bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physical distribution service performance and Internet retailer margins: The drop‐shipping context
Authors: Rabinovich Elliot , Rungtusanatham Manus , Laseter Timothy M. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the relationship between Internet retailer margins and retailer promises regarding product distribution service. We focus particularly on Internet retailing in a drop‐ship context, because this model provides a purer separation of these activities and the related costs and constitutes a critical context for the empirical examination of the relationship between retailer margins and promises. Drawing upon retailer and consumer perspectives, we articulate and justify a set of propositions regarding the relationships among different Internet retailer margins and promised product distribution service performance. We examine a sample comprising over 2000 retail transactions with customers and find partial empirical support for the set of propositions. Specifically, the results show that product margins and the margins on shipping and handling are inversely proportional. We also find a direct relationship between promised product distribution service performance and shipping and handling margins even after key product characteristics known to influence the cost side of the margin equation are controlled for. These results confirm an intuitively logical view of the relationships among pricing and promised product distribution service performance. The study also offers insights for practitioners regarding the opportunity to enhance performance in this domain and demonstrates the benefit and power of employing objective measures drawn from the vast array of information captured via online transactions.
Empirical performance of multifactor term structure models for pricing and hedging Eurodollar futures options
Authors: Kuo I‐Doun , Lin Yueh‐Neng 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis article compares two one‐factor, two two‐factor, two three‐factor models in the HJM class and Black's [Black, F. (1976). The pricing of commodity contracts. Journal of Financial Economics, 3, 167–179.] implied volatility function in terms of their pricing and hedging performance for Eurodollar futures options across strikes and maturities from 1 Jan 2000 to 31 Dec 2002. We find that three‐factor models perform the best for 1‐day and 1‐week prediction, as well as for 5‐day and 20‐day hedging. The moneyness bias and the maturity bias appear for all models, but the three‐factor models produce lower bias. Three‐factor models also outperform other models in hedging, in particular for away‐from‐the‐money and long‐dated options. Making Black's volatility a square root or exponential function performs similar to one‐factor HJM models in pricing, but not in hedging. Correctly specified and calibrated multifactor models are thus important and cannot be replaced by one‐factor models in pricing or hedging interest rate contingent claims.
Trans-10,cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid does not increase body fat loss induced by energy restriction
Authors: Lasa Arrate , Churruca Itziar , Simón Edurne , Fernández-Quintela Alfredo , Rodríguez Victor Manuel , Portillo María Puy 
Published: May 2008

Very little evidence exists concerning the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on body fat reduction induced by energy restriction. Moreover, although an effect oftrans-10,cis-12-CLA on lipolysis has been suggested, it has not been consistently shown. The aims of the present study were to determine whethertrans-10,cis-12-CLA increases the reduction of body fat induced by energy restriction, and to analyse its effect on lipolysis and adipose tissue lipase expression (hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose tissue TAG lipase (ATGL)). Male Syrian Golden hamsters were fed a high-fat diet during 7 weeks in order to make them fatter. Then they were submitted to a mild energy restriction (25 %) without or with supplementation of 0·5 %trans-10,cis-12-CLA for 3 weeks. Basal glycerol release and lipolysis stimulated by several drugs acting at different levels of the lipolytic cascade were measured in epididymal adipose tissue. The expression of HSL and ATGL was assessed by real-time RT-PCR. No differences were found in adipose tissues size between the experimental groups. Medium adipocyte size and total number of adipocytes were similar in both experimental groups. Animals fed the CLA-enriched diet showed similar lipolytic rates as well as HSL and ATGL expressions to the controls. In conclusion,trans-10,cis-12-CLA does not promote adipose tissue lipid mobilisation nor does it heighten body fat reduction induced by energy restriction. Consequently, this CLA isomer does not seem to be a useful tool to be included in body weight-loss strategies followed in obesity treatment.
Total plasma carotenoids and mortality in the elderly: results of the Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing (EVA) study
Authors: Akbaraly Tasnime N. , Favier Alain , Berr Claudine 
Published: May 2008

