bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct detection of explosives on solid surfaces by mass spectrometry with an ambient ion source based on dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: Na Na , Zhang Chao , Zhao Mengxia , Zhang Sichun , Yang Chengdui , Fang Xiang , Zhang Xinrong 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTrace amounts of explosives on solid surfaces were detected by mass spectrometry at ambient conditions with a new technique termed dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDI). By the needle–plate discharge mode, a plasma discharge with energetic electrons was generated, which could launch the desorption and ionization of the explosives from solid surfaces. Hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX), 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were desorbed directly from the explosives‐contaminated surface by DBDI, forming the typical anions of [TNT]−, [TNT − H]−, [RDX + NO2]−, [PETN + ONO2]−, and [RDX + ONO2]−. The ions were transferred into the MS instrument for analysis in the negative ion mode. The detection limit of present method was 10 pg for TNT (m/z 197, S/N 8 : 1), 0.1 ng for RDX (m/z 284, S/N 10 : 1), and 1 ng for PETN (m/z 260, S/N 12 : 1). The present method allowed the detection of trace explosives on various matrices, including paper, cloth, chemical fiber, glass, paints, and soil. A relative standard deviation of 5.57% was achieved by depositing 100 pg of TNT on these matrices. The analysis of A‐5, a mixture of RDX and additives, has been carried out and the results were consistent with the reference values. The DBDI‐MS method represents a simple and rapid way for the detection of explosives with high sensitivity and specificity, which is especially useful when they are present in trace amounts on ordinary environmental surfaces. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid determination of gemcitabine in plasma and serum using reversed‐phase HPLC
Authors: Lanz Christian , Früh Martin , Thormann Wolfgang , Cerny Thomas , Lauterburg Bernhard H. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractGemcitabine (2′2′‐difluorodeoxycytidine) is a pyrimidine analog used in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. After intravenous (i.v.) administration, it is rapidly inactivated to 2′‐deoxy‐2′,2′‐difluorouridine (dFdU). A sensitive analytical method for the quantitation of gemcitabine is required for the assessment of alternative dosage and treatment schemes. A rapid and robust RP‐HPLC assay for analysis of gemcitabine in human and animal plasma and serum was developed and validated using 2′‐deoxyuridine (dU) and 5‐fluoro‐2′‐deoxyuridine (5FdU) as internal standards. It is based on protein precipitation, the use of an Atlantis dC18 column of 100 mm length (inner diameter, 4.6 mm; particle size, 3 μm) and isocratic elution using a 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 3.0, followed by isocratic elution with the same buffer containing 3% of ACN. For gemcitabine, RSD values for intraday and interday precision were < 4.4 and 5.3%, respectively, the LOQ was 20 ng/mL, and the assay was linear in the range of 0.020–20 μg/mL with an accuracy of ⪈89%. The recovery for gemcitabine, dU and 5FdU was 86–98%. The assay was applied to determine gemcitabine levels in plasma samples of patients collected during and shortly after conventional infusion of 25–30 mg/kg body mass (levels: 2.0–18.9 μg/mL) and rats that received lower doses (1.5 mg/kg) via i.v., subcutaneous and oral drug administration (levels: 0.20–2.60 μg/mL). It could also be applied to estimate dFdU levels in human plasma.
Quantitative determination of clozapine in serum by instrumental planar chromatography
Authors: Mennickent Sigrid , Sobarzo Alejandra , Vega Mario , Godoy Carmen Gloria , de Diego Marta 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAn instrumental planar chromatographic (HPTLC) method for quantitative analysis of clozapine in human serum was developed and validated. Clozapine was extracted with n‐hexane–isoamyl alcohol (75:25 v/v). The chromatographic separation was achieved on precoated silica gel F 254 HPTLC plates using a mixture of chloroform and methanol (9:1 v/v) as mobile phase. Quantitative analyses were carried out by densitometry at a wavelength of 290 nm. The method was linear between 10 and 100 ng/spot, corresponding to 0.10 and 1.00 ng/μL of clozapine in human serum after extraction process and applying 10 μL to the chromatographic plates. The method correlation coefficient was 0.999. The intra‐assay variation was between 2.10 and 3.33% (n = 5) and the interassay was between 2.67 and 4.44% (n = 9). The detection limit was 0.03 ng/μL, and the quantification limit was 0.05 ng/μL. The method proved to be accurate, with a recovery between 97.00 and 99.00%, with an RSD not higher than 7.22%, and was selective for the active principle tested. This method was successfully applied to quantify clozapine in patient serum samples. In conclusion, the method is useful for the quantitative determination of clozapine in serum.
