bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Predictive Validity of a Psychosocial Screening Program for Children and Youth Newly Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Schwartz David D. , Cline Virginia Depp , Axelrad Marni E. , Anderson Barbara J.
Published: January 2011

OBJECTIVE

Psychosocial screening has been recommended for pediatric patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and their families. Our objective was to assess a psychosocial screening protocol in its feasibility, acceptability to families, and ability to predict early emerging complications, nonadherent family behavior, and use of preventive psychology services.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 125 patients and their caregivers were asked to participate in a standardized screening interview after admission at a large urban children’s hospital with a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Medical records were reviewed for subsequent diabetes-related emergency department (ED) admissions, missed diabetes clinic appointments, and psychology follow-up within 9 months of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 125 families, 121 (96.8%) agreed to participate in the screening, and a subsample of 30 surveyed caregivers indicated high levels of satisfaction. Risk factors at diagnosis predicted subsequent ED admissions with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.6%. Children from single-parent households with a history of behavior problems were nearly six times more likely to be seen in the ED after diagnosis. Missed appointments were likeliest among African Americans, 65% of whom missed at least one diabetes-related appointment. Psychology services for preventive intervention were underutilized, despite the high acceptability of the psychosocial screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychosocial screening of newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes is feasible, acceptable to families, and able to identify families at risk for early emerging complications and nonadherence. Challenges remain with regards to reimbursement and fostering follow-up for preventive care.
Efficacy of Insulin Analogs in Achieving the Hemoglobin A1c Target of <7% in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Giugliano Dario , Maiorino Maria Ida , Bellastella Giuseppe , Chiodini Paolo , Ceriello Antonio , Esposito Katherine
Published: January 2011

OBJECTIVE

Insulin analogs are increasingly used in patients with type 2 diabetes. We compared the effect of basal, biphasic, prandial, and basal-bolus insulin regimens with insulin analogs to reach the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) target of <7% in people with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted an electronic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving insulin analogs. RCTs were included if they lasted at least 12 weeks, reported the proportion of diabetic patients reaching the HbA1c target of <7% (primary outcome), and the number of patients in any arm was >30.

RESULTS

We found 16 RCTs, with 20 comparisons and 7,759 patients. A greater proportion of patients achieved the HbA1c goal of <7% with both biphasic (odds ratio 1.88 [95% CI 1.38–2.55]) and prandial (2.07 [1.16–3.69]) insulin compared with basal insulin; this was associated for biphasic insulin with greater hypoglycemia (event/patient/30 days, mean difference, 0.34 [range 0–0.69]) and weight gain in kg (1.0 kg [0.28–1.73]). Compared with biphasic insulin, the basal-bolus regimen was associated with a greater chance to reach the HbA1c goal (odds ratio 1.75 [95% CI 1.11–2.77]), with no greater hypoglycemia or weight gain. The effect of insulin analogs on long-term diabetes complications is still lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

A greater proportion of type 2 diabetic patients can achieve the HbA1c goal <7% with biphasic or prandial insulin compared with basal insulin; in absolute terms, the basal-bolus regimen was best for the attainment of the HbA1c goal.
The Association Between Maternal Glucose Concentration and Child BMI at Age 3 Years
Authors: Deierlein Andrea L. , Siega-Riz Anna Maria , Chantala Kim , Herring Amy H.
Published: January 2011

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine the association between child BMI at age 3 years and maternal glucose concentration among women without pre-existing diabetes or a gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data are from the Pregnancy Infection and Nutrition and Postpartum studies and include 263 mother-child pairs. Measured weights and heights at 3 years were used to calculate age- and sex-specific BMI z scores and percentiles. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations of continuous BMI z scores with maternal glucose concentration. Modified Poisson regression estimated risk ratios of child overweight/obesity (BMI ≥85th percentile).

RESULTS

The mean (SD) maternal glucose concentration and prepregnancy BMI were 103.8 (23.7) mg/dL and 24.3 (5.9) kg/m2, respectively. At 3 years, the mean (SD) child BMI z score was 0.29 (0.99), 20.9% were overweight/obese and 5.3% were obese. In the adjusted model, when compared with glucose concentration <100 mg/dL, a concentration ≥130 mg/dL was associated with significantly higher child BMI z score at 3 years (estimated z score difference of 0.39 [95% CI: 0.03–0.75]). With the use of the same reference category, a concentration ≥130 mg/dL was associated with an approximate twofold greater risk of child overweight/obesity (adjusted risk ratio 2.34 [95% CI: 1.25–4.38]).

