bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facilities management: lost, or regained?
Authors: Drion Bernard , Melissen Frans , Wood Roy
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to examine the continuing debate over the nature, scope and definition of facilities management and the implications of FM practice in the field of outsourcing for the development of the field and the profession.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers both a conceptual review of key issues in the definition of facilities management and a critique of these definitions in the context of the popular identity of facilities management as a means of generating cost savings through outsourcing.

Findings

The discussion asserts that, perhaps contrary to the many published doubts expressed over the possibility of achieving consensus on the scope of facilities management, an emerging and broadly consensual model of facilities management can be discerned. This model, it is suggested, is inhibited from further development primarily because of a lack of leadership in the professional and academic communities together with a preoccupation by necessity of the FM profession with operational imperatives.

Originality/value

The paper, through synthesis and critique, offers a variant perspective on the debate about the nature of facilities management.
Do switching costs really provide a first‐mover advantage?
Authors: Molina‐Castillo Francisco‐Jose , Rodriguez‐Escudero Ana‐Isabel , Munuera‐Aleman Jose‐Luis
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to present a model that compares the switching costs that consumers face when they buy pioneering and follower products.

Design/methodology/approach

A study of 255 new products indicates that switching costs are actually higher when switching from an existing product to a pioneering product.

Findings

The study shows that people who buy a pioneering product may also face switching costs, if the pioneering product is launched in an existing category where consumers are already familiar with similar products.

Research limitations/implications

The results help to reinforce the view that first movers have advantages and demonstrate that switching costs do not lead to a higher level of consumer retention.

Practical implications

This study provides interesting managerial implications on how to launch new products more effectively when they suffer from switching costs..

Originality/value

Researchers commonly view switching costs as a barrier to market entry that protects enterprises that launch pioneering products and gives them a competitive advantage over those that launch follower products. The underlying idea is that people only experience switching costs when they change to a different follower product, rather than when they purchase a pioneering product instead of the product that they usually purchase.
Inequality aversion, social discount, and time discount rates
Authors: Ida Takanori , Ogawa Kazuhito
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to conduct a hypothetical dictator game with social distance and time delays using conjoint analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Responses from 1,347 Japanese adults are collected through an online survey, and their responses are analyzed using a random parameter logit model.

Findings

The paper finds that social preference for the present income of a stranger equals social preference for the income of an acquaintance 140 days later, of a close friend 224 days later, and of a family member 255 days later.

Originality/value

The paper simultaneously estimates social preference parameters, including the inequality aversion rate, the social discount rate, and the time discount rate.
Advancing entrepreneurial marketing
Authors: Sullivan Mort Gillian , Weerawardena Jay , Liesch Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to advance the domain of entrepreneurial marketing (EM) responding to the challenge to EM scholars to more fully develop EM as a school of marketing thought. The paper seeks to argue that the context of the born global firm is an appropriate and novel context in which to undertake this research.

Design/methodology/approach

The need to examine the processes of EM justifies the use of case study method. In total, nine born global firms, located in the three most populous states in Australia: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, were selected for study. The firms were drawn from hi‐tech and low‐tech industry sectors, and included online businesses, in an attempt to capture maximum theoretical variation.

Findings

The analysis identifies the four key strategies of entrepreneurial marketing as comprising opportunity creation, customer intimacy‐based innovative products, resource enhancement and importantly, legitimacy. These core strategies of EM are identified by mapping to enhanced performance.

Research limitations/implications

Some may consider the born global context a limitation. Therefore, it is suggested that further empirical research could be undertaken on other cohorts of small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), such as service SMEs, to provide increased insight into the strategies and practices in the domain of EM. Quantitative research to operationalize the EM construct and model theoretical relationships is also suggested.

Originality/value

This paper advances the domain of EM into a new phase by empirically identifying four core strategies of EM. It finds that EM contributes to the achievement of superior performance in small firms through purposeful strategy based an effectuation approach.
Using popular movies in teaching cross‐cultural management
Authors: Pandey Satish
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The present study aims to understand context and dynamics of cognitive learning of students as an outcome of the usage of popular movies as a learning tool in the management classroom and specifically in the context of a course on cross‐cultural management issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory study based on qualitative analysis of reflection notes of 14 students who participated in an elective course on “managing cross‐cultural issues (MCCI)” in the second year of their MBA programme. Students were asked to submit reflection notes focused on classroom learning as an outcome of the course MCCI with specific reference to used movies Outsourced and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Students' reactions in their reflection notes were analyzed through qualitative content analysis.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that students found selected movies very relevant and effective in learning cross‐cultural theories, issues and developing cross‐cultural competence. They also enjoyed movies as learning experience in the classroom. Both instructor's observations and students' reactions regarding the effectiveness of movies as classroom learning tool are very positive.

