bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inducers of Glycinebetaine Synthesis in Barley
Authors: Jagendorf André T. , Takabe Tetsuko 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Glycinebetaine is an osmoprotectant accumulated by barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants in response to high levels of NaCl, drought, and cold stress. Using barley seedlings in hydroponic culture, we characterized additional inducers of glycinebetaine accumulation. These included other inorganic salts (KCl, MgCl2, LiCl, and Na2SO4), oxidants (H2O2 and cumene hydroperoxide), and organic compounds (abscisic acid, polymixin B, n-butanol, salicylic acid, and aspirin). Stress symptoms brought on by high NaCl and other inducers, and not necessarily correlated with glycinebetaine accumulation, include wilting, loss of chlorophyll, and increase in thiobarbituric acid reacting substances. For NaCl, Ca2+ions at 10 to 20 mm decrease these stress symptoms without diminishing, or even increasing, glycinebetaine induction. Abscisic acid induces glycinebetaine accumulation without causing any of the stress symptoms. NaCl, KCl, and H2O2 (but not other inducers) induce glycinebetaine at concentrations below those needed for the other stress symptoms. Mg2+ at 10 to 20 mm induces both stress symptoms and glycinebetaine, but only at low (0.2 mm) Ca2+. Although illumination is needed for optimal induction, a significant increase in the leaf glycinebetaine level is found in complete darkness, also.
Attenuation of Phosphate Starvation Responses by Phosphite in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ticconi Carla A. , Delatorre Carla A. , Abel Steffen 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
When inorganic phosphate is limiting, Arabidopsis has the facultative ability to metabolize exogenous nucleic acid substrates, which we utilized previously to identify insensitive phosphate starvation response mutants in a conditional genetic screen. In this study, we examined the effect of the phosphate analog, phosphite (Phi), on molecular and morphological responses to phosphate starvation. Phi significantly inhibited plant growth on phosphate-sufficient (2 mm) and nucleic acid-containing (2 mmphosphorus) media at concentrations higher than 2.5 mm. However, with respect to suppressing typical responses to phosphate limitation, Phi effects were very similar to those of phosphate. Phosphate starvation responses, which we examined and found to be almost identically affected by both anions, included changes in: (a) the root-to-shoot ratio; (b) root hair formation; (c) anthocyanin accumulation; (d) the activities of phosphate starvation-inducible nucleolytic enzymes, including ribonuclease, phosphodiesterase, and acid phosphatase; and (e) steady-state mRNA levels of phosphate starvation-inducible genes. It is important that induction of primary auxin response genes by indole-3-acetic acid in the presence of growth-inhibitory Phi concentrations suggests that Phi selectively inhibits phosphate starvation responses. Thus, the use of Phi may allow further dissection of phosphate signaling by genetic selection for constitutive phosphate starvation response mutants on media containing organophosphates as the only source of phosphorus.
GAMYB-like Genes, Flowering, and Gibberellin Signaling in Arabidopsis
Authors: Gocal Gregory F.W. , Sheldon Candice C. , Gubler Frank , Moritz Thomas , Bagnall David J. , MacMillan Colleen P. , Li Song F. , Parish Roger W. , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Weigel Detlef , King Rod W. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
We have identified three Arabidopsis genes withGAMYB-like activity, AtMYB33,AtMYB65, and AtMYB101, which can substitute for barley (Hordeum vulgare) GAMYB in transactivating the barley α-amylase promoter. We have investigated the relationships between gibberellins (GAs), theseGAMYB-like genes, and petiole elongation and flowering of Arabidopsis. Within 1 to 2 d of transferring plants from short- to long-day photoperiods, growth rate and erectness of petioles increased, and there were morphological changes at the shoot apex associated with the transition to flowering. These responses were accompanied by accumulation of GAs in the petioles (GA1 by 11-fold and GA4 by 3-fold), and an increase in expression of AtMYB33 at the shoot apex. Inhibition of GA biosynthesis using paclobutrazol blocked the petiole elongation induced by long days. Causality was suggested by the finding that, with GA treatment, plants flowered in short days, AtMYB33expression increased at the shoot apex, and the petioles elongated and grew erect. That AtMYB33 may mediate a GA signaling role in flowering was supported by its ability to bind to a specific 8-bp sequence in the promoter of the floral meristem-identity gene, LEAFY, this same sequence being important in the GA response of theLEAFY promoter. One or more of theseAtMYB genes may also play a role in the root tip during germination and, later, in stem tissue. These findings extend our earlier studies of GA signaling in the Gramineae to include a dicot species, Arabidopsis, and indicate that GAMYB-like genes may mediate GA signaling in growth and flowering responses.
