bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Fungal Infection by a Combination of Amphotericin B and Peptide 2, a Lactoferrin Peptide That Activates Neutrophils
Authors: Okamoto Tetsuro , Tanida Toyohiro , Wei Benjuan , Ueta Eisaku , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Osaki Tokio
Published: November 2004

To establish a novel strategy for the control of fungal infection, we examined the antifungal and neutrophil-activating activities of antimicrobial peptides. The duration of survival of 50% of mice injected with a lethal dose ofCandida albicans(5 × 108cells) orAspergillus fumigatus(1 × 108cells) was prolonged 3 to 5 days by the injection of 10 μg of peptide 2 (a lactoferrin peptide) and 10 μg of α-defensin 1 for five consecutive days and was prolonged 5 to 13 days by the injection of 0.1 μg of granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and 0.5 μg of amphotericin B. When mice received a combined injection of peptide 2 (10 μg/day) with amphotericin B (0.5 μg/day) for 5 days after the lethal fungal inoculation, their survival was greatly prolonged and some mice continued to live for more than 5 weeks, although the effective doses of peptide 2 for 50 and 100% suppression ofCandidaorAspergilluscolony formation were about one-third and one-half those of amphotericin B, respectively. In vitro, peptide 2 as well as GM-CSF increased theCandidaandAspergilluskilling activities of neutrophils, but peptides such as α-defensin 1, β-defensin 2, and histatin 5 did not upregulate the killing activity. GM-CSF together with peptide 2 but not other peptides enhanced the production of superoxide (O2−) by neutrophils. The upregulation by peptide 2 was confirmed by the activation of the O2−-generating pathway, i.e., activation of large-molecule guanine binding protein, phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase, protein kinase C, and p47phoxas well as p67phox. In conclusion, different from natural antimicrobial peptides, peptide 2 has a potent neutrophil-activating effect which could be advantageous for its clinical use in combination with antifungal drugs.
Specific Immunoglobulin G Antibody Detected in Umbilical Blood and Amniotic Fluid from a Pregnant Woman Infected by the Coronavirus Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Authors: Jiang Xiugao , Gao Xing , Zheng Han , Yan Meiying , Liang Weili , Shao Zhujun , Li Wei , Zhang Enmin , Hu Yuan , Hai Rong , Yu Dongzheng , Kan Biao , Xu Jianguo
Published: November 2004

Specific immunoglobulin G antibody for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus was detected in maternal blood, umbilical blood, and amniotic fluid from a pregnant SARS patient. Potential protection of fetus from infection was suggested.
Biased Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Subclass Production in a Case of Hyper-IgM Syndrome
Authors: McLean G. R. , Miller K. K. , Schrader J. W. , Junker A. K.
Published: November 2004

Hyper-immunoglobulin M (IgM) syndrome (HIGM) is a rare heterogeneous primary immune deficiency. We describe a patient with HIGM characterized by skewed production of serum IgG subclasses and normal somatic hypermutation. This case may represent a subgroup of HIGM type 4 that is characterized by a biased switching to the V-region proximal constant regions.
NK CELL RECOGNITION
Authors: Lanier Lewis L.
Published: November 2004

▪ Abstract  The integrated processing of signals transduced by activating and inhibitory cell surface receptors regulates NK cell effector functions. Here, I review the structure, function, and ligand specificity of the receptors responsible for NK cell recognition.
IPC: Professional Type 1 Interferon-Producing Cells and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Precursors
Authors: Liu Yong-Jun
Published: November 2004

▪ Abstract  Type 1 interferon-(α, β, ω)-producing cells (IPCs), also known as plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors (pDCs), represent 0.2%–0.8% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in both humans and mice. IPCs display plasma cell morphology, selectively express Toll-like receptor (TLR)-7 and TLR9, and are specialized in rapidly secreting massive amounts of type 1 interferon following viral stimulation. IPCs can promote the function of natural killer cells, B cells, T cells, and myeloid DCs through type 1 interferons during an antiviral immune response. At a later stage of viral infection, IPCs differentiate into a unique type of mature dendritic cell, which directly regulates the function of T cells and thus links innate and adaptive immune responses. After more than two decades of effort by researchers, IPCs finally claim their place in the hematopoietic chart as the most important cell type in antiviral innate immunity. Understanding IPC biology holds future promise for developing cures for infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
ELECTRON INJECTION AT DYE-SENSITIZED SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRODES
Authors: Watson David F. , Meyer Gerald J.
Published: November 2004

