bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of innovation in adopting a renewable residential energy system
Authors: Tapaninen Aija , Seppänen Marko , Mäkinen Saku
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the criteria influencing the adoption of innovation in the empirical context of renewable residential energy solutions, particularly the wood pellet heating system.

Design/methodology/approach

The study carried out an extensive literature review on Rogers’ characteristics of innovation theory and then complemented it with a content analysis on empirically perceived characteristics of wood pellet heating systems.

Findings

The literature review shows that most of the previous studies employ the characteristics of innovation but do not confirm the usability of the Rogers framework as a whole. In addition, our empirical results demonstrate that relative advantage is the predominant characteristic in the adoption of residential energy systems.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the literature review and the biases of empirical findings are discussed. For instance, there are limitations that the study is based on single country data and its theoretical approach relies on only one theory, Rogers’ characteristics of innovation.

Practical implications

In order to achieve sustainable strategic advantage, firms providing renewable energy solutions should attempt to communicate clearly the relative advantages instead of attempting to, for instance, offer an opportunity for trialling such green energy systems.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the use of characteristics of innovation and further empirically examines the perceived characteristics of an innovation considering green investments in residential heating systems. Owing to the exploratory nature of the study, the results provide a gateway to a number of possible avenues for future research.
Actuarial insights into the global banking catastrophe
Authors: Clarkson Robert S.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the underlying causes of the series of banking disasters that unfolded from July 2007 onwards and to suggest what action should be taken to avoid a repetition.

Design/methodology/approach

The practices and culture that have evolved in banking over recent decades are compared and contrasted with general principles of actuarial science and with Adam Smith's blueprint for a well‐functioning market economy as set out in his Wealth of Nations. Recent instances of financial turmoil such as the Northern Rock debacle and the global “credit crunch” are then viewed from a longer term perspective.

Findings

The serious weaknesses identified by comparisons with actuarial science and the wisdom of Adam Smith, amplified by perverse methodologies of finance theory and “fair value” accounting and unchecked by the lax regulatory framework, take not only the global banking industry, but also the entire global economy to the point where the self‐stabilising properties of Western capitalism are destroyed. To avoid a repetition, banking practices and culture must be completely rebuilt along actuarial and “Adam Smith” lines, the destabilising methodologies of finance theory and “fair value” accounting must be abandoned, and the new and more prudent approach must be rigorously enforced by a strong regulatory regime.

Originality/value

By adopting a longer term actuarial perspective, the paper identifies deeper problems and suggests more fundamental solutions than have generally been the case in the continuing debate as to the best way forward in rebuilding a robust financial system.
The sub‐prime crisis, the credit crunch and bank “failure”
Authors: Hall Maximilian J.B.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explain how UK bank failure resolution policy has evolved since the nationalisation of Northern Rock in February 2008 in the light of the fallout from the sub‐prime crisis and the subsequent credit crunch.

Design/methodology/approach

The evolution of the UK authorities' approach, from a piecemeal approach to a comprehensive, system‐wide approach, is traced through analysis of the treatment accorded the troubled entities Alliance and Leicester, HBOS (both the subject of separate officially brokered takeover‐rescues) and Bradford and Bingley (eventually nationalised, like Northern Rock) prior to consideration of the two industry‐wide bailout schemes introduced in October 2008 and January 2009.

Findings

Confounding initial hopes, Northern Rock proves to be just the first of a series of major institutional casualties of the fallout from the sub‐prime crisis, eventually necessitating a comprehensive and system‐wide solution. While this successfully prevents the system from literally collapsing in the Autumn of 2008, in the wake of the decision not to rescue Lehman Brothers in the USA, it fails to stimulate lending, as intended. Accordingly, a second industry bailout package was introduced in January 2009, but even this may fail to secure the main goals of intervention‐financial stability and a resuscitation of bank lending to support the ailing economy‐heralding possible further state inroads into domestic bank ownership.

Originality/value

The paper clearly identifies the need for, and nature of, both the ad hoc and system‐wide solutions adopts to deal with individual cases of institutional “failure” and the wider stability concerns, respectively. The authorities' actions are subject to critical analysis, while a personal assessment of both the House of Commons Treasury Committee's report on Northern Rock and the tripartite authorities' reform proposals, which culminate in the Banking Act of 2009, is also provided.
The regulation of British retail banking utilities
Authors: Mullineux Andy
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider in the light of the post August 2007 banking crises, how “fair” access to retail banking services for British households and small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) can be assured.

Design/methodology/approach

The current responsibility for assuring the bank customers are “treated fairly” belongs to the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The paper argues for the establishment of a banking commission to regulate retail banks as utilities, leaving the FSA to concentrate on prudential (“risk based”) supervision of bank and non‐bank financial institutions.

