Showing papers by "University of Stirling published in 2004"
TL;DR: A comprehensive four-dimensional framework for the holistic content analysis of accounting narratives and a computer assisted methodology for implementing this framework is presented in this paper. But, it does not address the problem of quality measurement.
963 citations
TL;DR: The evidence concerning the links between physical activity and cardiovascular disease, overweight and obesity, psychosocial measures, type II diabetes, and skeletal health is reviewed, and several factors lead to the conclusion that promoting physical activity in youth is desirable.
Abstract: We provide a wide-ranging review of health-related physical activity in children and adolescents using a behavioural epidemiology framework. In contrast to many other reviews, we highlight issues associated with true sedentary behaviours alongside physically active behaviours. Specifically, we review the evidence concerning the links between physical activity and cardiovascular disease, overweight and obesity, psychosocial measures, type II diabetes, and skeletal health. Although the evidence is unconvincing at times, several factors lead to the conclusion that promoting physical activity in youth is desirable. A review of the prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behaviours shows that many young people are active, but this declines with age. A substantial number are not adequately active for health benefits and current trends in juvenile obesity are a cause for concern. Prevalence data on sedentary behaviours are less extensive but suggest that total media use by young people has not changed greatly in recent years. Most children and adolescents do not exceed recommended daily hours of TV viewing. Physical activity is unrelated to TV viewing. We also identified the key determinants of physical activity in this age group, highlighting demographic, biological, psychological, behavioural, social and environmental determinants. Interventions were considered for school, family and community environments. Finally, policy recommendations are offered for the education, governmental, sport and recreation, health, and mass media sectors.
943 citations
TL;DR: A meta-analysis found a significant suppressive effect of testosterone on immunity, in support of the hypothesis, but this effect disappeared when the authors controlled for multiple studies on the same species, and a funnel analysis indicated that the results were robust to a publication bias.
670 citations
TL;DR: The authors criticizes the use of fear appeals in social marketing and suggests alternatives to fear appeals, such as positive reinforcement appeals aimed at the good behavior, humor, and postmodern irony.
Abstract: This article criticizes the predominant use of fear appeals in social marketing. Laboratory studies, which have been the basis for most of the research on fear appeals and which generally suggest that high fear works, have limitations that include forced exposure, short-term measurement, and an overdependence on student samples. Although, unfortunately, field research evaluations of fear appeals are few, they usually reveal that fear has both weaker effects and unintended deleterious effects in real-world social marketing campaigns. Ethical concerns about fear appeals include maladaptive responses such as chronic heightened anxiety among those most at risk and, paradoxically, complacency among those not directly targeted, and increased social inequity between those who respond to fear campaigns, who tend to be better off, and those who do not, who tend to be the less educated and poorer members of society. Alternatives to fear appeals are the use of positive reinforcement appeals aimed at the good behavior, the use of humor, and, for younger audiences, the use of postmodern irony. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
562 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the ESRC Seminar Series on children's and young people's participation in policy, practice, research, and theory is discussed, and a way forward is suggested, which entails collaboration among all the key stakeholders including children and young- people, connects participatory and social inclusion aims and mechanisms, and is committed to achieving tangible outcomes based on the wishes of children.
Abstract: This article sets the scene for the other papers in this Special Issue on children's and young people's participation, by outlining the nature of the ESRC Seminar Series from which all are derived and by developing the main themes discussed at the seminars. The focus of this Issue is participation by children and young people as this relates to differing notions of social exclusion and inclusion. This article critically examines participation in the contexts of policy, practice, research and theory. In many respects the environments in each of these domains is supportive of increased participation, yet there is also much evidence of limited impact by recent participative measures and of disillusionment by many young people who have been engaged in consultation and decision-making. A way forward is suggested, which entails collaboration among all the key stakeholders including children and young people, connects participatory and social inclusion aims and mechanisms, and is committed to achieving tangible outcomes based on the wishes of children and young people.
