bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interface state density analyzing of Au/TiO2(rutile)/n–Si Schottky barrier diode
Authors: Altuntas H. , Bengi A. , Asar T. , Aydemir U. , Sarıkavak B. , Ozen Y. , Altındal Ş , Ozcelik S.
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study is to analyze interface states (Nss) in Au/TiO2(Rutile)/n–Si Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). TiO2 was deposited on a n–Si substrate by reactive magnetron sputtering and annealed at 900 °C for 4 h in atmosphere to obtain rutile phase. The current voltage (I‐V) characteristics of SBDs were measured at room temperature. From the I‐V characteristics of the SBDs ideality factor (n) and zero‐bias barrier height values (ϕBo) 2.3 and 0.76 eV, respectively, were obtained. The Nss distribution profile (Nss) as a function of (Ec − Ess) was extracted from the forward‐bias I‐V measurements by taking account effective barrier height and (ϕe) and series resistance (Rs) for the Schottky diode. Nss values ranges from 4.3 × 1012 cm−2 eV−1 in (Ec − 0.33) eV and 8.0 × 1013 cm−2 eV−1 in (Ec − 0.33) eV. These values are better than in the literature values where TiO2 was deposited sol‐gel method. The Nss values taking into Rs were lower than without Rs. This shows that Rs should be taking account. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MaD‐WiSe: a distributed stream management system for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Amato Giuseppe , Chessa Stefano , Vairo Claudio
Published: March 2010

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are composed of several sensors having limited memory, processing power, communication bandwidth, and energy, which cooperate in performing a given task. The use of the database paradigm has emerged in the last few years as a viable solution to manage data in such a context. In this paper we present the MaD‐WiSe system, a distributed query processing framework that moves the processing of the query into the network. MaD‐WiSe reconsiders various aspects related to database system design and it reinterprets them according to the WSN constraints and requirements. In particular it considers the aspects related to the definition of a query language to formalize the queries, a stream model to manage data acquired by the sensors, a query algebra to define the operators that actually perform the query, and energy efficiency and query optimization strategies for saving energy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nur noch 30 Hektar Flächenverbrauch pro Tag
Authors: Jakubowski Peter , Zarth Michael
Published: March 2010

The National Strategy for Sustainability envisages a reduction in the amount of land currently being lost to development to just 30 hectares per day by 2020. This is an extremely ambitious target and raises the question as to just what challenges regions will face in striving to implement this objective. In order to explore this question, land consumption in the past is compared and contrasted with permissible future land consumption within the framework of a “bussiness-as-usual” scenario; using a range of indicators, the interdependencies between land consumption and economic development are described. In discussing their findings, the authors present a number of patterns of requirements for regional adaptation and discuss options available through spatial-structure policy for achieving the 30-hectare target.
Umbau ohne Bau — den demographischen Wandel im Quartier gestalten
Authors: Henkel Knut
Published: March 2010

Policy and practice perspective
Die Geographie der Kreativen Klasse in Deutschland
Authors: Fritsch Michael , Stützer Michael
Published: March 2010

The article analyses the regional distribution of different categories of creative individuals in Germany. Generally, the share of creative people is higher in cities as compared to the rural areas. The freelancing artists are a kind of exception in this respect; they constitute a relatively high share of the population in some rural areas. A high share of creative people in a region can be explained by a high level of public provisions and a high share of foreign born population, which can be regarded as an indicator of the “openness” in the local milieu. Good employment opportunities have only a relatively weak impact. Regions with a high share of creatives tend to have an above average level of new business formation, a high level of innovation and a relatively high share of employees in high-tech industries.
Altwerden am Stadtrand — zum Zusammenhang von Suburbanisierung und demographischem Wandel
Authors: Nuissl Henning , Bigalke Bernadett
Published: March 2010

German cities have experienced a vibrant process of suburbanisation in recent decades. In the face of current demographic change there is a need to reassess the phenomenon of suburbanisation in terms of how it affects the quality of life of the elderly. Based on a case study in the Leipzig urban region this paper analyses the options and opportunities of elderly suburbanites to satisfy their daily needs, maintain their social networks and pursue an independent life in their suburban living environments. At large the presented results are not suited to prove the frequently assumed negative impact of suburbanisation on the elderly.
Raus aus Suburbia, rein in die Stadt?
Authors: Glasze Georg , Graze Philip
Published: March 2010

Policy and Practice Perspective
Integration von Unternehmensnetzkonzepten in die Bauleitplanung
Authors: Tietjen Ronald , Haasis Hans-Dietrich
Published: March 2010

