bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate‐slogans of corporations operating in Greater China
Authors: Lee Miranda Y.P. , So Daniel W.C.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to identify between polity similarities and differences of “brand‐personality traits” projected by corporate‐slogans of corporations operating in Greater China (CGCs) to see if Greater China is a cultural unit, and to examine CGC bilingual corporate‐slogans to see if patterns are in evidence and if certain ways of crafting the slogans are more effective.

Design/methodology/approach

Corporate‐slogans are collected from web sites of major CGCs. The sample is analysed using Aaker's Brand Personality Scale and relevant rhetorical concepts.

Findings

The sample shares more commonalities than differences, suggesting Great China is a cultural unit; and the majority of the slogans are crafted by direct translation and parallel drafting, and the latter is deemed more effective.

Research limitations/implications

This is a heuristic and hypothesis‐generating study and is entirely based on linguistic data. Studies with an empirical design are required to see if the findings have psychological validity.

Practical implications

If Greater China is a cultural unit, it should have bearing on corporate‐communication professionals in CGCs in terms of the adoption of corporate‐slogans, corporate names and artefacts related to corporate identity and image.

Originality/value

Hitherto studies of corporate‐slogans are mostly based on corporations operating in the West. This is the first study of CGC corporate‐slogans that cover four polities that succeeds in identifying patterns in methods of bilingual corporate‐slogan crafting and in “brand‐personality traits” projected by these slogans. The latter indicates that CGCs are operating not simply in a region, but in a cultural region.
Modifying electric artworks to improve dimensional stability of microelectronic substrates
Authors: Hutapea Parsaoran , Grenestedt Joachim L.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to deal with a tuning method to reduce warpage of microelectronic substrates.

Design/methodology/approach

There are three major processes involved in this method: calculating effective thermomechanical properties of substrates with simple regular electric artworks using 3D finite element (FE) analyses; fitting simplified expressions to the results from the FE analyses; and developing 2D FE models of substrates with arbitrarily complicated artwork using the simplified expressions. These three processes were used to estimate the warpage. An optimization procedure through iterative searches was used to obtain optimized trace widths and/or spacing in order to reduce the warpage.

Findings

Using a printed circuit board design to prove our concept, it was found that the warpage could be significantly reduced by modifying trace widths and/or spacing of the printed circuit board.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on a tuning method to reduce warpage of microelectronic substrates.
Modeling and simulation of NTC thick film thermistor geometries
Authors: Aleksić O.S. , Radojčić B.M. , Ramović R.M.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to focus on thick film planar thermistors.

Design/methodology/approach

Thick film planar thermistors such as rectangular, sandwich, multilayer, segmented and interdigitated were printed of law temperature NTC paste called NTC 3K3 95/2 (Ei Iritel). Their resistivity was measured at room temperature as a function of volume resistivity variations due to electrode effect (diffusion of PdAg into NTC layer) and variation of geometrical parameters such as lengthl, widthw, thicknessd, number of segmentsn. The experimental data obtained were used in forming a model by the simple fitting procedure for counting diffusion effect on volume resistivity and resistivity dependence on geometrical parameters.

Findings

Thermal behavior of NTC thick films was measured in the range of −30‐120°C. Exponential factorBwas fitted for measured values and included in the proposed thick film thermistors model. The agreement of measured and calculated data enables simulation of new thermistor geometries.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the experiment which was the first step in forming a total physical/mathematical model proposed for thick film thermistor resistivity.
Do risk factors matter in the IPO valuation?
Authors: Abdou Khaled , Dicle Mehmet F.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether all of the risk factors were priced during the internet bubble period.

Design/methodology/approach

A unique hand collected dataset was used from public prospectuses for companies that issued an initial public offering during the internet bubble period. Three hypotheses were proposed: the risk factors mentioned in the prospectus are important for IPO trading and therefore affect IPO underpricing; risk factors affect the IPO deal attributes; and the number of risk factors cited by the issuing firm is affected by direct participants such as venture capitalists and investment bankers.

Findings

It was found that hi‐tech dummy played a significant role during the bubble period. Moreover, not all risk factors are regarded important, some of them are not significant at all as predicted by first hypothesis. The most striking observation is the negative economic significance of the risk factor no prior market for the traded stock. This reveals that, traders are selective in valuing risks and may value some factors as opportunities and not as risk factors. In addition, the results reveal that risk factors do affect the deal attributes as predicted by our second hypothesis. Also, the pricing of these risk factors are not different between retail and hi‐tech companies. Regarding the participants, it was found that venture capitalists and investment bankers have a significant statistical and economic effect on the number of risk factors reported in the prospectus.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature by investigating the IPO underpricing phenomenon in the internet bubble period.
Linking products with supply chains: testing Fisher's model
Authors: Selldin Erik , Olhager Jan
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The paper seeks to test the relationships among product design and supply chain design, with specific reference to the product‐supply chain model by Fisher.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive empirical survey with data from 128 companies; the approach is basically theory testing, in that it investigates an existing framework, and discusses extensions.

