bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conceptualising the Network Society in Malaysia
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamad Zaki , Chan Geraldine 
Published: November 2008

AbstractVarious studies have confirmed the existence of a network society in Malaysia. They generally identify its presence through aggregated individual level attributes, such as possession and usage of computer and the Internet, access to computer and the Internet, and benefits received by the network societal members. This society is widely said to be the outcome of the Malaysian government's efforts to counter increasing challenges and impacts of globalisation and ICT waves since the 1990s; in particular, the digital divide within the society. However, a review of the studies has led the authors of this article to highlight some limitations in the conceptualisation of the notions 'network society' and 'network'. Thus, the nature of the network society has not been well-understood. In this article, the authors draw upon some illuminating characteristics that have been provided by the studies to produce a conceptual framework that will serve as a useful analytical tool for a broader alternative and sociological understanding of the character of the network society and digital divide issues in Malaysia.
Global Market Integration and China's Rubber Industry: Challenges and the Way Forward
Authors:   Viswanathan
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis paper, while reviewing the development and growth of the rubber production sector in China from a historical perspective, discusses the major challenges confronting the sustainable growth of rubber-based industries in the era of global market integration. The challenges arise from the growing shortage of resources (both natural and synthetic rubber) against the fast-growing automobile and tyre manufacturing industries. While the dynamic growth of the rubber industry in the pre-reforms era was achieved under a heavy import-oriented trade policy regime, the sustaining of the same is fraught with serious challenges in the context of market integration. Following a comprehensive analysis of the development of the rubber industry in retrospect, this paper suggests some important policy options for carrying forward and, thereby, sustaining the growth dynamism of the industry in the country in the emerging scenario. It emerges from the study that the sustainable growth of the rubber-based industry in China calls for a thorough revamping of state policies and devising new institutional development strategies covering a broad spectrum of activities, including: (a) demand and supply management; (b) redefining the status of natural rubber as a strategic commodity and industrial raw material; (c) restructuring the production sector favouring smallholder producers; and (d) R&D investments facilitating rubber expansion to agro-ecologically suitable areas. Given that global market integration would continue to stimulate the growth of the domestic rubber industry, this paper highlights that issues at the production sector are to be tackled on a priority basis. However, this would need China to make a rational choice between one or a combination of alternatives, including: (a) strengthening the existing domestic natural rubber production sector; (b) continue with the prevailing natural and synthetic rubber import policies; (c) increased substitution between natural and synthetic rubber; and (d) strengthening rubber investment programmes (including domestic and foreign direct investment) in neighbouring countries, namely, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines.
“A certain degree of unclarity” Observations on The Local and the Universal Dimensions of the Church from a Roman Catholic Perspective
Authors: De Mey Peter 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn this assessment of The Local and the Universal Dimensions of the Church ecclesiological issues such as the relation between Church and Trinity, the sacramentality and the catholicity of the Church, the threefold ministry and the appeal to divine right are treated. The plea for an adequate parallelism in Church structures is investigated in dialogue with The Church as Konionia of Salvation (2005). The decision of this document to opt for the term 'intermediate level' because of its unclarity is positively welcomed.
Moving beyond Christendom and Missiondom to World Church: Some Perspectives from Global South, Asia on Church Local and Universal
Authors: Wilson  
Published: November 2008

