bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feminism, legal reform and women's empowerment in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Moghadam Valentine M.
Published: January 2009

The issue of women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has gained prominence in research studies, policy debates and feminist activism. Area experts contend that for women to play a larger role in the economy and society is vital to the region's progress. But women in MENA still face gender discrimination that prevents them from reaching their potential, despite impressive gains in education and health. To varying degrees across MENA countries, discrimination against women is built into cultural attitudes, government policies and legal frameworks. The region's family laws codify discrimination against women and girls, placing them in a position subordinate to men in the family – a position that is then replicated in the economy and society. I briefly discuss recent trends in women's activism and family law reform in the MENA region, with a spotlight on Morocco, which adopted an entirely new family law in early 2004. The new Moroccan law drew on international standards and norms on women's and children's rights, the imperatives of national development and Islam's spirit of justice and equality. That a feminist campaign succeeded in altering family law in a MENA country, where laws are based on Sharia, or Islamic law, shows that effective coalitions can be built in MENA countries by linking social and economic development to women's rights. The Moroccan case demonstrates the links among research, activism and policy.
The social impact of research at the University for Peace
Authors: Rodríguez Dina
Published: January 2009

The University for Peace (UPEACE) was established in 1980 within the UN framework, with the mission to undertake postgraduate education, training and research on issues related to conflict prevention, security and peace. The Department for Gender and Peace Studies at UPEACE is motivated by the idea that peace, gender equality and gender equity are inextricably linked. Through gender mainstreaming, the Department aims to inspire decision‐makers to use a gender perspective as an instrument of analysis to avoid gender‐based discrimination, injustice and inequality and to take advantage of the particular qualities that men and women possess when working to prevent violence, transform conflicts or influence post‐conflict environments.
Social justice and gender rights
Authors: Di Marco Graciela
Published: January 2009

Drawing on my recent academic work on democratisation, gender rights and social movements, and on my public role in social policy debates, I present some reflections on setting up social policies, particularly those that have come to be known as gender policies. In doing so, I draw attention to social justice as a basic principle of social policies, and to the gap between the legal and formal aspects of gender rights and their realisation. With respect to democratisation, citizenship and human rights, reflect on the language of needs, translated into rights wielded by the different social movements in Argentina, that have put new issues and problems on the public agenda, and have thus contributed to changing the socio‐political discourse. The rights‐based discourse of social movements has also encompassed poverty and unemployment, which were an issue in the social policy discourses of the 1990s. However, unlike discourses rooted in assistance strategies, current discourses address an increasing politicisation of the realm of production and social reproduction. They include the acknowledgement of differences, the search for dignity, the criticism of existing power relations and the construction of interdependence between actors and organisations. I suggest that there is a new historical moment in women's movements that may contribute to the consolidation of popular feminism in Argentina, together with an alliance among women from different social, urban and rural sectors.
Foucault in Africa: the microphysics of a contemporary monarchy
Authors: Warnier Jean‐Pierre
Published: January 2009

The Mankon kingdom is located in the mountains of western Cameroon (the Grassfields). Although like many other African kingdoms it has since the 1980s been experiencing a revitalisation, the king is fully aware of all of the practices that have structured life in the kingdom for at least the past three centuries. His body contains substances that have been transformed into ancestral substances of life during offerings to his deceased ancestors, which he distributes to the entire kingdom. He thus embodies a pot‐king, a receptacle of the kingdom's life substances. The sensorimotor conduct and the material culture implemented by the monarch and his subjects lend themselves to a Foucauldian analysis in terms of subjectivising governmentality. The work of Foucault, formulated in the west, proves to be extremely relevant in shedding light on the microphysics of power in this kingdom. It also suggests the possibility of new comparative studies of such practices, which are hardly verbalised, and which constitute the essential aspects of devices of subjection and subjectivisation.
Ethical reasoning and justification in international relations
Authors: Colonomos Ariel
Published: January 2009

Foucauldian notions, such as the critique of governmental reason, the regime of truth, and juridification, are enlightening for comprehending the phenomenon of justification in international relations. My use of Foucault is intended to be non‐relativistic. These notions shed light on a process of justification based on a utilitarian reason of consequences, which is today very significant in international affairs. In this article I attempt to reconcile a genealogical approach with an abstract philosophical approach that sets the limits of one kind of ethical reason.
Population‐level declines in Australian predators caused by an invasive species
Authors: Doody J. S. , Green B. , Rhind D. , Castellano C. M. , Sims R. , Robinson T.
Published: January 2009

