bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electronic government as a paradigm shift for efficient public services
Authors: Asogwa Brendan E. 
Published: February 2013

PurposeNigeria has set up an e‐government initiative termed the “National e‐Government Strategy” (NeGSt) for the purpose of using ICT infrastructure to enhance public services. It was expected that e‐government would enable the Nigerian government at all levels to render efficiencies in the public sector, ensure higher productivity and economic growth, foster national competitiveness and lead to the attainment of the vision 20‐2020. Regrettably, the e‐services envisaged seem not to be impacting much on public service delivery in the country. The aim of this paper is to examine the benefits and the status of e‐government in Nigeria, the barriers to the accomplishment of the goal, and some ways out.Design/methodology/approachA total of ten federal government ministries in Nigeria that have an official website were sampled. The study population was 100 randomly drawn employees in the ministries, and a structured questionnaire and oral interviews were used. Data were analyzed using frequency tables, simple percentages, and bar charts.FindingsThe study finds that e‐government would provide faster access to government information, lower administrative costs, increase transparency in government ministries, and reduce bribery and corruption, among others. These opportunities are threatened by low bandwidth and internet penetration, inadequate ICT infrastructure and technicians, incessant power outages, technological obsolescence, and other barriers. The Nigerian government should carry out a SWOT analysis of the e‐government project in the country, strengthen the e‐government infrastructure and ensure steady power supply before embarking on the e‐government project again.Practical implicationsThis paper exposes the challenges and strategies for the e‐government initiative in Nigeria. It will help leaders to see areas of weakness and the need to re‐strategize. The paper serves as a beacon for further research and discussion on e‐government and online public services in developing countries.Originality/valueThis paper exposes the challenges and strategies for the e‐government initiative in Nigeria and suggests some measures for e‐government to develop and to improve.
A folk theory of meetings – and beyond
Authors: Ravn Ib 
Published: February 2013

PurposeDespite widespread frustration with meetings in organizations, they receive very little attention from academics. The purpose of this paper is to shed conceptual light on meetings and hence render them amenable to research and development.Design/methodology/approachFrom interviews with managers and employees, six common assumptions about meetings were extracted, termed a folk theory of meetings, which most office workers seem to carry in the back of their minds.FindingsThis folk theory holds meetings to be places for excessive talk, whether by a domineering leader or highly vocal participants, the purpose of which is to walk through the items on the agenda and dispose of each. This bleak and conservative concept of a meeting impedes intellectual as well as practical progress.Practical implicationsAn alternative theory of meetings is proposed, one based on the group facilitation approach to social order in meetings. On this view, a facilitator can change meetings by controlling their form and process, providing direction, stimulating engagement and ensuring that the meeting creates value for its external stakeholders and meaning for its participants. If adopted in management training, this view of meetings – and the widely available facilitation tools that go with it – may render meetings at work the subject of conscious organizational development.Originality/valueThe proposed “folk theory of meetings” is novel, as is the contrast provided with the facilitation approach to meetings. Together, they constitute a reconceptualization that can be used to move meetings out of the organizational doldrums.
The “state of art” of organisational blogging
Authors: Baxter Gavin J. , Connolly Thomas M. 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the “state of art” of organisational blogging. It also aims to provide a critical review of the literature on organisational blogging and propose recommendations on how to advance the subject area in terms of academic research.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review is used to illustrate the different aspects of research currently associated with organisational blogging and how these studies have advanced the field of organisational learning.FindingsThe results of the systematic literature review indicate that though research into organisational blogging is increasing, research in this subject area is still in its infancy.Research limitations/implicationsThough this paper reviews empirical research related to organisational blogging it does not provide empirical evidence of Web 2.0 use within an actual organisation. The paper does, however, advocate and provide recommendations for further research to be undertaken within this subject area.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the “state of art” of organisational blogging by providing a current synopsis of the area and provides the academic community with further recommendations for conducting future research into the subject. The paper also provides value to management practitioners in terms of how organisational blogs can be applied in an internal corporate context.
Psychological pricing in mergers & acquisitions using prospect theory
Authors: Agarwal Nipun , Zeephongsekul Panlop 
Published: February 2013

