bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unfettered capitalism: why it is neither efficient nor just
Authors: Hosseini Hamid
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that free market capitalism is neither efficient nor just. This is in spite of the claims made by its proponents who, utilizing Adam Smith's doctrine of invisible hand or the fundamental theorem of welfare economics, assume that it is efficient, just, smooth functioning, and self‐regulating.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes conceptual/theoretical research and arguments that have emerged in the literatures of public economics and welfare economics.

Findings

In addition to proving the above, the paper also finds that Adam Smith is actually a moral egalitarian, thus he could not have agreed with Nozick and Friedman regarding the nature of capitalism. To the extent that Smith supported free market capitalism, it was because he thought, in contrast to mercantilist policies, that free markets would lead to equity and justice.

Originality/value

The paper is an original/valuable contribution since it rescues Adam Smith from the extreme proponents of laissez‐faire capitalism who claim him.
Paradigms and pragmatic constructivism: a reply
Authors: Nørreklit Hanne , Nørreklit Lennart , Mitchell Falconer
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a response to a comment written by Richard Laughlin on a previous paper by the authors, which appeared in Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Volume 23 Number 6.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper addresses three issues central to the analysis of the comment on their past paper.

Findings

In addressing each of the issues in turn the authors clarify their analysis.

Originality/value

The paper provides an argument for the development of a paradigm for accounting practice derived from the use of pragmatic constructivism.
Porter's generic strategies as applied toward e‐tailers post‐Leegin
Authors: Collins Marianne K. , Winrow Brian
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the applicability of Porter's model of generic strategies as applied toward online retailers following the United States Supreme Court's decision in Leegin, which appears to signal greater tolerance for minimum vertical price maintenance agreements.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of the literature and examines cases relating to minimum resale price maintenance agreements. Relying heavily on Porter's framework, it explores the strategic implications of the recent decision in Leegin for on‐line retailers, many of whom rely on a cost leadership competitive advantage.

Findings

Since the increased likelihood that vertical minimum price maintenance agreements will be permitted, thereby lowering the barriers to entry, online retailers may be deterred from utilizing low costs to under‐price traditional retailers. As a result, the Leegin holding has devalued the feasibility of pursuing a cost leadership strategy, and e‐tailers may need to adopt alternative or integrative strategies for securing a competitive advantage.

Originality/value

The paper incorporates literature pertaining to Porter's model of generic strategies, online pricing strategies, as well as recent court cases.
Some empirical evidence on the demand for money in the Pacific Island countries
Authors: Singh Rup , Kumar Saten
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze narrow money demand functions for the Pacific Island countries (PICs) and evaluate their stability. The selected PICs are Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa (SAM), Solomons and the Papua New Guinea. The stability of the demand for money is vital for the formulation of the monetary policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The augmented Dicky‐Fuller method is employed to test the time series properties of the variables. Alternative time series techniques such as general to specific (GETS) and Johansen maximum likelihood (JML) are used with annual data from 1974 to 2004 (except for SAM with data from 1980 to 2004) to estimate the narrow money demand equations. To draw inferences relative to the stability of the parameters, the study applies the cumulative recursive sum of recursive residuals (CUSUM) and the cumulative sum of squares of recursive residuals (CUSUMSQ).

Findings

The results from the time series approaches of GETS and JML suggest that real income, nominal rate of interest and real narrow money are cointegrated. The CUSUM and CUSUMSQ stability test results indicate that the demand for money functions for these countries are stable and, therefore, the respective monetary authorities may consider targeting money supply in their conduct of monetary policy. It is argued that the financial sector reforms and liberalization is yet to have any significant effects on the money demand in the PICs.

Research limitations/implications

The methods of estimation does not allow for structural breaks in the cointegrating relationship. It is hoped that future research may focus on using the structural break techniques and also investigate the stability of the demand for broad money in the PICs. Further due to limitations in the data, the authors were only able to select five PICs.

Originality/value

This is the first paper in the literature that provides long‐run estimates and stability results of the narrow money demand using the newest time series techniques for a group of PICs over the period 1974‐2004.
A contractor's analysis of the likelihood of payment of claims
Authors: Carmichael David G. , Balatbat Maria C.A.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an original model, and one of practical use, for a contractor's internal analysis of the likelihood of late and incomplete payments, in an uncertain payment environment. Payments typically dominate the thinking of a contractor and the way a contractor operates. The model applies equally to subcontractors, suppliers and consultants.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is based on Markov chains, specially adapted to the problem, where the states are defined as the period of time by which the payment is overdue. In addition, there are special states corresponding to claims that have been paid, and those that need resolution. Transitions between states reflect the payment characteristics on the project (which itself depends on the type of project and the owner‐contractor relationship).

Findings

Real project data confirm the validity of the model. Output from the model can be shown to agree with actual contractor payment data. The output is in terms of probability of payment by a certain date, and mean time to payment for amounts owing. Such information assists the contractor in its financial management practices.

