bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
History and HRM in the central Asian states
Authors: Harry Wes 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThis article identifies the influence of history and economic, political, and social systems on human resource practices in five independent central Asian states, or “Stans,” that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. This is a fascinating region undergoing rapid change, not always smoothly, in an area of strategic importance to Asia and beyond. The period since independence has been a time of declining well‐being, especially in education, health care, and economic prosperity, for most of the people in the region, but there is hope that the future will be better. These rapid changes have influenced human resource practices, and the article highlights current and desired practices and provides foreign academics, businesspeople, and expatriates with knowledge about human resource management (HRM) issues in central Asia. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Resources and equity ownership in IJVs in Turkey
Authors: Demirbag Mehmet , Weir David 
Published: December 2005

AbstractPartners' resources are an important conceptual dimension of joint ventures (JVs), which may further expand our existing knowledge of determinants of equity control and partners' influence on JV strategy. This article builds on prior research by providing a comprehensive account of partners' resources in JVs and their impact on both ownership composition and partners' relative influence on JV strategy. Our findings provide relatively strong support to the resource‐based explanation of strategic alliances in emerging markets and indicate the further utility of a knowledge‐management perspective. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Islam and business
Authors: Wilson Rodney 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe underdevelopment of many of the Muslim economies along the Silk Road is often ascribed to the negative effects of Islam. Yet historically, the Muslim cities along the Road were thriving centers of commerce, and since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there appears to be a revival of business as central Asia is opened up to the global economy. Islam has its own distinctive code of business ethics, and the trust this fosters can lower transaction costs and increase management efficiency. There is no inherent conflict between Islam and capitalism; indeed, it is possible to identify the emergence of a distinctive Islamic type where capital accumulation is based on noninterest forms of financing. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Islam and management: What can be learned?
Authors: Abuznaid Samir 
Published: December 2005

AbstractReligion has a major impact on human behavior, social interactions, and social relations. This research article discusses the impact of Islam on managers' behavior. The impact is exerted from the five pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, alms, fasting, and pilgrimage. From the article, it is evident that such pillars have a direct effect on Moslems' behavior. Besides that, the article shows the significant impact of Allah supreme names on managers' behavior and style. Allah names have a direct interrelationship with management functions like planning, organizing, and directing. A Moslem manager, in fact, can use Allah supreme names as a guide to his management style and action. Finally, the article sheds light on major Islamic management principles and their effect on managers' behavior and perception. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Guanxi and Wasta: A comparison
Authors: Hutchings Kate , Weir David 
Published: December 2005

AbstractChina has a business culture based on strong family connections secured in guanxi networks, while the Arab World's is based on strong family connections secured in wasta networks. This article compares guanxi, wasta, and the role of trust, family, and favors in underpinning these traditional modes of interpersonal connections and networks and considers the continued relevance of these practices as these regions of the world internationalize and modernize. The article provides insights for Western managers in their subsidiary operations in China and the Arab World. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Possible indicators for biomass burning in a small Swedish city as studied by energy dispersive x‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry
Authors: Selin Lindgren E. , Henriksson D. , Lundin M. , Therning P. , Laursen J. , Pind N. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBiomass is increasingly used in energy plants of different size and sophistication in Sweden. Biomass is also available in Sweden owing to its large forest‐covered areas. Incineration of biomass in an environmentally friendly manner is one of the key issues in Swedish policy for sustainable development. Hence there is ongoing research on the effects of biomass burning on the air quality in Swedish cities. The relative contributions of anthropogenic sources to pollution in the urban environment are usually difficult to evaluate owing to the complexity of the ambient aerosol. In order to investigate the contribution of biomass incineration to air quality, energy‐dispersive x‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis was performed on aerosol particles sampled in the centre of the small city of Växjö. PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 fractions were sampled with the special aim of determining the contribution of biomass burning to particulate air pollution. In order to identify typical indicators for biomass burning, principle component analysis was performed on data on elemental contents and black carbon. Analysis suggests that the K/Zn ratio will be useful as an indicator for biomass incineration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activation of ERK1/2 by extracellular nucleotides in macrophages is mediated by multiple P2 receptors independently of P2X7‐associated pore or channel formation
Authors: Da Cruz Cristiane Monteiro , Ventura Ana Lúcia Marques , Schachter Julieta , Costa‐Junior Helio Miranda , Da Silva Souza Hercules Antonio , Gomes Fernanda Ramos , Coutinho‐Silva Robson , Ojcius David M , Persechini Pedro Muanis 
Published: December 2005

