bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Recruitment Message Content Normalize the Superintendency as Male?
Authors: Newton Rose Mary
Published: August 2006

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to use a recent feminist conceptual framework (Tallerico, 2000a) to frame an investigation of whether emphasizing the major roles of the job and district size in recruitment messages for a hypothetical superintendent’s position influenced participant job attraction ratings.

Research Methods: This study used a 2 × 3 × 3 analysis of variance (ANOVA) design with each cell containing equal numbers of men and women. The independent variables were gender (male, female), selected major roles associated with the superintendency (instructional leadership, managerial leadership, political leadership), and district size (1,500 students, 3,000 students, and 12,000 students). The dependent variable consisted of an additive composite score of participant responses to three items representing a measure of job attraction.

Sampling Procedure and Data Collection: Seventy-six percent of the randomly selected sample of 360 public school principals in Alabama (male = 180, female = 180) completed a consent form, a demographic data form, and rated one of nine recruitment messages for a hypothetical superintendent’s position.

Major Finding: ANOVA procedure using a composite rating of three items as the dependent variable revealed that the roles accounted for 14% of the variance in participant attraction for the position with both men and women rating position announcements emphasizing the instructional leadership role significantly more positively than position announcements emphasizing either the managerial leadership role or the political leadership role. Analyses of variance on the single item related to job attractiveness revealed a main effect for superintendent roles and a two-way interaction between superintendent roles and district size. The least positive ratings for both men and women were messages emphasizing the management role in districts with 3,000 students enrolled and the political role in districts with 12,000 students enrolled.

Implications and Conclusion: The contents of the recruitment messages influenced participant ratings to a significant degree. From a practical standpoint, the findings encourage careful consideration of the language used in recruitment messages and support the utility of the framework to inform future studies.
Methodological Issues in Nurse Staffing Research
Authors: Mark Barbara A.
Published: August 2006

The purpose of this article is to identify and describe four issues in nurse staffing research that must be addressed before the evidence base for the relationship between nurse staffing and quality of care can be said to be theoretically and empirically sufficient. The issues are the need to build well-developed theory, use valid and reliable databases, appropriate risk-adjustment systems, and address issues of causal inference in nonexperimental research.
Staff Nurses and Their Solutions to the Nursing Shortage
Authors: Lynn Mary R. , Redman Richard W.
Published: August 2006

Nurses in acute care hospitals report that situations in their work setting and profession are in dire need of repair. Although they waiver on their intention to remain in their institution and nursing, they do not waiver on their selected resolution to nursing's shortage. A total of 787 staff nurses in eight geographically and demographically diverse states responded and were asked to select the “Top 5” actions they thought would improve nursing and decrease the shortage. Creating career ladders was endorsed by most respondents (85%) with increasing pay endorsed by the fewest (33%). When selecting the single most important action, they reversed the order—increased pay was the most endorsed (26%), and creating career ladders and increased educational opportunities were endorsed by less than 1%. Nurses appeared to be concerned about the profession in general; however, when asked the “most important” thing to do, an age-old action was selected—increase pay.
Are Patient Falls and Pressure Ulcers Sensitive to Nurse Staffing?
Authors: Lake Eileen T. , Cheung Robyn B.
Published: August 2006

Research has demonstrated an association between more nurses and more qualified nursing staff in hospitals and better patient outcomes. Patient falls and pressure ulcers have been advanced as nursing-sensitive outcomes. This article evaluates the state of the science linking nurse staffing to falls and pressure ulcers. Studies that employed multivariate analysis to discern the effect of nurse staffing on patient falls and pressure ulcers in hospitals were evaluated. Eleven studies that met inclusion criteria were contrasted on their data sources and measures, data analysis, risk adjustment, and results. The evidence of an effect of nursing hours or skill mix on patient falls and pressure ulcers is equivocal. Substantial differences in research methods across studies may account for the mixed findings. Two study types were identified based on the level at which nurse staffing was measured, hospital or nursing unit, which exhibited systematic differences in measures and methods. Improvements in measurement and methods are suggested.
Imperial Governance and the Challenges of War
Authors: De Bikramjit
Published: August 2006

This article deals with factors that led to the outbreak of the Great Bengal Famine of 1943–44, which claimed more than an estimated 3 million lives. Dealing with the extensive literature on the causes of the famine, it provides both administrative and statistical data on the role of both central and provincial governments in its aggravation. The timely installation of a proper mechanism for the prevention of the food crisis could have effectively checked spiralling of prices and hoarding of rice. It demonstrates the government's inability to provide adequate relief and rehabilitation measures to the victims of starvation during and after the official termination of food scarcity. The establishment of a new procurement system by the government proved abortive, especially due to bureaucratic delays and refusal to acknowledge in the early stages of the famine that there was a serious danger of food shortage in Bengal. Bureaucratic red tapism also took its toll on efforts at conceptualization and implementation of a new rationing policy supposedly drawn up by the policy makers to cope with the crisis.
Representation of Female Sexuality in the Ayurvedic Discourse of the Early Medieval Period
Authors: Shah Shalini
Published: August 2006