437 citations
TL;DR: It was found that CC are miscible at the molecular level and exhibit interactions between the components; X-ray diffraction of CC blends indicate that the collagen helix structure is lost in CC films with increasing chitosan content.
429 citations
TL;DR: The nature of working memory used on maze tasks, operant box based tasks, and non-spatial delayed non-matching to sample paradigms is considered.
422 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of exogenous changes in the distribution of income were analyzed using techniques from auction theory, showing that in a richer society, almost all individuals spend more on conspicuous consumption, and individual utility is lower at each income level.
Abstract: If individuals care about their status, defined as their rank in the distribution of consumption of one "positional" good, then the consumer's problem is strategic as her utility depends on the consumption choices of others. In the symmetric Nash equilibrium, each individual spends an inefficiently high amount on the status good. Using techniques from auction theory, we analyze the effects of exogenous changes in the distribution of income. In a richer society, almost all individuals spend more on conspicuous consumption, and individual utility is lower at each income level. In a more equal society, the poor are worse off.
410 citations
TL;DR: Education support for general practitioners should concentrate on epidemiological knowledge, disclosure of the diagnosis and management of behaviour problems in dementia, if earlier diagnosis is to be pursued as a policy objective in primary care.
Abstract: Objective: to measure general practitioners’ knowledge of, confidence with and attitudes to the diagnosis and management of dementia in primary care. Setting: 20 general practices of varying size and prior research experience in Central Scotland, and 16 similarly varied practices in north London. Participants: 127 general practitioners who had volunteered to join a randomised controlled trial of educational interventions about dementia diagnosis and management. Methods: self-completion questionnaires covering knowledge, confidence and attitudes were retrieved from practitioners prior to the educational interventions. Results: general practitioners’ knowledge of dementia diagnosis and management is good, but poor awareness of its epidemiology leads to an over-estimate of caseload. Knowledge of local diagnostic and support services is less good, and one third of general practitioners expressed limited confidence in their diagnostic skills, whilst two-thirds lacked confidence in management of behaviour and other problems in dementia. The main difficulties identified by general practitioners were talking with patients about the diagnosis, responding to behaviour problems and coordinating support services. General practitioners perceived lack of time and lack of social services support as the major obstacles to good quality care more often than they identified their own unfamiliarity with current management or with local resources. Attitudes to the disclosure of the diagnosis, and to the potential for improving the quality of life of patients and carers varied, but a third of general practitioners believed that dementia care is within a specialist’s domain, not that of general practice. More experienced and male general practitioners were more pessimistic about dementia care, as were general practitioners with lower knowledge about dementia. Those reporting greater difficulty with dementia diagnosis and management and those with lower knowledge scores were also less likely to express attitudes endorsing open communication with patient and carer. Conclusion: educational support for general practitioners should concentrate on epidemiological knowledge, disclosure of the diagnosis and management of behaviour problems in dementia. The availability and profile of support services, particularly social care, need to be enhanced, if earlier diagnosis is to be pursued as a policy objective in primary care.
352 citations
TL;DR: Preliminary findings provide support for the underlying assumptions of much attractiveness research, particularly studies that have identified systematic variation in female preferences for masculine faces.
345 citations
TL;DR: Evidence of consistent interspecific interactions in a natural mammalian system is presented through the analysis of parasite intensity data collected from a free-ranging rabbit population, sampled monthly for a period of 23 yr, suggesting that parasite interactions could have profound implications for the dynamics of parasite communities.
Abstract: Most animal species are infected with multiple parasite species; however, the role of interspecific parasite interactions in influencing parasite dynamics and shaping parasite communities has been unclear. Although laboratory studies have found evidence of cross-immunity, immunosuppression and competition, analyses of hosts in the field have generally concluded that parasite communities are little more than random assemblages. Here we present evidence of consistent interspecific interactions in a natural mammalian system, revealed through the analysis of parasite intensity data collected from a free-ranging rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population, sampled monthly for a period of 23 yr. The wild rabbit plays host to a diverse gut helminth community that reflects the communities seen in other economically important domestic herbivores. These findings suggest that parasite interactions could have profound implications for the dynamics of parasite communities. The efficacy of parasite control programmes could be jeopardized if such interactions are not taken into account. In contrast, a clear understanding of such interactions may provide the basis for the development of more environmentally acceptable methods of parasite control.
