bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of GlpR repressor in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 growth and PHA production from glycerol
Authors: Escapa I. F. , del Cerro C. , García J. L. , Prieto M. A.
Published: May 2012

Pseudomonas putida KT2440 has evolved a tightly regulated system for metabolizing glycerol implying a prolonged growth lag‐phase. We have learnt that this fact can be avoided by the addition of small amounts of some growth precursors. The addition of 1 mM octanoic acid as co‐feeder completely eliminated the lag‐phase, resulting in an improvement, in terms of invested time, of both growth and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) accumulation. To investigate this phenomenon, we have followed co‐metabolic approaches combined with mutations of the specific and global regulatory networks that connect glycerol catabolism and PHA synthesis. By using mutant strains in metabolic genes from the PHA and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycles, we have demonstrated that the co‐feeding effect is independent of PHA accumulation, but driven on active glyoxylate shunt and Entner–Doudoroff (ED) routes. These findings suggested that the effect of octanoate on glycerol metabolism could rely, either on a global activation of the cell energy state, or on the generation of specific metabolites or cofactors needed for the activation of glycerol metabolism. Our results addressed GlpR as the key factor controlling the efficient utilization of glycerol as growth precursor in P. putida KT2440. Accordingly, a glpR knockout mutant of P. putida KT2440 showed an elimination of the lag‐phase when cultured on glycerol in the absence of co‐feeder. Besides, the production of PHA in this strain was increased near twofold, resulting in a higher final yield in terms of PHA accumulation. The repressor activity of the GlpR protein over the glp genes in the absence of glycerol was finally demonstrated by qRT‐PCR. This work contributed to unravel the physiological causes of the long lag‐phase produced by glycerol in the model strain P. putida KT2440 that hinders its use as carbon source in biotechnological applications for generating valuable products.
Colorectal smartphone apps: opportunities and risks
Authors: O’Neill S. , Brady R. R. W.
Published: May 2012

Aim  The increased utilization of smartphones within the clinical environment together with connected applications (apps) provides opportunity for doctors, including coloproctologists, to integrate such technology into clinical practice. However, the reliability of unregulated medical apps has recently been called into question. Here, we review contemporary medical apps specifically themed towards colorectal diseases and assess levels of medical professional involvement in their design and content.

Method  The most popular smartphone app stores (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows and Samsung) were searched for colorectal disease themed apps, using the disease terms colorectal cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, haemorrhoids, anal fissure, bowel incontinence and irritable bowel syndrome.

Results  A total of 68 individual colorectal themed apps were identified, amongst which there were five duplicates. Only 29% of colorectal apps had had customer satisfaction ratings and 32% had named medical professional involvement in their development or content.

Conclusion  The benefits of apps are offset by lack of colorectal specification. There is little medical professional involvement in their design. Increased regulation is required to improve accountability of app content.
DO REAL ESTATE BROKERS ADD VALUE WHEN LISTING SERVICES ARE UNBUNDLED?
Authors: BERNHEIM B. DOUGLAS , MEER JONATHAN
Published: May 2012

This paper measures the effects of real estate brokerage services provided to sellers, other than MLS listings, on the terms and timing of home sales. It is not obvious that sellers benefit from those services. On the one hand, brokers offer potentially useful knowledge and expertise. On the other hand, because the relationship between the homeowner and the broker resembles a classical principal‐agent problem, the broker may not deploy services in ways that promote the seller's interests. Yet as long as valuable MLS listings are bundled with brokerage services, homeowners may use brokers even if the agency costs exceed the benefits of brokers' knowledge and expertise. Thus, quantification of the net value of brokerage services other than MLS listings bears directly on the recent policy debate over the desirability unbundling of MLS listings. We estimate the effect of a seller's decision to use a broker on list prices, selling prices, and speed of sale for a real estate market with an unusual and critical characteristic: it has a single open‐access listing service that is used by essentially all sellers, regardless of whether they employ brokers. Our central finding is that, when listings are not tied to brokerage services, a seller's use of a broker reduces the selling price of the typical home by 5.9% to 7.7%, which indicates that agency costs exceed the advantages of brokers' knowledge and expertise by a wide margin. (JEL D12, R31, L85)
SIMULTANEOUS DECISION‐MAKING IN COMPETITIVE AND COOPERATIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: SAVIKHIN ANYA C. , SHEREMETA ROMAN M.
Published: May 2012

We experimentally investigate simultaneous decision‐making in two contrasting environments: one that encourages competition (lottery contest) and one that encourages cooperation (public good game). We find that simultaneous participation in the public good game affects behavior in the contest, decreasing sub‐optimal overbidding. Contributions to the public good are not affected by participation in the contest. The direction of behavioral spillover is explained by differences in strategic uncertainty and path‐dependence across games. Our design allows us to compare preferences for cooperation and competition. We find that in early periods, there is a negative correlation between decisions in competitive and in cooperative environments. (JEL C72, C91)
Infants attribute to agents goals and dispositions
Authors: Luo Yuyan , Choi You‐jung
Published: May 2012

