bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self‐disclosure to the best friend: Friendship quality and internalized sexual stigma in Italian lesbian and gay adolescents
Authors: Baiocco Roberto , Laghi Fiorenzo , Di Pomponio Ileana , Nigito Concetta Simona 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTThis study is the first contribution to the understanding of gender differences in best friendship patterns of adolescents sexual minorities. We explored friendship patterns, self‐disclosure, and internalized sexual stigma in an Italian sample of lesbian (N = 202) and gay (N = 201) adolescents (aged 14–22 years). We found gender differences in cross‐sex and cross‐orientation patterns of best friendship. Gay men (52%) reported more cross‐sex friendships than lesbians (20%). The 52% of participants had cross‐orientation friendships, and no differences were found between lesbians and gay men. Lesbian and gay men with a cross‐orientation best friend showed a lower level of internalized sexual stigma. Gay men with cross‐orientation friendship showed a low level of internalized sexual stigma and less conflict with a best friend. For gay men and lesbian participants, self‐disclosure to the best friend was better predicted by internalized sexual stigma and self‐disclosure. Future studies may provide direct comparisons between heterosexual and sexual minority individuals.
The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol for the termination of pregnancy
Authors: Faúndes Anibal ,   FIGO Working Group on the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and its Consequences
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe combination of 200 mg of mifepristone followed by 25 μg to 800 μg (depending on gestational age) of misoprostol has been shown to be effective for the termination of pregnancy throughout gestation. The dose of misoprostol should be reduced as gestational age increases. Mifepristone is not indicated for induction of labor with a live fetus because there are no data to confirm that it does not have a possible deleterious fetal effect. The course of treatment and prerequisites for medical abortion and recommended mifepristone and misoprostol regimens for different gestational ages are described, along with the side effects, management of complications, and postabortion care. The use of the mifepristone–misoprostol combination regimen for induction of labor in cases of fetal death is also described.
Primary Hyperaldosteronism
Authors: Djajadiningrat-Laanen Sylvia C , Galac Sara , Kooistra Hans 
Published: August 2011

Practical relevance Primary hyperaldosteronism is probably the most common adrenocortical disorder in cats. As in humans, it is often unrecognised, which excludes a potentially large number of cats from appropriate treatment. Patient group Affected cats present at a median age of 13 years (range 5–20 years). A breed or sex predilection has not been documented. The excessive secretion of mineralocorticoids usually leads to hypokalaemia and/or systemic arterial hypertension. Most affected cats present with muscular weakness and/or ocular signs of arterial hypertension. Diagnostics In any cat presenting with hypokalaemia and/or arterial hypertension, other potential causes should be excluded. The ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity (aldosterone:renin ratio) is currently the best screening test for feline primary hyperaldosteronism. Diagnostic imaging is required to differentiate between adrenocortical neoplasia and bilateral hyperplasia, and to detect any distant metastases. Clinical challenges The differentiation between adrenocortical neoplasia and bilateral hyperplasia is imperative for planning optimal therapy, but the limited sensitivity of diagnostic imaging may occasionally pose a problem. For confirmed unilateral primary hyperaldosteronism, unilateral adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice, and offers an excellent prognosis, but potentially fatal intra- and postoperative haemorrhage is a reported complication and risk factors have yet to be identified. Evidence base Only a few case reports are available on which to base the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic approach to feline primary hyperaldosteronism. This article reviews the physiology of aldosterone production and the pathophysiology of primary hyperaldosteronism, and summarises the currently available literature on the feline disease. Practical suggestions are given for the diagnostic investigation of cats with suspected primary hyperaldosteronism.
Brain Abscess in Seven Cats Due to a Bite Wound: MRI Findings, Surgical Management and Outcome
Authors: Costanzo Chiara , Garosi Laurent S , Glass Eric N , Rusbridge Clare , Stalin Catherine E , Volk Holger A 
Published: August 2011

Presentation and lesion localisation Seven adult domestic shorthair cats were presented with a 1- to 6-day history of progressive neurological signs. A focal skin puncture and subcutaneous swelling over the dorsal part of the head were detected on physical examination. Neurological examination indicated lesion(s) in the right forebrain in four cats, multifocal forebrain in one cat, left forebrain in one cat, and multifocal forebrain and brainstem in the remaining cat. In all cats, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a space-occupying forebrain lesion causing a severe mass effect on adjacent brain parenchyma. Clinical approach and outcome All cats were managed with a combination of medical and surgical treatment. At surgery a small penetrating calvarial fracture was detected in all cats, and a tooth fragment was found within the content of the abscess in two cats. The combination of surgical intervention, intensive care and intravenous antimicrobials led to a return to normal neurological function in five cats. Practical relevance As this series of cases indicates, successful resolution of a brain abscess due to a bite injury depends on early recognition and combined used of antimicrobials and surgical intervention. A particular aim of surgery is to remove any skull and foreign body (tooth) fragments that may represent a continuing focus of infection.
