bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legality and legitimacy in sport
Authors: Hogenová Anna
Published: December 2005

The tension between legality and legitimacy is the basis of ethics in general, and sport in particular. Sporting reality transcends all social and economic systems. Within sport we can see, following Heraclitus's dictum, that “Confrontation is the seed of everything”. When in a contest between athletes, the antagonism between humans reaches its zenith, the competitors mirror each other. It is this tension between the all‐out performances of both contestants that reveals not only the legality of both but also their legitimacy. In the moment where athletes have given their all, they reach the limits of their capabilities, the depths of their soul, and expose them to all who observe the sporting agon (contest). Ancient Greeks had a term for such overreach: areté (human excellence). I explore here ideas concerning the depth of human relations as they are realized in the confrontation that occurs in sporting contexts. I return to certain concepts from classical Greek thought in order to do this. I pay particular attention to the concepts of agon and areté and show how the spirit of legitimacy, seen also in great art such as Medusa's Head by Da Vinci, brings home to us the phenomenological aspect of the greater struggles of life, of which sport may be a paradigmatic example.
Learning with the body and the possibilities of a practical Reflexivity
Authors: Alkemeyer Thomas
Published: December 2005

The aim of this article is to apply central questions of a historical anthropology of the body to reflections from sport philosophy and physical education on the problem of learning with the body. To this end, I undertake to critically examine (a) common conceptions of learning; (b) the relationship between the body, movement, and society; and (c) the question of possibilities for playfully exploring and reflecting upon learned, embodied habits through the medium of physical activity itself. I argue against the widespread equation of learning with administratively planned “instructed learning” in favor of a self‐conscious reclaiming of learning by the subjects themselves. Furthermore, I counter cognitively reductive concepts of learning with the idea that learning and the development of the social self always possess physical dimensions. In the process of the subject's constitution, the body represents a kind of linkage point. The incorporation of the social sphere into the individual takes place via the body; conversely, assimilated social structures are expressed in the media of physicality (movements, postures, gestures). I then examine cases of physical learning both within and outside of disciplinary social institutions (for example, in the new youth movement‐orientated cultures of skateboarders, roller skaters, mountain bikers) and consider whether those engaged achieve a temporary disassociation from their incorporated routines and inherited social habits. I conclude with a consideration of the extent to which learning “with the body” can be used in pedagogical contexts as a medium of understanding oneself.
Irrational or insensitive: Is guilt a proper emotional response to the causing of an unintentional injury?
Authors: McNamee Mike
Published: December 2005

Injuries are taken to be an everyday part of sport at all levels. A variety of classifications are set out by sports scientists in order to clarify the mechanical and medical nature and the causes of such injuries. Nevertheless, causal investigations into the nature of injury infliction do not explain the social and psychologically embedded reasons that help us to clarify whether their infliction is intentional or unintentional, other‐ or self‐inflicted. There is at present no vocabulary here for the moral aspects of such events. Hence, the moral aspects of other‐inflicted injuries is a particularly ripe area for investigation. In particular, I explore a range of emotional responses to such infliction between guilt, regret, and schadenfreude. In contrast to rationalist ethical theories I develop a position in line with earlier neo‐Aristotelian work in relation to virtue ethics in sport. Rather than demonstrating how reason ought to control our emotional responses, in sport as elsewhere, I show how our emotional responses are central to our own ethical maturity. Ethical responses and evaluations are thus configurations of feeling, thinking, and acting at the right time, for the right reason, and in the right degree. These are not reducible to codifiable judgment. I distinguish between the concept of causal and moral responsibility in sporting situations in order to open up a fuller and less rationalistic response to injury infliction. In particular I argue that the subjective guilt, felt as a consequence of the unintentional infliction of a serious injury, is not irrational but a fortiori a sign of moral sensitivity.
Overtraining and the Endocrine System—Part 1: Terminology
Authors: Platen Petra
Published: December 2005

This paper will discuss the phenomenon that, despite continuous or increased training, performance of an athlete is stagnant or even decreases without any obvious reason such as illness or injury. There is still no uniform term to describe this phenomenon. Part 1 of this review paper will give an overview of the differently used terms and definitions in this connection. Independent of whether monotonous exercise, too extensive training, or too intensive individual training are the external triggers of an overtraining syndrome, different assumptions exist concerning the internal effects on the athlete. Following this article, part 2 of the review analyzes the possible role of endocrine systems in connection with the problem of overtraining based on the available scientific studies.
The effect of service performance and ski resort image on skiers' satisfaction
Authors: Ferrand Alain , Vecchiatini Daria
Published: December 2005

