bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipid Rafts of Primary Endothelial Cells Are Essential for Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus/Human Herpesvirus 8-Induced Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and RhoA-GTPases Critical for Microtubule Dynamics and Nuclear Delivery of Viral DNA but Dispensable for Binding and Entry
Authors: Raghu Hari , Sharma-Walia Neelam , Veettil Mohanan Valiya , Sadagopan Sathish , Caballero Adriana , Sivakumar Ramu , Varga Laszlo , Bottero Virginie , Chandran Bala
Published: May 2007

Early during de novo infection of human microvascular dermal endothelial (HMVEC-d) cells, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) (human herpesvirus 8 [HHV-8]) induces the host cell's preexisting FAK, Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), Rho-GTPases, Diaphanous-2 (Dia-2), Ezrin, protein kinase C-ζ, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and NF-κB signal pathways that are critical for virus entry, nuclear delivery of viral DNA, and initiation of viral gene expression. Since several of these signal molecules are known to be associated with lipid raft (LR) domains, we investigated the role of LR during KSHV infection of HMVEC-d cells. Pretreatment of cells with LR-disrupting agents methyl β-cyclo dextrin (MβCD) or nystatin significantly inhibited the expression of viral latent (ORF73) and lytic (ORF50) genes. LR disruption did not affect KSHV binding but increased viral DNA internalization. In contrast, association of internalized viral capsids with microtubules (MTs) and the quantity of infected nucleus-associated viral DNA were significantly reduced. Disorganized and disrupted MTs and thick rounded plasma membranes were observed in MβCD-treated cells. LR disruption did not affect KSHV-induced FAK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation; in contrast, it increased the phosphorylation of Src, significantly reduced the KSHV-induced PI3-K and RhoA-GTPase and NF-κB activation, and reduced the colocalizations of PI3-K and RhoA-GTPase with LRs. Biochemical characterization demonstrated the association of activated PI3-K with LR fractions which was inhibited by MβCD treatment. RhoA-GTPase activation was inhibited by PI3-K inhibitors, demonstrating that PI3-K is upstream to RhoA-GTPase. In addition, colocalization of Dia-2, a RhoA-GTPase activated molecule involved in MT activation, with LR was reduced. KSHV-RhoA-GTPase mediated acetylation and aggregation of MTs were also reduced. Taken together, these studies suggest that LRs of endothelial cells play critical roles in KSHV infection and gene expression, probably due to their roles in modulating KSHV-induced PI3-K, RhoA-GTPase, and Dia-2 molecules essential for postbinding and entry stages of infection such as modulation of microtubular dynamics, movement of virus in the cytoplasm, and nuclear delivery of viral DNA.
EXPLORING THE MIRACLE: STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE BASE IN THE AERONAUTICS INDUSTRY
Authors: ACHA VIRGINIA , BRUSONI STEFANO , PRENCIPE ANDREA
Published: May 2007

We consider here the governance of learning and the diffusion of technological knowledge in the civil aircraft industry. We describe a systemic process by which specialization in knowledge encourages depth whilst breadth is captured through the integration of contributions by the lead manufacturer, which acts as systems integrator. We explore the boundaries of the knowledge bases related to airframe structure and systems and aircraft instrumentation by using patents as tracers, considering the range of scientific and technological disciplines related to the industry as well as the sources of that knowledge. We conclude that knowledge base supporting the aeronautics industry is complex and multidisciplinary, and that firms acting as system integrators have to hold the broadest knowledge bases to co-ordinate design and production.
SUPPLEMENTING THE SIX FACETS MODEL OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT WITH A MODIFIED ANALYTIC HIERARCHIC PROCESS: THE EFFECTIVE EVALUATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION
Authors: HULL CLYDE EIRÍKUR , BAROODY A. JAMES , PAYNE BRIAN R.
Published: May 2007

The Six Facets Model presents a tool for managing the implementation of change in an organization. Its utility, however, is largely to be found after the decision to implement a major technological change has been made. This paper proposes a Modified Analytic Hierarchic Process (MAHP) to supplement the Six Facets Model by allowing the manager to consider whether to implement a new technology before turning to the Six Facets Model to ensure a successful implementation. The combination of these tools yields a simple, yet powerful, approach to the management of new technology.
ENTERPRISE PROCESS INNOVATION — THE INGREDIENTS ARE WELL KNOWN, BUT WHAT IS THE RECIPE?
Authors: DUENING THOMAS N.
Published: May 2007

Too many enterprise innovation efforts, including those focused on enterprise process innovation (EPI), have led to underwhelming results. The growing list of ingredients for EPI are well known, well studied, and widely practiced. What is less often the topic of scholarly research is the question of how to mix these ingredients into a customized recipe for a specific enterprise. Further research into the variables that correlate with effective EPI recipes is called for, with an emphasis on meta-tool creation to enable managers to make informed decisions about the right ingredient mixture for their specific EPI challenges.
DECISION-MAKING IN THE SERVICE SECTOR — COMPARISON OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTES
Authors: HANNA ROSINE , DAIM TUGRUL U.
Published: May 2007

