bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Offshoring: secure or open to the praying mantis?
Authors: Burns Beryl
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and gain knowledge into the reasons why a UK‐based wholesaling company outsourced its information technology and call centre services, and what security measures were put in place to protect the sensitive information they hold in and transmit via their information system to prevent misuse of sensitive information, and to highlight any challenges the company faced connected with offshore outsourcing.

Design/methodology/approach

The research in this paper is exploratory and draws on prior research following a company's journey of outsourcing its network security and contact/call centre services to two offshore Indian companies, and subsequently discusses the issues surrounding maintaining the security and control of the systems.

Findings

The paper shows that offshore outsourcing of security management and contact/call centre services can be managed and organised successfully.

Research limitations/implications

The one case study limits the findings – they may not be generalisable.

Originality/value

For researchers and academia, the paper adds to the literature on outsourcing and call centre work and may be of interest to companies who are considering offshore outsourcing.
Extended editorial: place – the trinal frontier
Authors: Parker Cathy
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this Editorial is to introduce the subject of place management and, more specifically, the Journal of Place Management and Development.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is reflective, reflexive and indulgent. The Editorial examines the background to place management and summarises current practical and theoretical interpretations on the subject, that have been written by the JPMD Editorial Board.

Findings

The Editorial establishes the breadth of the topic of place management as well as making some tentative predictions about where research in the subject could or should go in the future.

Practical implications

The Editorial calls for more joint research between academics and practitioners, to ensure that research is academically grounded but practically relevant.

Originality/value

The Editorial is a good introduction to the subject of place management and should be read by academics or practitioners with an interest in the subject.
Professionalizing business district management for the twenty‐first century
Authors: Ruffin Fayth A.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore leading theories and concepts in professionalising the emerging field of business district management.

Design/methodology/approach

In the context of globalization and localization, it discusses distinctive place‐based elements of business improvement districts (BIDs), such as: law, nomenclature, assessment formulae, and branding; while suggesting and analyzing strategic international application of certain theories and concepts.

Findings

As an outgrowth of a literature review of globalizing cities, public administration, urban management, and BIDs together with semi‐structured interviews of respondents in connection with doctoral dissertation research and in view of co‐designing curriculum for and teaching a business district management certification program; research reveals that public entrepreneurship, social capital, network governance, and performance management can transcend disciplines and cut across sectors to be key theories and concepts for education and training of business district managers worldwide. However, management training is to be contextually developed consistent with branding techniques for the business district.

Practical implications

Future research and evaluation of BIDs in the globalizing metropolis can ground theory to inform best practices and professional standards that will enable similarly situated business districts across the globe.

Originality/value

Examining BID management is not new, however the thrust toward professionalising the field is new.
An exploratory study of the contextual stability of SERVQUAL amongst three retail clusters in far North Queensland
Authors: Lee‐Ross Darren
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This study seeks to assess the psychometric properties of SERVQUAL, a prevalent instrument for measuring service quality within the “place” context of a shopping mall. Since, appearing in the management and marketing literature, this instrument has proved popular amongst researchers and practitioners. However, evidence supporting or refuting the tenets of the “gap” model and the dimensionality of the questionnaire is equivocal.

Design/methodology/approach

Modified versions of the questionnaire were used as a basis for interviewing customers of three retail clusters in the region of far North Queensland (n=782).

Findings

Analysis of data failed to support the generic five‐factor structure of service quality amongst these retail outlets. Service quality was perceived to be context‐specific and less multi‐dimensional than contended by the original SERVQUAL authors. Furthermore, little support was found for the concurrent validity of the instrument. Moreover, notions of service quality may have been confused due to the separate perspectives of three retail clusters within the overall context of a shopping mall. The multi‐dimensional nature of intangible service quality and dynamic expectations of customers and clients therefore presents significant challenges for place managers.

Research limitations/implications

A practical decision was made to maximize the generalizability of the research by aggregating individual retail outlets into three overall clusters. Some measure of internal validity may therefore have been sacrificed.

Practical implications

It is recommended that future research begins with 360‐degree qualitative analyses of contexts from which new constructs and instruments may be developed.

Originality/value

The retail industry in far North Queensland is a previously under researched area in terms of the SERVQUAL instrument. The new factor structures found for clusters should improve service‐quality management and impact on tourism‐related business in the region.
Dubai – a star in the east
Authors: Stephens Balakrishnan Melodena
Published: April 2008

Purpose

Worldwide approximately 200 national economies are competing in the destination market. In 2006, global government and capital expenditure exceeded US$1,480 billion making destination branding an important concept that still remains fragmented and unplanned. Dubai, an emirate of the UAE in the Middle East has been chosen as a case study to explain some elements of successful destination branding. This paper aims to apply a framework developed by Balakrishnan to explain areas of caution when competing in an international market where success is also partially dependent on the macro‐environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework was developed by reviewing literature on destination, place, corporate, product portfolio and service branding. The framework was tested using case study methodology. Secondary research was primarily used to develop the case.