Most ski resort managers make use of techniques to monitor customer satisfac‐tion with their services. This aspect is a major concern for management. This paper defines ski resort services as those that offer the consumer the opportunity to take part in ski (e.g., quality of the snow, ski lifts velocity) and non‐ski activities. This study examined how ski resort image, and ski and non‐ski service attributes affect customer satisfaction. Skiers (N = 1448) responded to a questionnaire in order to measure the above variables. Using structural equa‐tion modelling, these relationships were examined. We hypothesized that ski resort image influence consumer satisfaction more than functional attributes. Several models were tested. The final model's goodness‐of‐fit summary re‐vealed an adequate fit of the model to the data (Satorra‐Bonnet Chi‐square = 1377.65 [577 df], CFI =. 95, GFI =. 94, RMSEA =. 03). The results indicate that ski resort image, and ski and non‐ski attributes are predictive of consumer satisfaction. A well positioned ski resort image will increase consumer satisfac‐tion more than a high assessment on ski attributes. These results correspond with the experiential model and contradict the rational consumer satisfaction model. Consequently quality management needs to focus both on image and functional attributes.
Physical exercise in dyslipoproteinemias: An update
Authors: Berg Aloys , König Daniel , Halle Martin , Baumstark Manfred
Published: December 2005

Epidemiological as well as interventional studies have proven a significant link between the lipoprotein profile and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. As physical activity is accepted as an important factor in improving physical fitness and lipoprotein metabolism, there is evidence that physically active men have a lower cardiovascular risk as a benefit of their higher metabolic fitness. Physical activity and physical fitness are generally linked to higher physical fitness and lower LDL cholesterol as well as lower triglycerides accompanied by a favorable body composition. Both in healthy men as well as in patients, the impact of fitness and training is often more impressive when lipoprotein subclasses, particularly HDL 2 and LDL6 cholesterol levels, are taken into account. These observations indicate that the preventive and therapeutic use of physical activity is of particular significance in populations with dyslipoproteinemia and reduced daily activities. Furthermore, to optimize the therapeutic benefit of physical activity and lifestyle programs, increased attention should be paid to characterizing and motivating subgroups that will particularly profit by exercise intervention and lifestyle changes.
Changes in surface EMG signal under the influence of peripheral fatigue
Authors: Tomažin Katja , Strojnik Vojko , Šarabon Nejc
Published: December 2005

The purpose of this study was to find out if surface EMG signal enables a differentiation between high‐ and low‐frequency peripheral fatigue that was caused with two different sports activities. Ten students (age, 24.2 ± 3.39 years; weight, 79.32 ± 12.95 kg) performed consecutive hops for 60 s (to induce high‐frequency fatigue) and cycling at maximal intensity for 30 s (to induce low‐frequency fatigue). Before and after both activities, the m. vastus lateralis was stimulated with 2 consecutive trains at 20 Hz and 100 Hz and, at the same time, the torque at the knee joint was measured. The torque ratio between 100 Hz and 20Hz was calculated to define the type of peripheral fatigue. Additionally, a response of m. vastus lateralis to 2 supramaximal electrical impulses delivered to the femoral nerve at 50 Hz was measured. Hopping resulted in high‐frequency fatigue, the ratio between forces at 100 Hz and 20 Hz decreased for 10.7 ± 8.3% (p
The effects of a recreational exercise program with differentiated frequency on functional capacity and daily activities patterns in older women
Authors: Matsouka Ourania , Harahousou Yvonni , Kabitsis Christos , Trigonis Ioannis
Published: December 2005

The purpose of this study was, first, to evaluate the effects of a 12‐week recreational exercise program on the level of physical abilities and on the level ofdaily activities of 55 sedentary elderly women, aged 60 to 75, and second, toexamine the minimal amount of exercise needed to produce these changes. Thevariables used to test the functional capacity were dynamic balance, muscularendurance, sit and reach flexibility, and muscular coordination. The variablesthat tested the daily physical activity (ADL) were 20 of the most habitual dailymovement activities among the elderly. The subjects were allocated to 3 exercise groups (n =15 each) and 1 control group (n =10). Exercise was performedfor 1 hour, 3 times, twice, and once a week for the 3 experimental groups, respectively. The subjects were tested before and after the 12‐week exercise intervention on the selected variables. The effects of the 12‐week training program were significant (p
The relationship between motor representation and biomechanical parameters in complex movements: Towards an integrative perspective of movement science
Authors: Schack Thomas
Published: December 2005

In this paper, I aimed at starting a systematical search for paths regarding biomechanical aspects and functional units of movement organization. There‐fore, I developed methodical approaches to measure kinematic parameters and the structure of motor representations. A new experimental method was devel‐oped to measure the structure of these representations in long term memory.Concerning the analysis of kinematics, I developed a system for computer‐based three‐dimensional analysis of complex movements. Altogether, I inves‐tigated 5 groups with 6 subjects in each group (n = 30) with an increasing abilityto perform a special kind of rotational movements in gymnastics: the twistingsomersault. The maximum performance in these groups was ½, 1, 1½, 2, and 2½ twisting somersaults. The results of the experimental analysis show thatrepresentational frameworks were organized in a hierarchical tree‐like struc‐ture and matched the biomechanical demands of the task well. After measuringkinematic parameters, we investigated the relationship between structure ofmotor representation and the kinematic parameters of the twisting somersaultmovement. I found significant correlations (p <. 00) between kinematic parametersof the movement and the accessory parts of motor representations. These results support the hypothesis that voluntary movements are planned, executed, and stored in memory directly by way of representation of their anticipated perceptual effects.
Body fat predicts forced vital capacity in college males
Authors: Moncada‐jiménez José
Published: December 2005

