bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding transition performance during offshore IT outsourcing
Authors: Beulen Erik , Tiwari Vinay , van Heck Eric
Published: November 2011

Purpose

Within an IT outsourcing relationship, transition represents a critical and complex phase that starts immediately after contract signing. Transition involves handing over outsourced activities from client firm to service provider firm and accompanies a new way of operating. The purpose of this paper is to determine and detail factors influencing the performance of transition phase within global IT outsourcing relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors present a framework for transition performance that includes four factors: transition planning, knowledge transfer, transition governance and retained organization. This framework is tested and enriched by utilizing a single, in‐depth case study involving over 25 interviews with a global offshore IT outsourcing engagement.

Findings

It was found that knowledge transfer and transition governance are more critical factors than transition planning and retained organization for transition performance. This was due mainly to two reasons: the critical challenges faced, within the scope of these factors, had higher potential to disrupt transition; and both these factors and their related issues required a significant joint and coordinated effort from client and service provider firms, thereby, making implementation challenging for transition.

Originality/value

Practitioners have suggested that over two‐thirds of failed outsourcing relationships are due to transition‐related challenges. This paper represents one of the first in‐depth studies that provides insights from a real‐life global outsourcing engagement, which contributes to and complements existing literature on IT outsourcing by providing a greater understanding of transition. Furthermore, it provides practitioners with insights and best practices that can be used to guide transitions in real‐life engagements.
An exploratory study on job and demographic attributes affecting employee satisfaction in the Indian BPO industry
Authors: Sengupta Santoshi
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in India has always been characterized by ungodly hours, monotonous job, low perceived value, dispirited efficiency resulting to high attrition level. Notwithstanding the ever rising attrition rate, it has become critical for the companies to satisfy their employees in order to retain them. The purpose of this paper is to determine what and how job‐related and demographic variables are associated with employee satisfaction of the BPO employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 500 middle level BPO employees was analyzed using SPSS 16.0. T‐tests and Duncan's post hoc tests were done to compare the various dimensions of employee satisfaction across selected demographic variables such as gender, marital status, education, age and tenure. Correlation was done to find out the relationship between employee satisfaction and various job characteristics as well as demographic variables and finally, regression was done to find out the actual determinants of employee satisfaction.

Findings

There is difference of perception towards the job‐related variables on the basis of gender, marital status, education, age, and tenure. Correlations revealed that interpersonal relationships, career progression, salary, company policies, working conditions, and authority have significant positive relationship with employee satisfaction and only accountability had a significant negative relationship with employee satisfaction. Regression revealed the significant determinants of employee satisfaction which were interpersonal relationships, career progression, salary, gender, accountability, and authority.

Research limitations/implications

The study exclusively used surveys to poll work‐related satisfaction from the employees working only in BPO in India and considers only ten job‐related variables and five demographic variables for the study.

Practical implications

The comprehensive study of employee satisfaction is helpful for both practitioners and academicians as it helps in disentangling the perceptions about employee satisfaction and also explains the variances among various groups of demographic characteristics. This will enable organizations to correctly gauge employee satisfaction based on the job‐related and demographic characteristics.

Social implications

Now that the study has revealed the dimensions of employee satisfaction and the crucial determinants of satisfaction, each of these factors can be individually tackled to ensure employee retention.

Originality/value

The present study illuminates the existing theoretical foundations regarding employee satisfaction by exploring the detailed and ample responses provided by BPO employees in Indian industry; this can help practitioners to make robust managerial decisions.
The service machine as a service operation framework
Authors: Lillrank Paul , Särkkä Minni
Published: November 2011

Purpose

Understanding and depicting service operations is important, as the contractual agreements have become more complex, particularly in offshore outsourcing. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Service Machine as a metaphor and a parsimonious conceptual framework for analyzing outsourced service operations in a Business‐to‐Business‐to‐Consumer context. Conventional machines have frames or platforms that connect various components. The equivalent of a machine in services is a system of contracts linking a client, a service provider, and the end‐users. Clients have the interest to know how, when, where, by whom and with what instructions are their operations being produced. As a result depicting both the service operations and the contractual framework becomes increasingly important.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a review of the existing theoretical literature on outsourcing, operations management, contracting and governance, the paper explores a new conceptual model for governing outsourcing arrangements using an inbound voice call center as an example.

