bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA-21 Integrates Pathogenic Signaling to Control Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Parikh Victoria N. , Jin Richard C. , Rabello Sabrina , Gulbahce Natali , White Kevin , Hale Andrew , Cottrill Katherine A. , Shaik Rahamthulla S. , Waxman Aaron B. , Zhang Ying-Yi , Maron Bradley A. , Hartner Jochen C. , Fujiwara Yuko , Orkin Stuart H. , Haley Kathleen J. , Barabási Albert-László , Loscalzo Joseph , Chan Stephen Y. 
Published: February 2012

Background—
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is driven by diverse pathogenic etiologies. Owing to their pleiotropic actions, microRNA molecules are potential candidates for coordinated regulation of these disease stimuli.

Methods and Results—

Using a network biology approach, we identify microRNA associated with multiple pathogenic pathways central to PH. Specifically, microRNA-21 (miR-21) is predicted as a PH-modifying microRNA, regulating targets integral to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Rho/Rho-kinase signaling as well as functional pathways associated with hypoxia, inflammation, and genetic haploinsufficiency of BMP receptor type 2. To validate these predictions, we have found that hypoxia and BMP receptor type 2 signaling independently upregulate miR-21 in cultured pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. In a reciprocal feedback loop, miR-21 downregulates BMP receptor type 2 expression. Furthermore, miR-21 directly represses RhoB expression and Rho-kinase activity, inducing molecular changes consistent with decreased angiogenesis and vasodilation. In vivo, miR-21 is upregulated in pulmonary tissue from several rodent models of PH and in humans with PH. On induction of disease in
miR-21
–null mice, RhoB expression and Rho-kinase activity are increased, accompanied by exaggerated manifestations of PH.

Conclusions—
A network-based bioinformatic approach coupled with confirmatory in vivo data delineates a central regulatory role for miR-21 in PH. Furthermore, this study highlights the unique utility of network biology for identifying disease-modifying microRNA in PH.
Incidence and Prognosis of Resistant Hypertension in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Daugherty Stacie L. , Powers J. David , Magid David J. , Tavel Heather M. , Masoudi Frederick A. , Margolis Karen L. , O'Connor Patrick J. , Selby Joe V. , Ho P. Michael 
Published: March 2012

Background—
Despite a recent American Heart Association (AHA) consensus statement emphasizing the importance of resistant hypertension, the incidence and prognosis of this condition are largely unknown.

Methods and Results—

This retrospective cohort study in 2 integrated health plans included patients with incident hypertension in whom treatment was begun between 2002 and 2006. Patients were followed up for the development of resistant hypertension based on AHA criteria of uncontrolled blood pressure despite use of ≥3 antihypertensive medications, with data collected on prescription filling information and blood pressure measurement. We determined incident cardiovascular events (death or incident myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, or chronic kidney disease) in patients with and without resistant hypertension with adjustment for patient and clinical characteristics. Among 205 750 patients with incident hypertension, 1.9% developed resistant hypertension within a median of 1.5 years from initial treatment (0.7 cases per 100 person-years of follow-up). These patients were more often men, were older, and had higher rates of diabetes mellitus than nonresistant patients. Over 3.8 years of median follow-up, cardiovascular event rates were significantly higher in those with resistant hypertension (unadjusted 18.0% versus 13.5%,
P
<0.001). After adjustment for patient and clinical characteristics, resistant hypertension was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.33–1.62).

