bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transnational corporations and international law: bringing TNCs out of the accountability vacuum
Authors: de Jonge Alice
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the disparity between the huge global influence and reach of transnational corporations, on the one hand, and the lack of international legal infrastructure for regulating TNC activity, on the other. Existing avenues for holding TNCs accountable for breaches of international standards are woefully inadequate. After rejecting the idea of subjecting TNCs to potential criminal liability, the paper then proposes a set of principles for international TNC responsibility modelled on the 2001 Draft Articles on State Responsibility. The potential future role of regional human rights courts and the International Labour Organisation in holding TNCs accountable is also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of existing legal texts and secondary scholarship was undertaken to determine the existing coverage of the regulatory infrastructure for holding TNCs to account, and to identify gaps in that coverage.

Findings

Significant governance gaps in the existing institutional infrastructure were identified, creating a permissive environment within which blameworthy acts by TNCs may occur without adequate sanctioning or reparation. Potential regulatory and institutional avenues for filling these gaps were identified.

Research limitations/implications

The author lacks hands‐on experience of the political barriers which may exist and may make the proposed reforms unrealistic. Those in the field are encouraged to consider whether the proposed reforms are feasible/desirable.

Practical implications

The paper contains implications for the future of international law, the regional human rights courts and the International Labour Organisation.

Originality/value

The paper contains original proposals for the future evolution of international law in its application to TNCs.
Finanzkapital in the twenty‐first century
Authors: Dholakia Nikhilesh
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Drawing inspiration from the 1910 bookFinanzkapitalby Rudolf Hilferding, this paper seeks to explore the nature of financial capital in the early twenty‐first century from a political‐economic and culture theory perspective. It aims to offer suggestions for transcending the crises‐prone contemporary economic systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reconceptualises the notions of Finanzkapital in the contemporary context, drawing selective evidence from current and twentieth century economic and business history.

Findings

The nature of contemporaneous Finanzkapital is elaborated by presenting seven “theses” that probe the nature of Finanzkapital prior to, during, and after the Great Recession of 2007‐9.

Originality/value

Through succinct articulation of the major characteristics of contemporary Finanzkapital, the paper suggests some ways to resist and transcend politico‐economic and business systems based on massive but quicksand‐like foundations of financial capital.
Leadership and teams in business: a study of IT projects in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Randeree Kasim , Ninan Mathews
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of leadership and team processes in information technology (IT) projects in business environments. The paper contextualizes the study in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper addresses two central questions: what is the level of IT project team effectiveness in the UAE context? What is the maturity level of leadership in IT project management in the UAE? A tailored instrument, based on Cohen and Bailey's team effectiveness evaluation model, was used in this study of 42 project teams in the UAE across various sectors.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that IT projects in the UAE demonstrate a maturity level that is transactional, with task‐focused teams and people‐oriented leadership styles.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of the paper can facilitate broader contextualized research on leadership and IT project team effectiveness, with particular emphasis on developing economies. This is important in addressing the issue of high failure rates in IT projects in general.

Practical implications

Understanding the role of leadership and its responsibility in facilitating teams in technical and high failure environments can impact on productivity and success rates in future projects.

Originality/value

This paper is unique in providing collated opinion about constructs within IT project team processes and leadership effectiveness in the context of businesses in developing economies. The use of a maturity structure addressing leadership, trust, teams and cohesion is distinctive.
Enabling distributed communication of manual skills
Authors: Fox Stephen , Ehlen Patrick , Purver Matthew
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inform the development of mixed initiative systems for distributed digital communication of manual skills. In particular, manual skills that are essential in project production paradigms such as engineer‐to‐order.

Design/methodology/approach

Findings from survey research, which included literature review and interviews with practitioners, are reported. Literature review investigated media, strategies, and computation relevant to distributed digital communication of manual skills. Interviews investigated attitudes among industry practitioners towards distributed digital communication of manual skills.

Findings

Communication media, instructional strategies, and computational semantics techniques are available which can be integrated to address the limitations of human communication of manual skills.

Research limitations/implications

Only ten organizations were involved in interviews investigating attitudes towards distributed digital communication of manual skills.

Practical implications

Manual skills will continue to be important to project businesses involved in the production, refurbishment, and/or maintenance of large engineer‐to‐order products such as public buildings and process plants. The limitations of human communication can be addressed by using a variety media, such as augmented reality headsets, to enable new instructional strategies, such as just‐in‐time training. Further, combinations of media and strategies can be integrated with computational semantics in the development of mixed initiative systems which provide feedback as well as initial instruction.

