bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Politics and the Public in Rawls' Political Liberalism
Authors: Frazer Elizabeth , Lacey Nicola
Published: February 2007

This paper is a critical discussion of a number of related themes in John Rawls' Political Liberalism. First, it considers whether Rawls' recent statement of his position proceeds from an adequate methodology for political theory. In particular, it questions whether Rawls has succeeded in accommodating both universalist, analytic and particularist, interpretive aspects of the political theoretical enterprise. Second, it engages in critical analysis of the conceptions of the political and the public which lie at the core of Rawls' theory. In this part of the paper, an important though not exclusive focus will be certain questions raised by Susan Moller Okin and other feminist critics of Rawls about the internal consistency of his conception of justice. It is argued that Political Liberalism neither addresses these questions explicitly nor, contrary to Okin's view, provides implicit conceptual tools which could allow a sympathetic interpreter of Rawls to do so. The direction of the argument will suggest certain preconditions for the development of a more substantively and methodologically adequate approach to political theory.
Anti-Perfectionism and Rawlsian Liberalism
Authors: Caney Simon
Published: February 2007

This article examines the justifications of anti-perfectionism given by John Rawls in his recent work Political Liberalism. Rawls, I argue, gives one major argument in defence of anti-perfectionism (what I shall call the ‘reasonableness among free and equal persons' argument) and two subsidiary arguments (what I shall call the ‘social unity’ argument and the ‘stability’ argument). None of these arguments, I claim, are persuasive. Rawls's most recent justification of anti-perfectionism is therefore unsuccessful.
Rational Choice and Community Power Structures
Authors: Dowding Keith , Dunleavy Patrick , King Desmond , Margetts Helen
Published: February 2007

The community power debate concluded with each side believing they had won. Political theorists have generalized power, making empirical investigation very difficult; urban scholars have turned their attention to more manageable empirical problems. Rational choice advances the debate, exposing the errors of all sides and facilitating a new approach which transcends structural versus individualist methods. By separating various aspects of power in urban contexts, complementary techniques such as network analysis in a bargaining framework, semi-structured interviewing and the use of text databases permits a comprehensive investigation of agenda-setting and the mobilization of bias. The paper demonstrates the utility of this approach by comparing it to ‘regime theory’, the latest paradigm of urban research.
Piecemeal Reform in Plato's Laws
Authors: Browers Michaelle L.
Published: February 2007

Karl Popper has called Plato a dangerous Utopian who offers an unworldly blueprint for society. I argue that, in making this criticism, Popper offers an incomplete reading of Plato's political thought, overlooking the more worldly and modest blueprint of the Laws. In addition, I show that a better understanding of the relationship between the Republic and the Laws–between Plato's philosophical ideal and politically best possible state–demonstrates the necessity of considering Plato's Laws in any discussion of implementation. In fact, a more complete reading of Plato is required by the very criteria Popper employs in advancing his critique. When the political programme of Plato's Laws is viewed in light of Popper's famous distinction between piecemeal social engineering and Utopian social engineering, the problems of applying these characterizations to Plato become apparent.
Explaining ‘Thatcherite’ Policies: Beyond Uni-Dimensional Explanation
Authors: Marsh David
Published: February 2007

This paper provides an assessment of the relative importance of economic, political and ideological factors in the creation and development of ‘Thatcherite’ policies, not necessarily of ‘Thatcherism’ more broadly, through a detailed consideration of two key policy areas; privatization and industrial relations. Such detailed analysis is necessary to overcome a major weakness in the existing literature. There is no doubt that the accounts of ‘Thatcherism’ offered by Hall, Jessop et al., Taylor and Gamble are more convincing than those which concentrate almost exclusively on one explanatory variable. However, all these more inclusive explanations suffer from another problem; their treatment of some of the major areas of ‘Thatcherite’ policy change is superficial and not convincing.

The detailed case studies indicate that Britain's continuing relative economic decline provided the crucial context within which both privatization and industrial relations policy were developed. However, the overall shape of the policies and, even more crucially, the detailed provisions, were strongly affected by strategic political judgements taken by politicians; most of them fairly short-term and concerned with the electoral consequences of actions. The Thatcher Cabinets were also responding to political events, like the ‘Winter of Discontent’, over which they had no control. ‘New Right’ ideology played a role, but it was hardly the driving force behind policy which the analysis of Wolfe and others suggests. New Right ideology was a tool rather than a blueprint. The article concludes that a full explanation of the origins and development of ‘Thatcherite’ policies should: acknowledge the dialectical nature of the relationship between structure and agency; recognize that any explanation must be multi-dimensional; but accept the necessity of specific case-by-case analysis.
Regulating the Marketplace of Ideas: Political Rhetoric in Swedish and American National Elections
Authors: Åsard Erik , Bennett W. Lance
Published: February 2007