Nonselective Currents and Channels in Plasma Membranes of Protoplasts from Coats of Developing Seeds of Bean
Authors: Zhang Wen-Hao , Skerrett Martha , Walker N. Alan , Patrick John W. , Tyerman Stephen D. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
In developing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds, phloem-imported nutrients move in the symplast from sieve elements to the ground parenchyma cells where they are transported across the plasma membrane into the seed apoplast. To study the mechanisms underlying this transport, channel currents in ground parenchyma protoplasts were characterized using patch clamp. A fast-activating outward current was found in all protoplasts, whereas a slowly activating outward current was observed in approximately 25% of protoplasts. The two currents had low selectivity for univalent cations, but the slow current was more selective for K+over Cl−(P K:P Cl = 3.6–4.2) than the fast current (P K:P Cl = 1.8–2.5) and also displayed Ca2+ selectivity. The slow current was blocked by Ba2+, whereas both currents were blocked by Gd3+ and La3+. Efflux of K+ from seed coat halves was inhibited 25% by Gd3+ and La3+ but was stimulated by Ba2+ and Cs+, suggesting that only the fast current may be a component in the pathway for K+ release. An “instantaneous” inward current observed in all protoplasts exhibited similar pharmacology and permeability for univalent cations to the fast outward current. In outside-out patches, two classes of depolarization-activated cation-selective channels were observed: one slowly activating of low conductance (determined from nonstationary noise to be 2.4 pS) and another with conductances 10-fold higher. Both channels occurred at high density. The higher conductance channel in 10 mm KCl hadP K:P Cl = 2.8. Such nonselective channels in the seed coat ground parenchyma cell could function to allow some of the efflux of phloem-imported univalent ions into the seed apoplast.
Brassinosteroid Mutants Uncover Fine Tuning of Phytochrome Signaling
Authors: Luccioni Laura G. , Oliverio Karina A. , Yanovsky Marcelo J. , Boccalandro Hernán E. , Casal Jorge J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractPhytochromes (phy) A and B provide higher plants the ability to perceive divergent light signals. phyB mediates red/far-red light reversible, low fluence responses (LFR). phyA mediates both very-low-fluence responses (VLFR), which saturate with single or infrequent light pulses of very low fluence, and high irradiance responses (HIR), which require sustained activation with far-red light. We investigated whether VLFR, LFR, and HIR are genetically coregulated. The Arabidopsis enhanced very-low-fluence response1mutant, obtained in a novel screening under hourly far-red light pulses, showed enhanced VLFR of hypocotyl growth inhibition, cotyledon unfolding, blocking of greening, and anthocyanin synthesis. However,eve1 showed reduced LFR and HIR. eve1 was found allelic to the brassinosteroid biosynthesis mutantdim/dwarf1. The analysis of both the brassinosteroid mutant det2 in the Columbia background (where VLFR are repressed) and the phyA eve1 double mutant indicates that the negative effect of brassinosteroid mutations on LFR requires phyA signaling in the VLFR mode but not the expression of the VLFR. Under sunlight, hypocotyl growth of eve1 showed little difference with the wild type but failed to respond to canopy shadelight. We propose that the opposite regulation of VLFR versus LFR and HIR could be part of a context-dependent mechanism of adjustment of sensitivity to light signals.
suppressor of sessile spikelets1Functions in theramosaPathway Controlling Meristem Determinacy in Maize
Authors: Wu Xianting , Skirpan Andrea , McSteen Paula 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe spikelet, which is a short branch bearing the florets, is the fundamental unit of grass inflorescence architecture. In most grasses, spikelets are borne singly on the inflorescence. However, paired spikelets are characteristic of the Andropogoneae, a tribe of 1,000 species including maize (Zea mays). The Suppressor of sessile spikelets1 (Sos1) mutant of maize produces single instead of paired spikelets in the inflorescence. Therefore, the sos1 gene may have been involved in the evolution of paired spikelets. In this article, we show that Sos1 is a semidominant, antimorph mutation. Sos1 mutants have fewer branches and spikelets for two reasons: (1) fewer spikelet pair meristems are produced due to defects in inflorescence meristem size and (2) the spikelet pair meristems that are produced make one instead of two spikelet meristems. The interaction of Sos1 with the ramosa mutants, which produce more branches and spikelets, was investigated. The results show that Sos1 has an epistatic interaction with ramosa1 (ra1), a synergistic interaction with ra2, and an additive interaction with ra3. Moreover, ra1 mRNA levels are reduced in Sos1 mutants, while ra2 and ra3 mRNA levels are unaffected. Based on these genetic and expression studies, we propose that sos1 functions in the ra1 branch of the ramosa pathway controlling meristem determinacy.
