bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Cultural Influence on Managerial Communication in Relationship to Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, and the Employees’ Propensity to Leave in the Insurance Sector of India
Authors: Raina Reeta , Roebuck Deborah Britt
Published: November 2014

This article identifies the critical importance of effective downward communication in its relationship to job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and the employees’ propensity to leave an organization. Employee turnover within the insurance sector of India has become an issue; therefore, a sample of 105 employees from the insurance sector is surveyed to gather information concerning downward communication, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. The study used various cultural lenses to understand the influence of national culture on norms, values, beliefs, and practices of the Indian employees and managers. Results of the survey suggest that there is a positively significant relationship between downward communication, employee satisfaction, organizational commitment, and the employees’ propensity to leave. The results, which have implications and relevance for all kinds of industries all over the world, indicate that managers want to contribute to the effective functioning of the organization and can do so by providing the right, conducive environment for employees. Managers need to send clear, precise, and timely job instructions; communicate constructive feedback related to their job performance; and use multiple channels of communication. Taking these actions will enhance job commitment and reduce the likelihood of employees’ leaving their organizations.
A Study of the Employment of Denial During a Complex and Unstable Crisis Involving Multiple Actors
Authors: Bamber Matthew , Parry Simon
Published: November 2014

The authors review the use of denial through a complex and unstable crisis: the Deepwater Horizon tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico. Denial is typically viewed as a binary response—”we did not do this”—with a binary intended outcome—”and therefore we are not to blame.” The authors argue that this interpretation is overly simplistic. They found that Transocean and Halliburton executed a strategy consisting of distancing and (counter)attack to shift blame, whereas BP pursued a strategy dominated by compassion and ingratiation intermixed with carefully used denial to share blame. This form of blame sharing is a hybrid of denial and acceptance. BP accepted responsibility but argued that others were responsible too. The authors’ analysis also shows that deny response options were restricted or relaxed dependent on situational and intertextual context. They find that the tone of the involved parties’ releases became significantly more aggressive as the situation developed toward its legal conclusion and as they responded to one another’s progressively more hostile releases.
Information Sharing and Citizenship Behaviors
Authors: Tremblay Michel , Landreville Pascale-Edith
Published: November 2014

This study aims to evaluate the mediating roles of empowerment, procedural justice, and organizational support in the influence of top-down and bottom-up information sharing on citizenship behaviors. In line with our hypotheses, we found that top-down practices primarily reinforce a sense of empowerment, whereas bottom-up practices primarily reinforce the perception of procedural justice. Finally, we found that information-sharing practices significantly influence citizenship performance in all three exchange mechanisms studied.
Assessing the Supervisor-Subordinate Relationship Involving Part-Time Employees
Authors: Sollitto Michael , Martin Matthew M. , Dusic Shelly , Gibbons Kaitlyn E. , Wagenhouser Anna
Published: November 2014

Many college students have part-time jobs for a variety of reasons, including finances, skill enhancement, networking, personal satisfaction, and confidence. Part-time employees often differ from full-time employees on their organizational knowledge, involvement, and satisfaction. This study explored communication between college student part-time employees and their supervisors through the use of leader-member exchange theory. According to this theory, there are many personal and professional benefits for employees when they have quality relationships with their supervisors. Participants included 210 undergraduate students from a large mid-Atlantic university. College student part-time employees’ leader-member exchange was significantly and positively related to their organizational assimilation, organizational identification, work motivation, and career relevancy.
Extracting Meaning and Relevance from Work
Authors: Reed Kendra , Goolsby Jerry R. , Johnston Michelle K.
Published: November 2014

This manuscript explores an organization’s listening environment as a mechanism used by employees to interpret organizational information and translate signals into meaning and relevance, culminating in identification with and commitment to the organization. Firmly grounded in theory and research from diverse academic literatures and research traditions, especially Social Learning Theory from Social Psychology, hypotheses are developed and then tested in a carefully designed study. Data collected from employees in a high-performing manufacturing organization offer an ideal setting for testing hypotheses, while holding other contextual variables constant. Statistical findings imply that employees who perceive work environments as being facilitative of interactive communication between and among employees respond with heightened attachments to organizations. The study’s results admonish scholars to include listening in future studies of business communication and organizational behavior, while managers are encouraged to assess the mechanisms their organizations use to facilitate an organizational listening climate at work.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe–7Al based lightweight steel containing carbon
Authors: Khaple S. , Baligidad R. G. , Satya Prasad V. V. , Satyanarayana D. V. V.
Published: November 2014

