bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Merkel cell carcinoma: molecular pathogenesis, clinical features and therapy
Authors: Becker Jürgen C. , Kauczok Claudia S. , Ugurel Selma , Eib Steffi , Bröcker Eva B. , Houben Roland
Published: October 2008

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. The incidence of this rare tumor is increasing rapidly; the American Cancer Society estimates for 2008 almost 1500 new cases in the U.S. Thus, the incidence of MCC will exceed the incidence of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma. Moreover, the mortality rate of MCC with 33% is considerably higher than that of cutaneous melanoma. These clinical observations are especially disturbing as we are only recently beginning to understand the pathogenesis of MCC. For the same reason, the therapeutic approach is often unclear; reliable data are only available for the therapy of locoregional disease.
Management of Ischemic Penile Gangrene: Prompt Partial Penectomy and Other Treatment Options
Authors: Chiang I-Ni , Chang Shang-Jen , Kuo Yuh-Chen , Liu Shih-Ping , Yu Hong-Jeng , Hsieh Ju-Ton
Published: October 2008

Introduction

Penile gangrene is a rare but troublesome problem with high mortality rates. The etiologies could be infectious, traumatic, or vasculogenic. The treatment algorithm is controversial because of limited case numbers.

Aim

To describe our experiences in treating the patients with ischemic penile gangrene, to review the related literatures, and to try to summarize a practical algorithm for penile gangrene.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of five patients with penile gangrene treated between 1996 and 2006. Data obtained include the patients’ ages initial presentation, detailed histories, comorbidity, renal status, other vascular diseases, coagulation profile, treatment course, histology presentations, and prognosis were obtained.

Main Outcome Measures

Comparison of the patients’ ages, presentations, underlying diseases, the duration of conservative treatments, surgical options, resected penile length, and prognosis.

Results

All of the five patients underwent partial penectomy. One patient underwent immediate surgery while the other four had delayed partial penectomy because of progressive distal penile gangrenous change. There was no postoperative wound infection noted in any of the five patients and all had survived after 1 year follow-up. Three of them could void independently with a neourethra meatus. Two of them kept suprapubic cystostomy as a result of bladder outlet obstruction caused by an enlarged prostate and bed-ridden status.

Conclusions

Penile dry gangrene is an irreversible process. Early partial penectomy and correction of the underlying disease can prevent wound liquefaction, preserve more penile length, and improve quality of life.
The Erection Hardness Score and Its Relationship to Successful Sexual Intercourse
Authors: Goldstein Irwin , Mulhall John P. , Bushmakin Andrew G. , Cappelleri Joseph C. , Hvidsten Kyle , Symonds Tara
Published: October 2008

Introduction

The Erection Hardness Score (EHS), recently validated, was developed in 1998 as a simple (one-item) method to quantify erection outcome data. Although it is intuitive that erection hardness and successful sexual intercourse (SSI) are related, the link has not been directly established.

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between erection hardness (assessed by EHS) and SSI, establishing the EHS as a clinically useful tool.

Methods

The data set (N = 307) was from a multinational, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (with open-label extension) of sildenafil citrate in men with erectile dysfunction.

Main Outcome Measures

Event-based modeling used every intercourse attempt and the EHS to estimate the odds ratio of SSI between adjacent EHS categories. Mean-based modeling used mean EHS per patient to determine its relationship to percentage of SSI. Mediation-based modeling used mean EHS and mean percentage of SSI over the double-blind phase to estimate the direct effect of sildenafil treatment on SSI and the indirect effect of sildenafil treatment on SSI via erection hardness.

Results

The odds of SSI for EHS 3 (hard enough for penetration but not completely hard) were 41.9 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 33.0–53.2; P < 0.0001) that for EHS 2 (hard but not hard enough for penetration), and the odds of SSI for EHS 4 (completely hard and fully rigid) were 23.7 times (95% CI, 19.5–28.9; P < 0.0001) that for EHS 3. The percentage of SSI increased approximately curvilinearly with the increase in mean EHS, from almost 60% at EHS 3 to 78.5% at EHS 3.5 and to 93.1% at EHS 4. The indirect effect of sildenafil treatment on SSI via erection hardness accounted for almost 90% of the total effect on SSI (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The close and direct relationship between erection hardness and SSI supports the broader use of the EHS—a simple, valid, reliable, and responsive measure—in clinical practice.
Acute Hepatitis Associated with Treatment of Peyronie's Disease with Potassium Para-Aminobenzoate (Potaba)
Authors: Roy Joey , Carrier Serge
Published: October 2008

Introduction

Potassium para-aminobenzoate is an agent used in the treatment of sclerotic diseases including Peyronie's disease of the penis. It has been reported that this medication may have been responsible for cases of acute liver injury.

Aim

To inform clinicians of the possibility of an adverse drug event associated with the oral intake of potassium para-aminobenzoate by reporting an additional case and compiling information from previous reports.

Methods

The affected patient's medical records were diligently reviewed; all available and relevant information pertaining to this adverse event is reported. Similar case reports were analyzed and compared, and relevant information was compiled in this report.

