bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The importance of environmental aspects of packaging
Authors: Spence Jacqueline L. , Ogg David A.
Published: August 2019

Increasing attention is being paid to packaging, a component of product in the marketing mix. It is being recognized that packaging is important not only from a functional viewpoint, but also in terms of marketing to the customer. One of the constraints on packaging is environmental issues. These are becoming increasingly important internationally, from both a legislative and consumer perspective. In this study the perceptions of the members of the packaging value chain as regards the functional, marketing and environmental issues surrounding packaging are examined. It is found that functional aspects appear to be the most important, followed by marketing aspects. Environmental concerns are rated as unimportant. This is despite evidence that these issues should be regarded with increasing importance based on international trends. However, the relative importance of environmental packaging issues is greatest amongst raw-material suppliers, followed by packaging and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) suppliers. Retailers have the least interest.
Share ownership in a retail firm: An exploratory study of employee perceptions
Authors: Boshoff Christo , Mazibuko Noxolo E.
Published: August 2019

The job performance of employees of South African firms is often viewed as poor, particularly in respect of productivity. Managers are at times perplexed that some employees work hard and are efficient while others underperform. In this study we explore the concept of job performance and potential means to improve the job performance of employees in a retail environment. Share ownership by employees and encouraging them to identify with the organization (organizational commitment) as means of enhancing job performance are the foci of the study. Contrary to expectations it was found that share ownership does not influence job performance directly. In other words, employees who own shares are not better performers than those who do not own shares. Share ownership does, however, reduce the propensity to resign. Share owners are thus more likely to remain with the firm than those who do not own shares. It was also found that share ownership did not influence organizational commitment. Encouraging employees to join the firm's employee share ownership scheme will thus not enhance identification with the firm. The empirical results have shown however, that there is a positive relationship between organizational commitment and job performance. At least for this sample of retail employees, job performance can be enhanced by encouraging them to accept and identify with the firm's goals, values and objectives (organizational commitment). At the same time their propensity to resign and leave the firm will be reduced. To enhance organizational commitment (and thus job performance), two approaches could be used. By providing employees with interesting, challenging jobs and regular feedback on job performance, they will become more committed to the organization. Secondly, by encouraging feelings of group cohesion among employees, positive perceptions and attitudes toward the organization as a whole will grow. Positive feelings about both the job itself and co-workers can thus enhance job performance in a retail environment and reduce the harmful impact of labour turnover.
The share market reaction to the arrival of unanticipated information: A test of the Uncertain Information Hypothesis to determine the efficiency of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Authors: Bhana Narendra
Published: August 2019

The objective of this study is to determine whether companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) overreacted to the arrival of unanticipated information during the period 1975-1992. In this article, a modified version of the Efficient Market Hypothesis called the Uncertain Information Hypothesis (UIH) is tested in order to explain the response of rational, risk-averse investors to news of a dramatic financial nature. The findings demonstrate that regardless of whether the news was good or bad, the average pattern of price adjustments after the initial reaction was significantly positive. Because the volatility of the share prices was also shown to rise significantly after both unanticipated good and bad news, the incremental returns to shareholders can be interpreted as compensating investors for bearing the added risk associated with uncertainty. The results provide strong support for the UIH. The findings do not support the alternative hypothesis that investors consistently overreact to unexpectedly large price changes. It would appear that the JSE reacts to uncertain information in an efficient, if not instantaneous manner.
Capital structure decisions: The views of investment advisors
Authors: Titi Fani , Sandler Merle , Ward Mike
Published: August 2019

In this research a survey was used to gain insight into the factors that affect the choice of capital structure, from the perspective of investment advisors. Content analysis of responses to open-ended questions in the questionnaire and interviews showed a clear support for the optimal capital structure theory and indicated theory-based approaches to the choice between different financing instruments. Factor analysis showed that taxation implications, market concerns and financing costs affect capital structure decisions. The results indicate that asymmetric information and signalling are important concerns but provide little evidence regarding the importance of agency considerations.
The out-of-sample forecasting performance of variable parameter exchange rate models in South Africa
Authors: Wesso Gilbert
Published: August 2019

In this article the out-of-sample forecasting performance of exchange rate determination is examined without imposing the restriction that coefficients are fixed over time. Both fixed and variable coefficient versions of conventional structural models are considered, with and without a lagged dependent variable. A Variable Parameter Regression (VPR) technique based on recursive application of the Kalman filter is used to improve the predictive performance of a class oi monetary exchange rate models.
Measuring associations between working capital and return on investment
Authors: Beaumont Smith M. , Begemann E.
Published: August 2019

