bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nationalism, Cyberspace and Convergence Culture
Authors: Majewski Piotr
Published: July 2015

Nationalism, Cyberspace and Convergence CultureThe article analyses the discourse of the Greek-Macedonian dispute as it unfolded in the Internet, including especially the social networking website YouTube. The discourse is based on a mythologized concept of history, in which the national community is perceived as an eternal chain of generations, while the national identity is a stable, static and “natural” foundation of narrations.Nacjonalizm, cyberprzestrzeń i konwergencja kulturowaW swoim artykule analizuję dyskurs odnoszący się do sporu grecko-macedońskiego toczącego się w przestrzeni Internetu, w tym zwłaszcza na portalu społecznościowym YouTube. Dyskurs ten opiera się na zmitologizowanej wizji historii, gdzie wspólnota narodowa postrzegana jest jako odwieczny łańcuch pokoleń, a tożsamość narodowa jest stałym – nie podlegającym zmianom – i „naturalnym” fundamentem nacji.
Armatol
Authors: Prličev Grigor
Published: July 2015

ArmatolPolish translation of the famous epic poem of Grigor Prlichev (Grigorios Stawridis), "Armatol"; translated from New-Greek by Małgorzata Borowska.
Profile of Rafael Kamhi
Authors: Sujecka Jolanta
Published: July 2015

Profile of Rafael KamhiThe short biography of Rafael Kamhi, one of the founders of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO-VMRO), and an introductio to his text "The Borders of Macedonia".
Kole Čašule (1921–2009)
Authors: Avramovska Nataša
Published: July 2015

Kole Čašule (1921–2009)As a playwright, novelist and essayist, whose voluminous creative opus is comprised of twenty-four plays, twelve novels, four collections of short stories and six books of essays, Kole Čašule belongs to those few founders of contemporary Macedonian literature who have significantly marked and created its decades-long modern development. His works have been translated/staged in scores of languages. He was made the recipient of numerous awards, in Macedonia and abroad. In 2003, he was elected an honorary member of MANU (The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts).
Ryszard Handke (1932–2010)
Authors: Sujecka Jolanta
Published: July 2015

Ryszard Handke (1932–2010)Text in memoriam to prof. Ryszard Handke, one of the most influent and active scholars in the literary theory in Poland after 1945, and one of the first who gave attention to the SF novels.
Implications of the Methodological Choices for Hydrologic Portrayals of Climate Change over the Contiguous United States: Statistically Downscaled Forcing Data and Hydrologic Models
Authors: Mizukami Naoki , Clark Martyn P. , Gutmann Ethan D. , Mendoza Pablo A. , Newman Andrew J. , Nijssen Bart , Livneh Ben , Hay Lauren E. , Arnold Jeffrey R. , Brekke Levi D.
Published: July 2015

Continental-domain assessments of climate change impacts on water resources typically rely on statistically downscaled climate model outputs to force hydrologic models at a finer spatial resolution. This study examines the effects of four statistical downscaling methods [bias-corrected constructed analog (BCCA), bias-corrected spatial disaggregation applied at daily (BCSDd) and monthly scales (BCSDm), and asynchronous regression (AR)] on retrospective hydrologic simulations using three hydrologic models with their default parameters (the Community Land Model, version 4.0; the Variable Infiltration Capacity model, version 4.1.2; and the Precipitation–Runoff Modeling System, version 3.0.4) over the contiguous United States (CONUS). Biases of hydrologic simulations forced by statistically downscaled climate data relative to the simulation with observation-based gridded data are presented. Each statistical downscaling method produces different meteorological portrayals including precipitation amount, wet-day frequency, and the energy input (i.e., shortwave radiation), and their interplay affects estimations of precipitation partitioning between evapotranspiration and runoff, extreme runoff, and hydrologic states (i.e., snow and soil moisture). The analyses show that BCCA underestimates annual precipitation by as much as −250 mm, leading to unreasonable hydrologic portrayals over the CONUS for all models. Although the other three statistical downscaling methods produce a comparable precipitation bias ranging from −10 to 8 mm across the CONUS, BCSDd severely overestimates the wet-day fraction by up to 0.25, leading to different precipitation partitioning compared to the simulations with other downscaled data. Overall, the choice of downscaling method contributes to less spread in runoff estimates (by a factor of 1.5–3) than the choice of hydrologic model with use of the default parameters if BCCA is excluded.
A Nonvariational Consistent Hybrid Ensemble Filter
Authors: Bishop Craig H. , Huang Bo , Wang Xuguang
Published: July 2015

