bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissociative photoionization of adenine following valence excitation
Authors: Pilling S. , Lago A. F. , Coutinho L. H. , de Castilho R. B. , de Souza G. G. B. , de Brito A. Naves
Published: October 2007

We present results on the valence level excitation, ionization and dissociation of adenine, using time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and synchrotron radiation, in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) range of 12–21 eV. The measurements were performed using a gas‐phase (Ne) harmonics filter in order to eliminate contributions from higher‐order harmonics. Mass spectra were obtained using the photoelectron‐photoion coincidence technique (PEPICO). The relative abundances for each ionic fragment and their mean kinetic energy release have been determined from the analysis of the corresponding peak shapes in the mass spectra. Comparison with the available photoelectron spectra and previous measurements allowed the assignment of the main features in the spectra. A discussion on the dissociative photoionization channels of this molecule has also been included. Due to our harmonics‐free incident photon beam we were able to propose new appearance energy (AE) for the most important ionic channels in this energy range. The precursor ion, C5H5N, is the most abundant species (40% at 15 eV and 20% at 20 eV), which confirms the high stability of adenine upon absorption of VUV photons. We have observed other intense fragment ions such as: C4H4N, C3H3N, C2H2N and HCNH+. The production of the neutral HCN fragment represents up to 40% of the dissociative channels for this molecule as induced by VUV photons. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization or electrospray ionization with tropylium post‐column derivatization
Authors: Lien Guang‐Wen , Chen Chia‐Yang , Wu Chang‐Fu
Published: October 2007

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with four to six rings are potent carcinogens. This study analyzed ten of the sixteen US EPA priority PAHs using reversed‐phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) in selected reaction monitoring mode with two ionization sources: positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI+) or positive elecrtrospray ionization (ESI+) with tropylium post‐column derivatization. Several factors were investigated, including mobile phases, stationary phases of columns and chromatographic temperature, to determine how optimal separation and sensitivity might be achieved. Methanol used as an organic mobile phase provided better sensitivities for most PAHs than acetonitrile, although some PAHs co‐eluted. Acidic buffers did not increase analyte signals. Use of Restek Pinnacle II PAH columns (250 × 4.6 mm or 250 × 2.1 mm, 5 µm) with water/acetonitrile gradient at 27°C made possible a good separation of the ten analytes. [M]+. were the best precursor ions in both APCI and ESI, although fluoranthene could not be detected in ESI mode when tropylium post‐column derivatization was performed. [M–28]+ and [M–52]+ were the major product ions of PAHs after collision‐induced dissociation, a result of neutral losses of C2H4 and (C2H2)2, respectively. Chromatographic separation for PAH isomers was crucial because the mass spectra were so similar that even MS/MS could not distinguish them from each other. The recoveries of sample preparations of PAHs spiked onto air‐sampling filters ranged between 77.5 and 106% with relative standard deviations between 1.1 and 15.9%. This method was validated by analyzing NIST SRM 1649a (urban dust), producing results comparable with the certified PAH concentrations. The detection limits using APCI and ESI interfaces, defined as three times the noise levels, ranged between 0.23 and 0.83 ng and between 0.16 and 0.84 ng of on‐column injection, respectively. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fostering spirituality in community development: the role of soul
Authors: Spittles Brian
Published: October 2007

This paper argues that a need exists for spirituality to be incorporated into community development. Such a process necessitates a clearer understanding of spirituality's defining essence. Drawing upon the thinking of Indian philosopher‐sage Sri Aurobindo, this essence is defined as ‘knowing oneself as soul’. Some implicit problems for introducing this spiritual approach into community development are discussed, and the spirituality/self/soul nexus is juxtaposed against concepts of vertical and horizontal spirituality. The efficacy and roles of spirituality in community development are addressed, and a concluding suggestion is made that spirituality can play an ultimate role in turning the tides of Western ‘soulless management’.
Evaluation of an innovative contemplative end‐of‐life care course
Authors: Bruce Anne
Published: October 2007

Spiritual care is a component of end‐of‐life care that has become an expectation for healthcare professionals seeking to provide holistic care. However, until recently spirituality and spiritual care were not included in the educational training of most health professionals. Little is known about how best to support and teach spiritual dimensions of dying to health professionals. This article reports on an evaluation of an innovative educational program that brings together the spiritual tradition of Buddhism alongside best practices of hospice palliative care. Findings suggest that contemplative approaches to end‐of‐life care presented through an experiential and online format hold potential benefits for health professionals both professionally and personally and contribute to our understanding of contemplative practices in addressing spiritual dimensions of dying. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detecting a rate increase using a Bernoulli scan statistic
Authors: Joner Michael D. , Woodall William H. , Reynolds Marion R.
Published: October 2007