The two conflicting goals of working capital management are profitability and liquidity. This article looks at return on investment as a measure of profitability and some traditional and more recently developed working capital concepts as liquidity measures. Associations were measured between profitability and the liquidity concepts by using chi-square analysis and stepwise forward regression. The statistical test results showed that a traditional working capital leverage ratio, current liabilities divided by funds flow, displayed the greatest associations with return on investment. Well-known liquidity concepts such as the current and quick ratios registered insignificant associations whilst only one of the newer working capital concepts, the comprehensive liquidity index, indicated significant associations with return on investment.
Use of psychographics in consumer market segmentation: The South African experience
Authors: Spence Jacqui , Abratt Russell , Malabie Bobby A.
Published: August 2019

This study examines the understanding and use of psychographics as a segmentation technique by advertising practitioners and marketers in South Africa. A comprehensive literature review of psychographics is undertaken. In addition, a review of segmentation techniques used in South Africa is given. A sample of 53 advertising agencies and 54 marketing professionals were studied. The results show that there is a low level of understanding of psychographics as a segmentation technique by both groups. The findings also show that there is no significant difference between marketing professionals and advertising practitioners in their understanding and utilization of psychographics as a segmentation technique. Although psychographics is used somewhat incorrectly by some marketers and advertising agencies, it is however normally used with other segmentation techniques, thus minimizing any mistakes that could result in incorrect targeting of markets.
South African and Singaporean exporters: Their attitudes, information sources and export problems
Authors: Burgess Steven M. , Oldenboom Nicola
Published: August 2019

South Africa's emergence from years of political and regulatory trade barriers has focussed attention on South African exporters. In a replication of Elliot Krasnostein's study of 54 Singaporean exporters, the perceptions, attitudes and characteristics of a representative sample of 321 experienced South African exporters and their decision makers were investigated. Consistent with other international studies, the results suggest that managerial, organizational and environmental forces and perceptions motivate export behaviour. However, South African firms clearly are responding to unique situational factors and national export resources as well. The findings indicate that managerial leadership, supportive attitudes and extensive exporting experience are widely available in South Africa. Secondary information sources could be improved and freight costs reduced to improve South African export effectiveness.
Tracking the South African marketing index
Authors: Du Plessis Alwyn P. , Boshoff Christo
Published: August 2019

This study analyses marketing and marketing activities from a consumer's point-of-view. It measures consumer attitudes towards the so-called 4 Ps (product, price, promotion and retailing) and converts these scores to an overall 'attitude towards marketing' index. It also compares the results of similar studies conducted in previous years. A survey of randomly selected South African consumers reveals that the South African Marketing Index is +22.28 (in the range -200 to +200) suggesting reasonably favourable perceptions of marketing and marketing practices. This is the first time since the commencement of this longitudinal study that the overall marketing index has been positive. The most favourable individual index is the retailing index (+22.91), followed by the price index (+13.11). Both the product and the advertising indices are, however, negative (-5.49 and -1.33 respectively).
Measuring retail service quality: A replication study
Authors: Boshoff Christo , Terblanché Nic S.
Published: August 2019

In the recent past, few services marketing topics have attracted as much attention as the measuring and management of service quality. In this study an instrument developed in the United States of America, which measures the service quality in a South African retail environment, is empirically evaluated. The retail service quality instrument has been shown to be a valid and reliable instrument and the developers' claim of construct reliability can be supported.
Strategic manufacturing priorities for South African manufacturers: The need to shift emphasis and improve on current performance levels
Authors: Kruger L. P.
Published: August 2019

The findings of an empirical research project show that the majority of so-called large South African manufacturers acknowledge that manufacturing-based strategies enhance the competitive capabilities and advantages of their firms and that this contributes to long-term, superior business performance and success. They also recognize that superior manufacturing capabilities will be prerequisites for the improvement on both their national and international competitive positions in the future. To better their positions in these markets, the manufacturers need to shift their emphasis (in order of priority) to: (1) high quality, low cost and high dependability, all of priority number (1); (2) high speed; and (3) high flexibility. they also need to improve on their current performance levels in all of these strategic manufacturing priorities by an average of between 20% and 30%.
Culture-specific management and the African management movement: A critical review of the literature
Authors: Thomas Adèle , Schonken Johann S.
Published: August 2019

In recent years a school of thought has emerged in South Africa, which proposes that, along with the new political dispensation, African values and African culture should be incorporated into South African business practice. This so-called African management movement bases its assumptions and recommendations on various contemporary South African writers and also draws heavily on a theoretical model advocated by Lessem. This article argues that thinking in this field has not been empirically derived and contrasts Lessem's model to the more empirically-formulated one of Hofstede.
A new look at world class physical asset management strategies
Authors: Hipkin I. B.
Published: August 2019

