitio y la representación de especies de prioridad baja. Recomendamos la utilización de de un refinamiento de especies-área para una planificación de la conservación de cobertura máxima. [source] Genetic determinants for activated fluoropyrimidine chemotherapyDRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006William H. GmeinerArticle first published online: 5 JUN 200 Abstract Fluoropyrimidines (FPs) remain widely used for the treatment of diverse malignancies more than four decades following the initial report of 5-fluorouracil (5FU), the archetypal FP, as a novel compound with potential anti-neoplastic activity. Subsequent decades of research have enriched our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms that are important for FP activation as well as the genetic determinants that are predictive of the likely success, or failure, of FP chemotherapy for a particular individual. The concept that chemotherapy should be customized to complement the genetic profiles of cancer patients has become increasingly important as genotyping of tumor samples has become possible and as the number of available anticancer drugs has increased. Significant progress has been made in identifying the gene expression profiles for cancer patients who are likely to benefit from treatment with FPs. In this review, we will summarize the results of retrospective clinical studies correlating response to FP chemotherapy with the expression of specific genes, such as TS and DPD. We will also present a summary of FPs in current clinical use, including orally bioavailable FPs such as capecitabine, as well as FPs that are in pre-clinical development, such as FdUMP[10]. Refinement of a target population through pharmacogenetic analysis and development of novel FPs that evoke very high response rates in this target population will likely result in the use of FP regimens in the coming era when cancer becomes a largely manageable disease. Drug Dev. Res. 67:119,129, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Voltammetry as a Virtual Potentiometric Sensor in Modeling of a Metal-Ligand System and Refinement of Stability Constants.ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 8 2004Part 1. Abstract A mathematical conversion of data coming from nonequilibrium and dynamic voltammetric techniques (a direct current sampled (DC) and differential pulse (DP) polarography) into potentiometric sensor type of data is described and tested on a dynamic metal-ligand system. A combined experiment involving DCP, DPP and glass electrode potentiometry (GEP) was performed on a single solution sample containing a fixed [LT],:,[MT] ratio (acid-base titration). Dedicated potentiometric software ESTA was successfully employed in the refinement operations performed on virtual potentiometric (VP) data obtained from DC and DP polarography. It was possible to refine stability constants either separately, from VP-DC or VP-DP, or simultaneously from any combination of VP-DC, VP-DP and GEP. The concept of VP-DC or VP-DP is reported for the first time and numerous documented and possible advantages are discussed. The proposed procedure can be easily utilized also by nonelectrochemists who are interested in, e.g., the ligand design strategies. [source] Synthesis of the Clathrate-II K8.6(4)Ge136 by Oxidation of K4Ge9 in an Ionic LiquidEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 17 2009Arnold M. Guloy Abstract The new clathrate-II K8.6(4)Ge136 has been synthesized by mild oxidation of K4Ge9 in the ionic liquid n -dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC)/AlCl3 at 300 °C and subsequent annealing at 370 °C. Refinement of the crystal structure from X-ray powder diffraction data revealed the composition K8.6(4)Ge136 [space group Fdm, a = 15.302(1) Å], which was also confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS), transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy on the bulk material. K atoms preferably occupy the larger Ge28 cages rather than the Ge20 cages in the clathrate-II structure. K8.6(4)Ge136 is metastable and was found to decompose exothermically at 471 °C. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] Valence-Tautomeric RbMnFe Prussian Blue Analogues: Composition and Time Stability InvestigationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2009Lionel Salmon Abstract Three different stoichiometric forms of RbxMn[Fe(CN)6]y·zH2O [x = 0.96, y = 0.98, z = 0.75 (1); x = 0.94, y = 0.88, z = 2.17 (2); x = 0.61, y = 0.86, z = 2.71 (3)] Prussian blue analogues were synthesized and investigated by magnetic, calorimetric, Raman spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 show a hysteresis loop between the high-temperature (HT) FeIII(S = 1/2),CN,MnII(S = 5/2) and the low-temperature (LT) FeII(S = 0),CN,MnIII(S = 2) forms of 61 and 135 K width centered at 273 and 215 K, respectively, whereas the third compound remains in the HT phase down to 5 K. The splitting of the quadrupolar doublets in the 57Fe Mössbauer spectra reveal the electron-transfer-active centers. Refinement of the X-ray powder diffraction profiles shows that electron-transfer-active materials have the majority of the Rb ions on only one of the two possible interstitial sites, whereas nonelectron-transfer-active materials have the Rb ions equally distributed. Moreover, the stability of the compounds with time and following heat treatment is also discussed.