bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different Involvement of Extracellular Matrix Components in Small and Large Arteries During Chronic NO Synthase Inhibition
Authors: Bouvet Céline , Gilbert Liz-Ann , Girardot Daphné , deBlois Denis , Moreau Pierre
Published: January 2005

In essential hypertension, conduit arteries present hypertrophic remodeling (increased cross-sectional area), whereas small arteries undergo eutrophic remodeling. The involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and de-adhesion proteins, such as tenascin-C and thrombospondin, has been relatively well characterized in large artery remodeling, but their contribution is not known in small artery remodeling. Rats received
N
ω
-nitro-
l
-arginine methyl ester (
l
-NAME; 50 mg/kg per day) in their drinking water on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. Arterial MMP-2 activity was measured by ELISA, whereas levels of tenascin-C and thrombospondin were assessed by Western blotting. To determine the involvement of MMPs, additional
l
-NAME rats received the nonselective MMP inhibitor doxycycline (30 mg/kg per day) on days 7, 14, and 28. Already, at day 1, pressure was elevated. Media/lumen ratio of mesenteric arteries and the aorta increased gradually to reach significance at 28 days. However, the cross-sectional area increased only in the aorta, confirming the heterogeneous remodeling process. In small arteries, MMP-2 activity increased after 7 and 14 days of treatment and returned to baseline at 28 days, whereas the elevation was more progressive but sustained in the aorta. The level of thrombospondin paralleled that of MMP-2 in small arteries, whereas tenascin-C levels declined rapidly and stayed below control values. Doxycycline blunted large artery remodeling but had no influence on the development of eutrophic remodeling despite elevation of MMP-2 activity in the process. Thus, in contrast to large artery hypertrophic remodeling, in which the contributions of cellular de-adhesion and matrix breakdown is manifest, the contribution of MMPs in eutrophic remodeling appears less crucial.
Mobilizing Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Authors: Aicher Alexandra , Zeiher Andreas M. , Dimmeler Stefanie
Published: January 2005

Mobilization of endogenous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the bone marrow may be an alternative way to increase neovascularization and may be used as therapeutic option for the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we discuss the EPC mobilizing effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as granolocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor, erythropoietin, and angiopoietin-1, chemokines such as stromal cell–derived factor-1, hormones such as estrogens and lipid-lowering and anti-diabetic drugs, as well as physical activity.
Improving International Governance in the Deep Sea
Authors: Lodge Michael
Published: January 2005

In light of new scientific discoveries and technological developments in the deep ocean, there is broad concern over the ability of the present system of international governance to deliver sustainable management. This article seeks to identify key objectives for the current international debate. These include: (i) bringing currently unregulated high seas fisheries under international management as soon as possible; (ii) developing a mechanism for the conservation of high seas biodiversity, including appropriate regulation of activities related to marine bioprospecting, and (iii) promoting ocean exploration for the benefit of mankind as a whole. It further suggests some practical ways in which existing governance mechanisms might be used and adapted in the short-term specifically in order to improve the management of deep-sea fisheries on the high seas and to accommodate new and developing uses of the deepocean environment.
Global Governance of Deep-Sea Fisheries
Authors: Hayashi Moritaka
Published: January 2005

This article considers the gaps in the existing legal regime on deep-sea fisheries and explores a more effective global governance system. It is proposed that a new global agreement, modeled on the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement, be negotiated covering deep-sea stocks as well as other high seas resources, so that all fisheries on the high seas may be covered. The proposed agreement would complete the gaps in high seas fisheries regime and serve as an effective link between the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and regional fisheries bodies. As a short-term measure, FAO should prepare a set of guidelines covering all types of deep-sea fisheries, including shared and transboundary stocks as well as discrete high seas stocks. In addition, FAO's Committee on Fisheries should be strengthened in its global governance role, including co-ordination of all regional fisheries bodies
Presidentialism and the Effect of Electoral Law in Postcommunist Systems
Authors: Clark Terry D. , Wittrock Jill N.
Published: January 2005

Efforts to test Duverger’s law in the new democracies of postcommunist Europe have had mixed results. Research argues that mixed systems have an effect on the number of effective parties that is distinct from that of single-mandate district and proportional representation systems. Less attention has been given to the effect of other institutions on the party system, particularly strong presidents. Analyzing election results in postcommunist Europe, the authors find support for Duverger’s law after controlling for the strength of the executive. They argue that strong presidents substantially reduce the incentive for parties to seize control of the legislative agenda. Hence, the restraint that electoral systems exercise on the proliferation of parties and independent candidates is weakened. The authors find that a further consequence of strong presidents is that the incentive for majority control of committees and the legislative agenda is weakened.
Institutional Vulnerability to Social Constructions
Authors: Montpetit Éric , Rothmayr Christine , Varone Frédéric
Published: January 2005