Practical implications

The paper gives a summary approach for contractors. A strength and paradox of the model is its simplicity in usage, yet it overlies hidden more extensive mathematics, which might generally not be known or is necessary to be known to contractors. The model analysis feeds into the contractor's cash flow calculations, overall project risk analysis and accounting procedures.

Originality/value

The paper represents an original contribution to the modelling and analysis of contractor payments.
Starving terrorists of their financial oxygen – at all costs?
Authors: Yankson Sidney
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that the leadin‘g international actor responsible for the maintenance of peace and security, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), must ensure that they strictly abide by accepted fundamental human rights norms when promulgating and enforcing resolutions for freezing assets of suspected terrorists.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an overview of some fundamental human rights affected by the UN resolutions. It then compares leading case law from both the international (European Court of Justice) and domestic (the UK and the USA) perspectives. Finally, the paper discusses the leading academic critiques before exploring whether the UNSC is right to infringe or derogate from human rights norms in its counter‐terrorism policy. If so, in what circumstances and under what conditions may they be right to do so?

Findings

There are several fundamental human rights norms which are not respected by the UNSC in the area of terrorist financing.

Research limitations/implications

Research could be expanded to other courts. Further research should consider additional human rights that were outside the scope of this paper.

Practical implications

The UNSC should allow special advocates on all matters both before the ombudsman and themselves. This should provide greater transparency.

Social implications

The paper should draw attention to the seemingly incongruous position of the UNSC, tasked with protecting us and our human rights, when in fact they themselves may be breaching them.

Originality/value

The paper will be valuable to governments and regulators that seek to regulate the financial markets. It will also be useful to human rights activists.
The critical consequences of project drift – a case study in the UK banking sector
Authors: Hedley Julie , Ojiako Udechukwu , Johansen Eric , Maguire Stuart
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to identify the change model being used by a UK bank to implement and embed a major regulatory‐driven initiative (the Basle Capital Accord) into it is business operations.

Design/methodology/approach

A naturalistic paradigm was adopted for this research although an element of triangulation was incorporated.

Findings

This critical change management initiative was started at a relatively benign time in the business world. The consequences are a warning to current organisations that if they do not address basic project and change management principles, these issues will not have any chance of assimilation within their firms.

Research limitations/implications

The key limitations of the paper are that it focused on one particular change initiative within a single organisation, driven by one particular senior management team. As a result, the informal change model identified will not necessarily reflect the informal change model being used in other functional areas of Bank “A”.

Originality/value

Although this paper was undertaken at an organisation at the centre of the banking crisis in the UK, it is important to highlight that the study commenced prior to the evolution of the current UK banking crisis.
Importance and contribution of intangible assets: SME managers' perceptions
Authors: Steenkamp Natasja , Kashyap Varsha
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in an attempt to cover the gap in research on intellectual capital (IC) applied to SMEs. The paper informs the debate on the importance of IC by providing empirical evidence of SME managers' perceptions about the importance and contribution of intangible assets to their businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were sent to New Zealand SMEs investigating managers' perceptions about the importance of and the contributions that intangible asset components make to their businesses, and to assess their familiarity with the term intellectual capital (IC) and their preferences in using the term IC versus intangible assets. The results pertaining to the importance of intangible assets were statistically analysed.

Findings

This paper informs that the broad assumption that intangible assets are important and are value drivers of business' success is valid for small and medium enterprises. The majority of respondents perceive intangible asset components to be essential, very important and important to the success of their business and that these components collectively make several contributions to their businesses. Based on average rating, customer satisfaction ranked as the most important and thereafter customer loyalty, corporate reputation, product reputation and employee know‐how. A minority of respondents indicated that only a few components are not very important and not important at all, the least important component being distribution agreements, followed by employee education and relationships with investors. The majority of respondents are familiar with the term IC, and the same number prefer to use the term “intangible assets” as those preferring to use the term IC.

Practical implications

Providing evidence of SME managers' perceptions of the importance and contributions of intangible assets is essential to raise awareness among SME managers in understanding, identifying and managing intangible assets that are important value drivers for their businesses. Such awareness is essential in particular in countries where SMEs make up a significant proportion of business and employment. The results of this study may be a benchmark for SME managers unfamiliar and ignorant about the topic of this research.

Originality/value

This paper is the first providing empirical evidence as to SME managers' perceptions about the importance of and the contributions of intangible assets to their businesses, as well as about their familiarity with the IC concept and preference in using IC terminology.
Leadership development in crisis: leadership development hasn't made much difference to organizations
Authors: Cunningham Ian
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

Leaders have to work to develop their own models of leadership and their own agendas for development. If a person can't do this they can't be expected to play a leadership role in an organization.

Practical implications

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

Social implications

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that can have a broader social impact.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.
Barriers to managerial learning: lessons for rapidly changing organizations
Authors: Longenecker Clinton O.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to managerial learning in rapidly changing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The material presented in this paper is based on a focus group methodology designed to solicit the input of managers operating in dynamic organizations on the subject of factors that influence their ability to learn and develop.

Findings

The study identified ten recurring barriers that prevent managers from learning and developing that included such factors as time pressure, lack of awareness, little or no performance feedback, lack of self‐reflection, and egos, among others.

