bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtue theory and organizations: considering persons with disabilities
Authors: Barclay Lizabeth A. , Markel Karen S. , Yugo Jennifer E.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This research aims to apply virtue theory to the under‐employment problem of persons with disabilities (PWD). Historically, PWD have been under‐employed within society and discriminated against in the workplace. The authors review virtue theory research and illustrate how it can be used to better support the meaningful employment of PWD.

Design/methodology/approach

This research reviews the current literature in the areas of virtue theory and the employment challenges of PWD to create a new framework that can assist in the integration of PWD into the workplace.

Findings

Literature on the employment of PWD indicates that significant differences exist in the employment experiences between PWD and persons without disabilities (PWOD). Problems such as stigmatization impede the integration of PWD into the work environment. The review of the virtue theory literature supports the development of a new framework that provides additional ways to address this ongoing problem.

Practical implications

This paper suggests human resource management practices that virtuous organizations could use to address the problem of the under‐employment and stigmatization of PWD.

Originality/value

No research currently applies virtue theory to the under‐employment problem of persons with disabilities.
Dispelling the collective myth of Chinese consumers: a new generation of brand‐conscious individualists
Authors: Ye Lilly , Bose Mousumi , Pelton Lou
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The unprecedented increase in brand development among one of the fastest‐growing consumer markets, the new generation of Chinese consumers, compels a greater understanding of the psychological factors that were largely stereotyped to be collective and homogeneous. Grounded in self‐congruity theory, the primary purpose of this study is to understand the joint impact of Chinese consumers' self‐ and gender consciousness on their ensuing brand perceptions. This study aims to critically explore the process that underlies the aforementioned relationships with consumers' need for uniqueness and brand consciousness.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey using consumer panel data was conducted in three “tier‐one” cities in the People's Republic of China. The focus on these cities coincided with the competitive density of retail brands, and resulted in 302 respondents in the population of interest. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

Self‐ and gender consciousness do impact brand consciousness indirectly through Chinese consumers' need for uniqueness. Contrary to expectations, the study finds that self‐consciousness has a negative direct impact on brand consciousness, while gender consciousness does not have a direct impact on brand consciousness. Furthermore, brand consciousness leads to positive brand perceptions, including brand attitudes, brand loyalty, and willingness to pay a price premium.

Practical implications

The research provides an in‐depth understanding of self‐congruity in Chinese consumers' brand perceptions. The research findings can be used to formulate brand positioning and promotion strategies for brand managers.

Originality/value

The study integrates extant theories in gender schema and self‐congruity to understand brand perceptions in light of self‐ and gender consciousness. To date, no research has explored this relationship. Furthermore, the study discusses the role of consumers' need for uniqueness as a process that underlines the relationship between consumer self‐ and gender consciousness, and brand perceptions in terms of brand consciousness, brand attitude and loyalty and willingness to pay a price premium.
Proactive diagnosis: how professional service firms sustain client dialogue
Authors: Henrik Sieg Jan , Fischer Alban , Wallin Martin W. , von Krogh Georg
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to contribute to the discussion of relationship marketing in professional services firms (PSF). The process of dialogical interaction with clients is central to relationship marketing. However, client dialogue may fall dormant if not properly cultivated by employees of the PSF, that is, by professionals. This inductive study aims to investigate how professionals sustain a fruitful client dialogue by proactively introducing additional client problems to the dialogue.

Design/methodology/approach

Extensive field research with a “Big Four” accounting firm and 11 client companies inductively generates a framework to describe how professionals engage in proactive diagnosis of client problems to introduce these problems to the client dialogue. The framework is grounded in 49 focused interviews with professionals and client managers, as well as supplementary interviews, observations, and firm documents.

Findings

The suggested framework consists of the components of proactive diagnosis (information‐seeking and influence strategies), a trade‐off that professionals must make among these components, several enablers of and constraints on proactive diagnosis, and key client concerns that professionals must address to introduce additional client problems.

Originality/value

Despite the importance of client dialogue for relationship marketing, recommendations about how professionals can sustain client dialogue over time remain limited. This study describes proactive diagnosis as one potential approach. It contributes to literature on relationship marketing in PSFs by showing how proactive diagnosis helps professionals overcome the problem of dormancy in client dialogue, complements personal selling, and extends the role of diagnosis beyond paid client assignments into the pre‐selling phase.
Fuzzy AHP for forest fire risk modeling
Authors: Kant Sharma Laxmi , Kanga Shruti , Singh Nathawat Mahendra , Sinha Suman , Chandra Pandey Prem
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of study is linked to management and policy‐making strategies, such as forest management, land use planning and sustainable management of natural resources. It aims to help prevent forest fire by taking precautions. It also aims to be helpful for authorities coping during the event of occurrence of fire.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology paradigm applied here is based on knowledge‐based and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) techniques. Knowledge‐based criteria involve topographic and different themes for risk assessment. The assignment of value given to equation is significant due to its importance.

