bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of hunger level and nutrient balance on survival and acetylcholinesterase activity of dimethoate exposed wolf spiders
Authors: Pedersen Lars‐Flemming , Dall Lars G. , Sørensen Bo C. , Mayntz David , Toft Søren
Published: October 2003

The influence of two nutritional factors (food quantity and quality) on the responses of a wolf spider, Pardosa prativaga (L.K.), to a high dose of the insecticide dimethoate, was investigated in a fully factorial experimental design. Spider groups with different (good and bad) nutrient balance were created by feeding them fruit flies of either high or low nutrient content for 28 days. Both groups were then split into satiated and 14 days starved subgroups. Each of these was further divided into insecticide treated and control halves. Survivorship and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity measured on the survivors were used as response variables. Survivorship after topical dimethoate exposure (LD50; 48 h) was influenced by spider body weight, nutrient balance, and starvation. Furthermore, AChE activity was significantly inhibited by dimethoate exposure. A significant interaction between nutrient balance, starvation, and dimethoate exposure revealed synergistic effects of starvation and nutrient imbalance on AChE inhibition by dimethoate in surviving spiders. These results show that the tolerance of non‐target arthropods to dimethoate may vary depending on the nutritional history of the animal.
Effects of sub‐lethal imidacloprid levels on potato leafroll virus transmission by Myzus persicae
Authors: Mowry Thomas M. , Ophus John D.
Published: October 2003

The effects of sub‐lethal imidacloprid concentrations on acquisition and inoculation of potato leafroll virus (PLRV) by Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were investigated. In experiments using two aphid clones to acquire PLRV from infected potatoes, virus transmission declined significantly with increasing concentrations of imidacloprid. The same was true in experiments using imidacloprid‐treated Physalis floridana Rydb. as acquisition sources. When viruliferous M. persicae were placed on uninfected, imidacloprid‐treated P. floridana, there were significant declines in PLRV transmission. Sub‐lethal concentrations of imidacloprid clearly inhibited both acquisition and inoculation of PLRV by M. persicae, either through poisoning, temporary intoxication, and/or antifeedant effects.
The role of sinigrin in host plant recognition by aphids during initial plant penetration
Authors: Gabrys B. , Tjallingii W.F.
Published: October 2003

Plant penetration behaviour (probing) of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, and the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, was studied on excised leaves of broad beans, Vicia faba, kept in water or in a 1% aqueous solution of sinigrin. Using the DC EPG (Electrical Penetration Graph) technique it was shown that the cabbage aphid on sinigrin‐untreated bean leaves showed numerous short probes into epidermis and mesophyll. None of these aphids showed either phloem salivation or ingestion waveforms on untreated leaves. In contrast, on sinigrin‐treated bean leaves, 35% of the probing time was spent on phloem sap ingestion (E2) and almost all aphids reached phloem vessels and started feeding. The duration of phloem salivation before phloem ingestion and the mean duration of phloem ingestion periods were similar on a host and a sinigrin‐treated non‐host plant. However, the total probing time by B. brassicae was 10% longer, the total phloem sap ingestion time was twice as long, and the time to the first phloem phase within a probe was three times shorter on the host plant compared to sinigrin‐treated broad beans. Acyrthosiphon pisum also responded to the addition of sinigrin to broad beans, but in this case sinigrin acted as a deterrent. On sinigrin‐treated leaves, A. pisum terminated probes before ingestion from phloem vessels, and none of these aphids showed phloem salivation and ingestion on treated leaves. Glucosinolates were detected in the mesophyll cells of the brassicaceous plant, Sinapis alba. Based on this finding and in addition to the foregoing EPG analysis of aphid probing on these plants and broad beans, our hypothesis is that aphids may recognise their host plants as soon as they probe the mesophyll tissue and before they start ingestion from phloem vessels.
Performance of pine looper Bupalus piniarius larvae under population build‐up conditions
Authors: Šmits Agnis
Published: October 2003

