bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The European Parliament at Fifty: A View from the Inside*
Authors: Corbett Richard , Jacobs Francis , Shackleton Michael 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis article offers three different perspectives on the changing role and behaviour of the European Parliament as seen by ‘insiders’. The first concentrates on the overall success of the Parliament in transforming its constitutional position. The second contrasts the dominant position of budgetary politics in the 1980s with the much more variegated shape of the Parliament's role in policy‐making now. The third underlines how parliamentary ‘oversight’ has assumed greater importance in response to the higher visibility of the impact of EU laws.
De La Démocratie en Europe: Old Concepts and New Challenges1
Authors: Mény Yves 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSince David Marquand coined his famous phrase ‘democratic deficit’ to describe the functioning of the European Community, the debate has raged about the extent and content of this deficit. However, little attention has been paid to the ambiguous nature of democracy both at the national and supranational levels. This paper argues that dissatisfaction with democracy has to do, at least for a substantial part, with the creeping expansion of constitutionalism and the parallel decline of popular impact on government. This phenomenon is often felt at the national plane and feeds outbursts of populism. But it is even more acute at the European level, which combines weak popular input with the most sophisticated and developed forms of constitutionalism. This imbalance should be redressed both at a national level as well as in the EU, as a nascent polity.
European Integration, the Problem of Complexity and the Revision of Theory
Authors: Geyer Robert 
Published: December 2004

AbstractRecently, European integration (EI) and international relations (IR) debates have been locked into two camps: rationalists, modelling themselves on the natural sciences, and reflectivists, opposing themselves to the natural sciences. The division is based on an out‐of‐date view of the orderly nature of the natural sciences. Since the middle of the twentieth century a new complexity framework in the natural sciences has developed. This framework provides a new and intriguing ontological and epistemological foundation for addressing the problem of complexity and helps to explain and overcome the separation between the two poles of debate in European integration and international relations.
Dutch housing allowances: social housing at risk
Authors: Priemus Hugo 
Published: December 2004

This article deals with the vulnerability of the Dutch housing allowance scheme. This scheme can be compared with the British housing benefit. The vulnerability of the scheme has been augmented by the current less favourable economic conditions (stagnating household incomes, increasing unemployment) and the Dutch government's announcement that it plans to reduce housing allowance expenditure. Two scenarios are outlined, which may serve to resolve the danger of exploding housing allowances expenditure in the coming years. If a market‐led scenario is chosen, whereby housing associations strive to achieve market rents, the housing allowance will be transformed into a form of housing voucher, the value of which is not directly related to the actual rental price of the property. In this American‐style model, the value of the vouchers would be linked to a ‘virtual’ rent, say 40% of the average rental price in the region. The housing associations would then lose their special semi‐public status. Under the social housing model, the housing associations would retain their special status provided they aimed to achieve rents somewhat lower than the market level. The housing allowance would remain directly linked to the actual rental price. However, some marked changes would be required to render this system sustainable. The Netherlands cannot avoid having to make this choice.Cet article porte sur la vulnérabilité du régime hollandais d'aide au logement. Celui‐ci est comparable aux prestations britanniques. La fragilité du régime a été accrue par les conditions économiques actuelles moins favorables (stagnation du revenu des ménages, augmentation du chômage) et par l'annonce du gouvernement néderlandais relative à la réduction prévue des dépenses d'allocation‐logement. Sont présentés deux scénarios susceptibles de limiter le risque d'explosion des dépenses d'allocations dans les années à venir. Si l'option choisie est un scénario de marché où les associations pour le logement luttent pour atteindre les loyers du marché, l'allocation‐logement se transformera en ‘bon’ dont la valeur ne sera pas directement liée au montant réel du loyer. Selon ce modèle de type américain, la valeur des ‘bons’ sera fonction d'un loyer ‘virtuel’, soit environ 40% du prix moyen dans la région; les associations perdraient alors leur statut particulier semi‐public. Selon le modèle de logement social, elles conserveraient leur statut, à condition qu'elles cherchent à atteindre des loyers légèrement inférieurs au niveau du marché; l'allocation‐logement serait alors directement liée au montant réel du loyer. Toutefois, pour que le régime subsiste, il faudrait procéder à d'importants changements. Les Pays‐Bas ne peuvent s'épargner ce choix.
