bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protection of Cardiac Mitochondria by Overexpression of MnSOD Reduces Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Shen Xia , Zheng Shirong , Metreveli Naira S. , Epstein Paul N.
Published: May 2006

We previously reported damage and elevated biogenesis in cardiac mitochondria of a type 1 diabetic mouse model and proposed that mitochondria are one of the major targets of oxidative stress. In this study, we targeted overexpression of the mitochondrial antioxidant protein manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) to the heart to protect cardiac mitochondria from oxidative damage. Transgenic hearts had a 10- to 20-fold increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and the transgenic SOD was located in mitochondria. The transgene caused a twofold increase in cardiac catalase activity. MnSOD transgenic mice demonstrated normal cardiac morphology, contractility, and mitochondria, and their cardiomyocytes were protected from exogenous oxidants. Crossing MnSOD transgenic mice with our type 1 model tested the benefit of eliminating mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Overexpression of MnSOD improved respiration and normalized mass in diabetic mitochondria. MnSOD also protected the morphology of diabetic hearts and completely normalized contractility in diabetic cardiomyocytes. These results showed that elevating MnSOD provided extensive protection to diabetic mitochondria and provided overall protection to the diabetic heart.
Impact of the Increasing Burden of Diabetes on Acute Myocardial Infarction in New York City
Authors: Fang Jing , Alderman Michael H.
Published: May 2006

Worldwide increases in obesity and diabetes have aroused concern that increased morbidity and mortality will follow. The objective here is to determine the trend of diabetes-related morbidity and mortality in New York, New York. Using New York death certificate data for 1989–1991 and 1999–2001 and hospital discharge data for 1988–2002, we measured all-cause and cause-specific mortality in 1990 and 2000, as well as annual hospitalization rates for diabetes and its complications among patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction and/or diabetes. During this decade, all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates declined, with the striking exception of diabetes, which increased 61 and 52% for men and women, respectively, as did hospitalization rates for diabetes and its complications. The percentage of all acute myocardial infarctions occurring in patients with diabetes increased from 21 to 36%, and the absolute number doubled from 2,951 to 6,048. Although hospital days due to acute myocardial infarction fell overall, for those with diabetes, they increased 51% (from 34,188 to 51,566). These data document a marked upsurge in diabetes-related mortality and morbidity in New York City, including a sharp increase in diabetic patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction. If continued, this threatens the long-established nationwide trend to reduced coronary artery disease events.
Palmar carpal osteochondral fragments in racehorses: 31 cases (1994–2004)
Authors: Getman Liberty M. , Southwood Louise L.
Published: May 2006

Objective—To evaluate records of racehorses with palmar carpal osteochondral fragments and determine whether the fragments were indicators of the severity of pathologic joint changes or prognosis.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—31 racehorses.

Procedures—Medical records, radiographs, and videos of arthroscopic procedures were reviewed. Information gathered included signalment; location, number, and size of the primary lesion; number and size of palmar carpal fragments; and details pertaining to surgical procedures. Outcome variables were obtained from race records.

Results—31 horses met the selection criteria. Multiple palmar fragments were diagnosed in 58% of horses; small fragments (< 3 mm in diameter) were most common (52% of horses). Fifty-two percent of the horses returned to racing, 48% returned to racing and earned money, and 32% had at least 5 more starts. Horses with multiple fragments had significantly less earnings per start and lower performance index values after surgery than those with 1 fragment. Horses with palmar fragments < 3 mm in diameter were significantly less likely to return to racing and have 5 starts or to win money after surgery than horses with larger fragments.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Palmar carpal osteochondral fragments can be used as an indicator of clinically important joint pathology and as a prognostic indicator in racehorses. Horses with multiple small fragments were less likely to successfully return to racing than horses with only dorsally located carpal fragments or horses with 1 or 2 large palmar fragments. When possible, removal of palmar carpal osteochondral fragments should be considered.
Effects of modified-live bovine viral diarrhea virus vaccines containing either type 1 or types 1 and 2 BVDV on heifers and their offspring after challenge with noncytopathic type 2 BVDV during gestation
Authors: Ficken Martin D. , Ellsworth Michael A. , Tucker Cassius M. , Cortese Victor S.
Published: May 2006

Objective—To compare the efficacy of modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines containing either type 1 bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) or types 1 and 2 BVDV in protecting heifers and their offspring against infection associated with heterologous noncytopathic type 2 BVDV challenge during gestation.

Design—Randomized controlled study.

Animals—160 heifers and their offspring.