Der Trend zur Bildung von Unternehmensnetzwerken kann durch die öffentliche Hand aufgegriffen und im Bereich des Gewerbeflächenmanagements berücksichtigt werden. Ziel des Beitrages ist es, vor diesem Hintergrund abzuwägen, inwieweit kooperierende Lieferanten und Produzenten zur Bildung eines Unternehmensnetzes auf einem Gewerbegebiet angesiedelt werden können und als zusätzliches Kriterium in die Bauleitplanung integrierbar sind. Dieses kann eine erhebliche Verkehrsminderung, Emissionsreduzierung sowie eine Kostensenkung für Staat und Unternehmen bewirken. Im ersten Kapitel wird deshalb zunächst der Trend zur Bildung von Unternehmensnetzen erläutert. Im folgenden Kapitel werden Gründe der öffentlichen Hand zur Unterstützung solcher Unternehmensnetze aufgeführt. Die rechtliche Grundlage zur entsprechenden Gliederung der Areale schließt sich im dritten Kapitel an. Abschließend werden bestehende Unternehmensnetze betrachtet, ein entwickeltes, regionales Unternehmensnetzwerk beschrieben und eine entsprechende Schlußfolgerung abgeleitet.
Regionale Wissens-Spillovers Technischer Hochschulen
Authors: Voigt Eva
Published: March 2010

Die Initiierung einer endogen angetriebenen Regionalentwicklung mit dem Ziel der Schaffung dauerhaft wettbewerbsfähiger Arbeitsplätze bei angemessenem Wirtschaftswachstum steht im Mittelpunkt der innovationsorientierten Regionalpolitik. Von den Hochschulen wird in diesem Zusammenhang erwartet, daß sie mit ihrem Bildungs- und Wissenschaftspotential Entwicklungsimpulse setzen und so langfristig einen stabilen Beitrag zur Stärkung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der regionalen Wirtschaft leisten. Diese Erwartung wird in der Literatur durch empirische Analysen gestützt. So haben u. a. Audretsch und Feldman nachgewiesen, daß in unmittelbarer geographischer Nähe einer Wissensquelle, wie z. B. einer Universität, verstärkt innovative Aktivitäten auftreten. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, zu untersuchen, inwieweit auch im Umfeld der TU Ilmenau Spillovers der Wissensproduktion empirisch nachweisbar sind und welche theoretischen Implikationen sich mit diesen Effekten verbinden. Dementsprechend gliedern sich die folgenden Ausführungen in zwei Hauptabschnitte. Zunächst werden die Ergebnisse einer Unternehmensbefragung dargestellt, um auf Grundlage des empirischen Befundes die Frage nach einer theoretischen Erklärung für das Auftreten verstärkter Innovationsaktivitäten im Umfeld der Technischen Universität zu diskutieren.
Scholle und Rand
Authors: Kaltenbrunner Robert
Published: March 2010

There remains today little in common between the concept underlying the phenomenon we refer to as “the city”, on the one hand, and the actual reality we can observe and experience. One reason for this is the apparently insatiable desire on the part of large groups in society for a home of their own in a leafy environment; for distance from the hectic, noisy, polluted and increasingly hazardous city centre; for greater closeness to nature; for a sense of belonging to a community, which is seen to guarantee greater security, peace and quiet and social homogeneity; for an environment more child-friendly than that found in the inner city. In stark contrast to any discourse on the subject of urbanity — and reaffirmed impressively yet again just recently in both surveys and empirical studies — for many people a home of their own, with garden, is now well established as the very epitome of how they would ideally like to live. And it is this — admittedly among other factors — which generates suburbanisation. Even accepting that sprawling settlement development by no means represents a lack of planning, but is rather the result of conflicting and — over the course of time — mutually neutralising values with regard to what we think cities can and should be; and granting too that every municipality thinks first and foremost — as indeed it is required to — of its own best interests: nonetheless, what we refer to as “urban sprawl” should not simply be stigmatised or accepted as an unalterable fact of life. On the contrary: suburbanisation needs to be seen, to a much greater degree than has previously been the case, as a challenge for urban development, as a sign of a need to envision spatial concepts which take into account both the housing market and individual aspirations with regard to housing.
Der Raumordnerische Vertrag als Instrument zur Absicherung von Kooperationen im zentralörtlichen System
Authors: Greiving Habil Stefan
Published: March 2010

The article considers the question to what extent co-operations can strengthen the central place system as a concept of spatial planning. The legitimacy of the central place system as part of classical spatial planning that acts in a sovereign way is questioned. Here the focus is put on the application of the principle of functionality instead of the conventional principle of territoriality in the allocation of central place functions. The policy impacts of urban associations and shared central places that have been tested in spatial planning practice in this respect suffer from the lack of a binding agreement on the distribution of functions. In this context the author introduces the spatial planning contract as a possible solution and discusses it using the example of the Dessau area.
Für einen Perspektivenwechsel: die Potenziale des Alters als Triebkräfte Gesellschaftlicher Entwicklung
Authors: Geißler Clemens
Published: March 2010

In Verbindung mit der Mitgliederversammlung der Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung traf am 14. Mai 2003 in Erfurt das Präsidium der Akademie zu einem Gespräch mit den älteren ordentlichen Mitgliedern zusammen. Impulse zu einer lebhaften Diskussion gab ein Vortrag des Verfassers. Die dort vorgetragenen Materialien und Überlegungen werden hiermit in überarbeiteter Form vorgelegt.
Strategische Umweltprüfung (SUP) von Verkehrsplänen und -programmen
Authors: Surburg Ulf
Published: March 2010

