DOES PRIVATE LABEL OWNERSHIP AND PRICING STRUCTURE MATTER?

This article provides an analysis of the two-stage game between manufacturers and retailers. Response functions showing how prices are set are derived for the case of a manufacturer producing one and multiple goods and for a retailer selling multiple goods. The functions are expressed in terms of elasticities, budget shares, and variable production costs. An application using ready-to-eat cereals is conducted to investigate the pricing structure and ownership of private label cereals.Demand and Price Analysis,

Deadly business : the making of the modern cartel

Since the late-1980s, organized crime in Mexico has experienced tremendous growth. A major contributor to the size and power of drug trafficking organizations today stems from neoliberal policies, such as NAFTA. These policies help create the corporatization and militarization of cartels, which has led to extreme levels of violence in Mexico. With the renegotiation of NAFTA, this historical perspective seeks to offer some suggestions for decision-makers from both countries.Histor

The Effects of Time-compression and Learner-control in Multimedia Instruction

There is a significant gap in the body of knowledge concerning time-compressed multimedia instruction. Although research indicates that there is no loss in learning through well-designed multimedia instruction compressed at 25%, research is lacking that analyzes the effects of time-compression with learner-control included in the multimedia instruction. The aim of the study was to address this gap in the research by integrating learner-control into the interface of a time-compressed multimedia instructional lesson using similar methodologies from previous research. Effects were analyzed of time-compressed learner-controlled multimedia instruction on learning and perceived cognitive load. Additionally, the researcher employed a participant population from a corporate environment to increase the generalizability of the results. The researcher investigated two hypotheses concerning the differences in effects between a treatment group that used multimedia instruction featuring learner-control over two pre-determined compression speeds (0% and 25%) and a control group with no time-compression. The primary results of the study were that there was no significant difference in either learning or perceived cognitive load between the treatment and control group. Also, another noteworthy result was that only one-fifth of the participants in the treatment group (n=7) altered the compression speed during the presentation. One implication of these results is that learners might want more compression speed options during a presentation. Another implication is that learners might choose to use time-compression during a multimedia presentation if there was more information provided to the learner concerning what time-compression is and how it affects learning. Recommendations for future research include investigating the implications of this study and expanding the types of populations that are sampled for time-compressed multimedia research. Overall, both industry and academia must commit to aiding in the research of time-compression technology if its benefits and hindrances are ever to be fully explored

Interdisciplinary doctoral research supervision: A scoping review

This scoping literature review examines the topic of interdisciplinary doctoral research supervision. Interdisciplinary doctoral research programs are expanding in response to encouragement from funding agencies and enthusiasm from faculty and students. In an acknowledgement that the search for creative and innovative solutions to complex problems is best addressed through interdisciplinary collaborations, research-intensive universities are increasingly encouraging interdisciplinary projects and programs. The expansion of interdisciplinary research to the context of doctoral research may impact several core components of the doctorate: the enactment of the student–supervisor relationship, the process of forming and working with a supervisory committee, and the process and outcomes of doctoral research. In order to ensure that interdisciplinary doctoral supervision occurs in a positive and effective way, it is necessary to understand the distinct needs and challenges of interdisciplinary students and their supervisors, through scholarship about this phenomenon. Résumé Cet article retrace la recherche existante dans le domaine de l’interdisciplinarité ainsi que l’encadrement de recherches doctorales. Les programmes interdisciplinaires de recherches doctorales répondent à l’incitation des organismes de financement et à l’enthousiasme des professeurs et des étudiants et, de ce fait, deviennent de plus en plus nombreux. Les universités centrées sur la recherche encouragent la création de projets et de programmes interdisciplinaires, car elles sont convaincues que les solutions innovatrices et créatives aux problèmes complexes se réalisent par le truchement de collaborations interdisciplinaires. La demande croissante de recherche interdisciplinaire crée cependant un effet important sur plusieurs composantes centrales du doctorat : la mise en œuvre de la relation étudiantsuperviseur; le processus de formation et de travail du comité de supervision; et les processus et résultats de la recherche doctorale. Pour que l’encadrement doctoral interdisciplinaire se déroule de façon positive et efficace, il est donc nécessaire de comprendre clairement quels sont les différents besoins et défis des étudiants et de leurs superviseurs, en fonction du savoir déjà existant dans le domaine

The β-hairpin of 40S exit channel protein Rps5/uS7 promotes efficient and accurate translation initiation in vivo

Abstract The eukaryotic 43S pre-initiation complex bearing tRNA i Met scans the mRNA leader for an AUG start codon in favorable context. Structural analyses revealed that the β-hairpin of 40S protein Rps5/uS7 protrudes into the 40S mRNA exit-channel, contacting the eIF2•GTP•Met-tRNA i ternary complex (TC) and mRNA context nucleotides; but its importance in AUG selection was unknown. We identified substitutions in β-strand-1 and C-terminal residues of yeast Rps5 that reduced bulk initiation, conferred 'leaky-scanning' of AUGs; and lowered initiation fidelity by exacerbating the effect of poor context of the eIF1 AUG codon to reduce eIF1 abundance. Consistently, the β-strand-1 substitution greatly destabilized the 'P IN ' conformation of TC binding to reconstituted 43S·mRNA complexes in vitro. Other substitutions in β-hairpin loop residues increased initiation fidelity and destabilized P IN at UUG, but not AUG start codons. We conclude that the Rps5 β-hairpin is as crucial as soluble initiation factors for efficient and accurate start codon recognition

The coupling of St. John, US Virgin Islands Marine Protected Areas based on reef fish habitat affinities and movements across management boundaries [Poster]

