Showing papers by "Monash University published in 1995"

Exchange rate pass-through

Abstract: . The resilience of trade balances of the major industrialized economies to changes in their exchange rates has evoked interest in the exchange rate pass-through relationship. So far, there has not been a comprehensive survey of this literature. The paper aims to fill this gap in two ways. First, it pieces together the theoretical literature on exchange rate pass-through. Second, it provides a critical survey of the empirical literature on exchange rate pass-through. Emphasis is placed on the data and methodology employed in previous work. This is done in order to guide future work in this growing area of research.

The Developmental Behavior Checklist: The Development and Validation of an Instrument to Assess Behavioral and Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents with Mental Retardation.

Abstract: Describes the development and validation of the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC), a standardized instrument completed by lay informants to assess behavioral and emotional disturbance in children and adolescents with mental retardation (MR). Items describing common behavioral and emotional problems in this population were generated by extracting descriptions from 664 case files of children and adolescents with behavior disorders seen at a specialist developmental assessment service over 12 years. These items were reduced to a set of 96 items administered to a sample of 1,093 children and adolescents with mental retardation and then submitted to a principal components analysis. Six interpretable and partly validated subscales were obtained which explained 36% of the total variance and had satisfactory internal consistency. Interrater and test-retest agreement were satisfactory for both total scale score and for scores on each of the subscales. Good evidence of concurrent validity was provided by substantial positive correlations between total scores on the DBC completed by lay informants and the ratings of experienced psychiatrists based upon interviews and scores on two standardized instruments that must be completed by health professionals. The discriminative validity of the total score as assessed by area under the ROC curve was excellent (92%). Standardized norms for the DBC are derived from an epidemiological study of behavior problems in children and adolescents with mental retardation undertaken in two Australian States. Norms are available for the mild, moderate, severe, and profound MR groups and for the MR population as a whole.

The role of marketing

Abstract: Research concerning the impact of marketing in the development of small enterprise research is extremely limited. Explores the role of marketing in the development of small enterprise research through the examination of 42 marketing‐related studies of small firm settings. Defines small enterprise research (SER) as all main articles published during the 1986‐1992 period in the Journal of Small Business Management; International Small Business Journal; Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice; Journal of Business Venturing; Small Business Economics; and Asia Pacific International Management Forum. The three major research thrusts that are identified from this literature are: marketing as a culture; marketing as a strategy; and marketing as tactics. Discusses key issues and findings associated with each thrust.

Blastocyst development and birth after in-vitro maturation of human primary oocytes, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and assisted hatching

Abstract: Immature oocyte recovery followed by in-vitro oocyte maturation and in-vitro fertilization is a promising new technology for the treatment of human infertility. The technology is attractive to potential oocyte donors and infertile couples because of its reduced treatment intervention. Immature oocytes were recovered by ultrasound-guided transvaginal follicular aspiration. Oocytes were matured in vitro for 36-48 h followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Embryos were cultured in vitro for 3 or 5 days before replacement. Assisted hatching was performed on a day 5 blastocyst stage embryo. Embryo and uterine synchrony were potentially enhanced by luteinization of the dominant follicle at the time of immature oocyte recovery. Mature oocyte and embryo production from immature oocyte recovery were similar to the previous IVF results of the patients. A blastocyst stage embryo, produced as a result of in-vitro maturation, ICSI, in-vitro culture and assisted hatching, resulted in the birth of a healthy baby girl at 39 weeks of gestation.

Organic decision and communication processes and management accounting systems in entrepreneurial and conservative business organizations

Abstract: This study examines the combined effect of organic decision and communication processes (organic processes) and management accounting systems (MAS) on performance. A model based on ‘effective paradoxes’ is developed which suggests that the interaction of organic processes with use of MAS is more closely associated with superior performance in organizations pursuing entrepreneurial as opposed to conservative strategies. This hypothesized relationship was supported by evidence from a study of managers from 72 firms. The interaction was significant for entrepreneurial organizations but not for conservative entities. Moreover, in entrepreneurial entities performance was significantly associated with organic decision processes for organizations using MAS extensively, but not when MAS was used less extensively.

