bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The professionalism of practising law: A comparison across work contexts
Authors: Wallace Jean E. , Kay Fiona M. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTraditionally, the literature assumed that solo practitice best exemplifies the ideal professional work arrangement and that when professionals become salaried employees their professionalism is seriously threatened. The primary goal of this paper is to examine lawyers' sense of professionalism across two work contexts: solo practitioner offices and law firm settings. We also examine status distinctions within law firms, between associates and partners, and compare both to independent practitioners. Solo practitioners and law firm partners are similar on most key dimensions of professionalism, whereas the greatest contrasts occur between partners and associates within law firms. Partners and solo practitioners share similar experiences of autonomy and service as owner‐managers, whereas partners and associates share greater collegiality among professionals, perhaps fostered through law firm cultures. All three groups report comparable amounts of variety in their work and are equally committed to the practice of law. The key factors that account for gaps in professionalism reflect the nature of law practices, primarily through time spent with corporate clients and pressure to generate profits. We conclude that different versions of lawyers' professionalism are influenced by the everyday aspects of their work and one version is not necessarily more professional than the other. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving Raman spectroscopic differentiation of the geographical origin of rice by simultaneous illumination over a wide sample area
Authors: Kim Yongdan , Lee Sanguk , Chung Hoeil , Choi Hangseok , Cha Kyungjoon 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis research substantially improved the differentiation of rice of two geographical origins utilizing a wide area illumination (WAI) scheme capable of collecting Raman spectra of a large sample area (28.3 mm2) synchronously without sample rotation. For the purposes of comparison, we also employed a conventional scheme in which the laser illuminated only small areas. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to differentiate the two geographical origins using the Raman spectra collected through both the conventional and the WAI schemes. The WAI scheme exhibited improved differentiation, primarily due to the fact that the WAI scheme could efficiently produce Raman spectra with a more reliable sample representation, as well as better reproducibility. The spectral feature obtained using the conventional scheme appeared to be more variable; however, this variation resulted more from unsuccessful sample representation than from an actual change in the sample composition. We conclude that the WAI scheme has a good potential for the analysis of diverse agricultural samples that consist of solid granules. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitrate modifies urea root uptake and assimilation in wheat seedlings
Authors: Garnica Maria , Houdusse Fabrice , Yvin Jean Claude , Garcia‐Mina Jose Maria 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Some authors suggest that nitrate improves the effects of ammonium and urea nutrition on plant growth via an increase in both the root uptake of ammonium and urea, and the further activation of its assimilation. In order to verify these hypotheses, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings were grown with various nitrogen supplies containing the main nitrogen forms (ammonium, nitrate and urea). Root nitrogen uptake and the concentration of each of the nitrogen forms in roots and shoots were studied.RESULTS: Results indicated that nitrate increases root uptake of ammonium and urea, with this effect being highly significant when the three nitrogen forms are supplied simultaneously. Nitrate significantly increased both urea and ammonium assimilation in the shoot of plants fed urea‐and‐nitrate. However, nitrate did not significantly affect ammonium assimilation in either shoots or roots in plants fed ammonium‐and‐nitrate.CONCLUSION: The beneficial effect of nitrate seems to be related to an enhancement of root uptake of ammonium and urea, although their assimilation was significantly increased in urea‐fed plants, but not in ammonium‐fed plants. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of cocoa extract containing polyphenols and methylxanthines on biochemical parameters of obese‐diabetic rats
