scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers by "Queen's University Belfast published in 2008"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There have been parallel and collaborative exchanges between academic research and industrial developments since the materials were first reported in 1914, it is demonstrated.
Abstract: In contrast to a recently expressed, and widely cited, view that “Ionic liquids are starting to leave academic labs and find their way into a wide variety of industrial applications”, we demonstrate in this critical review that there have been parallel and collaborative exchanges between academic research and industrial developments since the materials were first reported in 1914 (148 references)

4,865 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate strong, continuous associations of maternal glucose levels below those diagnostic of diabetes with increased birth weight and increased cord-blood serum C-peptide levels.
Abstract: Background It is controversial whether maternal hyperglycemia less severe than that in diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes Methods A total of 25,505 pregnant women at 15 centers in nine countries underwent 75-g oral glucose-tolerance testing at 24 to 32 weeks of gestation Data remained blinded if the fasting plasma glucose level was 105 mg per deciliter (58 mmol per liter) or less and the 2-hour plasma glucose level was 200 mg per deciliter (111 mmol per liter) or less Primary outcomes were birth weight above the 90th percentile for gestational age, primary cesarean delivery, clinically diagnosed neonatal hypoglycemia, and cord-blood serum C-peptide level above the 90th percentile Secondary outcomes were delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, shoulder dystocia or birth injury, need for intensive neonatal care, hyperbilirubinemia, and preeclampsia Results For the 23,316 participants with blinded data, we calculated adjusted odds ratios for adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with an increase in the fasting plasma glucose level of 1 SD (69 mg per deciliter [04 mmol per liter]), an increase in the 1-hour plasma glucose level of 1 SD (309 mg per deciliter [17 mmol per liter]), and an increase in the 2-hour plasma glucose level of 1 SD (235 mg per deciliter [13 mmol per liter]) For birth weight above the 90th percentile, the odds ratios were 138 (95% confidence interval [CI], 132 to 144), 146 (139 to 153), and 138 (132 to 144), respectively; for cord-blood serum C-peptide level above the 90th percentile, 155 (95% CI, 147 to 164), 146 (138 to 154), and 137 (130 to 144); for primary cesarean delivery, 111 (95% CI, 106 to 115), 110 (106 to 115), and 108 (103 to 112); and for neonatal hypoglycemia, 108 (95% CI, 098 to 119), 113 (103 to 126), and 110 (100 to 112) There were no obvious thresholds at which risks increased Significant associations were also observed for secondary outcomes, although these tended to be weaker Conclusions Our results indicate strong, continuous associations of maternal glucose levels below those diagnostic of diabetes with increased birth weight and increased cord-blood serum C-peptide levels

4,003 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Limiting the effects of IL-8 signaling may be a significant therapeutic intervention in targeting the tumor microenvironment because of its role in regulating the transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor.
Abstract: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a proinflammatory CXC chemokine associated with the promotion of neutrophil chemotaxis and degranulation. This chemokine activates multiple intracellular signaling pathways downstream of two cell-surface, G protein-coupled receptors (CXCR1 and CXCR2). Increased expression of IL-8 and/or its receptors has been characterized in cancer cells, endothelial cells, infiltrating neutrophils, and tumor-associated macrophages, suggesting that IL-8 may function as a significant regulatory factor within the tumor microenvironment. The induction of IL-8 signaling activates multiple upstream signaling pathways that (a) impinge on gene expression via regulation of numerous transcription factor activities, (b) modulate the cellular proteome at the level of translation, and/or (c) effect the organization of the cell cytoskeleton through posttranslational regulation of regulatory proteins. As a consequence of the diversity of effectors and downstream targets, IL-8 signaling promotes angiogenic responses in endothelial cells, increases proliferation and survival of endothelial and cancer cells, and potentiates the migration of cancer cells, endothelial cells, and infiltrating neutrophils at the tumor site. Accordingly, IL-8 expression correlates with the angiogenesis, tumorigenicity, and metastasis of tumors in numerous xenograft and orthotopic in vivo models. Recently, IL-8 signaling has been implicated in regulating the transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor, underpinning the transition to an androgen-independent proliferation of prostate cancer cells. In addition, stress and drug-induced IL-8 signaling has been shown to confer chemotherapeutic resistance in cancer cells. Therefore, inhibiting the effects of IL-8 signaling may be a significant therapeutic intervention in targeting the tumor microenvironment.