Glutathione‐S‐transferase enhances proliferation‐migration and protects against shikonin‐induced cell death in breast cancer cells
Authors: He Shiping , Liao Tsai‐Tsen , Chen Yi‐Ting , Kuo Hsiu‐Maan , Lin Ya‐Ling 
Published: August 2011

AbstractGlutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) is a cytoplasmic protein responsible for detoxification, but the effect of the enzyme on cell biological events, including proliferation and migration, has never been reported. Thus, we evaluated the detoxification effect of in vitro–applied GST on cancer cell proliferation and migration. Assays for proliferation and migration of human breast cancer cells in the presence of GST were carried out. Binding of GST on the surface of the cancer cells was studied by flow cytometry. Detoxification through GST pathway was studied in the presence of shikonin. The effective dosage of GST in enhancement of cell proliferation was 10–50 nM, and the cell migration could be significantly enhanced after 6 hours in the presence of 2–50 nM GST. Therefore, overall cell proliferation and migration could be enhanced in the presence of 10 nM or greater concentration of GST, and 15 μM shikonin‐induced toxification of the cancer cells could be neutralized by 1.0 μM GST. Flow cytometry showed that GST directly bound to the surface of the cancer cells, and this was confirmed by fluorescence confocal microscopic observation. It is concluded that human class π‐GST enhances proliferation and migration of human breast cancer cells by means of direct binding to the cell surface and maintaining cell viability by detoxification.
Finding recurrent copy number alterations preserving within-sample homogeneity
Authors: Morganella Sandro , Pagnotta Stefano Maria , Ceccarelli Michele 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Motivation: Copy number alterations (CNAs) represent an important component of genetic variation and play a significant role in many human diseases. Development of array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) technology has made it possible to identify CNAs. Identification of recurrent CNAs represents the first fundamental step to provide a list of genomic regions which form the basis for further biological investigations. The main problem in recurrent CNAs discovery is related to the need to distinguish between functional changes and random events without pathological relevance. Within-sample homogeneity represents a common feature of copy number profile in cancer, so it can be used as additional source of information to increase the accuracy of the results. Although several algorithms aimed at the identification of recurrent CNAs have been proposed, no attempt of a comprehensive comparison of different approaches has yet been published.
Results: We propose a new approach, called Genomic Analysis of Important Alterations (GAIA), to find recurrent CNAs where a statistical hypothesis framework is extended to take into account within-sample homogeneity. Statistical significance and within-sample homogeneity are combined into an iterative procedure to extract the regions that likely are involved in functional changes. Results show that GAIA represents a valid alternative to other proposed approaches. In addition, we perform an accurate comparison by using two real aCGH datasets and a carefully planned simulation study.
Availability: GAIA has been implemented as R/Bioconductor package. It can be downloaded from the following page http://bioinformatics.biogem.it/download/gaia
Contact: ceccarelli@unisannio.it; morganella@unisannio.it
Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Phloem Loading Strategies and Water Relations in Trees and Herbaceous Plants
Authors: Fu Qiushi , Cheng Lailiang , Guo Yangdong , Turgeon Robert 
Published: August 2011

AbstractMost herbaceous plants employ thermodynamically active mechanisms of phloem loading, whereas in many trees, the mechanism is passive, by diffusion. Considering the different water transport characteristics of herbs and trees, we hypothesized that water relations play a role in the adoption of phloem loading strategies. We measured whole-plant hydraulic conductance (K p), osmolality, concentrations of polar metabolites, and key inorganic ions in recently mature leaves of 45 dicotyledonous species at midafternoon. Trees, and the few herbs that load passively, have low K p, high osmolality, and high concentrations of transport sugars and total polar metabolites. In contrast, herbs that actively load sucrose alone have high K p, low osmolality, and low concentrations of sugars and total polar metabolites. Solute levels are higher in sugar alcohol-transporting species, both herbs and trees, allowing them to operate at lower leaf water potentials. Polar metabolites are largely responsible for leaf osmolality above a baseline level (approximately 300 mm) contributed by ions. The results suggest that trees must offset low K p with high concentrations of foliar transport sugars, providing the motivating force for sugar diffusion and rendering active phloem loading unnecessary. In contrast, the high K p of most herbaceous plants allows them to lower sugar concentrations in leaves. This reduces inventory costs and significantly increases growth potential but necessitates active phloem loading. Viewed from this perspective, the elevation of hydraulic conductance marks a major milestone in the evolution of the herbaceous habit, not only by facilitating water transport but also by maximizing carbon use efficiency and growth.
