bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isoform- and tissue-specific regulation of the Ca2+-sensitive transcription factor NFAT in cardiac myocytes and heart failure
Authors: Rinne Andreas , Kapur Nidhi , Molkentin Jeffery D. , Pogwizd Steven M. , Bers Donald M. , Banach Kathrin , Blatter Lothar A.
Published: March 2010

Nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFATs) are Ca2+-sensitive transcription factors that have been implicated in hypertrophy, heart failure (HF), and arrhythmias. Cytosolic NFAT is activated by dephosphorylation by the Ca2+-sensitive phosphatase calcineurin, resulting in translocation to the nucleus, which is opposed by kinase activity, rephosphorylation, and nuclear export. Four different NFAT isoforms are expressed in the heart. The activation and regulation of NFAT in adult cardiac myocytes, which may depend on the NFAT isoform and cell type, are not fully understood. This study compared basal localization, import, and export of NFATc1 and NFATc3 in adult atrial and ventricular myocytes to identify isoform- and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms of NFAT activation under physiological conditions and in HF. NFAT-green fluorescent protein fusion proteins and NFAT immunocytochemistry were used to analyze NFAT regulation in adult cat and rabbit myocytes. NFATc1 displayed basal nuclear localization in atrial and ventricular myocytes, an effect that was attenuated by reducing intracellular Ca2+ concentration and inhibiting calcineurin, and enhanced by the inhibition of nuclear export. In contrast, NFATc3 was localized to the cytoplasm but could be driven to the nucleus by angiotensin II and endothelin-1 stimulation in atrial, but not ventricular, cells. Inhibition of nuclear export (by leptomycin B) facilitated nuclear localization in both cell types. Ventricular myocytes from HF rabbits showed increased basal nuclear localization of endogenous NFATc3 and reduced responsiveness of NFAT translocation to phenylephrine stimulation. In control myocytes, Ca2+ overload, leading to spontaneous Ca2+ waves, induced substantial translocation of NFATc3 to the nucleus. We conclude that the activation of NFAT in adult cardiomyocytes is isoform and tissue specific and is tightly controlled by nuclear export. NFAT is activated in myocytes from HF animals and may be secondary to Ca2+ overload.
Role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the regulation of the cardiac L-type Ca2+current during endothelin-1 stimulation
Authors: Komukai Kimiaki , O-Uchi Jin , Morimoto Satoshi , Kawai Makoto , Hongo Kenichi , Yoshimura Michihiro , Kurihara Satoshi
Published: March 2010

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) shows a positive inotropic effect on cardiac muscle. Although the L-type Ca2+current ( ICa) is one of the important determinants of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling, the effect of ET-1 on the ICais not always clear. The controversial results appear to be due to different patch-clamp methods. The present study measured the effect of ET-1 on the ICaof rat ventricular myocytes using the perforated patch-clamp technique. The holding potential was set to −40 mV, and depolarization was applied every 10 s. ET-1 (10 nM) increased the ICain a monophasic manner. The current reached a steady state 15 min after the application of ET-1, when the measurement was done. Endothelin receptor subtype expression was also investigated using Western immunoblotting. ETA-receptor protein was expressed, but ETB-receptor protein was not expressed, in the cell membranes of rat ventricular myocytes. The effect of ET-1 on the ICawas inhibited by a selective ETA-receptor antagonist, BQ-123, but not by a selective ETB-receptor antagonist, BQ-788. The effect was inhibited by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-93, but not by its inactive analog KN-92. The effect of ET-1 was also blocked by another CaMKII inhibitor, autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide. These results suggest that ET-1 increases the ICavia the ETA-receptor-PKC-CaMKII pathway.
Physical activity maintains aortic endothelium-dependent relaxation in the obese type 2 diabetic OLETF rat
Authors: Bunker Aaron K. , Arce-Esquivel Arturo A. , Rector R. Scott , Booth Frank W. , Ibdah Jamal A. , Laughlin M. Harold
Published: March 2010