In the first year of an outbreak, Bupalus piniarius larvae, encounter intense crowding. In the later stages of larval development, they are forced to feed on the non‐preferred current‐year needles of Scots pine or even on alternative hosts. It was hypothesized that larval feeding on a non‐preferred resource (current‐year needles) will negatively affect B. piniarius performance. It was also hypothesized that larval mutual interference (crowding without competition for food) will have negative additive effects. These hypotheses were tested in laboratory and field experiments. Fourth instar larvae were reared singly and under crowded conditions in cohorts of ten. Larvae in both situations were reared on control branches (containing both mature and current‐year shoots) and branches containing only current‐year shoots. Crowded larvae were reared also on Norway spruce, an alternative host. Crowding and feeding on a non‐preferred resource had opposite effects on B. piniarius larval performance. Crowding in the late larval instars enhanced larval performance while absence of the preferred resource had negative effects. Larval growth rate was higher and development time was shorter for larvae exposed to crowded conditions than for solitary larvae. There was, however, no difference between the groups in final pupal weights or survival. Survival was 25% lower for larvae feeding on non‐preferred current‐year needles and pupal weights 9% lower, compared with results for larvae feeding on mature needles. Larvae feeding on Norway spruce suffered greatly extended development time, 82% lower survival, and resulted in 60% lighter pupae compared with conspecifics on Scots pine. It was concluded that not only quantity but also quality of the available food resource is critical for B. piniarius development.
Aphid response to elevated ozone and CO2
Authors: Holopainen Jarmo K.
Published: October 2003

Numerous reports indicate that pollution stress caused by sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxies of nitrogen or fluorides promote aphid growth on herbaceous and woody plants. At SO2 exposures, the response curve of aphids is bell‐shaped having the peak at 100 ppb. This curvilinear response is related to physiological stress responses of host plants exposed to pollutants. On the other hand, observations of aphid performance on ozone‐exposed (O3) or elevated carbon dioxide‐exposed (CO2) plants have given very variable results. Depending on the duration and concentration of O3 or elevated CO2 exposure or the age of the exposed plants, aphid growth on the same plants either decreased or increased in comparison to growth on control plants grown in filtered air. The results of these studies suggest that there is no general air pollution‐induced plant stress that triggers aphid outbreaks on plants. Plants grown in elevated CO2 usually have higher C/N ratios than plants grown in current ambient CO2 atmosphere. A reduced proportion of nitrogen in the plant foliage decreases growth of chewing herbivorous insects, but the few studies of elevated CO2 effects on sucking insects such as aphids have not yielded similar consistent effects. The present paper reviews recent studies of elevated CO2 effects on aphids and discusses the effects of combined elevated O3 and CO2 exposures on aphid performance on woody plants using pine and birch aphids as examples.
Coastal oceanography sets the pace of rocky intertidal community dynamics
Authors: Menge B. A. , Lubchenco J. , Bracken M. E. S. , Chan F. , Foley M. M. , Freidenburg T. L. , Gaines S. D. , Hudson G. , Krenz C. , Leslie H. , Menge D. N. L. , Russell R. , Webster M. S.
Published: October 2003

The structure of ecological communities reflects a tension among forces that alter populations. Marine ecologists previously emphasized control by locally operating forces (predation, competition, and disturbance), but newer studies suggest that inputs from large-scale oceanographically modulated subsidies (nutrients, particulates, and propagules) can strongly influence community structure and dynamics. On New Zealand rocky shores, the magnitude of such subsidies differs profoundly between contrasting oceanographic regimes. Community structure, and particularly the pace of community dynamics, differ dramatically between intermittent upwelling regimes compared with relatively persistent down-welling regimes. We suggest that subsidy rates are a key determinant of the intensity of species interactions, and thus of structure in marine systems, and perhaps also nonmarine communities.
Combined analysis of oligonucleotide microarray data from transgenic and knockout mice identifies direct SREBP target genes
Authors: Horton Jay D. , Shah Nila A. , Warrington Janet A. , Anderson Norma N. , Park Sahng Wook , Brown Michael S. , Goldstein Joseph L.
Published: October 2003

The synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, the building blocks of membranes, is regulated by three membrane-bound transcription factors: sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP)-1a, -1c, and -2. Their function in liver has been characterized in transgenic mice that overexpress each SREBP isoform and in mice that lack all three nuclear SREBPs as a result of gene knockout of SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), a protein required for nuclear localization of SREBPs. Here, we use oligonucleotide arrays hybridized with RNA from livers of three lines of mice (transgenic for SREBP-1a, transgenic for SREBP-2, and knockout for SCAP) to identify genes that are likely to be direct targets of SREBPs in liver. A total of 1,003 genes showed statistically significant increased expression in livers of transgenic SREBP-1a mice, 505 increased in livers of transgenic SREBP-2 mice, and 343 showed decreased expression in
Scap
–/–
livers. A subset of 33 genes met the stringent combinatorial criteria of induction in both SREBP transgenics and decreased expression in SCAP-deficient mice. Of these 33 genes, 13 were previously identified as direct targets of SREBP action. Of the remaining 20 genes, 13 encode enzymes or carrier proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism, 3 participate in fatty acid metabolism, and 4 have no known connection to lipid metabolism. Through application of stringent combinatorial criteria, the transgenic/knockout approach allows identification of genes whose activities are likely to be controlled directly by one family of transcription factors, in this case the SREBPs.
Subpallial origin of a population of projecting pioneer neurons during corticogenesis
Authors: Morante-Oria Javier , Carleton Alan , Ortino Barbara , Kremer Eric J. , Fairén Alfonso , Lledo Pierre-Marie
Published: October 2003

