bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Responses of otebo bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to postemergence herbicides
Authors: SIKKEMA PETER H. , ROBINSON DARREN E. , SHROPSHIRE CHRISTY , SOLTANI NADER
Published: May 2006

Ontario otebo bean growers have few herbicide options available for weed management. Six field trials were conducted in Ontario, Canada, over a 2 year period (2003 and 2004) to evaluate the tolerance of otebo bean to the postemergence (POST) application of bentazon at 1080 and 2160 g ai ha−1, fomesafen at 240 and 480 g ai ha−1, sethoxydim at 500 and 1000 g ai ha−1, quizalofop‐p‐ethyl at 72 and 144 g ai ha−1, imazamox plus fomesafen at 25 + 200 and 50 + 400 g ai ha−1, and imazamox plus bentazon at 25 + 600 and 50 + 1200 g ai ha−1. All treatments, including the untreated control, were maintained weed‐free during the growing season. The POST application of bentazon, imazamox plus fomesafen, and imazamox plus bentazon caused as much as 9% visual injury and reduced the plant height ≤ 12%, reduced the shoot dry weight ≤ 32%, and delayed maturity but had no adverse effect on the yield of otebo bean. Fomesafen, sethoxydim, and quizalofop‐p‐ethyl applied POST caused as much as 8% visual injury but this was transient and had no adverse effect on the plant height, shoot dry weight, seed moisture content, and yield of otebo bean, except for quizalofop‐p‐ethyl, which reduced the shoot dry weight as much as 18%. Based on these results, bentazon, fomesafen, sethoxydim, quizalofop‐p‐ethyl, imazamox plus fomesafen, and imazamox plus bentazon applied POST have an adequate margin of crop safety for weed management in otebo bean production in Ontario. However, care must be taken to avoid spray overlaps to prevent injury from bentazon, imazamox plus fomesafen, and imazamox plus bentazon.
Gas exchange, biomass partition, and water relationships of three grass seedlings under water stress
Authors: XU BINGCHENG , LI FENGMIN , SHAN LUN , MA YONGQING , ICHIZEN NOBUMASA , HUANG JIN
Published: May 2006

Three grass species, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), and Old World bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum), referred to as introduced, traditional, and indigenous species, respectively, in the Loess hilly gully region on Loess Plateau in China, were grown in a growth chamber. Water was withheld to let the soil gravimetric moisture content (SGMC) decline gradually from 14.92% for 15 days. The gas exchange characteristics, leaf water conditions, root and shoot growth, and water use efficiency (WUE) of the three grasses were compared. The SGMC of foxtail millet declined faster than that of switchgrass and Old World bluestem, and it maintained higher leaf water potential at a lower soil water content, indicating that it might have greater drought tolerance. During the process of soil drying, the stomatal conductance (Gs), photosynthesis rate, and transpiration rate (Tr) of foxtail millet and Old World bluestem declined linearly, whereas those of switchgrass declined parabolically. The Gs of each grass was significantly different between the stressed and well‐watered (WW) conditions. When the SGMC declined to ≈ 11.0%, 9.5%, and 8.6%, respectively, the leaf water potential was significantly different between the two growing conditions, showing the appearance of non‐hydraulic and hydraulic signals. As a result of greater stomatal adjustment ability and a smaller Gs, foxtail millet had a high WUE. Among the three grasses, switchgrass had a high Tr and root/shoot (R/S) ratio under both WW and stressed conditions, and water stress significantly improved its R/S ratio. The results showed that foxtail millet seedlings have the best drought adaptability in the flexible soil–water environment, whereas switchgrass seedlings have the worst, but a high R/S ratio might be advantageous under drought conditions once the seedlings are established.
Characterization and quantitative assessment of interspecific and intraspecific penetration of below‐ground vegetation by cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.) rhizomes
Authors: HOLLY D. CHRISTOPHER , ERVIN GARY N.
Published: May 2006

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.), an invasive C4 perennial grass, negatively influences native plant communities by forming dense monotypic stands that alter ecosystem properties and lower local species diversity. A hypothesized mechanism by which cogongrass achieves competitive dominance is a novel use of below‐ground vegetative disturbance of neighboring vegetation (i.e. puncturing). However, very little empirical evidence is found in the peer‐reviewed literature to quantify this phenomenon, much less establish it as a true form of competitive interaction. The present field study was conducted to quantify the occurrence of rhizome‐mediated, below‐ground vegetative penetration, both interspecifically and intraspecifically, document how this phenomenon is influenced by spatial location relative to the cogongrass stand, and determine the role that above‐ground and below‐ground biomass might have in the process. Analyses of 100 sod samples indicated that rhizome‐mediated, below‐ground vegetative penetration is a much larger intraspecific phenomenon than an interspecific one. The data also strongly suggested spatial location as a significant factor, with most penetrations occurring in the interior of a cogongrass stand as opposed to the advancing border. Significant correlations between rhizome‐mediated, below‐ground vegetative penetration and above‐ground cogongrass biomass were found in the overall plot analysis and most strongly in the advancing border of the cogongrass stands.
Host range of the parasitic weed Osyris alba L. in Jordan
Authors: QASEM JAMAL R.
Published: May 2006

