Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Plymouth

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 11461 - 11490 of 11793

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Profit Efficiency Among Bangladeshi Rice Farmers, S Rahman Jan 2003

Profit Efficiency Among Bangladeshi Rice Farmers, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Production inefficiency is usually analyzed by its three components-technical, allocative, and scale efficiency. In this study, we provide a direct measure of production efficiency of the Bangladeshi rice farmers using a stochastic profit frontier and inefficiency effects model. The data, which are for 1996, include seven conventional inputs and several other background factors affecting production of modern or high yielding varieties (HYVs) of rice spread across 21 villages in three agro-ecological regions of Bangladesh. The results show that there are high levels of inefficiency in modern rice cultivation. The mean level of profit efficiency is 77% suggesting that an estimated …

Go to article

Environmental Impacts Of Modern Agricultural Technology Diffusion In Bangladesh: An Analysis Of Farmers' Perceptions And Their Determinants, S Rahman Jan 2003

Environmental Impacts Of Modern Agricultural Technology Diffusion In Bangladesh: An Analysis Of Farmers' Perceptions And Their Determinants, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Farmers' perception of the environmental impacts of modern agricultural technology diffusion and factors determining such awareness were examined using survey data from 21 villages in three agro-ecological regions of Bangladesh. Results reveal that farmers are well aware of the adverse environmental impacts of modern agricultural technology, although their awareness remains confined within visible impacts such as soil fertility, fish catches, and health effects. Their perception of intangible impacts such as, toxicity in water and soils is weak. Level and duration of modern agricultural technology adoption directly influence awareness of its adverse effects. Education and extension contacts also play an important …

Go to article

A Stochastic Frontier Approach To Total Factor Productivity Measurement In Bangladesh Crop Agriculture, 1961–1992, T Coelli, S Rahman, C Thirtle Jan 2003

A Stochastic Frontier Approach To Total Factor Productivity Measurement In Bangladesh Crop Agriculture, 1961–1992, T Coelli, S Rahman, C Thirtle

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This paper applies a stochastic production frontier model to measure total factor productivity growth, technical efficiency change and technological change in Bangladesh crop agriculture for the 31 observations from 1960/61 to 1991/92, using data for 16 regions. The results reveal that technical change followed a U‐shaped pattern, rising from the early 1970s, when the green revolution varieties were adopted, giving an overall rate of technical progress at 0.27 per cent per year. However, technical efficiency declined throughout, at an estimated annual rate of 0.47 per cent. The combined effect of slow technical progress, dominated by the fall in technical efficiency …

Go to article

A Longitudinal Study Of The Effect Of Subcutaneous Estrogen Replacement On Bone In Young Women With Turner's Syndrome, G Khastgir, Jww Studd, Sw Fox, J Jones, J Aghband-Zadeh, Jwm Chow Jan 2003

A Longitudinal Study Of The Effect Of Subcutaneous Estrogen Replacement On Bone In Young Women With Turner's Syndrome, G Khastgir, Jww Studd, Sw Fox, J Jones, J Aghband-Zadeh, Jwm Chow

School of Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Go to article

An Interactive Visualisation System For Engineering Design Using Evolutionary Computing, Ian Stephen James Packham Jan 2003

An Interactive Visualisation System For Engineering Design Using Evolutionary Computing, Ian Stephen James Packham

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis describes a system designed to promote collaboration between the human and computer during engineering design tasks. Evolutionary algorithms (in particular the genetic algorithm) can find good solutions to engineering design problems in a small number of iterations, but a review of the interactive evolutionary computing literature reveals that users would benefit from understanding the design space and having the freedom to direct the search. The main objective of this research is to fulfil a dual requirement: the computer should generate data and analyse the design space to identify high performing regions in terms of the quality and robustness …

Go to article

Constitutively Active Protein Kinase B Enhances Lck And Erk Activities And Influences Thymocyte Selection And Activation., Ak Patra Jan 2003

Constitutively Active Protein Kinase B Enhances Lck And Erk Activities And Influences Thymocyte Selection And Activation., Ak Patra

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Non-Legitimate Illness, Embodied Experience And The Moral Career: The Case Of Me/Cfs, T Collett Jan 2003

