bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public Private Partnerships: Identifying Practical Issues for an Accounting Research Agenda
Authors: Sciulli Nick
Published: December 2014

This article provides a structured framework for research into the accounting implications of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). PPPs worldwide have taken on increasing significance as a tool that governments can use to develop infrastructure and for the delivery of services. Given the minimal coverage in the literature of the Victorian State Government experience to date regarding the efficacy of PPPs, this report establishes a number of parameters from which academics can conduct research into this strategy and, moreover, make policy recommendations based on those findings. Accounting principles are used to identify whether a PPP will lead to value for money. Consequently, a model is developed to define potential areas of investigation, from which a series of research questions are posed. This is important because, public sector managers need to be aware of the failures and the success stories of particular PPP projects so that lessons can be learned from these experiences. This would inform government officials of any necessary reforms that need to be undertaken for future PPPs.
Internet Access on the Cheap: The Power of the Co-Op
Authors: Gudea Sorin
Published: December 2014

Internet access in the former socialist block continues to lag behind more developed countries. Unequal access to Information Technology has produced uneven levels of participation in the networked economy and society. Internet access, which is important to maintaining a technologically competent labour force, is a staple in the developed countries. However, it continues to be limited in Romania. Would-be users are devising inventive solutions to the relatively costly access solutions in order to get on the Information Highway. A country case study of Internet access in Romania reveals the advent of self-established, co-operative networks providing shared Internet access - seemingly a unique and innovative approach. Several of the Internet access plans on the market are presented in this paper together with a discussion of cyber cafés and the home-grown, co-operative networks that seem to be popping up all over the country. Understanding the context within which these home-grown networks arise and prosper offers valuable lessons and ideas for transferring these approaches to other developing countries that, like Romania, are struggling to bridge the infamous digital divide.
Public Private Partnerships and the Prospects for Sustainable ICT Projects in the Developing World
Authors: Fife Elizabeth , Hosman Laura
Published: December 2014

This paper analyses the recent phenomenon of private/public partnerships (PPPs) in the ICT sector of the developing world. The partners may come to these projects with divergent motivations: profit on the one hand and the provision of public services on the other, but at the end of the day, the interests of the partners that are symbiotic can – and indeed should – be aligned to ensure successful long-term projects. To investigate what can be done to promote successful and sustainable PPPs, this paper extends the traditional two-actor analysis to include both a third-party non-profit-oriented facilitating organization and the technology recipients that are the targets of these projects. Following an overview of the current state of PPPs in the developing world, the paper provides two case studies, based in Vietnam, where all four of the above-mentioned stakeholders were involved. The cases reveal important success factors that can be applied to future PPPs in the ICT sector.
Editorial
Authors: Tatnall Arthur
Published: December 2014

This fourth number of Volume 2 represents the 8th issue of the Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics and follows the trend for this new journal to include increasing numbers of articles written by researchers from many countries around the world. This issue has articles by researchers from the Peoples Republic of China, Pakistan, India and Australia. It covers a wide range of topics including e-commerce adoption in China, workplace surveillance in academic institutions in Pakistan, technology-enabled distance management education programs in India, health information systems in Australian hospitals and an article addressing the unequal outcomes for female academics.
E-commerce Adoption in China’s Service SMEs: a Study from Web Usability Perspective
Authors: Wu Mingxuan , Zhang Li , Xing Qiudan , Dai Li , Du Hongmei
Published: December 2014

Although China’s economy continues to grow rapidly over the last decade, some researchers have been aware that China has had to develop its service sector if China wants to sustain this growth. However, researches on the electronic commerce (e-commerce) adoption in China’s service industries are still lacking and are limited so far. In literature review, few works discuss e-commerce adoption by measuring web site usability / web usability.This paper reviews the research on China’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and highlights the challenges for developing and adopting e-commerce in China’s service SMEs. This research surveyed 494 of China’s service SME websites, and found that (1) most of China’s service SMEs are still at the early stage of adopting e-commerce; (2) there is an obvious e-commerce divide between Eastern China and Western China; (3) there is an existing positive relation between GDP per person and e-commerce adoption. This paper suggests that there is a need to select more sampling cities and make further research for justifying the above findings. Finally, this research concludes that web usability is the core of e-commerce adoption, and recommends the promotion of web usability as an effective strategy in further strategic development for China’s service SMEs adopting e-commerce. This research believes that China’s service sector adopting e-commerce might promote them up to the global level and stay competitive, which might further benefit the growth of China’s economy immensely.
Personal Ethics in a Corporate World
Authors: Francis Ronald D. , Armstrong Anona
Published: December 2014