▪ Abstract  Electron injection at dye-sensitized semiconductors is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on theoretical and photoelectrochemical studies of dye-sensitized planar and single-crystal electrodes. The accepted mechanism of electron injection, which was derived from these classical studies, is introduced. Selected photoelectrochemical studies of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline semiconductors are reviewed; emphasis is given to factors that influence the efficiencies of electron injection and charge recombination. The development of quasi-solid-state nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells is also discussed. Recent time-resolved spectroscopic studies of electron injection and charge recombination are reviewed. These studies have led to a better understanding of electron injection mechanisms, and have revealed the limitations of the classical models.
Mild sustained and intermittent hypoxia induce apoptosis in PC-12 cells via different mechanisms
Authors: Gozal Evelyne , Sachleben L. R. , Rane M. J. , Vega C. , Gozal D.
Published: November 2004

Episodic hypoxia, a characteristic feature of obstructive sleep apnea, induces cellular changes and apoptosis in brain regions associated with neurocognitive function. To investigate whether mild, intermittent hypoxia would induce more extensive neuronal damage than would a similar degree of sustained hypoxia, rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 neuronal cells were subjected to either sustained (5% O2) or intermittent (alternating 5% O2 35 min, 21% O2 25 min) hypoxia for 2 or 4 days. Quantitative assessment of apoptosis showed that while mild sustained hypoxia did not significantly increase cell apoptosis at 2 days (1.31 ± 0.29-fold, n = 8; P = NS), a significant increase in apoptosis occurred after 4 days (2.25 ± 0.4-fold, n = 8; P < 0.002), without increased caspase activation. Furthermore, caspase inhibition with the general caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-FMK) did not modify sustained hypoxia-induced apoptosis. In contrast, mild, intermittent hypoxia induced significant increases in apoptosis at 2 days (3.72 ± 1.43-fold, n = 8; P < 0.03) and at 4 days (4.57 ± 0.82-fold, n = 8; P < 0.001) that was associated with enhanced caspase activity and attenuated by Z-VAD-FMK pretreatment. We conclude that intermittent hypoxia induces an earlier and more extensive apoptotic response than sustained hypoxia and that this response is at least partially dependent on caspase-mediated pathways. In contrast, caspases do not seem to play a role in sustained hypoxia-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that different signaling pathways are involved in sustained and intermittent hypoxia-induced cell injury and may contribute to the understanding of differential brain susceptibility to sustained and intermittent hypoxia.
Can the Indian Tune Go Global?
Authors: Kvetko Peter
Published: November 2004

The opening of India's economy did not lead to homogenized mass consumption of Western pop music, but rather fueled creativity within the local music scene. Indipop connects local performers to global audiences even as it builds a bridge between tradition and modernity
Ten Gems on a Thread II
Authors: Filloux Catherine
Published: November 2004

Leading a playwriting workshop in the land of the killing fields is a sustaining yet humbling experience. “They” are not so distant from “us”, after all. The “facts” of history depend upon the regime in power. All the more reason for independent storytellers
The Jeremiah Project: Interaction, Reaction, and Performance
Authors: Broadhurst Susan
Published: November 2004

Part artificial intelligence, part 3D animation, Jeremiah interacts emotionally with spectators and other performers in a performance of the interface between humans and technology
A Decision Support Framework for Sustainable Waste Management
Authors: Kijak Robert , Moy David
Published: November 2004

This article describes a decision support framework for the evaluation of scenarios for the integrated management of municipal solid waste within a local government area (LGA).

The work is initially focused on local government (i.e., municipal councils) in the state of Queensland, Australia; however, it is broadly applicable to LGAs anywhere. The goal is to achieve sustainable waste management practices by balancing global and regional environmental impacts, social impacts at the local community level, and economic impacts. The framework integrates life‐cycle assessment (LCA) with other environmental, social, and economic tools. For this study, social and economic impacts are assumed to be similar across developed countries of the world. LCA was streamlined at both the life‐cycle inventory and life‐cycle impact assessment stages.

For this process, spatial resolution is introduced into the LCA process to account for impacts occurring at the local and regional levels. This has been done by considering social impacts on the local community and by use of a regional procedure for LCA data for emissions to the environment that may have impacts at the regional level.

The integration follows the structured approach of the pressure‐state‐response (PSR) model suggested by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This PSR model has been extended to encompass nonenvironmental issues and to guide the process of applying multiple tools.

The framework primarily focuses on decision analysis and interpretation processes. Multiattribute utility theory (MAUT) is used to assist with the integration of qualitative and quantitative information. MAUT provides a well‐structured approach to information assessment and facilitates objective, transparent decisions. A commercially available decision analysis software package based on MAUT has been used as the platform for the framework developed in this study.
Long‐term Coordination of Timber Production and Consumption Using a Dynamic Material and Energy Flow Analysis
Authors: Müller Daniel B. , Bader Hans‐Peter , Baccini Peter
Published: November 2004

A dynamic model for wood and energy flows is used to analyze regional timber management. The model combines a sitequality‐dependent forest‐growth module with modules for the timber industry, timber products use, waste management, and energy supply. The model is calibrated with data of a Swiss lowland region for the period of 1900–1997. Scenarios are developed for the period until 2100 in order to discuss possible future roles of domestic timber.

