bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remarkable nutritional diversity of basidiomycetes in the Corticiales, including a new foliicolous species of Marchandiomyces (anamorphic Basidiomycota, Corticiaceae) from Australia
Authors: Lawrey James D. , Diederich Paul , Sikaroodi Masoumeh , Gillevet Patrick M.
Published: June 2008

Fungi in the basidiomycete order Corticiales are remarkably diverse nutritionally, including a variety of saprotrophs, plant and fungal pathogens, and lichen‐forming fungi. Tracing the origin of this diversity depends on a clearer understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of fungi in the order. One of its core members is the genus Marchandiomyces, originally established for lichen pathogens that form orange or coral bulbils. We describe here a new species in the genus, M. marsonii sp. nov., which is unusual in its appearance, habit, and geographic provenance. It is foliicolous on leaves of Pandanus (screw pines, Pandanaceae) and produces flattened, coral bulbils resembling apothecia of the ascomycete genus Orbilia. It is also the first member of the genus to be collected from Australia. An isolate of the new fungus and several additional cultures of related plant pathogenic fungi were obtained and investigated phylogenetically using parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian analyses of nuclear small and large subunit ribosomal sequences. Our phylogeny makes clear that Marchandiomyces species and their close relatives contribute significantly to the ecological diversity of the Corticiales and that this diversity is derived mainly from lignicolous ancestors.
Fruits of Icacinaceae (Tribe Iodeae) from the Late Paleocene of western North America
Authors: Pigg Kathleen B. , Manchester Steven R. , DeVore Melanie L.
Published: June 2008

The Icacinaceae occur pantropically today, but are well represented by fossil fruits of the warm Early Middle Eocene, when tropical plants that currently occupy low latitudes were more widely distributed in higher latitudes. Members of this family are first known in the Late Cretaceous; however, fossil fruits of tribe Iodeae are quite rare before the Eocene. In this paper we describe the first formally recognized Late Paleocene icacinaceous taxa from western North America. We name two new species of Icacinicarya based on anatomically preserved fruits and establish a new genus, Icacinicaryites, for impressions with a strong similarity to Icacinicarya that lack anatomical preservation. These new records from the Almont/Beicegel Creek flora in North Dakota and several localities in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana complement records known from the Early Eocene of England and document an increased diversity of Iodeae and related forms in the Paleogene of western North America.
Development of the axillary bud complex in Echinocystis lobata (Cucurbitaceae): interpreting the cucurbitaceous tendril
Authors: Gerrath Jean M. , Guthrie Theodore B. , Zitnak Tim A. , Posluszny Usher
Published: June 2008

In the Cucurbitaceae, the tendrils, coiling organs used for climbing and mechanical support, are part of an axillary bud complex (ABC). Although the morphological nature of tendrils and the branching pattern of the ABC in the Cucurbitaceae have been much studied, their homology remains unresolved, with hypothesized candidates being the leaf, flower, stem, or stem–leaf combination. We used Echinocystis lobata as a model to study the early ontogeny of the ABC with epi‐illumination microscopy and serial resin sections. The ABC produces four structures (proximal to distal, relative to the subtending leaf) as the result of two successive subdivisions: an inflorescence of staminate flowers, a solitary pistillate flower, a lateral bud, and a tendril. The first separates the tendril primordium from the continuation of the ABC, and the second separates the staminate inflorescence and the ABC. The pistillate flower apparently forms between the staminate inflorescence and the lateral bud. Because there is no subtending leaf during these subdivisions and the first lateral appendages in the resulting primordia arise in the same plane, we conclude that the tendril and other organs formed by the ABC are lateral branches of equal morphological value. This study is the basis for continuing comparative and functional morphological studies.
Changes in cell wall ultrastructure induced by sudden flooding at 25°C inPisum sativum(Fabaceae) primary roots
Authors: Sarkar Purbasha , Niki Teruo , Gladish Daniel K.
Published: June 2008

Cellular degeneration is essential for many developmental and stress acclimation processes. Undifferentiated parenchymatous cells in the central vascular cylinder of pea primary roots degenerate under hypoxic conditions created by flooding at temperatures >15°C, forming a long vascular cavity that seems to provide a conduit for longitudinal oxygen transport in the roots. We show that specific changes in the cell wall ultrastructure accompanied previously detected cytoplasmic and organellar degradation in the cavity‐forming roots. The degenerating cells had thinner primary cell walls, less electron‐dense middle lamellae, and less abundant cell wall homogalacturonans in altered patterns, compared to healthy cells of roots grown under cold, nonflooded conditions. Cellular breakdown and changes in wall ultrastructure, however, remained confined to cells within a 50‐μm radius around the root center, even after full development of the cavity. Cells farther away maintained cellular integrity and had signs of wall synthesis, perhaps from tight regulation of wall metabolism over short distances. These observations suggest that the cell degeneration might involve programmed cell death. We also show that warm, nonflooded or cold, flooded conditions that typically do not induce vascular cavity formation can also induce variations in cell wall ultrastructure.
Latent structure of fear of pain: An empirical test among a sample of community dwelling older adults
Authors: Asmundson Gordon J.G. , Hadjistavropoulos Thomas , Bernstein Amit , Zvolensky Michael J.
Published: June 2008

Recent findings from a sample of patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain and headache indicate that fear of pain is characterized by latent continuity; that is, it is non‐taxonic. It remains to be determined whether the latent structure of fear of pain is consistent between patients seeking treatment for pain versus those drawn from representative community samples.

