bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low‐field magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of multifocal vertebral lesions in dogs
Authors: Furtado Ana Rita Ramalho , Moris Laura Muñiz , Esmieu Shanti , Cherubini Giunio Bruto , Mantis Panagiotis 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackground: There is a lack of information regarding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of polyostotic vertebral lesions in dogs. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify and differenciate low‐field MRI features of aggressive versus benign multifocal vertebral diseases in dogs.Methods: MRI examinations from 49 dogs with polyostotic vertebral lesions were reviewed. Images were evaluated for vertebral intensity changes, expansile lesions, new bone formation, cortical bone interruption, paravertebral musculature changes, lymphadenomegaly, spinal cord compression and spinal cord signal changes.Results: Twenty‐nine dogs with non‐aggressive bone lesions and 20 dogs with aggressive vertebral lesions were included. Non‐aggressive lesions had variable T2‐weighted fast spin‐echo (T2W) signal intensity and the majority displayed low signal intensity on short tau inversion recovery (STIR). Aggressive lesions predominantly had high T2W and STIR signal intensity, with variable signal intensity on T1‐weighted spin‐echo and contrast enhancement. Aggressive lesions were associated with spinal pain (p < 0.01), new bone formation (p = 0.02), spinal cord compression (p < 0.01) and lymphadenomegaly (p < 0.01). Cortical interruption (p < 0.01) and paravertebral musculature changes (p < 0.01) were the strongest indicative imaging features for aggressive lesions.Conclusion: Spinal pain, spinal cord compression, new bone formation, lymphadenomegaly and especially cortical interruption and paravertebral musculature signal intensity changes were the best discriminators for differentiating malignant from benign vertebral lesions.
Ultrasound evaluation of adrenal gland size in clinically healthy dogs and in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism
Authors: Melián Carlos , Pérez‐López Laura , Saavedra Pedro , Ravelo‐García Antonio G. , Santos Yaiza , Jaber José Raduan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackground: Precise reference intervals of adrenal gland thickness are required for detection of adrenomegaly in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).Methods: Eighty‐six clinically healthy dogs were prospectively included, and 91 dogs with untreated HAC were retrospectively evaluated. Dorso‐ventral adrenal gland thickness was ultrasonographically measured on the sagittal plane. Dogs were classified into four body weight categories, and those with HAC were also ultrasonographically classified as consistent with pituitary‐dependent HAC (PDH), adrenal‐dependent HAC (FAT), equivocal adrenal asymmetry (EAA), or normal adrenal thickness.Results: The upper limits for left adrenal gland in clinically healthy dogs were 5.1 mm (≥2.5–5 kg), 5.5 mm (>5–10 kg), 6.4 mm (>10–20 kg), and 7.3 mm (>20–40 kg), and for right adrenal gland the upper limits were 5.3 mm (≥2.5–5 kg), 6.8 mm (>5–10 kg), 7.5 mm (>10–20 kg), and 8.7 mm (>20–40 kg). The sensitivity of ultrasound to detect adrenomegaly in dogs with HAC was 95.6%. Most dogs with HAC (56.0%) had ultrasound findings consistent with either PDH or FAT; however, EAA was commonly occurring in 39.6% of dogs with HAC.Conclusions: The sensitivity of ultrasonography to detect adrenomegaly in dogs with HAC is high when using four weight categories. EAA is common in dogs with HAC.
