bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sound Connections: An Aural Epistemology of Proximity and Distance in Urban Culture
Authors: Bull Michael
Published: March 2004

In this paper I analyse the nature of proximity and distance as experienced through the use of sound-communication technologies. I argue that contemporary media-based analyses of communication technologies often fail to take into account the specific relational qualities attached to forms of ‘sound’ consumption. The meanings and uses attached to sound technologies are then conceptualised through reinterpreting three iconic historical moments of sound consumption in Western culture: Horkheimer and Adorno's account of the meeting between Odysseus and the Sirens in The Dialectic of Enlightenment, and early-20th-century accounts of the use of the phonograph and radio taken from the work of Kracauer and Taussig. One example is situated in the mythic prehistory of Western culture, the other two from its ‘heroic’ period of mechanical reproduction. These examples are used to point to what an analytical framework for understanding contemporary states of aural proximity and distance might look like. The paper points to the manner in which the use of sound technologies can be understood as part of the Western project of the appropriation and control of space, place, and the ‘other’. In particular I focus upon the specific relational qualities attached to sound through which subjects relate to their surroundings, others, and themselves, focusing upon the central role that aestheticisation plays as a strategy of the control of place and space. The analysis is contextualised through a contemporary analysis of that most mobile and privatised of media artefacts, the Walkman.
Social Connectivities in Global Financial Markets
Authors: MacKenzie Donald
Published: March 2004

In this paper I discuss three notions of social connectivity—mutual susceptibility, imitation, and the hardening of social links by mobilization of nonbodily resources—and apply them to behavior in the financial markets. A spectrum of market forms is examined, from local, face-to-face, ‘open-outcry’ markets to markets with anonymous, automated trading. It is argued that social connectivities can be found in markets of all kinds, and that these connectivities are economically consequential.
Connections
Authors: Urry John
Published: March 2004

In this paper I explore the changing nature of connections ‘at a distance’. I argue that some characteristic ways of formulating these changes are unhelpful. The social sciences have developed weak analyses of the more distant yet intermittent connections that hold social life together. It is shown that intermittent bodily copresence resulting from travel and occasioned encounters is critically significant for social life. The importance of such copresence is characteristic even of virtual communities and of far-flung diasporic communities. But it is also shown that new ‘inhabiting machines’ are emerging, machines that undermine the distinction between ‘transportation’ and ‘communications’. These new machinic hybrids are reconfiguring relations at a distance and constitute something of an epochal shift. Although there have always been complex connections of presence and absence, the current century seems to be ushering in some exceptional changes in those recurrent patterns of presence and absence, through our dwelling within an increasingly populous world of inhabiting machines.
Patents and the CGIAR system of International Agricultural Research Centres' germplasm collections under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Authors: Lawson Charles
Published: March 2004

A key controversy in negotiating the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the likely long-term effectiveness of the agreement, is the way in which the intellectual property provisions are interpreted and applied to the key genetic resources forming the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system of International Agricultural Research Centres' (IARC) collections. This paper reviews the intellectual property provisions in the treaty and examines the likely consequences from patenting under the Patents Act 1990 over materials derived from these collections. The consequence is argued to be significant and, over time, these practices are likely to deplete the usefulness of these collections and undermine the relevance of the treaty. The paper concludes that Australia's interests might best be served by arguing that access to these collections, and the other materials under the treaty, be subject to a non-exclusive, royalty free licence for any use of the derived materials to develop useful new plant varieties.
Developing and implementing optimised sugarcane harvest schedules through participatory research
Authors: Higgins A. J. , Haynes M. A. , Muchow R. C. , Prestwidge D. B.
Published: March 2004

The Australian sugar industry saw opportunities for increasing productivity and hence whole- of-industry profitability through optimising the harvest date of sugarcane, accounting for geographical and crop differences in cane yield and the sugar content of cane for different harvest dates throughout the harvesting season. Research scientists engaged in participatory research with 3 case-study mill regions to construct the models needed to produce these optimised harvest schedules. Average potential gains of up to AU$119/ha at a sugar price of AU$250/t were shown and the case study regions were keen to pilot the schedules. This paper focusses on the development of a pathway to pilot implementation and evaluation through collaboration with growers, harvester contractors, and millers collectively. We developed: strategies to overcome implementation barriers; the design of the pilot scheme; software tools; and an evaluation strategy of pilot study results to provide proof-of-concept and encourage further uptake. With the development of this pathway, pilot implementation took place during the 2000 and 2001 harvest seasons for about 200 farms. Action learning methodologies were applied to improve the scheme for the 2001 season. Most growers and millers who followed the optimised schedules closely, achieved gains of up to AU$200/ha, with the Maryborough Sugar Factory estimating a gain of AU$34 000 for their crop. Although optimised harvest schedules were implemented by only a small percentage of growers in each of the case study regions, there is growing adoption throughout the sugar industry.
A survey of water use efficiency on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria
Authors: Linehan C. J. , Armstrong D. P. , Doyle P. T. , Johnson F.
Published: March 2004

