bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dry Matter and Nitrogen Distribution at Maturity of Three Rice (Oryza sativaL.) Cultivars Exposed to Ammonia at Two Growth Stages
Authors: Ashraf M. , Hussain F. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractA substantial proportion of ammonical fertilizers applied to lowland rice is lost as gaseous N from the soil–plant system. Besides various environmental factors, the low N use efficiency of flooded rice is also attributed to this factor. As atmospheric ammonia found in the leaf environment of the plants could also be responsible for differences in N use efficiency and fertilizer N losses from lowland rice, a greenhouse study was conducted on three rice cultivars varying in physio‐morphological characteristics for their dry matter and nitrogen distribution to grains at maturity in response to ammonia (NH3) exposure at tillering and anthesis growth stages. The results revealed that ammonia exposure of plants at two growth stages did not affect the total dry matter and total N yield of the rice cultivars at maturity; however, the grain yield and grain N yield were negatively effected by NH3exposure of the plants at anthesis. The variation observed in dry matter and N partitioning at maturity to grains/roots of the plants exposed to NH3at anthesis indicated that the growth stage of the plants at which they are exposed to NH3has an influence on N use efficiency of crop plants and subsequent vegetative as well as total N losses from the soil–plant system.
Changes in N Composition of Sugar Beet Varieties in Response to Increasing N Supply
Authors: Hoffmann C. M. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe soluble nitrogen (N) components in sugar beet seriously impair sugar recovery. The only N component determined routinely in the sugar factory is amino N (the sum of amino acids in the beet), which is assumed to reflect all the other N components. Amino N is affected by N supply and variety, but only little is known about the other N components such as total soluble N, betaine and nitrate. This study aimed at investigating the effect of N supply on the N composition of sugar beet varieties with special emphasis on N supply by variety interactions. In 2001 and 2002, field trials with four varieties and four N treatments were carried out at six sites in Germany. Storage root yield and the concentrations of sucrose, sodium, amino N, betaine, nitrate and total soluble N in the beet were determined. With increasing N supply, the concentration of amino N increased considerably and that of nitrate slightly, whereas that of betaine remained rather constant. Thus, the N composition of sugar beet changed with increasing N supply and the percentage of amino N of total soluble N increased. Although amino N has the closest correlation with total soluble N, for quality assessment it may overestimate the effect of N supply on other N components. Varieties clearly differed in root yield and quality as well as in all N components. The variety with the lowest amino N had the highest betaine concentration. However, as related to the concentration of total soluble N in the beet, for all varieties amino N as well as betaine showed the same response pattern. This indicates that the N composition of sugar beet is determined by the level of total soluble N, irrespective of variety or N supply. All varieties required the same N supply for obtaining maximum yield or quality. N supply did not affect the ranking of the varieties for all parameters studied, consequently it need not be considered for variety choice.
Coronin 3 and its role in murine brain morphogenesis
Authors: Hasse Andreas , Rosentreter André , Spoerl Ziqiang , Stumpf Maria , Noegel Angelika A. , Clemen Christoph S. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractCoronins belong to the fundamental WD40‐repeat proteins. They are mainly found at the submembraneous area, they bind F‐actin in vitro, and most of the seven mammalian coronins have unclear roles. Coronin 3 is abundantly expressed in the adult CNS. All murine brain areas express coronin 3 during embryogenesis and the first postnatal stages. Expression in grey matter decreases postnatally, except for hippocampal pyramidal and dentate gyrus neurons, and cerebellar Purkinje cells, while levels in white matter increase in the course of myelination. Consistently, coronin 3 is abundant in differentiating neuro‐2a and PC‐12 cells and in primary oligodendrocytes. Treatment with PKC activator PMA reduced coronin 3 protein levels. To address its functions, neuro‐2a and PC‐12 cells were transfected with GFP‐tagged coronin 3 versions. Full‐length coronin 3 among other areas localized to outgrowing neurites, whereas truncated proteins efficiently suppressed neurite formation. Our results favour a role for coronin 3 in neuron morphogenesis and possibly migration.
Indirect phosphorylation‐dependent modulation of postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine responses by 5‐hydroxytryptamine
Authors: Butt S. J. B. , Pitman R. M. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractIonotropic nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors have been shown to be modulated by protein kinase‐mediated phosphorylation in vitro. Here we demonstrate that 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) can downregulate postsynaptic nicotinic ACh responses, elicited in an identified arthropod motoneuron in situ, by a mechanism dependent on protein kinase activity. Serotonergic modulation can be mimicked by perfusion with membrane‐permeable analogues of either adenine (cAMP) or guanine (cGMP) cyclic nucleotides, and is prolonged in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Furthermore, suppression of the ACh response by 5‐HT is blocked by specific competitive inhibitors of protein kinase A and G, as well as the broad specificity protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine. The protein phosphatase inhibitor cantharidin similarly blocks recovery of the ACh response from suppression mediated by 5‐HT. Thus, it appears that the nicotinic ACh response is modulated by a cAMP‐mediated phosphorylation‐dependent intracellular signalling pathway that is distinct from the direct block of mammalian nicotinic ACh receptors by 5‐HT previously reported in vitro.