TL;DR: It is suggested that LO can be used as a substitute for FO in seawater salmon feeds and that any reductions in DHA and EPA can be largely overcome with a finishing diethigh in FO before harvest.
Abstract: Five groups of salmon, of initial mean weight 127±3 g, were fed increasing levels of dietary linseed oil (LO) in a regression design. The control diet contained capelin oil (FO) only, and the same oil was blended with LO to provide the experimental diets. After an initial period of 40 wk, all groups were switched to a finishing diet containing only FO for a further 24 wk. Growth and flesh lipid contents were not affected by dietary treatment. The FA compositions of flesh total lipids were linearly correlated with dietary FA compositions (r
2=0.88–1.00, P<0.0001). LO included at 50% of added dietary lipids reduced flesh DHA and EPA (20∶5n−3) concentrations to 65 and 58%, respectively, of the concentrations in fish fed FO. Feeding 100% LO reduced flesh DHA and EPA concentrations to 38 and 30%, respectively, of the values in fish fed FO. Differences between diet and flesh FA concentrations showed that 16∶0, 18∶1n−9, and especially DHA were preferentially retained in flesh, whereas 18∶2n−6, 18∶3n−3, and 22∶1n−11 were selected against and presumably utilized for energy. In fish previously fed 50 and 100% LO, feeding a finishing diet containing FO for 16 wk restored flesh DHA and EPA concentrations, to ≈80% of the values in fish fed FO throughout. Flesh DHA and EPA concentrations in fish fed up to 50% LO were above recommended intake values for humans for these EFA. This study suggests that LO can be used as a substitute for FO in seawater salmon feeds and that any reductions in DHA and EPA can be largely overcome with a finishing diethigh in FO before harvest.
TL;DR: In this article, a comprehensive data set of DOC concentration records for UK catchments was compiled to evaluate trends and test whether observed increases are ubiquitous over time and space, and the average annual increase in DOC concentration was 0.17 mg C/l/year.
Abstract: Several studies have highlighted an increase in DOC concentration in streams and lakes of UK upland catchments though the causal mechanisms controlling the increase have yet to be fully explained. This study, compiles a comprehensive data set of DOC concentration records for UK catchments to evaluate trends and test whether observed increases are ubiquitous over time and space. The study analysed monthly DOC time series from 198 sites, including 29 lakes, 8 water supply reservoirs and 161 rivers. The records vary in length from 8 to 42 years going back as far as 1961. Of the 198 sites, 153 (77%) show an upward trend in DOC concentration significant at the 95% level, the remaining 45 (23%) show no significant trend and no sites show a significant decrease in DOC concentration. The average annual increase in DOC concentration was 0.17 mg C/l/year. The dataset shows: (i) a spatial consistent upward trend in the DOC concentration independent of regional effects of rainfall, acid and nitrogen deposition, and local effects of land-use change; (ii) a temporally consistent increase in DOC concentration for period back as far as the 1960s; (iii) the increase in DOC concentration means an estimated DOC flux from the UK as 0.86 Mt C for the year 2002 and is increasing at 0.02 Mt C/year. Possible reasons for the increasing DOC concentration are discussed.
TL;DR: It was confirmed that the western gorilla diet is always eclectic, including up to 230 items and 180 species, and eight plant families provide important foods at five, or all six, sites, suggesting that it may be possible in the future to predict which habitats are the most suitable for gorillas.
