bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The dialectic of police reform in Nigeria
Authors: Hills Alice 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACTDespite decades of police assistance and the recent introduction of reform plans, Nigeria's public police remain notoriously brutal and corrupt. This raises the question of whether even flawed reforms in a relatively democratic environment can make a significant difference to policing standards and practices. Based on developments in the Nigeria Police since 2005, this article suggests that reform can make a normative and organisational difference, but that in the absence of fundamental socio-political change, its effects tend to be superficial, localised and temporary. Reform's dynamic is better understood as a classic dialectic than a serial succession of movements.
Relative growth and morphological sexual maturity ofUca cumulanta(Crustacea: Decapoda: Ocypodidae) from a tropical Brazilian mangrove population
Authors: Pralon Bruno Gabriel Nunes , Negreiros-Fransozo Maria Lucia 
Published: May 2008

The relative growth of the fiddler crabUca cumulantawas studied, primarily to determine the size at the onset of sexual maturity for a mangrove population in the estuary of the Patitiba River, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The evaluation of the morphological sexual maturity ofU. cumulantawas performed using the allometric technique. The relationships that most precisely indicated the size at onset of sexual maturity were carapace length (CL) vs propodus length for males and CL vs abdomen width for females. Males and females are mature at 5.25 and 4.75 mm CL, respectively. The remarkable ontogenetic changes observed in the allometric growth of the male major cheliped and the female abdomen, indicate that growth of these structures is closely connected to the timing of sexual maturity. The relative size at onset maturity obtained for this species was 0.68 and this index was compared to that seen in other species in the genus.
Early development and larval survival ofPsammechinus miliarisunder deep-sea temperature and pressure conditions
Authors: Aquino-Souza R. , Hawkins S.J. , Tyler P.A. 
Published: May 2008

The aim of this study was to analyse the tolerance of the planktonic stages ofPsammechinus miliaristo hydrostatic pressure and temperature. Embryos ofPsammechinus miliariswere subjected to different combinations of pressure and temperature for 3, 6 and 12 h. The percentage of embryos at each stage and the percentage of embryos developing abnormally were measured. Larvae at the gastrula and prism stages were subjected to pressure and temperature combinations for 24 h and the larval survival was calculated measuring the percentage of swimming larvae. Both embryos and larvae could survive at greater pressures than the known adult depth limits. Larvae showed a much greater potential than embryos for surviving deeper, with approximately 100% of both gastrulae and prisms surviving up to 200 atm at 5°C. These results are similar to other shallow-water species of Echinoida. Thus larval tolerance of high pressure and low temperature may have been important for the success of this group in colonizing the deep-sea.
Relational language supports relational cognition in humans and apes
Authors: Gentner Dedre , Christie Stella 
Published: May 2008

AbstractWe agree with Penn et al. that our human cognitive superiority derives from our exceptional relational ability. We far exceed other species in our ability to grasp analogies and to combine relations into higher-order structures (Gentner 2003). However, we argue here that possession of an elaborated symbol system – such as human language – is necessary to make our relational capacity operational.
Putting Descartes before the horse (again!)
Authors: McGonigle Brendan , Chalmers Margaret 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe “rational bubble” stance espoused in the target article confounds cultural symbolic achievements with individual cognitive competences. With no explicit role for learning, the core rationale for claiming a major functional discontinuity between humans and other species rests on a hybrid formal model LISA (Learning and Inference with Schemas and Analogies) now overtaken by new models of cognitive growth and new empirical studies within an embodied systems stance.
Shifting attention to the flash-lag effect
Authors: Baldo Marcus Vinícius C. , Klein Stanley A. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAn attention shift from a stationary to a changing object has to occur in feature – rather than physical – space, in order to bind these stimuli into a unitary percept. This time-consuming shift leads to the perception of a changing stimulus further ahead along its trajectory. This attentional framework is able to accommodate the flash-lag effect in its multiple empirical manifestations.
