bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Violence and Delinquency, Early Onset Drug Use, and Psychopathology in Drug‐Exposed Youth at 11 Years
Authors: LAGASSE LINDA L. , HAMMOND JANE , LIU JING , LESTER BARRY M. , SHANKARAN SEETHA , BADA HENRIETTA , BAUER CHARLES , HIGGINS ROSEMARY , DAS ABHIK
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  In this first study of violence and resilience in 517 youth exposed to cocaine and other drugs during pregnancy, we identified specific links between four types of violence and delinquency, drug use, and psychopathology in early adolescence. Further, positive and interpersonal attributes promoted resilience in the face of exposure to violence and other risks. This study provides new evidence for the impact of violence as well as resilience against disruptive forms of psychopathology and behavior.
Explorations of Coping Strategies, Learned Persistence, and Resilience in Long‐Evans Rats
Authors: LAMBERT KELLY G. , TU KELLY , EVERETTE ASHLEY , LOVE GENNIFER , McNAMARA ILAN , BARDI MASSIMO , KINSLEY CRAIG H.
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  In the current investigation, predispositions for coping styles (i.e., passive, flexible, and active) were determined in juvenile male rats. In subsequent behavioral tests, flexible copers exhibited more active responses. In another study, animals were exposed to chronic stress and flexible coping rats had lower levels of corticosteroids. Focusing on the acquired nature of coping strategies, rats receiving extensive training in a task requiring them to dig for food rewards (i.e., effort‐based rewards) persisted longer in a challenging task than control animals. Thus, the results suggest that both predisposed coping strategies and acquired behavioral experience contribute to resilience in challenging situations.
Additive Interaction of Child Abuse and Perinatal Risk as Signs of Resiliency in Adulthood
Authors: NOMURA YOKO , CHEMTOB CLAUDE M , FIFER WILLIAM P , NEWCORN JEFFREY H. , BROOKS‐GUNN JEANNE
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  To find the biological basis of resilience, we exploited data from a longitudinal community‐based study of 1,748 adult children, followed from birth to adulthood. Results showed that those with both abuse and perinatal problems demonstrated synergistically impaired well‐being, a higher rate of school dropout, lower sense of success, and lower income. Among abused adult children (n= 271), we found that those without, relative to those with, perinatal problems had lower risk for adult psychopathology. An examination of the biological base of resilience could be added in a multidimensional/multifactorial model to help researchers identify ways to promote resiliency even before birth.
Resilience among At‐Risk Hispanic American Preschool Children
Authors: OADES‐SESE GERALDINE V. , ESQUIVEL GISELLE B.
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  This study combines cognitive (i.e., intelligence), psychosocial (i.e., inhibition, activity level, negative emotionality, emotion regulation, autonomy), and cultural–linguistic factors (i.e., level of acculturation and bilingualism) to determine patterns of resilience and vulnerability among 207 economically disadvantaged Hispanic American preschool children, from 50 early childhood classrooms, as gauged by their social competence during peer play. Person‐oriented analysis yielded six distinct profiles, two profiles of which were resilient and one identified as vulnerable. Results of this study revealed within‐group differences in resilience among these children and the significant role bilingualism and maintenance of the home language play in their social–emotional development.
Using Protective Factors in Practice
Authors: SHAPIRO VALERIE B. , LEBUFFE PAUL A.
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  There are many advantages of using resilience as a framework to guide the screening, assessment, and promotion of social–emotional health in children. This article reviews which individual attributes are most important for the resilience of elementary school‐age children, as primarily determined by the positive attribute's ability to discriminate between typically developing children and those with disciplinary, mental health, and/or special education referrals or services. This research lends itself to a practical framework to scientifically measure and utilize individual social–emotional strengths for the purposes of fostering resilience in all children.
Synthesis of the sulfate donor PAPS in either theDrosophilagermline or somatic follicle cells can support embryonic dorsal-ventral axis formation
Authors: Zhu Xianjun , Stevens Leslie M. , Stein David
Published: March 2007

The establishment of dorsal-ventral (DV) polarity in the Drosophila embryo depends upon a localized signal that is generated in the perivitelline space of the egg through the action of a serine proteolytic cascade. Spatial regulation of this pathway is determined by the expression of the pipe gene in a subpopulation of ventral follicle cells in the developing egg chamber. The Pipe protein exhibits homology to vertebrate glycosaminoglycan sulfotransferases. In a previous study, we demonstrated that embryonic DV polarity depends upon the sulfotransferase activity of Pipe. Surprisingly, however, our results also indicated that formation of the embryonic DV axis does not require the synthesis of the high-energy sulfate donor, 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate(PAPS) in the follicle cells in which Pipe is presumed to function. Here, we resolve this apparent paradox by demonstrating that dorsalized embryos are only produced by egg chambers in which both germline and follicle cells lack PAPS synthetase activity. Thus, PAPS produced either in the germline or in the follicular epithelium can support the requirement for Pipe sulfotransferase activity in embryonic DV patterning. This finding indicates the existence of a conduit for the movement of PAPS between the germline and the follicle cells,which highlights a previously unappreciated mechanism of soma/germline cooperation affecting pattern formation.
Independent requirements for Hedgehog signaling by both the anterior heart field and neural crest cells for outflow tract development
Authors: Goddeeris Matthew M. , Schwartz Robert , Klingensmith John , Meyers Erik N.
Published: March 2007