The cane toad Bufo marinus has been migrating westward across northern Australia since its introduction as a biological control agent in 1935. It has been implicated in the widespread decline of many native frog‐eating predators. To investigate the impacts of this invasive species on native predatory reptiles, annual surveys were conducted from 2001 to 2007 to document variation in the relative abundances of three varanid lizards (Varanus mertensi, Varanus mitchelli and Varanus panoptes) and one crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni species known to consume toads. In addition, the indirect effects of this variation on one agamid lizard Amphibolurus gilberti, a known prey item of V. panoptes, were also examined. Surveys were performed at two sites in northern Australia before and after the arrival of B. marinus. Significant declines in the relative abundances of all three species of varanid lizard were observed following toad arrival. Declines in the abundance of V. panoptes, V. mitchelli and V. mertensi at the two sites ranged 83–96, 71–97 and 87–93%, respectively. In contrast, A. gilberti increased by 23–26%; whereas there were no significant population‐level declines in C. johnstoni despite observations of individual effects (i.e. several dead crocodiles with B. marinus in their stomachs). These findings suggest population‐level changes in Australian lizards caused by an invasive species.
Inbreeding–environment interactions increase extinction risk
Authors: Liao W. , Reed D. H.
Published: January 2009

Being able to accurately estimate the persistence time of populations of endangered plants and animals is central to conservation biology and is of considerable importance in informing land‐use decisions. Genetic deterioration (due to inbreeding and random genetic drift) and environmental deterioration (e.g. climate change, pollution and introduced species) clearly contribute to population extinction, however, considerable recent evidence suggests that interactions between genetic deterioration and environmental stress are ubiquitous. The importance of these interactions for potentially reducing persistence times has not been quantified and has not been taken into account by major conservation organizations. Using a computer simulation, we determined that including reasonable estimates of the inbreeding–environment interaction reduces persistence times by 17.5–28.5% (mean=23%) for a wide range of carrying capacities, assumptions concerning the number of lethal equivalents and different regimes for the frequency and magnitude of the stressful environment. We note that the proportional decrease in persistence time with inclusion of the interactions becomes larger (i.e. the interaction becomes more important) as absolute time to extinction gets larger. Thus, inclusion of the interaction is important and surprisingly may be most needed when populations are of intermediate size and are considered relatively safe from environmental and genetic stresses acting independently.
Intra‐seasonal changes in distribution and habitat associations of a multi‐brooded bird species: implications for conservation planning
Authors: Brambilla M. , Rubolini D.
Published: January 2009

Intra‐seasonal changes of the ecological needs and the distribution patterns of multi‐brooded bird species are a poorly studied but potentially important topic in avian conservation planning. In this study of a passerine species of conservation concern, the woodlark Lullula arborea, we highlight the conservation implications of spatial shifts of breeding territories and changes of habitat requirements during the course of the breeding season. We described the factors affecting the distribution and habitat selection of this species in the Trebbia river valley (northern Apennines, Italy), where we mapped woodlark territories during the average time of first and second clutches. A strong shift of territories towards higher altitudes with the progression of the season was observed. The habitat models predicting woodlark occurrence varied between the early and the late period. Specifically, fodder cover positively predicted occurrence early in the season, whereas late in the season occurrence was positively influenced by shrub cover, length of woodland edge, alfalfa cover and rocky areas. Accordingly, territories that were occupied throughout the entire season had greater fodder, shrub and rocky cover compared with those that were occupied only early in the season, suggesting that these variables were important in determining territory quality for woodlarks. Therefore, changing ecological needs of multi‐brooded bird species during the breeding season have to be taken into account for defining appropriate conservation strategies. This was demonstrated by showing that the habitat variables predicting woodlark occurrence early in the season poorly predicted occurrence late in the season and vice versa. In conclusion, this study provides the first detailed assessment of habitat factors affecting the occurrence of breeding woodlarks in an important portion of the species' range, and represents the first explicit attempt to model seasonally changing ecological requirements of bird species for conservation purposes. Our findings suggest that complex data and flexible habitat management strategies are required to account for temporal changes in habitat suitability in multi‐brooded bird species.
A Gendered Approach to Adolescent Dating Violence: Conceptual and Methodological Issues
Authors: White Jacquelyn W.
Published: January 2009

This article argues that adolescent dating violence should be considered within a social ecological model that embeds the individual within the context of adolescent friendships and romantic relationships, as well as family and other social institutions that shape a young person's sense of self. Two additions to the model are recommended. First, gender is considered in the model at the individual, interactional and structural levels. Second, identity is treated as a metaconstruct, affecting and being affected by all levels of the social ecology. Examples from research are presented and recommendations for future research are offered.
Child Maltreatment, Bullying, Gender-Based Harassment, and Adolescent Dating Violence: Making the Connections
Authors: Wolfe David A. , Crooks Claire C. , Chiodo Debbie , Jaffe Peter
Published: January 2009

