The Hepato-Protective Potentials of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Cassia Occidentalis against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Adult Wistar Rats

This study investigates the hepato-protective potentials of aqueous leaf extract of Cassia occidentalis onparacetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. Twenty adult rats weighing between 150 – 300g were usedfor this study. They were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D), whereby group A served as thecontrol, while groups B, C and D served as test groups. Hepatotoxicity was induced in the test groups via oraladministration of paracetamol (800mg/kg bw). However, while groups C and D were treated for 21 days with250mg/kg and 500mg/kg/BW of Cassia occidentalis leaf extract respectively, group B was left untreated and servedas the test control. Using standard laboratory procedures, the livers were harvested, histologically processed, andexamined. Microscopy revealed normal histological hepatocytes in the control animals while those of test controlwere severe vascular congestion, periportal infiltrates of chronic inflammatory cells and periportal oedema.However, hepatic sections from groups C and D presented a dose dependent healing actions compared to thefeatures observed for group B (untreated hepatotoxic group). Judging by these findings therefore, one can assert thataqueous leaves extract of Cassia occidentalis may be hepato-protective against hepatotoxicity.Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, Hepatotoxicity, Paracetamol, Liver

Trust and Information Sharing in Supply Chains

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91120/1/poms1284.pd

Network centrality and organizational aspirations: A behavioral interaction in the context of international strategic alliances

Whereas social network analysis has been associated with organizational aspirations, little is known on how firm's structural positioning, and particularly network centrality, affects organizational aspirations to engage in international strategic alliances (ISA). This study examines the impact of network centrality on firm's internationalization behavior within the ISA domain in response to the performance-aspiration gap. We build on social and behavioral perspectives to predict that network centrality and performance-based aspirations will be associated with the number of ISA the firm engages in. Using a sample of 7760 alliance collaborations from the top 81 global pharmaceutical firms for the period of 1991-2012, we find supporting evidence for most of our arguments

Hostile Worlds or Connected Lives? Research on the Interplay Between Intimacy and Economy

Economic sociologists have devoted most of their attention to the activities of individuals and firms in markets. However, recent attempts have pushed for a better understanding of the relationship between intimacy and economy. Such efforts have been inspired, in large part, by Viviana Zelizer (2000, 2005). In her inquiry on the purchase of intimacy, Zelizer proposed seminal differentiations between the "hostile worlds," "nothing but," and "connected lives" perspectives, and advanced a cultural relational analysis of the economy. In this essay, we review research that applies Zelizer's framework, and suggest substantive and analytical avenues for future research on economy/intimacy nexus

Identifying personality traits to enhance trust between organisations: an experimental approach

We investigate an experimental representatives' trust game which resembles trust relationships between representatives of organisations. Personality traits of subjects are elicited by a personality questionnaire (Cattell's 16 PF-R) which is well established in personnel psychology. For the first time, personality traits are linked to actually observed behaviour in a trust game. Detailed personality profiles are derived and it is shown that they differ significantly between behavioural types. Individuals with low scores in anxiety turn out to be particularly qualified for enhancing trust between organisations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

IT- mediated social interactions and knowledge sharing: Role of competence - based trust and background heterogeneity

In the knowledge‐based economy, organizational success is dependent on how effectively organizational employees share information. Many studies have investigated how different types of communication activities and communications media influence knowledge sharing. We contribute to this literature by examining increasingly prevalent yet understudied IT‐mediated social interactions and their effects on knowledge sharing among employees in comparison to face‐to‐face social connections. By integrating the literature on knowledge sharing, social networks, and information systems, we theorize the ability of IT‐mediated social interaction to (1) afford interactions between individuals with heterogeneous backgrounds and (2) facilitate frequent IT‐mediated social interactions that are high in competence‐based trust—both supporting effective sharing of knowledge. Through a social network analysis of the employees in a high‐tech organization, this study finds that IT‐mediated frequent social interactions are the most effective in promoting knowledge sharing.The work described in this article was partially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Projects 71571155), Digital Innovation Laboratory of Department of Information Systems at CityU of HK, and the General Research Fund from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (Project CityU 142810)