The effect of carbon on the microstructure and mechanical properties of lightweight steel based on Fe–7 wt-Al produced by air induction melting with flux cover is investigated. The ingots were hot worked to plates and were characterised. Steel containing 0.02 wt-C exhibited a single phase microstructure Fe–Al(α), whereas steel containing 0.5 and 1.0 wt- carbon exhibited a two-phase microstructure containing significant amounts of Fe3AlC0.5 precipitates in Fe–Al(α) matrix. Microhardness of the matrix decreases with increasing carbon content due to depletion of aluminium from the matrix to form Fe3AlC0.5 carbides. The bulk hardness, room temperature strength increases and tensile elongation decreases with increasing carbon content. However, at 873 K the improvement in strength as well as creep properties with increasing carbon content is marginal.
Effect of pH on nucleation mechanism of Zn–Mn coatings electrodeposited at different deposition potential
Authors: Rafiee A. , Raeissi K. , Golozar M. A.
Published: November 2014

Zn–Mn alloy coatings were galvanostatically deposited from an acidic chloride bath at pH 2·0 and 4·9. Effects of pH on nucleation mode, surface morphology and corrosion resistance of Zn–Mn coatings were studied. Analysis of current-time transients indicated that the nucleation mode of Zn–Mn coatings at pH 2·0 is instantaneous. With increasing the pH to 4·9 at potentials of −1·08 and −1·59 V, the experimental data were observed to be near the theoretical instantaneous nucleation, but at higher potentials of −1·12 and −1·2 V, the progressive mode of nucleation was dominant. From AFM images, the average nuclei density N values for Zn–Mn deposition at pH 2·0 and 4·9 were 9·2×109 and 10×109 cm−2 respectively. At pH 2·0, this value was near that obtained by the model, but it was found to be far away at pH 4·9. Potentiodynamic polarisation indicated that the corrosion resistance of Zn–Mn coatings at pH 4·9 is slightly improved.
Photoluminescence response of colloidal quantum dots on VO2 film across metal to insulator transition
Authors: Kuznetsov Sergey N , Cheremisin Alexander B , Stefanovich Genrikh B
Published: November 2014

We have proposed a method to probe metal to insulator transition in VO2 measuring photoluminescence response of colloidal quantum dots deposited on the VO2 film. In addition to linear luminescence intensity decrease with temperature that is well known for quantum dots, temperature ranges with enhanced photoluminescence changes have been found during phase transition in the oxide. Corresponding temperature derived from luminescence dependence on temperature closely correlates with that from resistance measurement during heating. The supporting reflectance data point out that photoluminescence response mimics a reflectance change in VO2 across metal to insulator transition. Time-resolved photoluminescence study did not reveal any significant change of luminescence lifetime of deposited quantum dots under metal to insulator transition. It is a strong argument in favor of the proposed explanation based on the reflectance data.

PACS

71.30. + h; 73.21.La; 78.47.jd
A brief overview of speech enhancement with linear filtering
Authors: Benesty Jacob , Christensen Mads Græsbøll , Jensen Jesper Rindom , Chen Jingdong
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we provide an overview of some recently introduced principles and ideas for speech enhancement with linear filtering and explore how these are related and how they can be used in various applications. This is done in a general framework where the speech enhancement problem is stated as a signal vector estimation problem, i.e., with a filter matrix, where the estimate is obtained by means of a matrix-vector product of the filter matrix and the noisy signal vector. In this framework, minimum distortion, minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR), tradeoff, maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and Wiener filters are derived from the conventional speech enhancement approach and the recently introduced orthogonal decomposition approach. For each of the filters, we derive their properties in terms of output SNR and speech distortion. We then demonstrate how the ideas can be applied to single- and multichannel noise reduction in both the time and frequency domains as well as binaural noise reduction.
Proportion of patients without mental disorders being treated in
mental health services worldwide
Authors: Bruffaerts Ronny , Posada-Villa Jose , Al-Hamzawi Ali Obaid , Gureje Oye , Huang Yueqin , Hu Chiyi , Bromet Evelyn J. , Viana Maria Carmen , Hinkov Hristo Ruskov , Karam Elie G. , Borges Guilherme , Florescu Silvia E. , Williams David R. , Demyttenaere Koen , Kovess-Masfety Viviane , Matschinger Herbert , Levinson Daphna , de Girolamo Giovanni , Ono Yutaka , de Graaf Ron , Browne Mark Oakley , Bunting Brendan , Xavier Miguel , Haro Josep Maria , Kessler Ronald C.
Published: November 2014

Background

Previous research suggests that many people receiving mental health
treatment do not meet criteria for a mental disorder but are rather ‘the
worried well’.

Aims

To examine the association of past-year mental health treatment with
DSM-IV disorders.

Method

The World Health Organization's World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys
interviewed community samples of adults in 23 countries
(n = 62 305) about DSM-IV disorders and treatment in
the past 12 months for problems with emotions, alcohol or drugs.

Results

Roughly half (52%) of people who received treatment met criteria for a
past-year DSM-IV disorder, an additional 18% for a lifetime disorder and
an additional 13% for other indicators of need (multiple subthreshold
disorders, recent stressors or suicidal behaviours). Dose–response
associations were found between number of indicators of need and
treatment.

