bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
YCC: a gendered carnival? Project work at Volvo Cars
Authors: Styhre Alexander , Backman Maria , Börjesson Sofia 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo discusss the first concept car development project in the automotive industry managed by female engineers and designers.Design/methodology/approachAn abiding concern in feminist discourses is to understand how and why women are excluded from certain positions and activities and how organizations become gendered. Drawing on the Russian literature theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, exceptional events such as concept car development projects in the automotive industry may be examined as a form of carnival wherein the predominant social order is overturned for a period of time and thereafter restored.FindingsExploring the “all female” project at Volvo Cars as a carnival event captures the double nature of such “affirmative” activities; on the one hand, they are giving space to marginal groups, while, on the other hand, being events that differ from the everyday work life order, they therefore risk being marginal activities with limited sustaining impact.Originality/valueIn theoretical terms, the paper has integrated feminist theory and Bakhtin's writing on the carnival as an institutionalized way to mediate conflict and discontent.
What is wrong with current approaches to management development in relation to women in management roles?
Authors: Bartram Sharon 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo challenge gender neutrality within management theories and to show how such theories influence the practice of management development to the detriment of women managers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a feminist questioning of changes in management theory over the past several decades and the impact this has on management development practice in relation to women.FindingsThe notion of a feminine ethos being carried to practicing managers through characteristics culturally associated with females should be helpful to women. However, the basis for formal, mixed group situations as a means of enabling women to develop as managers is debatable. A continuing reliance on questionnaires that fail to quantify the extent to which the constructs reflect a gender sensitivity and the failure to recognise such situations as reflecting relations between women and men in the wider social context serve to reinforce women in a subordinate role to men, deferring to and privileging men's knowledge.Originality/valueThe value lies in how the paper shows the barriers facing women as they develop as managers in contexts that are still masculine despite claims of a feminisation of management. It is also valuable in the way it suggests a different way of working with women on their development as managers.
High‐flyer women academicians: factors contributing to success
Authors: Ismail Maimunah , Mohd Rasdi Roziah , Wahiza Abdul Wahat Nor 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo investigate the career experiences of women professors in order to gain an in‐depth understanding of factors contributing to their present status of profession.Design/methodology/approachData were generated from career history method on 31 women professors who have been identified as high‐flyers. They were selected based on a criterion that they achieved professorship at the age of 48 years and below. Each respondent was interviewed on questions addressing topics across the entire life stages. Constant comparative analysis of data was conducted to generate themes.FindingsReveals the factors associated with their fast performance in academia that were divided into two stages, i.e. career exploration, and career establishment and maintenance. Factors dictated at the career exploration stage are early exposure to learning, entrance to boarding schools, first degree experience and personal qualities, while factors that contribute during their establishment and maintenance stage are graduate study experience, career centrality, family support, uniqueness of academic role, health consciousness and sense of religiosity.Research limitations/implicationsIt involved women professors only in order to understand the complexities of women academicians and their careers.Practical implicationsProvides evidence and information on the subjective interpretation of a career in academia, which should be taken into consideration in promotion and selection exercises, especially re women academicians. It also enhances women's understanding of their own careers and the interplay of other aspects of life as well as organizational environments in their careers.Originality/valueThis paper offers practical information to inspired individuals, especially women academicians, in order to achieve professorship.
Beyond strategy
Authors: Heng H.K.S. , McGeorge W.D. , Loosemore M. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeSeeks to explore the brokerage role of facilities manager in hospitals, based on the premise that facilities management (FM) is largely concerned with “strategic brokerage”. Strategic brokerage is the term coined by Akhaghi to explain the integration of a wide range of support services to ensure the effective operation of the core business of an organization.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted in the health service sector using a single case study approach to examine the brokerage potential for FM in a hospital in the Sydney Metropolitan area. A social network analysis technique was used to identify and analyse the communication networks of players in a hospital environment. Two general questions guided the analysis. First, what is the brokerage potential within the FM process? Second, where are the opportunities for brokerage?FindingsThe results indicate that identifying relationship linkages between different functional units can create potential brokerage opportunities.Originality/valueThe proposition is made that viewing FM from a brokerage perspective can add value to the delivery of health‐care services.
Organizational diagnostic factors in family business
Authors: Champathes Rodsutti Michita , Makayathorn Piyarat 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo examine organizational diagnostics taken from the best practice model of change as organizational diagnostic factors in a specific type of business such as family businesses. These account for many of companies in Asia and are regarded as a special from the mixture of management focus on business, family and ownership.Design/methodology/approachIn order to manage changes in family business successfully, the organizational diagnostic factors are analyzed from executives' in‐depth interviews with Thai family businesses that implement new IT systems.FindingsCommunication, generation, ownership, family structure, politics and national culture are six diagnostic factors in Thai family businesses that are not the same as the model of change.Originality/valueConsultants and change agents in family businesses, especially in Asia, can use these factors as an additional guideline for their effective change management.