A field survey revealed the presence of Osyris alba L., the root hemi‐parasitic weed, with 23 plant species of 14 families found in the central/west parts of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The host list includes shrubs and fruit and forest trees of high economic value. New hosts were added to the existing list. The most severely attacked fruit trees are Amygdalus communis L., Olea europaea L., and Vitis vinifera L., while the most severely attacked forest trees are Cupressus sempervirens L., Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. and Rhamnus palaestina Boiss. The distribution and intensity of parasite infection of different hosts were evaluated. This work is the first record of O. alba and its hosts in the Kingdom of Jordan.
Field evidence of the allelopathic properties of Dicranopteris linearis
Authors: TET‐VUN CHONG , ISMAIL BIN S.
Published: May 2006

This study investigates the suspected allelopathic influence of Dicranopteris linearis on the densities of five Malaysian common broad‐leaved weeds (Asystasia gangetica, Melastoma malabathricum, Ageratum conyzoides, Mimosa pudica, and Crassocephalum crepidioides) and on five Malaysian common grasses (Echinochloa colona, Eleusine indica, Paspalum conjugatum, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, and Chloris barbata). The allelopathic effect of D. linearis‐infested soil on the emergence and growth of these weed species also was tested. The results reveal that D. linearis strongly reduced the weed density in its vicinity. Ageratum conyzoides and E. colona, the most sensitive weed species, were not found in the D. linearis‐infested area. In the greenhouse study, the D. linearis‐infested soil also highly inhibited the emergence and growth of the bioassay species. The I50 of the bioassay seeds was reached when the ratio of the infested soil (IS) to uninfested soil (UIS) was 99.55:0.45%. The I50 for the fresh weight of the bioassay seedlings was 81.27:18.73%. For the height of the bioassay seedlings, the I50 was 90.40:9.60%. In this study, there was no obvious difference in the physicochemical properties between the IS and the UIS soils. However, the levels of water‐soluble phenolic compounds in the IS were significantly higher than those in the UIS. Dicranopteris linearis might exert its allelopathic influence on weed density, emergence, and growth via its secretion of these phenolic compounds into the soil.
Bridging the Idiographic‐Nomothetic Divide: A Follow‐Up Study
Authors: Grice James W. , Jackson Bobby J. , McDaniel Brenda L.
Published: May 2006

ABSTRACT
In a replication and extension of Grice (2004), participants in the current study rated themselves and other known individuals on scales constructed from their own personal constructs and on marker items for the Big Five model personality traits. Confirmatory components analyses revealed excellent fit for the Big Five Model when applied to aggregate trait ratings but highly variable fit when applied to participants' individual ratings. Comparisons of the personal construct and trait ratings indicated an approximate average overlap of only 51%, and additional analyses revealed several factors that contributed to the uniqueness of the personal constructs. These findings were discussed in the context of the idiographic‐nomothetic distinction drawn in personality psychology.
Accountability in World Politics1
Authors: Keohane Robert O.
Published: May 2006

World politics has never been a democratic realm. Now, with interdependence and globalization prompting demands for global governance, the lack of global democracy has become an important public issue. Yet the domestic analogy is unhelpful since the conditions for electoral democracy, much less participatory democracy, do not exist on a global level. Rather than abandoning democratic principles, we should rethink our ambitions. First, we should emphasize, in our normative as well as our positive work, the role played by information in facilitating international cooperation and democratic discourse. Second, we should define feasible objectives such as limiting potential abuses of power, rather than aspiring to participatory democracy and then despairing of its impossibility. Third, we should focus as much on the powerful entities that are the core of the problem, including multinational firms and states, as on multilateral organizations, which often are the focus of criticism. Finally, we need to think about how to design a pluralistic accountability system for world politics that relies on a variety of types of accountability: supervisory, fiscal, legal, market, peer and reputational. A challenge for contemporary political science is to design such a system, which could promote both democratic values and effective international cooperation.
The Competent Cabinet? Ministers in Sweden and the Problem of Competence and Democracy
Authors: Beckman Ludvig
Published: May 2006

The competence of Cabinet members in general, and of Swedish Cabinet members in particular, is frequently put into doubt despite the fact that little systematic research exists on the topic. The meaning of ‘competence’ in this context is of course controversial. This study is confined to the occurrence of ‘expertise’: indicators of professional experience from the subject areas for which the minister is responsible. The sample includes 182 Swedish Cabinet appointments from 1917 to 2004, covering the full range of ministers concerned with economic and social affairs. The indicators used include previous political experience from the relevant policy field as well as relevant educational and professional backgrounds. When these measures are used, the resulting pattern is that few government ministers are truly amateurs at the time of entering the Cabinet. Moreover, there are few signs that the level of expertise so understood has undergone any dramatic changes during the time period. These results speak against the views endorsed by some scholars that ‘the problem of power of politicians is power without competence’. If it is true that political experience has the potential to breed expertise in particular policy fields, it cannot also be true that the recruitment of full‐time politicians as Cabinet Ministers indicates the absence of expertise.
All of Humanity is Here!
Authors: HUDSON RACHEL
Published: May 2006

