bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial and psychiatric factors associated with adolescent suicide: A case–control psychological autopsy study
Authors: Portzky Gwendolyn , Audenaert Kurt , van Heeringen Kees
Published: November 2008

This study aimed at the investigation of psychosocial and psychiatric risk factors of adolescent suicide by means of a case–control psychological autopsy study.

Relatives and other informants of 19 suicide victims and 19 matched psychiatric controls were interviewed by means of a semi‐structured interview schedule. Psychiatric controls included adolescents, individually matched according to gender, age and time between interview and suicide/admission, who had been admitted to a Psychiatric Department with suicidal ideation or attempted suicide at admission.

Results showed that suicide victims had been exposed more frequently to suicidal behaviour by friends and through media and experienced more relational problems in the past year. Suicidal communication was less frequently reported in suicide victims than in controls and when communication did occur, it was less often directed towards parents. Treatment of psychiatric disorders was significantly less found in suicide victims. Psychiatric control patients were more likely to have comorbidity of psychiatric disorder, conduct disorder, delinquency or academic difficulties.

This study showed significant differences between young suicide victims and psychiatric controls for life events, exposure, communication and treatment. These results also suggest that more symptoms and more externalizing behaviour can be observed in psychiatric control patients which could indicate more warning signals of possible psychiatric problems for the environment, which could result in more help‐seeking behaviour and treatment.
Effect of genistein‐8‐C‐glucoside from Lupinus luteus on DNA damage assessed using the comet assay in vitro
Authors: Rucinska Agata , Gabryelak Teresa
Published: November 2008

Genistein‐8‐C‐glucoside (G8CG) belongs to natural isoflavones phytoestrogens, which are a subclass of flavonoids, a large group of polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in plants, with possible anticarcinogenic effects in various in vitro systems and in vivo animal models. We used glycosylated genistein (genistein‐8‐C‐glucoside) from flowers of lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) to study its cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on mouse embryonic fibroblast (line NIH 3T3). The MTT assay to assess cytotoxicity and comet assay for the detection of DNA damage were used. The cells were exposed to various concentrations of genistein‐8‐C‐glucoside (2.5–110 μM) and hydrogen peroxide (5–90 μM). The effect of G8CG alone or in combination with H2O2 was determined. G8CG at concentrations >20 μM significantly reduced cell viability and induced DNA damage. In contrast, lower concentrations of (2.5–10 μM) G8CG showed antioxidant properties against H2O2‐induced DNA damage with no associated toxicity.
The efficient use of enterprise information for strategic advantage: A data envelopment analysis
Authors: Bendoly Elliot , Rosenzweig Eve D. , Stratman Jeff K.
Published: November 2008

A majority of manufacturers make use of some form of enterprise systems (ES), yet on average, the financial impact of ES adoption is essentially neutral. We propose that in an ES environment of easy information access, competitive success depends, in part, on the policies regulating enterprise information use. To explore this proposition, we examine the efficient use of different types of enterprise information in the realization of strategic performance. Efficient firms will devote fewer resources to information use to achieve the same strategic performance as less efficient firms.

We employ data envelopment analysis (DEA) using data collected from Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system adopters at two different points in time in order to calculate a measure of efficient information use. This information efficiency metric is validated as a strong predictor of Compustat profitability. Additional analyses suggest that the most efficient users of information tend to emphasize information related to operational excellence. Regardless of information emphasis, however, efficient manufacturers – in contrast to their less efficient counterparts – were more likely to exhibit a better match between the most emphasized type of information and the corresponding dimension of strategic performance.
Antigen microarrays identify unique serum autoantibody signatures in clinical and pathologic subtypes of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Quintana Francisco J. , Farez Mauricio F. , Viglietta Vissia , Iglesias Antonio H. , Merbl Yifat , Izquierdo Guillermo , Lucas Miguel , Basso Alexandre S. , Khoury Samia J. , Lucchinetti Claudia F. , Cohen Irun R. , Weiner Howard L.
Published: November 2008