Cloning and characterization of a trypsin‐encoding cDNA of the human body louse Pediculus humanus
Authors: Kollien A. H. , Waniek P. J. , Pröls F. , Habedank B. , Schaub G. A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractFrom a cDNA library of the whole insect, a trypsin gene of Pediculus humanus has been cloned and sequenced. The 908 bp clone has an open reading frame of 759 bp, which encodes a pre‐proenzyme with 253 amino acid residues. A sixteen‐residue N‐terminal signal peptide is followed by a twelve‐residue activation peptide with putative cleavage sites at Gly16 and Tyr28. The deduced amino acid sequence has several features typical of trypsin proteases and an overall identity of 35–43% with the trypsins of several haematophagous Diptera. The 1.0 kb genomic trypsin gene contains three introns of 102, 79 and 80 nucleotides following the codons for Gly16, Gln74 and Ala155, respectively. Only a single gene seems to be present. In Northern blot analysis, unfed first instar larvae have an identical or slightly lower level of trypsin mRNA than fed adult lice, and in adults 2–24 h after the bloodmeal this gene shows a constitutive expression. After in vitro transcription and translation, the activation peptide is cleaved by chymotrypsin, a so far unreported phenomenon in trypsin activation.
An immune responsive factor D‐like serine proteinase homologue identified from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis
Authors: Simser J. A. , Mulenga A. , Macaluso K. R. , Azad A. F. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA Dermacentor variabilis cDNA encoding a clip‐domain serine proteinase homologue with glycine replacing the catalytic serine was identified from tick haemocytes. The D. variabilis product was most similar to Tachypleus tridentatus haemocyte antimicrobial factor D and shared significant homologies with a number of immune‐responsive gene products of arthropods, including insect prophenoloxidase‐activating cofactors. Northern blotting analyses confirmed that the tick serine proteinase homologue expression levels were highest in haemocytes, and to lesser degrees in ovaries and then salivary glands whereas steady‐state levels of expression in whole ticks were found to be slightly higher in fed versus unfed adults or eggs. Challenge of fed adults by Escherichia coli injection demonstrated that transcript abundance was significantly increased above those of naive controls in a temporal fashion. Additionally, an apparent orthologue of the D. variabilis clip‐domain molecule was cloned, and expression detected, from a Dermacentor andersoni cell line indicating cross species conservation.
Analyses of P‐like transposable element sequences from the genome of Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Oliveira de Carvalho M. , Silva J. C. , Loreto E. L. S. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe have identified 50 P element‐homologous sequences in the genome of Anopheles gambiae by performing homology searches against the public genome database of A. gambiae using the canonical P element from Drosophila melanogaster as a query sequence. While most of these sequences belong to P subfamilies previously described from anopheline mosquitoes, at least four new subfamilies were identified. One of these A. gambiae P elements, which we termed AgPLS, was analysed in detail. AgPLS consists of three exons and does not have inverted terminal repeats. This element retains several of the structural features of other P‐encoded peptides, such as motifs involved in DNA–protein and protein–protein interaction, and a motif involved in GTP utilization. Strong sequence and structural similarity to functional P elements, a number of nonsynonymous substitutions that is smaller than that of synonymous substitutions and the presence of putative nuclear localization signals suggest that the A. gambiae elements may retain the capacity for transposition or its repression. These sequences seem to be most closely related to P elements described from Musca domestica and Lucilia cuprina, the only P element hosts known outside the family Drosophilidae.
Paediatric dentistry experience of the first cohort of students to graduate from Dublin Dental School and Hospital under the new curriculum
Authors: FINUCANE D. , NUNN J. H. , O'CONNELL A. C. 
