Identifying the Factors which Affect the Decision to Attain ISO 14000

Formally adopted in 1996 by the International Organization of Standardization, ISO 14000 represents a new voluntary international environmental standard which will likely be adopted by the vast majority of corporations. While the literature is clearly divided in its assessment of ISO 14000, an underlying common theme is that the decision to achieve ISO 14000 certification constitutes a major undertaking for most firms. Such an undertaking, it is argued, does not take place in a vacuum. Rather, it is a response to a number of factors or influences. However, no research to date has empirically identified these factors and explained how they can be leveraged into a competitive advantage. In this article, we use qualitative case studies to identify which factors affect the decision to attain ISO 14000 certification and we also explain how these factors can influence the level of success achieved during the certification process

Arzneimittelinteraktionen mit antiretroviralen Medikamenten

Zusammenfassung: Arzneimittelwechselwirkungen sind bei der Behandlung von HIV-Infizierten häufig, da die hochaktive antiretrovirale Therapie immer mehrere Wirkstoffe beinhaltet. Dazu kommen oft Medikamente gegen opportunistische Infektionen und Begleiterkrankungen. Alle Proteaseinhibitoren führen zu einer Inhibition von CYP3A, das im Metabolismus von rund 50% aller Arzneistoffe wichtig ist, beispielsweise Simvastatin, Atorvastatin, Sildenafil und Clarithromycin. Ritonavir ist von allen Proteaseinhibitoren der stärkste Hemmstoff der CYP3A-Aktivität. Dies wird auch genutzt, um die Bioverfügbarkeit anderer Proteaseinhibitoren zu erhöhen. Durch die nichtnukleosidischen Reverse-Transkriptase-Inhibitoren Efavirenz und Nevirapin wird die CYP3A-Aktivität in der Dauertherapie gesteigert. Um Interaktionen vorzubeugen, müssen zu Beginn und bei Therapieende die Dosierungen von CYP3A-Substraten angepasst werden. Interaktionen können auch durch die Beeinflussung von glukuronidierenden Enzymen oder Transportproteinen entstehen. So wird P-Glykoprotein durch Ritonavir gehemmt, was zu einer Erhöhung der Exposition gegenüber vielen Chemotherapeutika führ

Comparative evaluation of three clinical decision support systems: prospective screening for medication errors in 100 medical inpatients

Purpose: Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are promoted as powerful screening tools to improve pharmacotherapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential contribution of CDSS to patient management in clinical practice. Methods: We prospectively analyzed the pharmacotherapy of 100 medical inpatients through the parallel use of three CDSS, namely, Pharmavista, DrugReax, and TheraOpt. After expert discussion that also considered all patient-specific clinical information, we selected apparently relevant alerts, issued suitable recommendations to physicians, and recorded subsequent prescription changes. Results: For 100 patients with a median of eight concomitant drugs, Pharmavista, DrugReax, and TheraOpt generated a total of 53, 362, and 328 interaction alerts, respectively. Among those we identified and forwarded 33 clinically relevant alerts to the attending physician, resulting in 19 prescription changes. Four adverse drug events were associated with interactions. The proportion of clinically relevant alerts among all alerts (positive predictive value) was 5.7, 8.0, and 7.6%, and the sensitivity to detect all 33 relevant alerts was 9.1, 87.9, and 75.8% for Pharmavista, DrugReax and TheraOpt, respectively. TheraOpt recommended 31 dose adjustments, of which we considered 11 to be relevant; three of these were followed by dose reductions. Conclusions: CDSS are valuable screening tools for medication errors, but only a small fraction of their alerts appear relevant in individual patients. In order to avoid overalerting CDSS should use patient-specific information and management-oriented classifications. Comprehensive information should be displayed on-demand, whereas a limited number of computer-triggered alerts that have management implications in the majority of affected patients should be based on locally customized and supported algorithm

Nation and/or Homeland: Identity in 19th-Century Music and Literature between Central and Mediterranean Europe

The aim of this book is to focus on the development of national awareness elaborated around a series of different case studies, in which the terms nation, homeland and people have been applied. This Romantic lexicon identifies similar but various conceptions of the national idea in some countries dominated by Italian, German and Slavic cultures, and in some groups or minorities such as the Jews and the Vlachs in Central and Mediterranean Europe. In order to clarify the cultural framework, the authors explore the construction of identity through folk tunes, poetry inspired by popular culture, and opera in which the national myths or heroes appear. In the self-making tradition, the national traits are sustained by the process of embodiment of any regional utterance, and also by disregarding the \u201cother\u201d, in particular the minorities. The symbols of the nation, as an achievement of the power that flourishes from the sense of belonging, are defined \u201cper differentiam\u201d. Theoretical perspectives are shaped by the new approaches to this topic, taking into consideration the artistic issues as socio-historical events and subsequently evaluating them in their aesthetic quality

Detergents and Soaps as Tools for IPM in Agriculture

This chapter presents extensive and updated knowledge from scientific and technical reports on the management of agriculture pests using detergents and soaps (D + S), with emphasis on their utility in integrated pest management (IPM) schemes. It includes a review on their environmental, ecological, and toxicological impacts, and their possibilities to become important tools for pest control, especially for those D + S having minimum risk, considering both current and newer products. The present knowledge of their modes of action on arthropods is addressed, revealing the need to better identify the mechanisms to optimize their use against crop pests. Their disadvantages are also analyzed, mainly the lack of residual effect and the potential toxicity to plants. Some ways these problems have been overcome are presented. A comparison of the direct costs of the use of conventional pesticides versus D + S, achieving statistically similar levels of control, is discussed, and scenarios where detergents are competitive (representing lower costs) are presented. There is also a review of the type of compounds reported in the specific literature, which leads to highlight the opportunities to develop agriculture detergents and soaps suited to local agriculture needs. New findings on D + S as co-adjuvants for conventional and biological pesticides, and their potential utilization as safe postharvest treatments against pest, are also presented. Finally, the authorization for soaps and detergents is also discussed, highlighting the need for a joint effort (state agencies, producers, researchers, etc.), in order to increase the offer and the use of detergents and soaps, partially replacing conventional pesticides, to take advantage of their potential as sustainable pest management tools, particularly for IPM programs, but also for organic and conventional productive schemes

