bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing energy within organisations
Authors: Schiuma G. , Mason S. , Kennerley M.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The energy of employees is recognised as an important factor in their performance and in maximising their overall contribution to the organisation. Organisational energy is dynamic in nature; it is more than just the sum of the energy of its employees. It also includes the interaction and dynamics of teams and the organisation as a whole. This paper aims to provide an investigation of the role and relevance of energy in driving business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the relevance of assessing energy within an organisation in order to drive business performance. It examines the sources and dynamics of energy, in order to provide insights into the nature of energetic organisations, and how they can leverage the concept of energy to improve business performance.

Findings

Adopting a deductive approach, on the basis of a literature review, the paper proposes an explanatory framework for understanding the relationship between energy and performance – The Energy Performance Chain.

Research limitations/implications

The paper proposes a novel framework and approach for understanding the link between energy and organisational performance that can form the basis for further empirical research.

Practical implications

The paper provides a framework for practicing managers to understand the concept of energy at work and how they can leverage organisational energy to improve their organisational performance.

Originality/value

The paper provides a novel investigation of energy as a driver or organisational performance, providing a framework and approach to leveraging energy in organisations.
Bi‐negotiation integrated AHP in suppliers selection
Authors: Chen Yee‐Ming , Huang Pei‐Ni
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to propose a new approach for tackling the uncertainty and imprecision of identifying suitable supplier offers, evaluating these offers and choosing the best alternatives in bi‐negotiation. In a build‐to‐order supply chain, the handling of uncertainties is addressed by a real time information sharing system and appropriate supplier selection.

Design/methodology/approach

A methodology integrated analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with bi‐negotiation agents based on the multi‐criteria decision‐making approach and software agent technique is then developed to take into account both qualitative and quantitative factors in supplier selection.

Findings

During the decision‐making between buyer and suppliers, the AHP process matches product characteristics with supplier characteristics. Next, agents assist the user in the debate to negotiate a joint representation of the supplier chosen and automatically justify proposals with this joint representation.

Originality/value

This study focused on a multi‐attribute negotiation mechanism including qualitative conditions, which enables automated negotiation on multiple attributes. Finally, a fuzzy membership function represented the joint representation's cognition for each condition such as quantity, price, quality, and delivery for the outsourced component. A case study in a high‐end computer manufacturing company is given to demonstrate the potential of the methodology.
Cross‐benchmarking international competitiveness and performance in human language technologies
Authors: Kenny Brian , Meaton Julia
Published: August 2007

Purpose

Competitive success as a nation requires balancing commercial innovativeness and social welfare, which results in a sound basis for socio‐economic development. All potential resources – including entrepreneurial activity and innovations – can be utilized as promoters of competitiveness and welfare. Thus, useful lessons for general national competitiveness can be learned from benchmarking individual innovations and perhaps even more so, from those less glamorized technologies such as human language technologies (HLT). Finnish researchers are considered to be at the leading edge of developments in a number of ICT fields. The main responsibility for the utilization of knowledge is seen, necessarily, to rest with the public sector, while the legislative framework is considered to favour entrepreneurship and innovation. Aims to discuss the issues.

Design/methodology/approach

National competitiveness and HLT benchmarking pose a number of interesting questions and issues both macro and micro levels. For example: the extent to which benchmark performance in HLT is consistent with national competitiveness; link between robustness of research effort in any particular language community and effectiveness of technology transfer to market; and fostering and funding of entrepreneurial activity in HLT in the successful (benchmarked) countries and the fit with national vision and innovation policy. For the first two areas, relationships between HLT benchmark and comparative national competitiveness of top countries are examined through comparison of their respective primitive dimensions. Data sources include official and quasi‐official public documents. The final stage is explored using a case study approach and comparative assessment against extant entrepreneurship literature.

Findings

There appears to be no direct link between robustness of the HLT research effort in any particular language community and actual effectiveness of technology transfer to market. None the less, success in the Finnish HLT benchmark appears to correlate with the country's international competitiveness standing and “social innovation policy” paradigm. Its knowledge society model has clearly resulted in a sound basis for its socio‐economic development, where all potential resources – including its entrepreneurial base – and innovations, can be utilized as promoters of competitiveness and welfare. Within this entrepreneurial base, HLT SMEs tend to seek scale economies through internationalise at the early stages of development.

