bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significance of Interface Nonlinearity on the Seismic Response of a Well-Pier System in Cohesionless Soil
Authors: Mondal Goutam , Prashant Amit , Jain Sudhir K.
Published: October 2012

Interaction between a well foundation (caisson) and the surrounding soil during earthquake shaking involves complicated material and interface nonlinearities such as soil inelasticity, separation, sliding, and uplifting. It is often perceived that the interface nonlinearity has appreciable effects on the seismic response of the well foundation. This paper studies soil-well interface behavior during ground shaking and evaluates the significance of interface nonlinearity on the seismic response of the soil-well-pier (SWP) system. Seismic analysis of the soil-well-pier system was performed using the two-dimensional finite element model considering soil and interface nonlinearities, under both full- and partial-embedment conditions of the well foundation. Soil was assumed to be cohesionless and analyzed under both saturated undrained and dry conditions. Results of this model were compared with those of a model with perfectly-bonded interface. The design displacement and force resultants were found to be marginally overestimated and were on the conservative side in absence of nonlinear interface.
Glucose Transporter 8 (GLUT8) Regulates Enterocyte Fructose Transport and Global Mammalian Fructose Utilization
Authors: DeBosch Brian J. , Chi Maggie , Moley Kelle H.
Published: October 2012

Enterocyte fructose absorption is a tightly regulated process that precedes the deleterious effects of excess dietary fructose in mammals. Glucose transporter (GLUT)8 is a glucose/fructose transporter previously shown to be expressed in murine intestine. The in vivo function of GLUT8, however, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate enhanced fructose-induced fructose transport in both in vitro and in vivo models of enterocyte GLUT8 deficiency. Fructose exposure stimulated [14C]-fructose uptake and decreased GLUT8 protein abundance in Caco2 colonocytes, whereas direct short hairpin RNA-mediated GLUT8 knockdown also stimulated fructose uptake. To assess GLUT8 function in vivo, we generated GLUT8-deficient (GLUT8KO) mice. GLUT8KO mice exhibited significantly greater jejunal fructose uptake at baseline and after high-fructose diet (HFrD) feeding vs. wild-type mice. Strikingly, long-term HFrD feeding in GLUT8KO mice exacerbated fructose-induced increases in blood pressure, serum insulin, low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol vs. wild-type controls. Enhanced fructose uptake paralleled with increased abundance of the fructose and glucose transporter, GLUT12, in HFrD-fed GLUT8KO mouse enterocytes and in Caco2 cultures exposed to high-fructose medium. We conclude that GLUT8 regulates enterocyte fructose transport by regulating GLUT12, and that disrupted GLUT8 function has deleterious long-term metabolic sequelae. GLUT8 may thus represent a modifiable target in the prevention and treatment of malnutrition or the metabolic syndrome.
Frizzled 2 and frizzled 7 function redundantly in convergent extension and closure of the ventricular septum and palate: evidence for a network of interacting genes
Authors: Yu Huimin , Ye Xin , Guo Nini , Nathans Jeremy
Published: October 2012

Frizzled (Fz) 2 and Fz7, together with Fz1, form a distinct subfamily within the Frizzled family of Wnt receptors. Using targeted gene deletion, we show that: Fz7−/− mice exhibit tail truncation and kinking with 100% penetrance and ventricular septal defects (VSDs) with ~15% penetrance; Fz2+/−;Fz7−/− mice exhibit VSDs with ~50% penetrance and cleft palate with less than 10% penetrance; and Fz2−/−;Fz7−/− mice exhibit convergent extension defects and mid-gestational lethality with 100% penetrance. When Fz2 and/or Fz7 mutations are combined with mutations in Vangl2, Dvl3, Wnt3a, Wnt5a or Wnt11, an increased frequency of VSDs is observed with Dvl3, Wnt3a and Wnt11; an increased frequency of palate closure defects is observed with Vangl2; and early lethality and enhanced tail shortening are observed with Wnt5a. To assess the signaling pathways that underlie these and other Frizzled-mediated genetic interactions, we used transfected mammalian cells to analyze (1) canonical Wnt signaling induced by all pairwise combinations of the ten mouse Frizzleds and the 19 mouse Wnts and (2) localization of each Frizzled at cell-cell junctional complexes formed by mouse Celsr1, a likely indicator of competence for planar cell polarity signaling. These in vitro experiments indicate that Fz2 and Fz7 are competent to signal via the canonical pathway. Taken together, the data suggest that genetic interactions between Fz2, Fz7 and Vangl2, Dvl3 and Wnt genes reflect interactions among different signaling pathways in developmental processes that are highly sensitive to perturbations in Frizzled signaling.
A segmentation clock operating in blastoderm and germband stages ofTriboliumdevelopment
Authors: El-Sherif Ezzat , Averof Michalis , Brown Susan J.
Published: October 2012