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal exposure to high maternal glucose concentration in the absence of pre-existing diabetes or GDM may contribute to the development of overweight/obesity in the offspring, independent of maternal prepregnancy BMI.
Epiphytic chironomids on rigid hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum L.) - the relation between the community structure and lake status
Authors: Tarkowska-Kukuryk Monika
Published: January 2011

Studies on the role of Ceratophyllum demersum L. as a substratum for epiphytic midges in relation to lake status were conducted within two shallow polymictic lakes of Polesie Lubelskie. Lake Skomielno is classified as macrophyte dominated (MD), clear water state and Lake Syczyńskie represents phytoplankton dominated (PD), turbid water state. The results demonstrated that lake status is a determinant of community composition of epiphytic chironomids. Both species richness and abundance showed significantly higher values in the macrophyte dominated lake. The studied ecosystems differ in the composition of dominant chironomid taxa. In the clear state lake, the group of dominants included four taxa: Psectrocladius sp. (gr. sordidellus), Glyptotendipes sp., Ablabesmyia phatta and Paratanytarsus austriacus, the contribution of which changed during the studied months. In the turbid state lake two midge taxa dominated: Cricotopus sp. (gr. sylvestris) and Endochironomus albipennis. The CCA ordination showed the important differences between the studied lake types. In the MD lake, four environmental factors (temperature, chlorophyll-a, total P, P-PO4) influenced mostly the distribution and composition of epiphytic chironomids. In the MD lake, five variables (periphyton biomass, total suspension, N-NH4, total P, pH) affected the structure of midges.
Free Magmas
Authors: Riccardi Marco
Published: January 2011

Free Magmas

This article introduces the free magma M(X) constructed on a set X [6]. Then, we formalize some theorems about M(X): if f is a function from the set X to a magma N, the free magma M(X) has a unique extension of f to a morphism of M(X) into N and every magma is isomorphic to a magma generated by a set X under a set of relators on M(X). In doing it, the article defines the stable subset under the law of composition of a magma, the submagma, the equivalence relation compatible with the law of composition and the equivalence kernel of a function. We also introduce some schemes on the recursive function.
Integrability Formulas. Part I
Authors: Li Bo , Ma Na
Published: January 2011

Integrability Formulas. Part I

In this article, we give several differentiation and integrability formulas of special and composite functions including the trigonometric function, and the polynomial function.
Difference and Difference Quotient. Part III
Authors: Liang Xiquan , Tang Ling
Published: January 2011

Difference and Difference Quotient. Part III

In this article, we give some important theorems of forward difference, backward difference, central difference and difference quotient and forward difference, backward difference, central difference and difference quotient formulas of some special functions.
Affine Independence in Vector Spaces
Authors: Pąk Karol
Published: January 2011

Affine Independence in Vector Spaces

In this article we describe the notion of affinely independent subset of a real linear space. First we prove selected theorems concerning operations on linear combinations. Then we introduce affine independence and prove the equivalence of various definitions of this notion. We also introduce the notion of the affine hull, i.e. a subset generated by a set of vectors which is an intersection of all affine sets including the given set. Finally, we introduce and prove selected properties of the barycentric coordinates.
Integrability Formulas. Part III
Authors: Li Bo , Ma Na
Published: January 2011

Integrability Formulas. Part III

In this article, we give several differentiation and integrability formulas of composite trigonometric function.
Counting Derangements, Non Bijective Functions and the Birthday Problem
Authors: Kaliszyk Cezary
Published: January 2011

Counting Derangements, Non Bijective Functions and the Birthday Problem

The article provides counting derangements of finite sets and counting non bijective functions. We provide a recursive formula for the number of derangements of a finite set, together with an explicit formula involving the number e. We count the number of non-one-to-one functions between to finite sets and perform a computation to give explicitely a formalization of the birthday problem. The article is an extension of [10].
Introduction
Authors: Shear Boone , Hyatt Susan Brin
Published: January 2011

The aim of this Special Issue of Learning and Teaching: The International Journal of Higher Education in the Social Sciences is to analyse the impacts of neoliberal restructuring on higher education and to explore ways of raising students’ critical awareness of these changes in their own environment. This Special Issue developed out of a symposium that was held at the University of Massachusetts in Spring 2008. Both Susan B. Hyatt and Vincent Lyon-Callo presented earlier drafts of their articles on that occasion, as did Dana-Ain Davis, whose article will appear in a future issue of LATISS. Shear and Zontine were the primary organisers of the symposium, along with other students and faculty at the University of Massachusetts, and in their article, they reflect on the collaborative, yearlong reading group project on neoliberalism from which the symposium emerged. We invited John Clarke to join us in writing for this issue to provide an international perspective on these issues as they are currently playing out in the U.K.
Reading neoliberalism at the university
Authors: Shear Boone W. , Zontine Angelina I.
Published: January 2011

Ongoing transformations of the university - from changing working conditions to issues of affordability and access, increasing 'accountability' measures and commodification of academic production - are increasingly referred to as university corporatisation and are unfolding within and concomitant to neoliberal globalisation. In this paper we outline some of these processes as they are occurring at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and explore the limitations and possibilities of a critical response mounted by a number of students and faculty in the Department of Anthropology. Drawing on ethnographic data and interviews with group participants, as well as our own experiences with the group, we describe and assess this project as a means to investigate and respond to neoliberal governance. Through this analysis we problematise conventional discourses and imaginings of university corporatisation and neoliberalism and explore the sometimes contradictory subject positions that complicate our efforts to respond critically to university corporatisation.
To market, to market to buy a ... middle class life? Insecurity, anxiety, and neoliberal education in Michigan
Authors: Lyon-Callo Vincent
Published: January 2011