Cardiac outflow tract (OFT) septation is crucial to the formation of the aortic and pulmonary arteries. Defects in the formation of the OFT can result in serious congenital heart defects. Two cell populations, the anterior heart field (AHF) and cardiac neural crest cells (CNCCs), are crucial for OFT development and septation. In this study, we use a series of tissue-specific genetic manipulations to define the crucial role of the Hedgehog pathway in these two fields of cells during OFT development. These data indicate that endodermally-produced SHH ligand is crucial for several distinct processes,all of which are required for normal OFT septation. First, SHH is required for CNCCs to survive and populate the OFT cushions. Second, SHH mediates signaling to myocardial cells derived from the AHF to complete septation after cushion formation. Finally, endodermal SHH signaling is required in an autocrine manner for the survival of the pharyngeal endoderm, which probably produces a secondary signal required for AHF survival and for OFT lengthening. Disruption of any of these steps can result in a single OFT phenotype.
Snail2 directly represses cadherin6B during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions of the neural crest
Authors: Taneyhill Lisa A. , Coles Edward G. , Bronner-Fraser Marianne
Published: March 2007

The neural crest, a transient population of migratory cells, forms the craniofacial skeleton and peripheral nervous system, among other derivatives in vertebrate embryos. The transcriptional repressor Snail2 is thought to be crucial for the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that promotes neural crest delamination from the neural tube; however, little is known about its downstream targets. To this end, we depleted avian Snail2 in the premigratory neural crest using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides and examined effects on potential targets by quantitative PCR. Several dorsal neural tube genes were upregulated by alleviating Snail2 repression; moreover,the cell adhesion molecule cadherin6B was derepressed within 30 minutes of blocking Snail2 translation. Examination of the chick cadherin6B genomic sequence reveals that the regulatory region contains three pairs of clustered E boxes, representing putative Snail2 binding sites. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro biochemical analyses demonstrate that Snail2 directly binds to these sites and regulates cadherin6B transcription. These results are the first to describe a direct target of Snail2 repression in vivo and in the context of the EMT that characterizes neural crest development.
HIV-1 subtypes in pregnant women in the UK
Authors: Cortina-Borja M , Williams D , Cubitt W D , Tookey P A , Newell M-L , Peckham C S
Published: March 2007

We analyse the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in HIV-1-seropositive samples from 333,270 residual neonatal dried blood spot samples tested for routine newborn screening tests in the UK between July 1999 and December 2002. Of the 813 antibody-positive samples shown to contain passively acquired, maternal HIV-1 for which subtyping was attempted, 333 (41 %) could not be subtyped due to cross-reactivity or low values of the assay results, and 480 (59%) were classified as B (35, 7.3%) or non-B (445, 92.7%). The proportions of subtyped B samples differed significantly (P = 0.004) between those from neonates whose mothers were born in the UK (21.4%) and those from neonates whose mothers were known to be born abroad (7%). Using a serological approach to establish viral serotype, we document the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in infected pregnant women in the UK.
Health-related quality of life in homo- and bisexual men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Sweden
Authors: Eriksson L E , Berglund T
Published: March 2007

Men who have sex with men (MSM) have an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV. Studies of their health-related quality of life (HRQL) are uncommon, though such studies may provide additional knowledge that is of interest in counselling and care. The HRQL in MSM attending a clinic for STD- and HIV testing in Stockholm, Sweden, was investigated in 1996 and 2004, measured by means of the Swedish Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire. The results were compared with those for men from a general Swedish population sample and with HIV-infected men. The HIV-negative MSM had significantly worse emotional wellbeing, satisfaction with family life, relation to their partner and general health perception, and better physical HRQL compared with the general Swedish population. There were no differences in the emotional and family dimensions between HIV-infected and HIV-negative MSM, but the HIV-negative group scored at a higher level in respect of their physical and general health than the HIV-infected group. No apparent differences over time were seen in the HIV-negative group. This study shows that psychosocial HRQL is lower for MSM than for a general male population sample, which calls for increased attention in the care of MSM patients.
Yorkshire regional audit of hepatitis B vaccination
Authors:   on behalf of the Yorkshire Multi-district Clinical Audit Group, Graham Deborah , Mcclean Hugo
Published: March 2007