Using of Structural Equation Modeling Techniques in Cognitive Levels Validation

When constructing knowledge tests, cognitive level is usually one of the dimensions comprising the test specifications with each item assigned to measure a particular level. Recently used taxonomies of the cognitive levels most often represent some modification of the original Bloom’s taxonomy. There are many concerns in current literature about existence of predefined cognitive levels. The aim of this article is to investigate can structural equation modeling techniques confirm existence of different cognitive levels. For the purpose of the research, a Croatian final high-school Mathematics exam was used (N = 9626). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural regression modeling were used to test three different models. Structural equation modeling techniques did not support existence of different cognitive levels in this case. There is more than one possible explanation for that finding. Some other techniques that take into account nonlinear behaviour of the items as well as qualitative techniques might be more useful for the purpose of the cognitive levels validation. Furthermore, it seems that cognitive levels were not efficient descriptors of the items and so improvements are needed in describing the cognitive skills measured by items

Field and Laboratory Responses of Male Leaf Roller Moths, Choristoneura rosaceana and Pandemis pyrusana, to Pheromone Concentrations in an Attracticide Paste Formulation

Male leafroller moths, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and Pandemis pyrusana (Kearfott), were evaluated for responses to a paste formulation loaded with a range of concentrations of the two species' pheromone blends and evaluated in a laboratory wind tunnel and in the field. Response criteria were flight, flight towards the pheromone source, and contact with the pheromone source for the wind tunnel assays, and capture of moths in traps for the field tests. In the wind tunnel and field, responses of males of both species to the paste generally increased as the pheromone concentration in the paste was increased. There was little response by either species to paste with less than 0.16% pheromone. The relationship between pheromone concentration and response for P. pyrusana was linear and for C. rosaceana was sinusoidal over the range of pheromone concentrations tested. These patterns were seen both in the wind tunnel and in the field. Initial release rates from the paste of (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, the main component of the pheromone blends of both species was 3.6–3.8 ng/h. Inhibitory thresholds for responses were not reached for either species, using pheromone concentrations as high as 16%, in either the wind tunnel or the field. For both species, response of males to rubber septa with one mg pheromone loads was similar to the response to the paste with pheromone at concentrations greater than 3–4%. For C. rosaceana, rates of contact with the paste in the wind tunnel were statistically similar to rates of contact in response to conspecific females, with paste pheromone concentrations above 1.6%. Response rates for males of P. pyrusana were significantly lower to the paste than to conspecific females at all paste pheromone concentrations tested. Overall, the optimum pheromone concentration in the paste for moth attraction to contact was 3.2 % for C. rosaceana and 8% for P. pyrusana

Efecto de la infestación de Micrapate scabrata (Erichson, 1847) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) en la degradación de madera y sus consecuencias en algunas propiedades químicas del suelo

Micrapate scabrata (Erichson) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is a xylophagous beetle native to Chile. Adults and larvae feed on several native host plants, but also on pruned wood of exotic plants. In this study we assessed the impact of artifi cial M. scabrata infestation on Vitis vinifera L. wood degradation and the subsequent changes in soil properties. First, we periodically sampled, during a four-month period, pruned wood from an infested table grape vineyard, fi nding in average 1 adult/10 cm linear wood. Adults were then placed in large Petri dishes containing uninfested wood samples, and maintained in a climatic chamber for six months. At the end of this period, an average of 65.6% of infested wood had been turned mainly into sawdust. Additionally, the impact of leaving M. scabrata infested pruned wood on potted soil for six months, under laboratory conditions, was also evaluated. Afterwards, the surface soil content of macro elements (N-P-K) and organic matter signifi cantly increased, whereas the soil pH decreased. These results document the signifi cant impact of M. scabrata infestation on pruning wood degradation and the benefi ts to the soil if left on the ground in the ecosystem.Micrapate scabrata (Erichson) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) es una especie xilófaga y nativa de Chile. Las larvas y los adultos se alimentan de madera de varias especies nativas, y también de madera de poda de plantas exóticas. En este estudio evaluamos el impacto de una infestación artifi cial de M. scabrata en la degradación de madera de Vitis vinifera L. y los cambios subsecuentes en las propiedades del suelo. Para ello, primero muestreamos madera de poda, durante cuatro meses, en un parronal de uva de mesa infestado, y encontramos en promedio 1 adulto/10 cm lineales de madera. Luego se infestó madera de poda sana, dispuesta en placas de Petri, con adultos, las que se mantuvieron en una cámara climática por seis meses. En ese plazo, un 65.6% de la madera infestada fue convertida principalmente en aserrín. Adicionalmente, se evaluó el efecto de dejar madera de poda infestada por M. scabrata en macetas con suelo, durante seis meses, en condiciones de laboratorio. Luego de ese período, se encontró que el contenido de macro-elementos (N-P-K) y materia orgánica en el suelo aumentó signifi cativamente, mientras que el pH disminuyó. Estos resultados muestran el impacto signifi cativo de la infestación de madera por M. scabrata en su degradación y los benefi cios para la condición del suelo si es dejado en superfi cie en el ecosistema