bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Vascular Conducted Response in Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation
Authors: Jensen Lars Jørn , Holstein-Rathlou Niels-Henrik
Published: February 2013

Despite recent advances in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind vascular conducted responses (VCRs) in systemic arterioles, we still know very little about their potential physiological and pathophysiological role in brain penetrating arterioles controlling blood flow to the deeper areas of the brain. The scope of the present review is to present an overview of the conceptual, mechanistic, and physiological role of VCRs in resistance vessels, and to discuss in detail the recent advances in our knowledge of VCRs in brain arterioles controlling cerebral blood flow. We provide a schematic view of the ion channels and intercellular communication pathways necessary for conduction of an electrical and mechanical response in the arteriolar wall, and discuss the local signaling mechanisms and cellular pathway involved in the responses to different local stimuli and in different vascular beds. Physiological modulation of VCRs, which is a rather new finding in this field, is discussed in the light of changes in plasma membrane ion channel conductance as a function of health status or disease. Finally, we discuss the possible role of VCRs in cerebrovascular function and disease as well as suggest future directions for studying VCRs in the cerebral circulation.
Involvement of Arterial Baroreflex in the Protective Effect of Dietary Restriction Against Stroke
Authors: Liu Ai-Jun , Guo Jin-Min , Liu Wei , Su Feng-Yun , Zhai Qi-Wei , Mehta Jawahar L , Wang Wei-Zhong , Su Ding-Feng
Published: February 2013

Dietary restriction (DR) protects against neuronal dysfunction and degeneration, and reduces the risk of ischemic stroke. This study examined the role of silent information regulator T1 (SIRT1) and arterial baroreflex in the beneficial effects of DR against stroke, using two distinct stroke models: stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SP-SHRs) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Sirt1 knockout (KO) mice were used to examine the involvement of sirt1. Sinoaortic denervation was used to inactivate arterial baroreflex. Dietary restriction was defined as 40% reduction of dietary intake. Briefly, DR prolonged the life span of SP-SHRs and reduced the infarct size induced by MCAO. Dietary restriction also improved the function arterial baroreflex, decreased the release of proinflammatory cytokines, and reduced end-organ damage. The beneficial effect of DR on stroke was markedly attenuated by blunting arterial baroreflex. Lastly, the infarct area in sirt1 KO mice was significantly larger than in the wild-type mice. However, the beneficial effect of DR against ischemic injury was still apparent in sirt1 KO mice. Accordingly, arterial baroreflex, but not sirt1, is important in the protective effect of DR against stroke.
‘Hit & Run’ Model of Closed-Skull Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Reveals Complex Patterns of Post-Traumatic AQP4 Dysregulation
Authors: Ren Zeguang , Iliff Jeffrey J , Yang Lijun , Yang Jiankai , Chen Xiaolin , Chen Michael J , Giese Rebecca N , Wang Baozhi , Shi Xuefang , Nedergaard Maiken
Published: February 2013

Cerebral edema is a major contributor to morbidity associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The methods involved in most rodent models of TBI, including head fixation, opening of the skull, and prolonged anesthesia, likely alter TBI development and reduce secondary injury. We report the development of a closed-skull model of murine TBI, which minimizes time of anesthesia, allows the monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP), and can be modulated to produce mild and moderate grade TBI. In this model, we characterized changes in aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression and localization after mild and moderate TBI. We found that global AQP4 expression after TBI was generally increased; however, analysis of AQP4 localization revealed that the most prominent effect of TBI on AQP4 was the loss of polarized localization at endfoot processes of reactive astrocytes. This AQP4 dysregulation peaked at 7 days after injury and was largely indistinguishable between mild and moderate grade TBI for the first 2 weeks after injury. Within the same model, blood–brain barrieranalysis of variance permeability, cerebral edema, and ICP largely normalized within 7 days after moderate TBI. These findings suggest that changes in AQP4 expression and localization may not contribute to cerebral edema formation, but rather may represent a compensatory mechanism to facilitate its resolution.
The Role of Modeling and Simulation in Development and Registration of Medicinal Products: Output From the EFPIA/EMA Modeling and Simulation Workshop
Authors: Manolis E , Rohou S , Hemmings R , Salmonson T , Karlsson M , Milligan PA
Published: February 2013

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) hosted a workshop on modeling and simulation (M&S).1 Representatives from industry, academia, and regulatory agencies from Europe and beyond discussed the role of M&S in the development and registration of medicinal products within plenary and breakout sessions (BOS). This manuscript summarizes the plenary discussion (Table 1) focusing on the European perspective. Deliverables from each BOS are included in separate papers.

CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology (2013) 2, e31; doi:10.1038/psp.2013.7; advance online publication 27 February 2013
Theoretical tools for studying gold nanoparticles as catalysts for oxidation and hydrogenation reactions
Authors: Boronat Mercedes
Published: February 2013

In this contribution, the ability of small isolated gold NP to dissociate O2 and generate a reactive surface oxide layer, the nature of the new gold active sites generated, and their implication in the mechanism of alcohol oxidation to aldehydes has been analyzed from a theoretical point of view. The nature of the active sites involved in H2 dissociation and the possible ways in which Au/TiO2 catalysts can be modified in order to increase their activity toward hydrogenation of nitroaromatics without modifying their high chemoselectivity is also explored.
Structural manipulation of the catalysts for ammonia decomposition
Authors: Duan Xuezhi , Zhou Xinggui , Chen De
Published: February 2013

Ammonia decomposition is an important reaction in energy and environmental industries. The review is focused on the catalytic decomposition of ammonia as a key step. The performances of the often used catalysts (i.e., Ru, Ni, Fe and bimetallic catalysts) are summarized and the effects of the size and shape of metal nanoparticles, promoters, supports and preparation techniques are reviewed.
Electronic properties of light-emitting p-n hetero-junction array consisting of p+-Si and aligned n-ZnO nanowires
Authors: Young Bae Min , Whon Min Kyung , Yoon Jangyeol , Kim Gyu-Tae , Sook Ha Jeong
Published: February 2013

Hetero-junction array of p+-Si/n-ZnO nanowires (NWs) was fabricated via contacting of aligned ZnO NWs onto a patterned p+-Si substrate. Current-voltage (I-V) measurement on the p-n junction showed a rectification behavior with a high rectification ratio of 104 at ±3 V. In addition, the enhancement of forward current as well as the decrease of the turn-on voltage was observed with the application of negative gate bias and noticeable p-type gate dependence, which was explained in terms of asymmetric shift of the Fermi levels with gate bias in the suggested energy band diagram. Such formed hetero-junction devices showed strong UV sensitivity of 2 × 104 under reverse bias of −3 V and electroluminescence in both UV and visible ranges, suggesting its potential applicability in optoelectronic devices.
Three-dimensional simulation of natural convection in a reservoir sidearm
Authors: Dittko Karl A. , Kirkpatrick Michael P. , Armfield Steven W.
Published: February 2013

Numerical simulations were conducted of turbulent natural convection in a shallow tetrahedron domain representing the sidearm of a lake or water reservoir. The tetrahedron cavity is a more realistic, three-dimensional approximation of a lake or reservoir sidearm than the two-dimensional triangle cavity often seen in the literature. Lateral temperature gradients exist due to the varying depth of the cavity, resulting in lateral circulation. These flows are important in a reservoir as they can carry with them particles and various pollutants, transporting and mixing them with the central section. Therefore, study in this area is important in water quality management. The simulations use a Cartesian grid with an Immersed Boundary Method for the sloped bottom surfaces. Heat input is through a solar radiation model consisting of a heat flux from the sloped bottom boundaries and an internal heating source term in the body of the water. Also studied is the night time model where cooling is through a heat flux at the top boundary. Scaling analysis from the literature is extended to suit the new geometry and numerical simulations are used to validate the results. The numerical simulations include calculating horizontal heat transfer profiles, volumetric flow rates, and analysis of complex flow features. The extension to three dimensions results in significant changes to the flow and introduces some complex features, such as helical flow both towards and away from the tip. Some general parameterisations are proposed for the tetrahedron cavity based on the numerical simulations.
Magnetic properties of Ho1−xErxAl2 alloys
Authors: Khan Mahmud , Paudyal D. , Gschneidner K. A. , Pecharsky V. K.
Published: February 2013

HoAl2 exhibits a first order spin reorientation transition at 20 K. Heat capacity measurements showed that when Ho is partially replaced by Er in Ho1−xErxAl2, the spin reorientation transition is gradually suppressed, while slowly shifting to higher temperatures with increasing Er concentration. In this paper, we investigate the magnetic properties of pseudo binary Ho1−xErxAl2 alloys by ac and dc magnetization measurements. The magnetization data show that the magnetic interactions below TC are dramatically modified when Er is added in Ho1−xErxAl2. For a better explanation of the experimental data, results of first principles calculations have been presented as well.
Disease-resistant transgenic adzuki bean plants obtained through an efficient transformation system
Authors: Chen Huatao , Chen Xin , Gu Heping , Yuan Xingxing , Zhang Hongmei , Cui Xiaoyan
Published: February 2013