Findings

Significant relationships are found between product types and supply chain types, as well as concerning the impact of alignment on performance.

Research limitations/implications

Instead of treating the supply chain characteristics associated with different supply chain types as either/or choices, some companies select properties from both supply chain types in order to gain additional benefits. This creates a supply chain frontier of physical efficiency and market responsiveness; a concept that deserves further attention by researchers. A limitation is that it would be interesting to perform a longitudinal study.

Practical implications

Different product types call for different types of supply chains. Alignment between the type of product and the type of supply chain is important, and significant for delivery speed, delivery dependability, and cost performance.

Originality/value

This research empirically tests a model that has received considerable attention in the research literature as well as acting as guidelines in practice, but that has not been tested explicitly before.
Exploring career‐life success and family social support of successful women in Canada, Argentina and Mexico
Authors: Lirio Pamela , Lituchy Terri R. , Ines Monserrat Silvia , Olivas‐Lujan Miguel R. , Duffy Jo Ann , Fox Suzy , Gregory Ann , Punnett B.J. , Santos Neusa
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine career‐life issues of successful women in the Americas.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 30 interviews were conducted with successful women in Canada, Argentina and Mexico. Themes were pulled from the interview transcripts for each country, analyzed and then compared across countries, looking at universalities and differences of experiences.

Findings

The women in all three countries conveyed more subjective measures of career success, such as contributing to society and learning in their work, with Canada and Mexico particularly emphasizing receiving recognition as a hallmark of career success.

Practical implications

This research provides insight into the experiences of successful women in the Americas, which can inform the career development of women in business.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on women's careers, highlighting successful women's experiences across cultures and in an under‐researched area: Latin America.
Guanxi as impetus? Career exploration in China and the United States
Authors: Jiwen Song Lynda , Werbel James D.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The present paper seeks to analyze the role of social networks in the process of career exploration, including its main effect on search intensity, and moderation effect on the linkage between search intensity and job search confidence.

Design/methodology/approach

It is a longitudinal design with 239 USA and 165 Chinese graduating students.

Findings

Social networks in job search have greater effects on job search intensity in the USA sample. Moderation effects could be detected in the Chinese sample, and guanxi search (a Chinese reference to social networks) minimizes job search confidence and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Social networks, particularly guanxi search in China, could reflect interdependency in job search process, and might constrain job choice.

Originality/value

The paper examined the cultural differences of guanxi search construct, and compared the role of social networks (guanxi search) in cross‐cultural settings.
A strategy‐based ontology of knowledge management technologies
Authors: Saito Andre , Umemoto Katsuhiro , Ikeda Mitsuru
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to distinguish and describe knowledge management (KM) technologies according to their support for strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed an ontology development method to describe the relations between technology, KM and strategy, and to categorize available KM technologies according to those relations. Ontologies are formal specifications of concepts in a domain and their inter‐relationships, and can be used to facilitate common understanding and knowledge sharing. The study focused particularly on two sub‐domains of the KM field: KM strategies and KM technologies.

Findings

”KM strategy” has three meanings in the literature: approach to KM, knowledge strategy, and KM implementation strategy. Also, KM technologies support strategy via KM initiatives based on particular knowledge strategies and approaches to KM. The study distinguishes three types of KM technologies: component technologies, KM applications, and business applications. They all can be described in terms of ”creation” and ”transfer” knowledge strategies, and ”personalization” and ”codification” approaches to KM.

Research limitations/implications

The resulting framework suggests that KM technologies can be analyzed better in the context of KM initiatives, instead of the usual approach associating them with knowledge processes. KM initiatives provide the background and contextual elements necessary to explain technology adoption and use.

Practical implications

The framework indicates three alternative modes for organizational adoption of KM technologies: custom development of KM systems from available component technologies; purchase of KM‐specific applications; or purchase of business‐driven applications that embed KM functionality. It also lists adequate technologies and provides criteria for selection in any of the cases.

Originality/value

Among the many studies analyzing the role of technology in KM, an association with strategy has been missing. This paper contributes to filling this gap, integrating diverse contributions via a clearer definition of concepts and a visual representation of their relationships. This use of ontologies as a method, instead of an artifact, is also uncommon in the literature.
Are we prepared for the Mental Capacity Act?
Authors: Cowan Jane
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to The Mental Capacity Act, 2005 will come into force in England and Wales in April 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides an overview of the changes that will occur when the Act comes into force.