Procedures—After inoculation with a placebo vaccine, 1 or 2 doses of an MLV vaccine containing type 1 BVDV, or 1 dose of an MLV vaccine containing both types 1 and 2 BVDV, heifers were bred naturally and challenge exposed with a type 2 BVDV field isolate between 62 and 104 days of gestation. Pregnancies were monitored; after parturition, virus isolation and immunohistochemical analyses of ear-notch specimens were used to determine whether calves were persistently infected. Blood samples were collected at intervals from heifers for serologic evaluation and virus isolation.

Results—Persistent infection was detected in 18 of 19 calves from heifers in the control group and in 6 of 18 calves and 7 of 19 calves from heifers that received 1 or 2 doses of the type 1 BVDV vaccine, respectively. None of the 18 calves from heifers that received the type 1–type 2 BVDV vaccine were persistently infected.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that the incidence of persistent BVDV infection among offspring from dams inoculated with 1 dose of the MLV vaccine containing types 1 and 2 BVDV was decreased, compared with 1 or 2 doses of the MLV vaccine containing only type 1 BVDV.
Evidence for disease‐regulated transgene expression in the brain with use of lentiviral vectors
Authors: Jakobsson Johan , Rosenqvist Nina , Mårild Karl , v. Agoston Denes , Lundberg Cecilia
Published: May 2006

In this study we have developed and validated a novel approach of transgene regulation in the brain. By using lentiviral vectors that incorporate promoters of genes that are up‐regulated during different pathological states, we were able to regulate transgene expression in accordance with the disease process. When using a glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter, efficient disease regulation in glial cells was achieved after an excitotoxic lesion or a 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) lesion. Transgene expression was physiologically regulated and displayed a dose‐dependent increase depending on the severity of lesion. Efficient regulation was also achieved in neurons when using a preproenkephlin promoter in 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats, allowing combined regulation and targeting. This disease‐regulated approach allows control of transgene expression in the brain without the use of inducer molecules and without overexpression of transactivator proteins. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the spectrum of a weak class of operator pencils of waveguide type
Authors: Hasanov M.
Published: May 2006

The paper introduces a new class of two parameter non‐overdamped operator pencils arising from evolution equations. We investigate spectral properties, including variational principles for “interior” points of the spectrum. Examples leading to pencils of the new class are given. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Correlation of visinin‐like‐protein‐1 expression with clinicopathological features in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus
Authors: Wickborn Carla , Klein‐Szanto Andres J. , Schlag Peter M. , Braunewell Karl‐Heinz
Published: May 2006

EF‐hand Ca2+‐sensor proteins are key molecules for transducing Ca2+ signals into physiological answers and changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration control a variety of cellular responses, including proliferation, migration, and differentiation, which are relevant for tumor progression. The Ca2+‐sensor visinin‐like protein‐1 (VILIP‐1) has recently attracted major interest due to its putative tumor suppressor function. Whereas VILIP‐1 is expressed in normal skin, it is downregulated in skin tumors in a murine tumor model. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the Ca2+‐sensor VILIP‐1 in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and to correlate expression levels with clinicopathological features of the tumor. We examined VILIP‐1 expression in 54 specimens of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and 24 normal esophagus tissues, with immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence co‐staining techniques. VILIP‐1 expression was completely lost or significantly reduced in esophageal tumor tissue compared with normal squamous epithelium. Correlation with clinicopathological features indicated that there was significantly less VILIP‐1 expression in lymph node positive (N = 1) versus lymph node negative (N = 0) tumors (P = 0.002). Although there was no significant difference between highly (G1), moderately (G2) and poorly differentiated (G3) tumors (P = 0.177), VILIP‐1 expression in tumors is significantly correlated with the depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.028 between T1, T2, T3, and T4). In contrast, co‐staining with the proliferation marker Ki‐67 indicated no significant correlation with proliferation rates in tumors (Ki‐67 index of the tumor). In summary, the expression of the Ca2+‐sensor VILIP‐1 was found to be lost during development of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The protein expression level significantly correlates with invasive features, such as depth of tumor invasion and local lymph node metastasis, but not with proliferation rate of tumor cells. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bioprospecting in Antarctica: the search for a policy regime
Authors: Herber Bernard P.
Published: May 2006

This paper aims to elucidate the important economic and political aspects of an extremely complex policy issue involving biological prospecting (bioprospecting) in Antarctica. In addressing this rapidly growing global industry, which searches for commercially valuable biological and genetic resources in a world of biological diversity, it becomes obvious that a critical interface exists between Antarctica and the intertwined bioprospecting policies brought forth during recent decades by two treaties, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The analytical framework of the paper builds upon the economic concept of public goods within a political framework of international treaties and law. The concept of a national public good, associated with the sovereignty of a state (nation) over its biological and genetic resources, is the basis of such policy under the Biological Diversity Treaty. In practice, this jurisdiction applies both to the land area of a state and to the exclusive economic zone of a coastal state. The Law of the Sea Treaty, on the other hand, provides both a national public good connotation to exclusive economic zones while creating a global public good connotation for deep seabed mineral resources, with a related potential application to bioprospecting in the deep seabed. While the Antarctic Treaty System possesses several institutions that could be adapted to a bioprospecting policy regime, no such regime has been established up to the present. The paper concludes with a consideration of the critical question: is bioprospecting in Antarctica a national or global public good? While logic would appear to lead one toward the ‘global’ answer, multinational economic and political realities in today's world suggest that either a national public good approach, or a largely unregulated open access approach, is more likely to prevail.
Taxation and Entrepreneurship: An Austrian Approach to
Public Finance
Authors: Backhaus J.G.
Published: May 2006

