bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Denoising using linear and nonlinear multiresolutions II: cell‐average framework and color images
Authors: Amat Sergio , Ruiz Juan , Carlos Trillo J. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeMultiresolution representations of data are classical tools in image processing applications. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a particular problem, obtaining good reconstructions of noise images.Design/methodology/approachA nonlinear multiresolution scheme within Harten's framework corresponding to a nonlinear cell‐average technique is used for color image denoising.FindingsThis paper finds it is possible, for example, to apply the theoretical framework to case studies in internationally operating companies delivering a mix of goods and services.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study provides a starting point for further research in the denoising problems using nonlinear techniques.Originality/valueMoreover, the proposed framework has proven to be useful in improving the classical linear multiresolution approaches.
Case study of cultural comparison using a simulation game – COSIGA
Authors: Ma Zheng , Lin Chih‐Cheng , Pawar Kul , Riedel Johann 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to implement the simulation game in the cultural comparison study so as to understand the impact of cultural differences on the team interaction.Design/methodology/approachIn order to focus on the factor of “national culture” and avoid other factors which can affect the results, this paper conducted a simulation game – COSIGA – for the data collection and factor control. Two sets of groups were performed to represent two national cultures – the UK and China.FindingsThis paper finds that there is more decision providing in the UK teams and more decision seeking in the China teams. The China teams used a more intuitive process to make decisions, and the UK teams used a more reference process to make decisions. There were more repetitions of the problem‐solving process in the China teams than in the UK teams. The looping problem‐solving process was present in the China teams and the linear problem‐solving process in the UK teams.Originality/valueThis paper presents a case study of cultural comparison using a simulation game. The selection criteria and factor control of the simulation game is outlined for the practical implications.
Organisational challenges of the semantic web in digital libraries: a Norwegian case study
Authors: Bygstad Bendik , Ghinea Gheorghita , Klæboe Geir‐Tore 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine from a socio‐technical point of view the impact of semantic web technology on the strategic, organisational and technological levels. The semantic web initiative holds great promise for the future for digital libraries. There is, however, a considerable gap in semantic web research between the contributions in the technological field and research in the organisational field.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive case study of the National Library of Norway (NL) is conducted, building on two major sources of information: the documentation of the digitising project of the NL; and interviews with nine different stakeholders at three levels of NL's organisation during June to August 2007. Top managers are interviewed on strategy, middle managers and librarians are interviewed regarding organisational issues and ICT professionals are interviewed on technology issues.FindingsThe findings indicate that the highest impact will be at the organisational level. This is mainly because inter‐organisational and cross‐organisational structures have to be established to address the problems of ontology engineering, and a development framework for ontology engineering in digital libraries must be examined.Originality/valueICT professionals and library practitioners should be more mindful of organisational issues when planning and executing semantic web projects in digital libraries. In particular, practitioners should be aware that the ontology engineering process and the semantic meta‐data production will affect the entire organisation. For public digital libraries this probably will also call for a more open policy towards user groups to properly manage the process of ontology engineering.
Editorial: Communities and champions of practice: catalysts for learning and knowing
Authors: Love Peter E.D. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe concept of community of practice is a common parlance in many organisations, but has yet to be utilised as strategic tool by construction organisations to improve the performance of their operations. The purpose of this paper is to how they can be used to improve the performance of projects made.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses the normative literature to develop a proposal for using communities of practice in construction projects.FindingsAn inter‐organisational form of community of practice, known as “champions of practice,” is propagated for use in the construction industry. The “champions of practice” is independent from the project team and comprised of individuals from a learning alliances that have been established. The “champions of practice” is developed as an active know‐how platform to provide advice pertaining to issues of “best practice” that have been accumulated from projects.Originality/valueThe “champions of practice” provides a continuous source of learning and knowledge for all those organisations that have formed a learning alliance. The creation of such a form of community of practice can provide invaluable insights about best practice, which can be formalised and shared in a meaningful and reflective way. It is through proactively sharing knowledge and learning together that the industry can change and obtain the significant improvements that have been asked for by various governments worldwide.
