bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Racism at work in shops and on public transport
Authors: Ouali Nouria
Published: January 2010

This article presents the results of a European study on racism conducted in Brussels, London and Paris in the retail and public transport sectors. The results provide evidence that there is not just persistent, direct racism, but also systematic indirect discrimination. The article analyses the main forms of racism at the workplace in labour relations and with customers. Finally, the author discusses the collective conditions for combating racism, which in particular require us to change our view of racism as an individual experience that prevents any feeling of accountability or collective action.
Working against racism: how European trade unions can combat racism at work
Authors: Davis Mary
Published: January 2010

This article brings together recommendations arising from a three-year EU-funded research project entitled ‘Racial and ethnic minorities, immigration and the role of trade unions in combating discrimination and xenophobia, in encouraging participation and in securing social inclusion and citizenship (RITU)’. The guidelines resulting from the project and entitled Working Against Racism were finalised at a concluding conference in Paris in October 2006 and have been amended in the light of the discussions that took place there. The guidelines were also discussed by the ETUC Migration and Inclusion Working Group which suggested amendments.
European flexicurity: concepts, methodology and policies
Authors: Tangian Andranik
Published: January 2010

The concept of flexicurity denotes the idea of compensating labour market deregulation (i.e. flexibilisation) with advantages in employment security and social security. This article presents a brief history of the concept and an operational definition which leads to indicators for monitoring the effects of flexicurity policies in Europe. Empirical study shows that, contrary to political promises and theoretical considerations, labour market deregulation has totally outweighed social development. The following measures are proposed with a view to overcoming contradictions between several European employment policies: (1) adoption of flexinsurance, which makes the employer's contribution to social security proportional to the flexibility of the contract and/or risk of unemployment, (2) introduction of elements of a basic minimum income, and (3) measures to constrain financial markets.
The evolving European system of corporate governance: implications for worker participation
Authors: Vitols Sigurt
Published: January 2010

This article contributes to the current battle over the character of the evolving European system of corporate governance. The claims of proponents of the shareholder value model, which has been hegemonic in European policy-making circles over the past decade, are subject to a critical examination. In particular, the claims of the governance superiority of private equity, one of the extreme expressions of the shareholder model, are shown not to hold empirically. The concept of the sustainable company is proposed as an alternative to the shareholder value model, both because of its explicit commitment to a multidimensional understanding of welfare, and because of its extension of worker participation beyond traditional trade union concerns.
International framework agreements: new paths to workers' participation in multinationals' governance?
Authors: Schömann Isabelle , Sobzack André , Voss Eckhard , Wilke Peter
Published: January 2010

This article describes the results of a major study on the impact of codes of conduct and international framework agreements (IFAs) on social regulation at company level. The limits of labour legislation at the national, as well as the international, level provide a strong motivation for both multinationals and trade unions to negotiate and sign IFAs. IFAs offer a way to regulate the social consequences of globalisation and to secure adherence to labour and social standards. They thus form part of the growing political debate on the international working and production standards of private actors. Examination of the negotiation process, the motivations of the parties, and the content of the agreements and implementation measures provides valuable insights into the impact of IFAs on multinationals' behaviour in respect of social dialogue and core labour standards. Finally, the article highlights the influence of such agreements on public policy-making and the limits of private self-regulation at European and international level, addressing the growing and controversial debate on the need for supranational structures to regulate labour standards and industrial relations.
Understanding the European Works Council deficit in German multinationals
Authors: Whittall Michael , Lücking Stefan , Trinczek Rainer
Published: January 2010

This article examines the problem of setting up European Works Councils in German multinationals. Based on the findings of a Hans-Böckler-Stiftung funded project, the article argues that a key problem is the legal status of many German companies covered by the European Works Councils Directive: specifically, that companies in private hands are not legally required to reveal the number of their employees and their company structure. This lack of transparency makes it very difficult for employee representatives to determine whether their undertaking is covered by the Directive. The article also considers some issues brought to light by a German EWC database recently compiled at the Technische Universität München to support the university's research into the non-compliance with the European Works Council Directive by German multinationals.
Foreign workers and trade unions: the challenges posed
Authors: Pajares Miguel
Published: January 2010

