bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Virtual team collaboration and innovation in organizations
Authors: Jarle Gressgård Leif 
Published: March 2011

PurposeVirtual teams, understood as teams with geographically dispersed members communicating primarily by use of information and communication technologies (ICT), have become a viable form for work in innovation projects involving one or several organizations. Knowledge development and creation of a shared understanding among team members are often stressed as fundamental to successful innovation processes. This paper aims to address how use of ICT in team collaboration impacts on the creation of a shared understanding and knowledge development within the teams, and how these factors are important for organizations' innovation capabilities.Design/methodology/approachBased on a review of the literature, the paper discusses how modern ICT may impact on the organization of innovative activities and organizations' innovation capabilities.FindingsSeveral important factors related to the use of ICT in teams working on innovation projects are highlighted. A conceptual model and directions for future research based on a literature review are proposed.Practical implicationsBased on the discussion, a conceptual model is presented which highlights the need for well‐functioning computer‐mediated team interaction in order to realize the innovation potential of organizations.Originality/valueThe paper emphasizes the reciprocal significance of knowledge access and knowledge exploitation for organizations' innovation capabilities, and discusses how ICT impacts on both aspects.
Liquidity risk exposure for specialised and unspecialised real estate banks
Authors: Giannotti Claudio , Gibilaro Lucia , Mattarocci Gianluca 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare banks specialised on real estate lending with the overall market in order to the test if they are more or less exposed to liquidity risk.Design/methodology/approachFollowing the approach proposed by the Basel Committee in order to evaluate the bank liquidity exposure, the paper compares the value of these measures between the real estate lending banks (REBs) and all other banks for the Italian market. A panel regression analysis is also performed in order to identify the main drivers of the liquidity risk measures for the two types of banks.FindingsThe paper finds that no significant differences exist between REBs and the overall system if liquidity risk measures used by regulators in order to supervise the banking system are taken into account. Normally liquidity exposure by this type of bank is significantly affected by interbank market dynamics.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper considers only one market in order to test the fitness of the regulatory approach for the REBs and does not take into account the off balance sheet exposure.Practical implicationsEven if REBs suffer from a misalignment between the asset and liability duration, the supervisory authority selects measures that do not penalise them.Originality/valueThe paper represents one of the first empirical analyses on the impact of regulatory requirements for liquidity management by the Basel Committee in order to test if the rules proposed could penalise banks specialised in real estate loans.
International mobile roaming in the Arab states
Authors: Sutherland Ewan 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review how the Arab states individually and especially collectively have tackled the question of persistently high charges for international mobile roaming.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of a review of the decisions and decision‐making processes of the League of Arab States, of the Gulf Cooperation Council and of certain of its member states in the matter of international mobile roaming charges.FindingsThe weaknesses of partial liberalisation and of flawed systems of governance of telecommunications markets at the national level are compounded at trans‐national level by divergence of interest. Lack of experience in dealing with consumer issues and competitive analysis have limited the ability of institutions to respond.Research limitations/implicationsData on roaming markets are very limited, making analysis difficult. Transparency of decision making by international institutions is often weak or selective.Practical implicationsThe decision to try to use price caps neglected the opportunity to try to complement the actions of Zain in abolishing roaming surcharges.Social implicationsThe regulators and ministers have pursued their own interests with little regard for consumers. They have failed to quantify the likely benefits of their proposed price caps on roaming charges.Originality/valueThis paper complements others on different regions. It sheds some light on telecommunications in the Arab world, a subject which is infrequently addressed in the academic literature.
The restructuring of African mobile telecommunications provision and the prospects for economic development
Authors: Curwen Peter , Whalley Jason 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the recent restructuring of the African mobile telecommunications sector, to examine how mobile telecommunications supports economic development and to assess how such development will be influenced by the restructuring.Design/methodology/approachAn original database has been compiled and linked to recent merger and acquisition activity in the African telecommunications sector. The theoretical/case study literature on the link between mobile telecommunications and economic development is reviewed. This is then linked to the recent restructuring activity in Africa.FindingsAfter something of a lull during the mid‐2000s, M&A activity has once again become frenetic over the past two years. It is too early to be certain of the eventual structure of the African mobile telecommunications sector, but in the medium term the reallocation of networks to well‐funded and efficient operators should provide a spur to renewed economic growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe structure of the sector is never in final equilibrium, so it is difficult to assess how long it will take for the benefits for economic growth to show through.Practical implicationsIn the past, inadequately funded and managerially limited operators have expanded beyond their capabilities. Hopefully, this time around ambition will not outstrip capability.Social implicationsEconomic growth and societal development should be enhanced by recent M&A activity in the African mobile sector.Originality/valueThere are precious few completely up‐to‐date case studies on mobile telecommunications. This will help to fill the existing gap.
