bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contrasting nuclear dynamics of the caspase-activated DNase (CAD) in dividing and apoptotic cells
Authors: Lechardeur Delphine , Xu Ming , Lukacs Gergely L.
Published: November 2004

Although compelling evidence supports the central role of caspase-activated DNase (CAD) in oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation in apoptotic nuclei, the regulation of CAD activity remains elusive in vivo. We used fluorescence photobleaching and biochemical techniques to investigate the molecular dynamics of CAD. The CAD-GFP fusion protein complexed with its inhibitor (ICAD) was as mobile as nuclear GFP in the nucleosol of dividing cells. Upon induction of caspase-3–dependent apoptosis, activated CAD underwent progressive immobilization, paralleled by its attenuated extractability from the nucleus. CAD immobilization was mediated by its NH2 terminus independently of its DNA-binding activity and correlated with its association to the interchromosomal space. Preventing the nuclear attachment of CAD provoked its extracellular release from apoptotic cells. We propose a novel paradigm for the regulation of CAD in the nucleus, involving unrestricted accessibility of chromosomal DNA at the initial phase of apoptosis, followed by its nuclear immobilization that may prevent the release of the active nuclease into the extracellular environment.
Progenitor cells of the testosterone-producing Leydig cells revealed
Authors: Davidoff Michail S. , Middendorff Ralf , Enikolopov Grigori , Riethmacher Dieter , Holstein Adolf F. , Müller Dieter
Published: November 2004

The cells responsible for production of the male sex hormone testosterone, the Leydig cells of the testis, are post-mitotic cells with neuroendocrine characteristics. Their origin during ontogeny and regeneration processes is still a matter of debate. Here, we show that cells of testicular blood vessels, namely vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes, are the progenitors of Leydig cells. Resembling stem cells of the nervous system, the Leydig cell progenitors are characterized by the expression of nestin. Using an in vivo model to induce and monitor the synchronized generation of a completely new Leydig cell population in adult rats, we demonstrate specific proliferation of vascular progenitors and their subsequent transdifferentiation into steroidogenic Leydig cells which, in addition, rapidly acquire neuronal and glial properties. These findings, shown to be representative also for ontogenetic Leydig cell formation and for the human testis, provide further evidence that cellular components of blood vessels can act as progenitor cells for organogenesis and repair.
Carboxy-terminal Determinants of Conductance in Inward-rectifier K Channels
Authors: Zhang Yu-Yang , Robertson Janice L. , Gray Daniel A. , Palmer Lawrence G.
Published: November 2004

Previous studies suggested that the cytoplasmic COOH-terminal portions of inward rectifier K channels could contribute significant resistance barriers to ion flow. To explore this question further, we exchanged portions of the COOH termini of ROMK2 (Kir1.1b) and IRK1 (Kir2.1) and measured the resulting single-channel conductances. Replacing the entire COOH terminus of ROMK2 with that of IRK1 decreased the chord conductance at Vm = −100 mV from 34 to 21 pS. The slope conductance measured between −60 and −140 mV was also reduced from 43 to 31 pS. Analysis of chimeric channels suggested that a region between residues 232 and 275 of ROMK2 contributes to this effect. Within this region, the point mutant ROMK2 N240R, in which a single amino acid was exchanged for the corresponding residue of IRK1, reduced the slope conductance to 30 pS and the chord conductance to 22 pS, mimicking the effects of replacing the entire COOH terminus. This mutant had gating and rectification properties indistinguishable from those of the wild-type, suggesting that the structure of the protein was not grossly altered. The N240R mutation did not affect block of the channel by Ba2+, suggesting that the selectivity filter was not strongly affected by the mutation, nor did it change the sensitivity to intracellular pH. To test whether the decrease in conductance was independent of the selectivity filter we made the same mutation in the background of mutations in the pore region of the channel that increased single-channel conductance. The effects were similar to those predicted for two independent resistors arranged in series. The mutation increased conductance ratio for Tl+:K+, accounting for previous observations that the COOH terminus contributed to ion selectivity. Mapping the location onto the crystal structure of the cytoplasmic parts of GIRK1 indicated that position 240 lines the inner wall of this pore and affects the net charge on this surface. This provides a possible structural basis for the observed changes in conductance, and suggests that this element of the channel protein forms a rate-limiting barrier for K+ transport.
Salt Bridges and Gating in the COOH-terminal Region of HCN2 and CNGA1 Channels
Authors: Craven Kimberley B. , Zagotta William N.
Published: November 2004

