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Direct Influence (direct + influence)
Selected AbstractsAssociation of criminal convictions between family members: Effects of siblings, fathers and mothersCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2009Marieke van de Rakt Background,Crime runs in families. Previous research has shown the existence of intergenerational transmission of criminal behaviour. Aim,The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent to which variation in criminal convictions may be explained by the criminality of siblings and by the intergenerational transmission of criminal behaviour. Method,Data from the Dutch Criminal Career and Life-course Study (CCLS) were used to analyse cross-tabulations and to conduct multi-level logistic regression analyses. Results,The results indicate that criminal convictions of other family members are indeed correlated with individual conviction risk. The criminal history of siblings is most strongly correlated with the convictions of focal respondents. Results furthermore show that parental convictions only account modestly for the association of criminal convictions between siblings. Conclusions,These findings indicate that a direct influence between siblings is plausible, providing support for learning or imitation theories. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Biotic ligand model of the acute toxicity of metals.ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2001Abstract The biotic ligand model (BLM) of acute metal toxicity to aquatic organisms is based on the idea that mortality occurs when the metal,biotic ligand complex reaches a critical concentration. For fish, the biotic ligand is either known or suspected to be the sodium or calcium channel proteins in the gill surface that regulate the ionic composition of the blood. For other organisms, it is hypothesized that a biotic ligand exists and that mortality can be modeled in a similar way. The biotic ligand interacts with the metal cations in solution. The amount of metal that binds is determined by a competition for metal ions between the biotic ligand and the other aqueous ligands, particularly dissolved organic matter (DOM), and the competition for the biotic ligand between the toxic metal ion and the other metal cations in solution, for example, calcium. The model is a generalization of the free ion activity model that relates toxicity to the concentration of the divalent metal cation. The difference is the presence of competitive binding at the biotic ligand, which models the protective effects of other metal cations, and the direct influence of pH. The model is implemented using the Windermere humic aqueous model (WHAM) model of metal,DOM complexation. It is applied to copper and silver using gill complexation constants reported by R. Playle and coworkers. Initial application is made to the fathead minnow data set reported by R. Erickson and a water effects ratio data set by J. Diamond. The use of the BLM for determining total maximum daily loadings (TMDLs) and for regional risk assessments is discussed within a probabilistic framework. At first glance, it appears that a large amount of data are required for a successful application. However, the use of lognormal probability distributions reduces the required data to a manageable amount. [source] N-terminal destruction signals lead to rapid degradation of the major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator CIITAEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 8 2003Felix Schnappauf Abstract Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules play an essential role for the cellular immune response by presenting peptide antigens to CD4+ T cells. MHC class II molecules and genes show a highly complex expression pattern, which is orchestrated through a master regulatory factor, called CIITA (class II transactivator). CIITA controls MHC class II expression not only qualitatively, but also quantitatively, and has therefore a direct influence on the CD4 T cell-dependent immune response. CIITA is itself tightly regulated not only on the transcriptional level, but as we show here also on the protein level. CIITA is subjected to a very rapid protein turnover and shows a half-life of about 30,min. Inhibition of degradation by proteasome inhibitors and the identification of ubiquitylated CIITA intermediates indicate that the degradation of CIITA is mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We identified two regions mediating degradation within the N-terminal domain of CIITA. N-terminal fusions or deletions stabilized CIITA, indicating that the N termini contribute to degradation. Several non-functional CIITA mutants are partially stabilized, but we provide evidence that transcriptional activity of CIITA is not directly linked to degradation. [source] Personality, identity styles and authoritarianism: an integrative study among late adolescentsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2006Bart Duriez Abstract The relations between five personality factors, three identity styles, the prejudice dispositions of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), social dominance orientation (SDO) and racial prejudice were investigated in a Flemish-Belgian late adolescent sample (N,=,328). Results show that Openness to Experience and Agreeableness relate to racial prejudice but that these relations were fully mediated by RWA and SDO. In addition, results show that whereas RWA relates to Conscientiousness and lack of Openness to Experience, SDO relates to lack of Agreeableness and lack of Openness to Experience. The relation between Conscientiousness and RWA and between Openness to Experience and SDO was fully mediated by the identity styles. However, Openness to Experience had a direct influence on RWA and Agreeableness had a direct influence on SDO. The implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Minority influence: the role of ambivalence toward the sourceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Angelica Mucchi-Faina According to literature on social influence, a minority source may indirectly influence group members by fostering ambivalent reactions. Two studies were carried out in order to provide empirical support for this theoretical assumption. In Study 1 participants (n,=,133), were exposed to a counter-attitudinal minority message and ambivalence was manipulated by facilitating the accessibility of either ambivalent (positive and negative) or univalent (positive or negative) thoughts toward the source. We predicted and found more indirect influence in ambivalent condition than in univalent conditions. No effect of ambivalence on direct influence was found. In Study 2 (n,=,127), ambivalence was measured and two possible antecedents of ambivalence, consistency of the minority and personal relevance of the topic for participants, were taken into account. Findings suggest that ambivalence mediates the effects of the two factors on indirect influence. In sum, these studies provide evidence of the importance of ambivalence in minority influence context, an early assumption that was still lacking in strong empirical support. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Aging of transformer insulating materials under selective conditionsEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 5 2007I. Fofana Abstract In today's economic climate, it is important to know the condition, by means of suitable diagnostic tests, of the oil impregnated paper usable as primary insulation in equipment such as transformers, switchgear, bushings, cables, and their accessories. The aim of this paper is regarded as a main task to study the parameters that mostly influence the ageing process of oil/paper insulation used in transformers with preset moisture levels. A comparison is made between the performances of cellulose and Aramid papers. It is shown that Aramid paper is much less sensitive to water than cellulose paper. However, the addition of air (oxygen), via acid formation and oxidation in the oil, has a direct influence on the increase of the loss factor for both papers. The catalysts, that represent the metallic components in the transformer, accelerate the ageing process of the cellulose papers, while no influence on the ageing process of Aramid was observed. Oil ageing without a solid partner is insignificantly influenced by water, but accelerated by air-oxygen, via the moisture and acid formation, and oxidation processes. A direct influence on the increase of the loss factor and the decrease of electric strength particularly at low temperatures is to be noted. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelial exudates on soil bacterial growth and community structureFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Jonas F. Toljander Abstract Plant root systems colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have previously been shown to influence soil bacterial populations; however, the direct influence of the AM extraradical mycelium itself on bacterial growth and community composition is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of exudates produced by AM extraradical mycelia on the growth and development of an extracted soil bacterial community in vitro. The chemical composition of the mycelial exudates was analysed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Following the addition of exudates to a bacterial community extracted from soil, bacterial growth and vitality were determined using a bacterial vitality stain and fluorescence microscopy. Changes in community composition were also analysed at various times over the course of 3 days by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, in combination with cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Mycelial exudates increased bacterial growth and vitality and changed bacterial community composition. Several Gammaproteobacteria, including a taxon within the Enterobacteriaceae, increased in frequency of occurrence in response to AM mycelial exudates. This study is the first attempt to identify carbohydrates from the extraradical mycelium of an AM fungus, and demonstrates the direct effects of mycelial exudates on a soil bacterial community. [source] The long-term effect of artificial destratification on phytoplankton species composition in a subtropical reservoirFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2005JASON P. ANTENUCCI Summary 1. The response of phytoplankton to the installation of an artificial destratification system in North Pine Dam, Brisbane (Australia) was investigated over an 18 year period (1984,2002); 11 years before and 7 years after installation. 2. An overall increase in phytoplankton abundance was revealed for some groups (in particular, diatoms, cyanobacteria and chlorophytes), but not for others (chlorophytes). Changes in the abundance of chlorophyte functional groups was attributed to eutrophication. 3. A strong spatial gradient in phytoplankton abundance and chlorophyll a was observed, with low abundance in the downstream regions affected by the destratification system which was likely because of light limitation induced by vertical mixing. The upstream region acted as a surrogate for the unaltered state of the reservoir, particularly as an indicator of eutrophication without direct influence from the destratification system. Despite the continuous trend in eutrophication of the reservoir, there has been a definite decrease in the rate of eutrophication (approximately 30%) since the installation of the destratification system at the downstream locations. 