Clinical productivity system – a decision support model
Authors: Bennett Casey C. 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a data‐driven clinical productivity system that leverages Electronic Health Record (EHR) data to provide productivity decision support functionality in a real‐world clinical setting. The system was implemented for a large behavioral health care provider seeing over 75,000 distinct clients a year.Design/methodology/approachThe key metric in this system is a “VPU”, which simultaneously optimizes multiple aspects of clinical care. The resulting mathematical value of clinical productivity was hypothesized to tightly link the organization's performance to its expectations and, through transparency and decision support tools at the clinician level, affect significant changes in productivity, quality, and consistency relative to traditional models of clinical productivity.FindingsIn only three months, every single variable integrated into the VPU system showed significant improvement, including a 30 percent rise in revenue, 10 percent rise in clinical percentage, a 25 percent rise in treatment plan completion, a 20 percent rise in case rate eligibility, along with similar improvements in compliance/audit issues, outcomes collection, access, etc.Practical implicationsA data‐driven clinical productivity system employing decision support functionality is effective, because of the impact on clinician behavior relative to traditional clinical productivity systems. Critically, the model is also extensible to integration with outcomes‐based productivity.Originality/valueEHR's are only a first step – the problem is turning that data into useful information. Technology can leverage the data in order to produce actionable information that can inform clinical practice and decision‐making. Without additional technology, EHR's are essentially just copies of paper‐based records stored in electronic form.
Credit card use: disposable income and employment status
Authors: Fogel Joshua , Schneider Mayer 
Published: March 2011

PurposeCollege students often embrace credit card use and do not always consider the potential risks of incurring debt from irresponsible credit card use. This paper aims to focus on this issue.Design/methodology/approachCollege students (n=301) were surveyed and reported their disposable income and employment status. Outcome variables were attitudes toward irresponsible credit card use, compulsive buying, money anxiety, and money price sensitivity.FindingsIt is found that an incremental pattern of greater levels of disposable income and employment was associated with greater credit card use irresponsibility. Greater levels of disposable income were associated with greater levels of compulsive buying and money anxiety. Part‐time employment was associated with the greatest level of money price sensitivity.Originality/valueThe paper shows that college students should seek information about, or counseling for, the responsibilities associated with credit card use and proper handling of personal finances.
Bile acid metabolism in familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia: studies in subjects with the apolipoprotein E‐2/2 phenotype
Authors: ANGELIN B. , HOLMQUIST L. , LEIJD B. , EINARSSON K. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBile acid kinetics and biliary lipid composition were determined in seven subjects with primary dysbetalipoproteinaemia. They were all homozygous for the apolipoprotein E isoform E‐2 and six of them were hyperlipidaemic (type III hyperlipoproteinaemia). With or without hyperlipidaemia, the apo E‐2/2 phenotype was associated with increased bile acid formation (mean increase compared with 32 normolipidaemic controls, 43%; P<0·025). The biliary lipid composition was not different from that seen in the controls. The results indicate that the uptake by the liver of apo E‐containing remnant particles is of importance for the regulation of hepatic cholesterol metabolism in man. It is suggested that hepatic cholesterol synthesis is stimulated in dysbetalipoproteinaemia, and that this leads to a compensatory increase in bile acid synthesis.
The effects of simvastatin on plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol homeostasis in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: HAGEMENAS F. C. , PAPPU A. S. , ILLINGWORTH D. R. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWe have examined the influence of simvastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase on plasma concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins, the rates of cholesterol biosynthesis and degradation of 125I‐labelled LDL by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes and the 24 h urinary excretion of mevalonic acid in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Patients were treated with progressively increasing doses of simvastatin (20, 40, and 80 mg day−1) taken in a twice‐daily dosage for a period of 6 weeks on each dose. Plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol decreased by 36·6%, 45·6% and 47·1% respectively on the three doses. High‐affinity degradation of 125I‐LDL by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes increased significantly on the 20 mg day−1 dosage but no further increase was observed on doses of 40 and 80 mg of simvastatin per day. Rates of 2‐14C acetate incorporation into cholesterol by freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes (obtained 12–15 h after the last dose of simvastatin) increased by 62%, 71% and 29% in cells isolated from patients on 20, 40, and 80 mg day−1 of simvastatin compared with values at baseline. In contrast, the 24 h excretion of mevalonic acid in the urine fell by 16·9%, 31·4% and 31·9% respectively on these three doses. Our results indicate that the potent hypocholesterolaemic effects of simvastatin are accompanied by increases in high‐affinity LDL receptor‐mediated degradation of LDL and a compensatory increase in cholesterol biosynthesis in freshly isolated mononuclear leucocytes but that rates of mevalonic acid excretion in the urine decrease.