We tested the hypothesis that physical activity can attenuate the temporal decline of ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation during type 2 diabetes mellitus progression in the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rat. Sedentary OLETF rats exhibited decreased ACh-induced abdominal aortic endothelium-dependent relaxation from 13 to 20 wk of age (20–35%) and from 13 to 40 wk of age (35–50%). ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was maintained in the physically active OLETF group and control sedentary Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) group from 13 to 40 wk of age. Aortic pretreatment with NG-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA), indomethacin (Indo), and l-NNA + Indo did not alter the temporal decline in ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. Temporal changes in the protein expression of SOD isoforms in the aortic endothelium or smooth muscle did not contribute to the temporal decline in ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in sedentary OLETF rats. A significant increase in the 40-wk-old sedentary LETO and physically active OLETF rat aortic phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide (p-eNOS)-to-eNOS ratio was observed versus 13- and 20-wk-old rats in each group that was not seen in the 40- versus 13- and 20-wk-old sedentary OLETF rats. These results suggest that temporal changes in the antioxidant system, EDHF, and cycloxygenase metabolite production in sedentary OLETF rat aortas do not contribute to the temporal decline in sedentary OLETF rat aortic ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation seen with type 2 diabetes mellitus progression. We also report that physical activity in conjunction with aging in the OLETF rat results in a temporal increase in the aortic endothelial p-eNOS-to-eNOS ratio that was not seen in sedentary OLETF rats. These results suggest that the sustained aortic ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in aged physically active OLETF rats may be the result of an increase in active aortic eNOS.
From Cold War to Hotspots – The Changing Needs for Dissemination of International Humanitarian Law in Sweden
Authors: Lindvall Kristina , Hellman Cecilia
Published: March 2010

This article explores the past and current role of dissemination in Sweden of international humanitarian law (IHL) – focusing on the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. Key questions are who the relevant actors in need of knowledge in IHL today are, and why dissemination still is important for Sweden, despite the end of the Cold War threat. The authors of this article argue that Sweden today lacks a thoroughlythought-out and modern approach to questions relating to dissemination, and that negligence in properly addressing and understanding the role of dissemination could lead to a weakening of Sweden's position as an adamant adherent and advocate of IHL. Today's complex world, with its diversified threats to national and international peace and security, calls for a revised and articulated position on dissemination of IHL.
Humanitarian and Military Action in Armed Conflict – Side by Side, not Hand in Hand
Authors: Jæger Tørris
Published: March 2010

Humanitarian action in armed conflict faces a challenge as the distinction between humanitarian, other civilian and military action becomes increasingly blurred. It may imply that the security of humanitarian professionals is put at risk or that humanitarian actors do not reach all those in need. From a Red Cross perspective, it is both necessary and possible to single out humanitarian action based on neutrality, impartiality and independence with a view to gaining and maintaining access to all those with a need and right to humanitarian assistance and protection during armed conflict. Access to populations in need is based on trust by parties to a conflict that this access is intended and used exclusively for humanitarian purposes. This imposes restrictions on humanitarianactors not to engage in non-humanitarian activities and non-humanitarian actors not to engage in humanitarian activities. Only where there is no civil alternative and needs are real and critical can assistance be provided by e.g., military actors, if this assistance is provided without discrimination on a needs first and only basis. isrequires that assistance is not used to achieve non-humanitarian purposes, i.e., to win consent, gather intelligence, and so on. Red Cross experience shows that the provision of humanitarian assistance and protection requires expertise, capacity and competence specific to humanitarian organisations. This cannot be assumed by other actors with a different mandate or purpose without compromising the basic principles of humanitarian action: neutrality, impartiality and independence.
Dangerous Liaison? The Disappearing Dichotomy between Jus ad Bellum and in Bello
Authors: Österdahl Inger
Published: March 2010

This article investigates the inter-play between jus ad bellum and jus in bello in order to see what effects as to substance and structure that the inter-play may have on each field. The contact between the twofields of law will probably lead to modifications in each. Contrary to what is often presumed, in the relative competition between jus ad bellum and jus in bello, it may be very well be that jus in bello will emerge as the strongest body of norms. This, moreover, would seem the most likely development given the current focus on the suffering of civilians during armed conflict and the rise of human rights and humanitarian concernsgenerally in international law. Jus in bello may come to condition jus ad bellum and not the otherway round. This may make the disappearing dichotomy between jus ad bellum and in bello seem less threatening. A strengthened jus in bello and related concerns may even come to push jus ad bellum into irrelevance or obsolescence.
The EU Guidelines on Promoting Compliance with International Humanitarian Law
Authors: Wrange Pål
Published: March 2010

In 2005, the European Union (EU) adopted Guidelines on Promoting Compliance with International Humanitarian Law(IHL). The Guidelines are designed to be implemented by any officer in the foreign services of the EU, including its member states. After outlining the main features of IHL, the Guidelines have provisions on the decision-making process and on possible action to take. The Guidelines, which have been quite widely implemented according toa survey, should be an important tool in keeping IHL issues on the EU's agenda.
It is all in the Process: Reflections on the Relation between International Criminal Trials and International Humanitarian Law
Authors: Harhoff Frederik
Published: March 2010