Conclusions—
Among patients with incident hypertension in whom treatment was begun, 1 in 50 patients developed resistant hypertension. Patients with resistant hypertension had an increased risk of cardiovascular events, which supports the need for greater efforts toward improving hypertension outcomes in this population.
Effectiveness of Suspension Seats in Maintaining Performance Following Military High-Speed Boat Transits
Authors: Myers Stephen D. , Dobbins Trevor D. , King Stuart , Hall Benjamin , Holmes Sharon R. , Gunston Tom , Dyson Rosemary 
Published: March 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether suspension seats (SS) fitted to rigid inflatable boats (RIB) could help maritime boarding teams maintain running performance during the high-risk posttransit phase. Background: High-speed RIB transits have been reported to cause reductions in the running performance of boarding teams posttransit. Method: In this experiment, two pairs of teams completed a 3-hr transit in either calm or rough seas (calm, 5 vs. 5; rough, 6 vs. 6) in an RIB fitted with either fixed (FS) or Suspension seats (SS). Exhaustive shuttle run distance was measured pre- and immediately posttransit. Transit heart rate and perceived exertion (RPE) were measured and deck and seat pan acceleration recorded; the latter were reported as impacts count and peak magnitude. Results: Distance run was reduced for the FS teams following both transits (calm, −250 m, −20%, p < .07; rough, −398 m, −26%, p < .05), whereas it was unchanged for the SS teams. All transit heart rates and RPE indicated light exertion levels. Seat pan impacts were similarly reduced during the calm transit (FS, −42%; SS, −30%); however, during the rough transit, the SS was more than twice as effective (FS, −32%; SS, −71%). Peak impact magnitudes were reduced by the SS (calm, −38%; rough, −57%) and amplified by the FS (calm, +3%; rough, +28%). Conclusion: Suspension seats effectively maintained posttransit running performance by reducing magnitude of the vertical shocks imposed on the passengers. Application: High-speed RIB transits followed immediately by high-intensity activity are intrinsic to contemporary maritime operations; suspension seats can maintain post-transit physical performance, thereby enhancing safety and operational effectiveness.
A Field Study on the Impact of Variations in Short-Term Memory Demands on Drivers’ Visual Attention and Driving Performance Across Three Age Groups
Authors: Reimer Bryan , Mehler Bruce , Wang Ying , Coughlin Joseph F. 
Published: March 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess sensitivity of visual attention and driving performance for detecting changes in driver cognitive workload across different age groups. Background: The literature shows mixed results concerning the sensitivity of gaze concentration metrics to variations in cognitive demand. No studies appear showing how age affects gaze allocation during cognitive demand. Method: Recordings of drivers’ gaze and driving performance by individuals in their 20s, 40s, and 60s were captured in actual driving conditions during three levels of cognitive demand. Results: Gaze concentration increased with task difficulty through the low and moderate levels of demand and then appeared to level out at the high demand level. At the moderate difficulty level, gaze concentration increased by 2.4 cm (≈2°) from the reference period. The degree of gaze concentration with added cognitive demand is not related to age in the relatively healthy drivers studied. Driving performance measures did not show a consistent relationship with the objective demand level. Conclusion: Gaze concentration appears at low levels of cognitive demand prior to the appearance of marked decrements in driving control. There is no compelling evidence from this study that driving performance measures can be used to index differences in workload prior to capacity saturation. Application: Drivers’ awareness of vehicle surroundings is incrementally affected by increases in cognitive demand. Developers of more advanced driver support systems should consider gaze concentration as a measure of driver cognitive workload. This recommendation is particularly relevant in light of the added benefits of gaze measurements for detecting visual demand. Keywords: mental workload, cognitive distraction, eye movements, visual tunneling, driving safety, situational awareness, voice interfaces, cellular telephones
Creating Customer Value Focused Organization Through Employment Branding
Authors: Panda Tapan K 
Published: February 2012

In today's business world, brand managers have two branding missions. They are product branding and employment branding. Product branding deals with creating a distinction in the market place for the product or service offered to the external customers. Product branding provides a mental patent against consumer apprehensions and hence creates a sustainable competitive advantage for the organization. On the other hand employment branding deals with an internal as well as external marketing orientation for hiring and keeping the best talents at the market place. By employment branding process the organization creates an image of the organization as the dream corporation to work for. Employment branding as a process is a recent phenomenon where organizations try to go beyond a recruitment advertisement and try to create an atmosphere in the work place that enhances the value delivered to the customer. This research paper deals with the strategic issue of employment branding and its relevance in the age of talent hunt. Every branding process involves a brand promise and brand character. While product branding takes care of the brand promise, it is the employment branding that looks in to the issue of brand character. A brand character is built at the customer interaction point where the customer also looks at the kind and level of motivation of employees with whom he deals during the transaction process. This paper highlights various approaches in employment brand building and also looks at the performance technology issue by which the internal customers web themselves around the brand promise and character to deliver a higher customer value.
Occupational Stress and Health Promotion: A Psychosocial Approach
Authors: Rishi Parul 
Published: February 2012