Findings

There is a strong fit with the model suggesting that destinations can use this as a basis for continuity in strategy even as governments change. Based on the analysis and review; a checklist for destination branding strategy was recommended.

Research limitations/implications

Since, this study depends on secondary research there is some limitations as data in this region is not easily available.

Originality/value

Destination branding differs in challenges vis‐à‐vis product and service branding. This paper depicts steps essential for creating a successful branding strategy which can be applied in a real world context to maximize returns for the destination.
Finding one's place in the place management spectrum
Authors: Yanchula James
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The paper's objective is to help place management practitioners (particularly downtown managers) evaluate where their work fits in the scope of possible activities which they may undertake, and whether the nature of experience and resources available to them are a good match for those activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Observations made based on the author's experience and conversations with professional colleagues are presented in a hierarchy of activity categories using the analogy of spectral optics to identify each. A basic overview of the types of available resources to place managers and their interrelationships supplements the defined activity categories.

Findings

Posits that certain place management activities are foundational, implying that experience and cultivating a reputation for success in these prepares a place management organization for, but does not necessarily predict its future success in, other “higher order” activities.

Research limitations/implications

While the presented hierarchy of activity categories have a basis in logic, and offer examples of typical activities, the information should be considered an hypothesis untested by supporting research.

Practical implications

While not serving as a predictive diagnostic tool, this information is a quick and concise method that place management organizations and practitioners can use to determine their position relative to the activities they undertake and the resources they have (or need) to do so.

Originality/value

Both existing and incipient place management organizations will find value in the easily understood and aptly illustrated concepts in the paper.
Place management as a core role in government
Authors: Mant John
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with place management, not as an additional function to traditional silo organisations, but as a core part of a government that has been restructured to achieve complex outcomes, such as place management. The work is based on the author's experience over the last couple of decades, both as a departmental head and a change management consultant.

Design/methodology/approach

Instead of government consisting essentially of functional departments, each one consisting of a different group of professionals pursuing specialist inputs and outputs, an outcomes focused government is structured around the three core aspects of governance – effectiveness (outcomes), efficiency (services) and transparency (standards). The three parts have different ways of operating and different types of performance measure.

Findings

Place management along with systems management are the essential responsibilities of the outcomes organisation.

Research limitations/implications

Rather than advocate traditional inputs and outputs, outcome managers are free to pursue a wide range of solutions from a number of different providers. Being highly visible to the community place managers especially provide a clear point of contact for all those with an interest in the place, whilst buck passing opportunities are limited. Budgeting can be shifted to the funding of outcomes rather than inputs or outputs, with increased power for elected officials to review a wider range of expenditure. Outcomes management provides opportunities for bottom‐up solutions, rather than reliance on top‐down coordinating committees of silo organisations.

Originality/value

The paper should provide those struggling with the limitations of place management in traditional structures with a model for the more effective governance of places.
European shopping centre developments: an industry perspective
Authors: Myers Hayley , Gore Julie , Liu Katherine
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This viewpoint seeks to review the changing environment of shopping spaces in Europe, specifically evaluating factors underpinning development trends. The paper provides a critical overview, staking stock of recent debates in the area of European shopping place development and international retailing. It provides a discussion of themes emerging from the views of expert research‐orientated stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

Themes were drawn from a survey of a group of 11 expert research‐orientated European shopping centre stakeholders.

Findings

Key suggestions centre around issues associated with: people and lifestyle; planning and economics; environment and design, and globalisation. Two seemingly dichotomous trends are discussed; the increasing cross‐border transfer of shopping place forms, and the increasing need for shopping space individualism, identity, integrity and sensitivity to locality.

Research limitations/implications

Whilst the authors' recognise that a limited number of experts were consulted the data reveals an important insight into the views of practitioners well‐placed to foresee the future. Further investigations can be envisaged which consult a wider range of views.