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) channels and cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels are activated by the direct binding of cyclic nucleotides. The intracellular COOH-terminal regions exhibit high sequence similarity in all HCN and CNG channels. This region contains the cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD) and the C-linker region, which connects the CNBD to the pore. Recently, the structure of the HCN2 COOH-terminal region was solved and shown to contain intersubunit interactions between C-linker regions. To explore the role of these intersubunit interactions in intact channels, we studied two salt bridges in the C-linker region: an intersubunit interaction between C-linkers of neighboring subunits, and an intrasubunit interaction between the C-linker and its CNBD. We show that breaking these salt bridges in both HCN2 and CNGA1 channels through mutation causes an increase in the favorability of channel opening. The wild-type behavior of both HCN2 and CNGA1 channels is rescued by switching the position of the positive and negative residues, thus restoring the salt bridges. These results suggest that the salt bridges seen in the HCN2 COOH-terminal crystal structure are also present in the intact HCN2 channel. Furthermore, the similar effects of the mutations on HCN2 and CNGA1 channels suggest that these salt bridge interactions are also present in the intact CNGA1 channel. As disrupting the interactions leads to channels with more favorable opening transitions, the salt bridges appear to stabilize a closed conformation in both the HCN2 and CNGA1 channels. These results suggest that the HCN2 COOH-terminal crystal structure contains the C-linker regions in the resting configuration even though the CNBD is ligand bound, and channel opening involves a rearrangement of the C-linkers and, thus, disruption of the salt bridges. Discovering that one portion of the COOH terminus, the CNBD, can be in the activated configuration while the other portion, the C-linker, is not activated has lead us to suggest a novel modular gating scheme for HCN and CNG channels.
From Mantua to Vienna: A New Look at the Early Seventeenth-Century Dance Suite
Authors: Harrán Don
Published: November 2004

There is a gaping hole in the instrumental chamber-music literature at the Habsburg court of Vienna in the early seventeenth century. Of the composers in the employ of Emperor Ferdinand II, Giovanni Battista Buonamente was the only one to publish instrumental chamber works; but Buonamente's origins were Mantuan and the contents of his publications reflect the influence of the sinfonie, sonatas and dances by the leading Mantuan instrumental music composer Salamone Rossi. The similarities raise various questions. How does the Mantuan-born empress Eleonora impress her musical tastes on the Viennese court? To what extent is the Mantuan exemplar operative in Viennese instrumental music, particularly dances? How do the dance works of both Rossi and Buonamente relate to the incipient suite? And what new evidence can be brought to bear on the ordering of its constituents to form a larger construct?
The neuroeconomic path of the law
Authors: Hoffman Morris B.
Published: November 2004

Advances in evolutionary biology, experimental economics and neuroscience are shedding new light on age-old questions about right and wrong, justice, freedom, the rule of law and the relationship between the individual and the state. Evidence is beginning to accumulate suggesting that humans evolved certain fundamental behavioural predispositions grounded in our intense social natures, that those predispositions are encoded in our brains as a distribution of probable behaviours, and therefore that there may be a core of universal human law.
Law, evolution and the brain: applications and open questions
Authors: Zeki S. , Goodenough O. R. , Jones Owen D.
Published: November 2004

This paper discusses several issues at the intersection of law and brain science. It focuses principally on ways in which an improved understanding of how evolutionary processes affect brain function and human behaviour may improve law's ability to regulate behaviour. It explores sample uses of such ‘evolutionary analysis in law’ and also raises questions about how that analysis might be improved in the future. Among the discussed uses are: (i) clarifying cost–benefit analyses; (ii) providing theoretical foundation and potential predictive power; (iii) assessing comparative effectiveness of legal strategies; and (iv) revealing deep patterns in legal architecture. Throughout, the paper emphasizes the extent to which effective law requires: (i) building effective behavioural models; (ii) integrating life–science perspectives with social–science perspectives; (iii) considering the effects of brain biology on behaviours that law seeks to regulate; and (iv) examining the effects of evolutionary processes on brain design.
The emergence of consequential thought: evidence from neuroscience
Authors: Zeki S. , Goodenough O. R. , Baird Abigail A. , Fugelsang Jonathan A.
Published: November 2004

The ability to think counterfactually about the consequence of one's actions represents one of the hallmarks of the development of complex reasoning skills. The legal system places a great emphasis on this type of reasoning ability as it directly relates to the degree to which individuals may be judged liable for their actions. In the present paper, we review both behavioural and neuroscientific data exploring the role that counterfactual thinking plays in reasoning about the consequences of one's actions, especially as it pertains to the developing mind of the adolescent. On the basis of assimilation of both behavioural and neuroscientific data, we propose a brain–based model that provides a theoretical framework for understanding the emergence of counterfactual reasoning ability in the developing mind.
The property ‘instinct’
Authors: Zeki S. , Goodenough O. R. , Stake Jeffrey Evans
Published: November 2004

