bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Borders of “the boundaryless career”
Authors: Sommerlund Julie , Boutaiba Sami 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to examine the notion of the boundaryless career, arguing that the notion is problematic, and that simultaneous co‐existence of different types of careers makes both “new” and “old” types of careers possible.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is twofold: a theoretical argument, and a qualitative ethnographic study, involving observations and interviews.FindingsThe theoretical argument questions the underlying premise and promise of the notion of the boundaryless career, namely that modern careers amount to a higher level of personal freedom. This empirical study will serve to illustrate the co‐constitutive nature of different career stories.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is qualitative and thereby limited in the following way: it serves to give a deep understanding of the phenomena at hand, but is not easily generalizable. However, the methodology can inspire scholars to explore the findings observed in this paper.Practical implicationsThe idealization of the boundaryless career is problematic, as it poses problems to those concerned with the career. A more flexible ideal of careers would be preferable to researchers and organisational actors alike.Originality/valueThe paper gives a practical and empirical input to a debate that has been largely conceptual or generalized.
Can banks improve customer relationships with high quality online services?
Authors: Herington Carmel , Weaven Scott 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore the impact of online service quality on the level of customer delight and on the development of customer relationships.Design/methodology/approachA self‐complete survey was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 200 Australian respondents who use online banking. Factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to test the proposed model of relationships.FindingsOnline service quality has no impact on customer delight, e‐trust or the development of stronger relationships with customers. It does have a relationship to e‐loyalty. However, the “efficiency” dimension of online service quality is related to e‐trust and also indirectly to relationship strength through e‐trust. The “personal need” and “site organization” dimensions of online service quality are related to e‐loyalty, with “personal needs” exhibiting the strongest impact. Customer delight has no relationship to online service quality, nor e‐trust, relationship strength or e‐loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralizability is the main issue. Further research is required to confirm results and examine the identified lack of association between customer delight and e‐loyalty. Further exploration of all scales is recommended. Online service quality is not a sufficient method for retaining customers through relationship building and does not result in delighting customers.Practical implicationsOnline service quality is not enough to develop strong relationships with bank customers. Banks can achieve customer loyalty through attending to their personal needs in online situations as well as providing a well organized site. Alternatively, if banks wish to develop strong relationships with customers, they must provide user‐friendly and efficient websites while also developing trust in the website. Relationship building and e‐loyalty appears to represent different things to different customers. Therefore, online service quality alone is not a sufficient means of building strong relationships and retaining customers.Originality/valueResults provide important insights into the impact of online service quality on relationship building with customers. Also online service quality for banks appears different to other previously researched retail settings and has different associated outcomes.
Policy benchmarking: a tool of democracy or a tool of authoritarianism?
Authors: Papaioannou Theodoros 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the relationship between policy benchmarking, democracy and authoritarianism.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses theoretical investigation of different methodological perspectives of policy benchmarking and their relationship with principles of democracy and authoritarianism and analysis of the case of the European Union (EU) on the basis of empirical data.FindingsIdentifies two methodological perspectives of policy benchmarking: the first, grounded on the principle of learning and the bottom‐up approach, is close to democracy; the second, based on the principle of copying and the top‐down approach, is close to authoritarianism. The application of policy benchmarking in the EU so far appears to include elements of both democracy and authoritarianism.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is not exhaustive as regards methodological approaches to policy benchmarking and theories of democracy and authoritarianism.Practical implicationsCrucial methodological and ethico‐political implications for the use of benchmarking in the enlarged EU of 25.Originality/valueThis original piece of work provides clear answer to the question of relationship between policy benchmarking, democracy and authoritarianism. The paper contributes to academic debate of public policy, offering, at the same time, practical methodological help to policy‐makers.
The High-Osmolarity Glycerol Response Pathway in the Human Fungal Pathogen
Candida glabrata
Strain ATCC 2001 Lacks a Signaling Branch That Operates in Baker's Yeast
Authors: Gregori Christa , Schüller Christoph , Roetzer Andreas , Schwarzmüller Tobias , Ammerer Gustav , Kuchler Karl 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