AbstractWith the end of the western colonial rule, and the vitality of the ministerial and mission outreach of Christian communities in the non-western world, Christian communities world over have come to a new situation of being a world church. No region of the world has any more a monopoly on Christianity. The world church reality calls for appropriate recasting of traditional ecclesiologies and critically engaging with the emerging ecclesiologies to facilitate healthy communion among churches around the globe. To achieve this, western European Christianity has to move beyond Christendom and Asian Christianity beyond the mentality of missiondom. Failing to move in that direction will only contribute to further instability among historic western churches and rigidity in their parochial understanding of the nature of the church.
Sacrament of the Kingdom of God
Authors: van Eijk Ton 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis third text issuing from the Catholic/Reformed dialogue reverts to the first, The Presence of Christ in Church and World (1977). But the focus has undoubtedly changed from Christ to the Kingdom. The present text also sheds light on the Church as the pivotal theme of the second result of this dialogue, Towards a Common Understanding of the Church (1990). By viewing the Church in the wider perspective of the Kingdom the authors of the text declare themselves able to confirm their assessment in the second text that 'sacrament of grace' and 'creation of the Word' are complementary qualifications of the church. However, the question that seems not satisfactorily answered yet is, whether and in what sense all ecclesial activities can be called sacramental.
Chinese Astronomy for the Early Modern European Reader
Authors: Hsia Florence 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAround 1716, the French astronomer and academician Joseph-Nicolas Delisle (1688-1768) took up a new project: the twinned topics of Chinese chronology and astronomy. Unable to access Chinese sources and not knowing any fellow savants who shared this particular interest, Delisle methodically made extracts and compiled data from the existing European literature. Among Delisle's papers at the Observatoire de Paris still exist the results of this research, including a list of the books he found relevant. This paper develops a close reading of Delisle's notes from this period to stage his journey into a recondite arena of technical and textual analysis, and to examine the scholarly practices and generic conventions through which early modern European savants confronted the Chinese astronomical tradition.
A Small Member State and European Foreign Policy: Shaping or Taking? The Case of Belgium and the African Great Lakes
Authors: Nasra Skander 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe European integration process has altered the conditions under which national foreign policies in Europe are made. Departing from this assumption, this article explores whether and under what conditions a small EU member state can influence European foreign policy. To this end, the role that Belgium has played in the construction of European foreign policy towards the African Great Lakes is examined. This article argues that a small EU member state can significantly influence European foreign policy, resulting in reinforcement of its national foreign policy. Yet this influence is conditioned by two intertwined factors: the nature of EU involvement; and the characteristics of the Union's foreign policy system. Depending on these elements, a small member state can supersede the quantifiable notion of 'smallness' and actively shape the construction of European foreign policy.
Proinflammatory tachykinins that signal through the neurokinin 1 receptor promote survival of dendritic cells and potent cellular immunity
Authors: Janelsins Brian M. , Mathers Alicia R. , Tkacheva Olga A. , Erdos Geza , Shufesky William J. , Morelli Adrian E. , Larregina Adriana T. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) are the preferred targets for immunotherapy protocols focused on stimulation of cellular immune responses. However, regardless of initial promising results, ex vivo generated DCs do not always promote immune-stimulatory responses. The outcome of DC-dependent immunity is regulated by proinflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides. Proinflammatory neuropeptides of the tachykinin family, including substance P (SP) and hemokinin-1 (HK-1), bind the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) and promote stimulatory immune responses. Nevertheless, the ability of pro-inflammatory tachykinins to affect the immune functions of DCs remains elusive. In the present work, we demonstrate that mouse bone marrow–derived DCs (BMDCs) generated in the presence of granulocyte macrophage–colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), express functional NK1R. Signaling via NK1R with SP, HK-1, or the synthetic agonist [Sar9Met(O2)11]-SP rescues DCs from apoptosis induced by deprivation of GM-CSF and IL-4. Mechanistic analysis demonstrates that NK1R agonistic binding promotes DC survival via PI3K-Akt signaling cascade. In adoptive transfer experiments, NK1R-signaled BMDCs loaded with Ag exhibit increased longevity in draining lymph nodes, resulting in enhanced and prolonged effector cellular immunity. Our results contribute to the understanding of the interactions between the immune and nervous systems that control DC function and present a novel approach for ex vivo–generation of potent immune-stimulatory DCs.
Gene expression profiling in chicken heterophils with Salmonella enteritidis stimulation using a chicken 44 K Agilent microarray
Authors: Chiang Hsin-I , Swaggerty Christina L , Kogut Michael H , Dowd Scot E , Li Xianyao , Pevzner Igal Y , Zhou Huaijun 
Published: November 2008

Abstract

Background

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) is one of the most common food-borne pathogens that cause human salmonellosis and usually results from the consumption of contaminated poultry products. The mechanism of SE resistance in chickens remains largely unknown. Previously, heterophils isolated from broilers with different genetic backgrounds (SE-resistant [line A] and -susceptible [line B]) have been shown to be important in defending against SE infections. To dissect the interplay between heterophils and SE infection, we utilized large-scale gene expression profiling.

