bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pattern Bargaining: An Investigation into its Agency, Context and Evidence
Authors: Traxler Franz , Brandl Bernd , Glassner Vera
Published: February 2008

Pattern bargaining stands out as both an under‐researched and controversial subject. This article is an analytical and empirical contribution to this debate. Theoretically, it provides a conceptual framework, which enables analysis to systematically differentiate between distinct forms of pattern bargaining in terms of scope, agency, development and function, which arise from differing contexts in terms of interest configuration, power relations and economic conditions. This framework is used to develop testable hypotheses on pattern bargaining as a mechanism of inter‐industry bargaining co‐ordination. The empirical part of the article examines these hypotheses for collective bargaining from 1969 to 2004 in Austria, which is commonly seen as a paradigm case of pattern bargaining. The article concludes by highlighting the broader implications its findings have from a cross‐nationally comparative perspective.
The EHRC: Transformational, Progressively Incremental or a Disappointment?
Authors: NIVEN BOB
Published: February 2008

The ECHR has yet to decide its first substantive strategy and objectives within its broad set of statutory duties. This article seeks to identify the likely more influential factors in its external context and internal composition, and the extent to which those factors point towards a new universalist “integrated mandate” as distinct from the previous regime's approach focusing on particular groups (black and ethnic minority groups, women and men, disabled people etc.). The analysis suggests a possible contradiction in that, while the internal factors are on balance geared to the integrated model, the current external environment (in conjunction with an inevitable need to prioritise) on balance still points to the group based model. The article concludes with possible implications for the ECHR's strategy and that, among public bodies, the ECHR is uniquely well‐positioned to tackle group‐based inequalities.
Do Today's Young People Really Think They Are So Extraordinary?
Authors: Trzesniewski Kali H. , Donnellan M. Brent , Robins Richard W.
Published: February 2008

The present research investigated secular trends in narcissism and self-enhancement over the past three decades. Despite recent claims about the impact of the “self-esteem movement” on the current generation of young people, we found no evidence that college students' scores on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory increased from the 1980s through 2007 (N = 26,867), although we did find small changes in specific facets of narcissism. Similarly, we found no evidence that high school students' level of self-enhancement, defined by the discrepancy between their perceived intelligence and their actual academic achievements, increased from 1976 to 2006 (N = 410,527). These results cast doubt on the belief that today's young people have increasingly inflated impressions of themselves compared with previous generations.
Whose closure? Appearances, temporality, and mineral extraction in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Halvaksz Jamon Alex
Published: February 2008

In this article I explore community ideas about mine closure as they are informed by history, memory, and imagined futures. I argue that, through their aesthetic qualities, practices such as mining remain persuasive long after their dissolution. Biangai‐speakers (Morobe province, Papua New Guinea) have worked for miners during colonial gold rushes since the mid‐1920s, and many more have tried their hands at artisanal mining along the Bulolo and its tributaries. Such events continue to inform aspirations for development and ideas about what development should look like. This article argues for attention to be paid to the appearances of the past in order to acknowledge the attractive hold that historical actions, events, practices, and so on, retain on post‐mining (and post‐development) communities. Such qualities of the past, distilled in the contours of the land and contemporary discourses about development, continue to motivate the folding of the past into present practices.

L’auteur explore ici les idées sur la fermeture de mines, en tant qu’elles sont informées par l’histoire, la mémoire et un futur imaginé. Il avance qu’à travers leurs qualités esthétiques, des pratiques telles que l’exploitation minière restent présentes très longtemps après leur disparition. Les Biangai (dans la province de Morobe, en Papouasie‐Nouvelle‐Guinée) ont travaillé pour les compagnies minières pendant les ruées vers l’or de l’époque coloniale, à partir du milieu des années 1920, et se sont eux aussi essayés à une exploitation artisanale le long du Bulolo et de ses affluents. De tels événements contribuent à informer les aspirations au développement et les idées de ce que devrait être ce développement. Le présent article plaide pour que l’on accorde de l’attention aux apparences du passé, afin de tenir compte de l’attrait exercé par les actions, événements, pratiques historiques et autres sur les communautés post‐minières (et post‐développement). Ces qualités du passé, qui imprègnent les paysages et les discours contemporains sur le développement, favorisent une imbrication du passé dans les pratiques présentes.
When gifts become commodities: pawnshops, valuables, and shame in Tonga and the Tongan diaspora
Authors: Addo Ping‐Ann , Besnier Niko
Published: February 2008

Far from being displaced by modernity, the exchange of women's textile valuables of little practical value but enormous ritual significance is increasing in importance in Tonga and amongst Tongan migrants in the industrial West. The dwindling production of and increasing demand for these textile valuables have prompted entrepreneurs to open pawnshops, where customers who are monetarily poor mortgage valuables and customers lacking in exchange networks buy unclaimed valuables. Pawnshops convert valuables into commodities and transform the social relations among those involved. However, the one emotion that underlies traditional exchange, shame, remains central to the transactions, albeit in unevenly distributed fashion. The transformation of textiles from gift to commodity displays both rupture and continuity with pre‐modern forms of exchange, continuity operating at the level of emotional subjectivities. Our analysis foregrounds objects, on the one hand, and emotions, on the other, as shaping the course of cultural and social history.

