bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling future automobiles: the role of industry and government
Authors: Turner Larry , Larsen Robert , Duoba Michael , McBroom Scott , Nedungadi Ashok , Wipke Keith
Published: February 2005

The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) is a joint project of the “big three” US automakers and seven US government agencies. The goal of the partnership is to develop a mid‐sized car with a fuel economy of 3 liter/100km. The US Department of Energy is supporting the development of two computer codes for modeling future automobiles. PNGV and similar government/industry partnerships elsewhere in the world, some of them formed in response to PNGV, are bringing major changes – perhaps a revolution – in automobiles. The 30 years of experience by the electromagnetics modeling community may be able to contribute to this process of change.
Emergency preparedness and disaster management in Hawaii
Authors: Prizzia Ross , Helfand Gary
Published: February 2005

The research is an administrative case study based on an extensive review of Hawaii government documents and interviews with key personnel of the Hawaii Emergency Preparedness Committee, civil defense and other relevant officials. Describes the interagency coordination at the federal, state, county, and community level to improve capability. Also described and critically evaluated are the roles of interagency emergency preparedness training, disaster drills, and coordination and partnership with the private sector, such as medical centers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s designated “disaster resistant communities” in Maui and Hawaii County. Recommends that more frequent interagency drills, increased funding for family emergency preparedness and local community response teams, and continuous training by emergency response coordinators could improve state and county disaster preparedness and concludes that, overall, Hawaii is adequately prepared in emergency response capability, particularly in the areas of medical services and interagency coordination.
Risk Management and Damage Mitigation at IAT ’94
Authors: Heathcote D.F.
Published: February 2005

Describes the emergency management structure created for the
International Air Tattoo ’94 at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Describes the table‐top discussion and live exercise which preceded the
event, to ensure that adequate procedures were in place should a major
incident occur. Discusses lessons learned from the live exercise.
Creating a digital marketspace presence: lessons in extranet implementation
Authors: Angeles Rebecca
Published: February 2005

Aims to establish a basic conceptual framework for understanding extranet implementation guidelines. Provides a specific case using VF Playwear, Inc.’s HealthTexbtob.com, a business‐to‐business extranet for linking VF with its customers. Owing to the heavy pressure to create a Web presence in the digital marketspace, some firms have found it beneficial to work with e‐business solution providers that can assist them through the critical points of the development life cycle. VF Playwear, Inc. manufactures children’s clothing and is part of the VF Corporation umbrella that supplies such well‐known clothing brands as Wrangler, Lee, Rustler, Vanity Fair, and Vassarette, among others. Lessons learned by VF Playwear, Inc., in close collaboration with MERANT E‐Solutions (enterprise solutions) and Egility I‐Solutions (infrastructure solutions), are featured in this case study.
The first Internet course: implications of increased prior participant experience
Authors: Clyde Laurel A. , Klobas Jane E.
Published: February 2005

Examines changes in experience and confidence among students taking their first Internet course at university between 1994 and 2000 in a country with high Internet use. Time series show that the number of participants who had used the Internet before commencing university has increased so it is now rare to encounter a student with no prior experience. While almost all new students are experienced and confident users of e‐mail and the WWW, not all have used search engines, and exposure to new and advanced tools is limited. Very few have built a Web page. The first Internet course at universities in countries with high Internet penetration should develop students’ understanding of the Internet as it is used in everyday life by developing knowledge of the Internet’s history and development, advanced skills in Internet use, and the knowledge required to evaluate the potential of new Internet technologies and applications.
Why e‐business must evolve beyond market orientation: applying human interaction models to computer‐mediated corporate communications
Authors: McCullough Johnston Kevin
Published: February 2005

Seeks to inform the design of corporate communications for e‐business. A critique of market orientation suggests that in the new paradigm of dynamically configured network organisations, a multiplicity of partners requires that the orientation must be broadened to allow dialogue to permeate and coordinate the network. It discusses the increasing importance of corporate interaction as companies virtualise. Underlying enablers of effective corporate dialogue are examined by comparing sociological and psychological theories of human interaction and relationship formation with organisational interaction theories of corporate relationship formation. The paper continues by examining human‐computer interaction and concludes by synthesising the literature to create a prototype construct to inform Web site design.
Data integrity and the Internet: implications for management
Authors: Mathieu Richard G. , Woodard Robert L.
Published: February 2005

The Internet is increasingly used by management professionals to support information gathering and research activities. However, the different sources of information on the Internet (i.e. electronic journals, online databases, messages posted to groups of readers, and e‐mail) must be carefully utilized by the prudent manager. In particular, examines three issues surrounding the use and citation of information received via the Internet. The first issue addresses problems surrounding the accuracy and recency of information obtained on the Internet. The second issue focusses on properly categorizing the type of information received. The last issue examines how to reference properly information obtained from the Internet that is used in academic and industrial research. Concludes with a section on ethical issues related to electronic media.
New frontiers in cybersegmentation: marketing success in cyberspace depends on IP address
Authors: Louvieris Panos , Driver John
Published: February 2005

