bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reforming Intergovernmental Fiscal Relationships in China: A Political Economy Perspective
Authors: Chen Bin
Published: December 2016

This paper first explores some key principles central to a well-functioning, central/local fiscal relationship from a political economy perspective of federalism. It then applies these principles to an examination of reforming intergovernmental fiscal relationships in China from 1980s to the early 1990s. It is argued that the economic principle central to fiscal federalism is the determination of the optimal structure of the public sector in terms of the assignment of decision-making responsibility for specified functions to representatives of the interests of the proper geographical subsets of society. Fiscal decentralization, as evidenced in China, provides local government with incentives to build a hospitable environment of competition for people and capital and, therefore, prospers local economies. However, China’s experience also suggests that fiscal decentralization without the relevant political institutional foundation will bring about negative effects. The political foundations of fiscal federalism are as essential as its economic principles in preserving and sustaining fiscal federalism.
Government Performance Auditing in the U.S. and China: Lessons Drawn from a Comparative Review
Authors: Mark Funkhouser , Yanjun Joan
Published: December 2016

Performance auditing plays a key role in improving government performance and public accountability. This paper examines the concept of government performance auditing in the U.S. and China from a comparative perspective. The paper begins with a brief introduction of the origin of auditing and performance auditing. It then discusses the variances in definitions, names, and underlying values of performance auditing; describes the authorities and organizational structures of performance auditing in the two countries; and reviews the roles of performance auditing in improving government. It concludes with a discussion of challenges as well as opportunities that face government performance auditing in the U.S. and in China.
Morality Policy and Unintended Consequences: China's "One-Child" Policy
Authors: Legge Jr. Jerome S. , Zhao Zhirong
Published: December 2016

The ability of government to change human behavior by altering policy has severe limitations. Nowhere are these limitations more evident than in the area of fertility policy and sexual behavior. This paper considers the impacts of China’s restrictive population policy with regard to two dependent variables. First, we attempt to explain the impact of the “one child” policy on population growth. Secondly, we examine the effect of the policy on an unintended consequence: the sex ratio, or the imbalance between males and women in Chinese society. We utilize a time series, cross-sectional (TSCS) research design for 31 Chinese provinces and municipalities for the years 1996-1999. We consider the Chinese experience within the theoretical framework of morality policy and argue that, while China has been remarkably successful in lowering the growth rate of its still escalating population, the policy has had the unanticipated and harmful effect of an increasingly unbalanced sex ratio. While many Chinese have become convinced of the advantages of smaller families, their preference for sons has created a gender imbalance in the marriage market which potentially may have severe consequences for the future of Chinese society. We discuss these implications and argue that given the strong Chinese preference for sons, especially in rural areas of China, the government is now facing a new challenge in its effort to achieve a gender-balanced society.
Does China's Civil Service System Improve Government Performance? A Case Study of Education Bureau of Ningbo City
Authors: Zhou Zhiren , Yin Haitao , Wang Feng
Published: December 2016

Performance improvement sits at the heart of the study of public administration. Performance improvement requires performance measurement and relies heavily on effective management of human capital. This paper addresses both performance measurement and management of human capital in the context of China. China introduced its civil service system in 1993 with performance improvement as its ultimate goal. After years of implementation and practices, we attempt to make an overall assessment of the reform with a straightforward question “Has the civil service system improved government performance?” Taking the Education Bureau of Ningbo City as a case, our research design begins with efficiency measurement of the bureau and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is applied as the measurement tool. A comparison of agency performance before and after the introduction of the civil service system is carried out to obtain the basic judgment on the effects of the reform. Then seven contributing factors are ranked on the basis of structured focus-group interviews with civil service reform as one of them. It is found that limited efficiency gain was achieved in the Education Bureau and civil service reform made little impact on agency performance. Some theoretical explanations to those findings are provided. We hope that the study not only provides a case for assessment of the civil service reform against its stated goals, but also sheds light on the use of DEA method in efficiency measurement.
Private Entrepreneurs in China: Social Entrepreneurs or Social Menaces?
Authors: Ho Toby
Published: December 2016

Many think that private entrepreneurs are capable of creating partnerships with central and local government, business, churches, charities and other local and national institutions. There is a considerable amount of research about how private entrepreneurs make different social contributions whereas scholars and politicians define them as social entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, this paper argues that private entrepreneurs in China have been traditionally discriminated and continue to be regarded as social menaces in the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s regime though they really acted as social entrepreneurs for a short time during modern China. Chinese leadership, from the founding of the PRC to the reforms and opening-up, has seen private entrepreneurs as social menaces - a threat to the authority rather than social entrepreneurs - a dedication to changing the systems and patterns of society.
Experiences and Lessons of MPA Administrative Law Education in the United States to China
Authors: Wang Conghu
Published: December 2016