This study explores differences in decision making processes of public and private organizations in the service industry when they acquire information technologies (IT). The service sector has become increasingly important for economic growth and wealth in the United States. It is the fastest growing sector among the three traditional sectors: goods, manufacturing and services. Aside from the fast growing privately organized service business, public organizations have played an important role as service providers for many years. The public sector has also undergone significant changes towards privatizations. Public service organizations have started to compete with the private sector. Thus, they are forced to improve the speed and efficiency of their decision making processes. The study accomplishes this by specifically investigating IT-purchasing decisions of three private corporations, one academic institution and the United Nations. The study makes use of expert interviews done on site or on line with mid and high-level decision makers of the five organizations.
PKCδ mediates anti-proliferative, pro-apoptic effects of testosterone on coronary smooth muscle
Authors: Bowles D. K. , Maddali K. K. , Dhulipala V. C. , Korzick D. H.
Published: May 2007

Sex hormone status has emerged as an important modulator of coronary physiology and cardiovascular disease risk in both males and females. Our previous studies have demonstrated that testosterone increases protein kinase C (PKC) δ expression and activity in coronary smooth muscle (CSMC). Because PKCδ has been implicated in regulation of proliferation and apoptosis in other cell types, we sought to determine if testosterone modulates CSMC proliferation and/or apoptosis through PKCδ. Porcine CSMC cultures (passages 2–6) from castrated males were treated with testosterone for 24 h. Testosterone (20 and 100 nM) decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation in proliferating CSMC to 59 ± 5.3 and 33.1 ± 4.5% of control. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that testosterone induced G1 arrest in CSMC with a concomitant reduction in the S phase cells. Testosterone reduced protein levels of cyclins D1 and E and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein while elevating levels of p21cip1 and p27kip1. There were no significant differences in the levels of cyclins D3, CDK2, CDK4, or CDK6. Testosterone significantly reduced kinase activity of CDK2 and -6, but not CDK4, -7, or -1. PKCδ small interfering RNA (siRNA) prevented testosterone-mediated G1 arrest, p21cip1 upregulation, and cyclin D1 and E downregulation. Furthermore, testosterone increased CSMC apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, which was blocked by either PKCδ siRNA or caspase 3 inhibition. These findings demonstrate that the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic effects of testosterone on CSMCs are substantially mediated by PKCδ.
Integration of signal pathways for stretch-dependent growth and differentiation in vascular smooth muscle
Authors: Albinsson Sebastian , Hellstrand Per
Published: May 2007

The vascular smooth muscle phenotype is regulated by environmental factors, such as mechanical forces, that exert effects on signaling to differentiation and growth. We used the mouse portal vein in organ culture to investigate stretch-dependent activation of Akt, ERK, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which have been suggested to be involved in the regulation of stretch-dependent protein synthesis. The role of actin polymerization in these signaling events was examined using the actin-stabilizing agent jasplakinolide. Stretch caused a biphasic activation of FAK at 5–15 min and 24–72 h, which may reflect first a direct phosphorylation of preexisting focal adhesions followed by a rearrangement of focal adhesions to accommodate for the increased mechanical load. Phosphorylation of ERK was increased by acute stretch but then decreased, and Akt did not have a distinct peak in stretch-induced phosphorylation. Inhibition of ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, or mammalian target of rapamycin reduced global but not contractile protein synthesis with maintained stretch sensitivity. Stabilization of actin filaments with jasplakinolide, in unstretched portal veins, resulted in increased ERK phosphorylation and global protein synthesis as well as the synthesis of contractile proteins. In contrast, stretch during culture with jasplakinolide did not affect FAK phosphorylation or contractility. Therefore, remodeling of smooth muscle cells to adapt to stretch requires a dynamic cytoskeleton.
Placental HIF-1α, HIF-2α, membrane and soluble VEGF receptor-1 proteins are not increased in normotensive pregnancies complicated by late-onset intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Rajakumar Augustine , Jeyabalan Arun , Markovic Nina , Ness Roberta , Gilmour Carol , Conrad Kirk P.
Published: May 2007

