bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unbelievable Similarity: Accuracy in Spouses ‘Reports on their Partners’ Tactics to Influence Joint Economic Decisions
Authors: Kirchler Erich
Published: July 2007

Les époux sont‐ils capables de décrire fidèlement la stratégic que leur conjoint adopte dans les décisions économiques communes? On a demandéà chacun des partenaires d' imaginer une situation d'achat et de décrire leur propre stratégic et celle de leur conjoint en répondant aux 102 propositions d'car; un questionnaire. Les données produites par ces 286 couples montrent que la fidélité est généralement basse, les modéles de dominance, la durée du mariage, l' ǎge des époux, le sexe, le niveau culturel et le type de conflit ne sont pas corrélés avec la fidélite. Ce qui est par contre en partie le cas pour le bonheur conjugal: ce sont les époux les plus heureux qui présentent la plus forte probabilityé de voir la description qu'ils donnent de la conduite de leur partenaire correspondre á l' autodescription du conjoint. La raison en est que la congruence comportementale est plus forte chez les couples heureux. La description du comportement du partenaire prend essentiellement appui sur l' autodescription; comme les époux heureux disent adopter des stratégies analogues á celles de leur conjoint, ils atteignent des scores de fidélité plus élevés que ceux des époux malheureux en décrivant leur propre comportement sans ětre pour autant capables de décrire plus fidèlement la conduite de l' autre.

This study addresses the question of whether spouses can accurately describe their partner' tactics in joint economic decisions. Husbands and wives were asked to describe their own and their partner' tactics by imagining a purchase situation and responding to 102 statements in a questionnaire. The results of the 286 couples indicate that accuracy is generally low. Neither dominance patterns, length of marriage, spouse's age, gender, education, nor type of conflict are correlated with accuracy. Marital happiness was found to determine accuracy to some extent. The happier spouses are with their relationship the more likely it is that their descriptions of their partner' behaviour correspond with their partner' self‐descriptions. It was discovered that this finding was due to the fact that actual behaviour congruence is higher in happy rather than unhappy couples. As spouses' descriptions of their partner' behaviour were found to be based mainly on their own self‐descriptions, and happy spouses report using tactics similar to their partners', happy spouses reach higher accuracy indices than unhappy spouses just by describing their own behaviour rather than their partner' behaviour, thus, without being able to more accurately describe the other's behaviour.
Psychology in Venezuela: Perceptions and Opinions of Research Psychologists
Authors: Sanchez Ligía M.
Published: July 2007

On décrit dans cet article le développement de la psychologie en tant que discipline universitaire au Venezuela. Les résultats d'une étude empirique de 1978 servent de base de comparaison avec des données plus recentes récueillies lors d'une enquête réalisée en 1995. Cette investigation portait sur les opinions de psychologues universitaires à propos de la recherche en psychologie au Venezuela. Les résultats quantitatifs et qualitatifs de cette étude furent analysés et comparés a ceux d'autres recherches dans ce domaine. l'examen de ces données est suivi d'une discussion où l'on essaie de préciser la situation actuelle et à venir de la recherche en psychologie au Venezuela.

In this article the development of psychology as an academic discipline in Venezuela is reviewed. The results of an empirical study in 1978 are described to set the basis for comparison with more recent data. The results of a survey completed in 1995 are reported and discussed. This survey was aimed at obtaining the opinions of academic psychologists about psychological research in Venezuela. The quantitative and qualitative results of this study were assessed and compared to other research in this area. Consideration of these data are followed by discussion to clarify the present status and future prospects for psychological research in Venezuela.
Psychological Research in Puerto Rico
Authors: Rodríguez Wanda C. , Bravo Milagros , Moreno Mary A.
Published: July 2007

On a réalisé une enquéte pour étudier les opinions et perceptions des chercheurs de Porto Rico. l'enquête fut conçue à partir du modèle en cinq composantes d'Adair qui cherche à rendre compte de l'indigénisation de la psychologie dans des pays présentant différents niveaux de développement. Le manque de financement et de ressources spécifiques à la recherche, une ambiance intellectuelle peu stimulante dans leur environnement de travail et des carences dans l'organisation professionnelle de la discipline comptaient parmi les obstacles qui, selon les répondants, freinaient la recherche. Mais ces memes répondants exprimaient leur satisfaction à propos de certains secteurs de leur environnement de recherche, tels que la formation a la recherche dont bénéficiaient leurs étudiants, la qualityé et la pertinence de leurs propres travaux et la qualityé des relations avec leurs collègues. lis mentionnaient aussi une bonne formation et Fimplication a la recherche comme étant des forces puissantes les incitant à devenir productifs. Les resultats sont analysés à partir du modèle factoriel et de l'historique de développement de la psychologie à Porto Rico.