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to collate information on western gorilla diet from six study sites throughout much of their current range, including preliminary information from two sites (Afi and Lossi), where studies of diet have begun only recently. Food lists were available from each site, derived from indirect signs of gorilla feeding (such as feces), with some observational data. Important staple, seasonal, and fallback foods have been identified, and a number of striking similarities across sites have been revealed based on a much larger data set than was previously available. It was confirmed that the western gorilla diet is always eclectic, including up to 230 items and 180 species. The greatest diversity is found among the fruit species eaten, fruit being included in western gorilla diets from all sites and throughout most or all of the year. Eight plant families provide important foods at five, or all six, sites, suggesting that it may be possible in the future to predict which habitats are the most suitable for gorillas. Gorillas exploit both rare and common forest species. Similarities and differences among sites can be explained superficially on the basis of geography and the past history of the forest. Gorilla density across sites appears to be most affected by the density of monocotyledonous bulk food plants, but its relationship to the density of important tree food species has yet to be tested.
TL;DR: A low frequency of fish consumption was statistically significantly associated with depression in women, but not in men, and possible background-theories behind the gender difference are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, a theoretical model suggests a set of conditions under which the price of gold rises over time at the general rate of inflation and hence be an effective hedge against inflation and demonstrates that short run changes in the gold lease rate, the real interest rate, convenience yield, default risk, the covariance of gold returns with other assets and the dollar/world exchange rate can disturb this equilibrium relationship and generate short run price volatility.
Abstract: This paper attempts to reconcile an apparent contradiction between short‐run and long‐run movements in the price of gold. The theoretical model suggests a set of conditions under which the price of gold rises over time at the general rate of inflation and hence be an effective hedge against inflation. The model also demonstrates that short‐run changes in the gold lease rate, the real interest rate, convenience yield, default risk, the covariance of gold returns with other assets and the dollar/world exchange rate can disturb this equilibrium relationship and generate short‐run price volatility. Using monthly gold price data (1976–1999), and cointegration regression techniques, an empirical analysis confirms the central hypotheses of the theoretical model.
TL;DR: In this article, a conceptual framework of reasons behind adoption and non-adoption in the SME sector is presented, together with recommendations for industry bodies involved in supporting SME sectors.
Abstract: Globalisation and technology effects appear to have spurred smaller firms around the world to embrace e‐business practices. However, there is considerable variability in adoption and usage from country to country. Drawing on existing research on e‐business and conventional business and marketing in the smaller firm, this paper formulates a conceptual framework of reasons behind adoption and non‐adoption in the smaller firm. Macro dimensions, industry sector and firm‐level factors are analysed, together with owner/manager motivations and attitudes towards e‐business adoption. A conceptual framework is constructed and research propositions are then developed in order to focus attention on sets of internal and external factors which impact on smaller firm e‐business usage. Recommendations for future theory development are presented, together with implications for industry bodies involved in supporting the SME sector.
TL;DR: The authors examined the relationship between perceived ethnic discrimination and psychological distress in a sample of ethnic minority young people (N=154) and found no support for the hypothesis derived from the self-esteem theory of depression that selfesteem (personal and ethnic) moderates the discrimination-distress relationship.
Abstract: The present study aimed to draw on 2 theoretical models to examine the relationship between perceived ethnic discrimination and psychological distress in a sample of ethnic minority young people (N=154). Analysis provided no support for the hypothesis derived from the self-esteem theory of depression that self-esteem (personal and ethnic) moderates the discrimination-distress relationship. There was, however, partial support for a mediating role of self-esteem, as predicted by the transactional model of stress and coping. This mediational relationship was moderated by gender, such that both forms of self-esteem exerted a mediating role among men but not women. The authors consider the implications of their findings for theory and future research examining the consequences of discrimination on psychological well-being.
TL;DR: Overall, empirical support was found for the decision to use TPB as the theoretical underpinning of the advertising, and the advertising was effective in triggering desired communications outcomes, and was associated with significant changes in attitudes and affective beliefs about speeding.
Abstract: The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has been widely applied to the explanation of health and social behaviours. However, despite its potential to inform behaviour change efforts, there have been surprisingly few attempts to use the TPB to design actual interventions. In 1998, the Scottish Road Safety Campaign implemented a 3-year mass media campaign to reduce speeding on Scotland's roads which was explicitly shaped by the TPB's three main predictors: Attitude, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioural Control. A 4-year longitudinal cohort study examined the impact of the campaign on communications outcomes and on TPB constructs. Overall, empirical support was found for the decision to use TPB as the theoretical underpinning of the advertising. The advertising was effective in triggering desired communications outcomes, and was associated with significant changes in attitudes and affective beliefs about speeding. In conclusion, future directions for road safety advertising and for TPB research are discussed.