This commentary article is to be published alongside: Hernik, M., & Southgate, V. (2012). Nine‐months‐old infants do not need to know what the agent prefers in order to reason about its goals: on the role of preference and persistence in infants’ goal‐attribution. Developmental Science. doi/10.1111/j.1467‐7687.2012.01151.x
ByPhrases in Passives and Nominals
Authors: Bruening Benjamin
Published: May 2012

Abstract. A longstanding claim in the literature holds thatbyphrases are special in the passive, receiving certain external argument roles thatbyphrases in nominals cannot, such as the role of experiencer. This paper challenges this long‐standing claim and shows thatbyphrases are not special in the passive: they can receive all of the θ‐roles that they can in verbal passives. They are banned from certain nominals for the same reason they are banned from certain VP types like unaccusatives and sporadic advancements:byphrases require the syntactic and semantic presence of an external argument.Byphrases can receive a uniform analysis, whether they occur with verbs or in nominals. The analysis proposed here involves syntactic word formation, with syntactic heads effecting passivization and nominalization. It also relies on syntactic selection for selectional features and proposes a theory of such features. The conception of grammar that emerges is one without lexical rules, where passivization and nominalization take place in the syntax.
Determinants of the Choice of Migration Destination*
Authors: Fafchamps Marcel , Shilpi Forhad
Published: May 2012

This paper examines migrants’ choice of destination conditional on migration. The study uses data from two rounds of Nepal Living Standard Surveys and a Population Census and examine how the choice of a migration destination is influenced by various covariates, including income differentials across possible destinations. We find that migrants move primarily to nearby, high population density areas where many people share their language and ethnic background. Better access to amenities is significant as well. Differentials in average income across destination districts are significant in univariate comparisons but not once we control for other covariates. Differentials in consumption expenditures are statistically significant but smaller in magnitude than other determinants. It is differentials in absolute, not relative, consumption between destination districts that are correlated with the destination of work migrants. Except for the latter, results are robust to different specifications and datasets.
The future for Meals on Wheels? Reviewing innovative approaches to meal provision for ageing populations
Authors: Winterton Rachel , Warburton Jeni , Oppenheimer Melanie
Published: May 2012

Winterton R, Warburton J, Oppenheimer M. The future for Meals on Wheels? Reviewing innovative approaches to meal provision for ageing populations

The global phenomenon of population ageing is impacting on how community care is delivered, and a key component of health and social care services for the frail elderly is Meals on Wheels (MOW), a service that has traditionally encompassed delivering meals to older people in their homes. However, aspects of this conceptualisation of MOW are being redefined in order to address challenges posed by tightening global financial contexts, a reliance on volunteers and increasing social isolation among ageing populations. Through a review of the literature and websites from selected countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia), this article explores and critically evaluates models of MOW delivery addressing these challenges. Findings suggest that MOW services are utilising a marketised approach, moving outside of the home and incorporating diverse volunteer roles. These findings demonstrate how services such as MOW can develop sustainable approaches to service delivery in a contemporary context.

Key Practitioner Message:•A review of innovative MOW highlights service models of broader applicability;•Varied delivery models and more diverse volunteer roles appeal to new sources of volunteers;•Research into the development of sustainable models with positive client social outcomes is now required.
OX40 ligand and OX40 are increased in atopic dermatitis lesions but do not correlate with clinical severity
Authors: Ilves T. , Harvima I.T.
Published: May 2012

Background  The interaction between the OX40 ligand (OX40L) and OX40 has been suggested to have pathogenetic significance in atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective  The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and relevance of OX40L and OX40 in AD skin.

Methods  OX40L and OX40 were stained immunohistochemically on the cryosections of the lesional and non‐lesional skin of 17 subjects with moderate‐to‐severe AD and of 10 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated keratinocytes and cell membrane preparations from PMA‐stimulated keratinocytes or LAD‐2 mast cells were incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the presence or absence of blocking monoclonal antibodies to OX40L, CD30L or ICAM‐1.

Results  We show for the first time that the staining intensity of OX40L and the number of OX40+ cells are significantly greater in the lesional dermis than in the healthy‐looking dermis in AD (P < 0.001 in both comparisons) and also in psoriasis (P = 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively), but neither molecule correlate significantly with the clinical severity of AD. Living keratinocytes and cell membranes from LAD‐2 mast cells and keratinocytes increased the PBMC proliferation response. Anti‐OX40L antibody inhibited, in a similar fashion as anti‐ICAM‐1 and anti‐CD30L, PBMC proliferation induced by LAD‐2 membranes, but stimulated that induced by keratinocytes.

