bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Business Value of Information System-Enabled E-Collaboration Capabilities
Authors: Ghobakhloo Morteza , Hong Tang Sai
Published: March 2016

This study aims to understand how firms in developing countries can effectively use their Information System (IS) resources to develop valuable e-collaboration capabilities that in turn improve business performance. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect data from 408 Iranian and Malaysian manufacturing firms. Findings revealed that Supply Chain-Wide Process Integration (SCPI) and Collaborative Knowledge Management (CKM) are key IS-enabled capabilities that enhance performance gain of manufacturing firms. The work found that these capabilities serve as catalysts in transforming the value of IS resources controlled by firms into business performance improvement. The results suggest that SCPI, as a determinant of a highly integrated and dynamic supply chain, is an important intermediate organizational capability through which value of IS resources can be materialized. Likewise, the findings imply that CKM across a given supply network, as a valuable intermediate organizational capability, converts the benefits of both technical and human IS resources into performance gain at the corporate level.
ICT Adoption by Virtual Organizations in the Developing Countries
Authors: Yasir Muhammad , Majid Abdul , Tabassum Naila
Published: March 2016

This chapter empirically explores ICT adoption by virtual organizations in developing countries, taking the case of small and medium enterprise clusters in Pakistan. Virtual organizations consist of internally independent parties linked by ICTs to collaborate for the accomplishment of common objectives. Effective communication is a key to develop social relationships, ultimately leading to the improvement of trust and collaboration among parties in a virtual organization. ICT is considered as a vital element for communication, collaboration and trust building in virtual organizations. However, this research explains that ICT adoption by virtual organizations in the developing countries would be different mainly due to the lack of advanced ICTs, strong inclination of organizations toward face-to-face communication, strength of social system, and the weakness of the legal system in these societies.
The Importance of Information and Communication Technologies in Establishing Healthcare Services with a Universal Coverage
Authors: Günaydin Davuthan , Cavlak Hakan , Şeren GamzeYıldız , Arun Korhan
Published: March 2016

One of the most important challenges faced by the healthcare system is the organization of healthcare services to cope with the increase in population and aging of citizens. Especially in developing countries, demographic movements of the population, regional disparities, political concerns, and increasing expectations of health services have led to a search for new ways to serve all of the population with healthcare services. With traditional methods, it is not possible to increase the supply of health services because of inadequate infrastructure and shortcomings in quantity and quality of healthcare staff. This new health system called e-health and uses all of the possibilities provided by information and communication technologies that aim to improve public health. In this chapter, the effects of e-health practices on the quality and accessibility of healthcare services are assessed and the extent of e-health practices in Turkey are evaluated.
Testing Random Walk Hypothesis in Turkish Foreign Exchange Market
Authors: Çıtak Levent , Akel Veli , Çetin Murat
Published: March 2016

This chapter revisits the empirical validity of the weak-form efficient market hypothesis for Turkish foreign exchange markets. The random-walk hypothesis in foreign-exchange rates market is one of the most researched areas, particularly in developed economies. This chapter applies ADF and PP unit root test, Lo and MacKinlay's (1988) conventional variance ratio test and Ljung-Box Q tests to examine the validity of the random-walk hypothesis in the Turkish foreign-exchange market. The chapter utilizes weekly nominal TRY/USD exchange rate for data from January 2000 to December 2013. The results provide evidence rejecting the random walk hypothesis for weekly nominal exchange rate series.
Commitment-Trust Dynamics in the Internationalization Process
Authors: Moreira António , Alves Carolina Batista
Published: March 2016

This chapter describes the market entry process of Portuguese small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) into the Brazilian. This chapter explores an under-researched strand in the studies of internationalization of SMEs, namely how trust and commitment leveraged the relationship orientation of the Portuguese SME in entering into the Brazilian market. Through a Case Study the chapter explores the concept of relationship orientation, trust and commitment to analyze how a Portuguese SME managed to turn around a difficult situation transforming its associates in business partners and prevented a process of desinternationalization.
Japanese Cultural Traditions and International Business
Authors: Garcia Gloria
Published: March 2016

Although people from several countries may share some universal values, they also have different cultural values. The differences in cultural values generally produce different ways of thinking and acting that can cause misunderstandings and disappointments in business communication. Therefore, the willingness to understand in depth others' cultures is necessary for doing international business. Japan is an important country and thus the author explains in-depth the specific cultural values that are important in the international business between Japanese and non-Japanese people. This chapter is based on a broader research conducted in Japan and focused on the unique characteristics of Japan's cultural values, social norms, and business customs. Thus, it presents the specific cultural values coming from the Japanese philosophical and cultural traditions, examines their influence in the Japanese international business, and emphasizes the importance of understanding them in depth for doing business successfully in Japan.
The Roles of Sports Sponsorship and Brand Management in Global Sports Marketing
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: March 2016

