bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fissures in the Federal Structure? The Case of the University of Wales
Authors: Pritchard Rosalind M. O. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract The paper describes the evolution of the University of Wales, and describes the attempts made at the end of the 1980s to instigate university‐wide planning. These arrangements were, however, of short duration and have recently been reviewed and revised. A degree of tension and instability is endemic in all federations and ‘Wales’ is no exception. Its large colleges are impatient of central control and planning, and the Welsh Funding Council is unsympathetic to an increase in the sphere of influence of the federal university. Such factors are fissiparous forces, but they have to be set against the symbolic importance of the University of Wales as a means of representing and giving expression to Welsh national feeling.
The Place of Personnel in Higher Education
Authors: Mackay Lesley 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBased on research in universities in the North of England, this article reflects on the growing size and widening remit of the personnel function. Differences between the old and new universities are discussed together with the possible future roles of personnel within higher education. The author feels that it is unlikely, given personnel directors views of the way the personnel function is seen by Vice Chancellors and Pro‐Vice‐Chancellors in the older universities, that the personnel function will play a more influential role in the immediate future. Also, despite a greater role being played by the personnel function in the new universities, a seat at the‘top table’has generally been denied. The author concludes that in such labour‐intensive organizations as universities, the failure to empower the personnel function is somewhat shortsighted given the growing number of government policies directed towards the activities of academic staff.
Reform and UK Higher Education in the Enterprise Era
Authors: Ryder Andrew 
Published: August 2007

AbstractHigher education in the United Kingdom is centrally funded, centrally planned, and insulated from market forces. It bears many similarities to the non‐market centrally planned economies (CPEs) of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe while they struggled to reform but to retain a system of planning and central control. Examination of UK higher education and the CPEs before the transformation to market based systems highlights some of the issues facing higher education today. It also highlights the need for reforms, as well as the difficulties involved in them. Such comparison can also bring home problems faced by reformers in the transition economies.Despite allegedly extensive reforms in UK higher education, the sector faces problems like those facing the centrally planned economies of Eastern Europe and the former USSR in the 1970s and 80s. Parallels in a number of areas are particularly striking.
Economic Demand for Higher Education—A Sound Foundation for Further Expansion?
Authors: Keep Ewart , Mayhew Ken 
Published: August 2007

AbstractSubmissions by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and others to the government's review of higher education suggest yet further expansion of undergraduate provision. This article examines the economic rationale for an additional increase in graduate output, and suggests that the economic case may be poor. Data on the employment of the current graduate labour force indicates some under‐utilisation, and there is reason to expect that simply boosting the supply of graduates will not, of itself, transform employers’competitive strategies. It is therefore possible that the social, as opposed to private, rate of return on investment in such expansion could well prove disappointing. The use of graduates to fill the‘technician gap’is also reviewed. The authors suggest alternative areas of educational provision, such as basic literacy and numeracy support, which might show a more positive cost/benefit than further publicly‐funded expansion of undergraduate education.
Trade unions and racism in London, Brussels and Paris public transport
Authors: Jefferys Steve , Ouali Nouria 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThis article considers how trade unions respond to systemic racism at work. Based on case studies in the UK, Belgium and France, it identifies a gap between the national‐level anti‐racist policies of several European trade unions and local‐level union workplace practices: direct racism is often denied and indirect racism rarely challenged. It describes and analyses this gap arguing that unions must more consciously champion anti‐racism and recommends a leadership role for workplace representatives.
Waving and skewing: how gravity and the surface of growth media affect root development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Oliva Michele , Dunand Christophe 
Published: August 2007

SummaryArabidopsis seedlings growing on inclined agar surfaces exhibit characteristic root behaviours called ‘waving’ and ‘skewing’: the former consists of a series of undulations, whereas the latter is a deviation from the direction of gravity. Even though the precise basis of these growth patterns is not well understood, both gravity and the contact between the medium and the root are considered to be the major players that result in these processes. The influence of these forces on root surface‐dependent behaviours can be verified by growing seedlings at different gel pitches: plants growing on vertical plates present roots with slight waving and skewing when compared with seedlings grown on plates held at minor angles of < 90°. However, other factors are thought to modulate root growth on agar; for instance, it has been demonstrated that the presence and concentration of certain compounds in the medium (such as sucrose) and of drugs able to modify the plant cell cytoskeleton also affect skewing and waving. The recent discovery of an active role of ethylene on surface‐dependent root behaviour, and the finding of new mutants showing anomalous growth, pave the way for a more detailed description of these phenomena.