Interaction of Antiparallel Microtubules in the Phragmoplast Is Mediated by the Microtubule-Associated Protein MAP65-3 inArabidopsis
Authors: Ho Chin-Min Kimmy , Hotta Takashi , Guo Fengli , Roberson Robert W. , Lee Yuh-Ru Julie , Liu Bo 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIn plant cells, microtubules (MTs) in the cytokinetic apparatus phragmoplast exhibit an antiparallel array and transport Golgi-derived vesicles toward MT plus ends located at or near the division site. By transmission electron microscopy, we observed that certain antiparallel phragmoplast MTs overlapped and were bridged by electron-dense materials in Arabidopsis thaliana. Robust MT polymerization, reported by fluorescently tagged End Binding1c (EB1c), took place in the phragmoplast midline. The engagement of antiparallel MTs in the central spindle and phragmoplast was largely abolished in mutant cells lacking the MT-associated protein, MAP65-3. We found that endogenous MAP65-3 was selectively detected on the middle segments of the central spindle MTs at late anaphase. When MTs exhibited a bipolar appearance with their plus ends placed in the middle, MAP65-3 exclusively decorated the phragmoplast midline. A bacterially expressed MAP65-3 protein was able to establish the interdigitation of MTs in vitro. MAP65-3 interacted with antiparallel microtubules before motor Kinesin-12 did during the establishment of the phragmoplast MT array. Thus, MAP65-3 selectively cross-linked interdigitating MTs (IMTs) to allow antiparallel MTs to be closely engaged in the phragmoplast. Although the presence of IMTs was not essential for vesicle trafficking, they were required for the phragmoplast-specific motors Kinesin-12 and Phragmoplast-Associated Kinesin-Related Protein2 to interact with MT plus ends. In conclusion, we suggest that the phragmoplast contains IMTs and highly dynamic noninterdigitating MTs, which work in concert to bring about cytokinesis in plant cells.
The lost scent of Eastern European wines in Western Europe
Authors: Panzone Luca A. 
Published: August 2011

PurposeEastern European countries have an important history of quality and tradition in winemaking. The radical economic modification that the wine sector had to face during communism exposed these countries to various problems during transition, when their market share in Western European markets shrunk. This paper aims to argue that an important cause of the decline is the inability of price to convey information about the quality level of the wine, as from the theory of asymmetric information.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses the econometric theory of hedonic pricing to explore the research question, relating price to the characteristics of the wine, including a quality rating from a respected British wine expert for the year 2006. Results are presented for a sample of 134 wines coming from different Eastern European countries (EEC) sold in the UK. The analysis also tackles the issue of understanding which parameters contributed to the quality level of Eastern European wines, modelling the qualitative description in order to identify the keywords that explains the change in quality level.FindingsThe results show evidence of no correlation between ratings and price in the considered segment of the UK wine market, suggesting an imperfect communication of quality via the price information. Moreover, Romania, which is a very important producing country, has a weak brand value, suggesting the need for restructuring the industry and improving quality management schemes to compete in their newly enlarged destination market. The quality model shows that fruity flavours are those playing a most important role in defining the quality level; hence a more targeted product supply should be encouraged.Originality/valueNo previous research has used hedonic modelling to the case of Eastern European wines. Furthermore, the context used here is to understand the weaknesses of the specific segment, and the tool is used to investigate the loss of competitive advantage of Eastern European products in the UK markets, focusing on the quality/price relation.
Contract award procedures and award criteria in the catering services in Finland
Authors: Tikkanen Irma , Kaleva Hanna 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore what kinds of contract award procedures and award criteria are followed when the municipalities make public procurements in catering services in Finland.Design/methodology/approachThe literary review is related to the concepts of public procurements and, subsequently, interrelated regulations are introduced. Moreover, the municipal catering services are illustrated. Empirical data were collected in the spring of 2009 from the Finnish public procurement journal and from HILMA internet websites concerning the contract notices and the contract award notices between 1 January 2007 and 14 May 2009. The objects of the contract, thresholds, contract award procedures, sectors of contract awards, as well as both the selection and the award criteria were analysed in the contract notices. A total of 34 contract notices were discovered, out of which 24 could be utilised.FindingsThe contract award procedures could be divided into either open procedures or restricted procedures. Maximum budgets in the contract notices consisted of both the types exceeding the EU thresholds or those remaining below it. Concerning the award criteria, the relative weightings (median) concerning the price amounted to 60 per cent, whereas the quality measured 40 per cent.Practical implicationsThe results can be utilised when exploring the competitive tendering in catering services using larger data, and as a guidebook when public catering services are put out to tender.Originality/valueThe dimensions of quality found offer new ideas for procurement authorities as the award criteria.