Loin d’être supplanté par la modernité, l’échange des textiles féminins sans grande valeur pratique mais de signifiance rituelle considérable augmente en importance à Tonga et parmi les immigrés tongiens dans les pays occidentaux industriels. La production décroissante de ces textiles précieux et leur demande croissante ont motivés des entrepreneurs à ouvrir des monts‐de‐piété, où les clients manquant d’argent mettent à gage leurs textiles précieux et où les clients dépourvus de réseaux de fournisseurs achètent ceux qui restent non réclamés. Les monts‐de‐piété convertissent ces objets précieux en commoditiés et transforment les relations sociales entre les personnes concernées. Néanmoins, la honte, une émotion qui sous‐tend les échanges traditionnels, continue à occuper une position centrale à ces transactions, bien que de façon non équilibrée. La transformation des textiles en commoditiés présente aussi bien des aspects de rupture que de continuité avec les formes d’échanges pré‐modernes, où la continuité s’opère au niveau des subjectivités émotives. Notre analyse met en valeur le rôle déterminant des objets d’une part et des émotions d’autre part dans le cours de l’histoire sociale et culturelle.
1. TOWARD A HISTORY ON EQUAL TERMS: A DISCUSSION OF PROVINCIALIZING EUROPE
Authors: DIETZE CAROLA
Published: February 2008

This essay is a critical discussion of Dipesh Chakrabarty's book Provincializing Europe as well as a first sketch of a History on Equal Terms. After giving a short summary of Provincializing Europe, I first argue, against chakrabarty, that there is no necessary connection between the discipline of history and the metanarratives of modernity. To the contrary: the founding idea of the discipline of history was a turn against such grand narratives. With his attempt to deconstruct the narratives of the European Enlightenment and of modernity, Chakrabarty therefore has to be regarded as a thinker of radical historicism rather than as a critic of the discipline of history. Second, I criticize the use of the term “modernity” in Provincializing Europe and the concept of modernity in general. Instead of a deconstruction of the discipline of history, I propose a deconstruction of the concept of modernity. This could open up the way for a History on Equal Terms situated within the discipline of history, that is, a historiography that would—just as Chakrabarty rightly demands—in principle pay the same attention to and expect relevant results from any region in the world, depending only on the focus of research.
Quality of life and acceptability of medical versus surgical management of early pregnancy failure*
Authors: Harwood B , Nansel T ,   for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Management of Early Pregnancy Failure Trial
Published: February 2008

Objective  This study compares quality of life (QOL) and acceptability of medical versus surgical treatment of early pregnancy failure (EPF).

Design  A randomised clinical trial of treatment for EPF compared misoprostol vaginally versus vacuum aspiration (VA).

Setting  A multisite trial at four US Urban University Hospitals.

Population  A total of 652 women with an EPF were randomised to treatment.

Methods  Participants completed a daily symptom diary and a questionnaire 2 weeks after treatment.

Main outcome measures  The questionnaire assessment included subscales of the Short Form‐36 Health Survey Revised for QOL and measures of wellbeing, recovery difficulties, and treatment acceptability.

Results  The two groups did not differ in mean scores for QOL except bodily pain; medical treatment was associated with higher levels of bodily pain than VA (P < 0.001). Success of treatment was not related to QOL, but acceptability of the procedure was decreased for medical therapy if unsuccessful (P = 0.003). Type of treatment was not associated with differences in recovery, and the two groups reported similar acceptability except for cramping (P = 0.02), bleeding (P < 0.001), and symptom duration (P = 0.03).

Conclusions  Despite reporting greater pain and lower acceptability of treatment‐related symptoms, QOL and treatment acceptability were similar for medical and surgical treatment of EPF. Acceptability, but not QOL, was influenced by success or failure of medical management.
Acute Migraine Treatment With Oral Triptans and NSAIDs in a Managed Care Population
Authors: Ng‐Mak Daisy S. , Hu X. Henry , Chen Ya‐Ting , Ma Larry
Published: February 2008

Objective.— To describe the use of oral triptans with or without nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for acute migraine treatment in a managed care population and its potential impact on functionality.

Background.— Prescription or over‐the‐counter NSAIDs with or without oral triptans are commonly used for treatment of acute migraine pain. Little is known about patients’ treatment strategy when they have had experiences using NSAIDs and oral triptan cotherapy and the relationship between treatment strategy and migraine symptoms and functionality.

Method.— Migraineurs identified from an administrative claims database were surveyed for their use of oral triptans and NSAIDs during their last attack in the screening phase and during the subsequent migraine attack in the follow‐up phase of the study. Treatment regimens were classified into 6 categories: simultaneous coadministration of triptans and NSAIDs (T&N); triptans first followed by NSAIDs (T_N); NSAIDs first followed by triptans (N_T); triptans only (TRP_only); NSAIDs only (NSAID_only); and others. Headache experience, reasons for treatment regimens, and treatment satisfaction were cross‐tabulated by treatment regimens. The log‐rank test was used for the analysis of time‐to‐event data.

Results.— Among 8440 oral triptan users surveyed during the screening phase, 2307 (27%) reported using triptans and NSAIDs combination therapy during their last migraine attack. Of those, 1502 experienced a subsequent migraine attack and completed the follow‐up survey; 38% of these 1502 patients who used triptans and NSAIDs cotherapy during their last migraine attack continued to use combination therapy for their next attack. The most common treatment regimen, excluding “others” (n = 354, 24%), was TRP_only (n = 403, 27%), followed by N_T (n = 345, 23%), NSAID_only (n = 170, 11%), T&N (n = 152, 10%), and T_N (n = 75, 5.0%). More TRP_only patients became nausea‐free within 1 h after an initial dosing. TRP_only, T&N, and N_T had significantly shorter median hours of suffering from migraine and limited functioning, as compared with other treatment regimens. Substantially more patients taking TRP_only (34.7%) were very satisfied with their current treatment regimen than other regimens.

