bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable development: a competitive advantage or a threat?
Authors: Nejati Mostafa , Shah Bin Amirul , Bin Amran Azlan
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Organizations and businesses have evolved tremendously during the last years. Previously, the focus of organizations was on goods and production, however, later on this perspective has changed to a more knowledge and intellectual capital focus nowadays. As such, concepts of organizational knowledge and know‐how, as well as stakeholders and society rights are increasingly being raised and discussed in recent studies. This paper aims to present the fundamental questions on the importance of undertaking sustainable development roles by organizations and the effects that it can have on the organizations. The paper will also discuss how organizations can benefit from acting to their sustainable development roles and consider it as a means of competitive advantage, rather than an organizational threat.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth literature review as well as years of experience of authors in the field has been used to develop this research.

Findings

It is concluded that despite some initial limitations for the organizations in undertaking their sustainable development roles, they will benefit from the positive image that is created for their organization as well as other benefits and competitive advantages in the long run.

Practical implications

It is necessary for organizations to be aware of their sustainable development roles and undertake their responsibilities toward the society.

Originality/value

After the recent global economic meltdown, the question whether sustainability and organizational commitments toward sustainable development can help organizations gain a competitive advantage to better survive in the challenging world of today, is yet to be further discussed. This paper is an attempt to investigate this in more detail.
Monsanto: from a strategic perspective
Authors: Rajendar Singh Thakur
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the market entry strategies for companies which are involved with Chemicals in Foods, Agriculture, Irrigation aspects, which equally have cultural effects in different regions.

Design/methodology/approach

The case contains a careful analysis of the literature about the Monsanto Company, articles and journals have been reviewed to supply the information on the problems being faced by Monsanto.

Findings

The analysis or the suggestions are the view points of the author, basically involving the Transnational approach for such companies. The suggestions or opinions are the responses like “What it could or would have done”, “This should be implemented” and so on so forth.

Research limitations/implications

Since this paper is associated with the suggestions by the author, the only limitation can be personal judgments.

Practical implications

In this respect, the paper combined various aspects of TNCs, Strategy and apply these concepts to the company to proceed in not only home country but also in host countries.

Originality/value

There have been few articles already written with respect to Monsanto, but sole aim of all these articles was to identify the problems faced by Monsanto and criticisms faced by it. But the articles conducts a company analysis, identifies problems and provides possible theoretical solutions in order to overcome the problems.
Coupling RFID with supply chain to enhance productivity
Authors: Zare Mehrjerdi Yahia
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this article to review key points about the radio frequency identification, and productivity enhancement in SCM through the use of radio frequency identification. To understand radio frequency key points fundamental on that are identified and reviewed. Some applications of radio frequency identification in supply chain are briefly reviewed and five cases of radio frequency identification implementation in supply chain are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides key elements of radio frequency identification and the integration of supply chain and radio frequency identification for generating new systems with higher level of profitability, efficiency, and productivity.

Findings

To make supply chain system functional and successfully operational manufacturers can use radio frequency identification solutions to reduce operating costs through decreasing the labor costs, claims, and returns. This will help them to increase the operating income. They also can reduce working capital by enabling reductions in inventory and lowering the inventory write‐off from the return goods and those items that are un‐saleable at the end. It is the collection of such strategies that can bring higher level of profitability and productivity to the supply chain.

Practical implications

This sophisticated technology is more useful to the management for one or more of the following facts: better supply chain and inventory management; reducing counterfeiting and fraud controlling; tracking work‐in progress; reducing administrative errors; reducing rework; better management of warrantee claims; capable of working in suitable and harsh environments; better supply chain efficiency; cost saving and profit enhancement.

Originality/value

Due to the fact that a better management of production system is related to the full understanding of the technologies implemented and the system under consideration, sufficient background on the radio frequency identification technology is provided and supply chain management system including profitability and productivity enhancement are discussed.
Re‐examining the reform of China's science and technology system: a historical perspective
Authors: Fang Xin
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the reform of China's science and technology (S&T) system and the linkage between globalization and the requirements of China's S&T system during the past two decades.

Design/methodology/approach

The authorities and responsibilities of the government in macro administration of S&T are discussed.

Findings

It is suggested that strengthening and optimizing the administration mechanism should be the top priority.

Originality/value

This paper usefully looks at future and further reform in the S&T system for China, and by reviewing the history of reforming, analyzes the new problems which will be confronted at first.
Shanzhai manufacturing – an alternative innovation phenomenon in China
Authors: Zhu Sheng , Shi Yongjiang
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore an indigenous innovation phenomenon – entitled the Shanzhai phenomenon – which has emerged in the Chinese mobile phone industry, and to understand its value creation network and operational mechanism, as well as to recognize its policy implications in regional and industrial developments.

