bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An appraisal of the factors affecting production of cost estimate for electrical services in Nigeria
Authors: Babalola Olubola , Abiodun Adesanya David 
Published: November 2008

PurposeElectrical services contribute a substantial percentage of total construction cost of any particular project. It is essential for estimators to have a detailed knowledge of the factors that affect the incorporation of electrical services cost into the overall building project cost. The overall aim of the study that formed the basis for this paper therefore was to investigate the factors that influence cost estimating of electrical services project.Design/methodology/approachThe study was carried out based on questionnaire survey of 225 organizations that are involved in cost estimating of electrical services projects in Nigeria. A total of 158 questionnaires out of the 163 retrieved were appropriate for analysis. A list of factors potentially influencing cost estimate for electrical services was identified for the respondents to rate. The data collected were analyzed using factor analysis based on principal component analysis and varimax orthogonal rotation.FindingsThe results shows that the factors affecting production of cost estimate for electrical services could be grouped into four principal factors: the most important factor grouping being estimator competence followed by project technicality, economic requirements and contract requirements.Practical implicationsMany factors are considered by practitioners in the preparation of cost estimate for electrical work in construction project development. The paper has listed about 23 factors that are relevant. However, this paper has shown that four principal factors need to be considered as they explain 64 percent of the factors affect cost estimate production for building project's electrical service works.Originality/valueReview of literature has shown that there is limited empirical research on the factors influencing cost estimate production for electrical services work. The paper has produced an empirical research on the crucial factors that must be taken into account when producing cost estimate for the electrical service projects.
Why did management and auditors fail to identify ineffective internal controls in their initial SOX 404 reviews?
Authors: Chan Kam C. , Lee Picheng , Seow Gim S. 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the rationale for the failure of management and auditors to identify material internal control weaknesses (ICWs) in their initial Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) 404 reviews, resulting in subsequent restatement of their opinions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on the factors associated with the failure of management and auditor to identify material internal controls weaknesses in their initial SOX 404 reports. Logistic regression is run on a sample of 56 firms that reported material internal controls weaknesses in their amended internal control reports and a control group of 344 firms that reported material internal controls weaknesses (i.e. ineffective internal controls) in their initial internal control reports for 2004.FindingsThe results show that firm size, the use of a Big 4 auditor, the ratio of non‐audit to total fees, and the need for accounting restatements are positively associated with the probability to file an amended internal control report. The number of ICWs and the number of audit committee meetings are negatively associated with the probability to file an amended internal control report.Practical implicationsThe paper's findings suggest that regulators and corporate boards should consider providing more guidelines on audit committee practices in addition to the audit committee structure. For example, more guidance by the board is needed to ensure that the audit committee is active in overseeing the company's auditor–client relationship and its internal audit function.Originality/valueEmpirical findings on factors associated with the failure of management and auditor to identify material ICWs in their SOX 404 review can contribute to an understanding of factors affecting the efficiency of the SOX 404 review by attributing such failure to either inherent factors such as operational complexity and industry membership or to managerial choices in auditor‐client relationship and corporate governance issues. An understanding of these factors can help companies and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission in their efforts to improve the effectiveness and the efficiency of the current SOX 404 process.
Antecedents and consequences of financial analyst turnover
Authors: Mohammad Emad , Nathan Siva 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the factors leading to turnover among sell‐side financial analysts and the consequences of turnover.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies two types of turnover, voluntary and involuntary, and defines voluntary (involuntary) as when analysts leave their employment at one brokerage firm and find (do not find) employment at another brokerage firm. Logistic models are estimated relating the probability of turnover to factors that explain turnover for both voluntary and involuntary turnover.FindingsThe paper finds that job performance is positively (negatively) related to voluntary (involuntary) turnover. This finding is consistent with Jackofsky's theory predicting U‐shaped relationship between performance and turnover. For voluntary turnover, analysts' performance and job conditions at the new brokerage firm are examined and related to the factors leading to turnover. It was found that turnover analysts move to smaller brokerage firms and become more accurate. They have lighter workload and enjoy more prestige at the new brokerage firm as they follow larger firms and fewer firms and industries.Originality/valueThis is the first study to apply Jackofsky's theory to the financial analysts' profession. Also, it is the first study to document the consequences to voluntary analyst turnover.