In the United States, Administrative Law, as one of the core curricula of the MPA, has in the past encountered some problems in the teaching process. Particularly with respect to educational goals, textbook compilations and teaching methods, it has experienced a process for perfectibility step after step, which serves as a good reference for China to inaugurate MPA teaching at the initial stage. It would be important to draw ideas from experience and lessons in the U.S. when carrying out administrative law education in China.
European Approaches to MPA Education: Convergence and Divergence
Authors: Yan Shufeng , Brans Marleen
Published: December 2016

This paper sheds lights on the experiences of MPA education in Europe concerning its key characteristics, major approaches, and the extent of convergence and divergence in the areas of MPA teaching, research and international cooperation. In a broad perspective, it gives an overview of the development of the European MPA education in the context of globalization and Europeanization for the past 15 years. Specifically, it takes University of Leuven the "European Masters of Public Administration" program as a case study. It mainly argues that there is a strengthening and convergent need and trend of international cooperation of MPA education not only among European universities but also with universities beyond the border of Europe. Despite the convergent priority of internationalization, the divergent approaches to MPA education under the different administrative cultures and financial situations pose challenges to the international cooperation of MPA education.
E-Governance - A Carrier of Societal Development Developing Business Opportunities for the Rural Poor in the State of Uttar Pradesh A Province in India
Authors: Sharma Vinay
Published: December 2016

E-Governance as a subject matter is discussed as a carrier of societal development in this paper. The objective of this paper is to highlight the role of e-Governance in the development of business opportunities for the rural poor, in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Further, a view is generated on how the development of business opportunities may support the process of societal development on the whole. This paper as defined by Amartya Sen concentrates on the basic importance of freedom, associative and constitutive of freedom of market transaction, in assessing the market mechanism, along with the results in the form of incomes or the utilities it generates (Sen. A, 2000).Therefore, this paper is proposing the role of e-Governance to be a facilitator and a mode to be utilized by the rural poor toa) access the communication network,b) to access the information,c) for the development of business opportunities (enhancement in the freedom of market transaction)d) leading to the subsequent development of the society as a whole.
Education and Training Japanese Government Officials: Current Trends and Policy Study Aspects
Authors: Oyama Tatsuo
Published: December 2016

We explain the recruiting and promoting system for high-level Japanese government officials showing the trend of numbers of applicants for the recruitment examination, those who passed the examination, and also those who were employed by some ministries in the last 17 years. We describe the major characteristics of the promotion system for Japanese government officials. Educating and training Japanese government officials in the area of policy studies have been conducted in both university schools, governmental training centers, governmental schools and colleges. An education and training system for government officials needs to be developed so that each government official is equipped with a certain specialty and expertise. A formal system for evaluating individuals and programs has not been common in Japan, especially for evaluating individual work and contribution. We need to “invent” an evaluation system that will make the government officials’ decision-making system work more efficiently. Public and private universities, in particular, have been very active in creating many policy-related schools and departments in the last 20 years. Policy studies, which have been conducted in various schools in the university and government research institutes, are described in detail with their objectives, curriculums, and requirements.
Entrepreneurship in Public Management: The Case of Sri Lanka Administrative Service
Authors: Fernando Lalitha
Published: December 2016

The role of entrepreneurship in public management remains in debate. Despite the debatable arguments to regarding public entrepreneurship, this paper argues that the concept still has validity of utilizing as a tool for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of public service. By using Hunter’s reputational snowballing technique to identify public entrepreneurs among Sri Lanka’s administrative service, this study presents the preliminary findings based on a recent empirical study and examines their administrative and decision-making roles towards desired changes in the public service in Sri Lanka. During the period of October 2002 and March 2003, the study gathered the data through in-depth interviews of 25 officers in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. The results of the study indicate that public managers’ motivation to achieve and their leadership skills, goal clarity, managerial autonomy, performance-based reward system, citizen participation and public support represent major factors contributing to public entrepreneurship in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. This study also finds that there are entrepreneurs in the Sri Lanka public service. Also the paper argues that there are opportunities and potential in the service to work as entrepreneurs who are innovative, proactive and willing to take some risks beyond their work responsibilities. Further, the author argues that there are significant benefits when the entrepreneurship is applied to public management. Therefore the necessary reforms are needed to sustain such initiatives of public entrepreneurs towards more effectiveness and efficiency of public service.
A Stuy of Health Care Reform in China in Light of the USA and Canadian Systems
Authors: Chen Greg
Published: December 2016