Learning to relate to others begins at birth and carries forward to new relationships, which is why child maltreatment and exposure to intimate partner violence have emerged as powerful risk factors for future coercive and hostile relationship patterns. Although not inevitable, it is more likely that children who are victims of maltreatment will carry forward these behavior patterns into adolescence and adulthood, thus perpetuating bullying and harassment with peers and dating partners. We examine the importance of relationships in understanding how abusive patterns of relating to others are shaped throughout childhood and adolescence and how they can be prevented. While early relationships are very important, they are not deterministic; there are ample opportunities for corrective experiences to offset negative early experiences.
PTSD Symptoms and Self-Rated Recovery Among Adult Sexual Assault Survivors: The Effects of Traumatic Life Events and Psychosocial Variables
Authors: Najdowski Cynthia J. , Ullman Sarah E.
Published: January 2009

Prior research has demonstrated that self-blame is predictive of more posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and poorer recovery ( Frazier, 2003 ; Koss, Figueredo, & Prince, 2002 ), and perceived control over recovery is associated with less distress ( Frazier, 2003 ) in adult sexual assault (ASA) survivors. A structural equation model was tested to examine the role of traumatic events, self-blame, perceived control over recovery, and coping strategies on PTSD symptoms and self-rated recovery in women ASA survivors. Adaptive coping partially mediated the effects of other traumas, self-blame, and perceived control over recovery on PTSD symptoms and showed a small positive association with increased PTSD symptoms. As hypothesized, maladaptive coping partially mediated the effects of other traumas, self-blame, and perceived control over recovery on both PTSD symptoms and self-rated recovery; greater maladaptive coping was associated with increased PTSD symptoms and lower self-rated recovery. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Healing or Hurtful: Sexual Assault Survivors' Interpretations of Social Reactions from Support Providers
Authors: Ahrens Courtney E. , Cabral Giannina , Abeling Samantha
Published: January 2009

Sexual assault survivors often receive both positive and negative reactions to the disclosure of their assault. Although positive reactions are typically more common from informal support providers and negative reactions are typically more common from formal support providers, not all formal and informal support providers react the same way. To help clarify the nature of social reactions received from specific support providers, 103 female sexual assault survivors participated in interviews about their disclosure experiences. These interviews resulted in detailed descriptions of 250 disclosure interactions. Results indicated that counselors and friends engaged in the most emotional support, fairly high levels of tangible aid, and fairly low levels of most types of negative reactions. Romantic partners provided only moderate support, the lowest amount oftangible aid, and the highest amount of blame, control, and egocentric behaviors. Romantic partners also treated survivors differently more often than other support providers. Qualitative analysis of survivors' descriptions of these reactions are used to help interpret survivors' ratings of reactions as healing or hurtful.
Women's Intentions Regarding, and Acceptance of, Self-Sexualizing Behavior
Authors: Nowatzki Janet , Morry Marian M.
Published: January 2009

No known research has examined women's acceptance of self-sexualizing behaviors, which includes the use of catwalks at dance clubs, taking pole dance classes, and wearing clothing with sexually suggestive statements. Structural equation modeling assessed the links between choosing sexually objectifying media, internalized appearance ideals, and self-objectification to self-sexualizing behaviors and general acceptance of sexualizing behavior among 207 female university students. Media choice predicted one's own behavioral intentions and the acceptance of others' sexualizing behavior. Neither internalized appearance ideals nor self-objectification mediated these relations. Hyperfemininity and sexism were tested as individual difference variables predicting these variables. Hyperfemininity added to the prediction of self-sexualizing behaviors and general acceptance of sexualizing behavior, whereas sexism did not. Our results indicate that sociocultural ideals of women's sexual attractiveness predict women's intentions regarding, and acceptance of, sexualizing behavior. Self-sexualizing behavior may have negative consequences, including the lack of subjective experience of one's sexuality.
Complimentary Weightism: The Potential Costs of Appearance-Related Commentary for Women's Self-Objectification
Authors: Calogero Rachel M. , Herbozo Sylvia , Thompson J. Kevin
Published: January 2009

Little is known about the effects of receiving compliments about appearance. An ethnically diverse sample of 220 college women completed self-report measures of appearance commentary, trait self-objectification, body surveillance, and body dissatisfaction. Results indicated that the impact of appearance criticisms and compliments, but not their frequency, predicted higher body surveillance and more body dissatisfaction. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that increased body surveillance partially explained the relationship between feelings about appearance comments and body dissatisfaction and that this effect was moderated by level of trait self-objectification. Higher self-objectifying women reported higher levels of body surveillance and more body dissatisfaction regardless of whether they felt positively or negatively about the appearance comments, whereas lower self-objectifying women were less stable in their reports. Importantly, all women reported higher body surveillance and more body dissatisfaction in association with feeling good about receiving appearance compliments, which supports the idea of complimentary weightism, whereby appearance compliments represent a seemingly innocuous type of interpersonal feedback that may have detrimental consequences for women's self-objectification and body image.
Hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus and metabolic syndrome: interactions
Authors: Kotler Donald P.
Published: January 2009

