bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of analytical performance in inherited metabolic disorders: the role of ERNDIM
Authors: Fowler B. , Burlina A. , Kozich V. , Vianey‐Saban C. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryExternal quality assurance (EQA) schemes are essential for improvement of accuracy, reliability and comparability of results of biochemical genetic tests. ERNDIM (European Research Network for evaluation and improvement of screening, Diagnosis and treatment of Inherited disorders of Metabolism), established in 1994, operates nine EQA schemes for biochemical genetic testing according to international norms and recommendations. These comprise qualitative schemes for amino acids, organic acids, purines and pyrimidines, special assays in serum and urine and white cell cystine, qualitative organic acid and acylcarnitine schemes, as well as diagnostic proficiency testing. The total number of participants has increased from 123 in 1994 to 268 in 2007. Additional activities include participation in the Eurogentest project, a laboratory directory, training, education and development of guidelines. Results from the quantitative amino acid scheme with 170 participants reveal good variation within and between laboratories of below 10% for 10 amino acids; good within‐laboratory variation but intermediate inter‐laboratory variation of 10–22% for 11 amino acids; and higher variation within and between laboratories for 8 amino acids. Results on samples from 51 inherited metabolic disorders from two of five centres organizing diagnostic proficiency testing indicate overall diagnostic efficiency above 80% and improved performance of individual laboratories. Comparison of results for 10 and 12 compounds in the serum and urine special assay schemes respectively for 2000 and 2007 reveal clear improvement of precision within laboratories and in inter‐laboratory variation. There is considerable evidence that performance in biochemical genetic testing has improved since the introduction of ERNDIM schemes.
Detailed seismicity mapping of the Altai-Sayan zone using large averaging areas
Authors: Dergachev A.A. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
An improved technique is suggested for quantifying seismic activity over averaging areas of an arbitrary size. The example of the Altai-Sayan seismic zone is used to substantiate the choice of a 1° N × 2° E averaging area instead of the traditional one of 40×40 km2. Maps compiled with averaging areas of different sizes can be spliced and correlated using a correction coefficient estimated in different models.
The new seismicity map of the Altai-Sayan area covers more than 90% of the territory and provides a generalized image of activity being advantageous over the classic maps as it allows better correlation of regional seismicity with the tectonic setting.
With larger averaging areas and, correspondingly, a greater amount of data in each area, one can obtain time series of seismic activity to be analyzed using mathematical statistics as a basis for mathematical modeling and simulation of the seismic process.
Climatic changes and alluvial-sedimentation settings in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle-Late Holocene (by the example of the Ilya floodplain)
Authors: Bazarova V.B. , Mokhova L.M. , Klimin M.A. , Orlova L.A. , Bazarov K.Yu. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Climatic changes in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle and Late Holocene and their influence on alluvial sedimentation environments are reconstructed from the results of study of the Ilya floodplain sediments (Alkhanai National Park). At the beginning of the Subboreal period, the regional climate became more arid, which led to a significant increase in steppe species communities in the landscapes. Intense climate aridization also took place at the beginning and at the end of the Subatlantic period of the Holocene. The alluvial-sedimentation rate increased during the weakening of aridization and decreased during cooling and the intensification of aridization. The obtained regional data are compared with data on the adjacent areas and the global climatic changes in the Northern Hemisphere.
THE OFFICER CORPS, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DEMOCRACY IN THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
Authors: RENDLE MATTHEW 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTRussia's ‘democratic’ revolution of February 1917 saw all types of professions and social groups mobilize into unions and congresses to articulate their demands. Lower and middle classes dominated, but it is notable how former elite groups were quick to form bodies to defend their interests and to promote their visions of Russia's future. Historians have invariably dismissed these groups as marginal to the revolutionary process and inherently ‘counter-revolutionary’. This article challenges these assumptions, using the Union of Officers, formed across the military in May 1917 to defend officers' professional interests, as a case study. The union spread quickly, published a newspaper, and agitated among politicians for greater discipline in the military. Its activities fuelled popular fears of counter-revolution, but only a few of the union's leaders actively worked against the government. General Kornilov's failed revolt in August demonstrated that most officers had doubts. Nevertheless, the union played a crucial role in mobilizing moderate and conservative forces against further reform. This exacerbated social conflict and political polarization, fatally undermining the Provisional Government and democracy in 1917.