This paper addresses the relationship between personal morality and ethical corporate behaviour. The main issue addressed here is the positing of the concept of moral intelligence – the relationship of personal moral stance and corporate behaviour. Just as there is intellectual competence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EIQ), so too there is moral intelligence. This paper outlines the theoretical and practical basis for the case. Mention is made of confounding issues, such as the stability of moral intelligence, the way in which situational context may over-ride it, and how it might be identified in a manner that is economical, reliable, and valid. It is argued that the development of the concept, and a test, has substantial commercial benefits.
Guest Editorial Governance and ethics: an indispensable relationship
Authors: Armstrong Anona
Published: December 2014

One of the fascinating questions of our time is why, when so much effort has gone into implementing corporate governance guidelines and raising the awareness of business ethics, stories of unethical conduct and poor governance continue to emerge on the front pages in our newspapers. Around the world financial scandals continue to occur and each time seekers of an antidote to the latest disaster call for more governance. This was evident after the 1987 securities market collapses when the Cadbury Committee and the OECD (Cadbury 1992; OECD 1999) were among many organisations which were to introduce governance regulations and guidelines over the next decade, and it is again prominent today.
Loss of Integrity: the True Failure of the Corporate Sector
Authors: Armstrong Anona , Francis Ronald D.
Published: December 2014

Despite the introduction of legislation and corporate governance standards designed to promote business integrity, prosecution of the directors of many companies for fraud and other offences has continued. This paper describes the changing environment in which the members of the boards of companies operate, and their legal duties and responsibilities. The authors illustrate the traps for, and liabilities of, directors with reference to vignettes of three corporate investigations, Enron, HIH and more recently Opes Prime. This paper argues that, in many instances, the failures of the corporate sector were due to loss of integrity by the major actors. Whether this was related to a belief in their invulnerability, or whether a climate of fraud was seen as acceptable hard-nosed business practice is a moot point. An alternative point, that the collapses could be mediated by ignorance, or by malice, is a critical point, and one deserving of further investigation.
Editorial
Authors: Tatnall Arthur
Published: December 2014

This final issue (Number 4) for 2008 of Volume 3 of the Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics contains a range of articles from Australia, Sweden, USA, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
Corporate Ethics, Personal Ethics: One and the Same? Identifying Ethical Captains of Industry
Authors: Madden-Hallett Helen
Published: December 2014

This paper explores the relationship between the corporation and its ethical standing and that of its employees within a framework of eight dynamics. The ‘highest’ level of ethical behaviour possible for a corporation is only as ‘high’ as that of its personnel, especially those in positions of power. Companies that behave ethically are more profitable, while companies that behave unethically are stripping resources from society without fair exchange and leaving a legacy of anti-trust and non-cooperation between individuals and organisations as well as a dollar cost of approximately two and a half trillion dollars per year. In the long run they damage themselves and all dynamics in which they intersect. The problem then is how to find ethical personnel to staff organisations for the benefit of all related dynamics. This paper explores the idea of business as part of a greater whole and the scope of personal ethics especially in business. The paper then explores potential indicators of ethically minded individuals with a view to use this information when hiring new employees but particularly those who, when employed, will wield the greatest power: those at middle management and top management.
Linking Islamic Work Ethic to Computer Use Ethics, Job Satisfaction and Organisational Commitment in Malaysia
Authors: Mohamed Norshidah , Karim Nor Shahriza Abdul , Hussein Ramlah
Published: December 2014

This research seeks to investigate whether Islamic work ethic is linked to individuals’ attitudes towards computer use ethics, job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The research used a cross-sectional self-administered survey method in the International Islamic University Malaysia. A total of 310 survey questionnaires were distributed to academic staff in four faculties i.e. Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Human Science and Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Economics and Management Sciences faculties. Cluster sampling was used in the selection of academic staff from several randomly chosen class schedules. The study found that Islamic work ethic within a university environment is linked to individuals’ attitudes towards computer use ethics, job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Implications and areas for future research are also discussed.
Editorial
Authors: Tatnall Arthur
Published: December 2014

This is the second issue of Volume 5 of the Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics for 2010, its 5th year of publication.
Editorial
Authors: Higgins Colin
Published: December 2014

Special Issue on Responsibility for Social and Environmental IssuesWhether and to what extent business organisations should assume responsibility for social and environmental issues has been a vexed issue for most of the 20th Century. Debate ensues along ideological, ethical, strategic and cultural lines.
Editorial
Authors: Tatnall Arthur
Published: December 2014

With this issue (Volume 5, Number 4) the Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics completes its fifth year as a peer reviewed online journal. We have every intention of continuing to produce the journal for many more years to come.
Editorial
Authors: Tatnall Arthur
Published: December 2014

This is the first issue of Volume 6 of the Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics.
Control of Shareholders’ Wealth Maximization in Nigeria
Authors: Oladipupo A. O. , Okafor C. O.
Published: December 2014

