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Introduction Increasing evidence suggests that musculoskeletal tuberculosis (MSTB) causes significant morbidity due to the late presentation of symptoms and lack of accurate diagnosis. We aimed to assess the utility of two modalities, viz. radiology and molecular methods, in the early diagnosis of MSTB. Also, the rate of resistance to two basic first-line antitubercular drugs in musculoskeletal TB cases among clinically suspected patients was analyzed. Methods Samples from 119 patients with clinical suspicion of musculoskeletal TB were included. A radiological workup of patient and smear microscopy, mycobacterial culture, real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT), and line probe assay (LPA) of samples were carried out. Results Maximum positivity (69.74%) was observed by real-time multiplex, followed by CBNAAT and LPA (68.9%), mycobacterial culture (40.3%), and smear microscopy (19.3%). One additional advantage of using multiplex PCR was the detection of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolate. Forty-five strains (54.9%) on LPA were susceptible to rifampicin and isoniazid, eight (9.8%) were rifampicin mono-resistant, seven (8.5%) were isoniazid (INH) mono-resistant, and 22 (26.8%) were multidrug resistant. Conclusions MSTB diagnosis can be expedited by the combination of radiology and molecular methods. The positivity rate escalates, turnaround time improves, and the additional advantage of detection of drug resistance is added when this algorithm is included for clinching the diagnosis of MSTB.

This study examines the relationship between cybersecurity threats faced and cybersecurity response planned by organisations. Classifying cybersecurity threats into four types – physical threats, p...

Educators continue to utilize add-ons, extensions, or replacements to traditional Learning Management Systems (LMSs) to supplement capabilities and improve the classroom experience. This work resul...

Purpose Shape memory polymers (SMPs) respond with a change in their shape against a specific stimulus by memorizing their original shape and are reformed after deformation most often by changing the temperature of the surrounding without additional mechanical efforts. In the coming years, these polymers indeed will be in limelight to manufacture textile materials which will retain their shape even after prolonged use under disturbed conditions. This study aims at defining shape memory materials and polymers as well as their technological characteristics and also highlights application in various fields of textiles. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used to explain these SMPs have been carried out starting with the discussion on their properties, their physical nature, types, viz., shape memory alloys (SMAs), shape memory ceramics, shape memory hybrid, magnetic shape memory alloy, shape memory composites, shape memory gels and SMP along with properties of each type. Other related details of these polymers, such as their advantages, structure and mechanism, shape memory functionality, thermally responsive SMPs and applications, have been detailed. Findings It has been observed that the SMPs are very important in the fields of wet and melt-spun fibers to offer novel and functional properties, cotton and wool fabric finishing, to produce SMP films, foams and laminated textiles, water vapor permeable and breathable SMP films, etc. Originality/value The field of SMPs is new, and very limited information is available to enable their smooth production and handling.

Information technology implementations continue to be significant endeavors for both research and practice. Although prior studies have extensively examined user training and user support, a consensus is lacking on their conceptualizations. Prior research has argued for direct, as well as indirect, effects of user training and user support on perceived benefits while appealing to different theoretical perspectives. This study clarifies the roles of user training and user support in information technology implementations using data on 302 software implementations. Using a Bayesian model comparison strategy, the authors found that the effects of user training and user support on perceived benefits are mediated by individuals’ perceptions regarding the characteristics of the information technologies. These findings suggest that user training and user support should be treated as enablers in process of implementing information technologies.

The impact of web-based electronic commerce on the process of disintermediation and re-intermediation has been extensively studied. Two major limitations of the existing work are the focus on a single economic measure (i.e., transaction cost minimization) and the examination of channel-structure decisions from only a single perspective (the seller’s). This paper introduces transactional value theory in the context of channel-structure research and integrates it with transaction cost theory to generate a trade value framework. The trade value framework considers channel-structure decisions from the perspectives of both buyers and sellers and is used to analyze the impact of web-based e-commerce on intermediated channel-structures. The proposed framework suggests that intermediaries function best in a channel-structure if they can reduce trade-inhibiting factors and improve trade-enhancing factors. Intermediaries may also prosper if they deliver extraordinary value on one side of the trade value framework to the point that inhibiting factors on the other end of the trade can be overlooked. Intermediaries maximize the value of the trade for both the buyers and the sellers by trading through an intermediated channel-structure as opposed to trading directly.

This article describes the implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implemented by British Petroleum (BP) Worldwide, from the perspective of one of its subsidiary organizations, BP Singapore. The ERP solution, an internally developed system, was implemented globally by BP worldwide quite successfully from a global perspective, though not without challenges at the local level. This study examines the process of implementing a global ERP solution at the local subsidiaries, and the unique problems that may be encountered in force-fitting a global solution at the local level. Among the issues and problems experienced by the subsidiary are higher-than-anticipated costs, longer development times, lack of technical expertise, and compromises in business processes. The findings of the study could be helpful in formulating coping mechanisms in implementing global ERP solutions.