TRAITORS, TRAFIQUANTS, AND THE CONFISCATION OF ‘ILLICIT PROFITS’ IN FRANCE, 1944–1950
Authors: MOURÉ KENNETH , GRENARD FABRICE 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTState measures to confiscate the ‘illicit profits’ earned from commerce with the enemy and the black market in Occupied France are generally considered to have been an abject failure. Economic collaboration and illicit commerce had been widespread. The need to ‘purge’ the profits from black market transactions and economic collaboration was considered essential at Liberation. An examination of the confiscation effort from archival sources shows that the purge achieved limited success, but that complete success was rendered impossible by factors that limited other post-war purges: the shortage of trained personnel and investigative resources, the need for hard evidence for legal procedures (rather than vigilante justice), the efforts of collaborators to cover their tracks, and the evolution of public opinion, which was quickly disappointed by the slow pace of confiscations. Although success was limited, the effort to punish the profiteers it could convict had been necessary, as a matter of elementary fiscal justice and an essential step in the restoration of the authority of the state.
THE LOST WORLD OF YOUNG CONSERVATISM
Authors: BLACK LAWRENCE 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThe Young Conservatives were primarily a social club, hosting dances, beauty contests, car rallies and winning endorsements from sports stars. They made a virtue of this apolitical reputation to recruit a mass, middle-class membership, and with rhetoric of service and citizenship embedded themselves in local civil society. This article reflects on why this associational culture has been neglected by political and social historians. In the approach of Raphael Samuel's ‘Lost world of British Communism’, it explores the worldview and lifestyle of YCs in 1950s and 1960s Britain, drawing on national, local, and oral sources. Boasting of being ‘the free world's largest youth political movement’ it was a considerable political resource and confounds Conservatism's aged public image in this period. The article accounts for the Ycs' falling membership through the 1960s and discusses its legacy. Decline came as it experienced social and cultural change, as the value of mass party membership diminished and as, after the Macleod report, YCs sought to become more conventionally ‘political’. The resulting debates about politics–social mix are illuminating about political culture more generally. It argues the YCs were not simply victims of social change, but that the decision to become ‘political’ was also a factor. Until the later 1960s it contends the YCs attest to the persistence of strands of Conservatism described by interwar historians like McKibbin and Light – an associational appeal, whose light touch deftly avoided the appearance of being partisan in anything other than name.
THE PURSUIT OF REALITY: RECENT RESEARCH INTO THE HISTORY OF WITCHCRAFT
Authors: GASKILL MALCOLM 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTIn recent years the outpouring of historical work on witchcraft has been prodigious. Twenty-first-century studies encompass every conceivable chronological and geographical area, from antiquity to the present, Massachusetts to Muscovy. Approaches have been varied, with witchcraft explored as an intellectual, legal, political, social, cultural, and psychological phenomenon. Of particular interest – and difficulty – is the ‘reality’ of witchcraft: how historians might recover contemporary meanings, beyond the meanings imposed by rationalists, romantics, and social scientists. This article examines nine books from the last five years to assess the state of the field, and to offer some suggestions for research in the future.
Observations on two glassy-haired lichenicolous discomycetes
Authors: HUHTINEN Seppo , HAWKSWORTH David L. , IHLEN Per G. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTwo lichenicolous species are discussed: the recently described Unguiculariopsis nephromae, which occurs on Nephroma species in Canada, Fennoscandia, North America and Russia, is combined into Protounguicularia; and Hyalopeziza rapax sp. nov. is described from Pseudocyphellariacrocata in Alaska. In discussing generic placements, it is concluded that the species now known as Olla transiens is better accommodated in Protounguicularia and the species is combined into that genus. Attention is drawn to variability in general appearance of P. nephromatis, particularly the occurrence of both superficial and erumpent apothecia in the same species.
High Technology Therapies and Older People
Authors: Jennett Bryan 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTTherapies to save or sustain the lives of elderly patients are sometimes used when they can bring little benefit, and sometimes denied because of age to patients who could benefit. Selection for treatment should depend on balancing probable benefits and burdens for the patient and on the patient's preferences. Burdens include those of the treatment itself, the risk of complications and of extending life of poor quality. Factors to consider when deciding are illustrated by reference to intensive care, surgery, dialysis, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and tube feeding.
Health and Social Care for Elderly People in Sweden: Implications for Policy in the United States
Authors: Mullins Larry C. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThrough a descriptive and analytical account of recent trends in the care of elderly people in Sweden, a number of lessons are indicated for America and countries with similar health and social welfare arrangements. Clarity of objectives within a ‘normalising’ framework; sound organisational arrangements based on small local areas; effective knowledge of services by consumers and cost-effective provision are factors identified as significant.
