bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Carbon Dioxide Laser Brain Lesions and Intracranial Dynamics: Part 2
Authors: Tiznado Ernesto G. , James Hector E. , Moore Susan
Published: August 2004

Experimental brain lesions were created over the left parietooccipital cortex of the albino rabbit through the intact dura mater with high radiating carbon dioxide laser energy (40-W impact, 0.5-second duration, for a total time of 4 seconds on a 12.5-mm surface). The brain water content was studied 2, 6, and 24 hours after the insult. Another two groups of animals received acute therapy with either dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) or furosemide (1 mg/kg). In all groups, Evans blue extravasation uniformly extended from the impact crater into the surrounding white matter. The brain water content in the gray matter was elevated from the control value by 2 hours after impact (P < 0.005) and remained elevated at 6 and 24 hours. The white matter brain water content did not increase until 6 hours after impact and remained elevated in the 24-hour group (P < 0.005). After dexamethasone treatment, there was a significant decrease of water in the gray matter (P < 0.01), but not in the white matter. With furosemide therapy, there was no reduction of gray or white matter brain water.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Comparative Study of Radiofrequency Pulse Techniques in the Evaluation of Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Zabramski Joseph M. , Spetzler Robert F. , Kaufman Benjamin
Published: August 2004

The recently developed technique of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging utilizes radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the presence of a strong magnetic field to provide cross sectional displays of body anatomy similar to computed tomography, When utilizing MR, the operator alters tissue contrast electronically by changing RF pulse sequences. The three most frequently used RF pulse sequences are partial-saturation (PS), inversion-recovery (IR), and spin-echo (SE). We evaluated the sensitivity of these RF sequences to detect ischemic changes in our primate model. Serial MR scans were carried out using all three pulse formats 5 to 60 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in four animals. SE- and IR-sequenced proton MR images readily identified areas of evolving infarct 5 to 6 hours after MCAO, whereas PS scans that were performed during this acute period appeared normal. From 24 to 60 hours after MCAO, PS-sequenced scans showed focal areas of progressively decreasing signal intensity. However, SE and IR scans performed at the same intervals always demonstrated more extensive tissue changes. The basis of MR imaging, the effects of altering RF pulse sequences, and the resulting interpretation of changes observed in MR sections are presented. (Neurosurgery 16: 502-510, 1985)
Increased Cortisol Response to Surgery in Patients With Alcohol Problems Who Developed Postoperative Confusion
Authors: Kudoh Akira , Katagai Hiroshi , Takase Hajime , Takazawa Tomoko
Published: August 2004

Background: Patients with alcohol problems often develop postoperative confusion and have impaired cortisol, ACTH, and norepinephrine. However, the relationship between neuroendocrine responses to surgical stress and postoperative confusion remains unclear in patients with alcohol problems.

Methods: Plasma cortisol, ACTH, and norepinephrine concentrations during and after surgery in 30 patients with alcohol problems and 30 control patients who underwent lower abdominal surgery were measured before the induction of anesthesia, 15 and 60 min after skin incision, 60 min after the end of surgery, the next day, and the second day after the operation.

Results: Plasma cortisol concentrations (21.2 ± 4.7 μg·dl−1) of patients with alcohol problems before anesthesia were significantly higher than 15.6 ± 4.8 μg·dl−1 of control patients. Plasma cortisol and ACTH responses to surgery in patients with alcohol problems were not significantly increased compared with preoperative values. The incidence of postoperative confusion was significantly higher in patients with alcohol problems than that of control patients (33% vs. 3%). Plasma cortisol concentrations (29.7 ± 7.0, 31.2 ± 6.6, 30.3 ± 8.0, and 28.4 ± 6.2 μg·dl−1) 15 and 60 min after the skin incision, 60 min after the end of surgery, and the next day after operation in postoperatively confused patients with alcohol problems were significantly higher than those of nonconfused patients with alcohol problems (23.0 ± 5.8, 22.7 ± 4.1, 22.4 ± 7.2, and 21.9 ± 5.5 μg·dl−1).

Conclusion: The cortisol response to surgical stress increases in patients with alcohol problems who develop postoperative confusion, although cortisol response to surgical stress decreases in patients with alcohol problems without postoperative confusion.
Decreased Proteasome Activity Is Associated With Increased Severity of Liver Pathology and Oxidative Stress in Experimental Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Donohue Terrence M. , Kharbanda Kusum K. , Casey Carol A. , Nanji Amin A.
Published: August 2004

Background: Because of its role in degrading the bulk of intracellular proteins and eliminating damaged proteins, the proteasome is important in maintaining cell viability. Previously, we showed a 35–40% decrease in proteasome peptidase activity when ethanol was administered to rats by intragastric infusion. We hypothesized that this reduction was caused by ethanol‐elicited oxidative stress, the degree of which varies depending on the method of ethanol administration. This study examined the relationship of proteasome activity and content with ethanol‐induced oxidative stress and the degree of liver injury.