Findings

The paper argues that although several theoretical domains indirectly shed light on governing outsourcing and offshoring relationships, they typically approach the issue either from a contractual, governance, or process level. The paper elaborates on the assumptions that governance is needed in outsourced services, service production processes and contractual relations both need to be mapped, and the possibility of process‐contract co‐evolution studied.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the outsourcing literature and to operations management research by developing a new conceptual framework, the Service Machine, for governing service operations in an outsourcing arrangement.
Testing for adverse selection of crop insurance in northern China
Authors: Hou Linging , Hoag Dana L.K. , Mu Yueying
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the efficiency of current subsidized crop insurance products (SCIPs) in Miyun county, in northern China, by testing the existence of adverse selection.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the efficiency of SCIPs from a farmers' point of view by testing the existence of adverse selection using nonparametric tests and logit regression on data from individual interviews in Miyun County. Due to adverse selection, producers with more risk should be more likely to buy crop insurance in pursuit of the benefits from SCIPs.

Findings

However, both methods conclude no existence of adverse selection, which indicates that the programs are inefficient. This may not be surprising based on the issues of concern cited above. The opportunities and challenges of a growing interest in weather index insurance are discussed toward the end of the paper.

Originality/value

This paper weaves together literature on traditional and weather index insurance, along with primary data from a survey, to examine the pros and cons of each type of insurance. Implications for policy makers are to compare the tradeoffs between concerns of the two types of insurance examined here, traditional and weather index insurance. Ultimately, the political goals might best determine which option is most desirable.
Is contract farming a risk management instrument for Chinese farmers?
Authors: Holly Wang H. , Zhang Yanping , Wu Laping
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate contract farming in China, using vegetable production as a case. Specifically, the authors analyze farmers' contract decisions for different types of contracts, their contract compliance behaviors, and their profitability affected by the contracts both analytically and empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors assume growers with alternative risk preferences make the contract decisions to maximize their expected utilities, under exogenous market price risks and contract terms determined by the processor or wholesaler. Both fixed price and floating price contracts are analyzed. Two surveys of 185 and 85 farm households, respectively, are obtained in Shandong province in 2010, and econometric analyses with both Logit and least square regressions are conducted.

Findings

The results indicate that the determining factors for contract farming are related to farmers' risk attitude, gender, yield, farm size and labor availability. However, contrary to the common belief that contracts are a risk management tool for risk averse farmers, the risk lovers tend to use contract farming instead of risk averters. Female household heads and farms with more labors tend not to use contracts, but larger farms with more acreage are more likely to contract. These suggest Chinese farmers' primary motivation of contracting is not market price risk management, but rather seeking better offers and marketing transaction cost reduction.

Originality/value

The authors believe that this is the first econometric study to analyze contract farming allowing different types of contracts in China. The scenarios include cases without contracts, with fixed price contracts, and with floating price contracts, where the contract price changes to reflect the market price, a very unique yet popular situation in China. Each of the cases is also considered under the situation whether default is possible.
Impacts of agricultural public spending on Chinese food economy
Authors: Xu Shiwei , Zhang Yumei , Diao Xinshen , Chen Kevin Z.
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a dynamic computable general equilibrium (DCGE) model to analyze economy‐wide impacts of different types of public spending in China. A particular focus is placed on their impacts on food economy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, DCGE model is developed to analyze economy‐wide impacts of different types of public spending in China. The effects of increased agricultural subsidies, agricultural R&D, and irrigation are simulated by using China DCGE model.

Findings

The results show that public spending has significant impact on food production, price, and trade. The increased public spending on agricultural R&D, irrigation, and agricultural subsidy also has modest impacts on other sectors such as industry, service, and GDP growth.

Originality/value

The paper constructs the China dynamic CGE model and analyzes economy‐wide impacts of different types of public spending in China, especially for the food economy.
Lean Six‐Sigma application in business process outsourced organization
Authors: Ray Sanjit , John Boby
Published: November 2011

Purpose

In the service sector, reduction of cycle time is one of the key issues. Lean concepts and techniques are applied to increase the speed of operations. In many cases, improvement projects need to leverage a combination of Lean and Six‐Sigma approaches and tools. The purpose of this paper is to present a Lean Six‐Sigma case study for reducing cycle time in a BPO operation and to demonstrate application of Lean Six‐Sigma methodology in BPO and ITeS industries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an application of Lean Six‐Sigma methodology for cycle time reduction in BPO organizations.

Findings

Lean Six‐Sigma is found to work very well in BPO industries for reducing process cycle time by carrying out process changes. “Improve result by improving the process” – this motto of Six‐Sigma is very well demonstrated by this approach of Lean Six‐Sigma for BPO organizations.

Originality/value

This paper utilizes fundamental Lean and Six‐Sigma approaches and presents applications. The main idea behind this paper is to utilize Lean concepts/techniques to speed up Six‐Sigma projects. Apart from the paper's value for managers, it can also help researchers to extend this for other areas of business processes.
Asperger syndrome and arson: a case study
Authors: Radley Jane , Shaherbano Zakia
Published: November 2011

Purpose

People with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) may offend as a result of social skills deficits, co‐morbid mental health problems, abuse of drugs and alcohol, or because of their special interests. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate these issues by describing a patient in whom all of these factors contributed to fire‐setting behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper briefly summarises the literature in relation to ASD and offending, then describes the case of a young man with Asperger syndrome who set a fire in his home.