Findings

If access to payments services is infrastructural and access to finance is regarded as essential in a modern society, then retail banks should be regulated as utilities.

Originality/value

The banking crisis led to calls for banks to maintain lending to SMEs and households (especially mortgages). This implies that access to finance, like access to water and electricity, should be assured and that customers should be protected against the “monopoly” powers of large suppliers. Hence, retail banks are utilities and should be regulated as such.
Northern Rock shareholders' challenge to basis of compensation in nationalisation considered in high court and court of appeal
Authors: Gray Joanna
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report and comment on Northern Rock shareholders' challenge to basis of compensation in nationalisation considered in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper outlines the facts surrounding the case and comments on the decisions.

Findings

The High Court, in a carefully reasoned judgement which reviewed relevant UK and European Court of Human Rights case law, rejected all the claimants' arguments for judicial review and the claimants appealed to the Court of Appeal.

Originality/value

Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal judgment provide a rare glimpse of the legal process examining the “lender of last resort” function of a central bank – a key technique of macro‐economic policy, the very delicacy and subtlety of which appear to defy ready legal definition.
Police stress: the role of the psychological contract and perceptions of fairness
Authors: Noblet A.J. , Rodwell J.J. , Allisey A.F.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The overall purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which breaches in psychological contracts and perceptions of organizational fairness account for variations in job stress experienced by operational police officers (as measured by psychological distress and employee performance), after controlling for the variance associated with more established job stressors (i.e. job demands, job control and social support).

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on data collected through a self‐report survey involving operational members of a large Australian police force (n=582).

Findings

Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicate that vast majority of explained variance in psychological distress and extra‐role performance is attributed to the additive effects of demand, control, and support. Furthermore, only one of the social exchange dimensions (interpersonal fairness) is predictive of either target variable.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations that need to be taken into account are the cross‐sectional nature of the study design and the focus on a single police service.

Practical implications

Despite the generally weak support for the social exchange variables, there are signs that dimensions of justice (particularly interpersonal justice) should be included in future police‐stress investigations. The results also suggest that job characteristics such as job demand, job control and social support should be taken into account when developing strategies to prevent and/or reduce chronic job stress in policing services.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to examine the relationships between psychological contract breach, perceptions of fairness and police stress.
Police and immigration enforcement
Authors: Vidales Guadalupe , Day Kristen M. , Powe Michael
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Recent years have witnessed a national policy shift towards involving state and local police in enforcing US federal immigration laws. Critics argue that involving local police in enforcing immigration law will decrease Latino(a) and immigrant residents' willingness to report crime and their cooperation with the police, and will also increase racial profiling and negatively impact documented and undocumented residents. This paper aims to examine Latino(a) residents' perceptions of the police before and after an extended local controversy about involving police in enforcing immigration laws in Costa Mesa, California.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports findings of a before‐and‐after study in the Westside area of the City of Costa Mesa, California. Methods include Spanish and English language telephone surveys of Latino(a) and non‐Latino(a) residents in the Westside (n=169 respondents before and n=91 respondents after), conducted in 2002 and in 2007.

Findings

In survey responses, Latino(a) residents report that they are more likely to be stopped by the police in 2007 compared to 2002. Latino(a) respondents also have more negative perceptions of the police, find the police less helpful, feel less accepted in the community, and say that they are less likely to report crimes after the controversy, compared to before.

Originality/value

The findings show the importance of policies that encourage cooperation with and trust of the police. These results can help inform cities about the potential impacts of involving local police in immigration enforcement.
On‐scene victim assistance units within law enforcement agencies
Authors: Smith Ekman Margaret , Seng Magnus Joseph
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The major purpose of this paper is the review of the administration and operation of four on‐scene victim assistance units within law enforcement agencies in one Canadian and three US cities. The primary purpose is to learn how these units operate and the extent to which there are accepted by the officers involved. An additional purpose is learn how many departments nationally had such units.

Design/methodology/approach

The basic methodology includes telephone interviews with key personnel in each unit, an on‐site examination of the Denver, Colorado unit, and a brief survey of large city police departments to learn the extent of on‐scene units in major US cities.

Findings

A review of the administration and operation of each unit reveals that each unit is well managed, integrated into the department's structure, and staffed with paid staff who are members of the department and volunteers. Key to the success of each unit is extensive training of victim specialists and a clear understanding between specialists and police that the officers at the scene are in charge. The findings clearly confirm that such units are well received by officers at all levels. The survey findings indicate that relatively few departments have on‐scene victim assistance units, although most do have some program to address victims' issues.