Flash-lag: Prediction or emergent property of directional selectivity mechanisms?
Authors: Berzhanskaya Julia 
Published: May 2008

Abstract3D FORMOTION, a unified cortical model of motion integration and segmentation, explains how brain mechanisms of form and motion processing interact to generate coherent percepts of object motion from spatially distributed and ambiguous visual information. The same cortical circuits reproduce motion-induced distortion of position maps, including both flash-lag and flash-drag effects.
Neuronal adaptation: Delay compensation at the level of single neurons?
Authors: Mayo J. Patrick , Sommer Marc A. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractSaccades divide visual input into rapid, discontinuous periods of stimulation on the retina. The response of single neurons to such sequential stimuli is neuronal adaptation; a robust first response followed by an interval-dependent diminished second response. Adaptation is pervasive in both early and late stages of visual processing. Given its inherent coding of brief time intervals, neuronal adaptation may play a fundamental role in compensating for visual delays.
Things Fall Together: The Past and Future Africas of T. O. Elias's Africa and the Development of International Law
Authors: LANDAUER CARL 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis article investigates T. O. Elias's constructions of past and future Africas in Africa and the Development of International Law. It locates Elias within Nigeria's educated elite and its oscillating constructions of past and future Africas, and turns specifically to Elias's romanticized African past of the great medieval empires as a source of legitimacy within the broader ‘development’ of international law. The article works through his depiction of ‘customary’ law in Nigeria and how the African past maintains its presence in current law, and then addresses Elias's depiction of the future represented by new pan-African institutions. Finally, the article discusses Elias's depiction of a liberating future or ‘modern’ international law – the move from consent to consensus – in which Africa seems important only within the broader population of new states, and how his conception of international law – citing Jenks and Jessup, Friedmann and Falk – with its commitment to law's reflection of society, fits comfortably within the traditions of a modern sociological jurisprudence.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon: Is a ‘Tribunal of an International Character’ Equivalent to an ‘International Criminal Court’?
Authors: SCHABAS WILLIAM A. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe Special Tribunal for Lebanon is the latest international criminal tribunal to be established by the United Nations. Similar in many respects to the earlier institutions – for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone – it stands alone in the fact that its subject-matter jurisdiction does not contain any international crimes. It is thus international in some respects, but it is arguably not an international criminal tribunal in the sense that was intended by the International Court of Justice in the Yerodia case. The drafting history of the Statute of the Special Tribunal is examined with a view to determining whether the new court should treat sovereign immunity in the same manner as the other three UN criminal tribunals.
Dual-purpose landraces of pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum) as sources of high stover and grain yield for arid zone environments
Authors: Yadav O. P. , Bidinger F. R. 
Published: May 2008

Both stover and grain are important considerations in the adoption of the new pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) cultivars in crop–livestock farming system in north-west India. Local landrace germplasm contains many of the traits needed to breed new cultivars, which met such requirements. We evaluated 169 pearl millet landraces to assess their potential for breeding new open-pollinated varieties, and measured heterosis in landrace testcrosses to evaluate their potential for topcross hybrids breeding. There were significant differences among landraces in their total biomass, grain yield and stover yield. A high accumulation of biomass, followed by its efficient partitioning, was crucial in determining grain productivity under arid zone. There was also no trade-off between stover and grain productivity and several landraces outperformed check cultivars in both grain and stover yields. The manifestation of heterosis in the landrace-based topcross hybrids varied for different traits. Significant heterosis for biomass, grain yield and stover yield was observed in specific male-sterile seed parent × landrace-based pollinator combinations. Utilization of landraces in variety development and topcross hybrids breeding programmes targeting north-western India or similar regions are discussed.