TL;DR: Findings are presented from a phenomenological study of individuals making the transition from their family home to live more independently and 18 individuals moving from a long-stay hospital to live in community housing on people's awareness of stigma and their modes of adaptation to stigma.
Abstract: Background Social stigma and its impact on the life opportunities and emotional well-being of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are a subject of both practical and theoretical importance. The disability movement and evolving theories of self, now point to individuals’ ability to develop positive identities and to challenge stigmatizing views and social norms.
Method This paper presents findings from a phenomenological study of 10 individuals making the transition from their family home to live more independently and 18 individuals moving from a long-stay hospital to live in community housing. It builds on an earlier data set obtained from people living at home with their families and examines: (1) people's awareness of stigma, and (2) their modes of adaptation to stigma.
Results The participants all believed that they faced stigmatized treatment and were aware of the stigma associated with ID. They presented a range of views about self in relation to disability and stigma. These views included regarding themselves as part of a minority group who reject prejudice, and attempts to distance themselves from stigmatizing services and from other individuals with IDs.
Conclusions The findings are discussed in relation to theories of self and the importance of considering psychosocial factors is stressed in clinical work with people who have IDs.
TL;DR: The development of trustworthiness in hermeneutic phenomenological research is discussed, with a focus on the importance of recognizing the influences that the author brought to the study and the impact of these in generating the data.
Abstract: Background. Researchers have ethical and professional obligations to produce research of a high standard. The constituents of quality in research appear to differ between authors, leaving readers unsure about which pathway to follow. This can reflect inadequate consideration of the theoretical framework guiding the study. Many papers fail to consider the theoretical underpinnings of the methodology chosen and the link between these and the methods employed. These need to be accessible to readers in order to assess the trustworthiness of the research.
Aim. This paper discusses the development of trustworthiness in hermeneutic phenomenological research.
Discussion. Referring to a study on lived experience of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/myalgic encephalitis, I describe the decision trail and discuss the strengths and limitations of the choices made throughout the study.
Conclusion. The methodology focused my approach more fully on the importance of recognizing the influences that I brought to the study and the impact of these in generating the data. It highlighted the fact that the process of setting out my horizon can never be complete, the importance of analysing the data at a macro and micro level, acknowledging the evolution of the data over time, and ensuring that analysis does not move beyond the data and out of the hermeneutic circle. In seeking to make the decision trail clear to others, researchers must distill the philosophical principles of the methodology and set these out in a way that is accessible and open to scrutiny.
TL;DR: The method used to identify the key non-technical skills required in anaesthesia and to develop a behavioural marker system for their measurement is described and preliminary evaluation using ratings of videotaped scenarios indicated that the skills were observable and could be rated with reasonable agreement.
Abstract: Studies of performance in medicine are often based on observation. Videotape provides a valuable tool for recording events from both real environments and simulators. When analysing observational data it is important that robust tools are used, particularly when investigating non-technical (cognitive and social) skills. This paper describes the method used to identify the key non-technical skills required in anaesthesia and to develop a behavioural marker system for their measurement. A prototype taxonomy was designed on the basis of a literature review; an examination of existing marker systems; cognitive task analysis interviews; an iterative development process involving workshops; and cross-checking in theatre. The resulting anaesthetists' non-technical skills (ANTS) system comprises four skill categories (task management, team working, situation awareness, and decision making) that divide into 15 elements, each with example behaviours. Preliminary evaluation using ratings of videotaped scenarios indicated that the skills were observable and could be rated with reasonable agreement.
TL;DR: Contagious yawning in chimpanzees provides further evidence that these apes may possess advanced self–awareness and empathic abilities.