Water use efficiency (WUE) in irrigated dairy systems has been defined, in this paper, as the amount of milk (kg milk fat plus protein) produced from pasture per megalitre of water (irrigation plus effective rainfall). A�farm survey was conducted for the 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons in the Goulburn Irrigation System (GIS) and Murray Irrigation System (MIS) when the irrigation water allocated to irrigators in the GIS was low (100–120% of water right compared with the MIS which was 130 and 200% of water right). These data were analysed in conjunction with information collected on the same farms in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons when the irrigation water allocated to irrigators in both systems was above 150% of water right (Armstrong et al. 1998, 2000). The aim of the survey was to determine if the management decisions made by dairy farmers in seasons of low irrigation water allocations had an impact on WUE.Milk production averaged across the 2 irrigation systems increased significantly over the 5-year period (57 540–75 040 kg milk fat + protein per farm). Over the same period the amount of irrigation water applied (GIS�7.6 ML/ha, MIS 9.2 ML/ha) and the milking area (GIS 72 ha, MIS 73 ha) remained constant. The amount of concentrates fed per cow (GIS 650–1100 kg DM, MIS 480–860 kg DM) and per farm (GIS 119–228 t DM, MIS�72–157 t DM) increased, but pasture consumption (GIS 8.9–9.5 t DM/ha, MIS 9.1–9.7 t DM/ha) did not increase significantly over the survey period. Therefore, the increase in milk production appeared to come primarily from an increase in supplementary feeding rather than an increase in pasture consumption, resulting in no significant change in WUE in either system (GIS 66 kg milk fat + protein/ML, MIS 61 kg milk fat + protein/ML).The survey results indicate that despite varying water allocations in the 2 major irrigation systems in northern Victoria, milk production on farms in both systems increased while changes in WUE could not be detected by the methods used. This suggests tactical options to increase WUE in response to short-term changes in water allocation were either difficult to implement or not a priority in a business sense.
Capture and immobilisation of cuscuses and ringtail possums in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Salas Leonardo A. , Stephens Suzette A.
Published: March 2004

We evaluated two methods (daytime and night-time searches) for capturing montane possums, the dose of ketamine HCl needed for their short-term restraint, its influence in effect length and recovery length, the effect of body weight, and differences between species and sexes. Daytime searches required significantly more effort to find animals, and provided significantly fewer captured animals per unit effort, than night-time searches. Chances of capturing animals once detected were higher during daytime. Drug doses of 9–17 mg kg–1 immobilised animals within 1 min (±1.25, s.d.), effects lasted 19 min (±1.34), and recovery took an additional 28 min (±1.29). Significant effects on effect length and recovery were observed only for drug dose, but these are weak. We recommend finding animals before dawn, following them to their dens, and capturing them during daylight as the safest and most effective method for montane possums of New Guinea. For short-term restraint, a dose of 10 mg kg–1 ketamine HCl is sufficient.
Wildlife road-kills on three major roads in north-eastern New South Wales
Authors: Taylor Brendan D. , Goldingay Ross L.
Published: March 2004

Although vehicle-induced mortality of wildlife is well known on roads throughout Australia, few empirical studies describe the extent of this mortality or assess the potential effects on wildlife populations. We recorded 529 roadkills of 53 vertebrate species along a 100-km circuit of three major roads during 20 weekly surveys across winter, spring and summer. This equates to 0.3 road-kills km–1 week–1 or one road-kill every 3.8 km week–1. The most frequently killed native species were the northern brown bandicoot (4 per week), the mountain brushtail possum (2 per week) and the Australian magpie (2 per week). These values are underestimates because our survey technique could not detect all road-kills and ~40% of those left on the roadside disappeared within 7�days. Detailed study of the local population of the brown bandicoot is needed to determine whether such a level of road mortality is sustainable.A logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether any of 10 road and landscape attributes were closely associated with the presence of specific groups of road-kills. Bandicoots were not associated with any measured attributes. Possums were more likely to occur along roads on mid-slopes and ridge-tops. Magpies were associated with roads on ridge-tops. Canopy-dwelling birds were more likely to be killed on 3-lane roads surrounded by dense vegetation.Road-kill surveys such as this are needed to identify species for which road mortality is unsustainable, to determine the influence on threatened species, and to identify important crossing points where road-kills are high. The frequency of road-kill of many ground-dwelling or arboreal mammal species in this study highlights the importance of impact mitigation by road authorities.
Significant relationships between the serum leptin concentration and the conventional fat reserve indices in a wildlife species, Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)
Authors: Suzuki Masatsugu , Yokoyama Mayumi , Onuma Manabu , Takahashi Hiroshi , Yamanaka Masami , Okada Hideaki , Ichimura Yasuhiro , Ohtaishi Noriyuki
Published: March 2004