Conclusion  Our findings provide evidence for the involvement of OX40 and OX40L in the pathogenesis of AD though they are not specific to AD and in vitro results suggest complex interaction.
The effect of fractional carbon dioxide lasers on idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis: a preliminary study
Authors: Shin J. , Kim M. , Park S.H. , Oh S.H.
Published: May 2012

Background  Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) is a commonly acquired leucoderma that is characterized by discrete, round or oval porcelain‐white macules ∼2–5 mm in diameter that increases in number with age. A variety of therapies with variable success rates, including cryotherapy, superficial abrasion and topical retinoids are currently being used.

Objectives  The effects of fractional CO2 laser therapy on IGH were investigated in this pilot study.

Patients and methods  A total of 40 patients with IGH were enrolled. The hypopigmented lesions were treated using a 10 600‐nm carbon dioxide fractional laser (CO2FL). Two months after a single treatment, physicians’ clinical assessments were performed and the patients’ overall satisfaction was evaluated.

Results  The mean age of enrolled patients was 57.5 ± 10.9 years and the gender ratio was 7 : 33. The face was the most commonly treated area, although the extremities are epidemiologically the most frequently affected areas. Two months after treatment, objective assessments performed by two independent dermatologists indicated more than 50% improvement in 36 patients (90%), compared with baseline. In addition, 33 patients (82.5%) were very satisfied or satisfied with just one session of CO2FL treatment. Although a few patients complained of long‐standing erythema and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, these problems spontaneously resolved within 2 months after the assessments. No other noticeable side effects were observed.

Conclusion  CO2FL might be a very convenient and effective modality for treating IGH without significant side effects.
Making the Tacit Explicit
Authors: TURNER STEPHEN
Published: May 2012

Tacit knowledge is both a ubiquitous and puzzling notion, related to the idea of hidden assumptions. The puzzle is partly a result of the conflict between the idea that assumptions are in the mind and the apparent audience‐relativity of the "fact" of possessing an assumption or of the tacit knowledge that is articulated. If we think of making the tacit explicit as constructing a certain kind of inference repairing explanation for a particular audience "on the fly" we come closer to an explanation of what happens when we "make our tacit knowledge explicit." We can account for our capacity to construct such statements for particular audiences by reference to our non‐conceptual capacities to understand others. This approach avoids problematic assumptions about shared representations that are common in cognitive science, and the equally problematic notion that tacit knowledge is sentence‐like content that we retrieve when we articulate something based on our tacit knowledge.
Prevalence of child and adolescent mental disorders in Chile: a community epidemiological study
Authors: Vicente Benjamín , Saldivia Sandra , de la Barra Flora , Kohn Robert , Pihan Ronaldo , Valdivia Mario , Rioseco Pedro , Melipillan Roberto
Published: May 2012

Background:  In Latin America, there is limited research on the prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents. This Chilean survey is the first national representative survey in the Latin American region to examine the prevalence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual‐IV (DSM‐IV) psychiatric disorders in the region in children and adolescents.

Methods:  Subjects aged 4–18 were selected using a stratified multistage design. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children version IV (DISC‐IV) was used to obtain 12‐month DSM‐IV diagnoses of affective, anxiety, conduct and substance use disorders, and supplemented with questionnaires examining family risk factors, family income, and service utilization. The parent or the primary caretaker was interviewed for children, aged 4–11, using the DISC‐IV; however, adolescents, aged 12–18, were directly interviewed.

Results:  A sample of 1558 children and adolescents was evaluated. Using the most stringent DISC‐IV impairment algorithm, the prevalence rate for any psychiatric disorders was 22.5% (19.3% for boys and 25.8% for girls). The prevalence rate was higher among the children, aged 4–11, in comparison with adolescents, aged 12–18 (27.8% and 16.5%, respectively). Less than half of the subjects in need of services sought some form of assistance. Nearly a quarter of those using services did not present with a psychiatric diagnosis in the past year. Comorbidity was found in 24.8% of those with a disorder, but only 6.3% had three or more diagnoses.

Conclusions:  The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Chile is high among children and adolescents. This study highlights the increasing need to reevaluate mental health services provided to children and adolescents in Latin America.
New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review
Authors: SCHECK SIMON M , BOYD ROSLYN N , ROSE STEPHEN E
Published: May 2012

Aim  Structural connectivity analysis using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and tractography has become the method of choice for studying white matter pathology and reorganization in children with congenital hemiplegia. To evaluate its role in the research domain, we systematically reviewed the literature about children with cerebral palsy (CP) to document common findings and identify strengths and possible limitations of this neuroimaging technology.

Method  A literature search was performed for peer‐reviewed studies pertaining to dMRI and CP.