Trade unions have always found it difficult to get to grips with the subject of immigration. From their beginnings in the 19th century they assumed that working conditions were determined by labour supply and demand and became apprehensive in the face of any situation of surplus supply. The history of trade unionism abounds with conflicts between local workers and those from further afield. At the present time the European trade unions operate upon the assumption that immigrants are full members of the workforce, whose interests have to be defended alongside those of other workers. Even so, it remains the case that immigration prompts considerable misgivings within the trade unions and that situations of rejection continue to arise. The article identifies differences between southern Europe and central and northern Europe in trade unions' attitudes to new immigrants, differences that are reflected in the debates taking place on European legislation concerning labour immigration.
Immigrants' irregular economic activities in the Czech Republic (a multi-approach study)
Authors: Drbohlav Dušan , Dzúrová Dagmar , Čermák Zdeněk , Janská Eva , Čermáková Dita , Medová Lenka
Published: January 2010

This article presents selected results of a research project on irregular migration and migrants' irregular economic activities in the Czech Republic. The project explored several topics through quantitative as well as qualitative research techniques: a questionnaire survey (N=159) and interviews (N=37) with irregular migrants living in the Czech Republic and a Delphi survey among experts on migration. The article describes and explains the nature of migrants' irregular economic activities. It also provides a quantitative analysis of migrants' selected characteristics followed by a description and typology of relations within the so-called ‘client’ system.
Immigration and trade unions in Belgium: historical trends and new challenges
Authors: Martens Albert , Pulignano Valeria
Published: January 2010

This article argues that, despite relatively good integration policies and stable, high and cross-sectoral national trade union membership, irregular immigration and irregular work in Belgium threaten workers' solidarity and trade union strength. The diffusion of ‘twilight’ workers in many companies and sectors has obliged the trade unions to call for regularisation to restore the workers' front and re-establish workers' cohesion. Although the trade unions have supported a number of actions in support of people without documents (such as hunger strikes in churches) it is not easy to convince unionised workers to accept the new ‘comrades’ and to fight racism in the workplace. Moreover, there are other difficulties, including the discussion among policy-makers of an EU ‘Blue Card’ for temporary migration for work. The latter in particular represents a new challenge for the Belgian trade unions, who traditionally have supported family reunification and long-term residence of migrants.
Migrant struggles for the right to have rights: three examples of social movements powered by migrants in New York, Paris and Barcelona
Authors: Huerta Amarela Varela
Published: January 2010

This article examines three specific examples of struggles waged by migrants who, through various forms of activism and mobilisation, and in collaboration with other collective actors, have called on the Spanish, French and United States governments to promulgate the unconditional regularisation of all persons currently suffering the condition of aliens as a result of these governments' policies. The migrant movements also demand social, economic and political rights for all citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, class and gender. The article looks at the migrants' movement in Barcelona, the Ninth Collective coordinating undocumented migrants (‘sans papiers’) in Paris, and the Movement for Justice in El Barrio, New York. This is a novel type of social movement, one that eludes formal structures of representation, such as are found in classic trade unionism, but which, we would argue, is, on account of its claims and activists, of key importance for anyone seeking to understand or promote workers' rights in contemporary urban settings.
The battle of ideas in the European field: the combat to defeat unemployment and the struggle to give it a name
Authors: Pascual Amparo Serrano
Published: January 2010

A key role in selecting and defining the notions underpinning labour and social policies has been taken up by the European institutions. It is argued in this article that there is a need, in analysing the ideas put forward by these institutions, to maintain, in parallel, a twofold analytical stance. While it is necessary to focus on the European institutions' preferred modes of governance in relation to employment and social questions, it is equally important to conduct a ‘meta-analysis’ of their policy formulations. Taking as a prime example the ambiguous and polyphonic notion of ‘flexicurity’, presented in the policy discourse as a response to the new challenges of work, this article discusses the new modes of governance proposed by the European institutions in relation to ‘the social question’.
German chemical giants' business and social models in transition – financialisation as a management strategy
Authors: Kädtler Jürgen
Published: January 2010

This article is concerned with the financialisation of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry since the 1990s and its impact on industrial relations in these domains. Those relations are analysed as a particularly cooperative variant of the German ‘social partnership’ that developed out of Verbundchemie's production and social model and proved highly stable up until the 1990s. Drawing on the restructuring of Germany's traditional ‘Big Three’ chemical and pharmaceutical companies - Hoechst, Bayer und BASF - oriented towards the financial markets, it is demonstrated that gearing tactics to the financial market leads individual companies from very similar starting points to highly contrastive lines of development. This fact serves to underline that corporate strategies geared to the financial markets are determined by the companies' management, rather than by institutional investors. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that workforce representatives capable of managing conflicts can exert considerable influence on this development.
The challenge of modernisation: towards a new paradigm for trade unions in Europe?
Authors: Mückenberger Ulrich , Stroh Conny , Zoll Rainer
Published: January 2010

