bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adoption and correlates of Western concepts of high performance work system in the IT industry in India
Authors: Singh Ajay , Singh Gangaram , Beatty James R. 
Published: August 2016

PurposeAn interesting conundrum exists in India with its rise as an economic powerhouse. On one front, there is tremendous pride in asserting its Indian identity. On another front, it seeks to embrace Western practices to announce its entry into the world economy. This paper aims to examine the extent to which Indian information technology (IT) firms adopt Western concepts of a high performance work system (HPWS) and the correlates of such a system (pro-social organizational behavior and employee attitude). Data from 211 IT employees in India show widespread adoption of a HPWS, and more importantly several approaches to assessment indicate that a HPWS positively correlates to pro-social organizational behavior and employee attitude.Design/methodology/approachThe sample consisted of IT professionals in India having a minimum of three years of work experience. The study has used a snowball strategy to generate the sample. Eight HPWS practices were included in the survey questionnaire to assess three dimensions of HPWS. Analysis was conducted to examine differences between the highest (i.e. top 10 per cent) and the lowest (i.e. bottom 10 per cent) and bivariate correlations of the surveyed employees regarding pro-social organizational behaviors related to altruism, job involvement and work involvement, and regarding employees attitudes related to job satisfaction, intention to stay in organization, level of morale and optimism.FindingsHPWS is positively associated with employee attitudes and pro-social organizational behavior. It reflects the reality that HPWSs, at least as conceived by researchers from the West, have penetrated organizations in India. Moreover, they seem to complement each other and together they seem to have a positive association with employee attitudes and pro-social organizational behavior. As organizations in India continue with the march toward servicing the world in the IT sector, the present study suggests that they have a potent tool in a HPWS to keep employee attitudes and pro-social organizational behaviors high.Research limitations/implicationsThe criticism of survey methodology approach adopted in the present study is that it has common method bias. That is, in the survey, respondents tend to score along a path with a common response. As a validation, the study has performed a treatment-by-subjects analysis of variance with matched participant scores on the three pro-social behaviors to determine whether the means of altruism, job involvement and work involvement were significantly different. As to convergence, much more causal data would be needed to make a definitive conclusion on the findings of the present study.Originality/valueThis is the first study of its kind to examine the adoption of Western concepts of a HPWS in Indian IT Industry.
The random walk in the stock prices of 18 OECD countries
Authors: Shirvani Hassan , Delcoure Natalya V. 
Published: September 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the presence of unit roots in the stock prices of 16 OECD countries.Design/methodology/approachHeterogeneous panel unit root tests developed by Imet al.(1997/2003) and Pesaran (2007).FindingsUnder the assumption of cross-sectional independence across the panel, the authors find no evidence of unit roots, thus failing to reject mean reversion in the stock prices for all the countries in the sample. However, under the assumption of cross-sectional dependence, an assumption borne out by the diagnostic test results, the authors find support for the presence of unit roots in the stock prices.Practical implicationsThus, the use of more robust panel unit root tests seems to raise questions about the long-run predictability of the stock market, at least in the context of the OECD countries.Originality/valueThus, it seems that in the long run, an investment policy of buy and hold has still much to offer.
Intellectual capital and firm performance in emerging economies: the case of India
Authors: Maji Santi Gopal , Goswami Mitra 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on Indian traditional sector and compare the relative importance of IC on corporate performance of Indian knowledge-based sector (engineering sector) and traditional sector (steel sector).

Design/methodology/approach
Secondary data on 100 listed Indian firms, comprising of 44 firms from the engineering sector and 56 from the steel sector, are collected from “Capitaline Plus” Corporate database for a period of 14 years from 1999-2000 to 2012-2013. IC and its components are computed using Pulic’s value-added intellectual coefficient model and firm performance is measured by return on asset. Fixed effect regression model is used to investigate the hypothetical relationship between IC and firm performance. Further, quantile regression is used to check the robustness of the results.