Following adoption in 2001 of the EU Directive on Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (known as ‚'Strategic EIA’' or ‚'Plan EIA’'), from 2004 onwards a large number of both comprehensive and sectoral plans will be subject to additional environmental impact assessment. Strategic EIA introduces, among other things, new requirements with regard to the plan-preparation phase, public participation and monitoring. It applies to plans and programmes in the fields of comprehensive superordinate spatial planning, land-use planning, agriculture, tourism, forestry, fishery, energy, industry, waste-management, watermanagement, telecommunications and transport planning. This article sets out the main implications of the Directive for the transport sector.
Veränderungen in den lokalen Lebensbedingungen Ostdeutschlands und ihre Widerspiegelung im Zufriedenheitsniveau der Bürger
Authors: Reuband Karl-Heinz
Published: March 2010

On the basis of representative postal surveys of the resident population of Dresden, an attempt is made to study changes between 1995 and 2000 both in living conditions and in levels of satisfaction with local infrastructure. Generally speaking, satisfaction follows changes in objective conditions. However, it is not determined solely by such changes: an important role has to be ascribed to cognitive tendencies of generalisation, and equally to personal experience and expectations on the part of informants. Differences in personal experience and in expectations can be seen as the principal reasons for the divergence in attitudes observed between informants who previously (prior to unification) lived in West Germany and native Dresdeners. The former tend to judge opportunities for shopping more negatively, but see the crime situation in more favourable terms.
Indikatorengestütztes Controlling der Richtplanung in der Schweiz
Authors: Schultz M.A. Barbara , Keiner Marco , A. Schmid Willy
Published: March 2010

Recently, planning articles claim the introduction of controlling mechanisms in regional planning. The idea of controlling mechanisms in planning is not new, however, it has never been institutionalised. In Switzerland controlling mechanisms in spatial planning are strongly discussed since the middle of the nineties. At the moment efforts are carried out to integrate controlling mechanisms into cantonal guiding planning. Several cantonal spatial planning authorities are working on concepts for controlling mechanisms for cantonal guiding plans which correspond in content and scale to the German regional plans. The present article highlights the case study of the recently developed concept of controlling mechanisms for the guiding plan of the canton of Lucerne. Finally it discusses whether the approach can be transfered to regional planning in Germany.
Finanzausgleich für zentrale Orte?
Authors: Schelpmeier Holger
Published: March 2010

Die Finanzflüsse aus dem kommunalen Finanzausgleich können als eines der wichtigsten Steuerungsinstrumente zur Umsetzung des Zentrale-Orte-Konzepts gelten. Allerdings werden die zentralörtlichen Aufgaben und Belastungen in den einzelnen Finanzausgleichsgesetzen der Länder durch zum Teil ganz unterschiedliche Instrumente berücksichtigt. Nur wenige Länder nehmen
Nachhaltiges Qualitätsmanagement von Landschaft
Authors: Brüll Anja , Bürgow Grit , Küddelsmann Ina
Published: March 2010

Concerning the question which requirements future landscapes will have to fulfil, basic landscape functions such as regenerating a moderate climate, clear water, fertile soil etc. are to be emphasized to be the essential „wing-unit” of society. An understanding of the interactions of the energy, water and material flows within the landscape thereby can serve as a system — oriented planning and design tool. The concept of a „Sustainable Quality Management of Landscape” based on a model of landscape dynamics offers an integrative field of action for spatial planning to be performed in water catchment areas.
Landschaft als weicher Standortfaktor
Authors: Mayer Verena , Schlick Mark , Groeger Martin
Published: March 2010

This article deals with the conservation and development of the aesthetic qualities of the largely man-made landscapes of the Rhine-Neckar-Palatinate conurbation. Proceeding through a series of stages of intensive analysis, the authors develop a number of innovative concepts for restoring to the landscape of this area some sense of identity as a means of enhancing the living and working environment experienced by the people who live there. Landscape quality is steadily gaining in importance as a soft locational factor. The present study puts forward a number of approaches suitable for giving this trend the recognition it warrants, for example within the framework of a Regional Landscape Park; it also underscores the need for immediate action in order to secure what open spaces still exist within this conurbation and to develop them in a manner which is aesthetically pleasing.
Die GIS-Anwendung in der Landesplanung
Authors: Bauch Peter , Schauerte Lüke Norbert
Published: March 2010

This article considers spatial planning registers as a suitable vehicle for demonstrating the introduction of a GIS for the purposes of comprehensive spatial planning atLand (state) level. It starts with an explanation of the spatial planning registers now required to be maintained by all of Germany’sLänder (except for the city-states) and goes on to describe in detail the kinds of modifications which will have to be made to such registers as they come to be converted into digital form. Taking for purposes of demonstration a GIS application currently in use in a number of German states, the authors outline the requirements such systems need to meet and propose possible technical solutions using standard software. The final section looks in greater detail at the necessary modifications to spatial planning registers associated with conversion to digital form, including possible changes to the way registers are organised and new ways of using the data.
Räumliche Muster des demographischen Wandels in Europa
Authors: Gans Paul , Schmitz-Veltin Ansgar
Published: March 2010

