bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the toxicity of river and creek sediments in Hungary with two different methods
Authors: Torokne Andrea , Toro Karoly
Published: May 2010

The aim of this study is to compare the responses of two different ecotoxicological methods for the determination of the toxic hazard of river or creek sediments in Hungary. Since water quality is intrinsically linked to sediment quality, the ecotoxicological control of sediments is also very important in the water quality policy. The 2000/60 EC Water Framework Directive aims at achieving a good qualitative and quantitative status of all water bodies by 2015. Fifteen sediments and four sludges were collected at different sites in Hungary, which are contaminated by industrial sewage. The first assay is the acute toxicity test with the crustacean Daphnia magna Straus (OECD 202) using larvae less than 1 day old, and an exposure time of 2 days. The second assay is the Ostracodtoxkit F with freshly hatched larvae of the crustacean Heterocypris incongruens and an exposure time of 6 days. The Ostracodtoxkit F test is a “direct sediment contact” bioassay, in which the test organisms are in continuous contact with the sediments. The Daphnia tests were applied on water extracts of the sediment without any contact of the test organisms with the contaminated sediment. The same 1:4 water/sediment ratio has been applied to both tests. The results showed higher toxic effects of the sediments to H. incongruens than to D. magna confirming the need to complement “water only” tests with “solid phase” assays for a meaningful evaluation of the toxic hazard of aquatic environments. The sensitivity of H. incongruens is similar to that of the other test species which are currently used for solid‐phase assays. The growth inhibition of H. incongruens is a very sensitive endpoint for sediment toxicity testing. The sediment toxicity tested by ostracods showed strong correlation with concentration of total chromium, lead, and cadmium together. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010.
Clinical aspects of neuropathic lysosomal storage disorders
Authors: Jardim Laura Bannach , Villanueva Maria Mercedes , de Souza Carolina F. Moura , Netto Cristina B. Oliveira
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this review is to describe neurological phenotypes associated with lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), focusing on features arising from primary neuronal involvement. Clinical presentation, progression and genetic data, are discussed in detail in Part 2, the electronic material. Main features are summarized in Part 1. Insights gained from several observational studies are discussed. Prospective studies of the natural history of most neuronopathic LSDs have been hampered by the rarity of these conditions and the short survival of affected patients. Increasingly, longitudinal observations relating to neurological manifestations are being reported. Better clinical studies are necessary, including repeated measurements of disease progression to facilitate the development of sensitive scoring systems and appropriate counseling of affected individuals and their families. Ideally, clinical studies should involve a large cohort. As treatment becomes available, knowledge of disease expression and factors that influence the phenotype may enable critical assessment of therapeutic outcomes. It is hoped that increased familiarity with the clinical expression of individual LSDs will allow early diagnosis, so families at risk are given options to consider during future pregnancies. Early diagnosis also permits the introduction of timely intervention, to favoring improved outcome in cases that are potentially treatable.
Isolated remethylation disorders: do our treatments benefit patients?
Authors: Schiff Manuel , Benoist Jean‐François , Tilea Bogdana , Royer Nicolas , Giraudier Stéphane , Ogier de Baulny Hélène
Published: May 2010

Deficiency of 5,10‐methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), the very rare methionine synthase reductase (CblE) and methionine synthase (CblG) defects, and the recently identified CblD‐variant‐1 defect are primary remethylation defects characterized by an isolated defect in methionine synthesis without methylmalonic aciduria. The clinical signs are mainly neurological, and hematological signs are seen in CblE, CblG, and CblD‐variant‐1 defects. Patients with neonatal or early‐onset disease exhibit acute neurological distress. Infants and children have unspecific mental retardation, often with acquired microcephaly. Without appropriate therapy, they may experience acute or rapidly progressive neurological deterioration, which may be fatal. Adolescents and adults show normal development or mild developmental delay initially and then experience rapid neurological or behavioral deterioration. A few patients may have signs of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. Adults may be asymptomatic or present with isolated thromboembolism. All patients with suspected remethylation disorders should receive emergency treatment with parenteral administration of hydroxocobalamin and folate supplements combined with betaine orally. The long‐term treatment of CblE, CblG, and CblD‐variant‐1 defects consists of parenterally administered hydroxocobalamin and orally administered folate and betaine supplements, whereas patients with MTHFR deficiency require long‐term oral folate and betaine supplements. Long‐term oral methionine therapy should also be considered. Early treatment may lead to a favorable outcome with developmental recovery and prevention of further neurological deterioration. In contrast, most late‐treated patients have severe and irreversible neuromotor impairments. Hematological abnormalities are easily corrected.
Virtue Ethics and Modern Society—A Response to the Thesis of the Modern Predicament of Virtue Ethics
Authors: Qun GONG
Published: May 2010

The revival of modern Western virtue ethics presents the question of whether or not virtue ethics is appropriate for modern society. Ethicists believe that virtue ethics came from traditional society, to which it conforms so well. The appearance of the market economy and a utilitarian spirit, together with society’s diversification, is a sign that modern society has arrived. This also indicates a transformation in the moral spirit. But modern society has not made virtues less important, and even as modern life has become more diversified, rule-following ethics have taken on even greater importance. Modern ethical life is still the ethical life of individuals whose self-identity contains the identity of moral spirit, and virtues have a very important influence on the self-identical moral characters. Furthermore, modern society, which is centered around utilitarianism, makes it apparent that rules themselves are far from being adequate and virtues are important. Virtues are a moral resource for modern people to resist modern evils.
A Classification System for Anomalies of the Extensor Pollicis Longus
Authors: Türker Tolga , Robertson Gregory A. , Thirkannad Sunil M.
Published: May 2010

Introduction

Variations of the long extensor tendon to the thumb are very rare.

