Showing papers by "University College Dublin published in 2000"
TL;DR: In this paper, rural development is analyzed as a multi-level, multi-actor and multi-faceted process rooted in historical traditions that represents at all levels a fundamental rupture with the modernization project.
Abstract: Both in practice and policy a new model of rural development is emerging. This paper reflects the discussions in the impact research programme and suggests that at the level of associated theory also a fundamental shift is taking place. The modernization paradigm that once dominated policy, practice and theory is being replaced by a new rural development paradigm. Rural development is analyzed as a multi-level, multi-actor and multi-facetted process rooted in historical traditions that represents at all levels a fundamental rupture with the modernization project. The range of new quality products, services and forms of cost reduction that together comprise rural development are understood as a response by farm families to both the eroding economic base of their enterprises and to the new needs and expectations European society has of the rural areas. Rural development therefore is largely an autonomous, self-driven process and in its further unfolding agriculture will continue to play a key role, although it is a role that may well change. This article provides an introduction to the nine papers of this ‘special issue’ and the many reconfiguration processes embodied in rural development that they address.in rural development
918 citations
TL;DR: Miscanthus is a tall perennial rhizomatous grass with C4 photosynthesis which originated in East Asia and has been successfully grown in Europe over the past 10 years as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Miscanthus is a tall perennial rhizomatous grass with C4 photosynthesis which originated in East Asia. This article provides an overview of the most important results and experience gained with miscanthus in Europe over the past 10 years. Field trials have been established throughout Europe from the Mediterranean to southern Scandinavia. Most reported trials have used a vigorous sterile clone Miscanthus x giganteus, which has been propagated vegetatively either by rhizome cutting or in vitro culture. Yields in autumn have been reported in excess of 30 t ha−1 (12 t acre−1) for irrigated trials in southern Europe. Without irrigation autumn yields of 10–25 t ha−1 (dry matter) can be expected. The quality of miscanthus biomass for combustion is in some respect comparable to woody biomass and normally improves by delaying harvesting until the spring, although harvestable yields are thus reduced by 30–50% compared with autumn yields. Different technical options for establishment, harvesting and handling of miscanthus have been developed and these significantly effect production costs. Miscanthus production is characterized by low fertilizer and pesticide requirements making it a relatively benign crop environmentally. The main limitations to miscanthus production from M. x giganteus are the high establishment costs, poor over-wintering at some sites and insufficient water supply in southern regions of Europe. New agronomic techniques and new genotypes with improved characteristics are being developed and screened over the wide range of ecological conditions in Europe. Against this background of European experience the prospects for growing miscanthus in North America are discussed.
874 citations
TL;DR: The data indicate that i.m. fatty acid composition of beef can be improved from a human health perspective by inclusion of grass in the diet.
Abstract: The effects of grazed grass, grass silage, or concentrates on fatty acid composition and conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11-18:2; CLA) concentrations of i.m. fat of steers fed to achieve similar carcass growth rates were investigated. Fifty steers were divided into 10 blocks based on body weight and assigned at random from within blocks to one of five dietary treatments. The experimental rations offered daily for 85 d preceding slaughter were 1) grass silage for ad libitum intake plus 4 kg of concentrate, 2) 8 kg of concentrate plus 1 kg of hay, 3) 6 kg of grazed grass DM plus 5 kg of concentrate, 4) 12 kg of grazed grass DM plus 2.5 kg concentrate, or 5) 22 kg of grazed grass DM. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in i.m. fat was higher (P < .05) for steers offered ration 5 than for those given any other ration. Decreasing the proportion of concentrate in the diet, which effectively increased grass intake, caused a linear decrease in the concentration of i.m. saturated fatty acids (SFA) (P < .01) and in the n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio (P < .001) and a linear increase in the PUFA:SFA ratio (P < .01) and the conjugated linoleic acid concentration (P < .001). The data indicate that i.m. fatty acid composition of beef can be improved from a human health perspective by inclusion of grass in the diet.
698 citations
TL;DR: This article describes six wrapper classes, and uses a combination of empirical and analytical techniques to evaluate the computational tradeoffs among them, finding that most of their wrapper classes are reasonably useful, yet can rapidly learned.
641 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a review of the taxonomy of intellectual capital assets in companies and present guidelines available to companies for reporting on intellectual capital, as well as the efforts made towards developing an accounting standard for intellectual capital.
