An extension of the technology acceptance model in the big data analytics system implementation environment

Research on the adoption of systems for big data analytics has drawn enormous attention in Information Systems research. This study extends big data analytics adoption research by examining the effects of system characteristics on the attitude of managers towards the usage of big data analytics systems. A research model has been proposed in this study based on an extensive review of literature pertaining to the Technology Acceptance Model, with further validation by a survey of 150 big data analytics users. Results of this survey confirm that characteristics of the big data analytics system have significant direct and indirect effects on belief in the benefits of big data analytics systems and perceived usefulness, attitude and adoption. Moreover, there are mediation effects that exist among the system characteristics, benefits of big data analytics systems, perceived usefulness and the attitude towards using big data analytics system. This study expands the existing body of knowledge on the adoption of big data analytics systems, and benefits big data analytics providers and vendors while helping in the formulation of their business models.     

Oxidative stress in cases of chronic fluoride intoxication

This study was conducted to find out the level of oxidative stress and effect of supplementation of vitamin C, D and Calcium on levels of SOD, serum and urinary fluoride in children residing in endemic fluorosis area. For this the fluoride belt of Jaipur district was selected. The parameters selected were Super oxide dismutase, serum fluoride and urinary fluoride. The study was conducted on one hundred children, selected from four areas (25 from each area) consuming water containing 1.2, 2.4, 5.6 and 13.6 mg/l of fluoride. Drinking water fluoride, serum and urinary fluoride were measured by Ion selective electrode method. Serum SOD by Xanthine oxidase method using kit of Ransod (kit cat. No. SD125). The post treatment values showed a significant reduction in serum fluoride and SOD. Urinary fluoride levels increased significantly in post treatment stage. The results revealed a normal SOD levels in all groups but an increasing trend was observed with increasing fluoride concentration. Treatment with Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C showed a significant reduction in serum fluoride and SOD and increase in urinary fluoride. A high positive correlation between pretreatment and post treatment group was observed in serum fluoride, SOD and urinary fluoride (P < 0.05). The study indicated an increasing oxidative stress in cases of fluorosis with increasing drinking water fluoride concentration. Treatment with Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C resulted a significant reduction in serum fluoride and SOD and increase in urinary fluoride.     

Dynamic optimal control model for profit maximization of software product under the influence of promotional effort

In this paper, a decision model is presented for the sales of software product to determine the profit and marketing policy under the influence of promotional efforts. The paper focuses on dependence of the optimal profit on the promotional efforts when there is diffusion effect of demand on the sales function. An elaborate optimization policy considering the dynamic nature of production cost function is proposed and numerical example is illustrated. The paper also studies the behavior of the future profit and its impact on profit maximization model by considering the constant price during the entire planning horizon. The experimental results greatly help us to identify the contributions of each selected parameter and its weight. Some conclusions, limitations of this study and future direction are also discussed.     

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism and its Association with Hypertension in South Indian Population

Hypertension, a well known risk factor for various cardiovascular, peripheral vascular and renal events is an important public health challenge. Renin angiotensin system (RAS) being the most vital pathogenic mechanism of hypertension is mediated by a key component; the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). The present study was aimed to know the relationship of ACE gene polymorphism and the possible risk of development of hypertension in south Indian population. The study included 101 clinically diagnosed hypertensive patients without any associated disease condition and 81 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction, (PCR) amplification of the intron 16 fragment harboring the 287 bp Alu repeat sequence. Three possible genotypes D/D, I/I homozygous and I/D heterozygous were analyzed where the D/D genotypes corresponds to higher ACE levels (D-Deletion, I-Insertion). The PCR products were separated on 2 % agarose gel. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.15 software program. We found a significance in frequency of D/D genotype in the hypertensive patients compared to the control group (p = 0.0005, odd’s ratio = 4.157). This suggested that ACE (D/D) genotypes are more prone for the development of hypertension. This is relatively a pilot study; but nevertheless may assist in identifying the pathophysiological cause of hypertension.     

Childhood emotional abuse and disordered eating among undergraduate females: mediating influence of alexithymia and distress

OBJECTIVE: Drawing from stress-vulnerability and trauma theory (e.g., Rorty & Yager, 1996), this paper presents a model of associations among child emotional abuse (CEA), alexithymia, general distress (GD), and disordered eating (DE). This study extended previous research on psychological outcomes of child physical and sexual abuse to explore those of CEA using measures of specific emotionally abusive acts. METHOD: Five hundred and eighty-eight female university students completed self-report surveys consisting of measures of CEA, alexithymia, depression, anxiety, and DE. Structural equation modeling was used to test this conceptual model. RESULTS: Comparison between measurement models suggested that bulimic behavior is a separate construct from restrictive eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction. In the structural model with the best fit, the association between CEA and DE was mediated by alexithymia and GD (i.e., a component of depression and anxiety). Specifically, CEA was associated with alexithymia, which was further related to GD. Then, restrictive eating behaviors and attitudes mediated the relation between GD and bulimic behaviors. By analyzing a second, nested model, this latter pathway was shown to be important. CONCLUSION: While the best-fitting model is only one of many possibilities, these results point to a weak-but significant-complex relation between CEA and DE. They are associated through a series of mediating relations in a multivariate model including alexithymia and GD. The current study supports research suggesting that child emotional abuse can have a negative impact on its survivors. Treatment of those survivors manifesting disordered eating should be holistic, as opposed to targeted towards specific symptoms.     

Collection development and access to serials in the Central Library of IITs in India

The vital task of the libraries attached to the educational institutions of higher learning is the collection development of information resources as per the requirements of the users. The Central Library of IITs have long been recognized their responsibility to support the study and research of their parent institutions with the rich collection development of information resources both in print as well as electronic format to cater the needs of the academic communities as per the multi-disciplinary and diverse academic program of the respective institutions where greater emphasis on collection of serials, the essential and integral component of updated scholarly communication. The study provides a vivid picture about the current status of serials collection in the libraries attached to the Premier Institutions of India in the field of science and technology to boost up the academic performances.