Practical implications

Popular movies, if appropriately selected and included in cross‐cultural training programmes for expatriate managers, immigrant workers and managers who travel to different countries, could be very useful as a learning tool for developing multicultural perspective and cross‐cultural competence.

Originality/value

This paper could be very useful to academicians and researchers who want to use popular movies as an instructional or research tool for exploring the psychodynamics of classroom learning in management and social sciences courses or professional training programmes focused on cross‐cultural management skills, global leadership skills, diversity management.
A whole new world: using international information sources
Authors: Iuliano Ava
Published: March 2012

Purpose – ‐‐ This paper aims to introduce readers to international governmental information sources.Design/methodology/approach ‐‐ The paper offers an introduction to international information sources and research methods as well as governmental structural information while providing an overview of the United Nations and European Union as well as several other sources.Findings ‐‐ International information comprises governmental, intergovernmental and non‐governmental sources. Knowledge of government structures with regard to international governments can provide guidance in locating specific governmental information.Research limitations/implications ‐‐ Due to myriad information sources, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive overview of international governmental sources. Also, technology and changing governments add to the challenge of becoming familiar with informational sources in a shortened amount of time.Originality/value ‐‐ This paper provides an introduction to international governmental sources for the general reference librarian with the ultimate purpose of providing clarity and confidence when offering international governmental reference services.
Enhancing the teaching‐learning process: a knowledge management approach
Authors: Bhusry Mamta , Ranjan Jayanthi
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for knowledge management (KM) in the teaching‐learning process in technical educational institutions (TEIs) in India, and to assert the impact of information technology (IT) based KM intervention in the teaching‐learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of the paper is basically conceptual and descriptive. The paper studies the role of KM in facilitating knowledge sharing among stakeholders in TEIs in India and elaborates on the need for knowledge management in the teaching‐learning process. A KM framework for enhancement of knowledge sharing by the use of shared intellectual repositories (IRs) is proposed for the enhancement of teaching and learning in technical educational institutions in India.

Findings

The authors value the impact that KM can have in enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in TEIs, and underscore the need for credible research into the benefits and challenges that the implementation of IT‐based KM intervention will provide.

Research limitations/implications

The paper emphasizes the urgent need for improvement in quality of education in TEIs in India using the tools and processes of knowledge management. The importance of the proposed framework lies in augmenting the teaching‐learning process, improving productivity, enhancing communication among academia, researchers and professionals, enhancing student perception and understanding of subjects, and providing a common platform for pooling individual knowledge towards a common knowledge base.

Originality/value

The paper helps academicians to understand the importance of IT‐supported KM concepts, tools and practices towards quality teaching and learning. It provides useful inputs to TEIs, which must recognize that implementation of KM will influence knowledge sharing among faculty, researchers, practitioners, experts, professionals and students and enable quality education for students. Furthermore, the development of an IT‐based KM system will facilitate the promotion of institutional value in the competitive academic society. However there exists the need to evaluate the proposed framework in TEIs in India.
Forced convection in a wavy channel with discrete heat sources
Authors: Alawadhi Esam M. , Bourisliy Raed I.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper presents the heat transfer enhancement from discrete heat sources using a wavy channel.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite element method is utilized to solve the hydrodynamic/thermal problem. The considered geometry consists of a channel formed by two wavy plates with six discrete heat sources placed on upper and lower walls. The global objective is to maximize the heat transfer from the heat sources. The wavy channel enhances heat transfer from the heat sources through the modification of the flow pattern in the channel. The effects of the Reynolds number, Prandtl number, waviness of the wavy wall, and the location of the heat sources on the thermal characteristics of the flow are investigated.

Findings

Results indicate that the wavy channel significantly enhances the heat flow out of the heat sources, with heat sources located at the minimum channel cross sections having the best performance. The Nusselt number increases with an increase in Reynolds number and waviness of the wavy channel. The higher Prandtl number has a positive effect on the heat flow out of the heat sources. The heat transfer enhancement can reaches as high as 120 percent for high Reynolds numbers and waviness of the channel.