Inadequate trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling leading to poor placental perfusion are believed to underlie the pregnancy pathologies preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The main objective of this study was to investigate hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-α (HIF-α) and downstream genes (VEGF receptor-1) Flt-1 and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) proteins in IUGR placentas. Placentas from normal pregnant (NP; n = 18), PE ( n = 18), and IUGR ( n = 10) patients were investigated. Normotensive patients with IUGR delivered babies at ≥ 37 wk of gestation with birth weights of <10% and asymmetrical growth. HIF-1α, -2α, Flt-1, and sFlt-1 protein, and mRNA were assessed by Western and Northern blot analyses, respectively. The results are expressed as ratios of the densitometric values for each pair of pathologic and normal placentas, a ratio of 1.0 indicating no difference. Comparable to our earlier studies, the PE/NP ratios for HIF-1α, -2α, and Flt proteins were significantly increased by 50–100% (all P < 0.01 vs. 1.0). Unexpectedly, the IUGR/NP ratios for HIF-1α and -2α proteins were 1.03 ± 0.07 and 0.96 ± 0.16, respectively, and for Flt and sFlt were 1.14 ± 0.15 and 0.95 ± 0.12, respectively (all P = not significant vs. 1.0). Northern blot analysis revealed comparable levels of HIF-α mRNA in abnormal and normal placentas. In contrast to PE, HIF-α proteins and regulated genes are not increased in placentas from normotensive pregnant women delivering small, asymmetrically grown babies ≥ 37 wk of gestation. The absence of an increase in HIF-α protein is not due to insufficient HIF-α mRNA for protein synthesis. Thus, the placentas from women with PE and late IUGR are fundamentally different at the molecular level.
High [Na+]iin cardiomyocytes from rainbow trout
Authors: Birkedal Rikke , Shiels Holly A.
Published: May 2007

Intracellular Na+-concentration, [Na+]imodulates excitation-contraction coupling of cardiac myocytes via the Na+/Ca2+exchanger (NCX). In cardiomyocytes from rainbow trout ( Oncorhyncus mykiss), whole cell patch-clamp studies have shown that Ca2+influx via reverse-mode NCX contributes significantly to contraction when [Na+]iis 16 mM but not 10 mM. However, physiological [Na+]ihas never been measured. We recorded [Na+]iusing the fluorescent indicator sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate in freshly isolated atrial and ventricular myocytes from rainbow trout. We examined [Na+]iat rest and during increases in contraction frequency across three temperatures that span those trout experience in nature (7, 14, and 21°C). Surprisingly, we found that [Na+]iwas not different between atrial and ventricular cells. Furthermore, acute temperature changes did not affect [Na+]iin resting cells. Thus, we report a resting in vivo [Na+]iof 13.4 mM for rainbow trout cardiomyocytes. [Na+]iincreased from rest with increases in contraction frequency by 3.2, 4.7, and 6.5% at 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 Hz, respectively. This corresponds to an increase of 0.4, 0.6, and 0.9 mM at 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 Hz, respectively. Acute temperature change did not significantly affect the contraction-induced increase in [Na+]i. Our results provide the first measurement of [Na+]iin rainbow trout cardiomyocytes. This surprisingly high [Na+]iis likely to result in physiologically significant Ca2+influx via reverse-mode NCX during excitation-contraction coupling. We calculate that this Ca2+-source will decrease with the action potential duration as temperature and contraction frequency increases.
ANG II provokes acute trafficking of distal tubule Na+-Cl−cotransporter to apical membrane
Authors: Sandberg Monica B. , Riquier Anne D. M. , Pihakaski-Maunsbach Kaarina , McDonough Alicia A. , Maunsbach Arvid B.
Published: May 2007

The distal convoluted tubule (DCT) Na+-Cl−cotransporter (NCC), the target of thiazide diuretics, is responsible for the reabsorption of 5–10% of filtered NaCl. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that acute infusion of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril (at 12 μg/min) for 20 min provokes trafficking of NCC from apical plasma membranes (APM) to subapical cytoplasmic vesicles (SCV), which is reversed by acute ANG II infusion (ANG II at 20 ng·kg−1·min−1along with 12 μg/min captopril) for 20 min in male Sprague-Dawley rats (250–350 g). By immuno-electron microscopy using an anti-NCC (D. Ellison) 71.5 ± SD 4.9% of the NCC gold labeling was associated with the APM in control, sham operated, and infused rats, while captopril infusion reduced NCC in APM to 54.9 ± 6.9% ( P < 0.001) and markedly increased immunogold labeling of SCV. Subsequent infusion of ANG II with captopril restored NCC immunogold labeling of APM to 72.4 ± 4.2%, that is, 20% of the total NCC trafficked between APM and SCV. Likewise, on density gradients of cortex, captopril provoked redistribution of 27.3% of total NCC from low-density APM-enriched membranes to higher-density membranes and ANG II+captopril restored 20.3% of the NCC to APM-enriched fractions. Redistribution occurred independent of a change in NCC total abundance. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ACE inhibition provokes acute trafficking of NCC out of the plasma membrane, which likely decreases DCT Na+reabsorption, while ANG II provokes rapid trafficking of NCC from stores in subapical vesicles to the plasma membrane, which likely increases DCT Na+reabsorption.
Selective Delay Activity in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex of the Rat: Contribution of Sensorimotor Information and Contingency
Authors: Cowen Stephen L. , McNaughton Bruce L.
Published: May 2007