Materials and Methods

We present three cases in which there was a supernumerary long extensor tendon to the thumb. In all three cases, the supernumerary tendon emerged from the fourth dorsal compartment and had a parallel course to the extensor pollicis longus.

Results

Details of the anomalies are described along with a meta-analysis of relevant literature. A classification system of these anomalies is also proposed.
Enhanced Bioavailability of Eicosapentaenoic Acid from Fish Oil After Encapsulation Within Plant Spore Exines as Microcapsules
Authors: Wakil Ammar , Mackenzie Grahame , Diego‐Taboada Alberto , Bell J. Gordon , Atkin Stephen L.
Published: May 2010

Benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can be enhanced by raising their bioavailability through microencapsulation. Pollen can be emptied to form hollow shells, known as exines, and then used to encapsulate material, such as oils in a dry powder form. Six healthy volunteers ingested 4.6 g of fish oil containing 20% EPA in the form of ethyl ester first alone and then as 1:1 microencapsulated powder of exines and fish oil. Serum bioavailability of EPA was measured by area under curve (AUC0–24). The mean AUC0–24 of EPA from ethyl ester with exine (M = 19.7, SD = 4.3) was significantly higher than ethyl ester without exines (M = 2, SD = 1.4, p < 0.01).The bioavailability of EPA is enhanced by encapsulation by pollen exines.
Neue Wege in der bioinformatischen Phänotypanalyse
Authors: Doelken S.C. , Köhler S. , Bauer S. , Ott C.-E. , Krawitz P. , Horn D. , Mundlos S. , Robinson P.N.
Published: May 2010

Die präzise Beschreibung phänotypischer Auffälligkeiten ist für die klinische Diagnostik und für unser wissenschaftliches Verständnis von Erkrankungen von grundlegender Bedeutung. Derzeit sind mehrere tausend hereditäre Erkrankungen des Menschen bekannt, die jeweils durch eine mehr oder weniger spezifische Kombination phänotypischer Merkmale charakterisiert sind. Eine besondere Schwierigkeit bei der computergestützten Analyse phänotypischer Daten ergab sich bislang durch das Fehlen eines standardisierten medizinischen Vokabulars und den Mangel an adäquaten Datenstrukturen zur Erfassung phänotypischer Merkmale.

Die Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) wurde von unserer Arbeitsgruppe mit dem Ziel entwickelt, alle phänotypischen Auffälligkeiten, die bei monogenen Erkrankungen des Menschen auftreten können, zu beschreiben (http://www.human-phenotype-ontology.org). Die HPO stellt ein hierarchisch strukturiertes, deskriptives und standardisiertes Vokabular zur Beschreibung phänotypischer Merkmale bereit und ist somit geeignet, signifkante phänotypische Ähnlichkeiten und Unterschiede verschiedener hereditärer Erkrankungen zu erfassen.

Eine Ontologie wie die HPO eröffnet viele neuartige Möglichkeiten, insbesondere auch auf dem Gebiet der klinisch-genetischen Diagnostik. Ein Beispiel hierfür ist der von uns entwickelte Phenomizer (http://compbio.charite.de/phenomizer), ein neuartiges, frei verfügbares ontologisches Suchprogramm. Der Phenomizer nutzt die semantische Struktur der HPO, um klinische Symptome anhand ihrer Spezifität zu wichten, und kann als Werkzeug für eine computergestützte klinische Differenzialdiagnostik verwendet werden.
Regionale Reaktionen auf den demographischen Wandel in dünn besiedelten, peripheren Räumen: Ergebnisse einer deutschlandweiten Befragung
Authors: Küpper Patrick
Published: May 2010

Sparsely populated, peripheral areas are particularly affected by demographic changes. Regional policy offers a framework for reacting to the resulting challenges. The research question is: how does regional policy in sparsely populated, peripheral areas react to the challenges of demographic change? The contribution presents empirical survey data of the current practice. For this purpose, always one representative of regional development initiatives and counties (Landkreise) were asked to answer the questionnaire. The results indicate the application of counteraction strategies, the pursued spatial decentralisation, the dominance of public actors and the utilisation of strategic planning concepts. In the dimension of the mode of interaction, no clear tendency could be detected. Here, co-operation and unilateral action seem to coincide in practice.
Factors predictive of successful outcome following salvage treatment of isolated neck recurrences
Authors: Lim Jae‐Yol , Lim Young Chang , Kim Se‐Heon , Byeon Hyung Kwon , Choi Eun Chang
Published: May 2010

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome and predictive factors for salvage treatment of isolated neck recurrence after primary curative surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Head and neck cancer clinic in a tertiary care university hospital.

Subjects and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted with 236 patients who developed a recurrence after primary curative surgery with or without radiotherapy for HNSCC.