Findings

The paper concludes that late diagnosis and the consequent lack of intervention may increase the risk of offending. Adults with ASD who offend can benefit from treatment in specialist secure units and the prognosis following such treatment may be good.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the risk of offending in people with ASD, the factors which may contribute to offending, and possible approaches to treatment.
Towards a science of the art of teaching
Authors: Lo Mun Ling , Marton Ference
Published: November 2011

Purpose

One important contribution of variation theory to learning study is that it brings the focus of the learning study sharply on the object of learning and provides a theoretical grounding to understand some of the necessary conditions of learning. The purpose of this paper is to argue that variation theory can serve as a guiding principle of pedagogical design.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from two case studies are used to support the argument.

Findings

This paper shows that variation theory is indeed a guiding principle; what the teacher is supposed to do in the classroom does not follow mechanically, as exemplified by two learning study cases. The first example shows that the principles of variation theory imply what features of the object of learning has to be invariant and what should vary in the students' experience. However, this is a necessary but not sufficient condition for learning. The second example shows also that even if one is aware of the pattern of variation and invariance needed, still it might take quite a bit of ingenuity to bring it about.

Originality/value

Teachers need a sound theory to help them make wise decisions about teaching. Variation theory provides a theoretical grounding to understand some of the necessary conditions of learning, so that wise pedagogical decisions can be made. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of variation theory and its application in practice. Furthermore, the paper also shows that while a learning theory enhances the quality of a lesson study, a lesson study can also provide a platform for the testing and application of a learning theory.
Critical conditions for pre‐service teachers' learning through inquiry
Authors: Po Yuk Ko
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a “Learning Study” program developed in Hong Kong that attempted to foster the learning of pre‐service teachers through a new, collaborative, inquiry‐based approach.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is used to illustrate how and what was learnt in this way by the student teachers attending the program.

Findings

The paper explains how the Learning Study approach, with its particular structure and conceptual framework, can meet some of the critical conditions of a successful inquiry‐based approach to an initial teacher education program, as identified in the literature.

Originality/value

The paper also explores the challenges of the approach and its potential for development into a sound pedagogy for initial teacher education.
Lesson Study development in England: from school networks to national policy
Authors: Dudley Peter
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of Lesson Study (LS) in England through a Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP) project – from early ideas, to a national pilot and national support from the National Strategies, a new labour government agency supporting improvement in educational standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the early development of LS in England as a process to improve teaching and learning and pupil progress in networks of schools and local authorities, between 2003 and 2006, going on to describe the entrance of LS onto the English national educational policy landscape in 2008.

Findings

The paper finds that LS has a place in the repertoire of teacher learning approaches and there is evidence that its use can improve teaching, learning and pupil learning outcomes in a range of school contexts. LS works successfully in a system that expects teachers and school leaders to improve professional knowledge and practice through systematic use of collaborative, enquiry based teacher learning approaches.

Originality/value

The paper provides some examples of the evidence of impact that Lesson Study has had on pupil learning outcomes.
Calcineurin subunit B upregulates β‐interferon production by phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 3 via Toll‐like receptor 4
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Li Li , Huang Yi , Wei Qun
Published: November 2011

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) function as pattern‐reorganization receptors in mammals and play an essential role in innate immunity. After recognizing certain ligands, TLRs activate a cascade of signal pathways to establish a guard environment. For the first time, we report that in vitro treatment with recombinant calcineurin subunit B (CNB) upregulated several TLR‐related genes. Calcineurin subunit B interacted with the ectodomain of TLR4 in vitro. On further investigation, phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 3 and degradation of IκB‐α were observed by CNB stimulation. In addition to pro‐inflammatory cytokines, transcription and production of β‐interferon were also enhanced after CNB stimulation. Thus, CNB could be further explored as a cancer and virus immunotherapy drug. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 515–521)
Cleavage of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor‐1 by membrane‐type MMP‐1 activates matriptase
Authors: Domoto Takahiro , Takino Takahisa , Guo Luyang , Sato Hiroshi
Published: November 2011