Results  Twenty‐two studies met the inclusion criteria. The corticospinal tract was studied in greatest detail (18/22). The most common finding was decreased fractional anisotropy and/or increased mean diffusivity, indicating significant loss in the integrity of these corticomotor pathways. Fewer studies assessed ascending sensorimotor pathways including the posterior and superior thalamic radiations, which also showed decreased fractional anisotropy. Anisotropy indices (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity) obtained for both corticomotor and sensorimotor tracts were repeatedly shown to correlate with clinical measures. Other tracts studied included commissural and association fibres, which showed conflicting results.

Interpretation  There is sound evidence that dMRI‐based connectivity techniques are useful for improving our understanding of the structure–function relationships of corticomotor and sensorimotor neural networks in CP.
Teaching financial literacy: a survey of community‐based educators
Authors: Taylor Edward W. , Tisdell Elizabeth J. , Forté Karin Sprow
Published: May 2012

A nationwide online survey of financial educators in adult community‐based financial education programmes in the US was conducted to examine teaching beliefs, related curriculum and teaching strategies used to reach underserved populations. A transformative learning theoretical framework was used to discover how financial education engages learners in relation to their own lives. Survey findings indicate in community‐based settings financial educators are largely White, female, college educated and with multiple years of experience; believe their role is to provide expert information to help learners make informed financial choices; and often adapt published materials to reflect the life circumstances of learners. Learners are more racially diverse than educators, most having attended high school, who identify their own financial need to attend the programmes. Programmes do not often target specific groups, are frequently free and can take place in a variety of face‐to‐face settings. Implications indicate best practices for financial educators require inclusive, culturally responsive pedagogies.
The mystique of macro‐boycotting behaviour: a conceptual framework
Authors: Aish Ehab Abou , McKechnie Sally , Abosag Ibrahim , Hassan Salah
Published: May 2012

In spite of the aim of the World Trade Organization and other international organizations to foster international trade and development by lessening protectionism agendas worldwide, there has been a rise in consumer‐boycotting behaviour at a macro level involving campaigns directed against foreign products from countries embroiled in conflicts in international relations, rather than against products from individual companies perceived to have engaged in a domestic egregious act. While campaigning at this level is becoming a more effective tool for consumer protest, as it negatively affects both the boycotted countries' macroeconomics and companies' micro‐competitiveness, consumer motivation to participate in macro‐level boycotts has so far been overlooked in the boycotting literature. This paper examines consumers' behavioural intentions to participate in macro‐boycotting campaigns within the context of an Arab country, which has recently witnessed a number of campaigns of this nature. Using the theory of planned behaviour, the findings of an exploratory qualitative study of Egyptian consumers offer insights into the motives and barriers to individual macro‐boycott participation. Findings are discussed together with managerial implications.
Consumers' perceptions of individual and combined sustainable food labels: a UK pilot investigation
Authors: Sirieix Lucie , Delanchy Marion , Remaud Hervé , Zepeda Lydia , Gurviez Patricia
Published: May 2012

Consumers are faced with an increasing number of sustainable food labels. These different labels may be complementary or add to the increasing competition of product information in consumers' minds. We investigate: (1) the perceptions that consumers in the UK have about sustainable labels vs. other labels, such as origin or nutrition labels; and (2) consumers' reactions to combinations of different sustainable labels. Overall, the findings from two focus groups conducted in the UK indicate that consumers have positive perceptions of organic and fair trade labels but tend to be sceptical about unfamiliar labels and general claims such as ‘climate friendly’. The results also indicate the importance of familiarity, trust and fit between combinations of labels as well as between associating a label with a brand. While the combination of certain labels can enhance the value of a food product, this study also indicates that other label combinations (e.g. private and sustainable label) can detract from a label's value. Implications and recommendations are suggested for managers to counter the image of greenwashing, and for policy makers to facilitate sustainable food choices.
Strong preferences of dopamine and l‐dopa towards lipid head group: importance of lipid composition and implication for neurotransmitter metabolism
Authors: Orłowski Adam , Grzybek Michał , Bunker Alex , Pasenkiewicz‐Gierula Marta , Vattulainen Ilpo , Männistö Pekka T. , Róg Tomasz
Published: May 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 681–690.

The interactions of the neurotransmitter dopamine, and its precursor l‐dopa, with membrane lipids were investigated through a set of molecular dynamic simulations with all atom resolution. The results obtained indicate that both dopamine and l‐dopa have a pronounced association with the lipid head groups, predominantly mediated through H‐bonds. As a result the molecules are anchored to the interfacial region of the membrane. The strength of this interaction is dependent on lipid composition – the presence of phosphatidylserine leads to an increase in the strength of this interaction, resulting in an H‐bond network with a lifetime much longer than the timescale of our simulations. Also, bilayers that include sphingomieline and cholesterol interact strongly with dopamine and l‐dopa. We postulate that the high membrane association that we have observed for both dopamine and l‐dopa could have the following effects: 1) when on the plasma membrane exterior, favour the availability of these compounds for cell membrane uptake processes and, 2) when on an internal membrane surface, accentuate the importance of membrane‐bound metabolizing enzymes over their soluble counterparts.
Soil nitrate distribution, N2O emission and crop performance after the application of N fertilizers to greenhouse vegetables
Authors: LOU Y. , XU M. , HE X. , DUAN Y. , LI L.
Published: May 2012