Findings

Preparations are already underway, but as yet there has been no centralised support in the form of standardises templates and documentation to ensure consistency across the NHS. Delay in finalising a Code of Conduct to accompany the Act is also hampering efforts to complete preparations for compliance with the Act. Healthcare organisations have a great number of preparations to make and it is likely that many of them will not have been able to complete them before the Act comes into force.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is in drawing attention to the fact that a crucial aspect of the work ahead is to ensure that staff receive adequate and appropriate training. All healthcare professionals – and doctors in particular – should be familiar with, and understand, the key principles of the Act.
Designing a knowledge management tool to support knowledge sharing networks
Authors: Perez‐Araos Agustin , Barber Kevin D. , Eduardo Munive‐Hernandez J. , Eldridge Steve
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a knowledge management (KM) tool which has been designed to support the creation of virtual knowledge sharing networks (KSNs). It is a software‐based application that enables the sharing of knowledge related to the implementation of manufacturing excellence (ME) best practices and improvement tools.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of SMEs was carried out to investigate the implementation of ME best practices. The results indicated that that the main barrier to the implementation of best practices, quality models and improvement tools is a lack of knowledge about these initiatives due to the resource constraints experienced by SMEs. This led to the development of a KM tool to support the creation of virtual networks to enable SMEs to manage improvement projects and share effectively the generated knowledge. The KM tool is currently at the stage of validation and its future implementation is also under consideration.

Findings

The KM tool supports the creation of KSNs through an explicit KM approach to share ideas, experiences and knowledge about implementation of best practices and improvement tools; helping SMEs to become more competitive.

Practical implications

This research has demonstrated that is possible to provide a KM tool that is suitable for use by a KSN of SMEs. This approach allows transferring some of the tacit and explicit knowledge generated during the implementation of improvement initiatives into electronic documents for future consultation by KSN members.

Originality/value

The KM tool works not only as an electronic repository for knowledge, but it also drives users to apply and share knowledge through its capability to help managing improvement projects.
Literature review on the agile manufacturing criteria
Authors: Ramesh G. , Devadasan S.R.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

To review on the literature and contribute a comprehensive model that would identify the criteria for attaining agility and suggest a procedure to successfully implement it in manufacturing arena.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature dealing with agile manufacturing (AM) criteria were studied. The meaning and definitions of AM were derived. Further, the criteria enunciated in certain papers were identified. These findings were used to design a 20 criteria agile model. Subsequently, its implementation procedure was designed.

Findings

While reviewing the literature, the following observations were made: time and again, some researchers brought out certain criteria of AM; these criteria do not comprehensively focus towards attaining agility; the researchers who have contributed these criteria have failed to evolve an implementation procedure.

Research limitations/implications

Contributions of this paper are based on reviewing the literature. Since, no survey in manufacturing arena has been carried out, the 20 criteria agile model and its implementation procedure may suffer from incompatibility problems in manufacturing arena. However, these contributions provide an avenue fro further researching in this direction

Practical implications

The customers' dynamic demands and the ever increasing intensity of global competition force the practitioners to adopt agile principles. The 20 criteria agile model and its implications procedure would enable the organizations to focus towards attaining agility. This process will prevent the derailment of AM journey and the wastage of time and money spent while moving towards agility

Originality/value

The study of literature on AM reveals that no researcher has enunciated the exhaustive integration of management and technology‐oriented AM criteria and their implementation feasibilities. Hence, the contribution of this paper is original in the literature world.
Operations and maintenance performance in production and manufacturing assets
Authors: Liyanage Jayantha P.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

Sustainable production and manufacturing is an emerging concept for commercially successful performance. A question is how core asset processes should be streamlined to ensure performance quality and to portray their business roles within sustainability requirements. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue from asset operations and maintenance (O&M) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Issues discussed here are based on findings from a project launched during 2000‐2003 in Norway with major emphasis on performance integrity, consistency, and quality.

Findings

Through the findings of the original study, the paper elaborates on the important “Business – Production or Manufacturing asset – Operations and Maintenance” performance architecture in sustainable business environments.

Research limitations/implications

The paper aims at stimulating production and manufacturing cluster to initiate joint R&D efforts to further explore and research this interesting and important subject matter that seems to be sensitive from socio‐economical viewpoint.

Practical implications

The paper provides a framework to explore and specify critical elements for a risk‐based industrial asset management practice in dynamic and complex settings of sustainable environments. This is critical for many commercial businesses with the ongoing debates on the proper balance between profits and fundamentals, and to develop effective performance measurements and auditing systems for asset O&M process to ensure integrity, consistency and quality in performance.