This chapter introduces the roles of sports sponsorship and brand management in global sports marketing, thus explaining the overview of sports sponsorship, brand management, and sports marketing; the importance of sports sponsorship in global sports marketing; the importance of sports sponsorship and brand management in Asia; the importance of sports sponsorship and brand management in global sports marketing; the application of brand management in global sports marketing; the internalization of sports in global sports marketing; the international marketing in global sports marketing; and the significance of entrepreneurship in global sports marketing. Applying sports sponsorship and brand management in global sports marketing will significantly enhance organizational performance and achieve sports business goals in the global sports industry.
Citizens' Voice and Adoption of Pakistani E-Government Services
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Ovais , Markkula Jouni , Oivo Markku
Published: March 2016

Even though there is emerging literature on e-government, research focused on potential problems related to citizens' adoption of e-government services in developing countries is still limited. As a developing country, e-government services in Pakistan have witnessed prolific advancements over the years. Since 2002, Pakistan has strategically adopted e-government as a part of its policy. In this chapter, the factors influencing citizens' e-government service adoption in Pakistan are examined using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model. The findings indicate that, in addition to the lack of awareness and data privacy, all of the factors specified by the model have an effect on the adoption of these services in Pakistan. The empirical results highlight the voice of citizens concerning the usage of the services. This information can be used by the policy and decision makers to promote services that correspond better to the needs of the citizens.
The Role and Challenges of Consumer Research in the Dynamic Economic and Social Environment of Latin America
Authors: Knight Joseann
Published: March 2016

As Latin America moves towards 2020, consumer spending is expected to overtake resource extraction as the engine for economic growth. However, the international business community still has only a surface understanding of the peculiarities of Latin American consumers and marketplaces. More importantly, there is little academic or even practitioner-generated guidance for producing meaningful consumer research in the Latin American context. This chapter addresses some of the relevant consumer research issues and challenges in the dynamic marketplace that is Latin America and serves as a useful point of reference for international marketers and investors seeking to explore the opportunities that exist therein. The chapter also gives a brief summary of current consumption trends in Latin America, in an effort to highlight the uniqueness and dynamism that render consumer research a necessity rather than a choice for prospective entrants.
Introduction to Labor and Health Economics
Authors: Driouchi Ahmed
Published: March 2016

This chapter introduces the main components of the book and focuses on the shortage in medical doctors, its causes, and its consequences. The implications on migration of medical doctors is also introduced. The role of the new economics of migration is identified as a promising research angle. A series of issues need to be analyzed in order to better understand the global health system and feed economic and social policies. These elements are discussed in relation to the outcomes of the new economics of migration of medical doctors in the context of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Eastern and Central Europe (ECE), and the European Union (EU).
Expatriate Selection and Retention
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: March 2016

Many international hotel chains (IHCs) have sent their employees, their expatriates, overseas to maintain corporate standards, fill skills gaps, and transfer technology and corporate culture in their worldwide properties. The workforce is the backbone of any organization, and IHCs should pay careful attention to trends as well as published research to reduce failures that will ultimately affect its financial state as well as the organization as a whole. This chapter will be on the hotel industry in China. Hence, the focus of this chapter is on the matter that when IHCs are selecting expatriates to send to China, IHRM and IHCs need to identify and assess these expatriates' other characteristics (O). These O characteristics are: (1) desire to prematurely terminate an expatriate's assignment; (2) stable competencies; and (3) intercultural/international business communication.
Globalization of Latecomer Asian Multinationals and Theory of Multinational Enterprise
Authors: Kittilaksanawong Wiboon , Dai Weiqi
Published: March 2016

The fast globalization of latecomer multinationals from Asian emerging economies with impetus has appeared to challenge the established theories of Multinational Enterprise (MNE). This chapter reviews extant theories of MNE and provides areas of refinement and extension to these theories to reflect highly contextualized and unique internal and external conditions of these MNEs. In particular, this chapter provides an analysis of the key theoretical perspectives of MNE and highlights four areas that extend existing theories. These areas include country-of-origin effects, ownership advantages, learning processes, as well as global and industry context for internationalization. These areas of refinement are then illustrated by seven case studies of MNEs from mainland China and Taiwan in their accelerated internationalization and their focus on acquisitive growth strategy in terms of speed of internationalization, target countries, and mode of entry.
Economic Crisis and its Impact on Regionalism and Globalism
Authors: Kablamaci Baris , Gozgor Giray
Published: March 2016