The impacts of nitrogen (N) application rates on soil nitrate, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, soil N2O emission, tomato yield and fruit quality were investigated in a 20‐yr vegetable field experiment under greenhouse cultivation in Northeast China. The treatments included no N control (N0), the recommended N rate (N1; mean annual 300 kg/ha) and the commonly used N rate by farmers (N2; mean annual 600 kg/ha). Soil nitrate content and EC increased significantly to 120 cm depth with increasing rates of applied N. An opposite trend was found for soil pH within the upper 20 cm. Cumulative N2O emission and maximum N2O emission rates both increased significantly with increasing N rates. Tomato yield increased significantly from the N0 to N1 rate, but remained constant from the N1 to N2 one. Nitrate concentration in tomatoes also increased significantly with N rates. A contrasting trend was found for soluble sugar and organic acid concentrations. The results indicate that the commonly used N2 rate is excessive and causes adverse effects on tomato quality and on the environment. The recommended N1 rate is optimal for sustainable greenhouse vegetable production. In greenhouses, daily soil N2O emission rates are strongly influenced by N application and fluctuate with irrigation frequency and the incidence of wetting/drying cycles.
The effects of compost in a rice–wheat cropping system on aggregate size, carbon and nitrogen content of the size–density fraction and chemical composition of soil organic matter, as shown by 13C CP NMR spectroscopy
Authors: WANG QIUJUN , HUANG QIWEI , ZHANG LI , ZHANG JIANCHAO , SHEN QIRONG , RAN WEI
Published: May 2012

We investigated whether the long‐term application of compost from agricultural waste improved soil physical structure, fertility and soil organic matter (SOM) storage. In 2006, we began a long‐term field experiment based on a rice–wheat rotation cropping system, having a control without fertilizer (NF) and three treatments: chemical fertilizers (CF), pig manure compost (PMC) and a prilled mixture of PMC and inorganic fertilizers (OICF). Following the harvest of wheat in 2010, the mean‐weight diameter (MWD) of water‐stable aggregates and the concentration of C and N in bulk soil (0–20 cm; <2 mm fraction) were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in PMC and NF plots than in CF or OICF plots. Pig manure compost significantly increased the proportion of >5‐mm aggregates, whereas CF significantly increased the proportion of 0.45‐ to 1‐mm aggregates. The C and N contents of all density fractions were greater in PMC than in other treatments with levels decreasing in the following order: free particulate organic matter (fPOM) >occluded particulate organic matter (oPOM) > mineral‐combined SOM (mineral–SOM). Solid‐state 13C CPMAS NMR spectra showed that alkyl C/O‐alkyl C ratios and aromatic component levels of SOM were smaller in PMC and OICF plots than in CF plots, suggesting that SOM in PMC and OICF plots was less degraded than that in CF plots. Nevertheless, yields of wheat in PMC and NF plots were smaller than those in CF and OICF plots, indicating that conditions for producing large grain yields did not maintain soil fertility.
Multiperiod multiattribute decision‐making method based on trend incentive coefficient
Authors: Dong Qingxing , Guo Yajun
Published: May 2012

In this paper, we develop a method for multiperiod multiattribute decision‐making (MP‐MADM) problems, in which the decision information, including attribute weights and attribute values, is given at different periods. First, using the variation in attribute values of the various alternatives for unit time, we can obtain the trend incentive coefficient of variation that represents reward or punishment for the development tendency of alternatives. This paper proposes a method based on maximum entropy ordered weighted averaging (MEOWA) to determine the trend incentive coefficient. Second, considering the differences development tendency of the alternatives, we propose an approach that integrates the trend incentive coefficient and the original decision information to solve the MP‐MADM problems. Finally, two MP‐MADM cases are used to illustrate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method. Comparisons with previous research are also discussed.
Chymase inhibition as a pharmacological target: a role in inflammatory and functional gastrointestinal disorders?
Authors: Heuston S , Hyland NP
Published: May 2012

