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Substantial Decline (substantial + decline)
Selected AbstractsIncreased Concentration in Banking: Megabanks and Their Implications for Deposit InsuranceFINANCIAL MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS & INSTRUMENTS, Issue 1 2005Kenneth D. Jones During the past two decades, the U.S. banking industry has experienced an unprecedented wave of consolidation, marked by a substantial decline in the number of insured depository institutions and the emergence of banking behemoths with assets totaling in the hundreds of billions of dollars. This unparalleled concentration of assets and deposits among a handful of "megabanks" has important implications for deposit insurance. Most importantly, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) now faces a situation in which the failure of even a single megabank could overwhelm the resources immediately available to the deposit insurance system and expose both the banking industry and the government (i.e., taxpayers) to huge potential liabilities. This article highlights the current structure of the banking industry, examines the threat that this structure poses to the deposit insurance funds, and suggests possible approaches for dealing with megabanks and the increasing concentration of insured deposits. [source] Matching Inefficiencies, Regional Disparities, and UnemploymentLABOUR, Issue 3 2009Sanna-Mari Hynninen Our results suggest that there would be a substantial decline in aggregate unemployment if (i) all local labour offices operated with full efficiency or (ii) they shared the same structure of job seekers and vacant jobs as the most favourable office. In the former case an increase in hirings would lower the average unemployment rate by 2.4 percentage points. In the latter case the decrease would be 1.4 percentage points. Further, we find that fixed effects are positively correlated with both a more favourable structure and higher efficiency. This suggests that the fixed effects may capture some part of time-invariant features in the structure and inefficiency. Thus, the role of structural factors and inefficiency in regional unemployment disparities may be higher than estimated. [source] Species-specific detection of Lobaria pulmonaria (lichenized ascomycete) diaspores in litter samples trapped in snow coverMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 9 2001J.-C. Walser Abstract The foliose lichen Lobaria pulmonaria has suffered a substantial decline in central and northern Europe during the twentieth century and is now considered to be critically endangered in many European lowland regions. Based on demographic studies, it has been proposed that under the present environmental conditions and forest management regimes, dispersal of diaspores and subsequent establishment of new thalli are insufficient to maintain the remnant small lowland populations. Chances of long-term survival may therefore be reduced. The data and analytical power of these demographic studies are limited. Since lichen diaspores show very few species-specific morphological characteristics, and are therefore almost indistinguishable, the accurate assessment of diaspore flux would be a fundamental first step in better understanding the life cycle of L. pulmonaria. Here we present a new molecular approach to investigate the dispersal of L. pulmonaria diaspores in its natural environment by specifically identifying small amounts of DNA in snow litter samples at varying distances from known sources. We used a species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pair to amplify the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS rDNA) and a sensitive automated PCR product detection system using fluorescent labelled primers. We detected considerable amounts of naturally dispersed diaspores, deposited as far as 50 m away from the closest potential source. Diaspores were only found in the direction of the prevailing wind. Diaspore deposition varied from 1.2 diaspores per m2 per day at 50 m distance from the source to 15 diaspores per m2 per day at 1 m distance. The method described in this paper opens up perspectives for studies of population dynamics and dispersal ecology mainly in lichenized ascomycetes but also in other organisms with small, wind-dispersed diaspores. [source] New insights into pediatric rhinosinusitisPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2007N. Principi Rhinosinusitis is a common children's disease. Most cases are acute, follow an episode of common cold, and are the consequence of a superimposed bacterial infection. If mild, they are characterized by the persistence of signs and symptoms of upper respiratory tract disease for more than 10 days; if severe, they involve fever and a purulent nasal discharge, and can cause a substantial decline in general health. Recurrent acute or chronic cases are usually diagnosed in children with predisposing factors, such as recurrent respiratory tract infections, allergic rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency, ciliary dyskinesia, anatomic abnormalities or reflux. Therapy is based on antibiotics, administered orally in mild, and intravenously in severe cases. On the basis of recently highlighted antibiotic resistances and the possibility of spontaneous resolution, experts agree in considering amoxicillin the drug of choice for mild cases, and an antibiotic capable of overcoming all possible resistance for severe cases. [source] Long-term impacts of an organophosphate-based regime of pesticides on field and field-edge Collembola communitiesPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 10 2002Geoff K Frampton Abstract During a 6-year study, effects of two contrasting regimes of pesticide use on pitfall and suction catches of Collembola were monitored in an arable field under a rotation of grass and winter wheat. Current farm practice (CFP) represented conventional fungicide and herbicide use plus applications of organophosphorus (OP) insecticides, whereas reduced input approach (RIA) utilised minimum inputs of fungicides and herbicides and excluded any use of insecticides. Compared with RIA, the CFP regime caused a substantial decline in the abundance and diversity of Collembola in the field, including the local disappearance of one species, without recovery during the study. At the field edge, which was protected during OP applications by a 6-m unsprayed buffer zone, effects of the CFP regime were less severe, and were not persistent in the long term. Some Collembola species occurred only in field-edge samples. Pitfall and suction sampling yielded remarkably similar patterns of catches, indicating that pitfall trapping may be appropriate for detecting long-term changes in collembolan abundance caused by intensive agricultural management practices. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Cropping patterns in the Canadian Prairies: thirty years of changeTHE GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2002William J. Carlyle Changes in cropping patterns in the Canadian Prairies are examined from the early 1960s to the mid-1990s using census data. Patterns of change within the region are mapped by census division using averaged proportions of land in crops occupied by the main crops for three pairs of census years. Spring wheat and oat have undergone the most significant relative declines. Canola increased dramatically from being the sixth-ranked crop by area in the early 1960s to the third-ranked crop by area by the 1990s. The main change in the Brown soil zone has been a large decline in spring wheat and a compensatory gain in durum wheat. Increases in special crops, especially pulse crops, canola and durum wheat have offset a substantial decline in spring wheat in the Dark Brown soil zone. Barley, tame hay and especially canola have increased at the expense of spring wheat, oat and flaxseed in the Black and Gray soil zones. Prices, transportation costs, changing export markets, crop breeding and local processing all have contributed to these changes. [source] Dental caries experience in young Australian Army recruits 2008AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009MS Hopcraft Abstract Background:, Recent studies have shown a substantial decline in caries experience in Australian Army recruits between 1996 and 2002,2003, and in Australian adults between 1987,1988 and 2004,2006. However, studies in children have reported an increasing trend in caries experience between 1998 and 2002. The aim of this study was to investigate caries experience in Australian Army recruits in 2008. Methods:, A cross-sectional study involving 1084 Australian Army recruits was conducted from January to May 2008. Data were obtained from a clinical dental examination with bitewing radiographs, and a questionnaire elicited socio-demographic data and history on lifetime exposure to fluoridated drinking water. Results:, Mean DMFT scores were 3.16, 4.08, 5.16 and 7.11 for recruits aged 17,20, 21,25, 26,30 and 31,35 years, respectively. Recruits with a lifetime exposure to fluoridated drinking water had a mean DMFT of 3.02, while recruits with no exposure had a mean DMFT of 3.87. Conclusions:, Caries experience in Australian Army recruits aged 17,25 years increased between 2002,2003 and 2008. Recruits with lifetime exposure to fluoridated drinking water had 25 per cent less caries experience compared with recruits who had no exposure to fluoridated drinking water after adjusting for the effects of age, gender, education and socio-economic status. [source] Vinorelbine, doxorubicin, and prednisone in androgen-independent prostate cancerCANCER, Issue 5 2006Lester S. Borden Jr. MD Abstract BACKGROUND. Ultimately, patients with metastatic prostate cancer progress on androgen ablation therapy. The investigation of new chemotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) is essential. The authors conducted a Phase II trial with vinorelbine, doxorubicin, and daily prednisone (NAP) to investigate the antitumor activity and palliative response of this regimen in patients with AIPC. METHODS. Forty-six patients entered this Phase II combination chemotherapy trial. Patients were treated with both vinorelbine and doxorubicin at doses of 20 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days and prednisone 5 mg twice daily. Endpoints included prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response and palliation, as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) instrument, the Brief Pain Inventory Scale, and a narcotic analgesic log. RESULTS. The median follow-up for all 46 patients was 13.4 months. Fifty-two percent of patients had impaired performance status at baseline. One responding patient remained on NAP and was progression-free at 11.5 months. Thirty-nine patients progressed, 3 patients died prior to response assessment, and 3 patients refused therapy. The median overall survival was 57 weeks (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 36,76 weeks), and the median time to disease progression was 17 weeks (range, 11,24 weeks). The PSA response among the 36 patients who completed 3 cycles of NAP was 42% (95% CI, 26,59%). There was a statistically significant improvement in quality of life measured both by the FACT-General instrument (P = .03) and the FACT-P instrument (P = .0006) over the 3 months compared with baseline measurements. Pain medicine use also improved: The median morphine equivalents among patients who were taking pain medications at the time of study enrollment showed a substantial decline after 1 cycle of treatment that was maintained. Pain (as assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory) improved compared with baseline pain at the 2nd-month assessment (worst pain, P = .08; least pain, P = .02; and average pain, P = .003). Overall, the regimen was tolerated well. The most common side effects were mild fatigue and gastrointestinal complaints (all of which were Grade 1 or 2 [according to Version 2.0 of