bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the effects of gender, age, income and employment status on consumer response to mobile advertising campaigns
Authors: Leppäniemi Matti , Karjaluoto Heikki
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects gender, age, income and employment status on consumer response to short message service (SMS)‐oriented direct‐response requests or a call‐to‐action tactic in a television advertisement or program, consumer's participation in SMS sweepstakes or other competitions, and consumer uptake of mobile services such as ringtones, logos, screensavers and wallpapers ordered by SMS message.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in this study were collected via an online survey. A total of 4,062 consumers responded to this survey. Cross‐tabulation and binary logistic regression were used to examine the associations between the explanatory variables and responses to mobile advertising campaigns.

Findings

The results suggest that women are more active than men in their responses to SMS call‐to‐action campaigns. In addition, the results indicate that mobile advertising is not only for teenagers. For instance, consumers in the 36‐45 age group were most likely to respond to SMS calls‐to‐action in a television program and participate in SMS sweepstakes and other competitions. However, the youngest consumers most actively ordered mobile services using SMS. In addition, it was found that employment status had a substantial impact on consumers' SMS campaign activity.

Research limitations/implications

Self‐report survey data are the bases of the findings discussed in this article. Substantial evidence exists in previous research that many respondents are inaccurate in reporting their own attitudes and past behavior. Thus, additional research relying on, for instance, SMS delivery measures (e.g. number of messages sent, number of replies, and – where an identifiable offer is promoted via mobile phone – the exact purchase rates), should be executed. Such experiments go beyond consumer reports by providing useful estimations of the impact of SMS text advertising based on customer inquiry and actual behavior.

Practical implications

This study clearly demonstrates the prevalence of SMS advertising campaigns and provides important insights into consumers' engagement with SMS advertising activities. Basic demographics such as gender, age, income, and employment status are useful in modeling and predicting consumer behavior in relation to SMS call‐to‐action campaigns. Thus, the findings reported in this paper should help marketers to design campaigns that focus more closely on the target audience.

Originality/value

While building on and maintaining continuity with extant work, this paper provides results that do facilitate research efforts focused on mobile media and aid practitioners in their quest to achieve mobile advertising success.
Proactive policing and the assessment of organised crime
Authors: Verfaillie Kristof , Vander Beken Tom
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Contemporary policing and the control of (organised) crime involve priority setting, strategic planning and the use of strategic planning tools. The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to the fast‐growing body of literature on intelligence‐led policing, and explore new concepts and methods to aid the strategic decision making of actors involved in policing organised crime.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper argues that priority setting and strategic planning in the field of organised crime is inherently characterised by uncertainty. The authors examine to what extent policymakers can plan and anticipate coming organised crime threats. It is argued that, while predicting such issues is impossible, policymakers can prepare for them. It is suggested that the field of scenario studies can provide tools that can support strategic planning and the assessment of security challenges in the field of organised crime control. A scenario study is presented on the vulnerability of economic sectors to illustrate and develop this claim.

Findings

Scenario studies do not predict the future of organised crime, nor do they replace information‐gathering methodologies and crime intelligence applications that support concrete criminal investigations. Scenario studies are sensitising tools that force strategic planners to examine the assumptions and knowledge base on which they base their decisions. To that end, scenario studies combine the analysis of law enforcement data and scientific analysis of organised crime with analysis of issues most vital to societies, regions, cities, etc. The analytical focus shifts from targeting concrete offenders to detecting opportunities and weaknesses in structural processes that may not always be visible to police organizations, but pose significant security risks if left unattended. The scenario study that is presented on the vulnerability of economic sectors in the EU illustrates that scenario studies can amend traditional crime intelligence in this manner.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited to a conceptual study and a concrete scenario study. Future research might shed more light on implementation/evaluation issues of scenario‐based planning.

Practical implications

The paper offers a conceptual and methodological framework for scenario‐based strategic planning.

Originality/value

The paper intends to advance the debate on organized crime assessments in light of the development towards intelligence‐led policing strategies. To that end, new concepts and a different methodological framework are suggested.
Intra‐firm decision‐maker perceptions of relocation risks
Authors: Marja Rasila Heidi , Nenonen Suvi
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the risk perceptions of persons responsible for business relocation.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical material consists of interviews in companies that have considered relocation seriously or have recently relocated. The empirical material is augmented by a literature review.

Findings

The risk perceptions can be divided into five categories. These are: financial risks, functional risks, corporate culture risk, interest group risk and future risk.

Practical implications

When a company relocates, the stress and anxiety of the persons responsible for the process should be considered. Also, when doing relocation‐related business, reducing relocation risks should be considered when planning the business model and marketing.