This article describes the personal experiences of a teacher turned counsellor developing a student counselling service in a school setting. It explores how a school seeking to become an emotional literate community enabled the development of a counselling service and a Learning Mentor programme, both of which focused on the needs of individual students. This diverse school community reflected a range of social circumstances from professional affluence to unemployment and deprivation, and it is recognized that emotional need is not confined to those from the latter. Open access to personal support enables every student to really feel that they matter. The significance of relationship is highlighted for its capacity to engender a sense of personal worth and of mattering within the community that is staff and students. Key learning from the development is explored for governors, school leadership teams and classroom teachers, and a culture of open and supportive involvement is seen as a means to enable young people to develop a sense of worth and belonging in the school community and thus in wider adult society.
St. Ives Pathfinder Children's Trust: From Idea to Reality and Further
Authors: MAHONEY MIKE
Published: May 2006

As the formal arrangements for Pathfinder Children's Trusts across England come to a close, and many Authorities move to firm arrangements for integrated children's services, this is an opportune moment for one pathfinder project to reflect upon its experiences over the past years and to share some of its learning about process issues. This article traces the progress of social inclusion work from its inception in the St. Ives cluster of schools through to its present‐day position as a Children's Trust. As well as explaining the underlying theory and rationale for the work, a number of sound, practical lessons and pointers are offered. The article also identifies celebratory high‐points of the project and highlights some implications for future developments within the context of Every Child Matters, via extended schools and children's centres.
You Talk Like a Monkey: Reflections on a Teacher's Personal Study of Growing Up with a Cleft Palate
Authors: GIBBONS CATHY
Published: May 2006

As teacher confidence in helping children with speech impairments is reported as being low, mainstream teachers may welcome the introduction of specialist speech therapist support in schools through the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (NSF). This reflexive account is offered to develop awareness and understanding of the psycho‐social effects of cleft palate and to encourage mainstream teachers and careers of young people who have speech difficulties and disorders to develop individual and classroom‐based strategies that facilitate the young person's personal, social and emotional development alongside the parallel, more technical work of specialist speech therapists.

This article reviews the literature related to the nature and treatment of cleft palates, parental coping, adolescent social development and adult coping. This is interwoven with personal stories from the life course of the author, a former teacher who herself has cleft palate speech. Current clinical focus is critiqued for being overly focused on the functional effects of speech disorder in childhood and this leaves a significant gap in the adolescent's social development and ill prepares them for the possibility of speech impairments persisting into adulthood.

Some supportive factors are identified to facilitate and encourage cooperation between teachers and other professionals involved in the care and treatment of young people with cleft palates.
The Europeanization of Czech Politics: The Political Parties and the EU Referendum
Authors: BAUN MICHAEL , DÜRR JAKUB , MAREK DAN , ŠARADÍN PAVEL
Published: May 2006

This article explores the Europeanization of Czech politics in the pre‐accession period, with a principal focus on the political parties and party system. It argues that Czech political parties and party politics became increasingly Europeanized with the increased integration of the Czech Republic into the EU. In turn, the parties have played a key role in the Europeanization of Czech politics. This role is evident in the outcome of the June 2003 referendum on EU membership, which reflected strong cross‐party support for EU accession (excepting the Communists). However, factors other than party support also influenced voters' choices, including regional factors and socio‐economic factors such as employment status and level of income and education.
The Watchdogs of Subsidiarity: National Parliaments and the Logic of Arguing in the EU*
Authors: COOPER IAN
Published: May 2006

The 2004 Constitutional Treaty features an ‘early warning system’ (EWS) in which national parliaments will scrutinize European legislative proposals to assess whether they comply with the principle of subsidiarity. In constructivist terms, this procedure effectively sets up the Commission and the national parliaments as interlocutors in an argument over when and how the EU should legislate. At a minimum, this system – which should be expanded to include proportionality – will alleviate the ‘democratic deficit’ by enhancing the parliamentary scrutiny of EU legislation. If it works well, it will improve the subsidiarity compliance of EU legislation and produce a clearer substantive definition of the principle.
Europeanization as an Interactive Process: German Public Banks Meet EU State Aid Policy*
Authors: GROSSMAN EMILIANO
Published: May 2006

Much of the Europeanization literature assumes that while European integration may upset certain features of national policy‐making structures, it will not be able to modify systemic characteristics. This article shows that central features of national policy‐making structures may be overthrown by European integration. However, this usually requires a proactive attitude by subnational actors with an interest in further integration. The argument is illustrated by the case of German public banks and the conflict with regard to EU state aid rules. In this case, competing private banks finally chose to circumvent existing national policy‐making structures in order to obtain the abolition of state guarantees, which it was considered put private banks at a competitive disadvantage.
Globalization and the Reform of European Social Models*
Authors: SAPIR ANDRÉ
Published: May 2006