Originality/value

While there is an extensive literature on victim assistance generally, little has been written about the need for, and operation of, on‐scene victim assistance units that are part of police departments. This article contributes to knowledge in this area and suggests that such units can be a valuable asset to departments.
Chinese police cadets' attitudes toward police role and work
Authors: Sun Ivan Y. , Cretacci Michael A. , Wu Yuning , Jin Cheng
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Chinese police cadets' attitudes toward police roles and their work.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey data collected from 182 cadets in a Chinese police college, this paper assesses the influences of cadets' characteristics and training on their attitudes toward law enforcement, order maintenance, preventive patrol, and community building.

Findings

Cadets without family members or relatives serving as police officers and with stronger physical capability are more likely to support the law enforcement role, while cadets with greater physical capability are less likely to favor order maintenance. Younger cadets and those without a Bachelor's degree are more likely to view preventive patrol as an important goal for the police. Cadets with stronger attitudes toward law enforcement are more likely to regard community building as an important police goal.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should continue to explore factors that influence officers' occupational attitudes and incorporate more attitudinal dimensions into the analysis. Future projects should also target local station officers from different departments.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the first attempts to empirically assess Chinese police cadets' work‐related attitudes. Findings of the study provide Chinese police administrators with useful references and directions to improve police training and enhance police‐community relations.
A business process outsourcing framework based on business process management and knowledge management
Authors: Mahmoodzadeh E. , Jalalinia Sh. , Nekui Yazdi F.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Nowadays, outsourcing has proved to be an enterprise management strategy in the face of globalization and growing competition. The decision to outsource a business process for any organization has far‐reaching consequences and risks. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of business process management (BPM) and knowledge management (KM) on reduction of outsourcing risks and pitfalls.

Design/methodology/approach

Outsourcing models and frameworks are reviewed to find the main risks in outsourcing. One of the most important groups of risks is emergent KM issues arising from widespread outsourcing. A strategic KM approach can reduce this risk. Communication and coordination difficulties between outsourcing partners is another group of risks that could be decreased by using the BPM approach in organizations. Then the contribution of a business process outsourcing (BPO) framework based on BPM and KM lifecycles is tested.

Findings

The paper finds that BPM and KM could reduce risks of outsourcing and enable a BPO lifecycle.

Practical implications

A contemporary case of IEI Company's outsourcing practices with one of its subsidiaries, Irancell, is discussed as an illustrative example.

Originality/value

The paper demystifies BPM and KM could enable BPO via coordinating BPM, KM, and BPO lifecycles.
Avoiding quality fade in Chinese global supply chains
Authors: Enderwick Peter
Published: November 2009

Purpose

China's increasing importance as a major global supplier has coincided in recent years with a number of disturbing cases of quality fade (sudden unexpected deteriorations in agreed quality levels) adversely impacting consumer safety, welfare and brand equity. The most effective responses to the problem of quality fade when sourcing from China are firm‐based. However, the efficacy of such responses assumes the existence of efficient markets and market‐supporting institutions. In the face of widespread market failure overseas, buyers need to carefully structure the global sourcing relationship to minimise the risk of quality fade. This paper seeks to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a comparative discussion approach to explore the three key global sourcing governance structures: contracts, internal organisation, and trust, and assesses their effectiveness in attenuating quality issues under both the general contracting problems of uncertainty and opportunism and the challenges unique to the Chinese business environment.

Findings

The comparative discussion suggests no clear superiority of any one structure and a need to carefully monitor quality performance on an ongoing basis. This suggests that the appropriate structure is contextual and depends on specific needs for information and compliance.

Originality/value

Highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the three major governance structures emphasises trade‐offs that firms sourcing from China may need to make. Increased costs but assured quality may be an acceptable trade‐off when firms are sourcing high‐risk products (foodstuffs, pharmaceutical and vehicle tyres) or serving vulnerable market segments such as children.
House of risk: a model for proactive supply chain risk management
Authors: Nyoman Pujawan I. , Geraldin Laudine H.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Increasingly, companies need to be vigilant with the risks that can harm the short‐term operations as well as the long‐term sustainability of their supply chain (SC). The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework to proactively manage SC risks. The framework will enable the company to select a set of risk agents to be treated and then to prioritize the proactive actions, in order to reduce the aggregate impacts of the risk events induced by those risk agents.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework called house of risk (HOR) is developed, which combines the basic ideas of two well‐known tools: the house of quality of the quality function deployment and the failure mode and effect analysis. The framework consists of two deployment stages. HOR1 is used to rank each risk agent based on their aggregate risk potentials. HOR2 is intended to prioritize the proactive actions that the company should pursue to maximize the cost‐effectiveness of the effort in dealing with the selected risk agents in HOR1. For illustrative purposes, a case study is presented.