Strategic sourcing for supply chain agility and firms' performance
Authors: Khan K Arif , Pillania Rajesh K. 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the dimensions of strategic sourcing and determines its relationship with organisational supply chain agility and performance. It classifies manufacturing firms based on their level of supply chain agility and test the diffrences in firms' performnace across the clusters so obtained.Design/methodology/approachThis research employes survey method and data is collected from 128 manufacturing companies in India. Valid and reliable measures of strategic sourcing, supply chain agility and organizational performance are developed. Factor structure and initial validity is determined and K‐Means cluster analysis is applied for clustering firms based on their level of supply agility. Multiple regression and ANOVA is used for hypotheses testing.FindingsStrategic suplier partnership, sourcing flexibility, supplier evaluation and trust in supply chain members are the key dimensions of strategic sourcing. Result shows the significant effect of strategic sourcing and its diemnsions on supply chain agility and firms' performance.Research limitations/implicationsData is collected from single node/respondent of supply chain and further research can be carried out by using mutiple node data of each supply chain to make the research more meaningful and generalisable.Practical implicationsFindings are useful to develop and measure the competitive capabilities of strategic sourcing and guide the organisations to enhance supply chain responsiveness and organisational performance.Originality/valueThe paper provides strategic diemnsions of sourcing and their measurement scales. Provide evidence regarding the impact of strategic sourcing on agility of supply chains and performnace.
LOEX‐of‐the‐West 2008: hitting the jackpot in Las Vegas
Authors: Finley Priscilla , MacMillan Margy , Skarl Susie 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this guest editorial is to provide an overview of the LOEX‐of‐the‐West 2008 Conference.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a review the conference, which was hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and held from June 4‐6 on the UNLV campus.FindingsThe conference provided a forum for learning and thinking about gaming as it applies to information literacy instruction and for sharing ideas, techniques and concerns.Originality/valueThe paper gives an overview of the LOEX‐of‐the‐West 2008 Conference, and the issues raised there.
Form postponement effects on operational performance: a typological theory
Authors: Forza Cipriano , Salvador Fabrizio , Trentin Alessio 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe operational outcomes of form postponement (FP) have been increasingly investigated in the last two decades under the effects of escalating product variety and diffusion of mass customisation strategies. However, conflicting or hard‐to‐relate findings are quite frequent in the literature, so that a unifying framework for operations decision making is still lacking. The purpose of this paper is to develop a typological theory that reconciles into a coherent picture extant research on FP effects on operational performance.Design/methodology/approachThe paper defines three mutually exclusive and exhaustive types of FP at the company level of analysis. Then, it revisits, through the lens of this typology, the literature on FP and formalizes how, why and under which assumptions each FP type affects operational performance.FindingsThe paper demonstrates that, to predict and explain FP effects on operational performance, three types of FP should be distinguished. In fact, it is shown that either these FP types have different effects on a given performance dimension, or they have the same effect but the logical justification for this effect is often different according to the FP type being considered.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper's synopsis of past research accomplishments indicates that future work will have to investigate the operational implications of a specific FP type almost ignored in the literature, as well as test the relationships hypothesized in the literature. Further opportunities for future research include extending the level of analysis beyond the boundaries of the company and linking the paper's FP typology to the operations strategy discourse.Practical implicationsThe lack of understanding of the benefits and costs of FP has been found to be a major obstacle to FP implementation. The paper's typological theory supports managerial decision making by clarifying what FP alternatives companies have and what are the operational implications for each of these alternatives.Originality/valueThe paper's typological theory reconciles apparently conflicting findings in the literature by explaining such differences in terms of differences in the FP type being investigated. Additionally, the typology helps avoid a twofold risk: on the one hand, the risk of generalizing an effect or mechanism that only applies to a specific FP type and, on the other hand, the risk of failing to detect type‐specific effects or mechanisms.
Report on an international conference on gender, class, employment and family
Authors: Lyonette Clare , Crompton Rosemary 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a brief summary of a series of papers presented at the gender, class, employment and family conference, held at City University, London, in March 2008.Design/methodology/approachThe conference involved 25 papers presented by invited speakers, and the report is based on summary notes, observations and conference abstracts.FindingsThis report summarises a range of contributions, theoretical and empirical, to the continuing debates on gender and class inequality in Britain, Europe and the USA. The evidence presented not only demonstrated the persistence of gender and class inequalities, but also provided a critique of the “individualisation” thesis. The contribution of both normative and material factors to gender inequality was extensively explored. The discussions focused upon a series of tensions and contradictions – between “sameness” and “difference” feminism; choice and constraint; capitalist markets and the human requirement for caring work.Originality/valueMany of the papers drew on original empirical research, both quantitative and qualitative, using sophisticated methodologies. Longitudinal findings (cohort studies) were well represented, as were cutting‐edge theoretical contributions.