This article contributes to efforts to integrate power-based, institutionalist, and constructivist perspectives on policy making. Using an analysis of policy designs for assisted reproductive technology, the authors argue that jurisdictional federations are more vulnerable to social constructions based on widely held perceptions of social groups than functional federations and, to a lesser extent, unitary states. In fact, policy makers in jurisdictional federations tend to rely on communicative discourses aimed at convincing a wide public, whereas those in functional federations need coordinative discourses to obtain the support of actors who play key roles in decision making. Where coordinative discourses prevail over communicative discourses, policy makers will more likely target advantaged groups with restrictive policies.
A Web-Based Therapeutic Workplace for the Treatment of Drug Addiction and Chronic Unemployment
Authors: Silverman Kenneth , Wong Conrad J. , Grabinski Michael J. , Hampton Jacqueline , Sylvest Christine E. , Dillon Erin M. , Wentland R. Daniel
Published: January 2005

This article describes a Web-based therapeutic workplace intervention designed to promote heroin and cocaine abstinence and train and employ participants as data entry operators. Patients are paid to participate in training and then to perform data entry jobs in a therapeutic workplace business. Salary is linked to abstinence by requiring patients to provide drug-free urine samples to gain access to the workplace. Prior data show that a prototype of the intervention could promote drug abstinence. Preliminary data on the Web-based intervention suggest that it should be able to teach adults with histories of chronic unemployment and drug addiction to become skilled data entry operators in about 3 to 6 months. Early experience in the business provides preliminary evidence that it might become financially successful. The therapeutic workplace intervention may serve as an effective and practical long-term treatment for chronic unemployment and heroin and cocaine addiction.
Group Intervention to Reduce HIV Transmission Risk Behavior Among Persons Living With HIV/AIDS
Authors: Kalichman Seth C. , Rompa David , Cage Marjorie
Published: January 2005

Results of a randomized controlled trial show that a behavioral intervention grounded in social cognitive theory reduces unprotected sexual behaviors among men and women living with HIV infection, with the greatest reductions in HIV transmission risk behaviors occurring with non-HIV-positive sex partners. In this article, the authors describe the intervention development and intervention content of the social cognitive risk reduction intervention for HIV-positive persons. The effective five group session intervention focused on enhancing motivation through self-reflection and developing coping efficacy skills for HIV disclosure decision making, active listening, assertiveness, and problem solving for disclosure and transmission risk reduction behaviors. Intervention components were tailored for gender and sexual orientation and integrated skills practice sessions used role-plays couched within scenes from popular films. This intervention was demonstrated to be effective in a community-service delivery setting and can be adapted for implementation in HIV-related services delivered within support groups.
Grandparent-Grandchild Contact and Attitudes Toward Older Adults: Moderator and Mediator Effects
Authors: Harwood Jake , Hewstone Miles , Paolini Stefania , Voci Alberto
Published: January 2005

Two studies tested the intergroup contact hypothesis in the context of the grandparent-grandchild relationship. The hypothesis suggests that contact with an out-group member has more influence on attitudes toward the out-group when group memberships are salient. In Study 1, the predicted link was found but only for grandparents with whom the grandchild had more frequent contact. The second study examined only the most frequent grandparent relationship and replicated the effect. This study also investigated the role of various mediators of the link between quality of contact and attitudes, as well as quality of contact and perceived out-group variability. Perspective taking, anxiety, and accommodation mediated the effects of contact on attitudes, whereas individuation and self-disclosure mediated the effects of contact on perceived out-group variability. Moderated mediational analysis indicated that the moderating effect of group salience occurs between quality of contact and the mediator, not between the mediator and attitudes.
Mother Teresa Versus Ebenezer Scrooge: Mortality Salience Leads Proselfs to Endorse Self-Transcendent Values (Unless Proselfs Are Reassured)
Authors: Joireman Jeff , Duell Blythe
Published: January 2005

Recently, Jonas, Schimel, Greenberg, and Pyszczynski demonstrated that mortality salience (MS) increased contributions to (an ingroup) charity (i.e., the Scrooge effect). The authors examined whether individual differences in social value orientations would moderate the Scrooge effect. In line with an Ebenezer shift hypothesis, proselfs were less likely than prosocials to endorse self-transcendent values in a dental pain control condition but were indistinguishable from prosocials in an MS condition as proselfs increased endorsement of self-transcendent values under MS (Experiments 1 and 2a). However, when participants gave their impressions of an unfavorable prosocial or a favorable proself prior to the MS manipulation, proselfs were again less likely than prosocials to endorse self-transcendent values (Experiments 2a and 2b), suggesting that proselfs are unlikely to transform into prosocials under conditions of MS when given reasons to disidentify with prosocial values or identify with proself values.
Victim and Perpetrator Accounts of Interpersonal Transgressions: Self-Serving or Relationship-Serving Biases?
Authors: Kearns Jill N. , Fincham Frank D.
Published: January 2005