Practice related to hepatitis B vaccination in Yorkshire genitourinary medicine clinics was audited against targets based on the offer and uptake of vaccination by men who have sex with men (MSM) set by the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV (NSSHHIV). Of 254 eligible cases, 226 (93%) were offered vaccination, but only 187 (77%) were offered it at their first visit. Uptake of the first dose of vaccine was 83%, 56% and 82% among eligible MSM, injecting drug users (IDU) and commercial sex workers (CSW), respectively. Of the 193 cases who commenced vaccination, uptake of the third dose was 49%, 29% and 24% among eligible MSM, IDU and CSW, respectively. The super-accelerated course was most commonly prescribed, and completion of a three-dose course of this regimen was superior to the accelerated and standard courses. However, more patients having the accelerated and standard regimens had anti-surface antibodies greater than 10IU/L compared with the super-accelerated regimen. Improved recording of risk factors and provision of written information about vaccination, as well as a robust recall system to improve the completion rates of all regimens, are needed.
The phenomenon of missing doses in a cohort of HIV patients with good adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Lee S S , Ma K , Chu E K Y , Wong K H
Published: March 2007

A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in a specialist HIV clinical service in Hong Kong. A total of 76 male Chinese patients who had been on highly active antiretroviral therapy for over one year were enrolled. All except one had undetectable viral load at the time of the assessment. Though a majority (76%) scored 100% in self-reporting adherence rating, one-third of these had in fact missed at least one dose in the preceding four-week period. Men having sex with men had a lower tendency of missing dose than heterosexuals (13.6% versus 42%, P = 0.019). There was no association between missing doses and clinical staging or the regimens. The study revealed that missing doses may occur despite report of almost complete adherence, which, in the long run, could be a cause for concern.
Surface similarity and label knowledge impact early numerical comparisons
Authors: Mix Kelly S.
Published: March 2007

Previous research has reported that children's numerical equivalence judgments are affected by surface similarity and counting ability (e.g. Mix, Huttenlocher, & Levine, 1996; Siegel, 1973), a pattern that suggests categorization processes play a role in numerical development. However, because these studies involved memory for sets, large set sizes and counting rather than labelling, the connection between numerical equivalence and non‐numerical comparisons has remained tenuous. The present study sought to replicate these effects while avoiding the problems associated with previous research. Five experiments are presented in which 3‐year‐olds compared various sets in terms of numerical equivalence. As before, children's comparisons were significantly affected by variations in surface similarity, even when there was no memory requirement and sets were small. Also, children with strong label knowledge were more likely to recognize numerical equivalence, especially in low similarity conditions. Still, children performed better when the previous memory and set size demands were eliminated.
The significance of place and indigenous knowledge in Louise Erdrich's Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country (2003)
Authors: McNab David T
Published: March 2007

Place and the stories that come from them are an integral and inseparable part of nature. Nature is landscape and mindscape conjoined and this idea is well illustrated in the autobiographical writings of Louise Erdrich. Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country is an autobiographical
work by Erdrich, which was published by the National Geographical Society in 2003. In it, Erdrich explores the relationship between Books and Islands, which she argues function in disparate, but similar, cross-cultural ways. Most of the book takes place in Canada in the summer of 2002. Along
with her The Blue Jay's Dance and Route 2 (co-authored with Michael Dorris) Books and Islands, although neglected, is a significant one in terms of our understanding of Erdrich and her writings. Autobiographical works by Aboriginal people are always of importance in increasing
our understanding of their lives since they are both spiritual and confessional in nature and illustrate the character of dreams and stories. They also illustrate the significance of Indigenous knowledge and places for Aboriginal people.
Technology and institutional arrangements in the delivery of public sanitation and solid waste services in Ghanaian cities
Authors: Awortwi Nicholas
Published: March 2007

This paper discusses two services, namely sanitation and solid waste, which have become intractable to manage in Ghanaian cities (Accra, Kumasi and Tema). The paper provides insights into the various technologies adopted to provide the service and analyzes the institutional arrangements
for their dissemination. Public sector delivery by the waste management department was found wanting, and new institutional arrangements involving public, private and community partnerships have been introduced. Based on a users' satisfaction survey, the paper explains why the quality of a
service may differ across the types of institutional arrangement adopted to deliver it. It also shows that more insight can be gained from users' assessment of efficiency, reliability, adequacy, cleanliness etc. of a service than from the technical criteria used by public officers. The paper
uses the survey results to draw conclusions on what needs to be done in switching from one institutional arrangement to another.
Wastewater treatment in Brazil: Institutional framework, recent initiatives and actual plant performance
Authors: Oliveira S.M.A.C , Parkinson J.N , von Sperling M
Published: March 2007

