bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon residues in the sediments of a dune lake as a result of power boating
Authors: Mosisch Thorsten D. , Arthington Angela H. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe potential chemical effects of motorized recreational activities (power boating, water skiing, jet skiing) on Brown Lake, an Australian perched, acid dune lake, were investigated. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) that may have accumulated in the water and/or the organic bottom sediments of the test lake as a result of the operation of powered recreational watercraft, and to evaluate any risk to aquatic biota. To achieve this, a detailed sampling and analysis programme of the lake water and sediments was implemented. Basic water quality, ionic and nutrient data gave no indication of any deterioration in the water quality of the lake, which was attributable to human usage in general or motorized recreational activities in particular. However, analysis of samples taken from the organic bottom sediments of the lake revealed the presence of 10 PAH, including benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene and pyrene, which are known to be indicative of fossil fuel combustion processes. Three PAH compounds were found at all survey sites: benzo(a)pyrene (in 46% of samples), fluoranthene (in 53% of samples) and pyrene (in 44% of samples). Results of the analyses were compared with values from published guidelines for residues in freshwaters and sediments, as well as with previous studies dealing with the effects of fossil fuel combustion products on lakes. The highest PAH concentrations in sediments were recorded for benzo(a)pyrene, with three values (830, 955 and 1070 μg kg–1 dryweight) exceeding the upper threshold recommended in the draft Canadian freshwater sediment quality guidelines. Benzo(a)pyrene also exceeded the lower Canadian sediment threshold in 51 (40%) samples. These results indicate a significant level of chemical contamination of Brown Lake as a consequence of four decades of motorized recreational activities and present a significant risk to aquatic biota, particularly benthic and littoral invertebrates associated with the contaminated sediments.
Three methods for determining the area–depth relationship of Lake Poopó, a large shallow lake in Bolivia
Authors: Zolá Ramiro Pillco , Bengtsson Lars 
Published: August 2010

AbstractLake Poopó in Bolivia is a large, extremely shallow lake. The lake surface area is ≈3000 km2 at its spill‐over level, although it could dry out at times. The lake water level varies with the regional rains and with the water inflow from the Desaguadero River. This study focuses on using and comparing three different approaches to determine the hypsographic curve for the lake. As the lake is extremely shallow, depth measurements must be conducted from a slowly moving boat using a rod. The accuracy using echo‐sounding of the lake is poor. The second approach, which can be applied because the lake water level can vary considerably, and because the lake sometimes is almost dry, is to relate the lake surface area determined from satellite images to elevations determined from benchmarks on an island in the lake. The third method is an indirect one, in which the change in lake water volume over the period between two satellite images is determined from water balance computations and subsequently related to changes in the water surface area, as determined from the satellite images. Determination of the shoreline for different water levels in the lake is affected by errors related to the tilting of the water surface, and because wind forces the water to move several hundred metres towards the windward shore of the lake during a measurement survey.
Water quality assessment of a recently refilled reservoir: The case of Bütgenbach Reservoir, Belgium
Authors: Lourantou Anna , Thomé Jean‐Pierre , Goffart Anne 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBütgenbach Reservoir is situated in the High Ardennes plateau in eastern Belgium (50°25′N; 6°13′E). It is used principally for flood control and for production of hydroelectric energy. It has been subjected to a previous series of studies because of its eutrophication problems and their impacts on the local economy. Bütgenbach Reservoir was emptied during spring 2004 for dam restoration, being refilled in mid‐September of the same year. Selected physicochemical and biological parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, inorganic and organic nutrients, chlorophyll‐a) were measured fortnightly during the lake's productive season (mid‐April to mid‐October 2005) at three sampling sites throughout the water column. The water quality conditions after refilling of the lake were compared to previous studies accomplished at the same sampling sites (prior to emptying the lake). The actual trophic status was mesotrophic to eutrophic, based on the combination of total phosphorous and chlorophyll‐a concentrations, as well as water transparency. Bütgenbach Reservoir generally exhibits good water quality, based on the French water quality system SEQ‐eau. A longitudinal decrease in water quality was observed from upstream to downstream, because mainly of the differences in lake bottom morphology and water residence time, and their impacts on nutrient distribution in the lake.
Waterbirds and nutrient enrichment in Mar Menor Lagoon, a shallow coastal lake in southeast Spain
Authors: Robledano Aymerich Francisco , Pagán Abellán Iluminada , Calvo Sendín José Francisco 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe Mar Menor, a 135‐km2 saline lake, is the largest water surface on the western Mediterranean coast, and an internationally important bird area. It is surrounded by a large irrigated agricultural plain, with dense tourism developments. Although the impacts of these activities on water quality are locally evident, their effects on waterbird populations are poorly known. In the winter 2004–2005, we studied the distribution of four waterbird species (Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps nigricollis, Phalacrocorax carbo and Fulica atra) around the main drainage channel that discharges into the lake, where it was feasible to infer spatial patterns of eutrophication (alongshore and shore centre) from previous environmental surveys. Waterbirds were counted along a stretch of undeveloped shoreline extending southwards from the channel outlet, in contiguous sections, and in bands parallel to the shoreline. Linear mixed models (LMM) indicated the population density increased only markedly for grebes (Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps nigricollis) and coot (Fulica atra) in littoral bands qualifying as eutrophic, but not an alongshore response, with their finescale alongshore distribution being apparently unrelated to nutrient sources. Considering the whole lake, however, the temporal trends and distribution of the wintering populations indicated that waterbirds respond numerically, in a guild‐specific way, to nutrient inputs. Grebes and coot could be a useful ‘two‐stage’ warning signal for potential problem areas affected by similar influences.
Use of a fishery model (FAST) to explain declines in the stocked barramundi (Lates calcarifer) (Bloch) fishery in Lake Tinaroo, Australia
Authors: McDougall Andrew J. , Pearce Malcolm G. , MacKinnon Mal 
Published: August 2010

