bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Historicism in narrative reviews of strategic management research
Authors: Novicevic Milorad M. , Harvey Michael G. , Buckley M. Ronald , Adams Garry L.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of methodological issues that accompany the articles reviewing past research in strategic management.

Design/methodology/approach

The topic of the philosophical underpinnings and implications of historicism in strategy reviews is examined by contrasting and explaining deterministic, indeterministic, and underdeterministic views of strategy's intellectual history.

Findings

Three diverse philosophical approaches to historicist interpretation are found to be embedded in key review articles in the field of strategic management.

Practical implications

This paper indicates the need to develop and teach an accepted methodology of systematically reviewing and interpreting available knowledge in strategic management.

Originality/value

The unique contribution of this paper is that it indicates new paths that are important not only for the development of an alternative way to construct a shared history of the subject but also for the development of common norms for review articles that could help to advance strategic management scholarship.
Scientific Management revisited
Authors: Wagner‐Tsukamoto Sigmund
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to critically question conventional views of the one‐dimensional, mechanistic and negative image of human nature of Scientific Management. Both for worker behavior and for managerial behavior positive aspects of an image of human nature are reconstructed in organizational economic terms.

Design/methodology/approach

Through institutional economic reconstruction, drawing on the methods and concepts of organizational and institutional economics, the portrayal of workers and managers by Scientific Management is critically assessed.

Findings

It is suggested that a conceptual asymmetry exists in Taylor's writings regarding the portrayal of human nature of workers and managers. Whereas for workers a model of self‐interest was applied (through the concepts of “systematic soldering” and “natural soldiering”), Taylor portrayed managers through a positive, behavioral model of human nature that depicted the manager as “heartily cooperative”. The key thesis is that by modeling managers through a rather positive image of human nature Taylor could no longermethodicallyapply the model of economic man in order to test out and prevent interaction conflict between potentially self‐interested managers and workers.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focused on Scientific Management to advance the thesis that the portrayal of human nature has been ill approached by management and organization theorists who were apparently pioneering an institutional and organizational economics. Future research has to broaden the scope of research to other pioneers in management and organization research, but also to critics in behavioral sciences, such as organization psychology, who may misunderstand how economics approaches the portrayal of human nature, in particular regarding self‐interest.

Practical implications

Taylor's portrayal of managers as naturally good persons, who were not self‐interested, caused implementation conflict and implementation problems for Scientific Management and led to his summoning by the US Congress. By modeling managers as heartily cooperative, Taylor could no longer analyze potentially self‐interested behavior, even opportunistic behavior of managers in their interactions with workers. Scientific Management had thus no remedy to handle “soldiering” of managers. This insight, that managerialism needs to be accounted for in a management theory, has manifold practical implications for management consultancy, management education, and for the practice of management in general. Students and practitioners have to be informed about the necessary and useful role a model of self‐interest (economic man)methodicallyplays in economic management theory.

Originality/value

The paper reconstructs the portrayal of human nature in early management theory, which seemingly anticipated the advances – and certain pitfalls – of modern institutional economics. The paper unearths, from an economic perspective, conceptual misunderstandings of Taylor regarding his image of human nature of workers and managers.
A “missing scroll” ofThe Functions of the Executive
Authors: Novicevic Milorad M. , Ghosh Kaushik , Clement Dawn M. , Robinson Robert K.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reacquaint us with Chester Barnard's seminal treatise on status systems in organizations – the conceptualization that he labeled as a “missing scroll” ofThe Functions of the Executive.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes this “missing scroll” to draw the parallels and distinctions between Barnard's and the contemporary views of status systems in organization.

Findings

The paper outlines how this forgotten piece can inform and enrich the current understanding of the role of status in organization theory.

Practical implications

This paper draws practical parallels and distinctions between Barnard's and the contemporary views of status systems in organization and management literature.

Originality/value

This paper corrects the omission fromThe Functions of the Executiveshowing that Barnard was the first to recognize status systems as systematic in organizations.
A product of “his” time? Exploring the construct of the ideal manager in the Cold War era
Authors: Genoe McLaren Patricia , Mills Albert J.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the idea that the ideal manager is a social construct that is a product of the context within which it exists. The context chosen to illustrate this idea is that of the first two decades of the Cold War (1945‐1965) in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is an analysis of 17 management textbooks published between 1945 and 1965 in the USA.

Findings

The analysis of the textbooks shows a typification of the ideal manager as an educated male who wielded authority effectively and accepted social responsibility. These four characteristics can all be tied to the social and political context of the early Cold War years.

Research limitations/implications

Limited by its focus on management theory in the USA during the early Cold War era, and a selection of textbooks based on available resources. Future research could analyze the ideal manager construct during social and political contexts other than the Cold War, and across other social formations (e.g. the UK, Canada, France, etc.).

