bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in the Performance of a Computerized Version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test in Subcritically Injured Patients Who Are Admitted to the Emergency Department
Authors: Neumann Tim , Neuner Bruno , Gentilello Larry M. , Weiss‐Gerlach Edith , Mentz Henriette , Rettig Jordan S. , Schröder Torsten , Wauer Helmar , Müller Christian , Schütz Michael , Mann Karl , Siebert Gerda , Dettling Michael , Müller Joachim M. , Kox Wolfgang J. , Spies Claudia D.
Published: November 2004

Objective: The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) has been recommended as a screening tool to detect patients who are appropriate candidates for brief, preventive alcohol interventions. Lower AUDIT cutoff scores have been proposed for women; however, the appropriate value remains unknown. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the optimal AUDIT cutpoint for detecting alcohol problems in subcritically injured male and female patients who are treated in the emergency department (ED). An additional purpose of the study was to determine whether computerized screening for alcohol problems is feasible in this setting.

Methods: The study was performed in the ED of a large, urban university teaching hospital. During an 8‐month period, 1205 male and 722 female injured patients were screened using an interactive computerized lifestyle assessment that included the AUDIT as an embedded component. World Health Organization criteria were used to define alcohol dependence and harmful drinking. World Health Organization criteria for excessive consumption were used to define high‐risk drinking. The ability of the AUDIT to classify appropriately male and female patients as having one of these three conditions was the primary outcome measure.

Results: Criteria for any alcohol use disorder were present in 17.5% of men and 6.8% of women. The overall accuracy of the AUDIT was good to excellent. At a specificity >0.80, sensitivity was 0.75 for men using a cutoff of 8 points and 0.84 for women using a cutoff of 5 points. Eighty‐five percent of patients completed computerized screening without the need for additional help.

Conclusions: Different AUDIT scoring thresholds for men and women are required to achieve comparable sensitivity and specificity when using the AUDIT to screen injured patients in the ED. Computerized AUDIT administration is feasible and may help to overcome time limitations that may compromise screening in this busy clinical environment.
Association Study of Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Polymorphism and Alcoholism
Authors: Matsushita Sachio , Kimura Mitsuru , Miyakawa Tomohiro , Yoshino Aihide , Murayama Masanobu , Masaki Toshihiro , Higuchi Susumu
Published: November 2004

Objective: Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) influences dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters that are heavily linked to addiction. A quantitative trait loci study indicated that genes localized to 11p13, where the BDNF gene is mapped (11p13–15), increase the risk for severe alcohol withdrawal. Moreover, a recent study using a pooled‐sample microarray suggested that the BDNF gene locus was included in the loci that were shown to be associated with drug abuse. These lines of evidence suggested that BDNF might play some role in the development of or vulnerability to alcoholism and/or clinical characteristics of alcoholic individuals.

Methods: The alcoholic subjects consisted of 377 male Japanese patients. A structured interview was used to obtain social background, drinking history, history of violence while intoxicated, history of alcohol withdrawal, and family history of alcoholism. The control group consisted of 336 nonalcoholic male subjects. Genotyping of the G196A polymorphism of the BDNF gene was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Results: Genotype and allele distributions of the BDNF gene polymorphism did not differ significantly between alcoholic and control subjects. However, comparing clinical characteristics across G196A genotypes, we found that alcoholic subjects with violent tendencies and a history of delirium tremens had a significantly higher frequency of AA genotypes and A allele frequencies than those without them. Moreover, alcoholic subjects with the A allele had earlier onset of the disease than those without it.

Conclusions: These results indicate that BDNF gene polymorphism might modify phenotypes of alcoholism.
Bitter Receptor Gene (TAS2R38), 6‐n‐Propylthiouracil (PROP) Bitterness and Alcohol Intake
Authors: Duffy Valerie B. , Davidson Andrew C. , Kidd Judith R. , Kidd Kenneth K. , Speed William C. , Pakstis Andrew J. , Reed Danielle R. , Snyder Derek J. , Bartoshuk Linda M.
Published: November 2004

Background: Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and 6‐n‐propylthiouracil (PROP), chemically related compounds, are probes for genetic variation in bitter taste, although PROP is safer with less sulfurous odor. Threshold for PROP distinguishes nontasters (increased threshold) from tasters (lower threshold); perceived intensity subdivides tasters into medium tasters (PROP is bitter) and supertasters (PROP is very bitter). Compared with supertasters, nontasters have fewer taste papillae on the anterior tongue (fungiform papillae) and experience less negative (e.g., bitterness) and more positive (eg, sweetness) sensations from alcohol. We determined whether the TAS2R38 gene at 7q36 predicted PROP bitterness, alcohol sensation and use.

