bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Less fibrosis in elderly subjects supplemented with selenium and coenzyme Q10—A mechanism behind reduced cardiovascular mortality?
Authors: Alehagen Urban , Aaseth Jan , Alexander Jan , Svensson Erland , Johansson Peter , Larsson Anders 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackground: In an intervention study where 221 healthy elderly persons received selenium and coenzyme Q10 as a dietary supplement, and 222 received placebo for 4 years we observed improved cardiac function and reduced cardiovascular mortality. As fibrosis is central in the aging process, we investigated the effect of the intervention on biomarkers of fibrogenic activity in a subanalysis of this intervention study. Material and Methods: In the present subanalysis 122 actively treated individuals and 101 controls, the effect of the treatment on eight biomarkers of fibrogenic activity were assessed. These biomarkers were: Cathepsin S, Endostatin, Galectin 3, Growth Differentiation Factor‐15 (GDF‐15), Matrix Metalloproteinases 1 and 9, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP 1) and Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 (ST‐2). Blood concentrations of these biomarkers after 6 and 42 months were analyzed by the use of T‐tests, repeated measures of variance, and factor analyses. Results: Compared with placebo, in those receiving supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10, all biomarkers except ST2 showed significant decreased concentrations in blood. The changes in concentrations, that is, effects sizes as given by partial eta2 caused by the intervention were considered small to medium. Conclusion: The significantly decreased biomarker concentrations in those on active treatment with selenium and coenzyme Q10 compared with those on placebo after 36 months of intervention presumably reflect less fibrogenic activity as a result of the intervention. These observations might indicate that reduced fibrosis precedes the reported improvement in cardiac function, thereby explaining some of the positive clinical effects caused by the intervention. © 2017 BioFactors, 44(2):137–147, 2018
Cover Picture: Oxidative Rearrangement of Isatins with Arylamines Using H2O2 as Oxidant: A Facile Synthesis of Quinazoline‐2,4‐diones and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Activity (Chin. J. Chem. 12/2017)
Authors: Shi Guanghao , He Xinwei , Shang Yongjia , Yang Cheng , Xiang Liwei 
Published: December 2017

The cover picture shows a green and highly efficient synthetic method for the synthesis of quinazoline‐2,4‐diones from readily available isatins and arylamines. This method is interesting in keeping with the notion of green chemistry because of the use of hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant. The rearrangement oxidation exhibited good functional group tolerability, metal‐free catalysts, obviating the need for oxidants and only environmentally benign H2O was released. Moreover, an antibacterial activity study was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities. The results showed that some of the testing compounds inhibited the growth of the Staphylococcus aureus (32 μg/mL) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (64 μg/mL), which could potentially solve the problem of multidrug resistance. More details are discussed in the article by Shang et al. on page 1835–1843.
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Expression of the potassium‐chloride co‐transporter, KCC2, within the avian song system
Authors: Vaaga Christopher E. , Miller Kimberly E. , Bodor Ágnes L. , Perkel David J. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSongbirds learn to produce vocalizations early in life by listening to, then copying the songs of conspecific males. The anterior forebrain pathway, homologous to a basal ganglia‐forebrain circuit, is essential for song learning. The projection between the striato‐pallidal structure, Area X, and the medial portion of the dorsolateral thalamic nucleus (DLM) is strongly hyperpolarizing in adults, due to a very negative chloride reversal potential (Person & Perkel, Neuron 46:129–140, 2005). The chloride reversal potential is determined, in part, by the expression level of a neuron‐specific potassium‐chloride cotransporter, KCC2, which is developmentally upregulated in mammals. To determine whether a similar upregulation in KCC2 expression occurs at the Area X to DLM synapse during development, we examined the expression level of KCC2 in adult zebra finches across the song system as well as during development in the Area X – DLM synapse. We demonstrate that KCC2 is expressed in a subset of neurons throughout the song system, including HVC (used as a proper name), robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA), lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN), Area X, and DLM. The majority of pallidal‐like projection neurons in Area X showed KCC2 immunoreactivity. In adults, KCC2 expression was robust within DLM, and was upregulated between 14 and 24 days post hatching, before the onset of song learning. Light and electron microscopic analysis indicated that KCC2 immunoreactivity is strongly associated with the plasma membrane. Thus, in the song system as in the mammalian brain, KCC2 expression is well placed to modulate the GABAA reversal potential.
