Boston College

About: Boston College is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 9749 authors who have published 25406 publications receiving 1105145 citations. The organization is also known as: BC.

Relating Brandand Customer Perspectives on Marketing Management

Abstract: What is the difference between brand equity and customer equity? Does the distinction matter? Is there a difference between the firm’s brand asset and customer asset? What are the implications of taking a brand perspective versus a customer perspective when designing and implementing marketing programs? The objective of this article is to examine these two perspectives in depth so that researchers and managers can improve their understanding and use of customer and brand perspectives on marketing. The authors seek to determine the relationship between the two assets and perspectives in terms of similarities and differences. They examine the development of customer and brand perspectives and describe how each adds value to the firm and to the customer. Subsequently, they delineate possible approaches for measuring marketing assets. They discuss key issues researchers and practitioners should consider in managing marketing assets, particularly for multibrand companies. They conclude by suggesting future res...

26 Characterization of Organic Compatible Solutes of Halotolerant and Halophilic Microorganisms

Abstract: Publisher Summary Halotolerant and halophilic micro-organisms are particularly adept at countering high external osmotic pressure with appropriate concentrations of solutes There are two broad classes of solutes accumulated in response to external osmotic pressure: (i) inorganic solutes, primarily cations, such as K + and Na + (occasionally Mg2 + ) and anions, such as chloride, phosphate, carbonate, and sulfate, and (ii) organic solutes, typically small, highly soluble molecules that may or may not be charged The inorganic ions are specifically transported into cells, K + by active transport, while Na + and chloride are internalized by facilitated diffusion since the extracellular concentrations of these two ions are usually quite high in media The organic solutes accumulated in the cell to balance external osmotic pressure, also termed “osmolytes,” may be transported from the media, or synthesized from carbon sources in the cell Of all the small organic solutes synthesized in cells, only a small number of solutes are actually used for this purpose Osmolytes also have other roles in cells most notably they aid in stabilizing macromolecule structures

The calorically restricted ketogenic diet, an effective alternative therapy for malignant brain cancer

Abstract: Malignant brain cancer persists as a major disease of morbidity and mortality in adults and is the second leading cause of cancer death in children. Many current therapies for malignant brain tumors fail to provide long-term management because they ineffectively target tumor cells while negatively impacting the health and vitality of normal brain cells. In contrast to brain tumor cells, which lack metabolic flexibility and are largely dependent on glucose for growth and survival, normal brain cells can metabolize both glucose and ketone bodies for energy. This study evaluated the efficacy of KetoCal®, a new nutritionally balanced high fat/low carbohydrate ketogenic diet for children with epilepsy, on the growth and vascularity of a malignant mouse astrocytoma (CT-2A) and a human malignant glioma (U87-MG). Adult mice were implanted orthotopically with the malignant brain tumors and KetoCal® was administered to the mice in either unrestricted amounts or in restricted amounts to reduce total caloric intake according to the manufacturers recommendation for children with refractory epilepsy. The effects KetoCal® on tumor growth, vascularity, and mouse survival were compared with that of an unrestricted high carbohydrate standard diet. KetoCal® administered in restricted amounts significantly decreased the intracerebral growth of the CT-2A and U87-MG tumors by about 65% and 35%, respectively, and significantly enhanced health and survival relative to that of the control groups receiving the standard low fat/high carbohydrate diet. The restricted KetoCal® diet reduced plasma glucose levels while elevating plasma ketone body (β-hydroxybutyrate) levels. Tumor microvessel density was less in the calorically restricted KetoCal® groups than in the calorically unrestricted control groups. Moreover, gene expression for the mitochondrial enzymes, β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and succinyl-CoA: 3-ketoacid CoA transferase, was lower in the tumors than in the contralateral normal brain suggesting that these brain tumors have reduced ability to metabolize ketone bodies for energy. The results indicate that KetoCal® has anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects in experimental mouse and human brain tumors when administered in restricted amounts. The therapeutic effect of KetoCal® for brain cancer management was due largely to the reduction of total caloric content, which reduces circulating glucose required for rapid tumor growth. A dependency on glucose for energy together with defects in ketone body metabolism largely account for why the brain tumors grow minimally on either a ketogenic-restricted diet or on a standard-restricted diet. Genes for ketone body metabolism should be useful for screening brain tumors that could be targeted with calorically restricted high fat/low carbohydrate ketogenic diets. This preclinical study indicates that restricted KetoCal® is a safe and effective diet therapy and should be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for malignant brain cancer.

A new approach to evaluating trade policy

Abstract: This paper introduces a new measure, the Trade Restrictiveness Index, which measures the restrictiveness of a system of trade protection. The index is a general equilibrium application of the distance function and answers the question: "What uniform set of trade restrictions is equivalent (in welfare terms) to the initial protective structure?" The index is applicable to both tariffs and quotas and allows international and intertemporal comparisons. The index is operational and we provide an empirical example to illustrate its applicability and to show its superiority to commonly used measures.