bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Annual report IC disclosures in The Netherlands, France and Germany
Authors: Vergauwen Philip G.M.C. , van Alem Frits J.C. 
Published: January 2005

PurposeThis paper replicates and extends the Bontis research on intellectual capital (IC) disclosures in Canadian companies and also elaborates on the Beaulieu et al. research on disclosures by Swedish firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper studies IC disclosures by French CAC‐40, Dutch AEX and German XETRA‐DAX publicly‐listed companies for the years 2000 and 2001. The paper also discusses country‐specific arguments in favour of and against voluntary disclosure by such companies and searches both the annual reports and financial statements for IC hits.FindingsApplying the Gray‐scale to categorise countries, the paper finds not only that voluntary IC disclosure significantly differs between these countries, but also that this difference can be explained by country‐specific regulation and auditor conservatism.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper only studies Dutch, French and German IC disclosures in annual reports and financial statements. These three countries are European Union member states but “differ” significantly from one another. The differences discussed in this paper, however, are by no means exhaustive, nor do they picture the “European situation” in full.Practical implicationsThe paper recognises that the intangible nature of IC creates tension with current country‐specific legislation and strongly calls for convergence of applicable accounting standards and practices because of the increasing importance of IC and because of the improvement of corporate governance and policy making.Originality/valueThe paper not only extends (or fine‐tunes) previous research, but also links with the literature that discusses the consequences of country‐specific characteristics for accounting standards and practices.
Intellectual capital performance determinants and globalization status of Greek listed firms
Authors: Mavridis Dimitrios G. 
Published: January 2005

PurposeTo present a study analyzing the intellectual performance of Greek listed corporations on the Athens Stock Exchange under the distinctive aspect of being a “globalized” or “localized” firm.Design/methodology/approachDue to the used VAIC™ method the firm's performance is researched under its intellectual (IC) and physical (CA) aspect. The investigation confirms the existence of some semantic – added value‐based – performance differences by using predictor variables (discriminant analysis) and factors or “drivers” (factor analysis) influencing the actual “globalization status quo”.FindingsStates that “localized firms” are the distinct small technocratic, blue‐collar intellectual performers while the “globalized” ones are the large plutocratic, white‐collar intellectual performers.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need to analyze data of more corporations and for a longer time period in order to prove clearly the assumptions of the VAIC™ method. Additional comparative research with other (international) corporations will prove (or not) the above findings concerning intellectual differences due to the “globalization” status.Practical implicationsOffers an international comparative research possibility for “advanced” researchers in academia or praxis and enables “beginners” to learn a way of measuring intellectual capital performance.Originality/valueThis paper is an original research based on confirmed data of listed firms, using a “simple” but excellent method, in order to highlight the intellectual phenomenon in a “rational” (metric) way.
Intellectual capital reports in India: lessons from a case study
Authors: Ordoñez de Pablos Patricia 
Published: January 2005

PurposeIn 1994 the Swedish insurance company Skandia published the first intellectual capital report. Following these steps, other European companies decided to report on intangible resources. The Indian company, Reliance Industries Limited, published the first Indian intellectual capital report in 1997. Later other Indian companies also started to build and publish this new type of corporate report. Now the question is: are there any differences between Indian intellectual capital reports and European intellectual capital reports? If so, what ideas can be derived from these differences?Design/methodology/approachA case study was carried out to analyse how Indian firms build the intellectual capital report. In particular three leading Indian firms were selected: Reliance Industries Limited, Balrampur Chini Mills, and Shree Cement Limited.FindingsThe paper offers insights into how leading Indian firms measure and report knowledge‐based resources. The Indian intellectual capital report does not focus on the business model, values, mission and vision and/or knowledge management issues as in the case of European intellectual capital reports. It presents a “narrative” style. This is a major distinctive feature of Indian reports.Practical implicationsThe case study may help other companies to build the intellectual capital report. As the paper also provides a comparative view of Indian and European intellectual capital reports, managers can decide which approach better fits their firms.Originality/valueMost papers on intellectual capital measuring and reporting focus on European firms. However, this pioneer paper offers some insights into the reporting of intellectual capital in Indian companies.
Implementing a performance measurement system capable of creating a culture of high performance
Authors: Robson Ian 
Published: January 2005

