bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internal Auditor Perceptions on Audit Committee Interactions: a qualitative study in Malaysian public corporations
Authors: Zain Mazlina Mat , Subramaniam Nava
Published: September 2007

Audit committees (AC) and the internal audit function (IAF) are two key corporate governance mechanisms. The primary objective of this study is to provide insights into internal auditors' perceptions of their interactions with AC members in Malaysia. The paper thus contributes to the extant literature by providing additional evidence from a South‐east Asian country which is recognised as being characterised with a high power distance culture and a developing capital market. The findings are based on in‐depth interviews of the heads of the internal audit function (HIAFs) from 11 publicly listed companies. The results indicate infrequent informal communications and limited private meetings between the HIAFs and ACs, and a need for clear reporting lines. Further, ACs are seen to be held in high esteem for their authority and are expected to take on greater leadership in the inquiry of management's decision‐making. These findings highlight the importance of the leadership role of ACs in supporting the IAF.
Legal Deterrence: the foundation of corporate governance – evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Zhong
Published: September 2007

To evaluate the Chinese government's recent market‐orientated efforts to promote good corporate governance, this paper conducts a re‐examination of the working mechanics for market competition and other market‐based governance mechanisms to ensure good corporate governance. The finding is that the utility of market mechanisms may have been exaggerated. Not only are they not effective in disciplining serious managerial misbehaviour that offers managers more gain than loss, even their limited value to discourage such misbehaviour as managerial shirking is conditioned on that the opportunities for illegitimate enrichment by managers are few. On the contrary, legal sanction is fundamental to good corporate governance, because it is the only feasible way to combat such serious misbehaviour and curb illegitimate enrichment. Current experience of corporate governance in China conforms to this finding and poor corporate governance in China is better explained by the lack of credible legal deterrence. This being the case, the top priority for China is to strengthen legal sanction in order to rein in the excessive misappropriation and flagrant fraud. Only once this has been done will the efforts to implement market‐orientated reforms bear any significant fruits.
Do the Type and Number of Blockholders Influence R&D Investments? New evidence from Spain
Authors: Tribo Josep A. , Berrone Pascual , Surroca Jordi
Published: September 2007

Using data from 3,638 Spanish firms between 1996 and 2000, this article studies the relationship between the presence of large shareholders in the ownership structure of firms and R&D investment. Consistent with our theoretical contention, our results indicate that the impact of large shareholders on the R&D investment is (1) negative when blockholders are banks, (2) positive when blockholders are non‐financial corporations and (3) null when blockholders are individuals. In addition, we find a systematic negative relationship between the number of blockholders and R&D investment. Finally, we extend our study by analysing the influence that the combined effect between blockholder type and R&D investment has on the firm's economic performance. Results of this work provide relevant implications for policy makers and academic research.
Boards, Incentives and Corporate Social Responsibility: the case for a change of emphasis
Authors: Mackenzie Craig
Published: September 2007

Boards of large UK companies are devoting more time to the governance of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This is in line with the Combined Code on Corporate Governance's requirement that boards set standards and values for companies and ensure they meet their social obligations. But is board activity in this area as effective as it could be at achieving corporate compliance with CSR standards? This paper draws on the economic literature to offer an analysis of the primary causes of breaches of corporate responsibility standards. Based on a small survey of the board CSR activities of 20 of Britain's largest companies, it assesses whether boards are addressing these causes effectively. The tentative conclusion is that board activity might usefully be reoriented to do more to address the fundamental incentives problems that often cause corporate responsibility failures, namely market failure and misaligned performance management systems.
New Developments in Understanding Skilled Performance
Authors: Ackerman Phillip L.
Published: September 2007

Skilled performance, whether it involves rapid and accurate motor movements (such as playing a video game or using a scalpel in the operating room) or a high degree of domain knowledge (such as finding a small tumor in an X-ray or writing a journal article) typically involves learning and practice over an extended period of time. In light of recent theory and empirical research, I consider two enduring issues associated with skill acquisition: whether individuals become more alike in performance or more different over the course of skill acquisition, and what the determinants of individual differences in skilled performance are. Two broad classes of tasks are considered: tasks that involve speed and accuracy of motor movements and tasks that primarily involve domain knowledge. Issues of practice, ability, and other determinants of skilled performance such as gender and aging are discussed.
Aging, Executive Functioning, and Social Control
Authors: von Hippel William
Published: September 2007

Aging is associated with atrophy of the frontal lobes of the brain, which are the seat of executive functions. Because successful social functioning often requires executive control, aging can lead to unintended social changes via deficits in executive control. In this article I review evidence that, due to losses in executive control, aging leads to increased prejudice and social inappropriateness and, under certain circumstances, increased depression and problem gambling. I then discuss theory and research suggesting possible interventions that might ameliorate unwanted social changes brought about by executive decline.
Color and Psychological Functioning
Authors: Elliot Andrew J. , Maier Markus A.
Published: September 2007