Pyramidal neurons of the mammalian cerebral cortex are generated in the ventricular zone of the pallium whereas the subpallium provides the cortex with inhibitory interneurons. The marginal zone contains a subpial stream of migratory interneurons and two different classes of transient neurons, the pioneer neurons provided with corticofugal axons, and the reelin-expressing Cajal–Retzius cells. We found in cultured slices that the medial ganglionic eminence provides the reelin-negative pioneer neurons of the marginal zone. Pioneer neurons sent long projection axons that went through the cortical plate and reached the subplate and the lateral border of the lateral ganglionic eminence. In the cultured slices, pioneer neurons were functionally mature: they displayed a voltage-gated sodium current, expressed functional α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, and showed γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA
A
) postsynaptic events that were modulated by presynaptic AMPA receptors. Pioneer neurons expressed the adhesion molecules L1 and TAG-1; the latter has been reported to control tangential migrations to the neocortex [Denaxa, M., Chan, C.-H., Schachner, M., Parnavelas, J. & Karagogeos, D. (2001)
Development (Cambridge, U.K.)
128, 4635–4644], and we show here that the pioneer neurons of the marginal zone are the cellular substrate of such a function. Finally, we show that, in early corticogenesis, reelin controls both the tangential migration of cortical interneurons toward the cortical plate and the tangential migration of pioneer neurons toward the marginal zone.
Protein kinase C phosphorylation sensitizes but does not activate the capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)
Authors: Bhave Gautam , Hu Hui-Juan , Glauner Kathi S. , Zhu Weiguo , Wang Haibin , Brasier D. J. , Oxford Gerry S. , Gereau Robert W.
Published: October 2003

Protein kinase C (PKC) modulates the function of the capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). This modulation manifests as increased current when the channel is activated by capsaicin. In addition, studies have suggested that phosphorylation by PKC might directly gate the channel, because PKC-activating phorbol esters induce TRPV1 currents in the absence of applied ligands. To test whether PKC both modulates and gates the TRPV1 function by direct phosphorylation, we used direct sequencing to determine the major sites of PKC phosphorylation on TRPV1 intracellular domains. We then tested the ability of the PKC-activating phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to potentiate capsaicin-induced currents and to directly gate TRPV1. We found that mutation of S800 to alanine significantly reduced the PMA-induced enhancement of capsaicin-evoked currents and the direct activation of TRPV1 by PMA. Mutation of S502 to alanine reduced PMA enhancement of capsaicin-evoked currents, but had no effect on direct activation of TRPV1 by PMA. Conversely, mutation of T704 to alanine had no effect on PMA enhancement of capsaicin-evoked currents but dramatically reduced direct activation of TRPV1 by PMA. These results, combined with pharmacological studies showing that inactive phorbol esters also weakly activate TRPV1, suggest that PKC-mediated phosphorylation modulates TRPV1 but does not directly gate the channel. Rather, currents induced by phorbol esters result from the combination of a weak direct ligand-like activation of TRPV1 and the phosphorylation-induced enhancement of the TRPV1 function. Furthermore, modulation of the TRPV1 function by PKC appears to involve distinct phosphorylation sites depending on the mechanism of channel activation.
Interpreting hemoglobin and water concentration, oxygen saturation, and scattering measured
in vivo
by near-infrared breast tomography
Authors: Srinivasan Subhadra , Pogue Brian W. , Jiang Shudong , Dehghani Hamid , Kogel Christine , Soho Sandra , Gibson Jennifer J. , Tosteson Tor D. , Poplack Steven P. , Paulsen Keith D.
Published: October 2003

