bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coordinating the Government Bureaucracy in Hong Kong: An Institutional Analysis
Authors: LAM WAI FUNG 
Published: August 2005

The change in sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997 has brought about an interesting puzzle: despite a high degree of institutional continuity, the Hong Kong bureaucracy that was considered highly efficient during the colonial era has appeared to turn into an inept administrative structure generating blunder after blunder. The bureaucracy seems to face greater difficulties in horizontal coordination under the new governance, and has lost the ability to produce coherent policy actions.Drawing upon a literature of institutional analysis, this article examines the institutional design for coordination in the Hong Kong government. The article argues that the bureaucracy in Hong Kong is designed upon a logic of colonial rule. Like any institutional arrangements, the colonial administrative system has inherent coordination limitations. During the colonial era, some smoothing mechanisms were developed as the lubricant for the bureaucracy's operation, but the new governance has inevitably impinged upon some of these—making the bureaucracy more prone to coordination problems.
Developmental trajectories of conduct problems and hyperactivity from ages 2 to 10
Authors: Shaw Daniel S. , Lacourse Eric , Nagin Daniel S. 
Published: August 2005

Background:  Conduct problems (CP) and hyperactivity/attention problems (HAP) are thought to covary with regularity, yet few studies have examined their co‐occurrence or risk factors that discriminate their trajectories beginning in early childhood.Method:  The present study sought to advance our understanding of this issue by examining separate trajectories of overt CP and HAP symptomatology among 284 boys from urban, low‐income families followed from ages 1.5 to 10. We also investigated the co‐occurrence of persistent CP and HAP and explored risk factors that discriminate CP and HAP trajectories.Results:  Four similar trajectory groups were identified for both CP and HAP symptoms. Chronic CP was differentiated from persistent low CP by risk factors in child, parenting, and family domains, while chronic trajectories of HAP were typified by elevated maternal depressive symptoms compared to children with persistent low HAP.Conclusions:  The findings extend previous research with older children of HAP and/or CP, highlighting the effects of proximal family and child risk factors that are identifiable in the first two years of children's lives and associated with trajectories of disruptive behavior.
Dynamic process of family burden in dementia caregiving: a new field for psychotherapeutic interventions
Authors: MICHON Agnès , WEBER Kerstin , RUDHARD‐THOMAZIC Valérie , GIANNAKOPOULOS Panteleimon 
Published: August 2005

AbstractFamilies caring for a patient with dementia are prone to significant physical, psychological and social stress. It is now well established that the caregiver burden does not only negatively affect the caregiver's physical and mental health, but is also associated with an increase in behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia. Burden determinants include the quality of the relationship between the patient and caregiver; patient variables, such as the need to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia; and also caregiver variables, such as the satisfaction of caring, demographic characteristics and societal roles. The standardised assessment of interventions for caregivers in dementia care remains a difficult task. In recent years, family interventions that focus on the process of burden itself in relation to the caregiver's subjective experience of personal growth and enrichment have been proposed. This new approach is based on the identification of tasks and challenges faced by family members throughout the different stages of the disease. In this context, brief crisis interventions transform periods of disorganisation experienced by the family into opportunities for change, whereas rehabilitation interventions developed by professional caring networks offer a continuous assessment and advice to the family. This article provides a critical review of the consequences and determinants of caregiver burden in dementia care with special reference to the emerging notion of the caregiver's subjective experience in the context of family processes.
Evaluation of a computerized test system to screen for mild cognitive impairment
Authors: INOUE Masashi , URAKAMI Katsuya , TANIGUCHI Miyako , KIMURA Yuki , SAITO Jun , NAKASHIMA Kenji 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackground:  Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to the clinical condition between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has a high probability of developing into AD. Early detection of MCI is important because early detection and appropriate follow‐up treatment can prevent the disease from progressing. Therefore, MCI is an important candidate for screening and possible intervention.Methods:  We have developed a computerized screening test system to identify cognitive decline. This system consists of six tests (age and year‐of‐birth validity test, three‐word memory test, time orientation test, first modified delayed‐recall test, visual working memory test and second modified delayed‐recall test). The scores obtained from three groups (MCI patients, AD patients and healthy control subjects) were analyzed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity required for the screening of MCI.Results:  The system was well accepted by the patients. All of the test procedures were completed within 5 min. Significant group differences in all test results were found. The system has sensitivity and specificity values of 82% and 87%, respectively, when used as a screen for MCI.Conclusion:  The system is useful for the screening of cognitive disorders.
Relation between schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease: the reelin signaling pathway
Authors: AOKI Takeya , MIZUKI Yasushi , TERASHIMA Toshio 
Published: August 2005