Methods: Rats were given ethanol or isocaloric dextrose‐containing liquid diets by intragastric infusion for 1 month. The diets contained medium‐chain triglycerides (MCT), palm oil (PO), corn oil (CO), or fish oil (FO) as the principal source of fat.

Results: Rats given ethanol and MCT exhibited no significant liver pathology, whereas cumulative pathology scores in ethanol‐fed rats given PO, CO, or FO were 2.5, 5.4 and 7.0, respectively, indicating that ethanol and FO caused the greatest liver damage. The severity of liver pathology in the last three groups of animals correlated with levels of lipid peroxides and serum 8‐isoprostanes. Alpha smooth muscle actin, an indicator of stellate cell activation, was increased relative to controls in the livers of all ethanol‐fed rats except FO‐fed animals, in which both control and ethanol‐fed rats had similar levels of this protein. In livers of CO and FO ethanol‐fed rats, proteasome chymotrypsin‐like activity was decreased by 55–60%, but there was no quantitative alteration in 20S proteasome subunit content. In contrast, ethanol affected neither proteasome activity nor its content in MCT‐ and PO‐treated animals.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the severity of liver injury and ethanol‐induced oxidative stress is associated with a reduction in proteasome catalysis.
Comparison of Intracranial Self‐Administration of Ethanol Within the Posterior Ventral Tegmental Area Between Alcohol‐Preferring and Wistar Rats
Authors: Rodd Zachary A. , Bell Richard L. , Melendez Roberto I. , Kuc Kelly A. , Lumeng Lawrence , Li Ting‐Kai , Murphy James M. , McBride William J.
Published: August 2004

Background: A previous study indicated that selectively bred alcohol‐preferring (P) rats self‐administered ethanol (EtOH) directly into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), whereas the alcohol‐nonpreferring line did not. Wistar rats will also self‐administer EtOH directly into the posterior VTA. Because Wistar rats also have a low preference for EtOH solutions but self‐inject EtOH into the VTA, this study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that there is an association between EtOH preference and sensitivity of the VTA to the reinforcing effects of EtOH.

Methods: Adult P and Wistar rats were assigned to groups that received one of the following concentrations of EtOH: 0, 50, 75, 100, 150, or 200 mg/100 ml. Rats were connected to the microinjection system, placed into two‐lever (active and inactive) experimental chambers, and given EtOH for the first four sessions (acquisition), artificial cerebrospinal fluid for sessions 5 and 6 (extinction), and EtOH again in session 7 (reinstatement). Responding on the active lever produced a 100‐nl injection of the infusate.

Results: P rats self‐infused 75 to 200 mg/100 ml EtOH and demonstrated lever discrimination, whereas Wistar rats reliably self‐infused only 150 and 200 mg/100 ml EtOH. Both P and Wistar rats reduced responding on the active lever when artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) was substituted for EtOH and reinstated responding in session 7 when EtOH was restored, although P rats demonstrated a very robust enhancement of responding for 100 and 150 mg/100 ml EtOH, and this was not found for Wistar rats.

Conclusions: These results suggest that, compared with Wistar rats, the posterior VTA of P rats was more sensitive to the reinforcing effects of EtOH. Furthermore, the reinstatement data suggest that the posterior VTA of P rats underwent neuronal alterations as a result of prior EtOH exposure and extinction that changed the reinforcing effects of EtOH within this region.
Hypoxia and defective apoptosis drive genomic instability and tumorigenesis
Authors: Nelson Deirdre A. , Tan Ting-Ting , Rabson Arnold B. , Anderson Diana , Degenhardt Kurt , White Eileen
Published: August 2004

Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer development and progression, and characterizing the stresses that create and the mechanisms by which cells respond to genomic perturbations is essential. Here we demonstrate that antiapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins promoted tumor formation of transformed baby mouse kidney (BMK) epithelial cells by antagonizing BAX- and BAK-dependent apoptosis. Cell death in vivo correlated with hypoxia and induction of PUMA (p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis). Strikingly, carcinomas formed by transformed BMK cells in which apoptosis was blocked by aberrant BCL-2 family protein function displayed prevalent, highly polyploid, tumor giant cells. Examination of the transformed BMK cells in vivo revealed aberrant metaphases and ploidy changes in tumors as early as 9 d after implantation, which progressed in magnitude during the tumorigenic process. An in vitro ischemia system mimicked the tumor microenvironment, and gain of BCL-2 or loss of BAX and BAK was sufficient to confer resistance to apoptosis and to allow for accumulation of polyploid cells in vitro. These data suggest that in vivo, even in cells in which p53 function is compromised, apoptosis is an essential response to hypoxia and ischemia in the tumor microenvironment and that abrogation of this response allows the survival of cells with abnormal genomes and promotes tumorigenesis.
RNA length defines RNA export pathway
Authors: Masuyama Kaoru , Taniguchi Ichiro , Kataoka Naoyuki , Ohno Mutsuhito
Published: August 2004