Originality/value

This paper combines relocation literature in a multi‐disciplinary manner and adds empirical understanding of the phenomena in question.
Determinants of internet‐based corporate governance disclosure by Spanish listed companies
Authors: Gandía Juan L.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the corporate governance information disclosed by Spanish listed companies on the internet, with the objective of assessing the extent and the influence of several corporate characteristics on the level of information voluntarily disclosed.

Design/methodology/approach

The study took as its reference the existing literature on the examination of the quality of web sites and the importance of content as a key variable in determining web site quality. To quantify the corporate governance information disclosed by Spanish listed companies, three transparency indexes were designed. To contrast which variables determine the information provided online, the investigation based itself on studies about voluntary disclosure in companies, and three lineal regressions models and an ANOVA analysis were performed.

Findings

The empirical evidence obtained reveals that the firms that score highest for transparency are also those that are most likely to use the internet as a channel for the disclosure of corporate governance information. The results show that disclosure levels depend on the degree to which firms are followed by analysts, their listing age, their “visibility” and the fact of belonging to the communications and information services industry.

Practical implications

The need for this study was clear in view of the increasing interest shown by supervisory authorities for the oversight of the European and US capital markets in regulating not only the content but also the manner in which corporate governance information is disclosed over the internet. During the coming years, regulatory stock market agencies will have to strive to take advantage of the opportunities that the internet offers to increase both the relational and informational capacity of company web sites.

Originality/value

Corporate governance research has focused mainly on the analysis of the information that firms ought to disclose and the effects of disclosure generally, without considering the media involved. This paper suggests a new approach that examines the relevance of technology, particularly the internet, and orients supervisory authorities in the direction to follow for improving corporate governance transparency in listed companies.
The impact of online store environment cues on purchase intention
Authors: Hsin Chang Hsin , Wen Chen Su
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investige whether online environment cues (web site quality and web site brand) affect customer purchase intention towards an online retailer and whether this impact is mediated by customer trust and perceived risk. The study also aimed to assess the degree of reciprocity between consumers' trust and perceived risk in the context of an online shopping environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study proposed a research framework for testing the relationships among the constructs based on the stimulus‐organism‐response framework. In addition, this study developed a non‐recursive model. After the validation of measurement scales, empirical analyses were performed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings confirm that web site quality and web site brand affect consumers' trust and perceived risk, and in turn, consumer purchase intention. Notably, this study finds that the web site brand is a more important cue than web site quality in influencing customers' purchase intention. Furthermore, the study reveals that the relationship between trust and perceived risk is reciprocal.

Research limitations/implications

This study adopted four dimensions – technical adequacy, content quality, specific content and appearance – to measure web site quality. However, there are still many competing concepts regarding the measurement of web site quality. Further studies using other dimensional measures may be needed to verify the research model.

Practical implications

Online retailers should focus their marketing strategies more on establishing the brand of the web site rather than improving the functionality of the web site.

Originality/value

This study proposed a non‐recursive model for empirically analysing the link between web site quality, web site brand, trust, perceived risk and purchase intention towards the online retailer.
Biosafety Protocol, SPS Agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs
Authors: Haseeb Ansari Abdul , Kamal Nik Mahmod Nik Ahmad
Published: November 2008

Purpose

When genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were put into the international trade, people in many countries, especially European countries, became skeptical of them. A perception developed that they are harmful to human, animal, plant life and health, and destructive to the environment. It is true that if there is no safe use of genetically modified living organisms (LMOs), other species might be affected causing loss to the environment. So as to ensure safe use of LMOs and GMOs, the Cartagena Protocol and the SPS Agreement were, respectively, made. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine both the legal instruments and to explore ways to make them co‐existent, so that human, animal, plant life and health, and the environment are protected without affecting the international trade in LMOs and GMOs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper undertakes a critical examination of the issues surrounding GMOs and LMOs.

Findings

The Cartagena Protocol and the SPS Agreement serve two different purposes. It is for this reason that some of their provisions are not co‐extensive. But the conflict in them can be resolved. It is suggested that the provisions pertaining to the precautionary principle of the SPS Agreement should be brought in line with that of the Cartagena Protocol. It is also suggested that importing countries should conduct their own risk assessment preferably by following the CODEX procedure. In no case, risk assessment done by producing companies should be taken as conclusive.

Practical implications

If suggestions offered by the paper are followed, the two will then protect the human, animal and plant health and the environment in the best possible way.

Originality/value

For achieving its object, the paper presents a comparative assessment of the cases decided under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
SEC proposes mandatory use of XBRL tagging of financial statements
Authors: Romeo Peter J. , Parrino Richard J. , Bell Julie A.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the SEC's proposal to require domestic and foreign public companies that prepare their financial statements in accordance with US GAAP to file financial statements contained in registration statements and periodic reports in an interactive data format using XBRL, or “eXtensible Business Reporting Language”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the purpose of XBRL, provides an overview of the SEC's proposal, discusses the consequences of noncompliance, and explains the SEC's “bifurcated” approach to filers' liability for the interactive data they are required to provide.