This research focuses on who controls shareholder’s wealth maximization and how does this affect firm’s performance in publicly quoted non-financial companies in Nigeria. The shareholder fund was the dependent while explanatory variables were firm size (proxied by log of turnover), retained earning (representing management control) and dividend payment (representing measure of shareholders control). The data used for this study were obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange [NSE] fact book and the annual reports of the six sampled companies from Food/ Beverages and tobacco sub-sector for twenty years (1986-2005) to constitute pooled data of 120 observations. Using auto-regression technique for correcting serial auto-correlation in time series data, the results converge at ten iterations. Results showed that all the independent variables provide good explanation for the model. It was observed that firm size (log of turnover) and retained earnings had positive relationships and statistically significant impacts on the shareholders fund while dividend payment had negative relationship. The results show that turnover and retained earnings are of more significance in the control of shareholders wealth than the dividend payment. Thus, we can conclude that the management of the organizations under the present study is in major control of shareholders wealth maximization objective and impact on the firm performance. Implication is that selecting high quality management for the organizations would help in achieving shareholders wealth maximization objective in organizations.
Corporate Governance Reforms in Nigeria: Challenges and Suggested Solutions
Authors: Adekoya Ayodele Adelaja
Published: December 2014

This paper examines the challenges to corporate governance reforms in Nigeria from the promulgation of the Corporate and Allied Matters Act of 1990, the introduction of the 2003 Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) code of best practices in corporate governance to the 2006 Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) code of corporate governance for banks in Nigeria. It uses related literature to review and discuss the identified challenges. It discovers that some of the challenges to corporate governance reforms in Nigeria stem from the country’s culture of institutionalized corruption and political patronage which is characterized by weak regulatory frameworks and refusal of government agencies to enforce and monitor compliance. The complexity of these challenges are compounded by the wide spread poverty and high unemployment which discourages a culture of whistle blowing. A set of suggested solutions were made including the separation of business from politics, the establishment of a special corporate affairs tribunals within the judiciary to try violators, promoting the culture of whistle blowing, enhancing business through moral education and promoting resource based development through fiscal federalism.
A System Approach to Implementing Business Ethics in the Corporate Workplace
Authors: Clarke Clifton
Published: December 2014

The current vitriolic discourse over the financial scandals implicating Wall Street and its satellite institutions dictates a fresh look at strategies intended to eradicate or prevent unethical practices in business activities. The spate of recently published unethical behavior among business executives in the United States confirms, unequivocally, that past and current strategies have failed. This paper reviews and evaluates the impact of some of these strategies. It found that the strategies focus on legislation, written corporate codes of ethics and assorted activities in business schools. It found that these strategies are largely isolated and missed the fact that unethical business conduct is systemic, reflecting the ethical lapses of two systems: a public system (consisting of governmental bodies, business schools, and the general citizenry) and a corporate system (consisting of boards of directors, executives, managers and employees). It found that there is a significant gap between the rhetoric of corporate executives and their attention to unethical conduct in the workplace. It concludes that isolated legislative actions, apathetic business schools’ policies, complacent and complicit corporate boards, contribute to the failure. It also concludes that, the implementation of business ethics in the workplace requires a transformation of attitude within and between these systems and posits that a system approach is the only strategy that can successfully transform these systems and that business schools are uniquely capable of leading this transformation.
Agency costs, ownership structure and corporate governance mechanisms: A case study in New Zealand unlisted small companies
Authors: Wellalage Nirosha Hewa , Locke Stuart
Published: December 2014

This study investigates the linkage between agency costs, ownership structure and corporate governance in small business. Eleven years of data for 100 unlisted small businesses, are collected and 1099 observations are analysed using as dynamic panel GMM estimation. Various diagnostic tests are utilised to check for stationary and convergence of variables. The results indicate that ownership concentration has the most significant governance effect and also has the largest impact on corporate governance. Moreover, this study finds U-shape relationship between internal ownership and performance, which under that agency proxy. Agency costs vary with leverage the life of the business and with its size.
Organizational commitment and extra-role behaviour: A survey in Iran’s Insurance Industry
Authors: Davoudi Seyed Mehdi Mousavi
Published: December 2014

The present study was conducted in Babol, a city in north of Iran, and aimed to analyze the relationships amongOrganizational Commitment (OC) components and employees’ extra-role behavior which is known asOrganizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). We choose Affective commitment (AC), Normative Commitment (NC),and Continuance Commitment (CC) as the three components of OC; and the analysis was carried out utilizingStructural Equation Modeling (SEM) methodology by LISREL 8.8 software. There were 300 employees in 47branches of “Iran Insurance”. According to Krejcie and Morgan (1970), the minimum number of sample size wasdetermined as 169 employees. A total of 275 questionnaires were distributed among the employees and 190 usablequestionnaires were returned. The factors analysis and the findings show that AC and NC have a significantpositive influence on OCB. This finding implied that the higher the level of AC and NC, tended to increase the levelof employees’ OCB. Further, no significant relationship was found between CC and OCB.
Editorial
Authors: Armstrong Anona
Published: December 2014