PurposeIt is hard to accurately price a merger or acquisition, primarily as there are psychological factors that impact such pricing. As a result, it is hard for traditional financial models to accurately undertake valuations for merger or acquisition transactions. The purpose of this paper is to develop a two‐person merger and acquisition (M&A) game theoretic model that will analyse if the offer price provided by an acquirer should be equal to the mid‐point of the acquirer's offer and the target's bid price. It will also analyse if the acquirer will do better by being risk taking or risk averse and if the target will do better by optimistic or pessimistic in this model.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyses how an incomplete information game with prospect theory can be used to value M&A transaction more accurately by considering the impact of psychological factors on pricing.FindingsIt is found that acquirers do not always have to increase the offer price in order to successfully purchase the target firm. Based on the behavioural type of the acquirer and target, it could be possible that the acquirer could even lower the offer and the target firm would still be willing to successfully complete the M&A transaction.Originality/valueThe original aspect of this paper is that it links behavioural types to M&A valuation and the success of M&A transactions. Such a model has not been developed before and it shows that M&A transactions are not always completed by the acquirer increasing their offer price.
The impact of paternalistic leadership on innovation: an integrated model
Authors: Fu Xiao , Li Yi , Si Youhe 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of paternalistic leadership on innovation.Design/methodology/approachThis paper conceptualizes an integrated model that combines the dual‐core model and ambidextrous model of innovation. Using a sample of 159 Chinese high‐tech enterprises, some hypotheses are tested.FindingsThe results show: authoritarianism has a directly negative effect on exploitative innovation and positively moderates the effectiveness of exploitative innovation; benevolence has a directly positive effect both on exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation; benevolence negatively moderates the effectiveness of exploratory innovation and positively moderates the effectiveness of exploitative innovation.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper adopts the cross‐sectional study design, while innovation and formation of the implementation are relatively long‐term, dynamic processes. Thus, longitudinal design is a direction worth trying in follow‐up studies. Besides, using random samples affects to some extent the conclusion's generalizability.Practical implicationsProper patriarchal leadership behavior (authoritarianism/benevolence) should be employed in the face of different types of innovation activities (exploratory innovation/exploitative innovation) and at the different stages of innovative activities (innovation ideas emerging stage/innovation behavior implementation stage). If properly used, patriarchal leadership with both authoritarianism and benevolence will effectively enhance innovation performance. Conversely, it may produce negative effects.Originality/valueThis paper has studied the influence of paternalistic leadership on exploratory and exploitative innovation. Different from the existing literature, this paper based on Daft's dual‐core model and Duncan's ambidextrous model and builds an integrated model.
Tear production and drainage after botulinum toxin A injection in patients with essential blepharospasm
Authors: Park Dae Il , Shin Hyun Min , Lee Sang Yeul , Lew Helen 
Published: February 2013

Abstract.Purpose:  To evaluate the clinical manifestations of tear production, distribution and drainage in the essential blepharospasm patients, and to analyse the changes after botulinum toxin A injection in these patients.Methods:  This prospective study was performed in 23 patients with essential blepharospasm treated with Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT‐A; Dysport, Ipsen Biopharm, UK) from November 2010 to February 2011. Ocular examinations, including frequency and severity of blepharospasm, tear break up time (BUT), Schirmer’s test, lower lid tear meniscus height (TMH) measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT, rtvue software version 3.5; Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, USA), and dacryoscintigraphy using 99m technetium pertechnetate, were performed before and 2 weeks after BoNT‐A injection. We asked all patients about changes in the dry eye symptom score, before and after treatment. Results were analysed with independent t‐test using spss software version 12.0 for Windows XP, (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).Results:  Botulinum neurotoxin A treatment relieved blepharospasm in all patients. Mean injection dose was 38 ± 5.6 units. After injection, mean tear BUT was significantly increased from 4.7 ± 4.9 to 6.6 ± 1.6 seconds (p = 0.001) Lower TMH increased in all three points and most notably at the lateral point (p = 0.05). On dacryoscintigraphy, tear drainage velocity was not affected by BoNT‐A treatment. But Tc‐99m 50% clearance time in interpalpebral fissure significantly increased from 1564 to 2220 seconds on the time activity curve (p = 0.027). Subjective dry eye symptoms also improved in 16 patients (70%) after injection.Conclusion:  Tear film stability and TMH increased, but tear drainage velocity was not affected by BoNT‐A treatment. Overall Tc‐99m 50% clearance time in interpalpebral fissure significantly increased, and tear storage from mild lateral lower eyelid laxity increased after BoNT‐A injection. Botulinum neurotoxin A injection was also effective for combined dry eye symptom in the essential blepharospasm patients.
Review article: the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus infection in liver transplant candidates and recipients
Authors: Joshi D. , Carey I. , Agarwal K. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryBackgroundRecently, the therapeutic landscape with regard to anti‐HCV therapy has changed dramatically. The new directly acting anti‐virals (DAAs) have demonstrated improved sustained virological response (SVR) compared with pegylated‐interferon and ribavirin.AimTo examine and present the latest data with regard to anti‐viral therapy in genotype 1 HCV‐positive transplant candidates and recipients.MethodsAn electronic search using Medline was performed. Search terms included ‘HCV, DAA and protease inhibitor’ in combination with ‘treatment pre‐transplantation’ and ‘treatment post‐transplantation’.ResultsPatients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis have inferior SVR rates compared with patients with minimal fibrosis. A low accelerating dose regimen (LADR) of pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PR) appears to be a safe therapeutic option. Side effects also appear to be more pronounced in patients with advanced disease. Data from the large registration studies with triple therapy (boceprevir or telaprevir plus PR) demonstrated improved SVR rates even in patients with advanced disease, although virological relapse rates were highest amongst these patients. In transplant recipients, initial data are being reported on the use of triple therapy, and although no SVR data are available, promising results are accruing. The drug–drug interactions appear to be manageable. Side effects in particular anaemia appear to be markedly increased in the posttransplant setting.ConclusionsThe use of the new DAAs in patients with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis pretransplant and posttransplant appears possible, with manageable side effects and drug–drug interactions, and improved early virological response rates. We recommend that these patients are managed in centres with the appropriate expertise.
Pharmacokinetics of melatonin in preterm infants
Authors: Merchant Nazakat M. , Azzopardi Denis V. , Hawwa Ahmed F. , McElnay James C. , Middleton Benita , Arendt J. , Arichi Tomoki , Gressens Pierre , Edwards A. David 
Published: February 2013