The study was designed to determine how body fat percentage (BF%), body fat distribution (BFD), and abdominal muscular endurance (AME) relate to pul‐monary function (PF) as measured by the forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) among college (M= 22.82,SD = 2.45 yr) males (N= 60). Multiple regression analyses were calculated. A ceiling effect for AME was found; hence, AME was not used as a predictor variable in the multiple regression analyses. The distribution of MIP values was leptokurtic; therefore, MIP was excluded from the analysis. Body weight (p =.00) and body height (p=.03) were positively related to FVC. BF% was inversely (p=.05) related to FVC but was unrelated to FEV1 or FEV1/FVC. The predictor variable BFD was unrelated to FVC, FEV 1, or FEV 1 /FVC. In conclusion, increased proportions of fat were inversely related to FVC in college males.
A socioeconomic approach to sports: Lessons from fitness and event markets
Authors: Kurscheidt Markus , Klein Marie‐luise , Deitersen‐wieber Angela
Published: December 2005

Despite a long, common tradition of economics and other social sciences, today they appear fragmented, highly specialized, and often methodologically opposed to each other. Consequently, the social sciences of sport suffered the same artificial separation during the past decades, which actually trace back to paradigmatic disputes at the end of the 19th century and following mutual ignorance. Since about the 1970s, however, new disciplines and academic schools emerged as a response to methodological criticism and dissatisfaction with the state of the arts in social sciences as well as real world developments stimulating new unifying approaches. The scholarly work in sports has been notably struck by the fast commercialization and professionalization of the sport system, giving rise to the new fields of research and academic education of sport economics and management. In this kind of position paper, we argue for 3 interaction levels of interdisciplinarity, which underpin (a) a socioeconomic approach to sports (i.e., a unifying social sciences approach), and (b) the potential of research on sport as a social and economic phenomenon with regard to impulses for the ongoing theoretical discussions in economic and social sciences. Case studies from fitness and event markets provide some lessons for the socioeconomics of sport.
The value of strength‐diagnostic for the structure of jump training in volleyball
Authors: Voigt Hans‐friedrich , Vetter Katja
Published: December 2005

The action height in volleyball is of crucial importance to the success in offensive situations such as attack and block. Apart from the time‐to‐contact requirement aligned course of motion (technique of jumping), a set of strength parameters have a performance‐diagnostic function. Therefore, more isometric and dynamic strength abilities were examined in connection to the jump strength performance. The collective consisted of 46 international women players. Beyond that, the changes of the ascertained strength parameters were evaluated in the season and in the long‐term development of individual cases. The conclusion can be drawn that common strength‐diagnostic procedures only supply the coach with information difficult to interpret and do not include direct information for organizing jump‐strength training. Jumping is obviously best trained and diagnosed by jumping.
Handbiking: Physiological Responses to Synchronous and Asynchronous Crank Montage
Authors: Abel Thomas , Vega Sandra , Bleicher Iris , Platen Petra
Published: December 2005

Handbiking as a wheelchair sport has gained increased popularity in Germany. It is an attractive sport and seems to be important for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. For a handbike (HB), the position of the cranks can be synchronous (CS) or asynchronous (CA). The purpose of this study was to examine both forms of riding in persons with a spinal cord injury who are used to a HB. Thirty‐five athletes with a spinal cord injury (32 paraplegically and 3 quadriplegically handicapped persons) from Germany agreed to participate in the present investigation. All subjects performed 2 multistage incremental exercise tests until exhaustion sitting in their own HB that was fixed to an ergometer. The tests were randomized for the crank montage. Statistical analysis revealed significantly higher maximal workload in CS compared to CA but no differences in maximal HR and LA. At defined workload intensities, we found lower VO2 values for CS at 30, 60, and 90 W and lower HR for CS at 90 W. LA values were significantly lower for CA at 30 W and higher at 90 W, with no difference at 60 W. We therefore conclude that CS has a higher efficiency for athletes who are used to a HB.
Health Perceptions As Predictors of Exercise Adherence in Older Women
Authors: Kleppinger Alison , Litt Mark , Kulldorff Martin , Unson Christine , Judge James
Published: December 2005

Purpose : To determine if health perceptions, measured by SF‐36 subscales, could identify women more likely to adhere to exercise, particularly during exercise adoption and maintenance phases. Design and Methods: Subjects (Age = 67 ± 5 yr, BMI = 24.4 ± 3 kg/m2) were 189 estrogen‐taking, postmenopausal women in a 2‐year home‐based resistance‐training program. Results : Vitality, role‐emotional, bodily pain, social functioning, and mental health subscales of the SF‐36 were significantly (p<.05) predictive of exercise adoption. Vitality, role‐emotional, general health, and bodily pain subscales were significantly (p<.05) predictive of exercise maintenance. Implications: Women who perceived themselves as having more energy, fewer emotional problems, less pain, fewer social problems, less feelings of nervousness and depression were more likely to start exercising. Women who perceived themselves as having more energy, fewer emotional problems, excellent health, less pain were more likely to continue exercising. Additionally, the present study indicated that different components of the SF‐36 affected different behavior phases of adherence during the exercise program.
Correlates of achievement goal orientations in physical activity: A systematic review of research
Authors: Biddle Stuart , Wang C. K. John , Kavussanu Maria , Spray Christopher
Published: December 2005