Angiotensin II augments medullary hypoxia and predisposes to acute renal failure
Authors: BREZIS M. , GREENFELD Z. , SHINA A. , ROSEN S. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe effects of angiotensin II (AII) upon medullary hypoxic injury and kidney function were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Synthetic AII added to perfusate of isolated rat kidneys reduced perfusion flow from 48 ± 2 ml min−1 (±SE) to 19 ± 1 (P < 0·001) without altering glomerular filtration rate (GFR), raising filtration fraction from 1% to 3% (P < 0·001). AII‐extended hypoxic injury to medullary thick ascending limbs (mTAL) from 66 ± 4% of tubules to 79 ± 3 (P < 0·05) in correlation with filtration fraction (r = 0·8, P < 0·001). Addition of indomethacin (10−4 mol 1−1) further extended medullary hypoxic damage to 89 ± 2% of mTAL (P < 0·001).Uninephrectomized rats kept in metabolic cages were given AII by continuous infusion (0·1–0·8 μg min−1) and indomethacin (10 mg kg−1 day−1) for 24 h. Creatinine clearance declined from 1·3 ± 0·1 ml min−1 to 0·6 ± 0·06 (P < 0·001). Morphological examination revealed either selective necrosis of mTAL (in 12 ± 4% of tubules) or luminal collapse (in 63 ± 8%). Both necrosis and collapse correlated inversely with creatinine clearance and with each other (r = −0·5, P < 0·001), the latter correlation suggesting protection from hypoxic injury by cessation of solute delivery.By increasing filtration fraction and decreasing blood flow, AII decreases renal oxygen supply while maintaining oxygen consumption for solute reasborption. AII may predispose to acute renal failure by augmenting medullary hypoxia.
Ocular anomalies in a herd of Exmoor ponies in Canada
Authors: Pinard Chantale L. , Basrur Pari K. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractObjective To characterize the ocular anomalies, determine their recurrence in families and assess the mode of inheritance of the most prevalent anomalies through pedigree analysis in a herd of Exmoor ponies.Animals studied Thirty Exmoor ponies residing in south‐western Ontario, Canada.Procedures Ophthalmic examination was performed using direct ophthalmoscopy, slit‐lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy, pre‐ and post‐pupillary dilation. Following compilation of ocular findings, pedigree analysis was conducted to assess the recurrence pattern of specific anomalies in families and the data were tested for significance for breed prevalence and gender dependence, using Fisher’s exact test.Results Twenty‐eight purebred ponies and two cross‐breds, ranging from 14 days to 31 years were examined. A prominent brow above the eyes characteristic of this breed was a consistent periocular feature of adult ponies. In nine ponies, eyelid sarcoid, iris nevus, Mittendorf’s dot, hyaloid artery remnant, and hyper‐reflective vitreal strands were detected while the lesions recorded in the remaining 21 included macroblepharon, persistent pupillary membranes, iris hypoplasia, cataracts, focal choroidal or retinal pigment epithelium hypoplasia and optic nerve head coloboma. The most common ocular finding was cataracts seen mainly in females. Statistical tests on prevalence data confirmed a significant breed and sex association. Pedigree analysis favored a sex‐linked mode of inheritance for cataracts in this line of Exmoor ponies.Conclusions Although the ocular anomalies detected in this group have been previously reported in other breeds of horses, this is the first report of equine cataracts showing a familial trend suggestive of a sex‐linked genetic defect.
