bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Binding Mode and Selectivity of Steroids towards Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase from the Pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Ortiz Cecilia , Moraca Francesca , Medeiros Andrea , Botta Maurizio , Hamilton Niall , Comini Marcelo
Published: March 2016

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) plays a housekeeping role in cell metabolism by generating reducing power (NADPH) and fueling the production of nucleotide precursors (ribose-5-phosphate). Based on its indispensability for pathogenic parasites from the genus Trypanosoma, G6PDH is considered a drug target candidate. Several steroid-like scaffolds were previously reported to target the activity of G6PDH. Epiandrosterone (EA) is an uncompetitive inhibitor of trypanosomal G6PDH for which its binding site to the enzyme remains unknown. Molecular simulation studies with the structure of Trypanosoma cruzi G6PDH revealed that EA binds in a pocket close to the G6P binding-site and protrudes into the active site blocking the interaction between substrates and hence catalysis. Site directed mutagenesis revealed the important steroid-stabilizing effect of residues (L80, K83 and K84) located on helix α-1 of T. cruzi G6PDH. The higher affinity and potency of 16α-Br EA by T. cruzi G6PDH is explained by the formation of a halogen bond with the hydrogen from the terminal amide of the NADP+-nicotinamide. At variance with the human enzyme, the inclusion of a 21-hydroxypregnane-20-one moiety to a 3β-substituted steroid is detrimental for T. cruzi G6PDH inhibition. The species-specificity of certain steroid derivatives towards the parasite G6PDH and the corresponding biochemically validated binding models disclosed in this work may prove valuable for the development of selective inhibitors against the pathogen’s enzyme.
Underwater Multi-Vehicle Trajectory Alignment and Mapping Using Acoustic and Optical Constraints
Authors: Campos Ricard , Gracias Nuno , Ridao Pere
Published: March 2016

Multi-robot formations are an important advance in recent robotic developments, as they allow a group of robots to merge their capacities and perform surveys in a more convenient way. With the aim of keeping the costs and acoustic communications to a minimum, cooperative navigation of multiple underwater vehicles is usually performed at the control level. In order to maintain the desired formation, individual robots just react to simple control directives extracted from range measurements or ultra-short baseline (USBL) systems. Thus, the robots are unaware of their global positioning, which presents a problem for the further processing of the collected data. The aim of this paper is two-fold. First, we present a global alignment method to correct the dead reckoning trajectories of multiple vehicles to resemble the paths followed during the mission using the acoustic messages passed between vehicles. Second, we focus on the optical mapping application of these types of formations and extend the optimization framework to allow for multi-vehicle geo-referenced optical 3D mapping using monocular cameras. The inclusion of optical constraints is not performed using the common bundle adjustment techniques, but in a form improving the computational efficiency of the resulting optimization problem and presenting a generic process to fuse optical reconstructions with navigation data. We show the performance of the proposed method on real datasets collected within the Morph EU-FP7 project.
Node Deployment Algorithm for Underwater Sensor Networks Based on Connected Dominating Set
Authors: Jiang Peng , Liu Jun , Wu Feng , Wang Jianzhong , Xue Anke
Published: March 2016

Existing node deployment algorithms for underwater sensor networks are nearly unable to improve the network coverage rate under the premise of ensuring the full network connectivity and do not optimize the communication and move energy consumption during the deployment. Hence, a node deployment algorithm based on connected dominating set (CDS) is proposed. After randomly sowing the nodes in 3D monitoring underwater space, disconnected nodes move to the sink node until the network achieves full connectivity. The sink node then performs centralized optimization to determine the CDS and adjusts the locations of dominated nodes. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve a high coverage rate while ensuring full connectivity and decreases the communication and movement energy consumption during deployment.
How Does Land Development Promote China’s Urban Economic Growth? The Mediating Effect of Public Infrastructure
Authors: Fan Xianwei , Zheng Dan , Shi Minjun
Published: March 2016

Although substantial studies emphasized the close relationship among land development, public infrastructure, and urban economic growth, the mediating effect of public infrastructure remains unexplored. Using panel data of 253 prefecture-level Chinese cities from 1999 to 2012, we empirically conduct a mediating effect analysis to examine how land development promotes urban economic growth. It is found that land development has a positive impact on public infrastructure, whereas the construction of public infrastructure is positively related with urban economic growth. Therefore, land development exerts a positive influence on urban economic growth through one important mediator: public infrastructure. It is also found that the mediating effect of public infrastructure is partial. The estimation results are robust to various specifications and sensitivity analysis.
DISPERSION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS. IV. ANALYSIS OF INTERFEROMETRY DATA
Authors: Houde Martin , Hull Charles L. H. , Plambeck Richard L. , Vaillancourt John E. , Hildebrand Roger H.
Published: March 2016