An efficient regeneration and transformation system was established and optimised for adzuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi). 6-Benzylaminopurine at 5 mg L–1 was used to increase adventitious bud induction frequency. The highest frequency of shoot elongation was 92.8% when using a medium composition of MS salts combined with 0.1 mg L–1 of IAA, 0.5 mg L–1 of GA3, 1.0 mg L–1 of zeatin-riboside, 50 mg L–1 of aspartic acid, and 50 mg L–1 of glutamic acid. In vitro rooting was 100% when shoots were cultured on the solid MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L–1 of NAA. Reproducible transformation of epicotyl explants was developed using the A. tumefaciens EHA105 strain. Using a concentration of 40 mg L–1 of acetosyringone, 20 mm MES, and 5 mg L–1 of 6-benzylaminopurine in the co-cultivation medium, a transformation efficiency of 12.6% was attained. Using this transformation protocol, we obtained transgenic adzuki bean plants resistant to soybean mosaic virus by introducing the V. angularis VaPR3 gene.
Children's Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables: Do School Environment and Policies Affect Choices at School and Away from School?
Authors: Ishdorj Ariun , Crepinsek Mary Kay , Jensen Helen H.
Published: February 2013

School environment and policies may affect children's ability to make healthy food choices both at and away from school. Using data from the third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study conducted in 2005 we estimate the effect of environment and policies on children's fruit and vegetable intakes. We use an instrumental variable approach to control for the endogeneity of participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). On an average school day, school lunch participants consume more fruits and vegetables, including relatively more at school and less away from school compared to nonparticipants. Meal policies had little effect on NSLP participation itself. Policies that restrict high fat milks or desserts and restrict the sale of competitive foods are associated with greater fruit and/or vegetable intake at school; some policies affected consumption at home as well.
Repeated evolution of salt-tolerance in grasses
Authors: Bennett T. H. , Flowers T. J. , Bromham L.
Published: February 2013

The amount of salt-affected agricultural land is increasing globally, so new crop varieties are needed that can grow in salt-affected soils. Despite concerted effort to develop salt-tolerant cereal crops, few commercially viable salt-tolerant crops have been released. This is puzzling, given the number of naturally salt-tolerant grass species. To better understand why salt-tolerance occurs naturally but is difficult to breed into crop species, we take a novel, biodiversity-based approach to its study, examining the evolutionary lability of salt-tolerance across the grass family. We analyse the phylogenetic distribution of naturally salt-tolerant species on a phylogeny of 2684 grasses, and find that salt-tolerance has evolved over 70 times, in a wide range of grass lineages. These results are confirmed by repeating the analysis at genus level on a phylogeny of over 800 grass genera. While salt-tolerance evolves surprisingly often, we find that its evolution does not often give rise to a large clade of salt-tolerant species. These results suggest that salt-tolerance is an evolutionarily labile trait in grasses.
Low second-to-fourth digit ratio predicts indiscriminate social suspicion, not improved trustworthiness detection
Authors: De Neys Wim , Hopfensitz Astrid , Bonnefon Jean-François
Published: February 2013

Testosterone administration appears to make individuals less trusting, and this effect has been interpreted as an adaptive adjustment of social suspicion, that improved the accuracy of trusting decisions. Here, we consider another possibility, namely that testosterone increases the subjective cost of being duped, decreasing the propensity to trust without improving the accuracy of trusting decisions. In line with this hypothesis, we show that second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D : 4D, a proxy for effects of testosterone in the foetus) correlates with the propensity to trust, but not with the accuracy of trusting decisions. Trust game players (
n
= 144) trusted less when they had lower 2D : 4D (high prenatal testosterone), but their ability to detect the strategy of other players was constant (and better than chance) across all levels of digit ratio. Our results suggest that early prenatal organizing effects of testosterone in the foetus might impair rather than boost economic outcomes, by promoting indiscriminate social suspicion.
Jaws for a spiral-tooth whorl: CT images reveal novel adaptation and phylogeny in fossil
Helicoprion
Authors: Tapanila Leif , Pruitt Jesse , Pradel Alan , Wilga Cheryl D. , Ramsay Jason B. , Schlader Robert , Didier Dominique A.
Published: February 2013

New CT scans of the spiral-tooth fossil,
Helicoprion
, resolve a longstanding mystery concerning the form and phylogeny of this ancient cartilaginous fish. We present the first three-dimensional images that show the tooth whorl occupying the entire mandibular arch, and which is supported along the midline of the lower jaw. Several characters of the upper jaw show that it articulated with the neurocranium in two places and that the hyomandibula was not part of the jaw suspension. These features identify
Helicoprion
as a member of the stem holocephalan group Euchondrocephali. Our reconstruction illustrates novel adaptations, such as lateral cartilage to buttress the tooth whorl, which accommodated the unusual trait of continuous addition and retention of teeth in a predatory chondrichthyan.
Helicoprion
exemplifies the climax of stem holocephalan diversification and body size in Late Palaeozoic seas, a role dominated today by sharks and rays.
Neutron scattering: a tool to detect
in vivo
thermal stress effects at the molecular dynamics level in micro-organisms
Authors: Marty Vincent , Jasnin Marion , Fabiani Elisa , Vauclare Pierre , Gabel Frank , Trapp Marcus , Peters Judith , Zaccai Giuseppe , Franzetti Bruno
Published: February 2013