Conclusions

The vast majority of treatment in the WMH countries goes to patients with
mental disorders or other problems expected to benefit from
treatment.
DOCLASP - Docking ligands to target proteins using spatial and electrostatic congruence extracted from a known holoenzyme and applying simple geometrical transformations
Authors: Chakraborty Sandeep
Published: November 2014

The ability to accurately and effectively predict the interaction between proteins and small drug-like compounds has long intrigued researchers for pedagogic, humanitarian and economic reasons. Protein docking methods (AutoDock, GOLD, DOCK, FlexX and Glide to name a few) rank a large number of possible conformations of protein-ligand complexes using fast algorithms. Previously, it has been shown that structural congruence leading to the same enzymatic function necessitates the congruence of electrostatic properties (CLASP). The current work presents a methodology for docking a ligand into a target protein, provided that there is at least one known holoenzyme with ligand bound - DOCLASP (Docking using CLASP). The contact points of the ligand in the holoenzyme defines a motif, which is used to query the target enzyme using CLASP. If there are no significant matches, the ligand cannot be docked in the protein. Otherwise, the holoenzyme and the target protein are superimposed based on congruent atoms. The same linear and rotational transformations are also applied to the ligand, thus creating a unified coordinate framework having the holoenzyme, the ligand and the target enzyme. This provides the docked ligand in the target enzyme. Previously, CLASP was used to predict and validate (in vivo) the inhibition of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) from Bacillus cereus by two dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP4) inhibitors - vildagliptin and K-579. In the current work, vildagliptin was docked to the PI-PLC structure complexed with myo-inositol using DOCLASP. The docked ligand is free from steric clashes and interacts with the same side chain residues that bind myo-inositol, providing corroboration of the validity of the proposed methodology.
Prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism: the nurse's role in management
Authors: Blann Andrew
Published: November 2014

As the causes and consequences of venous thromboembolism (VTE) (principally deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) are becoming better understood, so is the need for anticoagulation. Treatments for VTE can be classified as oral (vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), principally warfarin; and non-VKA anticoagulants) and parenteral (injectable heparinoids). These drugs are used in the prevention and treatment of VTE, but also in preventing stroke. Prevention of VTE and stroke focuses on those with certain high-risk conditions (such as atrial fibrillation or cardiac valve disease), or those about to undergo a high-risk procedure (such as orthopaedic surgery or cardioversion). However, once a VTE has occurred, treatment focuses on preventing a second thrombosis. This article reviews the treatments and management of VTE, clarifies which are more suitable for various clinical conditions that call for anticoagulation, and describes the role of the nurse in managing these situations.
Pre-participation screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in young athletes
Authors: Sheffle Nicholas , Bowden Tracey
Published: November 2014

Aims:

This literature review seeks to explore the efficacy of pre-participation screening (PPS) in identifying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes within the UK.

Background:

SCD accounts for half of all cardiovascular mortality in persons under 30 years and HCM is the leading cause of exercise-related cardiovascular death in young athletes. Substantial interest persists regarding the effectiveness of PPS and the necessity for universal legislation and implementation.

Findings:

PPS of young athletes identified HCM (and other cardiovascular disease) that could have prevented SCD. Electrocardiography (ECG) had virtuous impact when included within PPS. However, echocardiography—noted as gold standard assessment of HCM—was largely insignificant. SCD had greater prevalence in males than females, yet there was significant ethnic underrepresentation. PPS lacked consistency.

Conclusion:

PPS is universally divisive and present legislative application in the UK remains unfounded. There is evidence highlighting the efficacy of PPS identifying HCM (and other cardiovascular disease), and thus preventing SCD in young athletes. ECG inclusion could have benefits in PPS. However, further studies targeting age, sex, ethnicity, cost analysis and consistency are imperative before PPS is mandated.

Relevance to clinical practice:

Essential practical, psychological and ethical implications govern PPS implementation, illustrating expert clinical nursing support and prospective intervention in SCD aftermath.
Teaching numeracy skills to Afro-Caribbean children
Authors: Benjamin Ermine
Published: November 2014

Ermine Benjamin, an ethnic minority achievement advisory teacher for primary schools in Southwark, looks at how to maximise levels of attainment in numeracy for ethnic minority pupils.
A week IN THE LIFE OF
Authors: Steele Kate
Published: November 2014

Kate Steele recounts her last week as ICT and SEN co-ordinator at Bethany Junior School, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
Benefits of visits to historic sites
Authors: Todd Ann , Bellamy Rachel
Published: November 2014

A well-structured visit can deepen your pupils' understanding of past and present. By Ann Todd (top) and Rachel Bellamy (above), both regional education officers for English Heritage.
Research, writing and the internet
Authors: Steel Sue
Published: November 2014

Sue Steel, ICT co-ordinator at Waycroft Primary School in Bristol, looks at how year 6 children can develop their note-making and report writing skills in conjunction with the internet.
On the light emitting hot evolving black holes
Authors: B Ramanuja Srinivas , P Kalyani , U.V Satya Seshavatharam
Published: November 2014