Two distinct AFLP types in three populations of marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) in Wales
Authors: Hol W. H. Gera , van der Wurff Andre W. G. , Skøt Leif , Cook Roger 
Published: May 2008

The genetic structure of marram grass populations at coastal and inland locations, 200 m apart, was investigated at three sites by means of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA markers. We expected a genetic differentiation between coastal and inland populations and more genetic variation in the coastal areas as a result of different events of colonization by different plant materials. An assignment test showed that the sampledAmmophila arenariacould be assigned to two groups based on AFLP data. The spatial distribution of the two AFLP types ofA. arenariavaried with sampling location. In two of the three locations, mainly one type (1) was found in the newly formed dunes. This type did also occur further landward, but the second type (2) was preferentially found in inland populations. Genetic diversity was very low and of similar value in both coastal and inland populations. For each site, outlier loci with respect toFSTvalue were identified, which may be indicative of different selection pressures in coastal compared with inland clusters. However, no identical outlier loci were found at all three sites. Possible explanations for the observed difference in distribution of type 1 and 2 populations between coastal and inland sites are discussed.
Thermal growth and structural and optical characterization of indium tin oxide nanopyramids, nanoislands, and tubes
Authors: Maestre D. , Cremades A. , Piqueras J. , Gregoratti L. 
Published: May 2008

In-doped SnO2 microtubes as well as Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO) nano- and microislands have been grown by thermal treatment of compacted SnO2–In2O3 powders under argon flow at 1350 °C in a catalyst-free process. The SnO2 tubes contain about 1 at. % of In, even when the In content in the starting mixture was as high as 52 at. %. However, the ITO nanoislands and nanopyramids, grown preferentially on the faces and edges of the tubes, present an In content up to six times higher than the tubes. Spatially resolved cathodoluminescence shows a higher emission from the Sn-rich structures, so that the In-rich ITO nanoislands show dark contrast in the CL images. CL spectra show that the main emission bands in both, Sn-rich and In-rich, structures, are related to oxygen deficiency. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows differences between the tubes and the nanoislands in the O (1s) spectral region. In particular, a component at 531.9 eV of the O (1s) signal appears enhanced in the In-rich islands.
Genes and cigarette smoking
Authors: Munafò Marcus R. , Johnstone Elaine C. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACTAims  Attempts to further our understanding of the determinants of cigarette smoking, tobacco addiction and related behaviours have included the dissection of genetic influences on these phenotypes. This review summarizes the current state of evidence from both twin and adoption studies and molecular genetic studies. We also review future research horizons and the direction which studies of this kind are likely to take in the near future.Findings  There is consistent evidence from twin and adoption studies that genetic factors play a role in the aetiology of cigarette smoking. Nevertheless, despite a large number of candidate gene studies, and a smaller number of linkage studies, few reported associations and chromosomal regions of interest have proved to replicate reliably. This is due most probably to the small effects of individual loci on complex behaviours such as smoking.Conclusions  Future research is likely to include the study of gene × environment interactions (including gene × treatment interactions, which offer the prospect of genetically tailored smoking cessation treatment) and the use of more sophisticated smoking‐related phenotypes, such as longitudinal smoking trajectories, and intermediate phenotypes which use technologies such as neuroimaging and other laboratory and biobehavioural measures.