Chronic stress in the adult dentate gyrus reduces cell proliferation near the vasculature and VEGF and Flk‐1 protein expression
Authors: Heine Vivi M. , Zareno Jessica , Maslam Suharti , Joëls Marian , Lucassen Paul J. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractRecent evidence has shown that cell proliferation in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus occurs in tight clusters located near the vasculature. Also, changes in neurogenesis often appear parallel to changes in angiogenesis. Moreover, both these processes share similar modulating factors, like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor Flk‐1. In an earlier study we found that chronic stress decreased new cell proliferation in the adult dentate gyrus. We here questioned whether these effects of chronic stress are mediated through the vasculature and whether they involve an angiogenic‐signaling pathway. We therefore measured the surface area covered by the vasculature, the proportion of vascular‐associated newborn cells, and analysed VEGF and Flk‐1 protein expression in the hippocampus of a control, chronically stressed and recovery group of rats. Our results show that 32% of the proliferating cells in the rat hippocampus is vascular associated. Chronic stress affected this population of newborn cells to a significantly larger extent than the non‐associated cells. Interestingly, after 3 weeks of recovery, the decreased proliferation not associated with the vasculature was more effectively restored than vascular‐associated proportion of proliferating cells. VEGF protein was expressed in high densities in GFAP‐positive astrocytes located in the hilus, with VEGF‐positive end feet extending into and often contacting the granule cells. After chronic stress, both VEGF and Flk‐1 protein levels were significantly decreased in the granular cell layer, and again recovered after 3 weeks. This demonstrates that changes in angiogenic factors are implicated in the decreased adult proliferation found after chronic stress.
Soluble guanylyl cyclase appears in a specific subset of periglomerular cells in the olfactory bulb
Authors: Gutièrrez‐Mecinas Maria , Crespo Carlos , Blasco‐Ibáñez José Miguel , Gracia‐Llanes Francisco Javier , Marqués‐Marí Ana Isabel , Martínez‐Guijarro Francisco José 
Published: March 2005

AbstractIn the brain, nitric oxide acts as an atypical messenger in cellular nonsynaptic transmission. In the olfactory bulb, this gas is produced at the level of the olfactory glomeruli by a subpopulation of periglomerular cells that participates in the first synaptic relay of the olfactory information between the olfactory nerve and the dendritic tufts of principal cells. It has been proposed that nitric oxide modulates intraglomerular synaptic integration of sensory inputs, but its specific role in the glomerular circuitry remains to be understood. In this article, we demonstrate that, in the glomerular circuits, a specific subset of periglomerular cells, most of them expressing the calcium binding protein calbindin D‐28 k, expresses the β1 subunit of the soluble guanylyl cyclase. These cells could be the targets for the action of nitric oxide at the glomerular level via activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and production of cGMP.
Altered Fos expression in neural pathways underlying cue‐elicited drug seeking in the rat
Authors: Miller Courtney A. , Marshall John F. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractCocaine treatment paired with environmental cues establishes a conditioned place preference for that environment. Following expression of this preference, rats show elevated levels of immediate early genes (e.g. c‐fos) in the prelimbic cortex (PrL), basolateral amygdala complex (BLC) and nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) compared to drug‐unpaired controls. The PrL and BLC are reciprocally connected and both project to the NAcc. Together with the immediate early gene findings, these connections suggest the regions interact as a circuit contributing to cue‐elicited drug seeking. To study this circuit, we iontophoresed Fluorogold (FG) into one brain region and assessed colocalization of FG with place preference‐induced Fos in the others. Following FG iontophoresis in either the PrL or NAcc, more BLC cells double‐labelled for Fos and FG were found in drug‐paired than unpaired animals. Following FG iontophoresis in either the BLC or NAcc, no differences were found in the absolute number of PrL Fos/FG cells. This pattern of colocalization suggests that exposure to cocaine‐associated cues leads to greater activation of the BLC's efferents to both the PrL and NAcc, while PrL output to the NAcc and BLC is unaffected in IEG expression. These results complement recent findings that suggested attenuated PrL output during place preference expression. Our findings support the view that the BLC, rather than the PrL, provides significant excitatory driving to the NAcc during cue‐elicited drug seeking.
