bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social meanings in Christmas consumption: an exploratory study of UK celebrants' consumption rituals
Authors: McKechnie Sally , Tynan Caroline 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Although much has been written about the celebration of Christmas from a variety of perspectives, limited attention has been paid in the consumer behaviour literature to understanding the behaviours of consumers surrounding this event. Apart from insights gained from prior work on consumption rituals and meanings of festivities, our knowledge of meaning creation through Christmas consumption is partial, and written mainly from a North American perspective. Since consumer behaviour is shaped by cultural and social contexts, understanding the relationship between consumption objects and the social meanings that consumers ascribe to them is a research imperative. This paper explores the ways in which the British Christmas is consumed as a shared consumption experience, by bringing together two different approaches taken by consumer researchers and sociologists to analysing social consumption patterns. These are drawn from structuralist and post‐structuralist thinking. The findings of an exploratory qualitative study are used to demonstrate how an enhanced understanding of consumption meanings associated with this particular cultural context can lead to new insights into how consumers create social meanings through special, as well as ordinary, behaviours.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Getting hammered? ‥‥ students coping with alcohol
Authors: Piacentini Maria G. , Banister Emma N. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

This research draws on identity and coping theories to develop an understanding of the ways in which students with differing stances towards alcohol (both drinkers and light/non‐drinkers) deal with alcohol‐dominated social situations. We report findings from two studies, the first based on the stories of 160 students and the second based on in‐depth interviews with eight students. Our research found that many undergraduates view alcohol as playing a central role in ‘student life’, with excessive drinking being the norm. However, there is a significant group who are not comfortable with this view, nor do they ascribe to it. Choosing not to engage with the stereotypical student image presents a very real set of problems, stresses and barriers and the students discussed the various coping strategies they had in place to deal with these problems. We discuss the implications of these findings and the challenges for public policy in this area.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation between glucocorticoid receptor binding parameters, blood pressure, and body mass index in a healthy human population
Authors: Elaković Ivana , Perišić Tatjana , Čanković‐Kadijević Milče , Matić Gordana 
Published: April 2006

AbstractCorrelation between the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) number and affinity for the ligand, as well as the relationship between these equilibrium binding parameters and body mass index, blood pressure, and age were examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy human subjects. It was found that the only statistically significant correlation was that between the GR number per cell and equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd (r = 0.84, p < 0.0001). This observation implies the existence of a compensatory mechanism providing for lower GR affinity in individuals that have more receptor sites in circulating mononuclear cells and vice versa. This compensatory phenomenon together with considerable interindividual variation (GR number per cell ranging from 1391 to 15133, CV = 58.62%; and Kd from 2.5 to 98.6 nM, CV = 80.87%), reflects plasticity of the glucocorticoid system. The results pose the question of whether this compensatory mechanism observed in healthy human subjects persists in pathophysiological states associated with glucocorticoid hormone actions and suggest that tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids could be better predicted by the sign and magnitude of the correlation between the two receptor equilibrium binding parameters than by each of them separately. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of resveratrol on surgery‐induced peritoneal adhesions in an experimental model
Authors: Sogutlu Gokhan , Karabulut Aysun Bay , Ara Cengiz , Cinpolat Ozgur , Isik Burak , Piskin Turgut , Celik Onder 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAdhesion formation is a common cause of complications following surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on intra‐abdominal adhesion prevention in a rat model. Twenty one Wistar‐Albino rats weighing 200–250 g were assigned to three groups, of 7 rats each. After a midline laparotomy was performed, a 1 cm area of the ceacum was abraded in two of the groups. They were then given either resveratrol (Group 1), or saline (Group 2) intraperitoneally. Group 3 rats (sham operation) received no treatment, without the serosal damage. On the 14th day, the rats were killed and the adhesion score was determined according to Mazuji's adhesion grade scale. The tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. The mean Mazuji's adhesion grade in the resveratrol group was 1.0 ± 0.0, in the saline group 2.57 ± 1.51, and zero in the sham operated group (p < 0.05 between the resveratrol group and saline group comparison). The levels of MDA and NO in the resveratrol group were significantly lower than those of the saline group (p < 0.001). The level of GSH in the resveratrol group was significantly higher than in the saline and sham operated groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Introduction of resveratrol into the peritoneal cavity at the time of surgery reduced adhesion formation effectively in this model. Resveratrol probably acts through reduction of lipid peroxidation products. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lateral components in the cone terminals of the rabbit retina: Horizontal cell origin and glutamate receptor expression
