bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Instabilities of a Time-Dependent Shear Flow
Authors: Radko Timour
Published: June 2019

This study offers a systematic stability analysis of unsteady shear flows representing large-scale, low-frequency internal waves in the ocean. The analysis is based on the unbounded time-dependent Couette model. This setup makes it possible to isolate the instabilities caused by uniform shear from those that can be attributed to resonant triad interactions or to the presence of inflection points in vertical velocity profiles. Linear analysis suggests that time-dependent spatially uniform shears are unstable regardless of the Richardson number (Ri). However, the growth rate of instability monotonically decreases with increasing Ri and increases with increasing frequency of oscillations. Therefore, models assuming a steady basic state—which are commonly used to conceptualize shear-induced instability and mixing—can be viewed as singular limits of the corresponding time-dependent systems. The present investigation is focused on the supercritical range of Richardson numbers (Ri > 1/4) where steady parallel flows are stable. An explicit relation is proposed for the growth rate of shear instability as a function of background parameters. For moderately supercritical Richardson numbers (Ri ~ 1), we find that the growth rates obtained are less than, but comparable to, those expected for Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities of steady shears at Ri < 1/4. Hence, we conclude that the instability of time-dependent flows could represent a viable mixing mechanism in the ocean, particular in regions characterized by relatively weak wave activity and predominantly supercritical large-scale shears.
Prediction Errors of Tropical Cyclones in the Western North Pacific in the Met Office Global Forecast Model
Authors: Hodges K. I. , Klingaman N. P.
Published: June 2019

The prediction of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the western North Pacific (WNP) and the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR) has been explored in the Met Office (UKMO) global forecasting system over a 10-yr period at 0–7-day lead times. Both the high-resolution deterministic and lower-resolution ensemble systems have been considered. Location errors for verification against the observations are comparable for the deterministic, control, and ensemble mean forecasts; however, the ensemble spread indicates the ensemble is underdispersive. Intensity error metrics, for pressure and surface winds, show large biases relative to the observations, with the smallest biases for the deterministic system. For the intensity metrics the ensemble spread shows the ensemble is severely underdispersive primarily due to the large errors relative to the observations. Verification against the analyses shows similar results to verification against the observations for location. This is also the case for the intensities albeit with smaller errors and less underdispersion. The PAR region has larger intensity errors and biases and larger intensity ensemble spread compared with the broader WNP region. Forecast errors for location and intensity have reduced significantly with system upgrades over the period studied (2008–17) for the deterministic and ensemble systems. Intensity errors for the latest configuration of the deterministic system at day 4 are smaller than the initial errors of all the earlier configurations for both pressure and winds. The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) significantly affect the intensity forecast errors, but not the location errors. Intensity errors are lower at the initiation and for early lead times of the forecasts started in phases 6–7 and 7–8, when the MJO and BSISO are active in the WNP. These reduced errors appear to result mainly from the variations in intensity of the observed storms with MJO and BSISO phases, though the initial states of the forecasts are also affected. Over the studied period, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) deterministic and ensemble systems have lower errors and biases for both location and intensity than the UKMO forecast systems.
Shock Index in Patients Presenting With Acute Heart Failure: A Multicenter Multinational Observational Study
Authors: El-Menyar Ayman , Sulaiman Kadhim , Almahmeed Wael , Al-Motarreb Ahmed , Asaad Nidal , AlHabib Khalid F. , Alsheikh-Ali Alawi A. , Al-Jarallah Mohammed , Singh Rajvir , Yacoub Magdi , Al Suwaidi Jassim
Published: June 2019

Shock index (SI) has a prognostic role in coronary heart disease; however, data on acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. We evaluated the predictive values of SI in patients with AHF. Data were retrospectively analyzed from the Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry. Patients were categorized into low SI versus high SI based on the receiver operating characteristic curves. Primary outcomes included cardiogenic shock (CS) and mortality. Among 4818 patients with AHF, 1143 had an SI ≥0.9. Compared with SI <0.9, patients with high SI were more likely males, younger, and having advanced New York Heart Association class, fewer cardiovascular risk factors and less prehospital β-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use. Shock index had significant negative correlations with age, pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure, and left ventricle ejection fraction and had positive correlation with hospital length of stay. Shock index ≥0.9 was significantly associated with higher composite end points, in-hospital, and 3-month mortality. Shock index ≥0.9 had 96% negative predictive value (NPV) and 3.5 relative risk for mortality. Multivariate regression analysis showed that SI was independent predictor of mortality and CS. With a high NPV, SI is a simple reliable bedside tool for risk stratification of patients with AHF. However, this conclusion needs further support.
Multicentre evaluation of the Roche Elecsys® Active B12 (holotranscobalamin) electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay
Authors: Heil Sandra G , Bodenburg Petra , Findeisen Peter , Luebcke Silke , Sun Yuli , de Rijke Yolanda B
Published: June 2019

Background

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common disorder. In circulation, vitamin B12 is bound to transcobalamin (holotranscobalamin), which is considered the active form of cobalamin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of the Roche Elecsys Active B12 immunoassay.

