bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The strategic value of sustainable stakeholder management
Authors: Klaas Jagersma Pieter 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between sustainable stakeholder management and reputational capital (of banks).Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth interviews with top executives of global banks, corporations, hedge funds, World Bank, IMF, SEC, ECB and politicians.FindingsA bank's overall reputation is a function of its reputation among its various stakeholders in specific categories (e.g., product quality; customer service; financial performance; handling of environmental and societal issues; intellectual capital, etc.). Building a name that matters involves maximizing all characteristics. There is a very strong consensus across our research population that sustainable stakeholder management is required. The interviewees selected four outstanding “stakeholder management banks”: Santander (Spain), Rabobank (The Netherlands), HSBC Bank (UK) and Nordea (Sweden).Research implications/limitationsBuilding, sustaining and defending a solid stakeholder management reputation is a crucially important aspect of bank management, but it is an area where understanding could be developed much further. The focus of this study is on the strategic value of sustainable stakeholder management. However, superior operational effectiveness is at least as important a source of competitive advantage as sustainable stakeholder management.Practical implicationsThe ability of a sustainable stakeholder management reputation to deliver proven value flows straight to the bottom line. It is senior management's responsibility to manage the bank so as to develop and maintain a solid sustainable stakeholder management reputation. The strength of a bank's name depends on how well it has fulfilled its promise to stakeholders over time.Originality/valueFuture leadership in banking will require significant commitment to sustainable stakeholder management. The “reputations to restore” motto provides the main rationale for banks to build a sustainable stakeholder management mindset. In doing so, they preserve market positions, margins, and organizational vitality.
Turning the tables on performance reviews: how to create a better process that empowers, energizes and rewards your employees
Authors: Myrna John W. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share findings from consulting engagements on performance reviews.Design/methodology/approachA case‐study method was used to demonstrate the obstacles to what maintains many organizations.Practical implicationsThe paper outlines deliberate steps that will transform the performance review process by shifting responsibility to the employee.Originality/valueThe paper provides new insights on effective performance reviews.
A study of quality from the perspective of the university graduates
Authors: Navehebrahim Abdolrahim 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate higher education quality from the perspective of university graduates.Design/methodology/approachBased on Kaufman and Herman's model of education output as well as Yamani Doozi Sorkhabi, a researcher‐designed questionnaire is used to collect the data requiring response to five questions in the study. Research questions addressed such areas as: first, the adequacy of the curriculum; second, the status of the graduates in the job market; third, graduates' perception of their educational experience; fourth, desire to engage in future research; fifth, ability of graduates to interact with the university. For each research question, a group of indicators are defined. The validity of indicators is confirmed by experts in the field. Cronbach's alpha indicated a reliability of 79 percent. The population comprised 700 graduates holding BSc degree in basic sciences from a small‐sized university. A total of 250 of these students comprised a random sample. A total of 126 responses are received.FindingsResults indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the curriculum, relative satisfaction with the educational experience, but low satisfaction with the acquisition of research abilities and research experience.Practical implicationsUniversities need to be constantly rethinking, restructuring, and revitalizing their programs with employment skills in mind. In the case of a program in basic sciences, the ability to engage in some elements of research is a relevant employment skill yet, in the university under study, despite the fact that students generally enjoyed their educational experience; it seems they acquired little in the way of the skills required in the market place. Universities need to ensure that mechanisms are in place to obtain alumni and employer feedback to enable programs of study to not only be interesting, but also relevant to the community. However, despite the graduates' interest in an ongoing interaction with the university (83 percent of interest), the university under study did not emphasize such interaction. This is rather shortsighted given the need for modern universities to be responsive to the various stakeholders.Originality/valueThis paper should be of value to education leaders, educational planners, as well as university professors who are interested in ensuring that university curricula are current and relevant.
Optimizing business education: a strategic response to global challenges
Authors: Mohamed Ehab K.A. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges facing business education in providing students with the knowledge and skills that raise their competency level to meet that required by the market.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a framework for closing the gap between the business education delivered by universities and the current needs of the business community.FindingsThere seems to be a perception that education can fix all the problems. That results in a perceived gap between what is expected from business education and what is actually provided. The rapid spread of globalization and enormous developments in information technology (IT) has led to dramatic changes in the business environment and business education needs to be responsive to these changes.Practical implicationsThere is a general consensus that business curricula need improvement given the considerable challenges that face businesses today including dealing with emerging globalization, new economic challenges, rapid IT developments, and the requirements for human capital with multi‐facet skills. Business schools that prepare future managers in different disciplines have a responsibility to close the gap between the skills acquired by business graduates and the skills required in global markets.Originality/valueThe paper provides a framework for closing the gap between acquired and required skills and a client‐oriented strategic plan for a degree program.
Foundations of swarm robotic chemical plume tracing from a fluid dynamics perspective
Authors: Spears Diana F. , Thayer David R. , Zarzhitsky Dimitri V. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeIn light of the current international concerns with security and terrorism, interest is increasing on the topic of using robot swarms to locate the source of chemical hazards. The purpose of this paper is to place this task, called chemical plume tracing (CPT), in the context of fluid dynamics.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a foundation for CPT based on the physics of fluid dynamics. The theoretical approach is founded upon source localization using the divergence theorem of vector calculus, and the fundamental underlying notion of the divergence of the chemical mass flux. A CPT algorithm called fluxotaxis is presented that follows the gradient of this mass flux to locate a chemical source emitter.FindingsTheoretical results are presented confirming that fluxotaxis will guide a robot swarm toward chemical sources, and away from misleading chemical sinks. Complementary empirical results demonstrate that in simulation, a swarm of fluxotaxis‐guided mobile robots rapidly converges on a source emitter despite obstacles, realistic vehicle constraints, and flow regimes ranging from laminar to turbulent. Fluxotaxis outperforms the two leading competitors, and the theoretical results are confirmed experimentally. Furthermore, initial experiments on real robots show promise for CPT in relatively uncontrolled indoor environments.Practical implicationsA physics‐based approach is shown to be a viable alternative to existing mainly biomimetic approaches to CPT. It has the advantage of being analyzable using standard physics analysis methods.Originality/valueThe fluxotaxis algorithm for CPT is shown to be “correct” in the sense that it is guaranteed to point toward a true source emitter and not be fooled by fluid sinks. It is experimentally (in simulation), and in one case also theoretically, shown to be superior to its leading competitors at finding a source emitter in a wide variety of challenging realistic environments.
Graph exploration with robot swarms
Authors: Wang Hui , Jenkin Michael , Dymond Patrick 
Published: November 2009