Ethics and Values in the Corporate WorldA purpose of good governance is to reinforce accountability in organisations, and by doing so to improve their efficiency and endorse an ethical approach to commercial decisions and enterprise. The five papers in this volume of the Journal address values and ethics in relation to these issues.
Social and Governance Changes: Rate, Principles, and Morals
Authors: Nardo Massimo N. , Francis Ronald D.
Published: December 2014

This paper draws attention to two aspects of change; first, the rate of social change is a source of concern, to this is added that both the configuration of changes and the values dimension, add to those concerns. Change makes it hard to keep up, and is the generator of much stress. We need to apprehend that such a point applies strongly to all enterprises, in particular to governance issues. This article holds that the rate of change is compounded by a constantly changing configuration. To ameliorate those concerns it is held that there needs to be both an expression of agreed basic principles, and recognition that values are one of the most vital parts of that selection. In this the debate and explication of guiding principles, particularly in governance, that is crucial. The main point here is to again emphasise the complexity that results not only from the rate of change but also the configuration and moral values that it constantly tests. It is only by direct consideration that concern over such issues be reduced. It is also held that an explication of basic principles is a significant aid to coping with the source of such stress.
A Stairway to the Stars: Monitoring Sustainability Performance in SMBs
Authors: Robinson David A. , Nikolic Brad P.
Published: December 2014

This article proposes a framework that can be used, or modified for use, as a mechanism to measure, evaluate and monitor progress in business sustainability. It draws upon previous change management models, such as ‘Management by Objectives’ (Lynch, 1977; Felix and Riggs, 1983) and ‘Balanced Scorecard’ (Kaplan and Norton, 1995), proposing a conceptual framework for the monitoring of business sustainability. The framework allows sustainability improvement to be monitored by means of a composite sustainability index derived from specific metrics appropriate to a range of prioritised strategic objectives. It then discusses the necessity for such a mechanism to be sufficiently robust in respect of seven contextual issues. It recommends that a firm’s choice of sustainability performance measures and their relative priorities should be aligned with global, societal, external, industry, organisational, leadership and individual-personal contexts.
O dano a Unidades de Conservação nos termos do artigo 40 da Lei de Crimes Ambientais
Authors: Corrêa Rodrigo Studart , Abreu Guilherme R. A.
Published: December 2014

O artigo 40 da Lei no 9.605/1998 imputa a mais longa pena prevista na Lei de Crimes Ambientais a quem causar dano direto ou indireto a Unidades de Conservação - UCs (até cinco anos de reclusão). A dosagem das penas e alegadas imprecisões conceituais do artigo 40 da Lei no 9.605/1998 são aspectos fortemente criticados por doutrinadores brasileiros. Patrimônio natural e atividades humanas são protegidos e tolerados em UCs de Uso Sustentável e, portanto, a materialização do dano a elementos naturais e artificiais em UCs pavimenta o caminho para a criminalização do delito, mas não substitui os elementos imateriais ou subjetivos necessários à caracterização da conduta típica. O dano jurídico a uma Unidade de Conservação - UC concretiza-se somente com conduta material que infrinja as regras de ocupação e uso da área, que são estabelecidas por planos de manejo e zoneamentos. Unidades de Conservação - UCs desprovidas de planos de manejo e zoneamentos e, portanto, de suas regras de ocupação e utilização, criam um vácuo conceitual que frequentemente impossibilita a aplicação adequada do artigo 40 da Lei de Crimes Ambientais – Lei no 9.605/1998.
Maternal Germline-Specific Genes in the Asian Malaria Mosquito Anopheles stephensi: Characterization and Application for Disease Control
Authors: Biedler James K , Qi Yumin , Pledger David , Macias Vanessa M , James Anthony A , Tu Zhijian
Published: December 2014

Anopheles stephensi is a principal vector of urban malaria on the Indian subcontinent and an emerging model for molecular and genetic studies of mosquito biology. To enhance our understanding of female mosquito reproduction, and to develop new tools for basic research and for genetic strategies to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases, we identified 79 genes that displayed previtellogenic germline-specific expression based on RNA-Seq data generated from 11 life stage–specific and sex-specific samples. Analysis of this gene set provided insights into the biology and evolution of female reproduction. Promoters from two of these candidates, vitellogenin receptor and nanos, were used in independent transgenic cassettes for the expression of artificial microRNAs against suspected mosquito maternal-effect genes, discontinuous actin hexagon and myd88. We show these promoters have early germline-specific expression and demonstrate 73% and 42% knockdown of myd88 and discontinuous actin hexagon mRNA in ovaries 48 hr after blood meal, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrate maternal-specific delivery of mRNA and protein to progeny embryos. We discuss the application of this system of maternal delivery of mRNA/miRNA/protein in research on mosquito reproduction and embryonic development, and for the development of a gene drive system based on maternal-effect dominant embryonic arrest.
The BLI-3/TSP-15/DOXA-1 Dual Oxidase Complex Is Required for Iodide Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Xu Zhaofa , Luo Jintao , Li Yu , Ma Long
Published: December 2014