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] A Combined Gas-Phase Electron Diffraction/Mass Spectrometric Study of the Sublimation Processes of TeBr4 and TeI4: The Molecular Structure of Tellurium Dibromide and Tellurium DiiodideEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 33 2008Sergey A. Shlykov Abstract The sublimation processes of TeBr4 at 471(5) K and TeI4 at 373(5) K were studied with a combined gas-phase electron diffraction and mass spectrometric technique (GED/MS). The mass spectra and the analysis of the GED intensities showed that a contribution of 40(3) mol-% TeBr2, 59(3) mol-% Br2, and 1 mol-% TeBr4 was formed in the vapor over TeBr4(s). Solid tellurium tetraiodide decomposes to form I2(g) and Te(s). A very small contribution of 3.3,±,2.1 mol-% of gaseous TeI2 was also determined by both GED and MS. The "metallic" Te accumulated in the solid phase vaporizes at above ca. 670 K as the predominately Te2 molcular species. Refinement of the GED intensities resulted in rg(Te,Br) = 2.480(5) Å and ,gBr,Te,Br = 99.0(6)° for TeBr2 and rg(Te,I) = 2.693(9) Å and ,g(I,Te,I) = 103.1(22)° for TeI2. The small contribution of TeBr4 observed in the mass spectra of the vapor over TeBr4 could not be observed in the GED data. Geometric parameters and vibrational frequencies for the tellurium dihalides TeX2 with X = F, Cl, Br, and I were calculated with B3LYP, MP2, CCSD, and CCSD(T) methods by using aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets and various core potentials for the tellurium atom. Bonding properties in tellurium dihalides are discussed on the basis of natural bond orbital analyses. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008) [source] Suppression of Ni4Ti3 Precipitation by Grain Size Refinement in Ni-Rich NiTi Shape Memory Alloys,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 8 2010Egor A. Prokofiev Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes, such as equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and high pressure torsion (HPT), are successfully employed to produce ultra fine grain (UFG) and nanocrystalline (NC) microstructures in a Ti,50.7,at% Ni shape memory alloy. The effect of grain size on subsequent Ni-rich particle precipitation during annealing is investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAD, SAED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is observed that Ni4Ti3 precipitation is suppressed in grains of cross-sectional equivalent diameter below approximately 150,nm, and that particle coarsening is inhibited by very fine grain sizes. The results suggest that fine grain sizes impede precipitation processes by disrupting the formation of self-accommodating particle arrays and that the arrays locally compensate for coherency strains during nucleation and growth. [source] Nanoscale Grain Refinement and H-Sorption Properties of MgH2 Processed by High-Pressure Torsion and Other Mechanical Routes,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 8 2010Daniel Rodrigo Leiva MgH2 is a promising material for solid-state hydrogen storage due to its high gravimetric and volumetric storage capacity and its relatively low cost. Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processing techniques are being explored as an alternative to high-energy ball-milling (HEBM) in order to obtain more air resistant materials and reduce processing times. In this work, Mg, MgH2, and MgH2,Fe mixtures were severely mechanically processed by different techniques such as high-pressure torsion (HPT), extensive cold forging, and cold rolling. A very significant grain refinement was achieved when using MgH2 instead of Mg as raw material. The mean crystallite sizes observed ranged from 10 to 30,nm, depending on the processing conditions. Enhanced H-sorption properties were observed for the MgH2 -based nanocomposites processed by HPT when compared with MgH2 mixtures. Additionally, cold forging and cold rolling also proved effective in nanostructuring MgH2. These results suggest a high potential for innovative application with the use of low cost mechanical processing routes to produce Mg-based nanomaterials with attractive hydrogen storage properties. [source] Effects of solidification structure on tear resistance of Al,7% Si,0.4% Mg cast alloysFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 1 2004S.