Scan statistics are used in public health applications to detect increases in rates or clusters of disease indicated by an unusually large number of events. Most of the work has been for the retrospective case, in which a single set of historical data is to be analyzed. A modification of this retrospective scan statistic has been recommended for use when incidences of an event are recorded as they occur over time (prospectively) to determine whether the underlying incidence rate has increased, preferably as soon as possible after such an increase. In this paper, we investigate the properties of the scan statistic when used in prospective surveillance of the incidence rate under the assumption of independent Bernoulli observations. We show how to evaluate the expected number of Bernoulli observations needed to generate a signal that the incidence rate has increased. We compare the performance of the prospective scan statistic method with that obtained using the Bernoulli‐based cumulative sum (CUSUM) technique. We show that the latter tends to be more effective in detecting sustained increases in the rate, but the scan method may be preferred in some applications due to its simplicity and can be used with relatively little loss of efficiency. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using the bootstrap to improve estimation and confidence intervals for regression coefficients selected using backwards variable elimination
Authors: Austin Peter C.
Published: October 2007

Applied researchers frequently use automated model selection methods, such as backwards variable elimination, to develop parsimonious regression models. Statisticians have criticized the use of these methods for several reasons, amongst them are the facts that the estimated regression coefficients are biased and that the derived confidence intervals do not have the advertised coverage rates. We developed a method to improve estimation of regression coefficients and confidence intervals which employs backwards variable elimination in multiple bootstrap samples. In a given bootstrap sample, predictor variables that are not selected for inclusion in the final regression model have their regression coefficient set to zero. Regression coefficients are averaged across the bootstrap samples, and non‐parametric percentile bootstrap confidence intervals are then constructed for each regression coefficient. We conducted a series of Monte Carlo simulations to examine the performance of this method for estimating regression coefficients and constructing confidence intervals for variables selected using backwards variable elimination. We demonstrated that this method results in confidence intervals with superior coverage compared with those developed from conventional backwards variable elimination. We illustrate the utility of our method by applying it to a large sample of subjects hospitalized with a heart attack. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cantilever‐Based Chemical Sensors for Detecting Catalytically Produced Reactions and Motility Forces Generated via Electrokinetic Phenomena
Authors: Subramanian Shyamala , Catchmark Jeffrey M.
Published: October 2007

This paper reports the fabrication, characterization, and modeling of a chemical sensor constructed from a microfabricated silicon cantilever, coated with gold, which is modified using photolithography techniques to contain a silver feature on the free‐standing edge. When immersed in a fuel solution such as hydrogen peroxide, catalytic reactions occurring at the bimetallic silver–gold junction cause a catalytic force to act on the cantilever. The catalytic reaction is detected by measuring change in resonance frequency of the cantilever using a position‐sensitive split photodiode and atomic force microscopy instrument. A model based on the Cleveland method is developed to quantify the forces produced and to study the effect of change of hydrogen peroxide concentration on the magnitude of the force. The force is observed to increase linearly for lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and level off at higher concentrations. The chemical sensor offers a possible method for using catalytically produced forces in microelectromechanical systems and microfluidic devices.
Stochastic H∞ control problem with state‐dependent noise for weakly coupled large‐scale systems
Authors: Sagara Muneomi , Mukaidani Hiroaki , Yamamoto Toru
Published: October 2007

In this paper, stochastic H∞ state feedback control with state‐dependent noise for weakly coupled large‐scale systems is discussed. After establishing the asymptotic structure of the stochastic algebraic Riccati equation (SARE), a new iterative algorithm that combines the Newton's method with the fixed‐point algorithm is derived for the first time. As a result, both the quadratic convergence and the reduced‐order computation in the same dimension of the subsystems are attained. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Improvement of the dynamic behavior of source current reference generator for power factor corrector
Authors: Sasaki Seigo
Published: October 2007

Three types of the source current reference generator of the power factor corrector that contain feedforward current loops are systematically analyzed for dynamic improvement of the corrector. These generators have different feedforward gains in the current loops, which vary against variations of a source voltage and a load. The gains are systematically analyzed. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Multipoint Tabu Search based on proximate optimality principle—application of parts concept
Authors: Niizuma Daichi , Yasuda Keiichiro , Ishigame Atsushi
Published: October 2007

This paper proposes an algorithm–MultiPoint Tabu Search based on proximate optimality principle (POP), which has several advantages for solving combinatorial optimization problems. POP holds well for numerous engineering problems, which stipulates that ‘good solutions possess some similar structure.’ The proposed algorithm is applied to several typical combinatorial optimization problems to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method has higher optimality than the conventional Tabu Search with a single search point. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Analysis and evaluation of waveform parameters for oscillating impulse voltage
Authors: Matsumoto Satoshi
Published: October 2007