Methods

Limit of quantification and linearity were assessed according to CLSI EP17-A2 and EP-6A guidelines. Precision and bias of Roche Active B12 test against Architect ci8200 (Abbott) were performed according to CLSI EP-5 A3 guideline at three European laboratories. Precision requirements were set at <4% for within-run precision and <15% for intermediate precision. Requirements for method comparison were set at a slope of 1.00 ± 20%. In addition, 95% reference interval was conducted in European adults according to CLSI-EP28 guideline.

Results

The assay was shown to be linear and precise and met the requirements. Lot-to-lot variation and lab-to-lab variation both were ≤4%. Method comparison with Abbott Architect showed a significant bias of 9 pmol/L, which increases to up to 23 pmol/L around the current medical decision point. The 95% reference interval of the Roche Elecsys Active B12 test was determined at 37–188 pmol/L.

Conclusion

Although Roche Elecsys Active B12 immunoassay met the requirements, this test has a positive bias of 9 pmol/L, which led to an increase in lower limit of reference interval compared with Abbott test. This test first needs to be clinically validated before it can be applied as a first-line screening test in the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Resolving the paradox of increased mental health expenditure and stable prevalence
Authors: Meadows Graham N , Prodan Ante , Patten Scott , Shawyer Frances , Francis Sarah , Enticott Joanne , Rosenberg Sebastian , Atkinson Jo-An , Fossey Ellie , Kakuma Ritsuko
Published: June 2019

A doubling of Australian expenditure on mental health services over two decades, inflation-adjusted, has reduced prevalence of neither psychological distress nor mental disorders. Low rates of help-seeking, and inadequate and inequitable delivery of effective care may explain this partially, but not fully. Focusing on depressive disorders, drawing initially on ideas from the work of philosopher and socio-cultural critic Ivan Illich, we use evidence-based medicine statistics and simulation modelling approaches to develop testable hypotheses as to how iatrogenic influences on the course of depression may help explain this seeming paradox. Combined psychological treatment and antidepressant medication may be available, and beneficial, for depressed people in socioeconomically advantaged areas. But more Australians with depression live in disadvantaged areas where antidepressant medication provision without formal psychotherapy is more typical; there also are urban/non-urban disparities. Depressed people often engage in self-help strategies consistent with psychological treatments, probably often with some benefit to these people. We propose then, if people are encouraged to rely heavily on antidepressant medication only, and if they consequently reduce spontaneous self-help activity, that the benefits of the antidepressant medication may be more than offset by reductions in beneficial effects as a consequence of reduced self-help activity. While in advantaged areas, more comprehensive service delivery may result in observed prevalence lower than it would be without services, in less well-serviced areas, observed prevalence may be higher than it would otherwise be. Overall, then, we see no change. If the hypotheses receive support from the proposed research, then implications for service prioritisation and delivery could include a case for wider application of recovery-oriented practice. Critically, it would strengthen the case for action to correct inequities in the delivery of psychological treatments for depression in Australia so that combined psychological therapy and antidepressant medication, accessible and administered within an empowering framework, should be a nationally implemented standard.
Comparative analysis of particle size on the mechanical and metallurgical characteristics of Al2O3-reinforced sintered and extruded AA2014 nano-hybrid composite
Authors: R Senthil Kumar , Prabu K , Rajamurugan G , Ponnusamy P
Published: June 2019

Aluminum metal matrix composites (AMCs) are having exotic properties which attract the research community to develop new nano-composite material. The aim of the work is to compare the effect of various weight percentage of alumina particle (micro-size (20–50 μm) and nano-size (50–80 nm)) in the AA2014 hybrid nano-composite by sintering and hot extrusion processes. The prepared composites are subjected to mechanical and metallurgical characterization. A comparative analysis is performed by varying the weight percentages (1–10%) of alumina-reinforced particles. The AA2014 hybrid composite sample-3 (S3) is showing a substantial enhancement in the mechanical characteristics (Ys-255 MPa and UTS-265 MPa) than the other samples. The interfacial bonding between the AA2014 and alumina has observed minimum micro-hardness magnitude (98 VHN) in the sintered samples. The compressive strength of extruded composite S3 (327 MPa) is 1.157 times as high as the sintered sample. The agglomeration and segregation of Al2O3-reinforced nano-particles is identified in the AA2014 hybrid composite by using SEM analysis. The conical and equiaxed dimple failure in the AA2014 matrix and the circular cavities are observed through fractography analysis.
Gastrostomy tube placement via a laparotomic procedure in growing conventional piglets to perform multi-dose preclinical paediatric drug studies
Authors: Millecam Joske , van Bergen Thomas , Devreese Mathias , Schauvliege Stijn , Martens Ann , Chiers Koen , Croubels Siska , Antonissen Gunther
Published: June 2019