Vinblastine and prednisolone chemotherapy for surgically excised grade III canine cutaneous mast cell tumours
Authors: Hayes A. , Adams V. , Smith K. , Maglennon G. , Murphy S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe effect of treatment with vinblastine and prednisolone chemotherapy in dogs undergoing only surgical excision of Patnaik grade III cutaneous mast cell tumours is reported. Potential explanatory variables were explored using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with log‐rank tests. During a median follow‐up period of 429 days, the overall median survival time (MST) was not reached (lower 95% CI = 322 days). The 1‐year survival probability was 0.71 (standard error 0.1), remaining unchanged at 2 years. Secondary disease at presentation was an independent risk factor for survival (P= 0.045). The MST of dogs presenting with secondary disease was 322 days, with a lower 95% confidence interval of 142 days and a 1‐year survival of probability of 0.47 (standard error 0.19). Adverse effects were recorded in 6 of the 108 (5.6%) vinblastine doses given. This chemotherapy regimen is a well‐tolerated adjunct to surgery for grade III mast cell tumours and appears to prolong survival compared with that expected with surgery alone.
A novel small molecule Met inhibitor, PF2362376, exhibits biological activity against osteosarcoma
Authors: Liao A. T. , McCleese J. , Kamerling S. , Christensen J. , London C. A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe receptor tyrosine kinase Met is dysregulated in several human cancers including osteosarcoma (OSA) in which overexpression is a negative prognostic indicator and enforced Met expression in normal osteoblasts leads to genomic instability and malignant transformation. Met is also known to be inappropriately expressed in canine OSA tumour samples and cell lines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential utility of an orally bioavailable small molecule Met inhibitor, PF2362376, against canine OSA cell lines as a prelude to future clinical work. PF2362376 inhibited phosphorylation of Met, Gab‐1, Erk and Akt, but not of Src or STAT3. Furthermore, PF2362376 inhibited proliferation of canine OSA cell lines and induced cell death at biologically achievable concentrations. Last, activities associated with Met signalling including migration, invasion, branching morphogenesis and colony formation in soft agar were blocked by PF2362376. These studies support the notion that Met is a relevant target for therapeutic intervention in OSA.
Effect of early childhood malnutrition on tooth eruption in Haitian adolescents
Authors: Psoter W. , Gebrian B. , Prophete S. , Reid B. , Katz R. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract –  Objective:  The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the effects of early childhood protein‐energy malnutrition (EC‐PEM) and current nutritional status as defined by anthropomorphic measures on the exfoliation and eruption patterns of teeth among adolescents.Methods:  Oral clinical examinations were conducted in 2005 using World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria on 498 11‐ to 13‐year‐old Haitians for whom early childhood malnutrition data were available. Anthropomorphic records (weight‐for‐age) from the Haitian Health Foundation computerized database on children from birth through 5‐years old were utilized. Current heights and weights were ascertained. Both sets of data were converted to z‐scores based on the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) referent database. Based upon these z‐scores, EC‐PEM and current malnutrition categories were developed for this study. The analyses separately regressed the number of primary and permanent teeth on age, gender, EC‐PEM status and current nutritional status.Results:  Both a delayed exfoliation of primary teeth and a delayed eruption of permanent teeth were associated with EC‐PEM and current stunting in adolescence. The observed associations were either direct and statistically significant or indirectly demonstrated by presenting evidence of confounding. The overall interpretation of the models is that malnutrition beginning in the earliest years and extending throughout childhood influences the exfoliation and eruption of teeth.Conclusion:  These findings present evidence of an association between tooth exfoliation/eruption patterns and both EC‐PEM and nutritional insufficiency (stunting) throughout childhood. This observed delay in the exfoliation of the primary dentition and in the eruption of the permanent dentition has practical significance in interpreting age‐specific dental caries data from populations with different malnutrition experiences.
