Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Several Issues (several + issues)
Selected AbstractsAAN-EFNS guidelines on trigeminal neuralgia managementEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2008G. Cruccu Several issues regarding diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) are still unsettled. The American Academy of Neurology and the European Federation of Neurological Societies launched a joint Task Force to prepare general guidelines for the management of this condition. After systematic review of the literature the Task Force came to a series of evidence-based recommendations. In patients with TN MRI may be considered to identify patients with structural causes. The presence of trigeminal sensory deficits, bilateral involvement, and abnormal trigeminal reflexes should be considered useful to disclose symptomatic TN, whereas younger age of onset, involvement of the first division, unresponsiveness to treatment and abnormal trigeminal evoked potentials are not useful in distinguishing symptomatic from classic TN. Carbamazepine (stronger evidence) or oxcarbazepine (better tolerability) should be offered as first-line treatment for pain control. For patients with TN refractory to medical therapy early surgical therapy may be considered. Gasserian ganglion percutaneous techniques, gamma knife and microvascular decompression may be considered. Microvascular decompression may be considered over other surgical techniques to provide the longest duration of pain freedom. The role of surgery versus pharmacotherapy in the management of TN in patients with multiple sclerosis remains uncertain. [source] A Review of the ReviewFINANCIAL MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS & INSTRUMENTS, Issue 5 2005By Howard Davies In 1997 a process started to review the 1988 Basel I Accord, which ultimately led to the Basel II Accord of June 2004. In this paper Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics and Former Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, provides an analysis of this review process. Several issues related to the complexity and implementability of the Accord are discussed. Although the author thinks that Basel II has many appealing aspects (such as the three-pillar framework), he argues that the outcome is very complicated, it took a very long time, and needs to be adapted in ways not originally envisaged. He calls for a "Review of the Review" to see what lessons can be learnt from the review process which might be helpful for the future. [source] A review of pervaporation for product recovery from biomass fermentation processes,JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Leland M Vane Abstract Although several separation technologies are technically capable of removing volatile products from fermentation broths, distillation remains the dominant technology. This is especially true for the recovery of biofuels such as ethanol. In this paper, the status of an emerging membrane-based technology, called pervaporation, for this application is reviewed. Several issues and research priorities which will impact the ability of pervaporation to be competitive for biofuel recovery from fermentation systems are identified and discussed. They include: increased energy efficiency; reduction of capital cost for pervaporation systems; longer term trials with actual fermentation broths; optimized integration of pervaporation with fermentor; synergy of performing both alcohol recovery and solvent dehydration by pervaporation with dephlegmation fractional condensation technology; and updated economic analyses of pervaporation at various biofuel production scales. Pervaporation is currently viable for biofuel recovery in a number of situations, but more widespread application will be possible when progress has been made on these issues. Published in 2005 for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Statistical issues in interpreting clinical trialsJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2004D. L. DeMets Abstract. Randomized clinical trial is an important research tool in evaluating new therapeutic agents, devices and procedures. In order to obtain reliable and unbiased results, careful consideration must be given in the design and conduct of the trial. However, bias can be introduced in the analysis of the final data if certain principles are not followed. Several issues are described that make interpretation of analyses challenging. These include the intent-to-treat principle, the use of surrogate outcome measures, subgroup analyses, missing data and noninferiority trials. [source] The measurement of psychotic acuity by nursing staffJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 3 2009C. THEODORIDOU bsc(hons) msc Accurate evaluation of patients' psychotic state is essential to decrease psychotic symptoms and protect the patient and others. The aim of this paper is to conduct a literature review in order to access the utility, reliability and validity of current rating scales that are purported to measure psychotic acuity of inpatient population. A search of a number of electronic databases was undertaken to retrieve potential articles that focus on the measurement of acute psychosis. We identified some conceptual and theoretical