Model simulations show that, with present strategies, timber overproduction will further increase in the twenty‐first century because of an increase in forest site quality in the second half of the twentieth century, among other reasons. The increase in building gross floor area of the region by a factor of 5 during the twentieth century coincides with a reduction of timber use in building construction by a factor of 4.5, from 90 kg/m2 to 20 kg/m2. Increasing timber density in buildings could address overproduction; however, a strategy of timber construction could not be accomplished with domestic timber alone. A balance of production and consumption on the present level could also be achieved in a scenario in which the present building stock is gradually exchanged during the twenty‐first century with buildings that exclusively use a combination of solar panels on roofs and domestic firewood and used wood as heat‐energy sources. These replacement buildings would have density typical of late twentieth‐century buildings, and they would need to perform on a low‐energy standard of not more than 130 MJ/m2/yr.
Three Strategies to Overcome the Limitations of Life‐Cycle Assessment
Authors: de Haes Helias A. Udo , Heijungs Reinout , Suh Sangwon , Huppes Gjalt
Published: November 2004

Many research efforts aim at an extension of life‐cycle assessment (LCA) in order to increase its spatial or temporal detail or to enlarge its scope. This is an important contribution to industrial ecology as a scientific discipline, but from the application viewpoint other options are available to obtain more detailed information, or to obtain information over a broader range of impacts in a life‐cycle perspective. This article discusses three different strategies to reach these aims: (1) extension of LCA—one consistent model; (2) use of a toolbox—separate models used in combination; and (3) hybrid analysis—combination of models with data flows between them.

Extension of LCA offers the most consistent solution. Developments in LCA are moving toward greater spatial detail and temporal resolution and the inclusion of social issues. Creating a supertool with too many data and resource requirements is, however, a risk. Moreover, a number of social issues are not easily modeled in relation to a functional unit.

The development of a toolbox offers the most flexibility regarding spatial and temporal information and regarding the inclusion of other types of impacts. The rigid structure of LCA no longer sets limits; every aspect can be dealt with according to the logic of the relevant tool. The results lack consistency, however, preventing further formal integration.

The third strategy, hybrid analysis, takes up an intermediate position between the other two. This strategy is more flexible than extension of LCA and more consistent than a toolbox. Hybrid analysis thus has the potential to combine the strong points of the other two strategies. It offers an interesting path for further discovery, broader than the already well‐known combination of process‐LCA and input‐output‐LCA. We present a number of examples of hybrid analysis to illustrate the potentials of this strategy.

Developments in the field of a toolbox or of hybrid analysis may become fully consistent with LCA, and then in fact become part of the first solution, extension of LCA.
Evaluating the Impact of Human Resources
Authors: Warech Michael , Tracey J. Bruce
Published: November 2004

Human resources (HR) management constitutes a blend of human-capital practices, some of which are required for corporate maintenance, but others of which create value for a company. The task that faces HR managers who seek to establish the financial impact of their departments is to be able to show which practices are the ones that create value. One wide-ranging study has shown a clear relationship between specific human-capital-management practices and increased shareholder value. However, apparently not all HR practices boost value—even though it seems they should. Although additional research will be needed to establish which practices boost the bottom line (and which are merely maintenance activities), the data indicate what HR managers have long suspected. That is, HR-management practices are not a necessary evil that creates a drag on corporate profits, as some executives seem to believe. Rather, solid human-capital management does improve corporate profits and creates shareholder value.
Beyond Room Service
Authors: Eaton Daniel E.
Published: November 2004

The law is clear that hospitality operators must prevent and remedy sexual harassment in the workplace of employees by supervisors or other employees. However, where the alleged harasser is a guest, the law seems far more interested in what the hospitality operator did to remedy the complaint than to prevent the incident. At this point, case law on this topic is relatively slender and few states have passed specific laws. Employers must make a “reasonable effort” to address such harassment, but it is not yet clear what exactly that means—especially since a judge or jury would determine what is “reasonable” in court. While the hospitality operator’s lack of control over its guest must be considered in determining liability, no reported case has excused liability on this ground alone. As always, the best defense is a good offense—meaning adequate training of all employees and fair warning to guests that harassment is not tolerated.
Bargaining and the Nature of War
Authors: Smith Alastair , Stam Allan C.
Published: November 2004

A model of bargaining embedded within a random-walk model of warfare is developed. The conflict model contains aspects of both lottery-based and war-of-attrition models of conflict. Results show that future disputes are less likely to lead to armed conflict following long rather than short wars. Furthermore, should a subsequent dispute lead to armed conflict, the higher the cost and the longer the previous war, the shorter the conflict is likely to last.
Uniting for Peace?
Authors: Lebovic James H.
Published: November 2004