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a critical role in the organization of goal-directed behaviors and in the learning of reinforcement contingencies. Given these observations, it was hypothesized that mPFC neurons may store associations between sequentially paired stimuli when both stimuli contribute to the prediction of reward. To test this hypothesis, neural-ensemble spiking activity was recorded as rats performed a paired-associate discrimination task. Rats were trained to associate sequentially presented stimuli with probabilistic reward. In one condition, both elements of the stimulus sequence provided information about reward delivery. In another condition, only the first stimulus contributed to the prediction. As hypothesized, stimulus-selective, prospective delay activity was observed during sequences in which both elements contributed to the prediction of reward. Unexpectedly, selective delay responses were associated with slight variations in head position and thus not necessarily generated by intrinsic mnemonic processes. Interestingly, the sensitivity of neurons to head position was greatest during intervals when reward delivery was certain. These results suggest that a significant portion of delay activity in the rat mPFC reflects task-relevant sensorimotor activity, possibly related to enhancing stimulus detection, rather than stimulus–stimulus associations. These observations agree with recent evidence that suggests that prefrontal neurons are particularly responsive during the performance of action sequences related to the acquisition of reward. These results also indicate that considerable attention must be given to the monitoring and analysis of sensorimotor variables during delay tasks because slight changes in position can produce activity in the mPFC that erroneously appears to be driven by intrinsic mechanisms.
Effects of Inhibitory Gain and Conductance Fluctuations in a Simple Model for Contrast-Invariant Orientation Tuning in Cat V1
Authors: Palmer Stephanie E. , Miller Kenneth D.
Published: May 2007

The origin of orientation selectivity in primary visual cortex (V1) is a model problem for understanding cerebral cortical circuitry. A key constraint is that orientation tuning width is invariant under changes in stimulus contrast. We have previously shown that this can arise from the combination of feedforward lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) input and an orientation-untuned component of feedforward inhibition that dominates excitation. However, these models did not include the large background voltage noise observed in vivo. Here, we include this noise and examine a simple model of cat V1 response. Constraining our simulations to fit physiological data, our single model parameter is the strength of feedforward inhibition relative to LGN excitation. With physiological noise, the contrast invariance of orientation tuning depends little on inhibition level, although very weak or very strong inhibition leads to weak broadening or sharpening, respectively, of tuning with contrast. For any inhibition level, an alternative measure of orientation tuning—the circular variance—decreases with contrast as observed experimentally. These results arise primarily because the voltage noise causes large inputs to be much more strongly amplified than small ones in evoking spiking responses, relatively suppressing responses to nonpreferred stimuli. However, inhibition comparable to or stronger than excitation appears necessary to suppress spiking responses to nonpreferred orientations to the extent seen in vivo and to allow the emergence of a tuned mean voltage response. These two response properties provide the strongest constraints on model details. Antiphase inhibition from inhibitory simple cells, and not just untuned inhibition from inhibitory complex cells, appears necessary to fully explain these aspects of cortical orientation tuning.
Comparison of Responses of Neurons in the Mouse Inferior Colliculus to Current Injections, Tones of Different Durations, and Sinusoidal Amplitude-Modulated Tones
Authors: Tan M. L. , Borst J.G.G.
Published: May 2007

We made in vivo whole cell patch-clamp recordings from the inferior colliculus of young-adult, anesthetized C57/Bl6 mice to compare the responses to constant-current injections with the responses to tones of different duration or to sinusoidal amplitude-modulated (SAM) tones. We observed that voltage-dependent ion channels contributed in several ways to the response to tones. A sustained response to long tones was observed only in cells showing little accommodation during current injection. Cells showing burst-onset firing during current injection showed a small response to SAM tones, whereas burst-sustained cells showed a good response to SAM tones. The hyperpolarization-activated nonselective cation channel Ih had a special role in shaping the responses: Ih was associated with an increased excitability, with chopper and pauser responses, and with an afterhyperpolarization following tones. Synaptic properties were more important in determining the responses to tones of different durations. A short-latency inhibitory response appeared to contribute to the long-pass response in some cells and short-pass and band-pass neurons were characterized by their slow recovery from synaptic adaptation. Cells that recovered slowly from synaptic adaptation showed a relatively small response to SAM tones. Our results show an important role for both intrinsic membrane properties—most notably the presence of Ih and the extent of accommodation—and synaptic adaptation in shaping the response to tones in the inferior colliculus.
Functional Connectivity Between Secondary and Primary Motor Areas Underlying Hand–Foot Coordination
Authors: Byblow Winston D. , Coxon James P. , Stinear Cathy M. , Fleming Melanie K. , Williams Garry , Müller J. Florian M. , Ziemann Ulf
Published: May 2007