Originality/value

The paper shows that Finland is well placed to meet the challenges and to capitalise on the economic and social opportunities, given its strength in ICT/HLT innovation policy country's open self‐criticism of the latter.
Expanding the academic discipline of real estate valuation
Authors: Vandell Kerry D.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to trace the evolution of the theory and practice of valuation of real estate interests. Using a historical perspective, especially in the context of recent events, it identifies an emerging unification of thought and application that has important implications for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies and synthesizes the contributory literature to the philosophical underpinnings of value theory and practice as applied to real estate. From pre‐history to the present, it traces classical concepts and the way these are related to the recent innovations in economic and financial valuation theory.

Findings

Recent contributions to value theory hold the promise of unifying and transforming the practice of real estate appraisal to one that is state‐of‐the‐art in terms of its contemporary relevance. However, numerous issues remain as obstacles, including insufficient recognition of the “real” nature (as opposed to “capital” nature) of real estate; a lag in educational standards to bring the profession up to date; an excessive reliance on models and data rather than judgment and common sense; and “silo‐ization” of specialties. Promising directions for future research are identified.

Originality/value

The task of valuation of interests in real property has taken on an increasingly important role, as the market for real estate has grown and become more liquid and complete. This paper provides a perspective on where it has come from and where it must go in the future in terms necessary changes in theory and practice to remain viable and relevant.
Re‐engineering a valuation degree: how did we get here and where do we go?
Authors: Baxter James S.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to review property and valuation education within the university context, using the experience of program re‐development at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilises a literature review, comparing and contrasting the program renewal process within the university to experiences elsewhere and their inherent values. In critically examining some of the difficulties found within the program renewal process, issues symptomatic of the wider valuation profession and tertiary education system have been revealed. It provides the genesis of a wider study linking tertiary education and the valuation profession's needs in the mid‐term.

Findings

Valuation education is often subsumed within a generalist property curriculum. As part of their resource allocation models universities are now paying close attention to teaching quality, research output, and graduate outcomes, often favouring generalist curricula rather than discipline‐specific. There needs to be a careful analysis of the university experience of property and valuation students to ensure that graduate capabilities meet industry expectations, and that graduates themselves are able to adapt to future change. There also needs to be greater attention paid to the quality of teaching within universities and more evidence that mainstream tertiary teaching pedagogy is properly applied within the programs offered.

Research limitations/implications

As a case study this paper chronicles the experiences at one university. It indicates a need for a wider, systematic study of how greater engagement by property and valuation academic and teaching staff can be more actively engaged in mainstream university teaching pedagogy.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in its chronicling of a detailed and structured renewal process. It highlights real difficulties faced by tertiary academics in a narrow discipline such as valuation during a renewal process, aimed at continuing high‐quality professional education.
Where is the world of property valuation for taxation purposes going?
Authors: Tretton David
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The paper's purpose is to review the growth of computer supported valuation models and the increased access via information technology to property data in the world of property taxation. The paper aims to stimulate debate on what the short/medium term future may hold. Is there room for both traditional valuation surveying skills and computer mass appraisal models in the enlightened property taxation world, where transparency and access to property data is expected?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper compares and contrasts developments and trends in the use of automated valuation models (AVMs) across the world to assess property for local taxation purposes. It focuses in detail on three automated property taxation valuation systems of which the author has working knowledge and experience: Valuation Office Agency – Council Tax (Dwellings) and Non Domestic Rating (Commercial); Northern Ireland Valuation and Lands Agency – Domestic (Dwellings); Hong Kong Rating and Valuation Department (Dwellings and Commercial) property. The paper also considers the progress made in access to property data and data storage/retrieval.

Findings

Automated valuation programmes assist in the production of a valuation but its quality and accuracy are data and valuer led. One size does not fit all and there is no automated replacement for the subjective professional judgement of the valuer.

Originality/value

This paper considers the challenges, opportunities and possible problems when using computer driven valuation models for property taxation purposes.
The Oppenheim effect in scholarly journal publishing
Authors: Gorman G.E.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to look at the Oppenheim effect in scholarly journal publishing.

Design/methodology/approach

Discusses the quality control of refereed scholarly journals.

Findings

A key finding of this research was that editors perceived originality to be the most important factor in their assessment of manuscripts.

Originality/value

Provides a discussion on the quality control of scholarly journals.
Are co‐linked business web sites really related? A link classification study
Authors: Vaughan Liwen , Kipp Margaret , Gao Yijun
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine the reasons for the creation of co‐links between pairs of business web sites. Specifically, to determine whether co‐linked business web sites are really related.