-W. HAN ABSTRACT The tear resistance behaviour of Al,7% Si,0.4% Mg cast alloys was examined using Kahn-type tear test specimens. Tests were performed for two permanent mould casts with an ordinary dendrite structure and a semi-liquid die cast with a globular cell and fine grain structure. The microstructure of the two permanent mould casts was controlled by the cooling rates and the addition of Ti elements. Tear resistance was evaluated by the ,pop-in' stress, the energies required for crack initiation, UEi and the crack propagation, UEp. Special attention was paid to an effective microstructural parameter for tear resistance improvement. Pop-in, indicating sudden crack extension and arrest, was observed in all specimens. Homogeneous deformation occurs near the notch tip of the semi-liquid die cast, characterized by a refined grain structure. Refinement of the grain size is more effective than that of the dendrite cell size or eutectic Si particle size to increase the energy for crack initiation. Unit propagation energy, UEp, can be converted into a critical stress intensity factor, Kc, which in the semi-liquid die cast was improved due to an increased amount of slant or shear fracture surface. [source] Two-dimensional anisotropic Cartesian mesh adaptation for the compressible Euler equationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 11 2004W. A. Keats Abstract Simulating transient compressible flows involving shock waves presents challenges to the CFD practitioner in terms of the mesh quality required to resolve discontinuities and prevent smearing. This paper discusses a novel two-dimensional Cartesian anisotropic mesh adaptation technique implemented for transient compressible flow. This technique, originally developed for laminar incompressible flow, is efficient because it refines and coarsens cells using criteria that consider the solution in each of the cardinal directions separately. In this paper, the method will be applied to compressible flow. The procedure shows promise in its ability to deliver good quality solutions while achieving computational savings. Transient shock wave diffraction over a backward step and shock reflection over a forward step are considered as test cases because they demonstrate that the quality of the solution can be maintained as the mesh is refined and coarsened in time. The data structure is explained in relation to the computational mesh, and the object-oriented design and implementation of the code is presented. Refinement and coarsening algorithms are outlined. Computational savings over uniform and isotropic mesh approaches are shown to be significant. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Refinement of an osteoporosis risk-assessment questionnaire for use in community pharmacyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 5 2008Lee Ser Poh pharmacy practice advanced student Objective To explore the influence of bone mineral density (BMD) tests in osteoporosis risk categorisation in community pharmacies, and to develop a simple tool for pharmacists to use as a pre-BMD test screen. Method A secondary data analysis was conducted on the responses of 193 participants to a risk-assessment questionnaire, used in previous osteoporosis research that included a BMD test. To explore the impact of the BMD test on pharmacists' categorisation of risk, the researchers made an independent assessment based on responses of the questionnaire. The influence of risk factors on BMD scores/bone status was explored using multiple and logistic regression respectively. Key findings A total of responses of 193 participants were available for study, with 113 in the BMD group and 80 from the non-BMD group. In the BMD group, both researchers and pharmacists identified a similar proportion of patients in the moderate/high-risk category when BMD results were incorporated in the risk assessments (X2 = 0.78, degrees of freedom (df) = 1, 0.3 < P < 0.5). A statistically significant difference in risk categorisation was found between the pharmacists and researchers in the non-BMD group (X2 = 23.9, df = 1, P < 0.001). Risk factors identified to be significantly affecting BMD and of use for identifying patients at high risk for osteopenia/osteoporosis were age, weight, postmenopause and absence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These four factors were used to construct a simple risk index to guide pharmacists' initial risk categorisation. Conclusion The findings of this study suggested that BMD testing may increase the effectiveness of risk assessments and enhance the screening procedures in the community pharmacy. The simple risk index could serve as a pre-BMD test screen, with a BMD test recommended when necessary. A refined risk-assessment questionnaire could serve to guide pharmacists in directing individualised counselling and advice for at-risk patients, through identification of modifiable risk factors and conditions. [source] Refinement of modulated structures against X-ray powder diffraction data with JANA2000JOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2001M. Du JANA is a computer program for the refinement and analysis of periodic and aperiodic (incommensurately modulated structures and composite crystals) crystal structures. Here a new module is introduced that allows Rietveld refinements against powder diffraction data. It is shown that JANA2000 provides a state-of-the-art description of the peak profiles. A re-analysis of the low-temperature structure of (CO)xC60 showed that the application of icosahedral symmetry restrictions to the C60 molecule leads to a better description of the electron density and to a corrected position of the CO molecule as compared with a rigid-body refinement. The incommensurately modulated structure of NbTe4 has been successfully refined against X-ray powder diffraction data. The