Findings

Results are in strong agreement with actual fire occurrences in the past years. The risk zones are identified according to past occurrence of fire. The gradients of low‐ to high‐risk zones are according to fuel, topographic features and weather conditions. Direction and aspect value were taken accordingly.

Originality/value

The paper presents forest fire risk zones designed on knowledge‐based information. Crisp and fuzzy AHP approaches were applied to improve the efficacy of the model. The mapping results were in accordance with actual fire occurrences in the past years.
Implementing a quality management framework in a higher education organisation
Authors: O'Mahony Kim , Garavan Thomas N.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to report and analyse the lessons learned from a case study on the implementation of a quality management system within an IT Division in a higher education (HE) organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of the relevant literatures and the use of primary sources such as document analysis, participant observation and interviews to develop a case study that describes and evaluates the implementation process.

Findings

The case study identifies four factors central to the effective implementation of the quality management system within a Division of a HE institution: senior leadership and sponsorship; stakeholder engagement; the management of culture change; and implementing quality processes.

Practical implications

The case study reveals that the implementation of quality management systems requires sustained effort, continuous leadership, and the long term commitment of resources and systematic auditing of performance and is best done on an incremental basis.

Originality/value

The paper is based on a single organisation case study, and utilises a variety of data collection methods to generate findings. The study findings illustrate that HE institutions may achieve greater success in implementing quality management systems if they focus on a particular division rather than an organisation‐wide approach.
The direction of cultural distance on FDI: attractiveness or incongruity?
Authors: Tang Linghui
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the direction of cultural distance in individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity affects bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI) activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data that include bilateral FDI between 21 OECD countries, and for FDI from these OECD countries to 14 non‐OECD countries between 1980 and 2000 were used. In addition, hypotheses were tested by using Hofstede's cultural dimensions for FDI between 1980 and 1989 and then by applying the GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) cultural indices for FDI between 1990 and 2000.

Findings

It was found that difference in individualism between two countries encourages FDI while difference in power distance discourages FDI. In addition, based on Hofstede's cultural scores, the direction of cultural distance matters when a host and a source country differ in uncertainty avoidance and masculinity. However, the finding is mixed with the GLOBE cultural measures.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, the aggregation of human behavior theory is relied on to develop a theoretical framework. This type of analysis is valid as long as the companies involved are homogenous. Even if multi‐national companies are heterogeneous, the author believes that a bounded rationality is needed to add some discipline and substance to a more comprehensive but less structured analysis/experience at the individual or firm level.

Practical implications

The paper's findings indicate that a complementary relationship exists for FDI between collective and individualistic countries and difference in power distance discourages FDI. In addition, the direction of cultural distance matters for uncertainty avoidance and masculinity. Therefore, it is not always true that companies should shun countries that are culturally different from their home country when making FDI decisions.

Originality/value

The paper makes several contributions to the extant literature. First, the paper responds to the critique by Shenkar, by applying separate rather than the composite cultural distance in empirical research. Second, the paper suggests that cultural distance is not equal to cultural incongruence. Third, this paper is one of the first that uses a sample size that is similar to the number of countries in Hofstede's original study in 1980. Finally, in response to the stability criticism towards Hofstede's framework, this paper tests the cultural impact on FDI by applying both the Hofstede and GLOBE cultural scores.
The hybridization and internationalization of HRM in the Maghreb
Authors: Frimousse Soufyane , Swalhi Abdelaziz , El Alaoui El Wahidi Mouna
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that the direct application of an imported model of human resource management (HRM) is seldom successful. The dissemination and transfer of management practices of European firms to their counterparts in the Maghreb cannot simply be cloned. Indeed, in order to gain legitimacy, internalization of HRM practices of multinationals implemented in the Maghreb must include elements of contingency (culture, religion, etc.). The paper asks: does hybridization have an impact on employee commitment? Does it have an effect upon turnover?

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 187 executives operating within 40 subsidiaries of multinational companies in the Maghreb and employed in HRM positions participated in the survey. Respective hypotheses connected with hybrid models were supported using structural equation modelling procedures.

Findings

The results show that hybridization of HRM practices increases an employee's commitment and reduces the intention to quit.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is limited in particular by the perceptual and self‐report nature of the data assembled.

Practical implications

Multinational companies' image operating in the Maghreb may be enhanced through hybrid HRM practices. Hybrid HRM practices will open new avenues for a Mediterranean collaboration.