Practical implications

Practical implications apply to both organizations and academic institutions. Management educators should be attempting to use textbooks that present management theory in a problematic way and organizations should be aware of the impact of social and political context on the construct of the manager in order to determine the qualities and characteristics that are most needed today.

Originality/value

The paper looks at the ideal manager as a social construct, rather than an ideal that was created void of outside influence and assumed to be ideal for all contexts. It also uses the context of the Cold War period, which has been a neglected context in management research.
Learning and development dimensions of a pan‐Canadian primary health care capacity‐building project
Authors: Aherne Michael , Pereira José L.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use a descriptive case study to establish how collaboration, innovation and knowledge‐management strategies have scaled‐up learning and development in rural, remote and other resource‐constrained Canadian delivery settings.

Design/methodology/approach

Intervention design was realized through a one‐time, collaborative, national capacity‐building project. A project portfolio of 72 sub‐projects, initiatives and strategic activities was used to improve access, enhance quality and create capacity for palliative and end‐of‐life care services. Evaluation was multifaceted, including participatory action research, variance analysis and impact analysis. This has been supplemented by post‐intervention critical reflection and integration of relevant literature.

Findings

The purposeful use of collaboration, innovation and knowledge‐management strategies have been successfully used to support a rapid scaling‐up of learning and development interventions. This has enabled enhanced and new pan‐Canadian health delivery capacity implemented at the local service delivery catchment‐level.

Research limitations/implications

The intervention is bounded by a Canada‐specific socio‐cultural/political context. Design variables and antecedent conditions may not be present and/or readily replicated in other nation‐state contexts. The findings suggest opportunities for future integrative and applied health services and policy research, including collaborative inquiry that weaves together concepts from adult learning, social science and industrial engineering.

Practical implications

Scaling‐up for new capacity is ideally approached as a holistic, multi‐faceted process which considers the total assets within delivery systems, service catchments and communities as potentially being engaged and deployed.

Originality/value

The Pallium Integrated Capacity‐building Initiative offers model elements useful to others seeking theory‐informed practices to rapidly and effectively scale‐up learning and development efforts.
Developing a public health leadership graduate program responsive to a global perspective
Authors: Zakariasen Kenneth , Zakariasen Victoroff Kristin , Karegyeya Gerald
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a new public health leadership graduate program, and the incorporation of a practical global perspective to health leadership education using contemporary organization development inquiry methods to develop a case‐based learning strategy using graduate student‐authored cases.

Design/methodology/approach

Case‐based curricula have been designed for the leadership and organizational change courses in the Public Health Leadership MPH Program that promote a global orientation and relevancy by having graduate students individually develop cases based on their experiences and observations in their own health care and social systems. They develop these cases using an extensive series of Appreciative Inquiry questions that focus on successful leadership practices, and the key stages involved in leading successful sustainable change. This method gives the students a framework to analyze leadership and leading change cases from the perspective of what the leaders they have observed did well and what they could have changed to have been more effective.

Findings

The student‐authored leadership and leading change case‐studies, based on an Appreciative Inquiry question strategy, indicate that this approach is indeed helpful in meeting the adopted mandate of making the leadership training curriculum relevant not only to Canadians, but also to those international graduate students who come from widely differing health and social systems.

Practical implications

The design of this leadership program appears to have real potential in facilitating graduate students to understand how leadership practices and leading change processes are applicable both within the context of their own health care and social systems, and through encouraging a class‐wide global perspective by learning from each other's unique case studies.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates how principles from organization development inquiry methods can be used to customize case‐study learning to bring global perspective to health leadership education.
Education for safe motherhood: a Save the Mothers' advocacy initiative
Authors: Chamberlain Jean , Watt Susan
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The provision of and access to healthcare for pregnant women is a complicated labyrinth of social and health‐related issues. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a new approach by the Save the Mothers organization to stimulate changes leading to safer and healthier pregnancies for Ugandan women using a Master of Public Health Leadership (MPHL) as the mechanism for education, advocacy, and network development.

Design/methodology/approach

Save the Mothers developed and supports a modular, post‐graduate, multi‐disciplinary MPHL. This training is designed to develop public health leaders who create transformative local projects and networks of professionals advocating for safe motherhood and consequent decreased child mortality.

Findings

Students and graduates have begun to change the conditions in Uganda for women and children by promoting safe motherhood practices and policies. Examples include a journalist, a politician, a social worker, and a school principal who have brought the issues into their spheres of influence and practice. Measurement of the impact of this approach is ongoing.

Practical implications

This program provides a locally based, culturally appropriate approach to change, which could be adapted to a variety of other locales and development issues. This program permits practicing professionals to remain employed while undertaking advanced training, establishes the implementation of local projects, and links a graduate university program with diverse community leaders.