Research limitations/implications

Learning is difficult for most managers in normal times, let alone when their organizations are changing at a previously unseen pace. This study identified factors that damage the ability of managers to learn. This subject matter warrants further exploration as organizational structures, levels, and industries may influence the outcome of the findings.

Practical implications

Key implications of these findings include: individual managers must take more responsibility for their own learning; superiors must play a larger role in management development; and senior leaders must create systems to support learning.

Social implications

When organizations and societies change, people at all levels must learn and develop to operate in these new environments. Without this learning and alignment, performance will suffer.

Originality/value

Organizations, in many cases, wrongly assume that their leaders will acquire the new skill‐sets necessary to perform in an optimal fashion. The very factors that drive organizational change are the same factors that create barriers to managerial learning.
A history of shopping: the missing link between retail and consumer revolutions
Authors: Stobart Jon
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to reconsider and reframe the relationship between retail and consumer revolutions, arguing that the two have too often been separated empirically and conceptually.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviewing a broad range of literature, the paper discussed the ways in which the historiography of retailing and consumption might be brought together by a greater focus on and theorisation of shopping.

Findings

The paper highlights equivocation in the literature about the extent to which retailing was transformed during the eighteenth century in response to consumer changes. Whilst some aspects were dramatically transformed, others remained largely unchanged. It draws on a rather smaller body of work to illustrate the ways in which shopping practices were instrumental in connecting shops and consumers, linking the cultural world of consumption to the economic realm of retailing.

Originality/value

The key argument is that, if studies of shopping are to be useful in furthering the understanding of retailing and consumption, then the paper must theorise shopping more fully. In particular, the paper emphasises the insights afforded by notions of performance and identity, and by analyses of consumer motivation; arguing that these offer the opportunity to link shopping to wider debates over politeness, gender roles and even modernity.
The role of information technology in relationships between travel agencies and their suppliers
Authors: Ruiz‐Molina Maria‐Eugenia , Gil‐Saura Irene , Moliner‐Velázquez Beatriz
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In the context of relationship marketing, it is highly important for providers to identify the main buyer relational benefits influencing satisfaction and loyalty so that a continuous and satisfactory business relationship is guaranteed. Since it has been reported that information technology (IT) might constitute a source of satisfaction or dissatisfaction, this paper aims to test the moderating role of IT in the relationships between perceived benefits, satisfaction and loyalty in a business‐to‐business (B2B) setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equations model was empirically tested. Additionally, the moderating role of IT in the relationships between perceived relational benefits, buyer satisfaction and loyalty towards the main supplier was tested through a multi‐sample analysis.

Findings

The results show that IT contributes to strengthen the link between satisfaction and loyalty. In contrast, the relationship between social benefits and buyer satisfaction is only observed for suppliers with low technological intensity.

Practical implications

While IT helps suppliers to turn satisfied customers into loyal customers, it hinders the relationship between social benefits and buyer satisfaction. Therefore, a series of recommendations on the use of IT solutions by service providers are proposed.

Originality/value

Although relational benefits have been studied in the scope of tourism companies in their relationships with end customers, there is still little evidence in the context of B2B relationships. This paper sheds additional light on this issue as well as analyzing the impact of IT on these relationships.
Greenhouse gas accounting: global problem, national policy, local fugitives
Authors: Young Anna
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to raise a selection of issues and questions that have begun to face academics and business professionals in the technically complex field of greenhouse gas accounting.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper drew on accounting, audit and assurance‐based field work whilst the author was employed with a “Big 4” accounting firm and undertaken with a range of Australian companies preparing to report greenhouse gas emissions to the Australian Government for the first time during June‐October 2009. The issues discussed in this paper include: determination of organisational boundaries and ownership of greenhouse emissions; determination of operational boundaries and how to account for the greenhouse emissions of contractors; and challenges of measuring and accounting for greenhouse gas emissions in the underground coal mining industry.

Findings

This paper highlights the need for further research into greenhouse gas accounting methodologies.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is primarily a news piece with a focus on three of a possible multitude of issues. The intention is not to provide a complete review of the growing academic literature in the greenhouse gas accounting field, nor to elaborate on the entire array of challenges presented by greenhouse gas accounting for a range of industries. Further, the paper does not intend to discuss climate change science or emissions trading in any detail.

Originality/value

Whilst the focus is on the Australian experience, the questions raised may be of interest to a more international audience as attempts are made to put a national framework using local measures on a global problem are commonplace.
Predicting Oscinella frit population densities from suction trap catches and weather data
Authors: LINDBLAD M. , SOLBRECK C.
Published: August 2010

With the aim of developing a model for prediction of Oscinella frit (L.) population levels, migrating adults were sampled by suction traps at two locations in Sweden for 10 and 14 years, respectively. Catches were separated into two periods: spring migration, representing the size of the overwintering generation; and summer migration, representing the total size of one or two progeny generations.

The temperature threshold for sustained flight of O. frit was estimated to be 14 °C, measured as daily maximum temperature. Current weather conditions during the migration periods had weak effects on the seasonal progress of migration. There was, however, a lagged weather effect: spring migration ceased earlier in years following a warm autumn.