Findings
The results indicate that IC efficiency and physical capital efficiency are positively and significantly associated with the firm performance for both the sectors. Regarding the components of IC, the coefficient of human capital efficiency is positive and significant, but the present effort fails to disentangle any significant influence of structural capital efficiency on firm performance. However, the results indicate that the influence of IC efficiency on firm performance is significantly greater in case of knowledge-based sector than that of traditional sector.

Practical implications
The findings of the study are useful for the decision makers, as the results indicate that the IC plays crucial role in value creation not only for knowledge-based firms but also for the firms belonging to the traditional manufacturing sector.

Originality/value
In the Indian context, this is the first study to examine the relative importance of IC in a knowledge-based sector and a traditional sector using appropriate methodology.
Care in place: A case study of assembling a carescape
Authors: Ivanova Dara , Wallenburg Iris , Bal Roland 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn this article we analyse the process of the multiple ways place and care shape each other and are co‐produced and co‐functioning. The resulting emerging assemblage of this co‐constituent process we call a carescape. Focusing on a case study of a nursing home on a Dutch island, we use place as a theoretical construct for analysing how current changes in healthcare governance interact with mundane practices of care. In order to make the patterns of care in our case explicit, we use actor‐network theory (ANT) sensibilities and especially the concept of assemblage. Our goal is to show – by zooming in on a particular case – how to study the co‐constituent processes of place‐ and care‐shaping, revealing the ontological diversity of place and care. Through this, we contribute a perspective of the heterogeneity and multiplicity of care in its dynamic relationship of co‐production with place.
Between stigma and pink positivity: women's perceptions of social interactions during and after breast cancer treatment
Authors: Trusson Diane , Pilnick Alison 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThis study explores women's perceptions of social interaction during and after their treatment for early stage breast cancer. An analysis of interviews with 24 women between 6 months and 29 years post‐diagnosis reveals that interactions can be influenced by conflicting public discourses surrounding breast cancer. For example, there is the continuing association of cancer with death and the resulting potential for a stigmatised identity. In contrast is the ultra‐positive discourse around cancer survivorship, with breast cancer in particular being associated with pink campaigning and a push towards positive thinking. Participants described managing conversations during treatment; sometimes playing down their private suffering and presenting a positive (public) image rather than risk alienating support. After treatment they were encouraged to move on and get back to ‘normal’. While other breast cancer patients and survivors were often good sources of support, there was also a danger of assuming that all experiences would be the same. We present data to illustrate that women often present public accounts that are driven by an expectation of positivity and fear of stigmatisation at all stages of breast cancer treatment and beyond.
Reproductive strategies in males of the world's southernmost lizards
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ Jimena B. , MEDINA Marlin , KUBISCH Erika L. , SCOLARO José A. , IBARGÜENGOYTÍA Nora R. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractReproductive and life history patterns in reptiles are tightly related to the environmental conditions, so male reproductive cycles have been historically characterized as continuous, for tropical lizards, or seasonal, for temperate lizards. However, males of Liolaemus and Phymaturus lizards (Liolaemidae), from cold temperate climates of high altitudes or latitudes in Argentina and Chile, have developed a variety of reproductive cycles to coordinate with the short female reproductive season and to deal with the low frequency of reproductive females in the population. Using gonadal histology and morphological analysis, we describe the male reproductive biology, fat storage and sexual dimorphism of the viviparous lizards Liolaemus sarmientoi and Liolaemus magellanicus that inhabit an austral grass steppe at 51°S, in the southern limit of the American continent. Males of L. sarmientoi and L. magellanicus are reproductively available during the entire activity season of approximately 5 months. In addition, males of both species exhibit greater body sizes than females in morphological variables relevant in sexual selection. Meanwhile, females of both species exhibit larger inter‐limb length than conspecific males, which suggests fecundity selection to increase space for a larger litter size. The continuous sperm production throughout the activity season allows these liolaemids to mate at any time when females ovulate, representing a selective advantage to deal with the short activity season and the adversities of the cold environment they inhabit.
Quantification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation may be a predictor of EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment response
Authors: Park Ha Young , Oh Hyung Joo , Kim Ki‐Hyun , Kim Tae‐Ok , Park Cheol‐Kyu , Shin Hong‐Jun , Lim Jung‐Hwan , Kwon Yong‐Soo , Oh In‐Jae , Kim Yu‐Il , Lim Sung‐Chul , Kim Young‐Chul , Choi Yoo‐Duk 
Published: September 2016

BackgroundEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation is a reliable predictive factor for response to EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The quantified EGFR value may also predict response and survival within an EGFR mutated group.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 836 lung cancer patients. The patient sample was divided into two groups based on the mean delta cycle threshold (∆Ct) value. EGFR mutation tests using peptide nucleic acid (PNA)‐mediated clamping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed. The efficiency of PCR clamping was determined by measuring the Ct value and EGFR quantification was determined by the corrected ∆Ct value.Results
EGFR mutation positivity was 30.1% and there were 235 single activating mutations. In this mutation group, the higher corrected ∆Ct value (≥ mean value) group showed better objective response (70.9% vs. 54.9%, P = 0.022) and clinical benefit rates (86.4% vs. 68.3%, P = 0.003) than the lower group. In addition, corrected ∆Ct values were significantly and inversely correlated with disease response (r = −0.184, P = 0.017). In multivariate analysis, both female gender (P = 0.014) and higher corrected ΔCt value (P = 0.012) were independent predictive factors for better clinical benefit rate. The higher corrected ΔCt value group had a tendency for longer progression‐free survival than the lower group (P = 0.050).ConclusionThe corrected ∆Ct value, which refers to EGFR quantification by PNA‐mediated PCR clamping, can predict better clinical response to EGFR‐TKI therapy. However, further study is warranted to determine its value as a biomarker to reflect survival.
α5β1‐Integrin inhibitor (CLT‐28643) effective in rabbit trabeculectomy model
Authors: Schultheiss Maximilian , Schnichels Sven , Konrad Eva‐Maria , Bartz‐Schmidt Karl U. , Zahn Grit , Caldirola Patrizia , Fsadni Mario G. , Caram‐Lelham Ninus , Spitzer Martin S. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPurposeGlaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) fails due to fibrosis. The α5β1‐integrin plays a pivotal role in fibrosis, angiogenesis and inflammation. This is the first experiment evaluating the prevention of fibrosis after GFS by a specific small molecule α5β1‐integrin inhibitor (CLT‐28643).MethodsTwenty‐four rabbits received trabeculectomy on their right eyes. The rabbits were randomized into three groups of eight eyes each. CLT‐28643 was given as a single subconjunctival injection intraoperatively to two of the right eye groups followed by postoperative vehicle eye drops (CLT+ group) or CLT‐28643 eye drops 4 times daily (CLT++ group). A third group received mitomycin‐C (MMC) intraoperatively (sponge application, 0.04%, 2 min) followed by vehicle eye drops postoperatively. The control‐surgery group consisted of 12 left eyes having trabeculectomy with no adjunctive therapy. The remaining 12 left eyes formed the untreated group. Clinical assessment included intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, slit‐lamp examination (including bleb survival and morphology) and bleb photography. The rabbits were killed after four weeks for histology.ResultsBoth CLT‐28643‐treated groups showed significantly prolonged bleb survival, and better bleb score compared to the control‐surgery group. At end of the study, most functioning blebs were found in the MMC group (MMC group 75%; CLT+ group 12.5%, CLT++ group 25%; CLT+ group 12.5%, control‐surgery group 0%). CLT‐28643 was non‐toxic and well tolerated.ConclusionsThis rabbit GFS study indicates that inhibition of α5β1‐integrin by the novel α5β1‐integrin antagonist CLT‐28643 significantly improved the outcome. The effect of a single intro‐operative application of CLT‐28643 seems to be inferior to 0.04% MMC.
Landscape dynamics in Mediterranean oak forests under global change: understanding the role of anthropogenic and environmental drivers across forest types
Authors: Acácio Vanda , Dias Filipe S. , Catry Filipe X. , Rocha Marta , Moreira Francisco 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe Mediterranean region is projected to be extremely vulnerable to global change, which will affect the distribution of typical forest types such as native oak forests. However, our understanding of Mediterranean oak forest responses to future conditions is still very limited by the lack of knowledge on oak forest dynamics and species‐specific responses to multiple drivers. We compared the long‐term (1966–2006) forest persistence and land cover change among evergreen (cork oak and holm oak) and deciduous oak forests and evaluated the importance of anthropogenic and environmental drivers on observed changes for Portugal. We used National Forest Inventories to quantify the changes in oak forests and explored the drivers of change using multinomial logistic regression analysis and an information theoretical approach. We found distinct trends among oak forest types, reflecting the differences in oak economic value, protection status and management schemes: cork oak forests were the most persistent (62%), changing mostly to pines and eucalypt; holm oak forests were less persistent (53.2%), changing mostly to agriculture; and deciduous oak forests were the least persistent (45.7%), changing mostly to shrublands. Drivers of change had distinct importance across oak forest types, but drivers from anthropogenic origin (wildfires, population density, and land accessibility) were always among the most important. Climatic extremes were also important predictors of oak forest changes, namely extreme temperatures for evergreen oak forests and deficit of precipitation for deciduous oak forests. Our results indicate that under increasing human pressure and forecasted climate change, evergreen oak forests will continue declining and deciduous oak forests will be replaced by forests dominated by more xeric species. In the long run, multiple disturbances may change competitive dominance from oak forests to pyrophytic shrublands. A better understanding of forest dynamics and the inclusion of anthropogenic drivers on models of vegetation change will improve predicting the future of Mediterranean oak forests.
Prevalence of frailty and its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and resource utilization in a population of Singaporean older adults
Authors: Vaingankar Janhavi Ajit , Chong Siow Ann , Abdin Edimansyah , Picco Louisa , Chua Boon Yiang , Shafie Saleha , Ong Hui Lin , Chang Sherilyn , Seow Esmond , Heng Derrick , Chiam Peak Chiang , Subramaniam Mythily 
Published: August 2016

