bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on tobacco craving in cigarette smokers: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study
Authors: Rabinovitz Sharon
Published: June 2014

Cigarette smoke induces oxidative stress with subsequent polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) peroxidation. Low concentrations of omega-3 PUFAs can affect neurotransmission, resulting in hypofunctioning of the mesocortical systems associated with reward and dependence mechanisms and thus may increase cigarette craving, hampering smoking cessation efforts. PUFA deficiency, in particular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n-3), has also been linked to reduced psychological health and ability to cope with stress. Although stress is well linked to smoking urges and behavior, no research to date has examined the effects of PUFA supplementation on tobacco craving. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study, performed in regular cigarette smokers ( n=48), administration of 2710 mg EPA/day and 2040 mg DHA/day for one month was accompanied by a significant decrease in reported daily smoking and in tobacco craving following cigarette cue exposure. Craving did not return to baseline values in the month that followed treatment discontinuation. This is the first study demonstrating that omega-3 PUFA supplementation reduces tobacco craving in regular smokers, compared to placebo treatment. Thus, omega-3 PUFAs may be of benefit in managing tobacco consumption. Further studies are needed on larger samples to explore the possible therapeutic implications for heavy cigarette smokers.
Decision Aid Influences on Factors Associated with Patient Empowerment prior to Cancer Treatment Decision Making
Authors: Alden Dana L.
Published: June 2014

Background. Despite progress, models that incorporate antecedent and mediating factors associated with shared decision making (SDM)–related outcomes remain limited. An experimental study tests patient decision aid (DA) effects on a network of antecedents and mediators associated with patient empowerment prior to a medical decision-making consultation regarding cancer treatment. Methods. A pilot study initially evaluated measurement scales, model fit, and the overall effect of the DA experience. The pilot compared matched treatment and control group samples of US adult online panel members exposed to a vignette about meeting their dermatologist to decide on skin cancer treatment. The treatment group also experienced a skin cancer DA with treatment options and value clarification activity, while the control group did not. The main study employed a randomized experimental design to formally test hypothesized path coefficients across the groups. Results. The pilot study suggested an overall enhanced DA effect on self-empowerment. In the experimental study, the DA experience strengthened the direct path from desire for medical information to self-empowerment and the indirect path from comprehension/participation confidence to self-empowerment through cancer attitude. The DA had no strengthening effect on the direct path from life satisfaction to self-empowerment, but in the DA condition, the factor appeared to play a role by contributing to the enhanced association between confidence and cancer attitude. Conclusion. Evidence from this research indicates that experiencing a DA prior to treatment decision making affects patient empowerment through a network that includes desire for information, life satisfaction, and multiple mediators. The studies also demonstrate the role that theory-based, multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) can play in increasing understanding of DA effects. Such understanding is critical to improving SDM between patients and their physicians.
Sales Education Efficacy
Authors: Bolander William , Bonney Leff , Satornino Cinthia
Published: June 2014

Sales education is on the rise and for good reason. Statistics say that sales jobs will continue to grow at a rapid rate over the next few years. Many universities are preparing their students to start their careers in the professional selling function through the inclusion of sales education in their business curriculum. Yet little research exists that investigates the relationship between sales education and sales performance on graduating from a college of business. This article seeks to fill this void in the sale pedagogy literature by assessing, empirically, the relationship between what is learned in university sales programs and the actual selling behaviors of recent graduates from these programs (vs. students who did not receive formal sales education in their undergraduate programs). Likewise, the relationship between sales education and extrinsic and intrinsic performance indicators is investigated. The findings suggest that university sales education is a significant contributor to sales rep performance. However, the results on the behaviors taught and those used in day-to-day selling were mixed.
Formulating Undergraduate Student Expectations for Better Career Development in Sales
Authors: Bush Alan J. , Bush Victoria D. , Oakley Jared , Cicala John
Published: June 2014

Undergraduate sales education is somewhat unique in that it prepares students for a career which functions mostly outside of traditional corporate management structures. Concurrently, the demand for well-qualified salespeople has intensified partly due to high turnover. This article contends that there may be a disconnection between student expectations of a sales job when they leave school and what they actually experience on the job. Using salesforce socialization as a theoretical foundation, this study compares students’ versus salespeople’s perceptions of sales jobs in terms of realism and congruence with outcome and behavior-based job performance indicators as well as perceived ethical control. When considering job performance and ethics, the results show that students have a highly idealistic perception of sales when compared to those in the actual field of sales. For marketing educators it is imperative that efforts are focused on helping students form more realistic expectations for a sales career. Such efforts and suggestions are provided in the implications.
Irradiation enhances expression of cxcr4 in murine glioma cells via HIF-1α-independent pathway
Authors: Zhou Wei , Xu Yangyang , Li Xingang , Gao Ge , Jiang Zheng , Shao Zhenyu
Published: June 2014

Objective

To investigate levels of chemokine (C–X–C motif) receptor 4 (cxcr4) mRNA and protein in X-irradiated glioma cells.