Does the level of democracy of a country incline it toward participation in post-cold war era, United Nations (UN) peace operations? The link between democracy and multilateral peace operations in liberal theory is explored, and the expanding UN global presence and its in debtedness to democracies are examined. Hypotheses drawn from liberal and realist theory are tested on a global set of countries in the period between 1993 and 2001, using cross-sectional, time-series data and a Heckman selection model. The descriptive evidence and robust model results provide strong support for the proposition that the UN peace operations of the post-cold war era relied on democratic contributions. A country’s level of democracy accounts for why and how much countries contributed to these operations when competing with a host of alternative explanations derived from a realist and liberal perspective.
The Impact of Administrative Support on Prison Treatment Staff Burnout: An exploratory Study
Authors: Garland Brett
Published: November 2004

This exploratory study examined the relationship between upper-level administrative support and the burnout of 83 mental health and substance abuse staff working within a state prison system in the Midwest. After conducting univariate analyses, The author found that the burnout of the treatment staff seemed quite low, whereas their opinions about the supportiveness of high-ranking treatment managers varied considerably. Stepwise regression procedures indicated that danger, administrative support, and inmate contact, in descending order of strength, were the best predictors of exhaustion (burnout). Weaker perceptions of support from the deputy warden of special services were linked to higher exhaustion scores. A basic content analysis also revealed that the exhaustion of treatment staff could emerge from a range of sources. Suggestions on how to improve managerial support to prevent burnout and recommendations for further research are discussed.
The Electronic Monitoring of Offenders Released from Jail or Prison: Safety, Control, and Comparisons to the Incarceration Experience
Authors: Payne Brian K. , Gainey Randy R.
Published: November 2004

A number of concerns have surfaced about the use of electronic monitoring as a sanction since its inception in 1984. Research into these concerns has examined the sanction’s breadth, pitfalls, and successes. This research focuses on the way electronically monitored offenders define various issues about the sanction. Results suggest that offenders do not necessarily see the sanction in ways that are consistent with the portrayal of the sanction in the literature and the media. Implications are provided.
Assessing the Efficacy of Treatment for Adolescent Sex Offenders: A Cross-Over Longitudinal Study
Authors: Eastman Brenda J.
Published: November 2004

Though many treatment programs for adolescent sexual offenders identify specific clinical goals such as the reduction of cognitive distortions, the enhancement of sexual knowledge, the development of prosocial attitudes toward sexual behavior, the enhancement of empathic abilities, and the enhancement of an offender’s self-esteem, there remains a deficit in research assessing the attainment of these treatment goals. Using a cross-over longitudinal design, the present study examines pretreatment and posttreatment data collected from a residential sex offender programfor incarcerated adolescent males (N = 100). The observed results provided support for the attainment of the program’s clinical goals with significant changes observed in the levels of cognitive distortions, sexual knowledge, attitudes about sexual behavior, and self-esteem. Partial support was observed as related to the goal of enhancing offender empathic abilities. The need for continued research examining treatment outcomes and the utility of employing existing measures in evaluating treatment is discussed.
Dangerousness and the Death Penalty: an Examination of Juvenile Homicides in Kentucky
Authors: Vito Gennaro F. , Keil Thomas J.
Published: November 2004

As in several other states, Kentucky passed legislation to get tough with juveniles and battle a rising tide of delinquency and violent crime. The necessity of this policy was unquestioned. This analysis examines national juvenile crime statistics and data on juvenile homicides in Kentucky. It uses the Barnett scale to examine whether juvenile murderers were more deliberate, random, or vicious killers over time. The results of the study do not support the get tough movement or the continued availability of the death penalty for juveniles in Kentucky.
Youth in a Comparative Perspective
Authors: Jeffrey Craig , Mcdowell Linda
Published: November 2004

Neoliberal economic and social changes are radically transforming young people’s experiences of youth and early adulthood in many parts of the world. Young people face a greater range of uncertainties than perhaps in any previous era. This introduction sets out some of the key themes within recent social science research on young people as well as illustrating the contribution to these debates of the articles included in this special issue. The value of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary work that analyzes young people’s transitions from the perspective of both the First World and Third World are highlighted. Particular emphasis is placed in this introduction on the need to foreground an understanding of social inequalities and the discourses and spaces in and through which inequalities are reproduced, contested, and transformed.
Clinical Decision Rules as Tools for Evidence-Based Nursing
Authors: Shapiro Susan E. , Driever Marie J.
Published: November 2004

