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Selected AbstractsGenetic differences in omega-gliadins involved in two different immediate food hypersensitivities to wheatALLERGY, Issue 8 2007M. Laurière Background:, Anti-gliadin IgE are expressed in patients with food allergy associated to skin immediate hypersensitivity to hydrolyzed wheat proteins (IHHWP). It is not known if they react with ,5-gliadins, the major allergens in wheat dependant exercise-induced food anaphylaxis (WDEIA), encoded on wheat chromosomes 1B. Methods:, Unmodified gliadins from 14 wheat varieties expressing most of the 1B ,-gliadin alleles, were immunoprobed after SDS-PAGE and blotting, with four sera from patients with IHHWP, and two with WDEIA. Gliadins reacting with IgE were visualized using chemiluminescence and identified according to their mobility and typical SDS-PAGE pattern. The resulting signal was also measured to compare their IgE reactivity. Results:, IHHWP and WDEIA sera exhibited distinct patterns of reactivity. IgE of patients with IHHWP reacted mainly with all ,-gliadins alleles and one ,-gliadin encoded respectively on chromosomes 1D and 1B, but not with any ,5-gliadins alleles as for WDEIA. A few other reactive alleles of ,-gliadins were encoded on chromosomes 1A. Unassigned additional bands of the whole gliadin pattern were also reactive. The four patients with IHHWP exhibited almost the same pattern of reactivity. Main differences concerned band reactivity which modulated the overall reactivity of each wheat variety. Conclusions:, The IgE epitopes involved in IHHWP and WDEIA are different. This suggests that the protein state and the route of exposure to very similar gluten structures, probably orientate the pattern of epitope reactivity and the wheat food allergy manifestations. [source] Localization of nAChR subunit mRNAs in the brain of Macaca mulattaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 10 2000Zhi-Yan Han Abstract We present here a systematic mapping of nAChR subunit mRNAs in Macaca mulatta brain. A fragment, from the transmembrane segments MIII to MIV of Macaca neuronal nAChR subunits was cloned, and shown to exhibit high identity (around 95%) to the corresponding human subunits. Then, specific oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized for in situ hybridization experiments. Both ,4 and ,2 mRNA signals were widely distributed in the brain, being stronger in the thalamus and in the dopaminergic cells of the mesencephalon. Most brain nuclei displayed both ,4 and ,2 signals with the exception of some basal ganglia regions and the reticular thalamic nucleus which were devoid of ,4 signal. ,6 and ,3 mRNA signals were selectively concentrated in the substantia nigra and the medial habenula. The strongest signals for ,3 or ,4 mRNAs were found in the epithalamus (medial habenula and pineal gland), whereas there were no specific ,3 or ,4 signals in mesencephalic dopaminergic nuclei. ,5 and ,7 mRNA signals were found in several brain areas, including cerebral cortex, thalamus and substantia nigra, although at a lower level than ,4 and ,2. The distribution of ,3, ,4, ,5, ,6, ,7, ,2, ,3 and ,4 subunit mRNAs in the monkey is substantially similar to that observed in rodent brain. Surprisingly, ,2 mRNA signal was largely distributed in the Macaca brain, at levels comparable with those of ,4 and ,2. This observation represents the main difference between rodent and Macaca subunit mRNA distribution and suggests that, besides ,4,2*, ,2,2* nAChRs constitute a main nAChR isoform in primate brain. [source] Outcome of sinonasal melanoma: Clinical experience and review of the literature,HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 10 2010Thomas N. Roth MD Abstract Background. Primary sinonasal malignant melanoma (SNMM) is a rare clinical entity. There is neither a classification nor a staging system nor an evidence-based treatment concept established. Our objective was to find potential risk factors predicting the outcome. Methods. Twenty-five patients with histologically confirmed SNMM were consecutively included and retrospectively analyzed. Staging methods were nasal endoscopy, CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Patients were selected for a curative or palliative concept. All patients had postoperative follow-up with control-MRI at 3 and 6 months. Restaging was performed when local recurrence occurred. Results. Nineteen patients underwent primary surgery with curative intention; in 16 cases with tumor free margins. Thirteen patients (68%) had transnasal endoscopic surgery, 4 lateral rhinotomy, and 2 transfacial approach with orbital exenteration. Six patients (32%) had palliative therapy and 7 patients (37%) had adjuvant radiotherapy. Despite radical operations, 6 patients (37%) showed local recurrence and 8 patients (50%) developed distant metastasis. In 2 patients with incomplete surgery, regional metastasis was noted. The median disease-free interval was 18 months, and the median overall survival rate was 23 months. Conclusion. SNMMs of the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses have a worse prognosis than other localizations in the nasal cavity; infiltration into the skull base, orbit, or facial soft tissue correlates with a very poor outcome corresponding to the palliative situations. Furthermore, local recurrence insinuates aggressive disease with short survival rate. A main difference from its cutaneous counterpart seems to be a primary tendency to hematogenic spread. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010 [source] Explaining the Weak Relationship Between Job Performance and Ratings of Job PerformanceINDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2008KEVIN R. MURPHY Ratings of job performance are widely viewed as poor measures of job performance. Three models of the performance,performance rating relationship offer very different explanations and solutions for this seemingly weak relationship. One-factor models suggest that measurement error is the main difference between performance and performance ratings and they offer a simple solution,that is, the correction for attenuation. Multifactor models suggest that the effects of job performance on performance ratings are often masked by a range of systematic nonperformance factors that also influence these ratings. These models suggest isolating and dampening the effects of these nonperformance factors. Mediated models suggest that intentional distortions are a key reason that ratings often fail to reflect ratee performance. These models suggest that raters must be given both the tools and the incentive to perform well as measurement instruments and that systematic efforts to remove the negative consequences of giving honest performance ratings are needed if we hope to use performance ratings as serious measures of job performance. [source] Study and description of hydrogels and organogels as vehicles for cosmetic active ingredientsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010M. E. Morales J. Cosmet. Sci., 60, 627,636 (November/December 2009) Synopsis Cellulite, a clinical syndrome mainly affecting women, involves specific changes in conjunctive dermic and subcutaneous tissue, leading to vascular and hypertrophic alterations in adipose tissues and the consequent alteration of tissue structure. This paper describes the design of hydrogels and pluronic-lecithin organogels elaborated as vehicles of Aloe vera (Aloe vera linné) and Hydrocotyle asiatica (Centella asiatica) for the treatment of cellulite. The objective of this work was to carry out a complete evaluation of the proposed formulae through the study of the organoleptic and rheological properties of the formulae. Our work revealed that, in appearance, hydrogels show better organoleptic characteristics than organogels. On the other hand, from a rheological point of view, both hydrogels and organogels display a plastic behavior. However, the main difference between the two is that the more complex internal structure of the organogel bestows it with more viscosity. Finally, in vitro tests with Franz-type diffusion cells revealed that the release of cosmetic active principle from the tested excipients was appropriate, both in terms of magnitude and velocity. [source] Application of ISO22000 and comparison to HACCP for processing of ready to eat vegetables: Part IINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2008Theodoros H. Varzakas Summary Preliminary Hazard Analysis was used to analyse and predict the occurring failure modes in a food chain system (ready to eat vegetables processing plant), in conjunction with ISO22000, the new Food Safety Management System, based on the functions, characteristics and/or interactions of the ingredients or the processes, upon which the system depends. Critical control points (CCPs) have been identified and implemented in the Hazard Analysis Critical Point Control plan. The decision table for CCP determination during processing of ready to eat vegetables is shown and compared with the ISO22000 Analysis Worksheet for determination of the prerequisite programmes. The prerequisite programmes are the main difference between the two systems. The incorporation of PrPs in the ISO22000 made the system more flexible as a smaller number of CCPs was introduced. [source] Some remarks on the LSOWA approach for obtaining OWA operator weightsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 12 2009Byeong Seok Ahn One of the key issues in the theory of ordered-weighted averaging (OWA) operators is the determination of their associated weights. To this end, numerous weighting methods have appeared in the literature, with their main difference occurring in the objective function used to determine the weights. A minimax disparity approach for obtaining OWA operator weights is one particular case, which involves the formulation and solution of a linear programming model subject to a given value of orness and the adjacent weight constraints. It is clearly easier for obtaining the OWA operator weights than from previously reported OWA weighting methods. However, this approach still requires solving linear programs by a conventional linear program package. Here, we revisit the least-squared OWA method, which intends to produce spread-out weights as much as possible while strictly satisfying a predefined value of orness, and we show that it is an equivalent of the minimax disparity approach. The proposed solution takes a closed form and thus can be easily used for simple calculations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] The child verbal competence effect in court: a comparative study of field investigative interviews of children in child sexual abuse casesJOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND OFFENDER PROFILING, Issue 2 2009Trond Myklebust Abstract The purpose of this study is to compare field investigative interviews of children (FIIC) with three different legal outcomes in child sexual abuse cases: (i) insufficient evidence to proceed (IEP); (ii) convictions; or (iii) acquittals by the court. One hundred FIIC were divided into one of the three outcome possibilities. Amongst the female interviewees older than 10 years, there were no cases of acquittals and the convicted cases were over-represented. The children's response to open questions was found to be the main difference between the three FIIC outcomes. The responses to these open questions were 1.9 and 2.3 times longer in the convicted cases compared to acquittals and IEP. Possible explanations for the result are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Variation at 10 protein coding loci in the mbenzele pygmies from the central african republic and a comparison with microsatellite dataAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Valentina Coia Ten protein coding loci (6-PGD, A1-AT, ACP1, CaII, ESD, GC, GPX1, Hb,, PGM1, and TF) were analyzed in the Mbenzele Pygmies from the Central African Republic. The frequency data were used to calculate the genetic distances between Mbenzele Pygmies and other African groups. In the principal coordinate