bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Executive-Legislative Conflict and Regulation Outcomes: The Case of the U.S. FCC
Authors: Lee Jongkon
Published: October 2021

In the context of regulatory decisions, the political conflict between executive and legislative branches has been significant. The relative ideological stances and power resources of federal agencies and Congress determines regulation outcomes. In particular, when agencies earn sufficient political support from policy stakeholders by relying on procedural justice, they are able to secure the regulatory outcomes they desire without congressional intervention. Because legislators are highly concerned about their reelection prospects, policy stakeholders’ political support is an important power resource for agencies. Legislators are likely to embrace regulatory decisions made by agencies supported by policy stakeholders even if they disregard congressional preferences. This article provides evidence for this proposition by reviewing media concentration regulation policies of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
The Substitution Effect of Teenagers’ Smart Phone Use on Traditional Media Use
Authors: Hwang In Young , Park J. Hun
Published: October 2021

This study explores whether teenagers’ traditional media use time has been affected by smartphone use time. Drawing on the Korean Media Panel Survey from 2011 to 2014, we specify two models—a two-stage least squares (2SLS) and a two-stage least squares with individual fixed effects (2SLS-FE)— and compare the estimates. The estimates from the 2SLS model show that teenagers’ smartphone use time has a substitution effect on book reading time, computer use time, and TV watching time, while the estimates from the 2SLSFE model show that teenagers’ smartphone use time has a substitution effect on teenagers’ book reading time and computer use time but no significant effect on their TV watching time.
Analyzing the Configuration of Knowledge Transfer of the Green Island Projects in S. Korea
Authors: Huh Taewook
Published: October 2021

This paper explores the cases of the Gapa and Gasa green (energy-independent) island projects, based on a micro-grid system, in S. Korea in the context of knowledge transfer. It analyzes the rationale of knowledge transfer (including the international environment such as the INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) commitments), the process and objects of knowledge transfer (the actors involved and the objects (hardware/software/orgware)), as well as the degree and results of knowledge transfer (technological, economic, and environmental impacts) in the green island projects. Looking at the findings of both cases, this study reveals that although some meaningful results have been produced, the projects are so far based on a government-led top-down approach and overemphasize a ‘hardware-intensive’ way. In conclusion, this paper argues that the degree and results of knowledge transfer in the green island projects show an aspect of “incomplete transfer.” Also, it suggests that the green island projects in S. Korea are required to take ‘community-customized’ and ‘residents-friendly’ approaches in the comprehensive context of knowledge transfer.
The Origin and Evolution of the Crisis in the Offshore-Plant Industry in South Korea: Goal Ambiguity and Governmental Politics*
Authors: Park Jungyeon , Koo Min Gyo
Published: October 2021

The once-promising offshore-plant industry in South Korea is on the verge of collapse. There are both internal and external reasons for the sudden rise and fall of this now troubled industry. This study focuses on what went wrong within the South Korean government. It examines how the offshore-plant industrial policy has been implemented since its inception in 2012. Using a modified version of Matland’s ambiguity-conflict matrix, this study explains the way in which the combination of policy goal ambiguity and organizational conflict between and within government agencies led to policy drift and failure. We find that offshore-plant industrial policy has undergone three different but related stages from symbolic to experimental to political implementation over the past five years. Varying degrees of goal ambiguity and organizational conflicts have resulted in these shifts, which in turn have resulted in the government missing opportunities to correct earlier policy errors in the next stages. This study explains the unique problems inherent in the offshore-plant industrial policy. At the same time, it reveals common problems prevalent in South Korea’s government-led industrial policy: a lack of planning, deliberation, coordination, and collaboration within the government, let alone outside of it.
The Impact of Economic Regulation on Retail Sector: Regulation of Business Hours of Large Discount Stores in South Korea
Authors: Jung Kwangho , Lee Sooki
Published: October 2021

Recently the large discount retailers (LDRs) including large discount chains (e.g., Emart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart) and super supermarkets (SSMs) have been at the center of disputes in the retail industries in Korea. The 2012 Distribution Industry Development Act has allowed the head of a city or county to regulate the business hours between large mega-retailers and small and family-run stores in the neighborhood. The regulation of the business hours of the large discount retailers may have heterogeneous effects on their sales depending on various contexts of the market situation. The reduction of the business hours assumes a significant negative effect on the amount of sales of LDRs. However, the degree of reduction may significantly differ from how the LDRs respond to the regulation. The reduction of sales of LDRs is natural if LDRs affected by the regulation do not make any effort to promote sales. On the other hand, if LDRs try to maintain their sales with various marketing strategies and resources, their sales may not decrease and even relatively increase compared to the size of the sales for LDRs that are not affected by the regulation. In addition, although the regulation of the business hours for LDRs can reduce operating hours, their sales may increase due to an increase of market demand in some growing places. For instance, the sales in LDRs located at the market place where new large housings and apartments have been growing may increase. The increasing demand derived from the new population growth can cancel out the decrease of the sales from the regulation of the business hours. Our findings, relying on using DID method before and after the regulation, show three different types of the impact of the regulation change on the sale of LDRs across five regions including decreasing, constant, and increasing patterns.
Revisiting Bureaucratic Dysfunction: The Role of Bureaucracy in Democratization*
Authors: Im Tobin
Published: October 2021

