bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The strategic fit of supply chain integration in the TFT‐LCD industry
Authors: Sha D.Y. , Chen P.K. , Chen Yung‐Hsin
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify what kind of supply chain integration strategies can support TFT‐LCD manufacturers seeking to break through the cost constraints and complex co‐operation relationships between manufacturers, suppliers and set plants/distributors, and further satisfy the market requirements in terms of cost, quality, delivery, and flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper encompasses in‐depth interviews with 20 TFT‐LCD industry executives in three of the largest Taiwan TFT‐LCD manufacturing firms.

Findings

Several different supply chain integration strategies have been identified for operational‐level improvement of TFT‐LCD manufacturing, including direct or indirect investment in suppliers; “made in‐house” and “made by resident suppliers” arrangements, “quasi‐cluster” formation, and new module assembly line set‐up at set plant.

Research limitations/implications

This study involves only three multinational corporations of Taiwanese origin.

Practical implications

Based on the analysis of the TFT‐LCD supply chain structure, the strategic fit of supply chain integration leads to the improvement of TFT‐LCD manufacturers' capability to satisfy customer requirements and then attain competitive advantage. Their experience provides guidance for other hi‐tech industries.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into the strategic formulation of supply chain integration in the real world of the TFT‐LCD industry and identifies directions for further empirical research.
Collaborative forecasting management: fostering creativity within the meta value chain context
Authors: Rodriguez Rodriguez Raul , Poler Escoto Raul , Mula Bru Josefa , Ortiz Bas Angel
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this research paper is to present a conceptual model for collaborative forecasting management (CFM) developed within a European project's context.

Design/methodology/approach

This research follows a constructivist approach. After analysing different frameworks relating to such a thematic, and once their main weaknesses were identified, it was decided to develop the CFM framework that provides collaborative enterprises with a simple, efficient, robust and useful framework.

Findings

The paper describes a CFM model, which finds a place in the extended collaborative supply chain context, where several supply chains collaborate to deliver a product or service pack to final customers, thus forming the so‐called meta‐value chain, creating an extended value proposition.

Practical implications

Even though this proposal has been tested in one of the project's pilots, obtaining good results in terms of achieved and potentially achievable advantages, it should be tested further by implementing it in other collaborative organisations with the main objective of enriching and extending it to other sectors.

Originality/value

The CFM proposal came up as the result of applying innovative ideas between collaborative organisations supported by e‐collaboration practices, creating new paths for other disciplines.
Packaging design model from a supply chain approach
Authors: García‐Arca Jesús , Carlos Prado Prado José
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present an integrated management model for packaging design.

Design/methodology/approach

This model is the result of research of the concepts of packaging, logistics and “packaging logistics”. With this approach in mind, the design and development of packaging are structured on four basic corner‐stones, i.e. the definition and understanding of design requirements (logistics, marketing and environmental aspects), the definition of an appropriate organizational structure, the application of “best practices”, and, finally, establishing a control system.

Findings

It was found that the management model developed provides companies with a useful quantitative tool to find the “trade‐off” between the logistics costs reduction and the differentiation capacity linked to packaging.

Originality/value

The model proposed is designed to fill a gap in the measurement systems for making an evaluation of the detailed impact on the overall operation of the supply chain in certain packaging design decisions.
Opinion: Is America “the land of the future”?
Authors: Slaughter Richard A.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the view that America is “the land of the future”. It argues that, owing to its sponsorship of a model of development that is exploitive and unsustainable, this is no longer the case and that US futurists, in particular, need to consciously re‐evaluate their roles and work.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper advances a cultural critique of US hegemony. It considers background myths and their role in creating “American exceptionalism” in various fields, including futures studies. It also critiques free market ideology, the role of corporations, market failures and the economics of exploitation. This leads to issues of truth and power and the view that a continuation of an ideology of “free enterprise” leads to the collapse of the global system.

Findings

The paper suggests a number of strategies for futurists to consider as ways of opening out their vision beyond current limitations.

Practical implications

A rationale is outlined that can support shifts in more progressive directions and moves toward more fruitful work.

Originality/value

The American futures enterprise is currently at risk from its uncritical association with dysfunctions in US society, culture and economy. The paper draws attention to some of these and indicates possible ways forward.
Really different? The future of future studies1
Authors: Goonatilake Susantha
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the contours of futures studies that override the ethnocentric epistemological limitations of present studies, which are mono‐civilizational and extrapolations from Western experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper shows by empirical and conceptual means the inadequacy of present futures studies – based partly on alleged American exceptionalism – which limit the imagination of futurists. The paper then uses a different philosophical base, namely Buddhist process philosophy, which puts change at its inner core to develop a new perspective.