Methods

Murine malignant glioma GL261 cells transfected with hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α miRNA or control miRNA were irradiated with X-radiation. Cxcr4 mRNA and protein were analysed using real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.

Results

Levels of cxcr4 protein in GL261 cells increased in a radiation dose-dependent manner 48 h after 0, 5, 10 and 15 Gy X-irradiation. Irradiation of both HIF-1α knockdown cells and control cells resulted in a significant increase in cxcr4 mRNA levels, compared with nonirradiated cells, at 24 h after 5 Gy X-irradiation.

Conclusion

Irradiation enhances expression of cxcr4 in glioma cells via a HIF-1α-independent pathway.
Resting-state brain activation correlates with short-time antidepressant treatment outcome in drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Wang Li-Juan , Kuang Wei-Hong , Xu Jia-Jun , Lei Du , Yang Yan-Chun
Published: June 2014

Objective

A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study (fMRI) to investigate pretreatment regional differences in brain function, in patients with early treatment responsive (ERD) and early treatment nonresponsive (END) major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods

Patients with MDD and healthy control subjects underwent fMRI. Intrinsic neural activity at baseline was evaluated via amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF). Antidepressant treatment was initiated after MRI. All patients received selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor type antidepressants at the minimum effective dose.

Results

There were significant differences in brain activity between patients ( n = 56) and control subjects ( n = 33). Brain activity in patients with ERD ( n = 26) differed from those with END ( n = 30) in the lingual gyrus and cerebellum. There was a significantly correlation between activity in these regions and disease duration in patients with ERD, and with amelioration of depressive symptoms in patients with END.

Conclusions

Brain regions related to the neural mechanism of MDD early treatment outcome were identified. These regions may have important implications for the treatment of MDD.
“It Was a Bum Rap”
Authors: Pollock Wendi , Menard Scott
Published: June 2014

Individual-level predictors of erroneous arrest for illegal behavior are investigated using a national level, probability sample. The analysis specifically examines whether being a “usual suspect” based on previous criminal behavior and being male; “guilt by association” based on the illegal behavior of one’s friends; academic achievement; and sociodemographic variables including ethnicity and socioeconomic status, impact the likelihood of being erroneously arrested for a crime. Results suggest that officers may be erroneously arresting minorities and individuals who have low academic achievement. Implications for policy and future research are considered.
Web-Based Mathematics Progress Monitoring in Second Grade
Authors: Salaschek Martin , Souvignier Elmar
Published: June 2014

We examined a web-based mathematics progress monitoring tool for second graders. The tool monitors the learning progress of two competences, number sense and computation. A total of 414 students from 19 classrooms in Germany were checked every 3 weeks from fall to spring. Correlational analyses indicate that alternate-form reliability was adequate for the chosen interval (.81 < r < .87). Results from latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) identified significant linear increases in students’ scores, and a significant variance in computation slopes was observed. Criterion validity coefficients, comparing the measures with student performance on standardized school achievement tests at the beginning and the end of the school year (DEMAT1+, DEMAT2+), were satisfactory (.59 < r < .76). Students conducted the tests independently, and assessment times were short. Implications for further research and classroom practice are discussed.
Europeanisation as a Factor of National Interest Group Political-Cultural Change
Authors: Fink-Hafner Danica , Hafner-Fink Mitja , Novak Meta
Published: June 2014

Based on a social constructivist framing, this article seeks to address the gap in the literature on the impact of Europeanisation on the national interest group political culture in general and in the post-communist context in particular. The impacts of Europeanisation on interest group domestic policy behaviour, in terms of national interest groups networking with their European counterparts, their contacts with EU-level decision makers, and their access to EU funds, are tested based on the panel surveys that were conducted in 1996 and 2012 of the most influential interest groups in eleven policy fields in Slovenia. Our key findings are that Europeanisation does support changes in the national interest group political culture in the direction of a more pro-active approach in influencing national policy processes. However, Europeanisation explains only a small portion of the variability among the domestic policy behaviour of interest groups.
Leading in middle management in higher education
Authors: Pepper Coral , Giles Wendy
Published: June 2014

In this article we discuss the experiences of academics who occupy middle-level leadership roles in higher education. We use the term middle management to describe personnel occupying positions below the level of dean and often referred to as associate deans or heads of school. Practitioners rarely turn their attention to their own organizations, and in this study we focus on Australian universities, including our own, and international university experiences. Our study was designed to gather qualitative data via semi-structured interviews, after which our data were crafted into narrative accounts. In answering our research questions, we found that these middle managers perceive their role as overwhelming, with a sense of huge responsibility and little power. They describe their role as reactive, they feel isolated and they enjoy making a difference in others’ lives. Participants acknowledge the importance of developing support structures by building relationships with colleagues.
A novel method for aspheric polishing based on abrasive trajectories analysis on contact region
Authors: Pan Ri , Wang Zhen-Zhong , Jiang Tao , Wang Zhan-Shuai , Guo Yin-Biao
Published: June 2014

