bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Japan's Sino‐Pacific war: a conflict unplanned, lacking both means and foresight?
Authors: Richardson Jacques 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to arrive at an understanding of how Japan allowed herself to become involved in a conflict with such tragic proportions, for both Japan and others, as the Second World War.Design/methodology/approachIn a reconstruction, a series of similarities in widespread, local occurrences within the Japanese authority structure that produced larger‐scale reactions, events that could neither undo nor even attenuate the triggering incidents, are described.FindingsThe “triggers” occurred almost entirely at the tactical level, ignited by small groups or individuals ignorant of implications higher in the hierarchy of possible outcomes. Emphasized is the causative factor of formalized insubordination, or gekokujô.Originality/valueThe thrust of the paper is to interpret exactly how Japan's lost war against China and the Western Allies began. There may be lessons in this analysis for institutions and organizations outside the military sphere when contemplating new initiatives, especially major departures.
Knowledge‐based capabilities and their impact on performance: a best practice management evaluation
Authors: Battor Moustafa , Zairi Mohamed , Francis Arthur 
Published: March 2008

PurposeIt is widely acknowledged that customer relationship management (CRM), market orientation, organizational learning and innovation are the most critical knowledge‐based capabilities required to achieve superior performance. The purpose of this paper is to identify management practices that are necessary to develop these capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThe findings of this paper are based on the analysis of a number of best practice case studies that have been published on many subjects, including, for example, strategic marketing, relationship marketing and knowledge management.FindingsSuccessful companies are configurations of management practices that enable the development of knowledge‐based capabilities. This paper identifies the factors that give a firm superior knowledge‐based capabilities.Practical implicationsThe paper provides managers with some insights into how to develop better knowledge‐based capabilities.Originality/valueThe paper highlights a set of attitudes and practices that are necessary for firm success in today's competitive environment.
From the deal world to the real world: maximizing M&A value after the deal is done
Authors: Galpin Timothy 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide the key dos and don'ts when integrating the people, processes, and systems of companies undertaking mergers and/or acquisitions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides the current state of M&A integration across industries, integration dynamics and common pitfalls, integration best practices, and a section regarding how to conduct “merger repair” activities in order to correct integration efforts that have gotten off track.FindingsThe measurable impacts of well‐conducted M&A integration efforts is presented and discussed.Practical implicationsKey implications for management who are pursuing a merger and/or acquisition strategy are demonstrated throughout the key success factors described in this paper.Originality/valueThe value to the reader is found in the practical recommendations and tangible actions identified. Likewise, the section describing the need for and how to conduct “merger repair” is new to the literature pertaining to M&A integration.
Taming the dragon: how to tackle the challenge of future foresight
Authors: Wilenius Markku 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the principles that businesses should (and should not!) follow in their foresight activities and to show how foresight serves the development of knowledge capital in business companies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper singles out seven key principles: look to the future; anticipate future needs; make use of incomplete knowledge; expect the unexpected; think long‐term and short‐term; dream productively; and respect knowledge.FindingsThis paper highlights the principles that businesses should (and should not!) follow in their foresight activities and to show how foresight serves the development of knowledge capital in business companies.Originality/valueThe paper highlights a recent survey in the USA on how employees understand their job tasks and their organization's goals.
Constitutive activation of a CC‐NB‐LRR protein alters morphogenesis through the cytokinin pathway in Arabidopsis
Authors: Igari Kadunari , Endo Sachiko , Hibara Ken‐ichiro , Aida Mitsuhiro , Sakakibara Hitoshi , Kawasaki Tsutomu , Tasaka Masao 
Published: March 2008