Originality/value

This unique approach within Africa may be a model for the development of multidisciplinary, education‐based initiatives to change conditions in developing countries using existing expertise and stimulating effective advancement through safe motherhood networks.
Assessing the capacity to produce health personnel in Rwanda
Authors: Dussault Gilles , Codjia Laurence , Kantengwga Kathy , Tulenko Kate
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study to assess the capacity of a poor country to scale‐up its production of health workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The assessment consisted of a survey of institutions training doctors, nurses and technicians in Rwanda. Data on student intake, teaching staff, infrastructures and equipment were collected directly from the institutions by questionnaire administered in person. Data for the qualitative assessment of current and future capacity of production were collected by interviews.

Findings

Physical capacity in terms of classrooms and dormitories was generally good, except at the Faculty of Medicine. Laboratories and libraries were considered inadequate everywhere. Few national teachers hold a PhD and dependence on foreign trainers is high. Nursing teachers' training is also insufficient, particularly in pedagogy. As trainers are young, providing them with additional training should be easier. All institutions reported insufficient budgets. Managerial competencies are not developed. There is no licensing mechanism to ensure quality maintenance.

Research limitations/implications

There is no validated data base on training institutions and the research had to rely on self‐reported statistics and other information.

Practical implications

A rapid increase in the production of health personnel would be difficult in the current conditions. Production strengthening should involve stakeholders from training institutions, and include measures to motivate and retain trainers, and to improve the quality of training.

Originality/value

The authors are not aware of similar studies in low income countries. Their methodology can be of interest to researchers and policy‐makers who do not have access to baseline data.
The human development index as a criterion for optimal planning
Authors: Engineer Merwan , King Ian , Roy Nilanjana
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The human development index (HDI) and gender‐related development index (GDI) have become accepted as leading measures for ranking human well being in different countries. The purpose of this paper is to identify the planning policies that improve these indices and to also suggest modifications to the indices that yield more sensible policies.Design/methodology/approach – This paper solves the first‐best welfare problem in which the planner maximizes a development index subject to resource constraints.Findings – Planning strategies that maximize the HDI tend towards minimizing consumption and maximizing expenditures on education and health. Interestingly, such strategies also tend towards equitable allocations, even though inequality aversion is not modelled in the HDI. The paper shows that the GDI generates optimal plans with similar properties, and determine when the GDI and HDI generate consistent optimal plans. A problematic feature of the optimal plans is that the income component in the HDI (or GDI) does not play its intended role of securing resources for a decent standard of living. Rather, it acts to distort the allocation between health and education expenditure. The paper argues that it is better to drop income from the index. Alternatively, the paper considers net income, income net of education and health expenditures, as indicating capabilities not already reflected in the index. Finally, it compares how the modified indices and the HDI rank countries.Originality/value – The paper is believed to be the first to integrate development indices into national development planning.
Open economy inflation targeting arrangements and monetary policy rules
Authors: Cavoli Tony , Rajan Ramkishen S.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether India is a suitable candidate for an inflation targeting regime. It begins by placing India's monetary policy actions in a broader context by discussing whether the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should shift from its current policy of heavily managed exchange rates to one involving greater currency flexibility. If the latter is chosen, the selection of inflation targeting would appear an appropriate one.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has analytical, empirical and policy dimensions. Given the recent history of exchange rate centered policy in India, a discussion of the role of the exchange rate is needed. This is presented by the use of an analytical model where we examine how inflation targeting might work with the exchange rate. Then the decision rule from the model (a monetary policy rule (MPR)) is adapted for empirical testing and is estimated to investigate whether an MPR that follows inflation targeting can work for India.

Findings

There is some evidence to suggest that the RBI follows an MPR quite inadvertently. The MPR (interest rates) tends to react to current inflation, but there is no evidence that it reacts to forecasts of inflation. Additionally, interest rates do not react at all to the exchange rate.

Originality/value

The RBI's operating policy framework and whether it should adopt an inflation targeting arrangement is a highly topical issue that has attracted a great deal of attention in policy discussions in India. Very few papers broach this topic systematically and combine the analytical and empirical considerations.
Analysis of the phylogenetic position of Acanthocardamum erinaceum (Brassicaceae) based on ITS‐sequences shows that it should be transferred to Aethionema as A. erinaceum.
Authors: Reza Khosravi Ahmad , Mohsenzadeh Sasan , Mummenhoff Klaus
Published: October 2008

Acanthocardamum is a monotypic genus in the Brassicaceae restricted to the alpine region of the Zagros mountains in Iran. Earlier authors have suggested the genus to be close to either Lepidium or Aethionema. To elucidate the systematic position of the genus, ITS sequence data of Acanthocardamum erinaceum were analyzed together with representatives of the tribes Aethionemeae and Lepidieae. Our molecular analysis clearly demonstrates that A. erinaceum is not close to Lepidium or to other representatives of tribe Lepidieae, but is instead nested within Aethionema. Based on these molecular results and a reevaluation of morphological data, we transfer Acanthocardamumerinaceum to Aethionema as A. erinaceum (Boiss.) Khosravi & Mummenhoff.
Long‐term effects of the Focus on Families project on substance use disorders among children of parents in methadone treatment
Authors: Haggerty Kevin P. , Skinner Martie , Fleming Charles B. , Gainey Randy R. , Catalano Richard F.
Published: October 2008

Aims  This study examines the efficacy of the Focus on Families project (currently called Families Facing the Future), a preventive intervention to reduce substance use disorders among children in families with a parent in methadone treatment.