Published: December 2004

Summary.Aim.  To assess undergraduate clinical experience in Paediatric Dentistry in students graduating under a new curriculum.Methods.  An audit using logbooks completed by 34 students for all patients for whom they had provided treatment in the university paediatric dentistry clinic.Results.  A total of 177 child patients had received treatment from the students, age range 2–8 years. Students had performed an average of 13 restorative techniques. Sixty‐eight percent had provided stainless steel crowns and 71% at least one pulpotomy for a primary tooth. All students had provided fissure sealants. Eighteen had carried out extractions and 8 had provided treatment for fractured incisors on this clinic.Conclusions.  The cohort of students included had a wide range of experience of paediatric dentistry which compared favourably with accepted guidelines. A relative lack of experience of dental extractions currently remains a problem.
Global climate change and accuracy of prediction of species’ geographical ranges: establishment success of introduced ladybirds (Coccinellidae, Chilocorus spp.) worldwide
Authors: Samways Michael J. , Osborn Rae , Hastings Hugh , Hattingh Vaughan 
Published: December 2004

SummaryAimPredictions of how the geographical ranges of species change implicitly assume that range can be determined without invoking climate change. The aim here was to determine how accurate predictions of range change might be before entertaining global climatic change.LocationWorldwide.MethodsAll the documented global biological control translocations of ladybirds (Coccinellidae: Chilocorus spp.) were analysed with the ecoclimatic program, CLIMEX. This program determines species distributions in relation to climate, and can be used to express the favourableness of different localities for a species. CLIMEX is also a useful exploratory tool for determining the likelihood of establishment of species introduced from one area to another.ResultsPredictive models were developed based on the likelihood of establishment of fifteen Chilocorus spp. relative to their physiological characteristics and climatic tolerances. This likelihood was compared with actual establishment with a resultant range of 0% accuracy to 100% accuracy. Only four (26.7%) species climatic tolerances could the predicted with 100% certainty. The general lack of accurate prediction was because climate is not always the overriding feature determining whether a species will establish or not. Other determinants, such as localized response to microclimate, phenology, host type and availability, presence of natural enemies and hibernation sites play a varying role over and above climate in determining whether a species will establish at a new locality.Main conclusionsThis study shows that even in the absence of climate change, range cannot always be determined, which means that most predictions of range change with climate change are likely to be wrong.
Diversity patterns of fungivorous insects: comparison between glaciated vs. refugial boreal forests
Authors: Komonen Atte , Ikävalko Jussi , Weiying Wang 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim  The aim of this study was to compare diversity patterns of insect communities associated with the wood‐decaying Fomitopsis fungi in north‐east (NE) Asia and Fennoscandia. We hypothesized that the diversity of the fungal–insect communities is greater in NE Asia, because the region was one of the largest refugia of boreal species during the last Pleistocene glaciation.Location  This study was conducted in boreal forests in NE People's Republic of China, and in south‐central Finland.Methods  Fruiting bodies of three Fomitopsis species were collected from the field in order to rear the insects inhabiting the fruiting bodies. Taxonomic uniqueness, diversity and food web structure of the insect assemblages were analysed using hierarchical cluster analysis, diversity indices and analyses of food web compartmentalization, respectively.Results  Contrary to the expectations, the richness of families, genera and species was greater in Finland than in NE China. This applied for the overall Fomitopsis‐associated insect assemblage, as well as for the fungal species separately. The taxonomic composition at the level of families and genera was similar between the two regions. The level of monophagy was higher in Finland and the food web was divided into compartments corresponding to the two Fomitopsis species.Main conclusion  The often‐suggested higher diversity in refugial areas does not apply for all taxa in boreal forests, such as fungivorous insects associated with Fomitopsis fungi.