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if the latent structure of fear of pain is characterized by latent continuity in a representative community sample of older adults.

Using taxometric methods in a sample of 459 community dwelling older adults, we sought to evaluate the latent structure of fear of pain as indexed by the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale. Results from analyses of simulated Monte Carlo data, MAXEIG‐HITMAX, and L‐mode consistency tests indicated that the latent structure of fear of pain in this sample was the same as that previously reported in clinical samples, being non‐taxonic and characterized by latent continuity. These findings confirm initial findings that fear of pain, at least as measured by the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale, is continuous, occurring along a latent continuum ranging from low to high. Results are discussed in relation to the conceptual understanding of fear of pain, implications for assessment and treatment, and future research directions.
Inhibiting the platelet derived growth factor receptor increases signs of retinoic acid syndrome in myeloid differentiated HL‐60 cells
Authors: Reiterer Gudrun , Bunaciu Rodica P. , Smith James L. , Yen Andrew
Published: June 2008

PDGFR inhibitors are successfully used in a number of cancer treatments. The standard treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) involves differentiation therapy with retinoic acid (RA). However, the relapse rates are significant. In the present work we evaluated the effects of RA therapy in the presence of PDGFR inhibitor, AG1296. Adding AG1296 with RA increased secretion of TNF‐α, IL‐8, and MMP‐9 expression. This treatment induced higher levels of ICAM‐1 endothelial cell expression, and increased cellular mobility. Inhibiting PDGFR enhanced RA‐induced expression of integrin. Integrin ligand increased differentiation markers CD11b, inducible oxidative metabolism and PDGFR‐β phosphorylation. While the neutrophil–endothelial cell interactions are strengthened by the combined treatment, the endothelium‐substratum interactions are weakened, a situation common in RAS.
Zinc regulation of aminopeptidase B involved in neuropeptide production
Authors: Hwang Shin-Rong , Hook Vivian
Published: June 2008

Aminopeptidase B (AP‐B) is a metallopeptidase that removes basic residues from the N‐termini of neuropeptide substrates in secretory vesicles. This study assessed zinc regulation of AP‐B activity, since secretory vesicles contain endogenous zinc. AP‐B was inhibited by zinc at concentrations typically present in secretory vesicles. Zinc effects were dependent on concentration, incubation time, and the molar ratio of zinc to enzyme. AP‐B activity was recovered upon removal of zinc. AP‐B with zinc became susceptible to degradation by trypsin, suggesting that zinc alters enzyme conformation. Zinc regulation demonstrates the metallopeptidase property of AP‐B.
How selfish retrotransposons are silenced in Drosophila germline and somatic cells
Authors: Siomi Mikiko C. , Saito Kuniaki , Siomi Haruhiko
Published: June 2008

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA elements found in the genomes of various organisms. TEs have been highly conserved during evolution, suggesting that they confer advantageous effects to their hosts. However, due to their ability to transpose into virtually any locus, TEs have the ability to generate deleterious mutations in the host genome. In response, a variety of different mechanisms have evolved to mitigate their activities. A main defense mechanism is RNA silencing, which is a gene silencing mechanism triggered by small RNAs. In this review, we address RNA silencing mechanisms that silence retrotransposons, a subset of TEs, and discuss how germline and somatic cells are equipped with different retrotransposon silencing mechanisms.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress response in murine kidney exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia
Authors: Karar Jayashree , Dolt Karamjit S. , Qadar Pasha M.A.
Published: June 2008

Any perturbation in the normal functioning of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), such as due to hypoxia, triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR). We studied the temporal variation in gene expression in murine kidney exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia. Molecular chaperones like Grp78, Grp94, Canx and Calr in the ER were transcriptionally downregulated. Further, the splicing of Xbp1 mRNA decreased, whereas transcription of the unspliced mRNA increased. This step produces Xbp1 protein, which is negatively regulated by the unspliced protein. Hence, the decreased splicing of Xbp1 along with decreased transcription of ER chaperones in kidney is a definite indication of reduced stress.
Evidence of temperature depression and hydrological variations in the eastern Sierra Nevada during the Younger Dryas Stade
Authors: MacDonald Glen M. , Moser Katrina A. , Bloom Amy M. , Porinchu David F. , Potito Aaron P. , Wolfe Brent B. , Edwards Thomas W.D. , Petel Amanda , Orme Antony R. , Orme Amalie Jo
Published: June 2008