At the beginning of the 21st century Europe is characterized by a negative natural population trend, which will even intensify in the next years. Countries with a comparatively positive trend face others with a strong decline of the number of inhabitants. On the regional level fertility and mortality levels differ substantially as well. Using the examples of France and Italy, the paper examines the spatial patterns of the decline of birth rates during the second demographic transformation as well as the rise of life expectancy since the 1970...s. In both countries a regional convergence of the total fertility rate (TFR) can be observed with a simultaneous divergence of selected indicators of generative behaviour. In addition, a converging trend may be detected for life expectancy. However, regions with migration gains register values rather above the average compared to those with migration losses. In regions where the decline of the birth rate began early, the future will bring strong phenomena of over-ageing. Altogether demographic conditions in the regions will differ increasingly.
Binnenwanderungen seit der deutschen Einigung
Authors: Schlömer Claus
Published: March 2010

With the opening of the inner-German boundaries in 1989, the unification of Germany and the following upheavals in numerous sectors of life in East Germany, the general conditions for spatial mobility in Germany were redefined. Since then the marked migration losses of the new federal states (Länder) and the re-emergence of migrations from the cities to suburban areas have overlapped the continuous shifts of predominant migration linkages that also occur in the west. This article considers the question how internal migrations have developed more than a decade after the unification, which prominent patterns have emerged and in what way a transition from historic reversals towards a new normality has taken place.
In Situ Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft Bypass for Primary Infected Aneurysm of the Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta
Authors: Kwon Tae‐Won , Kim Hyang‐Kyoung , Moon Ki‐Myung , Cho Yong‐Pil , Park Sang‐Jun
Published: March 2010

Background

Reinfection is a major issue of surgical treatment for patients with infected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The present report describes outcomes after use of our procedure for treating patients with infected aneurysm of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. The procedure involved an in situ polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft bypass and omental wrapping of the graft. The procedure was used regardless of the presence of Gram‐stain‐positive pus or tissue or the type of pathogen identified.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed nine consecutive patients with primary infected aneurysms of the infrarenal abdominal aorta treated from June 2001 to August 2006 at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Diagnosis was based on preoperative abdominopelvic CT scans. Treatment involved removal of all infected tissue, including infected aorta tissue, in situ PTFE graft reconstruction, and wrapping of the graft with retrocolically transposed great omentum. Sensitive antibiotics were administered before and after the operation.

Results

In all cases, aneurysms were the result of aortitis and aortic wall perforation, and presented as aortic pseudoaneurysms with rupture. The pathogens identified wereSalmonella non‐typhi(n= 4),Klebsiella pneumoniae(n= 2),Streptococcus pneumoniae(n= 1),Citrobacter freundii(n= 1), andBrucella abortus(n= 1). There was no infection‐related morbidity or mortality during a median follow‐up period of 49 months.

Conclusions

Surgical treatment comprising complete removal of all infected tissue, in situ PTFE graft reconstruction, and omental wrapping of the graft was effective in treating infected AAA. Key adjunct procedures were a precise preoperative diagnosis using abdominopelvic CT scans, and pre‐ and postoperative sensitive antibiotic treatment.
Preoperative estimation of asialoglycoprotein receptor expression in the remnant liver from CT/99mTc‐GSA SPECT fusion images correlates well with postoperative liver function parameters
Authors: Iimuro Yuji , Kashiwagi Toru , Yamanaka Junichi , Hirano Tadamichi , Saito Shinichi , Sugimoto Takaaki , Watanabe Shinichiro , Kuroda Nobukazu , Okada Toshihiro , Asano Yasukane , Uyama Naoki , Fujimoto Jiro
Published: March 2010

Background

Accurate preoperative estimation of remnant liver function is critically important for hepatic surgery, and the expression of asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) is associated with hepatic function.

Methods

Thirty‐two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent surgical resection were studied. To estimate the expression of ASGPR in the remnant liver, simulated surgery was performed on fusion images that combined data from99mtechnetium‐galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc‐GSA)/single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) scanning. The liver uptake ratio (LUR) of99mTc‐GSA and the functional liver volume (FLV) in the remnant liver were predicted and were compared with postoperative liver function parameters.

Results

The LUR of99mTc‐GSA was strongly correlated with the extent of hepatic ASGPR expression (r = 0.944,p = 5.01 × 10−16), being confirmed to be a reliable parameter for the evaluation of liver function. The estimated remnant LUR, but not the estimated remnant FLV, was significantly correlated with postoperative liver function parameters, such as serum total bilirubin (r = −0.430,p < 0.05), prothrombin activity (r = 0.515,p < 0.01), and serum cholinesterase activity (r = 0.546,p < 0.01) at 1 week.

Conclusion

Preoperative estimation of the extent of ASGPR expression in the remnant liver on CT/GSA‐SPECT fusion images correlated well with postoperative liver function parameters, suggesting its usefulness for surgical decisions.
Understanding and Improving the Effectiveness of After‐School Practice
Authors: Granger Robert C.
Published: March 2010

The question driving research on after‐school programs is shifting from “do programs make a difference,” to “why are some programs effective while others are not?” This article draws on the work in this volume and related studies to suggest that there is an emerging consensus on the importance of staff‐youth interactions as a determinant of program effectiveness. The commentary recommends that future research should continue to focus on understanding and improving program practices at the point‐of‐service. In doing so, two lines of inquiry seem promising. The first involves linking measures of changes in staff‐youth interactions to changes in developmental outcomes. The second is to examine how policies or other interventions intended to improve program effectiveness affect the practices of line staff.
The use of botulinum toxin A in children with cerebral palsy, with a focus on the lower limb
Authors: Molenaers Guy , Van Campenhout Anja , Fagard Katrien , De Cat Jos , Desloovere Kaat
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this review is to clarify the role of botulinum toxin serotype A (BTX-A) in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy (CP), with a special focus on the lower limb.