The association between cannabis abuse and dependence and childhood physical and sexual abuse: evidence from an offspring of twins design
Authors: Duncan Alexis E. , Sartor Carolyn E. , Scherrer Jeffrey F. , Grant Julia D. , Heath Andrew C. , Nelson Elliot C. , Jacob Theodore , Bucholz Kathleen Keenan 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACTAim This study examines the association between childhood physical abuse (CPA) and sexual abuse (CSA) and the development of cannabis abuse and dependence among adolescents and young adults while controlling for genetic and environmental risk factors.Design To control for familial risk differences related to paternal drug dependence that might confound the relationship between CSA and CPA and cannabis abuse/dependence, we created four groups based on father's and uncle's substance use dependence (SUD) status reflecting different degrees of genetic and environmental risks to offspring: (i) high genetic, high environmental risk; (ii) high genetic, low environmental risk; (iii) medium genetic, low environmental risk; and (iv) low genetic, low environmental risk.Participants Adolescent and young adult offspring of monozygotic and dizygotic US military veteran twin fathers (n = 819).Measurements Data on CPA and CSA, DSM‐IV offspring cannabis abuse/dependence, other SUD and psychopathology and maternal and paternal SUD and psychopathology were collected via semi‐structured telephone interview.Findings Twenty‐three per cent of the offspring sample met life‐time criteria for cannabis abuse/dependence and 8.55% and 12.82% reported CSA and CPA, respectively. Offspring exposed to CSA, but not CPA, were at significantly greater risk of developing cannabis abuse/dependence compared to those who had not experienced CSA (hazard ratio = 2.16; 95% confidence interval = 1.48–3.16) after controlling for genetic and familial environmental risk and offspring gender, alcohol abuse and dependence and conduct disorder.Conclusions These results indicate that there are effects of CSA on development of cannabis abuse/dependence in addition to the genetic and familial environmental risk imparted by having a drug‐dependent father.
A qualitative analysis of compliance with smoke‐free legislation in community bars in Scotland: implications for public health
Authors: Eadie Douglas , Heim Derek , MacAskill Susan , Ross Alastair , Hastings Gerard , Davies John 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACTAim  To explore compliance with the smoke‐free legislation within a cross‐section of community bars in Scotland.Design  Ethnographic case study combining unobtrusive observation and in‐depth interviews conducted pre‐ and post‐introduction.Setting  Eight Scottish community bars in three contrasting study communities.Participants  Ten bar proprietors, 16 bar workers and 44 customers.Measurements  Observations and participant reports of compliance over the first 12 months of the smoking ban.Findings  All eight study bars endeavoured to enforce the ban, but with varying enthusiasm. Compliance varied, with violations more prevalent in those bars serving deprived communities. Most violations occurred in peripheral areas and generally went unchallenged. Six bars reported some form of complicit behaviour with staff and customers smoking together, either in the entrance area or during ‘lock‐ins’ when access to the bar was restricted to regular customers. Three factors were particularly important to explaining variance between bars: smoking norms, management competency and management attitudes towards the ban. The first and last were related to social disadvantage.Conclusions  Official data provide only a crude assessment of compliance in licensed premises. Data from this study offer a detailed picture of the nature and levels of compliance, and suggest a need for more sophisticated surveillance methods, greater enforcement and use of prosecutions where merited, and targeted support for bars serving deprived communities to help ensure that the major gains already achieved are retained and built upon. It is also suggested that acceptance of the smoke‐free legislation could be enhanced by complementary initiatives targeting support to smokers in deprived communities. Those planning to introduce smoke‐free legislation need to set in place these measures in advance in order to realize the benefits of full compliance.
Recombinant LH (lutropin alfa) for the treatment of hypogonadotrophic women with profound LH deficiency: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, proof‐of‐efficacy study
Authors: Shoham Z. , Smith H. , Yeko T. , O’Brien F. , Hemsey G. , O'Dea L. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryObjective  To confirm the safety and efficacy of 75 IU lutropin alfa with concomitant follitropin alfa in inducing follicular development in women with profound gonadotrophin deficiency.Design  Double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial conducted in 25 medical centres in four countries.Patients  Thirty‐nine patients with LH < 1·2 IU/l and FSH < 5·0 IU/l were treated with concomitant 75 IU lutropin alfa and 150 IU follitropin alfa or concomitant placebo and 150 IU follitropin alfa.Measurements  Primary efficacy end‐point (intent‐to‐treat): follicular development defined by (i) at least one follicle ≥ 17 mm; (ii) serum E2 level ≥ 400 pmol/l on day of hCG administration (DhCG); and (iii) mid‐luteal phase progesterone level ≥ 25 nmol/l.Results  In the analysis of evaluable patients, 66·7% (16 of 24) of patients given lutropin alfa achieved follicular development compared with 20·0% (2 of 10) of patients receiving placebo (P = 0·023). In the intent‐to‐treat analysis, follicular development was achieved in 65·4% (17 of 26) of patients receiving lutropin alfa and 15·4% (2 of 13) of patients receiving placebo (P = 0·006). The statistical difference between treatment groups was preserved when over‐response leading to cycle cancellation was analysed as a failed response (P = 0·034). Lutropin alfa was well tolerated.Conclusion  Subcutaneous co‐administration of 75 IU lutropin alfa with follitropin alfa is safe and effective in inducing follicular development in women with profound gonadotrophin deficiency.
