bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protein kinase c regulation of the adenylyl cyclase system in rat prostatic epithelium
Authors: Carmena María J. , García‐Paramio Pilar , Solano Rosa M. , Prieto Juan C. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn the context of the crosstalk between transmembrane signalling pathways, we studied the loci within the stimulatory receptor/Gs protein/adenylyl cyclase system at which protein kinase C (PKC) exerts regulatory effects in rat prostatic epithelial cells. The treatment of cells with the PKC activator phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) resulted in an impairment of the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity in terms of both potency, as seen with both vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylyl cyclase‐activating peptide (PACAP‐27), and efficacy, as seen with the β‐adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. This inhibitory effect of PMA could be prevented by cell incubation with pertussis toxin but not with cholera toxin, pointing to a Gi‐but not Gs‐dependent mechanism. This hypothesis was reinforced by ADP‐ribosylation experiments that showed a low extent of αi with pertussis toxin but no change of αs with cholera toxin, as well as by the observation of the loss of the ability of low Gpp[NH]p doses to inhibit forskolin‐stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity (a measure of Gi function) after cell treatment with PMA. However, the phorbol ester did not modify the adenylyl cyclase catalytic subunit, as shown by experiments on direct stimulation of the enzyme by forskolin. Whatever the exact mechanisms, the results support a crosstalk between the PKC and the adenylyl cyclase systems in rat prostatic epithelial cells in terms of an impairment of adenylyl cyclase stimulation, due presumably to phosphorylation of both membrane receptors (coupled to Gs) and Gi protein, but not of Gs protein or the adenylyl cyclase itself. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Work environment and prostate cancer risk
Authors: van der Gulden J. W. J. , Kolk J. J. , Verbeek A. L. M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA case‐referent study of 345 prostate cancer cases and 1,346 referents was carried out in the Netherlands to investigate the relationship between work environment and prostate cancer risk. Cases were selected from the Cancer Registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre IKO. Referents (men diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia) were recruited with assistance of the pathology laboratories in the IKO region. Questionnaires were mailed to all subjects to obtain information on their work history and occupational exposure. Moreover, workers in farming (n = 323), and in metal work and maintenance (n = 340), were requested to complete short supplements to the questionnaire inquiring in more detail into specific types of exposure. Significantly elevated risks were found for work in food manufacturing and for bookkeepers. Significantly elevated odds ratios (OR) were also observed for jobs held between 1960 and 1970 in administration, in storage, or as farm laborer. In addition, a statistically significant excess risk was found for subjects who reported frequent occupational exposure to cadmium. Cases who worked in farming applied pesticides during significant more days per year than the referents did. A nonsignificantly elevated OR was found for maintenance of tractors and agricultural machinery. Among metal workers, mechanics, and repairmen, nonsignificantly increased ORs were observed with regard to the use of acids, solvents, iron, and steel, and for welding and maintenance of machinery. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of a new steroidal antiandrogen, TZP‐4238 (17 α‐acetoxy‐6‐chloro‐2‐oxa‐4, 6‐pregnadiene‐3, 20‐dione), on spontaneously developed canine benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Takezawa Yutaka , Ito Kazuto , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Fukabori Yoshitatsu , Yamanaka Hidetoshi , Honma Seijiro , Mieda Mamoru , Hamataki Nobutoshi , Kushitani Masayuki 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe effects of the new steroidal antiandrogen, TZP‐4238 on spontaneouslydeveloped canine prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were studied in comparison with those of chlormadinone acetate (CMA), a steroidal antiandrogen used for the treatment of BPH and prostatic cancer in Japan. Aged beagle dogs (5–9 years old) with spontaneously developed BPH (mean prostate volume, 17.7ml) were treated orally with a placebo, TZP‐4238 (0.1 mg/kg/day, 0.01 mg/kg/day), or CMA (3 mg/kg/day), for 25 weeks. Prostate volume was measured by transrectal ultrasonography before treatment and every 5 weeks during treatment. TZP‐4238 produced a regression in spontaneously developed canine BPH, its effects being more potent than those of CMA. TZP‐4238 reduced the content of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and androgen receptor in the prostates of these animals, suggesting antiandrogenic mechanisms of the agent. TZP‐4238 also appeared to reduce 5α‐reductase activity by prevention of the androgen action in prostate as described above. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Data structure and algorithm for large‐scale generalized assignment problem which considers priority orders
Authors: Nishikori Akimine 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn this paper, the author proposes a data structure and approximate solution for solving a large‐scale generalized assignment problem, being a constraint satisfaction problem. To find a desired solution from among many executable solutions, the proposed algorithm sets a priority order for resources and repeatedly solves an integer programming problem in order to reduce the nonexecutable sum of constraints. This study is an analysis of what type of data structure may be effective in raising the cache memory hit rate when a two‐dimensional matrix 0–1 assignment variable xij, which frequently crops up in the field of operations research, has large‐scale sparsity. The proposed algorithm constructs multiple search trees, makes searches and examines which resource assignments must be changed, and retains information from the search as an arc. Two‐fold “garbage collection” is performed to avoid the fragmentation of the memory necessary for the search, when performing a state space search using multiple search trees. Furthermore, a data structure necessary for the searches, in order to apply the proposed algorithm to a real large‐scale problem, is described. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 38(3): 83–91, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.10272