Macrophages express several P2X and P2Y nucleotide receptors and display the phenomenon of ATP‐induced P2X7‐dependent membrane permeabilization, which occurs through a poorly understood mechanism. Several P2 receptors are known to be coupled to the activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and Ca2+signaling.Here, we use macrophages to investigate the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) by nucleotides and the involvement of MAPKs and intracellular Ca2+concentration in ATP‐induced membrane permeabilization.Short‐term (5 min) pre‐exposure to oxidized ATP (oATP), a P2X7antagonist that does not inhibit P2X7‐associated inward currents or membrane permeabilization, inhibits the activation of ERK1/2 by ATP, ADP, the P2X7agonist 2′‐3′‐O‐(4‐benzoylbenzoyl)‐ATP (BzATP), but not by UTP and UDP. We conclude that macrophages display several P2Y receptors coupled to the ERK1/2 pathway and that oATP antagonizes the action of purine nucleotides, possibly binding to P2X7and/or other purine‐binding P2Y receptors.We also show that BzATP and ATP activate ERK1/2 by two different pathways since ERK1/2 activation by BzATP, but not by ATP, is blocked by the tryrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, and the Src protein kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin. However, the activation of ERK1/2 by ATP is blocked by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride. Under the same conditions, membrane permeabilization is not blocked by genistein, tyrphostin, or chelerythrine chloride, indicating that tyrosine kinase, Src protein kinase, and PKC are not required for pore opening.Membrane permeabilization is independent of ERK1/2 activation since chelerythrine, or short‐term exposure to oATP or PD98059, efficiently block ERK1/2 activation without inhibiting membrane permeabilization. In addition, membrane permeabilization is not inhibited by SB203580 and SB202190, two inhibitors of p38 MAPK, nor by intracellular BAPTA, which blocks ATP‐induced Ca2+signals.These results suggest that multiple P2 receptors lead to ERK1/2 activation, that ligation of the same receptors by agonists with different affinities can lead to differential stimulation of separate pathways, and that MAPKs and intracellular Ca2+fluxes are independent of P2X7‐associated pore formation.British Journal of Pharmacology(2006)147, 324–334. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706559
Altered responsiveness of the guinea‐pig isolated ileum to smooth muscle stimulants and to electrical stimulation after in situ ischemia
Authors: Rodriguez Rodolfo , Ventura‐Martinez Rosa , Santiago‐Mejia Jacinto , Avila‐Costa Maria R , Fortoul Teresa I 
Published: December 2005

We evaluated changes in contractility of the guinea‐pig isolated ileum, using intact segments and myenteric plexus‐longitudinal muscle (MPLM) preparations, after several times (5–160 min) of ischemia in situ.
Intestinal ischemia was produced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery. Ischemic and nonischemic segments, obtained from the same guinea‐pig, were mounted in organ baths containing Krebs‐bicarbonate (K‐B) solution, maintained at 37°C and gassed with 95% O2/5% CO2. The preparations were allowed to equilibrate for 60 min under continuous superfusion of warm K‐B solution and then electrically stimulated at 40 V (0.3 Hz, 3.0 ms). Thereafter, complete noncumulative concentration–response curves were constructed for acetylcholine (ACh), histamine (HIS), potassium chloride (KCl), and barium chloride (BaCl2). Mean Emax (maximal response) values were calculated for each drug.
Our study shows that alterations of chemically and electrically evoked contractions are dependent on ischemic periods. It also demonstrates that contractile responses of ischemic tissues to neurogenic stimulation decreases earlier and to a significantly greater extent than the non‐nerve mediated responses of the intestinal smooth muscle. Contractile responses to smooth muscle stimulants were all similarly affected by ischemia. Electron microscopy images indicated necrotic neuronal death. The decrease in reactivity of ischemic tissues to electrical stimulation was ameliorated by dexrazoxane, an antioxidant agent.
We consider the guinea‐pig isolated ileum as a useful model system to study the processes involved in neuronal ischemia, and we propose that the reduction in maximal responses to electrical stimulation is a useful parameter to study neuroprotection.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 147, 371–378. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706618
Adenosine‐ and hypoxia‐induced dilation of human coronary resistance arteries: evidence against the involvement of KATP channels
Authors: Lynch Fiona M , Austin Clare , Heagerty Anthony M , Izzard Ashley S 
Published: December 2005

