bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of between‐partner congruity on consumer evaluation of co‐branded products
Authors: Walchli Suzanne B. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBranding studies, especially those focusing on brand extension, have often centered on establishing the relationship between consumer evaluation and the match between a product concept and the brand (concept congruity). This study introduces an additional type of congruity that arises in the evaluation of co‐branded products, the congruity between brand partners (between‐partner congruity). Between‐partner congruity has not previously been explicitly considered in the co‐branding literature, but is potentially an important influence on consumer perceptions of a brand partnership. Thus, this study represents an initial attempt to understand how the level of between‐partner congruity will affect consumer response to cobranded products. Several findings in the marketing literature have suggested that when respondents have the motivation to resolve incongruity, the relationship between congruity level and evaluation is nonmonotonic. In other words, moderately incongruent concepts are preferred to congruent or highly incongruent concepts to form an “inverted‐U” data function. Yet, when motivation to process is low, evaluation becomes less favorable in a linear fashion as incongruity increases. This study examines whether these findings can be extended to co‐branding. When concept congruity is controlled across brand pairs, the nonmonotonic relationship between between‐partner congruity level and product evaluation is observed when consumers are encouraged to elaborate on the rationale for the partnership (high involvement). However, when consumers attend to the global similarity of the partners (low involvement), product evaluation becomes less favorable as between‐partner incongruity increases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Birds of a feather flock together…definition, role and measure of congruence: An application to sponsorship
Authors: Fleck Nathalie D. , Quester Pascale 
Published: October 2007

AbstractCongruence has long been discussed in the context of brand extensions and advertising, particularly in terms of celebrity endorsement. Although just as relevant for sponsorship, the examination of this concept in that context is more recent, despite evidence that it plays a significant role in determining the effectiveness of this particular communication technique. In this paper, the authors argue in favor of conceptualizing congruence as a bidimensional construct, consistent with previous research. A scale to capture this important construct is subsequently developed and validated in two separate countries. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tektin5, a new Tektin family member, is a component of the middle piece of flagella in rat spermatozoa
Authors: Murayama Emi , Yamamoto Etsuko , Kaneko Takane , Shibata Yosaburo , Inai Tetsuichiro , Iida Hiroshi 
Published: October 2007

AbstractTektins are composed of a family of filament‐forming proteins localized in cilia and flagella. Four types of mammalian Tektins have been reported, and at least two types of Tektins, Tektin2 and Tektin4, have been verified to be present in sperm flagella. A new member of the TEKTIN gene family, which was designated as rat Tektin5, was obtained by PCR technique. Rat Tektin5 cDNA consists of 1,674 bp encoding a 62.8 kDa protein of 558 amino acids. Tektin5 protein contains a Tektin domain as well as a nonapeptide signature sequence that is a prominent feature of Tektin proteins. RT‐PCR analysis indicated that Tektin5 was predominantly expressed in testis and that its expression was up‐regulated during testis development. Immunoblot analyses revealed that Tektin5 is present in sperm flagella but not in heads and that it is completely released from rat spermatozoa by 6 M urea treatment, but not extracted by 1% Triton X‐100 and 0.6 M potassium thiocyanate. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that Tektin5 was located in the middle piece of flagella in rat spermatozoa with no immunolabeling in the heads and the principal piece. Immunogold electron microscopy adopting pre‐embedding method discovered that Tektin5 is predominantly associated with the inner side of the mitochondrial sheath. Tektin5 might work as a middle piece component requisite for flagellar stability and sperm motility. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 650–658, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of hck‐tr, a truncated form of the src‐related tyrosine kinase hck, in bovine spermatozoa and testis