In Drosophila, all segments form in the blastoderm where morphogen gradients spanning the entire anterior-posterior axis of the embryo provide positional information. However, in the beetle Tribolium castaneum and most other arthropods, a number of anterior segments form in the blastoderm, and the remaining segments form sequentially from a posterior growth zone during germband elongation. Recently, the cyclic nature of the pair-rule gene Tc-odd-skipped was demonstrated in the growth zone of Tribolium, indicating that a vertebrate-like segmentation clock is employed in the germband stage of its development. This suggests that two mechanisms might function in the same organism: a Drosophila-like mechanism in the blastoderm, and a vertebrate-like mechanism in the germband. Here, we show that segmentation at both blastoderm and germband stages of Tribolium is based on a segmentation clock. Specifically, we show that the Tribolium primary pair-rule gene, Tc-even-skipped (Tc-eve), is expressed in waves propagating from the posterior pole and progressively slowing until they freeze into stripes; such dynamics are a hallmark of clock-based segmentation. Phase shifts between Tc-eve transcripts and protein confirm that these waves are due to expression dynamics. Moreover, by tracking cells in live embryos and by analyzing mitotic profiles, we found that neither cell movement nor oriented cell division could explain the observed wave dynamics of Tc-eve. These results pose intriguing evolutionary questions, as Drosophila and Tribolium segment their blastoderms using the same genes but different mechanisms.
Tubulin detyrosination promotes monolayer formation and apical trafficking in epithelial cells
Authors: Zink Sabrina , Grosse Lena , Freikamp Andrea , Bänfer Sebastian , Müksch Frauke , Jacob Ralf
Published: October 2012

The role of post-translational tubulin modifications in the development and maintenance of a polarized epithelium is not well understood. We studied the balance between detyrosinated (detyr-) and tyrosinated (tyr-) tubulin in the formation of MDCK cell monolayers. Increased quantities of detyrosinated microtubules were detected during assembly into confluent cell sheets. These tubules were composed of alternating stretches of detyr- and tyr-tubulin. Constant induction of tubulin tyrosination, which decreased the levels of detyr-tubulin by overexpression of tubulin tyrosine ligase (TTL), disrupted monolayer establishment. Detyr-tubulin-depleted cells assembled into isolated islands and developed a prematurely polarized architecture. Thus, tubulin detyrosination is required for the morphological differentiation from non-polarized cells into an epithelial monolayer. Moreover, membrane trafficking, in particular to the apical domain, was slowed down in TTL-overexpressing cells. This effect could be reversed by TTL knockdown, which suggests that detyr-tubulin-enriched microtubules serve as cytoskeletal tracks to guide membrane cargo in polarized MDCK cells.
Fibroblast growth factor homologous factor 1 interacts with NEMO to regulate NF-κB signaling in neurons
Authors: König Hans-Georg , Fenner Beau J. , Byrne Jennifer C. , Schwamborn Robert F. , Bernas Tytus , Jefferies Caroline A. , Prehn Jochen H. M.
Published: October 2012

Neuronal survival and plasticity critically depend on constitutive activity of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). We here describe a role for a small intracellular fibroblast growth factor homologue, the fibroblast growth factor homologous factor 1 (FHF1/FGF12), in the regulation of NF-κB activity in mature neurons. FHFs have previously been described to control neuronal excitability, and mutations in FHF isoforms give rise to a form of progressive spinocerebellar ataxia. Using a protein-array approach, we identified FHF1b as a novel interactor of the canonical NF-κB modulator IKKγ/NEMO. Co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down and GAL4-reporter experiments, as well as proximity ligation assays, confirmed the interaction of FHF1 and NEMO and demonstrated that a major site of interaction occurred within the axon initial segment. Fhf1 gene silencing strongly activated neuronal NF-κB activity and increased neurite lengths, branching patterns and spine counts in mature cortical neurons. The effects of FHF1 on neuronal NF-κB activity and morphology required the presence of NEMO. Our results imply that FHF1 negatively regulates the constitutive NF-κB activity in neurons.
The conserved P body component HPat/Pat1 negatively regulates synaptic terminal growth at the larval Drosophila neuromuscular junction
Authors: Pradhan Sarala J. , Nesler Katherine R. , Rosen Sarah F. , Kato Yasuko , Nakamura Akira , Ramaswami Mani , Barbee Scott A.
Published: October 2012

The temporal and spatial regulation of protein synthesis plays an important role in the control of neural physiology. In axons and dendrites, translationally repressed mRNAs are actively transported to their destinations in a variety of ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs). A subset of these neuronal RNPs has been shown to contain proteins associated with mRNA processing bodies (P bodies). P bodies are a class of highly conserved cytoplasmic granules that have been linked to both mRNA decay and translational repression via general and miRNA-mediated pathways. Here, we characterize functions for HPat/Pat1 (also known as Patr-1), a core component of P bodies, at the glutamatergic larval Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ). We show that hpat mutants exhibit a strong synaptic hyperplasia at the NMJ. The synaptic defects observed in hpat mutants are associated with rearrangement of the axonal microtubule cytoskeleton suggesting that HPat negatively regulates presynaptic microtubule-based growth during NMJ development. Consistent with this, overexpression of HPat also blocks the rapid growth of presynaptic boutons induced by spaced depolarization. Finally, we demonstrate that HPat interacts genetically with the catalytic subunit of the deadenylase complex (twin/CCR4) and the miRNA pathway (Argonaute 1) to control bouton formation. We propose that HPat is required to target mRNAs involved in the control of microtubule architecture and synaptic terminal growth for repression, presumably in P bodies, via both general and miRNA-mediated mechanisms.
The α2Na+/K+-ATPase is critical for skeletal and heart muscle function in zebrafish
Authors: Doğanlı Canan , Kjaer-Sorensen Kasper , Knoeckel Christopher , Beck Hans Christian , Nyengaard Jens Randel , Honoré Bent , Nissen Poul , Ribera Angeles , Oxvig Claus , Lykke-Hartmann Karin
Published: October 2012