Design/methodology/approach

Although the Shanzhai phenomenon emerged from the end of 2008, detailed understanding of its systems and operational mechanism is still very limited, partly because of its secrecy and dynamics in the value chain operations. Based on characteristics of the Shaizhai phenomenon, the paper focuses on three levels of the phenomenon – regional historical, regional industrial specific, and typical Shanzhai mobile phone project levels – to pursue a comprehensive understanding of the Shanzhai system and its emerging environments. At the regional and industrial level, the combined approaches of interview and secondary data collection is adopted. At the Shanzhai project level, a case study approach is conducted by focusing on the project and its whole value chain, from the idea creation towards detailed product design, production and integration, as well as its distribution.

Findings

Chinese government has called for indigenous innovation to upgrade Chinese manufacturing capability and value creation as well as appropriation. Based on the fast growth of the Chinese indigenous mobile phone industry in the last two years, the Shanzhai manufacturing system is recognized as a new positive alternative way for Chinese manufacturing companies to achieve this aim. Behind the Shanzhai phenomenon, there is a strong globally specialized and collaborated network enabling the down‐stream Chinese small‐ and medium‐sized mobile phone companies to very quickly respond to customers' demands or lead the demands. This new type of alternative innovation system is transforming unaffordable luxury goods into affordable for normal consumers. Because of its mass volume and involvement, however, government policies to harness the energy and development direction become essential.

Research limitations/implications

This research is just a very early stage of preliminary observation. From the methodology perspective, it provides background information about Shanzhai phenomenon and an in‐depth case study about a Shanzhai project. Comprehensive understandings of the Shanzhai phenomenon in terms of its behaviours, systems constructs and patterns, trajectories in the future and implications for policies will be achieved only at a much later date.

Practical implications

ShanZhai manufacturing might be one possible alternative innovative paradigm in some sectors of China.

Originality/value

This is the first academic research paper to offer relatively comprehensive and systematic observations about the emerging ShanZhai manufacturing system in the largest developing country.
National technology roadmapping of China: practices and implications
Authors: Li Zhenxing , Chen Jiayu
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the first National Technology Roadmap (NTRM) of China, compiled by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2007, in accordance with the analytical framework of “national needs‐strategic tasks‐key technologies‐development priorities,” and to comment upon its progress.

Design/methodology/approach

The technology foresight in 2003‐2006 was organized by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. Based on two large rounds of Delphi investigations involving 1,400 experts and a SWOT analysis of every candidate technology, the key technologies were selected and the characteristics of them acquired. A large number of panels were organized to discuss and affirm the national needs and strategic tasks, so the logic relationships among the key items of NTRM could be clarified.

Findings

Five national needs, 30 strategic tasks, and 90 key technologies were promoted, and their relationships constructed. The characteristics of all the 90 technologies, including their R&D basis, gap between their level and the levels of advanced countries, and the possible time needed to realize these technologies were evaluated. The NTRM of China was successfully formulated.

Research limitations/implications

Only nine technology fields were considered in the Delphi investigations, because of the limited study conditions. This might become the limitation to the application of this NTRM. In further study, more technology fields should be involved and all the processes finished as soon as possible.

Social implications

The results of the NTRM were partly adopted by the 11th science and technology plan of China. Through the progress of NTRM, agreements concerning the key technologies and their development roadmaps were made. Both the NTRM and its compiling process provide important reference points for scientific and technological managers, scientists, and entrepreneurs, because they will help to make better decisions and contribute greatly to the research and development of the technologies.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt in China to make a NTRM. Results from the large‐scale Delphi investigations were taken as the basis for the roadmapping. The model of “national needs‐strategic tasks‐key technologies‐development priorities” was promoted and the technology roadmapping at a national level was conducted successfully.
Catching‐up through staged development and innovation
Authors: Fan Peilei
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework of staged development that examines strategies of domestic companies, government policies, and impacts of foreign multinational companies (MNCs) at different periods of catch‐up of latecomers.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐case approach is employed to examine four domestic telecom‐equipment companies that have significant impact on China's telecom‐equipment industry. They are: Huawei Technology Corporation (Huawei), Shenzhen Zhongxin Technology Corporation (ZTE), Datang Telecom Technology Corporation, Ltd (Datang), and Great Dragon Information Technology (GDT).

