bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quercetin potentiates the effect of γδ T cells via modulating the expressions of Granzyme B, perforin and IFN-γ and also regulates the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in human colon cancer cells
Authors: Lu Hai-Yan , Peng Tian-Shu , Hu Xiang-Dang , Li Shuai-Jun , Luo Min , He Yong-Heng , Nie Tian
Published: May 2015

Cancer accounts as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Recent studies focus on the efficiency of phytochemicals in cancer therapy. Influence of quercetin, a flavonoid on the effect of γδ T cells and Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in human colon cancer cells (HT55 and HCT116) was investigated. Quercetin at 15-120 µM was observed to markedly reduce the viability of HT55 and HCT116 cells. Quercetin exposure significantly increased γδ T cell proliferation and also raised the expressions of granzyme B (Gra B), perforin (PFP), and interferon- γ (IFN-γ) in γδ T cells. Reduced β-catenin expression with increased expressions of phosphorylated- β-catenin, axin1 and 2 were observed in HT55 and HCT116 cells on exposure to quercetin. However β-actin expression was found to be not much altered. The results suggest that quercetin was able to efficiently potentiate the effect of γδ T cells and modulate Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.

 
Nirtetralin inhibits growth of hepatitis E virus in HepaRG™ cells
Authors: Zhang Wu-Jing , Zhu Ying-Bin , Zhang Guo-Dong
Published: May 2015

Among numerous established in human hepatoma cell lines, none has been shown susceptible to hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. Differentiation and infect ability are maintained but when these cells are cultured in the presence of corticoids and dimethyl sulfoxide. On exposure to the nirtetralin, the virion particles were found to be decreased with an IC50 of 2.277. Quantitative analysis of total and closed circular HEV RNA by real-time PCR performed on five independent experiments showed that only 1-5% of the HEV RNA internalized at day 1 post-infection entered the core of the cell refinement. The knockdown of 4E-BP1 led to a 1.7 ± 0.6-fold (mean ± SD, n = 5, p<0.01) and 2.4 ± 0.9-fold (mean ± SD, n = 4, p<0.05) (by the clone 56) growth of HEV RNA, respectively. Duncan's multiple range tests were applied to compare the differences between the treatment groups.

 
In vitro anticancer potential and GC-MS analysis of Drimia nagarjunae, an endangered medicinal plant
Authors: Alluri Narendranath , Majumdar Mala
Published: May 2015

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer activity of Drimia nagarjunae (Liliaceae) extracts against Colo205 human colon cancer cell lines by SRB assay for the first time. The bulbs and leaves of the plant were sequentially extracted using solvents with increasing polarities (hexane> chloroform>ethyl acetate>methanol>water). Ethyl acetate and chloroform bulb extracts showed potent anticancer activity compared to standard, adriamycin. Both the extracts exhibited total growth inhibition of cell at 20.1 µg/mL and 32.1 µg/mL whereas adriamycin shown 33.1 µg/mL and 50% lethal concentration was found to be 61.5 µg/mL and >80 µg/mL respectively. The active extracts were subjected to GC-MS analysis for identification of phytocompounds and it showed seven and ten major compounds respectively. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that D. nagarjunae can be a promising candidate as an anticancer agent.

 
Antimicrobial screening of Mnium stellare
Authors: Canli Kerem , Altuner Ergin Murat , Akata Ilgaz
Published: May 2015

Many plants contain active substances that are known to be effective in both enhancing the wound healing process and lowering the incidence of wound infections. Previous studies have shown that bryophytes produce a variety of secondary metabolites that present pharmaceutical activities including antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Mnium stellare against 17 bacterial and 1 fungal strains. Our present study has shown that the ethanol extract of M. stellare has antimicrobial activity against several Gram positive and Gram negative microorganism tested, but its antimicrobial activity is notable especially against B. subtilis, S. typhimirium, S. aureus, S. carnosus, and S. epidermidis. These results are the very first report of the antimicrobial activity of M. stellare.
Optical Properties of Rutile Single Crystals Grown Under Pressure by Tilting-Mirror-Type Floating Zone Method
Authors: Sarker M. A. R.
Published: May 2015

Rutile single crystals with high quality and high transparency were grown successfully by tilting-mirror-type floating zone (TMFZ) technique. The grown crystals were characterized by polarized optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, UV-visible spectrophotometer and etch pits density measurement. The effect of applied pressure during growth on the optical properties and defect density of the rutile crystals were investigated. It was found that the rutile crystals grown under the high oxygen pressure are bright and transparent due to the lower concentration of defects, but rutile crystals grown at ambient or lower oxygen pressure exhibit deep blue color due to presence of defects such as dislocations and grain boundaries. The crystals grown under high oxygen pressure contains no low-angle grain boundaries, indicating that it can be used for high efficiency optical devices.
Study on the On/Off Ratio of the Cylindrical Surrounding Gate CNT Transistor Using Nonequlibrium Greens Function Approach
Authors: Munna M. , Das P. , Huq M. F. , Ahmed I.
Published: May 2015