The Na+/K+-ATPase generates ion gradients across the plasma membrane, essential for multiple cellular functions. In mammals, four different Na+/K+-ATPase α-subunit isoforms are associated with characteristic cell-type expression profiles and kinetics. We found the zebrafish α2Na+/K+-ATPase associated with striated muscles and that α2Na+/K+-ATPase knockdown causes a significant depolarization of the resting membrane potential in slow-twitch fibers of skeletal muscles. Abrupt mechanosensory responses were observed in α2Na+/K+-ATPase deficient embryos, possibly linked to a postsynaptic defect. The α2Na+/K+-ATPase deficiency reduced the heart rate and caused a loss of left-right asymmetry in the heart tube. Similar phenotypes observed by knockdown of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger indicated a role for the interplay between these two proteins on the observed phenotypes. Furthermore, proteomics identified up- and down-regulation of specific phenotype-related proteins, such as parvalbumin, CaM, GFAP and multiple kinases, thus highlighting a potential proteome change associated with the dynamics of α2Na+/K+-ATPase. Taken together, our findings display that zebrafish α2Na+/K+-ATPase is important for skeletal and heart muscle functions.
Screening for HIV among substance users undergoing detoxification
Authors: Hossain K J , Akter N , Kamal M , Mandal M C , Aktharuzzaman Md
Published: October 2012

The primary aim of this study was to investigate HIV infection among drug users. A total of 3538 drug users were, registered at the Outpatient Department of Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre (CTC), Tejgoan, Dhaka, from July 2007 to June 2008. Of them, 43.2% were residents of Dhaka City and the others (56.8%) were from the different districts of Bangladesh. Among them, 1196 were recruited consecutively following defined selection criteria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were completed and blood specimens taken. Results showed that only 0.67% were HIV-seropositive. Their socioeconomic profile included 75.0% educated, 62.5% unemployed, age ranged from 30 to 50 years, and all were married. They used heroin primarily with other illicit substances used occasionally. They reported that needle sharing when using injection drugs was infrequent. Drug users had sex with multiple commercial sexual partners and did not use condoms during sex. While Bangladesh is in the midst of international drug-trafficking and drug-producing zones, and lies near high HIV prevalence countries, the country is in the embryonic stage of an HIV epidemic. Nationwide preventive measures are warranted in Bangladesh.
Prevalence and associations with hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection among HIV-infected adults in South Africa
Authors: Hoffmann C J , Dayal D , Cheyip M , McIntyre J A , Gray G E , Conway S , Martinson N A
Published: October 2012

We assessed prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B in a cross section of HIV-infected primary care and antinatal clinic patients in South Africa and evaluated a rapid hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assay. We enrolled 998 patients; 88% were women, median age was 29 years and median CD4 count was 354 cells/mm3. HBsAg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) antibodies and hepatitis C virus antibody were positive among 4.2%, 37% and 0.1% of subjects, respectively. Univariate and multivariate associations were assessed using logistic regression. Anti-HBc antibodies were associated with alcohol use, traditional medicines and higher CD4 counts; HBsAg positivity was associated with lower CD4. Compared with the HBsAg ELISA, a rapid HBsAg test had a sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 99.6%. In conclusion, we identified a moderate prevalence of both HBsAg and anti-HBc. Importantly, we found that subjects with HBsAg positivity had lower CD4 counts.
Lung cancer in HIV-infected patients: the experience in Brescia from 1999 to 2009
Authors: Ferraresi A , Calabresi A , Castelli F , Vavassori A , Castelnuovo F , Scalzini A , Torti C , Quiros-Roldan E
Published: October 2012

Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cancer among the non AIDS-defining malignancies in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. We described 23 HIV infected patients with a LC diagnosis followed in the Clinic of Tropical and Infectious Diseases of Brescia during the period of 1999–2009. All of these patients except two ( n = 21, 91.3%) were cigarette smokers and all had at least one risk factor for developing cancer of the lung, or predisposing comorbidities, such as a COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or a previous pneumonia. The median age at LC diagnosis was 53.6 years (range 21.2–71.4 years). Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were diagnosed in 10 cases (43.5%) respectively. In 21 subjects (91.3%) cancer was detected at stage IV with metastases. The median survival was 5.95 months. Greater intervention focused on the cessation of smoking is necessary, as well as the implementation of closer screening policies, especially in HIV-positive subjects with LC risk factors.
Transcriptomic profiling of the oyster pathogen Vibrio splendidus opens a window on the evolutionary dynamics of the small RNA repertoire in the Vibrio genus
Authors: Toffano-Nioche Claire , Nguyen An N. , Kuchly Claire , Ott Alban , Gautheret Daniel , Bouloc Philippe , Jacq Annick
Published: October 2012

