bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A process causality approach given a strategic frame
Authors: Dror Shuki 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology for building a causality process to dynamically investigate system performance linkages, as implied by a strategic frame such as a quality management frame or the balance scorecard frame.Design/methodology/approachThe causality process develops aggregated process control tools in a data mining structure. The method identifies significant performance improvements by means of Cumulative Sum control charts, uses binary variables to mark them and time bounded search cycles as dictated by the causality constraints.FindingsThe methodology was implemented in a manufacturing enterprise and thus enables to better understand causality at the operational (tactical) level as well as at the strategic level.Research limitations/implicationsAdditional research issues for further investigation are expressed by questions such as follows: what other data mining tools may be appropriate? How to methodically construct learning performance indicators?Practical implicationsThe causality process and its assisting process control techniques are suitable to a variety of managerial situations where techniques for monitoring and testing given frames of hypothesized performance linkages are needed.Originality/valueThe methodology enables an individual organization to dynamically investigate its performance in order to improve the implementation of its strategy.
Should national brand manufacturers produce private labels?
Authors: Tarziján Jorge 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the question, “should national brand manufacturers produce private labels?”. Anecdotal evidence shows that though this is a common question for managers in different industries and countries, managers and companies react differently to it. As such, there are national brand manufacturers that produce private labels and others whose policy is to produce only branded products.Design/methodology/approachThis paper examines this question through the construction of a model, focusing especially on the effects of producing private labels on manufacturers' profits when their provision may affect both the consumers' perception of the quality of the private label and the national brand manufacturer's costs.FindingsThe analysis allows for different degrees of competition in the retail market, and for linear and non‐linear pricing.Practical implicationsAn important novel practical implication of these results is that national brand manufacturer' gains from producing private labels are increasing with the concentration of the retail market. Another implication derived from our model is that national brand manufacturers should be more enthusiastic about producing private labels when independent manufacturers may produce a good whose perceived quality is closer to that of the national brand.Originality/valueThe results presented in this paper may help managers to identify key variables that may affect the profitability of producing private labels.
Parental attitudes towards advertising to children and restrictive mediation of children's television viewing in Belgium
Authors: Dens Nathalie , De Pelsmacker Patrick , Eagle Lynne 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate parents' attitudes toward advertising to children, and advertised foods in particular, as well as parental concern regarding children's nutrition habits and the degree to which these perceptions influence television monitoring by parents.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire assessing attitudes was distributed among parents of Belgian primary and secondary school children. Parental mediation of television viewing was measured by self‐reports. A structural equation model was built using data from a sample of 485 parents.FindingsThe study finds that parental nutrition attitudes and the degree to which advertising causes family conflicts and pestering are among the most important drivers of restrictive mediation of television. Attitudes towards food advertising, the degree to which children can understand the commercial intent of advertising and the perceived influence of advertisements on children do not directly affect restrictive mediation.Research limitations/implicationsThe model was based on a single‐country study, and did not distinguish between parents of different socio‐economic backgrounds or between parents with children in different age categories. All the constructs used in this model were self‐reports. The model could also be extended to encompass different types of mediation.Practical implicationsParents serve as gatekeepers for children's television viewing. Advertisers targeting children need to obtain the green light of the gatekeepers before they can reach the children. It is therefore important that advertisers have an understanding of how parents perceive advertising and which factors specifically incite them to restrict their children's viewing.Originality/valueAttitudes of parents are considered as a multidimensional construct, consisting of “commercial intent”, “conflict” and a separate component relating to advertised foods. The differential impact of each of these components, as well as parents' nutritional concerns and perceived advertisement influence, on restrictive mediation is assessed.