Evolutionary theory and empirical studies suggest that many animals, including humans, have a genetic predisposition to acquire and retain property. This is hardly surprising because survival is closely bound up with the acquisition of things: food, shelter, tools and territory. But the root of these general urges may also run to quite specific and detailed rules about property acquisition, retention and disposition. The great variation in property-related behaviours across species may mask some important commonalities grounded in adaptive utility. Experiments and observations in the field and laboratory suggest that the legal rules of temporal priority and possession are grounded in what were evolutionarily stable strategies in the ancestral environment. Moreover, the preferences that humans exhibit in disposing of their property on their deaths, both by dispositions made in wills and by the laws of intestacy, tend to advance reproductive success as a result of inclusive fitness pay-offs.
A cognitive neurobiological account of deception: evidence from functional neuroimaging
Authors: Zeki S. , Goodenough O. R. , Spence Sean A. , Hunter Mike D. , Farrow Tom F. D. , Green Russell D. , Leung David H. , Hughes Catherine J. , Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
Published: November 2004

An organism may use misinformation, knowingly (through deception) or unknowingly (as in the case of camouflage), to gain advantage in a competitive environment. From an evolutionary perspective, greater tactical deception occurs among primates closer to humans, with larger neocortices. In humans, the onset of deceptive behaviours in childhood exhibits a developmental trajectory, which may be regarded as ‘normal’ in the majority and deficient among a minority with certain neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. autism). In the human adult, deception and lying exhibit features consistent with their use of ‘higher’ or ‘executive’ brain systems. Accurate detection of deception in humans may be of particular importance in forensic practice, while an understanding of its cognitive neurobiology may have implications for models of ‘theory of mind’ and social cognition, and societal notions of responsibility, guilt and mitigation. In recent years, functional neuroimaging techniques (especially functional magnetic resonance imaging) have been used to study deception. Though few in number, and using very different experimental protocols, studies published in the peer-reviewed literature exhibit certain consistencies. Attempted deception is associated with activation of executive brain regions (particularly prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices), while truthful responding has not been shown to be associated with any areas of increased activation (relative to deception). Hence, truthful responding may comprise a relative ‘baseline’ in human cognition and communication. The subject who lies may necessarily engage ‘higher’ brain centres, consistent with a purpose or intention (to deceive). While the principle of executive control during deception remains plausible, its precise anatomy awaits elucidation.
A contemporary approach to entrepreneurship education
Authors: Jones Colin , English Jack
Published: November 2004

Entrepreneurial education is the process of providing individuals with the ability to recognise commercial opportunities and the insight, self‐esteem, knowledge and skills to act on them. It includes instruction in opportunity recognition, commercialising a concept, marshalling resources in the face of risk, and initiating a business venture. It also includes instruction in traditional business disciplines such as management, marketing, information systems and finance. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and introduction of a new programme in entrepreneurship at the University of Tasmania. Within this programme the process and responsibility of learning has largely been reversed through the process of student centred learning. This method of learning represents a challenging departure from traditional mainstream teaching practices. In considering the benefits achievable from this teaching method, this paper also considers the difficulties in transferring increased responsibility to students to manage their futures.
Gender‐comparative use of small business training and assistance: a literature review
Authors: Stanger Anthony M.J.
Published: November 2004

Undertakes a gender‐comparative review and comparison of the Australian and international literature on the use, needs and awareness of government and independent sources of training and assistance for women in small business to identify whether women's needs differ from those of men and whether existing delivery mechanisms disadvantage them. Consolidates findings of research and sets an agenda for researchers, policy makers and assistance providers. The findings highlight: the potential for accountants, the most used source, to expand their role; the formulation of quality standards and accreditation for consultants engaged by government; electronic information technology systems to mitigate location and language barriers; and user‐friendly training content and delivery. Future research should clearly delineate between the various sources of training and assistance; their use and usefulness; the awareness, use and needs of women; and variations over business life‐cycle stages.
Qualities of an effective successor: the role of education and training
Authors: Ibrahim A.B. , Soufani K. , Poutziouris P. , Lam J.
Published: November 2004

Small family firms represent the predominant organizational form in Canada. They are perceived to be crucial to the development and growth of the Canadian economy. Despite this, scant attention is given to the study of human resource management practices in the specialist family business literature. A key human resource issue in family firms, which has been documented as a potential source of problems, is succession, selection and training. The objective of this research is to explore the qualities that are considered critical to an effective family business successor and discuss the crucial role that education and training could have in enhancing the qualities and skills of a successor. Results suggest that three factors are critical to an effective human resource strategy concerning the selection process of a successor. These include the successor's capacity to lead, his/her managerial skills and competencies, and the willingness and commitment of the successor to take over the family business and to assume a leadership role.
Small business success factors: the role of education and training
Authors: Simpson Mike , Tuck Nicki , Bellamy Sarah
Published: November 2004