Authors: Mhd Jalil Abbe Maleyki , Ismail Amin , Chong Pei Pei , Hamid Muhajir , Syed Kamaruddin Syed Hasbullah 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that cocoa extract possesses hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolaemic properties in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. However, there has been limited research on the effects of cocoa extract on obese‐diabetic (Ob‐db) rats that mimic human diabetes syndrome. Hence this study was initiated to determine the effect of cocoa extract containing polyphenols and methylxanthines on several biochemical parameters, namely glucose level, insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles of Ob‐db rats.RESULTS: Intake of cocoa extract supplemented with polyphenols (2.17 mg epicatechin, 1.52 mg catechin, 0.25 mg dimer and 0.13 mg trimer g−1 cocoa extract) and methylxanthines (3.55 mg caffeine and 2.22 mg theobromine g−1 cocoa extract) for 4 weeks significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol of obese‐diabetic rats (Ob‐db + cocoa) compared with non‐supplemented animals (Ob‐db). Short‐term (acute) supplementation of cocoa extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the plasma glucose level at 60 and 90 min compared with untreated rats as assessed by the oral glucose tolerance test. However, no significant differences were observed in plasma glucose level, insulin level and insulin sensitivity after chronic (4 weeks) cocoa extract supplementation.CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that cocoa extract possesses hypocholesterolaemic properties and can exert a transient glucose‐lowering effect but not long‐term glucose control. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Photodynamic therapy of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with hexaminolevulinate
Authors: Soergel Philipp , Wang Xiuli , Stepp Herbert , Hertel Hermann , Hillemanns Peter 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveCIN is a disease of women in their reproductive years, and treatment includes excisional techniques with increased risk of preterm deliveries. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using topical precursor of photoactive porphyrins may be a non‐invasive alternative with minimal side effects. This study assessed the feasibility and response rate of PDT with hexaminolevulinate (HAL) in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.Study Design/Materials and MethodsTwenty four patients with a CIN 2 or 3 or a persistent CIN 1 and a positive high‐risk HPV‐DNA test were included. Each patient had gynaecologic examination including cervical cytology, HPV DNA testing, colposcopy and biopsy. Ten milliliters of HAL‐thermogel (10 mM) were topically applied to the cervix for 3–5 hours, followed by 1,000 seconds of illumination of both ecto‐ and endocervical canal with red coherent light (wave length 633 nm) using a PDT laser and a special light catheter. Follow‐up examinations were carried out after 3 (cytology, colposcopy, HPV DNA testing, and if needed re‐PDT) and 6 months.ResultsSeven, 10, and 7 patients had a CIN 1, 2, or 3, respectively. Treatment could be accomplished in all cases and no severe side effects were encountered. Fifteen out of the 24 patients had a complete response (15/24 = 63%) and a HPV remission 6 months after 1–3 treatments. The remission rates were 71%, 50%, and 71% for CIN 1, 2 and 3.ConclusionHAL PDT seems to be a non‐invasive, repeatable procedure for CIN and cervical HPV infection with minimal side effects which can be easily performed on outpatient basis. Lesers Surg. Med. 40:611–615, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hollow Self‐Doped Polyaniline Micro/Nanostructures: Microspheres, Aligned Pearls, and Nanotubes
Authors: Li Guicun , Zhang Chuanqin , Peng Hongrui , Chen Kezheng , Zhang Zhikun 
Published: October 2008

AbstractHollow self‐doped polyaniline (SPAN) micro/nanostructures, such as hollow microspheres, aligned pearls, and nanotubes, have been synthesized by a one‐step chemical oxidation copolymerization of aniline (AN) and m‐aminobenzenesulfonic acid (SAN) using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as the oxidant in aqueous solution. The process is facile and free of any template, surfactant, and external dopants. The shapes and sizes of the hollow SPAN micro/nanostructures can be controlled by adjusting the synthetic parameters, such as the molar ratios of AN and SAN, the concentrations of monomers, and the molar ratios of the monomer and APS. The formation of hollow SPAN micro/nanostructures is possibly related to the self‐assembly of SPAN oligomers at the early stage of the copolymerization reaction. The molecular structures of the SPAN micro/nanostructures were determined by FT‐IR spectroscopy, which reveales that SO groups are bonded to the aromatic rings in SPAN chains.magnified image