The use of juvenile conventional pigs as a preclinical animal model to perform pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD) and safety studies for the paediatric population is increasing. Repetitive oral administration of drugs to juvenile pigs is however challenging. A representative method which can be used from birth till adulthood is necessary. The current study presents the placement and use of a gastrostomy button in pigs with a weight ranging from 2.4 to 161 kg. The surgical placement was performed via a laparotomic procedure on, each time, 12 pigs (six male, six female) of 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 6–7 months old. For every age category, eight pigs were part of a PK study with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and four pigs served as a control group. No severe complications were observed during surgery. The button remained functional for 10 days in 40 out of 48 pigs. No significant differences in body temperature or white blood cell count were observed during the trial. Three control pigs showed signs of inflammation indicating a NSAID might be warranted. Autopsy revealed minimal signs of major inflammation in the abdominal cavity or the stomach. A limited number of pigs showed mucosal inflammation, ulcers or abscesses in the stomach or around the fistula. These results indicate that the laparotomic placement of a gastrostomy button might be considered safe and easy in growing pigs to perform repetitive oral dosing preclinical studies. However, the method is not advised in pigs weighing more than 100 kg.
Energy-based viscoelastic model: a physical approach for material an elastic behavior by the bond graph approach
Authors: Zanj Amir , He Fangpo , Breedveld Peter C
Published: June 2019

Understanding the true nature of viscoelastic behaviors in multi-physical systems has always been a challenging issue in system dynamic investigations, as each existing physical subdomain of the system may follow a different attenuation pattern during the dynamic process. In this study, to generate a viscoelastic model suitable for multi-physical domain dynamic investigations, a physical combined viscoelastic model is proposed. To this aim, by means of the bond graph approach, an energy-based conventional viscoelastic model is first generated, and its embedded dispersive mechanisms are interpreted physically. By including the interpreted dissipative mechanisms into the relative subdomains of an elastic domain, an energy-based combined viscoelastic model is then proposed. The obtained simulation results indicate that the proposed viscoelastic model is able to capture a variety of viscoelastic behaviors in the system with respect to the true physical nature of the system.
Internal Orientalization or Deorientalization? Disciplinary Conflicts and National Imaginations in China, 1912–1949
Authors: Wang Liping
Published: June 2019

Early twentieth-century China, as with other post-imperial states, faced the challenge of creating a nation encompassing different social groups and cultures. How to identify ethnic groups living in the borderlands and generate nationwide social cohesion became a fundamental question that concerned multiple intellectual communities. This article traces the formation of two approaches to ethnicity—ethnology and sociology—at that time. These two approaches, configuring “ethnic differences” in dissimilar ways, were received differently by the public. In the end, the ethnological approach prevailed and the sociological approach was marginalized. This outcome exemplifies a possible hierarchy of knowledge, but also involves the politics of knowledge. This article shows that the disparate visions of “ethnic others” were produced by intellectuals differently positioned within the social context of post-imperial China. The positionalities of these disciplines explain much of their intellectual alignment.
Perfectionism and school anxiety: More evidence about the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism in an Ecuadorian population
Authors: Vicent María , Gonzálvez Carolina , Sanmartín Ricardo , Fernández-Sogorb Aitana , Cargua-García Nancy Isabel , García-Fernández José Manuel
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the 2 × 2 model of dispositional perfectionism via a person-oriented approach in a sample of 1588 Ecuadorian students aged 12- to 18-years-old ( M = 14.83, SD = 1.86). The Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS) and the School Anxiety Inventory (IAES) were employed. The statistical analysis included a non-hierarchical cluster analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), effect size (Cohen's d index), and bivariate and partial correlations. Four perfectionism profiles were obtained by using cluster analysis: Non-Perfectionism, Mixed Perfectionism, Pure Perfectionistic Strivings ( Pure PS) and Pure Perfectionistic Concerns ( Pure PC). Mixed Perfectionism and Pure Perfectionistic Strivings were the most maladaptive profiles whereas Non-Perfectionism was the most adaptive profile. Pure PC did not significantly differ from Mixed Perfectionism and Pure PS, with the exception of the mean scores on Anxiety about Academic Evaluation and Cognitive Anxiety. Results from bivariate and partial correlations revealed that both Perfectionistic Strivings and Perfectionistic Concerns showed shared relationships with all the dimensions of IAES. However, only Perfectionistic Concerns showed a consistent pattern of unique relationships with school anxiety. The current study provides evidenced about the importance of implementing strategies to prevent school anxiety in Ecuadorian population focused on Perfectionistic Concerns.
Critiquing the OECD’s Employment Protection Legislation Index for individual dismissals: The importance of procedural requirements
Authors: Harcourt Mark , Gall Gregor , Raman Arjun Sree , Lam Helen , Croucher Richard
Published: June 2019