Putting the “Evidence” in Evidence‐Based: Utilizing Institutional Research to Drive Gateway‐Course Reform
Authors: Berg Emily A. , Hanson Mark 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis chapter provides an example of how one university's institutional research office played an active role in using data from institutional studies to guide the university toward courses ripe for change, faculty toward successful teaching strategies, students toward successful learning behaviors, and the university toward assessing the impact of the changes.
Barriers to Putting Businesses on the Internet in Malaysia
Authors: Abd. Mukti Norhayati 
Published: December 2017

AbstractOver fifty businesses in the Klang Valley, Malaysia that currently use e‐commerce responded to a survey asking them to identify potential barriers to e‐commerce expansion. The most frequently chosen categories were related to security and the uncertain nature of the legal contract between supplier and customer. Although some differences were found among certain types of companies, such concerns were generally felt by small and large companies and those with varying e‐commerce experience.
Investigating Cultural Differences in Virtual Software Teams
Authors: Dafoulas Georgios , Macaulay Linda 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSoftware development projects increasingly extend over the boundaries set by a single company, or country. As the available communication media becomes more sophisticated, and more advanced technology costs less, the trends in software development move towards a more “virtual” nature. This evolutionary process allows individuals or even teams from different locations and cultures, with different expectations and goals, to blend in a virtual team of effectively collaborating and coordinating members.This paper focuses on virtual software development teams and how cultural differences between them or their members may affect activities in different stages of the development cycle. It briefly reviews the existing perspectives on virtual teams and their organisation and management. It also discusses the main characteristics that such teams have and clarifies the differences between various definitions available for the “virtual team”. After outlining some of the main benefits and barriers of such teams, it concentrates on justifying that cultural differences are one of the most important issues that should be addressed for these teams to work effectively. Next, existing theories on cultural differences are reviewed. Also, the requirements for modelling cultural difference issues are identified. Finally, it provides evidence for the need of computational support for effectively resolving conflicts, forming teams, dynamically allocating roles, and managing software engineering projects in culturally diverse environments.
Rural Community ICT Applications: The Kothmale Model
Authors: Pringle Ian , David M.J.R. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSpectacular growth in information and communication technologies (ICTs), and specifically the internet, has the potential to offer a new generation of tools for rural development. The internet, with its huge quantities and variety of content, is increasingly becoming an effective delivery and exchange system for information and knowledge, continuing education and learning. However, rural ICT requires special efforts to create appropriate models for those who can neither afford the Internet access nor have the language capacity to understand the content.[1]New information and communication technologies represent perhaps the greatest tool to date for self‐education and value‐addition to an individual or community's own efforts for development, yet poor rural communities do not have the necessary awareness, skills or facilities to contribute to their own development using ICTs. The majority and those with the least resources in South Asia are being left out of the benefits of these new technologies and more importantly, rural areas do even have a foothold in the revolution that ICTs are ushering in.Parallel to other increasing forms of inequity, there is an evident gap, widening at an exponential rate, between those with access to media and ICTs as productive tools and those without. Closing what has become known as ‘the digital divide’ is particularly important precisely because digital ICTs cut across and add value to all fields of development and offer applications to bridge the spectrum of inequities of which the ‘digital divide’ is only an extension or a symptom.The communication scenario along with the political context in the island nation of Sri Lanka is very much similar to most its South Asian neighbours. The metropolis and regional centres are witnessing rapid expansions in telecom and media sectors while telephones, electricity and clean drinking water are luxuries for many in the countryside.The absence of relevant experience is major barrier for rural ICT usage. One example that offers some useful insight and successful elements for a model is Kothmale Community Radio and Internet in central Sri Lanka.
Digital Opportunity Initiative for Pakistan
Authors: Mujahid Yousaf Haroon 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAs mankind starts its journey into the new millennium we notice the two major forces shaping up the future of this world, reducing geographic boundaries, bringing cultures and societies closer to each other — are Globalization and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) — creating a paradox of wealth and poverty; bridging gap between individuals and isolating them at the same time; creating simultaneously the information haves and information have‐nots; empowering people contribute and restricting communities to participate. Despite many steps forward in social and economic conditions around the world in recent decades, there remain huge disparities in the quality of human existence. We are now at a critical juncture of time and place where unprecedented global flows in information, products, people, capital and ideas offer great potential for radical improvements in human development, but left unabated, they may also serve to worsen and entrench the spiral of poverty which already exists in many communities and countries limiting people to unleash the prowess of ICT revolution and creating a serious gap of information disparity called the Digital Divide. The digital divide means more than just a lack of computers and connections. Technology means nothing if it is not used where the people who could benefit the most are not using information technologies to address the problems they face, not only because they lack the training, but also because government policies often hinder affordable and accessible technology implementation.