Although the number of spring migrants could not be predicted from suction trap catches in the previous year, the number was correlated with weather factors in the previous summer. Sunshine conditions early in summer, i.e. from May to July, seemed to be most important. The long time lag between this period and migration in the following spring implies that weather affects O. frit population dynamics indirectly, possibly by influencing the amount of food resources available in the autumn

The number of summer migrants was correlated with the number of spring migrants, except for three observations with very small summer catches due to extremely cold and cloudy weather in early summer.

The number of migrants of O. frit varied up to 100‐fold among years, a fact that needs to be accounted for in damage forecasts. The number of spring migrants can be predicted fairly well from weather conditions in the previous and current year, whereas the number of summer migrants can, in most years, be predicted from spring catches in suction traps.
Quantifying and optimizing grazing regimes in Greek mountain systems
Authors: ZERVAS GEORGE
Published: August 2010

From an ecological and environmental point of view, livestock husbandry plays a very important role as there is a valuable interaction between livestock and natural resources. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the implications of livestock production systems of mountain areas of Greece for conservation ecology and pasture‐land biodiversity.

Overgrazing of some mountain pastures and undergrazing of others, due to the depopulation of these environmentally difficult areas, have resulted in degradation of these areas. The relationship between livestock production and nature conservation is, by its nature, complex, delicate and sensitive to local conditions. The particular combination of farming practices used can be crucial in determining the biological richness of different sites. Low‐intensity livestock systems ‐ with low use of nutrient and agrochemical inputs, relative abundance of semi‐natural vegetation and relative stability of good management practices ‐ can make a positive contribution to the nature resource base by enhancing soil quality and increasing biodiversity. Ecological studies to determine optimum stocking densities in each region should be carried out with parallel adjustment in pastureland management regulations and in incentives given to farmers, in order to facilitate sustainability, biodiversity and nature conservation.
New or little‐known species of exotic Tipulidae (Diptera). XIV
Authors: Alexander CharlesP.
Published: August 2010

Synopsis

Descriptions are given of eight new species, belonging to the tribe Pediciini, and all from Assam. Three new species of Malaisemyia are described, one being subapterous and representing the first such instance in the genus. The remaining novelties include one species of Nipponomyia, and two each of Pedicia (Tricyphona) and Dicranota.
CONFORMATION CHANGES IN α‐HELICAL MUSCLE PROTEINS AFTER REACTION WITH MALEIC ANHYDRIDE
Authors: Woods E. F. , Pont Margaret J.
Published: August 2010

The conformation changes on reaction of maleic anhydride with two tropomyosins (vertebrate and invertebrate) and paramyosin are reported. Maleylation of tropomyosin leads to more than 90% loss of the α‐helical conformation and dissociation into subunits. Only one third of the helix is lost on maleylation of paramyosin and it is not dissociated into subunits. The ORD and CD spectra of maleyl tropomyosin are reported and compared with the spectra of other unordered polypeptide chains. The α‐helix can be restored after maleylation of tropomyosin by increase of the ionic strength, variation of pH, or addition of helix‐forming solvents such as ethanol, 2‐chloroethanol, and trifluoroethanol.
RESOLUTION OF DL‐PENTAMETHYLPHENYLALANINE
Authors: Tesser G. I. , Slits H. G. A. , van Nispen J. W.
Published: August 2010

The synthesis of N‐acetyl‐DL‐pentamethylphenylalanine and its resolution with brucine are described. Assignment of the configuration of both antipodes was performed with O.R. D.‐measurements and checked by enzymic hydrolysis.
CONFORMATION OF CYCLOHEXAPEPTIDES WITH SIDE CHAINS ON AMINOACID RESIDUES 2, 3, 5 AND 6: PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDY
Authors: Blaha Karel , BudĚŠinsky MiloŠ
Published: August 2010

On the basis of estimations of chemical shifts and coupling constants of PMR spectra and their temperatures and solvent dependences, the probable conformations for cyclohexapeptides with side chains in positions 2, 3, 5 and 6 have been derived. Characteristic values of torsion angles φ and ø for all aminoacid residues in the cyclohexapeptide backbone have been determined.
ON SOME PHYSICO‐CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF DIKETOPIPERAZINES IN WATER
Authors: Crescenzi V. , Cesaro A. , Russo E.
Published: August 2010

Data useful for a characterization of the thermodynamic behaviour of a few nonionic aminoacid anhydrides (diketopiperazines) in water are reported.

In particular, results of heat of dilution, heat of solution and osmotic coefficient measurements (the latter two only for sarcosine anhydride) are illustrated.

As an interesting extension of our study, the likelihood that the compounds considered might exhibit a denaturant action on globular proteins has been tested using ribonuclease. Our results clearly point out that the diketopiperazines are strong denaturants indeed.