The question addressed in this analysis is one with broad theoretical and comparative implications: how do key political and social institutions, which we call regulatory mechanisms, affect the marketplace of ideas in different polities? First, election and party systems, interest groups, political financing, and the mass media are identified as the most obvious market mechanisms operating to regulate the flow of ideas in democratic societies. Second, this framework is then applied to case studies of party and candidate rhetoric in recent Swedish and American national elections. Although more developed in the United States than in Sweden, both cases reveal a drift toward negative equilibrium in the marketplace, characterized by the decline of party loyalties and voting participation, along with a widespread loss of faith in politicians and political language.
Agricultural Policy Networks of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
Authors: Collins Neil
Published: February 2007

This paper provides an analytical framework within which to understand the contrasting way farmers' interests are aggregated and articulated in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The analysis draws on the dominant European literature on state-farmer relations which emphasizes the role of policy networks and explores whether the concepts of pluralism or corporatism best characterize policy making in the two states.
The Gorbachev Revolution: The Role of the Political Elite in Regime Disintegration
Authors: Lane David
Published: February 2007

On the basis of personal interviews with 116 members of the political élite of the USSR in its terminal period, conclusions are drawn about influence on political power and reasons for the breakdown of the political system. Unlike democratic transitions grounded on negotiation, the collapse of the USSR was a consequence of a fragmented and highly divided political élite lacking in political and moral cohesion. The driving forces of political change came from within the Party leadership which believed the system to be fundamentally flawed whereas other groups in the ruling élite considered it to be essentially sound. In the absence of a firm political base for radical reform, foreign Western leaders are shown to have been sought as allies for change. In turn their perceived influence exacerbated élite dissension.
Workers' Unfreedom and Women's Unfreedom: Is There a Significant Analogy?
Authors: Mason Andrew
Published: February 2007

The dialogue between Marxists and feminists has not always been fruitful, but even if Marxist theory and feminist theory are irreconcilable there may still be significant analogies between their doctrines. This paper suggests that there is a significant analogy between the nature and undesirability of the unfreedom from which, according to Marxist theory, workers suffer, and the nature and undesirability of the unfreedom from which, according to feminist theories, women suffer. This analogy suggests the possibility of various responses feminist theory might make to the criticism that women are no longer oppressed.
Reviews
Authors: Smith Donald , Seex Laura , Potts John
Published: February 2007

Smith, P. (1977). Developing Handwriting.

McKenzie, Moira and Warlow, Aidan (editors) (1977). Reading Matters, Selecting and Using Books in the Classroom.

Otto, W., Peters, C. W. and Peters, N. (1977). Reading Problems: A Multidisciplinary Perspective.
Shorter notices
Authors: Talbot Eileen , Rees Victor
Published: February 2007

Thomas, Mike and Thomas, Sally (1981) On Our Own TWO Feet, Books 6 to 8 (Settling In, Safe and Secure, Around and About).

Horton, M. (1980) The Second Reading and Writing Book. A Handbook for Teachers and Parents to Use with Children.

Edwards Reading Test (1980) Heinemann Educational Books.
Reading readiness is alive and well
Authors: Downing John , Thackray Derek
Published: February 2007

The end of the 1970s and the early 1980s have seen an increasing distaste for the concept of ‘reading readiness’. Some educators have expressed impatience with the confusion, ambiguity and misrepresentation that have come to be associated with this term. They sometimes suggest that teachers should abolish or abandon reading readiness altogether, but we believe that there is a danger that children may suffer if this concept is ignored by teachers.
If they can speak, why can't they read? And spell? They may now!
Authors: Blau Harold , Loveless Eugene J.
Published: February 2007

For the dyslexic and others with similar problems, it is suggested that the sequence of modalities known as VAKT be revised to achieve more effective and more rapid remediation. The new sequence is designated as TAK/v. The subordination of the visual modality is based on the recent identification of a visual processing deficiency in dyslexics, as well as on previous hypotheses, suggesting the desirability of substituting the tactile modality for the visual modality in the initial stages of remediation. The use of one hand is suggested for this tactile scanning of three‐dimensional letters to access the right hemisphere, and experimental data are reported.
C. S. E.: an examination of reading?
Authors: Williamson John
Published: February 2007

This study examines the readability of a selection of C. S. E. papers taken from the areas of Humanities, the Sciences and practical subjects. The readability formula used was the Fry Graph, this being applied to the whole of each paper, thereby avoiding problems of sampling. In each subject, the papers for 1982 and 1983 were studied.

The papers in English Literature, Mathematics, Needlecraft, Science and Woodwork all had a reading level considerably lower than the chronological age of the candidates for whom the examination is intended, only History having scores at or above that age level.