Focuses on the forthcoming next generation Internet’s address system (IPv6) which will potentially redefine the way marketers approach the segmentation of interactive cybermarkets. Explores the ramifications of Internet‐based purchasing systems to buyer behaviour. Differences and similarities of next generation direct marketing compared with classic and neoclassic direct marketing approaches are evaluated. Sensitivity to changes and differences in customer decision‐loyalty type are explored from the perspective of building high value customer relationships, where decision‐loyalty type is considered to be a key resegmentation variable for personalised interactive cybermarketing.
Data data everywhere – and not a byte of use?
Authors: Abbott Julie
Published: February 2005

Describes the research and findings of a project aimed at how UK companies use customer information in their marketing today. Today’s technologies allow companies to collect enormous volumes of data and manipulate it in many different ways to bring out otherwise unforeseen areas of knowledge. This can be vital for marketers trying to provide better service to the customer than their competition. But is it in general use? The research was carried out via an e‐mail questionnaire using a sample of companies to gain a broad view of marketing today, and was followed up with interviews of half the original sample and finally writing three case studies of diverse companies. Owing to the small sample size, no definitive answers can be given without further research, but the trend was towards implementation of customer relations management (CRM) practices and more take up of the Internet as a channel to market.
Benchmarking for agility
Authors: Sarkis Joseph
Published: February 2005

Agility and agile manufacturing are recent organizational development philosophies that industry and academia are studying. Benchmarking is a business practice that will aid in the study, refinement, and application of agility principles. This paper focuses on two issues, benchmarking agile environments and agile benchmarking requirements. Benchmarking process, tools and metrics issues are discussed within the perspective of agility requirements. The process, tools and metrics discussion allows for a simultaneous study of the two major issues in integrating benchmarking and agility. In this paper a need for a developmental evolution in benchmarking is also observed. A number of potential directions and enablers are defined based on current practice and emerging mechanisms for agility and benchmarking.
The interplay between quality improvement principles and the
employee communication process
Authors: Troutt  , Ponce de Leo Jesus A. , Bateman D.N.
Published: February 2005

The employee communication (EC) process plays a potentially
important role in any quality improvement principles (QIP) programme.
Addresses the need to apply QIP to the EC process itself, and
underscores the role of EC in QIP. Quality measurement is required by
most QIP programmes: and is a special challenge for the EC process.
Suggests new approaches to this problem.
Sex determination in Bonellia viridis (Echiura: Bonelliidae): population dynamics and evolution
Authors: Berec Ludek , Schembri Patrick J. , Boukal David S.
Published: February 2005

In the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis Rolando, the vast majority of sexually undifferentiated larvae metamorphose into dwarf males that live inside the female when exposed to females, but differentiate into females when developing in the absence of females. By means of a spatially explicit, individual‐based model we examine how this specific form of environmental sex determination (ESD) affects dynamics of Bonellia populations and investigate the selective advantage of ESD over the more widespread genotypic sex determination (GSD). Population dynamics of Bonellia appear rather simple and not too sensitive to parameter changes around their measured values, or to changes in distribution and sizes of inhabitable patches. Starting even from low sizes, populations soon attain equilibrium densities. Explored aspects of population dynamics indicate an advantage of ESD over GSD. Moreover, simulated invasibility experiments show that while the maternal inheritance scenario allows for fixation of GSD under some limited conditions, both the classical and proportional inheritance scenarios always lead to fixation of ESD in the population. We also show that only the ability of ESD larvae to adapt their ultimate sex both in competition for empty burrows and for mating within females gives them a competitive edge over nonadaptive response to feminising and/or masculinising signals and generally leads to fixation of ESD by small step evolution. The original hypothesis of Charnov and Bull thus needs to be refined in the sense that along with females forming an unpredictable resource for males, empty burrows are an unpredictable resource for females.
The function of facial masks in "midguild" carnivores
Authors: Newman C. , Buesching C. D. , Wolff J. O.
Published: February 2005

A group of medium sized carnivores possesses conspicuously colored facial markings or masks. This facial coloration is most compatible with the aposematic warning hypothesis and functions to deter predation by larger carnivores. Other hypotheses addressing ecological or social functions are not supported by the data. Facial masks may be a recent character derived from an ancestral contrast in body coloration of carnivores that functioned to warn potential predators of a disproportionate danger in attacking the smaller guild member. This danger may be predicated either on the relative ferocity of the smaller carnivore (wolverine/badger‐type) or that the smaller carnivore is equipped with a defensive nauseous discharge that is directly harmful to larger would‐be predators. Facial masks in themselves appear to function as an aposematic warning of aggressive defensive behavior that could be harmful to predators.
A conceptual framework for comparing species assemblages in native and exotic habitats
Authors: Sax Dov F. , Kinlan Brian P. , Smith Katherine F.
Published: February 2005