Originality/value

The originality of the research reported in this paper is that it addresses a full range of enablers for distributed communication of manual skills. Further, an overview of computational semantics is presented which does not rely on prior specialist knowledge. The value of this paper is that it introduces a framework for enabling distributed communication of manual skills. In addition, a preliminary ontology for distributed communication of manual skills is introduced, together with recommendations for implementation.
Paradigms in project management research: examples from 15 years of IRNOP conferences
Authors: Biedenbach Thomas , Müller Ralf
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the philosophical stances and related methodologies used within the last 15 years of project management research using The International Research Network on Organizing by Projects (IRNOP) conference papers.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing a systematic sampling approach, IRNOP conference papers from 1994, 2000 and 2007 were analyzed for prevalent philosophical streams in project management research.

Findings

Results show a dominance of ontological subjectivism and epistemological interpretivism, with a preference for case studies and qualitative methods. Trends indicate a growth of positivist studies and, at the same time, an increase in multi‐case studies.

Research limitations/implications

This paper's contribution to knowledge lies in the identification of predominant research paradigms for research reported at project management conferences using IRNOP as an example. The study shows trends, preferences, and potential differences between published research and conference papers.

Originality/value

Information on the quality, quantity and timely trends of underlying philosophies in project management research are lacking an insightful exploration of the project management research field. This is necessary for a better understanding of the past, present and possible future of research paradigms in project management. The paper's findings can be used to improve the interpretation of the state of knowledge in project management research.
Profiling the context and opportunities for Australian project management research
Authors: Sense Andrew John , Owen Jill , Watt Chivonne
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and analyse the context, the current issues and the opportunities for project management (PM) research within Australia. The paper contributes to researcher and industry practitioner knowledge and debates on supporting and promoting the development of national PM research agendas.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a research paper which draws on and interprets empirical data generated from a comprehensive national survey of Australian PM researchers.

Findings

The paper first profiles the current landscape of Australian PM research. Thereafter, it explores the future opportunities/risks for PM research in this country, as perceived by the researcher community.

Research limitations/implications

This research was limited to the collection of data from PM researchers across Australia (80 percent response rate to the survey tool). Clearly, this study was confined to one country and to one category of respondent.

Practical implications

This paper will make contributions to national and international debates and analysis on current research trajectories and future opportunities in the PM field and thereby also aid comparative knowledge development within the researcher community.

Originality/value

This paper represents the first comprehensive national PM researcher study undertaken in Australia. It provides a compelling national insight into the current state of PM research as perceived by PM researchers and illustrates issues concerning their research contexts, their links to industry partners and perceptions of industry and industry representative body engagement in PM research activity.
Improving project learning: a new approach to lessons learnt
Authors: Fuller Paul A. , Dainty Andrew R.J. , Thorpe Tony
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on research which has developed a new approach to capturing project‐based learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Action research was employed as part of a longitudinal single organization case study.

Findings

Project learning processes can be improved by using an event‐based approach to project knowledge integration that propagates duetero‐learning. The approach developed generates outputs that codify lessons learnt and promotes measurement of benefits. The event and the outputs, in effect, take the form of “boundary objects” which act as a bridge or means of translation between the participants, as well as to those who will use the learning to improve their own project practice on other projects.

Research limitations/implications

The approach has only been applied within a single support services organization, but could provide a way of overcoming the considerable difficulties inherent in capturing lessons learned within project‐based environments.

Practical implications

The approach helps to overcome the key issues of obtaining management and staff buy‐in, and dealing with the time pressures that exist in project‐based environments. The outputs can be applied to encourage learning across projects and wider communities resulting in improved practice.

Originality/value

The process uses the concept of boundary objects to explain how some of the problems arising when complex abstract concepts are involved can be overcome, particularly in increasing understanding and buy‐in from the actors involved. Viewing learning events as boundary objects sees them as mediating information across project boundaries, between project practitioners and across business units. The event process can be adapted for a variety of scenarios and used by an organization or group of organizations to improve and apply learning more successfully.
Factors in ontological uncertainty related to ICT innovations
Authors: Fox Stephen
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this research note is to provide an overview of factors in ontological uncertainty. Ontological uncertainty exists when individuals have perceptions about the future consequences of an innovation, which are based more on their diverse world views than on the innovation itself.

Design/methodology/approach

The research comprised review of the literature relating to factors that contribute to, and factors that mediate, ontological uncertainty.

Findings

Contributory factors to ontological uncertainty include individuals' genders, personality types, cultures, and experiences. Mediating factors include organizational processes and external influences.