Methods: Healthy adults (53 women, 31 men; mean age 36 years)—primarily light and moderate drinkers—reported the bitterness of five PROP concentrations (0.032‐3.2 mM) and intensity of 50% ethanol on the general Labeled Magnitude Scale. PROP threshold and density of fungiform papillae were also measured. Subjects had common TAS2R38 gene haplotypes [alanine‐valine‐isoleucine (AVI) and proline‐alanine‐valine (PAV)].

Results: PROP bitterness varied significantly across genotypes with repeated measures ANOVA: 26 AVI/AVI homozygotes tasted less bitterness than either 37 PAV/AVI heterozygotes or 21 PAV/PAV homozygotes. The PAV/PAV group exceeded the PAV/AVI group for bitterness only for the top PROP concentrations. The elevated bitterness was musch less than if we defined the groups using psychophysical criteria. With multiple regression analyses, greater bitterness from 3.2 mM PROP was a significant predictor of greater ethanol intensity and less alcohol intake—effects separate from age and sex. Genotype was a significant predictor of alcohol intake, but not ethanol intensity. With ANOVA, AVI/AVI homozygotes reported higher alcohol use than either PAV/AVI heterozygotes or PAV/PAV homozygotes. When age effects were minimized, PROP bitterness explained more variance in alcohol intake than did the TAS2R38 genotype.

Conclusions: These results support taste genetic effects on alcohol intake. PROP bitterness serves as a marker of these effects.
Regulation of mTOR function in response to hypoxia by REDD1 and the TSC1/TSC2 tumor suppressor complex
Authors: Brugarolas James , Lei Kui , Hurley Rebecca L. , Manning Brendan D. , Reiling Jan H. , Hafen Ernst , Witters Lee A. , Ellisen Leif W. , Kaelin William G.
Published: November 2004

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulator of protein synthesis whose activity is modulated by a variety of signals. Energy depletion and hypoxia result in mTOR inhibition. While energy depletion inhibits mTOR through a process involving the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) by LKB1 and subsequent phosphorylation of TSC2, the mechanism of mTOR inhibition by hypoxia is not known. Here we show that mTOR inhibition by hypoxia requires the TSC1/TSC2 tumor suppressor complex and the hypoxia-inducible gene REDD1/RTP801. Disruption of the TSC1/TSC2 complex through loss of TSC1 or TSC2 blocks the effects of hypoxia on mTOR, as measured by changes in the mTOR targets S6K and 4E-BP1, and results in abnormal accumulation of Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). In contrast to energy depletion, mTOR inhibition by hypoxia does not require AMPK or LKB1. Down-regulation of mTOR activity by hypoxia requires de novo mRNA synthesis and correlates with increased expression of the hypoxia-inducible REDD1 gene. Disruption of REDD1 abrogates the hypoxia-induced inhibition of mTOR, and REDD1 overexpression is sufficient to down-regulate S6K phosphorylation in a TSC1/TSC2-dependent manner. Inhibition of mTOR function by hypoxia is likely to be important for tumor suppression as TSC2-deficient cells maintain abnormally high levels of cell proliferation under hypoxia.
A survey of RNA editing in human brain
Authors: Blow Matthew , Futreal P. Andrew , Wooster Richard , Stratton Michael R.
Published: November 2004

We have conducted a survey of RNA editing in human brain by comparing sequences of clones from a human brain cDNA library to the reference human genome sequence and to genomic DNA from the same individual. In the RNA sample from which the library was constructed, ∼1:2000 nucleotides were edited out of >3 Mb surveyed. All edits were adenosine to inosine (A→I) and were predominantly in intronic and in intergenic RNAs. No edits were found in translated exons and few in untranslated exons. Most edits were in high-copy-number repeats, usually Alus. Analysis of the genome in the vicinity of edited sequences strongly supports the idea that formation of intramolecular double-stranded RNA with an inverted copy underlies most A→I editing. The likelihood of editing is increased by the presence of two inverted copies of a sequence within the same intron, proximity of the two sequences to each other (preferably within 2 kb), and by a high density of inverted copies in the vicinity. Editing exhibits sequence preferences and is less likely at an adenosine 3′ to a guanosine and more likely at an adenosine 5′ to a guanosine. Simulation by BLAST alignment of the double-stranded RNA molecules that underlie known edits indicates that there is a greater likelihood of A→I editing at A:C mismatches than editing at other mismatches or at A:U matches. However, because A:U matches in double-stranded RNA are more common than all mismatches, overall the likely effect of editing is to increase the number of mismatches in double-stranded RNA.
Noncoding regulatory sequences of Ciona exhibit strong correspondence between evolutionary constraint and functional importance
Authors: Johnson David S. , Davidson Brad , Brown Christopher D. , Smith William C. , Sidow Arend
Published: November 2004