A strategy for managing customer relations on the internet: evidence from the football sector
Authors: Kriemadis Thanos , Kotsovos Andreas , Kartakoullis Nikos 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of how the internet is used as a strategic tool in electronic customer relationship management (e‐CRM) in the football sector. In particular, the research questions this paper addresses are: How can the online environment be described? How are the customers served in this online environment? The first research question provides an overview of the online environment and the second research question describes the services offered in this online environment.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative research is the appropriate approach, in order to collect the required data, as the particular research characterizes a complete and comprehensive view and understanding of a phenomenon in its entity. The research is based on the use of double case study approach combining two data collection methods, participant observation and documentation. This particular research adopts the approach of participant observation and documentation. Primary data are collected through an observation checklist, with the help of browse target web sites related to the study. In order to get additional information about the clubs' specific data, the paper used e‐mails. Secondary data were collected through documents from different sources to verify the collected data. In documentation are used official publications, newspapers, journals, and brochures.FindingsThe study indicates that the design of a web site needs to be viewed primarily as a business task, which is consistent with previous research, not a technical task. The web site design needs to be appropriate to the needs of the club and should focus supporting business goals. Managers need to increase web site self‐problem solving functions. It helps to decrease customer's interactivity with company's representatives. The contents match with the theory mostly. They are match efficient in providing online services but they still need to provide complete shipping information. This study contributes to previous theory since it has investigated the use of the internet in customer relationship management (CRM). However, due to the lack of research concerning the e‐CRM in the football sector this study needs further consideration by collecting data through interviews with CRM managers and fans. Finally, the same study can be conducted on a larger sample of web sites.Originality/valueCRM and internet as strategic tools in the football sector is a new research area and not covered adequately in recent and past publications in recognized international journals.
Effect of syndecan‐1 overexpression on mesenchymal tumour cell proliferation with focus on different functional domains
Authors: Zong F. , Fthenou E. , Castro J. , Péterfia B. , Kovalszky I. , Szilák L. , Tzanakakis G. , Dobra K. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractObjectives:  Syndecan‐1 is a transmembrane proteoglycan involved in various biological processes. Its extracellular, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains may all participate in signal transduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological roles of these domains of syndecan‐1.Materials and methods:  We transfected cells of two mesenchymal tumour cell lines with a full‐length syndecan‐1 construct and three truncated variants, namely 78 construct lacking the EC domain with exception of DRKE sequence; 77 construct lacking extracellular the whole domain and RMKKK corresponding to a short cytoplasmic motif. Subcellular distribution was revealed using confocal laser microscopy. Overexpression of the constructs was verified using real‐time RT‐PCR and by FACS analysis and effects of syndecan‐1 on cell behaviour were explored. Cell cycle analysis allowed for dissection of mechanisms regulating cell proliferation.Results:  Overexpression of syndecan‐1 influenced expression profile of the other syndecan members, and decreased tumour cell proliferation significantly by two mechanisms, as follows: increased length of G0/G1 phase was the most evident change in RMKKK and 77 transfectants, whereas prolonged S phase was more obvious in full‐length transfectants. Overexpression of syndecan‐1 changed the tumour cell morphology in an epithelioid direction.Conclusions:  Both full‐length and truncated syndecan‐1 inhibited proliferation of the mesenchymal tumour cells, providing new insights into the importance for cancer growth of different functional domains of this proteoglycan.
Flight endurance in relation to adult age in the green‐veined white butterflyPieris napi
Authors: ÅHMAN MIKAEL , KARLSSON BENGT 
Published: October 2009

Abstract.The flight apparatus in butterflies, as well as in other insects, is costly to manufacture. Since most animals live in a world where resources are limited, trade‐offs are expected and available resources must thus be allocated between flight and other functions, such as reproduction.To mitigate this trade‐off, previous studies have shown that butterflies can break down flight muscles in the thorax as they age in order to use muscle nutrients for reproduction.Although breakdown of flight muscles is expected to reduce flight ability, relative flight muscle mass (thorax mass/body mass) in many butterfly species does not decrease with age. The aim of the present study was to test the relationship between flight endurance and adult age in the green‐veined white butterflyPieris napi(L.). The tests were performed in the laboratory at five different temperatures.The results showed that age has a significant influence on butterfly flight endurance; older butterflies showed reduced flight endurance. Male butterflies fly for a longer time than females and flight endurance increases with temperature in both sexes.
Evolution rampant: house mice on Madeira
Authors: BERRY R. J. 
Published: October 2009

House mice are extra‐ordinary animals –extra‐ordinary in the literal sense of that word. They are pests – but also a valued laboratory animal. They are generalized rodents – and successful in habitats from tundra to tropics and from sea‐level to high altitudes. They have differentiated into a perplexity of taxa, yet differ little in their general morphology. They were long scorned by ecologists as recently arrived commensals, but are increasingly illuminating evolutionary processes as new techniques are applied to their study. Local forms, once valued only by taxonomists, are proving ever more interesting as their genetics are probed. In 1992, Mathias & Mira described the apparently unexciting characteristics of mice living on the two main islands of the Madeira group, 600 km west of continental Portugal. Then in 2000, Britton‐Davidian et al. discovered that there were at least six chromosomal (Robertsonian) races on the main island. In the past decade, studies of molecular and mitochondrial genomes have shown an array of variables and posed questions about the origins and subsequent evolution of these island mice. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Förster et al. report on the mtDNA haplotypes found on the island and in mainland Portugal, discuss the probable source of the island colonizers, and consider data which might give information about the timing of the colonizing event(s).