In vivo
molecular dynamics in
Halobacterium salinarum
cells under stress conditions was measured by neutron scattering experiments coupled with microbiological characterization. Molecular dynamics alterations were detected with respect to unstressed cells, reflecting a softening of protein structures consistent with denaturation. The experiments indicated that the neutron scattering method provides a promising tool to study molecular dynamics modifications in the proteome of living cells induced by factors altering protein folds.
Marine incursion into East Asia: a forgotten driving force of biodiversity
Authors: Yang Lu , Hou Zhonge , Li Shuqiang
Published: February 2013

Episodic marine incursion has been a major driving force in the formation of present-day diversity. Marine incursion is considered to be one of the most productive ‘species pumps’ particularly because of its division and coalescence effects. Marine incursion events and their impacts on diversity are well documented from South America, North America and Africa; however, their history and impacts in continental East Asia largely remain unknown. Here, we propose a marine incursion scenario occurring in East Asia during the Miocene epoch, 10–17 Ma. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis of
Platorchestia
talitrids revealed that continental terrestrial populations (
Platorchestia japonica
) form a monophyletic group that is the sister group to the Northwest Pacific coastal species
Platorchestia pacifica
. The divergence time between the two species coincides with Middle Miocene high global sea levels. We suggest that the inland form arose as a consequence of a marine incursion event. This is the first solid case documenting the impact of marine incursion on extant biodiversity in continental East Asia. We believe that such incursion event has had major impacts on other organisms and has played an important role in the formation of biodiversity patterns in the region.
A biogenic amine and a neuropeptide act identically: tyramine signals through calcium inDrosophilatubule stellate cells
Authors: Cabrero Pablo , Richmond Laura , Nitabach Michael , Davies Shireen A. , Dow Julian A. T.
Published: February 2013

Insect osmoregulation is subject to highly sophisticated endocrine control. InDrosophila, bothDrosophilakinin and tyramine act on the Malpighian (renal) tubule stellate cell to activate chloride shunt conductance, and so increase the fluid production rate.Drosophilakinin is known to act through intracellular calcium, but the mode of action of tyramine is not known. Here, we used a transgenically encoded GFP::apoaequorin translational fusion, targeted to either principal or stellate cells under GAL4/UAS control, to demonstrate that tyramine indeed acts to raise calcium in stellate, but not principal cells. Furthermore, the EC(50) tyramine concentration for half-maximal activation of the intracellular calcium signal is the same as that calculated from previously published data on tyramine-induced increase in chloride flux. In addition, tyramine signalling to calcium is markedly reduced in mutants ofNorpA(a phospholipase C) anditpr, the inositol trisphosphate receptor gene, which we have previously shown to be necessary forDrosophilakinin signalling. Therefore, tyramine andDrosophilakinin signals converge on phospholipase C, and thence on intracellular calcium; and both act to increase chloride shunt conductance by signalling throughitpr. To test this model, we co-applied tyramine andDrosophilakinin, and showed that the calcium signals were neither additive nor synergistic. The two signalling pathways thus represent parallel, independent mechanisms for distinct tissues (nervous and epithelial) to control the same aspect of renal function.
Personal experience and reputation interact in human decisions to help reciprocally
Authors: Molleman Lucas , van den Broek Eva , Egas Martijn
Published: February 2013

There is ample evidence that human cooperative behaviour towards other individuals is often conditioned on information about previous interactions. This information derives both from personal experience (direct reciprocity) and from experience of others (i.e. reputation; indirect reciprocity). Direct and indirect reciprocity have been studied separately, but humans often have access to both types of information. Here, we experimentally investigate information use in a repeated helping game. When acting as donor, subjects can condition their decisions to help recipients with both types of information at a small cost to access such information. We find that information from direct interactions weighs more heavily in decisions to help, and participants tend to react less forgivingly to negative personal experience than to negative reputation. Moreover, effects of personal experience and reputation interact in decisions to help. If a recipient's reputation is positive, the personal experience of the donor has a weak effect on the decision to help, and vice versa. Yet if the two types of information indicate conflicting signatures of helpfulness, most decisions to help follow personal experience. To understand the roles of direct and indirect reciprocity in human cooperation, they should be studied in concert, not in isolation.
A trade-off between oxidative stress resistance and DNA repair plays a role in the evolution of elevated mutation rates in bacteria
Authors: Torres-Barceló Clara , Cabot Gabriel , Oliver Antonio , Buckling Angus , MacLean R. Craig
Published: February 2013