Results

The patient enjoyed a full biochemical recovery from his hepatitis 4 months after discontinuation of potassium para-aminobenzoate.

Conclusion

To date, the oral use of potassium para-aminobenzoate has been reported to be linked to acute liver injury in six individuals. Appropriate management of this adverse drug event is the immediate discontinuation of the offending drug and general patient support measures.
Correlation of the Erectile Dysfunction with Lesions of Cerebrovascular Accidents
Authors: Jeon Sang-Wohn , Yoo Koo Han , Kim Tae-Hwan , Kim Jin , Lee Choong-Hyun
Published: October 2008

Introduction

The recent human and animal studies indicate that the central supraspinal systems controlling penile erection, which are localized predominantly in the parts of the frontal lobe and limbic system, are reported to be involved in erection.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the correlation of the erectile dysfunction (ED) with lesions of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA).

Methods

Forty-four men were selected among the CVA patients who had visited our hospital between March and July 2006. The audiovisual sexual stimulation (AVSS) test was conducted using Rigiscan device on the patients, whose erectile domain score of the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF) was less than 22. The criteria for adequate erectile function was the erectile events of >60% rigidity for ≥5 minutes. The CVA lesions were classified into frontal lobe, cortex except frontal lobe, basal ganglia, thalamus, and other area. Each CVA lesions of ED group and non-ED group were compared.

Main Outcome Measure

IIEF, AVSS using Rigiscan.

Result

Thirty-eight patients’ erectile domain score of IIEF were less than 22, and the AVSS test was conducted on them. Eighteen patients showed no ED, and 20 patients showed ED. The mean age of the ED group was 60.40 ± 2.2, and the mean age of non-ED group was 55.29 ± 1.85. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean age of both groups (P = 0.081). As each CVA lesions of both groups were compared, the CVA lesions of the thalamic area in the ED group were significantly more than in the non-ED group (P = 0.010).

Conclusions

Patients (47.4%) who were suggestive of ED in the IIEF has no ED in the AVSS test. The patients who had CVA lesions in the thalamic area more commonly showed ED than the patients with CVA lesions of any other areas.
Penile Doppler Ultrasound in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Role of Peak Systolic Velocity Measured in the Flaccid State in Predicting Arteriogenic ED and Silent Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Corona Giovanni , Fagioli Giorgio , Mannucci Edoardo , Romeo Annadina , Rossi Massimiliano , Lotti Francesco , Sforza Alessandra , Morittu Stefano , Chiarini Valerio , Casella Gianni , Di Pasquale Giuseppe , Bandini Elisa , Forti Gianni , Maggi Mario
Published: October 2008

Introduction

The use of the penile peak systolic velocity (PSV) measured in the flaccid state during penile color Doppler ultrasound (PCDU) examination has been questioned without substantial evidence.

Aim

To assess the validity of PSV measured in the flaccid state during PCDU, in patients consulting for erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods

A consecutive series of 1,346 (mean age 55.0 ± 12.0 years) male patients was studied.

Main Outcomes Measures

All patients underwent PCDU performed both in the flaccid state and dynamic (after prostaglandin E1 stimulation) conditions. A subset of 20 subjects with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes underwent diagnostic testing for silent coronary heart disease by means of adenosine stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (SPECT). In these subjects penile arterial flow was simultaneously assessed by PCDU before and after systemic adenosine administration.

Results

Flaccid PSV showed a significant (r = 0.513, P < 0.0001) correlation with dynamic PSV. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that when a threshold of 13 cm/seconds was chosen, flaccid PSV was predictive for dynamic PSV < 25 and <35 cm/seconds with an accuracy of 89% and 82%, respectively. Among the subset of patients who underwent SPECT, an impaired coronary flow reserve (ICFR) occurred in nine cases (45%). When the same threshold of <13 cm/seconds was chosen, PSV before SPECT was predictive of ICFR with an accuracy of 80% (area under the ROC curve = 0.798 ± 0.10; P < 0.05). After adjustment for confounders, anxiety symptoms were related to dynamic PSV (Adj. r = −0.154, P < 0.05) but not to flaccid PSV.

Conclusions

Our results show that flow in the cavernosal arteries can be routinely evaluated by PCDU in the flaccid state. Performing PCDU only in the flaccid state allows identifying subjects with pathological dynamic PSV with accuracy higher than 80%. Furthermore, our preliminary data suggest that the same examination could identify diabetic subjects with ICFR with an accuracy of 80%.
An Experimental Analysis of Modifications to the Centralized Milk Quota Exchange System in Quebec
Authors: Doyon Maurice , Simard Virginie , Messer Kent D. , Tamini Lota D. , Kaiser Harry M.
Published: October 2008

Using experimental economics, this paper tests the potential impacts of modifying the centralized quota exchange system in Quebec with the intent of decreasing the quota price while minimizing negative impacts on auction effectiveness. Two separate treatments are applied to a uniform price auction similar to that employed in Quebec. The first treatment is an exclusion (5% or 15%) of the highest buyer bids and seller offers. The second is a tax (2% or 10%) on all units offered for sale that remain unsold. Various combinations of the two treatments are also tested. The results suggest that exclusion of the highest bids and offers can decrease the price of the quota and that a 15% exclusion rate is more effective than a 5% rate. The tax alone has little impact on quota price. The combination of the two treatments generates a more marked reduction in both the number of exchanges and the price of the quota than when the tax or the exclusion is applied individually. However, the combination of treatments results in a greater loss of economic efficiency. In all cases, relatively small market price reductions are realized at the expense of substantial losses in economic efficiency.