Abstract: Six adult female chimpanzees were shown video scenes of chimpanzees repeatedly yawning or of chimpanzees showing openmouth facial expressions that were not yawns. Two out of the six females showed ...
TL;DR: The cloning and characterization of desaturases from these fish is an important advance, as they are species in which there is a relative wealth of data on the nutritional regulation of fatty acid desaturation and HUFA synthesis, and between which substantive differences occur.
Abstract: Fish are the most important dietary source of the n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), that have particularly important roles in human nutrition reflecting their roles in critical physiological processes. The objective of the study described here was to clone, functionally characterize and compare expressed fatty acid desaturase genes involved in the production of EPA and DHA in freshwater and marine teleost fish species. Putative fatty acid desaturase cDNAs were isolated and cloned from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and turbot (Psetta maximus). The enzymic activities of the products of these cDNAs, together with those of cDNAs previously cloned from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), were determined by heterologous expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The carp and turbot desaturase cDNAs included open reading frames (ORFs) of 1335 and 1338 base pairs, respectively, specifying proteins of 444 and 445 amino acids. The protein sequences possessed all the characteristic features of microsomal fatty acid desaturases, including three histidine boxes, two transmembrane regions, and N-terminal cytochrome b5 domains containing the haem-binding motif, HPGG. Functional expression showed all four fish cDNAs encode basically unifunctional Δ6 fatty acid desaturase enzymes responsible for the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of HUFA from 18:3n-3 and 18:2n-6. All the fish desaturases were more active towards the n-3 substrate with 59.5%, 31.5%, 23.1% and 7.0% of 18:3n-3 being converted to 18:4n-3 in the case of turbot, trout, sea bream and carp, respectively. The enzymes also showed very low, probably physiologically insignificant, levels of Δ5 desaturase activity, but none of the products showed Δ4 desaturase activity. The cloning and characterization of desaturases from these fish is an important advance, as they are species in which there is a relative wealth of data on the nutritional regulation of fatty acid desaturation and HUFA synthesis, and between which substantive differences occur.
TL;DR: The authors explored consumer understanding and perception of organic food, with specific reference to the relatively new concept of organic farmed salmon and found that most consumers are confused about the meaning of the term organic and are largely unaware of the organic certification and labelling process.
Abstract: This paper explores consumer understanding and perception of organic food, with specific reference to the relatively new concept of organic farmed salmon. Key themes associated with the term “organic” and its meaning, as determined by consumers, are explored and the role of labelling and regulatory authorities considered. Focus groups in five countries (UK, Germany, Spain, Norway and France) consisting of 196 participants showed that most consumers are confused about the meaning of the term organic and are largely unaware of the organic certification and labelling process. Many consumers were unsure, even sceptical about the concept of organic farmed salmon and display a large amount of distrust in the regulatory process. The implications for the concept of organic food and salmon production and directions for further research are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that competence should be regarded as an attribute of groups, teams and communities, and propose a theory of collective competence in terms of making collective sense of events in the workplace, developing and using a collective knowledge base and developing a sense of interdependency.
Abstract: Contemporary work-related education and training policy represents occupational competence as the outcome of individual performance at work. This paper presents a critique of this neo-liberal assumption, arguing that in many cases competence should be regarded as an attribute of groups, teams and communities. It proposes a theory of collective competence in terms of (1) making collective sense of events in the workplace, (2) developing and using a collective knowledge base and (3) developing a sense of interdependency. It suggests that the language of competence would become a more effective tool for understanding performance at work if the collectivistic sense of the term ‘competence’ were used in conjunction with the more established individualistic sense.
TL;DR: The authors found that women preferred more masculine male faces than their British counterparts did, but this effect was complicated by an interaction suggesting that more feminised faces were preferred within culture, while men tended to prefer more masculine female faces than did British men.
TL;DR: The cloning and functional characterization of 2 genes from salmon involved in the biosynthesis of HUFA are described, with the overall aim being to determine mechanisms for optimizing the use of vegetable oils in Atlantic salmon culture.