We assayed the serum leptin concentration and determined its correlation with the kidney fat mass (KFM), kidney fat index (KFI), and femur marrow fat (FMF) indices in 12 Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis Heude, 1884) collected in April, June, and October 2000. The KFM and KFI in April and June were both significantly lower than those in October. The leptin concentrations in April and June and in October were 1.222–1.521 ng mL–1 HE (Human Equivalent) units and 1.676–2.63 ng mL–1 HE, respectively, without overlapping. The relationships between the leptin concentration and the KFM, KFI, and FMF were all significant. Therefore, we conclude that the serum leptin concentration can be used as a new index for fat reserves in Hokkaido sika deer. However, reliable results could not be obtained from four samples collected in April and June when the deer were in a lower nutritional status. This may be due to the limited sensitivity of the antisera in the commercial multi-species leptin RIA kit used. For practical use in wildlife biology, species-specific leptin assays should be developed to eliminate this problem.
Scavengers and detritivores of kangaroo harvest offcuts in arid Australia
Authors: Read J. L. , Wilson D.
Published: March 2004

The role of the offcuts of harvested kangaroos as a food source for native and introduced scavengers and detritivores was examined in the Roxby Downs region of arid South Australia. Corvids were the prominent users of offcuts in January and eagles and foxes significant users in September. Meat ants and a suite of carrion-specialist beetles and maggots also assisted with the decomposition of kangaroo offcuts. Harvested kangaroo populations provided a more reliable and better utilised food resource for scavengers and detritivores than did kangaroos that died naturally of heat stress. Kangaroo harvesting probably supports elevated populations of foxes, corvids, wedge-tailed eagles and detritivores. Therefore, kangaroo harvesters have a responsibility to control foxes, particularly in regions where endangered mammals or lambs are present.
The epidemiology of rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and its impact on rabbit populations, in south-western Australia
Authors: Bruce John S. , Twigg Laurie E. , Gray Garry S.
Published: March 2004

The impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) on free-ranging rabbit populations, their immunological response, and the abundance of insect vectors, were monitored in detail in the southern agricultural region of Western Australia. Further, a broad-scale rabbit monitoring program was also established at nine locations across a rainfall gradient in the southern half of Western Australia to monitor the natural arrival, or controlled release, of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Changes in rabbit populations and the immune status of RHDV antibodies were monitored in these areas to enable further understanding of the epidemiology of RHD, and its impact on rabbit numbers.RHDV had the greatest impact on rabbit populations in the arid and semi-arid areas (<360 mm per annum), where rabbit numbers were reduced to, and maintained at, 10% of pre-RHD levels. Conversely, the effects of RHD on rabbit numbers in higher-rainfall areas (360–700 mm per annum) were highly variable and patchy, and in some instances RHD had little apparent impact. In higher-rainfall areas where RHD was effective, rabbit numbers were reduced by 50–78%. RHDV was first confirmed in the southern agricultural region of Western Australia in early September 1996, ~1 year after its escape from Wardang Island, South Australia. At the detailed monitoring site (485 mm rainfall per annum), rabbit numbers declined by 65% within 2 weeks of RHDV being detected. However, ~70% of the remaining rabbits had antibodies against RHDV, indicating that they had survived the disease. There was also a demographic shift towards young rabbits (<1 year old) at this time. Further, even though there was no clinical evidence of RHD recurring in this population during the 3-year study, the presence of IgM antibodies in some rabbits well after the initial epizootic suggests that low-level transient outbreaks of RHDV had occurred at this site. Although the impact of these low-level outbreaks on population dynamics were uncertain, rabbit numbers at this site had recovered to pre-RHD levels within two breeding seasons.The abundance of insect vectors on the detailed monitoring site was similar between years with and without RHD outbreaks. Thus, the failure of RHDV to develop clinical disease on this site after the initial epizootic was unlikely to have been caused by the lack of suitable transmission vectors. The apparent lack of disease recurrence at the detailed monitoring site may have been caused by the presence of a non-pathogenic form of RHDV, which seemed to impart at least some cross-immunity to RHDV in these rabbits. The presence of RHDV also caused a shift in the timing of natural epizootics of myxomatosis at this site.
The diet of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in south-eastern Australia and the potential effects of rabbit haemorrhagic disease
Authors: Saunders Glen , Berghout Mani , Kay Barry , Triggs Barbara , Ven Remy van de , Winstanley Roy
Published: March 2004