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic relapsing disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which immune processes are believed to play a major role. To date, there is no reliable method by which to characterize the immune processes and their changes associated with different forms of MS and disease progression. We performed antigen microarray analysis to characterize patterns of antibody reactivity in MS serum against a panel of CNS protein and lipid autoantigens and heat shock proteins. Informatic analysis consisted of a training set that was validated on a blinded test set. The results were further validated on an independent cohort of relapsing–remitting (RRMS) samples. We found unique autoantibody patterns that distinguished RRMS, secondary progressive (SPMS), and primary progressive (PPMS) MS from both healthy controls and other neurologic or autoimmune driven diseases including Alzheimer's disease, adrenoleukodystropy, and lupus erythematosus. RRMS was characterized by autoantibodies to heat shock proteins that were not observed in PPMS or SPMS. In addition, RRMS, SPMS, and PPMS were characterized by unique patterns of reactivity to CNS antigens. Furthermore, we examined sera from patients with different immunopathologic patterns of MS as determined by brain biopsy, and we identified unique antibody patterns to lipids and CNS-derived peptides that were linked to each type of pathology. The demonstration of unique serum immune signatures linked to different stages and pathologic processes in MS provides an avenue to monitor MS and to characterize immunopathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets in the disease.
H-NS family members function coordinately in an opportunistic pathogen
Authors: Castang Sandra , McManus Heather R. , Turner Keith H. , Dove Simon L.
Published: November 2008

The histone-like nucleoid structuring protein, H-NS, is a prominent global regulator of gene expression. Many Gram-negative bacteria contain multiple members of the H-NS family of proteins. Thus, a key question is whether H-NS family members have overlapping or distinct functions. To address this question we performed genome-wide location analyses with MvaT and MvaU, the two H-NS family members present in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. We show that MvaT and MvaU bind the same chromosomal regions, coregulating the expression of ≈350 target genes. We show further that like H-NS in enteric bacteria, which functions as a transcriptional silencer of foreign DNA by binding to AT-rich elements, MvaT and MvaU bind preferentially to AT-rich regions of the chromosome. Our findings establish that H-NS paralogs can function coordinately to regulate expression of the same set of target genes, and suggest that MvaT and MvaU are involved in silencing foreign DNA elements in
P. aeruginosa
.
Soluble epoxide hydrolase and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids modulate two distinct analgesic pathways
Authors: Inceoglu Bora , Jinks Steven L. , Ulu Arzu , Hegedus Christine M. , Georgi Katrin , Schmelzer Kara R. , Wagner Karen , Jones Paul D. , Morisseau Christophe , Hammock Bruce D.
Published: November 2008

During inflammation, a large amount of arachidonic acid (AA) is released into the cellular milieu and cyclooxygenase enzymes convert this AA to prostaglandins that in turn sensitize pain pathways. However, AA is also converted to natural epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) by cytochrome P450 enzymes. EET levels are typically regulated by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), the major enzyme degrading EETs. Here we demonstrate that EETs or inhibition of sEH lead to antihyperalgesia by at least 2 spinal mechanisms, first by repressing the induction of the
COX2
gene and second by rapidly up-regulating an acute neurosteroid-producing gene,
StARD1
, which requires the synchronized presence of elevated cAMP and EET levels. The analgesic activities of neurosteroids are well known; however, here we describe a clear course toward augmenting the levels of these molecules. Redirecting the flow of pronociceptive intracellular cAMP toward up-regulation of
StARD1
mRNA by concomitantly elevating EETs is a novel path to accomplish pain relief in both inflammatory and neuropathic pain states.
Spontaneous induction of murine pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPanIN) by acinar cell targeting of oncogenic Kras in adult mice
Authors: Habbe Nils , Shi Guanglu , Meguid Robert A. , Fendrich Volker , Esni Farzad , Chen Huiping , Feldmann Georg , Stoffers Doris A. , Konieczny Stephen F. , Leach Steven D. , Maitra Anirban
Published: November 2008

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is believed to arise through a multistep model comprised of putative precursor lesions known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Recent genetically engineered mouse models of PDAC demonstrate a comparable morphologic spectrum of murine PanIN (mPanIN) lesions. The histogenesis of PanIN and PDAC in both mice and men remains controversial. The most faithful genetic models activate an oncogenic
Kras
G12D
knockin allele within the
pdx1
- or
ptf1a/p48
-expression domain of the entire pancreatic anlage during development, thus obscuring the putative cell(s)-of-origin from which subsequent mPanIN lesions arise. In our study, activation of this knockin
Kras
G12D
allele in the
Elastase
- and
Mist1
-expressing mature acinar compartment of adult mice resulted in the spontaneous induction of mPanIN lesions of all histological grades, although invasive carcinomas
per se
were not seen. We observed no requirement for concomitant chronic exocrine injury in the induction of mPanIN lesions from the mature acinar cell compartment. The acinar cell derivation of the mPanINs was established through lineage tracing in reporter mice, and by microdissection of lesional tissue demonstrating
Cre
-mediated recombination events. In contrast to the uniformly penetrant mPanIN phenotype observed following developmental activation of
Kras
G12D
in the
Pdx1
-expressing progenitor cells, the
Pdx1
-expressing population in the mature pancreas (predominantly islet β cells) appears to be relatively resistant to the effects of oncogenic
Kras
. We conclude that in the appropriate genetic context, the differentiated acinar cell compartment in adult mice retains its susceptibility for spontaneous transformation into mPanIN lesions, a finding with potential relevance vis-à-vis the origins of PDAC.
Notch and Kras reprogram pancreatic acinar cells to ductal intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: De La O Jean-Paul , Emerson Lyska L. , Goodman Jessica L. , Froebe Scott C. , Illum Benjamin E. , Curtis Andrew B. , Murtaugh L. Charles
Published: November 2008