Key EU agencies have successfully urged member states to scale back employment protection legislation as a solution to unemployment. The economic arguments for this reform are mixed, with recent empirical evidence largely unsupportive. Critics have also raised doubts about the accuracy of the OECD’s Employment Protection Legislation Index, which is the principal method EU agencies use to target so-called high-protection regimes. This article supplements existing criticisms of the OECD index by arguing that it fails to account for procedural requirements in assessing the difficulties and costs of carrying out individual dismissals. Evidence from New Zealand, ostensibly a low-protection country, demonstrates procedural requirements can pose the main impediments to carrying out individual dismissals. This suggests the need for revision of the OECD Employment Protection Legislation Index or the use of other indices instead.
What tutors bring to course design: Introducing political and policy theories to disengaged students
Authors: Brown Prudence R
Published: June 2019

This article provides a case study of tutor’s reflection on practice leading to a different approach to teaching an introductory course on politics and policy at a major Australian university, aimed at better reaching disengaged students. The overhaul led to higher levels of constructive student engagement in the tutorials, resulting in improved student and learning outcomes. Tutors, with their broad face-to-face and individual contact, have the means to assess student engagement and understanding in ways not always available to lecturers. As such, they can support holistic curriculum development if they are seen as relevant stakeholders in this process. The article demonstrates the value of seeing tutorials and tutors as an integral consideration in curriculum development.
Implementing Aided Augmentative Communication Systems With Persons Having Complex Communicative Needs
Authors: Reichle Joe , Simacek Jessica , Wattanawongwan Sanikan , Ganz Jennifer
Published: June 2019

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems can support communication skills for people with significant developmental disabilities who experience complex communication needs (CCNs). There is a need to tailor best practices in AAC assessment and intervention to create individualized communication systems with this population. In this article, we outline the important components of AAC systems that can be implemented in authentic settings. However, given the limited evidence on AAC interventions specific to people with CCNs, we also identify some priority areas for future inquiry. Among these involve strategies to enhance decision making regarding (a) matching communication mode(s) to learner skills and contextual demands, (b) identifying communicative opportunities and obligations, (c) individualizing aided communication display features, (d) selection of vocabulary specificity, and (e) considering dosage parameters needed to acquire and maintain a communicative repertoire. In addition, we briefly discuss the use of telehealth to enhance intervention capability.
Understanding the use of recall referendums: Evidence from Ecuador
Authors: Welp Yanina , Castellanos Ana Sofía
Published: June 2019

The recall referendum – a referendum triggered by citizens seeking to remove elected officials by means of a binding vote – used to be a rare institution, but since the 1990s has spread in different areas of the world. The frequency of its activation has been explained by three sets of sometimes interconnected variables: growing citizen dissatisfaction, institutional design (i.e. ease of activation), and the activity of political parties using the mechanism against their opponents, specially in contexts of low party-system institutionalization. This article proposes an additional variable: the role of electoral management bodies (EMBs) in allowing or preventing recall attempts. The empirical analysis focuses on the Ecuadorian experience, where legal provisions governing recall were introduced in 1998, modified in 2008, and amended in 2011, with a dramatic variation in the frequency of recall activations after each change.
Integrating multicultural music education into the public elementary school curricula in Thailand
Authors: Chandransu Nantida
Published: June 2019

This article reflects on various challenges encountered during a pilot action-based research “Integrating Multicultural Music Education into the Elementary School Curricula of Public Schools in Thailand.” This project was set up to develop lesson plans, activities, teaching tools and evaluation methods for music teachers. As a pilot-curriculum model, it pays particular attention to cross-cultural understanding for helping Thai children gain a sense of cultural conceptualization and the skills necessary for growing up in a racially, religiously, and culturally diverse society.