Authors: Bordeleau Louis‐Jean , Leclerc Pierre 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIn bull testicular haploid germ cells, an mRNA encoding for hck was detected in addition to another one encoding for hck‐tr, a truncated form of the tyrosine kinase hck. As the transcripts were expressed in spermatids, we tried to determine whether hck‐tr is present in mature bovine spermatozoa. Two polyclonal antibodies were produced against peptides specific to the N‐ and C‐terminal portions of the truncated protein. Western blot analyses confirmed the presence of hck‐tr in total protein extracts of ejaculated bull spermatozoa, and sub‐cellular fractionation experiments suggest its presence in both head and flagellum. The truncated protein appears tightly associated with cytoskeletal elements as it could be extracted only with SDS under reducing conditions. When assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, hck‐tr was mostly localized at the acrosomal area of the sperm cell and a similar localization was observed on demembranated spermatozoa. Immunohistochemical studies on testis sections revealed protein expression in spermatocytes as well as in round and elongating spermatids. The results presented in this study clearly show the presence of mRNAs encoding for hck and hck‐tr in testicular germ cells; hck‐tr being translated during spermatogenesis and expressed on mature ejaculated bull spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 828–837, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relevance of caspase activity during apoptosis in pubertal rat spermatogenesis
Authors: Codelia Veronica A. , Cisternas Pablo , Moreno Ricardo D. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractCaspases are a family of cysteine‐proteases, activated upon several different stimuli, which execute apoptosis in many cell death models. Previous work of our group has shown rats have the highest rate of apoptosis during the first wave of spermatogenesis (between 20 and 25 days after birth), as evaluated by TUNEL and caspase activity. However, the hierarchical order of caspase activation and the relevance of each caspase during germ cell apoptosis are not clear. Thus, the goal of this work is to take a pharmacological approach to dissect the apoptosis pathway of caspase activation. Results showed that intratesticular injection of a caspase‐8 inhibitor (z‐IETD‐fmk), or a pan‐caspase inhibitor (z‐VAD‐ fmk), significantly decreased the cleavage of p115 and PARP, two endogenous substrates of caspases, in 22‐day‐old rats. Additionally, these inhibitors promoted a significant reduction in the number of apoptotic germ cells. On the other hand, intratesticular injection of two different inhibitors of the intrinsic pathway (z‐LEHD‐fmk and minocycline) did not have any effect upon caspase substrates cleavage (p115 and PARP) or the number of apoptotic germ cells. Therefore, we conclude that the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis plays an important role in physiological germ cell apoptosis during the first round of spermatogenesis in the rat. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 881–889, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 on cellular and molecular characteristics of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro
Authors: Block Jeremy , Wrenzycki Christine , Niemann Heiner , Herrmann Doris , Hansen Peter J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAddition of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) to culture medium increases the proportion of bovine embryos that develop to the blastocyst stage and increases embryo survival following transfer to heat‐stressed, lactating dairy cows. The objective of the present study was to determine molecular and cellular correlates of these actions of IGF‐1. Embryos were produced in vitro and cultured for 7 days with or without 100 ng/ml IGF‐1. On d 7 after insemination, grade 1 expanded blastocysts were harvested and used to determine total cell number, percent apoptosis, cell allocation to the inner cell mass and trophectoderm, and the relative abundance of several developmentally important gene transcripts. There was no significant effect of IGF‐1 treatment on blastocyst cell number, the proportion of blastomeres that were apoptotic, or the number of cells in the inner cell mass and trophectoderm. However, differences in the relative abundance of several mRNA transcripts were observed between control and IGF‐1 treated embryos. Addition of IGF‐1 increased (P < 0.02) amounts of mRNA for IGF binding protein‐3 and desmocollin II and tended (P < 0.08) to increase amounts of mRNA for Na/K ATPase and Bax. Moreover, IGF‐1 treatment decreased (P < 0.05) steady‐state amounts of transcripts for heat shock protein 70 and tended (P < 0.08) to reduce amounts of IGF‐1 receptor mRNA. In conclusion, increased survival of embryos treated with IGF‐1 does not appear due to effects on cell number, percent apoptosis, or cell allocation. Addition of IGF‐1 to culture can, however, alter expression of several transcripts which may be important for embryo development and survival following transfer. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 895–903, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Disulfide linkage patterns of pig zona pellucida glycoproteins ZP3 and ZP4