AbstractElectrofishing, a fishery‐independent technique, was used to determine the size structure of a stocked impoundment barramundi (Lates calcarifer) fishery in Australia, in order to determine their size and age structure. Along with known recruitment values (stockings), this information was used to back‐calculate the mortality on each successive age class of fish. Using the fisher model, Fishery Analysis Simulation Tool (FAST), it was found that the fishery biomass reached a peak in the 1990s, and has since fallen rapidly because of the lack of successful recruitment until 2003. The fishery sampled in 2002 was dominated by older age fish classes (10+ to 14+ years old), which is opposite to that naturally found in wild fisheries. Although no juvenile L. calcarifer was found in the gut contents, cannibalism is suggested as an overriding cause for recent recruitment failure. Possible future management options for stocking apex piscivorous fish species into closed water systems also are suggested.
The role of the Yala swamp lakes in the conservation of Lake Victoria region haplochromine cichlids: Evidence from genetic and trophic ecology studies
Authors: Abila Romulus , Salzburger Walter , Ndonga Millicent Florence , Owiti Dickson Otieno , Barluenga Marta , Meyer Axel 
Published: August 2010

AbstractLake Kanyaboli, an isolated satellite lake of Lake Victoria, has been suggested as a potential refugium for haplochromine cichlids that have gone extinct in the main basin of Lake Victoria. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecular markers, as well as feeding ecology studies, were employed in this study to re‐evaluate the evolutionary and ecological significance of six common Lake Kanyaboli haplochromines. The mtDNA marker revealed high genetic variability within four of the six haplochromine cichlids. Five haplotypes were discerned inAstatoreochromis alluaudi(n = 27), seven inLipochromis maxillaris(n = 29), five inAstatotilapia nubila(n = 12) and 11 in the endangeredXystichromis phytophagus(n = 205). A haplotype genealogy suggests that Lake Kanyaboli harbours mtDNA haplotypes that could have been lost or not sampled in Lake Victoria, or could have arisenin situ.Lipochromis maxillarisappears to have undergone a recent demographic expansion. The pairwiseFSTs indicated that only the comparison betweenX. phytophagusandA. nubilaled to a non‐significantFSTvalue. All other comparisons were significant at the 0.01 level, indicating the genetic distinctiveness of the haplochromines in the satellite lake. This could suggest that the lake harbours ‘pure’ relict populations of the haplochromines and therefore that Lake Kanyaboli can be considered a ‘genetic reservoir’. Gut content analysis of the six haplochromine species revealed that eight different food items were consumed. No single species fed exclusively on a single food item, but certain food items contributed higher proportions of the fish diet for each fish species. Resource partitioning therefore could be discerned within this haplochromine community. Thus, Lake Kanyaboli and similar satellite lakes provide an opportunity for conservation of both genetic and trophic diversity threatened by introduction of exotics in the Lake Victoria basin. Lake Kanyaboli should be recognized and conserved as important evolutionary significant units for Lake Victoria region haplochromine species.
Lessons from laparoscopic surgery—a fresh look at post‐operative management after major colorectal procedures
Authors: Lindsey I. , George B. D. , Mortensen N. J. McC. 
Published: August 2010