An applied general equilibrium analysis of the economic effects of tourism in a quite small, quite open economy

Abstract: A computable general equilibrium model is used to project the effects of tourism on the industrial and regional structures of the Australian economy. The most striking conclusion is that Queensland, usually thought to be the most tourism-oriented of the Australian states, would be a net loser from an economy-wide expansion of tourism. As well as having a relatively large share of its GSP accounted for by tourist-oriented activities, Queensland is also relatively heavily dependent on agriculture and mining, traditional export sectors which are crowded out by the expansion of international tourism.

Clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations in patients with liver disease. An update.

Abstract: The effects of liver disease on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic s are highly variable, and difficult to predict as the mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. Since the majority of the published literature is concerned with cirrhotic liver disease, this review also focuses mainly on this area. Four different theories have been proposed to account for the effects of chronic liver disease with cirrhosis on hepatic drug elimination: the sick cell theory; the intact hepatocyte theory; the impaired drug uptake theory; and the oxygen limitation theory. While some data in support of each of the first 2 theories have been published recently, a large amount of clinical data would appear to refute both of these theories. These clinical data are substantially consistent with the latter 2 theories, which regard the decreased permeability of the capillarised sinusoid as the critical feature in cirrhosis. Further work is required to determine the applicability of each of these theories. In cirrhosis, drug glucuronidation is spared relative to oxidative drug metabolism; however, in advanced cirrhosis this pathway may also be impaired substantially. There is evidence that in cirrhosis other conjugation pathways may also be impaired to variable degrees. Growing evidence suggests that biliary drug excretion is impaired in cirrhosis. Recent studies with several racemic drugs indicate that the disease can have different effects on the hepatic elimination of individual enantiomers, which may lead to a change in the concentration-response relationships of racemic drugs in cirrhosis. A major finding which has emerged in recent years is that, even with moderate degrees of hepatic impairment, there is a decrease in clearance of drugs or active metabolites normally cleared by the kidney. The effect on renal clearance of unbound drug may be masked if there is a concomitant decrease in plasma protein binding of the drug. Neither serum creatinine levels nor creatinine clearance are useful markers of the renal dysfunction associated with cirrhosis. Both may greatly overestimate renal function in patients with cirrhosis due to increased fractional renal tubular secretion of creatinine. Altered receptor sensitivity has been observed with some drugs in cirrhosis, while for other drugs there is no change in pharmacodynamics. Precise determination of drug dosage in cirrhosis requires information on changes in pharmacodynamics and plasma protein binding in addition to changes in drug elimination. Pharmacokinetic investigations in a variety of chronic liver diseases without cirrhosis (e.g. carcinoma, schistosomiasis and viral hepatitis) suggest that in the absence of cirrhosis, impairment of drug elimination is not sufficient to warrant reduction of drug dosage. However, if cirrhosis is present, ‘safe’ drug use requires an awareness of the possibility of multiple interactions between changes in hepatic and renal disposition and pharmacodynamics. In chronic liver disease with cirrhosis, dosage reduction is the general rule regardless of the route of elimination of drug or metabolite.

Towards welfare biology: evolutionary economics of animal consciousness and suffering

Abstract: Welfare biology is the study of living things and their environment with respect to their welfare (defined as net happiness, or enjoyment minus suffering). Despite difficulties of ascertaining and measuring welfare and relevancy to normative issues, welfare biology is a positive science. Evolutionary economics and population dynamics are used to help answer basic questions in welfare biology: Which species are affective sentients capable of welfare? Do they enjoy positive or negative welfare? Can their welfare be dramatically increased? Under plausible axioms, all conscious species are plastic and all plastic species are conscious (and, with a stronger axiom, capable of welfare). More complex niches favour the evolution of more rational species. Evolutionary economics also supports the common-sense view that individual sentients failing to survive to mate suffer negative welfare. A kind of God-made (or evolution-created) fairness between species is also unexpectedly found. The contrast between growth maximization (as may be favoured by natural selection), average welfare, and total welfare maximization is discussed. It is shown that welfare could be increased without even sacrificing numbers (at equilibrium). Since the long-term reduction in animal suffering depends on scientific advances, strict restrictions on animal experimentation may be counter-productive to animal welfare.