Results

Isolated neck recurrence developed in 61 (26%) patients. Salvage treatment was offered to 49 patients, and the overall salvage rate was 33 percent (20 of 61). The salvage rate for the surgical salvage group was 46 percent (16 of 35) and 28 percent (4 of 14) for the nonsurgical salvage group (chemoradiation) (P = 0.14). The three‐year overall survival rate was 36 percent for patients with surgical salvage and 12 percent for patients with nonsurgical salvage (P = 0.101). There were no survivors of the supportive care group (0 of 12). Univariate analysis of individuals with isolated neck recurrence showed that patients who had previous treatment with surgery alone, a disease‐free time longer than one year, previous pathologic N‐ status, recurrence in the undissected neck, or recurrent N1 had significantly improved salvage time (P < 0.05). However, in multivariate analysis, the factors previous treatment with surgery alone and recurrent N1 submitted to the salvage treatment were independent predictors of a successful salvage of isolated neck recurrence.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the ideal candidates for salvage neck treatment include those patients with recurrent N1 disease and those whose previous treatment was surgery only.
Anatomical and technical correlates in endoscopic anterior skull base surgery: A cadaveric analysis
Authors: Batra Pete S. , Kanowitz Seth J. , Luong Amber
Published: May 2010

Objective

The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate anatomical relationships and 2) develop technical correlates for endoscopic anterior skull base (ASB) surgery.

Study Design

Cadaver study.

Setting

Minimally invasive surgery laboratory.

Subjects and Methods

Ten adult fresh‐frozen cadaver heads were dissected from December 2006 to December 2007. The endoscopic trans‐cribriform, trans‐ethmoid approach to the anterior cranial base was refined over these consecutive dissections. Endoscopic orientation along the ventral axis was assessed with 0°, 30°, and 70° rigid telescopes. Anatomical dimensions of the ASB window were measured in the anteroposterior (posterior table of frontal sinus to planum sphenoidale) and transverse (orbit‐to‐orbit) dimensions at the anterior ethmoid artery (AEA) and posterior ethmoid artery (PEA).

Results

Endoscopic cadaveric dissections confirmed technical feasibility of ASB surgery and greatly enhanced understanding of ASB anatomical concepts. The 30° rigid endoscope provided the most optimal view from the frontal sinus to the planum sphenoidale with the least distortion, relative to 0° and 70° scopes. Careful identification of the AEA and PEA was requisite for proper orientation at the ASB. The posterior one third of the ASB was thickest and always required drilling for resection. The mean boundaries of the ASB window were 33.7 mm (anterior to posterior) and 23.5 and 19.1 mm at the AEA and PEA (orbit to orbit), respectively.

Conclusion

This prospective cadaveric study outlined key correlates for endoscopic ASB surgery. It serves to highlight the requisite technical steps and anatomical dimensions when the trans‐nasal endoscopic route is employed for ASB pathology.
Role of thyroidectomy in advanced laryngeal and pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma
Authors: Elliott Michael S. , Odell Edward W. , Tysome James R. , Connor Steve E.J. , Siddiqui Ata , Jeannon Jean‐Pierre , Simo Ricard
Published: May 2010

Objective

Total thyroidectomy (TThy) or hemithyroidectomy (HThy) in conjunction with a total laryngectomy (TL) or pharyngolaryngectomy (PL) for laryngeal carcinoma often results in hypothyroidism requiring life‐long thyroid hormone replacement. The aims were to determine the incidence of thyroid gland (TG) invasion in patients undergoing TL or TPL with TThy or HThy for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma and to assess predicative factors.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Guy's Hospital, London, UK.

Subjects and Methods

Thirty‐five patients from 2004 to 2008 were reviewed. Specimens were examined to determine the incidence of TG invasion and predicative factors. Preoperative imaging was reviewed to assess the radiological evidence of TG invasion.

Results

TL and TThy were performed in 19 patients, TL and HThy in three patients, and PL and TThy in 13 patients. Surgery was performed for primary and recurrent carcinoma in 28 and eight patients, respectively. Histological evidence of invasion of the TG was found in three patients (8.5%). No significant relationship was found between TG invasion and patient's sex, subsite of primary carcinoma, stage of primary disease at surgery, degree of differentiation, or the presence of subglottic extension. In addition, no significant relationship was found between the presence of TG invasion and recurrent disease. Definite evidence of radiological invasion of the TG was seen in only one patient.

Conclusions

Invasion of the TG in patients undergoing TL or TPL is a rare event and limits the need for TThy in most cases.
Intranasal corticosteroid monotherapy in acute rhinosinusitis: An evidence‐based case report
Authors: Venekamp Roderick P. , Sachs Alfred P.E. , Bonten Marc J.M. , Verheij Theo J.M. , van der Heijden Geert J.M.G. , Rovers Maroeska M.
Published: May 2010

In this evidence‐based case report we studied the clinical question: Does intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) monotherapy reduce time to recovery in adults with acute noncomplicated rhinosinusitis? The search yielded 490 papers, of which only two were relevant and had a high validity regarding our clinical question.
Postoperative respiratory complications and recovery in obese children following adenotonsillectomy for sleep‐disordered breathing: A case‐control study
Authors: Fung Elaine , Cave Dominic , Witmans Manisha , Gan Kenton , El‐Hakim Hamdy
Published: May 2010

Objective

To compare postoperative respiratory complications in obese and nonobese children following surgery for sleep‐disordered breathing.