SummaryPossible links between plant defense responses and morphogenesis have been postulated, but their molecular nature remains unknown. Here, we introduce the Arabidopsis semi‐dominant mutant uni‐1D with morphological defects. UNI encodes a coiled‐coil nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich‐repeat protein that belongs to the disease resistance (R) protein family involved in pathogen recognition. The uni‐1D mutation causes the constitutive activation of the protein, which is stabilized by the RAR1 function in a similar way as in other R proteins. The uni‐1D mutation induces the upregulation of the Pathogenesis‐related gene via the accumulation of salicylic acid, and evokes some of the morphological defects through the accumulation of cytokinin. The rin4 knock‐down mutation, which causes the constitutive activation of two R proteins, RPS2 and RPM1, induces an upregulation of cytokinin‐responsive genes and morphological defects similar to the uni‐1D mutation, indicating that the constitutive activation of some R proteins alters morphogenesis through the cytokinin pathway. From these data, we propose that the modification of the cytokinin pathway might be involved in some R protein‐mediated responses.
A male sterility‐associated mitochondrial protein in wild beets causes pollen disruption in transgenic plants
Authors: Yamamoto Masayuki P. , Shinada Hiroshi , Onodera Yasuyuki , Komaki Chihiro , Mikami Tetsuo , Kubo Tomohiko 
Published: March 2008

SummaryIn higher plants, male reproductive (pollen) development is known to be disrupted in a class of mitochondrial mutants termed cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) mutants. Despite the increase in knowledge regarding CMS‐encoding genes and their expression, definitive evidence that CMS‐associated proteins actually cause pollen disruption is not yet available in most cases. Here we compare the translation products of mitochondria between the normal fertile cytoplasm and the male‐sterile I‐12CMS(3) cytoplasm derived from wild beets. The results show a unique 12 kDa polypeptide that is present in the I‐12CMS(3) mitochondria but is not detectable among the translation products of normal mitochondria. We also found that a mitochondrial open reading frame (named orf129) was uniquely transcribed in I‐12CMS(3) and is large enough to encode the novel 12 kDa polypeptide. Antibodies against a GST–ORF129 fusion protein were raised to establish that this 12 kDa polypeptide is the product of orf129. ORF129 was shown to accumulate in flower mitochondria as well as in root and leaf mitochondria. As for the CMS‐associated protein (PCF protein) in petunia, ORF129 is primarily present in the matrix and is loosely associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane. The orf129 sequence was fused to a mitochondrial targeting pre‐sequence, placed under the control of the Arabidopsis apetala3 promoter, and introduced into the tobacco nuclear genome. Transgenic expression of ORF129 resulted in male sterility, which provides clear supporting evidence that ORF129 is responsible for the male‐sterile phenotype in sugar beet with wild beet cytoplasm.
A transgenic dTph1 insertional mutagenesis system for forward genetics in mycorrhizal phosphate transport of Petunia
Authors: Wegmüller Sarah , Svistoonoff Sergio , Reinhardt Didier , Stuurman Jeroen , Amrhein Nikolaus , Bucher Marcel 
Published: March 2008

SummaryThe active endogenous dTph1 system of the Petunia hybrida mutator line W138 has been used in several forward‐genetic mutant screens that were based on visible phenotypes such as flower morphology and color. In contrast, defective symbiotic phosphate (Pi) transport in mycorrhizal roots of Petunia is a hidden molecular phenotype as the symbiosis between plant roots and fungi takes place below ground, and, while fungal colonization can be visualized histochemically, Pi transport and the activity of Pi transporter proteins cannot be assessed visually. Here, we report on a molecular approach in which expression of a mycorrhiza‐inducible bi‐functional reporter transgene and insertional mutagenesis in Petunia are combined. Bi‐directionalization of a mycorrhizal Pi transporter promoter controlling the expression of two reporter genes encoding firefly luciferase and GUS allows visualization of mycorrhiza‐specific Pi transporter expression. A population of selectable transposon insertion mutants was established by crossing the transgenic reporter line with the mutator W138, from which the Pitransporter downregulated (ptd1) mutant was identified, which exhibits strongly reduced expression of mycorrhiza‐inducible Pi transporters in mycorrhizal roots.
WORDSWORTH and LAKE DISTRICT TOURISM: ROMANTIC RESHAPING OF LANDSCAPE
Authors: SQUIRE SHELACH J. 
Published: March 2008