Originality/value

This paper advances the state of HRM research in the Maghreb and provides a unique empirical investigation on the consequences of the internationalization of HRM practices in the Maghreb.
The network effect on technological innovation – by the analysis of affiliation network
Authors: Chien Shih‐Hung , Weng Calvin S.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of affiliation network on creating innovative ideas and forming a technological position.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt the concept of an affiliated network and use the technique of social network analysis to investigate patent data from USPTO.

Findings

First, the technological classification which captures the core position in the network is the most important technological trend. On the contrary, the technological classification which belongs to the position of periphery is less important for technological development. Second, the technological community with the highest degree, closeness and betweenness among other communities means that this technological community occupies broader technological scopes and with important influence with others.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates that affiliation network analysis can be a useful tool in determining the relationship between technology (patent) and R&D activity (technological classification). In the technological affiliation network, patents are related to one another because they occupy the same technological classification and technological classifications are related to one another because they share with patents. This connection has a clear advantage over a strategy of having R&D activities acts as bridges between distinct clusters of technologies.

Originality/value

This paper has briefly studied how affiliation network of technological communities and technological classifications relate to the R&D and technological development in environment. The authors' perspectives and empirical method can provide suggestions for making R&D decisions.
Housing consumption and residential crowding in Hong Kong: a long‐term analysis
Authors: Mesthrige Jayantha Wadu , Chi‐man Hui Eddie
Published: April 2012

Purpose

Residential crowding and underlying causes of crowding have been changing across the globe over time. The aim of this paper is to examine the dynamics of housing consumption and residential crowding in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

While the two‐step Engle‐Granger co‐integration approach based on an error correction model (ECM) is used to test for long‐run relation and short‐run dynamics of housing consumption, the study also uses a multivariate regression model to analyze the factors affecting residential crowding. Along with other variables in previous literature, the study introduces a new institutional factor, i.e. land supply, into the model that analyzes these two issues over a time span of 25 years.

Findings

The study's results suggest that many households in Hong Kong still have inadequate housing, and residential overcrowding is a serious issue. Coupled with market forces (e.g. income, housing price, household size), the new land supply factor noticeably has exerted significant influence on the two subject issues under investigation.

Practical implications

The paper provides policy implications that to address such deficiencies, the government should change its current land supply policy. A policy shift is recommended away from its “high‐land price” policy towards comprehensive developments in outer urban areas. This institutional change should help improve housing consumption in the territory overall.

Originality/value

This study adds knowledge to previous works in analyzing residential crowding and its underlying causes over the years, rather than in a particular point in time. It is also the first of its kind in Hong Kong.
“Let me make this clear”: creating high trust organizations
Authors: Denton D. Keith
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to show the relationship between trust and clear communication and why it is essential for organizations to develop these high trust firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Current research and case examples are used to highlight key elements.

Findings

The paper describes what several organizations are doing to create these high trust organizations.

Practical implications

The article has a focus on practical applications for managers in creating better communication and development trust within organizations.

Social implications

It is hoped that decision makers will take stock of the research and tools recommended and begin creating high trust open communication organizations. It is these types of organizations which are best positioned for future success.

Originality/value

The paper is original, bringing together practical tools for better management within organizations.
Driven to Lead: Good, Bad and Misguided Leadership
Authors: Wollard Karen K.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper reviews the latest learning and development books across the globe and pinpoints practical implications.

Design/methodology/approach

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

Findings

Driven to Lead Good, Bad and Misguided Leadership is the author's effort to create a unified and accurate model of human behavior and leadership. Paul Lawrence has spent a lifetime researching and writing across the social science fields while teaching at Harvard Business School. In his previous book, Driven, he introduced the concept of four drives that explain human behavior. This book applies that concept to the practice of leadership. Dr Lawrence calls his theory The Renewed Darwinian Theory of Human Behavior and Leadership, finding deep insights from Charles Darwin's second book, The Descent of Man. In 300 pages, this book shows how disciplines from cultural anthropology and psychology to biology and economics can come together to explain human evolution, the current state of the world, and the way forward.

Practical implications

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

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.
Engaging Millennials in an evolving web environment: some key points for e‐retailers
Authors: Yeap Ai Leen Jasmine , Thurasamy Ramayah , Omar Azizah
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This article aims to provide some key points that e‐retailers should be mindful of when attempting to reach out to Millennial web users in a fast‐evolving web environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The key points were derived from a combination of methods that include review of relevant literature (both past and current), empirical evidence drawn from previous studies and the authors' observation of developments within the web retailing environment.

