bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulator‐Required Corporate Compliance Program Audits
Authors: Parker Christine 
Published: December 2003

This paper critically examines the ability of compliance program audits to provide adequate assurance of compliance system performance. The empirical evidence comes from the use of compliance program audits in monitoring compliance with enforceable undertakings agreed upon between companies (that have allegedly breached the law) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The evidence suggests that the primary value of compliance program audits in this context is as a management review that induces better compliance. Nevertheless, it may be the formal regulatory expectation of verification (and the belief that it is possible) that gives the compliance review its power to encourage management to listen and respond to auditors’ recommendations for improvement.The danger is that the review aspect of the audit will be captured by management concerns. This is evident in a tendency for the audit methodology to focus on management systems at the expense of forensic investigation of harm done (or likely to be done) to consumers and investors, and in a failure to seek out public opinion and input. This style of audit undermines the basic regulatory objective of democratic accountability for corporate responsibility. I conclude by using the literature on critical social audits to show that there is, nonetheless, significant potential for compliance program audits to open corporate management to democracy, and to make some suggestions as to how this might be possible.
Full recovery following delayed neurologic signs after smoke inhalation in a dog
Authors: Mariani Christopher L. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractObjective: To report a dog experiencing full recovery after delayed neurological sequelae secondary to smoke inhalation, and to review the related literature.Case summary: A 1‐year‐old Australian shepherd dog was found unconscious in a house fire. Although recovery after initial therapy was reportedly complete, the dog's condition acutely worsened 4 days later and progressed to stupor and non‐ambulatory tetraparesis with subsequent pneumonia. Therapy was successful, and the dog regained full neurologic function after approximately one week.New or unique information provided: Delayed neurologic sequelae may occur in dogs after smoke inhalation (and presumably carbon monoxide) injury. Neurologic recovery can be complete and sustained, even with severe central nervous system dysfunction.
Acute pancreatitis in dogs
Authors: Holm Jennifer L. , Chan Daniel L. , Rozanski Elizabeth A. 
Published: December 2003

AbstractObjective:To summarize current information regarding severity assessment, diagnostic imaging, and treatment of human and canine acute pancreatitis (AP).Human‐based studies:In humans, scoring systems, advanced imaging methods, and serum markers are used to assess the severity of disease, which allows for optimization of patient management. The extent of pancreatic necrosis and the presence of infected pancreatic necrosis are the most important factors determining the development of multiple organ failure (MOF) and subsequent mortality. Considerable research efforts have focused on the development of inexpensive, easy, and reliable laboratory markers to assess disease severity as early as possible in the course of the disease. The use of prophylactic antibiotics, enteral nutrition, and surgery have been shown to be beneficial in certain patient populations.Veterinary‐based studies:The majority of what is currently known about naturally occurring canine AP has been derived from retrospective evaluations. The identification and development of inexpensive and reliable detection kits of key laboratory markers in dogs with AP could dramatically improve our ability to prognosticate and identify patient populations likely to benefit from treatment interventions. Treatment remains largely supportive and future studies evaluating the efficacy of surgery, nutritional support and other treatment modalities are warranted.Data sources:Current human and veterinary literature.Conclusions:Pancreatitis can lead to a life‐threatening severe systemic inflammatory condition, resulting in MOF and death in both humans and dogs. Given the similarities in the pathophysiology of AP in both humans and dogs, novel concepts used to assess severity and treat people with AP may be applicable to dogs.
Cross‐sectional study of oral mucosal conditions among a central Amazonian Indian community, Brazil
Authors: Dos Santos Paulo José Benevides , Bessa Carolina Ferreira Navarro , De Aguiar Maria Cássia Ferreira , Do Carmo Maria Auxiliadora Vieira 
Published: December 2003