Conclusions.— Migraine patients frequently change their treatment regimens in response to headache profiles. For patients with migraine associated nausea symptom, combination of therapy with triptan and NSAIDs appears to be less effective in relieving nausea than triptan monotherapy. Triptan montherapy remains a common and an effective migraine treatment strategy.
Mitochondrial respiratory chain defects: Underlying etiology in various epileptic conditions
Authors: Lee Young Mock , Kang Hoon Chul , Lee Joon Soo , Kim Se Hoon , Kim Eung Yeop , Lee Seung Koo , Slama Abdelhamid , Kim Heung Dong
Published: February 2008

Summary

Purpose: To determine if defects in mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme complexes (MRCs) contribute to the etiology of childhood epilepsy.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical and laboratory features of 48 epileptic patients (23 male, 25 female) with MRC defects that were confirmed by biochemical assays using muscle biopsies.

Results: (1) Thirty‐five cases (72.9%) were MRC I deficient, one case (2.1%) was MRC II deficient, 11 cases (22.9%) were MRC IV deficient, and one case (2.1%) had combined MRC I and IV deficiencies. (2) In our clinical diagnosis, there were 10 cases (20.8%) with Leigh disease and one case each with myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, stroke‐like episodes (MELAS) or Alpers' disease (2.1%). Most of the remaining cases (75.0%) had uncategorized mitochondrial cytopathy with nonspecific encephalopathy. (3) For epileptic classification, there were two cases (4.2%) of Ohtahara syndrome, 10 cases (20.8%) of West syndrome, 12 cases (25.0%) of Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome, two cases (4.2%) of Landau‐Kleffner syndrome, 14 cases (29.2%) of generalized epilepsy, and eight cases (16.7%) of partial epilepsy. (4) The mean age of seizure onset was 2.68 ± 2.21 (range: 1 month – 5.5 years). (5) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed diffuse cortical atrophy in 34 cases (70.8%), basal ganglia signal changes in 18 cases (37.5%) and thalamus signal changes in 12 cases (25.0%). (6) A ketogenic diet produced clinical improvements, including seizure reduction and global functional improvement in 75% of 24 patients.

Conclusions: MRC defects are one of the important causes of probably symptomatic childhood epilepsy. A ketogenic diet should be carefully considered for treatment of intractable epilepsy related to MRC defects.
ENDOSYMBIOTIC AND HORIZONTAL GENE TRANSFER IN CHROMALVEOLATES1
Authors: Bhattacharya Debashish , Nosenko Tetyana
Published: February 2008

Chromalveolates include photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic (some plastid‐lacking) algae and protists that define a vast swath of eukaryotic diversity. These taxa are masters of gene acquisition through serial endosymbiosis (endosymbiotic gene transfer, EGT) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Understanding the contribution of these sources to nuclear genomes is key to elucidating chromalveolate evolution and to identifying suitable phylogenetic markers to place this lineage in the tree of life. Here we briefly review recent findings in our lab with regard to EGT and HGT in chromalveolates.
TWO TYPES OF AUXILIARY CELL AMPULLAE IN GRATELOUPIA (HALYMENIACEAE, RHODOPHYTA), INCLUDING G. TAIWANENSIS SP. NOV. AND G. ORIENTALIS SP. NOV. FROM TAIWAN BASED ON rbcL GENE SEQUENCE ANALYSIS AND CYSTOCARP DEVELOPMENT1
Authors: Lin Showe‐Mei , Liang Hong‐Yiang , Hommersand Max H.
Published: February 2008

Few species in the genus Grateloupia have been investigated in detail with respect to the development of the auxiliary cell ampullae before or after diploidization. In this study, we document the vegetative and reproductive structures of two new species of Grateloupia, G. taiwanensis S.‐M. Lin et H.‐Y. Liang sp. nov. and G. orientalis S.‐M. Lin et H.‐Y. Liang sp. nov., plus a third species, G. ramosissima Okamura, from Taiwan. Two distinct patterns are reported for the development of the auxiliary cell ampullae: (1) ampullae consisting of three orders of unbranched filaments that branch after diploidization of the auxiliary cell and form a pericarp together with the surrounding secondary medullary filaments (G. taiwanensis type), and (2) ampullae composed of only two orders of unbranched filaments in which only a few cells are incorporated into a basal fusion cell after diploization of the auxiliary cell and the pericarp consists almost entirely of secondary medullary filaments (G. orientalis type). G. orientalis is positioned in a large clade based on rbcL gene sequence analysis that includes the type species of Grateloupia C. Agardh 1822, G. filicina. G. taiwanensis clusters with a clade that includes the generitype of Phyllymenia J. Agardh 1848, Ph. belangeri from South Africa; that of Prionitis J. Agardh 1851, Pr. lanceolata from Pacific North America; and that of Pachymeniopsis Y. Yamada ex Kawab. 1954, Pa. lanceolata from Japan. A reexamination of the type species of the genera Grateloupia, Phyllymenia, Prionitis, and Pachymeniopsis is required to clarify the generic and interspecific relationships among the species presently placed in Grateloupia.
ANALYSIS OF EXPRESSED SEQUENCE TAGS FROM THE MARINE MICROALGA NANNOCHLOROPSIS OCULATA (EUSTIGMATOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Shi Juan , Pan Kehou , Yu Jianzhong , Zhu Baohua , Yang Guanpin , Yu Wengong , Zhang Xinyu
Published: February 2008