Co‐expression of membrane‐type 1 (MT1)‐MMP with hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor‐1 (HAI‐1) in HEK293T cells resulted in cleavage of HAI‐1 to produce three fragments. Recombinant MT1‐MMP was shown to cleave HAI‐1 protein in vitro. Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor‐1 was initially identified as the cognate inhibitor of matriptase, a transmembrane serine protease that processes urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA). Co‐expression of HAI‐1 with matriptase suppressed matriptase protease activity, and co‐expression of MT1‐MMP with them resulted in recovery of matriptase activity by stimulating shedding of HAI‐1 fragments. Matriptase protein was detected in squamous carcinoma‐derived HSC‐4 cells, however, matriptase protease activity was undetectable. Transfection of siRNA for HAI‐1 enhanced serine protease activity, which was suppressed by cotransfection of matriptase siRNA. Collagen‐gel culture or treatment with concanavalin A (ConA) of HSC‐4 cells enhanced MT1‐MMP activity, which induced shedding of HAI‐1 fragments and conversely stimulated uPA activation by these cells. Serine protease activity, including uPA activation of cells treated with ConA, was abrogated by downregulation of either matriptase or MT1‐MMP through the transfection of each siRNA. These results suggest that MT1‐MMP induced by collagen‐gel culture or ConA treatment causes cleavage and shedding of HAI‐1 protein, which allows activation of matriptase in HSC‐4 cells. HSC‐4 cells showed a characteristic invasive growth by forming vacuole‐like structures in collagen gel, which was suppressed by transfection of siRNA for either MT1‐MMP or matriptase, suggesting that activation of matriptase through the cleavage of HAI‐1 is one of the MT1‐MMP multifunctions essential for invasive growth of HSC‐4 cells. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 448–454)
Immunology in clinic review series; focus on autoinflammatory diseases: update on monogenic autoinflammatory diseases: the role of interleukin (IL)-1 and an emerging role for cytokines beyond IL-1
Authors: Goldbach-Mansky R
Published: November 2011

OTHER THEMES PUBLISHED IN THIS IMMUNOLOGY IN THE CLINIC REVIEW SERIES

Allergy, Host Responses, Cancer, Type 1 diabetes and viruses, Metabolic diseases.

The disease-based discovery of the molecular basis for autoinflammatory diseases has led not only to a rapidly growing number of clinically and genetically identifiable disorders, but has unmantled key inflammatory pathways such as the potent role of the alarm cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 in human disease. Following its initial failures in the treatment of sepsis and the moderate success in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, IL-1 blocking therapies had a renaissance in the treatment of a number of autoinflammatory conditions, and IL-1 blocking therapies have been Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of the autoinflammatory conditions: cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). CAPS and deficiency of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA), both genetic conditions with molecular defects in the IL-1 pathway, have provided a pathogenic rationale to IL-1 blocking therapies, and the impressive clinical results confirmed the pivotal role of IL-1 in human disease. Furthermore, IL-1 blocking strategies have shown clinical benefit in a number of other genetically defined autoinflammatory conditions, and diseases with clinical similarities to the monogenic disorders and not yet identified genetic causes. The discovery that IL-1 is not only triggered by infectious danger signals but also by danger signals released from metabolically ‘stressed’ or even dying cells has extended the concept of autoinflammation to disorders such as gout, and those that were previously not considered inflammatory, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, obesity and some degenerative diseases, and provided the conceptual framework to target IL-1 in these diseases. Despite the tremendous success of IL-1 blocking therapy, the use of these agents in a wider spectrum of autoinflammatory conditions has uncovered disease subsets that are not responsive to IL-1 blockade, including the recently discovered proteasome-associated autoinflammatory syndromes such as chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatitis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperatures (CANDLE), Japanese autoinflammatory syndrome with lipodystrophy (JASL), Nakajo–Nishimura syndrome (NNS) and joint contractures, muscle atrophy, panniculitis induced lipodystrophy (JMP), and urge the continued quest to characterize additional dysregulated innate immune pathways that cause autoinflammatory conditions.
Immunology in clinic review series; focus on autoinflammatory diseases: inflammasomes: mechanisms of activation
Authors: Mankan A K , Kubarenko A , Hornung V
Published: November 2011

OTHER THEMES PUBLISHED IN THIS IMMUNOLOGY IN THE CLINIC REVIEW SERIES

Allergy, Host Responses, Cancer, Type 1 diabetes and viruses, Metabolic diseases.

Initiation of a successful immune response requires a working set of sensors that detect any noxious agent within the cellular microenvironment and molecular platforms that process this signal to trigger an appropriate effector response. Pattern recognition receptors can engage different signalling cascades that lead to proinflammatory gene expression. At the same time, transcription-independent events such as activation of proteases and/or phagocytosis are also initiated. The inflammasome pathway constitutes a signalling platform that leads to the activation of so-called inflammatory caspases, most notably caspase-1, which plays a pivotal role in the cleavage and thus maturation of proinflammatory cytokines, but also in the induction of pyroptosis, a special type of cell death. In this review we elaborate on the currently known inflammasome complexes with a special focus on the mechanism behind their activation. Understanding these mechanisms could provide important information regarding the potential signalling nodes that might be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Catching‐up but telomere loss: half‐opening the black box of growth and ageing trade‐off in wild king penguin chicks
Authors: GEIGER SYLVIE , LE VAILLANT MARYLINE , LEBARD THOMAS , REICHERT SOPHIE , STIER ANTOINE , LE MAHO YVON , CRISCUOLO FRANCOIS
Published: November 2011