Efforts to model pancreatic cancer in mice have focused on mimicking genetic changes found in the human disease, particularly the activating
KRAS
mutations that occur in pancreatic tumors and their putative precursors, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Although activated mouse
Kras
mutations induce PanIN lesions similar to those of human, only a small minority of cells that express mutant
Kras
go on to form PanINs. The basis for this selective response is unknown, and it is similarly unknown what cell types in the mature pancreas actually contribute to PanINs. One clue comes from the fact that PanINs, unlike most cells in the adult pancreas, exhibit active Notch signaling. We hypothesize that Notch, which inhibits differentiation in the embryonic pancreas, contributes to PanIN formation by abrogating the normal differentiation program of tumor-initiating cells. Through conditional expression in the mouse pancreas, we find dramatic synergy between activated Notch and Kras in inducing PanIN formation. Furthermore, we find that Kras activation in mature acinar cells induces PanIN lesions identical to those seen upon ubiquitous Kras activation, and that Notch promotes both initiation and dysplastic progression of these acinar-derived PanINs, albeit short of invasive adenocarcinoma. At the cellular level, Notch/Kras coactivation promotes rapid reprogramming of acinar cells to a duct-like phenotype, providing an explanation for how a characteristically ductal tumor can arise from nonductal acinar cells.
Quantification of Ureaplasma urealyticum DNA in the amniotic fluid from patients in PTL and pPROM and its relation to inflammatory cytokine levels
Authors: JACOBSSON BO , AALTONEN RIIKKA , RANTAKOKKO‐JALAVA KAISU , MORKEN NILS‐HALVDAN , ALANEN ANNA
Published: November 2008

Objective. To study the effect of the amniotic fluid quantity of Ureaplasma urealyticum DNA on inflammatory response levels in women with preterm labor (PTL) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM). Design. A prospective multi‐center follow up study. Setting. Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. Sample. Eleven U. urealyticum positive samples obtained after transabdominal amniocenteses in 197 women presenting with PTL and pPROM. Methods. The U. urealyticum positive samples were analyzed with real‐time polymerase chain reaction, using the Lightcycler instrument with primers specific for U. urealyticum 16 S rDNA. The amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β and IL‐10 with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Main outcome measures. Correlation between U. urealyticum DNA concentrations in the amniotic fluid and inflammatory cytokine levels. Results. The concentrations of U. urealyticum DNA varied between 0.024 and 934 μg/mL. A significant correlation between U. urealyticum DNA and TNF‐α level was observed. No correlation with the other cytokines was found. Women with PTLhad higher levels of U. urealyticum DNA and a different cytokine pattern than women with pPROM. Conclusions. U. urealyticum in the amniotic fluid induces an inflammatory reaction in a dose dependent manner and the quantity of U. urealyticum DNA is well correlated with the level of the inflammatory cytokine TNF‐α.
Prognostic factors influencing the development of an iatrogenic pneumothorax for computed tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation of upper renal tumor
Authors: Park B. K. , Kim C. K.
Published: November 2008

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of upper renal tumors is considered a minimally invasive treatment, but this technique may cause pneumothorax.

Purpose: To assess retrospectively the prognostic factors influencing the development of iatrogenic pneumothorax for RF ablation of upper renal tumors.

Material and Methods: Computed tomography (CT)-guided RF ablation was performed in 24 patients (21 men, three women; age range 31–77 years, mean age 53.3 years) with 28 upper renal tumors. Various factors for pneumothorax-complicated (PC) upper renal tumors and non-pneumothoracic (NP) upper renal tumors were compared during RF ablation to determine which of the factors were involved in the development of pneumothorax.

Results: Among 28 upper renal tumors in 24 patients, a pneumothorax occurred accidentally in six patients with eight tumors and intentionally in two patients with two tumors. This complication was treated with conservative management, instead of tube drainage. PC upper renal tumors had shorter distance from the lung or from the costophrenic line to the tumor, a larger angle between the costophrenic line and the tumor, and a higher incidence of intervening lung tissue than NP upper renal tumors ( P<0.01). Intervening lung tissue was more frequently detected on CT images obtained with the patient in the prone position than on CT images obtained with the patient in the supine position.

