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Selected AbstractsThe Ramsay Report and the Regulation of Auditor Independence in AustraliaAUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, Issue 27 2002Colleen Hayes This paper provides an overview of key recommendations contained in the Ramsay Report (2001), "Independence of Australian Company Auditors", vis-à-vis current Australian requirements and the overseas developments on which they are based. Specific reference is made to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission "Rules on Audit Independence", released in November 2000, and the proposals contained in the International Federation of Accountants Ethics Committee's re-exposure draft, "Independence,Proposed Changes to the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants", released in April 2001. [source] ,Going out': the growth of Chinese foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia and its implications for corporate social responsibilityCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2005Stephen Frost Abstract Analysts have finally started to pay increasing attention to the rapidly rising levels of Chinese investment abroad. Deals such as Lenovo's purchase of IBM's PC production arm have sparked interest in a quiet revolution. The story now is not just about the flow of foreign investment in China, but also of the flow of China's investment into other countries. However, most interest so far has concentrated on big ticket investments in the West and the consequences for European and particularly US geopolitical interests. Of less concern thus far have been the implications of Chinese investment on corporate social responsibility. This paper is a preliminary assessment of the potential implications of Chinese investments: in particular, the effect on sanctions designed to improve human rights (with specific reference to Myanmar), and whether pressure can be maintained on foreign investors to comply with international standards and norms in the face of Chinese investment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Patterns of isozyme variation as indicators of biogeographic history in Pilgerodendron uviferum (D. Don) FlorínDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 2 2002A. C. Premoli Abstract. The effects of Pleistocene glaciations on the genetic characteristics of the most austral conifer in the world, Pilgerodendron uviferum, were analysed with specific reference to the hypothesis that the species persisted locally in ice-free areas in temperate South America. It was expected that genetic variation would decrease with latitude, given that ice fields were larger in southern Patagonia and thus refugia were probably located towards the northern distributional limit of the species as suggested by the fossil record. In addition, an increase in among-population genetic divergence was expected with increasing distance to putative glacial refugia. We examined the relationship between location and within-population variability indices of 20 Pilgerodendron populations derived from isozyme analyses. We analysed possible refugia hypotheses by the distribution of allele frequencies using multivariate discriminant analysis. The degree of genetic differentiation with geographical distance between all population pairs was investigated by Mantel tests. Results indicated that Pilgerodendron populations are highly monomorphic, probably reflecting past population bottlenecks and reduced gene flow. Southernmost populations tend to be the least genetically variable and were therefore probably more affected by glacial activity than northern ones. Populations located outside ice limits seem to have been isolated during the glacial period. The presence of centres of genetic diversity, together with the lack of a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances and the absence of geographical patterns of allelic frequencies at most analysed alleles, may indicate that Pilgerodendron did not advance southward after the last glaciation from a unique northern refugium, but spread from several surviving populations in ice-free areas in Patagonia instead. [source] Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and sports: a case,control studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2005M. Valenti An increased incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) amongst soccer players in Italy has recently been reported. A case,control study (300 cases and 300 matched controls) wass conducted to explore the association between ALS and physical/sports activities, with specific reference to trauma-related risk. Neither the practice of competitive sports nor sports-related traumas were found to be associated with an increased risk of ALS. The practice of physical activities or sports is not per se a risk factor for ALS. Our results exclude sports-related microtraumas as etiopathogenic factors in the natural history of ALS. [source] The implementation of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischaemic stroke , a scientific position statement from the National Stroke Foundation and the Stroke Society of AustralasiaINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2009Ad Hoc Committee representing the National Stroke Foundation, the Stroke Society of Australasia Abstract Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been licensed in Australia for thrombolysis in selected patients with acute ischaemic stroke since 2003. The use of tPA is low but is increasing across Australia and national audits