There has been a plethora of studies in the past decade investigating task and ego achievement goal orientations in physical activity settings and how they might be associated with various cognitive, affective and behavioral variables. Although comprehensive narrative reviews of the field exist, no systematic review has been reported except one meta‐analysis on only goals and affect. The present paper, therefore, reports a systematic review of 10 correlates of achievement goal orientations across 98 studies and 110 independent samples (total N = 21,076). Studies are invariably cross‐sectional, leading to an inability to conclude causal effects, and are biased towards young people. Frequencies and effect size calculations show associations of varying magnitude between a task orientation and (a) beliefs that effort produces success (positive association: +); (b) motives of skill development and team membership (+); (c) beliefs that the purpose of sport/PE is for fostering mastery, fitness, and self‐esteem (+); (d) perceptions of competence (+); (e) positive affect (+); (f) negative affect (negative association: ‐); (g) parental task orientation (+); and (h) various measures or markers of behavior (+). Associations of varying magnitude were found between an ego orientation and (a) beliefs that possessing ability produces success (+); (b) motives of status/recognition and competition (+); (c) beliefs that the purpose of sport/PE is for social status (+); (d) perceptions of competence (+); (e) unsportspersonlike attitudes, endorsement of intentionally aggressive sport acts, and the display of aggressive behaviors in sport (+); and (f) parental ego orientation (+).
Psychological improvement is associated with exercise session attendance over 10 weeks in formerly sedentary adults
Authors: Annesi James J
Published: December 2005

Using methods intended to minimize experimenter and expectation effects, this field‐based study tested the difference in exercise session attendance between formerly sedentary men and women (N = 46) whose scores on the Profile of Mood States (34) scales of Depression, Tension, Fatigue, and Vigor demonstrated moderate‐to‐high improvements over 10 weeks, and those whose responses did not. The self‐selected cardiovascular exercise amounts approximated 30 min at a moderate intensity (60 to 70% maximal heart rate). Participants with moderate‐to‐high reductions (< 0.5 SD reduction based on normative values) in Depression, Tension, and Fatigue scores had significantly (p <.013) higher attendance rates over the 10‐week study than participants with less reduction. The effect sizes were large (ds = 0.87 to 1.64). No such attendance difference was found in participants with moderate‐to‐high increases in Vigor scores. The correlation between changes in VO2 max over 10 weeks and attendance was not significant (r 44=.13) ruling out a possibility that exercise session attendance was related to greater gains in fitness. Limitations and the need for replication were emphasized. Applied uses of the findings were suggested, including the possibility of promoting early exercise adherence through monitoring of individuals’ exercise‐related psychological changes.
Lightweight design optimization of a Bow Riser in Olympic Archery applying evolutionary computing
Authors: Edelmann‐nusser Jürgen , Heller Mario , Clement Steffen , Vajna Sandor , Jordan André
Published: December 2005

Recurve bows that are used in competitions like the Olympic Games are high‐technology products. Good risers are lightweight but retain a high stiffness. The aim of this study was to design a riser with a stiffness comparable to that of the lightest riser currently used by the archers of the German National Archery Team, but with a considerably reduced weight. We computed the loads that are applied to a riser of a drawn recurve bow (the RADIAN model used by the German team) and created a 3‐D solid CAD model of a riser with 24 variable parameters. We used evolutionary computing to optimize the 24 parameters of the model according to these criteria. We selected the most optimal riser out of the 1650 CAD models generated, manufactured it, and had it tested by three archers of the German National Archery Team. The mass of our manufactured riser is 871g, which is 243g or 22% less mass than the RADIAN riser.
apTreeshape: statistical analysis of phylogenetic tree shape
Authors: Bortolussi Nicolas , Durand Eric , Blum Michael , François Olivier
Published: December 2005

Summary:  apTreeshape is a R package dedicated to simulation and analysis of phylogenetic tree topologies using statistical imbalance measures. It is a companion library of the R package ‘ape’, which provides additional functions for reading, plotting, manipulating phylogenetic trees and for connecting to public phylogenetic tree databases. One strength of the package is to include appropriate corrections of classical shape statistics as well as new tests based on the statistical theory of likelihood ratios.

