bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developing a strategic profile: the pre‐planning phase of strategic management
Authors: Sherman Herbert , Rowley Daniel J. , Armandi Barry R. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to assist strategic planners and managers in developing and utilizing a strategic profile of the firm in order to conduct a SWOT analysis and therein apply its results appropriately.Design/methodology/approachHow are the objectives achieved? This objective is achieved by developing a seven‐step procedure, with templates that assist planners and managers in creating a strategic profile of the firm and then utilizing that profile as a filtering mechanism for a SWOT analysis. The article covers the topics of competitive approach, competitive strategy, organizational structure, leadership, and organizational culture.FindingsThe profile may not only be employed as a method for centering a firm's strategic planning and implementation, it may also be used for creating a competitive profile of the firm's competitors.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of the article indicate the need to attach a pre‐planning stage to the typical strategic management process of a firm. This action will lead to the creation of a preliminary strategic profile of the firm. This profile is used to produce a more accurate SWOT analysis with a greater likelihood of successful strategy implementation.Originality/valueThe value of this article is that it introduces a pre‐planning stage to the traditional strategic management process. This stage creates a strategic profile of the firm which managers and strategic planners can use for two purposes: producing a more accurate SWOT analysis with a greater likelihood of successful strategy implementation; and creating a strategic profile of their competitors.
The characteristics of a high performance organization
Authors: de Waal André A. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeSeeks to identify the characteristics of high performance organizations (HPO) so managers can start improving their organizations in such a way that these also become HPOs.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a meta‐analysis of the results of 91 HPO studies performed in the last and present decade.FindingsThe results of the analysis offer a first picture of what a modern HPO looks like and provides the characteristics managers need to focus on in order to turn their companies into HPOs.Research limitations/implicationsDespite an extensive literature search, potentially valuable studies might have been missed. Also, the studies look by definition at what organizations have done in the past, therefore not necessarily giving a guarantee that these characteristics will also be valid and of importance for the dynamic future. Further HPO research should focus on validating the characteristics found in this study so that managers can start improving their organizations with confidence. Also, additional research should aim to validate the link between the HPO characteristics and organizational performance, in order to make sure it is worthwhile for companies to improve themselves in the direction indicated in this article.Practical implicationsAs it is the task of every manager to realize the goals of the organization by achieving outstanding performance in the organizational unit for which he or she is responsible, managers are under great pressure to deal effectively with trends and developments. Therefore, the more that is known about the elements that make up sustainable organizational performance, the easier it becomes for managers to improve their organizations in a focused way.Originality/valueThe results of the search for HPO characteristics have been documented mainly in the popular management literature: until now, scientific research into HPOs has not been abundant. Therefore most evidence is anecdotal, consisting of surveys and case studies. The research described in this article forms the start of a thorough investigation of HPO characteristics, which is executed in a scientific way while at the same time yielding practical results with which managers can start improving their organizations.
Laboratory‐based epidemiological study of superficial fungal infections
Authors: DAS Shukla , GOYAL Renu , BHATTACHARYA S. N. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTDermatophytosis continues to be a worldwide problem, constituting a large bulk of cases attending the dermatology outpatient's department in tropical countries. Variable climatic conditions and multiple etiological agents, whose individual prevalence varies with time, prompted an attempt to define the current pattern and etiologic prevalence in our locality, and compare them with earlier studies from different centers. Of consenting patients clinically diagnosed to have superficial fungal infections, 1975 were investigated in the laboratory. All the specimens collected from patient skin, hair or nails were subjected to direct microscopy examination in 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and fungal culture. Confirmed diagnosis was made only if specimen was KOH and/or culture positive. Male : female ratio was 1.65 : 1. Tinea corporis (21.4%), onychomycoses (14.7%) and tinea capitis (6.2%) were the most common laboratory‐confirmed infections. Only 909 patients (47%) out of 1035 clinically suspected patients had evidence of fungal infection by either microscopy and/or culture. Of these 909 patients, 787 (86.5%) were both KOH and culture positive, 25 (2.7%) were KOH negative and culture positive, while 97 (10.6%) were KOH positive but culture negative. In 1051 patients (53%), no evidence of fungal infection was seen.Trichophyton rubrumwas the most commonly isolated dermatophyte (55.2%) followed byTrichophyton mentagrophytes(19.6%) andTrichophyton tonsurans(2.9%).Candidasp. accounted for 16% of all isolates. Non‐dermatophyte moulds (NDM) were isolated only in patients with onychomycoses. Our study revealed a male preponderance, tinea corporis as the commonest clinical type, and dermatophytes as the commonest mycological isolates, which is in agreement with earlier studies. Relying on clinical diagnosis alone without laboratory confirmation may result in overestimation of the problem as evidenced in other studies as compared to our study. Rarely reported NDM appear to be important etiological agents of onychomycoses.