Abstract: Fish are the only major dietary source for humans of ω-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) and with declining fisheries farmed fish such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) constitute an increasing proportion of the fish in the human diet. However, the current high use of fish oils, derived from wild capture marine fisheries, in aquaculture feeds is not sustainable in the longer term and will constrain continuing growth of aquaculture activities. Greater understanding of how fish metabolize and biosynthesize HUFA may lead to more sustainable aquaculture diets. The study described here contributes to an effort to determine the molecular genetics of the HUFA biosynthetic pathway in salmon, with the overall aim being to determine mechanisms for optimizing the use of vegetable oils in Atlantic salmon culture. In this paper we describe the cloning and functional characterization of 2 genes from salmon involved in the biosynthesis of HUFA. A salmon desaturase complementary DNA, SalDes, was isolated that include an open reading frame of 1362 bp specifying a protein of 454 amino acids. The protein sequence includes all the characteristics of microsomal fatty acid desaturases, including 3 histidine boxes, 2 transmembrane regions, and an N-terminal cytochrome b5 domain containing a heme-binding motif similar to that of other fatty acid desaturases. Functional expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed SalDes is predominantly an ω-3 δ5 desaturase, a key enzyme in the synthesis of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) from α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3). The desaturase showed only low levels of δ6 activity toward C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, a fatty acid elongase cDNA, SalElo, was isolated that included an open reading frame of 888 bp, specifying a protein of 295 amino acids. The protein sequence of SalElo included characteristics of microsomal fatty acid elongases, including a histidine box and a transmembrane region. Upon expression in yeast SalElo showed broad substrate specificity for polyunsaturated fatty acids with a range of chain lengths, with the rank order being C18 > C20 > C22. Thus this one polypeptide product displays all fatty acid elongase activities required for the biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) from 18:3n-3.
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01 Jan 2004TL;DR: The Brave New World of Work as discussed by the authors posits a new relationship between work, leisure, and society in which the overall goal is to sustain the commons and meet the obligations of society.
Abstract: systems. In other words repressed existential issues as such, press themselves back on to the agenda . . .moral/existential problems are actively recovered and brought forward into public debate. The specific moral arena of such debates concerns, not just what should be done for human beings to survive in nature, but how existence itself should be grasped and ‘‘lived’’: this is Heidegger’s ‘‘question of Being.’’ (Giddens 1991: 224) This concern with the grand questions of life is also a feature of Beck’s theorizing. In The Brave New World of Work Beck (2000) posits a new relationship between work, leisure, and society in which the overall goal is to sustain the commons and meet the obligations of society. Activities that do not contribute to wider social goals do not contribute to social capital. It is not clear precisely how tourism would figure in this relationship, but it is evident that Beck would entertain ethical objections to the pursuit of any leisure activity that was undertaken entirely for its own sake and without reference to the global commons. ‘‘Apathy, indifference, sloth, and subor- dination are not on the menu’’ (Rojek 2001). Tourism, while contributing to self- actualization, would always face the necessity to protect and enrich the commons. One might thus expect this to be a world in which more environmentally responsible forms of tourism would flourish.
TL;DR: In this article, a sociocultural model is proposed which identifies dialogue as the fundamental process by which organisations learn, and relational practices as the social structure which embeds the dialogue and makes it sustainable in a potentially conflictual environment.
Abstract: The concept of organisational learning has been widely debated and frequently contested by educationalists, but the specific processes and actions which constitute this form of learning have received relatively little research attention. This paper reports a three‐year empirical investigation into organisational learning in a large industrial complex, with the aim of clarifying the practices of organisational learning and interpreting them within sociocultural learning theory. A sociocultural model is proposed which identifies dialogue as the fundamental process by which organisations learn, and relational practices as the social structure which embeds the dialogue and makes it sustainable in a potentially conflictual environment. Three relational practices are analysed in detail: opening space for the creation of shared meaning, reconstituting power relationships and providing cultural tools to mediate learning. A pedagogy of organisational learning is defined in terms of participation in these practices...