A survey was conducted to explore opinions and perceptions of researchers in Puerto Rico. The survey was designed after Adair's (1992b) five‐component model to explain the indigenisation of psychology in countries with different levels of development. Some obstacles that respondents perceived as limiting their research productivity were factors related to the lack of adequate research resources and funding, poor intellectual climate for research in their work settings, and limitations in the professional structure of the discipline. However, respondents also expressed satisfaction with some areas of their research environment, such as the research training received by students, the quality and relevance of their research, and their interactions with colleagues. They also reported good training and commitment to research as driving forces that compelled them to be productive. Results are discussed taking into consideration the conceptual model and the previous history of development in psychology in Puerto Rico.
Exchange Rate Passthrough Effects and Inflation Targeting in Emerging Economies: What is the Relationship?
Authors: Reyes Javier
Published: July 2007

Several studies have shown that over the past 10 years the passthrough effect from currency depreciation into domestic inflation has been decreasing in emerging economies that adopted inflation targeting (IT) during the mid and late 1990s. Therefore the nominal exchange rate effect on domestic inflation is becoming less of an issue for these countries. The literature has offered different explanations for these declines but so far they have not been directly related to the adoption of IT. This paper shows that lower passthrough effects can also be the result of the implementation of an IT regime and argues, contrary to previous studies, that the effects of the nominal exchange rate on inflation are still a relevant issue for emerging IT countries. The reason for this is that the empirical evidence offered for the lower passthrough misses the nature of the relationship between inflation and the nominal exchange rate under IT.
Geospatial Agents, Agents Everywhere . . .
Authors: Sengupta Raja , Sieber Renée
Published: July 2007

The use of the related terms “agent‐based”, “multi‐agent”, “software agent” and “intelligent agent” have witnessed significant growth in the Geographic Information Science (GIScience) literature in the past decade. These terms usually refer to both artificial life agents that simulate human and animal behavior and software agents that support human‐computer interactions. In this article we first comprehensively review both types of agents. Then we argue that both these categories of agents borrow from Artificial Intelligence (AI) research, requiring them to share the characteristics of and be similar to AI agents. We also argue that geospatial agents form a distinct category of AI agents because they are explicit about geography and geographic data models. Our overall goal is to first capture the diversity of, and then define and categorize GIScience agent research into geospatial agents, thereby capturing the diversity of agent‐oriented architectures and applications that have been developed in the recent past to present a holistic review of geospatial agents.
An Analysis of Severe Hail Swaths in the Southern Plains of the United States
Authors: Basara Jeffrey B , Cheresnick Daniel R , Mitchell DeWayne , Illston Bradley G
Published: July 2007

Severe hail is a common event in the United States and few studies have been conducted using high‐resolution data to determine the spatial and temporal variability of hail occurrence. Given the coverage of Weather Surveillance Radar‐88 Doppler radars (WSR‐88D; Crum and Alberty 1993) over the Southern Plains of the United States, recent technological advancements including hail detection algorithms and powerful new geographic information systems (GIS) tools, a new methodology was developed to quantify the occurrence of severe hail. The methodology was tested using a dataset spanning 2001–2003 from 15 radar sites across eight states. The Hailswath algorithm developed at Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. was used to estimate severe and significant hail for each individual storm during the study period. Due to the discrete nature of the Hailswath algorithm output, it was manually contoured to create a coherent swath of the most likely area of severe (19 mm in diameter; 0.75 inches) and significant hail (51 mm in diameter; 2 inches). Finally, the results of these analyses were compiled monthly, annually, and for the total duration of the study period using a variety of GIS tools. A thorough demonstration of the data analysis process and results is presented, and the benefits and limitations of the method used to investigate the occurrence of severe hail are explained.
A GIS‐based Investigation of Gaming Venue Catchments
Authors: Doran Bruce J , McMillen Jan , Marshall David C
Published: July 2007

Globally, the growth of the gambling industry in recent decades has raised questions about the potential for community costs associated with gambling development. In order to minimise the harms and maximise the gains for local, state and national economies, in many jurisdictions the industry is heavily regulated. Regulators rely upon a wide range of information sources to assist in decision making and are often concerned with issues that have socio‐spatial characteristics. Despite this, there have been few applications of geographical information systems (GIS) to gambling behaviour. This paper trials the use of a GIS‐based approach to investigate one aspect of gambling regulation, namely the spatial characteristics of gaming venue catchments. The research was conducted in a suburban region of Canberra, Australia. The results from the study show that the catchment areas of gaming venues can vary considerably and are more complex than previous studies have suggested. The regulatory implications of the findings are discussed as well as possible avenues for further GIS‐based research into gambling.
Rethinking Trade Preferences: How Africa Can Diversify its Exports
Authors: Collier Paul , Venables Anthony J.
Published: July 2007

This paper argues that the contribution of trade preferences to economic development needs to be reappraised in light of the growth of globalised trade in manufactures. Trade preferences may be able to act as a catalyst for manufacturing exports, leading to rapid growth in exports and employment. To do so, preferences need to be designed to be consistent with international trade in fragmented ‘tasks’ (as opposed to complete products) and need to be open to countries with sufficient levels of complementary inputs such as skills and infrastructure. Recent experience with the African Growth and Opportunities Act shows that, in the right conditions, Sub‐Saharan African countries have had large manufacturing export supply response to trade preferences.
What is at Stake in the Doha Round?
Authors: Kinnman Susanna , Lodefalk Magnus
Published: July 2007