Broad‐spectrum separations in metabolomics using enhanced polar LC stationary phases: A dedicated evaluation using plant metabolites
Authors: t'Kindt Ruben , Alaerts Goedele , Vander Heyden Yvan , Deforce Dieter , Van Bocxlaer Jan 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn metabolomics, major efforts are invested in the development of suitable analytical approaches. A tendency towards the use of LC‐MS is nowadays very obvious. A great majority of the metabolites of interest are polar to highly polar in nature. We focus on the so‐called ‘extended polarity’ reversed LC phases, developed specifically to allow better retention characteristics for polar compounds. Several of these phases (Atlantis dC18, Inertsil ODS‐3, Zorbax XDB, Alltima HP C18) are tested for different column dimension variations (0.5, 1.0, 2.1 mm id) in a specific LC‐MS metabolomics setting. Important chromatographic and mass spectrometric quality parameters such as capacity factor, separation efficiency, peak symmetry, sensitivity, and mass accuracy are taken into account. All phases show adequate retention of polar compounds and also perform well with highly aqueous mobile phase compositions. On comparing 1.0 and 2.1 mm id columns, it is clear that the potential gain in sensitivity is not achieved. Using a Lockspray® device, accurate mass measurement with a Q‐TOF micro is feasible within a mass range of 12 ppm if signal intensities of compound and lockmass are equated. Finally, the extended polarity RP approach in metabolomics experiments is endorsed using real plant extracts.
Ropinirole is effective on motor function when used as an adjunct to levodopa in Parkinson's disease: STRONG study
Authors: Mizuno Yoshikuni , Abe Takashi , Hasegawa Kazuko , Kuno Sadako , Kondo Tomoyoshi , Yamamoto Mitsutoshi , Nakashima Mitsuyoshi , Kanazawa Ichiro ,   STRONG Study Group
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe report the results of a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 16‐week study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ropinirole, 0.75 to 15.0 mg/day, as an adjunct to levodopa. A total of 243 patients were randomly assigned into placebo or ropinirole groups. The mean (standard deviation) dose of ropinirole at endpoint was 7.12 (2.88) mg/day. The primary endpoint—the mean reduction in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) total motor score—was significantly greater for the ropinirole group than the placebo group (−9.5 vs. −4.5, P = 0.00001). The mean reduction in the UPDRS total activities of daily living (ADL) score was also significantly greater for ropinirole than for placebo (−2.7 vs. −1.0, P = 0.0002). The percentage of patients showing at least a 20% reduction in the percentage of time spent “off” was significantly greater for the ropinirole group than for the placebo group (58.7% vs. 38.6%, P = 0.030). A total of 84.3 and 65.6% of the patients experienced adverse events while receiving ropinirole or placebo, respectively. The results showed that ropinirole was more effective than placebo in improving motor function and ADL when used as an adjunct to levodopa in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Administrative problems of the provincial sales tax on beer in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Ord T. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWith the establishment of provincial government in Papua New Guinea, the Organic Law has conferred on the provincial governments the authority to raise revenue using local revenue bases including retail sales taxes. These taxes have significant advantages and a sales tax on beer has particular benefits in P.N.G. in terms of potential yield and ease of administrative management. The tax is levied on the two breweries and the breweries collect the tax at their breweries and wholesale warehouses on behalf of the provincial governments. For the brewery with the dominant share of the market the arrangement under which it collects the tax for a commission and pays over quarterly to the provincial governments brings financial advantage. The brewery with a smaller share of the market and localized sales is less likely to be benefitting by the arrangement. For the future given expected beer consumption a change from a quantity based tax to ad valorem rates would be financially advantageous to the provincial governments, and would reduce the need for some provinces to seek tax sources elsewhere, but experience shows the general benefit of raising the tax, not at the point of final sale, but on the wholesaler or manufacturer.
Private sector investment in the development of the Bahamas: Lessons learned from successful programme implementation
Authors: Agor Weston H. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractOne of the most significant problems developing nations have faced in recent years has been finding effective ways of implementing development plans and programmes. This is in large part due to the dearth of knowledge about programme implementation, and the lack of attention given to the design of implementation strategies by planners and administrators in third world nations.But, implementation is now becoming a central concern of governments in developing countries and of officials in international funding institutions. Also, development administration theory in the 1980s is likely to have as its dominant focus the improvement of implementation management of development programmes and projects.One way to improve the management of development programmes and projects is to analyse those development projects that have succeeded, identify the factors that appear to influence successful implementation, and disseminate this information as broadly and quickly as possible to relevant administrators and administrative theorists. It is revealing that relatively few studies of this type have been completed.This article outlines the lessons learned from a programme that the Government of the Bahamas is successfully implementing‐the encouragement of foreign private sector investment in the Bahamas. The article (a) briefly outlines th'e plan for encouraging foreign investment, (b) describes the basic approaches and techniques the Bahamian Government has learned to use to improve the prospects of implementing this programme, and (c) indicates how this experience may be potentially useful in guiding the implementation of similar programmes in other developing countries.