This paper describes the effect of residual inductance of the impulse generator circuit. The analysis of waveform and the evaluation of waveform parameters were made for an oscillating lightning impulse. The peak value (overshoot factor or k‐factor), oscillation frequency, 30% value, 90% value, time to half‐value, and virtual origin are derived from the solution of third‐order derivative equation of the equivalent circuit. The comparison with the oscillating and standard lightning impulse was made. Also, the effects on overshoot, front time and the load‐side capacitance are theoretically clarified. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Passive control of wind turbine vibrations including blade/tower interaction and rotationally sampled turbulence
Authors: Murtagh P. J. , Ghosh A. , Basu B. , Broderick B. M.
Published: October 2007

This paper investigates the use of a passive control device, namely, a tuned mass damper (TMD), for the mitigation of vibrations due to the along‐wind forced vibration response of a simplified wind turbine. The wind turbine assembly consists of three rotating uniform rotor blades connected to the top of a flexible uniform annular tower, constituting a multi‐body dynamic system. First, the free vibration properties of the tower and rotating blades are each obtained separately using a discrete parameter approach, with those of the tower including the presence of a rigid mass at the top, representing the nacelle, and those of the blade including the effects of centrifugal stiffening due to blade rotation and self‐weight. Drag‐based loading is assumed to act on the rotating blades, in which the phenomenon of rotationally sampled wind turbulence is included. Blade response time histories are obtained using the mode acceleration method, allowing base shear forces due to flapping motion for the three blades to be calculated. The resultant base shear is imparted into the top of the tower. Wind drag loading on the tower is also considered, and includes Davenport‐type spatial coherence information. The tower/nacelle is then coupled with the rotating blades by combining their equations of motion. A TMD is placed at the top of the tower, and when added to the formulation, a Fourier transform approach allows for the solution of the displacement at the top of the tower under compatibility of response conditions. An inverse Fourier transform of this frequency domain response yields the response time history of the coupled blades/tower/damper system. A numerical example is included to qualitatively investigate the influence of the damper. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Employability of Genetic Counselors with a PhD in Genetic Counseling
Authors: Wallace Jody P. , Myers Melanie F. , Huether Carl A. , Bedard Angela C. , Warren Nancy Steinberg
Published: October 2007

The development of a PhD in genetic counseling has been discussed for more than 20 years, yet the perspectives of employers have not been assessed. The goal of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of the employability of genetic counselors with a PhD in genetic counseling by conducting interviews with United States employers of genetic counselors. Study participants were categorized according to one of the following practice areas: academic, clinical, government, industry, laboratory, or research. All participants were responsible for hiring genetic counselors in their institutions. Of the 30 employers interviewed, 23 envisioned opportunities for individuals with a PhD degree in genetic counseling, particularly in academic and research settings. Performing research and having the ability to be a principal investigator on a grant was the primary role envisioned for these individuals by 22/30 participants. Employers expect individuals with a PhD in genetic counseling to perform different roles than MS genetic counselors with a master's degree. This study suggests there is an employment niche for individuals who have a PhD in genetic counseling that complements, and does not compete with, master's prepared genetic counselors.
On Confucian communitarianism
Authors: Weixi HU
Published: October 2007

As a social and political thought, communitarian ideas appeared in the Pre-Qin Confucianism. By the Song Dynasty, it had become a systematic theory, namely, the learning of the “four books.” As a social and political theory, not only can Confucian communitarianism contribute to Western liberalism, but it can also be an intellectual resource for the development of democracy in East Asian countries and regions. The future of the Confucian communitarianism lies in its critique of itself and its discourse with Western liberalism, by which Confucianism evolves from communitarianism into liberalism.
An explanation of the Confucian idea of difference
Authors: Xiangjun LI
Published: October 2007

Difference is a category of relationship lying between identity and non-identity, and equality and inequality. This concept is both the Confucian reflection of the real relationship between things in the world and the value ideal of Confucianism. The Confucian idea of difference, embodied in the view of human relationships, of world, and of nature, seeks to build a rational order based on difference, so as to reach a harmonious, united and ideal state. Confucians in the past dynasties continually interpreted difference and raised it to the level of ontology, enriching the system of Confucianism.
Achievements, predicaments and trend of Moral Confucianism
Authors: Zhiming SONG
Published: October 2007

Beginning with the promotion of morality in Confucianism, a Neo-Confucian movement in modern Chinese philosophy was initiated, in which Confucianism underwent a transition from tradition to modernity. However, Moral Confucianism did not successfully develop the “new kingliness without” from its “sageliness within,” respond to modernization marked by science and democracy, and provide moral impetus for the development of a modern Chinese society or appeal to many beyond the small circle of “elite Confucianists.” The fundamental reason is that it was caught in a web of moral idealism, overemphasizing what ought to be without confronting what actually was.
A new interpretation of Confucianism: The interpretation of Lunyu as a text of philosophical hermeneutics
Authors: Cunguang LIN
Published: October 2007