La présente étude teste de manière expérimentale la capacité d'une modification au système centralisé de vente du quota à faire diminuer le prix du quota laitier au Québec tout en minimisant les impacts négatifs des changements sur l'efficacité de l'enchère. Cette modification consiste à appliquer deux traitements sur l'enchère de prix uniforme où s'échange le quota. Le premier traitement consiste en une exclusion (5% ou 15%) des mises les plus élevées des acheteurs et des vendeurs. Le second traitement est une taxe (2% ou 10%) appliquée aux unités que les vendeurs mettent en marché et ne réussissent pas à vendre. Différentes combinaisons de ces deux traitements sont également testées. Les données générées permettent de conclure que le mécanisme d'exclusion des mises les plus élevées permet de faire diminuer le prix du quota, l'exclusion de 15%étant plus efficace que celle de 5%. Pour sa part, la taxe seule a peu d'impact sur le prix du quota tandis que la combinaison des deux traitements entraîne une diminution du nombre de transactions et du prix du quota plus marquée que lorsque les traitements de taxe et d'exclusion sont appliqués individuellement. Cela a comme corollaire d'entraîner une perte d'efficacitééconomique plus importante. Dans tous les cas, des baisses de prix de marché relativement modestes sont réalisées au coût d'importantes pertes d'efficacitééconomique.
BIOASSAY METHOD FOR THE QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF TAUTOMYCIN IN THE FERMENTATION BROTH WITH SCLEROTINIA SCLEROTIORUM
Authors: CHEN XIAOLONG , ZHENG YUGUO , SHEN YINCHU
Published: October 2008

A simple, sensitive, selective and reproducible method based on agar dilution dish bioassay was developed for the determination of tautomycin in the fermentation broth. Calibration curves were prepared from concentration response curves in the broth and were linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9969. The precision of the method based on within‐day repeatability and reproducibility (day‐to‐day variation) was below 5% (% coefficient of variations). Good accuracy was observed for the intraday or interday assays, as indicated by the minimal deviation of mean values found with measured samples from that of the theoretical values (below ±5%). Limit of quantification was accepted as 0.005 µg using 1 mL broth sample. The mean recovery for tautomycin was greater than 95%. The method could be used in the study of tautomycin, including fermentation, separation and structure modification.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This research could be used for the quantitative determination of tautomycin in the fermentation broth or other samples which contain tautomycin.
THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITY OF THIRD‐PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDERS: A RESOURCE‐BASED VIEW AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Authors: LAI FUJUN , LI DAHUI , WANG QIANG , ZHAO XIANDE
Published: October 2008

Third‐party logistics (3PL) providers have become important players in global supply chain management as increasing numbers of firms are outsourcing their logistics activities. However, the role of the information technology (IT) capability of these 3PL providers has not drawn much research attention. The way in which 3PL providers develop IT capability and how IT capability affects their competitive advantage deserve further investigation. This study has developed and tested a research model to address these issues. By integrating the concept of technology orientation from the strategic orientation literature into the resource‐based theory, we investigate both the antecedents and the consequences of IT capability among 3PL providers. The model was tested using survey data collected from 105 3PL firms in China. The results show that technology orientation has a significant impact on resource commitment to IT and managerial involvement in developing IT capability of 3PL firms. It also indicates that IT capability significantly affects three important dimensions of the competitive advantage of these firms, namely, reducing costs, providing innovative and customized services, and improving service quality. This study is one of the first to adopt the resource‐based perspective to investigate IT capability issues in the 3PL industry. It provides valuable insights for 3PL managers, and emphasizes the importance of technology orientation in the development of strong IT capability among 3PL firms.
Vertebral chondrosarcoma with extensive pulmonary metastases in a dog
Authors: PARKER A. J. , KLOMP D. G. , SLUSHER R. , SIMON J.
Published: October 2008

The clinical, radiological and pathological features of a chondrosarcoma of the second thoracic vertebra with extensive pulmonary metastases in a dog are presented.

Résumé. On présente les particularités cliniques, radiologiques et pathologiques d'un cas de chondrosarcome de la deuxième vertèbre thoracique, accompagné de métastases pulmonaires intenses. rencontré chez un chien.

Zusammenfassung. Die klinischen, radiologischen und pathologischen Merkmale eines Chondrosarkoms des zweiten Brustwirbels mit ausgedehnten Lungenmetastasen bci einern Hund werden beschrieben.
Successful surgical removal of an epileptogenic focus in a dog
Authors: PARKER ALAN J. , CUNNINGHAM JAMES G.
Published: October 2008

A case of localized secondary fungal meningo‐encephalitis with seizures is presented. The clinical features and the surgical treatment of the case are described. Pre‐surgical and post‐surgical electroencephalograms and cessation of clinical signs revealed the successful removal of the epileptogenic focus. Some of the diagnostic features of chronic pyelonephritis, as they affect this case, are reported.