Exotic (nonnative) species are known to have a wide variety of impacts on native biota. One potential set of impacts that have been poorly studied are the effects of replacing native habitat‐providing species with exotic ones, e.g. when native trees that compose a woodland are replaced by an exotic tree plantation. Here we develop a graphical model that can be used to explore how multiple taxonomic components (such as birds, mammals and plants) respond to such changes. We suggest that four categorical responses are possible, with respect to changes in species richness (or other quantitative measures) of taxonomic groups within species assemblages. First, that each taxonomic group compared between habitats will be relatively unchanged, e.g. have equivalent values of species richness. Second, that a decrease (for example in species richness) of one group will be compensated for by an increase (in species richness) of another group. Third, that one or more groups will decrease without any compensated increases in other groups. Fourth, that one or more groups will increase without any compensated decreases in other groups. We provide empirical support for 3 of these 4 responses, with respect to measures of species richness, with much evidence for equivalency between habitats. These types of comparisons should provide a valuable tool for evaluating 1) the efficacy of environmental mitigation efforts that artificially create or restore habitats and 2) the types of changes that have occurred over time or across space as native habitat‐producing species are replaced by exotic ones. Finally, this conceptual framework should help to broaden the range of possible changes considered by ecologists who study the impacts of exotic species.
Nonlinear and population‐specific offspring sex ratios in relation to high variation in prey abundance
Authors: Millon Alexandre , Bretagnolle Vincent
Published: February 2005

Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), a specialist raptor in western France, faces huge variations in the abundance of its main prey, the common vole (Microtus arvalis). This simple predator–prey system provides fine‐tuned data for investigating patterns of sex allocation under environmental variability. We analysed variations in brood sex ratio at fledging (1364 chicks from 451 broods) in two adjacent harrier populations for respectively 16‐ and 8‐year surveys of both the predator and its prey. Overall sex ratio (number of males/total number of offspring) was close to parity (0.513) but this apparent equilibrium resulted in fact from opposite skews in the two populations which differed by almost 10% (0.561 vs 0.464). Brood reduction only is unlikely to produce such a difference in average brood sex ratios. Brood sex ratio of the predator was affected by prey abundance. Contrary to expectations and whatever the population, relatively more offspring of the smaller sex were produced during peak years of the vole cycle but also during poor years, thus providing the first evidence for a nonlinear influence of environmental quality (prey abundance) on sex ratio. Assuming that observed sex ratios in both populations are the result of an adaptive strategy that maximizes harrier reproductive output, we discuss possible origins of the bias and why nonlinearity may be involved in sex ratio adjustment. These results further point out that sex ratio analyses should take into account population characteristics, and more generally, environmental variations both in space and time.
Three generations under low versus high neighborhood density affect the life history of a clonal plant through differential selection and genetic drift
Authors: Van Kleunen Mark , Fischer Markus , Schmid Bernhard
Published: February 2005

We tested whether neighborhood density affects the clonal life history of the stoloniferous plant Ranunculus reptans through selection and genetic drift. After three generations of sexual reproduction of 16 low‐ and 16 high‐density lines, we studied traits related to growth form and reproduction in a common competition free environment. A 7.7% lower branching frequency and slightly longer internodes indicated an evolutionary shift towards a less compact growth form under high neighborhood density, but because stolons grew also more vertically, horizontal spread per ramet was slightly decreased. Neighborhood density had no directional effects on the evolution of allocation to sexual and vegetative reproduction in R. reptans. Variation among replicated high‐density lines was significantly lower than among replicated low‐density lines in both growth form and reproductive characteristics, indicating less pronounced genetic drift under high neighborhood density. This study demonstrates that a clonal plant can respond to selection imposed by neighborhood density. Moreover, it shows that the effect of random genetic drift increases with decreasing neighborhood density. In a declining species, such as R. reptans in central Europe, this may lower the potential for adaptive evolutionary change and increase extinction risk.
Nested species assemblages as a tool to detect sensitivity to forest fragmentation: the case of cloud forest birds
Authors: Martínez‐Morales Miguel Angel
Published: February 2005

In an ecological community, groups of species may or may not have a nested structure. Furthermore, any nested structure detected could have several causes, each of which would have to be identified, since they may have important theoretical and management implications. In this paper, I assessed the nested structure of bird communities using cloud forest fragments in eastern Mexico to identify bird species and groups of species sensitive to cloud forest fragmentation. Sensitive species were expected to have a nested arrangement highly correlated with forest fragmentation intensity. Analysis identified the following groups of birds as showing a nested structure highly correlated with cloud forest fragmentation: birds with a body mass between 100 and 300 g and larger than 600 g, some trophic behavioural guilds (terrestrial granivore, terrestrial granivore–frugivore, understory granivore–frugivore, arboreal granivore–frugivore, gleaning terrestrial insectivore, gleaning understory insectivore, cliff gleaning insectivore, nocturnal aerial insectivore, diurnal raptor, nocturnal raptor, terrestrial omnivore, scavenger), forest interior and generalist birds, species restricted to cloud forest, and threatened species. This study shows that the analysis of the nested species assemblage can be considered a useful tool to identify species sensitivity to ecological or landscape patterns and processes, in this case, species or groups of species affected by a fragmented landscape pattern.
Implementing false discovery rate control: increasing your power
Authors: Verhoeven Koen J.F. , Simonsen Katy L. , McIntyre Lauren M.
Published: February 2005