Hydrodynamic characterization of soil compaction using integrated electrical resistivity and X‐ray computed tomography
Authors: Cimpoiaşu Mihai O. , Kuras Oliver , Wilkinson Paul B. , Pridmore Tony , Mooney Sacha J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractModern agricultural practices can cause significant stress on soil, which ultimately has degrading effects, such as compaction. There is an urgent need for fast, noninvasive methods to characterize and monitor compaction and its impact on hydraulic processes. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a well‐established method used for the assessment of soil hydraulic properties due to its high temporal resolution and sensitivity to changes in moisture content and salinity, whereas X‐ray computed tomography (CT) can be used for high‐spatial‐resolution imaging of soil structure. We used the combined strengths of both methods to study soil under three different levels of compaction. The soils were X‐ray scanned and electrically monitored after the application of a saline solution to the soil surface. The scans revealed the pore network architecture and allowed us to compute its size and connectivity. The ERT models revealed inhibited percolation rates for soils with a lower bulk density, but also how resistivity changes are spatiotemporally distributed within the soil columns. Furthermore, we obtained a quantitative link between the two methods, by which voxels more densely populated with pores were associated with higher temporal variations in electrical resistivity. Building on this, we established a spatial collocation between pore structure and distribution of solution during percolation. This demonstrates the potential of the combined strengths of the two tomographic methods to obtain an enhanced characterization of soil hydrodynamic properties.
Public Finance
Authors: Färber Gisela 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis chapter gives an overview of public finance in Germany. In the first part, it describes the process of public budgeting, the main principles, and the budget cycle. Finally, it reports on budget reforms. Subsequently, it delivers information on the volume and structure of expenditure and revenue, the latter with a special focus on the tax system, the system of multilevel tax distribution among the levels of government and on public debt. The chapter refers also to the legal framework for public budgeting and accounting standards that differ between the levels of the Federation and the states. Some special information on local finance in Germany is also included.
Transformation of Public Administration in East Germany Following Unification
Authors: Wollmann Hellmut 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAfter 1990, the rupture of the politico-administrative system and transformation of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was essentially shaped by the process of German unification and the GDR’s integration into the ‘old’ Federal Republic. Thus, basic constitutional and institutional issues, such as legal rule (Rechtsstaat)-based administration, inclusion in the European Union, were (‘exogenously’) pre-determined by the GDR’s accession to the ‘old’ Federal Republic. The chapter highlights East Germany’s politico-administrative transformation after 1990 by addressing the organisational and personnel dimensions of the remoulding and rebuilding of the administrative structures at the new Länder and local levels. Finally, notwithstanding the particularities of the ‘East German case’, it raises question whether there are lessons which other countries facing transition or transformation can draw from East Germany’s experience.
Institutional Differentiation of Public Service Provision in Germany: Corporatisation, Privatisation and Re-Municipalisation
Authors: Friedländer Benjamin , Röber Manfred , Schaefer Christina 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn recent decades, the provision of public services in Germany has increasingly been transferred to institutions outside the core administration. The process has resulted in a considerably changed institutional landscape with multiple effects on its steering, governance and management. The aim of this chapter is to highlight experiences with the four different institutional arrangements of corporatisation, outsourcing, privatisation and re-municipalisation in Germany. Against this background, we provide some lessons learnt for public administration and finally shift attention to the discussion on public versus private service provision.
The Federal Ministerial Bureaucracy, the Legislative Process and Better Regulation
Authors: Kuhlmann Sabine , Veit Sylvia 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOver the last decades, Better Regulation has become a major reform topic at the federal and—in some cases—also at the Länder level. Although the debate about improving regulatory quality and reducing unnecessary burdens created by bureaucracy and red tape date back to the 1960s and 1970s, the introduction by law in 2006 of a new independent institutionalised body for regulatory control at the federal level of government has brought a new quality to the discourse and practice of Better Regulation in Germany. This chapter introduces the basic features of the legislative process at the federal level in Germany, addresses the issue of Better Regulation and outlines the role of the National Regulatory Control Council (Nationaler Normenkontrollrat—NKR) as a ‘watchdog’ for compliance costs, red tape and regulatory impacts.
The Federal Administration of Interior Affairs
Authors: von Knobloch Hans-Heinrich 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAccording to the Basic Law, the Länder are in principle responsible for public administration, regardless of whether state or federal law is being enforced.The Basic Law has set a narrow framework for the federal administration. The obligations and options of the federal administration are defined in full. However, superior federal authorities responsible for the entire federal territory may be established by law passed with the consent of the Bundesrat for matters for which the Federation has the power to legislate. Intermediate and lower authorities may also be established if urgently needed. The chapter demonstrates this setting by the prominent example of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI).