While many studies have focused on the link between economics and democracy in exploring the strategies adopted by developing countries, they have tended to overlook the role of bureaucracy in democratization. This study seeks the missing link between bureaucracy and democratization. What are the conditions necessary for bureaucracy to facilitate the democratization process of a country? This article begins by briefly reviewing the bureaucracy literature from Max Weber and Karl Marx and then argues that despite its shortcomings, bureaucracy in its Weberian form can facilitate the political democratization of a developmental state. This study concludes that although bureaucracy is often regarded as dysfunctional, it can be instrumental in the democratization process in the context of the developmental state.
How the Budget Process Works in the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and Its Implications for the Korean Government
Authors: Lim Jae Young
Published: October 2021

The recent recession and subsequent rescue efforts along with snowballing annual deficits and national debts in the United States have made it urgent for scholars to examine national budget processes across countries. The House Appropriations Committee is a key cog in the annual appropriations process in the United States and understanding how it behaves offers a clue for what to do with central government deficits. I offer a comprehensive review of scholarly contributions on the behavior of House Appropriation Committee since Fenno’s seminal works in 1962 and 1966. Then, I note potential lessons that these studies and U.S experiences can offer for the Korean government.
Corporate Governance and Firm Value: The Impact of Chinese Companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Kim Dong Soon , Yeo Eunjung , Zhang Ying-Ai
Published: October 2021

We investigate whether the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Chinese companies has a certain impact on firm value, and further, depending on the level of corporate governance, how the impact of CSR on firm value changes. First, CSR activities generate a positive effect on firm value suggesting that companies may have an incentive to be willing and to continue to perform their CSR activities. Second, if the ratio of the largest shareholder’s stake is low (high) or the gap between the largest and the second-largest shareholder’s stakes is small (large), CSR activities lead to a significant positive (negative) impact on firm value. Third, we find a positive impact for firms with high management or auditor ownership and for firms whose CEO and chairman of the board are not the same person. Interestingly, due to the fact that significant numbers of outside directors of Chinese companies are appointed by the largest shareholders in China, CSR activity may be used to better align the company with the private interests of the largest shareholders than with the interests of other shareholders, thus lowering firm value. Lastly, if the company’s largest shareholder is the country government, CSR has a positive impact on firm value. In this case, the largest shareholder—the country government—carries out CSR activities for social benefit because such a benefit is naturally aligned with the country’s interests in the company. This paper also sheds light on Chinese companies’ corporate governance structure that enhances socially responsible activities and firm value. Our results suggest that good governance provides incentives to voluntarily and continuously perform socially responsible activities.
Delivering Development to Gender-conscious Communities in S. Korea: What Factors Matter?
Authors: Huh Taewook , Kim Yunyoung
Published: October 2021

This paper aims to suggest an alternative monitoring framework for the WFC (Women-Friendly City) project that can have an impact on the performance of the WFC project. In particular, this study looks at the mutual relationships between the factors of the framework that was suggested through the analysis of the project-related interviewees’ accounts of qualitative research. Path analysis was carried out to analyze the relationship between the six variables – independent (Institutional Resources), parametric (PPCo or Public-Public Cooperation), Education, PPP (Public-Private Partnership) and dependent (Performance and (Gender) Representation). As a result, it was found that Institutional Resources, PPCo, and PPP had a significant influence on Performance and Representation. In particular, there were four statistical associations (paths): Institutional Resources → Performance, PPCo → Performance, PPCo → Representation, and PPP → Representation (p<0.05).
Socioeconomic Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa with Reference to Southeast Asia: Natural Resources or Institutions?
Authors: Katoka Ben , Kwon Huck-ju
Published: October 2021

This paper explores the relationship between institutional quality, dependence on natural resources, and socioeconomic performance in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) in the period from 1995 to 2015. It uses three measures—per capita GDP growth; foreign direct investment inflows (FDI); and infant mortality rate—to capture socioeconomic performance. The World Bank’s Regulatory Quality (RQ) indicator and the share of natural resource exports in percentage of total merchandise exports are used to capture institutional quality and resource dependence, respectively. Using Pooled OLS with robust estimators that control for temporal and spatial dependence, the paper finds that (1) higher levels of natural resource exports in SSA were significantly associated with larger FDI flows, but had no significant correlation with per capita GDP growth and infant mortality rate. Additionally, (2) in both SSA and SEA, a higher RQ score was significantly associated with increased per capita GDP growth and decreased infant mortality. The paper concludes by highlighting a few key areas that need serious consideration for further research on institutions and development in SSA.
Business Associations and the Developmental State in Korea The Case of the Machinery Industry in the 1960 and 1970s*
Authors: Eom Seok-Jin , Choi Jae-Young
Published: October 2021