AimThe present study examined the prevalence of frailty and its association with sociodemographic, clinical and social characteristics, and service utilization in a representative general population sample of Singaporean older adults.MethodsA single‐phase, cross‐sectional survey was carried out in a nationally representative sample of 2102 Singapore residents aged 60 years and older. Five frailty parameters (weakness, slowness, exhaustion, low physical activity and/or unintentional weight loss) were measured to assess Fried's frailty phenotype to identify frail (meeting 3/5 criteria), prefrail (meeting 1 or 2 criteria) and non‐frail (absence of all 5) older adults. On testing independent associations, multiple backward stepwise logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the strongest correlates of frail states.ResultsThe prevalence of frailty among the older adult population was found to be 5.7%. Sociodemographic, clinical and social characteristics differed significantly at an independent level by frailty status. A higher proportion of frail older adults had care needs (54.5%) compared to pre‐frail (13.5%) and non‐frail (2.2%), and poor social networks (58.8% vs prefrail [36.6%] and non‐frail [28.6%]). Frail older adults also had significantly higher service utilization. Significant correlates of frail state were older age, poor social networks, having any care need, and a history of dementia, diabetes, cancer, respiratory problems or paralysis.ConclusionsFrailty is common among older adults in Singapore, and it correlates with many components at the person, health and societal levels, thus highlighting the importance of individual‐ and population‐level frailty detection and interventions in this population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1444–1454.
Genetic prevention of hepatitis C virus‐induced liver fibrosis by allele‐specific downregulation of MERTK
Authors: Cavalli Marco , Pan Gang , Nord Helena , Wallén Arzt Emelie , Wallerman Ola , Wadelius Claes 
Published: August 2016