Findings

The paper finds that the alleged American exceptionalism is based on founding myths and ground realities not necessarily present in other countries. Huntington and others evoked the role of civilizations before the rise of Asia was being fully noticed. Current US dominance is illustrated to some extent by “everywhere is America”, but in a reverse direction “everywhere is in America” as the world implodes back on the USA through migration and through globalization.

Originality/value

The approach suggested in the paper will provide a more penetrating epistemology for future studies than hitherto ad hoc approaches.
Un‐managing knowledge workers
Authors: Ehin Charles
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual and flexible framework for the management of knowledge workers in the current information economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Research from such diverse fields as anthropology, evolutionary biology/psychology, paleontology, molecular biology, neurophysiology, and social network analysis are used in an attempt to find commonalities in these disciplines that will help determine the effects of various organizational contexts on human nature and the innovative capabilities of knowledge workers.

Findings

Provides definitive explanations/reasons why knowledge workers should not be managed using Industrial Age management concepts and organizational structures. Also includes four clearly defined descriptive principles for the development of Knowledge Age organizations and social networks.

Practical implications

An especially useful multidisciplinary source for the development of innovative enterprises capable of motivating and expanding the creative potential of knowledge workers.

Originality/value

The paper identifies critical needs and methodologies for managing knowledge workers in addition to providing fundamental principles for the advancement of flexible and innovation rich organizations.
Relevance of intangible assets to evaluate financial health
Authors: Sriram Ram S.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relevance of asset composition of a firm (tangible versus intangible properties), when evaluating its financial health. The paper argues that relevance of any asset is a function of how effectively it is used.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses two distinctive samples: a sample of traditional firms holding primarily traditional physical assets and a sample of technology service firms holding primarily intangible assets and examines the ability of intangible assets to surrogate as financial health signals.

Findings

The results show that when evaluating firms with significant intangible assets, using information about intangible assets to improve financial health evaluation. However, fundamental financial variables continue to be important in signaling financial health, regardless of asset composition.

Practical implications

The results highlight the importance of both objectively‐measured and reported fundamental financial information and subjectively measured intangible asset values. The results would help managers and markets in using greater caution when evaluating firms with intangible assets.

Originality/value

Unlike prior studies, this paper uses both fundamental financial variables and surrogates for intangible asset values in the model. The paper contributes by highlight the importance and limitations of intangible asset values.
The relevance of intangible assets in German SMEs
Authors: Durst Susanne
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the perceptions of the advisors and valuers of German associations regarding the relevance of intangible assets in general, and for the purpose of company succession in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

To perform this study German associations were examined, which play an essential role in company succession in Germany, from both sides of the process. Conducting a web‐survey, 51 answers were received (response‐rate = 42.5 per cent) which could be used for the analyses.

Findings

Amongst others, the study showed that intangible assets are of a moderate relevance. However, a large proportion of respondents expect intangible assets to be of greater relevance in the future. The study highlighted that intangibles do have a great impact on the decision‐making process of an investor.

Research limitations/implications

The total population of German Association is 135. The author received answers from 51 associations, which did not fulfil the statistical size to conduct advanced statistical methods. The specific relationship of German associations with small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) is rather unique compared to similar institutions around the world, therefore, the results may not be replicable in other countries.

Practical implications

The results of this study will help practitioners as well as academics to better understand the relevance of intangible assets in SMEs.

Originality/value

This paper is pioneering in the analysis of the influence of intangible assets in German SMEs for the purpose of company succession.
Human capital disclosures and management practices
Authors: Ax Christian , Marton Jan
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between annual report human capital (HC) disclosures and HC management practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used two sets of data. Disclosure data were collected from annual reports. Data on management practices was collected by e‐mail questionnaire. Sixteen of the most traded companies on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (SSE) were included in the study.

Findings

Results indicated that there is limited association between the two sets of data. Even though the association was significant on an aggregate level, more detailed testing showed no systematic associations. There was, however, a significant association between internal management practices and companies' perceived importance of disclosure, even though this was not reflected in actual disclosure.

Research limitations/implications

The most important limitations of the study are that it was based on a small non‐random sample of companies from only one country and used annual report disclosures from a single year. Also, the study focuses on quantity rather than quality of disclosures.

Originality/value

A feature of previous research is that it tends to focus on HC (intellectual capital) from either an external or internal perspective. This study is the first that links HC annual report disclosure and internal HC management practices.
A study of determinants of intellectual capital performance in banks: the UK case
Authors: El‐Bannany Magdi
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of intellectual capital performance in the UK banks over the period 1999‐2005.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple regression analysis is used to test the relationship between the intellectual capital performance as a dependent variable and certain independent variables.