Different RNA species are exported from the nucleus by distinct mechanisms. Among the different RNAs, mRNAs and major spliceosomal U snRNAs share several structural similarities, yet they are exported by distinct factors. We previously showed that U1 snRNAs behaved like an mRNA in nuclear export if various ∼300-nucleotide fragments were inserted in a central position. Here we show that this export switch is dependent on the length of the insertion but independent of its position, indicating unequivocally that this switch is indeed the result of RNA length. We also show that intronless mRNAs can be progressively converted to use the U snRNA export pathway if the mRNAs are progressively shortened by deletion. In addition, immunoprecipitation experiments show that the protein composition of export RNPs is influenced by RNA length. These findings indicate that RNA length is one of the key determinants of the choice of RNA export pathway. Based on these results and previous observations, a unified model of how an RNA is committed to a specific export pathway is proposed.
Mosaic analyses using marked activation and deletion clones dissect Arabidopsis SCARECROW action in asymmetric cell division
Authors: Heidstra Renze , Welch David , Scheres Ben
Published: August 2004

In the Arabidopsis root meristem, ground tissue stem cell daughters perform an asymmetric division to form endodermis and cortex. The putative transcription factors SCARECROW (SCR) and SHORTROOT (SHR) regulate this radial patterning event, and the mixed cell fate in scr mutants suggests an atypical role of the SCR gene in asymmetric cell division. Here we use a newly developed site-specific gene activation/deletion system in which induced clones are positively marked with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Using this system, we show that SCR acts cell-autonomously to control asymmetric cell division within the ground tissue. We provide evidence that SCR gene expression is under autoregulatory control, that SCR limits SHR movement, and that transient SCR action is sufficient to separate endodermis and cortex fates by asymmetric cell division.
Creating agile supply chains in the fashion industry
Authors: Christopher Martin , Lowson Robert , Peck Helen
Published: August 2004

Fashion markets are synonymous with rapid change and, as a result, commercial success or failure is largely determined by the organisation's flexibility and responsiveness. Responsiveness is characterised by short time‐to‐market, the ability to scale up (or down) quickly and the rapid incorporation of consumer preferences into the design process. In this paper it is argued that conventional organisational structures and forecast‐driven supply chains are not adequate to meet the challenges of volatile and turbulent demand which typify fashion markets. Instead, the requirement is for the creation of an agile organisation embedded within an agile supply chain.
Internet apparel shopping behaviors: the influence of general innovativeness
Authors: Ha Young , Stoel Leslie
Published: August 2004

The purpose of this study is to understand how general innovativeness is related to Internet apparel shopping based on Rogers' innovation decision process. Due to the newness of Internet apparel shopping, consumers' general innovativeness may influence the adoption of Internet apparel shopping among young consumers. Using a convenience sample of 178 students in different majors at a large US university, this study examined the influence of general innovativeness on Internet apparel shopping. The results show that general innovativeness is related to Internet usage for information search, but not to actual purchase. Also, students' gender is related to general innovativeness. Female students are more likely to use the Internet for information search for apparel products than male students.
Fashion and commerce: a historical perspective on Australian fashion retailing 1880‐1920
Authors: Miller Dale , Merrilees Bill
Published: August 2004

Fashion retailing has evolved in response to opportunities and market pressures. It has been both reactive and proactive. For example, Palmer, in 2001, analyses what might be called a partnership between Canadian department stores and European couture houses in the 1950s. Her work affords a rare overview of retailing's fit with fashion design and commercial delivery systems, and is a point of departure for closely examining an earlier period (1880‐1920) in Australia. The current paper studies the leading role that department stores played in shaping the Australian fashion scene and the marketing techniques they used. A context, period and country, where a set of major retailers formed the predominant influence on fashion trends, and styles and diffusion throughout the community have been identified. Findings suggest that for the 1880‐1920 period the department store retailers were market‐driving rather than simply market‐driven, implying a more proactive and innovative role for the department stores.
Gendered retailing: a study of customer perceptions of front‐line staff in the DIY sector
Authors: Foster Carley
Published: August 2004

This paper reports findings from a small scale study exploring the role gender plays in the interactions between customers and front‐line staff in DIY retailing. Drawing on materials gathered through observations, informal discussions with staff and focus groups, this study suggests that “maleness” pervades many aspects of DIY retailing. For the respondents the image of the case retailer, B&Q, and the products sold had male connotations. Furthermore, male customers perceived male customer‐facing staff to have better knowledge of technical DIY than female employees, even though this was not always the case. Given the rising interest from women in home improvements, it would appear that measures need to be put in place to create a more “inclusive” DIY store environment for female customers, and one that challenges the stereotypical assumptions held by many male home improvement customers.
Exploring the role of network effects in IT implementation
Authors: Bansler Jørgen P. , Havn Erling
Published: August 2004