A consistent hybrid ensemble filter (CHEF) for using hybrid forecast error covariance matrices that linearly combine aspects of both climatological and flow-dependent matrices within a nonvariational ensemble data assimilation scheme is described. The CHEF accommodates the ensemble data assimilation enhancements of (i) model space ensemble covariance localization for satellite data assimilation and (ii) Hodyss’s method for improving accuracy using ensemble skewness. Like the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF), the CHEF is computationally scalable because it updates local patches of the atmosphere independently of others. Like the sequential ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), it serially assimilates batches of observations and uses perturbed observations to create ensembles of analyses. It differs from the deterministic (no perturbed observations) ensemble square root filter (ESRF) and the EnKF in that (i) its analysis correction is unaffected by the order in which observations are assimilated even when localization is required, (ii) it uses accurate high-rank solutions for the posterior error covariance matrix to serially assimilate observations, and (iii) it accommodates high-rank hybrid error covariance models. Experiments were performed to assess the effect on CHEF and ESRF analysis accuracy of these differences. In the case where both the CHEF and the ESRF used tuned localized ensemble covariances for the forecast error covariance model, the CHEF’s advantage over the ESRF increased with observational density. In the case where the CHEF used a hybrid error covariance model but the ESRF did not, the CHEF had a substantial advantage for all observational densities.
Umberto Eco between postmodernism and narrative: Il nome della rosa, Il pendolo di Foucault, and La misteriosa fiamma della regina Loana
Authors: Schilling Erik
Published: July 2015

In this article, Umberto Eco’s novels will be analyzed as postmodern and neo-realist narration. From Il nome della rosa onwards, Eco does not only deal with questions of (literary) theory – such as semiotics, interpretation, and deconstruction – but also with ontological issues. Although striking examples of ‘theory-aware’ texts, Il nome della rosa and Il pendolo di Foucault consider the idea of a non-arbitrary perspective on the world. Putting further emphasis on this, La misteriosa fiamma della regina Loana stands in contrast to a postmodern play with theory and history. It can be described as a historical novel that highlights chances and limits of historiography. At the same time, it illustrates a return of narrative that goes hand in hand with a re-installation of author and narrator, the literary instances that had been put into question by Eco’s earlier novels.
Trade-Exchange Rate Nexus in Sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors: Alege Philip O. , Osabuohien Evans S.
Published: July 2015

This study explores international trade–exchange rate interaction in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Based on partial equilibrium analysis, we develop two equations for export and import in which exchange rate, real gross domestic product (GDP), stock of capital and technology are the independent variables. The results from empirical analyses show that export and import are inelastic to changes in exchange rate. It follows that depreciation of currencies in the region may not have the expected results in view of the structure of the economies and export compositions. In the same vein, depreciation would not depress imports but only aggravate balance of payments. Thus, in the light of the findings, a policy of exchange rate stability that hinges on long-run considerations, capital accumulation and technological capacity as well as the maintenance of comprehensive coherent macroeconomic packages remains a critical factor in ensuring that exchange rate policy performs its central role as a trade facilitation tool.
Causality among Energy Consumption, CO2 Emission, Economic Growth and Trade
Authors: Srinivasan P. , Ravindra Inder Siddanth
Published: July 2015

The present study attempts to examine the causal nexus between energy consumption, CO2 emissions, economic growth and trade in India using the Perron (1989) unit root test, Gregory and Hansen (1996) cointegration test and vector error-correction model (VECM). The study results exhibit a long-run relationship between energy consumption, CO2 emissions, economic growth and trade in India. The empirical results confirm that energy consumption influences the economic activity in the short run, implying that higher rate of economic growth is driven by consumption demand for energy in the economy. This is also well in consistence with the findings of Paul and Bhattacharya (2004) in the Indian context. Further, the study detects one-way causation that exists from energy use to CO2 emission and trade, and CO2 emissions to economic growth in the short run.
Impact of Fiscal Incentives on SEZs’ Performance in Gujarat
Authors: Pandya Falguni H. , Joshi Yogesh C.
Published: July 2015

There is no clear-cut evidence whether fiscal incentives turn into desired growth of the economy or just result in cost for the exchequer. Looking at the success of China and other countries, India has tried to replicate the ‘zone’ concept by enacting special economic zones (SEZs) policy in 2005. The present article attempts to study different types of fiscal incentives given to the firms in SEZs and their impact on the performance through survey-cum-interview method. The research reveals that there is a need to modify the structure of present incentives to tap its full benefit.
Why do Women Leave Science and Engineering?
Authors: Hunt Jennifer
Published: July 2015

The author uses the 2003 and 2010 National Survey of College Graduates to examine the higher exit rate of women compared to men from science and engineering relative to other fields. The author finds that the higher relative exit rate is driven by engineering rather than science, and that half the gap can be explained by the relatively greater exit rate from engineering of women dissatisfied with pay and promotion opportunities. Family-related constraints and dissatisfaction with working conditions are found to be only secondary factors. The relative exit rate by gender from engineering does not differ from that of other fields once women’s relatively high exit rates from male fields generally are taken into account.
A comparison of problem-based and didactic learning pedagogies on an electronics engineering course
Authors: Johnson Michael , Hayes Martin J
Published: July 2015