Study Design

Case‐control study.

Setting

Pediatric tertiary care center.

Subjects and Methods

All obese children who had undergone adenotonsillectomy for sleep‐disordered breathing from 2002 to 2007 were compared with age‐ and gender‐matched controls. Subjects were identified from a prospective surgical database. Length of hospital stay and the incidence, severity, and location of respiratory complications were compared. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictive factors.

Results

Forty‐nine obese children were identified (20:29, female:male). There were no differences in mean age or type of surgical procedures (P > 0.05). Overall, 37 obese children (75.5%) and 13 controls (26.5%) incurred complications (P = 0.000, OR 8.54 [95% CI 3.44‐21.19]). Ten obese patients and two controls incurred major events (P = 0.012, OR 6.03 [95% CI 1.25‐29.15]); 36 obese children had minor complications versus 12 controls (P = 0.000, OR 8.54 (95% CI 3.44‐21.19). Obese children had significantly more upper airway obstruction (19 vs 4, P = 0.0003, OR 7.13 [95% CI 2.20‐23.03]), particularly during the immediate postoperative period. The mean hospital stay was significantly longer for the obese group (18 vs 8 hours, P = 0.000, mean difference of 10 hours [95% CI 2.01‐17.99]). Male gender, tonsillectomy, and body mass index were significant predictive factors.

Conclusion

Obesity in children significantly increases the risk of respiratory complications following surgery for sleep‐disordered breathing. Overnight hospitalization for obese children is recommended.
Analysis on arithmetic schemes. II
Authors: Fesenko Ivan
Published: May 2010

We construct adelic objects for rank two integral structures on arithmetic surfaces and develop measure and integration theory, as well as elements of harmonic analysis. Using the topological Milnor K2-delic andK1×K1-delic objects associated to an arithmetic surface, an adelic zeta integral is defined. Its unramified version is closely related to the square of the zeta function of the surface. For a proper regular model of an elliptic curve over a global field, a two-dimensional version of the theory of Tate and Iwasawa is derived. Using adelic analytic duality and a two-dimensional theta formula, the study of the zeta integral is reduced to the study of a boundary integral term. The work includes first applications to three fundamental properties of the zeta function: its meromorphic continuation and functional equation and a hypothesis on its mean periodicity; the location of its poles and a hypothesis on the permanence of the sign of the fourth logarithmic derivative of a boundary function; and its pole at the central point where the boundary integral explicitly relates the analytic and arithmetic ranks.
Coevolution of Capitalism and Political Representation: The Choice of Electoral Systems
Authors: CUSACK THOMAS , IVERSEN TORBEN , SOSKICE DAVID
Published: May 2010

Protocorporatist West European countries in which economic interests were collectively organized adopted PR in the first quarter of the twentieth century, whereas liberal countries in which economic interests were not collectively organized did not. Political parties, as Marcus Kreuzer points out, choose electoral systems. So how do economic interests translate into party political incentives to adopt electoral reform? We argue that parties in protocorporatist countries were “representative” of and closely linked to economic interests. As electoral competition in single member districts increased sharply up to World War I, great difficulties resulted for the representative parties whose leaders were seen as interest committed. They could not credibly compete for votes outside their interest without leadership changes or reductions in interest influence. Proportional representation offered an obvious solution, allowing parties to target their own voters and their organized interest to continue effective influence in the legislature. In each respect, the opposite was true of liberal countries. Data on party preferences strongly confirm this model. (Kreuzer's historical criticisms are largely incorrect, as shown in detail in the online supplementary Appendix.)
Activists and Conflict Extension in American Party Politics
Authors: LAYMAN GEOFFREY C. , CARSEY THOMAS M. , GREEN JOHN C. , HERRERA RICHARD , COOPERMAN ROSALYN
Published: May 2010

Party activists have played a leading role in “conflict extension”—the polarization of the parties along multiple issue dimensions—in contemporary American politics. We argue that open nomination systems and the ambitious politicians competing within those systems encourage activists with extreme views on a variety of issue dimensions to become involved in party politics, thus motivating candidates to take noncentrist positions on a range of issues. Once that happens, continuing activists with strong partisan commitments bring their views into line with the new candidate agendas, thus extending the domain of interparty conflict. Using cross-sectional and panel surveys of national convention delegates, we find clear evidence for conflict extension among party activists, evidence tentatively suggesting a leading role for activists in partisan conflict extension more generally, and strong support for our argument about change among continuing activists. Issue conversion among activists has contributed substantially to conflict extension and party commitment has played a key role in motivating that conversion.
Can maternal iodine supplementation improve twin- and triplet-born lamb plasma thyroid hormone concentrations and thermoregulation capabilities in the first 24–36 h of life?
Authors: KERSLAKE J. I. , KENYON P. R. , STAFFORD K. J. , MORRIS S. T. , MOREL P. C. H.
Published: May 2010