Color is a ubiquitous perceptual experience, yet little scientific information about the influence of color on affect, cognition, and behavior is available. Accordingly, we have developed a general model of color and psychological functioning, which we present in this article. We also describe a hypothesis derived from this model regarding the influence of red in achievement contexts. In addition, we report a series of experiments demonstrating that a brief glimpse of red evokes avoidance motivation and undermines intellectual performance, and that it has these effects without conscious awareness or intention. We close with thoughts on the need for rigorous scientific work on color psychology.
Children's Road Crossing
Authors: Plumert Jodie M. , Kearney Joseph K. , Cremer James F.
Published: September 2007

Most research on perceptual–motor development has focused on changes occurring during infancy and toddlerhood. In this paper, we describe our work on the development of perceptual–motor development during late childhood and early adolescence in the context of an important applied problem: bicycling across traffic-filled roads. Specifically, we have examined the gaps between cars that children and adults accept when bicycling across intersections, using an immersive, interactive bicycling simulator. This work highlights both methodological advances in using immersive, interactive virtual environments to study perceptual–motor functioning as well as theoretical advances in understanding the problem of moving the self in relation to other moving objects. We conclude with ideas for future research and practical implications of this work.
Psychological Foundations of Trust
Authors: Simpson Jeffry A.
Published: September 2007

Trust lies at the foundation of nearly all major theories of interpersonal relationships. Despite its great theoretical importance, a limited amount of research has examined how and why trust develops, is maintained, and occasionally unravels in relationships. Following a brief overview of theoretical and empirical milestones in the interpersonal-trust literature, an integrative process model of trust in dyadic relationships is presented.
Attention, Self-Control, and Health Behaviors
Authors: Mann Traci , Ward Andrew
Published: September 2007

Past research has shown that limitations on attention can lead to loss of control. Our model of self-control suggests that when attentional resources are restricted, individuals can focus on only the most salient behavioral cues, to the neglect of more distal stimuli. Subsequent action is then likely to be under the near-exclusive motivational influence of those “central” cues. This state of narrowed attentional focus, which we term “attentional myopia,” is predicted to lead to loss of control when salient cues serve to promote a behavior that violates self-standards. By contrast, limitations on attention can lead to more successful self-control when salient cues instead suggest restraint. We have investigated this model in the health domains of eating, smoking, and aggression, and we discuss its implications for individuals' efforts to respond to health-relevant messages.
Understanding the Truth about Subjectivity
Authors: Rowley Martin , Robinson Elizabeth J.
Published: September 2007

Results of two experiments show children's understanding of diversity in personal preference is incomplete. Despite acknowledging diversity, in Experiment 1 (N = 108), six‐ and eight‐year‐old children were less likely than adults to see preference as a legitimate basis for personal tastes and more likely to say a single truth could be found about a matter of taste. In Experiment 2 (N = 96), seven‐ and nine‐year‐olds were less likely than 11‐ and 13‐year‐olds to say a dispute about a matter of preference might not be resolved. These data suggest that acceptance of the possibility of diversity does not indicate an adult‐like understanding of subjectivity. An understanding of the relative emphasis placed on objective and subjective factors in different contexts continues to develop into adolescence.
Capital Structure and Assets: Effects of an Implicit Collateral
Authors: Riis Flor Christian
Published: September 2007

This paper analyses a firm's capital structure choice when assets have outside value. Valuable assets implicitly provide a collateral and increase tax shield exploitation. The key feature in this paper is asset value uncertainty, implying that it is unknown ex ante whether the equity holders ex post optimally sell the assets or re‐optimise the capital structure. Ex ante, more uncertain asset value decreases leverage, but not firm value, and selling the assets becomes less likely. Firms should tend to invest in assets whose value is less correlated to changes in earnings and, in addition, asset sales are less likely when this correlation is low.
An Empirical Analysis of the Pricing of Bank Issued Options versus Options Exchange Options
Authors: Horst Jenke ter , Veld Chris
Published: September 2007