Work in recent years has led to the recognition of the importance of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) in bacterial regulation networks. New high-throughput sequencing technologies are paving the way to the exploration of an expanding sRNA world in nonmodel bacteria. In the Vibrio genus, compared to the enterobacteriaceae, still a limited number of sRNAs have been characterized, mostly in Vibrio cholerae, where they have been shown to be important for virulence, as well as in Vibrio harveyi. In addition, genome-wide approaches in V. cholerae have led to the discovery of hundreds of potential new sRNAs. Vibrio splendidus is an oyster pathogen that has been recently associated with massive mortality episodes in the French oyster growing industry. Here, we report the first RNA-seq study in a Vibrio outside of the V. cholerae species. We have uncovered hundreds of candidate regulatory RNAs, be it cis-regulatory elements, antisense RNAs, and trans-encoded sRNAs. Conservation studies showed the majority of them to be specific to V. splendidus. However, several novel sRNAs, previously unidentified, are also present in V. cholerae. Finally, we identified 28 trans sRNAs that are conserved in all the Vibrio genus species for which a complete genome sequence is available, possibly forming a Vibrio “sRNA core.”
Collaborative Cost Reduction and Component Procurement Under Information Asymmetry
Authors: Kim Sang-Hyun , Netessine Serguei
Published: October 2012

During development of an innovative product there is often considerable uncertainty about component production cost, and it is of interest for both the manufacturer and the supplier to engage in a collaborative effort to reduce this uncertainty and lower the expected cost. Despite the obvious benefits this brings, the supplier may be reluctant to collaborate as he fears revealing his proprietary cost information. We investigate how information asymmetry and procurement contracting strategies interact to influence the supply chain parties' incentives to collaborate. We consider a number of procurement contracting strategies, and identify a simple strategy, expected margin commitment (EMC), that effectively promotes collaboration. The manufacturer prefers EMC if collaboration leads to a large reduction in unit cost and/or demand variability is low. Otherwise, a screening contract based on price and quantity is preferred. We also find that, paradoxically, ex post efforts to enhance supply chain efficiency may hinder ex ante collaboration that precedes production.

This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
Mechanism Design for Capacity Planning Under Dynamic Evolutions of Asymmetric Demand Forecasts
Authors: Oh Sechan , Özer Özalp
Published: October 2012

This paper investigates the role of time in forecast information sharing and decision making under uncertainty. To do so, we provide a general framework to model the evolutions of forecasts generated by multiple decision makers who forecast demand for the same product. We also model the evolutions of forecasts when decision makers have asymmetric demand information and refer to it as the Martingale Model of Asymmetric Forecast Evolutions. This model helps us study mechanism design problems in a dynamic environment. In particular, we consider a supplier's (principal's) problem of eliciting credible forecast information from a manufacturer (agent) when both firms obtain asymmetric demand information for the end product over multiple periods. The supplier uses demand information to better plan for a capacity investment decision. When the supplier postpones building capacity and screening the manufacturer's private information, the supplier and the manufacturer can obtain more information and update their forecasts. This delay, however, may increase (respectively, decrease) the degree of information asymmetry between the two firms, resulting in a higher (respectively, lower) cost of screening. The capacity building cost may also increase because of a tighter deadline for building capacity. Considering all such trade-offs, the supplier has to determine (i) when to stop obtaining new demand information and build capacity, (ii) whether to offer a screening contract to credibly elicit private forecast information or to determine the capacity level without information sharing, (iii) how much capacity to build, and (iv) how to design the overall mechanism so that both firms benefit from this mechanism. This paper provides an answer to these questions. In doing so, we develop a new solution approach for a class of dynamic mechanism design problems. In addition, this paper provides a framework to quantify the option value of time for a strategic investment decision under the dynamic evolutions of asymmetric forecasts.

This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
Appropriability Mechanisms and the Platform Partnership Decision: Evidence from Enterprise Software
Authors: Huang Peng , Ceccagnoli Marco , Forman Chris , Wu D. J.
Published: October 2012

We examine whether ownership of intellectual property rights (IPR) or downstream capabilities is effective in encouraging entry into markets complementary to a proprietary platform by preventing the platform owner from expropriating rents from start-ups. We study this question in the context of the software industry, an environment where evidence of the efficacy of IPR as a mechanism to appropriate the returns from innovation has been mixed. Entry, in our context, is measured by an independent software vendor's (ISV's) decision to become certified by a platform owner and produce applications compatible with the platform. We find that ISVs with a greater stock of formal IPR (such as patents and copyrights), and those with stronger downstream capabilities (as measured by trademarks and consulting services) are more likely to join the platform, suggesting that these mechanisms are effective in protecting ISVs from the threat of expropriation. We also find that the effects of IPR on the likelihood of partnership are greater when an ISV has weak downstream capabilities or when the threat of imitation is greater, such as when the markets served by the ISV are growing quickly.

This paper was accepted by Gérard P. Cachon, information systems.
The Flattened Firm: Not as Advertised
Authors: Wulf Julie
Published: October 2012

For decades, management consultants and the popular business press have urged large firms to flatten their hierarchies. Flattening (or delayering) typically refers to the elimination of layers in a firm's hierarchy and the broadening of managers' spans of control. The alleged benefits flow primarily from pushing decisions downward to enhance market responsiveness and improve accountability and morale. Has flattening delivered on its promise? This article demonstrates that flattening management layers can have the opposite effect from their intention. In fact, flattened firms typically exhibit more control and decision making at the top.
Sustainability: How Stakeholder Perceptions Differ from Corporate Reality
Authors: Peloza John , Loock Moritz , Cerruti James , Muyot Michael
Published: October 2012