Originality/value

Takes a pan‐European perspective in order to analyse both the similarities and variations in shopping place development.
Reclaiming customers through a retailer‐led TCM scheme in Italy
Authors: Andrés Coca‐Stefaniak J. , Stasi Fabrizio , Codato Giovanna , Franco Elena , Roberts Gareth
Published: April 2008

Purpose

Il Cuore di Novi is an example of an innovative way of regenerating and revitalising a town centre in Italy in the face of intense competition from large out‐of‐town retail and residential developements. This has been achieved through a combination of research surveys linked to an organic approach to marketing strategy and effective engagement with the town's local authority and small‐ and medium‐sized retailers. The paper's aim is to discuss this development.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study provides an example of retailer‐led town centre management in the Novi Ligure (Italy) and builds on previous work by Molinillo Jiménez, Sánchez del Río, Vilariño et al. and Coca‐Stefaniak et al.

Findings

Southern European models of retailer‐led town centre management, known in Italy as centro commerciale naturale and discussed by Valente, Zanderighi, Moras et al. and Codato et al. can be effective in competing with large out‐of‐town shopping centres through innovative place management and marketing techniques in town centres based on local know‐how, differentiation and customer service.

Originality/value

The case of Novi Ligure's successful retailer‐led town centre management scheme is unique in Italy in terms of its ability to integrate retail revitalisation with urban regeneration in a town centre. This scheme is ground‐breaking in Italy and provides further evidence of the success of Southern European bottom‐up retailer‐led place management models. This study is of value to practitioners and policy makers in place management, town centre management, local authority planning officers, urban regeneration consultants, academics, small‐ and medium‐sized independent retailers, community leaders and town centre residents.
The total value of health: a review of literature
Authors: Edington Dee W. , Schultz Alyssa B.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The goal of this review is to present the literature which provides evidence of the association between health risks and the workplace economic measures of time away from work, reduced productivity at work, health care costs and pharmaceutical costs.

Design/methodology/approach

A search of PubMed was conducted which combined the keyword search terms “health risks” with “health costs”, “pharmaceutical costs”, “absenteeism”, “productivity”, “workers compensation”, and “presenteeism”. High quality studies were selected and combined with studies known to the authors.

Findings

A strong body of evidence exists which shows that health risks of employees are associated with health care costs and pharmaceutical costs. A growing body of literature also confirms that health risks are associated with the productivity measures of time away from work, workers' compensation, absenteeism and presenteeism. Furthermore, studies have shown that changes in risks are associated with changes in health care costs, time‐away‐from‐work and presenteeism.

Originality/value

The paper shows that measures of success will continue to be important as the field of worksite health management moves forward. Research needs to progress beyond simple associations to the evaluation of changes in costs, trends and transitions over time.
Workplace physical activity interventions: a systematic review
Authors: Dugdill L. , Brettle A. , Hulme C. , McCluskey S. , Long A.F.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to report a synopsis of a recent systematic review of the literature regarding the effectiveness of workplace physical activity interventions, commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Design/methodology/approach

A search for English‐language papers published between 1996 and 2007 was conducted using 12 relevant databases and associated grey literature. Search protocols and analysis regarding study quality as recommended by NICE were utilised. Key inclusion criteria were, workplace intervention aiming to increase physical activity, intervention aimed at working adults, intervention initiated/endorsed by the employer, physical activity outcome. Thirty‐three studies (38 papers) met the inclusion criteria and were independently reviewed (checked by two reviewers) with a narrative synthesis of findings.

Findings

Fourteen studies were graded as high quality or good quality. Evidence from previous systematic reviews was inconclusive. Data regarding the effectiveness of stair walking interventions was limited and intervention effects were short‐lived. Three public sector studies provided evidence that workplace walking interventions using pedometers can increase daily step counts. One good quality study reported a positive intervention effect on walking to work behaviour (active travel) in economically advantaged female employees. There was strong evidence that workplace counselling influenced physical activity behaviour. There is a dearth of evidence for small and medium enterprises.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the necessary UK focus and time constraints, only studies from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada were included.

Originality/value

The paper shows that there is a growing evidence base that workplace physical activity interventions can positively influence physical activity behaviour.
The health and safety of young people at work: a Canadian perspective
Authors: McCloskey E.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

To review recent research on work injuries among young workers, to examine efforts of Canadian authorities to reduce injury rates among this group, and to identify indicators of success. The information is useful in the design of public health programs or within organizations employing young workers, and identifies future research needs.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of recently published (1998‐2007) systematic and narrative reviews, research papers, government documents and websites, primarily from Canadian sources, was reviewed. Documents were critically reviewed to identify factors associated with increased risk of injury, and to examine the use of social marketing approaches in the prevention of injury.

Findings

Recent research tends to confirm that the types of jobs that young workers do, and the fact that they often have only short‐term experience in the job, are major factors contributing to the increased risk that young workers experience. Social marketing is being widely used in Canada as a prevention approach, but research on its effectiveness is in its infancy.