Résumé. On décrit un cas de méningo‐encéphalite fungoïde, secondaire et localisée, accompagnée d'attaques brusques. On passe en revue les traits cliniques et le traitement chirurgical du cas. Les électro‐encéphalograrnmes avant et après l'opération et l'arrêt des signes cliniques ont révélé que le foyer épileptogène a pu être éloigné avec succès. On rapporte certains des éléments diagnostiques de la pyélo‐néphrite chronique qui intéressent ce cas.

Zusammenfassung. Ein Fall von lokalisierter sekundärer fungaler Meningoencephalitis mit Anfallen wird beschrieben. Die klinischen Merkmale und die chirurgische Behandlung des Falles werden besprochen. Elektroencephalogramme vor und nach der chirurgische Behandlung. Und das Verschwinden der klinischen Merkmale zeigten die erfolgreiche Entfernung des epileptogenen Focus. Einige der diagnostischen Merkmale chronischer Pyelonephritis, welche von Bedeutung für diesen Fall waren, werden angegeben.
Canine embryonal nephroma: a case report
Authors: Drew R. A. , Done S. H. , Robins G. M.
Published: October 2008

A short review of the literature is followed by a description of a rapidly‐metastasizing embryonal nephroma in a 12‐week‐old, female, Labrador pup. Particular attention is paid to the clinical signs, attempted treatment, post‐mortem findings and histopathology.

Résumé. Après avoir donné un bref aperçu de la littérature, l'auteur décrit un néphrome em‐bryonnaire subissant une métastase rapide, rencontré chez une chienne Labrador de 12 semaines II s'arrěte sur les signes cliniques, le traitement suivi, les constatations après l'autopsie et l'histopathologie.

Zusammenfassung. An eine kurze Literaturübersicht schliesst sich eine Beschreibung eines rasch metastasierenden embryonalen Nephroms bei einem 12 Wochen alten weiblichen Labra‐dorhund an. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird den klinischen Merkmalen, Behandlungsversuchen. Autopsiebefunden und der Histopathologie geschenkt.
Polycythaemia vera in a bitch
Authors: Bush B. M. , Fankhauser R.
Published: October 2008

Polycythaemia vera was diagnosed in a 5‐year‐old Labrador Retriever bitch on the basis of an increased red blood cell mass without a decrease in the normal arterial blood oxygen concentration. Treatment with 2 mCi intravenous radioactive phosphorus (32P) was followed 5 months later by a reduction in the red blood cell mass which persisted for a further 5 months. Thereafter, the red cell mass increased and the animal died 8 months later. Post‐mortem examination showed the presence of generalized vascular congestion, fibrosis affecting the blood vessels, degeneration of parenchy‐matous organs and increased haematopoiesis and erythrocyte destruction.

Résumé.On a diagnostiqué la polycythémie vera chez une chienne Labrador Retriever, ǎgée de 5 ans, sur base de la proportion accrue de globules rouges sans qu'il n'y ait de baisse de la concentration normale d'oxygène dans le sang artériel. Après le traitement au phosphore radioactif intraveineux 2 mCi (32P), on a assisté, 5 mois plus tard, à une réduction de la masse des globules rouges, qui s'est maintenue pendant encore 5 mois. Ensuite, la proportion de globules rouges augmenta et l'animal mourut 8 mois après. L'autopsie a révélé une congestion vasculaire généralisée, une fibrose affectant les vaisseaux sanguins, une dégénération des organes paren‐chymateux et une destruction accrue de l'hématopoésie et des érythrocytes.

Zusammenfassung.Polycythaemia vera wurde bei einer 5 Jahre alten Labrador‐Retriever. Hündin auf Grund einer erhöhten Erythrocytenmasse ohne Verminderung der normalen arteriellen Blutsauerstoffkonzentration diagnostiziert. Auf die Behandlung mit 2 mCi intravenös verabreichten radioaktiven Phosphors (32P) folgte nach 5 Monaten eine Verminderung der Erythrocytenmasse, die weitere 5 Monate anhielt. Danach stieg die Erythrocytenmasse wieder an und das Tier starb 8 Monate später. Die Autopsie ergab das Vorhandensein einer generalisierten arteriellen Kongestion, Fibrosis der Blutgefässe, Degeneration der parenchymatösen Organe und vermehrte Hämatopoese und Erythrocytenzerstörung.
Changes in the dimensions of the uterus of the Beagle bitch during the oestrous cycle
Authors: Christie D. W. , Bell E. T.
Published: October 2008

Results are presented of the changes in the dimensions of the horns of the uterus during the oestrous cycle in the Beagle bitch. The data, based on seventy‐three observations in fifty‐three animals, indicate that from the onset of oestrus the width and thickness of the uterus increase and reach peak values 7–9 weeks later.