The high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway mediates adaptation to high-osmolarity stress in the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Here we investigate the function of HOG in the human opportunistic fungal pathogen
Candida glabrata. C. glabrata sho1
Δ (Cg
sho1
Δ) deletion strains from the sequenced ATCC 2001 strain display severe growth defects under hyperosmotic conditions, a phenotype not observed for yeast
sho1
Δ mutants. However, deletion of Cg
SHO1
in other genetic backgrounds fails to cause osmostress hypersensitivity, whereas cells lacking the downstream MAP kinase Pbs2 remain osmosensitive. Notably, ATCC 2001 Cg
sho1
Δ cells also display methylglyoxal hypersensitivity, implying the inactivity of the Sln1 branch in ATCC 2001. Genomic sequencing of Cg
SSK2
in different
C. glabrata
backgrounds demonstrates that ATCC 2001 harbors a truncated and mutated Cg
ssk2
-
1
allele, the only orthologue of yeast
SSK2/SSK22
genes. Thus, the osmophenotype of ATCC 2001 is caused by a point mutation in Cg
ssk2
-
1
, which debilitates the second HOG pathway branch. Functional complementation experiments unequivocally demonstrate that HOG signaling in yeast and
C. glabrata
share similar functions in osmostress adaptation. In contrast to yeast, however, Cg
sho1
Δ mutants display hypersensitivity to weak organic acids such as sorbate and benzoate. Hence, CgSho1 is also implicated in modulating weak acid tolerance, suggesting that HOG signaling in
C. glabrata
mediates the response to multiple stress conditions.
Reduced inflammatory response in cigarette smoke exposed Mrp1/Mdr1a/1b deficient mice
Authors: van der Deen Margaretha , Timens Wim , Timmer-Bosscha Hetty , van der Strate Barry W , Scheper Rik J , Postma Dirkje S , de Vries Elisabeth G , Kerstjens Huib A 
Published: July 2007

Abstract

Background
Tobacco smoke is the principal risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), though the mechanisms of its toxicity are still unclear. The ABC transporters multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp/MDR1) extrude a wide variety of toxic substances across cellular membranes and are highly expressed in bronchial epithelium. Their impaired function may contribute to COPD development by diminished detoxification of noxious compounds in cigarette smoke.

Methods
We examined whether triple knock-out (TKO) mice lacking the genes for Mrp1 and Mdr1a/1b are more susceptible to develop COPD features than their wild-type (WT) littermates. TKO and WT mice (six per group) were exposed to 2 cigarettes twice daily by nose-only exposure or room air for 6 months. Inflammatory infiltrates were analyzed in lung sections, cytokines and chemokines in whole lung homogenates, emphysema by mean linear intercept. Multiple linear regression analysis with an interaction term was used to establish the statistical significances of differences.

Results
TKO mice had lower levels of interleukin (IL)-7, KC (mouse IL-8), IL-12p70, IL-17, TNF-alpha, G-CSF, GM-CSF and MIP-1-alpha than WT mice independent of smoke exposure (P < 0.05). IL-1-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-alpha, G-CSF, GM-CSF and MCP-1 increased after smoke exposure in both groups, but the increase in IL-8 was lower in TKO than WT mice (P < 0.05) with a same trend for G-CSF (P < 0.10). Smoke-induced increase in pulmonary inflammatory cells in WT mice was almost absent in TKO mice. The mean linear intercept was not different between groups.

