bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN THE DECENTRALISATION OF BRAZIL'S WATER RESOURCES: ASSESSING PARTICIPATION IN THREE STATES
Authors: Brannstrom Christian , Clarke James , Newport Mariana 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTDecentralisation, the transfer of powers to a lower level of government, is thought to encourage more efficient and equitable management of natural resources. Participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) is considered critical to create positive outcomes of decentralisation. Here we examine aspects of civil society participation in decentralised management using the case of Brazil's water resources management. Several Brazilian states have enacted reforms mandating watershed committees in which the participation of civil society is either encouraged or required. However, actual participation of civil society is not yet well understood. To assess participation, we collected qualitative data on watershed districts in three Brazilian states (Bahia, Paraná and São Paulo). Our findings reaffirm the importance of the state in establishing a transparent legal framework to encourage participation and in defining “civil society”. The ability of civil society leaders to obtain and deploy local environmental knowledge, which frames environmental issues in new geographical scales, is useful to achieve the efficiency and efficacy objectives of decentralisation. However, by “upscaling” political activities beyond decentralisation's new territories, CSOs could make decentralisation irrelevant to local environmental issues.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EL HATILLO, NICARAGUA: GENDER, NEOLIBERALISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Authors: Cupples Julie 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTEl Hatillo is a rural community in the Sébaco valley in Nicaragua, which suffers from an eroding resource base, high levels of poverty and malnutrition, and a high susceptibility to hazards. Structural adjustment policies have been devastating for small and subsistence farmers and have increased the level of economic, social and environmental marginalisation in rural Nicaragua. This paper explores initiatives to promote sustainable development in Nicaragua in the context of structural adjustment and environmental degradation. Drawing on qualitative research conducted in El Hatillo, it outlines the ways in which women in this community are attempting to address the multiple challenges of rural poverty and environmental risk and considers the potential of these strategies for gender equality.
Milia in regressing plaques of mycosis fungoides: provoked by topical nitrogen mustard or not?
Authors: Kalayciyan Aylin , Oguz Oya , Demirkesen Cuyan , Serdaroglu Server , Kotogyan Agop 
Published: November 2004