Findings

Results indicate that the standard variables, bank profitability and bank risk, are important. The results also show that investment in information technology (IT) systems, bank efficiency, barriers to entry and efficiency of investment in intellectual capital variables, which have not been considered in previous studies, have a significant impact on intellectual capital performance.

Research limitations/implications

More evidence is needed on the determinants of intellectual capital performance before any generalisation of the results can be made. In addition, the empirical tests were conducted only on the Major British Banks Group over the period 1999‐2005 and hence the results of the study cannot be assumed to extend beyond this group of banks or to different study periods.

Practical implications

The study might help the banking regulators in addressing the factors affecting intellectual capital performance to take actions towards developing their performance and in turn maximise their value creation.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the literature on the determinants of intellectual capital performance in banks. In particular, it tests the theories that investment in IT systems, bank efficiency, barriers to entry and efficiency of investment in intellectual capital have impact on intellectual capital performance.
Do regulations matter? The effects of cross‐listing on analysts' coverage and forecast errors
Authors: AL‐Nasser Abdallah Abed
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare foreign listings on regulated and unregulated exchanges, and civil and common‐law companies to test the effects of cross‐listing (CL) on the firm's number of analysts and the accuracy of their forecast.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a comparative one. The empirical test employs both univariate and multivariate analyses and a sample of 584 cross‐listed firms along with the number of analysts and analysts' forecast errors (FE).

Findings

After controlling for the firm's size, risk, earnings surprise, and industry, the results show that analysts become more active around CL on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and PORTAL compared to CL on AMEX, NASDAQ, NYSE and over the counter (OTC). On the contrary, no statistically significant decrease in the magnitude of analysts' FEs was reported, suggesting no increase in the quantity of analysts' information. The results hold for both civil and common‐law countries.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to the use of cross‐listed firms only. Future research should include non‐cross‐listed firms. As for the implications, the evidence indicates that the choice between CL on regulated or unregulated exchanges in the USA has no impact, either on the decision of an analyst to follow the firm or on the quantity of information available about that firm. In addition, the evidence suggests that analysts are more inclined to follow firms that cross‐list on the LSE than on the US regulated exchanges. Moreover, PORTAL, as an unregulated market, provides surprising evidence on the significant role of the US large institutional investors in attracting the highest number of analysts per firm compared to other regulated exchanges.

Originality/value

The paper compares CL on regulated and unregulated exchanges in the USA and UK for both civil and common‐law firms. It contributes to the existing literature on CL and information disclosure and has implications for academics, market regulators, professionals, and multinational firms.
Deciding subsidy for pharmaceuticals based on ambiguous evidence
Authors: Sjögren Ebba
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to inquire into how decisions about public fiscal responsibility for pharmaceutical spending are made and justified when there is a lack of coherent, unambiguous and undisputed evidence about the material characteristics of pharmaceutical use.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory, single‐organisation case study of a Swedish governmental agency tasked with deciding whether prescription pharmaceuticals are included or excluded from the public pharmaceutical benefits scheme. A comparison is made of two intra‐organisational decision‐making processes based on interviews, document studies and participant observations undertaken over a period of two years.

Findings

The study shows that providing foundation for making decisions involves attempts to remove ambiguity among multiple knowledge claims about pharmaceuticals' characteristics. Three means of removing ambiguity are outlined. In addition, a fourth means of dealing with ambiguity is identified, when efforts to achieve coherence among multiple sources of knowledge fail. In this case ambiguity about pharmaceuticals' characteristics may be delegated to the individual medical professional to decide about treatment for specific patients.

Research limitations/implications

The limited empirical material provides no statistical generalisability of the findings. However, the study has theoretical implications for understanding decision‐making processes in health care institutions.

Originality/value

The paper provides a detailed empirical account of a newly created health care assessment organisation similar to those created in other countries to tackle problems of resource allocation.
Survey of service user involvement in clinical audit
Authors: Moore Jane
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to undertake a survey of the level and quality of service user involvement in clinical audit in NHS trusts currently, in order to identify perceived drivers and barriers, and factors to increase meaningful involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional descriptive survey was conducted with clinical audit leads in NHS trusts in two Strategic Health Authority regions (South East Coast and London).

Findings

There has been an increase in the presence of relevant policies and structures related to user involvement in clinical audit since previous research a decade ago. However, similar barriers are identified and the role of users is still mainly providing feedback, with little meaningful involvement in the audit cycle, and few examples of improvements to clinical care.

Practical implications

An organisational culture of user involvement needs to continue to be developed in the NHS generally, and the rationale and benefits of this need to be fully understood by all health professionals. Support needs to be provided at a national and trust level.