Design/methodology/approach

Co‐links to 32 telecommunications companies were retrieved using Yahoo! and a random sample of 495 co‐linking pages (the page that initiated the co‐link) were selected for a content analysis. The context of the co‐link and the content of the co‐linking page were manually examined to record the following data: type of web site and the reason for the creation of the co‐link.

Findings

The study found that 61.4 per cent of co‐links were created to connected pairs of highly related businesses (related companies, related products, and related services). Only 14.7 per cent of co‐links were created for non‐business reasons. The remaining 23.8 per cent of co‐linked sites showed a loose or marginal business relationship. The study also found that co‐links targeting home pages (as opposed to non‐homepages) were more likely to connect related businesses. Furthermore, co‐links coming from commercial sites (as opposed to other sites such as educational sites) are more likely to link related businesses.

Originality/value

The findings from this content analysis study confirm results from previous quantitative studies that showed that web co‐links measure relatedness of co‐linked sites and that co‐links can be objects of web data mining. The study contributes to our understanding of link motivations and the web linking phenomenon in general. The difference between links to homepages and that to non‐homepages found in the study can guide us in co‐link data collection.
Automated classification of HTML forms on e‐commerce web sites
Authors: Ru Yanbo , Horowitz Ellis
Published: August 2007

Purpose

Most e‐commerce web sites use HTML forms for user authentication, new user registration, newsletter subscription, and searching for products and services. The purpose of this paper is to present a method for automated classification of HTML forms, which is important for search engine applications, e.g. Yahoo Shopping and Google's Froogle, as they can be used to improve the quality of the index and accuracy of search results.

Design/methodology/approach

Describes a technique for classifying HTML forms based on their features. Develops algorithms for automatic feature generation of HTML forms and a neural network to classify them.

Findings

The authors tested their classifier on an e‐commerce data set and a randomly retrieved data set and achieved accuracy of 94.7 and 93.9 per cent respectively. Experimental results show that the classifier is effective and efficient on both test beds, suggesting that it is a promising general purpose method.

Originality/value

The paper is of value to those involved with information management and e‐commerce.
Blog search engines
Authors: Thelwall Mike , Hasler Laura
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the capabilities and limitations of weblog search engines.

Design/methodology/approach

The features of a range of current blog search engines are described. These are then discussed and illustrated with examples that illustrate the reliability and coverage limitations of blog searching.

Findings

Although blog searching is a useful new technique, the results are sensitive to the choice of search engine, the parameters used and the date of the search. The quantity of spam also varies by search engine and search type.

Research limitations/implications

The results illustrate blog search evaluation methods and do not use a full‐scale scientific experiment.

Originality/value

Blog searching is a new technique, and one that is significantly different from web searching. Hence information professionals need to understand its strengths and weaknesses.
The IP's guide to the galaxy of portal planning: part III – administrative framework
Authors: Finley Amy M. , Augustyniak Rebecca H.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This article is the third in a four‐part series that aims to illustrate the process involved in planning a portal and creating a portal definition document.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a review of the academic and industry literature and using a case study, the authors share their experience in planning the Florida ExpertNet Research portal.

Findings

Portal development is a complex and costly endeavour that requires meticulous planning and design. As with any system development initiative, the time and energy spent in the planning process is reflected in the success or failure of the end product. A portal administrative framework encompasses governance (strategic) and management (operational) models. The governance model contains a description of the governing units and their responsibilities. The management model includes a description of key management components (primary function, activities, and manager) and management roles and responsibilities.

Originality/value

This series will be useful to the information professional who is contemplating portal development and may be used as a model in developing a blueprint – the portal definition document. Whether the information professional is considering doing development or outsourcing, it is important to understand the architectural requirements of a portal.
Using conditional probabilities for automatic new topic identification
Authors: Ozmutlu Seda , Ozmutlu Huseyin C. , Buyuk Buket
Published: August 2007

Purpose

One of the most important dimensions of search engine user information seeking behaviour is content‐based behaviour. One of the main elements in developing a personalised intelligent search engine is new topic identification. The purpose of this study is to perform automatic new topic identification in search engine transaction logs using conditional probabilities of new topic arrivals.

Design/methodology/approach

Sample data logs from FAST (currently owned by Yahoo!) and Excite (currently owned by IAC Search & Media) are used in the study. Conditional probabilities of new topic arrivals and topic continuations given query category are used to estimate new topic arrivals.

Findings

The findings of this study show that the conditional probability approach reduced overestimation of topic shifts, increasing some performance measures to their highest ever value compared to previous studies. A straightforward procedure such as the conditional probability approach can be as successful as, and for some measures more successful than, more complex methods applied in previous automatic new topic identification studies.