The effects of the nanotube diameter, channel length, gate dielectric constant and gate dielectric thickness on the on-off current ratio performance of cylindrical surrounding gate carbon nanotube transistors are studied using a ?-orbital tight binding simulation model. The focus is both on Schottky-barrier and the doped source-drain contact devices. The on current significantly improves with high-? gate dielectric, whereas off current decreases. The device on-off current ratio improves, from 6.33 × 105 to 1.5 × 106 for doped contact and from 0.61 × 104 to 1.22 × 104 for SB device with thinner gate oxide. Minimum leakage current increases with larger diameter tube but on-current has no significant improvement. I-V characteristics are independent of channel length when it is larger than 15 nm. Significant increase in off-current occurs due to scaling the channel length down to 10 nm but on-off ratio still exceeds 103. In all cases, on-off ratio is higher and the effect of scaling is more prominent for doped contact devices than SB contact devices.
Fungal sepsis and Indications of antifungal prophylaxis and treatment in neonatal intensive care units : A review
Authors: Hassan Mahmuda , Yasmeen BH Nazma , Begum Nasreen
Published: May 2015

Abstract not availableNorthern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(1) 2014: 6-8
Identification of hepatitis a virus antibody among Bangladeshi children and their correlation with socioeconomic condition
Authors: Mahmud Salahuddin , Karim ASM Bazlul , Alam Jahangir , Saha SK , Ahmed Syed Shafi , Islam MM Ziaul , Sarker NK , Munshi AS , Sarker Shaoli , Afroz Mahenaz , Tasneem Farhana
Published: May 2015

Background : Hepatitis A virus infection is endemic in many developing countries including Bangladesh. Children infected with Hepatitis-A virus typically have asymptomatic disease.Objective : To observe the anti-HAV positivity in children & to determine any relation between anti-HAV positivity & socioeconomic condition.Materials & Methods : A cross sectional observational study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital & Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital (DSH) from July 2008 to June 2009. Serum samples from 254 children aged between 1-15 years were tested for antibody (IgM & IgG) against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and detailed history was taken to find out the associated risk factors like residence, family income, source of drinking water, sanitation facility etc.Results : Hepatitis A virus antibody was positive in 141 (55.5%) of 254 children. Among all children anti-HAV positivity was significantly higher (p=0.004) in lower income group (64.8%) than higher income group (47.0%). Anti-HAV positivity was significantly higher (93.8%) in non-sanitary latrine users & in those who used unsafe drinking water.(p=0.006)Conclusions : Majority of children were found sero-positive against HAV by 15 year of age. Anti-HAV positivity was significantly higher in lower socioeconomic group.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(1) 2014: 12-14
Practice of personal hygiene among rural women of a selected community in Bangladesh
Authors: Imtiaz Khondker Saif , Begum Khadiza , Begum Nilufar , Naureen Samiha , Barua Jony , Faruque Jobaer , Khalid Abdur Rahman
Published: May 2015

Background : Good health is a marker of good economic status of a nation. Personal hygiene should be maintained first for obtaining great accuracy in work, low suffering from diseases and to reduce possibility of diseases.Objective : This study was undertaken to assess practice of personal hygiene among rural women of a selected community in Bangladesh.Materials & Methods : A descriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted during MarchJune 2012. 150 women of various ages selected from Garibpur and Tangurpur villages of Jessore District to assess two basic components of personal hygiene, hand washing and safe drinking water. Non probability convenient sampling technique was followed and data were collected by face to face interview using pre tested, self administered, semi structured questionnaire.Results : The mean age of the respondents was 33 years. Regarding educational qualification, 87.33% were educated in different levels and 12.67% were illiterate. Occupational status revealed majority (74.67%) of them were housewives. Regarding economic condition, most (60%) of the respondents had family income <10,000 Taka. In this study, majority (87.34%) had practiced hand washing before eating. Among them on taking different types of food (86.26%) practiced hand washing before taking meals only 13.74% before taking breakfast and none of the respondents washed hands before taking any dry food. Majority (95.34%) practiced hand washing after defecation, among them (82%) used soap, 16% used ash and 2% used soil after defecation. In this study, majority (90.67%) used tube well which was not marked red, 6% used pond and 3.33% used river as their source of drinking water.Conclusion : Good practice of personal hygiene and use of safe drinking water has significant importance to lead a healthy life, the villagers of Bangladesh should be well motivated regarding this aspect by regular health education programmes.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(1) 2014: 29-31
Linear psoriasis-a rare presentation
Authors: Rahaman Md Mahabubur , Islam Md Aminul , Ullah Md Rahmat , Barbhuiyan Md Zahed Parvez
Published: May 2015

Abstract not availableNorthern International Medical College Journal Vol.6(1) 2014: 36-37
Cardiac Involvement in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Authors: McGeoch Lucy , Carette Simon , Cuthbertson David , Hoffman Gary S. , Khalidi Nader , Koening Curry L. , Langford Carol A. , McAlear Carol A. , Moreland Larry , Monach Paul A. , Seo Philip , Specks Ulrich , Ytterberg Steven R. , Merkel Peter A. , Pagnoux Christian
Published: May 2015

Objective.