Originality/value

The combination of wavy plates and optimum placement of heat sources can lead to better, less expensive thermal management of heat sources in electronic devices.
Making learning and Web 2.0 technologies work for higher learning institutions in Africa
Authors: Lwoga Edda
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to assess the extent to which learning and Web 2.0 technologies are utilised to support learning and teaching in Africa's higher learning institutions, with a specific focus on Tanzania's public universities.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of content analysis and semi‐structured interviews was used to collect data. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ICT personnel from six of the eight public universities in Tanzania in 2011.

Findings

The study found that the adoption of e‐learning and Web 2.0 technologies is still in its infancy in Tanzania's public universities. However, there was much enthusiasm amongst respondents for developing the potential of e‐learning and Web 2.0 tools in their universities.

Practical implications

The study seeks to promote academic inquiry about the need for innovative Web 2.0 technologies in learning and teaching and the adoption of these emerging technologies in Africa's higher learning institutions.

Originality/value

The study provides empirical findings on the use of e‐learning and Web 2.0 for higher education, specifically in the Tanzanian context. The study provides a basis for further research on the use of Web 2.0 technologies in higher education.
Knowledge sharing and educational technology acceptance in online academic communities of practice
Authors: Nistor Nicolae , Baltes Beate , Schustek Monika
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Online programs rely on the use of educational technology for knowledge sharing in academic virtual communities of practice (vCoPs). This poses the question as to which factors influence technology acceptance. Previous research has investigated the inter‐relationship between educational technology acceptance (ETA) and the vCoP context insufficiently. Therefore, the paper at hand aims to propose a conceptual model of ETA in the vCoP frame.

Design/methodology/approach

To validate the proposed model, a correlation study was conducted in an academic vCoP at a German university. A sample of n=72 faculty members was surveyed regarding attitudes and perceptions towards knowledge sharing in vCoPs.

Findings

A regression analysis confirms the expected correlation between technology use intention and corresponding behavior. Further, participation in a vCoP influences technology use intention, and, in turn, is influenced by participants' experience with technology.

Research limitations/implications

Against expectations, participants' attitudes towards technology are weakly correlated with most model variables, thus warranting further research.

Practical implications

Virtual mentoring in online universities can be supported relying on central vCoP participants, who may be helpful initiators of knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

The proposed conceptual model enlarges the scientific understanding of technology‐enhanced learning in vCoPs.
Framework for understanding misleading information in daily shopping
Authors: Clement Jesper , Skovgaard Andersen Mette , O'Doherty Jensen Katherine
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of disagreement between companies and consumers with respect to misleading information and to make suggestions as to how the conflict might be resolved.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on qualitative research methods, the authors discuss possible grounds for controversies with respect to product information and present a possible framework, inspired by the work of Boltanski and Thévenot, for examining these controversies.

Findings

An analysis of arguments shows that consumer representatives and companies, not surprisingly, agree on general moral principles as, for instance, the importance of not lying about the product; however they tend to disagree about where the boundaries between acceptable and misleading information should be drawn in practice. The findings point to the fact that the differences might partly be explained by Boltanski and Thévenots' “orders of worth” and that this classification would seem to provide a fruitful tool for identifying the character and basis of differences of opinions regarding whether or not product information is deemed to be misleading and hence form the basis for a new tool in the management toolbox for testing potentially misleading information.

Research limitations/implications

The data behind the analysis are limited and retrieved in a Danish environment, for which reason more research should be carried out in order to broaden the perspectives of the research.

Practical implications

To reduce controversies the paper proposes a reciprocal recognition of the particular order of worth from which an assessment is made.

Originality/value

Qualitative methods, in this case the combination of qualitative interviews combined with an analysis of arguments, shed light on the core problem concerning misleading information.
Economic model for maintenance decision: a case study for mill liners
Authors: Dandotiya Rajiv , Lundberg Jan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Wear life of mill liners is an important parameter concerning maintenance decision for mill liners. Variations in process parameters such as different ore properties due to the use of multiple ore types influence the wear life of mill liners whereas random order of processing, processing time and monetary value of different ore types leads to variation in mill profitability. The purpose of the present paper is to develop an economic decision model considering the variations in process parameters and maintenance parameters for making more cost‐effective maintenance decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Correlation studies, experimental results and experience of industry experts are used for wear life modeling whereas simulation is used for maximizing mill profit to develop economic decision model. The weighting approach and simulation have been considered to emphasize the contribution of parameters such as ore value and processing time of a specific ore type to a final result.

Findings

A model for estimating lifetime of mill liners has been developed based on ore properties. The lifetime model is combined with a replacement interval model to determine the optimum replacement interval for the mill liners which considers process parameters of multiple ore types. The finding of the combined model results leads to a significant improvement in mill profit. The proposed combined model also shows that an optimum maintenance policy can not only reduce the downtime costs, but also affect the process performance, which leads to significant improvement in the savings of the ore dressing mill.