The increasing potential hazards to health resulting from unsafe occupational environment are creating an alarming situation and promotion of occupational health and well being has become an issue of great concern. In recent years, there has been a growing multinational awareness of, and interest in matters of individual physical/psychosocial occupational environment. With the advancements in technological process, physical and chemical hazards in the working environment have been controlled to some extent resulting in reduced occupational diseases and accidents but on the other side, there is an out-spurt of psycho-social stress which has not so far been seriously taken care of. The present paper attempts to draw the attention of occupational health professionals in the field of psychosocial stress and its role in overall organizational health and well being. Several health promoting strategies (individual/organizational) have also been suggested with special reference to the sense of coherence model, consideration of psychological requirements of personnel, bio-feedback and relaxation technique.
Innovations in Marketing Strategies of News Paper Industry in India — A Case Study of Times of India Group
Authors: Sridhar M. K. , Sainath A. R. 
Published: February 2012

Newspapers have become products like any other consumer, industrial or service products. They have unique features which other products do not have. The newspaper industry in India is witnessing intense competition from within and from outside like electronic and internet media. This has tremendous bearing on circulation and advertisement revenues. The industry has responded proactively to these challenges. There is more and more focus on marketing and innovations in marketing strategies. Reviews of some of these strategies are focused in the paper. The authors have presented a case study of TIMES OF INDIA GROUP for innovations in marketing strategies, which are product, price, promotion and distribution related. A survey has been conducted by the authors on a recent innovation in marketing strategy of TRIMMING and SLIMMING the size of the newspaper. The data collected from 357 readers of Bangalore are analysed. The readers in general are not only positive to these changes but also have observed them keenly. Such understanding of sensitivity of readers is crucial for the success of marketing strategies.
Need for Cognition as Determinant of Response to Rational and Emotional Ad Appeals
Authors: Agrawal Richa , Patangia Vinay 
Published: February 2012

Advertising communications are one way, they are also impersonal and receivers are not obliged to listen or even pretend to as they would in a personal exchange. They are free to ignore the message, remember it, or forget it as they please. This makes it imperative for advertisers to create messages that will intrude on the consumers' perceptual defences. Advertising hence, by necessity, must use powerful emotional and rational ad appeals to be noticed. While rational appeals would go down well with the left brainers (high on cognition), emotional appeals would be well received by the right brainers (high on feelings). Need for cognition represents the tendency of individuals to engage in and enjoy thinking. It may be described as the need to structure relevant situations in meaningful integrated ways and a need to undertsand and make sense out of the experiential world. It is helpful in understanding how argument strength and endorser attractiveness in advertisements may influence consumer attitudes. Insurance is universally acknowledged to be an institution that handles risk and provides security to an individual and his/her family. Given the fact that it also has a bearing on his/her future income (through the element of saving and investment); and offers him/her additional tax saving benefits; one may conclude that purchasing of insurance policy is a complex and high involvement decision for both emotional and rational reasons. An individual ranking high on a rational approach to a product and at the same time exhibiting a high degree of involvement would need more facts and evidences for making a decision. While, another individual taking a more emotional approach to the product and exhibiting the same high level of involvement would be influenced by strong emotional appeals. What should then be the stand of the advertisers when developing ads of insurance policy? What works best – an emotional approach or a rational appeal? The present paper is an attempt at investigating whether variations in the need for cognition makes individuals favour a particular type of appeal, especially in case of advertisements of insurance policy. The study is exploratory in nature with 2×2 factorial design, wherein need for cognition and types of appeals are independent variables and consumers response is the dependent variable, Independent variable of need for cognition has two levels high and low; whereas advertising appeal has two categories rational and emotional. The study proposes to examine whether there are significant variations in the responses of individuals having high and low need for cognition towards emotional and rational ad appeals, in case of advertisements of insurance policy. The findings of the study would enable marketers and advertisers in developing suitable ads for insurance policy.
Performance Evaluation of Indian Commercial Banks Using the Super Efficiency Approach
Authors: Sinha Ram Pratap 
Published: February 2012

In view of the changed scenario in the Indian banking sector during the reform period, this paper tries to make a comparison of fund and non-fund based operating performance of select (28) Indian commercial banks (20 public sector, eight private sector) for the period 2002–03 to 2004–05 using the super efficiency approach. The results available from the study indicate a decline in mean technical efficiency (implying greater heterogeneity in performance across banks) during the period under consideration. This divergence in performance during the later years could be due to the influence of idiosyncratic factors. The study also indicates that the observed private sector banks have higher mean technical efficiency than the observed public sector banks.
Profiling Organizational Learning: An Empirical Study of IT and Banking Sectors in India
Authors: Azmi Feza Tabassum , Hussain Zareen 
Published: February 2012