Authors: Deng Qiudong , Wang Ling , Dong Wei , He Shigang 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe examined the identities of horizontal cell (HC) lateral components in cone terminals and the expression of glutamate receptors on the tips of HC dendrites. We injected A‐type horizontal cells (AHCs) with neurobiotin and demonstrated that neurobiotin labeled completely all AHCs within a patch of retina. We converted neurobiotin by using diaminobenzidine and considered labeled processes to be from AHCs and unlabeled processes to be from B‐type horizontal cells (BHCs). Three possible combinations of HC dendrites could exist in cone pedicles: both lateral components originating from AHCs, both from BHCs, or one from an AHC and the other from a BHC. EM observations revealed that a majority of cone terminals contained about equal numbers of lateral components originating from each of the two types of HCs and that each of the three possible combinations was present in equal numbers. Localization of different types of glutamate receptors on HC dendritic tips showed that 55% of AHC dendritic tips expressed AMPA receptors and 30% expressed kainate receptors, whereas, in the case of BHCs, 22% of dendritic tips expressed AMPA receptors and 33% expressed kainate receptors. This study suggests that cone photoreceptors feed the light signal equally into networks of AHCs and BHCs and that differential expression of AMPA/kainate receptors by different HCs could account for different functions. J. Comp. Neurol. 496:698–705, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developmental pattern of CB1cannabinoid receptor immunoreactivity in brain regions important to zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) song learning and control
Authors: Soderstrom Ken , Tian Qiyu 
Published: April 2006

AbstractZebra finches learn song during distinct developmental stages, making them an important species for studying mechanisms underlying vocal development. Distinct interconnected forebrain regions have been identified as important to specific features of zebra finch vocal learning and production. Because prior experiments have demonstrated that late postnatal exposure to cannabinoid agonists alters zebra finch song learning, we have sought to identify brain regions likely involved in it. By using an affinity‐purified polyclonal antibody directed against the zebra finch CB1cannabinoid receptor, we have studied staining patterns in groups of males at 25, 50, 75, and >100 days of age (adults). A general waxing and waning of staining intensity were observed over this developmental period. Distinct staining of song‐related brain regions was also noted. Early establishment of staining patterns within rostral telencephalic song regions [area X and lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (lMAN)] suggests a role in auditory learning. Later establishment and maintenance in adulthood of small somata and neuropil staining within regions of rostral telencephalon [HVC and robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA)] are consistent with a vocal motor role for cannabinoid signaling. Our results provide insight into brain regions likely responsible for cannabinoid‐altered vocal learning and add to accumulating evidence supporting an important role for cannabinoid signaling in CNS development. J. Comp. Neurol. 496:739–758, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A combined HIV‐1 protein bead array for serology assay and T‐cell subset immunophenotyping with a hybrid flow cytometer: A step in the direction of a comprehensive multitasking instrument platform for infectious disease diagnosis and monitoring
Authors: Faucher Sylvie , Martel Alexandre , Sherring Alice , Bogdanovic Dragica , Malloch Laurie , Kim John E. , Bergeron Michèle , Sandstrom Paul , Mandy Francis F. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:A new generation of bench‐top flow cytometers with digital signal processing to perform suspension array technology (SAT) based bead array assays as well as leukocyte immunophenotyping is now available. These hybrid instruments provide an opportunity for the development of a more cost effective multitasking platform to support infectious disease treatment in resource limited countries.Methods:We report the development and testing of two modules compatible with the hybrid flow cytometers. The first module is an eleven HIV‐1 protein bead array (PBA) for the detection of circulating antibodies and the second is a cell based T‐cell enumeration assay.Results:The HIV‐1 PBA was tested in parallel with two enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for the detection of plasma antibodies from 4 HIV‐1 seroconversion panels and a low antibody titer panel. The PBA as well as the two EIAs performed equally for the detection of antibody positive samples from all seroconversion panels. One antibody positive sample from the low antibody titer panel was missed by the PBA together with one of the two EIAs tested. A parallel analysis of the HIV‐1 PBA with Western blot (a confirmatory test for HIV infection) using plasma from nine HIV‐1+ individuals showed that the HIV‐1 PBA detected more of the gp41 and gp120 antibody positive samples. Preliminary CD4 T‐cell immunophenotyping results from 14 HIV+ and 10 HIV− whole blood specimens with the hybrid flow cytometer platform compared well to conventional flow cytometry data.Conclusion:The successful combination of bead and cell based assays on a single hybrid instrument demonstrated the potential utility of a multitasking platform. The results presented are providing groundwork for future development of more cost effective modular architecture for a flexible flow cytometry based platform. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology
Call admission control for voice over IP
Authors: Uzunalioglu Huseyin , J. Houck David , T. Wang Y. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractVoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) is a technology that enables the transmission of voice over an IP network. Recent years have witnessed heavy investment in this area in the commercial world. For VoIP to replace Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), it should provide voice quality comparable to circuit‐switched PSTN networks. This paper addresses the mechanisms to guarantee VoIP quality of service (QoS). The focus is given to the call admission control, which blocks voice calls when the required resources are not available to guarantee the QoS for the call. We review call admission control approaches that can be applied to VoIP, and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. In the second part of the paper, we present a measurement‐based admission control scheme that achieves QoS in an efficient and scalable manner. The scheme uses voice traffic load measurements at each router link to compute link‐level blocking policies for new call attempts. Then, these policies are translated into path‐level blocking policies, which are applied to new call set‐up requests. The performance of the scheme is presented for single and multiple‐priority voice calls. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An information theoretic framework for predictive channel reservation in VoIP over GPRS