Practical implications

The proposed economic decision model is practically feasible and can be implemented within the ore dressing mill industries. Using the model, the cost‐effective maintenance decision can increase the profit of the organization significantly.

Originality/value

The novelty is that the new combined model is applicable and useful in replacement decision making for grinding mill liners, in complex environment, e.g. processing multiple ore types, different monetary value of the ore type and random order of ore processing.
World city growth model and empirical application of Beijing
Authors: Yongling Yao , Lushan Shi
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set up a growth model for a world city, in order to determine the roles of government and enterprises. With the model, the authors of this paper want to test the efficiencies between governmental and enterprise investment for the experience of Beijing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proves the contributions of enterprise and governmental investment for a world city by three assumptions. It then sets up a growth model for a world city by taking the variable of governmental investment instead of the labor variable in the Solow Growth Model. With C‐D function, the paper sets up an empirical growth model of the world city of Beijing by ordinary least squares (OLS) regression.

Findings

Results of OLS show that the elasticity of enterprises operating surplus to world city growth is bigger than the one of governmental expenditure to world city growth, which indicates that the investment ability of the private sector has more efficient effectiveness on a world city than governmental investment. Meanwhile, technological progress also has weak effectiveness for world city growth from the regression of C‐D function.

Practical implications

When the public and private sectors were taken into account for world city growth, the role of government investment is constructing a fair environment for enterprises' competition and encouraging innovation in the private sector, as well as enhancing efficient policy for innovation application in the private sector.

Originality/value

The paper sets up a growth model with the variables of private and public factors taking the place of the variable of labor in the Solow Growth Model with government investment. The model can be adopted to explain the dynamics of world city growth in a transition economy.
Marketing and technology strategies for innovative performance
Authors: Sicotte Hélène , Drouin Nathalie , Delerue Hélène
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine organizational project management (OPM) as an integrative mechanism to mediate marketing and technology strategies for innovative performance. In addition, the moderating effects of firm size and turbulence on the relationships between marketing strategy, technology strategy, OPM, and innovative performance are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used empirical data derived from a survey of 5,000 firms worldwide in fast‐paced R&D intensive sectors. Respondents were typically chief technology officers or senior R&D managers. Fisher test and moderated regression analysis were applied on 715 usable questionnaires.

Findings

Evidence is found that OPM has a positive effect on innovative performance; and intervenes in the relationship between both strategies and innovative performance. The results also show some moderating effects of turbulence.

Practical implications

Marketing and technology strategies impact innovative performance, but part of this influence is established through OPM. Thus, OPM appears to be a good vehicle to translate strategies into concrete results. Project management can no longer be viewed as just a tool. Instead, OPM should be viewed as a decentralized, distributed function that is not innovative as such, but which supports innovation.

Originality/value

To date, the research has not explored OPM as an alternative whereby firms can integrate marketing and technology strategies to drive innovative performance, even if the firm's ability to generate a stream of innovations has become increasingly important. Therefore, probing the OPM links become an interesting search.
The impact of government R&D investments on patent technology transfer activities of Chinese universities
Authors: Rao Kai , Meng Xian‐fei , Piccaluga Andrea
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Triple helix theory stresses co‐evolution and interaction among governments, enterprises and universities, and is paid great attention by governments, universities and enterprises worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role that Chinese government R&D investments play in the interaction between enterprises and universities.

Design/methodology/approach

Basing on provincial panel data of Chinese universities from 2004‐2010, the impact of government R&D investments on patent technology transfer activities of Chinese universities is studied by empirical analysis. More specifically, the paper examines the impact of both Chinese government R&D funding and national R&D programs on the number and the revenue of patent technology transfer contracts.

Findings

The study finds that the amount of government R&D funding and the number of 973 Programs in one region have significantly increased the number and the revenue of patent technology transfer contracts in that region. Moreover, the number of National S&T Pillar Programs, 863 Program and National Natural Science Foundation Program are also determinants of the number of patent technology transfer contracts.

Originality/value

This paper studies government's role in university‐enterprise patent technology transfer activities in a Chinese context. It reveals a government‐dominant position to promote patent technology transfer activities in Chinese triple helix model. It also provides a reference for decision makers in governments, industries and universities.
Government performance auditing demand research based on the neo‐institutional economics
Authors: Fan Hui
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, based on the institution change theory, is to analyze the factors which influence the auditees' demand for government performance auditing (GPA).