This article explores the representation of female sexuality as depicted in the ayurvedic discourse of the early medieval period, and shows how this representation was a gendered one. Within this discourse, women were marginalized, if not altogether excluded. The woman's body, in health and pleasure, had no autonomy of expression and was dependent on the male guardian/physician for its manifestation. The only depiction of the female body framed within this male discourse is what was of significance to men. Thus, the only occasion when women's diseases are discussed is in the context of the uterus (grabhavyāpata) and genital tract (yonivyāpata), and the men's concern for it is not because of women's health per se, but because a healthy uterus was crucial for child-birth. This asymmetry between the concerns for men's and women's health is also reflected in dealing with the old age of the two sexes. The virilification therapy (vājikaraṇa) as discussed in ayurvedic texts focuses solely on men; in contrast, the woman's menopausal stage is completely ignored. An analysis of the ayurvedic discourse, thus, leads us to draw the conclusion that under patriarchy expropriation of female sexuality for the use of others defined the ‘sex woman’.
Visual and Verbal Discourses on the Royal-Divine Image in Early Medieval Peninsular India
Authors: Verma Archana
Published: August 2006

The early medieval period in peninsular India—from the sixth to the thirteenth centuries A.D.—was a period of large-scale political, economic and cultural changes, which led to the emergence of territorial kingships and their consolidation into imperialistic concerns, such as the Cola empire in Tamil Nadu. This was a change from the early historical forms of kin-based chiefdoms in the region. Political patronage to the institutionalized form of temple religion oriented towards devotion to a personal god played a significant role in this socio-political acculturation. The creation of various forms of temple iconography—both narrative and iconic in nature—was an integral part of this process. This was also a period of the beginning of the creation of the Agamic texts, which were canonized much later. These Agamic texts provided the guidelines for the making of the temple and its icons, and also for the worship system. However, this was a two-way process. The Agamas were in their evolutionary stage at this time, they assimilated the existing iconographic and religious practices, and also created new dimensions of temple religion and iconography. The temple religion was patronized by royalty, as it was instrumental in the socio-economic acculturation process. At the same time, royal eulogies attempted to create a parallel between royal patronage and the divine image being worshipped in the temple. This resulted in the creation of a visual and verbal discourse that attempted to establish the ruler as the protector and the controller of the territory he ruled. This visual and verbal discourse provided legitimacy to the territorial monarchy that had come to establish itself in the region. This article explores the forms of visual and verbal discourse through which this process was established in early medieval peninsular India. For this purpose, the Brahmanical temple iconography from the region has been studied, covering the dynastic span of the Pandyas, Pallavas and Colas of the Tamil region; Calukyas of Badami in Karnataka; and the Rastrakutas of the upper Deccan. An attempt has been made to draw a symbolic parallel between the ideas from the visual material and those evident from court literature and eulogies found in copperplate land grants from the region.
Tipu Sultan, History Painting and the Battle for ‘Perspective’
Authors: Nair Janaki
Published: August 2006

The military defeat and death of Tipu Sultan in the Fourth Mysore War (1799) paved the way for the establishment of British rule over most parts of India. This event may also be considered a turning point in the history of visual practices in India. The British struggle to defeat this indomit-able enemy on the battlefield was re-enacted within the realm of the visual. This essay examines the question of whether colonial rule signalled the arrival of ‘perspective’ as a compulsory site of viewing in the modern period. Through a comparison of two sets of ‘history painting’, the essay argues that the decisive defeat of earlier ways of seeing and staking a claim to legitimacy took far longer than the military conquest, leading to the emergence of a Mysore traditional style alongside forms of realism that echoed the split between real (colonial) and de jure (Wodeyar) power in the princely state of Mysore.
Inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function appears to be one of the common actions for antidepressants
Authors: Li Yun-Feng , Zhang You-Zhi , Liu Yan-Qin , Wang Heng-Lin , Cao Jiang-Bei , Guan Ting-Ting , Luo Zhi-Pu
Published: August 2006

