Rural women's self-management of arthritis

Assesses the relevance of self-management for rural women suffering arthritic conditions, by identifying factors that enabled or constrained their ability to self-manage, and by discerning differences between women in terms of their capacities to utilise self-management. A typology was developed identifying four different groups of rural women: unconstrained, passive, determined, and marginalised; therefore highlighting the ways in which different types of women are enabled or constrained in their self-management.

Ocean currents influence the genetic structure of an intertidal mollusc in southeastern Australia – implications for predicting the movement of passive dispersers across a marine biogeographic barrier

Major disjunctions among marine communities in southeastern Australia have been well documented, although explanations for biogeographic structuring remain uncertain. Converging ocean currents, environmental gradients, and habitat discontinuities have been hypothesized as likely drivers of structuring in many species, although the extent to which species are affected appears largely dependent on specific life histories and ecologies. Understanding these relationships is critical to the management of native and invasive species, and the preservation of evolutionary processes that shape biodiversity in this region. In this study we test the direct influence of ocean currents on the genetic structure of a passive disperser across a major biogeographic barrier. Donax deltoides (Veneroida: Donacidae) is an intertidal, soft-sediment mollusc and an ideal surrogate for testing this relationship, given its lack of habitat constraints in this region, and its immense dispersal potential driven by year-long spawning and long-lived planktonic larvae. We assessed allele frequencies at 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci across 11 sample locations spanning the barrier region and identified genetic structure consistent with the major ocean currents of southeastern Australia. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicated no evidence of genetic structuring, but signatures of a species range expansion corresponding with historical inundations of the Bassian Isthmus. Our results indicate that ocean currents are likely to be the most influential factor affecting the genetic structure of D. deltoides and a likely physical barrier for passive dispersing marine fauna generally in southeastern Australia.

An investigation for improved home energy management

 Increasing household energy consumption and increasing primary energy cost urged to improve home energy efficiency. Improved energy management can suggest the ways to improve home energy efficiency. Various home appliances are the prime cause to the increased power demand. Appliance's energy rating information helps to develop awareness and reduce energy consumption. Load shifting can help to reduce overall cost of used energy bill by shifting peak time load to off-peak time. However most of the present appliances remains in standby mode (active or passive) for a significant part of the day, and load shifting cannot reduce the total energy consumption. Therefore investigation is required to identify any possible scopes to improve energy management at home. This paper investigated several home appliances and monitored daily time of use power consumption. It was found that by controlling standby power from a daily home load of 4.482 kWh, power demand can be reduced 12.56% moreover energy related greenhouse gas (GHG) emission can be reduced 133.08kg/year.

A critical ethnography of communication processes involving the management of oral chemotherapeutic agents by patients with a primary diagnosis of colorectal cancer: study protocol.

AIM: To describe the protocol used to examine the processes of communication between health professionals, patients and informal carers during the management of oral chemotherapeutic medicines to identify factors that promote or inhibit medicine concordance. BACKGROUND: Ideally communication practices about oral medicines should incorporate shared decision-making, two-way dialogue and an equality of role between practitioner and patient. While there is evidence that healthcare professionals are adopting these concordant elements in general practice there are still some patients who have a passive role during consultations. Considering oral chemotherapeutic medications, there is a paucity of research about communication practices which is surprising given the high risk of toxicity associated with chemotherapy. DESIGN: A critical ethnographic design will be used, incorporating non-participant observations, individual semi-structured and focus-group interviews as several collecting methods. METHODS: Observations will be carried out on the interactions between healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses and pharmacists) and patients in the outpatient departments where prescriptions are explained and supplied and on follow-up consultations where treatment regimens are monitored. Interviews will be conducted with patients and their informal carers. Focus-groups will be carried out with healthcare professionals at the conclusion of the study. These several will be analysed using thematic analysis. This research is funded by the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (Awarded February 2012). DISCUSSION: Dissemination of these findings will contribute to the understanding of issues involved when communicating with people about oral chemotherapy. It is anticipated that findings will inform education, practice and policy.

Speech therapy intervention before dental management in patients with special needs: A case report

Fragile X syndrome is a cytogenetic abnormality related to chromosomal X. This syndrome is frequently associated to intellectual disability, psychological problems, as well as heart, skeletal and join alterations. Intraoral anomalies include malloclusion, ogival palate, cleft palate, presence of mesiodens, dental hypomineralization and abrasion of the occlusal surfaces and incisai edges. The study of characteristics of this syndrome is important for the dentist in order to guide dental treatment and prevention. The aim of this study is to present a myofunctional therapy protocol, evaluated by surface electromyography. A case of a 21 year-old young man who attended the Training Program in Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, School of Dentistry of São José dos Campos/UNESP is reported. He underwent myofunctional therapy before dental treatment and the masticatory muscles were evaluated by surface electromyography. The exercises of myofunctional therapy consisted of active and passive simple movements of opening and closing the mouth, tongue protrusion and retrusion, digital manipulation and also by using an electric massager on intraoral and perioral region of the masseter, buccinator and orbicularis oris. Action potentials of the masticatory muscles decreased in almost all the muscles and values for the bite force and mandibular opening capacity increased. This study showed that brief and immediate myofunctional therapy optimized clinical practice with positive repercussion on dental care.