Background:  A cross‐sectional study on the oral mucosal conditions among the Waimiri Atroari Indians from central Amazonia, Brazil, has been conducted. These Indians keep their traditional way of life and are free from habits such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and use of pacifiers.Methods:  Clinical examinations of a representative, randomly selected sample of patients during routine dental treatment, following ethical procedures recommended by Brazilian laws were made.Results:  Out of 922 individuals, 587 were examined, among which 52.57% of the children up to 12 years old and 73.44% of patients aged 13 years or older presented at least one oral mucosal condition. The conditions more frequently observed were, in decreasing order of prevalence: fissured tongue, focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), lesions of traumatic origin, geographic tongue, Fordyce's spots, and candidiasis. Only one case of leukoplakia was identified.Conclusions:  Conditions observed among theses Indians were essentially the same that have been described in other populations around the world, except for FEH, which, as a characteristic lesion of Indians, had high prevalence (20.95%). The lesions observed were related to the way of life of this specific population.
MEK inhibition enhances bleomycin A5‐induced apoptosis in an oral cancer cell line: signaling mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Yang Li‐Chiu , Yang Shyh‐Hwang , Tai Kuo‐Wei , Chou Ming‐Yung , Yang Jaw‐Ji 
Published: December 2003

Background:  Bleomycin A5 is an anti‐neoplastic glycoprotein antibiotic used for the treatment of various cancers. Previous work has shown that bleomycin A5 exerts its apoptotic effects on tumor cells. This was to study the signal transduction pathways that might exert the apoptotic effects of bleomycin A5 on tumor cells, as well as to examine the possibility of lower dosing of such drug in combinative treatment with other compounds in vitro.Methods:  Bleomycin A5 was applied on a human oral epidermoid carcinoma cell line, human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB), and the apoptotic activity was determined by the presence of DNA fragmentation and 4,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) nuclear staining. The signal transduction pathway was measured through Western blotting and in vitro kinase assay.Results:  The apoptotic effect was associated with the sustained activation of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNK) and the inhibition of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases1 (ERK1) and ‐2 activities, suggesting that JNK plays a positive role in the death process. ERK1 and ‐2 might exert a protection pathway from cell death. Here, it was determined that a combination treatment of bleomycin A5 and the MAP kinase‐ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, PD98059, could lead to enhanced apoptosis. The activities of ERK1 and ‐2 are required for cell survival signaling using stable cell clones expressing MEK1. Upon bleomycin A5 treatment, cells expressing MEK1 exhibited significant delays in the onset of apoptosis, where the presence of MEK1 inhibitor enhanced cell death. Moreover, the increased activity of ERK1 and ‐2 coincided with cell survival. The survival signals exerted by MEK1 most likely result from the activation of ERK1 and ‐2.Conclusions:  The apoptosis enhancement through such combinative treatment in vitro has revealed new therapeutic opportunities and elucidated mechanisms contributing to the efficacy of existing anti‐cancer treatments.
Cell death and cell proliferation in the regeneration of atrophied rat submandibular glands after duct ligation
Authors: Takahashi S. , Shinzato K. , Nakamura S. , Domon T. , Yamamoto T. , Wakita M. 
Published: December 2003

Background:  The present study aimed to clarify the proliferation and apoptosis of parenchymal cells during regeneration of rat submandibular glands following atrophy.Methods:  Atrophy of the right submandibular gland of rats was induced by excretory duct ligation at the hilum with metal clips, which were removed 1 week (day 0) after ligation. The right submandibular glands were collected from 0 to 14 days after removal of the clips and investigated using immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a marker of proliferating cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)‐mediated dUTP‐digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) as a marker of apoptotic cells, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results:  After 1 week of ligation, there were many remaining ducts and a few acini in the atrophic glands. At day 3 after discontinuing the ligation, newly formed acini appeared and thereafter increased in number and maturity. Many residual and newly formed acinar cells showed positive reaction to PCNA especially at days 4 and 5. The PCNA‐positive duct cells decreased in number with the regeneration. A few TUNEL‐positive acinar and duct cells were identified during regeneration. Mitosis and apoptosis of parenchymal cells were also identified by TEM.Conclusions:  During regeneration of the submandibular gland after atrophy, both residual and newly formed acinar cells proliferate actively. There is also apoptosis of parenchymal cells; however, the significance of apoptosis is low.
The Expression of Sterigmatocystin and Penicillin Genes in
Aspergillus nidulans
Is Controlled by
veA
, a Gene Required for Sexual Development
Authors: Kato Naoki , Brooks Wilhelmina , Calvo Ana M. 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACT

Secondary metabolism is commonly associated with morphological development in microorganisms, including fungi. We found that
veA
, a gene previously shown to control the
Aspergillus nidulans
sexual/asexual developmental ratio in response to light, also controls secondary metabolism. Specifically,
veA
regulates the expression of genes implicated in the synthesis of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin and the antibiotic penicillin.
veA
is necessary for the expression of the transcription factor
aflR
, which activates the gene cluster that leads to the production of sterigmatocystin.
veA
is also necessary for penicillin production. Our results indicated that although
veA
represses the transcription of the isopenicillin synthetase gene
ipnA
, it is necessary for the expression of
acvA
, the key gene in the first step of penicillin biosynthesis, encoding the delta-(
l
-alpha-aminoadipyl)-
l
-cysteinyl-
d
-valine synthetase. With respect to the mechanism of
veA
in directing morphological development,
veA
has little effect on the expression of the known sexual transcription factors
nsdD
and
steA
. However, we found that
veA
regulates the expression of the asexual transcription factor
brlA
by modulating the α/β transcript ratio that controls conidiation.
Cysteine Proteases and Cell Differentiation: Excystment of the Ciliated Protist
Sterkiella histriomuscorum
Authors: Villalobo Eduardo , Moch Clara , Fryd-Versavel Ghislaine , Fleury-Aubusson Anne , Morin Loïc 
Published: December 2003

ABSTRACT

The process of excystment of
Sterkiella histriomuscorum
(Ciliophora, Oxytrichidae) leads in a few hours, through a massive influx of water and the resorption of the cyst wall, from an undifferentiated resting cyst to a highly differentiated and dividing vegetative cell. While studying the nature of the genes involved in this process, we isolated three different cysteine proteases genes, namely, a cathepsin B gene, a cathepsin L-like gene, and a calpain-like gene. Excystation was selectively inhibited at a precise differentiating stage by cysteine proteases inhibitors, suggesting that these proteins are specifically required during the excystment process. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments showed that both genes display differential expression between the cyst and the vegetative cells. A phylogenetic analysis showed for the first time that the cathepsin B tree is paraphyletic and that the diverging
S. histriomuscorum
cathepsin B is closely related to its
Giardia
homologues, which take part in the cyst wall breakdown process. The deduced cathepsin L-like protein sequence displays the structural signatures and phylogenetic relationships of cathepsin H, a protein that is known only in plants and animals and that is involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix components in cancer diseases. The deduced calpain-like protein sequence does not display the calcium-binding domain of conventional calpains; it belongs to a diverging phylogenetic cluster that includes
Aspergillus
palB, a protein which is involved in a signal transduction pathway that is sensitive to ambient pH.
Antennal movements reveal associative learning in the American cockroachPeriplaneta americana
Authors: Lent David D. , Kwon Hyung-Wook 
Published: December 2003

SUMMARYUsing antennal movements as an indicator of learning and retention, an associative learning paradigm has been developed to investigate associative memory between visual and olfactory stimuli. Experiments were performed on the restrained cockroach Periplaneta americana, which normally moves its antennae towards a localized odor source. Such `antennal projection responses'(APRs) are exploited to demonstrate long-term memory, where an APR is elicited by a conditioned stimulus (CS; green light point source) paired with a spatially coincident odor [the unconditioned stimulus (US)]. Association of the CS with the US is established after five trials. Before training, a visual cue alone does not elicit an APR. This behavior is elicited by a visual cue only after pairing it with an odor stimulus. The acquired APR to the green light cue persists for up to 72 h, indicative of long-term memory. This paradigm is thus suitable for future studies of neural correlates of learning and memory on restrained animals.
α-Adrenergic regulation of systemic peripheral resistance and blood flow distribution in the turtleTrachemys scriptaduring anoxic submergence at 5°C and 21°C
Authors: Stecyk J. A. W. , Overgaard J. , Farrell A. P. , Wang T. 
Published: December 2003

