bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing a framework to measure organizational and employee skills development in a professional engineering design consultancy
Authors: Matsumoto Isao T , Stapleton John , Glass Jacqueline , Thorpe Tony
Published: June 2007

As we move into a knowledge economy, employee skills are fast becoming an organization’s most valuable asset. Fundamental to successfully completing the complex range of tasks presented by construction projects is bringing together individuals with the correct balance of skills. No one individual has the complete set of skills to do everything themselves, which makes the team only as strong as its weakest link. Sponsored by a leading UK‐based engineering design consultancy, a specification for a technologically driven skills management system was developed. It allowed the organization, its teams and the employees, to better measure, manage and develop their skill capabilities effectively. Key issues addressed by the paper include how skill ability can be measured, how skills can be structured, and how these measurements and structure can be combined to generate skills reports. The development of a prototype application, based on the above mentioned specification, tested the validity of the specification, and demonstrated to the sponsor the benefits that can be achieved by a systematic and practical approach to capturing, reviewing, planning and managing employee skills. It also highlighted the important business rationale for using such systems.
Review and implementation of performance management models in construction engineering organizations
Authors: Robinson H.S. , Carrillo P.M. , Anumba C.J. , A‐Ghassani A.M.
Published: June 2007

Performance management is a key issue in the construction industry as a result of complex internal and external factors. Large construction organizations are implementing performance management models to improve business processes, products and management of people to facilitate continuous improvement. This study investigates the implementation of performance management models in large construction engineering organizations. First, a brief review of the drive for performance improvement and the strategic considerations for the adoption of performance management models is carried out with specific reference to the Balanced Scorecard and the EFQM Excellence Model. Second, using case studies of large construction engineering organizations, the findings from the implementation of performance management models are analysed and discussed. It is shown that whilst progress has been made in the implementation of performance management models in large construction organizations, significant challenges remained at the planning, deployment and assessment and review stages. This includes the motivation for performance management, leadership and resources, communication mechanisms, measurement and data collection techniques and the role of knowledge management. Performance management models provide a basis to develop strategy for sustaining longterm business objectives, and more construction organizations will adopt such innovative tools to facilitate continuous improvement, as the business benefits become clear.
Research about office workplace activities important to US businesses ‐ And how to support them
Authors: Olson John
Published: June 2007

A research‐based approach was used to develop business supportive office workplace design concepts during individual projects for multiple US‐based clients. Together, the databases for those projects represent about 13,000 responses to data‐gathering questionnaires. Analysis was done across those responses to determine whether there were common patterns or findings that would be of benefit to the design community. The results of this across‐project analysis show that the two workplace qualities that consume the largest portion of the workday and have the greatest effects on individual performance, team performance and job satisfaction are support for distraction‐free solo work, and support for impromptu interactions anywhere in the workplace (but primarily in or near individual workspaces). The noise generated by conversations of all kinds can be an impediment to distraction‐free solo work, creating a potential conflict. Effective workplace design can both enhance support for these two most important activities by themselves, and allow them to coexist effectively within the same individual workspace areas.
Utilising performance measurement to drive operational excellence in a post‐merger environment
Authors: Livingstone Mert , Dibkey Brett
Published: June 2007

Pharmacia’s Corporate Services organisation (which consists of Global Real Estate, Facilities Management, and various other internal service functions) recently commenced an initiative aimed at driving operational excellence throughout all functional areas and geographic sites. Apart from greatly improving both financial and operational results, this initiative also led to the collapse of existing functional and geographic ‘silos’. By breaking down these ‘silos’ (which developed partially as a result of Pharmacia’s recent merger activity), Corporate Services has begun to achieve breakthrough results. These results are largely attributable to the application of a comprehensive, management‐sponsored undertaking, referred to as the Continuous Improvement (CI) Initiative. The CI Initiative has helped to minimise disparity, drive process optimisation and ensure enterprise‐wide alignment with organisational objectives. This paper outlines the various tools, processes and resources that Corporate Services’ management used in design and execution of the CI Initiative. Most notably, the paper describes the use of ‘scorecards’ to communicate and drive performance in a balanced context. Further, the paper provides numerous real‐life examples of how these scorecards are leveraged in the identification and prioritisation of process improvement opportunities.
Enterprise programme management: Connecting strategic planning to project delivery
Authors: Gaddie Shelley
Published: June 2007