Originality/value

Previous research on this topic was conducted ten years ago and there is no evidence to demonstrate how practice has changed since. This paper provides contemporary evidence regarding the implementation of user involvement in clinical audit.
The sequential sawyer – a tale of frequentist fright
Authors: Powers Michael R.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The editorial aims to illustrate a major weakness of frequentist estimation – overlooking prior beliefs that are clearly relevant.

Design/methodology/approach

A hypothetical forecasting problem is considered in which a law‐enforcement officer has to determine who will be the next victim in a coded sequence constructed by a serial killer. The frequentist method of maximum likelihood is used to select the underlying pattern.

Findings

The example shows that it is quite possible for the maximum‐likelihood approach to overlook an intuitively obvious model.

Originality/value

The editorial provides a simple and clear example of the shortcomings of the maximum‐likelihood principle.
Defining and measuring business risk in an economic‐capital framework
Authors: Doff René
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The objectives of this paper are to: define business risk; identify whether economic capital could be used to mitigate this risk; and investigate business‐risk measurement methodologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes definitions used in theory and practice and derived a definition. It analyzes three measurement methodologies: analogue companies/peer group analysis, statistical methods, and scenario analysis. These methodologies are tested against the criteria of effective management control, because economic capital is increasingly used as a management control instrument.

Findings

Economic capital can be used as business‐risk mitigant albeit not the only one. The measurement methodology of scenario analysis satisfies most of the criteria for effective control.

Practical implications

This paper opens a discussion to further develop the scenario approach in theory and practice.

Originality/value

Despite the amount of economic capital that financial institutions hold to cover business risk, it has received little attention in literature. This paper opens a discussion on a relatively new field of research.
Impact of macroeconomic indicators on stock market performance
Authors: Kyereboah‐Coleman Anthony , Agyire‐Tettey Kwame F.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The study aims at examining how macroeconomic indicators affect the performance of stock markets by using the Ghana Stock Exchange as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

Quarterly time series data covering the period 1991‐2005 were used. Cointegration and the error correction model techniques are employed to ascertain both short‐ and long‐run relationships.

Findings

Findings of the study reveal that lending rates from deposit money banks have an adverse effect on stock market performance and particularly serve as major hindrance to business growth in Ghana. Again, while inflation rate is found to have a negative effect on stock market performance, the results indicate that it takes time for this to take effect due to the presence of a lag period; and that investors benefit from exchange‐rate losses as a result of domestic currency depreciation.

Originality/value

The single most important contribution of this study is its emphasis on macroeconomic variables and stock market performance in a small country, since most studies have concentrated on stock markets and economic growth in advanced economies.
Delta hedging of mortgage‐servicing portfolios under gamma constraints
Authors: Ortiz Carlos E. , Stone Charles A. , Zissu Anne
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Interest only strips are created by stripping the interest portion of cash flows generated in mortgage‐backed securities or simply by servicing portfolios of mortgages. A number of financial institutions have significant amounts of mortgage‐servicing rights (MSR) which need to be delta (dynamic) hedged. Because MSR have a positive duration when prepayment effect is stronger than discount effect, it is possible to delta hedge a portfolio of MSR with other fixed income securities such that the value of the portfolio is not affected by increases or decreases in market rates. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops the delta‐hedge‐ratio of MSR within a dynamic approach, using three different securities. To lower the cost of the delta hedge, the authors compare three hedge ratios dynamically, in order to obtain the portfolio that needs the least delta hedge.

Findings

The model enables the reduction of the amount of portfolio rebalancing and therefore reduces the cost of MSR portfolio hedging.

Practical implications

The paper develops the gamma‐hedge‐ratio function for each of the three securities. The lowest gamma corresponds to the hedged portfolio that needs the least re‐balancing.

Originality/value

This paper is innovative with the introduction of a delta‐hedge‐ratio function of interest and prepayment rates.
Structuralism? Functionalism? Behaviorism? Or mechanism? Looking for a better approach to AI
Authors: Zhong Yixin
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Research of artificial intelligence (AI), has aimed at making machines intelligent via the simulation of natural intelligence, particularly human intelligence. During the past decades, there have been three major approaches aimed at achieving this goal, namely structuralism, functionalism and behaviorism. Unfortunately, they work separately and contradictorily to a large extent. The purpose of this paper is to present a better and more unified approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses each of the three major approaches to AI, describing their advantages and disadvantages. There then follows an attempt to explore a new and more reasonable approach to AI. The new approach should be able to solve all the problems that the existing approaches can solve on one hand and can solve the problems that the existing approaches cannot solve on the other hand.