Interest in successful small businesses continues to grow, but is influenced by the different ways in which small businesses are categorised and the difficulty of defining “success”. There is a range of criteria associated with success in terms of individual owner characteristics, organisational values and performance measures. However, few researchers have consulted owner/managers about their views on success. This research is instructive in that it used a grounded theory approach to investigate success in small service sector organisations. The impact of education, training, development, prior knowledge and experience on the success of these businesses was investigated. Four substantive categories were developed, but only one category showed clear evidence that education and training had a positive effect on the success of the business. Most businesses relied heavily on prior knowledge and experience. The properties, personal characteristics of the owner‐manager and some hypotheses were also developed for each category.
Entrepreneurship education: can business schools meet the challenge?
Authors: Kirby David A.
Published: November 2004

Examines the characteristics and role of the entrepreneur and the challenges for business schools posed by the need to develop more enterprising individuals. Argues that the traditional education system stultifies rather than develops the requisite attributes and skills to produce entrepreneurs, and proposes that if entrepreneurs are to be developed, considerable changes are required in both the content and process of learning. In particular it suggests that there needs to be a shift in the emphasis from educating “about” entrepreneurship to educating “for” it. Stresses equally that entrepreneurship should not be equated with new venture creation or small business management, but with creativity and change. In this context proposes that educational institutions need to change the process of learning to enable their students to develop their right brain entrepreneurial capabilities as well as their left‐brain analytical skills. As Chia argues, business schools need to weaken the thought processes so as to encourage and stimulate the entrepreneurial imagination.
Flexible learning in construction education: a building pathology case study
Authors: Murray P.E. , Donohoe S. , Goodhew S.
Published: November 2004

This study draws on the experiences of a consortium of UK universities seeking to enhance the quality of undergraduate building education. Their initiative called, student‐centred learning in construction education (SLICE) was funded by the UK government to improve student learning by inspiring and equipping lecturers to develop effective student‐centred learning activities. The benefits of student‐centred and flexible learning are explored and the projects' outputs are described in general. One of the outputs, the “Building Pathology Lecturers' Toolkit” is examined in depth. A review of its content reveals that to be a valuable and practical resource for lecturers, providing them with guidance and ready‐to‐use yet adaptable exemplar learning materials for students. The potential impact of this toolkit and the toolkit programme generally is scrutinised using feedback data from lecturers and students, concluding that the flexible format and content offers considerable opportunities to enhance learning in the building pathology field.
Modelling of owner‐occupiers' perception of small‐scale maintenance builders' performance – part II
Authors: Kangwa Joseph , Olubodun Femi
Published: November 2004

This paper sets out to explore and detect underlying causes to increasing uncertainty and lack of transparency in the home maintenance sector. The study gives an account of owner‐occupiers' experience on the standards of work they encounter with small‐scale domestic traders. Part I, in a previous issue, focused on the consensus ranking of 13 building maintenance standards or attributes that owner‐occupiers expect from builders (Xbmas) while part II focuses on the contrast between expectations and the actual maintenance setbacks observed from builders (Obmas) and which are a source of displeasure among owner‐occupiers. The application of nonparametric statistical techniques enabled the study to detect consensus on what defines expectations and how these differ from observed standards. An understanding of this disparity could be essential information for existing builders, new entrants into the home maintenance sector and inform housing regeneration professionals and agencies involved in the architecture and management of schemes for small‐scale builders.
Time‐span and risk of partner opportunism in strategic alliances
Authors: Das T.K.
Published: November 2004

The temporalities of opportunism – a term that generally means “self‐interest seeking with guile” – have not been adequately examined in the literature. This article suggests that opportunism is a variegated phenomenon that can be better appreciated by exploring the role of its temporal dimension. Adopting this temporal approach, the article proposes a framework of partner opportunism in strategic alliances that incorporates the two fundamental dimensions of time and risk. It then discusses four types of partner opportunism in this comprehensive time‐risk framework. Finally, the article indicates directions for further research.
Time and strategy: towards a multitemporal view of the firm
Authors: Mocciaro Li Destri Arabella , Battista Dagnino Giovanni
Published: November 2004