Companies today face many conflicting priorities in remaining competitive. Some of the challenges include leading company staff in thinking bigger, operating in direct relationship to customers and stockholders’ needs, while staying flexible and adaptable to economic and market shifts. How does a facilities manager stay connected to the business strategy, manage more projects with less staff, and still provide responsive service, while the business environment the manager supports is changing rapidly? The manager may be faced with consolidating facilities owing to a merger or company restructuring. Consolidation presents several challenges that must be met. The manager must work with executives to align equipment deployment and facility use to merger goals and objectives. He/she must consolidate facilities management infrastructure into a cohesive unit from the different approaches of the original companies. This requires the ability simultaneously to coordinate the strategic, tactical and technical aspects of consolidation, while maintaining the seamless operation of the company. If it is a large operation, with facilities spread across a region, facilities management may have been distributed, with each location responsible for their own projects and maintenance. A major change effort such as consolidation requires a centralised facilities management structure that is tied directly into the strategy of the company. The answer for many companies in meeting these challenges is enterprise programme management (EPM). Enterprise programme management is a way of thinking, communicating and working, supported by an information system, that organises an enterprise’s resources in direct relationship to leadership’s vision, and the mission, strategy, goals and objectives that move the organisation forward. Simply put, EPM provides a 360‐degree view of an organisation’s collective efforts.
Assessing organisational project management capability
Authors: Hillson David
Published: June 2007

Many businesses recognise project management as a core competence and seek to deliver benefits to the business through effective management of projects. But how can an organisation know whether its project management processes are adequate? Can a business compare itself with best practice or its competitors? Is there an accepted benchmark for organisational project management capability? The Project Management Maturity Model (ProMMM) has been developed to meet these needs. It describes four levels of increasing project management capability (Naive, Novice, Normalised and Natural), with each ProMMM level further defined in terms of four attributes, namely culture, process, experience and application. It presents a generic benchmarking framework applicable to project‐based organisations in any type of industry, including those responsible for facilities management projects, and does not presume any prior level of project management capability. ProMMM allows organisations to assess their project management capability against agreed criteria, set realistic targets for improvement, and measure progress towards enhanced capability. This paper outlines the structure of the ProMMM framework, and presents a case study where ProMMM has been used to support development of effective project management.
The impact of life‐cycle cost management on portfolio strategies
Authors: Selman John R. , Schneider Rich
Published: June 2007

The US National Park Service (NPS) is responsible for the management of some of the most recognisable and notable natural and cultural resources in the USA. To make the case for additional maintenance funding, NPS is instituting life‐cycle cost management practices. Over the 50‐year life cycle of the Redwood Information Center at Redwood National and State Parks in Crescent City, California, custodial costs alone will sum to more than the total replacement construction cost for the entire facility. This point illustrates an important aspect regarding the true cost of operating and sustaining physical infrastructure over its life cycle. It also suggests that understanding life‐cycle costs is a critical element of effective, long‐term portfolio and asset management. Often, institutional owners of physical assets inadequately assess the true cost of building and owning facilities, typically overemphasising initial construction costs. Life‐cycle operations and maintenance (O&M) and capital renewal costs, however, almost always comprise a far greater percentage of total life‐cycle building costs. Using actual life‐cycle costs for an asset that is owned and managed by NPS, this paper explores the development of full life‐cycle costing, highlighting key life‐cycle cost drivers, of an information centre at the Redwood National and State Parks.
An appraisal of social aspects in project and technology life cycle management in the process industry
Authors: Brent Alan C. , Labuschagne Carin
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce methods that have been developed to consider social sustainability aspects in the initial phases of projects in industry, i.e. in the design stage of technological systems, whereby a proactive approach in industry can be ensured. The inclusion of social aspects in both the sustainability debate and practice has been marginal compared with the focus on the other two dimensions of sustainable development, i.e. economic and environmental performances, especially from a business perspective. The tools that have focused on social business sustainability aspects have mainly addressed business sustainable development reporting, operational conditions, and product social life cycle assessments.

Design/methodology/approach

The first method builds on a framework of social sustainability criteria that has been introduced for the South African process industry. A Social Impact Indicator (SII) calculation procedure has been developed based on a previously introduced Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) calculation procedure for environmental Resource Impact Indicators (RIIs). The second method applies questionnaires and checklists following more traditional risk approaches.

Findings

Information availability and standardisation of social criteria are problematic for quantitative approaches at present. It is therefore proposed that social sustainability should be incorporated into project and technology management methodologies in phases, commencing with the questionnaires and checklists. In future, the proposed indicator method can be implemented when information is more readily available.