Prior to the spread of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) across Australian, concern was expressed that foxes (Vulpes vulpes) would prey more heavily on native wildlife and livestock should the disease cause dramatic reductions in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) numbers. In this study we compared the incidence of food items in the stomachs of 240 foxes and 269 foxes collected before and after the arrival of RHD respectively. No dramatic RHD-induced differences in fox diet were detected in this study. It appeared that one widespread environmental event (drought), was closely followed by another (RHD), which may have masked any change in reliance on rabbit or dietary shift to other prey species.
A method of sampling blood from Australian freshwater turtles
Authors: Rogers Kris D. , Booth David T.
Published: March 2004

Blood sampling is an essential technique in many herpetological studies. This paper describes a quick and humane technique to collect blood samples from three species of Australian chelid turtles (Order Pleurodira): Chelodina expansa, Elseya latisternum, and Emydura macquarii signata.
Enhancing fauna habitat in grazed native grasslands and woodlands: use of artificially placed log refuges by fauna
Authors: Michael Damian R. , Lunt Ian D. , Robinson Wayne A.
Published: March 2004

To assess whether faunal habitat can be enhanced by using artificial refuges, and whether different species preferentially use refuges with differing structural characteristics, we monitored faunal usage of artificially placed log refuges in grazed semi-arid grasslands and woodlands in Terrick Terrick National Park in Victoria. In total, 1131 log refuges were placed at 91 sites across major vegetation types in the reserve. The effect of refuge age was assessed by comparing faunal usage between new refuges and 271 old refuges that had lain in situ for more than 15 years. Refuges were surveyed for fauna monthly between June 2000 and January 2001. Different species preferred refuges with different characteristics. Overall terrestrial fauna, and three native species (Diplodactylus tessellatus, Morethia boulengeri and Suta suta) in particular, were significantly more abundant beneath old refuges, whereas the introduced Mus musculus was significantly more abundant beneath new refuges. Five species (Crinia signifera, Morethia boulengeri, Menetia greyii, Sminthopsis crassicaudata and Suta suta) were significantly more abundant beneath Eucalyptus logs that were large, wide, partially decayed, contained many holes and/or covered many subterranean invertebrate holes. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of installing log refuges in grassy landscapes as a survey method for vertebrate fauna and as a potential habitat-restoration technique to help conserve grassland fauna.
Roosting and foraging ecology of the golden-tipped bat (Kerivoula papuensis) on the south coast of New South Wales
Authors: Law Bradley S. , Chidel Mark
Published: March 2004

The roosting and foraging ecology of the golden-tipped bat (Kerivoula papuensis) was studied by radio-tracking on the south coast of New South Wales. Despite a previous scarcity of records, 16 bats were harp-trapped during spring and summer, of which 11 were radio-tracked. Roost types (n = 33 roosts over 48 roost days) were the suspended nests of yellow-throated scrubwrens (Sericornis citreogularis) (50%), nests of brown gerygone (Gerygone mouki) (27%), beneath hanging moss on tree trunks (21%) and in foliage (2%). All roosts were located in rainforest and close to creek lines (mean = 6 m). Yellow-throated scrubwren nests were more common in rainforest on small, first- and second-order streams (4.6 nests km–1 – 5.2 km searched) than on larger, third-order streams (1.1 nests km–1 – 2.7 km searched). Colonies were small (<10 bats) and usually comprised a mix of sexes. Maternity roosts in summer were located in both yellow-throated scrubwren nests (n = 8) and brown gerygone nests (n = 3). Foraging bats were recorded flying a maximum of 2.1 km and were regularly recorded (43% of monitored time) on upper slopes away from rainforest. Plots (5 × 5 m) were used to compare prey densities (small web-building spiders) between rainforest and sclerophyll forest and different topographies (creeks, riparian vegetation and upper slopes). Although spider numbers were patchy, upper-slope sclerophyll forest supported the greatest number of spiders, the number being significantly greater in upper-sclerophyll forest than in sclerophyll creeks and rainforest on upper slopes. A forward step-wise multiple regression showed that spider numbers per plot were positively related to the density of understorey stems. Management implications from this research are that riparian rainforest provides the key roosting habitat for K. papuensis. Recent management prescriptions in New South Wales' forests available for logging have correctly targeted the protection of this environment. However, the extent of foraging in sclerophyll forest on upper slopes was previously unknown. Attention needs to be given to management actions that maintain a mosaic of dense patches of understorey on upper slopes, where the numbers of web-building spiders are high. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of using buffered protection zones within logged areas for K. papuensis.
A comparison of three survey methods for collecting bat echolocation calls and species-accumulation rates from nightly Anabat recordings
Authors: Milne D. J. , Armstrong M. , Fisher A. , Flores T. , Pavey C. R.
Published: March 2004