Nannochloropsis oculata (Droop) D. J. Hibberd (Eustigmatophyceae), a marine eukaryotic unicellular alga, is widely used in mariculture as live feed. It is considered to be of high nutritional value owing to its high content of proteins; polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n3); and diverse pigments. Previous studies of this microalga focused on its taxonomy, culture, and biochemistry, but little is known at the molecular level. Establishing a molecular base is vital to understand the biological processes of this alga. Therefore, we constructed a cDNA library using algal cells grown at exponential growth phase and carried out expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis. A total of 1,960 nonredundant sequences (NRSs) were generated for N. oculata clone CS‐179. Only 32.5% of NRSs showed significant similarity (E < 1e‐04) to proteins registered in the GenBank nonredundant protein database. The KOG (clusters of euKaryotic Orthologous Groups) profile database returned significant hits for 490 NRSs. Analysis revealed that a large proportion of NRSs could be unique to this microalga.
MICROALGAL BIOTRANSFORMATION OF STEROIDS1
Authors: Faramarzi Mohammad Ali , Adrangi Sina , Yazdi Mojtaba Tabatabaei
Published: February 2008

Microbial biotransformation of steroids is not a new concept, but most studies in this field have focused on fungal and bacterial systems. Microalgae, despite their photosynthetic ability and immense biodiversity, have not received much attention in this aspect until recently. Since the publication of the first article on microalgal biotransformation of steroids about 20 years ago, there have been many reports describing different modifications, including hydroxylation, reduction, side‐chain degradation, and isomerization introduced by these microorganisms on estrane, androstane, and pregnane derivatives. On the other hand, the development of new large‐scale cultivation systems, the adaptation of existing fermentation techniques to microalgae, and the introduction of microalgal genetic manipulation methods have made these organisms promising candidates for a wide range of biotechnological processes, including biotransformations. In this review, we have summarized the steroid transformation patterns of several microalgal strains and present a perspective of the future trends in microalgal biotechnology, including the possibility of adapting relatively new techniques, such as organic media catalysis and cell immobilization, to this specific field.
When Life‐Saving Devices Terminate Life
Authors: CATANCHIN ANDREI , ANDERSON LISA , JONES SUE , WARD DAVID
Published: February 2008

This report describes proarrhythmia, a rare but in this case fatal complication of ICD therapy due to lead failure.
Prognostic Value of Signal‐Averaged Electrocardiogram in Chagas Disease
Authors: RIBEIRO ANTONIO LUIZ PINHO , CAVALVANTI PAULO SÉRGIO , LOMBARDI FEDERICO , NUNES MARIA DO CARMO PEREIRA , BARROS MÁRCIO VINÍCIUS LINS , ROCHA MANOEL OTÁVIO DA COSTA
Published: February 2008

Background: The value of signal‐averaged ECG (SAECG) in the risk stratification of Chagas disease (ChD), a potentially lethal illness prevalent in Latin America, remains controversial. The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to determine the prognostic value of SAECG in ChD, using multivariate models with other established prognostic predictors, and to develop a simple prediction risk score.

Methods: The study enrolled 184 ambulatory ChD patients (107 men; age: 48 ± 12 years) in sinus rhythm and without other systemic diseases. All patients underwent comprehensive evaluation that included clinical examination, ECG, chest X‐ray, 24‐hour Holter monitoring, echocardiogram, stress testing, and time domain SAECG. Individual medical therapy was adjusted according to a standardized treatment regimen. The association of potential risk factors obtained by noninvasive evaluation and death was tested by Cox proportional‐hazards analysis.

Results: During mean follow‐up time of 74 ± 17 months, 13 patients died. Three independent prognostic factors were identified: left ventricular ejection fraction <50% (HR = 5.2, P = 0.048), ventricular tachycardia at either Holter monitoring or stress testing (HR = 9.9, P = 0.036), and prolonged (>150 ms) filtered QRS complex (HR = 4.3, P = 0.035). A prognostic score developed considering the number of risk factors of each patient had an excellent performance in predicting death (c statistic: 0.92).

Conclusions: Prolonged filtered QRS duration obtained by SAECG is an independent predictor of death in ChD. A prediction score including three risk factors, depressed left ventricular ejection fraction, ventricular tachycardia and prolonged filtered QRS complex, has shown to be useful for stratifying risk categories in ChD.
Poor correlation between coronary artery calcification and obstructive coronary artery disease in an end‐stage renal disease patient
Authors: TONG Li‐Li , MEHROTRA Rajnish , SHAVELLE David M. , BUDOFF Matthew , ADLER Sharon
Published: February 2008