Practical implications

Ontological uncertainty is different from truth uncertainty. In particular, it cannot be described in terms of probability distributions. However, it may be more feasible to reduce ontological uncertainty than to reduce truth uncertainty.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is that it provides descriptions of factors in ontological uncertainty through an example that is very relevant to project business. The value of this paper is that provides a starting point for the reduction of ontological uncertainty in practice.
Ethical considerations in doing and disseminating project management research
Authors: Lundin Rolf A.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this research note is to provide some guidance on the ethical issues surrounding submitting academic papers for publication.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a reflective paper based upon the author's experience as an author, reviewer, journal editor and chair of research tracks in conference proceedings.

Findings

The contention is that there are many temptations and potential pitfalls for researchers in action as well as in publishing. At the same time there are many written and unwritten rules for such instances and the boundaries of the acceptable are not always clear.

Research limitations/implications

The publish or perish ideology is at the root of many temptations. Without good research results and without publishing there is no way for a researcher to survive in academia and as a researcher. The concerns in project research do not appear too different from any kind of management research, however. Hence, the attempt here is to cover management research in general and to outline what might be specific for project management.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is that it clarifies the “rules of the game” in academic publishing, especially where authors are concerned about the acceptable degree of content overlap and specialization to meet specific themes between similar papers they submit for publication.
Implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in a major construction contracting organization in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Eric , Mills Anthony
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the scope, methodology and main findings of a doctoral thesis about the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in a major construction contracting organization in Hong Kong. This research is taken from a leadership and power and project management (PM) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The project adopted a case study approach in which the candidate was an employee/observer, who was embedded as a member of the business transformation team taking an action learning approach to study the ERP adoption. The research used the soft system methodology to identify gaps in the observed maturity level which exists in the organization. Data was gathered using public and private documentation, semi‐structured interviews, observation and was validated through review of evidence with participants.

Findings

The results identified the importance of leadership and cultural issues in implementation of the business strategy. This research includes a contribution in two spheres: PM and construction procurement. The first implication for PM theory was to illustrate how knowledge has been efficiently managed within a construction organization by using information communication technology (ICT). It can be represented by the ladder of ICT>ERP>KM>PM. The second implication was to pave the way for the use of partnering strategies in PM practice. It can be represented by the ladder of National Culture>Organizational Culture>Leadership>Partnering Strategy>PM.

Practical implications

This model could be adapted to other large and complex organisational contexts. The research project also has implications as opening up a PM perspective on business transformation.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research is proving the success of adopting KM in a construction company by using an ERP system. The importance of culture in the traditionally collectivistic construction industry, and the issues senior management should take into account when formulating business strategies.
Estimating export demand equations in selected Asian countries
Authors: Kumar Saten
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to utilize the new specification proposed by Rao and Singh to estimate export demand equations for Asian developing countries, viz. India, China, The Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. In this specification of export demand, exchange rate is included in the relative price variable.

Design/methodology/approach

The augmented Dicky‐Fuller method is applied to test the time‐series properties of the variables. The time‐series techniques of Phillip‐Hansen's fully modified ordinary least squares and Johansen's maximum likelihood are used with annual data from 1970 to 2007. The Granger causality test determines the causality direction between income, relative prices and exports.

Findings

The paper confirms that there exists a long‐run cointegrating relationship between real exports, real income of trading partners and relative prices. The long‐run income elasticities range between 1 and 1.3 and the relative price elasticities range between −1 and −1.4. Our Granger causality results imply that in the long‐run income and relative prices Granger cause exports in these countries.

Research limitations/implications

Structural breaks and trade shock analysis were ignored.

Practical implications

The results imply that exports should be treated as an engine of growth in the Asian developing countries and the export promotion policies such as subsidies, special credits and tax concessions should be encouraged. The relative price elasticities imply that exports are competitive in the international market and these countries have the option to devalue their currency to enhance export earnings. Although the real devaluation of the currencies will push import costs high, eventually this motivates the local firms to undertake alternative options, for instance, import substitution. Further, the gains resulting from the export growth policies will be attractive.

Originality/value

The paper assesses the magnitudes of export elasticities with a specification that includes exchange rate in relative price variable.
The pro‐trade impacts of immigrants: a meta‐analysis of network effects
Authors: Lin Faqin
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there are any systematic relationships between the characteristics of each study about immigrants' pro‐trade impacts and its results.

Design/methodology/approach

A meta‐analysis of 24 papers and 184 estimates that study the trade‐creating network effects of immigrants is employed.

Findings

The paper finds that, first, immigrant's trade‐creating effects are higher for English‐speaking countries than for non‐English‐speaking countries; second, immigrant's trade‐creating effects are higher for disaggregated data than for aggregated data; third, the trade‐creating effects seem declining over time. Besides, no evidence of publication bias has been found.