Intracranial extension of retrobulbar blastomycosis (Blastomyces dermatitidis) in a dog
Authors: Baron Matthew L. , Hecht Silke , Westermeyer Hans D. , Mankin Joseph M. , Novak Janelle M. , Donnell Robert L. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBlastomycosis (Blastomyces dermatitidis) is a fungal disease that is endemic in the southern United States. This case report illustrates the clinical, MRI and histopathologic findings in a dog with invasion of a retrobulbar blastomycotic lesion into the calvarium. A 5‐year‐old intact female Weimaraner was referred for a 2‐month history of change in behavior and recent onset of visual deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination revealed a large (5.8 × 2.0 × 2.5 cm) mass extending from the left orbit through a circular defect in the left cranioventral aspect of the calvarium caudally to the level of the pituitary fossa and interthalamic adhesion. The mass was heterogeneously iso‐ to hypointense on T2‐W images, slightly hypointense on T1‐W images, did not attenuate on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images, and did not show evidence of susceptibility artifact on T2*‐W gradient recalled echo (GRE) images. Vasogenic edema and associated mass effect were noted. The mass showed strong homogeneous contrast enhancement with well‐defined margins and had thickening of the adjacent meninges (dural tail sign). Based on MRI findings a malignant neoplastic process was considered most likely and the patient was placed on oral prednisone to decrease peri‐tumoral inflammation. The dog initially improved but was euthanized 3 weeks later for worsening clinical signs. Histopathologic assessment of the mass revealed marked pyogranulomatous optic neuritis with intralesional fungal yeasts consistent with blastomycosis (Blastomyces dermatitidis). To our knowledge this is the first report of invasion of a retrobulbar blastomycotic lesion into the calvarium in a dog.
The development of anticipatory cognitive control processes in task‐switching: An ERP study in children, adolescents, and young adults
Authors: Manzi Alberto , Nessler Doreen , Czernochowski Daniela , Friedman David 
Published: March 2011

AbstractTo investigate the development of advance task‐set updating and reconfiguration, behavioral and event‐related potential (ERP) data were recorded in children (9–10 years), adolescents (13–14 years), and young adults (20–27 years) in a cued task‐switching paradigm. In pure blocks, the same task was repeated. In mixed blocks, comprised of stay and switch trials, two tasks were intermixed. Age differences were found for stay‐pure performance (mixing costs) in the 600‐ms but not in the 1200‐ms cue‐target interval (CTI). Children showed larger reaction time mixing costs than adults. The ERPs suggested that the larger costs were due to delayed anticipatory task‐set updating in children. Switch‐stay performance decrements (switch costs) were age‐invariant in both CTIs. However, ERP data suggested that children reconfigured the task‐set on some stay trials, rather than only on switch trials, suggesting the continued maturation of task‐set reconfiguration processes.
Impact of fatty acid status on immune function of children in low‐income countries
Authors: Prentice Andrew M. , van der Merwe Liandré 
Published: March 2011

Abstract In vitro and animal studies point to numerous mechanisms by which fatty acids, especially long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), can modulate the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. These data strongly suggest that improving the fatty acid supply of young children in low‐income countries might have immune benefits. Unfortunately, there have been virtually no studies of fatty acid/immune interactions in such settings. Clinical trial registers list over 150 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving PUFAs, only one in a low‐income setting (the Gambia). We summarize those results here. There was evidence for improved growth and nutritional status, but the primary end point of chronic environmental enteropathy showed no benefit, possibly because the infants were still substantially breastfed. In high‐income settings, there have been RCTs with fatty acids (usually LCPUFAs) in relation to 18 disease end points, for some of which there have been numerous trials (asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis). For these diseases, the evidence is judged reasonable for risk reduction for childhood asthma (but not in adults), as yielding possible benefit in Crohn's disease (insufficient evidence in ulcerative colitis) and for convincing evidence for rheumatoid arthritis at sufficient dose levels, though formal meta‐analyses are not yet available. This analysis suggests that fatty acid interventions could yield immune benefits in children in poor settings, especially in non‐breastfed children and in relation to inflammatory conditions such as persistent enteropathy. Benefits might include improved responses to enteric vaccines, which frequently perform poorly in low‐income settings, and these questions merit randomized trials.
The Study of Chinese Philosophy in the English Speaking World
Authors: Jiang Xinyan 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis paper proposes that the study of Chinese philosophy in the English speaking world has evolved in the three stages, i.e., the stage of preliminary introduction, the stage of communication, and the stage of deep study. The paper also tentatively investigates how problematic methodology in the study of Chinese philosophy and the prevalent conception of philosophy contribute to the marginalization of Chinese philosophy in the English speaking world and suggests some possible ways for the study of Chinese philosophy to emerge from the current difficult situation. At the end this paper emphasizes that no matter whether the study of Chinese philosophy can make the English speaking philosophical world accept Chinese philosophy as genuine philosophy, increased understanding and appreciation of the important and unique contribution of Chinese philosophy is its significant accomplishment nevertheless.