Developing communities: serving ACE through tertiary education
Authors: Sofo Francesco 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the focus and practice of Adult and Community Education (ACE) as well as its conceptualization and delivery and to suggest parameters for an approach based on excellence, a balanced scorecard and performance to meet community needs.Design/methodology/approachThe review examines key aspects of the field of ACE and its strategic shaping, especially towards professionalization and a masculine‐oriented approach portrayed through Australian tertiary ACE courses.FindingsA new understanding emerged that sees the practice of ACE in tertiary institutions already leading to the professionalization of work roles such as community educators, developers and counsellors. Through universities, ACE has embraced developments in information and communication technology and new productivity agendas without losing its caring approach. A proposed framework suggests that it is time for ACE to be transformed in the modern era, to become more systematized, to collaborate more deeply with universities and to strengthen its ability to balance a nurturing focus with a stronger masculine strategic approach.Originality/valueA new ACE game of hitting winners is being played by Australian universities engaged in the professionalization of ACE through their accredited programmes. These tertiary strategies are fusing the feminine aspects of ACE such as social connectedness and caring with the masculine characteristics of performativity, strategic policy agendas, standards and scientific approaches to quality. ACE should be fully reviewed, improved and integrated better with the new higher education performance approach.
Expectation gaps, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of fresh graduates
Authors: Jusoh Mazuki , Simun Maimun , Choy Chong Siong 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe aim of this research is to attempt to reveal the difference between what fresh graduates expect and their actual experiences pertaining to the working environment.Design/methodology/approachUsing a set of self‐administered questionnaires, data were collected from 128 graduates. They were asked to indicate their preferences on organizational culture, leadership, communication, decision making, team working, motivation, and development. Using the same dimensions, the respondents then reported their actual experiences, thus enabling gaps to be determined.FindingsThe results from paired‐sample t‐tests suggest that significant expectation gaps exist in all the areas surveyed. While communication, decision making and motivation are found to be significantly related to job satisfaction, none of the seven variables is found to be significantly correlated to organizational commitment.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses only on a rather limited sample size of Malaysian graduates; therefore it cannot ensure generalization of results obtained.Practical implicationsThe resulting expectation gaps, and their influence on the graduates' job satisfaction and organizational commitment, have implications for the important roles played by employers, higher learning institutions, and graduate themselves.Originality/valueThis study makes significant contributions in three key areas. First, it is perhaps one of the earliest studies to comprehensively address the issue of expectation gaps using a myriad factors. Second, it is also one of the few that examines the influence of the expectation gaps on job satisfaction and commitment. Third, instead of focusing on employees as a whole, which has been the practice of prior research, this study concentrates only on fresh graduates who have been in the workforce for less than two years.
Performance of building technology graduates in the construction industry in Ghana
Authors: Ayarkwa J. , Dansoh Ayirebi , Adinyira E. , Amoah P. 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the perception of the Ghanaian construction industry of the performance of entry‐level building technology graduates. Also, other non‐technical skills or attributes expected from building technology graduates are to be compared with the actual proficiency of the graduates.Design/methodology/approachThe findings in this paper are based on a series of interviews and structured questionnaire survey of randomly selected contractors and consultants in the Ghanaian construction industry.FindingsThe overall performance of the graduates was considered acceptable by the construction industry. However, much more needed to be done in “coordination” and “scheduling” of site activities by graduates who work as site managers, and in “coordination of site activities” and “issuance of site instructions” for those who work as project managers for contractors. There was a considerable gap between the expectations of the construction industry practitioners and the actual proficiency of building technology graduates in “initiative and creativity”, “practical building knowledge”, “ability to define and solve problems”, and other equally important attributes. The graduates, however, met the expectations of contractors in “computer literacy”, “communication skills”, and “interpersonal skills”, and consultants in “computer literacy” and “leadership capability”.Social implicationsThe results of the study enable entry‐level graduates to realize their deficiencies for continual improvement, and the training institution to develop training curricula responsive to the needs of the industry.Originality/valueEven though results from this study generally show a disparity in the expected and actual proficiency levels of building technology graduates, as frequently reported in the literature, it provides a new insight into this problem by providing evidence to the effect that the problem is only manifest in some specific non‐technical skill requirements.