Combination of GMM‐based speech estimation method and temporal domain SVD‐based speech enhancement for noise robust speech recognition
Authors: Fujimoto Masakiyo , Ariki Yasuo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis study proposes a speech recognition method which is made robust to noise by combining speech signal estimation based on GMM and speech enhancement based on SVD in the temporal domain. Conventional speech signal estimation based on GMM has the problems that the time dependence of the noise is not considered and the performance is degraded in a low‐SNR environment. As regards the first problem, successive updating of the mean noise vector is performed in this study to follow the time variation of the noise. As regards the second problem, an attempt is made to improve performance by improving the SNR beforehand by means of speech enhancement based on SVD in the time domain. Furthermore, in speech enhancement based on SVD in the time domain, the over‐subtraction factor for the noise component is introduced in order to minimize the effect of noise, and adaptive determination of the factor is considered. The proposed method is evaluated using the AURORA2 database, and it is shown that the speech recognition accuracy is improved compared to conventional speech signal estimation based on GMM. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 38(3): 23–38, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20487
Probabilistic ISC for matching images of objects having individual difference
Authors: Mita Takeshi , Kaneko Toshimitsu , Hori Osamu 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper considers image matching for objects with individual differences and deformations, such as the human face, and proposes the concept of probabilistic increment sign correlation (ISC) as a new statistic suited to the purpose. Probabilistic ISC is a statistic based on the probability of occurrence of incremental signs calculated from multiple reference images. Since matching is sought considering only the increase or decrease of the spatial brightness, it is less affected by changes of illumination and other factors. In matching, the variation of the incremental sign produced by changes of the object shape and other factors is represented by a probability, and high matching accuracy is achieved by assigning larger weights to features with smaller variation. The computation cost is as low as that of increment sign correlation, and the method is also suited to hardware implementation. It is possible to set the matching threshold analytically on the basis of statistical properties. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, an experiment was performed to detect a face from 2420 images, and higher detection accuracy was obtained than by methods based on correlation, such as normalized correlation and increment sign correlation, or the subspace method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 38(3): 12–22, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20613
Alliance networks and firm performance: The impact of repeated partnerships
Authors: Goerzen Anthony 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA phenomenon that has become the focus of recent research on interorganizational alliance network growth is that firms often enter into repeated relationships with prior partners. The implications of this tendency on corporate performance, however, are not well understood. From transaction cost and network perspectives, I test competing hypotheses on a large sample of multinational corporations. My results indicate clearly that firms not only often do enter into repeated equity‐based partnerships but also that those with a greater propensity to do so experience inferior economic performance. Further, statistical tests indicate that the negative effect of repeated partnerships on performance is particularly strong in environments of greater technological uncertainty. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Choice, chance, and inevitability in strategy
Authors: de Rond Mark , Thietart Raymond‐Alain 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe propose a theory to manage the uneasy relation between strategic choice, chance, and determinism (or inevitability). To do so, we locate arguments in intellectual history that have a clear bearing on this relation. We introduce and defend four conjectures that outline the relationship between each of them and their comparative significance. The paper thus aims at achieving three objectives: (a) to articulate a philosophically sustainable theory of strategic choice that corroborates experience (without being induced by it); (b) to synthesize what remains one of the most sustained debates in strategy, namely the nature, role, and relation of choice, chance and determinism; and (c) to contribute to developing a foundation for multilevel research. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Convergence analysis of distributed fixed‐step power control algorithm for cellular mobile systems
Authors: Wen Jyh‐Horng , Chen Young‐Long , Wang Jyu‐Wei 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPower control plays a vital role in the operation of cellular systems. It has been shown that a power control mechanism with distributed fixed‐step control algorithm using a single bit can maintain the received carrier‐to‐interference ratio (CIR) within a desired range in long‐term fading channels. However, as far as the short‐term fading is concerned, whether such a power control algorithm remains convergent is not clear. In this work, a simple received CIR model is adopted to derive the condition that ensures system stability for short‐term fading channels. The bounds of the received CIR are also obtained. Furthermore, the effects of the power control step size and the time required for convergence are also analyzed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thread algebra for strategic interleaving
Authors: Bergstra J. A. , Middelburg C. A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe take a thread as the behavior of a sequential deterministic program under execution and multi-threading as the form of concurrency provided by contemporary programming languages such as Java and C#. We outline an algebraic theory about threads and multi-threading. In the case of multi-threading, some deterministic interleaving strategy determines how threads are interleaved. Interleaving operators for a number of plausible interleaving strategies are specified in a simple and concise way. By that, we show that it is essentially open-ended what counts as an interleaving strategy. We use deadlock freedom as an example to show that there are properties of multi-threaded programs that depend on the interleaving strategy used.