Decentralization for regional development: A comparative study of Tanzania, Zambia and Papua New Guinea
Authors: Conyers Diana 
Published: July 2007

AbstractDecentralization has been a common aim in administrative reform and this article points to common themes in the decentralization programmes of Tanzania, Zambia and Papua New Guinea. The programmes involve both developing field administrative structures on an area basis in which horizontal links between the field staff of different ministries are at least as important as the vertical lines of authority linking field staff with headquarters' departments, and also decentralizing authority over planning and implementing development programmes to local decision making bodies. The impact of these decentralization programmes has not hitherto been adequately monitored or evaluated, and experience of attempts at doing this in Tanzania emphasizes the importance of building into a decentralization programme a method of monitoring it which produces usable information. The article points to the plans for monitoring to be pursued in Zambia.
A case for professionalization of water management in irrigation projects in India
Authors: Jayaraman T. K. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe heavy investment in irrigation in India has not brought the expected benefits and this article argues first that a major difficulty arises from the way irrigated water is administered. The distribution of water is controlled by irrigation engineers who lack the knowledge and information to manage water in a way that maximizes agricultural production and achieves the confidence of farmers. The staffing structure and related professional values discourage the development of a new more appropriate specialism. The article goes on to argue that a new organization of work and associated staffing structure is needed which will encourage a new professional specialization bringing together staff and expertise currently dispersed in separate specialisms in engineering, agronomy and other aspects of agriculture.
Modernizing the budget system: The Malaysian experience
Authors: Joon‐Chien Doh 
Published: July 2007

AbstractProgramme and performance budgeting (PPB) was first introduced in Malaysia in 1969 and experience with operating and developing the system carries lessons for other countries. The initial introduction under the influence of external advisers, involved treating PPB as a mechanical exercise in which right procedures had to be followed. From 1972 the strategy changed to making the system serve to assist with utilizing and managing resources more efficiently in relation to programme objectives. The successful development of the system agency by agency points first to the importance of local rather than foreign expertise; second, to the need for the agency head to be committed and involved, rather than leave the introduction and management of the system to lower level experts; and third to the significance of the leadership role of the Treasury.
The legal environment of planned urban growth
Authors: McAuslan Patrick 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe part that law as a skill and as a discipline can and should play in urban development and in the work of an urban development agency is discussed on the basis of recent experience in three countries. Emphasis is given to the importance of involving lawyers from the start of any programme for planned urban growth, and the disadvantage of bringing lawyers in only for specific legal jobs is stressed. The article surveys the range of work in which a lawyer is necessarily involved where planned urban development proceeds within a framework of law.
Sites and services schemes in Dacca: A critique
Authors: Hasnath Syed Abu 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper presents a critical analysis of two sites and services projects in Dacca, in the light of previous studies of low income housing. The analysis demonstrates that resource limitation is not the most important factor preventing resolution of the low‐income housing problem, that there is a perverse use of resources which makes the situation worse, and that this use continues because it is in the pecuniary interest of the dominant interest group. The conclusions drawn are far from optimistic: (a) without radical changes in the main direction of resource allocation, there exists little or no possibility for an improvement in the living conditions of poor families; and, (b) the provision of housing for the lowest income group is more a question of political will and social engineering than building technology.
The U.K. overseas development administration and non‐departmental public bodies in the field of educational aid
Authors: Moore Christopher , Newbigging Eric 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe educational aid programme sponsored by the U.K. Overseas Development Administration has been conducted using organizations in which substantial changes have been made in the last ten years. This article analyses the changes in the structure of non‐departmental agencies and in the relations between the Overseas Development Administration and the agencies, and considers the rationale for these. It draws attention to the contrast between the formal independence of these non‐departmental bodies and continuing departmental control, and to the limitations of non‐departmental bodies as a means of securing advice and co‐operation. The article points to the difficulties in organizational terms of marrying the aim of providing a framework for co‐operating with the recipients of aid, and for securing advice, co‐operation and support in its administration from bodies outside central government in the U.K., while preserving ministerial responsibility.
