bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The 2006 Orionid outburst imaged by all-sky CCD cameras from Spain: meteoroid spatial fluxes and orbital elements
Authors: Trigo-Rodríguez Josep M. , Madiedo José M. , Llorca Jordi , Gural Peter S. , Pujols Pep , Tezel Tunc 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
By using high-resolution low-scan-rate all-sky CCD cameras, the SPanish Meteor Network (SPMN) detected an outburst of Orionid meteors associated with comet 1P/Halley on 2006 October 20–21. This detection was made possible due to the operational concept of the SPMN that involves continuous monitoring of meteor activity throughout the year. Accurate heliocentric orbits have been obtained for three meteors imaged simultaneously from two stations during the outburst. Additional astrometry of 33 single-station meteors indicates that the activity was produced from a conspicuous geocentric radiant located at α= 922 ± 05 and δ=+154 ± 06 which is similar to the radiant observed during the 1993 Orionid outburst despite the fact that the last one peaked on a different date. The radiant position obtained by the SPMN is consistent with that derived from digital pictures taken a few hours before from Ankara (Turkey). The extent of the outburst (a background of bright meteors was observed over several days), its absence in other years, and the orbital period of the three Orionid orbits suggest that the outburst could be produced by meteoroids trapped in resonances with Jupiter but additional data are required. The SPMN's continuous coverage of meteor activity allowed the identification of the main sources of meteors during 2006 October: mostly due to the Orionid stream, the two branches of the Taurid stream associated with comet 2P/Encke, and the δ Aurigids. Surprisingly, once a detailed analysis of the double-station video meteors was completed, some additional minor stream activity was discovered, that is, the ν Aurigids. In consequence, we also present two accurate orbits of this unexpected, but previously identified, minor shower.
Seasonal and plant‐density dependency for quantitative trait loci affecting flowering time in multiple populations of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: BOTTO JAVIER F. , COLUCCIO MARÍA PAULA 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTMultiple environmental cues regulate the transition to flowering. In natural environments, plants perceive seasonal progression by changes in day length and growth temperature, and plant density is monitored by changes in the light quality reflected from neighbouring vegetation. To understand the seasonal and plant‐density dependence associated with natural allelic variation in flowering time, we conducted a quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping study in Ler × Cvi, Bay × Sha and Ler × No‐0 recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. Days and total leaf number to bolting were examined under low and high plant density (200 or 1600 plants m−2) in autumn–winter and spring seasons. We found between 4 and 10 QTLs associated with seasonal and density variations in each RIL population. For Ler × Cvi and Bay × Sha RIL populations, a major proportion of QTLs showed seasonal and density interaction (up to 63%) and four QTLs were common to all environments (21%). Only three QTLs showed seasonal or density dependency. By aligning the linkage maps onto a common physical map, we detected at least one QTL at chromosome 2 and two QTLs at chromosome 5 that overlap between the three RIL populations, suggesting that these QTLs play a crucial role in the adaptive control of flowering time.
Our experience in liver transplantation in patients over 65 yr of age
Authors: Bilbao Itxarone , Dopazo Cristina , Lazaro Jose Luis , Castells Luis , Escartin Alfredo , Lopez Iñigo , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Balsells Joaquin , Margarit Carlos 
Published: August 2007

Abstract: Objectives:  The aim of this study was to analyze short‐ and long‐term results of liver transplantation (LT) in patients over 65 yr.Material and methods:  Between 1996 and 2004, 386 patients underwent 415 LT at our center. The main indication for LT was post‐necrotic cirrhosis in 59%, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over cirrhosis in 33%. Half of the patients (53%) were hepatitis C virus (HCV) +. Overall, 72 patients were >65 yr of age. Actuarial survival, causes of mortality and postoperative complications were compared between groups: patients under and over 65 yr. Risk factors for poor outcome in patients over 65 yr were also analyzed.Results:  The older group had more patients at Child A stage, more HCC as an indication for LT and more HCV (+) patients, p < 0.05. No differences were observed in donor and surgery characteristics, except for lower multi‐transfusion and higher incidence of grafts with steatosis in the older group (p < 0.05). Actuarial survival at one, three, five and 10 yr was 82%, 75%, 72%, and 70% for the <65 yr group vs. 77%, 66%, 55%, and 55% for the >65 yr group (p = 0.03). Main causes of mortality in patients >65 yr were recurrence of underlying disease and medical causes. In the older age group, fewer infections (p = ns) and rejections (p = 0.017) occurred in the postoperative period. Risk factor for poor outcome in the group of patients over 65 yr in multivariate analyses was pre‐LT renal insufficiency (odds ratio 3.5, p = 0.002, 95% confidence interval 1.58–7.82).Conclusion:  Results in patients >65 yr are comparable to those <65 yr if older LT candidates are carefully selected. Overimmunosuppression should be avoided in older candidates, as its effects could worsen the pre‐existing diseases common in elderly patients.