The dominant paradigm for the evolution of mutator alleles in bacterial populations is that they spread by indirect selection for linked beneficial mutations when bacteria are poorly adapted. In this paper, we challenge the ubiquity of this paradigm by demonstrating that a clinically important stressor, hydrogen peroxide, generates direct selection for an elevated mutation rate in the pathogenic bacteriumPseudomonas aeruginosaas a consequence of a trade-off between the fidelity of DNA repair and hydrogen peroxide resistance. We demonstrate that the biochemical mechanism underlying this trade-off in the case ofmutSis the elevated secretion of catalase by the mutator strain. Our results provide, to our knowledge, the first experimental evidence that direct selection can favour mutator alleles in bacterial populations, and pave the way for future studies to understand how mutation and DNA repair are linked to stress responses and how this affects the evolution of bacterial mutation rates.
Early Induction of Apple Fruitlet Abscission Is Characterized by an Increase of Both Isoprene Emission and Abscisic Acid Content
Authors: Giulia Eccher , Alessandro Botton , Mariano Dimauro , Andrea Boschetti , Benedetto Ruperti , Angelo Ramina
Published: February 2013

Apple (Malus domestica) fruitlet abscission represents an interesting model system to study the early phases of the shedding process, during which major transcriptomic changes and metabolic rearrangements occur within the fruit. In apple, the drop of fruits at different positions within the cluster can be selectively magnified through chemical thinners, such as benzyladenine and metamitron, acting as abscission enhancers. In this study, different abscission potentials were obtained within the apple fruitlet population by means of the above-cited thinners. A metabolomic study was conducted on the volatile organic compounds emitted by abscising fruitlets, allowing for identification of isoprene as an early marker of abscission induction. A strong correlation was also observed between isoprene production and abscisic acid (ABA) levels in the fruit cortex, which were shown to increase in abscising fruitlets with respect to nonabscising ones. Transcriptomic evidence indicated that abscission-related ABA is biologically active, and its increased biosynthesis is associated with the induction of a specific ABA-responsive 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase gene. According to a hypothetical model, ABA may transiently cooperate with other hormones and secondary messengers in the generation of an intrafruit signal leading to the downstream activation of the abscission zone. The shedding process therefore appears to be triggered by multiple interdependent pathways, whose fine regulation, exerted within a very short temporal window by both endogenous and exogenous factors, determines the final destiny of the fruitlets.
Self-Incompatibility inPetunia inflata: The Relationship between a Self-Incompatibility Locus F-Box Protein and Its Non-Self S-RNases
Authors: Sun Penglin , Kao Teh-hui
Published: February 2013

The highly polymorphic S (for self-incompatibility) locus regulates self-incompatibility in Petunia inflata; the S-RNase regulates pistil specificity, and multiple S-locus F-box (SLF) genes regulate pollen specificity. The collaborative non-self recognition model predicts that, for any S-haplotype, an unknown number of SLFs collectively recognize all non-self S-RNases to mediate their ubiquitination and degradation. Using a gain-of-function assay, we examined the relationships between S2-SLF1 (for S2-allelic product of Type-1 SLF) and four S-RNases. The results suggest that S2-SLF1 interacts with S7- and S13-RNases, and the previously identified S1- and S3-RNases, but not with S5- or S11-RNase. An artificial microRNA expressed by the S2-SLF1 promoter, but not by the vegetative cell-specific promoter, Late Anther Tomato 52, suppressed expression of S2-SLF1 in S2 pollen, suggesting that SLF1 is specific to the generative cell. The S2 pollen with S2-SLF1 suppressed was compatible with S3-, S5-, S7-, S11-, and S13-carrying pistils, confirming that other SLF proteins are responsible for detoxifying S5- and S11-RNases and suggesting that S2-SLF1 is not the only SLF in S2 pollen that interacts with S3-, S7-, and S13-RNases. Petunia may have evolved at least two types of SLF proteins to detoxify any non-self S-RNase to minimize the deleterious effects of mutation in any SLF.
The TIE1 Transcriptional Repressor Links TCP Transcription Factors with TOPLESS/TOPLESS-RELATED Corepressors and Modulates Leaf Development inArabidopsis
Authors: Tao Qing , Guo Dongshu , Wei Baoye , Zhang Fan , Pang Changxu , Jiang Hao , Zhang Jinzhe , Wei Tong , Gu Hongya , Qu Li-Jia , Qin Genji
Published: February 2013