the Expanded Common Toxicity Criteria]). Seventeen patients (37%) experienced Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Five patients (11%) developed a cardiac ejection fraction of <50% during treatment and had doxorubicin discontinued. No patients developed clinical congestive heart failure. CONCLUSIONS. The NAP combination produced substantive palliation and a moderate response rate in men with AIPC. Cancer 2006. © American Cancer Society. [source] Bisphosphonate therapy for patients with breast carcinomaCANCER, Issue S3 2003Who to treat, when to stop Abstract Bisphosphonates have become well established in the treatment of patients with metastatic bone disease, although the optimal use of these agents has not been defined clearly. Randomized, controlled trials have demonstrated that treatment with intravenous pamidronate can significantly reduce the rate of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases from myeloma or advanced breast carcinoma. To date, there are few data from controlled, randomized studies to support the use of bisphosphonates in patients with bone metastases from malignancies other than breast carcinoma and myeloma. The optimal duration of treatment is unknown. Recent data have demonstrated that prolonged treatment is tolerated well, with no obvious toxicity. Generally, treatment is continued irrespective of the development of skeletal-related events and until there is a substantial decline in performance status. The widespread use of bisphosphonates will have major financial implications. Retrospective studies have suggested that the cost-effectiveness ratio is high for patients with advanced breast carcinoma. These ratios may be improved by targeting therapy to patients at high risk of developing complications from skeletal metastatic disease. Among patients with skeletal metastases from breast carcinoma, a recent retrospective analysis demonstrated that patients with disease confined to the skeleton were at greater risk of pathologic fractures compared with patients who had additional extraosseous disease. It is interesting to note that approximately two-thirds of patients with advanced breast carcinoma in the randomized trials of intravenous pamidronate had disease confined to the skeleton. The use of markers of bone turnover to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from bisphosphonate therapy or to identify patients who will respond to such therapy is the subject of further investigation. There are conflicting data on the use of bisphosphonates as an adjuvant therapy. Currently, such treatment should occur only as part of a clinical trial. Bisphosphonates can be used to prevent bone loss as a result of therapy for malignant disease, e.g., premature menopause in patients with early breast carcinoma. Cancer 2003;97(3 Suppl):854,8. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11146 [source] Changes in gut hormones after bariatric surgeryCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 2 2008R. P. Vincent Summary Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective treatments for achieving long-term weight loss in morbidly obese patients. Bariatric surgery causes weight loss through substantial decline of hunger and increased satiety. Recently our understanding of neuroendocrine regulation of food intake and weight gain, especially regarding the role of gut hormones, has significantly increased. The changes in these hormones following bariatric surgery can partly explain the mechanism behind weight loss achieved through these procedures. In this paper, we review the effect bariatric procedures have on different gut hormone levels and how they in turn can alter the complex neuroendocrine regulation of energy homeostasis. [source] Population responses to natural and human-mediated disturbances: assessing the vulnerability of the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Rebecca Lewison Abstract Vulnerable wildlife populations can face a suite of anthropogenic activities that may threaten their persistence. However, human-mediated disturbances are likely to be coincident with natural disturbances that also influence a population. This synergism is often neglected in population projection models. Here I evaluate the effects of natural (rainfall fluctuation) and human disturbances (habitat loss and unregulated hunting) using a multi-matrix environmental state population model for the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). By evaluating each disturbance type (natural and human) alone and then together, I explicitly consider the importance of incorporating realistic environmental variability into population projection models. The model population was most strongly affected by moderate habitat loss, which yielded the highest probability of crossing the risk thresholds over the 60 year time period, although these probabilities were relatively low (,0.31). However, the likelihood of crossing the risk thresholds were two to five times as high when human-mediated and natural disturbances were considered together. When these probabilities were calculated per year of the simulation, the results suggested that even relatively mild human disturbances, when considered in conjunction with realistic natural disturbance, resulted in a high probability (>0.50) of substantial declines within decades. The model highlights the importance of integrating realistic natural disturbances into population models, and suggests that, despite locally abundant populations, protected hippopotamus populations may decline over the next 60 years in response to a combination of environmental fluctuations and human-mediated threats. Résumé Les populations sauvages vulnérables peuvent être confrontées à une suite d'activités humaines qui risquent de menacer leur persistance. Cependant, les perturbations causées par l'homme sont susceptibles de coïncider avec des perturbations naturelles qui influencent aussi une population. Cette synergie est souvent négligée dans les modèles