problems when using a scale that is monitoring the progress of discharge and assesses the outcome of treatments. The findings revealed a difficulty in finding a commonly agreed definition of acute psychosis and a problem of obtaining frequent measures, and the frequency of measurement and fluctuation in psychosis. The most dominant scales in assessing psychosis were reviewed: the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale. Several issues related to the scales' inter-rater reliability and construct validity remain unexplored. None of these scales addressed the conceptual and theoretical problems that we identified. A new scale that will measure acuity of symptoms in inpatient settings needs to be created. [source] Synthesis and Characterization of Bulk, Vitreous Cadmium Germanium ArsenideJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 6 2009Bradley R. Johnson Cadmium germanium diarsenide glasses were synthesized in bulk form (,2.4 cm3) using procedures adapted from the literature. Several issues involved in the fabrication and quenching of amorphous CdGexAs2 (x=0.45, 0.65, 0.85, and 1.00, where x is the molar ratio of Ge to 1 mol of Cd) are described. An innovative processing route is presented to enable fabrication of high-purity, vitreous, crack-free ingots with sizes up to 10 mm diameter, and 30,40 mm long. Specimens from selected ingots were characterized using thermal analysis, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, particle-induced X-ray emission, Rutherford backscattering, secondary ion mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, density, and optical spectroscopy. Variations in properties as a function of processing conditions and composition are described. Results show that the density of defect states in the middle of the band gap and near the band edges can be decreased three ways: through suitable control of the processing conditions, by doping the material with hydrogen, and by increasing the concentration of Ge in the glass. [source] Sperm Cryopreservation in Brown Bear (Ursus arctos): Preliminary AspectsREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 2008L Anel Contents The development of sperm cryopreservation procedures in brown bear is the basis for establishing a specific genetic resource bank aimed at the preservation of a Cantabric brown bear population, which is seriously threatened. Several issues complicate the development of these cryopreservation procedures: lack of previous specific studies, a high incidence of urospermia and spermagglutination observed in bear ejaculates. Moreover, the availability of individuals for research from these threatened populations is problematic. In the case of the Cantabric brown bear, we have used males from other populations, but of the same species, as surrogates, to carry out a direct extrapolation of the results. Urospermia , Moreover, 70% of the ejaculates are urine contaminated and spermagglutination have a detrimental effect on post-thawing cell quality recovery in this species. Considering the high value of these samples (autochthonous population with few individuals), a pre-selection of the ejaculates is not a viable alternative. Preventive methods reducing the mentioned detrimental effects need to be developed. On the basis of previous data, we can suppose that bear spermatozoa resist freezing injuries well. Nevertheless, because of the scarcity of this information, it is necessary to conduct further research on bear semen freezing under field conditions. Epidydimal spermatozoa can be important for genetic resource banking of threatened populations and thus specific cryobiological protocols need to be assayed. To date, 168 brown bear ejaculates have been frozen by the ITRA-ULE group at the University of León (Spain) in the development of methodologies for the preservation of brown bear sperm. [source] Diagnostic and surgical dilemmas in hereditary medullary thyroid carcinomaTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2009Shawn M. Allen MD Abstract Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare malignancy arising from the parafollicular C cells within the thyroid gland. The majority of cases are sporadic, but at least 30% are hereditary in nature. Inherited forms of MTC occur as familial MTC or as a manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical management, including prophylactic thyroidectomy, improve the prognosis of patients with hereditary MTC. Several issues regarding the diagnosis and treatment of MTC remain controversial. Genetic penetrance and virulence are variable. We present an index case of familial MTC to illustrate common difficulties in the initial diagnosis and dilemmas in the surgical approach, followed by a review of current literature relevant to the management of hereditary MTC. Laryngoscope, 2009 [source] STRETCHING DISTRICT NURSING SERVICES TO MEET RURAL NEEDSAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 6 2001Katrina Alford ABSTRACT: This article evaluates the adequacy of District Nursing Service (DNS) provision in the Goulburn Murray region in Victoria. It draws on a survey of the region's DNS and communication with several community health agencies in response to problems identified by service providers. The results suggest that