Availability:  

Contact:  Olivier.Francois@imag.fr
WHAT DETERMINES MIGRATION FLOWS FROM LOW‐INCOME TO HIGH‐INCOME COUNTRIES? AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF FIJI–U.S. MIGRATION 1972–2001
Authors: NARAYAN PARESH KUMAR , SMYTH RUSSELL
Published: December 2005

This article examines the long‐run and short‐run determinants of migration from Fiji to the United States between 1972 and 2001 using a human capital framework, which is extended to take account of political instability in Fiji. In the long‐run the authors find that differences in income levels, disparities in police strength, disparities in the number of doctors, costs of moving, and political instability in Fiji are all statistically significant with the expected sign. In the short run the cost of moving, lagged migration, political instability, and differences in both police strength and medical care are the main determinants of Fiji–United States immigration. (JEL C22, F22)
A Theory of Affirmative Action in College Admissions
Authors: Fu Qiang
Published: December 2005

To address the issue of when minority and nonminority candidates compete for admissions to a college, we show that an academic quality–oriented college maximizes the test score of its incoming class by adopting an admissions rule that favors the minority. Such a “handicapping” rule increases competition and induces candidates to invest more in educational attainment. These results reconcile the often‐assumed conflicts between diversity and academic quality. However, we also show that the non‐minority responds to the affirmative action admissions more aggressively, which tends to widen the racial test score gap. (JEL H0, J7)
Principal Agency Theory and Health Care Utilization
Authors: Schneider Helen , Mathios Alan
Published: December 2005

This article uses a principal agent framework to examine the role that monitoring costs faced by an insurer have on health care utilization. We compare hospital lengths of stay for fee‐for‐service and capitated patients in low and high monitoring cost situations. Monitoring costs associated with a particular procedure are assumed to be high when there is large variation across patients in hospital lengths of stay. The empirical results indicate that differences in utilization between fee‐for‐service and capitated patients increase as monitoring costs increase. However, we do not find that fee‐for‐service reimbursement is used less in the difficult to monitor situations. (JEL I1)
Has the Internet Increased Trade? Developed and Developing Country Evidence
Authors: Clarke George R. G. , Wallsten Scott J.
Published: December 2005

Developing countries export more to developed, but not other developing countries, when Internet penetration is higher. Although this could be because Internet penetration stimulates exports, it could also be because trade openness encourages Internet use. To test the direction of causation, we allow Internet use to be determined endogenously using countries' regulation of data services as an instrument. The results suggest that access to the Internet does improve export performance in developing countries, although not in developed countries. In other words, improving Internet access in a developing country will stimulate exports from that country to rich countries. (JEL F15)
Re‐engineering redox‐sensitive green fluorescent protein for improved response rate
Authors: Cannon Mark B. , Remington S. James
Published: December 2005

Redox‐sensitive variants of the green fluorescent protein (roGFPs) had previously been developed that allow “real‐time” monitoring of the redox status of cellular compartments by fluorescence excitation ratiometry. However, the response time of these probes limits the study of certain rapid oxidative events, such as H2O2 bursts in cell signaling. The substitution of up to three positively charged amino acids adjacent to the introduced disulfide in roGFP1 (variants designated roGFP1‐R1 through ‐R14) substantially improved the response rate. The pseudo first‐order rate constants for oxidation by H2O2 and reduction by DTT and redox midpoint potentials were determined. The rate constants approximately doubled with each additional positively charged substitution, to nearly an order of magnitude total. The midpoint potentials are highly correlated with the rate increases, becoming more oxidizing with increasing numbers of positive substitutions. Crystal structures of two variants with opposite disulfide oxidation states have been determined: a 2.2 Å resolution structure of oxidized “R7” containing two basic substitutions, and a 1.95 Å resolution structure of reduced “R8” with one basic and one acidic substitution. Nonlinear Poisson‐Boltzmann (PB) calculations are shown to accurately predict the effects of the substitutions on the rate constants. The effects of the substitutions on dimer formation, relative oxidative midpoint potentials, and oxidation and reduction rates are discussed. roGFPs are demonstrated to constitute an excellent model system for quantitative analysis of factors influencing thiol transfer reactions. roGFP1‐R12 is most suitable for use in live cells, due to significantly increased reaction rate and increased pI.
Comparison of SUMO fusion technology with traditional gene fusion systems: Enhanced expression and solubility with SUMO
Authors: Marblestone Jeffrey G. , Edavettal Suzanne C. , Lim Yiting , Lim Peter , Zuo Xun , Butt Tauseef R.
Published: December 2005