PurposeTo show how measurement systems and the way they are implemented can have a critical impact in either encouraging or discouraging a culture of high performance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper outlines a “systems view” of organisations that assist in combining the knowledge of both measurement and psychology into a practical approach that encourages a culture of high performance. It outlines examples of measurement systems that have been specifically designed to change perceptions and behaviours. These implementations transformed performance levels within a matter of months.FindingsWhen measurement systems are designed using the appropriate psychological principles, there can be a rapid change in staff behaviour that automatically leads to improved performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe psychological conditions for improving performance can be readily reproduced, but more research evidence is required to ensure widespread acceptance and use of this approach to performance improvement.Practical implicationsMeasurement systems should be designed and implemented from a psychological and performance control perspective. When they are designed in this way, organisations can rapidly achieve substantial improvements in performance.Originality/valueThis paper shows how, by combining critical aspects of psychology with the knowledge of measurement within organisations, measurement systems can be designed and implemented to encourage a complete culture of high performance. The approach can assist all managers that want to change both the culture of their organisations whilst simultaneously improving overall performance.
Antiepileptic Drug Withdrawal after Successful Surgery for Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Kim Young Dae , Heo Kyoung , Park Soo Chul , Huh Kyoon , Chang Jin Woo , Choi Joong Uhn , Chung Sang Sup , Lee Byung In 
Published: January 2005

Summary:  Purpose: To investigate the prognosis related to antiepileptic drug (AED) discontinuation after successful surgery for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: The clinical courses after temporal lobectomies (TLs) were retrospectively analyzed in 88 consecutive patients. All the patients had TLs as the only surgical procedure, and they had been followed up for longer than 3 years. AED discontinuation was attempted if the patient had been seizure free without aura for ≥1 year during the follow‐up period. Results: Sixty‐six (75%) patients achieved complete seizure freedom for ≥1 year; 28 patients were seizure free immediately after surgery (immediate success); and 38 patients became seizure free after some period of recurrent seizures (delayed success). AED discontinuation was attempted in 60 (91%) of 66 patients with a successful outcome. In 13 (22%) patients, seizure relapse developed during AED reduction (n = 60), and in seven (12%) patients after discontinuation of AEDs (n = 38). The seizure recurrence rate was not different between the immediate‐ and delayed‐success groups. Among 20 patients with seizure relapse related to AED tapering, nine (45%) of them regained seizure freedom after reinstitution of AED treatment, and AEDs were eventually discontinued in six of them. Seizures that recurred after complete AED discontinuation had a better prognosis than did the seizures that recurred during AED reduction (seizure freedom in 86% vs. 23%). At the final assessment, 54 (61%) patients had been seizure free ≥1 year; 37 without AEDs and 17 with AEDs. The successful discontinuation of AEDs was more frequent for patients with a younger age at the time of surgery and for those patients with shorter disease duration. Conclusions: Our results suggest that seizure freedom without aura at ≥1 year is a reasonable indication for the attempt at AED discontinuation. The subsequent control of recurrent seizures was excellent, especially if seizures relapsed after the complete discontinuation of AEDs. Younger age at the time of surgery and a shorter disease duration seem to affect successful AED discontinuation for a long‐term period.
Estimating Prevalence, Incidence, and Disease‐related Mortality for Patients with Epilepsy in Managed Care Organizations
Authors: Holden E. Wayne , Thanh Nguyen Hoang , Grossman Elizabeth , Robinson Scott , Nelson Leila S. , Gunter Margaret J. , Von Worley Ann , Thurman David J. 
Published: January 2005

Summary:  Purpose. The purpose of the present study was to apply computer algorithms to an administrative data set to identify the prevalence of epilepsy, incidence of epilepsy, and epilepsy‐related mortality of patients in a managed care organization (MCO). Methods. The study population consisted of members enrolled in Lovelace Health Plan, a component of Lovelace Health Systems, a statewide MCO headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Patient records were obtained from July 1996 to June 2001. Four logistic regression models with high sensitivity and specificity were applied to 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year time frames in which members were continuously enrolled in the MCO. Incidence was defined for patients who did not have an epilepsy‐associated code in the 18 months before the first diagnosis entry. Mortality estimates in the population also were assessed by using a matched control group and linkage to a statewide death registry. Results: The data yielded estimated prevalence rates of 7–10 per 1,000, depending on age, sex, ethnicity, and time interval. Annualized incidence was 47 per 100,000 for members continuously enrolled for 3 years and 71 per 100,000 for members continuously enrolled for 5 years. Crude mortality rates were 2–2.5 times higher for epilepsy patients identified with the algorithms than for the matched controls. Conditional logistic regression indicated that the odds of death for epilepsy patients as compared with controls ranged from 1.24 to 2.06. Conclusions. Accurate estimation of prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates for epilepsy is an essential component of disease management in MCOs. The algorithms in this project can be used to monitor trends in prevalence, incidence, and mortality to inform decisions critical to improving the health care needs and quality of life for patients with epilepsy.
Rapid Onset of Action of Levetiracetam in Refractory Epilepsy Patients
Authors: French Jacqueline , Arrigo Celestina 
Published: January 2005