Near-infrared spectroscopic tomography was used to measure the properties of 24 mammographically normal breasts to quantify whole-breast absorption and scattering spectra and to evaluate which tissue composition characteristics can be determined from these spectra. The absorption spectrum of breast tissue allows quantification of (
i
) total hemoglobin concentration, (
ii
) hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and (
iii
) water concentration, whereas the scattering spectrum provides information about the size and number density of cellular components and structural matrix elements. These property data were tested for correlation to demographic information, including subject age, body mass index, breast size, and radiographic density. Total hemoglobin concentration correlated inversely to body mass index, likely because lower body mass indicates proportionately less fat and more glandular tissue, and glandular tissue contains greater vascularity, hence, more total hemoglobin. Optical scattering was correlated to breast diameter, subject age, and radiographic density. In the radiographic density, fatty breasts had low scattering power and extremely dense breasts had higher values. This observation is consistent with low attenuation of conventional x-rays with fat and higher attenuation in glandular tissues. Optically, fatty tissues have large scatterers leading to a low scattering power, whereas glandular or fibrous tissues have more cellular and collagen-based structures that lead to high scattering power. The study presents correlative data supporting the hypothesis that optical measurements of absorption and scattering can provide physiologically relevant information about breast tissue composition. These breast constituents vary significantly between individuals and can be altered because of changes in breast physiology or pathological state.
Insights into peptide nucleic acid (PNA) structural features: The crystal structure of a
d
-lysine-based chiral PNA–DNA duplex
Authors: Menchise Valeria , De Simone Giuseppina , Tedeschi Tullia , Corradini Roberto , Sforza Stefano , Marchelli Rosangela , Capasso Domenica , Saviano Michele , Pedone Carlo
Published: October 2003

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are oligonucleotide analogues in which the sugar-phosphate backbone has been replaced by a pseudopeptide skeleton. They bind DNA and RNA with high specificity and selectivity, leading to PNA–RNA and PNA–DNA hybrids more stable than the corresponding nucleic acid complexes. The binding affinity and selectivity of PNAs for nucleic acids can be modified by the introduction of stereogenic centers (such as
d
-Lys-based units) into the PNA backbone. To investigate the structural features of chiral PNAs, the structure of a PNA decamer containing three
d
-Lys-based monomers (namely H-GpnTpnApnGpnAdlTdlCdlApnCpnTpn-NH
2
, in which pn represents a pseudopeptide link and dl represents a
d
-Lys analogue) hybridized with its complementary antiparallel DNA has been solved at a 1.66-Å resolution by means of a single-wavelength anomalous diffraction experiment on a brominated derivative. The
d
-Lys-based chiral PNA–DNA (LPD) heteroduplex adopts the so-called P-helix conformation. From the substantial similarity between the PNA conformation in LPD and the conformations observed in other PNA structures, it can be concluded that PNAs possess intrinsic conformational preferences for the P-helix, and that their flexibility is rather restricted. The conformational rigidity of PNAs is enhanced by the presence of the chiral centers, limiting the ability of PNA strands to adopt other conformations and, ultimately, increasing the selectivity in molecular recognition.
Rates of anterior tooth wear in Middle Pleistocene hominins from Sima de los Huesos (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)
Authors: de Castro J. M. Bermúdez , Martinón-Torres M. , Sarmiento S. , Lozano M. , Arsuaga J. L. , Carbonell E.
Published: October 2003

This study presents quantitative data on the rates of anterior tooth wear in a Pleistocene human population. The data were obtained for the hominin sample of the Sima de los Huesos site in Atapuerca, Spain. The fossil record belongs to a minimum of 28 individuals of the same biological population, assigned to the speciesHomo heidelbergensis. We have estimated the original and the preserved crown height of the mandibular incisors (I1 and I2) of 11 individuals, whose age at death can be ascertained from the mineralization stage and tooth eruption. Results provide a range of 0.276–0.348 and 0.288–0.360 mm per year for the mean wear rate of the mandibular I1 and I2, respectively, in individuals ≈16–18 years old. These data suggest that incisors' crowns would be totally worn out toward the fifth decade of life. Thus, we expect the life expectancy of this population to be seriously limited. These data, which could be contrasted with results obtained on hominins at other sites, could be of interest for estimating the death age of adult individuals.
Nuclear localization of 5-lipoxygenase as a determinant of leukotriene B4synthetic capacity
Authors: Luo Ming , Jones Sandra M. , Peters-Golden Marc , Brock Thomas G.
Published: October 2003

The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) initiates the synthesis of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid. In resting cells, 5-LO can accumulate in either the cytoplasm or the nucleoplasm and, upon cell stimulation, translocates to membranes to initiate leukotriene synthesis. Here, we used mutants of 5-LO with altered subcellular localization to assess the role that nuclear positioning plays in determining leukotriene B4(LTB4) synthesis. Mutation of either a nuclear localization sequence or a phosphorylation site reduced LTB4synthesis by 60%, in parallel with reduced nuclear localization of 5-LO. Mutation of both sites together or mutation of all three nuclear localization sequences on 5-LO inhibited LTB4synthesis by 90% and abolished nuclear localization. Reduced LTB4generation in mutants could not be attributed to differences in 5-LO amount, enzymatic activity, or membrane association. Instead, 5-LO within the nucleus acts at a different site, the nuclear envelope, than does cytosolic 5-LO, which acts at cytoplasmic and perinuclear membranes. The significance of this difference was suggested by evidence that exogenously derived arachidonic acid colocalized with activated nuclear 5-LO. These results unequivocally demonstrate that the positioning of 5-LO within the nucleus of resting cells is a powerful determinant of the capacity to generate LTB4upon subsequent activation.
Thrombomodulin allosterically modulates the activity of the anticoagulant thrombin
Authors: Rezaie Alireza R. , Yang Likui
Published: October 2003