A strong reputation is widely acknowledged to be the most valuable asset of a firm, and sustainability has become an important component of corporate reputation. Many stakeholders, from customers to investors to employees to purchasing managers, report that sustainability is an important factor in their decision-making processes. However, sustainability messages have become ubiquitous–almost table stakes–for most large firms. In such an active marketplace, especially for firms who have not pursued leadership positions, it is difficult for companies to use sustainability to create meaningful differentiation from competitors and thus benefit from their investments. There is often a major gap between stakeholder perceptions and firm performance. Firms that integrate sustainability into their culture and business practices are better able to integrate sustainability messaging into mainstream communications.
Enhanced Market Practices: Poverty Alleviation for Poor Producers in Developing Countries
Authors: McKague Kevin , Oliver Christine
Published: October 2012

Interest in market-based solutions to reduce poverty has grown substantially in the last decade. However, missing from the core of the management conversation has been an adequate understanding of the poor as producers. Drawing on an in-depth study of market-based poverty alleviation initiatives for smallholder farmers by a nongovernmental organization in a least developed economy, this article explains how a non-state organization can reduce poverty for poor producers and improve overall market functioning. It suggests that meaningful improvements in income can be explained by the enhancement of market practices that redistribute social control toward poor producers and reduce the constraining effects of market and governance failures.
Intercellular adhesion molecule-2 is involved in apical ectoplasmic specialization dynamics during spermatogenesis in the rat
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Cheng C Yan , Mruk Dolores D
Published: October 2012

In this study, we investigated the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM2) in the testis. ICAM2 is a cell adhesion protein having important roles in cell migration, especially during inflammation when leukocytes cross the endothelium. Herein, we showed ICAM2 to be expressed by germ and Sertoli cells in the rat testis. When a monospecific antibody was used for immunolocalization experiments, ICAM2 was found to surround the heads of elongating/elongated spermatids in all stages of the seminiferous epithelial cycle. To determine whether ICAM2 is a constituent of apical ectoplasmic specialization (ES), co-immunoprecipitation and dual immunofluorescence staining were performed. Interestingly, ICAM2 was found to associate with β1-integrin, nectin-3, afadin, Src, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2, annexin II, and actin. Following CdCl2treatment, ICAM2 was found to be upregulated during restructuring of the seminiferous epithelium, with round spermatids becoming increasingly immunoreactive for ICAM2 by 6–16 h. Interestingly, there was a loss in the binding of ICAM2 to actin during CdCl2-induced germ cell loss, suggesting that a loss of ICAM2–actin interactions might have facilitated junction restructuring. Taken collectively, these results illustrate that ICAM2 plays an important role in apical ES dynamics during spermatogenesis.
Effect of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes Entry into Mammalian Cells
Authors: Chen Howard H. , Baer Bradly , Evans Christopher S. , Ponek Hannah M. , Chen Michelle
Published: October 2012

We reported a mammalian cell-imaging paradigm to study the cellular response to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO) cells were exposed to SWCNTs resuspended in physiologically compatible buffer (phosphate buffered saline, PBS), at concentrations ranging from 0 to 50 μg/mL. Upon exposure, we optically imaged the cells in order to (1) visualize the accumulation SWCNTs in cells in real-time; (2) qualitatively and quantitatively assess the morphological changes associated with cellular stress in the presence of SWCNTs; and (3) serially quantify cell survival with highly sensitive bioluminescence-based imaging. Our results showed that the cell survival obtained from optical imaging agreed with that from CellTiter-Glo (CTG) luminescence viability assay. Acute compromise in the CHO cell’s survival rate was observed under high concentrations of SWCNT exposure. The cellular response as a function of SWCNT concentrations, and exposure time was further investigated.
Novel Chemical Route to Size-Controlled Ta(0) and Ru-Ta Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Helgadottir Inga S. , Arquillière Philippe P. , Campbell Paul S. , Santini Catherine C. , Haumesser P.-H.
Published: October 2012

Metallic nanoparticles under 10 nm are of particular interest for the microelectronics industry. However, there is a lack of convenient synthetic routes to control their size Oxophilic metals, such as Ta, are also of high interest, however, the high oxophilicity and melting point makes the synthesis of such nanoparticles challenging. Making use of imidazolium-based ionic liquids, monodisperse zero-valent tantalum nanoparticles (Ta(0)NPs) have been successfully synthesised at room temperature by reduction of tris(neopentyl)neopentylidenetantalum(V). Furthermore; well size-controlled bimetallic Ru-Ta NPs have also been synthesized.
Computational Modeling of the Influence of Geminal Zwitterionic Liquids on Changes in the Parameters of Wetting of Oil-Rock System
Authors: Lopez-Chavez Ernesto , Zamudio-Rivera Luis Silvestre , Martinez-Magadan Jose Manuel , Buenrostro-Gonzalez Eduardo , Hernández-Altamirano Raúl
Published: October 2012

Zwitterionic liquid (ZL) molecules are considered among the surfactant molecular species used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The surface activity of asphaltenes (ASP) is crucial for establishing reservoir rock wettability, which impacts enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process. The key to a successful EOR formulation is to carefully select the components that provide ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT) under reservoir conditions. Achieving ultra-low IFT greatly reduces capillary forces that trap oil. The objective of this work is the theoretical study of the influence of a class of germinal zwitterionic liquid on interfacial tension or changes on wettability of the oil-rock system under reservoir conditions. The ZL molecule used in this study was designed by Zamudio et al; while the asphaltene model was originally proposed by Buenrostro-González. Methods of molecular mechanics and dynamics were used in order to calculate interaction energies of all systems. The results indicate that the ZL molecule adheres more strongly to the limestone-rock than the asphaltene molecule does. In addition, our results suggest that the ion-pair formation is the dominant wettability alteration mechanism.
Relações de confiança nas empresas da nova economia informacional: uma avaliação dos efeitos da incerteza sobre o comportamento organizacional
Authors: Zanini Marco Tulio Fundão
Published: October 2012