Chymase has been extensively studied with respect to its role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, and is notable for its role in the generation of angiotensin II, a mediator crucial in vascular remodelling. However, in more recent years, an association between chymase and several inflammatory diseases, including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been described. Such studies, to date, with respect to IBD at least, are descriptive in the clinical context; nonetheless, preclinical studies implicate chymase in the pathogenesis of gut inflammation. However, studies to elucidate the role of chymase in functional bowel disease are in their infancy, but suggest a plausible role for chymase in contributing to some of the phenotypic changes observed in such disorders, namely increased epithelial permeability. In this short review, we have summarized the current knowledge on the pathophysiological role of chymase and its inhibition with reference to inflammation and tissue injury outside of the GI tract and discussed its potential role in GI disorders. We speculate that chymase may be a novel therapeutic target in the GI tract, and as such, inhibitors of chymase warrant preclinical investigation in GI diseases.
Alzheimer's disease, β‐amyloid, glutamate, NMDA receptors and memantine – searching for the connections
Authors: Danysz Wojciech , Parsons Chris G
Published: May 2012

β‐amyloid (Aβ) is widely accepted to be one of the major pathomechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD), although there is presently lively debate regarding the relative roles of particular species/forms of this peptide. Most recent evidence indicates that soluble oligomers rather than plaques are the major cause of synaptic dysfunction and ultimately neurodegeneration. Soluble oligomeric Aβ has been shown to interact with several proteins, for example glutamatergic receptors of the NMDA type and proteins responsible for maintaining glutamate homeostasis such as uptake and release. As NMDA receptors are critically involved in neuronal plasticity including learning and memory, we felt that it would be valuable to provide an up to date review of the evidence connecting Aβ to these receptors and related neuronal plasticity. Strong support for the clinical relevance of such interactions is provided by the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine. This substance is the only NMDA receptor antagonist used clinically in the treatment of AD and therefore offers an excellent tool to facilitate translational extrapolations fromin vitrostudies throughin vivoanimal experiments to its ultimate clinical utility.
The antinociceptive triterpene β‐amyrin inhibits 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) hydrolysis without directly targeting cannabinoid receptors
Authors: Chicca A , Marazzi J , Gertsch J
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Pharmacological activation of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors is a therapeutic strategy to treat chronic and inflammatory pain. It was recently reported that a mixture of natural triterpenes α‐ and β‐amyrin bound selectively to CB1 receptors with a subnanomolar Ki value (133 pM). Orally administered α/β‐amyrin inhibited inflammatory and persistent neuropathic pain in mice through both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Here, we investigated effects of amyrins on the major components of the endocannabinoid system.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We measured CB receptor binding interactions of α‐ and β‐amyrin in validated binding assays using hCB1 and hCB2 transfected CHO‐K1 cells. Effects on endocannabinoid transport in U937 cells and breakdown using homogenates of BV2 cells and pig brain, as well as purified enzymes, were also studied.

KEY RESULTS There was no binding of either α‐ or β‐amyrin to hCB receptors in our assays (Ki > 10 µM). The triterpene β‐amyrin potently inhibited 2‐arachidonoyl glycerol (2‐AG) hydrolysis in pig brain homogenates, but not that of anandamide. Although β‐amyrin only weakly inhibited purified human monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), it also inhibited α,β‐hydrolases and more potently inhibited 2‐AG breakdown than α‐amyrin and the MAGL inhibitor pristimerin in BV2 cell and pig brain homogenates.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS We propose that β‐amyrin exerts its analgesic and anti‐inflammatory pharmacological effects via indirect cannabimimetic mechanisms by inhibiting the degradation of the endocannabinoid 2‐AG without interacting directly with CB receptors. Triterpenoids appear to offer a very broad and largely unexplored scaffold for inhibitors of the enzymic degradation of 2‐AG.

LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.167.issue‐8
Resource Use in Growing China
Authors: Wang Heming , Hashimoto Seiji , Moriguchi Yuichi , Yue Qiang , Lu Zhongwu
Published: May 2012

Natural resources provide the basis for our life on Earth. This article presents the accounts of China's direct material input (DMI) during 1998–2008. Using decomposition, we examine factors that have influenced changes in recent resource use in China. China's resource demand in 2011–2015 is projected, based on China's 12th Five‐Year Plan. Finally, effective policies to restrain China's resource demand are discussed with the following conclusions: (1) During 1998–2008, China's DMI doubled, from 11 gigatons (Gt) to 22 Gt. Metallic minerals had the strongest growth, quadrupling; nonmetallic minerals and fossil fuels more than doubled, but biomass remained stable. In relative terms, nonmetallic minerals dominated, with more than 60% of total DMI. (2) Factors of affluence (A) and material use intensity (T), respectively, contributed most to the increase and decrease of DMI, but the overall decrease effect is much smaller. Factors of population (P) and recycling (R) only slightly affected changes in China's DMI. (3) During 2008–2015, China's DMI is expected to increase by 27% to 38%, from 22 Gt to 28 to 31 Gt. The average annual rate of increase of DMI would drop to 3% to 5%, from 7% during 1998–2008. (4) Designing new products and infrastructure that use less energy and materials and changing consumption patterns to be more sustainable are crucial to the future resource strategy of China. More policies are expected to improve China's material use intensity and recycling levels.
Antecedents and Consequences of Creativity in Product Innovation Teams
Authors: Im Subin , Montoya Mitzi M. , Workman John P.
Published: May 2012

