bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consenting Adults: The Principle of Consent and Northern Ireland's Constitutional Future
Authors: Ginty Roger Mac , Wilford Rick , Dowds Lizanne , Robinson Gillian 
Published: December 2004

‘If A Majority Of People In Northern Ireland Ever Voted To become part of a United Ireland what would you do?’ At first sight the question may seem plucked from the realms of constitutional fantasy. A united Ireland seems an unlikely prospect, at least in anything but the long term. Even proponents of unity predict a 15–20 year wait. Yet the 1998 Good Friday Agreement empowers the people of Northern Ireland to decide their own constitutional future. As a result questions on Northern Ireland's future constitutional status, and public reactions to possible changes in that status, are relevant to current political debate.It is important to note that the principle of consent is not a new constitutional invention. It has had a long association with Northern Ireland. It is argued that the peace process and the 1998 Good Friday Agreement have refocused attention on the long-standing consent principle. While consent was part of the constitutional furniture it was often overlooked during the Troubles.This article re-examines consent in the light of the peace process. It draws on evidence from the 1998 and 1999/2000Northern Ireland Life and Timessurveys, as well as a number of in-depth interviews with senior politicians and policy-makers involved in the peace process and the negotiations on a political settlement. First it considers the changing significance of the consent principle to Northern Ireland's constitutional status, arguing that the principle has assumed a renewed immediacy. Secondly, the article reports the findings of the two most recentNorthern Ireland Life and Timessurveys in relation to constitutional preferences. While public attitudes towards a unitary Ireland or continued Union within the United Kingdom have been surveyed regularly, as far as the authors are aware no previous survey has asked whether people would accept or oppose constitutional change if it was supported by a majority of Northern Ireland's citizens. In other words, no survey has gauged the level of public acceptance of the consent principle. The key question is: would unionists be prepared to come quietly if a majority of Northern Ireland's citizens voted to accept a united Ireland?
Early‐ and Late‐onset Complications of the Ketogenic Diet for Intractable Epilepsy
Authors: Kang Hoon Chul , Chung Da Eun , Kim Dong Wook , Kim Heung Dong 
Published: December 2004

Summary: Purpose:This study was undertaken to evaluate the exact limitations of the ketogenic diet (KD) and to collect data on the prevention and management of its risks.Methods:Patients (129) who were on the KD from July 1995 to October 2001 at our epilepsy center were assessed in the study. Early‐onset (within 4 weeks of the commencement of the KD until stabilization) and late‐onset complications (occurring after 4 weeks) were reviewed.Results:The most common early‐onset complication was dehydration, especially in patients who started the KD with initial fasting. Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances, such as nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, also were frequently noted, sometimes associated with gastritis and fat intolerance. Other early‐onset complications, in order of frequency, were hypertriglyceridemia, transient hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, various infectious diseases, symptomatic hypoglycemia, hypoproteinemia, hypomagnesemia, repetitive hyponatremia, low concentrations of high‐density lipoprotein, lipoid pneumonia due to aspiration, hepatitis, acute pancreatitis, and persistent metabolic acidosis. Late‐onset complications also included osteopenia, renal stones, cardiomyopathy, secondary hypocarnitinemia, and iron‐deficiency anemia. Most early‐ and late‐onset complications were transient and successfully managed by careful follow‐up and conservative strategies. However, 22 (17.1%) patients ceased the KD because of various kinds of serious complications, and four (3.1%) patients died during the KD, two of sepsis, one of cardiomyopathy, and one of lipoid pneumonia.Conclusions:Most complications of the KD are transient and can be managed easily with various conservative treatments. However, life‐threatening complications should be monitored closely during follow‐up.
Distributional, morphological and genetic consequences of dispersal for temporary pond water mites
Authors: Bohonak Andrew J. , Smith Bruce P. , Thornton Melissa 
Published: December 2004

Summary1. To determine the consequences of dispersal and gene flow for temporary pond water mites (Hydrachnida), we compared distributional, genetic and morphological characters in the closely related speciesArrenurus angustilimbatusandA. rufopyriformis.The former has larvae that parasitise and disperse on adult mosquitoes, whereas larvae of the latter forego any association with hosts.2. Allometrically adjusted egg size and gonopore size were found to be useful characters for distinguishing between females of the two species.3.Arrenurus angustilimbatuspossesses a broader and more continuous geographic distribution than its ‘direct developing’ counterpart. Allozyme heterozygosity was higher and population differentiation lower inA. angustilimbatus. In addition, populations ofA. rufopyriformiswere morphologically divergent, whereas populations ofA. angustilimbatuswere not. Isolation by distance analyses on both genetic and morphological characters indicated that the results were not biased by different sampling regimes for the two species.4. These results demonstrate the importance of mosquito parasitism for maintaining ecological and genetic linkages betweenA. angustilimbatuspopulations. More broadly, we hypothesise that insect‐mediated dispersal has contributed to the ecological and evolutionary success of water mites, because the Hydrachnida lack other obvious adaptations for dispersing in space or time.