A reconsideration of some Austrian work in public finance analysis
that is based on a positive theory of the state and its relationship
with the market economy is offered. The contributions of some prominent
Austrian economists are considered, and how they relate to contemporary
thinking in public finance. The two central paradigms of the tax state
and entrepreneurship are explored.
Service Quality: Relationships between Banks and their
Small Business Clients
Authors: Smith Anne M.
Published: May 2006

The UK clearing banks are aiming to gain a differential advantage
by improving the quality of their service. Some of the findings of a
research study which explored the determinants of service quality as
perceived by a sample of 50 small businesses are reported. Small
business′ overall rating of the level of service received from their
bank, their reasons for that rating and their assessment of the
importance of 55 service factors are described.
Quality Audits and Technological Excellence
Authors: Willborn Walter W.
Published: May 2006

Auditors of quality assurance systems contribute to technological excellence in many important ways. They gain much insight into modern technology through their various audits and induce managers to make valuable improvements that raise quality and productivity. More specifically, computer‐based technology is transferred and disseminated through auditors. The interrelationship between the computer and quality auditing is analysed. Innovative and integrative auditing of quality assurance systems is shown to be instrumental in attaining technological improvements. The American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) Guideline for Quality System Auditing also has an important role to play in this respect.
A Comparison of the Work Activity of Quality Assurance and Production Managers
Authors: Trought Brian
Published: May 2006

Reporting data collected by observation of the total work activities of 21 manufacturing managers in the UK, this article investigates the controversy: “Are managerial jobs similar or different to each other?” The data shows that, contrary to substantial inference within the literature, significant differences can be distinguished between managerial jobs. Specific attention is directed towards the work activity differences between quality assurance and production managers. The former are shown to work with less physical intensity, make more non‐routine decisions, pursue less definable objectives and enjoy a less cooperative environment than the latter. Finally, the article raises the question of whether manufacturing managers (other than quality assurance managers) are sympathetic to the wider aims of quality assurance.
Economic and Health Consequences of Undernutrition
Authors: Owens Emiel W.
Published: May 2006

An adequate variety of food necessary to provide a proper
nutritional balance has always been a topic of prime concern for social
economists. Moral and political concern caused the initiation of a
series of studies focusing on the magnitude and causes of
undernutrition. This article addresses concerns about some economic and
health consequences of undernutrition and discusses some adverse health
effects that may be associated with improper food balances. Findings
suggest that a high percentage of undernutrition in the USA is
concentrated in areas where social and economic deprivation is most
prevalent, and shows that a complex of factors in the culture of poverty
appear to be linked to undernutrition and non‐organic retardation. Two
farm work crews were tested over a year with the objective of gaining
more information about their dietary habit and nutritional status.
Dietary deficiencies expressed as Bitot Spots (27.7 per cent) Visible
Caries or ulceration (21.6 per cent) were found consistently among
workers in the study sample population. Using F statistics and
controlling for sex, male workers were found to be more adversely
affected by dietary deficiencies than female workers.
Schumpeter and the Political Economy of International Change
Authors: McKee David L.
Published: May 2006

The article attempts to reassess the world economy with an eye to
understanding what is automatic about it and thus beyond the control of
national economies. Towards that end, Schumpeterian analysis is applied
in an effort to illustrate how changes occur and how such changes affect
discrete units or subsets of international capitalism. The discussion
suggests that firms with leadership roles in national economies may
bring those economies down with them if they lose their position in the
world economy. It also suggests that the international economy may
provide firms with a more flexible climate which in turn may prolong
their effective lives. The major policy implication for governments is
that such institutions may no longer have it within their preserves to
control economic activities spawned in the international arena.
Richard Henry Tawney on the Democratic Economy
Authors: Elliott John E. , Clark Barry S.
Published: May 2006

The relationship between capitalism and democracy has been
questioned recently by economists and political scientists. In view of
this debate, a reappraisal is made of the writings of Richard Henry
Tawney, the English economist and social philosopher. Central to his
personal, intellectual and socio‐political project was the ideal of the
creation of a genuinely democratic community. Capitalism; the principles
of a democratic economy; institutions and processes; and the alternative
perspectives on political economy are discussed.
Researching the Professional Practice of Elementary
Principals: Combining Quantitative Methods and Case Study
Authors: Lee Bifano Sandra
Published: May 2006