This paper presents an evaluation of a problem-based learning methodology versus a more traditional laboratory-based approach to teaching tutorials for electronics modules in undergraduate engineering classes at the University of Limerick, Ireland. First-hand qualitative and quantitative comparative feedback from students is assessed for the same module across successive cohorts using both learning pedagogies. The analysis suggests that a problem-based learning methodology offers significant benefits in an electronic engineering setting when compared with a more traditional didactic method.
Public performance and the challenge of local collective action strategies: Quebec’s experience with an Integrated Territorial Approach
Authors: Divay Gérard
Published: July 2015

Evaluating the performance of local environment activation strategies, set forth in many central policies, is an exercise fraught with challenges. Based on an analysis of 10 Integrated Territorial Approach initiatives, which were rolled out in Quebec’s fight against poverty, this article proposes a framework to better assess their various effects. These strategies are characterised by a partnership process and a collective focus. Performance occurs at micro-, meso- and macro-levels and is observable not only in the production of deliverables, but also on three other process dimensions, which are characteristic of such strategies: fostering the maintenance of local mobilisation drivers; improving the quality of locally productive elements; and learning strategic coherence. This understanding of collective performance takes public managers out of their comfort zone. Beyond having to develop collaborative skills, as is now well-documented in the literature, it leads them to develop an investor mindset and to become logisticians of the collective, not just efficient service providers.

Points for practitioners

Public managers sometimes feel disadvantaged in local collective action strategies because their performance depends on the contribution of a number of partners whose actions are driven by logics that differ from theirs. By outlining the many possible facets of performance in local collaborative strategies, the statements made in this article could give them greater peace of mind, as well as point out the systemic stumbling blocks that they may face.
Fiscal consolidation and structural reforms in Lithuania in the period 2008–2012: from grand ambitions to hectic firefighting
Authors: Nakrošis Vitalis , Vilpišauskas Ramūnas , Kuokštis Vytautas
Published: July 2015

This article analyses the inputs, decisions, outputs and outcomes of fiscal consolidation and structural reforms undertaken by the Lithuanian authorities in the period 2008–2012. Our research was based on desk research, which was supplemented by interviews with government decision-makers. The article found that Lithuania successfully pursued fiscal consolidation, which contributed to stabilising its economy and public finances. If economic factors largely explain the timing of fiscal consolidation decisions, political factors are more powerful in accounting for the expenditure-led nature of fiscal consolidation in Lithuania. However, despite bold and ambitious plans, Lithuania's structural reforms proved to be fragmented and incremental due to the absence of a stable base of political support, sustained political attention and persistent political leadership.

Points for practitioners

First, Lithuania's experience shows the importance of previous policies and the constraints that they impose throughout crises when the speed of decision-making is crucial. Second, it illustrates that an external shock and a reform programme are not sufficient conditions for successful implementation – coalition politics and institutional resistance can derail some initial plans. Third, it demonstrates that even countries that successfully executed a large-scale fiscal consolidation programme may fail to seize the ‘windows of opportunity’ offered by the financial crisis to implement long-term structural reforms.
Determining the effect of storage conditions on prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen concentration in rat plasma samples
Authors: Goyal Vinod Kumar , Kakade Somesh , Pandey Santosh Kumar , Gothi Anil Kalidas , Nirogi Ramakrishna
Published: July 2015

Coagulation parameters are usually included in clinical and preclinical safety studies to evaluate the effect of xenobiotics on the extrinsic or intrinsic pathways of coagulation. The analysis is generally performed at the time of terminal sacrifice where many activities are scheduled. Chances of delay in analysis are likely particularly when blood is collected for coagulation via the abdominal vena cava. This experiment was planned to assess the variations in coagulation parameters caused by delay in analysis as well as by storage conditions. Blood was collected from the posterior vena cava under isoflurane anesthesia, and the plasma was separated immediately. Coagulation parameters were evaluated at 0, 6, 24 and 48 h from the plasma stored at room temperature, as well as plasma stored under refrigerated and freezing conditions. Stability of the analytes in blood was also evaluated under refrigerated conditions for 6 h. All parameters were analyzed using a semi-automated coagulometer. Prothrombin time (PT) was stable under all three storage conditions for up to 6 h. Although statistically significant differences were observed for activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) at room and refrigeration temperatures for up to 6 h, the difference was clinically non-relevant. Fibrinogen was found to be the most stable parameter that showed consistency in results even up to 48 h under all three storage conditions. Plasma for PT can be stored and analyzed without any significant changes for up to 6 h from the actual blood collection, while fibrinogen level testing can be extended for up to 48 h after collection under any storage condition. For reliable APTT results, plasma samples should be run immediately after collection.
Understanding the tampon density and density gradient through computed tomography imaging
Authors: Hou Mari , Acton Paul D
Published: July 2015