Retained cocaine conditioned place preference in D1 receptor deficient mice.

Abstract: The role of the D1 dopamine receptor subtype in mediating cocaine effects was examined in mice in which the D1 receptor gene had been ablated by homologous recombination. Cocaine reward was assessed by conditioned place preference experiments using mice which had either one allele (+/-) or both alleles (-/-) of the D1 dopamine receptor gene disrupted and in their wild type (+/+) littermates. Cocaine conditioning resulted in similar increases in preference for drug-paired environments in mice of each of the three genotypes. Cocaine did not alter locomotor activity levels in homozygous, D1 knockout mice -/-, whereas increased activity was noted in both +/+ and +/- animals. These results are consistent with the idea that the D1 receptor is involved in the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine, but has little role in a major test of the rewarding and reinforcing effects of the drug.

Postmortem drug metabolism by bacteria.

Abstract: Studies were undertaken to determine the possible role of enteric bacteria in the postmortem bioconversion of the nitrobenzodiazepines flunitrazepam, clonazepam, and nitrazepam. Flunitrazepam, clonazepam, and nitrazepam were completely metabolized in blood in the presence of eight species of enteric bacteria to their respective 7-amino-metabolites. The rates of metabolism, at 37°C, ranged from 0.1 ng/mL/min for Streptococcus faecalis to 8.8 ng/mL/min for Clostridium perfringens. The rate of conversion was reduced to 87% by a combination of 0.7% (w/v) sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate, and almost completely inhibited (96%) by 1% (w/v) sodium fluoride. pH had variable effects on the rate of metabolic bioconversion of nitrobenzodiazepines, while increasing temperatures were found to generally increase the rate of nitrobenzodiazepine bioconversion. These data support the proposal that bacteria may mediate postmortem bioconversion of the nitrobenzodiazepines.

Salivary proline-rich proteins in mammals: Roles in oral homeostasis and counteracting dietary tannin.

Abstract: We review information on the structure of proline-rich proteins (PRPs), their various functions related to oral homeostasis and dietary tannin, and the structural basis of these functions. Consideration of the multifunctional nature of these salivary proteins helps explain both the subtle and large variations found in structure and secretion rates both within individuals and between species. We propose that the ancestral function of PRPs is in maintaining oral homeostasis and that counteracting dietary tannins by binding with them is a derived function. PRPs are effective in oral homeostasis at low secretion levels, whereas counteracting tannin depends on high secretion levels. In the dietary habits ranging from carnivores through omnivores to exclusively planteaters, the dietary nitrogen level is progressively reduced, and plant allelochemical intake, including tannins, increases. We suggest that during this evolution from meat-eater to plant-eater, there was some point in omnivory at which selective pressure from nitrogen limitations, arising from a low nitrogen/high tannin diet, became sufficiently great for the evolution of increased secretion level and diversification of PRPs for dealing with tannin. If this hypothesis is correct, carnivorous mammals should secrete low levels of PRPs for oral homeostasis, but should never secrete high levels, unless they are secondarily carnivorous. Omnivores consuming a diet of very little animal tissue but higher levels of tannin-containing foliage or fruit should generally have the capacity to produce high levels of salivary PRPs. Browsers and frugivores should also produce high levels of PRPs, but grazers may have reduced secretion rates depending on the antiquity of the dietary habit. This hypothesis is consistent with the limited information available on the abundance, type, and distribution of PRPs in mammals. Studies are suggested which would test the functional and evolutionary arguments presented.