Nursing practice is fraught with uncertainty and our patients do not always respond predictably to our interventions. Properly developed and tested Clinical Decision Rules (CDRs), a special type of decision support tool, help organize research evidence into standardized patient assessments and treatments, thereby increasing the probability of attaining the desired outcome and reducing uncertainty in practice. The purpose of this article is to examine CDRs as one kind of decision support tool that can be used to facilitate nursing decision making and evidence-based practice (EBP). CDRs differ from both treatment algorithms and clinical pathways in the ways they are developed and in their scope of applicability. CDRs are developed using strict methodological standards, with the goal that they function well when used by a variety of care providers, with various patient populations, and in different patient care settings.
Postoperative Pain Communication Skills for Older Adults
Authors: McDonald Deborah Dillon , Molony Sheila L.
Published: November 2004

This study tested the effect of a preoperative pain communication intervention on older adults’ ability to obtain pain relief after a total knee arthroplasty. A posttest-only experimental design was used to compare older adults randomly assigned to (a) view a pain management and pain communication film, (b) view the pain management film only, or (c) receive standard care only. Initial method adjustments decreased potential error in the study. Adjustments included testing only total knee arthroplasty patients receiving standard physical therapy and omitting unreliable measures from the analyses. Recruitment of the standard care group was halted when differences emerged between the remaining groups. Older adults in the communication group reported significantly less sensory pain on postoperative Day 1 than older adults in the pain management only group. Teaching older adults both pain communication skills and pain management information before surgery might result in greater pain relief during the early postoperative period.
Sexual Predator Civil Commitment: A Comparison of Selected and Released Offenders
Authors: Levenson Jill S.
Published: November 2004

This study compared two groups of sex offenders who were considered for civil commitment under Florida’s Jimmy Ryce Act: Two hundred twenty-nine sex offenders who were recommended by forensic evaluators to be civilly committed and 221 sex offenders who were recommended for release. It was hypothesized that selected offenders would be more likely to display risk factors for sex offense recidivism than those who did not meet criteria. Data analyses revealed that selected offenders, as a group, scored significantly higher on actuarial risk assessment instruments. There were also significant differences between the groups on other risk factors that have been empirically correlated with sexual recidivism. Selected offenders had higher frequencies of paraphilia diagnoses and antisocial personality. These findings supported the hypotheses and suggested that evaluators are correctly selecting for civil commitment those sex offenders who have a mental abnormality predisposing them to sexual violence and who are at higher risk for reoffense.
Who Do You Refer? The Effects of a Policy Change on Juvenile Referrals
Authors: McCluskey John D. , Varano Sean P. , Huebner Beth M. , Bynum Timothy S.
Published: November 2004

This article examined the effect that limiting police discretion regarding juvenile court referrals had on the referral of first-time juvenile arrestees to a county family court. Data were drawn from Lakeside, a midsized Midwestern police department, and are composed of juvenile arrest and county court records. Data were compiled on all juveniles arrested for the first time in 1993 (prepolicy change) and 1995 (post-policy change). Overall, juveniles were more likely to be referred to the county family court following the policy change. Younger offenders and offenders with less serious offenses were, consonant with our hypotheses, significantly more likely to be processed through the court after the policy change. Contrary to our expectations, the findings indicate that the likelihood of referral for race and gender combinations did not change significantly. This research highlights the importance of controlling for policy changes when examining trends in juvenile arrests and referrals.
Serious Criminality at U.S. Colleges and Universities: An Application of the Situational Perspective
Authors: Hummer Don
Published: November 2004

This research builds on data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Law Enforcement and Management and Administrative Statistics program, which administered a questionnaire to larger (enrollment more than 2,500 students) colleges and universities throughout the United States. The primary focus of the original Bureau of Justice study was to assess the structure and functions of campus public safety departments. However, data were also collected on a number of variables indicative of the tenants of situational crime prevention, as well as data on serious (Part I) offending from the sampled institutions. This research will help determine whether crime prevention initiatives derived from the situational perspective are successful in ameliorating serious offending in the campus environment.
Balkan Is Beautiful: Balkanism in the Political Discourse of Tudman’s Croatia
Authors: Razsa Maple , Lindstrom Nicole
Published: November 2004

This article examines the role of Balkanist discourse in Tudman’s Croatia. Todorova’s concept of Balkanism provides a useful theoretical framework through which to explore the deployment of Balkanist stereotypes against Croatia by Western leaders. Balkanism also illuminates the ways in which Croatians used many of these same Balkan stereotypes to differentiate themselves from their neighbors to the south and east. Through an examination of Croatian newspaper columns, government documents and speeches, and political cartoons from the 1990s, this article analyzes how Balkanist interpretations and representations played an integral role in the construction of Croatian national identity and the mobilization of Croatians around a variety of political agendas. The objective of this article is not, however, simply to document the deployment of Balkanist stereotypes against or within Croatia. The second component of the article suggests ways in which Croatia’s liminal position between “Europe” and the “Balkans” might serve as an ideal standpoint from which one might challenge the binary oppositions of Balkanism and begin to reimagine the Balkans, redirecting these categories as a site of political engagement and critique.
Uses of Russia: The Role of Russia in the Modern Polish National Identity
Authors: Zarycki Tomasz
Published: November 2004