Findings

XBRL, like the other electronic formats currently used by registrants in their SEC filings, defines or “tags” data using standard definitions. The SEC believes that financial reporting based on the XBRL format would create new ways for investors, analysts, and others to retrieve and use financial information in documents filed with the SEC. XBRL tagging of financial statements most likely represents only the SEC's first step in moving toward more widespread adoption of XBRL reporting.

Originality/value

The paper contains practical guidance by experienced securities lawyers.
Summary of selected FINRA regulatory notices, July‐August 2008
Authors: Davis Henry A.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide excerpts of selected Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Regulatory Notes issued in July and August 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides excerpts from the June 2008 Supplement to the Options Disclosure Document; Regulatory Notice 08‐38, SEC Emergency Orders on Short Selling; Regulatory Notice 08‐39, Variable Insurance Products; Regulatory Not ice 08‐41, Portfolio Margin Program; Regulatory Notice 08‐42, SEC Rule 144 and TRACE Eligibility; and Regulatory Notice 08‐43, Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE)

Findings

The Orders and Guidance in Regulatory Notice 08‐38 address the naked short selling of the securities of 19 public companies. Through Regulatory Notice 08‐39, FINRA proposes to update and consolidate the rules governing member firm communications with the public about variable insurance products. Regulatory Notice 08‐41 addresses margin requirements based on projected loss scenarios, and also discusses concentrated equity positions and day trading. Regulatory Notice 08‐42 notes that once a security meets the definition of “TRACE‐eligible security”, all secondary market transactions in such securities are “reportable TRACE transactions”. Regulatory Notice 08‐43 describes additional data elements in real‐time TRACE data that will identify transactions as either inter‐dealer or customer transactions and, in customer transactions, whether the dealer is on the buy or sell side.

Originality/value

These are direct excerpts designed to provide a useful digest for the reader and an indication of regulatory trends. The FINRA staff is aware of this summary but has neither reviewed nor edited it. For further detail as well as other useful information, the reader should visit www.finra.org
Price forecasting using wavelet transform and LSE based mixed model in Australian electricity market
Authors: Aggarwal S.K. , Saini L.M. , Kumar Ashwani
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Price forecasting is essential for risk management in deregulated electricity markets. The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid technique using wavelet transform (WT) and multiple linear regression (MLR) to forecast price profile in electricity markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Price series is highly volatile and non‐stationary in nature. In this work, initially complete price series has been decomposed into separate 48 half‐hourly series and then these series have been categorized into different segments for price forecasting. For some segments, WT based MLR has been applied and for the other segments, simple MLR model has been applied. The model is general in nature and has been implemented for one day‐ahead price forecasting in National Electricity Market (NEM) of Australia. Participants can use the technique practically, since it predicts price well before submission of bids.

Findings

Forecasting performance of the proposed WT and MLR based mixed model has been compared with the three other models, an analytical model, a MLR model and an artificial neural network (ANN) based model. The proposed model was found to be better. Performance evaluation for different wavelets was performed, and it has been observed that for improving forecasting accuracy using WT, Daubechies wavelet of order two gives the best performance.

Originality/value

Forecasting accuracy improvement of an established technique by incorporating time domain and wavelet domain variables of the same time series into one set has been implemented in this work. The paper also attempts to explain how non‐stationarity can be removed from a non‐stationary time series by applying WT after appropriate statistical investigation. Moreover, real time electricity markets are highly unpredictable and yet under investigated. The model has been applied to NEM for the same reason.
Views on the international market for energy biomass in 2020: results from a scenario study
Authors: Heinimö Jussi , Ojanen Ville , Kässi Tuomo
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the alternative future scenarios for the international biomass market until the year 2020 and identify underlying steps needed toward a vital working and sustainable biomass market for energy purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

Two scenario processes were conducted for the study. A heuristic, semi‐structured approach, including the use of preliminary questionnaires as well as manual and computerised group support systems (GSS), was applied in the scenario processes.

Findings

The scenarios estimated that the biomass market will develop and grow rapidly as well as diversify in the future. The scenario analysis shows the key issues in the field: global economic growth including the growing need for energy, environmental forces in the global evolution, the potential of technological development in solving the global problems, capabilities of the international community to find solutions for the global issues, and the complex interdependencies of all these driving forces.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed involving analysis of the probabilities of the technological and commercial elements in each scenario. It is also important to conceptualise the scale and directions of biomass trade streams and determine the influences of the scenarios from the viewpoints of different actors.