Risk factors associated with dental fluorosis in Central Plateau State, Nigeria
Authors: Akosu Tyavyar J. , Zoakah Ayuba I. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract –  Objectives:  Dental fluorosis is known to occur in some parts of Plateau State, but the factors responsible for its occurrence are unknown. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine the factors associated with the occurrence of dental fluorosis in Central Plateau.Methods:  The study was cross‐sectional and comparative in design. Subjects were selected using the multi‐stage sampling technique. One Local Government Area each was randomly selected from the high and low altitude parts of the district, and from each selected Local Government Area two health districts were randomly selected with probability proportional to size. From each of the selected health districts two major settlements were selected again with probability proportional to size. Twelve‐ to fifteen‐year‐old lifelong residents of the selected settlements were then selected for study. Each respondent completed an interviewer‐administered questionnaire after which he/she was clinically examined to ascertain his/her fluorosis status. Samples of water were collected from water sources consumed by the respondents in each settlement.Results:  One thousand one hundred children aged 12–15 years were studied, 554 (50.4%) of which lived in the high altitude part of the district and 546 (49.6%) in the low altitude part of the district. Fluorosis prevalence was significantly associated with altitude and the fluoride level of water. The prevalence of fluorosis was significantly associated with altitude (χ2 = 85.735, d.f. = 1, P < 0.0001) and the fluoride level of water (χ2 for trend = 8.009, d.f. = 1, P < 0.05) in the low altitude parts of the district. None of the respondents had used fluoride‐containing toothpaste before 4 years of age and none used fluoride supplements.Conclusion:  The occurrence of dental fluorosis in Central Plateau could be because of the high altitude of the area and the fluoride concentration of the waters consumed in the district.
Perceived psychosocial job stress and sleep bruxism among male and female workers
Authors: Nakata Akinori , Takahashi Masaya , Ikeda Tomoko , Hojou Minoru , Araki Shunichi 
Published: August 2007

Abstract –  Objective:  Psychosocial job stress has been associated with sleep disturbances, but its association with sleep bruxism (SB), the stereotype movement disorder related to sleep, is not well understood. The aim of this epidemiological study was to examine the relationship between psychosocial job stress and SB.Methods:  1944 male and 736 female factory workers participated in this study (response rate 78.1%). Perceived job stress was evaluated with the Japanese version of the generic job stress questionnaire, which covered 13 job stress variables. SB was assessed by the question, ‘Do you grind or clench your teeth during your sleep or has anyone in your family told you that you grind your teeth during your sleep?’ Response options were ‘never’, ‘seldom’, ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’. SB was considered present if the answer was ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’.Results:  Overall, 30.9% of males and 20.2% of females reported SB. In males, workers with low social support from supervisors [odds ratio (OR) = 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.68] or from colleagues (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.17–1.83), and high depressive symptoms (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.26–2.03) had a significantly increased risk of SB after controlling for confounders. By contrast, no significant association was found in females.Conclusions:  We conclude that SB is weakly associated with some aspects of job stress in men but not in women among the Japanese working population.