Conclusion: The presence of intervening lung tissue and the close proximity between an upper renal tumor and the lung are high risk factors for developing an iatrogenic pneumothorax. Pre-ablation CT scan should be performed in the prone position to exactly evaluate intervening lung tissue.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic findings of cerebral fat embolism induced by triolein emulsion in cats
Authors: Baik S K , Kim Y-W , Kim H J , Lee J W , Cho B. M. , Kim D-H , Choi S H , Lee S H , Chang K H
Published: November 2008

Background: In experimental studies, embolization of the cerebral hemisphere with triolein emulsion has revealed reversible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in the subacute stage.

Purpose: To investigate the changes in the major metabolites, by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), in a cerebral fat embolism induced by a triolein emulsion.

Material and Methods: The internal carotid arteries of 19 cats were injected with a triolein emulsion, and multivoxel MRS was performed 30 min, 1 day, and 7 days later. In the control group, six cats were injected with normal saline. The MR spectra were evaluated for N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho), along with the presence of lipid and lactate. Semiquantitative analyses of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho, and lipid/Cr ratios compared the median values of the ipsilateral metabolite ratios with those of the contralateral side and in the control group for each point in time.

Results: The NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, and NAA/Cho ratios in the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere of the embolized group after 30 min, 1 day, and 7days were not significantly different from the contralateral hemisphere of the embolized and control groups ( P>0.05). The lipid/Cr ratio in the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere of the embolized group was significantly higher when compared with the control group ( P=0.012 at 30 min, P=0.001 on day 1, and P=0.018 on day 7).

Conclusion: Cerebral fat embolism induced by a triolein emulsion resulted in no significant change in the major metabolites of the brain in the acute stage, except for an elevated lipid/Cr ratio, which suggests the absence of any significant hypoxic-ischemic changes in the lesions embolized using a fat emulsion.
Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) of cadaveric shoulders: Comparison of contrast dynamics in hyaline and fibrous cartilage after intraarticular gadolinium injection
Authors: Wiener E. , Hodler J. , Pfirrmann C. W. A.
Published: November 2008

Background: Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) is a novel method to investigate cartilaginous and fibrocartilaginous structures.

Purpose: To investigate the contrast dynamics in hyaline and fibrous cartilage of the glenohumeral joint after intraarticular injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine.

Material and Methods: Transverse T1 maps were acquired on a 1.5T scanner before and after intraarticular injection of 2.0 mmol/l gadopentetate dimeglumine in five cadaveric shoulders using a dual flip angle three-dimensional gradient echo (3D-GRE) sequence. The acquisition time for the T1 maps was 5 min 5 s for the whole shoulder. Measurements were repeated every 15 min over 2.5 hours. Regions of interest (ROIs) covering the glenoid cartilage and the labrum were drawn to assess the temporal evolution of the relaxation parameters.

Results: T1 of unenhanced hyaline cartilage of the glenoid was 568±34 ms. T1 of unenhanced fibrous cartilage of the labrum was 552±38 ms. Significant differences ( P=0.002 and 0.03) in the relaxation parameters were already measurable after 15 min. After 2 to 2.5 hours, hyaline and fibrous cartilage still demonstrated decreasing relaxation parameters, with a larger range of the T1(Gd) values in fibrous cartilage. T1 and ▵R1 values of hyaline and fibrous cartilage after 2.5 hours were 351±16 ms and 1.1±0.09 s−1, and 332±31 ms and 1.2±0.1 s−1, respectively.

Conclusion: A significant decrease in T1(Gd) was found 15 min after intraarticular contrast injection. Contrast accumulation was faster in hyaline than in fibrous cartilage. After 2.5 hours, contrast accumulation showed a higher rate of decrease in hyaline cartilage, but neither hyaline nor fibrous cartilage had reached equilibrium.
Antioxidant and Vasodilatory Effects of Heme Oxygenase on Mesenteric Vasoreactivity Following Chronic Hypoxia
Authors: SWEAZEA KAREN , WALKER BENJIMEN R.
Published: November 2008

Objective:Chronic hypoxia (CH) results in impaired vasoconstriction associated with increased expression of heme oxygenase (HO). We hypothesized that enhanced HO activity minimizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) in arteries from CH rats, thereby normalizing endothelium‐dependent vasodilation and concurrently produces carbon monoxide (CO), resulting in tonic vasodilation.

Methods:ROS were quantified in mesenteric arteries from control and CH Sprague‐Dawley rats. Reactivity to the endothelium‐dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine (ACh), and the vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine (PE), were also assessed.