Design  One hundred and thirty families were assigned randomly to a methadone clinic treatment‐as‐usual control condition or treatment‐as‐usual plus the Focus on Families intervention between 1991 and 1993.

Setting  Participants were recruited from two methadone clinics in the Pacific Northwest.

Participants  This study examines the development of substance use disorders among the 177 children (56.84% male) involved in the program using data from a long‐term follow‐up in 2005, when these participants ranged in age from 15 to 29 years.

Intervention  The intervention was delivered through group parent‐training workshops at the methadone clinics and through individualized home‐based services. The intervention taught parenting skills and skills for avoiding relapse to drug abuse.

Measurements  At long‐term follow‐up, substance use disorders were measured by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Survival analyses were used to assess intervention versus control differences in the hazard of developing substance use disorders.

Findings  Overall, intervention and control participants did not differ significantly in risk of developing substance use disorders. However, there was evidence of a significant difference in intervention effect by gender. There was a significant reduction in the risk of developing a substance use disorder for intervention group males compared to control group males (hazard ratio = 0.53, P = 0.03), while intervention versus control differences among females were non‐significant and favored the control condition.

Conclusions  Results from this study suggest that helping parents in recovery focus on both reducing their drug use and improving their parenting skills may have long‐term effects on reducing substance use disorders among their male children. However, the overall long‐term benefits of this program are not supported by the results for female children.
Early‐onset depressive disorders predict the use of addictive substances in adolescence: a prospective study of adolescent Finnish twins
Authors: Sihvola Elina , Rose Richard J. , Dick Danielle M. , Pulkkinen Lea , Marttunen Mauri , Kaprio Jaakko
Published: October 2008

Aims  To explore the developmental relationships between early‐onset depressive disorders and later use of addictive substances.

Design, setting and participants  A sample of 1545 adolescent twins was drawn from a prospective, longitudinal study of Finnish adolescent twins with baseline assessments at age 14 years and follow‐up at age 17.5 years.

Measurements  At baseline, DSM‐IV diagnoses were assessed with a professionally administered adolescent version of Semi‐Structured Assessment for Genetics of Alcoholism (C‐SSAGA‐A). At follow‐up, substance use outcomes were assessed via self‐reported questionnaire.

Findings  Early‐onset depressive disorders predicted daily smoking [odds ratio (OR) 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49–3.50, P < 0.001], smokeless tobacco use (OR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.32–3.04, P = 0.001), frequent illicit drug use (OR = 4.71, 95% CI 1.95–11.37, P = 0.001), frequent alcohol use (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.04–3.92, P = 0.037) and recurrent intoxication (OR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.18–2.85, P = 0.007) 3 years later. ORs remained significant after adjustment for comorbidity and exclusion of baseline users. In within‐family analysis of depression‐discordant co‐twins (analyses that control for shared genetic and familial background factors), early‐onset depressive disorders at age 14 predicted significantly frequent use of smokeless tobacco and alcohol at age 17.5.

Conclusions  Our results suggest important predictive associations between early‐onset depressive disorders and addictive substance use, and these associations appear to be independent of shared familial influences.
Review article: intra‐oesophageal impedance monitoring for the assessment of bolus transit and gastro‐oesophageal reflux
Authors: CONCHILLO J. M. , SMOUT A. J.
Published: October 2008

Background  Intra‐oesophageal impedance monitoring can be used to assess the clearance of a swallowed bolus (oesophageal transit) and to detect gastro‐oesophageal reflux independent of its acidity.

Aim  To discuss the clinical application of the impedance technique for the assessment of bolus transit and gastro‐oesophageal reflux.

Methods  Review of the literature on intra‐oesophageal impedance monitoring of bolus transit and gastro‐oesophageal reflux.

Results  Using impedance criteria, normal oesophageal bolus clearance can be defined as complete clearance of at least 80% of liquid boluses and at least 70% of viscous boluses. Impedance recording identifies oesophageal function abnormalities in non‐obstructive dysphagia patients and in patients with postfundoplication dysphagia. The impedance technique seems to be less suitable for the most severe end of the dysphagia spectrum like achalasia. Intra‐oesophageal impedance monitoring detects reflux events independent of the pH of the refluxate, which allows identification of non‐acid reflux episodes. In addition, use of impedance monitoring enables assessment of the composition (liquid, gas, mixed) and proximal extent of the refluxate. Combined impedance–pH monitoring is more accurate than pH alone for the detection of both acid and weakly acidic reflux. Furthermore, addition of impedance monitoring to pH increases the yield of symptom association analysis both in patients off and on proton pump inhibitor therapy.