Optimal dynamic pricing for sports games with habitual attendance
Authors: Won Dong C. , Lee Young H. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis paper provides a theoretical analysis of the optimal pricing decisions of a sports team that maximizes lifetime profits in sports markets where game attendance is habit‐forming for sports fans. The long‐run equilibrium price and attendance level are found to be greater than the counterparts of the static framework, respectively. The infinite horizon model shows that the pricing strategy of the firm brings about an upward‐crossing of two different dynamic price paths where the price path with stronger habit formation initially stays below, catches up, and ultimately rises above the price path with weaker habit formation. It is worth noting that the upward‐crossing phenomenon is not fully understood in a finite‐period model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dystonia Associated with pontomesencephalic lesions
Authors: Loher Thomas J. , Krauss Joachim K. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractSecondary dystonia is well known subsequent to lesions of the basal ganglia or the thalamus. There is evidence that brainstem lesions may also be associated with dystonia, but little is known about pathoanatomical correlations. Here, we report on a series of four patients with acquired dystonia following brainstem lesions. There were no basal ganglia or thalamic lesions. Three patients suffered tegmental pontomesencephalic hemorrhage and one patient diffuse axonal injury secondary to severe craniocerebral trauma. Dystonia developed with a delay of 1 to 14 months, at a mean delay of 6 months. The patients' mean age at onset was 33 years (range 4–56 years). All patients presented with hemidystonia combined with cervical dystonia, and two patients had craniofacial dystonia in addition. Three patients had postural or kinetic tremors. Dystonia was persistent in three patients, and improved gradually in one. There was little response to medical treatment. One patient with hemidystonia combined with cervical dystonia improved after thalamotomy. Overall, the phenomenology of secondary dystonia due to pontomesencephalic lesions is similar to that caused by basal ganglia or thalamic lesions. Structures involved include the pontomesencephalic tegmentum and the superior cerebellar peduncles. Such lesions are often associated with fatal outcome. While delayed occurrence of severe brainstem dystonia appears to be rare, it is possible that mild manifestations of dystonia might be ignored or not be emphasized in the presence of other disabling deficits. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Expression of Lewy body protein septin 4 in postmortem brain of Parkinson's disease and control subjects
Authors: Shehadeh Lina , Mitsi Georgia , Adi Nikhil , Bishopric Nanette , Papapetropoulos Spyridon 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn Parkinson's disease (PD) neuronal degeneration is associated with abnormal protein aggregation in various forms including Lewy bodies (LBs). A major component of LBs is α‐synuclein; septin 4 (SEPT4), a polymerizing GTP‐binding protein that serves as scaffold for diverse molecules has been found to colocalize with α‐synuclein in LBs. The central role of SEPT4 in the etiopathogenesis of PD has been suggested since SEPT4 also shows a physiological association with α‐synuclein and serves as a substrate for parkin. To this end, we studied the expression of septin 4 and α‐synuclein in postmortem human substantia nigra (SN) and amygdala from patients with PD and healthy controls. Twenty patients (14 men : 6 women, onset 63.0 ± 11.4 years, age 77.3 ± 7.6 years, Hoehn and Yahr 4.05/5) and 9 neurologically healthy controls (4 men/5 women, age at death 80.1 ± 8.6 years) were studied. Sporadic PD cases showed a statistically significant decrease of the fold change (FC) of SNCA (FC = 0.31, P = 0.00001) and SEPT4 (FC = 0.67, P = 0.054) gene expressions in the SN and the amygdala (SNCA: FC = 0.49, P = 0.02; SEPT4: FC = 0.32, P = 0.007) versus healthy controls. However, an increase of both proteins in PD versus control subjects was observed with immunoblotting. The semi‐quantitative protein ratio calculations revealed more than 10‐fold increases for both SEPT4 and α‐synuclein in PD versus control subjects. We present for the first time similar signal expression patterns and parallel accumulation of SEPT4 and α‐synuclein in well‐characterized postmortem PD brain. Considering the heterogeneous etiology of sporadic PD and the variability of individual human samples, SEPT4 accumulation may be regarded as one of the common pathological changes in PD and should therefore be further explored. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Respective potencies of Botox® and Dysport® in a human skin model: A randomized, double‐blind study