Results:Basal ROS levels did not differ between groups and were similarly increased by HO inhibition. In contrast, catalase inhibition increased ROS in CH rats only. Vasodilatory responses to ACh were not different between groups. Combined inhibition of catalase and HO impaired PE‐induced vasoconstriction in both groups. CH‐induced impairment of vasoconstriction was reversed by either catalase or HO inhibition supporting the protective roles of the HO and catalase pathways following CH. Increased vascular smooth muscle calcium was observed with inhibition in the CH group, suggesting that catalase and HO‐derived CO elicit reduced calcium influx, leading to the impaired vasoconstriction.

Conclusions:Our data suggest that although the HO pathway is an important antioxidant influence, impaired vasoconstriction following CH appears to be due to effects of ROS and HO‐derived CO.
Thermal Facilitation of Lymphocyte Trafficking Involves Temporal Induction of Intravascular ICAM‐1
Authors: CHEN QING , APPENHEIMER MICHELLE M. , MUHITCH JASON B. , FISHER DANIEL T. , CLANCY KRISTEN A. , MIECZNIKOWSKI JEFFERY C. , WANG WAN‐CHAO , EVANS SHARON S.
Published: November 2008

Objective: Fever is associated with improved survival, although its beneficial mechanisms are poorly understood. Previous studies indicate that the thermal element of fever augments lymphocyte migration across high endothelial venules (HEVs) of lymphoid organs by increasing the intravascular display of a gatekeeper trafficking molecule, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1). Here, we evaluated the spatio‐temporal relationship between the thermal induction of intravascular ICAM‐1 and lymphocyte trafficking.

Methods: Intravascular ICAM‐1 density was quantified by immunofluorescence staining in mice exposed to fever‐range whole‐body hyperthermia (39.5±0.5°C). ICAM‐1–dependent lymphocyte trafficking was measured in short‐term homing assays.

Results: A linear relationship was observed between the duration of heat treatment and intravascular ICAM‐1 density in HEVs with maximal responses requiring sustained (i.e., five hours) thermal stress. Circulating lymphocytes were found to sense incremental changes in ICAM‐1 on HEVs, such that trafficking is proportional to the intravascular density of ICAM‐1. We further identified a hydroxamate‐sensitive shedding mechanism that restores ICAM‐1 expression to homeostatic levels following the cessation of thermal stress.

Conclusions: The time‐dependent response to thermal stress indicates that ICAM‐1 density governs the efficiency of lymphocyte interactions with HEVs in vivo. These studies highlight the dynamic role of the microcirculation in promoting immune surveillance during febrile inflammatory responses.
The Cauliflower Mosaic Virus Protein P6 Forms Motile Inclusions That Traffic along Actin Microfilaments and Stabilize Microtubules
Authors: Harries Phillip A. , Palanichelvam Karuppaiah , Yu Weichang , Schoelz James E. , Nelson Richard S.
Published: November 2008

The gene VI product (P6) of Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) is a multifunctional protein known to be a major component of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies formed during CaMV infection. Although these inclusions are known to contain virions and are thought to be sites of translation from the CaMV 35S polycistronic RNA intermediate, the precise role of these bodies in the CaMV infection cycle remains unclear. Here, we examine the functionality and intracellular location of a fusion between P6 and GFP (P6-GFP). We initially show that the ability of P6-GFP to transactivate translation is comparable to unmodified P6. Consequently, our work has direct application for the large body of literature in which P6 has been expressed ectopically and its functions characterized. We subsequently found that P6-GFP forms highly motile cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and revealed through fluorescence colocalization studies that these P6-GFP bodies associate with the actin/endoplasmic reticulum network as well as microtubules. We demonstrate that while P6-GFP inclusions traffic along microfilaments, those associated with microtubules appear stationary. Additionally, inhibitor studies reveal that the intracellular movement of P6-GFP inclusions is sensitive to the actin inhibitor, latrunculin B, which also inhibits the formation of local lesions by CaMV in Nicotiana edwardsonii leaves. The motility of P6 along microfilaments represents an entirely new property for this protein, and these results imply a role for P6 in intracellular and cell-to-cell movement of CaMV.
Maternal Control of Male-Gamete Delivery inArabidopsisInvolves a Putative GPI-Anchored Protein Encoded by theLORELEIGene
Authors: Capron Arnaud , Gourgues Mathieu , Neiva Lissiene S. , Faure Jean-Emmanuel , Berger Frederic , Pagnussat Gabriela , Krishnan Anjali , Alvarez-Mejia Cesar , Vielle-Calzada Jean-Philippe , Lee Yuh-Ru , Liu Bo , Sundaresan Venkatesan
Published: November 2008