“Without learning, the wise become foolish; by learning, the foolish become wise. Learn as if you could never have enough of learning, as if you might miss something.” Confucius (551–479 BC) Changing business landscape and environmental pressures are constantly threatening the survival of business organizations. Even perennially successful companies are finding it difficult to deliver consistent results. Organizations that were till now basking in the glory of a near invincible status, need to understand that learning is indispensable for survival and success. Keeping in mind the vital role that learning plays in any organization, the objective of the present study was to compare the organizations in the banking and IT sectors in India vis-à-vis their learning orientation. Based on data collected from top-ranking organizations in the two sectors, the study reveals that statistically significant differences were found between the two sectors on most of the learning dimensions; significant differences were also found to exist when pair-wise comparison was made between organizations from the two sectors. Intra-sectoral comparisons revealed that although within the IT sector there were differences; no statistically significant difference was observed within the banking sector.
Rehabilitation of VRS Seekers: Myths and Realities
Authors: Pathardikar Avinash D. , Sahu Sangeeta 
Published: February 2012

VRS is viewed as one of the methods for the turnaround of the company when the business cycle is on a declining curve. Though these schemes have reduced excess fat of the organisations, but the life of individuals getting VRS has long been neglected. The study attempts to reveal the benefits provided by the organisation to the voluntarily retired employees and their life after voluntary retirement in terms of various independent and dependent variables. Findings show significant relation of age, income, education and number of dependents with worries and tensions after VRS. Moreover, the financial support from organisation in the form of compensation is not enough. The results highlight the need of greater role to be played by the organisations for VRS seekers in preparing them for a better life after.
Managing Environmental Economies: An Indian Perspective
Authors: Prasad Lakshman 
Published: February 2012

The article emphasizes on strengthening our eco-economy It pleads for evolving consensual methodologies and acting on that in the area of environmental accounting. Such an approach should integrate ‘polluters pay principle’, disincentives on environmentally destructive activities and other fiscal instruments including incentives on eco-friendly measures to contribute to ‘green budget’. The product pricing to reflect social costs and environmental costs to form an important component of project costs are some of the themes elucidated briefly in the text. It is necessary that ecologists and economists should jointly zero-in on some strategic parameters to pave the way for such an exercise. “The stability of an empire depends upon the stability of its environment”. Chankya 4thCentury B.C.
“The People First” — A Unique Leadership Style at FedEx Freight
Authors: Maini Vandana 
Published: February 2012

FedEx is one of the most respected and trusted brands in the world of supply chain services. The FedEx family of companies provides total shipping solutions and information services to customers worldwide. To the customer, the FedEx brand stands for a company that absolutely, positively lives up to its commitments. The basic aim of the organization is to deliver a world class customer experience to their customers so that their loyalty grows and they are far less likely to risk trying another carrier. A world class experience happens when caring, dedicated people ensure they deliver quality and create a sense of certainty in the mind of the customers. At FedEx the general belief is that engaged employees — people who believe in the organizational goals and who have a strong desire to contribute — will execute the organizational strategy and ultimately determine the success which the organization has with its customers. The basic assumptions are that the people are efficient, want to succeed and have the way to create a competitive advantage by being engaged in the business and developing emotional bonds with its customers, thereby ensuring a long term success to the families, community, and shareholders. The company will do this by taking care of its people first, believing they will then take care of its customers. For this reason the top leadership at FedEx is committed to the “People First” philosophy.
Expectations Come True: A Study of Pygmalion Effect on the Performance of Employees
Authors: Chirayath Susan , Lalgem E. M. , George Sanal Babu 
Published: February 2012

Theory of Pygmalion effect explains how others' expectations about us affect our self-concept and influence our behavior. The verbal and nonverbal messages and strokes, which we receive from significant people in our lives (significant others) influence our self-concept and determine our behavior. This concept can be used as a management tool for increasing the confidence and motivation of employees and thereby enhances the employee productivity. The study was conducted in The Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) formerly known as F.X. Pereira & Sons Ltd., which is a Government of Kerala undertaking. KMML is the world's first fully integrated smallest Titanium Dioxide plant. The main objective of the study was to assess the positive signs given by the superiors to the subordinates. The secondary objective was to identify the factors that lead to the employees' effectiveness and efficiency. The study was conducted among 150 employees of KMML from different levels of the organization like the skilled workers, first line supervisors and office staff. Factors like non-verbal and verbal messages, opportunities for self-development, receiving feedback from superiors, etc, play a major role in the positive attitudinal behavior of the employees. It has also been found that only 37% of the respondents get emotional support from their superiors.