Protection against leakage is one of the key consumer needs for tampon products. The absorbency of tampons depends on both the density of material inside the device, and the density gradient which pulls fluid into the core. Measuring tampon densities in a non-destructive manner was achieved using high-resolution three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) imaging. X-ray density was converted to mass density, using imaging of fiber pellets of known density. Two tampon types were scanned, and density and density gradients were calculated in both regions of interest and voxel-by-voxel. The CT scan density data were used to explain the results from a consumer use study that indicated a higher density prototype resulted in higher leakage versus a commercially available product that had a lower density profile at the periphery of the tampon and a higher density at its core.
Knowledge transfer and teaching public administration
Authors: Hall Michael
Published: July 2015

Since the beginnings of Public Administration in the US and its accompanying education in other parts of the world, government and policy have become more complex. The education in Public Administration created a professional pathway to public service. The addition of education to Public Administration came out of the Progressive Movement in the United States to make knowledge in Public Administration more important in the face of corruption brought on by patronage appointments. When nonprofits became part the US public sector as elsewhere along with nonprofit healthcare, the complexity expanded enormously, requiring professionals to know more in what has become a multidisciplinary field of study. Given the diversity and complexity of the public sector and the need for Public Administration to embrace more knowledge from many disciplines, it stands to reason that an earlier start on the education portion of Public Administration or a pathway would be beneficial. A model of early Public Administration knowledge transfer is described and illustrated below. The Academy described is based on the US career pathways and high school academies as part of the school to work educational movement. The success of the combination of these two areas will also be pointed out in the academy described. Translation of lessons learned from the Acdemy to Europe and Asia are also considered.
Double Entropy Inter-Rater Agreement Indices
Authors: Olenko Andriy , Tsyganok Vitaliy
Published: July 2015

The proper application of the most frequently used inter-rater agreement indices can be problematic for the case of a single target, for example, a psychotherapy patient, a student’s thesis, a grant proposal, and the lifestyle in a country. The majority of indices that can handle this case assess either the deviation of ranks from some central/average value or the pattern of ranks’ distribution. Contrary to other approaches, this article defines disagreement rating results using the unpredictability/complexity of scores. The article discusses alternative entropy methods for measuring inter-rater agreement or consensus in survey responses for the case of a single target. A new inter-rater agreement index is proposed. Comparisons between this index and the known inter-rater agreement measures show some limitations of the most frequently used indices. Various important methodological issues such as disagreement assumptions, average sensitivity, adjustments to deal with outliers, and missing or incorrectly recorded data are discussed. Examples of applications to actual data are presented.
Survival outcomes for oligometastasis in resected non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Shimada Yoshihisa , Saji Hisashi , Kakihana Masatoshi , Kajiwara Naohiro , Ohira Tatsuo , Ikeda Norihiko
Published: July 2015

Background

We investigated the factors associated with post-recurrence survival and the treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer patients with postoperative distant recurrence, especially oligometastasis.

Methods

We reviewed the data of 272 patients with distant recurrence who underwent resection of non-small-cell lung cancer from January 2000 through December 2011.

Results

The type of distant recurrence was classified as oligometastasis ( n = 76, 28%) or polymetastasis ( n = 196, 72%). Forty-seven (62%) patients with oligometastasis received local therapy (surgery 5, radiotherapy 9, sequential local and systemic therapy 28, chemoradiotherapy 5). Multivariate analysis revealed older age, non-adenocarcinoma, shorter disease-free interval, no pulmonary metastasis, liver metastases, bone metastases, and polymetastasis had significant associations with unfavorable post-recurrence survival. Subgroup analysis of patients with oligometastasis showed histology and disease-free interval had a great impact on survival. Smoking history and histology were associated with survival in patients with lung oligometastasis, whereas systemic treatment and longer disease-free interval were related to increased post-recurrence survival in those with brain oligometastasis.

Conclusions

This study showed that an oligometastatic state per se was a significant favorable factor. Optimization of personalized systemic treatment and adding local treatment are important in the management of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and oligometastasis.
Operative outcomes of thoracoscopic lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Tane Shinya , Nishio Wataru , Okuma Hiromichi , Ogawa Hiroyuki , Hokka Daisuke , Tane Kenta , Tanaka Yugo , Uchino Kazuya , Yoshimura Masahiro , Maniwa Yoshimasa
Published: July 2015

Aim

We examined the advantages of thoracoscopy over thoracotomy in terms of perioperative outcomes and toleration of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

Between April 2010 and March 2013, 657 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy were classified into thoracoscopy (308 patients) and thoracotomy (349 patients) groups and compared.