Findings

This paper identifies four distinct stages of the catching‐up process, featuring different institutional environment, government involvement, and the ensuing actions of foreign MNCs and domestic companies. During the initial stage, China's government decision of directly leapfrogging to the most advanced switch equipment had a profound impact, because it led to both heavy reliance on foreign MNCs and the pursuance of switch research and development (R&D) by domestic research institutes and new technology companies. The dominance of foreign MNCs is challenged during the growth stage, because several domestic companies ascended and gained the capability to produce large‐scale, stored program controls and the government directly leveraged support in R&D, marketing, and finance. Although many uncompetitive domestic companies failed during the filtration stage, the management training received from foreign MNCs and newly available financing options provided necessary resources for some domestic companies to survive and expand. Domestic leaders globalized their marketing, production, and R&D functions and to become MNCs themselves in the globalization stage, thus finalizing the catching‐up.

Social implications

The Chinese experiences shed light on late‐industrialization for other developing economies by suggesting that to catch‐up in high‐tech industries, government can become involved strategically to form a competitive and efficient market environment for innovation.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a new conceptual framework to analyze catching‐up of domestic companies as latecomers. This framework can be used to study catching‐up in other sectors in late‐industrializing countries.
Introduction to management controls and new organisational forms
Authors: Tsamenyi Mathew , Cullen John
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper sets out to introduce the special issue on management controls and new organisational forms. It summarises and reflects on themes and findings raised in the papers in the issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings reported in the paper are based on desk research and review of the papers contained in the issue.

Findings

The paper finds that management control systems can perform various coordinating and governance roles in managing new organisational forms. However, management control systems designers must be aware of the complexities of these new organisational arrangements.

Originality/value

The paper is a summary of studies exploring the roles of management controls in new organisational forms. The issues addressed in these studies are important in furthering our understanding of the changing roles of management control systems.
An exploration of the use of interfirm cooperation and the financial manager's governance roles
Authors: Ding Rong , Dekker Henri C. , Groot Tom L.C.M.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purposes of this paper are to provide first a detailed description of the use of interfirm cooperation by a large sample of Dutch firms of different sizes and from different industries, and second, to examine the governance role of financial managers in the management of cooperative arrangements.

Design/methodology/approach

Research questions are developed based on a review of previous literature and data were collected using a questionnaire administered to a large sample of Dutch firms.

Findings

The paper finds that the sample firms are generally well engaged in various types of interfirm cooperation, in particular in outsourcing arrangements and joint ventures. In addition, larger firms are on average involved in more types of cooperation than smaller firms are, and different cooperative activities and forms are frequently used in combination. On average, financial managers report to be actively involved in the management of interfirm cooperation, which ranges from monitoring yearly results, providing advice, supervising performance, to managing daily operations of the cooperation. In this management role, they mostly use frequent detailed financial and non‐financial performance information, which often not only relates to their own firm, but also to the partner firm.

Practical implications

This research provides evidence of the extensive use of interfirm cooperation in practice and identifies an important governance role of financial managers in the management of interfirm cooperation. An analysis of differences in this role across different types of cooperation and functional levels of financial managers is provided.

Originality/value

The findings provide new insights into firms' use of a broad range of interfirm cooperative activities and into the governance role financial managers in these activities. Consistent with prior studies that document an increasing propensity of firms to engage in cooperative arrangements, the results support that interfirm cooperation constitutes an important area for research in accounting. This paper provides several suggestions for future research aimed at improving researchers' and practitioners' understanding of the management of interfirm cooperation.
Partner selection, partner behavior, and business network performance
Authors: Moeller Klaus
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Business networks have to coordinate each of their partners' goals and expectations, as a lack of partner compatibility and goal incongruence could lead to conflict and opportunistic behavior. These potential problems highlight the relevance of partner selection as a means of minimizing opportunistic behavior by building trust in and commitment to a network that influences network performance. The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into partner selection as a management control mechanism, which controls the behavior and network performance of business network partners.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an analysis of the effects of a well‐executed partner selection on business networks' performance. The paper further analyzes the effects of the mediating role of trust within, commitment to, and the risk of opportunistic behavior in business networks. Consequently, the paper highlights the pivotal role of partner selection in business networks as a management control mechanism.

Findings

The results provide an exploratory empirical insights into the cause‐and‐effect relationship between partner selection, partners' behavior, and network performance. Partner selection has effects on trust, opportunism, and commitment. The selection of a partner is a very important managerial control task within business networks, as appropriate selection is a threshold condition for a successful business network.

Research limitations/implications

Since the study is based on empirical data collected by individuals, it could be open to general criticism regarding the methodology of broad empirical analysis. Time‐lagging effects also remain unrevealed as the data represent only a point in time. Some effects cannot be verified indisputably, while the low variance in some of the construct results is only indicative of suggestions.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights into partner selection as a management control mechanism, which controls the behavior and network performance of business network partners.
Exploring the involvement of management accounting in strategic decisions and control
Authors: Brandau Michael , Hoffjan Andreas H.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The paper seeks to explore the extent of involvement of management accounting in strategic inter‐organizational decisions and control in the context of offshoring of services.