Findings

Six key points were listed, covering pertinent issues like first impressions, customer trust and stickiness, magnitude of social networks, delivering rich user experiences, customer relationship retention strategies and the importance of usability and aesthetics.

Practical implications

It is pertinent that e‐retailers keep themselves informed of the latest technological progress within the web environment should they aspire to survive and achieve success in online retailing among Millennials. They should adapt to the needs of the Millennial generation instead of the Millennials adjusting themselves to the e‐retailers.

Originality/value

E‐retailers can gain a better understanding on the characteristics of Millennial web users and on engaging the Millennials' attention and commitment towards online retailing web sites.
Lead yourself first!
Authors: Wagner Libby
Published: April 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to improve readers' leadership skills.

Design/methodology/approach

The author explains the skills and qualities of a successful leader and then gives practical information about how the reader can achieve successful leadership in their own life.

Findings

The paper finds that many traditional ideas about how to lead are not the most effective course of action, and suggests that a new approach should be adopted.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that leaders step away from leading by force or power, and suggests that leaders create a culture and environment where people want to follow them and feel good doing so.

Originality/value

This paper encourages readers to take a new approach to leadership, one that ultimately is more effective and creates a better environment for everyone. The findings of this paper will be benefit both to leaders and followers alike.
Application of FMEA to an automotive leaf spring manufacturing organization
Authors: Vinodh Sekar , Santhosh D.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to report the application of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) to an automotive leaf spring manufacturing organization.

Design/methodology/approach

FMEA has been used as a decision‐making tool to prioritize the corrective actions so as to enhance product/system performance by reducing the failure rate. Both design and process FMEA documents have been developed by the systematic formation of team.

Findings

The study results indicated the actions that lead to improvement in design. There has been improvement in key decision factors apart from conventional factors. In addition, the quality of leaf springs produced also has been improved.

Research limitations/implications

Conventional design and process FMEA approaches have been developed. In future, fuzzified FMEA can be used.

Practical implications

FMEA has been systematically deployed in a typical industrial scenario. The real improvements have been gained as a result of implementation.

Originality/value

The article presents the results of the case study conducted in an industrial scenario. The contributions of the study are original and valuable.
Observation: a Lean tool for improving the effectiveness of Lean Six Sigma
Authors: Arumugam V. , Antony Jiju , Douglas Alex
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a robust “observation” procedure drawn from the social science research literature for adoption in a Lean Six Sigma project setting. A case study aims to illustrate the application of the proposed observation procedure in a Lean Six Sigma project undertaken in a European airport to improve process speed and reduce variability.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a literature review and uses case study process information from a real project.

Findings

The study finds that by utilising “observation”, which is basically a Lean tool, not only is speed increased by eliminating waste, but also it helps to identify the root causes of variations in the output quality characteristics, whose reduction is the main objective of a Lean Six Sigma programme.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed approach has been applied and tested in a transactional Lean Six Sigma project. Its applicability to a wider context needs to be established through more case studies in both manufacturing and transactional environments.

Practical implications

Critical observation has a profound impact both on the organization and its people. It improves organizational learning, promotes employee involvement and offers experiential learning to employees. This study may inspire managers to provide motivation for people to engage in observational activities by imparting structured training on observation. The employees may be motivated to become involved in observational activities as self‐directed actions to improve the employees’ effectiveness.

Originality/value

This paper is an interdisciplinary study drawing knowledge from other branches of social research and adopting it in quality management. By a case study approach, this paper explains how “critical observation”, a tool used both in Lean and social research, enhances the power of Lean Six Sigma.
Collaborative production of pedagogical knowledge: enhancing students’ learning
Authors: Rovio‐Johansson Airi , Lumsden Marie
Published: April 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ qualitatively different ways of understanding basic economic relationships in three undergraduate courses in the discipline of accounting.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical frame is variation theory, which is a learning theory about the different ways students understand the learning object (in this study, basic economic relationships). The instructors chose a learning object which was investigated under two different teaching conditions – the traditional lecture model and the adjusted Learning Study model. Two student groups in a Business Programme (one group admitted the year after the first group) were identified as acomparison groupand atarget group. The two groups were comparable in various relevant parameters. All students took three required accounting courses. In the comparison group, the instructors used the traditional lecture model; in the target group, the instructors used the adjusted Learning Study model. The first year of the study was used for training the instructors and for the preparation of teaching prerequisites.

Findings

There were significant differences between the two groups’ examination results in the three courses. Students in the adjusted Learning Study model group performed better. The conclusions have scientific implications for students’ understanding of the subject and educational implications for teaching in terms of new teaching methods and revised curricula. The findings are valuable to professional instructors/lecturers in higher education.