AbstractReelin is an extracellular matrix protein that is related to neuronal migration at the embryonic stage. Recently, the relation between reelin and schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease was established. The authors summarize these two disorders from the perspective of the reelin signaling pathway. Reelin and reelin mRNA are reduced in the schizophrenic brain and Cajal–Retzius cells, which secrete reelin, are reduced in the Alzheimer's brain. From the reelin signaling pathway, a reduction or deficit of reelin leads to the disturbance of neuronal migration and abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein, and may be a pathologic factor involved in the etiology of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Reelin may be the common feature of both schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Uses of Agent‐Based Modeling in Innovation/New Product Development Research*
Authors: Garcia Rosanna 
Published: August 2005

Little has been written in the new product development literature about the simulation technique agent‐based modeling, which is a by‐product of recent explorations into complex adaptive systems in other disciplines. Agent‐based models (ABM) are commonly used in other social sciences to represent individual actors (or groups) in a dynamic adaptive system. The social system may be a marketplace, an organization, or any type of system that acts as a collective of individuals. Agents represent autonomous decision‐making entities that interact with each other and/or with their environment based on a set of rules. These rules dictate the behavioral choices of the agents. In these simulation models, heterogeneous agents interact with each other in a repetitive process. It is from the interactions between agents that aggregate macroscale behaviors or trends emerge. The simulated environment can be thought of as a “virtual” society in which actions taken by one agent may have an effect on the resulting actions of another agent.This article is an introduction to the ABM methodology and its possible uses for innovation and new product development researchers. It explores the benefits and issues with modeling dynamic systems using this methodology. Benefits of ABMs found in sociology and management studies have found that as the heterogeneity of individuals increase in a system or as network effects become more important in a system, the effectiveness of ABMs as a methodology increases. Additionally, the more adaptive a system or the more the system evolves over time, the greater the opportunity to learn more about the adaptive system using ABMs. Limitations to using this methodology include some knowledge of computer‐programming techniques.Three potential areas of research are introduced: diffusion of innovations, organizational strategy, and knowledge and information flows. A common use of ABMs in the extant literature has been the modeling of the diffusion process between networked heterogeneous agents. ABMs easily allow the modeling of different types of networks and the impact of these networks on the diffusion process. A demonstrative example of an agent‐based model to address the research question of how should manufacturers allocate resources to research (exploration) and development (exploitation) projects is provided. Future courses of study using ABMs also are explored.
HEROShapers®: the adapted pitch concept
Authors: Calas Paul 
Published: August 2005

The adapted pitch concept involves varying the pitch and the length of the cutting portion as a function of the taper of the instruments. By modifying these parameters, it is possible to select the instrument with the strength, efficacy, flexibility, and taper best suited for the root canal being prepared.In the HEROShaper® sequence, instruments with a 0.06 taper are used to prepare and enlarge the coronal and middle thirds of the canal. These instruments have a longer pitch for enhanced flexibility and dentine cutting efficacy. The removal of dentinal chips is facilitated and the tendency to screw in is reduced. Instruments with a 0.04 taper are used to prepare the apical portion because they have a shorter pitch and cutting portion (12 mm), which makes them stronger and more flexible. They can thus negotiate apical curvatures without deviating from the initial canal axis.The files are used in a continuous rotation mode (450–600 r.p.m.) to progressively prepare the root canal (crown‐down). The sequences are selected based on the difficulty of the original canal shape.
Additional experiences to elucidate the microbial component of soil suppressiveness towards strawberry black root rot complex
Authors: MANICI L M , CAPUTO F , BARUZZI G 
Published: August 2005