Male germ cell transplantation in rats: apparent synchronization of spermatogenesis between host and donor seminiferous epithelia

Abstract: Primordial germ cells (PGC) and gonocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rat fetuses and neonates were transplanted via the rete testis into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules of recipient adult Long Evans rats. The donor germ cells apparently differentiated into mini-tubules or irregular segments of seminiferous epithelium within the lumen of the host seminiferous tubules, and exhibited qualitatively normal spermatogenesis in 10 out of 16 recipients. The stage of spermatogenesis of the intraluminal epithelium was synchronized closely with that of the adjacent seminiferous tubule epithelium, suggesting that the spermatogenic cycle is regulated locally by the intraluminal microenvironment. Male germ cell transplantation provides an interesting new tool for investigating the control of spermatogenesis.

Pancreatic Islet Cell Cytoplasmic Antibody in Diabetes is Represented by Antibodies to Islet Cell Antigen 512 and Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase

Abstract: The presence of serum islet cell cytoplasmic antibodies (ICAs) is a standard autoimmune marker for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The antigenic molecule(s) responsible for ICA has not been identified, although antibodies to the 65-kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) do contribute. We tested 129 IDDM sera for antibodies to ICA512 (anti-ICA512), antibodies to GAD (anti-GAD), and ICAs; we tested for inhibition of ICAs with purified recombinant ICA512 and sheep brain GAD; and we tested for immunofluorescence reactivity on COS7 cells transfected with cDNA clones encoding ICA512 and GAD65. The results were that anti-ICA512 antibodies contribute to ICA reactivity and that these, in combination with anti-GAD antibodies, account for most ICA reactivity in IDDM. Anti-ICA512 antibodies were present at a frequency of 51% in 61 patients with early-onset IDDM (age of onset 20 years and/or a disease duration of > 1 month. The frequency of anti-GAD antibodies in these sera was similar irrespective of duration or age of onset. Anti-ICA512 and anti-GAD antibodies were demonstrable by indirect immunofluorescence on transfected COS7 cells, and ICA could be inhibited using either recombinant ICA512 or purified brain GAD. We conclude that anti-ICA512 and anti-GAD antibodies contribute to ICA reactivity and that anti-ICA512 antibodies account for the increased frequency of ICA reactivity in early-onset IDDM of short duration.

The effect of vigorous exercise during pregnancy on birth-weight

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effect on birth-weight of continuing a programme of vigorous exercise into late pregnancy. 'Potential exercisers' were women who had been doing vigorous exercise prior to pregnancy and intended to continue exercising during pregnancy. Controls were healthy pregnant women who did not do regular vigorous exercise. Both groups kept 2, 7-day food +/- exercise diaries at 25 and 35 weeks. The primary outcome variable was birth-weight. Women who continued doing at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise at least 3 times weekly at 25 weeks and either maintained this minimum level or had delivered by 35 weeks were classified as 'exercisers'. Women doing more than 4 sessions of vigorous exercise weekly at 25 weeks had babies whose mean birth-weight was 315 g lower than the mean birth-weight of babies born to controls.

The German Language in a Changing Europe

Abstract: Recent sociopolitical events have profoundly changed the status and functions of German and influenced its usage. In this study (published by Cambridge in 1984) Michael Clyne revises and expands his original analysis of the German language in Language and Society in the German-speaking Countries in the light of such changes as the end of the Cold War, German unification, the redrawing of the map of Europe, increasing European integration, and the changing self-images of Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. His discussion includes the differences in the form, function and status of the various national varieties of German; the relation between standard and non-standard varieties; gender, generational and political variation; Anglo-American influence on German; and the convergence of east and west. The result is a wide-ranging exploration of language and society in the German-speaking countries, all of which have problems or dilemmas concerning nationhood or ethnicity which are language-related and/or language-marked.