This article describes and examines the newly implemented basic medical insurance system for urban employees in China. The insurance system was built on two distinct concepts, individual providence and social insurance, and was characterized by national government mandates, local government administration, and employer/employee contributions. The study found that the Chinese basic medical insurance program for urban employees was implemented in all major urban areas. About 130 million people were covered under the scheme as of May 2005. The program benefits are limited with relatively low ceilings on reimbursable expenses and high cost sharing from the insured. The procedure for reimbursement is complicated and time consuming. China can learn from the U.S. and Canadian systems in both financing and providing healthcare. The U.S. system arguably supplies the best medical services in terms of quality and accessibility for those who are insured and those who can pay out of pocket. But the huge costs may not work well with China at present. The Canadian system, which is relatively effective, efficient, and equitable, although not as accessible, may fit China better. The study also suggests that the U.S. employer-based healthcare insurance system requires a major overhaul. It puts U.S. companies at a disadvantaged position in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.
An Evaluation of China's Tax System: Insights for Future Reform
Authors: Qiao Yuhua
Published: December 2016

Discussion of how to develop a modern tax system is important for the Chinese government with China’s urbanization and economic development and with the enlarged income gap among its population. This paper explores the strengths and weaknesses of China’s tax system by applying the criteria that scholars use in judging revenue sources. The existing Chinese tax system is regressive, complex, and lacks revenue adequacy. To correct its weaknesses, several tax reform recommendations are made. This includes broadening individual income tax among top income individuals and expanding the circle gradually, expanding consumption tax, and eliminating unnecessary preferential tax treatments in all taxes.
Assessing the State of Public Administration Research in Mainland China: Prospects and Challenges
Authors: Berman Evan
Published: December 2016

The rapid modernization and globalization of mainland China has resulted in impressive new practices and expectations for public administration (PA), including public administration research and education. Chinese universities have created new master in public administration (MPA) degree programs that already rival U.S. MPA programs in enrollment, with about 15,000 to 20,000 students annually. In 1999, PhD programs in public administration were first established at Fudan University, Renmin University, and Sun Yat-Sen University. Since then, Chinese ministries and universities have ratcheted up quality expectations for university-based public administration research. At the top universities, faculty are increasingly expected to publish in journals that are part of the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) to keeping pace with similar expectations for quality in neighboring Asian countries and, indeed, around the world. Beyond this, public administration researchers are also expected to contribute to empowering a new generation of public managers and guiding modernization efforts in Chinese public service. There are high expectations for sure.
Dissertation Research in Public Administration in China
Authors: Jing Yijia
Published: December 2016

Using the evaluation framework originally developed by McCurdy and Cleary, this article examines the quality of 132 public administration dissertations produced in mainland China between 2002 and 2006. In general, the quality of these PA dissertations can be considered unsatisfactory in all six criteria: research question, validity, theory relevance, causality, importance, and innovativeness. A comparison between these dissertations and their counterparts produced in the US in 1981, 1990 and 1998 shows that they are similar to the US dissertations from 1981. Major institutional problems that have led to inadequate PA doctoral research, including the lack of a research orientation, rigid PhD advisor institutions, and maladjustment to internationalization, are identified and discussed. While there is a prevailing consensus in China of building PA research on contemporary social science standards, real efforts and institutional reforms are urgently needed.
Empowered Autonomy: The Politics of Community Governance Innovations in Shanghai, China
Authors: Liu Chunrong
Published: December 2016

This paper examines the nature, process, and implication of recent community governance reforms in Shanghai with a focus on the potential role of these institutional innovations in generating social solidarity as heralded by social capital and civil society theories. Case analysis demonstrates that the practice of democratic governance creates institutional space and organizational resources for informal, public, and day-to-day engagement among residents. The elected residents’ committee system has become an extraordinary source of community sociability and solidarity. This is summarized and explained by the notion of “empowered autonomy,” in which state-led governance reforms stimulate and thicken horizontal networks and norms of reciprocity within a society.
Citizen-Participation Performance Evaluation for Local Governments in Mainland China, The State of Practice, Analytical Framework and Research Agenda
Authors: Wu Jiannan , Gao Xiaoping
Published: December 2016

Nowadays, a great volume of citizen-participation (C-P for short) activities serving the purpose of performance evaluation have been initiated. Among these innovative activities, both the positive and negative comments on the significances have come out. While the criticisms were elicited from distinct points of view, the current study tried to provide a synthesizing description in order to further understand C-P evaluation. Through a case representing how in practice a typical C-P evaluation was implemented, traits were spotted to form an analytical framework that was considered helpful in identifying the key issues. Finally, based on the findings in the framework, an agenda against the further research on C-P evaluation was discussed.
Motivation absorbs Magnitude: An Analysis of Health Care Service of KUMBH MELA
Authors: Sharma Vinay
Published: December 2016