Bat surveys are frequently undertaken using ultrasonic detectors to determine the species present in an area on the basis of the identity of echolocation calls. We compared three techniques for using the Anabat II detector: the detector pointed along tracks (flyways) versus the detector pointed across tracks (non-flyways); recording output to audio cassette (analogue) versus direct recording to computer (digital); and active hand-held recording versus static automatic recording. In addition, we derived a species-accumulation curve from all-night Anabat recordings in the wet–dry tropics of the Northern Territory. We found no significant difference between flyway and non-flyway recordings; significantly more calls were identified from digital recordings; and significantly more species were detected using hand-held than static recordings. Species-accumulation analysis suggests that the minimum time required to achieve a satisfactory (80%) inventory of bat species at a site is during the three-hour period immediately after sunset. We use our findings to make recommendations for the design of bat surveys using the Anabat II detector.
Comparative evaluation of new approaches to survey birds
Authors: Watson David M.
Published: March 2004

Two recently devised approaches for sampling bird communities – time-balanced area-proportionate transects and standardised searches – aim to yield bird surveys of improved resolution specifically for studying distribution of terrestrial birds in patchy landscapes. Here, I compare these two approaches with the two most common methods presently used in Australian ornithological research: the fixed-effort (or 20-min) search and the repeat transect. The woodland-dependent avifauna of four reserves was sampled using all four methods. Total woodland richness of the four reserves was estimated by combining exhaustive surveys and incidental records to provide a benchmark for subsequent comparisons.The standardised search yielded the most complete richness estimates (i.e. closest to total woodland richness), averaging 78.4% under the strict stopping rule after an overall sampling effort of 740 min. Using a more lenient rule, mean completeness was slightly lower (72.5%) but overall sampling effort fell to 320 min. Coincidentally, this was the same total effort as required for the three fixed-effort methods, but resultant surveys were all less consistent and less complete. Fixed-effort searches (four 20-min searches per patch) yielded richness estimates with a mean completeness of 68.3%, compared with 37.1% for area-proportionate transects and 33.8% for repeat transects. Thus, for the same sampling effort, the lenient standardised search yielded data approximately twice as complete as transect-based methods. Moreover, resultant data are of uniform completeness and are expressed at the patch scale, and thus have greater biological value and relevance for management.In addition to being the most efficient and yielding the most complete data, the standardised search also yielded incidence estimates for all species recorded. While subject to the same limitations as abundance estimates, this information can complement richness data and allows more subtle comparisons of habitat preference and site quality. The use of transect counts and other fixed-effort sampling methods is discouraged for studies comparing variable sites, and standardised searches and other approaches relying on results-based stopping rules are advocated.
Simvastatin induces apoptosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines and delays development of EBV lymphomas
Authors: Katano Harutaka , Pesnicak Lesley , Cohen Jeffrey I.
Published: March 2004

Simvastatin and pravastatin are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, and are used as antihypercholesterolemia drugs. Simvastatin, but not pravastatin, binds to the inserted domain of leukocyte function antigen (LFA)-1 and inhibits the function of LFA-1, including adhesion and costimulation of lymphocytes. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) express high levels of LFA-1 on their surface and grow in tight clumps. Here we show that simvastatin (2 μM) inhibits clump formation and induces apoptosis of EBV-transformed LCLs. The apoptosis-inducing effect of simvastatin depends on binding to the inserted domain of LFA-1. Simvastatin, but not pravastatin, dissociates EBV latent membrane protein 1 from lipid rafts of LCLs, resulting in down-regulation of nuclear factor κB activity and induction of apoptosis. Analysis of multiple EBV-positive and -negative cell lines indicated that both LFA-1 and EBV latent membrane protein 1 expression were required for simvastatin's effects. Administration of simvastatin to severe combined immunodeficiency mice followed by inoculation with LCLs resulted in delayed development of EBV lymphomas and prolonged survival of animals. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which a drug that targets LFA-1 has been used to treat B cell lymphoma. These data suggest that simvastatin may have promise for treatment or prevention of EBV-associated lymphomas that occur in immunocompromised persons.
Total chemical synthesis and electrophysiological characterization of mechanosensitive channels from
Escherichia coli
and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Clayton Daniel , Shapovalov George , Maurer Joshua A. , Dougherty Dennis A. , Lester Henry A. , Kochendoerfer Gerd G.
Published: March 2004

Total chemical protein synthesis was used to generate multimilligram quantities of the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance from
Escherichia coli
(Ec-MscL) and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Tb-MscL). Cysteine residues introduced to allow chemical ligation were masked with cysteine-reactive molecules, resulting in side chain functional groups similar to those of the wild-type protein. Synthetic channel proteins were transferred to 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and reconstituted into vesicle membranes. Fluorescent imaging of vesicles showed that channel proteins were membrane-localized. Single-channel recordings showed that reconstituted synthetic Ec-MscL has conductance, pressure dependence, and substate distribution similar to those of the recombinant channel. Reconstituted synthetic Tb-MscL also displayed conductance and pressure dependence similar to that of the recombinant protein. Possibilities for the incorporation of unnatural amino acids and biophysical probes, and applications of such synthetic ion channel analogs, are discussed.
Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance
Authors: Karanth K. Ullas , Nichols James D. , Kumar N. Samba , Link William A. , Hines James E.
Published: March 2004