Use of combined intracorporal injection and a phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitor therapy for men with a suboptimal response to sildenafil and/or vardenafil monotherapy after radical retropubic prostatectomy
Authors: Mydlo Jack H. , Viterbo Rosalia , Crispen Paul 
Published: March 2005

Associate EditorMichael G. WyllieEditorial BoardIan Eardley, UKJean Fourcroy, USASidney Glina, BrazilJulia Heiman, USAChris McMahon, AustraliaBob Millar, UKAlvaro Morales, CanadaMichael Perelman, USAMarcel Waldinger, NetherlandsOBJECTIVETo report experience with combined therapy using intracorporal injection (ICI) of alprostadil and oral phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE‐5) inhibitors for the minimally invasive treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) after radical prostatectomy (RP), as PDE‐5 inhibitors are effective but a few patients may have a suboptimal response.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn a retrospective study, 34 men (aged 46–66 years) had a nerve‐sparing retropubic RP and subsequent ED. Patients were titrated on sildenafil citrate or vardenafil to maximum doses. All had a suboptimal response after a maximum of eight doses of oral therapy and were then treated with ICI therapy using 15 or 20 µg alprostadil. Erectile function was assessed with the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM).RESULTSOf the 32 patients who continued combined therapy, 22 (68%) had an improvement in erectile function after ICI therapy, as assessed by the SHIM score. On follow‐up, 36% of these patients used ICI therapy only intermittently, instead of regularly, as they felt that this was adequate enough for good results.CONCLUSIONSPDE‐5 oral pharmacotherapy is the most commonly used effective therapy for ED but may not be as effective in patients who have radical surgery; the addition of testosterone patches may have side‐effects or be considered a risk in patients with a history of prostate cancer. The use of ICI therapy as an adjunct or maintenance therapy to their oral medication may be another alternative in these patients.
Generic Strategies and Business Performance: an Empirical Study of the Screw Machine Products Industry
Authors: Wright Peter , Kroll Mark , Tu Howard , Helms Marilyn 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYSelect businesses in industry may attempt to compete through distinct strategies. But some may be successful in adopting distinct strategic profiles while others may not prove successful. In this study it was expected that six different groups of businesses might be present in the empirical exploration – those competing successfully with the low cost strategy and those competing unsuccessfully with this strategy; those competing successfully with the differentiation strategy and those competing unsuccessfully with this strategy; and those competing successfully with low cost and differentiation strategies and those competing unsuccessfully with these strategies. The results of the investigation portray the presence of three strategic profiles. They are unsuccessful low cost businesses with the lowest performance, unsuccessful differentiated businesses with the second lowest performance, and successful businesses with combination strategies with the highest performance.
Organizational Behaviour and National Cultures
Authors: Smith Peter B. 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYA survey is presented of the degree to which organizational behaviour is found to vary between national cultures. The conceptual framework provided by Hofstede (1980) is used to interpret many of the differences reported. Aspects of organizational behaviour which are examined include classifications of managerial values by national culture, organizational structure, leadership behaviour, negotiation processes and human resource management policies. Some of the implications of the differences found for multicultural management, for career development and for training programmes are then explored. It is concluded that there is an increasing need to prepare managers for multicultural experience and to ensure that evaluations of selection, training and career planning are more firmly grounded than is apparent from the present literature.
A Review of the Contemporary Transfer Pricing Literature with Recommendations for Future Research
Authors: McAulay L. , Tomkins C. R. 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYA transfer price is a value placed on the goods or services which are traded between divisions of an organization. This paper attempts to make the subject of transfer pricing accessible to researchers and others interested in managerial problems so that a very real managerial problem can be studied in a broader managerial context. The not insubstantial literature that has grown up in the transfer pricing area is reviewed and, in particular, a critical evaluation of recent writings in the field is provided. It is shown that little which is unequivocal is known about transfer pricing and that the choices made by managers with regard to transfer pricing are little understood, both with regard to the factors which drive choice and the differences between choice in practice and theoretical interpretations. It is suggested that progress in the area will require a richer understanding of the realities confronting practising managers. Research by means of field studies, particularly case studies, is recommended to provide this. A series of hypotheses and issues, representing the dilemmas facing managers, is provided as a theoretical grounding for such research.