Plasma cell growth fraction using Ki‐67 antigen expression identifies a subgroup of multiple myeloma patients displaying short survival within the ISS stage I
Authors: Gastinne Thomas , Leleu Xavier , Duhamel Alain , Moreau Anne‐Sophie , Franck Genevieve , Andrieux Joris , Lai Jean‐Luc , Coiteux Valerie , Yakoub‐Agha Ibrahim , Bauters Francis , Harousseau Jean‐Luc , Zandecki Marc , Facon Thierry ,   On behalf of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM)
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe current most powerful prognostic model in Multiple Myeloma (MM) combines beta‐2 microglobulin (b2m) with albumin, corresponding to the International Staging System (ISS). However, the prognosis of patients within the ISS stage I (high albumin and low b2m) may vary. Ki‐67 is a nuclear protein associated with cell proliferation. We retrospectively evaluated the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells expressing Ki‐67 antigen (Ki‐67 index) in a series of 174 untreated MM patients at diagnosis. Median survival was 51, 41 and 20 months respectively, and median Ki‐67 index was 3.0%, 6.1% and 6.5% in ISS stages I, II, and III respectively. Independently of ISS, Ki‐67 index ≥4% was highly predictive of adverse prognosis. Ki‐67 index correlated with markers of intrinsic malignancy and with markers of tumour burden. Within ISS stage I, median survival was of 31 months (RR of death 2.65) in patients with Ki‐67 index ≥4%. Eventually, the combination of Ki‐67 with b2m produced an efficient prognostic model, which appeared most effective in our series when compared with b2m and KI‐67 with chromosome 13 deletion models. In this series, we demonstrated that a proliferation marker provides clear‐cut additional survival prognostic information to b2m into the ISS model.
Circulating dendritic cells subsets and CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in adult patients with chronic ITP before and after treatment with high‐dose dexamethasome
Authors: Ling Yun , Cao Xiangshan , Yu Ziqiang , Ruan Changgeng 
Published: August 2007

AbstractImmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder, and high‐dose dexamethasome (HD‐DXM) has been used as a first‐line therapy for patients with ITP. However, little is known about the role of dendritic cells (DCs) and CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the pathogenesis of chronic ITP and the effects of HD‐DXM on DCs and Treg cells. In this study, we investigated the amounts of circulating myeloid DCs (mDCs), plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), and CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells in 26 untreated adult patients with chronic ITP. All patients had thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 × 109/L) for more than 6 months. We also observed short‐time changes of DCs and Treg cells after treatment with HD‐DXM in these patients. Both mDCs and pDCs numbers in patients were comparable with that of healthy controls. In contrast, the percentage of Treg cells was significantly reduced in patients when compared with healthy controls (P < 0.0001). After 4‐days treatment with HD‐DXM, Treg cells and mDCs were increased (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05), while pDCs decreased (P < 0.0001), and CD11c expression level in mDCs was downregulated (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that Treg cells are deficient in ITP and the immunosuppressive therapy of glucocorticoids could cause the short‐time changes of these cells.
Intestinal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of MALT type: clinical manifestation and outcome of a rare disease
Authors: Oh Sung Yong , Kwon Hyuk‐Chan , Kim Won Seog , Hwang In Gyu , Park Yeon Hee , Kim Kihyun , Ko Young Hae , Ryoo Baek‐Yeol , Kang Hye Jin , Nam Eunmi , Lee Jae‐Hoon , Kim Jung Han , Kim Hyo‐Jin 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIntestinal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of the MALT type (I‐MZL) is a relatively uncommon form of lymphoma. Twenty‐seven patients with histologically‐confirmed I‐MZL were analyzed. The patients initially presented with abdominal pain (62.9%), and diarrhea (22.2%). The most common involved site was the ileo‐caecal area (40.7%). Musshoff’s stage IE, IIE1, IIE2, IIIE and IV were present in 44%, 15%, 11%, 7.4% and 22% respectively. Sixty‐three percent were in the low‐risk group according to the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index. Complete response and partial response were achieved in 82% and 4% patients. The estimated 5‐year overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) rates were 86% and 54%. Stage ≥ IIE2 was determined to be a poor prognostic factor for PFS and OS. I‐MZL commonly manifests in an early‐stage, low‐risk state and tends to respond well to local and systemic treatment with favorable prognosis. I‐MZL tends to be an indolent disease – characterized by prolonged survival with frequent relapses, similarly to other site MZLs.