Symbolizing the civic ideal: the civic portraits in Belfast Town Hall
Authors: MCINTOSH GILLIAN 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTBelfast's civic portraits provide an unbroken narrative of the city's municipal identity dating back to the second half of the nineteenth century. Their layers of meaning can be understood within the context of the social, political and cultural concerns of the period in which they were produced and presented. An examination of these complex and coded works of art is revealing about the political and religious tensions, as well as the personalities, of mid-Victorian Belfast's intricate urban landscape.
Boldness diminished? The post-war battle to replan a bomb-damaged provincial city
Authors: ESSEX STEPHEN , BRAYSHAY MARK 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThe retreat from bold reconstruction planning in Britain's blitzed cities is now well established, although there are two notable exceptions: Coventry and Plymouth. While the circumstances in Coventry have been fully researched, the narrative in Plymouth remains untold. The aim of this article is therefore to evaluate the main formal measures required to embark on the comprehensive redevelopment of Plymouth's heavily blitzed core area and whether, despite Whitehall's failure to deliver the necessary legal and administrative powers in a timely and co-ordinated manner, the city maintained its faith in bold plans and planners.
A British Empire for the twentieth century: the inauguration of New Delhi, 1931
Authors: JOHNSON DAVID A. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThe inauguration of New Delhi in 1931 represented a complex vision of the late colonial state where liberal political reforms intended to pacify Indians simultaneously bound them more closely to the British Empire. These conciliatory reforms focused Indian attention on provincial local self-government while the centre remained firmly in British hands. New Delhi, as the pre-eminent symbol of this imperial centre, crucially disseminated this double narrative of promised liberation and continued colonial dependency. The new capital may have projected imperial power and permanence, as many scholars have noted, but it also symbolized the underlying strands that connected British political reform with the reinforcement and reaffirmation of continued British rule.
THE CASE OF TAHA YASEEN RAMADAN BEFORE THE IRAQI HIGH TRIBUNAL: AN INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Wiley William H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTaha Yaseen Ramadan was a long-time ally of Saddam Hussein and Vice-President of Iraq at the time of the United States-led invasion in 2003; he was captured by American forces in 2004 and, in 2005-2006, tried before the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT), alongside Saddam Hussein. The Trial Chamber hearing the case found Taha Yaseen guilty of,inter alia, the crime against humanity of wilful killing; he was handed a sentence of life imprisonment in November 2006. This sentence was appealed by the IHT Prosecutor; the IHT Appellate Chamber responded several days later with an order that the Trial Chamber award Taha Yaseen a capital sentence. The process of re-sentencing, which ultimately led to the execution of Taha Yaseen in March 2007, was, like many other key phases of the trial of Saddam Hussein and Taha Yaseen, undermined by Iraqi political interference emanating, in the main, from the office of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The fairness of the proceedings against Taha Yaseen and his co-accused was further undermined throughout by the near total ignorance of the those involved in the case (i.e., the Iraqi Judges, Prosecutors and Defence counsel) of the substantive law that they were meant to be applying, in particular, International Criminal Law, which had been received into Iraqi law almostverbatimin 2004 from the Statute of the International Criminal Court. This combination of professional ignorance and political interference gave rise to a travesty of justice that cannot be reversed, that is, the execution of a man who was manifestly not guilty of the crime for which he was hanged.
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURTS ROUND-UP
Authors: Rojo Enrique Carnero , Nybondas Maria 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe International Criminal Courts Round-Up reports on the most interesting judgements and decisions rendered by international(ized) criminal courts and tribunals during the reporting period. In addition, important developments within the various organs of the courts are highlighted, such as the appointment of new judges and significant amendments to the procedural rules of the courts. The Round-Up presently covers issues concerning the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
DIVISION VIII / WG: SUPERNOVAE
Authors: Hillebrandt Wolfgang , Schmidt Brian P. 
Published: November 2008

As far as coordination and planning of observational activities are concerned, the main need for WG-SN activities seem to lie in the field of suitable follow-ups to the many on-going and planned search programs (in particular for SNe Ia's; LOTOSS, NGSS, SNfactory, SNLS, ESSENCE, GOODS, PanStarrs, . . .). With the new robotic 2m-class telescopes (e.g., the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network and other robotic telescopes) photometric follow-ups do not seem a major problem, but for most of the searches spectroscopic follow-up requires 4m-class telescopes at least which will become rare in the future. Possible ways out were discussed.