The European trade union movement is in the throes of major upheaval as a result of changes in technology, the economy, and the socio-cultural environment. The authors argue that it is high time the trade unions moved on to enter a next phase of modernity. The modernisation required entails the combined operation of "rationalisation, domestication, individualisation and differentiation" . These four concepts are used not just to describe the processes underway ; it is argued that they can also, if the opportunities contained in them are identified and harnessed, constitute guides to action. An analysis of these four concepts, applied to the situation of the trade unions, can thus assist in the search for ways out of the crisis that is currently affecting the unions in their orientations, organisation and policies.
UK Unions: searching for a new agenda
Authors: Waddington Jeremy
Published: January 2010

Throughout Western Europe since 1979 policies directed towards flexibility and deregulation have characterised labour market developments. In the UK these policies have been accompanied by the direct restriction of trade union influence. Between 1980 and 1993 Conservative governments in the UK introduced no fewer than eight Acts to regulate union activity. In addition, most tripartite institutions were abandoned, thereby excluding the trade unions from any role in macro-economic policy-making. Within this political environment, employers decentralised bargaining and narrowed the scope of collective job controls. The combined effect of these developments was to place trade unions on the defensive and to encourage the search for a new policy agenda appropriate for the circumstances of the 1990s. This paper reviews four key elements of this new policy agenda: recruitment strategies, modernising trade union structure, a social partnership with employers, and embracing the law. Although many modernising initiatives have been introduced by unions in the UK, it is far from certain that they are sufficient to reverse the decline that has taken place. In each of the policy areas discussed here, it is the tension between workplace and national union structures that is central to reform. The paper shows that workplace organisation in many areas is now isolated and national unions have been unable to support activities in the workplace.
Trade unionism in the Netherlands: back to the future?
Authors: Valkenburg Ben
Published: January 2010

The proposition that western industrialised society is subject to fundamental change is hardly controversial. If trade unions are to remain actively involved in the context of this changing society, in the role of an emancipatory social movement, modernisation is imperative. This contribution outlines a number of changes in society and how they affect the position of trade unions. Subsequently, as regards the modernisation of trade unions themselves, the author formulates two priorities: the problem of participation and the concept of labour as used by the trade unions. Finally, he analyses the way in which the trade union movement in the Netherlands has handled these priorities up to now. This analysis will focus primarily on the developments within the federation of Dutch trade unions (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging, FNV). With a membership of over a million, the FNV is the largest trade union in the Netherlands.1 He also looks at the developments within the Christian federation (Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond, CNV), which has about 350,000 members.

At the outset two things should be stressed. Firstly, the author chose a critical approach, but in the firm conviction that a strong, modernised trade union movement is essential. Secondly, the present discussion is limited to outlining developments, which are dominant in the view of the author. Only brief reference will be made to new approaches that occur in concrete trade union practice.
The prospects of the enactment of directive 94/45/EC in the Member States of the European Union
Authors: Savoini Carlo
Published: January 2010

The adoption of directive 94/45/EC on procedures for informing and consulting employees in multinational undertakings or groups of undertakings is a decisive stage in the construction of social Europe.

It does not seem an exaggeration to say that the impact of the directive goes much further than that of simply creating instruments for informing and consulting employees in the multinational undertakings operating in Europe. By adopting this controversial proposal, the Ministers of Social Affairs of the EU Member States sent the citizens of Europe a clear message regarding their intentions in the field of economic development and social policy. The many years of hesitation on the part of the European decision-making bodies, and the contradictory messages regarding the course to be followed in Community social policy, highlight the importance of the stage that has now been accomplished.
European trade union policy and collective bargaining- mechanisms and levels of labour market regulation in comparison
Authors: Traxler Franz
Published: January 2010

The trade unions' collective bargaining policy must safeguard the working conditions of all workers who are competing with each other on the labour market. Two basic, alternative mechanisms are available to this end: (1) the collective agreement may be signed at a level which covers all the relevant employees; or (2) several collective agreements may be signed at a lower level and coordinated so as to enable an equivalent settlement of working conditions for all the employees concerned.