Authors: Kranz Gottfried , Haubenberger Dietrich , Voller Bernhard , Posch Martin , Schnider Peter , Auff Eduard , Sycha Thomas 
Published: October 2008

AbstractMouse units used to quantify the activity of botulinum A toxin preparations are not equivalent and issues concerning efficacy and safety remain with regard to their respective potencies and diffusion qualities in human tissue. We compared the effects of Botox® (BOT) and Dysport® (DYS) in different doses and dilutions in a human skin model. Eighteen (8 women, 10 men) healthy volunteers, aged 28.4 years ± 5.7 years were injected intradermally with pure saline, BOT and DYS at 16 points in the abdomen in random order and in a double‐blind condition, using two conversion ratios (1:3 and 1:4) and three different dilution schemes. For an objective outcome, the Ninhydrin sweat test was used to compare the anhidrotic areas. Both preparations showed a linear dose and dilution relationship with similar variances of responses for anhidrosis and hypohidrosis, indicating the same reliability of response. The dose equivalence conversion ratios (BOT: DYS) were 1:1.3 for anhidrosis and 1:1.6 for hypohidrosis (1:1.1‐1.5 and 1:1.4‐1.8 95% confidence intervals). The diffusion characteristics of both products were similar. A dose equivalence factor of more than 1:2 (BOT:DYS) is not supported by these objective and reproducible data. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Stiff‐three limbs syndrome
Authors: Teive Hélio A.G. , Munhoz Renato P. , Cardoso Juliana , Amaral Vanice C.G. , Werneck Lineu C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe report a patient diagnosed with stiff‐three limbs syndrome, without continuous motor unit activity in the electrophysiologic exam, with successful treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Characterization of phospholipases C β and γ and their possible roles inChaetopterusegg activation
Authors: Yin Xunqin , Eckberg William R. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIntracellular calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum is a hallmark at egg activation of both vertebrates and invertebrates. This fertilization‐associated calcium release results from generation of the second messenger inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) by one or more phospholipases C (PLC). We characterizedChaetopterusPLCβ and γ by reverse transcription/degenerate oligonucleotide primed PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA end PCR. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that the deduced PLCβ protein shared the greatest homology with mammalian PLCβ4; the deduced PLCγ protein shared the greatest homology with starfish PLCγ and diverged from mammalian PLCγ before mammalian the PLCγ1 and γ2 isoforms diverged. Western blot analyses with specific anti‐PLCβ and γ antibodies, respectively, revealed that 135 and 150 kDa proteins were expressed in eggs. The general PLC antagonist U‐73122 blocked fertilization‐induced egg activation; however, the inactive analog, U‐73343, had no effect on egg activation. We further tested whether egg activation was G protein‐PLCβ and/or protein tyrosine kinase‐PLCγ dependent. Cholera and pertussis toxins, well‐known effectors of G proteins, had no effect on egg activation; while two antagonists of PTK, genistein and tyrphostin B42, inhibited both fertilization‐induced and artificial egg activation. Taken together, our studies suggested that PLC activity from eggs contributes toChaetopterusegg activation and PLCγ might play an important role during this biological process. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 460–470, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Purification and multimer formation of allurin, a sperm chemoattractant from Xenopus laevis egg jelly