Originality/value

A straightforward procedure that can enable fast automatic new topic identification, a problem not yet solved, and an important step towards personalised search engines.
How big is a database versus how is a database big
Authors: Jacsó Péter
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the sizes of databases.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper illustrates the various dimensions of some library and information science (LIS) databases and database subsets, and the implications of these differences.

Findings

Enhancements of database records by cited references have great potential for guiding the searcher to cited and cited references.

Originality/value

Illustrates the various dimensions of some LIS databases and database subsets, and the implications of these differences.
Sorting out evaluation of learning and development: making it easier for ourselves
Authors: Cunningham Ian
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expose the errors of existing common evaluation frameworks such as Kirkpatrick and to suggest superior approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on work done in a variety of organizations as well as existing research evidence.

Findings

The paper finds that evaluation of learning and development can be both more rigorous and simpler.

Practical implications

The paper has real practical implications for leaders/managers and learning and development professionals, as it shows how to overcome the limitations of existing approaches to evaluation. By proposing an alternative approach to Kirkpatrick's model it encourages practitioners to be clearer about evaluation activity.

Originality/value

The paper will be of value to managers and learning specialists as it raises important issues about how to evaluate learning and development activity.
Organizational change – overcoming resistance by creating readiness
Authors: Self Dennis R.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

Despite a significant amount of academic research showing that failure to create and manage readiness for change, nonetheless, far too many organizational managers have failed to learn both from their past mistakes and from the research. This paper aims to provide a brief review of five important elements necessary to build readiness in an organization when it is faced with change. By successful application of the five elements, readiness for the change may be created and managed leading to a prevention or minimization of resistance to the change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a general review of one approach to managing change.

Findings

The paper finds that by addressing each of the five elements, there will be a greater likelihood of successful change introduction and management.

Originality/value

The paper provides overview of the five elements of readiness for managing change as created by Armenakis et al.
Do leaders learn from near death experiences? Ten years after …
Authors: Santora Joseph C. , Sarros James C.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to determine the degree to which a leader of a nonprofit organization changed over time after a near death experience.

Design/methodology/approach

This follow‐up case study uses interviews with a leader and other key actors in a nonprofit organization as well as participant and non‐participant observation over a ten‐year period.

Findings

The paper finds that while a leader may change behavior after a near death experience that change is not fully sustained over time.

Practical implications

This paper offers leaders who face similar challenges as a result of a near death experience with recommendations for making personal and organizational changes.

Originality/value

This paper will be of value to leaders who have had near death experiences and return to the workplace.
Grounded theory and management research: a lack of integrity?
Authors: Jones Robert , Noble Gary
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the manner in which “objectivist” grounded theory methodology has progressively developed since 1967 and how it has been employed by management researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper traces the methodological development of grounded theory with particular emphasis on the variations, contradictions and modifications to the methodology both between and within the Glaserian and Straussian Schools. Totally 32 empirical grounded theory studies published in the management literature since 2002 are analysed in order to gauge the impact of these variations on the manner in which researchers have employed the grounded theory methodology.

Findings

It is argued that grounded theory in management research is in danger of losing its integrity. The methodology has become so pliant that management researchers appear to have accepted it as a situation of “anything goes” “Grounded theory” is now loosely used as a generic term to refer to any qualitative approach in which an inductive analysis is grounded in data.

Originality/value

It could be argued that grounded theory cannot continue to be regarded as a moving target, or to be practised as a free‐for‐all methodology in management research, without risking serious danger of becoming irrelevant. Three suggestions are offered for restoring more discipline into grounded theory studies.
Deconstructing a personal “academic”/“practitioner” narrative through self‐reflexivity
Authors: McKenna Steve
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to self‐reflexively deconstruct a paper published by the author in 1996 about a Singaporean entrepreneur for whom the author worked. Through the deconstruction a number of important methodological and epistemological issues are raised. Firstly, the way in which the value of qualitative research in management and organization studies is judged more by how it conforms to acceptable ways of data collection, analysis and interpretation (strategic apparatus) than on any “truth” value it may have. Secondly, a consideration of how the “I” of the researcher is influential in how research is undertaken and written up. Thirdly, that this “I” of the researcher is also determined by what is acceptable “scientific” discourse and by other prevailing discourses.