Non-Legitimate Illness, Embodied Experience And The Moral Career: The Case Of Me/Cfs, T Collett

Peninsula Medical School

The condition known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is an illness of unknown aetiology. In the absence of any organic proof of its existence, the prevailing UK view is that it is a form of atypical depression or a somatic disorder. ME/CFS is said by sufferers to affect physical and cognitive functioning and last for years. However, many argue that because ME/CFS is seen as a psychological illness their complaints of ‘being really ill’ are not taken seriously. Based on a mixed method study of 266 persons with ME/CFS, this paper explores how individuals experience a chronic …

Go to article

Closed-Loop Controlled Total Intra Venous Anaesthesia, Chao Dong Jan 2003

Closed-Loop Controlled Total Intra Venous Anaesthesia, Chao Dong

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Anaesthesia is important for both surgery and intensive care and intravenous anaesthetics are widely used to provide rapid onset, stable maintenance, and rapid recovery compared with inhaled anaesthetics. The aim of the project on which this thesis is based was to investigate a reliable and safe methodology for delivering total intravenous anaesthesia using closed-loop control technology and bispectral analysis of human electroencephalogram (EEG) waveform. In comparison with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI), drug effect is measured during drug infusion in closed loop anaesthesia (CLAN). This may provide superior safety, better patient care, and better quality of anaesthesia whilst relieving the clinician …

Go to article

Wavelet-Based Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access Systems, Ali Muayyadi Jan 2003

Wavelet-Based Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access Systems, Ali Muayyadi

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis proposes a wavelet-based multicarrier CDMA system that uses wavelet basis instead of DFT basis to deal with the problem of inter-channel interference (ICI) and spectral bandwidth efficiency. The theoretical analysis shows that the proposed system has lower side lobe components and higher bandwidth efficiency. The simulation further shows that the wavelet-based multi-carrier CDMA system gives lower ICI and better BER performance than that using DFT basis under multipath fading channel. Moreover the proposed system is more robust against narrow band interference signal. This thesis exploits the wavelet correlation properties to perform timing synchronisation in multicarrier CDMA systems. This …

Go to article

High-Resolution Laboratory Lysimeter For Automated Sampling Of Tracers Through A 0.5m Soil Block, A Johnson, Tj Mathews, Gp Matthews, D Patel, Pj Vorsfold, Kn Andrew Jan 2003

High-Resolution Laboratory Lysimeter For Automated Sampling Of Tracers Through A 0.5m Soil Block, A Johnson, Tj Mathews, Gp Matthews, D Patel, Pj Vorsfold, Kn Andrew

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Supporting Biosciences In The Nursing Curriculum: Development And Evaluation Of An Online Resource, Ka Gresty, Dre Cotton Jan 2003

Supporting Biosciences In The Nursing Curriculum: Development And Evaluation Of An Online Resource, Ka Gresty, Dre Cotton

School of Biomedical Sciences

Aims. The aim of this project was to develop and evaluate an online resource designed to improve the biosciences knowledge of preregistration nursing students. Background. A number of studies have identified lack of biological subject knowledge and anxiety about studying biosciences as serious problems for nursing students. The availability of a contextualized biological information resource prior to and early in their studies might help to reduce this fear and anxiety. Methods. The project used an action research approach, involving an initial analysis of the extent of the problems with biosciences encountered by our nursing students, followed by the development and …

Go to article

Farm-Level Pesticide Use In Bangladesh: Determinants And Awareness, S Rahman Jan 2003

Farm-Level Pesticide Use In Bangladesh: Determinants And Awareness, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Farmers' awareness of beneficial and harmful effects of pesticides and factors determining use of pesticides were analyzed using survey data from 21 villages in three agro-ecological regions of Bangladesh. Pesticide cost accounts for about 7.7% of the gross value of output in cotton, 3.6% in vegetables, 2.5% in potato, 1.8% in modern rice, 1.6% in spices and less than 1% in other cereal and non-cereal crops. About 77% of farmers (highest 94% in Comilla) used pesticides at least once (37% applied once and 31% applied twice, and the rest applied for 3-5 times) in a crop season. Cultivation of traditional …

Go to article

Current Clinical Practice In Neonatal And Paediatric Parenteral Nutrition In Europe, Gj Sewell, Bu Kluttgens, Aj Nunn Jan 2003