In order to achieve good functional performance on surface texture with high processing efficiency, this article proposes a vertical continuous precession polishing method for aspheric lenses based on the analysis of abrasive trajectories on contact region. First of all, by analyzing the relative motion between bonnet tool and workpiece, the motion model of particle trajectories on contact region was established. Then, comparison and analysis of abrasive trajectories with various polishing methods were carried out. Moreover, a vertical continuous precession polishing method for aspheric lenses and related experiments were presented. The results revealed that the texture on contact zone of aspheric lens polished by vertical continuous precession was approximately random and uniform, which is appropriate for polishing curved surfaces continuously. In addition, the contact zone on different polishing spots with various curvatures can be controlled by adaptive algorithm, and the simulated results validated the feasibility of the proposed polishing method for aspheric lenses.
Application of FRF with SISO and MISO model for accelerometer-based in-cylinder pressure reconstruction on a 9-L diesel engine
Authors: Jia Libin , Naber Jeffrey , Blough Jason
Published: June 2014

Engine control with feedback from engine combustion process diagnostics can help improve fuel efficiency and assist in meeting stricter emission regulations. The standard is to use in-cylinder pressure measurements with analysis including rate of heat release. The measurement is usually obtained with intrusive sensors that require a special mounting process and engine structure modification. The potential of the low-cost non-intrusive accelerometer as an alternative means to reconstruct the in-cylinder pressure has been demonstrated by previous investigations. In this work, start of injection (SOI) sweep test conditions at varied speed spanning both low load and high load were conducted on an inline 6-cylinder, 9 L diesel engine. The relationship between the in-cylinder pressure and the accelerometer signal was quantified with frequency response function (FRF). The robustness of the obtained FRF was evaluated by applying the single-test-based FRF to reconstruct the in-cylinder pressures for other test conditions. Two models, single-input single-output (SISO) and multiple-input single-output (MISO), were investigated and compared where the accelerometer signal was taken as the input and in-cylinder pressure as the output. The optimal channel used to acquire the input signal in the SISO model was selected on the basis of coherence analysis. Results show that the MISO model assisted by principal component analysis (PCA) and offset-compensation processes can result in better in-cylinder pressure estimation than the SISO model for conditions with 2200 rpm engine speed. With the purpose of minimizing the cost for accelerometer employment, the minimum number of inputs used to reconstruct the in-cylinder pressure in the MISO model was pursued. Thresholds were set based on three estimated in-cylinder pressure parameters to select the qualified input channels and two input channels were finally determined. Results showed that the two-input single-output FRF model coupled with the PCA and offset-compensation processes improves the FRF’s robustness for the in-cylinder pressure estimation in comparison to the SISO FRF model based on all the tests conducted in this paper.
A causal model to explore the ACAS induced collisions
Authors: Jun Tang , Piera Miquel Angel , Ruiz Sergio
Published: June 2014

Current Air Traffic Management research programs (i.e. Single European Sky ATM (air traffic management) Research (SESAR), next generation air transportation system (NextGen)), try to overcome airside capacity shortages while improving cost-efficient operations and safety. An increment in the airspace traffic density can lead to congested traffic scenarios for which it becomes necessary to develop new safety procedures that address multithread threats. This paper considers some of the difficulties in establishing validation of the airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS), which constitutes the last-resort for reducing the risk of near mid-air collision between aircraft in a multithread scenario. A causal model that is specified in Colored Petri Net (CPN) formalism is presented as a key approach to analyze the state space of a congested traffic scenario in which the events that could transform a conflict into a collision are identified, providing a challenging tool not only for validation but also for the implementation of a new ACAS logic. The InCAS EuroControl simulator has been used to illustrate the importance of cause–effect analysis for the relationships between various encounters that arise in a multithread scenario, in which TCAS II v. 7.1 fails to avoid a collision when two Resolution Advisories are issued without consideration of the downstream effects.
The influence of nominal stress on wear factors of carbon fibre–reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK-OPTIMA® Wear Performance) against zirconia toughened alumina (Biolox®delta ceramic)
Authors: Evans Andrew , Horton Henrietta , Unsworth Anthony , Briscoe Adam
Published: June 2014

Carbon fibre–reinforced polyetheretherketone is an attractive alternative to ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene in artificial joints, but little has been published on the influence of stress on the wear factor. We know that in ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, the wear factor reduces as the normal stress increases, which is counter-intuitive but very helpful in the case of non-conforming contacts. In this study, carbon fibre–reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK-OPTIMA® Wear Performance) has been investigated in a pin-on-plate machine under steady loads and under stresses typical of hip and knee joints. At stresses below about 6 MPa, wear factors are between 10 and a 100 times lower than for ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene but at higher stresses the wear factors increase substantially.
The management of lichen sclerosus in a genitourinary medicine setting: a 12-month retrospective case-notes review
Authors: Challenor Rachel
Published: June 2014

