bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Activity Switches of Rhodopsin†
Authors: Ritter Eglof , Elgeti Matthias , Bartl Franz J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractRhodopsin, the visual pigment of the rod photoreceptor cell contains as its light‐sensitive cofactor 11‐cisretinal, which is bound by a protonated Schiff base between its aldehyde group and the Lys296 side chain of the apoprotein. Light activation is achieved by 11‐cis to all‐transisomerization and subsequent thermal relaxation into the active, G protein‐binding metarhodopsin II state. Metarhodopsin II decaysviatwo parallel pathways, which both involve hydrolysis of the Schiff base eventually to opsin and released all‐transretinal. Subsequently, rhodopsin's dark state is regenerated by a complicated retinal metabolism, termed the retinoid cycle. Unlike other retinal proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, this regeneration cycle cannot be short cut by light, because blue illumination of active metarhodopsin II does not lead back to the ground state but to the formation of largely inactive metarhodopsin III. In this review, mechanistic details of activating and deactivating pathways of rhodopsin, particularly concerning the roles of the retinal, are compared. Based on static and time‐resolved UV/Vis and FTIR spectroscopic data, we discuss a model of the light‐induced deactivation. We describe properties and photoreactions of metarhodopsin III and suggest potential roles of this intermediate for vision.
Clinical investigation of a point‐of‐care blood ammonia analyzer
Authors: Goggs Robert , Serrano Sergio , Szladovits Balazs , Keir Iain , Ong Ryan , Hughes Dez 
Published: April 2008

Background:Hyperammonemia has frequently been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. Blood ammonia determination requires minimal delay between sampling and analysis for accurate results.Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the PocketChem BA, a new point‐of‐care (POC) blood ammonia analyzer for clinical use by determining machine precision, linearity, repeatability, and accuracy.Methods:Coefficients of variation were determined by repeated measurement of 2 control solutions. Linearity was investigated by testing serial dilutions of a stock solution. For accuracy, samples from clinical cases were used to compare the results on the PocketChem BA with those obtained using an enzymatic reference method for canine plasma. Canine and feline patients were consecutively enrolled if blood ammonia was assayed and samples could be analyzed shortly after collection. Classification of results (as normal or high, using 100 μmol/L as a cutoff value), Bland–Altman and Deming regression plots, and intraclass correlation coefficients were used to compare the methods. Stability of samples and test strips also was assessed over time.Results:Coefficients of variation were 10.6% and 4.8% for low and high controls, respectively. Concentrations of ammonia in diluted stock solutions correlated positively with mean measured concentrations (Pearson coefficient 0.988,P<.001). Of the 54 samples obtained from 38 dogs and 4 cats, 41 had ammonia concentrations within the readable range. Results from the POC analyzer and the reference method were correlated positively (intraclass coefficient 0.800, 95% confidence interval 0.655–0.888), with the POC analyzer having negative constant and proportional biases. The methods agreed in the classification of 45/54 (83.3%) samples, with 7 false negative results on the POC analyzer. Results of repeated sample and strip analyses at 1 and 24 hours were significantly different (P<.05) from those at 0 hour.Conclusions:The PocketChem BA has acceptable precision, adequate linearity, and satisfactory agreement with a reference method, but negative constant and proportional biases. The POC analyzer may be suitable for clinical use in patients suspected of having hepatic encephalopathy, using a lower reference limit of 60 μmol/L to decrease false negative results.
Relevance of clotting tests in liver disease
Authors: Thachil J 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Liver disease is associated with impairment of the haemostatic function due to the abnormal and decreased synthesis of the clotting factors. It is thus only logical to have considered assessment of the clotting profile (to include prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)) to be an integral part of the comprehensive assessment of a patient who presents with liver impairment. Laboratory abnormalities of coagulation are considered to be a predictive risk factor for bleeding, but patients with liver disease do not have bleeding pattern as those who have coagulation factor deficiencies. Recent experiments have cast doubts over the use of PT and aPTT as a marker of bleeding in liver disease and the use of such tests to decide the need for plasma replacement before interventions like liver biopsy. This article reviews the relevance of the clotting profile in liver disease, the other factors involved in the haemostatic failure associated with it, and the technical problems in the interpretation of these results. Most importantly, it stresses the need for more trials to help us guide the management of bleeding in patients with liver impairment.