AimInfection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) can result in the development of liver fibrosis and may eventually progress into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanisms for this process are not fully known. Several genome‐wide association studies have been carried out to pinpoint causative variants in HCV‐infected patient cohorts, but these variants are usually not the functional ones. The aim of this study was to identify the regulatory single nucleotide polymorphism associated with the risk of HCV‐induced liver fibrosis and elucidate its molecular mechanism.MethodsWe utilized a bioinformatics approach to identify a non‐coding regulatory variant, located in an intron of the MERTK gene, based on differential transcription factor binding between the alleles. We validated the results using expression reporter assays and electrophoresis mobility shift assays.ResultsChromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing indicated that transcription factor(s) bind stronger to the A allele of rs6726639. Electrophoresis mobility shift assays supported these findings and suggested that the transcription factor is interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). Luciferase report assays showed lower enhancer activity from the A allele and that IRF1 may act as a repressor.ConclusionsTreatment of hepatitis C with interferon‐α results in increased IRF1 levels and our data suggest that this leads to an allele‐specific downregulation of MERTK mediated by an allelic effect on the regulatory element containing the functional rs6726639. This variant also shows the hallmarks for being the driver of the genome‐wide association studies for reduced risk of liver fibrosis and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease at MERTK.
Ambiguous Loss and Complicated Grief: Understanding the Grief of Parents of the Disappeared in Northern Uganda
Authors: Hollander Theo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn the bereavement literature, prolonged grief, described in the new DSM‐5 as persistent complex bereavement disorder, is considered a pathological disorder affecting a small but significant minority of bereaved persons. In the ambiguous loss literature, in contrast, prolonged grief is viewed as inevitably linked to the ambiguity of the bereaved person, and its causes are linked to the ambiguity, such as persistent hope, the absence of cultural and religious rituals to provide meaning to a loss, and the grief being so large as to disenfranchise community members. Based on a literature review and qualitative fieldwork with parents of missing persons in Uganda, this article examines the emotional, social, cultural, and socioeconomic aspects of the ambiguity that relatives of missing persons experience in the aftermath of wartime disappearances. I argue that, in such contexts, explanations of prolonged grief as a pathological disorder cannot be sustained.
Substitution of modified starch with hydrogen peroxide‐modified rice bran in salad dressing formulation: physicochemical, texture, rheological and sensory properties
Authors: Maani Bahareh , Alimi Mazdak , Shokoohi Shirin , Fazeli Fatemeh 
Published: August 2016

AbstractRice bran samples were treated under different conditions including hydrogen peroxide content (1, 4, and 7 wt%) and media pH (10.5, 11.5, and 12.5). Water holding capacity and color measurement results showed acceptable improvements compared with the untreated native bran confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. Optimization of modification conditions upon characterization results suggested the introduction of 7% hydrogen peroxide at pH = 12.5. Accordingly, 1, 2 and 3 wt% of the rice bran treated under the optimized conditions, was used in salad dressing formulation; as for .3 wt% of modified starch in the formulation of blank sample, 1 wt% of treated rice bran dietary fiber was substituted. Biopolymer swelling and formation of a stable viscous gel network promoted by the chemical treatment of lignocellulosic rice bran restrict the mobility of oil droplets dispersed in the continuous phase which would consequently retard the emulsion instability phenomena. This effect was also confirmed by flow behavior and viscoelastic characterization results. Salad dressing samples containing 1 and 2 wt% treated rice bran showed acceptable physicochemical, rheological and organoleptic properties besides superior nutritional characteristics compared with the commercial modified starch traditionally used in salad dressing formulations.Practical applicationsDespite recommended consumption of dietary fibers, addition of unprocessed lignocellulosic materials to food products usually raise negative effects in sensory, color, and texture quality. This study investigates the modification of rice bran, the byproduct of brown rice milling, to substitute modified starch traditionally used in salad dressing formulations to achieve optimum properties desirable for the final product. Optimization of modification conditions upon characterization of the formulated samples in this study would suggest new improved formulation for the commercial product.