This analysis examines the prospects for setting up a European collective bargaining system. It considers, first of all, the institutional and organisational factors that will influence the development of such a system. Secondly, it assesses which collective bargaining policy mechanisms and levels would, within the prevailing context, be most appropriate for a Europe-wide regulation of the labour market.
Industrial relations and the environment - some theses
Authors: Gregory Denis , Hildebrandt Eckart , Le Blansch Kees , Lorentzen Børge
Published: January 2010

The environmental crisis has confronted the two sides of industry with the fact that much of their traditional relation is based on the unproblematic exploitation of natural resources. This article gives a general overview of the way in which industrial relations have since been affected by the growing concern for the environment throughout Europe on the one hand, and have affected environmental problem solving approaches on the other. A description is given of the differentiation in concepts, actors, strategies and levels of involvement which have an impact in this respect. Finally, some challenges, promising developments and a missing initiative is pointed out.
Employment and the environment: some reflections
Authors: Gregory Denis
Published: January 2010

The debate concerning the impact of growing environmental awareness and the consequences which associated socio-economic change may have on the labour market has developed rapidly in recent years. At one extreme, are those who believe that investments in environmental activities are capable of generating hundreds of thousands of new jobs at the national level. The other end of the scale predicts massive job losses if European industry alone has to bear the burden of enlightened environmental policies. Latterly, the notion of a "double dividend" has emerged partly as an attempt to reconcile these two scenarios. Proponents of the "double dividend" contend that by reducing employment "taxes", such as social insurance contributions, any short run cost implications stemming from more effective environmental control regulations can be wholly offset. Thus, theoretically at least, the "double dividend" offers a constructive way forward for policy makers and social partners to integrate the seemingly divergent pressures for job creation and a healthier and more sustainable environment.

This article reflects on the contributions made to a special conference organised by the IRENE network in January 1996. The conference examined theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence concerning the employment and environmental debate.
Anti-unemployment and anti-exclusion policies: really inclusive or just widening the gap?
Authors: André Maria Helena , Meunier Ariane
Published: January 2010

Are the policies to combat unemployment and social exclusion really ways of getting the jobless back to work or do they represent alternative forms of exclusion in already vulnerable sectors such as social protection and employment? Do the changing nature of work and the wage insecurity this entails augur a deepening of the current rift in society or an opportunity for new and appropriately devised social plans to safeguard the social and economic cohesion of Europe and citizenship extended to and exercised by all? The reduction of working time, the active use of unemployment benefits, the modernisation of education and training systems and generalised access to them, new sources of employment and the social economy may offer new paths to thinking about the current modes of production which generate exclusion.
The financing of social protection in Europe: achieving the impossible?
Authors: Hutsebaut Martin
Published: January 2010

Alarming messages are regularly launched into the public arena concerning the financing situation of the European Welfare States, and in particular their capacity to continue financing public pension schemes. Titles like: Sprengen Pensionslasten die Staatskasse? (Are pensions liabilities going to explode the State Treasuries?) are illustrative of the general trend. Depending on the source of such messages, their degree of reliability and credibility varies. Given the tremendous economic and political interests which are at stake, social protection has become a battlefield between different political ideologies and between public and private providers of social protection or private insurance. Financial data are a central element in this debate.

All experts involved with social protection issues are bound to recognise that the future financing of social protection gives rise to serious problems, due to factors which include the excessively low level of economic growth, the unfavourable employment situation, the ageing of our society, the fierce international competititon and the budgetary constraints placed on governments in the run-up to EMU. Where divergences arise is in the conclusions drawn from these findings. Those who believe in solidarity will seek ways and means of keeping the public systems on their feet and adequately resourced: those who, on the contrary, favour less collective arrangements will recommend the development of private insurance systems to replace the public systems, thereby lightening the collective burden. A third possible future approach consists in a sort of flexible policy mix whereby people will be offered a choice concerning the level up to which they wish to join the collective insurance schemes. One thing, however, appears clear from the outset: whatever the option may be, the financing of future social or individual protection will require more money, and the option of individual insurance arrangements could well prove the most expensive choice. For this reason, as well as on social and political grounds, the maintenance of a financially-sound collective system of social protection emerges as preferable.
The role of the public services in building European citizenship
Authors: Villeneuve Robert
Published: January 2010