Popular procedures to control the chance of making type I errors when multiple statistical tests are performed come at a high cost: a reduction in power. As the number of tests increases, power for an individual test may become unacceptably low. This is a consequence of minimizing the chance of making even a single type I error, which is the aim of, for instance, the Bonferroni and sequential Bonferroni procedures. An alternative approach, control of the false discovery rate (FDR), has recently been advocated for ecological studies. This approach aims at controlling the proportion of significant results that are in fact type I errors. Keeping the proportion of type I errors low among all significant results is a sensible, powerful, and easy‐to‐interpret way of addressing the multiple testing issue. To encourage practical use of the approach, in this note we illustrate how the proposed procedure works, we compare it to more traditional methods that control the familywise error rate, and we discuss some recent useful developments in FDR control.
Allergic contact dermatitis from methyldibromo glutaronitrile – clinical cases from 2003
Authors: Zachariae C. , Johansen J. D. , Rastogi S. C. , Menné T.
Published: February 2005

Of the 766 patients with eczematous skin disease patch tested in 2003 at the Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Gentofte, 38 (4.9%) showed a positive reaction to methyldibromo glutaronitrile (MDBGN), and in an additional 2 patients, a doubtful positive patch test reaction was found to be of relevance. Among these, 27 had hand eczema, with a relevant exposure predominantly from wash‐off products, either liquid soaps or shampoos, in 24 patients. Following identification of the allergen by patch testing and subsequent avoidance of products containing MDBGN, the hand eczema either improved or cleared in 19 patients. Chemical analysis showed 11 p.p.m. to 473 p.p.m. MDBGN in products used by the patients. Based on the present clinical study and accumulated evidence in the literature, it is concluded that MDBGN is not suitable for use in any type of cosmetic product.
Evaluation of the skin sensitizing potency of chemicals by using the existing methods and considerations of relevance for elicitation
Authors: Basketter David A. , Andersen Klaus E. , Liden Carola , Loveren Henk Van , Boman Anders , Kimber Ian , Alanko Kristiina , Berggren Elisabet
Published: February 2005

The Technical Committee of Classification and Labelling dealing with harmonized classification of substances and classification criteria under Directive 67/548/EEC on behalf of the European Commission nominated an expert group on skin sensitization in order to investigate further the possibility for potency consideration of skin sensitizers for future development of the classification criteria. All substances and preparations should be classified on the basis of their intrinsic properties and should be labelled accordingly with the rules set up in the Directive 67/548/EEC. The classification should be the same under their full life cycle and in the case that there is no harmonized classification the substance or preparation should be self‐classified by the manufacturer in accordance with the same criteria. The Directive does not apply to certain preparations in the finished state, such as medical products, cosmetics, food and feeding stuffs, which are subject to specific community legislation. The main questions that are answered in this report are whether it would be possible to give detailed guidance on how to grade allergen potency based on the existing methods, whether such grading could be translated into practical thresholds and whether these could be set for both induction and elicitation. Examples are given for substances falling into various potency groups for skin sensitization relating to results from the local lymph node assay, the guinea pig maximization test, the Buehler method and human experience.
THE INCIDENCE AND LEVEL OF LISTERIA SPP. AND LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES CONTAMINATION IN PROCESSED POULTRY AT A POULTRY PROCESSING PLANT
Authors: LOURA CLÁUDIA A.C. , ALMEIDA ROGERIA C.C. , ALMEIDA PAULO F.
Published: February 2005

To estimate the incidence and levels of Listeria spp. in an industrial poultry processing plant, samples of chicken breast meat, livers, surfaces of saws and tables, hands and gloves were analyzed. Forty percent of the breast samples presented Listeria: L. monocytogenes, L. innocua and L. grayi. Liver samples were contaminated by L. innocua and L. grayi. High levels of Listeria monocytogenes were found on saws (<30–2400 MPN/equipment) and tables (<30–11,000 MPN/equipment). Hands were contaminated by L. monocytogenes, L. innocua and L. grayi and gloves with L. innocua and L. grayi. The levels of Listeria on hands and gloves were low (<110 MPN/hand). L. monocytogenes serotypes were 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c and 4b. Overall, the study demonstrated the high prevalence of Listeria spp. and specifically L. monocytogenes in chicken breast meat, equipment and hands. Improvements and innovations at the poultry processing plant may effectively reduce final production contamination with Listeria.
Expression of the bcl‐6 and MUM1/IRF4 proteins correlate with overall and disease‐specific survival in patients with primary cutaneous large B‐cell lymphoma: a tissue microarray study
Authors: Sundram Uma , Kim Youn , Mraz‐Gernhard Serena , Hoppe Richard , Natkunam Yasodha , Kohler Sabine
Published: February 2005