We expand on the dispersion analysis of polarimetry maps toward applications to interferometry data. We show how the filtering of low spatial frequencies can be accounted for within the idealized Gaussian turbulence model, initially introduced for single-dish data analysis, to recover reliable estimates for correlation lengths of magnetized turbulence, as well as magnetic field strengths (plane-of-the-sky component) using the Davis–Chandrasekhar–Fermi method. We apply our updated technique to TADPOL/CARMA data obtained on W3(OH), W3 Main, and DR21(OH). For W3(OH), our analysis yields a turbulence correlation length

mpc, a ratio of turbulent-to-total magnetic energy

, and a magnetic field strength

for W3 Main

mpc,

, and

while for DR21(OH)

mpc,

, and

.
DISENTANGLING THE ICL WITH THE CHEFs: ABELL 2744 AS A CASE STUDY
Authors: Jiménez-Teja Y. , Dupke R.
Published: March 2016

Measurements of the intracluster light (ICL) are still prone to methodological ambiguities, and there are multiple techniques in the literature to address them, mostly based on the binding energy, the local density distribution, or the surface brightness. A common issue with these methods is the a priori assumption of a number of hypotheses on either the ICL morphology, its surface brightness level, or some properties of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG). The discrepancy in the results is high, and numerical simulations just place a boundary on the ICL fraction in present-day galaxy clusters in the range 10%–50%. We developed a new algorithm based on the Chebyshev–Fourier functions to estimate the ICL fraction without relying on any a priori assumption about the physical or geometrical characteristics of the ICL. We are able to not only disentangle the ICL from the galactic luminosity but mark out the limits of the BCG from the ICL in a natural way. We test our technique with the recently released data of the cluster Abell 2744, observed by the Frontier Fields program. The complexity of this multiple merging cluster system and the formidable depth of these images make it a challenging test case to prove the efficiency of our algorithm. We found a final ICL fraction of 19.17 ± 2.87%, which is very consistent with numerical simulations.
GRAIN SIZE CONSTRAINTS ON HL TAU WITH POLARIZATION SIGNATURE
Authors: Kataoka Akimasa , Muto Takayuki , Momose Munetake , Tsukagoshi Takashi , Dullemond Cornelis P
Published: March 2016

The millimeter-wave polarization of the protoplanetary disk around HL Tau has been interpreted as the emission from elongated dust grains aligned with the magnetic field in the disk. However, the self-scattering of thermal dust emission may also explain the observed millimeter-wave polarization. In this paper, we report a modeling of the millimeter-wave polarization of the HL Tau disk with the self-polarization. Dust grains are assumed to be spherical and to have a power-law size distribution. We change the maximum grain size with a fixed dust composition in a fixed disk model to find the grain size to reproduce the observed signature. We find that the direction of the polarization vectors and the polarization degree can be explained with the self-scattering. Moreover, the polarization degree can be explained only if the maximum grain size is ∼150 μm. The obtained grain size from the polarization is different from that which has been previously expected from the spectral index of the dust opacity coefficient (a millimeter or larger) if the emission is optically thin. We discuss that porous dust aggregates may solve the inconsistency of the maximum grain size between the two constraints.
THE DETECTION RATE OF EARLY UV EMISSION FROM SUPERNOVAE: A DEDICATED GALEX/PTF SURVEY AND CALIBRATED THEORETICAL ESTIMATES
Authors: Ganot Noam , Gal-Yam Avishay , Ofek Eran. O. , Sagiv Ilan , Waxman Eli , Lapid Ofer , Kulkarni Shrinivas R. , Ben-Ami Sagi , Kasliwal Mansi M. ,   (The ULTRASAT Science Team), Chelouche Doron , Rafter Stephen , Behar Ehud , Laor Ari , Poznanski Dovi , Nakar Ehud , Maoz Dan , Trakhtenbrot Benny ,   (The WTTH consortium), Neill James D. , Barlow Thomas A. , Martin Christofer D. , Gezari Suvi ,   (the GALEX Science Team), Arcavi Iair , Bloom Joshua S. , Nugent Peter E. , Sullivan Mark ,   (The Palomar Transient Factory)
Published: March 2016