Research limitations/implications

This study relied heavily on case studies on developed countries.

Practical implications

Given strong evidence about the pro‐trade effects of immigrants and the unevenness of such effects, the world countries could reduce the cost and barriers for the movements of immigrants and thus help to increase international trade.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to use meta‐analysis to assess the pro‐trade effects of immigrants across different studies.
A query to the paper “Are the forces that cause China's trade surplus with the USA good?”
Authors: Dai Xiang , Zhang Erzhen
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptually argue that China's trade surplus with the USA is good by clarifying its fundamental forces from specific perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

China's trade surplus with the USA is simply the result of comparative advantage under the background of international intra‐product specialization. Being the consequence of global resources optimization allocation, China's trade imbalance, including trade surplus with the USA, is certainly a win‐win game in international trade.

Findings

There are strong reasons to believe that China's trade surplus with the USA is beneficial to both China and the USA.

Originality/value

The forces causing China's trade surplus with the USA are complex and multiple different conclusions may be reached from different perspectives. This paper argues that one of the fundamental forces driving China's trade surplus with the USA is international intra‐product specialization, and from this perspective, it can help us understand that China's trade surplus with the USA is good for both nations to some extent.
Positive feedback trading, institutional investors and securities price fluctuation
Authors: Hong Yin
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to research and analyze the influence of institutional investors in the present securities market due to behavior alienation with “running after rising and falling” and “herd behavior”.

Design/methodology/approach

A DeLong, Shleifer, Summers, and Waldmann (DSSW) model with positive feedback trading is established first to show the trading process, and these securities prices are calculated considering the investors' emotion. Through numerical analysis, the influence of institutional investors on securities price fluctuation is simulated. Further, the analysis of institutional investors' incomes is processed based on this model.

Findings

Through these analyses, the following conclusions are drawn: it lies on the scale of positive feedback traders and their sensitivity to past market performances whether the institutional investors can stabilize the market, and it is not necessary for the institutional investors to benefit from manipulating the market due to the existence of noise trader risk, so the positive feedback traders may survive in the security market over the long term.

Originality/value

The DSSW model considering positive feedback trading, presented in the paper, is more effective in analyzing the relation among the behavior of institutional investors, securities pricing and securities price fluctuation. The paper proposes some advice for policy decisions, which is helpful for government and institutions to maintain the stability of securities markets.
The effect of differentiated margin on futures market investors' behavior and structure
Authors: Luo Jin‐hui , Wan Di‐fang , Yang Yang , Yang Guang
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the role of differentiated margin system in leading investors' investing behavior and then optimize investor structure in futures markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Using economic experimental research method, this paper designs and conducts a futures market experiment according to experimental research's basic norms, thus acquiring needed and credible empirical data.

Findings

By analyzing the experimental data, it is found that compared with situations in futures markets that implement uniform margin system, investors' (especially speculators') futures open position and the ratio of their open position and futures turnover are both significantly higher, in futures markets that implement differentiated margin system. On the other hand, differentiated margin system has no effects on hedgers' futures turnover, but significantly reduces speculators' futures turnover.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that compared with uniform margin system, differentiated margin system is beneficial to effectively restrict both speculators' and hedgers' speculating behavior and lead hedgers' market participation.

Practical implications

In order to resolve the problem of unreasonable investor structure in China's futures market, i.e. lack of hedgers and over‐speculating, China's futures market's regulators should reform the margin system and adopt differentiated margin system to lead investors' rational behavior and optimize investor structure.

Originality/value

This paper empirically analyzes and verifies, for the first time, the roles of differentiated margin system in affecting investors' investing behavior. The futures market experiment designed and used in this study is a pioneering and exploratory experiment.
Effect of capital constraints on risk preference behavior of commercial banks
Authors: Ma Li , Dai Junxun , Huang Xian
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the financial supervision authority utilizes the restrictions of capital constraints imposing on commercial banks the need to develop the macro economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses multilateral game to deduce the loan characteristics of banks, vector and void coordinates to analyze the behavior choices of banks under capital supervision, sets up an index to describe the risk preference of banks, and analyzes the process with Chinese data empirically.

Findings

This paper finds big banks have a loan preference for big enterprises and small banks have a preference for establishing a bank syndicate to pursue large projects. Further, the paper notes the conditions by which the heterology banks choose loans across the border and proves that changes of capital requirements would force the credit structure of the commercial banks to adjust along an efficient frontier broken line or an efficient frontier plane under the conditions of interest rate regulation or interest rate marketization, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

It is very complex to describe the choices of risk behavior of banks and the simple supervision method needs to be adjusted.