Findings

The paper shows that the innovative model presented here is simple but useful to use.

Research limitations/implications

In the proposed framework, the correlations between risk events are ignored, something that future studies should consider including.

Practical implications

The framework is intended to be useful in practice. For the calculation processes, a simple spreadsheet application would be sufficient. However, most of the entries needed in the model are based on subjective judgment and hence cross‐functional involvement is needed.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the SC management literature, a novel practical approach of managing SC risks, in particular to select a set of proactive actions deemed cost‐effective.
An application of returns‐based style analysis to investigating the disappearance of the size premium
Authors: Sawicki Julia
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate explanations for the behaviour of the size premium using measures of large and small stock holdings of mutual funds.

Design/methodology/approach

Returns‐based style analysis is used to measure asset class exposure by regressing equity fund returns on asset class returns over the period 1965 to 2003. The coefficients estimate portfolio asset allocation indicating a fund's investment styles. The estimates from 36‐month rolling regressions of US equity fund returns on various asset classes are aggregated and used as measures of investors' exposure to small stocks. The patterns are analyzed in the context of the behaviour of the abnormal returns to small stocks.

Findings

The results indicate the importance of the 1974‐1975 bear market to the historical size premium and support an overreaction and reversal argument. Exposure to small stocks drops dramatically between 1975 and 1977, suggesting a sell‐off of small stocks. Fund exposure subsequently increases rapidly to its highest levels between 1982 and the market crash of 1987. These patterns are consistent with pricing pressure that would lead to the initial undervaluation and subsequent overvaluation driving returns to small stocks over this period.

Originality/value

The study introduces the application of the returns‐based style analysis methodology to studying an asset‐pricing phenomenon and demonstrates important insights that can be obtained from the use of this methodology in new contexts and at an aggregate level.
The strategic value of sustainable stakeholder management
Authors: Klaas Jagersma Pieter
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between sustainable stakeholder management and reputational capital (of banks).

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth interviews with top executives of global banks, corporations, hedge funds, World Bank, IMF, SEC, ECB and politicians.

Findings

A bank's overall reputation is a function of its reputation among its various stakeholders in specific categories (e.g., product quality; customer service; financial performance; handling of environmental and societal issues; intellectual capital, etc.). Building a name that matters involves maximizing all characteristics. There is a very strong consensus across our research population that sustainable stakeholder management is required. The interviewees selected four outstanding “stakeholder management banks”: Santander (Spain), Rabobank (The Netherlands), HSBC Bank (UK) and Nordea (Sweden).

Research implications/limitations

Building, sustaining and defending a solid stakeholder management reputation is a crucially important aspect of bank management, but it is an area where understanding could be developed much further. The focus of this study is on the strategic value of sustainable stakeholder management. However, superior operational effectiveness is at least as important a source of competitive advantage as sustainable stakeholder management.

Practical implications

The ability of a sustainable stakeholder management reputation to deliver proven value flows straight to the bottom line. It is senior management's responsibility to manage the bank so as to develop and maintain a solid sustainable stakeholder management reputation. The strength of a bank's name depends on how well it has fulfilled its promise to stakeholders over time.

Originality/value

Future leadership in banking will require significant commitment to sustainable stakeholder management. The “reputations to restore” motto provides the main rationale for banks to build a sustainable stakeholder management mindset. In doing so, they preserve market positions, margins, and organizational vitality.
Turning the tables on performance reviews: how to create a better process that empowers, energizes and rewards your employees
Authors: Myrna John W.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share findings from consulting engagements on performance reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

A case‐study method was used to demonstrate the obstacles to what maintains many organizations.

Practical implications

The paper outlines deliberate steps that will transform the performance review process by shifting responsibility to the employee.

Originality/value

The paper provides new insights on effective performance reviews.
A study of quality from the perspective of the university graduates
Authors: Navehebrahim Abdolrahim
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate higher education quality from the perspective of university graduates.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Kaufman and Herman's model of education output as well as Yamani Doozi Sorkhabi, a researcher‐designed questionnaire is used to collect the data requiring response to five questions in the study. Research questions addressed such areas as: first, the adequacy of the curriculum; second, the status of the graduates in the job market; third, graduates' perception of their educational experience; fourth, desire to engage in future research; fifth, ability of graduates to interact with the university. For each research question, a group of indicators are defined. The validity of indicators is confirmed by experts in the field. Cronbach's alpha indicated a reliability of 79 percent. The population comprised 700 graduates holding BSc degree in basic sciences from a small‐sized university. A total of 250 of these students comprised a random sample. A total of 126 responses are received.

Findings

Results indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the curriculum, relative satisfaction with the educational experience, but low satisfaction with the acquisition of research abilities and research experience.