Communicating with Confucius based on our own hermeneutical context, and reading the Analects as a text of philosophical hermeneutics, it can be concluded that as an epochal thinker, the contribution of Confucius’ thought is that it initiated a humanistic moral ideal with cultural upbringing as its core. Based on this consciousness of humanistic moral ideal, Confucius thought and dealt positively with the human existential plight and social political problems that he faced during his own time, and his thought is more creative than conservative.
Zero and metaphysics: Thoughts about being and nothingness from mathematics, Buddhism, Daoism to phenomenology
Authors: Liangkang NI
Published: October 2007

With the help of the natural history of “zero,” and the use of “zero” as a starting point, one may consider two types of metaphysics. On the one hand, the epistemological metaphysics, based on the perceptual/rational dichotomy, is related to the zero as a vacancy between numbers. On the other hand, the genetic metaphysics, based on the dichotomy of source-evolution (or origin and derivate), has much to do with the zero as a number between negative and positive numbers. In this respect, zero represents the horizon of metaphysics: we can forever approach it, but we cannot ultimately arrive at it. Though serving as the point of convergence and divergence for all relationships, zero has no definable content of its own. Such is the essence of zero, and of metaphysics as well.
Marx’s theory on the “sensible world” and the phenomenological movement
Authors: Mengwei YAN
Published: October 2007

The epistemological problems that are implicit in Marx’s theory on the “sensible world” indicate that Marx’s philosophy in fact contains within itself the topics of pure philosophy, but Marx did not involve himself in these topics. Through comparing with Husserl’s epistemological critique and Heidegger’s existentialism, we can clearly see that there are theoretical spaces in which we can develop Marx’s philosophy to the realm of pure philosophy, however, we must devote our creative efforts to the exploration of the spaces.
Indispensability argument and anti-realism in philosophy of mathematics
Authors: Feng YE
Published: October 2007

The indispensability argument for abstract mathematical entities has been an important issue in the philosophy of mathematics. The argument relies on several assumptions. Some objections have been made against these assumptions, but there are several serious defects in these objections. Ameliorating these defects leads to a new anti-realistic philosophy of mathematics, mainly: first, in mathematical applications, what really exist and can be used as tools are not abstract mathematical entities, but our inner representations that we create in imagining abstract mathematical entities; second, the thoughts that we create in imagining infinite mathematical entities are bounded by external conditions.
Plausibility, necessity and identity: A logic of relative plausibility
Authors: Xiaowu LI , Xuefeng WEN
Published: October 2007

We construct a Hilbert style system RPL for the notion of plausibility measure introduced by Halpern J, and we prove the soundness and completeness with respect to a neighborhood style semantics. Using the language of RPL, we demonstrate that it can define well-studied notions of necessity, conditionals and propositional identity.
How did itinerant poets in the Southern Song Dynasty make a living?
Authors: Junqing FEI
Published: October 2007

How did itinerant poets in the Southern Song Dynasty make a living? This is still a question yet to be further explored. People used to think that itinerant poets made a living primarily by calling on noble and influential people and appealing to them for help. However, this presumption is not without its flaws. Based upon a large quantity of historical data, this paper reveals some of the means of support by which the itinerant poets made a living, while further probing into their livelihoods during this time period.
Primitive and modern: Two faces of Shanghai in Chinese and Western literature
Authors: Xiaolan CHEN
Published: October 2007

Many Chinese writers deem Shanghai of the early 20thcentury as the most westernized and the most modern city in China, while in the imagination of their Western counterparts Shanghai is still oriental, primitive, barbarous and uncivilized. Despite such an irreconcilable difference, one point shared by those writers, both at home and abroad, is that Shanghai is a chaotic and unrestrained wilderness in terms of morals, which is closely related to the imagined image of an alien land and in conformity with the heterogeneity of both Chinese and Western cultures. This unique feature of Shanghai has become a dominant factor shaping the perception of writers from different backgrounds.
An analytical analysis and summary of historical literary works—use of silver in the fiction and operas of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties
Authors: Bojun SHEN
Published: October 2007

The royal courts of the Yuan and early Ming period pursued a paper currency policy and prohibited silver from being circulated by royal decree. But the uses of silver in daily life and commercial activities could be often seen in the fictions and operas of this era. This is an active reflection of social life of that time, and indicates that the binding force of the royal decrees over the subjects was rather limited. From this we can see that it may not be reliable to take the circulation of silver in fictions as a ground to prove that Outlaws of the Marsh was completed in the first years of Emperor Jiajing’s reign (Jiajing Huangdi 嘉靖 皇帝 CE 1522–1566). The difference between the royal laws and decrees and their effects on real life deserve more analyses by researchers.
Buddhist-Taoist rivalry and the evolution of the story of Lü Dongbin’s slaying the Yellow Dragon with a flying sword
Authors: Guangzheng WU
Published: October 2007

