The RELQUAL scale: a measure of relationship quality in export market ventures

In this article, the authors develop a new measurement scale (the RELQUAL scale) to assess the degree of relationship quality between the exporting firm and the importer. Relationship quality is presented as a high-order concept. Findings reveal that a better quality of the relationship results in a greater (1) amount of information sharing, (2) communication quality, (3) long-term orientation, as well as (4) satisfaction with the relationship. The four multi-item scales show strong evidence of reliability as well as convergent, discriminant and nomological validity in a sample of British exporters. Findings also reveal that relationship quality is positively and significantly associated with export performance. Suggestions for applying the measure in future research are presented.

The STEP scale: a measure of short-term export performance improvement

This article is a direct response to a recent observation in the literature that managers appear to be short-term oriented in their assessment of the performance of an export venture (Madsen 1998). On the basis of a cross-national survey of exporting firms, the authors present a three-dimensional scale for assessing managerial judgment of short-term export performance (i.e., the STEP scale). The three dimensions are (1) satisfaction with short-term performance improvement, (2) short-term exporting intensity improvement, and (3) expected short-term performance improvement. The scale presents evidence of reliability as well as convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity, and it reveals factorial similarity and factorial equivalence across both samples. The authors outline managerial and public policy implications that stem from the scale and identify avenues for further export marketing research.

Challenges in conducting and publishing research on the Middle East and Africa in leading journals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the reasons for the lack of research attention paid to the Middle East (ME) and Africa regions. In particular, this study seeks to identify the reasons for and implications of the paucity of ME- and Africa-based studies in high-quality international journals in the marketing field with a specific focus on the challenges in conducting and publishing research on these regions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature on the ME and Africa regions to identify papers published in 23 high-quality marketing, international business, and advertising journals. This search resulted in 301 articles, among which 125 articles were based on primary or secondary data collected from a local source in those regions. The authors of these 125 articles constitute the Delphi study sample. These academics provided input in an effort to reach a consensus regarding the two proposed models of academic research in both regions. Findings – This paper differs from previous studies, where academic freedom emerged as the most important inhibitor to conducting and publishing research. The most frequently mentioned challenges in conducting research in Africa were access to data, data collection issues, diversity of the region, and lack of research support infrastructure. For the ME, the most often described challenges included validity and reliability of data, language barriers, data collection issues, and availability of a network of researchers. Editors’ and reviewers’ low interest and limited knowledge were ranked high in both regions. South Africa, Israel, and Turkey emerged as outliers, in which research barriers were less challenging than in the rest of the two regions. The authors attribute this difference to the high incidence of US-trained or US-based scholars originating from these countries. Originality/value – To the best of the knowledge, no marketing studies have discussed the problems of publishing in high-quality international journals of marketing, international business, and advertising for either region. Thus, most of the issues the authors discuss in this paper offer new insightful results while supplementing previous research on the challenges of conducting and publishing research on specific world regions.

Seasonal patterns of viral and bacterial infections among children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia in a tropical region

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common cause of morbidity among children. Evidence on seasonality, especially on the frequency of viral and bacterial causative agents is scarce; such information may be useful in an era of changing climate conditions worldwide. To analyze the frequency of distinct infections, meteorological indicators and seasons in children hospitalized for CAP in Salvador, Brazil, nasopharyngeal aspirate and blood were collected from 184 patients aged < 5 y over a 21-month period. Fourteen microbes were investigated and 144 (78%) cases had the aetiology established. Significant differences were found in air temperature between spring and summer (p = 0.02) or winter (p < 0.001), summer and fall (p = 0.007) or winter (p < 0.001), fall and winter (p = 0.002), and on precipitation between spring and fall (p = 0.01). Correlations were found between: overall viral infections and relative humidity (p = 0.006; r = 0.6) or precipitation (p = 0.03; r = 0.5), parainfluenza and precipitation (p = 0.02; r = -0.5), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and air temperature (p = 0.048; r = -0.4) or precipitation (p = 0.045; r = 0.4), adenovirus and precipitation (p = 0.02; r = 0.5), pneumococcus and air temperature (p = 0.04; r = -0.4), and Chlamydia trachomatis and relative humidity (p = 0.02; r = -0.5). The frequency of parainfluenza infection was highest during spring (32.1%; p = 0.005) and that of RSV infection was highest in the fall (36.4%; p < 0.001). Correlations at regular strength were found between several microbes and meteorological indicators. Parainfluenza and RSV presented marked seasonal patterns.