In this study the key elements of the WTO Doha Round are simulated and the main implications for international trade and national income are analysed. Based on negotiation information, three scenarios are designed. All scenarios encompass goods, services and agricultural liberalisation as well as trade facilitation. For goods liberalisation, a so‐called Swiss formula is used to cut bound tariff rates. Agricultural tariffs are cut according to a tiered linear formula. Attention has been given to the modelling of trade facilitation. Indirect as well as direct trade transaction costs are modelled. For simulation of the services liberalisation quantitative estimates of indirect trade barriers are used. The simulation results show that all regions in the aggregation gain in the simulated Doha scenarios, with a particularly strong result for developing countries. A conservative estimate is that global income increases with 0.2–0.7 per cent of initial GDP, depending on the level of liberalisation. Trade facilitation contributes the most to these results, with increased market access for non‐agricultural goods coming in second place. Overall, simulations indicate the importance of countries’ own liberalisation for their national income gains, and the importance of a broad‐based round.
The accents of outsourcing: the meanings of “neutral” in the Indian call centre industry
Authors: COWIE CLAIRE
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT:  This is an ethnographic study of an agency which handles “accent training” for major call centres in Bangalore, South India. It investigates (1) the requirements of call centres in terms of accent training, (2) agency staff's interpretation of these requirements, and (3) trainees' response to the expectations of the agency and their future employer. Call centres which may have initially demanded accents as close to the L1 variety as possible now formulate their need as one for a “neutral” accent, which in some corporate circles is considered to be a regionless international variety. “Neutral”, however, is interpreted quite differently among the staff of the training agency. Older staff with a background in ELT saw their role as one promoting a shift in the direction of “educated Indian English”. This group positively evaluated British accents and emphasized the British origins of IE. Younger staff, on the other hand, without this professional background, were more oriented towards American accents. Trainees, too, reflected this diversity of accent attitudes in their self‐presentation in mock telephone calls. Some showed an accommodation to callers with American accents, and others not at all.
Singapore EnglishX‐selfandownself
Authors: WEE LIONEL
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT: The formsX‐selfandownselfare both found in Colloquial Singapore English (CSE), but they are not synonymous. The question of exactly how their meanings differ is the focus of this paper. Starting with basic assumptions in cognitive linguistics and Clark's principle of contrast, I make use of Langacker's notion of profiling to suggest thatX‐selfprofiles the most discourse‐prominent entity. That is, it picks out one entity from a group of other possibilities. In contrast,ownselfprofiles the exclusion of all entities other than the most discourse‐prominent one, so that this entity emerges as the only possibility. I close the paper by briefly exploring the implications of the analysis for the theoretical notion of profiling itself.
English, the Internet and computer terminology in Macedonia
Authors: DIMOVA SLOBODANKA
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT:  This research report focuses on the use of English loanwords related to the Internet and computer technology. A corpus‐based approach was used to analyze a total of 33,193 words including 11,063 tokens found on 10 Macedonian business websites. Type/token ratios were obtained for 4 different types of lexical item found in the data: Macedonian items, English loanwords, English semantic loans and English items. Borrowed lexeme structures by word class were also described. Results suggested that several types of English loan existed in the Macedonian language: loanwords, semantic loans and English words (non‐nativized forms of loanwords). Other types of loan, such as loan translations and hybrids, and grammatical influences from English were also present.
Quantifying UK Capital Adjustment Costs
Authors: GROTH CHARLOTTA
Published: July 2007

This paper estimates UK capital adjustment costs, using manufacturing and service industry data for 1970–2000. There is evidence of significant adjustment costs, with a 1% increase in investment reducing value added by 0.05%. This implies an elasticity of investment with respect to Tobin's q of 2.5, and a convergence time for capital of 12 years. The results suggest that adjustment costs may have caused half of the slowdown in UK total factor productivity (TFP) growth during the second half of the 1990s. The impact is larger than that reported for the United States, reflecting larger adjustment costs and higher investment growth.
THE AMBIGUOUS IDENTITY OF AUDITING
Authors: Lindeberg Tobias
Published: July 2007

This paper analyses the identity of auditing by comparing performance auditing to financial auditing and programme evaluation. Based on an analysis of textbooks, it is concluded that these evaluative practices are situated on a continuum. This implies that studies that rely on ‘audit’ as a label to attribute identity to a distinct evaluative practice become insensitive to issues concerning the relevance of their results to evaluative practices in general and their relation to specific characteristic of certain evaluative practices.
Using Taylor Rules to Understand European Central Bank Monetary Policy
Authors: Sauer Stephan , Sturm Jan-Egbert
Published: July 2007