Exosite 1 of thrombin consists of a cluster of basic residues (Arg-35, Lys-36, Arg-67, Lys-70, Arg-73, Arg-75, and Arg-77 in chymotrypsinogen numbering) that play key roles in the function of thrombin. Structural data suggest that the side chain of Arg-35 projects toward the active site pocket of thrombin, but all other residues are poised to interact with thrombomodulin (TM). To study the role of these residues in TM-mediated protein C (PC) activation by thrombin, a charge reversal mutagenesis approach was used to replace these residues with a Glu in separate constructs. The catalytic properties of the mutants toward PC were analyzed in both the absence and presence of TM and Ca
2+
. It was discovered that, with the exception of the Arg-67 and Lys-70 mutants, all other mutants activated PC with similar maximum rate constants in the presence of a saturating concentration of TM and Ca
2+
, although their affinity for interaction with TM was markedly impaired. The catalytic properties of the Arg-35 mutant were changed so that PC activation by the mutant no longer required Ca
2+
in the presence of TM, but, instead, it was accelerated by EDTA. Moreover, the activity of this mutant toward PC was improved ≈25-fold independent of TM. These results suggest that Arg-35 is responsible for the Ca
2+
dependence of PC activation by the thrombin–TM complex and that a function for TM in the activation complex is the allosteric alleviation of the inhibitory interaction of Arg-35 with the substrate.
Normal Induction but Attenuated Progression of Germinal Center Responses in BAFF and BAFF-R Signaling–Deficient Mice
Authors: Rahman Ziaur SM. , Rao Sambasiva P. , Kalled Susan L. , Manser Tim
Published: October 2003

The factors regulating germinal center (GC) B cell fate are poorly understood. Recent studies have defined a crucial role for the B cell–activating factor belonging to TNF family (BAFF; also called BLyS) in promoting primary B cell survival and development. A role for this cytokine in antigen-driven B cell responses has been suggested but current data in this regard are limited. A BAFF receptor expressed by B cells (BAFF-R/BR3) is defective in A/WySnJ mice which exhibit a phenotype similar to BAFF-deficient (BAFF−/−) animals. Here, we show that although GC responses can be efficiently induced in both A/WySnJ and BAFF−/− mice, these responses are not sustained. In BAFF−/− mice, this response is rapidly attenuated and accompanied by perturbed follicular dendritic cell development and immune complex trapping. In contrast, analysis of the A/WySnJ GC response revealed a B cell autonomous proliferative defect associated with reduced or undetectable Ki67 nuclear proliferation antigen expression by GC B cells at all stages of the response. These data demonstrate a multifaceted role for the BAFF pathway in regulating GC progression.
A Plea for Excuses
Authors: Austin J. L. , Urmson J. O. , Warnock G. J.
Published: October 2003

On the meta-level, ‘A Plea for Excuses’, sometimes regarded as the manifesto of ordinary language philosophy, illustrates Austin’s method of approaching philosophical issues, by patiently analysing the subtleties of ordinary language, by example. On the object level, the key distinction with regard to human actions that appear to be worthy of blame, Austin holds to be between a justification, which denies that the performed action was wrong, and an excuse, which instead denies that the agent was responsible for performing it. Austin gives careful attention to particular cases of exculpatory speech, including precise word order and varying emphasis, etymological studies, and the special function of adverbial qualifying phrases, and shows how legal precedents and abnormal psychology may also be helpful in understanding why some efforts to excuse fail. In the final analysis, excuses are properly seen as setting limits to the ascription of moral responsibility, by stating explicitly how they differ from the more usual cases.
Three Ways of Spilling Ink
Authors: Austin J. L. , Urmson J. O. , Warnock G. J.
Published: October 2003

Picks up on a previous discussion of responsibility, freedom, and excuses (Ch. 8), in which Austin argues that, in order to discover whether someone acted freely, we must discover whether certain excuses relevant to the situation at hand are acceptable. The notion of freedom, according to this view, is intractably linked to the notion of responsibility. Chapter 12 refines the previous discussion, by illuminating the differences between the notions of purpose, intention, and deliberation in a variety of speech acts.
Regional income divergence: a test of the endogenous growth theory
Authors: Hashemzadeh Nozar , Woolley Douglas
Published: October 2003