The present study investigated the effects of maternal plasma iodine concentration on twin- and triplet-born lamb plasma thyroid hormone concentrations, rectal temperature and maximal heat production. On pregnancy day 68 (P68), 16 twin- and 14 triplet-bearing ewes were randomly chosen from ewes that were injected intramuscularly with 1·5 ml of iodized peanut oil and ewes that were not. Selected ewes were grazed onad libitumpasture from P68 until parturition. After parturition, lamb blood samples were collected within 5 min of birth and at 3, 12 and 24–36 h after birth. Lamb rectal temperatures were measured within 5 min of birth and at 1, 3 and 12 h after birth. Lamb body weight, crown–rump length and thoracic-girth circumference were recorded at 3 h of age, and the capability of the lamb to produce heat at 24–36 h of age was measured using indirect open-circuit calorimetry. Maternal iodine supplementation successfully increased plasma iodine concentrations of twin- and triplet-bearing ewes throughout pregnancy, but had no effect on the rectal temperature, thyroid hormone concentration and maximal heat production of twin- or triplet-born lambs. Compared with twin-born lambs, triplet-born lambs had lower birth weights, rectal temperatures and plasma T4 and T3 concentrations within 5 min of birth. Overall, under the conditions of the present study, maternal iodine supplementation offered no benefit in improving lamb heat production.
Chemiluminescence assay of reactive oxygen species in laryngeal cancer
Authors: Baglam T , Sari M , Mine Yazici Z , Yuksel M , Uneri C
Published: May 2010

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the presence of reactive oxygen species in laryngeal cancer tissue, using a luminol-amplified chemiluminescence method.

Materials and methods:

Fourteen patients with histopathologically diagnosed laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled. Patients with recurrent tumours or a history of prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded. Tissue specimens were harvested both from the tumour itself and from the neighbouring, apparently normal mucosa (immediately after tumour removal). Tissue specimens were washed with ice-cold saline solution and processed immediately, without storage. The level of reactive oxygen species was measured quantitatively by a luminol-amplified chemiluminescence method.

Results:

The mean luminol-amplified chemiluminescence values for tumour and control tissue were 140.52 (standard error of the mean 40.21) and 121.36 (standard error of the mean 35.33) relative light units/mg tissue, respectively. Furthermore, mean tumour and control luminol chemiluminescence values were compared for stage one and two tumours versus stage three and four tumours. Both the tumour and the control luminol chemiluminescence values for the latter tumour group were significantly higher than those for the former tumour group.

Conclusion:

This study measured directly the levels of reactive oxygen species in samples of laryngeal cancer tissue and normal mucosa. Higher levels of reactive oxygen species were found in laryngeal cancer tissue, suggesting a relationship between reactive oxygen species and laryngeal cancer.
Bias and dispersal in the animal reintroduction literature
Authors: Bajomi Bálint , Pullin Andrew S. , Stewart Gavin B. , Takács-Sánta András
Published: May 2010

We examined the literature on animal reintroductions to assess the challenges facing individual conservation practitioners who wish to access, synthesize and interpret available evidence to inform their decision making. We undertook an extensive search in eight electronic literature databases, using seven different keyword combinations, and added the content of four bibliographies on reintroductions. We found 3,826 potentially relevant publications totalling at least 29,290 pages of text. Taxonomic bias is apparent in the distribution of general and conservation scientific literature and in reintroduction programmes. We examined whether the literature on reintroductions is biased in a similar way. Comparing the distribution of reintroduction publications to numbers of species, reintroduction programmes and the general conservation literature, there is a marked taxonomic bias favouring vertebrates, especially birds and mammals. The bias in relation to reintroduction programmes is surprising and indicates that managers working with invertebrates and amphibians are less willing and/or less able to publish their results than those working with mammals and birds. The reasons for this are unclear. The growth of the cumulative body of literature can be depicted by a sigmoid curve. Almost 40% of the items were scientific journal articles distributed across 335 journals. The large, ever-growing and dispersed evidence base results in an increased need for reviews, which must be systematic to minimize bias.
Resilience of community forestry under conditions of armed conflict in Nepal
Authors: KARNA BIRENDRA K. , SHIVAKOTI GANESH P. , WEBB EDWARD L.
Published: May 2010

Armed conflicts pose a serious and potentially long-term threat to institutions, societies and environments across the world. This study focuses on the small mountainous country of Nepal, which has experienced high levels of armed conflict for many years. This paper analyses the relationship between local forest institutions, institutional embeddedness and forest condition under conditions of active armed conflict. Seven community forest user groups with similar forest governance structure were examined, located in similar biophysical and ecological zones, but experiencing different degrees of conflict. Those forest user groups facing severe armed conflict showed a decline in institutional arrangements but improvements in characteristics of institutional embeddedness, such as trust and reciprocity, whereas the forest user groups in low conflict environments had more stable institutional arrangements and stable embeddedness characteristics. Both types of locations showed an increase in forest density. These results emphasize the capacity of local institutions to organize and cooperate even in extremely vulnerable situations, building trust and reciprocity for sustainable forest use and management.
Risk factors forBrucellaspp. infection in smallholder household herds
Authors: MATOPE G. , BHEBHE E. , MUMA J. B. , LUND A. , SKJERVE E.
Published: May 2010