4. Correlations of the dominant cyanobacteria Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii with other genera changed after destratification, indicating that prior to destratification the dominance of Cylindrospermopsis was because of its ability to compete for phosphorus, whereas after destratification its dominance was because of its ability to compete for light. [source] A geomorphic template for the analysis of lake districts applied to the Northern Highland Lake District, Wisconsin, U.S.A.FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000JoaN. L. Riera 1. We tested the degree to which a lake's landscape position constrains the expression of limnological features and imposes a characteristic spatial pattern in a glacial lake district, the Northern Highland Lake District in north-central Wisconsin. 2. We defined lake order as a metric to analyze the effect of landscape position on limnological features. Lake order, analogous to stream order, is based solely on geographical information and is simple to measure. 3. We examined the strength of the relationship between lake order and a set of 25 variables, which included measures of lake morphometry, water optical properties, major ions, nutrients, biology, and human settlement patterns. 4. Lake order explained a significant fraction of the variance of 21 of the 25 variables tested with ANOVA. The fraction of variance explained varied from 12% (maximum depth) to 56% (calcium concentration). The variables most strongly related to lake order were: measures of lake size and shape, concentrations of major ions (except sulfate) and silica, biological variables (chlorophyll concentration, crayfish abundance, and fish species richness), and human-use variables (density of cottages and resorts). Lake depth, water optical properties, and nutrient concentrations (other than silica) were poorly associated with lake order. 5. Potential explanations for a relationship with lake order differed among variables. In some cases, we could hypothesize a direct link. For example, major ion concentration is a function of groundwater input, which is directly related to lake order. We see these as a direct influence of the geomorphic template left by the retreat of the glacier that led to the formation of this lake district. 6. In other cases, a set of indirect links was hypothesized. For example, the effect of lake order on lake size, water chemistry, and lake connectivity may ultimately explain the relation between lake order and fish species richness. We interpret these relationships as the result of constraints imposed by the geomorphic template on lake development over the last 12 000 years. 7. By identifying relationships between lake characteristics and a measure of landscape position, and by identifying geomorphologic constraints on lake features and lake evolution, our analysis explains an important aspect of the spatial organization of a lake district. [source] Widespread disruption of genomic imprinting in adult interspecies mouse (Mus) hybridsGENESIS: THE JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2005Wei Shi Abstract Mammalian interspecies hybrids exhibit parent-of-origin effects in that offspring of reciprocal matings, even though genetically identical, frequently exhibit opposite phenotypes, especially in growth. This was also observed in hybridization with the genus Mus. These parent-of-origin effects suggested that imbalance in the expression of imprinted genes, which are expressed differentially, depending on their transmission through the maternal or paternal germline, and/or differential loss-of-imprinting (LOI) could underlie these opposite growth phenotypes in reciprocal mammalian hybrids. Here we report that tissue-specific LOI occurs in adult Mus hybrids. Contrary to expectations, LOI patterns were not consistent with a direct influence of altered expression levels of imprinted genes on growth. Bisulfite sequencing revealed that reactivation of maternal alleles of Peg3 and Snrpn in specific tissues was accompanied by partial demethylation at their potential imprinting control regions. We propose that abnormal reprogramming after fertilization and during preimplantation development is in part responsible for hybrid dysgenesis, for which a strong epigenetic basis has been demonstrated. genesis 43:100,108, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The sedimentary records in Mediterranean rockshelters and caves: Archives of environmental changeGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2001Jamie C. Woodward It is important to develop rigorous methods and robust conceptual models for the interpretation of rockshelter and cave sediment records so that the cultural sequences they contain can be considered in their proper environmental context. Much of what we know about the prehistory of the Mediterranean region and adjacent areas has largely been pieced together from materials excavated from sedimentary sequences in these environments. The rockshelters and caves of the region form important environmental and sedimentary archives. Recent work has begun to consider if the remarkable climatic variability evident in the high resolution lacustrine and ice core records is manifest in the rockshelter and cave sediment records of the area. In this context, the two main characteristics of a rockshelter or cave site which control its usefulness as an archive of environmental change are the temporal resolution of the sedimentary record and the environmental sensitivity of the site. Many rockshelters and caves can be described as either Active Karst Settings (AKS) or Passive Karst Settings (PKS) and site type is an important influence on climatic sensitivity with a direct influence upon the usefulness of the sedimentary sequence as a proxy record of climate change. It is now clear that some sites may preserve detailed paleoclimatic records and the climatic signal may be represented by distinctive suites of micromorphological features, by variations in the input of allogenic sediment, or by fluctuations in the mineral magnetic properties of the fine sediment fraction. It can be argued that data derived from the analysis of bulk coarse-grained samples often lacks the stratigraphic resolution and environmental sensitivity that can be obtained from other approaches. The most favorable sites for detailed paleoclimatic reconstruction appear to be in active karst settings such as Theopetra Cave (Greece) and Pigeon Cave (Morocco) where micromorphological analyses offer insights into the stratigraphic record that are not otherwise obtainable. The temporal resolution of a site can only be established through a rigorous stratigraphic analysis and a comprehensive dating program. These are fundamental considerations in the study of rockshelter sediment records, especially when attempting to correlate between sites and draw comparisons with other proxy records of environmental change derived from sedimentary environments with rather different characteristics. Rockshelters and caves are part of a wider sediment system, and their investigation must be accompanied by detailed geomorphological, sedimentological, paleoecological, and geochronological studies of the off-site Quaternary record. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Track three diplomacy and human rights in Southeast Asia: the Asia Pacific Coalition for East TimorGLOBAL NETWORKS, Issue 1 2002Herman Joseph S. Kraft Transnational networks of non-government organizations are increasingly becoming a fixture in international relations, particularly their contribution to traditional notions of diplomacy and its objectives. Less noticed, however, is the involvement of transnational NGO networks in alternative channels for diplomatic exchange, which have been referred to as ,track three diplomacy'. Described as a form of civil society that transcends borders and nationalities, track three networks and activities involve NGO networks that are movement based, and concerned primarily with raising public consciousness over issues. While their direct influence on formal processes of foreign policy-making has been limited, they have contributed to expanding both the scope of debate in international relations and the breadth of participation in those debates. Track three networks provide a forum for those communities marginalized by an international system that gives primacy of place to states and their officially-declared concerns. Their impact is limited, however, by their lack of institutionalization and their reluctance to cooperate with government agencies , an issue that goes towards both their effectiveness and their identity in the long-term. [source] Differential effect of hyperthyroidism on rat epididymal glycosidasesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 4 2001R. R. M. Maran The impact of hyperthyroidism on epididymal glycosidases was studied in albino rats. Hyperthyroidism was induced in Wistar rats aged 30 days by daily injection of T4 (25 ,g/100 g body weight/day intramuscularly) for 30 or 60 days; control rats were injected with vehicle (alkaline saline, pH 7.8). One set of hyperthyroid rats was reverted to euthyroid status by withdrawing T4 treatment after 30 days of hyperthyroidism. To asses the direct effect of thyroid hormone on epididymal hexosaminidases, caput, corpus and cauda tissues were stimulated with 25, 50 or 100 ng/mL T3 for 24 h, after an initial culture of 24 h. The activity of ,-glucosidase decreased in caput, corpus and cauda epididymis of hyperthyroid rats. ,-Galactosidase activity increased in the caput epididymis irrespective of the duration of hyperthyroidism. While a similar decrease occurred in the corpus and cauda epididymis in the 30 day hyperthyroid group, an opposite trend was observed in 60 day hyperthyroid rats. Caput ,- N -acetylglucosaminidase activities increased at both time points, whereas activity decreased in the corpus and cauda in 30 day, but increased in 60 day hyperthyroid rats. Hyperthyroidism consistently increased caput and corpus ,- N -acetylgalactosaminidase activity irrespective of the duration. Cauda epididymal ,- N -acetylgalactosaminidase activity was decreased in 30 day and increased in 60 day hyperthyroid rats. Hyperthyroidism induced changes in caput ,-galactosidase, ,- N -acetylgalactosaminidases, corpus ,-N-acetylglucosaminidase and cauda ,- N -acetylgalactosaminidase which were irreversible while the remaining actvities were brought back to normal when T4 treatment was withdrawn. In vitro studies showed that T3 stimulates epididymal hexosaminidases (,- N -acetylglucosaminidase and ,- N -acetylgalactosaminidase) irrespective of the dose. These data suggest that thyroid hormones have a specific and direct influence on glycosidases in specific regions of the epididymis. [source] A review of recent climate variability and climate change in southeastern AustraliaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Bradley F. Murphy Abstract Southeastern Australia (SEA) has suffered from 10 years of low rainfall from 1997 to 2006. A protracted dry spell of this severity has been recorded once before during the 20th century, but current drought conditions are exacerbated by increasing temperatures. Impacts of this dry decade are wide-ranging, so a major research effort is being directed to better understand the region's recent climate, its variability and climate change. This review summarizes the conditions of these 10 years and the main mechanisms that affect the climate. Most of the rainfall decline (61%) has occurred in autumn (March,May). Daily maximum temperatures are rising, as are minimum temperatures, except for cooler nights in autumn in the southwest of SEA closely related to lower rainfall. A similar rainfall decline occurred in the southwest of western Australia around 1970 that has many common features with the SEA decline. SEA rainfall is produced by mid-latitude storms and fronts, interactions with the tropics through continental-scale cloudbands and cut-off lows. El Niño-Southern Oscillation impacts on SEA rainfall, as does the Indian Ocean, but neither has a direct influence in autumn. Trends have been found in both hemispheric (the southern annular mode) and local (sub-tropical ridge) circulation features that may have played a role in reducing the number and impact of mid-latitude systems around SEA, and thus reducing rainfall. The role of many of these mechanisms needs to be clarified, but there is likely to be an influence of enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations on SEA climate, at least on temperature. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Can the brain inhibit inflammation generated in the skin?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2002-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, The lesson of The neuro-immuno-cutaneous-endocrine network is not a simple construct featuring organ systems intimately involved in the bridge between body and mind. Mind-body influences are bi-directional and the skin should be considered an active neuroimmunoendocrine interface, where effector molecules of neuropeptides act as common words used in a dynamic dialogue between brain, immune system and skin. Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (,-MSH), one of the principal neuroimmunomodulating peptides, seems to exercise some control on the cutaneous inflammatory process, through a central action mediated by descending anti- inflammatory neural pathways and via local direct influence on inflammatory cells infiltrating the dermis, such as monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. ,-MSH down-regulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines, while the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is stimulated by ,-MSH. Finally, ,-MSH seems to regulate the expression of surface molecules in immunocompetent cells. Thus, further studies may lead to the use of ,-MSH as an important anti-inflammatory agent in clinical dermatology. [source] Influence of the heat recovery steam generator design parameters on the thermoeconomic performances of combined cycle gas turbine power plantsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 14 2004Manuel Valdés Abstract This paper proposes a methodology to identify the most relevant design parameters that impact on the thermal efficiency and the economic results of combined cycle gas turbine power plants. The analysis focuses on the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) design and more specifically on those operating parameters that have a direct influence on the economic results of the power plant. These results are obtained both at full and part load conditions using a dedicated code capable of simulating a wide number of different plant configurations. Two different thermoeconomic models aimed to select the best design point are proposed and compared: the first one analyzes the generating cost of the energy while the second one analyzes the annual cash flow of the plant. Their objective is to determine whether an increase in the investment in order to improve the thermal efficiency is worth from an economic point of view. Both models and the different HRSG configurations analysed are compared in the results section. Some parametric analysis show how the design parameters might be varied in order to improve the power plant efficiency or the economic results. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Model explaining the predisposition to donate blood from the social marketing perspectiveINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 3 2009Asunción Beerli-Palacio The purpose of this research is to develop a model of the explanatory factors that determine the predisposition to donate blood in order to improve the effectiveness of donor recruitment and retention programs. A personal survey was conducted on a sample of 303 potential donors between 18 and 60 years old and from both sexes, who are resident in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) and have either never donated blood or not donated in the last 3 years. The findings lead us to say that the predisposition to donate blood is positively influenced by the information that the potential donor has about the requirements to become a donor, and by the motivations to donate blood. It is negatively influenced by the inhibiting factor of fear of the extraction procedure and its after-effects. However, prior experience as a donor and links with reference groups who are donors do not have any direct influence on the predisposition. These findings suggest that it is necessary (1) to design communication campaigns in which information and education are the goals, and which aim to make donation a habit; (2) to clarify to society the need for blood donation and to describe the process of donation in order to eliminate those inhibitors linked to fear and the perception of risks; (3) to design advertising campaigns focused on rational messages since information exercises a greater influence on the predisposition to donate than motivations linked to altruism; (4) to recommend that no great efforts be made to recapture previous donors, since experience is not a direct antecedent of the predisposition to donate but an indirect antecedent via information and (5) to stimulate word-of-mouth among reference groups using member-get-member programs whereby current donors bring new donors to the system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The problem of similarity: analysis of repeated patterns of microsculpture on gastropod larval shellsINVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Carole S. Hickman Abstract. The problem of similarity is one of explaining the causes of striking resemblances between patterns and architectural themes that recur in organisms at various scales of biological organization. Classical explanations that have considered only the alternatives of homology and analogy overlook similarities of form that are primarily a consequence of fabrication, conveying little information about evolutionary relationships or functional role. When viewed at successively higher magnifications and when mapped onto a phylogeny, patterns of delicate cancellate microsculpture and granular microprotuberances on the surfaces of larval shells of marine gastropods fail to meet