Corporatisation of universities and restructurings of K-12 schooling in the United States occurred during a period of broad economic, social and political restructurings, which have transformed the lives of middle-class Americans. Community and individual level investments in education are frequently represented as antidotes to increased insecurities confronting these subjects. This paper draws upon my interactions within both the school system and the university in which I work to explore how such practices continue to make sense to students, parents, and policy makers despite the lack of evidence demonstrating that such strategies overcome declining economic security and to suggest possibilities for alternative practices to produce collective mobilisations against inequality.
So many strategies, so little time ... making universities modern
Authors: Clarke John
Published: January 2011

This article examines the modernisation of universities in the U.K., arguing that heterogeneous policy objectives and strategies have become condensed in the construction of higher education as a governable system and the university as a corporate enterprise. It argues that managerialism has displaced and subordinated professional and administrative logics for the coordination of universities, articulating them into supporting roles. Finally, it examines some of the cultural psychological states associated with the contradictory and uncomfortable assemblage that is the modernized university: identifying fantasy, dissociation and professional melancholia. It concludes with an argument that nostalgia for a lost academic community cannot be a foundation for political challenges to the present model.
Les rapports entre le Saint-Siège et la Chine : un dialogue non abouti
Authors: Masson Michel
Published: January 2011

Si fin 1999, la presse annonçait que Pékin et le Saint-Siège semblaient prêts à négocier l'établissement de relations diplomatiques, une série d'ordinations d'évêques nommés par le gouvernement chinois a démenti ces pronostics. Depuis 1979, la politique de réforme de Pékin a permis un renouveau certain des activités religieuses, mais les questions de fond demeurent entre deux conceptions difficilement conciliables du rapport politique/religieux. À ce contentieux, s'ajoute la division des catholiques en deux secteurs : "officiel" et "clandestin". Après une analyse des contacts entre la Chine et le Vatican au cours des deux dernières années, l'article fait le point sur le statut légal et institutionnel de l'Église catholique en Chine depuis 1979, puis examine les stratégies respectives de Pékin et du Saint-Siège.
Politique et religion en Corée du Sud
Authors: Chung Bertrand
Published: January 2011

Cet article est une analyse historique des rapports entre la politique et quatre religions institutionnelles en Corée du Sud, le confucianisme, le bouddhisme, le catholicisme et le protestantisme. Centrée sur la période de 1961 à nos jours, qui est profondément marquée par trente années de régime militaire, cette étude distingue deux types de rapports entre politique et religion : collusion (bouddhisme et protestantisme conservateur) et conflit (catholicisme et protestantisme progressiste), alors que le confucianisme est fondamentalement dépolitisé. Il est certain que le type collusion a prévalu en Corée du Sud depuis 1945. Un examen du fondement socio-culturel du phénomène de collusion montre l'influence de la sécularisation confucéenne. Quant au type conflictuel, la capacité de résistance des religions face à l'autoritarisme de l'Etat prouve qu'elles peuvent exercer une influence positive sur le changement social en Corée du Sud.
La sous-traitance de façonnage entre l'Allemagne et les pays est-européens
Authors: Boudier-Bensebaa Fabienne , Brezinski H.
Published: January 2011

La sous-traitance de façonnage avec les pays est-européens s'avère être, pour les entreprises allemandes, un moyen d'améliorer leur compétivité à l'échelle internationale. Notons que, dans les années 1990, cette stratégie a revêtu une importance particulière pour les firmes est-allemandes dont la compétitivité était mise à mal par des coûts salariaux croissant plus vite que la productivité du travail. Les relations commerciales déjà entretenues avant 1989 permettent à l'Allemagne d'être l'acteur dominant de la sous-traitance de façonnage entre l'UE et l'Europe de l'Est. Ces relations ont été en outre stimulées par les privilèges accordés en la matière aux pays est-européens par la législation européenne. L'analyse macroéconomique présentée dans cet article est complétée par une approche microéconomique. Les interviews menées ont permis de mettre en évidence que la sous-traitance de façonnage, loin de constituer une voie sans issue poussant les firmes allemandes à changer de pays d'accueil dès que le coût du travail augmente, aboutit souvent à des formes de coopération internationale plus étroites, tel l'investissement direct.
Un bilan comparatif du trafic de perfectionnement passif entre l'Union européenne et les pays d'Europe de l'Est
Authors: Andreff Wladimir
Published: January 2011

This text gathers the main findings derived from the previous articles and put them into a time sequencing of outward-processing trade (OPT) between the EU and Eastern European countries (EECs) in which the studied period (1993-1997) appears to be one of maturing and declining OPT. Industry concentration reveals a specific international specialisation of the EU and EECs in OPT. As regards EU firms, OPT is a tool for vertical integration and relocation of sunset industries. For east-european subcontractors, OPT enables them to sustain their activity in a period of transformational recession and restructuring, and to adapt to EU markets' demand. A substitution of foreign direct investment to OPT is witnessed and explained by increasing labour costs and the improvement of the institutional framework in the EECs. Thus, OPT is a specific stage in the international division of labour between the EU and the EECs which fits well with the first years of transition in these countries. It probably would regress in the near future.
1989 en tant que mouvement social
Authors: Misztal Bronislaw
Published: January 2011