A few results of spectral measurements of the monomer‐dimer equilibrium of acridine orange in aqueous diketopiperazines solutions are also reported, as they appear to pertain to the mechanism of ribonuclease unfolding promoted by the diketopiperazines.
MODIFICATION OF THE ENZYMIC ACTIVITY OF TRYPSIN BY INTRAMOLECULAR CROSS‐LINKS
Authors: Beaven G. H. , Gratzer W. B.
Published: August 2010

The introduction of intramolecular cross‐links into trypsin with glutaraldehyde causes inactivation of the enzyme. When the reaction is performed in the presence of the inhibitor, benzamidine, a product of enhanced activity is obtained, although the number of cross‐links remains about the same. Possible cross‐linking schemes to explain these effects in terms of small conformational adjustments, caused by the inhibitor, are considered.
CALORIMETRIC INVESTIGATION OF RIBONUCLEASE THERMAL DENATURATION
Authors: Privalov P. L. , Tiktopulo E. I. , Khechinashvili N. N.
Published: August 2010

Thermal denaturation of ribonuclease has been investigated by scanning microcalorimetric, spectrophotometric and polarimetric techniques. It is shown that the temperature changes of ribonuclease are of a complicated character and may be subdivided by the temperature region into two qualitatively different stages: (a) the predenaturational stage, at which neither abrupt changes in physico‐chemical properties nor heat absorption occur, but where the protein partial heat capacity considerably grows; (b) the denaturational stage which is accompanied by intensive heat absorption with the abrupt change in all physico‐chemical properties. Judging by the coincidence of the calorimetric and effective enthalpies, there is a transition at this stage between the two states without intermediate thermodynamically stable forms. Enthalpy values of denaturation, temperature of denaturation and denaturational changes of the heat capacity at various pH values are given.
FIBRINOPEPTIDES. III. SYNTHESIS OF THE PROTECTED NONAPEPTIDE SEQUENCE OF FIBRINOPEPTIDE‐B OF GREEN MONKEY
Authors: Anantharamaiah G. M. , Sivanandaiah K. M.
Published: August 2010

The protected nonapeptide, Z‐Asn‐Glu(OBzl)‐Glu(OBzl)‐Gly‐Leu‐Phe‐Gly‐Gly‐ Arg(NO2)OMe, corresponding to the amino acid sequence present in fibrinopeptide‐B of green monkey, has been synthesised by conventional methods.
SYNTHESIS OF A DECAPEPTIDE SEQUENCE (A2 8‐A3 7) OF RUBREDOXIN. AMINO ACIDS AND PEPTIDES. XXXVI
Authors: Cook Ronald M. , Stevenson David , Weinstein Boris
Published: August 2010

A protected decapeptide corresponding to a section found in the last half of the protein chain of rubredoxin has been prepared by standard peptide methods.
SOLID PHASE SYNTHESIS OF PENTAGASTRIN AND OTHER PEPTIDE AMIDES BY A MODIFIED TECHNIQUE
Authors: Wang C. T. , Kulesha I. D. , Stefko P. L. , Wang S. S.
Published: August 2010

The solid phase synthesis of pentagastrin (I), Z‐Trp‐Met‐Gly‐Phe‐NH2 (II), pGlu‐Gln‐ Ala‐NH2 (III) and pGlu‐Asn‐Ala‐NH2 (IV) by a modified technique is described. These peptide amides are obtained by the direct ammonolysis of the corresponding peptide resins. For the synthesis of III and IV, N‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐ethoxy‐l,2‐dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) was used as the coupling agent. No nitrite formation was noted during the synthesis.
SPECIFIC POLYPEPTIDES IN PRENATAL BOVINE ALPHA‐CRYSTALLIN
Authors: van Kamp Gerard J. , Boudier Harry A. J. Struyker , Hoenders Herman J.
Published: August 2010

The development of the eye lens in the prenatal phase is accompanied by a gradual change in the polypeptide composition of α‐crystallin. As the lens matures from that of a 6‐week‐old embryo to that of a new‐born calf, there is a successive appearance of different polypeptides although two obviously principal polypeptides, A2 and B2, are present at every stage of development. The youngest embryonic lenses studied contain four polypeptides. Two of them differ from the well‐known polypeptides as found in cortical bovine α‐crystallin.
BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN IN LITHIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTIONS. CHANGES IN CONFORMATION
Authors: Sun S. F. , Chang T. S. , del Rosario N. O.
Published: August 2010

The physical state of bovine serum albumin in LiCl solutions at the pH near isoelectric point and room temperature has been studied with intrinsic viscosity, optical rotatory dispersion, circular dichroism and ultraviolet absorption difference spectra. The results indicate that the effects of Li+ take place in two processes. 1. At the concentration of LiCl below 4.0 M, only the general electrostatic effect occurs. There is no conformational change in the protein. 2. At the concentration of LiCl above 4.0 M, a specific effect of the Li+ occurs in which both the secondary and tertiary structures of the protein change. In addition, the protein molecules aggregate. In correspondence with the two processes, two different possible mechanisms are discussed.
A COMPUTER‐ASSISTED METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE NEAREST INTEGER RATIOS OF AMINO ACID RESIDUES IN PURIFIED PROTEINS
Authors: Hoy T. G. , Ferdinand W. , Harrison P. M.
Published: August 2010