SummarySeveral studies were carried out to investigate the soil microbial components involved in suppressing strawberry black rot root which occurs throughout the Italian strawberry growing region. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of fungi involved in black root rot were combined with several soil microbial parameters involved in soil suppressiveness towards black root rot agents. The first survey, carried out in an intensively cultivated area of northern Italy, identified Rhizoctonia spp. as the main root pathogen together with several typical weak pathogens belonging to the well‐known black rot root complex of strawberry crop: Cylindrocarpondestructans, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Pestalotia longiseta and others. The root colonisation frequency of strawberry plants increased strongly from autumn to spring at harvesting stage. Rhizoctonia spp. were the only pathogens which followed the rising trend of root colonisation with relative frequency; all the weak pathogens of strawberry black root rot complex did not vary their frequency. Only non‐pathogenic fungi decreased from autumn to spring when at least 60% of colonising fungi were represented by Rhizoctonia. These data suggested that the late vegetative stage was the best time to record the soil inoculum of root rot agents in strawberry using root infection frequency as a parameter of soil health. A further study was performed in two fields, chosen for their common soil texture and pH, but with significant differences in previous soil management: one (ALSIA) had been subjected to strawberry monoculture without organic input for several years; the other (CIF) has been managed according to a 4‐year crop rotation and high organic input. In this study Pythium artificially inoculated was adopted as an indicator for the behaviour of saprophytically living pathogens in bulk soil. Pythium showed a sharp, different response after inoculation in bulk soil from the two soil systems evaluated. Pythium was suppressed only in the CIF field where the highest levels of total fungi and fluorescent bacteria and highest variability were observed. The suppressiveness conditions towards Pythium, observed in the CIF and absent in the ALSIA field, corresponded with the root infection frequency recorded at the late vegetative stage on strawberry plants grown in the two fields: strawberry plants from the CIF field showed lower root colonisation frequency and higher variability than that recorded on those coming from the ALSIA field.
Soil solarisation, amendments and bio‐control agents for the control of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cumini in aridisols
Authors: ISRAEL S , MAWAR R , LODHA S 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe effects of soil solarisation, residue incorporation, summer irrigation and biocontrol agents singly or in combination on survival of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cumini were ascertained in the 2000 and 2001 summer seasons. In amended plots, temperature increased by 2.5°C over non‐amended plots (42–51°C) at various soil depths. Combining amendments and soil solarisation elevated the soil temperatures by 0.5–5°C and 2.5–13.0°C compared to non‐amended solarised and non‐solarised plots, respectively. These treatment combinations significantly reduced M. phaseolina and Fusarium propagules compared to control. Of these, combining mustard pod residues with soil solarisation almost eliminated viable propagules of both the pathogens at 0–30 cm soil depth. However, a combination of mustard pod residue and oil‐cake (2.5 + 0.5 ton ha−1) with only one summer irrigation also caused pronounced reduction in pathogenic propagules, which was equal to that recorded in non‐amended solarised plots. The effect of surviving propagules of M. phaseolina and Fusarium on incidence of dry root rot on clusterbean and wilt on cumin was studied in subsequent rainy and winter seasons, respectively. Significant reductions in both diseases were recorded in residue and biocontrol amended plots with or without polyethylene mulching compared to non‐amended control. The lowest plant mortality in both the crops was recorded in mustard residue amended solarised plots in a two year field experiment. However, the disease indices in the plots having a combination of mustard residues and oil‐cake amendment with one summer irrigation was equal to that achieved in the treatment having polyethylene mulching. These results suggest that in hot arid regions use of Brassica residues can be a practical and feasible substitute for polyethylene mulching in managing soil‐borne diseases.
Control of purple spot of loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica) by means of mineral compounds
Authors: GARIGLIO N , MARTINEZ‐FUENTES A , MESEJO C , AGUSTÍ M 
Published: August 2005