Regional economies and potentials of Northeast China
Authors: Yau Laurence Yuen Chin 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on the regional development of Northeast China and recommend certain alternatives to revive its economies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews and analyses the transitional situations of the major three constituent provinces of Northeast China, namely Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang during the economic reform.FindingsThe paper finds that, in the initial couple of decades since the foundation of The People's Republic of China, a significant part of the northeast economy mirrored the economic model of the USSR, which ineffectively reacted to market economy. The transitional economy reformed the weaknesses of the economic systems of Northeast China but led to regional economic issues in unemployment, productivity, non‐recurrent resources, and duplicated investments.Practical implicationsWith the state's northeast revitalization policy and the reform measures of provincial governments, the economic situation of the region has progressively improved over the years, reflected in a higher increase rate in added value of industrial output, international trade and investments. However, the northeast still has shortfalls compared with other economic poles in China.Originality/valueThe paper concludes that the Northeast should strengthen its regional comparative advantages and adopt industrial cluster development for its revival; and it is presumed that regional international trade and foreign direct investments will be further advanced through the more open policies implemented in recent years.
Trade and competition policies at the crossroads: conflicts and synergies on the long run
Authors: Mihaela Dima Alina , Muşetescu Radu , Păun Cristian 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to prove that the abandonment of the issues of competition in the multilateral framework is not an ultimate verdict that strictly separates the two public policies: trade and competition policy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper critically examines the conflicts between the two policies (competition and trade), through an insight analysis and case interpretation, evaluates different opinions and makes some suggestions to support the logical conclusion that these two fields cannot be separated.FindingsThe final consideration is the synergy between the two is an imperative; or in other words, any specific policy dealing with only one of the fields will be successful in the long term only by taking into consideration the effects in the other field.Practical implicationsThe World Trade Organization had to make a choice not between the half full or the half empty glass but between a full glass – difficult to manage because of the danger to spill over – and a half‐full glass – easy to manage because of the large margin.Originality/valueThe paper critically examines the conflicts between the two policies (competition and trade), through an insight analysis and case interpretation.
Sensing or knowing?
Authors: Veale Roberta 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe study seeks to quantify the ability of consumer knowledge (both objective and subjective) and personal self‐confidence to moderate consumer reliance on price and country of origin (COO) when evaluating wine quality, when all intrinsic cues are experienced through sensory perceptions.Design/methodology/approachTaste testing experiments were conducted (N = 263) using unwooded chardonnay wine as stimulus, in a three (COO) × three (price) by three (acid level) conjoint analysis fractional factorial design. Specific measures were employed to quantify consumer objective knowledge, subjective knowledge and personal self‐confidence as clearly delineated constructs, in order to investigate the ability of each to moderate extrinsic cue usage.FindingsAnalysis revealed price and COO were both stronger contributors to perceptions of wine quality than taste, irrespective of knowledge (objective or subjective) or self‐confidence levels. Reliance was found to remain extremely consistent although objective product quality was manipulated to three differing levels in a controlled laboratory environment. The research clearly demonstrates that consumer belief in the price/value schema dominates quality assessment for consumers, with COO also found to be a strong influence. This is in spite of varying knowledge and self‐confidence levels.Practical implicationsResults show that marketers cannot assume that intrinsic product attributes, even when experienced, will be weighted and interpreted accurately by consumers – even those considered “knowledgeable”.Originality/valueThe research significantly advances our understanding of consumer knowledge (type and level) and their use of extrinsic cues (price and COO specifically), in relation to their respective influence in their determination of both expected and experienced quality.