Quantitative methods are combined with a case report in a single
study to develop an understanding of leadership practice of the
elementary principal, suggesting a mode of leadership behaviour that may
lead to increased professional effectiveness. The Argyris and Schön
Theory of Professional Practice served as the theoretical basis for the
study. From the survey data, generalisations were established with
regard to principal and teacher perceptions of leadership practice. The
survey data also functioned as a directional compass to single out three
elementary schools for case study. The purpose of the field study was to
operationalise the survey data by providing a conceptual view of current
leadership practice interpreted in light of the theoretical model
employed.
The European Business School and its Philosophy
Authors: Coulson‐Thomas Colin
Published: May 2006

In preparing people for careers in international management, the
European Business School (EBS), a private institution with centres in
France, West Germany, the UK and Spain, and offices in Brussels and
Italy, has evolved a distinct philosophy of management education. Its
basic four‐year programme provides study and work experience in three
countries and equips the school′s alumni with a minimum of three
European business languages. EBS continuously monitors and assesses its
students. It develops practical skills and competencies alongside
academic learning. It aims to build stamina and is unashamedly a school
for leadership and responsibility.
New Office Technology: A Study on Curriculum Design
Authors: Mulder Martin
Published: May 2006

A study on new office technology and the consequences for
curriculum design are described. In a preparatory study, information was
collected about trends in the field of office automation, the actual and
the desired job profiles of office personnel and the existing curricula.
The aim of these activities was to have an empirical base for designing
the curriculum. As expected, several discrepancies existed between the
information obtained and the desired conditions of the ideal situation,
which made it necessary to evaluate the findings of the preparatory
study. This was done by a curriculum conference, a new approach to
design curricula in groups, which has the characteristics of a carefully
prepared workshop. At this conference, the design of the curriculum was
validated and confirmed. The design of the curriculum embraces module
descriptors for several components of office automation. The curriculum
conference was evaluated and appeared to be a promising method to design
job‐related curricula.
Doing Business in a Different Culture: The Implications for
Management Development
Authors: Barratt Alan
Published: May 2006

Globalisation of business means that many managers will
increasingly operate in different cultures. They need to be developed to
do so. Strategic questions, factors to consider and their implications
for management development are discussed. An example of an orientation
programme (the Saudi culture) is given. It is concluded that tickets and
visas are not enough.
Putting Training to Work
Authors: Campbell Clifton P. , Cheek Gerald D.
Published: May 2006

After a course, do trainees transfer acquired behaviours and use
them back at work? Often the process is blocked for various reasons, and
this nullifies the effect of the training. Useful guidelines are given.
If utilised, much more training would be considerably more effective
than is currently the case.
Management Development: A Top‐Down Optimal Approach
Authors: Mitchell John F.
Published: May 2006

The motivational style of management is described as more effective
than the manipulative. A top‐down approach is essential since example is
necessary if staff are to give credence to the development training
proposed. The managing director must actively participate. An outside
stimulus/ facilitator is also essential and guidance is given on the
selection of consultants – their personal and professional
qualities must be appraised and their results elsewhere must be
verified. For serious results a phased structure is recommended.
Personal Transferable Skills and the Job Demands on
Graduates
Authors: Smith David , Wolstencroft Tim , Southern Jayne
Published: May 2006

The research reported here attempts to identify the personal skills
which are important in the early years of graduate employment. The
results are based on responses from over 250 business and law graduates
in the UK. When discussing the results a number of practical
considerations for employers are highlighted. These include the
importance of defining precise skill requirements and their relationship
with attitudinal and knowledge‐based competences. The results suggest
that some differences in skill requirements exist between employment
sectors, and this may have implications for attempts to identify general
managerial competences.
Time for Self‐marketing
Authors: Kitchen Philip
Published: May 2006

The majority of up‐and‐coming managers follow standardised job hunt
procedures. One of the latest extensions for marketing, however, has
been to apply the principle to individuals in the job search market. A
study was recently carried out to obtain the views of personnel managers
regarding the nature of job pursuit. The results are outlined in this
article and are of interest to individuals in the job search market, in
that they may help refine their approach to new companies. The results
also indicate what a proportion of such managers in a variety of
companies would like to see in the aspects of the job search process.
Marketing an MBA Programme
Authors: Nicholls John
Published: May 2006

The article discusses several problems in educational services
marketing and reports on a study of MBA student information sources
before course selection. It then provides a case study of the
redevelopment of the Bath University Masters Degree in Business
Administration, and of the positioning of the degree in the market. It
concludes that educational institutions need to improve their marketing
and in particular need to understand student buyer behaviour including
information gathering behaviour.
In Support of A‐Levels
Authors: Fowler Graham
Published: May 2006