Risk factors forBrucellainfection, the association and impact ofBrucellaseropositivity on abortions were investigated in cattle (n=1291) reared in smallholder household herds (n=203) from six geographical areas of Zimbabwe between September 2004 and 2005. Data on management, abortion and herd structure were collected. Sera were tested forBrucellaantibodies using the Rose Bengal test and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analysed by generalized estimating equation and logistic regression models.Brucellaantibodies were estimated at 5·5% and 22·9% for individual cattle and herds, respectively. Abortions were reported in 3·2% of cows and 22·0% herds. The age of cows andBrucellaseropositivity predicted abortion. For herds,Brucellaseropositivity, geographical area, purchase of cattle and large herd size were independently associated with increased odds of abortion. Exposure toBrucellahad a significant impact on abortion. These results highlight the important risk factors forBrucellaspp. infection in smallholder herds. Thus, brucellosis control programmes which take these factors into consideration will be beneficial.
Study on the effect of measles control programmes on periodic structures of disease epidemics in a large Chinese city
Authors: LUO T. , SUMI A. , ZHOU D. , KAMO K. , YU B. , ZHAO D. , MISE K. , KOBAYASHI N.
Published: May 2010

Measles is regarded as a disease that can be eliminated by vaccination; however, disease epidemics still occur in Wuhan, China. This study explored the effect of measles control programmes on the periodic structure of disease epidemics in Wuhan. The monthly reported measles incidence from 1953 to 2008 was divided into pre-vaccine range (1953–1965) and post-vaccine range (1966–2008). For the incidence in each range, spectral analysis was conducted and power spectral density (PSD) was obtained. In PSD for the pre-vaccine range, the most dominant spectral line was observed at a 2·0-year period, as in the case of Japan. It was confirmed that spectral lines of periodic modes longer than a 1-year cycle of the incidence rates behave in response to the introduction of measles control programmes. The investigation of periodic structures of measles epidemics will contribute to effective measles control programmes in Wuhan.
Incidence of renal and perinephric abscess in diabetic patients: a population-based national study
Authors: KO M.-C. , LIU C.-C. , LIU C.-K. , WOUNG L.-C. , CHEN H.-F. , SU H.-F. , LI C.-Y.
Published: May 2010

This population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the incidence and relative hazard of renal and perinephric abscess (RA) in the diabetic population in Taiwan. More than a half million diabetic patients and sex- and age-matched controls were identified from the 1997 Taiwan National Health Insurance data and were linked to in-patient claims from 1997 to 2007. Person-year approach with Poisson assumption was used to estimate the incidence density (ID) of RA. The hazard ratios (HRs) of hospitalization due to RA in relation to diabetes were analysed using a Cox proportional hazard model. The ID for the diabetic and control subjects was 4·6 and 1·1/10 000 person-years, respectively, in 11 years of follow-up, representing an adjusted HR of 3·81 (95% confidence interval 3·44–4·23). This study confirmed the association of diabetes with RA, and argued that more aggressive urological care should be administered to diabetic patients.
Risk factors for gastroenteritis: a nested case-control study
Authors: RODRIGO S. , SINCLAIR M. , WOLFE R. , LEDER K.
Published: May 2010

This nested case-control study investigated the risk factors for gastroenteritis in a cohort using rainwater as their primary domestic water source. Consumption of beef [odds ratio (OR) 2·74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·56–4·80], handling of raw fresh chicken in the household (OR 1·52, 95% CI 1·02–2·29) and animal contact (OR 1·83, 95% CI 1·20–2·83) were found to be significant risk factors (P>0·05). Significant protective effects were observed with raw salad prepared at home (OR 0·33, 95% CI 0·18–0·58), consumption of salami (OR 0·60, 95% CI 0·36–0·98), and shellfish (OR 0·31, 95% CI 0·14–0·67). This study provides novel insight into community-based endemic gastroenteritis showing that consumption of beef was associated with increased odds of illness and with a population attributable fraction (PAF) of 57·6%. Detecting such a high PAF for beef in a non-outbreak setting was unexpected.
Changing choices in health care: implications for equity, efficiency and cost
Authors: Bevan Gwyn , Helderman Jan-Kees , Wilsford David
Published: May 2010

Although choice may be seen as an end in itself, the papers included in this special issue ofHealth Economics, Policy and Law, examine choice policies in European systems of health care, which aim to be effective instruments for ameliorating the systemic pressures from the iron triangle of equity, efficiency, and cost. Three papers consider the nature of differences between and within countries following the Beveridge and Bismarck models of financing and organising the delivery of care, and how choices are changing within different systems. Within countries following the Beveridge model, current policies in England, Denmark and Sweden emphasise increasing patient choice of provider. Within countries following the Bismarck model, current policies in France and Germany seek to restrict choice of specialists by introducing ‘soft’ gatekeeping; and in the Netherlands there is a system of managed competition with choice of insurer that, in principle, allows insurers to contract selectively with providers. A fourth paper considers how government policies that seek to restrict choice within systems of universal coverage have been subject to challenges in the courts. A commentary explores the implications of the fraught and complex nature of choices between insurers and providers of health care for designing effective choice policies.
Choice of providers and mutual healthcare purchasers: can the English National Health Service learn from the Dutch reforms?
Authors: Bevan Gwyn , van de Ven Wynand P. M. M.
Published: May 2010