The need for enhancing manufacturing systems is increasing, with growing attention on the management of physical assets. This has arisen because of a number of new pressures, such as stringent cost control, automation requiring higher availability and reliability from equipment, and greater attention being paid to safety and environmental issues. This study (following the general approach adopted by Meredith) considers some new maintenance thinking, which has been summarised as a series of postulates. These postulates are analysed as a theory building exercise by referring to a number of case organisations to assess their wider applicability and relevance in physical asset management. The study concludes that there is general acceptance of the new maintenance thinking.
Decision-making structures for successful management in Zimbabwe
Authors: Khumalo Reinford
Published: August 2019

This article discusses one of the management attributes discovered about Zimbabwe's most successful companies - decision-making structures. Seven most successful companies from among those quoted on the Zimbawean Stock Exchange (ZSE) were selected in terms of financial and macroeconomic criteria in their industrial categories. The research for attributes was mainly qualitative - consisting of interviews of chief executives, departmental managers, skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled employees of the companies. The interviewees were also asked to complete a quantitative instrument, a semantic differential. Data from the interviews were content analysed. The findings showed that these companies have both centralised and decentralised decision-making structures that are in strata. The strata consist of those decisions that concern policy matters and are made at top management level and those at middle management level that take into account the input of the employees. This attribute has had some influence in the success of these companies and could thus contribute to the success of other less successful companies with a socio-economic situation similar to that of Zimbabwe's, the host country in which the study was conducted.
A shotgun marriage: Employment equity and human resource planning
Authors: Boonzaier Michèle , Boonzaier Billy
Published: August 2019

The current state of human resource planning in South Africa is that many companies conduct virtually no such planning or provide it only for senior managerial positions. Employment equity legislation will, however, force the hand of managers and human resource practitioners in the public and private sectors alike to engage in regular human resource planning. The Employment Equity Act (1998) seeks to address the existing discrepancies in the distribution of jobs, occupations and income amongst South Africans by not only eliminating unfair discrimination in employment, but also making provision for affirmative action measures to promote a diverse and representative workforce. The employment equity audit requires the preparation of a workforce profile and consequent employment equity plan to address discrepancies. The main purpose of human resource planning is to identify future human resource requirements (in terms of numbers, skills, and particular characteristics, inter alia gender, race and disability) and to develop action plans to eliminate any discrepancies between the demand and supply of labour that are forecast. The article presents a comprehensive model of human resource planning, incorporating the practical implications of the Employment Equity Act, as a workable guideline to assist managers in compiling thorough forecasts and action plans in fulfilment of organizational and employment equity requirements.
Developing strategy: Do we really need a new paradigm?
Authors: Oosthuizen H.
Published: August 2019

This article addresses the question of the present-day applicability of the traditional positioning approach to strategy development as being the most appropriate basis for a winning approach. The competence-based alternative is considered to be complementary to the positioning approach. Information was collected by conducting a literature search. The validity of the positioning approach is being disputed because it is claimed that the challenges and opportunities presented by today's deconstructing environmental conditions make any logical and deterministic type of strategy development impossible. However, the findings of this research suggest that the conventional positioning approach to strategy development still constitutes a basic and viable framework under present-day realities. Nevertheless, real-time techniques must be incorporated in order to create a more dynamic and entrepreneurial approach. Thus, it is not believed that a clear need exists to reject the conventional approach and that a cautious view of a possibly new paradigm should be adopted. Current literature suggests a very fragmented field and no clear alternative paradigm seems to emerge. Lessons gleamed from this study suggest that practitioners should guard against 'flitting from one new thing to the next', which are often not that original, and that academics, beyond their search for a new paradigm, should also investigate the empirical relevance of the adapted framework as postulated in this article.
Does higher remuneration equal higher job performance?: An empirical assessment of the need-progression proposition in selected need theories
Authors: Arnolds Cecil A. , Boshoff Christo
Published: August 2019

Improving employee job performance is central to almost all management activity. To this end, the need theories of motivation have been the foundation of many interventions to increase employee job performance. Important elements of these theories, especially the progressive satisfaction of needs from lower-order to higher-order needs and the impact thereof on behavioural outcomes on different organisational levels, have been questioned. This uncertainty has implications for what strategies managers would explore to eliminate need deficiencies on the different organisational levels to motivate employees. In assessing the influence of need satisfactions on various behavioural outcomes in previous studies, regression analysis was used to statistically analyse the data. This technique identifies significant correlations, but not causal relationships among variables. It has been suggested that the identification of a causal link between the satisfaction of various needs and behavioural outcomes could shed more light on the motivation of behaviour. In the present study a more advanced technique - structural equation analysis - that identifies what variable causes a certain outcome, is used to measure the influence of various need satisfactions on performance intentions. The empirical results support the need-progression proposition, because the influence of need satisfaction on performance intentions is not the same for employees at different organisational levels.
The influence of selected factors on the perceptions of managers of medium business firms regarding legal firms
Authors: Tait M. , Tait M. , Van Eeden S. M.
Published: August 2019