structural parameters are equal to, but less accurate, than the parameters obtained from a single-crystal study. [source] Respiratory hypersensitivity to trimellitic anhydride in Brown Norway Rats: a comparison of endpointsJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Jürgen Pauluhn Abstract A rat bioassay has been developed to provide an objective approach for the identification and classification of respiratory allergy using trimellitic anhydride (TMA), which is a known respiratory tract irritant and asthmagen. Particular emphasis was placed on the study of route-of-induction-dependent effects and their progression upon inhalation challenge with TMA (,23 mg m,3 for a duration of 30 min), which included analysis of specific and non-specific airway hyperreactivity and pulmonary inflammation initiated and sustained by immunological processes. Refinement of the bioassay focused on procedures to probe changes occurring upon challenge with TMA or methacholine aerosols using physiological, biochemical and immunological procedures. Following challenge with TMA, the rats sensitized to TMA showed marked changes in peak inspiratory and expiratory air flows and respiratory minute volume. In these animals, a sustained pulmonary inflammation occurred, characterized by specific endpoints determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (lactate dehydrogenase, protein, nitrite, eosinophil peroxidase, myeloperoxidase). When compared with the naive controls, lung weights were increased significantly, as were the weights of lung-associated lymph nodes following inhalation induction and auricular lymph nodes following topical induction. The extent of changes observed was equal or more pronounced in animals sensitized epicutaneously (day 0 : 150 µl vehicle/50% TMA on each flank, day 7; booster administration to the skin of the dorsum of both ears using half the concentration and volume used on day 0) when compared with rats sensitized by 5 × 3 h day,1 inhalation exposures (low dose: 25 mg TMA m,3, high dose: 120 mg TMA m,3). In summary, the findings support the conclusion that the Brown Norway rat model is suitable for identifying TMA as an agent that causes both an immediate-type change of breathing patterns and a delayed-type sustained pulmonary inflammatory response. However, it remains unresolved whether the marked effects observed in the topically sensitized rats are more related to a route-of-induction or dose-dependent phenomenon. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Development and validation of a learning needs assessment scale: a continuing professional education tool for multiple sclerosis specialist nursesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 6 2007Alison While BSc Aim., To develop and validate a learning needs assessment scale. Background., Learning needs analysis is a central component of continuing professional development but there is a lack of psychometrically developed learning needs assessment tools. Self-assessment questionnaires are emerging as a key method. The development of a learning needs analysis scale for multiple sclerosis specialist nurses is described. Design., A psychometric approach comprising the three phases of the development and testing of the scale are outlined. Method., Phase 1: Item identification using a literature review; postal survey of stakeholders (n = 320), 20 nurse interviews; four nurse focus groups; five telephone interviews with people with MS. Phase 2: Refinement of draft scale and establishing face and content validity testing using an expert panel. Phase 3: Testing of draft scale using data from a postal survey (n = 47 MS specialist nurses) to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of scale, internal consistency and construct validity. Test,retest reliability was assessed using data from 17 MS specialist nurse respondents to calculate intra-class correlation coefficients. Results., The data from the different study phases informed scale refinement. The validity and reliability of the scale was confirmed through testing. Conclusion., The study provides an example of how a robust learning needs assessment scale may be developed for a specialist area of nursing practice to be used in conjunction with more subjective approaches. Relevance to clinical practice., High quality nursing care depends upon a competent nursing workforce that engages in continuing professional development. This study provides an example of a psychometrically developed learning needs assessment scale to inform continuing professional development needs of nurses working in a specialist area of practice. [source] The Amber biomolecular simulation programsJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 16 2005David A. Case Abstract We describe the development, current features, and some directions for future development of the Amber package of computer programs. This package evolved from a program that was constructed in the late 1970s to do Assisted Model Building with Energy Refinement, and now contains a group of programs embodying a number of powerful tools of modern computational chemistry, focused on molecular dynamics and free energy calculations of proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 26: 1668,1688, 2005 [source] SPICKER: A clustering approach to identify near-native protein foldsJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2004Yang Zhang Abstract We have developed SPICKER, a simple and efficient strategy to identify near-native folds by clustering protein structures generated during computer simulations. In general, the most populated clusters tend to be closer to the native conformation than the lowest energy structures. To assess the generality of the approach, we applied SPICKER to 1489 representative benchmark proteins ,200 residues that cover the PDB at the level of 35% sequence identity; each contains up to 280,000 structure decoys generated using the recently developed TASSER (Threading ASSembly Refinement) algorithm. The best of the top five identified folds has a root-mean-square deviation from native (RMSD) in the top 1.4% of all decoys. For 78% of the proteins, the difference in RMSD from native to the identified models and RMSD from native to the absolutely best individual decoy is below 1 Å; the majority belong to the targets with converged conformational distributions. Although native fold identification from divergent decoy structures remains a challenge, our overall results show significant improvement over our previous clustering algorithms. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 25: 865,871, 2004 [source] Blood,brain barrier efflux transportJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2003Pamela L. Golden Abstract Efflux transport at the blood,brain barrier (BBB) limits the brain tissue exposure to a variety of potential therapeutic agents, including compounds that are relatively lipophilic and would be predicted to permeate the endothelial lining of the brain microvasculature. Recent advances in molecular and cell biology have led to identification of several specific transport systems at the blood,brain interface. Refinement of classical pharmacokinetic experimentation has allowed assessment of the structural specificity of transporters, the impact of efflux transport on brain tissue exposure, and the potential for drug,drug interactions at the level of BBB efflux transport. The objective of this minireview is to summarize efflux transporter characteristics (location, specificity, and potential inhibition) for transport systems identified in the BBB. A variety of experimental approaches available to ascertain or predict the impact of efflux transport on net brain tissue uptake of substrates also are presented. The potential impact of efflux transport on the pharmacodynamics of agents acting in the central nervous system are illustrated. Finally, general issues regarding the role of identifying efflux transport as part of the drug development process are discussed. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 92:1739,1753, 2003 [source] What does it mean to be a girl with qizhi?:Refinement, gender and language ideologies in contemporary Taiwan1JOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 3 2008Hsi-Yao Su This study investigates the relationship between ideologies of language and gender as manifested through sociolinguistic interviews conducted on college campuses in Taiwan. The interviews consistently and systematically revealed the use of a term, qizhi, roughly equivalent to ,refined disposition.' This paper examines the implications of this preoccupation. Through an examination of the contextual use of qizhi, this study shows that, first, qizhi is commonly associated with a range of social practices, among which linguistic practices play a significant role. Second, qizhi is often used to describe, evaluate, and further regulate women's ways of speaking, although its use is not gender exclusive. Third, common linguistic varieties in Taiwan, such as Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Taiwanese-accented Mandarin, are associated with qizhi to varying degrees. This study demonstrates how talk centered on qizhi serves as a meeting ground of social evaluation, linguistic and discursive practices, gender ideologies, and language ideologies. [source] Tricalcium Silicate T1 and T2 Polymorphic Investigations: Rietveld Refinement at Various Temperatures Using Synchrotron Powder DiffractionJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 9 2004Vanessa K. Peterson The lattice parameters, cell volume, and structure of a sample of phase pure triclinic tricalcium silicate were determined using in situ, high-temperature synchrotron powder diffraction and full-profile Rietveld refinement. The temperature range covered was from ambient to 740°C. Evidence of superstructure was found. The T2 type structure with disordered SiO4 tetrahedra was observed, and an average structure for the subcell (P, a= 11.7416(2) Å, b= 14.2785(2) Å, c= 13.7732(2) Å, ,= 105.129(1)°, ,= 94.415(1)°, and ,= 89.889(1)°) is presented. Differential thermal analysis and X-ray fluorescence was also performed. [source] Giant Axonal Neuropathy Locus Refinement To A < 590 KB Critical IntervalJOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2001L Cavalier Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder, characterised clinically