This paper seeks to analyze the role of network effects in relation to the adoption and use of systems for knowledge sharing in organizations and draws on recent developments within network economics to outline a theoretical perspective on the implementation of knowledge repositories in organizations. Findings from a longitudinal field study are presented to explore the concept of network effects in more detail. Commonly associated with economics, the concept of network effects can also be used in an organizational context to study adoption dynamics and use patterns when new information and communication technologies are introduced. The analysis of the field study data shows that knowledge repositories exhibit strong network effects, which can complicate the implementation process in multiple ways. The research is based on a single, in‐depth case study. Future research should study the role of network effects in relation to other technologies and organizational contexts. It underscores the need to be aware of – and try to manage – network effects when implementing knowledge repositories and other “networked” technologies. By and large, IS researchers have overlooked the role of network effects in relation to information and communication technologies in organizations. This paper begins to address this gap by focusing on the role of network effects in the adoption and use of knowledge repositories. It is suggested that the concept of network effects provides a useful theoretical lens in a number of other cases.
The power of myth in the IT workplace
Authors: Tapia Andrea H.
Published: August 2004

The central purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that managers of several IT companies, during the dot‐com bubble, used the myths that were readily available in the wider American culture of the time to motivate and manipulate their employees. These managers motivated their employees to put in long hours at the worksite, to be continually on‐call, to intensify their work pace, and to self police their co‐programming teams. The methods used were qualitative social research including interviews, observations, self‐reported organizational charts and time diaries. This is a single case study conducted during a specific period of time. The implications discussed in this paper may provide insight to the managers of IT personnel who seek to motivate their employees to greater efficiency. This paper adds to a discussion on the role of myth in managing IT personnel.
Learning in strategic alliances
Authors: Ghosh Abhijit
Published: August 2004

Although organizational learning occurs through individuals, it would be a mistake to conclude that organizational learning is nothing but the cumulative result of their members' learning. Organizations do not have brains, but they have cognitive systems and memories. A device cited in this literature as an important tool for organizational learning is the “Strategic Alliance” – an important element of contemporary firms' competitive strategies. This paper attempts to look at the phenomenon of inter‐organizational learning through the socio‐cultural‐historical lens of Vygotsky and hopes to advance a theoretical framework, which is more eclectic and can therefore better explain the dynamics of learning in alliances.
Measuring strategic value‐drivers for managing intellectual capital
Authors: Bose S. , Oh K.B.
Published: August 2004

In an evolving business environment characterised by globalisation and a challenging competitive paradigm, it is imperative for strategic management processes to focus on the financial perspectives of value and risk in intellectual capital to create sustainability in long‐term value. This paper presents the key issues pertaining to the strategic management of value and risk in intellectual capital and presents some hypotheses for a strategic management framework based on identified underlying value‐drivers, which in turn helps to focus and address the issue of risk management more adequately. The pervasive value‐drivers in three intellectual capital‐intensive sectors in Australia are identified from an analysis of case studies, then specified and extrapolated to provide implications for the strategic management of value and risk in the knowledge‐based firms. The strategic management implications of these value‐drivers are discussed and explained.
Measurement and application of intellectual capital in Turkey
Authors: Tunc Bozbura F.
Published: August 2004

The purpose of this paper is to define the elements of intellectual capital of firms in Turkey and to empirically investigate the relationship between intellectual capital and market value of firms in Istanbul Stock Exchange. To create a suitable intellectual capital measurement model for this study, a wide literature research was made. In almost every created intellectual capital measurement model, elements of intellectual capital are defined in three dimensions; i.e. human capital, structural capital and relation capital. For the research, an intellectual capital measurement model is created and four hypotheses are defined. The main conclusions from this study are that: human capital and relation capital of firms have a positive relationship with market/book value of firms in Turkey; and structural capital of firms in Turkey has a correlation with human and relation capital.
Downsizing – intellectual capital performance anorexia or enhancement?
Authors: Mitchell Williams S.
Published: August 2004

The objective of this paper is to investigate if downsizing contributes to, or impedes, a firm's intellectual capital performance (ICE) based on a longitudinal analysis of 56 United States publicly listed companies that significantly downsized their workforce during the mid‐1990s. Empirical analysis indicates that for the majority of firms, ICE consistently declined annually for the first 3 years, following downsizing with a moderate increase in the fourth year. Findings provide several interesting insights and conclusions. Most importantly, downsizing appears to have a negative impact on a firm's ICE following the reduction in workforce number. The impact of downsizing appears to be more significant amongst IC resource rather than traditional (physical capital) based firms. It is recommended that corporate directors and managers seek alternative strategies to address poor performance and competitive results than immediately downsizing their workforce as such action affects ICE.
The European clothing industry
Authors: Taplin Ian M. , Winterton Jonathan
Published: August 2004

This paper examines earlier and more recent patterns of restructuring that have occurred as a consequence of import penetration. It focuses upon work reorganization, job losses and changes in the retail‐manufacturer relationships and how these trends differ in key European countries. Finally, it asks questions about future trends, both in employment (and the changing nature of jobs) as well as government policies towards the politics of trade.
Organizational foundations of export performance
Authors: Neidik Binnur
Published: August 2004