Findings

It was found that the more reasonable and more powerful approach is the one that directly touches the common and core mechanism of intelligence formation. This is due to the fact that the mechanism of intelligence formation is much more essential than other windows of an intelligent system, such as structure, function, or behavior. It was also found that the common and core mechanism of intelligence formation can be implemented through the information‐knowledge‐intelligence transformation. The third finding is that the three existing approaches are special cases of the mechanism approach under different conditions and can thus be harmoniously unified within the frame of the mechanism approach.

Originality/value

The three findings in the paper: the mechanism approach, the implementation of the mechanism approach, and the unification of the existed three major approaches, are important laws never found before in the literature. The breakthrough of the mechanism approach to AI will be of great significance to both theoretical and practical research in AI in the years to come.
Statistical analysis of C‐DNA microarray data for sample clustering and gene identification
Authors: Coutier Fabrice , Sebastiani Giovanni
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to describe a fast and easy method of both clustering samples and identifying active genes in cDNA microarray data.

Design/methodology/approach

The method relies on alternation of identification of the active genes using a mixture model and clustering of the samples based on Ward hierarchical clustering. The initial‐point of the procedure is obtained by means of a χ2 test. The method attempts to locally minimize the sum of the within cluster sample variances under a suitable Gaussian assumption on the distribution of data.

Findings

This paper illustrates the proposed methodology and its success by means of results from both simulated and real cDNA microarray data. The comparison of the results with those from a related known method demonstrates the superiority of the proposed approach.

Research limitations/implications

Only empirical evidence of algorithm convergence is provided. Theoretical proof of algorithm convergence is an open issue.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology can be applied to perform cDNA microarray data analysis.

Originality/value

This paper provides a contribution to the development of successful statistical methods for cDNA microarray data analysis.
Vascular epiphyte vegetation in rocky savannas of southeastern Brazil
Authors: José Válka Alves Ruy , Kolbek Jirí , Becker Johann
Published: August 2008

We studied the epiphytic communities growing on 56 phorophytes belonging to ten species in five campo rupestre mountain ranges in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and registered a total of 53 species of vascular epiphytes. Though the absolute number of epiphytic species from campo rupestre is relatively low when compared with that of rainforests, the number of species per surveyed phorophyte proved similar in both ecosystems. The richest families were Orchidaceae (with 28 spp.) and Bromeliaceae (14 spp.). Facultative holoepiphytes were by far the most numerous with 29 species and characteristic holoepiphytes were represented by 14 species. Epiphyte–phorophyte specificity is briefly discussed: when growing epiphytically, Vriesea oligantha (Bromeliaceae) and Epidendrum saxatile (Orchidaceae) are restricted to Vellozia sp. div. phorophytes in the Cipó and Ouro Branco ranges, two campo rupestre sites which are separated by 120 km. The association Polypodio squamulosi–Tillandsietum strictae, first described from Paraná State, was also registered in Minas Gerais: this is the first time that the same plant association is recognized from two very distant sites (over 800 km apart) in Brazil. Within this unit, two new subassociations are described: Polypodio squamulosi–Tillandsietum strictae tillandsietosum streptocarpae and typicum. The associations Tillandsio recurvatae–Polypodietum hirsutissimae and Epidendro campestris–Vrieseetum oliganthae are described as new. Our results are compared with those in another 19 surveys of epiphytic assemblages from Brazil and one from Argentina.
Habitat selection, diet and interspecific associations of the rufous‐tailed weaver and Fischer’s lovebird
Authors: Mwangomo Ephraim A. , Hardesty Linda H. , Sinclair A. R. E. , Mduma Simon A. R. , Metzger Kristine L.
Published: August 2008

We investigated habitat selection and diets of two co‐occurring endemic bird species (rufous‐tailed weaver, Histurgops ruficauda, Fischer’s lovebird, Agapornis fischeri) and four other species with which they associated in mixed feeding flocks (red‐billed buffalo weaver, Bubalornis niger, white‐headed buffalo weaver, Dinemellia dinemellii, superb starling, Lamprotornis superbus, and Hildebrandt’s starling, Lamprotornis hildebrandti) during the dry season in Serengeti National Park Tanzania. Mixed species flocks could facilitate food acquisition and/or act as anti‐predator mechanisms. Five of the six species selected grassland habitat over Acacia habitat along transects. Analysis of species association, using Cole’s coefficient of association, showed that both rufous‐tailed weavers and superb starlings co‐occurred with red‐billed buffalo weavers. Superb starlings were negatively associated with Fischer’s lovebird, Hildebrandt’s starling and white‐headed buffalo weavers. Diet analysis revealed that the rufous‐tailed weaver, white‐headed buffalo weaver, and red‐billed buffalo weaver were generalists eating both insects and seeds, whereas Fischer’s lovebird and superb starling were specialists, selecting only seeds and insects respectively. These data offer some support for the hypothesis that mixed species flocks facilitate mutual food searching.
Birds associated with a tailings storage facility and surrounding areas from a South African gold mine
Authors: Hudson Adrian , Bouwman Henk
Published: August 2008