One of the reasons for animals not to grow as fast as they potentially could is that fast growth has been shown to be associated with reduced lifespan. However, we are still lacking a clear description of the reality of growth‐dependent modulation of ageing mechanisms in wild animals. Using the particular growth trajectory of small king penguin chicks naturally exhibiting higher‐than‐normal growth rate to compensate for the winter break, we tested whether oxidative stress and telomere shortening are related to growth trajectories. Plasma antioxidant defences, oxidative damage levels and telomere length were measured at the beginning and at the end of the post‐winter growth period in three groups of chicks (small chicks, which either passed away or survived the growth period, and large chicks). Small chicks that died early during the growth period had the highest level of oxidative damage and the shortest telomere lengths prior to death. Here, we show that small chicks that grew faster did it at the detriment of body maintenance mechanisms as shown by (i) higher oxidative damage and (ii) accelerated telomere loss. Our study provides the first evidence for a mechanistic link between growth and ageing rates under natural conditions.
Ancient DNA from an Early Neolithic Iberian population supports a pioneer colonization by first farmers
Authors: GAMBA C. , FERNÁNDEZ E. , TIRADO M. , DEGUILLOUX M. F. , PEMONGE M. H. , UTRILLA P. , EDO M. , MOLIST M. , RASTEIRO R. , CHIKHI L. , ARROYO‐PARDO E.
Published: November 2011

The Neolithic transition has been widely debated particularly regarding the extent to which this revolution implied a demographic expansion from the Near East. We attempted to shed some light on this process in northeastern Iberia by combining ancient DNA (aDNA) data from Early Neolithic settlers and published DNA data from Middle Neolithic and modern samples from the same region. We successfully extracted and amplified mitochondrial DNA from 13 human specimens, found at three archaeological sites dated back to the Cardial culture in the Early Neolithic (Can Sadurní and Chaves) and to the Late Early Neolithic (Sant Pau del Camp). We found that haplogroups with a low frequency in modern populations—N* and X1—are found at higher frequencies in our Early Neolithic population (∼31%). Genetic differentiation between Early and Middle Neolithic populations was significant (FST∼0.13, P < 10−5), suggesting that genetic drift played an important role at this time. To improve our understanding of the Neolithic demographic processes, we used a Bayesian coalescence‐based simulation approach to identify the most likely of three demographic scenarios that might explain the genetic data. The three scenarios were chosen to reflect archaeological knowledge and previous genetic studies using similar inferential approaches. We found that models that ignore population structure, as previously used in aDNA studies, are unlikely to explain the data. Our results are compatible with a pioneer colonization of northeastern Iberia at the Early Neolithic characterized by the arrival of small genetically distinctive groups, showing cultural and genetic connections with the Near East.
Swimming against the current: genetic structure, host mobility and the drift paradox in trematode parasites
Authors: BLASCO‐COSTA I. , WATERS J. M. , POULIN R.
Published: November 2011

Life‐cycle characteristics and habitat processes can potentially interact to determine gene flow and genetic structuring of parasitic species. In this comparative study, we analysed the genetic structure of two freshwater trematode species with different life histories using cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI) sequences and examined the effect of a unidirectional river current on their genetic diversity at 10 sites along the river. We found moderate genetic structure consistent with an isolation‐by‐distance pattern among subpopulations of Coitocaecum parvum but not in Stegodexamene anguillae. These contrasting parasite population structures were consistent with the relative dispersal abilities of their most mobile hosts (i.e. their definitive hosts). Genetic diversity decreased, as a likely consequence of unidirectional river flow, with increasing distance upstream in C. parvum, which utilizes a definitive host with only restricted mobility. The absence of such a pattern in S. anguillae suggests that unidirectional river flow affects parasite species differently depending on the dispersal abilities of their most mobile host. In conclusion, genetic structure, genetic diversity loss and drift are stronger in parasites whose most mobile hosts have low dispersal abilities and small home ranges. An additional prediction can be made for parasites under unidirectional drift: those parasites that stay longer in their benthic intermediate host or have more than one benthic intermediate hosts would have relatively high local recruitment and hence increased retention of upstream genetic diversity.
Empathy in children with autism and conduct disorder: group‐specific profiles and developmental aspects
Authors: Schwenck Christina , Mergenthaler Julia , Keller Katharina , Zech Julie , Salehi Sarah , Taurines Regina , Romanos Marcel , Schecklmann Martin , Schneider Wolfgang , Warnke Andreas , Freitag Christine M.
Published: November 2011

Background:  A deficit in empathy is discussed to underlie difficulties in social interaction of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and conduct disorder (CD). To date, no study has compared children with ASD and different subtypes of CD to describe disorder‐specific empathy profiles in clinical samples. Furthermore, little is known about age influences on the development of empathic skills. The aim of the current study was to compare cognitive and emotional empathy in different age groups of children with ASD, CD with elevated or low callous‐unemotional‐traits (CU+ vs. CU−) and a matched control group (CG).