The radius and surface composition of an exploding massive star, as well as the explosion energy per unit mass, can be measured using early UV observations of core-collapse supernovae (SNe). We present the first results from a simultaneous GALEX/PTF search for early ultraviolet (UV) emission from SNe. Six SNe II and one Type II superluminous SN (SLSN-II) are clearly detected in the GALEX near-UV (NUV) data. We compare our detection rate with theoretical estimates based on early, shock-cooling UV light curves calculated from models that fit existing Swift and GALEX observations well, combined with volumetric SN rates. We find that our observations are in good agreement with calculated rates assuming that red supergiants (RSGs) explode with fiducial radii of 500 R
⊙, explosion energies of 1051 erg, and ejecta masses of 10 M
⊙. Exploding blue supergiants and Wolf–Rayet stars are poorly constrained. We describe how such observations can be used to derive the progenitor radius, surface composition, and explosion energy per unit mass of such SN events, and we demonstrate why UV observations are critical for such measurements. We use the fiducial RSG parameters to estimate the detection rate of SNe during the shock-cooling phase (<1 day after explosion) for several ground-based surveys (PTF, ZTF, and LSST). We show that the proposed wide-field UV explorer ULTRASAT mission is expected to find >85 SNe per year (∼0.5 SN per deg2), independent of host galaxy extinction, down to an NUV detection limit of 21.5 mag AB. Our pilot GALEX/PTF project thus convincingly demonstrates that a dedicated, systematic SN survey at the NUV band is a compelling method to study how massive stars end their life.
Preparing Students to Use Marketing Technology for Decision-Making
Authors: Schuster Camille P.
Published: March 2016

Organizations have increased expectations for expertise in data analytics by marketing students. The chapter describes the change taking place in business in general and in marketing specifically and the disconnect between demand and supply. While tools have been available to teach marketing research using survey, experimental, and qualitative methodologies. However, a lack of materials and a huge learning curve are major reasons for methodologies for analyzing digital data, big data, or social media data not being used. Teradata, Inc., worked with Marketing Information Systems academics to create TeradataUniversityNetwork.com (TUN) as a place for sharing tools, software, articles, and data so analytics can be taught in the classroom. As of August 2014, (TUN) is a resource for sharing tools, software, articles, and videos that focus on marketing analytics. This chapter describes the range of materials available and how they can be used in the classroom.
Teaching Peace and Marketing Education
Authors: Lam Maria Lai-Ling
Published: March 2016

This chapter presents a peace-centered process of teaching marketing that the author has implemented during 2002-2015 academic years with undergraduate and graduate business students in various marketing courses at two Christian Universities in the United States. The peace-centered process is related to the development of a unified world view about human life in a culture of peace and culture of healing and the development of virtues in a marketing career. The chapter discusses (1) the manifestation of violence in marketing, (2) the concept of a peace-centered process of teaching marketing, (3) the responsibility of marketing educators, and (4) the seven pedagogical strategies for this approach.
Intuitionistic Fuzzy Filters for Noise Removal in Images
Authors: Radhika C. , Parvathi R. , Visalakshi N. Karthikeyani
Published: March 2016

Image processing is any form of information processing in which both input and output are images. Most of the image processing involves in treating the image as two dimensional representations and applying standard techniques to it. Images contain lot of uncertainties and are fuzzy/vague in nature. Various fuzzy filtering techniques are defined for noise removal in image processing and these existing filters helps to enhance the image using only the membership values. Further, by incorporating intuitionistic fuzzy filters, vagueness and ambiguity are managed by taking the non-membership values also into consideration. In this paper, light is thrown on some important types of noise and a comparative analysis is done. This paper also presents the results of applying different noise types to an image and investigates the results of various intuitionistic fuzzy filtering techniques. A comparison is made on the results of all the techniques.
Some Hybrid Soft Sets and Their Application in Decision Making
Authors: Majumdar Pinaki
Published: March 2016

In this chapter the notions of two hybrid soft sets, namely fuzzy parameterized soft sets and vague soft sets has been discussed and some operations on them are defined. Some properties of these two hybrid soft sets under these operations are also studied. Application of fuzzy parameterized soft sets and vague soft sets in decision making has also been shown. Then the notion of similarity measure between two hybrid soft sets has been introduced and their basic properties are studied. Applications of these similarity measures in various problems like medical diagnosis and decision making have been shown. The idea of entropy of a fuzzy parameterized soft set has been introduced.
Sequences, Nets, and Filters of Fuzzy Soft Multi Sets in Fuzzy Soft Multi Topological Spaces
Authors: Mukherjee Anjan , Das Ajoy Kanti
Published: March 2016

In this chapter, the authors introduce a new sequence of fuzzy soft multi sets in fuzzy soft multi topological spaces and their basic properties are studied. The concepts of subsequence, convergence sequence and cluster fuzzy soft multi sets of fuzzy soft multi sets are proposed. Actually Cluster analysis or clustering is the task of grouping a set of objects in such a way that objects in the same group (called a cluster) are more similar to each other than to those in other groups (clusters). It is a main task of exploratory data mining and a common technique for statistical data analysis used in many fields including machine learning, pattern recognition, image analysis, information retrieval and bioinformatics. Here the authors define the notions of net and filter and establish the correspondence between net convergence and filter convergence in fuzzy soft multi topological spaces.
Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Assignment Problems Using Two-Dimensional Fuzzy Soft Set Theory
Authors: Mondal Shyamal Kumar
Published: March 2016