1,852 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The draft genome sequence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, a biotrophic parasite of many crops, is reported, providing insights into the adaptations required by metazoans to successfully parasitize immunocompetent plants, and open the way for discovering new antiparasitic strategies.
Abstract: Plant-parasitic nematodes are major agricultural pests worldwide and novel approaches to control them are sorely needed. We report the draft genome sequence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, a biotrophic parasite of many crops, including tomato, cotton and coffee. Most of the assembled sequence of this asexually reproducing nematode, totaling 86 Mb, exists in pairs of homologous but divergent segments. This suggests that ancient allelic regions in M. incognita are evolving toward effective haploidy, permitting new mechanisms of adaptation. The number and diversity of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes in M. incognita is unprecedented in any animal for which a genome sequence is available, and may derive from multiple horizontal gene transfers from bacterial sources. Our results provide insights into the adaptations required by metazoans to successfully parasitize immunocompetent plants, and open the way for discovering new antiparasitic strategies.

1,057 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Many of the insights into the glacial histories of species in cryptic refugia gained through phylogeographic approaches are summarised.
Abstract: The glacial episodes of the Quaternary (2.6 million years ago–present) were a major factor in shaping the present-day distributions of extant flora and fauna, with expansions and contractions of the ice sheets rendering large areas uninhabitable for most species. Fossil records suggest that many species survived glacial maxima by retreating to refugia, usually at lower latitudes. Recently, phylogeographic studies have given support to the existence of previously unknown, or cryptic, refugia. Here we summarise many of these insights into the glacial histories of species in cryptic refugia gained through phylogeographic approaches. Understanding such refugia might be important as the Earth heads into another period of climate change, in terms of predicting the effects on species distribution and survival.

980 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
14 Nov 2008-Diabetes
TL;DR: Findings confirm the link between maternal glucose and neonatal adiposity and suggest that the relationship is mediated by fetal insulin production and that the Pedersen hypothesis describes a basic biological relationship influencing fetal growth.
Abstract: Objective: To examine associations of neonatal adiposity with maternal glucose levels and cord serum C-peptide in a multicenter multinational study, the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) Study, thereby assessing the Pederson hypothesis linking maternal glycemia and fetal hyperinsulinemia to neonatal adiposity. Research Design and Methods: Eligible pregnant women underwent a standard 75 gm OGTT between 24 and 32 weeks gestation (as close to 28 weeks as possible). Neonatal anthropometrics and cord serum C-peptide were measured. Associations of maternal glucose and cord serum C-peptide with neonatal adiposity (sum of skinfolds > 90th percentile or percent body fat > 90th percentile) were assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses, with adjustment for potential confounders, including maternal age, parity, BMI, mean arterial pressure, height, gestational age at delivery, and the baby's gender. Results: Among 23,316 HAPO study participants with glucose levels blinded to caregivers, cord serum C-peptide results were available for 19,885 babies and skin fold measurements for 19,389. For measures of neonatal adiposity there were strong statistically significant gradients across increasing levels of maternal glucose and cord serum C-peptide, which persisted after adjustment for potential confounders. In fully adjusted continuous variable models, odds ratios ranged from 1.35 to 1.44 for the two measures of adiposity for fasting, 1-hour, and 2-hour plasma glucose higher by one standard deviation. Conclusions: These findings confirm the link between maternal glucose and neonatal adiposity, and suggest that the relationship is mediated by fetal insulin production and that the Pedersen hypothesis describes a basic biologic relationship influencing fetal growth.

840 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A large number of children born by Caesarean section have modified intestinal bacterial colonization and consequently may have an increased risk of developing asthma under the hygiene hypothesis, and this study aims to investigate this association.