PurposeA simultaneous solution to the localization and mapping problem of a graph‐like environment by a swarm of robots requires solutions to task coordination and map merging. The purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of two different map‐merging strategies.Design/methodology/approachBuilding a representation of the environment is a key problem in robotics where the problem is known as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). When large groups of robots operate within the environment, the SLAM problem becomes complicated by issues related to coordination of the elements of the swarm and integration of the environmental representations obtained by individual swarm elements. This paper considers these issues within the formalism of a group of simulated robots operating within a graph‐like environment. Starting at a common node, the swarm partitions the unknown edges of the known graph and explores the graph for a pre‐arranged period. The swarm elements then meet at a particular time and location to integrate their partial world models. This process is repeated until the entire world has been mapped. A correctness proof of the algorithm is presented, and different coordination strategies are compared via simulation.FindingsThe paper demonstrates that a swarm of identical robots, each equipped with its own marker, and capable of simple sensing and action abilities, can explore and map an unknown graph‐like environment. Moreover, experimental results show that exploration with multiple robots can provide an improvement in exploration effort over a single robot and that this improvement does not scale linearly with the size of the swarm.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper represents efforts toward exploration and mapping in a graph‐like world with robot swarms. The paper suggests several extensions and variations including the development of adaptive partitioning and rendezvous schedule strategies to further improve both overall swarm efficiency and individual robot utilization during exploration.Originality/valueThe novelty associated with this paper is the formal extension of the single robot graph‐like exploration of Dudeket al.to robot swarms. The paper here examines fundamental limits to multiple robot SLAM and does this within a topological framework. Results obtained within this topological formalism can be readily transferred to the more traditional metric representation.
Mantle cell lymphoma shows three morphological evolutions of classical, intermediate, and aggressive forms, which occur in parallel with increased labeling index of cyclin D1 and Ki‐67
Authors: Kimura Yoshizo , Sato Kensaku , Arakawa Fumiko , Karube Kennosuke , Nomura Yuko , Shimizu Kei , Aoki Ryosuke , Hashikawa Keiko , Yoshida Shiro , Kiyasu Junichi , Takeuchi Masanori , Nino Daisuke , Sugita Yasuo , Morito Toshiaki , Yoshino Tadashi , Nakamura Shigeo , Kikuchi Masahiro , Ohshima Koichi 
Published: November 2009