The article deals with negative aspects of Russia’s representations in Polish public discourse and the mechanisms of their reproduction. It is not as much focused on the historical roots of Polish images of Russia as on the functions they play in the logic of Polish national identity. Additionally, the article attempts to theorize certain aspects of the production of Russia’s image in Poland. A particular reference is made to the center-periphery paradigm and the psychological notion of the inferiority complex. In the conclusion, functions of the image of Russia in Polish discourse are interpreted in the framework of the theory of capitals of Pierre Bourdieu.
The Chinese Social Dance Party in Tokyo
Authors: Farrer Gracia Liu
Published: November 2004

This article is a sociological ethnography of a Chinese immigrant social dance subculture in Japan. It examines the logic of immigrants’ leisure participation from a social psychological perspective. Traditional immigrant community studies, focusing on immigrants’ social and economic adaptation and ethnic minority’s political mobilization, emphasize the collective identity building and group solidarity in immigrant ethnic subcultures. Without downplaying the theme of collective identity, I argue that the recognition of individual status is an equally important motivation. Social cohesion within an immigrant subculture is achieved because ethnic enclosure allows the removal of a stigmatizing immigrant identity, giving immigrants a chance to display individual status resources.
Buna
Authors: Yedes Janet , Clamons Robbin , Osman Amal
Published: November 2004

Coffee, indigenous to Oromo lands in Ethiopia, is an essential cultural and spiritual element in people’s lives. Oromo who resettled in the United States have adapted ancient coffee traditions in indigenous, Christian, and Muslim contexts. This in-depth ethnographic study looks at buna for several generations of Muslim Oromo. The authors explore interpersonal and ritual ways that the women communicate support for one another and promote harmony in their families and community through this ancient tradition. They highlight previous ethnographic studies of Oromo groups (1962-1998) to place this urban coffee gathering in a broader historical, political, economic, and social context. The coffee gathering provides important opportunities for women to communicate with Allah, saints, and each other. Interactions during buna involve greetings, honoring, respecting the elders, praying, sharing stories, and sustenance.
The TAKEOVER TRIO
Authors: Bots Pieter W. G. , Hofstede Gert Jan
Published: November 2004

The TAKEOVER TRIO is a business game about a takeover. Three stakeholders (mother company, ailing daughter company, and potential buying company) must agree on a plan to prevent compulsory liquidation of the daughter. The primary learning objective is to make participantsaware of the effect of negotiation process parameters on its outcome. Depending on the facilitator’s aims, he or she could highlight either or all of the following process parameters: logical thinking, creativity, dominance, or process management. The game scenario is not based on a real-life case (all data are fictional) but has been devised to balance three stakeholders to prevent an obvious outcome. It takes at least 12 people to play and 3 hours, plus about an hour of preparations for each participant.
Cross-cultural simulation to advance student inquiry
Authors: Inglis Sue , Sammon Sheila , Justice Christopher , Cuneo Carl , Miller Stefania , Rice James , Roy Dale , Warry Wayne
Published: November 2004

This article reviews how and why the authors have used the cross-cultural simulation BAFA BAFA in a 1styear social sciences inquiry course on social identity. The article discusses modifications made to Shirts’s original script for BAFA BAFA, how the authors conduct the postsimulation debriefing, key aspects of the student-written reflection of the simulation, and research results on how students perceive and rate BAFA BAFA relative to their learning. Students enrolled in the course find the simulation to be important to various aspects of their learning, including helping them to understand cultural diversity. This is particularly true for students who score highly on measures of deep learning, that is, the ability to connect course content with meanings in other situations and experiences in reflective ways.
E-Learning in Business
Authors: Schweizer Heidi
Published: November 2004

e-Learning is replacing face-to-face classroom instruction in a growing number of businesses, but what is the prospect for the continued proliferation of e-learning in business? On one hand, the quality of instruction, the cost-effectiveness of new technology, a supportive e-learning educational culture, an expansion of the Internet, an increase in online courses, shorter business cycles, mergers, and increasing competition encourage business use of e-learning. On the other hand, employee reticence in using learning technologies, insufficient corporate investment, lack of business-relevant university courses, narrow bandwidth, and Internet access issues are constricting the business use of these technologies.
Learning Management in a Crisis: A Service Learning Response to September 11, 2001
Authors: Schaffer R. Andrew
Published: November 2004