In the 1990s, countries experimented with two models of health care reforms based on choice of provider and insurer. The governments of the UK, Italy, Sweden and New Zealand introduced relatively quickly ‘internal market’ models into their single-payer systems, to transform hierarchies into markets by separating ‘purchasers’ from ‘providers’, and enabling ‘purchasers’ to contract selectively with competing public and private providers so that ‘money followed the patient’. This model has largely been abandoned where it has been tried. England, however, has implemented a modified ‘internal market’ model emphasising patient choice, which has so far had disappointing results. In the Netherlands, it took nearly 20 years to implement successfully the model in which enrollees choose among multiple insurers; but these insurers have so far only realised in part their potential to contract selectively with competing providers. The paper discusses the difficulties of implementing these different models and what England and the Netherlands can learn from each other. This includes exploration, as a thought experiment, of how choice of purchaser might be introduced into the English National Health Service based on lessons from the Netherlands.
The procedure for institutional compatibility assessment: ex-ante policy assessment from an institutional perspective
Authors: THEESFELD INSA , SCHLEYER CHRISTIAN , AZNAR OLIVIER
Published: May 2010

Ex-ante impact assessment of agricultural, environmental, and rural policies has become an integral part of political decision-making processes in the European Union. While a variety of agri-environmental modelling tools exists, ex-ante policy assessment tools capturing the institutional dimension are rare and need to be improved. In this paper, we introduce a standardized procedure for ex-ante modelling institutional aspects for policy implementation: the ‘Procedure for Institutional Compatibility Assessment’ (PICA). PICA has been designed as an explorative and flexible, yet formalized methodology that enables policy-makers to identify, at an early stage, potential institutional incompatibilities. After relating PICA to relevant approaches for policy assessment, we elaborate on its four distinct steps, use a core element of the EU Nitrate Directive to illustrate its function, and then provide model validation by means of a test case.
Why evolutionary realism underpins evolutionary economic analysis and theory: A reply to Runde's critique
Authors: DOPFER KURT , POTTS JASON
Published: May 2010

This paper offers a reply to Jochen Runde's critical appraisal of the ontological framework underpinning Dopfer and Potts's (2008) General Theory of Economic Evolution. We argue that Runde's comprehensive critique contains several of what we perceive to be misunderstandings in relation to the key concepts of ‘generic’ and ‘meso’ that we seek here to unpack and redress.
Geometry of ionic arrangements and magnetic interactions in ordered ferri‐ilmenite solid solutions and its effect on low‐T magnetic behavior
Authors: Robinson Peter , Fabian Karl , McEnroe Suzanne A.
Published: May 2010

The magnetic properties of metastable chemically ordered ilmenite‐rich Fe2O3‐FeTiO3 solid solutions in the temperature range 500–0 K represent a complex amalgam of the incompatible properties of the end‐members. While hematite is controlled by adjacent layer antiferromagnetic interactions, ilmenite is controlled by double‐layer antiferromagnetic interactions. The complex geometry of the exchange‐coupled ions is visualized, and tentative explanations of property changes with temperature are provided by schematic 2‐D ionic images along a common (1 1 −2 0) plane showing the exchange interactions in the end‐members and in Ilm 90, 80, and 70 solid solutions, accompanied by parallel temperature‐ and frequency‐dependent susceptibility diagrams. To provide a larger‐scale visualization of the extent of exchange clusters and networks, 3‐D images of Ilm 95, 90, 85, 80, 75, and 70 containing 2592 atomic positions were also constructed. Both types of images together provide a conceptual overview of the physical mechanisms governing this complex solid‐solution system and its low‐temperature magnetic behavior. Even though the geometric approach does not in itself provide a quantitative model of physical properties, it is an indispensable prerequisite for designing realistic quantitative models, judging their validity, and interpreting model results. It also supplies information on the distributions, numbers, and orientations of magnetic exchange interactions, which can become guidelines for more sophisticated calculations.
Electron acceleration signatures in the magnetotail associated with substorms
Authors: Asano Y. , Shinohara I. , Retinò A. , Daly P. W. , Kronberg E. A. , Takada T. , Nakamura R. , Khotyaintsev Y. V. , Vaivads A. , Nagai T. , Baumjohann W. , Fazakerley A. N. , Owen C. J. , Miyashita Y. , Lucek E. A. , Rème H.
Published: May 2010

We present Cluster multisatellite observations of accelerated electrons in the near‐Earth magnetotail associated with substorms. We found that the hardest electron energy spectra appear in the earliest stage of substorm expansion in the near‐Earth tail region and that they gradually become softer during the events. Enhancement of the high‐energy electron flux occurs generally associated with the bulk acceleration of ions (fast flow) and electrons. It is also shown that the high‐energy electrons sometimes show preferential perpendicular acceleration associated with the temporal enhancement of the normal component of the magnetic field, and then the anisotropic distribution quickly becomes isotropic. During the dipolarization interval, in which no convection signature is observed, perpendicular flux drops to less than the initial value, and the parallel flux is more than the perpendicular flux. The results suggest that the electron acceleration mechanism is mostly consistent with adiabatic betatron acceleration, while Fermi acceleration is not clear in the high‐energy part. The effect of the pitch angle scattering is also important. The dispersive signature of the high‐energy electron flux indicates fast dawnward drift loss, namely, the three‐dimensional effect of the limited plasma acceleration region.
Experimentally dictated stability of carbonated oceanic crust to moderately great depths in the Earth: Results from the solidus determination in the system CaO‐MgO‐Al2O3‐SiO2‐CO2
Authors: Keshav Shantanu , Gudfinnsson Gudmundur H.
Published: May 2010