Conclusions  Intra‐oesophageal impedance monitoring is a feasible technique for the assessment of bolus transit and gastro‐oesophageal reflux. Combined impedance–manometry provides clinically important information about oesophageal function abnormalities and combined impedance–pH monitoring identifies the relationship between symptoms and all types of reflux events regarding acidity and composition.
Small bowel polyps and tumours: endoscopic detection and treatment by double‐balloon enteroscopy
Authors: FRY L. C. , NEUMANN H. , KUESTER D. , KUHN R. , BELLUTTI M. , MALFERTHEINER P. , MONKEMULLER K.
Published: October 2008

Background  Double‐balloon enteroscopy has allowed us not only to inspect deeply the small bowel but also to carry out interventions for diseases of the small bowel.

Aim  To evaluate the utility of double‐balloon enteroscopy for the diagnosis and therapy of these lesions.

Methods  All patients undergoing double‐balloon enteroscopy for evaluation of small bowel polyps and tumours during a 3.75‐year period at a university referral hospital were studied. The types of polyps and tumours as well as endoscopic technique of removal, surgery and complications were documented.

Results  The incidence of small bowel polyps and tumours in‐patients undergoing DBE was 9.6%. A total of 40 double‐balloon enteroscopy procedures were performed in 29 patients [13 female (44.8%), mean age 51 years, range 22–74]. The following lesions were found most frequently: adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome, n = 8; hamartomas, n = 4 (Peutz‐Jeghers and Cronkhite Canada syndromes), jejunal adenocarcinoma n = 5, neuroendocrine tumour n = 4 and others n = 6.

Conclusions  The incidence of small bowel tumours in those in‐patients who were undergoing double‐balloon enteroscopy was 10%. Double‐balloon enteroscopy is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel polyps and tumours.
TACI‐Ig prevents the development of airway hyperresponsiveness in a murine model of asthma
Authors: Bilsborough J. , Chadwick E. , Mudri S. , Ye X. , Henderson W. R. , Waggie K. , Hebb L. , Shin J. , Rixon M. , Gross J. A. , Dillon S. R.
Published: October 2008

Background
Increased levels of serum IgE are associated with greater asthma prevalence and disease severity. IgE depletion using an anti‐IgE monoclonal antibody has met with success in the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe and severe persistent allergic asthma.

Objective
To test whether B cell‐targeted therapy is a more effective treatment for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in a murine model compared with IgE‐depletion.

Methods
We delivered soluble mTACI‐Ig, a receptor for the B cell survival factors BLyS (B Lymphocyte Stimulator) and APRIL (A PRoliferation‐Inducing Ligand), or anti‐IgE to allergen‐sensitized mice before airway challenge with allergen.

Results
mTACI‐Ig treatment reduced circulating mature B cell levels in the blood, while anti‐IgE treatment had no effect on B cell counts. Both mTACI‐Ig and anti‐IgE decreased the levels of total and allergen‐specific IgE in the serum. Histopathologic analysis of lungs showed a reduction in disease severity scores for both treatment groups, but results were more pronounced in mTACI‐Ig‐treated mice. Neutrophil and eosinophil numbers in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were significantly reduced following mTACI‐Ig treatment, but not after anti‐IgE delivery. BLyS and APRIL blockade also resulted in a significant decrease in IL‐4 and eotaxin mRNA and IL‐4 and KC protein levels in total lung homogenates and BAL fluid, respectively. Finally, mTACI‐Ig treatment was more effective than anti‐IgE treatment in reducing AHR to inhaled antigen.

Conclusions
Our data demonstrate that delivery of mTACI‐Ig is a more effective treatment than anti‐IgE mAb in a murine model of AHR.
The Dawn Phenomenon Is Related To Overnight Growth Hormone Release In Adolescent Diabetics
Authors: Edge J. A. , Matthews D. R. , Dunger D. B.
Published: October 2008