Cost‐effectiveness of misoprostol to control postpartum hemorrhage in low‐resource settings
Authors: Bradley S.E.K. , Prata N. , Young‐Lin N. , Bishai D.M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective: To test the cost‐effectiveness of training traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to recognize postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and administer a rectal dose of misoprostol in areas with low access to modern delivery facilities. Method: A cost‐effectiveness analysis, modeling two hypothetical cohorts of 10,000 women each giving birth with TBAs: one under standard treatment (TBA referral to hospital after blood loss ≥ 500 ml), and one attended by TBAs trained to recognize PPH and to administer 1000 μg of misoprostol at blood loss ≥ 500 ml. Result: The misoprostol strategy could prevent 1647 cases of severe PPH (range: 810–2920) and save $115,335 in costs of referral, IV therapy and transfusions (range: $13,991–$1,563,593) per 10,000 births. By preventing severe disease and saving money, it dominates the standard approach. Conclusion: Training TBAs to administer misoprostol to treat PPH has the potential to both save money and improve the health of mothers in low‐resource settings.
A theory of purchasing's contribution to business performance
Authors: González‐Benito Javier 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAlthough the strategic importance of purchasing has been acknowledged in recent years, few studies analyze its contribution to business performance. The alignment of the purchasing function with business strategy is essential, but previous work links better performance with the implementation of specific purchasing practices. This article develops a different approach focused on purchasing capabilities rather than purchasing practices and proposes that purchasing's contribution to business performance depends on the degree to which purchasing capabilities fit with and support the business strategy. By adapting the Theory of Production Competence to the purchasing context, this article distinguishes two levels of fit: between purchasing strategic objectives and purchasing capabilities, defined as “purchasing efficacy,” and between business strategy and purchasing strategic objectives, which is viewed as an immediate consequence of the strategic integration of purchasing. The interaction between both levels of fit influences business commercial and financial performance, and an empirical analysis of 141 industrial companies supports this proposition.
A market reaction to DOD contract delay — Does the market reward poor performance?
Authors: Carden Robert , Leach Sonia E. , Smith Jeffrey S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCivilian development projects occur faster than projects for the Department of Defense (DoD). Faster development either means quicker delivery (i.e. sales), or for DoD, it means a more capable warfighter. On average, DoD Acquisition Category One (ACAT I) development projects now take 15 years, an increase of 20%. These same companies producing civilian products faster fail to do so with their DoD contracts. This paper examines the relationship between DoD delay and its impact on shareholder wealth. The results show positive, significant wealth for shareholders at the announcement of a DoD delay, suggesting an insensitivity toward such production delays.
Effects of low- and high-volume resistance exercise on postprandial lipaemia
Authors: Zafeiridis Andreas , Goloi Evagelia , Petridou Anatoli , Dipla Konstantina , Mougios Vassilis , Kellis Spiros 
Published: February 2007

Postprandial lipaemia (PL) is associated with the metabolic syndrome, CVD and endothelial dysfunction. Aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce PL. Although resistance exercise is recommended for the improvement of the quality of life, management of body weight and prevention of several disorders, its effect on PL has received little attention. The present study examined the effects of low-volume resistance exercise (LVRE) and high-volume resistance exercise (HVRE) on PL. Ten healthy young men performed three trials, each conducted over 2 d. On the afternoon of day 1, they either refrained from exercise (control), performed LVRE (two sets of eight exercises, twelve repetitions at twelve repetitions maximum (RM) in each set; energy expenditure 0·76 MJ), or performed HVRE (four sets of eight exercises, twelve repetitions at 12RM in each set; energy expenditure 1·40 MJ). On the morning of day 2 they consumed a meal containing 67 kJ/kg body weight, of which 65 % energy was from fat. Blood samples were obtained in the fasted state and for 6 h postprandially. The total area under the TAG curve (AUC; mmol/l × h) was lower (P < 0·05) in HVRE (8·76 (sd 3·20)) and LVRE (9·29 (sd 3·64)) compared with control (11·60 (sd 4·35)). The incremental AUC was lower in HVRE compared with control (3·07 (sd 2·53) v. 5·58 (sd 3·72)), but not different between LVRE (3·86 (sd 2·29)) and control. In conclusion, resistance exercise of 1·40 MJ (four sets – eight exercises – twelve RM) or 0·76 MJ (two sets – eight exercises – twelve RM) before a high-fat meal reduces the total postprandial lipaemic response.