To determine frequency and outcomes of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA)–related cardiac disease in a North American GPA cohort.

Methods.

Analysis was done of all patients in the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium Longitudinal Study of GPA. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with and without GPA-related cardiac involvement were compared.

Results.

Of 517 patients with GPA, 3.3% had cardiac involvement. No differences were observed between patients with or without cardiac involvement in terms of demographics, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity, or relapse rate.

Conclusion.

Cardiac involvement in GPA is rare and heterogeneous. In this cohort, cardiac involvement was not associated with a higher rate of relapse or premature death.
Memória, história e narrativa: Os desafios da escrita biográfica no contexto da luta nacionalista em Moçambique
Authors: Silva Teresa Cruz e
Published: May 2015

Tomando como ponto de partida a inter‑relação entre História, memória e narrativa, com este texto trazemos para discussão questões e interrogações de carácter metodológico sobre o uso da narrativa biográfica como possibilidade de História. As nossas reflexões são realizadas a partir de várias leituras, feitas a posteriori, sobre os percursos de vida de Zedequias Manganhela e Eduardo Mondlane. Procuramos, assim, situar a configuração e reconfiguração dos discursos no contexto da “recuperação” de uma história nacional, que também mergulha no seio da construção de figuras de heróis nacionais. Tudo isto se situa ainda, quer no quadro de uma história oficial de Moçambique, quer no quadro da própria história institucional da Igreja Presbiteriana de Moçambique/Missão Suíça à qual os dois protagonistas se encontravam intrinsecamente ligados, desafiando-nos a enfrentar as armadilhas da escrita biográfica.
Abrir a fábula: Questões da política do passado em Moçambique
Authors: Coelho João Paulo Borges
Published: May 2015

Este texto discute o uso do passado na actual vida política em Moçambique. Em particular, detém-se na narrativa fundadora da nação moçambicana (formulada como história de conteúdo moral, ou fábula), questionando aspectos como o da sua relação com outras memórias e a sua natureza oral. Desta última, resulta, por um lado, uma capacidade de adaptação às alterações circunstanciais do presente, e por outro um grande poder dos detentores da narrativa – as testemunhas. Discute também as relações necessariamente de tensão entre a memória política e a historiografia. No fundo, pergunta‑se em que medida esta narrativa não se constitui como instrumento poderoso de diferenciação social e privilégio no actual quadro de luta pela democracia.
Finding Support and Negotiating Identity
Authors: Williams Cara , Riley Sarah
Published: May 2015

Building on work that has identified the difficulties ‘newbies’ (people joining an internet forum for the first time) have in negotiating acceptance onto eating disorder related forums, the present study reports a discourse analysis and a descriptive statistical analysis of the structure and content of newbie first posts and the responses to them. Analysis of posts from five English language pro-ana sites, collated over the course of one month showed that all newbie posts were responded to, with 57 % percent eliciting further discussion between the newbie and other members. A reoccurring pattern for successful newbie entry was identified across these forums despite their relative diversity. Successful postings involved giving enough information about themselves to elicit identification from another member, explicitly requesting support or advice so as to give established members a role of guide as well as guardian of site membership, and writing in a way that reproduced the sites’ behavioural rules and ideological framing of eating disorders (e.g. a problem requiring recovery or a lifestyle choice). The study also highlights a dual role for these websites as both offering community support and a platform for ‘cyber pickup’ for those seeking a partner in their disordered eating.
Extending the Study of Videogame Dependency
Authors: Jukschat Nadine
Published: May 2015

This article starts with the observation that the scientific and social debate on video game and internet dependency is driven by naturalist research standpoints used in psychology and neuroscience, while sociology and related disciplines in human and social studies widely ignore the phenomenon. This can be viewed as an unnecessary thematic self-exclusion of sociology regarding its fruitful former discussion and analyses of dependency in general. After highlighting some of these studies, the article gives insight into an empirical research project which partly takes up this sociological tradition and transfers it to video game dependency: as part of a qualitative submodule of a study by the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony (KFN) on behalf of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, 15 biographical narrative interviews were conducted with video gamers of both sexes who, according to the CSAS-II screening instrument and/or self-analysis, are currently video game dependent or have been at some time in the past. Based on empirical analysis from this project, it is argued that video game and internet dependency not only deserve sociological consideration, but that a sociological analysis is vital in order to arrive at a more differentiated understanding of these complex phenomena.
Addiction Diagnoses as Involvement Controls
Authors: Dellwing Michael
Published: May 2015