This chapter reviews the financial crisis of 2008-09 and its impacts on the international trade in terms of regionalism and globalism. The chapter glances over different aspects of globalism and regionalism as well as looks on historical pattern and recent developments of regionalism and globalism. The data used in the chapter indicates that the financial crisis of 2008-09 negatively affected both globalization and regionalization trends. In addition, the EU has experienced an interesting transformation from regionalism to globalism. This chapter suggests that the issue is not only related with the great trade collapse of 2008-09 but also the sovereign debt crisis of 2010-12.
Foreign Direct Investment from China and Latin America
Authors: Godinez Jose , Terpstra Theodore
Published: March 2016

Historically, Chinese corporations have been relatively unknown in Latin America. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America was 18.1% of the world total in 2012 (UNCTAD, 2013). However, Chinese FDI in Latin America has averaged about US$10 billion per year since 2010, only a small part of Latin America's total FDI inflows (ECLAC, 2013). Yet the presence and economic leverage of Chinese corporations has become very substantial in several industries in the region, particularly the oil and mining industries. Trade between China and Latin America has also grown dramatically since 1999 (Luo, et al., 2010). Despite the growing economic connectivity between Latin America and China, the motivation, strategy and procedures behind China's FDI in the region have not yet been fully understood.
Using ERG Theory as a Lens to Understand the Sharing of Academic Tacit Knowledge
Authors: Van Canh Ta , Zyngier Suzanne
Published: March 2016

This chapter provides a direct view of the higher education environment in a transition economy. It reports research findings on barriers to sharing knowledge among Vietnamese academic and managerial colleagues, focusing on three factors: time, capital, and management capacity. It draws on data from focus groups and from in-depth interviews of Vietnamese members of faculty from six major universities. A key finding of this study is that work-overload leaves little time for collaborative research. Together with insufficient English skills and bureaucratic management, it contributes to measurable levels of cheating and corruption in education that in turn lead to low quality and quantity of international academic publications and of patents. This finding indicates that there is a strong link with both Existence, Relatedness, and Growth (ERG) theory and Maslow's theory of need with both the quality and quantity of international publications produced by Vietnamese academics.
Exploring the Roles of Entrepreneurship and Internationalization in Global Business
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: March 2016

This chapter aims to explore the roles of entrepreneurship and internationalization in global business, thus illustrating the theoretical and practical overviews of entrepreneurship, corporate entrepreneurship, and internationalization; the relationship between entrepreneurship and internationalization and their impact on the global economy; and the importance of entrepreneurship and internationalization in global business. The accomplishment of entrepreneurship and internationalization is vital for modern organizations that seek to serve suppliers and customers, increase business performance, and attain regular success in global business. Thus, it is necessary for modern organizations to investigate their entrepreneurship and internationalization applications, create a strategic plan to explore their functional advancements, and immediately respond to the entrepreneurship and internationalization needs of customers. Applying entrepreneurship and internationalization has the potential to increase organizational performance and achieve strategic goals in global business.
High-Performance Work Practices in Healthcare Sector
Authors: Gkorezis Panagiotis , Theodorou Mamas
Published: March 2016

High-performance work practices are described as human resource management practices that augment organizational performance through enhancing employees' competencies, motivation, commitment and productivity. Last decades have seen an increase in both research and practice on high-performance work practices. Yet, they have only recently received attention in healthcare settings. Nascent empirical studies have shown that high-performance work practices may play a vital role in fostering positive employee, patient and organizational outcomes. Given the problematic and limited environment of healthcare organizations, high-performance work practices are purported to be an effective “medicine” for organizational functioning. Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to delineate human resource management policies and their core high-performance work practices and also highlight their key role in ameliorating healthcare organizations' performance. By doing so, we provide some useful insights from healthcare literature in relation to the underlying mechanisms that account for this relationship.
Modelling Spatial Medical Data
Authors: Zimeras S. , Matsinos Y.
Published: March 2016