This paper takes into consideration the main views underlying the theory of the resource based firm within strategy studies, underscoring their fundamental monotemporal nature and proposing a way to elaborate a multi‐temporal view of the firm. By analyzing the link between the time concepts used as bases for the formulation of studies within the strategy field and the types of actor behavior implicitly (or explicitly) entailed by such time concepts, the paper shows the inadequacy of any one of the two monotemporal views of the resource‐based firm to encompass all of the main actor behaviors on which the firm's survival and success increasingly rests. The paper draws on the Austrian process view in economic studies to formulate a methodological framework which consents the elaboration of a multi‐temporal view of the resource based firm, in which different time concepts are bridged and in which all main actor behaviors crucial for prolonged firm success are encompassed. Finally, the paper shows how the multi‐temporal view of the firm consents with the re‐interpretation and maintenance of both the static and the dynamic concepts elaborated within the strategy literature and, eventually, also expands the causal relationships between strategic management and a number of other areas of inquiry in the management field, such as time‐space relationships, the relationship between strategy and entrepreneurship, and the relationship between the former and the evolutionary perspective.
Heuristics for identification of bibliographic elements from title pages
Authors: Sankar Rath Durga , Prasad A.R.D.
Published: November 2004

This paper presents a methodology for automatic identification of bibliographic data elements from the title pages of books. Also enumerates the various steps like scanning the title pages, running optical character recognition (OCR) software, generating HTML files out of title pages and applying heuristics to identify the bibliographic data elements. Much of the paper deals with the surveys undertaken to analyze the characteristics of various bibliographic descriptive elements like title, author, publisher and other elements. The first survey deals with the sequence of the bibliographic data in the title pages. The second survey deals with the font size, font type and the proximity of each bibliographic element on the title pages. The survey results are then used to develop heuristics, in order to develop a rule‐based expert system which can identify the bibliographic elements on the title pages. The results of the system are presented, along with problems encountered.
Heuristics for identification of bibliographic elements from verso of title pages
Authors: Prasad A.R.D. , Sankar Rath Durga
Published: November 2004

This paper presents a methodology to capture bibliographic data from the verso of the title pages of documents. A survey has been undertaken to identify the syntactic and semantic features of bibliographic elements on the verso of title pages. These features include the font size, line numbers and appearence of certain string of characters. Emphasis is given to the study of “cataloguing‐in‐publication” data. The results of the survey are used to develop heuristics which can help in developing a program to automatically identify the various bibliogaphic data elements. The back of the title pages are scanned and stored as HTML pages using optical recognition software. The heuristics are then applied on the HTML pages. Few samples of input and the output generated are presented. Finally, the problems related to OCR and the heuristics are enumerated.
RSS: the latest feed
Authors: Wusteman Judith
Published: November 2004

The number of library‐related RSS and Atom applications is increasing daily. But, as yet, the formats and technology involved are far from stable. This article looks at the current state of the field, discusses future developments and considers implications for the library.
Trust and temporary virtual teams: alternative explanations and dramaturgical relationships
Authors: Panteli Niki , Duncan Elizabeth
Published: November 2004

The paper uses the dramaturgical perspective for conceptualising trust development within temporary virtual teams. The underlying assumption is that temporary teams do not have the luxury of time that, according to the traditional trust theories, enables familiarity among team members and promotes trust development. Yet, in these teams, trust needs to develop quickly and it is important that it lasts throughout the short duration of the project lifecycle. Using the metaphor of a theatre, a dramaturgical perspective on trust relationships is adopted and is used to present actors, co‐actors and audience as all playing a key role in scripting, staging and performing virtual plays. The dramaturgical perspective provides an illustrative approach for uncovering the interactions between key players. As it is argued, these interactions elicit the process of trust development within the temporary setting of virtual teams, constituting a type of trust relationship that is mutually negotiated and jointly constructed. This type of trust is called “situated” and emerges from the scripted, pre‐scripted, co‐scripted, re‐scripted and unscripted computer‐mediated interactions of virtual players. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Are they really listening?
Authors: McRobb Steve , Rogerson Simon
Published: November 2004

Many authors have identified fears about a lack of personal privacy online as a major disincentive to the take‐up of e‐commerce by private consumers. The publication of a privacy policy is encouraged by information and communications technology industry groups such as the Online Privacy Alliance, and by online certification bodies such as TRUSTe. Privacy policies are taken to reassure the wary, and thereby to overcome the disincentive to trade. This paper offers an account of an ongoing research project into the practical measures taken by organisations to publish their online privacy policies. Late in 2000, a total of 113 disparate web sites were identified that included some kind of explicit privacy policy and the visibility and content of the policy was analysed. The primary research into privacy policies is set in context by relating it to a discussion of the nature and role of trustworthiness in online relationships. This highlights a number of issues that need further attention on the part of some of the organisations in the survey.
Mobile futures– beyond 3G
Authors: Bohlin Erik , Burgelman Jean‐Claude
Published: November 2004

Introduces five papers which provide a comprehensive picture of recent developments and challenges in the European telecommunications industry. Believes that both regulators and managers will find these papers insightful and useful in policy and strategy discussions.
Re‐engineering construction communication in distance management framework
Authors: Charoenngam Chotchai , Ogunlana Stephen O. , Ning‐Fu Kang , Dey Prasanta K.
Published: November 2004

In an exploding and fluctuating construction market, managers are facing a challenge, which is how to manage business on a wider scale and to utilize modern developments in information technology to promote productivity. The extraordinary development of telecommunications and computer technology makes it possible for people to plan, lead, control, organize and manage projects from a distance without the need to be on site on a daily basis. A modern management known as distance management (DM) or remote management is emerging. Physical distance no longer determines the boundary of management since managers can now operate projects through virtual teams that organize manpower, material and production without face‐to‐face communication. What organization prototype could overcome psychological and physical barriers to reengineer a successful project through information technology? What criteria distinguishes the adapted way of communication of individual activities in a teamwork and assist the integration of an efficient and effective communication between face‐to‐face and a physical distance? The entire methodology has been explained through a case application on refuse incineration plant projects in Taiwan.
Business process development in project‐based industry
Authors: Sandhu Maqsood A. , Gunasekaran A.
Published: November 2004

The strategic focus of organisations today is on the customer and internal and external processes. This paper presents a systematic approach to project process development and identifies key aspects of long‐term process evaluation. A framework for process development is presented with special emphasis on value‐adding activities in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects. The framework provides a better understanding of the dynamic processes and critical interfaces in inter‐organisational networks. The choice of concepts and final construction of the framework is informed by an empirical research of EPC projects, and a case study of the power division of Wärtsilä Corporation is analysed. Empirical findings are gathered through the Delphi method and the use of personal group interviews with the key actors involved. A model for process development is developed, linking interest groups to the development of their targets, information, and knowledge sharing. The emphasis is on the right place, the right actors, the right resources, and the right time.
Performance measurement: from philosophy to practice
Authors: Tangen Stefan
Published: November 2004

Even though remarkable progress has been made over recent years in the design of performance measurement frameworks and systems, many companies are still primarily relying on traditional financial performance measures. This paper presents an overview of the more common, more modern approaches to performance measurement and attempts to identify whether they have in fact addressed the limitations of traditional ways of measuring performance. The paper suggests that the modern frameworks have indeed addressed the underlying conceptual issues, but have rarely addressed the practicalities of measurement in ways that render them meaningful to practitioners. What is needed is further work to explore how these conceptual frameworks can be translated and tailored to fulfil the unique measurement needs of a specific company, especially at the operational level.
Time Spent on Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A New Method of Measuring Pediatric Morbidity?
Authors: Holm Elisabeth A. , Jemec G. B. E.
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  Our purpose was to examine if the time spent on treatment (TSOT) is a relevant surrogate measure of pediatric disease severity. The TSOT (min/day) was studied in a group of 42 children with atopic dermatitis (AD) (16 girls and 26 boys; mean age 7.07 years). The TSOT included time spent on all types of topical treatment, on extra cleaning, and on visits to doctors. Objective Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) assessment was performed at each visit. A significant correlation was found between TSOT and SCORAD scores for all visits (p < 0.0001). There was no correlation between TSOT and age or sex or between TSOT/SCORAD and age (p < 0.08). For the 65 visits (by 42 children), TSOT/SCORAD ranged from 0.08 min/point to 28.67 min/point. Older children (10–15 years of age) had a lower TSOT/SCORAD ratio compared to younger children (1–5 years of age). Our data suggest that TSOT in itself may be a useful measure of morbidity among pediatric AD patients. It is speculated that patients with a very high TSOT/SCORAD rate or a very low rate have coping problems and would therefore be suitable candidates for intensified efforts in programs such as “eczema schools.”
Phakomatosis Pigmentovascularis Type IIb Associated with Sturge‐Weber Syndrome
Authors: Al Robaee Ahmad , Banka Nusrat , Alfadley Abdullah
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  We describe a 23‐month‐old child with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type IIb associated with Sturge‐Weber syndrome. Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type IIb is a rare cutaneous malformation characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of nevus flammeus and melanocytic nevi. A brief review of the literature is presented and classification of this rare disease is discussed.
Lymphadenopathy After BCG Vaccination in a Child with Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Authors: Vieira Ana Paula , Vasconcelos Júlia , Fernandes José Carlos , Antunes Henedina , Basto A. Sousa , Macedo Cristiana , Zaman Afsana , Santos Eugénia , Melo J. Castro , Roos Dirk
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  We report a 15‐month‐old boy who developed an ulcer in the left axillary fold following bacillus Calmette‐Guérin vaccination. Subsequent immunologic and genetic studies led to the diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease. His mother had “lupus‐like” lesions, described in some carriers of this disease, that were thus related to her son's diagnosis. Although in healthy subjects this vaccination is usually harmless, in instances of impaired immunity it may cause adverse reactions. When a vaccine‐related complication occurs, an underlying immunodeficiency should be sought.
Voriconazole‐Induced Retinoid‐Like Photosensitivity in Children
Authors: Rubenstein Melissa , Levy Moise L. , Metry Denise
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  Voriconazole is a new triazole antifungal agent with activity against a wide range of systemic fungal pathogens, including Aspergillus spp. Photosensitivity is a rarely reported side effect of voriconazole, hypothesized to be a result of retinoid‐like effects. We report two children with chronic granulomatous disease to whom voriconazole was administered for chronic invasive aspergillosis. Severe photosensitivity occurred in both patients, one of whom had striking photodamage at the 5‐month follow‐up.
Effects of Soil Carbon Amendment on Nitrogen Availability and Plant Growth in an Experimental Tallgrass Prairie Restoration
Authors: Averett Jack M. , Klips Robert A. , Nave Lucas E. , Frey Serita D. , Curtis Peter S.
Published: November 2004