This paper highlights the levels of commitment, purposefulness, transparency, efficiency, effective administration and good governance in the delivery of Health Care Services observed and experienced at the largest ever gathering of humans (30 million people on 24th January 2001 on the occasion of MauniAmavasya) at one single place of a 3000 acre temporary township since the inception of Human race on our planet Earth. This occasion was KUMBH MELA in the year 2001 wherein 70 million people congregated over a period of few weeks. During thisAllahabad (the city where Kumbh was organized) turned into the most densely populated city in the world. (For detailed description of KUMBH and the legend behind please refer to supplementary notes at the end of the paper titled KUMBH MELAa story). The paper tries to analyse the factors behind the successful administration and management of the Health Care Services provided during this period. Though the author himself closely observed the situation by staying there at the location and throughout otherwise wherein he could find the methodology, but answers to few questions still remain to be debated and analysed and one of the major question is that what propels people to manage and execute tasks so precisely despite of the magnitude and high constraints associated with such tasks? The felt and understood answer is ‘Motivation absorbs Magnitude’ but the question is How one gets so much motivated? For example, Dr. G.R.Sharma, Additional Director of Medical and Health Care Services of the Allahabad Region who headed the team of Health Care Services at the time of this unheard congregation of Human Beings on this Earth had to retire from his services just after this occasion and serving the State Medical and Health Care Services for 30 odd years as a Medical Doctor and an Administrator, he very well understood the nuances of taking such a task at hand. Taking responsibilities and then accomplishing those has a passage of extreme concentration, commitment and conviction in between.
Gender-Responsive Budgeting: Moving Women in China Further Along the Road to Full Equality
Authors: Rubin Marilyn Marks
Published: December 2016

Over the past 25 years, the progress toward gender equity has gained momentum in most parts of the world, and has been galvanized by significant actions taken by the international community of nations. There has also been a growing worldwide awareness that governments’ budget decisions relating to both revenues and expenditures can be critical in promoting gender equity. For example, on the expenditure side of the budget, a government’s reduction of agricultural subsidies could impact heavily on women who generally comprise the bulk of farm workers, especially in developing countries. Restoring, or even increasing, the subsidies could increase household incomes, raise agricultural production and improve the quality of life for all villagers. On the revenue side, an income tax rate reduction would primarily benefit men whose incomes are generally greater than those of women. Changing the structure of the tax reduction to, perhaps, a tax credit could result in a more equitable gender distribution of the benefits of lower taxes. Several terms including “women’s budgets,” “gender budgets,” “gender-sensitive budgets,” and “gender-responsive budgets” have been used to describe government budgets that incorporate a gender perspective. In my paper, I use the term “gender-responsive budget” (GRB) to define a government budget that explicitly integrates gender into any or all parts of the decision-making process regarding expenditures and/or revenues. I use the term “GRB initiative” to include: (1) the actual integration of a gender perspective into any or all aspects of budget decisions; and (2) an organized movement to influence government to incorporate a gender perspective into its budget decisions. Thus defined, GRB initiatives have been undertaken in more than 60 countries at the national and/or subnational levels of government. The purpose of my paper is to show how the lessons learned in these GRB initiatives can be applied in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) where the equal treatment of women is a goal that has yet to be fully realized along most dimensions, including education, health, economic prosperity and political involvement.
Improving Public Service Delivery in Qingdao Municipality of Shandong Province
Authors: Jing Cui
Published: December 2016

This paper will assess the effectiveness of the reform of improving public service delivery and identify the factors responsible for the improvements in public service delivery in Qingdao municipality of Shandong province in the People’s Republic of China. This paper begins with a description of the policy context and discusses how the policy context affects the improvement of public service delivery in Qingdao municipality. It then discusses the efforts of improving the delivery of public service through enhancing human service delivery, reforming the administrative approval system and increasing government transparency and public participation in Qingdao municipality. Finally, this paper will identify the factors affecting the improvement of public service delivery in Qingdao municipality in terms of the decentralization of economic management, tax profit sharing with the local government, political control, the delegation of law-making and the local leadership.
The Quest for Results: Opportunities for Using Performance Measurement in Chinese Public Administration
Authors: Kasdin Stuart
Published: December 2016

This paper examines the current situation of public management in China and the potential that management reforms might bring improvement. The primary goal of the paper is to examine the opportunities that incentivized performance measures have to enhance that agency management. The paper analyzes the conditions for how performance information can be fashioned into a metric, which is contractible. It then looks at the types of incentives that can be tied to the metric. It also considers the flexibility of the government agency, the central budget office, and the oversight entities, and the roles that each plays in ensuring successful implementation of a performance management system.
Rethinking New Public Management: A Metaphorical Approach
Authors: Chen Bin
Published: December 2016