Originality/value

The questionnaires and checklists provide practical means for project and technology developers to assess and communicate potential social risk associated with technological systems to decision‐makers.
Supplier performance evaluation: lessons from a large multinational organisation
Authors: Cormican Kathryn , Cunningham Michael
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Progressive organisations are developing proactive supplier‐based strategies in order to integrate key suppliers into their processes and systems. The purpose of this paper is to present an approach that helps to identify best performing suppliers and eliminate those that do not add value in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the materials supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study focuses on the development of a supplier performance rating tool for a large multinational organisation. The paper presents a profile of the organisation, the problems encountered, the development and implementation of the supplier rating tool and the lessons learned.

Findings

The implementation of the tool resulted in a 2.9 fold reduction in the number of suppliers from 23,225 to 8,024 and a 2.6 fold reduction in the value of inventory held from $15.24 million to just over $5.86 million.

Practical implications

Reducing the number and improving the quality of suppliers resulted in increased quality, reduced lead time and a reduction in the number of errors and defects. Best performing suppliers are more closely integrated and can add their knowledge and experience to development initiatives, potential problems can be anticipated in advance and process changes and modifications can be made earlier.

Originality/value

The paper presents a successful application of a supplier performing rating tool in a complex and demanding environment.
Delivery reliability, manufacturing capabilities and new models of manufacturing efficiency
Authors: Sarmiento Roberto , Byrne Mike , Rene Contreras Luis , Rich Nick
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To provide a selective bibliography on reported empirical evidence regarding the compatibility/trade‐offs relationships between delivery reliability and other manufacturing capabilities, and also identify specific areas for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper conceptually examines published studies which have reported a trade‐off/compatibility situation between delivery reliability and other manufacturing capabilities such as internal quality, external quality, manufacturing costs, inventory costs, etc. Some different aspects of delivery reliability are also discussed.

Findings

Principally, the paper identifies a need to study in more detail the different variables (manufacturing capabilities, contextual variables and manufacturing practices) that could be potentially associated with the achievement of high manufacturing efficiency (high levels of outputs/low levels of inputs) in terms of delivery reliability, materials inventory and safety resources.

Research limitations/implications

The literature review in the paper is intended to be exhaustive. Nevertheless, it is probable that scientific papers that report related/relevant material are involuntarily omitted.

Practical implications

By means of a detailed review of the literature, the paper identifies specific themes for future research. The paper also should be of help to practitioners as it gathers the empirical evidence regarding the compatibility/trade‐off situation between delivery reliability and other areas of manufacturing.

Originality/value

Some papers have dealt with literature reviews on manufacturing strategy as a whole. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that offers a literature review on delivery reliability. This paper also suggests a novel model of manufacturing efficiency and also proposes a methodology (data envelopment analysis) with which this approach can be examined in more detail.
The role of federal government funding on the outreach programs of independent industrial R&D establishments in Canada
Authors: Tesfayohannes Mengsteab
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Properly nurtured and financially supported independent industrial R&D institutions (IRDIs) can play a pivotal role in converting knowledge into commercially exploitable applications in manufacturing industries particularly in the small and medium ones. The purpose of this paper is to present various evidence to enhance government awareness that Canadian R&D funding agenda should be streamlined as the way to strengthen the outreach capacity of Canadian IRDIs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a variety of evidence, the position and role of IRDIs in Germany, Japan, the USA and Canada are highlighted. This is done to reveal the current position and outreach of IRDIs in each country and through that to recommend helpful strategies to strengthen the Canadian IRDIs and foster their contribution to the manufacturing technology development.

Findings

The study revealed the weak position of Canadian IRDIs in comparison with their counterparts in the USA, Japan and Germany. The paper proposed strategies and approaches on how IRDIs should be financially and technically supported to expand their outreach in the Canadian manufacturing sector.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides secondary data‐based evidence intended to serve as a background for more focused case supported future research.

Practical implications

Stakeholders at both government and industrial sectors may find the recommendations given in the paper as helpful inputs for formulating suitable policies and strategies in this area.

Originality/value

The paper presents vital background information on the important but neglected role of IRDIs in the application and commercialization of knowledge in manufacturing technology and the need to strengthen their position by granting the necessary financial assistance.
Planning, justifying and installing advanced manufacturing technology: a managerial framework
Authors: Small Michael H.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an investigation of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) implementation practices and performance at 82 discrete‐parts durable goods manufacturing plants in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A mail survey was used to gather information about: the types of AMT that the plants were using; the planning, justification and installation activities that were used to support the adoption of these technologies; and changes in plant performance that could be attributed to the AMT adoptions. Several propositions that were derived from the AMT literature are tested.