Two studies investigated perpetrator and victim biases in reported transgressions. Study 1 showed that in nonromantic relationships, perpetrators were more likely than victims to emphasize details that minimized their transgressions, whereas victims were more likely to exaggerate the severity of the event. Study 2 examined these perspective-related differences in romantic relationships and their relationship to forgiveness. Although victims were less likely than perpetrators to include features that minimized the event, they were no more likely to include features that magnified the event; individuals in highly satisfying relationships were less likely to exhibit self-serving biases than were individuals in less satisfying relationships. The data also were consistent with a causal sequence in which positive relationship quality led to more benign interpretations of a transgression, which in turn, promoted forgiveness.
Attitudinal Ambivalence, Rumination, and Forgiveness of Partner Transgressions in Marriage
Authors: Kachadourian Lorig K. , Fincham Frank , Davila Joanne
Published: January 2005

Although positive and negative attitudes toward a transgressor are related to increased and decreased forgiveness, respectively, prior research has failed to investigate forgiveness among those who feel both positively and negatively toward a transgressor. Therefore, the authors examined such ambivalence and its relationship to forgiveness. It was hypothesized that spouses with ambivalent attitudes toward their partner will be less forgiving of a partner transgression because such an event is likely to prime the negative component of their ambivalence. Because ruminating about a transgression also has the potential to prime the negative component of one’s ambivalence, an interaction between rumination and ambivalence was predicted. Data from 87 married couples showed that greater attitudinal ambivalence toward the partner was associated with decreased forgiveness only when husbands and wives thought about the transgression frequently; ambivalence was not related to forgiveness in the absence of rumination. The implications of these findings for understanding forgiveness in marriage and for increasing forgiveness among married couples are discussed.
Marital Quality, Forgiveness, Empathy, and Rumination: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Paleari F. Giorgia , Regalia Camillo , Fincham Frank
Published: January 2005

McCullough, Rachal, et al.’s (1998) social-psychological framework of forgiveness informed a longitudinal study that examined the extent to which marital forgiveness is determined by social-cognitive (the offended spouse’s rumination and emotional empathy) and relationship variables (the quality of the relationship in which the offense took place). In the study, 119 husbands and 124 wives from long- and medium-term marriages in north Italy provided data at two time points separated by a 6-month interval. Structural equation models showed that rumination and empathy independently predicted concurrent marital forgiveness. Forgiveness in turn predicted concurrent marital quality. Finally, reciprocal directions of effect emerged between forgiveness and marital quality over time. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for promoting forgiveness, and future research directions are outlined.
The Gaze of the Optimist
Authors: Isaacowitz Derek M.
Published: January 2005

Two studies used eye tracking to investigate the attentional preferences of optimists and pessimists to negative emotional stimuli. In both studies, optimistic and pessimistic college students viewed three types of visual stimuli while having their eye movements tracked: skin cancer (melanoma) images, matched schematic line drawings, and neutral faces. In the first study, participants were asked to view the images naturally, whereas in the second study, some participants received a relevance manipulation. Percentage of fixation time to the different images was measured. Optimists showed selective inattention to the skin cancer images, even after controlling for attention to matched schematic line drawings. This relationship remained significant in both studies after controlling for the effects of neuroticism, affect, anxiety, relevance, and perceptual variables. These data suggest that optimists may indeed wear “rose-colored glasses” in their processing of information from the world.
Antecedents and Reactions to Health-Related Social Control
Authors: Lewis Megan A. , Butterfield Rita M.
Published: January 2005

A model of the antecedents and reactions to health-related social control is proposed. This model suggests health behavior characteristics, including type, frequency, and severity of consequences, are social control antecedents. Social control is then thought to elicit better health behavior and emotions. Attributions to explain social control are proposed to effect emotional reactions and behavior. Undergraduates read hypothetical scenarios to test the proposed model. Study 1 found that health-compromising behaviors and behaviors with more severe consequences elicited more social control. Study 2 found that, compared to negative tactics, positive social control tactics elicited more behavior change, and compared to social/appearance concerns, attributions to health elicited positive emotions. Attributions did not moderate the impact of social control on emotions or behavior.
Attachment Style, Excessive Reassurance Seeking, Relationship Processes, and Depression
Authors: Shaver Phillip R. , Schachner Dory A. , Mikulincer Mario
Published: January 2005

