bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Canine dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study of signalment, presentation and clinical findings in 369 cases
Authors: Martin M. W. S. , Stafford Johnson M. J. , Celona B. 
Published: November 2008

Objective:To review the clinical and diagnostic findings and survival of dilated cardiomyopathy from a large population of dogs in England.Methods:A retrospective study of the case records of dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy collected between January 1993 and May 2006.Results:There were 369 dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy of which all were pure‐bred dogs except for four. The most commonly affected breeds were dobermanns and boxers. Over 95 per cent of dogs weighed more than 15 kg and 73 per cent were male. The median duration of signs before referral was three weeks with 65 per cent presenting in stage 3 heart failure. The most common signs were breathlessness (67 per cent) and coughing (64 per cent). The majority of dogs (89 per cent) had an arrhythmia at presentation and 74 per cent of dogs had radiographic signs of pulmonary oedema or pleural effusion. The median survival time was 19 weeks.ClinicalSignificance:Dilated cardiomyopathy occurs primarily in medium to large breed pure‐bred dogs, and males are more frequently affected than females. The duration of clinical signs before referral is often short and the survival times are poor. Greater awareness of affected breeds, clinical signs and diagnostic findings may help in early recognition of this disease which often has a short clinical phase.
What Prompts the People's Bank of China to Change Its Monetary Policy Stance? Evidence from a Discrete Choice Model
Authors: He Dong , Pauwels Laurent L. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn the present paper, we model the policy stance of the People's Bank of China (PBC) as a latent variable, and the discrete changes in the reserve requirement ratio, policy interest rates, and the scale of open market operations are taken as signals of movement of this latent variable. We run a discrete choice regression that relates these observed indicators of policy stance to major trends of macroeconomic and financial developments, which are represented by common factors extracted from a large number of variables. The predicted value of the estimated model can then be interpreted as the implicit policy stance of the PBC. In a second step, we estimate how much of the variation in the PBC's implicit stance can be explained by measures of its policy objectives on inflation, growth and financial stability. We find that deviations of CPI inflation from an implicit target and deviations of broad money growth from the announced targets, but not output gaps, figure significantly in the PBC's policy changes.
Labor Market Reform, Income Inequality and Economic Growth in China
Authors: Lu Ming , Jiang Shiqing 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe year 1996 was a turning point both in terms of Chinese labor market reform and in China's economic growth pattern. Before 1996, labor market reform was mainly implemented through adjustment of people's occupation and income structure. Since 1996, employment restructuring has led to differentiation in terms of employment status. Labor market reform in the former stage resulted in slow growth in wages, whereas reform in the latter stage enhanced economic efficiency. Both stages have enabled the Chinese economy to apply its comparative advantage of low labor cost. Labor market reform has also increased income disparity and, therefore, new challenges are posed in sustaining economic growth. China needs to adjust its development strategies and introduce labor market reform that can improve income equality, so as to achieve sustainable economic development.
A Perspective on Cyberinfrastructure for Water Research Driven by Informatics Methodologies
Authors: Bajcsy Peter 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article presents a perspective on cyberinfrastructure (CI) for water research driven by informatics methodologies. This perspective is motivated by the fact that CI for water research should increase scientific productivity of a single investigator and dispersed teams in their exploratory studies of experimental observations and theoretical simulations. In the digital era and within the context of CI, the scientific productivity is often determined by the efficiency of data‐centric and collaboration‐centric activities. These activities follow domain‐specific methodologies and informatics approaches aiming at extracting information and knowledge from raw data. We present the concepts of data‐centric and collaboration‐centric activities supported by concrete examples, and outline the challenges and requirements on CI driven by these informatics activities. Then, we describe a set of common activities cutting across multiple earth science disciplines, and discuss some solutions that already exist or might have to be developed in order to support informatics methodologies. Our perspective emphasizes the importance of exploratory science that is frequently present in informatics methodologies. The contribution of this article is in illuminating the CI development from a perspective that bridges daily activities of many water research scientists with the CI components and functionality.