SUMMARYAnoxic exposure in the anoxia-tolerant freshwater turtle is attended by substantial decreases in heart rate and blood flows, but systemic blood pressure (Psys) only decreases marginally due to an increase in systemic peripheral resistance (Rsys). Here,we investigate the role of the α-adrenergic system in modulating Rsys during anoxia at 5°C and 21°C in the turtle Trachemys scripta, and also describe how anoxia affects relative systemic blood flow distribution(%Q̇sys) and absolute tissue blood flows. Turtles were instrumented with an arterial cannula for measurement of Psys and ultrasonic flow probes on major systemic blood vessels for determination of systemic cardiac output(Q̇sys). α-Adrenergic tone was assessed from vascular injections of α-adrenergic agonists and antagonists (phenylephrine and phentolamine, respectively) during normoxia and following either 6 h (21°C) or 12 days (5°C) of anoxic submergence. Coloured microspheres, injected through a left atrial cannula during normoxia and anoxia, as well as after α-adrenergic stimulation and blockade during anoxia at both temperatures, were used to determine relative and absolute tissue blood flows.Anoxia was associated with an increased Rsys and functional α-adrenergic vasoactivity at both acclimation temperatures. However, while anoxia at 21°C was associated with a high systemicα-adrenergic tone, the progressive increase of Rsysat 5°C was not mediated by α-adrenergic control. A redistribution of blood flow away from ancillary vascular beds towards more vital circulations occurred with anoxia at both acclimation temperatures.%Q̇sys and absolute blood flow were reduced to the digestive and urogenital tissues (approximately 2- to 15-fold), while %Q̇sys and absolute blood flows to the heart and brain were maintained at normoxic levels. The importance of liver and muscle glycogen stores in fueling anaerobic metabolism were indicated by increases in%Q̇sys to the muscle at 21°C (1.3-fold) and liver at 5°C (1.7-fold). As well, the crucial importance of the turtle shell as a buffer reserve during anoxic submergence was indicated by 40-50% of Q̇sys being directed towards the shell during anoxia at both 5°C and 21°C. α-Adrenergic stimulation and blockade during anoxia caused few changes in%Q̇sys and absolute tissue blood flow. However, there was evidence of α-adrenergic vasoactivity contributing to blood flow regulation to the liver and shell during anoxic submergence at 5°C.
Seasonality of the red blood cell stress response in rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Koldkjær P. , Pottinger T. G. , Perry S. F. , Cossins A. R. 
Published: December 2003

SUMMARYThe β-adrenergic stress response in red blood cells (RBCs) of rainbow trout shows seasonal changes in expression. We have explored the mechanisms underpinning this response by following, over a period of 27 months, changes in β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) binding characteristics,β-adrenergically stimulated RBC Na+/H+ exchanger(βNHE) activity, together with β-AR and βNHE mRNA levels and plasma steroid hormone and lactate levels. These parameters were measured at approximately monthly intervals in a single population of fish held under semi-natural conditions. Membrane-bound, high-affinity β-ARs were present in RBCs at all sampling times, varying from 668±112 receptors cell-1 to 2654±882 receptors cell-1 (mean± s.e.m.; N=8). βNHE activity, however, was reduced by 57% and 34% in December 1999 and February 2001, respectively,compared with an otherwise sustained influx that averaged 110.4±2.3 mmol l-1 RBCs h-1 (N=119). Only one reduction coincided with a spawning period but both were preceded by transient increases in circulating testosterone. βNHE activity measured under standard conditions was not correlated with the number or affinity of β-ARs nor with water temperature, but both β-AR numbers and βNHE activity were positively related to their respective mRNA levels (P=0.005 and 0.038, respectively). Pharmaceutical intervention in the transduction cascade linking the β-AR and βNHE failed to indicate any failure of the transduction elements in RBCs displaying low βNHE activity. Similarly, we failed to demonstrate any link between seasonal cortisol fluctuations and seasonally reduced βNHE activity. However, the βNHE activity of age-separated RBC fractions showed that younger RBCs had a significantly higher βNHE response than older RBCs, consistent with the seasonal reductions in βNHE being linked to turnover of RBCs and erythropoiesis. Testosterone is known to induce erythropoiesis and we conclude that seasonal reductions in βNHE are not caused by changes in β-AR numbers but may be linked to testosterone-induced erythropoiesis.
Acclimation of sperm motility apparatus in seawater-acclimated euryhaline tilapiaOreochromis mossambicus
Authors: Morita Masaya , Takemura Akihiro , Okuno Makoto 
Published: December 2003