Methods:  Fifty‐five boys with ASD, 36 boys with CD‐CU+, 34 boys with CD‐CU− and 67 controls were included. The study implemented three tasks on emotion recognition, perspective taking and emotional affection induced by another person’s situation. Multivariate Analysis of variance with the factors group and age (median split) including their interaction term was performed to describe disorder‐specific profiles.

Results:  Empathy profiles showed differential impairment in children with ASD and CD‐CU+. Boys with ASD were impaired in cognitive empathy while participants with CD‐CU+ were impaired in emotional empathy. Children with CD‐CU− did not differ from the CG. However, boys with CD‐CU− were less emotionally reactive in response to film stimuli than children with ASD. Furthermore, we found strong age effects indicating an increase in cognitive and affective empathic skills beyond early infancy in all groups.

Conclusions:  In this study, distinct empathic profiles in children with ASD and CD‐CU+ were found. Furthermore, the work demonstrates improvement of empathic skills throughout childhood and adolescence, which is comparable for individuals with psychiatric disorders and control children. These results yield implications for further research as well as for therapeutic interventions.
Activity‐dependent survival of developing neocortical neurons depends on PI3K signalling
Authors: Wagner‐Golbs Antje , Luhmann Heiko J.
Published: November 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 495–501.

Spontaneous electrical network activity plays a major role in the control of cell survival in the developing brain. Several intracellular pathways are implicated in transducing electrical activity into gene expression dependent and independent survival signals. These include activation of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) and its downstream effector Akt, activation of Ras and subsequently MAPK/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and signalling via calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase (CaMK). In the present study, we analyzed the role of these pathways for the control of neuronal survival in different extracellular potassium concentrations ([K+]ex). Organotypic neocortical slice cultures prepared from newborn mice were kept in 5.3, 8.0 and 25.0 mM [K+]ex and treated with specific inhibitors of PI3K, MEK1, CaMKK and a broad spectrum CaMK inhibitor. After 6 h of incubation, slices were immunostained for activated caspase 3 (a‐caspase 3) and the number of apoptotic cells was quantified by computer based analysis. We found that in 5.3 and 8.0 mM [K+]ex only PI3K was important for neuronal survival. When [K+]ex was raised to 25.0 mM, a concentration above the depolarization block, we found no influence of PI3K on neuronal survival. Our data demonstrate that only the PI3K pathway, and not the MEK1, CaMKK or CaMKs pathway, plays a central role in the regulation of activity‐dependent neuronal survival in the developing cerebral cortex.
What is natural? The scale of cryptogenesis in the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Haydar Deniz
Published: November 2011

Aim  Cryptogenic species may include those taxa that were historically introduced and are now falsely viewed as native. Investigated here is the scale of cryptogenesis in the North Atlantic Ocean by examining disjunct distributions, defined as temperate species occurring only on both sides of the North Atlantic. Disjunct distributions can be explained by four scenarios: glacial relicts, taxonomic artefacts, natural trans‐oceanic dispersal and human‐mediated introduction.

Location  North Atlantic Ocean.

Methods  Model taxa included ascidians, bivalves and hydrozoans. Biogeographic status (native, introduced or cryptogenic) was assigned to all species exhibiting a disjunct distribution, based upon multiple criteria.

Results  Of 1030 species, 60 have a strictly disjunct distribution. Of these disjunct species, for five species there is no reason to doubt their native status, and 55 species are cryptogenic or introduced. Groups with high relative dispersal capacities do not have disjunct distributions more often. Infaunal bivalves have the lowest relative number of disjunct species; none are cryptogenic or naturally disjunct. This supports the concept that glaciations are unlikely to cause disjunct distributions: there are no studies that provide conclusive evidence for the glacial relict model. Hydrozoa have the highest relative number of disjunct species, which, while historically explained by undocumented rafting, may more likely be the result of dispersal by ships, which travel relatively fast, are independent of currents and provide greater surface area.