The papers in the Sciences and practical subjects were found to be quite consistent in their readability levels, both internally and from year to year. The English Literature questions were consistent but those papers included passages from set books whose reading levels varied quite considerably. The History papers were rather less consistent than the others, although even there a fair measure of agreement was to be found.
Start the‘Write’Way
Authors: Gee Marion
Published: February 2007

Since this article was written,‘English in the National Curriculum’has been published, so references to it need to be updated.
An Approach to Writing Non‐fiction
Authors: Wray David , Lewis Maureen
Published: February 2007

There is plenty of evidence that non‐fiction writing tends to have been neglected until quite recently. David Wray and Maureen Lewis discuss the importance of extending the range of children's writing and go on to introduce the use of writing frames, a strategy for scaffolding children's non‐fiction writing. This strategy has been extensively trialled as part of the Exeter Extending Literacy Project and does seem to offer some worthwhile benefits in writing development.
Writing Alone Can Be Lonely: An Introduction to Coauthoring
Authors: Zaragoza Nina , Voigt Robert , Zaragoza Michael
Published: February 2007

Nina Zaragoza (and her co‐authors) describes the power of co‐authoring as an approach to developing writing. Much of what she says is expressed through the voice of a child as he gets involved in co‐authoring in his classroom. This gives an authentic feel to this description and offers powerful insights into the instructional and social environment of the classroom.
Newspapers in Education and Children's Writing
Authors: Wray David , Medwell Jane
Published: February 2007

Emphasis upon authenticity in children's writing leads us to consider the possibilities in engaging children in producing authentic texts such as newspapers. In this article David Wray and Jane Medwell discuss their research into the effects of three approaches to this newspaper production, one of which involved the collaboration of a teacher with a worker from the Newspapers in Education scheme. The very positive outcomes of this partnership are stressed.
Genres and Learning to Read
Authors: Kirk Lynne , Pearson Henry
Published: February 2007

The issue of text genre has begun to loom larger in thinking about literacy development, especially with the foregrounding of range in the latest National Curriculum orders for English. Lynne Kirk and Henry Pearson describe their investigation into the effects of text genre upon children's reading and conclude that, although story is the most immediately attractive genre, no one genre has all the qualities for helping children to learn to read.
The Fifteen Minutes a Day Individual Reading Programme
Authors: Grant Kate
Published: February 2007

In these days of rising class sizes, many teachers are making use of assistants and parent volunteers in their classes to lighten the teaching load. Kate Grant reports here on her evaluation of a scheme to train such volunteers and assistants to work with children on a more structured basis. The success she reports should encourage schools to develop similar approaches which seem to enhance children's experiences rather than threaten teacher professionalism.
Teachers’Choice of Storybooks: What Messages do Children Hear?
Authors: Kirby Phillip
Published: February 2007

An important dimension to the teaching of literacy must be the quality of the texts provided for children to read. The features of reading texts in schools have only recently become the object of sustained inquiry but it appears there are some interesting issues in the different perceptions children and teachers may have of these texts. Phil Kirby explores some of these issues in this article and provides excellent evidence that choice of story books is not the simple issue it might appear.
Reading: A Pastime of the Past?
Authors: Robertson Chris , Morris Debbie , Nuttall Carole
Published: February 2007

It is somewhat of a truism to say that reading is not what it used to be. ‘Texts’for reading now include many other media than simply print on pages and this fact has occasioned some concern among those who fear that reading television or computer‐based texts may reduce or impoverish children's overall reading experience. Chris Robertson and her students have been investigating these issues through interviews with children and have found that reading and technology are not actually in conflict but can be mutually supportive. This article suggests that teachers need to think more creatively about how to use alternative texts in developing children's reading.
Literature Circles: Reducing Reading Stress
Authors: Keefe Charlotte Hendrick
Published: February 2007

The concept of literature circles is now familiar in American and Australian literature about reading, but it does not as yet have great currency in this country. This article by Charlotte Keefe may do much to change this as it very lucidly explains the benefits of and teaching strategies underlying the use of literature circles. As Charlotte points out, they may do much to alleviate those of children's problems with reading which stem from not seeing the point and deriving little pleasure from the experience.
Policy Documents: On the Wall or in the Waste Bin?
Authors: Keating Iris , Roberts Ivy , Robertson Chris , Shenton Lesley
Published: February 2007

It has always been quite fashionable to have a disparaging view about school policy documents and many teachers will have had experiences of being given such documents with great flourish and then never opening them again. Yet, as Iris Keating and her colleagues point out, policy documents could be extremely helpful to teachers as guides to appropriate classroom action and ensurers of a continuity of approach. They clearly need further study as objects in their own right.
Developing the Social Economy in Ireland?
Authors: TEAGUE PAUL
Published: February 2007

After examining the arguments in favour of social economy activities, this article argues that recent initiatives in this area in the Republic of Ireland have not reached maximum potential. Three factors are regarded as holding back performance. One is that the necessary institutional conditions to promote the social economy have not been established. Another is that many initiatives are overburdened with unrealistic objectives, which have given rise to what is termed social economy failures. Finally, many of the community‐based employment initiatives designed to improve labour market access for disadvantaged individuals have not been ambitious enough. Government and civic associations are identified as the main culprits for the underperforming social economy. The conclusion suggests that fresh thinking and new approaches are required on the topic.
Working the Socio‐Natural Relations of the Urban Waterscape in South Africa
Authors: LOFTUS ALEX
Published: February 2007