Résumé. On présente les résultats des changements de dimension des prolongements de l'utérus, rencontrés pendant l'oestre d'une chienne Beagle. Les données, basées sur soixante‐treize observations de cinquante‐trois animaux, indiquent que dès le commencement du cycle la largeur et l'épaisseur de l'utérus s'accroissent et atteignent leurs valeurs maximales sept à neuf semaines plus tard.

Zusammenfassung. Es werden die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung von Dimensionsveränderungen der Uterushörner während des östrischen Zyklus bei der Beaglehündin angegeben. Die Daten von 73 Beobachtungen an 53 Tieren lassen erkennen, dass vom Beginn des Östrus die Breite und Dicke des Uterus zunehmen und 7 bis 9 Wochen später Maxima erreichen.
Lead foreign body in a cat's bladder
Authors: Andre P. G. , Jackson O. F.
Published: October 2008

The follow‐up history for 2 years, of a sterile lead implant (air‐gun pellet) in a cat's bladder, shows that this does not form the nucleus for calculus formation.

Résumé. Après avoir suivi pendant deux ans l'implant stérile d'un plomb (plomb pour carabine à air comprimé) dans la vessie d'un chat, on a pu conclure qu'il ne sert pas de noyau lorsque se forme un calcul.

Zusammenfassung. Die sich über 2 Jahre erstreckende Beobachtung eines sterilen Bleiimplantats (Luftgewehrgeschoss) in der Blase einer Katze zeigt, dass dieses nicht den Kern einer Calculusbildung abgab.
Exploring the origin and degree of genetic isolation of Anopheles gambiae from the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, potential sites for testing transgenic‐based vector control
Authors: Marshall Jonathon C. , Pinto João , Charlwood Jacques Derek , Gentile Gabriele , Santolamazza Federica , Simard Frèdèric , Della Torre Alessandra , Donnelly Martin J. , Caccone Adalgisa
Published: October 2008

The evolutionary processes at play between island and mainland populations of the malaria mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto are of great interest as islands may be suitable sites for preliminary application of transgenic‐based vector control strategies. São Tomé and Príncipe, located off the West African coast, have received such attention in recent years. This study investigates the degree of isolation of An. gambiae s.s. populations between these islands and the mainland based on mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA molecular data. We identify possible continental localities from which these island populations derived. For these purposes, we used FST values, haplotype networks, and nested clade analysis to estimate migration rates and patterns. Haplotypes from both markers are geographically widespread across the African continent. Results indicate that the populations from São Tomé and Príncipe are relatively isolated from continental African populations, suggesting they are promising sites for test releases of transgenic individuals. These island populations are possibly derived from two separate continental migrations. This result is discussed in the context of the history of the African slave trade with respect to São Tomé and Príncipe.
Aspects of healthcare utilisation in self‐reported obstructive lung disease
Authors: Nielsen Rune , Johannessen Ane , Bakke Per Sigvald , Askildsen Jan Erik , Omenaas Ernst Reidar , Gulsvik Amund
Published: October 2008

Introduction:  Utilisation of healthcare resources because of pulmonary diseases have previously been presented according to lung function or symptom severity. We aimed to compare the associations of symptoms and lung function to healthcare and social service utilisation in subjects with self‐reported obstructive lung diseases (OLDs) (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema).

Materials and Methods:  Of 2819 participants aged 27–82 years in the Hordaland County Respiratory Health Survey, 200 subjects (7.1%) self‐reported OLD. They answered 13 questions on respiratory symptoms and 5 questions on use of healthcare and social services. Altogether, 161 participants (81%) completed post‐bronchodilation spirometry.

Results:  Use of anti‐asthmatic drugs, regular physician's appointment, sick leave payment for the last 12 months, hospital admission for the last 12 months and disability pension were reported by 68%, 63%, 18%, 8% and 7% of those with self‐reported OLD, respectively. Twenty per cent of subjects with self‐reported OLD had not received any healthcare or social services. In adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses, increase in the respiratory symptom score was significantly associated with more healthcare and social services. Lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s in % predicted, however, was not significantly associated with more use of healthcare and social services.

Conclusion:  The majority (80%) of subjects in a general population with self‐reported OLD received healthcare services. The utilisation of healthcare and social services was strongly associated to the burden of respiratory symptoms, and, to a lesser degree, to the level and pattern of lung function.

Please cite this paper as: Nielsen R, Johannessen A, Bakke PS, Askildsen JE, Omenaas ER and Gulsvik A. Aspects of healthcare utilisation in self‐reported obstructive lung disease. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2009; 3: 34–41.
Measurement of current changes in land levels as input to long‐term planning for flood risk management along the Thames estuary
Authors: Bingley R.M. , Teferle F.N. , Orliac E.J. , Dodson A.H. , Williams S.D.P. , Blackman D.L. , Baker T.F. , Riedmann M. , Haynes M. , Press N. , Aldiss D.T. , Burke H.C. , Chacksfield B.C. , Tragheim D. , Tarrant O. , Tanner S. , Reeder T. , Lavery S. , Meadowcroft I. , Surendran S. , Goudie J.R. , Richardson D.
Published: October 2008