This article describes a service learning project implemented midsemester in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks. The project applied course topics while allowing students to positively channel their anxiety. Students developed and implemented a community-wide effort to collect care packages for U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan. The article presents the project’s evolution, successes, and problems. The pros and cons of service learning through changing a course midsemester are also discussed. This project description may be instructive to readers who are contemplating service learning class projects. It should also be of interest to instructors who sense the need to change a course midsemester.
The Contribution of Social Capital to Household Welfare in a Paper-Recycling Craft Village in Vietnam
Authors: Van Ha Nguyen , Kant Shashi , MacLaren Virginia
Published: November 2004

This study examined whether the contribution of social capital to household economic outputs was greater than that of other types of capital, whether different dimensions of social capital contribute equally to household income, and whether the role of social capital varies among different categories of households. We developed a reduced-form model of the household production function, in which social capital is treated as a production factor similar to other conventional factors such as physical capital, labor, and human capital, with household income and expenditure as dependent variables. The results show that social capital has a strong and positive contribution to household income, and the positive contribution of social capital to the general (the poor) house-hold’s income is greater than that of the paper-recycling (the rich) household’s income. In contrast to other studies, the number of memberships in associations does not have an impact on household income.
Measurement of Three Major Subtypes of Child Neglect
Authors: Dubowitz Howard , Pitts Steven C. , Black Maureen M.
Published: November 2004

This study examines the relationships among three major subtypes of neglect (physical, psychological, and environmental), a summary measure of neglect, and neglect as defined by Child Protective Services (CPS). The predictive validity of the subtypes of neglect assessed when children were 5 years of age was examined using children’s behavior at age 6. Study findings include modest to moderate correlations among the neglect subtypes, CPS neglect, and children’s behavior. After controlling for CPS neglect, the subtypes remained predictive of children’s behavior. The set of three subtypes was more strongly related to children’s behavior, particularly maternal report of internalizing problems, than was the summary neglect measure. These findings suggest that considering the subtypes of neglect may enhance our understanding of neglect and lead to interventions tailored to families’ specific needs.
A Prospective Analysis of the Relationship Between Reported Child Maltreatment and Special Education Eligibility Among Poor Children
Authors: Jonson-Reid Melissa , Drake Brett , Kim Jiyoung , Porterfield Shirley , Han Lu
Published: November 2004

This study presents data from the first large-scale longitudinal study to track the involvement of children reported for maltreatment in both the special education and child welfare systems. A range of state and local administrative databases were combined and cross-sector service histories were established for 7,940 children who had received Aid to Families With Dependent Children between 1993 and 1994. The authors address the following questions: (a) Is maltreatment associated with entry into special education after controlling for other factors? (b) among maltreated children, does maltreatment type or child welfare service use predict special education eligibility? and (c) what is the relationship between maltreatment type and type of educational disability? Results indicate that child maltreatment system involvement generally predates special education entry and is predictive of entry even after controlling for other factors. A range of other associations between factors such as child and maternal characteristics, services received, maltreatment type, and special education classification are detailed.
Reliability and Validity of the Mother-Child Neglect Scale
Authors: Lounds Julie J. , Borkowski John G. , Whitman Thomas L.
Published: November 2004

The current study offers a new way to ascertain information about child neglect by evaluating a self-report measure of neglectful behaviors, the Mother-Child Neglect Scale (MCNS). The scale was modified from an existing self-report measure, the Neglect Scale (NS), which was originally designed to measure personal histories of neglect. One hundred adolescent mothers were administered the MCNS and NS in two occasions via phone interviews. In addition, maternal abuse potential and the quality of mother-child interactions were assessed when children were age 3 and 5 years. The MCNS had high internal consistency and moderate test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was found between the MCNS and maternal histories of neglect as well as observed parenting behaviors and child abuse potential; those relationships remained after social desirability was controlled. This research tool may prove useful, in conjunction with existing assessment instruments, in determining the type and severity of past neglectful behaviors.
Assessing Intervention Effects in a School-Based Nutrition Intervention Trial: Which Analytic Model Is Most Powerful?
Authors: Janega Jessica B. , Murray David M. , Varnell Sherri P. , Blitstein Jonathan L. , Birnbaum Amanda S. , Lytle Leslie A.
Published: November 2004

This article compares four mixed-model analyses valid for group-randomized trials (GRTs) involving a nested cohort design with a single pretest and posttest. This study makes estimates of intraclass correlations (ICCs) available to investigators planning GRTs addressing dietary outcomes. It also provides formulae demonstrating the potential benefits to the standard error of the intervention effect (σΔ) from adjustments for both fixed and time-varying covariates and correlations over time. These estimates will allow other researchers using these variables to plan their studies by estimating a priori detectable differences and sample size requirements for any of the four analytic options. These methods are demonstrated using data from the Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at School study. Mixed-model analyses of covariance proved to be the most powerful analysis in that data set. The formulae may be applied to any dependent variable in any GRT given corresponding information for those variables on the parameters that define the formulae.
Ethical Challenges for the “Outside” Researcher in Community-Based Participatory Research
Authors: Minkler Meredith
Published: November 2004