plot of FST genetic distances, the Mbenzele cluster together with other Pygmies of the western cluster, the Biaka from C.A.R., Gielli from Cameroon, and Babinga from Congo. By contrast, they are considerably distanced from other Pygmy groups of the eastern cluster (Twa from Rwanda, Mbuti from Zaire). Genetic distances obtained using protein loci were compared with those based on microsatellite loci. The two distance matrices are insignificantly correlated (r = 0.268; one tail probability = 0.332), and the main difference is in the higher genetic affinity between the Mbenzele and Biaka Pygmies observed at the protein level. Although reasons underlying the discrepancy between inter-populational variation at protein and DNA loci are not established with certainty, the comparison suggests that the genetic distance between the Mbenzele and Biaka Pygmies at microsatellite loci could have been shaped by genetic drift. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:9,14, 2002.© 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Antioxidant and Pigment Composition during Autumnal Leaf Senescence in Woody Deciduous Species Differing in their Ecological TraitsPLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2003J. I. García-Plazaola Abstract: Photoprotection mechanisms have been studied during autumnal senescence in sun and shade leaves of woody plants with different ecological characteristics and senescence patterns. Three of them belonging to the same family, Betulaceae: the shade-intolerant and early successional species (Betula alba L.), the shade-tolerant and late successional species (Corylus avellana L.), and an N-fixing tree with low N resorption efficiency (Alnus glutinosa L.). The other two species: a shade-intolerant (Populus tremula L.) and a shade-tolerant (Cornus sanguinea L.), were chosen because of their ability to accumulate anthocyanins during autumnal leaf senescence. The study of plants with different ecological strategies allowed us to establish general trends in photoprotection mechanisms during autumnal senescence, when nutrient remobilisation occurs, but also during whole leaf ontogeny. We have not found a clear relationship between shade tolerance and the level of photoprotection; the main difference between both groups of species being the presence of ,-carotene in shade leaves of shade-tolerant species. Preceding autumn, nitrogen resorption started in mid-summer and occurred in parallel with a slight and continuous ascorbate, chlorophyll and carotenoid degradation. However, the ascorbate pool remained highly reduced and lipid oxidation did not increase at this time. Contrasting with ascorbate, ,-tocopherol accumulated progressively in all species. Only during the last stages of senescence was chlorophyll preferentially degraded with respect to carotenoids, leading to the yellowing of leaves, except in A. glutinosa in which a large retention of chlorophyll and N took place. Senescing leaves were characterised, except in C. sanguinea, by a relative increase in the proportion of de-epoxidised xanthophylls: zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin and lutein. The light-induced accumulation of anthocyanins in C. sanguinea could play an additional protective role, compensating for the low retention of de-epoxidised xanthophylls. These different strategies among deciduous species are consistent with a role for photoprotective compounds in enhancing nitrogen remobilization and storage for the next growing season. [source] Identification of transient hub proteins and the possible structural basis for their multiple interactionsPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008Miho Higurashi Abstract Proteins that can interact with multiple partners play central roles in the network of protein,protein interactions. They are called hub proteins, and recently it was suggested that an abundance of intrinsically disordered regions on their surfaces facilitates their binding to multiple partners. However, in those studies, the hub proteins were identified as proteins with multiple partners, regardless of whether the interactions were transient or permanent. As a result, a certain number of hub proteins are subunits of stable multi-subunit proteins, such as supramolecules. It is well known that stable complexes and transient complexes have different structural features, and thus the statistics based on the current definition of hub proteins will hide the true nature of hub proteins. Therefore, in this paper, we first describe a new approach to identify proteins with multiple partners dynamically, using the Protein Data Bank, and then we performed statistical analyses of the structural features of these proteins. We refer to the proteins as transient hub proteins or sociable proteins, to clarify the difference with hub proteins. As a result, we found that the main difference between sociable and nonsociable proteins is not the abundance of disordered regions, in contrast to the previous studies, but rather the structural flexibility of the entire protein. We also found greater predominance of charged and polar residues in sociable proteins than previously reported. [source] Avoiding market dominance: product compatibility in markets with network effectsTHE RAND JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2009Jiawei Chen As is well recognized, market dominance is a typical outcome in markets with network effects. A firm with a larger installed base offers a more attractive product which induces more consumers to buy its product which produces a yet bigger installed base advantage. Such a setting is investigated here but with the main difference that firms have the option of making their products compatible. When firms have similar installed bases, they make their products compatible in order to expand the market. Nevertheless, random forces could result in one firm having a bigger installed base, in which case the larger firm may make its product incompatible. We find that strategic pricing tends to prevent the installed base differential from