We have investigated the relation between nocturnal insulin requirements and nocturnal growth hormone (GH) release in 26 diabetic adolescents at various puberty stages and have examined the effect of nocturnal GH suppression on pre‐breakfast insulin requirement. In all the studies, euglycaemia was maintained overnight using a computer‐calculated variable‐rate insulin infusion, and 15‐min blood samples were collected for GH assay. During initial clamp studies, insulin infusion rates were greater from 0500–0800 h (15.22 ± 0.95 mU/kg/h, mean ± SEM) than from 0100–0400 h (12.42 ± 0.84 mU/kg/h, P < 0.001). The increase in insulin infusion rate correlated with mean overnight GH concentration (r = 0.68, P < 0.001), and was maximal at puberty stage 3 in both sexes. In seven of the subjects, a second identical clamp was performed following administration of 100 mg oral pirenzepine. During these studies, mean overnight GH levels were reduced by 11–85%, from 17.6 ± 1.6 to 7.5 ± 2.2 mU/l; P < 0.01. Insulin requirements were not significantly different between the periods 0100–0400 and 0500–0800 h during these studies, and the reduction in pre‐breakfast (0500–0800 h) insulin requirement when compared with the baseline studies correlated with the fall in GH secretion (r, = 0.82, P < 0.01). The dawn increase in insulin requirement in adolescents with IDDM is related to the overnight GH secretion during puberty, and pre‐breakfast insulin requirement can be reduced by suppressing nocturnal GH release.
Tsh Secretion In Cushing's Syndrome: Relation To Glucocorticoid Excess, Diabetes, Goitre, And The ‘Sick Euthyroid Syndrome’
Authors: Benker Georg , Raida Martin , Olbricht Thomas , Wagner Richard , Reinhardt Walter , Reinwein Dankwart
Published: October 2008

Thyrotrophin (TSH) secretion was studied in 63 patients with Cushing's syndrome (53 patients with pituitary dependent Cushing's disease, eight with adrenocortical tumours, and two with the ectopic ACTH syndrome). Prior to treatment, TSH response to 200 μg of TRH intravenously was significantly decreased compared to controls; TSH response was ‘flat’ (increment < 2 mU/l) in 34 patients (54%). Patients with a flat response to TRH had significantly higher morning and midnight cortisol levels than patients with a TSH response of 2 mU/l and more; this was not due to differences in serum thyroid hormone levels. Basal TSH, TSH increment after TRH, and stimulated TSH value, but not serum triiodothyronine, were correlated with cortisol measurements (0800 h serum cortisol, midnight cortisol, and urinary free corticoid excretion). After exclusion of 40 patients with additional disease (severe systemic disease, diabetes mellitus, or goitre), cortisol ‐ TSH correlations were even more pronounced (r = ‐0.73 for midnight cortisol and stimulated TSH levels), while in the patients with additional complications, these correlations were slight or absent. Successful treatment in 20 patients was associated with a rise in thyroid hormone levels and the TSH response to TRH. These results indicate that (1) the corticoid excess but not serum T3 is the principal factor regulating TSH secretion in Cushing's syndrome, (2) a totally flat response to TRH is rare, and (3) TSH suppression and lower than normal serum thyroid hormone levels are reversible after treatment. Since factors like severe systemic disease, diabetes mellitus and goitre also affect TSH secretion, they tend to obscure the statistically significant correlations between cortisol excess and TSH secretion.
Quantification of individual phosphorus species in sediment: a sequential conversion and extraction method
Authors: Oxmann J. F. , Pham Q. H. , Lara R. J.
Published: October 2008

Common sequential phosphorus (P) extraction methods are not specific to particular chemical species and have several limitations. This work presents the first chemical method for quantification of individual mineral and sorbed P species. It was developed by combining a conversion technique with a sequential extraction procedure. Mangrove sediments with different characteristics were incubated in pH‐adjusted 0.01 M CaCl2 with and without reference material additions of octacalcium phosphate (Ca8H2(PO4)6·5H2O; OCP), hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH), strengite (FePO4·2H2O) or variscite (AlPO4·2H2O). The changes in soluble phosphate concentration were measured in the supernatant solution, while pH‐induced variations in P composition were determined by subsequent sequential extraction of the sediments. Dissolved phosphate concentration was controlled by adsorption below pH 7.8. Above this pH, soluble phosphate concentration was governed by OCP, which was qualitatively determined by plotting the experimental values of pH + pH2PO4 and pH – 0.5 pCa on a solubility diagram including the isotherms of known crystalline phosphate compounds. In contrast to the often‐predicted slow dissolution rate of crystalline phosphates in soils or sediments, drastic changes in P composition by dissolution, precipitation and adsorption processes were detected after 7 days. These were mainly not observed indirectly by changes in dissolved phosphate through adsorption effects, but were determined quantitatively by subsequent sequential extraction, thus enabling the quantification of individual species. Evaluation of the method was performed by standard addition experiments. Besides P species quantification, the method provides the means for other applications, such as the determination of P mineral dissolution kinetics in soils and sediments, the prediction of P composition in changing environmental settings and the refinement of theoretical models of phosphate solubility in soil and sedimentary environments.
Competition in a Precambrian world: palaeoecology of Ediacaran fronds
Authors: Laflamme Marc , Narbonne Guy M.
Published: October 2008

