bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Endometrial Cancer: An Update
Authors: Khoury-Collado Fady , St. Clair Caryn , Abu-Rustum Nadeem R.
Published: March 2016

Lymph node removal for staging, as part of the initial surgical management of patients with endometrial carcinoma, remains a controversial topic in gynecologic oncology. There is currently wide variability among clinical practices, with surgical approaches ranging from no nodal evaluation to comprehensive pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy. Lymphatic mapping has emerged as an increasingly popular option over the past few years, with several attractive features in its concept, innovative surgical approach, and encouraging preliminary results. At this time, however, several different techniques have been described and used for lymphatic mapping in endometrial cancer, incorporating a variety of mapping agents and injection sites. Although recently published results are encouraging, they are limited to single-institution series or multi-institutional collaborations undertaken without the aegis of a prospective randomized controlled trial. However, the surgical staging of endometrial cancer with lymphadenectomy was historically established based not on randomized trial data but on prospective clinicopathologic studies. Another evolving field in endometrial cancer staging is the interpretation of pathologic ultrastaging of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), which can identify low-volume metastases for which the clinical significance and the ideal management remain uncertain. This is particularly an issue with extremely low-volume nodal metastasis and isolated tumor cells. Furthermore, it has become apparent that applying a predefined SLN algorithm can decrease false-negative rates. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center SLN algorithm can be used as a checklist to ensure standardization of care and to reduce the chance of missing nodal disease. Prospective trials are under way at many institutions to help establish the definitive role of SLN mapping for staging of endometrial cancer. The objective of this study was to provide an update on the latest clinical data related to lymphatic mapping for the staging and management of endometrial cancer and its role in clinical practice.
Dichloroacetate Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity without Compromising Cisplatin Anticancer Properties
Authors: Galgamuwa Ramindhu , Hardy Kristine , Dahlstrom Jane E. , Blackburn Anneke C. , Wium Elize , Rooke Melissa , Cappello Jean Y. , Tummala Padmaja , Patel Hardip R. , Chuah Aaron , Tian Luyang , McMorrow Linda , Board Philip G. , Theodoratos Angelo
Published: March 2016

Cisplatin is an effective anticancer drug; however, cisplatin use often leads to nephrotoxicity, which limits its clinical effectiveness. In this study, we determined the effect of dichloroacetate, a novel anticancer agent, in a mouse model of cisplatin-induced AKI. Pretreatment with dichloroacetate significantly attenuated the cisplatin-induced increase in BUN and serum creatinine levels, renal tubular apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Additionally, pretreatment with dichloroacetate accelerated tubular regeneration after cisplatin-induced renal damage. Whole transcriptome sequencing revealed that dichloroacetate prevented mitochondrial dysfunction and preserved the energy-generating capacity of the kidneys by preventing the cisplatin-induced downregulation of fatty acid and glucose oxidation, and of genes involved in the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Notably, dichloroacetate did not interfere with the anticancer activity of cisplatin in vivo. These data provide strong evidence that dichloroacetate preserves renal function when used in conjunction with cisplatin.
Experimental Method for Marine Engine’s Emissions Analysis
Authors:   Brodosplit - Shipbuilding industry Split, Jurić Tomislav , Radica Gojmir , Jelić Maro
Published: March 2016

The world is considering various solutions to reduce exhaust emissions, the use of alternative fuels and the development of more efficient marine engines. IMO the company gave guidance for future borders of individual exhaust components, taking into account a variety of applications and conditions for the operation of marine engines. Engine manufacturers have been forced to develop new technologies, to meet the existing IMO rules and regulations that are yet to come, for the emission of harmful exhaust emissions.This paper describes the experimental procedure that support the modeling of the operating parameters of marine internal combustion engines in order to diagnose the condition, optimization of engine and reduce exhaust emissions. Special attention was given to verify the adequacy of the investigation, its accuracy and relevance. It outlines experiments that support the selection procedure tests during sea trials and later in the exploitation of the ship.
Experiences of short courses offered for small farmers
Authors: Kozári József , Tóth Krisztina
Published: March 2016

Our research was made at the Regional Extensional Centre of Szent István University, which coordinates the extensional tasks of the Central-Hungarian Region and takes part in the New Hungarian Rural Development Programme (ÚMVP), as a training location. To make programmes successful registered advisors are involved, who also represent themselves as trainers in the training programmes. In this research we have rated 28 training programmes and the work of 13 registered trainers who took part in these programmes.
Effectiveness Of Economic Sanctions: Empirical Research Revisited
Authors: Shojai Siamack , Root Patricia S.
Published: March 2016