Design/methodology/approach

For the present study, a multiple case study field research design was selected. A data‐bank media search identified companies actually offshoring their services. In total, 17 semi‐structured interviews with management accountants/managers were conducted in 14 of the identified companies. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis techniques.

Findings

Management accounting is involved in offshoring activities to a much lower extent than expected. The reasons range from contractual agreements between the different parties, which substitute in part for management accounting interventions, to competence problems in accounting departments. Therefore, management accounting often fails to provide support for strategic planning and coordination.

Research limitations/implications

The data obtained through the qualitative research approach have a low‐scaling level, which limits subsequent analysis to descriptive statistics only.

Practical implications

The paper identifies risks and actual problems associated with offshoring, which indicate an increased need for coordinated planning and information processing. Furthermore, it raises the question of how management accounting can overcome existing competence problems with respect to the support of strategic decision making, in order to fulfil its function within the company more efficiently.

Originality/value

Literature does not provide convincing evidence of the practical significance of management accounting in the context of strategic decisions and inter‐organizational relations. This paper shows that management accounting currently remains far removed from its function as a developer of strategic decisions and as a support function for corporate planning and coordination processes.
Management accounting in a learning environment
Authors: Schiller Stefan
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings of a study designed to understand how management accounting changes when an organization evolves in a more network‐oriented direction, informed by an experiential or integrated approach to learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on a longitudinal case study initiated by the findings from a previous action research study at a manufacturing plant, the Volvo Floby factory.

Findings

By introducing and elaborating on the concept of local management accounting system (LMAS), this paper contributes to the debate about how management accounting reacts to new organizational forms and technologies. Two types of management accounting information are identified: one corresponds to the accountability aspect of accounting – Type 1 information, while Type 2 information refers to problem solving and control. A LMAS is supportive of both local accountability, which draws on valuing skills, and of local problem solving, which relies on decision skills.

Research limitations/implications

One of the research implications of this study is that a LMAS may function as an important mechanism for innovation by explicitly integrating the holistic and the analytic dimensions of experiential learning.

Practical implications

The reported case illustrates how management accounting may facilitate process innovation in a practical setting.

Originality/value

By adopting an experiential learning methodology to develop new knowledge, the production plant studied has succeeded in creating an environment characterized by continuous innovation.
Management controls and inter‐firm relationships: a review
Authors: Meira Juliana , Kartalis Nikos D. , Tsamenyi Mathew , Cullen John
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Inter‐firm relationships are increasingly being adopted as competitive tools. However, the challenges created by these relationships for the design and use of management control systems (MCS) have been well documented. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature on MCS and inter‐firm relationships. The review examines the types of relationships studied and the theoretical approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings reported in the paper are based on desk research. The review is largely concentrated on the key international English language accounting journals.

Findings

Supply chain and outsourcing have been the dominant forms of inter‐firm relationships studied. Other studies have focused on joint ventures and networks. Transaction cost economics has been the dominant approach and trust has also featured as a theoretical issue in most of the studies.

Originality/value

The paper furthers the understanding of the contributions made by previous studies on MCS and inter‐firm relationships. Some suggestions for future research are offered at the end.
TGF‐β1 signal pathway may contribute to rhabdomyosarcoma development by inhibiting differentiation
Authors: Wang Shouli , Guo Lingchuan , Dong Liang , Guo Lingling , Li Shigang , Zhang Jiajia , Sun Maomin
Published: March 2010

Overexpression of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and its downstream molecules in the rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) RD cell line has been reported previously, but the regulatory role of TGF‐β1 on RMS has not been studied extensively. In the present study, we showed that expression of TGF‐β1 and its downstream molecules type II TGF‐β receptor (TβRII) and Smad4 was significantly higher in RMS than in normal skeletal muscle, and there was a significant relationship between TGF‐β1 expression and histological grade. Gene silencing with TGF‐β1 short‐hairpin RNA (shRNA)‐expressing vectors significantly decreased the growth of RD cells, which was confirmed by caspase‐3 (in vitro) and TUNEL (in vivo) assays. Moreover, a proportion of treated rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells changed to a round shape from the normal fusiform or polygonal shape and expressed myofilaments. Myogenin is one of the myogenic differentiation genes (MyoD) family of myogenic regulators, and was obviously higher in TGF‐β1‐shRNA‐treated tumors than it in control at the mRNA and protein level. Immunohistochemical staining with myogenic differentiation markers such as myosin and desmin in subcutaneous RMS tissue showed that TGF‐β1 shRNA increased staining for myosin. These results provide new insight into the biological function of TGF‐β1 in malignant tumors, and imply that the TGF‐β1 signal pathway is a potential therapeutic target for drugs that induce differentiation of RMS.