The generation of creative ideas and their manifestation as new products (NPs) are fundamental innovation activities of product innovation teams. Despite the importance of generating creative ideas at the fuzzy front end of the product innovation process, our understanding of antecedents and consequences of creativity of product innovation teams is limited. Drawing on Shane and Ulrich's organization design perspective of innovation, this study aims at examining the intermediary role of creativity as a critical link between team dynamics and product competitive advantage. In this study, the authors focus on NP and marketing program (MP) creativity in product innovation teams. They develop and empirically test a model that examines how internal and external team dynamics influence NP and MP creativity, and how NP and MP creativity affect product competitive advantage as a strategic innovation outcome. The study uses 206 matched responses from senior managers and product team leaders in high‐tech manufacturing firms in the United States to avoid common‐method bias. The authors use maximum likelihood estimation in a structural equation model to empirically test the proposed model. They find that two separate dimensions of creativity—novelty and meaningfulness—are differentially affected by team dynamics. For example, NP novelty as a result of divergent process is predominantly influenced by external team factors such as market‐based reward system and planning process formalization. On the other hand, NP meaningfulness as a result of convergent process is dominantly influenced by internal team factors such as social cohesion and superordinate identity. In addition, MP novelty is determined by social cohesion, superordinate identity, planning process formalization, and encouragement to take risks, while MP meaningfulness is influenced by social cohesion and planning process formalization. Our findings also suggest that NP novelty and meaningfulness, but not MP novelty and meaningfulness, play important intermediary roles in determining product competitive advantage. This study contributes to narrowing the important gap in the literature by examining the effect of team dynamics on creativity and by linking creativity to strategic innovation outcomes. Our study suggests that a firm's ability to manage team dynamics toward generating creative NPs and MPs constitutes a dynamic capability that can provide a competitive advantage over the competition.
Integrating Knowledge and Knowledge Processes: A Critical Incident Study of Product Development Projects
Authors: Kraaijenbrink Jeroen
Published: May 2012

Various scholars have argued that knowledge processes in organizations are integrally linked in practice. The extant literature though treats them separately and thereby disregards the interactions and tensions between them. A result of this way of studying knowledge processes is that little is known about their relative importance and how they work together. This paper addresses this gap in the literature through a critical incident study of knowledge processes in product development projects of high‐tech small firms. The paper starts off with a conceptual framework comprised of four knowledge processes—knowledge creation, knowledge application, knowledge integration, and knowledge retention—and their interactions. From the framework, three hypotheses are derived concerning the importance of these types of knowledge processes and their interactions, which in turn guide the empirical research. The hypotheses were tested in a retrospective study of 58 critical incidents in product development projects of 16 high‐tech small firms in the Netherlands. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews using the critical incident interviewing technique. Interviewees were asked to “relive” and describe particular successful and unsuccessful examples of product development projects in the past. The analysis of the interview data focused upon whether there are differences between successful and unsuccessful projects in the types of knowledge processes and interactions that are performed. After coding all data into the various types of knowledge processes and interactions of the framework, t‐tests were used to test for significance of differences. The findings indicate that the difference between success and failure in these projects lies primarily in the extent to which knowledge integration and integration between knowledge processes have taken place. These findings demonstrate that, of the four knowledge processes, knowledge integration had the most significant impact on product development project success. The study demonstrates furthermore that higher degrees of interactions between knowledge processes were also associated with project success. Despite the limitations of this study, these results provide empirical support for the claim that integration is a key factor in organizations in general and in innovation projects in particular. For academics, this suggests further research on knowledge integration, and integration between knowledge processes, is warranted. For practitioners, it means that integration is a key process to be considered when choosing and executing new product development projects.
The Market Model and the Growth and Decline of Academic Fields in U.S. Four‐Year Colleges and Universities, 1980–20001
Authors: Brint Steven , Proctor Kristopher , Murphy Scott Patrick , Hanneman Robert A.
Published: May 2012

Conventional sociological accounts of the rise and fall of academic fields have been challenged by accounts based on the idea of market‐responsive change. In this article, we focus on the period 1980–2000, the period during which, according to its proponents, the market model of change became dominant in academe. We find changes in the student market to be strongly associated with increased institutionalization of academic fields. We also find the preferences of donors to be associated with increased institutionalization of academic fields. By contrast, we find relatively little support for labor market signals or changes in federal funding priorities as important influences on the institutionalization of academic fields. We find that higher‐status institutions are more market responsive than lower‐status institutions.
A Quiet Suffering: Some Notes on the Sociology of Suffering1
Authors: Harvey Daina Cheyenne
Published: May 2012