Since 1998, large investment banks have become active as issuers of options, generally referred to as call warrants or bank‐issued options. This has led to an interesting situation in the Netherlands, where simultaneously call warrants are traded on the stock exchange, and long‐term call options are traded on the options exchange. Both entitle their holders to buy shares of common stock. We start with a direct comparison between call warrants and call options, written on the same stock and with the same exercise price, but where the call option has a longer time to maturity. In 13 out of 16 cases we find that the call warrants are priced higher, which is a clear violation of basic option pricing rules. In the second part of the analysis we use option pricing models to compare the pricing of call warrants and call options. If implied standard deviations from options are used to price the call warrants, we find that the call warrants are strongly overpriced during the first five trading days. The average overpricing is between 25 and 30%. Only a small part of the overpricing can be explained by rational arguments such as transaction costs. We suggest that the overvaluation can be explained by a combination of an active financial marketing by the banks and the framing effect.
Have European Stocks become More Volatile? An Empirical Investigation of Idiosyncratic and Market Risk in the Euro Area
Authors: Kearney Colm , Potì Valerio
Published: September 2007

We examine the dynamics of idiosyncratic risk, market risk and return correlations in European equity markets using weekly observations from 3515 stocks listed in the 12 euro area stock markets over the period 1974–2004. Similarly to

Campbell et al. (2001)

, we find a rise in idiosyncratic volatility, implying that it now takes more stocks to diversify away idiosyncratic risk. Contrary to the US, however, market risk is trended upwards in Europe and correlations are not trended downwards. Both the volatility and correlation measures are pro‐cyclical, and they rise during times of low market returns. Market and average idiosyncratic volatility jointly predict market wide returns, and the latter impact upon both market and idiosyncratic volatility. This has asset pricing and risk management implications.
Academics on Non‐Standard Contracts in UK Universities: Portfolio Work, Choice and Compulsion
Authors: Brown Donna , Gold Michael
Published: September 2007

This paper analyses the profile and motivation of over 1,300 academics employed on part‐time, fixed term or temporary contracts at 10 post‐1992 UK universities, whom it categorises as ‘non‐standard academics’. Based on a questionnaire survey, it investigates their demographic background, including age, gender and ethnic background, as well as the factors behind acceptance of their current employment status. It reveals that six out of ten chose their status and correspond in some ways to the profile of ‘portfolio worker’ (high level of qualifications, multiple job holding and sense of independence). This tends to correct the perception of them as mainly ‘casual’. However, commitment to their current employment status is less clear, with over one‐third stating that they would accept a permanent job on their current hours. There are, therefore, signs of adaptation to certain forms of non‐standard status (hours) but not to others (impermanence). Such uncertainty illustrates the hazy boundaries between casual and portfolio status.
An Analysis of First Experience Students' Financial Awareness and Attitude to Debt in a Post‐1992 UK University
Authors: Marriott Pru
Published: September 2007

While students have always found balancing their finances difficult, the current generation are faced with unprecedented debt burdens during and on completion of their studies. Student debt is now an expected outcome of attending university and, apart from the negative consequences it may have on participation in higher education, it may have a detrimental impact on the academic performance and psychological well‐being of students as they strive to fund their education and reduce their debt through part‐time working patterns. However, student debt can be managed better if students possess adequate personal financial awareness, have a responsible attitude to debt and are able to budget carefully. This study attempts to measure the personal financial awareness, attitude to debt and budgeting capabilities of 149 first‐year business school undergraduates using a specially developed test. The mean test score of 34 per cent on the financial awareness section indicates significant gaps in their personal financial knowledge and it appears that they are entering a critical stage of their lives ill‐equipped to cope with the severe cash restrictions they will encounter. This study is a valuable starting point in understanding the financial challenges faced by students in higher education in the UK and highlights how academic institutions can provide support to increase the financial awareness of students so that they can manage better their personal finances while at university.
Scoping the Duals: Structural Challenges of Combining Further and Higher Education in Post‐Secondary Institutions
Authors: Garrod Neil , Macfarlane Bruce
Published: September 2007

Dual sector universities (or duals) are a growing international phenomenon that cut across the divide that typically exists in post‐secondary education. Duals combine ‘further’ and ‘higher’ education within a single institution providing enhanced opportunities for student transition between post‐secondary sectors. This paper reports the results of an international survey of duals in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. The results indicate that duals operate divergent operational models in managing the structural challenges of cross‐sector education characterised as unitary and binary. Many duals contend that state and provincial government regulation militates against the integration of structures, processes and human resources within a dual sector context.
Reconciling situational social psychology with virtue ethics
Authors: Arjoon Surendra
Published: September 2007