In order to explore the possible common action mechanisms of three kinds of classical antidepressants, inhibition of drugs on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)–Ca2–nitric oxide synthase (NOS) signal pathway was observed. With 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, classical antidepressants, desipramine (1, 10 M), fluoxetine (0.625–10 M) or moclobemide (2.5, 10 M) antagonized NMDA 300 M induced-lesion in PC12 cells. Using fura-2/AM (acetoxymethyl ester) labelling assay, desipramine or fluoxetine at doses 1, 5 M attenuated the intracellular Ca2overload induced by NMDA 200 M for 24h in PC12 cells. Meanwhile, using confocal microscope, it was also found that desipramine 5 M, fluoxetine 2.5 M or moclobemide 10 M decreased the NMDA 20 M induced intracellular Ca2overload in primarily cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, desipramine (1, 5 M), fluoxetine (1, 5 M) or moclobemide (2.5, 10 M) significantly inhibited NOS activity in NMDA (300 M) treated PC12 cells for 4h. In summary, we suggest that inhibition on the function of NMDA–Ca2–NOS signal pathway appears to be one of the common actions for antidepressants despite their remarkably different structures, which is expected to have great implication for the evaluation and screening in vitro of new antidepressants.
Smoking as a complex but critical covariate in neurobiological studies of posttraumatic stress disorders: a review
Authors: Rasmusson Ann M. , Picciotto Marina R. , Krishnan-Sarin Suchitra
Published: August 2006

As smoking rates in the general population continue to fall in response to new information and changing social values, the continued high rate of smoking among persons with psychiatric disorders has caught the attention of society at many levels: public health officials, medical and mental health care providers, and concerned family members alike. As a consequence, research studies aimed at quantifying the problem and understanding its cause have increased dramatically over the past several years. The following review first examines epidemiological studies that have revealed a bidirectional causal relationship between tobacco dependence and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), one of several mental health disorders in which tobacco dependence remains prevalent and resistant to intervention. Second, we use a translational neuroscience perspective to discuss possible neurobiological mediators of the relationship between PTSD and tobacco dependence, hoping to spur further human and animal research that will elucidate pathogenetic mechanisms involved and inspire novel treatment interventions. Finally, to enable more effective clinical research in this area, we provide an overview of effective scientific methods for assessing and managing ‘smoking status’ as an experimental variable in clinical research studies of PTSD as well as other mental health disorders.
Modelling facets of mania – new directions related to the notion of endophenotypes
Authors: Einat Haim
Published: August 2006

The lack of appropriate animal models is a major limitation in research of bipolar disorder (BPD): at this time there are very few models for this devastating disease. Whereas limited attempts have been made to develop comprehensive models for BPD, the new notion of endophenotypes encourages us to explore the possibility of developing separate models for separate facets of the disorder. Since more models are available for depression, there is a dire need for models for mania that will be relatively easy and simple to induce and test and will therefore be practical for purposes of screening possible new drugs or mutant mice that are developed based on novel molecular theories. Such models may already be tentatively available as they were developed in the context of other disorders, but there is a need to validate them for mania.

The present paper proposes such models for most of the facets of mania including: increased energy, activity or restlessness; extreme irritability; reduced sleep; provocative, intrusive or aggressive behaviour; increased sexual drive; abuse of drugs; distractibility, reduced ability to concentrate; and unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers resulting in poor judgement.

Validating these models may demand a major research effort but it may be worthy as validated models for the different facets of mania could then be used efficiently and may be utilized to construct a standard battery of tests that can serve to explore the various components of manic-like behaviour in rodents.
In Our Own Voice: The Impact of Feminism on Canadian Psychology
Authors: Austin Stephanie , Rutherford Alexandra , Pyke Sandra
Published: August 2006

Interviews with four feminist psychologists are used to explore the impact of feminism on psychology in Canada. Using a thematic analysis, three levels of impact - individual, disciplinary and institutional - are derived and discussed with specific examples from the Canadian context. We highlight opportunities and obstacles to feminist influence, and make tentative suggestions for strengthening feminism’s current and future presence in Canadian psychology.
Young Adults’ Constructions of Gender Conformity and Nonconformity: A Q Methodological Study
Authors: Brownlie E. B.
Published: August 2006

This study used Q methodology to investigate constructions of gender conformity and nonconformity in a sample of young adults. Fifty undergraduates sorted a series of statements along a continuum from ‘most agree’ to ‘most disagree’. Topics included gendered behaviour in children and adults, sexuality, intersex, transgender, and gender theories. Participants’ responses reflected four distinct perspectives. Interpretation of the perspectives was based on participants’ placements of the statements, and on interviews with selected participants. The perspectives contained different assumptions about gender and responses to gendered behaviour, particularly gender nonconformity. Yet participants representing each perspective endorsed statements that supported resistance to gender norms. Unidimensional gender scales focused on narrow ranges of gender-related behaviour may mask substantial differences in participants’ perspectives about gender.
Health Sector in West Bengal
Authors: Chaudhuri Swapan Kanti
Published: August 2006

Health sector financing in West Bengal reflects inadequate budget spends on health and family welfare services on the one hand and a number of structural inefficiencies on the other. Keeping in view key financing issues and the health mission and strategic goals of the state, this paper attempts to develop a mid-term expenditure framework. The purpose of such an exercise is to evaluate policy issues arising out of mid-term projections, including issues related to donors funding support. The analysis and findings suggest that the government would require committing a significant level of additional resources on a sustainable basis and look for sizeable funding support from donor partners. To build financial capability and ensure sustainability of increased health spends, the government also needs to evolve alternative financing schemes. It is emphasized in this article that community funding, among others, holds a greater promise not merely as another alternative for resource mobilization but also as an institutional process for ensuring social security and improved accessibility to basic health care services.
Savings-led Micro-finance to Bank the Unbankables
Authors: Sarkar A.N. , Singh Jagjit
Published: August 2006