We show that sequence comparisons at different levels of resolution can efficiently guide functional analyses of regulatory regions in the ascidians Ciona savignyi and Ciona intestinalis. Sequence alignments of several tissue-specific genes guided discovery of minimal regulatory regions that are active in whole-embryo reporter assays. Using the Troponin I (TnI) locus as a case study, we show that more refined local sequence analyses can then be used to reveal functional substructure within a regulatory region. A high-resolution saturation mutagenesis in conjunction with comparative sequence analyses defined essential sequence elements within the TnI regulatory region. Finally, we found a significant, quantitative relationship between function and sequence divergence of noncoding functional elements. This work demonstrates the power of comparative sequence analysis between the two Ciona species for guiding gene regulatory experiments.
Extensive and breed-specific linkage disequilibrium inCanis familiaris
Authors: Sutter Nathan B. , Eberle Michael A. , Parker Heidi G. , Pullar Barbara J. , Kirkness Ewen F. , Kruglyak Leonid , Ostrander Elaine A.
Published: November 2004

The 156 breeds of registered dogs in the United States offer a unique opportunity to map genes important in disease susceptibility, morphology, and behavior. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) is of current interest for its application in whole genome association mapping, since the extent of LD determines the feasibility of such studies. We have measured LD at five genomic intervals, each 5 Mb in length and composed of five clusters of sequence variants spaced 800 kb-1.6 Mb apart. These intervals are located on canine chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 34, and 37, and none is under obvious selective pressure. Approximately 20 unrelated dogs were assayed from each of five breeds: Akita, Bernese Mountain Dog, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Pekingese. At each genomic interval, SNPs and indels were discovered and typed by resequencing. Strikingly, LD in canines is much more extensive than in humans: D′ falls to 0.5 at 400-700 kb in Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever, 2.4 Mb in Akita, and 3-3.2 Mb in Bernese Mountain Dog and Pekingese. LD in dog breeds is up to 100× more extensive than in humans, suggesting that a correspondingly smaller number of markers will be required for association mapping studies in dogs compared to humans. We also report low haplotype diversity within regions of high LD, with 80% of chromosomes in a breed carrying two to four haplotypes, as well as a high degree of haplotype sharing among breeds.
Analysis of transient temperature distribution
Authors: Li Hai , Cheng Tao , Zhang Jin
Published: November 2004

This paper focuses on investigation of a numerical method for transient temperature distribution, in order to analyze one kind of malfunction of turbine nozzle guide component of a turbo‐fan aeroengine. Thermal fatigue acts as the most important factor resulting in cracks at nozzle guide vanes and severe cracks produced may form failure of the component of the engine. However, transient temperature variety of vanes at start and stop processes of the engine causes thermal fatigue. So, basic analysis of transient temperature distribution and especially a new numerical method for transient temperature calculation in this paper have significant meaning for improving the reliability of aeroengines.
Monitoring consumer confidence in food safety: an exploratory study
Authors: de Jonge Janneke , Frewer Lynn , van Trijp Hans , Jan Renes Reint , de Wit Willem , Timmers Joke
Published: November 2004

In response to the potential for negative economic and societal effects resulting from a low level of consumer confidence in food safety, it is important to know how confidence is potentially influenced by external events. The aim of this article is to describe the development of a monitor that enables changes in consumer confidence in food safety and consumer food choice behaviour to be assessed in conjunction with changes in institutional activities and food safety incidents. Results of the first assessment of longitudinal data on consumer perceptions of food safety will be presented to provide the basis for the development of such a monitor. A better understanding of the interrelationships between antecedents and behavioural consequences of changes in consumer confidence in food safety over time will improve understanding of the effectiveness of public policy, and allow the development of best practice in risk communication and risk management.
Consultant as teacher or teacher as consultant: what is the relationship?
Authors: Chrusciel Don
Published: November 2004

When an organization decides to hire an external consultant to assist in dealing with a significant change, the question arises as to how to choose the right one for the job. The focus of this paper is to explore this relationship through three propositions. The first proposes that an organization employing a consultant can expect to reduce the time going through change transformation and regain productivity faster. The second is that because the focus is on significant change, there is the belief that the consultant must become intimately involved with the organization to be effective. The third proposition is that in order to be an effective consultant within the organization, experience as a teacher/educator is important if not required. Utilizing qualitative grounded theory research, these three propositions are examined for validity with the findings supporting the first two propositions, but not the third.
Leader succession: does gender matter?
Authors: Dawley David , Hoffman James J. , Redie Smith Alfred
Published: November 2004

Leader succession is a traumatic event in any organization and unfortunately the list of successor candidates rarely includes women. In order to extend current knowledge regarding leader succession, this study examines the effect of leader successor gender on post‐succession performance. Juxtaposes theories regarding gender stereotypes, organization leadership, and leadership succession. Hypotheses are tested using a sample from one of few forums that yields a sufficient mix of male and female leaders – US NCAA Division I women's head basketball coaches. Results suggest neither gender outperforms the other. More importantly, finds that gender successor origin moderates the relationship between the gender of the successor and short‐term organizational performance.
Information and communication technology in the stockbroking industry: an evolutionary approach to the diffusion of innovation
Authors: Gharavi Hosein , Love Peter E.D. , Cheng Eddie W.L.
Published: November 2004