AimsPreterm infants are deprived of the normal intra‐uterine exposure to maternal melatonin and may benefit from replacement therapy. We conducted a pharmacokinetic study to guide potential therapeutic trials.MethodsMelatonin was administered to 18 preterm infants in doses ranging from 0.04–0.6 μg kg−1 over 0.5–6 h. Pharmacokinetic profiles were analyzed individually and by population methods.ResultsBaseline melatonin was largely undetectable. Infants receiving melatonin at 0.1 μg kg−1 h−1 for 2 h showed a median half‐life of 15.82 h and median maximum plasma concentration of 203.3 pg ml−1. On population pharmacokinetics, clearance was 0.045 l h−1, volume of distribution 1.098 l and elimination half‐life 16.91 h with gender (P = 0.047) and race (P < 0.0001) as significant covariates.ConclusionsA 2 h infusion of 0.1 μg kg−1 h−1 increased blood melatonin from undetectable to approximately peak adult concentrations. Slow clearance makes replacement of a typical maternal circadian rhythm problematic. The pharmacokinetic profile of melatonin in preterm infants differs from that of adults so dosage of melatonin for preterm infants cannot be extrapolated from adult studies. Data from this study can be used to guide therapeutic clinical trials of melatonin in preterm infants.
Using Reinforcement Learning to Examine Dynamic Attention Allocation During Reading
Authors: Liu Yanping , Reichle Erik D. , Gao Ding‐Guo 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA fundamental question in reading research concerns whether attention is allocated strictly serially, supporting lexical processing of one word at a time, or in parallel, supporting concurrent lexical processing of two or more words (Reichle, Liversedge, Pollatsek, & Rayner, 2009). The origins of this debate are reviewed. We then report three simulations to address this question using artificial reading agents (Liu & Reichle, 2010; Reichle & Laurent, 2006) that learn to dynamically allocate attention to 1–4 words to “read” as efficiently as possible. These simulation results indicate that the agents strongly preferred serial word processing, although they occasionally attended to more than one word concurrently. The reason for this preference is discussed, along with implications for the debate about how humans allocate attention during reading.
Beneficial effects of enteral nutrition containing with hydrolyzed whey peptide on warm ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rat liver
Authors: Hanaoka Jun , Shimada Mitsuo , Utsunomiya Toru , Morine Yuji , Imura Satoru , Ikemoto Tetsuya , Mori Hiroki , Sugimoto Koji , saito Yu , Yamada Shinichiro , Asanoma Michihito 
Published: February 2013