Forward computation of the magnetic field of a 3D body with arbitrary boundary and continually varying magnetization
Authors: An Yulin , Huang Jinming , Chen Yudong 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThe forward computation of the gravitational and magnetic fields due to a 3D body with an arbitrary boundary and continually varying density or magnetization is an important problem in gravitational and magnetic prospecting. In order to solve the inverse problem for the arbitrary components of the gravitational and magnetic anomalies due to an arbitrary 3D body under complex conditions, including an uneven observation surface, the existence of background anomalies and very little or no a priori information, we used a spherical coordinate system to systematically investigate forward methods for such anomalies and developed a series of universal spherical harmonic expansions of gravitational and magnetic fields. For the case of a 3D body with an arbitrary boundary and continually varying magnetization, we have also given the surface integral expressions for the common spherical harmonic coefficients in the expansion of the magnetic field due to the body, and a very precise numerical integral algorithm to calculate them. Thus a simple and effective method of solving the forward problem for magnetic fields due to 3D bodies of this kind has been found, and in this way a foundation is laid for solving the inverse problem of these magnetic fields. In addition, by replacing the parameters and unit vectors in the spherical harmonic expansion of a magnetic field by gravitational parameters and a downward unit vector, we have also derived a forward method for the gravitational field (similar to that for the magnetic case) of a 3D body with an arbitrary boundary and continually varying density.
Effect of CO2 enrichment and elevated temperature on methane emissions from rice, Oryza sativa
Authors: Schrope M. K. , Chanton J. P. , Allen L. H. , Baker J. T. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryMethane emissions from rice grown within Temperature Gradient Greenhouse Tunnels under doubled CO2 concentrations were 10–45 times less than emissions from control plants grown under ambient CO2. For two cultivars of rice (cvs. Lemont and IR‐72), methane emissions increased with a temperature increase of 2°, from outdoor ambient temperatures to the first cell of the ambient CO2 tunnel (ambient temperature + 2 °C). Within both tunnels and for both cultivars methane emissions decreased with further temperature increases (from 2° to 5 °C above ambient). Carbon dioxide enrichment stimulated both above‐ and below‐ground production. Our original hypothesis was that increased CO2 would stimulate plant productivity and therefore stimulate methane emission, since direct linkages between these parameters have been observed. We hypothesize that CO2 enrichment led to the attenuation of methane production due to increased delivery of oxygen to the rhizosphere because of increased root biomass and porosity. The increased root biomass due to elevated CO2 may have more effectively aerated the soil, suppressing methane production. However, this study may be unique because the low organic content (< 1%) of the sandy soils in which the rice was grown created very little oxygen demand.
Prostasomes as zinc ligands in human seminal plasma
Authors: Vivacqua A. , Siciliano L. , Sabato M. , Palma A. , Carpino A. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryProstasomes are small vesicles, containing zinc, secreted by prostate in human seminal plasma and showing a physiological role on sperm properties. In this study, the possible correspondence between prostasomes and a prostatic high molecular weight protein complex, recently indicated as zinc ligand, has been investigated. Isolated prostasomes, examined by scanning electron microscopy, were dialysed to evaluate their zinc binding capacity. Furthermore, seminal plasma Sephadex G‐75 elution was carried out before and after prostasome removal. Prostasome preparations, containing typical vesicles of 50–500 nm, showed a positive correlation between their zinc and protein levels. They were able to take up zinc against gradient. Furthermore, the seminal zinc amount, bound to the high molecular weight proteins, was strongly reduced in the free‐prostasome sample with respect to the total seminal plasma. This study suggested the correspondence between the prostasomes and a high‐sized zinc ligand complex of prostatic origin. Therefore, it demonstrated, for the first time, the zinc binding capacity of prostasomes, a new property which could be related to their biological functions.