Brazil, like many other developing countries, suffers from widespread pollution of the aquatic environment caused by the uncontrolled discharge of untreated urban wastewater. Some states have made greater progress towards the implementation of pollution mitigation strategies than others.
However, a study undertaken in the states of So Paulo and Minas Gerais indicates that installation of treatment plants is not sufficient to meet effluent quality objectives. A range of different wastewater treatment processes were investigated and, although conclusive results were difficult
to define due to the large differences in the frequency of sampling, the results showed a highly variable performance, in which many processes were not operating satisfactorily according to expected design performance or environmental standards set by the regulatory authority. In light of
these findings, the paper discusses an innovative programme called PRODES, introduced by the National Water Agency (ANA), which aims to encourage public and private companies to implement new treatment plants and to improve the performance of existing wastewater treatment systems based upon
a system of financial incentives according to the monitored reduction in pollutant loads. The paper concludes that this approach has considerable potential as part of a pollution mitigation strategy, but success is dependent on the development of a standardized framework for routine performance
evaluation and monitoring to improve operational performance and regulatory procedures.
Anglo-multiculturalism: Contradictions in the politics of cultural diversity as risk
Authors: Jakubowicz Andrew
Published: March 2007

The continuing controversy over the place of multiculturalism within national political cultures has been highlighted by recent international policy debates. Nations with European, and especially Anglo-Celtic, roots have been forced into a major re-assessment of their strategies in
relation to culturally diverse populations living within the nation-state. The dynamics underlying these tensions reflect fundamental fissures that global terrorism has exposed, sometimes instigating the portrayal of international rifts as confrontations of civilizations. Great Britain and
Australia have long historic links, sharing many cultural orientations, the one of course the founder through invasion of the other. To some extent they have shared a commitment to policies of multiculturalism, which they saw as ways of reducing risks of social conflict in late modernity.
They both now experience societal debates where multiculturalism has come under strong political critique ironically, for amplifying risk. Both societies have presented themselves to the international community as beacons of tolerance and diversity, as successful expressions of multiculturalism,
and as examples of the power of the core values of Anglo-liberalism. Yet external audiences sometimes comment, and internal critics have persuasively argued, that such representations disguise systematic structures of racialized inequality masked by surface egalitarian discourses. As these
contradictions become ever more apparent, we are thus directed towards a re-formulation of what a multicultural project would require if it is to demonstrate sufficient robustness to survive much into this century.
Cities of difference: Cultural juxtapositions and urban politics of representation
Authors: Georgiou Myria
Published: March 2007

This paper explores urban politics of representation and their role in processes of political and cultural participation for migrant and diasporic urban dwellers. Urban politics of representation are about finding a location in the city and about locating the city (or one's own city) in the world. Living, representing and being represented in the city is attached to looking for and finding (or failing to find) a place in the world. The strangers, the mobile subjects and the migrants seek (and sometimes find) a place of work and of sociality in the city. Often marginalized, patronized and excluded from formal (national) politics, they engage with the urban politics of representation either as actively seeking political representation or, and more often, as a reflection of their mobile status and their everyday engagement with images and representations of the self, community, the city and global culture. Unlike formal and national politics, urban politics of representation involve activities in the street, participation in local life, engagement with creative practices and the arts, among other things all of which increasingly involve appropriations of media and communication technologies. With reference to empirical material from London and New York, this paper argues that in the study of juxtapositions of difference in the city, we can observe politics of representation and forms of active (and mediated) citizenship, which are often ignored in formal politics for the management of diversity.
Ethnic minorities, cultural difference and the cultural politics of communication
Authors: Bailey O.G , Harindranath R
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the question of cultural difference in debates of multiculturalism and the related issue of shared values and rights that transcend cultural difference, both in terms of multicultural citizenship within specific nations as well more universally. We argue that alternative
media produced in multi-ethnic public sphericules is potentially productive as a space of cultural expression enabling a dialogue across and within cultures both minority and majorities on what constitutes such shared values and rights, and for the redefinition of the identities of multicultural
nations in the West. Intrinsic to this is the question of representational politics, in particular the inclusion of voiceless subalterns. We suggest that the public sphericules of diasporic-alternative media might provide a way of engaging ethnic minorities with the mainstream public sphere
and cultural difference, and could contribute towards addressing the question of marginalization of minority cultures.
Multiculturalism, progressive politics and British Islam online
Authors: Siapera Eugenia
Published: March 2007