Based on the ‘Grameen Bank Model’ evolved and developed in Bangladesh, several countries in Asia, including India, and elsewhere in the world have emulated, replicated and modified the original model of micro-finance to suit local conditions and enhance mass acceptability. In India, among various models tried and tested, the one evolved and successfully demonstrated by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and some leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is based on a ‘linkage programme’ linking self-help groups (SHGs) with banks and other financial institutions through the inter-mediation of NGOs.

This article attempts to highlight the genesis and evolution of the micro-finance system, importance of self-help groups as central to micro-finance core activities, the distinctive role of banks (viz. commercial, private and cooperative) in credit mobilization and delivery systems and the role of NGOs intermediaries and facilitators, etc. Global experiences concerning the unique positioning perspective of micro-finance in banking the unbankables—both in the developing and underdeveloped economies in the world, with a focus on Asia, have also been highlighted to provide an insight into the potential of micro-finance in alleviating rural poverty at large and in improving employment opportunities to the non-bankables on a sustainable basis.
Efficiency Performance in Indian Banking—Use of Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Debasish Sathya Swaroop
Published: August 2006

Performance evaluation of the banking sector in India has assumed primal importance due to intense competition, greater customer demands and changing banking reforms. This study attempts to measure the relative performance of Indian banks over the period 1997–2004 using the output-oriented CRR DEA model. The analysis uses nine input variables and seven output variables. Segmentation of the banking sector in India was done along the following basis: bank assets size, ownership status and years of operation. Overall, the analysis supports the conclusion that foreign owned banks were on average most efficient and that new banks are more efficient that old ones, which are often burdened with old debts. In terms of size, the smaller banks are globally efficient, but large banks are locally efficient. Moreover, this study finds evidence of concentration of efficiency parameters among peer bank groups.
Communication and the Semiotics of Space
Authors: Gaines Elliot
Published: August 2006

The purpose of this article is to explicate some common situations relevant to communication and the semiotics of space. Semiotics provides a systemic way to analyse and understand the characteristics of signs expressing meaning. In everyday life space is rarely considered for its independent qualities, but is more generally taken as a category of conceptions that act as a background, or a context for the meaning of other objects. The study of space as a semiotic phenomenon suggests that the meaning of space, as a sign, is generally understood in relation to other concerns. Communication draws attention to the content of messages while space contributes to the meanings of those messages without being obvious about its role in constructing meaning.
Antecedents and Consequences of the Immoral Traffic Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2005
Authors: Mohan Asha
Published: August 2006

Originally phrased as the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956 (SITA), to prevent trafficking for sexual exploitation, this law has undergone many changes. In 1986 the Act was amended and rephrased as the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act (ITPA). The Act and amendments made from time to time have failed to achieve its objective. Now the union government is proposing to bring in some more amendments and the cabinet has assented to the same. The most contentious provision of the proposed amendment is the penalization of a client found in a brothel with the intention of exploiting a trafficked victim. Sex workers have been raising their voice against this provision as they fear that it will adversely affect their profession and put them in a situation where they cannot negotiate for safer sex practices. Furthermore, the proposed amendments are at odds with government-run HIV/AIDS intervention programmes.
HIV/AIDS Treatment Legal and Political Choices for India
Authors: Menghaney Leena
Published: August 2006

Multinational pharmaceutical companies patent essential drugs routinely in developed countries. Patents grant a monopoly to manufacture and sell a particular drug to one pharmaceutical company. Drugs are therefore very expensive in developed countries as availability and pricing is dependent on one pharmaceutical company.

In contrast with the absence of product patents, Indian pharmaceutical companies manufacture and sell generic drugs at a fraction of the price of patented drugs. In developing countries therefore affordable generic drugs from India are imported and used in the treatment of diseases and illnesses which are life threatening and chronic. AIDS, cancer, mental illness, asthma, and tuberculosis are some of the diseases for which generic drugs are sourced from India.

All this is now set to change. The ability of generic pharmaceutical companies in India to manufacture and sell essential drugs at affordable prices to patients and governments in developing countries including in India is at risk due to the amendments in the Indian Patent Act. The impact of the legal amendments to the India Patent Act introduced in 2005 under the TRIPS agreement are going to be felt increasingly across the developing world. In the coming decade as product patents on essential drugs are granted in India to multinational pharmaceutical companies, many of these drugs will become either unavailable or very expensive.