The goal of ecology is to understand interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. In principle, ecologists should be able to identify a small number of limiting resources for a species of interest, estimate densities of these resources at different locations across the landscape, and then use these estimates to predict the density of the focal species at these locations. In practice, however, development of functional relationships between abundances of species and their resources has proven extremely difficult, and examples of such predictive ability are very rare. Ecological studies of prey requirements of tigersPanthera tigrisled us to develop a simple mechanistic model for predicting tiger density as a function of prey density. We tested our model using data from a landscape-scale long-term (1995–2003) field study that estimated tiger and prey densities in 11 ecologically diverse sites across India. We used field techniques and analytical methods that specifically addressed sampling and detectability, two issues that frequently present problems in macroecological studies of animal populations. Estimated densities of ungulate prey ranged between 5.3 and 63.8 animals per km2. Estimated tiger densities (3.2–16.8 tigers per 100 km2) were reasonably consistent with model predictions. The results provide evidence of a functional relationship between abundances of large carnivores and their prey under a wide range of ecological conditions. In addition to generating important insights into carnivore ecology and conservation, the study provides a potentially useful model for the rigorous conduct of macroecological science.
Defective transcription factor activation for proinflammatory gene expression in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1-deficient glia
Authors: Ha Hyo Chol
Published: March 2004

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) activity is detected in both neuronal and nonneuronal cells in the CNS, and excessive PARP-1 activity is known to be detrimental to tissue because of the cellular energy loss. Accordingly, PARP-1-deficient (PARP-1-/-) mice have been shown to be resistant to cerebral ischemia and several forms of inflammation. Recently, PARP-1 in glial cells has been shown to mediate the expression of proinflammatory genes in response to inflammatory stimuli by, in part, enhancing cognate DNA-binding capacities of transcription factors such as NF-κB and activator protein 1. Here, we demonstrate an additional mechanism whereby a significant reduction of proinflammatory gene expression such as IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and inducible nitricoxide synthase in PARP-1-/-glial cells is linked to defective inflammatory stimuli-induced p38MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of ATF-2 and cAMP-response element-binding protein and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Importantly, an inflammatory stimuli-induced p38MAPKactivation is impaired in PARP-1-/-glial cells in a signaling pathway- and cell/tissue type-specific manner. These findings indicate that PARP-1 is an essential host factor among factors that actively mediate excessive production of proinflammatory molecules in glial cells, which may in turn contribute to the initiation of neuronal injuries.
The spatial orientation of
Helicobacter pylori
in the gastric mucus
Authors: Schreiber Sören , Konradt Manuela , Groll Claudia , Scheid Peter , Hanauer Guido , Werling Hans-Otto , Josenhans Christine , Suerbaum Sebastian
Published: March 2004

The highly motile human pathogen
Helicobacter pylori
lives deep in the gastric mucus layer. To identify which chemical gradient guides the bacteria within the mucus layer, combinations of luminal perfusion, dialysis, and ventilation were used to modify or invert transmucus gradients in anaesthetized
Helicobacter
-infected mice and Mongolian gerbils. Neither changes in lumen or arterial pH nor inversion of bicarbonate/CO
2
or urea/ammonium gradients disturbed
Helicobacter
orientation. However, elimination of the mucus pH gradient by simultaneous reduction of arterial pH and bicarbonate concentration perturbed orientation, causing the bacteria to spread over the entire mucus layer.
H. pylori
thus uses the gastric mucus pH gradient for chemotactic orientation.
Reciprocal relationships between
Fgf8
and neural crest cells in facial and forebrain development
Authors: Creuzet Sophie , Schuler Bernadette , Couly Gérard , Le Douarin Nicole M.
Published: March 2004

Fgf8
exerts a strong effect on the mesenchymal cells of neural crest (NC) origin that are fated to form the facial skeleton. Surgical extirpation of facial skeletogenic NC domain (including mid-diencephalon down through rhombomere 2), which does not express
Hox
genes, results in the failure of facial skeleton development and inhibition of the closure of the forebrain neural tube, while
Fgf8
expression in the telencephalon and in the branchial arch (BA) ectoderm is abolished. We demonstrate here that (
i
) exogenous FGF8 is able to rescue facial skeleton development by promoting the proliferation of NC cells from a single rhombomere, r3, which in normal development contributes only marginally to mesenchyme of BA1, and (
ii
) expression of
Fgf8
in forebrain and in BA ectoderm is subjected to signal(s) arising from NC cells, thus showing that the development of cephalic NC-derived structures depends on FGF8 signaling, which is itself triggered by the NC cells.
The basal layer in human squamous tumors harbors more UVA than UVB fingerprint mutations: A role for UVA in human skin carcinogenesis
Authors: Agar Nita S. , Halliday Gary M. , Barnetson Ross StC. , Ananthaswamy Honnavara N. , Wheeler Mark , Jones Alexandra M.
Published: March 2004

