bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of melanin-concentrating hormone in the nucleus accumbens shell in rats behaviourally sensitized to methamphetamine
Authors: Sun Li-li , Zhang Yan , Liu Jian-feng , Wang Jun , Zhu Wei-li , Zhao Li-yan , Xue Yan-xue , Lu Lin , Shi Jie 
Published: March 2013

AbstractMelanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neuropeptide and its receptor is extensively expressed throughout the brain. MCH has been suggested to regulate the rewarding and reinforcing effects of psychostimulants by potentiating the dopaminergic system within the midbrain. Moreover, MCH and its receptor can regulate ERK activity. The present study investigated the role of MCH in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in rats behaviourally sensitized to methamphetamine (Meth). We found that the development of Meth-induced locomotor sensitization was attenuated by MCH infused into the NAc shell but not core. Moreover, the elevation of ERK phosphorylation in the NAc shell induced by Meth was inhibited by locally infused MCH. Infusion of the MCH receptor 1 (MCHR1) antagonist SNAP 94847 into the NAc shell but not core augmented the initiation of locomotor sensitization and amplitude of elevated phosphorylated ERK levels induced by Meth. The expression of Meth-induced locomotor sensitization and ERK alterations after 1 wk withdrawal were not affected by either MCH or SNAP 94847 infused into the NAc shell or core. These results indicate that MCH in the NAc shell plays a critical role in the development but not expression of Meth-induced locomotor sensitization in rats, which might be mediated by the ERK signalling pathway. Our study suggests that MCH might be a potential target for the treatment of Meth addiction.
Investigation of the critical behavior in Mn0.94Nb0.06CoGe alloy by using the field dependence of magnetic entropy change
Authors: Debnath J. C. , Shamba P. , Strydom A. M. , Wang J. L. , Dou S. X. 
Published: March 2013

The critical behaviour of Mn0.94Nb0.06CoGe alloy around the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition was studied based on the field dependence on magnetic entropy change. By using the obtained exponents, the modified Arrott plot is consistent with that by using conventional method. These critical exponents are confirmed by the Widom scaling relation. Based on these critical exponents, the magnetization, field and temperature data around Tc collapse into two curves obeying the single scaling equation M(H, ε) = εβf ± (H/εβ+γ). The calculated critical exponents not only obey the scaling theory but also anastomose the deduced results from the Kouvel-Fisher method [J. S. Kouvel and M. E. Fisher, Phys. Rev. 136, A1626 (1964)]. The values deduced for the critical exponents in the Mn0.94Nb0.06CoGe alloy are close to the theoretical prediction of the mean-field model, indicating that the magnetic interactions are long range. This method eliminates the drawback due to utilization of multistep nonlinear fitting in a conventional manner. So it provides an alternative method to investigate the critical behaviour.
From devastation to mobilisation: the Muslim community's involvement in social welfare in post-conflict DRC
Authors: Leinweber Ashley 
                      E. 
Published: March 2013

Undisputedly, more than a decade of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo has had an immensely negative impact on the social fabric of communities. However, tales of woe and destruction are not all that have arisen out of the ashes of the Congo wars. In fact, the minority Muslim community has capitalised upon the opportunity of this historical moment of state weakness and desperate human need to mobilise for the benefit of the larger society. Despite decades of marginalisation and withdrawal from political and development realms, in post-conflict DRC, Muslim associations are organising to provide social services, especially education.
[De la dévastation à la mobilisation : le rôle de la communauté musulmane dans la fourniture deles services sociaux dans la période après-conflit en RDC] Incontestablement, plus d'une décennie de guerre dans la République Démocratique du Congo a eu un impact très négatif sur la structure sociale des communautés. Pourtant, les histoires de malheur et de destruction ne sont pas les seules choses qui sont nées des cendres des guerres du Congo. En fait, la communauté minoritaire musulmane a misé sur l'opportunité de ce moment historique de faiblesse de l'État et de besoins humanitaires urgents pour se mobiliser en faveur de la société dans son ensemble. Malgré les décennies de marginalisation et le retrait des domaines politiques et du développement, dans la RDC d'après conflit, les associations musulmanes s'organisent pour fournir des services sociaux, en particulier dans le domaine de l'éducation.