The events of 1989, frequently referred to as a "velvet revolution", in the countries of the former Communist bloc should be analyzed as an exceptional course of historical processes rather than as a regular historical law of transformation and tran sition. When dealing with these events, Western scholars have too often forgotten that politics is a function of culture; and culture, a function and production of structural processes at the very heart of society. The connective thread running through the tapestry of 1989 connects politics and society. It thus draws attention to the cultural underpinnings of structural processes, to the processes involving identity politics and cultural symbolism, as well as emotional and spiritual responses to everyday situations. In order to increase the explanatory power of an analysis of these events, we should focus on the perpetual, frequent and prevalent elements of social action, and not just on the exceptional ones.
L'économie est-allemande en transition : une trajectoire singulière entre l'Est et l'Ouest de l'Europe
Authors: Lallement Rémi
Published: January 2011

Au sortir de l'ex-bloc soviétique, la trajectoire de l'économie est-allemande est profondément singulière, du fait de - et malgré - l'unification allemande. Ceci vaut tout d'abord par rapport à la référence ouest-allemande. L'enjeu est alors d'expliquer comment et pourquoi d'importantes différences de performance et de structure sont appelées à perdurer entre l'Est et l'Ouest de l'Allemagne. Ceci vaut ensuite par rapport aux pays est-européens, même si une telle comparaison est délicate en termes tant statistiques que politiques. Les difficultés persistantes rencontrées dans les nouveaux Lander ne tiennent en tout cas pas qu'aux erreurs de politique économique consécutives à l'unification. Elles relèvent aussi de la problématique de la transition. Elles renvoient en partie à l'héritage de l'ex-RDA et à la nécessité d'un long processus d'apprentissage et d'appropriation des institutions transférées depuis les anciens Lander. Par suite, il est nécessaire de raisonner autrement qu'en termes de réplique du vieux modèle ouest-allemand.
Les restructurations dans les nouveaux Lânder : un éclairage venant de l'Est
Authors: Nivet Jean-François
Published: January 2011

Les travaux consacrés à la dynamique économique dans les nouveaux Lander tendent à considérer cette expérience comme unique et, ainsi, à l'analyser isolément. Les performances macroéconomiques ne sont cependant pas sans lien avec celles observées dans les pays d'Europe centrale et orientale (PECO). Cet article exploite les régularités identifiables dans les PECO pour mieux comprendre les résultats mitigés observés en Allemagne de l'Est, notamment quant aux restructurations. La privatisation par vente à des investisseurs occidentaux comporte des avantages en termes d'incitations internes, absents dans beaucoup de programmes appliqués plus à l'est. Cependant, l'évolution du marché du travail a été fortement contrainte par l'importation des institutions d'Allemagne de l'Ouest. D'autre part, les créations de nouvelles entreprises privées s'avèrent moins nombreuses qu'elles ne l'ont été, par exemple, en Pologne.
Vers une convergence des modes de gestion et de contrôle des dépenses publiques au sein d'une Europe élargie
Authors: Simmony Marc
Published: January 2011

Le diagnostic des modes de gestion et de contrôle des dépenses publiques reflète une diversité au sein même des États membres, mais également entre les pays candidats à l'adhésion à l'Union européenne. Quinze années d'allocation aux Etats membres de crédits des fonds structurels ainsi que l'attribution, depuis quelques années, de fonds de pré-adhésion aux pays candidats, accompagnées des corpus de règles de gestion et de contrôle correspondants, diffusés par les services de la Commission européenne, n'ont pas, à ce jour, uniformisé la gestion et le contrôle des dépenses publiques. Cette uniformisation constitue-t-elle pour autant un objectif réalisable, voire souhaitable ? Une dynamique de convergence à moyen terme des objectifs de gestion et de contrôle des fonds publics au sein d'une Europe élargie est, toutefois, engagée à travers les coopérations bilatérales et multilatérales, notamment les jumelages, outils de transfert de savoir-faire et de partage d'expériences. Les démarches inspirées par la « piste d'audit », associées à la diffusion de certains standards européens et internationaux, centrées sur les résultats, ainsi que le recours aux outils qu'offrent les nouvelles technologies, sont autant de leviers permettant progressivement une appropriation nationale et adaptée des référentiels de bonne gestion et d'un contrôle efficace des dépenses publiques. Au-delà de la gestion et du contrôle des fonds publics, qui ne représentent que l'un des aspect de l'acquis communautaire, c'est la transposition de ce dernier, non seulement dans les textes mais dans une application effective - tant dans les États membres que dans les pays candidats - qui constitue l'un des enjeux de la convergence des modes de gestion et de contrôle au sein d'une Europe élargie.
Les effets de l'adhésion à l'Organisation mondiale du commerce sur la politique des États souverains : leçons préliminaires tirées de l'expérience récente des pays en transition
Authors: Bacchetta Marc , Drabek Zdenek
Published: January 2011