To provide an overview of the organizational changes Turkish apparel firms have undertaken in the 1990s and early 2000s and to show how these changes affect sector's export performance. Designed as a case study that uses interview and archival data. Interviews with company representatives, conducted in Turkey and Germany during 1996‐2001, are primary sources of information. As in all case study research, the interviews are supplemented by archival data, including statistical reports published by host country governments, annual company reports, company Web sites, industry magazines, research reports prepared by the local industry associations, articles appearing in the mass media including the Internet. While Turkey has historically been dependent on the EU market and this dependence has helped Turkish manufacturers develop new capabilities, recent organizational trends in the industry point to a struggle by manufacturers to break out of this dependence and expand in new markets. Three overarching organizational trends stand out: the increasing creation of backward and forward linkages, both domestic and foreign, the relocation of production to cheaper sites, both inland and overseas, and the increase in the scale and scope of partnerships formed with US companies. These partnerships not only create a new set of relationships, but also transform the existing ones. Relies on the respondents’ knowledge of past and present events and documentary data to make inferences about process and change in the industry. Not based on a random sample and oversamples large firms. A useful overview of organizational changes that presents firm‐level data. May provide insight into how export growth in apparel may be sustained beyond 2004.
Final demise or regeneration?
Authors: Scheffer Michiel , Duineveld Marieke
Published: August 2004

This paper examines the impact of the increasing global competition on the Dutch apparel industry and the changes in the whole apparel supply chain. The restructuring of the Dutch industry happened at a relatively early stage in Europe. Main trend was the delocalisation of production while the design and distribution function has survived. Specific attention is given to the statistical limitations to analyze the changes in the supply chain of the apparel sector. The liberalisation process seems to have little quantitative impact on levels of employment taken in consideration that the supply chain consists of a broad scale of companies from industry to design and retail. The Dutch apparel sector is not heading to a final demise so long as the sector utilize the specific domestic features and succeed in retaining the value adding activities. The Dutch case provides a more in‐depth analysis of the strategies taken by the industry that faces a growing global competition.
Manufacturing firms and integrated solutions: characteristics and implications
Authors: Windahl Charlotta , Andersson Pierre , Berggren Christian , Nehler Camilla
Published: August 2004

For an increasing number of firms in the capital goods industry, combinations of products and services, so called integrated solutions, are becoming part of their future growth strategies. By analysing three case studies, the article highlights the variety of such solutions and some important implications for the involved companies. The analysis suggests that companies need an extended set of competences to succeed in providing integrated solutions, amounting to a balance of technical and integration competence with market/business, consulting and partnering competences. This implies a move from product‐focus to customer‐centric orientation and focus on optimisation of user processes. From a research perspective the paper underlines the importance of integrating studies of product and service innovation, two fields that so far have been studied separately.
Hyperglobalized individuals: the Internet, globalization, freedom and terrorism
Authors: Marsden Christopher T.
Published: August 2004

This paper examines the potential uses of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to create a new, multi‐faceted phase of globalization. It goes beyond traditional explanations of ICTs and globalization, which concentrate on the cultural imperialism of mass communications or technology management. It is argued here that the “any‐to‐any” architecture of the Internet creates a hugely unstable political landscape, in which social, economic and political alliances become both more global and more local, but always more specialized. The paper concludes by asking how states might choose to strike a balance between the benefits to individual freedom brought about by the Internet and the diminished intermediary role for state, religious and other national cultural institutions.
Corrosive erosion: mounting threats to Japan's constitutional Utopia
Authors: Richardson Jacques
Published: August 2004

From a forced renunciation in 1946 of war as a tool of international relations, Japan progressed during the next 58 years – first pushed by a former enemy, then entrained by world events and a renewed emergence of nationalism at home – to de facto repudiation of a position of studied neutrality. Armed Japanese troops are today once again present in a theatre of war.
Epistemicism and the Combined Spectrum
Authors: Alter Torin , Rachels Stuart
Published: August 2004

Derek Parfit's combined‐spectrum argument seems to conflict with epistemicism, a viable theory of vagueness. While Parfit argues for the indeterminacy of personhood, epistemicism denies indeterminacy. But, we argue, the linguistically based determinacy that epistemicism supports lacks the sort of normative or ontological significance that concerns Parfit. Thus, we reformulate his argument to make it consistent with epistemicism. We also dispute Roy Sorensen's suggestion that Parfit's argument relies on an assumption that fuels resistance to epistemicism, namely, that ‘the magnitude of a modification must be proportional to its effect.’
Strong Necessitarianism: The Nomological Identity of Possible Worlds
Authors: Bird Alexander
Published: August 2004