Application of Virtual Globes in Education
Authors: Rakshit Rahul , Ogneva‐Himmelberger Yelena 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe advent of virtual globes and online mapping has generated interest in spatial representations of data among many non‐geographic communities, including educators and researchers who have very little to no expertise in geospatial technologies. In this article, we give a state‐of‐the‐art survey of existing virtual globes and review the existing teaching applications related to them. We focus on the four most popular virtual globes (Google Earth; NASA World Wind; Microsoft Virtual Earth Earth; and Skyline Globe), illustrating their various applications and comparing their capabilities, with a particular emphasis on educational aspects. We also explain the distinction between the virtual globes and various online mapping applications, such as Google Maps mash‐ups.
Globalization of an Aquatic Pest: Economic Costs, Ecological Outcomes, and Positive Applications of Zebra Mussel Invasions and Expansions
Authors: Ram Jeffrey L. , Palazzolo Stacey M. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe development of trade and tourism has been as important as the biological adaptations of zebra mussels and quagga mussels in mediating the historic spread of these organisms in Europe and their invasion of North America. Canals and increased commerce mediated the spread of zebra mussels in Europe at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and facilitated their introduction to North America near the end of the 20th century. However, recreational boating is the most likely vehicle for the more recent intracontinental invasions of alpine and subalpine lakes in Europe and the recent leap of these freshwater mussels across the Continental Divide in North America. Although viewed as pests due to their biofouling effects, their economic costs to drinking water and electrical power plant companies have been smaller than once feared, and their negative impacts on other organisms have been smaller than predicted in the more than 20 years since the start of their invasion of North America. This review of recent publications reveals that positive outcomes of the presence of zebra mussels and quagga mussels have begun to be apparent, which help ameliorate the economic costs and negative ecological outcomes that have accompanied the globalization of this aquatic pest.
The Impact of Fair Trade on Social and Economic Development: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Le Mare Ann 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article explores the outcomes of Fair Trade for producers, artisans and their organisations. It asks the question, ‘what happens to people who are involved in Fair Trade?’, and reviews the case studies and empirical research conducted on Fair Trade for a range of products in different countries. The article is organised around important aspects of development which Fair Trade seeks to influence, including market relations, institutional development, economic development and reductions in poverty, social development, gender equity and sustainable development. The outcomes are diverse and complex, though, most studies found significant impact on social and economic aspects of development, contributing to the capacity to improve and diversify livelihoods. Fostering sustainable commercial organisations is an important contribution of Fair Trade networks. However, there appears to be less success in achieving gender equality and dealing with issues of importance to women. Both the enactment of partnership and the achievement of development goals require continuous commitment, a variety of strategies and cooperation with other actors, such as government and non‐governmental organisations.
Professionals of Geopolitics: Agency in International Politics
Authors: Kuus Merje 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article highlights the key role of intellectuals of statecraft – the politicians, academics, consultants, and pundits who regularly participate in and comment on the practice of international affairs – in the practice of geopolitics. These professionals command the institutional and cultural resources required to project particular geopolitical arguments as informed and authoritative. We, therefore, need to carefully unpack the ways in which they influence world politics. To focus on intellectuals of statecraft is not to assign superior or authentic knowledge to them or to needlessly glamorize the high places they inhabit. It is rather to analyse the practices that function as expert and legitimate in public debates. To this end, we need to examine not only what intellectuals of statecraft do or say, but also the institutional and cultural resources that they deploy in their daily practices. The article suggests some strategies for how such contextually rich accounts could be produced.