Conclusion

Mrp1/Mdr1a/1b knock-out mice have a reduced inflammatory response to cigarette smoke. In addition, the expression levels of several cytokines and chemokines were also lower in lungs of Mrp1/Mdr1a/1b knock-out mice independent of smoke exposure. Further studies are required to determine whether dysfunction of MRP1 and/or P-gp contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD.
Gastrointestinal transit of model mini-tablet controlled release oral dosage forms in fasted human volunteers
Authors: Podczeck F , Course N , Newton J M , Short M B 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the gastrointestinal transit of multiple unit, small diameter (3.2 mm), non-disintegrating tablets of differing densities with results previously reported in the same volunteers in the fasted state for larger diameter (6.6 and 12.2 mm) tablets. The gastrointestinal transit was observed with gamma-scintigraphy at various intervals over a 9-h period to give an accurate assessment of the transit characteristics. The value for the median emptying time of the first light tablet was significantly shorter than that for the dense tablet, but the total emptying time and the time for the last tablet to empty for both sets of tablets were not statistically different. The value of the median time for initial and final emptying of the small tablets from the stomach was significantly longer than that for the larger diameter tablets. The 9-h time limit of the observations limited the estimation of the time taken to enter the caecum and consequently the small intestine transit times. There was clear evidence that for the dense tablets of all sizes, the value for the small intestine transit time was longer than the 3–4 h reported in the literature. The only tablet system to enter the caecum within the time limit of the study was the normal density 12.2-mm tablets.
Effect of ethanol consumption on blood pressure and rat mesenteric arterial bed, aorta and carotid responsiveness
Authors: Tirapelli Carlos R , Leone Andreia F C , Coelho Eduardo B , Resstel Leonardo B M , Corrêa Fernando M A , Lanchote Vera L , Uyemura Sergio A , Padovan Cláudia M , de Oliveira Ana M 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
This study investigates whether chronic ethanol consumption increases blood pressure and alters vascular reactivity in different tissues. Changes in reactivity to phenylephrine and acetylcholine were investigated in the aorta, carotid artery and mesenteric arterial bed (MAB) isolated from rats pretreated with ethanol for 2 or 6 weeks. Mild hypertension was observed in chronically ethanol-treated rats, which was due to rises in both systolic and diastolic pressures. Chronic ethanol consumption increased the contractile response to phenylephrine of endothelium-intact and denuded rat aortic rings from rats pretreated with ethanol for 2 or 6 weeks. Conversely, no differences were found in acetylcholine-induced relaxation. Neither phenylephrine-induced contraction nor acetylcholine-induced relaxation were altered in the rat carotid. Six weeks' ethanol consumption enhanced the contractile response to phenylephrine of endothelium-intact, but not denuded rat MAB. On the other hand, 2 weeks' ethanol consumption did not affect phenylephrine-induced increase in perfusion pressure. Moreover, acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the MAB was reduced after treatment with ethanol for 6 weeks but not after 2 weeks. In conclusion, ethanol affects both blood pressure and vessel reactivity, but the effect on vascular reactivity may take longer to become apparent in MAB than in the aorta, and was not evident in the carotid. Moreover, we provide evidence that the effect of ethanol depends on the agonist and blood vessel studied.
Effects of coconut oil on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Arruzazabala María de Lourdes , Molina Vivian , Más Rosa , Carbajal Daisy , Marrero David , González Víctor , Rodríguez Eduardo 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the benign uncontrolled growth of the prostate gland, leading to difficulty with urination. Saw palmetto lipid extracts (SPLE), used to treat BPH, have been shown to inhibit prostate 5α-reductase, and some major components, such as lauric, myristic and oleic acids also inhibit this enzyme. Coconut oil (CO) is also rich in fatty acids, mainly lauric and myristic acids. We investigated whether CO prevents testosterone-induced prostate hyperplasia (PH) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were distributed into seven groups (10 rats each). A negative control group were injected with soya oil; six groups were injected with testosterone (3 mg kg−1) to induce PH: a positive control group, and five groups treated orally with SPLE (400 mg kg−1), CO or sunflower oil (SO) (400 and 800 mg kg−1). Treatments were given for 14 days. Rats were weighed before treatment and weekly thereafter. Rats were then killed and the prostates were removed and weighed. CO (400 and 800 mg kg−1), SPLE (400 mg kg−1) and SO at 800 mg kg−1, but not at 400 mg kg−1, significantly reduced the increase in prostate weight (PW) and PW:body weight (BW) ratio induced by testosterone (% inhibition 61.5%, 82.0%, 43.8% and 28.2%, respectively). Since CO and SPLE, but not SO, contain appreciable concentrations of lauric and myristic acids, these results could be attributed to this fact. In conclusion, this study shows that CO reduced the increase of both PW and PW:BW ratio, markers of testosterone-induced PH in rats.
Internal stresses at the saddles of YT tubular joints with three different weld fillet shapes
Authors: Fessler H , Marston R E , Ollerton E 
Published: July 2007

The frozen-stress, photoelastic method was used to determine the elastic stresses along 16 lines through the chord at the saddles of YT tubular joints. Four 45–90 degree joints were simply supported at the ends of the chord and tension was applied to one brace only. The blend fillet at the intersection of the brace wall and chord wall outer surfaces was modelled as an idealised chamfer, a sharp corner, and a blended circular arc. In the chord wall near the fillet, stress distributions show predominant chord wall bending with significant tension in the direction of the chord axis. The greatest stresses occur at the weld toe where the notch effect extends to one third of the chord wall thickness. There is no stress concentration at the internal brace/chord fillet. Surface stresses are presented as mean and bending values.
Out-of-plane bending of faceted cylinder end plates
Authors: Oghoubian R , Smart J 
Published: July 2007

Washing machine tanks are now made mainly as plastic injection mouldings. Essentially, they consist of a cylinder, open at one end and with a faceted end plate at the other. The tanks are subjected to an out-of-plane bending moment at the centre of the faceted plate. This geometry/loading combination has been examined using the finite element method and an understanding of the important design parameters obtained. To avoid performing many finite element analyses to obtain a satisfactory design, a quick approximate analysis method has been developed. This has been shown to be accurate over a wide range of designs.
Decay rates for the compound circular cylinder
Authors: Stephen N G 
Published: July 2007