these rural health services face problems not experienced in urban areas. District nurses in rural areas have to travel far and wide to accommodate their clients and they put in extra unpaid hours if necessary. Their travel time, management and communication skills are not sufficiently recognised in the current funding formula. Although this includes some weighting for rurality, it is insufficient for District Nursing Services catering for smaller, more dispersed populations. Current and future demand pressures on home and community-based nursing services highlight the importance of redressing this deficiency. Several issues raised in this article may reflect problems that are common in rural regions, including funding inadequacies, unpaid additional work, access and equity difficulties and boundary issues. As a result, recommendations to improve service delivery may have broader applicability. [source] The Triple P-Positive Parenting Programme: a universal population-level approach to the prevention of child abuseCHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 3 2003Matthew R. Sanders Abstract The Triple P-Positive Parenting Programme is described as an example of an evidence-based universal parenting initiative that provides a tiered continuum of interventions of increasing strength but narrowing reach in an effort to make parenting programmes more accessible to parents. Interventions within the system range from the use of the media and brief messages to intensive family interventions for parents where parenting problems are complicated by multiple additional sources of family adversity. Several issues concerning the role of training and organizational factors that influence the successful uptake and implementation of the programme are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Complementary and alternative medicine: the move into mainstream health careCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPTOMETRY, Issue 2 2004Kylie O'Brien BSc (Optometry) BAppSc (Chinese Medicine) MPH The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia is extensive with over 50 per cent of the Australian population using some form of complementary medicine and almost 25 per cent of Australians visiting CAM practitioners. Expenditure on CAM by Australians is significant. The scope of CAM is extremely broad and ranges from complete medical systems such as Chinese medicine to well-known therapies, such as massage and little known therapies, such as pranic healing. There is a growing focus on CAM in Australia and worldwide by a range of stakeholders including government, the World Health Organization, western medical practitioners and private health insurance companies. CAM practices may offer the potential for substantial public health gains and challenge the way that we view human beings, health and illness. Several issues are emerging that need to be addressed. They include safety and quality control of complementary medicines, issues related to integration of CAM with western medicine and standards of practice. The evidence base of forms of CAM varies considerably: some forms of CAM have developed systematically over thousands of years while others have developed much more recently and have a less convincing evidence base. Many forms of CAM are now being investigated using scientific research methodology and there are increasing examples of good research. Certain forms of CAM, including Chinese medicine in which ophthalmology is an area of clinical speciality, view the eye in a unique way. It is important to keep an open mind about CAM and give proper scrutiny to new evidence as it emerges. [source] Privatisation in Developing Countries: Performance and Ownership EffectsDEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW, Issue 3 2008Narjess Boubakri Over the last twenty years, privatisation, defined as the transfer of public assets (firms) from the government to private investors, has been on the reform agenda of more than 120 developing countries. The switch of ownership induces major changes in the corporate governance of firms, and in their incentives to restructure and improve efficiency and performance. This article evaluates this experience, focusing on its impact on corporate performance and governance, identifying several issues yet to be resolved. [source] Ghrelin: a new peptide regulating the neurohormonal system, energy homeostasis and glucose metabolismDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 5 2008Peter Pusztai Abstract Identification of ghrelin started with the discovery of growth hormone secretagogues, continued with the description of ghrelin receptors and ended with the elucidation of the chemical structure of ghrelin. However, several issues concerning the role of ghrelin in physiological and pathophysiological processes are still under investigation. Most of the ghrelin produced in the body is secreted in the stomach, but it is also expressed in the hypothalamus, pituitary, pancreas, intestine, kidney, heart and gonads. Ghrelin stimulates growth hormone secretion via growth hormone secretagogue receptors. Ghrelin secretion in the stomach depends on both acute and chronic changes in nutritional status and energy balance. Current data support the hypothesis that the