The gap between wine expert ratings and consumer preferences
Authors: Schiefer Jan , Fischer Christian 
Published: November 2008

PurposeExpert wine awards are commonly used by consumers to reduce complexity in wine choice but little is known about expert vs non‐expert perceptions of sensory wine quality. This paper aims to examine if expert ratings are suitable quality indicators for consumers and whether there are certain groups of consumers that find expert awards more useful than others.Design/methodology/approachThe paper compares German consumer ratings obtained in a sensory laboratory with German Agricultural Society's quality competition awards. it tests for the correspondence between expert and non‐expert ratings and for the concordance within the non‐expert group. Estimation of a linear mixed model serves to identify consumer‐side variables with an influence on individual rating distance.FindingsCorrespondence between expert and non‐experts and concordance within the non‐expert group were found to be insignificant. Experienced wine consumers with sufficient specific knowledge and superior self‐reported sensory skills better replicated expert ratings.Research limitations/implicationsWith 216 wine ratings obtained from 36 German consumers, the number of observations is small. Future research should verify above findings by considering more consumers and the stability of ratings across time.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that although some consumer segments may find expert awards to be useful decision cues, for a large portion of the market, there is demand for a more consumer‐orientated system of sensory quality evaluation and labelling.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to address the usefulness of expert ratings to novice and experienced wine consumer populations. The statistical procedures employed (including linear mixed modelling) are shown to be useful techniques to handle the repeated measurement nature of the data.
Corporate governance in Europe: raising the bar
Authors: Albert‐Roulhac Catherine 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of European Boards. Analyzes Board composition, working style, remuneration and disclosure levels. Looks to the past and to the future as countries are placed in their local context while comparing their progress with each other.Design/methodology/approachThe article is based on the research by Heidrick & Struggles for its biennial report on Corporate Governance in Europe. The article is based on the analysis of the annual report and official publications of the top companies by market capitalization from national indexes in 10 countries. Each of the 294 companies was rated individually to a maximum rating of 16, to produce a country average, from which we generate a European average. Rating criteria include the working style of the Board, its composition and disclosure levels. The full Report can be found on the Heidrick & Struggles' website: www.heidrick.com Findings – Empirical research highlights significant progress on corporate governance in all countries and increasing convergence both within countries and across Europe. Compliance has become a fact of life now for the Boards of most organizations. Emphasis has shifted towards performance. Nonetheless much remains to be done as corporate governance pressures remain at the forefront of Board agenda.Originality/valueThe paper is based on original empirical research. The objectivity and consistent methodology ensures that the paper is a useful reference for anyone tracking corporate governance practices in Europe.
The end of shareholder value thinking
Authors: de Waal André 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss a trend in business strategy thinking which has been detrimental to the continuity of organizations, so that managers will reevaluate where they should aim their efforts at in respect to improving their organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a literature study, the outcomes of the current debate between the Anglo‐American and the European strategy thinking movements, and numerous discussions during workshops with management teams.FindingsIn line with the findings of current high performance organizations research, a long term focus of management is one of the most important capabilities management has to develop in order to safeguard the continuity of the organization.Practical implicationsIn lieu of the scandals that rocked the business world these last two decades and looking at the main task of management – safeguarding the continuity of the organization by making sure the organization earns its place in society, replacing shareholder value thinking with shareholder value thinking is highly recommended.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the ongoing debate on how to make organizations more corporate responsible.
CD40 ligation restores type 1 polarizing capacity in TLR4‐activated dendritic cells that have ceased interleukin‐12 expression
Authors: Michael Dohnal Alexander , Luger Romana , Paul Petra , Fuchs Dietmar , Felzmann Thomas 
Published: November 2008

AbstractInflammation triggered by microbial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 4 in the presence of interferon (IFN)‐γ induces cytokine secretion in dendritic cells (DCs) tightly regulated by a defined differentiation program. This DC differentiation is characterized not only by a dynamic immune activating but also by tolerance‐inducing phenotype associated with down‐modulation of cytokines previously considered to be irreversible. CD40L on activated T cells further modifies DC differentiation. Using DNA micro‐arrays, we showed down‐regulated mRNA levels of TLR signalling molecules, whereas CD40/CD40L signalling molecules were up‐regulated at a time when LPS/IFN‐γ‐activated DCs had ceased cytokine expression. Accordingly, we demonstrated that CD40/CD40L but not TLR4 or TLR3 signalling mediated by LPS or poly (cytidylic‐inosinic) acid (poly I:C) and dsRNA re‐established the capacity for secreting interleukin (IL)‐12 in primarily LPS/IFN‐γ‐activated DCs, which have exhausted their potential for cytokine secretion. The resulting TH1 polarizing DC phenotype – which lacked accompanying secretion of the crucial immune suppressive factor IL‐10 – maintained the potential for activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). We therefore conclude that immune modulation is restricted to a secondary T‐cell‐mediated stimulus at an exhausted DC state, which prevents an immune tolerant DC phenotype. These findings impact on the rational design of TLR‐activated DC‐based cancer vaccines for the induction of anti‐tumoural CTL responses.