Authors: Kanai S. , Kitayama T. , Yonezawa N. , Sawano Y. , Tanokura M. , Nakano M. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractZona pellucida, a transparent envelope surrounding the mammalian oocyte, plays major roles in fertilization and consists of three or four glycoproteins. Primary structures, and especially the positions of cysteine (Cys) residues in the zona glycoproteins, are well conserved among mammals. In this study, we analyzed the disulfide linkages of pig ZP3 and ZP4 purified from ovaries. While disulfide linkage patterns of four Cys residues in the N‐terminal halves of the ZP domains of ZP3 and ZP4 were identical to those previously reported for mice, rats, humans, and fish, the disulfide linkage patterns of six Cys residues in the C‐terminal half of the ZP domain in ZP4, as well as eight Cys residues in the C‐terminal region of the ZP domain and a following region unique to ZP3, were different from those previously reported. Thus, higher‐order structures of zona glycoproteins might not be conserved in the C‐terminal regions. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 847–856, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical and neurophysiologic testing of the penilo‐cavernosus reflex
Authors: Podnar Simon 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAimsBoth clinical and neurophysiologic testing of the penilo‐cavernosus reflex is used in clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to determine the as yet unestablished potential contribution of sacral reflex testing to the diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected neuropathic sacral lesions.MethodsFifty‐three men with clinical, electrodiagnostic, and radiologic signs of chronic cauda equina or conus medullaris lesions were studied. Clinical examination, including assessment of anal sphincter tone and perianal sensation, and both clinical and neurophysiologic testing of the penilo‐cavernosus reflex, were performed. The sacral reflex was elicited on a single (normal latency: <39.4 msec) and double (<36.0 msec) electrical, and on mechanical stimulation (<35.5 msec). Responses were recorded by a concentric needle electrode inserted consecutively into the left and right bulbocavernosus muscles. The response from the more abnormal side was further analyzed.ResultsClinical testing of the penilo‐cavernosus reflex was abnormal in 81% of patients with normal anal squeeze, in 78% with normal perianal sensation, and in 50–67% with bilaterally normal neurophysiologic findings on three different stimulation techniques. Neurophysiologic testing of the reflex was abnormal in 69–94% of patients with normal anal squeeze, in 56‐67% with normal perianal sensation, and in 44–67% of patients with a clinically normal reflex.ConclusionsThe study supported the clinical utility of both clinical and neurophysiologic measurement of the penilo‐cavernosus reflex. Neurourol. Urodynam. 27:399–402, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of muscarinic receptor subtypes in human urinary bladder mucosa: Age and gender‐dependent modifications
Authors: Arrighi Nicola , Bodei Serena , Peroni Angelo , Mirabella Giuseppe , Zani Danilo , Simeone Claudio , Cunico Sergio Cosciani , Spano PierFranco , Sigala Sandra 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAimsMuscarinic receptor subtypes expressed in the human urinary bladder mucosa were characterized, investigating whether there were gender‐dependent differences and if aging could induce changes in their expression.MethodsThe study was carried out on 34 subjects, 22 men and 12 women, divided in four groups, based on gender and age. Gene expression was evaluated by quantitative RT‐PCR. The Western blot was performed using the 4–12% NuPAGE Bis–Tris Gel System.ResultsThe molecular expression of each subtype of the M1receptor family was observed and it was not influenced either by gender or age. M2receptor family transcripts revealed that both M2and M4were detected and that the M2transcripts were modified by both gender and age. Indeed, M2mRNA was lower in old rather than adult men (P < 0.05), but higher in rather old than adult women (P < 0.05). Further, adult men expressed more M2mRNA than adult women (P < 0.05), while the opposite was detected in old age (P < 0.05). The Western blot followed by quantification confirmed that the mRNAs were translated into proteins, and that the M2subtype showed similar modifications found at molecular level.DiscussionThe selective modification of M2receptors observed at the urinary bladder mucosa levels indicates that this anatomical structure could play an active role in the pathophysiology of micturition and supports evidence suggesting an effect of antimuscarinic drugs at this level. Whether these results may influence the age‐dependent development of micturition disorders remains to be determined. Neurourol. Urodynam. 27:421–428, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis, characterization, electrochemistry and optical properties of a novel phenanthrenequinone‐ alt‐dialkylfluorene conjugated copolymer