Background:  Systemic B‐cell lymphomas have been studied using microarrays, which has led to a better understanding of their molecular characteristics. Initial microarray studies of these lymphomas have implicated several genes as important predictors of outcome. In this study, we used a tissue microarray (TMA) to characterize primary cutaneous large B‐cell lymphomas (PCLBCL).

Methods:  We studied 14 patients for whom clinical follow up was available, including four patients whose lesions were limited to the leg on presentation. Immunohistochemical staining with CD20, CD44, CD21, CD5, CD10, bcl‐2, bcl‐6, Ki67, p53, and multiple myeloma 1 (MUM1) was examined.

Results:  Our results identify two subgroups of lymphomas. The first group showed staining with bcl‐6 and had an overall survival of 176 months (p = 0.003). The majority of this group was negative for MUM1. The second group lacked staining with bcl‐6 and had an overall survival of 26 months, with a majority of these cases staining with MUM1. Three of four patients with PCLBCL of the leg showed no staining with bcl‐6.

Conclusions:  Our study demonstrates the utility of TMAs in the analysis of PCLBCL and that expression of bcl‐6 and MUM1 correlates with survival.
The Relation Between Investor Uncertainty and Market Reactions to Earnings Announcements: Evidence from the Property‐Casualty Insurance Industry in the USA
Authors: Christensen Theodore E. , Gaver Jennifer J. , Stuerke Pamela S.
Published: February 2005

Abstract:  This paper investigates the relationship between investor uncertainty, gauged by properties of analysts’ forecasts, and the stock market response to earnings. We find that uncertainty is best characterized by a comprehensive measure recently proposed by Barron, Kim, Lim and Stevens (1998), BKLS. The BKLS measure is related to uncertainty‐inducing events, as well as factors that affect the difficulty faced by analysts in forecasting earnings. We conclude that, first, pre‐disclosure uncertainty is a significant determinant of the price reaction to the earnings release, and second, BKLS is a more comprehensive measure of uncertainty than simple dispersion.
Firm Size and the Information Content of Annual Earnings Announcements: Australian Evidence
Authors: Chan Howard , Faff Robert , Ramsay Alan
Published: February 2005

Abstract:  We investigate the effect of firm size on the market's short‐window response to annual earnings announcements for a large sample of Australian listed companies. Our research design involves regressions of unexpected earnings against unexpected returns. Non‐linearity in the returns‐earnings relationship is incorporated and other factors known to affect the response to earnings announcements are controlled for. Contrary to prior US research, our results show that firm size has either no effect on the response to earnings announcements (3 day window) or the response is significantly stronger for larger firms (twenty‐one day window). The information content of earnings announcements is present across firm size categories but the nature of the response differs with firm size and context.
Derivatives Use, Corporate Governance, and Legislative Change: An Empirical Analysis of New Zealand Listed Companies
Authors: Marsden Alastair , Prevost Andrew K.
Published: February 2005

Abstract:  This paper examines if board composition has any systematic bearing on derivatives usage by New Zealand listed companies. We also test if derivative usage changed following the introduction of the new 1993 Companies Act. The Act raised expectations of directors’ fiduciary responsibilities and the perceived risk of liability on outside directors for poor investment decisions. Using a dataset of listed New Zealand companies in 1994 and 1997, we find companies with higher growth opportunities and a greater proportion of outside directors were less likely to use financial derivatives following the introduction of the new Act. Our results supplement the US‐based literature on derivatives usage by illustrating that internal governance mechanisms can play a role in corporate derivatives policy, and that the legislative and regulatory environment may affect this role.
Bond Selection for Managed Portfolios
Authors: Smith WM. Steven
Published: February 2005

Abstract:  Investors in coupon bonds evaluate them based upon financial considerations such as coupon rate, time‐to‐maturity, callability, convertibility, and financial condition of the issuer. These investors regard promised yield as only a rough measure of the reward a bond offers to compensate them for the pure time‐value‐of‐money and the financial risks to which they are exposed. Hence, they need a more meaningful measure of reward to facilitate comparisons among coupon bonds. The purpose of this paper is to describe an alternative heuristic approach to the task of making such comparisons. The approach produces a simple ordinal measure of reward, called the ‘indifference spread,’ that considers implicitly the potential sources of return to, as well as many of the risks associated with, investment in coupon bonds. For any coupon bond, the indifference spread method permits assessment of relative reward offered for the combined exposures to price and call risks, while also reasonably accommodating possible sale anytime prior to maturity. Once an investor (e.g., money manager) identifies indifference spreads for all bonds under consideration as of any moment in time, he/she can then draw conclusions regarding their relative values at that time based, in large part, on these spreads.
From heparins to factor Xa inhibitors and beyond
Authors: Alban S.
Published: February 2005

Despite some disadvantages, unfractionated heparin (UFH) and oral anticoagulants have been the only anticoagulants for prophylaxis and therapy of thromboembolic disorders for several decades.