Critical Geographies of Body Size
Authors: Hopkins Peter 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe study of various markers of social identity has been a central focus for much work within social and cultural geography for around 30 years now. Although this work has arguably reached a critical mass within the discipline, certain indicators of identity and markers of social and cultural difference have been neglected within human geography. In particular, there is a lack of research that focuses on critical geographies of body size, with the exception of a small literature about fat bodies. Drawing on three trends within the social identities literature within human geography as well as from recent research in neighbouring disciplines, I suggest various ways in which human geographers might seek to develop critical geographies of body size. First, it is proposed that the focus on fat bodies could usefully be extended to include the experiences of those who are thin, small or tall. Second, following other work about social identities in geography, work about body size could benefit from a perspective informed by social inequality and political action. Third, exploring the intersection of body size with other social identities and markers of difference could advance research in this area by excavating the multiple and overlapping ways in which people's body size influence and are shaped by their negotiations of everyday places.
Can Mixed‐Income Housing Ameliorate Concentrated Poverty? The Significance of a Geographically Informed Sense of Community
Authors: Fraser James , Nelson Michael H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSince the 1990s, public policymakers have renewed support for mixed‐income housing development in low‐income neighborhoods as a means toward neighborhood revitalization and poverty amelioration. Research to date finds that, while mixed‐income developments in lower‐income neighborhoods have promoted area revitalization, they have accomplished less for people in these areas who live in poverty. This article focuses on mixed‐income projects that seek to de‐concentrate poverty in impoverished, urban neighborhoods. It finds that, because these efforts are largely market‐based approaches, they have paid less direct attention to the needs of lower‐income residents. While this shortcoming may be attributed to structural barriers that prevent developers, housing authorities, and service providers from implementing effective practices, resource limitations can be offset by strong community‐based participation. Drawing on this conclusion, it is suggested that community empowerment strategies should be implemented in tandem with mixed‐income approaches in order to achieve positive outcomes for lower‐income residents, but that reliance on place‐based community will unlikely create the necessary conditions to improve the wealth and everyday quality of life issues that poor people face in a predominantly market‐based economy.
Exploring Collaborative Environmental Governance: Perspectives on Bridging and Actor Agency
Authors: Ali‐Khan Farrah , Mulvihill Peter R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article explores the prospect and practice of alternative and more collaborative approaches to environmental governance, focusing on recent North American experience and with particular attention to: (i) characteristic barriers to effective and collaborative environmental governance; (ii) approaches to collaboration and bridging between actors and sectors; and (iii) the potential role of actor agency. The focus of inquiry is primarily on recent North American experience. The key literature on environmental governance is discussed, and interviews conducted with environmental practitioners, academics, government officials and community leaders to explore and analyse their experiences with environmental governance are analysed. Collectively, these experiences suggest that there is a need for more skilful bridging of actors and initiatives, and a greater role for governments in facilitating collaborative approaches. The interviews also point to a number of challenges that must be overcome before the full potential of collaborative environmental governance can be realized. Although some researchers advocate the need for unified and overarching approaches to environmental governance, there is considerable evidence indicating that efforts are better directed towards building networks and collaboration among a wide diversity of actors, philosophies and approaches.
An Island of Green in the Sunburnt Country: The Rainforest of the Humid Tropics of Northeastern Australia and Their Response to Quaternary Environmental Change
Authors: Moss Patrick T. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe Humid Tropics of northeastern Australia is a region of exceptional diversity and productivity that reflects many of the characteristics of similar tropical biomes. In the Australian context, it is a unique environment being a virtual ‘island of green’ surrounded by the more typical sclerophyll (i.e. dry and fire prone) landscapes of Australia. This article will examine the modern ecological characteristics of the region, as well as providing historical context by discussing the response of the humid tropics communities to Quaternary environmental upheavals and the possible implications that these alterations have for understanding ecosystem response to future environmental change.