Originality/value

The findings and methods of this study contribute to the international research on empirically based didactic knowledge of subject content in higher education. Even though the subject content is specific in the study, the methodology of variation theory is applicable to other disciplines.
Microarray analysis revealed upregulation of nitrate reductase in juvenile cuttings of Eucalyptus grandis, which correlated with increased nitric oxide production and adventitious root formation
Authors: Abu‐Abied Mohamad , Szwerdszarf David , Mordehaev Inna , Levy Aviv , (Stelmakh) Oksana Rogovoy , Belausov Eduard , Yaniv Yossi , Uliel Shai , Katzenellenbogen Mark , Riov Joseph , Ophir Ron , Sadot Einat
Published: April 2012

The loss of rooting capability following the transition from the juvenile to the mature phase is a known phenomenon in woody plant development. Eucalyptus grandis was used here as a model system to study the differences in gene expression between juvenile and mature cuttings. RNA was prepared from the base of the two types of cuttings before root induction and hybridized to a DNA microarray of E. grandis. In juvenile cuttings, 363 transcripts were specifically upregulated, enriched in enzymes of oxidation/reduction processes. In mature cuttings, 245 transcripts were specifically upregulated, enriched in transcription factors involved in the regulation of secondary metabolites. A gene encoding for nitrate reductase (NIA), which is involved in nitric oxide (NO) production, was among the genes that were upregulated in juvenile cuttings. Concomitantly, a transient burst of NO was observed upon excision, which was higher in juvenile cuttings than in mature ones. Treatment with an NO donor improved rooting of both juvenile and mature cuttings. A single NIA gene was found in the newly released E. grandis genome sequence, the cDNA of which was isolated, overexpressed in Arabidopsis plants and shown to increase NO production in intact plants. Therefore, higher levels of NIA in E. grandis juvenile cuttings might lead to increased ability to produce NO and to form adventitious roots. Arabidopsis transgenic plants constantly expressing EgNIA did not exhibit a significantly higher lateral or adventitious root formation, suggesting that spatial and temporal rather than a constitutive increase in NO is favorable for root differentiation.
The cofactor preference of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli– modeling the physiological production of reduced cofactors
Authors: Olavarría Karel , Valdés Diego , Cabrera Ricardo
Published: April 2012

In Escherichia coli, the pentose phosphate pathway is one of the main sources of NADPH. The first enzyme of the pathway, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), is generally considered an exclusive NADPH producer, but a rigorous assessment of cofactor preference has yet to be reported. In this work, the specificity constants for NADP and NAD for G6PDH were determined using a pure enzyme preparation. Absence of the phosphate group on the cofactor leads to a 410‐fold reduction in the performance of the enzyme. Furthermore, the contribution of the phosphate group to binding of the transition state to the active site was calculated to be 3.6 kcal·mol−1. In order to estimate the main kinetic parameters for NAD(P) and NAD(P)H, we used the classical initial‐rates approach, together with an analysis of reaction time courses. To achieve this, we developed a new analytical solution to the integrated Michaelis–Menten equation by including the effect of competitive product inhibition using the ω‐function. With reference to relevant kinetic parameters and intracellular metabolite concentrations reported by others, we modeled the sensitivity of reduced cofactor production by G6PDH as a function of the redox ratios of NAD/NADH (rRNAD) and NADP/NADPH (rRNADP). Our analysis shows that NADPH production sharply increases within the range of thermodynamically feasible values of rRNADP, but NADH production remains low within the range feasible for rRNAD. Nevertheless, we show that certain combinations of rRNADP and rRNAD sustain greater levels of NADH production over NADPH.
Acute and Long‐Term Cardiomyopathy and Delayed Neurotoxicity after Accidental Lasalocid Poisoning in Horses
Authors: Decloedt A. , Verheyen T. , De Clercq D. , Sys S. , Vercauteren G. , Ducatelle R. , Delahaut P. , van Loon G.
Published: April 2012

Background

Horses are extremely susceptible to ionophore intoxication. Although numerous reports are available regarding monensin, little is known about lasalocid toxicity.

Objectives

To describe accidental lasalocid poisoning on a farm inBelgium.

Animals

Eighty‐one horses, of which 14 demonstrated clinical signs from day 0–21 after being fed a new concentrate batch. One horse died on day 20 and another on day 27.

Methods

The most severe cases (n = 7), admitted to the clinic on day 29–46, underwent cardiac examination and blood biochemical analysis, including determination of plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) at admission and during follow‐up. On day 57–70, cardiac examination,cTnIdetermination or both were undertaken on 72 remaining horses.