Multiculturalism has recently been under attack not only from its traditional adversaries in the right of the political spectrum, but also by left wing, progressive commentators. Multiculturalism is seen as divisive and oppressive, and in the case of Islam in particular as a contributing
factor to the radicalization of Muslims. Yet this critique, despite its many important points, focuses on multiculturalism as conceived in state policies overlooking the actual politics of everyday multicultural existence. This article will therefore discuss the critiques of multiculturalism
by influential progressive commentators, such as Yasmin Alibhai Brown, Kenan Malik and Gilles Kepel, before embarking on an empirical analysis of the online presence of British Muslim communities. The empirical analysis shows that interventions by Muslim citizens address the left wing demands
for justice and equality from a positioned perspective, that of being Muslim in Britain. The open and public new media formats undermine attempts to form an essentialist Muslim identity; indeed, we suggest that the online Muslim sites might be better understood as loose networks rather than
closelyknit communities. Additionally, rather than operating from a group enclave mentality, active efforts are made to connect at least to formal British politics.
Destiny, theatricality and identity in contemporary European cinema
Authors: Canning Elaine
Published: March 2007

This article explores ten years of contemporary Spanish cinema (19962006) and investigates how Spanish cinema, in line with European film of this period, manipulates and integrates theatrical components to reinvent itself. As Spanish cinema attempts to compete with Hollywood blockbusters
and forge a new status in world cinema, the re-creation of theatrical devices within a cinematic medium contributes to an exploration of identity and destiny on screen. Through analysis of selected films by internationally renowned and lesser-known film directors, including Almdovar, Amenbar
and Iborra, varying degrees of theatricality will be explored to reach some understanding of how the theatrical can elucidate themes, balance Hollywood influences and both complement and undermine the cinematic experience. Beginning and ending with adaptations of plays by Lope de Vega to which
the Spanish public responded in very different ways, this article will assess whether it is truly possible for one genre to function within another.
La madre muerta (The Dead Mother, 1993) and Tierra (Earth, 1995): Basque identity, or just the other?
Authors: Evans Jo
Published: March 2007

This paper examines two films by Julio Medem and Juanma Bajo Ulloa in relation to questions raised by the lable Basque film. These questions originate in the fact that so-called Basque films are not normally filmed in the Basque language; that Basque identity has a history of suppression by the Spanish State, and that its renowned directors, such as Medem and Bajo Ulloa, try to avoid being labelled Basque. Despite their formal differences, this paper argues that anxieties in relation to masculine, regional, national, and/or transnational identity emerge in the way both films screen the identity of their protagonists as a kind of cinematographic, Lacanian battle with O/others that is represented in the internal divisions of the protagonists, in the narrativefort-daoscillation between these protagonists and the female characters, and, finally, in the two films' ironic and demystifying representations of Basque mythology and Christian iconography.
Racial prejudice, threat perception and opposition to immigration: A comparative analysis
Authors: Vala Jorge , Pereira Ccero , Ramos Alice
Published: March 2007

This paper analyzes the opposition to immigration, comparing the European Union as a whole and Portugal, United Kingdom, France and Germany. The first hypvothesis that was examined posits that the perception of economic, security and cultural threats are significant predictors of the
orientation towards immigration. The second hypothesis states that racial prejudice is an important predictor of threat perception. Results show that, globally, attitudes towards immigration in EU are more close to openness than they are to closure. As predicted, cultural, economic and security
threats are significantly associated with the opposition to immigration. These results are stable across compared countries. Moreover results show that in the EU as a whole political conservatism and racial prejudice are the main predictors of the perception of threat in the economic, security
and cultural domains. These same results were obtained in France, Germany and United Kingdom. Except in the case of security threat, also in Portugal prejudice is an important predictor of threat perception. These results are discussed in the context of the immigration integration policies.
Globalization and national identity: Monitoring Greek culture today
Authors: Voulgaris Yannis
Published: March 2007

Among the ESS countries Greece occupies a particular place as it is characterized by a marked orientation towards conservative values, which are weaved around the concept of national and religious homogeneity. This article, firstly, substantiates this particularity through the use of
quantitative tools. Then, it focuses on the apparent contradiction between an increasingly open and democratic society on one hand, and the retreat to the primordial elements of national identity, on the other. Trying to interpret this issue, the article examines some of the actual social,
political and cultural processes. With regard to the later, the article proposes the idea of a cultural conservatism, which is rooted in the core of the Greek national identity as a by-product of the historical process of its formation during the long XIX century. This core cultural conservatism
is materializing from time to time depending on the historical context. Today, this context is provided by the dialectic between globalization and the national identity, as well as the disjunction between State and Nation that this dialectic produces.
Social classes and values in Europe
Authors: Almeida Joo Ferreira de , Machado Fernando Lus , Costa Antnio Firmino da
Published: March 2007

Exploiting the analytical potential of the European Social Survey data, this text presents a set of theoretical assumptions and empirical findings concerning class structures, patterns of values and attitudes and the relationship between them. In the first section, a model of analysis
is outlined, which relates social dimensions (in this case, classes) with cultural dimensions (in this case, values), both at the individual level and structural level. The second section compares the class composition of the various participating countries and pinpoints common trends and
regional specificities. In the third and largest section, several indicators of ideological and political attitudes and electoral practices, as well as Shalom Schwartz's scale of human values, are analyzed in their relationship with the class position of the interviewees.
Neglected Outcomes of Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Luo Xueming , Homburg Christian
Published: March 2007