Mots-clés : Congo ; Islam ; sciences politiques ; éducation ; états défaillants ; institutions hybrides
Making use of the past: the Rwandophone question and the ‘Balkanisation of the Congo’
Authors: Huening Lars-Christopher 
Published: March 2013

Since the end of the second Congo war (1998–2003), the eastern Congolese provinces of North and South Kivu have remained in a state of neither war nor peace. With the re-emergence of rebellion in mid 2012, tensions have again risen between self-styled ‘native’ or ‘autochthon’ groups, and populations of both Congolese Hutu and Tutsi, often called ‘Rwandophones’. Whereas the former groups fear a looming ‘Rwandophone rise’, which will supposedly usher in Congo's ‘Balkanisation’, Rwandophone Hutu and especially Tutsi are afraid of marginalisation and renewed persecution. This article historicises the powerful meaning and tenacity of current fears of the ‘other’ that stand behind prevalent identity-markers and concepts such as ‘Rwandophone’ and ‘Balkanisation’, and which continue to fuel the present Kivutien identity conflict. In this regard, the period from c.1990 to 1996 was especially formative in the emergence of conflicting identities and the concurrent radicalisation of Congo's political discourse. From the vantage point of Kinshasa's press, this article reconstructs how the use of selective memories, claims about and mythico-historical visions of the past were instrumental in shaping Rwandophone identity formation.
[L'utilisation du passé : la question Rwandophone et la ‘Balkanisation du Congo’]. Depuis la fin de la deuxième guerre du Congo (1998–2003), les provinces de l'est du Congo, Nord-Kivu et Sud-Kivu, sont restées dans un état ni de guerre, ni de paix. Avec la réémergence de la rébellion à partir de la moitié de l'année 2012, des tensions sont de nouveau apparues entre des soi-disant groupes 'd'autochtones' ou 'd'indigènes' et des populations congolaises tant Hutu que Tutsi, souvent appelés ‘Rwandophones'. Alors que les groupes dits ‘autochtones’ craignent une ‘une montée imminente des Rwandophones’, laquelle conduirait vraisemblablement à une 'Balkanisation' du Congo, les populations dites ‘Rwandophone’, Hutu et en particulier Tutsi, craignent une marginalisation et une nouvelle persécution. Cet article retrace la puissante signification et la ténacité des peurs actuelles 'de l'autre' qui s'appuient sur des marqueurs d'identité existants et des concepts tels que la ‘Rwandophonie’ et la ‘Balkanisation', lesquels continuent d'alimenter le présent conflit d'identité dans les Kivu. À ce propos, la période de 1990 à 1996 était particulièrement décisive dans l'émergence d'identités opposées et de radicalisation simultanée du discours politique du Congo. Du point de vue de la presse de Kinshasa, cet article reconstruit la manière dont l'utilisation des souvenirs sélectifs, les revendications et les visions mythico-historiques du passé ont contribué à la structuration de la formation identitaire des Rwandophones.

