Impacts of International Wheat Breeding Research in the Developing World, 1988-2002

Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Surgical treatment of acute limb iscahemia in the presence of malignancy

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the outcome of surgical treatment of acute limb ischaemia (ALI) developing in the presence of malignancy.MethodsPatients undergoing emergency surgery were identified from theatre registers, notes were reviewed, and data collected in relation to indications for, and outcome following operation. All patients with a current or past medical history of histologically confirmed malignant disease were identified and their notes specifically reviewed to determine the staging of their tumours. The results of the malignancy cohort were compared to a group of patients undergoing surgery for ALI of other aetiologies.ResultsFourteen patients with a malignancy were identified with ALI and in addition there were 102 without malignancy. The cohort with a malignancy contained a higher proportion of males (p=0.0305), and a greater number of smokers (p=0.037) than those with other aetiologies for ALI. The peri-operative management of the 2 groups was similar. Histological examination revealed tumour thrombus in only 1 case. The recurrence (29% versus 18%; p=0.328) and amputation rates (29% versus 17%; p=0.278) were similar, however, the 30-day (50% versus 30%; p=0.038) and 60-day mortality rates (100% versus 35%; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the malignancy group.ConclusionsThe development of ALI in patients with malignant disease may be regarded as a terminal event despite comparable performance status at the time of surgery to those with other cause for ALI. The role of surgery in patients with known advanced malignancies appears to be of dubious benefit with little survival benefit

Lovelace and Law Revisited: The Substantive Equality Promise of Kapp

The Supreme Court’s decision in R. v. Kapp substantially advances the equality analysis under section 15 by revisiting the test for a section 15 infringement, most recently articulated in Law v. Canada (Attorney General), and by establishing a new role for section 15(2). A fuller understanding of the impact of this landmark decision on ameliorative programs requires an appreciation of the thorny history of section 15 treatment of ameliorative programs. This paper examines the legislative and judicial history of section 15(2) and situates the Kapp decision within it. It further discusses the promise that the Kapp decision holds of a more straightforward substantive equality analysis when addressing challenges to ameliorative programs. While acknowledging Kapp’s potential, this paper also examines fundamental questions left unanswered by Kapp that courts both before and after have grappled with: what role do the contextual factors underlying the human dignity test set out in Law (most particularly the correspondence analysis) now have? How will the “rational connection” test for section 15(2) articulated by the Court in Kapp be applied in future? and how should section 15(2) apply to under-inclusive challenges? On the latter issue, the Ontario Court of Appeal’s solution in Lovelace is proffered as a potential model for how to proceed

Body burden of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tributyltin in hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria from the Elizabeth River, Va

The Elizabeth River, contaminated with PAH, TBT, and heavy metals, is potentially home to a variety of estuarine invertebrates of commercial importance, notably oysters, hard clams, and crabs. Harvestable oysters have virtually disappeared from the system, but it has been rumored among commercial fishermen that a population of small (little neck to cherrystone) hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) exists within the Elizabeth River system. These clams are of serious interest to commercial clammers in the area as a previously unharvested source of market-size clams. Crabs of a harvestable size are also reasonably abundant throughout this river according to local fishermen. The Elizabeth River is presently closed to any type of commercial bivalve harvest because of bacterial and chemical contamination. Chemical contaminants of concern include heavy metals (including organotin compounds), pesticides, and PAHs. If these factors, bacterial or chemical, were shown to pose no human health risk after suitable depuration, the river could conceivably be opened to the taking of bivalve species

Coopetition as a Small Business Strategy: Implications for Performance

This paper explores coopetition, a strategy that combines cooperation and competition in addressing relationships between firms. We examine the underlying nature of coopetition, and evaluate the extent to which it represents a relevant strategy for small firms. Inherent problems are identified when attempting to collaborate with competitors. We propose an approach to measuring the coopetitive tendencies of small firms. The measurement approach centers on three underlying dimensions: mutual benefit, trust, and commitment. Applying this approach, we assess the relationship between coopetition and firm performance. Based on a survey of 647 small firms in Turkey, a strong, positive relationship is identified. Theoretical and managerial implications are drawn from the findings

Are there excellent service firms, and do they perform well?

While the construct of business excellence, as defined in the very successful hook by Peters and Waterman, had a marked influence on managers in the 1980s, and in all likelihood in the 1990s, it met with some scepticism in academic circles. This was because the construct as conceptualised did not meet the more rigorous requirements of reliability and validity established by critical researchers, and also because many of the so-called excellent firms later showed themselves to be rather ordinary performers at best. Recently, an apparently successful instrument to measure the original Peters and Waterman excellence construct named EXCEL has been developed by Shama et al., in the United States. In this article the authors describe the use of EXCEL in a sample of large UK service firms and comment on its reliability and validity. Links are also established between excellence and overrall business performance in these firms.peer-reviewe

Classification as a Factor in the Scientific Evolution of Entrepreneurship

Taxonomy, or the establishment of meaningful classification schemes, is examined as a major stage in the development of disciplines. The role of classification in the advancement of entrepreneurship  is  established  Approaches  to  developing  classification  schemes,  and criteria for  assessing  them,  are  discussed.  Key  classification  schemes  in five  different   areas within entrepreneurship are evaluated Shortcomings are noted, and  priorities  are established for taxonomic development. A framework  is  proposed  for  developing  an integrative classification for  the discipline  of entrepreneurship

Allosteric activation of the nitric oxide receptor soluble guanylate cyclase mapped by cryo-electron microscopy.

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is the primary receptor for nitric oxide (NO) in mammalian nitric oxide signaling. We determined structures of full-length Manduca sexta sGC in both inactive and active states using cryo-electron microscopy. NO and the sGC-specific stimulator YC-1 induce a 71° rotation of the heme-binding β H-NOX and PAS domains. Repositioning of the β H-NOX domain leads to a straightening of the coiled-coil domains, which, in turn, use the motion to move the catalytic domains into an active conformation. YC-1 binds directly between the β H-NOX domain and the two CC domains. The structural elongation of the particle observed in cryo-EM was corroborated in solution using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). These structures delineate the endpoints of the allosteric transition responsible for the major cyclic GMP-dependent physiological effects of NO

Food for Thought? A Rejoinder on peer-review and RAE2008 evidence. Accounting Education, December 2011

This Rejoinder responds to criticisms made by Simon Hussain (2011) about the construction and operation of the Association of Business Schools’ (ABS) Journal Quality Guide. In this paper the broad purposes of journal lists and guides are outlined before an account is given of the long history and multiple forms of these lists, particularly in the field of Accounting. Having described the main features of different types of journal list, the advantages and benefits of the approach adopted in the compilation of the ABS Journal Quality Guide is outlined. The paper then ends by noting that one of the copy editing mistakes identified by Dr Hussain has been rectified, but the remaining concerns about the rating of accounting education and accounting history journals reflects the absence of these titles from journal citation reports and international journal lists. Furthermore, the lower rating of Accounting research in the RAE2008 in comparison with Business and Management research in the same year and Accounting and Finance research in 2001, has more to do with the way in which the Accounting and Finance Panel calibrated and normalised its judgements than with the ratings contained within the ABS guide