Based on the increasing knowledge of the structure and pharmacology of heparin, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) have been developed in the 1980s. Compared to UFH, their advantages are mainly based on their reduced nonspecific binding to proteins and cells resulting in improved pharmacokinetics. In 1991, LMWH were declared as the most efficient prophylaxis in high‐risk patients. Although the use of LMWH is increasing and they are today also applied for therapy and in other indications like acute coronary syndrome, they are considered not optimal concerning efficacy and safety.

With the approval of fondaparinux for the prevention of venous thromboembolic disease in high‐risk orthopedic patients, there might be a paradigm shift in the field of anticoagulants. Fondaparinux, a synthetic, chemically defined pentasaccharide, is the first selective inhibitor of factor Xa. By its highly specific binding to antithrombin, it selectively inhibits factor Xa and consequently prevents thrombin generation. In contrast to UFH and LMWH, it does not bind to any other cells and other proteins than antithrombin. This leads to a favourable linear pharmacokinetic profile, allowing once‐daily subcutaneous application of a fixed dose without monitoring in thromboembolism prophylaxis. In addition to the evaluation of fondaparinux for further indications, chemical modifications of this pentasaccharide such as the long‐acting idraparinux are currently under investigation.
Change Blindness
Authors: Simons Daniel J. , Ambinder Michael S.
Published: February 2005

People often fail to notice large changes to visual scenes, a phenomenon now known as change blindness. The extent of change blindness in visual perception suggests limits on our capacity to encode, retain, and compare visual information from one glance to the next; our awareness of our visual surroundings is far more sparse than most people intuitively believe. These failures of awareness and the erroneous intuitions that often accompany them have both theoretical and practical ramifications. This article briefly summarizes the current state of research on change blindness and suggests future directions that promise to improve our understanding of scene perception and visual memory.
The changing relationship between mental health nurses and psychiatrists in the United Kingdom
Authors: Brimblecombe Neil R.
Published: February 2005

Aim.  This paper illustrates key developments in the changing relationship between the two professions over the last 200 years.

Background.  To understand the current relationship between mental health nurses and psychiatrists within the UK, it is necessary to understand the historical development of that relationship.

Methods.  Information was sought from a range of primary documentary sources, including contemporary journals, asylum documents and official governmental and health service reports. Secondary sources, such as histories of medicine, nursing and individual asylums provided further supportive information.

Findings.  Psychiatry emerged as a profession at the end of the 18th century and found a power base within county asylums from the middle of the 19th century. Medical superintendents, the doctors in charge of asylums, had strict control over the activities of attendants, the justification for which was the need to protect patients from cruelty and neglect. Superintendents’ desire for their own enhanced professional status led to formalized training for attendants at the end of the 19th Century, in which training materials again reinforced the importance of obedience by nurses (as attendants had become known). During the 1920s, trade unions struggled for improved pay and conditions, whilst professionalizing mental health nursing was a secondary priority. Reorganization following creation of the National Health Service in 1948 lessened superintendents’ authority, and ultimately the management of mental health nursing shifted from them. The move towards community care allowed mental health nurses to develop greater independence, which was supported by changes in nurse education.

Conclusions.  Psychiatrists in the UK remain highly influential, despite the move from their traditional power base in hospitals. Changes in mental health care, such as new nurse prescribing powers and the loss of psychiatrists’ control over admission of patients to hospital, will continue to change the relationship between mental health nursing and psychiatry.
Perceived parental efficacy: concept analysis
Authors: de Montigny Francine , Lacharité Carl
Published: February 2005

Aims. This paper describes a concept analysis carried out to remove some of the ambiguity surrounding the conceptual meaning of perceived parental efficacy and to distinguish it from related concepts such as parental confidence and parental competence.

Background. Constructing parental efficacy is a crucial step for family members after the birth of their first child. For some authors, perceived parental efficacy is a motor for adequate parental practices. Confusion about the definition and measurement of this concept has hindered both psychology and nursing practice and research. Concept delineation and concept clarification are required in order to further the development of the concept of perceived parental efficacy.

Methods. A literature search using a variety of online databases yielded 113 articles between the years 1980 and 2000. The final sample (n = 60) consisted of 30 articles from two disciplines: nursing and psychology. A content analysis of the literature was done using Rodger's evolutionary concept analysis method.