Long‐term planning for flood risk management in coastal and estuarine areas requires timely and reliable information on changes in land and sea levels. In this paper we describe how we have produced a detailed, high‐resolution map of current changes in land levels for the Thames region, and carried out a new assessment of the changes in sea level relative to the land along the Thames Estuary over the past few decades/past century. We conclude the paper by considering the potential benefits of extended monitoring for the long‐term planning of flood and coastal defences in that region.
Lobbyistes et législation sur le lobbyisme : que nous apprend la récente expérience québécoise?
Authors: Yates Stéphanie , Beauchamp Michel
Published: October 2008

Sommaire: Dans un contexte où un nombre croissant de gouvernements, en Europe comme en Amérique du Nord, entendent resserrer les règles en matière d'encadrement du lobbyisme, les auteurs se penchent sur les réactions des lobbyistes québécois envers la loi sur la transparence et l'éthique en matière de lobbyisme, adoptée au Québec en 2002. Reposant sur l'examen de près de trente entretiens menés un an après l'adoption de la loi ainsi que sur celui d'un imposant corpus documentaire, leur analyse fait ressortir que les modalités de la Loi, en particulier celles liées à l'inscription au registre des lobbyistes, entraînent une lourdeur bureaucratique peu propice au respect de la législation. Il ressort également que la loi, dont le principal objectif est d'affermir la confiance des citoyens envers les titulaires de charges publiques et des institutions démocratiques au sein desquelles ils œuvrent, influencera sans doute très peu la perception de la population à l'endroit de l'intégrité des acteurs de la sphère politique, y compris les lobbyistes. Par ailleurs, il semble qu'une simplification du processus d'inscription au registre, ainsi que l'élargissement du nombre de personnes assujetties à la loi (les organisations sans but lucratif étant nommément visées) soient des mesures susceptibles de favoriser la hausse de confiance des citoyens envers les institutions démocratiques et les acteurs qui y sont associés.

Abstract: In a context where an increasing number of governments, in both Europe and North America, are planning to tighten the lobbying rules, the authors focus on the reactions of Quebec lobbyists to the Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Act, which was enacted in Quebec in 2002. Based on an examination of close to thirty interviews conducted one year after the enactment of the act, as well as the study of an important corpus of documents, their analysis indicates that the terms of the act, specifically those with reference to the registration in the Registry of Lobbyists, create bureaucratic red tape that makes enforcement of the law unlikely. It is also clear that the act, the main purpose of which is to build the public's trust in those who hold public office and the democratic institutions in which they work, will have presumably very little influence over the public's perception of the integrity of the players in the political sphere, including lobbyists. Furthermore, it would seem that simplifying the registry process, as well as broadening the scope of the legislation's applicability (specifically to include non‐profit organizations), would have the effect of increasing the public's level of confidence in the democratic institutions and the players associated with them.
‘Licence’ and Genocide in the East: Reflections on Localised Eliminationist Violence during the First Stages of ‘Operation Barbarossa’ (1941)
Authors: Kallis Aristotle
Published: October 2008

From the moment that Nazi Germany launched its attack on the Soviet Union in 1941, a pandemonium of violence seized many areas of Eastern Europe. The crimes of theEinsatzgruppenand ofWehrmachttroops are well‐documented. The brutality, however, of the pogroms in 1941, their frequency and geographic scope, the level of local participation in the acts, the vehemence with which they were carried out and the almost ritualistic ‘carnivalesque’ qualities of the spectacle, all point to deeper, more complex agencies at work. This paper explores the notion of ‘licence’ as the primary facilitator of genocidal violence in the eastern territories immediately after the launch of Operation Barbarossa. It argues that this ‘licence’ should be understood as a crucialfacilitatorof already formed (if latent or contained) violent eliminationist predispositions and intentions. This in turn helped demolish political, social and moral impediments to violent behaviour and catalysed a veritable ‘carnival’ of elimination against particular ‘others’, in which ‘ordinary’ people joined much more for ideological, cultural and/or rational reasons than because of blind conformity or coercion.
Nationalism, Exclusion and Violence: A Territorial Approach
Authors: Etherington John Robert
Published: October 2008

Nationalism can be understood as a doctrine of territorial political legitimacy, in the sense that demands for national self‐government necessarily involve claims over a given territory. Such claims are ultimately justified by establishing a relationship of mutual belonging between the nation and ‘its’ territory. This makes nationalism intrinsically exclusionary and potentially violent, since purely civic nations become impossible in practice. Shared political and social values on their own fail to bind nation and territory together, and as such the nation's ‘home’ might be anywhere, and thus, in a world of competing political claims over territory, nowhere. Ethnic elements of national identity are therefore necessary if an exclusive relationship is to be established between the nation and ‘its’ territory. These arguments are illustrated by analysing a series of nationalisms that have been traditionally considered to be ‘civic,’ such as those found in the United States, Canada and England.
Ethnoregionalism, Multicultural Nationalism and the Idea of the European Third Way
Authors: Spektorowski Alberto
Published: October 2008