Children as co‐decision makers in the family? The case of family holidays
Authors: Gram Malene 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe aim of the article is to examine children's role in family purchase decision making with a particular focus on how much impact children are perceived to have and in what ways children impact family decision making concerning holidays.Design/methodology/approachInformation was gathered from 26 in‐depth interviews with parents and children, telephone interviews with 800 Danish and 1,200 Germans, and questionnaires from 200 Danish and 200 German children.FindingsResults show that parents perceive children to have moderate impact on decision making. Children, on the contrary, think they have quite a high level of impact. Parents perceive themselves to have the decisive vote, but in this “decisive vote” parents take children's manifestations and prior experiences with the children into account. Children do have significant impact in various ways through a broad array of techniques, directly and indirectly, consciously and unconsciously. Children vocalise their wishes, and parents are often attentive and co‐operative.Research limitations/implcationsOther cultural settings than northern European would have been interesting to add to the analysis.Practical implicationsThe significant influence of children not just in the buying situation, but also as a strong indirect factor is of interest when considering marketing actions.Originality/valueThe contribution of the article is insight into the discussions going on in families with viewpoints from both parents and children by the use of both qualitative and quantitative data. No previous works have integrated data of parents and children combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Solutions on Stress (SOS): programmes, packages and products for helping teenagers
Authors: Bunn Amanda , Bifulco Antonia , Lorenc Ava , Robinson Nicky 
Published: March 2007

PurposeRecent research and media attention has highlighted soaring levels of stress among young people. As part of a programme of research based across a number of universities in London and the South‐West of the UK (called WestFocus) a team of psychologists, social scientists and complementary practitioners have started to investigate this issue with the aim of introducing stress management interventions into the school environment. This paper aims to examine their findings.Design/methodology/approachThis paper summarises the set up, progress, results and implications of a six‐week stress management intervention piloted and evaluated with teenagers at school. The intervention aimed to provide a holistic approach to stress management teaching students both psychological techniques (such as cognitive behavioural therapy) and complementary therapy approaches (such as Indian head massage and aromatherapy).FindingsStructured assessments and qualitative feedback taken at the beginning and end of the programme revealed that emotional well‐being and self‐esteem improved and perceived stress decreased for students. Initial stress levels were found to be high and to have a negative impact on school performance and social activity.Practical implicationsThe nature and high levels of stress symptoms experienced by this group of young people have significant implications for the general well‐being of young people and the design of products or services to help.Originality/valueRelatively little is know about how stress levels affect the well‐being and behaviour of young people including avenues for stress relief, methods of coping and the implications this may have for services, interventions or marketing. This paper aims to explore these issues.
Upwardly mobile: a study into mobile TV use amongst children
Authors: Ali Shazia 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe paper seeks to understand the way in which children use mobile phones and the potential for mobile TV within the UK youth market.Design/methodology/approachthe study adopts a combined qualitative and quantitative approach consisting of in‐home friendship pair interviews followed by online surveys both amongst 10‐12 year olds split geographically and by gender.FindingsThe paper finds that children have a strong emotional attachment to their phones and mobile TV could well be the next technological step for children with regard to mobile phone technology. They are more likely to add mobiles to their existing repertoire of gadgets for other activities such as gaming and listening to music rather than use handsets as a direct replacement.Research limitations/implicationsWith mobile phone technology and the media sector changing so rapidly, this study acts as a snapshot of attitudes and behaviour at the time it was undertaken. It remains to be seen how future convergence – both amongst technologies and media companies – will affect the potential for mobile TV amongst children.Originality/valueThe study helps to bridge gaps between other studies that have either focused on children's use of mobile phones in general (rather than specifically mobile TV) or has addressed mobile TV use amongst adults.
Intergenerational influences on the dimensions of young customer‐based brand equity
Authors: Bravo Rafael , Fraj Elena , Martínez Eva 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the different nature and effects of family influences on the dimensions of young customer‐based brand equity.Design/methodology/approachInformation was gathered from in‐depth interviews. The sample was composed of 30 young adults.FindingsResults show different facets of how the family may affect brand awareness, associations, perceived quality and brand loyalty. Some of them have already been considered in the previous literature, and some new elements have also emerged. Information is sorted according to its impact on each dimension of customer‐based brand equity.Research limitationsDifferences regarding age, marital status and other social variables in the respondents are not considered in the analysis.Practical implicationsThe nature, process and effects of intergenerational influences on each dimension of brand equity lead us to propose different marketing actions. These actions may ease the transfer of customer‐based brand equity from parents to children.Originality/valueThis paper takes a holistic perspective in the study of intergenerational influences. No previous works have analysed the nature and effects on each dimension of customer‐based brand equity.
