bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discovering hospitality: observations from recent research
Authors: Lashley Conrad 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis discussion paper aims to provide an introduction to revised ways of understanding and approaching the study of hospitality.Design/methodology/approachIn addition to the consideration of hospitality from an array of social science and arts perspectives, the paper advocates an engagement with critical studies tools and concepts. These perspectives allow the study of hospitality which is critical to the deconstruction of meanings of hospitality, and to present an array of insights which better inform visions of the subject.FindingsThe paper discusses the importance of critical thinking and outlines three philosophical positions relating to the study of hospitality and hospitality organisations. It suggests that too much academic research appears managerial in focus and is weakened by the lack of critical ways of thinking about hospitality. In particular, the paper goes on to highlight recent developments in hospitality research which are informed by different social science perspectives.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on a literature review though informed by a number of research projects. Future research projects picking up on the interplay between cultural, domestic and commercial hospitality contexts are major implications of this paper.Practical implicationsThe paper implies that commercial and educational hospitality practice would be better informed by both critical perspectives and reference to a number of social science and arts perspectives on hospitality. Competitive business strategies based on customer quality experiences will in future need to be informed by these perspectives.Originality/valueThis paper provides a unique overview of hospitality informed both by hospitality research for careers in hospitality and the study of hospitality as a social interaction. As such it has value to both industry practitioners and to academics interested in studying hospitality and hospitableness.
Hospitality and eroticism
Authors: Andrews Hazel , Roberts Les , Selwyn Tom 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to provoke discussion and reflection on the role of the erotic in the cultivation of spaces of hospitality, and to provide a theoretical consideration of the structural similarities of hospitality and eroticism.Design/methodology/approachWith reference to classical studies as well as debates in the social science literature, the paper starts by examining some of the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings to hospitality and eroticism. It then develops this analysis by considering examples drawn from ethnographic studies of “traditional” hospitality settings as well as of commercial hospitality environments of charter tourism.FindingsThe main outcome of the discussion is to demonstrate the structural relations between hospitality and eroticism. By situating the analysis within a broad theoretical and ethnographic context, it is shown that the erotic has historically functioned as a socially‐binding and communicative mode of social intercourse that, while undermined by the demands of a market‐based culture of commercial hospitality, is also able to flourish within these same adverse conditions.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper invites further research into the connections between hospitality and eroticism in settings similar to and different from those described in the paper. A fuller ethnographic study of the relationship between the two is needed, as well as an exploration of more theoretical perspectives on hospitality drawn from the social science literature.Practical implicationsBy highlighting the socially binding role of eroticism in the structuring of host‐guest relations, the paper draws on and contributes to a broader politics of love and sensuality that will inform critical reflections on commercial and market‐driven hospitality practices.Originality/valueThis paper provides an original insight into the interrelationship between hospitality and eroticism. It further illuminates previous writings on both subjects but particularly that of eroticism and is supported by empirical data. It is of particular interest to those studying hospitality from a social science perspective.
Entrepreneurship programs, operational efficiency and growth of small businesses
Authors: Ayinla Alarape Aderemi 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the impact of owners/managers of small businesses participating in entrepreneurship programs on operational efficiency and growth of small businesses.Design/methodology/approachIt is a cross‐sectional study analysis of the impact of exposure of owner‐managers of small businesses on their performance (i.e. operational efficiency and growth rate) in a non‐contrived environment. The data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the analysis and the degree of error is α=0.05.FindingsSmall businesses, whose owner‐managers who have the experience of participating in entrepreneurship programs, exhibited superior managerial practice; hence, a higher gross‐margin and rate of growth than small businesses whose owner‐managers did not have such experiential learning.Research limitations/implicationsThe members of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Lagos Chapter served as the population for the study. The membership strength was 224 and all were contacted; however, only 62 members responded. Considering the fact that this is 62 firms not just 62 individuals, it looks reasonably large. A possible area for future research is the comparative study of the impacts of the frequency of participation and variants of entrepreneurship programs on performance of small businesses.Practical implicationsThere is a need to improve the managerial practice of small businesses through exposure of owners/managers to entrepreneurship programs in order to enhance their performance and their transition to medium and large businesses.Originality/valueThe paper developed an experiential learning‐performance framework to examine the impact of entrepreneurship programs on performance of small businesses and linked higher operational efficiency and growth rate to better managerial practice, a fall‐out of experiential learning from exposure to entrepreneurship programs.