Ecological zoogeography of the bats of Paraguay
Authors: López‐González Celia 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim  To relate the composition of bat assemblages in Paraguay to environmental factors (vegetation) and to test the hypothesis that the observed patterns of distribution of Paraguayan mammals is ultimately due to soils and geological features.Location  Paraguay.Methods  Museum specimens were used to create a data base of 3762 individuals of forty‐eight species collected in twenty‐six 50 × 50 km sites distributed throughout the country. Proportion of each of sixteen vegetation types per site was estimated from vegetation maps. Vegetation and bat data were related using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and Mantel tests. The same analyses were performed with the bat data grouped in terms of trophic strategies.Results  A significant relationship was found between composition of vegetation and composition of bat assemblages. CCA ordination arranged plant associations and bat assemblages into three distinct groups: Dry Chaco, Floodable Lands and Eastern Paraguay, which correspond to the major characteristics of the Paraguayan vegetation, geology and soils. Frugivorous bats were restricted to Eastern Paraguay and Floodable Lands, whereas most insectivore and omnivore species occur across the entire country. However, the maximum abundance of insectivorous and omnivorous species within each genus indicates that there is at least a partial segregation of species to one of the three regions, and in those cases where the maximum abundance of congeneric species coincide, those species differ considerably in size.Main conclusions  The Paraguayan bat fauna is a composite of species from various South American biomes, with no endemic species. However, species are not randomly distributed across the country despite the lack of geographical barriers and the high dispersal capabilities of bats. Instead, species presence at any given site is strongly associated with vegetation patterns that are ultimately the result of the geological history of the area. This correlation can be explained partially in terms of habitat suitability and resource availability. Additionally, results suggest that interspecific interactions are also an important component in determining the composition of a given bat assemblage.
Are rare primate taxa specialists or simply less studied?
Authors: Doherty D. A. , Harcourt A. H. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim  Rare species are reported to be specialized. However, rare taxa are usually less studied than are common taxa. If so, the reported specialization might be just a result of paucity of records. We here test for this sampling artefact in primates, a taxon in which rarity has been explained by specialization.Location  Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Americas.Methods  We define rare and common species as those with geographical range sizes in the lower and upper quartiles, respectively, for primates in each realm. We conducted two independent searches of published literature to determine if there were significantly fewer studies on a common measure of specialization, diet, for rare vs. common species. We then tested for sampling artefact in reported diet breadth by comparing the number of references needed to obtain it for both rare and common species.Results  We found, in both literature searches, significantly fewer studies on diet for rare primates – a mode of zero references for rare species, and one for common. By contrast, no significant difference existed for number of references needed to attain the full reported diet breadth: a median of one reference for both specialized, rare and generalized, common species.Main conclusions  Rare species are indeed studied less. Nevertheless, the finding that rare primates are specialists is not necessarily mere sampling artefact.
Patient and clinician collaboration in the design of a national randomized breast cancer trial
Authors: Marsden Jo , Bradburn Jane ,   on behalf of the Consumers’ Advisory Group for Clinical Trials (CAG‐CT),   the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre
Published: December 2004

AbstractObjective  To show breast cancer patient involvement in the design of a national randomized trial of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in symptomatic patients will increase accrual.Setting and participants  Three stakeholder groups [(1) researchers from the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre, (2) the Consumers’ Advisory Group for Clinical Trials (CAG‐CT), (3) clinicians responsible for a pilot randomized HRT study in breast cancer patients] developed this collaborative study.Methods  (1) Nine focus group discussions were conducted to identify issues relevant to breast cancer patients about HRT and a national trial: six involved women from breast cancer support groups nationwide and three patients who had previously participated in the pilot randomized HRT study. (2) Recommendations from the focus groups (analysed by Grounded Theory) were debated by the research stakeholders and focus group representatives at a 1‐day meeting and consensus reached (using a voting system) on mutual priorities for incorporation into the design of a national HRT trial. (3) Representatives from the CAG‐CT and focus groups participated in subsequent national HRT steering committee meetings to ensure that these priorities were accounted for and the resulting trial design summary was circulated to the CAG‐CT and all focus group representatives for comment.Results  Focus groups demonstrated that the complexity of factors relating to trial participation was not just restricted to the research topic in question. Patient–clinician interaction provided a platform for negotiating potential conflicts over trial design and outcomes. Patient feedback suggested that mutually agreed priorities were accounted for in the trial design.Interpretation  Clinical research planning should involve all research stakeholders at the outset. Quantifying the impact of patient involvement in terms of trial accrual may be too simple given the complexity of their motivations for participating in trials.
Monotony and the Information Content of Richardson's Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii) Repeated calls: Tonic Communication or Signal Certainty?
Authors: Sloan Jennifer L. , Hare James F. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe repetition of elements within an alarm signal is commonly thought to ensure that receivers have detected that signal, or to promote residual vigilance in light of the dangerous circumstances prompting the signal's initial production (tonic communication). Beyond alerting others and maintaining that state of alertness, however, repetitive signal elements may be parsed so as to encode information about the nature of potential threats. To determine how call length and variation in intersyllable latency might prove informative in the repetitive alarm vocalizations of Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii), we conducted a field‐based playback experiment quantifying antipredator responses to manipulated alarm calls. Free‐living juvenile squirrels were exposed to playbacks of 12 syllable (long) and six syllable (short) calls with a constant (monotonous) or changing (variable) call rate. The length of calls had no significant effect on the behaviour of call recipients during and immediately after call production; however, call recipients showed greater vigilance after the playback of monotonous calls than after variable calls. The absence of a call length effect is not consistent with tonic communication in the strict sense; rather, enhanced responsiveness to monotonous relative to variable calls suggests that multiple syllables, and the emergent patterns of intersyllable latency, communicate information about response urgency or the distance to a predatory threat. Only monotonous calls convey those aspects with any certainty on the part of the signaller and hence are selectively attended to by receivers.