Costs of e‐participation: the management challenges
Authors: Viborg Andersen Kim , Zinner Henriksen Helle , Secher Christine , Medaglia Rony 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the cost of e‐participation from the managerial perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe use of digital media to consult and engage citizens and companies in the decision‐making process is a way of improving the design and legitimatization of decisions, as well as potentially increasing the likelihood of successful implementation of policies. This paper discusses if the potential economic benefits from increased or qualitatively improved involvement inherently are long term and have to compete with other activities undertaken by government.FindingsThere are great uncertainties regarding the magnitude of the positive effects on governance since there are not only positive, but also negative externalities of e‐participation; thus, there are major challenges in measuring and capitalizing on the e‐participation. Part of the reason for the uncertainty is the lack of explicit awareness of the choice of technology, communication style and institutional approach to implementing e‐participation. Further, there is the need to be aware of the administrative costs in transferring e‐participation practices and techniques.Originality/valueThe perspective on cost of e‐participation is not well explored. The discussion raised emphasizes the urgency of the issue.
Central research questions in e‐government, or which trajectory should the study domain take?
Authors: Scholl Hans J. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeTo develop the notion of centrality in e‐government (EG) research, and to base the identification of central research areas on that principle. To pave the path towards a more integrated understanding of EG and its phenomena.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes which disciplines contribute to EG. It scrutinizes the scope and orientation of disciplines involved and invested EG. Key high‐level variables in EG are derived from the literature. It is analyzed to what extent major EG phenomena are impacted by those variables and their interaction, which leads to the development of the principle of centrality. Central research areas of EG are identified based on the centrality principle. The integrative interdisciplinary research approach in EG is linked to trends in global science.FindingsThe paper finds the areas of transformation, integration, participation, and (information) preservation to be central to EG. It also identifies strong drivers in central EG research towards an integrative interdisciplinary approach.Research limitations/implicationsA systematic review of the extant EG literature is still missing but could be guided by the centrality principle.Practical implicationsWhen addressing the central areas, EG might manage to develop into an integrative science. In that case, its research results would likely be highly relevant to government practice and academia alike.Originality/valueThe paper develops and defines the principle of centrality in EG research. It identifies central research areas in EG and distinguishes those from non‐central research areas in EG. In so doing, the paper provides guidance and focus, particularly, for integrative EG research.
Enterprise integration in e‐government
Authors: Cheng‐Yi Wu Raymond 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to research the e‐government architecture issue as a means of addressing the interoperability gap. It will incorporate the new knowledge acquired in the e‐government integration methodology of the interconnectivity of cross‐layers. These layers include the vertical direction of strategy, business, process, service and information.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used in this research as it progressed was component‐base driven and involved the exploration of vertical e‐government integration and common service interoperability between business and IT. The realization of this methodology first required a technical foundation setup followed by a business semantics study and a new concept of enterprise integration. The lack of interconnectivity between these layers is the main concerns with the implication that e‐government architecture needs a robust micro‐mechanism of semantic messaging and metadata to coordinate across layers.FindingsE‐government architecture became pervasive in the twenty‐first century due to its significant growth in terms of huge volume transactions, the citizens' new service concept, and sophisticated businesses. Enterprise architecture mainly mediates between business and IT to minimize the gap by improving governance, agility and business integrity. All of these disciplines and principles should be applied to attain e‐government transformation and vertical interoperability and common services provisioning are the major findings in the research.Originality/valueThis paper contribute new concept of enterprise vertical integration in e‐government. The integrated solution of coherence of approaches forms the basis of this new concept; it serves as the backbone in vertical integration and addresses the e‐government enterprise gap. It is expected to provide further insights into micro process integration across e‐government enterprise layers.
033 Regulation of TGF‐β Responses by a Novel Accessory TGF‐β Receptor in Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Marcoux A. , Finnson K. , Philip A. 