The authors examined the association between excessive reassurance seeking (ERS) in couple relationships and depression, hypothesizing that this association can be explained by attachment anxiety. In Study 1, 72 couples completed questionnaires about ERS, depression, attachment style, and relationship quality. In Study 2, 61 couples completed the same measures in addition to completing daily diary assessments for 14 days. In both studies, ERS was related to depression, but only because of its association with attachment anxiety. The association between attachment anxiety and depression was not mediated by either partner’s relationship quality, even though partners noticed each other’s ERS. Instead, relationship quality was related primarily to avoidant attachment. These findings were replicated at a daily level of analysis, where interesting details of the underlying processes were revealed. At least in young unmarried couples, depression is associated with attachment anxiety—and one of its facets, ERS—mostly for intrapsychic reasons.
Social Identity Complexity and Outgroup Tolerance
Authors: Brewer Marilynn B. , Pierce Kathleen P.
Published: January 2005

Social identity complexity refers to the way in which individuals subjectively represent the relationships among their multiple ingroup memberships. More specifically, individuals with low social identity complexity see their ingroups as highly overlapping and convergent, whereas those with high complexity see their different ingroups as distinct and cross-cutting membership groups. The present study tested the hypothesis that perceived overlap among ingroup memberships would be negatively related to ingroup inclusiveness and tolerance for outgroups, such that individuals with high overlap (low complexity) would be less tolerant and accepting of outgroups in general than those with low overlap (high complexity). Results from a telephone interview survey of adult residents of the state of Ohio supported this hypothesis. Individual differences in complexity of perception of their national, religious, occupational, political, and recreational social identities were systematically related to their attitudes toward ethnic outgroups and diversity.
The European Pensions and Benefits Environment: A Complex Ecology
Authors: Taft Frances Phillips , Powell Cliff
Published: January 2005

U.S. and European job markets remain competitive for qualified employees and executives. Many companies are faced with the difficulty of retaining and motivating executives in global employment markets characterized by increasing executive mobility. Compensation remains a key part of retention and recruitment, but retaining high-performing employees has become much more difficult and competitive in a global market. U.S. companies are investing overseas, and many U.S. companies are making strategic acquisitions in Europe that will allow for the growth required by shareholders. International mergers and acquisitions further demonstrate the impact of EU legislation on U.S. businesses. Regardless of size, U.S. businesses operating overseas are facing similar workforce issues and challenges. U.S. companies with European operations are already well aware of the growing impact of European law. This article highlights current HR issues in Europe and discusses what companies can do to develop competitive compensation and benefit packages that are attractive to their current and prospective employees across borders while also complying with the various regulations in place throughout Europe.
Non-CEOs as the Highest Paid Executives: Evidence from the Insurance Industry
Authors: Avila Stephen M. , Athavale Manoj
Published: January 2005

This article identifies instances where the CEO was not the highest paid corporate executive and presents reasons for this aberrant compensation behavior. The findings suggest that such instances are an exception to the traditional understanding of compensation structures rather than the norm. The study found that the base pay and bonus paid to the CEO who was not the highest paid executive was similar to that paid to the highest paid executive. The difference in compensation can be attributed to long-term compensation and option grants. The study also found that asset growth and revenue growth at companies where the CEO was not the highest paid executive lagged the asset growth and revenue growth of peer institutions.
Integrated Pay for Performance: The High-Tech Marriage of Compensation Management and Performance Management
Authors: Summers Lynn
Published: January 2005

Over the past few years, there has been a surge of interest in pay for performance. One by-product of this trend is that more HR executives are placing pay-for-performance technologies—systems that successfully automate and link compensation management with employee performance management—at the top of their priority list. The attraction is clear: Individuals benefit from enhanced rewards, and organizations benefit from the cumulative boost in performance. However, establishing pay for performance effectively has always been the hard part. An effective pay-for-performance strategy requires that two processes—compensation management and performance management—not only function well separately but also operate together in an integrated way. Compensation management cannot fully realize its potential without accurate assessments of individual employee performance— assessments that properly come from a performance management system—and performance management cannot fully realize its potential without a well-administered compensation system.
Employees' Responses to Merit Pay Inequity
Authors: Terpstra David E. , Honoree Andre L.
Published: January 2005

This study surveyed 490 faculty members from colleges and universities throughout the United States. The primary objective of the study was to determine employees' most likely responses to merit pay inequity. The findings indicate that the dominant response to merit pay inequity was quite serious, as most employees would quit their jobs and begin seeking other places to work. The employees' selection and use of various responses was also found to be moderated by age, seniority, tenure status, and salary level. In general, younger, less experienced employees without tenure were more likely to quit and were also more likely to decrease the quality of their output in response to perceived inequity. Employees were also more likely to quit and more likely to decrease the quality of their output in response to perceived inequity when their organizations had relatively lower overall salary levels. The implications of the findings are discussed, and some recommendations for compensation managers are offered.
Assessment of Youthful Problem Drinkers: Validating the Drinking Context Scale (DCS-9) with Freshman First Offenders
Authors: O’Hare Thomas , Sherrer Margaret V.
Published: January 2005