This research attempts to explore possibilities for various music cultures introduced to the formal education system in Thailand, which had previously restricted music education to nationalist-based Thai music and certain samples of Western classical music. Once children discover multiple music cultures, their perspectives are broadened. The outcomes of this research will also be beneficial for future instruction designs. The attempt to update music education in the Basic Education level to accommodate changing social and cultural contexts affected by globalization and urbanization will raise awareness of cultural diversity and the direction of music education curriculum development. Music education through the Thai formal education system is one method of preparing children to grow up in a culturally diverse world.
Setting the Terms for Convertible Debenture Issues: Should the Spirit of Company Law be Violated?
Authors: Barua S K , Srinivasan G
Published: June 2019

Although government has set up various regulatory agencies to safeguard interests of various constituents of the capital market, they do not seem to be working in coordination. In fact, they appear to be pulling in different directions. S K Barua and G Srinivasan comment on this feature, illustrating their case with an example from Reliance Industries where setting the terms for convertible debenture issues is seen as an encroachment on the rights of shareholders.
Organizational Decline and Turnaround Management: A Contingency Framework
Authors: Maheshwari Sunil Kumar
Published: June 2019

This study examines the reasons for organizational decline and suggests context-specific turnaround process. The decline is primarily an outcome of inaction of managers and inappropriate actions of managers in response to environmental reality. The causality variables to explain inaction and inappropriate actions are of two types: a) organization-specific like past experiences, sunk investment, specialized assets, bureaucratic control, internal political and cultural constraints, managerial commitment to status quo and b) environment-specific like legal, political, social, and economic constraints. The turnaround process of declining organizations needs to be tailored to match the contextual reality. This paper develops a contingency framework to explain context- action choice relationship.
Indian Management Research
Authors: Sarkar Mitali
Published: June 2019

This section features abstracts of article covering empirical studies, experiences, ideas, and theories published in Indian and international journals. Sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, this service is intended to facilitate Indian management research.

Author desirous of having their publications considered for inclusion in this feature may please send reprints of their articles to Vikalpa Editorial Office.
Effectiveness of ‘Dogs of the Dow’ Investment Strategy in the Indian Context
Authors: Sahu Chinmoy
Published: June 2019

Investors have always yearned for ways to beat the market. In recent years, one popular strategy among American investors involves a portfolio comprising of the ten highest yielding stocks selected from among the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most popular stock indices of the US. Such ft portfolio based on the Dow Dividend Strategy (DDS) came to be known as the ‘Dogs of the Dow.’ Portfolio of ‘Dogs of the Dow’ has been found to outperform the Dow on numerous occasions. This paper studies the effectiveness of such a strategy in the Indian context by applying the same strategy to similar stocks in the 30- stock Sensitive Index (Sensex) of Stock Exchange, Mumbai (BSE) and evaluates the performance of ‘Dogs of the Sensex’ portfolio during the late 90s.
Celebrity Endorsers and Adolescents: A Study of Gender Influences
Authors: Mishra Prashant , Dhar Upinder , Raotiwala Saifuddin
Published: June 2019

As proliferation of the media was taking Indian households in its stride, marketers were quick to grab the opportunities presented by this phenomenon. A significant transformation which became evident was the increased visibility of celebrities such as movie stars, sports persons, and others. In such a scenario, the impact of celebrity endorsers on consumers' attitudes to product evaluations and purchase is expected to change. This paper attempts to explore the influence of gender on consumers' perception about male and female celebrity endorsers' effectiveness on three dimensions, i.e., attractiveness, trustworthiness, and expertise. The findings, of the study are discussed to draw implications for berth practitioners as well as researchers.
Deciding Where to Buy: Store Choice Behaviour of Indian Shoppers
Authors: Sinha Piyush Kumar , Banerjee Arindam , Uniyal Dwarika Prasad
Published: June 2019

Store choice is a decision that a shopper is fairly involved in. It is important for a store to understand this behaviour for developing marketing strategies to attract and keep its clientele. It is found that shoppers choose the store based on many aspects that could be classified as primary and image based. It is also found that the importance of each of these aspects changes with the kind of store the shopper wants to visit. In the Indian context where the shopper does not have much variety in store format, the type of store is recognized by the kind of product the store deals in. The paper is an attempt to understand this behaviour of the shopper. The shoppers are explored for the primary reasons for choosing a store. Then, using a factor analysis, the several image dimensions are classified. Further, using multinomial logit regression, the store choice pattern is studied across different types of store. Implications for the managers in the retail business are drawn and future research directions have been highlighted.
Shopping Orientation in the Evolving Indian Market
Authors: Sinha Piyush Kumar
Published: June 2019

Studies on shoppers in India have largely been limited to their time and money spending pattern, demographic profile, and preferences for a particular format. It has been found in the studies in other countries that shoppers do not differ much in terms of their demographic profile. Therefore, this study attempts to understand shoppers from their disposition towards shopping. This has been found useful as the differences between retailers are not significant in terms of value delivered.