The Semifossorial Function of the Forelimb in the Common Rice Tenrec (Oryzorictes hova) and the Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes hemispinosus)
Authors: Endo H. , Oishi M. , Yonezawa T. , Rakotondraparany F. , Hasegawa M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe forelimb muscles of the two semifossorial species of Tenrecidae (Oryzoryctinae: common rice tenrec; and Tenrecinae: streaked tenrec) were compared macroscopically with those of the unspecialized terrestrial–arboreal species, the Talazac long‐tailed tenrec. The structure of the hand was also observed using three‐dimensional reconstructed images from computed tomography data. The two semifossorial species had similar muscle weight ratios in the lateral and long heads of M. triceps brachii and M. teres major. A similar hand skeleton structure (in which the second, third and fourth metacarpals and phalanges act as a digging apparatus) was observed in both species. Our observations confirm that both these species have muscular–skeletal adaptations supporting fossorial locomotion. As each species belongs to a monophyletic subfamily within the Tenrecidae isolated in Madagascar, such semifossorial adaptations are assumed to have evolved convergently.
Effects of Sex‐sorted Spermatozoa on the Efficiency of in vitro Fertilization and Ultrastructure of in vitro Produced Bovine Blastocysts
Authors: Palma G. A. , Olivier N. S. , Neumüller Ch. , Sinowatz F. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryFrozen‐thawed sexed semen from six bulls (Holstein) was used for studying their efficiency in an in vitro fertilization (IVF)‐programme and to compare their ultrastructure with in vitro produced bovine blastocysts produced with non‐sorted sperm. Progressive motility of sorted spermatozoa, their IVF rate, development of produced blastocysts and the ultrastructure of the blastocysts were analysed. The cleavage rates of sexed sperm of bulls (groups S1, S2 and S4) were significantly lower than that of unsorted control sperm (P < 0.01). Blastocyst development at day 7 of the sexed semen groups varied between 3.5% and 28.8% versus 33.6% for non‐sexed semen. The individual blastocyst yield with sexed semen of group S5 (28.8%) was similar to the mean blastocyst production of the non‐sexed control spermatozoa (C, 33.6%; P > 0.05). The remaining five sexed sperm groups resulted in significantly lower developmental rates of blastocysts on day 7 (S1, 4.9%; S2, 0%; S3, 0%, S4, 3.5%; S6, 25.8%, P < 0.01). Group S2 showed microbiological contamination in 50% (four of eight) and S3 in 100% of the experiments (eight of eight). Progressive motility of sexed sperm was significantly lower than that of unsorted sperm (S1, 48 ± 12.0%; S2, 41 ± 11.9%; S3, 39.0 ± 9.9%; S4, 42 ± 4.6%; P < 0.01; S5, 72 ± 7.1% and S6, 64 ± 9.3; P < 0.05 versus C 82 ± 4.6%). The percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa showed a good correlation with the developmental capacity of blastocysts (r2: >0.70), the regression parameter was significant (P < 0.01). Furthermore, with a straw containing 10 × 106 sexed spermatozoa significantly lower number oocytes was fertilized than with the same concentration of non‐sexed sperm (P < 0.01). Our results demonstrate that the suitability of sperm sorting for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is lower than no sexed sperm. Our ultrastructural studies showed that blastocysts produced with flow‐cytometrically sex‐sorted spermatozoa possessed deviations in the number and structure of organelles like mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope. These morphological alterations may be responsible for compromised development that observed in embryos produced with sex‐sorted spermatozoa. Thus, we conclude that sperm sex sorting can markedly affect the efficiency of an IVF‐programme.