Leaf size and shape are mainly determined by coordinated cell division and differentiation in lamina. The CINCINNATA (CIN)-like TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) transcription factors are key regulators of leaf development. However, the mechanisms that control TCP activities during leaf development are largely unknown. We identified the TCP Interactor containing EAR motif protein1 (TIE1), a novel transcriptional repressor, as a major modulator of TCP activities during leaf development. Overexpression of TIE1 leads to hyponastic and serrated leaves, whereas disruption of TIE1 causes epinastic leaves. TIE1 is expressed in young leaves and encodes a transcriptional repressor containing a C-terminal EAR motif, which mediates interactions with the TOPLESS (TPL)/TOPLESS-RELATED (TPR) corepressors. In addition, TIE1 physically interacts with CIN-like TCPs. We propose that TIE1 regulates leaf size and morphology by inhibiting the activities of TCPs through recruiting the TPL/TPR corepressors to form a tertiary complex at early stages of leaf development.
Configurations of slack and their performance implications: an examination of high‐tech IPOs
Authors: Mousa Fariss‐Terry , Marlin Dan , Ritchie William J.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

This study aims to improve the understanding of the relationship between organizational slack and firm performance for high technology initial public offerings (IPOs).

Design/methodology/approach

Using cluster analysis the paper investigates configurations of slack and their associated performance implications.

Findings

The findings indicate the existence of distinct configurations of slack resources and associated performance differences among the configurations. Implications of the findings for managerial practice and future research are discussed.

Originality/value

The purpose of this study is to extend slack measurement research by examining the slack and performance relationship in high‐technology IPOs from a configurational perspective.
The two‐stage decision model of vertical integration
Authors: Ding Li , Mahbubani Jalesh
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to develop a two‐stage decision model of vertical integration by breaking down integration decisions into two stages: extent of integration and direction of integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses price premium as a proxy for differentiation‐based competitive advantage. The relationship between the extent of vertical integration and price premium through a vehicle of consumers' brand perception is explored. A segmentation‐based analysis is performed to study whether different vertical integration configurations are related to price premiums at different levels.

Findings

Vertical integration relates positively to price premium set by apparel companies; consumers' perception of brand quality mediates the relationship. Findings also suggest that an organization should opt for integration if vertical integration generates greater effect on price premium as relative to the cost. Strength of internal and forward integration is related strongly to higher price premiums than integration balance.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is encouraged to test if the findings of this study can be generalized to other industries and/or other types of supplier relationship integration, e.g. partnership, strategic alliance and joint venture.

Originality/value

As a departure from extant literature, it is argued that vertical integration is a viable strategy that enables companies to gain differentiation‐based advantage. A conceptual model is developed and applied to the apparel industry, which explains critical issues involved in the design of supply chain structures.
Uncovering hidden profiles: advocacy in team decision making
Authors: Waddell Brian D. , Roberto Michael A. , Yoon Sukki
Published: February 2013

Purpose

Research shows that teams often fail to surface and use unique information to evaluate decision alternatives. Under a condition known as the hidden profile, each member uniquely possesses a critical clue needed to uncover the superior solution. Failure to share and adequately evaluate this information will result in poor decision quality. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of the devil's advocacy technique on the decision quality of hidden profile teams.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to mitigate this team decision‐making bias, the present study utilizes experimental research to examine the impact of the devil's advocacy technique on the decision quality of hidden profile teams.

Findings

Results show that devil's advocacy groups achieved higher decision quality than groups under free discussion. However, devil's advocacy teams also had higher levels of affective conflict. As a result, while they selected the best solution, devil's advocacy introduced conditions that may hinder the solution's implementation

Research limitations/implications

Similar experiments with advocacy techniques suggest that the positive effect on decision quality found here may be reduced in the presence of stronger hidden profiles.

Practical implications

While the devil's advocacy technique has the potential to uncover hidden profiles and improve group decision making, the paper recommends that managers use this technique only in teams with strong critical thinking norms that foster constructive conflict.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, no study has examined the impact of devil's advocacy in groups where information is not shared equally prior to deliberations.
Joint ventures or non‐equity alliances? Evidence from Italian firms
Authors: Majocchi Antonio , Mayrhofer Ulrike , Camps Joaquin
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors affecting the choice between joint ventures and non‐equity alliances, when firms enter foreign markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a database of Italian firms compiled by the authors with 879 observations, the paper tests the possible effects of firm specific characteristics, host country institutional characteristics and cultural distance on alliance mode choice.

Findings

Using both transaction cost analysis and the resource based view, the findings demonstrate the crucial role played by firm size as well as by institutional and political features of host countries. The results concerning the role of functional activities involved and the industrial sector are mixed.

Originality/value

Overall, the analysis shows that it is necessary to develop a more integrated approach to understand this complex choice made by firms when expanding abroad.
How BATNAs perception impacts JVs negotiations
Authors: Carmen Saorín‐Iborra M. , Redondo‐Cano Ana , Revuelto‐Taboada Lorenzo
Published: February 2013

Purpose

In light of the inconclusive findings in literature, the aim of this paper is to answer the question: how can negotiation behavior be explained in a situation of power imbalance?