Dispositional essentialism, a plausible view about the natures of (sparse or natural) properties, yields a satisfying explanation of the nature of laws also. The resulting necessitarian conception of laws comes in a weaker version, which allows differences between possible worlds as regards which laws hold in those worlds and a stronger version that does not. The main aim of this paper is to articulate what is involved in accepting the stronger version, most especially the consequence that all possible properties exist in all worlds. I also suggest that there is no particularly strong reason for preferring the weaker to the stronger version. For example, Armstrong's instantiation condition on universals entails that according to strong necessitarianism every property is instantiated in all possible worlds. But first we do not need to accept Armstrong's instantiation condition, in part because his arguments for it are forceful only for a contingentist about laws and properties. Secondly, even if we do accept the condition, the consequence that all properties are instantiated is not itself contradictory, so long as any form of necessitarianism holds. Strong necessitarianism is prima facie counter‐intuitive. But for that matter so is weak necessitarianism. Accepting either weak or strong necessitarianism requires denying the force of intuition in this area. And indeed we have every reason to deny the force of intuition and its primary source, imagination, concerning modal facts.
Teaching as a trans‐world activity
Authors: Hull John M.
Published: August 2004

John Hull lost his sight more than 20 years ago. He has written extensively about the nature of blindness. In the course of this, he has developed a philosophy of disability or impairment which emphasises the many different worlds of human experience. This leads him to the thought that the teacher of special children, many of whom will be living in or on the fringes of one of these worlds, must be able to enter imaginatively into other human worlds and thus become a trans‐world educator.
Including pupils' faith background in primary religious education
Authors: Ipgrave Julia
Published: August 2004

In this article, Julia Ipgrave takes the idea of inclusion beyond the field of special educational needs to incorporate the needs of children with different faith backgrounds in the religious education (RE) class. She recommends that teachers respect the integrity of their pupils' faith backgrounds by making room for the children's own experiences and perspectives on the traditions to which they belong. Suggestions are made as to how to give equal value to the different faith and non‐faith backgrounds of children in Religious Education lessons. As well as feeling valued, pupils also need to feel safe. The article argues that the children's interests are best served, not by avoiding sensitive and controversial areas of religion, but by establishing a framework of openness and respect within which children can express their views with confidence, differences can meet and pupils and teachers listen to and learn from each other.
Religious education for children with severe learning difficulties: constructing a framework, finding a medium, exploring a story
Authors: Webster Jane
Published: August 2004

In this article Jane Webster enquires into the status of religious education (RE) in the curriculum of children with learning difficulties. She maintains that if RE is to be taught well its essence as a subject must be grasped by those responsible for its teaching, and that this involves establishing a viable conceptual framework for the subject. In this article a possible framework is constructed which, in respecting the cognitive and affective dimensions of human personality, enables all children to develop an understanding of the meaning of religion and a sense of their own spirituality. Jane Webster suggests that religious stories are one medium through which this kind of learning may be achieved, and describes the way in which a class of children with severe and complex learning difficulties explored the biblical story of creation in their RE lessons.
Healing trauma and spiritual growth: the relevance of religious education to emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children looked after by local authorities
Authors: Poyser Maria
Published: August 2004

In this article, Maria Poyser looks at the relevance of religious education (RE) to looked‐after young people who have been labelled emotionally and behaviourally disturbed (EBD). She begins by painting an overall picture of the education of looked‐after young people and examines the concept of what being ‘looked after’ means. The article highlights the problem of a disproportionate number of looked‐after young people ending up in special schools catering for EBD children and challenges schools to look at ways of preventing this. It poses the question: are these children emotionally and behaviourally disturbed or in fact the victims of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PSTD)? The writer goes on to examine the fact that trauma does not have to be a life sentence. It has the potential to be one of the most significant forces for psychological, social and spiritual awakening and evolution.
Perspectives on inclusive education: learning from each other
Authors: Sheehy Kieron , Rix Jonathan , Nind Melanie , Simmons Katy
Published: August 2004

Many courses of study are currently available that address inclusive education and, increasingly, distance education is seen as a flexible and appropriately inclusive way to deliver such courses. In this article a team of colleagues, Kieron Sheehy, Jonathan Rix, Melanie Nind and Katy Simmons, discusses the development of an Open University course, E243 Inclusive Education: Learning from Each Other, which was launched in February 2004. The team reflects on their own process of learning from each other and from the rich network of people involved, mirroring some of the course themes in their own journeys. Collaborative learning became a key theme within the course, both as a method for teaching within the ‘inclusive classroom’ and also as the process for producing a course in a contested and challenging area. This experience allowed the team to change and develop their own perspectives on important issues and, it is suggested, allowed the course to include ways in which students could be supported in having the same opportunity.
Reproductive physiology, dominance interactions, and division of labour among bumble bee workers
Authors: Foster Robin L. , Brunskill Ameilia , Verdirame David , O'Donnell Sean
Published: August 2004