Along with the presently believed black holes that are expected to be formed by gravitational collapse of massive star, there may exist primordial very hot evolving black holes and their origin may be interlinked with the Planck mass. Extending this proposal, the current universe can be considered as a huge evolving black hole of radius equal to the current Hubble length and temperature equal to 2.725 K. It can be suggested that 1) Vacuum is a great reservoir for matter and energy. 2) Planck mass can be considered as the primordial very hot baby black hole and can be called as the baby Planckion. 3) Baby Planckion will grow by absorbing the vacuum energy and thereby its geometric horizon also increases. As the baby Planckion is growing, its temperature and the tendency of vacuum energy absorption will decrease. 4) Very high temperature of the baby Planckion is the heat source for the evolving Planckion’s decreasing temperature. 5) Growing Planckion can be considered as the seed and center of any galaxy. 6) Growing Planckion will permit the emission of radiation. 6) Current universe can be considered as a huge evolving Planckion with temperature 2.725 K. In support this proposal, it is possible to guess that, in the past decreasing comic black whole temperature forced hydrogen atom to emit increased quantum of energy resulting in the observed redshift. Keywords: Planck Scale, Planck ion, Evolving Black Holes, Black Hole Temperature, Emission of a Black Hole. CMBR Temperature, Evolving Black Hole Universe.
Pervaporative transfer modeling through dense membranes validation of the scattered packet method
Authors: Essamri Azzouz , El Gouri Rachid , Zouair F.Z , Cheikhi Nabil , Hlou Laamari
Published: November 2014

The study of the diffusion through a homogeneous dense film, covers practically and theoretically a fundamental interest. In pervaporation (membrane separation process) the diffusion is the limiting step in the operation of the transfer and thus directly influences the performance of the membrane. The knowledge of the diffusion coefficient of an aqueous solution in a membrane makes it possible to elucidate the mechanism of this elementary step of pervaporation. Several methods were used to determine the diffusivity of a compound through a dense membrane (differential permeation, kinetic of sorption). In this work, we tried to validate the method of the scattered packet. It is about a digital method, of cellular automaton, which produces really the process of diffusion through a membrane using the second law of Fick in which the diffusion coefficient is considered constant. Permeation flux data obtained by simulation allowed validating this method. By using the method of relaxation time and the method of maximum slope, can thus determine the coefficient of diffusion of diffusing species through the membrane. Keywords: Diffusivity, Membrane, Pervaporation, Scattered Packet Method.
Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, analgesic and CNS studies of Schiff base cu(II) complex derived from 4-choro-o-phenylene Diamine
Authors: Deivanayagam Piramanayagam , Bhoopathy Parasuraman , Thanikaikarasan Sethuramachandran
Published: November 2014

Schiff base ligand and its Cu (II) Complex had been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 4-chloro-o-phenylene diamine and 2-hydroxy acetophenone. The Structure and spectral properties of ligand and complex were confirmed by UV, FT-IR and 1H NMR Spectroscopy. The spectral properties showed that it was a square planar geomentry with a tetradentate ligand. The Schiff base Cu (II) Complex was subjected to antimicrobial studies. In this paper I have taken to discuss these three bactericidal organisms such as Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus viridians and Staphylococcus epidermidis on the test compounds. Schiff base Copper (II) complex were screened by employing the Disc Diffusion method. A concentration gradient (5, 10, 20 and 30mg/ml) of each compound was put into study. From the study, it was observed that it showed a maximum zone of inhibition. The Schiff base complex were subjected to analgesic studies and it showed a significant increase in analgesic activity when compared with normal saline. The Schiff base complex was subjected to CNS studies and it showed a depressant activity when compared with standard drug chlorpromazine. Keywords: Schiff Base, 4-Chloro-O-Phenylene Diamine, Electronic Spectroscopy, Petri Plates and CNS.
Tetrahydroanthracene Derivative: Anti-microbial Isolate from Acanthospermum hispidum DC
Authors: Olawumi Olajide , Ibrahim Oladosu , Christianah Fakunle
Published: November 2014

The leaves and stems of Acanthospermum hispidium were extracted with distilled ethanol using cold extraction and concentrated using a rotary evaporator at 37 0C. The crude extract was partitioned successively using hexane, benzene and methanol. Fractions 19, 20 and 21 purified on Sephadex LH-20 gave a compound elucidated to be 1, 3, 6, 8-tetrahydroxyl-9-anthracene carbonaldehyde, using the state-of-art tools of spectrometry. The results of the antimicrobial test on the isolated compound show activity against P. mirabilis, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, C. albican, S. typhi and B. cereus at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 100ppm. Keywords: Acanthospermum hispidum, Anthracene Carbonaldehyde, Antimicrobial Test, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration.
Determinants of voluntary web-based disclosure: A comparison of the united kingdom and its former colony, New Zealand
Authors: Ghorbel Siala Hanen , Mnif Sellami Yosra , Borgi Fendri Hela
Published: November 2014