Learning and knowing in teams
Authors: Dovey Ken , Singhota Jai 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo explore the collective means through which professional sports teams learn and generate new knowledge forms in order to remain competitive in challenging global arenas, and to examine the applicability of these means to business organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe objectives were achieved by drawing on the business and sporting experience of two executive coaches who have access to current elite‐level sports coaches. Through unstructured interviews with sports coaches and business executives over a period of years, the research question of collective learning in sports teams has been explored and its relevance to business contexts, analyzed.FindingsUsing social capital theory as an analytical lens, the research shows that organizational form is a critical determinant of the effectiveness of collective learning. This is the main reason why business teams are unable to emulate the successful learning that occurs in elite‐level sports teams. The research shows that the hierarchical structure of most business organizations constrains the development of the social capital necessary for sustained learning and knowledge construction.Practical implicationsThe primary implication of the research findings is that business leaders need to view their role as that of creating and managing a social environment in which mission‐pertinent learning and knowledge construction activities are nurtured. In practice, it means that the nature of business leadership and, in particular, power management practices in business organizations needs to be questioned and re‐conceptualized.Originality/valueUsing social capital theory as a framework for the analysis of this phenomenon is new. The article should be valuable to the leader of any organization that is attempting to sustain superior competitive performance in the global knowledge economy.
A survey of trends related to the contamination of street dust by heavy metals in Gwagwalada, Nigeria
Authors: Mashi S.A. , Yaro S.A. , Eyong P.N. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeContamination of the environment by heavy metals is a phenomenon of global importance today. When present in high concentrations in the environment, heavy metals may enter the food chain from soils and result in health hazards. Accumulation in street dust is one major way through which heavy metals may find their way into soils and subsequently living tissues of plants, animals and human beings. In this paper, the magnitude and sources of some heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb and Zn) in street dust samples in and around Gwagwalada, Nigeria, were assessed.Design/methodology/approachStreet dust samples were collected from 12 sites with and without varying levels of human activities (blacksmithing, motor repair works, metal working and fabrication, vehicular traffic and residential development) in the area and analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the magnitude and sources of accumulation of the above heavy metals in street dust in the study area.FindingsThe mean concentrations were found to be 210, 79, 97, 3.9, 120 and 96 μg g−1 respectively, for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Fe and Mn across the various sampling sites. Samples collected from sites with human activities were found to contain concentrations of the metals that are generally higher than those in background areas (without human activities). However, metal working and fabrication, and motor repair works were found to have a stronger influence on the accumulation of the metals in the dust samples than vehicular traffic.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that, contrary to what is expected, based on the observations made in several areas by many researchers elsewhere, metal working and fabrication, and motor repair works have a stronger influence on the accumulation of the metals in the dust samples than vehicular traffic in the study area.Originality/valueProvides information on heavy metal contamination of the environment in an area of Nigeria.
Assessing solid waste recycling opportunities for closed campuses
Authors: Ziadat Anf H. , Mott Henry 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe commercial and residential refuse generated by Ellsworth Air Force Base, USA was characterized and analyzed for collection procedures, and the opportunities for increasing the amount of solid waste that could be recycled were evaluated.Design/methodology/approachRandom loads of hauled solid waste (an average 3.0 US tons/load) from different waste streams of Ellsworth Air Force Base were sorted. The weight fraction of each category of recyclable material derived from the hand sorting operations was applied to the three years of mixed waste tonnage in order to estimate the tonnage of each recyclable category disposed of as refuse during each year. The assessment of the data obtained from three full calendar years focused on the mixed solid waste generated from commercial and residential areas such as offices, childcare, lodging, supermarkets, food service facilities, and others.FindingsOver 2,500 tones of recycling opportunities were missed during the 1999‐2001 calendar years. The characterizations of the total weight produced from commercial and residential waste streams showed that recyclable material constituted 35.95 percent and 23.27 percent of refuse from the commercial and the residential areas, respectively. The amounts of total recyclable material as missed opportunities for recycling were found to be 1,728 tons and 715 tons from the commercial and residential areas.Practical implicationsIn response to the findings, Ellsworth Air Force Base has implemented a number of strategies for increased recovery of recyclables from its solid waste streams.Originality/valueQuantifying missed opportunities for recycling is a useful action in planning future recycling operations aimed at best solid waste management practices.