In this article I seek to bring together recent work on ‘the production of nature’ with feminist standpoint theories. I do this in order to explore some of the potentials for democratic change in the South African city of Durban. In spite of the shared methodological assumptions of the two bodies of work, there has been little effort to develop a dialogue. In initiating this, I begin by outlining some of the theoretical foundations underlying the two theories. Then I go on to suggest some of the ways in which a relational approach to urban environments sheds light upon the politics of water service provision in Durban. From this, I suggest that a feminist standpoint approach might open up different possibilities for democratic change. However, I argue that this should begin not from a romantic view of some untainted or non‐reified consciousness of the socio‐natural but rather from the situated knowledges that emerge from the struggle to survive in a world defined by both capitalist and non‐capitalist social relationships.
The Vulnerability and sexual abuse of people with learning disabilities
Authors: Peckham Nicholas Guy
Published: February 2007

Accessible summary

 People with learning disabilities are more likely to experience sexual things happening to them when they do not want them to. This is called sexual abuse.

 A group was started to help some women who have been sexually abused.

 Women who wanted to attend the group were given information about it and asked on three separate occasions if they wanted to attend. Their carers helped them and went to a different group upstairs in the same building.

 We found that the group helped the women feel less scared and depressed and helped the women's carers understand them better.

 This research matters because it helped the women move on with their lives and will help others who want to start a group.

In his capacity as a Clinical Psychologist the author provides psychological support to people with learning disabilities living in hospital and in the community. Frequently, the problem behaviour highlighted in referral letters (such as sexualized behaviour, anger management or self‐harm) is formulated as relating to a past history of abuse and neglect which they had experienced. In view of increasing client referrals and a limited research literature the author established a small team, developed and then piloted a survivors’ group for women with a learning disability. The pilot achieved ethical approval and the survivors’ group ran concurrently with an educational support group for their carers. For more details about this pilot study see Peckham (2005)Developing, delivering and evaluating a survivors group pilot in Northumberland for women with significant learning disabilities who have been sexually abused. Unpublished DClinPsych Thesis, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne; and Peckham et al. (2007). These articles summarize the research literature in the area of sexual abuse and describe, in detail, the problem of delivering and evaluating a survivors' group for women with learning disabilities.
Variation in mammalian proximal femoral development: comparative analysis of two distinct ossification patterns
Authors: Serrat Maria A. , Reno Philip L. , McCollum Melanie A. , Meindl Richard S. , Lovejoy C. Owen
Published: February 2007

The developmental anatomy of the proximal femur is complex. In some mammals, including humans, the femoral head and greater trochanter emerge as separate ossification centres within a common chondroepiphysis and remain separate throughout ontogeny. In other species, these secondary centres coalesce within the chondroepiphysis to form a single osseous epiphysis much like the proximal humerus. These differences in femoral ontogeny have not been previously addressed, yet are critical to an understanding of femoral mineralization and architecture across a wide range of mammals and may have key implications for understanding and treating hip abnormalities in humans. We evaluated femora from 70 mammalian species and categorized each according to the presence of a ‘separate’ or ‘coalesced’ proximal epiphysis based on visual assessment. We found that ossification type varies widely among mammals: taxa in the ‘coalesced’ group include marsupials, artiodactyls, perissodactyls, bats, carnivores and several primates, while the ‘separate’ group includes hominoids, many rodents, tree shrews and several marine species. There was no clear relationship to body size, phylogeny or locomotion, but qualitative and quantitative differences between the groups suggest that ossification type may be primarily an artefact of femoral shape and neck length. As some osseous abnormalities of the human hip appear to mimic the normal morphology of species with coalesced epiphyses, these results may provide insight into the aetiology and treatment of human hip disorders such as femoroacetabular impingement and early‐onset osteoarthritis.
Healthier futures: primary care nurses’ food knowledge and patient advice
Authors: Lyon Phil , Alho Eija‐Riitta , Hillman Marjatta , Colquhoun Anne
Published: February 2007

In Finland there are valid questions being asked about the sustainability of the current provision in state healthcare systems. Structurally, lower birth rates and greater longevity mean that populations age and present the challenge of chronic illness management in later life for a larger proportion of the population. Culturally, some 50 years after the introduction of a state healthcare system, ageing populations will have greater expectations of service quality than their predecessors. Paradoxically, they will also have a greater engagement with lifestyles which themselves will bring new challenges to long‐term health status. There is no single solution to the complex problem of service sustainability but undoubtedly health education provides some potential to limit future demands. Diet‐related illness and incapacity are specific health challenges for the coming decades but the problems can be substantially reduced by changing current behaviour. To make such changes possible, knowledge needs to be communicated effectively in terms of simplicity, accuracy and with appropriate timing. Health education can make a major contribution to service sustainability. This paper reports a study of primary care nurses (n = 50) in the Tampere area and examines their capacity to provide healthy eating advice. In this sample, nurses often demonstrated good levels of nutritional knowledge on which to base patient advice, but there was considerable variation. Arguably, focused in‐service training would provide updating on theory and practice for more consistent advice and better prospects for behavioural change.
Cross‐cultural evaluation of factors driving intention to purchase new food products – Beijing, China and south‐east England
Authors: Eves Anita , Cheng Li
Published: February 2007