Despite the availability of numerous gene fusion systems, recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli remains difficult. Establishing the best fusion partner for difficult‐to‐express proteins remains empirical. To determine which fusion tags are best suited for difficult‐to‐express proteins, a comparative analysis of the newly described SUMO fusion system with a variety of commonly used fusion systems was completed. For this study, three model proteins, enhanced green florescent protein (eGFP), matrix metalloprotease‐13 (MMP13), and myostatin (growth differentiating factor‐8, GDF8), were fused to the C termini of maltose‐binding protein (MBP), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), thioredoxin (TRX), NUS A, ubiquitin (Ub), and SUMO tags. These constructswere expressed in E. coli and evaluated for expression and solubility. As expected, the fusion tags varied in their ability to produce tractable quantities of soluble eGFP, MMP13, and GDF8. SUMO and NUS A fusions enhanced expression and solubility of recombinant proteins most dramatically. The ease at which SUMO and NUS A fusion tags were removed from their partner proteins was then determined. SUMO fusions are cleaved by the natural SUMO protease, while an AcTEV protease site had to be engineered between NUS A and its partner protein. A kinetic analysis showed that the SUMO and AcTEV proteases had similarKM values, but SUMOprotease had a 25‐fold higher kcat than AcTEV protease, indicating a more catalytically efficient enzyme. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SUMO is superior to commonly used fusion tags in enhancing expression and solubility with the distinction of generating recombinant protein with native sequences.
Statistical Issues Arising in the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Prentice Ross L. , Pettinger Mary , Anderson Garnet L.
Published: December 2005

Summary A brief overview of the design of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trial and observational study is provided along with a summary of results from the postmenopausal hormone therapy clinical trial components. Since its inception in 1992, the WHI has encountered a number of statistical issues where further methodology developments are needed. These include measurement error modeling and analysis procedures for dietary and physical activity assessment; clinical trial monitoring methods when treatments may affect multiple clinical outcomes, either beneficially or adversely; study design and analysis procedures for high‐dimensional genomic and proteomic data; and failure time data analysis procedures when treatment group hazard ratios are time dependent. This final topic seems important in resolving the discrepancy between WHI clinical trial and observational study results on postmenopausal hormone therapy and cardiovascular disease.
Genetic and proteomic analysis of the role of luxS in the enteric phytopathogen, Erwinia carotovora
Authors: COULTHURST SARAH J. , LILLEY KATHRYN S. , SALMOND GEORGE P. C.
Published: November 2005

Erwinia carotovora is a Gram‐negative phytopathogen that is an important cause of soft rot disease, including stem and tuber rot in potatoes. Quorum sensing is the process by which bacteria detect their population density and regulate gene expression accordingly. Quorum sensing, an important example of intercellular communication, involves the production and detection of chemical signal molecules. The enzyme LuxS is responsible for the production of Autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2), a molecule that has been implicated in quorum sensing in many bacterial species. In this study, the role of luxS in Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora strain ATTn10 and Erwinia carotovora ssp. atroseptica SCRI1043 has been examined. Both strains have been shown to produce luxS‐dependent extracellular AI‐2 activity and the phenotypes of defined luxS mutants in these strains have been characterized. Inactivation of luxS in Er. carotovora was found to have a strain‐dependent impact on the intracellular proteome (using two‐dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis), secreted proteins, motility and virulence in planta. No link was detected with the N‐acyl‐l‐homoserine lactone quorum sensing system in these organisms. Although the molecular mechanism(s) of luxS regulation in Erwinia remain to be determined, this is the first report of any luxS‐dependent phenotypes in a plant pathogen.
Seasonal changes in temperature and nutrient control of photosynthesis, respiration and growth of natural phytoplankton communities
Authors: STAEHR PETER A. , SAND‐JENSEN KAJ
Published: November 2005

1. To investigate the influence of elevated temperatures and nutrients on photosynthesis, respiration and growth of natural phytoplankton assemblages, water was collected from a eutrophic lake in spring, summer, autumn, winter and the following spring and exposed to ambient temperature and ambient +2, +4 and +6 °C for 2 weeks with and without addition of extra inorganic nutrients.

2. Rates of photosynthesis, respiration and growth generally increased with temperature, but this effect was strongly enhanced by high nutrient availability, and therefore was most evident for nutrient amended cultures in seasons of low ambient nutrient availability.

3. Temperature stimulation of growth and metabolism was higher at low than high ambient temperature showing that long‐term temperature acclimation of the phytoplankton community before the experiments was of great importance for the measured rates.

4. Although we found distinct responses to relatively small temperature increases, the interaction between nutrient availability, time of the year and, thus, ambient temperature was responsible for most of the observed variability in phytoplankton growth, photosynthesis and respiration.

5. Although an increase in global temperature will influence production and degradation of organic material in lakes, the documented importance of ambient temperatures and nutrient conditions suggests that effects will be most pronounced during winter and early spring, while the remaining part of the growth season will be practically unaffected by increasing temperatures.
Yeast unfolded protein response pathway regulates expression of genes for anti‐oxidative stress and for cell surface proteins
Authors: Kimata Yukio , Ishiwata‐Kimata Yuki , Yamada Seiko , Kohno Kenji
Published: November 2005