The article highlights the importance of generic drug manufacturing in India in the context of AIDS treatment. Legal options before the government of India to limit the impact of patents on generic manufacturing of affordable medicines are discussed with an emphasis on the political nature of the decisions involved.
Delay in Seeking Health Care for Acute Coronary Syndromes in a Lebanese Sample
Authors: Noureddine Samar , Adra Marina , Arevian Mary , Dumit Nuhad Yazbik , Puzantian Houry , Shehab Dina , Abchee Antoine
Published: August 2006

Early treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine delay in seeking care for ACS symptoms in a Lebanese sample and identify predictors of delay. Medical record reviews and interviews using the Response to Symptoms Questionnaire were conducted with 204 ACS patients in coronary care within 72 hours of admission. Median time from symptom onset to hospital arrival was 4.5 hours. Higher education, presence of dyspnea, intermittent symptoms, and waiting for symptoms to go away predicted longer delays, whereas intensity of symptoms and active response (going to the hospital) predicted shorter delays. The findings suggest lack of knowledge of ACS symptoms and the need for public education in this regard.
Cultural Attitudes and Beliefs About Pain
Authors: Lovering Sandy
Published: August 2006

Patients and health professionals bring their own cultural attitudes to the communication and interpretation of the patient’s pain experience. In this interaction, it is the health professional’s knowledge and attitudes that dominate the response to the patient’s experience of pain. In Saudi Arabia, a multicultural foreign and local health care team is challenged to understand the cultural beliefs and attitudes toward pain of both patients and team members. To increase cultural understanding and knowledge, a collaborative inquiry project using a culturally diverse group was conducted to learn about cultural attitudes and beliefs on the causes, treatment, and experience of pain. This article presents the knowledge gained from the collaborative inquiry journey of action and reflection.
Exposure to War-Related Traumatic Events, Prevalence of PTSD, and General Psychiatric Morbidity in a Civilian Population From Southern Lebanon
Authors: Farhood Laila , Dimassi Hani , Lehtinen Tuija
Published: August 2006

The South of Lebanon has experienced prolonged armed conflict. The current study aims to investigate the degree of exposure to traumatic events and prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nonspecific general psychiatric morbidity in a civilian population from the South of Lebanon. The design was cross-sectional with random sampling. War-related traumatic events and symptoms of PTSD were assessed by the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and general psychiatric morbidity by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Almost all participants, 97.7%, had experienced, witnessed, or heard of a war-related traumatic event. Current PTSD prevalence was 29.3%. PTSD symptoms correlated highly with GHQ-28 symptoms, r = .73 (p < .0001). The present study indicates a need for psychological interventions in the population and studies to assess such interventions.
Cherishing the Past: 100 Years of Nursing Education at the American University of Beirut
Authors: Huijer Huda Abu-Saad , Balian Sossy A. , Arevian Mary
Published: August 2006

This article describes the foundation and the development of nursing education at the American University of Beirut, the first professional school in the country and the region, across 100 years (1905-2005). It talks about the early years, pioneering achievements (1905-1940), the school’s leadership in nursing from 1940 to 1976, the war years from 1976 to 1993, and postwar global vision (1993-2005). Furthermore, it gives especial tribute to the dedication and hard work of the founders, Ms. Jane Elizabeth Van Zandt and Ms. Mary Bliss Dale, and all the directors whose endeavors and wisdom have helped the development of the school from diploma to bachelor and master’s programs.
A Commentary on the Future of Geropsychiatric Nursing Practice: Definition, Education, and Advocacy
Authors: Rapp Carla Gene
Published: August 2006

Positioning geropsychiatric nursing (GPN) to meet the challenges of providing care to a growing population of older adults demands enhanced clarity in how the specialty defines the scope and focus of its practice. A distinctive professional profile will facilitate innovative approaches to other essential tasks: educating nurses as well as policy makers and the public about the unique contributions of GPNs to mental health care; advocating for more equitable treatment in the arenas of research support, reimbursement, and full participation on multidisciplinary clinical teams; and organizing GPNs into a critical mass capable of speaking with one compelling voice.
Geropsychiatric Nursing Practice in the United States: Present Trends and Future Directions
Authors: Kaas Merrie J. , Beattie Elizabeth
Published: August 2006

Demographic trends, diversification of geriatric health care service settings, and advances in education and science call for redefining the context and mission of geropsychiatric nursing (GPN) practice. The challenges of providing preventive, restorative, and palliative care for older adults who move across health care and residential settings demand that geropsychiatric nurses be theoretically well grounded, family centered, expert in multiple assessment skills, and clinically adept across the full biopsychosocial spectrum. This article provides “snapshots” of the educational and career paths that led four nurses into GPN practice. Noting that the extant literature is more descriptive of practice models than suggestive of efficacy, the article offers a series of recommendations that emphasize the need for evaluations of GPN practice.
Geropsychiatric Nursing: Planning for the Future
Authors: Puentes William J. , Buckwalter Kathleen , Evans Lois K.
Published: August 2006