The study of regional income differences has been a matter of considerable debate and empirical testing for many years. More than three decades ago, Easterlin suggested that convergence of regional income levels ought not be held as a certain and inevitable result of the process of trade and economic development. He pointed out that while trade and free movement of labor may exert some pressure towards convergence of wages and income, there are other dynamic processes that can thwart the equilibrating effects of free trade in resources and goods. The notion that free trade and efficient markets ensure long‐run equilibrium among regional income flows in a changing environment has been challenged more vigorously in recent years. Eberts has suggested that incomplete information and mismatch between worker skills and job requirements, and institutional barriers to mobility often lead to incomplete adjustment in wages and persistent differences in regional income levels. This paper contends that swift convergence of regional income flows to a steady state cannot materialize unless investments in human capital and research are uniform across regions. In the context of the endogenous growth theory, convergence of per capita income is not synonymous with convergence of total factor productivity. As Abramovitz has pointed out, even if total factor productivity across regions show convergence, demographic and investment factors may inhibit complete convergence in per capita income.
Toward a global ethic
Authors: Garofalo Charles
Published: October 2003

The results to date of the contemporary organizational ethics movement are not encouraging; credible, empirical evidence of more ethical individuals and institutions remains to be discovered. This is not surprising, given the daunting nature of organizational change, multiple perspectives toward ethics programs, and the need for transformational, as opposed to transactional, leadership. As currently conceived and executed, ethics training tends to be rule‐oriented, legalistic and superficial, and thus produces cynicism, boredom and passivity. Therefore, proposes an ethics training initiative consisting of a philosophical and an institutional framework, as well as a two‐stage program based on clarification of universal values and justification of organizational policies and practices in light of those values. The philosophical framework is grounded in the unified ethic, which combines deontology, teleology, and virtue, while the institutional framework is grounded in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the work of the Caux Roundtable. The ultimate aim of this ethics training program is to advance global democratic deliberation and decision making in both private and public organizations.
Internet usage by international travellers: reasons and barriers
Authors: Heung Vincent C.S.
Published: October 2003

Despite the growing importance of the Internet as an information source for international travellers, as a marketing tool and as a way of doing business, there is a general lack of information on how these travellers use the Internet for information, booking and purchase of travel products and services. Understanding how travellers behave is of critical importance to travel marketers in formulating appropriate marketing strategies so as to fully exploit the developing potential of this new channel. This study attempts to identify the levels of usage of the Internet as an information source and product‐purchasing tool by international travellers across seven countries. A survey of 1,114 international travellers shows that approximately 30 percent of travellers use the Internet for reservation or purchase of any travel products or services. Findings also indicate that those travellers, predominantly from Western countries with higher education levels and higher annual household income, are more likely to use the Internet for online purchase of travel products.
Learning dialogically: the art of chaos‐informed transformation
Authors: van Eijnatten Frans M. , van Galen Maarten C. , Fitzgerald Laurie A.
Published: October 2003

A decision to don the chaos lens, adopt dialogue as its primary mode of communication, and to recognize the power of the organizational mind has fundamentally and irreversibly changed the way a Dutch capital‐equipment manufacturer operates in its rapidly complexifying global marketplace. Beginning in September 1999, the focus of an ever widening circle of its membership has been on transforming itself from the inside out, that is by changing profoundly the organizational mind – the “orgmind”. Two factors make this change process particularly noteworthy: first of all, it was designed on the fly. In other words, virtually every action, activity, meeting, workshop and so on was made up as they moved along their path to the future. Second, profound change was undertaken before it was time to do so. That is, the company was “sitting pretty” enjoying a major share of the market, solid profitability as well as strong morale and employee loyalty.
Co–operation and Communication in Apes and Humans
Authors: Brinck Ingar , Gärdenfors Peter
Published: October 2003

Abstract:  We trace the difference between the ways in which apes and humans co–operate to differences in communicative abilities, claiming that the pressure for future–directed co–operation was a major force behind the evolution of language. Competitive co–operation concerns goals that are present in the environment and have stable values. It relies on either signalling or joint attention. Future–directed co–operation concerns new goals that lack fixed values. It requires symbolic communication and context–independent representations of means and goals. We analyse these ways of co–operating in game–theoretic terms and submit that the co–operative strategy of games that involve shared representations of future goals may provide new equilibrium solutions.
The psychological impact of teleworking: stress, emotions and health
Authors: Mann Sandi , Holdsworth Lynn
Published: October 2003

The paper examines the psychological impact of teleworking compared to office‐based work. Results suggest a negative emotional impact of teleworking, particularly in terms of such emotions as loneliness, irritability, worry and guilt, and that teleworkers experience significantly more mental health symptoms of stress than office‐workers and slightly more physical health symptoms.
Remote working—altering the spatial contours of work and home in the new economy
Authors: Hardill Irene , Green Anne
Published: October 2003

