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Distribution by Scientific Domains
Life Sciences29%
Medical Sciences25%
Humanities and Social Sciences16%
Earth and Environmental Science15%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting5%
Psychology2%
Chemistry2%
4 Other Domains6%
Distribution within Life Sciences
Evolution17%
Animal Science & Zoology6%
25 Other Subdomains59%

Terms modified by Western

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    		•
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    		•
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  • western yellows virus

    • Selected Abstracts

    Local Gradients of Cowbird Abundance and Parasitism Relative to Livestock Grazing in a Western Landscape

    CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
    Christopher B. Goguen
    We predicted that both cowbird abundance and parasitism rates of vireo nests would decrease with increasing distance from active livestock grazing, and that the nesting success of vireos would increase. We measured cowbird abundance and host density and located and monitored vireo nests in pinyon-juniper and mixed-conifer habitats that ranged from actively grazed to isolated from livestock grazing by up to 12 km. Cowbird abundance declined with distance from active livestock grazing and was not related to host density or habitat type. Brood parasitism levels of vireo nests (n = 182) decreased from> 80% in actively grazed habitats to 33% in habitats that were 8,12 km from active grazing but did not vary by habitat type or distance to forest edge. Vireo nesting success was higher in mixed-conifer habitat than in pinyon-juniper but was unrelated to distance from active livestock grazing. Nest losses due to parasitism declined with distance from active livestock grazing. Our results suggest that cowbird abundance and parasitism rates of hosts may be distributed as a declining gradient based on distance from cowbird feeding sites and that isolation from feeding sites can reduce the effects of parasitism on host populations. These findings provide support for management techniques that propose to reduce local cowbird numbers and parasitism levels by manipulating the distribution of cowbird feeding sites. The presence of parasitized nests> 8 km from active livestock grazing suggests that, in some regions, management efforts may need to occur at larger scales than previously realized. Resumen: Estudiamos patrones locales de abundancia del tordo cabeza café (Molothrus ater), las tasas de parasitismo y el éxito de nidada de un hospedero común, el vireo (Vireo plumbeus), en relación con la distribución del pastoreo en una región poco desarrollada del noreste de Nuevo México, entre 1992 y 1997. Pronosticamos que tanto la abundancia del tordo, como las tasas de parasitismo de nidos de vireo disminuirían con un incremento en la distancia a las zonas de pastoreo activo de ganado y el éxito de nidada de vireos incrementaría. Medimos la abundancia de tordos y la densidad de hospederos y localizamos y monitoreamos los nidos de vireos en hábitats de pino-cedro y de coníferas mixtas que variaron desde activamente pastoreadas hasta sitios distanciados del pastoreo hasta por 12 km. La abundancia de los tordos disminuyó con la distancia de las zonas de pastoreo activo de ganado y no estuvo relacionada con la densidad de hospederos o el tipo de hábitat. Los niveles de parasitismo de las nidadas del vireo (n = 182) disminuyeron de> 80% en hábitats activamente pastoreados a 33% en hábitats que estuvieron de 8 a 12 km de distancia de los sitios de pastoreo activo, pero no variaron con el tipo de hábitat ni la distancia al borde del bosque. El éxito de nidada de vireos fue mayor en el hábitat mixto de coníferas que en el hábitat de pino-cedro, pero no estuvo relacionado con la distancia al sitio de pastoreo. Las pérdidas debidas al parasitismo disminuyeron con la distancia al sitio activo de pastoreo. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la abundancia de tordos y las tasas de parasitismo de hospederos podría estar distribuida en forma de un gradiente en descenso basado en la distancia a los sitios de alimentación de los tordos y a que el aislamiento de los sitios de alimentación puede reducir los efectos del parasitismo de las poblaciones de hospederos. Estos resultados apoyan las técnicas de manejo que proponen la reducción local de números de tordos y los niveles de parasitismo al manipular la distribución de sitios de alimentación de tordos. La presencia de nidos parasitados> 8 km de sitios con pastoreo activo sugiere que, en algunas regiones, los esfuerzos de manejo deben ocurrir a escalas mayores a lo que anteriormente se pensaba. [source]

    Creative Management: A Predicted Development from Research into Creativity and Management

    CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2007
    Fangqi Xu
    A proposal is made for the establishment of a conceptual domain of Creative Management by fusion of two related bodies of knowledge, that of management studies and creativity. Through an examination of examples from around the world, we show how Creative Management is appearing in embryonic form as a global possibility, emerging from and enriching the predominantly American contributions of earlier stages. We suggest that such a development will take management studies forward from its historical trajectory, through the global convergence of organizational theories and practices. The proposed synthesis of creativity and management indicates the possibilities of a new stage in management incorporating humanistic, socio-technical and knowledge management components. Collectively, the conceptual shift is towards what we have labelled Toyotaoism, in acknowledgement of practices and theorizing developed from the integration of Western and Eastern belief systems and theories in action. [source]

    Cultural Sovereignty in a Global Art Economy: Egyptian Cultural Policy and the New Western Interest in Art from the Middle East

    CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
    Jessica WinegarArticle first published online: 7 JAN 200
    The post-1989 transformation of the Egyptian art world reveals the particular tenacity of colonial logics and national attachments in culture industries built through anticolonial nationalism and socialism. Tensions emerged between and among Western and Egyptian curators, critics, and artists with the development of a foreign-dominated private-sector art market and as Egyptian art begins to circulate internationally. This international circulation of art objects has produced rearranged strategies of governance in the cultural realm, collusions and conflicts between the public and private sector, and, most importantly, a new articulation of cultural sovereignty. [source]

    Caring in Context: Four Feminist Theories on Gender and Education

    CURRICULUM INQUIRY, Issue 1 2003
    Audrey Thompson
    The purpose of this article is to put the problematic claims made for educational caring in context by indicating how three competing feminist analyses have addressed the question of gender inequity. Neither from the liberal perspective offered by socialization theory nor from the leftist perspectives offered by structural and deconstructive analyses can caring be considered an adequate solution to educational inequity. Indeed, because "caring" as theorized in gender difference theory turns upon specifically Western, white, middle,class, and heterosexual assumptions about gender and femininity, it risks contributing to patterns of educational exclusion. To understand both the promise and the limitations of gender difference theory, it is necessary to evaluate that theory in the context of other influential educational feminist theories. [source]

    Dystrophin upregulation in pressure-overloaded cardiac hypertrophy in rats

    CYTOSKELETON, Issue 1 2003
    Masato Maeda
    Abstract Dystrophin is a cytoskeletal protein localized to the sarcolemma of skeletal and cardiac muscle, and neurons. We have recently demonstrated that a significant cardiac damage including myocytes injury, inflammation, and fibrosis, was found in dystrophin-deficient myocardium during pressure overload [Kamogawa et al., 2001: Cardiovasc Res 50:509,515]. However, little is known about how the cardiac sarcolemmal cytoskeleton produces qualitative and quantitative changes in response to pressure overload. Accordingly, we investigated dystrophin gene expression and protein accumulation during cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy was produced by banding of the abdominal aorta of rats. Total RNA from the left ventricle of the heart was used for a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Dystrophin mRNA expression significantly increased by 33 ± 18% at 1 day (P < 0.05) and 45 ± 19% at 2 days (P < 0.01) after banding, while G3PDH mRNA showed no significant change. RT-PCR for dystrophin tissue-specific exon 1 revealed that only muscle type promoter, but not non-muscle type promoter (brain and Purkinje-cell type), was activated immediately after banding. Immunohistochemistry for dystrophin showed intense cellular membrane staining with an increase in the perimeter of the myocytes by 14% at 3 days (46.3 ,m, P < 0.01) and 19% at 7 days (51.2 ,m, P < 0.01) after banding. Western blotting also showed dystrophin protein increased by 14 ± 6% at 2 days (P < 0.05) and by 32 ± 10% at 3 days (P < 0.01) after aortic banding. In conclusion, upregulation of dystrophin mRNA expression and protein accumulation occurs in response to cardiac hypertrophy. These data and the vulnerability of dystrophin-deficient myocardium to pressure overload suggest that dystrophin could play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the sarcolemma. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 55:26,35, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Complementary and integrative medical therapies, the FDA, and the NIH: definitions and regulation

    DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2003
    Michael H. Cohen
    ABSTRACT: ,,The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) presently defines complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as covering "a broad range of healing philosophies (schools of thought), approaches, and therapies that mainstream Western (conventional) medicine does not commonly use, accept, study, understand, or make available. The research landscape, including NCCAM-funded research, is continually changing and subject to vigorous methodologic and interpretive debates. Part of the impetus for greater research dollars in this arena has been increasing consumer reliance on CAM to dramatically expand. State (not federal) law controls much of CAM practice. However, a significant federal role exists in the regulation of dietary supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates foods, drugs, and cosmetics in interstate commerce. No new "drug" may be introduced into interstate commerce unless proven "safe" and "effective" for its intended use, as determined by FDA regulations. "Foods", however, are subject to different regulatory requirements, and need not go through trials proving safety and efficacy. The growing phenomenon of consumer use of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other "dietary supplements" challenged the historical divide between drugs and foods. The federal Dietary Supplements Health Education Act (DSHEA) allows manufacturers to distribute dietary supplements without having to prove safety and efficacy, so long as the manufacturers make no claims linking the supplements to a specific disease. State law regulates the use of CAM therapies through a variety of legal rules. Of these, several major areas of concern for clinicians are professional licensure, scope of practice, and malpractice. Regarding licensure, each state has enacted medical licensing that prohibits the unlicensed practice of medicine and thereby criminalizes activity by unlicensed CAM providers who offer health care services to patients. Malpractice is defined as unskillful practice which fails to conform to a standard of care in the profession and results in injury. The definition is no different in CAM than in general medicine; its application to CAM, however, raises novel questions. Courts rely on medical consensus regarding the appropriateness of a given therapy. A framework for assessing potential liability risk involves assessing the medical evidence concerning safety and efficacy, and then aligning clinical decisions with liability concerns. Ultimately research will or will not establish a specific CAM therapy as an important part of the standard of care for the condition in question. Legal rules governing CAM providers and practices are, in many cases, new and evolving. Further, laws vary by state and their application depends on the specific clinical scenario in question. New research is constantly emerging, as are federal and state legislative developments and judicial opinions resulting from litigation. [source]