Practical implications

Universities need to be constantly rethinking, restructuring, and revitalizing their programs with employment skills in mind. In the case of a program in basic sciences, the ability to engage in some elements of research is a relevant employment skill yet, in the university under study, despite the fact that students generally enjoyed their educational experience; it seems they acquired little in the way of the skills required in the market place. Universities need to ensure that mechanisms are in place to obtain alumni and employer feedback to enable programs of study to not only be interesting, but also relevant to the community. However, despite the graduates' interest in an ongoing interaction with the university (83 percent of interest), the university under study did not emphasize such interaction. This is rather shortsighted given the need for modern universities to be responsive to the various stakeholders.

Originality/value

This paper should be of value to education leaders, educational planners, as well as university professors who are interested in ensuring that university curricula are current and relevant.
Optimizing business education: a strategic response to global challenges
Authors: Mohamed Ehab K.A.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges facing business education in providing students with the knowledge and skills that raise their competency level to meet that required by the market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a framework for closing the gap between the business education delivered by universities and the current needs of the business community.

Findings

There seems to be a perception that education can fix all the problems. That results in a perceived gap between what is expected from business education and what is actually provided. The rapid spread of globalization and enormous developments in information technology (IT) has led to dramatic changes in the business environment and business education needs to be responsive to these changes.

Practical implications

There is a general consensus that business curricula need improvement given the considerable challenges that face businesses today including dealing with emerging globalization, new economic challenges, rapid IT developments, and the requirements for human capital with multi‐facet skills. Business schools that prepare future managers in different disciplines have a responsibility to close the gap between the skills acquired by business graduates and the skills required in global markets.

Originality/value

The paper provides a framework for closing the gap between acquired and required skills and a client‐oriented strategic plan for a degree program.
Foundations of swarm robotic chemical plume tracing from a fluid dynamics perspective
Authors: Spears Diana F. , Thayer David R. , Zarzhitsky Dimitri V.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

In light of the current international concerns with security and terrorism, interest is increasing on the topic of using robot swarms to locate the source of chemical hazards. The purpose of this paper is to place this task, called chemical plume tracing (CPT), in the context of fluid dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a foundation for CPT based on the physics of fluid dynamics. The theoretical approach is founded upon source localization using the divergence theorem of vector calculus, and the fundamental underlying notion of the divergence of the chemical mass flux. A CPT algorithm called fluxotaxis is presented that follows the gradient of this mass flux to locate a chemical source emitter.

Findings

Theoretical results are presented confirming that fluxotaxis will guide a robot swarm toward chemical sources, and away from misleading chemical sinks. Complementary empirical results demonstrate that in simulation, a swarm of fluxotaxis‐guided mobile robots rapidly converges on a source emitter despite obstacles, realistic vehicle constraints, and flow regimes ranging from laminar to turbulent. Fluxotaxis outperforms the two leading competitors, and the theoretical results are confirmed experimentally. Furthermore, initial experiments on real robots show promise for CPT in relatively uncontrolled indoor environments.

Practical implications

A physics‐based approach is shown to be a viable alternative to existing mainly biomimetic approaches to CPT. It has the advantage of being analyzable using standard physics analysis methods.

Originality/value

The fluxotaxis algorithm for CPT is shown to be “correct” in the sense that it is guaranteed to point toward a true source emitter and not be fooled by fluid sinks. It is experimentally (in simulation), and in one case also theoretically, shown to be superior to its leading competitors at finding a source emitter in a wide variety of challenging realistic environments.
Graph exploration with robot swarms
Authors: Wang Hui , Jenkin Michael , Dymond Patrick
Published: November 2009

Purpose

A simultaneous solution to the localization and mapping problem of a graph‐like environment by a swarm of robots requires solutions to task coordination and map merging. The purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of two different map‐merging strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Building a representation of the environment is a key problem in robotics where the problem is known as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). When large groups of robots operate within the environment, the SLAM problem becomes complicated by issues related to coordination of the elements of the swarm and integration of the environmental representations obtained by individual swarm elements. This paper considers these issues within the formalism of a group of simulated robots operating within a graph‐like environment. Starting at a common node, the swarm partitions the unknown edges of the known graph and explores the graph for a pre‐arranged period. The swarm elements then meet at a particular time and location to integrate their partial world models. This process is repeated until the entire world has been mapped. A correctness proof of the algorithm is presented, and different coordination strategies are compared via simulation.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that a swarm of identical robots, each equipped with its own marker, and capable of simple sensing and action abilities, can explore and map an unknown graph‐like environment. Moreover, experimental results show that exploration with multiple robots can provide an improvement in exploration effort over a single robot and that this improvement does not scale linearly with the size of the swarm.

