bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors limiting the generality of the risky‐shift phenomenon
Authors: Lamm Helmut , Ochsmann Randolph 
Published: May 2007

AbstractWhile a considerable amount of research has centered on explaining the risky shift (enhancement of risk acceptance through group discussion; see, for example, Dion, Baron, and Miller, 1970), few studies have investigated the generality of the phenomenon. Three of several ways in which the laboratory context is usually lacking of reality are: (a) The decision consequences are imaginary, as in the ‘Choice‐Dilemma’ situations used in most of the risky‐shift research; (b) the decision consequences ‐ even if they are real (e.g. money) ‐ are slight; and (c) the decisions are made for oneself (whereas in real life many decisions involve agents acting on behalf of others).The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the above three factors ‐ type of incentive, magnitude of stake and decision target ‐ using a betting task as the decision situation.
Attractiveness, cost and dependency in the exchange of unlike behaviors
Authors: Lefebvre Luc M. , McNeel Steven P. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractA research project was conducted to extend social exchange theory to a situation of exchanging unlike behaviors. In the present study, female judges rated the performance of males (accomplices of E) in a creativity task. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design manipulated the variables of cost to the judge for inaccurate ratings, attractiveness of the male performer and dependency of the performer's outcomes on the judge's ratings. The basic expectations were generated from social exchange theory and significantly supported. Under low cost, and to a lesser extent also under high cost, higher creativity ratings would be given to highly attractive than to less attractive performers. This result pattern was not affected by the dependency manipulation as could tentatively be expected on the basis of the altruism and ingratiation phenomena. These findings are discussed in relation to those of a previous study using male judges and female performers and differences are interpretated in terms of the appropriateness of the behavior according to sex role prescriptions. The discussion suggests the need for research directed toward determining the conditions which predispose people to choose one social exchange rule over another.
Group versus individual performance on tasks requiring ideational proficiency (brainstorming): A review
Authors: Lamm Helmut , Trommsdorff Gisela 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIn the experiments reviewed in this article the subjects are asked to produce ideas that are relevant to a given task request (e.g., possible consequences of a hypothetical event). After describing the specific task material and the performance measures used in the relevant research studies, some analytic background is given by outlining the cognitive resources required in this kind of experimental task and by listing the various factors that may come into play when subjects perform in groups (with discussion) instead of individually. We then review the studies comparing individual and group performance. In all of these experiments the subjects were asked to work according to the rules of brainstorming, which prescribe that participants refrain from evaluating their ideas. This procedure purportedly results in superior group, relative to individual, performance. However, the empirical evidence clearly indicates that subjects brainstorming in small groups produce fewer ideas than the same number of subjects brainstorming individually. Less clear evidence is available on measures of quality, uniqueness and variety. The discussion considers factors that may be responsible for this inferiority of groups. The role of social inhibition receives particular attention also in terms of suggestions for research. Apart from the group‐individual comparison we review the existing research concerning factors that may influence group performance on idea‐generation tasks.
Studies in social influence: II. Instrumental and symbolic influence
Authors: Moscovici Serge , Néve Patricia 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIn this article we have dealt with a critical analysis pertaining to the notion of the informational influence. We hereby show that in every inter‐actionary situation, the judgments emitted by the source (influence agent) appear to contain informations on the judged objects from their elementary content and, at the same time, from their organisation, like indications on the source itself, on its purpose. In this manner, we have come to distinguish the instrumental influence from the symbolical influence. An experiment where the subjects have to judge the number of points appearing on the slides shows that this distinction reveals what happens in the process of influence.
The focusing of responsibility: An alternative hypothesis in help‐demanding situations
Authors: Misavage Robert , Richardson James T. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe ‘diffusion of responsibility’ hypothesis as an explanation of helping behavior (or lack of same) is qualified by suggesting that the hypothesis applies only in non‐interacting situations. It is hypothesized that interacting groups who are aware of a help‐demanding situation actually focus the responsibility and, therefore, take action as a group more rapidly than will a non‐interacting group. Evidence is gathered in a contrived help‐demanding situation employing a 2 × 3 (sex × condition) in which three conditions — alone, non‐interacting (pseudo) groups, and interacting groups — are used. The evidence substantiates the major hypothesis. Speculation is also presented concerning the relationship of the ‘alone’ condition to the interacting and non‐interacting groups and concerning sex effects.