(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 1108–1116)
Transcription factor Sp1 regulates expression of cancer‐associated molecule CD147 in human lung cancer
Authors: Kong Ling‐Min , Liao Cheng‐Gong , Fei Fei , Guo Xu , Xing Jin‐Liang , Chen Zhi‐Nan
Published: March 2010

CD147 is a novel cancer‐associated biomarker that plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of human lung cancer. In spite of its many known functions, little is known about CD147 transcriptional regulation. In this study, we explored the regulation of CD147 in human lung cancer tissues. Over 60% of the human lung cancer tissues expressed differential high levels of CD147. We then cloned the 5′‐flanking region of the human CD147 gene and identified a critical promoter region at −108 to –42 which contained one binding site for Sp1, which was essential in up‐regulating CD147 promoter activity. These results were proven by blocking Sp1 using RNAi or mithramycin A treatment and up‐regulating Sp1 using transfection with eukaryotic expression vector. Consistent with the CD147 transcription activation, a high level of Sp1 expression was detected in lung cancer cell lines overexpressing CD147. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that much more Sp1 could bind to the CD147 promoter in 95‐D with CD147 high expression than in SK‐MES‐1 with CD147 low expression. There was a significant positive correlation between CD147 expression and Sp1 expression level detected by immunohistochemistry (r = 0.831). Collectively, our results suggest that Sp1 is essential for regulating the CD147 gene expression in human lung cancer. (Cancer Sci 2010)
Central nervous system involvement in intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma: A retrospective analysis of 109 patients
Authors: Shimada Kazuyuki , Murase Takuhei , Matsue Kosei , Okamoto Masataka , Ichikawa Naoaki , Tsukamoto Norifumi , Niitsu Nozomi , Miwa Hiroshi , Asaoku Hideki , Kosugi Hiroshi , Kikuchi Ako , Matsumoto Morio , Saburi Yoshio , Masaki Yasufumi , Yamamoto Kazuhito , Yamaguchi Motoko , Nakamura Shigeo , Naoe Tomoki , Kinoshita Tomohiro ,   for the IVL Study Group in Japan
Published: March 2010

Intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare disease entity with a high incidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement at diagnosis. To evaluate CNS involvement, particularly recurrence including progression on therapy and relapse of IVLBCL, we retrospectively analyzed 109 patients with IVLBCL receiving chemotherapies with or without rituximab. In 82 patients (75%) without CNS involvement at initial diagnosis, risk of CNS recurrence at 3 years was 25% with a median follow‐up in survivors of 39 months (range, 2–158 months). In 27 patients (25%) with CNS involvement at initial diagnosis, risk of CNS recurrence at 1 year was 25% with a median follow‐up in survivors of 18 months (range, 10–77 months). Duration from diagnosis to CNS recurrence tended to be short in patients with CNS involvement at diagnosis. No significant difference in risk of CNS recurrence was found between patients receiving chemotherapies with or without rituximab. On multivariate analysis skin involvement at initial diagnosis was identified as a predictive factor for CNS recurrence in patients without CNS involvement at diagnosis (hazard ratio, 5.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–17.4; P = 0.007). Survival rate after CNS recurrence at 2 years was 12% in patients without CNS involvement at diagnosis. Central nervous system recurrence is a serious complication in IVLBCL patients and optimal strategies for CNS involvement should be established to obtain further improvements to clinical outcomes in the rituximab era. (Cancer Sci 2010)
Azathioprine or mercaptopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis is not a disease‐specific phenomenon
Authors: VAN GEENEN E. J. M. , DE BOER N. K. H. , STASSEN P. , LINSKENS R. K. , BRUNO M. J. , MULDER C. J. J. , STEGEMAN C. A. , VAN BODEGRAVEN A. A.
Published: March 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 1322–1329

Background  Several reports suggest an increased rate of adverse reactions to azathioprine in patients with Crohn’s disease.

Aim  To compare the incidence of thiopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with that in patients with vasculitis.

Methods  This retrospective analysis was performed using data collected in three databases by two university hospitals (241 patients with IBD and 108 patients with vasculitis) and one general district hospital (72 patients with IBD).