PurposeThis study examined how six institutionalized socialization tactics affect a particular occupation of knowledge workers – information technology (IT) professionals' role adjustment (role conflict and role ambiguity) and organizational attachment variables (job satisfaction, affective commitment, continuance commitment and intention to quit).Design/methodology/approachThe research model and hypotheses were tested using path analysis techniques with survey data collected from 187 recently hired IT professionals.FindingsThe results showed that the six socialization tactics affected IT professionals differently. Socialization tactics that recognize employees' values and skills (investiture tactics) and that emphasize the interpersonal and mentoring aspects (serial tactics) had the most significant effects on employees' role adjustment and organizational attachment. The study also revealed complex mediating relationships among socialization tactics, role adjustment and organizational attachment variables.Originality/valueThis study provides new insights about the differential effects of the various socialization tactics on IT professionals' role adjustment and organizational attachment. It also sheds light on the complex mediating relationships among socialization tactics, role adjustment and organizational attachment variables. Without considering the logical relationships between the various variables, studies examining the direct effects of socialization on isolated organizational outcome variables may overlook important linkages that are critical for explaining the inconsistent results in past empirical studies.

Reengineering is rooted in the United States and has since spread to many other NICs (newly industrialized countries) like Singapore. As experience in reengineering accumulates, it is time to explore empirically the different types of problems commonly encountered and the impact of these problems on reengineering success. Also this study looks at whether the same types of problems are relevant in a Chinese-based society like Singapore. The study results show that many of the difficulties encountered in implementing BPR in the U.S. apply equally to Singapore. On the other hand, there are also significant differences between the two countries. While change management and management support problems have been identified as critical problems (which are severe and at the same time have a high impact on BPR success) in the U.S., project management and cultural issues are found to be critical problems in Singapore. It is concluded that culture does affect the types of problems encountered and their impac...

End-user computing has been the focus of research for over a decade. Recent studies on end-user computing support concluded that end users are dissatisfied with the support provided by the information center. In addition to support from an information center, end users seek help from informal sources and local MIS staff. In this study we examine why end-users prefer one source of support (e.g. information center) to another (e.g. local MIS staff). In order to understand end user preferences, we study the factors that affect end user attitude toward a support source. Attitude is an important component in determining user behavior toward using a support source. In this study, a model of end user attitudes and intentions toward the source of support is presented. Analysis of data collected from 108 middle-level managers shows that respondents preferred the use of local MIS staff to both information centers and informal support sources. The results appear to reflect an emerging trend in EUC support and implications of these results are examined in the study.

The study examines the correlates of burnout in systems IS professionals. While there has been little previous research in the area of burnout among IS professionals, anecdotal evidence shows that burnout causes a negative impact on the peiformance of IS employees. These negative impacts can take the form of cynicism, dissatisfaction, and turnover McGee, 1996. In this study we empirically examine the correlations of burnout with several work attributes that are considered to be either antecedents or consequences of burnout. Two role stressors are examined in this study-role ambiguity and role conflict. These variables are theorized to be antecedents of burnout. In addition, two dimensions of organizational commitment-affective and continuance commitment-are examined as possible consequences of burnout. The emotional exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory is used to measure burnout in 312 IS professionals. Both role stressors were found to co "elate positively with burnout. In addition, affective commitment was found to be negatively correlated and continuance commitment positively correlated with burnout.

This study applies nonlinear and noncompensatory models to examine how users evaluate their satisfaction with their information systems (IS) environment. Several instruments have been developed in the literature to measure user information satisfaction (UIS). These instruments measure user satisfaction by asking respondents to rate their satisfaction/dissatisfaction with a variety of IS attributes; e.g., EDP services, EDP staff, information product, and involvement in IS development. These responses are then combined linearly to develop a surrogate measure for UIS satisfaction. This linear model is derived from Anderson's information theory (Anderson 1981) and based on the assumption that each attribute judgment has a conditionally monotone relationship with the UIS evaluation. However, the literature on attitude formation and decision making suggests that other nonlinear and noncompensatory models are available to decision makers for combining information and are used frequently in attitude formation. In this study, we use two sets of data to examine the linear model and five nonlinear models of decision making to evaluate whether nonlinear models are more effective in predicting a user's overall satisfaction with information systems. First, responses from faculty members at an academic institution were used to test each model. All the nonlinear models were more efficient predictors than the linear models. In addition, two nonlinear models—the multiplicative and the scatter models—best represented the data with square multiple correlations of 0.69 and 0.68, as compared to the linear model which had an R 2 of 0.61. Second, data from a previous study (Galletta and Lederer 1989) were analyzed to examine whether nonlinear models were more efficient. Data for this study were collected using the short version of the Bailey and Pearson (1983) UIS instrument. Results of the analysis from the full and cross-validation samples show that nonlinear, noncompensatory models performed at par or better than the linear model.