For the past four decades, debate has occurred in respect of situational social psychology and virtue ethics. This paper attempts to reconcile this debate. Situationists propose a fragmentation theory of character (each person has a whole range of dispositions, each of which has a restricted situational application) and do not subscribe to a regularity theory of character (behaviour is regulated by long‐term dispositions). In order to support this view, they cite a number of experiments. It is proposed that the substantive claims made by situationist social psychologists, for the most part, do not undermine or disagree with an Aristotelian virtue ethics perspective, but stem from a misunderstanding of concepts of moral character, faulty conclusions and generalizations in respect of experimental results. Situationists take a narrow view of character and morality. Evidence from organizational behaviour and managerial research literature supports the view that both situational (organizational) features and inner characteristics (including virtues) are powerful influences and determinants of morally upright and morally deviant behaviour. The role of practical judgement in bridging these views is discussed. As a way forward in reconciling situational social psychology with virtue ethics, the paper proposes an Aristotelian–Thomistic framework to overcome some of the problems associated with inadequate regulative ideals in building a normative moral theory.
The structure and evolution of the strategic management field: A content analysis of 26 years of strategic management research
Authors: Furrer Olivier , Thomas Howard , Goussevskaia Anna
Published: September 2007

This paper analyses 26 years of strategic management research published in Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly and Strategic Management Journal. Through a content analysis, it studies the relationships between the subfields of strategic management. A multiple correspondence analysis provides a map of keywords and authors, and a framework to track this literature over the 26‐year period. A discussion of future pathways in the strategic management literature is also provided.
NGOs and international business research: Progress, prospects and problems
Authors: Lambell Richard , Ramia Gaby , Nyland Chris , Michelotti Marco
Published: September 2007

Civil society, and non‐government organizations (NGOs) in particular, have become a research interest in international business (IB). The purpose of this paper is to review scholarly understandings of the nature and significance of NGOs in IB. Contributions from complementary research domains are also explored with a view to encouraging greater interdisciplinary integration in analysing the NGO sector and in particular its relations with multinational enterprises (MNEs). These domains are: strategic alliances and resource dependency; global governance and multilateralism; public management; and regulation theory. The primary argument is that such interdisciplinarity may facilitate more innovative IB treatments of the role of NGOs, reflecting more adequately their strategic environment and motivations. Moreover, including a multitude of perspectives helps to address broader issues identified by scholars as pivotal to the future standing of the field: the nature of strategic agency among organizations other than MNEs; the interpretation of globalization and its implications for organizations; and whether IB is too isolated from the other social sciences.
The effect of staining on the monotonic tensile mechanical properties of human cortical bone
Authors: Kayacan Ramazan
Published: September 2007

Microdamage in the form of microcracks has been observed in cortical bone following in vivo and in vitro fatigue loading. It has been suggested that bone has an inherent ability to repair microdamage at physiological activity levels. If the biological remodelling and repair process cannot keep up with the rate of damage accumulation, as in ageing bone and in individuals such as athletes and military recruits, microdamage may accumulate even at physiological activity levels. Such microdamage accumulation is thought to contribute to stress and fragility fractures. It is therefore important to obtain quantitative data on the rate of damage accumulation so as to understand the etiology of skeletal fractures. Sequential labelling of microdamage using fluorochrome stains at different stages of mechanical loading is becoming standard for assessing damage evolution. Although verification of this staining technique is provided in the literature, it has not yet been reported if the stains change the mechanical properties of cortical bone. In this study, monotonic tensile tests were performed to investigate the effect of the staining on the monotonic tensile mechanical properties of cortical bone. Forty‐eight specimens were machined from human femora obtained from three male subjects, aged 52–55 years, and all 48 specimens were systematically divided into one control and three treatment groups. Specimens in the first (n = 12) and second treatment groups (n = 12) were stained with alizarin complexone and calcein (0.0005 m), respectively, for 16 h under 50 mmHg vacuum. Specimens in the third treatment group (n = 12) were kept in calcium‐supplemented saline solution under the same conditions of the first and second treatment groups. Specimens in the control group (n = 12) were removed from the freezer prior to testing and allowed to thaw at room temperature in saline solution. Differences among the mean values of the mechanical properties for four testing groups were determined by the Mann–Whitney test at a significance level of P < 0.05. The statistical results indicated that the chelating stains and the staining conditions have no significant effect on the mechanical properties of the cortical bone under monotonic tensile loading. This study demonstrated that microcrack labelling with the chelating stains under aforementioned conditions (stain concentration, staining time, etc.) is a reliable method in that staining cortical bone with alizarin complexone and calcein prior to testing does not affect tensile properties.
Influence of cardiac‐specific overexpression of insulin‐like growth factor 1 on lifespan and aging‐associated changes in cardiac intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, protein damage and apoptotic protein expression
Authors: Li Qun , Ren Jun
Published: September 2007