Mots-clés : Congo ; identité ; Rwandophones ; Rwanda ; Balkanisation ; Kivus
Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine for Preventing Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Hospitalizations in Adults, 2011–2012 Influenza Season
Authors: Talbot H. Keipp , Zhu Yuwei , Chen Qingxia , Williams John V. , Thompson Mark G. , Griffin Marie R. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
During the 2011–2012 influenza season, we enrolled hospitalized adults with acute respiratory illness and tested each for influenza using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Influenza vaccination was verified in 35% (6/17) of adults with influenza-associated hospitalizations compared to 64% (97/152) of test-negative controls; adjusted vaccine effectiveness was 71.4% (95% confidence interval, 17.1%–94.9%).
1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Studies of Water Mobility in Dough Systems Containing Barley Flour
Authors: Lu Zhanhui , Seetharaman Koushik 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTThis study used 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin‐spin relaxation time (T2) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements of unfreezable water content (UFW), to assess water behavior in freshly prepared (25°C), refrigerator‐stored (4°C, one day), or freezer‐stored (–35°C, one day) doughs containing 5, 10, or 30% whole grain, air‐classified β‐glucan‐diminished, and air‐classified β‐glucan‐enriched (BGB‐E) barley flours. Three populations of water were detected by NMR, depending on moisture content of dough, namely, tightly (T21, 2–5 msec), less tightly (T22, 20–50 msec), and weakly (T23, 100–200 msec) bound water. T22 peak was always detectable, and T22 peak time linearly correlated to moisture content of dough in a range of 0.7–2.0 g/g db (r = 0.99, P < 0.05). Freezer storage showed less effect on water mobility in dough compared with refrigerator storage, whereas cooking and cool storage of cooked dough significantly decreased the water mobility (P < 0.05). Adding barley flour steadily decreased the water mobility in dough, and the reduction was more significant with adding BGB‐E (P < 0.05). Immobile water content was calculated by extrapolating T22 peak time versus total moisture content in dough and significantly correlated to the UFW content measured by DSC (r = 0.72, P < 0.05).
Sevoflurane Preconditioning Attenuates the Fall in Adenosine Triphosphate Levels, but Does Not Alter the Changes in Sodium and Potassium Levels during Hypoxia in Rat Hippocampal Slices
Authors: Esenther Brandon R. , Ge Zhijun , Meng Fanli , Cottrell James E. , Kass Ira S. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackground:Sevoflurane preconditioning improves recovery after hypoxia. Sevoflurane administered before and during hypoxia improved recovery and attenuated the changes in intracellular sodium, potassium, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels during hypoxia. In this study, the authors examine the effects of sevoflurane applied only before hypoxia on sodium, potassium, and ATP.Methods:Hippocampal slices from adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were pretreated with 4% sevoflurane, washed, and then subjected to hypoxia (n ≥ 8 animals/group). The cornus ammonis 1 regions of the hippocampal slices were micro-dissected and sodium, potassium, and ATP concentrations measured.Results:Pretreatment with sevoflurane for 15 or 60 min did not attenuate the increase in intracellular sodium or the decrease in intracellular potassium during hypoxia. After 60 min of preconditioning and 5 min of hypoxia, sodium increased 57% (vs. nonpreconditioned hypoxia 54% increase) and potassium decreased 31% (vs. 26%). These changes were not statistically significant versus untreated hypoxia. The 60-min sevoflurane preconditioning group had statistically significant higher ATP levels at 5 min of hypoxia (3.8 nmol/mg dry wt.) when compared to untreated hypoxic tissue (2.1 nmol/mg). There was no significant difference in ATP levels between the sevoflurane preconditioned and the untreated tissue before hypoxia (8.9 vs. 8.5 nmoles/mg, respectively).Conclusion:Preconditioning with sevoflurane for 60 min before hypoxia does not alter changes in intracellular sodium and potassium during hypoxia but does attenuate the fall in intracellular ATP levels during hypoxia. Thus, there are differences between anesthetic preconditioning and when anesthetics are present before and during hypoxia.
Burden of Illness and Use of Health Care Services Before and After Celiac Disease Diagnosis in Children
Authors: Mattila Eeva , Kurppa Kalle , Ukkola Anniina , Collin Pekka , Huhtala Heini , Forma Leena , Lähdeaho Marja‐Leena , Kekkonen Leila , Mäki Markku , Kaukinen Katri 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTObjectives:Prevalence of celiac disease in children is approximately 1%, but most patients remain unrecognized by reason of variable clinical presentation. Undetected patients may have an increased burden of illness and use of health care services because of nonspecific complaints. We investigated these issues prospectively in newly detected patients with celiac disease before and after diagnosis in a large nationwide cohort of children.Methods:A validated questionnaire was sent to consecutive families whose children had been diagnosed as having celiac disease within 1 year. The survey contained questions about the use of medical consultations, on‐demand drugs, vitamins and herbal products, children's absenteeism from day care or school and, parents' work absenteeism. A follow‐up questionnaire was sent after 1 year of receiving a gluten‐free diet.Results:A total of 132 families responded. A total of 44 children were diagnosed because of gastrointestinal and 88 because of extraintestinal symptoms or by risk‐group screening. On treatment, outpatient visits to primary health care decreased from a mean of 3.0 to 1.3 visits per year (P < 0.001), the number of hospitalizations from 0.2 to 0.1 (P = 0.008), and antibiotic prescriptions from 1.0 to 0.5/year (P < 0.001). Visits to secondary and tertiary health care increased from 0.6 to 1.4 (P < 0.001), mostly for celiac surveillance. Use of vitamins, micronutrients, and herbal products increased from 7.3 to 10.2 pills per month (P = 0.028).Conclusions:Implementation of a gluten‐free diet resulted in reduced use of health care services and antibiotic prescriptions in children. Our findings support active case‐finding and risk‐group screening for celiac disease.
Increasing Incidence of Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Northern Stockholm County, 2002–2007
Authors: Malmborg Petter , Grahnquist Lena , Lindholm Johan , Montgomery Scott , Hildebrand Hans 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTObjectives:A sharp increase in paediatric (younger than 16 years) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence was observed in northern Stockholm County, Sweden, in 1990–2001. The increasing incidence was primarily explained by a rising incidence of Crohn disease (CD). Here, we present an update on the trends in incidence of paediatric IBD, 2002–2007.Method:Medical records of all children diagnosed as having suspected IBD in northern Stockholm County, 2002–2007, were scrutinised using defined diagnostic criteria. Disease extension, localisation, and behaviour at diagnosis were classified within the framework of the Paris classification.Result:A total of 133 children were diagnosed as having IBD 2002–2007 corresponding to a sex‐ and age‐standardised incidence (per 105 person‐years) for paediatric IBD of 12.8 (95% CI 10.8–15.2). The standardised incidence was 9.2 (95% CI 7.5–11.2) for CD and 2.8 (95% CI 1.9–4.0) for ulcerative colitis (UC). A significant increasing incidence of UC (P < 0.05) was observed during the study period. No temporal trend was observed for the incidence of CD.Conclusions:The incidence rate of paediatric IBD in northern Stockholm was significantly higher in 2002–2007 than that observed in our earlier study covering 1990–2001. The former sharp increase in incidence of paediatric CD seems, however, to have levelled out, although at a higher rate than reported from most other regions in the world. Although CD was still predominant, the observed increase in incidence of UC during the study period is notable.
Prosthecate sphingomonads: proposal of