The debate on public services has featured strongly in the preparation of the Intergovernmental Conference for revision of the Maastricht Treaty. The Conference has emphasised the search for a European defence policy or a Union foreign policy. But there is a need also to pay more attention to the social dialogue at European and regional level. This contribution considers the future of the European Union from a number of angles. The author examines the effects of globalisation and its contradictory impact on the expectations of workers and citizens, particularly in relation to a European Social Union; and in his view, the public services will continue to have a special role to play in the future.
Transformation processes and trade union configurations in Poland and Hungary
Authors: Deppe Rainer , Talur Melanie
Published: January 2010

The article examines the policies of transition conducted by governments and the evolution of the trade unions, comparing the risks of social conflict and opportunities for social consensus. In both respects, Poland and Hungary might, initially, have been regarded as located at opposite poles. In the meanwhile, however, the resources earmarked for the different transition policies have been largely expended, while the trade unions themselves have changed under pressure of privatisation and the recessionary effects of transition. Though the differences between them remain significant, trade unions in both countries face the same unresolved problem: how to gain a firm footing in the expanding private sector of the economy.
The euro - wages - employment
Authors: Noé Claus
Published: January 2010

The arrival of the euro will do away with all possibilities of using exchange rate adjustments to accommodate excessively high or excessively low pay settlements. In a situation of mass unemployment and extremely slow price developments, there is a risk of excessively low wage settlements being reached in order to win markets to the detriment of Euro-partners. There is a threat of mercantilist races to devaluation and a deflatory spiral would destroy any successes achieved on the growth and employment front. Under a single monetary and coordinated fiscal policy (EU stability pact), there is also a need to seek to coordinate incomes policies. The participants must undertake to abide by a macro-economic criterion of wage determination. The productivity trends of the national economies, taken together with the European Central Bank's unavoidable inflation forecast, are useful macro-economic indicators. Such concertation, hitherto neglected in the Treaties, is a task for the labour market partners and the Community bodies.
Are local employment initiatives able to generate quality employment? The impact on the female labour force
Authors: Jepsen Maria , Meulders Danièle
Published: January 2010

This article aims at analysing the quality of the potential employment created by local employment initiatives and more specifically the impact on the female labour force. The discussion on gender and the quality of created employment seems to be of importance as most European Union Member States are promoting job creation linked to local initiatives in typical female work areas such as caring and domestic work. The second section outlines important elements for the development of local initiatives, while the third section estimates the potential employment which is likely to be occupied by women. In section four an analysis of the quality of the created employment and the impact on the male and female labour force can be found. Section five briefly summarises the employment policies put forward in the European Union and section six shows real-life examples of local initiatives. Conclusions can be found in section seven.
Strengths and weaknesses in the promotion of local employment initiatives: the Italian case
Authors: Aronica Alessandro
Published: January 2010

The development of local initiatives aimed at creating employment and increasing social welfare is not, at the moment, an equal opportunity for all European countries. The potential for growth of new social services is affected by various economic and social factors, but the success of any initiative depends on subjective factors like the political environment, the institutional setting, the quality of public bureaucracy, and the dynamism of private entrepreneurship. The aim of this paper is to discuss which of these subjective factors are strengths and weaknesses in the promotion of local employment initiatives in Italy. The political context has been and may still be a hindrance for the necessary cultural evolution. On the other hand, the current political debate has favoured the move towards an institutional setting that, being characterised by a greater degree of administrative decentralisation, appears to be more consistent with the development of local initiatives. Simple fiscal systems and efficient public administrations are essential prerequisites for demand policies and Italy is just beginning to move in this direction. For the Italian case a major strength relative to other European countries is the dynamism of small private enterprises and, more recently, the development of non-profit-making enterprises. Indeed, a strong impetus for the development of new activities could come from the engagement of the whole cooperative movement.
The working hours issue in Sweden
Authors: Sanne Christer
Published: January 2010

The Swedish welfare state model is based on a high volume of male labour and steadily increasing labour market participation by women. General working time reductions to below the 40-hour norm did not previously enter into the trade unions' framework of goals, preference being given to individual working time reductions, for example in the form of parental leave. As a result of the employment crisis in the early 90s the prevalent conception of the welfare state based on economic growth was shattered, so that the idea of general working time reduction began to enjoy increased popularity in large sectors of the population, particularly among women.
European Works Councils as an institution of European employee information and consultation: overview of typical features of national transposition provisions, outstanding legal questions and demands for amendments to EWC Directive 94/45/EC
Authors: Blanks Thomas
Published: January 2010