Iodine is an essential trace element for life. Iodide deficiency can lead to defective biosynthesis of thyroid hormones and is a major cause of hypothyroidism and mental retardation. Excess iodide intake, however, has been linked to different thyroidal diseases. How excess iodide causes harmful effects is not well understood. Here, we found that the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits developmental arrest and other pleiotropic defects when exposed to excess iodide. To identify the responsible genes, we performed a forward genetic screen and isolated 12 mutants that can survive in excess iodide. These mutants define at least four genes, two of which we identified as bli-3 and tsp-15. bli-3 encodes the C. elegans ortholog of the mammalian dual oxidase DUOX1 and tsp-15 encodes the tetraspanin protein TSP-15, which was previously shown to interact with BLI-3. The C. elegans dual oxidase maturation factor DOXA-1 is also required for the arresting effect of excess iodide. Finally, we detected a dramatically increased biogenesis of reactive oxygen species in animals treated with excess iodide, and this effect can be partially suppressed by bli-3 and tsp-15 mutations. We propose that the BLI-3/TSP-15/DOXA-1 dual oxidase complex is required for the toxic pleiotropic effects of excess iodide.
A Novel Nondevelopmental Role of the SAX-7/L1CAM Cell Adhesion Molecule in Synaptic Regulation inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Opperman Karla , Moseley-Alldredge Melinda , Yochem John , Bell Leslie , Kanayinkal Tony , Chen Lihsia
Published: December 2014

The L1CAM family of cell adhesion molecules is a conserved set of single-pass transmembrane proteins that play diverse roles required for proper nervous system development and function. Mutations in L1CAMs can cause the neurological L1 syndrome and are associated with autism and neuropsychiatric disorders. L1CAM expression in the mature nervous system suggests additional functions besides the well-characterized developmental roles. In this study, we demonstrate that the gene encoding the Caenorhabditis elegans L1CAM, sax-7, genetically interacts with gtl-2, as well as with unc-13 and rab-3, genes that function in neurotransmission. These sax-7 genetic interactions result in synthetic phenotypes that are consistent with abnormal synaptic function. Using an inducible sax-7 expression system and pharmacological reagents that interfere with cholinergic transmission, we uncovered a previously uncharacterized nondevelopmental role for sax-7 that impinges on synaptic function.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Associated Mortality in Hospitalized Infants and Young Children
Authors: Byington Carrie L. , Wilkes Jacob , Korgenski Kent , Sheng Xiaoming
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of pediatric hospitalization, but the mortality rate and estimated annual deaths are based on decades-old data. Our objective was to describe contemporary RSV-associated mortality in hospitalized infants and children aged <2 years.

METHODS:

We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) for 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 and the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) administrative data from 2000 to 2011 for hospitalizations with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes for RSV infection and mortality.

RESULTS:

The KID data sets identified 607 937 RSV-associated admissions and 550 deaths (9.0 deaths/10 000 admissions). The PHIS data set identified 264 721 RSV-associated admissions and 671 deaths (25.4 deaths/10 000 admissions) (P < .001 compared with the KID data set). The 2009 KID data set estimated 42.0 annual deaths (3.0 deaths/10 000 admissions) for those with a primary diagnosis of RSV. The PHIS data set identified 259 deaths with a primary diagnosis of RSV, with mortality rates peaking at 14.0/10 000 admissions in 2002 and 2003 and decreasing to 4.0/10 000 patients by 2011 (odds ratio: 0.27 [95% confidence interval: 0.14–0.52]). The majority of deaths in both the KID and PHIS data sets occurred in infants with complex chronic conditions and in those with other acute conditions such as sepsis that could have contributed to their deaths.

CONCLUSIONS:

Deaths associated with RSV are uncommon in the 21st century. Children with complex chronic conditions account for the majority of deaths, and the relative contribution of RSV infection to their deaths is unclear.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Freestanding Children’s Hospitals
Authors: Hersh Adam L. , De Lurgio Stephen A. , Thurm Cary , Lee Brian R. , Weissman Scott J. , Courter Joshua D. , Brogan Thomas V. , Shah Samir S. , Kronman Matthew P. , Gerber Jeffrey S. , Newland Jason G.
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Single-center evaluations of pediatric antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) suggest that ASPs are effective in reducing and improving antibiotic prescribing, but studies are limited. Our objective was to compare antibiotic prescribing rates in a group of pediatric hospitals with formalized ASPs (ASP+) to a group of concurrent control hospitals without formalized stewardship programs (ASP−).