Findings

Our results indicate that firms that are desirous of adopting integrated technologies should be prepared to exert considerable effort on: fostering a supportive planning environment; integrating investment justification; engendering human and technology resource consistency; and promoting team‐based project planning and installation. Additionally, our analysis indicates that effort on three of these components contribute to explaining improvements in firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

Although this research unveiled some significant findings, there is a need for testing of the propositions on a larger scale.

Practical implications

The managerial framework that is developed in this paper will be particularly useful to firms that are in the pre‐planning stages of AMT adoption or that are considering adding new AMT to their existing technology portfolio.

Originality/value

While most AMT research studies simply report, discuss and explain their findings, this paper goes further by harnessing the findings into a simple managerial framework for the adoption of AMT that is easy to understand and implement.
Space, place and the colonies: re‐reading the Starbucks' story
Authors: Rippin Ann
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to re‐examine a celebrity CEO account using a variety of literary forms to uncover discourses of colonisation. Focuses on theprobanza de méritoand the wonder tale or traveller's tale. Ideas of Non‐Place (Augé) and spatial practices (Lefebvre) conclude the analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A close reading of the account of the building of the Starbucks retail empire, given in the CEO account:Pour Your Heart into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Timeagainst the text, gives insights into the strategy and internal logic of the company founder which might otherwise be missed.

Findings

The account reveals the nature of the published account of the growth of the company as analogous to many of the accounts of the colonisation of the new world. The analysis of spatial practices at the company is used to explain some of the most successful resistance to its expansion.

Originality/value

Uses a wide range of theory to unpack celebrity success narrative and reveal counter‐narrative of practice.
The internationalization of family SME
Authors: Basly Sami
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Owing to its specificities, the family small and medium enterprise (SME) shows a particular behavior as for the creation, development, sharing, protection and transmission of knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to study the specificities of the processes of knowledge creation and development in family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a questionnaire, hypotheses of the model were tested. The study is based on 118 firms belonging to various industries. After evaluating the reliability and validity of the items through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the model was tested through structural equation modeling (LISREL).

Findings

The model retained induces the following conclusions. Internationalization knowledge positively influences internationalization degree of the firm. The conservatism of family SME does not directly influence the level of internationalization knowledge. The influence of conservatism on internationalization knowledge is exerted only through the decisional dimension of independence orientation. The independence orientation of family SME, then with its two dimensions simultaneously (decisional and resource independence), does not significantly influence internationalization knowledge. Contrary to decisional independence which influences indirectly the degree of internationalization (through the intermediation of internationalization knowledge), resource independence influences directly the dependant variable. The mediation of internationalization knowledge is thus not totally proven. Social networking positively influences the amount of internationalization knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

A major weakness is the absence of a synchronic approach as the dependent and independent variables are measured at the same moment. A more longitudinal approach would be valuable to analyze the causal relationships between the independent variables and internationalization knowledge and internationalization degree. A second limitation is that the characteristics of the sample may limit the generalizability of the results.

Originality/value

To the author's knowledge, the paper is the first of its kind to examine the knowledge‐based processes in family businesses.
Creating the ultimate baby and toddler‐friendly environment
Authors: Cowles Stephen
Published: June 2007

Shows how store design and in‐store communications can make shopping trips easier and more fun for both parents and children. Outlines the core requirements: enough space to move around the store, ease of access from outside, and clear navigation and displays. Suggests how stores can improve the communication of their values: memorable window displays, strong departments using better POS, personal touches to encourage customer loyalty, graphics, highlighting prices and age ranges in busy areas like toys, and visual merchandising for impact. Includes the case study of Daisy and Tom’s department store in Manchester, UK, which was designed by Dalziel & Pow.
The retail world from a child’s perspective
Authors: Coughlin Ron , Wong Tom
Published: June 2007

Outlines how analysing the way that children think ‐ and shop ‐ will help brand managers and marketers. Focuses on the Strottman Kid Engineers, a US project which gave children from ages 6 to 9 headbands containing video cameras, and assigned them to grocery stores, where they would choose the 20 items they most wanted. Discusses the results: promotions were important, and visual rather than verbal promotional communication was popular; children expect and appreciate innovation in the grocery store; favoured hot‐spots were the cereal, snacks and dairy aisles, plus lunchables; children were influenced by in‐store signage; and the draw of licensed properties is stronger than ever.
Advertising and obesity: the research evidence
Authors: Lvovich Stephanie
Published: June 2007