Over the last decade, the simple instrument policy rule developed by Taylor has become a popular tool for evaluating the monetary policy of central banks. As an extensive empirical analysis of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) past behaviour still seems to be in its infancy, we estimate several instrument policy reaction functions for the ECB to shed some light on actual monetary policy in the euro area under the presidency of Wim Duisenberg and answer questions like whether the ECB has actually followed a stabilizing or a destabilizing rule so far. Looking at contemporaneous Taylor rules, the evidence presented suggests that the ECB is accommodating changes in inflation and hence follows a destabilizing policy. However, this impression seems to be largely due to the lack of a forward-looking perspective in such specifications. Either assuming rational expectations and using a forward-looking specification, or using expectations as derived from surveys result in Taylor rules that do imply a stabilizing role of the ECB. The use of real-time industrial production data does not seem to play such a significant role as in the case of the United States.
Stalin's last years: delusions or dementia?
Authors: Hachinski Vladimir
Published: July 2007

The sheer scale of Stalin's achievements and institutionalized terror has prompted some authors to label him as a paranoid megalomaniac. Whatever the merits of this diagnosis, his undeniable accomplishments and the rationality of many of his actions cannot be explained by the workings of a disturbed mind. In his last years, however, his lifelong suspiciousness became florid paranoia. He eschewed medical advice, Listening to a veterinarian and treating his hypertension with iodine drops. Stalin feared his own shadow and trusted no‐one, even himself. He increasingly withdrew from official functions and he muttered menacingly to his close associates that it was time for another purge. Stalin suffered at least one stroke prior to his fatal intracerebral haemorrhage in 1953. Given his untreated hypertension and the autopsy report, it is probable that he had a number of lacunar strokes. These tend to predominate in the fronto‐basal areas, and disconnect the circuits that underpin cognition and behaviour. The most plausible explanation of Stalin's late behaviour is the dimming of a superior intellect and the unleashing of a paranoid personality by a multi‐infarct state.
Discrimination of prosody and music by normal children
Authors: Doherty Colin P. , Fitzsimons M. , Asenbauer B. , Staunton H.
Published: July 2007

Prosody or the melody of speech is the process used to alter the meaning (linguistic prosody) or emotional force (affective prosody) of a sentence. The components of prosody are rhythm, pitch, tone and stress and they are articulated by modulation of the acoustic correlates of prosody; frequency, duration and amplitude. Little is known about the development of prosody in normal children other than that it appears to be a precursor to the further acquisition of normal language. In order to examine the development of the perception of prosody in normal children, a group of 40 neurologically normal children aged between 5 and 9 years were subjected to a number of prosodic recognition tasks. The objective was to modify a number of existing tasks and to devise a number of new ones to test both linguistic and affective prosody and the appreciation of affective cues in music. The results indicate a step‐wise improvement in perceptual contours up to 8.5 years old. However the perception of emotion in music appears highly developed early on in development. This study provides normative data and is the first report of a comparison between the development of prosodic and musical appreciation in this age group of normal children.
Dopaminergic therapy in acute encephalitis lethargica
Authors: McAuley John , Shahmanesh Maryam , Swash Michael
Published: July 2007

We describe a patient with an acute illness, with clinical features characteristic of encephalitis lethargica, who responded repeatedly to trials of an apomorphine infusion and subsequently to oral levodopa therapy. This observation implies a direct acute neurotropic effect of the encephalitis on nigral dopaminergic cells. Dopaminergic medication may therefore be helpful in the acute stage of encephalitis lethargica as well as in the delayed post‐encephalitic parkinsonian phase of the syndrome.
Vasculitis confined to the peripheral nerve and skin: a variant of non‐systemic vasculitic neuropathy
Authors: Satoh Jun‐ichi , Yamamoto Tatsunori , Kuroda Yasuo
Published: July 2007

We describe a patient presenting with vasculitic neuropathy associated with cutaneous vasculitis in the absence of other clinical or laboratory evidence of the underlying systemic vasculitis, and showing a favourable prognosis. Although the early proposed criteria for the diagnosis of non‐systemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN) exclude the involvement of extraneural tissues, the condition observed in our patient might represent a variant of NSVN, with the vasculitis confined to the small vessels in both the peripheral nerve and the skin.
Botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of focal, axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis and other hyperhidrotic conditions
Authors: Naumann Markus , Hamm Henning , Kinkelin Ilka , Reiners Karlheinz
Published: July 2007

Focal essential hyperhidrosis is a common and often disabling disorder mainly involving the palms, axillae, face, and soles of the feet. Focal hyperhidrosis may also arise from several neurological or internal diseases. Current therapeutic options include topical aluminium chloride salts, systemic anticholinergic drugs, tap‐water iontophoresis, and a number of surgical approaches. However, none of these are entirely satisfactory. In recent studies, injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) into the hyperhidrotic area has proved very effective in reducing or abolishing focal sweating of different aetiologies without major side effects. BTX‐A therefore has the potential to replace more invasive therapies.
Botulinum toxin type A: new therapeutic directions
Authors: Guyer Barry M.
Published: July 2007

Intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) have been used successfully to treat disorders such as cerebral palsy and cervical dystonia for many years. New and exciting directions for the toxin are currently under clinical investigation for a number of unlicensed indications including tension‐type headache, myofascial pain and hyperhidrosis. Although research on BTX‐A is prolific, there is still much to be learnt regarding the toxin's mode of action, clinical application and perhaps more importantly, its place in the overall treatment strategy implemented by physicians to ensure treatment is a success for both the patient and the physician. This review will focus on these issues, by outlining some of the future directions for BTX‐A research.
Preclinical update on BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A)‐purified neurotoxin complex relative to other botulinurn neurotoxin preparations
Authors: Aoki K. Roger
Published: July 2007

Ongoing investigations evaluated clinically relevant properties of BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A) relative to other botulinum neurotoxin preparations based on the same (type A) or different (types B, C, E and F) serotypes. The mouse Digit Abduction Scoring (DAS) assay was used to compare muscle weakening efficacy, the antigenic potential of two BOTOX® preparations was measured in rabbits, and the presence of antibodies to serotypes A and B was analysed in humans. BOTOX® and new BOTOX® produced similar degrees of dose‐related muscle weakness in mice. Both preparations of BOTOX® were approximately four times more potent than Dysport®. Preparations of serotypes B, C, and F also demonstrated lower potency than BOTOX®, with serotype F also having a shorter duration of action. Neutralising antibodies were found in rabbits 3 months post‐treatment with BOTOX®, but were undetected 8 months post‐treatment with new BOTOX®. A high incidence of antibodies to type B was observed in individuals with no known exposure to type B toxin: highest in groups with the highest incidence of type A antibodies. The safety margin for BOTOX®, calculated using DAS median effective dose (ED,) and the minimum dose producing a 10% reduction in body weight, was more than twice that of Dysport®. In conclusion, each botulinum toxin serotype tested exhibited a different muscle weakening efficacy; BOTOX® consistently exhibited the greatest eficacy. Importantly, BOTOX® and Dysport® exhibited markedly different efficacy and safety profiles, and should not be considered interchangeable. Antibody distribution in humans suggests that there may be immunological cross‐reactivity between serotypes A and B.
A multilevel approach to botulinum toxin type A treatment of the (ilio)psoas in spasticity in cerebral palsy
Authors: Molenaers Guy , Eyssen Marijke , Desloovere Kaat , Jonkers Ilse , Cock Paul De
Published: July 2007

In spasticity, flexion deformity of the hip is frequently associated with contracture or hyper‐reflexia of the psoas muscle. Botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) has been used for some considerable time in the management of paediatric gait disorders. We have been using a multilevel approach to manage spasticity in cerebral palsy for several years, the combination of gait analysis and clinical evaluation being important for the selection of target muscles for BTX‐A injections. Twenty cerebral palsy children (12 female) with spasticity were treated with BTX‐A injections (BOTOX® mean dose, 2 U/kg body weight) into the psoas muscle. Patients were monitored using range of motion measurements of maximal hip extension, clinical estimates of hypertonia in the hip flexors, gait analysis (three‐dimensional kinematics and kinetics) and surface electromyography of major lower limb muscles. Full gait analysis was carried out on 12 of the patients. Significant clinical improvements were observed following 15 of the 21 psoas treatments. Furthermore, the kinematics results of gait analysis showed improvement in one or more parameters in nine of the 12 patients. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the value of a multilevel approach to BTX‐A treatment in the management of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
Gait analysis to assess the effects of botulinum toxin type A treatment in cerebral palsy: an open‐label study in 10 children with equinus gait pattern
Authors: Wissel Jörg , Müller Jörg , Baldauf Angelika , Ung Sok C. , Ndayisaba Jean‐Pierre , Stöckl Bernd , Frischhut Bernhard , Haberfellner Hubert , Poewe Werner
Published: July 2007

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) injections induce a dose‐related decrease in muscle tone and increased joint mobility in adults with spasticity and children with cerebral palsy. The aim of this study was to address the question of whether BTX‐A‐related improvements in joint mobility and muscle tone are associated with changes in instrumental gait analysis in children with cerebral palsy. Ten children with cerebral palsy and equinus gait were given a single dose of BTX‐A (5 U BOTOX®/kg body weight per leg) into the gastrocnemius muscles. At follow‐up (mean, 32.6 days post‐injection), a significant (P < 0.05) increase in both passive and active ankle range of motion was observed, together with a decrease in the modified Ashworth score. Instrumental gait analysis showed improvements in ankle and knee kinematics as well as in time‐distance parameters, with a significant increase in step length observed (P < 0.05). Semi‐quantitative analysis of rectified electromyographic (EMG) recordings of the tibialis anterior muscle during gait showed a reduction in EMG activity during the stance phase and an increase in EMG activity during the swing phase. This study demonstrated the benefits of BTX‐A treatment in improving joint mobility and ambulatory function in children with cerebral palsy, and showed that changes in tibial anterior muscle activity as a result of BTX‐A injections into the gastrocnemius muscle can be measured by instrumental gait analysis.
Emerging drugs for epilepsy and other treatment options
Authors: Stefan H. , Steinhoff B. J.
Published: July 2007