As part of the ‘International Cyanide management code for the manufacture, transport, and use of cyanide in the production of gold’, companies voluntarily commit towards keeping the weak‐acid‐dissociable (WAD) cyanide concentrations in tailings below 50 mg l−1. Day and night‐time observations were made in winter at the tailings storage facility (TSF) of the Mponeng mine of AngloGold Ashanti, and extensive surveys of the surroundings were made for mortalities. The cyanide levels never exceeded 50 mg l−1 WAD. No dead birds or mammals were found. Twenty‐five bird species were recorded in and around the TSF and the associated return water dams (RWDs), with 20 occurring only in the surrounding grasslands or RWDs, and five (four wader species and a sand martin) on the TSF. The wading birds were most likely feeding on dead insects from the pond surface, as they adjusted their locations according to wind direction. Other birds actively avoided the TSF water, suggesting a locally learned behaviour. Whether this avoidance will also hold for migratory birds or natal dispersal of local birds in summer necessitates further investigation. A better understanding of the TSF–wildlife interactions would lead to improved measures to reduce environmental risks.
Quality nursing care as perceived by nurses and patients in a Chinese hospital
Authors: Zhao Shi Hong , Akkadechanunt Thitinut , Xue Xiu Li
Published: August 2008

Aims and objectives.  To explore and compare nurses and patients perceptions of quality nursing care.

Background.  It is important to measure both nurses and patients perceptions of quality nursing care. To date, however, no study on nurses’ perceptions of quality nursing care has been conducted specifically in the Chinese setting.

Design.  Descriptive, comparative study with 221 nurses and 383 patients in 18 non‐ICU inpatient nursing units.

Methods.  Data were collected using the Perception of Quality Nursing Care Scale.

Results.  The results showed that the overall mean score and each category mean score, as perceived by nurses and patients, were high. There was a statistically significant difference between nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of quality nursing care based on the following categories: staff characteristics, care‐related activities and progress of nursing process. However, similarities in perception have also been identified in some categories.

Conclusions.  The findings indicate that nurses and patients had differing views of quality nursing care, because they may have had different standards and ways in which they viewed these characteristics of care. Improvements are needed regarding certain aspects of patient information and support for patients’ psychological needs.

Relevance to clinical practice.  It is a challenge to nurses when taking collaborative action to meet patients’ expectations and needs, however, it will move nursing practice in Chinese hospitals forward.
Associations of overweight and of weight dissatisfaction among Palestinian adolescents: findings from the national study of Palestinian schoolchildren (HBSC‐WBG2004)
Authors: Al Sabbah H. , Vereecken C. , Abdeen Z. , Coats E. , Maes L.
Published: August 2008

Background:  Overweight and obesity as well as weight dissatisfaction have been increasing in prevalence worldwide. Body weight dissatisfaction and fear of fatness are potential contributors to disordered eating. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self‐reported overweight and weight dissatisfaction along with associations with socio‐demographic characteristics, body image, health complaints, risk behaviours, physical activity and television viewing in adolescents in Palestine.

Methods:  The 2003/04 Palestinian Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children (HBSC) is a cross‐sectional survey of 17 817 adolescents from 405 randomly selected schools. Students from a representative sample of grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 (aged 12–18 years) self‐completed a modified version of the international World Health Organization collaborative Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children (HBSC‐2002) questionnaire.

Results:  Although 16.5% of the adolescents were overweight, almost twice that number (32.1%) were dissatisfied with their weight (i.e. dieting or perceiving a need to diet). Of those adolescents, two‐thirds were not actually overweight (56.4% boys; 73.5% girls). One‐fifth of the total number of adolescents (16.0% boys; 24.0% girls) were not overweight but were dissatisfied with their weight. Boys reporting overweight or weight dissatisfaction were more likely to have mothers with higher education or to be from more affluent families. Among both genders, but especially among girls, weight dissatisfaction was positively associated with most of the outcome variables (body image, health complaints, risk behaviours, and television viewing) regardless of weight status, whereas weight status was associated with only a few of the outcome variables.