Globalization implies changes that create both threats and opportunities. The challenge for Europe is to become flexible in order to avail of the opportunities this brings and surmount the threats. This requires reforming labour market and social policies. When thinking about such reforms the notion of a single ‘European social model’ is largely irrelevant. There are four different European social models, each with its own performance in terms of efficiency and equity. The Nordic and the Anglo‐Saxon models are both efficient, but only the former manages to combine equity and efficiency. The Continental and Mediterranean models are inefficient and unsustainable; they must therefore be reformed.
Who Has Power in the EU? The Commission, Council and Parliament in Legislative Decision‐making*
Authors: THOMSON ROBERT , HOSLI MADELEINE
Published: May 2006

What is the relative power of the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament (EP) in the European Union (EU)? Both scholars and practitioners of EU affairs provide different answers to this seemingly straightforward question. In this article, we examine the balance of power among these three actors in the context of legislative decision‐making. We report the results of a small survey among a select group of practitioners of EU affairs. Their judgements on the relative power of the three organizations vary considerably. We distinguish between two contrasting views: a Council‐centric view that attributes more power to the Council of Ministers than to the Commission and Parliament, and a supranational view that attributes large amounts of power to the supranational organizations relative to the Council. To test the veracity of these alternative views, we incorporate them into two variants of a simple and testable bargaining model that makes forecasts of decision outcomes, based on information on actors' preferences. The models are then applied to a dataset that includes information on EU actors' policy positions on 162 controversial issues of which the decision outcomes are known. The variant of the bargaining model incorporating the Council‐centric view provides significantly more accurate forecasts.
Media Effects on Public Opinion about the Enlargement of the European Union*
Authors: DE VREESE CLAES H. , BOOMGAARDEN HAJO G.
Published: May 2006

Studies of public support for matters of European integration tend either to neglect or inadequately model the role of the mass media. This study investigates how news media content affects public support for the enlargement of the EU. Other influences on support for integration, such as economic evaluations, anti‐immigration sentiment, domestic political considerations and cognitive mobilization are accounted for. The study draws on two‐wave panel surveys and media content analyses of television news and national newspapers. The results suggest that media coverage of EU affairs matters to change in public opinion about EU enlargement. The effects of the news media, however, are conditional upon the visibility and consistency in tone of the news.
Electronic journal provision in a health‐care library: insights from a consultation with NHS workers
Authors: Crudge Sarah E. , Hill Mary L.
Published: May 2006

Objective:  This study determines the current awareness journal reading requirements of the users of Stockport National Health Service (NHS) Trust's library. The overlap between requirements and the provision of the NHS Core Content resources, four major electronic journal bundles, and the holdings of North West health libraries is also investigated.

Methods:  A survey of both hospital and Primary Care Trust staff was conducted, and respondents were required to provide a list of their favourite journal titles. Each requested title was assigned a subject code, and the impact factor was noted.

Results:  From 135 survey responses, 217 journal titles were identified and 33 category codes were utilized. There was little overlap between the request list and the NHS Core Content titles, but substantial correspondence existed between the request list and the print holdings of North West health libraries.

Conclusions:  Current awareness journal reading requirements will not be met by the Core Content provision alone. Bundles of titles offer value‐for‐money solutions, but may be at the expense of popular titles. Furthermore, the success of regional document supply schemes may be compromised if large numbers of health‐care libraries replace print holdings with similar electronic journal bundles.
Competence in nursing informatics among nursing students and staff at a nursing institute in Sweden
Authors: Ragneskog Hans , Gerdner Linda
Published: May 2006

Background:  Information technology (IT) has slowly been implemented in many health‐care organizations (i.e. hospitals). The use of computers has advanced to home care and long‐term facilities. Consequently, it is important that nurses are able to demonstrate competence and feel confident in the use of IT. Yet, research has reported that nursing students have varying degrees of competence and experience with IT.

Aims:  The purpose of this study was to ascertain nursing students’ and nursing educators’ self‐reported attitudes, skills and experiences using IT.

Methods:  Data were collected through a written survey distributed and completed by 247 nursing students (45 of whom were registered nurses who participated in extension courses) and 52 staff members from the nursing faculty at a university in Sweden.

Results:  Two‐thirds of the students and 92% of the nursing educators had access to the Internet from their homes. Of the students, 71% identified their IT skills as being sufficient for their current or future work as a registered nurse. Nurse educators were less confident in the students’ ability, reporting that only 29% of nursing students had sufficient IT skills. Comparatively, 48% of the nursing educators believed that they themselves had sufficient IT skills for their role as a nurse educator.

Conclusions:  It is important that nursing students have basic IT skills and are familiar with e‐mail, word‐processing and various databases on the World Wide Web. Findings indicate that participants had a deficit in these skills, suggesting the need to integrate IT into the nursing curriculum.
The UK's SMARTAL Project: St MARTin's College health students Access to Learning resources whilst on placement
Authors: Mailer Liz
Published: May 2006

Background: St Martin's College pre‐registration health students spend up to half their course on periods of placement, during which times they need to be able to access learning resources. The project aimed to replicate the Health and Education Northumbria Students Access to Learning resources (HENSAL) project.