stomach, in addition to its important role in digestion, not only influences pituitary hormone secretion but, via ghrelin production, it also sends orexigenic (appetite increasing) signals to hypothalamic nuclei involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. In addition to these main effects, ghrelin influences insulin secretion and glucose metabolism and it may exert potentially important effects on cardiovascular and gastrointestinal functions. Because of its effects on a large number of physiological functions, ghrelin may be involved in the pathomechanism of several human disorders, including disturbances of appetite, energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. Further research might lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ghrelin and might provide more effective therapy for the above disorders. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Wittgenstein, Freud, Dreaming and Education: Psychoanalytic explanation as ,une façon de parler'1EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY, Issue 5 2008James D. Marshall Abstract Freud saw the dream as occupying a very important position in his theoretical model. If there were to be problems with his theoretical account of the dream then this would impinge upon proposed therapy and, of course, education as the right balance between the instincts and the institution of culture. Wittgenstein, whilst stating that Freud was interesting and important, raised several issues in relation to psychology/psychoanalysis, and to Freud in particular. Why would Wittgenstein have seen Freud as having some important things to say, even though he was sharply critical of Freud's claims to be scientific? The major issues to be considered in this paper are, in Section 1, the scientific status of Freud's work,was it science or was it more like philosophy than science; the analysis of dreams; rationality, and dreams and madness. Section 2 considers Freud and education, including the indignity of Freud's notion of ,the talking cure.' Section 3 considers psychoanalytic explanations not as theory but as a manner of speaking: ,une façon de parler.' [source] Strategies for Improving Tensile Ductility of Bulk Nanostructured Materials,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 8 2010Yonghao Zhao Abstract The low ductility that is consistently associated with bulk nanostructured (NS) materials has been identified as perhaps the single most critical issue that must be resolved before this novel class of materials can be used in a wide variety of applications. Not surprisingly, a number of published studies, published mostly after 2000, identify the issue of low ductility and describe strategies to improve ductility. Details of these strategies were discussed in review papers published by Koch and Ma in 2005 and 2006, respectively.15,16 In view of continued efforts and recent results, in this paper we describe progress in attempting to address the low ductility of NS materials, after 2006. We first analyze the fundamental reasons for the observed low ductility of bulk NS materials, and summarize early (prior to 2006) attempts to enhance the ductility of bulk NS materials, which often sacrificed the strength. Then, we review recent progress in developing strategies for improving the tensile ductility of bulk NS materials, which involve mainly microstructure modifications, after 2006. Different from early efforts, these new strategies strive to increase the tensile ductility while increasing/maintaining the strength simultaneously. In addition, the influence of tensile testing conditions, including temperature, strain rate, tensile specimen size and geometry, and strain measurement methods, on tensile ductility of NS materials will also be reviewed. Finally, we identify several issues that will require further, in depth analysis in the future. [source] Boundary and border considerations in hydrologyHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 7 2004Ming-ko Woo Abstract This paper examines several issues related to hydrological boundaries and their border zones. In a two-dimensional space, a boundary is a line that separates two domains possessing different hydrological properties or dominated by different hydrological processes, and a border is an area that experiences an edge effect owing to transitions or mixing of processes. Hydrological boundaries may be static, such as drainage divides, or dynamic, such as the edges of a seasonal snow cover. They may be open or closed to the transfer of matter and energy, although most boundaries tend to be perforated, permitting different rates of movement across different segments. Borders may be narrow or the edge effect can affect large areas, as happens to the sensible heat flux over a highly fragmented melting snowfield. The introduction of artificial boundaries, notably the grid patterns of remote sensing pixels, digital elevation models and land surface schemes, gives rise to problems of mismatch with the natural hydrological boundaries. Incorrect demarcation, omission and generalization of boundaries can produce errors that are hard to rectify. Serious biases are involved when point observations are used to calibrate parameters or to validate model outputs integrated over a bounded