METHODS:

We evaluated the impact of ASPs on antibiotic prescribing over time measured by days of therapy/1000 patient-days in a group of 31 freestanding children’s hospitals (9 ASP+, 22 ASP−). We compared differences in average antibiotic use for all ASP+ and ASP− hospitals from 2004 to 2012 before and after release of 2007 Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for developing ASPs. Antibiotic use was compared for both all antibacterials and for a select subset (vancomycin, carbapenems, linezolid). For each ASP+ hospital, we determined differences in the average monthly changes in antibiotic use before and after the program was started by using interrupted time series via dynamic regression.

RESULTS:

In aggregate, as compared with those years preceding the guidelines, there was a larger decline in average antibiotic use in ASP+ hospitals than in ASP− hospitals from 2007 to 2012, the years after the release of Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines (11% vs 8%, P = .04). When examined individually, relative to preimplementation trends, 8 of 9 ASP+ hospitals revealed declines in antibiotic use, with an average monthly decline in days of therapy/1000 patient-days of 5.7%. For the select subset of antibiotics, the average monthly decline was 8.2%.

CONCLUSIONS:

Formalized ASPs in children’s hospitals are effective in reducing antibiotic prescribing.
Promotion of the innovation component of the local business development in rural areas
Authors: Hubeni Yuriy , Boyko Vitaliy
Published: December 2014

The transformation process led to the decay of the rural territories. The key task for solving their socio-economic problems is to promote entrepreneurship based on promoting the development of the innovation component. The aim of the research is to develop the set of measures on promoting innovation component of the local business development in rural areas. The scientific methods, used in this research, are: system analysis, synthesis, scientific abstraction, monographic method, SWOT analysis, planning and organizational methods. The key issues are identified in the article, which impede the innovative development of entrepreneurship in rural areas of Ukraine. A set of priority actions are drawn up within the state economic policy and the organizational and economic instruments at the level of economic entities towards promoting innovation component of the local business development in rural areas.
Service delivery for collection of solid municipal waste in the individual households in Ukraine
Authors: Orel Oleksandra
Published: December 2014

The technology of agricultural production is one of the reasons of environmental problems in rural areas. Environmental problems are intensified because of accumulation of waste and usage of non-ecological methods for its recycling. The purpose of this publication is the formation of a clear organizational mechanism that is able to solve the environmental problems of the individual households. The abstract-logical and interview methods were used. During the scientific research the main environmental problems of individual households are determined. The influence of agricultural production technologies on the environment is developed. The recommendations to use the methods of collection the solid municipal waste in rural areas as a form to solve the problems of ecodeconstructive waste treatment are given.
Innovational investment development vector of rural territories
Authors: Plotnikova Maria , Bogoyavlenska Yuliya
Published: December 2014

The problem of innovational investment development in Ukraine has been researched. Main peculiarities of the national socio-economic, agrarian policies have been defined on the base of results of the empiric researches. The priorities of the development of rural territories, incl. the organic production, the development of a “green economy”, the restoration of traditional agriculture with the aim of sustainable development and as an important source of income of the local population has been formulated. The necessity of modeling for modern system management has been proved. The conclusion about the influence of the innovation process for national agriculture development has been made.
Creation of producer organisations as opportunity of agricultural cooperation development in Lithuania
Authors: Vaznonis Vytautas
Published: December 2014

The imperfection of the agri-food market determines the low power of single farmer in the market; therefore it creates the need of cooperation. The creation of producer organisations generates the new opportunities for development of farmers’ cooperation. The aim of the research is to evaluate effects and possibilities of producer organisations creation in Lithuania. For achieving the research aim the analysis of the essence and the content of the producer organisation was done, the results of support application for producer organisations creation in Lithuania were analysed, the creation and activity effects of producer organisations were revealed. Having done the analysis of laws of Lithuanian Republic it was determined that the most appropriate legal form of producer organisation is the cooperative. The proposals for farmers, especially for small ones, about the consolidation to producer organisations are introduced.
Carotid Artery Dissection and Stroke Complicating Treatment of Postmandibular Distraction Ankylosis: A Case Report
Authors: Arnspiger Sarah A. , Felder John M. , Wood Benjamin C. , Rogers Gary F. M.D. , Oh Albert K.
Published: December 2014

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is an increasingly accepted treatment option for severe upper airway obstruction in grade 3 Robin sequence. Complications are rarely reported but can include fracture, pin dislodgement, tooth bud damage, and temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Operative correction of these complications can carry inherent risks of their own. We present a patient who incurred carotid artery dissection and stroke after release of postdistraction coronoid-zygomatic ankylosis for the treatment of mandibular micrognathia.
Novel Mutations in the IRF6 Gene on the Background of Known Polymorphisms in Polish Patients with Orofacial Clefting
Authors: Charzewska Agnieszka , Obersztyn Ewa , Hoffman-Zacharska Dorota , Lenart Jacek , Poznański Jarosław , Bal Jerzy
Published: December 2014

Objective

To examine the role of the IRF6 mutations in Polish families with Van der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome and to determine the effect of IRF6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs7552506, rs2013162, and rs2235375) on cleft lip and/or palate susceptibility.