Salt sensitivity in chickpea
Authors: FLOWERS TIMOTHY J. , GAUR POORAN M. , GOWDA C. L. LAXMIPATHI , KRISHNAMURTHY L. , SAMINENI SRINIVASAN , SIDDIQUE KADAMBOT H. M. , TURNER NEIL C. , VADEZ VINCENT , VARSHNEY RAJEEV K. , COLMER TIMOTHY D. 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTThe growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is very sensitive to salinity, with the most susceptible genotypes dying in just 25 mm NaCl and resistant genotypes unlikely to survive 100 mm NaCl in hydroponics; germination is more tolerant with some genotypes tolerating 320 mm NaCl. When growing in a saline medium, Cl‐, which is secreted from glandular hairs on leaves, stems and pods, is present in higher concentrations in shoots than Na+. Salinity reduces the amount of water extractable from soil by a chickpea crop and induces osmotic adjustment, which is greater in nodules than in leaves or roots. Chickpea rhizobia show a higher ‘free‐living’ salt resistance than chickpea plants, and salinity can cause large reductions in nodulation, nodule size and N2‐fixation capacity. Recent screenings of diverse germplasm suggest significant variation of seed yield under saline conditions. Both dominance and additive gene effects have been identified in the effects of salinity on chickpea and there appears to be sufficient genetic variation to enable improvement in yield under saline conditions via breeding. Selections are required across the entire life cycle with a range of rhizobial strains under salt‐affected, preferably field, conditions.
Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka, a wild rice: a potential model for studying salt‐stress biology in rice
Authors: SENGUPTA SONALI , MAJUMDER ARUN LAHIRI 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT Porteresia coarctata (Syn = Oryza coarctata) is a tetraploid wild rice growing abundantly in the coastal region of India and some other Asian countries. The salt tolerance property of this mangrove associate has been dealt with by a number of workers earlier. The distinct morphology and leaf architecture enabling the plant to exclude salt is a characteristic feature of Porteresia in comparison with Oryza sp. A number of genes have been isolated and characterized from Porteresia that are related to the salt‐tolerance property of the plant. Evidence have accumulated that some pathways critical to salt tolerance are in operation in Porteresia of which the inositol metabolic pathway has been recently elaborated. Some of the enzymes of Porteresia have been shown to function as salt‐tolerant under in vitro studies giving a clue that this wild halophytic rice may have evolved genes and proteins capable of functioning under a salt environment. Bioprospecting of such genes and proteins coupled with genomic and proteomic approaches remain an exciting area of research in evaluating this plant as a model for salt tolerance for the rice plant.
What, if anything, is specific about having a rare disorder? Patients’ judgements on being ill and being rare
Authors: Huyard Caroline 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  Growing efforts are made to improve the situation of persons with rare diseases, but the specific nature of these disorders remains unclear.Objectives  To establish (1) to what extent people with rare disorders think that their disease’s rarity causes particular difficulties, (2) to what extent these difficulties relate to other causes than rarity (i.e. other characteristics of the disease or other components of the illness experience), (3) to what extent the rarity of the disease may relate to components of patients’ experience other than those that are traditionally addressed (i.e. personal or daily life aspects).Methods  Semi‐structured interviews with 29 patients and 15 parents of children with one of six rare diseases (cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, Wilson’s disease, mastocytosis, locked‐in syndrome and a sixth syndrome). The interviews were conducted in France. The analysis draws on French pragmatic sociology and focuses on the participants’ judgements of their experience.Findings  The participants considered as normal and acceptable a range of situations that are often viewed as specific to rare disorders and unfair. This rather positive evaluation was conditional on some specific moral criteria being met. The participants attributed the cause of their difficulties to the failure of health professionals to meet these criteria. In the participants’ experience, disease‐related associations play a key role and rarity seems to contribute to making them especially important.Conclusions  Patients’ experience would be considerably improved if health professionals more often fulfilled their moral expectations, especially regarding diagnosis disclosure and information. (250 words)
Vesicular glutamate transporter mRNA expression in the medial temporal lobe in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia
Authors: Uezato Akihito , Meador‐Woodruff James H , McCullumsmith Robert E 
Published: October 2009