the predictions of exclusively historical or exclusively functional explanations, but are shown to be rich in fabricational information. Similar patterns suggest that early biomineralization of the initial organic shell is under weaker biological control than the processes that modulate assembly of the multi-layered, hierarchically-organized composite materials of the adult shell. Some patterns suggest remote biomineralization, without direct influence of living tissue. Scanning electron microscopy of larval shell features reveals previously undetected variation on basic themes that may have implications for the traditional disciplines of systematics, functional morphology, and fabricational morphology. The integration of the approaches of the traditional divisions of biology is required for full explanation of similarity and to generate a unified set of principles for the analysis of form in living and fossil organisms. [source] Stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) gene polymorphisms in Italian cattle breedsJOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 1 2008E. Milanesi Summary Stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) is the key enzyme involved in the endogenous synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in ruminants. Changes in the enzymatic activity as a result of SCD gene polymorphism and regulation have been hypothesized to cause diet-independent variations of CLA content in milk. Evidences for the direct influence of SCD polymorphism on fatty acid composition of milk and beef have also been reported. To evaluate genetic differences because of breed and/or selection goal, we investigated the polymorphism of three previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms located in exon 5 of the SCD gene in 11 cattle breeds raised in Italy and selected for different production goals. Results obtained: (i) evidenced a high variability in the allele frequencies across breeds; (ii) detected three novel haplotypes, one of which is private to indigenous beef breeds, and (iii) showed a significant association between haplotypes and selective goal. [source] Family purchase decision making: exploring child influence behaviourJOURNAL OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR, Issue 4 2007Elizabeth S. Thomson Children have long been acknowledged as playing an important role within family purchase decisions, with their ability to directly and indirectly influence decisions. The research discussed in this paper arose from an identified opportunity to develop knowledge surrounding the important role that children play within family purchasing by including them as direct research respondents. The methods adopted included an in-depth interview with parents and children separately, and the completion of a decision mapping tool followed by a family interview. The findings address a specific and important aspect of the data, namely the influence behaviour adopted by children during high-involvement family purchase decisions. The children in all of the respondent families were found to have direct influence over the purchases discussed. They demonstrated a range of sophisticated influence behaviours that included justifying and highlighting the benefits of purchases, forming coalitions, compromising and remaining persistent. These behaviours were underpinned and enhanced by the use of product-related knowledge and information, which was viewed positively and encouraged by parents. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Sensitivity and specificity of current diagnostic tests for gill-associated virus in Penaeus monodonJOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 11 2006J Munro Abstract This study reports the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy between a reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of gill-associated virus (GAV) from a sample of 120 Penaeus monodon. Subsequently, the same comparisons were applied to the ELISA and haemagglutination (HA) assays for detection of GAV from a second 120 prawns. The optical density (OD) or dilution cut-off point had a direct influence on the tested parameters. The cut-off OD of 0.5,0.6 with the ELISA produced a sensitivity of 98% compared with RT-nPCR. However, these OD produced the lowest accuracy (85.8% and 86.7%, respectively). The OD cut off of 0.75 resulted in the highest accuracy (91.7%) and NPV (81.3%) while it had the second highest sensitivity (97%) and PPV (93.3%). However, the OD cut off of 0.9 had the highest specificity (80%). With regards to HA, the titre cut off at 8 resulted in the highest sensitivity, specificity and NPV (94%, 100% and 100%, respectively) compared with the ELISA, while the HA titre of 16 gave the highest accuracy (73%) and the second highest specificity (75%). A HA titre of 64 gave the highest PPV (81%). Using the RT-nPCR as the gold standard, the ELISA had an accuracy of 91.7% when using a cut off >0.75 as a positive result. When compared with the ELISA, the HA had an accuracy of 73% when using an HA titre cut off greater than 16 as a positive result. These results indicate that alternative tests for GAV (ELISA and HA) can be used to explore multiple questions about the disease status of P. monodon stocks in a cost-effective manner. [source] Modelling the influence of reactive elements on the work of adhesion between a thermally grown oxide and a bond coat alloyMATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 3 2006I. J. Bennett Abstract The durability of thermal barrier coating systems is primarily determined by the degree of adhesion between the thermally grown oxide (TGO) and the bond coat. Failure of the TBC is often the result of delamination at this interface. Adhesion can be improved by the addition of reactive elements (RE) to the bond coat alloy. REs include oxide forming elements such as Y, Zr and Hf. The so-called reactive element effect has been attributed to a direct improvement of the bonding between the TGO and