Authors: Sugiyama Hitoshi , Burnett Lindsey , Xiang Xueyu , Olson John , Willis Shaun , Miao Amy , Akema Tatsuo , Bieber Allan L. , Chandler Douglas E. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractAllurin, a sperm chemoattractant isolated from Xenopus laevis egg jelly, can be purified in one step from an extract of diffusible jelly proteins (“egg water”) using a FPLC or HPLC anion exchange column and a multi‐step NaCl gradient. Allurin homomultimers were detected by Western blotting with antibodies prepared against the purified protein or peptides within the protein. Allurin multimers were stable and resisted dissociation by SDS and β‐mercaptoethanol. Alkylation of allurin provided evidence for two free sulfhydryl groups but did not eliminate multimer formation, suggesting that intermolecular disulfide bond formation is not required for allurin aggregation. Concentration of egg water was accompanied by a reduction of chemoattractant activity that could not be fully accounted for by homomultimer formation. Rather, the presence of a multiphasic dose‐activity curve upon partial purification and formation of hetero‐allurin complexes during concentration suggested that egg water may contain allurin‐binding proteins that reduce multimer formation and activity. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 527–536, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gene expression and development of early pig embryos produced by serial nuclear transfer
Authors: Xing Xiaojun , Magnani Luca , Lee Kiho , Wang Chunmin , Cabot Ryan A. , Machaty Zoltan 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDuring nuclear transfer, reprogramming makes the donor nucleus capable of directing development of the reconstructed embryo. In most cases reprogramming is incomplete, which leads to abnormal expression of early embryonic genes and subsequently, to reduced developmental potential. In the present study, we monitored the expression of Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 in cloned porcine embryos and evaluated whether serial nuclear transfer, the transfer of nuclei of cloned embryos into enucleated oocytes, has the potential to provide a more complete reprogramming of the donor genome. The data suggested that Nanog and Sox2 expression is properly reactivated after nuclear transfer, but the relative abundance of Oct4 transcripts is abnormally low in cloned porcine blastocysts compared to control embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. When the nuclei of 8‐ to 16‐cell stage cloned embryos were introduced into enucleated oocytes to expose the chromosomes repeatedly to the ooplasmic factors, the resulting embryos showed poor developmental potential: a significantly lower percentage of embryos developed to the 4‐cell (12.0% vs. 31.8%), 8‐cell (3.1% vs. 15.0%) and blastocyst (0% vs. 8.7%) stages compared to those produced following a single round of nuclear transfer (P < 0.05). The additional time for reprogramming also did not improve gene expression. By the late 4‐cell stage, Oct4 and Sox2 expression levels were low in serial nuclear transfer embryos compared to those in embryos generated by in vitro fertilization or nuclear transfer. Overall, both developmental and gene expression data indicated that reprogramming of the donor nucleus could not be improved by serial nuclear transfer in the pig. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 555–563, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heat shock of porcine zygotes immediately after oocyte activation increases viability
Authors: Isom S. Clay , Lai Liangxue , Prather Randall S. , Rucker Edmund B. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of different timing variations of an applied heat shock on parthenogenetically activated (PA) porcine embryos. PA embryos were heat shocked for 9 hr at 42°C from either 0–9 hr post activation (hpa; 09HS), 13–22 hpa (1322HS), or 22–31 hpa (2231HS). Analysis of 24‐hr cleavage rates (P < 0.0001), day 5 cell numbers (P < 0.005), day 7 blastocyst rates (P < 0.0001), and day 7 cell numbers (P < 0.05) showed that 09HS embryos developed more successfully in vitro than did all other treated and control embryos. In vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos were exposed to similar heat treatments as described for PA embryos, and embryos derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) were exposed only to the control and 09HS treatments to assess the effects of the different heat treatments on the timing of first cleavage and development to blastocyst. Embryos derived from both IVF and SCNT showed higher proportions of cleaved embryos on day 1 of development when heat shocked immediately after fertilization or fusion/activation as compared to NHS controls (P < 0.05). Blastocyst rates however, showed only modest (IVF; P = 0.089) or no (SCNT; P > 0.1) improvement as compared with control embryos. In summary, exposing PA embryos to elevated temperatures immediately after oocyte activation results in dramatically enhanced developmental potential. A thorough characterization of this phenomenon may yield findings that can serve to increase the efficiency with which PA, IVF, and SCNT embryos are produced in vitro. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 548–554, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.