Models are sometimes incomplete, especially in scaling data where other information of large regions needs to be predicted by smaller ones. Uncertainty analysis is the process of assessing uncertainty in modelling or scaling to identify major uncertainty sources, quantify their degree and relative importance, examine their effects on model output under different scenarios, and determine prediction accuracy. Especially for large dimensional data where spatial process in regional investigation are difficult to applied due to incompleteness leading us to spatial heterogeneity and non-linearity of our data. Modelling the uncertainty particular in scaling data starts with a general structure (linear most of the time) that explains as accurate as it is the real data and the model is built through adding variables, which are significant or which aid in prediction (hierarchical modelling). Parameter estimation is an important issue for the evaluation of these proposed models. Statistical techniques based on the spatial modelling could be proposed to overcome the problem of dimensionality and the spatial homogeneity between different grains levels based on the neighbourhood structure of the regions with similar characteristics. Investigation of the neighbourhood structure analysis could be applied using kriging or variogram techniques. In this work, we introduce and analyse methodologies for scaling data under uncertainty where incomplete data can be explained by spatial modelling at different scales. Incomplete data of uncertainties in regions involve spatial homogeneity upon neighbourhood structure between regions. The last could be illustrated by using spatial modelling techniques (like spatial autocorrelation, partition functions, and multilevel models). Parameter estimation of these models could be achieved by using stochastic (spatial hierarchical models, kriging, auto-correlation) methods. Comparison between different models could be achieved by considering statistical measures like log-likelihood ratio test. The best model is the one, which explains better the real data.
Strategies for Expanding Access and Improving the Quality of Pharmaceutical Services
Authors: Dias-Souza Marcus Vinícius
Published: March 2016

Pharmaceutical services are among the most accessible healthcare assistance systems worldwide, being provided generally in enterprises like Drugstores and Compounding Pharmacies. Pharmacists are highly accessible healthcare professionals considering also the availability, geographic distribution and location of pharmaceutical enterprises. However, there are several challenges for providing these services for patients with limitations such as low education, difficulties on reaching the Pharmacist, and the need for individualized monitoring (due to the complexity of therapy). Reports of low quality services are growing worldwide, and in order to expand access and improve the quality of pharmaceutical services, Pharmacists must move from being medication dispensers with focus in administrative management to a clinically-oriented practice with a humanistic view. The aim of this chapter is to make an approach on the implementation of effective strategies and ways to improve the quality of Pharmacists' work as specialized healthcare providers.
Neuroeconomics and Media Economics
Authors: Atli Dinçer , Yilmazata Mehmet
Published: March 2016

This chapter investigates the development of neuroeconomics as a relative new sub-discipline in the fields of economics and behavioral science. After comparing paradigms of both classical and behavioral economics, the problem of the “conscious and rational consumer” is addressed in relation to more passive views of consumerism in neuroeconomics. Highlighting the most recent trends in neuroeconomics, the chapter also addresses the historical development of the discipline of neuroeconomics as an independent field of research within the fields of media and economics. The problem of new marketing strategies as well as the evolvement of neuroeconomics as an independent discipline in the age of digitalization is presented while considering the changing nature of the media industry.
Cooperation as a Core Component of Intercultural Competence
Authors: Matuska Ewa , Landowska Alina
Published: March 2016

Assuming the meaning of intercultural competency is a crucial issue in multicultural societies and within business units as results of globalization, this chapter analyses cooperative attitude as a core component of intercultural competence. First, the chapter explains such terms as intercultural competence, cooperation, and culture, as well as the diffusion of cultures. Cooperation as a social value in strategic human resources management is also considered. Secondly, factors shaping cooperation (divided into two groups: cultural and biological) are discussed from a multidisciplinary perspective. Finally, the neuroeconomic dimension of cooperation is discussed with its subsequent socio-economic implications. The chapter concludes with recommendations regarding human choices resulting from individual ontogenetic processes (including cultural differences, genetic differences, and neural differences) and concludes on cooperative attitudes that are most likely culturally and biologically dependent, and which become a part of intercultural competence desired in a multicultural society and at the work place.
Successfully Playing Games of Tax Compliance
Authors: Virkar Shefali
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role of government in encouraging fiscal compliance from the theoretical perspective of the ‘Ecology of Games'. Conceptual representations of human behaviour in formal complex institutions, located within Behavioural Economics Political Game Theory, presuppose it is possible for government agencies to strategically influence the behavioural preferences and consumption patterns of individual actors and groups in society. This study presents an empirical case concerned with the implementation and use of an electronic property tax collection system in Bangalore, India developed between 1998 and 2008.
Game Theory
Authors: Amone William
Published: March 2016

Economists, political scientists, and military analysts widely apply game theory techniques to analyze strategic decision making of players. The model is often adopted to analyze oligopolistic firms' actions, legal, and political negotiations, dating and mating strategies by couples, and competitive bidding in auctions. As a facet of neuroeconomics, game theory can highly complement the comprehension of human decision making processes. Although the model has been somewhat difficult for many readers, this chapter presents game theory with a high level of precision for easy understanding. The discourse presented in this chapter covers the different types of games, the approaches applied to predict games' outcomes, and general analysis of strategic choices. In its final section, the chapter underscores key aspects of auction and competitive bidding.
Evidence-Based Organizational Change and Development
Authors: Hamlin Robert G
Published: March 2016