Conclusions:  Weight dissatisfaction, independent of weight status, is associated with body image, health complaints, risk behaviours and television viewing, and represents a potential health risk factor for adolescents. Preventive interventions should focus not only on weight status, but also on body weight dissatisfaction.
Determinants of subjective sleepiness in suspected obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: KOUTSOURELAKIS IOANNIS , PERRAKI ELENI , BONAKIS ANASTASIOS , VAGIAKIS EMMANOUIL , ROUSSOS CHARIS , ZAKYNTHINOS SPYROS
Published: August 2008

Although daytime sleepiness is commonly associated with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the relationship between OSA severity and subjective sleepiness has been documented elusive. This study aimed to identify clinical and polysomnographic determinants of subjective sleepiness among patients suspected of having OSA. A sleep clinic‐based sample of 915 patients was interviewed with a structured questionnaire and underwent diagnostic overnight polysomnography. Subjective sleepiness was quantified by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Excessive daytime sleepiness (defined as ESS score > 10) was present in 38.8% of patients. In multiple linear regression analysis, respiratory disturbance index [RDI; used to define (whenever RDI was >5) and quantify OSA], depression and diabetes were the most important determinants of ESS score accounting for 17%, 11% and 6% of its variability respectively. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, heart disease, alcohol use and body mass index were less important determinants of ESS score explaining 1–3% of its variability. In conclusion, OSA should not be considered the sole potential cause of increased subjective sleepiness in patients suspected of having OSA. Primarily depression and diabetes, but also COPD, stroke, heart disease, alcohol use and increased body mass index may contribute to increased subjective sleepiness.
The need for an evidence‐based decision‐making process with regard to control of hepatitis A
Authors: Gentile A.
Published: August 2008

Summary.  Universal hepatitis A (HA) vaccination was implemented by the Argentinean Ministry of Health in June 2005 with a single dose at age 12 months. The decision was made taking into account the following factors. (1) Disease burden: The incidence rate for the disease increased from 2003 to 2004; the northern and western regions of the country were the most affected. Sero‐prevalence data for children 1–15 years old was 54% for the whole country, with differences per region and age. From May 1982 to September 2002, 210 patients were recruited with acute hepatic failure; HA was the aetiology in 61% of them. (2) Cost‐effectiveness: Compared with no vaccination, the one‐dose schedule would save US$15.3 millions, with regional variations. (3) Vaccine features: Immunization with one‐dose schedule HA vaccine confers good immunogenicity and effectiveness. (4) Programmatic feasibility: The National Immunizations Program has appropriate distribution system for vaccines, with adequate cold chain. (5) Social acceptance and political compromise: The population largely accepts HA vaccination and the national authorities should be committed to providing it regularly. The main global issue is that hepatitis A virus infection remains the most commonly reported vaccine‐preventable disease in many parts of the world despite the availability of vaccines.
Differences in hepatitis A seroprevalence among geographical regions in Turkey: a need for regional vaccination recommendations
Authors: Ceyhan M. , Yildirim I. , Kurt N. , Uysal G. , Dikici B. , Ecevit C. , Aydogan A. , Koc A. , Yasa O. , Köseoğlu M. , Onal K. , Hacimustafaoglu M. , Celebi S.
Published: August 2008

Summary.  Hepatitis A is a worldwide vaccine‐preventable infection. Recommendation of vaccination depends on the endemicity of the disease. The World Health Organization recommends universal hepatitis A vaccination in intermediate areas; however, there is no need of mass vaccination in high and low endemicity regions. Therefore, most of the countries are using a vaccination policy according to the endemicity characteristic representing the whole of the country. The endemicity of this infection varies due to sanitary and hygiene conditions and socioeconomic differences among the countries and in various regions of the same country. A sample of 1173 persons between the age of 0 and 91 years from nine randomly selected medical centres from five different geographical centres of Turkey were tested for the level of anti‐hepatitis A virus (anti‐HAV) immunoglobulin‐G antibodies using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The overall prevalence of anti‐HAV antibodies was 64.4% (1142/1173). While the rate of sero‐positivity was over 80% in the 5–9 age group and more than 90% after 14 years of age in south‐eastern and eastern regions, it was lower than 50% at the age of 5–9 years in central and western regions and remains under 80% in those areas. We conclude that the differences observed in HAV sero‐positivity among various geographical regions in Turkey support a universal HAV immunization policy for children currently living in regions of intermediate endemicity.
The RGS protein Crg2 regulates both pheromone and cAMP signalling in Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Xue Chaoyang , Hsueh Yen‐Ping , Chen Lydia , Heitman Joseph
Published: August 2008