The meaning of five patterns of gaze
Authors: Argyle Michael , Lefebvre Luc , Cook Mark 
Published: May 2007

AbstractSubjects had five encounters with trained confederates, who each displayed five patterns of gaze with different subjects, in a graeco‐latin square design. The patterns of gaze were: Zero, looking while talking, looking while listening, normal and continuous. Two conditions were used: Subjects were either getting acquainted with the confederates or assessing them while they behaved in an ingratiating manner. Subjects and confederates were either both male or both female. Subjects rated the confederates on fifteen rating scales; a principle components analysis produced five main components, the first two being liking/evaluation and activity/potency. Gaze affected scores on these components as predicted: Ratings of liking/evaluation increased from zero gaze to normal and were lower for continuous — confirming the affiliative balance theory; and the more gaze the higher the ratings on activity/potency. The predicted effects of ingratiation on the interpretation of gaze were not obtained, though ingratiators were seen as less intelligent. Decoders responded to amount of gaze, and not to its relation to talking and listening.
Preference of dissonance reduction modes as a function of their order, familiarity and reversibility
Authors: Götz‐Marchand Bettina , Götz Jochen , Irle Martin 
Published: May 2007

AbstractTwo central hypotheses of the original version of the theory of cognitive dissonance (Festinger, 1957) (1) that dissonance is to be conceived of as a primary drive and (2) that in order to reduce dissonance less resistant cognitions will be changed more than highly resistant ones led to hypotheses which were confirmed by two experiments.In Experiment I, a 2 × 3 factorial design, order and familiarity of dissonance reduction modes were manipulated. After receiving a dissonant information the subjects were offered a relatively low and a relatively high resistant cognition for dissonance reduction, each being placed first (series I, high‐low resistance) or last (series II, low‐high resistance) respectively. Subjects did (known) or did not (unknown) read these modes before reacting to them. Under the unknown condition dissonance will be reduced more with a specific mode if it is placed first than last. With known reduction modes the order of presentation does not have an effect. Under series I condition the first‐placed, higher‐resistant cognition will be changed more in the unknown condition than in the known condition. Under the series II condition the first‐placed, lower‐resistant cognition will be changed equally in the known and unknown condition. In short, the higher‐resistant cognition will be changed more, only when it is placed first and when the following modes are not known.Two explanations for these results are possible: (1) The more dissonance is reduced by changing a more or a less resistant congnition, the less further reduction is necessary; (2) dissonance will be reduced in an internally consistent way. Experiment II excluded the first explanation. Subjects were allowed to revise their original way of reducing dissonance. First, subjects in one condition received series I unknown and subjects in the other condition received series II unknown. Reacting to the dissonance reduction modes the second time, there was more revision when the high‐resistant congition was placed first (series 1 revision) than when placed last (series II revision). These results support the hypothesis that dissonance reduction by changing a less‐resistant congnition more and changing a high‐resistant one less is preferred.Implications of the results of the two experments for the stability of dissonance reduction, the method and interpretation of dissonance experiments are discussed.
Responses to within‐group criticism: does past adherence to group norms matter?
Authors: Tarrant Mark , Campbell Ewan 
Published: May 2007

AbstractTwo studies tested the hypothesis that responses to within‐group criticism are influenced by perceptions of a critic's prior adherence to ingroup norms. Participants responded to criticism which originated from ingroup members who either had previously adhered to or deviated from a group norm. Across both studies, criticising the ingroup yielded more negative group evaluations for antinormative members than it did for normative members. Participants also reported highest levels of sensitivity overall to communication (whether critical or praising of the ingroup) which came from antinormative members. Mediational analyses (Study 2) indicated that these effects were driven by perceptions of whether the communication violated a group expectation, and also perceptions of the critic's identification with the group. Study 1 also provided evidence that reactions to criticism are made in response to social identity concerns: the effects of prior norm adherence were observed only in participants who were highly identified with the ingroup. The research integrates previous work on group deviance and responses to criticism by elaborating the conditions under which criticism originating from within a group is most and least likely to be tolerated by its members. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of electrophoresis in disease biomarker discovery
Authors: Issaq Haleem J. , Veenstra Timothy D. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThere has been increased activity in the last few years in the search for disease markers using fractionation of complex biological fluids combined with MS. While electrophoretic and chromatographic separations have played a major role in this endeavor, this manuscript is limited to a review of electrophoretic methods that have been established for disease biomarker discovery. These methods include 2‐DE, difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE), and CE. We define what constitutes a biomarker, identify the steps required for establishing a biomarker, and describe the parameters needed in the design of an ideal diagnostic test. The application, advantages, and limitations of CE, DIGE, and 2‐DE in meeting the goal of discovering novel biomarkers is discussed in detail, along with a few selected examples that illustrate the search for biomarkers for cancer and neurological diseases.