Can a small park preserve its flora? A historical study of Bic National Park, Quebec
Authors: Lavoie Claude , Saint-Louis Annie 
Published: April 2008

We reconstructed the 100 year history of the botanical composition of a small (19 km2) park (Bic National Park, Bic/St. Fabien, Quebec) located within an agricultural landscape. Using 64 historical sources and a botanical field survey, we documented changes in the native and exotic vascular flora that occurred before and after the creation of the park in 1984. We evaluated how many native species were lost from 1984 to 2005, and the number of exotic species that became established during the same period. A total of 585 plant taxa were found in Bic National Park before its creation, of which 488 (83%) were native. The park harbours more taxa today (710) than in the past, but the proportion of exotic taxa has increased significantly (from 16% to 25%) since 1984. Despite its small area, Bic National Park has very successfully preserved its flora during its 21 year history. Thirteen species have likely been extirpated from the area occupied by the park. However, 12 of these 13 species have not been seen since at least 1957, so they were probably extirpated before the creation of the park. On the other hand, the creation of the park did not stop the introduction of exotic species. Land-use changes, an increase in the number of visitors, and horticultural plantings are probably the main causes explaining the rise in the number of exotic taxa observed during the last 21 years. A small park located far from urban centres may preserve its flora, but is not necessarily a bastion against exotic species.
Ectomycorrhizal fungi of whitebark pine (a tree in peril) revealed by sporocarps and molecular analysis of mycorrhizae from treeline forests in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Authors: Mohatt Katherine R. , Cripps Cathy L. , Lavin Matt 
Published: April 2008

Whitebark pine ( Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) is unique as the only stone pine in North America. This species has declined 40%–90% throughout its range owing to blister rust infection, mountain pine beetle, fire suppression, and global climate change. However, intact mature and old growth forests still exist in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) at high timberline elevations. This study addresses the urgent need to discover the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi critical to this tree species before forests are further reduced. A study of mature whitebark pine forests across five mountain ranges in the Northern GYE confirmed 32 ECM species of fungi with the pine by sporocarp occurrence in pure stands or by identification of mycorrhizae with ITS-matching. Boletales and Cortinariales ( Cortinarius ) comprise 50% of the species diversity discovered. In Boletales, Suillus subalpinus M.M. Moser (with stone pines), Suillus sibericus Singer (stone pines), Rhizopogon evadens A.H. Sm. (five-needle pines), Rhizopogon spp. (pines) and a semi-secotioid Chroogomphus sp. (pines) are restricted to the hosts listed and are not likely to occur with other high elevation conifers in the GYE. The ascomycete generalist, Cenococcum geophilum Fr., was the most frequent (64%) and abundant (51%) ECM fungus on seedling roots, as previously reported for high elevation spruce-fir and lower elevation lodgepole pine forests in the GYE. The relative importance of the basidiomycete specialists and the ascomycete generalist to whitebark pine (and for seedling establishment) is not known, however this study is the first step in delineating the ECM fungi associated with this pine in peril.
Comparing the effect of habitat on the magnitude of inbreeding depression in the Mediterranean native Senecio malacitanus and the alien S. inaequidens: consequences for invasive ability
Authors: Garcia-Serrano Hèctor , Escarré Josep , Caño Lidia , Sans F. Xavier 
Published: April 2008

We studied the effects of inbreeding depression and the level of self-compatibility on overall fitness parameters in the invasive species Senecio inaequidens DC. and the native Senecio malacitanus Huter, in plots with and without interspecific competition by natural vegetation. Competition had a stronger effect on fitness parmeters for both species, but it mostly affected the survival of S. malacitanus during the first year, and particularly the survival of individuals issued from inbred crosses. Inbreeding depression decreased the seed production in both species. Summer drought in the second year reduced the fitness of all inbreeding levels, masking the effect of inbreeding.The alien species had a shorter pre-reproductive time, a greater head production, and greater resistance to competition from established vegetation. In addition, a negative relationship was found between inbreeding coefficient and herbivory in the native species only. All these factors may help to explain the invasive ability of S. inaequidens. The magnitude of inbreeding depression and the environmental conditions can thus determine the success or failure of an invasion.
First and Second Language Tongue Movements in Spanish and Korean Bilingual Speakers
Authors: Nissen Shawn L. , Dromey Christopher , Wheeler Cynthia 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
A number of previous studies have relied on perceptual judgments or acoustic analysis to examine second language (L2) production. However, few researchers have studied L2 performance by directly tracking the physical movements of the articulators. The purpose of the present study was to investigate intraspeaker differences in native (Korean or Spanish) and L2 (English) production through kinematic indices of tongue activity. This involved measurement of the speed, duration, and distance of tongue movements or strokes during speech. Findings indicated that the speakers had significantly slower stroke speeds and longer movement durations for L2 when compared to their native language (L1), yet no significant differences in stroke distance. The bilingual speakers were found to pause more and speak proportionally less of the time in their L2. Interestingly, those speakers who exhibited greater relative kinematic changes from L1 to L2 were also rated as having a stronger perceived accent.