This paper reexamines economic sanctions research and identifies explanatory variables used by many previous theoretical and empirical research studies on the effectiveness of voluntary and non-voluntary economic sanctions since World War I. A normative legal, political, and economic methodology is used to measure effectiveness of economic sanctions as a random walk process. The paper concludes that choosing a target and imposing economic sanctions is a random process that occurs when a sender is faced with a real or perceived threat. Sanctions are imposed as an alternative to inaction or going to war. The theory and research on effectiveness of sanctions has been a mere exercise in running regressions on a series of random numbers and do not shed any light to guide policymaking.
Exploring The Collegial Relationship Between Mentors And Their Mentees
Authors: Singh Prakash , Mahomed Carmel Claire
Published: March 2016

Devolution of power to get things done with other people depends on the collegial relationships that are fostered in the organisation as its source of energy. Even the success of a mentoring programme to develop the human resource development needs of an organization, such as schools, hinges on the collegial relationship between the mentors and their mentees. Dialogue is an essential component of this reflective mentoring learning process. Dialogue empowers mentees, such as student teachers, to build their teaching skills with the invaluable input of their mentor teachers in schools. Participation in collegial teams can expand such novice teachers levels of expertise by providing a source of intellectual provocation and innovative ideas. The quantitative research method was used for the purpose of this study. The research design compared the perceptions of student teachers about the Postgraduate Cetificate in Education (PGCE) with those of their school mentors regarding the classroom practice and the performance of the students in terms of the latters WIL skills. The findings in this study indicate strongly that there is a significant correlation between the teachers perceptions of the PGCE and those of their student teachers. This study confirms that effective communication in mentoring strengthens the collegial relationship which, in turn, contributes to an enhanced performance and the professional development of the mentees. Additional research needs to be conducted to determine the type of emotional support training that mentors receive and the impact that training has had on the mentor and the mentoring relationship.
Cultural Influence On The Diffusion And Adoption Of Social Media Technologies By Entrepreneurs In Rural South Africa
Authors: Lekhanya Lawrence Mpele
Published: March 2016

This paper examines how culture influences the diffusion and adoption of social media technologies in rural businesses. The cultural factors influencing the diffusion and adoption of social media technologies among the rural communities in South Africa are still not clear. The study aimed to determine cultural factors influencing diffusion and adoption of social media technologies by rural businesses in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Data was collected from five rural areas in KZN. The sample consisted of 175 business owners/managers, selected using quota sampling, with respondents completing a questionnaire with the assistance of an interviewer. A mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative techniques was used. Results of the survey reveal that the majority of respondents indicate that they do consider their cultural values as most important when diffusing and adopting new social media technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, and MXit. Further research should aim to develop training programmes that will provide community entrepreneurial skills and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and use of new social media technologies among rural dwellers particularly in KZN.
Corporate Social Responsibility In The United States And Europe: How Important Is It? The Future Of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Forte Almerinda
Published: March 2016

Corporate social responsibility plays an important role in a firms life in the U.S.today. It is not enough for companies to generate a profit. U.S. citizens expect them to generate a profit and conduct themselves in an ethical and socially responsible manner. The U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines help organizations facilitate this expectation, which is vital for corporate growth and maintaining a competitive edge. Managers who deal with ethical and social responsibility problems often times arent dealing with optimal solutions. Managers often settle forsolutions that suffice or cause the least harm. Managers charged with choosing the ethical or socially responsible path often face problems with no clear solution.Since the formation of the European Union, corporate social responsibility has garnered heightened attention in Europe. This isevidenced by their development of sustainability strategies. The Sustainable Development Strategy for Europe was approved in June 2001. It stated that social cohesion, environmental protection, and economic growth must coexist. This paper compares corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Europe to CSR in the United States. It also examines todays three corporate social responsibility models: the shareholder value model, the stakeholder model and the business ethics model.This paper also addresses Wayne Vissers (2010) five principles which he considers the future of corporate social responsibility, Aras and Crowthers(2011) theory that an organization should be held accountable to the external environment, and the rationale for new paradigms for the future in companies worldwide.
An Integrated Framework To Implement It Governance Principles At A Strategic And Operational Level For Medium-To Large-Sized South African Businesses
Authors: Goosen Riana , Rudman Riaan
Published: March 2016