The paper represents an attempt of enrichment of researches relating to the publication of Voluntary Information Disclosure on the Web-Sites (VDWS). The main objective of this research is to compare the extent of VDWS and the differential impact of some firm specific characteristics in the United Kingdom and New Zealand on firms’ VDWS. In fact, comparative disclosure studies tend generally to evaluate the differential impact of firm specific characteristics on information disclosure in two different legal systems (for example, common law and code law) or having different cultural values. However, few studies have analyzed this topic in countries having the same legal system and/or similar cultural values. The results illustrate a significant variation of VDWS practices across the two countries. The results show, also, that the majority of the identified determinants differ between these two countries in their significance and their sign. The principal results prove that firm size represents a positive common factor on the extent of VDWS in the two countries. The specific factors of British companies are: dispersion of ownership, performance, and the number of listing on foreign stock exchanges. Whereas those of New Zealand companies are bored independence and leverage level. Keywords: Determinants, Voluntary Disclosure, Websites, United Kingdom, New Zealand.
Modeling water quality index to assess shallow groundwater quality for sustainable utilization in Southern India
Authors: Anbazhagan Siddan , Jothibasu Arumugam
Published: November 2014

In sustainable groundwater study, it is necessary to assess the quality of groundwater in terms of drinking and irrigation purposes. The present study attempt to assess the groundwater quality through Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) and Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) in hard rock aquifer system and sustainable water use in Uppar Odai sub-basin, Southern India. The quality of ground water in major part of the study area is generally poor.  In order to understand the shallow groundwater quality, the water samples were collected from 24 dug wells. The primary physical and chemical parameters like potential Hydrogen (pH), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Hardness (TH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), bicarbonate (HCO3), carbonate (CO3), cloride (Cl), sulphate (SO4), nitrate (NO3) and fluoride (F) were analyzed for DWQI. The secondary parameters of irrigation groundwater quality indices such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Sodium Soluble Percentage (SSP), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), Corrosively Ratio (CR), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR) and Kellies Ratio (KR) were also derived from the primary parameter for IWQI. The DWQI and IWQI were classified into excellent to unfit condition of groundwater quality based on their Water Quality Index (WQI). The spatial distribution of DWQI (25%) and IWQI (58+26%) indicate that slightly unsustainable to sustainable state of groundwater quality.  Due to this quality deterioration of shallow aquifer, an immediate attention required for sustainable development. Keywords: Groundwater Quality, GIS, Water Quality Indices, Shallow Aquifer, Sustainable Development.
Assessment of HIV/AIDS educational intervention on stigma reduction among nurses: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Gutierrez John Mark
Published: November 2014

Background: In a setting where HIV/AIDS is highly endemic, nurses may respond to patients with increase fear of being at risk of acquiring HIV infection, decrease willingness to care, or both. The resulting stigmatization creates social barriers and discrimination between nurses and patients with HIV/AIDS. Objectives: This study aimed to increase nurses’ knowledge on HIV/AIDS and reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare through HIV/AIDS educational intervention. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out in all nursing departments of Shaqra General Hospital from February to April 2014. Nurses (n = 58), meeting the eligibility criteria, were included in the sample and were non-randomly assigned in one-group pre-test and post-test using purposive sampling technique. Results: The results of the pre- and post-intervention phases were compared using paired-sample t-test. Significant increase in nurses’ knowledge was demonstrated following HIV/AIDS educational intervention (p = 0.000). HIV/AIDS educational intervention was significantly associated with less stigmatization for ‘attitudes towards imposed measures’ (p = 0.002). In pre-intervention phase, the greatest stigmatizing attitude was observed in statement concerning the need for screening all inpatients for HIV/AIDS. The assessment at pre- and post-intervention for ‘comfortableness dealing with HIV/AIDS patients’ did not differ significantly, indicating least stigmatizing attitude. However, a statistical significant difference (p = 0.044) on nurses’ overall attitude towards patients with HIV/AIDS was detected between pre- and post-intervention assessment. Pooled mean revealed no observed discriminatory act among nurses at pre- and post-intervention assessment. Conclusion: The utilization of HIV/AIDS educational intervention improved nurses’ theoretical knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Although nurses’ knowledge on HIV/AIDS was improved significantly, their attitudes of blame or judgment as well as their comfortableness dealing with HIV/AIDS patients have not changed. The effectiveness of HIV/AIDS educational intervention in reducing HIV/AIDS-related discrimination as well as its impact on nurses’ attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS warrants further investigation. Keywords: Attitudes, Discrimination, Educational Intervention, HIV/AIDS, and Stigma.
Parameter estimation for multiple weibull populations under joint type-II censoring
Authors: Ashour Samir , Eraki Osama
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we introduce the maximum likelihood estimation for k Weibull populations under joint type II censored scheme and different special cases have been obtained.  The asymptotic variance covariance matrix and approximate confidence region based on the asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimators have been obtained. A numerical example is considered to illustrate the proposed estimators. Keywords: Approximate Inference; Coverage Probabilities; Joint Type II Censored Scheme; Maximum Likelihood Estimation; Weibull Distribution.
Tourism and resource development: a case study of Madhya Pradesh
Authors: Pandey Devendra , Mishra Satyendra , Shukla Sandeep
Published: November 2014