Although community-based participatory research (CBPR) shares many of the core values of health education and related fields, the outside researcher embracing this approach to inquiry frequently is confronted with thorny ethical challenges. Following a brief review of the conceptual and historical roots of CBPR, Kelly’s ecological principles for community-based research and Jones’s three-tiered framework for understanding racism are introduced as useful frameworks for helping explore several key challenges. These are (a) achieving a true “community-driven” agenda; (b) insider-outsider tensions; (c) real and perceived racism; (d) the limitations of “participation”; and (e) issues involving the sharing, ownership, and use of findings for action. Case studies are used in an initial exploration of these topics. Green et al.’s guidelines for appraising CBPR projects then are highlighted as an important tool for helping CBPR partners better address the challenging ethical issues often inherent in this approach.
PhyME: A probabilistic algorithm for finding motifs in sets of orthologous sequences
Authors: Sinha Saurabh , Blanchette Mathieu , Tompa Martin
Published: November 2004

Background

This paper addresses the problem of discovering transcription factor binding sites in heterogeneous sequence data, which includes regulatory sequences of one or more genes, as well as their orthologs in other species.

Results

We propose an algorithm that integrates two important aspects of a motif's significance – overrepresentation and cross-species conservation – into one probabilistic score. The algorithm allows the input orthologous sequences to be related by any user-specified phylogenetic tree. It is based on the Expectation-Maximization technique, and scales well with the number of species and the length of input sequences. We evaluate the algorithm on synthetic data, and also present results for data sets from yeast, fly, and human.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that the new approach improves motif discovery by exploiting multiple species information.
Adaptive evolution of transcription factor binding sites
Authors: Berg Johannes , Willmann Stana , Lässig Michael
Published: November 2004

Background

The regulation of a gene depends on the binding of transcription factors to specific sites located in the regulatory region of the gene. The generation of these binding sites and of cooperativity between them are essential building blocks in the evolution of complex regulatory networks. We study a theoretical model for the sequence evolution of binding sites by point mutations. The approach is based on biophysical models for the binding of transcription factors to DNA. Hence we derive empirically grounded fitness landscapes, which enter a population genetics model including mutations, genetic drift, and selection.

Results

We show that the selection for factor binding generically leads to specific correlations between nucleotide frequencies at different positions of a binding site. We demonstrate the possibility of rapid adaptive evolution generating a new binding site for a given transcription factor by point mutations. The evolutionary time required is estimated in terms of the neutral (background) mutation rate, the selection coefficient, and the effective population size.

Conclusions

The efficiency of binding site formation is seen to depend on two joint conditions: the binding site motif must be short enough and the promoter region must be long enough. These constraints on promoter architecture are indeed seen in eukaryotic systems. Furthermore, we analyse the adaptive evolution of genetic switches and of signal integration through binding cooperativity between different sites. Experimental tests of this picture involving the statistics of polymorphisms and phylogenies of sites are discussed.
Genomic structure and cloning of two transcript isoforms of human Sp8
Authors: Milona Maria-athina , Gough Julie E , Edgar Alasdair J
Published: November 2004

Background

The Specificity proteins (Sp) are a family of transcription factors that have three highly conserved zinc-fingers located towards the carboxy-terminal that bind GC-boxes and assist in the initiation of gene transcription. Human Sp1-7 genes have been characterized. Recently, the phenotype of Sp8 null mice has been described, being tailless and having severe truncation of both fore and hind limbs. They also have malformed brains with defective closure of the anterior and posterior neuropore during brain development.

Results

The human Sp8 gene is a three-exon gene that maps to 7p21.3, close to the related Sp4 gene. From an osteosarcoma cell line we cloned two transcript variants that use two different first exons and have a common second exon. One clone encodes a 508-residue protein, Sp8L (isoform 1) and the other a shorter 490-residue protein, Sp8S (isoform 2). These two isoforms are conserved being found also in mice and zebrafish. Analysis of the Sp8L protein sequence reveals an amino-terminal hydrophobic Sp-motif that is disrupted in Sp8S, a buttonhead box and three C2H2 zinc-fingers. Sp8 mRNA expression was detected in a wide range of tissues at a low level, with the highest levels being found in brain. Treatment of the murine pluripotent cell line C3H10T1/2 with 100 ng/mL BMP-2 induced Sp8 mRNA after 24 hours.

Conclusions

There is conservation of the two Sp8 protein isoforms between primates, rodents and fish, suggesting that the isoforms have differing roles in gene regulation. Sp8 may play a role in chondrogenic/osteoblastic differentiation in addition to its role in brain and limb development.