A retrospective case-notes review was undertaken of all women with lichen sclerosus seen during a 12-month period to review their characteristics and care. A total of 273 case-notes were reviewed. The mean age was 61 years (range, 14–94), and the mean duration of symptoms was 6.4 years (range, 1–50). The mean age at diagnosis was 55 years (range, 7–92). Sixty-two (23%) had at least one other autoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions were seven times more frequent overall compared with United Kingdom prevalences. On-going symptoms were reported as none/minimal in 196 (72%), moderate in 65 (24%) and severe in 12 (4%). A total of 233 women (85%) had on-going treatment with clobetasol propionate (Dermovate) ointment with a mode of eight applications per month (range, 0–30). Forty-three women (16%) reported sexual dysfunction and 13 (5%) had needed at least one surgical procedure to restore sexual function. Eighty-six (32%) had undergone at least one biopsy. Nine squamous cell cancers (3%) had been diagnosed in six women (2%). These patients were managed in line with all current guidance. It is surprising that there is still no evidence to direct long-term management.
The Commitment Function of Angry Facial Expressions
Authors: Reed Lawrence Ian , DeScioli Peter , Pinker Steven A.
Published: June 2014

What function do facial expressions have? We tested the hypothesis that some expressions serve as honest signals of subjective commitments—in particular, that angry faces increase the effectiveness of threats. In an ultimatum game, proposers decided how much money to offer a responder while seeing a film clip depicting an angry or a neutral facial expression, together with a written threat that was either inherently credible (a 50-50 split) or less credible (a demand for 70% of the money). Proposers offered greater amounts in response to the less credible threat when it was accompanied by an angry expression than when it was accompanied by a neutral expression, but were unaffected by the expression when dealing with the credible threat. This finding supports the hypothesis that angry expressions are honest signals that enhance the credibility of threats.
Young Children Make Their Gestural Communication Systems More Language-Like: Segmentation and Linearization of Semantic Elements in Motion Events
Authors: Clay Zanna , Pople Sally , Hood Bruce , Kita Sotaro
Published: June 2014

Research on Nicaraguan Sign Language, created by deaf children, has suggested that young children use gestures to segment the semantic elements of events and linearize them in ways similar to those used in signed and spoken languages. However, it is unclear whether this is due to children’s learning processes or to a more general effect of iterative learning. We investigated whether typically developing children, without iterative learning, segment and linearize information. Gestures produced in the absence of speech to express a motion event were examined in 4-year-olds, 12-year-olds, and adults (all native English speakers). We compared the proportions of gestural expressions that segmented semantic elements into linear sequences and that encoded them simultaneously. Compared with adolescents and adults, children reshaped the holistic stimuli by segmenting and recombining their semantic features into linearized sequences. A control task on recognition memory ruled out the possibility that this was due to different event perception or memory. Young children spontaneously bring fundamental properties of language into their communication system.
Reports of the death of aspiration have been indeed much exaggerated
Authors: Fowers Blaine J. , Ainsley Jordan B. , Lefevor G. Tyler
Published: June 2014

In their recent article, Williams and Gantt (2013) make the provocative claim that the only way to account for human aspiration is to recognize the existence of an eternal soul. Although it is possible to argue for such a position, their exposition is plagued by unsubstantiated assertions, false dichotomies, straw-person arguments, appeals to authority, and disregard for large psychological literatures related to their claims. These problematic forms of argumentation are inadequate to the task that these authors set for themselves and show insufficient respect for many potential interlocutors. In their apparent eagerness to discuss their eternal soul thesis, Williams and Gantt dismiss the work of scholars in positive psychology, virtue ethics, and “mainstream psychology” with whom they share extensive common ground, thereby neglecting the richness and fruitfulness of these scholars’ contributions to the topic of human aspiration.
Mitochondrial DNA damage is associated with damage accrual and disease duration in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: López-López L , Nieves-Plaza M , del R Castro M , Font YM , Torres-Ramos CA , Vilá LM , Ayala-Peña S
Published: June 2014

Objective

To determine the extent of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared to healthy subjects and to determine the factors associated with mtDNA damage among SLE patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed in 86 SLE patients (per American College of Rheumatology classification criteria) and 86 healthy individuals matched for age and gender. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from subjects to assess the relative amounts of mtDNA damage. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was used to measure the frequency of mtDNA lesions and mtDNA abundance. Socioeconomic-demographic features, clinical manifestations, pharmacologic treatment, disease activity, and damage accrual were determined. Statistical analyses were performed using t test, pairwise correlation, and Pearson’s chi-square test (or Fisher’s exact test) as appropriate.