A hazards approach towards modelling pandora moth risk
Authors: Speer James H. , Jensen Ryan R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim  Pandora moth (Coloradia pandora Blake) is a phytophagous insect that produces a distinctive tree‐ring pattern in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex. Laws.) during outbreak cycles. This paper describes the spatial characteristics of the outbreak regions, determines whether the size of the 1989 outbreak was within the historical range of variability, and constructs a hazard map identifying the forests in Oregon that are susceptible to future pandora moth outbreaks.Location  South‐central Oregon along the eastern flank of the Cascade mountain range in the High Lava Plains and Basin and Range Provinces.Methods  We used dendrochronological records of 17 pandora moth outbreaks on 14 sites over 31,200 km2 area spanning 433 years. Using the site locations, we calculated minimum bounding polygons of adjacent recording sites to determine the relative size of each outbreak. Published literature on past pandora moth outbreaks and the environmental conditions of locally known outbreaks were used to create an outbreak hazard map using a geographical information system (GIS) model. Vegetation, climate, and soil layers were used to determine the potential susceptibility of Oregon forests to pandora moth.Results  We found the area affected by past pandora moth outbreaks ranged in size from 12.4 to 3,391.5 km2. The 1989 outbreak covered 807.9 km2, which was well within the historical range of variability. The vegetation and soil layers greatly restricted the area susceptible to pandora moth while the climate layer seemed to have little effect in restricting the susceptible area.Main conclusions  Pandora moth outbreaks did not increase in size over the last century as we have seen with spruce budworm outbreaks in this same region. Analysis of the environmental variables that are known to affect pandora moth outbreaks enabled us to produce a hazard map that predicts the suitable habitat for pandora moth. Temperature at the landscape scale did not restrain the range of pandora moth. The GIS model enabled us to propose areas susceptible to future pandora moth outbreaks providing a predictive model that can now be tested and refined with further sampling.
Concept development of family resilience: a study of Korean families with a chronically ill child
Authors: Lee Insook , Lee Eun‐Ok , Kim Hesook Suzie , Park Young Sook , Song Misoon , Park Youn Hwan 
Published: December 2004

Aims.  To clarify and delineate the concept of family resilience in the context of the chronic illness of a child. This study also investigated the concept of family resilience in relation to family functioning in order to compare and contrast family resilience and family functioning.Design and method.  Three phases of the hybrid model of concept development were applied: theoretical, fieldwork and final analytical. In the theoretical phase, a working definition of family resilience was developed by a literature review. The fieldwork phase comprised in‐depth interviews with 11 parents with a chronically ill child, in the paediatric oncology unit of a university hospital in South Korea. The qualitative data obtained from the interviews were analysed to find attributes of family resilience. The final analytical phase compared and interpreted the findings from the theoretical and fieldwork phases in order to clarify and refine the concept of resilience.Results.  The definition of family resilience was of an enduring force that leads a family to change its functioning dynamics in order to solve problems encountered. Twenty‐one conceptual attributes of family resilience emerging from this study were differentiated into four dimensions: (i) intrinsic family characteristics, (ii) family member orientation related to family characteristics, (iii) responsiveness to stress and (iv) external orientation.Conclusions.  Family resilience is an enduring force that leads a family to change its dynamics of functioning in order to solve problems associated with stresses encountered. This conceptualization led to the development of a model of family coping that incorporates both family resilience and family functioning, as the property and as the process of change, respectively.Relevance to clinical practice.  In order to build a family that functions better under stress, it is necessary for nurses to focus more attention on family resilience, especially in terms of the development of intervention strategies to strengthen family resilience.