Design/methodology/approach

In a paper published in 1996, the author detailed the “dark side” of an entrepreneur for whom he worked. Using a psychoanalytic framework this paper constructed the entrepreneur as an irrational and unethical incompetent. In the present paper, this earlier work is deconstructed using insights from Derrida's in order to highlight “strategic exclusions,” and to offer alternative readings. These alternative readings emphasize the influence of various discourses on the construction of the earlier paper, and also introduce a reading of the earlier paper as a psychoanalytic narrative.

Findings

The paper highlights the uses to which “objective tools” of analysis can be put in order to manipulate and construct an explanation and interpretation of personal experiences. This raises important epistemological issues concerning the influence of broader discourses on the representation of experiences and how realities and identities are constructed and performed. The paper concludes by suggesting that whom we are as researchers, and what we observe and write, is more complex and influenced by more discourse(s) than we might think. Even if researchers tell impressionistic and confessional tales simultaneously with their realist ones, it is necessary to consider what discourses may lay behind their telling. It has been argued that a limitation of deconstruction is that it may result in endless iterations and readings of text with no discursive closure. This may be a limitation of the deconstruction offered here.

Originality/value

The paper raises questions about the nature of the “academic” narrative and the importance of deconstruction in establishing author positioning within narrative. It contributes to the discussion about objectivity in organizational and management research and issues of epistemology and ontology more generally.
Dialogic e‐learning2learn
Authors: Korsgaard Sorensen Elsebeth
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the challenge and potential of online higher and continuing education, of fostering and promoting, in a global perspective across time and space, democratic values working for a better world.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a generalized dialogic learning architecture of networked collaborative learning and makes a plea for a theory‐informed networked collaborative learning architecture and methodology appropriate for adult learners in higher and continuing education.

Findings

Values include mutual political and intercultural understanding, collaboration, and tolerance to cultural and ethical diversity, and they are mediated through collaborative dialogue and knowledge‐building processes between learners. While embedded, empirically, in a networked distance learning context, established through synchronous and asynchronous communication technologies, the paper advocates for theory informed pedagogical designs and a teaching‐learning methodology, which assumes online collaborative dialogue as the centre of a genuine learning process.

Originality/value

The paper complements this plea with a description and evaluation of the implementation of the pedagogical architecture into a Danish Master Programme.
Multi‐channel communication and consumer choice in the household furniture buying process
Authors: Lihra Torsten , Graf Raoul
Published: August 2007

Purpose

Furniture is among the important personal consumption expenditures for durable goods in the USA. Retailers and manufacturers offer different communication channels to assist consumers all through the process of acquiring furniture. The objective of the present study is to evaluate US consumers' channel use at different steps of the residential furniture‐buying process.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐section study was conducted by taking advantage of the structured nature of quantitative methods using a questionnaire for data collection and a socio‐demographic representative sample of US citizens. Consumers' use of six communication channels through five buying decision steps was assessed.

Findings

Results showed that the furniture retail store is the most important communication channel at each of the five considered buying process stages. Overall score of that channel was higher for females than males, indicating that women care more about communication when buying furniture. The internet was not of significant importance when buying furniture. Advertising was perceived as a significant means to gather information.

Practical implications

The study will help to orient companies' marketing strategies by making proper use of communication channels. It also shows marketing students the present state of consumers' communication channel preferences.

Originality/value

This paper gives unique insights into consumers' buying behavior that will help to design communication channels properly.
How direct marketing is revolutionizing an industry: residential real estate in the USA
Authors: Keillor R. David
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss the history of real estate marketing in the USA and to assess the future impact of direct marketing on that country's real estate set‐up.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper chronicles the history of real estate marketing in the USA and describes the present situation vis‐à‐vis direct marketing.

Findings

The paper finds that home buyers prefer online direct marketing to the traditional process of physical involvement and personal inspection.

Originality/value

The paper promotes the advantages of direct marketing as the future of residential real estate in that it offers lower prices, direct participation in the process and better access to information.
Is there a rationale for the continuing link to oil product prices in continental European long‐term gas contracts?
Authors: Stern Jonathan P.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the continuing justification for linking the prices of European gas to those oil products.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an analytic‐deductive approach supported by relevant analysis of data over a period of two decades.

Findings

Statistical analysis of the end‐uses of gas and oil products over the past two decades reveal that, with few exceptions, use of oil is increasing confined to transportation while gas is a utility fuel used to generate heat and power. The ability of end‐users to substitute oil products for gas – the principal justification for price linkage – has substantially diminished over the past two decades, and this trend is continuing. The implication of these findings is that nearly 20 percent of Europe's energy supplies are priced inappropriately with reference to a fuel which has little relevance to the supply/demand dynamics of natural gas. At levels of oil prices seen since 2003, this has significantly negative consequences for consumers. An important qualification to these findings is that in markets where prices have been set by gas to gas competition for many years – the UK and North America – a long‐term “natural correlation” between gas and oil prices has been observed.