Results

Among SLE patients, 93.0% were women. The mean (SD) age was 38.0 (10.4) years and the mean (SD) disease duration was 8.7 (7.5) years. SLE patients exhibited increased levels of mtDNA damage as shown by higher levels of mtDNA lesions and decreased mtDNA abundance as compared to healthy individuals. There was a negative correlation between disease damage and mtDNA abundance and a positive correlation between mtDNA lesions and disease duration. No association was found between disease activity and mtDNA damage.

Conclusion

PBMCs from SLE patients exhibited more mtDNA damage compared to healthy subjects. Higher levels of mtDNA damage were observed among SLE patients with major organ involvement and damage accrual. These results suggest that mtDNA damage have a potential role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Immunoglobulin-like transcripts 6 (ILT6) polymorphism influences the anti-Ro60/52 autoantibody status in south Indian SLE patients
Authors: Devaraju P , Witte T , Schmidt RE , Gulati R , Negi VS
Published: June 2014

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder with complex etiology. Loss of immune tolerance against self-antigens results in activation of the immune system to produce autoantibodies, which in turn contribute to the clinical manifestations of the disease. Immune cells harbor a plethora of regulatory receptors. Immunoglobulin-like transcripts (ILTs) exhibit both immune activation and inhibitory properties. Genetic defects in genes encoding these receptors may predispose to development of autoimmune diseases secondary to loss of their function. The aim of our study was to analyze the presence or absence of the 6.7 kb segment in the ILT6 gene and its association with susceptibility to SLE and its different manifestations.

Method

A total of 188 SLE patients and 192 age-, sex similar-, ethnicity-matched controls were recruited. They were genotyped to test the presence or absence of the 6.7 kb segment of the ILT6 gene by polymerase chain reaction.

Results

The mutant allele lacking the 6.7 kb gene segment had an equal frequency in patients as well as controls (20% and 18%, respectively). The mutant allele was not associated with SLE or its clinical manifestations. However, the mutant allele was associated with the presence of anti-Ro60 ( p = 0.0005, OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.8–7.1) and anti-Ro52 ( p = 0.0027, OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.5–6.06) autoantibodies.

Conclusion

ILT6 deletion polymorphism does not appear to be a lupus susceptibility gene in South Indian Tamils, but may behave as a genetic modifier of autoantibody phenotype by influencing the production of anti-Ro60 and anti-Ro52 autoantibodies and thus indirectly contribute to autoimmune responses in SLE.
‘Willing and Eager to Go in Their Turn’? Appeals for Exemption from Military Service in New Zealand and Great Britain, 1916–1918
Authors: Littlewood David
Published: June 2014

The Military Service Acts that introduced conscription in New Zealand and Britain in 1916 permitted appeals for exemption to a Military Service Board or Military Service Tribunal. This paper questions the inference that around half of all balloted New Zealanders appealed and argues that British men were considerably more likely to appeal. It is unlikely that this was due to satisfaction with the exemption process, a belief that appealing was not worthwhile, rates of conscription, or the pecuniary difficulties of enlistment. More credible explanations are that the British system protected many occupations and that appealing carried less of a stigma there. Although overt reluctance to serve was rare in both countries, the impact of covert reluctance cannot be quantified.
The Fourth Northern Division and the Joint-IRA Offensive, April–July 1922
Authors: Lewis Matthew
Published: June 2014

In 1922, as civil war loomed in southern Ireland, rival factions of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) conspired to support renewed violence in Northern Ireland. This joint-IRA offensive ultimately misfired, amid much recrimination, and its details have since been obscured by scarce and conflicting evidence. One of its greatest mysteries concerns the role of the Fourth Northern Division. A key player in the preparations for the offensive, it cancelled its operations on the eve of the attacks. This article explores the division’s role in the offensive and sheds new light on this controversial episode of the Irish Revolution.
The estimation of median nuchal translucency values between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy
Authors: Bestwick Jonathan P , Huttly Wayne J , Wald Nicholas J
Published: June 2014

Nuchal translucency (NT) is a useful marker in antenatal screening for Down’s syndrome in the late first trimester of pregnancy. NT measurements increase with increasing crown rump length (CRL) so multiple of the median (MoM) values are used to allow for this. Log-linear and log-quadratic regressions of NT in relation to CRL have previously been proposed to calculate MoM values. Using data on 288,079 women, these models were compared with a log-sigmoid regression. The log-linear regression overestimated the median NT above a CRL of 75 mm; for example, 1.9 mm versus 1.8 mm observed at 75–79 mm, and 2.0 mm versus 1.8 mm at 80–84 mm. The log-quadratic regression underestimated the median NT below a CRL of 45 mm at 1.03 mm versus 1.2 mm observed. The sigmoid regression provided the best overall fit to the data across the range of CRL values (40–84 mm) corresponding to gestational ages of 76 to 99 days. The differences between the three models are small. If a log-linear regression appears to be a poor fit using local data, a log-sigmoid regression could be considered.
Measurement, Validation and Factor Structure of Corporate Reputation in Banking Sector of India
Authors: Chahal Hardeep , Kumari Archana
Published: June 2014