Carotenoids are pigments found in fruits and vegetables. While high intakes of fruits and vegetables have been found to be associated with lower mortality, our objective is to investigate if total plasma carotenoids, via their antioxidant properties, are associated with mortality risk in a free-living elderly population. The ‘Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing’ (EVA) study (n1389; 59–71 years) is a 9-year longitudinal study with six waves of follow-up. The association between baseline total plasma carotenoids and mortality was determined by Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Low total plasma carotenoid level was significantly associated with all-cause mortality in men but not in women. After controlling for potential confounding factors, mortality risk increased significantly in men (P = 0·03) with plasma carotenoids in the lowest quintile compared with men with plasma carotenoids in the highest (relative risk 2·94 (95 % CI 1·21, 7·17)). A significant association between mortality by cancer and low plasma carotenoid level variable was also found in men (unit = 1 μmol/l; relative risk 1·72 (95 % CI 1·02, 2·86);P = 0·01). Associations between total plasma carotenoids and mortality risk remained statistically significant after taking into account: (1) plasma Se level, which previously was found associated with mortality in this population and (2) thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances level considered as an indicator of oxidative stress. By showing, prospectively, in a general healthy elderly population, that total plasma carotenoid levels were independently associated with mortality risk in men, the present study suggests that total plasma carotenoid levels could be a health indicator in elderly populations.
Localization of carbohydrate determinants common toBiomphalaria glabrataas well as to sporocysts and miracidia ofSchistosoma mansoni
Authors: LEHR T. , BEUERLEIN K. , DOENHOFF M. J. , GREVELDING C. G. , GEYER R. 
Published: May 2008

SUMMARYThe presence of antigenic carbohydrate epitopes shared byBiomphalaria glabrataas well as by the sporocysts and miracidia representing snail-pathogenic larval stages ofSchistosoma mansoniwas assayed by immunohistochemical staining of paraformaldehyde-fixed tissues. To this end, both polyclonal rabbit antiserum raised against soluble egg antigens (SEA) ofS. mansoniand monoclonal antibodies recognizing the carbohydrate epitopes LDN [GalNAc(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-)], F-LDN [Fuc(α1-3)GalNAc(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-)], LDN-F [GalNAc(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-3)]GlcNAc(β1-)], LDN-DF [GalNAc(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-2)Fuc(α1-3)]GlcNAc(β1-)] and Lewis X [Gal(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-3)]GlcNAc(β1-)] were used. Intriguingly, anti-SEA serum as well as anti-F-LDN antibodies displayed significant binding in the foot region, anterior tissue and the hepatopancreas of uninfected snails, whereas the Lewis X epitope was only weakly detectable in the latter tissue. In contrast, increased binding of antibodies recognizing LDN, LDN-F and LDN-DF was observed in infected snail tissue, in particular in regions involved in sporocystogenesis, in addition to an enhanced binding of anti-SEA serum and antibodies reacting with F-LDN. A pronounced expression of most of these carbohydrate antigens was also observed at the surface of miracidia. Hence, the detection of shared carbohydrate determinants in uninfected snail tissue, sporocysts and miracidia may support the hypothesis of carbohydrate-based molecular mimicry as a survival strategy ofS. mansoni.
Phonological memory and children's second language grammar learning
Authors: FRENCH LEIF M. , O'BRIEN IRENA 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACTThis study examined the role of phonological memory in second language (L2) grammar learning in a group of native French-speaking children undergoing a 5-month intensive English program. Phonological memory (as referenced by Arabic [ANWR] and English [ENWR] nonword repetition tasks), L2 vocabulary (receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge), and L2 grammar (knowledge of morphosyntactic structures) were assessed during the first (Time 1) and last (Time 2) month of the program. After controlling for initial grammar ability, phonological memory significantly predicted grammar development (27.9% of variance explained) in addition to the contribution made by vocabulary knowledge (9.5% of variance explained). Although phonological memory ability as measured by ENWR increased between Time 1 and Time 2, ANWR did not improve. The findings show that phonological memory plays an important role in L2 grammar development that is unmediated by lexical knowledge. They also provide evidence that phonological memory improves with language development, but that basic phonological memory capacity (as measured by ANWR in this study) remains unchanged over time.
Why do low-income women not use food stamps? Findings from the California Women’s Health Survey
