bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of ethical obligation and self‐identity in ethical consumer choice
Authors: Shaw Deirdre , Shiu Edward 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMany variables have been proposed as additions to the theory of planned behaviour structure, and evidence exists to support the value of a measure of ethical obligation and self‐identity. Furthermore, some research has suggested that ethical obligation may serve as an antecedent to attitude as well as intention. This paper presents findings from a large scale survey that highlights the usefulness of ethical obligation and self‐identity in the prediction of intention. Additionally, the role of both these variables in the prediction of attitude is also suggested. This is examined within the ‘ethical’ context of fair trade grocery purchases. Methodological implications for further research are discussed.
The UK Food Standards Agency: putting the consumer first
Authors: Webster Jacqui 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe Food Standards Agency was set up in April 2000 to protect the health of the public and the interests of consumers in relation to food. Its principal purpose is to put the consumer first. But what does this mean in practice? The Agency is finding ways to help consumer organizations and consumer representatives contribute more effectively to its work. However, consumer organizations cannot hope to represent the full range of consumer perspectives, and so the Agency is keen to reach out to individual consumers using a variety of innovative mechanisms. This article will describe why the Agency was established and how it achieves its main objective of putting the consumer first. It will discuss how the Agency is developing and testing new ways of working to ensure that the consumer perspective is fully accounted for when developing and evaluating policies, including setting up an influential new Consumer Committee. It will go on to highlight a number of recent innovative consumer consultations and structures that have been established to involve consumers in Agency policy making. It will discuss these processes and how the lessons that have been learnt are informing future Agency strategies. The article will then describe how the Agency protects consumers through effective risk communication strategies and how its Annual Consumer Attitudes Survey will help it measure success so that it can continue to set new stand‐ards in putting consumers first in relation to food.
A comparative study of eating‐out behaviour between Japan and Korea by fuzzy regression
Authors: Tsutsumi Nobuko , Yong‐Sun Chung 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe Japanese and Korean dietary styles are the most similar in the world. The dietary changes of two Asian countries, which are concomitant with their economic growth, have also followed a similar course. Exteriorization is progressing in eating habits, which is connected with a change of lifestyle and food consciousness. The environment surrounding consumers is changing, and consumption behaviour is gradually changing too. Generally, human action depends on a subjective judgement and involves uncertainty. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the consumer's eating‐out behaviour from 1976 to 1998 by fuzzy regression, which is able to deal with a vague and uncertain phenomenon, and to show the effect of this method between the two countries. As a result, the fuzzy parameters showed fairly similar trends both in Japan and Korea. The relative price and habit‐formation effect influenced the expenditure of eating‐out directly, whereas income had an indirect influence on eating‐out expenditure. Moreover, Korean consumer behaviour had become much more vague and complicated than that in Japan.
The importance of origin as a quality attribute for beef: results from a Scottish consumer survey
Authors: Davidson Amy , Schröder Monika J.A. , Bower John A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractPerception of country of origin and purchasing habits for beef were examined for urban and rural Scottish consumers. Origin was identified as being as important as intrinsic quality cues of colour and leanness, with rural consumers giving more weight to origin than urban ones. Most consumers interpreted ‘Scotch Beef’ and ‘British Meat’ label logos as evidence that the beef animals were ‘born, raised and slaughtered in Scotland or Britain’ respectively. The logos were taken as indicators of quality and safety. Both urban and rural respondents had higher agreement levels with Scotch beef as a safer, higher quality and more expensive commodity than British meat. Rural consumers made more use of butcher shops for purchase, but both groups sought butcher beef for quality reasons and supermarket sources because of convenience.
Consumer socialization, social structural factors and decision‐making styles: a case study of adolescents in Malaysia
Authors: Kamaruddin Abdul Razak , Mokhlis Safiek 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate how the process of consumer socialization will determine adolescents’ decision‐making styles. Eight decision‐making styles were conceptualized as outcomes of the socialization process, which is acquired via interaction with socialization agents, namely parents, peers, printed media, television commercials and in‐school education. The study also proposed five social structural variables (social class, gender, ethnicity, residence and religion) as being associated with the socialization agents and decision‐making styles. The study sample consisted of 934 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 19 years. The data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire and analysed with the SPSS computer program. As a result of regression analyses, significant relationships were found between social structural factors and socialization processes, suggesting that the influence of socialization agents on adolescents may vary according to certain demographic characteristics. Significant relationships were also found between social structural factors and socialization processes. Peers appeared to be the most important agents of consumer socialization, contributing to a variety of desirable as well as undesirable consumer decision styles. Printed media and television commercials were also found to be significant sources of the acquisition of both desirable and undesirable decision‐making styles. Parents and in‐school education, however, were insignificant in the acquisition of any decision‐making styles among adolescents. Information obtained from this study could be useful to government agencies and consumer educators. The most revealing finding of this study is that parents did not contribute to the formulation of decision‐making orientation for adolescents. This points to the need for consumer educators to take steps in designing programmes that will involve parents as primary socialization agents at home; this may be facilitated via printed materials. Apart from this, the information can also be helpful in enabling marketers to be more effective in targeting various adolescent markets by formulating marketing strategies according to demographic factors, socialization process and decision‐making styles.
Edible table (bio)spread containing potentially probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species
Authors: Charteris William P , Kelly Phillip M , Morelli Lorenzo , Collins J Kevin 
Published: March 2003