Epilepsies are amongst the most frequent chronic neurological conditions. Patients suffer from spontaneously recurring seizures because of sudden extensive electrical gray matter discharges. Although the current drug therapy allows many patients at least some degree of a satisfying course of the disease, a substantial number of patients remain without adequate seizure control. Reasons are either refractoriness to anticonvulsant drugs or intolerable drug‐related side effects. Epilepsy surgery should be considered in these cases as possible treatment option. Nevertheless, a considerable rate of patients will not be suitable candidates or continue to have seizures despite surgery. Therefore there is a substantial need for better antiepileptic drugs. The aim of this review is to highlight currently emerging different treatment approaches which may ameliorate the perspectives of patients with difficult‐to‐treat epilepsies.
Prolonged response times characterize cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Achiron A. , Doniger G. M. , Harel Y. , Appleboim‐Gavish N. , Lavie M. , Simon E. S.
Published: July 2007

Cognitive impairment is amongst the main symptoms affecting multiple sclerosis (MS) and should be comprehensively and accurately assessed. To study the added value of a computerized neuropsychological battery enabling the measurement of response times in the cognitive domains, 58 randomly selected MS patients and 71 age‐, gender‐ and education‐matched healthy subjects were evaluated. Construct and discriminant validity were assessed for the standard Neuropsychological Screening Battery for Multiple Sclerosis (NSBMS) and the Mindstreams® Computerized Cognitive Battery (MCCB). The MCCB demonstrated good construct validity in comparison with the NSBMS in memory (P < 0.001), executive function (P < 0.001), attention (P < 0.05) and information processing (P < 0.05) domains. In addition, it showed high discriminant validity most prominently for executive function, attention and motor skills (P < 0.001). Response times measured by the computerized battery were longer in all cognitive domains and varied with cognitive load, demonstrating that response time deficits in MS are associated with particular task demands. We conclude that in MS prolonged response times on a range of cognitive tasks signify abnormal conduction within demyelinative tracts.
Phosphorylated FTY720 promotes astrocyte migration through sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptors
Authors: Mullershausen Florian , Craveiro Luis M. , Shin Youngah , Cortes‐Cros Marta , Bassilana Frederic , Osinde Maribel , Wishart William L. , Guerini Danilo , Thallmair Michaela , Schwab Martin E. , Sivasankaran Rajeev , Seuwen Klaus , Dev Kumlesh K.
Published: July 2007

Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system where they are thought to regulate glia cell function. The phosphorylated version of fingolimod/FTY720 (FTY720P) is active on a broad spectrum of S1P receptors and the parent compound is currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Here, we aimed to identify which cell type(s) and S1P receptor(s) of the central nervous system are targeted by FTY720P. Using calcium imaging in mixed cultures from embryonic rat cortex we show that astrocytes are the major cell type responsive to FTY720P in this assay. In enriched astrocyte cultures, we detect expression of S1P1 and S1P3 receptors and demonstrate that FTY720P activates Gi protein‐mediated signaling cascades. We also show that FTY720P as well as the S1P1‐selective agonist SEW2871 stimulate astrocyte migration. The data indicate that FTY720P exerts its effects on astrocytes predominantly via the activation of S1P1 receptors, whereas S1P signals through both S1P1 and S1P3 receptors. We suggest that this distinct pharmacological profile of FTY720P, compared with S1P, could play a role in the therapeutic effects of FTY720 in multiple sclerosis.
Calcitonin gene‐related peptide induces the expression of acetylcholinesterase‐associated collagen ColQ in muscle: a distinction in driving two different promoters between fast‐ and slow‐twitch muscle fibers
Authors: Choi Roy C. Y. , Ting Annie K. L. , Lau Faye T. C. , Xie Heidi Q. , Leung K. Wing , Chen Vicky P. , Siow Nina L. , Tsim Karl W. K.
Published: July 2007

The presence of a collagenous protein (ColQ) characterizes the collagen‐tailed forms of acetylcholinesterase at vertebrate neuromuscular junctions (nmjs). Two ColQ transcripts as ColQ‐1 and ColQ‐1a, driven by two promoters: pColQ‐1 and pColQ‐1a, were found in mammalian slow‐ and fast‐twitch muscles, respectively, which have distinct expression pattern in different muscle fibers. In this study, we show the differential expression of CoQ in different muscles is triggered by calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), a known motor neuron‐derived factor. Application of CGRP, or dibutyryl‐cAMP (Bt2‐cAMP), in cultured myotubes induced the expression of ColQ‐1a transcript and promoter activity; however, the expression of ColQ‐1 transcript did not respond to CGRP or Bt2‐cAMP. The CGRP‐induced gene activation was blocked by an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor or a dominant negative mutant of cAMP‐responsive element (CRE) binding protein (CREB). Two CRE sites were mapped within the ColQ‐1a promoter, and mutations of the CRE sites abolished the response of CGRP or Bt2‐cAMP. In parallel, CGRP receptor complex was dominantly expressed at the nmjs of fast muscle but not of slow muscle. These results suggested that the expression of ColQ‐1a at the nmjs of fast‐twitch muscle was governed by a CGRP‐mediated cAMP signaling mechanism.
Neurotrophin activation of NFAT‐dependent transcription contributes to the regulation of pro‐nociceptive genes
Authors: Groth Rachel D. , Coicou Lia G. , Mermelstein Paul G. , Seybold Virginia S.
Published: July 2007