Background

The treatment of spasticity is central in the clinical management of children with CP. BTX-A blocks the release of acetylcholine at the motor end plate, causing a temporary muscular denervation and, in an indirect way, a reduced spasticity. Children with increased tone develop secondary problems over time, such as muscle contractures and bony deformities, which impair their function and which need orthopaedic surgery. However in these younger children, delaying surgery is crucial because the results of early surgical interventions are less predictable and have a higher risk of failure and relapse. As BTX-A treatment reduces tone in a selective way, it allows a better motor control and muscle balance across joints, resulting in an improved range of motion and potential to strengthen antagonist muscles, when started at a young age. The effects are even more obvious when the correct BTX-A application is combined with other conservative therapies, such as physiotherapy, orthotic management and casts. There is now clear evidence that the consequences of persistent increased muscle tone can be limited by applying an integrated multi-level BTX-A treatment approach. Nevertheless, important challenges such as patient selection, defining appropriate individual goals, timing, dosing and dilution, accuracy of injection technique and how to measure outcomes will be questioned. Therefore, “reflection is more important than injection” remains an actual statement.
Characterization of tau fibrillization in vitro
Authors: Xu Shaohua , Brunden Kurt R. , Trojanowski John Q. , Lee Virginia M.‐Y.
Published: March 2010

Background

The assembly of tau proteins into paired helical filaments, the building blocks of neurofibrillary tangles, is linked to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. A greater understanding of this assembly process could identify targets for the discovery of drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. By using recombinant human tau, we have delineated events leading to the conversion of normal soluble tau into tau fibrils.

Methods

Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy methodologies were used to determine the structure of tau assemblies that formed when soluble tau was incubated with heparin for increasing lengths of time.

Results

Tau initially oligomerizes into spherical nucleation units of 18‐ to 21‐nm diameter that appear to assemble linearly into nascent fibrils. Among the earliest tau fibrils are species that resemble a string of beads formed by linearly aligned spheres that with time seem to coalesce to form straight and twisted ribbon‐like filaments, as well as paired helical filaments similar to those found in human tauopathies. An analysis of fibril cross sections at later incubation times revealed three fundamental axial structural features.

Conclusions

By monitoring tau fibrillization, we showed that different tau filament morphologies coexist. Temporal changes in the predominant tau structural species suggest that tau fibrillization involves the generation of structural intermediates, resulting in the formation of tau fibrils with verisimilitude to their authentic human counterparts.
Developing a national strategy to prevent dementia: Leon Thal Symposium 2009
Authors: Khachaturian Zaven S. , Barnes Deborah , Einstein Richard , Johnson Sterling , Lee Virginia , Roses Allen , Sager Mark A. , Shankle William R. , Snyder Peter J. , Petersen Ronald C. , Schellenberg Gerard , Trojanowski John , Aisen Paul , Albert Marilyn S. , Breitner John C.S. , Buckholtz Neil , Carrillo Maria , Ferris Steven , Greenberg Barry D. , Grundman Michael , Khachaturian Ara S. , Kuller Lewis H. , Lopez Oscar L. , Maruff Paul , Mohs Richard C. , Morrison‐Bogorad Marcelle , Phelps Creighton , Reiman Eric , Sabbagh Marwan , Sano Mary , Schneider Lon S. , Siemers Eric , Tariot Pierre , Touchon Jacques , Vellas Bruno , Bain Lisa J.
Published: March 2010

Among the major impediments to the design of clinical trials for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most critical is the lack of validated biomarkers, assessment tools, and algorithms that would facilitate identification of asymptomatic individuals with elevated risk who might be recruited as study volunteers. Thus, the Leon Thal Symposium 2009 (LTS'09), on October 27–28, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, was convened to explore strategies to surmount the barriers in designing a multisite, comparative study to evaluate and validate various approaches for detecting and selecting asymptomatic people at risk for cognitive disorders/dementia. The deliberations of LTS'09 included presentations and reviews of different approaches (algorithms, biomarkers, or measures) for identifying asymptomatic individuals at elevated risk for AD who would be candidates for longitudinal or prevention studies. The key nested recommendations of LTS'09 included: (1) establishment of a National Database for Longitudinal Studies as a shared research core resource; (2) launch of a large collaborative study that will compare multiple screening approaches and biomarkers to determine the best method for identifying asymptomatic people at risk for AD; (3) initiation of a Global Database that extends the concept of the National Database for Longitudinal Studies for longitudinal studies beyond the United States; and (4) development of an educational campaign that will address public misconceptions about AD and promote healthy brain aging.
COMPOSITION OPERATORS BELONGING TO SCHATTEN CLASS 𝒮p
Authors: YUAN CHENG , ZHOU ZE-HUA
Published: March 2010