The temporal pattern of work has changed in its daily, weekly and monthly rhythms, but so has the ‘spatiality’ of work: for some paid work is undertaken at home, or in cyberspace. Telecommuting can be used to ‘improve’ the lifestyles of long distance weekly commuters and their families.
Beyond corporatism: A configurational theory of policy concertation
Authors: Compston Hugh
Published: October 2003

Abstract.Policy concertation (defined as making policy by means of agreements struck between government officials and representatives of employer associations and trade unions) is a major policy style in Western Europe. This article seeks to explain the political dynamics of policy concertation in terms of the varying configurations of three variables: perceived problems, the degree of shared economic understanding among the participants and the perceived implementation capacity of the participants. It is found that the incidence of broad policy concertation over the twentieth century in nine West European countries can be explained almost completely in terms of this configurational theory.
Are Product Life Cycles Really Getting Shorter?
Authors: Bayus Barry L.
Published: October 2003

This article takes a close look at the conventional wisdom which holds that product life cycles are getting shorter over time. Barry Bayus reviews several empirical studies directly or indirectly related to this phenomenon and discusses some empirical examples of life cycles for various products and brands in rapidly evolving categories. Generally speaking, he finds no strong empirical support for shrinking product life cycles at the industry, product category, product technology, or product model level. The article explores several implications of this finding and discusses various speculations on the rationale underlying this widespread assertion.
The Impact of Product Aesthetics on the Evaluation of Industrial Products
Authors: Yamamoto Mel , Lambert David R.
Published: October 2003

In spite of the fact that product appearance would not seem to bear upon performance, this article provides evidence that the appearance of an industrial product may have an impact on its evaluation. Utilizing a conjoint scaling approach, Mel Yamamoto and David R. Lambert find that industrial product appearance exerts an influence, which in some circumstances exceeds the influence of certain product performance or price attributes. They suggest that attention paid to product aesthetics may have a payoff in terms of sales performance. And further, the impact of product appearance affects people in different organizational functions, across a range of technical orientations.
Book Reviews
Authors: Rosenau Milton D. , Rothberg Robert R.
Published: October 2003

Our coverage opens with a review of the fourth edition of C. Merle Crawford's book, which continues the comprehensive coverage of previous editions while adding important topics. The next review discusses the second edition of Robert Cooper's book. This new book updates his exposition of success and failure determinants, and reemphasizes the utility of a stage‐gate development process. The third review comments on a long‐term study of five innovative high technology firms. The review identifies five critical lessons for other similar firms. This is followed by the positive review of a recent book co‐authored by one of the book review editors. Appropriately, this review was managed by Thomas Hustad, without any contact with its authors. The fifth review examines a book that combines two modern, popular management tools. The reviewer finds that these can be useful for product developers. Next, another reviewer comments favorably on a recent textbook that emphasizes the value creation process associated with effective product development and management practices. The seventh describes a book that examines and contrasts international practices. Although the material comes from a 1990 conference, our reviewer concludes that it still provides important lessons. The eighth review covers a strategy book. The book has some useful information but will be of limited help to most practitioners. The ninth review discusses a book about change and the need for organizational modification. Our reviewer feels it is of limited value to practitioners but will be of interest to academics. The reviews conclude with brief notes about three other books.
Factors Influencing New Product Success and Failure in Small Entrepreneurial High‐Technology Electronics Firms
Authors: Yap Chee Meng , Souder Wm. E.
Published: October 2003

This study of the correlates of new product success and failure in small entrepreneurial high‐technology firms revealed several counterintuitive findings. Chee Meng Yap and William Souder report results that reflect the unique nature of such firms, suggesting that to maximize their successful new product introductions these firms must adopt strategies very different from those used by large organizations. Based on these results, detailed prescriptions are presented for small firms in managing their new product development and marketing efforts.
Integrating Customer Requirements into Product Designs
Authors: Bailetti Antonio J. , Litva Paul F.
Published: October 2003

Despite all best efforts, the design process often leads to the introduction of products that do not meet customer expectations. Although the design team typically applies customer‐related information from several sources, the product design somehow fails to satisfy customer requirements. Clearly, we need to develop a better understanding of the process by which designers in large development organizations transform information about customer requirements into the final design specification. To improve our understanding of this process, Antonio J. Bailetti and Paul F. Litva examine design managers' perspectives on the sources of customer requirement information.

During the evolution of a product design, the design team applies information that is endorsed by marketing and product management. Common sources of such information include commercial specifications, inferences from existing products and services, deployment studies, and external standards.