Originality/value

The paper summarises recent research on young worker safety, highlighting findings that are of value for program design and future research needs.
The psychosocial environment: towards an agenda for research
Authors: Kevin Kelloway E. , Teed Michael , Kelley Elizabeth
Published: April 2008

Purpose

To review current knowledge regarding the workplace psychosocial environment including the nature and outcomes of organizational stressors and the effectiveness of workplace stress interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides a narrative review of the extant literature and extrapolate findings from the emergent literature on positive psychology.

Findings

A great deal is known about the environmental characteristics that cause or contribute to workplace stress. The literature on interventions is more sparse.

Research limitations/implications

Research on the psychosocial environment must move beyond a reliance on cross‐sectional, self‐report data, focus on demonstrating the effectiveness and utility of organizational interventions and expand the domain of psychosocial research to include a more positive focus.

Originality/value

Provides three central propositions for advancing research on the psychosocial environment in organizations.
Should business invest in the health of its workers?
Authors: Cooper John
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This article aims to describe the implementation of a health and wellbeing programme at Unilever in the United Kingdom.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken in the article is a descriptive analysis of the setting up and ongoing progress of the programme.

Findings

Finds that a large majority of participants had higher energy levels since joining the programme, probably because they were more physically active, and were better able to cope with the pressures and stressors of being senior executives in a large organization.

Originality/value

The article illustrates how the programme has proved to be of benefit not only to employees but also to the business itself: a true win/win situation.
The risk of failure of controls and levers of change: an examination of two Italian public sectors
Authors: Minelli Eliana , Rebora Gianfranco , Turri Matteo
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The aims of the paper are to: present a theoretical framework for analysing the functioning and consequences of control systems; understand and compare the structure and impact of control systems on two Italian public administrations also in relation to possible situations of crisis and failure; and examine the possible link between the organisational impact of control systems (and their failure if this is the case) and the characteristics of the sectors involved.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed theoretical framework (analysis of the concept, methods, bodies, uses, coherence and impact of control) is applied through a parallel examination of two cases: control systems in Italian universities and ministries over the past 15 years. The objective is to understand why similar rules concerning control systems bring about different consequences and results.

Findings

Analysis over a 15 years period shows the effects of two very different strategic approaches and organisational choices in the face of very similar rules. Acceptance or otherwise of control, professional ability and competence, coherence between methods and the object of control and transparency all appear as discriminating factors in the failure or success of control systems. In universities, taking advantage of existing knowledge and professional skills, combining new internationally recognised assessment techniques with academic tradition and culture, focusing methods on specific activities such as teaching and research and arousing attention through transparency of evaluation outputs are the main factors which keep the risk of failure at bay. Evaluation has to cope with the allocation of resource and power issues, but is beginning to take on importance in change management. On the other hand, the case of the ministries shows how the new public management‐type of control exist in a closed cultural context where methods and instruments are taken up without adapting to core processes and where there is secrecy regarding control outputs.

Research limitations/implications

This is an exploratory study that will have to be confirmed by further verification in the future that could include new cases to make the analysis even more exhaustive. The subject of the paper does not lend itself to quantitative studies.

Practical implications

Not to concentrate only on the methodological aspects of control activities, but also focus on all those features of control systems that permit the actual use of output and bring about concrete results in public administrations.

Originality/value

In the past few years, control systems have very often been introduced into the public sector without paying enough attention to how they really work and their true outcome. This paper faces the problem by putting forward a theoretical framework and empirical evidence that may be used by the academic world and public administration.
The need for transparency in financial reporting
Authors: Lander Gerald H. , Auger Kathleen A.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The paper's aim is to research and discuss the issue of the lack of transparency in financial reporting and how companies take advantage of accounting rules in ways that inhibit transparency.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was carried out to see what had been written and discussed. Various legal cases were studied as well as Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) studies of the impact of off‐balance‐sheet arrangements allowed by the FASB and SEC.

Findings

There are many ways that companies accomplish off‐balance‐sheet financing by taking advantage of rules‐based accounting. If there is not a rule to prevent an entity from handling a particular transaction a certain way, then it is difficult for the auditor to stop it from happening.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is of descriptive nature. There are many policy implications from the results of the paper for all regulatory agencies. The economic substance of transactions needs to be communicated.