The study brings out the shopping orientation of the Indian shoppers. The analysis indicates that the Indian shoppers seek emotional value more than the functional value of shopping. Although there is an indication of shopping being considered as a task and should be finished as soon as possible, this orientation is overshadowed by the entertainment value derived by the shoppers. The study also indicates that though there are some similarities in the orientation of Indian shoppers and shoppers from developed countries, there are some significant differences too. The Indian shoppers show an orientation that is based more on the entertainment value than on the functional value.

The other distinct aspects of the Indian shoppers are as follows: Post-purchase information management and bargaining. Definition of convenience which is proximity to home, work place as well as the places that the shoppers frequent.

Based on the orientation of the Indian shoppers, 300 shoppers are clustered into two segments: Fun shoppers: Consisting of 39 per cent of the sample, this segment enjoys shopping and is found to be involved. Work shoppers: This segment takes to shopping as an activity that needs to be finished with least effort.

The two segments are found to be different in terms of their demographic and behavioural profile: More men in the second segment. The first segment buys products of varying values. The new format stores attract more fun shoppers than the work shoppers.

The orientation is found to be affected primarily by the type of store, the frequency of buying, and to some extent by the socio-economic classification (SEC). It may be inferred that these variables could be utilized to define the orientation of the shoppers.

Based on the findings, the study draws implications for store format, pricing, and merchandising and suggests that, in order to be successful, the retailers need to experiment with a format that attracts both types of shoppers. As a future initiative, researchers may like to find out the relationship of orientation with store variables such as merchandising, location, communication, and customer retention.
Innovation, Incubation, and Incubator
Authors: Chandra Pankaj , Srivastav Sandeep , Shah Bipin
Published: June 2019

This panel discussion was a part of a programme ‘From Incubation to Enterprise’ which was conducted by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad's (IIMA) Centre for Innovation, Incubation, and Entreprenuership (CIIE) on January 4, 2003. Professor Pankaj Chandra of IIMA led the discussion. The distinguished panelists were Mr Sandeep Srivastav and Professor Bipin Shah. Their experience and insight on the subject helped in understanding the process of incubation leading to enterprise.

The panel discussion addressed the following questions: What is incubation? What is innovation? What is the process of incubation that is needed for commercializing an innovation? What role does an incubator play?

The following important points were made by the panelists: An innovative entrepreneur should adapt to the demand of the market. The adaptation may be with regard to technology, marketing, business idea or business plan. The concept of incubation originated from the medical field. The concept of incubators is applied more to project ideas which have a high degree of uncertainty. The aim of the incubators is to facilitate the survival of such companies and also to nurture these companies for growth and success. Incubators play the role of risk-sharing and providing credibility to an idea as it progresses from being an idea to some kind of product. It minimizes uncertainty and increases the success rate of an enterprise that is at a very nascent stage. The difference among promotional efforts and hand-holding is that promotional effort is the assistance given for setting up a business whereas, in an incubator, it is more of hand-holding. The biggest benefit of being in an incubator is that it insulates you from the outside environment and hence an innovator can just concentrate on getting his idea fool-proof for the market. Incubators even provide the network, linking the innovators with societal resources. The network is of two kinds - knowledge network and social network. The role of venture capitalists in enterprise building is to provide linkages for a budding entrepreneur. But not many people are ready to give money at an idea level

Professor Pankaj Chandra concluded the discussion by saying that the incubator is not just for supporting the innovator but also for ensuring that the idea is converted into an enterprise.
Organizational Decline and Turnaround Management
Authors: Raina Bushen , Chanda Pradip , Mehta D P , Maheshwari Sunil Kumar
Published: June 2019

A panel of turnaround leaders, consultant, and academia responded to the theme on Organizational Decline and Turnaround Management. The panel members addressed the following issues: What are the causes of organizational decline? How do stakeholders respond to organizational decline? What are the turnaround challenges?

The salient features of the responses are as follows: There is a divide among the turnaround leaders regarding the causes of decline. Some view the decline purely as the result of the failure of management to anticipate and act appropriately in time. For others, the decline is caused primarily due to external changes. People in academia and consulting view the problem as a mix of the two. According to them, a complex mix of variables-organizational processes, structure, leadership, vision, and technologies-lead to organizational decline.