Going through the evolution of the body of stories about Lü Dongbin’s slaying the Yellow Dragon with a flying sword from a perspective combining the history of religion and the history of literature, this paper suggests that those stories are religious myths constructed during the prolonged rivalry between Buddhism and Taoism, and that they reflect not only the inherent conflict between the Zen theory of mind and spiritual nature (xinxing) and the theory of the integrated cultivation of spiritual nature and bodily life (xingming shuangxiu) of the “interior elixir” (neidan) school of Taoism, but also the changes in Taoist theory of alchemy and in the discourse of Buddhism and Taoism. For Taoism, the meaning of the story eventually changed from cultivation in seclusion (qingxiu) to cooperative cultivation between men and women with sexual intercourse (nannü shuangxiu), and the meaning was gradually secularized as the religious backdrop of the story faded. Meanwhile, such conflict and changes not only furnished basic themes and materials for literature, but, more importantly, provided literature with means of expression, figures of speech, and power of literary construction.
Titanium elastic nails for pediatric tibial shaft fractures
Authors: Sankar Wudbhav N. , Jones Kristofer J. , David Horn B. , Wells Lawrence
Published: October 2007

Purpose

The purpose of our study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of elastic stable intramedullary nailing for unstable pediatric tibial shaft fractures using titanium elastic nails (TENs). To our knowledge, this is the largest series reported in the literature of this specific fixation technique.

Methods

We reviewed all children with tibial shaft fractures treated operatively at our tertiary care children's hospital to find those patients who underwent fixation with TENs. Between 1998 and 2005, we identified 19 consecutive patients who satisfied inclusion criteria. The average age of the patients in our series was 12.2 years (range 7.2–16 years), and mean follow-up was 15.7 months (range 6–28 months). Patient charts and radiographs were retrospectively reviewed to gather the clinical data. Outcomes were classified as excellent, satisfactory, or poor according to the Flynn classification for flexible nail fixation.

Results

All patients achieved complete healing at a mean of 11.0 weeks (range 6–18 weeks). At final follow-up, mean angulation was 2° (range 0°–6°) in the sagittal plane and 3° in the coronal plane (range 0°–9°). Five patients (26%) complained of irritation at the nail entry site; there were no leg length discrepancies or physeal arrests as a result of treatment. Two patients required remanipulation after the index procedure to maintain adequate alignment. According to the Flynn classification, we had 12 excellent, six satisfactory, and one poor result.

Conclusion

Although the indications for operative fixation of pediatric tibial shaft fractures are rare, occasionally surgical treatment is warranted. Based on our results, elastic stable intramedullary nailing with titanium elastic nails is an effective surgical technique which allows rapid healing of tibial shaft fractures with an acceptable rate of complications.
β‐Catenin signaling contributes to stemness and regulates early differentiation in murine embryonic stem cells
Authors: Anton Roman , Kestler Hans A. , Kühl Michael
Published: October 2007

ES cells can self‐renew while preserving pluripotency and are able to differentiate into many cell types. In both processes, different signal transduction pathways are implicated, including the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, which we here further analyzed. We found that a loss of β‐catenin in ES cells leads to altered expression of stem cell marker genes. TCF/β‐catenin reporter gene assays indicate that undifferentiated murine ES cells are capable of reacting to LiCl and Wnt3a but not Wnt5a stimulation, but have low endogenous TCF/β‐catenin activity. Oct‐3/4, nanog and Wnt11 were able to repress TCF/β‐catenin transcriptional activity. During differentiation, activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway influences formation of mesoderm and cardiomyocytes in a time and dose dependent manner.
The effect of the Qinghai-Tibet railway on the migration of Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii in Hoh-xil National Nature Reserve, China
Authors: Xia Lin , Yang Qisen , Li Zengchao , Wu Yonghua , Feng Zuojian
Published: October 2007

The Tibetan antelope or chiru Pantholops hodgsonii is endemic to the Tibetan plateau and was once abundant over vast areas of high elevation grassland habitat. During the 20th century, however, the population declined greatly in numbers. Hunting used to be the main threat to this species but recent actions by the government and wildlife protection organizations have brought this under control. With the development of north-west China, conflicts between development of transportation facilities and conservation have become more acute, and heavy traffic on the Golmud-Lhasa highway and the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway across key migration corridors have disturbed the migration of Tibetan antelopes. During June to August 2003 and 2004 we monitored the movement of Tibetan antelopes across the railway and highway and recorded their passes at wildlife crossing structures, which was the first use of such structures in China. Our results show that the efficiency of passages greatly improved between 2003 and 2004, and that use of wildlife corridors was affected by the structure of the passage, presence of wolves, recovery of vegetation following damage during construction, and other factors. The disturbance to migration of Tibetan antelopes included infrastructure, human activities, road traffic, construction of the railway and so on. The impact of infrastructure, especially transportation development, on the habitat and migration of Tibetan antelopes are the main factors that threaten this species now and in the future.
Managers’ perceptions of threats to the protected areas of Kenya: prioritization for effective management
Authors: Kiringe John Warui , Okello Moses Makonjio , Ekajul Sylvia W.
Published: October 2007