The European Works Councils Directive owes the astonishing success of its transposition to the devising of a new mode of legislative implementation. The principle of double subsidiarity, with the progressive manner in which the provisions acquire a legally binding character, has led to a situation in which the aims of the Directive had been realised in part even before its formal implementation in the Member States. In this way it facilitates the emergence of a genuinely European practice of information and consultation. The article investigates to what extent the transposition regulation bear the stamp of national industrial relations traditions and hence diverge from one another — and from the prescriptions of the Directive — and this is demonstrated by taking one example of each of the five characteristic industrial relations models found in Europe. This exposition is followed by a discussion of certain problems that have arisen from the specific features of national transposition regulations in France, Ireland. Sweden, Spain and Germany in relation to the goal of harmonising the legislation on codetermination. Litigation is playing an increasingly significant role in the further development and harmonisation of European law on workplace codetermination, as evidenced by the initial outcomes of the Renault and Panasonic cases. Finally, the author formulates a number of demands which would contribute to strengthening the legal basis for effective codetermination and which should be borne in mind in the run-up to the revision of the Directive in autumn 1999.
Benchmarking employment performance and labour market policies: the results of the Research project
Authors: Tronti Leonello
Published: January 2010

The paper presents the main findings of the project 'Benchmarking employment performance and labour market policies' conducted by the Research Network of the European Employment Observatory, under the direction of the author. After a preliminary overview of the analytical areas covered and the topics contained in the project report (para. 2), the paper considers the role of benchmarking in the implementation of the European Employment Strategy (para. 3). It goes on to present the main results and observations deriving from the whole project (para. 4), discussing some of the conceptual and methodological issues arising from the use of benchmarking techniques to foster convergence in labour market efficiency, employment performance, labour market policies and firms' human resource management. Some brief concluding remarks (para. 6) address the institutional implications that arise in the implementation of an effective benchmarking procedure aimed at meeting the requirements of the European Employment Strategy.
Distinguishing Features of Cuban Children Referred for Professional Help Because of ADHD: Looking Beyond the Symptoms
Authors: Schneider Barry H. , Normand Sébastien , Soteras de Toro Maria del Pilar , Santana Gonzalez Yorkys , Guilarte Téllez Jorge Antonio , Carbonell Naranjo Migdalia , Musle Miriam , Díaz Socarras Félix Javier , Robaey Philippe
Published: January 2010

Objective: To distinguish Cuban children clinically referred because of ADHD from an at-risk community sample and a community control group in terms of symptoms, associated difficulties and impairment of family and peer relations. Method: Parents and teachers of 1,036 children (6-8 years old) completed an established ADHD rating scale and a behavioral screening measure, including peer functioning.We also administered a structured clinical interview and measures of family impairment to the clinical sample and to an at-risk community-based subsample. Results: Although both clinical and at-risk groups displayed more externalizing and internalizing symptoms than controls, referred children were not only characterized by higher levels of ADHD symptoms, but also by greater impairment of family and peer relations than at-risk community children or community controls. Conclusion: The findings suggest that ADHD has major consequences on the family and peer functioning of Cuban children, which may lead to their referral for treatment.
Energy-efficient Method for Embedded In Situ Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Lallart Mickaël , Monnier Thomas , Guyomar Daniel
Published: January 2010

This article introduces the principles of an ultra low-cost scheme for in situ, embedded structural health monitoring. Based on the interactions of a Lamb wave with the structure, the proposed technique relies in comparing the time period where the sensed signature of the Lamb wave is greater than an user-defined threshold with a reference value. Compared to similar methods based on the monitoring of the structural state evolution, the proposed scheme is ultra low-cost, and therefore suitable for integrated systems that have a limited amount of available energy.
Reduction of Spasticity With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Kumru Hatice , Murillo Narda , Vidal Samso Joan , Valls-Sole Josep , Edwards Dylan , Pelayo Raul , Valero-Cabre Antoni , Tormos Josep Maria , Pascual-Leone Alvaro
Published: January 2010