SIMULATION OF USE AND MANAGEMENT EFFECTS ON THE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER POOLS OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST BIOME, BRAZIL

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Enzyme activity in the small intestine of goat kids during the period of passive immunity acquisition

Enzyme activity of protein and carbohydrate degradation in small intestinal mucosa was investigated in goat kids fed with lyophilized bovine and goat colostrum. At 0,7 and 14 h of life 15 male newborns received 5% of body weight of lyophilized bovine colostrum and 14 goat colostrum, both with 55 mg/mL of IgG. Duodenum, jejunum and ileum samples were collected at 18,36 and 96 h of life. Three animals were sampled at birth, without colostrum intake. Activity of aminopeptidase N and A, dipeptidil peptidase IV, lactase, maltase and sucrase was determined as one international unit per gram of tissue. Intracellular enzymatic activity of acid phosphatase was observed by histochemistry in tissue section. Only the activity of aminopeptidase A in the ileum was affected by treatment, with a greater value for LBC than for GC (P < 0.05). The aminopeptidase N activity was the highest at 36 h in the duodenum (P < 0.05) and lowest at 96 h in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Dipeptidil peptidase IV activity was highest at 36 h in the duodenum (P < 0.05), lowest at 96 h in the jejunum (P < 0.05) and higher at 36 h than at 96 h in the ileum (P < 0.05). Aminopeptidase A activity in the ileum was highest at 36 h (P < 0.05), followed by 18 and 96 h of life (P < 0.05). Lactase activity in the duodenum increased from 18 to 36 h and from 36 to 96 h in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Maltase activity increased only in the duodenum from 18 to 96 h (P < 0.05). Sucrase activity in the jejunum decreased from 18 to 36 h and from 36 to 96 h in the ileum (P < 0.05). At birth, activity of most enzymes was similar to that at later times (P < 0.05). Histochemistry analyses showed a higher frequency of lysosomes with acid phosphatase activity in the duodenum, especially at 36 h of life. In the jejunum, the presence of lysosomes with acid phosphatase activity was the highest at 96 h, followed by 36 and 18 h of life. In the ileum, all samples showed low presence of lysosomes with acid phosphatase activity. These results indicate that lyophilized bovine colostrum, as a heterologous source of antibodies or nutrients, is a possible alternative management tool for goats. The present work also suggests that in the first 4 days of life, enzyme activity in the intestinal epithelium of goats is still not fully stimulated, which is an important characteristic for these animals that depend on macromolecule absorption to acquire passive protection after birth. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Desertification and Global Change: Innovative Management of Scarce Resources in Semi-Arid Areas. Experiences from development and research: Challenges for a better future

While most events related to the International Year of Deserts and Desertification 2006 took mainly a problem-oriented perspective and approach, the Bern Symposium held in May 2006 tried to adopt a more positive attitude by attempting to take stock of experience as well as best and worst practices in the past, both in development practice and in research. Through this deliberate focus on potentials, positive experiences, solutions and pathways, predominant passive and reactive attitudes and hopelessness might be better overcome. The Symposium was organized by CDE, NCCR North-South and Forum SLM.

A characterisation of passive and active interactions and their influence on student's achievement using Moodle LMS Logs

During the last years, there has been much concern about learning management systems' (LMS) effectiveness when compared to traditional learning and about how to assess students' participation during the course. The tracking and monitoring capabilities of most recent LMS have made it possible to analyse every interaction in the system. The issues addressed on this study are: a) Is LMS student's interaction an indicator of academic performance?; b) Are different results in performance expected between distance and in-class LMS-supported education?; c) How can LMS interactions from logs be categorised?; d) May this categorisation detect 'learning witnesses'? To answer these questions, a set of interaction types from Moodle LMS activity record logs has been analysed during two years in online and in-class Master's degrees at the UPM. The results show partial or no evidence of influence between interaction indicators and academic performance, although the proposed categorisation may help detect learning witnesses.

The EU cannot remain a passive observer of the Karabakh conflict. EPC Commentary, 7 April 2016

When Federica Mogherini visited the South Caucasus in March, she was quoted as saying that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was a top priority for the EU. Facts, however, do not seem to match the words of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. As violent clashes in the conflict zone unfolded over the past week, the EU was a passive observer, with few visible signs of engagement apart from a cursory phone call urging Armenia and Azerbaijan to show restraint. The escalation has shown how quickly and dangerously the situation can develop, and the unassailable nature of the Line of Contact (LoC). If the diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict show no progress, a repetition is very probable. Furthermore, it is likely the next incident will be more devastating in human and material costs than this recent one, and may not be contained so quickly. The EU needs to be part of the renewed diplomatic effort.