Results  The cumulative incidence of thiopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis in Crohn’s disease equalled that of ulcerative colitis (UC) (2.6% vs. 3.7%) and this did not differ from vasculitis patients (2.6% vs.1.9%). In addition, the cumulative incidence of thiopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis in UC patients was not different from that in vasculitis patients. In the IBD group, 100% of thiopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis patients were women, whereas in the vasculitis group the two observed thiopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis cases (n = 2 of 2) concerned were men (P = 0.012).

Conclusions  In this study, the alleged higher cumulative incidence of thiopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis in Crohn’s disease compared with vasculitis or UC patients was not confirmed. Female gender appears to be a risk factor for developing thiopurine‐induced acute pancreatitis in IBD patients.
New technologies in nerve location
Authors: Bedforth N. M.
Published: March 2010

Regional anaesthesia is undergoing a renaissance, perhaps assisted by the introduction of (and enthusiasm for) ultrasound‐guided regional anaesthesia into clinical practice. This article summarises the technology and principles of ultrasound imaging in anaesthesia and describes the development of three‐dimensional ultrasound imaging, considering whether this new technology has an application in regional anaesthesia.
Second malignancies in B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: possible association with human papilloma virus
Authors: Flynn Joseph M. , Andritsos Leslie , Lucas David , Byrd John C.
Published: March 2010

Second primary malignancies have long been associated with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We assessed secondary tumour samples from CLL and control patients for the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV). 132 CLL patients with 44 second malignancies were compared to a matched randomly‐identified control population of 264 non‐CLL patients with 54 solid malignancies. Polymerase chain reaction was performed with the highly conserved MY09/MY11 HPV primer. None of control samples were HPV‐positive, while 53% of samples from the CLL group were positive. This report describes preliminary evidence for the presence of HPV in secondary malignancies, in patients with CLL.
Plant survival in relation to seed size along environmental gradients: a long‐term study from semi‐arid and Mediterranean annual plant communities
Authors: Metz Johannes , Liancourt Pierre , Kigel Jaime , Harel Danny , Sternberg Marcelo , Tielbörger Katja
Published: March 2010

1. A positive relationship between seed size and subsequent offspring survival is a key assumption in ecological theory concerning life‐history strategies. Yet, this relationship is uncertain in respect to lifetime survival because sound evidence only exists for early seedling stages. Furthermore, the effect of environmental variation in space and time, and of contrasting plant functional groups, on this relationship has been scarcely examined.

2. Here, we investigated survival and between‐year variation therein. We tested for both whether their relationship to seed size (i) is maintained up until reproduction, (ii) changes along environmental gradients and (iii) differs between functional groups (grasses, legumes, forbs).

3. Survival was monitored from established seedlings to reproductive plants in 49 annual species under natural conditions during 7 years in three sites along a steep rainfall gradient. We then related average survival per species and between‐year variation in survival to seed size, site along the gradient and functional group.

4. Larger seed size was associated with higher survival and lower between‐year variation. Across the rainfall gradient, we detected no difference in the seed size–survival relationships; however, variation between years was lowest in the most mesic site where no relationship for between‐year variation with seed size was observed. Legumes showed lower survival and higher between‐year variation than grasses.

5. Our findings indicate that larger seed size provides survival advantages beyond seedling establishment up until reproduction among annual species. Larger seed size also provides a bet‐hedging strategy in temporally unpredictable environments. Increased abiotic favourability along environmental gradients may have little effect on survival rates but reduces survival variation between years and thus reduces the bet‐hedging benefit of larger seed size. We suggest that the contrasting response of legumes and grasses may partly result from their disparity in seed dormancy.

6. Synthesis. Current plant life‐history theory can be refined by accounting for both benefits of larger seed size, higher survival rates and bet‐hedging. Studies along environmental gradients are needed to generalize findings across ecosystems and to predict patterns of plant traits and plant performance under changing environmental conditions.
Resident functional composition mediates the impacts of nutrient enrichment and neighbour removal on plant immigration rates
Authors: Eskelinen Anu
Published: March 2010

1. Theory suggests that herbivory, soil fertility and neighbourhood interactions interactively determine rates of species extinction and immigration in plant communities. Initial community properties and environmental conditions may also exert a profound influence on community responses to external alterations, yet only a few attempts have been made to elucidate their role in assemblage dynamics.

2. I conducted a seed sowing experiment in northern European mountain tundra to investigate the roles of biotic and environmental constraints on plant immigration, and the dependence of these relationships on inherent community properties. I factorially manipulated the presence of grazers and neighbouring established vegetation, soil nutrient availability and pH, and replicated these treatments on five acidic and five non‐acidic sites that showed contrasting patterns of inherent community properties and environmental conditions, i.e. community composition, evenness and soil nutrient availability. A seed mixture of 16 species was added to all experimental plots, and the establishment of seedlings was followed for 4 years.