Temperature stability of proteins essential for the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Lack Nathan A. , Kawamura Akane , Fullam Elizabeth , Laurieri Nicola , Beard Stacey , Russell Angela J. , Evangelopoulos Dimitrios , Westwood Isaac , Sim Edith 
Published: November 2008

In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the genes hsaD (2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid hydrolase) and nat (arylamine N-acetyltransferase) are essential for survival inside of host macrophages. These genes act as an operon and have been suggested to be involved in cholesterol metabolism. However, the role of NAT in this catabolic pathway has not been determined. In an effort to better understand the function of these proteins, we have expressed, purified and characterized TBNAT (NAT from M. tuberculosis) and HsaD (2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid hydrolase) from M. tuberculosis. Both proteins demonstrated remarkable heat stability with TBNAT and HsaD retaining &gt;95% of their activity after incubation at 60 °C for 30 min. The first and second domains of TBNAT were demonstrated to be very important to the heat stability of the protein, as the transfer of these domains caused a dramatic reduction in the heat stability. The specific activity of TBNAT was tested against a broad range of acyl-CoA cofactors using hydralazine as a substrate. TBNAT was found to be able to utilize not just acetyl-CoA, but also n-propionyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA, although at a lower rate. As propionyl-CoA is a product of cholesterol catabolism, we propose that NAT could have a role in the utilization of this important cofactor.
Progressive velocity throwing training increases velocity without detriment to accuracy in sub‐elite cricket players: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Freeston Jonathan , Rooney Kieron 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThrowing performance is vital within the sport of cricket. However, little published evidence exists regarding methods to improve throwing velocity and/or accuracy in any cricket‐playing population. This study, therefore, assessed the efficacy of progressive velocity throwing training on throwing velocity and accuracy in a cricket‐specific test. Eighteen sub‐elite male cricket players were assessed for maximal throwing velocity and throwing accuracy at four different throwing velocities relative to maximal throwing velocity. The participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n=9) or control (n=9) group. Both groups performed usual pre‐season activities for 8 weeks, during which the intervention group performed two additional specific throwing training sessions per week. Maximal throwing velocity was re‐assessed at 4 weeks and the progressive velocity throwing programme was adjusted accordingly. The 8‐week progressive velocity throwing training significantly increased peak and mean maximal throwing velocity (P = 0.01). Absolute changes in peak and mean maximal throwing velocity were negatively and significantly correlated with initial maximal throwing velocity at 4 weeks (r=−0.805, P = 0.01 and r=−0.806, P = 0.01 respectively) but not at 8 weeks. No significant difference was observed in accuracy for either group at any time. This is the first published study to describe the effectiveness of a progressive velocity throwing training programme on throwing performance in a group of sub‐elite cricket players. The addition of two specific throwing training sessions per week can increase maximal throwing velocity without detriment to throwing accuracy.
Validation of a one‐day self‐report questionnaire for physical activity assessment in healthy adults
Authors: Leicht Anthony 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA self‐report physical activity scale (PAS) has previously been developed to document physical activity (MET‐hours) undertaken by adults during an average weekday. The current study aimed to validate the PAS over 24 hours via pedometer determinations of physical activity in healthy, active adults, and to determine possible influences of gender and body mass status on this relationship. One‐hundred and seven healthy university students (age 18–41 years) wore a pedometer (Yamax DigiWalker SW‐700) during the waking hours of an average weekday followed by successful completion of the PAS. Relationships between the PAS and pedometer measures (steps taken and energy expenditure) were examined by Pearson's correlation coefficients. Significant (P<0.05) gender and body mass status differences were examined by two‐way analysis of variance with Tukey post‐hoc tests. Participants reported 48.0±10.4 MET‐hours of activity, completed 11,506±4195 steps, and expended 499±227 kcal during an average weekday. Physical activity measures, except energy expenditure, were similar across groups by gender and body mass status. The total number of MET‐hours was significantly associated with pedometer steps taken (r=0.375–0.568, P<0.01), and this relationship varied by gender and to a lesser extent by body mass status. The results of the current study show that the self‐reported physical activity of healthy active adults was in line with the popular recommended dose of daily physical activity (10,000 steps per day) and was not influenced by gender or body mass status. Furthermore, over an average weekday, the PAS provided a simple, quick, and valid method to document physical activity undertaken by young healthy active adults that is comparable to pedometer readings.