Main conclusions  This reanalysis of the historical biogeography of the North Atlantic marine biota reveals that far more species may have been introduced than previously recognized, potentially significantly altering our fundamental understanding of community evolution and ecology. Species that have been present for centuries and can be important ecological engineers who have shaped contemporary communities are possibly falsely viewed as native: they may in fact be the unrecognized introductions of historical times.
Drosophila sex combs as a model of evolutionary innovations
Authors: Kopp Artyom
Published: November 2011

The diversity of animal and plant forms is shaped by nested evolutionary innovations. Understanding the genetic and molecular changes responsible for these innovations is therefore one of the key goals of evolutionary biology. From the genetic point of view, the origin of novel traits implies the origin of new regulatory pathways to control their development. To understand how these new pathways are assembled in the course of evolution, we need model systems that combine relatively recent innovations with a powerful set of genetic and molecular tools. One such model is provided by the Drosophila sex comb—a male‐specific morphological structure that evolved in a relatively small lineage related to the model species D. melanogaster. Our extensive knowledge of sex comb development in D. melanogaster provides the basis for investigating the genetic changes responsible for sex comb origin and diversification. At the same time, sex combs can change on microevolutionary timescales and differ spectacularly among closely related species, providing opportunities for direct genetic analysis and for integrating developmental and population‐genetic approaches. Sex comb evolution is associated with the origin of novel interactions between Hox and sex determination genes. Activity of the sex determination pathway was brought under the control of the Hox code to become segment‐specific, while Hox gene expression became sexually dimorphic. At the same time, both Hox and sex determination genes were integrated into the intrasegmental spatial patterning network, and acquired new joint downstream targets. Phylogenetic analysis shows that similar sex comb morphologies evolved independently in different lineages. Convergent evolution at the phenotypic level reflects convergent changes in the expression of Hox and sex determination genes, involving both independent gains and losses of regulatory interactions. However, the downstream cell‐differentiation programs have diverged between species, and in some lineages, similar adult morphologies are produced by different morphogenetic mechanisms. These features make the sex comb an excellent model for examining not only the genetic changes responsible for its evolution, but also the cellular processes that translate DNA sequence changes into morphological diversity. The origin and diversification of sex combs provides insights into the roles of modularity, cooption, and regulatory changes in evolutionary innovations, and can serve as a model for understanding the origin of the more drastic novelties that define higher order taxa.
A genetic basis for intraspecific differences in developmental timing?
Authors: Tills Oliver , Rundle Simon D. , Salinger Moritz , Haun Timm , Pfenninger Markus , Spicer John I.
Published: November 2011

Heterochrony, altered developmental timing between ancestors and their descendents, has been proposed as a pervasive evolutionary feature and recent analytical approaches have confirmed its existence as an evolutionary pattern. Yet, the mechanistic basis for heterochrony remains unclear and, in particular, whether intraspecific variation in the timing of developmental events generates, or has the potential to generate, future between‐species differences. Here we make a key step in linking heterochrony at the inter‐ and intraspecific level by reporting an association between interindividual variation in both the absolute and relative timing (position within the sequence of developmental events) of key embryonic developmental events and genetic distance for the pond snail, Radix balthica. We report significant differences in the genetic distance of individuals exhibiting different levels of dissimilarity in their absolute and relative timing of developmental events such as spinning activity, eyespot formation, heart ontogeny, and hatching. This relationship between genetic and developmental dissimilarity is consistent with there being a genetic basis for variation in developmental timing and so suggests that intraspecific heterochrony could provide the raw material for natural selection to produce speciation.
Satb2, modularity, and the evolvability of the vertebrate jaw
Authors: Fish Jennifer L. , Villmoare Brian , Köbernick Katja , Compagnucci Claudia , Britanova Olga , Tarabykin Victor , Depew Michael J.
Published: November 2011