It has been reported that consumers in different countries have distinctive perceptions of, and attitudes to, products. This study investigated consumers’ thoughts on new food products in south‐east England (n = 222) and Beijing, China (n = 139), using a questionnaire‐based largely on the Theory of Reasoned Action. Results indicated that consumers in both countries believe it is necessary for the food industry in their respective countries to introduce new food products and they would like to try new products. There appears to be great interest in new products among the Beijing Chinese, with most interest in new healthy food products. The influences on choices suggest that a marketing focus on quality, utility and health benefits would be most fruitful, as personal beliefs were more important in intention to purchase than the influence of other people. Results point away from the expected result that the Chinese, as a collectivist culture, would place more emphasis on others’ opinions than their own beliefs. This may be linked to food not being an item of conspicuous consumption, or to a cultural shift among urban Chinese.
Competent consumers? Consumer competence profiles in Norway
Authors: Berg Lisbet
Published: February 2007

Consumer competence is increasingly important in today’s commercialized society. This paper refers to some main findings from a national representative survey on consumer competences and practices in Norway. To be a competent consumer, it is decisive to be informed about products and to be familiar with how markets function. In this paper, consumers’ self‐reported efforts to keep themselves informed about specific markets is treated as an indicator of consumer competence. First, the results indicate that Norwegian consumers’ competence, according to their own judgement, is rather mediocre. Second, different groups of consumers seem to have different consumer competence profiles. Accordingly, we find that some consumers are price‐conscious in their daily purchases, others are price‐conscious when they make their yearly dispositions in the financial markets, while a third group is community‐oriented and active in the environmentally friendly and ethical product markets. Third, the analysis indicates that consumer competence is an important indicator of how market‐rational and reflective consumers’ choices and practices are.
Caesarean scar pregnancy
Authors: Ash A , Smith A , Maxwell D
Published: February 2007

Caesarean scar pregnancy is one of the rarest forms of ectopic pregnancy. Little is known about its incidence and natural history. With increasing incidence of caesarean section worldwide, more and more cases are diagnosed and reported. Transvaginal ultrasound and colour flow Doppler provides a high diagnostic accuracy with very few false positives. A delay in diagnosis and/or treatment can lead to uterine rupture, major haemorrhage, hysterectomy and serious maternal morbidity. Early diagnosis can offer treatment options of avoiding uterine rupture and haemorrhage, thus preserving the uterus and future fertility. Management plan should be individually tailored. Available data suggest that termination of pregnancy is the treatment of choice in the first trimester soon after the diagnosis. Expectant treatment has a poor prognosis because of risk of rupture. There are no reliable scientific data on the risk of recurrence of the condition in future pregnancy, role of the interval between the previous caesarean delivery and occurrence of caesarean scar pregnancy, and effect of caesarean wound closure technique on caesarean scar pregnancy. In this article, we aim to find the demography, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, most appropriate methods of diagnosis and management, with their implications in clinical practice for this condition.
Temporal change in gene expression in the rat dentate gyrus following passive avoidance learning
Authors: O’Sullivan Niamh C. , McGettigan Paul A. , Sheridan Graham K. , Pickering Mark , Conboy Lisa , O’Connor John J. , Moynagh Paul N. , Higgins Desmond G. , Regan Ciaran M. , Murphy Keith J.
Published: February 2007

A learning event initiates a cascade of altered gene expression leading to synaptic remodelling within the hippocampal dentate gyrus, a structure vital to memory formation. To illuminate this transcriptional program of synaptic plasticity we used microarrays to quantify mRNA from the rat dentate gyrus at increasing times following passive avoidance learning. Approximately, 500 known genes were transcriptionally regulated across the 24 h post‐training period. The 0–2 h period saw up‐regulation of genes involved in transcription while genes with a role in synaptic/cytoskeletal structure increased 0–6 h, consistent with structural rearrangements known to occur at these times. The most striking feature was the profound down‐regulation, across all functional groups, 12 h post‐training. Bioinformatics analysis identified the likely transcription factors controlling gene expression in each post‐training period. The role of NFκB, implicated in the early post‐training period was subsequently confirmed with activation and nuclear translocation seen in dentate granule neurons following training. mRNA changes for four genes, LRP3 (0 h), alpha actin (3 h), SNAP25 and NSF (6–12 h), were validated at message and/or protein level and shown to be learning specific. Thus, the memory‐associated transcriptional cascade supports the cardinal periods of synaptic loosening, reorganisation and selection thought to underpin the process of long‐term memory consolidation in the hippocampus.
Temporal and mechanistic dissociation of ATP and adenosine release during ischaemia in the mammalian hippocampus1
Authors: Frenguelli Bruno G , Wigmore Geoffrey , Llaudet Enrique , Dale Nicholas
Published: February 2007