At present tourism is considered as one of the important economic sector, which impels the growth & development of many of the states of India. Tourism provides a marketable product, which does not depend on raw materials from outside. This paper analyses the problems & strategies for tourism and resource development, which bears great prospects in future development of Tourism. Hospitality, the foundation on which the edifice of Madhya Pradesh tourism built, is indigenous to Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh sends largest number of travellers to almost every corner of the world, but its strengths to be host is not yet been fully utilized due to the lack of information highway. Madhya Pradesh is also known, as the “Heart of India”. It offers colourful experience to its travellers packed with pleasant surprises, endowed with forest & deserts, hills & plains, & lakes, tribal hinterlands & special interest destination with a strong rail, road, & air network. The Poor infrastructure, ineffectual marketing & inefficient management of resource ensures that tourist steer clear, little wonder then, Madhya Pradesh contribute little over 2% to the total tourist traffic of the country, while neighbouring Rajasthan share is over 4%. The Government policies has been introduced to eradicate the problems associated, but still it is on the paper & will have to travel far long way to reach their destinations. Most of tourism planning in the region appears to be adhoc. Therefore, it is essential to move away from such an ad hoc approach to draw up definite plans of action, charting out the future directions clearly. Keywords: Tourism, Resource Development, Eradication, Hospitality and Infrastructure.
Comparative efficacy of different herbal and modern anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematodiasis in fowl
Authors: Alam Md. , Alam Khondoker , Begum Nurjahan , Amin Mohammad
Published: November 2014

The aqueous and ethanol extract of some plants and plant materials were screened for their in vitro anthelmintic effects against gastrointestinal nematodes of fowl were studied. The plant materials were extracted in distilled water (aqueous extract) and ethyl alcohol (ethanol extract). Screening of freshly prepared aqueous extract of three plant materials namely neem (Azadirachta indica), papaya (Carica papaya), korolla (Momordica charantia) and two patent drugs Eskanex® (Levamisole) and Eskapar® (Piperazine) were selected. Aqueous extracts of 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml concentration; ethanol extracts of 10mg/ml, 25mg/ml, and 50mg/ml were used for screening. Among the selected plants and patent drugs and all three concentration of aqueous extracts papaya seed was found best at 25mg/ml concentration (41%), 50mg/ml concentration (74%) and 100mg/ml (92%) followed by korolla (22%, 70% and 90% in 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml concentration respectively) against adult parasite and these plants namely papaya seed showed significant efficacy against infective larvae L3. Ethanol extracts of plants also showed significant efficacy against adult gastrointestinal worms at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. Among the selected plants and all three concentration of the ethanol extract revealed the highest efficacious plant (100%) at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. In all concentrations of ethanol extract papaya was observed as the best plant (100%, 98% and 84% at 50mg/ml, 25mg/ml and 10mg/ml concentration respectively) followed by korolla (100%, 93% and 74% at 50mg/ml, 25mg/ml and 10mg/ml concentration respectively) against adult whereas in case of larvae it showed significant efficacy. The present study suggests that papaya, korolla and neem are effective and can be used against the treatment of nematodiasis in fowl in alternative of patent drugs. More studies are needed to determine the active principles of pharmacological and toxicological assessment. Keywords: Comparative Efficacy, Extract, Gastrointestinal, Herbal Anthelmintic, Nematodiasis.
Misconceptions about health and disease prevention behaviors of rural Appalachian Americans
Authors: Miller Wayne , Griffith Brian , Bikman Timothy , Meyer Cameron
Published: November 2014

Background: Appalachia is one of the unhealthiest regions in the United States due to poor disease prevention behaviors. Objective: Determine if self-perceived health of rural Appalachians is related to participation in disease prevention behaviors. Methods: Rural Appalachian adults (n=437) were surveyed regarding their self-perceived health and disease prevention behaviors. Healthy behaviors included: moderate (? 90 min/wk) and vigorous (? 45 min/wk) physical activity, sugared drink consumption (? 1 sugared drink/d), smoking (non-smoker), alcohol consumption (? 1 drink/d), blood pressure (? 120/80 mm Hg), and fast food consumption (? 1 time/wk). Participants were grouped where healthy = (self-health rating > 5 on a 0-10 scale), BMI < 25, and blood pressure (? 120/80 mm Hg). Jaccard Binary Similarity (JBS) coefficients and Russell and Rao (RR) dichotomy coefficients determined the association and predictability of self-health ratings and disease prevention behaviors. T-tests determined group differences in the number of disease prevention behaviors. Results: Individuals who reported being healthy had high JBS coefficients for having healthy sugared drink consumption (0.552), not smoking (0.704), low alcohol consumption (0.742), and low fast food consumption (0.481). RR results were similar to JBS results. Not smoking and low alcohol consumption were highly correlated (r=0.87). Those with a good health perception practiced more disease prevention behaviors (mean±SEM, 2.84±0.06) than those with a poor health perception (2.19±0.10, p<0.001). Good health perceptions were not strongly related to obesity and inactivity. Conclusions: Appalachians are not indifferent about their health. However, Appalachians may not understand how inactivity and obesity relate to disease. Keywords: Disease Prevention, Health Behaviors, Rural Appalachian Health, Self-Perceived Health.
Solid waste management plan of pharmacy faculty in Karachi university
Authors: Usmani Mursaleen , Wahab Abdul , Sultana Hafsa
Published: November 2014