Este artigo parte de uma perspectiva da economia das organizações para abordar o tema confiança como um mecanismo implítico de controle dentro das empresas. O objetivo principal é estabelecer uma relação entre os efeitos das inovações institucionais que caracterizam uma Nova Economia Informacional, e possíveis variações dos níveis de confiança dentro das empresas. Numa perspectiva comparativa, busca-se caracterizar o ambiente das empresas da indústria das tecnologias da informação e comunicação e outras empresas de industrias mais tradicionais da chamada Velha Economia. A hipótese central é que níveis inferiores de confiança poderão ser identificados nestas empresas que atuam mais proximas do paradigma da Nova Economia Informacional. Assim, o artigo sugere um conjunto de proposições para investigação empírica posterior.
Gestão estratégica do conhecimento no campo da avaliação em educação a distância
Authors: Vieira Eleonora Milano Falcão , Santos Neri dos
Published: October 2012

A gestão estratégica do conhecimento aplicada ao campo da avaliação institucional visa, principalmente, a construção de um sistema informático que permita mensurar a adequação de desempenho dos diversos processos que compõe o Ensino a Distância. A modelagem a ser desenvolvida é baseada nas demandas das organizações públicas envolvidas e no levantamento de requisitos realizado junto às equipes multidisciplinares que trabalham com educação a distância em Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior. A identificação dos requisitos de informação dos agentes envolvidos permitirá a proposição de uma ferramenta de avaliação integrada e abrangente, que possa proporcionar uma retroalimentação de informações confiáveis e eficientes.
Desenvolvimento industrial e tecnologia: revisão da literatura e uma proposta de abordagem
Authors: Teixeira Francisco Lima Cruz
Published: October 2012

Este artigo faz uma revisão crítica da literatura que se ocupa em tratar a questão do desenvolvimento tecnológico como parte do desenvolvimento industrial. Em seguida, o artigo apresenta e discute os principais componentes de uma abordagem alternativa a essa questão, aqui chamada de abordagem da economia política.
Ações internas voltadas ao fomento da inovação: as empresas também devem fazer sua "lição de casa"
Authors: Andreassi Tales
Published: October 2012

É fato indiscutível a importância da participação governamental no estabelecimento de um sistema nacional de inovação eficiente e capaz de gerar uma infraestrutura básica que faça aflorar a P&D empresarial. Muito se cobra do Governo brasileiro o estabelecimento de programas e políticas de apoio à inovação tecnológica e, sem dúvida, essa é uma condição fundamental para atingirmos um patamar mais elevado no que diz respeito ao nosso desenvolvimento. Contudo, esperar que só o Governo faça sua parte é ingênuo e seguramente não trará os resultados esperados. As empresas precisam desenvolver uma série de políticas, programas e ações que efetivamente contribuam para um melhor resultado inovativo. Ou seja, precisam fazer sua "lição de casa". O objetivo desse artigo é discutir algumas ações que as empresas devem tomar para ter um melhor resultado proveniente do seu esforço inovativo.
Desenvolvimento de novas competências e práticas de gestão da inovação voltadas para o desenvolvimento sustentável: estudo exploratório da Natura
Authors: Vilha Anapatrícia Morales , Carvalho Ruy de Quadros
Published: October 2012

A preocupação com a questão ambiental tem levado o setor produtivo a desenvolver tecnologias e práticas produtivas menos poluentes e orientadas para a conservação do meio ambiente, gerando crescentes oportunidades de negócios a partir de inovações voltadas para a produção sustentável. Este artigo pretende analisar as implicações que a busca de uma trajetória baseada em tecnologias e produtos sustentáveis traz para o processo de gestão da inovação e para o acúmulo de competências a ele associadas. Para isso, o texto explora o caso da Natura, uma empresa brasileira do setor de cosméticos. Os autores valeram-se da coleta de dados secundários, sobre a empresa e seu setor de atuação, e de dados primários, sobre temas de ordem estratégica e marketing, conseguidos durante entrevistas com profissionais dessa empresa e que atuam na área de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D). Os resultados mostram que a Natura tem sido capaz de perceber as oportunidades tecnológicas e de mercado, ao desenvolver produtos voltados para nichos de mercado ainda não explorados. Revelam também que está apta para o esforço de implementação, nada trivial, de rotinas inteiramente novas, como também de mobilizar recursos e competências no seu processo de gestão da inovação tecnológica.
A nova teoria institucional em estudos organizacionais: uma abordagem crítica
Authors: Peci Alketa
Published: October 2012

Nesse artigo apresento uma abordagem crítica do novo institucionalismo, destacando, principalmente, a incoerência interna dessa corrente atualmente dominante nos estudos organizacionais. Na primeira parte do artigo, faço um breve histórico do uso do conceito de instituição nos estudos sociais. Em seguida, analiso a contribuição do novo institucionalismo, mostrando as pesquisas de alguns dos principais representantes dessa linha de estudos. Segue-se uma análise crítica que evidencia, principalmente, as diferentes abordagens que caracterizam a escola, bem como sua incoerência em termos de níveis de análise e bases paradigmáticas. Na conclusão, argumento que o novo institucionalismo não pode ser considerado uma "escola" ou corrente consolidada de estudos organizacionais, uma vez que nele há pontos cruciais de divergência teórica, com implicações empíricas.
Consumo entre gays: compreendendo a construção da identidade homossexual através do consumo
Authors: Pereira Bill , Ayrosa Eduardo André Teixeira , Ojima Sayuri
Published: October 2012