The South African service provider is faced with an increasingly turbulent and complex competitive environment. Factors which impact specifically on the environment of service firms include the growing importance of consumerism and a drastic increase in competition. A factor that impacts directly on the growing competition amongst providers of legal services is the increase in law graduates and commensurate increase in qualified attorneys and advocates entering the market. This article represents an exploratory study establishing the relative value attached by medium business in South Africa to certain factors pertaining to firms providing legal services.
Local representation of change and conservation of a Brazilian Caatinga refuge
Authors: Pedrosa Kamila Marques , Almeida Humberto Araújo , Ramos Maiara Bezerra , Duarte Barboza Raynner Rilke , Lopes Sérgio Faria
Published: August 2019

A caatinga brasileira é uma das florestas tropicais secas mais ameaçadas do mundo, principalmente devido á fragmentação de habitats em função das pressões antrópicas. No entanto, as regiões montanhosas da Caatinga são consideradas refúgios de biodiversidade, com elevada riqueza de espécies vegetais, as quais são utilizadas para diversas finalidades por populações humanas locais. O presente estudo buscou identificar o conhecimento ecológico local das comunidades rurais no entorno de uma Serra na região semi-árida do Brasil, considerada um refúgio para a biodiversidade. O estudo foi realizado por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, com informantes-chave sendo selecionados pela técnica de amostragem de bola de neve. Segundo os informantes, a serra representa o resgate na memória de paisagens anteriores, ligadas à biodiversidade que ela contém e explicando a importância como fonte de recursos e influência nos regimes locais de chuvas. Para as populações locais, a conservação da biodiversidade da Caatinga representa mais do que apenas a preservação da fauna e flora, compreendendo também a permanência das funções dos ecossistemas para a manutenção de suas atividades.
Can metformin stabilize PCSK9 level in stable coronary artery disease patients treated with statins?
Authors: Shek Aleksandr B. , Alieva Rano B. , Kurbanov Ravshanbek D. , Hoshimov Shavkat U. , Nizamov Ulugbek I. , Ziyaeva Adolat V.
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has emerged as an important marker of cardiovascular risk and a new target for therapeutic interventions. We aimed to study the influence of metformin on the level of circulating PCSK9 in patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) or metabolic syndrome (MetS), receiving moderate doses of statins used in routine clinical practice.

Material and methods

The study included 80 patients with T2DM or MetS receiving rosuvastatin for at least three months prior the study. MetS was diagnosed based on the Global Consensus Definition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Serum level of PCSK9 was measured with an ELISA kit.

Results

Patients with T2DM or MetS, who took part in the research, were divided into 2 groups – those who received metformin prior the main study (21 patients – 1st group) and patients who did not (59 patients – 2nd group). Addition of metformin to the 3-month statin therapy of the 2nd group patients, divided into subgroup A (n = 27) with the addition of metformin and subgroup B (n = 29) without one, did not significantly affect the level of lipids. However, the level of circulating PCSK9 in subgroup A patients decreased, compared to subgroup B (p < 0.01). At the same time, ongoing metformin and rosuvastatin therapy in the 1st group patients was not accompanied by a further decrease of the PCSK9 level.

Conclusions

The addition of metformin to ongoing rosuvastatin therapy did not significantly affect serum lipid levels, but stabilized the level of circulating PCSK9, compared with the group without metformin treatment.
An investigation of the optimal inter-pregnancy interval following pregnancy with a fetus with congenital heart disease
Authors: Strzelecka Iwona , Słodki Maciej , Chrzanowski Jędrzej , Rizzo Giuseppe , Respondek-Liberska Maria , Collaboration group The International Prenatal Cardiology
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are one of the most commonly diagnosed congenital malformations in fetuses and newborns. The aim of the study was to determine whether inter-pregnancy interval (IPI), maternal age or number of pregnancies had any influence on the recurrence of congenital heart disease in subsequent pregnancies.

Material and methods

We found in our database 144 women with subsequent pregnancies after CHD in a previous pregnancy. Each woman was selected according to the eligibility and exclusion criteria. Medical history as well as obstetrics history were recorded. Comparisons of groups with and without a recurrence of CHD were performed. We calculated hazard ratios for recurrence of CHD. We also performed analysis of the impact of confounding variables: maternal age and parity. Missing data were excluded from the analysis. Smoking habits as well as socio-demographic characteristics were not evaluated in this study.

Results

A higher risk of recurrence of CHD correlated with a shorter IPI, with a median of 11 months compared with 24 months for the group of healthy fetuses in subsequent pregnancy. The results were statistically significant. Parity was proven to be an important confounder of the study. Multivariable analysis including parity and maternal age did not affect the confidence intervals of hazard ratios for IPI.