A fall in circulating levels of cardiac survival factor insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) contributes to cardiac aging. To better understand the role of IGF‐1 in cardiac aging, we examined the influence of cardiac IGF‐1 overexpression on lifespan, cardiomyocyte intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, protein damage, apoptosis and expression of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins in young and old mice. Mouse survival rate was constructed by the Kaplan–Meier curve. Intracellular Ca2+ was evaluated by fura‐2 fluorescence. Protein damage was determined by protein carbonyl formation. Apoptosis was assessed by caspase‐8 expression, caspase‐3 and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling) assay. Pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins including Bax, p53, pp53, Bcl2, Omi/HtrA2, apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) and X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) were assessed by Western blot. Aging decreased plasma in IGF‐1 levels, elevated myocyte resting intracellular Ca2+ levels, reduced electrically stimulated rise in intracellular Ca2+ and delayed intracellular Ca2+ decay associated with enhanced protein carbonyl formation, caspase‐8 expression and caspase‐3 activity in FVB mice, all of which with the exception of elevated resting intracellular Ca2+ were attenuated by IGF‐1. Aging up‐regulated expression of Bax, Bcl2 and ARC, down‐regulated XIAP expression and did not affect p53, pp53 and Omi/HtrA2. The IGF‐1 transgene attenuated or nullified aging‐induced changes in Bax, Bcl2 and XIAP. Our data suggest a beneficial role for IGF‐1 in aging‐induced survival, cardiac intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, protein damage and apoptosis possibly related to pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins.
Chronic calorie restriction increases susceptibility of laboratory mice (Mus musculus) to a primary intestinal parasite infection
Authors: Kristan Deborah M.
Published: September 2007

Long‐term calorie restriction (CR) has numerous benefits; however, effects of CR on susceptibility to intact pathogens are not well understood. Because CR enhances immune function of laboratory mice (Mus musculus), it was hypothesized that mice subjected to CR would be less susceptible to experimental infections of the intestinal parasite Heligmosomoides bakeri. Furthermore, because H. bakeri must combat a greater host immune response by CR mice compared to fully fed mice, it also was also hypothesized that (i) worms living in CR hosts would have lower reproduction than worms from ad libitum‐fed mice, and (ii) CR mice would have a more female‐biased sex ratio as male worms may be more vulnerable to host immune response than female worms. Mice were subjected to CR for 6.7 months and were then infected with H. bakeri for one additional month. As expected, CR mice had equal or enhanced immune response (eosinophils and immunoglobin G1 production) to H. bakeri infection compared to ad libitum‐fed mice, and CR mice harbored a more female‐biased sex ratio than ad libitum‐fed mice. Contrary to predictions, CR mice had more worms than ad libitum‐fed mice and the worms from CR mice produced more eggs than worms from ad libitum‐fed mice. These data indicate that, despite the evidence that long‐term CR enhances traditional measures of immune function, CR may actually increase susceptibility to intact parasite infection. Furthermore, changes in worm reproduction and differential survival of male vs. female worms may influence host–parasite transmission dynamics during long‐term host CR.
Mitochondrial gene expression and increased oxidative metabolism: role in increased lifespan of fat‐specific insulin receptor knock‐out mice
Authors: Katic Masa , Kennedy Adam R. , Leykin Igor , Norris Andrew , McGettrick Aileen , Gesta Stephane , Russell Steven J. , Bluher Matthias , Maratos‐Flier Eleftheria , Kahn C. Ronald
Published: September 2007

Caloric restriction, leanness and decreased activity of insulin/insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) receptor signaling are associated with increased longevity in a wide range of organisms from Caenorhabditis elegans to humans. Fat‐specific insulin receptor knock‐out (FIRKO) mice represent an interesting dichotomy, with leanness and increased lifespan, despite normal or increased food intake. To determine the mechanisms by which a lack of insulin signaling in adipose tissue might exert this effect, we performed physiological and gene expression studies in FIRKO and control mice as they aged. At the whole body level, FIRKO mice demonstrated an increase in basal metabolic rate and respiratory exchange ratio. Analysis of gene expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) of FIRKO mice from 6 to 36 months of age revealed persistently high expression of the nuclear‐encoded mitochondrial genes involved in glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, β‐oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation as compared to expression of the same genes in WAT from controls that showed a tendency to decline in expression with age. These changes in gene expression were correlated with increased cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV at the protein level, increased citrate synthase activity, increased expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC‐1α) and PGC‐1β, and an increase in mitochondrial DNA in WAT of FIRKO mice. Together, these data suggest that maintenance of mitochondrial activity and metabolic rates in adipose tissue may be important contributors to the increased lifespan of the FIRKO mouse.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure and Venous Pressure in “Dynamite Headache” and Cluster Headache Attacks
Authors: Hannerz Jan , Greitz Dan
Published: September 2007