Procalcitonin is useful in identifying bacteraemia among children with pneumonia

Empirical antibiotic use is prescribed in managing children with pneumonia worldwide. We assessed the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in differentiating viral from bacterial pneumonia. Among 159 hospitalized children, pneumonia was diagnosed based on clinical complaints plus pulmonary infiltrate. Aetiology was investigated for 9 viruses and 4 atypical and 3 typical bacteria. PCT and IFN-alpha were measured in the serum sample collected on admission. Eight patients had bacteraemic infections, 38 had non-bacteraemic typical infections, and 19 patients had atypical bacterial infections. Viral and unknown aetiology was established in 57 (36%) and 34 (21%) cases, respectively. Three patients with bacterial infection without collected blood culture were excluded. IFN-alpha (IU/ml) was detectable in 20 (13%) cases. The difference among median PCT values of the bacteraemic (4.22; 1.56-7.56), non-bacteraemic typical bacterial (1.47; 0.24-4.07), atypical bacterial (0.18; 0.06-1.03) and only viral (0.65; 0.11-2.22) subgroups was significant (p = 0.02). PCT was >= 2 ng/ml in 52 (33%) cases. The presence of IFN-alpha was associated with PCT <2 ng/ml (90% vs. 64%, p = 0.02). The negative predictive value (95% confidence interval) of PCT >= 2 ng/ml was 95% (89-100%), 89% (78-100%), 93% (85-100%) for differentiation of bacteraemic from viral, atypical bacterial and non-bacteraemic typical bacterial infection, respectively, and 58% (49-68%) for differentiation between bacterial and viral infection. PCT may be useful in identifying bacteraemia among children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. IFN-alpha was uncommonly detected.

Sole infection by human metapneumovirus among children with radiographically diagnosed community-acquired pneumonia in a tropical region

Background Limited information is available on the role of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) as the unique pathogen among children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a tropical region. Objective We aimed to describe HMPV infection among children with CAP investigating bacterial and viral co-infections. Patients and methods A prospective study was carried out in Salvador, North-East Brazil. Overall, 268 children aged <5 years hospitalized for CAP were enrolled. Human metapneumovirus RNA was detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Sixteen other bacterial and viral pathogens were investigated by an expanded panel of laboratory methods. Chest X-ray taken on admission was read by an independent paediatric radiologist unaware of clinical information or the established aetiology. Results Human metapneumovirus RNA was detected in NPAs of 11 (4.1%) children, of which 4 (36%) had sole HMPV infection. The disease was significantly shorter among patients with sole HMPV infection in comparison with patients with mixed infection (4 +/- 1 versus 7 +/- 2 days, P = 0.03). Three of those four patients had alveolar infiltrates. Conclusion Sole HMPV infection was detected in children with CAP in Salvador, North-East Brazil. HMPV may play a role in the childhood CAP burden.

The role of respiratory viral infections among children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia in a developing country

We report an investigation for 16 bacteria and viruses among 184 children hospitalized with pneumonia in Salvador, Brazil. Etiology was established in 144 (78%) cases. Viral, bacterial, and mixed infections were found in 110 (60%), 77 (42%), and 52 (28%) patients, respectively. Rhinovirus (21%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (21%) were the most common pathogens. Our results demonstrate the importance of viral and pneumococcal infections among those patients.