While the idea of a Europe of its peoples, or a post‐nation‐state ‘regionalist Europe’ is largely applauded by liberal, radical democratic, and post‐colonial theorists, who welcome this development as an antidote to narrow nationalism, ideologues of the New Right had adopted this idea to their exclusionist political design. Based on what can be defined as ‘multiculturalism of the Right’, the New Right proposes a new European nationalist resurrection based upon the idea of the reemergence of multiple European organic identities that would set a cultural barrier against immigrant communities. In order to elaborate this plan the New Right makes use of the intellectual contribution of old anti‐liberal integralist sources at the fringes of fascism. The latter set the path for a European ‘third way’ in the 1930s and the New Right attempts to reestablish this trend in a post‐modern Europe. This article does not claim that Europe of the peoples is an anti‐liberal project, but asks to heed ‘unexpected’ political uses of the idea.
Violent Nationalism in Catholic Communities: The Provisional IRA and ETA
Authors: Rooney Nicola
Published: October 2008

This paper will examine how the Provisional IRA and Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna ‐ Basque Country and Freedom ‐ (ETA) sought to legitimise and gain support for a campaign of urban guerrilla warfare by casting themselves in the role of defenders of a Catholic community. The need to reconcile the acceptance of violent action and Catholic religious beliefs led to a strong emphasis on the morality of the struggle waged by both groups during the early years of their existence. Interestingly, this definition of morality was grounded in Catholic teaching, forcing both organisations to challenge the leadership of the ecclesiastical authorities.
The Role of (ETA) Violence in the Construction of Nationalism in Spain and the Basque Country
Authors: Maskaliūnaitė Asta
Published: October 2008

Using the theoretical concepts of the discourse theory of Laclau and Mouffe, the author discusses the different ways in which three political parties in Spain ‐ PP, PSOE and PNV ‐ construct their discourse in relation to the nation and violence. It is claimed that the PP has developed a discourse based on chains of equivalence, one of which has the nation as a nodal point and the other ‐ the (ETA) violence. These chains are not just political but also ethical constructions. The PSOE bases its discourse on the logic of difference, which attempts to expand the political field to include more and more elements, but sometimes fails to renegotiate some important concepts. The PNV is in a constant fluctuation between the sovereignist position of a permanent struggle to preserve the Basque identity and to liberate the Basque Country and the autonomist position where the logic of difference is employed and only violence is left aside.
Religion versus Peace: A False Dichotomy
Authors: Omer Atalia
Published: October 2008

The article argues that in contexts of ethno‐national conflicts, questions of peace and justice may entail negotiations not only over resources, territory and power but also over identity, symbols and memory. In fact, it is suggested that the latter set of negotiations may present the most vital nexus and even precondition for engaging in a sustainable and substantive process of peace‐building. It is here that subaltern narratives and religious sources may play a significant role in reframing the terms of the conflict and reinterpreting the parameters of peace and justice. The first part of the article draws on a diversity of scholarly resources in order to develop a dynamic set of criteria for evaluating the justness of peace frameworks. The second part consists in applying these criteria for the specific analysis of the secularist liberal Zionist peace camp and the central assumptions underlying its ‘visions of peace’.
Pakistani Nationalism and the State Marginalisation of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan
Authors: Saeed Sadia
Published: October 2008

This paper examines the relationship between nationalism, state formation, and the marginalisation of national minorities through an historical focus on Pakistani state's relationship with the Ahmadiyya community, a self‐defined minority sect of Islam. In 1974, a constitutional amendment was enacted that effectively rendered the Ahmadiyya community a non‐Muslim minority, in spite of claims by the community that it was Muslim and hence not a minority. This paper attempts to account for this anti‐Ahmadiyya state legislation by arguing that the genealogy of the idea of a Pakistani state is key for understanding the politics of exclusion of the Ahmadiyya community from ‘Muslim citizenship’ ‐ that is, who is and isn't a Muslim.
Redirecting Violence: The Finnish Flag as a Sacrificial Symbol, 1917–1945
Authors: Tepora Tuomas
Published: October 2008

Premised on the interplay between national fags, violence and sacrifice, this article sheds new light on the significance of fag culture in nation‐building. It specifically highlights the role of the Finnish fag in directing violence outwards from Finnish society after the Civil War of 1918. The new national flag introduced after the war came to symbolise an ideal of oneness which found its expression in a propagated willingness to make sacrifices for the collective. The memory of fratricidal violence was externalised from the national space and transferred onto the red fags associated with Soviet Russia. During the Second World War the symbolically unifying ‘sacrifice’ was transformed into real sacrifice, giving birth to a new symbolism of the Finnish fag. The article concludes that national fags have an important role in societies' boundary formation, connecting civil society to the state, as well as the individual to the public realm.
National Antisemitism in Russia during the ‘Years of Crisis’, 1914–1922
Authors: Herbeck Ulrich
Published: October 2008