Human leucocyte antigen‐identical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in major histocompatiblity complex class II immunodeficiency: reduced survival correlates with an increased incidence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease and pre‐existing viral infections
Authors: Renella Raffaele , Picard Capucine , Neven Bénédicte , Ouachée‐Chardin Marie , Casanova Jean‐Laurent , Deist Françoise Le , Cavazzana‐Calvo Marina , Blanche Stéphane , Fischer Alain 
Published: July 2006

SummaryMajor histocompatibility complex class II deficiency, a rare autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency, is caused by the defective expression of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules due to mutated trans‐acting elements of any one of four regulatory genes (CIITA, RFXANK, RFX5, RFXAP). The impaired CD4 T‐cell differentiation and antigen presentation in the periphery results in a severe defect of cellular and humoral response consistent with severe recurrent infections, leading to a poor prognosis. Currently, allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative approach, but the overall cure rate is lower than in other immunodeficiencies. We report a single centre experience of 17 HSCTs with 15 HLA‐identical donors between 1981 and 2004. Eight patients survived, while the occurrence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) was 50%. This study aimed to identify potential risk factors for GVHD and outcome within pre‐HSCT complications related to the immunodeficiency. Five of seven patients with pre‐existing viral infections developed acute GVHD ≥ grade II, of whom four died. Two of seven patients without detectable pre‐existing viral infection developed GVHD ≥ grade II, and one died. The difference was significant (P < 0·05). A plausible link with other factors potentially associated with the development of GVHD could not be found. We suggest that the reduced survival after HLA‐identical HSCT may be caused by the high incidence of pre‐existing viral infections and associated with the onset of severe acute GVHD.
Lumbar bone mineral density as the major factor determining increased prevalence of vertebral fractures in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
Authors: Pepe Jessica , Petrucci Maria Teresa , Nofroni Italo , Fassino Valeria , Diacinti Daniele , Romagnoli Elisabetta , Minisola Salvatore 
Published: July 2006

SummaryThe possible relationships between biochemical measurements and both densitometric and radiographic indexes of skeletal fragility were evaluated in 65 postmenopausal women with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). There was a significantly higher prevalence of vertebral fractures in the MGUS group compared with a control population (P ≤ 0·001). The MGUS patients were then grouped according to the presence or absence of at least one mild vertebral fracture. Patients with fractures (Fx, n = 34) were older (62·8 ± 6·1 years), with long‐standing disease (8·8 ± 7·1 years) when compared with those without fractures (NFx, n = 31; 59·7 ± 5·0 years, P ≤ 0·05 and 5·8 ± 4·1 years, P ≤ 0·05). The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio was higher in Fx compared with NFx (0·092 ± 0·018 vs. 0·082 ± 0·020; P ≤ 0·05). Lumbar spine (0·811 ± 0·14 vs. 0·956 ± 0·12 g/cm2), femoral neck (0·660 ± 0·09 vs. 0·747 ± 0·10 g/cm2) and total bone mineral density (BMD) (0·788 ± 0·11 vs. 0·884 ± 0·11 g/cm2) were lower (all P ≤ 0·001) in Fx‐MGUS compared with Nfx patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves identified lumbar BMD as the variable that best predicted vertebral fractures (area under the curve 0·817; 95% confidence interval, 0·713–0·921). This study provides an indication for the measurement of BMD in MGUS patients, as a means of predicting vertebral fractures, especially in those that are asymptomatic. Patients with prevalent fractures should undergo pharmacological treatment to prevent further fractures.