Practical implications

This paper finds that banks show risk preferences of credit structure, and capital constraints would affect it greatly; regulators should guard against capital constraint softening.

Originality/value

It is the first time that the conditions of banks beyond the loan border have been studied and the behavior adjustment of banks using the vector and void coordinate analyzed.
The investigation on the relationship between the problem of long‐term loan and economic growth
Authors: Du Wenjie
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Since the reform and opening‐up policy, the long‐term problem of loans became more and more serious when China's economy maintained rapid growth. The purpose of this paper is to explore the profound causes of the medium‐ and long‐term problem of loans and the relationship between it and economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Using panel data for 28 provinces and cities of China during 1994‐2005, this paper investigates the determinants on the maturity of bank credit using threshold panel data of Hansen. In addition, using dynamics panel data, this paper investigates the effects of the maturity structure of bank credit on economic growth.

Findings

The drop of bank industry concentration tends to increase the supply of long‐term loans. The raise of economic growth and the increase of industrialization degree promote the demand of long‐term loans, significantly. Furthermore, the threshold effects of inflation exist. When the initial inflation is lower than 3.9 percent, the raise of inflation can increase the supply of long‐term loans. When the initial inflation is higher than 3.9 percent, the raise of inflation can decrease the supply of long‐term loans. The increase in the supply of long‐term loans can promote the economic growth.

Originality/value

The paper has two innovations: first, when studying the determinants on the maturity of bank credit, using the threshold panel approach takes account of the nonlinear adjustment of inflation; second, including the maturity of bank credit into the realm of financial development studies the relationship between this and economic growth.
Exercise testing in pediatric lung transplant candidates with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Radtke Thomas , Faro Albert , Wong Jackson , Boehler Annette , Benden Christian
Published: January 2011

Radtke T, Faro A, Wong J, Boehler A, Benden C. Exercise testing in pediatric lung transplant candidates with cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 294–299. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Exercise testing is considered an important prognostic tool for the selection of pediatric lung transplant candidates with end‐stage CF lung disease. To better understand the current practice as it pertains to exercise testing, a self‐administered questionnaire was distributed to 25 pediatric lung transplant centers within the IPLTC across Australia, Europe, and North America. All centers perform standardized exercise tests. Fifteen centers perform one single‐field test (6MWT/12MWT), while seven perform a six‐min walk plus an additional test: SWT (N = 1), 3MST (N = 1), and CPET (N = 5). Frequency of testing is markedly different among centers. Two centers conduct exercise testing once, all others at multiple time points. Equipment availability and cost were no limitations, but lack of time (20%) and personnel (16%), and paucity of prognostic evidence (16%) and reference values (12%) were stated. Exercise testing is considered important and extensively used in the evaluation of pediatric lung transplant candidates with CF; methods of exercise test and the frequency of testing vary widely. We propose a prospective multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy of exercise testing and its prognostic value using a standardized protocol.
Head‐up tilt testing in children and young people: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Dietz Sanne , Murfitt Julia , Florence Lyndsey , Thakker Pradip , Whitehouse William P
Published: January 2011

Aim:  Head‐up tilt testing (HUTT) is the gold standard investigation for adults with transient loss of consciousness (TLOC), but it is controversial in children and young people, because of a lack of systematic investigation and because the test can be uncomfortable. As it was introduced recently for children attending our hospital, we undertook a retrospective registered clinical audit of its usefulness.

Methods:  The medical records of 100 consecutive patients aged less than 18 years undergoing HUTT from October 2001 to December 2008 were reviewed. Information about their episodes, prodromes, triggers, previous tests, indications for the HUTT, the HUTT and clinical outcomes was extracted.

Results:  Children were 6–17 years old; 68/100 were female. In 32/100, no trigger was reported. The most reported triggers included standing up (20%) and prolonged standing (18%). Dizziness (64%) and altered vision (39%) were the most experienced prodromal symptoms. Twenty‐eight of 100 had a positive test, with reproduction of symptoms in 24. Seventeen of 100 tests were negative but symptomatic; 55/100 had a negative asymptomatic test. In 17/28 positive HUTTs, the tilt confirmed the suspected diagnosis and elucidated the mechanism. Two of 28 were started on medication. However, in 9/28, neither was the diagnosis clarified nor was therapy instigated.