indicate efficacy and safety outcomes equivalent to international benchmarks. Implementing tPA therapy in clinical practice is, however, challenging and requires a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to acute stroke care across prehospital, emergency department and inpatient care sectors. Stroke care units are an essential ingredient underpinning safe implementation of stroke thrombolysis. Support systems such as care pathways, therapy delivery protocols, and thrombolysis-experienced multidisciplinary care teams are also important enablers. Where delivery of stroke thrombolysis is being planned, health systems need to be re-configured to provide these important elements. This consensus statement provides a review of the evidence for, and implementation of, tPA in acute ischaemic stroke with specific reference to the Australian health-care system. [source] An object relations approach to studying prejudice with specific reference to anti-semitism: the long-term use of a lethal apocalyptic projectionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOANALYTIC STUDIES, Issue 1 2007Clyde Friedman Abstract Prejudice seems to be part of the human condition. The specific prejudice of anti-Semitism has affected Jews for at least 2300 years with, at times, horrendous consequences. What psychodynamics are operating in prejudice in general, and in the specific prejudice of antisemitism? What has caused such a small group to be targeted by such long-standing enmity? Will prejudice or antisemitism ever end or do groups need scapegoats and do the Jewish people fit the scapegoat profile? This article reviews some of the psychodynamics as described by Freud, Klein, Fairbairn, Bion, and others that make people susceptible to fear and prejudice, and to the particular prejudice of antisemitism. Mention will be made of some of the historical, religious, and sociological dynamics that contribute to antisemitism. With reference to Object Relations theory and the Apocalyptic-Messianic myth present in monotheistic religions, an explanation is suggested as to how prejudice and antisemitism become lethal on an individual and large-group scale. Hitler is referred to as a specific illustration of this phenomenon. Some case examples from the writer's clinical practice are also utilized to further illustrate the psychodynamics presented. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Political parties' use of web based marketing: some preliminary findings relating to first-time voters in the 2005 general electionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 3 2006Graeme Drummond This paper examines the marketing of political parties, via websites, in the 2005 UK general election with specific reference to first-time voters (age 18,24). Common perception views young voters as predominantly politically apathetic and less likely to vote than older generations. However, research literature suggests given the right message and medium, the group will engage in the political process. Could the Internet provide a path to engaging younger voters and will websites become a key marketing vehicle for political parties? Young voters were asked to review political party websites using an extended web assessment method (EWAM), which is an evaluation tool created to determine both the importance and presence of website evaluation criteria. Preliminary research suggests that respondents felt the Internet had a significant role to play in the election process and marketing of campaign messages. However, while political parties scored well in relation to the technical/software aspects of website design, participants felt website material had little appeal and were ineffective in influencing voter intent. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Heritage attractions and tourism development in Asia: a comparative study of Hong Kong and SingaporeINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 5 2002Joan C. Henderson Abstract The paper compares the principal Asian city destinations of Hong Kong and Singapore with specific reference to heritage attractions and their contribution to tourism development, revealing contrasts and similarities that offer an insight into more general practices and processes. Authorities are actively pursuing tourism marketing and development initiatives incorporating the promotion of selected forms of heritage in order to stimulate visitor arrivals, but also employing heritage to define and articulate national and cultural identity. Heritage is thus shown to have a political and socio-cultural significance in addition to its economic value as a generator of revenue, foreign exchange and employment. These functions help to explain the higher priority allocated to it in strategic planning and its increasing use to attract visitors throughout much of Asia. Contexts may be very different, yet approaches correspond, as demonstrated by the circumstances of Hong Kong and Singapore. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Making work pay, making tax credits work: An assessment with specific reference to lone-parent employmentINTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY REVIEW, Issue 2 2008Jane Millar Abstract This article examines the origins, aims, and design of tax credits in the United Kingdom, and discusses the extent to which tax credits represent a new approach in social security policy. It then focuses on the role that these transfers play in supporting lone mothers in employment, drawing on the experiences of lone-parent families to explore how tax credits worked for them. The discussion highlights the tensions between family and employment change and tax credits rules about reporting changes in circumstances and income. [source] Molecular mechanisms of calorie restriction's protection against age-related sclerosisIUBMB LIFE, Issue 12 2006Elena Chiarpotto Abstract The current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of the protective effect of calorie restriction (CR) against age-related fibrosclerosis is tentatively reviewed with specific reference to the role of oxidative stress in aging. The effects of oxidative stress are often mediated by its own final products. Of these, 4-hydroxy-2,3-nonenal (HNE) induces the expression and synthesis of transforming growth factor ,1 (TGF,1) and activates nuclear binding of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1) thus stimulating fibrogenesis. Several studies have shown that, as well as extending mean and maximum life span in a variety of species, CR delays the onset and slows the progression of a variety of age-associated diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neoplasia. However, the anti-aging mechanisms of CR are still not clearly understood. Of the numerous hypotheses put forward, one that still remains popular is protection against the age-associated increase of oxidative stress and consequent cell damage. CR protects the rat aorta from the age-related increase of both oxidative damage and fibrosis; as regards the possible mechanism/s of CR's protection against fibrosclerosis, it is conceivable that, by decreasing oxidative stress, CR reduces HNE levels and consequently TGF,1 expression and collagen deposition, likely by down-regulating the activation of Jun-N terminal kinase and of AP-1. Through the modulation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress CR may also attenuate the age-associated increase in the inflammatory milieu, thus preserving vascular functional integrity by suppressing the age-associated increase in inflammatory enzyme activities and prostanoids. iubmb Life, 58: 695-702, 2006 [source] Grasslands, grazing and biodiversity: editors' introductionJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Watkinson A.R. Summary 1Natural, semi-natural and artificial grasslands occur extensively around the globe, but successful management for production and biodiversity poses several dilemmas for conservationists and farmland managers. Deriving from three continents (Africa, Australia and Europe), papers in this Special Profile interface three specific issues: plant responses to grazing, plant invasions and the responses to management of valued grassland biota. 2Although pivotal in grassland management, plant responses to grazing are sometimes difficult to predict. Two alternative approaches are presented here. The first uses natural variations in sheep grazing around a water hole to model the dynamic population response of a chenopod shrub. The second analyses a long-term grazing experiment to investigate the links between plant traits and grazing response. 3Linked often crucially with grazing, but also driven sometimes by extrinsic factors, invasions are often cause for concern in grassland management. The invasions of grasslands by woody plants threatens grassland habitats while the invasions of pastures by alien weeds reduces pasture productivity. The papers in this section highlight how a complementary range of management activities can reduce the abundance of invaders. A final paper highlights how global environmental change is presenting new circumstances in which grassland invasion can occur. 4The impact of grassland management on biodiversity is explored in this Special Profile with specific reference to invertebrates, increasingly recognized both for the intrinsic conservation value of many groups and for their role in ecosystem processes. The potential for manipulating flooding in wet grasslands to increase the soil invertebrate prey of wading birds is illustrated, together with the roles of management and landscape structure in enhancing insect diversity. 5In the face of climate change and growing demands for agricultural productivity, future pressures on grassland ecosystems will intensify. In this system in which productivity and conservation are so closely bound, there is a need both to raise the profile of the issues involved, and to improve our understanding of the applied ecology required for successful management. [source] Joining the dots: The links between education and health and implications for Indigenous childrenJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 12 2009Vanessa Johnston Abstract This paper provides a general overview of the literature investigating the nexus between education and health; discussing the relationship between these domains at individual, family and community levels. We then briefly examine the programme and research implications of such a framework for interventions aimed at improving education and health, with specific reference to young Indigenous Australians. We find that while education and health are inextricably linked, throughout the life course and at different levels of influence, there is less empirical work exploring this relationship in an Indigenous context. Given the gravity of literacy and numeracy failure rates in school-based education and its potential impact on Indigenous health, we assert an urgent case for rigorous research into interventions that address the barriers to effectiveness in implementing quality educational experiences