Perimenopausal knowledge of mid‐life women in northern Taiwan
Authors: Tsao Lee‐Ing , Chang Wen‐Yin , Hung Li‐Ling , Chang Shu‐Hung , Chou Pi‐Chin 
Published: December 2004

Background.  This work has been carried out keeping in view that although knowledge related to perimenopause is an important health issue for women worldwide, little information is known about mid‐life Taiwanese women's knowledge of perimenopause.Objective.  The aim of this paper was to explore the level of perimenopausal knowledge of mid‐life women in northern Taiwan, to describe the relationship between demographic factors and women's knowledge, and to identify what information health providers need to offer them.Design.  A cross‐sectional descriptive survey was conducted.Method.  The Perimenopausal Knowledge Questionnaire was used to collect data. The study was carried out in August 2000 to September 2001. A convenience sample was recruited from traditional Chinese medicine clinics, gynecology clinics and communities in northern Taipei.Results.  Our findings indicated that the overall mean correct answer weighted Perimenopausal Knowledge score of these mid‐life women was 46.31. The rank of weighted scores from highest to lowest was: (1) self‐care during perimenopause, (2) the perception of perimenopause, (3) knowledge related to hormone replacement therapy and (4) body changes associated with the declined oestrogen in perimenopause. Only educational level was significantly associated with Perimenopause Knowledge level (P < 0.01). Less than 20% (n = 353) of the women answered the items that measured self‐management of symptoms related to perimenopause correctly. Less than 1.4% of the women knew that taking hormone replacement therapy required a physician's prescription and subsequent regular health check‐ups.Conclusion.  Participants lacked adequate knowledge about perimenopause.Relevance to clinical practices.  Health providers need to provide factual information about the normal body changes of perimenopause, self‐management of perimenopausal disturbances and appropriate use of hormone replacement therapy.
Erythema elevatum diutinum and IgA paraproteinaemia: ‘a preclinical iceberg’
Authors: Chowdhury Mahbub M. U. , Serhat Inaloz H. , Motley R. J. , Knight Arthur G. 
Published: December 2004

We report on a 59‐year‐old man with erythema elevatum diutinum, diagnosed 6 years ago with an associated IgA paraproteinaemia, and who has been observed for over 15 years. This patient showed a lack of correlation with the paraproteinaemia and the clinical severity of his disease. The technique of immunofixation electrophoresis is more sensitive than immunoelectrophoresis in identifying monoclonal immunoglobulins or light chains at very low concentrations in serum and urine. Dermatologists need to be made aware of this important tool in detecting such changes in patients with erythema elevatum diutinum at an early stage.
The Return to Soft Dollar Pegging in East Asia: Mitigating Conflicted Virtue
Authors: McKinnon Ronald , Schnabl Gunther 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBefore the 1997–98 crisis, the East Asian economies – except for Japan – informally pegged their currencies to the dollar. These soft pegs made them vulnerable to a depreciating yen, thereby aggravating the crisis. To limit future misalignments, the IMF wants East Asian currencies to float freely. Alternatively, authors have proposed increasing the weight of the yen in East Asian currency baskets. However, dollar pegs are entirely rational from the perspective of each Asian country – both to facilitate hedging by merchants and banks against exchange risk, and to help central banks anchor their domestic price levels. Post‐crisis, as the East Asian economies transform themselves from being dollar debtors into dollar creditors, they face ‘conflicted virtue’: pressure to appreciate their currencies that could lead to a deflationary spiral. Rather than undervaluing their currencies to promote exports as is commonly alleged, East Asian governments are trapped into returning to – and then maintaining – soft dollar pegs.
Testing alternative models for sexual isolation in natural populations of Littorina saxatilis: indirect support for by-product ecological speciation?
Authors: Cruz R. , Carballo M. , Conde-Padín P. , Rolán-Alvarez E. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Two ecotypes of the rough periwinkle Littorina saxatilis occur at different shore levels, showing assortative mating for size and partial reproductive isolation when they meet at the mid-shore. This system represents a putative case of incomplete speciation in sympatry. Two processes contribute to the assortative mating: morph-specific microhabitat aggregation and mate choice. The estimation of mate choice coefficients in nature and a simulation of the aggregation effects on sexual isolation were used to disentangle these processes as well as to test alternative mechanisms of mate choice. Mate choice significantly increased the frequency of within-morph pairs and significantly decreased the frequency of between-morph pairs, whereas those pairs including at least one hybrid morph mated randomly. These results allow us to reject a discriminant mate choice and support a model of evolution of sexual isolation as a side-effect of size-assortative mating in a context of divergent natural selection for size in the population. This mechanism is more compatible with a model of incomplete by-product ecological speciation, as suggested by previous evidence.