Adenosine is well known to be released during cerebral metabolic stress and is believed to be neuroprotective. ATP release under similar circumstances has been much less studied. We have now used biosensors to measure and compare in real time the release of ATP and adenosine duringin vitroischaemia in hippocampal slices. ATP release only occurred following the anoxic depolarisation, whereas adenosine release was apparent almost immediately after the onset of ischaemia. ATP release required extracellular Ca2+. By contrast adenosine release was enhanced by removal of extracellular Ca2+, whilst TTX had no effect on either ATP release or adenosine release. Blockade of ionotropic glutamate receptors substantially enhanced ATP release, but had only a modest effect on adenosine release. Carbenoxolone, an inhibitor of gap junction hemichannels, also greatly enhanced ischaemic ATP release, but had little effect on adenosine release. The ecto‐ATPase inhibitor ARL 67156, whilst modestly enhancing the ATP signal detected during ischaemia, had no effect on adenosine release. Adenosine release during ischaemia was reduced by pre‐treament with homosysteine thiolactone suggesting an intracellular origin. Adenosine transport inhibitors did not inhibit adenosine release, but instead they caused a twofold increase of release. Our data suggest that ATP and adenosine release during ischaemia are for the most part independent processes with distinct underlying mechanisms. These two purines will consequently confer temporally distinct influences on neuronal and glial function in the ischaemic brain.
Formation of cellular projections in neural progenitor cells depends on SK3 channel activity
Authors: Liebau Stefan , Vaida Bianca , Proepper Christian , Grissmer Stephan , Storch Alexander , Boeckers Tobias M. , Dietl Paul , Wittekindt Oliver H.
Published: February 2007

Ion channels are potent modulators for developmental processes in progenitor cells. In a screening approach for different ion channels in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) we observed a 1‐ethyl‐2‐benzimidazolinone (1‐EBIO) activated inward current, which could be blocked by scyllatoxin (ScTX, IC50 = 2 ± 0.3 nmol/L). This initial evidence for the expression of the small conductance Ca2+ activated K+‐channel SK3 was confirmed by the detection of SK3 transcripts and protein in NPCs. Interestingly, SK3 proteins were highly expressed in non‐differentiated NPCs with a focused localization in lamellipodia as well as filopodial structures. The activation of SK3 channels using 1‐EBIO lead to an immediate filopodial sprouting and the translocation of the protein into these novel filopodial protrusions. Both effects could be prevented by the pre‐incubation of NPCs with ScTX. Our study gives first evidence that the formation and prolongation of filopodia in NPCs is, at least in part, effectively induced and regulated by SK3 channels.
Neurodegeneration of mouse nigrostriatal dopaminergic system induced by repeated oral administration of rotenone is prevented by 4‐phenylbutyrate, a chemical chaperone
Authors: Inden Masatoshi , Kitamura Yoshihisa , Takeuchi Hiroki , Yanagida Takashi , Takata Kazuyuki , Kobayashi Yuka , Taniguchi Takashi , Yoshimoto Kanji , Kaneko Masahiko , Okuma Yasunobu , Taira Takahiro , Ariga Hiroyoshi , Shimohama Shun
Published: February 2007

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is primarily characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway. Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic systemic exposure of Lewis rats to rotenone produced many features of PD, and cerebral tauopathy was also detected in the case of severe weight loss. The present study was designed to assess the neurotoxicity of rotenone after daily oral administration for 28 days at several doses in C57BL/6 mice. In addition, we examined the protective effects of 4‐phenylbutyrate (4‐PBA) on nigral dopamine (DA) neurons in rotenone‐treated mice. 4‐PBA was injected intraperitoneally daily 30 min before each oral administration of rotenone. Chronic oral administration of rotenone at high doses induced specific nigrostriatal DA neurodegeneration, motor deficits and the up‐regulation of α‐synuclein in the surviving DA neurons. In contrast to the Lewis rat model, cerebral tauopathy was not detected in this mouse model. 4‐PBA inhibited rotenone‐induced neuronal death and decreased the protein level of α‐synuclein. These results suggest that this rotenone mouse model may be useful for understanding the mechanism of DA neurodegeneration in PD, and that 4‐PBA has a neuroprotective effect in the treatment of PD.
Brain pyruvate recycling and peripheral metabolism: an NMR analysis ex vivo of acetate and glucose metabolism in the rat
Authors: Serres Sébastien , Bezancon Eric , Franconi Jean‐Michel , Merle Michel
Published: February 2007