Sweet's syndrome associated with skin methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis infection
Authors: XIAO Ting , HE Chun‐Di , GAO Xing‐Hua , CHEN Hong‐Duo 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTA 53‐year‐old Chinese man presented with fever, a painful exudative plaque around his left eye and subsequent multiple tender plaques and nodules on his bilateral face, neck and back. He had a 12‐year history of refractory anemia, a subtype of myelodysplastic syndrome. Repeated bacterial cultures of exudates from the lesion of the left zygomatic area showed growth of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. A biopsy of a plaque on the back showed edema of the papillary dermis and marked neutrophilic infiltrates in the upper dermis. The patient was diagnosed with Sweet's syndrome (SS), and responded well to combination therapy of amoxycilline/sulbactam and corticosteroids. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SS associated with skin S. epidermidis infection.
Geological constraints of pore pressure detection in shales from seismic data
Authors: Teige Gunn M. G. , Hermanrud Christian , Wensaas Lars , Nordgård Bolås Hege M. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTMethods for detection of pore fluid overpressures in shales from seismic data have become widespread in the oil industry. Such methods are largely based on the identification of anomalous seismic velocities, and on subsequent determination of pore pressures through relationships between seismic velocities and the vertical effective stress (VES). Although it is well known that lithology variations and compaction mechanisms should be accounted for in pore pressure evaluation, a systematic approach to evaluation of these factors in seismic pore pressure prediction seems to be absent. We have investigated the influence of lithology variations and compaction mechanism on shale velocities from acoustic logs. This was performed by analyses of 80 wells from the northern North Sea and 24 wells from the Haltenbanken area. The analyses involved identification of large‐scale density and velocity variations that were unrelated to overpressure variations, which served as a basis for the analyses of the resolution of overpressure variations from well log data. The analyses demonstrated that the overpressures in neither area were associated with compaction disequilibrium. A significant correlation between acoustic velocity and fluid overpressure nevertheless exists in the Haltenbanken data, whereas the correlation between these two parameters is weak to non‐existing in the North Sea shales. We do not presently know why acoustic velocities in the two areas respond differently to fluid overpressuring. Smectitic rocks often have low permeabilities, and define the top of overpressures in the northern North Sea when they are buried below 2 km. As smectitic rocks are characterized by low densities and low acoustic velocities, their presence may be identified from seismic data. Smectite identification from seismic data may thus serve as an indirect overpressure indicator in some areas. Our investigations demonstrate the importance of including geological work and process understanding in pore pressure evaluation work. As a response to the lack of documented practice within this area, we suggest a workflow for geological analyses that should be performed and integrated with seismic pore pressure prediction.