Phonetic Applications of the Time-Corrected Instantaneous Frequency Spectrogram
Authors: Fulop Sean A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA reassigned or time-corrected instantaneous frequency spectrogram has been developed in the work of a number of practitioners. Here we present a general description of this imaging technique and explore its manifold applications to acoustic phonetics. The TCIF spectrogram shows the locations of signal components with unrivalled precision, eliminating the blurring and smearing of components that hamper the readability of the conventional spectrogram. Formants of vowels and other resonants are shown with great accuracy by observing glottal pulsations at very short time scales with a wideband analysis. A further post-processing technique is also described, by which signal components such as formants, as well as impulsive events, can be effectively isolated to the exclusion of other signal information. When the phonation process is examined this closely, a variety of evidence surfaces which supports recent developments in the theory and computational simulation of aeroacoustic phenomena in speech. Narrowband analysis is also demonstrated to permit pitch tracking with relative ease.
Human Rights Violations in Federal Ethiopia: When Ethnic Identity is a Political Stigma
Authors: Tronvoll Kjetil 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to probe the critique against Ethiopia regarding human rights violations along ethnic and racial lines recently raised by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The article compares the Ethiopian government's stated policy on human and group rights with reported human rights violations in Ethiopia per ethnic regional-state for the purpose of identifying possible "ethnic" patterns of violations. The findings of this article partly question, from a methodological perspective, the categorical classification of "human rights violations along ethnic and racial lines" as expressed by CERD. Violations may certainly be interpreted within an ethnic framework; however, one should also make allowances for a non-ethnic approach to human rights abuses and view the two perspectives as mutually complimentary.
Recent Books on Human Rights and Groups Review Essays International Law and the Evolution of Indigenous Rights
Authors: Allen Stephen 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe recent adoption of the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has reinvigorated the discourse on indigenous rights. This essay reviews three books – Xanthaki's Indigenous Rights and United Nations Standards: Self-Determination, Culture and Land; Gilbert's Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights Under International Law: From Victims to Actors; and Rodriguez-Pinero's Indigenous Peoples, Postcolonialism and International Law: The ILO Regime (1919–1989) – that illustrate the way in which indigenous rights have evolved at the supranational level. Moreover, in their different ways, these important books highlight the conditions of possibility for indigenous peoples at a critical stage in the development of indigenous rights in international law.
How Ovid Remythologizes Greek Astronomy in Metamorphoses 1.747-2.400
Authors: Loos Jaap 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis essay discusses Ovid's poetic rendition of Hellenistic astronomy in the Phaethon myth. In Met. 2.63-75 Sol presents his diurnal and annual movements as separate, but the first instruction (127-8) to his son in his second speech refers to the υπολειψις-theory; so far Ovid has followed Geminus Isag. 12. Met. 2.129-33 telescopes the Milky Way (via quinque per arcus) and the ecliptic together, the sectus in obliquum limes zonarumque trium contentus fine reflecting the Aratean system of three imaginary circles connected by means of the fourth (Phaen. 526 ο δε τετρατος) circle, the ecliptic; Nonnus D. 38.256-9 points in the same direction. In the last instruction utrumque (Met. 2.140) refers to the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. In 2.116 I adopt quam, the reading of Par F (Tarrant, OCT 2004), instead of quem, thus making Aurora the subject of petere terras, which makes excellent sense since she carries the passage Met. 2.112-44. In late Antiquity both Nonnus (D. 38.424-5) and Claudian (VI. Cons. Hon. 172) catasterise Phaethon into Auriga; this paper offers some fresh viewpoints, based on e.g. Ov. Am. 3.12.31, 37 and Hyginus Astr. 2.42.1324-7, that could defend the presence of Phaethon's catasterismus in the Metamorphoses.
ταυτ' εγω μαρτυρομαι: Bystanders as Witnesses in Aristophanes
Authors: Spatharas Dimos 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to examine the function of bystanders as witnesses in Aristophanes. It includes an examination of the relevant passages and a presentation of the legal aspects that they exhibit. I argue that, while forensic speeches depict different types of assistance offered by the bystanders to victims of criminal action, the 'victims' on Aristophanes' comic stage, usually annoying intruders, fail to secure the assistance of those within earshot.
The Literary Progeny of Sappho's Fawns: Simias' Egg (AP 15.27.13-20) and Theocritus 30.18
Authors: Dosuna Julián Méndez 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis paper analyses two deer similes by Simias and Theocritus that depend directly on a simile found in the New Sappho. Both passages confirm the interpretation of Sappho's simile as a case of so-called 'compendious comparison'. In turn, the New Sappho sheds new light on the texts of Simias and Theocritus. Simias' simile finds also resonances in two short similes in Id. 13.62-3 and Id. 18.41-2. This is possibly a literary tribute of Theocritus to Simias as his 'bucolic' predecessor.