There is a long, though now dormant, dispute between sociology and psychiatry. The most famous antagonism came with the antipsychiatry movement, which sought to disqualify mental illness explanations as “false,” as naïve and simplistic objectifications of complex interactional processes. Effectful as this antagonism was, it effectively pulled up walls between psychiatry and sociology that remain visible today. A contemporary sociological appraisal can transcend this conflict by resuscitating old insights generated by Erving Goffman, who famously stated that did psychiatry not exist, we would have to invent it (1971). To Goffman, as to pragmatists at-large, meanings are social products. That not only applies to the biomedical vocabulary, but also to any vocabulary critics wish to put in its stead, making the constructionist argument toothless for critical purposes (cf. Fish 1989). Rather than debate their truth or falsehood, pragmatists focus on the social contexts and situations in which they arise and on what is achieved by them in these concrete situations.Psychiatric categorizations of people can then be reframed as a tool to mend broken situations where sociation was in severe disarray in ways that protect valuable social realities: placing the causal source of the disarray in people’s bodies provides a clear pinpoint for influence work. It is often a last effort to affect actors whose justifications have retreated into “internalisms” such as “feelings” that became unreachable for other social negotiations of meaning or those who have changed behavior in ways that make them unpredictable or predictable in unwelcome ways. This is not an abstract unpredictability or unwelcome predictability, but one only to those who expect different roles from them.This dynamic is well visible in the case of what the biomedical model now calls “Internet addiction.” The paper will apply Goffman’s work on mental illness as a disturbance of the order of “place” to this contemporary expansion of the diagnostic canon. Place is here negotiated via time: “Internet addiction” is ascribed to those whose priorities concerning their time management worry, sadden and anger others. These others define their relationship and other activities functional to that relationship (i.e. concern with professional and social duties) as “high priority” and seek to enforce this priority over other uses of time that they mark as “useless,” as “a misdistribution of time.” The illness vocabulary is thus a practical tool to socially control and enforce “correct” time-management when other tools fail.
La stratification sociale des pratiques numériques des adolescents
Authors: Mercklé Pierre , Octobre Sylvie
Published: May 2015

La révolution numérique ne semble pas avoir changé les liens étroits entre position sociale d’une part, et dotation en équipements, détentions de compétences, intensités d’investissement dans les loisirs culturels, types d’usages et de préférences d’autre part. Malgré l’apparente généralisation des technologies numériques, d’importantes inégalités subsistent en matière aussi bien d’équipement des foyers en ordinateurs, que d’accès et d’usages de l’Internet. Qu’en sera-t-il des générations nées avec le numérique, qui ont été enfants et adolescents dans les années 2000 ? Nous nous proposons d’apporter des éléments de réponses à partir des résultats de l’enquête longitudinale sur les pratiques culturelles et de loisirs des enfants et des adolescents réalisée à l’initiative du Ministère de la Culture : 4000 enfants entrés en CP en 1997 et ayant grandi dans la décennie 2000, entre la généralisation du téléphone portable et celle des réseaux sociaux en ligne, ont été interrogés tous les deux ans par questionnaire sur leurs loisirs, leurs pratiques culturelles et leurs goûts entre 2002 et 2008. En nous concentrant sur les relations entre les pratiques numériques (en termes de fréquences et types d’usages) de cette génération d’adolescents et leurs transformations d’une part, et les équipements et les pratiques des parents d’autre part, nous entendons discuter l’idée d’un rapport unifié des adolescents à la culture numérique, et en proposer un tableau qui tienne mieux compte à la fois de la complexité et de la diversité des usages, et des clivages sociaux qui continuent de les traverser, ainsi que de la recomposition de ces clivages avec l’avancée en âge chez les filles et chez les garçons.
Les pratiques des écrans des jeunes français
Authors: Gire Fabienne , Granjon Fabien
Published: May 2015

Les enquêtes sur les pratiques culturelles des français montrent combien les pratiques numériques font désormais partie des loisirs de la population, en particulier de sa frange la plus jeune. Loin, cependant, de la vision souvent idéalisée d'une génération de « digital natives » toute convertie aux nouveaux écrans, les données révèlent des écarts de pratiques considérables entre les plus jeunes. Cet article propose, à partir du traitement secondaire des données de l'Enquête pratiques culturelles des français de 2008, de montrer la diversité des pratiques des 15-34 ans. L'analyse factorielle permet de produire une typologie en cinq catégories, screenagers, TV-centered, moderates, no-TV et computer-centered, et la recherche des déterminants de ces catégories révèle le rôle différencié du genre, de l'âge et de l'origine sociale. Ce dernier facteur reste premier dans l'explication des pratiques.
Antiracisme ordinaire et (re)catégorisations sociales dans les commentaires d'internautes
Authors: Mazzega Matthieu
Published: May 2015