Authors: Hanif Muddasir , Lu Ping , Li Mao , Zheng Yan , Xie Zengqi , Ma Yuguang , Li Di , Li Jinghong 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis paper describes the synthesis, characterization and electro‐optical properties of a 9,10‐phenanthrenequinone (PQ)‐containing alternating conjugated copolymer: poly[(9,10‐phenanthrenequinone‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐(9,9‐di‐n‐hexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)] (PPQF). The copolymer has good solubility in common organic solvents such as CH2Cl2, CHCl3 and tetrahydrofuran. The polymer structure was determined using 1H NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography and elemental analysis. The polymer possesses a low‐energy n → π* electronic state caused by the CO groups of the PQ repeating units, and exhibits interesting and improved electrochemical reduction activity as compared to poly(9,9‐di‐n‐hexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl) and molecular PQ. PPQF has no fluorescence in solution but shows interesting transitions from no fluorescence to strong fluorescence after it undergoes electrochemical reduction. The polymer PPQF may find use as a starting material for a range of applications and can also be used to prepare other polymers due to the presence of the PQ repeating units. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Structure and properties of thermotropic liquid crystal polymer and poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) blend fibers
Authors: Kim Seong Yun , Kim Jun Young , Kim Seong Hun 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND: The melt blending of thermotropic liquid crystal polymers (TLCPs) using conventional thermoplastics has attracted much attention due to the improved strength and tensile modulus of the resulting polymer composites. Moreover, because of their low melt viscosity, the addition of small amounts of TLCPs can reduce the melt viscosity of polymer blends, thereby enhancing the processability.RESULTS: In this study, TLCP/poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) (PEN) blend fibers were prepared by melt blending and melt spinning to improve fiber performance and processability. The relation between the structure and the mechanical properties of TLCP/PEN blend fibers and the effect of annealing on these properties were also investigated. The mechanical properties of the blend fibers were improved by increasing the spinning speed and by adding TLCP. These properties of the blend fibers were also improved by annealing. The tensile strength of TLCP5/PEN spun at a spinning speed of 2.0 km h−1 and annealed at 235 °C for 2 h was about three times higher than that of TLCP5/PEN spun at a spinning speed of 0.5 km h−1. The double melting behavior observed in the annealed fibers depended on the annealing temperature and time.CONCLUSION: The improvement of the mechanical properties of the blend fibers with spinning speed, by adding TLCP and by annealing was attributed to an increase in crystallite size, an increase in the degree of crystallinity and an improvement in crystal perfection. The double melting behavior was influenced by the distribution in lamella thickness that occurred because of a melt‐reorganization process during differential scanning calorimetry scans. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Main properties and current applications of some polysaccharides as biomaterials
Authors: Rinaudo Marguerite 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis review concerns the applications of some polysaccharides in the domain of biomaterials and bioactive polymers. Natural polysaccharides from different sources have been studied for a long time, and their main properties are summarized in this paper; some of their derivatives obtained by chemical modification are also described. The main polysaccharides currently used in the biomedical and pharmaceutical domains are chitin and its derivative chitosan, hyaluronan and alginates. Alginates are well known for their property of forming a physical gel in the presence of divalent counterions (Ca, Ba, Sr) whereas carrageenans form a thermoreversible gel; these seaweed polysaccharides are mainly used to encapsulate different materials (cells, bacteria, fungi). Other promising systems are the electrostatic complexes formed when an anionic polysaccharide is mixed with a cationic polysaccharide (e.g. alginate/chitosan or hyaluronan/chitosan). An important development of the applications of polysaccharides can be predicted for the next few years in relation to their intrinsic properties such as biocompatibility and biodegradability in the human body for some of them; they are also renewable and have interesting physical properties (film‐forming, gelling and thickening properties). In addition, they are easily processed in different forms such as beads, films, capsules and fibres. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparation of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/organoclay nanocomposites using a polyester ionomer as a compatibilizer