Paranasal sinus fungus ball: diagnosis and management
Authors: Pagella Fabio , Matti Elina , Bernardi Francesca De , Semino Lucia , Cavanna Caterina , Marone Piero , Farina Claudio , Castelnuovo Paolo 
Published: August 2007

SummaryParanasal sinus fungus ball is an extramucosal mycosis, usually occurring in immunocompetent people as a monolateral lesion. To review the literature data and to report the Policlinico S. Matteo, University of Pavia experience, 81 patients presenting paranasal fungus ball have been treated (January 1994 to May 2005). Twenty‐seven men and 54 women (19–91 years old; mean 49.4 years) were considered. Seventy‐three patients had a single sinus affected, but eight presented multiple localisations. Maxillary was the most involved sinus followed by sphenoidal and ethmoidal. Moulds have been isolated in 28/81 cases. Histology showed fungal colonisation but not invasion in all cases. Tomography showed bone erosion in 33.3% of patients. All have been treated only by functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Seventy‐seven of 81 patients have been cured. Four of 81 patients needed another surgical treatment. Follow up was between 6 and 132 months (average: 63 months). Fungus ball is a sinusal pathology caused by mycetes like Aspergillus spp. Histology confirms the fungal aethiology excluding tissue invasion. Mycological culture consented to identify the pathogenic mould in 34.5% of cases. Actually functional endoscopic sinus surgery is the gold standard for treatment of this pathology, and antifungal therapy is unnecessary.
Otomycosis in western Nigeria
Authors: Fasunla James , Ibekwe Titus , Onakoya Paul 
Published: August 2007

SummaryOtomycosis is a recognized clinical entity in the tropical regions of the world. However, there is scanty information on this disease in some parts of Sub‐Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of etiological agents of otomycosis in western Nigeria. Medical records of patients with otomycosis seen in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan from 1996–2005 were reviewed for all essential clinical data. Of the 5784 patients with ear diseases, 378 (6.54%) had otomycosis which consisted of 145 (38.36%) males and 233 (61.64%) females. Seventeen patients (4.50%) had recurrence within six months of treatment, 4 (1.06%) had poorly controlled plasma glucose. A significant number of our patients, 52 (13.76%), had prior topical aural antibiotic treatment following misdiagnosis. The predominant etiological agents in our series were Aspergillus niger (48.35%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (33.96%).
Prevalence ofCandidaon the tongue and intertriginous areas of psoriatic and atopic dermatitis patients
Authors: Leibovici Vera , Alkalay Ronen , Hershko Klilah , Ingber Arieh , Westerman Maria , Leviatan‐Strauss Nurith , Hochberg Malka 
Published: August 2007

SummaryData in the literature regarding the prevalence ofCandidain psoriatic and atopic dermatitis patients are controversial. We conducted a prospective study to determine the prevalence ofCandidaon the tongue, axillae and groin of psoriatic patients when compared with atopic dermatitis patients and normal controls. During the period 2003–2005, data were collected from 100 psoriatic patients, 100 patients with atopic dermatitis and 100 normal controls. Fungal test specimens forCandidawere collected from the axillae, groin and tongue of each patient. There was no increase in the prevalence ofCandidain intertriginous area of either psoriatic or atopic dermatitis patients. However, the prevalence ofCandidaon the tongue was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (32%) compared with atopic dermatitis (18%) (P = 0.024) and higher, although not significantly, than in normal controls (21%) (P = 0.08). Our study did not reveal higher prevalence ofCandidain the axillae and groin of either psoriatic or atopic dermatitis patients. There was a higher prevalence ofCandidaon the tongue of psoriatic patients. TheCandidaof the tongue was asymptomatic and did not correlate with age, gender, type of psoriasis or severity of the disease, therefore we conclude that this is clinically irrelevant.