There has been a notion that public administration is steadily progressing toward a unanimously accepted and universally applicable administrative reform theory and practice called the New PublicManagement (NPM). To reinvent their public sectors, many countries have embraced the ideas of NPM that are based on the private sector model. Through the lens of a metaphorical analysis, this paper highlights and explores the specific weakness in the NPM’s claim of a convergence to a business-like model driven by competition and technological advances, reveals the private interests disguised as public good underlying the NPM movement, and questions its emphasis on managerialism by rejecting a politics-administration dichotomy. It is further argued that, like any other administrative and policy argument, viability of the NPM to a large extent depends on its ability to strategically craft persuasive rhetoric in its favor.
Book Review: Daniel A. Bell, The China Model: Political Meritocracy and the Limits of Democracy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2015.
Authors: Gu Zhonghua
Published: December 2016

This is a book review of Daniel A. Bell, The China Model: Political Meritocracy and the Limits of Democracy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2015.
Assessing Agency-Level Performance Evaluation Reform in China: Can It Truly Serve as a Management Innovation?
Authors: Ye Lin , Ni Xing
Published: December 2016

This study assesses agency-level performance evaluation reform in China.
Public Trust in Government in China and South Korea: Implications for Building Community Resilience
Authors: Kim Soonhee
Published: December 2016

This study addresses public trust in China and South Korea. This study provides implications for building community resilience.
If Only We Knew What We Know: Factors for Mobilizing Citizen Participation in Community-based Emergency Preparedness
Authors: Wu Wei-Ning , Chang Kaiju , Tso Yi-En
Published: December 2016

This study examines factors for mobilizing citizen participation in community-based emergency preparedness.
Assessing Open Government Performance through Three Public Administration Perspectives: Efficiency, Democratic Responsiveness, and Legal-rational Process
Authors: Ingrams Alex
Published: December 2016

This study assesses open government performance through three public administration perspectives - efficiency, democratic responsiveness, and legal-rational perspectives.
Blood Calcification Propensity, Cardiovascular Events, and Survival in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis in the EVOLVE Trial
Authors: Pasch Andreas , Block Geoffrey A. , Bachtler Matthias , Smith Edward R. , Jahnen-Dechent Wilhelm , Arampatzis Spyridon , Chertow Glenn M. , Parfrey Patrick , Ma Xiaoye , Floege Juergen
Published: December 2016

Background and objectives

Patients receiving hemodialysis are at risk of cardiovascular events. A novel blood test (T
50 test) determines the individual calcification propensity of blood.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

T
50 was determined in 2785 baseline serum samples of patients receiving hemodialysis enrolled in the Evaluation of Cinacalcet Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events (EVOLVE) trial and the T
50 results were related to patient outcomes.

Results

Serum albumin, bicarbonate, HDL cholesterol, and creatinine were the main factors positively/directly and phosphate was the main factor negatively/inversely associated with T
50. The primary composite end point (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction [MI], hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, or peripheral vascular event [PVE]) was reached in 1350 patients after a median follow-up time of 619 days. After adjustments for confounding, a lower T
50 was independently associated with a higher risk of the primary composite end point as a continuous measure (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 SD lower T
50, 1.15; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.08 to 1.22; P<0.001). Furthermore, lower T
50 was associated with a higher risk in all-cause mortality (HR per 1 SD lower T
50, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.17; P=0.001), MI (HR per 1 SD lower T
50, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.60; P<0.001), and PVE (HR per 1 SD lower T
50, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.42; P=0.01). T
50 improved risk prediction (integrated discrimination improvement and net reclassification improvement, P<0.001 and P=0.001) of the primary composite end point.

Conclusions

Blood calcification propensity was independently associated with the primary composite end point, all-cause mortality, MI, and PVE in the EVOLVE study and improved risk prediction. Prospective trials should clarify whether T
50-guided therapies improve outcomes.
Effectiveness of the national credit act of South Africa in reducing household debt: a Johansen cointegration and VECM analysis
Authors: Bimha Alfred
Published: December 2016

The rise in unsecured lending has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the National Credit Act in South Africa. Reckless lending was seen rising since 2006 and plateauing in 2009. Could this be evidence of the effectiveness of the National Credit Act (NCA) curbing reckless lending household debts? This study embarks on finding whether reckless lending was present in the Pre-NCA period running from 1994 to the end of 2nd quarter of 2007 when the NCA was enacted. Further in this study, the effectiveness of NCA in curbing reckless lending in the Post-NCA period starting from the 3rd quarter of 2007 to the 2nd quarter of 2014. Using the Johansen Cointegration analysis and Vector Error Correction Model, long run and short run Granger causality tests are done with the household debt as a dependent and debt service coverage ratio, household debt to disposable income ratio and disposable income as independents. The results from the tests done provide convincing evidence that reckless lending indeed was present in the Pre-NCA period and there is evidence showing the curbing of reckless lending in the Post-NCA period.
Improving organizational service delivery through institutional innovation
Authors: Abdullahi Danjuma
Published: December 2016