Objective. Spasticity with increased tone and spasms is frequent in patients after spinal cord injury (SCI). Damage to descending corticospinal pathways that normally exert spinal segmental control is thought to play an important causal role in spasticity. The authors examined whether the modulation of excitability of the primary motor cortex with high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could modify lower limb spasticity in patients with incomplete SCI. Methods. Patients were assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, and the Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Evaluation Tool (SCI-SET) and neurophysiologically with measures of corticospinal and segmental excitability by the Hmax/Mmax, T reflex, and withdrawal reflex. Fifteen patients received 5 days of daily sessions of active (n = 14) or sham (n = 7) rTMS to the leg motor area (20 trains of 40 pulses at 20 Hz and an intensity of 90% of resting motor threshold for the biceps brachii muscle). Result. A significant clinical improvement in lower limb spasticity was observed in patients following active rTMS but not after sham stimulation.This improvement lasted for at least 1 week following the intervention. Neurophysiological studies did not change. Conclusions. High-frequency rTMS over the leg motor area can improve aspects of spasticity in patients with incomplete SCI.
Minimal Detectable Change and Clinically Important Difference of the Stroke Impact Scale in Stroke Patients
Authors: Lin Keh-chung , Fu Tiffany , Wu Ching-yi , Wang Yen-ho , Liu Jung-sen , Hsieh Ching-ju , Lin Shih-fan
Published: January 2010

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to establish the minimal detectable change (MDC) and clinically important differences (CIDs) of the physical domains of the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) and to assess the proportions of patients’ change scores exceeding the MDC and CIDs after stroke rehabilitation. Methods. Seventy-four patients received 1 of 3 treatments for 3 weeks and underwent clinical assessment before and after treatment. The MDC was calculated from the standard error of measurement to indicate a real change with 95% confidence for individual patients (MDC95). Anchor-based and distribution-based approaches were adopted to triangulate the ranges of minimal CIDs. The percentage of patients exceeding MDC95 and minimal CIDs were also calculated. Results. The MDC95 of the strength, activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living, mobility, and hand function subscales were 24.0, 17.3, 15.1, and 25.9, respectively. The respective minimal CIDs for these 4 subscales were 9.2, 5.9, 4.5, and 17.8 points, respectively, and the MDC95 and CID proportions were 14% to 43%, 16% to 49%, 10% to 50%, and 23% to 64%, respectively. Conclusions . The change score of an individual patient has to reach 24.0, 17.3, 15.1, and 25.9 on the 4 subscales to indicate a true change. The mean change scores of a stroke group on the 4 subscales should reach 9.2, 5.9, 4.5, and 17.8 points to be regarded as clinically important changes. Future research with larger sample sizes is warranted to validate these estimates.
Long-Term TENS Treatment Improves Tactile Sensitivity in MS Patients
Authors: Cuypers Koen , Levin Oron , Thijs Herbert , Swinnen Stephan P. , Meesen Raf L. J.
Published: January 2010

Background. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is commonly used in neurorehabilitation for the treatment of pain and spasticity. Objective. The long-term effects of sensory stimulation by means of TENS on hand sensitivity were investigated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods. TENS was applied for 3 weeks (1 hour per day) on the median nerve region of the dominant hand. Sensitivity was assessed by the Semmes—Weinstein monofilaments before and 12 hours following the last intervention as well as 3 weeks later. Results. Long-lasting increases in tactile sensitivity were achieved by repetitive stimulation of sensory afferents with TENS in MS patients but not in healthy subjects. This increased sensitivity was not only restricted to the median nerve area but also expanded to the ulnar nerve area. Remarkably, MS patients reached the same level of sensitivity as healthy subjects immediately after the intervention, and long-term effects were reported 3 weeks later. Conclusions. The findings of this study demonstrated lasting improvements in tactile sensitivity of the fingers as a result of a long-term TENS intervention in MS patients, who ultimately reached a level comparable with that of healthy subjects.
BCR-ABL enhances differentiation of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Schemionek Mirle , Elling Christian , Steidl Ulrich , Bäumer Nicole , Hamilton Ashley , Spieker Tilmann , Göthert Joachim R. , Stehling Martin , Wagers Amy , Huettner Claudia S. , Tenen Daniel G. , Tickenbrock Lara , Berdel Wolfgang E. , Serve Hubert , Holyoake Tessa L. , Müller-Tidow Carsten , Koschmieder Steffen
Published: January 2010