Creative literature colours popular perception of landscape and place. An analysis of English romanticism, Wordsworth's poetry in particular, illustrates how the transformation of an actual landscape into a literary landscape helped change attitudes toward wilderness and natural beauty. The romantic ideology fostered impressions of an idyllic, untamed eden. In response to public fascination with this mythologized and emotional portrait of place, a tourist landscape emerged. Thus even those unfamiliar with romantic literature are encouraged to see particular landscapes from a literary perspective.Dans la formation d'une perception envers un paysage ou un endroit, un élément important est souvent la littérature imaginaire. Une analyse du romantisme anglais, en particulier la poésie de Wordsworth, démontre comment la transformation d'un paysage actuel sous une forme littéraire contribua fortement à un changement d'attitude envers la nature. Cette idéologie romantique encouragea la notion d'un jardin d'Eden encore sau‐vage. la fascination entretenue par ce portrait mythique créa finalement un environnement touristique. Même ceux qui n'ont guère connaissance en littérature romantique ont une vision d'un paysage particulier qui dérive dune perception littéraire.
FROM THE ECONOMIC TO THE POLITICAL: REGIONAL PLANNING IN WEST GERMANY
Authors: ROMSA GERALD , BLENMAN MORRIS , NIPPER JOSEPH 
Published: March 2008

The resolution of regional disparities within the Federal Republic of Germany entails a complex redistributive process. Regional assistance policies initiated as wartime relief measures have, over time, incorporated classical incentive programs and revenue‐sharing. Revenue transfers among the three levels of government are dynamic, arising from changes in the socioeconomic and political environment. Much of the spatial effect of regional policies is overshadowed by more extensive sectoral benefits.La détermination des inégalités régionales au sein de la République fédérale allemande fait appel à un procédé complexe de redistribution. Des politiques d'aide régionale, introduites comme des mesures de secours en temps de guerre, sont devenues avec le temps des programmes classiques d'incitation et de partage des reVenus. Les transferts de revenu entre les trois niveaux de gouvernement constituent un mécanisme dynamique répondant aux changements dans le milieu socioéconomique et politique. L'influence spatiale résultant des politiques régionales est en grande partie éclipsée par l'expansion des avantages sectoriels.
CANADIAN ENERGY FUTURES: POLICY SCENARIOS AND PUBLIC PREFERENCES
Authors: KUHN RICHARD G. 
Published: March 2008

Alternative Canadian energy futures as articulated by forecasting agencies and as perceived by a sample of the Albertan public are examined. The use of environmental world views as a conceptual framework facilitates the analyses of both the energy scenarios and public perspectives in an analogous manner in order to establish areas of congruence and disagreement.The results indicate that energy projections were consistent with the forecasting methodology selected, as well as the attitudes, values, and assumptions incorporated into the forecasting models. A relationship between environmental attitudes, energy preferences, and reasons expressed for those preferences was also found amongst the public sample.
Comparison of Home Monitoring Methods for Feline Urine pH Measurement
Authors: Raskin Rose E. , Murray Kelly A. , Levy Julie K. 
Published: March 2008