When this management‐endorsed information is deemed inadequate, designers supplement it by creating and sharing their own customer‐related information. This local information includes the results of benchmarking function and performance, the designers' perceptions of a service provider's installed base of equipment, and validations of intermediate designs. Marketing and product management cannot easily review the local information that designers create and share in evolving a final design.

This article highlights the importance of creating mechanisms for ensuring that customer requirement information from various sources is internally consistent. To meet this goal of consistency, organizations must ensure that customer requirements information produced by marketing satisfies the information processing requirements of the design community. In addition, the knowledge that designers actually apply to produce a design must incorporate customer requirement information endorsed by marketing and product management at all stages of product development.
Business Performance and Strategic New Product Development Activities: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Calantone Roger J. , Vickery Shawnee K. , Dröge Cornelia
Published: October 2003

Despite the ongoing search for the so‐called silver bullet that provides the ultimate competitive advantage, there is no roadmap showing the “right” way to perform new product development (NPD). What's more, it is highly unlikely that such a formula could be developed. Given the diversity of firms and industries as well as the complexity of the NPD process, no single set of NPD activities or steps can be defined that will be appropriate for all firms.

However, Roger J. Calantone, Shawnee K. Vickery, and Cornelia Droge propose that it is possible to develop such a framework within the confines of a specific industry. They suggest that successful companies within an industry are likely to focus on certain essential NPD activities that allow them to achieve the best possible results within the constraints of their market. Their research is directed toward identifying the relationship between the performance of specific innovation‐related activities and overall business performance in the furniture industry. This study also assesses the relationship between a firm's performance on an NPD activity and the importance assigned to that activity by the firm's chief executive officer (CEO). With the current emphasis on cross‐functional teams, the study also seeks to determine whether performance on a given NPD activity is related to the assignment of responsibility for that activity.

The following NPD activities were evaluated for their effect on corporate performance: customization, new product introduction, design innovation, product development cycle time, product technological innovation, product improvement, new product development, and original product development. Compared to their competitors, top performers consistently put more strategic emphasis on each of these activities. All of these activities have a strong positive influence on return on investment (ROI) and ROI growth. What's more, most of the activities also clearly relate to stronger market share, market share growth, return on sales (ROS), and ROS growth.

The vision and focus on these essential NPD activities must begin with CEOs who recognize their strategic value. Such leaders will direct appropriate staff and technical resources toward performance of the necessary activities. They will also ensure that the organization is sufficiently flexible to accept the changes in responsibilities for coordination and leadership that are necessary during different stages in the NPD process. To gain the product flexibility necessary for competing in numerous market segments, top performers require greater input and leadership from design, engineering, and manufacturing.
New Product Strategy, Structure, Process, and Performance in the Telecommunications Industry
Authors: Barczak Gloria
Published: October 2003

A continuous flow of new products is the lifeblood for firms that hope to remain competitive in high‐technology industries such as telecommunications. Faced with rapidly shrinking product life cycles, these firms must aggressively pursue the quest for more effective new product development (NPD). Ongoing success in such industries is dependent on choosing the right mix of new product strategy, organizational structure, and NPD processes.

Rather than considering the interrelationships among these success factors, however, most previous studies of NPD have examined these issues individually. This shortcoming is compounded by the fact that past studies of NPD have typically cut across industry lines. Gloria Barczak addresses these problems by proposing that a firm's choice of new product strategy, structure, and process are interrelated, as are the effects of those choices on NPD performance. Because these choices and their effects also may be dependent on the unique characteristics of the industry in which a firm competes, her study focuses exclusively on firms in a specific, high‐technology industry, telecommunications.

The study finds that no single NPD strategy, in and of itself, stands out as being better than any other for the telecommunications industry. Instead, it appears that a company's focus should be on ensuring the best possible fit between its chosen NPD strategy and its corporate goals and capabilities.

In keeping with the current focus on cross‐functional teams, the study results indicate that project teams and R&D teams are the most effective means for organizing NPD efforts in the telecommunications industry. Perhaps not surprisingly, R&D teams are more important for first‐to‐market firms than they are for fast followers and late entrants. An R&D team provides the technical skills necessary for playing the role of pioneer. Regardless of the firm's NPD strategy and structure, the presence of a product champion is an important element in the success of new product efforts.

In an era of rapid, technological advances, idea generation and screening efforts are essential to the success of telecommunications firms. To ensure that they do not fall into the trap of introducing technology for technology's sake, pioneering and fast‐follower firms in particular must recognize the importance of staying in touch with their markets. Such market‐oriented activities as customer prototype testing and concept definition and testing can help these firms ensure that their technological developments are in line with customer needs and requirements.