Originality/value

The paper raises the important question facing European gas stakeholders and asks whether to remain with oil‐linked prices or move to spot market prices created at hubs in North West Europe.
Modelling for policy assessment in the electricity supply sector of Pakistan
Authors: Qudrat‐Ullah Hassan , Karakul Mustafa
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a long‐term assessment of Pakistan's electricity policy in the context of both environmental and resource constraints. To increase the sustainability of energy supply, the Government of Pakistan introduced a series of reforms in the electricity supply sector during 1990‐1995. In response to these policy incentives, most of the independent power producer offers included coal, oil, and/or gas‐based power plants. Considering that Pakistan produces only up to 40 percent of its oil demand domestically and thermal power generation causes CO2emissions, there is a great need for an assessment of the existing electricity policy.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on system dynamics methodology, this study presents and utilizes a dynamic simulation model that captures the dynamics of the sectors underlying the electricity supply system including investments, capital, production, resources, financial resources, and the environment.

Findings

The key findings of this study are: policy incentives encouraged thermal‐based generation at the potential expense of hydro power generation; and the evolution of electricity supply related CO2emissions exhibits an exponential growth.

Research limitations/implications

While there are other emissions related to the electricity supply system with potentially severe environmental concerns, for example SO2, this study focuses only on CO2emissions.

Originality/value

The paper offers a system dynamics model and provides some useful policy insights for the electricity supply sector of Pakistan.
Polish Government policy for coal (1989‐2006)
Authors: Zientara Piotr
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss and assess the consecutive Governments' policy for coal (1989‐2006) in the context of the systemic transformation of the Polish economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a critical analysis of the rationale and effectiveness of government efforts to restructure the Polish coal mining industry in the light of economic theory, published literature, and a survey of three collieries. Some parallels, toutes proportions gardées, are drawn between the situation in the UK under Margaret Thatcher and that in Poland.

Findings

The paper argues that, despite throwing billions of zlotys at the industry in the form of direct subsidies and debt write‐offs, decision makers failed to make the collieries economically sound. The weaknesses of the consecutive governments – manifesting itself, amongst other things, in the unwillingness and/or inability to confront the miners' unions, to introduce market mechanisms into the sector, to ensure competent management and, crucially, to press on with nationwide economic liberalisation – are seen as the principal reasons behind the failure.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the root causes of government ineffectiveness as well as aspires to provide policy recommendations with a view to rendering the Polish coal industry economically viable in a free‐market reality.

Originality/value

It presents the coal mining industry as a relic of socialism and highlights the inconsistencies and inadequacies of the consecutive restructuring programmes; concludes that restructuring efforts – to be truly effective – have to be co‐ordinated with nationwide economic liberalisation.
LKB1 gene mutations in Japanese lung cancer patients
Authors: Onozato Ryoichi , Kosaka Takayuki , Achiwa Hiroyuki , Kuwano Hiroyuki , Takahashi Takashi , Yatabe Yasushi , Mitsudomi Tetsuya
Published: August 2007

Mutation of the LKB1 gene (also known as STK11) is regarded as a cause of Peutz–Jeghers syndrome. In Caucasian patients, LKB1 somatic mutations occur in approximately one‐third of lung adenocarcinomas. The aim of the present study was to examine the LKB1 gene in Japanese patients with lung cancer and to evaluate its clinical and pathological implications. We sequenced the LKB1 gene in 22 lung cancer cell lines and 100 Japanese patients with lung cancer (including 81 adenocarcinomas, 14 squamous cell carcinomas and five other histological types) who had undergone curative pulmonary resection. We also determined expression levels of the LKB1 gene by quantitative real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and correlated these results with the clinical and pathological features of patients. Among the 22 cell lines, four had mutations and three of these were in adenocarcinoma cells. Of 100 primary lung cancers, only three had LKB1 gene mutations (3%). All of them were male smokers with adenocarcinomas. Hence, when confined to this subset of patients, the mutation frequency was 9% (3/33). No significant correlation was observed between the expression level of LKB1 and patient clinicopathological features. In conclusion, LKB1 gene mutations were relatively rare in Japanese patients with lung cancer compared with Caucasian patients. LKB1 gene mutations appear to be frequent in male, smoking patients of Caucasian origin, in contrast to EGFR or HER2 mutations that are frequent in non‐smoking, female patients of Asian origin. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1747–1751)
Identification of cell proliferation‐associated epitope on CD98 oncoprotein using phage display random peptide library
Authors: Itoh Kunihiko , Inoue Kazuyuki , Hayashi Hideki , Suzuki Toshio , Masuko Takashi
Published: August 2007