Abstract.  Bumble bee workers (Bombus bifarius, Hymenoptera: Apidae) exhibit aggression toward one another after the colony begins producing female reproductive offspring (the competition phase). Workers in competition phase colonies must continue to perform in‐nest tasks, such as nest thermoregulation, and to forage for food, to rear the reproductives to maturity. Therefore, competition phase workers are faced with potentially conflicting pressures to work for their colonies, or to compete for direct reproduction. The effects of reproductive competition on worker task performance were quantified by measuring relationships of worker body size, reproductive physiology, and aggression with their rates of task performance. If worker division of labour was strongly affected by competition, it was predicted that fecund workers would avoid performing nest maintenance and foraging tasks, focusing instead on reproductive behaviour. Furthermore, it was predicted that fecund workers would dominate their nest mates, and that subordinate workers would perform nonreproductive tasks at higher rates. Worker aggression was associated closely with direct reproductive competition. Both aggression and brood interaction rates were related positively with ooctye development. Furthermore, foraging was associated negatively with ovarian development. However, in‐nest and foraging task performance rates were not associated with social aggression. The results support a partial role for reproductive competition in worker polyethism. Although worker aggression did not directly affect polyethism, reproductively competent workers avoided foraging tasks that would remove them from egg‐laying opportunities. Reproductively competent workers did perform in‐nest tasks, suggesting that these tasks entail little cost in terms of reproductive competition.
Lysozymes in insects: what role do they play in nitrogen metabolism?
Authors: Fujita AI
Published: August 2004

Abstract.  Lysozymes are widely distributed in many organisms as one of the components of defence mechanisms. In herbivores, when nitrogen is not contained in sufficient amounts in the diet, bacteria lysed by stomach lysozymes are used as sources of nitrogen. In ruminants, lysozymes function as digestive enzymes in the true stomach. A convergence of amino acid sequence has been shown between the stomach lysozymes of different ruminants, and similar lysozymes have recently been reported in the gut or salivary gland of insects. In this mini review, the enzymatic and ecological functions of lysozymes in insects, particularly in termites, are introduced, together with future studies that are needed in this field.
Two Kinds of Creativity – But Which Ones?
Authors: Kaufmann Geir
Published: August 2004

It is argued that Kirton's theory of styles of creativity is conceptually and methodologically unsound. A solution to the conceptual and methodological dilemmas is offered by way of making a clear‐cut distinction between novelty on the stimulus and novelty on the response side. This distinction is used as a platform for the development of a new taxonomy of different kinds of creativity and intelligent behaviour. A major feature of this new model is the distinction made between proactive and reactive creativity. The implications of this distinction for opening new avenues for a more differentiated assessment of creativity, as well as for the development of a conceptually firmer and more differentiated platform for developing new practical training programmes in creativity are suggested.
Tackling the plant proteome: practical approaches, hurdles and experimental tools
Authors: Rose Jocelyn K.C. , Bashir Sajid , Giovannoni James J. , Jahn Molly M. , Saravanan Ramu Subramanian
Published: August 2004

The study of complex biological questions through comparative proteomics is becoming increasingly attractive to plant biologists as the rapidly expanding plant genomic and expressed sequence tag databases provide improved opportunities for protein identification. This review focuses on practical issues associated with comparative proteomic analysis, including the challenges of effective protein extraction and separation from plant tissues, the pros and cons of two‐dimensional gel‐based analysis and the problems of identifying proteins from species that are not recognized models for functional genomic studies. Specific points are illustrated using data from an ongoing study of the tomato and pepper fruit proteomes.
Dermatophagoides farinae‐specific IgG subclass responses in atopic dogs undergoing allergen‐specific immunotherapy
Authors: Hou C. C. , Nuttall T. J. , Day M. J. , Hill P. B.
Published: August 2004

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is known to involve IgE‐mediated mechanisms, but the role of IgG in the pathogenesis is less well understood. Previous studies have shown that total serum IgG concentrations are increased in CAD and suggested that a subclass of IgG, IgGd, is involved in the pathogenesis. Furthermore, induction of IgG blocking antibodies has been suggested as a possible mode of action of allergen‐specific immunotherapy (ASIT). The aim of this study was to characterize the changes in Dermatophagoides farinae (DF)‐specific total IgG and IgG subclasses during treatment of atopic dogs with ASIT. Twenty‐one dogs with confirmed atopic dermatitis and showing positive reactions to DF on intradermal testing were treated with alum‐precipitated vaccines for 9 months. Blood samples were collected before and after 3, 6, and 9 months of ASIT. Lyophilized whole‐body DF allergens were reconstituted to 1 mg/mL in sterile phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), and SDS–PAGE was used to separate mite proteins. Separated proteins were transferred onto blotting membranes, cut into strips, and incubated with canine sera. For DF‐specific total IgG responses, strips were probed with horseradish peroxidase‐conjugated goat anti‐dog IgG and subsequently incubated with the colorimetric substrate DAB (3,3’‐diaminobenzidine). For DF‐specific IgG subclass responses, strips were probed sequentially with one of a panel of four monoclonal antibodies with specificity for each subclass, bovine anti‐mouse IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, and finally, the chemiluminescent substrate ECL that was used for its higher sensitivity. Images of the positive bands were captured using Kodak Image Station, and the number of bands and their intensity was analysed by Kodak 1D Image Analysis Software. Prior to ASIT, a number of proteins of different molecular weights were recognized by antisera specific for total IgG and the subclasses IgG1 and IgG4, the most common being the high‐molecular‐weight chitinase, Df 15. There was virtually no IgG2 or IgG3 response to DF allergens. During ASIT, the total IgG response to DF allergens varied widely between dogs and could increase, decrease, fluctuate or remain the same. For each dog, the changes in total DF‐specific IgG were paralleled by equivalent changes in IgG1 and IgG4, but there was no induction of IgG2 or IgG3 antibodies. There were no significant increases in total IgG or IgG subclass responses in dogs showing a good response to ASIT. These findings suggest that atopic dogs mount an IgG1 and IgG4 response against multiple antigens of Dermatophagoides farinae, but these responses are not consistently augmented by ASIT. This suggests that successful ASIT in dogs is not associated with the production of blocking antibodies.