A strategic planning format comprised three small group sessions focused on research, education, or practice followed by a large group meeting in which common priority areas were identified. These were to achieve field identity and definition, enhance translational and interdisciplinary research and dissemination, and secure human and organizational resources. Meeting these goals will require effective strategies and fiscal resources to recruit scientists, educators, and clinicians to the field; change attitudes within and outside nursing; and build on previous successes in psychiatric mental health and gerontological nursing. Common strategies to address these priorities spanned three main areas: visibility, communication, and marketing; leveraging the related activities of partner organizations and other entities; and developing leadership.
Creating value-in-use through marketing interaction: the exchange logic of relating, communicating and knowing
Authors: Ballantyne David , Varey Richard J.
Published: August 2006

This article elaborates and extends the Vargo and Lusch (2004a) service-dominant (S-D) logic thesis. Three linked exchange-enablers and their potential for improving value-in-use are discussed: first, relationships to give structural support for the creation and application of knowledge resources (relating); second, communicative interaction to develop these relationships (communicating); and third, the knowledge needed to improve the customer's service experience (knowing). These activities are integrated within an augmented S-D exchange model, and the implications for co-creating value are discussed. Finally, the argument is put that a customer's value-in-use begins with the enactment of value propositions, and the development of reciprocal value propositions is discussed in the context of the notion of sustainable betterment.
Toll-like receptor mRNA levels in alveolar macrophages after inhalation of endotoxin
Authors: Maris N. A. , Dessing M. C. , de Vos A. F. , Bresser P. , van der Zee J. S. , Jansen H. M. , Spek C. A. , van der Poll T.
Published: August 2006

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern-recognition receptors that have been implicated in the initiation of innate immune responses upon the first encounter with invading pathogens. The airways are frequently exposed to various types of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the environment or from pathogens. The current study was designed to determine the effect of LPS on TLR gene expression in human alveolar macrophagesin vivo.

In total, 16 healthy subjects were enrolled in a single-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Subjects inhaled 100 μg LPS or normal saline (n = 8 per group). Measurements were performed in alveolar macrophages purified from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained 6 h post-challenge.

Inhalation of LPS by healthy human volunteers resulted in enhanced alveolar macrophage expression of mRNAs encoding TLRs 1, 2, 7, 8 and CD14, and reduced expression of mRNAs encoding TLR4 and lymphocyte antigen 96.

In conclusion, lipopolysaccharide differentially influences the toll-like receptor mRNA expression profile in human alveolar macrophagesin vivo.
c-Jun N-terminal kinase-dependent mechanisms in respiratory disease
Authors: Bennett B. L.
Published: August 2006

Respiratory diseases pose a multifaceted dilemma. Although the symptoms and pathology are obvious and provide multiple opportunities for therapeutic investigation, at the same time, the molecular complexities and prioritisation are overwhelming.

Even within a disease such as asthma, the number of inducers, cell types, secondary mediators, chemical changes, immune responses and tissue modifications is remarkable. One means of therapeutically targeting this complexity is to identify individual factors responsible for regulating multiple disease processes.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase family integrates multiple diverse stimuli, and, in turn, initiates a cell response by phosphorylating and thereby modulating the activity of many target proteins. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase is a critical regulator of pro-inflammatory genes, tissue remodelling and apoptosis, and, therefore, represents an attractive target for novel therapies.

Pre-clinical and clinical investigation into the efficacy of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors has been ongoing since the late 1990s. Over the course of this work, hypotheses have shifted as to the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in the many processes that promote allergic, inflammatory, obstructive and fibrotic diseases of the lung. Inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase may indeed provide a means of suppressing more pathological mechanisms in respiratory disease than first suspected.
Corticosteroid treatment in sarcoidosis
Authors: Grutters J. C. , van den Bosch J. M. M.
Published: August 2006

At present there is no curative treatment for sarcoidosis. Immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulatory drugs can, however, be used for controlling the disease.

Corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy. They function by suppressing the pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that are involved in cell-mediated immune responses and granuloma formation. Only in a select group of patients is it justifiable to use these drugs, after careful evaluation of the pros and cons. Importantly, disease severity,e.g.threatened organ functions, and not disease activity itself should be the deciding factor in this process.

In the case of parenchymal involvement, there is substantial evidence that corticosteroids can improve respiratory symptoms and chest radiography and lung function parameters over 6–24 months. Other generally acknowledged (empirical) criteria for systemic treatment include neurological, cardiac and sight-threatening ocular involvement and hypercalcaemia. Remarkably, despite >50 yrs of use, there is no proof of long-term (survival) benefit from corticosteroid treatment. In addition, there are still no data regarding the optimal dose and duration of corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive therapy.