ObjectiveLaparoscopy holds promise of exciting advances in colorectal surgery, yet the data we require to draw appropriate evidence‐based conclusions on its apparent advantages are sadly lacking. In the meantime, our focus on improved recovery after major colorectal resections has changed the way we manage patients after open surgery.MethodsA literature review was undertaken to collect published data on laparoscopic colorectal surgery. In addition, data on newer developments in open colorectal surgery were collected.ResultsAlthough there are many published data in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, very few are randomized and controlled. It is clear that, at least in the short to medium term, oncological outcomes are comparable to open surgery. There are data suggesting advantages, including less immune suppression, faster recovery with earlier feeding, less ileus, shorter length of stay and earlier return to normal activity.ConclusionUnfortunately, due to study design the data are largely not comparable with open surgery data, and open surgery itself has changed to some extent recently. We must encourage recruitment of patients into current ongoing randomized controlled trials of laparoscopic and open surgery and await the results.
A prospective study of genito‐urinary dysfunction after surgery for colorectal cancer
Authors: Shah E. F. , Huddy S. P. J. 
Published: August 2010

ObjectiveTo establish the incidence of impotence and urinary dysfunction after different forms of pelvic and colorectal surgery.Patients and methodsOver a period of one year, 78 consecutive patients, mean age 66.8 years (range 43–91 years), underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. Genito‐urinary function was studied by clinical assessment and a postoperative questionnaire.ResultsPre‐operatively all males except one claimed to be potent. Of the 56 patients who had operations on the sigmoid colon and rectum, 12 (21.4%) developed urinary dysfunction; 6 (5 males, 1 female) had increased frequency while 6 (4 females, 2 males) had stress incontinence. Four (12.9%) of the 31 male patients became impotent. Of the control 22 patients who had had operations on the ascending colon, one female developed stress incontinence and none of the male patients developed impotence.ConclusionAlthough the introduction of autonomic nerve sparing techniques and total mesorectal excision (TME) may have lowered the incidence of genito‐urinary dysfunction after rectal surgery, there remains a degree of morbidity compared to procedures where the rectum is not mobilized.
A new test for linkage in affected sib pairs
Authors: Shete Sanjay S. , Amos Christopher I. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractIn affected sib pair linkage methods the mean proportion of marker alleles shared identical by descent (ibd) among affected sib pairs has been shown to be a powerful test for detecting linkage compared with other tests for most situations. However, it is not always possible to estimate identity by descent sharing between sibs unambiguously, even when the parental genotypes are known. Here we define a measure of informativity for scoring ibd sharing based on the parental mating and sib pair genotypes. This measure reflects the precision with which one can obtain the ibd sharing information between sibs based on family data. Then we define a new weighted mean proportion of alleles shared ibd by sib pairs test statistics. In this study we assign precision for estimating the ibd sharing as weights to the proportion of alleles shared ibd by affected sib pairs. However, the simulation results showed that there is no significant gain in power using the weighted mean proportion test. Implications of this observation are discussed.
A Comparison of Reporting Lags of Multinational and Domestic Firms
Authors: Lee Ho‐Young , Mande Vivek , Son Myungsoo 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThis study examines whether multinational firms report earnings sooner than domestic firms. When compared with domestic firms, the reporting environment and business operations of multinational firms are significantly more complex. There is a greater amount of information asymmetry between managers and shareholders of multinational firms. Therefore, multinational firms potentially face higher monitoring and external financing costs. To reduce these costs, we conjecture that managers of multinational firms take steps to reduce the information asymmetry between shareholders and management by increasing the timeliness (a proxy for relevance) of their earnings reports. Specifically, we expect multinational firms to announce earnings earlier than domestic firms. We separate earnings reporting delay into auditor‐related delay and management's discretionary delay. While test results weakly support the hypothesis that auditors take longer to audit multinational firms, there is strong evidence that managers of multinational firms release their earnings reports sooner than domestic firms.
PROFITS, CRISES AND INDUSTRIAL CHANGE 2: THE EXPERIENCE OF CANADA 1950—1981
Authors: WEBBER MICHAEL 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe paper measures the rate of profit and its components in Canadian manufacturing for 1950 ‐ 1981. The rate of profit has been reduced by rises in the real wage and the technical composition of capital, partially offset by a devaluation in the means of production and a reduction in turnover times. The value of labour power and therefore the rate of exploitation have not changed. The rate of profit has consistently fallen throughout the period. These results are consistent with a theory that the falling rate of profit is endogenous to capitalism.
Young Children's Psychological Selves: Convergence with Maternal Reports of Child Personality
Authors: Brown Geoffrey L. , Mangelsdorf Sarah C. , Agathen Jean M. , Ho Moon‐Ho 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe present research examined five‐year‐old children's psychological self‐concepts. Non‐linear factor analysis was used to model the latent structure of the children's self‐view questionnaire (CSVQ; Eder, 1990), a measure of children's self‐concepts. The coherence and reliability of the emerging factor structure indicated that young children are capable of meaningfully reporting about their own emotions and personalities. Moreover, these self‐reports from five‐year‐olds converged with maternal perceptions of child personality. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the study of emergent personality, continuity/discontinuity in personality assessment across the lifespan, and self‐concept formation in early childhood.
Technological Creativity and Cheap Labour? Explaining the Growing International Competitiveness of German Mechanical Engineering before World War I
Authors: Labuske Kirsten , Streb Jochen 
Published: August 2010