de projection des populations. Ici, j'évalue les effets des perturbations naturelles (fluctuations des chutes de pluie) et humaines (perte d'habitat et chasse non réglementée) en utilisant une chaîne de matrices aléatoires pour l'état environnemental d'une population d'hippopotames (Hippopotamus amphibius). En évaluant chaque type de perturbation (naturelle et humaine) seul et ensemble, je considère explicitement l'importance qu'il y a d'intégrer une variabilité environnementale réaliste dans les modèles de projection des populations. La population modèle était surtout affectée par une perte d'habitat modérée, qui réunissait la plus grande probabilité de dépasser les seuils de risque en une période de 60 ans, même si cette probabilitéétait relativement faible (,0,31). Cependant, la probabilité de franchir les seuils de risque était 2 à 5 fois plus grande lorsque les perturbations d'origine humaine et naturelle étaient considérées ensemble. Lorsque ces probabilités étaient calculées par année, les résultats de la simulation suggéraient que même des perturbations humaines faibles, quand on les considérait en conjonction avec une perturbation naturelle réaliste, résultaient en une forte probabilité (>0,50) de déclin substantiel en quelques décennies. Le modèle souligne l'importance qu'il y a d'intégrer les perturbations naturelles réalistes dans les modèles de population et suggère que, malgré des populations localement abondantes, les populations protégées d'hippopotames peuvent décliner au cours des 60 prochaines années en réaction à une combinaison de fluctuations environnementales et de menaces d'origine humaine. [source] Spatial ecology of the white-clawed crayfish in an upland stream and implications for the conservation of this endangered speciesAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 5 2008Damian H. Bubb Abstract 1.Populations of white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) have undergone substantial declines across Europe. Remaining populations tend to be fragmented and in many catchments they are restricted to upland streams. Information is needed concerning their spatial ecology to assist with conservation and rehabilitation of existing fragmented populations, as well as possible reintroductions. 2.A novel method for the long-term tagging of white-clawed crayfish was used to study the spatial ecology of a white-clawed crayfish population fragment in a small, moderate-gradient upland stream. Internal passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags enabled adult crayfish (carapace length >27 mm) to be permanently tagged, each with a unique identification code and resulted in a high number of recaptures. Of 501 crayfish tagged 413 were subsequently relocated at least once. 3.Crayfish did not make extensive movements, the median annual distance moved was 84.8,m,yr,1, equivalent to annual net movement of 0.233,m,day,1, substantially less than reported in previous studies. The lower levels of movement may reflect the study encompassing all seasons, including winter, when crayfish are relatively inactive. 4.Significantly more crayfish moved downstream compared with upstream and distances moved downstream were significantly greater than those in an upstream direction. This may be linked to the relatively high gradient of the stream and a reduced passability of the abundant riffles to upstream movements of crayfish. 5.A small weir acted as a barrier within the stream, preventing upstream movements of crayfish. Even small barriers may limit the movements of white-clawed crayfish and have the potential to limit connectivity within populations and prevent expansion or recolonization. 6.The results presented suggest that fragmented populations of white-clawed crayfish in upland streams are unlikely to expand rapidly and reconnect to other population fragments, even where habitat is suitable. In establishing stream populations care should be taken to ensure that even small barriers to movement are removed unless these are intended to exclude non-native biota, especially crayfish. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Changes in mammal populations in relatively intact landscapes of Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, AustraliaAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2001J. C. Z. Woinarski Abstract A previous study (Braithwaite & Muller 1997) reported substantial declines in mammal abundance over the period 1986,1993 for a large study area (300 km2) within Kakadu National Park in the tropical savannas of northern Australia. This decline was reported as being a ,natural' response to fluctuating groundwater levels, driven by runs of poor wet seasons. We resampled mammals in this area in 1999, following a series of unusually good wet seasons, and examined the prediction that mammal numbers should have recovered. Increases in abundance were evident for four species: the smallest dasyurid (red-cheeked dunnart Sminthopsis virginiae) and the three smallest rodents (delicate mouse Pseudomys delicatulus, western chestnut mouse Pseudomys nanus and grassland melomys Melomys burtoni). In contrast, the abundance of all mammals combined and that for seven individual mammal species (northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus, fawn antechinus Antechinus bellus, common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula, northern brown bandicoot Isoodon macrourus, dusky rat Rattus colletti, black-footed tree-rat Mesembriomys gouldii and pale field rat Rattus tunneyi) continued to decline. The decline in abundance of these mammal species is consistent with limited observations elsewhere in northern Australia. Although far from conclusive, these observations suggest that the biota of the vast relatively undisturbed tropical savannas can no longer be assumed to be intact nor safe. Further research is needed to test this possible pattern of decline and, if confirmed, to identify and ameliorate the processes contributing to it. [source] | ||||||||||||||||