Significant concerns have been raised about the metabolic effects of antiretroviral medication, including the classic triad of dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance (IR) and characteristic alterations in fat distribution (lipoatrophy and lipohypertrophy). Co‐infection with hepatitis C appears to exacerbate IR, reduce serum lipids and induce prothrombotic changes in the treated human immunodeficiency virus patient. The effects of co‐infection are complex. While combination antiretroviral therapy has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events through promotion of dyslipidaemia, IR and fat redistribution, co‐infection exacerbates IR while reducing serum lipids. Co‐infection also promotes a prothrombotic state characterized by endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation, which may enhance risk for cardiovascular disease. Consideration must be given to selection of appropriate treatment regimens and timing of therapy in co‐infected patients to minimize metabolic derangements and, ultimately, reduce cardiovascular risk.
High prevalence of occult hepatitis B in hepatitis C‐infected Egyptian children with haematological disorders and malignancies
Authors: Said Zeinab N.A. , El‐Sayed Manal H. , El‐Bishbishi Iman A. , El‐Fouhil Daad F. , Abdel‐Rheem Soad E. , El‐Abedin Maha Z. , Salama Iman I.
Published: January 2009

Objective: This study investigates the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) in children and adolescents with haematological diseases with or without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Forty‐nine children with haematological disorders (median age 11.4 years) and 51 with haematological malignancies (median age 8 years) were enrolled. Sera were tested for HCV antibodies, HCV‐RNA [nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR)], HBV markers (HBsAg, anti‐HBcAb IgM and total, HBeAg) and HBV‐DNA (nested PCR for s, c and x regions).

Results: Anti‐HCV was detected among 40/49 (81.6%) children with haematological disorders (24/49; 49% HCV‐RNA positive) and 9/51 (17.6%) children with malignancies (12/51; 23.5% HCV‐RNA positive). HBV‐DNA was positive among 38%; positive c region in 33% (15/49 and 18/51 children with haematological disorders and malignancies respectively), s region in four leukaemics and x region in one leukaemic. Twenty‐one patients had occult HBV infection; one (2.6%) was HBeAg positive, four (19%) total HBcAb positive, 20 (95.2%) c region HBV‐DNA positive and one was s region positive (1/21; 4.8%). HCV‐RNA was the significant predictor for occult HBV (P<0.05), with an increased frequency of HBV‐DNA in the HBsAg negative (HCV‐RNA positive) (63.2%) compared with patients negative for HCV‐RNA (25%) (P=0.009).

Conclusion: Occult HBV infection is not uncommon in transfused immunocompromised children with chronic HCV infection. Nucleic acid amplification should be considered in screening donors as post‐transfusion hepatitis B viraemia may be substantial.
Epilepsy after head injury: An overview
Authors: Lowenstein Daniel H.
Published: January 2009

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been recognized as a cause of epilepsy since antiquity, and it remains one of the most common and important causes of acquired epilepsy today. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a clear relationship between the severity of injury and the likelihood of developing epilepsy, with the risk approaching 50% in TBI cases associated with direct injury to brain parenchyma. Importantly, many TBI victims develop epilepsy months or years following the initial injury, making this patient population a prime target for the development of antiepileptogenesis therapies. However, progress in this area of clinical research is hindered by the lack of reliable and valid biomarkers. Given current events in the Middle East and elsewhere, the importance of TBI and epilepsy deserves special attention due to the increase in severe head trauma associated with modern warfare.
From traumatic brain injury to posttraumatic epilepsy: What animal models tell us about the process and treatment options
Authors: Pitkänen Asla , Immonen Riikka J. , Gröhn Olli H.J. , Kharatishvili Irina
Published: January 2009