Authors: Kaiser Lucia 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo determine factors associated with Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation in a potentially eligible California population.DesignThe California Women’s Health Survey is an on-going annual telephone survey that collects data about health-related attitudes and behaviours from a randomly selected sample of women. Statistical procedures includedχ2and logistic regression.SettingCalifornia, USA, from 2002 to 2004.SubjectsA total of 527 FSP female participants and 1405 potentially eligible non-participant females, aged 18 years and older.ResultsThe following characteristics remained independently and positively related to FSP participation: single mother with children; unemployed; on welfare; on WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children); and US-born. Women under 25 years and those over 54 years were less likely to participate than women aged 25–54 years. Hispanic/Latino ethnicity was also negatively related to participation. Over 42 % of potentially eligible non-participants cited ‘don’t need them’ as the reason for not applying for FSP, but 34·9 % either do not think they are eligible or do not know how to apply. Potentially eligible non-participants who cite ‘don’t need them’ as a reason for not applying are less likely to be food insecure, to have inadequate income and to use alternative emergency aid, compared to women citing all other reasons. The highest level of need is among those who cite worry about citizenship or stigma as reasons for not applying.ConclusionStrategies to increase participation in FSP should incorporate messages that change the public’s perception of the programme, in addition to simplifying the application process, raising awareness of eligibility criteria and improving customer service.
The predictive value of different socio-economic indicators for overweight in nine European countries
Authors: Roskam Albert-Jan R , Kunst Anton E 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjectivesTo assess which socio-economic indicator best predicts overweight in the European Union: educational attainment, occupational class or household income.SettingThe prevalence of overweight is strongly related to socio-economic position. The relative importance of different socio-economic dimensions is uncertain, and might vary between countries.Design and subjectsCross-sectional self-report data of the European Community Household Panel were obtained from nine countries (n 52 855; age 25–64 years). Uni- and multivariate regression analyses were employed to predict overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) in relationship to socio-economic indicators. Occupational class was measured using the new European Socioeconomic Classification.ResultsLarge socio-economic differences in overweight were observed in all countries, especially for women. For both sexes, a low educational attainment was the strongest predictor of overweight. After controlling for education, overweight was negatively related to household income in women, but positively in men. Similar patterns were found for occupational class. For women, but not for men, educational inequalities in overweight were generally greater in Southern European countries. A similar pattern of inequalities in overweight was observed for all ages between 25 and 64 years.ConclusionsAcross Europe, overweight was more strongly and more consistently related to educational attainment than to occupational class or household income. People with lower educational attainment should be a specific target group for programmes and policies that aim to prevent overweight.
Mars before the Space Age
Authors: Jones Barrie W. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractMars has surely been scrutinised since the dawn of humankind. Its appearance every couple of years like a drop of blood in the sky led to warlike attributes in the ancient world. In the 16th century Tycho Brahe made accurate observations of the position of Mars that enabled Johannes Kepler to obtain his first two laws of planetary motion. These in turn were explained by Newton's laws of motion and gravity. In the 17th century the first telescope observations were made, but Mars is small and very little surface detail could be discerned.Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries telescopes improved, revealing many dark areas on the red tinted surface. During the close opposition of 1877 sufficient detail could be seen that enabled Giovanni Schiaparelli to announce that he could see about 40 canali on Mars. This led to the saga of the canals of Mars, finally laid to rest in 1971 when Mariner 9 made observations from Martian orbit showing that the canali/canals do not exist.Belief that there was life on Mars was widespread in the 19th century. However, the majority of astronomers never believed in Martian intelligence. Least controversial was the view that the dark areas were some form of plant life. This view persisted until Mariner 4 flew past Mars in 1965 and discovered a far thinner atmosphere than previously thought. This was a low point, with impact craters dominating the images. It was Mariner 9 that revealed much more promising landscapes, including volcanic features, and others indicating that water had flowed across the surface, particularly when Mars was young. Thus, the contemporary era of Mars exploration began.Our picture of Mars today is not only much more complete than that before Mariner 4, in several ways it is quite different. The belief, however, that there might be life on Mars persists – subsurface life cannot be ruled out and, failing that, there might be ancient fossils on Mars.
Women Rule: Shattering the Executive Glass Ceiling
Authors: Jalalzai Farida 
Published: May 2008