Exercise changes regional vascular control by commissural NTS in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Ogihara CA, Schoorlemmer GHM, Levada AC, Pithon-Curi TC, Curi R, Lopes OU, Colombari E, Sato MA. Exercise changes regional vascular control by commissural NTS in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 299: R291-R297, 2010. First published April 21, 2010; doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00055.2009.-Inhibition of the commissural nucleus of the solitary tract (commNTS) induces a fall in sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which suggests that this subnucleus of the NTS is a source of sympathoexcitation. Exercise training reduces sympathetic activity and arterial pressure. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the swimming exercise can modify the regional vascular responses evoked by inhibition of the commNTS neurons in SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Exercise consisted of swimming, 1 h/day, 5 days/wk for 6 wks, with a load of 2% of the body weight. The day after the last exercise session, the rats were anesthetized with intravenous alpha-chloralose, tracheostomized, and artificially ventilated. The femoral artery was cannulated for mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate recordings, and Doppler flow probes were placed around the lower abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery. Microinjection of 50 mM GABA into the commNTS caused similar reductions in MAP in swimming and sedentary SHR (-25 +/- 6 and -30 +/- 5 mmHg, respectively), but hindlimb vascular conductance increased twofold in exercised vs. sedentary SHR (54 +/- 8 vs. 24 +/- 5%). GABA into the commNTS caused smaller reductions in MAP in swimming and sedentary WKY rats (-20 +/- 4 and -16 +/- 2 mmHg). Hindlimb conductance increased fourfold in exercised vs. sedentary WKY rats (75 +/- 2% vs. 19 +/- 3%). Therefore, our data suggest that the swimming exercise induced changes in commNTS neurons, as shown by a greater enhancement of hindlimb vasodilatation in WKY vs. SHR rats in response to GABAergic inhibition of these neurons.

Naturally Acquired Antibodies to Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein (DBP) in Rural Brazilian Amazon

Duffy binding protein (DBP), a leading malaria vaccine candidate, plays a critical role ill Plasmodium vivax erythrocyte invasion. Sixty-eight of 366 (18.6%) subjects had IgG anti-DBP antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a community-based cross-sectional survey ill the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Despite Continuous exposure to low-level malaria transmission, the overall seroprevalence decreased to 9.0% when the Population was reexamined 12 months later. Antibodies from 16 of 50 (360%) Subjects who were ELISA-positive at the baseline were able to inhibit erythrocyte binding to at least one of two DBP variants tested. Most (13 of 16) of these subjects still had inhibitory antibodies when reevaluated 12 months later. Cumulative exposure to malaria was the strongest predictor of DBP seropositivity identified by Multiple logistic regression models in this population. The poor antibody recognition of DBP elicited by natural exposure to P. vivax in Amazonian populations represents a challenge to be addressed by vaccine development strategies.

Las relaciones entre Chile y Suecia durante el primer gobierno de Olof Palme, 1969-1976

Durante el primer gobierno del socialdemócrata Olof Palme, las relaciones bilaterales entre Chile y Suecia fueron las más intensas de toda su historia, tanto en cercanía como en conflictividad. La razón la encontramos en los distintos fenómenos políticos que vivió Chile en ese periodo, puesto que Palme coincidió temporalmente con tres gobiernos claramente diferenciados: la Democracia Cristiana, la Unidad Popular y el Régimen Militar. Si las relaciones sueco-chilenas tuvieron su mejor momento durante el mandato de Salvador Allende, el golpe de Estado significó todo lo contrario. El compromiso que tuvo el embajador de Suecia, Harald Edelstam, por quienes eran perseguidos en Chile le llevó a su expulsión, lo que se tradujo en un claro deterioro de las relaciones y el inicio de una nueva etapa marcada por el gran contingente de exiliados que comenzaron a llegar a Suecia. Este trabajo analiza los principales acontecimientos diplomáticos ocurridos entre Chile y Suecia así como las consecuencias que tuvieron durante el gobierno de Olof Palme.