Practical implications

The results of the scenario processes provide a starting point for further research analysing the technological and commercial aspects of the scenarios and foreseeing the scales and directions of biomass streams.

Originality/value

In this study, scenario processes supplemented by a GSS are applied for investigating the future development of the biomass market.
Risk diversification in a real estate portfolio: evidence from the Italian market
Authors: Giannotti Claudio , Mattarocci Gianluca
Published: November 2008

Purpose

In real estate industry, managers' choices in portfolio construction impact directly on the performance of real estate fund. Looking at the literature, real estate diversification criteria are related to tenants' characteristics, to endogenous and exogenous risk and to financial choices. The aim of the paper is to study the role of different risk profiles in the investment selection and in the construction of an efficient real estate portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

The first step is to find out an investment selection model based on the main risk factors. The aim was to check the ability of qualitative criteria (tenant, exogenous, endogenous and financial risks) to identify ex ante the best investment opportunities. The observation of the portfolios' composition on the efficient frontier and the proximity of individual property to the efficient frontier point out which risk factors are more important. The second step is to define a model to construct a portfolio, with non correlated investments, based on the main risk factors. This ability was tested by comparing the classifications made according to quality criteria, which can potentially be used ex ante to construct a diversified portfolio, with the results of cluster analysis. The results from the cluster analysis, free from quality profiles, are therefore considered as the best diversification strategy.

Findings

The results stemming from the use of a real estate database supplied by Fimit SGR (Unicredit banking group) showed that an ex ante study of risk profiles can help to identify those investment opportunities which are more or less near to the efficient frontier, although there is no prevailing criterion to identify a portfolio able to maximise investment diversification benefits. To identify more efficient portfolio is necessary to define an evaluation approach that considers simultaneously different risk profiles of real estate investments.

Originality/value

The paper considers the Italian market, a young market for institutional real estate investments characterised by high growing opportunities. The value added of the paper is to study the relationship of different real estate specific risks considered in literature (tenant risk, endogenous and exogenous risk) and financing choices in order to define a more complete model to evaluate real estate portfolios.
Impact of university training on UK graduates' decision making
Authors: Ye Xu , Dent Peter R.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Studies regarding rational decision have been conducted over many years and one of the common understandings of rationality in financial terms is that investors are assumed to be risk averse. However, in a previous paper, Xu and Dent, identify that property professionals in both the UK and China do not behave in a rational manner as assumed by traditional finance models. This is because the sample in the study is risk seeking when the probabilities of receiving capital gains are low. This current paper aims to explore whether university training would influence the respondents’ risk preferences. A survey of undergraduate and postgraduate real estate students at Oxford Brookes University was used to investigate the potential of university training to improve people's decision making, so as to enhance the rationality of their behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of undergraduate and postgraduate real estate students at Oxford Brookes University was conducted during the academic year 2007/2008 to investigate the potential of university training to improve people's decision making, so as to enhance the rationality of their behaviour. In total, there were 206 students participated in the survey (156 undergraduates and 52 postgraduates).

Findings

This paper finds that preferences of Oxford Brookes University students seem likely to change once the same question is phrased differently. This preference is more relevant to the university training they received than their gender. After three years’ study at universities, students seem more likely to make rational decisions, i.e. similar to normative theory suggestions regarding the actions of rational people.

Originality/value

This paper is only a start of behavioural research of people's decision making, and further studies could also cover areas such as property experts' decision‐making process or validity of other assumptions of expected utility theory.
Strategically crafting a customer‐focused culture: an inductive case study
Authors: Ford Robert C. , Wilderom Celeste P.M. , Caparella John
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how the content of a firm's culture, carefully developed by top managers, can create effective employee experiences and how this exemplary case of strategic culture shaping relate to various academic insights on intangible social or collaborative capital.

Design/methodology/approach

Inductive case study (of a large American convention hotel), highlighting the strategic crafting of a service‐firm culture, both descriptively (in terms of what took place) and analytically (in terms of various OB‐literatures).

Findings

Describes how organizational culture can be part of strategizing in terms of aligning cultural expressions regarding various employees' practices, including continuous organizational improvement. Analyzes and integrates various extant culture insights on service cultures and culture strength.

Research limitations/implications

Insights are applicable to a wide variety of work settings beyond the hospitality and service sectors; it expands the view of organizational culture to the broader and more complex, strategic issue of how organizations can craft or amend cultures that fit their missions.