Abstract: Summary Background Children born by Caesarean section have modified intestinal bacterial colonization and consequently may have an increased risk of developing asthma under the hygiene hypothesis. The results of previous studies that have investigated the association between Caesarean section and asthma have been conflicting. Objective To review published literature and perform a meta-analysis summarizing the evidence in support of an association between children born by Caesarean section and asthma. Methods MEDLINE, Web Science, Google Scholar and PubMed were searched to identify relevant studies. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each study from the reported prevalence of asthma in children born by Caesarean section and in control children. Meta-analysis was then used to derive a combined OR and test for heterogeneity in the findings between studies. Results Twenty-three studies were identified. The overall meta-analysis revealed an increase in the risk of asthma in children delivered by Caesarean section (OR=1.22, 95% CI 1.14, 1.29). However, in this analysis, there was evidence of heterogeneity (I2=46%) that was statistically significant (P<0.001). Restricting the analysis to childhood studies, this heterogeneity was markedly decreased (I2=32%) and no longer attained statistical significance (P=0.08). In these studies, there was also evidence of an increase (P<0.001) in the risk of asthma after Caesarean section (OR=1.20, 95% CI 1.14, 12.6). Conclusion In this meta-analysis, we found a 20% increase in the subsequent risk of asthma in children who had been delivered by Caesarean section.

579 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The conclusions of a consensus conference to address the use and interpretation of CF mutation analysis in clinical settings are described, including the use of CFTR genotype for prediction of prognosis in people with CF at the time of their diagnosis is not recommended.

545 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a new regime for radiation pressure acceleration of a thin foil by an intense laser beam of above 1020 W cm−2 was described, which allowed the construction of ultra-compact proton and ion accelerators with ultra-short particle bursts.
Abstract: A new regime is described for radiation pressure acceleration of a thin foil by an intense laser beam of above 1020 W cm−2. Highly monoenergetic proton beams extending to giga-electron-volt energies can be produced with very high efficiency using circularly polarized light. The proton beams have a very small divergence angle (<4°). This new method allows the construction of ultra-compact proton and ion accelerators with ultra-short particle bursts.

532 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It seems highly likely that natural selection is being artificially perturbed, as feeding influences almost every aspect of bird ecology, including reproduction, behavior, and conservation.
Abstract: Every year, millions of households provide huge quantities of supplementary food to wild birds. While alteration of the natural dynamics of food supply represents a major intervention in avian ecology, we have a remarkably limited understanding of the impacts of this widespread pastime. Here, we examine the many and varied responses of birds to supplementary feeding at backyard feeders – in large-scale management projects and in focused academic studies – and evaluate population responses to the bird-feeding phenomenon. Our review encompasses a wide range of species, from songbirds to raptors, and compares provisioning with a variety of foods, at different times of year and in different locations. We consider positive impacts, such as aiding species conservation programs, and negative ones, such as increased risk of disease transmission. It seems highly likely that natural selection is being artificially perturbed, as feeding influences almost every aspect of bird ecology, including reproduction, behavior...

526 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A doubling of the visual angle of presenting VA may be expected to occur in the year after initial presentation in eyes with untreated neovascular AMD, and the diversity of reporting formats, paucity of long-term natural history data, and heterogeneity among the reported clinical studies impose limits to the clear understanding ofLong-term prognosis for visual function in neov vascular AMD.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Nov 2008-Ecology
TL;DR: It is argued that for marine organisms the genetic signatures of northern periglacial and southern refugia can be distinguished from one another, giving credence to recent climatic reconstructions with less extensive glaciation.
Abstract: A goal of phylogeography is to relate patterns of genetic differentiation to potential historical geographic isolating events. Quaternary glaciations, particularly the one culminating in the Last Glacial Maximum ;21 ka (thousands of years ago), greatly affected the distributions and population sizes of temperate marine species as their ranges retreated southward to escape ice sheets. Traditional genetic models of glacial refugia and routes of recolonization include these predictions: low genetic diversity in formerly glaciated areas, with a small number of alleles/haplotypes dominating disproportionately large areas, and high diversity including ''private'' alleles in glacial refugia. In the Northern Hemisphere, low diversity in the north and high diversity in the south are expected. This simple model does not account for the possibility of populations surviving in relatively small northern periglacial refugia. If these periglacial populations experienced extreme bottlenecks, they could have the low genetic diversity expected in recolonized areas with no refugia, but should have more endemic diversity (private alleles) than recently recolonized areas. This review examines evidence of putative glacial refugia for eight benthic marine taxa in the temperate North Atlantic. All data sets were reanalyzed to allow direct comparisons between geographic patterns of genetic diversity and distribution of particular clades and haplotypes including private alleles. We contend that for marine organisms the genetic signatures of northern periglacial and southern refugia can be distinguished from one another. There is evidence for several periglacial refugia in northern latitudes, giving credence to recent climatic reconstructions with less extensive glaciation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This theme of protein aggregation as it relates to the two most common neurodegenerative conditions—Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s diseases is discussed.