Coincident hand and foot movements are more reliably performed in the same direction than in opposite directions. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to assess motor cortex function, we examined the physiological basis of these movements across three novel experiments. Experiment 1 demonstrated that upper limb corticomotor excitability changed in a way that facilitated isodirectional movements of the hand and foot, during phasic and isometric muscle activation conditions. Experiment 2 demonstrated that motor cortex inhibition was modified with active, but not passive, foot movement in a manner that facilitated hand movement in the direction of foot movement. Together, these findings demonstrate that the coupling between motor representations within motor cortex is activity dependent. Because there are no known connections between hand and foot areas within primary motor cortex, experiment 3 used a dual-coil paired-pulse TMS protocol to examine functional connectivity between secondary and primary motor areas during active ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. Dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) and supplementary motor area (SMA) conditioning, but not ventral premotor cortex (PMv) conditioning, produced distinct phases of task-dependent modulation of excitability of forearm representations within primary motor cortex (M1). Networks involving PMd–M1 facilitate isodirectional movements of hand and foot, whereas networks involving SMA–M1 facilitate corticomotor pathways nonspecifically, which may help to stabilize posture during interlimb coordination. These results may have implications for targeted neurorehabilitation after stroke.
Local and Intersegmental Interactions of Coordinating Neurons and Local Circuits in the Swimmeret System
Authors: Mulloney Brian , Hall Wendy M.
Published: May 2007

During forward swimming, periodic movements of swimmerets on different segments of the crayfish abdomen progress from back to front with the same period. Information encoded as bursts of spikes by coordinating neurons in each segmental ganglion is necessary for this coherent organization. This information is conducted to targets in other ganglia. When an individual coordinating neuron is stimulated at different phases in the system's cycle of activity, the timing of motor output from other ganglia may be altered. In models of this coordinating circuit, we assumed that each coordinating neuron encodes information about the state of the local pattern-generating circuit in its home ganglion but is not part of that local circuit. We tested this assumption by stimulating individual coordinating neurons of two kinds—ASCEand DSC—at different phases under two conditions: with the target ganglion functional, and with the target ganglion silenced. Blocking a DSC neuron's target ganglion did not alter its negligible influence on the output from its home ganglion; the phase-response curves (PRC) remained flat. Blocking an ASCEneuron's target ganglion significantly affected its influence on the output from its home ganglion. We had predicted that ASCE's modest phase-dependent influence would disappear with the target silenced, but instead the amplitude of the PRCs increased significantly. Thus we have two different results: DSC neurons conformed to prediction based on the models’ assumptions, but ASCEneurons showed an unexpected property, one that is partially masked when the bidirectional flow of information between neighboring ganglia is operating normally.
Representation of Stereoscopic Depth Based on Relative Disparity in Macaque Area V4
Authors: Umeda Kazumasa , Tanabe Seiji , Fujita Ichiro
Published: May 2007

Stereoscopic vision is characterized by greater visual acuity when a background feature serves as a reference. When a reference is present, the perceived depth of an object is predominantly dependent on this reference. Neural representations of stereoscopic depth are expected to have a relative frame of reference. The conversion of absolute disparity encoded in area V1 to relative disparity begins in area V2, although the information encoded in this area appears to be insufficient for stereopsis. This study examines whether relative disparity is encoded in a higher cortical area. We recorded the responses of V4 neurons from macaque monkeys to various combinations of the absolute disparities of two features: the center patch and surrounding annulus of a dynamic random-dot stereogram. We analyzed the effects of the disparity of the surrounding annulus on the tuning for the disparity of the center patch; the tuning curves of relative-disparity–selective neurons for disparities of the center patch should shift with changes in the disparity of the surrounding annulus. Most V4 tuning curves exhibited significant shifts. The magnitudes of the shifts were larger than those reported for V2 neurons and smaller than that expected for an ideal relative-disparity–selective cell. No correlation was found between the shift magnitude and the degree of size suppression, suggesting that the two phenomena are not the result of a common mechanism. Our results suggest that the coding of relative disparity advances as information flows along the cortical pathway that includes areas V2 and V4.
Gaining a Stake in Global Internet Governance
Authors: Christou George , Simpson Seamus
Published: May 2007

The global governance of the Internet and the influence that the EU is able to exert in international governance institutions are two important topics that this article brings together in the context of the EU's relationship with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), created in 1999 to manage strategically valuable technical resources and functions of the Internet. Employing Schimmelfennig's model of rational action in international institutional contexts, the article explores how the EU acted to secure its interests within an organizationally constrained environment. While ICANN was formed through an essentially rationalist process where the EU accepted a less than first-best outcome in return for a stake in its governance, a dialectical relationship thereafter developed where the EU accepted and adapted ICANN's key norms but also asserted its material interests through rhetorical action due to its relatively weak position at ICANN's inception.
The Use of Narrative Structures in Television News
Authors: Machill Marcel , Köhler Sebastian , Waldhauser Markus
Published: May 2007

The content of TV news is often not retained or understood by the audience. This article discusses a concept for increasing retention and comprehension levels relating to TV news. Results of an experimental reception analysis with 215 participants show that retention and comprehension can be improved by employing a narrative device to present TV news. Adopting a narrative form for TV news also gives a clearer distance and perspective to the news content, which has advantages for social communication.
Are `Sensational' News Stories More Likely to Trigger Viewers' Emotions than Non-Sensational News Stories?
Authors: Uribe Rodrigo , Gunter Barrie
Published: May 2007