AbstractObjective  To report three cases of mycosis fungoides with milia formation in the regressing lesions.Patients and setting  Dermatology clinic of a university hospital (referral center). Three patients with mycosis fungoides with body surface involvement of 10% in one case (stage IIb) and exceeding 30% in two cases (stages IIb and III). All patients were treated with photochemotherapy and topical nitrogen mustard ointment in a concentration of 0.01%. After approximately 3 months multiple milia erupted on regressing plaques.Results  The presence of milia was evident and was confirmed by histopathology. Regression of mycosis fungoides was noted in these plaques both clinically and in comparison with the pretreatment histologic appearance. Two of the patients showed a histological picture of follicular mucinosis.Conclusions  We do not know the significance of milia in mycosis fungoides (MF). However, we suggest that follicular rupture or a degenerative process might result in milia formation.
Acquired localized cutis laxa confined to the face: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Riveros Claudia Jimena Perafán , Gavilán Maria Filomena Bejarano , França Luis Fernando Sayago , Sotto Mírian Nacagami , Takahashi Maria Denise Fonseca 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackground Cutis laxa is an uncommon entity characterized by laxity of the skin, which hangs in loose folds, producing the appearance of premature aging. It can be subdivided into congenital and acquired. This latter variant is rare and the skin involvement varies from generalized to localized. We report a case of a localized acquired cutis laxa confined to the face, without preceding inflammatory lesions or systemic compromise. Four similar cases have been reported to date. The etiology remains unknown and there is no definitive treatment.Methods A 27‐year‐old White woman came to our hospital with a wrinkled face, pendulous earlobes and drop eyelids. Changes began 5 years prior, and she appeared much older than her age.Results Histological analysis and ultrastructural examination of skin biopsy revealed reduction and fragmentation of elastic fibers, confirming the diagnosis of cutis laxa. No systemic involvement was diagnosed. The patient was submitted to plastic surgery for repair, with satisfactory results to date.Conclusions Acquired localized cutis laxa confined to the face without preceding inflammatory lesions is extremely rare. The etiology remains unknown. Clinical features and histopathologic findings confirm the diagnosis. Surgical repair seems to be the only therapeutic choice, but the results are variable and temporary.
Effect of pimecrolimus cream 1% on the long‐term course of pediatric atopic dermatitis
Authors: Papp Kim , Staab Doris , Harper John , Potter Paul , Puig Lluis , Ortonne J.‐P. , Molloy Stephen , Barbier Nathalie , Paul Carle ,   for the Multicentre Investigator Study Group
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackground  This report investigates the effect of pimecrolimus cream 1% (Elidel®, Novartis pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland), a nonsteroid, cell‐selective, cytokine inhibitor on the course of atopic dermatitis (AD), as assessed by changes in body surface involvement and pattern of drug use over time.Methods  Data from 961 patients in two 1‐year double‐blind, multicenter, pediatric studies of similar design were analyzed: 250 infants (aged 3–23 months) were randomized 4 : 1 and 711 children (aged 2–17 years) were randomized 2 : 1 to receive pimecrolimus cream 1% or vehicle, respectively. Emollients were used by all patients to alleviate dry skin and, at the first signs or symptoms of AD, pimecrolimus or vehicle was applied twice daily to prevent progression to flares. If flares occurred in either group, moderately potent topical corticosteroids were mandated.Results  Pimecrolimus was applied for 68.4% (infants) and 53.8% (children) of study days, and frequency of use of pimecrolimus decreased over time, reflecting improvement in disease control. The mean total body surface area affected decreased continuously over time. Significantly more patients in the pimecrolimus than control groups were maintained without corticosteroid therapy (infants: 63.7% vs. 34.8%, P < 0.001; children: 57.4% vs. 31.6%, P < 0.001, respectively).Conclusion  The need for pimecrolimus therapy decreases over time as the patients’ disease improves. Hence, once long‐term management of AD with pimecrolimus is established, the burden of disease for both the patient and the caregiver decreases significantly and disease‐free periods become more frequent.
Spectrum of autoimmune bullous diseases in Kuwait
Authors: Nanda Arti , Dvorak Richard , Al‐Saeed Khloud , Al‐Sabah Humoud , Alsaleh Qasem A. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackground  Autoimmune bullous diseases (ABDs) are a rare but significant group of dermatoses that pose great challenges to the treating dermatologist. Most epidemiological studies have focused on a single ABD. Few surveys have been carried out to describe the whole spectrum of ABDs in a region, and no such studies are available from the Arabian Peninsula.Objectives  To determine the clinico‐epidemiological features of various ABDs in Kuwait, and to compare the results with those reported elsewhere.Methods  A total of 128 cases of ABDs were studied over a span of 11.5 years. The diagnosis in all cases was confirmed by histopathology, and direct and indirect immunofluorescence (IMF). The diagnosis of various subepidermal ABDs was further confirmed by indirect IMF on salt‐split skin (SSS) and that of pemphigus by desmoglein 1 and 3 enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results  Eighty seven per cent of patients were of Arab ethnicity. Pemphigus was observed to be the commonest ABD (47%), followed by pemphigoid (22%), pemphigoid gestationis (PG) (19%), linear IgA bullous disease (LABD) (7%), lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) (3%), and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) (2.3%). The minimum estimated incidence in the local population was 4.6, 2.14, 1.83, 0.69, 0.30, and 0.23 cases per million per year, respectively. Pemphigus patients were observed to have a younger age of onset (36.50 ± 11.36 years) than reported elsewhere. BP, although the second commonest ABD, was less prevalent than in Europe and Singapore, and BP patients were observed to have a striking female predominance (85%). The prevalence of PG was much higher than that reported elsewhere. LABD was the fourth commonest ABD, and 89% of patients were children.Conclusions The study suggests that similar surveys from different regions would expand our understanding of ABD.
Randomized controlled trial of asthma education after discharge from an emergency department
Authors: Khan MSR , O'Meara M , Stevermuer TL , Henry RL 
Published: November 2004