Abstract: Substantial differences between company book values and market values indicate the presence of assets not recognised and measured in company balance sheets. Intellectual capital assets account for a substantial proportion of this discrepancy. At present, companies are not required to report on intellectual capital assets which leaves the traditional accounting system ineffective for measuring the true impact of such intangibles. Regulations currently in place are analysed in this paper. Prior research concerning intellectual capital is next presented. Frameworks for intellectual capital are compared. Indicators used for the measurement of intellectual capital are examined. The research methodologies employed for collecting information about the use of intellectual capital accounts in companies are reviewed. Guidelines available to companies for reporting on intellectual capital are considered and also the efforts made towards developing an accounting standard for intellectual capital. Finally, current issues and policy implications of accounting for intellectual capital in the future are examined.
385 citations
TL;DR: The immune mechanisms controlling the latent phase of tuberculosis infection were evaluated in a mouse model of latency and reactivation and indicated that the CD4 subset was highly active during the acute phase of infection and could be detected by intracellular staining for IFN‐γ as well as after antigen‐specific stimulation with mycobacterial antigens.
Abstract: It is estimated that one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but that only 10% of infected people break down with the disease. In the remaining 90% the infection remains clinically latent. In the present study, the immune mechanisms controlling the latent phase of tuberculosis infection were evaluated in a mouse model of latency and reactivation. Mice aerosol-infected with M. tuberculosis were treated with anti-mycobacterial drugs resulting in very low, stable bacterial numbers (<500 CFU in the spleen and lung) for 10-12 weeks followed by reactivation of the disease with increasing bacterial numbers. During latency, pathological changes in the lung had almost completely resolved and lymphocyte number and turnover were at the pre-infection level. The CD4 subset was highly active during the acute phase of infection and could be detected by intracellular staining for IFN-gamma as well as after antigen-specific stimulation with mycobacterial antigens. The CD8 subset was not involved in the acute stage of infection, but this subset was active and produced IFN-gamma during the latent phase of infection. In vivo depletion of T cell subsets supported these findings with a 6-7-fold increase in bacterial numbers in the lung following anti-CD4 treatment during the acute phase, while anti-CD8 treatment did not have an effect. The opposite was found during the latent phase where anti-CD8 treatment as well as anti-IFN-gamma treatment both resulted in a 10-fold increase in bacterial numbers in the lung, while anti-CD4 treatment induced only a modest change.
365 citations
TL;DR: In this article, five fabrics were identified in Alpine and Irish caves on the basis of morphological and microstructural characteristics, and re-lated to growth mechanisms and growth environment.
Abstract: Five fabrics were identified in Alpine and Irish caves on the basis of morphological and microstructural characteristics, and re- lated to growth mechanisms and growth environment. Columnar and fibrous fabrics grow when speleothems are continuously wet, and from fluids at near-equilibrium conditions (low supersaturation; SIcc , 0.35), through the screw dislocation mechanism. The highly defective microcrystalline fabrics form at the same supersaturation range as co- lumnar fabric but under variable discharge and the presence of growth inhibitors. Dendritic fabrics, which have the highest density of crystal defects, develop in disequilibrium conditions (high supersaturation) un- der periodic very low-flow-regime periods that result in prolonged out- gassing. Cave calcareous tufa forms in disequilibrium conditions. Only the calcite crystals of fabrics formed at low supersaturation seem to precipitate near-isotopic-equilibrium conditions.
352 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue for the value of resilience as a key concept in work with young people in need and consider some of the implications of a resilience led approach for policy and practice.
Abstract: This paper argues for the value of resilience as a key concept in work with young people in need and considers some of the implications of a resilience led approach for policy and practice. Resilience refers to a capacity to do well despite adverse experience. Social and developmental factors influencing a child or young person's degree of resilience are discussed, with particular reference to the resilience enhancing potential of school experiences and spare time activities.
342 citations
TL;DR: The transition from a liquid to a glass in colloidal suspensions of particles interacting through a hard core plus an attractive square-well potential is studied within the mode-coupling-theory framework and shows stretching of huge dynamical windows, in particular logarithmic time dependence.
Abstract: The transition from a liquid to a glass in colloidal suspensions of particles interacting through a hard core plus an attractive square-well potential is studied within the mode-coupling-theory framework. When the width of the attractive potential is much shorter than the hard-core diameter, a reentrant behavior of the liquid-glass line and a glass-glass-transition line are found in the temperature-density plane of the model. For small well-width values, the glass-glass-transition line terminates in a third-order bifurcation point, i.e., in a A3 (cusp) singularity. On increasing the square-well width, the glass-glass line disappears, giving rise to a fourth-order A4 (swallow-tail) singularity at a critical well width. Close to the A3 and A4 singularities the decay of the density correlators shows stretching of huge dynamical windows, in particular logarithmic time dependence.