area. Examples are drawn mainly from cold climate hydrology to illustrate the boundary issues but the questions transcend disciplinary areas. The intent of this presentation is to stimulate discussions that could be a prelude to finding solutions to many boundary problems which have thus far eluded hydrological investigations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Strategies and challenges in eliciting immunity to melanomaIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2008Andrew R. Ferguson Summary: The ability of CD8+ T cells to recognize melanoma tumors has led to the development of immunotherapeutic approaches that use the antigens CD8+ T cells recognize. However, clinical response rates have been disappointing. Here we summarize our work to understand the mechanisms of self-tolerance that limit responses to currently utilized antigens and our approach to identify new antigens directly tied to malignancy. We also explore several aspects of the anti-tumor immune response induced by peptide-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs). DCs differentially augment the avidity of recall T cells specific for self-antigens and overcome a process of aberrant CD8+ T-cell differentiation that occurs in tumor-draining lymph nodes. DC migration is constrained by injection route, resulting in immune responses in localized lymphoid tissue, and differential control of tumors depending on their location in the body. We demonstrate that CD8+ T-cell differentiation in different lymphoid compartments alters the expression of homing receptor molecules and leads to the presence of systemic central memory cells. Our studies highlight several issues that must be addressed to improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. [source] Applying human rights standards to employment rights in the USA: The Human Rights Watch Report 2000INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS JOURNAL, Issue 3 2002James A. Gross This essay reviews the international human rights standards that the Human Rights Watch Report uses as standards for judgment, summarises with some commentary the Report's major findings and recommendations, comments more fully on certain findings and recommendations, and, in conclusion, raises several issues that need to be addressed given the state of freedom of association and other related human rights in the USA. [source] Things Still To Be Done on the Still-Face EffectINFANCY, Issue 4 2003E. Z. Tronick Adamson and Frick (2003/this issue) have written a fine and challenging review of the research on the still-face. Of special value is their placement of the face-to-face still-face (FFSF) paradigm in a historical framework, which permits us to see how much about the still-face effect and infant functioning we have learned in the past 30 years. Their review led me to think about several issues. First was the issue of whether or not to standardize the FFSF paradigm. Second, Adamson and Frick argue the still-face put the "infant's reaction in a new interpretive frame," but it is a reaction that still challenges our "understanding of young infants' social, emotional, and cognitive capacities." Thus, I would like to discuss explanations of the still-face effect. Last, I discuss some suggestions for further research. For an elaborated version of this article, additional archival material is located at http:www.infancyarchives.com. [source] A mesh adaptation framework for dealing with large deforming meshesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2010Gaëtan Compère Abstract In this paper, we identify and propose solutions for several issues encountered when designing a mesh adaptation package, such as mesh-to-mesh projections and mesh database design, and we describe an algorithm to integrate a mesh adaptation procedure in a physics solver. The open-source MAdLib package is presented as an example of such a mesh adaptation library. A new technique combining global node repositioning and mesh optimization in order to perform arbitrarily large deformations is also proposed. We then present several test cases to evaluate the performances of the proposed techniques and to show their applicability to fluid,structure interaction problems with arbitrarily large deformations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dynamic capabilities: A review and research agendaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS, Issue 1 2007Catherine L. Wang The notion of dynamic capabilities complements the premise of the resource-based view of the firm, and has injected new vigour into empirical research in the last decade. Nonetheless, several issues surrounding its conceptualization remain ambivalent. In light of empirical advancement, this paper aims to clarify the concept of dynamic capabilities, and then identify three component factors which reflect the common features of dynamic capabilities across firms and which may be adopted and further developed into a measurement construct in future research. Further, a research model is developed encompassing antecedents and consequences of dynamic capabilities in an integrated framework. Suggestions for future research and managerial implications are also discussed. [source] Pitfalls of Ability ResearchINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT, Issue 