Objectives:  To test the hypothesis that reinforcement of the advice given at the time of discharge from the emergency department by telephone consultation would improve asthma outcomes.Methods:  A randomized controlled trial of the parents of 310 children who had been discharged from the emergency department with asthma was undertaken. The parents were randomized to receive either standard care (155 children) or standard care plus education by telephone (155 children) from a trained asthma educator. Symptoms, parental asthma knowledge, parental quality of life and use of asthma action plans and preventer therapy were collected at baseline and 6 months later. The primary measure was days of wheeze in last 3 months; intermediate measures were regular use of preventer medications, possession and use of written asthma action plan, parental asthma knowledge scores and parental quality of life scores.Results:  A total of 266 parents (136 intervention) completed the follow‐up questionnaires after 6 months. Both groups showed similar symptoms and process measures at baseline, apart from more regular use of preventer medication in the control children. At follow up, the intervention group children were significantly more likely than controls to possess (87.5% vs 72.3%; P = 0.002) a written asthma action plan. Possession of action plans increased from baseline in the intervention group but tended to decrease in the control group. Use of action plans was greater in the intervention group but decreased from baseline in both groups. Both intervention and control groups showed significant decreases in asthma symptoms.Conclusions:  Reinforcement by telephone consultation did not improve the primary outcome of wheeze in the last 3 months. However, it increased the possession and regular use of written asthma action plans in the intervention group.
Rationality and Its Symbols: Signalling Effects and Subjectification in Management Consulting*
Authors: Armbrüster Thomas 
Published: November 2004

abstract In service sectors such as management consulting, it is very difficult to measure the impact or success of a service even after it has been delivered. In these markets of goods between experience and credence, symbolic value is helpful and necessary to complement quality perceptions. The leading management consulting firms, in particular, do not only deliver data‐driven analyses but also represent and symbolize the rational approach to business issues. This article looks at the role of personnel selection in the context of quality symbolization. It argues that the predominant tool for personnel selection in the consulting sector, the case study, accounts for both a signalling effect of rationality to the business environment and a subjectification of consulting staff to the consulting culture and rationality beliefs. The case is made that, rather than leading to a valid selection of high‐performance personnel, the process of personnel selection has latent effects, which nonetheless contribute to the consulting industry's success.
Influence of large intrahepatic blood vessels on the gross and histological characteristics of lesions produced by radiofrequency ablation in a pig liver model
Authors: Tamaki Katsuyoshi , Shimizu Ichiro , Oshio Atsuo , Fukuno Hiroshi , Inoue Hiroshi , Tsutsui Akemi , Shibata Hiroshi , Sano Nobuya , Ito Susumu 
Published: November 2004

Abstract: Aims: To determine whether the presence of large intrahepatic blood vessels (≥3 mm) affect radiofrequency (RF)‐induced coagulation necrosis, the gross and histological characteristics of RF‐ablated areas proximal to or around vessels were examined in normal pig livers.Methods: An RF ablation treatment using a two‐stepwise extension technique produced 12 lesions: six contained vessels (Group A), and the other six were localized around vessels (Group B).Results: Gross examination revealed that the longest and shortest diameters of the ablated lesions were significantly larger in Group B than in Group A. In Group A, patent vessels contiguous to the lesion were present in a tongue‐shaped area, whereas the lesions in Group B were spherical. Staining with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase was negative within the ablated area; but, if vessels were present in the ablated area, the cells around the vessels in an opposite direction to the ablation were stained blue.Conclusions: Roll‐off can be achieved with 100% cellular destruction within a lesion that does not contain large vessels. The ablated area was decreased in lesions that contained large vessels, suggesting that the presence of large vessels in the ablated area further increases the cooling effect and may require repeated RF ablation treatment to achieve complete coagulation necrosis.
Randomized trial of three different regimens for 24 weeks for re‐treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients who failed to respond to interferon‐α monotherapy in Taiwan
Authors: Chuang Wan‐Long , Dai Chia‐Yen , Chen Shinn‐Cherng , Lee Li‐Po , Lin Zu‐Yau , Hsieh Ming‐Yuh , Wang Liang‐Yen , Yu Ming‐Lung , Chang Wen‐Yu 
Published: November 2004