In todays technologically advanced business environments, Information Technology (IT) has become the center of most, if not all, business activities; consequently, the King III report in South Africa dedicated a chapter to IT governance principles, making senior management responsible for implementing such principles. The King IIIs implementation guidance lacks detail as to how to implement its principles. Although various guidelines in the form of IT control frameworks - models and standards - exist, it remains theoretical in nature. Companies tend to view these control frameworks on an individual basis, implementing them in an ad hoc manner, resulting in the implementation of an inefficient IT governance system that either addresses strategic areas, but not operational areas, of a business or vice versa.The purpose of this study is to develop an IT best practices integrated framework that can assist management in implementing an effective IT governance system at both a strategic and operational level. The integrated framework was developed by performing a detailed literature review of selected best practice control frameworks and its underlying processes. By combining the relevant processes of the control frameworks and aligning them to general business imperatives, IT governance principles can be implemented at a strategic level. By identifying and linking the relevant business imperatives and control areas to the access paths of an IT system, IT governance principles can be implemented at an operational level. By making use of the integrated framework, an IT governance system can be implemented at both a strategic and operational level.
Marketing In Greece: The Reasons Of Its Underdevelopment
Authors: Rivero Orlando , Theodore John
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that marketing in Greece is underdeveloped because the nation does not have an adequate number of private corporations due to insufficient industrialization. Advanced marketing practices are the result of the corporate form of business. Industrialization in Greece was followed by arapid shift to post-Fordism in the late 1980s which had a tremendous impact upon the lack of opportunity for merging small organizations into larger ones needed for the creation of the corporate form of business and the formation of new and larger organizations in the corporate form. The corporate form of business is large, provides in abundance, the factors of production, and has highly developed functional unitsproduction, marketing, finance, and human resources. Clearly, the majority of Greek business organizations are small, thus disallowing for formation of an infrastructure that leads to the development of marketing through the effective and efficient use of all the factors of production.
Sustainability And Integrated Reporting In The South African Corporate Sector
Authors: Van Zyl Anria S.
Published: March 2016

This article aims to determine if the adoption of Integrated Reporting by large private sector companies in South Africa has led to an improvement in the quality of sustainability-related information disclosed. This was done in two stages. The first stage comprised a literature review with the aim to develop an evaluation matrix that can be used to access the quality of the sustainability-related information being disclosed within Integrated Reports. During the second stage, empirical evidence was obtained by assessing the sustainability reporting disclosures made by the best performers according to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Sustainability Index. The Integrated Reporting process is still in the development phase with many companies only now developing methodologies to measure their various impacts. The study found that, although many companies are attempting or claiming to be creating Integrated Reports, the level of integration is still very low. Few companies have incorporated or understood the importance of environmental and social sustainability in achieving long-term success. It is hoped that this research will provide an evaluation matrix to assess the information disclosed within Integrated Reports as well as provide insights into the implementation challenges experienced by the early adopters in South Africa.
Employee Training, Managerial Commitment And The Implementation Of Activity Based Costing; Impact On Performance Of SMEs
Authors: Dubihlela Job , Rundora Rosebud
Published: March 2016

This article examines the implementation of activity-based costing (ABC) in the SMEs sector in a developing country. The consequences of ABC on the evolution of management accounting and its impact on the accounting processes, particular as it relates to organizational cost performance has been a subject of discourse in the past two decades. This study provides some insight into the conspicuous paradox that in spite of the theoretical benefits of ABC, very few SMEs in South Africa adopt it and that a material number of those that employ ABC do not actually implement it. It is a preliminary study which begins by describing the differences between the traditional and the ABC cost systems; particularly examining the impact of employee training and managerial commitment to ABC implementation. An overview of some literature on ABC and the value of ABC implementation in SMEs sector is provided, reporting some experiences of South African SMEs in implementing ABC. A framework for the implementation of ABC in SMEs and impact on their performance is presented. Using survey data collected from SMEs (n = 149), the results and discussions indicate the prominence of both employee training and managerial commitment as precursors to effective implementation of ABC and that its implementation impacts on SME performance. Implementation of ABC precedes the creation of a costing system that provides management with reliable cost information. The paper concludes by providing, managerial implications, limitations and proposed future research.
Academic Staff Retention As A Human Resource Factor: University Perspective
Authors: Selesho Jacob M. , Naile Idah
Published: March 2016