Conclusions:  Potentially useful information about the TLOC was obtained in 45/100 cases. The 17/100 with negative but symptomatic results may have had medically unexplained TLOC or emotional attacks, although without concurrent electroencephalogram, some uncertainty remains. Therefore, a new protocol with video–electroencephalogram–polygraphy and beat‐to‐beat finger blood pressure recording, and more explicit clinical reporting is being developed.
Pharmacokinetics of mefenamic acid in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus
Authors: ITO KAIICHI , NIIDA YUICH , SATO JUICHI , OWADA EIJI , ITO KEIJI , UMETSU MASAO
Published: January 2011

The pharmacokinetics of mefenamic acid (MA), 2 mg/kg, were studied in 17 preterm infants with symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus. They were given this dosage orally at 24 h intervals. There were marked inter‐individual differences in some of the pharmacokinetic parameters after the first dose; peak plasma concentration (Cmax) varied from 1.2 to 6.1 μg/mL with a mean of 3.8 μg/mL, time to reach Cmax (tmax) varied from 2 to 18 h with a mean of 7.7 h and plasma half‐life (t1/2) varied from 3.8 to 43.6 h with a mean of 18.7 h. The group of infants (10/17) who had ductus closure after the first dose had significantly lower clearance (P < 0.01), longer t1/2 (P < 0.01) and higher 24h plasma concentration (P < 0.001) compared to the group of infants (7/17) who had no ductus closure after the first dose. It appeared that the plasma concentration of MA had to be above 2.0 μg/mL and maintained at this concentration for at least 12 h for MA associated with ductus closure in preterm infants to take effect. In view of the inter‐individual variation of plasma MA concentration and the effective plasma concentration, we suggest that measurement of the plasma concentration should be done 24 h after the first dose. This might be useful for safe and effective therapy for infants with ductus closure failure after the first dose.
Neonatal Plesiomonas shigelloides septicemia and meningitis: A case and review
Authors: FUJITA KOZO , SHIRAI MASARU , ISHIOKA TORU , KAKUYA FUJIO
Published: January 2011

A 3 day old neonate with septicemia and meningitis due to Plesiomonas shigelloides is described. We could not detect the source of this infection. The patient was treated with cefotaxime and survived without sequelae. Nine previously reported cases with this infection were reviewed.
Alternative treatment may lower the need for use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: ITO YUSHI , KAWANO TOSHIO , MIYASAKA KATSUYUKI , KATAYAMA MASAO , SAKAI HIROKAZU
Published: January 2011

Access to artificial surfactant and high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFO) in Japan seems to affect the actual indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

The relation between the methods of treatment and survival and/or neurological sequelae of 27 neonates with servere respiratory failure who would have met the US ECMO entry criteria in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of National Children's Hospital, Tokyo between January 1988 and May 1992 were retrospectively analyzed.

Out of 27 neonates, conventional treatment including artificial surfactant was successful in 6 cases (22%). High frequency oscillatory ventilation was used for the 21 cases who did not respond to conventional treatment and it was effective in 5 cases (19% of total). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used on 11 (40% of total) of 16 cases who did not respond to HFO. Eight (29% of total or 73% of ECMO cases) of these cases survived and 3 cases (11% of total) died. The remaining 5 cases (19% of total) who met the exclusion criteria of ECMO died. No patient with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) became ill enough to meet the US ECMO entry criteria. Six out of 8 congenital diaphragmatic hernia cases were saved on a delayed surgery protocol with HFO. Only about 1% of the neonates who were admitted to our NICU during the last 4 years needed ECMO treatment.

Forty‐one per cent of the patients who would have met the US ECMO entry criteria were treated successfully without ECMO. The necessity for ECMO is less in Japan than in the US because other methods can often be used successfully to treat severe respiratory disorders.
Hypercalcemia associated with Aeromonas hydrophila gastro‐enteritis
Authors: MURAKAMI TOSHIO , INOUE TAMOTSU , KAWAKAMI HATSUMI , TAKAHASHI HIROHIKO , YASUNAGA TOHRU
Published: January 2011

We describe a 4 year old girl with acute Aeromonas hydrophila gastro‐enteritis who presented with a combination of hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, and renal impairment. Serum parathyroid hormone was not elevated. Both milk‐alkali syndrome and intoxication of vitamins A and D were ruled out. The hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, and renal impairment were improved by fluid infusion and intravenous administration of furosemide. Gastro‐enteritis also improved with oral administration of the antibiotic norfloxacin. The association of A. hydrophila gastro‐enteritis with hypercalcemia has not been described previously.
Fetal arrhythmias: Intrauterine diagnosis, treatment and prognosis
Authors: MAENO YASUKI , KIYOMATSU YUMI , RIKITAKE NORIKO , TOYODA ON , MIYAKE TAKUMI , AKAGI TEIJI , ISHII MASAHIRO , KAWANO TERUHIRO , KAZUE TAKEYO , ISHIMATU JUNJI , KATO HIROHISA
Published: January 2011