Research limitations/implications

The paper represents efforts toward exploration and mapping in a graph‐like world with robot swarms. The paper suggests several extensions and variations including the development of adaptive partitioning and rendezvous schedule strategies to further improve both overall swarm efficiency and individual robot utilization during exploration.

Originality/value

The novelty associated with this paper is the formal extension of the single robot graph‐like exploration of Dudeket al.to robot swarms. The paper here examines fundamental limits to multiple robot SLAM and does this within a topological framework. Results obtained within this topological formalism can be readily transferred to the more traditional metric representation.
Mantle cell lymphoma shows three morphological evolutions of classical, intermediate, and aggressive forms, which occur in parallel with increased labeling index of cyclin D1 and Ki‐67
Authors: Kimura Yoshizo , Sato Kensaku , Arakawa Fumiko , Karube Kennosuke , Nomura Yuko , Shimizu Kei , Aoki Ryosuke , Hashikawa Keiko , Yoshida Shiro , Kiyasu Junichi , Takeuchi Masanori , Nino Daisuke , Sugita Yasuo , Morito Toshiaki , Yoshino Tadashi , Nakamura Shigeo , Kikuchi Masahiro , Ohshima Koichi
Published: November 2009

(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 806–814)

Although the 2008 World Health Organization classification defines two subtypes of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), classical and aggressive, we often encounter MCL with both features in the same site. We named this feature "MCL with focal aggressive form (intermediate MCL)”. In the present study, we reclassified 237 patients with cyclin D1 (CCND1)‐positive MCL on the basis of the concept of intermediate MCL, and analyzed the correlation of this reclassification with immunohistochemical detection of CCND1, Ki‐67, p53, p27Kip1, and p21WAF/Cip1. The median overall survival was 77, 31, and 18 months for classical, intermediate, and aggressive MCL, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001). The expression levels of CCND1, Ki‐67, p53, and p21WAF/Cip1 in aggressive MCL (mean 80.1 ± 27.8%, 73.7 ± 28.9%, 31.0 ± 69.0%, and 10.4 ± 24.8%, respectively) were higher than those in classical MCL (mean 58.1 ± 36.7%, 25.2 ± 25.5%, 6.5 ± 24.3%, and 2.5 ± 13.0%, respectively) and intermediate MCL (mean 75.7 ± 31.4%, 30.8 ± 33.3%, 21.0 ± 57.4%, and 4.8 ± 16.5%, respectively). Significantly different levels of Ki‐67 and p21WAF/Cip1 were only recognized between intermediate and aggressive (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001, respectively), whereas those of CCND1 and p53 were only between classical and intermediate (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in p27Kip1 among the three groups. The subsequent discriminant analysis with independent prognostic factors clearly demonstrated that the morphological evolution of MCL occurs in parallel with increased labeling index of CCND1 and Ki‐67. The diagnosis of intermediate MCL thus proved to be of major significance and should enable the design of more tailored therapies.
A Quantitative trait locus responsible for inducing B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is a hotspot for microsatellite instability
Authors: Kaszynski Richard H. , Akatsuka Shinya , Hiratsuka Takuya , Jin Guang , Ozeki Munetaka , Okuno Tomoko , Nakamura Takuro , Manabe Toshiaki , Takakuwa Tetsuya , Hiai Hiroshi , Toyokuni Shinya , Tamaki Keiji , Tsuruyama Tatsuaki
Published: November 2009

(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 800–805)

While the molecular mechanisms underlying microsatellite instability (MSI) have been exhaustively investigated, identifying the patterns of MSI distribution within diverse cancer genomes has remained an elusive issue. In the present study, we conducted genome‐wide MSI screening in B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphomas (B‐LBL) which spontaneously develop in the SL/Kh strain of mice. Tumor samples harvested from 16 mice were investigated using a framework map consisting of 150 microsatellite markers spaced at increments of roughly 0.5–3.0 centimorgans, spanning the entirety of mouse chromosomes (mus musculus chromosomes [MMU]) 3–6. MMU3 contains a quantitative trait locus (QTL), Bomb1 (bone marrow pre‐B1), known to induce an aberrant expansion of pre‐B cells in bone marrow prior to the onset of B‐LBL in SL/Kh mice. The remaining chromosomes were selected on the basis of those most closely resembling MMU3 in terms of total estimated length (maximum variance 10 Mb). MSI was confirmed at 2≤ markers in DNA derived from tumor tissues in 15 SL/Kh mice (93.7%), while healthy splenic DNA samples screened in parallel were consistently negative for MSI. The overall MSI incidence was significantly higher on MMU3 compared with MMU4–6 (P = 0.031). Additionally, by applying spatial point pattern analysis combined with a 1‐D version of Ripley’s K‐function, we successfully demonstrated the predilection of MSI‐susceptible loci to structure a massive cluster within the Bomb1 locus. Our study is the first to suggest that a QTL concomitantly serves as a hotspot for MSI‐susceptible loci and sheds new light on somatic cancer genetics.
Normalisation of total body iron load with very intensive combined chelation reverses cardiac and endocrine complications of thalassaemia major
Authors: Farmaki Kallistheni , Tzoumari Ioanna , Pappa Christina , Chouliaras Giorgos , Berdoukas Vasilios
Published: November 2009

