This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The cell cycle regulator p27Kip1 is a critical factor controlling cell number in many lineages. While its anti-proliferative effects are well-established, the extent to which this is a result of its function as a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor or through other known molecular interactions is not clear. To genetically dissect its role in the developing corneal endothelium, we examined mice harboring two loss-of-function alleles, a null allele (p27−) that abrogates all protein function and a knockin allele (p27CK−) that targets only its interaction with cyclins and CDKs. Whole-animal mutants, in which all cells are either homozygous knockout or knockin, exhibit identical proliferative increases (~0.6-fold) compared with wild-type tissues. On the other hand, use of mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM) to produce infrequently-occurring clones of wild-type and mutant cells within the same tissue environment uncovers a roughly three- and six-fold expansion of individual p27CK−/CK− and p27−/− cells, respectively. Mosaicism also reveals distinct migration phenotypes, with p27−/− cells being highly restricted to their site of production and p27CK−/CK− cells more widely scattered within the endothelium. Using a density-based clustering algorithm to quantify dispersal of MADM-generated clones, a four-fold difference in aggregation is seen between the two types of mutant cells. Overall, our analysis reveals that, in developing mouse corneal endothelium, p27 regulates cell number by acting cell autonomously, both through its interactions with cyclins and CDKs and through a cyclin-CDK-independent mechanism(s). Combined with its parallel influence on cell motility, it constitutes a potent multi-functional effector mechanism with major impact on tissue organization.

Muzaffer Bodur, Associate Professor of Marketing at Bogazici University, and Ugur Yavas, Professor of Marketing at East Tennessee State University, describe the results and implications of a study carried out in Istanbul, Turkey, to distinguish between two tourist market segments - those preferring to travel in groups organized by travel agencies, and those preferring to make their own arrangements. The findings indicate differences in age, economic status and travel motivation between the two segments. Marketing by the travel agencies could be targeted at the independent-minded sector so as to encourage them to make use of travel agency facilities.

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The environmental laws have placed manufacturing concerns in a quandary regarding compliance with the complex and far-reaching web of regulations which affect practically every aspect of production operations. Although variations from the mandates imposed may result in rather substantial consequences for offenders, many companies do not achieve full compliance for various reasons. If full compliance is possible, reasons for noncompliance must be examined. The relationship between compliance and quality of the manufacturing process or finished product must be explored to determine whether companies might sacrifice compliance for a more efficient process or higher quality product. Moreover, intentional noncompliance for economic benefit may provide companies with an advantage over competitors that spend vast resources to satisfy environmental obligations. This paper addresses the results of a survey completed by over 200 manufacturing firms located primarily in Tennessee to determine effects of compliance with environmental regulations on manufacturing operations.

Ninety-four per cent of the bankers who responded to a recent survey think that establishing a sales culture is very important to their institution's success, yet less than half had actually instituted even the most rudimentary reforms. This article outlines the reasons which make the transition to a sales culture imperative, describes the basic features of organizational culture in general and sales culture in particular, and presents seven best practices that facilitate the painstaking process of transition to a sales culture in banks. The strategies discussed increase sales per employee, improve cross-selling to high-value customers, and enable banks to focus on solving customer needs to the mutual benefit of both parties. It requires providing consistently excellent service quality and sales and customer interaction training for all boundary-spanning employees.

Reports on the results and managerial implications of a Turkish study which investigated relationships between service quality, and customer satisfaction, complaint behaviour and commitment. Concludes that the ultimate success of any service quality programme implemented by a bank can only be gauged by creation and retention of satisfied customers. The role of customer-contact personnel in the attainment of these goals is of paramount importance. Therefore, in their efforts to deliver high quality services to their external publics (i.e. clients), banks should not ignore the specific needs of their internal publics, notably their customer-contact employees.

Correspondence analysis is a data analysis technique for the graphical display of contingency tables and multivariate categorical data. Describes the technique and illustrates its application in assessing the images of banks. Discusses the implications of the empirical study.

The origins of commercial banking in Saudi Arabia can be traced to the opening of a branch of the Netherlands Trading Society in 1927 in the port of Jeddah, mainly for the benefit of the pilgrims from Indonesia, then a Dutch colony. Development of a domestic banking system in Saudi Arabia, however, has a relatively recent history. In fact, it was not until the 1950s that local commercial banks (National Commercial Bank and Riyadh Bank) were established in the Kingdom. The pace of banking activity and bank holdings were low until the mid 1970s (Habib et al., 1987). Two events during that time significantly affected the Saudi banking scene. One was the 1973 oil boom which resulted in an explosion of financial transactions and required a comprehensive array of banking services. The second was the government’s programme of Saudisation which required all foreign-owned banks to convert to joint-stock companies with majority ownership transferring to Saudi nationals. The Saudisation process made branch expansion and capital increases possible for the banks.

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There has been a growing emphasis on consumer education for energy conservation. Models have been developed on the assumption that cognitive change is an antecedent for behavioral change. We examine the effectiveness of energy-conservation campaigns within the context of hierarchy of effects models. A sample of 265 Finnish homeowners was divided into three categories based on their energy cognition. They were then compared in terms of their energy-conservation behavior. Results showed that consumers with varying levels of cognition did not differ in their behaviors. We suggest several potentially useful strategies for increasing the efficacy of energy conservation campaigns.