and opportunities for Indigenous children. [source] Everyday objects of learning about health and healing and implications for science educationJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 2 2006Wanja Gitari The role of science education in rural development is of great interest to science educators. In this study I investigated how residents of rural Kirumi, Kenya, approach health and healing, through discussions and semistructured and in-depth interviews with 150 residents, 3 local herbalists, and 2 medical researchers over a period of 6 months. I constructed objects of learning by looking for similarities and differences within interpretive themes. Objects of learning found comprise four types of personal learning tools, three types of relational learning tools, three genres of moral obligation, and five genres of knowledge guarding. Findings show that rural people use (among other learning tools) inner sensing to engage thought processes that lead to health and healing knowledge. The sociocultural context is also an important component in learning. Inner sensing and residents' sociocultural context are not presently emphasized in Kenyan science teaching. I discuss the potential use of rural objects of learning in school science, with specific reference to a health topic in the Kenyan science curriculum. In addition, the findings add to the literature in the Science, Technology, Society, and Environment (STSE) approach to science education, and cross-cultural and global science education. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 43: 172,193, 2006 [source] Some Additional Comments on the Sources and Measurement of the Benefits of Small Business Assistance ProgramsJOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2002James J. Chrisman This article continues a longstanding debate between the authors and Dr. William C. Wood on the usefulness of a particular application of cost-benefit analysis to evaluate small business assistance programs. We provide further discussions of the measurement of primary and secondary benefits with specific reference to the illustrative cases Wood presented in his 1999 article. We then review Wood's suggestions for improvements to small business program evaluations and discuss the progress made in recent evaluations of small business assistance programs. Finally, we reiterate the importance of innovation as an additional source of "secondary" benefits to the economy. [source] Metaphors we discriminate by: Naturalized themes in Austrian newspaper articles about asylum seekersJOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 3 2001Elisabeth El Refaie With specific reference to the use of metaphor in Austrian newspaper reports on the arrival of Kurdish asylum seekers in Italy in January 1998, this study suggests ways in which cognitive metaphor theory can be given a stronger socio-political dimension. The dominant metaphors portray the asylum seekers as water, as criminals, or as an invading army. The repeated use of these themes in relatively fixed lexical and syntactic forms and across all the newspapers seems to indicate that they have become accepted as the ,natural' way of describing the situation. It will be argued that the ,naturalization' of particular metaphors can contribute to a blurring of the boundaries between the literal and the non-literal. [source] Ethnic variation in lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and lengthALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2008K. J. VEGA Summary Background, Oesophageal manometry (OM) is used to diagnose oesophageal motor disorders. Normal values of OM among United States ethnic groups are only available for Hispanic Americans (HA). Aim, To obtain normal values of OM in adult African American (AA) volunteers, compare these with those obtained in HA and non-Hispanic white (nHw) volunteers to determine if ethnic variation in normal oesophageal motor function exists. Methods, Healthy AA, HA and nHw were recruited from the Jacksonville metropolitan area. Ethnicity was self-reported. Exclusion criteria were symptoms suggestive of oesophageal disease, medication use or concurrent illness affecting OM. All underwent OM using a solid-state system with wet swallows. Resting lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure and LOS length were measured at mid-expiration, while per cent peristaltic contractions, distal oesophageal contraction velocity, amplitude and duration were measured after 5 cc water swallows. Results, Fifty-six AA, 20 HA and 48 nHw were enrolled. All completed OM. AA had significantly higher resting LOS pressure, LOS length and distal oesophageal contraction duration than nHw (P < 0.05). Conclusions, Significant ethnic exist in OM findings between AA and nHw. These underscore the need for ethnic specific reference values for OM to allow for correct diagnosis of oesophageal motor disorders in AA. [source] Reconsidering Regulation and Governance Theory: A Learning ApproachLAW & POLICY, Issue 2 2009JOHN S. F. WRIGHT Theories and frameworks for regulation of particular industries or types of behavior have grown in richness in recent years. This article identifies three perspectives within contemporary regulatory theory: "normative,""descriptive," and "poststructuralist" perspectives. We ask whether contemporary models of regulatory governance arrangements adequately capture and explain the characteristics and operation of existing regulatory spaces. We outline three key models linked to these perspectives (responsive regulation, smart