Looks at the important health issue of obesity, focusing on the often‐neglected scientific evidence on its causes, and possible links between obesity and advertising. Covers attitudes to physical activity and diet, the failure of Europeans to match recommended levels of activity, family eating habits and their effects on children, the importance of habit regarding fat consumption, the role of genetics, socio‐economic status in developed and developing countries, and the role of advertising. Concludes that the literature confirms that obesity is multi‐factorial, and that there is no direct evidence of a causal relationship between food advertising and obesity levels.
Look who’s talking: family communication during purchase decisions
Authors: Thomson Elizabeth
Published: June 2007

Discusses a research project which focuses on how decisions are made, rather than on who makes them, and in particular on the communication involved when all members of a family participate in buying a product; the family is the most important consumer buying unit in society. Outlines how respondents were recruited in northeast Scotland, with children between 13 and 15 targeted; the research consisted of a questionnaire, interviews, and a decision‐mapping tool in the form of posters. Distinguishes formal and informal communication modes, the former tending to prevail if the decision was urgent; two‐way communication or one‐way, ie parent to child; and communications pairs and subgroups, including parent communication, child communication, and parent and child communication. Concludes that the research families adopted varying degrees of formality and communication directions, and that parents and children often worked together rather than in opposition to each other, with the child focusing on the parent who was most interested in the product.
Marketing of tourism: a paradigm shift toward sustainability
Authors: Jamrozy Ute
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a shift in the tourism marketing paradigm away from economic profit priorities toward sustainability. The sustainability approach adopts a holistic, integrated view of marketing, considering social equity, environmental protection, and economic livability. The paper seeks to examine the evolving model for the tourism marketing environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paradigm shift naturally occurs by tracing the evolution of marketing approaches from production, sales, and a consumer orientation toward marketing alternatives such as societal, causal, green, responsible, and relationship marketing. Adapting a living system theory to tourism marketing, a sustainable tourism marketing model integrates tourism into a larger holistic context and focuses on marketing a quality of life for all stakeholders in the system.

Findings

While alternative approaches to tourism marketing include societal consideration such as tourism impacts and environmental segmentation strategies, this paper considers the triple bottom line as more sustainable objectives in tourism marketing and adopts an integrated view on tourism marketing.

Research limitations/implications

The model suggests a paradigm shift that needs to be explored further.

Practical implications

The paper illustrates how tourism marketing can be integrated into more sustainable urban marketing strategies.

Originality/value

Instead of viewing tourism as a separate for profit industry, the model suggests an integration of tourism into a holistic, sustainable, quality of life marketing approach of living communities.
Ifa, the deity of wisdom, and importance of work among the Yoruba people
Authors: Olurode Lai
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To provide a background examination of the role of work and self‐employment, and their relationship with religious beliefs for the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

An in‐depth discussion regarding the Yoruba world view and the key components of the Yoruba peoples' religion is provided. In particular, these elements are discussed within the context of the Yoruba's historical attitudes regarding work, self‐employment, markets, investment, and social support.

Findings

For the Yoruba people, work always has a supernatural dimension to it, and the chosen profession is rarely left to chance. Hard work is valued and encouraged, from childhood to death. In order to obtain tangible rewards, an individual must match his ori with his chosen field of work. The Yoruba believe in a gentle rise to wealth, and that success is based upon consultation with deities, ancestors, and religious intermediaries. Under Yoruba tradition, successful individuals should sponsor, hard‐working, but less fortunate people, but reciprocity is highly valued. For the Yoruba, the highest form of employment is self‐employment. A combination of these factors has resulted in a well established and historically successful market‐based system.

Research limitations/implications

Yoruba traditions have been important in framing modern culture in Nigeria, and parts of many other African nations. Yoruba immigrants are also well established in other countries through out the world, including Brazil, Cuba, and the USA. Although many modern Yoruba are now Christian or Moslem, the Yoruba culture and historical attitudes about work, markets, and self‐employment are still critically important in framing our understanding of the economic structure of these communities.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few efforts that specifically examines economic forces within the broader context of religion for the Yoruba people.
The industrial revolution and beyond
Authors: Honig Benson , Leslie Black Elizabeth
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To examine empirically a previously overlooked aspect of entrepreneurship: community “dis‐entrepreneurship”. Through the lens of political and historical theory, the authors propose learning from unusual circumstances of failure in order to inform social policy regarding factors that facilitate community entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on political and economic theory, formulating propositions that are tested using interpretive methods.