A large number of animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are already available for studies on mechanisms and experimental treatments of TBI. Immediate and early seizures have been described in many of these models with focal or mixed type (both gray and white matter damage) injury. Recent long‐term video‐electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring studies have demonstrated that TBI produced by lateral fluid‐percussion injury in rats results in the development of late seizures, that is, epilepsy. These animals develop hippocampal alterations that are well described in status epilepticus–induced spontaneous seizure models and human posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). In addition, these rats have damage ipsilaterally in the cortical injury site and thalamus. Although studies in the trauma field provide a large amount of information about the molecular and cellular alterations corresponding to the immediate and early phases of PTE, chronic studies relevant to the epileptogenesis phase are sparse. Moreover, despite the multiple preclinical pharmacologic and cell therapy trials, there is no information available describing whether these therapeutic approaches aimed at improving posttraumatic recovery would also affect the development of lowered seizure threshold and epilepsy. To make progress, there is an obvious need for information exchange between the trauma and epilepsy fields. In addition, the inclusion of epilepsy as an outcome measure in preclinical trials aiming at improving somatomotor and cognitive recovery after TBI would provide valuable information about possible new avenues for antiepileptogenic interventions and disease modification after TBI.
Posttraumatic epilepsy: The challenge of translating discoveries in the laboratory to pathways to a cure
Authors: Dichter Marc A.
Published: January 2009

Translating laboratory discoveries into successful therapies for preventing epilepsy is a difficult task, but preventing epilepsy in those who are known to be at high risk needs to be one of our highest priorities. At present, we need to approach this task as a parallel set of research endeavors—one concentrating on laboratory experiments designed to learn how to prevent epilepsy after brain trauma and the other focusing on how to perform the appropriate clinical research in humans to demonstrate that whatever is discovered in the laboratory can be appropriately tested. It is too important to let the second process await conclusion of the first. Initially, we need to create a consortium of groups in trauma centers that are dedicated to antiepileptogenic studies and develop funding sources for long‐term studies. We need to experiment with clinical protocols, making the studies as cost‐effective as possible, while performing continuous data mining of outcomes and surrogate markers. The limitations of current technology to assist in antiepileptogenesis trials must be acknowledged: There is no currently available method for continuously monitoring electroencephalography (EEG) over prolonged periods, and there are no validated biomarkers for the process of epileptogenesis. As we learn more about the process of epileptogenesis and its underlying mechanisms, it is hoped that we will be able to prevent the development of epilepsy after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and after many other known epileptogenic lesions.
Sequence Variations of the Human MPDZ Gene and Association With Alcoholism in Subjects With European Ancestry
Authors: Karpyak Victor M. , Kim Jeong‐Hyun , Biernacka Joanna M. , Wieben Eric D. , Mrazek David A. , Black John L. , Choi Doo‐Sup
Published: January 2009

Background:  Mpdz gene variations are known contributors of acute alcohol withdrawal severity and seizures in mice.

Methods:  To investigate the relevance of these findings for human alcoholism, we resequenced 46 exons, exon–intron boundaries, and 2 kilobases in the 5′ region of the human MPDZ gene in 61 subjects with a history of alcohol withdrawal seizures (AWS), 59 subjects with a history of alcohol withdrawal without AWS, and 64 Coriell samples from self‐reported nonalcoholic subjects [all European American (EA) ancestry] and compared with the Mpdz sequences of 3 mouse strains with different propensity to AWS. To explore potential associations of the human MPDZ gene with alcoholism and AWS, single SNP and haplotype analyses were performed using 13 common variants.

Results:  Sixty‐seven new, mostly rare variants were discovered in the human MPDZ gene. Sequence comparison revealed that the human gene does not have variations identical to those comprising Mpdz gene haplotype associated with AWS in mice. We also found no significant association between MPDZ haplotypes and AWS in humans. However, a global test of haplotype association revealed a significant difference in haplotype frequencies between alcohol‐dependent subjects without AWS and Coriell controls (p = 0.015), suggesting a potential role of MPDZ in alcoholism and/or related phenotypes other than AWS. Haplotype‐specific tests for the most common haplotypes (frequency > 0.05), revealed a specific high‐risk haplotype (p = 0.006, maximum statistic p = 0.051), containing rs13297480G allele also found to be significantly more prevalent in alcoholics without AWS compared with nonalcoholic Coriell subjects (p = 0.019).

Conclusions:  Sequencing of MPDZ gene in individuals with EA ancestry revealed no variations in the sites identical to those associated with AWS in mice. Exploratory haplotype and single SNP association analyses suggest a possible association between the MPDZ gene and alcohol dependence but not AWS. Further functional genomic analysis of MPDZ variants and investigation of their association with a broader array of alcoholism‐related phenotypes could reveal additional genetic markers of alcoholism.
The Frailty Identity Crisis
Authors: Fillit Howard , Butler Robert N.
Published: January 2009

Frailty is a common and central problem of old age. Recent research has defined frailty as an accumulation of deficits or as a distinct clinical syndrome involving specific comorbid physical disorders and functional impairment, but the psychological aspects of frailty have received little attention. It is proposed that the onset of frailty is associated with an identity crisis, a psychological stage of adult development termed the “frailty identity crisis.” This framework could be useful to focus attention on the psychological aspects of frailty for research and clinical purposes. Early detection, management, and counseling of individuals experiencing the frailty identity crisis has implications for the health and quality of life of frail individuals, their loved ones and caregivers, and society.
Cooking Practices in the Kitchen—Observed Versus Predicted Behavior
Authors: Van Asselt Esther , Fischer Arnout , De Jong Aarieke E. I. , Nauta Maarten J. , De Jonge Rob
Published: January 2009

