bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public communication about home burglary prevention in Belgium
Authors: Gelders Dave , Peeraer Hans , Goossens Jelle 
Published: November 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the content, format and evaluation of printed public communication from police officers and governments regarding home burglary prevention in Belgium.Design/methodology/approachThe content and format in this paper is analyzed through content analysis of 104 printed communication pieces in the Belgian province of Flemish‐Brabant in 2005. The evaluation is analyzed through five focus group interviews among professionals and common citizens.FindingsThe paper finds that police zones significantly differ in terms of communication efforts. The media mix is not diverse with poor collaboration between police officers and government information officers, while intermediaries (i.e. architects) are rarely used, culminating in poor targeted communication.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper shows that only printed communication is analyzed and more large‐scale empirical research is desired.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that a richer media mix, more targeted communication, more national communication support and additional dialogue between and training of police officers and communication with professionals are advisable.Originality/valueThis paper combines two empirical studies and methods (content analysis and focus group interviews), resulting in a series of recommendations for further inquiry and future action.
Measuring business transformation at a small manufacturing enterprise in the UK
Authors: Tennant Charles 
Published: November 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to validate the applicability of Strategic Quality Management (SQM) methods at a UK based manufacturing Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) for changing the organisational culture and improving the business performance results.Design/methodology/approachAction research was conducted in the form of a single company case study where an existing SQM methodology (Hoshin Kanri) was adapted and applied at the company.FindingsThe paper finds that this application of Hoshin Kanri is particularly innovative, as Western applications of this Japanese approach at SMEs are few as reported in the academic literature. This achievement represents a significant delivery of a cultural transformation to achieve business transformation by adopting a holistic performance measurement methodology.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper has limitations due to the single case study approach and possible influence of the researchers during the application. Further applications at other SME companies are required to verify the significant findings.Practical implicationsThe discussion and conclusions from this paper are practical and have business relevance to both manufacturing and service sector organisations.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on UK industry, and is of value to both academics and practising managers at an international level.
Consumer responses to direct to consumer prescription drug advertising
Authors: Chen Hai D.B. , Carroll Norman V. 
Published: November 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the types of patients most likely to visit physicians in response to direct to consumer prescription drug advertising (DTCA).Design/methodology/approachThe study used data from a national telephone survey, “Public Health Impact of Direct‐to‐Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs, July 2001‐January 2002: [United States].” It included data on respondents' health status and utilization, experience with DTCA, demographic and socio‐economic information, and three types of DTCA‐prompted physician visits: visits to discuss a prescription drug, a new health condition, or a change in treatment. A conceptual model was developed to identify consumers most likely to respond to DTCA by visiting a physician.FindingsFive variables were related to all three types of visits. The most important were viewing media as the most important source, prompting one to talk with a physician and believing that DTCA improved discussion with health professionals. Believing that DTCA increased awareness of new treatments was less important, followed by having anxiety, then having arthritis. Taking medications regularly, having allergies, getting information from pamphlets in physicians' offices, and getting information from TV or radio advertisements were related to two types of visits.Research limitations/implicationsPatients having positive beliefs about DTCA, preferring media information sources, and more susceptible to diseases treatable with prescription drugs were more likely to respond to DTCA by visiting physicians.Originality/valueThe study advances the literature on DTCA by examining a range of DTCA‐prompted physician visit behaviors using a conceptual model that has not previously been applied to DTCA.