Despite a recent increase in attention within the social sciences, suffering remains for the most part outside of the purview of sociologists. In this essay, I explore the possibilities for a sociology of suffering by briefly interrogating suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the Lower Ninth Ward, the epicenter of the hurricane and the federal levee failures.
Long‐term adjuvant therapy for the prevention of postoperative endometrioma recurrence: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: VERCELLINI PAOLO , DE MATTEIS SARA , SOMIGLIANA EDGARDO , BUGGIO LAURA , FRATTARUOLO MARIA PINA , FEDELE LUIGI
Published: May 2012

Ovulation seems crucial in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriomas. Therefore, suppression of ovulation should be protective against cyst relapse after excision. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effect of long‐term postoperative medical treatment on the risk of endometrioma recurrence. A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify all the comparative studies published in the last 12 years in the English language literature on the relation between long‐term postoperative adjuvant therapy and risk of endometrioma recurrence. Of the 12 articles assessed in detail, four were finally selected based on surgery for endometriotic cysts, postoperative medical treatment use for ≥12 months vs. expectant management, and ultrasonographic and/or histological diagnosis of endometrioma recurrence. A total of 965 women were enrolled, 726 of whom were in three cohort studies and 239 in one randomized controlled trial. Oral contraceptives (OCs) were always used as postoperative adjuvant treatment. The absolute effect of postoperative OC use was assessed by comparing “always” and “never” users. A recurrent endometrioma was identified in 33 of 423 (8%) “always” OC users and in 117 of 341 (34%) women who underwent expectant management (pooled odds ratio 0.12; 95% confidence interval 0.05–0.29). To define the effect of duration of use, “always” users were compared with “ever” users, and “ever” with “never” users, with a pooled odds ratio of, respectively, 0.21 (95% confidence interval 0.11–0.40) and 0.39 (95% confidence interval 0.23–0.66). Postoperative OC use dramatically decreased the risk of ovarian endometrioma recurrence, especially in women who used OCs regularly and for prolonged periods.
New developments in the treatment of osteoporosis
Authors: ERIKSEN ERIK FINK , HALSE JOHAN , MOEN METTE HAASE
Published: May 2012

The last 25 years have seen the development of a plethora of new, effective agents for the treatment of osteoporosis. These agents reduce the risk of spine fractures by up to 70%, hip fractures by 40–50% and non‐vertebral fractures by up to 50–80%. Amino‐bisphosphonates, taken orally or intravenously, remain the dominant treatment modalities for osteoporosis. These so‐called anti‐resorptive or anti‐catabolic agents stabilize the skeleton and reduce fracture risk in osteoporotic as well as osteopenic individuals. A monoclonal antibody against receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand, Denosumab, constitutes a new anti‐resorptive agent recently approved worldwide. In younger postmenopausal women, low‐dose estrogen or estrogen/progestin still has a place for short‐term (up to 5 years) preservation of bone mass, especially in women with menopausal symptoms. Likewise, selective estrogen receptor modulators should be considered in younger postmenopausal women, especially those at increased risk of breast cancer. Anabolic (bone forming) regimens, of which parathyroid hormone is the only agent currently available, aid in the build up of new bone, increase bone mass and improve bone architecture. In cancellous bone, 30–60% increases of bone mass have been documented, but cortical bone thickness also increases. These improvements lead to profound reduction in fracture rates in both the axial and appendicular skeleton. Owing to cost and the need for parenteral administration, in most countries these agents are reserved for severe osteoporosis with multiple fractures.
How invader traits interact with resident communities and resource availability to determine invasion success
Authors: Mata T. M. , Haddad N. M. , Holyoak M.
Published: May 2012

Competition for limited resources is considered a key factor controlling invasion success. Resource availability can be viewed in either the long or short‐term. Long‐term availability depends on the baseline nutrient availability in the ecosystem and how those conditions shape the ecological community. Short‐term resource availability fluctuates with disturbances that alter nutrient availability and/or the density and composition of the ecological community.

We investigated how species’ traits interact with short and long‐term resource availability to determine the outcome of invasions. We manipulated long‐term baseline resource availability, disturbance intensity, disturbance frequency, and propagule pressure in a fully factorial design using protist microcosms. Our results show that short and long‐term resource availability and the direct mortality from disturbance interact with the traits of resident community members and traits of invaders to determine community invasibility. While competitively dominant invaders with slow growth rates may suffer rather than benefit from short‐term resource fluctuations, quickly growing but competitively inferior invaders can benefit from both the resource fluctuations and the heterogeneity in community composition created by disturbance. Our findings empirically synthesize two explanations for invasion success, namely short‐term resource fluctuations and long‐term resource availability, and highlight the importance of considering traits of invaders and residents, such as growth rate and competitive ability, in the context of productivity and disturbance gradients. This species’ traits approach could resolve idiosyncratic results from natural systems undergoing disturbance and invasion that do not follow patterns predicted by traditional invasion frameworks.