While much attention has been drawn all along to the substantial contribution by the jurisprudence of the international criminal tribunals to the development of international humanitarian law, the criminal legal procedural aspect of the tribunals' jurisprudence has been less prominent. The present article seeks to highlight the material importance of this much neglected aspect of the tribunal's jurisprudence. It illustrates the delicate interplay between the common law system and the civil law system and demonstrates how the latter is better suited to control very complex trials. It also explains why international criminal trials are inherently lengthier than criminal trials in domestic courts. Ultimately, the author argues, it is not sufficient to just agree on the crimes and how to define them; the real challenge lies in how you apply the evidence to these definitions.
Levels of sCD40 Ligand in Chronic and Acute Coronary Syndromes and its Relation to Angiographic Extent of Coronary Arterial Narrowing
Authors: Fouad Hanan H. , Al-Dera Husain , Bakhoum Sameh W. , Rashed Laila A. , Sayed Rehab H. , Rateb Moshira A. , Haidara Mohamed A. , Soskic Sanja , Isenovic Esma R.
Published: March 2010

We determined the serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients with unstable angina (UA) and myocardial infarction (MI) showed significantly higher levels (P < .001) of sCD40L compared with patients with stable angina (SA) and controls; particularly, high levels occurred in patients with UA (UA: 9.23 ± 2.92, MI: 7.38 ± 1.05, SA: 4.42 ± 1.08; control: 4.01 ± 0.87 ng/mL). There was no significant difference in sCD40L levels between patients with UA and MI or between patients with SA and controls. Levels of sCD40L did not show any significant correlation with peak creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB isoenzyme activity in patients with MI, troponin T serum levels in patients with UA or with culprit vessel (CV) complexity score (CVCS), type of CV lesion, or vessel score in patients with UA or MI. These results suggest that CD40L plays a pathogenic role in triggering ACS.
Involvement of ERK1/2 Kinase in Insulin-and Thrombin-Stimulated Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation
Authors: Isenović Esma R. , Kedees Mamdouh H. , Haidara Mohamed A. , Trpkovic Andreja , Mikhailidis Dimitri P. , Marche Pierre
Published: March 2010

It is well recognized that the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a key event in the pathogenesis of various vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. We have previously shown that among extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs), the 42- and 44-kDa isoforms (ERK1/2) participate in the cellular mitogenic machinery triggered by several VSMCs activators, including insulin (INS) and thrombin (Thr). However, understanding of the intracellular signal transduction pathways involved is incomplete. This review considers the recent findings in INS and Thr signaling mechanisms that modulate the proliferation of VSMCs with particular emphasis on the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, an important mediator of VSMCs hypertrophy and vascular disease. Moreover, because the ERK1/2 pathway have been acknowledged as an important mediator of VSMCs hypertrophy, ERK1/2 is identified as a key target for novel therapeutic interventions to minimize irreversible tissue damage associated with hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Association Between Carotid Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Syndrome: Results From the ISMIR Study
Authors: Antonini-Canterin Francesco , La Carrubba Salvatore , Gullace Giuseppe , Zito Concetta , Di Bello Vitantonio , Di Salvo Giovanni , Benedetto Frank , Novo Salvatore , Pezzano Antonio , Perticone Francesco , Balbarini Alberto , Carerj Scipione
Published: March 2010

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) has previously been associated with an early marker of atherosclerosis, the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). From the ISMIR (Ispessimento Medio Intimale e Rischio cardiovascolare [media-intima thickness and cardiovascular risk]) study population of 479 asymptomatic participants, we identified 80 participants with MetS. Carotid IMT and plaques were evaluated by ultrasonography. Blood samples were obtained from all participants. Participants with MetS had a significantly higher prevalence of a carotid IMT > 0.80 mm (P = .004) and of carotid plaques (P < .001) as compared with participants without MetS. Carotid IMT was significantly correlated with fasting triglycerides and fibrinogen levels both in participants with MetS and in those without MetS (all P < .01). In contrast, IMT correlated with fasting plasma glucose, serum creatinine, and uric acid levels only in participants without MetS. Our study confirms the association between MetS and carotid atherosclerosis. In MetS, a significant correlation between carotid IMT and triglycerides and fibrinogen levels was found.
Impact of Fibrinogen Levels on Angiographic Progression and 12-Year Survival in the Armed Forces Regression Study
Authors: Devendra Ganesh P. , Hart Stephen A. , Whitney Edwin J. , Krasuski Richard A.
Published: March 2010

We assessed the role of fibrinogen levels on angiographic progression and long-term survival among 111 patients with coronary disease enrolled in the Armed Forces Regression Study (AFREGS). Baseline fibrinogen levels and quantitative coronary angiography were performed initially and at 30 months. Progression or nonregression of coronary disease was more prevalent in patients with high fibrinogen than patients with normal fibrinogen (66.1% vs 45.5%; P = .022). Twelve-year cardiovascular (CV) mortality was substantially higher if fibrinogen was elevated (17.9% vs 3.6%, P = .016). Among patients with elevated fibrinogen and angiographic progression or nonregression, there were 10 deaths and all were CV. Elevated levels of fibrinogen predict the angiographic progression of existing coronary disease and likelihood of CV death. Among patients with elevated levels of fibrinogen, angiographic progression identifies a significantly increased likelihood of a fatal CV event.
Beyond ourselves: Passion and the dark side of identification in an ethical organization
Authors: Kenny Kate M
Published: March 2010