In a previously developed inducible transgenic mouse model of chronic myeloid leukemia, we now demonstrate that the disease is transplantable using BCR-ABL+ Lin−Sca-1+c-kit+ (LSK) cells. Interestingly, the phenotype is more severe when unfractionated bone marrow cells are transplanted, yet neither progenitor cells (Lin−Sca-1−c-kit+), nor mature granulocytes (CD11b+Gr-1+), nor potential stem cell niche cells (CD45−Ter119−) are able to transmit the disease or alter the phenotype. The phenotype is largely independent of BCR-ABL priming before transplantation. However, prolonged BCR-ABL expression abrogates the potential of LSK cells to induce full-blown disease in secondary recipients and increases the fraction of multipotent progenitor cells at the expense of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) in the bone marrow. BCR-ABL alters the expression of genes involved in proliferation, survival, and hematopoietic development, probably contributing to the reduced LT-HSC frequency within BCR-ABL+ LSK cells. Reversion of BCR-ABL, or treatment with imatinib, eradicates mature cells, whereas leukemic stem cells persist, giving rise to relapsed chronic myeloid leukemia on reinduction of BCR-ABL, or imatinib withdrawal. Our results suggest that BCR-ABL induces differentiation of LT-HSCs and decreases their self-renewal capacity.
Comparative analysis of missing value imputation methods to improve clustering and interpretation of microarray experiments
Authors: Celton Magalie , Malpertuy Alain , Lelandais Gaëlle , de Brevern Alexandre G
Published: January 2010

Background

Microarray technologies produced large amount of data. In a previous study, we have shown the interest of k-Nearest Neighbour approach for restoring the missing gene expression values, and its positive impact of the gene clustering by hierarchical algorithm. Since, numerous replacement methods have been proposed to impute missing values (MVs) for microarray data. In this study, we have evaluated twelve different usable methods, and their influence on the quality of gene clustering. Interestingly we have used several datasets, both kinetic and non kinetic experiments from yeast and human.

Results

We underline the excellent efficiency of approaches proposed and implemented by Bo and co-workers and especially one based on expected maximization (EM_array). These improvements have been observed also on the imputation of extreme values, the most difficult predictable values. We showed that the imputed MVs have still important effects on the stability of the gene clusters. The improvement on the clustering obtained by hierarchical clustering remains limited and, not sufficient to restore completely the correct gene associations. However, a common tendency can be found between the quality of the imputation method and the gene cluster stability. Even if the comparison between clustering algorithms is a complex task, we observed that k-means approach is more efficient to conserve gene associations.

Conclusions

More than 6.000.000 independent simulations have assessed the quality of 12 imputation methods on five very different biological datasets. Important improvements have so been done since our last study. The EM_array approach constitutes one efficient method for restoring the missing expression gene values, with a lower estimation error level. Nonetheless, the presence of MVs even at a low rate is a major factor of gene cluster instability. Our study highlights the need for a systematic assessment of imputation methods and so of dedicated benchmarks. A noticeable point is the specific influence of some biological dataset.
Impact of a synbiotic food on the gut microbial ecology and metabolic profiles
Authors: Vitali Beatrice , Ndagijimana Maurice , Cruciani Federica , Carnevali Paola , Candela Marco , Guerzoni Maria Elisabetta , Brigidi Patrizia
Published: January 2010

Background

The human gut harbors a diverse community of microorganisms which serve numerous important functions for the host wellbeing. Functional foods are commonly used to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota contributing to the maintenance of the host health or prevention of disease. In the present study, we characterized the impact of one month intake of a synbiotic food, containing fructooligosaccharides and the probiotic strains Lactobacillus helveticus Bar13 and Bifidobacterium longum Bar33, on the gut microbiota composition and metabolic profiles of 20 healthy subjects.

Results

The synbiotic food did not modify the overall structure of the gut microbiome, as indicated by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The ability of the probiotic L. helveticus and B. longum strains to pass through the gastrointestinal tract was hypothesized on the basis of real-time PCR data. In spite of a stable microbiota, the intake of the synbiotic food resulted in a shift of the fecal metabolic profiles, highlighted by the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (GC-MS/SPME) analysis. The extent of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), ketones, carbon disulfide and methyl acetate was significantly affected by the synbiotic food consumption. Furthermore, the Canonical discriminant Analysis of Principal coordinates (CAP) of GC-MS/SPME profiles allowed a separation of the stool samples recovered before and after the consumption of the functional food.

Conclusion

In this study we investigated the global impact of a dietary intervention on the gut ecology and metabolism in healthy humans. We demonstrated that the intake of a synbiotic food leads to a modulation of the gut metabolic activities with a maintenance of the gut biostructure. In particular, the significant increase of SCFA, ketones, carbon disulfide and methyl acetate following the feeding period suggests potential health promoting effects of the synbiotic food.