Practical implications

One may learn from this case (including the authors' reflections), how to put a well‐articulated service mission into operational practice: through taking a particular, desired culture quite seriously when creating employee experiences, so that they are effectively focused on that mission.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates specific tactics for implementing culture plus the value of developing a strategic approach to creating a particular culture. It offers a template of crafting a culture, based on the strategic pairing of managerial mission with action (or employee and client experiences). Strategizing with culture, also referred to as firm‐cultural content shaping, is meant for researchers and practitioners seeking to help develop a mission‐focused organizational culture.
A performance gradient perspective on gradient‐based policy iteration and a modified value iteration
Authors: Yang Lei , Dankert James , Si Jennie
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical framework to address some algorithmic features of approximate dynamic programming (ADP) by using an average cost formulation based on the concepts of differential costs and performance gradients. Under such a framework, a modified value iteration algorithm is developed that is easy to implement, in the mean time it can address a class of partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDP).

Design/methodology/approach

Gradient‐based policy iteration (GBPI) is a top‐down, system‐theoretic approach to dynamic optimization with performance guarantees. In this paper, a bottom‐up, algorithmic view is provided to complement the original high‐level development of GBPI. A modified value iteration is introduced, which can provide solutions to the same type of POMDP problems dealt with by GBPI. Numerical simulations are conducted to include a queuing problem and a maze problem to illustrate and verify features of the proposed algorithms as compared to GBPI.

Findings

The direct connection between GBPI and policy iteration is shown under a Markov decision process formulation. As such, additional analytical insights were gained on GBPI. Furthermore, motivated by this analytical framework, the authors propose a modified value iteration as an alternative to addressing the same POMDP problem handled by GBPI.

Originality/value

Several important insights are gained from the analytical framework, which motivate the development of both algorithms. Built on this paradigm, new ADP learning algorithms can be developed, in this case, the modified value iteration, to address a broader class of problems, the POMDP. In addition, it is now possible to provide ADP algorithms with a gradient perspective. Inspired by the fundamental understanding of learning and optimization problems under the gradient‐based framework, additional new insight may be developed for bottom‐up type of algorithms with performance guarantees.
Image piecewise inpainting based on radial basis function
Authors: Shen Minfen , Chen Jialiang , Li Bin
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel algorithm for image inpainting, which has been widely used for removing unwanted objects from images or reconstructing damaged photographs.

Design/methodology/approach

An image piecewise inpainting technique based on radial basis function (RBF) is used to transform the 2D image inpainting problem into 3D implicit surface reconstruction problem. And a RBF center reduction method is proposed. By RBF resampling, the algorithm can nicely fix the damaged image or remove specific objects.

Findings

Experimental results show that the proposed algorithms can prevent the edge blur caused by the isotropic character of RBF, and effectively reduce the RBF centers without a loss in accuracy.

Originality/value

The proposed inpainting approach is interesting for its combination of RBF method and region segmentation that can handle the restoring of high‐variation areas.
Long‐term follow‐up analysis after rituximab therapy in children with refractory symptomatic ITP: identification of factors predictive of a sustained response
Authors: Parodi Emilia , Rivetti Elisa , Amendola Giovanni , Bisogno Gianni , Calabrese Roberto , Farruggia Piero , Giordano Paola , Rosaria Matarese Sofia Maria , Nardi Margherita , Nobili Bruno , Notarangelo Lucia D. , Russo Giovanna , Vimercati Chiara , Zecca Marco , De Mattia Domenico , Ramenghi Ugo
Published: November 2008

We report the long‐term follow‐up (median 39·5 months) of 49 paediatric patients (33 females and 16 males) with refractory symptomatic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) treated with rituximab. The overall response rate was 69% (34/49 patients). Twenty‐one responders had a platelet count >50 × 109/l at a median 20·2 months from treatment. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a probability of relapse‐free survival (RFS) of 60% at 36 months from the first rituximab infusion. The number of infusions and a previous splenectomy did not influence overall response rate. Patients who achieved complete response were significantly older at diagnosis and first rituximab infusion than partial responders (P = 0·027). Older children displayed a significantly greater probability of sustained response (RFS) at 36 months than younger children (88·9% vs. 56·7%, P = 0·037). Earlier responses (within 20 d from treatment) were significantly associated with both complete (P = 0·004) and sustained response (P = 0·002). Only mild and transient side‐effects were observed in 9/49 children; no major infections nor delayed toxicities were recorded during the follow‐up.
The effect of flight‐related behaviour on the risk of venous thrombosis after air travel
Authors: Schreijer Anja J. M. , Cannegieter Suzanne C. , Doggen Carine J. M. , Rosendaal Frits R.
Published: November 2008