The organizational survival depends on innovation. Organizations that are best in innovation are also apt to be the best collaborators, both internal and external, when dealing with a complex problems such as leadership, human resource and funding. The paper therefore seek to examines the mediating role of collaboration in development of organizational needs such as workers’ productivity, sharing ideas, pulling resource and leadership quality. The collaboration can emerge with new models, better designed processes, and novel technology— as well achievements of the aims and objectives in which the organizations was set up. The study conducted a survey research with 96 respondents, Smart PLS 2.0 was used in analyses of the data, seven hypotheses were formed and all the hypotheses were supported indicating the relationship between bureaucracy, collaboration, resource, leadership quality and innovation. The paper recommends increase in collaboration.
Toxicological and Analytical Assessment of E-Cigarette Refill Components on Airway Epithelia
Authors: Singh Jasjot , Luquet Emilie , Smith David P.T. , Potgieter Herman J. , Ragazzon Patricia
Published: December 2016

There are over 2.6 million users of e-cigarettes in the United Kingdom alone as they have been promoted as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. The addition of flavours and aromas has also proven to be popular with younger generations. In this review, we survey the range of studies in the short timeframe since e-cigarettes reached the market to draw attention to the health associated risks and benefits of their introduction. We complement this review with a case study reporting on the composition of selected e-cigarette refills with particular emphasis on the toxicological activity of its components on lung cells.
Creating Awareness for Early Identification of Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Hussain Manzoor
Published: December 2016

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Child Health 2015; VOL 39 (1) :1-5
Neurodevelopmental Evaluation in Full-term Newborns with Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): A Case Control Study
Authors: Banu Selina H , Salim AFM , Ara Rawnak , Akhter Roksana , Khan Naila Z
Published: December 2016

Background: Newborns with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) are at risk of neuro-developmental disabilities. Early identification of their neuro-developmental impairments (NDI), immediate intervention and reassessment might be a useful method to measure and prevent major disability. This study was performed to identify impairment in different developmental domains among the babies admitted with moderate to severe degree HIE, and evaluate their outcomes after intervention with developmental therapy and stimulation.Methodology: The exploratory case control study was conducted during April 2008 till February 2012. We enrolled 81 full-term babies admitted to the special care neonate unite with HIE as case. The control group included age and sex matched 81 babies who did not have HIE. Neurodevelopmental assessment was performed using age specific rapid neurodevelopmental assessment tool (RNDA) by trained developmental therapists (DT). Intervention with developmental therapy and stimulation was provided for every child. Those who had assessment at least twice, (at entry and after 1 year age) were included for this study.Results: Male were predominating (66.7%). Mean age was 18 and 19 days on the 1st ; 17 and18 months on last assessment day in case and control group respectively. NDI was identified in 89% and 35% in case and control group respectively. On last assessment, 42% developed disability (permanent functional deficit), 35.8% achieved age appropriate developmental skills, 20% were lost to follow up, and 2 children died among the case group. These were 16% (13/81), 72% and 12% respectively among the control group. Significant correlation was found between the 1st and last assessment result among the case and control group.Conclusion: Early identification of NDI using a valid assessment tool and immediate intervention could probably reduce the disability in babies with HIE. A long time evaluation of this cohort would provide valuable information.Bangladesh J Child Health 2015; VOL 39 (1) :6-13
Diastrophic Dysplasia : A Case Report
Authors: Mahmud Nasir Uddin , Das Jagadish C , Mahmud Mayen Uddin , Hasan Mohammad Shamim , Taher Rifat , Khanam Mursheda
Published: December 2016

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Child Health 2015; VOL 39 (1) :46-49
McCune-Albright Syndrome-Presenting with Precocious Puberty
Authors: Kasem Setara Binte , Razzaque Shaikh Abdur , Adiba Raisa , Anika Selma
Published: December 2016

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Child Health 2015; VOL 39 (1) :57-61
Simple method for classification of mango varieties on the basis of their physicochemical properties by chemometric techniques
Authors: Uddin MN , Ara R , Motalab M , Fakhruddin ANM , Saha BK
Published: December 2016