Current Clinical Practice In Neonatal And Paediatric Parenteral Nutrition In Europe, Gj Sewell, Bu Kluttgens, Aj Nunn

School of Health Professions

Objective: To investigate current prescribing, compounding, and administration practice of parenteral nutrition (PN) in five European countries, and to explore the use of pre-prepared batch-manufactured standard solutions. Methods: Questionnaire survey in 218 hospitals in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Results: 98 hospitals (45%) responded to the questionnaire. Compounding practice was found to differ greatly throughout Europe. Pharmacy aseptic compounding services were usually available in Spain (64%) and the UK (87%), but less often in Germany (35%), France (40%), and Italy (50%). Pre-prepared standard parenteral nutrition solutions were used in 25% of all hospitals surveyed for neonates, and in …

Go to article

Identification Of A Second Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen In The Human Malarial Pathogen Plasmodium Falciparum, J-L Li, Av Warren, Ls Cox Dec 2002

Identification Of A Second Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen In The Human Malarial Pathogen Plasmodium Falciparum, J-L Li, Av Warren, Ls Cox

School of Biomedical Sciences

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen seems to exist as a single form in higher eukaryotic cells and plays multiple roles in nucleic acid metabolism. We have identified a second additional proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PfPCNA2) in Plasmodium falciparum on the basis of several lines of evidence. (1) PfPCNA2, consisting of 264 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 30.2kDa, shares only 29% identity and 53% similarity with PfPCNA1 at the amino acid level. (2) Southern blot analyses revealed that the hybridisation pattern of the Pfpcna2 gene is completely different from that of the Pfpcna1 gene. (3) Chromosomal localisation studies …

Go to article

On Nonexistence Of Magnetic Charge In Pure Yang-Mills Theories, Alex Kovner, Martin J. Lavelle, David Mcmullan Nov 2002

On Nonexistence Of Magnetic Charge In Pure Yang-Mills Theories, Alex Kovner, Martin J. Lavelle, David Mcmullan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Visualisation Of Synchronous Firing In Multi-Dimensional Spike Trains, L Stuart, M Walter, R Borisyuk Oct 2002

Visualisation Of Synchronous Firing In Multi-Dimensional Spike Trains, L Stuart, M Walter, R Borisyuk

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The gravity transform algorithm is used to study the dependencies in firing of multi-dimensional spike trains. The pros and cons of this algorithm are discussed and the necessity for improved representation of output data is demonstrated. Parallel coordinates are introduced to visualise the results of the gravity transform and principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the quantity of data represented whilst minimising loss of information.

Go to article

The Processing Of Holliday Junctions By Blm And Wrn Helicases Is Regulated By P53, Q Yang, R Zhang, Xw Wang, Ea Spillare, Et Al Aug 2002

The Processing Of Holliday Junctions By Blm And Wrn Helicases Is Regulated By P53, Q Yang, R Zhang, Xw Wang, Ea Spillare, Et Al

School of Biomedical Sciences

BLM, WRN, and p53 are involved in the homologous DNA recombination pathway. The DNA structure-specific helicases, BLM and WRN, unwind Holliday junctions (HJ), an activity that could suppress inappropriate homologous recombination during DNA replication. Here, we show that purified, recombinant p53 binds to BLM and WRN helicases and attenuates their ability to unwind synthetic HJ in vitro. The p53 248W mutant reduces abilities of both to bind HJ and inhibit helicase activities, whereas the p53 273H mutant loses these abilities. Moreover, full-length p53 and a C-terminal polypeptide (residues 373-383) inhibit the BLM and WRN helicase activities, but phosphorylation at Ser(376) …

Go to article

Saving Europe's Coral Reefs, Jm Hall-Spencer Jun 2002

Saving Europe's Coral Reefs, Jm Hall-Spencer

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Numerical Experiments On The Breaking Of Solitary Internal Waves Over A Slope-Shelf Topography, Vasiliy Vlasenko Jun 2002

Numerical Experiments On The Breaking Of Solitary Internal Waves Over A Slope-Shelf Topography, Vasiliy Vlasenko

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Toward A Women-Centred Approach To Infant Feeding Research, Lynne Callaghan Jan 2002