The current study of 389 university freshman cited by the administration for underaged drinking examines gender and three drinking contexts (i.e., convivial, intimate, and negative coping) as differential predictors of personal problems (e.g., depressed, nervous) and social problems (e.g., unplanned sex, drove under the influence) that respondents attribute to their own alcohol use. Results demonstrated that more than one third of these respondents reported at least one personal problem, which they attributed to the use of alcohol in the previous year, and about half reported at least one social problem. However, when logistic regression was employed, results showed that drinking to cope with negative emotions was the only independent predictor of personal drinking-related problems. Drinking excessively in convivial circumstances, intimate encounters, drinking to cope with negative emotions, and being male were all independently predictive of social problems related to alcohol abuse. Implications for assessment and early intervention strategies are suggested.
A Cross-Ethnic Validity Study of the Shortform Assessment for Children (SAC)
Authors: Tyson Edgar H. , Glisson Charles
Published: January 2005

Objective: This study examined the cross-ethnic measurement equivalence of the Shortform Assessment for Children (SAC) using a sample of 562 African American and 692 White children. Method: A prospective, two-panel survey design was used in this study. Baseline and 6-month follow-up data were used to conduct analyses of the reliability and validity of the SAC for each group. Results: Alpha reliabilities and test-retest reliabilities for the full scale and for each subscale (i.e., externalizing and internalizing) were good for both groups. There were more similarities than there were differences between the two groups in terms of criterion validity. Factorial equivalence findings suggested that the factor structure of the SAC was equivalent across the two groups. Conclusions: The SAC is a valid behavioral rating scale that can be used by social work practitioners and service providers working with African American and White children in the child welfare and juvenile system.
Validation of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index in a Chinese Context
Authors: Siu Andrew M. H. , Shek Daniel T. L.
Published: January 2005

Objectives: Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (C-IRI) for the assessment of empathy in Chinese people were examined. Method: The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was translated to Chinese, and an expert panel reviewed its content validity and cultural relevance. The translated instrument (C-IRI) was administered to 189 junior high school students and 391 university students. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a stable hierarchical three-factor structure that was consistent with structure of the English IRI, but the cognitive and emotional aspects of empathy were combined to form a new factor. The subscales of the C-IRI demonstrated acceptable to good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Some evidence for the construct validity of the measure was also found. Conclusions: The C-IRI possessed acceptable psychometric properties in Chinese adolescent samples. The present findings suggest that the cognitive and emotional aspects of empathy are not differentiated in Chinese adolescents.
Measuring Client Engagement From the Client’s Perspective in Nonvoluntary Child Protective Services
Authors: Yatchmenoff Diane K.
Published: January 2005

Objective: This study reports on the development and test of a multidimensional measure of client engagement in child welfare services. Method: Five dimensions of engagement were identified and were based on a literature review and data from interviews with child welfare workers and clients. A pool of items generated to reflect these five dimensions was reviewed by a panel of researchers, scholars, and practitioners. Pilot data from the resulting measure were collected from 287 respondents. Participants were primary caregivers who had an open case with child protective services at the point of data collection. Results: Internal consistency reliability and construct validity were examined, and tests of the fit of the data to the hypothesized measurement model were conducted and reported. Results supported the presence of four underlying factors and a single latent variable. Conclusion: The instrument demonstrated good potential for measuring aspects of client engagement.
Effective Family-Based Interventions for Adolescents With Substance Use Problems: A Systematic Review
Authors: Austin Ashley M. , Macgowan Mark J. , Wagner Eric F.
Published: January 2005

Objective: This article is a systematic review identifying effective family-based interventions for adolescent substance use problems. Method: A substantive review of each intervention is conducted using guidelines for effective treatment for substance use problems. Additionally, a methodological review of each study is done using criteria for empirically validated treatments. Results: Treatment components of five interventions—Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT), Family Behavior Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), and Multisystemic Treatment—were consistent with a majority of guidelines for effective treatment. Notable exceptions include no aftercare and poor treatment retention. MDFT and BSFT met criteria of probably efficacious treatment, whereas the other interventions represented promising treatments. Moreover, MDFT demonstrated clinically significant changes in substance use and large effect sizes at posttreatment and follow-up. Conclusion: To increase provision of effective adolescent substance abuse treatment, social workers should use these research findings to guide implementation.
Franklin Benjamin Sanborn: Human Services Innovator
Authors: Chaiklin Harris
Published: January 2005