Le propos de cet article est d'analyser les effets de l'adhésion à l'OMC sur les changements politiques et institutionnels des pays en transition. Pour ce faire, nous observerons l'expérience de ceux de ces pays qui sont déjà membres de l'OMC et/ou qui y ont adhéré récemment. Nous commençons par examiner les effets de l'adhésion sur la politique commerciale et distinguons les effets découlant des négociations d'adhésion et ceux résultant d'initiatives politiques autonomes. Les autres domaines de politique économique abordés dans cette étude sont l'accès au marché, la gouvernance, le budget de l'État, les réformes structurelles, les accords conclus avec des partenaires régionaux en matière de commerce et d'investissement et la gestion macroéconomique. Nous en concluons que les conditions d'adhésion ne font pas l'objet d'un schéma directeur précis, que l'OMC a joué un rôle certain mais non exclusif dans le processus de libéralisation, que les coûts de l'adhésion ne sont pas négligeables mais que ses avantages sont néanmoins appréciables dans le sens d'un accès plus facile au marché, d'une meilleure gouvernance et d'un recours à des politiques économiques plus efficientes.
Les nouvelles procédures collectives d'apurement du passif en Europe centrale. De l'inspiration française, allemande et américaine et des tendances fortes régissant ces procédures
Authors: Borcan Daniela
Published: January 2011

À compter de 1990, l'émergence des économies de marché dans les pays d'Europe centrale et orientale a appelé l'introduction de droits des procédures collectives. Cette étude porte sur les systèmes hongrois, polonais, roumain et tchèque. Traditionnellement, le droit roumain était d'inspiration napoléonienne, le droit tchèque et le droit hongrois d'inspiration allemande, le droit polonais d'inspiration allemande et française. Depuis peu, la procédure roumaine et la procédure hongroise reflètent l'influence américaine. L'analyse en deux parties des règles régissant l'ouverture et les solutions des procédures collectives d'apurement du passif (la continuation de l'entreprise débitrice et sa liquidation) permet de faire un constat de diversité, d'établir une typologie des systèmes et d'identifier leurs tendances.
Diversité des trajectoires et effet de sentier : les transitions post-soviétiques
Authors: Sapir Jacques
Published: January 2011

La divergence des trajectoires des économies en transition est telle que la diversité des chemins empruntés semble désormais avoir remplacé la convergence comme paradigme. Aussi les économistes, tous courants confondus, se sont-ils adonnés à un vaste effort d'interprétation dont cet article rend compte d'un point de vue critique. Les thèses qui ont été avancées soulèvent, cela va sans dire, de sérieux problèmes théoriques et méthodologiques qui sont au cœur non seulement du débat entre le paradigme standard et les courants hétérodoxes mais aussi du débat visant à donner des fondements cohérents au paradigme hétérodoxe en économie. Cependant, les enjeux de la polémique dépassent les explications que l'on peut fournir sur la divergence des trajectoires réelles des économies en transition. Ils incluent la question de la scientificité des problématiques issues des approches standard et institutionnaliste. La controverse méthodologique sous- jacente permet alors de révéler de nouvelles délimitations entre les programmes de recherche et de discerner de nouvelles approches possibles.
Frontières et transports, frontières de transport. Continuité, mutations et transitions entre l'Ouest et l'Est de l'Europe
Authors: Kunth Antoine , Thorez Pierre
Published: January 2011

Cet article examine les évolutions des transports terrestres et maritimes entre l'Est et l'Ouest de l'Europe depuis l'implosion du « bloc de l'Est ». Fondé sur l'étude des dessertes ferroviaires et des lignes maritimes, il met en valeur la structuration des réseaux et des systèmes par les frontières nationales ou internationales : les systèmes de transport des pays de la CEI et des PECO se disjoignent au cours de la période considérée. Le mode ferroviaire se montre dépendant des frontières nationales quand le mode maritime s'en affranchit.
The Assessment of Human Erythroid Output in NOD/SCID Mice Reconstituted with Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Hayakawa Jun , Hsieh Matthew M. , Anderson D. Eric , Phang Oswald , Uchida Naoya , Washington Kareem , Tisdale John F.
Published: January 2011

The third-generation NOD/LtSz- scid/ IL2Rγ null (NOD/SCID IL2Rγ null) mouse represents a significantly improved xenograft model allowing high levels of human leukocyte engraftment over extended follow up. One remaining limitation of this mouse model, however, is the low level of circulating human erythrocytes. We established a practical ex vivo erythroid culture system of xenograft marrow progenitors to enrich for human erythroid progeny. At various time points after transplant, erythroid cells were easily assayed after 17 days of ex vivo culture of xenograft marrow, with nearly all nucleated cells of human origin and approximately 60% human GPA or CD71 positive. We then transplanted cord blood CD34+ cells marked with a lentiviral vector encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). Three months later, ex vivo culture of xenograft marrow progenitors showed 41.3% of the cultured erythroid cells were positive for GFP and human CD71, and 56.2% were positive for GFP and human GPA, similar to that of circulating leukocytes at the same time point. Next, G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells from a sickle cell trait subject were infused in this mouse model to determine if the hemoglobin pattern could be modeled. CD34+ cells from the sickle cell trait subject engrafted equally compared to CD34+ cells from normal subjects, establishing the sickle cell trait phenotype. Lastly, a comparison of adult-derived peripheral blood CD34+ cells and cord blood-derived CD34+ cells xenografted mice was made, and long term follow-up demonstrated a recapitulation of the fetal to adult hemoglobin switch. This approach should prove a useful tool for testing strategies for genetic manipulation of erythroid progeny and the study of hemoglobin switching.
Differential responses to guano fertilization among tropical tree species with varying functional traits
Authors: Young Hillary S. , McCauley Douglas J. , Dirzo Rodolfo
Published: January 2011

• Premise of the study: Seabirds often cause significant changes to soil properties, and seabird‐dominated systems often host unique plant communities. This study experimentally (1) examined species‐specific responses to seabird guano gradients, (2) considered the role that differential functional traits among species play in altering plant response to guano, and (3) investigated the implications of seabird guano on range‐expanding species.