Cross‐contamination and undercooking are major factors responsible for campylobacteriosis and as such should be incorporated in microbiological risk assessment. A previous paper by van Asselt et al.(1) quantified cross‐contamination routes from chicken breast fillet via hand, cutting board, and knife ending up in a prepared chicken‐curry salad in the domestic kitchen. The aim of the current article was to validate the obtained transfer rates with consumer data obtained by video observations and microbial analyses of a home prepared chicken‐curry salad. Results showed a wide range of microbial contamination levels in the final salad, caused by various cross‐contamination practices and heating times varying from 2′44″ to 41′30″. Model predictions indicated that cooking times should be at least 8 minutes and cutting boards need to be changed after cutting raw chicken in order to obtain safe bacterial levels in the final salad. The model predicted around 75% of the variance in cross‐contamination behavior. Accuracy of the model can further be improved by including other cross‐contamination routes besides hands, cutting boards, and knives. The model proved to be fail‐safe, which implies it can be used as a worst‐case estimate to assess the importance of cross‐contamination in the home.
Changes in Aleut Concerns Following the Stakeholder‐Driven Amchitka Independent Science Assessment
Authors: Burger Joanna , Gochfeld Michael
Published: January 2009

There is widespread agreement that stakeholders should be included in the problem‐formulation phase of addressing environment problems and, more recently, there have been attempts to include stakeholders in other phases of environmental research. However, there are few studies that evaluate the effects of including stakeholders in all phases of research aimed at solving environmental problems. Three underground nuclear blasts were detonated on Amchitka Island from 1965 to 1971. Considerable controversy developed when the Department of Energy (DOE) decided to “close” Amchitka. Concerns were voiced by subsistence Aleuts living in the region, resource trustees, and the State of Alaska, among others. This article evaluates perceptions of residents of three Aleutian village before (2003) and after (2005) the Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation's (CRESP) Amchitka Independent Science Assessment (AISA). The CRESP AISA provided technical information on radionuclide levels in biota to inform questions of seafood safety and food chain health. CRESP used the questions asked at public meetings in the Aleut communities of Atka, Nikolski, and Unalaska to evaluate attitudes and perceptions before and after the AISA. Major concerns before the AISA were credibility/trust of CRESP and the DOE, and information about biological methodology of the study. Following the AISA, people were most concerned about health effects and risk reduction, and trust issues with CRESP declined while those for the DOE remained stable. People’s relative concerns about radionuclides declined, while their concerns about mercury (not addressed in the AISA) increased, and interest in ecological issues (population changes of local species) and the future (continued biomonitoring) increased from 2003 to 2005. These results suggest that questions posed at public meetings can be used to evaluate changes in attitudes and perceptions following environmental research, and the results are consistent with the hypothesis that the AISA answered questions about radionuclides, and lowered overall concern about radionuclides, but left unanswered concerns about the health effects of mercury.
Nuclear Risk Management on Stage: A Decision Analysis Perspective on the UK's Committee on Radioactive Waste Management
Authors: Morton Alec , Airoldi Mara , Phillips Lawrence D.
Published: January 2009

In 2003, the UK government set up a broad‐based Committee on radioactive waste management (CoRWM) to look at the UK's policy on radioactive waste management with a view to jumpstarting a stalled policy process. The committee's brief was to come up with a set of recommendations that would protect the public and the environment, and be capable of inspiring public confidence. After consulting widely with the public and stakeholders, and drawing on advice from scientists and other experts, CoRWM arrived at a remarkably well‐received set of recommendations. On the basis of our experiences of working on CoRWM's multi‐criteria decision analysis of different management options, study of CoRWM documentation, and interviews with committee members, we describe the explicit and implicit principles that guided CoRWM. We also give an account of the process by which CoRWM arrived at its conclusions, covering four phases: framing, shortlisting, option assessment, and integration; and four cross‐cutting activities: public and stakeholder engagement (PSE), science and engineering input, ethics and social science input, and learning from overseas practice. We finish by outlining some of the key developments in the UK's radioactive waste management process, which followed on from the publication of CoRWM's report, and present our reflections for the benefit of the risk and decision analysts of future committees that, like CoRWM, are charged with recommending to government on the management of technically complex and risky technologies, drawing on extensive public and stakeholder consultation.
Product Development and Learning in Project Teams: The Challenges Are the Benefits*
Authors: Edmondson Amy C. , Nembhard Ingrid M.
Published: January 2009