Solid waste is considered as a biggest pollution problem in Pakistan. Improper management of solid waste creates many problems in Pakistan like health problems by causing different disease; create unpleasant smell, land pollution and also effect the beauty of the country. The country spends lot of income for the management of solid waste. The aim of this research is to identify that solid waste is consider as an economic burden or an economic assets. For this research work, we choose the pharmacy faculty found in university of Karachi, Pakistan. We collect different type of data related with solid waste from the members of the faculty and the result of the project shows that our little effort can make lower this burden and we can convert this economic burden into economic assets. Keywords: Segregation, Bring System, Composting, Questionnaires, Dumping Site.
Cloud computing: use cases & various applications
Authors: Hashemi Seyyed Mohsen , Hanani Ali
Published: November 2014

As Cloud Computing has become more and more famous and popular, various Cloud Computing architectures, models and infrastructures have been defined, given their specific circumstances for the applications. Currently, many Cloud definitions, applications and samples can be helpful as a reference for using a Cloud Computing service. As Cloud Computing technology is being used to minimize the cost of computing resources, many enterprises gained interest of migrating their old system to the Cloud Computing system. This further illustrates the importance the usage of Cloud Computing, therefore, this paper investigates some distributed computing model especially cloud computing to clarify which definition, usage, applications and use-cases are more useful. Further, this article attempts to introduce various models of cloud computing, services, use-cases and applications. Finally, we made a comparison between various companies that are providing Cloud Computing facilities. Keywords: Cloud Computing, E-Services, Service Computing, UML, RUP.
“Following one's desire” (kāmacāra): On a Characterisation of Freedom in Vedic Literature and the Mahābhārata
Authors: Malinar Angelika
Published: November 2014

The compound kāmacāra is in Vedic literature connected to ideas of freedom which are different from the well-known ones often associated with immovability and changelessness as the characteristic features of the “self” (ātman) or the “absolute” (brahman), and of “liberation” (mokṣa, mukti) as a state beyond pleasure and desire. It rather refers to a semantic register of freedom which is used in order to describe states of independence and liberty obtained in the after-life in which immortality is defined not as freedom “from”, but as freedom “to”. Correspondingly, kāmacāra is used in connection with notions of autonomy expressed by the words svatantra or svatantratā (independence) and svarāj (self-rule), and not with the semantics of mukti and mokṣa, the terms frequently used for the freedom that accrues through “liberation” or “release” from worldly existence. New ascetic teachings on the extinction of all desire as well as new interpretations of ritual action and individual agency (karman) did not result in completely removing the idea of a state of “following one's desire” from the spectrum of salvific ideas, but rather in its being reinterpreted vis-à-vis “higher” goals. While the speculations about the freedom to be obtained in future existences are in some Vedic texts intrinsically connected with notions of the “self” (ātman) and the realm of brahman, they become in the Mahābhārata features of particular regions and agents. Furthermore, kāmacāra becomes a topic in negotiating gender, and more specifically, marital relations and is made a characteristic feature of times and places in which laws of possession do not rule social relationships. The analysis of the occurrences of the compound in Vedic literature and the epic aims at tracing semantic shifts and changing referential frameworks of meaning.
A First Approach to the Cost of a Basic Social Benefit
Authors: Peña-Miguel Noemi , De La Peña Esteban J Iñaki , Fernandez-Sainz Ana
Published: November 2014

The Social Security System in Spain is significantly broader and more complex than in other EU countries. One of its problems is that it was not created as a single whole. Instead of this, there are different kinds of social assistance service depending on the region, so there is a real need to reduce the complexity of these schemes and homogenise the benefits paid out in a general basic social benefit. In this paper we propose a new approach to universal basic protection benefit (called Basic Social Benefit) as a way of unifying and rationalising the different grants and economic aids currently available in Spain in order to cover the basic needs of all citizens. This is the first study made in Spain in calculating the lump sum of a basic social benefit for the whole population. For this, we use Quantile Regression (QR) to calculate the principal variables that explain the minimum vital expenditures of Spanish citizens. We also show the total financial cost of this measure for Spain in 2010 and a projection of the cost for the next 12 years.
Moores Paradox, Behaupten, Urteilen
Authors: Pfisterer Christoph C.
Published: November 2014