Patterns of Strategic Change in the Development of Human Resource Management
Authors: Hendry Chris , Pettigrew Andrew 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYIn addition to being characterized by the consistency of employment decisions one with another and their alignment with business strategy, human resource management (HRM) has also been deeply involved in the reshaping of organization structures in the 1980s, under conditions of increased external and internal complexity, and in managing other aspects of strategic change. These have contributed to the distinctive character of HRM and the shift away from a style of personnel management focused on administration and industrial relations. This evolution is explored through the concept of life‐cycle change in a sample of ten firms that underwent major transformation during the 1980s.
Outcome‐related Performance Indicators and Organizational Control in the Public Sector1
Authors: Smith Peter 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYThere is increased interest in the widespread dissemination of outcome performance data to secure enhanced strategic control of public sector organizations. This paper adumbrates the rationale for such schemes, and outlines the potential distortions induced by excessive reliance on outcome‐related performance indicators, inferred from experience in the management control and Soviet literature. The paper gives an outline of the performance review process in the United Kingdom National Health Service, and presents the results of a case study of the impact of the publication of outcome performance data in the maternity services. The research detected many of the expected distortions arising from reliance on performance indicator schemes, and concludes that they may have significant dysfunctional consequences. The paper does not however advocate the abandonment of performance audit in the public sector. Instead, it warns that great attention should be given to the managerial incentives implicit in any strategic control scheme, and that the style with which the scheme is applied will have important bearings on its effectiveness.
Decision Making, Risk and Gender: Are Managers Different?
Authors: Johnson J.E.V. , Powell P.L. 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYThis paper explores differences in the nature of decisions taken by males and females. Women are playing an increasingly important role in business management and managers are ultimately tested and evaluated in terms of their success in making decisions. Consequently any difference in the character and quality of decisions taken by male and female managers will have important implications for organizations. This paper reviews the literature, and reports two pieces of empirical work which investigate the connections between gender and decision making. The decision‐making characteristics of males and females in a ‘non‐managerial’ population in which the majority of individuals have not undergone formal management education are contrasted with a ‘managerial’ population of potential and actual managers who have undertaken such education. It is argued that women are often excluded from managerial positions of authority and leadership due to stereotypes, which have been constructed by observing ‘non‐managerial’ populations at large. The paper concludes, however, that these stereotypes may not apply to managers as in the ‘managerial’ sub‐population males and females display similar risk propensity and make decisions of equal quality.
What is Management? An Outline of a Metatheory
Authors: Tsoukas Haridimos 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYDrawing on a realist ontology and epistemology, a metatheory of management is outlined in this paper as a way of (a) redescribing the nature of management, and (b) delineating the scope of application of various perspectives on management. Four perspectives are briefly reviewed, and the claim is put forward that each one of them deals with issues arising at a different ontological layer of management. Management is shown to consist of four layers with each one exhibiting its own characteristics and dynamics. Deeper theoretical descriptions penetrate deeper into the nature of management and capture new layers. The metatheoretical outline proposed here moves beyond the ‘either/or’ polarization that management literature has exhibited so far, namely conceiving management either as a collective institutional necessity or as a set of individual practices. Indeed, it is argued that management is both of these things plus a few more, and that an appreciation of its nature is possible within a realist ontology and epistemology.
Managing, Crafting and Researching: Words, Skill and Imagination in Shaping Management Research
Authors: Watson Tony J. 
Published: March 2005

SUMMARYA playful approach to words like management and managing is a valuable way of loosening the imagination of the management research craft worker. The researcher should work within a concept of craft which involves producing useful and aesthetically pleasing work which is identifiable as coming from the hand of the individual craft worker. The research should be crafted in a reflexive style which reveals the researcher's own hand in ‘shaping’ the reality which it presents. A‘what, why and how?’ model of research design can be used to prompt researchers, in shaping their project, continually to ask questions of what the key issues are that are being tackled, why the work can be justified as a contribution knowledge and how it will be carried out in terms, first, of the concepts to be used and, second, of the investigative methods to be deployed. The model is illustrated with the case of a participant observation piece of management research which was carried out in a company using observation and informal dialogues as well as formal interviews. The project examines how management can be seen as a craft in which managers simultaneously shape their work organizations and their own lives and identities.
Modernization Programs in Perspective: Institutional Analysis of Organizational Change
Authors: OLSEN JOHAN P. 
Published: March 2005

Contemporary reform programs give students of comparative public administration a new chance to update their theoretical ideas about organization and organizing. Do forms of government and political institution matter? If so, what are the effects of different organizational forms? Why do we have the institutional forms we have? How can we explain their origins, persistence and development?This article explores the possible value of organization theory for the study of comprehensive administration reform. An attempt is made to specify how modernization efforts may be affected by properties of existing institutions. It is argued that contemporary modernization programs are based on an instrumental view of organizational decision‐making and change. An institutional perspective is then outlined.