One of the weightiest questions remaining is whether or not these drugs can prevent scarring in patients with a fibrogenic phenotype. As new agents, including infliximab and thalidomide, enter the stage and new diagnostic tools are now available, there is clearly a momentum to design multicentric randomised controlled trials with long enough follow-up (>5 yrs) to answer this pivotal question.
Complete plastid genome sequence of Daucus carota: Implications for biotechnology and phylogeny of angiosperms
Authors: Ruhlman Tracey , Lee Seung-Bum , Jansen Robert K , Hostetler Jessica B , Tallon Luke J , Town Christopher D , Daniell Henry
Published: August 2006

Background

Carrot (Daucus carota) is a major food crop in the US and worldwide. Its capacity for storage and its lifecycle as a biennial make it an attractive species for the introduction of foreign genes, especially for oral delivery of vaccines and other therapeutic proteins. Until recently efforts to express recombinant proteins in carrot have had limited success in terms of protein accumulation in the edible tap roots. Plastid genetic engineering offers the potential to overcome this limitation, as demonstrated by the accumulation of BADH in chromoplasts of carrot taproots to confer exceedingly high levels of salt resistance. The complete plastid genome of carrot provides essential information required for genetic engineering. Additionally, the sequence data add to the rapidly growing database of plastid genomes for assessing phylogenetic relationships among angiosperms.

Results

The complete carrot plastid genome is 155,911 bp in length, with 115 unique genes and 21 duplicated genes within the IR. There are four ribosomal RNAs, 30 distinct tRNA genes and 18 intron-containing genes. Repeat analysis reveals 12 direct and 2 inverted repeats ≥ 30 bp with a sequence identity ≥ 90%. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences for 61 protein-coding genes using both maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) were performed for 29 angiosperms. Phylogenies from both methods provide strong support for the monophyly of several major angiosperm clades, including monocots, eudicots, rosids, asterids, eurosids II, euasterids I, and euasterids II.

Conclusion

The carrot plastid genome contains a number of dispersed direct and inverted repeats scattered throughout coding and non-coding regions. This is the first sequenced plastid genome of the family Apiaceae and only the second published genome sequence of the species-rich euasterid II clade. Both MP and ML trees provide very strong support (100% bootstrap) for the sister relationship ofDaucuswithPanaxin the euasterid II clade. These results provide the best taxon sampling of complete chloroplast genomes and the strongest support yet for the sister relationship of Caryophyllales to the asterids. The availability of the complete plastid genome sequence should facilitate improved transformation efficiency and foreign gene expression in carrot through utilization of endogenous flanking sequences and regulatory elements.
Association between skin diseases and severe bacterial infections in children: case-control study
Authors: Mohammedamin Robbert SA , van der Wouden Johannes C , Koning Sander , Willemsen Sten P , Bernsen Roos MD , Schellevis François G , van Suijlekom-Smit Lisette WA , Koes Bart W
Published: August 2006

Background

Sepsis or bacteraemia, however rare, is a significant cause of high mortality and serious complications in children. In previous studies skin disease or skin infections were reported as risk factor. We hypothesize that children with sepsis or bacteraemia more often presented with skin diseases to the general practitioner (GP) than other children. If our hypothesis is true the GP could reduce the risk of sepsis or bacteraemia by managing skin diseases appropriately.

Methods

We performed a case-control study using data of children aged 0–17 years of the second Dutch national survey of general practice (2001) and the National Medical Registration of all hospital admissions in the Netherlands. Cases were defined as children who were hospitalized for sepsis or bacteraemia. We selected two control groups by matching each case with six controls. The first control group was randomly selected from the GP patient lists irrespective of hospital admission and GP consultation. The second control group was randomly sampled from those children who were hospitalized for other reasons than sepsis or bacteraemia. We calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A two-sided p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant in all tests.

Results

We found odds ratios for skin related GP consultations of 3.4 (95% CI: [1.1–10.8], p = 0.03) in cases versus GP controls and 1.4 (95% CI: [0.5–3.9], p = 0.44) in cases versus hospital controls. Children younger than three months had an odds ratio (cases/GP controls) of 9.2 (95% CI: [0.81–106.1], p = 0.07) and 4.0 (95% CI: [0.67–23.9], p = 0.12) among cases versus hospital controls. Although cases consulted the GP more often with skin diseases than their controls, the probability of a GP consultation for skin disease was only 5% among cases.