Results

The thoracoscopy group had less blood loss compared to the thoracotomy group ( p < 0.001). When limiting the analysis to pathological stage I patients, the results were similar ( p < 0.001). In addition, the difference in blood loss between the 2 groups was greater in patients with severe pleural adhesions. The postoperative morbidity of the thoracoscopy group was significantly less than that of the thoracotomy group (13.3% vs. 21.2%, p < 0.001), and this result was similar when analyzing the pathological stage I patients (12.6% vs. 20.6%, p = 0.001). A higher percentage of the thoracoscopy group received both the full planned course and dose of adjuvant chemotherapy compared to the thoracotomy group (84.2% vs. 65.8%, p = 0.032).

Conclusions

These results indicate that totally thoracoscopic lobectomy is the more beneficial surgical approach with regard to the incidence of postoperative complications and toleration of adjuvant chemotherapy.
‘Country-of-Origin’ Effect and Consumer Decision-making
Authors: Abraham Aby , Patro Sanjay
Published: July 2015

The association between ‘place of origin’ of a product and its effect on consumer preference has been in existence and researched for long. The country-of-origin effect is created in the minds of consumer from individual’s knowledge, experience, exposure and inclination towards a particular country. It helps in reducing cognition load in consumer decision-making by becoming a proxy for quality, reliability and acceptability of products originating from a specific country. The phenomenon is identified by researchers in different contexts and levels, leading to many concepts and definitions. There are many product-specific factors that contribute to the generation of country-of-origin biases along with moderating factors influencing the effect. In modern hybrid products, with distributed locations of production, it has become more complicated with differences in brand/country of the brand, country of design, country of parts and country of assembly and so on. However, the importance of the country-of-origin effect is still a reality as the consumer uses these cues in product differentiation.
Dimensions of Internationalization in Apparel and Clothing Industry
Authors: Mittal Sanjiv , Arora Soma
Published: July 2015

The validation of a theory in international business depends to a large extent on the robustness of the instruments measuring degree and maturity of internationalization. These instruments have remained ambiguous and speculative over a long period of time due to the inability to even out the distorting influences of measurement error and the near impossibility of establishing universal appeal towards construct and content validity The absence of a comprehensive approach to establish the validity of measurements resulted in empirical investigations of international business being inconclusive with plethora of untested or partially tested propositions and philosophies. The acuteness of this problem was particularly important to developing countries and emerging markets, where cross-cultural issues in management behaviour, orientation and structure towards international business rendered using commonly available research instruments in developed world impossible to use in the local context. In view of this, it was ordained that certain dimensions of internationalization had to be identified in sectors of export prominence in emerging economies such as India and Brazil that could measure the degree of internationalization in these countries from a qualitative perspective like level or maturity, rather than traditional method of quantum or volume of total exports. This narrowed down the search to the apparel and clothing sector as the industry of export prominence for emerging markets, and such companies had been in the process of internationalization for more than three decades, allowing scope for the proposed study. The dimensions of internationalization were carefully selected from detailed literature review and were five in number. There were three items under each dimension, which were rank-ordered just like a level of preference in a nominal scale. Here the preference was actually a level of operation for the Indian firm that in summary would reflect the level of internationalization for the firm. The study was conducted for 200 exporting firms in the Indian apparel and clothing industry. The composite measure was then tested for reliability and validity using measures of internal consistency and face-validity constructs. The conclusive results were then proposed in the form of research instrument that can measure the degree of internationalization for emerging market firms.
The effects of hyperoxaemia on tissue oxygenation in patients with a nadir haematocrit lower than 20% during cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Sevuk Utkan , Altindag Rojhat , Baysal Erkan , Yaylak Baris , Adiyaman Mehmet Sahin , Akkaya Suleyman , Ay Nurettin , Alp Vahhac
Published: July 2015

Excessive haemodilution and the resulting anaemia during CPB is accompanied by a decrease in the total arterial oxygen content, which may impair tissue oxygen delivery. Hyperoxic ventilation has been proven to improve tissue oxygenation in different pathophysiological states of anaemic tissue hypoxia. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of arterial hyperoxaemia on tissue oxygenation during CPB. Records of patients undergoing isolated CABG with CPB were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with nadir haematocrit levels below 20% during CPB were included in the study. Tissue hypoxia was defined as hyperlactataemia (lactate >2.2 mmol/L) coupled with low ScVO2 (ScVO2 <70%) during CPB. One hundred patients with normoxaemia and 100 patients with hyperoxaemia were included in the study. Patients with hyperoxaemia had lower tissue hypoxia incidence than patients with normoxaemia (p<0.001). Compared with patients without tissue hypoxia, patients with tissue hypoxia had significantly lower PaO2 values (p<0.001) and nadir haematocrit levels (p<0.001). Nadir haematocrit levels <18% (OR: 5.3; 95% CI: 2.67–10.6; p<0.001) and hyperoxaemia (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.14–0.56; p<0.001) were independently associated with tissue hypoxia.