Low-dose pancreatic polypeptide inhibits food intake in man
Authors: Jesudason David R. , Monteiro Mariana P. , McGowan Barbara M. C. , Neary Nicola M. , Park Adrian J. , Philippou Elena , Small Caroline J. , Frost Gary S. , Ghatei Mohammad A. , Bloom Stephen R. 
Published: February 2007

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is a gut hormone released from the pancreas in response to food ingestion and remains elevated for up to 6 h postprandially. Plasma levels are elevated in patients with pancreatic tumours. An intravenous infusion of PP has been reported to reduce food intake in man, suggesting that PP is a satiety hormone. We investigated whether a lower infusion rate of PP would induce significant alterations in energy intake. The study was randomised and double-blinded. Fourteen lean fasted volunteers (five men and nine women) received 90 min infusions of PP (5 pmol/kg per min) and saline on two separate days. The dose chosen was half that used in a previous human study which reported a decrease in appetite but at supra-physiological levels of PP. One hour after the end of the infusion, a buffet lunch was served and energy intake measured. PP infusion was associated with a significant 11 % reduction in energy intake compared with saline (2440 (se 200) v. 2730 (se 180) kJ; P < 0·05). Preprandial hunger as assessed by a visual analogue score was decreased in the PP-treated group compared to saline. These effects were achieved with plasma levels of PP within the pathophysiological range of pancreatic tumours.
Differential effects of dietary whey, casein and soya on colonic DNA damage and large bowel SCFA in rats fed diets low and high in resistant starch
Authors: Toden Shusuke , Bird Anthony R. , Topping David L. , Conlon Michael A. 
Published: February 2007

Feeding higher levels of dietary animal protein (as casein or red meat) increases colonic DNA damage and thins the colonic mucus barrier in rats. Feeding resistant starch (RS) reverses these changes and increases large bowel SCFA. The present study examined whether high dietary dairy (casein or whey) or plant (soya) proteins had similar adverse effects and whether dietary RS was protective. Adult male rats were fed diets containing 15 or 25 % casein, whey or soya protein with or without 48 % high amylose starch (as a source of RS) for 4 weeks. DNA damage was measured in isolated colonocytes using the comet assay. Higher dietary casein and soya (but not whey) increased colonocyte DNA damage. DNA damage was highest with soya when fed at 15 or 25 % protein without RS. Dietary RS attenuated protein-induced colonocyte DNA damage in all groups but it remained significantly higher in rats fed 25 % soya compared with those fed 15 % protein. Dietary protein level did not affect colonic mucus thickness overall but the barrier was thinner in rats fed high dietary casein. This effect was reversed by feeding RS. Caecal total SCFA and butyrate pools were higher in rats fed RS compared with digestible starch. Caecal and faecal SCFA were unrelated to genetic damage but correlated with mucus thickness. The present data confirm that higher dietary protein affected colonocyte DNA and colonic mucus thickness adversely but that proteins differ in their effects on these indices of colon health. The data show also that these changes were reversed by RS.
Dietary protein restriction of pregnant rats in the F0 generation induces altered methylation of hepatic gene promoters in the adult male offspring in the F1 and F2 generations
Authors: Burdge Graham C. , Slater-Jefferies Jo , Torrens Christopher , Phillips Emma S. , Hanson Mark A. , Lillycrop Karen A. 
Published: February 2007

Epidemiological studies and experimental models show that maternal nutritional constraint during pregnancy alters the metabolic phenotype of the offspring and that this can be passed to subsequent generations. In the rat, induction of an altered metabolic phenotype in the liver of the F1 generation by feeding a protein-restricted diet (PRD) during pregnancy involves the altered methylation of specific gene promoters. We therefore investigated whether the altered methylation of PPARα and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) promoters was passed to the F2 generation. Females rats (F0) were fed a reference diet (180 g/kg protein) or PRD (90 g/kg protein) throughout gestation, and AIN-76A during lactation. The F1 offspring were weaned onto AIN-76A. F1 females were mated and fed AIN-76A throughout pregnancy and lactation. F1 and F2 males were killed on postnatal day 80. Hepatic PPARα and GR promoter methylation was significantly (P < 0·05) lower in the PRD group in the F1 (PPARα 8 %, GR 10 %) and F2 (PPARα 11 %, GR 8 %) generations. There were trends (P < 0·1) towards a higher expression of PPARα, GR, acyl-CoA oxidase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the F1 and F2 males, although this was significant only for PEPCK. These data show for the first time that the altered methylation of gene promoters induced in the F1 generation by maternal protein restriction during pregnancy is transmitted to the F2 generation. This may represent a mechanism for the transmission of induced phenotypes between generations.