A prototype of a reduced fat (60% w/w) edible table biospread, with an added viable, nongrowing, mixed‐strain and potentially probiotic culture was developed. Conventional commercial aqueous‐phase ingredient and reduced fat spread processing technologies were modified to achieve acceptable strain viability (
≥ 105 cfu/mL) during scraped‐surface heat exchange emulsion processing and biospread shelf life. The modifications consisted of:

spilt‐stream pasteurization of the aqueous and lipid phases (thereby obviating the need for in‐line pasteurization of the water‐in‐oil emulsion during processing);
reduction of the second scraped‐surface tube‐chiller A‐unit agitation rate (thereby achieving a biphasic moisture droplet size distribution in the product);
emulsification, processing and packaging under oxygen‐free nitrogen (thereby creating anaerobic conditions within the product);
employing a near‐neutral pH, multicomponent, structured, hydrocolloid‐stabilized aqueous phase.

The viability of added bifidobacteria was markedly less than that of lactobacilli, in spite of the biospread ingredient and processing modifications employed. It is advocated that further improvement of bifidobacteria viability is warranted before progressing to the validation of biological properties in vivo and making a commercial biospread available to the consumer.
A study of the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus in bovine, ovine and caprine milk
Authors: Drakoularakou Alexandra P , Kehagias C , Karakanas P N , Koulouris S , Timbis D 
Published: March 2003

The fermentation of reconstituted bovine, ovine and caprine milks with Lactobacillus acidophilus was investigated. Better growth of Lb. acidophilus was observed in ovine milk, but higher acidities developed in caprine milk. The high acidity produced after 12 h of fermentation (pH 3.9) created a hostile environment for the survival of the microorganism in caprine milk.
Health library partnership programmes between resource‐poor countries and Western Europe
Authors: Shaw Jean G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA survey of health library partnerships between the UK and northern European countries and African or eastern European countries was undertaken to complement a similar survey of 24 North American health libraries. Out of 11 partnerships described, six provided sufficient data to be included in a quantitative analysis. These results give some baseline data about such partnerships and their activities, reasons for success and problems encountered. Some libraries have little involvement other than sending duplicate books and journals; others are more deeply involved in all aspects of library activity including professional development. Good communications, both human and technological, are important for maintaining partnership momentum. Staff commitment on both sides and institutional support for the partnership are essential, especially when programmes have costs which must be met either by the institution or outside funders. The financial consequences of partnership may inhibit their initiation, but successful partnerships with demand driven programmes bring benefits to both sides.
A study of issues in administering library services to nursing studies students at Glasgow Caledonian University
Authors: Crawford John 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Glasgow Caledonian University has had a Scottish Office pre‐registration nursing and midwifery contract since 1996. Nursing studies students seemed dissatisfied with the library service and there were frequent complaints. A major study was undertaken during 2000 consisting of: an initial lis‐link enquiry, separate analysis of returns from nursing studies students of the Library’s annual general satisfaction survey (conducted every February), separate analysis of returns from nursing studies students of the Library’s opening hours planning survey, and four focus groups held in October 2000. These studies showed the concerns of nursing studies students to be similar to other students but more strongly felt. The four main issues were textbook availability, journal availability, opening hours and staff helpfulness. Working conditions, placement requirements, study requirements and domestic circumstances were all found to be important factors. IT skill levels tended to be low but there is a growing appreciation of the need for training in this area.Concluded that:

Library’s services to nursing studies students have become enmeshed with the problems of delivery and assessment of education for nurses.
Greatly extended opening hours are essential including evening opening during vacations.
The problem of access to textbooks is so severe that conventional solutions are not going to work. Programmes of core text digitization and the promotion of e‐books are needed.
Reciprocal access programmes with local hospital libraries is essential.
A first class knowledge service: developing the National electronic Library for Health
Authors: Turner Alison , Fraser Veronica , Muir Gray J. A. , Toth Ben 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWith the introduction of clinical governance and the move towards evidence‐based practice, there is a growing need to provide health professionals and patients, and the public, with high quality information. Developments in the health service have added weight and urgency to this need. The National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) has a key role to play in providing health professionals with a core knowledge base of accredited and evaluated information. The Pilot NeLH was launched in November and this article outlines the progress and achievements made during this time. The NeLH is based around a central website featuring core resources and links to commissioned specialist collections. Over 70 information resources, including bibliographic databases and full text publications, are accessible via the NeLH, which aims to act as a one‐stop shop to support evidence‐based decision‐making. Much work has been undertaken on national procurement and licensing, particularly in partnership with National Health Service (NHS) libraries. Partnerships as a whole are crucial to ensure true seamless access for health professionals. Key partners include NHS libraries, NHS Direct Online and the electronic Library for Social Care. A short glossary is included for those readers less familiar with current health service developments in the UK.
β,γ‐Methylene ATP‐induced cAMP formation in C6Bu‐1 cells: involvement of local metabolism and subsequent stimulation of adenosine A2B receptor
Authors: Ohkubo Satoko , Kumazawa Keiko , Sagawa Koji , Kimura Junko , Matsuoka Isao 
Published: March 2003

The mechanism underlying β,γ‐methylene ATP (β,γ‐MeATP)‐induced cAMP elevation was investigated in rat glioma C6Bu‐1 cells. β,γ‐MeATP increased forskolin‐stimulated cAMP formation in a manner sensitive to both the P1 antagonist xanthine amine congener (XAC) and the P2 antagonist pyridoxalphosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulfonic acid (PPADS). Adenosine deaminase (ADA; 1 U/mL), which abolished the adenosine‐induced response, did not eliminate the β,γ‐MeATP‐induced response. However, combination of ADA with α,β‐methylene ADP (α,β‐MeADP), an ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase inhibitor, blocked the β,γ‐MeATP‐induced response. AMP, the substrate for ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase, also induced cAMP formation in a manner sensitive to XAC and α,β‐MeADP inhibition. However, the AMP‐induced response was not blocked by PPADS. HPLC analyses revealed that adenosine was generated from β,γ‐MeATP and AMP. In addition, α,β‐MeADP inhibited the conversion of β,γ‐MeATP and AMP to adenosine, whereas PPADS blocked adenosine formation from β,γ‐MeATP but not from AMP. [3H]Adenosine generated from [3H]AMP was preserved on the cell surface environment even in the presence of ADA. The mRNAs for ecto‐phosphodiesterase/pyrophosphatase 1 (EC 3.1.4.1), ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) and adenosine A2B receptor were detected by RT‐PCR. These results suggest that C6Bu‐1 cells possess ecto‐enzymes converting β,γ‐MeATP to adenosine, and the locally accumulated adenosine in this mechanism efficiently stimulates A2B receptors in a manner resistant to exogenous ADA.
Interaction of α‐synuclein and synphilin‐1: effect of Parkinson's disease‐associated mutations
Authors: Kawamata Hibiki , McLean Pamela J. , Sharma Nutan , Hyman Bradley T. 
Published: March 2003