SYNOPSIS

Six patients with episodic cluster headache were investigated as to blood pressure, heart rate, cerebrospinal fluid pressure (Pcsf) and frontal vein pressure (Pvf) during five nitroglycerin (NG) provoked attacks and one spontaneous attack. In a seventh studied patient the NG failed to provoke an attack. The earlier reported decrease of systolic blood pressure and increase of diastolic blood pressure and heart rate after NG administration were also found in these patients. The “dynamite headache” was related to the start and duration of an increase of the cerebrospinal fluid pressure. There was no relationship between the start or the maximum pain of the cluster headache attack and changes in Pcsf or Pvf. On breathing oxygen during a cluster headache attack, there was a decrease of Pcsf but in some patients a temporary increase of Pvf was observed, which possibly indicates that oxygen simultaneously attains constriction of arteries and veins.
Psychophysiological Response Patterns of Migraine Patients in Two Habituation Tests
Authors: Huber Dorothea , Henrich Gerhard , Gündel Harald
Published: September 2007

Objective.—To investigate the habituation response pattern of patients with migraine to a simple standard stressor and to a more complex performance‐dependent (achievement) stressor in three peripheral systems (electrodermal, vasomotor, and cardiovascular). We hypothesized that the migraine patients would show abnormal habituation in these peripheral systems, especially in response to achievement stimuli.

Background.—Abnormal central habituation to repetitive stimuli has been reported frequently in patients with migraine. But little is known about habituation of the peripheral autonomic nervous system to stressors in these patients.

Methods.—A total of 30 female migraineurs and 30 physically and mentally healthy women matched for age and social status participated in a simple habituation test (auditory stimuli) and an achievement habituation test (mental arithmetic).

Results.—Habituation was impaired in the electrodermal (skin conductance response), vasomotor (pulse volume amplitude), and cardiovascular (heart rate response) systems during the mental arithmetic test (achievement stimuli) in the migraineurs as compared to the healthy controls. With the simple stressor (auditory stimuli), however, habituation was impaired in the vasomotor system only. Consistent with these findings were the participants' verbal reports, which indicated significantly more subjective tension in the migraine group than in the control group during the calculation test.

Conclusion.—Our results suggest that the mental arithmetic (achievement) habituation paradigm is an important tool for demonstrating reduced habituation in several specific components of the autonomic nervous system. Further research is needed to target the covariance of central and autonomic nervous system habituation phenomena in migraine.
Naratriptan in the Preventive Treatment of Refractory Transformed Migraine: A Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Sheftell Fred D. , Rapoport Alan M. , Tepper Stewart J. , Bigal Marcelo E.
Published: September 2007

Objective.—To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of daily naratriptan in the preventive treatment of transformed migraine (TM) refractory to previous first line therapies.

Background.—Limited evidence suggests that the triptans can be used in the preventive treatment of refractory headaches.

Design/Methods.—We included subjects from 18 to 65 years old, with TM, with or without medication overuse (Silberstein and Lipton, 1996). All participants had previously failed at least two preventive medications. Concomitant, preventive medications were allowed if on a stable dose. After the baseline period, all patients received naratriptan 2.5 mg bid. The treatment phase lasted 3 months. The primary endpoint was change in headache frequency per month. Safety assessment included monthly ECGs, complete ophthalmologic exam, and monthly blood tests. Statistical analyses were performed using the intent‐to‐treat (ITT) population. We also conducted per‐protocol (PP) analyses.

Results.—Our ITT population consisted of 30 subjects (79% female, mean age of 46.5 years). Mean headache frequency per month at baseline was 27.1 days and a significant reduction of headache frequency was obtained in 1 month (20.4, P < .001), 2 months (18.9, P < .001), and 3 months (19.0, P < .001). HIT scores were 64.3 at baseline, 57.4 after 1 month (P < .001), 55.7 after 2 months (P < .01), and 60 at 3 months (P < .05). The mean number of days using rescue medication was reduced from 17.7 at baseline, to 9.7 at 3 months (P < .001). Our PP population consisted of 22 subjects, and 54% had fewer than 15 headaches per month at the end of the study (converted to an episodic pattern). No serious adverse events were reported. No significant changes were observed in blood pressure or in heart rate. ECGs and ophthalmologic exam were unchanged from baseline.