The occurrence of pyruvate recycling in the rat brain was studied in either pentobarbital anesthetized animals or awake animals receiving a light analgesic dose of morphine, which were infused with either [1‐13C]glucose + acetate or glucose + [2‐13C]acetate for various periods of time. Metabolite enrichments in the brain, blood and the liver were determined from NMR analyses of tissue extracts. They indicated that: (i) Pyruvate recycling was revealed in the brain of both the anesthetized and awake animals, as well as from lactate and alanine enrichments as from glutamate isotopomer composition, but only after infusion of glucose + [2‐13C]acetate. (ii) Brain glucose was labelled from [2‐13C]acetate at the same level in anaesthetized and awake rats (∼4%). Comparing its enrichment with that of blood and liver glucose indicated that brain glucose labelling resulted from hepatic gluconeogenesis. (iii) Analysing glucose 13C‐13C coupling in the brain, blood and the liver confirmed that brain glucose could be labelled in the liver through the activities of both pyruvate recycling and gluconeogenesis. (iv) The rate of appearance and the amount of brain glutamate C4–C5 coupling, a marker of pyruvate recycling when starting from [2‐13C]acetate, were lower than those of brain glucose labelling from hepatic metabolism. (v) The evaluation of the contributions of glucose and acetate to glutamate metabolism revealed that more than 60% of brain glutamate was synthesized from glucose whereas only 7% was from acetate and that glutamate C4–C5 coupling was mainly due to the metabolism of glucose labelled through hepatic gluconeogenesis. All these results indicate that, under the present conditions, the pyruvate recycling observed through the labelling of brain metabolites mainly originates from peripheral metabolism.
Female Leadership Advantage and Disadvantage: Resolving the Contradictions
Authors: Eagly Alice H.
Published: February 2007

In the United States, women are increasingly praised for having excellent skills for leadership and, in fact, women, more than men, manifest leadership styles associated with effective performance as leaders. Nevertheless, more people prefer male than female bosses, and it is more difficult for women than men to become leaders and to succeed in male-dominated leadership roles. This mix of apparent advantage and disadvantage that women leaders experience reflects the considerable progress toward gender equality that has taken place in both attitudes and behavior, coupled with the lack of complete attainment of this goal.
Deciding Whom to Tell: Expectations and Outcomes of Rape Survivors' First Disclosures
Authors: Ahrens Courtney E. , Campbell Rebecca , Ternier-Thames N. Karen , Wasco Sharon M. , Sefl Tracy
Published: February 2007

In this study, 102 female rape survivors were interviewed regarding their first post-assault disclosure. Qualitative analysis revealed that nearly 75% of first disclosures were to informal support providers and over one third of the disclosures were not initiated by the survivors themselves. Over half of the survivors received positive reactions and less than one third felt the disclosure had a detrimental impact on their recovery. Loglinear analysis suggested that survivors who actively sought help from informal support providers were more likely to receive positive than negative reactions. In contrast, survivors who actively sought help from formal support providers were more likely to receive negative than positive reactions. When disclosure to formal support providers was initiated by the formal support providers themselves, however, survivors received exclusively positive reactions. Implications for future research are discussed.
Opposing Standards Within the Cultural Worldview: Terror Management and American Women's Desire for Uniqueness Versus Inclusiveness
Authors: Walsh Penny E. , Smith Jessi L.
Published: February 2007

Two different standards within American women's overall cultural worldview were examined in two studies: standing out and fitting in. American culture prescribes and values uniqueness, yet gender norms for women prescribe and value inclusiveness. Thus, unlike American men, American women encounter incongruent cultural norms that make it unclear which she will uphold when faced with thoughts of death. We hypothesized that, for women (and not men), gender salience would moderate worldview adherence. Using standard terror management manipulations, American women were subjected to a self or gender prime (Study 1) as well as a non-gender-group prime and compared to men (Study 2). Results showed that under mortality salience, women primed with gender identified more with their gender group, were more likely to behave inclusively, and were more likely to desire affiliation. In contrast, those primed with the self, a non-gender-group prime, as well as men, were more likely to desire uniqueness. These findings suggest that, for an American woman, both inclusiveness and uniqueness are responses to mortality salience, depending on her momentary reference point.
Development of 22 new microsatellite loci for fishers (Martes pennanti) with variability results from across their range
Authors: JORDAN MARK J. , HIGLEY J. MARK , MATTHEWS SEAN M. , RHODES OLIN E. , SCHWARTZ MICHAEL K. , BARRETT REGINALD H. , PALSBØLL PER J.
Published: February 2007

We developed 22 new microsatellite loci for the fisher (Martes pennanti), a North American mesocarnivore. The loci were developed with samples from the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, and were screened with samples from this population and four other populations. We observed a range of six to 21 polymorphic loci per population, with the Sierra Nevada population exhibiting markedly lower levels of variation compared to the other four.
Development of compound microsatellite markers in the harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides (Dinophyceae)
Authors: NISHITANI G. , NAGAI S. , SAKAMOTO S. , LIAN C. L. , LEE C. K. , NISHIKAWA T. , ITAKURA S. , YAMAGUCHI M.
Published: February 2007