Restoration of tallgrass prairie on former agricultural land is often impeded by failure to establish a diverse native species assemblage and by difficulties with nonprairie, exotic species. High levels of available soil nitrogen (N) on such sites may favor fast‐growing exotics at the expense of more slowly growing prairie species characteristic of low‐N soils. We tested whether reducing N availability through soil carbon (C) amendments could be a useful tool in facilitating successful tallgrass prairie restoration. We added 6 kg/m2 hardwood sawdust to experimental plots on an abandoned agricultural field in the Sandusky Plains of central Ohio, United States, increasing soil C by 67% in the upper 15 cm. This C amendment caused a 94% reduction in annual net N mineralization and a 27% increase in soil moisture but had no effect on total N or pH. Overall, plant mass after one growing season was reduced by 64% on amended compared with unamended soil, but this effect was less for prairie forbs (−34%) than for prairie grasses (−67%) or exotics (−62%). After the second growing season, only exotics responded significantly to the soil C amendment, with a 40% reduction in mass. The N concentration of green‐leaf tissue and of senescent leaf litter was also reduced by the soil C treatment in most cases. We conclude that soil C amendment imparts several immediate benefits for tallgrass prairie restoration––notably reduced N availability, slower plant growth, and lower competition from exotic species.
On the Use of Shallow Basins to Restore Cutover Peatlands: Plant Establishment
Authors: Campeau Suzanne , Rochefort Line , Price Jonathan S.
Published: November 2004

Since the early 1990s, restoration techniques have been developed for milled and cutover peatlands in eastern Canada. These techniques are based on the active reintroduction of peatland plant diaspores, blocking drainage, and the use of straw mulch to improve surface conditions. This study examines the effectiveness of using shallow (20 cm deep) basins of various widths to improve the success of current peatland restoration techniques. It comprises three different experiments, each spanning three or four growing seasons and combining both small‐scale manual and large‐scale mechanized plant reintroductions. Cover data recorded in two of the experiments were regressed against a series of environmental factors to determine howSphagnumestablishment success was related to abiotic variables such as moisture, water ponding, surface roughness, and mulch cover. Results of these experiments demonstrate that shallow basins were generally effective at promotingSphagnumestablishment and that this effect extends beyond the positive impact that basins have on hydrological conditions. Basins of various widths were equally successful. Soil‐moisture content (linear positive effect) and duration and severity of flooding events (quadratic effect) were shown to be determinant of plant recovery. Other factors such as the density of straw cover (positive effect) and surface roughness (negative effect) were also instrumental in explaining local variation inSphagnumcover. Plant cover after three and four growing seasons averaged 20–25% in mechanical reintroductions and 40–60% in manual reintroductions, demonstrating the overall effectiveness of the restoration techniques used.
Seed Bank Viability in Disturbed Longleaf Pine Sites
Authors: Cohen Susan , Braham Richard , Sanchez Felipe
Published: November 2004

Some of the most species‐rich areas and highest concentrations of threatened and endangered species in the southeastern United States are found in wet savanna and flatwood longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) communities. Where intensive forestry practices have eliminated much of the natural understory of the longleaf ecosystem, the potential for reestablishment through a seed bank may present a valuable restoration opportunity. Longleaf pine sites converted to loblolly pine plantations and non‐disturbed longleaf sites on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina were examined for seed bank presence and diversity. Conducting vegetation surveys and examining the seed bank using the seedling emergence technique allowed for verification of the seed bank presence, as well as evaluation of the quality of the seed bank on disturbed longleaf pine sites. Forty‐three species and over 1,000 individuals germinated, and the seed banks of both the disturbed and non‐disturbed stand types contained species not noted in the vegetation survey. Although many of these species were considered weedy and typical of disturbance, numerous taxa were indicative of stable longleaf pine communities. This study confirms both the presence and quality of seed banks in highly disturbed former longleaf pine sites, suggesting that the seed bank may be an important tool in restoration efforts.
A Model to Assess Restoration of Abandoned Pasture in Costa Rica Based on Soil Hydrologic Features and Forest Structure
Authors: Cristina Peñuela M. , Drew Allan P.
Published: November 2004