The ATP‐sensitive potassium (KATP) channel may be an important mediator of metabolic dilation in the human coronary circulation. As adenosine and hypoxia are considered to be major mediators of metabolic dilation in the coronary circulation, we investigated the effect of glibenclamide (a KATP channel blocker) on adenosine and hypoxic dilation of human coronary resistance arteries, with myogenic tone, in vitro.
Vessels were dissected from the atrial appendage from consenting patients and studied in vitro using a pressure arteriograph system. Segments of coronary resistance artery were pressurized to 60 mmHg and the vessels studied developed spontaneous myogenic tone.
The KATP opener pinacidil (final conc. 5 × 10−6 M) resulted in dilation, which was completely reversed by 5 × 10−6 glibenclamide (84±14 vs −10±9%, pinacidil and pinacidil plus glibenclamide, respectively, P=0.009, n=5).
Adenosine (final conc. 10−5 M) resulted in dilation, glibenclamide (5 × 10−6 and 10−5 M) was without effect (118±12 vs 104±16% adenosine and adenosine plus 10−5 glibenclamide, respectively, n.s., n=4).
Hypoxia (8±3 mmHg O2) resulted in a dilation that reversed when normoxic conditions were restored (60±9 vs 3±11% hypoxia and post‐hypoxia, respectively, P=0.014, n=3). The hypoxic dilation was not affected by glibenclamide (63±14 vs 55±6% hypoxia and hypoxia plus glibenclamide, respectively, n.s., n=4). In a further series of experiments, vessels were incubated with glibenclamide (5 × 10−6) prior to a hypoxic challenge; again, glibenclamide was without effect on the hypoxic dilation (−0.008±2 vs 95±3% glibenclamide and glibenclamide plus hypoxia, respectively, P=0.0005, n=3).
These data demonstrate that glibenclamide is without effect on both adenosine and hypoxic dilation of human coronary resistance arteries with myogenic tone, from the right atrial appendage in vitro. Our findings suggest that the KATP channel is unlikely to be a major mediator of metabolic dilation in these arteries.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 147, 455–458. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706622
Ceramide, Tumor Necrosis Factor and Alcohol‐Induced Liver Disease
Authors: Fernandez‐Checa José C. , Colell Anna , Mari Montserrat , García‐Ruiz Carmen 
Published: December 2005