How are organizational discourses enacted by people at work? In this article, instead of treating subjects as somewhat distinct from such discourses, I argue that the two are inescapably intertwined. The concept of ‘ek-stasis’ helps us to understand this. Ekstasis invokes an idea of the ‘self ’ that, through processes of identification, is always located outside of itself, embedded in a wider sociality. I explore this dynamic through an in-depth study of the powerful discourse of ‘ethical living’, and its enactment in one contemporary development sector organization, EWH. This ek-static enactment was somewhat ambivalent: involving mutual recognition between colleagues, but also processes of exclusion and policing. I highlight how attention to feeling and passion was important in understanding the relation between workplace discourse and identification processes, in this setting. This study shows that a view of workplace selves as ek-static is useful for understanding the enactment of discourse at work, and that this enactment can be both passionate and ambivalent.
Negative reciprocity and the association between perceived organizational ethical values and organizational deviance
Authors: Biron Michal
Published: March 2010

Perceived organizational ethical values refer to employees’ beliefs concerning what practices are acceptable or appropriate in their organization (Trevino, 1990). Previous work suggests that these perceptions can be a significant factor in employee behavior, with normative influence often assumed to be the underlying mechanism (Peterson, 2002). The current article incorporates another theoretical lens, namely social exchange theory (Blau, 1964), and, in particular, negative reciprocity, to suggest that mistreatment at work — in the form of abusive supervision and lack of organizational support — may undermine the normative influence of perceived ethical values. The results indicate a negative association between perceived organizational ethical values and organizational deviance. This generally negative association was countered by abusive supervision and strengthened by organizational support, with both moderators suggesting an overt effect of negative reciprocity on employee behavior, especially when the trustee’s (i.e. the supervisor’s or employer’s) actions seem to be misaligned with perceived organizational ethical values.
Pain, pressure and political cover: Explaining mediation incidence
Authors: Beardsley Kyle C
Published: March 2010

This article explores the effect of domestic and international politics on the choice of mediation as a conflict management strategy in international crises. Existing work has yet to fully explore how domestic and international audiences shape the combatants’ preferences for mediation. With regard to domestic pressures, combatants often desire mediation as political cover for unpalatable concessions. That is, intermediaries might obscure responsibility for disappointing outcomes or signal the prudence of compromise. In terms of international audiences, affected third parties eager to shape the resolution outcome might lobby to serve as a mediator. Since both domestic and international audiences are affected by the crisis severity, the article also explores how the pain of fighting conditions the effect of international and domestic political pressures. Empirical analysis of international crises since World War I confirms that potential domestic audience costs for seeking peace and the propensity for concessions positively affect the probability of mediation. Less clear is the role of third-party incentives; the results indicate that a higher potential for neighboring-state intervention actually decreases the likelihood of mediation. Consistent with previous studies, conflict costs increase mediation incidence, and the findings also indicate that at high costs of conflict, states appear in less need of political cover for making concessions.
The perils of policy by p-value: Predicting civil conflicts
Authors: Ward Michael D , Greenhill Brian D , Bakke Kristin M
Published: March 2010

Large-n studies of conflict have produced a large number of statistically significant results but little accurate guidance in terms of anticipating the onset of conflict. The authors argue that too much attention has been paid to finding statistically significant relationships, while too little attention has been paid to finding variables that improve our ability to predict civil wars. The result can be a distorted view of what matters most to the onset of conflict. Although these models may not be intended to be predictive models, prescriptions based on these models are generally based on statistical significance, and the predictive attributes of the underlying models are generally ignored. These predictions should not be ignored, but rather need to be heuristically evaluated because they may shed light on the veracity of the models. In this study, the authors conduct a side-by-side comparison of the statistical significance and predictive power of the different variables used in two of the most influential models of civil war. The results provide a clear demonstration of how potentially misleading the traditional focus on statistical significance can be. Until out-of-sample heuristics — especially including predictions — are part of the normal evaluative tools in conflict research, we are unlikely to make sufficient theoretical progress beyond broad statements that point to GDP per capita and population as the major causal factors accounting for civil war onset.
Planning Responds to Gender Violence: Evidence from Spain, Mexico and the United States
Authors: Sweet Elizabeth L. , Ortiz Escalante Sara
Published: March 2010