Cardiac and endocrine disorders are common sequelae of iron overload in transfused thalassaemia patients. Combined chelation with desferrioxamine (DFO) and deferiprone (DFP) is well tolerated and produces an additive/synergistic effect superior to either drug alone. 52 thalassaemia major patients were transitioned from DFO to combined chelation with DFO and DFP. Serum ferritin, cardiac and hepatic iron levels were monitored regularly for up to 7 years, as were cardiac and endocrine function. Patients’ iron load normalized, as judged by ferritin and cardiac and hepatic magnetic resonance imaging findings. In all 12 patients receiving treatment for cardiac dysfunction, symptoms reversed following combined chelation, enabling nine patients to discontinue heart medications. In the 39 patients with abnormal glucose metabolism, 44% normalized. In 18 requiring thyroxine supplementation for hypothyroidism, 10 were able to discontinue, and four reduced their thyroxine dose. In 14 hypogonadal males on testosterone therapy, seven stopped treatment. Of the 19 females, who were hypogonadal on DFO monotherapy, six were able to conceive. Moreover, no patients developed de novo cardiac or endocrine complications. These results suggest that intensive combined chelation normalized patients’ iron load and thereby prevented and reversed cardiac and multiple endocrine complications associated with transfusion iron overload.
Deciphering the molecular basis of venous thromboembolism: where are we and where should we go?
Authors: Morange Pierre‐Emmanuel , Tregouet David‐Alexandre
Published: November 2009

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent disease that has a major genetic component of risk. However, known identified genetic risk factors account for <30% of idiopathic (without any environmental origin) VTE cases. This article aims to review the lessons learnt during recent decades in the field of the genetics of VTE, describe the present state‐of‐art methods and discuss promising themes for finding new susceptibility loci.
Peripheral T‐cell lymphoma gene expression profiling and potential therapeutic exploitations
Authors: Costello Régis , Sanchez Carole , Le Treut Thérèse , Rihet Pascal , Imbert Jean , Sébahoun Gérard
Published: November 2009

Peripheral T‐cell lymphomas constitute a heterogeneous group with regard to diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Efforts have been made to combine novel techniques with cytology and immunochemistry in order to more precisely define these entities. Molecular profiling has contributed to novel insights in the biology of T‐cell lymphoma. Regarding anaplastic large cell lymphoma, low expression T‐cell receptor signalling and high STAT3 target signatures have been associated with the ALK‐positive subgroup. Gene expression profiling differentiates angioblastic T‐cell lymphoma from other T‐cell malignancies, suggests that the normal counterpart of lymphoma cells are follicular helper T cells, and supports the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor deregulation in its physiopathology. In peripheral T‐cell lymphoma unspecified, gene profiling suggests the normal counterpart of tumour cells are activated CD4+ or CD8+ T‐lymphocytes, delineates prognostic groups depending on the proliferative signature, and suggests therapeutic options aimed at regulating nuclear factor‐κB and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐α phosphorylation. Gene expression profiling of primary cutaneous T cell lymphomas highlighted the importance of abnormal methylation patterns, suggested a pivotal role for JUNB/AP‐1, and defined a predictive model for response to interferon‐α. In conclusion, gene expression profiling is beginning to change the pathological classification, the prognosis profiles and the therapeutic approach in T‐cell lymphomas.
Theophylline inhibits the differentiation of human monocyte into dendritic cell potentially via adenosine receptor antagonism
Authors: Yasui K. , Kondo Y. , Wada T. , Yashiro M. , Tsuge M. , Morishima T.
Published: November 2009

Background
Theophylline has an anti‐inflammatory action that may account for its clinical effectiveness in the reduction of inflammatory cells in the airways. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen‐presenting cells, capable of priming naïve T cells, and play key roles in the activation of immune responses in asthma.

Objective
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of theophylline on human monocyte differentiation into DCs and whether this involved antagonism of adenosine receptors.

Methods
Peripheral human blood monocytes were cultured in the presence of granulocyte/macrophage‐colony stimulating factor and IL‐4 to induce DC differentiation. The cells were incubated with theophylline, KF17837 (a selective A2a receptor antagonist) and enprofylline (A2b receptor antagonist) and co‐incubated with selective adenosine A1 and A2a receptor agonists, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (rolipram) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) to determine their effects on DC differentiation. In addition, depletion of adenosine receptors by small interfering RNA (siRNA) was also examined.