by the development of chronic distal polyneuropathy during childhood, mental retardation, kinky or curly hair, skeletal abnormalities and, ultrastructurally, by axons in the central and peripheral nervous systems distended by masses of tightly woven neurofilaments. We recently localised the CAN locus in 16q24.1 to a 5-cM interval between the D16S507 and D16S511 markers by homozygosity mapping in three consanguineous Tunisian families. We have now established a contig-based physical map of the region comprising YACs and BACs where we have placed four genes, ten ESTs, three STSs and two additional microsatellite markers, and where we have identified six new SSCP polymorphisms and six new microsatellite markers. Using these markers, we have refined the position of our previous flanking recombinants. We also identified a shared haplotype between two Tunisian families and a small region of homozygosity in a Turkish family with distant consanguinity, both suggesting the occurrence of historic recombinations and supporting the conclusions based on the phase-known recombinations. Taken together, these results allow us to establish a transcription map of the region, and to narrow down the GAN position to a < 590 kb critical interval, an important step toward the identification of the defective gene. [source] Clinical guidelines and off-license recombinant activated factor VII: content, use, and association with patient outcomesJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 12 2009C. D. WILLIS Summary.,Background: Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is increasingly being used off-license for treating critical bleeding. Guidelines may therefore be useful for improving processes and outcomes. Little is known regarding guidelines for off-license rFVIIa or their association with patient outcomes. Objectives: To investigate the availability of hospital guidelines for off-license rFVIIa use and the association between these guidelines and mortality. Methods: Data were extracted from the Haemostasis Registry, which collects all cases of off-license rFVIIa use in participating institutions in Australia and New Zealand. Contributing hospitals were requested to supply a copy of the institutional guideline relating to off-license rFVIIa administration. The characteristics of patients treated in accordance with all elements of the guidelines were compared with those of patients for who one or more guideline elements had been violated. The relationship between guideline-directed treatment and 28-day mortality was investigated using stepwise logistic regression. Results: Two thousand five hundred and fifty-one patients in 75 hospitals were available for analysis. Of these hospitals, 58 provided a guideline for analysis. Patients complying with all guideline elements (n = 530) did not differ from patients receiving care that violated guidelines (n = 1035) regarding age, size of dose, or gender. Guideline-directed treatment was not found to have an association with 28-day mortality following logistic regression. Conclusions: Few patients are treated in accordance with the criteria of rFVIIa guidelines, despite their availability in the majority of hospitals. Moreover, 28-day mortality does not appear to be associated with the use of guidelines in this patient group. Refinement of guidelines relating to the off-license use of rFVIIa is therefore required. [source] Extraction and Refinement Strategy for detection of autism in 18-month-olds: a guarantee of higher sensitivity and specificity in the process of mass screeningTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 8 2009Hideo Honda Background:, For early detection of autism, it is difficult to maintain an efficient level of sensitivity and specificity based on observational data from a single screening. The Extraction and Refinement (E&R) Strategy utilizes a public children's health surveillance program to produce maximum efficacy in early detection of autism. In the extraction stage, all cases at risk of childhood problems, including developmental abnormality, are identified; in the refinement stage, cases without problems are excluded, leaving only cases with conclusive diagnoses. Methods:, The city of Yokohama, Japan, conducts a routine child health surveillance program for children at 18 months in which specialized public health nurses administer YACHT-18 (Young Autism and other developmental disorders CHeckup Tool), a screening instrument to identify children at risk for developmental disorders. Children who screen positive undergo further observation, and those without disorders are subsequently excluded. To study the efficacy of early detection procedures for developmental disorders, including autism, 2,814 children born in 1988, examined at 18 months of age, and not already receiving treatment for diseases or disorders were selected. Results:, In the extraction stage, 402 (14.3%) children were identified for follow-up. In the refinement stage, 19 (.7%) of these were referred to the Yokohama Rehabilitation Center and diagnosed with developmental disorders. The extraction stage produced four false negatives, bringing total diagnoses of developmental disorders to 23 (.8%) , including 