bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mapping the landscape of biomedical research in Nigeria since 1967
Authors: Nwagwu Williams 
Published: August 2005

ABSTRACTThis article maps the biomedical literature of Nigeria by source/origin of publications and authorships from 1967 to 2002. This mapping is expected to provide crucial information to both government and others taking funding and related decisions regarding biomedical research in Nigeria. Data was collected from MEDLINE. Scientists publishing on Nigerian biomedicine have written 6,820 articles in 295 journals/sources. Only eight of the 121 local journals that published biomedical research in Nigeria during the period were included in MEDLINE's listing (2.72%), while there were 32 (10.84%) regional and 255 (86.44%) external journals used. Local journals appeared to be more heavily used than regional and external ones. It was also shown that MEDLINE does not adequately represent Nigeria's biomedical literature.
Bond characteristics of structural polypropylene fibres in concrete with regard to post‐crack strength and durable design
Authors: Richardson A.E. 
Published: August 2005

PurposeSeeks to examine the bond strength of a large range of structural polypropylene fibres, as used in concrete, to determine the most effective fibre capable of transmitting load (N/mm2) between fibre and cement within the concrete matrix.Design/methodology/approachFollowing fibre selection characterised by the highest bond strength, determined from a series of pull out tests, BS flexural tests were carried out using high bond strength fibres (40 mm × 0.9 mm diameter used at 6 kg/m3) to determine whether or not structural polypropylene fibres had any effect on the ultimate flexural strength of fibre‐reinforced concrete, when compared with the plain control sample. Fibre orientation, type of rupture failure mode and post‐crack performance were examined.FindingsEven structural fibre dispersion was found to be best achieved with the use of monofilament polypropylene fibres (19 mm × 22 micron used at 0.9 × kg/m3) in addition to the 6 kg/m3 structural fibre dose. Structural polypropylene fibres were found not to provide additional flexural strength however, they did provide post‐crack control, limiting the crack width with subsequent enhanced durability that in turn will provide lower life cycle costs.Practical implicationsIn addition to increased durability the use of fibre reinforcement negates the need to place steel reinforcement bars.Originality/valueInvestigates the ambiguity in literature between claims made by different investigators regarding the effects of polypropylene fibres on compressive and flexural strengths.
The business value of e‐government for small firms
Authors: Viana Thompson Debora , Rust Roland T. , Rhoda Jeffrey 
Published: August 2005

PurposeTo propose and test a model about the business value of government electronic services (e‐government) to small firms. Two dimensions of e‐government use (search‐oriented and transaction‐oriented) are measured and the effects of three types of e‐government benefits on small firms' profitability are tested.Design/methodology/approachSurvey of 100 small firms in three states of the USA (Maryland, New York, and Washington).FindingsSmall firms' information technology capabilities are positively associated with the use of e‐government services. Search‐oriented use of e‐government is positively related to enhanced intelligence generation, new business development, and time savings. The relationship between use of e‐government and profitability is mediated by firms' intelligence generation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study uses self‐reported data and was based on a sample of firms from three states of the USA. Thus results are limited by the specificity of this geographic context.Practical implicationsSmall firms should use e‐government as an information source to enhance their market intelligence and build revenues. IT suppliers should emphasize e‐government services that link small firms to customers and collaborators, and facilitate access to key information resources. Government agencies should enhance their e‐government information services to improve small business performance and increase tax receipts.Originality/valueThe paper provides empirical evidence about the positive effect of use of e‐government services on the financial performance of small firms.
Natural convection in a porous cavity with spatial sidewall temperature variation
Authors: Saeid Nawaf H. , Mohamad A.A. 
Published: August 2005

PurposeTo study the natural convention in a square porous cavity induced by heating one of the sidewalls and the other sidewall is cooled, while the horizontal walls are adiabatic. The heated wall is assumed to have spatial sinusoidal temperature variations about a constant mean value.Design/methodology/approachThe Darcy model is used in the mathematical modeling of the natural convection in porous cavity. A finite volume method based on QUICK scheme is used to solve numerically the non‐dimensional governing equations.FindingsIt is found that the average Nusselt number varies based on the hot wall temperature. It increases with an increase in the amplitude, while the maximum average Nusselt number occurs at the wave number of k=0.75 for Rayleigh number based on the permeability of the medium of 500 and 1000 and at k=0.70 for a Rayleigh number of 10‐200.Research limitations/implicationsThe effects of the amplitude (0‐1.0) and the wave number (0‐5) of the heated sidewall temperature variation on the natural convection in the cavity are investigated for Raleigh number 10‐1000.Practical implicationsThe spatial sinusoidal temperature variation occurs in the applications when a cylindrical heater or a periodic array of heaters placed on a flat wall.Originality/valueThis paper is providing the details of the heat transfer inside the cavity which can be used in thermal design.
Social networking on the semantic web
Authors: Finin Tim , Ding Li , Zhou Lina , Joshi Anupam 
Published: August 2005