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a cellular protective event against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In the yeast UPR signaling pathway, the ER‐located transmembrane protein Ire1 promotes splicing of the HAC1 premRNA (HAC1u) to produce the translatable transcription factor mRNA (HAC1i). We generated a HAC1i gene‐bearing strain, in which the UPR pathway was constitutively activated, and compared its gene expression profile with that of a Δire1 HAC1u strain using cDNA microarray technology. Comparison of the gene expression profile was also performed between non‐stressed wild‐type cells and those exposed to ER stress. Genes for which the expression level was significantly changed in both of these experiments were categorized as targets of the Ire1‐HAC1 signaling pathway. This analysis revealed that in addition to the previously known UPR targets, some anti‐oxidative stress genes were up‐regulated by the Ire1‐HAC1 pathway, possibly in order to reduce reactive oxygen species produced during the cellular response to ER stress. Moreover, we categorized 15 genes as those down‐regulated by the UPR, most of which seem to encode cell surface or extracellular proteins. This UPR‐mediated gene repression may alleviate the load of client proteins targeted to the ER.
A signal detection approach to patient–doctor communication and doctor‐shopping behaviour among Japanese patients
Authors: Hagihara Akihito , Tarumi Kimio , Odamaki Misato , Nobutomo Koichi
Published: November 2005

Objectives  As one of the factors related to doctor‐shopping behaviour (i.e. consulting multiple doctors with regard to the same illness episode), very little has been revealed about the role of doctor explanation. We examined therefore the association between doctor explanation and doctor‐shopping behaviour. 

Methods  The subjects were internist–patient pairs in Japan. Signal detection analysis (SDA) was used for the data analysis.

Results  Of the 303 patients, 84 patients engaged in doctor shopping (27.7%). The following results were obtained: (1) of the 19 relevant variables, the ‘level of doctor explanation: treatment’ was the most significant predictor of doctor‐shopping behaviour (P < 0.01), and (2) with regard to their subjective evaluations of the sufficiency of their explanations about treatment or testing, the evaluations of the doctors, rather than those of the patient, were significant predictors of doctor‐shopping behaviour.

Conclusions  These results imply the following: (1) a patient's inability to understand a doctor's explanation about treatment, which results from a large gap between the perceptions of the patient and those of the doctor, is the most significant predictor of doctor‐shopping behaviour, and (2) in the context of favourable patient–doctor interactions, when doctors feel their explanations are insufficient, they may be able to prevent doctor‐shopping behaviour by providing relatively thorough explanations about treatment.
Changes in the neuromodulators of the diffuse endocrine system of the alimentary canal of farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), naturally infected with Eubothrium crassum (Cestoda)
Authors: Bosi G , Shinn A P , Giari L , Simoni E , Pironi F , Dezfuli B S
Published: December 2005

A histopathological and immunohistochemical study on the intestines of 45 specimens of farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), from Loch Awe, Scotland, revealed a number of cellular deviations in individuals naturally infected with the pseudophyllidean cestode Eubothrium crassum (Bloch, 1779). Twenty‐five individuals (55.5%) were infected with an average worm burden of 18.84 ± 4.06 (mean ± SE) cestodes per host (range, 2–80 worms; total 471 worms). The cestodes, measuring an average 8.23 ± 1.10 cm (mean ± SE; range, 5.3–13.0 cm) in length, were found attached by their scolices to the mucosal lining of the distal portion of the pyloric caeca. Within the caeca, the strobila evoked a mild catarrhal enteritis, namely an enhanced mucus production with epithelial cellular desquamation, a leucocytic infiltration of the lamina propria‐submucosa and vacuolization of the intestinal epithelial cells. Eosinophilic granular cells of the stratum granulosum exhibited granular depletion, while within the catarrh, the presence of a high number of rodlet cells was noticed. Immunohistochemically, the occurrence of E. crassum caused a significant reduction in the number of bombesin‐, gastrin‐releasing peptide and glucagon‐like immunoreactive endocrine cells, but an increase in the relative densities of endocrine cells containing cholecystokinin‐8‐ and gastrin‐like substances. There were, however, no significant differences in the number of endocrine cells that were immunoreactive to secretin, neuropeptide Y and peptide histidine–isoleucine antisera in the digestive tracts of either the infected or non‐infected O. mykiss.
Isolation in cell culture and detection by PCR‐based technology of IPNV‐like virus from leucocytes of carrier turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.)
Authors: Cutrín J M , López‐Vázquez C , Olveira J G , Castro S , Dopazo C P , Bandín I
Published: December 2005

A non‐destructive procedure was utilized to determine the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) status of an apparently healthy turbot broodstock. Blood samples were used to detect IPNV by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), Southern blot hybridization and nested PCR. In addition, viral isolation from turbot leucocytes was performed. Around 22% of the fish were IPNV positive by RT‐PCR, and this increased to close to 60% when nested PCR was performed. The present report supports the use of blood samples for the detection of IPNV‐like viruses in brood fish. In addition, we demonstrate that it is possible to isolate the virus from the blood of carrier fish, as a non‐lethal detection method, although it is much less sensitive than RT‐PCR and nested PCR as a IPNV‐like strain was isolated from only five of the 15 blood sample pools assayed. The viral isolate was identified as type Dry Mills (genogroup I) by means of restriction fragment length polymorphisms and DNA sequencing.
Secretory expression of recombinant proteins in an attenuated Vibrio anguillarum strain for potential use in vaccines
Authors: Shao M , Ma Y , Liu Q , Zhang Y
Published: December 2005