Sediment records from two lakes in the east-central Sierra Nevada, California, provide evidence of cooling and hydrological shifts during the Younger Dryas stade (YD; ~ 12,900–11,500 cal yr BP). A chironomid transfer function suggests that lake-water temperatures were depressed by 2°C to 4°C relative to maximum temperatures during the preceding Bølling–Allerød interstade (BA; ~ 14,500–12,900 cal yr BP). Diatom and stable isotope records suggest dry conditions during the latter part of the BA interstade and development of relatively moist conditions during the initiation of the YD stade, with a reversion to drier conditions later in the YD. These paleohydrological inferences correlate with similar timed changes detected in the adjacent Great Basin. Vegetation response during the YD stade includes the development of more open and xeric vegetation toward the end of the YD. The new records support linkages between the North Atlantic, the North Pacific, and widespread YD cooling in western North America, but they also suggest complex hydrological influences. Shifting hydrological conditions and relatively muted vegetation changes may explain the previous lack of evidence for the YD stade in the Sierra Nevada and the discordance in some paleohydrological and glacial records of the YD stade from the western United States.
The Prevention of Suicide in India and the Developing World
Authors: Jacob K.S.
Published: June 2008

Very high rates of suicide have been reported from India and the developing world. However, much of the debate on suicide prevention focuses on individuals, methods, site-specific solutions, or particular suicide prevention strategies. This article argues for population based approaches that focus on improving the general health of populations (e.g., macroeconomic policies that aim for social justice, schemes to meet basic human needs, organizing local support groups within vulnerable sections of society, developing and implementing an essential pesticide list, addressing gender issues, and increasing public awareness through the mass media) rather than medical, psychiatric, and other strategies that target individuals (e.g., treatment of mental illness, counseling, etc.) in order to reduce high suicide rates in India and developing countries. Individual approaches will help people in distress and prevent individuals from committing suicide, but will not reduce population suicide rates.
The Role of Perfectionism and Autobiographical Memory in a Sample of Parasuicide Patients
Authors: Rasmussen Susan A. , O’Connor Rory C. , Brodie Dallas
Published: June 2008

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between social perfectionism, overgeneral autobiographical memory recall, and psychological distress (hopelessness, depression/anxiety, and suicidal ideation) in a sample of parasuicide patients. Forty patients who had been admitted to a Scottish hospital following an episode of deliberate self-harm participated in the study. The participants completed the autobiographical memory task and a battery of self-report measures (multidimensional perfectionism, hopelessness, depression/anxiety, and suicidal ideation). The results showed that repetitive self-harmers were more overgeneral in their recall of positive autobiographical memories than were first-time self-harmers. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that socially prescribed perfectionism interacted with overgeneral recall of both positive and negative memories to predict suicidal ideation/depression. The findings are discussed in relation to previous research.
Attitudes Toward Suicide Bombing In Pakistan
Authors: Kazim Syed Faraz , Aly Zarmeneh , Bangash Haider Khan , Harchandani Bhisham Pardeep , Bin Irfan Affan , Javed Syed Muhammad , Khalil-ur-Rehman Rana , Naqvi Haider , Khan Murad Moosa
Published: June 2008

Although suicide bombing is a historical phenomenon, there has been a recent upsurge in such incidents. In Pakistan, over the last year, more than 1,000 people have been killed in suicide bombing incidents. Assessing the attitudes and perceptions of people toward suicide bombing can help understand some of the root causes of this phenomenon. In this pilot study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of people (N = 215) in Karachi, Pakistan, to assess their attitudes and perceptions toward suicide bombing. The majority of the respondents condemned suicide bombing and disagreed with the notion that Islam or any other religion supports it. Belonging to the Sunni Muslim sect and strong adherence to religion predicted support for suicide bombing. The majority believed suicide bombing to be a result of religious fundamentalism. Opinion was divided as to whether suicide bombers have an underlying psychiatric illness. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine the attitudes and perceptions of the Pakistani population regarding this important issue.
Coping with Youth Suicide and Overdose
Authors: Hacker Karen , Collins Jessica , Gross-Young Leni , Almeida Stephanie , Burke Noreen
Published: June 2008

From 2000–2005, Somerville, MA, experienced a number of youth overdoses and suicides. The community response followed CDC recommendations for contagion containment. A community coalition, Somerville Cares About Prevention, became a pivotal convener of community partners and a local research organization, the Institute for Community Health, provided needed expertise in surveillance and analysis. Mayoral leadership provided the impetus for action while community activists connected those at risk with mental health resources. Using a variety of data sources (including death certificates, youth risk surveys, 911 call data, and hospital discharges) overdose and suicide activity were monitored. Rates of suicide and overdose for 10–24-year-olds were higher than in previous years. Using case investigation methods, the majority of suicide victims were found to be linked through common peer groups and substance abuse. Subsequent community action steps included: a community-based trauma response team, improved media relationships, focus groups for suicide survivors, and prevention trainings to community stakeholders. Youth suicide and overdose activity subsided in May of 2005. The community partnerships were critical elements for developing a response to this public health crisis. This collaborative approach to suicide contagion used existing resources and provides important lessons learned for other communities facing similar circumstances.
Intraplastidial trafficking of a phage-type RNA polymerase is mediated by a thylakoid RING-H2 protein
Authors: Azevedo Jacinthe , Courtois Florence , Hakimi Mohamed-Ali , Demarsy Emilie , Lagrange Thierry , Alcaraz Jean-Pierre , Jaiswal Pankaj , Maréchal-Drouard Laurence , Lerbs-Mache Silva
Published: June 2008