The value of teams in new product development (NPD) is undeniable. Both the interdisciplinary nature of the work and industry trends necessitate that professionals from different functions work together on development projects to create the highest‐quality product in the shortest time. Understanding the conditions that facilitate teamwork has been a pursuit of researchers for nearly a half century. The present paper reviews existing literature on teams and team learning in organizational behavior and technology and innovation to offer insights for research on NPD teams. Building on prior work, the organizational benefits of NPD teams are summarized, and five attributes of these teams are identified that hinder attainment of their potential: (1) project complexity; (2) cross‐functionality; (3) temporary membership; (4) fluid team boundaries; and (5) embeddedness in organizational structures. It is argued here that effective management of these five attributes allows not only organization‐level benefits but also team‐level benefits in the form of new capabilities and team member resilience. The critical roles of leadership and of communication and conflict management training are then highlighted as strategies for overcoming the challenges to team effectiveness in NPD as well as for realizing five team benefits: (1) project management skills; (2) broad perspective; (3) teaming skills; (4) expanded social network; and (5) boundary‐spanning skills. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these ideas for conducting future team research.
Knowledge Sharing in Interorganizational Product Development Teams: The Effect of Formal and Informal Socialization Mechanisms*
Authors: Lawson Benn , Petersen Kenneth J. , Cousins Paul D. , Handfield Robert B.
Published: January 2009

Working collaboratively with suppliers is increasingly cited as a “best practice” in product development. The importance of sharing knowledge between buyer and supplier in this context has been well recognized, although comparatively little research exists on the interorganizational socialization mechanisms that facilitate it. The present research proposes and tests a theoretical model of the impact of formal and informal socialization mechanisms on the level of knowledge sharing within interorganizational product development projects and the subsequent effect on buyer firm performance. Results from this study of 111 manufacturing organizations in the United Kingdom largely support its hypotheses. It is revealed that informal socialization mechanisms (e.g., communication guidelines, social events) play an important role in facilitating interorganizational knowledge sharing, whereas formal socialization mechanisms (e.g., cross‐functional teams, matrix reporting structures) act indirectly through informal socialization to influence knowledge sharing. The results also show that interorganizational knowledge sharing is positively associated with supplier contribution to development outcomes, which, in turn, improves buyer product development performance and, ultimately, financial performance. Product development managers are encouraged to build social ties between interorganizational development teams to increase the flow of knowledge and to improve both product development outcomes and financial performance.
The Effect of Interactional Fairness on the Performance of Cross‐Functional Product Development Teams: A Multilevel Mediated Model*
Authors: Qiu Tianjiao , Qualls William , Bohlmann Jonathan , Rupp Deborah E.
Published: January 2009

Cross‐functional product development teams (CFPDTs) are receiving increasing attention as a fundamental mechanism for achieving greater interfunctional integration in the product development process. However, little is known about how team members' interactional fairness perception—fairness perception based on the quality of interpersonal treatment received from the project manager during the new product development process—affects cross‐functional communication and the performance of CFPDTs. This study examines the effects of interactional fairness on both team members' performance and team performance as a whole. It was predicted that interactional fairness in CFPDTs would significantly affect team members' task performance, both task‐ and person‐focused interpersonal citizenship behaviors, as well as team performance. Additionally, commitment would partially mediate the effects of interactional fairness on these performance outcomes. Analyzing survey responses from two student samples of CFPDTs with hierarchical linear modeling techniques, it was demonstrated that team members' task performance, interpersonal citizenship behavior, and team performance are enhanced when team members are dedicated to both the team and the project, and such dedication is fostered when project managers are fair to team members in an interpersonal way.
First among Equals: The Effect of Team Leader Characteristics on the Internal Dynamics of Cross‐Functional Product Development Teams*
Authors: Sarin Shikhar , O'Connor Gina Colarelli
Published: January 2009

Drawing on the path‐goal theory of leadership, the present study examines the effect of team leader characteristics on an array of conflict resolution behavior, collaboration, and communication patterns of cross‐functional new product development (NPD) teams. A hierarchical linear model analysis based on a survey of 246 members from 64 NPD teams suggests that participative management style and initiation of goal structure by the team leader exert the strongest influence on internal team dynamics. Both these leadership characteristics had a positive effect on functional conflict resolution, collaboration, and communication quality within the NPD team while discouraging dysfunctional conflict resolution and formal communications. Comparatively, team leader's consideration, initiation of process structure, and position had a surprisingly weak effect on internal team dynamics. Further, the findings underscore the differential effects on various dimensions of team dynamics, the importance of controlling for project and team characteristics, and the use of multilevel modeling for studying nested phenomena related to NPD teams. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Innovation Leaders: How Senior Executives Stimulate, Steer, and Sustain Innovation by Jean‐Philippe Deschamps
Authors: Nelson Beebe
Published: January 2009

I am honored to have been chosen as the Journal of Product Innovation Management's (JPIM's) new book review editor. First and foremost, I want to thank Preston Smith for making the transition an easy one. Preston's experience and insights have helped bring me up the learning curve. His patience was much appreciated.