In this chapter, author has introduced a new concept of two-dimensional fuzzy soft sets together with various operations, properties and theorems on them. Then, an algorithm named 2-DFS has been developed for solving fuzzy multi-criteria assignment problems with multiple decision makers. The performance of this newly proposed method is verified by the popular Hungarian Method in case of solving fuzzy assignment problems with single criterion and single decision maker. By Hungarian Method, one may only solve fuzzy assignment problems with single criterion and single decision maker, in the contrary the advantage of our 2-DFS Algorithm is that by it, any fuzzy assignment problem with any number of criteria and any number of decision makers can be solved effectively. At last,2- DFS Algorithm is applied for solving fuzzy multi-criteria assignment problems in medical science to evaluate the effectiveness of different modalities of treatment of a disease.
Neutrosophic Soft Sets and Their Properties
Authors: Ali Mumtaz , Smarandache Florentin
Published: March 2016

Soft set plays an important role in the theory of approximations, as parameterized family of subsets in the universe of discourse. On the other hand, neutrosophic set is based on the neutrosophic philosophy, which states that: Every idea A has an opposite anti(A) and its neutral neut(A). This is the main theme of neutrosophic sets and logics. This chapter is about the hybrid structure called neutrosophic soft set, i.e. a soft set defined over a neutrosophic set. This chapter begins with the introduction of soft sets and neutrosophic sets. The notions of neutrosophic soft sets are defined and their properties studied. Then the algebraic structures associated with neutrosophic soft sets are debated. After that, the mappings on soft classes are studied with some of their properties. Finally, the notion of intuitionistic neutrosophic soft sets is taken into consideration.
Wavelet-Based Recognition of Handwritten Characters Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Patel D. K. , Som T. , Singh M. K.
Published: March 2016

In the present chapter, the widely common problem of handwritten character recognition has been tackled with multiresolution technique using discrete wavelet transform and artificial neural networks. The technique has been tested and found to be more accurate and economic in respect of the recognition process time of the system. Features of the handwritten character images are extracted by discrete wavelet transform used with appropriate level of multiresolution technique, then the artificial neural networks is trained by extracted features. The unknown input handwritten character images are recognized by trained artificial neural networks system. The proposed method provides good recognition accuracy for handwritten characters with less training time, less no. of samples and less no. of iterations.
Introducing “NR-Statistics”
Authors: Biswas Ranjit
Published: March 2016

The existing volume of literature on the classical subject STATISTICS is renamed by a new nomenclature called by “R-Statistics”. The chapter then introduces a new dimension in the subject STATISTICS called by “NR-Statistics”. The subject STATISTICS is then reshaped as the union of the two topics: “R-Statistics” and “NR-Statistics”. The “NR-Statistics” has grown (and will grow in future) mainly on the basis of soft-computing techniques using Generalized & Hybrid Set like Structures viz. Fuzzy Set, Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set, Bag, Multiset, Solid Matrix, Solid Latrix, Solid Hematrix, Solid Helatrix etc. In the subject STATISTICS in its newly proposed shape, populations are divided into two categories: R-Population and NR-Population. If a population consists of real number data (n-dimensional) only then it is of category ‘R-Population', and if a population does not fall into the category of ‘R-Population' then it is of the category ‘NR-Population'. Thus NR-Population may contain R-population too. The “Theory of NR-Statistics” is a new direction in Statistics which in fact other half of the subject unearthed now for rigorous study and research. The ‘Big Data Statistics' is a new era where the population (R or NR) consist of big data.
Contextual Factors Influencing Information Seeking Behavior of Social Scientists
Authors: Al-Suqri Mohammed Nasser
Published: March 2016

Many researchers in the area of information seeking behavior have highlighted the importance of context in influencing information-seeking behavior. However, few have elaborated on how contextual factors influence information-seeking in practice. This chapter explores the impact of disciplinary traditions of non-western, developing country external environments on patterns of information seeking and retrieval. Conditions that influence information seeking behaviors of social science scholars in non-western, developing countries impact research traditions, publication patterns, and subsequent formats are examined. This chapter draws on existing literature to examine the impact of contextual factors on information seeking by social science scholars as well as, on relevant findings based on research with other categories of researchers. The chapter concludes that there is substantial evidence from previous research to indicate the importance of contextual factors in influencing the information-seeking behavior of social scientists. Some of these factors are related to the nature of social science as a domain of study, while others are related to researcher's external environment, including constraints on the availability of particular types of information.
Foreign Direct Investment in Land Acquisitions in India
Authors: Sudan Falendra Kumar
Published: March 2016