Abstract: Developing effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases is one of the greatest medical challenges of the 21st century. Although many of these clinical entities have been recognized for more than a hundred years, it is only during the past twenty years that the molecular events that precipitate disease have begun to be understood. Protein aggregation is a common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, and it is assumed that the aggregation process plays a central role in pathogenesis. In this process, one molecule (monomer) of a soluble protein interacts with other monomers of the same protein to form dimers, oligomers, and polymers. Conformation changes in three-dimensional structure of the protein, especially the formation of β-strands, often accompany the process. Eventually, as the size of the aggregates increases, they may precipitate as insoluble amyloid fibrils, in which the structure is stabilized by the β-strands interacting within a β-sheet. In this review, we discuss this theme as it relates to the two most common neurodegenerative conditions—Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The effect of water content on room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) was studied by Karl Fischer titration and cyclic voltammetry in the following RTILs: tris(P-hexyl)tetradecylphosphonium trifluorotris(pentafluoroethyl)phosphate [P14,6,6 6,6],NTf2], N-butyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(triffluoromethylsulfonyl)im
Abstract: The effect of water content on room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) was studied by Karl Fischer titration and cyclic voltammetry in the following ionic liquids: tris(P-hexyl)tetradecylphosphonium trifluorotris(pentafluoroethyl)phosphate [P14,6,6,6][NTf2], N-butyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C4mpyrr][NTf2], 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(perfluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate [C6mim][FAP], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C4mim][NTf2], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C4dmim][NTf2], N-hexyltriethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsolfonyl)imide [N6,2,2,2][NTf2], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C4mim][PF6], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C2mim][NTf2], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C4mim][BF4], 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide [C4mim][I], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate [C4mim][OTf], and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [C6mim][Cl]. I...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare single and binary stellar model results from the Cambridge stars code to several sets of observations and compare their models to the relative rate of Type Ib/c to Type II supernovae to measure the amount of mass lost over the entire lives of all stars.
Abstract: We compare our latest single and binary stellar model results from the Cambridge stars code to several sets of observations. We examine four stellar population ratios: the number of blue to red supergiants, the number of Wolf–Rayet stars to O supergiants, the number of red supergiants to Wolf–Rayet stars and the relative number of Wolf–Rayet subtypes, WC to WN stars. These four ratios provide a quantitative measure of nuclear burning lifetimes and the importance of mass loss during various stages of the stars' lifetimes. In addition, we compare our models to the relative rate of Type Ib/c to Type II supernovae to measure the amount of mass lost over the entire lives of all stars. We find reasonable agreement between the observationally inferred values and our predicted values by mixing single and binary star populations. However, there is evidence that extra mass loss is required to improve the agreement further, to reduce the number of red supergiants and increase the number of Wolf–Rayet stars.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A range of anaerobic species are present in large numbers in the lungs of patients with CF, and informed alterations to antibiotic treatment to target anaerobes, in addition to the primary infecting pathogens, may improve management.
Abstract: Rationale: Pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) is polymicrobial and it is possible that anaerobic bacteria, not detected by routine aerobic culture methods, reside within infected anaerobic airway mucus.Objectives: To determine whether anaerobic bacteria are present in the sputum of patients with CF.Methods: Sputum samples were collected from clinically stable adults with CF and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from children with CF. Induced sputum samples were collected from healthy volunteers who did not have CF. All samples were processed using anaerobic bacteriologic techniques and bacteria within the samples were quantified and identified.Measurements and Main Results: Anaerobic species primarily within the genera Prevotella, Veillonella, Propionibacterium, and Actinomyces were isolated in high numbers from 42 of 66 (64%) sputum samples from adult patients with CF. Colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly increased the likelihood that anaerobic bacteria would be prese...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The pooled estimates of cancer and HGD incidence were low, suggesting that the cost-effectiveness of surveillance is questionable unless it can be targeted to those with the highest cancer risk.