Conclusions:

Hyperoxaemia during CPB may be protective against tissue hypoxia in patients with nadir haematocrit levels <20%.
Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for severe cardiac failure in a pediatric patient with intracranial hemorrhage after spontaneous aneurysmatic rupture
Authors: Zant Robert , Melter Michael , Doerfler Christian , Gerling Stephan , Rupprecht Leopold , Philipp Alois , Kunkel Juergen
Published: July 2015

Introduction:

Extracorporeal life support in adult patients with extended intracranial hemorrhage is controversial. In pediatric patients, it has traditionally been considered a contraindication as systemic anticoagulation may worsen the hemorrhage and neurological outcome.

Case history:

We present a nine-year-old female patient who was admitted with extended intracranial hemorrhage after spontaneous rupture of an aneurysm. On day four after the emergency craniotomy, she required veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for septic shock. Using an adapted anticoagulation protocol aimed at lower activated partial thromboplastin time target values, we did not observe any new bleeding or clotting complications during systemic anticoagulation and the patient had good neurological recovery.

Conclusion:

Extracorporeal life support with low dose systemic anticoagulation can be considered as a treatment option in pediatric patients after craniotomy for intracranial aneurysmatic hemorrhage.
How Investors Became Consumers
Authors: McQuarrie Edward F. , Statman Meir
Published: July 2015

Advertising for investment products has changed over the past 50 years. Ads initially targeted investors as defined in standard finance: that is, as fact-seeking utility maximizers. Ad portrayals gradually changed to target consumers, defined as people pursuing diverse life projects. Verbal and factual appeals were supplanted by rhetorical, figurative, pictorial, and narrative appeals. Standard finance views such advertising as problematic, because it may be deceitful and misleading. Perspectives drawn from strategic marketing, in conjunction with behavioral finance, and also Consumer Culture Theory, help to explain why mutual fund ads violate expectations from finance. A macromarketing perspective goes further, explaining investment advertising as a historically situated human action subject to social forces. Finally, a societal marketing perspective uncovers moralistic underpinnings in the critique of mutual fund ads.
Women in the boardroom and fraud: Evidence from Australia
Authors: Capezio Alessandra , Mavisakalyan Astghik
Published: July 2015

We examine the relationship between women’s representation on corporate boards and fraud. Drawing on a discussion of existing studies, we hypothesise that increasing women’s representation on boards can help mitigate fraud. We provide validation to our conjecture through an empirical analysis of 128 publicly listed companies in Australia. We show that the increase in women’s representation on company boards is associated with a decreased probability of fraud. We demonstrate the consistency of this result across different robustness checks. We believe that our findings could be of interest to policy makers interested in enhancing board governance and monitoring.
Durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites under the combined effects of moisture and sustained loads
Authors: Wang Jun , GangaRao Hota , Liang Ruifeng , Zhou Ding , Liu Weiqing , Fang Yuan
Published: July 2015

This paper deals with durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites under sustained loads and simultaneously exposed to either saltwater or tap water. The tensile properties of the specimens before and after conditioning were evaluated along with their moisture uptaking behavior to reveal the durability of the specimens under combined effects. The mass change curves under saltwater and tap water immersion exhibited dual-stage diffusion process. The first stage followed Fickian profile, while mass loss occurred in the second stage with increasing immersion time, attributed to hydrolysis of resin. The weight gain in saltwater was greater than that in tap water. Moreover, the mass change curves under varying percentage of sustained loadings exhibited similar trends, while the maximum moisture uptake was obviously affected by the loading conditions. Based on Fick’s second law, the diffusion coefficients in the first stage under different conditions were determined through the least-square regression technique. It was observed that the tensile strength and modulus were increasing initially upon immersion, which was attributed to curing beyond the initial cure during manufacture. Then, the tensile properties decreased with continued immersion in saltwater or tap water. After 180 days of immersion, the tensile properties degraded at a smaller rate, both for specimens with and without sustained loading. For the saltwater immersion of 360 days, the tensile properties decreased significantly as the sustained loading increased. However, the tap water immersion had less detrimental effect on tensile properties of glass fiber-reinforced polymer. Furthermore, based on Arrhenius concept coupled with fracture mechanics principle, a new model was proposed to describe the combined effects of immersion and sustained load.
Developing a Self-Report-Based Sequential Analysis Method for Educational Technology Systems
Authors: Lin Yi-Chun , Hsieh Ya-Hui , Hou Huei-Tse
Published: July 2015