Interaction of tectonics, eustasy, climate and carbonate production on the sedimentary evolution of an early/middle Jurassic extensional basin (Southern Provence Sub‐basin, SE France)
Authors: Léonide Philippe , Floquet Marc , Villier Loïc 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the evolution of an extensional basin in regard to the nature and sequence stratigraphic arrangement of its carbonate deposits. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the respective effects of tectonism, eustasy, climate and oceanography on a carbonate sedimentary record. The case study is the early to mid‐Jurassic age carbonate succession of the Southern Provence Sub‐basin (SE France), located within the southern part of the extensional Western European Tethyan Margin. This work is based on sedimentologic, biostratigraphic (using ammonites and brachiopods) and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the carbonate facies of the Cherty Reddish Limestone Formation (late Sinemurian to earliest Bajocian). These strata were deposited in shoreface to lower offshore depositional environments. The succession of the various environments together with the recognition of key stratigraphic surfaces allow us to define four second‐order depositional sequences; of late Sinemurian to earliest Pliensbachian, early Pliensbachian to late Pliensbachian, earliest Toarcian to middle Aalenian and late Aalenian to early Bathonian ages. The architecture of the depositional sequences (thickness and facies variations within the systems tracts, wedge‐shaped geometries) reflects a strong tectonic control. The sub‐basin was structured by extensional faults (oriented approximately 070–090/250–270). Sea‐level variations, fluctuations in carbonate production and preservation, and environmental changes were also significant controlling factors of the carbonate deposition. The interplay of the tectonic control with the other factors resulted in five main phases in the sedimentary evolution of the sub‐basin: (1) dominant tectonic control during the initial rifting stage (late Sinemurian to early Pliensbachian); (2) increasing extensional tectonics (mid‐Pliensbachian); (3) global climato‐eustatic sea‐level fall (latest Pliensbachian) and global climato‐eustatic sea‐level rise plus hypoxia/anoxia (early Toarcian); (4) relative sea‐level fall linked to tectonic uplift related to the ‘Mid‐Cimmerian phase’ (mid‐Aalenian) and (5) oceanographic events (upwelling) and reduction in carbonate production (hypoxia/anoxia) plus tectonic downwarping (late Aalenian/earliest Bajocian).
Safety of immunotherapy with therapeutic vaccines containing depigmented and polymerized allergen extracts
Authors: Casanovas M. , Martín R. , Jiménez C. , Caballero R. , Fernández‐Caldas E. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryBackground
The major complication of allergen immunotherapy is a severe reaction.Objective
To evaluate the safety of depigmented and glutaraldehyde‐modified allergen extracts in a large group of patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment.Material and methods
Seven hundred sixty‐six patients, having rhinoconjunctivitis and/or asthma, were entered in a prospective, multi‐centre, observational cohort study, to evaluate the safety of immunotherapy with modified allergen vaccines. Patients were sensitized to mites and/or pollen and received a therapeutic vaccine containing depigmented and polymerized allergen extracts of mites and/or pollens adsorbed onto aluminium hydroxide. The schedule of administration consisted of a build‐up phase of 4‐ to 6‐weekly injections, followed by 12‐monthly injections of the maintenance dose. Tolerance was assessed by recording all side reactions related to immunotherapy.Results
All patients completed the study. Fifty‐four clinically relevant local reactions (43 immediate and 11 delayed) were observed (0.4% of injections). The systemic reactions were 34 in 12 patients. Six reactions were immediate (all of grade 2) and 28 delayed (18 of grade 1 in two patients, nine of grade 2 and one of grade 3). The systemic reactions of grade 2 or 3 occurred in 0.12% of the injections. All systemic reactions were mild and resolved spontaneously without the need for medication.Conclusion
Specific immunotherapy using modified allergen vaccines is safe to treat allergic patients. The percentage of adverse reactions detected is lower than those reported in the literature with native‐unmodified allergen extracts.