In social welfare history, F. B. Sanborn is only vaguely remembered. Yet he initiated landmark programs in public welfare and institutions for the mentally ill, retarded, deaf, and criminal. He played a major role in creating and sustaining the National Conference of Charities and Corrections. His program innovations were so far ahead of his time that even today, public welfare is trying to attain goals that he took for granted. In addition, he was active in other organizations and was an author and editor. This article explores Sanborn’s history with the aim of bringing it into focus so that he might receive the recognition that he deserves.
Anthropology and the Educational ‘Trading Zone’
Authors: Mills David , Huber Mary Taylor
Published: January 2005

This article suggests that the notion of an educational ‘trading zone’ is an analytically helpful way of describing a space in which ideas about learning and teaching are shared within and between disciplines. Drawing on our knowledge of anthropology and the Humanities, we suggest three possible reasons for the limited development of such zones within academia in the UK and US. The first is the relatively low status of education as a discipline, and its perceived dependence on individualist theories of learning drawn from psychology. The second is that disciplinary pedagogies are often deeply embedded in academic identity and practice, making engaging with an educational ‘trading zone’ an epistemologically unfamiliar habit. A final, and more overtly political, reason is the strategic resistance of many faculty members to engaging with the new visions of teaching ‘professionalism’ offered by ‘faculty development’ and ‘training’ units within universities. We end by exploring whether the emerging debate around the ‘scholarship of teaching and learning’ might circumvent some of these barriers.
Permanent Crisis, Tenuous Persistence
Authors: Martín Mario Daniel
Published: January 2005

The relative scarcity of language teaching at Australian universities today is linked to decisions made in the 1950s when language entrance requirements for universities were waived. Secondary schools’ language provision was subsequently sent into decline. This created a need for introductory language courses in universities, which became the most common form of language provision. The introduction of rationalist economic policies in Australian universities further debilitated languages departments. When stringent budget cuts were made in higher education in the late 1990s, language provision was severely affected. Underlying all these social and political changes is the issue of ethnic relations in Australia. This article reviews the major developments in language teaching in Australian universities since the 19th century. As the teaching of languages is inexorably linked with the development of the secondary school system, the history of migration to Australia and developments in language policy, the article also briefly discusses these issues.
Can We Live Together?
Authors: Bates Richard
Published: January 2005

Arguing that globalization has been conceived of largely in economic terms this article examines the possibility of a global curriculum in the light of Touraine’s assertion that the major global problem is not economic but social: can we live together? I argue that a global curriculum conceived in social terms is possible and that it will involve: (a) the inclusion of currently ‘subjugated knowledges’; (b) the ability to cross cultural boundaries within and between societies; and (c) a commitment to development as freedom. Such a curriculum would be a recognition of the need to rescue society and personality from the ravages of global markets through education.
Evaluation of methods for predicting the topology of β-barrel outer membrane proteins and a consensus prediction method
Authors: Bagos Pantelis G , Liakopoulos Theodore D , Hamodrakas Stavros J
Published: January 2005

Background

Prediction of the transmembrane strands and topology of β-barrel outer membrane proteins is of interest in current bioinformatics research. Several methods have been applied so far for this task, utilizing different algorithmic techniques and a number of freely available predictors exist. The methods can be grossly divided to those based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), on Neural Networks (NNs) and on Support Vector Machines (SVMs). In this work, we compare the different available methods for topology prediction of β-barrel outer membrane proteins. We evaluate their performance on a non-redundant dataset of 20 β-barrel outer membrane proteins of gram-negative bacteria, with structures known at atomic resolution. Also, we describe, for the first time, an effective way to combine the individual predictors, at will, to a single consensus prediction method.

Results

We assess the statistical significance of the performance of each prediction scheme and conclude that Hidden Markov Model based methods, HMM-B2TMR, ProfTMB and PRED-TMBB, are currently the best predictors, according to either the per-residue accuracy, the segments overlap measure (SOV) or the total number of proteins with correctly predicted topologies in the test set. Furthermore, we show that the available predictors perform better when only transmembrane β-barrel domains are used for prediction, rather than the precursor full-length sequences, even though the HMM-based predictors are not influenced significantly. The consensus prediction method performs significantly better than each individual available predictor, since it increases the accuracy up to 4% regarding SOV and up to 15% in correctly predicted topologies.