Um dos segmentos que mais têm se projetado no cenário brasileiro é o dos homossexuais. Apesar dessa crescente visibilidade, são quase inexistentes os estudos que procuram compreender a forma como os gays¹ interagem com o mundo dos produtos. Este estudo tem o objetivo de observar a subcultura gay e explorar as mudanças que ocorrem nos hábitos de consumo dos gays durante o rito de passagem da "saída do armário". Essa análise é crucial para se compreender a construção da identidade homossexual. Entrevistas em profundidade foram realizadas com 10 gays residentes no Rio de Janeiro entre outubro de 2004 e janeiro de 2005. Os resultados sugerem que: • os gays interagem com produtos e marcas durante a construção da identidade homossexual; e • os sujeitos utilizam os produtos numa estratégia de negação, camuflagem e reforço dessa identidade.
Conhecimento, ensino da administração e mudança transformadora: uma visão crítica
Authors: Leitão Sergio Proença , Gesualdi Junior Luiz Carlos
Published: October 2012

As evidências demonstram que a crise socioambiental que afeta o planeta não pode ser resolvida por mudanças do tipo adaptativo. Ele requer mudanças na forma como conhecemos o mundo. Este artigo discute alguns problemas e possibilidades dos cursos de administração virem a induzir processos de mudança transformadora nas organizações, com repercussão na qualidade da vida associada.
Organizações virtuais
Authors: Toledo Luciano Augusto , Loures Carlos Augusto
Published: October 2012

A vantagem competitiva das organizações passa cada vez mais pelo desenvolvimento de novas estruturas organizacionais, notadamente pelo estabelecimento de redes de cooperação com todas as entidades intervenientes na cadeia de fornecimento e novas metodologias de gestão e planejamento, apoiadas fortemente por tecnologias de informação e de comunicação. Este trabalho tem como principal finalidade apresentar o conceito de organização virtual. O trabalho apresenta-se sob a forma de ensaio e é complementado por um estudo do arcabouço teórico que tece as bases do surgimento das organizações virtuais e discute suas implicações para a Administração.
Uma abordagem ao desenvolvimento local inspirada em Celso Furtado e Milton Santos
Authors: Goulart Sueli
Published: October 2012

Parcerias, consórcios, arranjos produtivos locais, redes e outras variações interorganizacionais vêm sendo formuladas, estudadas e avaliadas como configurações capazes de promover o desenvolvimento de localidades, em diferentes escalas. Sob diferentes abordagens teóricas e nas variadas áreas da Administração, essas formas são entendidas, via de regra, como adequadas para fomentar o desenvolvimento no contexto do mundo globalizado. Entretanto, com exceções, o desenvolvimento local tem sido tomado como resultado natural e automático daquelas iniciativas ou dos novos arranjos institucionais movidos por elas. Este artigo explora elementos teórico-empíricos formulados por Celso Furtado e Milton Santos para buscar uma alternativa de entendimento e de conteúdo praxiológico ao construto desenvolvimento local. Para substanciar as reflexões, apresenta parte de um trabalho empírico referente à formação do pólo de tecnologia de informação e comunicação de Pernambuco. Finaliza com as inquietações e as implicações para os estudos organizacionais, resultantes da inspiração buscada naqueles autores.
Crítica e cultura em marketing: repensando a disciplina
Authors: Faria Alexandre
Published: October 2012

Este artigo descreve o processo de implementação de uma abordagem crítica em marketing, baseada no realismo crítico e desenvolvida na Inglaterra e no Brasil por um pesquisador brasileiro. Inspirada inicialmente por uma proposta específica de crítica em marketing desenvolvida na Inglaterra no início dos anos 1990 - o chamado rethinking marketing -, a pesquisa incorporou a cultura à crítica quando, no Brasil, o pesquisador passou a argumentar que o conhecimento produzido no mundo anglo-saxão não se aplica no Brasil. Através de uma abordagem confessional, composta pela descrição de diálogos do pesquisador com informantes e de reflexões e práticas correspondentes, o artigo mostra como é difícil adotar uma postura crítica na área de marketing. O autor argumenta que no Brasil os pesquisadores devem, pela promoção de pesquisas interculturais, privilegiar o conhecimento de informantes menos disciplinados e desafiar o argumento cultural de que o conhecimento aqui produzido não se aplica ao mundo anglo-saxão. No final, o artigo mostra como essa abordagem crítica pode ajudar a dar maior relevância à pesquisa acadêmica.
Practice firms and networked learning: matches and mismatches
Authors: Santos Jorge Alberto dos
Published: October 2012