(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 806–814)Although the 2008 World Health Organization classification defines two subtypes of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), classical and aggressive, we often encounter MCL with both features in the same site. We named this feature "MCL with focal aggressive form (intermediate MCL)”. In the present study, we reclassified 237 patients with cyclin D1 (CCND1)‐positive MCL on the basis of the concept of intermediate MCL, and analyzed the correlation of this reclassification with immunohistochemical detection of CCND1, Ki‐67, p53, p27Kip1, and p21WAF/Cip1. The median overall survival was 77, 31, and 18 months for classical, intermediate, and aggressive MCL, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001). The expression levels of CCND1, Ki‐67, p53, and p21WAF/Cip1 in aggressive MCL (mean 80.1 ± 27.8%, 73.7 ± 28.9%, 31.0 ± 69.0%, and 10.4 ± 24.8%, respectively) were higher than those in classical MCL (mean 58.1 ± 36.7%, 25.2 ± 25.5%, 6.5 ± 24.3%, and 2.5 ± 13.0%, respectively) and intermediate MCL (mean 75.7 ± 31.4%, 30.8 ± 33.3%, 21.0 ± 57.4%, and 4.8 ± 16.5%, respectively). Significantly different levels of Ki‐67 and p21WAF/Cip1 were only recognized between intermediate and aggressive (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001, respectively), whereas those of CCND1 and p53 were only between classical and intermediate (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in p27Kip1 among the three groups. The subsequent discriminant analysis with independent prognostic factors clearly demonstrated that the morphological evolution of MCL occurs in parallel with increased labeling index of CCND1 and Ki‐67. The diagnosis of intermediate MCL thus proved to be of major significance and should enable the design of more tailored therapies.
A Quantitative trait locus responsible for inducing B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is a hotspot for microsatellite instability
Authors: Kaszynski Richard H. , Akatsuka Shinya , Hiratsuka Takuya , Jin Guang , Ozeki Munetaka , Okuno Tomoko , Nakamura Takuro , Manabe Toshiaki , Takakuwa Tetsuya , Hiai Hiroshi , Toyokuni Shinya , Tamaki Keiji , Tsuruyama Tatsuaki 
Published: November 2009

(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 800–805)While the molecular mechanisms underlying microsatellite instability (MSI) have been exhaustively investigated, identifying the patterns of MSI distribution within diverse cancer genomes has remained an elusive issue. In the present study, we conducted genome‐wide MSI screening in B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphomas (B‐LBL) which spontaneously develop in the SL/Kh strain of mice. Tumor samples harvested from 16 mice were investigated using a framework map consisting of 150 microsatellite markers spaced at increments of roughly 0.5–3.0 centimorgans, spanning the entirety of mouse chromosomes (mus musculus chromosomes [MMU]) 3–6. MMU3 contains a quantitative trait locus (QTL), Bomb1 (bone marrow pre‐B1), known to induce an aberrant expansion of pre‐B cells in bone marrow prior to the onset of B‐LBL in SL/Kh mice. The remaining chromosomes were selected on the basis of those most closely resembling MMU3 in terms of total estimated length (maximum variance 10 Mb). MSI was confirmed at 2≤ markers in DNA derived from tumor tissues in 15 SL/Kh mice (93.7%), while healthy splenic DNA samples screened in parallel were consistently negative for MSI. The overall MSI incidence was significantly higher on MMU3 compared with MMU4–6 (P = 0.031). Additionally, by applying spatial point pattern analysis combined with a 1‐D version of Ripley’s K‐function, we successfully demonstrated the predilection of MSI‐susceptible loci to structure a massive cluster within the Bomb1 locus. Our study is the first to suggest that a QTL concomitantly serves as a hotspot for MSI‐susceptible loci and sheds new light on somatic cancer genetics.
Normalisation of total body iron load with very intensive combined chelation reverses cardiac and endocrine complications of thalassaemia major
Authors: Farmaki Kallistheni , Tzoumari Ioanna , Pappa Christina , Chouliaras Giorgos , Berdoukas Vasilios 
Published: November 2009

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

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

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

SummaryBackground
Theophylline has an anti‐inflammatory action that may account for its clinical effectiveness in the reduction of inflammatory cells in the airways. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen‐presenting cells, capable of priming naïve T cells, and play key roles in the activation of immune responses in asthma.Objective
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of theophylline on human monocyte differentiation into DCs and whether this involved antagonism of adenosine receptors.Methods
Peripheral human blood monocytes were cultured in the presence of granulocyte/macrophage‐colony stimulating factor and IL‐4 to induce DC differentiation. The cells were incubated with theophylline, KF17837 (a selective A2a receptor antagonist) and enprofylline (A2b receptor antagonist) and co‐incubated with selective adenosine A1 and A2a receptor agonists, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (rolipram) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) to determine their effects on DC differentiation. In addition, depletion of adenosine receptors by small interfering RNA (siRNA) was also examined.Results
Monocytes differentiated into myeloid DCs in the culture system. The number of DCs was remarkably reduced by 60–70% when theophylline was administered at a therapeutic concentration. This effect was concentration‐dependently exacerbated, was partly mediated by cellular apoptosis and was effectively reversed by the addition of the A1 agonists [2‐chloro‐N6‐cyclopentyladenosin, N6‐cyclohexyladenosine, and N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA)] or the A2a agonist (CGS‐21680, NECA). The depletion of the adenosine A1 receptor by siRNA and addition of ADA remarkably reduced DC differentiation. Meanwhile, both enprofylline and rolipram had little effect.Conclusion
Our findings suggest that the adenosine A1 (and possibly coordinated with A2a) receptors contribute to DC differentiation and survival. These findings provide further evidence that theophylline has an anti‐inflammatory action in bronchial asthma.
Mutation of CRE1 in Fusarium oxysporum reverts the pathogenicity defects of the FRP1 deletion mutant
Authors: Jonkers Wilfried , Rep Martijn 
Published: November 2009

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