Abstract: Barrett's esophagus is a well-recognized precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Surveillance of Barrett's esophagus patients is recommended to detect high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or early cancer. Because of wide variation in the published cancer incidence in Barrett's esophagus, the authors undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of cancer and HGD incidence in Barrett's esophagus. Ovid Medline (Ovid Technologies, Inc., New York, New York) and EMBASE (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) databases were searched for papers published between 1950 and 2006 that reported the cancer/HGD risk in Barrett's esophagus. Where possible, early incident cancers/HGD were excluded, as were patients with HGD at baseline. Forty-seven studies were included in the main analysis, and the pooled estimate for cancer incidence in Barrett's esophagus was 6.1/1,000 person-years, 5.3/1,000 person-years when early incident cancers were excluded, and 4.1/1,000 person-years when both early incident cancer and HGD at baseline were excluded. Corresponding figures for combined HGD/cancer incidence were 10.0 person-years, 9.3 person-years, and 9.1/1,000 person-years. Compared with women, men progressed to cancer at twice the rate. Cancer or HGD/cancer incidences were lower when only high-quality studies were analyzed (3.9/1,000 person-years and 7.7/1,000 person-years, respectively). The pooled estimates of cancer and HGD incidence were low, suggesting that the cost-effectiveness of surveillance is questionable unless it can be targeted to those with the highest cancer risk.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present paper reviews the studies published to date on antifungal applications of PACT and aims to raise awareness of this area of research, which has the potential to make a significant impact in future treatment of fungal infections.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In contrast to a recently expressed, and widely cited, view that Ionic liquids are starting to leave academic labs and find their way into a wide variety of industrial applications, the authors demonstrate that there have been parallel and collaborative exchanges between academic research and industrial developments since the materials were first reported in 1914.
Abstract: In contrast to a recently expressed, and widely cited, view that “Ionic liquids are starting to leave academic labs and find their way into a wide variety of industrial applications”, we demonstrate in this critical review that there have been parallel and collaborative exchanges between academic research and industrial developments since the materials were first reported in 1914 (148 references)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This tutorial review discusses the factors that need to be controlled to generate stable and reproducible SER(R)S calibrations.
Abstract: The purpose of this tutorial review is to show how surface-enhanced Raman (SERS) and resonance Raman (SERRS) spectroscopy have evolved to the stage where they can be used as a quantitative analytical technique. SER(R)S has enormous potential for a range of applications where high sensitivity needs to be combined with good discrimination between molecular targets, particularly since low cost, compact spectrometers can read the high signal levels that SER(R)S typically provides. These advantages over conventional Raman measurements come at the cost of increased complexity and this review discusses the factors that need to be controlled to generate stable and reproducible SER(R)S calibrations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that ‘bottleneck’ might be a more appropriate term to use for temporarily reduced populations, to indicate continuity of the populations, and that individualistic response of taxa to climate change appears to extend to intra-specific levels.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed a model linking positive relational capital, and its antecedents, supplier integration and supplier closeness, to buyer performance improvements and hypothesize that structural capital, as reflected in managerial communication and technical exchanges, is also positively related to buyer's performance improvements.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the adsorption capacity of different types of activated carbons produced by steam activation in small laboratory scale and large industrial scale processes and found that activated carbon has the highest adsorptive capacity towards MB dye (588 ǫmg/g), followed by F400 (476 milligrams/g) and PAC1 (380 milligram/g).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There were significant improvements in ambulatory status and in sagittal‐plane kinematics in children with cerebral palsy, and in some cases these gains persisted after the tone‐reducing effects of the toxin had worn off.