Re‐thinking Information and Communications Technology Policy Focus on Internet versus Teledensity Diffusion for Africa's Least Developed Countries
Authors: Mbarika Victor W. A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe digital divide between the West and Africa seems to be drawing closer for many northern and southern African countries in terms of information and communications technology. These countries are experiencing tremendous growth in use of computers, Internet connectivity, wireless communications and many other related technologies. However, the same is not true for Africa's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) that are still greatly behind other regions of the world in terms of the level of basic telecommunications infrastructure such as teledensity (number of main telephone lines for every one hundred inhabitants). While it is true that Africa's LDCs have some Internet presence, it seems to be limited only to the urban elite. These countries may therefore not be in the position to exploit most of the benefits the Internet can offer. This study suggests a sound teledensity infrastructure as the precursor to the diffusion of various information and communications technologies. Furthermore this study proposes a set of strategies that Africa's LDCs should consider as steps to improve growth of their teledensity.
Small Businesses’ Acceptance and Adoption of e‐Commerce in the Western‐Cape Province of South‐Africa
Authors: Cloete Eric , Courtney Steven , Fintz Julia 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper reports on research that was undertaken in Information Systems at the University of Cape Town on the acceptance and adoption of e‐commerce amongst small businesses in the manufacturing sector. It addresses how these small businesses in a developing country perceive the potential benefits of e‐commerce and looks at their consequent adoption of e‐commerce activities in their own organisations. This includes the businesses’ perception of the benefits and opportunities of e‐commerce activities and to determine whether these businesses have the necessary technological capabilities for e‐commerce adoption in place. A secondary aim of this research was to determine the current level of e‐commerce adoption by small manufacturing businesses in the Western Cape. This was achieved by circulating a questionnaire to test the perception of e‐commerce benefits and e‐commerce adoption levels amongst small manufacturing businesses in the Western Cape. If the global usage of the Internet for electronic commerce by SME's is compared with the South African case, this research clearly indicates that the available technologies are not adopted to the extent that is necessary for survival in a rapidly changing environment.
The New Software Exporting Nations: Impacts on National Well Being Resulting From Their Software Exporting Industries
Authors: Carmel Erran 
Published: December 2017

Abstract“New software exporting nations” are those dozens of nations that have begun exporting software products and services in recent years. Much has been written about the remarkable success of India and there is excitement regarding the promise for other developing, emerging, and transition economies. We examine the impact on the broader national economies of a software export sector. Economic and social impacts include: impact on labor, impact on new organizational forms, stimulation of infrastructure and other industries, economic impacts, and political impacts. Governments intervene to stimulate the software exporting industry because they recognize that there is a potential for spillovers; and that domestic markets do not create sufficient stimulus.
Building Iran's Software Industry: An Assessment of Plans and Prospects
Authors: Nicholson Brian , Sahay Sundeep 
Published: December 2017

AbstractA number of aspirant, late entrant countries such as Jordan, Argentina and others have attempted to develop strategies to enter the global software and offshore services marketplace attracted by the experience of other nations and buoyant international demand. The Iranian software industry has high levels of domestic demand and potential in some international and regional markets. The reformist government has engaged in diplomatic missions and developed an informatics plan, a component of which aims to develop the software industry. It is hoped that a strong software industry will reduce the ‘brain drain’ of Iran's young, low‐cost highly educated people. However, regional and domestic instabilities, a USA imposed trade embargo, outdated technologies, lack of international quality standards and endemic piracy present significant barriers to success in this endeavour. Drawing on empirical data from interviews, secondary literature and a model of software export success, this paper contributes by presenting an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Iran as a software export nation. Iran is largely unexplored in the information technology literature. Secondly, the paper provides an assessment of the software export success model in relation to the Iranian context.
Cross‐Cultural Telecommuting Evaluation in Mexico and the United States
Authors: Navarrete Carlos J. , Pick James B. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper tests the impact of differences in culture on telecommuting in the United States and Mexico. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of each country's culture on the perceptions of telecommuting satisfaction and organizational support for telecommuting. The research questions assess the telecommuting satisfaction, and extent of support by organizational policies for telecommuting in the two countries. These results are compared with the expected outcomes due to the differences in culture in both countries. The tests are done, based on a questionnaire sample of 204 employees in the U.S. and Mexico. The statistical method is crosstabulation analysis. The results show no difference between the two samples regarding job satisfaction. Respondents in the two samples indicate differences on the extent of organizational support for telecommuting. The Mexican sample shows more support for telecommuting arrangements than the U.S. one. This result is unexpected, given the cultural differences in both countries. The findings have implications for telecommuting policies and telecommuting cross‐cultural research.