Qu’ils incorporent ou non l’idée de classe sociale, quelle(s) représentation(s) les individus se font-ils de la structure de la société dans laquelle ils vivent ? À quelles occasions et comment mobilisent-ils leurs conceptions de la stratification sociale ? Les discussions autour du racisme qui ont lieu en ligne en sont un exemple, comme le montre cet article qui a pour point de départ l’analyse de l’« antiracisme ordinaire » contemporain : l’étude d’un corpus de commentaires d’internautes sur des sites de presse français, dans une perspective inspirée par la sociologie phénoménologique d’Alfred Schütz et le courant pragmatique, révèle en effet que les individus recourent fréquemment à des catégorisations sociales pour dénoncer ce qu’ils perçoivent comme du racisme dans le discours d’autrui. Après avoir rappelé les différentes théories du racisme et de l’antiracisme et discuté de leur pertinence dans l’exploration de cet espace textuel et dialogique particulier, l’article pointe deux types d’argumentation où la position sociale apparaît centrale : l’une fondée sur les connaissances et les capacités réflexives supposées des classes populaires ou des élites, l’autre sur le recours à des figures telles que le « beauf » ou le « bobo ».
« Allo bébé bobo ? »
Authors: Rivière Clément
Published: May 2015

Comme pour les adultes, le téléphone mobile constitue simultanément pour les enfants un instrument d’émancipation de la sphère familiale et de renforcement de la surveillance exercée par celle-ci. Cette tension entre émancipation et contrôle s’inscrit au cœur de la régulation des déplacements et des activités des enfants dans les espaces publics urbains. L’approche empirique de l’encadrement parental des pratiques urbaines des enfants permet dès lors de proposer un éclairage sur le rôle joué par la mobilité de ces derniers dans la décision de les équiper d’un portable. Contribution à la sociologie des usages sociaux du téléphone mobile, cet article se fonde sur une enquête par entretiens réalisée à Paris et à Milan auprès de parents d’enfants âgés de 8 à 14 ans. Il interroge le lien entre le processus d’autonomisation des pratiques urbaines et l’accès des enfants à cet instrument de communication. Dans la lignée de précédentes recherches sur la différenciation sociale des pratiques éducatives, il s’intéresse à sa déclinaison en fonction des caractéristiques des familles.
Les écrans en rentrant de l’école, l’année du cours préparatoire
Authors: Le Floch Marie-Christine
Published: May 2015

Cet article repose sur une enquête menée entre 2009 et 2011. Celle-ci a permis de mettre en évidence les dimensions d’une épreuve d’éducation : le retour de l’école, l’année du cours préparatoire, dans des foyers peuplés d’écrans. Ce moment de transition est signifiant dans la vie familiale. Il révèle des postures éducatives et des formes de sociabilité diversifiées. Il est marqué par des continuités, des tensions ou des ruptures en termes d’espaces, de rythmes et d’ambiances. L’attention des enfants aux différents supports et outils fait l’objet d’une gestion parentale révélatrice du rapport aux normes scolaires et de la diversité des usages scolaires et non scolaires des ressources numériques.
Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Traded Bank Performance with Stochastic Frontiers
Authors: Baten Azizul
Published: May 2015

Banks are designed to be efficient as they play a vital role in the economic development; otherwise, banks may create obstacles in the development process of any country. This chapter employs an appropriate stochastic frontier model to investigate the performance of banks, traded in Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) market. Based on the likelihood ratio test, the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier model is found to be more preferable than Translog stochastic frontier model for this study. The market data are used as the input and output variables. Banks traded in KLSE exhibited a commendable overall efficiency level of 99.52% during 2005-2009 hence suggesting minimal input waste of 0.48%. Among the banks, the Rashid Hussain bank is found to be highly efficient with a score of 0.9973 and BIMB (BIMB Holdings) bank is noted to have the lowest efficiency with a score of 0.9917. The results also show that the technical efficiency effect is increased over time.
Price Determination in Public Offering and Evaluation Methods
Authors: Hacıoğlu Ümit , Dinçer Hasan , Akça Zuhal
Published: May 2015

The latest financial situation in capital markets in advanced economies, emerging markets, and the Euro zone illustrates that volatility and risks related to global economic activity and global financial markets have impact on local capital markets and directly affects the value of company stocks even though an investor diversified his/her risk by investing in a portfolio. The initial public offering process, performance evaluation methods, and price determination became key factors for companies and investors. In this chapter, advantages and disadvantages of IPO, pricing methods and performance evaluation methods are assessed.
Cultures, Leadership Styles and Employee Coping Strategies in African Organizations
Authors: Iguisi Osarumwense
Published: May 2015

This research project investigated four managerial leadership styles in Nigerian organizations. The research question that the research tries to address is: to what extent is the leadership styles expressed in modern management theories consistent with the African values? The findings do confirm that the perceived leadership style in the organizations by the managers is autocratic, the preferred style is the paternalistic and the rejected is the autocratic. For about one in five Nigerian managers, the democratic style is the most often rejected. The study challenges the validity of dominant Western universal perspectives in managerial leadership in traditional African organizations. The chapter suggests that elements of traditional values pose serious challenge to African managers' ability to adopt traditional and modern practices that can improve the effectiveness of leadership in their organizations.
Financial Development and Economic Growth
Authors: Eryılmaz Filiz , Bakır Hasan , Mercan Mehmet
Published: May 2015