Improving the quality of services marketing: Service (Re) design is the critical link

Abstract: In recent years we have seen a radical shift in management thinking. Interest in service quality improvement, which had some early and superficial expression as customer care, is being refuelled by a number of problem‐solving techniques (with origins in total quality management) and broad‐based staff involvement with those techniques (with origins in participative management). These practices are not new but they are now often fused together in one integrated service quality programme. Every industry is now potentially a “service” industry. Every company has the opportunity to design and market its own unique set of service quality solutions to meet customer requirements. This demands practical approaches to monitoring service quality and diagnostic approaches to problem‐solving on an on‐going relationship marketing basis. This article puts a new emphasis on the meaning of internal marketing and brings to the fore and examines the linkages between services marketing and quality management, especially serv...

Microvascular structure of benign and malignant tumors of the colon in humans

Abstract: Studies of experimental tumors in rodents indicate that there are morphological abnormalities of the tumor microcirculation compared to normal tissues. The aim of this study was to examine the structure of the microvasculature in benign and malignant colonic tumors in humans using microvascular casting techniques. There were 15 adenocarcinomas, four benign sporadic adenomas, and three specimens from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). A cast of the microvessels of these tumors was prepared by intraarterial administration of acrylic resin (Mercox) and the cast examined by scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative measures of the microvasculature were obtained from histological sections using stereological techniques in four carcinomas, two sporadic adenomas, and 12 adenomas from patients with FAP. Vascular casts of benign colonic adenomas showed that the microvasculature had a similar organization to normal colon. However, capillaries and venules were elongated and had increased diameters compared to normal. In adenomas greater than 3 mm in diameter, there was an increased density of microvessels in the spaces between tumor cells. Vascular casts of colonic carcinomas were characterized by a disorganized structure and increased density of microvessels. The organization of microvessels within carcinomas had a similar overall pattern to normal colon. However, the increased number and density of microvessels resulted in formation of nodular clusters of capillaries, formation of "sheets" of frequently anastomosing capillaries, or almost complete packing of the interstitial spaces of the tumor by capillaries in places. Most capillaries had a long and tortuous course and numerous capillary sprouts were identified. Tumor microvessels had greater mean diameters than normal. Extravasation of resin from microvessels in carcinomas was frequently seen. The vascular volume of carcinomas (23.1% +/- 12.2), sporadic adenomas (16.3% +/- 3.4), and adenomas > 3 mm diameter in patients with FAP (17.7% +/- 3.0) were significantly greater than in normal colon (11.0% +/- 4.2). This study indicates that there is an increased vascular density in benign and malignant tumors of the colon compared to normal colon. The presence of profusely anastomotic microvessels and frequent capillary sprouts is evidence of active neovascularization and suggests control of tumor growth could be achieved by modifiers of angiogenesis.

Double blind trial of repeated treatment with transdermal nicotine for relapsed smokers

Abstract: Objective : To assess the efficacy and safety of a repeat course of treatment with transdermal nicotine for cessation of smoking in a brief intervention setting. Study design : Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial with follow up for 26 weeks. Subjects : 629 smokers who had unsuccessfully attempted to stop smoking by using active transdermal nicotine and brief behavioural counselling. Smokers were motivated to quit smoking for a second time and smoked >/=15 cigarettes a day. Interventions : Twelve weeks9 treatment with active transdermal nicotine patches or placebo and brief counselling at monthly visits. Main outcome measure> : Sustained smoking cessation for the 28 days before the visit at week 12 verified by expired carbon monoxide concentrations. Results : At 12 weeks 21/315 (6.7%) subjects allocated to active treatment had stopped smoking compared with 6/314 (1.9%) allocated to placebo (absolute difference 4.7%; 95% confidence interval 1.6% to 7.9%; P=0.003). At 26 weeks the rates were 20/315 (6.4%) and 8/314 (2.6%) (3.8%; 0.6% to 7.0%; P=0.021). Difficulty in sleeping was reported by 43/179 (24.0%) on active treatment and 19/143 (13.3%) on placebo (P=0.015). Severe reactions at the site of application were rare (6/322; 1.9%). Conclusions : Repeated treatment with transdermal nicotine together with brief counselling can improve the low success rates of smoking cessation in recently relapsed, moderate to heavy smokers. Questions remain about whether more intensive interventions or higher doses of nicotine could be more effective. The likelihood of severe reactions at the site of application with repeated treatment is low.