Effects of nutrients and light on periphyton biomass and nitrogen uptake in Mediterranean streams with contrasting land uses
Authors: SCHILLER DANIEL VON , MARTÍ EUGÈNIA , RIERA JOAN LLUÍS , SABATER FRANCESC 
Published: March 2007

Summary1. Nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) were used to determine the relative importance of nutrients and light as potential limiting factors of periphyton biomass and nitrogen (N) uptake in Mediterranean streams subjected to different human impacts. The nutrients examined were phosphorus (P) and N, and we also further differentiated between the response of periphyton communities to N species (i.e. NO3‐N and NH4‐N). To examine the effect of light and nutrients on periphyton biomass, chlorophyll a accrual rates on NDS located at open and closed canopy sites were compared. The effect of nutrient availability on periphyton uptake was measured by 15N changes on the NDS after NO3‐15N short‐term nutrient additions.2. Results show that light was the main factor affecting algal biomass in the study streams. Algal biomass was in general higher at open than at closed canopy sites. Nutrient availability, as simulated with the NDS experiments, did not enhance algal biomass accrual in either of the 2 light conditions.3. In the control treatments (i.e. ambient concentrations), periphyton NO3‐N uptake rates increased and C : N molar ratios decreased consistently with increases in N availability across streams. NO3‐N uptake rates were altered when ambient N concentrations were increased artificially in the N amended NDS. Periphyton assemblages growing on N enriched substrata seemed to preferentially take up N diffusing from the substratum rather than N from the water column. This response differed among streams, and depended on ambient N availability.4. Periphyton biomass was not significantly different between substrata exposed to the two forms of available N sources. Nonetheless, we found differences in the effects of both N sources on the uptake of N from the water column. NH4‐N seemed to be the preferred source of N for periphyton growing on NDS.5. Results suggest that the effect of riparian zones on light availability, although seldom considered by water managers, may be more important than nutrients in controlling eutrophication effects derived from human activities. Finally, our results confirm that not only increases in concentration, but also stoichiometric imbalances should be considered when examining N retention in human altered streams.
Evidence for non‐random spatial positioning of migrating smolts (Salmonidae) in a small lowland stream
Authors: SVENDSEN JON C. , ESKESEN ALLAN O. , AARESTRUP KIM , KOED ANDERS , JORDAN ANDERS D. 
Published: March 2007

Summary1. The ontogenetic development of anadromous salmonids includes downstream emigration of immature individuals from freshwater towards the marine environment. Although this migration of juvenile salmonids (smolts) may be associated with severe mortalities, only limited attention has been paid to the spatial positioning of smolts in small streams.2. Using a novel approach, this study examined the vertical and horizontal positioning of brown trout and Atlantic salmon smolts while performing downstream migration in a small lowland stream.3. Pre‐smolts of indigenous and hatchery‐reared (F1) brown trout (Salmo trutta), and two different populations of Atlantic salmon (S. salar), were tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and subsequently released upstream of an antenna array consisting of five circular swim‐through PIT antennas. Antennas were positioned in order to determine whether the migrating smolts were bottom or surface oriented, and if they were oriented towards the mid‐channel or the stream bank.4. During the smolt emigration period, data describing both the detection of the migrating fish and the amount of water passing through the antennas were collected. This was accomplished in order to determine if the fish were performing active positioning behaviour independently of the vertical and horizontal discharge distributions in the stream.5. The results showed that the smolts migrated in a non‐random spatial pattern independently of the stream discharge distributions. Vertically, the indigenous brown trout and the Atlantic salmon demonstrated a preference for the bottom orientated positions. In contrast, the distribution of the F1 brown trout was not different from the discharge distribution. The latter observation suggests random vertical positioning, which may be indicative of inferior migratory performance. Horizontally, all tested smolt populations strongly preferred the mid‐channel positions.6. The discharge‐corrected preferences for certain spatial positions suggest that smolt emigration is not entirely a matter of passive displacement in lowland streams.7. Anthropogenically altered channels may inhibit or delay downstream emigration of smolts resulting in increased mortalities. Given that the smolts in this study actively selected spatial positions in the mid‐channel and near the bottom, it is suggested that deep, mid‐channel furrows may be used to help guide migrating smolts past adverse habitats in lowland streams.
