bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The social psychology of status leveling in organizational contexts
Authors: Morand David A. 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the programs of status leveling – such as through the elimination of executive washrooms, reserved parking, and so forth – are a taken‐for‐granted feature of many workplace involvement and quality improvement programs, yet no prior research has investigated the presumed effects.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual paper enumerates devices commonly used to level status in organizations, and presents a number of propositions intended to capture the major effects. The paper draws on extant literatures from social psychology, sociology, and organizational theory to account for processes and effects of leveling.FindingsLeveling devices lead to several proximate outcomes: increased cross‐status interaction and contact, literal blurring of status, role flexibility, and low power distance perceptions. These in turn mediate the relation between leveling and several broader organizational outcomes, including distributive justice based upon equality, community, communication, and empowerment. Factors moderating the effects of leveling are explored.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the salutary effects of leveling tend to be taken for granted, it is possible to specify how leveling generates specific behavioral, attitudinal, and performance related outcomes. The model should be empirically tested.Practical implicationsThe findings provide managers with a fine‐grained understanding of this important set of organizational practices.Originality/valueNo prior scholarship has focused on this most important topic.
MicroRNA expression profiles of porcine skeletal muscle
Authors: Zhou B. , Liu H. L. , Shi F. X. , Wang J. Y. 
Published: March 2010

SummaryMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non‐coding RNAs of ∼22 nucleotides in length that play important roles in multiple biological processes by degrading targeted mRNAs or repressing mRNA translation. To evaluate the roles of miRNA in porcine skeletal muscle, miRNA expression profiles were investigated using longissimus muscle tissue from pigs at embryonic day 90 (E90) and postpartum day 120 (PD120). First, we used previously known miRNA sequences from humans and mice to perform blast searches against the porcine expressed sequence tag (EST) database; 98 new miRNA candidates were identified according to a range of filtering criteria. These miRNA candidates and 73 known miRNAs (miRBase 13.0) from pigs were chosen for porcine miRNA microarray analysis. A total of 16 newly identified miRNAs and 31 previously known miRNAs were detected in porcine skeletal muscle tissues. During later foetal development at E90, miR‐1826, miR‐26a, miR‐199b and let‐7 were highly expressed, whilst miR‐1a, miR‐133a, miR‐26a and miR‐1826 showed highest abundance during the fast growing stage at PD120. Using the 47 miRNAs detected by the microarray assay, we performed further investigations using the publicly available porcine mRNA database from NCBI and computed potential target hits using the software rnahybrid. This study identified 16 new miRNA candidates, computed potential target hits for 18 miRNA families and determined the miRNA expression profiles in porcine skeletal muscle tissues at different developmental stages. These results provide a valuable resource for investigators interested in post‐transcriptional gene regulation in pigs and related animals.
Development of romiplostim for the treatment of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia: from bench to bedside
Authors: Molineux Graham , Newland Adrian 
Published: March 2010

SummaryImmune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by abnormally low platelet counts (<100 × 109/l), purpura, and bleeding episodes, and can be categorised in three phases: newly‐diagnosed, persistent, and chronic. As many patients become refractory to standard treatments (corticosteroids, danazol, azathioprine, splenectomy), there is an urgent need for alternative treatments. The successful isolation and cloning of thrombopoietin (TPO) in the mid‐1990s and identification of its key role in platelet production was a major breakthrough, rapidly followed by the development of the recombinant thrombopoietins, recombinant human TPO and a pegylated truncated product, PEG‐rHuMGDF. Both agents increased platelet counts but development was halted because of the development of antibodies that cross‐reacted with native TPO, resulting in prolonged treatment‐refractory thrombocytopenia. Experimentation with novel platforms for extending the circulating half‐life of therapeutic peptides by combining them with antibody fragment crystallisable (Fc) constructs led to the development of a new family of molecules termed ‘peptibodies’. The 60Da recombinant peptibody romiplostim was finally produced by linking several copies of an active TPO‐binding peptide sequence to a carrier Fc fragment. In clinical trials, romiplostim was effective in ameliorating thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic ITP, was well tolerated and did not elicit cross‐reacting antibodies. Romiplostim has recently been approved for the treatment of adults with chronic ITP.