Design

IRF6 mutation screening was performed by direct sequencing of all coding exons of the gene and their flanking intronic regions. Cosegregation analysis was performed to establish the relation of single nucleotide polymorphisms and cleft lip and/or palate phenotypes.

Patients

We screened the IRF6 gene in eight families with clinical recognition of Van der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome.

Results

In five families we identified pathogenic mutations, all affecting the DNA-binding or the protein-binding domain of IRF6. Two of the mutations were novel—a missense mutation Arg31Thr and a small deletion Trp40Glyfs∗23. In most cases we found also a haplotype of three single nucleotide polymorphisms—rs7552506, rs2013162, and rs2235375. The association of the single nucleotide polymorphisms and cleft lip and/or palate susceptibility has been previously published. The variants did not cosegregate with phenotype in examined families nor did they cosegregate with pathogenic mutations. The single nucleotide polymorphisms were deemed not causative, due to their presence in unaffected family members.

Conclusions

Two novel mutations (Arg31Thr and Trp40Glyfs∗23) in the IRF6 gene were identified to be causative for Van der Woude and popliteal pterygium syndromes. In the present study no association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs7552506, rs2013162, and rs2235375 and the cleft lip and/or palate phenotype was found. The hypothesis, whether the haplotype of the three single nucleotide polymorphisms was correlated with IRF6 expression level, demands further investigation.
Mandibular Symphyseal Bone Graft for Reconstruction of Alveolar Cleft Defects: Volumetric Assessment with Cone Beam Computed Tomography 1-Year Postsurgery
Authors: Linderup Bo Werner , Cattaneo Paolo M. , Jensen John , Kuseler Annelise
Published: December 2014

Objective

The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the volumetric outcome of mandibular symphyseal bone graft in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate by estimating the bone fill 1-year postoperatively on cone beam computed tomography. The outcome was assessed in relation to the (1) root development stage of the cleft side canine, (2) presence/absence of a cleft side lateral incisor, and (3) volume size of the preoperative cleft defect.

Methods

The alveolar bone defect volume of 32 consecutive unilateral cleft lip and palate patients aged 8 years 1 month to 11 years 11 months was evaluated using a recently defined and standardized protocol. The outcome was calculated as the percentage of bone fill using the formula (VOLpre - VOLpost) / VOLpre) x 100.

Results

The preoperative mean alveolar cleft volume was 934 mm3, and the average percentage bone fill was 87%. There was no significant difference between bone fill and root developmental stage of the cleft-side canine ( P = .882) nor presence/absence of the cleft side lateral incisor ( P = .803). The size of the cleft defect did not correlate with the bone fill ( r = .03, P = .84).

Conclusions

Secondary alveolar bone grafting with mandibular symphyseal bone graft in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate is an attractive procedure assessed from the volumetric outcome using cone beam computed tomography. The 1-year average bone fill of 87% was not significantly influenced by root development stage of the cleft-side canine, presence or the absence of a cleft side lateral incisor, or size of the alveolar defect.
Probabilistic design of dry deep mixing using an observational approach
Authors: Larsson Stefan , Bergman Niclas
Published: December 2014

The evaluation of material parameters for design should consider the spatial variability of measured parameters, the extent and type of tests, and the type and size of the current mechanical system. This is stated in Eurocode 7; however, there is very little guidance as to how this is to be done in practice. The strength and deformation properties of dry deep mixing columns are subject to high variability, and it is difficult to estimate these parameters in advance. Owing to this high variability, probabilistic analyses are considered useful for the design and quality assessment decision procedure. This paper presents a procedure, based on probabilistic analysis, which is a combination of design by calculation and the observational method. The procedure renders the possibility to update acceptance criteria based on measurements during construction, and the methodology rewards the development of the mixing process and increased testing.
Data and monitoring in the Indian rural water and sanitation sector – a review of current status and proposed ways forward
Authors: Cronin Aidan A. , Thompson Nisha
Published: December 2014