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Kim et al., the paper proposes a theoretical model that is empirically studied through a case study.

Findings

Power relationship is a key contextual factor in determining negotiation behavior in joint ventures (JVs), but it has to be defined more in terms of the perceived value of the alternatives rather than the amount of available better alternatives to a negotiation agreement (BATNAs). Thus, when a partner looks to gain access to knowledge (market, technology, etc.) about the counterpart, although it has a greater number of BATNAs, they perceive a situation of mutual dependency.

Practical implications

Understanding how the negotiating context affects behavior is crucial for firms to anticipate the reactions and behavior of their counterparts and thus display suitable behavior to gain the most favorable agreement possible in JVs (win/win agreements in view of the importance of establishing long‐term commitment for a correct implementation and performance). The correct selection of the negotiating team also appears as a key element for consideration (people capable to maintain an integrative orientation to confront any competitive reaction).

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the determination of negotiation behavior in joint ventures, an overlooked research area. In particular, it gives light to the inconsistent results found in earlier works centered in analyzing the impact of power‐dependence relationship in negotiation behavior choice.
Warrants, ownership concentration, and market liquidity
Authors: Brockman Paul , Olsen Brett C.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

Firms issuing equity securities for capital must recognize that this issuance may alter the ownership concentration of the firm. Through this change in ownership structure, the market liquidity of the firm's stock may also change, which has implications for the cost of equity capital and firm value. This paper aims to examine a specific security, the common stock purchase warrant, within this context. It also aims to posit that the decision to issue warrants has important implications for the firm's subsequent ownership structure and market liquidity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's unique dataset of warrant‐issuing firms tracks the warrants from their issue through to their exercise. Based on the study of SEOs by Kothare, the ownership concentration and market liquidity of the underlying stock prior to and following warrant exercises are measured. The paper examines the causal relations between warrant exercises and ownership changes, and between ownership changes and market liquidity.

Findings

The paper shows that firms experience a statistically and economically significant decrease in ownership concentration following warrant exercises. Examining the liquidity effects of this change in ownership, it shows that market liquidity increases significantly after the exercise of warrants, consistent with the literature. The decrease in concentration following warrant exercises is experienced exclusively by firm insiders. The paper also finds that outsiders increase their holdings in firms with a high concentration of inside holdings and in firms with a low concentration of outside holdings prior to warrant exercises; that is, they use warrant offerings to increase their influence in the firm.

Originality/value

This study is the first to the authors' knowledge that investigates warrants through their entire life span, and the first to examine the effects of warrant exercises on the performance and market liquidity of the firm. The results contribute to securities issuance, ownership, and liquidity literatures.
The FX exposure puzzle: insights from SEC disclosures
Authors: Makar Stephen , Huffman Stephen
Published: February 2013

Purpose

Using firm‐specific SEC currency risk disclosures, this paper aims to provide insight into the puzzling absence of significant returns‐based foreign exchange exposure (FXE). Such a hand gathered disclosure data identify the bilateral exchange rate to which the firm is most vulnerable (BRV) and the firm's FX hedge techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

The BRV‐based estimates of FXE are compared to the FXE estimates using the broad trade‐weighted index (TWI) data that are prevalent in prior research. Multivariate regression and sample partitioning by level of value and size premiums are used to analyze these alternative FXE estimates.

Findings

The univariate results reveal a higher percentage of firms with significant BRV‐estimated FXE compared to TWI‐estimated FXE. Multivariate tests indicate a negative relation between firm‐specific financial hedging and BRV‐estimated FXE (but not TWI‐estimated FXE), controlling for firm‐specific non‐financial/operational hedging, size and industry effects. Moreover, firms in the first and fifth quintiles for measures of value/growth and size have higher levels of FXE.

Practical implications

Using SEC currency risk disclosures improves the analysis of firm‐specific FXE, allowing investors to better estimate risk and cost of capital.

Originality/value

The paper helps resolve the FX exposure puzzle using a unique dataset of firm‐specific currency risk disclosures. The improved estimates of FXE provide a more detailed risk profile of multinational firms.
A story on SPACs
Authors: Lakicevic Milan , Vulanovic Milos
Published: February 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to study characteristics of specified purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and examine the performance of their securities over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Previous findings in literature on SPACs' performance around the announcement of merger date are scarce, not uniform, and mostly address the performance of SPACs' common shares. The authors believe that more insights on merger announcements can be obtained if the perf]ormance of all three types of securities that SPACs issue during the IPO, namely units, common stocks, and warrants are analyzed simultaneously. In order to examine the behavior of these securities we form three samples with daily returns for three distinguished SPAC securities. Results are obtained for abnormal returns based on the market model from Brown and Warner.