An exact linear elasticity solution developed by the author for the decay of self-equilibrating end loads applied to a hollow circular cylinder is extended here to determine decay rates for a compound circular cylinder of two materials having different stiffness; only axisymmetric loads are considered. The results are of interest not only as a quantification of Saint-Venant's Principle (SVP), but also because the minimum decay rate indicates the rate of load transfer and hence the maximum extent of a transition region where load is transferred from one cylinder to another. As with the semi-infinite plane strain sandwich, one of the few other geometries amenable to mathematical analysis, rates of decay can be so slow that routine invocation of SVP is not justified. The rate of load transfer from a stiff inner cylinder to a more flexible concentric cylinder is affected by the ratio of the elastic properties and also the diameter ratio. For load transfer to be effected over minimum distance the difference in stiffness should be small; when the difference in stiffness is large, rapid load transfer can be achieved by keeping the diameter ratio small.
The prediction of axial damping in spiral strands
Authors: Raoof M 
Published: July 2007

This paper addresses the problem of predicting the axial hysteresis in multi-layered helical strands from first principles. Using previously reported orthotropic sheet theory for helical strands with wire compliances derived from results in available contact stress theories, normal forces on the interwire/interlayer contact patches have been estimated. Using such data, the full slip histories on the contact patches from the micro-slips on the periphery at low loads, to the onset of gross slip at higher loads and beyond are predicted. It is shown that cable overall axial hysteresis is dominated by the frictional energy dissipation over the line-contact patches within individual layers. Strand overall hysteresis is predicted by two rather different theoretical methods which provide an analytical double check. In the first method, the overall load-deflection curve, as derived by a previously reported orthotropic sheet model is used to follow the loading and subsequent unloading response of an axially pre-loaded strand with its ends fixed against rotation. The calculated enclosed hysteresis loop area gives an estimate of strand damping which should closely match alternative predictions based on the summation of energy dissipation over the individual contact patches throughout the strand. The match between these two alternative predictions and available experimental data on some fully bedded-in (old) and substantial 39 mm spiral strand is very encouraging. The practical limitations of the proposed analytical models are critically addressed in the light of recent experimental findings.
Experimental investigation of cyclic plasticity continuum damage evolution in an engineering component subjected to thermal loading
Authors: Dunne F P E , Puttergill D B , Hayhurst D R , Mabbutt Q J 
Published: July 2007

A thermal shock test facility is designed and built to enable to enable a copper model slag tap component to be tested under cyclic thermal loading conditions. Infra-red line heaters and pumped cooling water are used to impose temperature loading cycles on to the specimen. Accurate focussing of the line heaters using a two degree of freedom adjustment mechanism, enables a heating area of width 3 mm to be applied to the specimen. Both the heating and the cooling processes are controlled by a proportional, integral, and derivative feedback micro-processor controller. Specimen temperature fields are obtained using thermocouples, and specimen displacements and strains are measured using linear voltage displacement transducers and strain gauges. A cyclic thermal loading test is carried out for approximately 7150 cycles on a model slag tap component. The variations of specimen strains and displacements are recorded and compared with results obtained from a finite element viscoplastic damage analysis. Good agreement between the predicted and experimental results is obtained. Microstructural examination of the specimen reveals the development of persistent slip bands and micro-cracking at grain boundaries. This occurs at the regions of the specimen undergoing cyclic plasticity due to the imposed cyclic thermal loading. The experimental observations of cyclic plasticity damage formation in copper undergoing cyclic thermal loading indicates the suitability of the Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) theory to model the evolution of cyclic plasticity damage. The damage is characterized by the development of fields of micro-cracked grain boundaries due to the formation and interaction of persistent slip bands within the grains.
Fully plastic ductile tearing of HY130 steel—an analysis by J, COD, energy rate and crack opening angle
Authors: Dagbasi M , Turner C E 
Published: July 2007

The dependence of J-R curves on size of test piece is examined for fully plastic deep notch bend (DNB) tests on HY130 steel, taken to large amounts of ductile crack growth (60 per cent of the ligament) for a range of initial widths at 20 mm thick and one geometrically similar size, 50 mm thick. The object is to understand the cause of the widely different patterns of behaviour that have been reported in the literature, even within the DNB type of configuration. In the present tests, the proportion of shear lip is the same for the geometrically similar pair but the J-R curve for the 50 mm thick piece is much lower than for the similar piece, 20 mm thick. The rate of change of displacement, dq/da, is analysed using the factor. r∗, that defines the instantaneous centre of rotation at each step of growth, to give a measure of crack tip opening angle (CTOA), xg. After an initial transient regime of small growth, xg and r∗ remain constant. The normalized load. L, rises due to work hardening during crack growth by amounts that depend on size while xg and r∗ vary mildly with initial width to give an appreciable variation of the combined term Lxg/r∗, which is the factor that controls the behaviour of the JR curves. It is speculated that CTOA and its variation with configuration (as seen in the literature) may, for large growth, assume the role of the two parameters suggested in recent literature as controlling the variation of toughness with constraint.