Practical implications

Financial managers and financial consultants need to refocus the structuring of financial transactions so that they comply with generally accepted accounting principles and that the economic substance of financial transactions is communicated. More accountability and ethical awareness needs to be instilled in the individuals who deceitfully structure financial transactions. Regulatory bodies need to ensure more transparency by closing loopholes and better enforcement of accounting standards. Boards of directors, especially the audit committees, need to be sure that a company is communicating the true economic reality of the financial transactions and financial position of the business entity. Off‐balance‐sheet financing is one of the most significant ways, among others, that the user of financial statements can be misled. It is time for regulatory bodies to eliminate overly rules‐based standards, clearly state the economic objective of each standard, and require firms to disclose the economic motivations for the accounting practices they adopt.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is that it studies the problems of the lack of transparency in financial reporting. It then suggests that if what is currently being done, (i.e. rules‐based accounting), is not working, then a new approach, principles‐based accounting needs to be implemented by the regulatory agencies. This paper provides an overview of the lack of financial statement transparency.
Constitutive practice and institutional change: ethics and behavior
Authors: Beaubien Louis
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the concepts contained in communities of practice theory (COPT) and how they might contribute to greater understanding of organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws upon COPT as a means to broaden the perspective of institutional theory.

Findings

The findings provide insight into the processes surrounding organizational change. The notion of change as both intentional actions and unintended consequences is explored through a review of the case of Arthur Andersen and Company.

Research limitations/implications

The study presents a historically informed case study that presents a novel theoretical approach for examinations of behavior, practices and ethics in organizations. Future work based on broader empirical examinations would enrich the findings presented in this study.

Practical implications

The study provides a means to examine organizations in practice and expands awareness of how behaviors in organizations evolve and might be shaped and encouraged over time.

Originality/value

The study introduces a novel theoretical vocabulary to the accounting academy COPT that has the potential to expand our understanding of organizations through examinations of practice.
Intellectual capital disclosure by traditional US companies: a longitudinal assessment
Authors: Sonnier Blaise M. , Carson Kerry D. , Phillips Carson Paula
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to evaluate 141 publicly traded US firms in the traditional sectors of the economy to assess intellectual capital disclosure levels.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis was conducted using 10‐K annual reports.

Findings

It was found that traditional sector companies had a mean disclosure of intellectual capital of 24.227 in fiscal year 2000 and 27.709 in fiscal year 2004 (t=3.68, df = 140, p=0.01). This supported the authors hypothesis that traditional sector companies would show an increase in the level of intellectual capital disclosure in 2004 as compared to 2000. Within the total sample, 78 companies increased their intellectual capital disclosure in fiscal year 2004 as compared to fiscal year 2000 (z=−3.4756, p=0.01).

Research limitations/implications

While the authors generated 121 phrases to tap the intellectual capital construct, there may be other word combinations given the differences in vocabulary between academia and the corporate world.

Practical implications

These findings are particularly noteworthy because traditional sector companies are capital intensive and are reliant upon fixed assets which are reported on the balance sheet. This study suggests that even managers in the traditional sectors of the US economy are coming to recognize the growing importance of intellectual capital.

Originality/value

This is the only longitudinal study to focus on intellectual capital disclosure of traditional firms in the USA, and this research was conducted over the time that the Financial Accounting Standards Board called for increased disclosure of intangible assets.
INVESTMENT IN HOSPITAL CARE TECHNOLOGY UNDER DIFFERENT PURCHASING RULES: A REAL OPTION APPROACH
Authors: Levaggi Rosella , Michele Moretto
Published: April 2008

Quality of health care is the product of several factors as the literature has long recognized. In this paper we focus on the relationship between quality and investment in health technology by analysing the optimal investment decision in a new health care technology of a representative hospital that maximizes its surplus in an uncertain environment. The new technology allows the hospital to increase the quality level of the care provided, but the investment is irreversible. The paper uses the framework of the real option literature to show how the purchaser might influence the quality level by setting a quality‐contingent long‐term contract with the hospital.The investment in new technology is in fact best incentivated within a long‐term contract where the number of treatments reimbursed depends on the level of investment made when the technology is new. In this way, asymmetry of information does not affect the outcome of the contract. In our model in fact the purchaser can verify the level of the investment only at the end of each period but the purchasing rule has an anticipating effect on the decision to invest.
Bioenergetics of juvenile whitespotted bamboo shark Chiloscyllium plagiosum [Anonymous (Bennett)]
Authors: Chen W.‐K. , Liu K.‐M. , Liao Y.‐Y.
Published: April 2008