The development of a usability evaluation method for educational systems or applications, called the self-report-based sequential analysis, is described herein. The method aims to extend the current practice by proposing self-report-based sequential analysis as a new usability method, which integrates the advantages of self-report in survey research (e.g., questionnaires and interviews) and lag sequential analysis to evaluate educational systems or applications and further understand students’ operational process patterns of behaviors toward the systems’ interfaces. An empirical study using a drill-based game as a platform was conducted to test the effectiveness of the self-report-based sequential analysis method. The results showed the critical mediators and behavioral transfer patterns among the different area of interests during the students’ overall operational process behaviors. For example, the health points and badges as rewards served as critical mediators between the rewards and feedback and health points and countdown timer, respectively. The self-report-based sequential analysis helped explore the participants’ operational process behaviors in the area of interests, and why behaviors shift on area of interests that can assist to diagnose the inappropriate arrangement of area of interests. Suggestions are provided based on the results.
Evaluating tie support at railway bridge transitions
Authors: Wilk Stephen T , Stark Timothy D , Rose Jerry G
Published: July 2015

This paper compares the behavior of three different railway bridge transition zones to illustrate how poor tie support affects track performance. The three bridge transitions consist of a high-speed passenger line, a freight line, and a spur track. All bridge transitions were instrumented with accelerometers that allow tie support and track performance to be non-invasively evaluated by analyzing the measured acceleration magnitudes and vibration frequencies in the frequency domain. The results show tracks with good tie support display tie accelerations below 5  g and small vertical displacements during train loading whereas approaches with poor tie support display accelerations generally greater than 5  g. These results are used to evaluate other transition zones and identify problematic track locations that require repair procedures to retain acceptable track geometry.
Creativity and Memory
Authors: Madore Kevin P. , Addis Donna Rose , Schacter Daniel L.
Published: July 2015

People produce more episodic details when imagining future events and solving means-end problems after receiving an episodic-specificity induction—brief training in recollecting details of a recent event—than after receiving a control induction not focused on episodic retrieval. Here we show for the first time that an episodic-specificity induction also enhances divergent creative thinking. In Experiment 1, participants exhibited a selective boost on a divergent-thinking task (generating unusual uses of common objects) after a specificity induction compared with a control induction; by contrast, performance following the two inductions was similar on an object association task thought to involve little divergent thinking. In Experiment 2, we replicated the specificity-induction effect on divergent thinking using a different control induction, and also found that participants performed similarly on a convergent-thinking task following the two inductions. These experiments provide novel evidence that episodic memory is involved in divergent creative thinking.
Establishment of a new animal model of azithromycin-induced liver injury and study the molecular pathological change during the process
Authors: Li S-Q , Wan X-D , Zhu S , Han H-M , Xu Z-S , Lu H-J
Published: July 2015

The purpose of the present study is to establish a new animal model of azithromycin (AZ)-induced liver injury and study the molecular pathological change during the process. First, mice were respectively injected intraperitoneally with AZ of different high doses. Our results showed that 800 mg/kg AZ injection significantly induced liver injury in the mice, which reflected an ideal process of liver injury and repair. In this study, we analyzed the molecular pathological changes during the process by hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the liver of mice at 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after 800 mg/kg injection. Our results showed that the expression of heat shock protein 70, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, vascular endothelial growth factor, caspase 3, and cytochrome P450 2E1 were significantly differently expressed during liver injury induced by 800 mg/kg AZ in mice. Our results will be conducive for further study of the pathogenesis and prevention of drug-induced liver injury.
Role of Institutional Shareholders’ Activism in Enhancing Firm Performance: The Case of Pakistan
Authors: Afza Talat , Nazir Mian Sajid
Published: July 2015

Globalization and financial breakdown of many corporate conglomerates in the developed world engrossed the attention of researchers and policy makers towards the need and importance of an effective corporate governance system for resolving the agency conflict between the stakeholders and managers, and hence a firms’ success. Among corporate governance mechanisms, how ownership is structured between all the shareholders of a firm is considered to be of much importance. The purpose of this article is two-fold: first, to analyze the impact of institutional ownership on firm performance and, second, to throw some light on the two scenarios of institutional ownership prevailing in Pakistan’s capital market. In the first scenario, financial institutions have a board representation (active financial institutions), while in the second scenario, financial institutions do not have board representation (passive financial institutions). Using the data of 200 non-financial Pakistani firms listed at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) from 2005 to 2011, the results revealed that institutional ownership significantly impacts a firms’ performance. It is also found that the firm performance can be enhanced through effective monitoring by active financial institutions that have long-term stakes in firms through board nomination.
Bridging the Gap of Green IT/IS and Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Khor Kuan-Siew , Thurasamy Ramayah , Ahmad Noor Hazlina , Halim Hasliza Abdul , May-Chiun Lo
Published: July 2015