Background:  Altered glutamate transmission has been found in the medial temporal lobe in severe psychiatric illnesses, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). The vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) have a pivotal role in presynaptic release of glutamate into the synaptic cleft. We investigated this presynaptic marker in major psychiatric illness by measuring transcript expression of the VGLUTs in the medial temporal lobe.Methods:  The study sample comprised four groups of 13 subjects with MDD, BD, or schizophrenia (SCZ), and a comparison group from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Consortium. In situ hybridization was performed to quantify messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of VGLUT 1, 2, and 3 in medial temporal lobe structures. We also examined the same areas of rats treated with antidepressants, a mood stabilizer, and antipsychotics to assess the effects of these medications on VGLUT mRNA expression.Results:  We found decreased VGLUT1 mRNA expression in both MDD and BD in the entorhinal cortex (ERC), decreased VGLUT2 mRNA expression in MDD in the middle temporal gyrus, and increased VGLUT2 mRNA expression in SCZ in the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG). We also found a negative correlation between age and VGLUT1 mRNA expression in BD in the ERC and ITG. We did not find any changes in VGLUT mRNA expression in the hippocampus in any diagnostic group. We found decreased VGLUT1 mRNA expression in rats treated with haloperidol in the temporal cortex.Conclusions:  These data indicate region‐specific alterations of presynaptic glutamate innervation in the medial temporal lobe in the mood disorders.
Similar immune profile in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: selective increase in soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I and von Willebrand factor
Authors: Hope Sigrun , Melle Ingrid , Aukrust Pål , Steen Nils Eiel , Birkenaes Astrid B , Lorentzen Steinar , Agartz Ingrid , Ueland Thor , Andreassen Ole A 
Published: October 2009

Background:  Alterations in the inflammatory system have been associated with schizophrenia and major depression, while bipolar disorder has been less studied. Most previous studies examined small samples, and the literature is inconsistent with regard to specific underlying immune mechanisms. In the present study, we examined markers representing different inflammatory pathways, and the aim was to investigate whether the levels of inflammatory parameters in a representative sample of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are elevated compared to healthy controls, and to investigate whether the inflammatory profile is different between the groups.Methods:  Plasma levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF‐R1), interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), high‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP), soluble CD40L ligand (sCD40L), and von Willebrand factor (vWf) were measured with ELISA techniques in a catchment area based sample of consecutively referred patients with severe mental disorders [N = 311, comprising bipolar disorder (n = 125) and schizophrenia (n = 186)] and in healthy volunteers (n = 244).Results:  Plasma levels of sTNF‐R1 and vWf were statistically significantly increased in both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia compared to controls (p < 0.00001), and were also increased in unmedicated patients, but there were no major differences between the two diagnostic groups. Controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, cardiovascular disorders, kidney and liver function, and other confounders did not affect the results. There were no differences in other inflammation factors between the groups.Conclusion:  The present results indicate specific alterations of endothelium‐related inflammation processes in both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Are predictive models for cancer volume clinically useful in localized prostate cancer?
Authors: Ishida Masaru , Nakashima Jun , Hashiguchi Akinori , Mizuno Ryuichi , Shinoda Kazunobu , Kikuchi Eiji , Miyajima Akira , Nakagawa Ken , Mukai Makio , Oya Mototsugu 
Published: October 2009

Objectives:  To evaluate the correlation between preoperatively predicted and pathologically measured prostate cancer volumes and to investigate the clinical use of preoperatively predicted cancer volume in predicting pathological stage.Methods:  Correlations between pathological findings and various preoperative parameters, including the cancer volumes as predicted by using two methods (Vca and estimated PCvol), were analyzed in 196 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer.Results:  Pathologically measured prostate cancer volume was significantly correlated with the Vca and estimated PCvol, but the correlation coefficients were respectively only 0.46 and 0.35. Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), PSA density (PSAD), primary Gleason score, Vca, Vca fraction (Vcafx), and estimated PCvol were significantly higher in 82 patients with extraprostatic cancer than in 114 patients with organ‐confined cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were significantly correlated with pathological stage. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the Vcafx and MRI findings were significant predictors of extraprostatic cancer, but receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the combination of Vcafx and MRI findings had no advantage over the combination of Gleason score, PSAD, and MRI findings.Conclusions:  Vca and estimated PCvol are significantly correlated with the pathologically measured cancer volume but their ability to accurately predict cancer volume is limited. Vcafx and MRI findings were statistically significant predictors of extraprostatic cancer but their combination was not superior to the combination of Gleason score, PSAD, and MRI findings.