Stockbroking firms have openly adopted information and communication technology to improve their competitiveness and responsiveness in market conditions. Changes in business practices have resulted from the widespread adoption and diffusion of information and communication technology. Changes experienced by a firm can be viewed as a process of individual adaptations running parallel to the evolution of the business environment. To examine the diffusion of information and communication technology an ecological approach is used. This paper therefore develops a conceptual framework to explore the ICT diffusion in the stockbroking industry in the context of environmental evolution and selection. It is argued that the acceptance of an innovation is affected as much by the complexity of the interactions between the stockbroking firms and technology. The proposed framework can be used to provide an ameliorated understanding about the way in which ICT‐enabled innovation is diffused within a technology‐oriented industry.
Determinants of continued use of the WWW: an integration of two theoretical models
Authors: Hsu Meng H. , Chiu Chao M. , Ju Teresa L.
Published: November 2004

This study examines motivational factors influencing one's intention to continue using WWW applications. Social cognitive theory is adapted and integrated with expectancy disconfirmation theory and empirical findings from prior studies about continued use of information systems. Research hypotheses derived from this model are empirically validated using the responses to a survey on WWW usage, collected from 235 users. Results suggest that users’ continuance intention is determined by their satisfaction with prior use, internet self‐efficacy, and outcome expectations. Outcome expectation, in turn, is influenced by their satisfaction with prior use and prior perceived confirmation. This study draws attention to the substantial differences between acceptance and continuance. Implications for practice and further research are considered.
Digital libraries, digital containers, “library patrons”, and visions for the future
Authors: Koehler Wallace
Published: November 2004

Visions of user‐centered approaches to digital library futures are uncertain. One can best understand what those futures portent by briefly exploring one's roots and traditions and concepts of service. Much of the future will be driven by technological change, but it will be moderated by the sense of service and purpose brought to the digital library by the people who use it and by the people who work in and through it. The digital library of the future will be impacted by several factors, one of which is the newly digital nature or format for information. Another is the redefinition of the book in at least some cases from a static to a fluid medium. The seeming inability to archive fluid media has changed libraries. Digital libraries are now distributed constructs of the mind rather than physical buildings with paper content. All of this, in turn, has led to new means and mechanisms for the management, classification, distribution, identification, retrieval, and storage of information in ways heretofore unimaginable. In the medium to long term, new means as yet not imagined will be developed to meet our information needs to further redefine digital libraries.
Freedom of access: ethical dilemmas for Internet librarians
Authors: Trushina Irina
Published: November 2004

Libraries depend on ethical principles more than any other institution because library services are essentially human‐oriented. Most national ethical principles for librarians are represented as professional ethic codes. Each of them eventually consolidates the ideology, the paradigm of national library services. Comparative analysis of national library ethic codes indicates the intellectual freedom principle as the key point and the superior ethical value for library services. With Internet technologies implemented in library services, the principle acquires a new significance and grave problems. Recent information filtering capacities provide a radically new censorship level, including anonymous censorship, violation of user privacy in Internet communications. On the one hand, librarians must follow the intellectual freedom principle, on the other, libraries are humanistic institutions, and librarians have a moral responsibility to the patrons, adhering to the value of human life. This paper discusses these issues as they relate to the Internet as well as the correlation of professional codes and their implementation in library practices.
A compendium of FEM integration formulas for symbolic work
Authors: Felippa Carlos A.
Published: November 2004

This paper presents a set of Mathematica modules that organizes numerical integration rules considered useful for finite element work. Seven regions are considered: line segments, triangles, quadrilaterals, tetrahedral, wedges, pyramids and hexahedra. Information can be returned in floating‐point (numerical) form, or in exact symbolic form. The latter is useful for computer‐algebra aided FEM work that carries along symbolic variables. A few quadrature rules were extracted from sources in the FEM and computational mathematics literature, and placed in symbolic form using Mathematica to generate own code. A larger class of formulas, previously known only numerically, were directly obtained through symbolic computations. Some unpublished non‐product rules for pyramid regions were found and included in the collection. For certain regions: quadrilaterals, wedges and hexahedra, only product rules were included to economize programming. The collection embodies most FEM‐useful formulas of low and moderate order for the seven regions noted above. Some gaps as regard region geometries and omission of non‐product rules are noted in the conclusions. The collection may be used “as is” in support of symbolic FEM work thus avoiding contamination with floating arithmetic that precludes simplification. It can also be used as generator for low‐level floating‐point code modules in Fortran or C. Floating point accuracy can be selected arbitrarily. No similar modular collection applicable to a range of FEM work, whether symbolic or numeric, has been published before.
Paradigmapping marketing theory
Authors: Lowe Sid , Carr Adrian N. , Thomas Michael
Published: November 2004