Background —Monitoring of urine pH, often done in the patient's home, is essential for proper clinical treatment and management of conditions such as urolithiasis.Objective —The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement in pH readings between a standard laboratory method and methods readily available for home monitoring. The influence of refrigerated storage on urine pH was also examined.Methods —Urine samples were obtained by cystocentesis from 40 clinically healthy cats, and pH was measured within 2 hours of collection. Each sample was evaluated using pH paper, urinalysis reagent strip, 2 brands of portable pH meters (Chek‐Mite, Corning, Corning, NY, USA; and Checker 1, Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, RI, USA), and a standard laboratory benchtop pH meter. Urine samples were refrigerated, and a second pH reading was obtained with the laboratory benchtop meter after 24 hours. The degree of agreement was assessed among the different methods, with the laboratory benchtop pH meter as the reference method.Results —The closest agreement was obtained with the Chek‐Mite portable pH meter and least agreement with the Checker 1 portable pH meter, which had a constant negative bias of 0.31 units due to expiration of the electrode. As expected, pH paper and reagent strips had poor and intermediate agreement, respectively. The reagent strip method had a negative bias of 0.12 units when compared with the benchtop pH meter and wide disagreement at the low pH end. The reagent strip did not agree strongly with the reference method; only 50% of values were within 0.25 pH units of each other. The difference in pH between 0 hours (6.57 ± 0.54) and 24 hours of refrigeration (6.61 ± 0.53) was not considered clinically significant.Conclusion —Portable pH meters are excellent for monitoring urine pH at home as long as attention is given to electrode maintenance. Urine can be collected at home and kept refrigerated, and pH may be measured reliably within 24 hours using the reference method or a portable pH meter.
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Eukaryotic and Bacterial Communities Found in Vernal Pools
Authors: Carrino-Kyker Sarah R. , Swanson Andrew K. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT
In this study, we examined the effects of physicochemical variability on the microbial communities of vernal pools. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed temporal changes to be more pronounced than spatial changes in eukaryotic and bacterial communities. Sequencing revealed high degrees of richness in decomposers, which supports the notion that vernal pools are heterotrophic habitats.
Responses of
Bacillus subtilis
to Hypotonic Challenges: Physiological Contributions of Mechanosensitive Channels to Cellular Survival
Authors: Hoffmann Tamara , Boiangiu Clara , Moses Susanne , Bremer Erhard 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

Mechanosensitive channels are thought to function as safety valves for the release of cytoplasmic solutes from cells that have to manage a rapid transition from high- to low-osmolarity environments. Subsequent to an osmotic down-shock of cells grown at high osmolarity,
Bacillus subtilis
rapidly releases the previously accumulated compatible solute glycine betaine in accordance with the degree of the osmotic downshift. Database searches suggest that
B. subtilis
possesses one copy of a gene for a mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (
mscL
) and three copies of genes encoding proteins that putatively form mechanosensitive channels of small conductance (
yhdY
,
yfkC
, and
ykuT
). Detailed mutational analysis of all potential channel-forming genes revealed that a quadruple mutant (
mscL yhdY yfkC ykuT
) has no growth disadvantage in high-osmolarity media in comparison to the wild type. Osmotic down-shock experiments demonstrated that the MscL channel is the principal solute release system of
B. subtilis
, and strains with a gene disruption in
mscL
exhibited a severe survival defect upon an osmotic down-shock. We also detected a minor contribution of the SigB-controlled putative MscS-type channel-forming protein YkuT to cellular survival in an
mscL
mutant. Taken together, our data revealed that mechanosensitive channels of both the MscL and MscS types play pivotal roles in managing the transition of
B. subtilis
from hyper- to hypo-osmotic environments.
Comparison of Microbial and Photochemical Processes and Their Combination for Degradation of 2-Aminobenzothiazole
Authors: Bunescu Andrei , Besse-Hoggan Pascale , Sancelme Martine , Mailhot Gilles , Delort Anne-Marie 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