DGAT1 underlies large genetic variation in milk‐fat composition of dairy cows
Authors: Schennink A. , Stoop W. M. , Visker M. H. P. W. , Heck J. M. L. , Bovenhuis H. , Van Der Poel J. J. , Van Valenberg H. J. F. , Van Arendonk J. A. M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryDietary fat may play a role in the aetiology of many chronic diseases. Milk and milk‐derived foods contribute substantially to dietary fat, but have a fat composition that is not optimal for human health. We measured the fat composition of milk samples in 1918 Dutch Holstein Friesian cows in their first lactation and estimated genetic parameters for fatty acids. Substantial genetic variation in milk‐fat composition was found: heritabilities were high for short‐ and medium‐chain fatty acids (C4:0–C16:0) and moderate for long‐chain fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated C18). We genotyped 1762 cows for the DGAT1 K232A polymorphism, which is known to affect milk‐fat percentage, to study the effect of the polymorphism on milk‐fat composition. We found that the DGAT1 K232A polymorphism has a clear influence on milk‐fat composition. The DGAT1 allele that encodes lysine (K) at position 232 (232K) is associated with more saturated fat; a larger fraction of C16:0; and smaller fractions of C14:0, unsaturated C18 and conjugated linoleic acid (P < 0.001). We conclude that selective breeding can make a significant contribution to change the fat composition of cow's milk.
Ecological mechanisms of population change during outbreaks of the spruce budworm
Authors: RÉGNIÈRE J. , NEALIS V. G. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract 1. Stage‐specific survival and recruitment of spruce budworm were measured by frequent sampling of foliage in four outbreak populations over a 15‐year period in Ontario and Quebec, Canada.2. Patterns of change in population density during the outbreak collapse phase were closely linked to changes in survival of the late immature stages, and were determined largely by the impact of natural enemies.3. Host‐plant feedback also contributed significantly to survival patterns throughout the outbreak: annual defoliation influenced survival of fourth and fifth instars and fecundity while cumulative defoliation influenced survival of the very early larval stages (first and second) via impacts on stand condition.4. Inclusion of this host‐plant feedback reveals spruce budworm population dynamics as a function of density‐related trophic interactions that vary in their order and strength of influence over time. This view re‐introduces the importance of forest interactions as a component of dynamics of the spruce budworm.
Increased TNF‐α production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with Krabbe's disease: effect of psychosine
Authors: Pasqui A. L. , Di Renzo M. , Auteri A. , Federico G. , Puccetti L. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground  Inflammatory and/or immune activation occurs both in animal models (twitcher mice) and in the brain of patients with Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) or Krabbe's disease (KD). In this study we evaluated in vitro the cytokine profile of KD patients and the effect of psychosine, the toxic metabolite which plays a role in the demyelination process in these patients.Materials and methods  We studied cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from four KD patients, diagnosed on the basis of clinical criteria. Cells were cultured and stimulated with appropriate agents and the supernatants collected before and after the addition of psychosine. Tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and monocyte chemoattractant factor (MCP)‐1) production was evaluated (ELISA method) and compared with a group of 10 normal subjects.Results  We found a significant increase of TNF‐α release by PBMCs of KD patients compared with healthy subjects; TNF‐α production was significantly increased after LPS addition. Psychosine was able to induce a further significant increase (P < 0·05) only in cells obtained from KD patients and not from control subjects. No changes were found in IL‐8 and MCP‐1 production.Conclusions  The increased TNF‐α production permits us to confirm the presence of an inflammatory‐immune stimulus in KD patients, which may be induced and potentiated by the pathogenetic metabolite psychosine.
Increased voluntary exercise in mice deficient for tumour necrosis factor‐α and lymphotoxin‐α
Authors: Netea M. G. , Kullberg B. J. , Vonk A. G. , Verschueren I. , Joosten L. A. B. , Van Der Meer J. W. M. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground  The endogenous mediators playing a role in the sensing of fatigue and cessation of exercise are yet to be characterized. We hypothesized that proinflammatory cytokines, in particular tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) and lymphotoxin‐α (LT) transmit signals leading to fatigue.Materials and methods  Mice were placed in a cage with a freely rotating exercise wheel and allowed to adapt for 24 h. The running distance was measured for two additional periods of 24 h. The effects of the administration of intravenous anti‐TNF antibodies, intracerebral recombinant TNF, or intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were also determined.Results  Compared to normal littermates, the voluntary daily running distance was 1·8‐fold greater in mice with a disruption of the gene for TNFα, and 3‐fold greater in mice with a gene disruption for both TNFα and LT. Intravenous administration of a monoclonal antibody against murine TNFα did not affect the running distance of wild‐type mice, whereas administration of TNF intracerebrally reduced by 4‐fold the voluntary running distance of the animals. This demonstrates that fatigue is mediated by TNFα expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and not by increased peripheral TNFα concentrations. TNFα and LT are strong inducers of prostaglandins, but mice with disrupted prostaglandin or prostacyclin receptors exhibited running distances not significantly different from their wild‐type littermates. Thus, signalling molecules other than prostaglandins mediate the effect of TNFα and LT on exercise capacity.Conclusions  Our finding that exercise capacity is controlled by TNFα is the first to define the endogenous mediators of fatigue, and may have important implications for diseases with impaired exercise tolerance.