In Kenya knowledge of the relative severity of threats to protected areas and the vulnerability of these areas to any threats is lacking. Such information is required, however, for assessment of the effectiveness of management of the country’s protected areas, and to help identify critical management and policy weaknesses and priorities for improving management and allocating resources. We therefore studied the relative severity of threats to Kenya’s 50 protected areas and their relative vulnerability to such threats based on the perceptions of protected area managers. Ten threats were identified by these managers, of which the most severe were illegal bushmeat hunting, poaching of large mammals, human–wildlife conflicts, human encroachment, and loss of migration corridors and dispersal areas. Thirty-two (64%) protected areas were vulnerable to over half of the threats, 54% vulnerable to over six of the threats and 32% vulnerable to over seven of the threats. Protected areas in marine, forested/montane and inland wetland ecosystems were regarded as highly vulnerable to the perceived threats. Protected areas adjacent to urban/industrial and agricultural areas were vulnerable to most of the threats. Our findings demonstrate that protected areas in Kenya are increasingly threatened, that major threats needs to be mitigated, and that prioritization of protected areas for strategic actions is required for effective management.
Intensive hunting of large flying foxes Pteropus vampyrus natunae in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo
Authors: Struebig Matthew J. , Harrison Mark E. , Cheyne Susan M. , Limin Suwido H.
Published: October 2007

Pteropus vampyrus natunae, the Bornean subspecies of the large flying fox, has important roles in pollination but unsustainable hunting has been reported in Malaysian states. We provide the first description of hunting techniques and intensity in Indonesian Borneo. In forests around Palangka Raya this species is captured in canopy-level nets to support trade in the provincial capital. We estimate that in 2003 4,500 individuals were extracted from a single location in 30 days, which, together with trends reported in interviews with hunters and traders, suggests that hunting in this region is intensive and probably causing severe population declines. Further surveys are needed throughout Kalimantan to determine if this trend is occurring around other cities and whether intervention is needed to safeguard viable populations.
OcelotLeopardus pardalisin Belize: the impact of trap spacing and distance moved on density estimates
Authors: Dillon Adam , Kelly Marcella J.
Published: October 2007

We used remote cameras to obtain information on an elusive species and to examine the effects of different camera trapping methodologies on abundance estimates. We determined activity pattern, trail use, trap success, and density of ocelotLeopardus pardalisin seven camera-trap surveys across two habitat types in western Belize: tropical broad-leaf rainforest and tropical pine forest. Ocelots in the rainforest were active mostly at night, in particular immediately after sunset, and they travelled on low-use roads (especially in the wet season) and high-use roads (especially in the dry season) more than established and newly cut trails. Trap success was relatively high in the rainforest (2.11–6.20 captures per 100 trap nights) and low in the pine forest (0.13–0.15 captures per 100 trap nights). Camera trapping combined with mark-recapture statistics gave densities of 25.82–25.88 per 100 km2in the broad-leaf versus 2.31–3.80 per 100 km2in the pine forest. Density estimates increased when animals repeatedly captured at the same camera (zero-distance moved animals) were included in the buffer size analysis. Density estimates were significantly negatively correlated with distance between cameras. We provide information on ocelot population status from an unstudied portion of its range and advise that camera trap methodologies be standardized to permit comparisons across sites.
The influence of beach features on nesting of the hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata in the Arabian Gulf
Authors: Ficetola Gentile Francesco
Published: October 2007

In marine turtles the selection of oviposition habitat is a key determinant of offspring success. I investigated which environmental features influenced the nesting activity and nest distribution of the hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata by daily monitoring of a rookery on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, in Qatar. I mapped the distribution of turtle nests and unsuccessful nesting attempts and measured key beach features. Data were analysed using autoregressive models, a specific regression technique dealing with spatial autocorrelation. Distribution of nests and unsuccessful nesting attempts were strongly spatially autocorrelated. In some areas almost all the turtles that approached the beach excavated a nest, whereas in other areas nesting was scarce but many unsuccessful attempts were observed. Turtle activity was lower in areas with a steep coastline and high rock cover. Nest density was higher on beaches with a low slope and little rock cover, and with soft soil and high vegetation cover. The density of unsuccessful nesting attempts was higher in areas with hard soil and low vegetation cover. These results are relevant for the management and restoration of nesting areas for this Critically Endangered species.
An assessment of the marine turtle fishery in Grenada, West Indies
Authors: Grazette S. , Horrocks J.A. , Phillip Paul E. , Isaac Crafton J.
Published: October 2007