    Environment and Modernity in Transitional China: Frontiers of Ecological Modernization

    DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE, Issue 1 2006
    Arthur P. J. Mol
    The process of institutionalizing environmental interests and considerations in Western (especially, but not only, European) industrialized societies has been reflected and theorized upon by social scientists, many of whom have adopted the ,ecological modernization' framework. One of the key questions on the research agenda of ecological modernization is its appropriateness for developing or industrializing countries in other parts of the world. This contribution analyses to what extent environmental reforms in contemporary China can be interpreted as ecological modernization. It focuses on the similarities and differences between Chinese and European modes or styles of ecological modernization with respect to the role of state institutions, market dynamics, civil society pressure and international integration. [source]

    ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION IN THE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: PRESENT AND FUTURE VIEW OF EUROPE

    DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2009
    Horst Neuhaus
    In Western countries endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has been widely accepted for treatment of early Barrett`s neoplasia and flat or depressed colorectal adenomas. In contrast endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is infrequently performed for several reasons. It seems to be difficult to overcome the learning curve of this difficult technique because of the low case volume of early gastric cancer. On the other hand ESD of esophageal or colorectal lesions is even more challenging and is considered to be inappropriate for learning. In addition the indication for esophageal or colorectal ESD is controversial in view of excellent results of the well established EMR technique which is less time-consuming and safer than ESD. A recent survey of leading Western endoscopy centers indicated the limited experience with ESD with a low number of cases for all potential indications. Only a few training courses have been established and the number of ongoing clinical studies is limited. Only 12 out of 340 published articles on "endoscopic mucosal dissection" were reported from Western countries. A better acceptance of ESD requires improvement of the technique to allow an easier, faster and safer approach. There is a strong demand for structured training courses and limitations of human cases to selected centers which participate in prospective trials. A close collaboration between Western and Asian centers is recommended for improvement of the ESD technique and its clinical application. [source]

    Why are Europeans so tough on migrants?

    ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 44 2005
    Tito Boeri
    SUMMARY European migration International migration can significantly increase income per capita in Europe. We estimate that at the given wage and productivity gap between Western and Eastern Europe, migration of 3% of the Eastern population to the West could increase total EU GDP by up to 0.5%. Yet on 1 May 2004, 14 EU countries out of 15 adopted transitional arrangements vis-à-vis the new member states and national migration restrictions vis-à-vis third country nationals are getting stricter and stricter. In this paper we offer two explanations for this paradox and document their empirical relevance in the case of the EU enlargement. The first explanation is that immigration to rigid labour markets involves a number of negative externalities on the native population. The second explanation is that there are important cross-country spillovers in the effects of migration policies, inducing a race-to-the top in border restrictions with high costs in terms of foregone European output. In light of our results, we discuss, in the final section, the key features of a desirable migration policy to be coordinated at the EU level. ,Tito Boeri and Herbert Brücker [source]

    A Fearsome Trap: The will to know, the obligation to confess, and the Freudian subject of desire

    EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY, Issue 7 2010
    John Ambrosio
    Abstract The author examines the relation between Michel Foucault's corpus and Freudian psychoanalysis. He argues that Foucault had a complex and changing relationship to psychoanalysis for two primary reasons: his own psychopathology, personal experience, and expressed desire, and due to an ineluctable contradiction at the heart of psychoanalysis itself. The author examines the history of Foucault's personal and scholarly interest in psychology and psychiatry, tracing the emergence, development, and shift in his thought and work. He then argues that Foucault's critique of psychoanalysis can be extended to the constitution of the Western educated subject, and that Foucault ultimately resolved his personal dilemma in relation to psychoanalysis by rejecting the ,will to knowledge' and refusing the notion of a stable and fixed identity. [source]

    Cross-reactivity of antibodies to actin- depolymerizing factor/cofilin family proteins and identification of the major epitope recognized by a mammalian actin-depolymerizing factor/cofilin antibody

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 15 2004
    Alisa E. Shaw
    Abstract Members of the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin family of proteins are expressed in all eukaryotic cells. In higher vertebrates, cells often express as many as three different ADF/cofilin genes and each of these proteins may be phosphorylated on serine 3, giving rise to up to six different species. Also, many avian, amphibian, and invertebrate systems have been useful in studying different aspects of ADF/cofilin function. Antibodies have been prepared against different members of the ADF/cofilin family, but no systematic examination of their cross-reactivity has been reported. Although ADF and cofilins within a single vertebrate species have about a 70% sequence homology, antibodies often differentiate between these proteins. Here, Western blotting was used with chemiluminescence substrates of different sensitivities to determine the relative immunoreactivities of different polyclonal rabbit antibodies and a mouse monoclonal antibody to purified ADF/cofilins from plants, protists, nematodes, insects, echinoderms, birds, and mammals. From immunocross-reactivities and sequence alignments, the principal epitope in mammalian ADF and cofilin-1 recognized by an antibody raised against avian ADF was identified. The specificity of an antibody to the phosphopeptide epitope of metazoan ADF/cofilins was confirmed by two-dimensional (2-D) immunoblot analysis. Futhermore, this bank of antibodies was used to identify by Western blotting a putative member of the ADF/cofilin family in the sea slug, Aplysia californica. [source]

    First record of Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor, 1985 (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a Eucalyptus psyllid in Cameroon, Central Africa

    ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010
    Joseph Lebel TAMESSE
    Abstract In order to investigate the biodiversity of psyllids in Cameroon, we collected a psyllid on Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) for the first time. Morphometric and morphological studies of this psyllid enable us to identify it as Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Blastopsylla occidentalis lives on four Eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus globulus, E. saligna, E. deglupta, E. camaldulensis) in the Western and Central regions of the country. A description and illustration of the different developmental stages of B. occidentalis will allow the identification of this pest of Eucalyptus. [source]

    Corruption and Entrepreneurship: How Formal and Informal Institutions Shape Small Firm Behavior in Transition and Mature Market Economies

    ENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 5 2010
    Vartuhí Tonoyan
    This article explores the determinants of corruption in transition economies of the post-Soviet Union, Central-Eastern Europe, and Western industrialized states. We look in-depth at the East,West gap in corruption, and why entrepreneurs and small business owners become engaged in corrupt deals. Part of the answers lie in the country-specific formal and informal institutional make-up. The likelihood of engaging in corruption is influenced by the lower efficiency of financial and legal institutions and the lack of their enforcements. Also, viewing illegal business activities as a widespread business practice provides the rationale for entrepreneurs to justify their own corrupt activities. Moreover, closed social networks with family, friends, and national bureaucrats reduce the opportunism of the contracting party of the corrupt deal, thus providing breeding grounds for corruption. [source]

    Xenoestrogenic effects of ethinylestradiol in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

    ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
    Bram J. Versonnen
    Abstract To assess the estrogenic effects of ethinylestradiol on zebrafish, zebrafish at different developmental stages (embryos, juveniles, and adults) were exposed to the synthetic hormone ethinylestradiol (EE2) in concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 ng/L for up to 33 days. Survival, hatching, length, weight, growth, condition, hepatosomatic index, gonadosomatic index, and vitellogenin (VTG) production were examined. Exposure of zebrafish juveniles and embryos to 100 ng EE2/L for up to 33 days had significant effects on survival, growth, and hatching. Two VTG fragments with molecular weights of approximately 140 and 170 kDa were detected with protein electrophoresis and Western blotting in the blood of exposed males and exposed and unexposed females, as well as in whole-body homogenates of exposed and unexposed juveniles. Significantly higher VTG concentrations (compared to controls) were measured in adults exposed to 10 and 100 ng EE2/L for 14 days, but not in fish exposed to 1 ng EE2/L. This study demonstrated that (1) zebrafish juveniles, larvae, and embryos are sensitive to the toxic effects of the endocrine disrupter EE2; (2) the effects on VTG production in adults are detected after exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of EE2; (3) unexposed juvenile zebrafish produce measurable concentrations of VTG. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 19: 198,206, 2004. [source]

    Dose-dependent Induction of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and Activation of Pregnane X Receptor by Topiramate

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 12 2003
    Srikanth C. Nallani
    Summary:,Purpose: In clinical studies, topiramate (TPM) was shown to cause a dose-dependent increase in the clearance of ethinyl estradiol. We hypothesized that this interaction results from induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 by TPM. Accordingly, we investigated whether TPM induces CYP3A4 in primary human hepatocytes and activates the human pregnane X receptor (hPXR), a nuclear receptor that serves as a regulator of CYP3A4 transcription. Methods: Human hepatocytes were treated for 72 h with TPM (10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 ,M) and known inducers, phenobarbital (PB; 2 mM), and rifampicin (10 ,M). The rate of testosterone 6,-hydroxylation by hepatocytes served as a marker for CYP3A4 activity. The CYP3A4-specific protein and mRNA levels were determined by using Western and Northern blot analyses, respectively. The hPXR activation was assessed with cell-based reporter gene assay. Results: Compared with controls, TPM (50,500 ,M),treated hepatocytes exhibited a considerable increase in the CYP3A4 activity (1. 6- to 8.2-fold), protein levels (4.6- to 17.3-fold), and mRNA levels (1.9- to 13.3-fold). Comparatively, rifampicin (10 ,M) effected 14.5-, 25.3-, and a 20.3-fold increase in CYP3A4 activity, immunoreactive protein levels, and mRNA levels, respectively. TPM (50,500 ,M) caused 1.3- to 3-fold activation of the hPXR, whereas rifampicin (10 ,M) caused a 6-fold activation. Conclusions: The observed induction of CYP3A4 by TPM, especially at the higher concentrations, provides a potential mechanistic explanation of the reported increase in the ethinyl estradiol clearance by TPM. It also is suggestive of other potential interactions when high-dose TPM therapy is used. [source]

    Invasive and quarantine pests in forests in Slovakia1

    EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 2 2006
    Milan Zúbrik
    Biological invasions of insects, plants, and fungal pest species often cause substantial disturbance to forest ecosystems and as well as severe socioeconomic impacts. Central Europe acts as a ,bridge' between Western and Eastern Europe both ecologically and as an important transit corridor for people. Human activity, including the movement of material goods, increases the risk of invasions. Some species introduced in the past have been established, becoming common and causing serious problems (such as Dreyfusia nordmannianae or Hyphantria cunea). The status, importance and spatial distribution in Slovakia of seven different forest pests recently introduced into Slovak forest ecosystems (Cameraria ohridella, Coleotechnites piceaella, Cryphonectria parasitica, Dothistroma septospora, Ips duplicatus, Parectopa robiniella, Phyllonorycter robiniellus) as well as two others not yet recorded in Slovakia (Anoplophora glabripennis, Phytophthora spp.) is discussed. [source]