The purpose of the study is to measure and validate the corporate reputation scale (CR) and to examine its factor structure and nomological validity in banking sector in Indian context. The data were collected from 240 customers of three selected private banks and three public banks. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), inter-item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for data purification and analysis. The result of the study reveals seven dimensions of corporate reputation using EFA. However, only two dimensions, that is, customer orientation (five items) and emotional appeal (four items) were established after the application of CFA. The model fit results reveal support for single factor structure, two factor structure independent and cross factor structure for CR. Lastly, nomological validity of the CR in relation to business performance was established in all the three different CR models. The study establishes corporate orientation and emotional appeal as two significant dimensions of corporate reputation, which can be considered in place of Walsh and Beatty’s seven dimension CR scale. The two dimension scale of corporate reputation needs to be validated in the future research to consider it as a short scale tool for CR measurement.
Do Stronger IPR Regimes Influence R&D Efforts? Evidence from the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Jagadeesh Harishankar , Sasidharan Subash
Published: June 2014

This article is an attempt to empirically analyze the technology behaviour (R&D) of the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry (IPI) during the post Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) regime. This study is based on firm level data of 424 firms belonging to the IPI for the period 1994–2010. The empirical analysis is based on pooled cross sectional and random effects panel tobit models. The results of the study indicate that the TRIPS regime had a significant positive impact on R&D in the IPI. Firms owned by Indian groups are found to be more R&D intensive compared to stand-alone private and foreign firms. Further, export intensity and size are found to have significant impact on R&D intensity.
Measuring the Determinants of Organizational Citizenship Behaviour
Authors: Jena R.K. , Goswami R.
Published: June 2014

This study examined the shift workers’ personal factors and personality characteristics as the predictors of Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB). The study employed Ex-Post-Facto research methodology. Data were collected from 240 participants from five ferroalloy industries in Odisha, India. The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between individualism, collectivism, demographic variables and OCB. The study identified some future directions for personality research in industrial and organizational psychology and concludes with some caveats and directions for future research.
An Empirical Insight into Different Stages of Capital Budgeting
Authors: Batra Roopali , Verma Satish
Published: June 2014

In today’s highly turbulent and volatile business environment where companies are exposed to a multitude of risks, only globally competitive and professionally managed companies can thrive and grow. In such a competitive environment, the capital budgeting decisions made by a company are critical to a firm’s long-term survival. Is the Indian corporate sector using theoretically sound and sophisticated capital budgeting techniques for decision making purposes? Are the Indian firms adopting risk analysis techniques for handling various risks in investments? These issues have been the focus of research studies over the past so many years. The most prevalent emphasis of previous capital budgeting surveys continues to be mainly on financial analysis and project selection stage of capital budgeting.

The article reviews the past capital budgeting survey literature till the year 2012 and brings to light some of the neglected areas of capital budgeting. It is noticed that project definition and cash flow estimation (identification and development) (Stage I), project implementation (Stage III) and project review (post audit and control) (Stage IV) are the specifically neglected areas of the capital budgeting process. Further Indian studies encompassing the overall stages of capital budgeting process still remain relatively unexplored. The main aim of the present study is to not only provide an insight on the past literature, but also explore the CFOs opinions and perceptions about the relative difficulty and significance of different stages of capital budgeting in India, particularly in an era of full-fledged globalization and cutthroat competition, where companies are being exposed to various degrees of risk. The study is based on a primary survey of CFOs of 77 Indian companies listed on Bombay Stock Exchange. The study further endeavours to evaluate the impact of different company related variables of size of capital budget, nature of industry, company age, CEO education and CEO age on the level of difficulty of different stages of capital budgeting.
The Long-Run Performance of Graded IPOs in the Indian Capital Market
Authors: Dhamija Sanjay , Arora Ravinder Kumar
Published: June 2014

Initial public offering (IPO) grading was introduced in India as an additional tool to help the retail investors in making the investment decisions. The primary objective of this article is to establish the relation between the assigned grade and the long-term performance of the IPO.

With a few exceptions, graded IPOs in the Indian capital market during 2007–2010 have underperformed the benchmark over the long run. There is a substantial variation in performance across grades. IPOs graded relatively higher have not performed better than those graded relatively lower. Mandatory grading of IPOs does not appear to serve the interests of investors.