Objective: To look at patterns of use and access to learning resources for health students on placement.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to students who had recently returned from a placement. Five Practice Placement Facilitators were interviewed to gain their views.

Results: There was a 60% return rate (n = 268) for the questionnaire. Most students thought access to learning resources was important yet these were not always available and varied according to placement type. Students still made regular use of the College library while they were on placement but had some difficulties. Students used electronic resources, tending to access them from home.

Conclusions: The results indicated that there were issues which needed to be addressed by the College's Faculty of Health and Social Care, Library and IT services, the local NHS Trust libraries and the local Strategic Health Authority to improve access to and use of learning resources. The findings proved to be very similar to those of the HENSAL project.
Fifteen hundred guidelines and growing: the UK database of clinical guidelines1
Authors: Van Loo John , Leonard Niamh
Published: May 2006

Background:  The National Library for Health offers a comprehensive searchable database of nationally approved clinical guidelines, called the Guidelines Finder. This resource, commissioned in 2002, is managed and developed by the University of Sheffield Health Sciences Library.

Methods:  The authors introduce the historical and political dimension of guidelines and the nature of guidelines as a mechanism to ensure clinical effectiveness in practice. The article then outlines the maintenance and organisation of the Guidelines Finder database itself, the criteria for selection, who publishes guidelines and guideline formats, usage of the Guidelines Finder service and finally looks at some lessons learnt from a local library offering a national service.

Conclusions:  Clinical guidelines are central to effective clinical practice at the national, organisational and individual level. The Guidelines Finder is one of the most visited resources within the National Library for Health and is successful in answering information needs related to specific patient care, clinical research, guideline development and education.
Developing and evaluating an interactive information skills tutorial1
Authors: Grant Maria J. , Brettle Alison J.
Published: May 2006

Objective:  To develop and evaluate a web‐based interactive information skills tutorial integrated into the curriculum. To determine whether the tutorial was acceptable to students and explore the use of a skills assessment tool in identifying whether the tutorial improved skills.

Methods:  The development of a tutorial on OVID medline to teach transferable information skills. A small cohort study to evaluate students’ views on the tutorial and its effects on information skills.

Results:  Thirteen objective assessments were usable. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean final assessment scores, compared with mean pre‐training scores, F(2,14) = 11.493, P = 0.001. Eleven (85%) students had improved their overall information skills. The improvement in overall searching skills was enhanced by referral to the tutorial.

Conclusions:  The tutorial was successfully developed and integrated into a Masters programme curriculum. In this setting, it appears to reinforce active learning, and was well received by students, who developed core generic searching skills and demonstrated improved information skills in the short and longer term. Students could use the tutorial for revision and study at a time and place of their choosing. Further evaluation is required to assess the impact of using the tutorial with large groups of students, and as a stand‐alone teaching medium.
Inflammatory conditions increase expression of protease‐activated receptor‐2 by human airway smooth muscle cells in culture
Authors: Freund‐Michel Véronique , Frossard Nelly
Published: May 2006

The protease‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2) has been implicated in airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We wondered whether inflammatory conditions may upregulate PAR‐2 expression by the human airway smooth muscle. To do so, we treated human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMC) in primary culture with interleukin‐1β(IL‐1β), a pro‐inflammatory and asthma‐associated cytokine. Cells were starved for 24 h and incubated with or without IL‐1β. Online fluorescent polymerase chain reaction after reverse transcription quantified PAR‐2 mRNA, and Western blotting measured PAR‐2 protein expression. PAR‐2 was constitutively expressed by HASMC in primary culture, and IL‐1β(10 U/mL) time dependently elevated PAR‐2 mRNA with a maximum of 4.7‐fold after 1.5 h (P < 0.01), and PAR‐2 protein expression with a maximum of 1.5‐fold after 24 h (P < 0.01). The concentration dependence of the IL‐1βeffect (0.1–30 U/mL) confirmed a maximal increase of PAR‐2 expression at 10 U/mL. Our study clearly shows that IL‐1βupregulates PAR‐2 mRNA and protein expression by HASMC in culture. This increased expression of PAR‐2 in inflammatory conditions may have functional consequences in the bronchial dysfunction of asthmatic airways.
Evidence againstα2‐adrenoceptors mediating relaxation in rat thoracic aortae:α2‐agonists relaxation depends on interaction withα1‐adrenoceptors
Authors: Castillo Enrique F. , Ortíz Cindy S. , López Ruth M. , Ruíz Antonio , Vélez Juan M. , Castillo Carlos
Published: May 2006