340 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a review of the taxonomy of intellectual capital assets in companies and present guidelines available to companies for reporting on intellectual capital, as well as the efforts made towards developing an accounting standard for intellectual capital.
Abstract: Substantial differences between company book values and market values indicate the presence of assets not recognised and measured in company balance‐sheets. Intellectual capital assets account for a substantial proportion of this discrepancy. At present, companies are not required to report on intellectual capital assets, which leaves the traditional accounting system ineffective for measuring the true impact of such intangibles. Regulations currently in place are analysed in this article. Prior research concerning intellectual capital is presented. Frameworks for intellectual capital are compared. Indicators used for the measurement of intellectual capital are examined. The research methodologies employed for collecting information about the use of intellectual capital accounts in companies are reviewed. Guidelines available to companies for reporting on intellectual capital are considered and also the efforts made towards developing an accounting standard for intellectual capital. Finally, current issues and policy implications of accounting for intellectual capital in the future are examined.
332 citations
Proceedings Article•
30 Jul 2000TL;DR: This work describes an algorithm that learns simple, low-coverage wrapper-like extraction patterns, which it then applies to conventional information extraction problems using boosting, resulting in BWI, a trainable information extraction system with a strong precision bias and F1 performance better than state-of-the-art techniques in many domains.
Abstract: Recent work in machine learning for information extraction has focused on two distinct sub-problems: the conventional problem of filling template slots from natural language text, and the problem of wrapper induction, learning simple extraction procedures (“wrappers”) for highly structured text such as Web pages produced by CGI scripts. For suitably regular domains, existing wrapper induction algorithms can efficiently learn wrappers that are simple and highly accurate, but the regularity bias of these algorithms makes them unsuitable for most conventional information extraction tasks. Boosting is a technique for improving the performance of a simple machine learning algorithm by repeatedly applying it to the training set with different example weightings. We describe an algorithm that learns simple, low-coverage wrapper-like extraction patterns, which we then apply to conventional information extraction problems using boosting. The result is BWI, a trainable information extraction system with a strong precision bias and F1 performance better than state-of-the-art techniques in many domains.
TL;DR: A coordinated management approach involving herd managers, nutritionists and veterinarians is required to obtain high reproduction efficiency in dairy cows.
TL;DR: In this paper, an ultrafast electrochromic window was constructed based on a transparent nanostructured TiO2 (anatase) film (4.0 mum) supported on conducti...
Abstract: Described is the construction of an ultrafast electrochromic window. One electrode of this window is based on a transparent nanostructured TiO2 (anatase) film (4.0 mum. thick) supported on conducti ...
TL;DR: In this paper, five arguments in favour of deliberative democracy are considered, focusing on its educative power, community-generating power, fairness of the procedure of public deliberation, epistemic quality of its outcomes and congruence of the deliberative democratic ideal "with whom we are".
Abstract: Five arguments in favour of deliberative democracy are considered. These focus on its educative power, on its community-generating power, on the fairness of the procedure of public deliberation, on the epistemic quality of its outcomes and on the congruence of the deliberative democratic ideal ‘with whom we are’. The first four arguments are shown to be inadequate. The fifth argument, it is claimed, not only provides the most convincing defence of deliberative democracy but can also be used to decide rationally between competing interpretations of the deliberative ideal. By way of illustration, the essay concludes with a critical discussion of the rival versions proposed by Rawls and Habermas.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors estimate the correlation between tariffs and economic growth in the late 19th century, in the context of three types of growth equation: unconditional convergence equations, conditional convergence equations and factor accumulation models.
Abstract: The paper estimates the correlation between tariffs and economic growth in the late 19th century, in the context of three types of growth equation: unconditional convergence equations; conditional convergence equations; and factor accumulation models. It does so for a panel of ten countries between 1875 and 1914. Tariffs were positively correlated with growth in these countries during this period. Economic theory is ambiguous as regards the relationship between trade policy and growth. The growth literature of the past decade has produced an impressive array of models in which protection can either increase or reduce long run growth rates (Grossman and Helpman, 1991; Rivera-Batiz and Romer, 1991; Stokey, 1991; Young, 1991). Such theoretical ambiguity invites empirical research. While new growth theory is ambiguous on the subject, the new empirical growth literature has produced a consensus that free trade is positively associated with growth, based on evidence from the late 20th century (but see Rodrlguez and Rodrik (1999) for a sceptical review of the literature). The clear
TL;DR: A new, simplified in vitro model of the human M-cell is established to enable controlled studies of M- cell development and function in vitro.