As IPO grading was introduced by the regulator six years back, not much literature is available in Indian context analyzing the relation between the IPO grade and the long-term performance of the IPO. This article establishes that in the present form IPO grading is not serving the interest of the retail investors for whose benefits it was introduced.
Stock Market Performance and Macroeconomic Factors: The Study of Indian Equity Market
Authors: Tripathi Vanita , Seth Ritika
Published: June 2014

There has been an extensive debate on the relationship between real economy and stock market performance especially in the context of emerging markets. This article examines the causal relationships between the stock market performance and select macroeconomic variables in India, using monthly data from July 1997 to June 2011. We use factor analysis, ADF and PP Unit root tests, Regression, ARCH model, Granger causality and Johansen Co-integration test for data analysis. Impulse Response analysis has also been performed to check the response of stock market to shocks created in the real economy.

We find a significant correlation among stock market indicators and macroeconomic factors. We identified three principal factors through Factor analysis viz Inflation, Interest rate and Exchange rate. The overall explanatory power of the regression model is 23.8%, 23.3% and 16.9% respectively for Sensex, Market capitalization and Market Turnover. There is uni directional causality from stock market to real economy. We find five co-integrating relationships between stock market and macro-economic variables. These results suggest that the stock prices movement is not only the result of behaviour of key macroeconomic variables but it is also one of the important reasons of movement in other macro dimension in the economy.
A high-throughput biliverdin assay using infrared fluorescence
Authors: Berlec Aleš , Štrukelj Borut
Published: June 2014

Biliverdin is an intermediate of heme degradation with an established role in veterinary clinical diagnostics of liver-related diseases. The need for chromatographic assays has so far prevented its wider use in diagnostic laboratories. The current report describes a simple, fast, high-throughput, and inexpensive assay, based on the interaction of biliverdin with infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP) that yields functional protein exhibiting infrared fluorescence. The assay is linear in the range of 0–10 µmol/l of biliverdin, has a limit of detection of 0.02 μmol/l, and has a limit of quantification of 0.03 µmol/l. The assay is accurate with relative error less than 0.15, and precise, with coefficient of variation less than 5% in the concentration range of 2–9 µmol/l of biliverdin. More than 95% of biliverdin was recovered from biological samples by simple dimethyl sulfoxide extraction. There was almost no interference by hemin, although bilirubin caused an increase in the biliverdin concentration, probably due to spontaneous oxidation of bilirubin to biliverdin. The newly developed biliverdin assay is appropriate for reliable quantification of large numbers of samples in veterinary medicine.
Fabrication and characterization of magnetorheological elastomer with carbon black
Authors: Nayak Biswajit , Dwivedy Santosha K , Murthy Kondepudi SRK
Published: June 2014

In this study, the isotropic magnetorheological elastomer samples are fabricated with and without addition of carbon blacks into the silicon rubber matrix and carbonyl iron particles in the absence of magnetic field. Microscopic and morphological analyses, thermo-gravimetric analysis, MH measurements, thermomechanical analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile test and magnetorheological test of magnetorheological elastomers are performed to characterize the fabricated magnetorheological elastomers. The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of carbon black improves the mechanical properties of the magnetorheological elastomer. The fabricated magnetorheological elastomers can be used in applications such as adaptive tuned vibration absorbers and vibration reduction in sandwich structures.
Probabilistic fatigue damage prognosis of lap joint using Bayesian updating
Authors: Peng Tishun , He Jingjing , Xiang Yibing , Liu Yongming , Saxena Abhinav , Celaya Jose , Goebel Kai
Published: June 2014

A general framework for probabilistic prognosis and uncertainty management under fatigue cyclic loading is proposed in this article. First, the general idea using the Bayesian updating in prognosis is introduced. Several sources of uncertainties are discussed and included in the Bayesian updating framework. An equivalent stress level model is discussed for the mechanism-based fatigue crack growth analysis, which serves as the deterministic model for the lap joint fatigue life prognosis. Next, an in situ lap joint fatigue test with pre-installed piezoelectric sensors is designed and performed to collect experimental data. Signal processing techniques are used to extract damage features for crack length estimation. Following this, the proposed methodology is demonstrated using the experimental data under both constant and variable amplitude loadings. Finally, detailed discussion on validation metrics of the proposed prognosis algorithm is given. Several conclusions and future work are drawn based on the proposed study.
Utilization of Pharmacist Responders as a Component of a Multidisciplinary Sepsis Bundle
Authors: Flynn Jeremy D. , McConeghy Kevin W. , Flannery Alexander H. , Nestor Melissa , Branson Pam , Hatton Kevin W.
Published: June 2014