A routine method for finding the best set of integral amino acid residue numbers in a pure protein is described. The method starts with the best physical estimate of the molecular weight of the protein, and the amino acid composition derived from a number of amino acid analyses. The number of residues of each amino acid ± its standard error is calculated for the given molecular weight. Simple statistical screening procedures are used to eliminate unreliable amino acids. The remaining ones are used in a least‐squares analysis developed from previous methods, to find the value of the molecular weight that gives the best fit to integral residue numbers. An estimate of the reliability of fit is also calculated. With the aid of a desktop computer the labour of finding the the best set of integers can be reduced to about 30 minutes' work. In addition an estimate of the confidence limits for each integer is provided. The use of the method is illustrated by reference to experimental results for bovine pancreatic ribonuclease, horse spleen apoferritin and E. coli citrate synthase.
A SYNTHETIC POLYPEPTIDE RELATED TO ELASTIN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH CALCIUM IONS
Authors: Bell John R. , Boohan Richard C. , Jones John H. , Moore Robert M.
Published: August 2010

A sequential polypeptide related to elastin has been synthesized and shown to undergo a calcium ion‐induced conformational change in 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol
SHORT LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE HOMOLOGY AMONG ANCESTRALLY UNRELATED PROTEINS
Authors: Greller Larry D. , Erhan Semih
Published: August 2010

Homologous amino acid sequences of short length among apparently unrelated proteins may be responsible for similar structural or functional relations among such proteins. A method based on McLachlan's method for determining ancestral relatedness of proteins from sequence information (McLachlan 1971) is presented for determining and evaluating short sequence (“local”) homology. Some local homologies are reported.
ADRENODOXIN REDUCTASE, THE FLAVOPROTEIN COMPONENT OF ADRENAL MITOCHONDRIAL STEROID HYDROXYLASES:
Authors: Wickramasinghe Rohan H.
Published: August 2010

The flavoprotein adrenodoxin reductase was purified and examined. A method of preparing this enzyme is described. Certain assay modifications significantly enhanced its activity in reducing 2,6‐dichlorophenolindophenol. Following discelectrophoresis a bright yellow protein band resulted. The percentage amino acid composition of the protein is presented. Excitation of fluorescence took place at 290, 395 and 465 nm, while emission maxima were observed at 334, 523, 791 and 520 nm. Miniature electrofocusing of the purified enzyme showed that its isoelectric point is about pH 8.9.
THE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE AMINO‐TERMINAL OCTAPEPTIDE OF MOUSE NERVE GROWTH FACTOR
Authors: Hogue‐Angeletti Ruth , Bradshaw Ralph A. , Marshall Garland R.
Published: August 2010

The octapeptide, Ser‐Ser‐Thr‐His‐Pro‐Val‐Phe‐His, corresponding to the first eight amino‐terminal residues in the sequence of mouse nerve growth factor, has been synthesized by the manual solid‐phase technique. After cleavage of the peptide material from the peptide‐resin by HF, extensive purification produced the expected product in good yield (27% of potential starting sites; 58% of the released product). The peptide was characterized by chromatographic techniques, sequence analysis, enzymatic digestion, CD and ORD spectral analyses, and biological and pharmacological assays. Detailed analysis of the reaction by‐products, isolated during the purification of the principal product, provided technical information regarding possible synthetic side reactions and further evidence for dynamic solvation of the polymer matrix as a dominant factor in solid phase synthesis.
RELATION BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN SOME PARTIALLY SYNTHETIC RIBONUCLEASES S‘. II.*
Authors: Marchiori F. , Borin G. , Moroder L. , Rocchi R. , Scoffone E.
Published: August 2010

The S‐protein activating ability of [Orn10,Glu11]‐, [Orn10,Leu11]‐ and [Orn10,Lys11]‐S‐ peptide was tested, before and after guanidination, by exploring their capacity to regenerate ribonuclease activity when recombined with S‐protein. The kinetic parameters Km and k2 of the resulting modified enzymes were also calculated using C > p and CpC as the substrates. In agreement with previous observations the results obtained indicate that the carboxamide function in position 11 is not essential for biological activity, but contributes by optimizing the RNase A catalytic activity.
FLUORESCAMINE AS A TERMINATING AGENT IN SOLID PHASE PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS
Authors: Felix Arthur M. , Jimenez Manuel. H. , Vergona Ronald , Cohen Michael R.
Published: August 2010

Fluorescamine was shown to be an excellent terminating agent for blocking unreacted amino groups during solid phase peptide synthesis. A comparison of the termination efficiency of fluorescamine versus that of acetylation revealed that the former method gave superior products as assessed by peptide analysis, dansyl‐amino end group determination and biological assay. In addition, fluorescamine terminated fragments were converted to non‐fluorescent spirolactones during the deprotection stage. These spirolactones were stable to subsequent solid phase reaction conditions and were readily removed from the target peptide.
CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CIRCULAR DICHROISM SPECTRA OF INSULIN, PROINSULIN AND C‐PEPTIDES BY NON‐LINEAR REGRESSION
Authors: Markussen Jan , Vølund Aage
Published: August 2010

A method of resolving CD spectra in α‐helix, β‐structure and random coil conformations is described. The residue ellipticities for α‐helix and β‐structure given by Greenfield & Fasman or by Chen, Yang & Martinez are used together with CD spectra from at least two similar peptides to determine, by an iterative least‐squares method, the number of amino acids in the three reference conformations as well as a set of residue ellipticities characteristic of the random coils of the family of peptides in question, but not necessarily of other peptides. The fits between computed and experimental spectra improve significantly and systematic deviations disappear by allowing the random coil coefficients to vary from one family of proteins to another, a liberty justified by the different types of random coils that have been encountered.