Altered membrane glycoprotein targeting in cholestatic hepatocytes
Authors: Liquori Giuseppa Esterina , Mastrodonato Maria , Rossi Roberta , Scillitani Giovanni , Gena Patrizia , Portincasa Piero , Calamita Giuseppe , Ferri Domenico 
Published: March 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (5): 393–400AbstractBackground  Hepatocytes are polarized epithelial cells with three morphologically and functionally distinct membrane surfaces: the sinusoidal, lateral and canalicular surface domains. These domains differ from each other in the expression of integral proteins, which concur to their polarized functions. We hypothesize that the cholestasis‐induced alterations led to partial loss of hepatocyte polarity. An altered expression of membrane proteins may be indicative of functional disorders. Alkaline liver phosphatase (ALP), one of the most representative plasma membrane glycoproteins in hepatocytes, is expressed at the apical (canalicular) pole of the cell. Because the release of ALP protein in the bloodstream is significantly increased in cholestasis, the enzymatic levels of plasma ALP have major relevance in the diagnosis of cholestatic diseases. Here we assess the cholestasis‐induced redistribution of membrane glycoproteins to investigate the ALP release.Materials and methods  We performed enzymatic histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, lectin histochemistry, immunogold and lectin‐and immunoblotting studies. Experimental cholestasis was induced in rats by ligation of common bile duct (BDL).Results  The BDL led to altered membrane sialoglycoprotein targeting as well as to ultrastructural and functional disorders. Disarrangement of the microtubular system, thickening of the microfilamentous pericanalicular ectoplasm and disturbance of the vectorial trafficking of membrane glycoprotein containing vesicles were found.Conclusions  Altogether, results indicate that the cholestasis‐induced partial loss of hepatocyte cell polarity leads to mistranslocation of ALP to the sinusoidal plasma membrane from where the enzyme is then massively released into the bloodstream.
Do maternally derived antibodies and early immune experience shape the adult immune response?
Authors: Addison BriAnne , Ricklefs Robert E. , Klasing Kirk C. 
Published: March 2010

Summary1. Immunological imprinting by maternally derived antibodies has been proposed to have both positive and negative consequences for offspring immunity in early and adult life. However, few studies of maternal effects on immunity have followed individuals past the juvenile stages.2. Using laboratory Japanese quail, we developed a novel method of directly manipulating yolk antibodies of neonates, and then followed individuals through a series of immune challenges until they were of reproductive age.3. Our method of directly injecting purified antibodies into the yolk sac of newly hatched chicks successfully elevated the plasma titres of specific anti‐KLH IgY in neonates. This allows us to test whether differences in neonatal anti‐KLH IgY affect immunity at the juvenile and adult stages of life.4. We found little evidence for an effect of maternal antibodies on juvenile stage immune response, in contrast to results from previous studies. Adult immune response depended largely on the magnitude of the juvenile immune response regardless of the identity of the antigen in the juvenile immune challenge, and did not depend on neonatal IgY titres. Our results are consistent with a priming effect of early immune experience on adult stage immune responsiveness, but we found no evidence of carryover effects of yolk‐derived antibodies on adult immunity.5. This study employs new methodology for investigation of maternal antibodies and presents results suggesting that further studies of maternal effects on immunity will require careful consideration of the numerous ways maternally derived yolk components can impact the different types of immune response.
Surviving climate changes: high genetic diversity and transoceanic gene flow in two arctic–alpine lichens, Flavocetraria cucullata and F. nivalis (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota)
Authors: Geml József , Kauff Frank , Brochmann Christian , Taylor D. L. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAim  We examined genetic structure and long‐distance gene flow in two lichenized ascomycetes, Flavocetraria cucullata and Flavocetraria nivalis, which are widespread in arctic and alpine tundra.Location  Circumpolar North.Methods  DNA sequences were obtained for 90 specimens (49 for F. cucullata and 41 for F. nivalis) collected from various locations in Europe, Asia and North America. Sequences of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) + 5.8S ribosomal subunit gene region were generated for 89 samples, and supplemented by beta‐tubulin (BTUB) and translation elongation factor 1‐alpha gene (EF1) sequences for a subset of F. cucullata specimens. Phylogenetic, nonparametric permutation methods and coalescent analyses were used to assess population divergence and to estimate the extent and direction of migration among continents.Results  Both F. cucullata and F. nivalis were monophyletic, supporting their morphology‐based delimitation, and had high and moderately high intraspecific genetic diversity, respectively. Clades within each species contained specimens from both North America and Eurasia. We found only weak genetic differentiation among North American and Eurasian populations, and evidence for moderate to high transoceanic gene flow.Main conclusions  Our results suggest that both F. cucullata and F. nivalis have been able to migrate over large distances in response to climatic fluctuations. The high genetic diversity observed in the Arctic indicates long‐term survival at high latitudes, whereas the estimated migration rates and weak geographic population structure suggest a continuing long‐distance gene flow between continents that has prevented pronounced genetic differentiation. The mode of long‐distance dispersal is unknown, but wind dispersal of conidia and/or ascospores is probably important in the open arctic landscapes. The high genetic diversity and efficient long‐distance dispersal capability of F. cucullata and F. nivalis suggest that these species, and perhaps other arctic lichens as well, will be able to track their potential niche in the changing Arctic.