13C solid‐state NMR assessment of decomposition pattern during co‐composting of sewage sludge and green wastes
Authors: Albrecht R. , Ziarelli F. , Alarcón‐Gutiérrez E. , Le Petit J. , Terrom G. , Perissol C. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe fate of organic matter during composting is poorly understood. Therefore, we analysed composts of sewage sludges and green wastes (44 samples representative of 11 stages of biodegradation) by conventional chemical methods: pH, humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) content, C, N and organic matter (OM) content, and by 13C CPMAS NMR to assess the decomposition process of the organic matter. Chemical changes clearly occurred in two phases: first, decomposition of OM during the first 2 months was characterized by decreased C/N ratios, OM content and increased pH; and second, a humification process with increased HA/FA ratios. NMR spectrum changes confirmed this pattern, with an increase in aromaticity and a decrease in alkyl C. A decrease of syringyl to guaiacyl ratio (S/G), a sign of lignin transformation, also indicated humification during composting. NMR spectroscopic properties of composts were also studied by means of principal components analysis (PCA) and revealed changes according to the degree of compost maturation. The factorial map presents a chronological distribution of composts on the two first principal components. The influences of eight chemical factors on the PCA ordination of composts as monitored by their evolution by NMR were also studied by multivariate analyses. PCA clearly indicated two phases: the rapid decomposition of organic matter followed by the formation of humic‐like substances. The first phase, that is ‘new’ composts, was strongly correlated with OM contents, pH and C/N ratios whereas the second phase, corresponding to ‘old’ compost, was correlated with pH, HA content and HA/FA ratio. These results confirm that knowledge of the formation of humic substances is indispensable to suitable monitoring of the composting process.
Soil organic phosphorus in tropical forests: an assessment of the NaOH–EDTA extraction procedure for quantitative analysis by solution 31P NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Turner B. L. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe extraction of soil organic phosphorus by the NaOH–EDTA procedure was assessed in detail for a tropical forest soil (clay‐loam, pH 4.3, total carbon 2.7%). Optimum conditions for the quantification of soil organic phosphorus and characterization of its composition by solution 31P NMR spectroscopy were extraction in a solution containing 0.25 m NaOH and 50 mm Na2EDTA in a 1:20 solid to solution ratio for 4 hours at ambient laboratory temperature. Replicate analyses yielded a coefficient of variation of 3% for organic phosphorus as a proportion of the spectral area. There was no significant difference in total phosphorus extraction from fresh and air‐dried soil, although slightly more organic phosphorus and less paramagnetic ions were extracted from dried soil. The procedure was not improved by changing the concentration of NaOH or EDTA, extraction time, or solid to solution ratio. Pre‐extraction with HCl or Na2EDTA did not increase subsequent organic phosphorus extraction in NaOH–EDTA or improve spectral resolution in solution 31P NMR spectroscopy. Post‐extraction treatment with Chelex resin did not improve spectral resolution, but removed small concentrations of phosphorus from the extracts. Increasing the pH of NaOH–EDTA extracts (up to 1.0 m NaOH) increased the concentration of phosphate monoesters, but decreased DNA to an undetectable level, indicating its hydrolysis in strong alkali. The standardized NaOH–EDTA extraction procedure is therefore recommended for the analysis of organic phosphorus in tropical forest soils.