The method of analysis showed that 5 M urea did not change the conformations of C‐peptides of proinsulin from ox, pig and duck, all being mainly in the random coil conformation and all having 3–4 amino acids in β‐structure. Bovine insulin and proinsulin showed a transfer of amino acids from α‐helix to β‐structure with increasing concentrations of urea, the latter at a higher concentration, indicating a stabilizing effect of the connecting peptide. The numbers of amino acids found in the α‐helical conformation in insulin and proinsulin were equal and in agreement with the X‐ray crystallographic data for insulin when the Greenfield & Fasman coefficients for α‐helix and β‐structure were employed, whereas the Chen, Yang & Martinez coefficients yielded too few amino acids in α‐helix in proinsulin. Both sets of coefficients estimate more β‐structure in proinsulin than in insulin.
SYNTHESIS OF POLYPEPTIDE MODELS OF COLLAGEN
Authors: Rapaka Rao S. , Bhatnagar Rajendra S.
Published: August 2010

The synthesis of several sequential oligomer models of collagen is reported. Polytripeptides H(‐Pro‐Gly‐Leu‐)n OH, H(‐Pro‐Gly‐Phe‐)n OH, H(‐Pro‐Sar‐Gly‐)n OH, H‐(‐Sar‐Pro‐Gly‐)n‐OH, H(‐Pro‐Gly‐Val‐)n OH and H(‐Gly‐Val‐Pro‐)n OH were synthesized by the active ester method. Preliminary fractionation and mol.wt. determination showed typical gaussian distributions. Good yields were obtained in the mol.wt. range of 4,000–6,000, except in the case of H(‐Pro‐Sar‐Gly‐)n OH which yielded molecular weights over 20,000.
PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS WITH CARBODIIMIDE.
Authors: Rebek J. , Feitler D.
Published: August 2010

An isotope dilution assay for racemization during acid couplings is described and applied to carbodiimide‐mediated synthesis. Using the coupling of t‐BOC‐L‐phenylalanine with glycine derivatives as a model, racemization in solution falls in the 0.01 to 0.1% range and is a function of reagent concentrations. A typical coupling using the solid phase method shows 0.03% racemate.
OXYTOCIN ANALOGS WITH SUBSTITUTIONS IN POSITIONS 3 AND 4.
Authors: Roy J. , Havran R. T. , Schwartz I. L. , Walter R.
Published: August 2010

Synthesis and biological properties are reported for some analogs of oxytocin with replacements of the isoleucine residue in position 3, i.e., [3‐proline]oxytocin and [3‐d‐alanine]oxytocin, and the glutamine residue in position 4, i.e., [4‐d‐alanine]‐oxytocin and [4‐d‐leucine]oxytocin. [3‐Proline]oxytocin exhibited <0.02 U/mg oxytocic activity, 0.005 ± <0.001 U/mg rat pressor activity, and 0.003 ± 0.0001 U/mg antidiuretic activity. [3‐d‐Alanine]oxytocin had no agonistic activity in the bioassays tested except for the rat antidiuretic assay (<0.0005 U/mg). The 4‐d‐alanine analog showed 0.05 ± 0.003 U/mg oxytocic activity, 0.07± 0.01 U/mg avian vasodepressor activity, and <0.0001 U/mg rat antidiuretic activity. [4‐d‐Leucine]oxytocin possessed 0.004 ± <0.001 U/mg rat pressor activity, and showed slight inhibitory properties in the oxytocic and avian vasodepressor assays, inhibiting the oxytocin response in the latter assay by about 60% at a hormone‐to‐analog ratio of 1:5000. The activity profiles of the analogs are compared to that of oxytocin and are discussed on the basis of the proposed solution conformation of oxytocin.
CONFORMATIONAL STUDIES ON SEQUENTIAL POLYPEPTIDES.
Authors: Scatturin A. , Tamburro A. M. , Vidali G. , Bordignon E.
Published: August 2010

Syntheses of (Pro‐Leu‐Gly)n and (Leu‐Pro‐Gly)n, two synthetic polytripeptide analogues of the non‐polar regions of collagen, via the corresponding tripeptide p‐nitrophenyl‐esters are described.

The sequential polypeptide (Pro‐Leu‐Gly)10 was also obtained by solid‐phase synthesis.