Conclusions

The consensus prediction method described in this work, optimizes the predicted topology with a dynamic programming algorithm and is implemented in a web-based application freely available to non-commercial users at http://bioinformatics.biol.uoa.gr/ConBBPRED.
Structural comparison of metabolic networks in selected single cell organisms
Authors: Zhu Dongxiao , Qin Zhaohui S
Published: January 2005

Background

There has been tremendous interest in the study of biological network structure. An array of measurements has been conceived to assess the topological properties of these networks. In this study, we compared the metabolic network structures of eleven single cell organisms representing the three domains of life using these measurements, hoping to find out whether the intrinsic network design principle(s), reflected by these measurements, are different among species in the three domains of life.

Results

Three groups of topological properties were used in this study: network indices, degree distribution measures and motif profile measure. All of which are higher-level topological properties except for the marginal degree distribution. Metabolic networks in Archaeal species are found to be different from those in S. cerevisiae and the six Bacterial species in almost all measured higher-level topological properties. Our findings also indicate that the metabolic network in Archaeal species is similar to the exponential random network.

Conclusion

If these metabolic network properties of the organisms studied can be extended to other species in their respective domains (which is likely), then the design principle(s) of Archaea are fundamentally different from those of Bacteria and Eukaryote. Furthermore, the functional mechanisms of Archaeal metabolic networks revealed in this study differentiate significantly from those of Bacterial and Eukaryotic organisms, which warrant further investigation.
A methodology for distinguishing divergent cell fates within a common progenitor population: adenoma- and neuroendocrine-like cells are confounders of rat ileal epithelial cell (IEC-18) culture
Authors: Gordon Phillip V , Paxton Jessica B , Fox Nena S
Published: January 2005

Background

IEC-18 cells are a non-transformed, immortal cell line derived from juvenile rat ileal crypt cells. They may have experimental advantages over tumor-derived gastrointestinal lineages, including preservation of phenotype, normal endocrine responses and retention of differentiation potential. However, their proclivity for spontaneous differentiation / transformation may be stereotypical and could represent a more profound experimental confounder than previously realized. We hypothesized that IEC-18 cells spontaneously diverge towards a uniform mixture of epigenetic fates, with corresponding phenotypes, rather than persist as a single progenitor lineage.

Results

IEC-18 cells were cultured for 72 hours in serum free media (SFM), with and without various insulin-like growth factor agonists to differentially boost the basal rate of proliferation. A strategy was employed to identify constitutive genes as markers of divergent fates through gene array analysis by cross-referencing fold-change trends for individual genes against crypt cell abundance in each treatment. We then confirmed the cell-specific phenotype by immunolocalization of proteins corresponding to those genes. The majority of IEC-18 cells in SFM alone had a loss in expression of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene at the mRNA and protein levels, consistent with adenoma-like transformation. In addition, a small subset of cells expressed the serotonin receptor 2A gene and had neuroendocrine-like morphology.

Conclusions

IEC-18 cells commonly undergo a change in cell fate prior to reaching confluence. The most common fate switch that we were able to detect correlates with a down regulation of the APC gene and transformation into an adenoma-like phenotype.
Hinderin, a five-domains protein including coiled-coil motifs that binds to SMC3
Authors: Patel Chirag A , Ghiselli Giancarlo
Published: January 2005

Background

The structural maintenance of chromosome proteins SMC1 and SMC3 play an important role in the maintenance of chromosomal integrity by preventing the premature separation of the sister chromatids at the onset of anaphase. The two proteins are constitutive components of the multimeric complex cohesin and form dimers by interacting at their central globular regions.

Results

In order to identify proteins that by binding to SMC3 may interfere with the protein dimerization process, a human cDNA library was screened by the yeast two-hybrid system by using the hinge region of SMC3 as bait. This has lead to the identification of Hinderin, a novel five domains protein including two coiled-coil motifs and sharing a strikingly structural similarity to the SMC family of proteins. Hinderin is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues. Orthologue forms of the protein are present in other vertebrates but not in lower organisms. A mapping of the interaction sites revealed that the N- and C-terminal globular domains mediate the binding of Hinderin to SMC3. Hinderin/SMC3 complexes could be recovered by immunoprecipitation from cell lysates using an anti-SMC3 antibody, thus demonstrating that the two proteins interact in vivo. On the contrary, Hinderin did not interact with SMC1. In vivo the rate of SMC1/SMC3 interaction was decreased by the ectopic expression of Hinderin.

Conclusions

Hinderin is a novel binding partner of SMC3. Based on its ability to modulate SMC1/SMC3 interaction we postulate that Hinderin affects the availability of SMC3 to engage in the formation of multimeric protein complexes.
Validating viral quasispecies with digital organisms: a re-examination of the critical mutation rate
Authors: Comas Iñaki , Moya Andrés , González-Candelas Fernando
Published: January 2005

Background

In this report we re-examine some recent experiments with digital organisms to test some predictions of quasispecies theory. These experiments revealed that under high mutation rates populations of less fit organisms previously adapted to such high mutation rates were able to outcompete organisms with higher average fitness but adapted to low mutation rates.