Methodology for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Soils Using Non-isotopic Techniques
Authors: Zaman M. , Kleineidam K. , Bakken L. , Berendt J. , Bracken C. , Butterbach-Bahl K. , Cai Z. , Chang S. X. , Clough T. , Dawar K. , Ding W. X. , Dörsch P. , dos Reis Martins M. , Eckhardt C. , Fiedler S. , Frosch T. , Goopy J. , Görres C.-M. , Gupta A. , Henjes S. , Hofmann M. E. G. , Horn M. A. , Jahangir M. M. R. , Jansen-Willems A. , Lenhart K. , Heng L. , Lewicka-Szczebak D. , Lucic G. , Merbold L. , Mohn J. , Molstad L. , Moser G. , Murphy P. , Sanz-Cobena A. , Šimek M. , Urquiaga S. , Well R. , Wrage-Mönnig N. , Zaman S. , Zhang J. , Müller C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSeveral approaches exist for measuring greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly CO2, N2O, and CH4, from soil surfaces. The principle methods that are used to measure GHG from agricultural sites are chamber-based techniques. Both open and closed chamber techniques are in use; however, the majority of field applications use closed chambers. The advantages and disadvantages of different chamber techniques and the principal steps of operation are described. An important part of determining the quality of the flux measurements is the storage and the transportation of the gas samples from the field to the laboratory where the analyses are carried out. Traditionally, analyses of GHGs are carried out via gas chromatographs (GCs). In recent years, optical analysers are becoming increasingly available; these are user-friendly machines and they provide a cost-effective alternative to GCs. Another technique which is still under development, but provides a potentially superior method, is Raman spectroscopy. Not only the GHGs, but also N2, can potentially be analysed if the precision of these techniques is increased in future development. An important part of this chapter deals with the analyses of the gas concentrations, the calculation of fluxes, and the required safety measures. Since non-upland agricultural lands (i.e. flooded paddy soils) are steadily increasing, a section is devoted to the specificities of GHG measurements in these ecosystems. Specialised techniques are also required for GHG measurements in aquatic systems (i.e. rivers), which are often affected by the transfer of nutrients from agricultural fields and therefore are an important indirect source of emission of GHGs. A simple, robust, and more precise methodof ammonia (NH3) emission measurement is also described.
Automated Laboratory and Field Techniques to Determine Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Authors: Zaman M. , Kleineidam K. , Bakken L. , Berendt J. , Bracken C. , Butterbach-Bahl K. , Cai Z. , Chang S. X. , Clough T. , Dawar K. , Ding W. X. , Dörsch P. , dos Reis Martins M. , Eckhardt C. , Fiedler S. , Frosch T. , Goopy J. , Görres C.-M. , Gupta A. , Henjes S. , Hofmann M. E. G. , Horn M. A. , Jahangir M. M. R. , Jansen-Willems A. , Lenhart K. , Heng L. , Lewicka-Szczebak D. , Lucic G. , Merbold L. , Mohn J. , Molstad L. , Moser G. , Murphy P. , Sanz-Cobena A. , Šimek M. , Urquiaga S. , Well R. , Wrage-Mönnig N. , Zaman S. , Zhang J. , Müller C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMethods and techniques are described for automated measurements of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in both the laboratory and the field. Robotic systems are currently available to measure the entire range of gases evolved from soils including dinitrogen (N2). These systems usually work on an exchange of the atmospheric N2with helium (He) so that N2 fluxes can be determined. Laboratory systems are often used in microbiology to determine kinetic response reactions via the dynamics of all gaseous N species such as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and N2. Latest He incubation techniques also take plants into account, in order to study the effect of plant–soil interactions on GHGsand N2 production. The advantage of automated in-field techniques is that GHG emission rates can be determined at a high temporal resolution. This allows, for instance, to determine diurnal response reactions (e.g. with temperature) and GHG dynamics over longer time periods.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Soil Fauna, Fungi and Plants on Greenhouse Gas Fluxes