Findings

Strong patron‐client relations were found to negatively impact the formation of diversity and meritocracy necessary for entrepreneurial environments to thrive. They also account for an inward orientation that negatively influenced investments in infrastructure. Path dependent processes were found to hold sway regarding the stability of political/social norms.

Originality/value

This is the first paper of which the authors are aware that considers issues related to community dis‐entrepreneurship. The paper highlights the importance of effective community leadership.
Disclosure in the annual reports of Australian government departments
Authors: Herawaty Merry , Hoque Zahirul
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Annual reports are perceived to be important sources of information about government departments' performance, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness. This paper aims to report on an empirical study that explores the current disclosure practices by Australian government departments.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the research aim, the paper assesses the 2005‐2006 annual reports of 56 Australia Government departments. It analyses 47 mandatory disclosures and 20 voluntary disclosures reported by the subject organizations. It employs a disclosure index to calculate the level of disclosures.

Findings

The findings reveal that the voluntary disclosure level is higher than the mandatory disclosure in the subject departments. Further, it is found that the annual reports of government departments reveal a low level of disclosures in the areas of human resources, asset management, external scrutiny, purchasing, and contracting.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on published annual reports only. Therefore, it provides little in‐depth insights into the current disclosure practice within the subject organizations.

Originality/value

The findings reported in this paper will be of value to both theoretical and empirical studies of how organizational and institutional forces may affect the level of disclosure in the annual reports of public sector organizations. The study will provide basis for further research into this area in various international settings. Practically, this study will assist government departmental management to continue improving their quality of reporting.
Baobabs and elephants in Kruger National Park: nowhere to hide
Authors: Edkins M. T. , Kruger L. M. , Harris K. , Midgley J. J.
Published: June 2007

Baobab size class distributions were surveyed in the Limpopo National Park (LNP), Mozambique, and the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. There are very few elephants in the LNP and the baobab population there had a reverse J‐shaped size class distribution with many small baobabs. In contrast, the elephant‐impacted baobab population of KNP displayed a mono‐modal size‐class distribution, with a lack in recruitment. Within KNP, elephant impact (percentage bark stripped up to the height of 3 m) decreased with increasing rockiness and slope steepness. We interpret this to suggest that steep rocky slopes are inaccessible to elephants and therefore these sites may act as a refuge for baobabs. In such inaccessible areas, the baobab population has a similar size‐class distribution to that of the populations in the LNP. However, these baobab refugia are restricted in the northern KNP landscape and are therefore probably not large enough to sustain a viable baobab population.
Reproducibility of the capsaicin‐induced dermal blood flow response as assessed by laser Doppler perfusion imaging
Authors: Van der Schueren B. J. , De Hoon J. N. , Vanmolkot F. H. , Van Hecken A. , Depre M. , Kane S. A. , De Lepeleire I. , Sinclair S. R.
Published: June 2007

What is already known about this subject

• Capsaicin rapidly produces local neurogenic inflammation (characterized by oedema and erythema) when locally administered to the human skin by binding to the TRPV1 receptor present on dermal sensory nerve endings.

• In nonhuman primates, a pharmacodynamic assay has been described and validated using capsaicin‐induced dermal vasodilation measured by laser Doppler perfusion imaging to assess calcitonin gene‐related peptide antagonist activity.

• Laser Doppler perfusion imaging has also been shown to be a reliable method for characterizing microvascular changes in the human skin.

What this study adds

• Capsaicin induces a reproducible within‐subject arm‐to‐arm increase in dermal blood flow (DBF) when applied to the human skin.

• This is the first study to describe a non‐invasive pharmacodynamic model in humans using capsaicin‐induced neurogenic inflammation and allowing repeated, reproducible measurements of DBF to be performed.

• This model might therefore be utilized in the early clinical evaluation of antagonists of putative mediators involved in capsaicin‐induced dermal vasodilation.

Aims

Part I: to establish the dose and appropriate application site of capsaicin on the human forearm in order to produce a robust and reproducible dermal blood flow (DBF) response. Part II: to evaluate the within‐subject arm‐to‐arm and period‐to‐period reproducibility.