In Angiosperms, the male gametes are delivered to the female gametes through the maternal reproductive tissue by the pollen tube. Upon arrival, the pollen tube releases the two sperm cells, permitting double fertilization to take place. Although the critical role of the female gametophyte in pollen tube reception has been demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we describe lorelei, an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant impaired in sperm cell release, reminiscent of the feronia/sirène mutant. Pollen tubes reaching lorelei embryo sacs frequently do not rupture but continue to grow in the embryo sac. Furthermore, lorelei embryo sacs continue to attract additional pollen tubes after arrival of the initial pollen tube. The LORELEI gene is expressed in the synergid cells prior to fertilization and encodes a small plant-specific putative glucosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein (GAP). These results provide support for the concept of signaling mechanisms at the synergid cell membrane by which the female gametophyte recognizes the arrival of a compatible pollen tube and promotes sperm release. Although GAPs have previously been shown to play critical roles in initiation of fertilization in mammals, flowering plants appear to have independently evolved reproductive mechanisms that use the unique features of these proteins within a similar biological context.
The Transcriptional Activator Pti4 Is Required for the Recruitment of a Repressosome Nucleated by Repressor SEBF at the PotatoPR-10aGene
Authors: González-Lamothe Rocío , Boyle Patrick , Dulude Annie , Roy Vicky , Lezin-Doumbou Cyr , Kaur Gidda Satinder , Bouarab Kamal , Després Charles , Brisson Normand
Published: November 2008

Transcriptional reprogramming is critical for plant disease resistance responses. In potato (Solanum tuberosum), the marker gene PATHOGENESIS-RELATED-10a (PR-10a) is transcriptionally activated by pathogens, wounding, or elicitor treatment. Activation of PR-10a requires the recruitment of the activator Why1 to its promoter. In addition, PR-10a is negatively regulated by the repressor SEBF (for Silencer Element Binding Factor). Here, we show through a yeast two-hybrid screen that SEBF interacts with Pti4, which has been shown to be a transcriptional activator. SEBF recruits Pti4 via its consensus sequence–type RNA binding domain, while Pti4 is recruited to SEBF by means of its ethylene-response factor domain. In vivo plant transcription assays confirmed that SEBF interacts with Pti4 to form a repressosome, showing that Pti4 can also play a role in transcriptional repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that both SEBF and Pti4 are recruited to the PR-10a promoter in uninduced conditions only and that the recruitment of Pti4 is dependent on the presence of SEBF, consistent with the fact that there is no Pti4 consensus binding site in PR-10a. Unexpectedly, we also demonstrated that recruitment of SEBF was dependent on the presence of Pti4, thereby explaining why SEBF, itself a repressor, requires Pti4 for its repressing function.
Recording knowledge‐related activities in practice
Authors: Roberts Stephen A.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The paper seeks to offer a generalized methodology for knowledge auditing. The context of information and knowledge perspectives is established and knowledge auditing is located in an evolving context of information research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

A 15‐element inventory is developed which takes its design from business strategy and process and links it to the generalized cycle of information and communication activity.

Findings

The elements are systematically reviewed in terms of a general aspect, a typical interpretation and a threshold to indicate the type of practical application and data representation associated with each element.

Practical implications

The model is widely adaptable to different settings as a tool for business enterprises, organizations in different sectors and for use in communities of practice and learning/knowledge settings.

Originality/value

This is an area of application where a more standard framework approach to information and knowledge auditing would be beneficial. The structure provides a working basis for further development.
Seeking serendipity: the paradox of control
Authors: McBirnie Abigail
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present selected findings of a recent study of serendipity in information seeking, exploring the paradox of control inherent in the concept of “seeking serendipity”.

Design/methodology/approach

After providing an overview of the research study, the paper locates the research findings in the context of the literature. The discussion explores the research findings in relation to both the paradox of control and the related concept of “seeking serendipity”.

Findings

The definition/description of serendipity is examined, the concept of process‐perception duality is introduced, and links with the literature are explored. The discussion reassesses the paradox of control in light of the research findings, raising the possibility that information literacy educators have a role to play in developing the perception aspect of serendipity.

Practical implications

The paper proposes that, despite the possibly uncomfortable challenges presented by the paradox of control, serendipity deserves more recognition in professional practice. Increased acknowledgement and understanding of serendipity may enable professional practitioners to function more effectively in the unpredictable, dynamic environment that informs the reality of information seeking.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the limited existing empirical research investigating serendipity, increasing both academic and practical understanding of the phenomenon. In particular, the introduction of the concept of process‐perception duality provides a useful grounding for future research.
The convergence of information systems and information management
Authors: Laurie Bruce A.E. , Roberts Stephen A.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a reflection on the issue of convergence of information systems and information management using a historical perspective and the experiences of two practitioners from different disciplines working together to deliver first degree and Master's teaching in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper situates the teaching of business strategy and information strategy in a historical context and combines this with a reflection on teaching the subject in practice.