Authors: Zaman M. , Kleineidam K. , Bakken L. , Berendt J. , Bracken C. , Butterbach-Bahl K. , Cai Z. , Chang S. X. , Clough T. , Dawar K. , Ding W. X. , Dörsch P. , dos Reis Martins M. , Eckhardt C. , Fiedler S. , Frosch T. , Goopy J. , Görres C.-M. , Gupta A. , Henjes S. , Hofmann M. E. G. , Horn M. A. , Jahangir M. M. R. , Jansen-Willems A. , Lenhart K. , Heng L. , Lewicka-Szczebak D. , Lucic G. , Merbold L. , Mohn J. , Molstad L. , Moser G. , Murphy P. , Sanz-Cobena A. , Šimek M. , Urquiaga S. , Well R. , Wrage-Mönnig N. , Zaman S. , Zhang J. , Müller C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSoils harbour diverse soil faunaand a wide range of soil microorganisms. These fauna and microorganisms directly contribute to soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes via their respiratory and metabolic activities and indirectly by changing the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils through bioturbation, fragmentation and redistribution of plant residues, defecation, soil aggregate formation, herbivory, and grazing on microorganisms and fungi. Based on recent results, the methods and results found in relation to fauna as well as from fungi and plants are presented. The approaches are outlined, and the significance of these hitherto ignored fluxes is discussed.
Isotopic Techniques to Measure N2O, N2 and Their Sources
Authors: Zaman M. , Kleineidam K. , Bakken L. , Berendt J. , Bracken C. , Butterbach-Bahl K. , Cai Z. , Chang S. X. , Clough T. , Dawar K. , Ding W. X. , Dörsch P. , dos Reis Martins M. , Eckhardt C. , Fiedler S. , Frosch T. , Goopy J. , Görres C.-M. , Gupta A. , Henjes S. , Hofmann M. E. G. , Horn M. A. , Jahangir M. M. R. , Jansen-Willems A. , Lenhart K. , Heng L. , Lewicka-Szczebak D. , Lucic G. , Merbold L. , Mohn J. , Molstad L. , Moser G. , Murphy P. , Sanz-Cobena A. , Šimek M. , Urquiaga S. , Well R. , Wrage-Mönnig N. , Zaman S. , Zhang J. , Müller C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGHGemissions are usually the result of several simultaneous processes. Furthermore, some gases such as N2 are very difficult to quantify and require special techniques. Therefore, in this chapter, the focus is on stable isotopemethods. Both natural abundance techniques and enrichment techniques are used. Especially in the last decade, a number of methodological advances have been made. Thus, this chapter provides an overview and description of a number of current state-of-the-art techniques, especially techniques using the stable isotope15N. Basic principles and recent advances of the 15N gasflux method are presented to quantify N2 fluxes, but also the latest isotopologue and isotopomermethods to identify pathways for N2O production. The second part of the chapter is devoted to 15N tracing techniques, the theoretical background and recent methodological advances. A range of different methods is presented from analytical to numerical tools to identify and quantify pathway-specific N2O emissions. While this chapter is chiefly concerned with gaseous N emissions, a lot of the techniques can also be applied to other gases such as methane (CH4), as outlined in Sect. 5.3.
Most Innovative Asia-Pacific Universities
Authors: Al-Youbi Abdulrahman Obaid , Zahed Adnan Hamza Mohammad , Nahas Mahmoud Nadim , Hegazy Ahmad Abousree 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDespite of the political instability in South Korea, there are strong and solid relations between universities and industry. These relations continue to lead economic growth and technical innovation in this country. This is the conclusion reached by Reuters in the third annual classification of Asian and Pacific universities, working on achieving progress in sciences and creating new technologies [29]. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, currently known as KAIST, is ranked the first for the third year in a row. Historically speaking, KAIST is the oldest Korean university dedicated for research, sciences, and engineering. It has three branch campuses in the following cities: Daejeon, Seoul, and Busan. The university produces a large number of innovations and applies for more patents than the other 75 universities on the list. In addition, researchers all over the world cite highly the research and patents of this university.