Vascular calcification is highly prevalent and often severe in patients with chronic kidney disease. Arterial calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease can result from the deposition of mineral along the intimal layer of arteries in conjunction with atheromatous plaques or from calcium deposition in the medial wall of arteries, also known as Monckeberg's sclerosis. Whether coronary artery calcium scores as measured by electron beam computed tomography correlate with occlusive atherosclerotic disease in the dialysis population is uncertain. Here we report a case of an asymptomatic patient with diabetes mellitus and end‐stage renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, who was found to have extremely elevated coronary artery calcium scores on electron beam computed tomography, but varied degrees of atherosclerotic plaque in her coronary arteries on coronary angiography. This suggests that in addition to the calcification anticipated in a remodeled intima, a proportion of the calcification is also likely to be in the arterial media. Thus, this case demonstrates that even an extremely high coronary calcium score may not be a satisfactory surrogate marker for obstructive atherosclerosis in elderly diabetic dialysis patients.
Pilot study to assess increased dialysis efficiency in patients with limited blood flow rates due to vascular access problems
Authors: MANDOLFO Salvatore , BORLANDELLI Sabrina , IMBASCIATI Enrico , BADALAMENTI Salvatore , GRAZIANI Giorgio , SERENI Luisa , VARESANI Michele , WRATTEN Mary Loise , CORSI Alessandro , ELLI Attilio
Published: February 2008

In the last few years, the number of hemodialysis patients with inadequate blood flow (Qb) rates has increased due to vascular access problems. To avoid a clinical status of underdialysis, these patients need long‐lasting dialysis sessions. However, other factors aimed to optimize the dialysis dose have to be considered. High‐efficiency convective therapies, such as online hemodiafiltration (HDF), are claimed to be superior to high‐flux hemodialysis (HF‐HD) in improving the dialysis efficacy, but treatment efficacy is strongly related to blood flow rate and infusion volumes. Online mid‐dilution (HDF‐MD) with the Nephros OL‐pure MD190 represents a new HDF concept to increase the removal of middle molecules. In a cross‐over clinical trial, 8 patients, with Qb eff <300 mL/min, received either online HDF‐MD or HF‐HD; Qd was 700 mL/min, the time duration was 240 min, and the filtration volume in HDF‐MD was 112±7 mL/min. No differences were found for Kt/V, urea, and creatinine clearances. Clearance of both small phosphate (P) large β2‐microglobulin (β2m), and leptin (L) solutes was significantly greater for MD (P 217±32, β2m 85.5±10, L 42.6±18 mL/min) than for HF‐HD (P 178±32, β2m 71.9±13, L 32.1±12 mL/min). The results of this study indicate that HDF remains the best means of providing increased removal of large‐molecular weight solutes even in patients with vascular access problems.
Effect of Seeding Sr2KNb5O15 on the Phase Formation and Microstructural Development in Reactive Sintering of Sr2NaNb5O15 Ceramics
Authors: Wei Lingling , Yang Zupei , Chang Yunfei , Gu Rui
Published: February 2008

The phase formation, densification behavior, and microstructure development of Sr2NaNb5O15 (SNN) ceramics in both 10 wt% acicular Sr2KNb5O15 (SKN) seed‐containing and unseeded systems were investigated in this work. SNN ceramics were reactively sintered from SrNb2O6 and NaNbO3 powders. The results show that the acicular SKN seeds not only accelerate SNN phase formation but also promote the densification at lower temperature. In reactive sintering, the acicular SKN seeds prepared by the molten salt synthesis method can give rise to the formation of a liquid phase and provide the structural framework for the grain growth of ceramics, leading to the formation of large anisotropic grains (>80 μm) in ceramics sintered at 1340°C. However, there are no such large anisotropic grains obtained in the SKN‐free system. Observation of the large anisotropic grain growth is explained by the liquid‐phase‐assisted growth mechanism. For comparison, the microstructure evolution in the system with 10 wt% SKN seed, which was prepared by the conventional mixed‐oxide method and without acicular morphology, was also investigated to further support the new growth mechanism.
Low intraspecific aggression level in the polydomous and facultative polygynous antEctatomma tuberculatum
Authors: Zinck L. , Hora R.R. , Châline N. , Jaisson P.
Published: February 2008

Nestmate recognition is a key feature of social insects, as it preserves colony integrity. However, discrimination of non‐nestmates and nestmate recognition mechanisms are highly variable according to species and social systems. Here, we investigated the intraspecific level of aggression in the facultative polygynous and polydomous ant,Ectatomma tuberculatumOlivier (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ectatomminae), in a population with a strong genetic structure. We found that the intraspecific level of aggression was generally low in this population ofE. tuberculatum. However, the level of aggression was significantly correlated with the geographical distance, suggesting that both genetic and environmental cues could be involved in nestmate recognition and discrimination mechanisms. Moreover, polydomy was confirmed by the absence of aggression between workers from nests at a distance of 3 m, while the level of aggression was significantly higher between workers from nests separated by a distance of 10 or 1300 m. Field experiments showed that the low level of aggression between neighbouring colonies was associated with shared foraging areas, which could suggest that familiarization processes may occur in this species. We propose that the particular social organization of this species, with secondary polygyny, polydomy, and budding, may have favoured a high acceptance threshold, because of the low probability of interactions with unrelated conspecifics, the high cost of erroneously rejecting nestmates, and the low cost of accepting non‐nestmate workers. The resulting open recognition system can thus allow privileged relationships between neighbouring colonies and promote the ecological dominance ofE. tuberculatumin the mosaic of arboreal ants.
Resveratrol enhances GLUT‐4 translocation to the caveolar lipid raft fractions through AMPK/Akt/eNOS signalling pathway in diabetic myocardium
Authors: Penumathsa S. Varma , Thirunavukkarasu M. , Zhan L. , Maulik G. , Menon V. P. , Bagchi D. , Maulik N.
Published: February 2008