The relationship between financial development and economic growth has been the subject of considerable debate in development and growth literature. Therefore this chapter provides evidence on the role of financial development in accounting for economic growth in 23 OECD countries (Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, England, USA, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Turkey, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland) via panel data analysis using the annual data for the period 1980-2012. The authors find a positive relationship between financial development and economic growth for all countries. Also this result means that financial development leads economic growth in these countries. So the results may help policymakers formulate effective financial sector policies as a tool to promote economic growth.
Economic Development and Its Impact on Turkish Banking Sector
Authors: İpek Hatice , Olgu Özlem
Published: May 2015

This chapter aims to understand the impact of major macroeconomic and regulatory changes on the Turkish banking sector. The authors specifically focus on the financial liberalization program of 1980s, inherent banking problems of 1990s, the 1994 currency crisis, the IMF stabilization program, the 2000-2001 financial crises, and the banking sector restructuring program of May 2001.
Causal Relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth
Authors: Bakır Hasan , Eryılmaz Filiz
Published: May 2015

In this chapter, the authors investigate the causality relationship between the inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth as measured by Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Turkey during the period 1974-2012 by using the Granger causality tests. The causality test indicates that economic growth Granger-causes FDI. This means that there is bidirectional causality from Reel GDP to FDI in Turkey. So the author results support “the growth – driven FDI hypothesis”. This demonstrates that in the related time in Turkey, more direct foreign investment entered the economy together with an increase in economic growth.
The Role of Social Media in Libraries
Authors: Ojo Rachel Ronke
Published: May 2015

This chapter assesses the role of social media in libraries. Looking at some literature on the topic, the chapter conducts a survey on some articles that have been written on it and then draws conclusions based on the findings of those papers. The chapter also looks at the various facets of social media, as well as the benefits and challenges faced by social media in libraries. The conclusions drawn in this chapter are as a result of the survey of articles relevant to the topic. Various solutions to overcome the challenges faced by the use of social media in libraries are suggested.
Awareness and Use of Social Media
Authors: Thanuskodi S. , Alagu A.
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT In this chapter, Social Media Networks (SMNs), a subset of ICTs, are defined as online tools and utilities that allow communication of information online and participation and collaboration. Additionally, social media tools are websites that interact with the users, while giving them information. It is this two-way nature of SMNs that is central to this argument, and the role they played in the Egyptian uprisings. This chapter further defines the four most widely and effectively used SMNs: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging. It is observed that only 81.75% of the respondents have their own blog, 73.64% of the respondents read blogs, while 74.32% of respondents add posts to blogs. The study shows the respondents' extent of level of use of specific online social media by gender.
Entrepreneurship and National Culture
Authors: Dantas José Guilherme Leitão , Moreira António , Valente Fernando Manuel
Published: May 2015

The direct relationship between national cultural practice and entrepreneurship activities is analyzed in this chapter, based on the analysis of 44 countries. Datasets from 2012 and 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report are used to characterize three types of entrepreneurship: early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA); necessity-driven entrepreneurship (NDE) and opportunity-driven (ODE) entrepreneurship. Data sets on national cultural values are used to analyze five dimensions of Hofstede's work on cultural values (power distance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, long/short term orientation, and uncertainty avoidance). For that, the authors use the Values Survey Module 2013, which has been adapted from Hofstede's previous work from 2010 and 2008. The main conclusion is that the three types of entrepreneurship analyzed in this chapter are differently explained by the cultural and expanded models. If the country of origin and the type of economy are useful to explain TEA, they are of no added value to explain necessity-driven or opportunity-driven entrepreneurship.
Potential of Tourism Sector in Italy as a Means of Entrepreneurship and Growth for Italian Companies
Authors: Giacosa Elisa , Giovando Guido
Published: May 2015

The objectives of this chapter are twofold. First, to verify whether the tourism sector may be considered a means of entrepreneurship and growth for Italian companies, and second, to identify the key drivers within the tourism consumption trend, as a consequence of changes in the environment. Italy is universally renowned for its strong vocation for tourism. The Italian tourism sector is one of the most important to the Italian economy, thanks to the richness of the country's resources. The market seems to be particularly susceptible to external pushes linked to the socio-demographic, cultural, political and economic context, which impact on to the tastes and desires of individuals. The chapter is structured as follows. The second section analyzes the theoretical background of the topic. The third section outlines the main focus of the chapter. The fourth section presents future research directions for this topic. Finally, the fifth section presents the conclusion of the study.
Supply Chain Management
Authors: Moreira António , Soares de Carvalho Ana Carolina
Published: May 2015