Effects of Passive Social Support in Juvenile Greylag Geese (Anser anser): A Study from Fledging to Adulthood
Authors: Weiß Brigitte M. , Kotrschal Kurt 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn general, support by social allies may reduce stress, increase an individual's status and facilitate access to resources. In Greylag geese (Anser anser), offspring stay with their parents for an entire year or even longer and thereby enjoy social support in encounters with other flock members. We investigated the influence of spatial distance to one's allies on the outcome of agonistic encounters in a natural flock situation for a total of 12 sibling groups after fledging. In addition, we tested two groups of hand‐raised juvenile geese over a time span of 11/2 yr. Passive (i.e. not interfering) human supporters of different familiarity were placed at a standard distance during food provisionings, which produced a tight flock situation. Success in agonistic interactions increased with decreasing distance to members of their social unit. The hand‐raised juveniles were more successful in agonistic interactions and showed increased feeding rates when accompanied by a familiar human than when alone or with a non‐familiar human. The effect of the presence of familiar humans on success in agonistic encounters significantly decreased with increasing age, while feeding rates remained elevated. The positive effects of social support were particularly evident in females. We conclude that social support has similar effects and functions in the highly social greylag geese as reported for social mammals.
Fruit Colour Preferences of Redwings (Turdus iliacus): Experiments with Hand‐Raised Juveniles and Wild‐Caught Adults
Authors: Honkavaara Johanna , Siitari Heli , Viitala Jussi 
Published: December 2004

AbstractCertain fruit colours and their contrast with the background coloration are suggested to attract frugivorous birds. To test the attractiveness of different colours, we performed three experiments in laboratory with controlled light conditions. In the first two experiments, we studied the fruit colour preferences of naive juvenile redwings. In the third experiment, we continued to investigate whether the contrast of the fruit colour with the background coloration affects the preference of both naive juveniles and experienced adult redwings. In the first experiment, juvenile birds preferred black, UV‐blue and red berries, to white ones. In pairwise trials, a new set of juveniles still preferred red berries to white ones. When testing the effect of contrasts on their choice, juveniles preferred UV‐blue berries to red ones on a UV‐blue background. However, no preference was found, when the background was either red or green. Adult redwings preferred UV‐blue berries to red ones on all backgrounds. According to these results, juveniles seem to have an innate avoidance of white berries. Furthermore, the foraging decisions of fruit‐eating birds are affected more by fruit colour than its contrast with background coloration, at least when contrasting displays are encountered from relatively short distances. Differences in preferences of adult and juvenile birds also indicate that learning seems to play a role in fruit choices.
Molecular and functional adaptation of the GABAA receptor complex during pregnancy and after delivery in the rat brain
Authors: Follesa Paolo , Floris Stefania , Tuligi Graziella , Mostallino Maria Cristina , Concas Alessandra , Biggio Giovanni 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe abundance of γ‐aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABAA receptor) subunit mRNAs and polypeptides as well as muscimol‐stimulated 36Cl– uptake were measured in rat cerebral cortex or hippocampus at various times during pregnancy and after delivery. RNase protection assays revealed that the amount of the γ2L subunit mRNA decreased progressively during pregnancy, in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and then returned to control values around the time of delivery. A similar pattern was observed for the α5 subunit mRNA in the cerebral cortex, whereas no significant changes were apparent for α1, α2, α3, α4, β1, β2, β3 and γ2S subunit mRNAs. The amounts of γ2 and α1 proteins in the cerebral cortex were measured by immunoblot analysis; whereas the abundance of γ2 protein decreased during pregnancy, no change was detected in the amount of α1 protein. Evaluation for functional significance of the down‐regulated γ2 and α5 subunit was made by determining the GABAA receptor function assessed by measurement of muscimol‐stimulated 36Cl– uptake in cerebral cortical membrane vesicles. Muscimol‐induced 36Cl– uptake was markedly reduced during of pregnancy compared with rats in oestrus. At this same time, the potentiating effects of diazepam and allopregnanolone on muscimol stimulation of 36Cl– uptake also were reduced. In contrast, the effects of muscimol, allopregnanolone and diazepam were significantly increased, relative to animals in oestrus, after delivery.