4 2001Thomas R. Carretta Ability research in psychology can be fraught with pitfalls that lead to inappropriate conclusions. We identify several issues that lead to potential misinterpretation of results and suggest corrective solutions. These issues include lack of construct validity of the measures, misinterpretation of correlations and regression weights, lack of statistical power, failure to estimate cross-validation effects, and misinterpretation of factor analytic results. [source] Key Issues Concerning Biolog Use for Aerobic and Anaerobic Freshwater Bacterial Community-Level Physiological ProfilingINTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Bradley W. Christian Abstract Bacterial heterotrophy in aquatic ecosystems is important in the overall carbon cycle. Biolog MicroPlates provide information into the metabolic potential of bacteria involved in carbon cycling. Specifically, Biolog EcoPlatesÔ were developed with ecologically relevant carbon substrates to allow investigators to measure carbon substrate utilization patterns and develop community-level physiological profiles from natural bacterial assemblages. However, understanding of the functionality of these plates in freshwater research is limited. We explored several issues of EcoPlate use for freshwater bacterial assemblages including inoculum density, incubation temperature, non-bacterial color development, and substrate selectivity. Each of these has various effects on plate interpretation. We offer suggestions and techniques to resolve these interpretation issues. Lastly we propose a technique to allow EcoPlate use in anaerobic freshwater bacterial studies. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] An Odd Thing Happened on the Way to Balancing: East Asian States' Reactions to China's RiseINTERNATIONAL STUDIES REVIEW, Issue 3 2010Steve Chan Are East Asian states reacting to China's rise according to balance-of-power expectations? This review discusses the pertinent debate and presents overtime data germane to this question. It raises several issues of theoretical argumentation and historical purview pertaining to this debate, and concludes that the conduct of China's neighbors thus far is anomalous from the traditional balance-of-power perspective. [source] Initial perceptions in negotiations: evaluation and response to ,logrolling' offersJOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING, Issue 2 2002Simone Moran Abstract In negotiations, where several issues are under consideration and parties have different priorities among these issues, integrative agreements can be reached through ,logrolling': concessions on low priority issues in exchange for gains on higher priority issues. The present research focuses on the potential role of initial offers in the development of integrative agreements. We show first, that in a simulated competitive market the specific composition of initial offers influences the final agreements, beyond the effect predicted by their overall value. In order to obtain some insight into the judgmental processes that might play a role, we explore the way in which inexperienced negotiators presented with a hypothetical negotiation context evaluate and respond to logrolling versus distributive initial offers. Three hypotheses were tested: logrolling offers convey an implicit message of cooperation, logrolling offers promote understanding of the mutual interest structure of the task, and, finally, logrolling offers establish within-issue anchors. Results do not support the first two hypotheses: logrolling offers were not necessarily judged more attractive than distributive ones, and they did not seem to affect the deeply rooted fixed-pie assumption. However, initial offers did establish within-issue anchors: counter-offers were affected by the specific composition of the initial offers beyond the effect of their overall value. This anchoring process resulted in logrolling offers yielding a higher profit for their initiator, as well as higher combined profits for both parties. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Ross Procedure for Aortic Insufficiency Due to Doubly Committed Subarterial Ventricular Septal Defect in AdultsJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 5 2005Ph.D., Shoh Tatebe M.D. Preoperatively, she developed congestive heart failure because of less compliance to oral medication, raising concerns regarding life-threatening thromboembolism if she undergoes mechanical valve replacement. Despite the pulmonary autograft being defective, there were no difficulties in completing the surgery. The defect of pulmonary autograft and the VSD was closed by an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch. She tolerated the procedure well and now enjoys improved quality of life. We present a discussion of the indication of Ross procedure in the rare presentation of congenital heart disease, as well as several issues raised in this case. [source] Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: Long term clinical course and plasma exchange therapy for two individual patients and review of the literatureJOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 6 2009Roy Beigel Abstract Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease. Homozygous