Conclusions

The optimal IPI to reduce the risk of recurrence of CHD is 24 months. Shorter intervals are related to a higher risk of recurrence of CHD in the next pregnancy and are independent on the age of the woman and parity.
Paraphenylenediamine and related chemicals as allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis
Authors: Bacharewicz-Szczerbicka Joanna , Reduta Teresa , Pawłoś Anna , Flisiak Iwona
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Paraphenylenediamine (PPDA) is a chemical with strong sensitizing properties used for dyeing of hair and textiles. Paraphenylenediamine can cross-react, resulting in allergy to other related compounds. The prevalence of PPDA sensitization varies widely. The objectives were to assess the frequency of positive patch test reactions to PPDA and related chemicals among patients with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and to analyze them regarding their clinical pattern, occupation and cross-reactions.

Material and methods

The sociodemographic and clinical data of patients with positive patch tests to PPDA, N-isopropyl-N-phenyl-4-phenylenediamine (IPPD), ethylenediamine (EDA), triethylenetetramine (TETA) and toluene-2,5-diamine (TDA) were analyzed. The frequency, strength and cross-reactions with other chemicals were assessed.

Results

Of 4087 ACD patients patch-tested between 2006 and 2015, positive reactions to PPDA and other amines were found in 166 (4.1%). The occupational character of PPDA allergy was established in 34.3% of patients. Personal history of atopy was reported by 36.7% of pa-tients. In 98% of those examined, allergy presented as ACD, most frequently affecting hands. Hypersensitivity to PPDA was diagnosed in 77.1%, to IPPD in 20.5%, to TDA in 6%, to TETA in 1.2%, and to EDA in 0.6% of cases. The patients with an extremely strong PPDA reaction significantly more frequently showed reactions to other para group chemicals, especially to benzocaine.

Conclusions

Paraphenylenediamine was a major cause of contact allergy of diverse clinical picture more often affecting women, especially with atopy. Every fifth PPDA-allergic person exhibited hypersensitivity to other related compounds. Strong reactions to PPDA increased the risk of cross-reactions.
The association of endothelin-1 gene polymorphism and its plasma levels with hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis
Authors: Ebrahimi Nazanin , Asadikaram Gholamreza , Mohammadi Abbas , Jahani Yunes , Moridi Mina , Masoumi Mohammad
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most potent among all vasoconstrictors, and its association with cardiovascular diseases has been reported before. Our aim was to investigate the association of ET-1 plasma level and its gene polymorphisms (rs5370 and rs10478694) with hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis (CA).

Material and methods

This study was carried out on 128 women and 132 men, who were divided into 4 groups: hypertensive without atherosclerosis (H+A–); hypertensive with atherosclerosis (H+A+); non-hypertensive with atherosclerosis (H–A+); and non-hypertensive without atherosclerosis (control group). Endothelin-1 plasma levels were measured by ELISA, and gene polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. Coronary artery diseases (CAD) were then defined based on angiography data.

Results

The ET-1 plasma level was significantly higher in the H+A+ group in comparison with the other groups, especially H+A–. Comparing people with CA and those without it, the highest frequency level of the T allele of rs5370 was found in people with CA. Significantly higher frequencies of the 3A allele were detected in hypertensive patients in comparison with non-hypertensive individuals, when analyzing rs10478694.

Conclusions

Endothelin-1 plasma level shows a direct association with the risk of CA development. The T allele of rs5370 can be regarded as a risk factor for CA development. The 3A allele of rs10478694 can be associated with the risk of hypertension; therefore, it can be concluded that ET-1 and its gene polymorphisms play an important role in CA development and hypertension observed in the south-eastern populations of Iran.
Protective effect of Vitamin D on imidacloprid-induced testicular injury in rats
Authors: Keles Hikmet , Yalcin Alper , Aydin Hasan
Published: August 2019

Introduction

The degenerative effects of imidacloprid via oxidative stress are known. Irisin is a recently discovered peptide with energy regulator and antioxidant effects. In addition, the antioxidant potential of Vitamin D has been reported in previous studies. The current study was performed to investigate the effect of Vitamin D on testis morphology and irisin immunoreactivity in imidacloprid-treated rats.

Material and methods

Thirty-two Wistar albino male rats were divided into groups: control (n = 6), corn oil (n = 6), Vitamin D (n = 6), imidacloprid (n = 7) and imidacloprid + Vitamin D (n = 7). Testis tissues were used to evaluate the histopathological, biochemical and immunohistochemical changes. Oxidative state in testis tissue was determined with total antioxidant and oxidant status markers, total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) respectively.

Results

In microscopic examination, degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubule epithelium, interstitial edema and increased irisin immunoreactivity were observed in animals given imidacloprid. Also increased TOS and decreased TAS levels were measured in these animals. It was observed that Vitamin D improved the testicular damage histopathologically when compared to the imidacloprid group. However, increase in TAS levels and decrease in both TOS levels and irisin immunoreactivity were found insignificant in animals given Vitamin D.