The meaning of balance in the sixth‐form curriculum has been
debated for 30 years. At that time, the Crowther Report suggested the
introduction of General Studies to support A‐levels. Today, the touted
solutions range from the dramatic – just as O‐levels gave way to
GCSE, the replacement of A‐levels by less deep (more superficial) study
– to the peripheral – AS‐levels to provide pockets of
understanding in divergent areas. Such plans are discussed critically in
the light of current evidence. The conclusion is that the A‐level option
still demands support, and that it is best complemented by General
Studies.
The Fine Art of Sponsorship
Authors: Burridge Martin
Published: May 2006

Sponsorship in sport is a rapidly growing part of the business
scene. Association with success or the right image can reap rich rewards
but there is also a danger of allowing enthusiasm for a sport run away
with your company′s money. Selecting a sponsorship target, choosing a
sport which provides an appropriate image for your company, and making
professional use of your sponsorship, are all vital to a successful
campaign.
A New Look at Adam Smith
Authors: Peil J.
Published: May 2006

The question of whether at present Smith is of any importance for
economic analysis is dealt with. The attempts of a number of authors to
reach a new interpretation of Smith are examined. The emphasis is on the
argument on which the decision to come to a reorientation on Smith would
be based. Reasons are given for why the current Smith interpretation
might be disqualified as an anachronism. Finally, on the basis of a
number of specific passages from The Wealth of Nations, there is
a particularisation in the questions one might justly ask regarding the
current interpretation of Smith′s economic thought.
Management Accounting in the Modern Production Environment:
Is it Good Enough?
Authors: Morgan Malcolm J.
Published: May 2006

British industry is dominated by accountants of one kind or
another. However, it is argued, the writing is on the wall. The gradual
erosion of the efficacy of management accounting systems has largely
been a result of the blurring of an initially, historically clear
demarcation between control and stewardship accounting. This decline is
charted and ways of overcoming the barriers presented by the dominant
“Financial Culture” within many organisations are proposed.
It is claimed that cost systems serving multiple purposes are now
possible and desirable so that finance managers can adopt the new
technology to the rapidly changing requirements of the new manufacturing
and distribution environments.
Making It Happen
Authors: Sugden Peter
Published: May 2006

Future developments in manufacturing planning and control are
envisaged here in advance of the BPICS Annual Conference. A unique range
of skills and experience is reviewed under various topics including
master planning, pipeline management, production activity control, JIT
and MRP, performance measurement, making systems work, and continuous
improvement.
A Delphi Forecast for the Singapore Tourism Industry:
Future Scenario and Marketing Implications
Authors: Wee Yong Yeong , Ah Keng Kau , Leng Leng Tan
Published: May 2006

This article attempts to ascertain the future scenario of the
Singapore tourism industry through the use of the Delphi technique. Two
panels were established for the purpose of this study. The first panel
consisted of key individuals in the local tourist industry. The second
panel comprised an international group of executives participating in an
executive development programme in Singapore. The panels were asked to
examine a host of events related to the tourism industry in Singapore
and to provide their assessments on the likelihood of these events
happening in different time horizons. Based on the findings, events with
higher probability of occurrence and crucial to tourism development are
identified. Marketing implications of these events are discussed and
strategies for tourism planning suggested.
Successful Export Marketing Management: Some Empirical
Evidence
Authors: Koed Madsen Tage
Published: May 2006

This article shows the main results of a survey of 134 export
activities in manufacturing firms in Denmark. It analyses the
association between export performance on the one hand and export
marketing policy, firm characteristics and market characteristics on the
other hand. Bivariate and multivariate analyses are performed with the
purpose of identifying critical export marketing success factors. Links
to previous research are discussed and implications for export marketing
management considered. The article concludes by discussing future
research on successful export marketing management.
An Efficient Empirical Approach to Process Improvement
Authors: Goh T.N.
Published: May 2006

The last, and often most difficult increment in product quality level or process productivity, cannot be realised via the usual techniques of statistical quality control, such as process capability analysis or control chart procedures. Through a non‐mathematical presentation, the article sets out to provide an understanding of an empirical approach to process improvement, based on the systematic and integrated application of techniques of experiment design, mathematical modelling and common concepts of optimisation. An understanding of this important part of statistical quality control is vital in the search for possible breakthroughs in process performance.
Educational Leadership: An Australian Project
Authors: Duignan Patrick A. , Macpherson R.J.S.
Published: May 2006