Toward A Women-Centred Approach To Infant Feeding Research, Lynne Callaghan

School of Psychology Theses

This thesis aimed to provide an integrated model of infant feeding, centred on women's experiences. Two studies were employed in order to meet this aim. Firstly, a questionnaire-based longitudinal study within a Social Cognitive framework was carried out in order to understand the internal and external processes involved in the infant feeding experience. Eighty-five first time mothers participated in this study. Participants were assessed at three stages; once during pregnancy, once at six to eight, and again at four to six moths postpartum. The results of the longitudinal study supported the use of the Social Cognitive framework, and more specifically …

Go to article

Locating Moral Responsibility For War Crimes : The New Justiciability Of 'System Criminality' And Its Implications For The Development Of An International Polity, Samantha Jane King Jan 2002

Locating Moral Responsibility For War Crimes : The New Justiciability Of 'System Criminality' And Its Implications For The Development Of An International Polity, Samantha Jane King

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis examines the question of international responses to system criminality. It argues that the assignation of moral responsibility, expressed in the act of prosecuting individuals, expresses a fundamental conceptual shift towards an international polity. Although political rhetoric, the media and international legislation express the moral dimension of system criminality, the character of humanitarian law and the contingency of its operation is the most concrete indicator of such a development. The status of an embryonic international polity becomes particularly evident- with `individual responsibility' being a criminally liable offence, as set against `collective responsibility' which entails `civil', (non-penal) liabilities. However, the …

Go to article

The Adaptive Advantage Of Symbolic Theft Over Sensorimotor Toil: Grounding Language In Perceptual Categories, A Cangelosi, S Harnad Jan 2002

The Adaptive Advantage Of Symbolic Theft Over Sensorimotor Toil: Grounding Language In Perceptual Categories, A Cangelosi, S Harnad

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Using neural nets to simulate learning and the genetic algorithm to simulate evolution in a toy world of mushrooms and mushroom-foragers, we place two ways of acquiring categories into direct competition with one another: In (1) "sensorimotor toil,” new categories are acquired through real-time, feedbackcorrected, trial and error experience in sorting them. In (2) "symbolic theft,” new categories are acquired by hearsay from propositions – boolean combinations of symbols describing them. In competition, symbolic theft always beats sensorimotor toil. We hypothesize that this is the basis of the adaptive advantage of language. Entry-level categories must still be learned by toil, …

Go to article

An Investigation Of Labour Ward Care To Inform The Design Of A Computerised Decision Support System For The Management Of Childbirth, Maureen Harris Jan 2002

An Investigation Of Labour Ward Care To Inform The Design Of A Computerised Decision Support System For The Management Of Childbirth, Maureen Harris

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

Patient monitoring is a complex task, particularly during childbirth, where assessment of the baby's condition is inferred from the continuous electronic recording of the baby's heart rate pattern and maternal uterine contractions (CTG). Computerised decision support has long been advocated, as difficulties in the interpretation of the CTG have led to failure to intervene and unnecessary intervention. The problem is large, for obstetric litigation now accounts for 80% of the UK National Health Service litigation bill. The Plymouth Perinatal Research Group has developed a computerised decision support system for patient monitoring during childbirth and the UK Medical Research Council has …

Go to article

Observation And Modelling Of Fluid Transport Into Porous Paper Coating Structures, Joachim Schoelkopf Jan 2002

Observation And Modelling Of Fluid Transport Into Porous Paper Coating Structures, Joachim Schoelkopf

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In paper printing, one of the most important aspects for consideration is the control of ink setting rate. Ink setting, depending on ink and press type, is a function of evaporation, curing and removal of the liquid phase by capillary mechanisms steered by the porous substrate. In most cases, absorption by the substrate is the dominating mechanism. Many paper or board substrates are coated with a layer of pigment panicles and binders. It is recognised that the void network between these panicles has the most important influence on the absorption dynamics. Many aspects of liquid absorption into porous networks are …

Go to article

Generation Of In Vitro B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia- Specific T Cell Responses Using Dendritic Cells, Ruth Victoria Goddard Jan 2002

Generation Of In Vitro B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia- Specific T Cell Responses Using Dendritic Cells, Ruth Victoria Goddard