Homeostasis of blood glucose by insulin involves stimulation of glucose uptake by translocation of glucose transporter Glut‐4 from intracellular pool to the caveolar membrane system. In this study we examined resveratrol (RSV)‐mediated Glut‐4 translocation in the streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic myocardium. The rats were randomized into three groups: Control (Con), Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (STZ 65 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) & DM + RSV (2.5 mg/kg b.wt. for 2 weeks orally) (RSV). Isolated rat hearts were used as per the experimental model. RSV induced glucose uptake was observed in vitro with H9c2 cardiac myoblast cells. Decreased blood glucose level was observed after 30 days (375 mg/dl) in RSV‐treated rats when compared to DM (587 mg/dl). Treatment with RSV demonstrated increased Adenosine Mono Phosphate Kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation compared to DM. Lipid raft fractions demonstrated decreased expression of Glut‐4, Cav‐3 (0.4, 0.6‐fold) in DM which was increased to 0.75‐and 1.1‐fold on RSV treatment as compared to control. Increased Cav‐1 expression (1.4‐fold) in DM was reduced to 0.7‐fold on RSV treatment. Increased phosphorylation of endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) & Akt was also observed in RSV compared to DM (P< 0.05). Confocal microscopy and co‐immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated decreased association of Glut‐4/Cav‐3 and increased association of Cav‐1/eNOS in DM as compared to control and converse results were obtained on RSV treatment. Our results suggests that the effect of RSV is non‐insulin dependent and triggers some of the similar intracellular insulin signalling components in myocardium such as eNOS, Akt through AMPK pathway and also by regulating the caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐3 status that might play an essential role in Glut‐4 translocation and glucose uptake in STZ‐ induced type‐1 diabetic myocardium.
Brucella Intracellular Replication Requires Trafficking Through the Late Endosomal/Lysosomal Compartment
Authors: Starr Tregei , Ng Tony W. , Wehrly Tara D. , Knodler Leigh A. , Celli Jean
Published: February 2008

Upon entry into mammalian cells, the intracellular pathogen Brucella abortus resides within a membrane‐bound compartment, the Brucella‐containing vacuole (BCV), the maturation of which is controlled by the bacterium to generate a replicative organelle derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Prior to reaching the ER, Brucella is believed to ensure its intracellular survival by inhibiting fusion of the intermediate BCV with late endosomes and lysosomes, although such BCVs are acidic and accumulate the lysosomal‐associated membrane protein (LAMP‐1). Here, we have further examined the nature of intermediate BCVs using confocal microscopy and live cell imaging. We show that BCVs rapidly acquire several late endocytic markers, including the guanosine triphosphatase Rab7 and its effector Rab‐interacting lysosomal protein (RILP), and are accessible to fluid‐phase markers either delivered to the whole endocytic pathway or preloaded to lysosomes, indicating that BCVs interact with late endosomes and lysosomes. Consistently, intermediate BCVs are acidic and display proteolytic activity up to 12 h post‐infection. Expression of dominant‐negative Rab7 or overexpression of RILP significantly impaired the ability of bacteria to convert their vacuole into an ER‐derived organelle and replicate, indicating that BCV maturation requires interactions with functional late endosomal/lysosomal compartments. In cells expressing dominant‐negative Rab7[T22N], BCVs remained acidic, yet displayed decreased fusion with lysosomes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that BCVs traffic along the endocytic pathway and fuse with lysosomes, and such fusion events are required for further maturation of BCVs into an ER‐derived replicative organelle.
Enterprise Culture Management in China: Insiders' Perspective
Authors: Cooke Fang Lee
Published: February 2008

In this paper, I review the history and current practices of enterprise culture management in China from an insider's perspective. Based on a systematic analysis of case study reports on enterprise culture published in the academic and practitioners' journals, I analysed how enterprise culture was understood and implemented in organizations of different ownership forms. I also discuss the Chinese characteristics and the influence of Western management techniques in the manifestation of Chinese enterprise culture. I argue that the configuration of Chinese organizational culture is heavily influenced by societal culture, in that there is a relatively heavier focus on relationship management than on performance management, at least based on the rhetoric of the enterprise managers.
Analysis of the sugar‐binding specificity of mannose‐binding‐type Jacalin‐related lectins by frontal affinity chromatography – an approach to functional classification
Authors: Nakamura‐Tsuruta Sachiko , Uchiyama Noboru , Peumans Willy J. , Van Damme Els J. M. , Totani Kiichiro , Ito Yukishige , Hirabayashi Jun
Published: February 2008

The Jacalin‐related lectin (JRL) family comprises galactose‐binding‐type (gJRLs) and mannose‐binding‐type (mJRLs) lectins. Although the documented occurrence of gJRLs is confined to the family Moraceae, mJRLs are widespread in the plant kingdom. A detailed comparison of sugar‐binding specificity was made by frontal affinity chromatography to corroborate the structure–function relationships of the extended mJRL subfamily. Eight mJRLs covering a broad taxonomic range were used: Artocarpin from Artocarpus integrifolia (jackfruit, Moraceae), BanLec from Musa acuminata (banana, Musaceae), Calsepa from Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed, Convolvulaceae), CCA from Castanea crenata (Japanese chestnut, Fagaceae), Conarva from Convolvulus arvensis (bindweed, Convolvulaceae), CRLL from Cycas revoluta (King Sago palm tree, Cycadaceae), Heltuba from Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke, Asteraceae) and MornigaM from Morus nigra (black mulberry, Moraceae). The result using 103 pyridylaminated glycans clearly divided the mJRLs into two major groups, each of which was further divided into two subgroups based on the preference for high‐mannose‐type N‐glycans. This criterion also applied to the binding preference for complex‐type N‐glycans. Notably, the result of cluster analysis of the amino acid sequences clearly corresponded to the above specificity classification. Thus, marked correlation between the sugar‐binding specificity of mJRLs and their phylogeny should shed light on the functional significance of JRLs.
GROUNDING SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IN RESOURCE‐ADVANTAGE THEORY*
Authors: HUNT SHELBY D. , DAVIS DONNA F.
Published: February 2008