Results
The results showed more differentially expressed genes were found between different lines than between infection (SE-treated) and non-infection (control) samples within line. However, the numbers of expressed immune-related genes between these two comparisons were dramatically different. More genes related to immune function were down-regulated in line B than line A. The analysis of the immune-related genes indicated that SE infection induced a stronger, up-regulated gene expression of line heterophils A than line B, and these genes include several components in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway, and genes involved in T-helper cell activation.

Conclusion
We found: (1) A divergent expression pattern of immune-related genes between lines of different genetic backgrounds. The higher expression of immune-related genes might be more beneficial to enhance host immunity in the resistant line; (2) a similar TLR regulatory network might exist in both lines, where a possible MyD88-independent pathway may participate in the regulation of host innate immunity; (3) the genes exclusively differentially expressed in line A or line B with SE infection provided strong candidates for further investigating SE resistance and susceptibility. These findings have laid the foundation for future studies of TLR pathway regulation and cellular modulation of SE infection in chickens.
Skin-impedance in Fabry Disease: A prospective, controlled, non-randomized clinical study
Authors: Gupta Surya N , Ries Markus , Murray Gary J , Quirk Jane M , Brady Roscoe O , Lidicker Jeffrey R , Schiffmann Raphael , Moore David F 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackgroundWe previously demonstrated improved sweating after enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in Fabry disease using the thermo-regularity sweat and quantitative sudomotor axon reflex tests. Skin-impedance, a measure skin-moisture (sweating), has been used in the clinical evaluation of burns and pressure ulcers using the portable dynamic dermal impedance monitor (DDIM) system.MethodsWe compared skin impedance measurements in hemizygous patients with Fabry disease (22 post 3-years of bi-weekly ERT and 5 ERT naive) and 22 healthy controls. Force compensated skin-moisture values were used for statistical analysis. Outcome measures included 1) moisture reading of the 100threpetitive reading, 2) rate of change, 3) average of 60–110threading and 4) overall average of all readings.ResultsAll outcome measures showed a significant difference in skin-moisture between Fabry patients and control subjects (p < 0.0001). There was no difference between Fabry patients on ERT and patients naïve to ERT. Increased skin-impedance values for the four skin-impedance outcome measures were found in a small number of dermatome test-sites two days post-enzyme infusions.ConclusionThe instrument portability, ease of its use, a relatively short time required for the assessment, and the fact that DDIM system was able to detect the difference in skin-moisture renders the instrument a useful clinical tool.
Promoter hypermethylation of the SFRP2 gene is a high-frequent alteration and tumor-specific epigenetic marker in human breast cancer
Authors: Veeck Jürgen , Noetzel Erik , Bektas Nuran , Jost Edgar , Hartmann Arndt , Knüchel Ruth , Dahl Edgar 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackgroundWe have previously reported that expression of the Wnt antagonist genesSFRP1andSFRP5is frequently silenced by promoter hypermethylation in breast cancer. SFRP2 is a further Wnt inhibitor whose expression was recently found being downregulated in various malignancies. Here we investigated whether SFRP2 is also implicated in human breast cancer, and if so whetherSFRP2promoter methylation might serve as a potential tumor biomarker.MethodsWe analyzedSFRP2mRNA expression andSFRP2promoter methylation in 10 breast cell lines, 199 primary breast carcinomas, 20 matched normal breast tissues and 17 cancer-unrelated normal breast tissues using RT-PCR, realtime PCR, methylation-specific PCR and Pyrosequencing, respectively. SFRP2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray. Proliferation assays after transfection with anSFRP2expression vector were performed with mammary MCF10A cells. Statistical evaluations were accomplished with SPSS 14.0 software.ResultsOf the cancerous breast cell lines, 7/8 (88%) lackedSFRP2mRNA expression due toSFRP2promoter methylation (P< 0.001).SFRP2expression was substantially restored in most breast cell lines after treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A. In primary breast carcinomas SFRP2 protein expression was strongly reduced in 93 of 125 specimens (74%).SFRP2promoter methylation was detected in 165/199 primary carcinomas (83%) whereas all cancer-related and unrelated normal breast tissues were not affected bySFRP2methylation.SFRP2methylation was not associated with clinicopathological factors or clinical patient outcome. However, loss of SFRP2 protein expression showed a weak association with unfavorable patient overall survival (P= 0.071). Forced expression ofSFRP2in mammary MCF10A cells substantially inhibited proliferation rates (P= 0.045).ConclusionTheSFRP2gene is a high-frequent target of epigenetic inactivation in human breast cancer. Its methylation leads to abrogation ofSFRP2expression, conferring a growth advantage to epithelial mammary cells. This altogether supports a tumor suppressive function ofSFRP2. Although clinical patient outcome was not associated withSFRP2methylation, the high frequency of this epimutation and its putative specificity to neoplastic cells may qualifySFRP2promoter methylation as a potential candidate screening marker helping to improve early breast cancer detection.
Performance of N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in critically ill patients: a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Coquet Isaline , Darmon Michael , Doise Jean-Marc , Degrès Michel , Blettery Bernard , Schlemmer Benoît , Gambert Philippe , Quenot Jean-Pierre 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a diagnostic tool to recognize acute respiratory failure of cardiac origin in an unselected cohort of critically ill patients.