Abstract: With the favorable result of interferon (IFN)–ribavirin combination therapy for 24 weeks among naive Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, the optimal regimens of re‐treatment for CHC patients who failed initial IFN monotherapy is not well‐established. The study evaluated the effectiveness of re‐treatment for 24 weeks with 3 different regimens and predictors for sustained virological response (SVR).Methods: Total 120 Taiwanese CHC patients (81 males, 70 relapsers, mean age: 48.6 years) who failed initial IFN monotherapy were enrolled. They were assigned randomly (with a ratio of 1:1:2) to receive one of the three regimens for re‐treatment for 24 weeks; group A: IFN 6 million units (MU) monotherapy (N=30), group B: combination therapy with ribavirin and IFN 3 MU (N=30) or group C: combination therapy with ribavirin and IFN 6 MU (N=60). The intention‐to‐treat rate of sustained virological response (SVR) was 38.3%. The SVR rate in group C (53.3%) was significantly higher than group A (16.7%, P<0.005) and group B (30%, P<0.05). Drop‐out rates were similar between the three groups. Patients achieving SVR had significant improvement histologically. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype non‐1b infection, lower pretreatment HCV RNA levels, combined with ribavirin and with higher IFN dose, and relapsers were independent predictors for SVR.Conclusion: We concluded that more than one‐third Taiwanese CHC patients achieved SVR after 24 weeks re‐treatment and combination therapy, especially with higher dose of IFN, yielded higher efficacy.
Alterations of p53, Bcl‐2, and hMSH2 protein expression in the cirrhotic, macroregenerative, dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas in Upper Egypt
Authors: Hussein Mahmoud R. 
Published: November 2004

Abstract: Background: Hepatocarcinogenesis involves alterations in p53, Bcl‐2 and human Mut S homologue‐2 (hMSH2) genes. In Upper Egypt, the clinicopathologic and genetic changes during hepatocarcinogensis (cirrhotic nodules (CN); macroregenerative nodules (MRN) and dysplastic nodules (DN) are unknown.Methods: To examine these issues, 48 hepatic resection specimens entailing 25 CN, 16 MRN, 23 DN and 48 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were immunohistochemically evaluated for p53, Bcl‐2 and hMSH2 protein expression.Results: HCC was common in males than in females (2.6:1, P<0.05) and with hepatitis C virus than hepatitis B virus infection (77.1% vs. 18.7%, P=0.001). p53 expression was found in DN (3/23) and HCC (12/48). Its average weighted scores were high in DN/HCC as compared with CN (1.60±0.40 and 7.20±1.20, P=0.0001). Bcl‐2 expression was seen in CN, MRN, DN and HCC (7/48). Its average weighted scores were high in DN (7.60±1.60), HCC (6.86±0.85) as compared with CN (6.14±0.42) and MRN (6.50±0.50, P=0.22). hMSH2 average weighted scores were reduced in HCC (7.94±1.06) as compared with CN (8.47±0.52), MRN (8.00±1.00) and DN (8.20±0.80, P>0.05).Conclusion: In Upper Egypt: (1) HCC had similar clinicopathologic features to those in the high‐risk regions, and (2) alterations of the p53, Bcl‐2 and hMSH2 proteins occur during hepatocarcinogensis.
Hydrodynamic‐based in vivo transfection of retinoic X receptor‐α gene can enhance vitamin A‐induced attenuation of liver fibrosis in mice
Authors: Chen Chen , Zhang Jinsheng , Li Jinjun , Huang Jin , Yang Chen , Huang Guangcun , Shi Jianying 
Published: November 2004