‘Greening’ of business has gained attention across industries and academia. Green information technology (IT) is a critical domain of green information systems (IS) as utilization of environmentally sustainable information and communication technologies (ICTs) facilitates informed decision-making. Green IT and IT for green are at the growth stage among developed countries and at the infancy stage among developing countries. The absence of an established theoretical framework that anchors present and future studies necessitates an examination of peer-reviewed journals and proceedings that are published online. With reference to 10 organizational theories, this study presents an overview of Green IT/IS applications and discusses noteworthy research questions that may guide forthcoming empirical investigations to identify determinants or prospective outcomes of Green IT/IS. Frameworks of a firm’s readiness to go green via eco-sustainable IT practices are discussed from diverse theoretical viewpoints to ground implications, in pertinence to heterogeneous approaches towards the adoption of Green IT/IS. The review also presents practical business opportunities to IT managers of socioeconomic-oriented organizations. As journals and conference papers are the foremost source of reference, emerging developments of this study may also appear in books and white papers. This article establishes linkages between organizational theories and Green IT/IS implementations and presents suggestions on further extensions for those who wish to investigate this field.
Developing a Cloud-Computing Adoption Framework
Authors: Gangwar Hemlata , Date Hema , Ramaswamy R.
Published: July 2015

This article aims to propose an extended technology acceptance model–technical–organization– environment (TAM–TOE) framework and to develop its measures for cloud-computing adoption in organizations. Information technology adoption literature based on the TAM model and the TOE framework was reviewed to identify a set of variables relevant to cloud computing adoption. A conceptual framework was developed to integrate the TAM model and the TOE framework. Further, cloud-specific variables (security and third-party control) were also incorporated in the framework. This extended TAM–TOE framework was qualitatively analyzed using an interview method which resulted in 12 of the variables relevant to cloud-computing adoption. Further, a questionnaire was designed, pre-tested and surveyed to develop reliable measures of cloud-computing adoption. It resulted in conceptualizing an extended TAM–TOE framework for cloud-computing adoption and in developing its reliable measures. This study has a smaller sample size and is limited to cloud-computing adoption. On the other hand, it contributes towards the cloud-computing adoption literature. Managers can use measures identified to analyze their suitability for implementing cloud computing in their organizations. This article has a strong contribution in integrating the TAM model and the TOE framework, and developing measures for cloud-computing adoption.
Why Exporting SMEs Switch Banks?
Authors: Singh Fulbag , Kaur Manpreet
Published: July 2015

Indian banking sector has been facing intense competition due to economic reforms carried out during the last two decades. Customer loyalty towards banks is decreasing. To survive in this highly competitive environment, banks need to focus on customer retention as cost of acquiring a new customer is more than that of retaining an existing one. For developing effective customer retention strategies, banks should understand the reasons behind switching behaviour of customers. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been found as very important segment of banks’ market because of the profit and revenue opportunities presented by them. Moreover, their involvement in export enhances their importance to banks. Banks’ ability to understand the antecedents of SMEs’ banking disloyalty would help them to develop effective retention strategies for SMEs. Hence, efforts have been made in this study to explore the antecedents of exporting SMEs’ banking disloyalty. The research resulted in the development of a reliable and valid instrument for measuring antecedents of exporting SMEs’ banking disloyalty. The study also provides directions to commercial banks as to which particular antecedent requires attention in terms of importance. This would enable them to focus resources in accordance with the contribution of antecedents in exporting SMEs’ switching behaviour.
Impact of Mentoring Functions on Career Development: Moderating Role of Mentoring Culture and Mentoring Structure
Authors: Jyoti Jeevan , Sharma Poonam
Published: July 2015

Mentoring is a valuable resource for learning and coping with major organizational changes. It brings value to everyone involved in this relationship, that is, mentees, mentors and the organization. The present study examine the impact of mentoring functions on career development. Further, it also investigates the role of mentoring culture and mentoring structure as moderator. Employees working in call centres in India have been selected for data collection. Reliability and validity has been proved with the help of confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modelling has been used for hypotheses testing. Results revealed that mentoring functions significantly affect career development of call centre employees. Further, mentoring culture and mentoring structure moderate the relationship between mentoring functions and career development.
Cointegration of Stock Markets
Authors: Wuthisatian Rattaphon
Published: July 2015

This article uses daily stock prices during the period 1997–2013 to empirically investigate the existence of stock market cointegration between Thailand and its 11 major trading markets, including Hong Kong, Japan, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the National Association of Securities Dealer Automated Quotation (NASDAQ), London, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia. After accounting for structural breaks of the series and salient economic events (for example, the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and the US recession in middle of 2007), the Engle–Granger test suggests that the stock price indices of Thailand exhibit a weak long-run relationship with the other selected markets, which in turn provides investors profitable opportunities from portfolio diversification.