The plastid genome of dicotyledonous plants is transcribed by three different RNA polymerases; an eubacterial-type enzyme, PEP; and two phage-type enzymes, RPOTp and RPOTmp. RPOTp plays an important role in chloroplast transcription, biogenesis, and mesophyll cell proliferation. RPOTmp fulfills a specific function in the transcription of therrnoperon in proplasts/amyloplasts during seed imbibition/germination and a more general function in chloroplasts during later developmental stages. In chloroplasts, RPOTmp is tightly associated with thylakoid membranes indicating that functional switching of RPOTmp is connected to thylakoid association. By using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified two proteins that interact with RPOTmp. The two proteins are very similar, both characterized by three N-terminal transmembrane domains and a C-terminal RING domain. We show that at least one of these proteins is an intrinsic thylakoid membrane protein that fixes RPOTmp on the stromal side of the thylakoid membrane, probably via the RING domain. A model is presented in which light by triggering the synthesis of the RING protein determines membrane association and functional switching of RPOTmp.
Protonation and sugar binding to LacY
Authors: Smirnova Irina N. , Kasho Vladimir , Kaback H. Ronald
Published: June 2008

The effect of bulk-phase pH on the apparent affinity (
K
d
app
) of purified wild-type lactose permease (LacY) for sugars was studied.
K
d
app
values were determined by ligand-induced changes in the fluorescence of either of two covalently bound fluorescent reporters positioned away from the sugar-binding site.
K
d
app
for three different galactopyranosides was determined over a pH range from 5.5 to 11. A remarkably high pK
a
of ≈10.5 was obtained for all sugars. Kinetic data for thiodigalactoside binding measured from pH 6 to 10 show that decreased affinity for sugar at alkaline pH is due specifically to increased reverse rate. A similar effect was also observed with nitrophenylgalactoside by using a direct binding assay. Because affinity for sugar remains constant from pH 5.5 to pH 9.0, it follows that LacY is fully protonated with respect to sugar binding under physiological conditions of pH. The results are consistent with the conclusion that LacY is protonated before sugar binding during lactose/H
+
symport in either direction across the membrane.
The role of in‐group identification in infra‐humanization
Authors: Demoulin Stéphanie , Cortes Brezo P. , Viki Tendayi G. , Rodriguez Armando P. , Rodriguez Ramon T. , Paladino Maria Paola , Leyens Jacques‐Philippe
Published: June 2008

People tend to infra‐humanize by attributing more human essence to their in‐group than to out‐groups. In the present article, we focus on the attribution of primary and secondary emotions to operationalize the human essence. We propose that, in order to infra‐humanize, people need to be categorized in meaningful groups. In addition, we argue that what differentiates meaningful from nonmeaningful groups is that the people essentialize, perceiving members of the group as sharing an underlying, common essence. Also, we hypothesize that participants will identify more with their in‐group in the case of meaningful groups. Three types of groups were created to manipulate the meaningfulness of the categorization. Participants were either randomly assigned to a group or they chose their group as a function of their preferences for a colour or the type of career they wished to pursue. As expected, infra‐humanization occurred only where the categorization's criterion was meaningful. In addition, in‐group identification, but not essentialism, mediated the impact of the categorization criteria on the tendency to infra‐humanize. Data also showed that infra‐humanization is different from classic in‐group favouritism. This is because in‐group favouritism, but not infra‐humanization, was observed in the situation where group membership was based on random assignment. In other words, for infra‐humanization to occur mere categorization is not enough; meaningfulness is also needed. For in‐group favouritism to arise, the knowledge of being part of a group is a sufficient prerequisite. The discussion focuses on conditions for reducing infra‐humanization and on the relationship between in‐group favouritism and out‐group derogation.
The development of intergroup bias in childhood: How social norms can shape children's racial behaviours
Authors: Monteiro Maria Benedicta , de França Dalila Xavier , Rodrigues Ricardo
Published: June 2008