This study establishes the bioenergetics budget of juvenile whitespotted bamboo shark Chiloscyllium plagiosum by estimating the standard metabolic rate (RS), measuring the effect of body size and temperature on the RS, and identifying the specific dynamic action (RSDA) magnitude and duration of that action in juvenile whitespotted bamboo sharks. The mean ±s.d. (RS) of six fish (500–620 g) measured in a circular closed respirometry system was 30·21 ± 5·68 mg O2 kg−1 h−1 at 18° C and 70·38 ± 14·81 mg O2 kg−1 h−1 at 28° C, respectively. There were no significant differences in RS between day and night at either 18 or 28° C (t‐test, P > 0·05). The mean ±s.d. Q10 for 18–28° C was 2·32 ± 0·06 (n = 6). The amount of oxygen consumed per hour changed predictably with body mass (M; 295–750 g) following the relationship: (n = 40, r2= 0·92, P < 0·05). The mean magnitude of RSDA was 95·28 ± 17·55 mg O2 kg−1 h−1. The amount of gross ingested energy (EI) expended as RSDA ranged from 6·32 to 12·78% with a mean ±s.d. of 8·01 ± 0·03%. The duration of the RSDA effect was 122 h. The energy content of juvenile whitespotted bamboo shark, squid and faeces determined by bomb calorimeter were 19·51, 20·3 and 18·62 kJ g dry mass−1. A mean bioenergetic budget for juvenile whitespotted bamboo sharks fed with squid at 18° C was 100C = 29·5G + 31·9RS+ 28·2RSDA+ 6·7F + 2·1E + 1·6U, where C = consumption, G = growth, F = egestion, E = excretion and U = unaccounted energy.
Operational sex ratio affects nest tending and aggression in male flagfish Jordanella floridae Goode & Bean
Authors: Klug H. , Kontax C. I. , Annis S. , Vasudevan N.
Published: April 2008

Operational sex ratio (OSR, the ratio of sexually active males to fertilizable females at a given time and location) affected male behaviour in the flagfish Jordanella floridae. When OSR was male biased, males spent (1) more time at their nests and (2) more time fanning prior to receiving eggs. Pre‐mating fanning has previously been correlated with male mating success and is hypothesized to be used in female choice in this population. Thus, these results suggest that on average, male flagfish invest more time in behaviour associated with female choice when there are relatively more male competitors. The OSR also affected the frequency of male aggression, and specifically male aggression towards females was more frequent at female‐biased OSR treatments. The observed patterns were dependent upon the direction of OSR bias (i.e. unbiased, male biased and female biased), and in some cases the intensity of the OSR bias affected the patterns of behaviour. These findings suggest that experimentally detecting effects of OSR is sensitive to the specific OSR values considered, and highlight the importance of considering a range of OSR values in future studies.
Medicinal plants used in the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections in and around Queen Elizabeth Biosphere Reserve, western Uganda
Authors: Kamatenesi‐Mugisha Maud , Oryem‐Origa Hannington , Odyek Olwa , Makawiti Dominic W.
Published: April 2008

In Uganda, bacterial and fungal infections are prevalent especially, the sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Because of low socio‐economic empowerment, traditional beliefs and cultural barriers, the suffering people resort to use of herbal remedies in search of cure especially for rural women who rarely discuss/disclose diseases affecting secretive body parts. The study documented 67 medicinal plants distributed among 27 families and 51 genera used to treat fungal and bacterial infections in and around Queen Elizabeth Biosphere Reserve in western Uganda. The highest numbers of species were from Families Lamiaceae (13) and Asteraceae (11). The most commonly harvested plant parts were leaves (88.1%) and roots (23.9%). The most common growth form harvested were herbs (47.8%) and most of the medicinal plants used were wild species (67.2%). The main methods of herbal drug preparation were by squeezing, boiling and pounding and were mainly orally administered. However, most of the steamed plant species were inserted in the birth canal besides oral administration. Some plants such as Allium sativum, Aloe vera and Ocimum gratissimum are topically applied on the affected body parts. This vital indigenous knowledge about healing secretive and discrete diseases among the marginalized population requires urgent ethnobotanical studies to sustain livelihoods.
TN : TP ratio and planktivorous fish do not affect nutrient‐chlorophyll relationships in shallow lakes
Authors: WANG HAI‐JUN , LIANG XIAO‐MIN , JIANG PING‐HONG , WANG JIAN , WU SHI‐KAI , WANG HONG‐ZHU
Published: April 2008

1. In previous work, phytoplankton regulation in freshwater lakes has been associated with many factors. Among these, the ratio of total nitrogen to total phosphorus (TN : TP) has been widely proposed as an index to identify whether phytoplankton are N‐ or P‐limited. From another point of view, it has been suggested that planktivorous fish can be used to control phytoplankton.