expanding to the point that incompatibility occurs. This pricing dynamic is able to neutralize increasing returns and avoid the emergence of market dominance. [source] Single-crystal structure refinement of NaTiSi2O6 clinopyroxene at low temperatures (298,<,T,<,100,K)ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 6 2003Günther J. Redhammer The alkali-metal clinopyroxene NaTi3+Si2O6, one of the rare compounds with trivalent titanium, was synthesized at high temperature/high pressure and subsequently investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods between 298 and 100,K. One main difference between the high- and the low-temperature form is the sudden appearance of two different Ti3+,Ti3+ interatomic distances within the infinite chain of the TiO6 octahedra just below 197 K. This change can be seen as direct evidence for the formation of Ti,Ti singlet pairs in the low-temperature phase. Mean Ti,O bond lengths smoothly decrease with decreasing temperature and the phase transition is associated with a slight jump in the Ti,O bond length. The break in symmetry, however, causes distinct variations, especially with respect to the two Ti,Oapex bond lengths, but also with respect to the four Ti,O bonds in the equatorial plane of the octahedron. The TiO6 octahedron appears to be stretched in the chain direction with a slightly larger elongation in the P low-temperature phase compared with the C2/c high-temperature phase. Polyhedral distortion parameters such as bond-length distortion and octahedral angle variance suggest the TiO6 octahedron in P to be closer to the geometry of an ideal octahedron than in C2/c. Mean Na,O bond lengths decrease with decreasing temperature and the variations in individual Na,O bond lengths are the result of variations in the geometry of the octahedral site. The tetrahedral site acts as a rigid unit, which does not show pronounced changes upon cooling and through the phase transitions. There are neither large changes in bond lengths and angles nor in polyhedral distortion parameters, for the tetrahedral site, when they are plotted. In contrast with the C2/c,P21/c phase transition, found especially in LiMSi2O6 clinopyroxenes, no very large variations are found for the tetrahedral bridging angle. Thus, it is concluded that the main factor inducing the phase transition and controlling the structural variations is the M1 octahedral site. [source] Digestive proteinases and peptidases in the hepatopancreas of the southern brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus subtilis) in two sub-adult stagesAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 4 2010D.S. BUARQUE Abstract The aim of this study was to examine proteinases and peptidases from the hepatopancreas of two sub-adult stages of Farfantepenaeus subtilis: SAS6 (5.93 ± 0.69 g wet weight) and SAS13 (13.26 ± 0.60 g wet weight). Trypsin and chymotrypsin activity was higher in the extract from the SAS6 individuals (P < 0.05). The highest activity among aminoacyl-,-naphthylamide substrates was found using alanine-, arginine-, leucine- and lysine-,-naphthylamide. There was a positive correlation between the recommended concentration of essential amino acids in penaeid shrimp feed and aminopeptidase activity in both sub-adult stages. Proteolytic activity of F. subtilis was strongly inhibited by specific trypsin inhibitors. The optimal temperature for trypsin, chymotrypsin and leucine aminopeptidase activity was between 45 and 55 °C. Six and seven bands were found in caseinolytic zymograms for SAS6 and SAS13 respectively. All bands were inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride in both sub-adult stages. The use of tosyl-lysine-chloromethyl-ketone and benzamidine caused strong inhibition of the proteolytic bands. Trypsin and chymotrypsin activity was the main difference observed between the protease pattern of SAS6 and SAS13F. subtilis. [source] The use of alternative diets to culture juvenile cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis: effects on growth and lipid compositionAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2010A. FERREIRA Abstract The effects of feeding three natural frozen diets, grass shrimp (Palaemonetes sp.), crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and fish (Sardina pilchardus) and two semi-humid artificial diets (based on fish or shrimp powder) to the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, were analysed. Growth rate and feeding rate [FR; % body weight (BW) day,1] and food conversions (FC, %) were determined. Cuttlefish fed shrimp grew larger (3.8% BW day,1) and had the highest FC, followed by those fed crayfish, and sardine. The highest FR was obtained for cuttlefish fed crayfish (10.5% BW day,1). Although both artificial diets were accepted, none produced growth. Digestive gland-to-body weight ratio (DG/BW ratio) was calculated for animals fed each diet. A positive correlation (r = 0.94) between cuttlefish ingestion FR and DG weight was obtained. Mortality occurred mainly during the last week, and some cannibalism occurred among cuttlefish fed artificial diets. Finally, lipid composition of diets, DG and mantle of each group were analysed. Sardine diet was characterized by high levels of triacylglycerol (TG), whereas the main difference between shrimp and crayfish was the higher n -3/n -6 ratio found in shrimp. Changes in the lipid composition of DG were related to diet, but did not correlate with growth data. A strong loss of TG in the DG of artificial diets groups was notable. No differences in mantle lipid composition among the natural diets were found, but artificial diet groups showed higher contents of neutral lipids in their mantle respect to natural diets. According to results obtained, crayfish (P. clarkii) could be used as an alternative prey for rearing S. officinalis compared with shrimp. Artificial diets showed the worst effects in growth and mortality as well as the stronger influence on DG and mantle lipid composition of cuttlefish. [source] Effect of particle,particle shearing on the bioleaching