Second, managing the book review process is certainly more complicated than I had imagined but is fascinating nonetheless. As in the development of any product or service there are many people involved in the creation process, and considerable planning takes place prior to actual publication.

Last but not least is my admiration for our JPIM book reviewers. The care and effort taken to create the quality book reviews that meet JPIM's high standards requires critical thought and experience in new product development. We will continue to make our book reviews insightful, critical, and practical for you, our readers.

Books reviewed in this issue:

Innovation Leaders: How Senior Executives Stimulate, Steer, and Sustain Innovation

Understanding A3 Thinking: A Critical Component of Toyota's PDCA Management System

Value Merchants: Demonstrating and Documenting Superior Value in Business Markets
Presence of thyrotropin receptor in hepatocytes: not a case of illegitimate transcription
Authors: Zhang Wei , Tian Li‐min , Han Yong , Ma Hong‐yan , Wang Lai‐cheng , Guo Jun , Gao Ling , Zhao Jia‐jun
Published: January 2009

The function of thyrotropin (TSH) in the thyroid gland is mediated by thyrotropin receptor (TSHR). In addition to the thyroid, TSHR expression has been described in some non‐thyroidal tissues, although it is uncertain whether TSHR is present in hepatocytes. One study has reported hepatic expression of TSHR mRNA, but this was considered to be because of illegitimate transcription, and there has not been a study investigating its protein expression and function in hepatocytes. Here, we examined the expression of TSHR in human and rat liver tissues, as well as human normal hepatocyte cell line L‐02. Our results demonstrated that hepatic TSHR mRNA could be detected and had the same sequence as that of thyroid‐derived mRNA. TSHR protein was also expressed and mainly located in the hepatocyte cell membrane. Moreover, bovine TSH and immunoglobulin from sera of patients with Graves’ disease stimulated cAMP production in these cells. Taken together, these data show that TSHR is present and functional in hepatocytes, and this expression is not a case of illegitimate transcription. Given the pivotal role of the liver in body metabolism and many human diseases, our findings provide important implications for a potentially novel physiopathological role of TSH via acting on the TSHR in hepatocytes besides its classical role in regulating the thyroid function.
Calcium sensing receptor‐dependent and receptor‐independent activation of osteoblast replication and survival by strontium ranelate
Authors: Fromigué Olivia , Haÿ Eric , Barbara Alain , Petrel Christophe , Traiffort Elisabeth , Ruat Martial , Marie Pierre J.
Published: January 2009

Age‐related osteopenia is characterized by a negative balance between bone resorption and formation. The anti‐osteoporotic drug strontium ranelate was found to reduce bone resorption and to promote bone formation. Here, we investigated the implication of the calcium‐sensing receptor (CaSR) in the response to strontium ranelate using osteoblasts from CaSR knockout [CaSR−/−] and wild‐type [CaSR+/+] mice. We showed that calcium and strontium ranelates increased cell replication in [CaSR−/−] and [CaSR+/+] osteoblasts. Strontium ranelate rapidly increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in [CaSR+/+] but not in [CaSR−/−] osteoblasts, indicating that strontium ranelate can act independent of the CaSR/ERK1/2 cascade to promote osteoblast replication. We also showed that strontium ranelate prevented cell apoptosis induced by serum deprivation or the pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and TNF‐α in [CaSR−/−] and [CaSR+/+] osteoblasts, indicating that CaSR is not the only receptor involved in the protective effect of strontium ranelate on osteoblast apoptosis. Strontium ranelate activated the Akt pro‐survival pathway in [CaSR−/−] and [CaSR+/+] osteoblasts, and pharmacological inhibition of Akt abrogated the anti‐apoptotic effect of strontium ranelate. Furthermore, both the proliferative and anti‐apoptotic effects of strontium ranelate in [CaSR−/−] and [CaSR+/+] osteoblasts were abrogated by selective inhibition of COX‐2. The results provide genetic and biochemical evidence that the effects of strontium ranelate on osteoblast replication and survival involve ERK1/2 and Akt signalling and PGE2 production, independent of CaSR expression. The finding that CaSR‐dependent and CaSR‐independent pathways mediate the beneficial effects of strontium ranelate on osteoblasts, provides novel insight into the mechanism of action of this anti‐osteoporotic agent on osteoblastogenesis.