Dietary selection of L’Hoest monkeys in Kalinzu forest reserve, southwestern Uganda
Authors: Tolo C. U. , Baranga J. , Kagoro‐Rugunda Grace 
Published: November 2007

AbstractReports on patterns of dietary selection of forest guenons tend to be general and often classify Cercopithecus l’hoesti as a frugivores–folivores species just like the other guenons, and to date there has been no systematic investigation into the inventory of the species’ food items in the remaining forest fragments to guide major conservation and management decisions. Here we report on the L’Hoest monkeys’ main food species and how the selection of these foods varies among different age groups of the troop in Kalinzu Forest, Uganda for a period of 12 months. Behavioural observations were determined using scan samples [Behaviour, 49 (1974) 227]. Two hypotheses were evaluated in this study. Results indicate that individuals of different age groups have the ability to select a variety of both plant and invertebrate food items in the vicinity to supplement their diets. There was no significant difference in dietary selection between different age groups of L’Hoest monkey for a particular food type (ANOVA: Column analysis, F3,84 = 1.541337, P = 0.209827). However, significant difference was realized in dietary selection of the different food types by a particular age group (ANOVA: F22,46 = 40.86429, P = 3.69 × 10−23). Selective predation pressure against the infants and juveniles by Stephanoaetus coronatus was believed to be one of the likely reasons why infants and juveniles least exposed themselves in the trees feeding on fruits of Musanga leo‐errerae and Ficus spp. Invertebrate feeding was found to constitute high percentage (47.2%) of the species diet and plant materials comprised (52.8%) than previously reported in other study sites. These data provide potentially useful insight on the feeding ecology of the little studied C. l’hoesti and can provide baseline information on conservation of its food items in the remaining forests.
Renal differentiation of amniotic fluid stem cells
Authors: Perin L. , Giuliani S. , Jin D. , Sedrakyan S. , Carraro G. , Habibian R. , Warburton D. , Atala A. , De Filippo R. E. 
Published: November 2007

Abstract.  Objectives: The role of stem cells in regenerative medicine is evolving rapidly. Here, we describe the application, for kidney regeneration, of a novel non‐genetically modified stem cell, derived from human amniotic fluid. We show that these pluripotent cells can develop and differentiate into de novo kidney structures during organogenesis in vitro. Materials and methods: Human amniotic fluid‐derived stem cells (hAFSCs) were isolated from human male amniotic fluid obtained between 12 and 18 weeks gestation. Green fluorescent protein and Lac‐Z‐transfected hAFSCs were microinjected into murine embryonic kidneys (12.5–18 days gestation) and were maintained in a special co‐culture system in vitro for 10 days. Techniques of live microscopy, histology, chromogenic in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were used to characterize the hAFSCs during their integration and differentiation in concert with the growing organ. Results: Green fluorescent protein and Lac‐Z‐transfected hAFSCs demonstrated long‐term viability in organ culture. Histological analysis of injected kidneys revealed that hAFSCs were capable of contributing to the development of primordial kidney structures including renal vesicle, C‐ and S‐shaped bodies. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed expression of early kidney markers for: zona occludens‐1, glial‐derived neurotrophic factor and claudin. Conclusions: Human amniotic fluid‐derived stem cells may represent a potentially limitless source of ethically neutral, unmodified pluripotential cells for kidney regeneration.
Two‐dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data with consecutive use of conjugate gradient and least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition algorithms
Authors: Candansayar M. Emin 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTI investigated the two‐dimensional magnetotelluric data inversion algorithms in studying two significant aspects within a linearized inversion approach. The first one is the method of minimization and second one is the type of stabilizing functional used in parametric functionals. The results of two well‐known inversion algorithms, namely conjugate gradient and the least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition, were compared in terms of accuracy and CPU time. In addition, magnetotelluric data inversion with various stabilizers, such as L2‐norm, smoothing, minimum support, minimum gradient support and first‐order minimum entropy, were examined.A new inversion algorithm named least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition and conjugate gradient is suggested in seeing the outcomes of the comparisons carried out on least‐squares solutions with singular value decomposition and conjugate gradient algorithms subject to a variety of stabilizers. Inversion results of synthetic data showed that the newly suggested algorithm yields better results than those of the individual implementations of conjugate gradient and least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition algorithms. The suggested algorithm and the above‐mentioned algorithms inversion results for the field data collected along a line crossing the North Anatolian Fault zone were also compared each other and results are discussed.