Conclusions

In the present study it was observed that Vitamin D ameliorated testis injury caused by imidacloprid. Furthermore, imidacloprid was found to increase the immunoreactivity of irisin. In the light of our findings, we conclude that the use of Vitamin D could be beneficial against testicular damage caused by imidacloprid.
Appraisal of lung cancer survival in patients with end-stage renal disease
Authors: Lu Ming-Shian , Chen Miao-Fen , Yang Yao-Hsu , Lee Chuan-Pin , Lin Chien-Chao , Tseng Yuan-Hsi , Tsai Ying-Huang
Published: August 2019

Introduction

The survival outcome of lung cancer patients with end-stage renal disease has been poorly studied in the literature. In this study, we evaluated the effect of end-stage renal disease on lung cancer survival.

Material and methods

A retrospective, multicenter, matched-cohort study of lung cancer patients with end-stage renal disease under renal replacement therapy (WITH-ESRD) and without end-stage renal disease (WITHOUT-ESRD) was performed. One WITH-ESRD patient was matched to four WITHOUT-ESRD patients.

Results

Baseline clinical characteristics did not differ statistically significantly after matching between the WITH-ESRD and WITHOUT-ESRD groups. WITH-ESRD included 133 patients and WITHOUT-ESRD included 532 patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated no significant difference in median overall survival between WITH-ESRD patients and WITHOUT-ESRD patients (7.36 months versus 12.25 months, respectively, p = 0.133). Lung cancer WITH-ESRD patients receiving medical treatment had a median overall survival of 5.98 months (95% CI: 4.34–11.76) compared to 14.13 months (95% CI: 11.30–16.43) for WITHOUT-ESRD patients, p = 0.019. Although patients receiving surgical treatment compared to those receiving medical treatment had an improvement of survival by 46% (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.19–1.53, p = 0.243), the difference did not reach statistical significance. Cox regression analysis revealed that male gender and stage IIIA-IV were independent factors associated with poor outcome for WITH-ESRD patients.

Conclusions

In our limited experience, the survival for lung cancer with ESRD is not inferior to lung cancer patients without ESRD. The reasons for poor survival for the WITH-ESRD medical treatment group and late diagnosis despite frequent medical visits merit further investigation.
Social support for veterans taking part in military service outside their country’s borders
Authors: Mendrek Paulina , Osiak Beata , Goniewicz Krzysztof
Published: August 2019

Soldiers who return to their country of residence after military service are subject to numerous, mostly negative, effects linked to exposure to stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most common anxiety disor-ders, one which develops as a result of being exposed to traumatic experiences, both psychological and physi-cal. Post-traumatic stress disorder is also the main result of participation in active armed combat impacting war veterans, concerning mostly service undertaken outside their home country. Consequently, proper psychologi-cal preparation for armed combat, psychological support during service, as well as the support granted after soldiers return home, are of critical importance. This work characterises social support which is given to army personnel involved in armed combat. Methods of social involvement, which are provided to the soldiers taking part in military service outside their country, have also been described. The paper itself was written for two rea-sons: firstly, in order to exchange knowledge mainly in the areas of psychology and sociology; and secondly, to focus attention on those soldiers struggling with issues resulting from participation in military service outside their home country.
Acute myeloid leukemia in a young male patient with Behçet’s disease presenting with febrile neutropenia
Authors: Sharma Ashish , Ali Mohammad , Chauhan Shruti , Singh Smita , Arya Vivek
Published: August 2019

Behçet’s disease is a multi-systemic vasculitis which is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulceration with positive pathergy test. These features may also be seen in various hematological malignancies. In patients with leukemia who present with Behçet’s disease-like features, it is often difficult to ascertain whether the clinical manifestations are due to leukemia, or there is co-existing Behçet’s disease too. The authors report an Indian farmer who presented with clinical features suggestive of Behçet’s disease with profound neutropenia. On bone marrow examination he was found to have acute monocytic leukemia (AML-M5). Chemotherapy for leukemia did not relieve his oral and genital ulcers, for which glucocorticoids and colchicine had to be given. So the patient had co-existence of Behçet’s disease along with AML-M5, which has never been reported in the literature before.
Symptomatic multifocal avascular necrosis in an adolescent
with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kisla Ekinci Rabia Miray , Balcı Sibel , Celik Gonca , Dogruel Dilek , Altintas Derya Ufuk , Yilmaz Mustafa
Published: August 2019

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by malar rash, oral ulcers, arthralgia, photosensitivity and nephritis. Herein, we report a rare comorbidity, multiple avascular necrosis (AVN), in an adolescent SLE patient and also highlight the importance of risk factors for this comorbidity with a brief literature review.