Methods
We conducted a prospective observational study of medical ICU patients. NT-proBNP was measured at ICU admission, and diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction relied on the patient's clinical presentation and echocardiography.

Results
Of the 198 patients included in this study, 102 (51.5%) had evidence of cardiac dysfunction. Median NT-proBNP concentrations were 5,720 ng/L (1,430 to 15,698) and 854 ng/L (190 to 3,560) in patients with and without cardiac dysfunction, respectively (P < 0.0001). In addition, NT-proBNP concentrations were correlated with age (ρ = 0.43, P < 0.0001) and inversely correlated with creatinine clearance (ρ = -0.58, P < 0.0001). When evaluating the performance of NT-proBNP concentrations to detect cardiac dysfunction, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69 to 0.83). In addition, a stepwise logistic regression model revealed that NT-proBNP (odds ratio (OR) = 1.01 per 100 ng/L, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.02), electrocardiogram modifications (OR = 11.03, 95% CI 5.19 to 23.41), and severity assessed by organ system failure score (OR = 1.63 per point, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.41) adequately predicted cardiac dysfunction. The area under the ROC curve of this model was 0.83 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.90).

Conclusions
NT-proBNP measured at ICU admission might represent a useful marker to exclude cardiac dysfunction in critically ill patients.
R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ
Authors: Knott Anne Marie 
Published: November 2008

