bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of neuromuscular abnormalities in neurotrophin‐3‐deficient mice
Authors: Sheard Philip W. , Bewick Guy S. , Woolley Adele G. , Shaw Jacqueline , Fisher Lorryn , Fong Sitt Wai , Duxson Marilyn J. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractNeurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) is a trophic factor that is essential for the normal development and maintenance of proprioceptive sensory neurons and is widely implicated as an important modulator of synaptic function and development. We have previously found that animals lacking NT‐3 have a number of structural abnormalities in peripheral nerves and skeletal muscles. Here we investigated whether haploinsufficiency‐induced reduction in NT‐3 resulted in impaired neuromuscular performance and synaptic function. Motor nerve terminal function was tested by monitoring the uptake/release of the fluorescent membrane dye FM1‐43 by the electrophysiological examination of synaptic transmission and electron microscopic determination of synaptic vesicle density at the presynaptic active zone. We investigated skeletal muscle form and function by measuring force in response to both nerve‐mediated and direct muscle stimulation and by quantification of fiber number and area from transverse sections. Synaptic transmission was not markedly different between the two groups, although the uptake and release of FM1‐43 were impaired in mature NT‐3‐deficient mice but not in immature mice. The electron microscopic examination of mature nerve terminals showed no genotype‐dependent variation in the number of synaptic vesicles near the active zone. NT‐3+/− mice had normal soleus muscle fiber numbers but their fibers had smaller cross‐sectional areas and were more densely‐packed than wild‐type littermates. Moreover, the muscles of adult NT‐3‐deficient animals were weaker than those of wild‐type animals to both nerve and direct muscle stimulation. The results indicate that a reduction in NT‐3 availability during development impairs motor nerve terminal maturation and synaptic vesicle recycling and leads to a reduction in muscle fiber diameter.
Lagged cells in the inferior colliculus of the awake ferret
Authors: Shechter Barak , Marvit Peter , Depireux Didier A. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractNeurons in the primary auditory cortex (AI) encode complex features of the spectral content of sound, such as direction selectivity. Recent findings of temporal symmetry in AI predict a specific organization of the subcortical input into the cortex that contributes to the emergence of direction selectivity. We demonstrate two subpopulations of neurons in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus, which differ in their steady‐state temporal response profile: lagged and non‐lagged. The lagged cells (23%) are shifted in temporal phase with respect to non‐lagged cells, and are characterized by an ‘inhibition first’ and delayed excitation in their spectro‐temporal receptive fields. Non‐lagged cells (77%) have a canonical ‘excitation first’ response. However, we find no difference in the response onset latency to pure tone stimuli between the two subpopulations. Given the homogeneity of tonal response latency, we predict that these lagged cells receive inhibitory input mediated by cortical feedback projections.
Counterproductive Work Behavior and Organisational Citizenship Behavior: Are They Opposite Forms of Active Behavior?
Authors: Spector Paul E. , Fox Suzy 
Published: December 2009

We question the common supposition that active acts of counterproductive work behavior (CWB) and organisational citizenship behavior (OCB) are negatively related in that people who perform one tend not to perform the other, and that they tend to relate oppositely to potential antecedents. We argue that under some circumstances these active behaviors may occur together or sequentially. Using an emotion focused framework, we discuss five situations that lead from one form of behavior to the other: Understimulation at work, co‐worker lack of performance, organisational constraints, lack of expected rewards for OCB, and unjustified (to the actor) acts of CWB. Finally, we provide suggestions for studying these behaviors episodically as opposed to aggregating frequencies of behavior over extended periods of time.Nous mettons en doute l'idée commune selon laquelle les actions relevant d'un comportement professionnel contre‐productif (CWB) et les conduites citoyennes dans l'organisation (OCB) sont négativement corrélées en ce sens que les individus qui adopteraient les unes auraient tendance à se détourner des autres et qu'elles seraient liées en sens contraire aux antécédents potentiels. Nous pensons que dans certains cas ces comportements actifs peuvent émerger conjointement ou à la suite les uns des autres. A partir d'un schéma centré sur l'émotion, nous analysons cinq situations qui orientent d'une forme de comportement vers l'autre: le manque de stimulants au travail, les médiocres performances d'un collègue, les contraintes organisationnelles, l'absence des gratifications attendues pour l'OCB et des actions de CWB injustifiées (contre l'acteur). Nous proposons enfin d'étudier ces conduites sur des laps de temps définis plutôt que d'additionner des occurrences de comportement sur de longues périodes.
The Role of Resource Flexibility in Leveraging Strategic Resources
Authors: Combs James G. , Ketchen, Jr David J. , Ireland R. Duane , Webb Justin W. 
Published: December 2009