Gaining length in ileal‐anal pouch reconstruction: a review
Authors: Uraiqat A. A. , Byrne C. M. D. , Phillips R. K. S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractObjective  Construction of a satisfactory ileal reservoir‐anal anastomosis is dependent on the ability of the reservoir to reach the anus without tension.Method  A literature review of English language scientific papers from Medline and Pubmed between 1978 and 2004 about ileal pouch surgery techniques was conducted.Results  The critical factor in tension free pouch construction is the length and reach of the superior mesenteric artery. There are a variety of techniques for lengthening the small bowel mesentery including the precise location of division of the ileocolic artery and other mesenteric vessels, mesenteric peritoneal relaxing incisions, folding of the pouch and differences between stapled and handsewn anastomosis and pouch construction.Conclusion  With particular attention to detail, sufficient length can be achieved to permit safe anastomosis in most patients.
Treatment of chronic anal fissure by gonyautoxin
Authors: Garrido R. , Lagos N. , Lagos M. , Rodríguez‐Navarro A. J. , Garcia C. , Truan D. , Henriquez A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractObjective  The use of gonyautoxin has been reported to be safe and effective in healing acute and chronic anal fissures. This study was designed to show better efficacy in healing patients with chronic anal fissure by increasing the frequency of toxin injection.Method  Twenty‐three chronic anal fissure patients were treated with doses of 100 units of gonyautoxin, which was intrasphincteric, infiltrated. The frequency of injection was every 4 days. Anorectal manometries were performed before and 4 min after infiltration.Results  Total remissions were achieved within 7–14 days. The patients healed with a mean time of 8.2 ± 2.4 days. No relapsed were observed during the 10‐month follow up. Neither faecal incontinence nor other side effects were observed. All patients showed immediate sphincter relaxation detected by clinical examination. The maximum anal resting pressures, recorded 4 min after injections decreased to 62.9 ± 27.7 mmHg, being 65.3 ± 29.6% of baseline. Immediately after infiltration, patients reported anaesthetic effect with a fall down of the postdefecatory pain.Conclusion  Although, gonyautoxin anal fissures treatment recently published proved to be safe and effective, this study shows a better protocol for anal fissure treatment, showing better efficacy by shorting the healing time with better perception of healing by patients. Gonyautoxin anal sphincter infiltration proves to be safe and effective, reducing discomfort and healing time, advantageously comparing with alternative therapeutic approaches for chronic anal fissure.
Reconciling the Returns to Education in Off‐Farm Wage Employment in Rural China
Authors: De Brauw Alan , Rozelle Scott 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPrevious studies have found that the returns to education in rural China are far lower than estimates for other developing economies. In this paper, we seek to determine why previous estimates are so low and provide estimates of what we believe are more accurate measures of the returns. Whereas estimates for the early 1990s average 2.3 percent, we find an average return of 6.4 percent. Furthermore, we find even higher returns among younger people, migrants, and for post‐primary education. The paper demonstrates that, although part of the difference between our estimate and previous estimates can be attributed to increasing returns during the 1990s, a larger part of the difference is due to the nature of the data and the methodological approaches used by other authors.
Imports, Status Preference, and Foreign Borrowing
Authors: Fisher Walter H. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper considers the implications of consumption and borrowing externalities in a small open economy framework. The former reflect the assumption that status conscious agents care about the relative consumption of imported goods, while the latter arise because agents do not take into account the effects of their borrowing decisions on the interest rate on debt. We analyze in the paper the impact of an increase in the degree of status preference on the saddlepath adjustment of the decentralized economy. In addition, the contrasting steady‐state and dynamic properties of the social planner’s economy are derived, along with the corresponding optimal tax and subsidy policies.
On the Growth Implications of Foreign Aid for Public Investment Co‐Financing
Authors: Kalaitzidakis Pantelis , Kalyvitis Sarantis 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIn this paper we present an endogenous growth model with foreign transfers for public capital formation in order to analyze the implications for growth maximization when the public sector in recipient countries co‐finances investment projects. Our main innovation is to show that, first, there is a unique growth‐maximizing absorption rate of funds that decreases with the co‐financing ratio and, second, that high amounts of assistance may be an impediment to growth due to the excess domestic taxation required to co‐finance investment projects. We then derive a policy rule for designing the growth‐maximizing co‐financing share under a given level of assistance. Finally, we also highlight some implications for EU regional policies, which aim at fostering growth in poorer EU countries by co‐financing public capital formation.