This article considers whether `sensational' news stories are intrinsically more likely to elicit emotional responses in audiences than other TV news stories. The research analyses a sample of British televised news in respect of empirically validated attributes, to identify the presence of particular content elements that audience research has shown to possess emotion-eliciting capabilities. The results show that news stories traditionally classified as `sensational' — a term that implies a dramatic and therefore emotion-arousing imperative — do not necessarily contain more emotionally arousing features than other types of news story. Only crime stories (among the most frequently occurring `sensational' news categories) and, to a limited extent, political stories (a classic `non-sensational' news topic) provide clear manifestations of the presence of high and low emotion-laden attributes. Moreover, those topics containing more emotion-laden material are not the same over time or across public and commercial TV channels.
Mayoral Leadership and Facilitative Governance
Authors: Vogelsang-Coombs Vera
Published: May 2007

This analysis offers a contingency model of mayoral leadership based on a long view of a city's institutional context and substantive interests. This model generates four distinct governance types or styles of mayoral administration—populism, progressivism, constitutionalism, and managerialism. The author uses empirical evidence drawn from familiar mayoral administrations to analyze shifts within and across these governance types. By integrating normative public administration into the dynamics of urban governance, this model yields robust findings concerning mayoral—regime relationships. The author concludes that the renewal of a fiscally stressed big city is in facilitative governance. Facilitative governance blends managerialism and constitutionalism, whereas its normative basis is democratic conservatorship. By activating the ethos of public administration, a mayoral conservator facilitates the regime conditions necessary for economic, political, and social inclusion.
The Census Bureau and Its Accountability
Authors: Nguyen Phung
Published: May 2007

Since the early 1980s, the decennial census has been embroiled in unrelenting controversies concerning the proposed use of statistical sampling to combat the undercount. These controversies have produced numerous analyses by statisticians, legal scholars, political scientists, and historians with different attributes and analytical frameworks. This article presents these controversies from an administrative perspective, with emphasis on accountability and accountability conflicts. As an administrative agency with its mission to produce accurate and credible statistics—free from political manipulation—the Census Bureau is accountable to its hierarchical authority in the Department of Commerce, Congress, the statistical community, and the courts. Conflicts often take place among these accountability dimensions, breeding controversies in census operations, hindering the bureau's efficiency, and threatening the credibility of census statistics. This article analyzes the causes and consequences of these conflicts and presents ideas for further exploration on the issue of accountability conflict and its impact on the quality and credibility of census statistics.
E-Government and Public Financial Reporting
Authors: Rodríguez Bolívar Manuel Pedro , Caba Pérez Carmen , López Hernández Antonio M.
Published: May 2007

Technology has changed the way public organizations relate to the public. Government's use of the Internet and other associated technologies, known as e-government, could become the instrument that makes regular timely information on public finances more forthcoming. New technologies can improve government responsiveness and empower individual citizens. By making government financial information available, the public could continuously assess a government agency through everyday interaction. The financial accountability of government and its response to public demands for information and services are thus a contribution to government openness. It is therefore relevant to determine whether public organizations are also becoming more aware of the importance of placing financial information on their Web sites to help in decision-making processes. This article focuses on the e-democracy process, specifically the transparency of government information, by analyzing governmental financial disclosures on the Web as a tool for the public to assess its financial accountability. To this end, an empirical study was carried out on regional governments in Spain.
Moving Away From a Strict Scrutiny Standard for Affirmative Action
Authors: Riccucci Norma M.
Published: May 2007

This article addresses the concept of strict scrutiny, the burden of persuasion test used by the courts to determine the constitutionality of affirmative action. Through a systematic analysis of U.S. Supreme Court decisions, it illustrates that strict scrutiny has been applied in an inconsistent, arbitrary manner and, therefore, should not serve as the basis for judicial review of affirmative action programs. It shows that the rule of law established under the Civil Rights Act provides an equally if not more compelling basis for judging the legality of affirmative action programs. Relying on the legal standards advanced by the courts under civil rights statutes provides managers with greater flexibility in developing and implementing affirmative action programs. In effect, the ability of governments to promote diversity of their workforces is greatly enhanced.
The (un)dress of the mad poor in England, c.1650—1850. Part 2
Authors: Andrews Jonathan
Published: May 2007

The second part of this paper assesses how far the dominant imager y of the (un)dress of the mad poor, found in the literar y, medical and representational sources discussed in Part 1, corresponds with actual conditions and provisions for the poor insane as revealed in institutional and documentar y sources. This is necessarily attempted through a selective sample of sources, in particular clothing procurement for the poor insane as chronicled in parochial records. More especially, the documentar y accuracy of prevailing cultural representations is assessed through a case study of the records of Bethlehem (or `Bedlam'/Bethlem) Hospital, the archetypal English madhouse.
R. D. Laing and long-stay patients: discrepant accounts of the refractory ward and `rumpus room' at Gartnavel Royal Hospital
Authors: Abrahamson David
Published: May 2007