The present research examined the developmental course of racial behaviours in childhood. It tested the hypothesis that White children's expressions of racial prejudice do not necessarily decline in middle childhood due to the development of particular cognitive skills but that instead, as argued by the socio‐normative approach, children older than seven will go on expressing prejudiced attitudes under appropriate conditions. This would be explained by the presence of an anti‐racism norm, along with the existence of values promoting equal rights, which impede blatant expressions of racism. In the first study 283 White children aged 6–7 and 9–10 years performed a task of resource allocation to White and Black target children in conditions of high (White interviewer was present) or low (White interviewer was absent) salience of the anti‐racist norm. The 6‐ to 7‐year‐old children discriminated against the Black target in both conditions whereas older children discriminated against the Black child only when the anti‐racist norm was not salient. In Study 2, 187 White children aged 6–7 and 9–10 years performed the same resource allocation task in conditions of explicit activation of similarity vs dissimilarity or egalitarian vs merit‐based norms regarding race relations. Supporting the hypothesis of the role of racist or anti‐racist norms on the expression of intergroup discrimination, results have again shown that 6‐ to 7‐year‐old children discriminated against the Black target in both conditions while older children presented significantly different prejudiced/nonprejudiced behaviours consistent with the activated norms. These results were discussed in terms of the need for a reanalysis of the assumptions and research results of the cognitive‐developmental theory and of further developments in the socio‐normative approach regarding the development of prejudice in childhood.
European Union Constructive Engagement with Iran (2000–2004): An Exercise in Conditional Human Rights Diplomacy
Authors: Kaussler Bernd
Published: June 2008

In 2002, the European Union (EU) announced that it would enter a Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Iran. The deepening of economic and diplomatic relations between the EU and Iran was, however, linked by the Commission to progress in four areas: human rights, non-proliferation, terrorism and the Middle East Peace Process. This article argues that the current focus on efforts to find a solution to Iran's nuclear ambitions has overshadowed the dynamics of EU human rights diplomacy towards that country. Unlike diplomatic pressure on the non-proliferation issue, the EU-Iran Human Rights Dialogue did not only enjoy great support by politicians and human rights activists, but did indeed result in changes in legislation and policies aimed at the protection of human rights. Europe's multi-track strategy allowed Iranian activists and members of the legal profession to approach the notion of human rights from within the Shi'a notion of justice and rationality and thus managed to assert Islamic roots for human rights and uncovered the very secular realities of human rights violations in the Islamic Republic. The Dialogue was launched at a critical juncture in Iran's reformist movement and helped likeminded politicians, particularly the executive and parliament, to gain momentum domestically and credibility internationally. While efforts at reform were and still are often impeded by the country's competing centers of power, this article argues that efforts to promote and protect human rights in Iran must not be sacrificed for concerns over the nuclear issue.
The Last Gālesh Herdsman: Ethno-linguistic Materials from South Caspian Rainforests
Authors: Borjian Habib , Borjian Maryam
Published: June 2008

This article includes part of the linguistic material we documented in 2002 from a galesh ranch in central-eastern Mazandaran. It transcribes, translates, and glosses two texts related by a patriarch on his long, eventful life: the dramatic elopement with the girl he married, his successful family life and career as a pastoral nomad, and his long resistance against the laws forcing the galesh families to evacuate the forest for good. Notwithstanding our dialectological purpose, namely documentation of the largely understudied language of Mazandaran within the long-standing tradition of Iranian philology, the article may also provide raw material for the anthropologist, sociologist, and historian, as it relays an unrecorded tradition just before its total disappearance.
Enemies Within
Authors: Brown Kerry
Published: June 2008

Minorities face trouble if they threaten national unity, writes Kerry Brown
Cyber Zone
Authors: MacKinnon Rebecca
Published: June 2008

China’s online pioneers are pushing the boundaries of free speech, writes Rebecca MacKinnon
Notes On the Net
Authors: Shuguang Zhou , Martinsen Joel
Published: June 2008

Chinese blogger Zhou Shuguang’s journey through censorship, journalism and the Internet — from the Great Firewall to reporting banned stories
Welcome to the Machine
Authors: Wang Stephanie , Faris Robert
Published: June 2008

China is leading the world in its sophisticated censorship of the Internet write
The Trade-Offs of Fighting and Investing: A Model of the Evolution of War and Peace1
Authors: Kadera Kelly M. , Morey Daniel S.
Published: June 2008

International competition occurs in many different forms. Just as a state would be in danger if it allowed its opponent to gain a military advantage, one that falls behind a rival in an economic contest similarly faces risks. States must weigh the trade-offs between economic and military growth, as well as deciding on the best strategy to follow should war erupt. We use a formal, dynamic model to explicitly capture the trade-offs that states face in their search for security and dominance. The deductions from the model demonstrate that by considering the long-run results of a peacetime rivalry, weaker states might conclude that their only hope of winning or surviving a rivalry lies in fighting a counterforce war, explain why and how stalemates evolve during counterforce wars, and indicate that targeting industrial objectives shortens the duration of wars.
Bargaining, Domestic Politics, and International Context in the Management of War: A Review Essay
Authors: Maoz Zeev , Siverson Randolph M.
Published: June 2008