To safeguard against decline, organizations must carefully monitors difficulties in adapting changes and rigidity of systems declining profitability shift in customer preferences working capital problems like inventory build-up; dumping products on dealers; and increasing receivables from customers inability to plough back into the business lack of vision and explicit direction for the future frequent labour unrest regular plant breakdowns.

The response of stakeholders to organizational decline becomes hostile. Often, financial institutions include compound interest and increase penal charges to secure their dues. The employees and union members tend to become aggressive owing to loss of credibility of management. Suppliers tend to evaluate the risk of their dues. Their hostility reduces if the management assures them of payment. Managers experience erosion of pride in their company. It leads to low individual initiatives.

The turnaround challenges include the following: Leadership that provides a vision, induces creativity, challenges the existing business assumptions, and shows willingness to take tough decisions. The support of financial institutions by way of loan restructuring. Industry is experiencing a definite shift in the approach of financial institutions and banks; they are now tending to support the turnaround effort. Gaining the trust of the suppliers to seek their support.

Internally, management needs to be concerned about: maximizing productivity of all resources and capacity utilization manpower rationalization stringent working capital management stretching the targets and making assets ‘sweat’ streamlining systems investing in technology upgradation through internal generation financial restructuring in low interest cost regime.
Income Tax Compliance Cost of Corporations in India, 2000–01
Authors: Das-Gupta Arindam
Published: June 2019

This is the first study of compliance costs of income taxation of corporations in India. Compliance costs are the costs of meeting obligations under the income tax law and in planning to save taxes. Opportunity costs such as when tax refunds are delayed are also included. Social compliance costs, gross versus net private costs, and mandatory versus voluntary cost can be distinguished. Gross private compliance costs include both legal and illegal expenses (such as bribes paid), employee costs, the cost of tax advice, and also other non-labour expenses.

Estimates in this paper are for the year 2000-01 based on a postal survey of 45 companies throughout India in August-September 2001. Estimated gross compliance costs, excluding bribe costs, are between 5.6 and 14.5 per cent of corporation tax revenues. These are similar to estimates for other countries near the lower limit but are a cause for concern near the upper limit. Tax deductibility of legal expenses and cash flow benefits from the timing difference between taxable income and payment of tax result in net compliance costs between minus 0.7 and plus 0.6 per cent of corporation tax revenue. Both gross and net compliance costs are regressive.

Among other findings, five are noteworthy: First, around 25 per cent of sampled companies knowingly paid excess tax (median value: 46%) since tax evasion penalty cannot be levied under Indian law if assessed taxes have already been paid. Second, 70 per cent of companies, especially small companies, used external assistance to prepare tax returns accounting for 39 per cent of the legal compliance costs. Third, voluntary costs associated with tax planning contribute 19 to 43 per cent of total compliance costs. Fourth, the average sample company had 10 to 11 assessment years locked in disputes for tax or penalty in addition to around two years for which assessments were incomplete. Statistical analysis suggested that one extra disputed assessment year raises legal compliance costs by 5.7 per cent. Fifth, it was found to be fairly common for incorrect application of tax laws by tax officials in areas where they have high discretion to cause tax assessments to be revisited.

Among reform suggestions is streamlining of 22 legal and procedural �hot spots� which add to compliance costs.

Since the response rate was a disappointing 1.15 per cent, the stratified random sample design degenerated into a convenience sample with over-representation of large firms and under-representation of loss-making and zero-profit companies. Therefore, results should be viewed as preliminary and tentative. Other problems are that there were only qualitative questions about in-house cost components; assumed opportunity cost of funds to value cash flow benefits were used; and, as in earlier studies, there can possibly be a bias due to incorrect apportionment of fixed costs and the value of time of company management
Market Timing and Stock Selection Ability of Mutual Funds in India: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Deb Soumya Guha , Banerjee Ashok , Chakrabarti B B
Published: June 2019

Evaluation of performance of mutual funds and identification of successful fund managers are of great interest to both investors and academicians. Two possible methods that are presumed to be used by fund managers for generating superior performance are identified as: Market timing: Market timing skills imply assessing correctly the direction of the market, whether bull or bear, and positioning their portfolios accordingly. Stock selection: Stock selection skills involve micro forecasting, which generally forecasts price movements of individual stocks relative to stocks and identification of individual stocks that are under-or over-valued relative to equities in general.