This chapter is targeted mainly toward HRD practitioners and line managers who are actively involved in bringing about effective and beneficial organizational change and development (OCD) within their own respective organizations and/or within host organizations. Its purpose is to help them to appreciate more fully the complexities of the process issues of managing change, and the value of using theory and results of rigorous internal research in a very conscious and focused way to inform, shape, and evaluate their own change agency practice. After discussing why so many OCD programs fail, the author argues that ‘evidence-based management' and ‘evidence-based HRD', coupled with HRD's understanding of and alignment with the strategic thrust of the business, will likely lead to more effective OCD initiatives and programs. Several case examples of evidence-based OCD from the United Kingdom are presented, and the merits of ‘design science', ‘professional partnership research' and ‘replication research' are discussed.
The Academic Workplace
Authors: Gedro Julie
Published: March 2016

This manuscript will consider higher education institutions as workplaces, and it will explore the relationships between the shifting landscape of higher education, the corresponding organizational changes that are identified and implemented by college and university leaders in response to those shifts, and workplace culture and climate. Its purpose is to offer a typology of HRD interventions that respond to organizational needs for skill building and education in order to equip individuals and organizations to thrive during periods of significant change. The context for this chapter is mostly through a U.S. based lens, although it is likely that several concepts and suggestions might have transnational relevance.
Building an IT System for Logistics in MS Excel Supported by 4TG Methodology
Authors: Głuszkowski Tomasz
Published: March 2016

This chapter includes the example of a fragment of the model implementation to the logistics in Ms Excel supported by 4TG methodology. 4TG methodology is principles of construction of such solutions in a spreadsheet that are secure, clear and flexible (these are features compatible with those that have been presented in the International Standard ISO 9126 concerning the quality of the software). The main objectives of the chapter are: presentation of ideas and elements 4TG methodology, paying attention to the quality of solutions created in Ms Excel and supported by 4TG methodology, provide examples of the methodology use in order to obtain solutions of appropriate quality, show the effects of the methodology use (implementation step by step the examples of supporting production planning), extrapolation of the examples to different areas of application in management.
Concepts for Sustainable End Consumer Movements in City Supply Chains
Authors: Mitrea Oana Stefana , Kyamakya Kyandoghere
Published: March 2016

Traffic chaos, stress, congestion, environmental pollution, as well as the social problems resulting from the uncoordinated shopping trips of private citizens and companies and online deliveries represent key problems of the modern cities. In our opinion, their solving requires an intelligent coordination of the end-consumer supply-chain-related actions and movements, which should be based on mutual visibility, self-organization, and cooperation of the involved actors. This chapter presents and comments from a sustainability perspective several IT concepts that can optimize the modern ECM (end-consumer movements) related logistics. They rely on the intelligent coordination of end-consumers demands (ranging from short-term to long-term), the resulting reduction of supply-chain-related traffic, and the networking of social resources involved in such city supply chains. The focus is placed on the creation of multidimensional synergies among the involved actors on all scales and the support of the participative supply-chain networks, which are driven by end-users.
Delivering Major Infrastructure Projects with Predictable Success
Authors: Allport Roger James
Published: March 2016

The inconvenient truth is that metro development, that is the focus of this paper, with some notable exceptions, fails to deliver the outcomes promised when implementation was committed. This fact undermines the confidence city leaders and national treasuries have in supporting metro development in furtherance of public policy. This matters because metros can become the catalytic centre-piece of sustainable development for some cities, and because the cost of failure is so large. There are exemplars of good practice worldwide and a strong evidence base on which to determine what is needed to improve success. This paper reviews the evidence and presents new research findings to recommend an Agenda for Change. This can practically be implemented and lead to progressive improvement.
Supply-Chain Competitiveness and Efficiency
Authors: Beretta Enrico , Vacche Alessandra Dalle , Migliardi Andrea
Published: March 2016

Logistics is relevant both for its direct and indirect contribute to Italian GDP and for its impact on the country competitiveness. The weakness of Italian logistics, as reported in institutional and international documents, depends on: inadequate infrastructures; problems for connections; fragmentation of operators; inefficiency in single transportation services, lack in programming and regulation framework. This paper focuses on these subjects by presenting the results of a survey conducted on a sample of national and global forwarders. In the forwarders' view, priority should be given to the rail Trans European Network completion, which is crucial to implement cross border services; other works considered relevant by the forwarders regard the rail connections between the Northern and the Southern part of the country and the local intermodal connections. Last mile in ports areas and intermodal services represent other problematic issues. Logistics centres received a sufficient evaluation but their territorial distribution is considered too fragmented. Forwarders express adequate considerations for tariffs, timing and operators' efficiency and reliability, but not for the rail service. The supply-chain organization is not optimal due to lack of programming and to the fragmentation of operators. Endowment and use of ICT are adequate, but integration between different operators' systems is scarce. Our survey reveals some policy suggestions. Firstly, operators ask the public legislator to address innovation in the regulation framework and to select few realizable targets (in order to be selective in investments and to implement adequate incentives). Secondly, operators themselves could possibly concentrate and rationalize their supply and, where necessary, implement the logistics outsourcing. Finally, national and local logistics associations should enhance an integration of different ICT systems and promote the respect of minimum standard services.
Transport Costs in a Shrinking World
Authors: Schliephake Konrad Heinz
Published: March 2016