Highest‐density forecast regions for nonlinear and non‐normal time series models

Abstract: Forecast regions are a common way to summarize forecast accuracy. They usually consist of an interval symmetric about the forecast mean. However, symmetric intervals may not be appropriate forecast regions when the forecast density is not symmetric and unimodal. With many modern time series models, such as those which are non-linear or have non-normal errors, the forecast densities are often asymmetric or multimodal. The problem of obtaining forecast regions in such cases is considered and it is proposed that highest-density forecast regions be used. A graphical method for presenting the results is discussed.

Fertilization and early embryology: The effect of testosterone on the maturation and developmental capacity of murine oocytes in vitro

Abstract: A dose-dependent inhibition of meiotic maturation and embryonic development was observed in both cumulus-enclosed and cumulus-denuded murine oocytes following incubation in the presence of 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 microM testosterone for 18 h in vitro. Maturation to metaphase II was enhanced in cumulus-enclosed oocytes following maturation in the presence of human pre-ovulatory mural granulosa cells. However, maturation of cumulus-denuded oocytes was enhanced only when oocytes were cultured on a monolayer of human polycystic ovarian granulosa cells. The presence of cumulus cells had a significantly positive effect on both oocyte maturation (P = 0.002) and embryonic development (P < 0.001). In addition, the presence of follicular cells during maturation improved the number of fertilized oocytes reaching the blastocyst stage. These data indicate that the exposure of immature murine oocytes to testosterone during maturation significantly reduces their ability to mature and undergo normal embryonic development.

The eastern Australian childhood nevus study: prevalence of atypical nevi, congenital nevus-like nevi, and other pigmented lesions.

Abstract: Background: Various melanocytic lesions are frequently observed. An understanding of phenotypic factors and environmental stimuli that are associated with these lesions may help explain their pathogenesis. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of atypical nevi, blue nevi, cafe-au-lait macules, congenital nevus-like nevi, halo nevi, nevi spili, nevi 5 mm or more in diameter, and skin-colored melanocytic nevi in a population of schoolchildren and to explore risk factors including solar radiation in the development of these melanocytic lesions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed by the same medical investigators to examine schoolchildren in three Australian cities that span a wide range of latitudes. Results: Data from 1123 white Australian schoolchildren, 6 to 15 years of age, were analyzed. Acquired melanocytic nevi (atypical nevi, nevi ≥5 mm in diameter, and skin-colored nevi) were more likely to develop in older fair-skinned subjects who had freckles and lived closest to the equator. Cafe-au-lait macules and congenital nevus-like nevi were observed in 36.3% and 4.4% of the total population, respectively. Prevalence for both these types of melanocytic lesions increased significantly with decreasing latitude. Halo nevi were present in 5.3% of the subjects and were usually solitary. These lesions were related to the presence of atypical nevi primarily by virtue of their size rather than of other features of clinical atypia. Conclusion: Like melanocytic nevi in general, large and atypical nevi are strongly influenced by geographic location and, by implication, degree of solar radiation. The same can be said for congenital nevus-like nevi, which suggests that many so-called congenital nevi are in fact acquired early in life.