FH (HFH) manifests with severe hypercholesterolemia since birth (cholesterol levels >5,6 the upper normal limit), which, if untreated, leads to early onset accelerated atherosclerosis and premature coronary death, usually before the 2nd or 3rd decades of life. Various invasive procedures (iliocecal bypass, porto-caval shunt, liver transplant, and gene therapy) have been introduced for lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL) aiming at reducing atherosclerosis and improving survival of HFH patients. Of all the various methods, LDL apheresis has become the most attractive. Although its impressive effect on LDL-C reduction is well established, its long-term (of more than 10 year) effect on the atherosclerotic process and specifically cardiac end-points in HFH is hardly documented. We herewith report on the longest term lipophoresis so far reported in two HFH patients, each treated with plasma-exchange and LDL-apheresis for more than 20 years. The observations provide an opportunity to focus on various aspects regarding not only the procedure itself but also its effect on various clinical endpoints. By this description together with reviewing the literature, we discuss several issues, some of them are generalized while others are individualized, dealing with the approach of long term LDL apheresis in HFH. J. Clin. Apheresis 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Piecewise linear relaxation of bilinear programs using bivariate partitioningAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2010M. M. Faruque Hasan Abstract Several operational and synthesis problems of practical interest involve bilinear terms. Commercial global solvers such as BARON appear ineffective at solving some of these problems. Although recent literature has shown the potential of piecewise linear relaxation via ab initio partitioning of variables for such problems, several issues such as how many and which variables to partition, which partitioning scheme(s) and relaxation model(s) to use, placement of grid points, etc., need detailed investigation. To this end, we present a detailed numerical comparison of univariate and bivariate partitioning schemes. We compare several models for the two schemes based on different formulations such as incremental cost (IC), convex combination (CC), and special ordered sets (SOS). Our evaluation using four process synthesis problems shows a formulation using SOS1 variables to perform the best for both partitioning schemes. It also points to the potential usefulness of a 2-segment bivariate partitioning scheme for the global optimization of bilinear programs. We also prove some simple results on the number and selection of partitioned variables and the advantage of uniform placement of grid points (identical segment lengths for partitioning). © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source] Tanzania's coffee sector: constraints and challengesJOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2005John Baffes During the early 1990s, Tanzania embarked in a major reform programme at both macro and sectoral levels. Reforms in agriculture figured prominently, especially in the export crop sectors which during the 1990s accounted for almost two thirds of total merchandize exports. This paper surveys the policy reforms and their impact on the coffee sector, Tanzania's largest export crop. By most accounts, the outcome of reforms has been mixed. While producers' share of export prices increased, official statistics show no supply response. Coffee processing capacity, marketing efficiency, and investment in new plantings increased. Despite the reforms, several issues must are still outstanding. Taxes should be consolidated, lowered, and rationalized. Licensing procedures need to be re-examined. The coffee auction should be voluntary so the costs of vertically integrated exporters will be reduced and cross-border trade will be enhanced. The power of the board and the relevant ministries ought to be substantially reduced and their respective roles clearly defined. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Generation and validation of affinity reagents on a proteome-wide levelJOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 2 2009Mathias Uhlén Abstract There is a need for protein-specific affinity reagents to explore the gene products encoded by the genome. Recently, systematic efforts to generate validated affinity reagents on a whole human proteome level have been initiated. There are several issues for such efforts, including choice of antigen, type of affinity reagent, and the subsequent validation of the generated protein-specific binders. The advantages and disadvantages with the different approaches are discussed and the problems related to quality assessment of antibodies to be used in multi-platform applications are addressed. This review also describes the efforts to create a virtual resource of validated antibodies using a community-based portal and summarizes the status and visions for the publicly available human protein atlas (http://www.proteinatlas.org) showing the human protein profiles in a large number of normal and cancer tissues as well as a large set of human cell lines. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||