Fetal echocardiography can provide useful information for the evaluation of fetal arrhythmias. Between 1980 and 1993, 44 fetuses with arrhythmias were diagnosed in utero at 12 and 40 weeks of gestation in Kurume University Hospital. Fetal bradycardia, tachycardia and ectopic beats were revealed in 17, seven and 20 fetuses, respectively, and their clinical features and prognosis were evaluated. In the 17 fetuses with bradycardia, eight were associated with congenital heart defect, and six of these developed to fetal hydrops. Of the 17 fetuses, four died in utero, one was terminated, and six died after birth. The other six cases survived. Three of these had a pacemaker implanted after birth. In the seven fetuses with tachycardia, transplacental anti‐arrhythmic drugs were administered in five cases and conversion of the arrhythmia was achieved in four. None of the cases was associated with any congenital heart defect, and none died. Three infants had paroxysmal tachycardia postnatally. In the 20 fetuses with ectopic beats, arrhythmia was observed postnatally in 10, but all of these were resolved within 3 months after birth.

Fetal bradycardias carried a poor prognosis in most cases and further studies are required to establish effective treatment. Some cases of fetal tachycardia developed recurrent tachycardia postnatally. Close follow‐up of the newborn is therefore necessary.
Pancreatic ascites in children
Authors: D'CRUZ ASHLEY J , KAMATH PATRICK S , RAMACHANDRA C. , JALIHAL ANAND
Published: January 2011

We report on three children with pancreatic ascites confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) and treated with surgery. The children presented with ascites, malnutrition and severe weight loss. Pancreatic ascites was diagnosed by elevated ascitic fluid and serum amylase levels. ERCP demonstrated a pseudocyst and the site of disruption of the pancreatic duct, but not the etiology of the pancreatitis. Following a period of nutritional support, surgery was carried out. Two of the children underwent a stented transgastric drainage of the pseudocyst; a recurrent pseudocyst in one of the children required a revision cystojejunostomy. The third child was treated with a Roux‐en‐Y cystojejunostomy. All the children are pain‐free and without ascites and are doing well on long‐term follow‐up.

We conclude that pancreatic ascites must be considered in the differential diagnosis of intractable ascites in children. An ERCP is essential in planning management and cystoenterostomy is the definitive treatment.
A mother and daughter with agenesis of the corpus callosum
Authors: FUCHIGAMI TATSUO , MAZAKI RYOSUKE , NISHIMURA ATSUSHI , NOGUCHI YUKIO , FUCHIGAMI SACHIKO , FUJITA YUKIHIKO , OKUBO OSAMI , HARADA KENSUKE
Published: January 2011

A mother and daughter with agenesis of the corpus callosum are reported. There have only been 11 prior case reports of the familial occurrence of agenesis of the corpus callosum in the absence of extracranial malformations. Most of these reports have described familial occurrence among siblings. The present communication is only the second description of a parent and child with agenesis of the corpus callosum A review of the published cases of familial syndrome unrelated agenesis of the corpus callosum indicates that both mental, developmental and neurologic disorders in cases involving parent and child are milder than those in cases involving siblings. Of additional interest, electroencephalography performed in this patient during sleep, frequently revealed bilateral asynchronous sleep spindles, supporting the hypothesis of previous investigators that the synchronicity of sleep spindles requires intact intercerebral commissures.
A case of Kabuki make‐up syndrome with EBV+ Burkitt's lymphoma
Authors: IJICHI OSAMU , KAWAKAMI KIYOSHI , MATSUDA YUKIHISA , IKARIMOTO NAOAKI , MIYATA KOICHIRO , TAKAMATSU HIDEO , TOKUNAGA MASAYOSHI
Published: January 2011

Kabuki make‐up syndrome was first reported in 1981 and is characterized by peculiar facies with post natal growth deficiency and mental retardation. Since the first report, approximately 100 cases have been reported, but there have been no reports of tumor development. A case is reported of a patient with Kabuki make‐up syndrome who developed malignant lymphoma in his abdomen at the age of 3 years. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as Burkitt's lymphoma and Epstein‐Barr virus was detected by in situ hybridization.
Gene therapy for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency
Authors: KIWAKI KOHJI , MATSUDA ICHIRO
Published: January 2011