An attempt is made to redefine educational leadership and to create
a new “practical theory” of educative leadership which is of
relevance to all concerned with the management of education. The
approach, techniques and early outcomes of a research project in
Australia designed in 1985 and mounted in 1986 to create the new
“theory” are reported.
Curriculum Arrangements and Resource Allocation in
Secondary Schools
Authors: Harrold Ross , McKenzie Phillip
Published: May 2006

A means by which a nexus can be drawn between a secondary school′s
educational operations and its resource allocation is suggested.
Resources associated with the school′s teaching and its learning
activities are “mapped”, then compared, on a grid of the
school′s curriculum arrangements. If it is a non‐government (private)
school, the analysis is made by comparing average with
“breakeven” class sizes; if it is a government (public)
school, the analysis compares the patterns of teaching class periods
with pupil periods. The analysis identifies implicit resource
cross‐subsidisation among groups of students who take different levels
and types of subjects. There is no intention that cross‐subsidisation
should be eliminated but decision makers are challenged to justify the
revealed pattern of subsidisation in terms of the educational and equity
purposes of their school.
Training the Training Consultant: A Joint BP/LEA Programme
Authors: Langton Brian
Published: May 2006

The BP company, having been through a period of change, and
received their training procedures in consequence, collaborated with a
group of LEAs with a view to training key LEA personnel in training
consultancy skills. Initial research has confirmed the need for
intensive management training for such as school headteachers and the
value of the training expertise and experience of management development
available in the private sector.
Problem‐Definition in Marketing Research Studies
Authors: Chapman Randall G.
Published: May 2006

Describes an approach that assists decision makers and market
research analysts in problem‐definition in market research studies.
Examines the two‐stage process of formulating an explicit research
objective and developing a series of research questions to achieve that
objective, illustrating the approach with examples. Concludes that while
the approach does not provide insight into what is the right problem, it
represents an aid to designing effective market research studies.
Developing and using scenarios – assisting business
decisions
Authors: Becker Harold S.
Published: May 2006

Examines the characteristics and use of scenario planning as a way
for businesses to cope with the future and to assist in business
planning. Demonstrates several different purposes for scenarios;
provides a general approach for constructing scenarios; outlines some of
the roles for managers in scenario planning.
After the Quality Gurus are Gone
Authors: Reilly Patrick
Published: May 2006

Considers there are two critical steps in implementing TQM. Asserts management must translate the quality guru′s message to the company′s culture and then integrate these activities into the normal mode of doing business. Describes the implementation plan. Discusses the active involvement of executives and managers. Contends the education of the workforce is a necessary element. Discusses quality teams and looks at the issues they need to consider. Concludes that quality improvement requires the mobilization of an organization′s resources and suggests activities to be undertaken by management in order to achieve success.
Quality Leadership at Baxter
Authors: Easley Mike , Schlick James
Published: May 2006

Discusses the keys to successful total quality management and how total quality management is accomplished. Explains the results of Kepner‐Tregoe′s research into the conditions for successful quality improvement. Describes the total quality management process at the Baxter Healthcare plant in Mississippi, USA. Asserts that the quality leadership process at the plant exemplifies total quality management. Contends that quality problem solving plays a key role in TQM. Concludes that the organization needs a commitment to quality, problem solving skills to achieve it, and the opportunity to use them.
Viewpoint: The economics of hunter‐gatherer societies and the evolution of human characteristics
Authors: Robson Arthur J. , Kaplan Hillard S.
Published: May 2006

Abstract.  We argue for attention to the evolutionary origins of economic behaviour. Going beyond this, we argue that the economy of hunting and gathering was the context in which evolution shaped human characteristics that underlie modern economic behaviour. We first reconsider the basic biological question of why aging occurs at all. We then illustrate the usefulness of considering foraging economics by asking why it is biologically advantageous for humans to live long after their reproductive career is over. Further, we argue that foraging economics would have led to the simultaneous exaggeration of intelligence and of longevity that is characteristic of humans. JEL classification: A12, J10
Mosaic identity and style: Phonological variation among Reform American Jews1
Authors: Levon Erez
Published: May 2006

Scholars of American Judaism have argued that American Jews are losing their sense of a distinctive Jewish identity, and the cultural practices concomitant with that identity. This general attrition has resulted in what many label the mosaic identity of American Jews, whereby multiple group affiliations exist in tandem and in conflict. Utilizing a reworked framework of language style (based on Bell 1984, 2001), I demonstrate how the claim that Jewish‐affiliated practice is compartmentalized and relegated only to specifically Jewish contexts is supported through an examination of the variable pronunciation of word‐final /t/. This paper illustrates the ways in which quantitative and qualitative analyses can work together to create a more developed picture of Reform American Judaism.
Hyperproinsulinaemia in normoglycaemic lipodystrophic HIV‐infected patients
Authors: Haugaard S. B. , Andersen O. , Hales C. N. , Halsall I. , Rosenfalck A. M. , Iversen J. , Madsbad S.
Published: May 2006

Background  We aimed to investigate whether the insulin precursors, intact (IP) and 32–33 split proinsulin (SP), which are elevated in states of insulin resistance and predict type 2 diabetes, would be elevated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients with lipodystrophy (LIPO).