We hypothesized that a substantial portion of the mutagenic alterations produced in the basal layer of human skin by sunlight are induced by wavelengths in the UVA range. Using laser capture microdissection we examined separately basal and suprabasal keratinocytes from human skin squamous cell carcinomas and premalignant solar keratosis for both UVA- and UVB-induced adduct formation and signature mutations. We found that UVA fingerprint mutations were detectable in human skin squamous cell carcinomas and solar keratosis, mostly in the basal germinative layer, which contrasted with a predominantly suprabasal localization of UVB fingerprint mutations in these lesions. The epidermal layer bias was confirmed by immunohistochemical analyses with a superficial localization of cyclobutane thymine dimers contrasting with the localization of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanine adducts to the basal epithelial layers. If unrepaired, these adducts may lead to fixed genomic mutations. The basal location of UVA-rather than UVB-induced DNA damage suggests that longer-wavelength UVR is an important carcinogen in the stem cell compartment of the skin. Given the traditional emphasis on UVB, these results may have profound implications for future public health initiatives for skin cancer prevention.
Radiation-induced cardiomyopathy as a function of radiation beam gating to the cardiac cycle
Authors: David J Gladstone  , Michael F Flanagan  , Jean B Southworth  , Vaughn Hadley  , Melissa Wei Thibualt  , Eugen B Hug  , P Jack Hoopes
Published: March 2004

Portions of the heart are often unavoidably included in the primary treatment volume during thoracic radiotherapy, and radiation-induced heart disease has been observed as a treatment-related complication. Such complications have been observed in humans following radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease and treatment of the left breast for carcinoma. Recent attempts have been made to prevent re-stenosis following angioplasty procedures using external beam irradiation. These attempts were not successful, however, due to the large volume of heart included in the treatment field and subsequent cardiac morbidity. We suggest a mechanism for sparing the heart from radiation damage by synchronizing the radiation beam with the cardiac cycle and delivering radiation only when the heart is in a relatively hypoxic state. We present data from a rat model testing this hypothesis and show that radiation damage to the heart can be altered by synchronizing the radiation beam with the cardiac cycle. This technique may be useful in reducing radiation damage to the heart secondary to treatment for diseases such as Hodgkin's disease and breast cancer.
The state of play in corporate coaching: current and future trends
Authors: Bluckert Peter
Published: March 2004

In this article the author, Managing Director of the leading coaching and coach training company, Peter Bluckert Coaching, and founder member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, sets out a personal view on the current state of the coaching market. That market, and, indeed, the profession of coaching, is fairly young, but it is one that he expects will undergo significant changes in the next few years, spurred by the demands of an increasingly discerning client base. Clients will look to employ coaches who are truly adding value and coaches will need to differentiate themselves in the market place through the quality of their initial training, the extent to which they are committed to ongoing personal development and supervision and their ability to operate at a deeper level with individuals. The author welcomes the greater professionalisation of coaching and looks to a lead body to take forward that process of change.
Applying learning in practice
Authors: Tate William
Published: March 2004

Explores, in the first of two articles, imaginative ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the learning process. A particular aim is to enable learning to be applied in the work situation. Bridging the learning “gap” and reducing the gap are both considered.
Developing the competent learner
Authors: Robotham David
Published: March 2004

The article proposes a means for optimising learning through a framework developed from two complementary areas: learning theory and the competence movement. The central proposal is that in order to maximise learning during training there is a need to take into consideration an individual’s learning ability. However, improving learning ability requires more than simply seeking to develop study skills. Effective learning involves the development of deeper learning abilities such as critical thinking and identifying the links between different bodies of knowledge. There is also an associated need to examine the knowledge individuals already possess. The article proposes a framework for developing competence in learning and considers the implications for training in adopting such an approach.
Managerial growth: a coaching case study
Authors: Wade Helen
Published: March 2004

Presents a case study looking at the challenges faced by the author, a consultant, in finding the key to open a way through the barriers and ensuring a senior manager was strong enough to sustain and develop her newfound aptitudes. Describes the methodology, its application and what was achieved. Discusses coaching styles and who is responsible for what is covered along with what can impact the outcome.
Employee development using adult education principles
Authors: Dwyer Rocky J.
Published: March 2004

The paper provides theoretical background, general principles and practical components of designing employee training and development activities which reflect adult education principles. Furthermore, the paper suggests incorporating these principles into training sessions and events so that employees and organizations can achieve a win‐win learning and development opportunity for the benefit of those involved and impacted by such sessions.
Customer dependency in manufacturing SMEs: implications for R&D and performance
Authors: Raymond Louis , St‐Pierre Josée
Published: March 2004