Modularity is a key mechanism bridging development and evolution and is fundamental to evolvability. Herein, we investigate modularity of the Vertebrate jaw with the aim of understanding mechanisms of its morphological evolution. Conservation of the basic structural bauplan of Vertebrate jaws led to a Hinge and Caps model, in which polarity in the patterning system of developing jaws predicts modularity. We have tested the hypothesis that the Satb2+ cell population delineates a developmental module within the mandibular jaw. Satb2 is expressed in the mesenchyme of the jaw primordia that gives rise to distal elements of both the upper and lower jaws. Loss of Satb2 specifically affects structural elements of the distal (incisor) domain, reflecting the integration of these elements as well as their independence from other mandibular domains. Reducing Satb2 dosage leads to an increase in variation in mandibular length, providing insight into the developmental potential to generate variation. Inter‐taxa comparisons reveal that the Satb2 domain is conserved within gnathostomes. We complement previous loss of function studies in mice with gene knock‐down experiments in Xenopus, providing evidence for functional conservation of Satb2 in regulating size. Finally, we present evidence that the relative size of the amniote mandibular Satb2+ domain varies in relation to epithelial Fgf8 expression, suggesting a mechanism for evolutionary change in this domain. Taken together, our data support the Hinge and Caps model and provide evidence that Satb2 regulates coordinated distal jaw modules that are subject to evolutionary modification by signals emanating from the Hinge.
Anthropology as White Public Space?
Authors: Brodkin Karen , Morgen Sandra , Hutchinson Janis
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT  How far has anthropology come in becoming racially inclusive? In this article, we analyze an online survey of anthropology graduate students and faculty of color undertaken by the AAA Commission on Race and Racism in Anthropology. Despite some progress, institutional and attitudinal barriers remain. We use the concept of “white public space” to analyze these barriers: departmental labor is divided in ways that assign to faculty and graduate students of color responsibilities that have lower status and rewards than those of their white counterparts. Colorblind racial explanatory practices—discourses that explain away racially unequal institutional practices as being “not about race”—are common. We argue that such practices make many anthropology departments feel like white‐owned social and intellectual spaces. We conclude by suggesting steps with which anthropology departments can create more inclusive social spaces that are owned equally by scholars of color and their white peers.
Rethinking Postcolonial Democracy: An Examination of the Politics of Lower‐Caste Empowerment in North India
Authors: Witsoe Jeffrey
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT  With this article, I seek to contribute to an anthropological understanding of democracy through an examination of the politics of lower‐caste empowerment in Bihar, a populous state in north India. I argue that democracy has to be examined within the context of historical processes that have shaped the larger political economy within which democratic practice unfolds, revealing the specificities of India's postcolonial democracy. Caste as political identity extends democratic practice into the relations of everyday life, challenging routine forms of violence and inequality and collapsing any pretense to a separate “political sphere.” An explicitly lower‐caste politics generated political subjectivities based on a notion of popular sovereignty as rule by the lower‐caste majority, and I show the ways in which this disruptive politics transformed village life. This underscores that Bihar represents an “alternate democracy” but also that we need alternate frameworks for understanding the multifarious experience of democracy today.
Prevalence of antidepressant use and contacts with psychiatrists and psychologists in pregnant and postpartum women
Authors: Munk‐Olsen T. , Gasse C. , Laursen T. M.
Published: November 2011

Munk‐Olsen T, Gasse C, Laursen TM. Prevalence of antidepressant use and contacts with psychiatrists and psychologists in pregnant and postpartum women.

Objective:  We aimed to study prevalence of antidepressant drug use from 12 months prior childbirth to 12 months postpartum and to compare the prevalences with those in a group of women of similar age who did not give birth. We additionally studied prevalences of contacts with private practicing psychiatrists and psychologists during a similar time period.

Method:  Our study population comprised of pregnant women, and their controls were drawn from a 25% sample of the entire Danish population. Information on redeemed prescriptions for antidepressants and referrals to psychiatrists and psychologists was extracted. The outcome measure was period prevalence calculated in 3‐month intervals from 12 months before childbirth to 12 months postpartum.

Results:  In the 2‐year observation period around childbirth, 2733 (3.17%) women had one or more prescriptions for an antidepressant and 935 (1.18%) and 1399 (1.76%) were referred to consultations with a psychiatrist or psychologist, respectively. Women giving birth had a markedly lower use of antidepressants compared to controls, with the largest observed difference during third trimester of pregnancy (0.6% vs. 2.20%).

Conclusion:  We found that the prevalence of redeemed prescriptions for antidepressants decreased during pregnancy and increased postpartum. Similar patterns were observed for contacts with private practicing psychiatrists and psychologists.
Trajectory classes of depressive symptoms in a community sample of older adults
Authors: Kuchibhatla M. N. , Fillenbaum G. G. , Hybels C. F. , Blazer D. G.
Published: November 2011

Kuchibhatla MN, Fillenbaum GG, Hybels CF, Blazer DG. Trajectory classes of depressive symptoms in a community sample of older adults.

Objective:  To identify trajectories of depressive symptoms in older community residents.

Method:  Depressive symptomatology, based on a modified Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression scale, was obtained at years 0, 3, 6, and 10, in the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (n = 4162). Generalized growth mixture models identified the latent class trajectories present. Baseline demographic, health, and social characteristics distinguishing the classes were identified using multinomial logistic regression.

Results:  Four latent class trajectories were identified. Class 1 – stable low depressive symptomatology (76.6% of the sample); class 2 – initially low depressive symptomatology, increasing to the subsyndromal level (10.0%); class 3 – stable high depressive symptomatology (5.4%); class 4 – high depressive symptomatology improving over 6 years before reverting somewhat (8.0%). Class 1 was younger, male gender, with better education, health, and social resources, in contrast to class 3. Class 2 had poorer cognitive functioning and higher death rate. Class 4 had better health and social resources.

Conclusion:  Reduction in high depressive symptomatology is associated with more education, better health, fewer stressful events, and a larger social network. Increasing depressive symptomatology is accompanied by poorer physical and cognitive health, more stressful life events, and greater risk of death.