We investigate the composition operators Cφ acting on the Bergman space of the unit disc D, where φ is a holomorphic self-map of D. Some new conditions for Cφ to belong to the Schatten class 𝒮p are obtained. We also construct a compact composition operator which does not belong to any Schatten class.
The Dynamics of Ethnonationalist Contention
Authors: Benson Michelle , Saxton Gregory
Published: March 2010

Ethnopolitical expression spans three primary forms: electoral politics, non-violent protest and violent rebellion. Previous literature has studied these strategies in isolation from one another. Using original data on the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain, this article combines a new method for operationalizing contentious strategies with Gurr’s ethnopolitical conflict model to explain communities’ movements between categories of the full range of nationalist political behaviour. The findings confirm that organizations acting within a community respond to altered incentives and changing political contexts by moving up and down the ‘ladder of contention’; they suggest an under-explored ‘strategic dynamism’ in ethnonational communities. Capturing this dynamic movement allows for a better understanding of which features of a group’s environment have an ‘escalatory’ impact on conflict and which, conversely, have an ‘ameliorative’ effect.
Richness, origin and structure of anEimeriacommunity in a population of Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) introduced into Italy
Authors: BERTOLINO S. , HOFMANNOVÁ L. , GIRARDELLO M. , MODRY D.
Published: March 2010

The composition and structure of a community ofEimeriawas investigated in a population of Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) introduced into Italy. EightEimeriaspecies were found, of which all but 1 had North American origins and were presumably introduced into Italy together with imported cottontails. The success of cottontails in spreading microparasites is probably related to their massive release for hunting purposes. Nearly all cottontails were infected with at least 1Eimeriaspecies, with bimonthly prevalence ranging from 0–6·3% (E. leporis) to 42·9–89·3% (E. environ). Bayesian model averaging and multivariate techniques were used to investigate the relationships between the occurrence of each parasite and the structure of the relative community. Among the host parameters, only sex was found to be associated with the prevalence ofE. honessi, while the rest of the parameters were only weakly correlated with prevalence and species richness. This indicates that individual phenotypic host characteristics are probably less important than environmental factors in determining levels of parasite prevalence and diversity. The community ofEimeriaspecies was probably structured by competition, with less species co-occurrence than expected under a null hypothesis. This was made evident by the low co-occurrence ofE. environandE. neoirresiduawithE. poudrei,E. honessi, andE. maior.
Eimeria tenellaglucose-6-phosphate isomerase: molecular characterization and assessment as a target for anti-coccidial control
Authors: LOO S.-S. , BLAKE D. P. , MOHD-ADNAN A. , MOHAMED R. , WAN K.-L.
Published: March 2010

Limitations with current chemotherapeutic and vaccinal control of coccidiosis caused byEimeriaspecies continue to prompt development of novel controls, including the identification of new drug targets. Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6-PI) has been proposed as a valid drug target for many protozoa, although polymorphism revealed by electrophoretic enzyme mobility has raised doubts forEimeria. In this study we identified and sequenced theEimeria tenellaG6-PI orthologue (EtG6-PI) from the reference Houghton strain and confirmed its position within the prevailing taxonomic hierarchy, branching with the Apicomplexa and Plantae, distinct from the Animalia including the host,Gallus gallus. Comparison of the deduced 1647 bpEtG6-PIcoding sequence with the 9016 bp genomic locus revealed 15 exons, all of which obey the intron-AG-/exon/-GT-intron splicing rule. Comparison with the Weybridge and Wisconsin strains revealed the presence of 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 14 insertion/deletion sites. Three SNPs were exonic and all yielded non-synonymous substitutions. Preliminary structural predictions suggest little association between the coding SNPs and key G6-PI catalytic residues or residues thought to be involved in the coordination of the G6-PI's substrate phosphate group. Thus, the significant polymorphism from its host orthologue and minimal intra-specific polymorphism suggest G6-PI remains a valid anti-coccidial drug target.
Inventory and analysis of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) systems inBrugia malayi
Authors: ARDELLI B. F. , STITT L. E. , TOMPKINS J. B.
Published: March 2010