    Viruses of vegetable crops in Albania

    EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 3 2005
    M. Finetti-Sialer
    Field surveys were carried out in the main vegetable-growing areas of Western and Central Albania to evaluate the sanitary status of open-field and protected cultivations of capsicum, tomato, potato, watermelon, cucumber, courgette, aubergine, lettuce, cabbage, chicory, leek and celery. The following viruses were detected: Alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus (AMV), Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Potato Y potyvirus (PVY), Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) and Watermelon mosaic potyvirus 2 (WMV-2). The virus found most frequently was CMV and all the isolates identified were of subgroup IA. AMV was also detected in several areas and all isolates were of subgroup II, suggesting a French origin. Finally, at the time of this survey, TSWV infections appeared to be moderately relevant and absent in protected crops. This is the first documented record of AMV, CMV, PVY, TSWV and WMV-2 in Albania. No infection by Tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus (TYLCV) or Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV) was detected during this survey. [source]

    Gallbladder Na+/H+ exchange activity is up-regulated prior to cholesterol crystal formation

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 8 2005
    S. C. Narins
    Abstract Background, Gallbladder Na+ and H2O absorption are increased prior to gallstone formation and may promote cholesterol nucleation. Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) isoforms NHE2 and NHE3 are involved in gallbladder Na+ transport in prairie dogs. We examined whether increased gallbladder Na+ absorption observed during early gallstone formation is the result of NHE up-regulation. Materials and methods, Native gallbladder and primary cultures of gallbladder epithelial cells (GBECs) harvested from prairie dogs fed nonlithogenic (CON) or 1·2% cholesterol diet for varying lengths of time to induce cholesterol-saturated bile (PreCRYS), cholesterol crystals (CRYS), or gallstones (GS) were used. NHE activity was assessed by measuring dimethylamiloride-inhibitable 22Na+ uptake under H+ gradient in primary GBECs. HOE-694 was used to determine NHE2 and NHE3 contributions. NHE protein and mRNA expression were examined by Western and Northern blots, respectively. Results, Gallbladder total NHE activity was 25·1 ± 1·3 nmol mg protein,1 min,1 in the control and increased during gallstone formation peaking at the PreCRYS stage (98·4 ± 3·9 nmol mg protein,1 min,1). There was a shift in NHE activity from NHE2 to NHE3 as the animals progressed from no stones through the PreCRYS and CRYS stages to gallstones. The increase in NHE activity was partly caused by an increased Vmax without any change in KNam. Both NHE2 and NHE3 protein increased moderately during the PreCRYS stage without increases in mRNA expression. Conclusions, Increased gallbladder Na+ absorption observed prior to crystal formation is in part caused by an increase NHE activity which is not fully accounted for by an increase in NHE proteins and mRNA levels but may be explained by enhanced localization in the membranes and/or altered regulation of NHE. [source]

    Cleavages, competition and coalition-building: Agrarian parties and the European question in Western and East Central Europe

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2004
    AGNES BATORY
    Variations in the patterns of Euroscepticism found in agrarian parties across Europe is therefore explained in terms of three central variables: the agrarian parties' long-term policy goals linked to identity and interest; their position in the party systems and the mainstream left- and right-wing parties' stance on European integration; and their long- and short-term electoral strategies and office-related incentives. [source]

    Administrative and Court Reform in Central and Eastern Europe

    EUROPEAN LAW JOURNAL, Issue 3 2003
    Frank Emmert
    Only relatively recently, it was recognised that successful administrative and court reform would be just as necessary in order to achieve the desired goals, namely that the candidates would eventually be able to take on their obligations as new members of the Union. Unfortunately, it has now become evident that it is easier to write new laws than to get them properly applied in every day practice. This article describes a number of cases to illustrate the problem. It shows that administrators and judges in Central and Eastern Europe have significant difficulties with Western working methods, specifically the application of international norms in the national legal order, due process and procedural safeguards, treatment of precedents, resolution of ambiguities and lacunae in the law, etc., which may in turn result in unjust and sometimes absurd application of laws. These difficulties cannot be resolved merely by organising ever more training courses and other theoretical programmes. The author claims that the majority of efforts promoting administrative and court reform applied so far have rendered only meager results. Therefore, additional and more creative measures have to be designed and implemented and have to be continued for years beyond accession of most of these countries to the EU in 2004. Otherwise, rule of law deserving its name will not materialise in the new Member States. The author concludes by offering some ideas based on many years of experience in the region. [source]

    Identification of Helicobacter pylori and the cagA genotype in gastric biopsies using highly sensitive real-time PCR as a new diagnostic tool

    FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
    Shiho Yamazaki
    Abstract The CagA protein is one of the virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori, and two major subtypes of CagA have been observed, the Western and East Asian type. CagA is injected from the bacteria into gastric epithelial cells, undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation, and binds to Src homology 2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2. The East Asian type CagA binds to SHP-2 more strongly than the Western type CagA. Here, we tried to distinguish the CagA type by highly sensitive real-time PCR with the objective of establishing a system to detect H. pylori and CagA subtypes from gastric biopsies. We designed primers and probe sets for Western or East Asian- cagA at Western-specific or East Asian-specific sequence regions, respectively, and H. pylori 16S rRNA. We could detect the H. pylori 16S rRNA gene, Western and East Asian- cagA gene from DNA of gastric biopsies. The sensitivity and specificity for H. pylori infection was 100% in this system. In Thai patients, 87.8% (36/41) were cagA -positive; 26.8% (11/41) were Western- cagA positive and 53.7% (22/41) were East Asian- cagA positive, while 7.3% (3/41) reacted with both types of cagA. These results suggest that this real-time PCR system provides a highly sensitive assessment of CagA type as a new diagnostic tool for the pathogenicity of H. pylori infection. [source]

    Stalin's Demands: Constructions of the "Soviet Other" in Turkey's Foreign Policy, 1919,1945

    FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS, Issue 1 2010
    vanç Co
    Standard accounts on Turkey's foreign policy identify Molotov's communication of 1945 (better known as "Stalin's demands") as the catalyst behind Turkey's post-WWII decision to strain its relations with the USSR and turn to the United States (US) for defense support. The aim here is to complement these accounts which have stressed the military and ideological threat posed by the USSR as the catalyst behind Turkey's foreign policy change, by offering an analysis that explores the conditions of possibility for such change. The aim here is not to question the seriousness of the risks involved in failing to stand firm against the USSR in the immediate post-WWII period. Nor is it to dispute the appropriateness of Turkey's search for "Western" allies at a time when its economic, political and military vulnerabilities were acknowledged by friend and foe alike. The following mediates through accounts that stress the military threat and those that emphasize the ideological threat and presents an analysis that looks into the production of representations of the USSR as a "threat" to Turkey and the context which allowed for the production of such representations of the USSR. [source]

    Sirococcus shoot blight on Picea spinulosa in Bhutan

    FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
    T. Kirisits
    Summary During a recent survey of forest tree diseases in Western and Central Bhutan, Sirococcus shoot blight and an associated Sirococcus sp. were found on saplings and mature trees of Eastern Himalayan spruce (Picea spinulosa). Based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence comparisons of the ITS region of the rDNA operon, representative isolates from Bhutan were unequivocally identified as Sirococcus conigenus. The DNA sequence data also showed that these isolates belong to the P group of S. conigenus. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of Sirococcus shoot blight from the Himalayas or any other part of Asia. Sirococcus conigenus does not appear to cause dramatic damage at the moment, but this fungus has the potential to cause severe disease problems on P. spinulosa in Bhutan. [source]

    Profiling a New Generation of Female Small Business Owners in New Zealand: Networking, Mentoring and Growth

    GENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 4 2002
    Judy McGregor
    The contribution of female small business owners to economic development in Western developed countries such as New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, is generally under,researched and traditionally grounded in male norms. Increasingly policy,makers acknowledge that in countries like New Zealand where 85% of business employs five or less people, small business offers the greatest employment potential. Not enough is known, though, about the growth orientation and characteristics of female small business owners. This article reports findings from the largest empirical study of small business undertaken in New Zealand and provides inter,gender comparison between male and female small business owners and for intra,gender contrast between networked female small business owners and women who did not belong to a business network. The results showed that the networked women, who were in the main better educated and more affiliative by nature, were more expansionist than both other female small business owners and men. The networked women were also more likely to have a business mentor. The findings confound earlier research suggesting women are less growth,orientated and wish only to satisfy intrinsic needs from their businesses. The article concludes by discussing the need to acknowledge the heterogeneity of female small business and what this means for policy,makers when assessing their socio,economic potential. [source]

    Indigenous Methodologies: Suggestions for Junior Researchers

    GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2010
    NAOHIRO NAKAMURA
    Abstract Indigenous methodologies in geography have recently been developed to decolonise Western dominated paradigms. It has been argued that research which does not benefit Indigenous communities should not be conducted. However, Indigenous methodologies are not taught in many post-secondary institutions. Therefore, when they pursue Indigenous topics, many junior researchers are self-taught in these methodologies. However, these methodologies cannot be defined simply and they are too diverse to be learnt in a short period. In Japan, Indigenous peoples are not widely recognised and research on contemporary Indigenous issues is limited. The concept of Indigenous methodologies is rarely discussed. Because of this, Japanese researchers rarely identify their research as adopting an Indigenous methodology. Indigenous researchers are thereby discouraged from pursuing Indigenous methodologies. Furthermore, a methodology or a thesis statement used by researchers to reflect Indigenous perspectives often gets little support from Indigenous peoples. My master's research on the Ainu mirrored this situation. While Indigenous methodologies remain difficult to learn, junior researchers should not be discouraged from this form of engagement. Practical suggestions are therefore necessary to encourage their use and application. Based on my experience, I suggest that researchers approach Indigenous communities from a learning perspective. This would encourage open-mindedness and sensitivity. Researchers should also be prepared and willing to refine their research questions and to continue their literature searches after their fieldwork is completed. These strategies could limit misinterpretation and exploitation of Indigenous knowledges and peoples. [source]

    Re/placing Native Science: Indigenous Voices in Contemporary Constructions of Nature

    GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007
    JAY T. JOHNSON
    Abstract Since the earliest days of the European Enlightenment, Western people have sought to remove themselves from nature and the ,savage' non-European masses. This distancing has relied upon various intellectual techniques and theories. The social construction of nature precipitated by Enlightenment thinking separated culture from nature, culture being defined as civilised European society. This separation has served to displace the Native voice within the colonial construction of Nature. This separation has also served as one thread in the long modern ,disenchantment' of Westerners and nature, a ,disenchantment' described so adeptly by Adorno and Horkheimer (1973). Unfortunately though, this displacement is not only a historical event. The absence of modern Native voices within discussions of nature perpetuates the colonial displacement which blossomed following the Enlightenment. In his book entitled, Native Science, Gregory Cajete describes Native science as ,a lived and creative relationship with the natural world ... [an] intimate and creative participation [which] heightens awareness of the subtle qualities of a place' (2000, 20). Perhaps place offers a ,common ground' between Western and Indigenous thought; a ,common ground' upon which to re/write the meta-narrative of Enlightenment thought. This paper will seek to aid in the re/placement of modern Native voices within constructions of nature and seek to begin healing the disenchantment caused through the rupture between culture and nature in Western science. [source]

    Development Section, April 2008

    GEOGRAPHY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2008
    Cheryl McEwan
    EDITORIAL It is a great privilege to serve as Editor for the Development section of Geography Compass. The journal is an exciting new venture in electronic publishing that aims to publish state-of-the-art peer-reviewed surveys of key contemporary issues in geographical scholarship. As the first Editor of this section, it is my responsibility to establish the key aims and innovations for this section of the journal. These include: publishing reviews of scholarship on topics of contemporary relevance that are accessible and useful to researchers, teachers, students and practitioners; developing the range of topics covered across the spectrum of development geography; helping to set agendas in development geography by identifying gaps in existing empirical and conceptual research; commissioning articles from both established and graduate/early career researchers who are working at the frontiers of development geography; and communicating the distinctiveness of Geography Compass. Part of this distinctiveness is in publishing articles that are both of scholarly excellence and accessible to a wide audience. The first volume of Geography Compass was published in 2007, covering a wide range of topics (e.g. migration, children, technology, grassroots women's organizations, civil society, biodiversity, tourism, inequality, agrarian change, participatory development, disability, spirituality) in a number of specific geographical areas (e.g. Africa/southern Africa, Caribbean, China, Peru). Forthcoming in 2008/2009 are articles on the Gambia, Latin America, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh and South Africa, focusing on topics such as food security, comparative post-socialism, foreign aid and fair trade. Building on these diverse and excellent articles, I plan to communicate the distinctiveness of Development in a number of ways. First, I encourage an ecumenical approach to the notion of ,development geography' and welcome contributions from scholars across a range of social science disciplines whose work would be useful to a geography audience. This is important, not least because both development and geography, in disciplinary terms, are largely European inventions. Many scholars in Latin America, Africa and Asia, for example, do not refer to themselves as either development specialists or geographers but are producing important research in areas of direct relevance to students and researchers of ,development geography'. As the first editions illustrate, I also seek to publish articles that reflect ,development' in its broadest sense, encompassing economic, (geo)political, social, cultural and environmental issues. 2008 will be an interesting year for development, with a number of important issues and events shaping discourse and policy. These include: the Beijing Olympics and increasing focus on China's role in international development; political change in a number of African countries (Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa); the US presidential elections and potential shifts in policy on climate change, trade and security; the impacts of the Bali roadmap on climate change in the current economic context; the increasing number of impoverished people in Asia (notably China and India), sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (notably Brazil) that even the World Bank has acknowledged; the implications of the increasing role of philanthropic foundations (e.g. the Gates Foundation and those emerging in India and Russia) in international development. I hope to see some of these issues covered in this journal. Second, I am keen to break down the association between ,development' and parts of the world variously categorized as ,Third World', ,Global South' or ,Developing World' by publishing articles that cut across North and South, East and West. The intellectual and disciplinary practices within (Western) geography that separate those researching issues in the South and post-socialist contexts from those researching similar issues in advanced capitalist economies are, it seems, no longer sustainable or sensible. Moreover, while studies of transnational and ethical trade, neoliberalism, household economies and ,commodity chains', for example, incorporate a multitude of case studies from across the world, these tend to be understood through conceptual lenses that almost always have their theoretical antecedents in Western theorization. The notion of ,learning from' debates, policy and practice in other parts of the world is still relatively alien within the discipline. There are thus issues in how we research and teach ethically and responsibly in and about different parts of the world, and in which this journal might make a contribution. Third, and related, part of my responsibility is to ensure that Compass reflects the breadth of debate about ,development' by publishing articles written by a truly international range of scholars. This has proved to be a challenge to date, in part reflecting the newness of the journal and the difficulties posed by English language publication. However, an immediate aim is to publish the work and ideas of scholars based outside of Anglophone contexts, in the Global South and in post-socialist contexts, and to use international referees who are able to provide valuable commentaries on the articles. A longer-term aim is to also further internationalize the Editorial Board. Currently, one-third of the Editorial Board is non-UK and I plan to increase this to at least 50% in future. Fourth, I plan to ensure that the Development section takes full advantage of electronic publication and the opportunities this offers. Thus, while I am keen to retain a word limit in the interest of publishing accessible articles, the lack of constraint regarding page space enables authors to include a wide range of illustrative and other material that is impossible in print journals. I plan to encourage authors to make greater use of visual materials (maps, photographs/photo-essays, video, sound recordings, model simulations and datasets) alongside text as well as more innovative forms of presentation where this might be appropriate. Finally, in the coming year, I intend to work more closely with other Compass section Editors to realize the potential for fostering debate that cuts across subdisciplinary and even disciplinary boundaries. The journal publishes across the full spectrum of the discipline and there is thus scope for publishing articles and/or special issues on development-related topics that might best be approached through dialogue between the natural and social sciences. Such topics might include resources (e.g. water, oil, bio-fuels), hazard and risk (from environmental issues to human and state security), and sustainability and quality of life (planned for 2008). Part of the distinctiveness of Compass is that electronic-only publication ensures that articles are published in relatively quick time , in some cases less than 3 months from initial submission to publication. It thus provides an important outlet for researchers working in fast-changing contexts and for those, such as graduate and early-career researchers, who might require swift publication for career purposes. Of course, as Editor I am reliant on referees both engaging with Manuscript Central and providing reports on articles in a relatively short space of time to fully expedite the process. My experience so far has been generally very positive and I would like to thank the referees for working within the spirit of the journal. Editing a journal is, of course, a collaborative and shared endeavour. The Development Editorial Board has been central to the successful launch of Development by working so generously to highlight topics and potential authors and to review articles; I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony Bebbington, Reg Cline-Cole, Sara Kindon, Claire Mercer, Giles Mohan, Warwick Murray, Richa Nagar, Rob Potter, Saraswati Raju, Jonathan Rigg, Jenny Robinson and Alison Stenning. The Editors-in-Chief , Mike Bradshaw and Basil Gomez , have provided invaluable advice while adding humour (and colour) to the editorial process. Colleagues at Wiley-Blackwell have provided superb support, in particular, Helen Ashton who is constantly on hand to provide advice and assistance. I look forward to working closely with these people again in the coming year, as well as with the authors and readers who are vital to ensuring that Geography Compass fulfils its remit. [source]