A 13-year-old female patient was admitted with severe headache, visual plus auditory hallucinations, polyarthritis and a history of recurrent oral ulcers. Acneiform malar rash, arthritis, cytopenia, low complement levels and autoantibody positivity yielded SLE diagnosis. We diagnosed her as having multifocal AVN after the 4th dose of cyclophosphamide, with bilateral knee pain and swelling and typical geographical lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.

Avascular necrosis is a rare comorbidity of SLE and neuropsychiatric involvement, cyclophosphamide administration and severe disease may be the possible risk factors in addition to corticosteroid use. Further multicenter studies investigating the possible risk factors of AVN with a large number of patients are needed.
Unsupervised classification of vertical profiles of dual polarization radar variables
Authors: Tiira Jussi , Moisseev Dmitri N.
Published: August 2019

Abstract. Vertical profiles of polarimetric radar variables can be used to identify fingerprints of snow growth processes. In order to systematically study such manifestations of precipitation processes, we have developed an unsupervised classification method. The method is based on k-means clustering of vertical profiles of polarimetric radar variables, namely reflectivity, differential reflectivity and specific differential phase. For rain events, the classification is applied to radar profiles truncated at the melting layer top. For the snowfall cases, the surface air temperature is used as an additional input parameter. The proposed unsupervised classification was applied to 3.5 years of data collected by the Finnish Meteorological Institute Ikaalinen radar. The vertical profiles of radar variables were computed above the University of Helsinki Hyytiälä station, located 64 km east of the radar. Using these data, we show that the profiles of radar variables can be grouped into 10 and 16 classes for rainfall and snowfall events respectively. These classes seem to capture most important snow growth and ice cloud processes. Using this classification, main features of the precipitation formation processes, as observed in Finland, are presented.
Intensification of the hydrological cycle expected in West Africa over the 21st century
Authors: Todzo Stella , Bichet Adeline , Diedhiou Arona
Published: August 2019

Abstract. This study uses the high resolution outputs of the recent CORDEX-AFRICA climate projections to investigate the future changes in different aspects of the hydrological cycle over West Africa. Over the twenty-first century, temperatures in West Africa are expected to increase at a faster rate (+ 0.5 °C per decade) than the global average (+ 0.3 °C per decade), and mean precipitation is expected to increase over the Guinea Coast (+ 0.03 mm/day per decade) but decrease over the Sahel (− 0.005 mm/day per decade). In addition, precipitation is expected to become more intense (+ 0.2 mm/day per decade) and less frequent (− 1.5 days per decade) over the entire West Africa as a results of increasing regional temperature (precipitation intensity increases on average by + 0.35 mm/day per °C and precipitation frequency decreases on average by − 2.2 days per °C). Over the Sahel, the average length of dry spells is also expected to increase with temperature (+ 4 % days per °C), which increases the likelihood for droughts with warming in this sub-region. Hence, the hydrological cycle is expected to increase throughout the twenty-first century over the entire West Africa, on average by + 11 % per °C over the Sahel as a result of increasing precipitation intensity and lengthening of dry spells, and on average by + 3 % per °C over the Guinea Coast as a result of increasing precipitation intensity only.
Do Macroeconomic Variables Affect Stock Market Performance? A Case Study of DSEX and DS30 Index of Dhaka Stock Exchange
Authors: Hasan Emran , Sharif Shahanawaz
Published: August 2019

Stock market performance– being the linchpin of an economy, requires variations in policies concerning macroeconomic variables. Keeping this in notion, this research assays the empirical association between stock market performance and a few selected macroeconomic variables namely interest rate, exchange rate, inflation rate, and 91-days Treasury bill rate using monthly data ranging from January 2013 to October 2018. Employing Johansen Cointegration analysis, the results of the study suggest that exchange rate and treasury bill rate are positive whereas interest rate and inflation rate are negatively associated with better stock market performance. Granger causality test implies bidirectional causality – between the interest rate and DS30 as well as DSEX while unidirectional causality is evident for both the indices which are running from interest rate, inflation and exchange rate to stock market performance. Formulation and implementation of prudent policies regarding the studied macroeconomic variables can lead to a healthy stock market outcome.
The Innovation of Standard Attitude Assessment Instrument for The Indonesian 2013 Curriculum
Authors: Amrullah Amrullah , Arifuddin Arifuddin , Nawawi Nawawi
Published: August 2019