PurposeAims to investigate the way that the semantic web is being used to represent and process social network information.Design/methodology/approachThe Swoogle semantic web search engine was used to construct several large data sets of Resource Description Framework (RDF) documents with social network information that were encoded using the “Friend of a Friend” (FOAF) ontology. The datasets were analyzed to discover how FOAF is being used and investigate the kinds of social networks found on the web.FindingsThe FOAF ontology is the most widely used domain ontology on the semantic web. People are using it in an open and extensible manner by defining new classes and properties to use with FOAF.Research limitations/implicationsRDF data was only obtained from public RDF documents published on the web. Some RDF FOAF data may be unavailable because it is behind firewalls, on intranets or stored in private databases. The ways in which the semantic web languages RDF and OWL are being used (and abused) are dynamic and still evolving. A similar study done two years from now may show very different results.Originality/valueThis paper describes how social networks are being encoded and used on the world wide web in the form of RDF documents and the FOAF ontology. It provides data on large social networks as well as insights on how the semantic web is being used in 2005.
Fostering safe work behaviour in workers at construction sites
Authors: Ai Lin Teo Evelyn , Yean Yng Ling Florence , Sern Yau Ong Derrick 
Published: August 2005

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose and test a framework to foster safe work behaviour among workers on construction sites.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed framework identifies two main reasons for unsafe behaviours: “don't know how”, and “don't care”. Technical and safety training is proposed to overcome the former problem, while for the latter it is proposed that organisations systematically apply operant conditioning techniques to promote safety, using organisational behaviour modification. A postal survey of contractors in Singapore was conducted to test the framework. The four tools of operant conditioning theory (positive reinforcements, negative reinforcements, extinction, and punishments) were evaluated.FindingsClose and strict supervision, sending workers for safety and health training, and imposing fines are found to be most effective methods. Positive reinforcements (both monetary and non‐monetary) have also been found to be effective, while extinction did not receive much support. Other methods that may foster safe work behaviours are also discussed.Originality/valueSafety on site could be enhanced via training and application of operant conditioning theory.
Managing foreign exchange risk among Ghanaian firms
Authors: Abor Joshua 
Published: August 2005

PurposeThis paper reports on the foreign exchange risk‐management practices among Ghanaian firms involved in international trade. The study focuses on how Ghanaian firms manage their foreign exchange risk and the problems involved in managing exchange rate exposure. It also seeks to ascertain the extent to which these firms use foreign exchange risk management techniques.Design/methodology/approachDescriptive statistics were used in the presentation and analysis of empirical results.FindingsThe results indicate that close to one‐half of the firms do not have any well‐functioning risk‐management system. Foreign exchange risk is mainly managed by adjusting prices to reflect changes in import prices resulting from currency fluctuation, and also by buying and saving foreign currency in advance. The main problems the firms face are the frequent appreciation of foreign currencies against the local currency and the difficulty in retaining local customers because of the high prices of imported inputs, which tend to affect the prices of their final products sold locally. The results also show that Ghanaian firms involved in international trade exhibit a low level use of hedging techniques.Originality/valueThe main value of this paper is the analysis of foreign exchange exposure management from the Ghanaian perspective. Relevant recommendations aimed at enhancing the foreign exchange risk‐management practices among Ghanaian firms are made. The paper is useful not only to firms involved in international trade, but also to financial institutions interested in providing hedging products to these firms.
Conceptual design of performance measurement and management systems using a structured engineering approach
Authors: Sousa George W.L. , Cesar Ribeiro Carpinetti Luiz , Groesbeck Richard L. , Van Aken Eileen 
Published: August 2005

PurposeTo provide and illustrate a structured engineering approach for conceptual design of enterprise performance measurement and management systems.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes and utilizes a design approach based on combining an enterprise engineering process with a system dynamics (SD) modeling methodology. A research case application in a call center using real data serves as an illustration of these ideas.FindingsThis proposed approach provided clear guidance through all the steps of the research case developed. When compared to traditional alternatives, it especially enhanced considerations pertaining to causality relationships among performance metrics, both in a qualitative as well as in a quantitative way.Originality/valueThe explicit combination of enterprise engineering and SD methods creates new research and application opportunities. From a research perspective it establishes a framework for dealing with performance from a systems life‐cycle perspective as well as points to the need for developing integrated modeling techniques. From a practical perspective, the results achieved to this point provide a conceptual design guideline of immediate applicability.
An empirical study of performance measurement in manufacturing firms
Authors: Gosselin Maurice 
Published: August 2005