Passive‐roof thrusting in the Messinian Vena del Gesso Basin (Northern Apennines, Italy): constraints from field data and analogue models
Authors: Montanari Domenico , Del Ventisette Chiara , Bonini Marco , Sani Federico 
Published: May 2007

AbstractWe present the results of a study of the Vena del Gesso Basin (Romagna Apennines, Italy) integrating field analyses and analogue modelling. This basin represents one of the best‐preserved top‐thrust basins in the Northern Apennines foreland and is one of the few examples where primary evaporites, related to the Messinian salinity crisis of the Mediterranean, widely crop out. The structural style affecting the Messinian gypsum is examined to get insights into the mechanism responsible for the overall deformation features recognizable in the area. The evaporites are completely detached at the base and widespread back‐thrusts, repeatedly doubling these deposits, strongly contrast with the regional forelandward vergence of structures in the Apennines. On the basis of the comparison between field data and experimental results, the features characterising this area can be described as the result of the deformation linked to the sequential activation of an obliquely propagating passive‐roof duplex. Analogue models evidenced the major role played (1) by syntectonic erosion that promoted the development of passive‐roof duplex style, as well as (2) the role of décollement level pinch‐out that determined an oblique progression of deformation. Finally our data lead to reconsider the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction concerning the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis in the Mediterranean. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contribution of the anterior thalamic nuclei to conditional learning in rats
Authors: Sziklas V. , Petrides M. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe anterior thalamic region is intimately linked anatomically and functionally with the hippocampus, which is critical for various forms of spatial learning. Rats with lesions to the anterior thalamic nuclei and a control group were trained on a visual–spatial conditional associative learning task in which they had to learn to go to one of two locations depending on the particular visual cue presented on each trial; the rats approached the cues from different directions. The animals were subsequently tested on a spatial working memory task, the eight‐arm radial maze. Performance on both these tasks had previously been shown to be impaired by hippocampal lesions. Rats with anterior thalamic damage were able to acquire the conditional associative task at a rate comparable to that of the control animals, but were impaired on the radial maze task. The finding of a dissociation between the effects of lesions of the anterior thalamic nuclei on two different classes of behavior known to be associated with hippocampal function suggest that while different neural stations within the extended hippocampal circuit may all play a role in spatial learning, the role of each of these regions in such learning may be more selective than previously considered. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognostic relevance of circulating matrix metalloproteinase‐2 in acute myeloid leukaemia patients
Authors: Aref Salah , Osman E. , Mansy S. , Omer N. , Azmy E. , Goda T. , El‐Sherbiny M. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were postulated to have important implication in progression and invasiveness of many malignant disorders. On the other hand the biological role of MMP‐2 in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is not fully clear. Serum samples from 37 adult patients with AML had been taken before chemotherapy was administered. In addition 20 out of the 37 patients were analysed again after achieving complete remission (CR). Ten samples from healthy volunteers were evaluated as the control. Total MMP‐2 levels were measured using ELISA Kit obtained from R&D system. MMP‐2 serum levels were significantly lower in pretreatment AML patients than that in the normal controls (p = 0.000) and in CR (p = 0.007). No significant correlations were detected between pretreatment sMMP‐2 levels and FAB subtypes, peripheral blood blast cell counts, peripheral blood WBCs, bone marrow blast cell counts or blast cell distribution ratio. The prognostic value of MMP‐2 was evaluated by dividing AML patients into high and low MMP‐2 groups using the pretreatment median MMP‐2 level of the AML group as the cut‐off. The authors found that patients in the high group survived for a significantly shorter time than those patients in the lower MMP‐2 group. High pretreatment levels of sMMP‐2 among AML patients were associated with poor survival. Prospective studies are recommended to establish the clinical value of longitudinal sMMP‐2 measurement. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human variability in hepatic and renal elimination: implications for risk assessment