There is no standard manual of attitude assessment. The present study aimed at exploring the attitude aspects, teachers’ understanding, reasons for choosing instruments, obstacles in the implementation, and efforts to overcome difficulties in the attitude assessment. This is formative research and development. It shows that the aspects of attitude appropriate with Indonesian 2013 Curriculum involve honesty, responsibility, tolerance, discipline, cooperation, peace, and politeness; teachers’ perception of attitude assessment is Fairly Positive; teachers’ understanding of the attitude assessment is Fairly Good; the dominant instruments are observation and interview; the reasons for instruments choice are based on the appropriateness, practicality, and effectiveness; obstacles in the implementation of attitude assessment relate to the time span, broad coverage of attitude aspects, continuous assessment, lack of conceptual understanding, variability of format, difficulties in assessing certain attitude aspects; teachers efforts to overcome problems in the implementation of attitude assessment involve assigning group tasks, discussion with peer teachers, providing special guidance, intensifying interactions with the students and their parents, giving rewards and enhancing students motivation.
Comparison of Farmers’ Markets and District Markets in Terms of Marketing Efficiency: The Case of Seferihisar District in Izmir Province
Authors: Çuhadar Muhammed , Adanacıoğlu Hakan , Oruç Naciye , Şahin Hümeyra
Published: August 2019

Marketing is a process that begins before the production of goods and continues even after the sale has been made. That is why it is essential to market effectively and accurately. Besides, many problems occur sourced from production and marketing. The most important one of these problems is that the marketing system is controlled by intermediaries. Excessive intermediaries lead to product losses and costs. While farmers sell the goods at low prices, the excess marketing channels cause product prices to increase until it reaches consumers. In this context, as determining the marketing efficiency of farmers, it is aimed to offer solutions to these problems. The research area of this study is the farmers' market in Seferihisar district of Izmir province in Turkey. It was interviewed face-to-face with 75 agricultural farmers in the research area. According to the obtained study results, in the farmers' market, the product with the highest marketing efficiency index (MEI) was fresh onion (40.6). In district markets, the product with the highest MEI was found as leek with 5.80. The study also showed that as farm size increased, farmers had a higher MEI.
Evaluación del riesgo y rendimiento de un portafolio compuesto por dos activos: Una aplicación para las acciones de McDonald´s Corporation y Nike, Inc.
Authors: Brenes González Humberto Antonio
Published: August 2019

La creación de portafolios de inversión a través del proceso de diversificación, hace efectiva la optimización del riesgo y rendimiento. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en la conformación de portafolios compuestos por las acciones de la compañía McDonald´s y Nike, Inc., con el propósito de obtener el mayor beneficio al menor riesgo posible. Para determinar el riesgo y rendimiento de los activos, se utilizaron las técnicas estadísticas como la media o promedio, rango, varianza, desviación estándar y el coeficiente de variación de los activos individuales. Los resultados obtenidos señalaron que el rendimiento de los portafolios de mínima varianza y máximo desempeño fueron similares, siendo de 1.54% y 1.55% respectivamente. De igual manera en lo que se refiere al riesgo siendo de 3.41% y 3.42% para el portafolio de mínima varianza y máximo desempeño, respectivamente, medidos a través de la desviación estándar. En cuanto al coeficiente de variación, el resultado obtenido por el portafolio de mínima varianza fue de 2.22 mientras que el de máximo desempeño obtuvo un valor de 2.21. Dadas las similitudes de ambos portafolios, la decisión de inversión estará en dependencia del nivel de riesgo que esté dispuesto a asumir el inversionista y optar por el portafolio de mínima varianza o el de máximo desempeño.
Competitividad comercial del cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), en el mercado de Nicaragua, Guatemala, Hondura, Panamá, Costa Rica y El Salvador en el periodo del 2011-2015
Authors: López Acevedo Jefry Joel
Published: August 2019

El presente estudio tiene por objetivo el análisis de la competitividad comercial del cacao, en el periodo 2011-2015del mercado centroamericano, enfocado a la participación de Nicaragua en comparación a cada país de la región centroamericana, dirigido al comercio del cacao mediante las exportaciones e importaciones, oportunidades y procesos de exportación. Para la recolección de datos estadísticos se consultó las bases de datos FAO, CETREX y SIECA, se elaboró tablas dinámicas, tablas de frecuencias y gráficos para su posterior análisis e interpretación. El estudio demostróque en Centroamérica presenta una tendencia creciente en cuanto a las exportaciones del año 2011 al 2015, en este contexto Nicaragua es el país que más exporta cacao en valores monetario con promedios porcentuales superiores al 55% en relación a los demás países de la región, en cuanto al volumen de exportación Nicaragua se posiciona en el lugar más alto , indicando que exporta con los mejores precios del mercado internacional, ubicándose competitivamente en primer lugar en comparación a los demás países de la región por su alta calidad del grano. El destino de las exportaciones de Centroamérica en su mayoría está destinado a los países de la misma región, siendo importadores: Guatemala, El Salvador y Panamá, en países fuera de la región centroamericana están Costa de Marfil, Ecuador, Bélgica y Alemania.