Funding: Self‐funded.
Itraconazole: a treatment with pharmacokinetic foundations
Authors: Vlaminck K. M. J. A. , Engelen M. A. C. M.
Published: August 2004

ItrafungolTM is a 10 mg/mL oral solution with the triazole itraconazole as active ingredient. It has recently been authorized in the UK, as a first country, for treatment of Microsporum canis dermatophytes in cats. The treatment schedule consisted of daily oral administration of 5 mg/kg body weight for three 1‐week periods, with each week of treatment followed by a week without treatment (following a consecutive week‐on, week‐off schedule). This schedule was designed on the basis of data from pilot trials and was confirmed in two specific trials in naturally‐infected cats. Clinical and mycological cures were monitored. In the second trial, plasma levels of itraconazole and its active metabolite, hydroxy‐itraconazole, were also assayed. Itraconazole is a very lipophilic compound that is readily distributed to fat tissue and sebaceous glands. It is also keratinophilic and accumulates in the stratum corneum of the skin and in hairs. These properties make it readily available at the site of infection. Itraconazole is metabolized into many metabolites of which only hydroxy‐itraconazole is antifungal. Plasma and hair levels of itraconazole and its active metabolite were determined in a separate trial in 24 cats after administration of ItrafungolTM at the recommended treatment schedule. Samples were analysed by HPLC. Both compounds were rapidly detectable. Repeated administration for 1 week resulted in mean peak plasma levels of 1.05 μg/mL at 1 h after the last dose of the week. Plasma concentrations dropped slowly during the week without treatment to around the quantification limit (5 ng/mL) just before the start of the second and third treatment periods. During these periods, there was a 20–30% increase of the 24‐h plasma concentrations towards the end of these periods. Median concentration of itraconazole in hair samples of these cats was 0.168 μg/g 24 h after the first dose. There was a clear increase of the median hair concentration after 1 week of treatment to 1.17 μg/g. At the end of the second period, the median concentration was 2.00 μg/g, and was 2.99 μg/g at the end of the third period. At the end of each of the intermittent periods without treatment, hair concentrations dropped 25–30% to median values of 0.8–1.5 μg/g. Two weeks after the last dose of the full treatment schedule, median hair concentrations were still 1.5 μg/g. Although hair concentrations of hydroxy‐itraconazole were below the quantification limit during the first and second treatment periods, they were quantifiable in an increasing number of hairs after the last period, with concentrations between 0.058 and 0.186 μg/g. Concentrations of both compounds together, and even itraconazole alone, are well above the MIC90 for Microsporum canis strains (0.1 μg/mL in various broth media) very shortly after the first dose and for up to 2 weeks after the last one. These data illustrate that the recommended treatment schedule (3 × 7 days of dosing) provides actual coverage of at least 7 weeks.

Funding: Janssen Animal Health.
P‐19  Sporotrichosis in São Paulo (Brazil): clinical and epidemiological features
Authors: Otsuka M. , Castro R. C. C. , Michalany N. S. , Lucas R. , Larsson Jr C. E. , Larsson C. E.
Published: August 2004

Human and animal sporotrichosis is a relatively common zoonotic disease in the southwest region of Brazil. In a recent outbreak (1999–2000) involving 66 humans in Rio de Janeiro, 79% of patients reported previous contact with infected cats. Over a 17‐year period (1986–2002), 25 cases of feline sporotrichosis were diagnosed at our hospital (1.5 cases/year). Among these cases, 80% were male and had the cutaneous form of the disease, and 21 cases (84%) were in mixed‐breed animals. The diagnosis was established based on histopathology (H&E and PAS stain) as well as fungal culture (95%) and cytologic examination (82.5%) of the cases. In the 25 homes of these animals, 15 (60%) were sporotrichosis cases of in‐contact animals. Humans were infected in seven (28.5%) of the homes. Eighteen of the 49 dogs and cats (36.7%) in homes with infected humans were also affected. Itraconazole at 10 mg/kg once daily was successful even in FIV and FeLV positive cats.

Funding: Self‐funded.