The shortage of academic staff and the failure of universities to retain quality academic staff continue to be crucial to the changing prospects and potentials of knowledge formation and learning. This paper intends to examine factors that influence the poor retention rate of academic staff at selected universities in South Africa. The survey involved 80 academic staff lecturing at the selected institutions. The sample was chosen in such a way that more than 35 percent of the selected academic staff have worked at higher education institutions for more than 10 years. Prior to conducting the study, a provisional literature review was performed on recent research regarding reasons for academic staff quitting the profession or changing universities. The study attracted responses from 80 academic staff and the survey discovers job satisfaction as the main factor keeping academic staff in their profession. However, job satisfaction was also linked with career growth and academic development. The study could not rule out the probabilities of working conditions as a factor influencing retention. While these intrinsic factors play an important role, there were also extrinsic factors, as construed from the findings. Respondents considered an academic profession to be a meager paying job, with little opportunity for growth. However, it can be argued that salary is a concern, even though academic staff considers that the academic profession has a superior reputation in society. Nonetheless, many academics believe that the profession has a heavy workload, making it difficult to meet promotion requirements and poor mentoring and capacity development, which would benefit from academic support, unambiguous promotion guidelines and clear, homogenous salary packages.
Trade Deficits Always Matter
Authors: Gabberty James W. , Vambery Robert G.
Published: March 2016

As America grapples over what to do in order to avoid the perils associated with manifest U.S. economic growth that has been characterized as barely enough to forestall another recession, the nation is mired in economic limbo due to, among other causes, the absence of a clearly stated international trade agenda, limited new trade deals, and a lack of concentration on economic growth. Without fiscal clarity, the ability for the U.S. to withstand the burgeoning recessive pressures may prove futile. Meanwhile, Chinas economy continues to rise, albeit slowly, no doubt reflecting the persistent U.S. slowdown. Europe, not surprisingly, remains in turmoil as European Union naysayers predictions of dismantling a system designed to prevent abysmal economic performance through uniting various entitlement-minded societies has not yet been vanquished by the positive effects of raising taxes and capital productivity while lowering pensioners and social program benefits. The battle for supremacy in this newly dubbed G-Zero world hence remains unclear as governments decide what policies to effectuate and which to eradicate. In the past, economists have downplayed the corrosive effect that continuous ballooning international trade imbalances would have on economic growth. Finding a meaningful solution to the overall affects that running a persistent trade deficit with other nations has on a national economy has considerable implications. For those economic historians who have studied the U.S. - Japanese trade deficit, for example, a solution to the question of whether a trade deficit is sustainable remains high on the list of questions for which the answers are not altogether clear. Furthermore, the politicians and their supportive economic advisers provide prescriptive advice to the nation's leaders on how to shape trade policy with China, for example, would be enormously benefited by a better understanding of the trade deficit in historical context (say, with Japan) as they shape future trade relations of the U.S. What policy is best for the U.S. economy? Do trade deficits indeed matter?
Using A Group Work Project As An Educational Tool In Management Accounting Education
Authors: Rudman Riaan , Kruger Wandi
Published: March 2016

Having pervasive skills is becoming more important to employers as well as to professional bodies and associations. Consequently, the ability to work in groups is regarded as an essential skill. Although working in groups is found to heighten the performance of students and lead to the development of various pervasive skills, group work still forms a very small part of most South African tertiary education teaching frameworks. As a consequence, most professional bodies have updated their competency models and syllabuses they prescribe to tertiary institutions. In response to this development, the Department of Accounting at Stellenbosch University in South Africa has developed a management accounting project requiring students to prepare a business plan for a new business venture while working in groups, giving consideration to the skills they believe they should develop. A questionnaire was created to investigate students perceptions of group work. Responses were favourable with the majority of respondents being of the opinion that the ability to work in groups is an important skill to develop while at university before commencing their professional careers. The study highlighted some obstacles which need to be considered in developing a project requiring group work. The main constraints appear to be group selection, group size, group management and assessing group work and time.
Sustaining Industry Leadership Through Innovation Strategy Archetypes
Authors: Pelser Theuns G.
Published: March 2016

The ability to innovate and exploit innovations globally in a rapid and efficient manner is a significant source of competitive advantage. However, the management of innovation is made difficult by the complexity, unpredictability, and pace of turbulence in the environment, which compresses the time horizons for strategic planning. The main purpose of this study was to investigate innovation management practices in technology-intensive industries and to explore their relationship to company performance. A non-probability judgment sample of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was taken. The study makes a contribution to the field of strategic management research by integrating the archetypes of several previous studies to derive a more comprehensive taxonomy of innovation strategy archetypes. Two distinct innovation strategy factors obtained with the analysis were proven to positively influence the company performance archetypes and were classified as New Product Innovation and Process Innovation factors. The results show that innovation strategy choices can significantly affect company performance. It thereby indicates which of the underlying archetypes have the strongest relationship with company performance. From an industry perspective, the greatest significance of these findings may be that they accentuate the importance of innovation policy in strategic management. The substantial differences in performance associated with the archetypes do not necessarily indicate that a given company should choose a particular innovation strategy, but rather indicates that innovation policy decisions may have a substantial leverage on a companys performance and should be analysed and exercised with care.
The Impact Of Internal Organizational Factors On The Inappropriate Job Performance And Behaviour Of Employees: A Case Study
Authors: Singh Prakash , Twalo Thembinkosi
Published: March 2016