Field-based evaluation of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive air samplers of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) have been used as passive air samplers of semivolatile organic compounds in a range of studies. However, due to a lack of calibration data for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), SPMD data have not been used to estimate air concentrations of target PAHs. In this study, SPMDs were deployed for 32 days at two sites in a major metropolitan area in Australia. High-volume active sampling systems (HiVol) were co-deployed at both sites. Using the HiVol air concentration data from one site, SPMD sampling rates were measured for 12 US EPA Priority Pollutant PAHs and then these values were used to determine air concentrations at the second site from SPMD concentrations. Air concentrations were also measured at the second site with co-deployed HiVols to validate the SPMD results. PAHs mostly associated with the vapour phase (Fluorene to Pyrene) dominated both the HiVol and passive air samples. Reproducibility between replicate passive samplers was satisfactory (CV < 20%) for the majority of compounds. Sampling rates ranged between 0.6 and 6.1 m(3) d(-1). SPMD-based air concentrations were calculated at the second site for each compound using these sampling rates and the differences between SPMD-derived air concentrations and those measured using a HiVol were, on average, within a factor of 1.5. The dominant processes for the uptake of PAHs by SPMDs were also assessed. Using the SPMD method described herein, estimates of particulate sorbed airborne PAHs with five rings or greater were within 1.8-fold of HiVol measured values. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Acquisition and management of technology in Malaysian companies

This thesis is about the acquisition and diffusion of imported technology. Writers in the field of technology development in developing countries have always recognised that technical progress depends on the diffusion of imported technology and its applications to the provision of products and processes (Rosemberg, 1982). Despite the massive importation of technology by Malaysian companies, little effort has been made to study and understand the diffusion system in local companies. This study analyses: The problems associated with the acquisition of technology, highlighting the technology strategies adopted by the suppliers of technology; the diffusion pattern and key characteristics of the diffusion process; and major factors affecting the diffusion of technology. The policy implications are examined and the framework to manage the diffusion process within the enterprises is suggested. The findings indicated that the diffusion process is not one of passive acceptance but involves systematic efforts to acquire and diffuse the imported technology. A strong system of diffusion in companies had enabled a rapid diffusion of imported technology resulting in higher levels of technical capability. On the other hand, weakness in the company's diffusion system led to limited diffusion and slow technical progress. Characteristics of diffusion system are analysed and discussed extensively. The thesis attempts to develop the idea of `in-house system of diffusion' associated with the acquisition and development of imported technology. It argues for the development ofa stronger theoretical framework on the diffusion and development of technology particularly in countries like Malaysia which relies extensively on the importation of foreign technology.

System design and resource management in the next-generation integrated WLAN and 3G cellular networks

Next-generation integrated wireless local area network (WLAN) and 3G cellular networks aim to take advantage of the roaming ability in a cellular network and the high data rate services of a WLAN. To ensure successful implementation of an integrated network, many issues must be carefully addressed, including network architecture design, resource management, quality-of-service (QoS), call admission control (CAC) and mobility management. ^ This dissertation focuses on QoS provisioning, CAC, and the network architecture design in the integration of WLANs and cellular networks. First, a new scheduling algorithm and a call admission control mechanism in IEEE 802.11 WLAN are presented to support multimedia services with QoS provisioning. The proposed scheduling algorithms make use of the idle system time to reduce the average packet loss of realtime (RT) services. The admission control mechanism provides long-term transmission quality for both RT and NRT services by ensuring the packet loss ratio for RT services and the throughput for non-real-time (NRT) services. ^ A joint CAC scheme is proposed to efficiently balance traffic load in the integrated environment. A channel searching and replacement algorithm (CSR) is developed to relieve traffic congestion in the cellular network by using idle channels in the WLAN. The CSR is optimized to minimize the system cost in terms of the blocking probability in the interworking environment. Specifically, it is proved that there exists an optimal admission probability for passive handoffs that minimizes the total system cost. Also, a method of searching the probability is designed based on linear-programming techniques. ^ Finally, a new integration architecture, Hybrid Coupling with Radio Access System (HCRAS), is proposed for lowering the average cost of intersystem communication (IC) and the vertical handoff latency. An analytical model is presented to evaluate the system performance of the HCRAS in terms of the intersystem communication cost function and the handoff cost function. Based on this model, an algorithm is designed to determine the optimal route for each intersystem communication. Additionally, a fast handoff algorithm is developed to reduce the vertical handoff latency.^