This review essay examines a number of areas in the study of war management. First, current work on war bargaining combines previous models of prewar bargaining with intra-war bargaining. These models attempt to depict both the elements of intra-war bargaining and its possible outcome within a dynamic setting in which battles as well as diplomacy provide combatants with information about the possible military outcome of the war. Second, studies of the domestic politics of war management focused primarily on the interrelations between war progress, casualties, and public opinion. As such these studies are strongly biased towards democratic politics of war management. We know very little about the domestic process of war management in non-democratic states. Nor is there much systematic empirical work on civil-military relations during wartime. Third, war expansion models have expanded our knowledge on the factors that increase the probability of third party intervention, as well as on the domestic and international factors that prohibit intervention. Fourth, the literature on the relationship between war management and war outcomes focused on selection models and performance models that attempt to account for the disproportionate tendency of democracies to win the war they fight. Finally, mediation studies have expanded our knowledge of the conditions under which third parties are likely to enter the war as peaceful mediators, the strategies of mediation they select, and the effect of these factors on the outcome of the mediation process. We evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these literatures and identify several important lacunae that may stimulate future research on war management.
New Structures, New Strategies: CSIRO’s Changing Role in Australian Innovation
Authors: Upstill Garrett , Spurling Thomas H.
Published: June 2008

CSIRO’s role in Australian innovation has evolved over the years in response to changes in the external environment and within Australia’s national innovation system. The process of organisational change has been characterised by a series of restructurings—in 1978, 1988, 1996 and 2001—and accompanying shifts in the organisation’s strategic directions. In this paper we look at the process of organisational change in an historical context, looking at the evolving external environment, the legislative and management background, and the shifts in the organisation’s strategic directions. The change process is interpreted from a punctuated equilibrium perspective. We propose that discontinuous, rather than continuous change, is the way that a complex and diversified organisation like CSIRO adjusts to a changing external environment and, moreover, that independent public reviews have an important role in this process. In the light of major changes in the Australian and scientific landscapes over the past two decades we suggest it is time to look again at CSIRO’s role and the sustainability of its internal management arrangements.
Community Participation in Australian Science and Technology Policy: The Case of Nanotechnology
Authors: Harwood Jeff , Schibeci Renato
Published: June 2008

Nanotechnology is widely considered to offer enormous competitive advantages to those countries that possess the knowledge and capacity to harness its potential. As in many other countries, Australia’s nanotechnology policy is in its infancy and lags international research in the field. We examine the role of community engagement in the development of nanotechnology in Australia, and argue that if Australia is to establish a sustainable nanotechnology policy, then it must broaden its perspective and more carefully consider the social, ethical and environmental aspects of nanotechnology. We support the goal of shared economic growth through technological advancement; however, this seems unlikely as long as the Australian government persists with what is essentially a technical and socially exclusive approach to stimulating innovation in nanotechnology. While opposition to nanotechnology is still ‘thin on the ground’, it is starting to emerge and the Commonwealth and State governments would do well to treat it with respect.
Time‐Intensive Information Technology and Human Welfare in Developing Countries
Authors: James Jeffrey
Published: June 2008

This paper is concerned with the scope for developing countries to benefit from the Internet in non‐synchronous ways that is, in cases where some delay is involved in the delivery of information, as compared with the real‐time alternative used in developed countries. The first part of the paper draws on insights from Becker and others, to argue that poor people in poor countries are wont to exchange (relatively abundant) time for reductions in the cost of Internet use. The second part of the paper then examines whether such time‐intensive products actually exist and to the extent they do, how the required degree of cost reductions are effected in practice. I conclude that time‐intensive Internet technology represents a highly promising opportunity for developing countries to close the digital divide, an opportunity that warrants serious academic scrutiny.
Beating the Bounds? The Introduction of Pharmacist Supplementary Prescribing in the UK National Health Service
Authors: Tann Jennifer , Blenkinsopp Alison , Evans Amanda , Grime Janet
Published: June 2008

Pharmacists in the UK were granted supplementary prescribing rights in 2003, subject to further training. Most of those now qualified are practising in general medical practices and hospitals. This qualitative study explores GP and pharmacist perceptions of the introduction of pharmacist supplementary prescribing, focusing on the consequences for professional boundaries, power relations and knowledge. GPs have delegated some routine work in specific chronic conditions, and a limited amount of decision making, to pharmacists, (albeit within tightly controlled boundaries). But diagnosis has remained firmly in the hands of GPs; work being delegated in areas where the pharmacist was minimally required to exercise diagnosis and clinical judgement. GPs have continued to exercise control over inter‐professional boundaries.
The influence of cannabis use expectancies on cannabis use and psychotic symptoms in psychosis
Authors: HIDES LEANNE , KAVANAGH DAVID J. , DAWE SHARON , YOUNG ROSS McD.
Published: June 2008