In a case–control study including 11 033 participants (The Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment of risk factors for venous thrombosis study) on risk factors of venous thrombosis, we studied the effect of flight‐related behaviour on the risk of venous thrombosis after air travel. Patients and control subjects received a questionnaire on risk factors for venous thrombosis, including recent travel history and details of their last flight. From this population, 80 patients and 108 control subjects were selected who had recently (<8 weeks) travelled for more than 4 h by aeroplane. Window seating compared to aisle seating increased the risk twofold [odds ratio (OR) 2·2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·1–4·4], particularly in those who were obese (OR 6·1; 95% CI: 0·5–76·2). Anxiety (OR 2·5; 95% CI: 0·9–7·0) and sleeping (OR 1·5; 95% CI: 0·7–3·1) may increase the risk slightly. The risk was not affected by alcohol consumption (OR 1·1; 95% CI: 0·5–2·4). Flying business class may lower the risk (OR 0·7; 95% CI: 0·2–1·8). We did not find a protective effect for several measures currently part of standard advice from airlines and clinicians, i.e. drinking non‐alcoholic beverages, exercising or wearing stockings. The effect of behavioural factors during flying on the risk of venous thrombosis after air travel is limited. Current advice on prevention of travel‐related thrombosis may have to be reconsidered.
Is a short, sharp shock equivalent to long‐term punishment? Contrasting the spatial pattern of acute and chronic ozone damage to soybean leaves via chlorophyll fluorescence imaging
Authors: CHEN CHARLES P. , FRANK THOMAS D. , LONG STEPHEN P.
Published: November 2008

Experimental investigations of ozone (O3) effects on plants have commonly used short, acute [O3] exposure (>100 ppb, on the order of hours), while in field crops damage is more likely caused by chronic exposure (<100 ppb, on the order of weeks). How different are the O3 effects induced by these two fumigation regimes? The leaf‐level photosynthetic response of soybean to acute [O3] (400 ppb, 6 h) and chronic [O3] (90 ppb, 8 h d−1, 28 d) was contrasted via simultaneous in vivo measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging (CFI) and gas exchange. Both exposure regimes lowered leaf photosynthetic CO2 uptake about 40% and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (Fq′/Fm′) by 20% compared with controls, but this decrease was far more spatially heterogeneous in the acute treatment. Decline in Fq′/Fm′ in the acute treatment resulted equally from decreases in the maximum efficiency of PSII (Fv′/Fm′) and the proportion of open PSII centres (Fq′/Fv′), but in the chronic treatment decline in Fq′/Fm′ resulted only from decrease in Fq′/Fv′. Findings suggest that acute and chronic [O3] exposures do not induce identical mechanisms of O3 damage within the leaf, and using one fumigation method alone is not sufficient for understanding the full range of mechanisms of O3 damage to photosynthetic production in the field.
Immunotherapy with autologous dendritic cells and tumor antigens for children with refractory malignant solid tumors
Authors: Suminoe Aiko , Matsuzaki Akinobu , Hattori Hiroyoshi , Koga Yuhki , Hara Toshiro
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  Immature DCs were generated from the peripheral blood monocytes from five children with refractory solid tumors (Ewing sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, neuroblastoma) using GM‐CSF and IL‐4. These DCs were then pulsed with tumor‐specific synthetic peptides or tumor lysates in the presence of the immunogenic protein KLH for 12 h. Pulsed DCs were administered subcutaneously every one or two weeks in an outpatient setting without any toxicity. In one patient with Ewing sarcoma, the residual tumor disappeared following autologous PBSCT and DC therapy, and a complete remission has been maintained for 77 months. In two patients with synovial sarcoma or with neuroblastoma, growth of the tumors was temporally suppressed for one and 10 months, respectively, followed by their exacerbation. A DTH response was detected against KLH in all five patients and against the tumor lysate in one patient. In the patients with a possible DC‐mediated anti‐tumor effect, the number of CD8+ HLA‐DR+ lymphocytes and INF‐γ+CD8+ lymphocytes increased and an elevation of the NK cell cytotoxic activity was observed during and/or after DC therapy. DC‐based immunotherapy may therefore be a feasible, well‐tolerated and promising approach in the treatment of children with refractory malignant tumors.
Hypogammaglobulinemia: Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes following pediatric lung transplantation
Authors: Robertson John , Elidemir Okan , Saz Eylem Ulas , Gulen Figen , Schecter Marc , McKenzie Emmet , Heinle Jeffrey , Smith E. , Mallory George
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  Infection is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the first year following lung transplantation. HG after adult lung transplantation has been associated with increased infections and hospitalization as well as decreased survival. The purpose of this study is to define the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of HG in the first year following pediatric lung transplantation. A retrospective review of all lung transplant recipients at a single pediatric center over a four‐yr period was performed. All serum Ig levels drawn within one yr of transplantation were recorded. An association between HG during the first year after transplantation and age, race, gender, diagnosis leading to transplantation and clinical outcomes including hospitalization, infections requiring hospitalization, viremia, fungal recovery from BAL lavage, and mortality was sought. HG was defined using age‐based norms. Fifty‐one charts were reviewed. Mean (±s.d.) post‐transplantation levels for IgG, IgA, and IgM were 439.9 ± 201.3, 82.3 ± 50.2, and 75.2 ± 41.4 mg/dL, respectively. HG was present in 48.8%, 12.2%, and 17.1% of patients for IgG, IgA, and IgM, respectively. Patients with HG for IgG were older (14.3 ± 3.8 vs. 9.2 ± 5.4 yr; p < 0.01). IgA and IgM HG were associated with invasive aspergillosis (p < 0.01 and p = 0.05, respectively). IgG and IgM levels inversely correlated with bacterial infections and hospital days, respectively (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). HG is a frequent complication following pediatric lung transplantation. Low Ig levels are associated with increased infections and hospital stay.
Successful management of pregnancy in a patient with Segawa disease: Case report and literature review
Authors: Watanabe Takashi , Matsubara Shigeki , Baba Yosuke , Tanaka Hitoshi , Suzuki Tatsuya , Suzuki Mitsuaki
Published: November 2008