This paper is concerned with how students describe their experiences of the Practice Firms Network learning environment (PFN) within a management course in a private institution of higher education in Brazil (Faculty Pitágoras-Mg). The work is derived from a broader study where I investigated the PFN concept as it is used in the Brazilian context. The students' description of their relationship with the PFN model is made the object of study in a phenomenographic perspective (Marton, 1986; Marton and Booth, 1997). The paper discusses the data and results of the research and concludes that the model is potentially effective to link participants in management education but that it has yet to learn how to use more effectively the power of information technology. From students' descriptions, flaws in the model derive from the following features: a) The model itself does not stress networked learning; b) The infrastructure does not support the design; and c) The teachers' approach to the model is not congruent.
A aplicação de abordagens feministas na pesquisa em administração
Authors: Cerchiaro Isabel , Ayrosa Eduardo André Teixeira , Zouain Deborah Moraes
Published: October 2012

Pretendemos, neste artigo, analisar formas de investigação de questões de administração baseadas na teoria feminista. Tal análise parte indagações da seguinte ordem: se a voz do conhecimento ocidental tem sido constituída diferentemente de "outras" vozes, tornando-as invisíveis, o que aconteceria se essas "outras" vozes pudessem responder? O que aconteceria caso estas vozes pudessem demonstrar como são constituídas como "outras"? O que aconteceria caso essas outras vozes pudessem reclamar suas próprias especificidades, fora dos dualismos (como, por exemplo, masculino/feminino) presentes nos discursos ocidentais do conhecimento (CALÁS e SMIRCICH, 1999, p. 305)? Pensando sobre isso, e sendo este um artigo na área de administração, discorremos sobre as diferentes abordagens feministas e suas metodologias, argumentando que a abordagem feminista multicultural pode ser a mais apropriada para responder algumas questões sobre o modo como as mulheres constroem sua forma de pensar no nosso mundo pós-colonial. Evidenciamos também as posições e relações de sujeitos heterogêneos, diferentes das imagens raciais e de gênero produzidas pelas categorias ocidentais (como 'mulheres', 'negra') (CALÁS; SMIRCICH 1999; FONSECA 1999; TONG 1998).
The role of tourism public-private partnerships in regional development: a conceptual model proposal
Authors: Franco Mário , Estevão Cristina
Published: October 2012

Tourism is characterized as being a sector that stands out as one of the business activities with the greatest potential for worldwide expansion, and as an engine for economic growth. If at the national level, the appeal of tourism is significant, on the local level this sector presents itself as an essential tool in regional development, as a means to avoid regional desertification and stagnation, stimulating the potential of more undeveloped regions. In such a competitive sector as tourism, companies should develop synergies and achieve competitive advantage. In this context, public-private partnerships play an important role in regional development. The aim of this paper is to present a theoretical context that combines different concepts and elements to explain and understand the public-private partnership phenomenon in tourism. A conceptual model of the role of public-private partnerships will be proposed in order to contribute to successful regional development.
Gestão social e esfera pública: aproximações teórico-conceituais
Authors: Oliveira Vânia Aparecida Rezende de , Cançado Airton Cardoso , Pereira José Roberto
Published: October 2012

Pretende-se abordar neste ensaio as aproximações teórico-conceituais entre gestão social e esfera pública no âmbito da sociedade brasileira no intuito de propor uma discussão sobre o conceito de gestão social. Entendendo que a gestão social tem se apresentado como uma possibilidade promissora de campo de estudos e que há um avanço no sentido de sedimentar esse posicionamento partiu-se dos preceitos teóricos da esfera pública habermasiana para promover um esforço na teorização do conceito. Dentro do objetivo proposto podemos afirmar que os caminhos ainda são longos, tanto o da ampliação do conceito de gestão social, como da escolha de referenciais que apóiem esta construção. No entanto o visível crescimento da pesquisa e da prática da gestão social no país, mesmo sem sedimentação teórica do campo nos mostra que a sociedade está participando da resolução dos seus problemas, mesmo que de forma incipiente ou parcial. A sociedade brasileira tem (re)criado espaços públicos, onde a ação pública se torna possível. Ao sinalizar que os espaços públicos constituem uma das bases para se compreender e consolidar o conceito de gestão social, abre-se caminho para esta área do conhecimento cientifico. Como resultado este trabalho sinaliza que, mesmo que não seja gestão social a terminologia correta e surjam outras mais aderentes e/ou coerentes e que, apesar das diversas lacunas na construção do conceito, as características apontadas para a gestão social são convergentes com as práticas esperadas nos espaços públicos. O artigo está estruturado em cinco seções. Além da introdução, na segunda seção são apresentadas as proposições teóricas a respeito da esfera pública habermasiana. Na terceira seção são apresentados os conceitos de gestão social que perpassam pelas proposições teóricas da esfera pública. Na quarta seção procuramos realizar as aproximações teóricas entre esfera pública e gestão social. Na última seção são apresentadas as considerações finais.
Teorias de mercado e regulação: por que os mercados e o governo falham?
Authors: Meirelles Dimária Silva e
Published: October 2012

Via de regra, a regulamentação, inspirada na teoria econômica neoclássica, é uma resposta às falhas de mercado, que consistem em discrepâncias em relação ao ideal de um mercado competitivo, principalmente, nos setores de bens públicos. É curioso notar que a regulamentação também está sujeita a falhas, denominadas falhas de governo. Afinal, por que o mercado e o governo falham? A resposta a essa questão envolve uma discussão conceitual profunda sobre mercado e competição. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar o debate teórico em torno das abordagens de mercado, principalmente, no campo heterodoxo, em que se incluem a visão da economia evolucionária, a da escola austríaca e a da sociologia econômica moderna. A conclusão é que a teoria neoclássica, comparativamente a essas visões, apresenta uma perspectiva limitada do processo de competição.