This paper reviews progress on monitoring and evaluation on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes in rural India, focusing on the Government programs and the related data and monitoring initiatives. The current state of the WASH sector is presented and discussed in terms of progress across geographical, wealth and social groupings, Though progress has been made, key challenges include data quality, reliability, standardization, availability, reach to all social groups and scaling up with quality services. Possible ways forward are proposed at various administrative levels (National, State, District and down to the individual) and discussed along with good sector practices. Efforts that advocate for increased public data becoming available on-line and then using this to improve the visualization of data are described. Recommendations are identified around increasing evidence-based policy and implementation and help support corrective management action via the linking of monitoring to intervention to results and stronger integration across the social, financial and technical issues.
Evaluation of Colilert-18® as an alternative method for monitoring total coliforms and Escherichia coli in some faecally polluted river waters
Authors: Brand Amanda S. , Barnes Jo M.
Published: December 2014

The increase in numbers and contamination levels of faecally polluted water has resulted in shifts worldwide towards methods which enumerate faecal indicator bacteria faster. Rapid methods enable more timely remedial and preventative actions which protect the health of water users. However, especially in the developing world, straightforward methods are also preferred as they reduce the requirement for highly qualified analysts. This study investigates the feasibility of using the rapid, semi-automated enzyme substrate test Colilert-18® instead of multiple-tube fermentation (MTF) in total coliform and Escherichia coli enumeration for South African river water, as one example of a surface water source carrying considerable faecal pollution, which needs monitoring. Spearman rank correlation coefficients (ρ) of 0.83 and 0.86 were obtained for total coliforms and E. coli respectively, indicating Colilert-18® performed acceptably in the pollution ranges encountered. A Bland–Altman plot further revealed that Colilert-18® showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) from MTF values below 100,000 E. coli most probable number/100 mL (estimated true value). Above this level Colilert-18® was found to progressively underestimate E. coli. This inadequacy of Colilert-18® was considered acceptable from a health risk assessment viewpoint as such high counts should have sounded the alarm for preventative and corrective action irrespective of method inaccuracy.
Removal of microbes to World Health Organization requirements using a locally developed, low cost, micro-porous, ceramic water filter
Authors: Simonis J. J. , Basson A. K. , Selepe T.
Published: December 2014

The quality of drinking water can no longer be taken for granted and has been the subject of tremendous attention from pressure groups and the media due to poor service delivery in South Africa. Furthermore, many of the older water treatment plants are incapable of effectively reducing microbes to safe levels. Unfortunately there are various definitions of ‘safe’. The South African government considers 10 or less viable Cryptosporidium oocysts an infective dose, while the USA and UK governments believe that one viable Cryptosporidium oocyst is an infective dose. To add to the confusion the World Health Organization recommends above 99.99% microbial reduction as safe. In Africa it really depends on how compromised your immune system is and age and nutritional level at the time of consumption of contaminated water. How can anyone protect themselves from consuming water contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms? The ceramic filter offers the poor a simple, effective and economical way of producing potable water. We report on the successful testing of a low-cost, locally produced ceramic filter (OUTBAC) with removal efficiencies in excess of 99.99% that therefore meets the World Health Organization household water treatment system criterion for safe water for a family of five at an affordable cost per year.
Effect of source water quality on solar disinfection rate under multiple experimental conditions
Authors: Ahammed M. Mansoor , Dave Shilpa
Published: December 2014

Water samples from four different sources of varying physico-chemical and microbial quality with their naturally occurring microorganisms were exposed to sunlight in polyethylene terephthalate bottles under similar conditions. Up to 3-log10 reduction of total coliforms (TC) was observed during a 6-h exposure period under weak/moderate radiation conditions (<600 W/m2). Complete inactivation of TC was not achieved in 6 h of exposure for waters with larger initial TC such as river water (1 × 103 most probable number [MPN]/100 mL) and treated municipal wastewater (2 × 105 MPN/100 mL) under these conditions. Heterotrophic bacteria showed lower inactivation rates than did TC. The inactivation rate for spiked Escherichia coli was faster than for naturally occurring coliforms. Further tests with compound parabolic collectors showed that complete inactivation of naturally occurring TC could be achieved within 6 h of exposure for all the natural waters tested. The results of the study thus indicate the need to use naturally occurring organisms in testing the effectiveness of solar disinfection, and the importance of source quality on the inactivation rates of microorganisms.
Bibliography of Ljubomir Maksimovic
Authors: Cvetkovic Milos , Komatina Predrag
Published: December 2014

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"Etymological atlas" of human body in Hodegos of Anastasios of Sinai
Authors: Popovic Aleksandar
Published: December 2014

`O????? (The Guide) is the most famous work of Anastasios of Sinai, the
theological writer from the 7th-8th century. It is some sort of a handbook
for fighting the heresies, in the first place Monophysitism and
Monotheletism. Anastasios is discussing the terms, i.e. the categories, which
the believer should use if he wants to be orthodox. In the second chapter
Anastasios brings the definitions of theological technical terms which he
will be using in his polemics. To strengthen his argumentation he quotes more
than 120 etymologies of different words. Among them are 17 etzmologies of the
names of the parts of human body. We are talking about some of them in this
work.