• Methods: Using a greenhouse fertilization experiment, we examined how guano fertilization affects the growth and functional traits of four tree species dominant in the Pacific Islands: Cocos nucifera, Pisonia grandis, Scaevola sericea, and Tournefortia argentea. In these systems, seabirds are frequently found in association with three of these four species; the remaining species, C. nucifera, is a recently proliferating species commonly found in the region but rarely associated with seabirds.

• Key results: We determined that responses to guano addition differed significantly between species in ways that were consistent with predictions based on differing functional traits among species. Notably, we demonstrated that C. nucifera showed no growth responses to guano additions, whereas all seabird‐associated plants showed strong responses.

• Conclusions: These results provide experimental evidence of differential species response to guano additions, suggesting that differences in species functional traits may contribute to changes in plant communities in seabird‐dominated areas, with seabird‐associated species garnering performance advantages in these high‐nutrient environments. Among these species, results also suggest that C. nucifera may have a competitive advantage in low‐nutrient environments, providing an unusual example of how a range‐expanding plant species can profit from low‐nutrient environments.
Microsatellite primers for the North American bluets (Houstonia section Amphiotis, Rubiaceae)
Authors: Glennon Kelsey L. , Church Sheri A.
Published: January 2011

• Premise of the study: Microsatellites were developed for the native, perennial herbs Houstonia longifolia and H. purpurea to establish rates and patterns of hybridization among these and other closely related lineages within the genus.

• Methods and Results: Seven primer sets were developed and tested using populations across eastern North America and into parts of the Midwest. Primers amplified di‐ and tri‐nucleotide repeats with 1–16 alleles per locus among diploids. These primers also amplified microsatellites for H. purpurea var. montana, H. purpurea var. calycosa, H. ouachitana, and H. canadensis, and for other Houstonia species outside section Amphiotis.

• Conclusions: These results demonstrate the value of microsatellite loci in studies focusing on hybridization and population genetics across Houstonia section Amphiotis and could be useful in studies within other sections of Houstonia as well as in studies of related genera, such as Hedyotis.
DISASTER KNOWLEDGE FACTORS IN MANAGING DISASTERS SUCCESSFULLY
Authors: Seneviratne Krisanthi , Baldry David , Pathirage Chaminda
Published: January 2011

The number of reported natural disasters has increased steadily over the past century and risen very sharply during the past decade. These bring about the loss of lives, property, employment and damage to the physical infrastructure and the environment. Disaster management efforts aim to reduce or avoid the potential losses from hazards, assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims of disaster, and achieve rapid and effective recovery. While knowledge management can enhance the process of disaster management, there is a perceived gap in information coordination and sharing within the context of disaster management. Identifying key success factors will be an enabler to manage the disasters successfully. In this context, this study aims to identify and map key knowledge success factors for managing disasters successfully through capturing the good practices and lessons learned. The objective of this paper is to present the literature findings on factors which support successful disaster management. Accordingly the identified factors were classified into eight main categories as technological, social, legal, environmental, economic, functional, institutional and political.

Santruka

Pastaraji amžiu pranešimu apie stichines nelaimes nuolat daugejo, o pastaraji dešimtmeti ypač. Per nelaimes žūsta žmones, prarandama nuosavybe ir darbo vietos, suniokojama fizine infrastruktūra ir aplinka. Valdant nelaimes siekiama sumažinti arba išvengti potencialiu nuostoliu del pavoju, užtikrinti greita ir tinkama pagalba nelaimes aukoms, viska greitai bei efektyviai atkurti. Nors žiniu vadyba nelaimiu valdymo procesui gali padeti, nelaimiu valdymo kontekste pastebima spraga tarp informacijos koordinavimo ir dalijimosi ja. Nustačius pagrindinius sekmes veiksnius, tai leis sekmingai valdyti nelaimes. Šiame kontekste tyrimu siekiama nustatyti ir surūšiuoti pagrindinius žiniu sekmes veiksnius, leidžiančius sekmingai valdyti nelaimes, užfiksuojant geraja patirti ir išmoktas pamokas. Šio darbo tikslas – pateikti literatūros išvadas apie veiksnius, kurie prisideda prie sekmingo nelaimiu valdymo. Nustatyti veiksniai atitinkamai suklasifikuoti i aštuonias pagrindines kategorijas: technologiniai, socialiniai, teisiniai, aplinkos, ekonominiai, funkciniai, instituciniai ir politiniai.
AN ANP APPROACH TO ASSESS THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURIST STRATEGIES FOR THE COASTAL NATIONAL PARKS OF VENEZUELA / VENESUELOS PAKRANTĖS NACIONALINIŲ PARKŲ DARNAUS TURIZMO STRATEGIJŲ VERTINIMAS ATP METODU
Authors: García-Melón Mónica , Gómez-Navarro Tomás , Acuña-Dutra Silvia
Published: January 2011