This research examines a way the Korean developmental state achieved a synergy between state and society for industrial development: business associations. In the machinery industry, a business association was involved in formulating industrial policy for promoting the machinery industry and in implementing policy programs such as the prohibition of the import of machinery made in foreign countries. The association also functioned as a channel through which information relevant to the industry was provided to government. The association had a professional staff and an internal governance structure that helped prevented rent seeking and encouraged synergy between public and private sector.
Vicious Circle of Public Conflicts, Conflict Behaviors, and Public Trust in South Korea*
Authors: Kim Dong-Young
Published: October 2021

Conflict and trust interact in a complex self-reinforcing vicious circle. With frequent, serious public conflicts, as well as stagnantly low level of trust in government, Korea may suffer from a vicious circle. This paper tests empirically whether Korea is in a vicious circle of public conflicts and public trust based on data from a questionnaire survey for 3,000 Korean citizens conducted during January and February 2016. The results show that individual experience of public conflicts significantly reduced the level of trust in government, and rights- and/or power-based conflict behaviors of the individuals who experienced conflict lowered their level of trust in government more. As another link in a vicious circle, low level of public trust is believed to propel citizens to adopt more rights- and power-based approaches to conflict, which, in turn, may reduce the level of public trust in Korea. These results imply that the Korean government can build public trust through more effective conflict management.
Comparison of Fiscal and Distributional Effects of VAT Exemptions in Korea and Japan
Authors: Sung Myung Jae
Published: October 2021

This paper estimates and compares fiscal and distributional effects of Korean and Japanese VAT exemptions. VAT exemptions have two types of fiscal effects on revenue: they lead to reductions in VAT revenue via the output tax and revenue increases via the undeducted input tax through cascading effects. The results of input-output analyses for both countries indicate that the former effect outweighs the latter, reducing VAT revenue but that the exemptions mitigate the distributional regressivity of its incidence. In Korea in particular, the expansion of an aged population means there are more individuals affected by VAT regressivity, as most members of this population belong to low-income deciles, mainly because they are retirees. As is suggested by the life-cycle hypothesis, older populations are likely to have higher propensity to consume than younger ones. In Japan, the VAT was supposed to increase from 8% to 10% in October 2016, having already increased from 5% to 8% in April 2014. The additional increase was expected to exacerbate the negative impact of the VAT on income redistribution. For this reason, it has been repeatedly postponed, and now is not expected to take effect until October 2019. The growing socioeconomic resistance of the Japanese people to the VAT increase may require additional VAT reforms in Japan. It might, for example, need to increase tax revenue to cope with its growing national debt to GDP ratio as well as with its increasing welfare expenditure. The VAT is one of its key potential revenue sources. In addition, it might also need to broaden the scope of VAT exemptions to include more necessities at the expense of a little revenue so as to ease the potential increase in VAT regressivity expected to ensue from the October 2019 rate increase.
Do Policy and Institutional Variables Play a More Significant Role in Attracting Foreign Direct Investment to Eastern Africa than They Do in Other Regions of Sub-Saharan Africa?
Authors: Na Hyeseon
Published: October 2021

The paper aims to assess whether policy and institutional variables are significant factors in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to eastern Africa. The assessment is based on the determinants of FDI in a sample of 30 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries between 2005 and 2016. Employing panel data methodology, I investigate whether policy and institutional variables play a more significant role in attracting FDI to eastern Africa than they do in other SSA countries. The results indicate that these variables are more significant factors for attracting FDI to eastern Africa than they are for the other SSA regions. The paper concludes that eastern Africa’s current FDI promotion policies are working. In particular, ensuring a stable macroeconomic situation and a favorable profit tax rate as well as building good institutions have proven to be good tools for attracting FDI to eastern Africa.
Metropolitan Governance Matters: The Low Economic Performance of Metropolitan Cities in South Korea
Authors: Kim Sung-Bae
Published: October 2021

This study undertakes an empirical analysis to identify the determinants of the low economic performance of major metropolitan cities in Korea. Using panel data of the metropolitan cities between 2000 to 2016, I carried out ageneralized least square estimation and obtained the following results. First, traditional explanatory variables such as capital investment, labor force, and R&D investments are highly significant with positive expected signs. Second, nationallevel governance arrangements for the metropolitan cities have negative impacts on the economic performance of the cities. Last, the impacts of subnational governance arrangements on economic performance are not entirely conclusive. These pieces of evidence suggest that improving the economic performance of the metropolitan cities may require a restructuring of the current framework of metropolitan governance.
Comparing the Arrangements of Governance and Sustainable Development in OECD Countries: Coupled or Decoupled?
Authors: Huh Taewook
Published: October 2021