Originality/value

Many underlying issues regarding sustainability performance in production and manufacturing environments still remain ill‐defined. This paper clarifies how the emerging sustainable business concept can influence performance in industrial production and manufacturing assets, and how to outline a framework to streamline O&M performance.
An extended process model of knowledge discovery in database
Authors: Li Tianrui , Ruan Da
Published: February 2007

Purpose

Much research on knowledge discovery in database (KDD) merely pays attention to data mining, one of many interacting steps in the process of discovering previously unknown and potentially interesting patterns in large databases, but little to the whole process. However, such approaches cannot satisfy the need of real applications of KDD. The purpose of this work is to extend a process model of KDD in practice at large.

Design/methodology/approach

A new model based on research experiences of the knowledge discovery process is formalized as an extension of the model by Fayyadet al. A case study by a reduct method from rough set theory is to illustrate why the process model is proposed and in what situation it can be used in practice.

Findings

This model incorporates data collection in the KDD process to supply a sound framework to better support KDD applications.

Research limitations/implications

This model reflects the native of KDD in some tested cases. It may need further research to be used in all other situations.

Practical implications

It can be used in the area of information security, medical treatment and other information management.

Originality/value

Using this model, one can directly collect data that are essential and useful for the mining results. It also offers practical help to those KDD researchers both from industry and academia.
The “militarizing” of organization and management studies
Authors: Stokes Peter
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to undertake an analysis of the engagement of organization and management literature with military and militarization themes and issues.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive, textual literature analysis which identifies a range of international themes and issues in relation to militarization.

Findings

Identifies a modernistic‐managerialist tendency in the organization and management literature which elects to engage with military aspects and issues. This is predicated on a perceived mutual utility between the apparently separable “military” and “non‐military” domains and revolves around a series of commonly invoked texts and sets of popular cultural representations. Also recognises that organization and management commentaries influenced by critical perspectives tend not to engage so readily with military contexts and points up political commitments that might make this the case. Identifies approaches to blurring military/non‐military divides in current militaristic representations.

Research limitations/implications

Provides a considered thematic and paradigmatic reflection on militarization commentary in extant organization and management literature. Identifies and explores methodological challenges in considering militarization and its pervasive effects and delineations.

Practical implications

Maps the organization and management literature in relation to militarization and generates a series of critical platforms from which to embark on a corresponding exploration of militarization.

Originality/value

Conducts a novel consideration of the limitations of management and organization literature's hitherto treatment of military and militarization aspects. Generates a fruitful set of conditions and insights for international critical organization and management approaches to military topics and issues.
Commerce in US schools: four dominant perspectives
Authors: Domine Vanessa
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide a systematic understanding of the controversy surrounding commerce in US schools.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper surveys the history, research and policies related to commerce in schooling (1890‐2005) within the USA. The literature is organized according to four emergent US perspectives – protectionist, celebrant, cultural critic, and educated consumer.

Findings

The review finds that dominant US assumptions of commercial media subscribe to a stimulus‐response model of learning, rather than an active model of young people as constructing their own experiences with commercial media. Much of the research and many of the policies about commercial media in schools reflect adult assumptions about how young people learn, rather than provide empirical research about how young people actually interact with commercial texts while in school. The paper questions an excessive emphasis on the texts and technologies of instruction and calls for more empirical research that is grounded in theories of social constructivism, symbolic interactionism, and media education.

Research limitations/implications

The four dominant media perspectives generated through this review of literature are limited to the USA.

Practical implications

A useful review of literature and schema to inform the understanding of educators, policy makers, and researchers as to the dominant US perspectives about commercial media and the education of young people. The schema can be used as a springboard for research and inquiry into the perspectives and policies of commercial practices and education in other countries.

Originality/value

This paper contextualizes nearly a century of research on commercial media and the education of youth in the USA, and provides a historical and theoretical context for researching education, technology and commerce in the USA and other countries.
Empirical examination of diversification strategies in business groups
Authors: Mishra Anurag , Akbar M.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

To examine the influence of direction of related and unrelated diversification on business groups' performance in emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper empirically examines a hypothesis based on the theoretical perspective of the resource‐based view. The paper builds a regression model with the dependent variable Tobin's q as a proxy for group/firm value and various other performance measures (derived from financial data) that theory suggests influences firm value. It examines the differences in firm value measure across three classes, namely related‐diversified business groups, unrelated‐diversified business groups and standalone firms.

Findings

The results confirm the findings of prior research which suggests that group affiliation is beneficial in emerging markets. However, as a departure, the main finding is that the benefits of group affiliation are not equally available to related‐diversified and unrelated diversified groups.

Research limitations/implications

This research needs to be tested in other emerging markets for generalizability. The results hold under certain assumptions that the paper makes (and mentions) while subjecting data to aggregation and empirical analysis.