Findings. Content analysis of the literature yielded four contributors to perceived parental efficacy: positive enactive mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion and an appropriate physiological and affective state. Perceived parental efficacy can thus be defined as ‘beliefs or judgements a parent holds of their capabilities to organize and execute a set of tasks related to parenting a child’.

Conclusion. This conceptual analysis has allowed perceived parental efficacy to be distinguished from parental confidence and parental competence. Both nursing and psychology research, practice and education will benefit from a more precise and delineated concept.
Interaction in cyberspace: an online focus group
Authors: Kenny Amanda J.
Published: February 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a study that explored whether active engagement and group interaction could be captured in an online environment.

Background.  Focus groups have become a common means of capitalizing on group interaction to collect rich responses to questions posed. Whilst their use is well established in the repertoire of qualitative researchers, with changing technology there is the opportunity to use a computer program that facilitates online engagement and interaction to bring together a group of people to explore issues, attitudes and perceptions.

Method.  Using a qualitative descriptive method and purposive sampling, 38 Australian Enrolled Nurses participated in an online focus group. WebCT©, a program that facilitates online engagement and interaction, was used to enable participants to interact from any computer, from any location, at any time.

Findings.  The experience of conducting an online focus group was a positive one. Advantages such as cost savings and convenience for both researcher and participants were identified. This study demonstrated that participants could be actively engaged over a 2‐month period and that group interaction could be achieved to collect richly detailed research data.

Conclusion.  Whilst online focus groups may not be suitable in every situation, the potential exists to capitalize on technology to bring together a group of people separated by distance in an online environment that encourages interactive discussion.
Lectin Histochemistry of Foam Cells in Tissues of Cattle Grazing Brachiaria spp.
Authors: Gomar M. S. , Driemeier D. , Colodel E. M. , Gimeno E. J.
Published: February 2005

Brachiaria decumbens and B. brizantha (signal grass), which occupy millions of acres in Brazil, are an important source of fodder for ruminants. Sporadic outbreaks of photosensitization in ruminants grazing on signal grass have been reported. Intoxicated animals showed the presence of foamy cells in the liver, spleen, intestinal submucosa and lymph nodes. These foamy cells are macrophages. They are very difficult to distinguish with haematoxylin and eosin stain, especially in the case of isolated cells. The purpose of the present study was to detect specific carbohydrate residues of storage material in the foamy cells in tissues of cattle exposed to Brachiaria spp. The characterization of glycoconjugates provides clues to the pathogenesis of these cells. Besides, the lectin peanut agglutinin was found to be an excellent marker to differentiate and quantify the foam cells, and could be used as a specific marker.
Effect of Intramammary Injection of RbIL‐8 on Milk Levels of Somatic Cell Count, Chemiluminescence Activity and Shedding Patterns of Total Bacteria andS. aureusin Holstein Cows with Naturally Infected‐subclinical Mastitis
Authors: Takahashi H. , Komatsu T. , Hodate K. , Horino R. , Yokomizo Y.
Published: February 2005

The effect of intramammary injection of recombinant bovine interleukin‐8 (rbIL‐8, 1 mg/10 ml of saline) on quarter milk levels of somatic cell count (SCC), chemiluminescence (CL) activity and counts of total bacteria andStaphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) was investigated, using 10 Holstein cows with an early stage or a late stage of subclinical mastitis naturally infected withS. aureus. In the late‐stage group, milk SCC and CL activity had significant rises with maximum levels at 6 h, following maintained high levels thereafter post‐cytokine injection. The counts in milk total bacteria andS. aureuswere insignificantly decreased, being increased back on day 7 post‐cytokine injection. Thus, the cytokine was inefficient for the late‐stage subclinical mastitis. However, in the early‐stage group milk SCC and CL activity declined to under pre‐injection levels on day 7 after marked and significant rises at 6 h and day 1 post‐cytokine injection. The milk total bacterial count decreased significantly on days 0.25 and 2. Furthermore, the milkS. aureuscount was decreased significantly on days 1, 2, 3 and 7 by the cytokine injection. These results suggest that the rbIL‐8 has a potential as a therapeutic agent of the subclinical mastitis of dairy cows, if the cytokine is applied at an initial stage of infection.
Antimicrobial Drug Susceptibility ofStaphylococcus intermediusClinical Isolates from Canine Pyoderma
Authors: Ganiere J.‐P. , Medaille C. , Mangion C.
Published: February 2005