Abstract: Background/Aim: In hepatic stellate cells isolated from rat fibrotic livers, the amount of retinoid X receptor‐alpha (RXR‐α) mRNA is greatly reduced. However, the effectiveness of retinoids in the treatment of liver fibrosis is controversial. We hypothesized that increasing the expression levels of RXR‐α in livers will improve the response of liver fibrosis to retinoids treatment.Methods: pTracer‐CMV2 vector harboring both green fluorescent protein and RXR‐α genes was given to mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced liver fibrosis, by hydrodynamic‐based in vivo transfection. Vitamin A was simultaneously administered to the mice. Sirius red staining and measurement of hydroxyproline content were performed to evaluate liver fibrosis. The incorporation of 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyribouridine (BrdU) was carried out to determine liver cell proliferation.Results: Successful transfection and expression of exogenous RXR‐α gene in the liver was determined by observance of green fluorescence under a confocal microscope, and detection of RXR‐α protein by immunohistochemistry. Hepatic fibrosis, evaluated by both Sirius red staining with image analysis and quantity of hydroxyproline in livers of RXR‐α‐transfected group, tapered off remarkably. The hydroxyproline content and Sirius red‐positive staining area on liver sections from RXR‐α‐transfected mice decreased by 34.3% and 54.63%, respectively, compared with the control group receiving empty vector. The labeling index of BrdU in non‐parenchymal cells was much lower in livers from the RXR‐α‐transfected group than that of empty vector‐transfected group.Conclusions: Hydrodynamic‐based in vivo transfection of the RXR‐α gene can enhance the vitamin A‐induced attenuation of liver fibrosis in mice. One of the possible mechanisms of action for this gene treatment is inhibition of non‐parenchymal cell proliferation mainly composed of hepatic stellate cells in fibrotic livers.
ACCESS CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR COORDINATING TEAMS OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERS
Authors: STOVSKY MICHAEL P. , WEIDE BRUCE W. 
Published: November 2004

The difficult-to-achieve goal of a software project manager's access control policy is to help coordinate the work of the team members — to maximize cooperative access to project artifacts such as source code while preventing interfering and destructive forms of access. Solutions to two problems that arise from current approaches to access control are discussed: • How much information about the software being built is needed to develop and support effective access control strategies? • How can access control strategies be applied not just to the work of programmers and designers, but to all members of the software project team? A key element in answering these questions is a model of software in which each component has separate specification and implementation. This model further distinguishes structural from behavioral aspects of a specification. An access control framework which exploits these distinctions and relies on the structural (but not the behavioral) facet of specification is explored. The framework supports a number of different access control policies. The specific policy selected depends upon management's objectives in coordinating programmers and other members of the team such as technical writers. The combination of the software model, a developments environment that is based on it, and a flexible access control tool that supports many feasible policies can result in a greater degree of team members' concurrent access to components without the problems often associated with such access.
COMPUTATIONAL GEOMETRY COLUMN 11
Authors: O'ROURKE JOSEPH 
Published: November 2004

The first ten Computational Geometry Columns were all printed in ACM SIGACT News; some also appeared in Computer Graphics, the newsletter for ACM SIGGRAPH. Starting with this eleventh column, it will be printed in both SIGACT News and the International Journal of Computational Geometry & Applications. I have collected the first ten columns in a Smith Technical Report for new readers, free for the asking. As usual, this column is problem-oriented: I report on progress on two old problem, immobilizing a shape and clamping a polygon, highlight two problems from recent papers, on compliant motion planning and binary space partitions, and mentions some new problems on the combinatorics of arrangements.
THE RAYCASTING ENGINE AND RAY REPRESENTATIONS: A TECHNICAL SUMMARY
Authors: ELLIS J. L. , KEDEM G. , LYERLY T. C. , THIELMAN D. G. , MARISA R. J. , MENON J. P. , VOELCKER H. B. 
Published: November 2004

Solid modeling is computationally intensive. Thus far its use in industry has been limited mainly to simple parts and simple applications, and this is not likely to change much until 'massive' computing power can be made available at an affordable cost. The RayCasting Engine is one specialized source of 'massive' computing power for solid modeling, and it is but the simplest member of a potentially large family of 'classification computers'. The RayCasting Engine (RCE) is a highly parallel, custom-VLSI computer that classifies grids of parallel lines against solids represented in CSG. The sets of parallel 'in' segments that the RCE produces are called ray representations (ray-reps); they can be thought of as sampled boundary representations. Ray-reps are obviously useful for graphics and mass-property calculation. Less obviously, they are surprisingly versatile if one exploits special properties – for example, boolean combination of solids by interval operations on ray-reps – and the fact that ray-reps are cheap to compute. Overall, the combination of a 'new' representation scheme (ray-reps) and a fast custom processor (the RCE) is changing our approach to solid modeling. We are now seeking 'brute force' solutions to problems, and are finding that some previously intractable problems – for example, spatial sweeping and offsetting – are effectively computable and easy to program. This paper summarizes the genesis and principles of the RCE, some important properties of ray representations, and some exemplary applications of the (ray-rep, RCE) combination.