Absorptive capacity is the principle that assimilating new knowledge requires prior knowledge. The attendant prescription is to invest more in R&D to derive greater benefit from the R&D of others (spillovers). Empirical tests of R&D productivity typically find absorptive capacity (R&D * rival R&D) to be significant. This result poses a puzzle, however: What can a firm conducting 50% of industry R&D learn from a set of firms each conducting 5%? Aren't the laggard firms merely playing catch-up? Yet, if this is so, why is the interaction term significant? One possible resolution to this puzzle is that the correlation between R&D spending and returns is really about innate ability (IQ) rather than investment behavior (absorptive capacity). In this view the causality between capability and behavior is reversed. It is not that firms obtain higher returns by investing more in R&D; it is that some firms have higher returns to R&D, thus they invest more. I conduct an empirical test of the competing views and find that (1) firms differ in the output elasticities of their own R&D (IQ) as well as the elasticities of spillovers from rivals, (2) absorptive capacity becomes insignificant when accounting for that heterogeneity, (3) R&D investment increases with IQ, but (4) R&D investment has no impact on a firm's ability to benefit from spillovers.
Progress on the electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Wu Jihuai , Lan Zhang , Hao Sanchun , Li Pingjiang , Lin Jianming , Huang Miaoliang , Fang Leqing , Huang Yunfang 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have aroused intense interest over the past decade owing to their low cost and simple preparation procedures. Much effort has been devoted to the study of electrolytes that enable light-to-electrical power conversion for DSSC applications. This review focuses on recent progress in the field of liquid, solid-state, and quasi-solid-state electrolytes for DSSCs. It is believed that quasi-solid-state electrolytes, especially those utilizing thermosetting gels, are particularly applicable for fabricating high photoelectric performance and long-term stability of DSSCs in practical applications.
Catalysis at the interface of nano-oxides and nanozeolites
Authors: Ito Kyosuke , Jang Hui , Sakashita Koji , Asaoka Sachio 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
The catalysts that can efficiently hydro-reform higher n-paraffin to lower isoparaffins for environmentally friendly gasoline were studied. The catalysts were examined by the conversion of n-hexadecane, n-C16H34 to i-C6H14~i-C12H26. The tri-modally nanoporous (nanometer-size) catalysts composed of (Ni-Mo)/[γ-Al2O3], nano-oxide, and nanocrystalline zeolite have some active and selective performances because of the cooperation between (Ni-Mo)/[γ-Al2O3] and the composite of nano-oxide-nanozeolite. The (Ni-Mo)/[γ-Al2O3] component holding the skeletal isomerization activity enhances the cracking activity on the composite of nanoporous (np)-Al2O3-USY (ultra-stable Y-type zeolite) to result in i-C6H14~i-C12H26 as the isomerization of n-hexadecane followed the cracking reaction. The catalyst composed of nanocrystalline BEA (beta-type zeolite) or MFI (ZSM-5-type zeolite) zeolite can be more activated with the nano-SiO2 than with the nano-Al2O3. The catalyst composed of the dealuminated zeolite, USY (SiO2/Al2O3 = 12) cannot be activated with the nano-SiO2 but with the nano-Al2O3. This activation depends on the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of the USY. It is considered that the catalytic property of the three components is partially due to the novel active sites formed concertedly at the interface of the nano-oxides and the nanozeolites. The novel sites have a major role for the isomerization and cracking as the moderate and strong acids and are generated when Si-OH in the nanopores of the USY resulted from the dealumination catches Al-OH in the nano-Al2O3 to form Si-O-Al-O-Al-O-Si instead of Si-O-Al-O-Si-O-Si-O.
Development of novel linear, block, and branched oligoelectrolytes and functionally targeting nanoparticles
Authors: Zaichenko Alexander , Mitina Natalya , Shevchuk Oleh , Rayevska Katerina , Lobaz Volodymyr , Skorokhoda Taras , Stoika Rostyslav 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
The objective of the present study is development of novel surface-active block, comb-like, and branched copolymers with peroxide-containing chains, as well as derived functional luminescent and magnetic nanoparticles. The main experimental approaches are based on tailored synthesis of the oligoperoxide surfactants of desired structures and derived coordinating complexes of transitional and rare earth elements. Oligoperoxide-based synthesis of luminescent, magnetic, and other functional nanocomposites with controlled size distribution, functionality, reactivity, and biocompatibility is described. Developed methods provide combining the formation of polymeric, metal, and metal-oxide nanoparticles with irreversible modification of their surface by functional fragments capable of radical and other reactions, including binding of physiologically active substances. Novel nanoparticles were studied by chemical, colloidal-chemical, and rheological methods, X-ray diffraction technique, luminescent spectroscopy, and transmission and scanning electronic microscopy. The availability of ditertiary peroxide fragments on the nanoparticle surface provides a possibility of radical grafting functional polymer chains. The developed functional nanoparticles have been used for phagocytosis measurement, as well as markers of pathological cells, antimicrobial remedies, and nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery.