2,407 research outputs found
A general system planning methodology - G.S.P.M. - applied to national airport system planning - N.A.S.P. - in middle income and economically active countries - M.I.E.A.C.
A General System Planning Methodology (G.S.P.M.) has been proposed in this
dissertation with the objective to promote planning practices improvements regardless to
the characteristics of the planning context and to the nature of the planning field where it
may be applied. The G.S.P.M. is a normative planning methodology based on procedural
theory of planning, and it is addressed mainly to the multi-disciplinary planning actors
dealing with the multi-objective planning context. The G.S.P.M. has been given a
"procedural framework" supported by two Axiomatic Theories, and three objectives of
planning have been selected to express simultaneously the G.S.P.M. effectiveness and
the aimed Planning Improvement, and they are; Planning Adequacy, Planning Flexibility
and Planning Continuity. The National Airport System Planning (N.A.S.P.) has been
selected to be the planning field test for the G.S.P.M. and two different planning contexts
have been selected to be respectively, the investigation field and the application field for
the G.S.P.M. test. A sample of five developed countries have been chosen to represent
the investigation field as follows; Norway, U.S.A., United Kingdom, Federal Republic
of Germany, and Canada. A sample of four Middle Income and Economically Active
Countries(M.I.E.A.C.) have been chosen as the application field, and Brazil has been
selected the prime country with three further Brazilian Scenarios designed with the help of
Developmental Scenarios Writing to represent that sample. A Multiple Cross System Analysis Matrix(M.C.S.A.M.) has been designed to be
an instrument for the G.S.P.M. operational process within the application test in the
N.A.S.P. of the two sample of countries. The M.C.S.A.M. is a bidimensional
assessment matrix supported by planning theories and operated by multi-disciplinary
planning actors to select the preferred aspects of planning which have been used to
identify the characteristics of the planning context and planning environment. The
M.C.S.A.M. has been designed to select also the preferred planning factors and goals
which may represent the potentially most effective planning factors and goals within the
given planning context. A Developed Countries Realist N.A.S.P. Methodology Model has been identified
within the investigation field which would express the common N.A.S.P. framework
within the developed countries, representing the "emphatical understanding" from which
we supposed to learn their planning practices. A M.I.E.A.C. N.A.S.P. Realist
Methodology Model has been identified within the application field which would express
the common N.A.S.P. framework within the M.I.E.A. Countries. This realist model
which has been obtained from the Brazilian Scenarios has been also called the Brazilian
Planned Scenario N.A.S.P. which is supposed to be the ideal planning context
hypothetically designed to improve the actual Brazilian N.A.S.P. practices, as a planning
exercise of "predictable understanding". The comparative analyses of the two N.A.S.P.
Realist Methodology Models has defined a Tailoring Process of Planning where the
adequate planning method can be identified with the appropriate level of technology to the
identified planning context
Hyperkalemia: An adaptive response in chronic renal insufficiency
Hyperkalemia: An adaptive response in chronic renal insufficiency.BackgroundHyperkalemia is a common feature of chronic renal insufficiency, usually ascribed to impaired K+ homeostasis. However, various experimental observations suggest that the increase in extracellular [K+] actually functions in a homeostatic fashion, directly stimulating renal K+ excretion through an effect that is independent of, and additive to, aldosterone.MethodsWe have reviewed relevant studies in experimental animals and in human subjects that have examined the regulation of K+ excretion and its relation to plasma [K+].ResultsStudies indicate that (1) extracellular [K+] in patients with renal insufficiency correlates directly with intracellular K+ content, and (2) hyperkalemia directly promotes K+ secretion in the principal cells of the collecting duct by increasing apical and basolateral membrane conductances. The effect of hyperkalemia differs from that of aldosterone in that K+ conductances are increased as the primary event. The changes in principal cell function and structure induced by hyperkalemia are indistinguishable from the effects seen in adaptation to a high K+ diet.ConclusionsWe propose that hyperkalemia plays a pivotal role in K+ homeostasis in renal insufficiency by stimulating K+ excretion. In patients with chronic renal insufficiency, a new steady state develops in which extracellular [K+] rises to the level needed to stimulate K+ excretion so that it again matches intake. When this new steady state is achieved, plasma [K+] remains stable unless dietary intake increases, glomerular filtration rate falls, or drugs are given that disrupt the new balance
Identifying cold-water coral ecosystem by using benthic foraminiferal indicators: from active reefs to the geological record
Cold-water coral ecosystems dominated by the species Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, as well as cold-water coral carbonate mounds (fossils and/or active) occur worldwide and are especially developed along the European margin, from northern Norway to the Gulf of Cadiz and into the Alboran Sea. Their discovery is a major achievement of the last few decades and their widespread occurrence presents a challenge to understand their development, preservation and possible importance in the geologic record.On the Norwegian shelf active/living reefs are developed on elevated hard substrata. Along the Irish margin L. pertusa builds large fossil and/or active carbonate mounds. In the Gulf of Cadiz and in the Alboran Sea buried reefs and patch reefs are generally found in association with mud volcanoes.In modern oceans, they provide important ecological niches for the marine benthic fauna in the deep-sea. In comparison to the macrofauna the microfauna, particularly the foraminifera associated to these systems, are poorly known. We present here a detailed study based on quantitative analyses of benthic and planktonic foraminifera together with the statistical treatment of assemblage data collected along the Norwegian margin, in the Porcupine-Rockall region and in the Alboran Sea.The three regions were and/or are site of cold-water coral ecosystems settlements. Our study reveals that in the Porcupine/Rockall region benthic foraminiferal assemblages are strictly related to the distribution of facies. On the Norwegian margin, benthic foraminiferal habitats are weakly defined and grade one into the other preventing the sharp facies separation observed along the Irish margin (Margreth et al., 2009). In the Alboran Sea cold-water coral ecosystems and cold-water carbonate mounds are presently buried and corals are generally fragmented. However, benthic assemblages from coral-rich layers in the Alboran Sea and those from Porcupine/Rockall and Norway show remarkable similarities. In particular, epifaunal-attached species such as Discanomalina coronata, Cibicides refulgens, and Lobatula lobatula dominate the assemblages with D. coronata restricted to living cold-water coral reefs facies only and/or in co-occurrence with coral fragments. In conclusion, our data suggest that although cold-water coral ecosystems occur at different latitudes, the associated foraminiferal assemblages are consistent from Norway to the Western Mediterranean. Thus they can be used to identify these ecosystems even in the geologic record, when the corals are often strongly dissolved like in the Alboran Sea
Computer‐Assisted Design and Synthetic Applications of Chiral Enol Borinates: Novel, Highly Enantioselective Aldol Reagents
We have recently described the development of a quantitative transition state model for the prediction of stereoselectivity in the boron-mediated aldol reaction. This model provides qualitative insights into the factors contributing to the stereochemical outcome of a variety of reactions of synthetic importance. The force field model was used to assist the design and preparation of new chiral boron ligands derived from menthone. The chiral boron enolates were employed in various stereoselective processes, including the addition to chiral aldehydes and the reagent-controlled total synthesis of (3S,4S)-statine. The chiral enolates derived from alpha-halo and alpha-oxysubstituted thioacetates were added to aldehydes and imines. Addition to imines leads to the enantioselective synthesis of chiral aziridines, a formal total synthesis of (+)-thiamphenicol, and a new highly efficient synthesis of the paclitaxel (taxol®) C-13 side-chain and taxol semisynthesis from baccatin III. The stereochemical outcome of the addition to imines was rationalised with the aid of computational studies. Enantioselective addition reactions of the chiral boron enolate derived from thioacetate have successfully been applied to solid phase bound aldehydes to give aldol products in comparable yields and enantioselectivities to the usual solution conditions. Descrevemos recentemente o desenvolvimento de um modelo quantitativo de estados de transição para a previsão da estereosseletividade em condensações aldólicas mediadas por boro. Este modelo fornece percepções qualitativas sobre os fatores, contribuindo para o resultado estereoquímico de uma variedade de reações de importância sintética. O modelo de campo de força foi utilizado para auxiliar na elaboração e preparação de novos ligantes de boro quirais derivados da mentona. Os enolatos de boro quirais foram empregados em vários processos estereosseletivos, incluindo a adição a aldeídos quirais e a síntese total, controlada pelo reagente, da (3S,4S)-estatina. Os enolatos quirais derivados a partir de tioacetatos alfa-halo e alfa-oxisubstituídos foram adicionados a aldeídos e iminas. A adição de iminas leva à síntese enantiosseletiva de aziridinas quirais, a síntese total formal da (+)-tioamfenicol, a uma nova e altamente eficiente síntese da cadeia lateral em C-13 do paclitaxel (taxol®) e a semi-síntese do taxol a aprtir da bacatina III. O resultado estereoquímico da adição das iminas foi racionalizado com o auxílio de estudos computacionais. Reações de adição enantiosseletiva de enolatos de boro quirais derivados do tioacetato foram empregados com sucesso a aldeídos ligados à fase sólida, fornecendo produtos aldólicos em rendimentose enantiosseletividades comparáveis às condições usuais em solução