TL;DR: DFA and spectral measures provide equivalent characterizations of stochastic signals with long-term correlation and are confirmed for signals with nonideal fractal properties.
Abstract: Stochastic fractal signals can be characterized by the Hurst coefficient $H,$ which is related to the exponents of various power-law statistics characteristic of these processes. Two techniques widely used to estimate $H$ are spectral analysis and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). This paper examines the analytical link between these two measures and shows that they are related through an integral transform. Numerical simulations confirm this relationship for ideal synthesized fractal signals. Their performance as estimators of $H$ is compared based on a mean square error criterion and found to be similar. DFA measures are derived for physiological signals of heartbeat $R\ensuremath{-}R$ intervals through the integral transform of a spectral density estimate. These agree with directly calculated DFA estimates, indicating that the relationship holds for signals with nonideal fractal properties. It is concluded that DFA and spectral measures provide equivalent characterizations of stochastic signals with long-term correlation.
TL;DR: Results suggest that the plastid NAD(P)H:plastoquinone oxidoreductase in tobacco performs a significant physiological role by facilitating photosynthesis at moderate CO(2) limitation.
Abstract: The ndh genes encoding for the subunits of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex represent the largest family of plastid genes without a clearly defined function. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plastid transformants were produced in which the ndhB gene was inactivated by replacing it with a mutant version possessing translational stops in the coding region. Western-blot analysis indicated that no functional NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex can be assembled in the plastid transformants. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed that dark reduction of the plastoquinone pool by stromal reductants was impaired in ndhB-inactivated plants. Both the phenotype and photosynthetic performance of the plastid transformants was completely normal under favorable conditions. However, an enhanced growth retardation of ndhB-inactivated plants was revealed under humidity stress conditions causing a moderate decline in photosynthesis via stomatal closure. This distinctive phenotype was mimicked under normal humidity by spraying plants with abscisic acid. Measurements of CO2 fixation demonstrated an enhanced decline in photosynthesis in the mutant plants under humidity stress, which could be restored to wild-type levels by elevating the external CO2 concentration. These results suggest that the plastid NAD(P)H:plastoquinone oxidoreductase in tobacco performs a significant physiological role by facilitating photosynthesis at moderate CO2 limitation.
TL;DR: A second complete genome screen in a new cohort of 82 SLE sib-pair families and a combined analysis of MN cohorts 1 and 2 showed that markers in 6p11-p21 and 16q13 met the criteria for significant linkage, and together with other available gene mapping results in SLE, are beginning to allow a prioritization of genomic intervals for gene discovery efforts in human SLE.
Abstract: Summary Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a loss of immunologic tolerance to a multitude of self-antigens. Epidemiological data suggest an important role for genes in the etiology of lupus, and previous genetic studies have implicated the HLA locus, complement genes, and low-affinity IgG (Fcγ) receptors in SLE pathogenesis. In an effort to identify new susceptibility loci for SLE, we recently reported the results of a genomewide microsatellite marker screen in 105 SLE sib-pair families. By using nonparametric methods, evidence for linkage was found in four intervals: 6p11-21 (near the HLA), 16q13, 14q21-23, and 20p12.3 (LOD scores ⩾2.0), and weaker evidence in another nine regions. We now report the results of a second complete genome screen in a new cohort of 82 SLE sib-pair families. In the cohort 2 screen, the four best intervals were 7p22 (LOD score 2.87), 7q21 (LOD score 2.40), 10p13 (LOD score 2.24), and 7q36 (LOD score 2.15). Eight additional intervals were identified with LOD scores in the range 1.00–1.67. A combined analysis of MN cohorts 1 and 2 (187 sib-pair families) showed that markers in 6p11-p21 (D6S426, LOD score 4.19) and 16q13 (D16S415, LOD score 3.85) met the criteria for significant linkage. Three intervals (2p15, 7q36, and 1q42) had LOD scores in the range 1.92–2.06, and another 13 intervals had LOD scores in the range of 1.00–1.78 in the combined sample. These data, together with other available gene mapping results in SLE, are beginning to allow a prioritization of genomic intervals for gene discovery efforts in human SLE.