Practical implications

While diversified business groups are valued in emerging markets, this work clearly establishes that related‐diversification strategy is better and more profitable in the context of emerging market. Thus, managers of business groups are better off pursuing related‐diversified strategy over unrelated‐diversified strategy.

Originality/value

Prior work has examined the benefits of group affiliation and the extent of diversification question separately. This paper examines the direction of diversification question which is built based on the resource‐based perspective for the first time. This contribution extends the understanding of business groups and performance linkages in an emerging market context.
Combining substrate dynamics, binding statistics, and energy barriers to rationalize regioselective hydroxylation of octane and lauric acid by CYP102A1 and mutants
Authors: Feenstra K. Anton , Starikov Eugene B. , Urlacher Vlada B. , Commandeur Jan N.M. , Vermeulen Nico P.E.
Published: February 2007

Hydroxylations of octane and lauric acid by Cytochrome P450‐BM3 (CYP102A1) wild‐type and three active site mutants—F87A, L188Q/A74G, and F87V/L188Q/A74G—were rationalized using a combination of substrate orientation from docking, substrate binding statistics from molecular dynamics simulations, and barrier energies for hydrogen atom abstraction from quantum mechanical calculations. Wild‐type BM3 typically hydroxylates medium‐ to long‐chain fatty acids on subterminal (ω−1, ω−2, ω−3) but not the terminal (ω) positions. The known carboxylic anchoring site Y51/R47 for lauric acid, and hydrophobic interactions and steric exclusion, mainly by F87, for octane as well as lauric acid, play a role in the binding modes of the substrates. Electrostatic interactions between the protein and the substrate strongly modulate the substrate's regiodependent activation barriers. A combination of the binding statistics and the activation barriers of hydrogen‐atom abstraction in the substrates is proposed to determine the product formation. Trends observed in experimental product formation for octane and lauric acid by wild‐type BM3 and the three active site mutants were qualitatively explained. It is concluded that the combination of substrate binding statistics and hydrogen–atom abstraction barrier energies is a valuable tool to rationalize substrate binding and product formation and constitutes an important step toward prediction of product ratios.
Design, expression, and stability of a diverse protein library based on the human fibronectin type III domain
Authors: Olson C. Anders , Roberts Richard W.
Published: February 2007

Protein libraries based on natural scaffolds enable the generation of novel molecular tools and potential therapeutics by directed evolution. Here, we report the design and construction of a high complexity library (30 × 1013 sequences) based on the 10th fibronectin type III domain of human fibronectin (10FnIII). We examined the bacterial expression characteristics and stability of this library using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐reporter screen, SDS‐PAGE analysis, and chemical denaturation, respectively. The high throughput GFP reporter screen demonstrates that a large fraction of our library expresses significant levels of soluble protein in bacteria. However, SDS‐PAGE analysis of expression cultures indicates the ratio of soluble to insoluble protein expressed varies greatly for randomly chosen library members. We also tested the stabilities of several representative variants by guanidinium chloride denaturation. All variants tested displayed cooperative unfolding transitions similar to wild‐type, and two exhibited free energies of unfolding equal to wild‐type 10FnIII. This work demonstrates the utility of GFP‐based screening as a tool for analysis of high‐complexity protein libraries. Our results indicate that a vast amount of protein sequence space surrounding the 10FnIII scaffold is accessible for the generation of novel functions by directed as well as natural evolution.
NMR structure of the pseudo‐receiver domain of CikA
Authors: Gao Tiyu , Zhang Xiaofan , Ivleva Natalia B. , Golden Susan S. , LiWang Andy
Published: February 2007

The circadian input kinase (CikA) is a major element of the pathway that provides environmental information to the circadian clock of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. CikA is a polypeptide of 754 residues and has three recognizable domains: GAF, histidine protein kinase, and receiver‐like. This latter domain of CikA lacks the conserved phospho‐accepting aspartyl residue of bona fide receiver domains and is thus a pseudo‐receiver (PsR). Recently, it was shown that the PsR domain (1) attenuates the autokinase activity of CikA, (2) is necessary to localize CikA to the cell pole, and (3) is necessary for the destabilization of CikA in the presence of the quinone analog 2,5‐dibromo‐3‐methyl‐6‐isopropyl‐p‐benzoquinone (DBMIB). The solution structure of the PsR domain of CikA, CikAPsR, is presented here. A model of the interaction between the PsR domain and HPK portion of CikA provides a potential explanation for how the PsR domain attenuates the autokinase activity of CikA. Finally, a likely quinone‐binding surface on CikAPsR is shown here.
Electrostatic changes in phosphorylase kinase induced by its obligatory allosteric activator Ca2+
Authors: Priddy Timothy S. , Middaugh C. Russell , Carlson Gerald M.
Published: February 2007

Skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase (PhK) is a 1.3‐MDa hexadecameric complex that catalyzes the phosphorylation and activation of glycogen phosphorylase b. PhK has an absolute requirement for Ca2+ ions, which couples the cascade activation of glycogenolysis with muscle contraction. Ca2+ activates PhK by binding to its nondissociable calmodulin subunits; however, specific changes in the structure of the PhK complex associated with its activation by Ca2+ have been poorly understood. We present herein the first comparative investigation of the physical characteristics of highly purified hexadecameric PhK in the absence and presence of Ca2+ ions using a battery of biophysical probes as a function of temperature. Ca2+‐induced differences in the tertiary and secondary structure of PhK measured by fluorescence, UV absorption, FTIR, and CD spectroscopies as low resolution probes of PhK's structure were subtle. In contrast, the surface electrostatic properties of solvent accessible charged and polar groups were altered upon the binding of Ca2+ ions to PhK, which substantially affected both its diffusion rate and electrophoretic mobility, as measured by dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analyses, respectively. Overall, the observed physicochemical effects of Ca2+ binding to PhK were numerous, including a decrease in its electrostatic surface charge that reduced particle mobility without inducing a large alteration in secondary structure content or hydrophobic tertiary interactions. Without exception, for all analyses in which the temperature was varied, the presence of Ca2+ rendered the enzyme increasingly labile to thermal perturbation.
Domain motions of glucosamine‐6P synthase: Comparison of the anisotropic displacements in the crystals and the catalytic hinge‐bending rotation
Authors: Mouilleron Stéphane , Golinelli‐Pimpaneau Béatrice
Published: February 2007

Glucosamine‐6‐phosphate synthase channels ammonia over 18 Å from glutamine at the glutaminase site to fructose‐6P at the synthase site. We have modeled the anisotropic displacements of the glutaminase and synthase domains from the two crystallized states, the enzyme in complex with fructose‐6P or in complex with glucose‐6P and a glutamine affinity analog, using TLS (rigid‐body motion in terms of translation, libration, and screw motions) refinement implemented in REFMAC. The domains displacements in the crystal lattices are compared to the movement of the glutaminase domain relative to the synthase domain that occurs during the catalytic cycle upon glutamine binding, which was visualized by comparing the two structures. This movement was analyzed by the program DYNDOM as a 22.8° rotation around an effective hinge axis running approximately parallel to helix 300–317 of the synthase domain, the glutaminase loop that covers the glutaminase site upon glutamine binding acting as the mechanical hinge.
Kinetic analysis of the binding of monomeric and dimeric ephrins to Eph receptors: Correlation to function in a growth cone collapse assay
Authors: Pabbisetty Kumar B. , Yue Xin , Li Chen , Himanen Juha‐Pekka , Zhou Renping , Nikolov Dimitar B. , Hu Longqin
Published: February 2007

Eph receptors and ephrins play important roles in regulating cell migration and positioning during both normal and oncogenic tissue development. Using a surface plasma resonance (SPR) biosensor, we examined the binding kinetics of representative monomeric and dimeric ephrins to their corresponding Eph receptors and correlated the apparent binding affinity with their functional activity in a neuronal growth cone collapse assay. Our results indicate that the Eph receptor binding of dimeric ephrins, formed through fusion with disulfide‐linked Fc fragments, is best described using a bivalent analyte model as a two‐step process involving an initial monovalent 2:1 binding followed by a second bivalent 2:2 binding. The bivalent binding dramatically decreases the apparent dissociation rate constants with little effect on the initial association rate constants, resulting in a 30‐ to 6000‐fold decrease in apparent equilibrium dissociation constants for the binding of dimeric ephrins to Eph receptors relative to their monomeric counterparts. Interestingly, the change was more prominent in the A‐class ephrin/Eph interactions than in the B‐class of ephrins to Eph receptors. The increase in apparent binding affinities correlated well with increased activation of Eph receptors and the resulting growth cone collapse. Our kinetic analysis and correlation of binding affinity with function helped us better understand the interactions between ephrins and Eph receptors and should be useful in the design of inhibitors that interfere with the interactions.
The molecular architecture of glucose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase
Authors: Thoden James B. , Holden Hazel M.
Published: February 2007