PurposeThe recent performance measurement literature suggests that organizations should put more emphasis on non‐financial measures in their performance measurement systems, that organizations must use new performance measurement approaches such as the balanced scorecard and that measures should be aligned with contextual factors such as strategy and organizational structure. The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which organizations are following these prescriptions.Design/methodology/approachA survey of a sample of Canadian manufacturing firms was conducted. In the questionnaire, organizations had to indicate the extent to which they use 73 performance measures. They also had to respond to questions about determinants such as strategy, organizational structure and environmental uncertainty. More than 100 organizations responded to the survey. The response rate was 50.5 percent.FindingsThe results show that manufacturing firms continue to use financial performance measures. Despite the recommendations from experts and academics, the proportion of firms that implement a balanced scorecard or integrated performance measurement systems is low. Furthermore, organizations that use these approaches are not employing more extensively non‐financial measures than those which are applying traditional performance measurement approaches. This research project also shows that there are some significant relationships between the types of measures and contextual factors like strategy, decentralization and environmental uncertainty. This research finally demonstrates clearly that there is a need to develop a theory that explains how firms can use their performance measurement system to enhance their performance.Originality/valueThis paper provides information on performance measures used by organizations and their association with organizational determinants.
Blood profiles, body fat and mood state in healthy subjects on different diets supplemented with Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Fontani G. , Corradeschi F. , Felici A. , Alfatti F. , Bugarini R. , Fiaschi A. I. , Cerretani D. , Montorfano G. , Rizzo A. M. , Berra B. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackground  Diets and Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been considered as important factors to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, but there are few details on the effects on healthy subjects. The aim of the present study was to examine the variation of several physiological parameters in healthy subjects on different diets supplemented with Omega‐3 fatty acids.Materials and methods  The experiment was carried out on 33 subjects divided into four groups according to a double‐blind cross‐over design with a 1 : 1 ratio for Omega‐3 (vs. placebo) and open‐label parallel‐groups with a 1 : 1 ratio for the Zone diet (vs. the diet suggested by the Italian National Research Institute for Nutrition and Foods). Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the experiment and after 35 (cross‐over) and 70 days. The Profile of Mood States test (POMS) was also performed.Results  The arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio (AA/EPA) was strongly reduced by Omega‐3 with a supplementary effect of the diet and in particular the Zone diet. The AA/EPA reduction was correlated with a concomitant decrease of insulin and homocysteine levels. The Zone diet reduced skinfold thickness and body fat percentage and also showed antioxidant effects. The mood state changed after Omega‐3 supplementation, with an increased POMS index. This was related to a concomitant reduction of AA/EPA and was particularly evident in the Zone diet.Conclusion  AA/EPA and mood state are differently influenced by diet and Omega‐3, body fat is particularly reduced by Zone diet, while blood parameters such as triglycerides/HDL ratio, insulin and homocysteine are related to AA/EPA variations. These findings are discussed in terms of differences in the composition of the diets and the influences of Omega‐3 on physiological functions.
Electrogastrography in neonates
Authors: Lange A. , Huang L. , Funch‐jensen P. 
Published: August 2005

Abstract Background and aims: Procedures for diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in newborn and preterm infants should preferably be non‐invasive. This study evaluates the usability of electrogastrography (EGG), a non‐invasive, cutaneous recording of the gastric myoelectrical activity in newborn infants.Method: Sixty‐two randomly selected infants [27 girls and 35 boys with median gestational age of 36 weeks (range 29–42)] divided into six groups (by postconceptional age) were studied on median day 5 (range 1–24) after birth. None had GI symptoms. EGG recordings were made by Digitrapper EGG recording system.Results: Findings were highly dispersed and without statistical difference both between pre‐ and postprandial periods and among the six study groups. Dominant frequency of 2.5 cycles per minute was found for 57 of 62 infants, with distribution of normal, bradygastric and tachygastric slow wave frequency uniformly dispersed around 50, 35 and 15% respectively.Conclusion: We find EGG unsuitable for clinical use because of significant variation in gastric slow wave frequency in normal term and preterm infants without GI symptoms.
Aspirin‐triggered 15‐HETE generation in peripheral blood leukocytes is a specific and sensitive Aspirin‐Sensitive Patients Identification Test (ASPITest)*
Authors: Kowalski M. L. , Ptasinska A. , Jedrzejczak M. , Bienkiewicz B. , Cieslak M. , Grzegorczyk J. , Pawliczak R. , DuBuske L. 
Published: August 2005