In rat aorta, the presence of functionalα2‐adrenoceptors (α2‐AR) was investigated in ring preparations preconstricted withα1‐adrenergic and non‐α1‐adrenergic agonists. Particularly, the hypothetical interference ofα2‐AR agonists withα1‐AR‐mediated vasoconstriction was evaluated. Relaxant and contractile responses toα2‐AR agonists were obtained. In endothelium‐intact and endothelium‐denuded aortic rings preconstricted with phenylephrine (1 × 10−6 m), the imidazoline derivatives, clonidine and UK14304, induced relaxations with similar order of potencies (−log EC50) and maxima relaxant effects respectively. Pretreatment with the NO synthase inhibitor, NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME) had no effect on the relaxant responses to clonidine and UK14304. In phenylephrine‐constricted rings with endothelium, relaxations to clonidine and UK 14304 were not antagonized by the selectiveα2‐AR antagonist, rauwolscine (≤1 × 10−6 m). Clonidine and UK 14304 induced only contractions on endothelium‐intact and endothelium‐denuded aortic rings contracted with prostaglandin F2α(3 × 10−7 m). Moreover, clonidine and UK 14304‐induced relaxation of endothelium‐denuded arteries precontracted with methoxamine but not with serotonin. Finally, the concentration–contraction curves to clonidine and UK 14304 in endothelium‐denuded aortic rings were significantly shifted to the right by theα1D‐AR selective antagonist, BMY 7378, and rauwolscine. The pA2and pKBvalues for BMY 7378 and rauwolscine, respectively, against endothelium‐independent actions of clonidine and UK 14304 were characteristic of an effect on theα1D‐AR. The other selectiveα2‐AR agonist tested BHT 933 (an azepine derivative), lacks considerable relaxant and contractile effects in rat aorta. The results provide no evidence for the presence of functionalα2‐AR in rat aorta. Respectively, the relaxant and contractile effects of the imidazoline derivatives, clonidine and UK 14304, may be due to an adjustable (in relation to the agonist‐dependent active state of theα1‐AR), inhibitory and excitatory, interaction withα1‐ARs.
Policy Subsystems and Regimes: Organized Interests and Climate Change Policy
Authors: Orr Shannon K.
Published: May 2006

This research is an examination of the role of organized interests in international climate change policy formation. Systematic survey results are used to demonstrate that organized interests actually engage in the same activities in both the international and domestic arenas. This research demonstrates that the climate change negotiations can be characterized as both a policy subsystem and an international regime. It is further argued that these two concepts are in fact highly analogous, thereby facilitating new cross‐discipline research opportunities. The research is based on a web survey of organized interests accredited by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and on interviews and field research at the 8th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in New Delhi, India.
The “Mouse That Roared”: Agenda Setting in Canadian Pesticides Politics
Authors: Pralle Sarah
Published: May 2006

Issue redefinition and venue shopping have been identified as key strategies for enacting agenda and policy change, but much work remains to be done in elaborating these processes. I argue that an important aspect of issue redefinition involves shifting not only the image of an issue but also the bases for considering those issues—what I call policy principles. Policy principles are the core values, beliefs, or guidelines attached to policies that help direct decision making. The emergence and acceptance of new principles by the public and policymakers can be a vital source of policy change, at times having far greater consequences for policy than redefining an issue. Venue shopping is also a multifaceted undertaking involving efforts by policy entrepreneurs and advocacy groups to keep issues out of venues they would rather not participate in as well as move decision making to new arenas. Moreover, while the literature suggests that shifting venues is usually a sensible strategy, sometimes venue shopping can backfire. A case study of the municipal movement to restrict the nonessential use of lawn and garden pesticides in Canada illustrates these theoretical points and shows the applicability of agenda setting models to contexts outside the United States.
Is Greener Whiter Yet? The Sustainable Slopes Program after Five Years
Authors: Rivera Jorge , De Leon Peter , Koerber Charles
Published: May 2006

This study focuses on two basic questions: Are voluntary programs effective in promoting higher environmental performance by participant firms? If so, which distinct areas of environmental performance are more likely to be improved by firms joining a voluntary environmental program? We address these questions by assessing the environmental effectiveness of the ski industry’s Sustainable Slopes Program in the western United States between 2001 and 2005. We found no evidence in our five‐year analysis to conclude that ski areas adopting the SSP displayed superior performance levels than nonparticipants for the following areas of environmental protection: overall environmental performance, expansion management, pollution management, and wildlife and habitat management. SSP participants only appear to show a statistically significant correlation with higher natural resource conservation performance rates. For policymakers, these results suggest that caution is needed before a priori assuming that strictly voluntary programs can be effective in promoting comprehensive superior environmental performance.
The Conditioning Effects of Policy Salience and Complexity on American Political Institutions
Authors: Eshbaugh‐Soha Matthew
Published: May 2006

Years ago, Bill Gormley introduced public policy scholars to a new and innovative salience‐ complexity typology for regulatory policies. This typology not only helps scholars catalog numerous policies into distinct categories, but also helps explain variation in political processes. Specifically, different policies provide different incentives for political actors to be involved in policymaking. Salience encourages activity on the part of elected officials; complexity often requires policymaking outside of the public sphere. In this article, I extend Gormley’s salience‐complexity typology to more than just regulatory policies and confirm that levels of institutional activity vary across this range of public policies. I also expand on Gormley’s contribution by differentiating the distinct impacts that policy type has on the policy activities of Congress and the presidency, and propose that institutional activity differs according to the dynamics of a policy’s salience.
Executives, Legislatures, and Decentralization
Authors: Escobar‐Lemmon Maria C.
Published: May 2006