Abstract: The role of intramuscular botulinum toxin A in the treatment of 26 children with cerebral palsy was evaluated. The indication for injection was the presence of a dynamic contracture of lower-limb muscles interfering with positioning or walking. Spastic target muscles were identified by clinical examination and, in ambulant children, by gait analysis. Between 50 and 320 units of botulinum toxin were injected into each muscle group to a total dose of 100 to 400 units per child. The effects of injection were monitored by repeated clinical examination and gait analysis. There were no clinically detectable systemic side-effects, and all but one patient had a reduction in tone, which occurred within three days and persisted for two to four months. There were significant improvements in ambulatory status and in sagittal-plane kinematics. In some cases these gains persisted after the tone-reducing effects of the toxin had worn off.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A genome-wide association scan for schizophrenia in an Ashkenazi Jewish population using DNA pooling found a female-specific association with rs7341475, a SNP in the fourth intron of the reelin (RELN) gene, with a significant gene-sex effect.
Abstract: Schizophrenia is a complex mental disease, which includes symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, aberrant behavior, lack of emotional expression, diminished motivation, and social withdrawal. The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but there is extensive evidence that genetics play a significant role in its aetiology. We studied the genetic basis of schizophrenia by analyzing around 500,000 genetic variants distributed across the whole human genome in DNA from schizophrenic patients and controls. We analyzed separately the DNA from men and women, and identified a genetic variant that increases the risk of developing schizophrenia in women only. The genetic variant is estimated to increase the risk of schizophrenia for women carrying the risk variant by 1.4-fold. The genetic variant is in a gene called reelin, which is known to play a part in brain development. However, it is still unclear how this genetic variant predisposes to schizophrenia nor why it is specific to women only.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The potential human health impact of rabies associated with the vulture decline is found to be significant and this, and a wide range of other impacts suggest that significant resources should be put into testing of pharmaceutical products to ensure that similar situations are not repeated.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The focus of academic researchers on types of value being extracted from buyer-supplier relationships changed between 1986 and 2005, as did their interest in the buyer mechanisms implemented to create value in these relationships as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: This paper reviews studies of buyer–supplier relationships published in four prominent U.S.-based academic journals between 1986 and 2005. Our review revealed that the focus of academic researchers on types of value being extracted from buyer–supplier relationships changed between 1986 and 2005, as did their interest in the buyer mechanisms implemented to create value in these relationships. Although emphasis has changed over time, we found that scholars have primarily investigated four types of value derived from buyer–suppler relationships: operational performance improvements, integration-based improvements, supplier capability-based improvements and financial performance outcomes. The review also noted that researchers considered more buyer–supplier mutual efforts since 1996 than the earlier decade, but the number of studies investigating buyer practices has declined as a percentage of total publications. We conclude with a discussion of the review's implications for future research and practice.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a categorical framework in which the degree of resource assessment may be evaluated and also note limitations of various approaches and place studies in six categories: no assessment, internal state such as hunger influencing apparent value, cases of the contestants differing in assessment ability, mutual and equal assessment of value, (5) cases where opponents differ in resource value and (6) particularly complex assessment abilities that involve a comparison of the value of two resources.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the impact of revenue diversification on financial performance for the period 1993-2004 and find that a positive direct exposure effect is outweighed by a negative indirect exposure effect for all but the largest credit unions.
Abstract: For US credit unions, revenue from non-interest sources has increased significantly in recent years. We investigate the impact of revenue diversification on financial performance for the period 1993–2004. The impact of a change in strategy that alters the share of non-interest income is decomposed into a direct exposure effect, reflecting the difference between interest and non-interest bearing activities, and an indirect exposure effect which reflects the effect of the institution’s own degree of diversification. On both risk-adjusted and unadjusted returns measures, a positive direct exposure effect is outweighed by a negative indirect exposure effect for all but the largest credit unions. This may imply that similar diversification strategies are not appropriate for large and small credit unions. Small credit unions should eschew diversification and continue to operate as simple savings and loan institutions, while large credit unions should be encouraged to exploit new product opportunities around their core expertise.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the willingness to pay of a sample of residents of Bath, England, for a hypothetical program that promotes the production of renewable energy using choice experiments, and found that respondents are in favour of a policy for renewable energy and that they attach a high value to a policy that brings private and public benefits in terms of climate change and energy security benefits.