Design/methodology/approach

This study acquired the data by survey. The author investigated the government officials and the state‐owned enterprises and institutions' senior managers from 28 provinces and cities, then used the econometrics model to test the hypotheses.

Findings

By analyzing the survey data, it is found that the respondents who come from the region where the economy is less developed and the legislative level is lower have more demand for the performance auditing; the respondents' knowledge about the GPA has not increased their demand; the auditing penalty effects has negative impact on the demand for performance auditing and the organizational support has positive effects on their demand.

Research limitations/implications

The findings in this study suggest that there is not enough GPA supply in the region where the economy is less developed and the legislative level is lower, and that the auditees have not realized the benefits of GPA, although they know something about the GPA.

Practical implications

The national audit office and its branches should pay more attention to the region where the developmental level of GPA is lower and allocate the auditing resources more efficiently. The government officials should learn more about GPA to realize its benefits and distinguish GPA from the other kinds of government auditing, such as the financial revenues and expenditures auditing. Moreover, the government at all levels should give substantial support to GPA.

Originality/value

The paper empirically analyzes, for the first time, the government auditees' demand for GPA. The paper extends previous studies in this field by surveying auditees who have been neglected but have important impact on the development of GPA.
Genetic mapping of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis in a population ofNorthAmericanThoroughbreds
Authors: Fritz K. L. , McCue M. E. , Valberg S. J. , Rendahl A. K. , Mickelson J. R.
Published: March 2012

Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis is a heritable disorder that results in painful skeletal muscle cramping with exercise in up to 10% of all Thoroughbred racehorses. Here, we report a genome‐wide association study with 48 282SNPs analyzed among 48 case and 37 control Thoroughbreds. The most significantSNPs spanned approximately 13 Mb onECA16, and theP‐value of the most significantSNPafter correcting for population structure was 8.0 × 10−6. This region onECA16 was further evaluated by genotyping 247SNPs in both the initial population and a second population of 34 case and 98 control Thoroughbreds. SeveralSNPs across the 13‐Mb region onECA16 showed significance when each population was analyzed separately; however, the exact positions of the most significantSNPs within this region onECA16 varied between populations. This variability in location may be attributed to lack of power owing to insufficient sample sizes within each population individually, or to the relative distribution of long, conserved haplotypes, characteristic of the Thoroughbred breed. Future genome‐wide association studies with additional horses would likely improve the power to resolve casual loci located onECA16 and increase the likelihood of detecting any additional loci on other chromosomes contributing to disease susceptibility.
Nucleotide variability and haplotype heterogeneity at the porcine fat mass and obesity‐associated (FTO) gene
Authors: Fontanesi L. , Russo V.
Published: March 2012

A large number of studies have confirmed that variants within the fat mass and obesity‐associated (FTO) gene are associated with higher obesity risk in humans. We and others have shown that FTO polymorphisms are associated with fat deposition and related traits in several pig populations, thus confirming the role of this gene in fatness across species. However, some differences observed in different pig populations may be derived, at least in part, from genetic heterogeneity at this locus. Here, we characterise the nucleotide variability and haplotype diversity of the porcine FTO gene in breeds having different predispositions to fat deposition traits. We resequenced 4749 bp of coding and non‐coding regions of the porcine FTO gene in 44 pigs of eight different breeds and identified 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and four insertions/deletions. A positive Tajima's D‐value (P < 0.10) obtained in Italian Duroc pigs may be compatible with putative balancing selection. From the sequenced pig panel, 20 haplotypes were inferred, some of which clustered according to the breed of origin (Meishan and Italian Duroc). Genetic heterogeneity at this locus could complicate the dissection of the effects of this gene on fat deposition and production traits in pigs. This situation resembles, to some extent, what has been reported in humans, thus making the study of the porcine FTO gene variability especially interesting, as it could be used as a model to understand the complex and elusive role of this gene in human obesity.
Inferring the recent ancestry of myostatin alleles affecting muscle mass in cattle
Authors: O'Rourke B. A. , Greenwood P. L. , Arthur P. F. , Goddard M. E.
Published: March 2012