Segawa disease is an autosomal dominant trait characterized by progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation. Levodopa therapy dramatically improves the symptoms. We present the case of a pregnant woman with Segawa disease with a successful outcome. At the age of ten, bilateral clubfeet appeared as her first symptom. She was diagnosed as having Segawa disease and levodopa was administered with complete disappearance of the symptoms. She became pregnant and received levodopa throughout the pregnancy, and delivered a healthy male infant. A literature review and the present case indicated that out of nine pregnancies in six women with Segawa disease, all six pregnancies treated with levodopa monotherapy resulted in an uneventful obstetrical course and healthy infants; however, the remaining three pregnancies, two with levodopa and carbidopa and one without medication, resulted in fetal loss. Women with Segawa disease may be able to give birth to healthy infants with levodopa monotherapy.
URETEROCELE: WITH CASE REPORTS OF BILATERAL URETEROCELE IN IDENTICAL TWINS*
Authors: Riba Leander William
Published: November 2008

Eight cases of ureterocele are reported, of which 5 cases were bilateral. This is at variance with the incidence of unilateral and bilateral ureteroceles reported in the literature.

Two of the patients in this group were identical twins, both of whom had bilateral ureteroceles. This is believed to be strong evidence that at least some cases are congenital in origin.

Metaplasia of that portion of the bladder epithelium overlying the ureterocele to stratified squamous epithelium was noted in 2 cases. To our knowledge this has not been previously described.

Cystoscopy is the most dependable means of diagnosis. Intravenous urography is an excellent procedure for evaluating upper tract damage and for visualising moderate or large ureteroceles.

The presence of an ureterocele is an indication for treatment. Good results can be obtained in most cases by transurethral procedures. Suprapubic operations are seldom indicated. Bilateral ureteroceles may be treated at one time provided adequate drainage is established with minimal surgical trauma. In the collapsible type of ureterocele meatotomy or dilatation may suffice. In the well‐advanced non‐collapsible type a transurethral resection is the operation of choice. Sufficient tissue should be left on the proximal side of the cystic masses to allow for the formation of post‐operative ureteral valves.

A new electro‐ureterotome has been successfully employed in the collapsible type of ureterocele.
THE PATHOLOGY OF URINARY CALCULI: RADIAL STRIATION1
Authors: CARR J. A.
Published: November 2008

Five hundred urinary calculi have been examined for direct or indirect evidence of radial striation. Such evidence is found in 42 per cent. of the calculi. Radial striation is limited to areas composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate, uric acid, or calcium acid phosphate dihydrate. It does not occur in areas of mixed composition. Radial striation is always associated with concentric lamination, but the reverse is not the case.

Radial striation is shown by X‐ray diffraction techniques to be a consequence of the arrangement of the minute crystals which form the calculus; all the crystals tend to have a particular crystallographic direction radially placed in the calculus. In the case of calculi composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate the particular direction is the b crystallographic axis; in the case of calculi composed of calcium acid phosphate dihydrate it is the a crystallographic axis.

The pathogenesis of radially striated calculi is developed from information on related concretions. The mucinous layer present on calculi is regarded as necessary for the development of this type of calculus: it allows diffusion of ionic groups but prevents disturbances in the process of crystallisation and so permits oriented growth to occur. The mucinous layer is continuously incorporated into the calculus as its “organic matrix.”
X‐RAY ABSORPTION AND DIFFRACTION STUDIES ON EXPERIMENTAL VESICAL CALCULI
Authors: HEDENBERG I. , ENGFELDT B. , ENGSTRÖM A.
Published: November 2008

Experimental vesicular calculi were produced in albino rats by feeding the animals on a diet deficient in vitamin A. The distribution of mineral salts in these calculi was studied by microradiography. The nature of the mineral salts was determined by X‐ray diffraction methods. Calculi with a layered deposition of the mineral salts gave an X‐ray diffraction pattern characteristic of hydroxylapatite. Such layered calculi are found both among experimental and spontaneous calculi. Their genesis is briefly discussed.
TORSION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE
Authors: JAMES THEODORE
Published: November 2008

A brief review of torsion of the spermatic cord as it has occurred in the first year of life serves as an introduction to two reports of cases with onset at or possibly before birth in one and at 21 months in the other.