Urban planning has been largely ineffective in addressing urban violence and particularly slow in responding to gender violence. This paper explores the public and private divide, structural inequalities, and issues of ethnicity and citizenship, in terms of their planning implications for gender violence. Drawing on evidence from Spain, Mexico and the United States, it examines how economic and social planning and gender violence intertwine. The three case studies demonstrate that the challenge is not only to break constructed structural inequalities and divisions between public and private spheres, but also to promote changes in the working models of institutions and organisations.
Job Accessibility, Residential Segregation and Risk of Long-term Unemployment in the Paris Region
Authors: Korsu Emre , Wenglenski Sandrine
Published: March 2010

The research presented in this paper explores, in the French context, the hypothesis that employment problems experienced by low-skilled jobseekers are partially caused by spatial urban factors. Many low-skilled workers live in poor neighbourhoods where they are exposed to a distressed social environment and/or weak job accessibility. For reasons discussed in this article, living in such neighbourhoods may increase the duration of unemployment for jobseekers. On the basis of an empirical study, this hypothesis is tested in the Paris—Île-de-France metropolitan area and addresses the question: all other things being equal, are low-skilled workers living in high-poverty neighbourhoods and/or neighbourhoods with low job accessibility exposed to a greater risk of long-term unemployment?
Comparing the Capitalisation Benefits of Light-rail Transit and Overlay Zoning for Single-family Houses and Condos by Neighbourhood Type in Metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona
Authors: Atkinson-Palombo Carol
Published: March 2010

Light rail transit (LRT) is increasingly accompanied by overlay zoning which specifies the density and type of future development to encourage landscapes conducive to transit use. Neighbourhood type (based on land use mix) is used to partition data and investigate how pre-existing land use, treatment with a park-and-ride (PAR) versus walk-and-ride (WAR) station and overlay zoning interrelate. Hedonic models estimate capitalisation effects of LRT-related accessibility and overlay zoning on single-family houses and condos in different neighbourhoods for the system in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. Impacts differ by housing and neighbourhood type. Amenity-dominated mixed-use neighbourhoods—predominantly WAR communities—experience premiums of 6 per cent for single-family houses and over 20 per cent for condos, the latter boosted an additional 37 per cent by overlay zoning. Residential neighbourhoods—predominantly PAR communities—experience no capitalisation benefits for single-family houses and a discount for condos. The results suggest that land use mix is an important variable to select comparable neighbourhoods.
Class Transformation and Work-Life Balance in Urban Britain: The Case of Manchester
Authors: Ward Kevin , Fagan Colette , McDowell Linda , Perrons Diane , Ray Kathryn
Published: March 2010

Recent years have seen an expansion in the work on the attitudes, beliefs and preferences of those middle-class groups that have accompanied the return of capital to many North American and western European city centres and their surrounding urban suburbs. Yet despite this, it is argued that there is little research linking gentrification to wider processes of social transformation, particularly debates over housing market decision-making, the balancing of work and life, and the gender division of labour within the household. It is to examining the interaction of these aspects of everyday life in a gentrifying area that this paper turns, using the example of Chorlton, a southern urban suburb of Manchester.
Political Institutionalisation and Economic Specialisation in Polycentric Metropolitan Regions: The Case of the East German ‘Saxony Triangle’
Authors: Franz Peter , Hornych Christoph
Published: March 2010

The rising focus of politicians as well as scientists in the EU on the large urban agglomerations as centres of economic growth is accompanied by political efforts to identify and to demarcate such agglomerations under the label ‘metropolitan regions’. This study develops a theoretical framework broaching the issue of cooperation between municipalities from the perspective of regional economics as well as political science. The framework is applied to the empirical case of the polycentric metropolitan region of the ‘Saxony triangle’ in east Germany. The results show that various intervening factors prevent intense co-operation between the actors in the region. Policy implications and conclusions for future research are discussed.
Depressed Mood and Body Weight
Authors: Kowaleski-Jones Lori , Christie-Mizell C. André
Published: March 2010

Using data from the 1994-1998 waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth merged Mother and Young Adult file, this article examines the relationship between depressive symptoms and body mass index (BMI) in adolescence. The authors also examine whether this relationship varies by race and gender. Their findings indicate that over a 4-year period symptoms of depression are only related to increases in BMI for African American females. Stepfamily arrangements and poor neighborhood quality were more related to higher body mass index among White females. With the exception of household income predicting higher weight for African American males, their models were not very predictive for either African American or White males. They interpret their results within a family stress framework.
Destination Competitiveness: An Analysis of Determinant Attributes
Authors: Crouch Geoffrey I.
Published: March 2010