regulation, and nodal governance) and discuss their relevance with specific reference to one complex case study, the gambling industry in a federal polity, Australia, where the regulatory arrangements are quite diverse. We argue that regulatory theory needs to remain flexible if it is to inform an understanding of concrete regulatory challenges, thereby assisting analysts and practitioners to assess current and potential approaches for improved regulatory governance arrangements. Accordingly, we build a case for considering a learning perspective on regulation and governance theory linked to pragmatism. [source] Reformulation and the Learning of French Pronominal Verbs in a Canadian French Immersion ContextMODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2002Sharon Lapkin In this article, we examine a subset of collaborative dialogues that occurred in a multistage task where 8 Canadian grade 7 French immersion students worked together in pairs. Each pair wrote a story, noticed differences between their text and a reformulator's revision of that text, and reflected on their noticing. We analyze the transcripts of their talk in these 3 task sessions, identifying and describing the language-related episodes. We trace the development of the target language (French), with specific reference to pronominal verbs, from the learners' first collaborative draft to their posttests. The study explores task differences and differences between lower- and higher-proficiency dyads. The language-related episodes selected for close analysis, along with the posttest data, provide evidence that in most cases, learners have progressed in their correct use of pronominal verbs in French. [source] NAGPRA AT 20: Museum Collections and ReconnectionsMUSEUM ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Martha Graham ABSTRACT Since the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was enacted 20 years ago, the identification and repatriation of cultural items has become essential to museum,tribe relationships. Interactions prompted by repatriation policies and laws impel tribal representatives and museums alike to take a new look at museum collections. Three examples of interactions between Indian tribes and the American Museum of Natural History that were prompted by NAGPRA demonstrate how museum practices are changing. A series of responses by tribal representatives involved in these NAGPRA cases, with specific reference to their reconnections with the material culture in museum collections and museum,tribe relationships, show the ways in which tribal members frame the issues. [source] An introduction to electrocardiogram monitoringNURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 1 2010Phil Jevon The aim of this paper is to provide an introduction to electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. The objectives are to: ,define an ECG; ,describe how the ECG relates to cardiac contraction, with specific reference to the conduction system of the heart; ,recognize sinus rhythm; ,list the indications for ECG monitoring; ,discuss the important features of a modern bedside cardiac monitor; ,describe where to position ECG electrodes; ,outline a suggested procedure for ECG monitoring; ,discuss the infection control issues related to ECG monitoring. [source] Gender, Violence and Global Politics: Contemporary Debates in Feminist Security StudiesPOLITICAL STUDIES REVIEW, Issue 2 2009Laura J. Shepherd In this essay I develop a critique of the war/peace dichotomy that is foundational to conventional approaches to IR through a review of three recent publications in the field of feminist security studies. These texts are Cynthia Enloe's (2007) Globalization and Militarism, David Roberts' (2008) Human Insecurity, and Mothers, Monsters, Whores: Women's Violence in Global Politics by Laura Sjoberg and Caron Gentry (2008). Drawing on the insights of these books, I ask first how violence is understood in global politics, with specific reference to the gendered disciplinary blindnesses that frequently characterise mainstream approaches. Second, I demonstrate how a focus on war and peace can neglect to take into account the politics of everyday violence: the violences of the in-between times that international politics recognises neither as ,war' nor ,peace' and the violences inherent to times of peace that are overlooked in the study of war. Finally, I argue that feminist security studies offers an important corrective to the foundational assumptions of IR, which themselves can perpetuate the very instances of violence that they seek to redress. If we accept the core insights of feminist security studies , the centrality of the human subject; the importance of particular configurations of masculinity and femininity; and the gendered conceptual framework that underpins the discipline of IR , we are encouraged to envisage a rather different politics of the global. [source] Duncan's model for X, -control charts: sensitivity analysis to input parametersQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010Cinzia Mortarino Abstract Duncan's model is a well-known procedure to build a control chart with specific reference to the production process it has to be applied to. Although many papers report true applications proving the procedure's noteworthy economic advantages over control charts set purely on the basis of standard statistical criteria, this method is often perceived only as an academic exercise. Perhaps the greater barrier preventing its practical application stems from the difficulty in making cost items explicit. In this paper a sensitivity analysis is proposed for misspecification in the cost parameters for optimal solutions of Duncan's model. While similar contributions published in the literature perform sensitivity analyses with a one-factor-at-a-time scheme, the original contribution of this paper is represented by the focus given on interactions among changes in values of different cost parameters. The results obtained here denote that all factors significantly affect optimal solutions through quite complicated interactions. This should not, in our opinion, discourage the implementation of Duncan's model, pointing conversely to its robust versions, already available in the current literature. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Sex differences in the social behavior of wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis)AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Kathy Y. Slater Abstract Competition for resources and the need for cooperation are reported to affect patterns of social interactions and thus the quality of social relationships in primates. Relationships may be described as high quality when both individuals behave in a way that benefits their partner. We investigated the distribution of a wide range of social behaviors across sex partner combinations of adult spider monkeys with specific reference to contested resources. Data were collected from two communities of wild spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis) in the Otoch Ma'ax Yetel Kooh reserve in Yucatan, Mexico. Affiliative behavior was exchanged most frequently between males, and as male,male aggression was rare, male,male social relationships were characterized as high quality. Female,female social relationships were best described as low quality as females showed no preference to be in proximity with other females and female,female affiliative behavior was rare. Relationships between the sexes generally were characterized by high rates of female-directed male aggression, although additional investigation into the effects of kinship and female reproductive state on male,female relationships is required before further conclusions can be drawn. Dyadic and coalitionary female,female aggression was significantly higher than expected in a feeding context, confirming that female spider monkeys primarily compete for access to food. Male,male aggression did not increase significantly when in the presence of females, but males embraced at higher rates when in mixed-sex subgroups. As embraces serve to reduce the likelihood of aggression during tense situations, high rates of male,male embraces in mixed-sex subgroups may mitigate male conflicts over access to females. Am. J. Primatol. 71:21,29, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Left on the Shelf: Local Government and the Australian ConstitutionAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 4 2002Chris Aulich When the Australian Constitution was first written, those framing it did not include specific reference to local government. The authors have examined the federation conventions, papers and formal discussions of the 1890s and noted the little prominence given to the case for including local government in the Australian Constitution. It appears that the leaders of the federation movement did not deliberately exclude local government; rather, there was little pressure to include local agendas and concerns, and few were willing to champion the case for the inclusion of local government. [source] Altered expression of aquaporin-2 in human explants with chronic renal allograft dysfunctionBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2005Kossen M.T. Ho OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of aquaporins, a recently discovered family of transmembrane water channels, in human renal explants, with specific reference to chronic renal allograft dysfunction (CRAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemistry for aquaporin-1 and -2 was used in 11 explants, of which five had clinically and histologically confirmed CRAD. Controls were taken from the six explants unaffected by CRAD and from histologically normal areas of six kidneys excised for renal tumours. RESULTS In the renal tumour control group, aquaporin-1 immunoreactivity was detected in the glomerular endothelium, Bowman's capsule, the proximal convoluted tubules and the thin limb of the loop of Henle, whereas immunoreactivity for aquaporin-2 was detected in the collecting ducts only. Of the explants without CRAD, where architecture was preserved, immunoreactivity for aquaporin-1 and -2 was the same as in the renal tumour controls. In the two explants with no CRAD and loss of collecting ducts, there was no aquaporin-2 immunoreactivity. In five explants with CRAD, immunoreactivity for aquaporin-2 was decreased or absent from the medulla to the cortex. The apparent decreased immunoreactivity of aquaporin-1 in this group was secondary to a decrease in the number of viable proximal tubules. CONCLUSION There was less aquaporin-2 immunoreactivity in human renal explants diagnosed with CRAD, starting from the medullary region. In explants with no CRAD and viable collecting ducts, or in normal controls, aquaporin-2 immunoreactivity remained unchanged. Aquaporins might be useful as markers for CRAD. [source] The role of service delivery non governmental organisations in policy reformCHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 6 2007Judith Harwin Abstract This article considers the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in supporting the development of policy to enhance child welfare and protection services. It examines some of the opportunities and barriers which exist for small-scale service,delivery organisations to contribute effectively to policy formulation and explores opportunities for the development of this capacity. The discussion is illustrated by specific reference to the role of the NGOs in southeastern Europe, the Former Soviet Union and Central Asia. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Generation and propagation of gastric slow wavesCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Dirk F Van Helden Summary 1. Mechanisms underlying the generation and propagation of gastrointestinal slow wave depolarizations have long been controversial. The present review aims to collate present knowledge on this subject with specific reference to slow waves in gastric smooth muscle. 2. At present, there is strong agreement that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are the pacemaker cells that generate slow waves. What has been less clear is the relative role of primary types of ICC, including the network in the myenteric plexus (ICC-MY) and the intramuscular network (ICC-IM). It is concluded that both ICC-MY and ICC-IM are likely to serve a major role in slow wave generation and propagation. 3. There has been long-standing controversy as to how slow waves ,propagate' circumferentially and down the gastrointestinal tract. Two mechanisms have been proposed, one being action potential (AP)-like conduction and the other phase wave-based ,propagation' resulting from an interaction of coupled oscillators. Studies made on single bundle gastric strips indicate that both mechanisms apply with relative dominance depending on conditions; the phase wave mechanism is dominant under circumstances of rhythmically generating slow waves and the AP-like propagation is dominant when the system is perturbed. 4. The phase wave mechanism (termed Ca2+ phase wave) uses cyclical Ca2+ release as the oscillator, with coupling between oscillators mediated by several factors, including: (i) store-induced depolarization; (ii) resultant electrical current flow/depolarization through the pacemaker cell network; and (iii) depolarization-induced increase in excitability of downstream Ca2+ stores. An analogy is provided by pendulums in an array coupled together by a network of springs. These, when randomly activated, entrain to swing at the same frequency but with a relative delay along the row giving the impression of a propagating wave. 5. The AP-like mechanism (termed voltage-accelerated Ca2+ wave) propagates sequentially like a conducting AP. However, it is different in that it depends on regenerative store Ca2+ release and resultant depolarization rather than regenerative activation of voltage-dependent channels in the cell membrane. 6. The applicability of these mechanisms to describing propagation in large intact gastrointestinal tissues, where voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry is also likely to be functional, is discussed. [source] IMPLICATIONS OF CROSS-TALK BETWEEN TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1 SIGNALLING IN SKELETAL MUSCLECLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Miranda D Grounds SUMMARY 1Inflammation, particularly the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF), increases necrosis of skeletal muscle. Depletion of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, cromolyn blockade of mast cell degranulation or pharmacological blockade of TNF reduces necrosis of dystrophic myofibres in the mdx mouse model of the lethal childhood disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). 2Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a very important cytokine for maintenance of skeletal muscle mass and the transgenic overexpression of IGF-1 within muscle cells reduces necrosis of dystrophic myofibres in mdx mice. Thus, IGF-1 usually has the opposite effect to TNF. 3Activation of TNF signalling via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) can inhibit IGF-1 signalling by phosphorylation and conformational changes in insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 downstream of the IGF-1 receptor. Such silencing of IGF-1 signalling in situations where inflammatory cytokines are elevated has many implications for skeletal muscle in vivo. 4The basis for these interactions between TNF and IGF-1 is discussed with specific reference to clinical consequences for myofibre necrosis in DMD and also for the wasting (atrophy) of skeletal muscles that occurs in very old people and in cachexia associated with inflammatory disorders. [source] Human Enteric Viruses as Causes of Foodborne DiseaseCOMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND FOOD SAFETY, Issue 2 2002A. I. Sair ABSTRACT Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that enteric viruses are the leading cause of foodborne disease in the U.S.A. and, indeed, worldwide. Certainly, advances in epidemiology and molecular biology have improved the ability to study this previously elusive group of foodborne pathogens. The purpose of this article is to review the agents, transmission routes, epidemiology, persistence, diagnosis, and detection of foodborne viruses and their diseases, with specific reference to the role that contemporary technologies have had in improving our understanding of this important group of emerging foodborne pathogens. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||