Sphingomonas

canadensis sp. nov.
Authors: Abraham Wolf-Rainer , Estrela Andréia Bergamo , Rohde Manfred , Smit John , Vancanneyt Marc 
Published: March 2013

Two stalked, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive rod-shaped isolates, VKM B-1508 ( = CB 258) and FWC47T, were analysed using a polyphasic approach. While the morphology and the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain VKM B-1508 were 100 % identical to the ones of

Sphingomonas leidyi

DSM 4733T, the morphology of FWC47T was different, and the closest recognized species were

Sphingomonas oligophenolica

S213T ( = DSM 17107T) and

Sphingomonas leidyi

DSM 4733T with 97.2 % and 97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization studies supported the differentiation of strain FWC47T from

S. oligophenolica

and

S. leidyi

. Strain FWC47T grew optimally at 28–30 °C, and pH 6.0–8.0. The major respiratory quinone was Q10 and the major polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω6c and C18 :
1ω7c and C15 : 0 2-OH was the major 2-hydroxy fatty acid. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyldimethylethylamine and unidentified sphingoglycolipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain FWC47T was 67.1 mol%. Strain FWC47T differed from

S. leidyi

by its ability to assimilate l-alanine, maltose and sucrose, by the presence of β-galactosidase and α-chymotrypsin, and the lack of valine arylamidase and β-glucosidase activities. Contrary to

S. leidyi

, FWC47T did not reduce nitrate and could not use fructose, acetate and N-acetyl-glusosamine. In the genus

Sphingomonas

, the dimorphic life cycle involving a prosthecate sessile and a flagellated swarmer cell was hitherto only known from

Sphingomonas leidyi

. Therefore, strain FWC47T represents an additional distinct prosthecate species in this genus for which the name