The aim of this study was to develop an insight into the importance and impact of attributes which affect the competitiveness of tourism destinations. Using a general conceptual model of destination competitiveness, 36 competitiveness attributes were evaluated by “expert” judgment in the form of an online survey of destination managers and tourism researchers. These judgments were integrated and analyzed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In addition to estimating the importance of the attributes of competitiveness, the results of the AHP were further analyzed to produce measures of attribute determinance. These measures were then tested statistically to identify which attributes were judged to exert the greatest determinant impact on destination competitiveness. Ten of the 36 attributes were found to have determinance measures statistically significantly greater than average.
Visual Rhetoric and Ethics in Marketing of Destinations
Authors: Campelo Adriana , Aitken Robert , Gnoth Juergen
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this article is to discuss the visual rhetoric of advertising in the marketing of destinations and place branding. In particular, it considers the ways in which advertisements create and reinforce meanings. Attention is also given to the ethics of representing people and places. The article provides an interdisciplinary conceptual review and uses a mixed methods approach to analyze the 100% Pure New Zealand advertising campaign. The contribution of this article is to enhance the discussion about ethics in representing places, communities, people, and their culture in destination marketing and in place brand communications.
Room Rates of U.S. Airport Hotels: Examining the Dual Effects of Proximities
Authors: Seul Ki Lee  , Jang SooCheong (Shawn)
Published: March 2010

Location-based premiums for hotels have been observed in various segments, such as downtown and resort hotels. However, the location effect of airport hotels has not yet been studied, despite the longstanding history and significance of this market, which is arguably the most location-sensitive segment. It has also been found that former models for hotel location based on firms’ bid-rent functions were not directly applicable to airport hotels, even when the monocentricity assumption holds. Thus, the current study applied the household bid-rent function to provide a theoretical justification for premiums on airport proximity and estimated their effects on room rates using the hedonic pricing method. Results indicated that location premiums for airport hotels are simultaneously affected by their proximity to the central business district as well as the airport. Implications for the hotel industry and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Are Tourists or Markets Destination Loyal?
Authors: McKercher Bob , Denizci Guillet Basak
Published: March 2010

This study asks whether individual tourists are destination loyal or whether markets can be considered as loyal? While loyalty research has focused on the individual, a strong body of evidence suggests that individual tourists revisit international destinations rarely.Yet overall arrivals from mature markets are largely stable, suggesting some form of loyalty.The proposition of whether individuals or markets are loyal was tested by examining year-on-year visitation and repeat-visitation intentions of Hong Kong residents to 11 popular destinations. The study identified low individual repeat visitation intention, but overall market stability. Moreover, the profiles of actual and intended visitors were virtually identical. By contrast, the profiles of visitors to different destinations were substantially different. The study concludes, therefore, that markets are broadly loyal. The findings have significant implications for destination marketing organizations and also raise questions about tourism loyalty research.
Destination Image as Quantified Media Messages: The Effect of News on Tourism Demand
Authors: Stepchenkova Svetlana , Eales James S.
Published: March 2010

This study proposes to quantify media messages about a tourist destination in the form of time series and then use these series as variables representing a qualitative factor of destination image in models of tourism demand. Quantified media messages, or Dynamic Destination Image Index series, are obtained applying content analysis methodology to media materials that reflect news volume, topics raised about the destination, and favorability of coverage. The methodology of quantifying media messages is demonstrated using articles about Russia published in three influential U.K. newspapers—the Times, the Guardian, and the Independent. To test whether media messages account for variance not captured by traditional econometric variables, the series were used in models of total and leisure U.K. arrivals to Russia for the period of 1993-2007. Four DDII-Russia news series were found to be significant factors in consumer destination choice.
Souvenirs: What and Why We Buy
Authors: Wilkins Hugh
Published: March 2010

The souvenir is an important component of the tourist experience, with most tourists bringing back mementos and souvenirs as evidence. People like to be reminded of special moments in their lives and to hold evidence of those special moments. However, despite the considerable previous research into souvenirs and purchase behavior, little research exists that investigates the motivations for souvenir purchase. In addition, there has been little investigation of the impact of gender on the souvenirs purchased and the motivations for purchase. This research addresses these gaps in the literature and evaluates the souvenir purchase behavior of tourists. The research identifies the core importance of the souvenir as evidence of the experience as well as the roles of memory and as gifts.
Using the Property Tax to Appropriate Gains from Tourism
Authors: Kato Andrew , Kwak Sally , Mak James
Published: March 2010

This article describes and evaluates the merits of Kauai County’s use of the property tax to capture rents from tourism and provide property tax relief to local homeowners. Because tourist accommodations are more capital intensive than other real estate, Kauai’s proposal to split the standard uniform rate into two separate rates—one on land and the other, higher rate on improvements—results in heavier tax burdens for the tourist industry relative to other sectors of the local economy. We conclude that such an approach works well for Kauai and communities that desire slower and lower-density development but may not work as well for others that wish to encourage tourism investment.
How Does a Travel Trip Affect Tourists’ Life Satisfaction?
Authors: Sirgy M. Joseph , Kruger P. Stephanes , Lee Dong-Jin , Yu Grace B.
Published: March 2010