Methods

Both parts consisted of two study visits. In part I, placebo and 100, 300 and 1000 µg capsaicin were applied at four predefined sites on the volar surface of both forearms. Placebo and capsaicin doses were randomized and balanced by site between subjects. Changes in DBF were assessed by laser Doppler perfusion imaging up to 60 min after capsaicin application. In part II, only 1000 µg capsaicin was applied on the proximal forearm and changes in DBF assessed up to 30 min (t30). DBF response was expressed as percent change from baseline ± SD and the corresponding AUC0−30. Reproducibility assessment included calculation of the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC).

Results

Part I (n = 12 subjects): compared with placebo, 300 and 1000 µg capsaicin increased DBF (P < 0.05) at all time points except at 10 min. This increase was reproducible at the two most proximal sites from the 30‐min time point onwards when compared between arms (CCC ≥ 0.8, i.e. substantial to almost perfect reproducibility). In part II (n = 11),t30averaged 390 ± 120% and arm‐to‐arm reproducibility was almost perfect (CCC = 0.91) for AUC0−30.

Conclusions

Capsaicin induces a reproducible within‐subject arm‐to‐arm increase in DBF. We provide a non‐invasive pharmacodynamic model in humans to test antagonists of mediators involved in capsaicin‐induced dermal vasodilation, including calcitonin gene‐related peptide antagonists.
Operational implications of using 2006 World Health Organization growth standards in nutrition programmes: secondary data analysis
Authors: Reading Richard
Published: June 2007

.
 
Seal A,
Kerac M
. (
2007
)

,
334
,
733
–
735
.
 
doi: 10.1136/bmj.39101.664109.AE

Objective  To assess the implications of adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth standards in combination with current diagnostic criteria in emergency and non‐emergency child feeding programmes.

Design  Secondary analysis of data from three standardized nutrition surveys (n = 2555) for prevalence of acute malnutrition, using weight‐for‐height z‐score (<−2 and <−3) and percentage of the median (<80% and <70%) cut‐offs for moderate and severe acute malnutrition from the National Center for Health Statistics/WHO growth reference (NCHS reference) and the new WHO 2006 growth standards (WHO standards).

Setting  Refugee camps in Algeria, Kenya and Bangladesh.

Population  Children aged 6–59 months.

Results  Important differences exist in the weight‐for‐height cut‐offs used for defining acute malnutrition obtained from the WHO standards and NCHS reference data. These vary according to a child's height and according to whether z‐score or percentage of the median cut‐offs are used. If applied and used according to current practice in nutrition programmes, the WHO standards will result in a higher measured prevalence of severe acute malnutrition during surveys but, paradoxically, a decrease in the admission of children to emergency feeding programmes and earlier discharge of recovering patients. The expected impact on case fatality rates of applying the new standards in conjunction with current diagnostic criteria is unknown.

Conclusions  A full assessment of the appropriate use of the new WHO standards in the diagnosis of acute malnutrition is urgently needed. This should be completed before the standards are adopted by organizations that run nutrition programmes targeting acute malnutrition.
Parenting programme for parents of children at risk of developing conduct disorder: cost effectiveness analysis
Authors: Reading Richard
Published: June 2007

.
 
Edwards RT,
Céilleachair A,
Bywater T,
Hughes DA,
Hutchings J
. (
2007
)

,
334
,
682
–
685
.
 
doi: 10.1136/bmj.39126.699421.55

Objective  To investigate the cost‐effectiveness of a parenting programme.

Design  An incremental cost‐effectiveness analysis alongside a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a group‐parenting programme delivered through Sure Start in the community.

Setting  Sure Start areas in north and mid‐Wales.

Participants  Parents of 116 children aged 36–59 months (87% of the clinical sample) at risk of developing conduct disorders (defined by scoring over the clinical cut‐off on the Eyberg child behaviour inventory). Children were identified by health visitors and recruited by the research team.

Intervention  The Webster‐Stratton Incredible Years basic parenting programme or a 6‐month waiting list control.

Main outcome measure  Incremental cost per unit of improvement on the intensity score of the Eyberg child behaviour inventory.