Leptin receptor in boar spermatozoa
Authors: De Ambrogi Marco , Spinaci Marcella , Galeati Giovanna , Tamanini Carlo 
Published: March 2007

SummaryLeptin is active in both metabolism and reproduction. In fact, it seems to exert an inhibitory action on gonadal functions by reducing testosterone production. The presence of leptin in human and boar seminal plasma and in human spermatozoa has been demonstrated; recently, leptin receptors (Ob‐R) have been localized in human spermatozoa, thus suggesting a possible action of this hormone even on these cells. Our aim was to verify whether leptin receptor [the long form (Ob‐Rb)] is present in boar spermatozoa. Immunofluorescence and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) techniques were employed. RNA was extracted from boar spermatozoa and a specific band (382 bp) for Ob‐Rb was detected after RT‐PCR. Ob‐Rb was detected on acrosome, subequatorial area and either on the midpiece or on the whole tail. These localizations were maintained even in semen washed twice to eliminate seminal plasma. We conclude that Ob‐R is present in boar spermatozoa where seminal plasma leptin can exert its effects.
Perception of dental fluorosis and other oral health disorders by 12‐year‐old Brazilian children
Authors: MENEGHIM MARCELO C. , KOZLOWSKI FÁBIO C. , PEREIRA ANTÔNIO C. , ASSAF ANDRÉA V. , TAGLIAFERRO ELAINE P. S. 
Published: March 2007

Aim.  The aim of this study was to verify the perception of dental fluorosis as an oral health problem by 12‐year‐old Brazilian children and to evaluate if they were able to detect other oral disorders.Methodology.  The sample consisted of 401 schoolchildren. Firstly, clinical examinations were performed using a visual method under natural light. After that, children answered a questionnaire with the purpose of assessing the self‐perception of their oral health problems. Next, the volunteers were shown a photo album containing 24 photographs, and had to match each photo with a severity scale.Results.  The prevalence of fluorosis was 18.2%; 81.8% of this total in fluorosis scale T‐F 1. Of the 401 children, 48.9% (n = 196) answered oral health problems related to concerns, such as aesthetic appearance or pain. Among them, only two children, both with fluorosis T‐F 2, correlated their problems with the presence of stained teeth. As regards the photo album analysis, the children considered photos showing fluorosis T‐F 7–9 as the most severe, whereas the photo of an orally healthy patient was considered the least severe.Conclusion.  Children did not show negative perception of dental fluorosis, except for dental fluorosis at severe levels (T‐F 7–9), and were mainly able to detect aesthetic or pain‐related problems.
Myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries: a conundrum with multiple aetiologies and variable prognosis: an update
Authors: Kardasz I. , De Caterina R. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract.The existence of myocardial infarction despite angiographically normal coronary arteries was recognized more than 30 years ago. Since then, various series of such patients have been described, but the aetiology and pathogenesis of the condition are still a source of debate. Evidence exists for a role of coronary vasospasm, thrombosis, embolization and inflammation, per se or combined, in determining the occurrence of myocardial infarction in the presence of angiographically normal coronary arteries. Endothelial dysfunction, possibly superimposed to nonangiographically evident atherosclerosis, may be an underlying common feature predisposing to the acute event. Additionally, myocarditis may explain some of these occurrences. Myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries is therefore likely the result of multiple pathogenetic mechanisms. Although most reports emphasize the good prognosis of this condition, in general much better than myocardial infarction with coronary artery disease, prognosis is likely variable according to the underlying mechanism. This review summarizes current knowledge on this condition and examines areas of recent progress.
Th1–Th2 Interaction: Is More Complex than a See‐saw?
Authors: Kutlu A. , Bozkurt B. , Ciftci F. , Bozkanat E. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractInfections, such as tuberculosis, measles and diphtheria, may decrease the risk of developing atopic allergic disorders. Patients with pulmonary TB having similar allergic skin prick test sensitivity as healthy controls but unable to show vigorous atopic phenotype in their healthy period might be a sign for Th1–Th2 immune interaction.