Results

Short‐term effects of lasalocid intoxication included inappetance, lethargy, sweating, and muscular weakness. All 7 horses admitted to the clinic demonstrated signs of myocardial degeneration such as increasedcTnI, dysrhythmia and reduced myocardial contractility. Four horses developed ataxia on day 40–50. Five horses died or were euthanized on day 30–370, 2 horses recovered fully and returned to previous athletic use. None of the 72 remaining horses exhibited clinical signs between day 57–70, but 34 had dysrhythmia and 13 had increasedcTnIconcentrations. After a period of rest, all horses returned to their previous work. Lasalocid was detected in hepatic tissue of 2 necropsied horses.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Lasalocid intoxication induced myocardial and neurological damage. Although uncommon, this should be included as differential diagnosis for unexplained inappetance, signs of depression, cardiomyopathy, and ataxia in horses.
High-Throughput PCR Assays To Monitor Wolbachia Infection in the Dengue Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and Drosophila simulans
Authors: Lee Siu F. , White Vanessa L. , Weeks Andrew R. , Hoffmann Ary A. , Endersby Nancy M.
Published: April 2012

We have developed and validated two new fluorescence-based PCR assays to detect the
Wolbachia w
Mel strain in
Aedes aegypti
and the
w
Ri and
w
Au strains in
Drosophila simulans
. The new assays are accurate, informative, and cost-efficient for large-scale
Wolbachia
screening.
Squid-Derived Chitin Oligosaccharides Are a Chemotactic Signal during Colonization by Vibrio fischeri
Authors: Mandel Mark J. , Schaefer Amy L. , Brennan Caitlin A. , Heath-Heckman Elizabeth A. C. , DeLoney-Marino Cindy R. , McFall-Ngai Margaret J. , Ruby Edward G.
Published: April 2012

Chitin, a polymer of
N
-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), is noted as the second most abundant biopolymer in nature. Chitin serves many functions for marine bacteria in the family
Vibrionaceae
(“vibrios”), in some instances providing a physical attachment site, inducing natural genetic competence, and serving as an attractant for chemotaxis. The marine luminous bacterium
Vibrio fischeri
is the specific symbiont in the light-emitting organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid,
Euprymna scolopes
. The bacterium provides the squid with luminescence that the animal uses in an antipredatory defense, while the squid supports the symbiont's nutritional requirements.
V. fischeri
cells are harvested from seawater during each host generation, and
V. fischeri
is the only species that can complete this process in nature. Furthermore, chitin is located in squid hemocytes and plays a nutritional role in the symbiosis. We demonstrate here that chitin oligosaccharides produced by the squid host serve as a chemotactic signal for colonizing bacteria.
V. fischeri
uses the gradient of host chitin to enter the squid light organ duct and colonize the animal. We provide evidence that chitin serves a novel function in an animal-bacterial mutualism, as an animal-produced bacterium-attracting synomone.
Heterologous Expression in Pichia pastoris and Characterization of an Endogenous Thermostable and High-Glucose-Tolerant β-Glucosidase from the Termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis
Authors: Uchima Cristiane Akemi , Tokuda Gaku , Watanabe Hirofumi , Kitamoto Katsuhiko , Arioka Manabu
Published: April 2012

Termites are well-known cellulose decomposers and can give researchers insights into how to utilize lignocellulosic biomass in the actual scenario of energy consumption. In this work, an endogenous β-glucosidase from the midgut of the higher termite
Nasutitermes takasagoensis
was purified to homogeneity by Ni
2+
affinity chromatography and its properties were characterized. This β-glucosidase (G1mgNtBG1), which belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 1, is a homotrimer in its native form, with a molecular mass of 169.5 kDa, as demonstrated by gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme displayed maximum activity at pH 5.5 and had broad substrate specificities toward several saccharides, including cellobiose. G1mgNtBG1 showed a relatively high temperature optimum of 65°C and one of the highest levels of glucose tolerance among several β-glucosidases already characterized, with a

K
i

of 600 mM glucose. To examine the applicability of G1mgNtBG1 in biomass conversion, we compared the thermostability and glucose tolerance of G1mgNtBG1 with those of Novozym 188. We found that G1mgNtBG1 was more thermostable after 5 h of incubation at 60°C and more resistant to glucose inhibition than Novozym 188. Furthermore, our result suggests that G1mgNtBG1 acts synergistically with Celluclast 1.5 L in releasing reducing sugars from Avicel. Thus, G1mgNtBG1 seems to be a potential candidate for use as a supplement in the hydrolysis of biomass.
Characterization of anO-Demethylase of Desulfitobacterium hafniense DCB-2
Authors: Studenik Sandra , Vogel Michaela , Diekert Gabriele
Published: April 2012