This article considers the role of executives and legislatures in authoring decentralizing legislation to study the type of decentralization each sought to achieve. I find that differences across branches are more significant than differences across political parties. The executive played a significant role in the process of decentralization emphasizing administrative forms of decentralization. Congressional efforts to write laws, on the contrary, focused on the political aspects. Thus, the involvement of both branches in policymaking contributed to the multidimensional form and high degree of decentralization in Colombia.
Gambling and Income Inequality in the States
Authors: Freund Elizabeth A. , Morris Irwin L.
Published: May 2006

Since the early 1970s, income inequality in the United States has increased dramatically. We examine the impact of gambling on income inequality in the American states from 1976 to 1995. Using state‐level data over time to evaluate the effects of various types of legalized gambling, from slot machine parlors to lotteries, we find clear evidence that lotteries foster inequality but no evidence of a similar effect for other types of gambling. These results suggest that the increasing prevalence of various forms of nonlottery gambling will have little effect on income inequality.
Late non‐relapse mortality among adult autologous stem cell transplant recipients: a nation‐wide analysis of 1482 patients transplanted in 1990–2003
Authors: Jantunen E. , Itälä M. , Siitonen T. , Koivunen E. , Leppä S. , Juvonen E. , Kuittinen O. , Lehtinen T. , Koistinen P. , Nyman H. , Nousiainen T. , Volin L. , Remes K.
Published: May 2006

Introduction:  Data on the incidence and causes of late (>100 d) non‐relapse mortality (NRM) in autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) recipients is limited.

Patients and methods:  We have analysed NRM in a cohort of 1482 adult patients who received ASCT in 1990–2003 in six Finnish transplant centres. The most common diagnoses included non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (n = 542), multiple myeloma (MM) (n = 528), breast cancer (n = 132); Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) (n = 86) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (n = 63).

Results:  Until September 2005, 646 patients (44%) have died. Late NRM was observed in 68 patients (4.6% of ASCT recipients; 11% of all deaths). There were 38 males and 30 females with a median age of 58 yr (20–69) at the time of ASCT. The median time to NRM was 27 months from ASCT (3–112). The risk of NRM was highest in patients with CLL (9.5%) and those with HL (8.1%) followed by MM and NHL (4.9% and 4.8%, respectively). The risk of late NRM was comparable in patients who received total body irradiation (TBI) and those who received chemotherapy‐only regimens (6.7% vs. 4.3%). Another malignancy was the most common cause of late NRM (24 patients, 35% of late NRM). Twelve patients (0.8% of ASCT recipients) have died due to secondary haematological malignancy. Altogether 22 patients (32% of late NRM) died from infectious causes.

Conclusions:  Malignancies and late infections are important causes of NRM after ASCT. These facts point out the importance of prolonged follow‐up in ASCT recipients.
Establishment of a nude mice model of human monocytic leukemia with CNS and multiorgan extramedullary infiltration
Authors: Li Zhenjiang , Chen Zixing , Lu Jun , Cen Jiannong , He Jun , Chen Suning , Xue Yongquan , Guo Lingchuan
Published: May 2006

Object:  To establish a human monocytic leukemia model with central nervous system infiltration in BALB/c nude mice.

Methods:  BALB/c nu/nu mice, pretreated by splenectomy, cytoxan intraperitoneal injection, and sublethal irradiation, were transplanted intravenously with human monocytic leukemic cell line SHI‐1. The leukemic cells engrafted in the mice were traced by RT‐PCR, histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry and FCM.

Result:  After engraftment of SHI‐1 cells in SCI‐nu/nu mice, multiple organs were involved and green solid neoplasms were formed in some organs. Paralysis was developed in some mice at both of the rear legs. Histopathological examination found that vertebral and skull bone marrow were replaced by leukemic cells. Leukemic cells penetrated to the surface of vertebrae, forming neoplasm, and entering to the subdural space, but seldom involving in the spinal parenchyma. In the brain, leukemic cells filled in the subdural space and pia‐arachnoid, covered the surface of cerebrum, cerebellum and along the virchow‐robin space on the surface of pia mater, eventually invading into the brain parenchyma.

Conclusion:  SHI‐1 cells could engraft in the SCI‐nu/nu mice, creating an efficient and reproducible experimental model of central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) and multiorgan infiltration. This experimental model may be useful for studies on the pathogenesis of CNSL.
Cardiac effects within 3 months of BEAC high‐dose therapy in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation
Authors: Kuittinen T. , Jantunen E. , Vanninen E. , Mussalo H. , Vuolteenaho O. , Ala‐Kopsala M. , Nousiainen T. , Hartikainen J.
Published: May 2006

Objectives:  Limited data are available on the cardiac effects of high‐dose cyclophosphamide (CY) in patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We prospectively assessed the cardiac effects of high‐dose CY in 30 adult NHL patients receiving CY 6 g/m2 as part of BEAC high‐dose therapy (HDT).