Findings

The paper finds that there is a need for exchange of perspectives and skills between information science and information management students which can be mutually beneficial and add value to their skill set.

Practical implications

In terms of curriculum design for information professional education, information systems students need a strong background in the business and user environment to leverage the technologies for business value.

Originality/value

The paper presents a case study of practice with a commentary on the dynamics of teaching the theme.
Developing small and medium enterprises using knowledge management frameworks
Authors: Radzevičienė Daiva
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of knowledge management (KM) in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lithuania by looking at information and knowledge resources, the development of information technology (IT) which supports the business process and the main processes of KM inside companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires and some interviews within Lithuanian SMEs helped reveal what the present situation is in terms of KM processes and the use of IT.

Findings

There appears to be a strong awareness of KM already. However, the development of adequate methods to make information management (IM) and KM fully effective appears to be lacking or only partially realized. There is some evidence to suggest that Lithuanian SME managers are becoming more psychologically prepared to work within KM but there is much less evidence to show that this is leading to effective innovation in practice at present.

Originality/value

There is great interest in the smaller emergent European economies in particular, and in SMEs in general. Lithuania inherited a stronger asset base than some ex‐Soviet republics and is positioning itself amongst the Baltic economies. With few natural resources, “knowledge” is a key area for growth, but SMEs and other sectors still need to engage strongly in development. SMEs have yet to drive the economy forward.
The small enterprise as the authentic learning environment opportunity (SEALEO)
Authors: Munro Janette , Cook Roger
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The aim of this study is to address the question of how to provide the appropriate learning environment and experience to foster an entrepreneurial attitude and capture the enthusiasm to shape the future change‐makers in enterprise, entrepreneurship and small business within the cost, resource and timing constraints of higher education in a changing, global and ethnically diverse world.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology for this research on the learning environment is longitudinal action research over more that ten years in the form of a case study. Sources used include student feedback over a number of years at various stages of the learning cycle as well as curriculum and module developments, first destination information with external examiner's and tutor's reports.

Findings

One of the key criticisms of the Honey and Mumford approach is that thinking is treated as concluding not starting. In this model, which revises the Kolb and Honey and Mumford Models, it is suggested that the environment of the learner is integral to the development of the learner. This has formed the basis for a model, which outlines the three dimensions of enterprise in the forms of envisioning, energising, and expediting.

Research limitations/implications

There is further scope for research by widening the parameters of the research. This could be implemented at other institutions of higher education and gives a solution to one of the cost and resource problems currently besetting higher education globally.

Practical implications

The key elements of students initially working in teams widens the immediate networks on which they can draw and with the mix in the team they can gain a synergy of vision, energy and expediting. This revision of Kolb's learning cycle is challenging and engaging and makes the participants more fitted for the small and general business environment on graduation.

Originality/value

Reporting a longitudinal case study with a substantial reflective element, it provides a basis for sharing experience and practice.
Voluntary sector responses to increased resourcing challenges
Authors: Parry Emma , Kelliher Clare
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Drug treatment services in the UK have recently undergone significant expansion, alongside the introduction of a set of quality standards, which included the management of people. Consequently, voluntary organisations in this sector have been faced with the dual challenges of meeting these standards and simultaneously attracting and retaining additional staff in an already tight labour market. This paper aims to examine the response of voluntary sector organisations to these pressures within the wider context of the so‐called “contract culture”, whereby, in order to remain competitive, organisations have experienced continuous pressure on labour costs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports findings from a large‐scale nation‐wide survey and interviews with HR Managers.

Findings

The results showed that these organisations had a range of “good practice” HR policies in place and had made some progress in achieving the quality standards, although many struggled to recruit and retain suitable staff. The consequences of these findings are discussed in relation to the literature on both recruitment and retention and HRM in the voluntary sector.

Practical implications

The paper has practical implications for resourcing practice within the wider voluntary sector.

Originality/value

The authors have provided a contribution to an under researched field through the examination of the challenges facing voluntary sector drug treatment providers in recent years.
Ideals and practices in CSR identity making: the case of equal opportunities
Authors: Lauring Jakob , Thomsen Christa
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to report on a qualitative research illustrating how equal opportunity ideals as part of a corporate CSR identity project are practiced on the local level.

Design/methodology/approach

Investigating the practice of CSR identity making, an ethnographic fieldwork methodology relying on longitudinal participant observations and semi‐structured interviews has been applied.

Findings

The authors argue that the practice of equal opportunities should be understood as a process of local interpretation of generally formulated ideals. By viewing the content of CSR identity as a socially negotiated process, it is suggested that a dynamic approach to the concept is required. The practice of equal opportunity is a continuously negotiated process of identity making and of locally relating ideals to practice in the negotiation between different stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

The article is based on a single case study with a limited number of informants.