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency in humans is the most common and severe inborn error of the urea cycle. Despite therapeutic advances, OTC deficiency remains without adequate treatment, hence mortality rates are high. In the two available strains of OTC‐deficient murine models, spf and spfash, researchers have tried to make genetic corrections by introducing the OTC gene. Transient but complete recovery of OTC was obtained in adult spfash mice and in OTC‐deficient human primary hepatocytes, using a recombinant adenoviral vector. These experiments represent a first step in the development of human gene therapy for OTC deficiency and other hepatic enzyme deficiencies.
Improvement of bone disease with increased dose of glucocerebrosidase in a Gaucher disease patient who had a bone lesion presenting during low‐dose enzyme replacement therapy
Authors: UEDA TAKAHIRO , FUKUNAGA YOSHITAKA , MIGITA MAKOTO , WATANABE ATSUSHI , KANEKO KIYOSHI , MORITA TOSHISADA , YAMAMOTO MASAO
Published: January 2011

In recent years, enzyme replacement therapy has been shown to be useful for the treatment of Gaucher disease. A 10 year old Japanese boy with Gaucher disease underwent splenectomy at the age of 5 years and received enzyme replacement therapy from the age of 6 years. He had avascular necrosis of the bilateral femoral heads, which was not seen at the beginning of the therapy, without deterioration of hematological variables during maintenance therapy. The enzyme dosage was increased from 20 to 120 IU/kg per month resulting in an improvement of the clinical symptoms and bone lesion. In enzyme replacement therapy, dose increase is considered to be essential for improvement in bone disease; however, it is important to watch for the development of bone lesion.
Leukophagocytosis in human parvovirus B19‐induced transient bicytopenia in a healthy child
Authors: WAKAMOTO HIROYUKI , MIYAZAKI MASAAKI
Published: January 2011

A previously healthy 11 year old boy had transient leukopenia and thrombocytopenia associated with human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection. This case suggested that low‐grade hemophagocytosis can be involved in developing B19‐related cytopenia even in an otherwise healthy child. Bone marrow aspiration at an early stage could reveal the underlying mechanism of B19‐related cytopenia.
Mutations in SOX9 cause both autosomal sex reversal and campomelic dysplasia
Authors: FOSTER JAMIE W
Published: January 2011

The human testis determining factor (SRY) has been cloned from the Y chromosome. This gene is a dominant inducer of male differentiation. Mutations in the SRY gene result in an XY individual developing as a sex reversed phenotypic female. Sex reversal in humans can also be caused by mutations located in autosomal or X‐linked loci. One such sex‐reversing locus (SRAI) is associated with the developmental disorder campomelic dysplasia (CD). Both these syndromes were mapped to human chromosome 17q by the identification of balanced reciprocal translocations in five unrelated patients. The translocation breakpoint of one such XY‐female CD patient was mapped and the region surrounding it cloned. The closest distal marker used to map the translocation breakpoint was the SOX9 gene. Because of the close proximity of this gene to the breakpoint, it was subjected to mutation analysis in patients without overt chromosome rearrangements. Analysis of DNA from these patients and their parents identified de novo mutations in the SOX9 gene in patients with both autosomal sex reversal and CD. This showed that mutations in the SOX9 gene are responsible for both syndromes.
Ofloxacin versus co‐trimoxazole in the treatment of typhoid fever in children
Authors: SEÇMEER GÜLTEN , KANRA GÜLER , FIGEN GONCA , AKAN ÖZAY , CEYHAN MEHMET , ECEVIT ZAFER
Published: January 2011

Ofloxacin has been successfully used in the treatment of typhoid fever and Salmonella infections of adults for many years. However, it has rarely been tried for the typhoid fever of children. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of ofloxacin in the treatment of typhoid fever in children was compared to that of co‐trimoxazole. Out of 41 patients with bacteriologically documented typhoid fever, those with co‐trimoxazole‐resistant strains received 20 mg/kg ofloxacin twice daily for 10 days, and those with co‐trimoxazole‐susceptible bacteria were given 60 mg/kg co‐trimoxazole twice daily for 10 days. Both groups were compared according to the clinical variables (apyrexia, resolution of gastrointestinal, central nervous system reactions and articular symptoms) and the time when cultures became negative. All patients in both groups were cured without relapse. Apyrexia, resolution of gastrointestinal, central nervous system reactions and articular symptoms were obtained in a significantly shorter time with ofloxacin than with co‐trimoxazole (P < 0.05). The interval between onset of therapy and the time when cultures became negative was significantly shorter in the ofloxacin group than in the co‐trimoxazole group (P = 0.005). Ofloxacin seems to be a good alternative in the treatment of typhoid fever caused by co‐trimoxazole resistant salmonellae in children aged less than 16 years. It is well tolerated by the patients and it causes no side effects with short‐term usage.