Authors: Roy Abhishek , Basu Kalyan , Saxena Navrati 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe wireless telecommunication industry is now slowly shifting its paradigm from traditional, circuit‐switched, voice‐alone domain to an integrated packet‐switched architecture. This will give rise to a variety of new applications, in the same infrastructure, in a cost‐efficient way. However, due to the delay and dilemma behind new 3G mobile applications, it is important to use the legacy 2.5G access systems as much as possible, to make the transition smooth. The recent industry‐wide trend towards push‐to‐talk voice services in GPRS networks is a direct consequence of this emerging packet‐switch services. In this paper, we propose a packet‐switched‐based architectural framework for efficient integrated push‐to‐talk voice (or VoIP) and data services in GPRS using low‐bit‐rate coding. The prime novelty and advantage of the framework lies in proposing new intelligent, advanced channel reservation techniques to reduce the voice‐packet delay. Subsequent use of packet‐classification and packet assembly scheme aids in reducing the packet overhead and achieving the voice quality within ITU's recommendations. The mutual effects of data and voice packets over the entire system is analysed using suitable, two‐stage performance modelling. It has also been shown that, for voice over IP (VoIP) services, our proposed framework results in more than 50% capacity gain over current GSM system using a silent‐detection mechanism. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment of Internet voice transport with TCP
Authors: Papadimitriou Panagiotis , Tsaoussidis Vassilis 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe investigate whether the current best‐effort technology of Internet stands up to the high quality standards of real‐time voice communication. More precisely, we assess VoIP quality within the context of transport protocol support and efficiency. Initially, we focus on TCP and UDP supportive role from the perspective of VoIP performance. Applying our metric for real‐time performance, we reach the outcome that UDP is always not the protocol of choice for VoIP, since it occasionally exhibits inadequate performance. Beyond that, we evaluate a solution‐framework based on TCP protocols, which favour real‐time traffic. Based on our measurements, we assess the efficiency of the associated congestion control and congestion avoidance mechanisms in terms of VoIP performance. We also study the effect of packet size on protocol behaviour and VoIP quality. Furthermore, we investigate VoIP traffic friendliness, as well as potential tradeoffs between protocol performance and fairness. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
VoIP over WLAN: voice capacity, admission control, QoS, and MAC
Authors: Cai Lin , Xiao Yang , (Sherman) Shen Xuemin , Cai Lin , W. Mark Jon 
Published: April 2006

AbstractVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is one of the fastest growing Internet applications. It is a viable alternative to the traditional telephony systems due to its high resource utilization and cost efficiency. Meanwhile, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) have become a ubiquitous networking technology that has been deployed around the world. Driven by these two popular technologies, Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) has been emerging as an infrastructure to provide low‐cost wireless voice services. However, VoWLAN poses significant challenges since the performance characteristics of wireless networks are much worse than that of their wireline counterparts, and the IEEE 802.11‐based WLAN was not originally designed to support delay‐sensitive voice traffic. In this paper, we provide a survey of recent advances in VoWLAN voice capacity analysis, call admission schemes, and medium access control (MAC) layer quality of service (QoS) enhancement mechanisms. Some open research issues are presented for further investigation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Service oriented architecture for VoIP conferencing
Authors: Wu Wenjun , Fox Geoffrey , Bulut Hasan , Uyar Ahmet , Huang Tao 
Published: April 2006

AbstractMost current Voice/Video over IP (VoIP) systems are either highly centralized or dependent on IP multicast. We propose the Global Multimedia Collaboration System as a scalable, integrated and service‐oriented VoIP conferencing system, based on a SOAP‐based collaboration framework and advanced messaging oriented middleware. This system can provide media and session services to heterogeneous endpoints including H.323, SIP, Access Grid, and RealPlayer as well as accommodating diverse clients such as cellular phones. We suggest that our approach opens up new opportunities for extending classic VoIP systems by using these new technologies designed for scalable Internet based service‐oriented computing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diagnosis of single‐subject and group fMRI data with SPMd
Authors: Zhang Hui , Luo Wen‐Lin , Nichols Thomas E. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractExcept for purely nonparametric methods, statistical methods depend on assumptions about the distribution of the data studied. While these assumptions are easily checked for a single univariate dataset with diagnostic plots, in the massively univariate model used with functional MRI (fMRI) it is impractical to check with a massive number of plots. In previous work we have demonstrated how to diagnose model assumptions and lack‐of‐fit for single‐subject fMRI models using a working assumption of independent errors; our work depended on images and time series of summary statistics that, when simultaneously viewed dynamically, identify problem scans and voxels. In this article we extend our previous work to account for temporal autocorrelation in single‐subject models and show how analogous methods can be used on group models where multiple subjects are studied. We apply these methods to the single‐subject Functional Image Analysis Contest (FIAC) data and find several anomalies, but none that appear to invalidate the results for that subject. With the group FIAC data we find one subject (and possibly two more) that demonstrate a different pattern of activity. None of our conclusions would be arrived at by simply looking at images of t statistics, demonstrating the importance of model assessment through exploration of the data and diagnosis of model assumptions. Hum Brain Mapp 27:442–451, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deleting ‘irrational’ responses from discrete choice experiments: a case of investigating or imposing preferences?