A hormone map of human immune cells showing the presence of adrenocorticotropic hormone, triiodothyronine and endorphin in immunophenotyped white blood cells
Authors: Pállinger Éva , Csaba György 
Published: November 2007

SummaryThe amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), endorphin and triiodothyronine (T3) in twenty‐six blood samples from men and women who were healthy or had non‐haematological diseases were determined by flow cytometry. Lymphocytes were immunophenotyped using monoclonal antibodies against cell surface antigens, and monocytes and granulocytes were separated by their size and granularity (using forward‐scatter versus side‐scatter dot plots). Each hormone was found in each cell type. The hormone content of lymphocytes was balanced, but the concentration of ACTH was significantly lower in activated T cells, that of endorphin was significantly lower in natural killer (NK) cells, and that of T3 was lower in both cell types compared with values for all lymphocytes. Monocytes and granulocytes contained very significantly more hormones than lymphocytes or monocytes. The concentration of endorphin was an order of magnitude higher in granulocytes than in monocytes or lymphocytes, reflecting the pain‐relieving role of granulocytes during inflammation. Compared with monocytes, in granulocytes there was a higher concentration of ACTH and a lower concentration of T3, which suggests selective hormone production by these cells.
The effects of forest fragmentation on bee communities in tropical countryside
Authors: Brosi Berry J. , Daily Gretchen C. , Shih Tiffany M. , Oviedo Federico , Durán Guillermo 
Published: November 2007

Summary

Despite ongoing concerns and controversy over a putative ‘global pollination crisis’ there is little information on the response of bees, the most important group of pollinators, to land‐use change. In particular, there are no published studies of the effects of tropical forest fragmentation on entire bee communities.
We examined bee community responses to forest fragment size, shape, isolation and landscape context (forest variables) by sampling foraging bees at ground level using aerial netting within, and in pastures adjacent to, 22 forest fragments ranging in area from c. 0·25 ha to 230 ha, in southern Costa Rica. We sampled each site 13 times in total, in both wet and dry seasons.
Although there were no effects of forest variables on bee diversity and abundance, we did find strong changes in bee community composition. In particular, tree‐nesting meliponines (social stingless bees) were associated with larger fragments, smaller edge:area ratios and greater proportions of forest surrounding sample points, while introduced Apis showed opposite patterns.
Community composition was also strikingly different between forests and pastures, despite their spatial proximity. In forests, even in the smallest patches, meliponines comprised a much larger proportion of the apifauna, and orchid bees (euglossines) were common. In pastures, Apis was much more abundant and no euglossine bees were found.
These results agree broadly with other studies that have found contrasting responses to habitat fragmentation from different bee groups. Conserving meliponine bees, important for pollination of coffee and other crops, and euglossine bees, critical in long‐distance pollen transport, will require forest.
Synthesis and applications. In the first study of the effects of tropical forest fragmentation on entire understorey bee assemblages, we found bee community resilience to land‐use change, as deforested sites and small forest fragments can have a diverse component of bees. While bees as a whole show some degree of resilience to land‐use change, there are taxon‐specific responses and, in our study area, there is clear value to conserving native forest, particularly for the ecologically and economically important meliponine and euglossine bees.