Abstract: Background: The pathogenesis of alcohol‐induced liver disease (ALD) is incompletely known. One of the key processes mediating the progression of ALD involved the overproduction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the susceptibility of hepatocytes to TNF‐induced apoptosis by alcohol intake.Methods: Analyze the apoptotic signaling of TNF resulting in the targeting and subsequent recruitment of mitochondria to death pathways.Results: Studies in experimental animal models of the disease have provided evidence for the role of ceramide generated from acidic sphingomyelinase in the apoptotic signaling of TNF through recruitment of mitochondria. The mitochondrial pool of glutathione (mGSH) is a vital line of defense against oxidative stress by precluding the accumulation peroxides generated endogenously within mitochondria and as a cofactor of mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes. The depletion of mGSH by alcohol has been described to determine the susceptibility of hepatocytes to TNF‐mediated cell death.Conclusions: The level of mGSH determines the fate of hepatocytes to acidic sphingomyelinase activation by TNF and hence strategies aimed to replenish mGSH or to antagonize the generation of ceramide from acidic sphingomyelinase may be of therapeutic value for ALD.
Ethanol‐Induced Liver Injury: Potential Roles for Egr‐1
Authors: Pritchard M T. , Nagy L E. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract: Chronic ethanol‐induced liver injury follows a typical progression from its earliest stage of steatosis to more advanced injury, characterized by the development of inflammation, hepatocyte necrosis/apoptosis, fibrosis and finally cirrhosis. Kupffer cells, the resident macrophage in the liver, play a critical role in the progression of liver injury. Increased exposure of Kupffer cells to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during chronic ethanol exposure leads to the production of a number of inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α). Recent evidence indicates that in addition to increased exposure to LPS, Kupffer cells also develop an enhanced sensitivity to LPS after chronic ethanol feeding. We have recently identified early growth response‐1 (Egr‐1), an immediate‐early gene transcription factor, as an important contributor to increased LPS‐stimulated TNF‐α secretion by Kupffer cells after chronic ethanol exposure. In other models of tissue injury, such as ischemia‐reperfusion in the lung, Egr‐1 acts as a coordinator of the complex response to stress. Here we review the literature regarding the role of EGR‐1 in regulation of a number of genes implicated in each of the stages of chronic ethanol‐induced liver injury.In addition to the critical role of Egr‐1 in generating maximal LPS‐stimulated TNF‐α expression, Egr‐1 also controls the expression of a number of inflammatory mediators, including intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐2, as well as genes contributing to fibrosis, such as transforming growth factor (TFG)‐β1, platelet‐derived growth factor PDGF‐A chain and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Understanding the contribution of Egr‐1 to the expression of genes involved in the development of chronic ethanol‐induced liver injury may lead to the development of improved therapies designed to prevent and/or reverse alcohol‐induced liver injury.
Sesamin Ingestion Regulates the Transcription Levels of Hepatic Metabolizing Enzymes for Alcohol and Lipids in Rats
Authors: Kiso Yoshinobu , Tsuruoka Nobuo , Kidokoro Ayako , Matsumoto Ichiro , Abe Keiko 
Published: December 2005

Abstract: Background: Sesamin, a major lignan in sesame seeds, has multiple functions such as stimulation effect of ethanol metabolism in mice and human, and prevention of ethanol‐induced fatty liver in rats. However, the mechanism has not been clarified yet.Methods: The changes of gene expression were investigated in rats given 250 mg/kg of sesamin (sesamin rats) or vehicle (control rats) for three days by using a DNA microarray analysis. At 4 hr after the final ingestion, the profiles of gene expression in rat livers were compared.Results: The analysis showed that 38 transcripts were up‐regulated with a significant change of more than two‐fold and eight transcripts were down‐regulated with a significant change to less than half in the livers of sesamin rats versus control rats. The gene expression levels of the early stage enzymes of β‐oxidation including long‐chain acyl‐CoA synthetase, very long‐chain acyl‐CoA synthetase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase were not changed, however, those of the late stage enzymes of β‐oxidation including trifunctional enzyme in mitochondria, and acyl‐CoA oxidase, bifunctional enzyme and 3‐ketoacyl‐CoA thiolase in peroxisomes, were significantly increased by sesamin ingestion. Also, in sesamin rats, the gene expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase was increased about three‐fold, whereas alcohol dehydrogenase, liver catalase and CYP2E1 were not changed. Changes in the gene expression of alcohol‐ and aldehyde‐metabolizing enzymes observed in a DNA microarray were also confirmed by a real‐time PCR method.Conclusions: These results suggested that sesamin ingestion regulated the transcription levels of hepatic metabolizing enzymes for alcohol and lipids.
Expression patterns of hair and epithelial keratins and transcription factors HOXC13, LEF1, and β‐catenin in a malignant pilomatricoma: a histological and immunohistochemical study
Authors: Cribier Bernard , Worret Wolf‐Ingo , Braun‐Falco Markus , Peltre Bernard , Langbein Lutz , Schweizer Jürgen 
Published: December 2005