ABC systems are one of the largest described protein superfamilies. These systems have a domain organization that may contain 1 or more transmembrane domains (ABC_TM1F) and 1 or 2 ATP-binding domains (ABC_2). The functions (e.g., import, export and DNA repair) of these proteins distinguish the 3 classes of ABC systems. Mining and PCR-based cloning were used to identify 33 putative ABC systems from theBrugia malayigenome. There were 31 class 2 genes, commonly called ABC transporters, and 2 class 3 genes. The ABC transporters were divided into subfamilies. Three belonged to subfamily A, 16 to subfamily B, 5 to subfamily C, 1 to subfamily E and 3 to subfamilies F and G, respectively. None were placed in subfamilies D and H. Similar to other ABC systems, the ABC_2 domain ofB. malayigenes was conserved and contained the Walker A and B motifs, the signature sequence/linker region and the switch region with the conserved histidine. The ABC_TM1F domain was less conserved. The relative abundance of ABC systems was quantified using real-time reverse transcription PCR and was significantly higher in female adults ofB. malayithan in males and microfilaria, particularly those in subfamilies B and C, which are associated with drug resistance.
A descriptive analysis of religious involvement among older adults in Japan
Authors: KRAUSE NEAL , LIANG JERSEY , BENNETT JOAN , KOBAYASHI ERIKA , AKIYAMA HIROKO , FUKAYA TARO
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive analysis of multiple dimensions of religious belief and practice among older people in Japan with data from a nationwide sample. Six dimensions were evaluated: religious affiliation, involvement in formal religious organisations, private religious practices, the functions of prayer, belief in punishment by supernatural forces, and beliefs about the afterlife. In addition to describing these dimensions for the sample as a whole, tests were performed to see if they varied by age, sex, marital status, education and for those living in rural or urban areas. The findings suggest that even though older people in Japan are not highly involved in formal religious institutions, they engage frequently in private religious practices, and that while many older people in Japan do not endorse some religious beliefs (e.g. about the quality of the afterlife), there is strong adherence to others (e.g. beliefs about punishment by supernatural forces). It was found that older women are more deeply involved in religion than older men, and that levels of religious involvement appear to be higher in rural than in urban areas. Less pronounced differences were found with respect to age, but compared to the ‘young-old’, the ‘oldest-old’ aged 75 or more years were more deeply involved in those aspects of religion that take place outside formal institutions.
Musical taste and ageing
Authors: HARRISON JILL , RYAN JOHN
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study was to explore musical taste patterns in old age. Having musical tastes, defined as individual preferences for certain musical genres, has been theorised as being a relational tool, something that can be used to negotiate social situations and interpersonal exchanges with others. Taste not only helps to make sense out of the endless array of products available on the cultural menu, but is also through consumption and display a way of signalling group membership, social location, identity and self. These concepts are important throughout the lifecourse, yet relatively unexplored in later life. What are the taste patterns of older adults and how do they compare to the musical preferences of other age groups? To address these questions we analysed data from the United States national Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), a repeated cross-sectional survey, for the years 1982, 1992 and 2002. In each year, musical tastes displayed a positive relationship with age up to 55 years of age. The results indicate that across the three survey years, at older ages there was a negative relationship between tastes and age. We offer explanations for these results using theories from the sociology of culture and social gerontology.
GAME THEORY: A PRACTITIONER'S APPROACH
Authors: Schelling Thomas C.
Published: March 2010

To a practitioner in the social sciences, game theory primarily helps to identify situations in which interdependent decisions are somehow problematic; solutions often require venturing into the social sciences. Game theory is usually about anticipating each other's choices; it can also cope with influencing other's choices. To a social scientist the great contribution of game theory is probably the payoff matrix, an accounting device comparable to the equals sign in algebra.
M-ESTIMATION FOR A SPATIAL UNILATERAL AUTOREGRESSIVE MODEL WITH INFINITE VARIANCE INNOVATIONS
Authors: Roknossadati S.M. , Zarepour M.
Published: March 2010

We study the limiting behavior of theM-estimators of parameters for a spatial unilateral autoregressive model with independent and identically distributed innovations in the domain of attraction of a stable law with indexα∈ (0, 2]. Both stationary and unit root models and some extensions are considered. It is also shown that self-normalizedM-estimators are asymptotically normal. A numerical example and a simulation study are also given.
Risk factors associated with observed clinical lumpy skin disease in Ethiopia
Authors: GARI G. , WARET-SZKUTA A. , GROSBOIS V. , JACQUIET P. , ROGER F.
Published: March 2010

A cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the distribution of lumpy skin disease (LSD) and associated risk factors in three main agro-climatic zones of Ethiopia. A total of 330 questionnaire surveys were collected from 44 peasant associations (PA) distributed in 15 districts. Across agro-climate zones, herd-level LSD prevalence in the midland agro-climate was significantly higher 55·2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 47·5–62·6] than in highland and lowland agro-climate zones. Overall observed LSD prevalence at animal-level was 8·1% (95% CI 7·3–8·9) and observed mortality was 2·12% (95% CI 1·73–2·6). The odds ratio (OR) of LSD occurrence in midland vs. highland and lowland vs. highland zones was 3·86 (95% CI 2·61–5·11) and 4·85 (95% CI 2·59–7·1), respectively. Significantly high risk of LSD occurrence was associated with communal grazing and watering management (OR 4·1, 95% CI 2·02–6·18) and introduction of new cattle (OR 8·5, 95% CI 6·0–11·0). Our findings describe the distribution of LSD in different agro-climates in Ethiopia along with associated risk factors, and can help shed light on the epidemiology of LSD in other African countries suffering from the disease.
Low hepatitis B immunogenicity of a hexavalent vaccine widely used in Germany: results of the German Health Survey for Children and Adolescents, 2003–2006
Authors: JORGENSEN P. , POETHKO-MÜLLER C. , HELLENBRAND W. , JILG W. , THIERFELDER W. , MEYER C. , HEIDEN M. AN DER , SCHLAUD M. , RADUN D.
Published: March 2010