Introduction and Aims. Little is known about motives or expectancies for cannabis use in psychotic populations, despite these cognitive factors being a central focus of the treatment for substance misuse in psychosis. This study examined the relationship between cannabis use expectancies, cannabis use and psychotic symptoms among cannabis using psychotic inpatients. A secondary aim was to determine if there were significant differences in the cannabis use expectancies of psychotic patients with and without Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version IV (DSM‐IV) cannabis dependence. Design and Methods. Participants consisted of 101 in‐patients with psychosis who had used cannabis more than five times in the past year. Expectancies were assessed using the Cannabis Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ). The frequency of cannabis use, severity of cannabis dependence, presence of DSM‐IV cannabis dependence and severity of psychotic symptoms were also assessed using standardised measures. Results and Conclusions. Results suggested that cannabis use expectancies were associated with cannabis use but not symptom variables. Expectances for cannabis use predicted recent cannabis use and the presence and severity of cannabis dependence. Psychotic patients with DSM‐IV cannabis dependence had significantly higher expectancies for negative effects from cannabis use. Prospective research examining the influence of motives and expectancies for cannabis use on cannabis use and psychotic symptoms is required to obtain a greater understanding of substance use in psychosis and assist with the development of innovative treatment interventions.[Hides L, Kavanagh DJ, Dawe S, Young RMcD. The influence of cannabis use expectancies on cannabis use and psychotic symptoms in psychosis. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009;28:250–256]
Theoretical Models of Microvascular Oxygen Transport to Tissue
Authors: GOLDMAN DANIEL
Published: June 2008

To improve understanding of microvascular O2 transport, theoretical modeling has been pursued for many years. The large number of studies in this area attests to the complexities (i.e., biochemical, structural, and hemodynamic) involved. This article focuses on theoretical studies from the last two decades and, in particular, on models of O2 transport to tissue by discrete microvessels. A brief discussion of intravascular O2 transport is first given, highlighting the physiological importance of intravascular resistance to blood‐tissue O2 transfer. This is followed by a description of the Krogh tissue cylinder model of O2 transport by a single capillary, which is shown to remain relevant in modified forms that relax many of the original biophysical assumptions. However, there are many geometric and hemodynamic complexities that require the consideration of microvascular arrays and networks. Multivessel models are discussed that have shown the physiological importance of heterogeneities in vessel spacing, O2 supply, red blood cell flow path, as well as interactions between capillaries and arterioles. These realistic models require sophisticated methods for solving the governing partial differential equations, and a range of solution techniques are described. Finally, the issue of experimental validation of microvascular O2 delivery models is discussed, and new directions in O2 transport modeling are outlined.
The Atypical Zeta (ζ) Isoform of Protein Kinase C Regulates CD11b/CD18 Activation in Human Neutrophils
Authors: CHAKRABARTI SUBHADEEP , PATEL KAMALA D.
Published: June 2008

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the role of protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) in interleukin (IL)‐8‐mediated activation of Mac‐1 (CD11b/CD18) in human neutrophils.

Materials and Methods: Neutrophils were stimulated with IL‐8 in the presence or absence of pharmacologic inhibitors of PKC or a myristoylated PKCζ pseudosubstrate. The resulting changes in Mac‐1 surface expression, affinity, and avidity, as measured by clustering, were determined by using a combination of flow cytometry and immunofluorescence (IF). Colocalization of Mac‐1 with PKCζ was also probed using IF. Finally, neutrophil adhesion to matrix proteins was examined under static conditions and adhesion to tumor necrosis factor‐alpha‐stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells was examined under flow conditions, using a parallel‐plate flow chamber.

Results: PKCζ and Mac‐1 colocalized following stimulation with IL‐8. Blocking PKCζ prevented IL‐8‐induced Mac‐1 clustering while simultaneously increasing Mac‐1 affinity. To determine the relative contribution of affinity versus avidity in neutrophil adhesion, we examined adhesion under both static and flow conditions, and found that blocking PKCζ prevented neutrophil adhesion, despite increased affinity of Mac‐1.

Conclusions: These data suggest that PKCζ is a negative regulator of Mac‐1 affinity and a positive regulator of Mac‐1 avidity. Further, Mac‐1 avidity is more important than increased affinity alone in regulating neutrophil firm adhesion.
Teacher Efficacy and Content Literacy Implementation: An Exploration of the Effects of Extended Professional Development with Coaching
Authors: Cantrell Susan Chambers , Hughes Hannah K.
Published: June 2008

This study investigated the effects of yearlong professional development with coaching on sixth- and ninth-grade teachers' efficacy for teaching literacy and collective efficacy. As well, it explored the relationship between teacher efficacy and implementation of a content literacy approach. A teacher survey was used to measure teachers' efficacy before and after participation in the professional development, and classroom observations were used to measure teachers' implementation of content literacy practices. Teacher interviews provided insight into the processes of teacher efficacy development and content literacy implementation. Survey results indicated significant improvements in teachers' personal and general efficacy for literacy teaching and in teachers' collective teaching efficacy. Teachers who demonstrated higher efficacy prior to participating in professional development were more likely to implement the recommended content literacy practices. Teacher interviews indicated that coaching and collaboration were important factors in the development of teachers' sense of efficacy with and implementation of content literacy strategies.
Young Latino Students' English-Reading Growth in All-English Classrooms
Authors: Fitzgerald Jill , Amendum Steven J. , Guthrie Karren M.
Published: June 2008