Decision‐making for sustainable development involves high levels of uncertainty. In the present paper a study about sustainable management of tourism in national parks is presented. A case study approach is applied to coastal national parks (NP) in Venezuela. Tourism can contribute to the sustainability of national parks but currently it is their main cause of environmental impact. The Government of Venezuela and its natural park managers are therefore looking for new sustainable tourism development strategies. To help managers in making decisions about NP sustainability a new multicriteria approach based on the Analytic Network Process (ANP) technique is proposed. ANP provides a more realistic approach for modelling complex situations such as decision making for sustainable tourism management because ANP allows the general study of the quantitative and qualitative explanatory variables and the incorporation of feedback and interdependence relationships among variables. A case study has been carried out with the help of two experts closely related to the 12 coastal NP analyzed and 8 stakeholders of “Los Roques” national park who provided most of the information needed.

Santrauka

Priimant darnios plėtros sprendimus kyla labai daug neapibrėžtumų. Straipsnyje pateikta darnios nacionalinių parkų turizmo vadybos analizė. Straipsnio tyrimo objektas – Venesuelos pakrantės nacionaliniai parkai. Turizmas gali prisidėti prie nacionalinių parkų darnos didinimo, tačiau šiuo metu jam būdingas tiesiog didelis poveikis aplinkai. Todėl Venesuelos Vyriausybe ir gamtos parku vadovai ieško naujų darnaus turizmo plėtros strategijų. Nacionalinių parkų vadovams straipsnio autoriai siūlo taikyti daugiakriteriniais metodais sukurtą analitinio tinklo proceso (ATP) techniką. Jis padėtų vadovams priimti su nacionaliniu parkų darną susijusius sprendimus. ATP leidžia tikroviškiau modeliuoti tokias sudėtingas situacijas, kaip sprendimų priėmimas darnaus turizmo vadyboje, nes su ATP įmanoma ištirti kiekybinius ir kokybinius kintamuosius, galima įdiegti grįžtamąjį ryši ir tarpusavio ryšius tarp kintamųjų. Ištirtas “Los Roques” nacionalinis parkas. Tyrime dalyvavo ekspertai ir minėto parko darbuotojai, kurie suteikė dauguma reikalingos informacijos.
POWER PLANT INVESTMENT PLANNING BY STOCHASTIC PROGRAMMING / STOCHASTINIO PROGRAMAVIMO NAUDOJIMAS PLANUOJANT ELEKTROS ENERGIJOS INFRASTRUKTŪRĄ IR GAMYBĄ
Authors: Sakalauskas Leonidas , Žilinskas Kęstutis
Published: January 2011

Although the problem of rational power generation has been extensively studied, traditional approaches for power optimization do not offer good solutions to this purpose, especially in a competitive electricity market environment where many factors are uncertain. In this paper, within the framework of two‐stage linear stochastic programming, the method for power planning has been developed, with uncertain factors taken into account, through a continuously distributed set of scenarios. The objective is to find the structure of the power plants capacity in the region which minimizes the sum of the investment and the expected operating costs over the long‐term planning horizon, taking into account the environmental impact. The structure of the considered task corresponds to a power investment planning problem that often arises in the developing regions. The method is developed for solving the stochastic optimization problem by the sequence of Monte‐Carlo sampling estimators. The procedures developed make it possible to solve stochastic problems with an admissible accuracy by means of an acceptable amount of computations. As follows from numerical experiments the approach presented enables us to decrease the total expected costs of power planning versus deterministic planning solution.

Santrauka

Nors elektros energijos infrastruktūros ir gamybos uždavinys sprendžiamas intensyviai, tradiciniai optimizavimo metodai nepateikia tinkamų sprendinių, ypač kai elektros energijos rinkoje daugelis veiksnių yra neapibrėžti. Šiame straipsnyje pateikiamas elektros energijos gamybos planavimo metodas, sukurtas remiantis dviejų etapų stochastiniu programavimu, kai neapibrežtumas aprašomas tolydžiaisiais pasiskirstymo scenarijais. Uždavinio tikslas – rasti tinkama regiono elektros jėgainiu struktūra, kuri minimizuotų investavimo ir ilgalaikės energijos gamybos sąnaudas. Sprendžiant uždavinį atsižvelgiama į gamtosaugos problemas. Taikant optimizavimo metodą naudojami baigtinių Monte Karlo sekų įverčiai. Siūloma procedūra leidžia išspręsti stochastinius uždavinius gana tiksliai, naudojant priimtinus skaičiavimo išteklius. Skaitiniai eksperimentai rodo, kad siūlomas metodas padeda sumažinti bendrasias elektros energijos gamybos sąnaudas, palyginti su deterministiniu uždavinio sprendiniu.
SHIP PASSING THROUGH STRAITS
Authors: Paulauskas Vytautas
Published: January 2011