Materials and methods  Forty‐three normoglycaemic HIV‐infected patients [18 LIPO and 18 without lipodystrophy (NONLIPO) receiving antiretroviral drugs, and seven patients naïve to antiretroviral drugs (NAÏVE)] were examined. Insulin precursors were measured during fasting, during an intravenous glucose tolerance test and during a hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp, respectively. Insulin secretion rates (ISR) were determined by deconvolution of C‐peptide concentrations. Disposition index (DI) was calculated as insulin sensitivity (SiRD) multiplied by the first‐phase insulin response to intravenous glucose.

Results  LIPO exhibited increased fasting IP and SP (P < 0·05), a higher proportion of elevated fasting IP (3·1 pmol L−1, 66% vs. 33% and 28%, P < 0·05) and SP (7·2 pmol L−1, 50%, 11% and 0%, P < 0·01), reduced SiRD (> 50%, P < 0·001) and increased ISR (P < 0·001) compared with NONLIPO and NAÏVE. Fasting SP and IP correlated positively with ISR (P < 0·001) and inversely and hyperbolically with SiRD (P < 0·001). Fasting SP/insulin ratio correlated inversely with SiRD (P < 0·05). Incremental IP + SP/insulin ratio after an intravenous glucose bolus correlated inversely with DI (P < 0·01), but did not differ between study groups.

Conclusions  Proinsulin appeared to be increased in HIV‐lipodystrophy, but no more than caused by the increased ISR. Nevertheless, the inverse correlations between SP/insulin ratio versus SiRD and incremental total proinsulin/insulin ratio versus DI may argue for a subtle β‐cell dysfunction in those patients with insulin resistance and low DI.
Influence of stand age and physical environment on the herb composition of second‐growth forest, Strouds Run, Ohio, USA
Authors: Harrelson Sarah M. , Matlack Glenn R.
Published: May 2006

Aim  Historical land use in eastern North America and much of Europe has created a mosaic of successional forest stands of widely varying age. An estimate of the rate of successional community development would allow the conservation value of individual stands to be assessed. We estimate the rate of herb community development in secondary forests in our region, and the extent to which physical gradients determine herb distributions.

Location  Second‐growth forest in the Appalachian Oak section of the Central Hardwoods Region, southeastern Ohio, USA.

Methods  Thirty‐five plots were surveyed in old (82–193 years) and young (35–40 years since pasture) deciduous forest stands and pine plantations. In each plot, herb species cover and environmental factors were measured.

Results  Herb community composition was clearly distinguishable between oak‐dominated upland sites and mixed mesophytic stands in moist ravines. In both community types, young stands were compositionally distinct from old stands. Species lacking obvious seed dispersal mechanisms were disproportionately uncommon in young stands, implying dispersal limitation in the process of recolonization. Among old stands, distributions of many species showed significant regressions on the environmental variables, whereas few showed significance in young stands. Species with weak dispersal tended to be more frequently linked to environmental gradients in old stands than in young stands.

Main conclusions  Early arriving forest species appear to assort rapidly along physical gradients, defining communities early in the successional trajectory. The re‐assembly of the full forest community continues over a longer period as individual species assort on environmental gradients at rates determined by their dispersal abilities. Thus, long‐established stands show more spatial variation than successional stands, and offer greater opportunities for conservation of the forest community.
Target detection and driving behaviour measurements in a driving simulator at mesopic light levels
Authors: Alferdinck Johan W. A. M.
Published: May 2006

During night‐time driving hazardous objects often appear at mesopic light levels, which are typically measured using light meters with a spectral sensitivity that is only valid for photopic light levels. In order to develop suitable mesopic models a target detection experiment was performed in a driving simulator. While subjects drove along a winding road they had to respond to randomly presented circular targets at various eccentricities. The background luminance ranged between 0.01 and 10 cd m−2, and was either white, yellow, red or blue. The RT, number of missed targets, and driving behaviour were measured. The results show that target detection and driving performance get poorer with decreasing background luminance and increasing eccentricity of the target, in particular for the red colour. At high driving speeds and low luminances subjects tend to neglect left off‐axis targets. Luminance calculated with existing reaction‐time‐based mesopic models fits better to RT data than the widely‐used photopic luminance.
Changes in reaction time and search time with background luminance in the mesopic range
Authors: Walkey H. C. , Harlow J. A. , Barbur J. L.
Published: May 2006