Authors: Dorne J. L. C. M. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractHepatic metabolism and renal excretion constitute the main routes of xenobiotic elimination in humans. Improving human risk assessment for threshold contaminants requires the incorporation of quantitative data related to their elimination (toxicokinetics) and potential toxic effects (toxicodynamics). This type of data provides a scientific basis to replace the standard uncertainty factor (UF = 10) allowing for the consideration of human variability in toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. This review focuses on recent research efforts aiming to incorporate human variability in hepatic and renal elimination (toxicokinetics) into the risk assessment process. A therapeutic drug database was developed to quantify pathway‐related variability in human phase I and phase II hepatic metabolism as well as renal excretion in subgroups of the population (healthy adults, neonates and the elderly), using data on compounds cleared primarily through each route (> 60% dose). For each subgroup of the population and elimination route, pathway‐related UFs were then derived to cover 95–99% of each subgroup. Overall, the default toxicokinetic UFs would not cover neonates, the elderly for most elimination routes and any subgroup of the population for compounds metabolized via polymorphic isozymes (such as CYP2C19 and CYP2D6). These pathway‐related UFs allow the incorporation of in vivo metabolism and toxicokinetic data in the risk assessment process and provide a flexible intermediate option between the default UF and chemical‐specific adjustment factors (CSAFs) derived from physiologically based pharmacokinetic models. Implications of human variability in hepatic metabolism and renal excretion for chemical risk assessment are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteins combination on PHBV microsphere scaffold to regulate Hep3B cells activity and functionality: A model of liver tissue engineering system
Authors: Zhu Xin Hao , Gan Seng Keat , Wang Chi‐Hwa , Tong Yen Wah 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe synergistic effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein combinations on Hep3B cell proliferation and functions are studied herein. Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microspheres were covalently conjugated with three types of proteins, collagen (type I), laminin, and fibronectin, using 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide and N‐hydroxysuccinimide cross linkers. Successful conjugations of protein molecules were verified by the presence of nitrogen peaks in X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The densities of grafted proteins were quantified using Micro‐BCA kit. A human hepatoma cell line, Hep3B, was then cultured in vitro on the ECM proteins‐modified microspheres for 2 weeks. Cell proliferation was estimated using MTT method, and two hepatic functions, albumin secretion and P‐450 activity, were evaluated using ELISA and EROD assays, respectively. The results indicated that combination of the three ECM proteins on microsphere surfaces has a significant effect on the proliferation of Hep3B cells, thus better mimicking the in vivo environment for liver tissue engineering. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
Evaluation of cellular organization and axonal regeneration through linear PLA foam implants in acute and chronic spinal cord injury
Authors: Cai Jie , Ziemba Kristine S. , Smith George M. , Jin Ying 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThere are few studies of neural implants in spinal cord injury (SCI) focused on supporting directed axon growth. In this study, we fabricated a macroporous poly (lactic acid) (PLA) foam with oriented inner channels. Amorphous foam without linear channels served as a control in an acute SCI injury model, and the effectiveness of foam with linear channels was further investigated in a chronic SCI model. Implants were placed into a 2 mm hemisection lesion cavity at the T8 spinal cord level in adult rats. Two weeks post‐implantation, tissue sections including the implants were examined using antibodies against GFAP, p75, ED‐1, laminin, GAP‐43, and CGRP. Foam implants were well‐integrated with the host spinal cord. In linear foams, numerous DAPI‐stained cells were found within the inner channels. Schwann cells but not astrocytes had migrated within the channels. Intense laminin staining was observed throughout the extracellular matrix substrate. GAP‐43‐ and CGRP‐positive axons grew through the implants following the linear channels. In the amorphous control foams, DAPI staining distributed evenly through the pores. However, the growth of GAP‐43 or CGRP‐positive axons was misguided and impeded at the entrance area of the foam. Higher numbers of GAP‐43 and CGRP‐positive axons grew into linear foam implants after chronic SCI than acute SCI. These results suggest the potential application of linear foam implants in cell and axon guidance for SCI repair, especially for chronic SCI. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
Systematic study of the boundary composition in Poisson Boltzmann calculations
Authors: Kar Parimal , Wei Yanjie , Hansmann Ulrich H. E. , Höfinger Siegfried 
Published: May 2007

AbstractWe describe a three‐stage procedure to analyze the dependence of Poisson Boltzmann calculations on the shape, size and geometry of the boundary between solute and solvent. Our study is carried out within the boundary element formalism, but our results are also of interest to finite difference techniques of Poisson Boltzmann calculations. At first, we identify the critical size of the geometrical elements for discretizing the boundary, and thus the necessary resolution required to establish numerical convergence.In the following two steps we perform reference calculations on a set of dipeptides in different conformations using the Polarizable Continuum Model and a high‐level Density Functional as well as a high‐quality basis set. Afterwards, we propose a mechanism for defining appropriate boundary geometries. Finally, we compare the classic Poisson Boltzmann description with the Quantum Chemical description, and aim at finding appropriate fitting parameters to get a close match to the reference data. Surprisingly, when using default AMBER partial charges and the rigorous geometric parameters derived in the initial two stages, no scaling of the partial charges is necessary and the best fit against the reference set is obtained automatically. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007