Double muscling is an inherited condition in cattle characterised by large increases in muscle mass. Mutations in the myostatin (MSTN) gene, responsible for double muscling, were targeted in this study to estimate the time since the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for Q204X (p.Gln204*), E226X (p.Glu226*), 821del11 (c.821del11), E291X (p.Glu291*), C313Y (p.Cys313Tyr) and the more phenotypically moderate F94L (p.Phe94Leu) mutation. Genetic variability was examined in eight regions upstream and downstream of the MSTN locus. The molecular distance of the homozygous region associated with each MSTN allele was used to estimate the TMRCA. Long homozygous segments were associated with the MSTN alleles (mostly > 2 Mb), compared to short segments (130 kb) for cattle wild type at the double muscling and F94L sites. Estimates of time indicated that each MSTN allele had a recent common ancestor (<400 years ago). The results from this study, and the increasing frequency of these MSTN alleles in some cattle breeds, demonstrate recent positive selection.
Aspergillus fumigatus mitochondrial electron transport chain mediates oxidative stress homeostasis, hypoxia responses and fungal pathogenesis
Authors: Grahl Nora , Dinamarco Taisa Magnani , Willger Sven D. , Goldman Gustavo H. , Cramer Robert A.
Published: March 2012

We previously observed that hypoxia is an important component of host microenvironments during pulmonary fungal infections. However, mechanisms of fungal growth in these in vivo hypoxic conditions are poorly understood. Here, we report that mitochondrial respiration is active in hypoxia (1% oxygen) and critical for fungal pathogenesis. We generated Aspergillus fumigatus alternative oxidase (aoxA) and cytochrome C (cycA) null mutants and assessed their ability to tolerate hypoxia, macrophage killing and virulence. In contrast to ΔaoxA, ΔcycA was found to be significantly impaired in conidia germination, growth in normoxia and hypoxia, and displayed attenuated virulence. Intriguingly, loss of cycA results in increased levels of AoxA activity, which results in increased resistance to oxidative stress, macrophage killing and long‐term persistence in murine lungs. Thus, our results demonstrate a previously unidentified role for fungal mitochondrial respiration in the pathogenesis of aspergillosis, and lay the foundation for future research into its role in hypoxia signalling and adaptation.
Predation by cats could lead to the extinction of the Mediterranean endemic Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan at a major breeding site
Authors: BONNAUD ELSA , BERGER GERALD , BOURGEOIS KAREN , LEGRAND JEROME , VIDAL ERIC
Published: March 2012

Feral cats are considered to be one of the main harmful invasive species for island species. Adult shearwaters are highly vulnerable to predation by cats. The population of the Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, a species endemic to the Mediterranean, is predicted to decline, leaving only a few large breeding colonies, due to the invasion of cats. The impact of cats on the Shearwater population of Le Levant Island, one of the major breeding sites for this species, was evaluated by studying cat diet over a 2‐year period. The predation rate obtained was then included in a Shearwater demographic model. Cats preyed upon rabbits, rats and Shearwaters, with a peak of predation on Shearwaters immediately upon their arrival at the colony. Cat predation was heavy and responsible for the yearly death of about 810–3241 birds. This could lead to the extinction of the Le Levant colony within the next four decades and perhaps within just a few years. Cat predation on prospecting individuals, a parameter essential to assess the real impact of predation, may not have an immediate effect on the Shearwater breeding population but can accelerate population extinction. Cat predation must be reduced or removed to prevent the extinction of one of the most important breeding sites for this species.
IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CATALASE GENE PyCAT FROM THE RED ALGA PYROPIA YEZOENSIS (BANGIALES, RHODOPHYTA)1
Authors: Li Xian C. , Xing Yong Z. , Jiang Xue , Qiao Jing , Tan Hai L. , Tian Yu , Zhou Bin
Published: March 2012

Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme that plays a significant role in protection against oxidative stress by reducing hydrogen peroxide. The full‐length catalase cDNA sequence as isolated from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of Pyropia yezoensis (Ueda) M. S. Hwang et H. G. Choi (PyCAT) through rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was identified and characterized. It encoded a polypeptide of 529 amino acids, which shared 36%–44% similarity with other known catalase proteins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PyCAT was closer to the catalases from plants than from other organisms. The PyCAT mRNA expression was investigated using real‐time PCR to determine life‐cycle‐specific expression and the expression pattern during desiccation. The mRNA expression level in gametophytes was significantly higher than in sporophytes, and the mRNA expression level of PyCAT was significantly up‐regulated during the desiccation process. The recombinant PyCAT protein was purified and analyzed biochemically. The recombinant PyCAT protein exhibited high enzymatic activity (28,000 U·mg−1) with high thermal stability and a broad pH range. All these results indicate that the PyCAT is a typical member of the plant and algal catalase family and may play a significant role in minimizing the effect of oxidative damage in P. yezoensis during desiccation.
Municipal Bond Insurance Premium, Credit Rating, and Underlying Credit Risk
Authors: LIU GAO
Published: March 2012