MicroRNA‐223 reversibly regulates erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells
Authors: Yuan Jin‐Yun , Wang Fang , Yu Jia , Yang Gui‐Hua , Liu Xiao‐Ling , Zhang Jun‐Wu 
Published: November 2008

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are thought to modulate a variety of cellular events. Several studies have revealed the functions of miR‐223 in granulopoiesis. Here we analysed miR‐223 expression in various human tissues, blood and leukaemia cells, and focused on its role in K562 erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation. MiR‐223 was detected not only in granulocytes but also in erythroid cells. In K562 cells, expression of miR‐223 was down‐regulated during haemin‐induced erythroid differentiation but up‐regulated during phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)‐induced megakaryocytic differentiation. The overexpression of miR‐223 resulted in significant decrease of γ‐globin mRNA and the fraction of benzidine‐positive cells in K562 cells, suggesting a suppressive effect of miR‐223 on erythroid differentiation. Peaks corresponding to 4N cells in stable transfectants overexpressing miR‐223 were higher than that in control K562 cells during megakaryocytic differentiation, indicating that miR‐223 increases megakaryocytic differentiation. The expression of LIM domain only 2 (LMO2) reporter was suppressed in NIH‐3T3 when the expression of miR‐223 was enforced by both the luciferase and fluorescence system. Furthermore, LMO2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in stable K562 transfectants overexpressing miR‐223. These results indicate that LMO2 is a direct target of miR‐223. Thus, our results suggest that miR‐223 reversibly regulates erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells via down‐modulation of LMO2.
Visualizing CTL/melanoma cell interactions: multiple hits must be delivered for tumour cell annihilation
Authors: Caramalho Íris , Faroudi Mustapha , Padovan Elisabetta , Müller Sabina , Valitutti Salvatore 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIt is well established that cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can kill target cells offering a very small number of specific peptide/MHC complexes (pMHC). It is also known that lethal hit delivery is a very rapid response that occurs within a few minutes after cell–cell contact. Whether cytotoxicity is efficient and rapid in the context of CTL interaction with target cells derived from solid tumours is still elusive. We addressed this question by visualizing the dynamics of human CTL interaction with melanoma cells and their efficiency in eliciting cytotoxicity. Our results show that in spite of CTL activation to lethal hit delivery, killing of melanoma cells is not efficient. Time‐lapse microscopy experiments demonstrate that individual CTL rapidly polarize their lytic machinery towards target cells, yet the apoptotic process in melanoma cells is defective or ‘delayed’ as compared to conventional targets. These results indicate that although CTL activation to lethal hit delivery can be viewed as a ‘digital’ phenomenon rapidly triggered by a few ligands, melanoma cell annihilation is an ‘analogue’ response requiring multiple hits and prolonged contact time.
F1C Fimbriae Play an Important Role in Biofilm Formation and Intestinal Colonization by the
Escherichia coli
Commensal Strain Nissle 1917
Authors: Lasaro Melissa A. , Salinger Nina , Zhang Jing , Wang Yantao , Zhong Zhengtao , Goulian Mark , Zhu Jun 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Bacterial biofilm formation is thought to enhance survival in natural environments and during interaction with hosts. A robust colonizer of the human gastrointestinal tract,
Escherichia coli
Nissle 1917, is widely employed in probiotic therapy. In this study, we performed a genetic screen to identify genes that are involved in Nissle biofilm formation. We found that F1C fimbriae are required for biofilm formation on an inert surface. In addition, these structures are also important for adherence to epithelial cells and persistence in infant mouse colonization. The data suggest a possible connection between Nissle biofilm formation and the survival of this commensal within the host. Further study of the requirements for robust biofilm formation may improve the therapeutic efficacy of Nissle 1917.