Although there is significant evidence that customer satisfaction is an important driver of firm profitability, extant literature has largely neglected two intermediate outcomes of customer satisfaction, namely, a firm's advertising and promotion efficiency and its human capital performance. On the basis of longitudinal analyses of large-scale secondary data from multiple sources, the authors find that customer satisfaction boosts the efficiency of future advertising and promotion investments. This finding can be explained by the possibility that customer satisfaction generates free word-of-mouth advertising and saves subsequent marketing costs. In addition, customer satisfaction has a positive influence on a company's excellence in human capital (employee talent and manager superiority). This finding is highly novel, indicating that human resources managers should have a strong interest in customer satisfaction as well. Finally, the authors investigate the moderating influence of market concentration on both relationships. The uncovered results have important implications for marketers in their dialogue with financial executives and human resources managers.
Marketing Communication Drivers of Adoption Timing of a New E-Service among Existing Customers
Authors: Prins Remco , Verhoef Peter C.
Published: March 2007

This study investigates the effects of direct marketing communications and mass marketing communications on the adoption timing of a new e-service among existing customers. The mass marketing communications pertain to both specific new service advertising and brand advertising from both the focal supplier and the competitors. Using a split-hazard approach, the authors determine the effects of the considered marketing communications on adoption timing, accounting for a significant part of the customer base that never adopts the new e-service. They analyze individual adoption behavior with a sample of 6000 customers of a Dutch telecommunications operator over 25 months. The empirical results show that service advertising shortens the time to adoption, even when it is initiated by competitors. Furthermore, an exploratory analysis of the interaction effects between relationship characteristics and marketing efforts suggests that certain mass marketing efforts have a greater effect on loyal customers.
Diet of the Nonindigenous Asian Swamp Eel in Tropical Ornamental Aquaculture Ponds in West-Central Florida
Authors: Hill Jeffrey E , Watson Craig A
Published: March 2007

The nonindigenous Asian swamp eel Monopterus albus is established in west-central Florida, where it invades tropical ornamental fish production ponds. The economically valuable ornamental fish industry (US$42 million in 2003) is dominated by the production of small-bodied fishes cultured at high densities in small, earthen ponds. Although introduced Asian swamp eels have been described as voracious predators of fish, to date there have been no published studies containing quantitative diet information on any of the introduced populations found in the USA. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the possible effect of nonnative Asian swamp eels on the aquaculture industry by analyzing the diets of Asian swamp eels that have invaded small ponds used for the culture of ornamental fishes. We examined 71 Asian swamp eels ranging from 94 to 864 mm in total length (TL) that were taken from ornamental aquaculture farms. Fifty-two percent lacked stomach contents; otherwise, prey were relatively small and generally few in number, resulting in low values of stomach fullness. Prey items included amphipods, crayfish, fish, fish eggs, insects, oligochaetes, organic material, plant material, and a tadpole. Insects were the most frequently occurring prey and fish were second. Fish eggs dominated by number but were found in only two individuals. Fish was the heaviest prey category, closely followed by insects, fish eggs, and crayfish. Only 10 fish prey were found in 8 Asian swamp eels (including a cannibalized individual), primarily in the largest predators (≥570 mm TL). Our diet results were surprising, given the highly vulnerable prey fish found in the sampled ponds. We conclude that this species represents a low threat to the Florida ornamental aquaculture industry. We recommend that producers continue to use best management practices, but aggressive control or eradication of Asian swamp eels is not warranted.
Family, Strain, Gender, and Dietary Protein Effects on Production and Processing Traits of Norris and NWAC103 Strains of Channel Catfish
Authors: Bosworth Brian G , Silverstein Jeffery T , Wolters William R , Li Menghe H , Robinson Edwin H
Published: March 2007

Juvenile National Warmwater Aquaculture Center 103 (NWAC103) and Norris strain channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (from 32 and 29 full-sib families, respectively) were individually tagged and stocked into 0.04-ha ponds at 14,400 fish/ha. Four ponds each of NWAC103 and Norris strain fish were fed a 32% protein diet and four ponds of NWAC103 fish were fed a 22% protein diet to satiation once daily for 150–178 d. Fish were harvested, counted, sexed, and weighed. Fish larger than 0.40 kg were processed and measured for yield and composition of various body components. The NWAC103 strain fish were larger at stocking than Norris strain fish; however, none of the strain-diet combinations differed with respect to survival, feed conversion ratio, or percent weight gain. The NWAC103 strain fish fed the 32% protein diet were larger at harvest and had faster growth at unit size (a) than Norris strain fish. Norris and NWAC103 strain fish fed the 32% protein diet did not differ in body component yield or composition. The NWAC103 strain fish fed the 22% and 32% protein diets did not differ in growth, but NWAC103 strain fish fed the 22% protein diet had lower processing yield (carcass, total fillet, and shank fillet) and higher visceral fat and fillet fat than NWAC103 strain fish fed the 32% protein diet. Compared with females, males had higher stocking weight, harvest weight, a, percent weight gain, head yield, fillet moisture, and nugget yield but lower visceral yield, carcass yield, fillet yield, and fillet fat. Family within strain was a significant source of variation (accounting for 10-45% of total variation) for all traits except fillet protein. The NWAC103 family rankings for most traits were consistent across diets (correlations generally >0.70 among best linear unbiased predictor values across diets). These results suggest that there is potential for improving growth and processing yield traits through selective breeding and that the improvements achieved through selection would be realized on either of the diets used.
The Economic Impact of Restricting Use of Black Carp for Snail Control on Hybrid Striped Bass Farms
Authors: Wui Yong-Suhk , Engle Carole R
Published: March 2007

Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus have been used in the U.S. for several decades for snail control in fish ponds. Recent concerns over the potential environmental effects of escaped fish have resulted in proposals to list black carp as an injurious species. A mixed-integer programming model was extended to evaluate the farm-level economic effects of restricting access to black carp for those farming hybrid striped bass (white bass Morone chrysops × striped bass M. saxatilis). The alternatives evaluated included (1) no snail control, (2) chemical control with hydrated lime, (3) chemical control with copper sulfate, and (4) biological control with redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus. Lack of access to black carp to control snail populations will reduce the marketability of food-size hybrid striped bass and will reduce the supply of hybrid striped bass fingerlings. Each 10% decrease in the marketability of hybrid striped bass food fish decreased net returns above variable costs by US$2,987/ha. Each 10% reduction in the supply of fingerlings further reduced net returns above variable costs by $1,107 to $1,855/ha. Net returns were lower as fingerling price increased with fingerling shortages after the first year. The industry standard of using black carp was the most cost-effective strategy. In the long run, based on the projections of our model, even with adoption of the alternative treatments analyzed in this study, small farms would go out of business, medium farms would suffer losses of 47% to 59%, and large farm would incur losses ranging from 33% to 41%. The total annual fish sales lost as a result of restrictions on the use of black carp were estimated to be $4.7-$11.96 million/year; with multiplier effects, total economic losses would be $16.45−$72.9 million/year.
Changes in Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition of Wild Freshwater Zooplankton during Enrichment and Subsequent Starvation
Authors: Lochmann S E , Goodwin K J , Racey C L
Published: March 2007

Concentrated wild zooplankton harvested from freshwater ponds have been used to feed the larvae of hybrid striped bass (female white bass Morone chrysops × male striped bass M. saxatilis) in tanks. However, larval growth and survival have been superior when cultured rotifers and brine shrimp Artemia spp. nauplii have been offered as first feeds. We hypothesized that enrichment with highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs), which is common for cultured zooplankton, would enhance the nutritional value of wild freshwater zooplankton. Wild zooplankton were enriched for 24 h with Super Selco, a formula rich in HUFAs. Lipid and fatty acid composition changes in wild freshwater zooplankton were monitored during the enrichment period and the subsequent 72 h. Total lipids in wild zooplankton increased from a preenrichment level of 38 mg/g dry weight (DW) to 72 mg/g DW after enrichment. Although wild zooplankton were initially deficient in HUFAs, the HUFA level after enrichment was 10.41 mg/g DW, which was above the recommended level for good growth and survival of hybrid striped bass larvae. The nutritional state of wild zooplankton returned to the preenrichment level 24 h after enrichment was terminated. Therefore, enriching wild zooplankton from culture ponds for 24 h after harvesting and concentration offers producers another nutritional option for hybrid striped bass larvae during the early life history stages.
Case-based reasoning approach for managing sewerage assets
Authors: Fenner R. A. , McFarland G. , Thorne O.
Published: March 2007

Statistical, deterministic and heuristic approaches to modelling sewer performance and condition are briefly examined and a case-based reasoning (CBR) approach is proposed that can operate within the prevailing data environment of UK water utility companies. This is a technique that solves new problems by adapting previously successful solutions to similar problems. The use of CBR for other types of infrastructure assets is noted, and a method for its application to sewers is proposed. The methodology was tested on sewer data drawn from two water company regions. Validation trials, based on inferring known outcomes on 20 pipe lengths, show that a range of performance and management information and maintenance prioritisation can effectively be inferred from a case library of a small number of pipes for which good information is available. The paper concludes this is a pragmatic and flexible approach that utilises the industry's own experience and avoids the need for widespread calibration of more statistically or deterministically oriented models.
Investigating hydraulic removal of air from water pipelines
Authors: Escarameia M.
Published: March 2007