AbstractWhich factors caused the growing international competitiveness of German mechanical engineering industry in the pre-World War I period? In this paper, we want to address this question and elucidate whether or not the international market success of machine builders in the German Empire was determined by technological creativity and the availability of a comparatively cheap labour force. Based on an unbalanced panel, we therefore investigate the influence of demand, labour costs and technological creativity on export performance of 32 different machinery types. We find robust evidence that the development of export- import ratios in mechanical engineering was positively influenced by the growth of patent stocks that represent the new knowledge being available for German machine builders. In addition, we present some evidence for the assumption that the growing international competitiveness of German mechanical engineering was also caused by decreasing relative unit labour cost.
INVESTIGATION OF APPARENT HEARING LOSS BY OPERANT AUDIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE
Authors: Stevens Andrew , Williams Chris 
Published: August 2010

Traditional audiological techniques have relied upon the subject making a distinct response if he/she can hear a certain sound, usually a pure tone. However, such approaches require that the instructions to make this response at a specific time be imparted to the subject before his/her hearing can be assessed. This is clearly not possible if there is a basic communication problem as with many young deaf children or with severely retarded persons.To overcome this, techniques using the principles of operant conditioning have been used with notable success. Fulton and Lloyd (1969) reported having assessed successfully the hearing of over a dozen severely retarded children, although a few cases required a more complex procedure than the simple positive reinforcement discrimination method described here.
INFORMATION PROCESSING AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED: an approach for considering work skills
Authors: MYOTT ANNE 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe usefulness of information concepts in an assessment situation was commented on as early as 1957 by Annett and, more recently, by Olsen (1971) who suggested that channel capacity could act as a sensitive index of mental retardation. Renewed interest has been shown by Whelan (1974).The present study raises three major considerations. Firstly, it suggests that the ability of the mentally handicapped to process information is influenced by the nature of the cues used. Colour cues appear to be processed significantly faster than shape cues. Secondly, there are significant differences in the speed of information processing depending on the amount of information conveyed by the stimulus card. Thirdly, it suggests that measures of central processing over information levels where the subject has to utilise one or two bits of information are comparable with non‐handicapped populations, and that handicapped individuals suffer in comparison in terms of their movement time.
The use of microcomputers in the teaching of the mentally handicapped
Authors: SAUNDERS PETER 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARY: This article is written by a layman with the intention of persuading other laymen to consider using microcomputers for teaching mentally handicapped children and adults.It surveys some of the work being done to help disabled people and proposes that similar effort should be coordinated in the interests of the mentally handicapped and of those who care for them.
HOSPITAL DAY CARE CENTRES for mentally handicapped adults
Authors: DALGLEISH MARY 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYThis study examines some effects of environmental design in two new day care centres for mentally handicapped adults. Problems in organising activities were greatest in large, open areas; highest levels of staff‐resident interaction and resident engagement being found in smaller, enclosed rooms. Resident engagement and staff‐resident interaction were generally unrelated to staffing levels. Facilities for residents and staff to work together on a one‐to‐one basis were inadequate.
Constructing language comprehension programmes: an approach for use with mentally handicapped children
Authors: ROSE RICHARD 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYThe article discusses the need for language programmes in special schools and the current interest in implementing such schemes for major areas of the curriculum. The rationale and format of a programme for improving language comprehension skills in mentally handicapped children is described and is viewed alongside some of the commercial materials available. The strengths and weaknesses of the commercial programmes are discussed and the programme described is seen as a means of overcoming some of the problems presented by these, and adopting a more individual approach. The components of the programme are described showing the means of implementation from its inclusive assessment through to the choice of method and materials to be used by the class teacher. An approach to record keeping specifically aimed at the language comprehension programme is described and illustrated.
“First do no harm”– part‐time care for mentally handicapped children
Authors: LINDSAY MARY P. 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYPart‐time forms of care are an important resource for mentally handicapped children and their families. Separation experiences for a child, however, can be most distressing, and careful consideration needs to be given to the ways in which distress can be prevented. There should be good positive reasons for an individual child to receive part‐time care, and sufficient preparation and planning should ensure that this is a satisfactory experience for the child and his family. Practical guidelines are given.
Improving the interpersonal skills of mentally handicapped people
Authors: FIRTH MELINDA , FIRTH HUGH 
Published: August 2010

A training group to teach interpersonal skills to residents of a health authority hostel was run by two psychologists and the hostel staff. The group included mildly and severely mentally handicapped people.The organisation and content of the training is discussed and examples given. Recommendations are made on the basis of problems encountered and lessons learned which will be of help when planning interpersonal skills training groups for other mentally handicapped people.