Paradigms are sets of prior assumptions that configure ways of seeing. This article employs a notion taken from Web of Life to map how paradigms in marketing have proliferated according to their juxtaposition within three criteria, namely structure, pattern and process. The exercise, termed “paradigmapping”, provides a useful picture of the relative positioning of selected contributions to the field. This positions each contribution according to its imposed relation to these three criteria. Each contribution involves preoccupation with one of the criteria, tolerance of a second and denigration of a third. The implications of this are explored.
Organisational innovation in SMEs
Authors: Salavou H. , Baltas G. , Lioukas S.
Published: November 2004

This study considers determinants of organisational innovation in small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), as expressed by the number of product innovation adoptions. Drawing upon data from 150 manufacturing firms in Greece, the study attempts to identify the importance of strategic orientation and competitive structure. First, strategy‐driven characteristics, such as market orientation and learning, are shown to increase SMEs' innovative performance. Second, competition‐related characteristics, and in particular industry concentration and barriers to entry, appear to have significant effects on SMEs' innovative activity. Overall, the empirical findings suggest that market‐ and learning‐oriented SMEs facing strong competition tend to be more innovative. These results are discussed in the context of Greek SMEs in food, beverages and textile sectors, taking into account the specific conditions prevailing. Apart from providing some new evidence in the important area of SMEs, this study has also important implications for managers and policy makers while revealing considerable scope for further research.
Drivers of customers' cross‐buying intentions
Authors: Valentin Ngobo Paul
Published: November 2004

Why do some customers cross‐buy different services from the same provider while others are less disposed to do so? The present research examines the drivers of the customers’ cross‐buying intentions for services. Cross‐buying refers to the customer's practice of buying additional products and services from the existing service provider in addition to the ones s/he currently has. The results obtained from two samples of service consumers indicate that the customers’ cross‐buying intentions are primarily associated with image conflicts about the provider's abilities to deliver high‐quality services from different service activities, and the perceived convenience of cross‐buying from the same provider. Customers’ experiences with the service provider have a weaker or marginal effect on cross‐buying.
Business‐to‐business relationship quality
Authors: Woo Ka‐shing , Ennew Christine T.
Published: November 2004

Although relationship quality is recognized as a central construct in the relationship marketing literature, relatively little attention has been paid to the issues of: the dimensions of relationship quality, and the directional relationship between relationship quality and related service evaluation outcomes. This study seeks to provide alternative conceptualization of business‐to‐business relationship quality based on the well‐established IMP interaction model and to clarify the relationship between relationship quality and service quality. The findings from an empirical study, support the hypothesis that relationship quality, defined as a higher‐order construct of cooperation, adaptation, and atmosphere, has a positive impact on service quality.
The role of communication and trust in explaining customer loyalty
Authors: Ball Dwayne , Simões Coelho Pedro , Machás Alexandra
Published: November 2004

Loyalty has, over the past decade, become a crucial construct in marketing, and particularly in the burgeoning field of customer relationship management. This paper shows that customer loyalty can be explained to a substantial degree by customer satisfaction, trust, and communication, and shows the direct and indirect effects among those constructs and other constructs in an extension of the European Customer Satisfaction Index (ECSI) model. Both ECSI model and the extended model are estimated with data from a survey carried out among customers of the banking sector. Within the limitations of the study, the theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.
A contingency model of behavioural intentions in a services context
Authors: Patterson Paul G.
Published: November 2004

Numerous studies have shown customer satisfaction to be the crucial antecedent of perhaps the most important constructs in marketing – loyalty and customer retention. However the satisfaction→customer retention linkage is not as simple as it might first seem. This study examines the impact of switching barriers as potential moderators of the satisfaction→customer retention linkage. The results show that across each industry studied, the satisfaction→repeat purchase link is stronger under conditions of low switching barriers, and weaker when switching barriers are perceived to be higher, thus supporting a contingency model of customer retention.
The ethical, social and environmental reporting‐performance portrayal gap
Authors: Adams Carol A.
Published: November 2004

The purpose of this article is twofold. First, it assesses in detail the extent to which corporate reporting on ethical, social and environmental issues reflects corporate performance in case study company Alpha. This “reporting‐performance” portrayal gap is a key measure of the extent to which an organisation is accountable to its stakeholders. Alpha's disclosures concerning its ethical, social and environmental performance for the years 1993 and 1999 were compared with information obtained on Alpha's performance from other sources. Two different pictures of performance emerged leading to the conclusion that, in the case of Alpha, reports do not demonstrate a high level of accountability to key stakeholder groups on ethical, social and environmental issues. Of particular concern is the lack of “completeness” of reporting. Second, the article assesses the potential of recent standards or guidelines developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Institute of Social and Ethical AccountAbility (AccountAbility) as well as the industry's own “responsible care” initiative to reduce this “reporting‐performance” portrayal gap and improve corporate accountability. The conclusions point to the need for other measures to improve accountability including mandatory reporting guidelines, better developed audit guidelines, a mandatory audit requirement for MNCs and a radical overhaul of corporate governance systems.
E‐commerce solution for services
Authors: Rahman Zillur
Published: November 2004