The goal of the research reported in this article was to develop a model describing how positive and negative affect associated with specific experiences of a travel trip influence tourists’ overall sense of well-being (life satisfaction). The model is based on the theoretical notion that a travel trip influences life satisfaction through tourists’ experiences of positive and negative affect associated with a recent tourist trip couched within various life domains (e.g., social life, leisure life, family life, cultural life, health and safety, love life, work life, and financial life). We conducted two studies. The first study was qualitative, designed to identify specific sources of positive and negative affect generated by the most recent tourist trip experiences in the context of various life domains. The second study involved a survey of tourists ( N = 264) to test the model in a formal manner. The data provided support for the overall model; the data also helped identify specific sources of positive and negative affect that play a significant role in tourists’ overall sense of well-being. Specific managerial recommendations are made for tourist operators based on the study findings.
Casino Gaming and Crime: Comparisons among Gaming Counties and Other Tourism Places
Authors: Park Minkyung , Stokowski Patricia A.
Published: March 2010

Casino gaming has spread across America, but its impacts remain unclear. This study extends research about crime impacts of gaming development in rural communities, addressing whether tourism growth leads to an increase in crime, or whether crime is an inherent by-product of gaming tourism. Using a sample of rural Colorado counties, this study compared crime effects in casino gaming counties, ski counties, natural resources access counties, and cultural tourist attraction counties. In contrast to conventional wisdom, this study found that ski counties had a significantly higher property crime rate than did gaming, natural resource access, and cultural tourist attraction counties. Results also suggest the presence of interaction effects between tourism types and growth levels, affecting crime rates. These results provide valuable information to communities considering tourism alternatives for economic development, and they also inform public policy.
Using Capabilities to Drive Military Transformation: An Alternative Framework
Authors: Fasana Kenton G.
Published: March 2010

Former cold war nations are grappling with how to transform their militaries in light of new strategic challenges. The implementation of these initiatives often requires a great deal of civil—military interaction. In developing transformational concepts, many of these countries rely on a functional view of capabilities. This article proposes an alternative capabilities model based on the interaction of effects, time, and space and asserts that this model has certain advantages vis-à-vis military transformation. To make its case, this article examines the effectiveness of both capability models in developing transformational concepts. It then uses the case study method to demonstrate the alternative model’s practical utility. The results of this analysis indicate that the alternative capabilities model has certain advantages in developing transformational initiatives, integrating these initiatives with defense processes, and communicating these proposals to civilian leaders. The new model is not meant to replace but to complement the functional one.
Privatizing Defense Support Operations: The Need to Improve DoD’s Oversight and Management
Authors: Terry James P.
Published: March 2010

The Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted defense support operations to private U.S. and foreign firms in an ever-increasing manner in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Significant factors that have contributed to this outsourcing include the proliferation of military operations, the increased sophistication of U.S. weapons systems used in these operations, and a reduction in the size of the U.S. military after the breakup of the former Soviet Union. The concerns raised with this process have centered on contract management and oversight. Despite the fact that DoD has continually updated its written guidance to defense officials charged with oversight of contractor performance, DoD has faced continuing problems related to a lack of visibility over the totality of contractor support at deployed locations, a lack of adequate contract oversight personnel, and the failure to collect and share institutional knowledge on the use of certain contractors.
The Second Lebanon War: Examining “Democratization of War” Theory
Authors: Levy Yagil
Published: March 2010

Israel’s Second Lebanon War (2006) is a typical manifestation of a flawed war fought by a democratic society. As such, it represents an important opportunity to provide significant evidence regarding the validity of theories that deal with the “democratization of war” syndrome, that is, the limitations imposed on the way democracies wage war and how they cope with these limitations. This article argues that the events of the war exhibit four theoretical propositions, all of which are drawn from the U.S. post-Vietnam experience: speedy decision making to avert public disputes, a weak “civilian” government that struggles to restrain the military, the proclivity to shorten the war and reduce its costs, and the setting of overly ambitious war goals as a means of mobilizing public support. In short, the imperatives derived from the democratization of war syndrome produce mechanisms that work to heighten belligerence rather than temper it.
Wholesale power trading through concurrent multiple-issue negotiation
Authors: Jiangbo Dang  , Yan Lu  , Peng Zhao  , Jafari Mohsen
Published: March 2010

The electricity trade is expensive, and requires substantial expertise and efficient co-ordination methodologies. Several trading mechanisms including auctions have been adopted in the current energy market. To pursue success in this market, we present a protocol to support many-to-many bilateral multiple-issue negotiation in a competitive market where one or more self-interested electricity sellers can provide electricity to one or more buyers while buyers can choose the preferred sellers. Negotiation is a technique for reaching mutually beneficial agreement among autonomous entities. A concurrent negotiation problem occurs when one entity needs to negotiate simultaneously with several other entities to reach agreement. In the context of wholesale electricity trading, our described protocol enables both electricity buyers and sellers to manage several negotiation processes in parallel. This protocol allows the negotiating participants to make durable commitments to reduce the occurrence of the decommitment situation. Since coloured Petri nets are intuitive and can represent concurrency graphically, we use them to represent our negotiation protocol and facilitate our analysis of desirable properties.
Tracking uncooperative person using a dynamic vision platform
Authors: Suiwu Zheng  , Hong Qiao  , Bo Zhang  , Peng Zhang
Published: March 2010