Authors: Lancsar Emily , Louviere Jordan 
Published: April 2006

AbstractInvestigation of the ‘rationality’ of responses to discrete choice experiments (DCEs) has been a theme of research in health economics. Responses have been deleted from DCEs where they have been deemed by researchers to (a) be ‘irrational’, defined by such studies as failing tests for non‐satiation, or (b) represent lexicographic preferences. This paper outlines a number of reasons why deleting responses from DCEs may be inappropriate after first reviewing the theory underpinning rationality, highlighting that the importance placed on rationality depends on the approach to consumer theory to which one ascribes. The aim of this paper is not to suggest that all preferences elicited via DCEs are rational. Instead, it is to suggest a number of reasons why it may not be the case that all preferences labelled as ‘irrational’ are indeed so. Hence, deleting responses may result in the removal of valid preferences; induce sample selection bias; and reduce the statistical efficiency and power of the estimated choice models. Further, evidence suggests random utility theory may be able to cope with such preferences. Finally, we discuss a number of implications for the design, implementation and interpretation of DCEs and recommend caution regarding the deletion of preferences from stated preference experiments. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The compensating income variation of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Groot Wim , Maassen van den Brink Henriëtte 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThis paper uses longitudinal data from the British Household Panel Survey to calculate the compensating income variation (CIV) of cardiovascular disease. It is found that the CIV decreases with age and is higher for men than for women. For women the estimated CIV is similar to those calculated by Groot et al. (2004). For men the estimates are somewhat higher than earlier reported. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lymphatic and vascular origin of Kaposi's sarcoma spindle cells during tumor development
Authors: Pyakurel Pawan , Pak Fatemeh , Mwakigonja Amos. R. , Kaaya Ephata , Heiden Thomas , Biberfeld Peter 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe histogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) tumor spindle cells (SC) remains controversial but several immunohistochemical studies favor a lymphatic origin. Twenty KS surgical biopsies were analyzed for the coexpression of LANA, CD34, LYVE‐1, D2‐40, VEGFR‐2, VEGFR3 by using double or triple immunostaining. Most of the SC in both early and late KS expressed the lymphatic markers LYVE‐1, D2‐40 and VEGFR‐3 and the blood vascular endothelial/endothelial precursor cell markers CD34 and endothelial stem cell marker VEGFR‐2. All the LANA+ SC in early and late KS were LYVE‐1+, but only 75% of these LANA+ cells were CD34+. The CD34+/LANA+ cells increased from early‐ (68.8%) to late‐stage KS (82.2%). However, approximately 18% of the LANA+ SC in early KS were CD34− but were LYVE‐1+, suggesting that resident lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) are targeted for primary infection by human herpesvirus‐8. This LANA+/LYVE‐1+/CD34− (resident LEC) cell population clearly decreased during the development of KS from early (18.7%) to late KS (2.9%). Thus, in late stages of KS, most SC were LANA+/CD34+/LYVE‐1+. However, in both early‐ and late‐stage KS, approximately 18% of the SC were CD34+/LANA‐/LYVE‐1− and could represent newly recruited endothelial precursor cells, which become infected in the lesion and eventually undergo a phenotype switch expressing LEC markers. Our study apparently indicates that KS represents a unique variant of tumor growth with continues recruitment of tumor precursor cells as well as proliferation and decreased apoptosis of SC. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.