The research questions were: a) Is the pattern of young Latino English-language learners' reading growth (for Instructional Reading Level, Word and Sound Level features of reading, Comprehension, and Fluency) across two years the same as the pattern for monolingual native-English-speaking peers' growth; and b) If the pattern of reading growth is the same, does one group outperform the other? One-hundred-twenty participants were assessed on a variety of reading and language measures at several time points. A series of repeated measures analyses of variance and covariance was conducted in stages, first examining effects in relation to students' Instructional Reading Level growth, and then in relation to selected reading subprocess growth. Main conclusions were: 1) The Latino students' Instructional Reading Level growth was similar to their monolingual peers' growth, and 2) there were some differences between the two groups in selected reading subprocess growth patterns.
Technology and Reading Performance in the Middle-School Grades: A Meta-Analysis with Recommendations for Policy and Practice
Authors: Moran Juan , Ferdig Richard E. , Pearson P. David , Wardrop James , Blomeyer Robert L.
Published: June 2008

The results of a meta-analysis of 20 research articles containing 89 effect sizes related to the use of digital tools and learning environments to enhance literacy acquisition for middle school students demonstrate that technology can have a positive effect on reading comprehension (weighted effect size of 0.489). Very little research has focused on the effect of technology on other important aspects of reading, such as metacognitive, affective, and dispositional outcomes. The evidence permits the conclusion that there is reason to be optimistic about using technology in middle-school literacy programs, but there is even greater reason to encourage the research community to redouble its efforts to investigate and understand the impact of digital learning environments on students in this age range and to broaden the scope of the interventions and outcomes studied.
Involvement of Fas Signalling in 7β-Hydroxycholesterol-and Cholesterol-5β,6β-Epoxide-Induced Apoptosis
Authors: Lordan Sinéad , Mackrill John J. , O’Brien Nora M.
Published: June 2008

The induction of apoptosis in cells of the arterial wall is a critical event in the development of atheroma. 7 β-Hydroxycholesterol (7 β-OH) and cholesterol-5 β,6 β-epoxide ( β-epoxide) are components of oxLDL and have previously been shown to be potent inducers of apoptosis. However, the exact mechanisms through which these oxysterols induce apoptosis remains to be fully elucidated. The specific interaction of the Fas death receptor with Fas ligand (FasL) initiates a caspase cascade culminating in apoptosis. The purpose of the present study was to determine the involvement of Fas signalling in 7 β-OH- and β-epoxide-induced apoptosis. To this end we employed the Fas/FasL antagonist, Kp7-6, and examined the effect of Fas inhibition on oxysterol-induced cell death in U937 cells. Fas levels were increased following 24 h exposure to 30 μM 7 β-OH while treatment with 30 μM β-epoxide had no effect. Kp7-6 reduced the Fas content of 7 β-OH-treated cells to control levels and partially protected against 7 β-OH-induced apoptosis. This coincided with a decrease in cytochrome c release along with a reduction in caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity. Our data implicate Fas signalling in the apoptotic pathway induced by 7 β-OH and also highlight differences between apoptosis induced by 7 β-OH and β-epoxide.
Survey of complementary and alternative therapies used by children with specific learning difficulties (dyslexia)
Authors: Bull Leona
Published: June 2008

Background: Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty affecting up to 10% of British children that is associated with a wide range of cognitive, emotional and physical symptoms. In the absence of effective conventional treatment, it is likely that parents will seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to try and help their children. However, little is known about the level of CAM use or the type of CAM used by dyslexic children.

Aims: This study assessed: (1) the lifetime use of CAM by dyslexic children, (2) the role of socio‐demographic factors in CAM use by dyslexic children, (3) parental attitudes towards CAM use in the treatment of dyslexia, and (4) how parents' understanding of dyslexia affects CAM use.

Methods & Procedures: A semi‐structured questionnaire‐based survey of parents of 148 dyslexic school children was undertaken. The children had been recruited to a university research programme investigating the effectiveness of a complementary therapy for the treatment of learning difficulties.

Outcomes & Results: Lifetime use of CAM was 55.4% (82 children). The most popular CAM approaches were nutritional supplements/special diets (63 children) followed by homeopathy (29 children) and osteopathy/chiropractic manipulation (29 children). Socio‐demographic factors did not predict CAM use. In total, parents of 101 dyslexic children reported that an interest in CAM for the treatment of dyslexia was based on their preference for CAM for their families more generally. Parents who thought that dyslexia was a ‘medical/health’ disorder were more likely to have used CAM with their children (p<0.01) than other parents in this survey.

Conclusions & Implications: Educational and health professionals should be aware that many dyslexic children use CAM. Parents of dyslexic children should be provided with evidence‐based advice to help them make informed therapeutic choices.