Methods:  Radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) and plasma natriuretic peptide (NT‐proANP, NT‐proBNP) measurements were performed simultaneously prior to BEAC at baseline (d − 7), 12 days (d + 12) and 3 months (m + 3) after stem cell infusion (D0). In addition to these time points, natriuretic peptides were measured 2 days before (d − 2) and 1 week (d + 7) after stem cell infusion.

Results:  Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased from d − 7 (53% ± 2%) to d + 12 (49% ± 2%, P = 0.009). However, no significant change in cardiac diastolic function was observed. The LVEF returned towards baseline by m + 3. Plasma NT‐proANP and NT‐proBNP increased significantly from baseline (445 ± 65 pmol/L and 129 ± 33 pmol/L) to d − 2 (1127 ± 142 pmol/L, P < 0.001 and 624 ± 148 pmol/L, P < 0.001, respectively). Thereafter, they started to decrease, but on d + 7 NT‐proANP (404 ± 157 pmol/L, P = 0.048) and NT‐proBNP (648 ± 125 pmol/L, P = 0.015) were still significantly higher than at baseline. On d + 12 and m + 3 they no longer differed from baseline.

Conclusions:  Our findings suggest that high‐dose CY results in acute, subclinical systolic dysfunction in NHL patients previously treated with anthracyclines. Natriuretic peptides seem to be more sensitive than LVEF to reflect this transient cardiac effect. Serial measurements of natriuretic peptides might be a useful tool to assess cardiac effects of high‐dose CY.
JAK2V617F mutation in platelets from essential thrombocythemia patients: correlation with clinical features and analysis of STAT5 phosphorylation status
Authors: Heller Paula G. , Lev Paola R. , Salim Juan P. , Kornblihtt Laura I. , Goette Nora P. , Chazarreta Carlos D. , Glembotsky Ana C. , Vassallu Patricia S. , Marta Rosana F. , Molinas Felisa C.
Published: May 2006

Objective:  JAK2V617F mutation rate in granulocytes from essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients ranges from 12% to 57%. Our aim was to evaluate the frequency of this mutation in the megakaryocyte/platelet lineage, and to analyze its clinical associations in ET. In addition, we determined whether this mutation leads to constitutive phosphorylation of STAT5 in platelets.

Materials and Methods:  Consecutive patients with ET were included and clinical features were retrospectively reviewed. Mutation detection was performed by allele specific RT‐PCR (AS‐RT‐PCR) and Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of platelet RNA. Constitutive phosphorylation of STAT5 in platelets was studied by Western blot.

Results:  Fifty patients were included, 24 (48%) were JAK2V617F‐positive by both AS‐RT‐PCR and RFLP. Patients with the mutation were older, had significantly higher hemoglobin levels, and lower platelet counts. Besides, higher frequency of thrombotic events was found in JAK2V617F‐positive patients younger than 60, 53% vs. 4%, P = 0.0008. In addition, constitutive STAT5 phosphorylation was not detected in platelets from 12 patients.

Conclusions:  The frequency of the JAK2V617F mutation in platelets was similar to that reported in granulocytes in the literature, suggesting this mutation does not occur as an isolated event in the megakaryocyte lineage. If confirmed in a larger study, the observed higher frequency of thrombosis in patients younger than 60 might be a useful predictive marker for thrombosis in this subset of patients. Even though this mutation has been predicted to constitutively activate the JAK2 kinase, spontaneous phosphorylation of STAT5 does not seem to be a frequent finding in platelets from ET patients.
Stem cell properties of human periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Nagatomo K. , Komaki M. , Sekiya I. , Sakaguchi Y. , Noguchi K. , Oda S. , Muneta T. , Ishikawa I.
Published: May 2006

Background and Objective:  Stem cells have been used for regenerative therapies in various fields. The proportion of cells that possess stem cell properties in human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells is not yet well understood. In this study, we quantitatively characterized human PDL cells to clarify their stem cell properties, including self‐renewal, multipotency, and stem cell marker expression.

Material and Methods:  PDL cells were obtained from extracted premolar or wisdom teeth, following which a proliferation assay for self‐renewal, a differentiation assay for multipotency, immunostaining for STRO‐1, and fluorescence‐activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis for stem cell markers (including CD105, CD166, and STRO‐1) were performed.

Results:  Approximately 30% of 400 PDL cells were found to possess replicative potential and formed single‐cell colonies, and 30% of these colonies displayed positive staining for STRO‐1, 20% differentiated into adipocytes and 30% differentiated into osteoblasts. FACS analysis revealed that PDL cells, including cell populations, expressed the stem cell markers CD105, CD166, and STRO‐1.

Conclusion:  The findings of this study indicated that PDL cells possess crucial stem cell properties, such as self‐renewal and multipotency, and express the mesenchymal stem cell markers CD105, CD166, and STRO‐1 on their cell surface, although there were some variations. Thus, PDL cells can be used for periodontal regenerative procedures.