Leaf‐shaped Ediacaran fronds are among the most widespread and readily recognized members of the terminal Neoproterozoic Ediacara Biota. Ediacaran fronds gathered nutrients from the water column through filter feeding or direct nutrient absorption, resulting in the onset of modern‐style ecological competition complete with denizens occupying distinct tiers in the water column. It is believed that the frond shape most likely represents a common need to elevate a feeding apparatus higher in the water‐column to feed from the upper (> 20 cm) tiers. Therefore, the frond shape represents a shared ecology, not ancestry.
Salt terrains of Iran
Authors: Waltham Tony
Published: October 2008

Salt only survives at outcrop in desert climates, and southern Iran has more than its share of salt mountains created by rising diapirs. With their white salt cliffs and creeping salt glaciers, these constitute amazing landscapes with collapsing dolines that feed into spectacularly decorated caves.
Haemophilia, aging and sexuality
Authors: GIANOTTEN W. L. , HEIJNEN L.
Published: October 2008

Summary.  The older generation of patients with haemophilia still has musculoskeletal problems which limit activities and participation. One important aspect of male aging is the changes in sexuality. Sexual desire can be disturbed by fatigue, low testosterone or pain. Sexual excitement (erection) may be influenced by diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, hypertension and side effects of antihypertensive and antiviral medication. Sexual response problems can be caused by antidepressant medication. In aging haemophiliacs arthropathy, iliopsoas muscle bleeding, chronic hepatitis C and HIV medications influence sexuality. The haemophilia care professionals should communicate proactively, give information on various practical aspects of sexuality (suggest suitable positions, recommend painkillers, reflect on prescribing erection‐enhancing medication, refer to a sexology expert).
Neutrophil mobilization and clearance in the bone marrow
Authors: Furze Rebecca C. , Rankin Sara M.
Published: October 2008

The bone marrow is the site of neutrophil production, a process that is regulated by the cytokine granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF). Mature neutrophils are continually released into the circulation, with an estimated 1011 neutrophils exiting the bone marrow daily under basal conditions. These leucocytes have a short half‐life in the blood of ∼6·5 hr, and are subsequently destroyed in the spleen, liver and indeed the bone marrow itself. Additionally, mature neutrophils are retained in the bone marrow by the stromal cell‐derived factor (SDF‐1α)/chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) chemokine axis and form the bone marrow reserve. Following infection or inflammatory insult, neutrophil release from the bone marrow reserve is substantially elevated and this process is mediated by the co‐ordinated actions of cytokines and chemokines. In this review we discuss the factors and molecular mechanisms regulating the neutrophil mobilization and consider the mechanisms and functional significance of neutrophil clearance via the bone marrow.
Erythropoietin‐mediated tissue protection: reducing collateral damage from the primary injury response
Authors: Brines M. , Cerami A.
Published: October 2008

In its classic hormonal role, erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidney and regulates the number of erythrocytes within the circulation to provide adequate tissue oxygenation. EPO also mediates other effects directed towards optimizing oxygen delivery to tissues, e.g. modulating regional blood flow and reducing blood loss by promoting thrombosis within damaged vessels. Over the past 15 years, many unexpected nonhaematopoietic functions of EPO have been identified. In these more recently appreciated nonhormonal roles, locally‐produced EPO signals through a different receptor isoform and is a major molecular component of the injury response, in which it counteracts the effects of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Acutely, EPO prevents programmed cell death and reduces the development of secondary, pro‐inflammatory cytokine‐induced injury. Within a longer time frame, EPO provides trophic support to enable regeneration and healing. As the region immediately surrounding damage is typically relatively deficient in endogenous EPO, administration of recombinant EPO can provide increased tissue protection. However, effective use of EPO as therapy for tissue injury requires higher doses than for haematopoiesis, potentially triggering serious adverse effects. The identification of a tissue‐protective receptor isoform has facilitated the engineering of nonhaematopoietic, tissue‐protective EPO derivatives, e.g. carbamyl EPO, that avoid these complications. Recently, regions within the EPO molecule mediating tissue protection have been identified and this has enabled the development of potent tissue‐protective peptides, including some mimicking EPO’s tertiary structure but unrelated in primary sequence.
A Genomic Analysis of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Hippocampus and Neocortex of the Developing Rat Brain
Authors: Royland J. E. , Parker J. S. , Gilbert M. E.
Published: October 2008