Authors: Vidotti Suel E. , Chinellato Anne C. , Hu Guo‐Hua , Pessan Luiz A. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIn this work, poly(ethylene terephthalate)/organically modified montmorillonite (PET/o‐MMT) nanocomposites were prepared via direct melt compounding in a twin‐screw extruder. The main objective was to study the effects of using a polyester ionomer (PETi) as a compatibilizer to promote the intercalation and/or exfoliation of the o‐MMT in the PET. The o‐MMT content was 0, 1, 3, or 5 wt % and the PETi/o‐MMT mass ratio was 0/1, 1/1, or 3/1. The PETi was efficient to promote the intercalation/exfoliation of the o‐MMT in the PET matrix, as revealed by wide angle X‐ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Rheological characterization showed that the PET/o‐MMT nanocomposites exhibited a higher complex viscosity at low frequencies than PET, which is characteristic of materials presenting yield strength. Moreover, the higher the content and/or the degree of intercalation/exfoliation of the o‐MMT, the more the nanocomposite behaved like a solid because of a percolated structure formed by the o‐MMT layers, and the more the storage and loss modulus, G′ and G″, became independent of the frequency at low frequencies. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3084–3091, 2007
Temporal synergism can enhance carbamate and neonicotinoid insecticidal activity against resistant crop pests
Authors: Bingham Georgina , Gunning Robin V , Delogu Giovanna , Borzatta Valerio , Field Linda M , Moores Graham D 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND: Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) effectively synergises synthetic pyrethroids, rendering even very resistant insect pests susceptible, provided a temporal element is included between exposure to synergist and insecticide. This concept is now applied to carbamates and neonicotinoids.RESULTS: A microencapsulated formulation of PBO and pirimicarb reduced the resistance factor in a clone of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) from > 19 000‐ to 100‐fold and in Aphis gossypii (Glover) from > 48 000‐ to 30‐fold. Similar results were obtained for a strain of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius resistant to imidacloprid and acetamiprid, although a second resistant strain did not exhibit such a dramatic reduction, presumably owing to the presence of target‐site insensitivity and the absence of metabolic resistance. Synergism was also observed in laboratory susceptible insects, suggesting that, even when detoxification is not enhanced, there is degradation of insecticides by the background enzymes. Use of an analogue of PBO, which inhibits esterases but has reduced potency against microsomal oxidases, suggests that acetamiprid resistance in whiteflies is largely oxidase based.CONCLUSION: Temporal synergism can effectively enhance the activity of carbamates and neonicotinoids against resistant insect pests. Although the extent of this enhancement is dependent upon the resistance mechanisms present, inhibition of background enzymes can confer increased sensitivity against target‐site resistance as well as increased metabolism. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Antimutagenic and antiproliferative effects of roasted and defatted peanut dregs on human leukemic U937 and HL‐60 cells
Authors: Hwang Jean‐Yu , Wang Yuh Tai , Shyu Yung‐Shin , Wu James Swi‐Bea 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe antimutagenic effects on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains and antiproliferative effects on leukemia cell lines (U937 and HL‐60) of peanut protein isolate (PPI), peanut protein isolate enzyme hydrolysate (PPIEH), roasted and defatted peanut dregs (RDPD), and roasted and defatted peanut dregs enzyme hydrolysate (RDPDEH) were investigated. The antimutagenic effects on B(a)P and 4‐NQO toward the TA98 and TA100 strains were found to follow a diminishing order: RDPD > RDPDEH >> PPI = PPIEH with dose‐dependency. Antiproliferative effects on leukemia cells U937 and HL‐60 were also detected. RDPD was found to be the most effective of all the peanut preparations. At 100 µg/mL concentration, RDPD inhibited the proliferation of U937 and HL‐60 cells by 56% and 52%, respectively. We propose to consider RDPD and RDPDEH in the development of natural chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive dietary supplements against leukemia and to upgrade the utilization of these by‐products in peanut oil production. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.