Construction of an integrated consensus map of the Apple genome based on four mapping populations
An integrated consensus genetic map for apple was constructed on the basis of segregation data from four genetically connected crosses (C1¿=¿Discovery × TN10-8, C2¿=¿Fiesta × Discovery, C3¿=¿Discovery × Prima, C4¿=¿Durello di Forli × Fiesta) with a total of 676 individuals using CarthaGene® software. First, integrated female¿male maps were built for each population using common female¿male simple sequence repeat markers (SSRs). Then, common SSRs over populations were used for the consensus map integration. The integrated consensus map consists of 1,046 markers, of which 159 are SSR markers, distributed over 17 linkage groups reflecting the basic chromosome number of apple. The total length of the integrated consensus map was 1,032 cM with a mean distance between adjacent loci of 1.1 cM. Markers were proportionally distributed over the 17 linkage groups (¿ 2¿=¿16.53, df¿=¿16, p¿=¿0.41). A non-uniform marker distribution was observed within all of the linkage groups (LGs). Clustering of markers at the same position (within a 1-cM window) was observed throughout LGs and consisted predominantly of only two to three linked markers. The four integrated female¿male maps showed a very good colinearity in marker order for their common markers, except for only two (CH01h01, CH05g03) and three (CH05a02z, NZ02b01, Lap-1) markers on LG17 and LG15, respectively. This integrated consensus map provides a framework for performing quantitative trait locus (QTL) detection in a multi-population design and evaluating the genetic background effect on QTL expression
The TNG Near Infrared Camera Spectrometer
NICS (acronym for Near Infrared Camera Spectrometer) is the near-infrared
cooled camera-spectrometer that has been developed by the Arcetri Infrared
Group at the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, in collaboration with the
CAISMI-CNR for the TNG (the Italian National Telescope Galileo at La Palma,
Canary Islands, Spain).
As NICS is in its scientific commissioning phase, we report its observing
capabilities in the near-infrared bands at the TNG, along with the measured
performance and the limiting magnitudes. We also describe some technical
details of the project, such as cryogenics, mechanics, and the system which
executes data acquisition and control, along with the related software.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, compiled with A&A macros. A&A in pres
Efficacy of adalimumab as second-line therapy in a pediatric cohort of crohn’s disease patients who failed infliximab therapy: The Italian society of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition experience
Background: Adalimumab (Ada) treatment is an available option for pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) and the published experience as rescue therapy is limited. Objectives: We investigated Ada efficacy in a retrospective, pediatric CD cohort who had failed previous infliximab treatment, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Methods: In this multicenter study, data on demographics, clinical activity, growth, laboratory values (CRP) and adverse events were collected from CD patients during follow-up. Clinical remission (CR) and response were defined with Pediatric CD Activity Index (PCDAI) score ≤10 and a decrease in PCDAI score of ≥12.5 from baseline, respectively. Results: A total of 44 patients were consecutively recruited (mean age 14.8 years): 34 of 44 (77%) had active disease (mean PCDAI score 24.5) at the time of Ada administration, with a mean disease duration of 3.4 (range 0.3–11.2) years. At 6, 12, and 18 months, out of the total of the enrolled population, CR rates were 55%, 78%, and 52%, respectively, with a significant decrease in PCDAI scores (P<0.01) and mean CRP values (mean CRP 5.7 and 2.4 mL/dL, respectively; P<0.01) at the end of follow-up. Steroid-free remission rates, considered as the total number of patients in CR who were not using steroids at the end of this study, were 93%, 95%, and 96% in 44 patients at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. No significant differences in growth parameters were detected. In univariate analysis of variables related to Ada efficacy, we found that only a disease duration >2 years was negatively correlated with final PCDAI score (P<0.01). Two serious adverse events were recorded: 1 meningitis and 1 medulloblastoma. Conclusion: Our data confirm Ada efficacy in pediatric patients as second-line biological therapy after infliximab failure. Longer-term prospective data are warranted to define general effectiveness and safety in pediatric CD patients
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