Presença e uso de tecnologia da informação no ensino de projeto arquitetônico : estudo exploratório nas faculdades de arquitetura e urbanismo de Porto Alegre / RS

O uso de Tecnologia da Informação (TI) tem evoluído muito nos últimos anos e isto influencia, sem dúvida, o ensino e a prática da arquitetura. Observa-se que o ensino de projeto nas escolas de arquitetura se dá através de um processo prático-reflexivo, no qual os alunos aprendem fazendo, sob a orientação dos professores. O conhecimento arquitetônico, portanto, vai sendo construído através da análise e interpretação do projeto e a busca de significados a partir da sua representação, sejam esboços à mão livre ou imagens digitais. Desta forma, as disciplinas de prática projetual têm grande importância, sendo consideradas fundamentais para a formação do arquiteto. Reconhecendo que a aplicação da TI gera novos paradigmas projetuais, mostrou-se importante a investigação da docência e da prática profissional. Este trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar a presença e o uso de TI no ensino de projeto arquitetônico nas Faculdades de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU) de Porto Alegre, RS. Demonstra-se, através dos resultados de estudo exploratório em quatro FAUs, as características pessoais e a forma como estão sendo desenvolvidas as habilidades dos alunos para a prática de projeto arquitetônico em função das tecnologias disponíveis e das tendências futuras que se apresentam a estes profissionais. Verificou-se como os estudantes usam recursos computacionais em geral, qual o seu o nível de conhecimento sobre TI e como tem sido feita a abordagem pelas FAUs deste tema. Explorou-se, de forma especial, a aplicação de sistemas CAD no processo de projeto arquitetônico Constatou-se que os sistemas ainda são bastante sub utilizados e que as disciplinas dos currículos das FAUs estudadas levam a uma formação aquém da necessidade exigida pelos escritórios de arquitetura, onde o uso de recursos computacionais é corrente. Para estarem adequados as exigências do mercado de trabalho, os estudantes além de completarem o seu Curso, necessitam superar a necessidade de aprendizagem de sistemas computacionais, muitas vezes adquirida durante o estágio ou em cursos extra-curriculares.

Solução da equação advectivo-difusiva utilizando regras para manipulação de exponenciais de operadores diferenciais e simetrias de Lie : aplicações em engenharia ambiental

Vários métodos analíticos, numéricos e híbridos podem ser utilizados na solução de problemas de difusão e difusão-advecção. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar dois métodos analíticos para obtenção de soluções em forma fechada da equação advectivo-difusiva em coordenadas cartesianas que descreve problemas de dispersão de poluentes na água e na atmosfera. Um deles é baseado em regras de manipulação de exponenciais de operadores diferenciais, e o outro consiste na aplicação de simetrias de Lie admitidas por uma equação diferencial parcial linear. Desenvolvem-se regras para manipulação de exponenciais de operadores diferenciais de segunda ordem com coeficientes constantes e para operadores advectivo-difusivos. Nos casos em que essas regras não podem ser aplicadas utiliza-se uma formulação para a obtenção de simetrias de Lie, admitidas por uma equação diferencial, via mapeamento. Define-se um operador diferencial com a propriedade de transformar soluções analíticas de uma dada equação diferencial em novas soluções analíticas da mesma equação. Nas aplicações referentes à dispersão de poluentes na água, resolve-se a equação advectivo-difusiva bidimensional com coeficientes variáveis, realizando uma mudança de variáveis de modo a reescrevê-la em termos do potencial velocidade e da função corrente correspondentes ao respectivo escoamento potencial, estendendo a solução para domínios de contornos arbitrários Na aplicação referente ao problema de dispersão de poluentes na atmosfera, realiza-se uma mudança de variáveis de modo a obter uma equação diferencial parcial com coeficientes constantes na qual se possam aplicar as regras de manipulação de exponenciais de operadores diferenciais. Os resultados numéricos obtidos são comparados com dados disponíveis na literatura. Diversas vantagens da aplicação das formulações apresentadas podem ser citadas, a saber, o aumento da velocidade de processamento, permitindo a obtenção de solução em tempo real; a redução da quantidade de memória requerida na realização de operações necessárias para a obtenção da solução analítica; a possibilidade de dispensar a discretização do domínio em algumas situações.