Background:  We have previously demonstrated that aspirin triggers specific generation of 15‐hydroxyeicosateraenoic acid (15‐HETE) from nasal polyp epithelial cells and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from aspirin‐sensitive (AS) but not aspirin‐tolerant (AT) patients with asthma/rhinosinusitis. The goal of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of ASA‐induced 15‐HETE generation measurement to identify AS patients.Methods:  PBL were obtained from 43 AS patients with asthma and rhinosinusitis, 35 AT asthmatics and 17 healthy control (HC) subjects. PBL were incubated with 2–200 μM aspirin (ASA) and 15‐HETE release was measured in cell supernatants with competitive ELISA.Results:  Unstimulated PBL from all three groups of patients generated similar amount of 15‐HETE. Incubation with 200 μM ASA resulted in an increase in an 15‐HETE generation (mean increase +421%) in AS‐asthmatics but small and nonsignificant response in AT‐asthmatics or control subjects. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed that the sensitivity of the test for confirmation of ASA‐sensitivity was 83% and the specificity 82%. Positive predictive value was 0.79 and negative predictive value was 0.86. Naproxen induced a significant increase in 15‐HETE only in some AS‐asthmatics, but not in AT‐asthmatics.Conclusion:  Our data demonstrate that ASA‐induced 15‐HETE generation by PBL is a specific and sensitive aspirin‐sensitive patients identification test (ASPITest).
Differential dependence of eosinophil chemotactic responses on phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)
Authors: Mishra R. K. , Scaife J. E. , Harb Z. , Gray B. C. , Djukanovic R. , Dent G. 
Published: August 2005

Background:  Control of eosinophil migration to sites of inflammatory responses is a potentially therapeutic intervention in diseases such as bronchial asthma. Chemoattractants, their receptors and the associated signalling pathways may, therefore, be important targets for novel therapeutics. While several potentially important chemoattractants have been identified, the signalling pathways mediating their actions are incompletely understood.Aims of the study:  The role of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) in responses of human eosinophils to two important eosinophil chemoattractants – platelet‐activating factor (PAF) and eotaxin (CCL11) – was studied to determine whether this enzyme activity might be crucial for eosinophil migration.Methods:  Eosinophils were isolated from atopic donor blood by immunomagnetic selection. Chemotaxis was assayed in a 96‐well blind‐chamber cell fluorescence assay. Respiratory burst and leukotriene C4 secretion were also assayed.Results:  Two PI3K inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, caused concentration‐dependent inhibition of PAF‐induced eosinophil chemotaxis (IC50 = 0.54 nM and 0.15 μM, respectively) but exhibited at least 100‐fold lower potency against eotaxin‐induced responses (IC50 = 48 nM and >100 μM, respectively), indicating that these responses were not dependent upon PI3K. Wortmannin and LY294002 also inhibited PAF induced respiratory burst but not PAF‐induced LTC4 secretion.Conclusions:  We conclude that PI3K‐dependence varies with stimulus and response, and that eotaxin‐induced eosinophil migration is not controlled by PI3K. This may indicate a limit to the potential of PI3K inhibitors to suppress tissue eosinophilia in diseases such as asthma.
Review of the Australian Incident Monitoring System
Authors: Spigelman Allan D. , Swan Judith 
Published: August 2005

Background:  A survey was conducted to assess the benefits and limitations of the Australian Incident Monitoring System (AIMS) as a programme to improve patient safety.Methods:  A 12‐point questionnaire was sent to 12 current users of AIMS in November 2002.Results:  The AIMS provides a consistent system of coding, trending and monitoring of incident data. It promotes a patient safety culture and an awareness of system error. Other benefits include the building of teamwork and the implementation of strategies to reduce the prevalence and severity of incidents. The majority of respondents (83%) reported that AIMS investigations resulted in significant changes to equipment usage, medication prescribing or administration, clinical protocols, training programmes and falls risk assessment tools. Although 75% of users reported improvements in patient outcomes, these were difficult to measure. A major limitation of AIMS was the low rate of incident reporting by medical staff. Voluntary reporting systems did not capture all incident data and the information was often too generic for root cause analysis. There were difficulties benchmarking data and concerns were raised regarding the ownership of information. The programme requires ongoing resources to implement change strategies and to maintain incident reporting levels. On a scale of 1 (poor rating) to 10 (excellent rating) the mean benefit rating was 7.6.Conclusion:  The Australian Incident Monitoring System is beneficial as a component of a clinical risk management strategy. Usefulness could be improved by increased participation by medical staff. The level of resources required should not be underestimated if the programme is to demonstrate improvements to patient outcomes. More recent versions of AIMS promise improved capabilities and will require similar evaluation.