Modeling the Association between 43 Different Clinical and Pathological Variables and the Severity of Cognitive Impairment in a Large Autopsy Cohort of Elderly Persons
Authors: Nelson Peter T. , Abner Erin L. , Schmitt Frederick A. , Kryscio Richard J. , Jicha Gregory A. , Smith Charles D. , Davis Daron G. , Poduska John W. , Patel Ela , Mendiondo Marta S. , Markesbery William R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe evaluated the association between mini‐mental status examination (MMSE) scores proximal to death and the values of 43 different clinical and pathological parameters. Studies were performed using data from 334 elderly, longitudinally evaluated research subjects who had undergone autopsy and satisfied inclusion criteria from an initial study group of 501. Interindividual variance in MMSE scores was used as a surrogate for the severity of cognitive impairment linked to aging (CILA). A statistical linear regression‐based model provided a framework for assessing the parameters with significant, direct impact on CILA severity. Strong association between CILA and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, especially isocortical neurofibrillary tangles, was evident. The pattern of association between AD lesion densities with cognitive impairment severity was biologically informative, with neuritic plaques having more impact in relatively high‐functioning individuals. Abundant isocortical Lewy bodies tended to be an additive pathology correlating with final MMSE scores approximately 10 points lower. In a subset of cases we found evidence for association between TDP‐43‐related pathology and CILA severity, independent of AD or hippocampal sclerosis. There was no support for independent association between CILA severity and most evaluated indices including diffuse plaques, argyrophilic grains, heart disease, education level, apolipoprotein E alleles or diabetes.
Photoinduced Degradation of the Herbicide Clomazone Model Reactions for Natural and Technical Systems
Authors: David Gara Pedro M. , Bosio Gabriela N. , Arce Valeria B. , Poulsen Lars , Ogilby Peter R. , Giudici Reinaldo , Gonzalez Mónica C. , Mártire Daniel O. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe photodegradation of the herbicide clomazone in the presence of S2O82− or of humic substances of different origin was investigated. A value of (9.4 ± 0.4) × 108 m−1 s−1 was measured for the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of sulfate radicals with clomazone in flash‐photolysis experiments. Steady state photolysis of peroxydisulfate, leading to the formation of the sulfate radicals, in the presence of clomazone was shown to be an efficient photodegradation method of the herbicide. This is a relevant result regarding the in situ chemical oxidation procedures involving peroxydisulfate as the oxidant. The main reaction products are 2‐chlorobenzylalcohol and 2‐chlorobenzaldehyde. The degradation kinetics of clomazone was also studied under steady state conditions induced by photolysis of Aldrich humic acid or a vermicompost extract (VCE). The results indicate that singlet oxygen is the main species responsible for clomazone degradation. The quantum yield of O2(a1Δg) generation (λ = 400 nm) for the VCE in D2O, ΦΔ = (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10−3, was determined by measuring the O2(a1Δg) phosphorescence at 1270 nm. The value of the overall quenching constant of O2(a1Δg) by clomazone was found to be (5.7 ± 0.3) × 107 m−1 s−1 in D2O. The bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of clomazone with singlet oxygen was kr = (5.4 ± 0.1) × 107 m−1 s−1, which means that the quenching process is mainly reactive.
Preclinical Studies with 5,10,15‐Tris(4‐Methylpyridinium)‐20‐Phenyl‐[21H,23H]‐Porphine Trichloride for the Photodynamic Treatment of Superficial Mycoses Caused by Trichophyton rubrum
Authors: Smijs Threes G. M. , Pavel Stan , Talebi Mojgan , Bouwstra Joke A. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDermatophytes are fungi that cause infections of keratinized tissues. We have recently demonstrated the susceptibility of the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum to photodynamic treatment (PDT) with 5,10,15‐Tris(4‐methylpyridinium)‐20‐phenyl‐[21H,23H]‐porphine trichloride (Sylsens B) in 5 mm citric acid/sodium citrate buffer (pH 5.2, formulation I). In this work, we examined the penetration of Sylsens B in healthy and with T. rubrum infected skin and we investigated the susceptibility of T. rubrum to PDT using formulation I and UVA‐1 radiation (340–550 nm). Skin penetration studies were performed with formulations I and II (Sylsens B in PBS, pH 7.4) applied on dermatomed skin, human stratum corneum (SC), disrupted SC by T. rubrum growth and SC pretreated with a detergent. No penetration was observed in healthy skin. Disruption of SC by preceding fungal growth caused Sylsens B penetration at pH 7.4, but not at pH 5.2. However, chemically damaged SC allowed Sylsens B to penetrate also at pH 5.2. UVA‐1 PDT was applied ex vivo during two fungal growth stages of two T. rubrum strains (CBS 304.60 and a clinical isolate). Both strains could be killed by UVA‐1 alone (40 J/cm2). Combined with formulation I (1 and 10 μm Sylsens B for, respectively, CBS 304.60 and the clinical isolate), only 18 J/cm2 UVA‐1 was required for fungal kill. Therefore, PDT with 10 μm Sylsens B (formulation I) and 18 J/cm2 UVA‐1 could be considered as effective and safe. This offers the possibility to perform clinical studies in future.