Practical limitations to a positive deviance approach for identifying dietary patterns compatible with the reduction of cancer risk
Authors: Vossenaar M. , Bermúdez O. I. , Anderson A. S. , Solomons N. W. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground:  The positive deviance (PD) approach seeks to devise and promote health‐promoting practices identified within the most successful member of a society. The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendations indicate the need for specific dietary behaviours, which may be considered impractical. Thus, it is important to demonstrate ways in which these dietary practices have been achieved from concordant individuals. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of constructing healthy eating guides in four international settings.Methods:  Adult participants from the Netherlands (n = 1052), Scotland (n = 849), Mexico (n = 790) and Guatemala (n = 873) enrolled in an international diet survey project. Participants with inadequate diets and current smokers were excluded from the analysis. Concordance with selected WCRF/AICR individual guideline components related to diet and lifestyle were evaluated. A selection of participants was made towards making a set of 14 rotating menus for a cancer‐prevention healthy‐eating guide.Results:  Overall concordance with the WCRF/AICR recommendations was low in all four nations and no participants with an ideal behaviour were found. The selection of candidates for constructing 14 daily menus for a single national guide identified 51, 13 and 12 individuals concordant with 11 of 14 WCRF/AICR recommendation components in Guatemala, Scotland and Mexico, respectively, and 24 individuals concordant with eight of 14 WCRF/AICR components in the Netherlands.Conclusions:  The basis for PD guidance for developing dietary recommendations for cancer prevention was strong across all social classes in Guatemala, marginal for Mexico and Scotland, and effectively impossible for the Netherlands.
Dietary shortcomings in children on a gluten‐free diet
Authors: Öhlund K. , Olsson C. , Hernell O. , Öhlund I. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground:  Coeliac disease (CD), or permanent gluten intolerance, is one of the most common chronic food‐related diseases among children in Europe and the USA. The treatment is lifelong gluten‐free diet (GFD) (i.e. the exclusion of wheat, rye and barley from the diet, which are important sources particularly of iron, dietary fibre and vitamin B). The present study aimed to evaluate dietary intakes of energy and nutrients in children and adolescents on GFD and compare these with intake of comparable age groups on a normal diet as well as current recommendations.Methods:  Thirty children, 4–17 years of age with confirmed CD and on GFD were agreed to participate in this study at the Department of Pediatrics, Umeå University Hospital. Weight and height were used to calculate individual energy requirement according to Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2004 (NNR‐04). Dietary intake was assessed using 5‐day food records and household measures were used for quantities. Twenty‐five children completed their dietary record.Results:  Thirteen of the 25 children did not meet the recommended energy intake and the dietary intakes were inadequate regarding quality of macronutrients and quantity of minerals and vitamins. The mean intakes of sucrose and saturated fatty acids were above and the intakes of dietary fibre, vitamin D, magnesium and selenium below the NNR‐04. High intakes of sucrose and saturated fat and a low intake of dietary fibre were also noted in a previous national survey on healthy children on a normal diet. The nutrient density of vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, magnesium and selenium were lower among CD children than healthy children but, for iron and calcium, it was higher in CD children.Conclusions:  Children on GFD appear to follow the same trends as healthy children on a normal diet, with high intakes of saturated fat and sucrose and low intakes of dietary fibre, vitamin D and magnesium compared to recommendations.
Expression and localization of BCRP, MRP1 and MRP2 in intestines, liver and kidney in horse
Authors: TYDÉN E. , BJŐRNSTRŐM H. , TJÄLVE H. , LARSSON P. 
Published: March 2010

Tydén, E., Bjőrnstrőm, H., Tjälve, H., Larsson, P. Expression and localization of BCRP, MRP1 and MRP2 in intestines, liver and kidney in horse. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2885.2009.01140.x.The gene and protein expression and the cellular localization of the ABC transport proteins breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), multidrug resistance‐associated protein 1 (MRP1) and multidrug resistance‐associated protein 2 (MRP2) have been examined in the intestines, liver and kidney in horse. High gene and protein expression of BCRP and MRP2 were found in the small intestines, with cellular localization in the apical membranes of the enterocytes. In the liver, MRP2 was present in the bile canalicular membranes of the hepatocytes, whereas BCRP was localized in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in the peripheral parts of the liver lobuli. In the kidney both BCRP and MRP2 were predominantly present in the distal tubuli and in the loops of Henle. In most tissues, the gene and protein expression of MRP1 were much lower than for BCRP and MRP2. Immunostaining of MRP1 was detectable only in the intestines and with localization in the cytoplasm of enterocytes in the caecum and colon and in the cells of serous acini of Brunner’s glands in the duodenum and the upper jejunum. The latter cells were also stained for BCRP, but not for MRP2. Many drugs used in horse are substrates for one or more of the ABC transport proteins. These transporters may therefore have important functions for oral bioavailability, distribution and excretion of substrate compounds in horse.