Role of transparency in managing outcome successes
Authors: Jaffe Russell , Nash Robert A. , Ash Richard , Schwartz Norm , Corish Robert , Born Tammy , Carter James P. , Lazarus Harold 
Published: November 2008

PurposeHealthcare is both the largest (17 + percent) and the most rapidly growing (three plus times the consumer product index (measure of inflation) and half a percent of gross domestic product each year) segment of the US economy. The purpose of this paper is to focus on outcome successes that illustrate application of a previously reported health equation. The health equation allows an organized and more transparent assessment of healthcare outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe approach includes “end use/least cost” techniques that identifies healthful care as a big unmet need (BUN) and equally attractive business opportunity in identifying health promotion that improves outcome at lower net costs.FindingsOpportunity exists to reduce costs while also reducing adverse events, healthcare morbidity and morality. Transparency is essential to find what works more effectively to yield desired outcomes. Metrics and measures, particularly more precise tools to assess true outcome in promoting health or managing ill health, are given priority as they allow quantified and, often econometric, outcome opportunities in the midst of current uncertainties.Practical implicationsThis paper is for consumers and businesses, managers and administrators, professionals and allied health professionals. The successes described herein illustrate fundamental opportunities driving change and innovation within healthcare and in our society.Originality/valueAttention is called to opportunity areas that can fund out of savings the transition from the authors' current “sickness care” system to a healthful care, proactive prevention approach to delivering care. Novel application of transparency and end use/least cost can help guide choices to achieve healthier outcomes.
Managing drought in mountain resort communities: Colorado's experiences
Authors: Wilhelmi Olga V. , Hayes Michael J. , Thomas Deborah S.K. 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate drought impacts and vulnerabilities specific to mountain resort communities and the implications for the tourism industry, in order to derive a set of recommendations for reducing drought vulnerability of this economic sector.Design/methodology/approachThis article presents the results from a case study conducted in Colorado, USA, mountain communities evaluating the multi‐year drought that culminated in 2002. Using qualitative research methods, a series of interviews were conducted to garner the experiences of state and local tourism officials, ski resort representatives, and environmental, municipal and agricultural organizations.FindingsThis study finds that drought alone was not responsible for creating the variety of direct and secondary impacts on Colorado resort communities. The paper highlights the importance of water resources to the economic wellbeing of resort communities and recognizes the critical roles of communication, planning, media and public perception during a drought.Originality/valueSocietal vulnerability in mountain resort communities in relation to drought has rarely been addressed in the literature. The study provides specific recommendations to the resort managers and tourism officials for mitigating drought impacts of, and reducing resort communities' vulnerability to, drought.
Practices of Hong Kong building contractors in strategic asset allocation process: longitudinal approach
Authors: Lam K.C. , Wang D. , Lam M.C.K. 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to report the investigation results of current practices of strategic asset allocation process, which consists of capital budget planning, monitoring, and control of Hong Kong building contractors. The changes of the said practices are compared with the results of the two similar surveys undertaken in the past longitudinally.Design/methodology/approachA total of 157 questionnaires were sent to about 1,000 approved Hong Kong building contractors (classified as group A, B, C in accordance with their maximum capacities). The total response rate was 30.7 per cent. Statistical techniques, a two‐dimensional contingency table, and discriminant function analysis (DA) were deployed to analyze the survey data via SPSS.FindingsOnly the practice of a regular review of the minimum rate of return of major projects was popular. For monitoring aspect, 100 per cent of surveyed contractors monitor project performance once operational. The result of post‐completion audits on major projects was 63 per cent. For the results of the longitudinal study, 66.7 per cent of group C firms employed the practices of intermediate and long‐term capital budgets and 71.4 per cent of large firms had a formal body for screening investment proposals compared with 54.8 per cent and 63.3 per cent of the same group's practices in 1994 respectively. DA results showed that the patterns within the three different groups (A, B, and C) were very similar, and group A and group B were active in capital budgeting monitoring and control.Practical implicationsPlanning was the weakest and data showed that Hong Kong building contractors had tight control of the projects.Originality/valueThis paper reports the investigation results of current practices of strategic asset allocation process, which consists of capital budget planning, monitoring, and control of Hong Kong building contractors.
Damage model for environmental conditioned fatigue test with CAST
Authors: VIRGILI A. , PARTL M. N. , GRILLI A. , SANTAGATA F. A. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThe aim of this paper is to suggest a unified test method that allows investigation into the different effects and contribution of water damage and temperature cycles on fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures by means of a CoAxial Shear Test (CAST). A continuum damage approach, based on the elasticity theory, is chosen to determine the damage level of each tested specimen. The proposed mathematical model allows the simulation of the modulus evolution in the fatigue test and takes into account the temperature cycles. In this way, a unique scalar damage factor determines the damage process severity in each specimen and allows a rational comparison between each different condition.