The focus of this paper is on the impact of internal organizational factors on the inappropriate job performance and behaviour of employees. The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in South Africa has been experiencing inappropriate job behaviour and performance of some of its workers. They include misappropriation of resources, maladministration, mismanagement, lack of service delivery, fraud, and corruption. Since many BCMM workers have various levels of formal education, such practices are not expected, because the structural-functionalist assumption is that formal education is a solution to societal challenges. Since inappropriate job behaviour and performance continue to be reported in spite of the formal education of BCMM workers, this study seeks to investigate how the two phenomena co-exist. It thus seeks to put into perspective the paradoxical co-existence of formal education with inappropriate job behaviour and performance, by focusing on the BCMM as a case-study. For data collection, this study used the mixed method approach; that is, a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings revealed structural, systemic, and human impediments to labour productivity in the BCMM. By and large, the unquestioning acceptance of the assumption that the skills shortage is responsible for inappropriate workers job performance and behaviour is discredited by the evidence of skilled personnel who exercise their responsibilities in a manner that undermines their occupational requirements. Therefore, this exploratory study affirms that the narrow conception of skills, that privileges job-specific capabilities, is not enough for cultivating a workforce with appropriate job behaviour and performance practices.
Development Of An Integrated Operating Framework For Strategy Execution In Gauteng Municipalities In South Africa
Authors: Leibbrandt J. H. , Botha C. J.
Published: March 2016

The establishment of a new democracy has created high expectations amongst all the different communities of South Africa. The demand for basic essential services by the previously disadvantaged communities has increased drastically, whilst at the same time, communities from developed areas are expecting and demanding an acceptable level of maintenance and services in their respective areas. Municipalities are in serious distress with regular service delivery protests, huge service delivery and infrastructure backlog challenges (e.g., electricity, roads, housing, water, and sanitation), poor financial management and the inability to execute approved strategies, plans, and programs. This article focused on the municipalities in the Gauteng Province of South Africa and the main objective was to answer the survey question: What prevents Gauteng municipalities to successfully execute its strategies and what can be done to address the situation? The research objectives were firstly, to review the literature and determine the key enablers required for successful strategy execution; secondly, to analyze the findings of the empirical research and to make recommendations towards the improvement of strategy execution within Gauteng municipalities. The third and final objective was to develop an integrated operating framework for strategy execution in Gauteng municipalities. The article concluded by making recommendations towards the improvement of strategy execution within municipalities and developing an integrated operating framework for strategy execution. The results of the literature review as well as the empirical research were taken into account during the development of the integrated operating framework.
Aggregational Gaussianity In The South African Equity Market
Authors: Polakow Daniel , Taylor David , Mahomed Obeid
Published: March 2016

While stylized facts of South African asset returns have been studied extensively, Aggregational Gaussianity has largely been overlooked. The aggregational aspect arises from the n-day log-return being the sum of n one-day log-returns and empirical asset returns tending to normality as the term increases. This fact is commonly corroborated graphically using overlapping return series depicted in Q-Q plots. Using a resampling-based statistical methodology to test for Aggregational Gaussianity while catering for overlapping data, an alternate picture emerges. Here the authors describe evidence from the South African market for a discernible absence of Aggregational Gaussianity and briefly discuss the implications thereof.
Strategy And Planning As An Enabler For Strategy Execution In South African Municipalities
Authors: Leibbrandt J. H. , Botha C. J.
Published: March 2016