Background: Sepsis and septic shock remain a significant burden on the US health care system. A multidisciplinary response system (Coordinated Response to Sepsis, CaRTS) that included a pharmacist responder was implemented for patients with newly suspected sepsis. Objective: To evaluate the time to appropriate antibiotic administration among patients with the CaRTS intervention compared with historical controls. Method: The CaRTS intervention included an electronic order set as well as activation of a multidisciplinary team of pharmacy and nursing personnel to coordinate resuscitation and medication administration. The CaRTS group was compared to historical controls. The primary outcome of the study was the proportion of patients with appropriate antibiotic administration within 1 hour of recognition of sepsis. Secondary outcomes included achievement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥65 mm Hg and central venous pressure (CVP) of 8 to 12 mm Hg within 6 hours. Result: The CaRTS intervention was used for 49 patients and 59 historical controls were included for analysis. Patients with the CaRTS intervention had a greater than 20 times higher odds of antibiotic administration within 1 hour compared with controls (odds ratio [OR] 22.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.5-69) and were more likely to have a CVP ≥8 mm Hg at 6 hours (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0-5.6) compared with controls. CaRTS patients achieved statistically nonsignificant increases in MAP ≥65 mm Hg (OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.7-7.7). Conclusion: Utilization of a multidisciplinary sepsis bundle that included a pharmacist responder improved the proportion of patients receiving appropriate antibiotics within 1 hour of recognition of sepsis compared to historical controls.
Female Labor Force Participation Rate, Islam, and Arab Culture in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Authors: Korotayev Andrey V. , Issaev Leonid M. , Shishkina Alisa R.
Published: June 2014

Burton and Reitz suggested that Islam should tend to decrease the levels of female labor force participation rate, because “societies that seclude their women by means of purdah or similar customs will have lower rates of female participation in activities outside of the immediate household.” Our cross-cultural tests have supported this hypothesis. However, a closer analysis shows that a high correlation is predicted mostly by the “Arab factor,” rather than by the precisely Islamic one, as a country’s belonging to the Arab world turns out to be a much stronger predictor of very low female labor participation rates than the percentage of Muslims in its population. These relationships hold even after controlling for other factors known to be related to female labor participation. This suggests that the anomalously low level of female labor participation observed in the Near and Middle East might be connected with certain elements of Arab culture that are not directly connected with Islam.
Is there any cumulative dose for trastuzumab?
Authors: Mutlu Hasan , Coşkun Hasan Şenol
Published: June 2014

Trastuzumab is one of the most important agents that target human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, but its cardiotoxic effect limits to use it. The mechanism of cardiac dysfunction-related trastuzumab is still unclear. In literature, there is no definite information about the cumulative dose of trastuzumab for cardiotoxicity. In presented case, we reported a breast cancer patient who has been receiving long-term trastuzumab. We have not found any cardiac problems for duration of over four years. According to our case and literature review, we may say that trastuzumab is safely used with periodically echocardiographic control in patients with breast cancer.
Aggression Among Psychiatric Inpatients
Authors: Bader Shannon , Evans Sean E. , Welsh Elena
Published: June 2014

BACKGROUND: The rate of aggressive acts perpetrated by psychiatric inpatients remains a pressing issue. To date, few studies have distinguished between incident severities. OBJECTIVE: The aims of the current study were to identify rates of inpatient aggression in an inpatient forensic psychiatric facility and describe the severity of the aggression reported for aggressive incidents. DESIGN: All documented acts of aggression at a 1,500-bed forensic hospital between 2009 and 2013 provided data about the time, location, and victims of aggressive acts. In total, 52,109 unique incidents were analyzed. RESULTS: The findings showed an increase in violence rates during meal, medication, and shift change times. Patients ( n = 3,436, 62%) were victimized more often than staff members ( n = 2,103, 38%). Fall and winter months showed more acts of aggression than summer and spring, but there were no mean differences between severity ratings by season. The results showed that the swing shift saw more severe aggressive incidents than the morning or overnight shifts, p = .001, and significantly more serious incidents occurred when there were staff members working over time, p = .050. CONCLUSIONS: The current study reports some key findings about aggression rates with a very large sample and presents some valuable data regarding the severity of aggressive acts.
Metaphyseal osteopathy in a British Shorthair cat
Authors: Adagra Carl , Spielman Derek , Adagra Angela , Foster Darren J
Published: June 2014

Metaphyseal osteopathy, otherwise known as hypertrophic osteodystrophy, is a disease that causes pyrexia and lethargy accompanied by pain in the thoracic and pelvic limbs of rapidly growing large-breed dogs. While metaphyseal osteopathy has been descibed in association with slipped capital femoral epiphysis in cats, it has not previously been reported as a cause of limb pain and pyrexia in this species. A 7-month-old British Shorthair cat presented with a 1 month history of pyrexia, lethargy and pain in all limbs. Investigation included radiographs of the limbs and chest, abdominal ultrasound, serum biochemical analysis, haematology, bone biopsy, joint fluid aspiration and cytology. Findings were consistent with a diagnosis of metaphyseal osteopathy. The cat’s clinical signs resolved following the administration of prednisolone. Symptoms recurred 1 month after the cessation of prednisolone therapy, but resolved when administration was resumed.