This study shows that there is a nonlinear relationship between overall user information satisfaction (UIS) and an index created by combining satisfaction responses to various information systems components/attributes. Several instruments have been developed in the IS literature to measure UIS. These measure UIS by asking respondents to rate their satisfaction/dissatisfaction with a variety of IS attributes; for example, EDP services, EDP staff, information products, and involvement in IS development. Tests of predictive validity, in the past, have shown only a 55% correlation between global UIS and UIS scores. Here, we show that the global UIS measure and IS factor scores follow a nonlinear relationship and are, in fact, cusp-distributed. The extent of use of IS is shown to be a splitting factor in this distribution and produces abrupt, catastrophic changes. Responses from faculty members at an academic institution were used to test for the distribution using IS component scores as the normal independent variable and the extent of use of IS as the splitting variable. The cusp model was a more efficient predictor than the linear model or a control equation using bimodal transformation.

The study examines the moderating role of organizational commitment on the relationship between role stressors and burnout in information systems (IS) professionals. Two role stressors are examined in this study – role ambiguity and role conflict. In addition, two dimensions of organizational commitment – affective and continuance commitment – are examined for their moderating influence. The emotional exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory is used to measure burnout in 312 IS professionals. Both role stressors were found to correlate positively with burnout. In addition, affective commitment was found to moderate the relationship between role stressors and burnout. Therefore, in employees with high affective commitment, role stressors had a lesser effect on burnout. This study, therefore, supports the argument that commitment acts as a buffer against stress and its antecedents.

The impact of web-based electronic commerce on the process of disintermediation and re-intermediation has been extensively studied. Two major limitations of the existing work are the focus on a single economic measure (i.e., transaction cost minimization) and the examination of channel-structure decisions from only a single perspective (the seller’s). This paper introduces transactional value theory in the context of channel-structure research and integrates it with transaction cost theory to generate a trade value framework. The trade value framework considers channel-structure decisions from the perspectives of both buyers and sellers and is used to analyze the impact of web-based e-commerce on intermediated channel-structures. The proposed framework suggests that intermediaries function best in a channel-structure if they can reduce trade-inhibiting factors and improve trade-enhancing factors. Intermediaries may also prosper if they deliver extraordinary value on one side of the trade value framework to the point that inhibiting factors on the other end of the trade can be overlooked. Intermediaries maximize the value of the trade for both the buyers and the sellers by trading through an intermediated channel-structure as opposed to trading directly.

This paper reports on a case study of autonomous strategic behavior in a mature, conservatively managed, low technology organization. The autonomous behavior studied is the firm's adoption of a high technology product offering. The paper conceptualizes the organizational change induced by the initiative as a paradigm shift. The study specifically addresses the change agent's symbolic actions in unfreezing, changing, and refreezing the organization's paradigm. The paper extends previous work on the political aspects of change agent behavior in the same organization.

A case study involving a US-based company that has established information systems (IS) activities in three non-US subsidiaries is used to assess the similarities and differences in these situations and to identify key success factors that may be applicable to the successful development of transnational systems.

The study of socialization and its processes has only recently been applied to organizations to investigate the manner in which new employees adjust to corporate culture. Past studies have examined the nature of human resource development from an individual perspective. Research in socialization practices represents an organizational approach towards understanding the manner in which new employees adjust to their roles. This study examines the impact of socialization practices on the nature of this role adjustment in the context of high-technology firms. One hundred and sixty newly-hired professionals in high-technology firms were surveyed to examine the relationship between organizational socialization tactics and adjustment variables such as role orientation, job commitment, and role clarity. Results suggest that socialization practices affect professional role adjustment. Specifically, institutionalized socialization tactics lead to a custodial role orientation and individualized socialization tactics produce an innovative role orientation. Further, demographic similarity was found to moderate this relationship; i.e., custodial roles were more prominent in newcomers with high demographic similarity. Implications for future human resource management in high-technology firms and research in this area are discussed.

An analysis of opportunities available to US fines for marketing to India are presented and both direct exports and trade collaborations are discussed. Economic growth patterns in the country that are likely to support international marketing operations on a much larger scale are outlined. Various factors that contnbute to the success of a marketing venture are isolated and a set of guidelines based on these three factors is developed to assist the marketer in making informed decisions for entry and establishment in the country.