Moore was first to notice that it is absurd to assert sentences of the form “p, but I don’t believe it.” As it looks even more absurd to believe what such a sentence states, explanations of Moore’s paradox have primarily focused on the beliefs thus asserted. Shoemaker, for example, analyzes these beliefs in terms of conflicting higher order beliefs. Kriegel, in return, provides an explanation in terms of logical contradictions. I shall argue that both accounts rest on the mistaken assumption that assertions are merely uttered judgements. What I show instead is that the episodic aspect of judgements renders it impossible even to have such beliefs.
Mereologisch, homunkulogisch oder pseudo-objektivierend? Über einige neurophilosophische Fehlschlüsse und Kategorienfehler
Authors: Lenk Hans
Published: November 2014

The paper discusses Bennett’s and Hacker’s critical work on the philosophical foundations of neuroscience and their so-called ” mereological fallacy“. It argues that Wittgensteinian arguments of mere ordinary language analysis are not enough to cover activations of patterns in the brain and especially of sense perception and meaningful human action. The approach offered by the author’s methodological scheme-interpretationism may solve these problems by using and differentiating higher-order concepts and metatheoretical and methodological as well as schema-theoretical perspectives.
Notwendigkeit und Grenzen der Unternehmensethik
Authors: Peucker Henning
Published: November 2014

Against the background of the growing social and ecological problems, business ethics and economics ethics were developed in order to reflect on the ethical dimension of modern economic activities. This article contrasts two different approaches from within this field of applied ethics: one that regards the implementation of a responsible and institutionally-based framework of regulations for all of our economic activities as the aim of business ethics; another that stresses the influence of individual business leaders and regards all efforts of business ethics as pointless if they are not directed to the individual decisions and actions of managers. The article shows that the first approach remains insufficient if it is not complemented with elements from the individual ethics provided by the second approach.
“Given the Subject Term – What is the Rest?” – On the Unity of a Sentence
Authors: Mras Gabriele M.
Published: November 2014

By examining the views of Frege, Russell, and Davidson it is shown that what a sentence is about cannot be determined without taking into account the interconnections among the other parts of a sentence. This is illustrated by considering in particular the effects of negating the predicate of a sentence.
There is no such Thing as Predication
Authors: Peregrin Jaroslav
Published: November 2014

It is often taken for granted that predication is something that happens on a mental, nonlinguistic level, that the grammatical operation of predication is merely a shadowy epiphenomenon of our mental gluing together of the entities stood for by the grammatical subject and the grammatical predicate. I argue that there is nothing - or at least nothing clearly graspable - that could be reasonably called predication save the grammatical operation. Predication, I argue, is what happens when we use a linguistic ‘tool’ having built it of two specific parts, where the parts, already furnished with certain inferential roles, conspire to produce a sentence with a specific inferential potential, which then can be used within a plentitude of our language games.
The degree of union resulting from reaction points expressed in a diatopic table. An application to a Catalan verb morphology database
Authors: Ueda Hiroto , Perea Maria-Pilar
Published: November 2014

For describing a particular area from a geolinguistic perspective, the basic procedure is to create a two-dimensional table with an axis showing forms or phenomena and another axis showing localities. In this table, observing the specific reaction in every cell will allow us to develop both co-occurrence and coefficient matrixes, as well as clustering and multivariate interpretation graphs. In this table, which is the starting point for multivariate analyses of geolinguistic data, certain convergences and divergences of the reaction points are revealed. Our interest is in a quantitative evaluation of the degree of convergence and divergence that takes the form of a rectangular linkage of the reacted points; that is to say, an analysis of the state of their continuity set out in rectangular plots. In order to evaluate properly the absolute values in numbers of unions (U) it is necessary to develop a mathematical function that will return the maximum number of unions (Umax) in a parameter with the number of reactions (n): Umax (n). Once the Umax function has been established, the desirable “Degree of Binding” will be formulated through the division of U by Umax(n). The aim of this paper is to put into practice this method with the data from La flexió verbal en els dialectes catalans (‘Verbal Flexion’) (1929-1932), by Antoni M. Alcover, previously analysed in Perea & Ueda (2010). The calculation of the Degree of Binding is applied to the data in both its forms: the original data and the patternized distribution of data (see Perea & Ueda 2010: 103-111). The result of our calculations gives rise to a new multivariate perspective of “isoglosses” for overcoming the problems of mismatched lines on the linguistic maps.
A note on the words in the Baltic languages for some of the most ancient European grain legume crops
Authors: Mikic Aleksandar
Published: November 2014

The words denoting the most ancient European grain legumes, such as ‘pea’, ‘lentil’ or ‘faba bean’, in both extinct and living Baltic languages confirm that these crops were cultivated among the ancestors of the modern Lithuanians and Latvians. The words denoting ‘pea’, such as Lithuanian žirnis and Latvian zirņi, are derived from the Proto-Baltic *žir̂n-ia- and the Proto-Indo-European *g'er[a]n-, denoting grain. The Proto-Indo-European root denoting ‘lentil’, *lent-, gave the Proto-Baltic *leñšia- and the modern Lithuanian lęšis and the Latvian lēca. The linguistic evidence confirms that the Old Balts transferred both grain legume crops and their names to their Finno-Ugric neighbours.