of sulfide mineralsBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 3 2002N. Chong Abstract The biological leaching of sulfide minerals, used for the production of gold, copper, zinc, cobalt, and other metals, is very often carried out in slurry bioreactors, where the shearing between sulfide particles is intensive. In order to be able to improve the efficiency of the bioleaching, it is of significant importance to know the effect of particle shearing on the rate of leaching. The recently proposed concept of ore immobilization allowed us to study the effect of particle shearing on the rate of sulfide (pyrite) leaching by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Using this concept, we designed two very similar bioreactors, the main difference between which was the presence and absence of particle,particle shearing. It was shown that when the oxygen mass transfer was not the rate-limiting step, the rate of bioleaching in the frictionless bioreactor was 2.5 times higher than that in a bioreactor with particle friction (shearing). The concentration of free suspended cells in the frictionless bioreactor was by orders of magnitude lower than that in the frictional bioreactor, which showed that particle friction strongly reduces the microbial attachment to sulfide surface, which, in turn, reduces the rate of bioleaching. Surprisingly, it was found that formation of a layer of insoluble iron salts on the surface of sulfide particles is much slower under shearless conditions than in the presence of particle,particle shearing. This was explained by the effect of particle friction on liquid,solid mass transfer rate. The results of this study show that reduction of the particle friction during bioleaching of sulfide minerals can bring important advantages not only by increasing significantly the bioleaching rate, but also by increasing the rate of gas,liquid oxygen mass transfer, reducing the formation of iron precipitates and reducing the energy consumption. One of the efficient methods for reduction of particle friction is ore immobilization in a porous matrix. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng80: 349,357, 2002. [source] Quantitative coronary arteriography on digital flat-panel systemCATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 2 2004Paul L. Van Herck MD Abstract On images acquired with a digital flat-panel (DFP) detector, known for its better image quality, the performance of a validated quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) software, CAASII (Cardiovascular Angiography Analysis System or CAAS), and a DFP-dedicated QCA algorithm (flat-panel analysis software or FPAS) was compared in a phantom and a patient study. On phantom, FPAS performed with higher accuracy the quantification of the smallest tubes and the calibration of an empty catheter. The overall accuracy and precision for the quantification procedure was better for FPAS (0.07 ± 0.04 mm) than for the CAAS (0.19 ± 0.06 mm; P = 0.03 and P < 0.01, respectively). In the patient study, the main difference between the two algorithms was found in the small diameters: CAAS almost always gave higher values than FPAS for the minimal luminal diameter (P < 0.001) and could only give values up to 70% for diameter stenosis. In conclusion, the FPAS can be considered more appropriate for assessing severe stenoses on digital flat-panel images. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;63:192,200. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Trifluoroethylamine Function as Peptide Bond ReplacementCHEMMEDCHEM, Issue 12 2007Monica Sani Dr. 3D instead of 2D. That's the main difference between the tetrahedral stereogenic trifluoroethylamine function and the planar peptide bond. This property, together with other remarkable features such as high metabolic stability and low basicity, turns out to be of great importance to allow trifluoroethylamines to be excellent peptide bond replacements. [source] Why Adopt Codes of Good Governance?CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2008A Comparison of Institutional, Efficiency Perspectives ABSTRACT Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: Given the global diffusion and the relevance of codes of good governance, the aim of this article is to investigate if the main reason behind their proliferation in civil law countries is: (i) the determination to improve the efficiency of the national governance system; or (ii) the will to "legitimize" domestic companies in the global financial market without radically improving the governance practices. Research Findings/Insights: We collected corporate governance codes developed worldwide at the end of 2005, and classified them according to the country's legal system (common or civil law). Then, we made a comparative analysis of the scope, coverage, and strictness of recommendations of the codes. We tested differences between common law and civil law countries using t-tests and probit models. Our findings suggest that the issuance of codes in civil law countries be prompted more by legitimation reasons than by the determination to improve the governance practices of national companies. Theoretical/Academic Implications: The study contributes to enriching our knowledge on the process of reinvention characterizing the diffusion of new practices. Our results are consistent with a symbolic perspective on corporate governance, and support the view that diffusing practices are usually modified or "reinvented" by adopters. Practitioner/Policy Implications: Our results support the idea that the characteristics of the national corporate governance system and law explain the main differences among the coverage of codes. This conclusion indicates the existence of a strong interplay between hard and soft law. [source] The Italian experience in social reporting: an empirical analysisCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2006Davide Secchi Abstract This analysis tries to discover an empirical validation to back up the hypothesis that the Italian phenomenon of social reporting has changed with regard to the past and is growing in importance. After considering the evolution of Italian literature on the issue, the paper tries to find connections between this literature and social reporting practices. Empirical findings are based on 62 Italian social reports. The paper tries to answer three questions: (a) what kind of organization publishes social reports; (b) what are the main differences, if any, between different reports belonging to diverse organizations; (c) which are the leading models. Social reports have been sorted according to three main issues: report objectives, emerging models and stakeholder mapping. Collected data suggest that there is a common ground for organizations in socially responsible behaviour, but also that this common ground fits the need of every single organization. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Morphometry and sexual dimorphism of the coastal spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata graffmani, from Bahía de Banderas, MexicoACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 4 2004Laura Sanvicente-Añorve Abstract External measurements and size differences between the sexes were examined in the coastal spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata graffmani, in Bahía de Banderas, on the Mexican Pacific coast. The dolphins were collected by local fishermen and 29 external characteristics were measured by members of the Marine Mammals Laboratory, University of Mexico. The length of each characteristic with respect to total length was analysed through adjustment of the data to a power equation. A stepwise discriminant analysis was applied to the absolute values and to those expressed as proportions to analyse the differences between the sexes. Results indicate that growth in these dolphins is generally negatively allometric, and most of the characteristics measured were, in both absolute and proportional terms, greater in male dolphins than in female dolphins. As found in many species of odontocetes, the discriminant analysis showed that the main differences between the sexes for this coastal subspecies include the relative positions of the umbilicus, the genital aperture and the anus. The morphometric data provided by this study, corresponding to 29 specimens of S. a. graffmani collected in a restricted locality of the Mexican Pacific coast, are particularly interesting to studies documenting latitudinal morphological differences in the coastal spotted dolphin. [source] On the climate and weather of mountain and sub-arctic lakes in Europe and their susceptibility to future climate changeFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2009R. THOMPSON Summary 1.,The complex terrain and heterogeneous nature of the mountain environment coupled with remoteness from major centres of human activity makes mountains challenging locations for meteorological investigations. Mountainous areas tend to have more varied and more extreme weather than lowlands. 2.,The EMERGE program has the primary aim of assessing the status of remote mountain and sub-arctic lakes throughout Europe for the first time. In this study, we describe the main features of the climate, ice-cover durations and recent temperature trends of these areas. The main weather characteristics of European mountain and sub-arctic lakes are their cold temperatures and year-round precipitation. Mean annual temperatures are generally close to 0 °C, and maximum summer temperatures reasonably close to 10 °C. 3.,Maritime versus continental settings determine the main differences in annual-temperature range among lake districts (10.5 °C in Scotland to 26.7 °C in Northern Finland), and a similar factor for ice-cover duration. Radiation ranges from low (120 W m,2) in the high latitude sub-arctic and high (237 W m,2) in the southern ranges of the Pyrenees and Rila. Similarly, precipitation is high in the main Alpine chain (250 cm year,1 in the Central Southern Alps) and low in the continental sub-arctic (65 cm year,1 in Northern Finland). 4.,The main temporal patterns in air temperature follow those of the adjacent lowlands. All the lake districts warmed during the last century. Spring temperature trends were highest in Finland; summer trends were weak everywhere; autumn trends were strongest in the west, in the Pyrenees and western Alps; while winter trends varied markedly, being high in the Pyrenees and Alps, low in Scotland and Norway and negative in Finland. 5.,Two new, limnological case studies on Lake Redon, in the Pyrenees, highlight the sensitivity of remote lakes to projected changes in the global climate. These two case studies involve close linkages between extreme chemical-precipitation events and synoptic wind-patterns, and between thermocline behaviour and features of the large-scale circulation. 6.,Individual lakes can be ultra-responsive to climate change. Even modest changes in future air temperatures will lead to major changes in lake temperatures and ice-cover duration and hence probably affect their ecological status. [source] Community psychology: should there be a European perspective?JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Donata Francescato In this era of globalisation community psychologists have to examine how globalisation patterns interact with local cultural norms, to find tools to promote a sense of community that fits a particular context. We cannot therefore acritically adopt for many European contexts, community psychology concepts and intervention strategies geared to USA values. The paper argues for the need to develop a European perspective in Community Psychology, built more on the European tradition of political concern for promoting social capital, besides an individual's freedom and autonomy. The paper attempts to identity some of the main differences that have emerged in the last decades between USA and European approaches to community psychology. It also describes two empowering tools, which integrate traditional and post modern views of science: community profiling and multidimensional organisational analysis, that have been used by European community psychologists to rebuild social capital in organisations and local communities. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Original brands and counterfeit brands,do they have anything in common?JOURNAL OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR, Issue 2 2008Elfriede Penz Consumer decisions to purchase fakes instead of originals has developed into a major concern for brand manufacturers worldwide. This research looks at the customers' understanding of the key concepts "original brand" and "counterfeit brand." Using the theory of social representations helped to gain rich insight into the consumers' perception of counterfeit brands in the light of their counterpart original brands, to determine the main differences and similarities, and to identify core aspects and relative evaluations of these two concepts. Taken collectively, the results indicate that, based on single associations, respondents' mental maps of the two concepts do not overlap. It seems that they have a clear picture of what they get with the purchase of original brands versus counterfeits. Although similar attributes to evaluate "original brand" and "counterfeit brand" were used (quality and price), they contribute differently to the nature of the concepts. The benefits of both categories are strongly related to consumers' norms prevalent in their social environment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Morphological differences between two ecologically similar sympatric fishesJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2009I. P. Helland Morphological differentiation and microhabitat segregation of two ecologically similar populations of pelagic planktivorous fishes, Coregonus albula and the smaller Coregonus fontanae, were studied in Lake Stechlin (northern Germany). Both populations performed diel vertical migrations, although C. fontanae was always situated in deeper pelagic water than C. albula both during day and night. Landmark-based geometric morphometrics revealed that sympatric C. albula and C. fontanae differ in external morphology, with main differences found in head length and eye position, as well as in length and width of the caudal peduncle. Moreover, while C. albula has a similar morphology over all sizes, the shape of C. fontanae changes with size. Accordingly, the morphology of the two is most different at smaller size. Although the morphological differences may reflect adaptations to the slightly differing microhabitats of the two populations, there is no conclusive evidence that this correspondence between ecology and morphology is the main mechanism behind the coexistence of the closely related coregonids in Lake Stechlin. [source] Quality specifications for peptide drugs: a regulatory-pharmaceutical approachJOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 11 2009Valentijn Vergote Abstract Peptide drugs, as all types of pharmaceuticals, require adequate specifications (i.e. quality attributes, procedures and acceptance criteria) as part of their quality assurance to ensure the safety and efficacy of drug substances (i.e. active pharmaceutical ingredients) and drug products (i.e. finished pharmaceutical dosage forms). Compendial monographs are updated regularly to keep up with the most recent advances in peptide synthesis (e.g. reduced by-products) and analytical technology. Nevertheless, currently applied pharmacopoeial peptide specifications are barely harmonized yet (e.g. large differences between the European Pharmacopoeia and the United States Pharmacopeia), increasing the manufacturers' burden of performing analytical procedures in different ways, using different acceptance criteria. Additionally, the peptide monographs are not always consistent within a single pharmacopoeia. In this review, we highlight the main differences and similarities in compendial peptide specifications (including identification, purity and assay). Based on comparison, and together with additional information from peptide drug substance manufacturers and public evaluation reports on registration files of non-pharmacopoeial peptide drugs, a consistent monograph structure is proposed. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Alkyl halides reactions with cathodes or with magnesium.JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2006Grignard reagent studied with radical clocks. Abstract In the mechanism of reaction of Grignard reagent formation for alkyl halides (RX), it is generally assumed that the alkyl radical, formed by the electron transfer from the metal to this halide, reacts rapidly with the paramagnetic MgX, species. The previous comparisons of aryl halides reactivity toward magnesium and their reactivity toward a cathode strongly suggested that MgX, species are not, for the aryl halides, compulsory to rationalise the observed facts. The aryl radicals formed by electron transfer from the metal to the aryl halide would undergo a rapid second electron transfer to yield carbanions transformed into RMgX by reaction with MgX2. In contrast, for the alkyl halides, the reduction of the rapidly formed alkyl radicals into carbanions has seldom been discussed as a possible fate for these radicals, the main discussed fates being dimerisation, disproportionation, hydrogen abstraction from the solvent, rearrangement or coupling with MgX, radicals. Two main differences distinguish the reactivity of alkyl halides from their aryl halides counterpart. First, the radical anions of aryl halides may have a given lifetime whereas electron transfer to alkyl halides is concerted with the cleavage of the molecule. Second, the aryl radicals display far stronger oxidising properties than the alkyl radicals. The counterpart of this property is that aryl carbanions display weaker reducing properties than the alkyl ones. In this report, putting in perspective Grignard reaction and the experimental results obtained with identical radical clocks in electrochemistry, we tentatively provide an answer to the question