    Combinational Western and oriental medicine therapies for geriatric syndrome

    GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2005
    K Iwasaki
    Oriental medicines often assist patients who cannot be treated with Western medicines. Although the exact mechanisms of oriental medicines are not known, their clinical usefulness has been proven in various diseases, including geriatric syndrome. In this review we explain progress in oriental medicine and how oriental medicines are effective in treating geriatric syndrome. [source]

    Molecular Epidemiology and Outcome of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Thailand: a Cultural Cross Roads

    HELICOBACTER, Issue 5 2004
    Ratha-Korn Vilaichone
    ABSTRACT Background., Thailand is at the cultural cross roads between East and South Asia. It has been suggested that this is also the region where the predominant Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) genotype changes from East Asian to South Asian. Methods., We compared the molecular epidemiology and outcome of H. pylori infections among different ethnic groups in Thailand (Thai, Thai-Chinese and Chinese). H. pylori isolates were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction based on cagA, cag right end junction and vacA genotypes. Results., Ninety-eight isolates from 38 ethnic Thai, 20 ethnic Chinese and 40 Thai-Chinese were categorized into East Asian (45%), South/Central Asian (26%), Western (1%) or mixed type (29%). The East Asian genotype was the most common among Chinese (85%) and Thai-Chinese (55%) (p < .01 compared to ethnic Thai). The ethnicity of the mother among mixed Thai-Chinese marriages predicted the genotype of the child's H. pylori (e.g. when the mother was Chinese, 84% had East Asian type vs. 29% when the mother was Thai) (p < .001). Gastric cancer was common among ethnic Chinese with East Asian genotype (e.g. all Chinese with gastric cancer or peptic ulcer disease had East Asian genotype, whereas only 40% of Chinese with gastritis had this genotype). Conclusions., Immigration, intermarriage and the variety of H. pylori genotypes in Thailand suggest that Thailand is an ideal site for epidemiological studies attempting to relate H. pylori genotypes and host factors to outcome. Our data also support the hypothesis that the primary caretaker of the children is most likely the source of the infection. [source]

    Private Higher Education and Diversity: An Exploratory Survey

    HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2001
    Pedro Teixeira
    In this preliminary review, the authors analyse the effects of privatisation on diversity in higher education (HE) systems by exploring the consequences of the establishment of HE Institutions by non-public organisations. The rising importance of privatisation in Europe (Western and transitional economies), Latin America, and Southeast Asia is analysed. Then follows detailed examinations of private-sector HE in countries representative of all these geographical areas to determine how far privatisation has stimulated diversity. The preliminary results indicate that in each case the private sub-sector has promoted limited and partial diversification. In general, though, the more recent private establishments, created to satisfy increasing demand for HE, have nonetheless focused predominately on teaching, have undertaken little, or no, research and appear to be of lower quality than the older institutions. The private sub-sector is characterised mostly by its low-risk behaviour, and a concentration on low-cost and/or safer initiatives. Public authorities must share at least a partial responsibility for some of the negative side effects of the development of private higher education. [source]