SUMMARYEuryhaline tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus can reproduce in freshwater and in seawater. Regulation of sperm motility appears to be modulated during acclimation of the fish from freshwater to seawater, being independent of extracellular Ca2+ in freshwater and dependent on extracellular Ca2+ in seawater. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, sperm of seawater-acclimated tilapia (SWT) showed motility even in a hypertonic environment, whereas sperm of freshwater-acclimated tilapia (FWT) were not motile. The Ca2+ indicator, fluo-3, revealed that intracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, of SWT sperm increased only in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ in hypotonic or hypertonic conditions. Since the increased [Ca2+]i in FWT sperm occurred under hypotonic conditions via intracellular Ca2+ stores, it is likely that tilapia modulate their source of increasing [Ca2+]i from intracellular stores (in FWT sperm) to extracellular stores (in SWT sperm). Experiments using demembranated sperm revealed that Ca2+ is necessary for activation of motility,suggesting that Ca2+ plays a key role in motility regulation in SWT sperm. We detected three phosphoproteins associated with the activation of sperm motility. Serine and threonine residues of two proteins of 15 kDa and 18 kDa became dephosphorylated in hypotonic conditions but remained phosphorylated in hypertonic conditions, suggesting that these protein phosphorylations were not only related to motility activation under hypertonic conditions but also resistant to osmotic pressure. The threonine residue(s) of a 41 kDa protein was also phosphorylated in dry sperm, even in FWT sperm in motility-feasible hypotonic conditions. It is likely that acclimation of the motility apparatus is associated with modulation of the flow of Ca2+ to increase [Ca2+]i and protein phosphorylation.
Seasonal metabolic depression, substrate utilisation and changes in scaling patterns during the first year cycle of tegu lizards (Tupinambis merianae)
Authors: de Souza Silvia Cristina R. , de Carvalho José Eduardo , Abe Augusto S. , Bicudo José Eduardo P. W. , Bianconcini Marilene S. C. 
Published: December 2003

SUMMARYThe tegus increase in body mass after hatching until early autumn, when the energy intake becomes gradually reduced. Resting rates of oxygen consumption in winter drop to 20% of the values in the active season(V̇O2=0.0636 ml g-1 h-1) and are nearly temperature insensitive over the range of 17-25°C (Q10=1.55). During dormancy, plasma glucose levels are 60% lower than those in active animals, while total protein, total lipids and β-hydroxybutyrate are elevated by 24%, 43% and 113%,respectively. In addition, a significant depletion of liver carbohydrate (50%)and of fat deposited in the visceral fat bodies (24%) and in the tail (25%)and a slight loss of skeletal muscle protein (14%) were measured halfway through the inactive period. Otherwise, glycogen content is increased 4-fold in the brain and 2.3-fold in the heart of dormant lizards, declining by the onset of arousal. During early arousal, the young tegus are still anorexic,although V̇O2 is significantly greater than winter rates. The fat deposits analysed are further reduced (62% and 45%, respectively) and there is a large decrease in tail muscle protein (50%) together with a significant increase in glycogen(2-3-fold) and an increase in plasma glucose (40%), which suggests a role for gluconeogenesis as a supplementary energy source in arousing animals. No change is detectable in citrate synthase activity, but β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase activities are strongly affected by season, reaching a 3-fold and 5-fold increase in the liver tissue of winter and arousing animals,respectively, and becoming reduced by half in skeletal muscle and heart of winter animals compared with late fall or spring active individuals. From hatching to late autumn, the increase of the fat body mass relatively to body mass is disproportionate (b=1.44), and the mass exponent changes significantly to close to 1.0 during the fasting period. The concomitant shift in the V̇O2 mass exponent in early autumn (b=0.75) to values significantly greater than 1.0 in late autumn and during winter dormancy indicates an allometric effect on the degree of metabolic depression related to the size of the fat stores and suggests greater energy conservation in the smaller young.