The diversity of the service sector makes it difficult to come up with managerially useful generalizations concerning marketing practice in service industry, but IT and the Internet are causing fundamental changes in the economics of service industry. The Internets influence in creating e‐services has been revolutionary for providers and their customers. This paper argues for a focus on specific categories of services and proposes a two‐dimensional model for classifying services in ways that transcends narrow industry boundaries. This model has been developed using non‐metric discreet attributes and contains examples of services that fall under different groups.
Finance strategies of rapidly‐growing Finnish SMEs: Born Internationals and Born Globals
Authors: Gabrielsson Mika , Sasi Viveca , Darling John
Published: November 2004

During the past decade, several studies have explored the characteristics of Born International and Born Global business firms, and the reasons for their increase in size and numbers. The objective of this study is to explore the influence of financing strategies and the commensurate finance management capabilities on the globalization of Finnish Born International and Born Global small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). The resulting knowledge from this study should prove valuable for academic researchers, political decision‐makers and business managers. Interestingly, the results of the study show that Born Globals had greater access to superior financial resources and stronger finance‐related managerial resources right from the start‐up phase than did Born Internationals. An interesting finding also focused on the fact that Born Globals were able to more quickly obtain global management‐related skills and industry‐specific business experience through the use of external business partners and venture capital representatives. These findings may partially explain the Born Globals' rapid expansion into world markets in comparison to Born Internationals, and also the failures of other types of enterprises in these same markets.
All Stars Plus: a competence and motivation enhancement approach to prevention
Authors: Hansen William B. , Dusenbury Linda
Published: November 2004

All Stars Core is a school‐based drug abuse prevention program for 11 to 14 year olds from the United States. It focuses on five qualities that protect children from drug use: viewing drug use as uncommon and unacceptable to the peer group (norms); viewing drug use as interfering with future goals; commitment to avoid drug use; positive attention from parents; and feeling accepted at school. All Star Plus was recently developed with the goal of expanding the Core program to include the development of three competencies: goal setting, decision making, and skills to resist peer pressure resistance. Students either received All Stars Core, All Stars Plus, or were assigned to the non‐treated control group. Both programs outperformed the control group; however, All Stars Plus was more effective in preventing drug use than All Stars Core. All Stars Plus was found to reduce alcohol use, drunkenness, cigarette smoking, marijuana use, and inhalant use. The Plus program appeared to have achieved these outcomes by improving norms, increasing persistence in pursuing goals, and by increasing attention from parents.
Project‐based action learning as learning approach in learning organisation: the theory and framework
Authors: Law Kris M.Y. , Chuah K.B.
Published: November 2004

Concept of “organisational learning” has been widely advocated as one of the solutions for organisational development, especially for those companies requiring high level of technology and knowledge. While being applied to the entire organisation, the concept of organisational learning can also be applied to specific function or project teams, which can be named as “project” based organisations. This paper presents a new approach of learning for the project‐based teams, which integrates learning and project in one, towards organisational learning ideals. Performance evaluation mechanism is also developed. With the developed evaluation, three dimensions of team performance, within the scope of project action‐learning framework would be measured. It would tell the team where it stands at a particular point of time. In order to track the critical variables required to reach the goals, the developed measurement system framework will be adopted in the implementation phase.
Performance management in call centers: lessons, pitfalls and achievements in Fujitsu Services
Authors: Marr Bernard , Parry Stephen
Published: November 2004

This paper provides an overview of Fujitsu’s sense and response approach towards performance management. It is demonstrated using a case example of call center performance as part of Fujitsu Services. Call centers (or contact centers) are often used as case examples of how not to measure and manage performance. An operational bias towards efficiency measures often fails to provide the customer focus needed and even has dysfunctional consequences. This case study demonstrates how Fujitsu moved away from the efficiency trap, and completely redesigned their performance management system to focus on their customer needs and the intangible drives of value creation. It will highlight the lessons learned, the pitfalls as well as the achievements.
Entrepreneurship and human capital: distilling models of local economic growth to inform policy
Authors: Plummer Paul , Taylor Michael
Published: November 2004