The timing of mating influences reproductive success in Drosophila melanogaster: implications for sexual conflict
Authors: Long T. A. F. , Pischedda A. , Nichols R. V. , Rice W. R. 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Despite its potential importance, the role of the timing of mating(s) as a source of variation in female lifetime reproductive success has been largely overlooked. Here, using a laboratory-adapted population of the model species Drosophila melanogaster, we explore how temporal variation in the patterns of single and multiple matings influences female fecundity. We find that the boost to fecundity known to occur after a virgin female’s initial mating also extends to subsequent matings as nonvirgins, but only for a short duration. This fecundity boost at least partially offsets the direct costs of multiple matings to females in this population of D. melanogaster. The implications of these results for our understanding of the evolution and maintenance of polyandry in this species are discussed in the context of sexual conflict.
Early Meiotic‐Specific Protein Expression in Post‐natal Rat Ovaries
Authors: Zhang P , Lv LX , Xing WJ 
Published: March 2010

ContentsRecent studies in mice challenged the basic doctrine that most mammalian females lose neo‐oogenesis in post‐natal ovaries. In order to provide more information in other species, we examined post‐natal rat ovaries by histological sections and detected the germline cell marker protein RVLG (rat vasa‐like gene), BrdU (5‐bromodeoxyuridine) incorporation in RVLG‐expressing cells, for identification of germline cells undergoing mitosis and meiosis in the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). We also detected the expression of early meiotic‐specific proteins disruption of meiotic control 1 (DMC1), stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3) by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting, and the transcript of SCP1, SCP3 and Sporulation‐specific protein 11 (SPO11) by RT‐PCR in the pos‐tnatal ovarian cortex. However we failed in detecting large ovoid cells in the OSE, which may represent the putative germline stem cells (GSCs) that are supposed to sustain neo‐oogenesis, and the transcription of the meiotic‐specific genes SCP1, SCP3 and SPO11 by RT‐PCR as well as the translation of DMC1, STRA8 and SCP3 by Western blotting. Our data support the postulation that there is no neo‐oogenesis occurring in the OSE of rat post‐natal ovary through meiosis of GSCs.
Airline policies for passengers with obstructive sleep apnoea who require in‐flight continuous positive airways pressure
Authors: WALKER Jacqueline , KELLY Paul T. , BECKERT Lutz 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the current policies of Australian and New Zealand airlines on the use of in‐flight CPAP by passengers with OSA.Methods:  A survey was conducted of 53 commercial airlines servicing international routes. Information was obtained from airline call centres and websites. The policies, approval schemes and costs associated with in‐flight use of CPAP were documented for individual airlines.Results:  Of the 53 airlines contacted, 28 (53%) were able to support passengers requiring in‐flight CPAP. All these airlines required passengers to bring their own machines, and allowed the use of battery‐operated machines. Six airlines (21%) allowed passengers to plug their machines into the aircraft power supply. The majority of airlines (19, 68%) did not charge passengers for the use of CPAP, while 9 (32%) were unsure of their charging policies. Many airlines only permitted certain models of CPAP machine or battery types.Conclusions:  Many airlines are unaware of CPAP. Those who are, have relatively consistent policies concerning the use of in‐flight CPAP.
Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase‐9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase‐1 and their ratio are associated with impaired lung function in the elderly: A population‐based study
Authors: ÓLAFSDÓTTIR Inga S. , JANSON Christer , LIND Lars , HULTHE Johannes , GUNNBJÖRNSDÓTTIR María , SUNDSTRÖM Johan 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP), regulate homeostasis and turnover of the extra cellular matrix. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of serum MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 with lung function.Methods:  Spirometry was performed in a population‐based sample of 888 subjects aged 70 years. Serum MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 concentrations were measured by ELISA.Results:  Lower FEV1 values were associated with higher serum levels of MMP‐9 (P = 0.001) and TIMP‐1 (P < 0.001), and a higher ratio of MMP‐9 to TIMP‐1 (P = 0.02). These associations were significant after adjustment for gender, weight, height, BMI, current smoking, pack years of smoking and the time for which samples were frozen. After stratification for gender, the associations between FEV1 and MMP‐9, TIMP‐1, and their ratio, were significant in men but not in women.Conclusions:  Lower FEV1 was significantly but weakly associated with higher serum levels of MMP‐9, TIMP‐1 and a higher MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratio. This association was stronger in men than in women, suggesting a possible role for extracellular matrix remodelling in the development of impaired lung function. These associations may also partly explain the association between low FEV1 and cardiovascular disease.