In the following paper, conformational investigations on these polymers, both in solution and in solid state, will be described.
SEQUENTIAL POLYPEPTIDES. Part IX. The synthesis of two sequential polypeptide elastin models*
Authors: Bell John R. , Boohan Richard C. , Jones John H. , Moore Robert M.
Published: August 2010

Syntheses of the sequential polypeptide elastin models poly‐(Gly‐Val‐Gly‐Val‐Pro) and poly‐(Gly‐Val‐Pro‐Gly) are described.
SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC TITRATION OF TYROSYL RESIDUES IN ALKALINE MESENTERICOPEPTIDASE
Authors: Genov Nicolay
Published: August 2010

At pH 7.0 the alkaline mesentericopeptidase has ultraviolet absorption spectrum with a minimum at 251 nm and a maximum at 280 nm and no visible absorption. From the tyrosine to tryptophan ratio a value of 3 tryptophyl residues per mole of protein is obtained. The molar extinction coefficient at 280 nm is 3.55 times 104M‐1cm‐1. Spectrophotometric titration studies show that the molecule of mesentericopeptidase contains seven phenolic groups with a pKapp = 9.92 and four to five groups with a pKapp = 11.96. Denaturing agents, such as 5 M guanidine hydrochloride or alkali, normalize the ionization of the tyrosyl residues. There is a good correlation between the spectrophotometric titration data and the results for the reactivities of the tyrosines in mesentericopeptidase towards tetranitromethane. The correlation is explained by the mechanism of nitration. Conclusions about the state of the tyrosyl residues and the three‐dimensional structure of mesentericopeptidase are made.
ON THE 3α‐HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE FROM PSEUDOMONAS TESTOSTERONI. The effect of denaturing agents
Authors: Skålhegg Bjørn A.
Published: August 2010

Highly purified preparations of the 3α‐hydroxysteroid:NAD‐ oxidoreductase (E.C.1.1.1.50) from Pseudomonas testosteroni (ATCC 11996) which consist of two major isoenzymes, with traces of a third, have been split into two enzymatically inactive polypeptides A and B by the use of sodium dodecylsulphate, urea and guanidinium hydrochloride. Both polypeptides have a molecular weight of 25,000 ± 2,500 as shown by thin‐layer gel chromatography and ultracentrifugations. They differ, however, in charge as shown by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips in the presence of 8 M urea. Each of the isoenzymes, have molecular weight of about 50,000 and thus consist of two subunits. The presence of the three isoenzymes may be explained by the following combinations of the subunits AA, AB and BB.

Close to 100% of the original activity towards the three substrates, androsterone, tetrahydrocortisone and desoxycholate could be restored within 24 h when the inactivated enzyme was diluted in order to remove the effect of the denaturant.
MODIFICATION OF BOVINE PANCREATIC RIBONUCLEASE A WITH PYRIDOXAL 5‘‐PHOSPHATE. ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF DERIVATIVES
Authors: Riquelme Patricio , Brown William E. , Marcus Frank
Published: August 2010

Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A was allowed to react with pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate at pH 8 and 4°. After reduction with sodium borohydride, the principal products formed in the initial stages of modification were separated by successive chromatography on CM‐cellulose and SP‐Sephadex. The isolated derivatives were identified as Nα‐(P‐pyridoxyl)‐Lys‐1‐, Ne‐(P‐pyridoxyl)‐Lys‐7‐, and Ne‐(P‐pyridoxyl)‐Lys‐41‐ribonuclease A. These results are interpreted in terms of the specificity of pyridoxal‐P as a protein reagent.
SELECTIVE REDUCTION AND ALKYLATION OF THE COOH‐TERMINAL DISULFIDE BRIDGE IN BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE
Authors: Gráf László , Li Choh Hao , Bewley Thomas A.
Published: August 2010

Conditions leading to the cleavage of both disulfide bridges in human growth hormone caused the reduction of only one disulfide bond in bovine growth hormone. Partially reduced and alkylated derivatives of bovine growth hormone were prepared and characterized. It was shown that the reduction and alkylation modified the COOH‐terminal disulfide bond, however, this modification does not result in the dissociation of the dimeric form of bovine growth hormone or cause a significant loss of growth‐promoting activity.
PROTAMINES, HISTONES AND THE GENETIC CODE. NEW EVIDENCE FOR CODE EVALUATIONS
Authors: Bauer Klausdieter
Published: August 2010

A new approach is presented to give evidence for the theories of Jukes and Crick (1–3) that at a more primitive stage the genetic code consisted of doublets separated by “comma‐bases” rather than true triplets and that G and C or A and U are the exclusive bases used by the primordial code. This approach makes use of the conservation of the histone IV sequence over extremely long periods of time by comparing the amino acid composition of the average vertebrate protein with the one of histone IV, a reconstructed ancestral polypeptide and various nuclear proteins, homologous or otherwise related to it. All protamines studied and the majority of histones show deviations from the average vertebrate protein which are statistically highly significant if the amino acids sufficiently coded for by the first two bases are compared. A similar result is obtained for those amino acids which are sufficiently coded for by the first two bases of the codon and have codons composed of G and C only.