Intracellular Production of .beta.A4 Amyloid of Alzheimer's Disease: Modulation by Phosphoramidon and Lack of Coupling to the Secretion of the Amyloid Precursor Protein

Abstract: The amyloid precursor protein (APP) undergoes abnormal metabolism in Alzheimer's disease, resulting in the accumulation of beta A4 amyloid in the brain. Normal APP metabolism includes the release of a truncated form (sAPP) which has been cleaved at the alpha-secretase site within the beta A4 amyloidogenic domain. However, intact forms of beta A4 protein may also be generated by the beta- and gamma-secretases. Soluble forms of beta A4 have been detected in various cell lines and in cerebrospinal fluid. Previous studies of protein kinase C activation have suggested a reciprocal relationship between sAPP secretion and beta A4 production and release. We find that phorbol ester activation of protein kinase C in untransfected SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells increases the release of sAPP without affecting beta A4 secretion. We provide further evidence for intracellular beta A4 production. Treatment of SY5Y cells with the protease inhibitor phosphoramidon results in a 2-fold increase in beta A4 secretion and an increase in the amount of beta A4 recovered from cell lysates, yet it does not affect sAPP secretion. The protease inhibitors thiorphan and N-[(RS)-2-carboxy-3-phenylpropanoyl]-L-leucine had no effect on beta A4 or sAPP secretion. The lysosomotropic agents chloroquine and NH4Cl decreased beta A4 secretion, providing additional evidence for the involvement of intracellular acidic compartments in the production of beta A4. Our results therefore demonstrate a double dissociation between the secretion of sAPP and beta A4 in the SH-SY5Y cell line. The effect of phosphoramidon supports previous studies which show that metalloproteases are involved in the biogenesis of beta A4.

Organ-specific autoimmunity induced by adult thymectomy and cyclophosphamide-induced lymphopenia.

Abstract: Autoimmune gastritis, a CD4+ T cell-mediated organ-specific autoimmune disease, can be induced by thymectomy of neonatal, but not of older, BALB/c mice. Here we have shown that autoimmune gastritis can also be induced in 6-8-week-old BALB/c mice by thymectomy combined with a single dose of cyclophosphamide (300 mg/kg). This treatment reduced the numbers of splenic T and B cells approximately 25-fold. However, by 8 days after treatment, the number of splenic lymphocytes had returned to normal adult levels. Approximately 50% of treated mice developed autoimmune gastritis after 10-12 weeks. These mice had mononuclear cellular infiltrates within the gastric mucosa and serum autoantibodies to the alpha and beta subunits of the gastric H+/K+ ATPase. Transgenic mice, expressing the gastric H+/K+ ATPase beta-subunit in the thymus (Alderuccio, F., Toh, B. H., Tan, S. S., Gleeson, P. A. and van Driel, I. R., J. Exp. Med. 1993. 178: 419), did not develop autoimmune gastritis after the adult thymectomy/cyclophosphamide treatment. Thus a T cell response to the H+/K+ ATPase beta-subunit is likely to be required for the onset of gastritis. These observations suggest that pathogenic autoreactive T cells exist in the periphery of normal adult mice and that autoimmunity can be induced by the activation of these autoreactive T cells following transient lymphopenia. Cyclophosphamide-treatment of adult mice without thymectomy did not induce autoimmune gastritis, suggesting thymic regulation of these pathogenic T cells.

Knowledge Acquisition from Databases

Abstract: This is a textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students on machine learning, expert systems, and artificial intelligence courses. The text may also serve as a reference book for researchers in machine learning, knowledge based systems, genetic algorithms, and neural networks.

An Evaluation of the Decision Usefulness of Cash Flow Statements by Australian Reporting Entities

Abstract: In June 1991, the Australian Accounting Standards Board issued AASB 1026, Statement of Cash Flows. Since replacing the funds flow statement, the new accounting standard has become a compulsory part of Australian corporate financial reporting. In contrast to cash flow developments in the US and UK. the emergence of AASB 1026 has been preceded by almost no significant research attention by Australian academics. This study surveyed the attitudes to cash flow statements of 210 public companies listed on the Australian stock exchange. Findings revealed that there was particularly strong support for the essential provisions of AASB 1026 and the underlying principles of cash flow reporting. The results indicated that the cash flow statement is important for a wide variety of internal and external decision contexts, and appealed to a wide range of users. Furthermore, compared with previous research (e.g. McEnroe, 1989), the present survey demonstrated that operating profit was not considered by a large n...