The aim of this paper is to engage with the translation and linking of the “scientific knowledge” of theory on local economic growth with the “practical knowledge” of, on the one hand, local economic policy formulation and, on the other hand, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. The paper uses theoretically informed empirical modelling to identify and prioritise the drivers of local economic growth using data for Australia. The analyses demonstrate the significance of human capital and an enterprise culture in promoting local employment growth. From these results it is suggested that “bottom up” entrepreneurial education and related, but more “top down”, enterprise facilitation are practical mechanisms for achieving such local growth. These results suggest the great importance of translating “scientific knowledge” into “practical knowledge” to allow communities to engage with the knowledge economy.
Entrepreneurs' attitudes to training and support initiatives: evidence from Ireland and The Netherlands
Authors: De Faoite Diarmuid , Henry Colette , Johnston Kate , van der Sijde Peter
Published: November 2004

Increasingly, academics, practitioners and governments recognise the need to examine the role and effectiveness of entrepreneurship training and support. Studies to date have examined the importance of training and other skill development opportunities in promoting entrepreneurship in the context of different sectors, regions and countries. An important theme to emerge from the research is the failure of some programmes to take on board the cultural, educational and social background of the “entrepreneurs”, leading to ineffective training and support. This paper investigates the effectiveness of training and support initiatives for entrepreneurs in Ireland and The Netherlands, examining the experiences of 57 entrepreneurs from the services, manufacturing and high technology sectors in Ireland and The Netherlands. The results highlight the value of non‐formal support structures, such as mentoring and networking, and question the value of traditional formal business education and training strategies.
Employer characteristics and employee training outcomes in UK SMEs: a multivariate analysis
Authors: Devins David , Johnson Steve , Sutherland John
Published: November 2004

Workforce development is becoming a higher priority for government, both as a means of addressing social exclusion and raising competitiveness. However there is limited evidence of the contribution of training to the success of individual firms and even less evidence of the impact of such training activity on small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) employees. This paper draws on a survey of 1,000 employees to investigate the impact of a training intervention on employees in SME workplaces. It explores issues associated with the equity of provision of training in the workplace and the impact of training on the employability of SME employees in the labour market. The results suggest that training interventions lead to positive outcomes for the majority of SME employees, particularly those working in organisations with relatively formalised training practices. It concludes by suggesting that there should be a greater focus on the employee dimension in research and policy regarding training in SMEs.
Innovation or imitation?
Authors: Massa Silvia , Testa Stefania
Published: November 2004

Traditionally, benchmarking has been described as a practice that promotes imitation. However, according to a more recent approach, this paper suggests that benchmarking, looking outside the firm boundaries and enabling comparison with others, in terms of both practices and performances, enable the process of acquiring external explicit and tacit knowledge. Such newly acquired knowledge, once integrated with previous internal knowledge of the firm, creates new knowledge that may give rise to improvements and innovations. In order to study the innovative power of benchmarking, this paper presents a three‐year research undertaken in the maintenance‐services sector that is becoming more and more global and competitive. A model that integrates benchmarking, knowledge management and innovation is presented as the main result of the research.
Sexual behavior during the first eight weeks after legal termination of pregnancy
Authors: Boesen Hans Christian , RØrbye Christina , NØrgaard Mogens , Nilas Lisbeth
Published: November 2004

Background.  The aim of the study was to describe sexual symptoms and resumption of sexual activity during the first 8 weeks after unrestricted first‐trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Methods.  Questionnaires 2 and 8 weeks after legal first‐trimester abortion in 1327 women.

Results.  The 8‐week questionnaire was returned by 941 (71%). Overall, 51.0% of the women recommenced coitus within 2 weeks after TOP. This figure was significantly higher among women aged 18–24 years (60.6%) than among women in higher age groups (41.7–47.8%). At 8 weeks follow‐up coitus was reported by 86.9%, ranging from 65.8% of women not in a steady relationship to 93.7% of women in a relationship (p < 0.001), and age‐related differences were insignificant. Long duration of vaginal bleeding, medical abortion and need for reevacuation of the uterus diminished the resumption frequency at 2 weeks follow‐up, but 8 weeks after termination postabortion complications did not affect resumption. At 8 weeks follow‐up 15.3% reported diminished sexual desire and 6.0% reported diminished orgasm ability comparing to prepregnancy level. Of the sexually active women 6.2% did not use sufficient contraception 8 weeks after termination.

Conclusion.  Coitus is recommenced shortly after termination of pregnancy but not always with sufficient contraception. Legal abortion is associated with few adverse effects on sexual function.
LIPID MODIFICATIONS RELATED TO ENCYSTMENT AND EXCYSTMENT OF CRYPTOMONAS RUFESCENS SKUJA (CRYPTOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Lichtlé C. , Dubacq J. P.
Published: November 2004

The lipids of Cryptomonas rufescens (Skuja) cells have been analyzed. Quantitative changes of polar and neutral lipids were observed during cell encystment, induced by cultures in a nitrogen‐deficient medium. During encystment, thylakoids disappeared while unsaturated galactolipids, characteristics of chloroplast membranes, decreased and neutral lipids accumulated in the cytoplasm. When excystment was induced, the reversal of the phenomenon was observed while thylakoids containing galactolipids were formed.
FACULTATIVE PARASITISM OF SPIROGYRA SP. (CHLOROPHYTA) BY SAPROLEGNIA ASTEROPHORA AND PYTHIUM GRACILE (EUMYCOTA, OOMYCETES)1
Authors: Beck Stephen J. , Erb Kenneth
Published: November 2004