3. Exclusion of mammalian herbivores had no significant impact on plant colonization rates nor did it interact with any other treatments. However, colonization rates were negatively influenced by fertilization and positively affected by the removal of neighbouring established vegetation, and biomass removal counteracted the negative effects of nutrient enrichment. The effects of fertilization and biomass removal on seedling recruitment were both greater in the non‐acidic habitats; the among‐habitat differences were associated with initial nutrient availability and forb : shrub ratio of vegetation, but were independent of community evenness.

4. Fertilization effects on colonization became increasingly negative with increasing prevalence of forbs which may be explained by the greater biomass increment potential of forbs under conditions of nutrient enrichment. Biomass removal enhanced colonization rates to a smaller extent in high shrub dominance where the overall recruitment was lowest, suggesting that dominant shrubs can create an interference effect that impedes seed germination and persists even after the removal of the dominant vegetation itself.

5. Synthesis. These results highlight the role of initial community properties, i.e. the potential for biomass increment of the resident species and the traits of the dominant plant groups as important mediators of biotic and environmental alterations on plant immigration rates.
Pixel‐based analysis of FRAP data with a general initial bleaching profile
Authors: JONASSON J.K. , HAGMAN J. , LORÉN N. , BERNIN D. , NYDÉN M. , RUDEMO M.
Published: March 2010

In Jonasson et al. (2008), we presented a new pixel‐based maximum likelihood framework for the estimation of diffusion coefficients from data on fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The main method there, called the Gaussian profile method below, is based on the assumption that the initial intensity profile after photobleaching is approximately Gaussian. In the present paper, we introduce a method, called the Monotone profile method, where the maximum likelihood framework is extended to a general initial bleaching profile only assuming that the profile is a non‐decreasing function of the distance to the bleaching centre. The statistical distribution of the image noise is further assumed to be Poisson instead of normal, which should be a more realistic description of the noise in the detector. The new Monotone profile method and the Gaussian profile method are applied to FRAP data on swelling of super absorbent polymers (SAP) in water with a Fluorescein probe. The initial bleaching profile is close to a step function at low degrees of swelling and close to a Gaussian profile at high degrees of swelling. The results obtained from the analysis of the FRAP data are corroborated with NMR diffusometry analysis of SAP with a polyethylene glycol probe having size similar to the Fluorescein. The comparison of the Gaussian and Monotone profile methods is also performed by use of simulated data. It is found that the new Monotone profile method is accurate for all types of initial profiles studied, but it suffers from being computationally slow. The fast Gaussian profile method is sufficiently accurate for most of the profiles studied, but underestimates the diffusion coefficient for profiles close to a step function. We also provide a diagnostic plot, which indicates whether the Gaussian profile method is acceptable or not.
Stress Response of Prolactin‐Releasing Peptide Knockout Mice as to Glucocorticoid Secretion
Authors: Mochiduki A. , Takeda T. , Kaga S. , Inoue K.
Published: March 2010

Prolactin‐releasing peptide (PrRP) is known to have functions in prolactin secretion, stress responses, cardiovascular regulation and food intake suppression. In addition, PrRP‐knockout (KO) male mice show obesity from the age of 22 weeks and increase their food intake. The plasma concentrations of insulin, leptin, cholesterol and triglyceride are also increased in obese PrRP‐KO mice. Fatty liver, hypertrophied white adipose tissue, decreased uncoupling protein 1 mRNA expression in brown adipose tissue and glucose intolerance were observed in obese PrRP‐KO mice. As we reported previously, PrRP stimulates corticotrophin‐releasing factor and regulates the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. Therefore, it is speculated that PrRP regulates both food intake and metabolism as a stress responses. In the present study, we compared blood glucose and plasma glucocorticoid concentrations in PrRP‐KO mice, and found that PrRP‐KO mice showed higher concentrations of blood glucose and corticosterone compared to wild‐type mice after restraint stress. By contrast, there were no difference in c‐Fos expression in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations between the two groups. These results suggest that the different stress responses as to glucocorticoid secretion may be induced by different responses of the adrenal glands between wild‐type and PrRP‐KO mice. Thus, we conclude that PrRP‐KO mice become obese as a result of increased food intake, a change in metabolism, and abnormal stress responses as to glucose concentration and glucocorticoid secretion.
Hepatic‐Portal Vein Infusions of Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1 Reduce Meal Size and Increase c‐Fos Expression in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarii, Area Postrema and Central Nucleus of the Amygdala in Rats
Authors: Baumgartner I. , Pacheco‐López G. , Rüttimann E. B. , Arnold M. , Asarian L . , Langhans W. , Geary N. , Hillebrand J. J. G.
Published: March 2010