This article explores the question of whether bond insurers are able to sufficiently evaluate the credit risk of insured bonds, the answer to which would determine the future of municipal bond insurance. A sample of insured municipal bonds is investigated to determine whether bond insurance premia can predict the future credit rating transition, the proxy for bond credit risk. The results show that municipal bond insurance premia, conditional on bond credit ratings and other explanatory variables, have explanatory power over credit rating downgrades but not over upgrades. As such, bond insurance premia convey extra information about the underlying credit risk of a bond issue than the original credit rating reveals. This research also provides evidence that the rating agencies might not be doing as a good job as they could potentially do.
Changes in methylation patterns of multiple genes from peripheral blood leucocytes of Alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Hou Yaping , Chen Huayun , He Qiong , Jiang Wei , Luo Tao , Duan Jinhai , Mu Nan , He Yunshao , Wang Huaqiao
Published: March 2012

Background

Efforts aiming at identifying biomarkers and corresponding methods for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be the most appropriate strategy to initiate promising new treatments and/or prevention of AD

Objective

The aim of our study is to assess the association of DNA methylation pattern of various leucocyte genes with AD pathogenesis in order to find potential biomarkers and corresponding methods for molecular diagnosis of AD.

Methods

DNA methylation level of various genes in AD patients and normal population were compared by bisulphite sequencing PCR and methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Furthermore, real-time PCR was used to explore the effects of DNA methylation on the expression of target genes.

Results

Results showed significant hypermethylation of mammalian orthologue of Sir2 (SIRT1) gene in AD patients compared with normal population. Meanwhile, changes in methylation level of SIRT1 gene between different severities of AD were also found. Specific primers were designed from the SIRT1 CpG islands to differentiate AD and control group by MSP method. Besides, significant demethylation of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene was observed in AD patients, whereas no difference was observed in other AD-related genes. Moreover, significant decrease in expression of SIRT1 gene and increase in expression of APP gene were also found in AD patients. In addition, the expression level of SIRT1/APP genes was associated with the severity, but not with the age or gender, of AD patients.

Conclusion:SIRT1 and APP might be the interesting candidate biomarkers and valuable for clinical diagnosis or treatment of AD.
PORENCEPHALY IN DOGS AND CATS: MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS AND CLINICAL SIGNS
Authors: Schmidt Martin J. , Klumpp Stephan , Amort Kerstin , Jawinski Sebastian , Kramer Martin
Published: March 2012

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of brain lesions in 5 dogs and 2 cats characterized by extensive cystic changes of the cerebral hemispheres in terms of a porencephaly are presented. Age at diagnosis ranged from 12 weeks to 7 years.MRIfindings were confined to the forebrain. Porencephalic lesions appeared as wedge‐shaped parenchymal defects connecting the ventricular system and the subarachnoid space or as large cystic defects in the cerebral hemispheres. Although in two adult dogs the porencephalic lesions were asymptomatic, the other animals showed clinical symptoms depending on the affected cerebral area. Three animals had seizures. Interestingly, four animals showed neurological signs normally not localized to the forebrain (nystagmus, hypermetria, ataxia). Whether these clinical signs are related to impaired function of the cerebral cortex or to not recognizable lesions in the cerebello‐vestibular system could not be further clarified. Although the defects develop intrauterine or postnatal, the clinical symptoms can occur later in life. The definition of porencephaly as well as its subclassification is not uniform in veterinary medicine. We suggest the term encephaloclastic porencephaly unregarding the underlying cause of the defect, which cannot be further specified by diagnostic imaging.
Clearing and Collateral Mandates: A New Liquidity Trap?
Authors: Pirrong Craig
Published: March 2012

All too often, legislative solutions to some financial crisis have serious consequences that are both unwanted and unintended. The author of this article foresees several possible negative consequences arising from Title VII of the Dodd‐Frank Act, which mandates that eligible derivatives be cleared through central counterparties (CCPs) that require initial and variation margin. The new legislation also requires that the remaining non‐cleared derivatives that are traded by some market participants be more heavily collateralized.

The Act's authors have argued that derivatives pose uniquely dangerous systemic risks because of the leverage and counterparty risk associated with them. Increased collateralization, their thinking goes, would reduce derivatives‐related leverage and the systemic risk to the financial system associated with such leverage.