Background:  We have previously shown that benign pilomatricomas not only maintain the sequential expression of the hair matrix and precortex keratins hHa5 and hHa1 of normal hair follicles in their transitional cell compartment, but also preserve the association of hHa5 expression with that of its regulatory homeoprotein HOXC13 in the lower transitional cell compartment. In contrast, hHa1 expression in the upper transitional cell compartment is uncoupled from the nuclear co‐expression of the LEF1/β‐catenin complex seen in normal hair follicles (Cribier et al., J Invest Dermatol 2004; 122: 1078).Methods:  Formalin‐fixed paraffin sections of the tumor were examined using a panel of mono‐ and polyclonal hair and epithelial keratin antibodies as well as antibodies against HOXC13, LEF1, and β‐catenin.Results:  Morphologically, the malignant pilomatricoma investigated here clearly deviated from the described major tumor type by a large number of differently sized parakeratotic squamoid whorls emerging within the mass of basaloid cells and surrounded by cells remembering transitional cells, but only rarely containing shadow cells and signs of calcification. We show that hHa5/HOXC13 co‐expression was maintained in transitional cell areas, in which hHa1 expression was much stronger than in benign pilomatricomas, but again uncoupled from concomitant nuclear LEF1/β‐catenin expression. Surprisingly, however, and in clear contrast to benign pilomatricomas, these transitional cells co‐expressed the epithelial keratins K5, K14, and K17, with the latter being as strongly expressed as hHa1, both also staining the entire inner mass of the parakeratotic whorls.Conclusions:  Although the malignant pilomatricoma investigated here was distinctive in that it contained a multitude of parakeratinizing whorls and no signs of calcification, it shared both hHa5/HOXC13 co‐expression and disrupted hHa1/β‐catenin–LEF1 expression in its transitional cell compartment around the whorls with benign pilomatricomas. However, in clear contrast to the latter, transitional cells of the malignant tumor also strongly expressed the epithelial keratins K5, K14, and K17. We speculate that the observed dominance of the epithelial differentiation pathway over the competing conventional shadow cell differentiation pathway may prevent massive calcification of the tumor.
Macrophage‐rich epithelioid angiosarcoma mimicking malignant melanoma
Authors: Brightman Lori A. , Demierre Marie‐France , Byers H. Randolph 
Published: December 2005

Background:  Cutaneous epithelioid angiosarcoma is a type of cutaneous angiosarcoma and usually arise both on the head or neck of the elderly.Case report:  An 86‐year‐old male with an epithelioid angiosarcoma of the scalp that mimicked malignant melanoma.Results:  A large irregular dark grey‐blue plaque with an adjacent speckled tan nodule was suggestive of a primary cutaneous malignant melanoma with adjacent in‐transit metastasis. Both had a well‐circumscribed growth pattern and were composed of numerous large epithelioid cells with scattered severe atypia and mitoses. The tumor was positive for S‐100 protein and vimentin and negative for low‐ and high‐molecular weight cytokeratins. However, at high power, the epithelioid cells with severe atypia were negative for S‐100 protein, and abundant large epithelioid macrophages were responsible for the S‐100 protein positivity. The malignant tumor cells were negative for HMB‐45, positive for CD31 and Factor VIII‐related antigen, and focally positive for CD34. A focus of infiltrative, classical angiosarcoma with irregular vascular channels lined with plump, anaplastic endothelial cells was then found deep to the epithelioid tumor.Conclusions:  Macrophage‐rich epithelioid angiosarcoma demonstrates abundant S‐100 protein‐positive epithelioid macrophages. This subset of epithelioid angiosarcoma may mimic malignant melanoma and may present as a pitfall in diagnosis.
Pure sclerotic neurofibroma: a neurofibroma mimicking sclerotic fibroma
Authors: González‐Vela M. Carmen , Val‐Bernal J. Fernando , González‐López Marcos A. , Drake Marta , Fernández‐Llaca J. Héctor 
Published: December 2005

Background:  Neurofibroma (NF) is a benign tumor of the nerve sheath. Several variants of NF have been described.Purpose:  We report a case of NF with sclerotic changes resembling sclerotic fibroma (SF).Methods and Results:  The patient was a 61‐year‐old man who had an asymptomatic cutaneous lesion on the right scapular region. Physical examination revealed a pedunculated, white‐to‐pinkish nodule that had a firm consistency, spherical morphology, and smooth surface. Microscopically, the nodule showed a well‐circumscribed, nonencapsulated dermal tumor composed of scant cells and thick collagen bundles with prominent clefts. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for vimentin and S100 protein. The patient was diagnosed as having pure sclerotic NF. To our knowledge, only five cases of NF with SF‐like pattern have been previously published, and in two this pattern was pure.Conclusion:  It is important to recognize this exceptional type of NF because it may be easily confused with SF, as well as with a wide variety of neoplasms or hamartomatous conditions containing similar sclerotic pattern.