Besides acetogenic bacteria, onlyDesulfitobacteriumhas been described to utilize and cleave phenyl methyl ethers under anoxic conditions; however, no ether-cleavingO-demethylases from the latter organisms have been identified and investigated so far. In this study, genes of an operon encodingO-demethylase components ofDesulfitobacterium hafniensestrain DCB-2 were cloned and heterologously expressed inEscherichia coli. Methyltransferases I and II were characterized. Methyltransferase I mediated the ether cleavage and the transfer of the methyl group to the superreduced corrinoid of a corrinoid protein.Desulfitobacteriummethyltransferase I had 66% identity (80% similarity) to that of the vanillate-demethylating methyltransferase I (OdmB) ofAcetobacterium dehalogenans. The substrate spectrum was also similar to that of the latter enzyme; however,Desulfitobacteriummethyltransferase I showed a higher level of activity for guaiacol and used methyl chloride as a substrate. Methyltransferase II catalyzed the transfer of the methyl group from the methylated corrinoid protein to tetrahydrofolate. It also showed a high identity (∼70%) to methyltransferases II ofA. dehalogenans. The corrinoid protein was produced inE. colias cofactor-free apoprotein that could be reconstituted with hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin to function in the methyltransferase I and II assays. Six COG3894 proteins, which were assumed to function as activating enzymes mediating the reduction of the corrinoid protein after an inadvertent oxidation of the corrinoid cofactor, were studied with respect to their abilities to reduce the recombinant reconstituted corrinoid protein. Of these six proteins, only one was found to catalyze the reduction of the corrinoid protein.
Effects of the SpoVT Regulatory Protein on the Germination and Germination Protein Levels of Spores of Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Ramirez-Peralta Arturo , Stewart Kerry-Ann V. , Thomas Stacy K. , Setlow Barbara , Chen Zhan , Li Yong-qing , Setlow Peter
Published: April 2012

Bacillus subtilis
isolates lacking the SpoVT protein, which regulates gene expression in developing forespores, gave spores that released their dipicolinic acid (DPA) via germinant receptor (GR)-dependent germination more rapidly than wild-type spores. Non-GR-dependent germination via dodecylamine was more rapid with
spoVT
spores, but germination via Ca-DPA was slower. The effects of a
spoVT
mutation on spore germination were seen with spores made in rich and poor media, and levels of SpoVT-LacZ were elevated 2-fold in poor-medium spores; however, elevated SpoVT levels were not the only cause of the slower GR-dependent germination of poor-medium spores. The
spoVT
spores had ≥5-fold higher GerA GR levels, ∼2-fold elevated GerB GR levels, wild-type levels of a GerK GR subunit and the GerD protein required for normal GR-dependent germination, ∼2.5-fold lower levels of the SpoVAD protein involved in DPA release in spore germination, and 30% lower levels of DNA protective α/β-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins. With one exception, the effects on protein levels in
spoVT
spores are consistent with the effects of SpoVT on forespore transcription. The
spoVT
spores were also more sensitive to UV radiation and outgrew slowly. While
spoVT
spores' elevated GR levels were consistent with their more rapid GR-dependent germination, detailed analysis of the results suggested that there is another gene product crucial for GR-dependent spore germination that is upregulated in the absence of SpoVT. Overall, these results indicate that SpoVT levels during spore formation have a major impact on the germination and the resistance of the resultant spores.
Can a single question provide an accurate measure of physical activity?
Authors: Milton Karen , Clemes Stacy , Bull Fiona
Published: April 2012

Objective

The ‘single-item measure’ was developed as a short self-report tool for assessing physical activity. The aim of this study was to test the criterion validity of the single-item measure against accelerometry.

Design

Participants (n=66, 65% female, age: 39±11 years) wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X) over a 7-day period and on day 8, completed the single-item measure. The number of days of ≥30 min of accelerometer-determined moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) were calculated using two approaches; first by including all minutes of MVPA and second by including only MVPA accumulated in bouts of ≥10 min (counts/min ≥1952). Associations between the single-item measure and accelerometer were examined using Spearman correlations and 95% limits of agreement. Percent agreement and κ statistic were used to assess agreement between the tools in classifying participants as sufficiently/insufficiently active.

Results

Correlations between the number of days of ≥30 min MVPA recorded by the single-item and accelerometer ranged from 0.46 to 0.57. Participants underreported their activity on the single-item measure (−1.59 days) when compared with all objectively measured MVPA, but stronger congruence was observed when compared with MVPA accumulated in bouts of ≥10 min (0.38 days). Overall agreement between the single-item and accelerometry in classifying participants as sufficiently/insufficiently active was 58% (k=0.23, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.41) when including all MVPA and 76% (k=0.39, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.64) when including activity undertaken in bouts of ≥10 min.