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Immunotherapy using dendritic cells has shown encouraging results in both haematological and non-haematological malignancies. In this study, monocyte-derived dendritic cells from patients with B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia were generated by culture in Interleukin-4 and Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor. Lysate-pulsed autologous dendritic cells were used as antigen presenting cells in co-culture with autologous B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia T-cells. B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia T-cells stimulated with B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia lysate-pulsed autologous dendritic cells showed a significant increase in cell surface expression of Interleukin-2 Receptor (CD25), Interferongamma secretion and cytotoxicity against autologous B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia B-cell targets hut not against targets …

Go to article

Genetic Analysis Of The Microvascular Complications Of Diabetes Mellitus, Deborah F Cross Jan 2002

Genetic Analysis Of The Microvascular Complications Of Diabetes Mellitus, Deborah F Cross

Other Faculty of Health Theses

There is increasing evidence to suggest that genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus. Recent studies have suggested that genetic variations in the aldose reductase (ALR2) gene may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to microvascular complications. Aldose reductase is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway and is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular disease (nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy). It has recently been shown that the three polymorphisms of the ALR2 gene are associated with susceptibility to microvascular complications in both TIDM and T2DM. The aim of this study was to …

Go to article

Economic Linkages Within The Rural Economy: The Case Of Producer Services, Bryan Keith Mills Jan 2002

Economic Linkages Within The Rural Economy: The Case Of Producer Services, Bryan Keith Mills

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

This research seeks to contribute towards the understanding of economic linkage within the rural context by exploring the relationship between rurally located small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their purchase of producer (business) services. In addition, the work considers other inter-rural and intra-rural differences, in both firm (SME) behaviour and firm characteristics. Whilst the subject of linkages has been explored by other researchers, the market town and SME focus of this thesis provides a more spatially contained framework than is often encountered within this type of research. By using four towns of similar size and structure contained within two noticeably …

Go to article

Spaces Of Appearance: Writings On Contemporary Theatre And Performance, Antony David C. Williams Jan 2002

Spaces Of Appearance: Writings On Contemporary Theatre And Performance, Antony David C. Williams

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis, a collection of previously published materials, reflects a plural and evolving engagement with theatre and performance over the past fifteen years or so: as researcher, writer, editor, teacher, practitioner, spectator. These have rarely been discreet categories for me, but rather different modalities of exploration and enquiry, interrelated spaces encouraging dynamic connectivities, flows and further questions. Section 1 offers critical accounts of the practices of four contemporary theatre directors: Jerzy Grotowski, Robert Wilson, Peter Brook and Ariane Mnouchkine. Section 2 draws on elements of contemporary philosophy and critical thinking to explore the mutable parameters of performance. lt proposes performative …

Go to article

From Here To Diversity : Ethnicity In The National Health Service, Nicholas Richard Johns Jan 2002

From Here To Diversity : Ethnicity In The National Health Service, Nicholas Richard Johns

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

Nearly twenty years after the ground-breaking report by Brent Community Health Council (CHC) (1981) into the standard of health care provided to minority ethnic communities, there is continuing evidence of failure on the part of the National Health Service (NHS). One of the ways in which the New Labour government has sought to address such inadequacies in public services has been to increase the numbers of minority ethnic people in the workforce. The central argument of this thesis is that the notion of 'ethnic diversity' has not been adequately defined, and that the practical implications of diversity may be the …

Go to article

The Development Of A Transactional Analysis Psychometric Tool For Enhancing Functional Fluency, Susannah Fleur Temple Jan 2002

The Development Of A Transactional Analysis Psychometric Tool For Enhancing Functional Fluency, Susannah Fleur Temple

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

Functional Fluency denotes efficacy of interpersonal functioning in terms of flexibility and balance of the behavioural modes a person uses. The aim of this project is to design and create a psychometric tool for mapping the patterns of such functioning. The intention is that feedback on the test results will stimulate the insights and understanding to support and encourage positive behavioural change. This process, involving the development of self-awareness, which is a key aspect of emotional intelligence, will thus promote emotional literacy. Transactional Analysis (TA) ego state theory provides the basis for the rational-theoretical strategy of instrument construction, which uses …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last