The marine turtle fishery of Grenada was assessed using interviews with marine turtle fishermen and by examination of turtle catch data from a major landing site. An estimated 782 turtles, mainly Endangered green turtles Chelonia mydas and Critically Endangered hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata, were caught around Grenada and its sister island Carriacou each year between 1996 and 2001 during an annual 8-month open season, with only a small percentage being officially recorded at a landing site. Turtles were primarily caught with nets and spearguns, with more green turtles caught by net fishermen and more hawksbill turtles by spear fishermen. Catch per unit effort data suggested that relative abundance had declined since the previous estimate was made in 1969. Few adult green or loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta were caught, indicating the relative scarcity of this size class of these two species around Grenada. Adult-sized hawksbill turtles were caught regularly, with larger adults being caught in the non-breeding months of the open season than in the breeding months. A higher percentage of adult hawksbill turtles present during the breeding season are likely to be animals that nest in Grenada, and their smaller size may result from historically heavy fishing pressure. The larger sized adults caught during the non-breeding season are likely to be animals that forage around Grenada but breed elsewhere in the Caribbean where they are protected.
Community conservation: practitioners’ answer to critics
Authors: Horwich Robert H. , Lyon Jonathan
Published: October 2007

Based on ethical, theoretical and practical concerns, community-based conservation projects have developed over the past 2 decades as alternatives to traditional protected areas. Recent criticisms of such programmes by biologists and social scientists involve a debate on who should manage our natural resources. Such criticisms have focused on large integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) and have largely ignored the successes of small community conservation projects. Practitioners of ICDPs have also been disappointed with the results of their projects and are seeking answers from ICDP failures. Two important differences separate community conservation projects and ICDPs and have led to the success of the smaller projects: (1) community conservation projects see local rural people as the solution to habitat degradation whereas ICDPs see them as the problem, (2) the scale of the smaller projects is at the community level but can use the same methods regionally, whereas ICDPs are large in scale and cost. We discuss, from a practitioner’s viewpoint, the strengths that contribute to the successes of community conservation projects, including actually functioning at the community level, creating an empowered community group to carry on the social sustainability of the project, continuous basic level funding, and the importance of monitoring.
Mountain chickens Leptodactylus fallax and sympatric amphibians appear to be disease free on Montserrat
Authors: Garcia Gerardo , Cunningham Andrew A. , Horton Daniel L. , Garner Trenton W.J. , Hyatt Alex , Hengstberger Sandra , Lopez Javier , Ogrodowczyk Agnieszka , Fenton Calvin , Fa John E.
Published: October 2007

The mountain chicken Leptodactylus fallax, the largest amphibian in the Caribbean, restricted to Dominica and Montserrat, is Critically Endangered. We investigated the presence of disease in the mountain chicken and in the sympatric cane toad Bufo marinus and Johnstone's whistling frog Eleutherodactylus johnstonei in the Centre Hills on Montserrat. Skin swabs of mountain chickens and B. marinus, and toe clips from E. johnstonei, were tested for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the causative organism of cutaneous chytridiomycosis. Additionally, mountain chicken blood serum samples (n = 57) were examined for exposure to ranavirus. No chytrid or exposure to ranavirus was detected. We draw tentative conclusions about disease threats to the Montserrat mountain chicken population, and present preliminary recommendations for safeguarding this species.
What Ayer Saw When He Was Dead
Authors: Rosenthal Abigail L.
Published: October 2007

It was news verging on sensational when A. J. Ayer came back from four minutes of heart death with a report of what he saw. Especially since the philosopher, who publicized his near-death experience [NDE] in 1988, in the Telegraph and the Spectator, was known for his lifelong rejection of religion and the supernatural. But, as will be seen, Ayer's beliefs on that head were substantially unchanged, if more ambivalently expressed, and the interest of his NDE lies elsewhere— in what it reveals about his philosophy.
On Knowing Which Thing I Am
Authors: Smith Joel
Published: October 2007

Russell's Principle states that in order to think about an object I must know which thing it is, in the sense of being able to distinguish it from all other things. I show that, contra Strawson, Evans and Cassam, Russell's Principle cannot be applied to first-person thought so as to yield necessary conditions of self-consciousness.
Reeling and A-Reasoning: Surprise Examinations and Newcomb's Tale
Authors: Cave Peter
Published: October 2007