Literature confirmed that whilst progress has been made in recent years, there is still a pressing need amongst communities in South Africa for improved service delivery. There is also increasing frustration and anger at the inability of municipalities to do what is expected of them. Municipalities, in general, have a poor record in respect of execution of strategy. The research problem - what prevents Gauteng municipalities in South Africa to successfully execute its strategies and what can be done to address the situation?- will be answered and dealt with when the findings and conclusions relevant to each research objective are discussed. Research and literature to date focused primarily on planning and strategy formulation but neglected the very important execution process. Whilst strategy execution is a dismal failure in most organizations, to date, very little research has focused on strategy execution. Managers and their employees must apply new ways of thinking and they point out that todays high performing organizations are able to bridge the strategy-execution gap due to the fact that their strategies translate to specific operational goals, their employees understand the context and purpose of their work, and they can readily measure how well they are performing.
The Random Walk Theory And Stock Prices: Evidence From Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Authors: Chitenderu Tafadzwa T. , Maredza Andrew , Sibanda Kin
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we test the Johannesburg Stock Exchange market for the existence of the random walk hypothesis using monthly time series of the All Share Index (ALSI) covering the period 2000 2011. Traditional methods, such as unit root tests and autocorrelation test, were employed first and they all confirmed that during the period under consideration, the JSE price index followed the random walk process. In addition, the ARIMA model was constructed and it was found that the ARIMA (1, 1, 1) was the model that most excellently fitted the data in question. Furthermore, residual tests were performed to determine whether the residuals of the estimated equation followed a random walk process in the series. The authors found that the ALSI resembles a series that follow random walk hypothesis with strong evidence of a wide variance between forecasted and actual values, indicating little or no forecasting strength in the series. To further validate the findings in this research, the variance ratio test was conducted under heteroscedasticity and resulted in non-rejection of the random walk hypothesis. It was concluded that since the returns follow the random walk hypothesis, it can be said that JSE, in terms of efficiency, is on the weak form level and therefore opportunities of making excess returns based on out-performing the market is ruled out and is merely a game of chance.
Project Management In Universities: The Institutional Aspect
Authors: Klaus-Rosinska Agata , Zablocka-Kluczka Anna
Published: March 2016

The complementary aims of this manuscript are to describe the issue of project management in universities and to present proposals that may improve that area within selected institutions. The improvements are meant to enable project management at the university level in a coherent and coordinated way. These proposals were derived from experiential research carried out by the authors at a Polish university.
The Perceptions Of Students On The Use Of Social Networking Systems As A Teaching Tool In ODL Institutions
Authors: Wiid Johannes A. , Cant Michael C. , Kallier Safura M.
Published: March 2016

Technology has provided many new methods of communicating and has changed the way in which students interact with each other. This had an impact on the way in which students of today interact with their learning environment as well. Educational institutions have started to make use of technology to better their interaction with students and the level of education that they provide. Open and Distance Leaning (ODL) institutions have made use of this technology to provide a better learning environment and service to the students. This article aims to determine the level of acceptance of e-learning systems and technology in ODL institutions.
The Use Of M-Payment Services In South Africa: A Value Based Perceptions Approach
Authors: Dlodlo Nobukhosi
Published: March 2016

Business is transforming at an exponential rate and mobile technology is considered to be a key driver in this economic revolution. Despite the efforts of many businesses in making extensive investments in resources to enhance service experience, long-term post-adoption of mobile payment services by consumers still remains an elusive dream. In particular, researches that align South African customers value perceptions of M-payment usage are scarce. It appears then, that if service providers cannot retain users and facilitate continuance usage along M-payment platforms; they might fail to recover the initial development costs and eradicate the valuable gains derived from turning the M-payment story into a winning success. Therefore, since M-payment post-adoption has not been as rapid or widespread as expected, this study aimed to examine consumers perceptions of M-payment value and the corresponding influence on e-service trust, user satisfaction and continuance intention to use M-Payment platforms. The study followed a quantitative survey approach in which data were collected from a sample of 269 M-payment users in South Africa. Structural Equation Modelling software Smart PLS was applied to ascertain the model fit. The results of this study found strong support for positive and significant relationships between value, trust, satisfaction and continuance intentions. Service providers are challenged to utilise value and trust-formation elements as the central differentiation factors which unsurprisingly impact on satisfaction evaluations and ultimately, the users willingness to continue enjoying the M-payment service experience into the future. Thus, the confluence between financial institutions, mobile network operators as well as businesses is compelled to give prominence toward creating holistic value-based user experiences along the mobile platform.
What Makes a Franchisee Successful: Attitudes and Pre-requisites of Profitable Franchise Partners
Authors: Gaul Christine
Published: March 2016