IL2 and TNFA Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Graft‐versus‐Host Disease after Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Viel D. O. , Tsuneto L. T. , Sossai C. R. , Lieber S. R. , Marques S. B. D. , Vigorito A. C. , Aranha F. J. P. , De Brito Eid K. A. , Oliveira G. B. , Miranda E. C. M. , De Souza C. A. , Visentainer J. E. L. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis study aimed to analyse the association of gene polymorphisms with the outcome of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We studied 122 donor/recipient pairs who received HLA‐identical transplants from siblings at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil, between June 1996 and June 2006. Donor/recipient alleles for TNFA−238 and IL2−330/+166 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were analysed by PCR‐SSP. No association was observed between the risk of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) and these SNP. However, our findings suggest that the polymorphism of promoter gene TNFA−238GA is associated with the occurrence and severity of chronic GVHD. The probability of chronic GVHD in patients with GA genotype at position −238 of TNFA gene is 91.7% in contrast to 59.4% in patients with GG genotype (P = 0.038). In patients with donor GA genotype the probability of chronic GVHD is 90.8%, and 57.9% in patients with donor GG genotype (P = 0.038). The probability of extensive chronic GVHD in patients with TNFA−238GA is 91.7% compared with 46.3% in patients with TNFA−238GG (P = 0.0046). In patients with donor GA genotype at position −238 of the TNFA gene, it is 81.7%, compared with 44.5% in patients with donor GG genotype (P = 0.016). However, further studies with more patients are required to identify cytokine gene polymorphisms and their association with transplant‐related complication in Brazil, particularly due to ethnic background, the relatively low power of detection of genetic markers of this study, and the complexity of the MHC region.
17β‐Estradiol Expands IgA‐Producing B Cells in Mice Deficient for the μ Chain
Authors: Lagerquist M. K. , Erlandsson M. C. , Islander U. , Svensson L. , Holmdahl R. , Carlsten H. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractOestrogen is not only a sex hormone but also an important regulator of the immune system. Expression of the heavy chain of IgM (μ) is essential for B‐cell differentiation. However, a small number of IgA‐positive B cells can be found in mice lacking the μ chain (μMT−/−). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oestrogen on this alternative B‐cell pathway in μMT−/− mice. Our results clearly demonstrate that oestrogen increases the frequency of IgA‐producing B cells in μMT−/− mice in both bone marrow and spleen cells. We also show that mature IgM‐producing B cells are not required for oestrogen‐mediated suppression of granulocyte‐mediated inflammation or thymic involution. In conclusion, we demonstrate that 17β‐estradiol benzoate increases the frequency of IgA‐producing B cells in μMT−/− mice, suggesting that oestrogen can influence the alternative B‐cell pathway found in μMT−/− mice.
Expression of Mast Cell Tryptases in Hodgkin and Reed‐Sternberg (HRS) Cells
Authors: Carvalho Ricardo F. S. , Mahshid Yilmaz , Claesson Hans‐Erik , Glimelius Ingrid , Fischer Marie , Nilsson Gunnar 
Published: November 2007

AbstractTryptase is the most abundant protease in human mast cells, and is often used as a marker for the enumeration of mast cells in tissue. Here we report that tumour cells from Hodgkin lymphoma, the so called Hodgkin and Reed‐Sternberg cells, can express tryptase. Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines expressed mRNA for both α‐ and β‐tryptase and also produced the protein, although at much lower concentrations than mast cells. However, the frequency of tryptase positive HRS‐cells in situ was very low. This report demonstrates that tumour cells of lymphoid origin can express tryptase in vitro and in situ.
A geometric morphometric appraisal of beak shape in Darwin’s finches
Authors: FOSTER D. J. , PODOS J. , HENDRY A. P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBeak size and shape in Darwin’s finches have traditionally been quantified using a few univariate measurements (length, depth, width). Here we show the improved inferential resolution of geometric morphometric methods, as applied to three hierarchical levels: (i) among seven species on Santa Cruz Island, (ii) among different sites on Santa Cruz for a single species (Geospiza fortis), and (iii) between large and small beak size morphs ofG. fortisat one site (El Garrapatero). Our results support previous studies in finding an axis of shape variation (long/shallow/pointy vs. short/deep/blunt) that separates many of the species. We also detect additional differences among species in the relative sizes and positions of the upper and lower mandibles and in curvature of the mandibles. Small‐scale, but potentially relevant, shape variation was also detected amongG. fortisfrom different sites and between sympatric beak size morphs. These results suggest that adaptation to different resources might contribute to diversification on a single island.