Practical implications

This paper has implications for managers who work with CSR initiatives and corporate identity. The authors suggest that policies should be developed in close interaction with the different organizational members. This is necessary in order to manage the mutual expectations. To reach the best results in terms of managing corporate identity, it is necessary to consider CSR as a participative process.

Originality/value

Earlier studies on CSR have described corporate identity in static terms, independent of the local practices and interpretations. By applying a process‐oriented theoretical perspective combined with an iterative data collection, new insights into the actual practice of CSR initiatives are provided.
A test of hypotheses derived from self‐determination theory among public sector employees
Authors: Kuvaas Bård
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between intrinsic motivation and work performance among individuals from a broad cross‐section of job types among public employees with the objectives of contributing to self‐determination theory and assisting public management practice and research.

Design/methodology/approach

Respondents were drawn from three municipalities located in Norway. A questionnaire was distributed to 2,015 employees through a web‐based tool (Questback), which resulted in complete data from 779 workers, representing a response rate of approximately 39 per cent.

Findings

The findings suggest that the relationships between job autonomy and work performance and task interdependence and work performance are partly mediated by intrinsic motivation, while the relationship between supervisor support for autonomy, competence, and development and work performance is fully mediated by intrinsic motivation.

Research limitations/implications

The two most important limitations, which are discussed in more detail at the end of the paper, are the cross‐sectional nature of the study and the reliance on self‐reported questionnaire data.

Practical implications

The results support self‐determination theory and suggest that public and private sector managers should pay more attention to autonomy‐supportive work environments.

Originality/value

First, a recent review of self‐determination theory casts doubt on the performance implications of intrinsic motivation for less complex or interesting tasks. Thus, in order to increase our knowledge of the quality of self‐determination theory as a work motivation theory, empirical research that spans a broad cross‐section of jobs and functions in organisations is needed. Second, and despite the importance of motivation among public employees in an era of transformation to a more business‐oriented approach, there is little empirical research on public sector employee motivation.
Attitudes, attributes and institutions
Authors: Lange Thomas
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the growing body of empirical evaluations of workers' subjective well being by assessing the impact of values, beliefs, important job attributes and autonomous institution building on employees' job satisfaction across ten countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

Data derived from the European Values Study 1999/2000 is being utilised, which provides detailed information not only on job satisfaction and socio‐demographic characteristics, but also on individuals' subjective views, beliefs and important job attributes. Following a descriptive narrative on the transformation in emerging market economies, ordered probit regressions are performed to determine the significance of these characteristics, values and beliefs on workers' job satisfaction.

Findings

The empirical findings suggest that reported attitudes, values and beliefs and their impact on job satisfaction evince traits of a legacy of communist industrial relations as well as subsequent experiences with economic and social transition. What is more, the study also uncovers the positive influence of trust and confidence in autonomous institution building on workers' job satisfaction, specifically in the context of reformed trade unions, education and social security.

Originality/value

In previous studies, job satisfaction has been examined primarily in Western Europe and the USA. In contrast, empirical examinations to identify the determinants of job satisfaction for employees in Central and Eastern Europe have not figured prominently in this literature. This paper adds value by providing robust empirical results for this region.
A metadata manager's role in collaborative projects
Authors: Sun Li
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss the roles and responsibilities of a metadata manager in collaborative digital projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the general requirements for metadata management, and introduces some scenarios in the practices of digital projects by the Rutgers University Libraries to support the generalized definition. A workflow of metadata management is illustrated.

Practical implications

With an explicit definition of the roles and responsibilities of the metadata manager, many other digital libraries that need to develop a new or optimize the existing workflow may find the Rutgers experience useful as a reference.

Originality/value

Very few papers have explored this topic, although the functions of metadata in the development of digital projects have been talked about extensively.
Twenty‐three steps to learning Web 2.0 technologies in an academic library
Authors: Gross Julia , Leslie Lyn
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the adoption and evaluation of a Learning 2.0 program in a pilot program at the Edith Cowan University Library during 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the suitability of Learning 2.0 for training eight “early adopters” among library staff in the new and emerging Web 2.0 technologies. The program was set up and deployed via a blog, which recorded staff progress through the nine‐week implementation phase of the program. At the conclusion, a focus group was held and the pilot group members responded to questions about the relevance of the program, and the effectiveness of their learning.

Findings

It was found that library staff responded positively to this program, not least because it adhered to adult learning principles. For the authors' purpose, Learning 2.0 was an eminently suitable training package.

Originality/value

The paper is unique in that Edith Cowan University Library was the first Australian university library to adopt Learning 2.0.