Results
Monocytes differentiated into myeloid DCs in the culture system. The number of DCs was remarkably reduced by 60–70% when theophylline was administered at a therapeutic concentration. This effect was concentration‐dependently exacerbated, was partly mediated by cellular apoptosis and was effectively reversed by the addition of the A1 agonists [2‐chloro‐N6‐cyclopentyladenosin, N6‐cyclohexyladenosine, and N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA)] or the A2a agonist (CGS‐21680, NECA). The depletion of the adenosine A1 receptor by siRNA and addition of ADA remarkably reduced DC differentiation. Meanwhile, both enprofylline and rolipram had little effect.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that the adenosine A1 (and possibly coordinated with A2a) receptors contribute to DC differentiation and survival. These findings provide further evidence that theophylline has an anti‐inflammatory action in bronchial asthma.
Mutation of CRE1 in Fusarium oxysporum reverts the pathogenicity defects of the FRP1 deletion mutant
Authors: Jonkers Wilfried , Rep Martijn
Published: November 2009

The F‐box protein Frp1 is required for pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici towards tomato. The Δfrp1 mutant is deficient in expression of genes for cell wall‐degrading enzymes (CWDEs) and ICL1, encoding a key enzyme for the assimilation of C2 carbon sources. An explanation for the inability of the Δfrp1 mutant to express these genes may be found in constitutive carbon catabolite repression. Cre1 is the transcriptional repressor in filamentous fungi known to repress several CWDE genes and other genes required for assimilation of non‐sugar carbon sources. Here, we demonstrate that Frp1 and Cre1 both control the repression/derepression state of such genes. The replacement of CRE1 with GST::CRE1 resulted in a derepressed phenotype in wild‐type background, suggesting that this replacement affects Cre1 function. Strikingly, in the Δfrp1 mutant the replacement of CRE1 with GST::CRE1 restored pathogenicity, growth on ethanol and expression of ICL1 and CWDE genes. A GFP–Cre1 fusion protein is not degraded nor exported out of the nucleus during growth on ethanol, a derepressing carbon source, suggesting that Cre1 is not likely a target of Frp1 for degradation by the proteasome. We conclude that both proteins function together to regulate transcription of carbon source utilization genes.
Sea‐level markers identified in ground‐penetrating radar data collected across a modern beach ridge system in a microtidal regime
Authors: Nielsen Lars , Clemmensen Lars B.
Published: November 2009

Sea‐level rise has been related to global warming. The modern system on the northern coast of Anholt, Denmark, may well be analogous to other beach ridge systems formed in microtidal regimes and our results should have impact on estimation of past sea‐level variation. Ground‐penetrating radar data collected across the modern (<30 years old) berm, beach ridge and swale deposits resolve downlapping reflections interpreted to mark sea level at the time of deposition. Existing time series of sea‐level data constrain actual sea‐level variation. Nineteen readings of sea‐level markers made along our profile fluctuate within −0.42 and 0.57 m above present mean sea level, consistent with 95% of the sea‐level data. These fluctuations reflect tidal effects and meteorological conditions. Main data uncertainties are well‐known and the sea‐level markers may be identified with a high degree of confidence.
Jurassic granitoid magmatism in the Dinaride Neotethys: geochronological constraints from detrital minerals
Authors: Mikes Tamás , Baresel Björn , Kronz Andreas , Frei Dirk , Dunkl István , Tolosana‐Delgado Raimon , Von Eynatten Hilmar
Published: November 2009

Three independent single‐grain geochronometers applied to detrital minerals from Central Dinaride sediments constrain the timing of felsic magmatism that associated the Jurassic evolution of the Neotethys. The Lower Cretaceous clastic wedge of the Bosnian Flysch, sourced from the Dinaride ophiolitic thrust complex, yields magmatic monazite and zircon grains with dominant age components of 164 ± 3 and 152 ± 10 Ma respectively. A unique tephra horizon within the Adriatic Carbonate Platform was dated at 148 ± 11 Ma by apatite fission track analysis. These consistent results suggest that leucocractic melt generation in the Central Dinaride segment of the Neotethys culminated in Middle to Late Jurassic times, coeval with and slightly post‐dating subophiolitic sole metamorphism. Growth of magmatic monazite and explosive volcanism call for supra‐subduction‐zone processes at the convergent Neotethyan margin. New compilation of geochronological data demonstrates that such Jurassic felsic rocks are widespread in the entire Dinaride–Hellenide orogen.