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) play key roles in the development of inflammation‐induced hyperalgesia by triggering the expression of pro‐nociceptive genes within primary afferent and spinal neurons. However, the mechanisms by which neurotrophins elicit gene expression remain largely unknown. Recently, neurotrophins have been shown to activate members of the calcineurin (CaN)‐regulated, nuclear factor of activated T‐cells (NFATc) family of transcription factors within brain. Thus, we hypothesized that NFATc transcription factors couple neurotrophin signaling to gene expression within primary afferent and spinal neurons.In situhybridization revealed NFATc4 mRNA within the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord. In cultured dorsal root ganglion cells, NGF triggered NFAT‐dependent transcription in a CaN‐sensitive manner. Further, increased BDNF expression following NGF treatment relied on CaN, thereby suggesting that NGF regulates BDNF transcription via activation of NFATc4. Within cultured spinal cells, BDNF also activated CaN‐dependent, NFAT‐regulated gene expression. Interestingly, BDNF stimulation increased the expression of the pro‐nociceptive genes cyclooxygenase‐2, neurokinin‐1 receptor, inositol trisphosphates receptor type 1, and BDNF itself, through both NFAT‐dependent and NFAT‐independent transcriptional mechanisms. Our results suggest that regulation of pro‐nociceptive genes through activation of NFAT‐dependent transcription is one mechanism by which NGF and BDNF signaling contributes to the development of persistent pain states.
Caffeine and accumbens shell dopamine
Authors: De Luca M. A. , Bassareo V. , Bauer A. , Di Chiara G.
Published: July 2007

It has been reported that caffeine (1.5–30 mg/kg i.p.) as well as specific A1 (DPCPX, 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine) receptor antagonists fail to increase extracellular dopamine (DA) in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, it has also been reported that caffeine (10 and 30 mg/kg i.p.) and the A1 antagonist 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dimethylxanthine (CPT) increases NAc shell DA. To clarify this issue rats were implanted with microdialysis probes at different sites in the NAc shell, in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFCX, infralimbic cortex), and at the border between those areas. Irrespective of probe placement within the NAc shell and of the use of different surgical anesthetics (chloral hydrate and ketamine), we failed to observe changes in dialysate DA after 10 and 30 mg/kg i.p. of caffeine. Similarly negative results were obtained with DPCPX and CPFPX, two potent and selective A1 receptor antagonists. A significant increase of DA was obtained after caffeine when probes were located at the border between the NAc shell and the PFCX (10 and 30 mg/kg) or in the PFCX (10 mg/kg). In view of this and of our previous report that caffeine increases dialysate DA in the medial PFCX, we conclude that the increase in dialysate DA by caffeine observed by others arises from the medial PFCX rather than from the NAc shell as a result of placement of microdialysis probes at the border between the NAc shell and the PFCX.
Mechanisms of glutamate release elicited in rat cerebrocortical nerve endings by ‘pathologically’ elevated extraterminal K+ concentrations
Authors: Raiteri Luca , Zappettini Simona , Milanese Marco , Fedele Ernesto , Raiteri Maurizio , Bonanno Giambattista
Published: July 2007

Extracellular [K+] can increase during some pathological conditions, resulting into excessive glutamate release through multiple mechanisms. We here investigate the overflow of [3H]d‐aspartate ([3H] d‐ASP) and of endogenous glutamate elicited by increasing [K+] from purified rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes. Depolarization with [K+] ≤ 15 mmol/L provoked [3H] d‐ASP and glutamate overflows almost totally dependent on external Ca2+. Consistent with release by exocytosis, the overflow of [3H] d‐ASP evoked by 12 mmol/L K+ was sensitive to clostridial toxins. The overflows evoked by 35/50 mmol/L K+ remained external Ca2+‐dependent by more than 50%. The Ca2+‐independent components of the [3H] d‐ASP overflows evoked by [K+] > 15 mmol/L were prevented by the glutamate transporter inhibitors dl‐threo‐beta‐benzyloxyaspartate (dl‐TBOA) and dihydrokainate. Differently, the overflows of endogenous glutamate provoked by [K+] > 15 mmol/L were insensitive to both inhibitors; the external Ca2+‐independent glutamate overflow caused by 50 mmol/L KCl was prevented by bafilomycin, by chelating intraterminal Ca2+, by blocking the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and, for a small portion, by blocking anion channels. In contrast to purified synaptosomes, the 50 mmol/L K+‐evoked release of endogenous glutamate or [3H]D‐ASP was inhibited by dl‐TBOA in crude synaptosomes; moreover, it was external Ca2+‐insensitive and blocked by dl‐TBOA in purified gliosomes, suggesting that carrier‐mediated release of endogenous glutamate provoked by excessive [K+] in CNS tissues largely originates from glia.
Reduced pain behaviors and extracellular signal‐related protein kinase activation in primary sensory neurons by peripheral tissue injury in mice lacking platelet‐activating factor receptor
Authors: Tsuda Makoto , Ishii Satoshi , Masuda Takahiro , Hasegawa Shigeo , Nakamura Koji , Nagata Kenichiro , Yamashita Tomohiro , Furue Hidemasa , Tozaki‐Saitoh Hidetoshi , Yoshimura Megumu , Koizumi Schuichi , Shimizu Takao , Inoue Kazuhide
Published: July 2007