SummaryTreatments to control purple spot of loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica) were tested based on the hypothesis that the disorder appears as a consequence of water unbalance between flesh and epidermal tissues caused by their different ability for sugar accumulation. Calcium nitrate, calcium chloride, Ca‐EDTA, ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate at a concentration of 150 mm applied 2 weeks before fruit colour break reduced significantly the proportion of purple‐spotted fruit, giving rise to a reduction of water potential of the epidermal tissue that allows it to retain water. The most favourable date of treatment was during the 2 weeks prior to fruit colour break.
Time and concentration dependent interactions of Beauveria bassiana with sublethal rates of imidacloprid against the aphid pests Macrosiphoniellasanborni and Myzus persicae
Authors: YE SU‐DAN , DUN YU‐HUI , FENG MING‐GUANG 
Published: August 2005

SummaryA series of laboratory bioassays with each consisting of low, medium and high concentration treatments of the fungal biocontrol agent Beauveria bassiana alone or supplemented with an increasing sublethal rate of imidacloprid were conducted to quantify the fungal and chemical interactions on chrysanthemum aphid Macrosiphoniella sanborni (0.01‐0.05 a.i. μg mL−1) and green peach aphid Myzus persicae (0.05‐0.5 a.i. μg mL−1). During one week after exposure to a 1 mL spray onto a 95 cm2 area in a Potter Spray Tower, M. sanborni was either more susceptible to B. bassiana or more sensitive to imidacloprid than M. persicae. The time–concentration–mortality (TCM) responses of each aphid species in each of five bioassays fit well to a TCM model, indicating a strong dependence of the fungal and chemical interactions on both concentration and post‐spray time. Adding imidacloprid to B. bassiana sprays at the rates of 0.025–0.05 μg mL−1 against M. sanborni or 0.1–0.5 μg mL−1 against M. persicae significantly enhanced or accelerated the fungal action. Based on the LC50 or LC90 estimates and their variances determined by the fitted TCM relationships for each aphid species, the relative potencies of an imidacloprid‐inclusive bioassay over those with B. bassiana alone or together with a lower sublethal rate ranged from a few to hundreds of times and varied over days after spray. These results suggest an alternative tactic for practical control of the aphid pests by a combined formulation or application of B. bassiana and imidacloprid and manage aphid resistance to the chemical insecticide.
Age‐specific bioassays and fecundity of Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) reared on cry1Ac ‐transgenic potato plants
Authors: DAVIDSON M M , BUTLER R C , WRATTEN S D , CONNER A J 
Published: August 2005