Logistics is about reducing costs in freight transport and removing virtual (rather than physical) obstacles in the event. Reports dwell on the quest for efficiency and show ways to remove bottlenecks and costs. The reduction of these costs was instrumental to an ever increasing exchange notably of finished goods between the countries of the World. The cost elements of transportation de-pend on the nature of the goods to be transported as well as the topography, the distance to overcome and the modal choice. But day-to-day reality seems to paint a totally different picture to the economic analyst. Does it still make sense to apply or even study the theories of the classical and neo-classical transportation geography which allocate the spheres of production and of consumption according to costs in space. This paper dwells on two diverging opinions. The combination of two sets of models, one coming out of the classic methodologies and one from modern marketing concepts, leads to an explanative approach which reconciles both model builders and empirical analysts.
Financial Market Regulatory Structure in South Asia
Authors: Kashyap Amit Kumar , Bhandari Anchit , Jaswani Urvashi
Published: March 2016

South Asian region is comprising of countries Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan & Maldives. The different countries are with different values, market standards & different investors. But one thing is very clear that the south Asian countries are having diversified markets. The presence of different types of the investors make it imperative to study the markets very closely. Without the complete study of the markets it is impossible to advice the investment at all. This chapter is dedication to the brief overview of financial market regulatory structure in all major south Asian countries in SAARC region.
Why Credit Ratings Serve a Greater Role in Emerging Economies than Industrial Nations
Authors: Ojo Marianne
Published: March 2016

The agency problem attributed to dispersed ownership is also principally regarded as being that of the control over powerful management. Whilst there are conflicting views in respect of the degree of agency problems which arise under dispersed and concentrated ownership structures, it appears that additional or greater agency problems will eventually necessitate the need for greater monitoring. In recommending the external auditor's expertise as appropriate for addressing agency problems, this chapter draws attention to the audit committee's roles, presenting them both as vital and complementary corporate governance tools.
Volatility and the Regulation of Stock Markets
Authors: Eryilmaz Filiz
Published: March 2016

In recent years, one of the most important topics related to stock market volatility which is attracting attention, is stock returns, or in other words, the relationship between stock price volatility and trading volume. The aim of this study was to obtain information about the financial market structure of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan by applying Granger Causality Analysis to the relationship of trading volume and stock returns volatility in the period 1980–2012. The study then examines some of the stock market regulations that have been proposed in South Asia to attenuate stock market volatility, which have usually included proposals to limit volatility by imposing temporary trading halts, limiting the legal leverage available to investors in financial assets, altering exchange trading practices to accommodate volume, and by raising the transactions costs of financial trading.
Economic and Financial Integration in South Asia
Authors: Edirisuriya Piyadasa , Gunasekarage Abeyratna
Published: March 2016

Many countries in the South Asia region are global players in many aspects due to the nature of emerging markets as well as being democratic countries irrespective of the fact that many people in the region are troubled by higher level of poverty. Many years of regulation in the South Asian region has hampered economic growth and reduced the level of efficiencies in almost all economic activities. However, implementation of market deregulations since the early 1980s in many sectors has benefited the majority of countries in the region in a number of ways. Among others, one of the most significant benefits is the integration of markets in the financial as well as other economic sectors generating better economic achievements. In this study, we examine the process of economic and financial market integration as well as cost/benefit of such a process. We find significant benefits of economic and financial market integration to the region.
The Role of Situational Context in High School Teachers Use of Graphing Calculator in Mathematics Instruction
Authors: Nzuki Francis
Published: March 2016

By taking into consideration the significance of the socio-economic contexts, this research investigates teachers' perceptions of the role of graphing calculators, as mediating tools, to help facilitate mathematics instruction of students from two different SES backgrounds. The main source of data are in-depth semi-structured interviews with four teachers, two from each SES school. In general, the participants' perceptions of the role of the graphing calculator were dependent on the context within which it was used. Also, the participants played a crucial role in determining the nature of graphing calculator use with the low-SES school's participants appearing not to involve their students in lessons that capitalized on the powerful characteristics of graphing calculators. To tease out the role of the situation context, a four-component framework was conceptualized consisting of teacher, student, subject matter, and graphing calculator use. The components of the framework were taken to be continuously in interaction with one another implying that a change or perturbation in one of the components affected all the other components. The continuous interactions of the components of this framework suggest that equity issues in connection to the nature of graphing calculator use should be an ongoing process that is continuously locating strategies that will afford all students appropriate access and use of graphing calculators.
The Interpretive Imagination Forum
Authors: Cooper Karyn , Hughes Rebecca , Shamji Aliyah
Published: March 2016