Bureaucracy and development in Saudi Arabia: A behavioural analysis
Authors: Nimir Saud Al , Palmer Monte 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe objective of the paper is to evaluate the developmental potential of the Saudi bureaucracy in terms of the innovative or developmental attitudes of its members. The paper is divided into four sections: (1) a brief discussion of the research procedures used in the study, (2) an analysis of group perceptions of innovative values within the Saudi bureaucracy, (3) an analysis of the innovative attitudes of Saudi bureaucrats and (4) an analysis of the factors inhibiting the development of innovative behaviour among Saudi bureaucrats. The results of the study indicate low levels of innovative behaviour among Saudi bureaucrats.
India's experience—national, community, public or private health?
Authors: Donald Brian L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIndia, as the largest democracy, second most populous country, ninth largest industrial power and fifteenth poorest nation, has in respect of health care to be considered as a special case among developing countries. Nevertheless, the identification in India, as an alternative to national welfare provision, of opportunities for returning social and economic responsibilities for health care to local communities is important for both developing and developed countries. This article outlines and comments upon recent developments in providing primary health care in rural communities in India. It concludes by examining possible parallels between self‐sustaining community health schemes and the search in developed countries for community and personal involvement so as to overcome emergent limitations of professionalized and welfare systems of care.
The evaluation of an administrative co‐operation project in North Yemen and its significance for German aid policy
Authors: König Klaus , Bolay Friedrich 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis case study is based on an evaluation report of a German project for development co‐operation in the field of public administration in the Republic of North Yemen. It describes the history, the efforts and the problems of the project which operated within the framework of the National Institute of Public Administration in Sana'a and in order to understand the project there is an outline of the public administration of North Yemen. The paper also describes the structure of the German side of the administration of development policy, the Ministry of Economic Co‐operation, the German Society for Technical Cooperation and the Public Administration Promotion Centre in Berlin. Both the practical problems of administrative co‐operation and of undertaking evaluation are analysed and a practical approach to evaluation and evaluation techniques is presented for discussion. The paper argues the merits of providing aid in support of training in order to improve public administration, and specifically emphasises the value of preparatory courses which link the educational system within the occupational system of the public sector by preparing university graduates for the profession of public administration.
Organization for development: The politico‐administrative framework of economic activity in Egypt under Sadat
Authors: Ayubi Nazih N. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe open door (infitah) policy announced in 1974 marked the adoption of a new orientation for economic activity. This article relates the development of this policy towards economic enterprise to trends in the machinery of governmental control. The author argues that in the period of Sadat's presidency there was a contradiction between the liberalization in economic matters and the form and nature of control exercised by government.
The administration of development in emergent nations. The problems in the Caribbean
Authors: Hope Kempe R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe conduct of development administration in Commonwealth Caribbean countries is hindered by weaknesses in government, and, on the basis of many years experience, Dr. Hope points to four approaches to reform which are currently favoured. Changing the nature of political leadership; reasserting the importance of an independent instrumental administration through greater attention to manpower planning, training and staff development; similarly extending the scope of administrative action by achieving a decentralization of authority from political ministers to local professional administators acting with the public; and participatory democracy with a reduced role for professional administration are four approaches with parallels in other parts of the world. The author points, however, to distinctive features in the Caribbean and argues that the small size of the states creates particular problems and challenges.
Implementing decentralization programmes in Asia: A comparative analysis
Authors: Rondinelli Dennis A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractDecentralization in development planning and administration is being attempted in novel ways as governments seek to generate economic growth and at the same time achieve greater social equity. Little has been done to assess comparatively the nature and effectiveness of these experiments. This article is based on a selection of eight case studies, each set in a different Asian country, where an innovative approach to decentralization has been adopted by the central government in order to achieve development aims. The stimulus to innovate is considered, the different forms of decentralization compared and a tentative comparative evaluation is made of the effectiveness of decentralizing development planning and implementation. What the analysis shows is that despite diversity in the objectives and differences in the forms decentralized programmes took there were common problems centring on administrative capability. This, the author argues, has important implications for governments and international agencies.
Development problems and planning in a resource‐poor Pacific country: The case of Tuvalu
Authors: Tisdell Clem , Fairbairn T'eo Ian 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTuvalu is an independent microstate and this account of its economic circumstances and prospects provides the context for discussion of administrative problems. The paper outlines the economic structure of the country and examines its economic resources and their potential; demographic trends are given attention, and the country's heavy dependence on foreign aid is explained. These features carry implications for the forms of public administration and development planning, and Tuvalu's current development plan and aspects of its public administration are discussed with this in mind. The article serves as a case study of the economy of a micro state and implications for administration in such a state.