2. Large‐scale investigations of phytoplankton biomass [measured as chlorophyll a, (chl‐a)] were carried out in 45 mid‐lower Yangtze shallow lakes to test hypotheses concerning nutrient limitation (assessed with TN : TP ratios) and phytoplankton control by planktivorous fish.

3. Regression analyses indicated that TP was the primary regulating factor and TN the second regulating factor for both annual and summer phytoplankton chl‐a. In separate nutrient–chl‐a regression analyses for lakes of different TN : TP ratios, TP was also superior to TN in predicting chl‐a at all particular TN : TP ranges and over the entire TN : TP spectrum. Further analyses found that chl‐a : TP was not influenced by TN : TP, while chl‐a : TN was positively and highly correlated to TP : TN.

4. Based on these results, and others in the literature, we argue that the TN : TP ratio is inappropriate as an index to identify limiting nutrients. It is almost impossible to specify a ‘cut‐off’ TN : TP ratio to identify a limiting nutrient for a multi‐species community because optimal N : P ratios vary greatly among phytoplankton species.

5. Lakes with yields of planktivorous fish (silver and bighead carp, the species native to China) >100 kg ha−1 had significantly higher chl‐a and lower Secchi depth than those with yields <100 kg ha−1. TP–chl‐a and TP–Secchi depth relationships are not significantly different between lakes with yields >100 kg ha−1 or <100 kg ha−1. These results indicate that the fish failed to decrease chl‐a yield or enhance ZSD. Therefore, silver carp and bighead carp are not recommended as a biotic agent for phytoplankton control in lake management if the goal is to control the entire phytoplankton and to enhance water quality.
Changes of meat quality characteristics and intramuscular connective tissue of beef semitendinosus muscle during postmortem aging for Chinese Yellow bulls
Authors: Li Chunbao , Zhou Guanghong , Xu Xinglian
Published: April 2008

This study was designed to explore the changes of meat quality characteristics and intramuscular connective tissue of beef semitendinosus muscle during postmortem aging for Chinese Yellow bulls. Semitendinosus muscles were obtained at day 4 postmortem and then further aged for different periods. Chemical determinations, histological and mechanical measurements were performed for the raw and cooked steaks on days 4, 11, 14, 21, and 28 postmortem, respectively. The results showed that postmortem aging resulted in an increase in moisture content and collagen solubility, a decrease in filtering residues, primary perimysial thickness, fibre diameter, Warner‐Bratzler shear force, and transition temperature of the endomysium. The synergic effects of the myofibril and the intramuscular connective tissue determined the tenderness of aged beef.
Seasonal changes in the proximate chemical compositions and fatty acids of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) from the north eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Celik Mehmet
Published: April 2008

The effects of seasonal variations on the proximate chemical compositions and fatty acid profiles of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) captured in the north‐eastern Mediterranean Sea were investigated. Protein fluctuations were observed in two species for all seasons. The lipid content of both species was lower in winter than in autumn and spring. In all seasons, the major fatty acids in both species were observed to be palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1 ω9), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (20:6 ω3). Chub mackerel and horse mackerel exhibited seasonal fluctuations in their fatty acid contents. The fatty acid profile of the two species had a higher degree of unsaturation during winter. The levels of EPA in chub mackerel in winter, spring and autumn were 5.96%, 4.86% and 4.33%, respectively, while those of DHA were 24.94%, 18.75% and 17.12%, respectively. The levels of EPA in horse mackerel in winter, spring and autumn were 5.42%, 5.03% and 4.86%, respectively, while those of DHA were 14.96%, 13.31% and 11.10%, respectively. The PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) values and ω3/ω6 ratios in the two species were highest in winter. The results indicate that chub mackerel and horse mackerel captured in the north‐eastern Mediterranean Sea, which are among the most important fish in Turkey and of international commercial value, are a good source of nutrition for human consumption in terms of their proximate chemical composition and fatty acids.
Systematic deletion of Salmonella small RNA genes identifies CyaR, a conserved CRP‐dependent riboregulator of OmpX synthesis
Authors: Papenfort Kai , Pfeiffer Verena , Lucchini Sacha , Sonawane Avinash , Hinton Jay C. D. , Vogel Jörg
Published: April 2008