Transiently increased colocalization of vesicular glutamate transporters 1 and 2 at single axon terminals during postnatal development of mouse neocortex: a quantitative analysis with correlation coefficient
Authors: Nakamura Kouichi , Watakabe Akiya , Hioki Hiroyuki , Fujiyama Fumino , Tanaka Yasuyo , Yamamori Tetsuo , Kaneko Takeshi 
Published: November 2007

AbstractVesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) and VGLUT2 show complementary distribution in neocortex; VGLUT1 is expressed mainly in axon terminals of neocortical neurons, whereas VGLUT2 is located chiefly in thalamocortical axon terminals. However, we recently reported a frequent colocalization of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 at a subset of axon terminals in postnatal developing neocortex. We here quantified the frequency of colocalization between VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 immunoreactivities at single axon terminals by using the correlation coefficient (CC) as an indicator in order to determine the time course and spatial extent of the colocalization during postnatal development of mouse neocortex. The colocalization was more frequent in the primary somatosensory (S1) area than in both the primary visual (V1) and the motor areas; of area S1 cortical layers, colocalization was most evident in layer IV barrels at postnatal day (P) 7 and in adulthood. CC in layer IV showed a peak at P7 in area S1, and at P10 in area V1 though the latter peak was much smaller than the former. These results suggest that thalamocortical axon terminals contained not only VGLUT2 but also VGLUT1, especially at P7–10. Double fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed coexpression of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 mRNAs at P7 in the somatosensory thalamic nuclei and later in the thalamic dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. As VGLUT1 is often used in axon terminals that show synaptic plasticity in adult brain, the present findings suggest that VGLUT1 is used in thalamocortical axons transiently during the postnatal period when plasticity is required.
A cardiac signature of emotionality
Authors: Koelsch Stefan , Remppis Andrew , Sammler Daniela , Jentschke Sebastian , Mietchen Daniel , Fritz Thomas , Bonnemeier Hendrik , Siebel Walter A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractHuman personality has brain correlates that exert manifold influences on biological processes. This study investigates relations between emotional personality and heart activity. Our data demonstrate that emotional personality is related to a specific cardiac amplitude signature in the resting electrocardiogram (ECG). Two experiments using functional magnetic resonance imaging show that this signature correlates with brain activity in the amygdala and the hippocampus during the processing of musical stimuli with emotional valence. Additionally, this cardiac signature correlates with subjective indices of emotionality (as measured by the Revised Toronto Alexithymia Scale), and with both time and frequency domain measures of the heart rate variability. The results demonstrate intricate connections between emotional personality and the heart by showing that ECG amplitude patterns provide considerably more information about an individual's emotionality than previously believed. The finding of a cardiac signature of emotional personality opens new perspectives for the investigation of relations between emotional dysbalance and cardiovascular disease.
Expression of PKC substrate proteins, GAP‐43 and neurogranin, is downregulated by cAMP signaling and alterations in synaptic activity
Authors: Krueger Dilja D. , Nairn Angus C. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractGrowth‐associated protein 43 (GAP‐43) and neurogranin are protein kinase C substrate proteins that are thought to play an important role in synaptic plasticity, but little is currently known about the mechanisms that may regulate their function at the synapse. In this study, we show that long‐term elevation of intracellular cAMP levels in rat primary cortical cultures results in a persistent downregulation of GAP‐43 and neurogranin, most likely at the transcriptional level. This effect may be at least partially mediated by protein kinase A, but is independent of protein kinase C activation. Moreover, it is mimicked and occluded by manipulations that alter the levels of spontaneous synaptic activity in primary cultures, such as bicuculline and tetrodotoxin. These data suggest that levels of GAP‐43 and neurogranin are regulated by factors known to modulate synaptic strength, thus providing a potential mechanism by which protein kinase C signaling pathways and their substrates might contribute to synaptic function and/or plasticity.