We recently reported that brief, remotely controlled intrameal hepatic‐portal vein infusions of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) reduced spontaneous meal size in rats. To investigate the neurobehavioural correlates of this effect, we equipped male Sprague‐Dawley rats with hepatic‐portal vein catheters and assessed (i) the effect on eating of remotely triggered infusions of GLP‐1 (1 nmol/kg, 5 min) or vehicle during the first nocturnal meal after 3 h of food deprivation and (ii) the effect of identical infusions performed at dark onset on c‐Fos expression in several brain areas involved in the control of eating. GLP‐1 reduced (P < 0.05) the size of the first nocturnal meal and increased its satiety ratio. Also, GLP‐1 increased (P < 0.05) the number of c‐Fos‐expressing cells in the nucleus tractus solitarii, the area postrema and the central nucleus of the amygdala, but not in the arcuate or paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei. These data suggest that the nucleus tractus solitarii, the area postrema and the central nucleus of the amygdala play a role in the eating‐inhibitory actions of GLP‐1 infused into the hepatic‐portal vein; it remains to be established whether activation of these brain nuclei reflect satiation, aversion, or both.
The Adaptive Brain: Glenn Hatton and the Supraoptic Nucleus
Authors: Leng G. , Moos F. C. , Armstrong W. E.
Published: March 2010

In December 2009, Glenn Hatton died, and neuroendocrinology lost a pioneer who had done much to forge our present understanding of the hypothalamus and whose productivity had not faded with the passing years. Glenn, an expert in both functional morphology and electrophysiology, was driven by a will to understand the significance of his observations in the context of the living, behaving organism. He also had the wit to generate bold and challenging hypotheses, the wherewithal to expose them to critical and elegant experimental testing, and a way with words that gave his papers and lectures clarity and eloquence. The hypothalamo‐neurohypophysial system offered a host of opportunities for understanding how physiological functions are fulfilled by the electrical activity of neurones, how neuronal behaviour changes with changing physiological states, and how morphological changes contribute to the physiological response. In the vision that Glenn developed over 35 years, the neuroendocrine brain is as dynamic in structure as it is adaptable in function. Its adaptability is reflected not only by mere synaptic plasticity, but also by changes in neuronal morphology and in the morphology of the glial cells. Astrocytes, in Glenn’s view, were intimate partners of the neurones, partners with an essential role in adaptation to changing physiological demands.
Environmentally induced phenotypes and DNA methylation: how to deal with unpredictable conditions until the next generation and after
Authors: ANGERS BERNARD , CASTONGUAY EMILIE , MASSICOTTE RACHEL
Published: March 2010

Organisms often respond to environmental changes by producing alternative phenotypes. Epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation may contribute to environmentally induced phenotypic variation by modifying gene expression. Changes in DNA methylation, unlike DNA mutations, can be influenced by the environment; they are stable at the time scale of an individual and present different levels of heritability. These characteristics make DNA methylation a potentially important molecular process to respond to environmental change. The aim of this review is to present the implications of DNA methylation on phenotypic variations driven by environmental changes. More specifically, we explore epigenetic concepts concerning phenotypic change in response to the environment and heritability of DNA methylation, namely the Baldwin effect and genetic accommodation. Before addressing this point, we report major differences in DNA methylation across taxa and the role of this modification in producing and maintaining environmentally induced phenotypic variation. We also present the different methods allowing the detection of methylation polymorphism. We believe this review will be helpful to molecular ecologists, in that it highlights the importance of epigenetic processes in ecological and evolutionary studies.
A case of intravenous leiomyomatosis with high levels of hyaluronan
Authors: Yaguchi Chizuko , Oi Hidekazu , Kobayashi Hiroshi , Miura Katsutoshi , Kanayama Naohiro
Published: March 2010

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a rare benign tumor. The clinical behavior can be life‐threatening due to extension through the pelvic veins. A 70‐year‐old woman was referred to our hospital with IVL originating from a uterine leiomyoma and extending to the inferior vena cava. The patient was diagnosed on the basis of the results of various studies, and the tumor was resected completely through a single‐stage approach. The intravascular tumor was 20 cm long, multinodular and rubbery. Microscopic findings showed benign smooth muscle that was partly hyalinized and fibrous. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that hyaluronan was expressed more prominently in IVL than in uterine leiomyomas. IVL has viscoelastic properties and contains a large amount of hyaluronan, which may promote invasion during pathogenesis.