We isolated 15 polymorphic microsatellites from Cochlodinium polykrikoides. These loci provide a class of highly variable genetic markers, as the number of alleles ranged from two to 15, and the estimate of gene diversity was from 0.083 to 0.880 across the 15 microsatellites. We consider that these loci have a potential to reveal the genetic structure and gene flow among C. polykrikoides populations.
The effect of methanogen growth on mineral substrates: will Ni markers of methanogen‐based communities be detectable in the rock record?
Authors: HAUSRATH ELIZABETH M. , LIERMANN LAURA J. , HOUSE CHRISTOPHER H. , FERRY JAMES G. , BRANTLEY SUSAN L.
Published: February 2007

Methanogens, thought to be present on early Earth, have a high requirement for Ni, suggesting that Ni utilization could be a potential biosignature for methanogens if enhanced Ni extraction from surrounding minerals accompanies methanogenic growth. To test the potential for such Ni extraction from minerals by methanogens, Ni release from Ni‐containing silicate glass was measured in Ni‐free growth medium in the presence of the methanogen Methanothermobacter thermoautotrophicus (average pH ∼7.0) and observed to be higher than an abiotic control (average pH ∼6.8). However, batch dissolution experiments and a siderophore assay indicate that cell exudates such as siderophores, low molecular weight organic acids, or lysates accompanying cell death are not responsible for the observed increase in Ni release rate. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows little to no evidence of direct microbe–mineral interactions such as biofilms or pitting. Instead, comparison with abiotic experiments suggests that changes in pH due to CO2 uptake may be responsible for enhanced dissolution in the presence of metabolizing cells. These results document that methanogens may not preferentially extract Ni from surrounding minerals although they may indirectly affect mineral reaction rates that are pH sensitive. Thus identifiable Ni biosignatures may not exist in the rock record to document the presence of methanogens on early Earth or Mars.
The role of habitat composition in determining breeding site occupancy in a declining Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus population
Authors: SIM INNES M. W. , BURFIELD IAN J. , GRANT MURRAY C. , PEARCE‐HIGGINS JAMES W. , BROOKE M. de L.
Published: February 2007

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus breeding site occupancy in the Moorfoot Hills, southeast Scotland, was determined during the periods 1952–85 and 1998–2000, and sites were classed as either occupied or deserted during the latter period. Site occupancy during 1998–2000 was related to habitat data derived from a supervised classification of a Landsat 7 satellite image. Breeding sites were more likely to have remained occupied if they were at higher altitudes and had more heather cover within radii of both 200 and 450 m, although these effects became non‐significant when spatial autocorrelation was accounted for. Using only topographical variables, potential breeding sites were predicted and the habitat surrounding them was compared with actual breeding sites. Actual breeding sites were more likely to have heather or grass–heather mosaic within 100 m than potential breeding sites, but there were no further habitat differences between actual and potential breeding sites within radii of 200 or 450 m. These results indicate that breeding sites at higher altitudes and with a higher cover of heather were less likely to have been deserted, and that lack of heather may prevent otherwise suitable breeding sites from becoming occupied by Ring Ouzels. More detailed field studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations.
Indian Ocean tsunamis: environmental and socio‐economic impacts in Langkawi, Malaysia
Authors: BIRD MICHAEL , COWIE SUSAN , HAWKES ANDREA , HORTON BEN , MACGREGOR COLIN , EONG ONG JIN , TAN SHAU HWAI AILEEN , TIONG SA TEH , YASIN ZULFIGAR
Published: February 2007

We report the results of a study of the physical characteristics and socio‐economic impacts of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26 December 2004 on the tourist island of Langkawi, Malaysia. In comparison with many other locations struck by the tsunami, the immediate physical and socio‐economic impacts in Langkawi were relatively minor. A detailed survey of the watermark and ground elevations was undertaken in the worst affected area between Sungei Kuala Teriang and Sungei Kuala Melaka. Here, the tsunami reached a maximum elevation of 4.29 m as it crossed the coast, with a maximum flow depth of 2.0 m and a very consistent run‐up elevation relative to mean sea level of 300 ± 10 cm. The tsunami inundated inshore areas for 300 m and penetrated inland along creeks for 500–1000 m. Structural damage to buildings was confined to within 50–150 m of the shoreline where about 10% of the houses were completely destroyed and 60–70% suffered significant structural damage. Damage was particularly severe in areas where there was no engineered coastal protection, but while coastal revetments did provide enhanced protection for houses at the waterfront, the coastline in the study area appeared to be more heavily impacted than elsewhere in Langkawi because wave energy was focused on the area by offshore breakwaters built to protect the Langkawi port and airport. Emergency response after the tsunami was rapid and efficient but would have been improved if the local police station had not been rendered inoperative by the first wave, and if a mechanism had been in place to ensure that informal advance warnings transmitted between Phuket (Thailand), Langkawi and Penang (Malaysia) by tourist operators could have been more widely disseminated.