Franchising has gained popularity over the last decades. From a franchisor point of view, expanding a franchise network depends on several key aspects, one of which is the franchisee candidate recruitment and appropriate selection. This paper develops a theoretical franchisee selection model, which is based on an extensive international literature review and then discussed with 33 German-speaking franchise experts, in order to result in an improved and practically oriented model. The findings of this research are numerous and include the closely oriented opinion between academics around the world and interviewed franchise experts in Germany and Austria. Qualitative interviews give an insight in the many facets necessary to consider when evaluating a franchisee candidate. Nevertheless, the complexity of the topic limits the validity of the analysis made in this single paper.
The Evolution Of Digital Currencies: Bitcoin, A Cryptocurrency Causing A Monetary Revolution
Authors: Rose Chris
Published: March 2016

Bitcoin was not the first attempt at a digital currency, but it has been the most successful and it is now being accepted by a number of major retailers. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency and operates as a peer-to-peer network. Its security is guaranteed by cryptographic algorithms instead of governments and has the potential to become a major means of payment for e-commerce and may even materialize as a viable challenge to traditional money-transfer providers. Instead of serving one country or some countries, Bitcoin serves the entire world.
The GuaranIndustry In Brazil
Authors: Kuri Carlos Miguel Barber
Published: March 2016

Brazil is undoubtedly a country that has many viable natural resources that it can make the most of. The guaran in this particular case, is a fruit that only grows in this region of the Amazon and which gives this country the opportunity to position itself competitively in the soft drink industry. It is no wonder that the exploitation of this fruit is not exclusively in the hands of the Manues Indian anymore and has become a product that has helped generate national wealth.
Transitional Economies Of Europe And The Development Of Financial Reporting Standards: A Look At The Correlation Between A Successful Economic Transition And The Development Of Financial Reporting Standards And Laws
Authors: Gartin Tristan , Shroyer Evan , Neidermeyer Presha E.
Published: March 2016

During the late 1980s to early 1990s, countries around the world, such as Czechoslovakia, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia, began transitioning their economies from planned socialism, more specifically, Communism, to free market capitalism. The purpose of this paper is to analyze these economies of Europe and Asia and their adoption of appropriate financial reporting. With Poland and the Czech Republic, there is a positive correlation between a successful transition and the number of financial reporting standards implemented. However, deviations from this correlation can arise, such as in the cases of Lithuania and Russia, where the promulgation of accounting standards is delayed or there is no organization to regulate the implementation of the accounting standards.
The Informational Content Of Voluntary Embedded Value (EV) Financial Disclosures By Canadian Life Insurance Companies
Authors: Préfontaine Jacques , Desrochers Jean , Godbout Lise
Published: March 2016

The informational content and relevance to external stakeholders of voluntary financial disclosures by commercial banks is now becoming more widely recognized. For instance, banks voluntary disclosures of liquidity, interest rate and market risk metrics have been bound to be closely associated with market value of equity and credit ratings. So far, there has been very scarce published research on investigating the informational content and relevance to external stakeholders of voluntary financial disclosures by life insurance companies. In order to improve upon this situation, this paper studies and reports the informational content of voluntary embedded value (EV) financial disclosures by Canadian life insurance companies. As opposed to traditional statutory balance sheet and earnings reporting, EV voluntary disclosure attempts to estimate the present value of future earnings generated by a life insurers current book of various insurance businesses. The preliminary results presented in this study indicate that EV voluntary financial disclosures communicate intrinsic informational content and provide value relevance to external stakeholders in the sense that they were found to be closely associated with life insurers market value of equity.
The Effect Of Managerial Overconfidence On Leverage
Authors: Park Cheonsik , Kim Hyunseok
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we examine the relationship between managerial overconfidence and leverage. Analyzing a sample of firms listed on Korean Stock Market during the period from 1985 to 2007, we use the average of the past 12 months Business Survey Index (BSI) from Bank of Korea as proxy measure of managerial overconfidence. We find that managers tend to issue more debts when they have overconfidence and this result is consistent with Oliver (2009) and Yu et al. (2006).
Sustainability Reporting In A Global Context: What Are The Characteristics Of Corporations That Provide High Quality Sustainability Reports An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Dilling Petra F.A.
Published: March 2016