A recapitulation of factors considered to be of ætiologic significance follows, and the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment are summarised.
PREPARATION OF RENAL CASTS WITH NEOPRENE LATEX
Authors: Ross JamesA.
Published: November 2008

Neoprene latex can be used for making casts of the renal pelvis and calyces for demonstration and teaching purposes.

The technique of injecting specimens is described, and photographs of a number of kidneys so prepared are illustrated as examples.
ANURIA FOLLOWING RETROGRADE PYELOGRAPHY
Authors: Grieve J. , Lowe K. G.
Published: November 2008

A case of anuria of some sixty hours' duration following retrograde pyelography with extensive pyelorenal backflow is presented. Possible causes of the anuria are discussed.

We are indebted to Mr Fred Duncan, photographer, Department of Medicine, RoyalInfirmary, Dundee, for prints of the X‐rays.
BIOCHEMICAL DISTURBANCES IN CHRONIC PROSTATIC AND URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION
Authors: Shackman Ralph , Wilson A. O. , Craiek I. G.
Published: November 2008

1. Plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, combining power, urea, and, on occasion, calcium and phosphate have been determined before and after urethral or suprapubic bladder drainage in fifteen patients suffering from chronic lower urinary tract obstruction.

2. Two patients died from renal failure within a few days of cystostomy, and one died from heart failure eleven months after cystostomy. One has a permanent cystostomy and one a perinea urethrostomy. Nine patients subsequently and successfully underwent one or other form of prostatectomy; one died two weeks after Tran urethral resection.

3. Before bladder drainage, hyperchlorzmia was present in eleven of the fifteen patients, acidosis was present in eight, and urea retention was present in fourteen.

4. After bladder drainage, restitution of the plasma electrolyte concentrations occurred within varying periods of time in thirteen patients, and restitution of the blood urea occurred in eight.

5. Excretion programs carried out on seven patients before bladder drainage showed radiological evidence, either hydronephrosis or poor concentration of the contrast medium, of renal impairment; biochemical abnormalities were present in all these patients.

6. Excretion urograms after bladder drainage showed radiological evidence of improved renal function, either a lesser degree of hydronephrosis or improved concentration of the contrast medium, in five of the seven patients; all five showed biochemical improvement. In two patients the excretion urograms remained unchanged despite biochemical improvement.

7. The abnormal values of the plasma electrolytes are attributed to renal tubular dysfunction, which usually recovers after relief of urinary obstruction. Urea retention is attributed to glomerular damage, which is sometimes persistent.

8. In the main, no special water or electrolyte therapy was used in the treatment of this series of patients, but it is suggested that extra water and M/6 sodium lactate, preferably by mouth, should be given when there is evidence of dehydration, sodium deficiency, and acidosis. Saline is but rarely indicated.
ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE STRIATED MUSCLES OF THE MALE URETHRA
Authors: Petersén I. , Franksson C.
Published: November 2008

A method for electromyographic recording from the external urethral sphincter and the bulbocavernosus muscle is described.

The normal external urethral sphincter and bulbocavernosus were investigated, and were found to show the same electromyographic characteristics. They did not diver in this respect from previously investigated muscles of the extremities, such as the biceps brachii and the first dorsal interosseous.

Both muscles were activated when the subjects coughed or contracted the muscles as in voluntary interruption of micturition.
CALCIFICATION IN A POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY
Authors: Willson‐Pepper J. K. , Slade D. A.
Published: November 2008

A case of polycentric kidney occurring in a child aged 7 years is here presented with the following features of special interest:—

1. Diffuse flake calcification throughout the renal parenchyma, leading to a pre‐operative Diagnosis of malignant disease.

2. While largely conforming to the adult type of polycentric renal disease no family incidence Traceable.

3. Histological appearance of calcifying cartilage in the radio‐opaque areas.

4. Histological characteristics of both infantile and adult types of polycentric disease.

5. Hydronephrotic changes and a fully developed collecting system.

6. No definite clinical or radiological evidence of involvement of the remaining kidney.

A tentative conclusion is drawn that this case belongs to a very rare group of unilateral cystic disease of the kidneys classified as niulticystic disease.