Post‐transcriptional repression of porin synthesis has emerged as a major function of Hfq‐dependent, small non‐coding RNAs (sRNAs). Many enterobacteria express OmpX‐like porins, a family of outer membrane proteins whose physiological roles and structural properties have been studied intensively. While regulatory sRNAs have been identified for most major and many minor porins of Salmonella and Escherichia coli, a post‐transcriptional regulator of OmpX levels has never been found. Here, we have taken a ‘reverse target search’ approach by systematic inactivation of Salmonella sRNA genes, and screening 35 sRNA deletion strains for effects on OmpX synthesis. We have identified the Hfq‐dependent CyaR (formerly RyeE) sRNA as an ompX repressor. Global transcriptomic profiling following induction of CyaR expression suggests that ompX mRNA is the primary target of this sRNA under standard growth conditions. The results of phylogenetic and mutational analyses suggest that a conserved RNA hairpin of CyaR, featuring a C‐rich apical loop, acts to sequester the Shine–Dalgarno sequence of ompX mRNA and to inhibit translational initiation. We have also discovered that cyaR expression is tightly controlled by the cyclic AMP receptor protein, CRP. This represents a new link between porin repression and nutrient availability that is likely to be widely conserved among enterobacteria.
Polarized growth in fungi – interplay between the cytoskeleton, positional markers and membrane domains
Authors: Fischer Reinhard , Zekert Nadine , Takeshita Norio
Published: April 2008

One kind of the most extremely polarized cells in nature are the indefinitely growing hyphae of filamentous fungi. A continuous flow of secretion vesicles from the hyphal cell body to the growing hyphal tip is essential for cell wall and membrane extension. Because microtubules (MT) and actin, together with their corresponding motor proteins, are involved in the process, the arrangement of the cytoskeleton is a crucial step to establish and maintain polarity. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, actin‐mediated vesicle transportation is sufficient for polar cell extension, but in S. pombe, MTs are in addition required for the establishment of polarity. The MT cytoskeleton delivers the so‐called cell‐end marker proteins to the cell pole, which in turn polarize the actin cytoskeleton. Latest results suggest that this scenario may principally be conserved from S. pombe to filamentous fungi. In addition, in filamentous fungi, MTs could provide the tracks for long‐distance vesicle movement. In this review, we will compare the interaction of the MT and the actin cytoskeleton and their relation to the cortex between yeasts and filamentous fungi. In addition, we will discuss the role of sterol‐rich membrane domains in combination with cell‐end marker proteins for polarity establishment.
Biosynthesis of the Escherichia coli K1 group 2 polysialic acid capsule occurs within a protected cytoplasmic compartment
Authors: Steenbergen Susan M. , Vimr Eric R.
Published: April 2008

Capsular polysaccharides are important virulence determinants in a wide range of invasive infectious diseases. Although capsule synthesis has been extensively investigated, understanding polysaccharide export from the cytoplasm to the external environment has been more difficult. Here we present the results of a novel protection assay indicating that synthesis and export of the Escherichia coli K1 group 2 capsular polysialic acid (K1 antigen) occur within a protected subcellular compartment designated the sialisome. In addition to the polymerase encoded by neuS, localization and complementation analyses indicated that the sialisome includes the accessory membrane protein NeuE. The requirement for NeuE was suppressed by overproducing NeuS, suggesting that NeuE functions by stabilizing the polymerase or facilitating its assembly in the sialisome. Although an interaction between NeuE and NeuS could not be demonstrated with a bacterial two‐hybrid system that reconstitutes an intracellular cell‐signalling pathway, interactions between NeuS and KpsC as well as other sialisome components were detected. The combined results provide direct evidence for specific protein–protein interactions in the synthesis and export of group 2 capsular polysaccharides under in vivo conditions. The approaches developed here will facilitate further dissection of the sialisome, suggesting similar methodology for understanding the biosynthesis of other group 2 capsules.
The enteric nervous system: normal functions and enteric neuropathies
Authors: Furness J. B.
Published: April 2008

Abstract  Most aspects of the normal organisation and functioning of the enteric nervous system have been resolved in recent years, especially for the small and large intestines, where the ENS has essential roles in controlling bowel movement and transmucosal fluid exchange. The roles of the ENS in the esophagus are not understood, and the relative roles of intrinsic reflexes in relation to extrinsic control of the stomach require clarification. In the small intestine and colon, it needs to be understood how neural activity is orchestrated to subserve different functional outcomes, for example propulsion, mixing and retrograde movement. However, the most important future challenges are to properly understand the molecular and cellular changes that underlie enteric neuropathies, to utilise knowledge of the normal neurochemistry, pharmacology and physiology of the ENS to devise strategies to treat disorders of motility and secretion, and to develop effective therapeutic compounds. It is suggested that ion channels of enteric neurons have been under‐investigated as therapeutic targets. Other future challenges lie in the identification of biomarkers for functional bowel disorders and in the use of neural stem cells for restitution of ENS function.