Peripheral tissue injury causes the release of various mediators from damaged and inflammatory cells, which in turn activates and sensitizes primary sensory neurons and thereby produces persistent pain. The present study investigated the role of platelet‐activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid mediator, in pain signaling using mice lacking PAF receptor (pafr−/−mice). Here we show thatpafr−/−mice displayed almost normal responses to thermal and mechanical stimuli but exhibit attenuated persistent pain behaviors resulting from tissue injury by locally injecting formalin at the periphery as well as capsaicin pain and visceral inflammatory pain without any alteration in cytoarchitectural or neurochemical properties in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and a defect in motor function. However,pafr−/−mice showed no alterations in spinal pain behaviors caused by intrathecally administering agonists forN‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) and neurokinin1receptors. A PAFR agonist evoked an intracellular Ca2+response predominantly in capsaicin‐sensitive DRG neurons, an effect was not observed inpafr−/−mice. By contrast, the PAFR agonist did not affect C‐ or Aδ‐evoked excitatory post‐synaptic currents in substantia gelatinosa neurons in the dorsal horn. Interestingly, mice lacking PAFR showed reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐related protein kinase (ERK), an important kinase for the sensitization of primary sensory neurons, in their DRG neurons after formalin injection. Furthermore, U0126, a specific inhibitor of the ERK pathway suppressed the persistent pain by formalin. Thus, PAFR may play an important role in both persistent pain and the sensitization of primary sensory neurons after tissue injury.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from Weigela coraeensis (Caprifoliaceae)
Authors: YAMADA TAKAYUKI , MAKI MASAYUKI
Published: July 2007

Weigela coraeensis var. coraeensis is a deciduous shrub species distributed in Japan on the mainland, Honshu, whereas its variety W. coraeensis var. fragrans is endemic to the Izu Islands located south of Honshu. We isolated eight polymorphic microsatellite loci from the species and characterized these loci for 20 individuals from a population in Honshu. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 7 to 15 and the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.60 to 0.90 and from 0.65 to 0.90, respectively. These eight polymorphic microsatellites will be useful for examining intraspecific genetic differentiation in W. coraeensis.
Peace in the wake of disaster? Secessionist conflicts and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
Authors: Billon Philippe Le , Waizenegger Arno
Published: July 2007

This paper explores the impact of ‘natural’ disasters on armed conflicts, focusing on the evolution of secessionist conflicts in Aceh and Sri Lanka following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Most studies suggest that ‘natural’ disasters exacerbate pre‐existing conflicts. Yet whereas conflict did escalate in Sri Lanka within a year of the tsunami, in Aceh hostilities unexpectedly ended within eight months. Drawing on a comparative analytical framework and semi‐structured fieldwork interviews in Aceh, the study points to the importance of spatial dimensions in explaining diverging political outcomes in Aceh and Sri Lanka, focusing on the reshaping of governable spaces following the tsunami.
Expatriate experts and globalising governmentalities: the New Zealand diaspora strategy
Authors: Larner Wendy
Published: July 2007

Governments across the world are thinking about their expatriate populations in new ways. These new understandings of expatriates emerged as the problem of ‘human capital’ became central to development strategies premised on increased participation in the globalising economy. The ‘expertise’ of expatriates has also been re‐imagined through a series of interlinked ideas relating to knowledge, brokerage and leadership. This paper examines recent attempts to link expatriate experts to national economic development projects through a case study of the New Zealand diaspora strategy. Drawing on literature reviews, internet searches, key informant interviews and participation in London‐based New Zealand expatriate initiatives, the paper shows how the interaction of governmental strategies and individual mobilities is bringing globalising spaces and subjects into being.
How awkward encounters could influence the future form of many gardens
Authors: Hitchings Russell
Published: July 2007

Though domestic gardens are often understood as places where the people of Britain are happy to host a variety of living things, it is worth examining the factors that will collectively decide whether this continues to be the case. This paper considers some of these factors by developing a particular argument about practice and using it to scrutinise certain forms of talk associated with the contemporary acquisition of plants. More specifically, it is interested in how current consumer trends may be somewhat inadvertently encouraged by the group of people we understand as garden designers. By attending to how these designers handle particular points during the client consultations they convene, it examines why the notion of an animate garden can sometimes become uncomfortable for them and what this means for the gardens they subsequently supply. Moments such as these often seemed to go unnoticed by the people involved. Yet they are collectively likely to make a considerable impact on what comes after them and my central argument is that we could usefully investigate exactly these points of passing discomfort when they show us how human habits can become gradually more entrenched and why sensible strategies of social interaction could indirectly influence the future form of many gardens in this country.