There has been large-scale Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in land in India for promotion of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The key drivers of land acquisitions are food security, the bio-fuels boom, growing business opportunities, and policy reforms. Increased foreign land investment may increase economic growth and raise government revenues and create new livelihood opportunities through new capital, technology, know-how, infrastructure, and better market access. At the same time, foreign land acquisitions may result in local people losing access to the resources. Therefore, there is a need for wider public consultation involving all stakeholders to ensure improved livelihoods and food security. The creation of robust institutions and social and environmental impact assessments of FDI in land acquisitions are called for to promote inclusive growth through more job creation, infrastructure development, public revenues, environmental protection, and to protect local food security, particularly in times of food crisis. This chapter explores FDI in land acquisition in India.
Russia's Foreign Trade in Agricultural Commodities in Its Transition to Liberalization
Authors: Erokhin Vasily
Published: March 2016

The chapter includes an analysis of the current state of the international organic market and contemporary tendencies in the production and marketing of green products in Russia. Analysis of Russia's foreign trade in agricultural products is also provided. This chapter includes an overview of major threats and opportunities for organic production in Russia in view of trade liberalization. This is also related to state support of green production in Russia and CIS and its influence on volumes, directions, structure and effectiveness of trade. The chapter concludes with assessment of perspective tools to ensure sustainability of green production through a set of political, social and financial tools, and bigger involvement of rural households into international competition, diversification of traditional rural sources of income by means of green production, local identification and specialization, and utilization of existing competitive advantages.
Integration and Foreign Investment in Latin America
Authors: Ramirez Rafael Salvador Espinosa
Published: March 2016

The processes of economic integration in Latin American economies have logic that goes beyond the simple interest of trade creation. The governments focus on the benefit produced by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as one of the most important reasons to formalize trade agreements. FDI differs in the way in which this investment relates with the local producer sector and the strategy trade policy followed by local governments. In this sense Latin American economies may receive horizontal or vertical FDI, and this chapter aims to examine the impact of strategic trade policies on the inflows of FDI into two Latin American regions: North Region and South Region. These investment flows come from three economic zones: Asia, America, and European Union. To this end, the gravity equation to compare the weight of variables such as distance, infrastructure, trade openness, and cultural affinity as independent variables and FDI as the dependent variable is estimated. The results obtained show that the strategy trade policy followed in the North Region in the form of trade liberalization, and the strategy trade policy followed in the South Region in the form of a relative closeness with the custom union plus the proposed trade agreements with other regions encouraged inflows of FDI in both regions during the analyzed period. While the gravity hypothesis holds on the South Region, in the North Region it does not hold. In the North Region, vertical FDI is received, and in the South Region it is horizontal FDI.
Barriers to Information Access for Specialized Scholars
Authors: Block Lisa
Published: March 2016

Developing countries must overcome the obstacles to information access so that they can join the global networks of the developed world and become part of the “information age.” Studies on the information-seeking behavior and information needs of library users in developing countries are limited. This chapter examines the information-seeking behavior of social science faculty in developing nations in an attempt to explain the barriers to information access for these specialized scholars. Information users in developing countries face different challenges than users in developed nations so it is essential to understand the various obstacles that must be overcome by library and information users in developing nations. Comparisons are made to the information-seeking behaviors and information use of social science faculty in developed nations. Patterns of information-seeking behavior in social science faculty are examined and also compared to existing and proposed models of such behavior.
Perceptions and Viability of Launching LIS E-Learning Programs in Developing Countries
Authors: Hirsh Sandra , Faires Debbie , Hines Alice
Published: March 2016

E-Learning is still relatively uncommon in developing countries, but there is growing interest. This case study explores the factors influencing readiness to launch e-learning of a Library and Information Science (LIS) program in a developing country, with a focus on understanding attitudes toward e-learning and the viability of transitioning to an online delivery model in Vietnam. A technology infrastructure assessment was performed to understand whether changes were needed at Vietnam National University to support e-learning, and 5 key informant interviews and 4 focus group sessions with 39 participants were performed with faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, members of the professional community, and administrators to understand their usage of technology and their perceptions and attitudes toward e-learning. Study findings suggest the importance of understanding the cultural context and the need for further e-learning research, as well as the steps needed for e-learning readiness and integration.
Understanding the Weak Performance of Technology in Urban Management
Authors: Simonneau Claire
Published: March 2016