abstractRecent advances in resource‐based theory suggest that the ways managers use strategic actions to leverage resources has important influences on firms' resulting competitive advantages. However, theory dealing with the nature of leveraging remains underdeveloped. We develop the notion that strategic actions that successfully leverage one resource might not leverage another resource. In particular, our theorizing distinguishes between flexible resources that can be leveraged in new markets and rigid resources that must be leveraged in their current market. Using data from the restaurant industry, we find evidence that top management team experience (a flexible resource) can be profitably leveraged by franchising, but that attempting to leverage specific knowledge (a rigid resource) through either franchising or multi‐chaining weakens performance. Our theory and results help explain how different types of resources can be leveraged using different strategic actions.
Path Dependence or Path Creation?
Authors: Garud Raghu , Kumaraswamy Arun , Karnøe Peter 
Published: December 2009

abstractWe discuss the assumptions that underlie path dependence, as defined by Vergne and Durand, and then provide the outlines of an alternative perspective which we label as path creation. Path creation entertains a notion of agency that is distributed and emergent through relational processes that constitute phenomena. Viewed from this perspective, ‘initial conditions’ are not given, ‘contingencies’ are emergent contexts for action, ‘self‐reinforcing mechanisms’ are strategically manipulated, and ‘lock‐in’ is but a temporary stabilization of paths in‐the‐making. We develop these points using a narrative approach and highlight the theoretical and methodological implications of our perspective.
Co‐operativity in agonist binding at the D2dopamine receptor: evidence from agonist dissociation kinetics
Authors: Kara Elodie , Lin Hong , Strange Philip G. 
Published: December 2009

J. Neurochem.(2010)112, 1442–1453.AbstractThere is much evidence to suggest that G protein coupled receptors exist as oligomers but the relevance to their function is unclear. We have, therefore, examined the binding of the radiolabelled agonist [3H]NPA to membranes of CHO cells expressing the D2dopamine receptor in dissociation rate experiments. When [3H]NPA dissociation was started by dilution, the dissociation rate in the absence of sodium ions was unaffected by addition of the antagonist/inverse agonist (+)‐butaclamol, but was accelerated by addition of agonists e.g. dopamine, suggesting that the receptor was not behaving as a monomer with a single binding site. The very low efficacy partial agonist, aripiprazole provided an intermediate level of acceleration of dissociation. [3H]NPA dissociation experiments started by addition of ligands without dilution gave a similar pattern. [3H]NPA dissociation could also be accelerated by GTP. Dissociation of [3H]NPA in the presence of GTP and dopamine provided a greater acceleration than for either modulator alone, suggesting synergistic effects related to receptor/G protein interaction. When [3H]NPA dissociation experiments were performed in the presence of sodium ions, dissociation was faster than in their absence but the rate still depended on the ligand present in the assay. Overall the data cannot be explained by a ternary complex model and are consistent with an oligomeric receptor in which binding of [3H]NPA, as an example of an agonist ligand, can be modulated co‐operatively by ligands binding elsewhere in the oligomer. Interactions with G proteins also occurs providing further modulation of [3H]NPA binding. Both agonists and G proteins are proposed to modulate the oligomer by switching high affinity agonist binding sites to low affinity sites.
Quercetin and its major metabolites selectively modulate cyclic GMP‐dependent relaxations and associated tolerance in pig isolated coronary artery
Authors: Suri S , Liu XH , Rayment S , Hughes DA , Kroon PA , Needs PW , Taylor MA , Tribolo S , Wilson VG 
Published: December 2009

Background and purpose: Quercetin is a major flavonoid that contributes to the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease associated with dietary ingestion of fruits and vegetables. We have pharmacologically characterized the effect of quercetin, and its sulphate and glucuronide metabolites, on vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses in the porcine isolated coronary artery.Experimental approach: Segments of the porcine coronary artery were prepared for either isometric tension recording or determination of cyclic GMP content. The effect of quercetin and metabolites on submaximal responses to U46619 was examined in the presence and absence of substance P, bradykinin, forskolin, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN).Key results: Quercetin and quercetin 3′‐sulphate inhibited endothelin and U46619‐induced contractions with greater potency (three‐ to fivefold) against the former, while quercetin 3‐glucoronide was inactive. Quercetin enhanced both the cyclic GMP content of the artery (threefold) and cyclic GMP‐dependent relaxations to GTN and SNP (two to threefold), but forskolin‐induced relaxations were unaffected. Although the effect of quercetin was qualitatively similar to that noted for UK‐114,542, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5, it was still evident against SNP‐induced relaxations in the presence of 10 nM UK‐114,542. Quercetin and quercetin 3′‐sulphate significantly reduced the development of GTN‐associated ‘tolerance’.Conclusions and implications: Quercetin and quercetin 3′‐sulphate inhibited receptor‐mediated contractions of the porcine isolated coronary artery by an endothelium‐independent action. Quercetin selectively enhanced cyclic‐GMP‐dependent relaxations by a mechanism not involving phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition. In addition, quercetin and quercetin 3′‐sulphate opposed GTN‐induced tolerancein vitro, which may be beneficial for patients treated for angina pectoris.
Stimulation of adenosine A2Breceptors induces interleukin‐6 secretion in cardiac fibroblasts via the PKC‐δ–P38 signalling pathway
Authors: Feng Wei , Song Yao , Chen Chao , Lu Zhi Zhen , Zhang Youyi 
Published: December 2009