In the period between 1914 and 1922 Russia experienced an enormous upsurge of violent antisemitism. In just one year, an estimated 60,000 to 200,000 Jews were killed in the wave of pogroms that swept through the Ukraine in 1919. Antisemitism must be considered as key element of an emergent nationalism which, in the phase of crisis and breakup of the Russian empire, was on the verge of replacing the imperialist ideology of the old Russian ruling elite. During this period, anticommunism and antisemitism merged to form the imagery or myth of ‘Judeo‐Bolshevism’. Russian nationalist ‘White’ officers, an important part of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ukrainian nationalists and various peasant movements were united in their opposition to what they called ‘Jewish rule under the guise of Bolshevism’. ‘Judeo‐Bolshevism’ must be analysed as a crucial aspect of Russian nationalist ideology of the time.
General‐use polymerase chain reaction primers for amplification and direct sequencing of enolase, a single‐copy nuclear gene, from different animal phyla
Authors: KELLY RYAN P. , PALUMBI STEPHEN R.
Published: October 2008

In contrast to mitochondrial DNA, remarkably few general‐use primer sets are available for single‐copy nuclear genes across animal phyla. Here, we present a primer set that yields ac. 364‐bp coding fragment of the metabolic gene enolase, which includes an intron in some taxa. In species where introns are absent or have few insertions/deletions, the amplified fragment can be sequenced directly for phylogenetic or population analysis. Between‐species variation in the coding region occurs widely at third codon positions, even between closely related taxa, making the fragment useful for species‐level systematics. In low gene‐flow species, the primers may also be of use for population genetics, as intraspecific polymorphisms occur at several silent positions in the taxa examined.
Ecological barcoding of corallivory by second internal transcribed spacer sequences: hosts of coralliophiline gastropods detected by the cnidarian DNA in their stomach
Authors: OLIVERIO MARCO , BARCO ANDREA , MODICA MARIA VITTORIA , RICHTER ALEXANDRA , MARIOTTINI PAOLO
Published: October 2008

The second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA cluster (rDNA) is significantly smaller in the Cnidaria (120–260 bp) than in the rest of the Metazoa. ITS2 is one of the fastest evolving DNA regions among those commonly used in molecular systematics and has been proposed as a possible barcoding gene for Cnidaria to replace the currently problematic mitochondrial sequences used. We have reviewed the intraspecific and interspecific variation of ITS2 rRNA sequences in the Anthozoa. We have observed that the lower limits of the interspecific DNA divergence ranges very often overlap with intraspecific ranges, and identical sequences from individuals of different species are not rare. This finding can result in problems similar to those encountered with the mitochondrial COI, and we conclude that ITS2 does not prove significantly better than COI for standard taxonomic DNA barcoding in Anthozoa.

However, ITS2 appears to be a promising gene in the ecological DNA barcoding of corallivory, where taxonomic accuracy at genus or even family level may represent a significant improvement of current knowledge. We have successfully amplified and sequenced ITS2 from template DNA extracted from foot muscle and from stomach contents of corallivorous gastropods, and from their anthozoan hosts. The small size of cnidarian ITS2 makes it a very easy and efficient tool for ecological barcoding of associations. Ecological barcoding of corallivory is an indispensable approach to the study of the associations in deep water, where direct observation is severely limited by logistics and costs.
Using return‐on‐investment to guide restoration: a case study from Hawaii
Authors: Goldstein Joshua H. , Pejchar Liba , Daily Gretchen C.
Published: October 2008

Restoring natural capital is essential for biodiversity and ecosystem services that support human well‐being. Although ecological pathways for restoration are a major area of study, little is known about the economic pathways to which these efforts must be linked. This linkage, however, is important for maximizing return‐on‐investment (ROI) from restoration projects. We developed a general ROI framework to guide investments in restoration. We applied this framework to reforestation of montane pastureland in Hawaii, focusing on two specific conservation targets: native forest birds and understory plants. We found that restoring partial tree cover on pastureland is most attractive for birds, while understory plants require investment in full forest restoration. Nonlinearities in restoration pathways present in Hawaii, and likely elsewhere, generate these substantially different ROI profiles across potential projects. This information can guide the design of policies supporting cost‐effective practices to help ensure that limited resources achieve the greatest impact.
Screening new plant introductions for potential invasiveness: a test of impacts for the United States
Authors: Gordon Doria R. , Gantz Crysta A.
Published: October 2008

The economic, health, and environmental costs of invasive plant species suggest the need for screening systems to reduce the probability of importing new harmful invaders. We assessed 105 plant species introduced to the United States since 1995 using the Australian Weed Risk Assessment system and a secondary screen to evaluate the proportion of species that would have been prohibited from import were such a screening system implemented. These tools are likely to result in correct decisions to accept or reject species of unknown invasive potential over 80% of the time. The species tested spanned temperate and tropical locations of origin and represented all vascular plant life forms with the exception of aquatic plants. We had insufficient data to complete assessment of 4% of the species. None of the remaining 101 species were predicted to become invasive: 88% were predicted to be noninvasive and 12% required further evaluation. On average, we required 8 hours to assess each species. These results, in combination with the savings incurred when likely invaders are identified and prohibited prior to import, suggest that this screening system could be implemented to protect the economy and environment and would be unlikely to significantly preclude opportunities for the horticultural industry.