CD98 is known as a cell surface antigen expressed in proliferating normal tissues and in almost all tumor cells. Although the function of CD98 is not yet fully elucidated, it is suggested that CD98 is concerned functionally in lymphocyte activation, cell proliferation, and malignant transformation. Monoclonal antibody against human CD98 heavy chain (h.c.), termed HBJ127, shows inhibition of lymphocyte activation and tumor cell growth in vitro. These observations suggest that the epitope recognized by HBJ127 may be crucial for CD98 function. In the present study, the authors investigated the epitope recognized by HBJ127 using a phage display random heptapeptide library. Approximately 2.4 × 104‐fold amplification of eluted phage titer was obtained after three rounds of panning of the phage library against HBJ127. Seven different heptapeptide sequences were isolated from 30 randomly selected clones of the post‐panning phage population. A homology search using ClustalW identified the peptide sequence corresponding to 442AFS444 of human CD98 h.c. It was also found that 443F is a human‐specific amino acid by comparing sequences of human, rat, and mouse origin. Reduced reactivity of HBJ127 was detected against the phenylalanine‐substituted peptide but not detected against the alanine or serine‐substituted one. It has been identified that HBJ127 reacts only with human species and the HBJ127 epitope position is predicted in 418–529 of human CD98 h.c. From these results and observations, it was estimated that 442AFS444 of human CD98 h.c. may be the HBJ127 epitope. Moreover, 443F may be critical for the binding of HBJ127 against human CD98 h.c. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1696–1700)
Interferon‐γ sensitizes hepatitis B virus‐expressing hepatocarcinoma cells to 5‐fluorouracil through inhibition of hepatitis B virus‐mediated nuclear factor‐κB activation
Authors: Chung Chan , Park Sung Gyoo , Park Young Min , Joh Jae‐won , Jung Guhung
Published: August 2007

Nuclear factor (NF)‐κB is important for immune responses and cell survival; however, abnormal activation of NF‐κB is linked with many types of diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our previous report indicated that hepatitis B virus (HBV) induces NF‐κB activation through NF‐κB‐inducing kinase (NIK), and this can be blocked specifically by interferon (IFN)‐γ. In the present study, we report that HBV expression in HCC cell lines induces drug resistance against 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU). This drug resistance was abolished by inhibition of NF‐κB activation through small interfering RNA‐mediated NIK ‘knockdown’ and IFN‐γ treatment. In addition to the reduced NF‐κB activation and drug resistance, the upregulated growth arrest‐ and DNA damage‐inducible protein 45β (Gadd45β) in HBV‐expressing HCC cell lines was downregulated by the small interfering RNA‐mediated NIK knockdown and IFN‐γ treatment. The overexpression of Gadd45β in HCC cell lines also induces drug resistance against 5‐FU. Based on our data, we suggest that IFN‐γ treatment might be helpful for chemotherapy in HBV‐integrated HCC through inhibition of the NIK‐mediated NF‐κB activation and downregulation of the NF‐κB target gene Gadd45β. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1758–1766)
Effects of three different types of management on the elimination kinetics of volatile anaesthetics
Authors: REBER A. , SCHUMACHER P. , URWYLER A.
Published: August 2007

The effectiveness of three types of management on the elimination kinetics of volatile anaesthetics was studied prospectively in 45 patients randomised to one of three groups. Patients were anaesthetised using isoflurane. Inspiratory and expiratory isoflurane concentrations were measured. After reaching a steady‐state isoflurane concentration, the vaporizer was turned off. In group I, only the fresh gas flow was increased from 40 to 120 ml.kg−1.mìn−1. Patients in group 2, in addition to the increase in the fresh gas flow, had a charcoal filter connected in the inspiratory limb of the circuit. Patients in group 3 had the fresh gas flow increased and the anaesthetic machine and breathing system changed. There was a statistically significant difference in the isoflurane washout from the anaesthetic machines between group 1 (90% elimination time 39 [10] s) and group 2 (90% elimination time 25 [5] s) (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the isoflurane washout from the patients in any of the groups. Thus the use of a charcoal filter or a change of the anaesthetic machine and breathing system proved to be of no clinical advantage.
Respiratory depression following combination of epidural buprenorphine and intramuscular ketorolac
Authors: JAIN P. N. , SHAH S. C.
Published: August 2007