Background and purpose: Inflammatory response and cytokine activation are markedly stimulated after myocardial infarction, and contribute to cardiac remodelling. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), a pro‐inflammatory cytokine, has pleiotropic effects on cardiac remodelling. Adenosine, released by all cell types, binds to a class of G protein‐coupled receptors to induce various cardiovascular effects. The aim of this work was to investigate whether activation of adenosine receptors, particularly A2Badenosine receptors, could stimulate IL‐6 secretion in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs).Experimental approach: elisawas used to assess IL‐6 concentration in supernatant, and immunostaining was used to analyse IL‐6 protein level in CFs. The levels of phosphorylated and total p38, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase and protein kinase C‐δ (PKC‐δ) were determined by Western blot analysis.Key results: Adenosine‐5′‐N‐ethyluronamide (NECA), a stable adenosine analogue, dose‐ and time‐dependently stimulated IL‐6 secretion in CFs. The effect of NECA was dose‐dependently inhibited by an A2Bantagonist, and silencing of the A2Breceptor also inhibited IL‐6 secretion. By using PKC isoform‐selective inhibitors and translocation peptide inhibitors, the PKC‐δ isoform was found to be involved in the up‐regulation of IL‐6 production. Inhibition of p38 by SB203580, and adenoviral transfer of dominant‐negative p38 inhibited NECA‐induced IL‐6 production. Furthermore, PKC‐δ functioned as an upstream regulator of p38 MAPK in this process.Conclusions and implications: We demonstrated a novel relationship between adenosine and IL‐6 secretion, in that IL‐6 secretion induced by NECA was mediated by adenosine A2Breceptor activation in CFs and was dependent on a PKCδ–P38 pathway.This article is commented on by Cohenet al., pp. 1595–1597 of this issue. To view this commentary visithttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2010.00668.x
A clinical investigation into the microbiological status of ‘locally infected’ leg ulcers
Authors: Cooper Rose A , Ameen Hanar , Price Patricia , McCulloch Dorothy A , Harding Keith G 
Published: December 2009

Cooper RA, Ameen H, Price P, McCulloch DA, Harding KG. A clinical investigation into the microbiological status of ‘locally infected’ leg ulcersThe complex interactions between patients and the microbial species that reside in their wounds are not yet fully characterised. Investigations to date have dealt with either those organisms that cause infections or those that establish long‐term colonisations. The objective of this open, prospective pilot study was to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the microbiological status of ‘locally infected’ venous leg ulcers. Three different sampling techniques were used to recover organisms from 20 venous leg ulcers that had failed to progress towards healing and comparisons made to explore the distribution of colonised flora within the wound. In total, 116 isolates were recovered (mean of 5·8 per ulcer) with highest recovery rates seen with swabs. Greatest agreement of colonisation and counts was found between swabs and absorbent polyvinyl acetate (PVA) foam disc, and also between PVA discs and biopsies. Lowest agreement was between the distribution of anaerobes and coryneforms in swabs and biopsies, suggesting uneven vertical distribution within ulcers. No justification for using routine biopsies in locally infected venous leg ulcers was found.
Peritonitis Associated With Pasteurella multocida: Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Etiology
Authors: Satomura Atsushi , Yanai Mitsuru , Fujita Takayuki , Arashima Yasutomo , Kumasaka Kazunari , Nakane Chie , Ito Ken , Fuke Yoshinobu , Maruyama Takashi , Maruyama Noriaki , Okada Kazuyoshi , Nakayama Tomohiro , Matsumoto Koichi 
Published: December 2009

AbstractA patient on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis for chronic kidney disease due to type 2 diabetes mellitus developed peritoneal dialysis‐associated peritonitis induced by Pasteurella multocida that was isolated from a sample of dialysis effluent. The route of infection was unknown for this case; however, P. multocida was also isolated from a culture of a pharyngeal swab obtained from the patient's cat. There was no evidence that the cat had bitten and ruptured the peritoneal dialysis tubing or bags. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed that the P. multocida isolated from the patient was completely identical to the strain isolated from the domestic cat. As there is a rise in the pet‐keeping population, an increase in zoonoses is to be expected. It is necessary to be carefully informed of hygiene rules in keeping pets because a pet may transmit zoonoses, even on casual contact.
Diffractive microlensing – I. Flickering planetesimals at the edge of the Solar system
Authors: Heyl Jeremy 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Microlensing and occultation are generally studied in the geometric optics limit. However, diffraction may be important when recently discovered Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) occult distant stars. In particular, the effects of diffraction become more important as the wavelength of the observation and the distance to the KBO increase. For sufficiently distant and massive KBOs or Oort cloud objects not only is diffraction important but so is gravitational lensing. For an object similar to Eris but located in the Oort cloud, the signature of gravitational lensing would be detected easily during an occultation and would give constraints on the mass and radius of the object.
Governance of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials: Principles, Regulation, and Renegotiating the Social Contract
Authors: Kimbrell George A. 
Published: December 2009