The article questions the appropriation of existing urban planning and management tools in Sub-Saharan Africa, through a multiple case study: the implementation of a land information system (or simplified cadastre) in three cities in Benin. An ethnographic exploration of the use of the tool is conducted. The first section presents the historical context of the design of land information systems, framed by the urban management paradigm, and unwarranted confidence in new technologies. The second section presents the theoretical framework and the methodology of the research, inspired by public policy analysis and development anthropology. The third section describes findings of the multiple case studies. A vicious circle is highlighted, made up of: lack of political support, obsolescence, and decline of cost-effectiveness. The fourth section discusses the results of the ethnographic inquiry. These are, essentially, the interpretation of the paradoxes, blockages, and conflicts in the implementation of the tool in light of social, political and economic dynamics that take place at the local level, although unexpected by the creators of the tool.
A Comparative Analysis of the Human Resource Development Systems of Turkey and Uganda
Authors: Bisaso Ssali Muhammadi
Published: March 2016

In this chapter, the Human Resource Development systems of Turkey and Uganda are examined. A document survey and library search technique were used to explore the status-quo regarding Human Resource Development processes in the two countries with focus on legal structures as well as structural set ups pertaining the field in question. The major findings in relation to the comparison made indicate that Turkey as a developing country has a much better Human Resource Management and development set up compared to Uganda as a less developed country. This is highlighted by the fact that in Turkey entry into any Human Resource professional field involves a series of examination levels to the effect of KPSS, KPDS, and ALES while in Uganda such entry would only require interviews. Meanwhile, Turkey's human resource development program features a streamlined policy on foreign based Human Resources while Uganda, though it has some effort in place, is still far from the required standard in this respect. One glaring similarity though is that in both countries the Human Resource Development unit depends on other units in the ministry. It is therefore opined that there are a lot of learning points in the Human Resource Development process in Turkey for a less developed country like Uganda.
The Implication of Multinational Corporations in Poverty Eradication in Cameroon
Authors: Ollong Kingsly Awang
Published: March 2016

This paper explores business strategies and policies put in place by multinational corporations to alleviate poverty in Africa with specific examples from Cameroon. The world's population is rapidly increasing and the rich people are getting richer, whereas the poor people are becoming even more marginalized. During the era of economic liberalization the belief was that the opening up of economies to multinational corporations could lead to economic growth and, subsequently, economic development. The activities of multinational corporations have witnessed a tremendous boom since the advent of the twenty first century, that is characterized with advances in information communication technology, and the flow of capital have been the main proxy for MNC activity. MNCs are mainly motivated by opportunities that increase their profits, and the most important factors for MNCs are market size and access to resources. Nevertheless, as markets are getting saturated and MNCs are looking for new opportunities, innovative business strategies have been developed to provide dividends to their shareholders while making sure the stakeholders and communities in which they operate also benefit. This paper explores some business models that MNCs have used to make their products available, affordable and accepted in poor markets that are mostly found in Africa on the one hand and corporate social responsibility initiatives implemented by MNCs to alleviate poverty in the continent on the other. The paper concludes that though the principal goal of MNCs is profit maximization, corporations are making an effort to see that the poor benefit from the activities of these giant companies. To get to this conclusion the paper relied on both primary sources and the exploitation of the already existing literature in books and journals. Given that the sector of activities of MNCs is vast, the paper laid emphasis on fast moving consumer goods companies (FMCGs) in Cameroon.
Ethos, Pathos, and Logos of Doing Business Abroad
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: March 2016

Marketing, by definition, is the performance of business activities of directing the flow of products and services from producer to consumer. By definition, international marketing is the performance of marketing activities across two or more countries. Transcultural marketing, by definition, is the performance of business activities of directing the flow of products and services from producer to consumer across two or more countries' core ethos, pathos, and logos. The root of all countries' core ethos, pathos, and logos is its culture. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze transcultural marketing for incremental and radical innovation based on the key factor of culture in transcultural. As such, Geert Hofstede's five dimensions of national culture are utilized and analyzed in relation to transcultural marketing. Hofstede's fifth dimension is long-term orientation (and) is the most difficult because it is the newest of the dimensions and the least familiar to Western researchers.
Protecting Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources by Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Yajima Noriko
Published: March 2016

The problems to establish equitable benefit sharing of Traditional Knowledge (TK) associated with Genetic Resources (GRs) have been one of the main discussions in international negotiations. This chapter analyses how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) could contribute to international organizations, national governments, and the private sector protecting TK associated with GRs in indigenous and local communities. This research uses the concept of the United Nations Triple Bottom Line Approach, which promotes balance among economic, environmental, and social imperatives towards sustainable development. This chapter illustrates the responsibility of international organizations by providing legally binding instruments. It also compares different national governments' responses to protect TK associated with GRs. Then, the chapter proposes that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) could be the key to improving contradictions between legal and voluntary instruments in local communities and national and international governments. The analysis suggests that CSR is coherent with PPPs and might generate environmental, economic, and socio-economic challenges in the private and public sectors.
Business Management Education in Reality
Authors: Khan Mohammad Ayub
Published: March 2016