Sphingomonas

canadensis is proposed. The type strain is FWC47T ( = LMG 27141T = CCUG 62982T).
Weaving webs of innovation
Authors: Fox Gavin L. , Smith Jeffery S. , Cronin J. Joseph , Brusco Michael 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis research aims to utilize a social network analysis approach to examine the effect of organizational position within a network of strategic partnerships on innovation as measured by perceptions of industry analysts. Specifically, the purpose of the paper is to examine how network characteristics such as degree centrality (being centrally located in a network), between centrality (being positioned as an intermediary), and closeness centrality (having a short average distance to all other firms in the network) affect the innovation ranking of the focal firm.Design/methodology/approachData for 563 firms are generated from three distinct data sources (SDC Platinum: Alliances and Joint Ventures, COMPUSTAT, and Fortune's America's Most Admired Companies) and analyzed via social network analysis and linear regression.FindingsThe network characteristics of degree centrality and between centrality positively relate to industry perceptions or innovativeness whereas closeness centrality had no significant effect. Additionally, there were no discernable differences in innovativeness when comparing manufacturing firms to service organizations.Research limitations/implicationsInsignificant findings related to closeness centrality and the good/service differential may be attributable to the data sources, in that, the information is limited to firms within the respective sources. This data limitation may limit the potential of examining the effect of all network characteristics. Additionally, some included companies participate in multiple industries (i.e., have multiple SIC codes), which may serve as the blurring of any differences between good and service firms.Practical implicationsThe results highlight the importance of considering strategic partnerships that establish configurations of partnership webs when pursuing innovation activities. Specifically, the findings suggest that firms should seek numerous strategic partnerships (high degree centrality) and attempt to broker information or control the extent to which partners collaborate (high between centrality). These results provide insights for firms seeking to establish new supply‐chain relationships in order to enhance their level of innovation.Originality/valueThis research provides a unique empirical examination of the impact of network positional characteristics on the innovativeness of a focal firm.
An interview with Wickham Skinner, Emeritus Professor at Harvard Business School
Authors: Brown Steve 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe aim of this series of papers is to offer key insights from eminent professors or practitioners within the field of Operations Management. This is the second of a series of interviews with “Operations Masters” and future contributions will include a range of inputs from manufacturing and services, private and public sectors. This series aims to provide an important contribution to the understanding of the strategic importance of operations management in a range of settings.Design/methodology/approachAn interview with Professor Wickham, Emeritus Professor at Harvard Business School, a leading international figure in the field of operations management, whose contribution to operations manufacturing/strategy has been cited as seminal. The interview was conducted by Professor Steve Brown, Editor‐in‐Chief of International Journal of Operations & Production Management.FindingsWickham Skinner explains how he developed his reasoning behind his Harvard Business Review articles and books. He also describes how courses were developed at Harvard Business School to reflect the changing nature of business. He examines some of the challenges facing academics and practitioners alike in highly competitive, global business environments.Originality/valueProfessor Wickham Skinner is a leading international figure in the field of manufacturing and operations strategy. In this interview he offers key insights into how he first developed the notion of operations as a corporate concern. The message is highly relevant to academics and practitioners today.
ISO 9001 certification pay‐off: myth versus reality
Authors: Sampaio Paulo , Saraiva Pedro , Monteiro Ana 
Published: March 2013

PurposeDespite all the studies carried out in order to analyze the impact of quality management systems' implementation and certification on companies' financial performance, conclusions reached so far have a contradictory nature. Some authors conclude that there is a positive relationship between ISO 9001 certification and companies' financial improvement, while others do not find evidence to support such a relationship. The purpose of this paper is to present the main results derived from a research project developed in order to analyze the economical impact of quality management system implementation and certification on companies' performance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper describes the results obtained from studying the economic impact of quality management systems, based on the adoption of a case study methodology. The authors' goal was to reconstruct the companies' financial history with the aim of identifying the benefits and costs directly related to their quality management systems. The analyzed time period ranged from the year when the company decided to implement its quality management system up to the present.FindingsResults show that it is not unanimous that certified companies would be less profitable if they had not implemented their quality management systems.Originality/valueThis paper tries to be an important contribution to the worldwide research related to the quality management systems' impact on companies' financial performance.