Conclusion

There is evidence that children who were admitted due to sepsis or bacteraemia consulted the GP more often for skin diseases than other children, but the differences are not clinically relevant indicating that there is little opportunity for GPs to reduce the risk of sepsis and/or bacteraemia considerably by managing skin diseases appropriately.
Semi-automated segmentation and quantification of adipose tissue in calf and thigh by MRI: a preliminary study in patients with monogenic metabolic syndrome
Authors: Al-Attar Salam A , Pollex Rebecca L , Robinson John F , Miskie Brooke A , Walcarius Rhonda , Rutt Brian K , Hegele Robert A
Published: August 2006

Background

With the growing prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome, reliable quantitative imaging methods for adipose tissue are required. Monogenic forms of the metabolic syndrome include Dunnigan-variety familial partial lipodystrophy subtypes 2 and 3 (FPLD2 and FPLD3), which are characterized by the loss of subcutaneous fat in the extremities. Through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of FPLD patients, we have developed a method of quantifying the core FPLD anthropometric phenotype, namely adipose tissue in the mid-calf and mid-thigh regions.

Methods

Four female subjects, including an FPLD2 subject (LMNA R482Q), an FPLD3 subject (PPARG F388L), and two control subjects were selected for MRI and analysis. MRI scans of subjects were performed on a 1.5T GE MR Medical system, with 17 transaxial slices comprising a 51 mm section obtained in both the mid-calf and mid-thigh regions. Using ImageJ 1.34 n software, analysis of raw MR images involved the creation of a connectedness map of the subcutaneous adipose tissue contours within the lower limb segment from a user-defined seed point. Quantification of the adipose tissue was then obtained after thresholding the connected map and counting the voxels (volumetric pixels) present within the specified region.

Results

MR images revealed significant differences in the amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue in lower limb segments of FPLD3 and FPLD2 subjects: respectively, mid-calf, 15.5% and 0%, and mid-thigh, 25.0% and 13.3%. In comparison, old and young healthy controls had values, respectively, of mid-calf, 32.5% and 26.2%, and mid-thigh, 52.2% and 36.1%. The FPLD2 patient had significantly reduced subcutaneous adipose tissue compared to FPLD3 patient.

Conclusion

Thus, semi-automated quantification of adipose tissue of the lower extremity can detect differences between individuals of various lipodystrophy genotypes and represents a potentially useful tool for extended quantitative phenotypic analysis of other genetic metabolic disorders.
Phenology of marine turtle nesting revealed by statistical model of the nesting season
Authors: Girondot Marc , Rivalan Philippe , Wongsopawiro Ronald , Briane Jean-Paul , Hulin Vincent , Caut Stéphane , Guirlet Elodie , Godfrey Matthew H
Published: August 2006

Background

Marine turtles deposit their eggs on tropical or subtropical beaches during discrete nesting seasons that span several months. The number and distribution of nests laid during a nesting season provide vital information on various aspects of marine turtle ecology and conservation.

Results

In the case of leatherback sea turtles nesting in French Guiana, we developed a mathematical model to explore the phenology of their nesting season, derived from an incomplete nest count dataset. We detected 3 primary components in the nest distribution of leatherbacks: an overall shape that corresponds to the arrival and departure of leatherback females in the Guianas region, a sinusoidal pattern with a period of approximately 10 days that is related to physiological constraints of nesting female leatherbacks, and a sinusoidal pattern with a period of approximately 15 days that likely reflects the influence of spring high tides on nesting female turtles.

Conclusion

The model proposed here offers a variety of uses for both marine turtles and also other taxa when individuals are observed in a particular location for only part of the year.
Evaluation of ultrasound lung comets by hand-held echocardiography
Authors: Bedetti G , Gargani L , Corbisiero A , Frassi F , Poggianti E , Mottola G
Published: August 2006

Background

Ultrasound lung comets (ULCs) are a clinically useful sign of extravascular lung water. They require very limited technology (2 D-echo), and a short learning curve.

The aim of the present study is to compare ULCs information obtained by experienced echocardiologists using a full feature echocardiographic platform and by inexperienced sonographers using a hand-held echocardiography system.

Methods

20 consecutive in-hospital patients underwent, within 15' and in random order, 2 ultrasound examinations for ULCs by 2 observers with different specific expertise and different technology: 1) "high-tech veteran": ULCs assessment with full feature echocardiographic platform (HP Sonos 7500 Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA) by a trained echocardiologist, with ≥2 years expertise in ULCs assessment and accredited by the European Association of Echocardiography; 2) and a "low-tech beginner": ULCs assessment with hand-held echocardiography (Optigo; Philips, Andover, MA) by an echocardiographer with very limited (30') dedicated training on ULCs assessment.

In each patient, ULC score was obtained by summing the number of comets from each of the scanning spaces in the anterior right and left hemithorax, from the second to the fifth intercostal space.

Results

There was a significant, tight correlation (r = .958, p < 0.001) between the 2 observations in the same patient by "high-tech veteran" and "low-tech beginner".

Conclusion

ULCs are equally reliable in the hands of highly experienced echocardiologists using full feature echocardiographic platforms and in the hands of absolute beginners with miniaturized, compact, and battery-equipped echocardiographic systems. From the technological and expertise viewpoint, ULCs are the "kindergarten" of echocardiography, ideally suited for bedside evaluation of patients with both known or suspected heart failure.