Ultraviolet Radiation in the Rhône River Lenses of Low Salinity and in Marine Waters of the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea: Attenuation and Effects on Bacterial Activities and Net Community Production
Authors: Joux Fabien , Jeffrey Wade H. , Abboudi Maher , Neveux Jacques , Pujo‐Pay Mireille , Oriol Louise , Naudin Jean‐Jacques 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe high content in nutrients of freshwater outflows induces highly productive and buoyant plumes spreading over marine waters (MW). As a consequence, the growth of organisms developing in these low‐salinity waters (LSW) might be potentially affected by UV‐R (280–400 nm). This study investigated the penetration of UV‐R and its impact on net community production (NCP) and bacterial protein (BPROTS) and DNA (BDNAS) synthesis in mesotrophic‐LSW formed from the Rhône River and in oligotrophic MW of the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lions) in May 2006. High concentrations of chlorophyll a (up to 8 μg L−1) measured in the LSW (<37.8 psu, 0–10 m) were the main factor influencing the diffuse attenuation coefficients (Kd) of both UV‐R and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The mean ratio of the Kd measured between the LSW and the MW increased with wavelength from 2.4 at 305 nm to 2.9 at 380 nm and 3.1 for PAR indicating more similarity in the UV region. NCP was severely inhibited by UV‐R at the surface of the LSW, whereas no effect was measured in the surrounding MW. In contrast, BPROTS and BDNAS were affected deeper by UV‐R in the MW (up to 8 m depth) compared to the LSW where inhibition was only observed at the surface. Differences in response of bacteria in LSW and MW are largely explained by differences in UV‐R transparency; however, transplant experiments indicate that bacterial assemblages from the MW were also more sensitive to UV‐R than those present in the LSW. We also observed that higher activity of bacteria after nutrient additions increased their sensitivity to UV‐R during the day, but favored their recovery during the night incubation period for both LSW and MW. Results suggest that riverine and nutrient inputs may alter the effects of UV‐R on microbial activity by attenuating the UV‐R penetration and by modifying the physiology of bacteria.
Photoinactivation of Sindbis Virus Infectivity Without Inhibition of Membrane Fusion
Authors: Thongthai Wor , Weninger Keith 
Published: November 2008

AbstractPhotoinactivation of enveloped viruses is commonly associated with damage to fusion proteins and inhibition of membrane fusion capacity. Here we show that photobleaching of Sindbis virus labeled with the membrane localized dye, R18 (octadecyl rhodamine B) causes a dramatic loss of infectivity without observable changes in low‐pH triggered membrane fusion to liposomes. Sindbis labeled with DiI (1,1′‐dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate) also maintains low‐pH triggered membrane fusion capacity, but in contrast to R18, extensive photobleaching of DiI‐labeled virus has little effect on infectivity. Electrophoretic gel analysis suggests no cross‐linking of viral fusion proteins following photobleaching of dye‐labeled Sindbis. These observations have implications for live‐cell, single particle tracking studies of dye‐labeled Sindbis virus. Our observations suggest that R18 and DiI have different propensities for spontaneous flip‐flop in lipid bilayers.