The presence of air in pipe systems can result in problems such as loss of carrying capacity, disruption of the flow, reduced pump and turbine efficiency, effects on pipe materials and pipeline structure; it can also change the fluid properties and create environmental concerns at the point of discharge. Considerable costs are incurred in providing air release valves and chambers, and in deepening pipe trenches so as to provide the minimum gradients thought necessary to enable air bubbles and pockets to move towards the valves. If the accumulated air can be moved hydraulically out of the pipe system, then potentially large cost savings are possible. At present there are a number of often contradictory recommendations for assessing how air may be moved through a pipe system. In order to assess the viability of hydraulically removing air that accumulates in pipes, an experimental investigation was undertaken of the movement of air pockets in a pipeline with different slopes, from horizontal to around 22°. From the test results a prediction equation was developed for determining the critical velocity required to remove air from a water or sewerage carrying pipe. This study, which was part of a wider project aiming at providing practical guidelines, confirmed the results of previous researchers and extends current understanding of air movement, particularly in horizontal and near horizontal pipes.
Development of a catchment-wide nutrient model
Authors: Bockelmann-Evans B. , Schnauder I. , Fenrich E. , Falconer R.
Published: March 2007

Diffuse-source nutrient pollution remains a major problem within sustainable catchment management. The aim of this study is to provide a decision-support tool that can predict the impact of land-use changes on water quality (WQ) in receiving waters. A linked modelling approach was used to integrate land-use changes with a WQ model and a 2D numerical hydrodynamic model. The linked model was adapted to conditions in estuarine and coastal waters and applied to the catchments of Carmarthen Bay in West Wales, UK. A new set of biochemical reaction rates for nutrients in estuarine waters was found and presented. This approach took into account the assessment of nutrient production rates in the catchment for dry and wet weather conditions, as well as the reactions of constituents passing from the catchment into the coastal basin. The predominant types of land use in the catchment are arable land, improved grassland, rough grazing and woodland. Nutrient loads from these areas were estimated using Geographical Information System (GIS) data and export coefficients, which characterise the amount of nutrient losses. Furthermore, economical and ecological effects of land-use changes were integrated using an input–output analysis approach. A range of scenario simulations involving different river discharges and reduced nutrient input rates resulting from appropriate measures for land-use changes showed the nutrient pathways and concentration distributions over time throughout the bay. The outcome from these scenario simulations can be used to indicate catchment-wide distribution of diffuse pollution sources and to locate areas that are characterised by high nutrient concentrations and are prone to the occurrence of mass algal growth.
‘Push-Me’ or ‘Pull-You’? An Opportunity for Early Childhood Leadership in the Implementation of Queensland's Early Years Curriculum
Authors: Hard Louise , O'Gorman Lyndal
Published: March 2007

Recent developments in the Queensland early childhood context have seen the phased-in introduction of a full-time Preparatory Year to replace current part-time preschool provision. Surrounding this development has been discussion of the potential role of the play-based Early Years Curriculum in shaping the implementation of early primary schooling. This article explores this change to early childhood provision in Queensland and the opportunity it provides for leadership from the field of early childhood education and care (ECEC). Will those from the ECEC field step forward to articulate the value of a play-based curriculum such that it influences the curriculum in the early years of school? Could we see a ‘pull-you’ of early childhood philosophy rather than a ‘push-me’ of more formal approaches? This article draws on two research projects to raise questions about the potential for leadership in the new world of Queensland's Preparatory Year. It suggests four key elements, which include knowledge of self, the field and the context, and the challenge that might be considered by those who would advocate early childhood philosophy in primary schools.
Biochemistry of Human Axilla Malodor and Chemistry of Deodorant Ingredients
Authors: Gautschi Markus , Natsch Andreas , Schröder Fridtjof
Published: March 2007

Key human axilla malodorants are hexenoic acid (3) and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-hexanoic acid (5), accompanied by some 25 structurally related hydroxyalkanoic acids and alkenoic acids. These sweat acids are secreted in the axilla in the form of odorless glutamine conjugates
and are released upon enzymolysis by AMRE (Axillary Malodor Releasing Enzyme), produced by Corynebacteria. The sulfanylalkanols 8–11 represent another important group of axilla malodor compounds that are also secreted in the form of odorless precursors. The major precursors
are cysteine–glycine sulfanylalkanol conjugates of type 14 and the minor precursors are cysteine sulfanylalkanol conjugates like 15. The release occurs upon action of a ?-lyase of axilla bacteria. Besides the classical approaches of axilla malodor masking using fragrances,
the use of chemicals to neutralize malodorants is described. The elucidation of the biochemistry of the sweat acid release has allowed the development of fragrance precursors that act as competitive substrates to the natural malodor precursors as well as the development of specific antagonists
that block AMRE. Finally, the characterization and functional expression of a first human malodor receptor presents an interesting approach for future development of axilla malodor blockers.