TL;DR: The rapid correction of hypovolaemia with crystalloids and red cells is the first priority, followed by blood component therapy as indicated by the haematocrit, coagulation tests, platelet count and clinical features.
Abstract: Massive obstetric haemorrhage is a major cause of maternal death and morbidity; abruptio placentae, placenta praevia and postpartum haemorrhage being the main causes. A delay in the correction of hypovolaemia, a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of defective coagulation and a delay in the surgical control of bleeding are the avoidable factors in most maternal deaths caused by haemorrhage. The degree of hypotension is the first guide to the level of blood loss, except in abruptio placentae. A protocol incorporating the guidelines is shown. The rapid correction of hypovolaemia with crystalloids and red cells is the first priority, followed by blood component therapy as indicated by the haematocrit, coagulation tests, platelet count and clinical features. Serial monitoring of the response to treatment is essential. Oxytocin and prostaglandin will correct uterine atony, and appropriate surgical intervention is required for traumatic bleeding. Ligation of the uterine arteries, ovarian arteries and internal iliac arteries will usually control uterine bleeding, arterial embolization also being effective. Hysterectomy should be considered as well. Catastrophic bleeding may also arise in complications such as rupture of the liver and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. These rare complications are best managed by a multidisciplinary team involving the obstetrician, anaesthetist, haematologist, hepatologist and renal physician. The rupture of aneurysms in the splenic artery and in other branches of the aorta can result in massive haemorrhage during pregnancy and following delivery.
16 Jun 2000
TL;DR: Omni-directional images provide the means of having adequate representations to support both accurate or qualitative navigation, since landmarks remain visible in all images, as opposed to a small field-of-view standard camera.
Abstract: We describe a method for visual based robot navigation with a single omni-directional (catadioptic) camera. We show how omni-directional images can be used to generate the representations needed for two main navigation modalities: Topological Navigation and Visual Path Following. Topological Navigation relies on the robot's qualitative global position, estimated from a set of omni-directional images obtained during a training stage (compressed using PCA). To deal with illumination changes, an eigenspace approximation to the Hausdorff measure is exploited. We present a method to transform omni-directional images to Bird's Eye Views that correspond to scaled orthographic views of the ground plane. These images are used to locally control the orientation of the robot, through visual servoing. Visual Path Following is used to accurately control the robot along a prescribed trajectory, by using bird's eye views to track landmarks on the ground plane. Due to the simplified geometry of these images, the robot's pose can be estimated easily and used for accurate trajectory following. Omni-directional images facilitate landmark based navigation, since landmarks remain visible in all images, as opposed to a small field-of-view standard camera. Also, omni-directional images provide the means of having adequate representations to support both accurate or qualitative navigation. Results are described in the paper.
TL;DR: Low-to-moderate amounts of dietary fish oil can be used to manipulate neutrophil fatty acid composition, however, this may not be accompanied by modulation of neutrophils functions such as chemotaxis and superoxide radical production.
Abstract: Although essential to host defense, neutrophils are also involved in numerous inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis. Dietary supplementation with relatively large amounts of fish oil [containing >2.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus 1.4 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day] can attenuate neutrophil functions such as chemotaxis and superoxide radical production. In this study, the effects of more moderate supplementation with fish oil on neutrophil lipid composition and function were investigated. The rationale for using lower supplementary doses of fish oil was to avoid adverse gastrointestinal problems, which have been observed at high supplementary concentrations of fish oil. Healthy male volunteers aged <40 yr were randomly assigned to consume one of six dietary supplements daily for 12 wk (n = 8 per treatment group). The dietary supplements included four different concentrations of fish oil (the most concentrated fish oil provided 0.58 g EPA plus 1.67 g DHA per day), linseed oil, and a placebo oil. The percentages of EPA and DHA increased (both P < 0.05) in neutrophil phospholipids in a dose-dependent manner after 4 wk of supplementation with the three most concentrated fish oil supplements. No further increases in EPA or DHA levels were observed after 4 wk. The percentage of arachidonic acid in neutrophil phospholipids decreased (P < 0.05) after 12 wk supplementation with the linseed oil supplement or the two most concentrated fish oil supplements. There were no significant changes in N-formyl-met-leu-phe-induced chemotaxis and superoxide radical production following the dietary supplementations. In conclusion, low-to-moderate amounts of dietary fish oil can be used to manipulate neutrophil fatty acid composition. However, this may not be accompanied by modulation of neutrophil functions such as chemotaxis and superoxide radical production.