R. D. Laing's mental hospital experience has been considered a for mative influence on his controversial views. This paper addresses a number of discrepancies in the existing accounts: important aspects of the refractor y ward and `r umpus room' were underestimated; all the `r umpus room' patients were not discharged and readmitted as repeatedly stated; his interactions with the patients were very limited and the viewpoints of most remain unknown; and the introduction of Largactil (chlor promazine) was not mentioned. The Kingsley Hall residential project, Laing's first book The Divided Self , and his influence on psychiatrists' attitudes are considered in the light of these findings. Pessimism about long-stay patients may have influenced the acceptance of inaccurate information.
The making of `American': race and nation in neurasthenic discourse
Authors: Campbell Brad
Published: May 2007

This paper considers the underexamined racial and nationalistic components of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-centur y neurasthenic discourse to propose that neurasthenia was as much a discourse of moder n American identity as it was a discourse of disease. By closely reading the medical and general texts which helped to popularize it, and by scr utinizing the context of its vogue and supposed subsequent decline, this paper shows how neurasthenia was intimately bound up with the era's politics of race, nationalism and citizenship. Countering traditional understandings of the disease, this study suggests that neurasthenia did not simply anticipate but was pre-eminently preoccupied with the questions and crises of modernity; that it was not, after all, a quintessentially Victorian but a fundamentally moder nist discourse, and a paradigmatic example of how the construction of a neurotic American subject was necessarily and inevitably a constr uction of a moder n American subject.
`The clinico-diagnostic perspective in psychopathology'
Authors: Kahlbaum K. , Berrios G.E.
Published: May 2007

Karl Kahlbaum (1828—99) introduced the concept of time into European psychiatric nosology. In 1863 he first expressed the view that disease definition should take into account the course of the disease, the extension to which psychological functions were compromised, the relevance of the period of life when the mental disorder first appeared, and its primary or secondary nature. Via E. Kraepelin these ideas have moulded the way in which mental disorder has been conceived ever since. And yet Kahlbaum never made it into academic psychiatry. For reasons which remain obscure, he did not obtain a university teaching position and had to spend the rest of his life in private psychiatry. Whether the novelty of his ideas irked contemporary psychiatric officialdom needs further study.
Metaphors in the discursive construction of patriotism: the case of Hong Kong's constitutional reform debate
Authors: Flowerdew John , Leong Solomon
Published: May 2007

This article considers the role of metaphors in the discursive construction of the notion of patriotism in postcolonial Hong Kong. The article examines reports and opinion pieces from two local newspapers published between 1 October 2003 and 1 October 2004 concerning this issue of patriotism. The following questions are posed: (i) What are the different metaphors used in the discursive construction of patriotism? (ii) How do these metaphors vary according to the contrasting ideologies of the two newspapers? (iii) What role does the use of these metaphors have in the hegemonic struggle between the two newspapers over what is an appropriate conception of patriotism? The findings and possible answers to these questions will not only assist in gaining a better understanding of the role of language in constructing the identity of a patriotic Chinese, but will also contribute to an understanding of the politics and tensions between the local and the national under the unprecedented `one country two systems' arrangement of postcolonial Hong Kong.
The Contribution of Track II towards India-Pakistan Relations
Authors: Cheema Pervaiz Iqbal
Published: May 2007

In South Asia, the political and the economic remained juxtaposed because of the existing disputes, particularly Kashmir. There have been many confidence-building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan, but tensions continue because of Kashmir. In October 2004 President Musharraf suggested a formula to start a debate on the options, to look at Kashmir as seven regions and identify them, but the Indian response was negative. There were positive developments like the start of a Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and the possibility of a gas pipeline from Iran to India across Pakistan. There were other steps like the updating of the visa agreement; the visit of the APHC leadership to the other side of the LoC, which highlighted the need to involve the Kashmiris in any future settlement. The October 2005 earthquake also led to a further opening of the LoC. Track II meetings have led to increased understanding, the airing of feasible alternatives and suggestions for CBMs; back channel diplomacy has been very useful in the India-Pakistan context.
Leading the World
Authors: Hussain Akmal
Published: May 2007

South Asia has the possibility of leading the world in addressing the global challenges of poverty, peace and environmental degradation, and in the development of human civilisation in the twenty-first century. In order to do this, the rich cultural traditions of the societies of the region have to be brought to bear on these challenges. This includes, inter alia, the re-placement of competition by cooperation, a new relationship between human beings, nature and economic growth, the valuation of the human rather than the material, the satisfaction of need not greed. Specifically, the citizens of each country should be allowed to travel freely to every other country; a South Asia Health Foundation (SAHF) and one for education should be instituted; private sector joint venture infrastructure projects should be facilitated; and growth must be restructured for rapid poverty reduction. In short, if South Asia is to play a leadership role in the world that is taking shape now, specific initiatives must be undertaken and governments must move out of the mindset of the past.
The Bilateral Track
Authors: Kelegama Saman
Published: May 2007