G proteins orchestrate critical cellular functions by transducing extracellular signals into internal signals and controlling cellular responses to environmental cues. G proteins typically function as switches that are activated by G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) and negatively controlled by regulator of G protein signalling (RGS) proteins. In the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, three G protein α subunits (Gpa1, Gpa2 and Gpa3) have been identified. In a previous study, we identified the RGS protein Crg2 involved in regulating the pheromone response pathway through Gpa2 and Gpa3. In this study, a role for Crg2 was established in the Gpa1‐cAMP signalling pathway that governs mating and virulence. We show that Crg2 physically interacts with Gpa1 and crg2 mutations increase cAMP production. crg2 mutations also enhance mating filament hyphae production, but reduce cell–cell fusion and sporulation efficiency during mating. Although crg2 mutations and the Gpa1 dominant active allele GPA1Q284L enhanced melanin production under normally repressive conditions, virulence was attenuated in a murine model. We conclude that Crg2 participates in controlling both Gpa1‐cAMP‐virulence and pheromone‐mating signalling cascades and hypothesize it may serve as a molecular interface between these two central signalling conduits.
Treponema denticola TroR is a manganese‐ and iron‐dependent transcriptional repressor
Authors: Brett Paul J. , Burtnick Mary N. , Fenno J. Christopher , Gherardini Frank C.
Published: August 2008

Treponema denticola harbours a genetic locus with significant homology to most of the previously characterized Treponema pallidum tro operon. Within this locus are five genes (troABCDR) encoding for the components of an ATP‐binding cassette cation‐transport system (troABCD) and a DtxR‐like transcriptional regulator (troR). In addition, a σ70‐like promoter and an 18 bp region of dyad symmetry were identified upstream of the troA start codon. This putative operator sequence demonstrated similarity to the T. pallidum TroR (TroRTp) binding sequence; however, the position of this motif with respect to the predicted tro promoters differed. Interestingly, unlike the T. pallidum orthologue, T. denticola TroR (TroRTd) possesses a C‐terminal Src homology 3‐like domain commonly associated with DtxR family members. In the present study, we show that TroRTd is a manganese‐ and iron‐dependent transcriptional repressor using Escherichia coli reporter constructs and in T. denticola. In addition, we demonstrate that although TroRTd possessing various C‐terminal deletions maintain metal‐sensing capacities, these truncated proteins exhibit reduced repressor activities in comparison with full‐length TroRTd. Based upon these findings, we propose that TroRTd represents a novel member of the DtxR family of transcriptional regulators and is likely to play an important role in regulating both manganese and iron homeostases in this spirochaete.
Targeting of the BclA and BclB proteins to the Bacillus anthracis spore surface
Authors: Thompson Brian M. , Stewart George C.
Published: August 2008

The exosporium is the outermost layer of the Bacillus anthracis spore. The predominant protein on the exosporium surface is BclA, a collagen‐like glycoprotein. BclA is incorporated on the spore surface late in the B. anthracis sporulation pathway. A second collagen‐like protein, BclB, has been shown to be surface‐exposed on B. anthracis spores. We have identified sequences near the N‐terminus of the BclA and BclB glycoproteins responsible for the incorporation of these proteins into the exosporium layer of the spore and used these targeting domains to incorporate reporter fluorescent proteins onto the spore surface. The BclA and BclB proteins are expressed in the mother cell cytoplasm and become spore‐associated in a two‐step process involving first association of the protein with the spore surface followed by attachment of the protein in a process that involves a proteolytic cleavage event. Protein domains associated with each of these events have been identified. This novel targeting system can be exploited to incorporate foreign proteins into the exosporium of inactivated, spores resulting in the surface display of recombinant immunogens for use as a potential vaccine delivery system.
Periconceptional glycaemic load and intake of sugars and their association with neural tube defects in offspring
Authors: Shaw Gary M. , Carmichael Suzan L. , Laurent Cecile , Siega‐Riz Anna M. ,   the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: August 2008

In a California population, we previously observed increased neural tube defect (NTD) risks associated with maternal intakes of periconceptional diets predicting higher glycaemic responses and higher sucrose. Our objective here was to replicate these results in a larger study of multiple regions within the United States. This population‐based case–control study included deliveries from 1997 to 2003 from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. NTD cases were infants or fetuses born with spina bifida or anencephaly. Infants without malformations were eligible as controls. Interview participation was 71% among case mothers and 68% among control mothers. There were 720 NTD case and 4699 control mothers with completed interviews included in analyses. Diet was assessed using a 58‐item food frequency questionnaire focusing on the year before conception, whereas cereals, beverages and supplement use was assessed periconceptionally. We found no increased risks of NTD‐affected pregnancies with increased intakes (adjusted for kcal/day) of sucrose, glucose, fructose or with maternal diets with a higher glycaemic load. The reasons for current findings to be inconsistent with previous findings are unknown.