TL;DR: The ClixSmart content personalization engine performs two essential tasks: It monitors the online activity of users and automatically constructs profiles for these users to capture their domain and behavioral preferences and uses this user profile information to personalize a target Web site.
Abstract: COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM August 2000/Vol. 43, No. 8 107 The ClixSmart content personalization engine has been developed in the Department of Computer Science at University College Dublin. Its engine performs two essential tasks: It monitors the online activity of users (for a given Web site) and automatically constructs profiles for these users to capture their domain and behavioral preferences. (This task is carried out by the profile manager [5, 6]). The actions of individual users are stored as they select (click), browse, and read content assets, and this information is used to infer interest in specific content assets stored in the content database. Also, it uses this user profile information to personalize a target Web site by filtering information content for the target user, eliminating irrelevant content items and highlighting relevant ones [1–3, 7, 8, 10]. A Personalized TELEVISION LISTINGS SERVICE Barry Smyth and Paul Cotter
TL;DR: The local and systemic T cell responses of different strains of mice following oral infection with doses of metacercariae from F. hepatica were investigated to observe difference in cytokine profiles secreted by the MLN and HLN, which may reflect responses to antigens liberated by newly excysted juveniles and hepatic stage parasites, respectively.
Abstract: SUMMARY Immune responses induced with helminth parasites have been extensively studied, but there is limited information on those to Fasciola hepatica, especially on the subtype of T cell induced with this parasite. We investigated the local and systemic Tcell responses of different strains of mice following oral infection with doses of metacercariae fromF. hepatica. Spleen cells from BALB/c and 129Sv/Ev mice given a low-dose (5 metacercariae) infection exhibited a Th2 response, producing high levels of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-5, and low levels of IFN- g and IL-2. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice showed a mixed Th1/Th2 response. A more marked polarization to a Th2 response was observed in BALB/c, 129Sv/Ev exposed to a high-dose (15 metacercariae) infection and the C57BL/6 mice also exhibited a clear Th2 response. IL-4 defective (IL-4 π/π ) C57BL/6 mice infected with 5 metacercariae produced less IFN- g and more IL-5 compared to their wild-type C57BL/6 counterparts, suggesting that IL-4 is important in establishing the Th2 type response in murine fasciolosis. However, the secretion of IFN-g and IL-2 was completely suppressed in the high-dose infection and this was also observed in IL-4 π/π mice. Thus, liver flukes may secrete molecules that downregulate Th1 responses. T cell responses in the mesenteric (MLN) and hepatic lymph nodes (HLN) were also examined since newly excysted juveniles infect through the intestinal wall of their host before migrating to the hepatic tissue. Cells from both MLN and HLN secreted higher levels of IL-4 and IL-5 compared to spleen cells. We also observed a difference in cytokine profiles secreted by the MLN and HLN, which may reflect responses to antigens liberated by newly excysted juveniles and hepatic stage parasites, respectively.
TL;DR: It is concluded that supplementing grass with low levels of concentrate produced the most tender and acceptable meat at 2 days post mortem, but that further ageing eliminated all treatment effects on eating quality of beef.
TL;DR: In this article, it is argued that the controlled exploitation of nature, on sustained yield principles, only became possible when men came to view the forest, not as a nuisance, an Arcadia or a pagan horror, but as a centre of wood production, a biological factory.
TL;DR: Gold nanowires have been produced by the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes as discussed by the authors, resulting in a decaine gold wire.
Abstract: Gold nanowires have been produced by the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes were mixed with a suspension of gold nanoparticles, resulting in a dec ...
TL;DR: The importance of pluriactive farm households at both local and regional levels by refering to cases studies drawn from the West of Ireland has been examined in this paper, showing that off-farm work by Irish farm families is neither a new phenomenon nor purely the result of economic necessity.
Abstract: Within the European Union, Ireland is one of the countries that has a very high number of farms where the farm operator and/or spouse works outside the family farm. The role of off-farm employment in the viability of Irish farm households is central to both farming and the sustainability of rural communities. This article examines the importance of pluriactive farm households at both local and regional levels by refering to cases studies drawn from the West of Ireland. It shows that off-farm work by Irish farm families is neither a new phenomenon nor purely the result of economic necessity. It also indicates the considerable socio-economic and environmental importance of pluriactivity. The article concludes by relating the realities of pluriactivity to the future rural and agricultural policy of the European Union. It suggests that the growing role of pluriactivity for farm households should be viewed more as a key strategy in the maintenance of a ‘living countryside’ than as an indicator of conventional agriculture’s failure to sustain farming populations.