raised in the title. The comparison of electrochemical patterns of reactivity of selected alkyl halides and the evolutions of yields in the preparation of Grignard reagent suggest a new explanation for the lower yields generally observed when alkyl iodides are the starting substrates. It involves an autocatalytic reaction where carbanionic species formed from the alkyl radicals and diffusing away from the metal surface, transfer one electron to the alkyl halide; the result would be the creation of two radicals leading to an increased amount of by-products. If the carbanionic mechanism were to be retained for the formation of alkyl Grignard reagent one would have to admit that the magnesium surface behaves as a cathode displaying high current densities reminiscent of microelectrodes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] QUANTITATIVE DESCRIPTIVE SENSORY ANALYSIS OF FIVE DIFFERENT CULTIVARS OF SWEET POTATO TO DETERMINE SENSORY AND TEXTURAL PROFILESJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 1 2010C.S. LEIGHTON ABSTRACT A trained sensory panel was used to establish terminology for describing the sensory attributes of different cultivars orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP). Quantitative descriptive analysis was applied to evaluate the samples in terms of the aroma, texture, flavor and aftertaste attributes. Thirteen attributes were identified. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify any factors differentiating between the sweet potato cultivars. The findings indicated that the main differences were, in PC1, the flavor and density and adhesive textural characteristics, and, in PC2, the grainy and firm textural characteristics of the different cultivars. OFSP displayed a more dense and pasty texture, which was most intense in the Resisto cultivar. W119 had a more grainy texture when compared with the other cultivars tested. WFSP was more moist and fibrous. Therefore, OFSP differed in color, was sweeter and displayed flavor characteristics of yellow vegetables (such as butternut and pumpkin) when compared with WFSP. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Although standard sensory evaluation techniques were used in this project, the materials used were sweet potatoes, which are of interest. Sweet potato is a root vegetable, and in this project, a lexicon for the textural properties, as well as a flavor profile of sweet potato, was developed. Such information can be used for sensory evaluation of other root vegetables. The shear force of the sweet potatoes was measured, and the methodology to determine shear forces and its contribution to the overall evaluation of the texture of sweet potatoes is included in the article. Furthermore, white-fleshed sweet potatoes are commonly known, and the flavor of WFSP is compared with that of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. [source] Are Mechanistic and Statistical QSAR Approaches Really Different?MOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 6-7 2010MLR Studies on 158 Cycloalkyl-Pyranones Abstract Two parallel approaches for quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) are predominant in literature, one guided by mechanistic methods (including read-across) and another by the use of statistical methods. To bridge the gap between these two approaches and to verify their main differences, a comparative study of mechanistically relevant and statistically relevant QSAR models, developed on a case study of 158 cycloalkyl-pyranones, biologically active on inhibition (Ki) of HIV protease, was performed. Firstly, Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) based models were developed starting from a limited amount of molecular descriptors which were widely proven to have mechanistic interpretation. Then robust and predictive MLR models were developed on the same set using two different statistical approaches unbiased of input descriptors. Development of models based on Statistical I method was guided by stepwise addition of descriptors while Genetic Algorithm based selection of descriptors was used for the Statistical II. Internal validation, the standard error of the estimate, and Fisher's significance test were performed for both the statistical models. In addition, external validation was performed for Statistical II model, and Applicability Domain was verified as normally practiced in this approach. The relationships between the activity and the important descriptors selected in all the models were analyzed and compared. It is concluded that, despite the different type and number of input descriptors, and the applied descriptor selection tools or the algorithms used for developing the final model, the mechanistical and statistical approach are comparable to each other in terms of quality and also for mechanistic interpretability of modelling descriptors. Agreement can be observed between these two approaches and the better result could be a consensus prediction from both the models. [source] Growth and properties of nanocrystalline diamond filmsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 13 2006Oliver A. Williams Abstract The aim of this paper is to summarise recent progress in the growth of small grain-sized Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) diamond often called nanocrystalline diamond, i.e., diamond with grains typically smaller than 500 nm. Nanocrystalline (NCD) and Ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films are new materials offering interesting applications to nanobioelectronics and electrochemistry. However NCD and UNCD thin films comprise of entirely different structures which is highlighted here in this paper. We discuss in detail the main differences in Raman spectra, optical properties and electrical transport properties. Finally we present a simple model of the conductivity mechanism in nitrogenated UNCD (N-UNCD) and boron doped NCD (B-NCD) films, and show the possibility of achieving the superconductive transition in B-NCD films. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||