SummaryVariation in the susceptibility of lepidopterous pest larvae of different ages to transgenic crops and the potential for survivors to reproduce could have important consequences for the development of resistance in such pests. Experiments were undertaken in the laboratory to determine if larvae of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella, of different ages (0 (< 1 day old), 3, 5, 7 days) varied in their susceptibility to cry1Ac9–transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) foliage grown in the glasshouse or field. The survival and fecundity of larvae reared on transgenic tubers was also determined in the laboratory. There were no apparent differences in susceptibility of larvae of different ages to transgenic foliage. Larvae fed glasshouse or field‐grown non‐transgenic foliage had significantly larger relative growth indices and more larvae pupated, than those fed transgenic foliage, regardless of larval age. Eggs from a laboratory colony were placed on transgenic or non‐transgenic tubers to measure survival and fecundity. Between 6% and 15% of eggs placed on transgenic tubers developed into pupae for three of the four transgenic potato lines tested. On one transgenic line, only six adults emerged from 1300 eggs. In contrast, between 71% and 97% of the eggs placed on non‐transgenic tubers developed into pupae. Male and female pupae from transgenic lines weighed less than those from non‐transgenic lines. The fecundity of females from two of four transgenic lines was lower than from the non‐transgenic parent cultivar. Although larvae of different ages did not exhibit any overall age‐dependent pattern of increasing or decreasing susceptibility to transgenic foliage of glasshouse or field‐grown plants, the ability of larvae to survive and reproduce on transgenic tubers suggests this pest has the ability to evolve resistance to the transgenic plants used in the present study.
The use of image analysis to monitor the germination of seeds of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) and radish (Raphanus sativus)
Authors: Dell'Aquila A 
Published: August 2005

SummaryTo study broccoli and radish seed germination under different temperature regimes the germination test has been used to assess final germination percentage, start and rate. This method has been integrated with a computer‐aided image analysis test which is more accurate in monitoring the extent of imbibition phases through the assessment of seed area increase and timing of radicle emergence detected on single seeds. In addition, seed area increase has been used also to establish a close relationship with radicle elongation rate in the time range when ‘visible germination’ is scored by a classical germination test. The results suggest that this image analysis parameter may be considered as a reliable seed imbibition marker to integrate the germination parameters obtained by a germination test.
Intra‐population diversity between citrus viroid II variants described as agents of cachexia disease
Authors: VIDALAKIS G , DAVIS J Z , SEMANCIK J S 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe citrus viroid II (CVd‐II, Hop stunt viroid) variant, cachexia 909 (Ca‐909) has been designated as a “cachexia” disease isolate on the basis of inducing extremely mild symptoms on the cachexia indexing host Parson's Special mandarin (PSM). However, Ca‐909 lacks the six‐nucleotide cluster demonstrated to control the pathogenicity of cachexia inducing agents such as CVd‐IIc. Progeny populations of CVd‐IIc and Ca‐909 from the bioamplification host, Etrog citron, and the indexing host PSM were surveyed for clones with possible mutations in the locus of the “cachexia cluster”. The intra‐population diversity and the genealogical relationships among clones of CVd‐IIc and Ca‐909 populations were also analysed using principles of the coalescent theory. CVd‐IIc progeny was found not to mutate in the “cachexia cluster” and Ca‐909 did not acquire any mutations related to the nucleotide sites of the “cachexia cluster”. Specific mutations of the Ca‐909 progeny were found to be similar to the non‐cachexia variant, CVd‐IIa. Population profiles and genealogical patterns of CVd‐IIc and Ca‐909 in Etrog citron were not significantly different. However, although CVd‐IIc progeny were more conserved in PSM, Ca‐909 progeny displayed titre, population profiles, and genealogical patterns more uniform in selected tissues of Parson's Special mandarin than CVd‐IIc. These experimental approaches demonstrate the genetic stability of the cachexia‐agent CVd‐IIc and question the inclusion of Ca‐909 as a cachexia disease agent.
Examples of phenological change, past and present, in UK farming
Authors: SPARKS T H , CROXTON P J , COLLINSON N , TAYLOR P W 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThis paper examines a large number of agricultural and other phenological records kept by a farmer in Sussex, UK from 1980 to 2000. Twenty five of the 29 events were earlier in 1990‐2000 than in 1980‐1989. The average advancement of all 29 events was 5.5 days at a time when January‐March mean temperature increased by 1.4°C. In comparing the events with monthly mean temperatures, 18 of the events were significantly negatively related to temperatures of the three calendar months preceding the mean event date. Response rates to temperature varied between 4 and 12 days earlier for each °C warmer.A comparison with historical farming records reveals that many of the current farming events appear as responsive to temperature now as they were 200 years ago.