Vision relies on both rod and cone signals over a large range of ambient illumination that encompasses a number of common situations. It is important, therefore, to understand how performance changes with light level in functional visual tasks. We measured reaction times and search times using achromatic targets to examine the relationship between latency and luminance contrast as a function of background luminance. Visual search was more robust to changes in luminance than reaction time; search performance could be made invariant by scaling the effects of contrast, but the range of reaction time changed significantly over the mesopic range. We also investigated the extent to which two mesopic visual performance models described the dependence of reaction time and search time on stimulus spectra, using coloured stimuli. The ‘effective contrast’ model that we examined described the spectral dependence of both reaction time and search time well. A model for mesopic luminous efficiency based on reaction times described the spectral dependence of each response only in conditions where there was little influence of chromatic signals.
A Note on the Tax Treatment of Private Pensions and Individual Savings Accounts
Authors: EMMERSON CARL , TANNER SARAH
Published: May 2006

The UK government is planning to introduce stakeholder pensions from April 2001 as an alternative to existing personal pensions for people on moderate earnings. But stakeholder pensions are only one way to save for retirement; the new tax‐free Individual Savings Account (ISA) is another. This note compares the tax treatments of pensions and ISAs and assesses the conditions under which the tax treatment of private pensions is more generous than that of an ISA to a basicrate taxpayer – the typical target for stakeholder pensions. The abolition of dividend tax credits paid to pension funds in July 1997 reduced the relatively tax‐favoured position of pensions, but the tax‐free lump sum means that private pensions continue to be a tax‐favoured form of saving at most reasonable rates of return. We show that employer contributions to private pensions are particularly tax‐favoured.
The evolution of abdominal reduction and the recent origin of distinct Abdominal‐B transcript classes in Diptera
Authors: Yoder John H. , Carroll Sean B.
Published: May 2006

SUMMARY
In insects, the Hox gene Abdominal‐B (Abd‐B) governs the development of the posterior‐most segments, the number and fate of which differ within and between orders. A striking feature of insect evolution is a trend toward the reduction of posterior abdominal segments which is most pronounced in higher Diptera. In Drosophila melanogaster, two distinct Abd‐B transcript classes and protein isoforms are expressed in non‐overlapping domains and have discrete functions in patterning the posterior abdomen. It has been proposed that evolutionary changes in Abd‐B structure and expression are responsible for the reduction of the dipteran abdomen. We have investigated the relationship between the evolution of the Abd‐B gene and abdominal reduction by analyzing the structure and expression of homologs from four additional dipterans representing distinct clades within the order. The lower dipteran mosquito Anopheles gambiae expresses a single Abd‐B transcript class, as do two species phylogenetically intermediate to mosquitoes and drosophilids. These results delimit the evolution of distinct functional Abd‐B isoforms to within the dipteran radiation after the origin of the reduced abdominal morphology. Furthermore, we found that the spatial distribution of Abd‐B transcripts in non‐drosophilid Diptera is identical to the combined domains of the two D. melanogaster Abd‐B transcripts. Therefore, neither the structural evolution nor changes in the spatial regulation of Abd‐B account for the derived abdomen of higher Diptera. The recent subfunctionalization of this Hox gene has occurred without any apparent morphological correlate. We conclude that regulatory modifications to developmental programs downstream of or parallel to Abd‐B are responsible for the evolutionary reduction of the higher dipteran postabdomen.
A simulation study of the genetic regulatory hierarchy for butterfly eyespot focus determination
Authors: Evans Travis M. , Marcus Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2006

SUMMARY
The color patterns on the wings of butterflies have been an important model system in evolutionary developmental biology. Two types of models have been used to study these patterns. The first type of model employs computational techniques and generalized mechanisms of pattern formation to make predictions about how color patterns will vary as parameters of the model are changed. These generalized mechanisms include diffusion gradient, reaction‐diffusion, lateral inhibition, and threshold responses. The second type of model uses known genetic interactions from Drosophila melanogaster and patterns of candidate gene expression in one of several butterfly species (most often Junonia (Precis) coenia or Bicyclus anynana) to propose specific genetic regulatory hierarchies that appear to be involved in color pattern formation. This study combines these two approaches using computational techniques to test proposed genetic regulatory hierarchies for the determination of butterfly eyespot foci (also known as border ocelli foci). Two computer programs, STELLA 8.1 and Delphi 2.0, were used to simulate the determination of eyespot foci. Both programs revealed weaknesses in a genetic model previously proposed for eyespot focus determination. On the basis of these simulations, we propose two revised models for eyespot focus determination and identify components of the genetic regulatory hierarchy that are particularly sensitive to changes in model parameter values. These components may play a key role in the evolution of butterfly eyespots. Simulations like these may be useful tools for the study of other evolutionary developmental model systems and reveal similar sensitive components of the relevant genetic regulatory hierarchies.