A key issue for strategic supply chain management research is whether purchasing can be a source of long‐term competitive advantage. Recent resource‐based works in strategic management suggest that purchasing cannot be a source of long‐term competitive advantage. In contrast, recent works in supply chain management suggest that purchasing can be such a source. This article explains why works in strategic management and supply chain management come to such radically different conclusions on purchasing strategy. Specifically, this article points out that the negative conclusion concerning purchasing strategy is derived from theories of competition based on the neoclassical, equilibrium economics research tradition. Therefore, the positive case for strategic purchasing needs to be grounded in a research tradition that provides a clean break from the neoclassical, equilibrium economics research tradition. The authors discuss the characteristics of what has come to be labeled “the resource‐advantage research tradition” and offer it as an appropriate grounding for purchasing strategy, in particular, and supply chain management, in general.
Unilateral failure of development of mandibular premolars and molars in an Eastern Grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) and its effects on molar progression
Authors: Barber D , Campbell J , Davey J , Luke T , Ågren E , Beveridge I
Published: February 2008

An adult male Eastern Grey kangaroo from a wildlife reserve near Melbourne was submitted for necropsy examination and was discovered to have abnormal dentition. There was no evidence that any premolars or molars had ever been present on the right mandible, whilst the incisors were normal. The age of the kangaroo was estimated to be 1 year 9 months using the right maxillary molars and 2 years 4 months old using the contralateral side, presumably due to the asymmetry of the dental arcades. ‘Lumpy jaw’, a common periodontal disease of kangaroos, from which Bacteroides sp was cultured, was present on the base of the vertical ramus of the left mandible. Complete unilateral absence of premolar and molar teeth in the mandible of a kangaroo has not been described. This condition affected molar progression in both sets of maxillary molars.
CARBOXYLATION OF FORMIC ACID IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF U.V.‐LIGHT
Authors: Getoff Nikola
Published: February 2008

Abstract— Carboxylation of various organic substances by dissolved carbon dioxide or bicarbonate is achieved by the action of U.V. ‐Light of 184.9 and 253.1 mμ on water. The transformation of formic acid to oxalic acid was investigated in more detail as a function of u.v.‐dose, pH‐values and the formate concentration. For an irradiation period of 12 hr of 0.1 M formate, a yield of about 2 m mol.1‐‐1 oxalic acid was obtained. A reaction mechanism for the photochemical carboxylation process is presented. The results are of some interest in respect of the synthesis of organic compounds under the primitive earth conditions.
STUDIES ON THE PHOTO DEGRADATION OF TRYPTOPHAN
Authors: Leaver I. H. , Lennox F. G.
Published: February 2008

Abstract— The photodegradation of tryptophan in aqueous solution increases steadily with decrease in wavelength over the U.V. range 370–230 mμ, but the action spectrum does not parallel the absorption spectrum over these wavelengths. Thus appreciable decomposition occurs at wavelengths greater than 300 mp, even though at the concentrations tested the indole ring does not absorb energy in this region, and a photosensitive auto‐oxidation mechanism is suggested to account for this.

The quantum efficiency for the destruction tryptophan at 265 mμ is 0 01 at pH 4, 5 and 7, but increases to 0.02 at pH 12. For the acetyl, ester and amide derivatives it is 0.03 in neutral solution.

The yellowing of tryptophan solutions during irradiation is accompanied by the appearance of an absorption maximum at about 305 mμ in the differential absorption spectrum. The increase in optical density at this wavelength bears a direct relationship to the decrease in optical density at 280 mμ: the degree of yellowing is related to the degree of destruction of tryptophan. It is less pronounced in neutral solution than at higher or lower pH values.

The yellowing of N‐substituted tryptophan derivatives at 265 mμ is appreciably less than that of tryptophan, whereas derivatives with a free amino group are indistinguishable from the unsubstituted amino acid in this respect.
LIGHT‐INDUCED SINGLE ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS BETWEEN CHLOROPHYLL a AND QUINONES IN SOLUTION — III. ABSOLUTE QUANTUM YIELDS AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE AND SOLVENT*
Authors: Tollin Gordon , Chatterjee Kumar K. , Green Gisele
Published: February 2008

Abstract— Absolute quantum yields for electron transfer have been determined as a function of temperature in chlorophyll a‐p‐benzoquinone solutions in alcoholic solvents. These range, at high quinone concentrations, from about 01 electron per quantum absorbed at — 10°C, up to about 1 electron per quantum at — 110†C, and then down to zero electrons per quantum at — 196†C. The yield appears to be determined principally by solvent viscosity and dielectric constant. A mechanism is proposed to account for this and comparisons with photosynthetic electron transfer are made.
THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF SOLID 1‐CHLOROANTHRACENE
Authors: Stevens B. , Sharpe R. R. , Emmons S. A.
Published: February 2008