The success of childhood vaccination against hepatitis B relies on persistence of immunity into adolescence and adulthood. In 2000, two hexavalent vaccines with a hepatitis B component (Hexavac®, Infanrix hexa®) were introduced in Germany. Hexavac was withdrawn in 2005 amidst concerns about its long-term hepatitis B protection. We compared hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) levels in children fully vaccinated with Hexavac or Infanrix hexa (n=477) in a secondary data analysis of a large cross-sectional health survey in Germany. On average 2·4 years after vaccination, 25·3% of Hexavac vaccinees had anti-HBs levels <10 mIU/ml (95% CI 19·0–32·8) compared to 4·7% of Infanrix hexa vaccinees (95% CI 2·4–8·9). These findings suggest that short-term hepatitis B immunogenicity in Hexavac vaccinees may also be weaker. Further studies are warranted to assess whether Hexavac vaccinees should be re-vaccinated or receive a booster vaccination before these birth cohorts reach adolescence.
The microRNA156 and microRNA172 gene regulation cascades at post-germinative stages inArabidopsis
Authors: Martin Ruth C. , Asahina Masashi , Liu Po-Pu , Kristof Jessica R. , Coppersmith Jennifer L. , Pluskota Wioletta E. , Bassel George W. , Goloviznina Natalya A. , Nguyen Theresa T. , Martínez-Andújar Cristina , Arun Kumar M.B. , Pupel Piotr , Nonogaki Hiroyuki
Published: March 2010

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in developmental programmes of plants, including seed germination and post-germination. Here, we provide evidence that two different miRNA pathways, miR156 and miR172, interact during the post-germination stages inArabidopsis. Mutant seedlings expressing miR156-resistantSQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE13(mSPL13), which has silent mutations in the miR156 complementary sequence, over-accumulatedSPL13mRNA and exhibited a delay in seedling development. Microarray analysis indicated thatSCHNARCHZAPFEN(SNZ), anAP2-like gene targeted by miR172, was down-regulated in these mutants. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and miRNA gel blot analyses showed that theMIR172genes were up-regulated inmSPL13mutants. These results suggest that the miRNA regulation cascades (miR156⊣SPL13 → miR172⊣SNZ) play a critical role during the post-germination developmental stages inArabidopsis.
A NOTE ON THE CROWDING-OUT OF INVESTMENT BY PUBLIC SPENDING
Authors: Cardi Olivier
Published: March 2010

One of the most prominent and consistent findings of the recent empirical literature on fiscal policy is that investment expenditure is crowded out by public spending in the short run. In this contribution, we address this empirical fact using a dynamic general equilibrium model and show that the introduction of habit-forming behavior plays a major role in accommodating the observed negative relationship between investment and government expenditure. Our numerical experiments point out the role of consumption inertia in determining the reactions of the open economy: as habit persistence gets stronger, fiscal expansion crowds out real consumption by a smaller amount and investment by a larger one, while the current account enters into a greater deficit.
Theta Rotation and Serial Registration of Light Microscopical Images Using a Novel Camera Rotating Device
Authors: Duerstock Bradley S. , Cirillo John , Rajwa Bartek
Published: March 2010

An electromechanical video camera coupler was developed to rotate a light microscope field of view (FOV) in real time without the need to physically rotate the stage or specimen. The device, referred to as the Camera Thetarotator, rotated microscopical views 240° to assist microscopists to orient specimens within the FOV prior to image capture. The Camera Thetarotator eliminated the effort and artifacts created when rotating photomicrographs using conventional graphics software. The Camera Thetarotator could also be used to semimanually register a dataset of histological sections for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction by superimposing the transparent, real-time FOV to the previously captured section in the series. When compared to Fourier-based software registration, alignment of serial sections using the Camera Thetarotator was more exact, resulting in more accurate 3D reconstructions with no computer-generated null space. When software-based registration was performed after prealigning sections with the Camera Thetarotator, registration was further enhanced. The Camera Thetarotator expanded microscopical viewing and digital photomicrography and provided a novel, accurate registration method for 3D reconstruction. The Camera Thetarotator would also be useful for performing automated microscopical functions necessary for telemicroscopy, high-throughput image acquisition and analysis, and other light microscopy applications.
Sexualstörungen bei der Frau
Authors: Bitzer Johannes , Alder Judith
Published: March 2010

Die Sexualmedizin ist in den vergangenen Jahren immer mehr zu einem integralen Bestandteil der medizinischen Grundversorgung von Frauen geworden. Ärzte brauchen deshalb einerseits die kommunikativen Fertigkeiten, um mit Patientinnen ein Gespräch über Sexualität zu führen und andrerseits ein Wissen über Modelle zur menschlichen Sexualität, über Klassifikationssysteme von Sexualstörungen und über diagnostische und therapeutische Möglichkeiten. Der diagnostische Prozess reicht von der Deskription des sexuellen Problems hin zur Abklärung der konditionierenden Faktoren. Diese lassen sich differenzieren in biologische Faktoren, intraindivuelle und interpersonelle psychologische Faktoren und schließlich soziokulturelle Faktoren, die jeweils als prädisponierende, auslösende und erhaltende Faktoren wirksam werden können. Der therapeutische Prozess ist gekennzeichnet durch ein Stufenprogramm, welches auf psychoedukativen und beratenden Interventionen basiert. Darauf aufbauend besteht die Therapie häufig aus einer Kombination pharmakologischer Interventionen (Hormone, PDE5-Hemmer) und spezifische psychotherapeutischer Maßnahmen (sensate focus, kognitive Interventionen, paartherapeutische Verfahren).