Decision Science for Future Earth: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Yahara Tetsukazu , Tanaka Wataru , Inoue Yukako , Lee Jounghun , Qian Kun , Javadi Firouzeh , Onda Nariaki , Yokota Fumihiko , Eguchi Kumi , Nishikitani Mariko , Kikuchi Kimiyo , Kawasaki Nobuyoshi , Jeong Yukyong , Ide Jun’ichiro , Ota Tetsuji , Fujiwara Takahiro , Hosoya Tadatsugu , Kano Yuichi , Sugimoto Megumi , Ahmed Ashir , Shimatani Yukihiro , Tokunaga Shota , Nagahama Ai , Hiramatsu Michikazu , Murakami Takahiro 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe purpose of this chapter is to review progress in our understanding of human behavior and decision-making relevant to future earth research agenda, and propose Decision Science as a hub of knowledge networks connecting disciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences with the practice of problem-solving. This review is composed of four sections. First, we describe the conceptual framework of “decision science for a sustainable society” and argue that evolutionary biology of the human nature is key to construct this framework. Second, we review how our group decision-making often fails due to various cognitive biases and argue that participatory approaches of co-design and co-production do not guarantee reasonable decision-making. Third, we review success stories of problem-solving in local communities and consider how we can connect those successes in local communities to successful national and global decision-making. Fourth, learning from both failures and successes, we argue that the adaptive learning of society is a process enabling us to transform our society toward a sustainable future. We review some positive global trends toward sustainability and consider the cognitive processes and behavioral mechanisms behind those trends that would provide clues for finding successful ways to transform our society.
Conflict of Legitimacy Over Tropical Forest Lands: Lessons for Collaboration from the Case of Industrial Tree Plantation in Indonesia
Authors: Fujiwara Takahiro , Onda Nariaki 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIndustrial Tree Plantation (ITP) in Indonesia has been controversial due to its significant environmental, economic, and social impacts and the severe conflicts among stakeholders. Therefore, it is crucially important to discuss the fundamental structure of the conflicts to promote going forward. We introduce the concept of “legitimacy” and discuss the (1) inequality of the landholding structure and (2) legal pluralism established by historical circumstances as the fundamental structure of the conflicts. Our discussions present some key lessons in promoting collaboration among stakeholders. The first lesson is that the degree of interest and priority for problems differs among stakeholders. Therefore, an understanding of these differences is the first step toward collaboration. The second lesson is about the importance of considering history. Awareness of the problem, interpretation of the historical facts, and evaluation of other stakeholders by a certain stakeholder change over time. Therefore, to start a collaboration, it is necessary to build a consensus among stakeholders as a time point to go back to in order to discuss the problem. The third lesson is that a procedure for data presentation agreeable among stakeholders as independent, neutral, and fair is essential for their collaborations. Especially in cases where conflicts among stakeholders are intensive, it appears that confidence in and interpretation of presented data are different for each stakeholder. Therefore, data presentation agreeable to all stakeholders is essential to promote their collaborations. Unlike conventional scientific research, scientists are required to uphold various values existing in society to collaborate with stakeholders in transdisciplinary research of Future Earth.
Environmental Concerns of the Pulp and Paper Industry: Focusing on Household and Sanitary Paper Products
Authors: Qian Kun 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe category of household and sanitary products is the most important category in the paper industry, because it is related to people’s daily lives all around the world. This category is seeing a rapid increase in consumption, while consumption in other categories, such as printing or writing paper, is presently declining. China is the largest manufacturer, as well as the largest consumer of household and sanitary paper. Nowadays, environmental consciousness and concerns are rising in China and have started to influence customers’ behavior in selecting and using paper products. In the present study, surveys were conducted of the paper industry, the retail market for paper, and end consumers of paper. The relationship between new challenges of the paper industry and consumers’ environmental concerns has been investigated and reported.