This article reports on a study that engaged graduate students from one Canadian university in a knowledge creation project, which produced new evidence and insights regarding pressing socio-political issues of our time. This study resulted in the creation of an instructional application known as the IIF (the Interpretive Imagination Forum), a collaborative video research application for use in higher education courses across the disciplines (e.g., anthropology, history, media studies, philosophy, queer studies, sociology, women's studies). Further, this study resulted in the development of a technology-mediated, hermeneutic tagging technique. IIF was developed as an open-source platform for conducting video research. In keeping with open-source curriculum objectives (OSC), a curriculum framework was developed, which can be used in graduate-level courses (e.g., curriculum foundations, qualitative methodology, critical inquiry). Student participants were invited to add, delete, and modify text annotations or tags, which not only resulted in broader understandings of the themes, theories, and concepts that existed within the videotaped content, but also resulted in the development of a creative and innovative instructional and learning tool. The overarching objective of this study was to circumvent linear or normative qualitative analysis and instead facilitate non-linear, creative, and organic approaches to understanding, analyzing, representing, and disseminating theories and concepts derived from video scholarship.
RHEED Study of the Texture in Polycrystalline Films of Magnetite Grown on Oxidized Silicon Surface
Authors: Balashev Vyacheslav V. , Vikulov Victor A. , Pisarenko Tatiana A. , Korobtsov Vladimir V.
Published: March 2016

Polycrystalline films of magnetite (Fe3O4) with thickness of 75 nm were grown on SiO2/Si (001) surface by reactive deposition of Fe in O2 atmosphere. The growth of Fe3O4 films was conducted with the different oxygen pressures. The structure of films was monitored by reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) during the film growth. It was found that there is a range of oxygen pressure in which the growth of only textured Fe3O4 film takes place. Reactive deposition of Fe at lower oxygen pressure results in a growth of Fe3O4 film without a texture. In contrast at the deposition with higher oxygen pressure the texture in the Fe3O4 film remains but the appearance of hematite (α-Fe2O3) is observed.
Formation and Optical Properties of Thin Mg2Ge Films on Si(001) Substrate
Authors: Goroshko Dmitry L. , Chusovitin Evgeniy A. , Galkin Konstantin Nickolaevich , Chernev Igor M. , Galkin Nikolay G.
Published: March 2016

Thin Mg2Ge films were grown using two methods: a co-deposition of Ge and Mg on Si substrate kept at room temperature followed by annealing at 200 °C (solid phase epitaxy – SPE) and reactive deposition epitaxy (RDE) of Ge and Mg on Si at 200 °C. Optical properties of these structures were investigated in the photon energy range of 0.02–6.2 eV. Based on optical functions calculation, it was shown that SPE growth results in formation of a crystalline layer of Mg2Si, which exhibits a strong optical phonon originated from the substrate-film interface. In the case of RDE growth, the amount of Mg2Si is sufficiently lower, but Mg‑Si-Ge compound phonon appears. The estimate of a fundamental indirect transition value in the film is 0.72 eV for SPE growth method and 0.56 eV for RDE due to the ternary compound Mg-Ge-Si at the film-substrate interface.
The High Effect of Chemomobilization with High-Dose Etopside + Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor in Autologous Hematopoietic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single Center Experience
Authors: Izmir Güner Șebnem , Yanmaz Mustafa Teoman , Selvi Ahmet , Usul Cigdem
Published: March 2016

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) provides hematopoietic support after high-dose chemotherapy and is the standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), chemo sensitive relapsed high or intermediate grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). However, yields of hematopoietic stem cells vary greatly between patients, and the optimal strategy to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells into peripheral blood for collection has not been defined yet. We investigated the efficacy and safety of chemo mobilization with an intermediate dose etoposide (VP-16; 200 mg/m2 on days 1–3) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)(5 μg/kg twice daily from day 4 through the final day of collection). We reviewed our institutional experience with 91 patients (71 MM, 12 HL, 8 NHL) mobilized with this regimen. VP-16 + G-CSF resulted in successful mobilization in 95.55% of the patients (on one patient stem cell collection with plerixafor was applied), including 76 patients (83.52%) whose stem cells were collected successfully in a single day. Collection was managed between min. D8 and max. D17. Patient age, gender, exposure to previous irradiation and chemotherapy, previous mobilization attempts, and disease characteristics were not considered during selection. Adverse effects of the regimen included supportive transfusions and fevers requiring hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics. VP-16 and GCSF appears to be a safe and effective mobilization regimen for patients with multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation, producing excellent stem cell yield with the majority of patients requiring 1 day of apheresis.
La résistance aux anthelminthiques chez les nématodes des équidés
Authors: Laugier Claire , Sallé Guillaume
Published: March 2016