In this chapter, the perception of the quality of business education of different stakeholders in business education is discussed using some real-life stories and opinions. In general, students, professors, business education administrators, and employers look happy with the current business education programs and services provided by business schools. However, these stakeholders would like to do more on developing analytical, quantitative, and operational skills in students because these are the skills they will need immediately after graduation and in the labor market. The chapter suggests that it is useful and advisable for the academic institutions to have an effective information intelligence system in place in order to collect strategic academic information from different stakeholders in education. Such information can and will be used in designing academic programs and services to serve the emerging demands and interests of those stakeholders.
Economic Models of Migration of Skilled Labor and Preliminary Empirical Evidence
Authors: Zouag Nada , Driouchi Ahmed , Boboc Cristina
Published: March 2016

This chapter introduces the major trends that have affected the perception of the migrations of skilled labor. Different models are introduced to capture the impacts of the decisions of skilled emigrants. The last and the more up to date models are the ones related to the new economics of skilled labor migration and its likely positive spillovers into education and research. Attempts to compare the best known models are also pursued in this chapter with preliminary empirical assessments based on some available data. The results attained confirm the promising role of these models of the new economics of skilled labor migration.
Forecasting Exchange Rates
Authors: Radhwan Ahmed , Kamel Mahmoud , Dahab Mohammed Y. , Hassanien AboulElla
Published: March 2016

Accurate forecasting for future events constitutes a fascinating challenge for theoretical and for applied researches. Foreign Exchange market (FOREX) is selected in this research to represent an example of financial systems with a complex behavior. Forecasting a financial time series can be a very hard task due to the inherent uncertainty nature of these systems. It seems very difficult to tell whether a series is stochastic or deterministic chaotic or some combination of these states. More generally, the extent to which a non-linear deterministic process retains its properties when corrupted by noise is also unclear. The noise can affect a system in different ways even though the equations of the system remain deterministic. Since a single reliable statistical test for chaoticity is not available, combining multiple tests is a crucial aspect, especially when one is dealing with limited and noisy data sets like in economic and financial time series. In this research, the authors propose an improved model for forecasting exchange rates based on chaos theory that involves phase space reconstruction from the observed time series and the use of support vector regression (SVR) for forecasting.Given the exchange rates of a currency pair as scalar observations, observed time series is first analyzed to verify the existence of underlying nonlinear dynamics governing its evolution over time. Then, the time series is embedded into a higher dimensional phase space using embedding parameters.In the selection process to find the optimal embedding parameters,a novel method based on the Differential Evolution (DE) geneticalgorithm(as a global optimization technique) was applied. The authors have compared forecasting accuracy of the proposed model against the ordinary use of support vector regression. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method, which is based on chaos theory and genetic algorithm,is comparable with the existing approaches.
The Need for Policies to Overcome eGov Implementation Challenges
Authors: Alsaeed Abraheem , Adams Carl , Boakes Rich
Published: March 2016

Electronic Government (hereafter eGov) is a transformative agent upon political and civic activity: it involves the provision and use of information and services by citizens, businesses and governments; and thus has the potential to increase civic efficiency and transparency; to facilitate interaction between public, private and government entities; and ultimately to promote democracy and political stability. Academic literature covering transformational eGov activity in times of geopolitical instability (such as that which Syria is currently facing) is uncommon. We selected thirty-five papers for review, each covering aspects of eGov relevant to the Middle-East Arabic Countries and Syria, for the period between 2000 and 2013. This paper exposes five categories of challenge (Syrian Civil war and Instability, Human, Political, Infrastructure and Organisational) faced by eGov implementations in Middle-East Arabic Countries/Syria and proposes further work to investigate these.
The Internationalization of the Space Industry
Authors: Vecchi Alessandra , Ricci Francesco
Published: March 2016

Advances in the space industry, with its implications on science, economy and well-being of citizens, is mostly chosen as one of the priority areas for development by developing countries and newly industrialized countries. However, there is already an over-capacity in the global space industry and there are doubts on necessity of additional capacity establishment by developing countries and newly industrialized countries. Drawing on the experience of internationalization of an Italian Small Medium Enterprise, this chapter provides some insights over the challenges experienced by developing countries and newly industrialized countries to attract foreign investments for the establishment of the industry. The study relies on a structured research protocol where primary data was collected from several interviews with the firm and European space agencies.
Dynamic Relationship between Stock Prices and Exchange Rates in Emerging Markets
Authors: Akel Veli , Kandır SerkanYılmaz , Yavuz Özge Selvi
Published: March 2016