Solidus melting phase relations are reported for carbonated eclogite in the system CaO‐MgO‐Al2O3‐SiO2‐CO2 at 12 to 25 GPa. From 12 to 16 GPa, melts are in equilibrium with clinopyroxene, stishovite, garnet, aragonite, and magnesite. At 20 and 25 GPa, melts are in equilibrium with garnet, stishovite, calcium‐alumino silicate, calcium perovskite, and magnesite. Melting reactions demonstrate that from 12 to 16 GPa, stishovite is in reaction with the melt. At 20 and 25 GPa, garnet and stishovite together are produced upon melting of model, carbonated eclogite. At 20 and 25 GPa, calcium perovskite is also the phase that contributes the most toward liquid production. Melt compositions at all pressures are carbonatitic, with roughly 37–40 wt% dissolved CO2. From 12 to 16 GPa, the liquids are calciocarbonatites with Ca#molar of ∼69–71; liquid compositions become less calcic with Ca# of ∼52–55 at 20 and 25 GPa. Given these melting phase relations, suitable subduction zone adiabats do not intersect the solidus of model carbonated eclogite at depths investigated in the present study. Hence, on this basis, it is fair to say that carbonated eclogite possibly avoids melting in subduction zone settings, thereby delivering carbonate to at least moderate depths in the Earth. However, owing to local heating events, small‐degree melting of carbonated eclogite is not completely precluded, and the liquids liberated from this melting can be viewed as agents of chemical mass transfer in the deep Earth. At present, however, geochemical consequences of subduction‐related melting of carbonated eclogite are difficult to evaluate.
Bayesian event tree for long‐term volcanic hazard assessment: Application to Teide‐Pico Viejo stratovolcanoes, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Authors: Sobradelo R. , Martí J.
Published: May 2010

In modern volcanology one of the most important goals is to perform hazard and risk assessment of volcanoes near urbanized areas. Previous work has been done to assess volcanic hazard in the form of event tree structures containing possible eruptive scenarios. Probability methods have been applied to these structures to estimate the long term probability for each scenario. However, most of these event tree models show restrictions in the eruptive scenarios they consider and/or on the possibility of having volcanic unrest triggered by other forces than magmatic. In this paper, we present a Bayesian event tree structure which accounts for external triggers (geothermal, seismic) as a source of volcanic unrest and looks at the hazard from different types of magma composition and different vent locations (as opposite to a central vent only). We apply the model to the particular case of Teide‐Pico Viejo stratovolcanoes, two alkaline composite volcanoes that have erupted 1.8–3 km3 of mafic and felsic magmas from different vent sites during the last 35 ka, situated on a densely populated island, one of the biggest tourist destinations of Europe, and for which limited geological and no historical data exist. Hence, the importance of volcanic hazard assessment for risk‐based decision‐making in land use planning and emergency management. A previous attempt to estimate the volcanic hazard for Teide‐Pico Viejo has been done using an event tree structure based on Elicitation of Expert Judgment. The new method overcomes some limitations of the previous method, including human decision bias, epistemic and aleatoric uncertainties, restrictions on the segmentation complexity of the event tree structure, and automatically updating. The main steps are the following: (1) Design an extensive tree‐shaped Bayesian network with possible eruptive scenarios following the case of Teide‐Pico Viejo volcanic complex. (2) Build a Bayesian model to estimate the long term volcanic hazard for each scenario. (3) Apply the model to Teide‐Pico Viejo stratovolcanoes. Finally, we compare the results with those from the Elicitation method applied before, as well as previous Bayesian event tree structures developed for other volcanoes.
Parameterization of contrails in the UK Met Office Climate Model
Authors: Rap A. , Forster P. M. , Jones A. , Boucher O. , Haywood J. M. , Bellouin N. , De Leon R. R.
Published: May 2010

Persistent contrails are believed to currently have a relatively small but significant positive radiative forcing on climate. With air travel predicted to continue its rapid growth over the coming years, the contrail warming effect on climate is expected to increase. Nevertheless, there remains a high level of uncertainty in the current estimates of contrail radiative forcing. Contrail formation depends mostly on the aircraft flying in cold and moist enough air masses. Most studies to date have relied on simple parameterizations using averaged meteorological conditions. In this paper we take into account the short‐term variability in background cloudiness by developing an on‐line contrail parameterization for the UK Met Office climate model. With this parameterization, we estimate that for the air traffic of year 2002 the global mean annual linear contrail coverage was approximately 0.11%. Assuming a global mean contrail optical depth of 0.2 or smaller and assuming hexagonal ice crystals, the corresponding contrail radiative forcing was calculated to be less than 10 mW m−2 in all‐sky conditions. We find that the natural cloud masking effect on contrails may be significantly higher than previously believed. This new result is explained by the fact that contrails seem to preferentially form in cloudy conditions, which ameliorates their overall climate impact by approximately 40%.