The author argues that these hopes are unduly optimistic because they fail to recognize how market participants can substitute other forms of leverage, such as bank lines of credit or collateral transformation trades, for the leverage derivatives provided previously. The author also believes that the larger collateral mandates and frequent marking‐to‐market will make the financial system more vulnerable since margin requirements tend to be “pro‐cyclical.” And more rigid collateralization mechanisms can restrict the supply of funding liquidity, and lead to spikes in funding liquidity demand that can reduce the liquidity of traded instruments and generate destabilizing feedback loops. The fragmentation of CCPs across jurisdictions and products will lead to greater demand for CCP‐eligible collateral to maintain the same level of hedging transactions. This demand will likely be met by using riskier assets as collateral and encourage the shadow banking system to create new assets that can be posted as collateral (for example, via collateral transformation services).

In sum, although the Dodd‐Frank rules are intended to reduce systemic risk, their expected impact on liquidity makes it a very open question as to whether they will achieve this goal. Although they may reduce some risks, they will simply shift others while possibly creating new ones.
Revisiting the Illiquidity Discount for Private Companies: A New (and “Skeptical”) Restricted‐Stock Study
Authors: Comment Robert
Published: March 2012

Data from restricted‐stock studies are routinely used by business‐valuation analysts and small‐business appraisers to estimate discounts for lack of marketability, or DLOMs, which are then applied in the valuation of private companies. The rationale for the use of such DLOMs is that, even after an investor is compensated for the risk associated with holding an asset, an asset held unwillingly (due to illiquidity) must be worth less than if the asset were held by choice. But the same rationale can also be applied to the DLOM on riskless assets (such as Treasuries), and the evidence is consistent with a DLOM on such assets of only about 2.5%. This in turn suggests that any DLOM larger than 2.5% amounts to a second round of discounting for risk (where the first round occurs in a DCF or similar core valuation).

Discounting with conventionally measured DLOMs is likely to be redundant because liquidity or marketability is highly correlated with company size, and size is already an important determinant of discount rates. Existing evidence suggests that, before DLOMs are applied, real‐world valuations of small businesses typically include discounts of as much as 50% for lack of size. And given that restricted‐stock studies are routinely used to support DLOMs of 20% to 40%, the valuation discounts resulting from this procedure are likely to be much too large. In contrast to industry practice, the author's study of a large sample of private placements of equity produces evidence consistent with use of a DLOM no greater than 5% or 6%.
Hamman‐Rich syndrome revisited: how to avoid misdiagnosis
Authors: Fujita Jiro , Tohyama Masato , Haranaga Shusaku , Cash Haley L. , Higa Futoshi , Tateyama Masao
Published: March 2012

Please cite this paper as: Fujita et al. (2012) Hamman‐Rich syndrome revisited: How to avoid misdiagnosis. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. DOI: 10.1111/j.1750‐2659.2012.00353.x.
Comparative Potential Therapeutic Effect of Sesame Oil and Peanut Oil against Acute Monocrotaline (Crotalaria) Poisoning in a Rat Model
Authors: Srinivasan P. , Liu M.‐Y.
Published: March 2012

Background

ManyCrotalariaplant species contain hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (such as monocrotaline) that can cause acute and chronic poisoning in cattle and other animals.

Hypothesis

Peanut oil, atropine sulfate, and antidiarrheal agents are used to treat acute monocrotaline poisoning. The effect of sesame on acute monocrotaline poisoning has never been investigated.

Animals

Fifty maleSprague‐Dawley rats were used for toxicity studies.

Methods

Experiment 1:GroupI, control.GroupsII–IVwere given monocrotaline (205.2 mg/kg) and euthanized 6, 12, and 24 hours later.Experiment 2:GroupI, control.GroupIImonocrotaline alone (205.2 mg/kg).GroupsIII–VIwere given monocrotaline (205.2 mg/kg) and 1 hour later,GroupsIIIandIVwere given sesame oil (1 and 2 mL/kg) and GroupsVandVIwere given peanut oil (1 and 2 mL/kg).

Results

Monocrotaline significantly decreased (P < .05) serum amylase activity, but, over time, increased (P < .05) pancreatic and lung injury.ASTandALTactivity and liver injury peaked at 24 hours. Sesame oil and peanut oil (P < .05) inhibited the changes in all tested parameters in acute monocrotaline poisoning. Although peanut oil inhibited acute monocrotaline poisoning, it induced steatosis, but sesame oil did not.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

We hypothesize that early pancreatic and lung injury and late liver injury contribute to acute monocrotaline poisoning and that sesame oil is more efficacious than peanut oil against acute monocrotaline poisoning in rats. However, additional studies are needed to confirm that these oils have the same effects in cattle and other animals.