Vibrio anguillarum is an important bacterial fish pathogen responsible for epizootics in both marine and freshwater fish worldwide. Studies on pathogenic V. anguillarum has shown that its virulence is mediated by a 65 kb endogenous pJM1‐like plasmid, which encodes an efficient iron uptake system. The plasmid‐free derivative of wild V. anguillarum was found to be greatly attenuated and elicited a good protection against wild V. anguillarum in fish. In this study, a plasmid‐free derivative MVAV6201, an effective live vaccine candidate, was used as a carrier strain to achieve the secretory delivery of recombinant proteins in V. anguillarum. The secretion mechanism was based on the Escherichia coliα‐haemolysin (HlyA) transport system. The recombinant proteins were fused with the α‐haemolysin secretion signal (HlyAs) and expressed from the commonly used HlyA secretion vector pMOhly1. Two HlyAs‐tagged recombinant proteins, GFP‐HlyAs and AngE‐HlyAs, were constructed and their secretion characters in V. anguillarum investigated. In the case of GFP‐HlyAs, nearly 70% of the total fusion protein was efficiently secreted into culture supernatant, and in the case of AngE‐HlyAs, the secretion efficiency was determined to be about 300 μg L−1 by Western blotting.
Agrypnia excitata in a patient with progeroid short stature and pigmented Nevi (Mulvihill‐Smith syndrome)
Authors: FERRI RAFFAELE , LANUZZA BARTOLO , COSENTINO FILOMENA I. I. , IERO IVAN , RUSSO NOEMI , TRIPODI MARIANGELA , BOSCO PAOLO
Published: December 2005

We report the video‐polysomnographic sleep characteristics of a 25‐year‐old woman with the Mulvihill‐Smith syndrome, a rare clinical condition characterized by progeria‐like aspect, peculiar multiple pigmented nevi, low stature, and cognitive impairment. Among the various exams, two overnight video‐polysomnographic recordings were carried out; moreover, cerebral MRI and molecular analysis of the prion protein gene (PRNP) were also performed. The video‐polysomnographic recordings showed the absence of clear sleep episodes but the presence of periods during which the patient had poor contact with the environment, stereotyped afinalistic movements of the upper limbs and hands, irregular or periodic breathing (with central apnea episodes), heart rate arrhythmia, and rapid eye movements. Cerebral MRI showed only diffuse mild enlargement of the cortical sulci and the molecular genetics analysis of the PRNP was normal. Our clinical and neurophysiological study seems to indicate that a particular condition of severe sleep disruption, similar to some extent to that reported in the fatal familial insomnia and in the Morvan fibrillary chorea, which has been indicated as Agrypnia Excitata in recent literature, might be associated with the Mulvihill‐Smith syndrome. The inclusion of a detailed study on the sleep characteristics of eventual additional patients will certainly help our understanding of this rare condition.
CAP and arousals are involved in the homeostatic and ultradian sleep processes
Authors: TERZANO MARIO GIOVANNI , PARRINO LIBORIO , SMERIERI ARIANNA , DE CARLI FABRIZIO , NOBILI LINO , DONADIO STEFANIA , FERRILLO FRANCO
Published: December 2005

There is growing evidence that cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) and arousals are woven into the basic mechanisms of sleep regulation. In the present study, the overnight sleep cycles (SC) of 20 normal subjects were analyzed according to their stage composition, CAP rate, phase A subtypes and arousals. Individual SC were then divided into 10 normalized temporal epochs. CAP parameters and arousals were measured in each epoch and averaged in relation to the SC order. Subtypes A2 and A3 of CAP in non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and arousals, both in REM and NREM sleep when not coincident with a A2 or A3 phases, were lumped together as fast electroencephalographic (EEG) activities (FA). Subtypes A1 of CAP, characterized by slow EEG activities (SA), were analyzed separately. The time distribution of SA and FA was compared to the mathematical model of normal sleep structure including functions representing the homeostatic process S, the circadian process C, the ultradian process generating NREM/REM cycles and the slow wave activity (SWA) resulting from the interaction between homeostatic and ultradian processes. The relationship between SA and FA and the sleep‐model components was evaluated by multiple regression analysis in which SA and FA were considered as dependent variables while the covariates were the process S, process C, SWA, REM‐on and REM‐off activities and their squared values. Regression was highly significant (P < 0.0001) for both SA and FA. SA were prevalent in the first three SC, and exhibited single or multiple peaks immediately before and in the final part of deep sleep (stages 3 + 4). The peaks of FA were delayed and prevailed during the pre‐REM periods of light sleep (stages 1 + 2) and during REM sleep. SA showed an exponential decline across the successive SC, according to the homeostatic process. In contrast, the distribution of FA was not influenced by the order of SC, with periodic peaks of FA occurring before the onset of REM sleep, in accordance with the REM‐on switch. The dynamics of CAP and arousals during sleep can be viewed as an intermediate level between cellular activities and macroscale EEG phenomena as they reflect the decay of the homeostatic process and the interaction between REM‐off and REM‐on mechanisms while are slightly influenced by circadian rhythm.