Evaluating Information Technology Investments in Emerging Economies Using Activity‐Based Costing
Authors: Roztocki Narcyz , Weistroffer Heinz Roland 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMany firms in emerging economies invest in information technology primarily with the objective of protecting their cost advantages. This paper presents a framework for evaluating information technology investments by integrating the value chain model with activity‐based costing. The proposed four‐step approach is illustrated with a numerical example of a hypothetical manufacturing company seeking improvements in its cost structure.
Access to Research in Cameroonian Universities
Authors: Willinsky John , Jonas Randall , Shafack Rosemary , Wirsiy Kiven Charles 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis study examines both the state of Internet access in Cameroon's institutions of higher learning at the turn of the century and the perceptions of faculty, librarians, and graduate students of their current state of access to research literature in both print and electronic forms. It is based on a review of existing technologies at six of the seven universities in Cameroon and a survey of 91 faculty members, librarians and students drawn from six of the seven universities in Cameroon made during the academic year 2001–2002. The survey asked the participants about the current state of access to both print and online journals, while seeking to establish their priorities and interests for scholarly communication for the future. This work seeks to provide a greater understanding of the potential impact of the Internet on access to the scholarly literature in Cameroon and other developing countries. What was found as a result of this survey was both a source of concern and hope. Although university students, faculty and librarians in Cameroon had very limited access to the Internet, and often at personal expense, they saw the possibilities of this medium for increasing their access to scholarly resources. They saw it as a means of overcoming the currently unsatisfactory state of access to research, and a way to obtain online journals both from overseas and, more so among students, from Africa, which could be used for their research and teaching
An Investigation of the Use of Methods within Information Systems Development Projects
Authors: Kiely Gaye , Fitzgerald Brian 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe development of information systems has always been and remains a volatile environment. Practitioners and researchers within the field of information systems development (ISD) have put forward a number of different ideas over the past thirty years to better monitor and control the process. The use of traditional ISD methods has been one such idea that has not only achieved widespread application but has garnered many criticisms regarding its application. This study seeks to investigate whether these criticisms are supported in terms of how present day organizations utilize traditional ISD methods in light of the increased diversity and sophistication of ISD projects. The findings of the study indicate that whilst methods are considered an integral part of the majority of development projects, they cannot be adopted without a significant amount of modification to suit individual development projects. In addition, traditional ISD methods were considered of limited use within the present ISD environment.
An Assessment on the Informatization of Brazilian Industrial Companies
Authors: Zwicker Ronaldo , de Souza Cesar Alexandre , da Rocha Vidal Antonio Geraldo 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper reports on a study about the adoption and use of Information Technology by Brazilian industrial companies, related to technology infrastructure, information systems, Internet, human resources and investments. Concepts related to the subject are discussed and the results of a descriptive survey carried out in 326 small, medium and large Brazilian industries are presented. The results indicate that there are statistically significant differences among the three sizes of companies considered in the research. There are evident differences in the adoption and use of the technology and these differences seem to be related to the size of the company. These differences do not result from economic shortcomings or difficulties the companies have in accessing the investigated resources. Although the paper does not specifically address problems of policy making regarding the reduction of these differences, it presents a framework for analyzing the patterns of informatization in industrial companies, and the results themselves offer parameters for comparing IT utilization in industries in other countries.
An Exploratory Study of Software Piracy in Jordan
Authors: El Sheikh Asim , Rashed Abdullah Abdali , Al Qudah Bashar , Peace A. Graham 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper documents an exploratory study of software piracy in the developing country of Jordan. Piracy levels in the developing world have consistently ranked higher than in the industrialized nations, and this study finds that Jordan is no exception. Almost a quarter of those surveyed appeared to not understand the legal issues involved in piracy behavior. However, a majority did believe that copying software illegally is unethical. The roles of the government, NGOs and private industry in educating the public were also studied. The respondents believed that all three groups have a responsibility to increase public awareness of piracy issues, but the success of such efforts was seen as limited. The paper finishes with some suggestions on combating piracy in Jordan, including the implementation of a unified marketing strategy to raise public awareness of the issue.