Impact of red : far red ratios on germination of temperate forest herbs in relation to shade tolerance, seed mass and persistence in the soil
Authors: JANKOWSKA‐BLASZCZUK M. , DAWS M. I. 
Published: August 2007

Summary

The effect of the ratio of red : far red light (R : FR) on seed germination of herbaceous species from northern temperate deciduous forest has received little attention. Here for 27 such species, we investigated the relationship between seed mass and the suitability of micro‐sites for germination. Germination in light and in darkness was compared after cold stratification, and for the light‐requiring species, the germination response to R : FR was determined. In addition, seed bank persistence was monitored over 4 years.
With increasing seed mass, germination became less dependent on light and seed bank persistence decreased. Furthermore, for the light‐dependent species, there was a significant negative relationship between the R : FR that resulted in 50% germination and seed mass.
These data suggest that small‐seeded species only germinate in micro‐sites with a high R : FR, which signals the absence of over‐topping vegetation or leaf litter. Such micro‐sites are comparatively rare, which may necessitate persistence in the soil seed bank.
For small‐seeded species, we propose that a key benefit from restricting germination to high R : FR is a reduction in the time‐frame over which the initially small seedlings remain small and hence highly vulnerable to mortality: high R : FR is likely to indicate high‐light levels which would facilitate rapid seedling growth.
Estimating permeability from field measurements of seismic attenuation in fractured chalk
Authors: Payne S.S. , Worthington M.H. , Odling N.E. , West L.J. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTBroadband (100–4000 Hz) cross‐hole seismic data have been acquired at a borehole test site where extensive hydrological investigations have previously been performed, including in situ estimates of permeability. The rock type is homogeneous chalk and fractures and bedding planes have been identified from well logs. High values of seismic attenuation, Q= 22 ≤ 27 ≤ 33, were observed over a 10 m depth interval where fracture permeability values of 20–50 darcy had been recorded. An attempt has been made to separate the attenuation due to scattering and intrinsic mechanisms. The estimated values of intrinsic attenuation, Q= 31 ≤ 43 ≤ 71, have been reproduced using a number of current theories of seismic‐wave propagation and fluid‐flow‐induced seismic attenuation in cracked and fractured media. A model that considers wavelength‐scale pressure gradients is the preferred attenuation mechanism. Model parameters were obtained from the hydro‐geological and seismic data. However, we conclude that it is not possible to use seismic Q to measure rock permeability remotely, principally because of the inherent uncertainties arising from model parameterisations.
Attenuation tomography: An application to gas‐hydrate and free‐gas detection
Authors: Rossi Giuliana , Gei Davide , Böhm Gualtiero , Madrussani Gianni , Carcione José M. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTWe estimate the quality factor (Q) from seismic reflections by using a tomographic inversion algorithm based on the frequency‐shift method. The algorithm is verified with a synthetic case and is applied to offshore data, acquired at western Svalbard, to detect the presence of bottom‐simulating reflectors (BSR) and gas hydrates. An array of 20 ocean‐bottom seismographs has been used.The combined use of traveltime and attenuation tomography provides a 3D velocity–Q cube, which can be used to map the spatial distribution of the gas‐hydrate concentration and free‐gas saturation. In general, high P‐wave velocity and quality factor indicate the presence of solid hydrates and low P‐wave velocity and quality factor correspond to free‐gas bearing sediments.The Q‐values vary between 200 and 25, with higher values (150–200) above the BSR and lower values below the BSR (25–40). These results seem to confirm that hydrates cement the grains, and attenuation decreases with increasing hydrate concentration.
Susceptibility alleles for testicular germ cell tumour: a review
Authors: Rapley E. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryFamily history is among the strongest and most consistent of the risk factors for testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT). Brothers of affected cases have an 8‐ to10‐fold relative risk and fathers/sons have a risk between four and sixfold. The familial relative risk of TGCT is higher than for most other cancer types, which rarely exceeds four. The high relative risk suggests that inherited susceptibility to TGCT may account for a substantial fraction of TGCT cases. The search for TGCT susceptibility genes has proven difficult and a recent genome‐wide linkage study for TGCT susceptibility loci demonstrated no statistically significant regions of linkage with all LOD scores less than two. Moreover, a previous report of linkage to a region on Xq27 was not replicated. The results from genetic linkage analysis demonstrate that TGCT susceptibility is likely to be due to several genes, each with a modest effect on disease risk. The Y chromosome, which cannot be analysed by genetic linkage, carries a number of testis‐ and germ cell‐specific genes. We recently demonstrated that a deletion on the Y chromosome known as ‘gr/gr’ is a rare, low‐penetrance allele that is associated with susceptibility to TGCT. Based on the evidence from the linkage search the ‘gr/gr’ deletion represents one of possibly many TGCT susceptibility alleles, and new and emerging technologies will be employed in future work to identify these genes.