How should we oversee new and emerging technologies and their products? What lessons can we discern from existing regulatory examples and from past mistakes? How do these lessons learned translate into informed recommendations for adequate oversight for nanotechnology to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past? The investigators of this interdisciplinary project undertook this endeavor intending to answer these questions among others.In parallel with the project team putting together this symposium, another, very different process on the oversight of nanotechnology took place. An international coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed to address the nanotech policy dialogue. The first goal of this NGO group was to agree upon and draft fundamental principles of oversight, which it completed in 2007-08. These principles close with a call for their adoption and/or internalization by all relevant actors and bodies. In effect, they serve a function in the policy dialogue similar to that of this project’s forthcoming recommendations.
Opioid Contracts and Random Drug Testing for People with Chronic Pain — Think Twice
Authors: Collen Mark 
Published: December 2009

It is common for physicians who prescribe opioids for chronic pain to have their patients sign an opioid contract (OC) in order to receive opioid therapy. A vast majority of these contracts contain a stipulation requiring patients to submit to random drug testing (RDT) which screens for both licit and illicit drugs. Physicians who prescribe opioids may be concerned about prosecution and disciplinary actions; medication abuse and misuse; and addiction. Steven Passik et al. write, “…physicians still fear the risk of abuse or addiction as well as the potential legal consequences of their prescribing.”Issues surrounding OC/RDT need a closer look with a focus on enforceability and efficacy of the opioid contract; accuracy and complications of drug screens and their interpretation; and the importance of trust between patient and physician. In addition, it is vital to dispel fears with facts regarding prosecutions, nonmedical use of prescription opioids, and addiction.
What determines interbank competition? And why should we care?
Authors: Colvin Christopher Louis 
Published: December 2009

Abstract.Traditional measures of competition are inappropriate for banking markets and there exists no consensus alternative measure. As a direct consequence, the empirical relationship between interbank competition and financial stability remains unclear. This paper adopts ideas from the new industrial organisation literature to measure interbank competition in the early twentieth‐century Dutch rural market for small‐scale deposits using newly collected data. It finds that transaction and information switching costs are both important sources of banks' market power.
Family Networks of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Appalachia
Authors: Pancoska Petr , Buch Shama , Cecchetti Alfred , Parmanto Bambang , Vecchio Marcella , Groark Stephen , Paulsen Stephanie , Bardwell Genevieve , Morton Cathy , Chester Ann , Branch Robert 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe prevalence of obesity and diabetes has been studied in adolescent and adult populations in poor, medically underserved rural Appalachia of West Virginia. A web‐based questionnaire about obesity and diabetes was obtained in 989 family members of 210 Community Based Clinical Research (CBPR) trained adolescent members of a network of 18 science clubs, incorporating 142 families. After age‐correction in < 20 years old, 50% of both adolescents and adults were obese. The frequency distribution of obesity was trimodal. In the overall population 10.4% had type 2 diabetes, while 24% of adult, obese subjects had type 2 diabetes. A new metric, the family diabetes risk potential, identified a trimodal distribution of risk potential. In the lowest most common distribution 43% of families had a diabetic family member. In the intermediate distribution, 69% had a diabetic family member, and in the distribution with highest scores all the families had a diabetic member. In conclusion, the poorest counties of rural Appalachia are at crisis level with the prevalence of obesity and diabetes. The distribution of age‐corrected obesity and family diabetes risk potential are not normally distributed. We suggest that targeting individual family units at greatest risk offers the most efficient strategy for ameliorating this epidemic.
Willem Dicke. Brilliant Clinical Observer and Translational Investigator. Discoverer of the Toxic Cause of Celiac Disease
Authors: Yan David , Holt Peter R. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractWe can admire and learn from physicians with acute clinical acumen and superb approaches to translational research. The observations and studies of Dr. Willem Dicke, a Dutch pediatrician, on the toxic effects of a protein component of wheat and rye demonstrate the highest quality of such investigations. From a clinical observation of one child with celiac disease, through years of historical questioning and empirical dietary suggestions of patient families, he concluded that such foods were toxic. When research became possible after the second world war and fecal fat measures as a hard end point became available he studied 5 children in detail to establish the validity of his clinical clues.