Conclusions

The single-item measure is a valid screening tool to determine whether respondents are sufficiently active to benefit their health.
The molecular characterisation of unusual subcutaneous spindle cell lesion of breast
Authors: Takano Elena A , Rogers Toni-Maree , Young Richard J , Rayoo Mukta , Kostos Phillip , Ferguson Ross , Campbell Ian G , Debiec-Rychter Maria , Fox Stephen B
Published: April 2012

Background

Spindle cell lesions of the breast represent an interesting diagnostic challenge as they comprise a wide range of tumours that are rare. Differentiating dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) from other dermatofibromas using CD34 immunohistochemistry alone is difficult; therefore, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis is often employed to identify typicalCOL1A1–PDGFBfusion or gene rearrangement. Although molecular confirmation of diagnosis is unnecessary in the majority of DFSP cases, the detection of chromosomal rearrangement is valuable in tumours that show unusual clinicopathological features as in this study the authors report a case of DFSP of breast that did not show any typical known molecular features.

Methods and results

Morphological and immunohistochemical study was highly suggestive of the diagnosis of DFSP. To further investigate this case, DNA copy number alterations were investigated by the 250 K Affymetrix SNP Mapping array. DNA analysis did not show any of the known translocations reported in DFSP or any known solid tumour category. However, in addition to copy number changes on chromosome 1, amplification of chromosome 7p which contains theepidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) gene was observed. Results fromEGFRFISH showed an increase inEGFRgene to chromosome 7 ratio (3:1) suggesting amplification of theEGFRgene.

Conclusion

This case of an unusual DFSP demonstrates that genomic interrogation provides additional potential targets such as a therapeutic avenue with anti-EGFRtherapies and shows the power of molecular characterisation of unusual tumours for a personalised medicine approach.
The prognostic significance of early stage lymph node positivity in operable invasive breast carcinoma: number or stage
Authors: Rakha Emad A , Morgan David , Macmillan Douglas
Published: April 2012

Aim

The earlier detection of breast cancer through mammographic screening has resulted in a shift in stage distribution with patients who are node-positive tending to present with a lower number of positive lymph nodes (LN). This study aims to assess the prognostic value of absolute number of positive nodes in the pN1 TNM stage (1–3 positive LN) and whether the prognostic value of the number of nodes in this clinically important stage justifies its consideration in management decisions.

Methods

This study is based on a large and well-characterised consecutive series of operable breast cancer (3491 cases), treated according to standard protocols in a single institution, with a long-term follow-up.

Results

LN stages and the absolute number of LN are associated with both breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS). In the pN1 stage, patients with three positive LN (14% of pN1) show shorter BCSS (HR=1.9, (95% CI 1.3 to 2.6)) and shorter DMFS (HR=2.2, (95% CI 1.6 to 2.9)) when compared with one and/or two positive nodes. This effect is noted in the whole series as well as in different subgroups based on tumour size (pT1c and pT2), histological grade (grade 2 and 3), vascular invasion and oestrogen receptor status (both positive and negative). Multivariable analyses showed that three positive LN, compared with one and two positive LN, are an independent predictor of shorter BCSS and DMFS.

Conclusion

The number of LN in the pN1 stage yielded potentially informative risk assignments with three positive LN providing an independent predictor of poorer outcome.
Prospective associations between meth/amphetamine (speed) and MDMA (ecstasy) use and depressive symptoms in secondary school students
Authors: Brière Frédéric N , Fallu Jean-Sébastien , Janosz Michel , Pagani Linda S
Published: April 2012

Background

Research has raised significant concern regarding the affective consequences of synthetic drug use. However, little evidence from well-controlled longitudinal studies exists on these consequences. The aim of this study was to determine whether use of meth/amphetamine (speed) and ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is independently predictive of subsequent depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Methods

A sample of 3880 adolescents from secondary schools in disadvantaged areas of Quebec, Canada, were followed over time (2003–2008). Logistic regression was used to test the association between meth/amphetamine and MDMA use in grade 10 (ages 15–16 years) and elevated depressive symptoms on an abridged Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale in grade 11, controlling for pre-existing individual and contextual characteristics.

Results

After adjustment, both MDMA use (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.6) and meth/amphetamine use (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3) in grade 10 significantly increased the odds of elevated depressive symptoms in grade 11. These relationships did not vary by gender or pre-existing depressive symptoms. Increased risk was particularly observed in concurrent usage (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.9).

Conclusions

Adolescent use of meth/amphetamine and MDMA (particularly concurrent use) is independently associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. Further enquiry must determine whether these associations reflect drug-induced neurotoxicity and whether adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to the hazards of synthetic drug exposure.