All ports and a number of waterways have straits to optimize investments in developing such systems reaching the maximum results with minimum expenditures. New high accuracy port navigational systems have a possibility of high precision ship positioning and any time should guarantee shipping safety in port waters which makes a good basis for the optimization of port development. A new type of ships with good steering equipment and ship steering knowledge and methods in combination with very high accuracy port navigational systems such as E‐Sea Fix and horizontal/vertical port channel bottom scanning possibilities guaranteeing real port water bottom conditions could stimulate dramatically increasing ship sizes at the port entrance in case of guaranteed shipping safety. With reference to straits, a theoretical study and experimental results received by simulators and real ships under much the same conditions have delivered a new knowledge of the limit of big ship sailing in straits and the possibilities of increasing ship size under similar sailing conditions. The Klaipeda strait is taken as the case study for practical testing. The paper presents the results, conclusions and recommendations of a theoretical and practical study for the ships of an increased size at strait ports.
THE EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SHALLOW FLOWS OF LIQUID ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAYS AND AUTOMOBILE ROADS
Authors: Beljatynskij Andrey , Prentkovskis Olegas , Krivenko Julij
Published: January 2011

Hydroplaning or aquaplaning is associated with the complete loss of the grip of a tyre because of the presence of a water film between the tyres of a moving vehicle (an automobile, an airplane, etc.) and the road surface. In this case, a vehicle becomes uncontrollable. Hydroplaning (aquaplaning) occurs when the speed of a vehicle reaches the critical value, when the wheel does not have time enough for water compulsion, which leads to the formation of a permanent water film between it and the road surface. The higher the depth of the water on the road surface under the tyre, the higher the risk of hydroplaning (aquaplaning). In other words, hydroplaning (aquaplaning) is the floating of the wheel on the water wedge. In physical terms, it is the loss of the ability of a tyre of the effective water compulsion from the contact area with the road. As a result, a water film of several millimeters is formed under the wheel, and a vehicle actually floats up. The article presents the results obtained in the experimental study of the flows of liquid, whose depth is comparable with that of depressions and cambers of rough roadway pavement. It is stated that the relationships used for calculating surface flows should be corrected for shallow flows, taking into account the actual roughness of road covering. Shallow flows are mostly laminar. The transition Reynolds numbers are about 3000. The relationships used for calculating shallow flows may be determined more accurately by test pouring of water on the surface of roadway pavement, with further generalization of the data. The experimental research performed is closely related to the study of the problems of aquaplaning and traffic safety of various means of transport.
PRODUCTIVITY OF A GASODYNAMIC LOOSENER
Authors: Dyakov Ivan , Ivkin Valery
Published: January 2011

Maximum loads for a semi plane weakened by an aperture under uniform pressure were investigated for elaborating a mechanism for frozen ground destruction applying a recently designed loosener. Recommendations concerning the calculation of loosener productivity depending on the accepted technological scheme are given.
Les contrats économiques de souveraineté, outils de la régulation de la concurrence (les pratiques des autorités de concurrence à partir de l'exemple de la France)
Authors: Boy Laurence
Published: January 2011

Dans le cadre concurrentiel devenu mondial, concentration et organisation de l’économie résultent on ne peut plus clairement de deux facteurs : le jeu combiné des stratégies des acteurs privés et publics mais aussi les moyens proposés par le système juridique pour les accompagner et/ou les encadrer. Les procédures négociées illustrent la notion proposée par certains de contrat économique, en l’espèce, de contrat de souveraineté, outils de régulation de la concurrence. Ce texte propose une étude de droit économique de ces contrats de structuration et de restructuration du capital dans la régulation du droit de la concurrence. Les analyses conduisent à s’intéresser, au-delà des strictes obligations juridiques traditionnelles et détaillées souscrites par les entreprises, à l’équilibre général de l’accord, au but économique qu’il poursuit. Il s’agit, en effet, d’une convention globale formant un tout cohérent en dépit des dispositions diverses qu’elle peut contenir, ce qui explique en grande partie son régime juridique. En échange d’engagements pour rendre l’opération ou les comportements compatibles avec une concurrence praticable, autorités publiques et juges négocient dans ces contrats leur souveraineté. Même si la menace de sanction pèse toujours, contre une certaine indulgence, les entreprises s’engagent à respecter l’ordre public concurrentiel. On assiste ainsi substantiellement à une organisation conjointe et concertée de la concentration et du pouvoir économique, sous la houlette des fameuses Autorités administratives indépendantes, sous contrôle du juge. La souplesse caractéristique des engagements des entreprises s’accompagne corrélativement d’une vigilance dans le suivi des contrats économiques en droit de la concurrence. Le facteur temps est essentiel en droit économique. Dans les procédures négociées, les autorités de concurrence ont donc pris l’habitude de faire appel à des mandataires (trustees) pour suivre non seulement les engagements comportementaux mais aussi structurels qui, plus simples à exécuter a priori, soulèvent eux aussi de sérieuses difficultés, comme en témoignent des affaires récentes. L’efficacité et l’efficience des engagements tiennent sans doute à ce qui est à l’origine du contrat : la confiance et la réciprocité.