Conclusions.—(1) Daily use of naratriptan provided good preventive efficacy in an important subset of subjects with TM refractory to other preventive treatments. (2) The tolerability of this treatment was excellent. (3) Over a short period of time (3 months), no serious adverse events were reported, nor significant changes were found in the ECG or ophthalmologic evaluation.
Species‐specific physiological response of dinoflagellates to quantified small‐scale turbulence1
Authors: Berdalet Elisa , Peters Francesc , Koumandou V. Lila , Roldán Cristina , Guadayol Òscar , Estrada Marta
Published: September 2007

Turbulence has been shown to alter different aspects of the physiology of some dinoflagellates. The response appears to be species‐specific and dependent on the experimental design and setup used to generate small‐scale turbulence. We examined the variability of the response of three dinoflagellate species to the turbulence, following the same experimental design used by Berdalet (1992) on Akashiwo sanguinea (Hirasaka) Ge. Hansen et Moestrup (=Gymnodinium nelsonii G. W. Martin). In all experiments, turbulence was generated by an orbital shaker at 100 rpm, which corresponded on bulk average, to dissipation rates (ε, quantified using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter) of ≈2 cm2 · s−3. Turbulence did not appreciably affect Gymnodinium sp., a small dinoflagellate. However, Alexandrium minutum Halim and Prorocentrum triestinum J. Schiller exhibited a reduced net growth rate (33% and 28%, respectively) when shaken during the exponential growth phase. Compared to the still cultures, the shaken treatments of A. minutum and P. triestinum increased the mean cell volume (up to 1.4‐ and 2.5‐fold, respectively) and the mean DNA content (up to 1.8‐ and 5.3‐fold, respectively). Cultures affected by turbulence recovered their normal cell properties when returned to still conditions. The swimming speed of the cells exposed to agitation was half that of the unshaken ones. Overall, the response of A. minutum and P. triestinum was similar, but with lower intensity, to that observed previously on A. sanguinea. We found no clear trends related to taxonomy or morphology.
The role of altruistic behavior, empathetic concern, and social responsibility motivation in blood donation behavior
Authors: Steele Whitney Randolph , Schreiber George B. , Guiltinan Anne , Nass Catharie , Glynn Simone A. , Wright David J. , Kessler Debra , Schlumpf Karen S. , Tu Yongling , Smith James W. , Garratty George ,   Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND:Blood donation can be described as a prosocial behavior, and donors often cite prosocial reasons such as altruism, empathy, or social responsibility for their willingness to donate. Previous studies have not quantitatively evaluated these characteristics in donors or examined how they relate to donation frequency.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:As part of a donor motivation study, 12,064 current and lapsed donors answered questions used to create an altruistic behavior, empathetic concern, and social responsibility motivation score for each donor. Analysis of variance was used to compare mean scores by demographics and donor status and to determine the influence of each variable on the mean number of donations in the past 5 years.

RESULTS:The mean score for each prosocial characteristic appeared high, with lower scores in male and younger donors. Higher altruistic behavior and social responsibility motivation scores were associated with increased past donation frequency, but the effects were minor. Empathetic concern was not associated with prior donation. The largest differences in prior donations were by age and donor status, with older and current donors having given more frequently.

CONCLUSION:Most blood donors appear to have high levels of the primary prosocial characteristics (altruism, empathy, and social responsibility) commonly thought to be the main motivators for donation, but these factors do not appear to be the ones most strongly related to donation frequency. Traditional donor appeals based on these characteristics may need to be supplemented by approaches that address practical concerns like convenience, community safety, or personal benefit.
Blood transfusions in children: a multi‐institutional analysis of practices and complications
Authors: Slonim Anthony D. , Joseph Jill G. , Turenne Wendy M. , Sharangpani Aditi , Luban Naomi L.C.
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: Blood product transfusions are a valuable health‐care resource. Guidelines for transfusion exist, but variability in their application, particularly in children, remains. The risk factors that threaten transfusion safety are well established, but because their occurrence in children is rare, single‐institution studies have limited utility in determining the rates of occurrence. An epidemiologic approach that investigates blood transfusions in hospitalized children may help improve our understanding of transfused blood products in this vulnerable population.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a nonconcurrent cohort study of pediatric patients not more than 18 years of age hospitalized from 2001 to 2003 at 35 academic children's hospitals that are members of the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS).

RESULTS: A total of 51,720 (4.8%) pediatric patients received blood product transfusions during the study period. Red blood cells (n = 44,632) and platelets (n = 14,274) were the two most frequently transfused products. The rate of transfusions was highest among children with neutropenia, agranulocytosis, and sickle cell crisis. Asian and American Indian patients had important differences in the rate of blood transfusions and their complications. Resource use in terms of length of stay and costs were higher in patients who received transfusion. Of those patients who received transfusions, 492 (0.95%) experienced a complication from the administered blood product. This accounted for a rate of complications of 10.7 per 1,000 units transfused.