The main purpose of this chapter is to develop an exploratory proposal for identifying innovative suppliers, creating knowledge in an area not very deeply explored. Based on a literature revision based on the innovative supplier identification and management, the study suggests that innovative suppliers are highly specialized and technically competent companies, located nearby their customers and take part on their client's improvement program. Based on the literature revision, a framework analyzing client-supplier relationships throughout the supply chain is proposed. The framework uses the strategic alignment concept between clients and suppliers. Finally, 61 questions were developed to identify the innovative suppliers.
Managing Intrapreneurial Employees in Internationalized Services
Authors: Calisto Maria de Lurdes
Published: May 2015

One of the most relevant sources of innovation for services is related to bottom-up informal processes that might originate anywhere in the organization, resulting from the autonomous behavior of individuals – i.e. intrapreneurial behavior. On the one hand, intrapreneurial behavior is particularly relevant for service firms because of the strategic importance of employee-client interactions. On the other hand, there is growing recognition in the literature as to the potential role played by a multinational workforce in innovation and organizational learning. The author's goal with this chapter is to provide the reader with insights on how strategic human resources management policies and practices are essential to provide the necessary environment for intrapreneurial behavior to emerge in service firms, and how these policies and practices have to take into account the circumstances of a multinational workforce.
When SNS use Doesn't Trigger e-Participation
Authors: Wakabi Wairagala , Grönlund Åke
Published: May 2015

Numerous scholars have concluded that there is a correlation between use of social network sites (SNS), particularly for news and information acquisition or community building, and the likelihood for e-Participation. This paper examines how the use of Facebook affects the participative behaviours of individuals active in political and interest organizations and those not active in organized politics. Through focus group discussions involving 56 Ugandans, we conclude that in low internet use, authoritarian contexts, the Civic Voluntarism Model and the benefits Facebook brings to participation in Western democracies are turned on their head. Besides overwhelming detachment from politics, even for politically-inclined citizens, low belief in citizens' online actions influencing change and fear of reprisals for criticizing an authoritarian president in power for 29 years, severely dulled the appetite for e-Participation. This high cost of participation means Facebook is growing citizens' civic skills but it is hardly increasing online participation even for politically interested citizens.
The Politics of e-Learning
Authors: Livermore Celia Romm , Raisinghani Mahesh , Rippa Pierluigi
Published: May 2015

The goal of this research is to study the political strategies utilized in the context of e-Learning. The paper is based on the e-Learning Political Strategies (ELPoS) model. The model is based on two dimensions: (1) the direction of the political strategy (upward or downward), and (2) the scope of the political strategy (individual or group based). The model assumes that the interaction between these dimensions defines four different types of e-Learning political strategies, which, in turn, lead to different outcomes. The model is discussed in the context of the literature on e-Learning and is accompanied with a case study that is divided into four parts (“acts”). Each of the four acts provides an example of each of the four strategies in the model. The discussion and conclusions section integrates the findings from the case study, outlines the rules that govern the utilization of political behavior in the context of e-Learning, and lists the practical conclusions that can be drawn from a better understating of the politics of e-Learning.
Mobile e-Services
Authors: Johansson Dan , Andersson Karl
Published: May 2015

E-services are services delivered over the Internet. Such services have different properties and dimensions, e.g. targeting different sectors, being accessible through different channels, or intended for frequent or infrequent use. Throughout this article the authors address e-services from a mobility perspective. They do this by 1) positioning mobile e-services within the research field; 2) reviewing related work on mobile e-services; and 3) presenting and examining existing challenges (both difficulties and opportunities) when combining mobility and e-services. They see mobile e-services as the next generation of internet-based services and discuss important focus areas and future directions, giving extra notion to challenges and opportunities in the areas of acceptance and adoption, availability anytime and anywhere, and co-operation. In turn, these areas potentially set the scene for enhanced e-participation.
Factors Contributing to E-Learning Success
Authors: Al-Khasawneh Ahmad , Obeidallah Randa
Published: May 2015

This paper is concerned with the improvement of teaching and learning process through the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-learning in Jordanian higher education institutions particularly in The Hashemite University (HU). The main challenge of the study is to provide such an understanding of how ICT and e-learning would be accepted through applying the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. Factors influencing user acceptance and adoption of ICT in Jordan on student motivations for the acceptance of technologies necessary for the delivery of e-learning activities are handled in this paper. The findings show the significant relationship between student's perception of technology characteristics and their attitude towards using the technology in the educational system.
Factors Influencing Adoption of Ubiquitous Internet amongst Students
Authors: Juned Mohammad , Adil Mohd
Published: May 2015