5 with autistic disorder and 9 with pervasive developmental disorder , not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). Sensitivity was 60% for autistic disorder and 82.6% for developmental disorders. Specificity for developmental disorders rose to 100% with the E&R Strategy. Picture cards used in YACHT-18 provided a finer screen that excluded some false positive cases. Conclusions:, An extraction and refinement methodology utilizing child health surveillance programs achieve high efficacy for early detection of autism. [source] The ARRIVE guidelines, a welcome improvement to standards for reporting animal researchTHE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 7 2010Olivier Danos Abstract Here we introduce the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) guidelines, produced by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), which are published in this issue of the journal with our endorsement, and will be incorporated into our Instructions to Authors. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Refinement of crystal structural parameters and charge density using convergent-beam electron diffraction , the rhombohedral phase of LaCrO3ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION A, Issue 6 2002Kenji Tsuda Atom positions and anisotropic Debye,Waller factors of the rhombohedral phase of LaCrO3 have been refined simultaneously with the low-order structure factors, using a structure-analysis method of convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED) proposed by Tsuda & Tanaka [Acta Cryst. (1999), A55, 939,954]. The method is based on the least-squares fitting between full dynamical calculations and energy-filtered intensities of two-dimensional higher-order Laue-zone (HOLZ) and zeroth-order Laue-zone (ZOLZ) CBED patterns. The positions of the oxygen atoms have been determined with a high precision. Clear anisotropy of the thermal vibrations of the oxygen atoms has been successfully determined by the CBED method for the first time. The charge transfer from the La and Cr atoms to the O atoms has been found from the deformation charge-density map. [source] Composite Islet-Endothelial Cell Grafts: A Novel Approach to Counteract Innate Immunity in Islet TransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 11 2005Ulrika Johansson An instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) is elicited when islets come in contact with blood after intraportal transplantation. In contrast, endothelial cells (EC) readily tolerate contact with blood. A conceivable strategy to overcome IBMIR would be to create composite islet-EC grafts. Human islets were co-cultured with primary human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) for 2,7 days to obtain 50,90% coverage. HAEC-coated islets were exposed to ABO-identical blood and analyzed with regard to clotting time, signs of inflammation and cell infiltration. Composite islet-HAEC graft survival was assessed after transplantation to athymic (nu/nu) nude mice. Exposed to blood, HAEC-coated islets induced less activation of coagulation and complement compared to control islets. Also, platelet and leukocyte consumption in blood was decreased. Clots with entrapped HAEC-coated islets showed less infiltration of CD11b+ cells. The extent of protection correlated to the level of HAEC coverage. Transplanted composite grafts stained positive for insulin and PECAM-1 demonstrating presence of both islets and HAEC within the islet graft 7 weeks after transplantation. Composite islet-HAEC grafts reduce all components of IBMIR. Refinement of the technique will allow introduction of composite islet-EC grafts in clinical islet transplantation, using autologous EC expanded in vitro and kept frozen until allogeneic islets become available for that specific recipient. [source] Structural characterization of YV4O8: simultaneous analysis of coexisting polytypes and simulation of diffuse scattering for a stacking disorder modelACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 4 2003Mitsuko Onoda The structure of a crystal of newly synthesized YV4O8 was refined on the assumption that two polytypes and their respective twin forms intergrow. The model was expressed as a commensurate composite crystal with two types of subsystem: one is a V4O8 framework with rather large tunnels and the other consists of Y ions. In the tunnels, Y ions and vacancies are located at every second site in an ordered manner that is characteristic of each polytype. Refinement was performed using a high-dimensional formalism and all reflections from all domains. Diffuse streaks observed in the X-ray and electron diffraction patterns were simulated using the matrix method that has been used for one-dimensional disorder such as stacking faults. The unusual diffraction phenomena that occur in a crystal of YV4O8 are explained as arising from a multiple-domain structure of coexisting polytypes. [source] Structure solution of the basic decagonal Al,Co,Ni phase by the atomic surfaces modelling methodACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 1 2002Antonio Cervellino The atomic surfaces modelling technique has been used to solve the structure of the basic Ni-rich