A 48‐year‐old man who had undergone thoracotomy for carcinoma of the middle third of his oesophagus developed sevel postoperative respiratory depression following intramuscular ketorolac 30 mg 2 h after 150 μg epidural buprenorphin Summation of analgesia by drugs used in combination can have deleterious respiratory effects.
Inhibition of caspase‐dependent spontaneous apoptosis via a cAMP‐protein kinase A dependent pathway in neutrophils from sickle cell disease patients
Authors: Conran Nicola , Almeida Camila B. , Lanaro Carolina , Ferreira Renata Proença , Traina Fabiola , Saad Sara T. O. , Costa Fernando F.
Published: August 2007

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by high leucocyte counts, altered cytokine levels and endothelial cell injury. As the removal of inflammatory cells by apoptosis is fundamental for the resolution of inflammation, we aimed to determine whether the leucocyte apoptotic process is altered in SCD. Neutrophils from SCD individuals showed an inhibition of spontaneous apoptosis when cultured in vitro, in the presence of autologous serum for 20 h. Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were approximately twofold increased in SCD neutrophils; possible cAMP‐upregulating factors present in SCD serum include interleukin‐8, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor and prostaglandin. Accordingly, co‐incubation of SCD neutrophils with KT5720, a cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor, abrogated increased SCD neutrophil survival. Caspase‐3 activity was also significantly diminished in SCD neutrophils cultured for 16 h and this activity was restored when cells were co‐incubated with KT5720. BIRC2 (encoding cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1, cIAP1), MCL1 and BAX expression were unaltered in SCD neutrophils; however, BIRC3 (encoding the caspase inhibitor, cIAP2), was expressed at significantly higher levels. Thus, we report an inhibition of spontaneous SCD neutrophil apoptosis that appears to be mediated by upregulated cAMP‐PKA signalling and decreased caspase activity. Increased neutrophil survival may have significant consequences in SCD; contributing to leucocytosis, tissue damage and exacerbation of the chronic inflammatory state.
Cigarette smoke‐induced pulmonary inflammation, but not airway remodelling, is attenuated in chemokine receptor 5‐deficient mice
Authors: Bracke K. R. , D'hulst A. I. , Maes T. , Demedts I. K. , Moerloose K. B. , Kuziel W. A. , Joos G. F. , Brusselle G. G.
Published: August 2007

Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory response of the airways and lungs to noxious particles and gases, mostly cigarette smoke (CS). Pathological changes characteristic of COPD include airway wall thickening, peribronchial fibrosis, peribronchial lymphoid follicles and destruction of lung parenchyma (emphysema). The recruitment of inflammatory cells into the lung in response to CS is thought to play an important role in the development of COPD.

Objective
Our aim was to study the contribution of chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) to the pathogenesis of COPD and specifically whether the development of airway remodelling is a direct result of airway inflammation or rather occurs through an independent mechanism.

Methods
In this study, C57BL/6 wild‐type mice and CCR5‐deficient mice were subjected to sub‐acute (4 weeks) and chronic (24 weeks) CS exposure.

Results
Both sub‐acute and chronic CS exposure significantly increased CCR5 mRNA expression and protein levels of CCR5 ligands [macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α (MIP‐1α), MIP‐1β and regulated upon activation, normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES)], and induced the recruitment of neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes to the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of wild‐type mice. Chronic CS exposure also increased the number and extent of peribronchial lymphoid follicles. In CCR5 knockout (KO) mice, these CS‐induced increases in CCR5 ligands, inflammatory cells in BAL and peribronchial lymphoid follicles were all significantly attenuated compared with wild‐type animals. Importantly, chronic CS exposure induced airspace enlargement in wild‐type mice, while CCR5 KO mice were partially protected against the development of emphysema. However, CCR5 deficiency did not affect CS‐induced airway wall remodelling, because chronic CS exposure induced a similar increase in airway wall thickness, smooth muscle mass and peribronchial deposition of collagen and fibronectin in both wild‐type and CCR5 KO mice.

Conclusion
Our data suggest that CCR5 contributes to pulmonary inflammation and to the development of emphysema in response to CS. CCR5 is, however, not implicated in CS‐induced airway wall remodelling, suggesting that the mechanisms that lead to airway inflammation are distinct to those responsible for airway remodelling.