In the now global business environment, SMEs are being subjected to increased pressures. In the manufacturing sector in particular, increased requirements for information and knowledge management, innovation, quality, and flexibility within new organisational forms such as the network enterprise entail organisational developments that can affect critical business processes, R&D in particular, and business performance. Hence, the customer dependency of manufacturing SMEs on certain important customers or the absence of diversification in their customer base can have significant impacts on the R&D activities, the productivity, and eventually the profitability of these organisations. Through an empirical study of 179 Canadian SMEs, it was found that more commercially dependent firms allocate more financial and human resources to product R&D. These firms are also less productive in that they have relatively fewer sales per employee. While customer dependency seems to negatively affect the SMEs’ profitability, firms whose product R&D activities are more intense report significantly higher gross margins. R&D activities could allow manufacturing SMEs to counter the influence of their major customers, by reversing the direction of commercial dependency, and thus to reduce their vulnerability.
Management, strategy and policy in the UK small business sector: a critical review
Authors: Beaver Graham , Prince Christopher
Published: March 2004

This paper first considers the role and characteristics of the small firm and its collective, the small business sector. A brief examination of the small firm discourse and research agenda is provided. The following section undertakes a critical examination of the small firm management context. A critical appraisal of the strategic management approach suggests that strategic activity in the small firm sector is much more informal, intuitive and invisible than has been previously suggested by design school advocates. The final part of the paper considers the role and development of policy and its effects on the survival, growth and performance of small firms.
Outsourcing salesforces via self‐employment: the case of direct selling in the UK
Authors: Stanworth John , Brodie Stewart , Wotruba Thomas , Purdy David
Published: March 2004

The past two decades have witnessed little, if any, growth in the numbers of small firms with employees in the UK. At the same time, a substantial growth in the numbers of self‐employed without employees as a component of the UK national labour force has been witnessed. The current article reports on a recent study into direct selling that accounts for around 500,000 “independent contractors” at any one time, albeit, in this case, operating often as part of an invisible economy, though linked with household‐name direct selling companies. With the advent of more large companies, such as the recently privatised utilities, using direct selling as a distribution format, there is a strong case for achieving a wider understanding of the dynamics of this system.
Internationalising high‐technology‐based UK firms’ information‐gathering activities
Authors: Jones Marian V. , Crick Dave
Published: March 2004

Previous studies have shown that lack of information can provide an obstacle to firms’ endeavour to be competitive in oversea markets. This study provides empirical data that examine how managers of internationalising UK high‐technology firms perceive the usefulness of overseas market information, their levels of utilisation, plus perceptions of the types of data required. Findings are based on a postal survey of winners of the Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement; also reported are selected findings from a series of in‐depth interviews. This paper sets out to establish whether statistical differences exist between two sub‐samples identified by their overseas market expansion strategies: those that concentrate on key markets as opposed to those that spread sales over a number of markets. Results from follow‐up interviews provide in‐depth data to support the quantitative findings.
The role of boards of directors in small and medium‐sized firms
Authors: Bennett R.J. , Robson P.J.A.
Published: March 2004

The size, characteristics and structure of boards of directors have been claimed to be an important influence on the performance of large firms, but have been less examined in small firms. For larger firms the role of boards acts more as a substitute for the development of internal staff and management skills, indicating that for large firms directors chiefly support the control role of CEOs. The importance of seeing boards, external consultants and internal management skills as substitutes is demonstrated, and is shown to have a non‐linear relation with firm size. However, a key finding of the paper is that there is little evidence of a strong association of board size, board qualifications, or board structure with firm performance, measured by profitability, employment growth or propensity to innovate.
Systems theory and the common‐sense view of advisers
Authors: Mole Kevin
Published: March 2004

UK Business Link provides bespoke advice to small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) through business advisers. The Small Business Service’s consultation paper, “Integrating the business support infrastructure for SMEs”, advocated “customer‐driven, not supply‐led” publicly funded business support, where personal business advisers (PBA) signpost the company to advice. Advisers must assess their client’s needs using their business experience, which results in the advisers developing heuristics (or “rules‐of‐thumb”) to understand the essential components of the flourishing firm. The paper contends that an inductive methodology can uncover advisers’ heuristics, developed to derive a practical “model” of success. In total, 29 business advisers participated in individual semi‐structured interviews and a focus group of ten public sector business advisers provided a qualitative element of the research. The model borrows concepts from systems theory to conceptually represent how practical business advisers view the world of the small firm manager. This suggests that there is a tension between the focus of business advisers on a “closed” system of management, whereas owner‐managers concentrate on a more concrete open system of sales, cash and production.