the bond coat. A macroscopic atom model has been developed to allow the work of adhesion between two compounds (e.g. an oxide and a metal compound) to be estimated. By calculating the work of adhesion across a number of different interfaces, the influence of reactive elements and impurities present in the substrate can be assessed. It has been found that the REs have a limited direct influence on the work of adhesion and can even result in a weaker interface. A large reduction in the work of adhesion is calculated when S and C are present at the interface. REs have a high affinity for both S and C. This indicates that the RE effect is primarily that of impurity scavenging, preventing diffusion of impurities to the interface. A number of experiments are reported, which demonstrate the RE effect and support the modelling results. [source] In vitro investigations on the mode of action of the hydroxypyridone antimycotics rilopirox and piroctone on Candida albicansMYCOSES, Issue 3 2006H. C. Sigle Summary Rilopirox and piroctone belong to the class of hydroxypyridone antimycotics. This class is not related to other antimycotics. In contrast to azole antimycotics and polyene antimycotics the mode of action of hydroxypyridone antimycotics is not fully understood. Inhibition of cellular uptake of essential compounds as well as loss of other compounds seems to be only a secondary effect of a primary not known action of these drugs. The antifungal effect in vitro depends on the medium used. The hyphal induction of Candida albicans is inhibited by hydroxypyridone antimycotics, but this effect is compensated by iron ions. A damage of the cell membrane and a direct influence on adenosine triphosphate synthesis, respectively, do not seem to be part of the mode of action. But there are clear hints that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and available metabolic activity are important parts of the mode of action of the hydroxypyridone antimycotics rilopirox and piroctone. [source] Egg performance on an egg-carrying bug.OIKOS, Issue 2 2001Experiments in the field Selection of oviposition sites has direct influence on female fitness. Differences in offspring survival among sites should favour females to select oviposition sites with the highest survival. Golden egg bug females (Phyllomorpha laciniata; Coreidae, Heteroptera) use conspecifics as oviposition substrates. Most eggs are laid on the back of the bug but they can be found on all body parts. Females never carry their own eggs, and males commonly carry eggs received without copulation with the donor. We examined differences in egg survival relative to paternity to the egg, host sex and body size and attachment of an egg on a host's body in the field. We also studied which bugs received eggs. Egg loss was surprisingly common: 30,80% of recaptured individuals lost eggs during a six-day period. Unexpectedly, host's paternity to the eggs did not affect egg survival. Also, egg loss did not differ among hosts in respect to other parameters studied. Males received more eggs than females, but survival of the eggs was not better on a male's back than on a female's back. Since egg loss is common in the golden egg bug, we suggest that female oviposition strategy to lay eggs on conspecifics is not perfect. This is due to active behaviour of potential hosts (for example, rejected oviposition attempts) or lack of suitable oviposition substrates (conspecifics) in the field. Since eggs do not survive unless carried, females may be acting opportunistically, doing the best job possible by laying eggs on available conspecifics. [source] Crowding-induced plasticity in Epirrita autumnata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): weak evidence of specific modifications in reaction normsOIKOS, Issue 1 2000Toomas Tammaru We sought to distinguish between two potential effects of larval crowding on developmental schedules in Epirrita autumnata, an outbreaking folivorous moth. We asked if consequences of crowding can be entirely attributed to deterioration of environment, caused by mutual disturbance of larvae, or if there are specific modifications of reaction norms involved. In a laboratory rearing experiment, we found that most of the consequences of larval crowding could be explained as unspecific environmental effects. However, there was some evidence of crowding-related modifications of reaction norms. In particular, crowding during early development more strongly affected further growth of larvae than expected from the direct influence of inferior environmental quality: larvae crowded early in development had shorter growth periods in the final instar and attained lower final weights. It is not clear if these modifications of reaction norms are adaptive. Nevertheless, these observations document a type of plasticity which is different from unidimensional responses to variation in environmental quality, and may thus contribute to understanding evolution of body size in insects. However, recorded modifications of reaction norms are apparently weak enough to have only a minor role in population dynamics of E. autumnata. [source] Effects of dexamethasone on proliferation, chemotaxis, collagen I, and fibronectin-metabolism of human fetal lung fibroblastsPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 1 2001R.E. Brenner MD Abstract Premature infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are often treated with dexamethasone (Dex), which has been shown to suppress inflammatory processes in the lung. To elucidate a possible direct influence on the fibroproliferative component of the disease, we studied the effects of Dex in therapeutic and supratherapeutic dosages (5,50 nmol/L) on proliferation, chemotaxis, procollagen I, and fibronectin metabolism of human fetal lung fibroblasts in vitro. Proliferation was inhibited by Dex in a dose-dependent manner. Chemotactic activity in response to conditioned medium of human fetal fibroblasts also showed a dose-dependent inhibition after pretreatment with Dex. The amount of procollagen I C-terminal propeptide and fibronectin per cell in the cell culturesupernatant was increased in the presence of Dex. Our results show that Dex does not uniformly suppress the fibroproliferative activity of human fetal lung fibroblasts, which may explain in part the unsatisfactory long-term effects of Dex treatment in BPD. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 32:1,7. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] TEST OF A MULTISTAGE MODEL OF DISTAL AND PROXIMAL ANTECEDENTS OF LEADER PERFORMANCEPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2009CHAD H. VAN IDDEKINGE The authors developed and tested a multistage model of distal and proximal predictors of leader performance in an effort to shed greater light on the intermediate linkages between broad leader traits and performance. Predictor and criterion data were obtained from 471 noncommissioned officers in the U.S. Army. A model with cognitive ability and 3 of the Big 5 personality factors as distal antecedents, leadership experiences and motivation to lead as semidistal antecedents, and the knowledge, skills, and ability (KSAs) to lead as proximal antecedents of leader performance provided a good fit to the data. More specifically, the effects of the distal and semidistal antecedents on leader performance were partially mediated by more proximal variables, whereas leader KSAs demonstrated a relatively strong, direct influence on performance. The 1 exception was that Conscientiousness,a hypothesized distal antecedent,had a notable direct effect on leader performance. The implications of these findings for leadership research and practice are discussed. [source] Effect of positioning on respiratory synchrony in non-ventilated pre-term infantsPHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2000Veronica Maynard Senior Lecturer Abstract Background and Purpose Body position can play an important role in an infant's recovery from respiratory disease, but few studies have accounted for sleep state which is known to have a direct influence on the control of respiratory muscles as well as on metabolic and circulatory changes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of body position on respiratory function in pre-term infants whilst accounting for sleep state. Method Thoraco-abdominal motion was assessed using respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) to provide measures of relative rib cage (RC) and abdominal (AB) movement in ten non-ventilated pre-term infants. Continuous measurements of oxygen saturation (SaO2), pulse and heart rate (HR), were made and sleep state was recorded using behavioural criteria and electro-oculogram (EOG) measurements. Results The results showed a significant increase in HR in supine, but no significant difference in SaO2 as a function of position, compared to the prone position where a significant reduction was found in thoraco-abdominal asynchrony for both groups and a reduction in variability in both HR and SaO2. Intra-subject variability of thoraco-abdominal motion as a function of position demonstrated no significant difference on return to supine or on return to prone, illustrating good repeatability of measures. Conclusions Prone positioning of pre-term infants recovering from respiratory disease may improve respiratory function. As measured, the improvement in respiratory synchrony in prone position brings pre-term infants' breathing pattern into line with that expected in term infants. Copyright © 2000 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Relationship between stem CO2 efflux, stem sap velocity and xylem CO2 concentration in young loblolly pine treesPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 8 2006CHRIS A. MAIER ABSTRACT We measured diel patterns of stem surface CO2 efflux (Es, µmol m,2 s,1), sap velocity (vs, mm s,1) and xylem CO2 concetration ([CO2]) (Xs, %) in 8-year-old loblolly pine trees during the spring to determine how vs and Xs influence Es. All trees showed a strong diel hysteresis between Es and stem temperature, where at a given temperature, Es was lower during the day than at night. Diel variations in temperature-independent Es were correlated with vs (R2 = 0.54), such that at maximum vs, Es was reduced between 18 and 40%. However, this correlation may not represent a cause-and-effect relationship. In a subset of trees, vs was artificially reduced by progressively removing the tree canopy. Reducing vs to near zero had no effect on Es and did not change the diel hysteretic response to temperature. Diel Xs tended to decrease with vs and increase with Es, however, in defoliated trees, large increases in Xs, when vs , 0, had no effect on Es. We conclude that at this time of the year, Es is driven primarily by respiration of cambium and phloem tissues and that sap flow and xylem transport of CO2 had no direct influence on Es. [source] Development of thin-film Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and CdTe solar cellsPROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 2-3 2004A. Romeo Abstract Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and CdTe heterojunction solar cells grown on rigid (glass) or flexible foil substrates require p -type absorber layers of optimum optoelectronic properties and n -type wide-bandgap partner layers to form the p,n junction. Transparent conducting oxide and specific metal layers are used for front and back electrical contacts. Efficiencies of solar cells depend on various deposition methods as they control the optoelectronic properties of the layers and interfaces. Certain treatments, such as addition of Na in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and CdCl2 treatment of CdTe have a direct influence on the electronic properties of the absorber layers and efficiency of solar cells. Processes for the development of superstrate and substrate solar cells are reviewed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||