All the emerging markets are vulnerable to the fears of capital outflows after the US Federal Reserve's tapering on May 22, 2013. The term “Fragile Five” was introduced by a research note of Morgan Stanley to refer to the countries of Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey. The aim of this study is to examine whether there are stock and foreign exchange markets integration among Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey. The authors employ cointegration-based tests, vector error correction modeling techniques, and Granger causality tests to examine the long-run and short-run linkages between stock prices and exchange rates. The results of cointegration tests suggest that there is one long-run stationary relationship between the stock indices and the foreign exchange rates. Four of the Fragile Five (excluding Brazil) show that the stock prices are positively associated with exchange rates. Finally, vector error correction estimates lead to miscellaneous results.
The Challenge of International Market Segmentation in Emerging Markets
Authors: Nacar Ramazan , Uray Nimet
Published: March 2016

Increasing paradoxical effects of globalization resulted in the increased homogenization and heterogenization of international markets. Globalization with its varying effects also increased the significance of international market segmentation over the last few decades. Despite the increased presence and usage of international market segmentation, in recent times, the rise of emerging markets have challenged the concepts and methods of international market segmentation. In order to address key issues of international market segmentation in emerging markets, this study briefly examined and assessed foremost conceptual and methodological issues of international market segmentation in emerging markets. Suggestions and future research directions are also provided.
Technology-Intensive Suppliers as a Key Element for Structural Change in Latin America
Authors: Acosta Yonni Angel Cuero , Zapata Isabel Torres , Dornberger Utz
Published: March 2016

The current increase of commodity prices prompts the question regarding the extent to which the growth of primary industries is used as a basis of industrial development. Empirical evidence suggests the development of Technology-Intensive Suppliers (TIS) has played an important role in the industrialization process of the Nordic countries, Canada, and Australia. The development of local TIS may contribute to both reinforcing the industrial base and supporting structural change in developing countries. Therefore, it may provide a way to advance from natural resource dependence towards knowledge-based industrial activities. The TIS products are created under tailor-made concepts, giving solutions to their customers. TIS use knowledge and customer information to create innovation. These firms enhance value chains improving customer's competitive advantages (Dornberger & Torres, 2006). The relationship between the primary sector and its suppliers of technology can be seen as a backward linkage. Sectors with linkages of this kind use inputs from other industries (Hirschman, 1958). Hence, a fundamental goal of research in the context of developing countries is to understand the development of TIS and analysis of their improvement as a result of entrepreneurship intervention. This chapter covers the relevance of TIS firms in developing countries. TIS companies are frequently labeled as Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs). In conclusion, the findings highlight the need to pay more attention to TIS organizations in developing economies. In Latin America, TIS firms contribute to the employment and diversification of the economic structure of the region through value-added products and services.
New Perspectives of Mobile Payment Platform for Developing Countries
Authors: Mbinkeu Rodrigue Carlos Nana
Published: March 2016

Mobile phones have become substantially more popular and sophisticated as African consumers have become remarkably comfortable with their use. This chapter shows the impact of the growing adoption of mobile payments as a financial transaction medium for money transfer, retail payments, or micropayments in Africa. Adoption was slow due to the nature of the mobile technology supporting the concept. The author shows how these innovations will continue to improve the quality of life of Africans, especially those in rural areas. He presents M-Pesa as a mobile payment system, which has had great success in Kenya. The author identifies the fundamental principles of success; thus, this enables the author to create an ECOPAY platform, which is an innovative mobile payment platform for emerging markets. The platform provides different types of m-payment like as B2C, B2B, or P2P using the mobile phone or others devices. Each transaction is secure by using encrypted messages and encrypted connections between the devices and the ECOPAY servers. The solution is based on the social and technological environment in developing countries.
Health Services Quality and Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Xesfingi Sofia , Vozikis Athanassios
Published: March 2016

Quality of care from the patient's perspective and patient satisfaction are two major multidimensional concepts that are used several times interchangeably. Patient satisfaction is a topic that is important both to medical (health) providers, the patients (consumers) and other third-party stakeholders in the medical care industry; it is, therefore, a dominant concept in quality assurance and quality improvement programmes. Patient satisfaction is an important measure of healthcare quality because it offers information on the provider's success at meeting the expectations of most relevance to the client. The importance of quality in the health care sector has been recognized recently, but it has been accelerated over the past years through the development of quality assurance, quality improvement programmes and patients' agendas. Patients are the ones situated at the front lines of care; therefore their opinion may provide useful insights into the quality of healthcare in different European systems, nevertheless the methodological limitations that should be taken into consideration.