The two pioneering works in this field is by Treynor Mazuy( 1966) and Henriksson Merton ( 1981). They developed two different models for testing the market timing and stock selection abilities of the fund managers but found little evidence of timing by the fund managers in their samples. Most of the other works mentioned in the paper have used these two models (which we name as traditional/unconditional models) or slight variations of the same for testing market timing and stock selection abilities of the fund managers. Person and Scadt (1996) modified the classical performance measures (of timing and stock selection ability) to take account of well-known information variables like interest rate, market dividend yield, etc. They termed it as ‘conditional approach’ of measuring mutual fund performance and claimed that conditioning on public information controls for biases in traditional market timing and stock selection models. Traditional models have taken the view that ‘any information’ correlated with the future market returns is superior information; in other words, they are unconditional models. Person and Scadt's approach used basically the same simplifying assumptions as the traditional models but they assumed, in addition, semi-strong form of market efficiency. The idea was to distinguish between market timing based on public information from market timing information that is superior to the lagged publicly available information variables. Although the academic literature on stock selection and market timing ability of mutual fund managers is rich and spans several decades, not many studies exist on this issue using emerging market data.

This paper attempts to find the stock selection and market timing abilities of the Indian mutual fund managers using unconditional as well as conditional approaches. With a sample of 96 Indian mutual fund schemes, a lack of market timing ability and presence of stock selection ability were observed among the Indian funds managers in both unconditional as well as conditional approaches. A pooled regression was carried out for various categories of funds as well as for the entire sample, which also showed a lack of market timing abilities and presence of stock selection abilities.
Hedonism and Culture: Impact on Shopping Behaviour A Research Agenda
Authors: Kaul Subhashini
Published: June 2019

Increasingly consumer shopping behaviour is being seen from the holistic perspective of the entire shopping experience. The holistic view requires a retailer to focus on the shopper experience with the store. Thus the retailer focus is not on the store itself but what the store means to the shoppers. This implies that a retailer needs to understand the ‘way in which’ different shoppers perceive the same store.

This paper refers to three key dimensions that influence the ‘way in which’ consumers look at a retail store: Shopping environment Socio-cultural context Individual roles, motivations, and behaviour.

These dimensions take into account not just the differences between shoppers in terms of their individual motivations, but also try to model the variations caused in shoppers due to cultural influences. One key theme of this paper is the variation caused in the perceived hedonic value of shoppers. Hedonic value refers to the ‘sense of pleasure’ associated with shopping. In the Indian context especially, several retailers have referred to cultural differences and the resultant differences in shopper hedonic orientations. However, there are a few existing frameworks available that enable assessing the association between hedonism and culture in the Indian shopping behavioural context. This paper provides a theoretical framework and a robust research agenda that will help researchers and retailers alike address this need.
Entrepreneurial Process: A Personalistic-Cognitive Platform Model
Authors: Mathews Jose
Published: June 2019

Entrepreneurship theories and research deal with a variety of behavioural and non-behavioural processes and issues that explain the nature of entrepreneurship in different ways. The advances made in entrepreneurship research now centre on entrepreneurial cognitions, entrepreneurial personality, and motivation even though the other areas of research are not without significance, considering the importance of the field.

The personalistic-cognitive platform model proposed accounts for the composite dynamics of the entrepreneurial behaviour that focus on the behavioural dynamics of the entrepreneur. The superimposition of the behavioural processes on the economic/social attributes of the environment gives rise to a platform of personality and cognition that overarches itself to the generalization, prediction, and dynamics of entrepreneurship. The platform is constructed based on the �bricks and mortars� of entrepreneurial syndrome, entrepreneurial motivational dynamics, environmental scanning, decisional processes, and cognitive mediation circumscribed in the entrepreneurial mental model.

Entrepreneurial syndrome is formed by the cluster of an array of entrepreneurial traits of venture significance. The syndrome gets manifested as a stable dynamic formation of personality that seeks new ventures and produces goods and services of economic value. Entrepreneurial motivational dynamics unravels the nature of entrepreneurial drive that has push and pull forces that direct the person to different economic realms. The performance motivation of the person is characterized by goal setting, expectancy, and selfefficacy motivation. Together they explain the motivational dynamics of entrepreneurial behaviour that aims to derive something of lasting value.

Scanning the environment enables the entrepreneur to distill the trends and the significant attributes that will lay the base of his entire business ventures. The scanned attributes are transformed in the person. As the decisional activity involves the identification of a specific alternative, the complexity that surrounds the selection of an alternative has special place in the entrepreneurial context. In the highly uncertain and novel situation, an entrepreneur is to take causal or effectual decisions.

The cognitive mediational activity exemplified in the entrepreneur�s mental model transforms the environmental complexity into useable forms of entrepreneurial outcomes. The cognitive strategies of differing natures help the entrepreneur in bringing about entrepreneurial ventures that are ultimately the products of entrepreneurial cognitions and related personal variables.