Nutritional parameters vary significantly among different varieties of mango. It is therefore necessary to have simple method to classify mango pulps according to their nutritional parameters by effective and economic technique. The present study was carried out to develop a method to classify mango varieties by using two chemometric techniques namely, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Linear Discrimination Analysis (LDA). At first, 9 physico-chemical parameters have been chosen from 18 of them by applying Factor Analysis (FA), as quantification of each parameter involves time and cost. Nine varieties of mango available in Bangladesh were studied her. LDA can classify the mango pulps on the basis of their nutritional properties 100 percent accurately, and this rate for ANN is 96.3 percent. Therefore, a method is being proposed where mango can be classified with their 9 physico-chemical parameters into their right varieties by LDA. The proposed chemometric method could be used for regular classification of mango pulps at laboratory and mango product manufacturing industries to improve the quality of mango products.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 51(4), 253-260, 2016
Zinc stearate from galvanizing waste materials and its use as thermal stabilizer in PVC industries
Authors: Rony FK , Ray SK , Hoque A , Asaduzzaman M , Sultana S , Nur HP , Islam STA
Published: December 2016

Galvanizing industries of Bangladesh produce profuse amount of environmentally hazardous solid waste materials like zinc dross which contains significant amount of valuable zinc and harmful heavy lead. Zinc was extracted as zinc chloride (ZnCl2) from zinc dross. Zinc stearate (ZnSt2) samples were prepared by precipitation method from stearic acid, sodium hydroxide and ZnCl2 by varying the amount of the reagents and product yield found within the range 96.06-99.18%. Characteristic peaks of ZnSt2 were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) onset curve assigned accurate melting point within the range 122.84-124.03°C. Surface morphology of ZnSt2 was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and products had semi-crystalline structure. Thermal stability of ZnSt2 was evaluated by Thermo-gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) that complied with literature. A combination of ZnSt2 and Calcium stearate (CaSt2) at 1:1 ratio was used as thermal stabilizer in the powder commercial grade PVC resin and performed better thermal stability. The dehydrochlorination temperature of PVC with mixed stearates was 344.67±1.04°C for 10% (w/w) loading whereas for PVC, PVC with 10% (w/w) ZnSt2 and PVC with 10% (w/w) CaSt2, it was 269.83±1.04°C, 317.33±1.26°C and 323.33±2.08°C respectively.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 51(4), 261-270, 2016
Simultaneous determination of furosemide and spironolactone in pharmaceutical formulations by spectrophotometric method using principal component regression
Authors: Israt SS , Uddin MN , Jahan RA , Karim MM
Published: December 2016

The combination of furosemide (furo) and spironolactone (spiro) is very effective in the treatment of heart failure. In that case, maintaining good quality of these drugs in commercial tablets is must. Therefore, a simple, economical, precise and accurate method, i.e; chemometric assisted UV spectroscopy, for simultaneous determination of furosemide and spironolactone in combined dosage form has been developed. In this study, principal component regression (PCR) has been reported for this purpose. A calibration set of 36 mixture solutions containing furosemide and spironolactone in methanol in the concentration range of 2.0-12.0 ?g/ml and 5.0-30.0 ?g/ml respectively has been prepared by means of an orthogonal experimental design. The absorbance data for the concentration set have been obtained by direct measurement in UV spectrophotometer at 101 wavelength points in the spectral region of 200-300 nm for the zero order spectra. The chemometric technique is also successfully applied to available pharmaceutical formulations, tablets, with no interference from excipients. The analytical performances of principal component regression are characterized by relative prediction errors and recoveries (%). The good recoveries obtained in this case proved that the proposed chemometric technique could be applied efficiently in the quality control of the studied drugs simultaneously in their mixture as well as in the commercial dosage form with satisfactory precision and accuracy as alternative analysis tools.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 51(4), 297-306, 2016
Topical application of silver-curcumin on wound healing in rabbits
Authors: Islam R , Rima UK , Haq MM , Hossain MM , Rahman MM , Khan MAHNA
Published: December 2016