Certain paradoxes set us reeling endlessly. In surprise examination paradoxes, pupils' reasonings lead them to reel between expecting an examination and expecting none. With Newcomb's puzzle, choosers reel between reasoning in favour of choosing just one box and choosing two. The paradoxes demand an answer to what it is rational to believe or do. Highlighting other reelings and puzzles, this paper shows that the paradoxes should come as no surprise. The paradoxes demand an end to our reasoning when the conditions they set ensure no end. They equivocate between, so to speak, reasoning in heaven and reasoning on earth; and, on the conditions set, not even an infinite god could reach a conclusion.
THE SOUND OF ARCHITECTURE
Authors: Wheatley John
Published: October 2007

There is a widespread perception that music and architecture are profoundly dissimilar, far removed from each other in the creative spectrum. While music is regarded as ephemeral, transient, involving vibration, pitch and time – you hear it, you feel it, its beauty is assigned to your memory – the general response to architecture is fundamentally different. Those homogeneous, concrete volumes and solid, three-dimensional forms are thought to occupy a permanent, static and unyielding part of our environment, a constant reminder of its unique presence in time, unrelated to any other art-form. Architecture just does not float away into space like music – as some might fervently wish! But music and architecture cannot possibly exist independently in hermetically sealed compartments – they are inexorably bonded together by their very nature and by the cultural history that surrounds them.
FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS TO ‘1984’: ARTHUR WILLS AT 80
Authors: Johnson Bret
Published: October 2007

Last September Dr Arthur Wills OBE celebrated his 80th birthday by publishing his memoirs Full With Wills and enjoying a host of performances of some of his works. Now living in retirement in Ely, within sight of the great Cathedral whose musical life he developed and directed for over 40 years, he spoke to me at length in May this year about his life in music: as organist, choir director, composer, academic and educator.
QUOTATION AS A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT IN MUSIC BY MICHAEL NYMAN
Authors: Beirens Maarten
Published: October 2007

One of the most striking features in the music of the British composer Michael Nyman (born 1944) is the emphatic presence of musical quotations. This may be all the more remarkable because the main influence on Nyman's compositional style is minimal music. Generally, American minimal music is characterized by a large degree of abstraction, focussing on absolute music, clear abstract structures and the gradual unfolding of systematic musical processes. The almost provocatively objective appearance of the titles of works by Steve Reich (Violin Phase, Four Organs, Music for 18 Musicians) may be seen as emblematic for a music in which the transparent, process-like transformation of limited musical material calls for an equally objective type of material. Although American minimalists such as Steve Reich, Terry Riley and Philip Glass take recourse to diatonic material and tonal or modal harmonies, any reference to specific historical models is almost unconceivable in their early work, as the associations that come with the quoted material would only distract the listener from the systematic processes that the material is being subjected to, which forms the essence of this style. In that respect, Michael Nyman's fusion of minimalist strictness with openly acknowledged borrowings of pre-existing music sets him apart from his American contemporaries. This article investigates how Nyman applies different aspects of his quotation technique, how he incorporates the musical and extra-musical characteristics and associations that come with the quoted material into a solid musical statement, and how all this is combined with the strictness of his minimalism-related composition technique.
Economic evaluation of drug-eluting stents: A systematic literature review and model-based cost–utility analysis
Authors: Kuukasjärvi Pekka , Räsänen Pirjo , Malmivaara Antti , Aronen Pasi , Sintonen Harri
Published: October 2007

Objectives:The aim of this study was to systematically review economic analyses comparing drug-eluting stents (DES) to bare metal stents (BMS) in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention to form an overall view about cost-effectiveness of DES and to construct a simple decision analysis model to evaluate the cost–utility of DES.

Methods:Electronic databases searched from January 2004 to January 2006 were Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; DARE, HTA, EED (NHS CRD); MEDLINE(R) In-Process, Other Non-Indexed Citations, MEDLINE(R). References of the papers identified were checked. We included randomized controlled trials (RCT) or model-based cost-effectiveness analyses comparing DES to BMS in patients with coronary artery disease. The methodological quality of the papers was assessed by Drummond's criteria. Baseline characteristics and results of the studies were extracted and data synthesized descriptively. A decision tree model was constructed to evaluate the cost–utility of DES in comparison to BMS, where health-related quality of life was measured by the 15D.

Results:We identified thirteen good-quality economic evaluations. In two of these based on RCTs, DES was found cost-effective. In six studies, it was concluded that DES might probably be a cost-effective strategy in some circumstances, but not as a single strategy, and four studies concluded that DES is not cost-effective. One study did not draw a clear conclusion. In our analysis, the overall incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €98,827 per quality-adjusted life-years gained. Avoiding one revascularization with DES would cost €4,794, when revascularization with BMS costs €3,260.

Conclusions:The evidence is inconsistent of whether DES would be a cost-effective treatment compared with BMS in any healthcare system where evaluated. A marked restenosis risk reduction should be achieved before use of DES is justifiable at present prices. When considering adoption of a new health technology with a high incremental cost within a fixed budget, opportunity cost in terms of untreated patients should be seriously considered as a question of collective ethics.