In this paper, first a head-tracking algorithm using assembled features and the character of motion continuity (HTA-AC) is proposed. It has been proved to be more robust and effective than existing algorithms. Second, based on the latest research results of newly developed nonlinear dimensionality reduction theory, a theoretic head-tracking algorithm (T-HTA) is proposed for the first time. The tracking results of these two algorithms have something in common and indicates that our practical new head-tracking algorithm (HTA-AC) has some mathematically intrinsic meanings. Third, a complicated mobile robotic system of human height was built up in our lab. It has independent hardware and software controls on the body and head of the robot. The system is used to validate our HTA-AC.
A novel algorithm for ontology matching
Authors: Akbari Ismail , Fathian Mohammad
Published: March 2010

Ontology matching is an essential aspect of the Semantic Web with a goal of finding alignments among the entities of given ontologies. Ontology matching is a necessary step for establishing interoperation and knowledge sharing among Semantic Web applications. In this study we present an algorithm and a tool developed based on this algorithm to find correspondences among entities of input ontologies. The proposed algorithm uses a new lexical similarity measure and also utilizes structural information of ontologies to determine their corresponding entities. The lexical similarity measure generates a bag of words for each entity based on its label and description information. The structural approach creates a grid for each node in the ontologies. The combination of lexical and structural approaches creates the similarity matrix between the source and target ontologies. The proposed algorithm was tested on a well known benchmark and also compared to other algorithms presented in the literature. Our experimental results show the proposed algorithm is effective and outperforms other algorithms.
Early Toxicology Signal Generation in the Mouse
Authors: Kramer Jeffrey A. , O’Neill Emily , Phillips Megan E. , Bruce Debra , Smith Traci , Albright Melinda M. , Bellum Sairam , Gopinathan Suma , Heydorn William E. , Liu Xuemei , Nouraldeen Amr , Payne Bobby Joe , Read Robert , Vogel Peter , Yu Xiang-Qing , Wilson Alan G. E.
Published: March 2010

The rat has been the preferred rodent toxicology species since before regulatory requirements have been in place, and there exists in the pharmaceutical industry and the regulatory agencies a significant amount of historical data for the rat. The resulting experience base with the rat makes the possibility of replacing it with the mouse for regulated toxicology studies untenable for all but the most extreme circumstances. However, toxicologists are very familiar with the mouse as a model for chronic carcinogenicity studies, and there exist multiple preclinical mouse models of disease. The authors evaluated the use of the mouse for early in vivo toxicology signal generation and prioritization of small molecule lead compounds prior to nomination of a development candidate. In five-day oral gavage studies with three test agents in the mouse, the authors were able to identify the same dose-limiting toxicities as those identified in the rat, including examples of compound-mediated hemolysis as well as microscopic lesions in the alimentary canal, kidney, and pancreas. Performing early signal generation studies in the mouse allows for earlier assessment of the safety liabilities of small molecules, requires significantly less compound, and allows evaluation of more compounds earlier in the project’s life cycle.
Effects of alcohol on attention orienting and dual-task performance during simulated driving: An event-related potential study
Authors: Wester Anne E , Verster Joris C , Volkerts Edmund R , Böcker Koen BE , Kenemans J. Leon
Published: March 2010

Driving is a complex task and is susceptible to inattention and distraction. Moreover, alcohol has a detrimental effect on driving performance, possibly due to alcohol-induced attention deficits. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of alcohol on simulated driving performance and attention orienting and allocation, as assessed by event-related potentials (ERPs). Thirty-two participants completed two test runs in the Divided Attention Steering Simulator (DASS) with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.08% and 0.10%. Sixteen participants performed the second DASS test run with a passive auditory oddball to assess alcohol effects on involuntary attention shifting. Sixteen other participants performed the second DASS test run with an active auditory oddball to assess alcohol effects on dual-task performance and active attention allocation. Dose-dependent impairments were found for reaction times, the number of misses and steering error, even more so in dual-task conditions, especially in the active oddball group. ERP amplitudes to novel irrelevant events were also attenuated in a dose-dependent manner. The P3b amplitude to deviant target stimuli decreased with blood alcohol concentration only in the dual-task condition. It is concluded that alcohol increases distractibility and interference from secondary task stimuli, as well as reduces attentional capacity and dual-task integrality.