A total of 50Staphylococcus intermediusstrains isolated in France from canine pyodermas in 2002 were investigated for their susceptibility to various antimicrobial drugs. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using a 2‐fold serial dilution method in Mueller‐Hinton agar, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined. About 62% of the 50 strains tested were producers ofβ‐lactamase and categorized as penicillin‐resistant. About 26% demonstrated resistance to sulphonamides, 46% to oxytetracycline, 30% to chloramphenicol, 28% to streptomycin, kanamycin, neomycin or erythromycin, 22% to clindamycin, 6% to doxycycline, 2% to gentamicin, enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin or pradofloxacin. Acquired resistance was not observed to a clavulanic acid–amoxicillin combination, oxacillin, cephalosporins (cephalexin, ceftiofur and cefquinome), trimethoprim, a sulphamethoxazole–trimethoprim combination and florfenicol. About 42% were simultaneously resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes (multiresistance). All isolates with acquired resistance to erythromycin were also resistant to streptomycin and neomycin/kanamycin. About 22% of isolates exhibited cross‐resistance between erythromycin and clindamycin and all clindamycin‐resistant isolates also exhibited resistance to erythromycin. Resistance to penicillin, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol was also positively associated with resistance to erythromycin and streptomycin.
Fluviodeltaic sedimentology and ichnology of part of the Silurian Grampians Group, western Victoria
Authors: Gouramanis C. , Webb J. A. , Warren A. A.
Published: February 2005

The mid‐Silurian Major Mitchell Sandstone of the Grampians Group outcrops at Mt Bepcha, western Victoria, represent a prograding fluviodeltaic sequence comprising four lithofacies and five ichnofacies. The stratigraphically lowest Interbedded Sandstone/Siltstone Facies is characterised by thin sandstone and siltstone beds with soft‐sediment deformation and scours with gravelly lag deposits. This lithofacies contains Thalassinoides, Palaeophycus, Rhizocorallium and intrastratal burrows, together indicative of the Cruziana Ichnofacies, and is interpreted as a shallow‐marine depositional environment on a low‐energy delta front with minor tidal influences. The overlying Massive Sandstone Facies lacks silt, and consists of predominantly massive and some plane‐laminated sandstone, abundant Skolithos linearis, rare Palaeophycus and a single small Cruziana problematica; the trace fossil assemblage is assigned to the Skolithos Ichnofacies. This facies is believed to have been deposited in a marine high‐energy shoreface environment with continuously shifting sands, affected by periodic flooding events from the mouth of a nearby river. Above this is the Trough Cross‐bedded Facies, which contains trough cross‐bedding with gravelly lag deposits, a northwest palaeocurrent direction and large Taenidium barretti burrows (Burrowed Ichnofacies). This facies also contains abundant plane‐laminated sandstone with a northeast–southwest palaeocurrent direction and ichnofossils of Scoyenia and Daedalus, representing the Scoyenia Ichnofacies. The Trough Cross‐bedded Facies is interpreted to have been deposited in shallow low‐sinuosity channels by overbank‐flooding events, most likely on a delta plain. The uppermost facies, the Plane‐laminated Facies, contains thin beds of current‐lineated, plane‐laminated graded coarse to fine sandstone that preserve arthropod trackways (Arthropod Ichnofacies). This facies was deposited on a periodically sheet‐flooded, subaerially exposed delta plain.
Size and investment performance: a research note
Authors: Gallagher David R. , Martin Kyle M.
Published: February 2005

This article examines the performance of actively managed Australian equity funds and the extent to which both fund size and manager size are related to risk‐adjusted returns. Larger investment managers, by definition, engage in higher trade volume. The literature documents that transaction costs and trade difficulty increase with trade size, given difficulties associated with ‘large’ trades and their potential market impact on security prices. Therefore, ceteris paribus, large orders are consistent with lower levels of efficiency in trade execution and higher transaction costs. While larger investment managers may experience material disadvantages relative to their smaller counterparts, the Australian literature to date has largely ignored the issues of asset size and the long run performance of investment offerings. This article, employing returns and fund size data that control for survivorship bias, documents that while large retail active equity funds earn higher risk‐adjusted returns (after expenses) than small funds, the difference in mean performance is not significantly different. In the institutional sphere, the study also finds no statistically significant performance differences (net of expenses) between funds on the basis of portfolio size. These findings suggest the hypothesis that performance declines with fund size is not supported empirically.
Accounting for expenditure on software development for internal use
Authors: Walker R. G. , Oliver G. R.
Published: February 2005

The methods accepted by Australian, International, U.S. and U.K. Accounting Standards for the treatment of expenditure on software development are inconsistent, and permissive. A host of methods for recording capitalized software in terms of those standards is identified by reference to an illustrative case study. It is questionable whether many in‐house developed software applications satisfy the professionally endorsed definition of ‘asset’. Moreover, even if accounting standards significantly reduce the range of options for capitalizing expenditure on software development, there would still be many values which could be assigned to capitalized software. That suggests that those ‘measures’ are not reliable, so that it would be inappropriate initially to recognize software expenditure as an ‘asset’. It is contended that expensing all outlays on software development as they are incurred (accompanied by reporting that expenditure as a line item in statements of financial performance, and expanded disclosures in notes) is likely to provide a clearer and more useful report on business operations than the alternative of capitalization, amortization and subsequent assessments of whether or not recorded values should be adjusted for ‘impairment’.