The India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA) shows how bilateral cooperation can lead the way for regional cooperation. In operation, it has led to the rapid growth and diversification of Sri Lanka's exports to and imports from India. India's investment in Sri Lanka has also increased; India is now the second largest investor in Sri Lanka; and service sector cooperation has followed the growth of trade and investment. There were problems along the way but they were resolved. Moreover, this economic cooperation has overshadowed whatever political problems there were in the past. Now a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is expected to come into operation by the end of December 2006. The ISLFTA dispels the myth that economic cooperation between a large and small country benefits only the large country. Dormant complementarities can be invigorated through a bilateral free trade agreement, and new comparative advantages can be discovered, further stimulating trade.
Building of All-Round Development in the Region
Authors: Tin U Nyunt
Published: May 2007

The world today is characterised by unprecedented interdependence. Prosperity and poverty co-exist, while peace, justice and security are absent. Globalisation has accelerated economic and other kinds of integration, while multilateralism is a positive factor, especially for the smaller and medium states. Regional cooperation is needed both for maximising security and stability and for economic and social development. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a good example which has expanded its cooperation with neighbouring regions and countries. Myanmar's foreign policy is based on the principles of enhancing the nation's security, bolstering economic prosperity and promoting a more peaceful and equitable world order. It concentrates on integrating with countries in the region and promoting closer links with all its neighbours. At the international level it cooperates in the eradication of narcotics.
Regional Groupings
Authors: Kaul Man Mohini
Published: May 2007

In the last decade, India has shown a keen interest in the formation of sub-regional groupings such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Mekong Ganga Project (MGC). There are five reasons for this: the need to find a working alternative to a non-functional South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the importance of this contiguous region with regard to geopolitics and security, rivalry with China, the growing economic links between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the strategic advantages of enhanced relations with Myanmar. There are barriers to regional integration within the region mentioned, such as weak political institutions and human rights violations, but ASEAN offers a good model. India needs to adopt a multi-dimensional consultative approach in this matter.
Continuing commentary: Revitalizing Shame: Some Reflections on `Changing Idioms of Shame: Expressions of Disgrace and Dishonour in the Narratives of Turkish Women Living in Denmark'
Authors: Rasmussen Susan J.
Published: May 2007

Throughout many studies, shame is approached not solely as a personal or individual sentiment or emotion, but also as a collective social and cultural preoccupation. Many studies also have asserted that shame is best understood in terms of its assumed opposite, honor, for example, as represented in so-called `honor/shame' complexes of certain regions such as the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Critical responses to these studies have included efforts to represent more balanced, multiple voices and perspectives concerning shame and related sentiments: for example, emphasis of women's viewpoints and more transcultural contexts. Mirdal's article contributes to these efforts. This commentary discusses some challenges of placing shame in wider contexts of broader concerns in cultural theory, moving toward more nuanced, processual and dynamic portrayals of cultural and social practices. Shame needs to be analyzed in terms of both intimate and subjective sentiments, on the one hand, and politics and domination, on the other. More nuanced analysis yields insights into modernity, thereby detaching analysis of shame from some previous tendencies to associate this sentiment solely with tradition and the past. This commentary also argues, however, that there remain semantic and pragmatic problems of intentionality and agency. Fundamental to understanding shame, therefore, is detailed analysis of its nuanced meanings, as well as its effects in different social encounters.
A Discovery of Meaning: The Case of C. G. Jung's House Dream
Authors: Jones Raya A.
Published: May 2007

Jung's work is a serious attempt to engage psychology with `meaning', comparable with narrative psychology, though the two emerged in different cultural and historical settings. Whereas narrative psychologists typically study autobiographical stories, Jung studied images such as those appearing in dreams and myths. This study turns the question on Jung, examining a dream that he had regarded as the birth moment of his `collective unconscious' theory. The dream's contents vary when retold after many years in ways that mirror the interim development of his theory. Representations of the dream as a biographical event in others' writings reflect contrasting attitudes towards him. His use of the dream's image as heuristic in the dissemination of his theory is counterweighted by the dream's effect on him as a poetic image. The psychological function of the image for Jung is considered.
Commentary: Constructing Creative Appropriations
Authors: Morioka Masayoshi
Published: May 2007

I explore the possibility of the notion of space appropriations from the viewpoint of joint meaning-making processes. Especially worthy of note are unknown hidden appropriations, that is, those that are transitory and constructed by actions and practices. How does the action of boundary-making have a potentiality for new connections? Three viewpoints are presented in relation to this theme: the relationships between abduction and change processes; second, the generation of differences by means of the appropriations; and, third, the Japanese concept ` ma', which is a chronotopic boundary zone in which different systems can co-exist. The appropriations have the possibility to construct dialogue and to create a link between family members and different living systems, and to mediate between different generations.