Inhibiting Self‐Pollen: Self‐Incompatibility in Papaver Involves Integration of Several Signaling Events
Authors: Franklin‐Tong Vernonica E. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract Cellular responses rely on signal perception and integration. A nice example of this is self incompatibility (SI), which is an important mechanism to prevent inbreeding. It prevents self‐fertilization by using a highly discriminatory cellular recognition and rejection mechanism. Most SI systems are genetically specified by the S‐locus, which has a pollen and a pistil S‐component. A receptor‐ligand interaction is used by Papaver rhoeas to control SI. S proteins encoded by the pistil part of the S‐locus interact with incompatible pollen to achieve rapid inhibition of tip growth. The incompatible SI interaction triggers a Ca2+‐dependent signaling cascade. A number of SI‐specific events are triggered in incompatible pollen, including rapid depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton; phosphorylation of soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases (SPPases), Pr‐p26.1; activation of a mitogen activated protein kinase, p56; programmed cell death (PCD) involving a caspase‐3‐like activity. These events contribute to prevent self‐fertilization. We are attempting to establish the functional significance of these events, and their possible involvement in integrating a coordinated signaling response. Here we describe the identification of these components shown to be involved in SI, together with recent progress in identifying links between some of them. These data constitute the first steps in elucidating how SI signaling is integrated.
Diversification of the RAB Guanosine Triphosphatase Family in Dicots and Monocots
Authors: Zhang Jiaming , Hill Daniel R. , Sylvester Anne W. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract RAB guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) are key regulators of vesicle trafficking and are essential to the growth and development of all eukaryotic cells. During evolution, the RAB family has expanded in different patterns to facilitate distinct cellular, developmental and physiological adaptations. Yeast has only 11 family members, whereas mammalian RABs have expanded to 18 RAB subfamilies. Plant RABs have diversified primarily by duplicating members within a single subfamily. Plant RABs are divided into eight subfamilies, corresponding to mammalian RAB1, RAB2, RAB5, RAB6, RAB7, RAB8, RAB11 and RAB18. Functional diversification of these is exemplified by the RAB11s, orthologs of which are partitioned into unique cell compartments in plants where they function to transport vesicles during localized tip growth. Similarly, the RAB2 family in grasses is likely involved in vesicle secretion associated with wall expansion, as determined by analysis of over‐expression mutants. We propose that dicots and monocots have also diverged in their RAB profiles to accommodate unique cellular functions between the two groups. Here we present a bioinformatics analysis comparing the RAB sub‐families of rice, maize and Arabidopsis. These results will guide future functional studies to test for the role of diversification of subfamilies unique to monocots compared to dicots.
Alteration in Secondary Wall Deposition by Overexpression of the Fragile Fiber1 Kinesin‐Like Protein in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhou Jianli , Qiu Jia , Ye Zheng‐Hua 
Published: August 2007

Abstract Secondary walls in fibers and vessels are typically deposited in three distinct layers, which are formed by the successive re‐orientation of cellulose microfibrils. Although cortical microtubules have been implicated in this process, the underlying mechanisms for the formation of three distinct wall layers are not known. The Fragile Fiber1 (FRA1) kinesin‐like protein has been previously shown to be involved in the oriented deposition of cellulose microfibrils and important for cell wall strength in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the present report, we investigated the expression pattern of the FRA1 gene and studied the effects of FRA1 overexpression on secondary wall deposition. The FRA1 gene was found to be expressed not only in cells undergoing secondary wall deposition including developing interfascicular fibers and xylem cells, but also in dividing cells and expanding/elongating parenchyma cells. Overexpression of FRA1 caused a severe reduction in the thickness of secondary walls in interfascicular fibers and deformation of vessels, which are accompanied with a marked decrease in stem strength. Close examination of secondary walls revealed that unlike the wild‐type walls having three typical layers with the middle layer being the thickest, the secondary walls in FRA1 overexpressors exhibited an increased number of layers, all of which had a similar width. Together, these results provide further evidence implicating an important role of the FRA1 kinesin‐like protein in the ordered deposition of secondary walls, which determines the strength of fibers and vessels.