Summary:  Purpose: To investigate whether rapid achievement of levetiracetam (LEV) steady state is translated into an immediate measurable efficacy. The time to onset of action of LEV immediately after its initiation in adult patients with refractory partial seizures was analyzed. Methods: Treatment effect was assessed in a pooled analysis (n = 883) from three randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled add‐on trials. Results: The increase in the proportion of seizure‐free patients over baseline was 15, 17, and 17% for the first, second, and third day, respectively, for the LEV 1,000‐mg group (all differences statistically significant; McNemar p value <0.001), whereas the increase was 7, 9, and 9% for the 333‐mg LEV group (differences not significant). No major changes were observed for the placebo group. For differences in proportion of seizure‐free patients between groups, the probability of being seizure free in the LEV groups was twofold higher than in the placebo group. For the 1,000‐mg LEV group, odds ratios were 2.3, 2.5, and 2.7 for the first, second, and third day of therapy, respectively; all differences versus placebo were statistically significant (logistic regression p values, all <0.001). The addition of LEV significantly increased the proportion of patients without a seizure as of the first day of therapy. Each of the first 3 days, seizure freedom was twice as likely to occur with LEV 1,000 mg than with placebo. Conclusions: Evidence of a rapid onset of action of LEV 1,000 mg was demonstrated through a significant increase in the proportion of seizure‐free patients as of the first day of therapy.
Computerized Tremor Analysis of Valproate‐induced Tremor: A Comparative Study of Controlled‐release versus Conventional Valproate
Authors: Rinnerthaler Martina , Luef Gerhard , Mueller Joerg , Seppi Klaus , Wissel Joerg , Trinka Eugen , Bauer Gerhard , Poewe Werner 
Published: January 2005

Summary:  Purpose: Valproate (VPA) induces postural tremor in 6–45% of patients. The characteristics of VPA‐induced tremor have not yet been quantitatively assessed, and it is not known whether tremor prevalence or severity is affected by VPA formulation (controlled‐release CR‐VPA vs. conventional VPA). The aim of this study was quantitatively to assess tremor in epilepsy patients receiving VPA and to compare the effects of two VPA formulations (CR‐VPA vs. VPA) on tremor severity. Methods: In a prospective study, 18 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed focal or generalized epilepsy were assigned to receive alternately either VPA (n = 10) or CR‐VPA (n = 8) monotherapy. Computerized tremor analysis was performed at baseline 1 day before initiating VPA treatment and repeated after a seizure‐free period of ≥8 weeks, during which VPA doses had remained stable. Rest and postural tremor were recorded by accelerometry, and surface electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from the wrist flexors and extensors. Results: At baseline, the two groups had similar postural tremor amplitudes. At follow‐up, the CR‐VPA group had remained at the same level, whereas VPA subjects exhibited a significant increase in tremor amplitudes (p < 0.05) despite comparable VPA doses and comparable plasma VPA concentrations at the time of tremor testing. Conclusions: This is the first study to assess quantitatively VPA‐induced tremor by standardized tremor analysis. These results suggest that CR‐VPA may cause less tremorigenic activity as compared with standard VPA. The mechanisms underlying this difference are unclear but may include greater peak–trough variation with VPA than with CR‐VPA.
Recruitment of Families for Genetic Studies of Epilepsy
Authors: Ottman Ruth , Berenson Karina , Barker‐Cummings Christie 
Published: January 2005

Summary:  Purpose: Study of families containing multiple affected individuals is essential for genetic research on the epilepsies, yet practically nothing has been published about methods for identification and recruitment of families or expected participation rates. Here we describe the strategy used for data collection in a genetic linkage study, to provide guidelines for efficient design of new studies. Methods: Potentially eligible families were ascertained from private physicians, clinics, and self‐referrals. Participation rates were examined at each step of the recruitment process, according to ascertainment source, initial contact method, gender, and ethnicity. Results: Among 320 potentially eligible families identified, only 68 (21%) were successfully enrolled. Contact was established with an index subject in 83% of families, and a screen for eligibility was completed in 88% of these. However, only 54% of screened families were confirmed to be eligible, and of these, only 54% were enrolled. In eligible families, 79% of index subjects agreed to participate; the low family enrollment rates resulted largely from refusals by other family members whose participation was needed for linkage analysis. At each step in the recruitment process, the participation rate was higher in self‐referred than in other families. Conclusions: Recruitment of families for genetic studies is labor‐intensive; many potentially eligible families may have to be screened for each family enrolled. Recruitment is easier with self‐referred families than with those identified through other methods. The introduction of standardized methods for identification of eligible families from clinical settings can improve efficiency.
Preclinical studies on NSC290205 aza‐steroid alkylator activity in combination with adriamycin against lymphoid leukaemia
Authors: Trafalis Dimitrios T. P. , Tsavdaridis Dimitrios , Camoutsis Charalambos , Karayiani Venetia , Mourelatos Dionysios , Chrysogelou Eleni , Dalezis Panayotis , Athanassiou Athanasios , Pangalis Gerassimos A. , Papageorgiou Athanasios 
Published: January 2005