“When we inaugurate a President of the United States we give a man the powers of our highest office.”Richard Neustadt, preface to the first edition of Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents, 1960
Using qualitative and quantitative techniques, this article compares nearly all cases of women presidents and prime ministers in power between 1960 through 2007. In a comparative gender analysis, I focus on the impact of institutional and structural factors on the ways in which women acquire their positions and on the type of executive authority exercised. Women are more likely to enter office when their powers are relatively few and constrained. The political systems in which they lead generally feature fragmented executive power arrangements, including a dual executive structure. Women also enter in politically unstable contexts and in countries lacking political institutionalization, frequently as members of privileged groups. Findings indicate that comparative politics research needs to explore the gendered connections between executive positions and authority, power, and independence.
A new sectarian threat in the Middle East?
Authors: Hiltermann Joost 
Published: May 2008

AbstractA Shiite resurgence in Iraq has generated a region-wide Sunni backlash, raising fears of an emerging sectarian rift that is colouring and aggravating local conflicts. After discussing the schism's origins, manifestations and implications, the author concludes that the primary battle in the region is not between Sunnis and Shiites but between the United States and Iran. A US–Iranian rapprochement would do much to reduce sectarian tensions, while the most effective long-term response to sectarianism itself will likely come from systemic restraints that exist in the form of countervailing loyalties that prevent any single allegiance, such as religious adherence, from becoming paramount.
Occupation in Iraq since 2003 and the powers of the UN Security Council
Authors: Kolb Robert 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis article provides a summary analysis of the topical question of how far the Security Council may derogate from occupation law. The answer is that the Council may not derogate from those provisions of IHL that are of a specifically humanitarian nature (humanitarian ordre public), that derogations from international law or IHL are in any case not to be presumed and that the Council has not derogated in any way from occupation law in the case of the occupation of Iraq since 2003.
The media and Iraq: a blood bath for and gross dehumanization of Iraqis
Authors: Kuttab Daoud 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe war in Iraq has been accompanied by the highest ever number of casualties among members of the Iraqi and foreign press. While the end of the Saddam Hussein regime has reopened the way for vibrant media activity, the absence of security for members of the media has had a high human cost. The US-led war on Iraq, which was aimed at liberating its people from authoritarian rule, has not seen any serious attempt by the Western or even Arab media to focus on the human side of Iraq. Iraqi civilian death tolls are treated as nothing more than statistics.
Humanitarian implications of the wars in Iraq
Authors: Ahmed Al Samaraie Nasir 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe current situation in Iraq could be described as a “war on civilians”, for it mainly affects the livelihood and well-being of the civilian population, while serious security problems prevent the Iraqi people from leading a normal life. Going beyond the direct victims of the conflict, this article deals with the daily problems faced by Iraqi society, namely the lack of security in terms of housing, education and health care, as well as protection for the more vulnerable such as women and children. The forcible eviction of many Iraqis is, however, the main problem threatening the basic cohesion of Iraqi society.
International humanitarian law and its implementation in Iraq
Authors: Al Hassani Zouhair 
Published: May 2008

AbstractDespite the fact that four years have elapsed since the end of the major combat operations on 9 April 2003 and that the occupation formally ended on 30 June 2004, completion of the requirements for national sovereignty in accordance with the various resolutions of the UN Security Council has not been achieved. The author explains the different rules which were and are applicable to the situation in Iraq and presents the current humanitarian problems from the perspective of international humanitarian law.
Function and evolution of the psbA gene family in marine Synechococcus: Synechococcus sp. WH7803 as a case study
Authors: Garczarek Laurence , Dufresne Alexis , Blot Nicolas , Cockshutt Amanda M , Peyrat Anne , Campbell Douglas A , Joubin Ludovic , Six Christophe 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
In cyanobacteria, the D1 protein of photosystem II (PSII) is encoded by the psbA multigene family. In most freshwater strains, a D1:1 isoform of this protein is exchanged for a D1:2 isoform in response to various stresses, thereby altering PSII photochemistry. To investigate PSII responses to stress in marine Synechococcus, we acclimated cultures of the WH7803 strain to different growth irradiances and then exposed them to high light (HL) or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Measurement of PSII quantum yield and quantitation of the D1 protein pool showed that HL-acclimated cells were more resistant to UV light than were low light- (LL) or medium light- (ML) acclimated cells. Both UV and HL induced the expression of psbA genes encoding D1:2 and the repression of the psbA gene encoding D1:1. Although three psbA genes encode identical D1:2 isoforms in Synechococcus sp. WH7803, only one was strongly stress responsive in our treatment conditions. Examination of 11 marine Synechococcus genomic sequences identified up to six psbA copies per genome, with always a single gene encoding D1:1. In phylogenetic analyses, marine Synechococcus genes encoding D1:1 clustered together, while the genes encoding D1:2 grouped by genome into subclusters. Moreover, examination of the genomic environment of psbA genes suggests that the D1:2 genes are hotspots for DNA recombination. Collectively, our observations suggest that while all psbA genes follow a concerted evolution within each genome, D1:2 coding genes are subject to intragenome homogenization most probably mediated by gene conversion.
Mitochondrial Molecular Adaptations and Life History Strategies Coevolve in Plants
Authors: Krishnan Neeraja , Rao Basuthkar 
Published: May 2008

AbstractMessenger RNA secondary structure prevents mutations at functionally important sites. Mutations at exposed sites would cause micro-adaptations, niche-specialization, and therefore, can be thought to promote K-strategists. Exposing, rather than protecting, conserved sites, is also potentially adaptive because they probably promote macro-adaptive changes. This presumably fits r-strategists: their population dynamics tolerate decreased survival. We found that helix-forming tendencies are greater at evolutionary conserved sites of plant mitochondrial mRNAs than at evolutionary variable sites in a majority (73%) of species–gene combinations. K-strategists preferentially protect conserved sites in short genes, r-strategists protect them most in larger genes. This adaptive scenario resembles our earlier findings in chloroplast genes. Protection levels at various codon positions also display disparity with respect to life history strategies of the plants. Conserved site protection increases overall mRNA folding stabilities for some genes, while decreases it for some others. This contrast exists between homologous genes of r- and K- strategists. Such compensating interactions between variability, mRNA size, codon position, and secondary structure factors within r- and K-strategists are most likely, molecular adaptations of plants belonging to the two extreme life history strategies. Our results suggest coevolution between molecular and ecological adaptive strategies.