Spirogyra sp. Link was found to be parasitized by filamentous fungi tentatively identified as Saprolegnia asterophora de Bary and Pythium gracile Schenk, in field samples and when maintained in unaltered pond water in an 18 h fluorescent light–6 h dark regime at 18 ± 2°C. Collections were made periodically between March 1978, and November 1979, from a pond in Mill Seek Sanctuary near Oyster Bay, Nassau Co., Long Island, New York. Initially, less than 1% of the total field population of Spirogyra sp. was infected by either fungal parasite with Saprolegnia asterophora being the dominant parasite present generally alone in most samples or present in 80–95% of the total number of infected algal filaments when occurring concurrently with P. gracile. However, in the laboratory, approximately 100% of the Spirogyra sp. filaments in any given sample became infected by Saprolegnia asterophora and/or P. gracile within a 1—2 wk and 3–4 wk period, respectively, with vegetative hyphae involved in the spread of infection to neighboring algal filaments. Infection of algal filaments occurred at random points with cell to cell hyphal extension within the filament causing disruption of host cells. Development of S. asterophora, and possibly P. gracile, sexual reproductive structures was common in relation with the host with asexual sporangial production not observed. Saprolegnia asterophora and P. gracile were cultured on glucose, yeast extract, malt extract (GYM) medium from infected Spirogyra sp. filaments, with infection of healthy algal filaments using these cultures by Saprolegnia asterophora, but not by P. gracile, induced in the laboratory. Growth responses and tropic responses of the fungi to the algal host could not be demonstrated.
INDIAN OCEAN NANOPLANKTON. I. RHABDOSPHAERACEAE (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) WITH A REVIEW OF EXTANT TAXA1
Authors: Richard E. Norris
Published: November 2004

Family characteristics of the Rhabdosphaeraceae are revised to limit the genera to those having cyrtoliths; genera with placoliths are removed from the family. Rhabdoliths, cyrtoliths bearing a process in the central area, are present in all genera. Coccospheres having monomorphic coccoliths, all being rhabdoliths, form one group within the family, whereas genera with dimorphic coccoliths in the coccosphere comprise a second group. Cyrtoliths without processes in the latter group may be intermixed with rhabdoliths in some genera, whereas other genera have rhabdoliths located only in polar regions of the coccosphere. Two generic nomenclatural changes are proposed, Algirosphaera being the name applied to species previously placed in Anthosphaera, an invalid generic name, and Palusphaera is recognized as a valid monotypic genus, P. vandeli being the name applied to the species that has been named Rhabdosphaera longistylis in recent literature. A new combination is made, Rhabdosphaera xiphos (Deflandre et Fert) comb. nov., recognizing a species formerly known only in sediments as extant. Rhabdosphaera, Acanthoica and Algirosphaera are genera with dimorphic coccoliths in the coccospheres; Discosphaera, Palusphaera and Anacanthoica are genera having monomorphic coccoliths in the coccosphere.
VALVE MORPHOGENESIS IN THE PENNATE DIATOM NAVICULA CUSPIDATA1
Authors: Edgar Lesley A. , Pickett‐Heaps Jeremy D.
Published: November 2004

The deposition of siliceous valves during asexual reproduction of the pennate diatom, Navicula cuspidata Kütz., is described with emphasis on the cytoplasmic components involved. The events accompanying valve secretion are similar to those already known from other pennate species. After mitosis, the microtubule centre (MC) moves to the center of the cleavage furrow where silica deposition is initiated inside a tubular silicalemma, and it remains associated with the prospective central nodule during valve growth. Microtubules (MTs), emanating from the MC, run parallel to the prospective raphe and together with the raphe fibres, appear to be involved with raphe development. Multiple raphe fibres occupy the maturing raphe fissure, in contrast to the single fibre of Pinnularia viridis, P. maior and Hantzschia amphioxys. The fibers exhibit a periodic substructure and are often opposed to the silicalemma where they may inhibit silica deposition and control the shaping of the raphe fissure. In contrast with the above species, in N. cuspidata MTs are clustered strictly opposite the raphe and lose their association with the MC which degenerates before the valves are mature. The primary role of MTs may be the stabilization of the cytoplasmic region where initial silicification occurs. Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are not involved in molding valve growth in this species. Evidence for vesicle involvement in silica transport and deposition was limited. The possible contributions provided by comparative studies on the ultrastructure of valve morphogenesis towards elucidating the control of valve formation and the taxonomy of diatoms are discussed briefly.