The transforming growth factor‐β superfamily in early spermatogenesis: potential relevance to testicular dysgenesis
Authors: Loveland K. L. , Dias V. , Meachem S. , Rajpert‐De Meyts E. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryRegulated transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) superfamily signalling is an integral part of normal testicular development and the processes that enable the production of fertile sperm. Through shared utilization of receptors, signal transduction components and inhibitors, many ligands in this family exhibit functional overlaps; this facet of their function is critical to understand because these ligands are often co‐expressed and, hence, they may compete with or compensate for one another, depending on the specific cellular context. This review describes particular germ cell maturation steps governed by bone morphogenetic proteins, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor and activins, focusing on data predominantly from rodent studies that implicate activin and other family members in modulation of gonocyte and spermatogonial stem cell development. We also review knowledge of the TGFβ superfamily signalling components in the human testis, exploring their potential impact on the processes associated with disrupted gonocyte development and an enhanced risk of testicular cancer.
Epigenetic transgenerational toxicology and germ cell disease
Authors: Skinner Michael K. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe ability of an environmental exposure (i.e. endocrine disruptor) during sex determination to reprogramme the male germline and promote an epigenetic transgenerational disease phenotype suggests that environmental factors and compounds may permanently alter the germline epigenome. This epigenetic transgenerational phenomenon will be discussed with respect to adult‐onset germline disease (e.g. testicular cancer). A thorough literature review is not provided, rather a perspective is provided on how this epigenetic transgenerational toxicology should be considered in germ cell disease and testicular cancer.
Current approaches for detection of carcinoma in situ testis
Authors: Hoei‐Hansen Christina E. , Olesen Inge A. , Jorgensen Niels , Carlsen Elisabeth , Holm Mette , Almstrup Kristian , Leffers Henrik , Rajpert‐De Meyts Ewa 
Published: August 2007

SummaryTesticular germ cell tumours have a favourable prognosis if detected early, but are potentially lethal in a subset of patients. Multi‐modality treatment is often necessary, thus the preferable time of diagnosis is at the pre‐invasive, but unfortunately often asymptomatic precursor stage of carcinoma in situ (CIS). This review describes current possible approaches for the detection of CIS. At present, an open testicular biopsy is the only definitive way of establishing the presence of CIS. The tissue section should be of an adequate size, be properly fixed, and evaluation be supported by at least one solid immunohistochemical marker, for example PLAP, OCT‐3/4 or AP‐2γ. Determination of who should be offered testicular biopsies is based on clinical and ultrasonic examination along with the evaluation of risk factors. A surgical biopsy is an invasive procedure with potential complications, although rare. Therefore, a noninvasive and equally reliable method is needed. Testicular ultrasound is risk‐free, painless and at present the only noninvasive method of aid for andrologists when CIS is suspected. The presence of testicular microlithiasis is, in some cases, indicative of pre‐malignant changes, especially in males with additional risk factors. Promising results have recently been obtained with a novel noninvasive detection method based on immunocytological AP‐2γ‐staining of CIS cells in semen. This method could be a supporting method in andrology centres where careful follow‐up is possible. In conclusion, one difficulty is to determine in which males CIS should be suspected; secondly, there does not as yet exist an optimal noninvasive method of diagnosis that is more acceptable than an open surgical biopsy.
Testicular carcinoma in situ in subfertile Danish men
Authors: Olesen Inge A. , Hoei‐Hansen Christina E. , Skakkebæk Niels E. , Petersen Jørgen H. , Rajpert‐De Meyts Ewa , Jørgensen Niels 
Published: August 2007

SummaryCarcinoma in situ (CIS) testis is the precursor stage for the majority of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT). Infertility is one of the conditions known to predispose to TGCT, but based on scarce existing data, the prevalence of CIS in this risk group was estimated at only approximately 1%. To establish more objective data, we investigated retrospectively the prevalence of CIS based on testicular biopsies performed in a well‐defined group of subfertile males. We included 453 patients who had testicular biopsies performed for infertility reasons during 1995–2005 at the Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet). Biopsies were evaluated by two experienced observers independently. CIS was detected in 10 individuals, of whom three had bilateral CIS, corresponding to a prevalence of 2.2% (95% CI 1.1–4.0%). This is greater than the estimated risk of 0.45% for the age‐ and birth cohort‐matched general Danish population. All patients with CIS testis had severe oligozoospermia (≤2.06 million/mL). We confirmed that a thorough examination of men suffering from subfertility/infertility can identify those with an increased risk for testicular neoplasia and recommend performing bilateral biopsies, especially in the subpopulation of men with atrophic testicles, severe oligozoospermia and/or irregular ultrasonic pattern of their testicles.