CONCLUSIONS: The administration of blood products to children is a common practice in academic children's hospitals. Complications associated with these transfused products are rare.
A multicenter pilot‐randomized controlled trial of the feasibility of an augmented red blood cell transfusion strategy for patients treated with induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia or stem cell transplantation
Authors: Webert Kathryn E. , Cook Richard J. , Couban Stephen , Carruthers Julie , Lee Ker‐Ai , Blajchman Morris A. , Lipton Jeffrey H. , Brandwein Joseph M. , Heddle Nancy M.
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: Anemia may be an important factor contributing to an increased risk of bleeding, particularly in patients with thrombocytopenia.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A multicenter, single‐blinded pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a larger RCT to determine the effect of the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration on bleeding risk. Patients with acute leukemia receiving induction chemotherapy or those undergoing stem cell transplantation were assigned to one of two treatment groups: standard transfusion strategy (transfusion of 2 units of red blood cells [RBCs] when their Hb level was less than 80 g/L) or an augmented transfusion strategy (transfusion of 2 units of RBCs when their Hb level was less than 120 g/L).

RESULTS: Sixty patients were enrolled: 29 in the control group and 31 in the experimental group. The proportions of patients experiencing clinically significant bleeding and the time to first bleed were not significantly different between the control and experimental groups. The experimental group received more RBC transfusions (transfusions/patient‐day) than the control group (0.233 vs. 0.151; relative risk, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.16‐2.10; p = 0.003). The proportion of patient‐days with platelet (PLT) transfusions was not different between the experimental and control groups. The mean number of donor exposures (PLT and RBC transfusions) was not different between experimental and control groups. Bleeding symptoms were systematically documented.

CONCLUSION: This pilot study thus indicated that it would be feasible to enroll the required number of patients to enable the performance of a large RCT to investigate the effect of Hb on bleeding risk in thrombocytopenic patients.
Proteomic analysis of supernatant from pooled buffy‐coat platelet concentrates throughout 7‐day storage
Authors: Glenister Kristen M. , Payne Katherine A. , Sparrow Rosemary L.
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: The platelet (PLT) storage lesion remains incompletely understood. To gain a greater insight into the PLT storage lesion, a proteomic analysis of supernatant from leukofiltered pooled buffy‐coat PLT concentrates (PCs) was undertaken.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PCs were prepared in PLT additive solution and stored according to standard blood bank procedures. Supernatant samples were collected throughout 7 days of storage. Maps of supernatant proteins were generated by two‐dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Cytokine antibody microarrays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were used to investigate bioactive molecules.

RESULTS: The 2D gel maps of PC supernatant proteins displayed many features of plasma protein maps. Several storage‐induced protein changes were identified including modifications to major plasma proteins. PLT‐derived proteins were also identified, including tremlike transcript 1 and integrin‐linked kinase, which may influence PLT–endothelium interactions. Cytokine antibody microarrays revealed a number of bioactive proteins that have not been previously associated with PCs produced for transfusion, such as brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The concentration of PLT‐derived cytokines including BDNF, CXCL7, epidermal growth factor, PLT‐derived growth factor (PDGF), and CCL5 significantly increased during storage of PCs. Extended storage from Day 5 to Day 7 caused significantly increased levels of BDNF, PDGF, and CCL5 in PC supernatant.

CONCLUSION: Proteomic techniques provide valuable new insight into the effects of storage on PCs and the contribution of soluble proteins to the development of the PLT storage lesion and recipient responses to PLT transfusion.
Platelet function under high‐shear conditions from platelet concentrates
Authors: Jilma‐Stohlawetz Petra , Horvath Michaela , Eichelberger Beate , Koren Daniela , Jilma Bernd , Panzer Simon
Published: September 2007

BACKGROUND: Platelet (PLT) collection and storage affect the functional capacity of PLTs in PLT concentrates (PCs). Therefore, PLTs' functional quality should be studied before transfusion.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PCs (n = 15) were collected by a standard apheresis procedure (Trima, Gambro BCT) and were stored for 7 days. Samples were taken to assess PLT adhesion and aggregate formation by a cone and plate analyzer (Impact‐R, DiaMed) on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after harvesting. This device allows testing PLT function under high‐shear stress close to physiologic conditions. Concomitantly, P‐selectin expression and the residual responsiveness to TRAP‐6 were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: PLT adhesion, as measured by surface coverage, decreased during the entire observation period; likewise, the size of aggregates was significantly lower on Days 5 and 7 compared to Day 1 (p < 0.02). P‐selectin expression increased from Day 5 to Day 7 (p < 0.04), whereas TRAP‐6–inducible expression remained stable until Day 5 of storage and decreased significantly on Day 7 (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that high‐shear–induced PLT adhesion and aggregation on the polystyrene surface deteriorate upon storage, suggesting decreased PLT function in vivo. Thus, the Impact‐R may be a useful tool to assess the functional capacity of PLTs under various PLT harvesting and storage procedures.