Findings

It is found that SPACs represent a fairly unique way to raise capital. The incentives of their founders, underwriters, and investors are interdependent and successful business combinations generally result in significant returns to founders. The analysis shows that SPACs have a complex corporate structure in which the incentives of the founders, underwriters, and investors are interdependent and where successful mergers result in significant returns to the founders. It also shows that different SPAC securities do not exhibit similar reactions in response to announcements regarding their corporate status. While holders of all three securities realize positive abnormal returns on the merger announcement day, the strongest reaction is observed among the investors holding warrants, while common stock holders react very mildly.

Originality/value

SPACs are recent phenomena in capital markets and very few papers in finance literature describe them. None of the existing papers evaluated performance of all three types of SPAC securities: units, common shares and warrants before this paper.
Primacy versus recency effects in extended service encounters
Authors: Garnefeld Ina , Steinhoff Lena
Published: February 2013

Purpose

Customer satisfaction formation represents a dynamic phenomenon, especially in extended service encounters. A single service encounter may have an extended duration and feature several service interactions, which the customer can evaluate independently. This paper aims to offer a dynamic perspective on satisfaction formation, which indicates that what matters is not only the interactions a customer confronts but also when these interactions occur.

Design/methodology/approach

Research from social psychology provides a foundation for hypothesizing different effects of positive and negative critical incidents. Negative critical incidents likely are more important for overall satisfaction if they occur at the end of a service encounter. Positive critical incidents should have stronger effects at the beginning. In a 2×2 experimental design, participants considered a five‐day holiday hotel experience.

Findings

The data support the predicted dominance of a recency effect for negative critical incidents, such that a negative critical incident has a greater negative impact on customers' overall satisfaction when it occurs at the end of a service encounter instead of at the beginning. For positive critical incidents, no significant differences arose between primacy and recency effects.

Practical implications

The results highlight the importance of process designs of service experiences. Managers should pay particular attention to avoiding service failures at the end of a service encounter.

Originality/value

Unlike research that only assesses satisfaction formation for service encounters from a non‐dynamic perspective, this study posits the importance of the order of interactions within a service encounter.
Commerce, empire and faith in Safavid Iran: thecaravanseraiof Isfahan
Authors: Bryce Derek , O'Gorman Kevin D. , Baxter Ian W.F.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to explore how commercial hospitality has contributed to the development of urban areas in relation to commerce, hospitality, religious and imperial patronage in early modern, Safavid Iran (c. seventeenth century). Second, to combine material culture research methods in an analytical framework for future use.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected during 27 site visits over three years to 14caravanseraisix bazaar complexes. A material culture methodology is proposed, designed and implemented, supplemented by analysis of textual sources.

Findings

The form and function ofcaravanseraiat Zein‐i Edin broadly reflect the form and function of desertcaravanseraicommon in much of the Islamic world. However, the complex within the Qaysariyya Bazaar in Isfahan reflects the convergence of specific dynastic, geopolitical and economic issues facing seventeenth century Safavid Iran shaping both urban form and commercial focus. These are consolidation of the Safavid dynasty, rivalry with the Ottoman Empire and the vital importance of trade with Mughal India.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by its specific contextual scope but invites further investigation in analogous contexts across this milieu as well as further implementation of the material culture methods it adopts to both historical and contemporary commercial contexts.

Originality/value

The paper explores, for the first time the development of commercial hospitality in early modern Iran and invites further consideration of the development of capitalism outside of Eurocentric teleologies. Furthermore, it presents a new and explicit methodological framework for using material culture as a means of enquiry.
Public dining in Dublin
Authors: Mac Con Iomaire Máirtín
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the changing food culture of Ireland focusing particularly on the evolution of commercial public dining in Dublin 1700‐1900, from taverns, coffeehouses and clubs to the proliferation of hotels and restaurants particularly during the latter half of the nineteenth century.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a historical research approach, the paper draws principally on documentary and archival sources, but also uses material culture. Data are analysed using a combination of hermeneutics (Denzin and Lincoln, O'Gorman) and textual analysis (Howell and Prevenier).

Findings

The paper traces the various locations of public dining in Dublin 1700‐1900 and reveals that Dublin gentlemen's clubs preceded their London counterparts in owning their own premises, but that the popularity of clubs in both cities resulted in a slower growth of restaurants than in Paris. Competition for clubs appeared in the form of good hotels. The Refreshment Houses and Wine Licences (Ireland) Act 1860 created a more congenial environment for the opening of restaurants, with separate ladies coffee or dining rooms appearing from around 1870 onwards.

Originality/value

There is a dearth of research on the history of Irish food and commercial food provision in particular. This paper provides the most comprehensive discussion to date on the development of commercial dining in Dublin 1700‐1900 and suggests that the 1860 legislation might be further explored as a catalyst for the growth of restaurants in London and other British cities.