SummaryNSC290205 (A) is an hybrid synthetic antineoplastic ester that is a combination of a d‐lactam derivative of androsterone and an alkylating derivative of N,N‐bis(2‐chloroethyl)aniline. We tested NSC290205 for synergistic antileukaemic activity with adriamycin (ADR), (i) in vitro against the human lymphoid leukaemia cell lines: CCRF‐CEM, MOLT‐4, and RPMI‐8226, (ii) in vivo against P388 lymphocytic and L1210 lymphoid murine leukaemias (at incipient and advanced phase). Our results indicated significant cytostatic and cytotoxic synergy of NSC290205 and ADR in vitro. We further examined these results in vivo by replacing cyclophosphamide in the standard CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunomycin, Oncovin, prednisone) regimen with NSC290205 (AHOP) and comparing the efficiency of these two regimens in vivo. Although treatment of P388 and L1210 with cyclophosphamide or NSC290205 alone yielded equivalent results, AHOP produced a clear benefit for survival compared with CHOP against advanced leukaemias, confirming the in vitro observations [higher percentage increase in median lifespan of treated animals over the untreated (control): 188% and 239% in L1210, 308% and 353% in P388, P < 0·01, for CHOP and AHOP respectively]. AHOP also proved to be more genotoxic and cytostatic than CHOP, inducing higher sister chromatid exchange levels and cell division delays on P388 cells in vivo. NSC290205 showed superior antineoplastic potential against lymphoid leukaemia and significant synergy with ADR, producing an excellent therapeutic outcome.
MDR1 and MRP1 gene expression are independent predictors for treatment outcome in adult acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Schaich Markus , Soucek Silke , Thiede Christian , Ehninger Gerhard , Illmer Thomas ,   the SHG AML96 study group
Published: January 2005

SummaryMulti drug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle for cancer therapy. The three major candidates accounting for the development of MDR in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are multi drug resistance gene (MDR1), multi drug resistance‐related protein gene (MRP1) and lung resistance protein gene (LRP). So far, the differential impact of resistance gene expression on treatment outcome in AML is not clear. Therefore, we examined MDR1, MRP1 and LRP gene expression at diagnosis in 331 adult AML patients in the context of other known prognostic factors, such as age, disease status, cytogenetics and FMS‐like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)‐internal tandem duplication mutational status. Median observation time was longer than 5 years [64·1 months (40·0–87·6)]. MDR1 expression proved to be an independent prognostic factor for outcome of induction therapy (P < 0·001) and overall survival (P = 0·02), whereas MRP1 expression was an independent predictor for disease‐free survival (P = 0·01) in the multivariate analysis. This prognostic impact of both resistance genes was also found in patients with intermediate risk cytogenetics. LRP expression, however, had no impact on treatment outcome in AML. Our study shows that resistance gene expression should be considered together with age, cytogenetics and FLT3 mutational status for risk‐adapted treatment strategies in AML in the future.
Development of a human acute myeloid leukaemia screening panel and consequent identification of novel gene mutation in FLT3 and CCND3
Authors: Smith Matthew L. , Arch Rachael , Smith Lan‐Lan , Bainton Nigel , Neat Michael , Taylor Claire , Bonnet Dominique , Cavenagh Jamie D. , Andrew Lister T. , Fitzgibbon Jude 
Published: January 2005

SummaryA study was undertaken to develop an acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) screening panel to uncover novel recurring gene mutations. Analysis was performed on six genes known to be mutated in AML (RUNX1, FLT3, KIT, CEBPA, PTPN11 and NRAS) and an additional two candidate genes (CCND3 and FES) in a panel of 175 primary human AML samples that included all French–American–British types except M3, and all cytogenetic risk groups. One hundred and fifteen mutations were identified in 97 (55%) patients comprising 81 patients (46%) with one mutation, 14 patients (8%) with two mutations and two patients (1%) with three mutations. Fifty‐five of 88 (63%) patients with normal karyotype AML had at least one mutation. Correlation was observed between KIT mutation and ‘favourable risk’ cytogenetics (P < 0·001), CEBPA mutation and ‘intermediate risk’ cytogenetics (P = 0·045), and PTPN11 mutation and ‘poor risk’ disease (P < 0·001). The frequency of individual gene mutation was in accordance with previously published studies. Three novel mutations of FLT3 were detected (Y589D, D839G, Y842H) that would have been overlooked by conventional gel electrophoresis. A 51‐bp deletion was detected in CCND3 in a patient with normal karyotype AML. This validated panel now provides an important tool to evaluate other candidate genes in the genesis of myeloid malignancy.