Glucose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase, also referred to as UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase or UGPase, catalyzes the formation of UDP‐glucose from glucose‐1‐phosphate and UTP. Not surprisingly, given the central role of UDP‐glucose in glycogen synthesis and in the production of glycolipids, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans, the enzyme is ubiquitous in nature. Interestingly, however, the prokaryotic and eukaryotic forms of the enzyme are unrelated in amino acid sequence and structure. Here we describe the cloning and structural analysis to 1.9 Å resolution of the UGPase from Escherichia coli. The protein is a tetramer with 222 point group symmetry. Each subunit of the tetramer is dominated by an eight‐stranded mixed β‐sheet. There are two additional layers of β‐sheet (two and three strands) and 10 α‐helices. The overall fold of the molecule is remarkably similar to that observed for glucose‐1‐phosphate thymidylyltransferase in complex with its product, dTDP‐glucose. On the basis of this similarity, a UDP‐glucose moiety has been positioned into the active site of UGPase. This protein/product model predicts that the side chains of Gln 109 and Asp 137, respectively, serve to anchor the uracil ring and the ribose of UDP‐glucose to the protein. The β‐phosphoryl group of the product is predicted to lie within hydrogen bonding distance to the ε‐nitrogen of Lys 202 whereas the carboxylate group of Glu 201 is predicted to bridge the 2′‐ and 3′‐hydroxyl groups of the glucosyl moiety. Details concerning the overall structure of UGPase and a comparison with glucose‐1‐phosphate thymidylyltransferase are presented.
Solution structure of the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor domain 2
Authors: Jiang Shaokai , Caffrey Michael
Published: February 2007

The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) mediates entry of coxsackievirus and adenovirus. CAR possesses an extracellular region that is comprised of 2 immunoglobulin domains termed CAR–D1 and CAR–D2. In the present work, the solution structure of CAR–D2, consisting of residues 142–235 of human CAR, has been determined by NMR spectroscopy. CAR–D2 is shown to be a β‐sandwich motif comprised of two β‐sheets, which are stabilized by two disulfide bonds. The first β‐sheet is comprised of β‐strands A, B, and E, and the second β‐sheet is comprised of β‐strands C, F, and G. A relatively hydrophobic helix is found between β‐strands C and E, which replaces β‐strand D of the classical c‐type immunoglobulin fold.
Important roles of hydroxylic amino acid residues in the function of Bacillus subtilis adenylosuccinate lyase
Authors: Segall Mark L. , Cashman Meghan A. , Colman Roberta F.
Published: February 2007

Thr93, Ser94, Thr140, and Ser306 are conserved in all adenylosuccinate lyases (ASL) and are close to other amino acids previously identified by mutagenesis as being in the active site. To test their involvement in the enzyme's function, each of these amino acids was replaced by alanine. All the mutants exhibit circular dichroism spectra which are similar to that of wild‐type enzyme, indicating there is no appreciable change in secondary structure. T93A exhibits 0.5% of the Vmax of wild‐type ASL with a 10‐fold increase in Km for adenylosuccinate. S94A has 65% of the Vmax of wild‐type ASL with little change in Km. T140A exhibits 0.03% of the activity of wild‐type enzyme with an 11‐fold increase in Km. S306A has 0.4% of the Vmax of wild‐type ASL with a sevenfold increase in Km. Measurements of the pH‐Vmax profile reveal a pK2 value for S94A of 7.83 and S306A of 7.65, in contrast to 8.24 for the wild‐type enzyme and 8.42 for T93A. Thr93 may orient adenylosuccinate optimally for catalysis, while Ser94 stabilizes protonated His89, a determinant of pK2. Thr140 may, through hydrogen bonding, interact with Asn270, an amino acid essential for catalysis. Ser306 may be involved in a hydrogen bond network that ultimately stabilizes protonated His68, which is probably the general acid in the reaction of enzyme with substrate. The results of this paper demonstrate the importance in the catalytic function of ASL of hydrogen bonds and hydrogen bonding networks involving serine and threonine.
A unified mechanism for protein folding: Predetermined pathways with optional errors
Authors: Krishna Mallela M.G. , Englander S. Walter
Published: February 2007

There is a fundamental conflict between two different views of how proteins fold. Kinetic experiments and theoretical calculations are often interpreted in terms of different population fractions folding through different intermediates in independent unrelated pathways (IUP model). However, detailed structural information indicates that all of the protein population folds through a sequence of intermediates predetermined by the foldon substructure of the target protein and a sequential stabilization principle. These contrary views can be resolved by a predetermined pathway—optional error (PPOE) hypothesis. The hypothesis is that any pathway intermediate can incorporate a chance misfolding error that blocks folding and must be reversed for productive folding to continue. Different fractions of the protein population will then block at different steps, populate different intermediates, and fold at different rates, giving the appearance of multiple unrelated pathways. A test of the hypothesis matches the two models against extensive kinetic folding results for hen lysozyme which have been widely cited in support of independent parallel pathways. The PPOE model succeeds with fewer fitting constants. The fitted PPOE reaction scheme leads to known folding behavior, whereas the IUP properties are contradicted by experiment. The appearance of a conflict with multipath theoretical models seems to be due to their different focus, namely on multitrack microscopic behavior versus cooperative macroscopic behavior. The integration of three well‐documented principles in the PPOE model (cooperative foldons, sequential stabilization, optional errors) provides a unifying explanation for how proteins fold and why they fold in that way.
Crystal structure of AGR_C_4470p from Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Vorobiev Sergey M. , Neely Helen , Seetharaman Jayaraman , Ma Li‐Chung , Xiao Rong , Acton Thomas B. , Montelione Gaetano T. , Tong Liang
Published: February 2007