Al,Co,Ni decagonal phase. Formula Al70.6Co6.7Ni22.7, space group , five-dimensional unit-cell parameters: d1 = d4 = 4.752,(3),Å, d2 = d3 = 3.360,(2),Å, d5 = 8.1710,(2),Å; ,12 = ,34 = 69.295°, ,13 = ,24 = 45°, ,14 = 41.410°, ,23 = ,i5 = 90° (i = 1,4), V = 291.2,(7),Å5; Dx = 3.887,Mg,m,3. Refinement based on |F|; 2767 unique reflections (|F| > 0), 749 parameters, R = 0.17, wR = 0.06. Describing the structure of quasicrystals embedded in n -dimensional superspace in principle takes advantage of n -dimensional periodicity to select the minimal set of degrees of freedom for the structure. The method of modelling of the atomic surfaces yielded the first fully detailed structure solution of this phase. Comparison with numerous former, less accurate models confirms several features already derived, but adds a new essential insight of the structure and its complexity. The atoms fill the space forming recurrent structure motifs, which we will (generically) refer to as clusters. However, no unique cluster exists, although differences are small. Each cluster shows a high degree of structural disorder. This gives rise to a large configurational entropy, as much as expected in a phase which is stable at high temperature. On the other side, the cluster spatial arrangement is perfectly quasiperiodic. These considerations, corroborated by analysis of the structural relationship with neighbouring periodic phases, strongly suggest the existence of a non-local, long-range interaction term in the total energy which may be essential to the stability. [source] Structure, phase transitions and ionic conductivity of K3NdSi6O15·xH2O.ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 3 2000-K3NdSi6O15·2H2O, its polymorphs Hydrothermally grown crystals of ,-K3NdSi6O15·2H2O, potassium neodymium silicate, have been studied by single-crystal X-ray methods. The compound crystallizes in space group Pbam, contains four formula units per unit cell and has lattice constants a = 16.008,(2), b = 15.004,(2) and c = 7.2794,(7),Å, giving a calculated density of 2.683,Mg,m,3. Refinement was carried out with 2161 independent structure factors to a residual, R(F), of 0.0528 [wR(F2) = 0.1562] using anisotropic temperature factors for all atoms other than those associated with water molecules. The structure is based on highly corrugated (Si2O52,), layers which can be generated by the condensation of xonotlite-like ribbons, which can, in turn, be generated by the condensation of wollastonite-like chains. The silicate layers are connected by Nd octahedra to form a three-dimensional framework. Potassium ions and water molecules are located in interstitial sites within this framework, in particular, within channels that extend along [001]. Aging of as-grown crystals at room temperature for periods of six months or more results in an ordering phenomenon that causes the length of the c axis to double. In addition, two phase transitions were found to occur upon heating. The high-temperature transformations, investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis and high-temperature X-ray diffraction, are reversible, suggesting displacive transformations in which the layers remain intact. Conductivity measurements along all three crystallographic axes showed the conductivity to be greatest along [001] and further suggest that the channels present in the room-temperature structure are preserved at high temperatures so as to serve as pathways for easy ion transport. Ion-exchange experiments revealed that silver can readily be incorporated into the structure. [source] Structure, phase transitions and ionic conductivity of K3NdSi6O15·xH2O.ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 3 2000Hydrothermally grown crystals of ,-K3NdSi6O15, potassium neodymium silicate, have been studied by single-crystal X-ray methods. Under appropriate conditions, the compound crystallizes in space group Bb21m and has lattice constants a = 14.370,(2), b = 15.518,(2) and c = 14.265,(2),Å. There are 30 atom sites in the asymmetric unit of the basic structure. With eight formula units per unit cell, the calculated density is 2.798,Mg,m,3. Refinement was carried out to a residual, wR(F2), of 0.1177 [R(F) = 0.0416] using anisotropic temperature factors for all atoms. The structure is based on (Si2O52,), layers, connected by Nd polyhedra to form a three-dimensional framework. Potassium ion sites, some of which are only partially occupied, are located within channels that run between the silicate layers. The silica,neodymia framework of ,-K3NdSi6O15, in particular the linkages formed between the silicate layers and Nd polyhedra, bears some similarities to that of the essentially isocompositional phase ,-K3NdSi6O15·2H2O. In both, the silicate layers are corrugated so as to accommodate a simple cubic array of NdO6 octahedra with lattice constant , 7.5,Å. Furthermore, the Si2O5 layers in ,-K3NdSi6O15 are topologically identical to those of the mineral sazhinite, Na2HCeSi6O15. Although ,-K3NdSi6O15 and sazhinite are not isostructural, the structures of each can be described as slight distortions of a high-symmetry parent structure with space group Pbmm. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||