conceptualisation of a world wherein human's interaction with computer technology would no longer be limited to conventional input and output devices, has now been translated into a reality with human's constant interaction with multiple interconnected computers and sensors embedded in rooms, furniture, clothes, tools, and other items that surround them. Moreover, young people's inclinations towards wireless and mobile technologies has lead researchers to propose that the use of mobile/internet learning helps in reducing both time and location constraints within the educational environment. Thus, the present study attempts to explore the critical factors that help students in adopting ubiquitous internet (u-internet) in India. A questionnaire in English was developed and data were collected from 134 students in different majors at a large Indian central university using convenience sampling technique. In order to test the reliability of the developed instrument and extract factors related to it, statistical techniques such as Cronbach's Alpha reliability test, exploratory factor analysis, symmetric measures and correlation analysis were carried out. Preliminary analysis indicates that in terms of internal consistency/reliability, the developed scale in India performed satisfactorily. The EFA findings shows that 12-item scale can be categorized into 4 different factors. Thus, the four factors were named as “efficiency”; “information”; “performance” & “techno”. Standard loadings on each item was more than 0.550. Further, high and strong level of correlation was observed between the derived factors.
Nosocomial Infections in Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Hinduja Archana , Dibu Jamil , Achi Eugene , Patel Anand , Samant Rohan , Yaghi Shadi
Published: May 2015

Background

Nosocomial infections are frequent complications in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of nosocomial infections in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods

Prospectively collected data on patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage between January 2009 and June 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who had nosocomial infection during the hospital stay were compared with patients who did not. Poor outcome was defined as death or discharge to a long-term nursing facility.

Results

At least 1 nosocomial infection developed in 26% of 202 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. The most common infections were pneumonia (18%), urinary tract infection (12%), meningitis or ventriculitis (3%), and bacteremia (1%). On univariate analysis, independent predictors of nosocomial infection were intraventricular hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, low score on the Glasgow Coma Scale at admission, hyperglycemia at admission, and treatment with mechanical ventilation. On multivariate regression analysis, the only significant predictor of nosocomial infection was intraventricular hemorrhage (odds ratio, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.2–11.4; P = .02). Patients with nosocomial infection were more likely than those without to require a percutaneous gastrostomy tube (odds ratio, 33.1, 95% CI, 23.3–604.4; P < .001) and to have a longer stay in the intensive care unit or hospital without a significant increase in mortality. Patients with nosocomial pneumonia were also more likely to have a poor outcome (P < .001).

Conclusion

Pneumonia was the most common infection among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.
Withholding or Continuing Enteral Feedings During Repositioning and the Incidence of Aspiration
Authors: DiLibero Justin , Lavieri Mary , O’Donoghue Sharon , DeSanto-Madeya Susan
Published: May 2015

Background

Withholding enteral feedings during repositioning is based on tradition, but available evidence does not support this practice. Although research indicates that withholding of enteral feedings during repositioning contributes to undernourishment, the relationship between continuing enteral feedings during repositioning and the incidence of aspiration has not been determined.

Objective

To determine the feasibility of a study designed to explore differences in the incidence of aspiration when enteral feedings are withheld or continued during repositioning.

Methods

A crossover design with a convenience sample from 3 medical and 3 surgical intensive care units was used. Two sample sets of subglottal secretions were collected from each patient, once when enteral feedings were withheld during repositioning and once when enteral feedings were continued during the change in position. The incidence of aspiration was assessed by testing specimens for the presence of pepsin.

Results

Sublgottal secretions were collected from 23 patients (n = 46 with crossover design). Aspiration during repositioning occurred in 2 patients when enteral feedings were withheld and in 2 patients when feedings were continued during repositioning. According to the McNemar test, the incidence of aspiration when enteral feedings were withheld did not differ significantly from the incidence when the feedings were continued during repositioning (P = .88).

Conclusions

A research protocol to directly explore the relationship between the incidence of aspiration and withholding or continuing enteral feedings during repositioning is feasible.
Use of a Patient Hand Hygiene Protocol to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections and Improve Nurses’ Hand Washing
Authors: Fox Cherie , Wavra Teresa , Drake Diane Ash , Mulligan Debbie , Bennett Yvonne Pacheco , Nelson Carla , Kirkwood Peggy , Jones Louise , Bader Mary Kay
Published: May 2015

Background

Critically ill patients are at marked risk of hospital-acquired infections, which increase patients’ morbidity and mortality. Registered nurses are the main health care providers of physical care, including hygiene to reduce and prevent hospital-acquired infections, for hospitalized critically ill patients.

Objective

To investigate a new patient hand hygiene protocol designed to reduce hospital-acquired infection rates and improve nurses’ hand-washing compliance in an intensive care unit.

Methods

A preexperimental study design was used to compare 12-month rates of 2 common hospital-acquired infections, central catheter–associated bloodstream infection and catheter-associated urinary tract infection, and nurses’ hand-washing compliance measured before and during use of the protocol.

Results

Reductions in 12-month infection rates were reported for both types of infections, but neither reduction was statistically significant. Mean 12-month nurse hand-washing compliance also improved, but not significantly.

Conclusions

A hand hygiene protocol for patients in the intensive care unit was associated with reductions in hospital-acquired infections and improvements in nurses’ hand-washing compliance. Prevention of such infections requires continuous quality improvement efforts to monitor lasting effectiveness as well as investigation of strategies to eliminate these infections.