α‐Synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies, a neuropathological feature of Parkinson's disease. Two α‐synuclein mutations, Ala53Thr and Ala30Pro, are associated with early onset, familial forms of the disease. Recently, synphilin‐1, a protein found to interact with α‐synuclein by yeast two hybrid techniques, was detected in Lewy bodies. In this study we report the interaction of α‐synuclein and synphilin‐1 in human neuroglioma cells using a sensitive fluorescence resonance energy transfer technique. We demonstrate that the C‐terminus of α‐synuclein is closely associated with the C‐terminus of synphilin‐1. A weak interaction occurs between the N‐terminus of α‐synuclein and synphilin‐1. The familial Parkinson's disease associated mutations of α‐synuclein (Ala53Thr and Ala30Pro) also demonstrate a strong interaction between their C‐terminal regions and synphilin‐1. However, compared with wild‐type α‐synuclein, significantly less energy transfer occurs between the C‐terminus of Ala53Thr α‐synuclein and synphilin‐1, suggesting that the Ala53Thr mutation alters the conformation of α‐synuclein in relation to synphilin‐1.
Agonist efficacy and receptor efficiency in heterozygous CB1 knockout mice: relationship of reduced CB1 receptor density to G‐protein activation
Authors: Selley Dana E. , Rorrer W. Kirk , Breivogel Christopher S. , Zimmer Anne M. , Zimmer Andreas , Martin Billy R. , Sim‐Selley Laura J. 
Published: March 2003

Heterozygous CB1 receptor knockout mice were used to examine the effect of reduced CB1 receptor density on G‐protein activation in membranes prepared from four brain regions: cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum/globus pallidus (striatum/GP) and cingulate cortex. Results showed that CB1 receptor levels were approximately 50% lower in heterozygous mice in all regions examined. However, maximal stimulation of [35S]guanosine‐5′‐(γ‐O‐thio) triphosphate ([35S]GTPγS) binding by the high efficacy agonist WIN 55,212–2 was reduced by only 20–25% in most brain regions, with the exception of striatum/GP where the decrease in stimulation was as predicted (approximately 50%). Furthermore, although the efficacies of the cannabinoid partial agonists, methanandamide and Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol, were similarly lower in heterozygous mice, their relative efficacies compared with WIN 55,212–2 were generally unchanged. Saturation analysis of net WIN 55,212–2‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding showed that decreased stimulation by WIN 55,212–2 in striatum/GP of heterozygous mice was caused by a decrease in the apparent affinity of net‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding. The apparent maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) values of net WIN 55,212–2‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding were unchanged in cerebellum and striatum/GP of heterozygous mice, but decreased in cingulate cortex, with a similar trend in hippocampus. Moreover, in every region except cingulate cortex, the maximal number of net‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding sites per receptor was significantly increased in heterozygous mice. These results indicate region‐dependent increases in the apparent efficiency of CB1 receptor‐mediated G‐protein activation in heterozygous CB1 knockout mice.
Transgenic SOD1 G93A mice develop reduced GLT‐1 in spinal cord without alterations in cerebrospinal fluid glutamate levels
Authors: Bendotti Caterina , Tortarolo Massimo , Suchak Sachin K. , Calvaresi Novella , Carvelli Lucia , Bastone Antonio , Rizzi Massimo , Rattray Marcus , Mennini Tiziana 
Published: March 2003