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy and the early postnatal period has severe neurological consequences for the developing offspring. The impact of milder degrees of perturbation of the thyroid axis as encompassed in conditions of subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia, however, has not been established. The present investigation examined the effects of graded levels of hypothyroidism, from subclinical to severe, on global gene expression in the developing rodent brain. Thyroid hormone insufficiency was induced by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) to pregnant rats via drinking water from gestational day 6 until sacrifice of pups prior to weaning. In the first study a specialised microarray, the Affymetrix Rat Neurobiology array RN_U34, was used to contrast gene expression in the hippocampus of animals exposed to 0 or 10 ppm (10 mg/l) PTU, a treatment producing severe hypothyroidism. In the second study, a more complete genome array (Affymetrix Rat 230A) was used to compare gene expression in the neocortex and hippocampus of postnatal day (PN) 14 animals experiencing graded degrees of thyroid hormone insufficiency induced by delivery of 0, 1, 2 or 3 ppm PTU to the dam. Dose‐dependent up‐ and down‐regulation were observed for gene transcripts known to play critical roles in brain development and brain function. Expression levels of a subset of approximately 25 genes in each brain region were altered at a dose of PTU (1 ppm) that induced mild hypothyroxinemia in dams and pups. These data indicate that genes driving important developmental processes are sensitive to relatively modest perturbations of the thyroid axis, and that the level of gene expression is related to the degree of hormone reduction. Altered patterns of gene expression during critical windows of brain development indicate that thyroid disease must be viewed as a continuum and that conditions typically considered ‘subclinical’ may induce structural and functional abnormalities in the developing central nervous system.
Death of Hypothalamic Astrocytes in Poorly Controlled Diabetic Rats is Associated with Nuclear Translocation of Apoptosis Inducing Factor
Authors: García‐Cáceres C. , Lechuga‐Sancho A. , Argente J. , Frago L. M. , Chowen J. A.
Published: October 2008

Astrocytes in the hypothalamus of poorly controlled diabetic rats are reduced in number, due to increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation, and undergo morphological changes, including a decrease in projections. These changes are associated with modifications in synaptic proteins and most likely affect neuroendocrine signalling and function. The present study aimed to determine the intracellular mechanisms underlying this increase in hypothalamic cell death. Adult male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (70 mg/kg, i.p) and controls received vehicle. Rats were killed at 1, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after diabetes onset (glycaemia > 300 mg/dl). Cell death, as detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, increased at 4 weeks of diabetes. Immunohistochemistry and terminal dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) assays indicated that these cells corresponded to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive cells. No significant change in fragmentation of caspases 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 12 was observed with western blot analysis. However, enzymatic assays indicated that caspase 3 activity increased significantly after 1 week of diabetes and decreased below control levels thereafter. In the hypothalamus, cell bodies lining the third ventricle, fibres radiating from the third ventricle and GFAP positive cells expressed fragmented caspase 3, with this labelling increasing at 1 week of diabetes. However, because no nuclear labelling was observed and this increase in activity did not correlate temporally with the increased cell death, this caspase may not be involved in astrocyte death. By contrast, nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) increased significantly in astrocytes in parallel with the increase in death and AIF was found in TUNEL positive cells. Thus, nuclear translocation of AIF could underlie the increased death, whereas fragmentation of caspase 3 could be associated with the morphological changes found in hypothalamic astrocytes of diabetic rats.
Changes in Prodynorphin Gene Expression and Neuronal Morphology in the Hypothalamus of Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Rometo A. M. , Rance N. E.
Published: October 2008

Human menopause is characterised by ovarian failure, gonadotrophin hypersecretion and hypertrophy of neurones expressing neurokinin B (NKB), kisspeptin (KiSS)‐1 and oestrogen receptor (ER) α gene transcripts within the hypothalamic infundibular (arcuate) nucleus. In the arcuate nucleus of experimental animals, dynorphin, an opioid peptide, is colocalised with NKB, kisspeptin, ERα and progesterone receptors. Moreover, ovariectomy decreases the expression of prodynorphin gene transcripts in the arcuate nucleus of the ewe. Therefore, we hypothesised that the hypertrophied neurones in the infundibular nucleus of postmenopausal women would express prodynorphin mRNA and that menopause would be accompanied by changes in prodynorphin gene transcripts. In the present study,in situhybridisation was performed on hypothalamic sections from premenopausal and postmenopausal women using a radiolabelled cDNA probe targeted to prodynorphin mRNA. Autoradiography and computer‐assisted microscopy were used to map and count labelled neurones, measure neurone size and compare prodynorphin gene expression between premenopausal and postmenopausal groups. Neurones expressing dynorphin mRNA in the infundibular nucleus of the postmenopausal women were larger and exhibited hypertrophied morphological features. Moreover, there were fewer neurones labelled with the prodynorphin probe in the infundibular nucleus of the postmenopausal group compared to the premenopausal group. The number of dynorphin mRNA‐expressing neurones was also reduced in the medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area of postmenopausal women without changes in cell size. No differences in cell number or size of dynorphin mRNA‐expressing neurones were observed in any other hypothalamic region. Previous studies using animal models provide strong evidence that the changes in prodynorphin neuronal size and gene expression in postmenopausal women are secondary to the ovarian failure of menopause. Given the inhibitory effect of dynorphin on the reproductive axis, decreased dynorphin gene expression could play a role in the elevation in luteinising hormone secretion that occurs in postmenopausal women.