The transformation of 2-aminobenzothiazole (ABT) was studied under various conditions: (i) a photodegradation process at a λ of >300 nm in the presence of an Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetic acid complex (FeNTA), (ii) a biodegradation process using
Rhodococcus rhodochrous
OBT18 cells, and (iii) the combined processes (FeNTA plus
Rhodococcus rhodochrous
in the presence or absence of light). The transformation of ABT in the combined system, with or without light, was much more efficient (99% degradation after 25 h) than in the separated systems (37% photodegradation and 26% biodegradation after 125 h). No direct photolysis of ABT was observed. The main result seen is the strong positive impact of FeNTA on the photodegradation, as expected, and on the biotransformation efficiency of ABT, which was more surprising. This positive impact of FeNTA on the microbial metabolism was dependent on the FeNTA concentration. The use of UV high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and in situ
1
H nuclear magnetic resonance provided evidence of the intermediary products and thus established transformation pathways of ABT in the different processes. These pathways were identical whether the degradation process was photo- or biotransformation. A new photoproduct was identified (4OH-ABT), corresponding to a hydroxylation reaction on position 4 of the aromatic ring of ABT.
Polysaccharides Cellulose, Poly-β-1,6-
N
-Acetyl-
d
-Glucosamine, and Colanic Acid Are Required for Optimal Binding of
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 Strains to Alfalfa Sprouts and K-12 Strains to Plastic but Not for Binding to Epithelial Cells
Authors: Matthysse Ann G. , Deora Rajendar , Mishra Meenu , Torres Alfredo G. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

When
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 bacteria are added to alfalfa sprouts growing in water, the bacteria bind tightly to the sprouts. In contrast, laboratory K-12 strains of
E. coli
do not bind to sprouts under similar conditions. The roles of
E. coli
O157:H7 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), capsular polysaccharide, and exopolysaccharides in binding to sprouts were examined. An LPS mutant had no effect on the binding of the pathogenic strain. Cellulose synthase mutants showed a significant reduction in binding; colanic acid mutants were more severely reduced, and binding by poly-β-1,6-
N
-acetylglucosamine (PGA) mutants was barely detectable. The addition of a plasmid carrying a cellulose synthase gene to K-12 strains allowed them to bind to sprouts. A plasmid carrying the Bps biosynthesis genes had only a marginal effect on the binding of K-12 bacteria. However, the introduction of the same plasmid allowed
Sinorhizobium meliloti
and a nonbinding mutant of
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
to bind to tomato root segments. These results suggest that although multiple redundant protein adhesins are involved in the binding of
E. coli
O157:H7 to sprouts, the polysaccharides required for binding are not redundant and each polysaccharide may play a distinct role. PGA, colanic acid, and cellulose were also required for biofilm formation by a K-12 strain on plastic, but not for the binding of
E. coli
O157:H7 to mammalian cells.
Covariability of
Vibrio cholerae
Microdiversity and Environmental Parameters
Authors: Zo Young-Gun , Chokesajjawatee Nipa , Arakawa Eiji , Watanabe Haruo , Huq Anwar , Colwell Rita R. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

Fine-scale diversity of natural bacterial assemblages has been attributed to neutral radiation because correspondence between bacterial phylogenetic signals in the natural environment and environmental parameters had not been detected. Evidence that such correspondence occurs is provided for
Vibrio cholerae
, establishing a critical role for environmental parameters in bacterial diversity.
Temporal Transcriptomic Microarray Analysis of “Dehalococcoides ethenogenes” Strain 195 during the Transition into Stationary Phase
Authors: Johnson David R. , Brodie Eoin L. , Hubbard Alan E. , Andersen Gary L. , Zinder Stephen H. , Alvarez-Cohen Lisa 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT“Dehalococcoides” bacteria can reductively dehalogenate a wide range of halogenated organic pollutants. In this study, DNA microarrays were used to monitor dynamic changes in the transcriptome as “Dehalococcoides ethenogenes”strain 195 transitioned from exponential growth into stationary phase. In total, 415 nonredundant genes were identified as differentially expressed. As expected, genes involved with translation and energy metabolism were down-regulated while genes involved with general stress response, transcription, and signal transduction were up-regulated. Unexpected, however, was the 8- to 10-fold up-regulation of four putative reductive dehalogenases (RDases) (DET0173, DET0180, DET1535, and DET1545). Another unexpected finding was the up-regulation of a large number of genes located within integrated elements, including a putative prophage and a multicopy transposon. Finally, genes encoding the dominant hydrogenase-RDase respiratory chain of this strain (Hup and TceA) were expressed at stable levels throughout the experiment, providing molecular evidence that strain 195 can uncouple dechlorination from net growth.