Glutamate‐induced excitotoxicity is suggested to play a central role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although it is still unclear whether it represents a primary cause in the cascade leading to motor neurone death. We used western blotting, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization to examine the expression of GLT‐1 in transgenic mice carrying a mutated (G93A) human copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (TgSOD1 G93A), which closely mimic the features of ALS. We observed a progressive decrease in the immunoreactivity of the glial glutamate transporter (GLT‐1) in the ventral, but not in the dorsal, horn of lumbar spinal cord. This effect was specifically found in 14‐ and 18‐week‐old mice that had motor function impairment, motor neurone loss and reactive astrocytosis. No changes in GLT‐1 were observed at 8 weeks of age, before the appearance of clinical symptoms. Decreases in GLT‐1 were accompanied by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels and no change in the levels of GLAST, another glial glutamate transporter. The glutamate concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of TgSOD1 G93A mice was not modified at any of the time points examined, compared with age‐matched controls. These findings indicate that the loss of GLT‐1 protein in ALS mice selectively occurs in the areas affected by neurodegeneration and reactive astrocytosis and it is not associated with increases of glutamate levels in CSF. The lack of changes in GLT‐1 at the presymptomatic stage suggests that glial glutamate transporter reduction is not a primary event leading to motor neurone loss.
Overexpression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor prevents G1‐arrest and DNA fragmentation in PC12 cells after hypoxia
Authors: Utsugisawa Kimiaki , Nagane Yuriko , Obara Daiji , Tohgi Hideo 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe investigated the neuroprotective function of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) after transient hypoxia (12 h) and reoxygenation (0–72 h), comparing rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells overexpressing FLAG‐tagged α7nAChR (α7pCMV cells) and control PC12 cells (non‐transfected or transfected with vector only) in medium with and without nicotine. Plasma membrane degradation in the early phase after hypoxia was inhibited in PC12 cells with nicotine, and more profoundly in α7pCMV cells with nicotine. Inhibition of DNA fragmentation in the late phase after hypoxia was most remarkable in α7pCMV cells with nicotine, but, surprisingly, it was more remarkable in α7pCMV cells without nicotine than in PC12 cells with nicotine. G1‐arrest of the cell cycle, observed in control PC12 cells at 12 h after hypoxia, preceding DNA fragmentation, was not evident in α7pCMV cells, with or without nicotine. Furthermore, in α7pCMV cells with and without nicotine, the basal expression levels of total Akt were approximately 1.5‐fold higher, and the up‐regulation of Akt phosphorylated at Ser473 after hypoxia was strikingly enhanced, compared with control PC12 cells. These findings suggest that α7nAChR functions constitutively in PC12 cells, that its overexpression raises tolerance against G1‐arrest and DNA fragmentation after hypoxia, and that it can be considered a candidate target for treatment against hypoxia‐induced acute membrane degradation and delayed DNA fragmentation in neurons.
Adenosine inhibits calcium channel currents via A1 receptors on salamander retinal ganglion cells in a mini‐slice preparation
Authors: Sun Xiaolu , Barnes Steven , Baldridge William H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe effects of adenosine on high‐voltage‐activated calcium channel currents in tiger salamander retinal ganglion cells were investigated in a mini‐slice preparation. Adenosine produced a concentration‐dependent decrease in the amplitude of calcium channel current with a maximum inhibition of 26%. The effects of adenosine on calcium channel current were both time‐ and voltage‐dependent. In cells dialyzed with GTP‐γ‐s, adenosine caused a sustained and irreversible inhibition of calcium channel current, suggesting involvement of a GTP‐binding protein. The inhibitory effect of adenosine on calcium channel current was blocked by the A1 antagonist 8‐cyclopentyltheophylline (DPCPX, 1–10 µm), but not by the A2 antagonist 3‐7‐dimethyl‐1‐propargylxanthine (DMPX, 10 µm), and was mimicked by the A1 agonist N 6‐cyclohexyladenosine (CHA, 1 µm) but not by the A2 agonist 5′‐(N‐cyclopropyl) carbox‐amidoadenosine (CPCA, 1 µm). Adenosine's inhibition of calcium channel current was not affected by the L‐type calcium channel blocker nifedipine (5 µm). However, adenosine's inhibition of calcium channel current was reduced to approximately 10% after application of ω‐conotoxin GVIA (1 µm), suggesting that adenosine inhibits N‐type calcium channels. These results show that adenosine acts on an A1 adenosine receptor subtype via a G protein‐coupled pathway to inhibit the component of calcium channel current carried in N‐type calcium channels.