Results  The bootstrapped incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio point estimate was £73 (€109, $142) per one point improvement on the intensity score (95% confidence interval £42 to £140). It would cost £5486 (€8190, $10 666) to bring the child with the highest intensity score to below the clinical cut‐off point and £1344 (€2006, $2618) to bring the average child in the intervention group within the non‐clinical limits on the intensity score (below 127). For a ceiling ratio of £100 (€149, $194) per point increase in intensity score, there is an 83.9% chance of the intervention being cost‐effective. The mean cost per child attending the parenting group was £1934 (€2887, $3760) for eight children and £1289 (€1924, $2506) for 12 children, including initial costs and materials for training group leaders. When we categorized the sample into relatively mild, moderate and severe behaviour groups based on intensity scores at baseline, the intervention seemed more cost‐effective in those with the highest risk of developing conduct disorder.

Conclusion  This parenting programme improves child behaviour as measured by the intensity score of the Eyberg child behaviour inventory at a relatively low cost and was cost‐effective compared with the waiting list control. This parenting programme involves modest costs and demonstrates strong clinical effect, suggesting it would represent good value for money for public spending.
Effect of inhaled interleukin‐5 on eosinophil progenitors in the bronchi and bone marrow of asthmatic and non‐asthmatic volunteers
Authors: Menzies‐Gow A. N. , Flood‐Page P. T. , Robinson D. S. , Kay A. B.
Published: June 2007

Background
Asthma is characterized by increases in mature eosinophils and their progenitors within the bronchus and bone marrow. IL‐5 plays a key role in eosinophil development in the bone marrow and at the site of allergic inflammation. We therefore studied the effects of nebulized IL‐5 on eosinophils, their progenitors and in situ haemopoiesis within the airway and bone marrow.

Methods
Nine atopic asthmatics and 10 non‐atopic non‐asthmatic control volunteers inhaled 10 μg of IL‐5 or placebo via a nebulizer in a double‐blind, randomized, cross‐over study. Bronchoscopy, bone marrow aspiration and peripheral blood sampling were performed 24 h after nebulization. Four weeks later, volunteers inhaled the alternative solution and underwent a repeat bronchoscopy and bone marrow aspiration.

Results
Inhalation of IL‐5 significantly decreased CD34+/IL‐5Rα mRNA+ cells within the bronchial mucosa and the percentage of CD34+ cells that were CCR3+ within the bone marrow of atopic asthmatic, but not control, volunteers. Inhalation of IL‐5 also induced a significant increase in bronchial mucosal eosinophils in the non‐atopic non‐asthmatic control volunteers, but not in the asthmatics. IL‐5 had no effect on spirometry or airways hyper‐reactivity in either group.

Conclusions
Inhaled IL‐5 modulated eosinophil progenitor numbers in both the airways and bone marrow of asthmatics and induced local eosinophilia in non‐asthmatics.
Delayed drug hypersensitivity reactions – new concepts
Authors: Posadas S. J. , Pichler W. J.
Published: June 2007

Immune reactions to small molecular compounds such as drugs can cause a variety of diseases mainly involving skin, but also liver, kidney, lungs and other organs. In addition to the well‐known immediate, IgE‐mediated reactions to drugs, many drug‐induced hypersensitivity reactions appear delayed. Recent data have shown that in these delayed reactions drug‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells recognize drugs through their T cell receptors (TCR) in an MHC‐dependent way. Immunohistochemical and functional studies of drug‐reactive T cells in patients with distinct forms of exanthems revealed that distinct T cell functions lead to different clinical phenotypes. Taken together, these data allow delayed hypersensitivity reactions (type IV) to be further subclassified into T cell reactions, which by releasing certain cytokines and chemokines preferentially activate and recruit monocytes (type IVa), eosinophils (type IVb), or neutrophils (type IVd). Moreover, cytotoxic functions by either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells (type IVc) seem to participate in all type IV reactions. Drugs are not only immunogenic because of their chemical reactivity, but also because they may bind in a labile way to available TCRs and possibly MHC‐molecules. This seems to be sufficient to stimulate certain, probably preactivated T cells. The drug seems to bind first to the fitting TCR, which already exerts some activation. For full activation, an additional interaction of the TCR with the MHC molecules is needed. The drug binding to the receptor structures is reminiscent of a pharmacological interaction between a drug and its (immune) receptor and was thus termed the p–i concept. In some patients with drug hypersensitivity, such a response occurs within hours even upon the first exposure to the drug. The T cell reaction to the drug might thus not be due to a classical, primary response, but is due to peptide‐specific T cells which happen to be stimulated by a drug. This new concept has major implications for understanding clinical and immunological features of drug hypersensitivity and a model to explain the frequent skin symptoms in drug hypersensitivity is proposed.