Ecumenical Relationships in Estonia
Authors: Vogelaar Huub 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe dramatic changes in the political, economic, cultural and religious panorama in Eastern Europe between 1989 and 1991 demanded new responses from both churches and ecumenical bodies. Also in Estonia the churches were suddenly faced with changes in legislation on religious denominations and church-state relations were entailed to provide for the restitution of church property. Other questions at stake were: how do churches understand themselves in the new circumstances? How are their relations to one another? And what is their role in the new society? In addition the churches in Estonia also had to struggle with the answers in a profound secular context. As a country in the former communist Eastern Europe Estonia tells its own newsworthy story. This article highlights the ecumenical relations and developments since 1991 in Estonia.
Impact of Satellite Winds on Marine Wind Simulations
Authors: Perrie Will , Zhang Weiqing , Bourassa Mark , Shen Hui , Vachon Paris W. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA variational data assimilation method is applied to remotely sensed wind data from Hurricanes Gustav (2002) and Isabel (2003) to produce enhanced marine wind estimates. The variational method utilizes constraints to ensure that an optimum combination of winds is determined, in the sense of minimization of a cost function measuring the misfit between observations and background input field data and constraining nongeophysical features in the spatial derivatives. Constraints are multiplied by weights, which are objectively determined by cross validation. Verification is obtained by comparison with available operational in situ buoy observations and analyses winds. It is shown that the newly constructed midlatitude wind fields represent an improvement relative to background wind field estimates and also relative to Quick Scatterometer–National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalysis blended winds, and that the new winds have an impact on simulations of waves and upper-ocean currents.
Applying Satellite-Estimated Storm Rotation Speed to Improve Typhoon Rainfall Potential Technique
Authors: Liu Gin-Rong , Chao Chun-Chieh , Ho Czu-Yi 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Heavy rainfall from typhoons or tropical cyclones often causes inland flooding and mudslides that threaten lives and property. In this study, Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) satellite data observed from 2000 to 2004 were used to calculate the rainfall rates of different typhoons in the northwestern Pacific. Geostationary weather satellite infrared images were also applied to estimate the typhoon rotation speed via the maximum cross-correlation technique. By including such information in the tropical rainfall potential (TRaP) technique, an improved typhoon rainfall potential technique can be constructed.
Considering the fact that a typhoon’s spiral rainbands move constantly, half-hourly or hourly infrared data observed from geostationary weather satellites were used to calculate the revolving speed, which was subsequently used to predict the rainband movement over the next hour. After comparing the predicted rainfall potential with the rain gauge data of Taiwan’s small offshore islands, it was found that this new method can improve the typhoon’s accumulated rainfall by approximately 40% over the original TRaP method. Therefore, to produce a more accurate short-term typhoon rainfall forecast, it is very important to factor in the satellite-estimated storm rotation speed.
Global Positioning System (GPS) Precipitable Water in Forecasting Lightning at Spaceport Canaveral
Authors: Kehrer Kristen , Graf Brian , Roeder William P. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
This paper evaluates the use of precipitable water (PW) from the global positioning system (GPS) in lightning prediction. Additional independent verification of an earlier model is performed. This earlier model used binary logistic regression with the following four predictor variables optimally selected from a candidate list of 23 candidate predictors: the current precipitable water value for a given time of the day, the change in GPS PW over the past 9 h, the K index, and the electric field mill value. The K index was used as a measure of atmospheric stability, which, of the traditional stability measures, has been shown to work best in the area and season under study. This earlier model was not optimized for any specific forecast interval, but showed promise for 6- and 1.5-h forecasts. Two new models were developed and verified. These new models were optimized for two operationally significant forecast intervals. The first model was optimized for the 0.5-h lightning advisories issued by the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron. An additional 1.5 h was allowed for sensor dwell, communication, calculation, analysis, and advisory decision by the forecaster. Therefore, the 0.5-h advisory model became a 2-h forecast model for lightning within the 45th Weather Squadron advisory areas. The second model was optimized for major ground processing operations supported by the 45th Weather Squadron, which can require lightning forecasts with a lead time of up to 7.5 h. Using the same 1.5-h lag as in the other new model, this became a 9-h forecast model for lightning within 37 km (20 n mi) of the 45th Weather Squadron advisory areas. The two new models were built using binary logistic regression and a list of 26 candidate predictor variables: the current GPS PW value, the K index, and 24 candidate variables of the change in GPS PW levels over 0.5-h increments up to 12 h. The new 2-h model found the following four predictors to be statistically significant, listed in decreasing order of contribution to the forecast: the 0.5-h change in GPS PW, the 7.5-h change in GPS PW, the current GPS PW value, and the K index. The new 9-h forecast model found the following five independent variables to be statistically significant, listed in decreasing order of contribution to the forecast: the current GPS PW value, the 8.5-h change in GPS PW, the 3.5-h change in GPS PW, the 12-h change in GPS PW, and the K index. In both models, the GPS PW parameters had better correlation to the lightning forecast than did the K index, a widely used thunderstorm index. Possible future improvements to this study are discussed.