Curcumin, a natural product obtained from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, is used traditionally in prevention of wound infection. To determine the effects of silver and curcumin combination on surgical wound healing, a study was conducted in rabbits. A total of 32 surgical wounds were created in 16 rabbits in four groups. Information was recorded from Day 0 to Day 42 postoperatively. Swelling area of wound, elevation of suture line from the skin surface, width of sutured area and contraction length were recorded weekly. Treatment with curcumin, 1% silver sulfadiazine (1% SSD) and a mixture of the two resulted in swelling of 11.4 ± 0.1 mm, 11.1 ± 0.4 mm and 11.0 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. Swelling (12.2 ± 0.3mm) and elevation of sutured line was higher (3.4 ± 0.2 mm) in wounds of control group and lower (2.3 ± 0.1 mm) in wounds treated with a mixture of curcumin and 1% SSD. The scores of wound colonization were lowest (0.8) in 1% SSD group followed by mixture of curcumin and 1% SSD (1.0), curcumin (1.3) and tincture of benzoin (1.6) alone. Histopathologically reactive cells decreased markedly in wounds treated with combination of 1% SSD and curcumin at D3 with increased fibrous connective tissue. However, wounds treated with 1% SSD showed fewer reactive cells than curcumin group. Proliferation of fibrous connective tissue was highest in the silver treated wound, which indicates good wound healing process. Overall, wound healing was improved by the topical application of 1% SSD alone. Curcumin had positive effects on wound healing process but less than 1% SSD. These results indicate that 1% silver sulfadiazine is the best topical therapy for wound management in rabbits.Bangl. vet. 2015. Vol. 32, No. 2, 55-64
Editors Note Vol 12
Authors: Hossain Md Delawer
Published: December 2016

Abstract not availableIIUC Studies Vol.12 December 2015: 3
Chittagonian Variety: Dialect, Language, or Semi-Language?
Authors: Hoque Muhammad Azizul
Published: December 2016

The main concern of this paper is to explore the status of Chittagonian variety- a language spoken by the people of Chittagong in Bangladesh-with a view to considering whether it is a dialect of Bangla or a language or a semi-language. Though it is closely related to Bangla, its distinctive features like a different sound system, mutual unintelligibility with Bangla, etc. give it a separate entity and encourage the researcher of this paper to rethink about the existing idea of its being a dialect of Bangla and to try to present some supportive argumants in favor of its separate entity as a language. In the article the researcher has provided an introduction to the Chittagonian variety; language and dialect; previous literature, and used methodology consisting of random sampling based on the collection of newspaper articles, books, and internet sources, and the like. And some findings from that research and recommendations have been discussed.IIUC Studies Vol.12 December 2015: 41-62
Shelleys Romantic Passion in Ode to the West Wind: Its Impact on Farrukh Ahmad
Authors: Hosain Md Iqbal
Published: December 2016

The paper intends to explore a parallel between Shelley and Farrukh Ahmad through a minute analysis of some of their celebrated poems pregnant with romantic passion. Ode to the West Wind, which has been considered as one of the most significant poems of Shelley, conceives his utmost romantic idea that corresponds to the romantic spirit of Farrukh Ahmad expressed in Jhod and Boishakh, two of his famous poems. In Ode to the West Wind Shelley urges the west wind to destroy the aged old society full of corruption and injustice and at the same time pleads it to preserve the society by spreading the seeds of new hope and regeneration. So does Farrukh Ahmad in his Jhod and Boishakh. Though their beliefs and ideologies are not alike, they have taken the west wind as an emblem of destroyer and preserver.IIUC Studies Vol.12 December 2015: 63-70
CLT at the Higher Secondary Level in Bangladesh: Theory and Practice
Authors: Ullah Md Mohib
Published: December 2016

With the progress of time, the aim of teaching and learning English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) changed, and so did the approaches and methods in language teaching. Different methods and approaches emerged and were replaced, influenced or contributed to the emergence of new methods. It is widely acknowledged that one umbrella approach to language teaching that has become the accepted "norm" in this field is the Communicative Language Teaching Approach. This study deals with the theories and practices of CLT at the Higher Secondary level in Bangladesh. Realizing the significance of CLT, The Ministry of Education in Bangladesh made groundbreaking attempts to implement CLT in the new context and also brought some changes in the curriculum in 1990s. Along with attempting to provide a real picture of how CLT is practiced and utilized in an ESL/EFL context, this study focuses on the Practice of CLT approach in Bangladesh. Moreover, this study intends to propose some propositions to be implemented for better practice of CLT in ESL/EFL contexts.IIUC Studies Vol.12 December 2015: 71-86
The Authenticity Gap between what is taught in Bangladeshi EFL Courses and the Reality of authentic English
Authors: Tarannum Sawsan
Published: December 2016

The issueI intend to discuss in this paper is one that frustrates teachers and students alike. Bangladeshi students diligently practice their English for varying degrees of time and make varying amounts of progress but seem to run into insurmountable difficulties when confronted with native speaker (NS) English. These difficulties stem from the seeming lack of convergence between the language being used by NSs and the language our students are practicing. In short, there is something of a 'gap' between what is taught in English conversation classes in Bangladesh, and the reality of authentic English. This paper, therefore, briefly focuses on what is meant by the term authenticity gap and the role of text books in relation to this gap. Problems associated with utilizing authentic English in Bangladeshi classrooms will also be discussed in detail. Finally, there will be recommendations on how to bridge this gap.IIUC Studies Vol.12 December 2015: 101-110