Over the last years, sustainable development has become one of the major issues that all global organizations are facing. The Global Reporting Initiative, located in the Netherlands and considered the leading authority world-wide, has developed what is currently considered the “common framework for sustainability reporting”. The latest version of their reporting guidelines called G3 contains detailed instructions and standards on how to prepare sustainability reports. By using G3 guidelines, corporations show a strong commitment of continuous improvement of their sustainability reporting practices. The G3 guidelines are increasingly adopted by many global corporations and organizations. At present, more than 700 organizations voluntarily publish a sustainability report according to G3 guidelines. For the first time, this empirical study investigates if the better performing and/or governed corporations prepare their sustainability reports according to the G3 guidelines. The goal of this study is to determine if there are significant differences with regard to size, financial performance, capital structure, and corporate governance between firms that publish a G3 sustainability report to those that don’t. Therefore, quantitative and qualitative variables of 124 randomly selected G3 reporting and non-G3 reporting corporations from 25 countries were analyzed. The results of this analysis show that corporations with the characteristics of being located in Europe, and/or being active in the energy or producing sector, and/or with a higher profit margin are more likely to produce high quality sustainability reports. Corporations with a higher long-term growth rate, on the other hand, are less likely to produce sustainability reports. The results of this unique study contribute directly to the knowledge of corporations providing voluntary CSR information in form of quality sustainability reports and the importance of the development of globally accepted sustainability reporting standards.
Effects Of Comprehensive Income On ROE In A Context Of Crisis: Empirical Evidence For IBEX-35 Listed Companies (2004-2008)
Authors: Fernandez Francisco Sousa , Arana María Mercedes Carro
Published: March 2016

Comprehensive income is becoming increasingly important as an indicator of corporate performance at an international level [SFAS 130 by the FASB (1997) and NIC 1 by the IASB, revised in 2007, among others]. Given this importance, this paper intends to assess its impact on the Return on Equity (ROE), as opposed to the more traditional net income, for the period 2004-2008 for the select group of the Spanish IBEX-35 listed companies. Moreover, working on this period will also allow us to verify the incidence of comprehensive income on the ROE within a context of economic crisis, especially for the year 2008, with a large recession and steep drops in the stock markets. For this empirical study, we took as reference the pertinent information disclosed in the Consolidated Annual Reports of these listed companies, formulated pursuant to the IFRS by the IASB, especially pursuant to IAS 1.The non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used to perform the corresponding statistic comparisons, as the variables in certain years did not conform to normalcy. The results of our paper show a statistically significant impact of the ROE calculated pursuant to comprehensive income as opposed to the ROE determined pursuant to the net income. This was evidenced for three of the five years that were studied, especially for 2008, when there was a spectacular decline in the ROE calculated pursuant to the comprehensive income as opposed to that calculated pursuant to the net income. We consider this could be a contribution to the international debate regarding the need to include other measurements of corporate performance that are broader than the traditional net income in certain ratios of the fundamental analysis. This could represent the basis for adopting financial decisions that are much more in tune with the reality of the market.
An Analysis Of Bottleneck Technology By Using Experiments And CAE -Example Of The Automotive Transaxle Oil Seal Leakage-
Authors: Ito Takahiro , Sato Masatoshi , Yamaji Manabu , Amasaka Kakuro
Published: March 2016

This research aims to clarify the technological mechanism by using experiment and CAE (Computer Aided Engineering). Concretely, we take up the automotive transaxle oil seal leakage. To clarify an unknown mechanism, the dynamic behavior on the surface of the seal lip in the drive shaft high-speed rotation was observed with the visualization device. The authors thus achieved the desired results.
Deregulation And Liberalization In The European Electricity Sector
Authors: Farré Pere Palacín , Garcia Carlos Moslares , Hervitz Hugo M.
Published: March 2016

Since the 1990’s, we have witnessed a global process of deregulation, liberalization and privatization in key economic sectors. This paper focuses on the way this process has evolved in a key sector - electricity - in a very important region - Europe.  The paper shows that the European track record is quite mixed; i.e., increased competition in some countries and no discernible improvement in efficiency in others.  Given that in some cases the whole reliability of the electricity supply system has been challenged, serious questions should be asked about the desirability of the whole process.
Antecedents Of South African High School Pupils Acceptance Of Universities SMS Advertising
Authors: Radder Laetitia , Pietersen Jacques , Wang Hui , Han Xiliang
Published: March 2016

Based on its versatility as a personal and direct medium of communication, short message service (SMS) provides a potentially useful avenue to higher educational institutions for marketing their programs to prospective students. However, the success of mobile marketing depends largely on its acceptance by the target population. This study explores antecedents to pre-final year high school pupils’ acceptance of South African universities’ SMS advertising. Results show that social influence is a better predictor of the target market’s intentions to adopt SMS advertising than attitudes are. Behavioral intentions are a function of attitudes, social influences, innovation levels, and perceived study utility. No significant relationship exists between perceived risk and SMS advertising acceptance.  South African universities could consider using SMS advertising in conjunction with traditional media, but should ensure that SMS content is based on the needs of their target market.