Results

We have verified that these results do hold in the original conditions and, by extending the set of initial parameters, we have also detected that the critical mutation rate was independent of population size, a result that we have found to be dependent on a different, contingent factor, the initial fitness vector. Furthermore, in all but one case, the critical mutation rate is higher than the error threshold, a key parameter in quasispecies theory, which prevents its extrapolation to natural viral populations.

Conclusion

From these results we conclude that digital organisms are useful tools for investigating evolutionary patterns and processes including some predictions from the quasispecies theory.
Gene expression patterns associated with blood-feeding in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Dana Ali N , Hong Young S , Kern Marcia K , Hillenmeyer Maureen E , Harker Brent W , Lobo Neil F , Hogan James R , Romans Patricia , Collins Frank H
Published: January 2005

Background

Blood feeding, or hematophagy, is a behavior exhibited by female mosquitoes required both for reproduction and for transmission of pathogens. We determined the expression patterns of 3,068 ESTs, representing ~2,000 unique gene transcripts using cDNA microarrays in adult female Anopheles gambiae at selected times during the first two days following blood ingestion, at 5 and 30 min during a 40 minute blood meal and at 0, 1, 3, 5, 12, 16, 24 and 48 hours after completion of the blood meal and compared their expression to transcript levels in mosquitoes with access only to a sugar solution.

Results

In blood-fed mosquitoes, 413 unique transcripts, approximately 25% of the total, were expressed at least two-fold above or below their levels in the sugar-fed mosquitoes, at one or more time points. These differentially expressed gene products were clustered using k-means clustering into Early Genes, Middle Genes, and Late Genes, containing 144, 130, and 139 unique transcripts, respectively. Several genes from each group were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR in order to validate the microarray results.

Conclusion

The expression patterns and annotation of the genes in these three groups (Early, Middle, and Late genes) are discussed in the context of female mosquitoes' physiological responses to blood feeding, including blood digestion, peritrophic matrix formation, egg development, and immunity.
Expression profile of immune response genes in patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Authors: Reghunathan Renji , Jayapal Manikandan , Hsu Li-Yang , Chng Hiok-Hee , Tai Dessmon , Leung Bernard P , Melendez Alirio J
Published: January 2005

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in later February 2003, as a new epidemic form of life-threatening infection caused by a novel coronavirus. However, the immune-pathogenesis of SARS is poorly understood. To understand the host response to this pathogen, we investigated the gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from SARS patients, and compared with healthy controls.

Results

The number of differentially expressed genes was found to be 186 under stringent filtering criteria of microarray data analysis. Several genes were highly up-regulated in patients with SARS, such as, the genes coding for Lactoferrin, S100A9 and Lipocalin 2. The real-time PCR method verified the results of the gene array analysis and showed that those genes that were up-regulated as determined by microarray analysis were also found to be comparatively up-regulated by real-time PCR analysis.

Conclusions

This differential gene expression profiling of PBMCs from patients with SARS strongly suggests that the response of SARS affected patients seems to be mainly an innate inflammatory response, rather than a specific immune response against a viral infection, as we observed a complete lack of cytokine genes usually triggered during a viral infection. Our study shows for the first time how the immune system responds to the SARS infection, and opens new possibilities for designing new diagnostics and treatments for this new life-threatening disease.
Factors associated with reporting multiple causes of death
Authors: Wall Melanie M , Huang Jinzhou , Oswald John , McCullen Diane
Published: January 2005

Background

There is analytical potential for multiple cause of death data collected from death certificates. This study examines relationships of multiple causes of death as a function of factors available on the death certificate (demographics of decedent, place of death, type of certifier, disposal method, whether an autopsy was performed, and year of death).

Methods

Data from 326,332 Minnesota death certificates from 1990–1998 are examined. Underlying and non-underlying causes of death are examined (based on record axis codes) as well as demographic and death-related covariates. Associations between covariates and prevalence of multiple causes of death and conditional probability of underlying compared to non-underlying causes of death are examined. The occurrence of ischemic heart disease or diabetes as underlying causes are specifically examined.

Results

Both the probability of multiple causes of death and the proportion of underlying cause compared to non-underlying cause of death are associated with demographic characteristics of the deceased and other non-medical conditions related to filing death certificate such as place of death.

Conclusions

Multiple cause of death data provide a potentially useful way of looking for inaccuracies in reporting of causes of death. Differences across demographics in the proportion of time a cause is selected as underlying compared to non-underlying exist and can potentially provide useful information about the overall impact of causes of death in different populations.