Parity and the metabolic syndrome in older Chinese women: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study
Authors: Lao X. Q. , Thomas G. N. , Jiang C. Q. , Zhang W. S. , Yin P. , Schooling M. , Heys M. , Leung G. M. , Adab P. , Cheng K. K. , Lam T. H. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryObjective  To examine whether parity or gravidity contributes to the development of the metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods  The first phase of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study recruited 7352 women and 3065 men aged 50–93 years in 2003–4. Data on the number of live births and pregnancies, other reproduction‐associated factors and socioeconomic and lifestyles factors were collected by standardized interview. The MS components were determined through physical examination and measurement of fasting blood samples. MS was identified if waist circumference was ≥ 90 cm for men or ≥ 80 cm for women, plus any two of: (a) raised triglyceride (TG) level (1·7 mmol/l) or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality; (b) reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol (< 1·03 mmol/l in males or < 1·29 mmol/l in females) or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality; (c) raised blood pressure (BP, systolic BP ≥ 130 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 85 mmHg) or hypertension therapy; and (d) raised fasting glucose (≥ 5·6 mmol/l) or previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes.Results  Before adjustment for potential confounders, we found associations between the number of births and lifestyle and socioeconomic factors in both sexes. However, in women, but not in men, body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio, triglyceride and glucose were positively associated with the number of birth after adjusting for a range of potential confounders. The age‐adjusted prevalence of the MS increased with the number of births and pregnancies in women, but the gradient for birth was steeper than that for pregnancies [odds ratio change per birth 1·16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·11–1·22, P < 0·001; odds ratio change per pregnancy 1·11, 95% CI 1·06–1·16, P < 0·001], although attenuating the association adjustment did not affect the significance of these findings. There was no association in men with regard to the number of their partners’ live births given the same analysis and similar shared living background with the women.Conclusion  Higher parity or gravidity was associated with a consistent increase in the risk of MS in Chinese women. As the association persisted after adjustment for lifestyle factors and there was no association between the risk of MS and the number of births associated with the partners of the males, the association in women may represent a biological response to pregnancy.
Comparison of iodine uptake in tumour and nontumour tissue under thyroid hormone deprivation and with recombinant human thyrotropin in thyroid cancer patients
Authors: Pötzi Christian , Moameni Abbas , Karanikas Georgios , Preitfellner Josef , Becherer Alexander , Pirich Christian , Dudczak Robert 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAim  Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) is a new option for diagnostic follow‐up in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Iodine kinetics after administration of rhTSH is controversially discussed. The aim of our study was to compare the time course of radioiodine in tumour and normal tissue during periods of TSH elevation in patients in a hypothyroid state (HS) following hormone withdrawal, with those under euthyroidism (ES) after the administration of rhTSH.Patients and methods  We investigated four patients who had undergone near‐total thyroidectomy and were suffering from metastatic disease. Dosimetric calculations were performed using tumour and whole‐body uptake, and background measurements from 123‐iodine scans performed 0, 4, 24 and 48 h after the application of 123I.Results  All patients had lesser uptake of 123I under rhTSH stimulation than after hormone withdrawal. The median maximum TG (thyroglobulin) levels were 733·1 ng/ml with HS and 548·0 ng/ml with ES. The median half‐life in tumour tissue was 39·8 h (mean 65·9, range 11·5–194·0) with HS and 21·9 h (mean 38·7, range. 8·7–113·9) with ES. The median uptake dose in per cent in tumour tissue was 0·08 (mean 0·15, range 0·04–0·6) with HS and 0·05 (mean 0·08, range 0·03–0·2) with ES. Furthermore, the cumulative activity in metastatic tissue was lower after rhTSH than during hypothyroidism, with considerable variations between individual lesions.Conclusion  In our small group of DTC patients with metastatic disease, the effectiveness of radioiodine therapy following rhTSH was anticipated to be less than that in individuals who were hypothyroid after levothyroxine (L‐T4) withdrawal. Endogenous TSH stimulation of metastatic thyroid cancer with radioiodine should not be performed without prior target tumour lesion dosimetry with 123I.
Fine needle aspiration of epididymal nodules in Chandigarh, north India: an audit of 228 cases
Authors: Gupta N. , Rajwanshi A. , Srinivasan R. , Nijhawan R. 
Published: July 2006

Background  Epididymal nodules are not infrequently encountered in surgical practice. These are generally small and slippery and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is not easy. But as it is rapid and less traumatic than a biopsy, this is a favoured technique in the assessment of epididymal nodules.Patients and methods  In the present study, all the cases of epididymal nodules aspirated from January 1998 to August 2004 were retrieved from the cytology files of the Department of Cytology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.Results  A total of 228 cases were retrieved and divided as follows: tuberculous epididymitis 70 (30.7%), non‐specific inflammation 10 (4.4%), microfilaria 2 (0.9%), hydrocele 26 (11.4%), spermatocele 42 (18.4%), spermatic granulomas 12 (5.3%), adenomatoid tumour 3 (1.3%), leiomyosarcoma 1 (0.4%) and lipoma 1 (0.4%). Thirty‐six (15.8%) cases were labelled as benign aspirate not otherwise specified. FNAC material was inadequate for opinion in 22 (9.65%) cases and three (1.3%) cases revealed evidence of a haematoma.Conclusions  FNAC was useful in the diagnosis of 90.3% of cases, thereby avoiding surgical biopsy and other investigations. Therefore, FNAC has an important role in the differential diagnosis of epididymal nodules as it can detect malignancy and benign conditions such as tuberculosis and acute and chronic epididymo‐orchitis.