Trade Liberalization and Wage Inequality: Evidence from India
Authors: Kumar Utsav , Mishra Prachi 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe evaluate empirically the impact of the dramatic 1991 trade liberalization in India on the industry wage structure. The empirical strategy uses variation in industry wage premiums and trade policy across industries and over time. In contrast to most earlier studies on developing countries, we find a strong, negative, and robust relationship between changes in trade policy and changes in industry wage premiums over time. The results are consistent with liberalization‐induced productivity increases at the firm level, which get passed on to industry wages. We also find that trade liberalization has led to decreased wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers in India. This is consistent with the magnitude of tariff reductions being relatively larger in sectors with a higher proportion of unskilled workers.
Political Economy of Conditional Aid in a Federal Economy
Authors: Sharma Pooja 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper employs a political economy approach to model the joint determination of national and subnational sectoral protection in an open federal economy. Political interactions between special interest groups and policymakers as well as economic interrelationships between federal and state government policies are analyzed. The model is applied to study the effects of conditional financial assistance on policy‐making in the aid‐receiving federal economy. We find that policy‐based financial assistance to the federal government tends to reduce the extent of distortions resulting from the federal government policy. However, if federal and state government policies are strategic substitutes, state government induced policy distortions would increase, thereby detracting from the effectiveness of conditionality in reducing overall policy distortions in the recipient economy.
ART, POLITICS AND KNOWLEDGE: FEMINISM, MODERNITY, AND THE SEPARATION OF SPHERES
Authors: MULLIN AMY 
Published: August 2007

Abstract: Feminist epistemology and feminist art theory are characterized by an opposition to modernity's separation of art, politics, and knowledge into three autonomous spheres. However, this opposition is not enough to distinguish them from other philosophies. In this paper I examine parallels between the two fields of inquiry in order to discover what makes them distinctively feminist. Feminist epistemology sees interconnections between knowledge and politics, feminist art theory sees connections between art and politics. We need to explore as well connections between art and knowledge.Compared to feminist epistemology, feminist art theory has had much less exposure, and in this paper I emphasize what the former can learn from the latter. In particular, I suggest that feminist art can answer a call made by feminist theories of knowledge for a kind of transformative knowledge. If we focus on the features of activist art explored by feminist art theories, we see that feminist art is particularly suited to engage emotions as well as the intellect. It is an example of nonpropositional knowledge, and is interactive rather than striving to pass down lessons from above. Feminist art celebrates the power of art to “make strange” and to unsettle fixed identities which can transform our understanding of the world.There is a tendency in some feminist art theory to separate the more concrete work (rediscovering women artists, recognizing women's crafts as art forms, and investigating sexist imagery in art), from the theoretical project of reenvisioning the relations of art to its sociopolitical context. I conclude by arguing that without an awareness of the dialectical relationship between the concrete and the theoretical, feminist art theories run the risk of losing their feminist specificity. They would then amount to little more than abstract pronouncements of the interconnections between art, politics, and knowledge. We need to maintain the feminist specificity of feminist politics in our theories of art and knowledge, and I use examples throughout the essay, drawn particularly from feminist activist art, with this goal in mind.
Continuing Education: will the trans‐binary initiative survive⃛ and suffice?
Authors: McNay Ian 
Published: August 2007

Abstract A review of lost opportunities suggests that now must be when higher education develops a serious commitment to continuing education, as must other necessary partners ‐ employers, professional bodies and government. Present provision lacks a coherent framework, is confusing, ill‐co‐ordinates and less than cost effective. The potential of the joint NAB/UGC initiative as a force for development is considered: the unequal commitment of the two major sectors of higher education may be its weakness. Other models are considered with particular attention given to the possibility of the Manpower Services Commission, through its Adult Training Strategy, coming to dominate higher education as it now does non‐advanced further education.