An ecological functional assessment (EFA) was used on 10 southwest Costa Rica sites representing a chronosequence of formerly pastured lands to undisturbed tropical wet forest. Ecological functional assessment is a tool designed to assess wetland functions in the United States that was adapted to upland forests. Models to indicate characteristic soil hydrologic features and soil structure and aboveground spatial structure of habitat were used to examine the degree to which selected sites within the chronosequence approach the undisturbed condition of the natural forest. An index of the functional model for the maintenance of characteristic soil hydrologic features (such as infiltration, bulk density, etc.) showed that the 20‐year‐old secondary forest was at approximately 60% of the condition of the undisturbed sites, whereas active pasture was evaluated at approximately 20% of the reference undisturbed forest; 4‐ and 10‐year‐old sites were intermediate. The spatial structure of habitat model showed that 20‐year‐old secondary forest was approximately 50% of reference forest, whereas active pasture was approximately 10% of the condition of undisturbed forest; 4‐year‐old sites were evaluated at approximately 20% and 10‐year‐old sites at approximately 60% of the reference state. Overall the functional assessment process indicated that degraded tropical wet forest sites have recovered almost 60% of their functional qualities 10 years following pasture abandonment. These results indicate that EFA can be a useful technique for monitoring restoration programs in the tropics.
Ant Community Development on Rehabilitated Ash Dams in the South African Highveld
Authors: Van Hamburg Huib , Andersen Alan N. , Meyer Wimpie J. , Robertson Hamish G.
Published: November 2004

Ant communities have been widely used as indicators of minesite rehabilitation in Australia and are beginning to play a similar role in other parts of the world. Here we examine ant communities on rehabilitated ash dams associated with a coal‐fired power station on the highveld of South Africa, to improve our understanding of ecosystem development on these substrates. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps at 11 ash‐dam sites, ranging from unrehabilitated to 9‐year‐old rehabilitated sites, as well as two adjacent natural grassland sites. Sampling was conducted on 12 occasions from March 1997 to January 1999. Forty‐nine ant species from 19 genera were recorded during the study. Site species richness was positively correlated with rehabilitation age, ranging from 10 to 25 at ash‐dam sites, compared with 28 and 34 at the two natural grassland sites. There was a humped relationship between total ant abundance and rehabilitation age, with abundance peaking after 5–7 years at levels far higher than those at natural sites. Ordination analysis showed clear separation between ash‐dam and natural sites along the first axis. The unrehabilitated ash‐dam site was also separated from rehabilitated sites along the first axis. Sites of different rehabilitation age were separated along the second axis. Individual ant species showed clear successional patterns across the rehabilitation gradient. Although there was a clear successional trend for the development of ant communities on rehabilitated ash dams, this trend was not toward natural grassland. The lack of convergence toward ant communities of natural grasslands reflects the markedly different substrate and plant composition on ash dams and supports the widely held view that restoration of natural grassland communities is not a realistic goal of ash‐dam rehabilitation. However, the development of species‐rich ant communities, containing at least some late‐successional species, indicates the potential for rehabilitated ash dams to support diverse and complex ecosystems.
Cutaneous silent period in human immunodeficiency virus‐related peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Osio Maurizio , Zampini Luisa , Muscia Francesco , Valsecchi Laura , Comi Cristoforo , Cargnel Antonietta , Mariani Claudio
Published: November 2004

Abstract  The aim of this work was first to determine whether the cutaneous silent period (CSP), a marker of small‐nerve‐fibre function, was altered in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive subjects with predominantly sensory symmetrical polyneuropathy and, second, to assess whether such alterations were predictive of an impairment in the largest calibre sensory and motor nerve fibres of the upper limb (UL) peripheral nerves. CSP was assessed in three groups of subjects: healthy control subjects, HIV‐positive subjects with peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the lower limbs, and HIV‐positive patients with clinical and neurophysiological involvement of the four limbs. CSP study showed a significant increase of the latency compared to the controls both in HIV‐positive cases with no impairment in the UL (p = 0.006) and in patients with four‐limb neuropathy (p = 0.002). CSP study in HIV‐positive patients with mild lower limb distal sensory polyneuropathy can detect an early involvement of the UL peripheral nerves. CSP latency increase could therefore be addressed as the first sign of PN spreading to the UL.