Les cyathostomes et Parascaris equorum sont considérés actuellement comme les parasites les plus importants des chevaux. Les infestations étaient, jusqu’il y a une vingtaine d’années, contrôlées par des anthelminthiques appartenant à l’une des trois familles chimiques disponibles pour les équidés : les benzimidazoles, les tétrahydropyrimidines représentées uniquement par le pyrantel et les lactones macrocycliques. L’usage répandu, pendant plus de 40 ans, de protocoles de traitement fondés sur une administration régulière et fréquente d’anthelminthiques à tous les chevaux a exercé une forte pression de sélection sur les populations parasitaires, entrainant l’émergence, puis l’extension de la résistance aux anthelminthiques chez les cyathostomes et P. equorum. Ainsi, la résistance des cyathostomes aux benzimidazoles et, à moindre degré, au pyrantel, connaît maintenant une répartition mondiale et une diminution d’efficacité des lactones macrocycliques est suspectée sur la base d’un raccourcissement du délai de réapparition des oeufs après traitement. Par ailleurs, la résistance de P. equorum à l’ivermectine est maintenant décrite dans de nombreux pays d’Europe. En l’absence de possibilité de retour à la sensibilité et de la mise sur le marché imminente de nouvelles familles d’anthelminthiques destinées aux équidés, les détenteurs de chevaux et les vétérinaires doivent conjuguer leurs efforts pour abandonner les anciennes pratiques et travailler en étroite collaboration pour l’élaboration de programmes de contrôle durable. Ces programmes viseront à réduire la fréquence des traitements et à préserver un niveau suffisant de refuges parasitaires par la réalisation de traitements à des périodes stratégiques et de traitements sélectifs fondés sur l’excrétion d’oeufs dans les fèces, tout en s’appuyant sur des mesures sanitaires appliquées à l’environnement des chevaux.
Les populations génétiques de référence de souris de laboratoire : une nouvelle génération de modèles animaux pour les maladies humaines
Authors: Montagutelli Xavier
Published: March 2016

La souris est l’animal de laboratoire le plus utilisé pour étudier les maladies humaines et développer de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques. Toutefois, les résultats obtenus chez les souris ne sont pas toujours transposables à l’homme. L’une des raisons est la faible diversité génétique des lignées de souris de laboratoire, qui est bien moindre que celle des populations humaines. A fortiori, une étude portant sur une seule lignée de souris ne peut pas reproduire la diversité des réponses observées chez l’homme. Les généticiens de la souris ont développé de nouvelles collections de lignées qui comportent une variabilité génétique au moins égale à celle des populations humaines. Elles permettent non seulement d’obtenir des phénotypes nouveaux et très variés mais aussi de développer des approches de biologie des systèmes à une échelle inégalée.
Gestion de la douleur en chirurgie vétérinaire : aspects éthiques et pratiques chez le chien
Authors: Lelionnois Olivier
Published: March 2016

Les protocoles thérapeutiques et les produits pharmaceutiques permettant de traiter la douleur chez les animaux se sont développés, ainsi que la déontologie vétérinaire à cet égard et particulièrement dans le domaine de la chirurgie. Des progrès considérables ont été effectués au niveau de la prise en charge de la douleur : le traitement de la douleur peropératoire s’avère un devoir essentiel. Le chien est probablement l’animal qui en bénéficie le plus. Nous perfectionnons l’évaluation de la douleur peropératoire et son traitement devient individualisé et multimodal. L’efficacité des analgésiques peropératoires font l’objet de nombreuses études cliniques. L’administration d’analgésiques par perfusion intraveineuse continue et les techniques d’anesthésie loco-régionale sont des exemples de ces progrès qui ne sont plus des options de luxe à discrétion. L’association thérapeutique d’anti-inflammatoires plus spécifiques et à toxicité réduite, de dérivés morphiniques, d’inhibiteurs du récepteur du N-Méthyl-D-Aspartate (kétamine), et d’alpha-2 agonistes, est mieux contrôlée et plus efficace, réduisant les craintes d’effets indésirables qui ont longtemps retenues leur utilisation.