Abstract— Although the blue‐fluorescent (type A) crystalline modification of lthloro‐anthracene is photochemically stable, the green‐fluorescent modification (type B) undergoes photodimerisation on exposure to the Hg line at 365 mμ, to produce a different solid modification of the dimer from that precipitated from an exposed soIution.
Spiral grain in plantation trees of Piceaabies
Authors: Danborg Frede
Published: February 2008

The spiral-grain angle of Norway spruce (Piceaabies (L.) Karst.) was measured on diametrical strips from five stands 23–47 years old, on soils of high and moderate fertility, most of which had been thinned heavily. Ninety-five small, average, and large trees from each stand were sampled from which 261 discs were sawn at heights ranging from 1.3 to 12 m. The basic pattern was typical for a conifer; spirality was left-handed in the inner annual rings, peaking in ring numbers 3 to 8, followed by a slow decline towards straight grain, or even right spirality, near the bark. The between-tree variation was statistically significant in all stands, with standard deviation near 1°. A stand may exhibit a specific pattern of grain angle variation along the bole, but no variation with height in stem could be generally applied for Piceaabies. For the three stands grown on fertile soils, the larger trees exhibited larger grain angles than the smaller trees. However, a consistent positive effect of ring width was only statistically significant for one stand. A subsample of 24 stem discs including 421 annual rings measured twice on two diametrical strips at right angles (i.e., crosses) showed fairly good accordance between the two directions, with a pooled standard deviation of 0.5°. The results support earlier conducted studies with respect to complex and perplexing variations in the basic pattern of spirality typical for a conifer.
Coarse woody debris in old-growth temperate beech (Nothofagus) forests of New Zealand
Authors: Stewart Glenn H. , Burrows Larry E.
Published: February 2008

The volume, biomass, and carbon and nitrogen content of coarse woody debris were measured on three 1-ha reference plots in old-growth Nothofagusfusca (Hook. f.) Oerst.–Nothofagusmenziesii (Hook. f.) Oerst. forest on the South Island of New Zealand. Two decay sequences for logs and one for standing dead trees (snags) were recognised from two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) of up to 30 variables related to physical characteristics and structural integrity. Wood volume (up to 800 m3•ha−1) and biomass were high (up to 300 Mg•ha−1), and the inside-out decay sequence from heartwood to sapwood was unusual compared with that of other temperate hardwood forests. Coarse woody debris represented significant carbon and nitrogen pools, with ca. 150 Mg•ha−1 and 370 kg•ha−1, respectively, in one stand. The coarse woody debris component of these broad-leaved evergreen hardwood forests was much higher than that reported for other temperate hardwood forests and approaches that of many northern hemisphere conifer forests. The large coarse woody debris pools are discussed in relation to live stand biomass, natural disturbances and tree mortality, and decomposition processes.
Transgenic larch expressing genes for herbicide and insect resistance
Authors: Shin Dong-Ill , Podila Gopi K. , Huang Yinghua , Karnosky David F.
Published: February 2008

Transgenic European larch (Larixdecidua Mill.) plants expressing a Bacillusthuringiensis Berliner (B.t.) toxin gene or the glyphosate tolerance (aroA) gene have been produced using Agrobacteriumrhizogenes mediated gene transfer. This procedure relies on direct organogenesis on wounded hypocotyls following A. rhizogenes infection. Hypocotyls of seven-day-old larch seedlings were inoculated with A. rhizogenes strain 11325, harboring the oncogenic nopaline-type pRi11325 and either binary vector pCGN1133 containing 35S NPTII and 35S ssu/aroA or pWB139 containing 35S NPTII–B.t. gene. Adventitious shoot buds were induced 4 weeks after infection. Shoots were excised, elongated, and rooted on selection medium containing kanamycin. Needles from greenhouse-grown plants were confirmed to have and to express the B.t. or aroA gene through Southern, Northern, and Western blot analyses and bioassays. This is the first report of regeneration of transgenic conifer plants expressing value-added genes using Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer.
Interpretation of sugar maple (Acersaccharum) ring chronologies from central and southern Ontario using a mixed linear model
Authors: Ryan D.A.J. , Allen O.B. , McLaughlin D.L. , Gordon A.M.
Published: February 2008

not available
Effect of Glucocorticoid on the Differentiation and Development of Terminal Tubules in the Fetal Rat Submandibular Gland
Authors: Inukai Yoshio , Ikeda Rie , Aiyama Shigeo
Published: February 2008

Glucocorticoids (CORT) are known to promote branching of the epithelial cords during the development of the rat submandibular gland. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of CORT (triamcinolone) on the differentiation of cells forming the terminal tubules in the developing fetal rat submandibular gland and the properties of the secretory granules. Light and electron microscopy showed that the terminal tubules of the glands in the experimental group contained more type III cells, which have been identified as proacinar cells, than those in the control group, whereas the relative number of type I cells, which have been identified as terminal tubule cells, was reduced. Immunoelectron microscopy using an antibody against neonatal submandibular gland secretory protein B (SMGB) revealed the presence of more gold particles over type III cell granules in the experimental group than in the control group. Lectin histochemistry demonstrated more wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-labeled gold particles over type III cell granules in the experimental group than in the control group. These findings suggest that CORT promote the differentiation of type III cells, and moreover stimulate the production of secretory granules reactive for SMGB and WGA by acting on the terminal tubules of the developing rat submandibular gland.