AimThis study examined the efficacy of enteral nutrition containing hydrolyzed whey peptide (HWP) on warm ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat liver.MethodsMale Wistar rats were subjected to 30 min of warm hepatic ischemia followed by immediate p.o. intake of enteral nutrition with WHP (HWP group) or 20% glucose solution (control group) (0.025 mL/g). The animals were killed at 6 or 12 h after reperfusion. The serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase alt (ALT) levels were measured. The necrotic areas were assessed histologically. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and caspase‐3 activation were assessed to evaluate apoptosis. The expressions of hepatic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐6 and nuclear factor (NF)‐κB in the liver tissue were assessed by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.ResultsSignificant reductions in the serum AST and ALT levels were seen in the HWP group compared with the control group at both 6 and 12 h after reperfusion. The necrotic areas and numbers of TUNEL positive cells were significantly decreased in the HWP group at 6 and 12 h after reperfusion. The caspase‐3/7 activities were significantly decreased in HWP group at 6 and 12 h after reperfusion. The mRNA expressions of TNF‐α and IL‐6 were significantly reduced in the HWP group at 12 h after reperfusion. NF‐κB mRNA expression was significantly increased in the HWP group at 6 and 12 h after reperfusion.ConclusionEnteral nutrition containing HWP ameliorated the hepatic warm I/R injury possibly through the suppression of pro‐inflammatory cytokine expressions and the induction of NF‐κB in the rat liver.
The Effect of pH Value on Phase Transformation of Calcium Phosphate Cement
Authors: Cheng Hsin‐Chung , Chu Kuo‐Tien , Teng Nai‐Cia , Tsai Hsien‐Lung , Ou Keng‐Liang , Ou Shih‐Fu 
Published: February 2013

The effects of various pH values of sodium phosphate buffer solution (PBS), 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, and 9.0 on calcium phosphate cement (CPC) prepared by mixing monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM), calcium carbonate, and PBS were studied. The phase evolution takes place in three steps: Firstly, the MCPM and calcium carbonate crystals dissolve in the PBS and precipitate in the form of DCPD crystals. Then, after 12 h, DCPD begins to convert to amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). Finally, the metastable ACP phase converts into stable CDHA. With an increase in the pH of the PBS, the CDHA content in the CPC increased.
Does measurement of ankle‐brachial index contribute to prediction of adverse health outcomes in older Chinese people?
Authors: Woo J. , Leung J. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackground/AimsThis study examined whether ankle‐brachial index (ABI) is predictive of all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, hospital admission for stroke, ischaemic heart disease or myocardial infarction among older people aged 65 years and above, and whether the inclusion of ABI in prediction models adds any incremental value to traditional cardiovascular risk factors.MethodsFour thousand men and women living in the community aged 65 years and over were recruited. ABI was measured, and information regarding comorbidity, smoking habit, physical activity and physical limitation was obtained at baseline. Hospital admissions for stroke and ischaemic heart disease/myocardial infarction were documented after a mean period of 6.0 years and mortality after a mean of 9.1 years.ResultsABI <0.9 alone was predictive of all outcomes with the exception of hospital admission for stroke. Inclusion of ABI in a model that includes other ‘traditional’ cardiovascular risk factors such as age; physical activity scale of the elderly; history of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and smoking; and systolic blood pressure >140/90 reduced the hazard ratios but did not alter the overall results. Comparison of prediction models with and without ABI showed little difference. When different values of ABI were examined for all outcomes, values between 0.9 and 1.0 had high specificity but low sensitivity.ConclusionABI measurement (<0.9) predicted adverse outcomes with high specificity but low sensitivity. However, it added little incremental value to prediction of adverse outcomes using traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Ex Vivo Comparison of Bursting Strength of Ventral Median and Right Ventral Paramedian Celiotomies in Horses
Authors: Anderson Stacy L. , Bracamonte José L. , Hendrick Steve , Carmalt James L. , Wilson David G. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo compare bursting strength and failure mode between ventral median (VM) and right ventral paramedian (RVP) celiotomies closed with 1 section of USP 7 braided polydioxanone (7PD).Study DesignEx vivo experimental.AnimalsEquine cadavers (n = 12).MethodsA 25 cm VM or RVP (positioned 5 cm lateral to the linea alba) celiotomy was created in fresh equine cadavers. A 200 L polyurethane bladder was inserted into the abdomen. Celiotomies were closed in a simple continuous pattern with 1 section of 7PD. The bladder was inflated with compressed air until construct failure. Horse signalment, body weight, celiotomy type, failure mode (suture or abdominal wall), failure location (adjacent or remote from the celiotomy), and bursting strength (mmHg) were recorded. Interactions between independent and dependent variables were assessed with statistical tests including linear regression.ResultsIncreasing age (P = .002) and Quarter horse‐type breed (P = .01) had a negative effect on bursting strength. When age and breed were controlled, RVP celiotomies had a lower bursting strength compared with VM celiotomies (P = .039). None of the celiotomies failed at the suture.ConclusionVM celiotomies have a greater bursting strength than RVP celiotomies when age and breed are controlled. Celiotomy bursting strength decreases with increasing age and is lower in Quarter horse‐type breeds compared with non‐Quarter horse‐type breeds.