NOAA's Biogeograpy Branch, the National Park Service (NPS), US Geological Survey, and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) are using acoustice telemetry to quantify spatial patterns and habitat affinities of reef fishes in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). The objective of the study is to define the movements of reef fishes among habitats within and between the Virgin Islands Coral Reef Nationla Monument (VICRNM), adjacent to Virgin Islands National Park (VIIS), and USVI Territorial waters. In order to better understand species habitat utilization patterns and movement of fishes among management regimes and areas open to fishing around St. John, we deployed an array of hydroacoutstic receivers and acoustically tagged reef fishes. A total of 150 fishes, representing 18 species and 10 families were acoustically tagged along the south shore of St. John from July 2006 to June 2008. Thirty six receivers with a detection range of approximately 300m each were deployed in shallow nearshore bays and across the shelf to depths of approximately 30m. Receivers were located within reefs and adjacent to reefs in seagrass, algal beds, or sand habitats. Example results include the movement of lane snappers and blue striped grunts that demonstrated diel movement from reef habitats during daytime hours to offshore seagrass beds at night. Fish associated with reefs that did not have adjacent seagrass beds made more extensive movements than those fishes associated with reefs that had adjacent seagrass habitats. The array comprised of both nearshore and cross shelf location of receives provides information on fine to broad scale fish movement patterns across habitats and among management units to examine the strength of ecological connectivity between management areas and habitats. For more information go to: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/ coralreef/acoustic_tracking.htm

Zinc Finger Protein, Hzf, Is Required for Megakaryocyte Development and Hemostasis

Using an expression gene trapping strategy, we recently identified a novel gene, hematopoietic zinc finger (Hzf), which encodes a protein containing three C2H2-type zinc fingers that is predominantly expressed in megakaryocytes. Here, we have examined the in vivo function of Hzf by gene targeting and demonstrated that Hzf is essential for megakaryopoiesis and hemostasis in vivo. Hzf-deficient mice exhibited a pronounced tendency to rebleed and had reduced α-granule substances in both megakaryocytes and platelets. These mice also had large, faintly stained platelets, whereas the numbers of both megakaryocytes and platelets were normal. These results indicate that Hzf plays important roles in regulating the synthesis of α-granule substances and/or their packing into α-granules during the process of megakaryopoiesis

Presacral malakoplakia presenting as foot drop: a case report

Background: Malakoplakia is a rare condition characterized by inflammatory masses with specific histological characteristics. These soft tissue masses can mimic tumors and tend to develop in association with chronic or recurrent infections, typically of the urinary tract. A specific defect in innate immunity has been described. In the absence of randomized controlled trials, management is based on an understanding of the biology and on case reports. Case presentation: Here we describe a case of presacral malakoplakia in a British Indian woman in her late 30s, presenting with complex unilateral foot drop. Four years earlier, she had suffered a protracted episode of intrapelvic sepsis following a caesarean delivery. Resection of her presacral soft tissue mass was not possible. She received empiric antibiotics, a cholinergic agonist, and ascorbic acid. She responded well to medical management both when first treated and following a recurrence of symptoms after completing an initial 8 months of therapy. Whole exome sequencing of the patient and her parents was undertaken but no clear causal variant was identified. Conclusions: Malakoplakia is uncommon but the diagnosis should be considered where soft tissue masses develop at the site of chronic or recurrent infections. Obtaining tissue for histological examination is key to making the diagnosis. This case suggests that surgical resection is not always needed to achieve a good clinical and radiological outcome

Evaluation of Germline BMP4 Mutation as a Cause of Colorectal Cancer

Transforming growth factor-â (TGF-â) signalling plays a key role in colorectal cancer (CRC). Bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) is a member of the TGF-â family of signal transduction molecules. To examine if germline mutation in BMP4 causes CRC we analysed 504 genetically enriched CRC cases (by virtue of early-onset disease, family history of CRC) for mutations in the coding sequence of BMP4. We identified three pathogenic mutations, p.R286X (g.8330C>T), p.W325C (g.8449G>T) and p.C373S (g.8592G>C), amongst the CRC cases which were not observed in 524 healthy controls. p.R286X localizes to the N-terminal of the TGF-â1 prodomain truncating the protein prior to the active domain. p.W325C and p.C373S mutations are predicted from protein homology modelling with BMP2 to impact deleteriously on BMP4 function. Segregation of p.C373S with adenoma and hyperplastic polyp in first-degree relatives of the case suggests germline mutations may confer a juvenile polyposis-type phenotype. These findings suggest mutation of BMP4is a cause of CRC and the value of protein-based modelling in the elucidation of rare disease-causing variants. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc

The CACNA1B R1389H variant is not associated with myoclonus-dystonia in a large European multicentric cohort.

Myoclonus-dystonia (M-D) is a very rare movement disorder, caused in ∼30-50% of cases by mutations in SGCE. The CACNA1B variant c.4166G>A; (p.R1389H) was recently reported as the likely causative mutation in a single 3-generation Dutch pedigree with five subjects affected by a unique dominant M-D syndrome and cardiac arrhythmias. In an attempt to replicate this finding, we assessed by direct sequencing the frequency of CACNA1B c.4166G>A; (p.R1389H) in a cohort of 520 M-D cases, in which SGCE mutations had been previously excluded. A total of 146 cases (28%) had a positive family history of M-D. The frequency of the variant was also assessed in 489 neurologically healthy controls and in publicly available data sets of genetic variation (1000 Genomes, Exome Variant Server and Exome Aggregation Consortium). The variant was detected in a single sporadic case with M-D, but in none of the 146 probands with familial M-D. Overall, the variant was present at comparable frequencies in M-D cases (1 out of 520; 0.19%) and healthy controls (1 out of 489; 0.2%). A similar frequency of the variant was also reported in all publicly available databases. These results do not support a causal association between the CACNA1B c.4166G>A; (p.R1389H) variant and M-D