We report here the crystal structure at 2.0 Å resolution of the AGR_C_4470p protein from the Gram‐negative bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The protein is a tightly associated dimer, each subunit of which bears strong structural homology with the two domains of the heme utilization protein ChuS from Escherichia coli and HemS from Yersinia enterocolitica. Remarkably, the organization of the AGR_C_4470p dimer is the same as that of the two domains in ChuS and HemS, providing structural evidence that these two proteins evolved by gene duplication. However, the binding site for heme, while conserved in HemS and ChuS, is not conserved in AGR_C_4470p, suggesting that it probably has a different function. This is supported by the presence of two homologs of AGR_C_4470p in E. coli, in addition to the ChuS protein.
The X‐ray crystal structure of PA1607 from Pseudomonas aureginosa at 1.9 Å resolution—a putative transcription factor
Authors: Sieminska Edyta A.L. , Xu Xiaohui , Savchenko Alexei , Sanders David A.R.
Published: February 2007

The structure of the PA1607 protein from Pseudomonas aureginosa was determined at 1.85 Å resolution using the Se‐Met multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) technique. PA1607 forms a dimer and adopts a winged‐helix motif similar to the MarR family of transcription regulators, though it has an unusual dimerization profile. The DNA‐binding regions and a putative metal‐binding site are not conserved in PA1607.
A system for storage of references. A method of storage and retrieval of references on a personal microcomputer
Authors: Alagesan K. , McLeod G. F.
Published: February 2007

A computer program, written in BBC BASIC, for storage and retrieval of literature references on a personal microcomputer Jilted with floppy disc drives is described. The storage capacity is 425 references per 100K disc. A versatile search function allows ready access to references by matching any number of combinations of the following 10 items; authors, name, year and volume of journal, pages, reference number, und up to four key words. The resulting bibliographic list can be formatted to any desired house style. There is a facility for sorting the list into alphabetical order of the authors und the use of a wordprocessor for special print styles on any BBC compatible printer. These two features make retyping the list unnecessary. A search can be done manually while browsing through the references. Advantages of this system over the existing packages are discussed. The program is totally run by on‐screen menus, and it is easy to use, even by a novice.
Propofol for intravenous sedation
Authors: MACKENZIE N. , GRANT I. S.
Published: February 2007

This study investigated the properties of propofol when given by subanaesthetic infusion to provide sedation as an adjunct to spinal anaesthesia for lower limb surgery in 40 patients. Sedation, defined as sleep with preservation of eyelash reflex and purposeful reaction to verbal or mild physical stimulation, was satisfactorily achieved and maintained with minimal complications. The mean duration of infusion was 98 minutes and a mean infusion rate of 3.0 mg/kg/hour was required in patients over 65. This was significantly less (p < 0.005) than the 4.1 mg/kg/hour required in younger patients. Recovery was impressively rapid; patients regained full consciousness approximately 4 minutes after the end of infusion, and were free from minor postoperative sequelae. Conversion to general anaesthesia was achieved in three patients where surgery encroached outside the analgesic field of the regional block, simply by increasing the infusion rate to approximately 10 mg/kg/hour.
Pharmacokinetics of a novel agent, R667, in patients with emphysema
Authors: Chiu Yu‐Yuan , Roth Michael D , Kolis Stanley , Rogovitz David , Davies Brian
Published: February 2007

Aims

To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of R667, a novel emphysema agent, in patients with moderate to severe emphysema.

Methods

Multiple‐dose pharmacokinetics of R667 and its metabolites in emphysematous patients were studied in a multicentre, randomized, single‐blind, and placebo‐controlled trial. Four groups of 10 patients per group received placebo, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 mg R667 once a day for 14–16 days. On day 14 (±1), blood samples were taken at predose and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 24 h after dosing.

Results

Pharmacokinetic analysis of the data indicated that the mean steady‐state Cmax and AUC(0,τ) of R667 appeared to be dose proportional over the dose range of 0.2–1 mg when administered to emphysematous patients. Mean metabolite to R667 ratios for Cmax or AUC(0,τ) were, in general, similar across the dose range of 0.2–1 mg.

Conclusions

The pharmacokinetics of R667 and its metabolites appeared to be similar for patients with emphysema and healthy volunteers. Multiple‐dose administration of 0.2–1 mg of R667 for up to 16 days was well tolerated in patients with emphysema.