Published: March 2007

The potential of TGF‐β isoforms to regulate wound healing and scarring is well documented in animal models. Since TGF‐β action is likely to be regulated at the level of its cell surface receptors, we analyzed TGF‐β receptor profiles and regulation of TGF‐β signaling in human keratinocytes. We identified a novel cell surface TGF‐β1 binding protein of 150 kDa (r150) on human keratinocytes that interacts with the TGF‐β signaling receptors. Further characterization of r150 demonstrated that it is a GPI‐anchored protein, that it can be released from the cell surface by an endogenous phospholipase C, and that the released form can bind to TGF‐β1. Recent cloning of r150 revealed it to be a novel protein of 1428 amino acids. Our objective was to determine the functional significance of r150 in regulating TGF‐β responses in keratinocytes.Affinity labeling of keratinocytes overexpressing r150 cDNA and immunoprecipitation stud‐ies using anti‐r150 antibodies show that the cloned cDNA represents r150. Importantly, over expression of r150 results in inhibition of TGF‐β1‐induced Smad 2 and Smad 3 phosphorylation, gene transcriptional activity, and keratinocyte migration. In contrast, loss of r150 function using antisense morpholino oligos of r150 leads to enhanced Smad 2 and Smad 3 phosphorylation, gene transcriptional activity and proliferation of keratinocytes. In summary, our results demonstrate that r150 is a potent inhibitor of TGF‐β signaling in keratinocytes, and that it may have potential therapeutic value in modulating TGF‐β action in human diseases where TGF‐β plays a pathophysiological role. As such, r150 may be of use in reducing hypertrophic scarring, and an r150 antagonist may promote wound healing.
039 Determination of Burn Depth using near Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Cross K , Leonardi L , Fish J , Sowa M , Gomez M , Payette J , Hastings M 
Published: March 2007

Introduction: Burn depth, based on the hemodynamic alterations that occur following a thermal insult, can be assessed in a rapid, non‐invasive, and nondestructive fashion using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. NIR has the capability to determine the difference between superficial and full thickness burn injuries. Methods: Sixteen burn patients admitted to an adult regional burn center were studied and evaluated with the NIR point and imaging devices. Non‐burned skin adjacent to the burn site was used as the control. NIR measurements were compared between superficial (8 wounds), full thickness (8 wounds) burn wounds and control sites. Results: NIR was able to easily detect an increase in oxyhemoglobin (68.3%, p < 0.05), oxygen saturation (4.8%, p < 0.05%) and total hemoglobin (91.3%, p < 0.05) which typically occurs with superficial burn injuries. Full thickness injuries experienced a substantial drop in oxyhemoglobin (88.8%, p < 0.05), oxygen saturation (79.1%, p < 0.05) and total hemoglobin (77.5%, p < 0.05) in comparison to control sites. Conclusions: These results confirm that NIR spectroscopy can successfully distinguish between superficial and full thickness burn injuries. The second phase of this study will involve determining the depth of indeterminant burn wounds and this preliminary data will also be presented. Acknowledgement: National Research Council of Canada
043 Iκ‐B Adenoviral Gene Transfer Improves Wound Healing
Authors: Schreiber J , Efron P , Park J , Moldawer L , Barbul A 
Published: March 2007

Introduction: One of the earliest events in wound healing and scar formation is the inflammatory phase. Deficient or excessive inflammatory responses result in aberrant healing. NFK‐b is a transcription factor that regulates key genes responsible for multiple intra‐nuclear inflammatory cytokines. When bound to IK‐B, an inhibitory protein, this factor is in an inactive state. We studied the wound healing effects of irreversibly inhibiting the activation of NFK‐b by continuously infusing adenoviral activated IK‐B. Methods: Seventy‐five male Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent subcutaneous implantation of polyvinyl alcohol sponge‐osmotic pump constructs. The pumps were filled with a solution containing a genetically altered adenovirus containing the DNA for continuously activated IK‐B protein. 50 μl of viral transport media containing 5 × 109 PFU of virus were delivered to each individual sponges daily. Controls included pumps filled with normal saline in one group or filled with sham virus in another group. Sponges were harvested on days 1,3,5, and 7 post‐implantation. The sponges were analyzed for TNF‐α and nitric oxide (NO) levels, as index of inflammation, as well as for hydroxyproline (OHP) content at seven days, an index of collagen deposition. Results: Treatment with the IK‐B virus resulted in significantly higher levels of OHP after seven days when compared to normal saline and sham virus treated sponges (654 ± 81 vs 546 ± 109 vs 498 ± 123 μg OHP/100 mg sponge, P < 0.05 by ANOVA). Wound fluid NO concentration was significantly lower in the IkB group after 5 days (38 ± 15 vs 55 ± 12 vs 71 ± 27 μM, P < 0.05 by chi‐square). There were no differences in sponge TNF‐α concentrations on days 1,3, and 5. Conclusions: Treatment of wound sponge granulomas with IK‐B increases the amount of collagen deposition after seven days. Reduction of inflammation by inhibiting NF‐KB may be a possible mechanism of action, as reflected in decreased NO wound content.