This study attempts to analyze to what extent governance and sustainable development (SD) empirically appear compatible in the thirtyfive OECD countries through the fuzzy-set ideal type analysis, and identify which ideal types appear coupled or decoupled, and then reveal which countries belong to the coupled types or to the decoupled types. In short, twenty-two countries (including Sweden (fuzzy score, 0.953), Denmark (0.920), Finland (0.914), Norway (0.911) in Type 1 (G*S, ‘strong G-S coupled countries’); and Turkey (0.906), Greece (0.833), Mexico (0.828) in Type 4 (g*s, ‘lite g-s coupled countries’) are in line with the accepted conventions regarding the compatible relationship between governance and SD. On the other hand, the rest of thirteen countries (including USA (fuzzy score, 0.815), Luxembourg (0.721), Australia (0.660) in Type 2 (G*s, ‘G-s decoupled countries’); and Slovenia (0.728), France (0.644), Czech Rep. (0.625) in Type 3 (g*S, ‘g-S decoupled countries’) may indicate that the relationship of governance and SD is in fact experiencing tensions in the national contexts. These findings are characterized by the substance (of SD) and procedure (of governance) divide. Considering the results, this study focuses on the idea of reflexivity or reflexive capacity.
Psychological Safety, Need for Cognition, and Proactivity among Public Sector Employees
Authors: Kim ByeongJo
Published: October 2021

While employee proactivity has been hailed in management literature as a critical characteristic enabling an organization to accomplish its goals, little is known about how public sector employees exert proactivity at work. This study examines the effect of individual and contextual factors that enhance proactive work behavior among public sector employees. Using two samples of nonprofit hospital employees and part-time graduate students working in the public sector, we investigate the role of the need for cognition and psychological safety in promoting proactive behavior at work. We also examine the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between the two antecedents and proactive behavior. We first confirm the measurement invariance across two samples and then examine hypothesized relationships using structural equation modeling. Our results show that both the need for cognition and perceived psychological safety promote proactive behavior through the mediation of employee’s role breadth selfefficacy.
Modeling the Role of Culture in Policy Transfer: A Dynamic Policy Transfer Model*
Authors: Ady Jeffrey C. , Choi Taehyon
Published: October 2021

Anticorruption policy transfer has been discussed for decades, but the influence of culture in target countries has not received comparable attention sufficient to explain the lack of progress in reducing corruption in those countries. The conceptualization of culture so far has provided only a limited tool for developing a dynamic theory of policy transfer. We propose a bottomup model of dynamic policy transfer that takes into account the cultural context in target countries. We first define culture as a set of values that are consistent with each other but that also conflict. We then develop a dynamic policy transfer model that revises the traditional model by considering the proposed concept of culture. Finally, we discuss the practical implications of the model, emphasizing the importance of knowledge of culture at the local level, where a bottom-up implementation of anticorruption policy takes place. We conclude by suggesting strategies for empirical research and specific implications regarding the Korean policy context.
The NPM Legacy: The Impacts of Job Insecurity, Innovativeness, and Public Employees’ Trust in Their Supervisors on Organizational Performance
Authors: Lee Yunsoo
Published: October 2021

New Public Management posed challenges to governments by emphasizing the flexibility of workforce, innovation, and the role of supervisors in running public sector organizations. However, there is debate over whether job insecurity and organizational innovativeness contribute to organizational performance in the public sector. Furthermore, despite the growing awareness of the importance of supervisors, the issue of public sector employees’ trust in their supervisors has received relatively little attention. The purpose of this article is to examine the impacts of job insecurity, innovation, and employees’ trust in supervisors on organizational performance in order to explain these inconsistencies and fill the void in past research. It develops a structural equation model, built on two sets of Korean public employee survey data, whose results show that job insecurity is negatively related to performance, while employees’ trust in supervisors and organizational innovativeness are positively associated with performance. In addition, employees’ trust in supervisor is positively related to innovativeness.
What Makes Immigrants Generous?: The Effects of Acculturative Stress and Resources
Authors: Moon Seong-gin
Published: October 2021

Although the literature in the field has examined why and how individuals give, there is still a lack of systematic research regarding immigrants’ philanthropic giving behavior in the United States. This study pays attention to the influence of two major dimensions, the acculturative stress that immigrants undergo during the immigration process and the personal resources that they possess in the United States, on their giving. The empirical analysis presented here is based on a survey of 1,493 Korean immigrants and indicates that acculturative stress moves in negative direction as predicted but is not statistically significant in estimating giving. In terms of personal resources—human (education and income), social (marriage, homeownership, employment), and cultural (religiosity) —turn out to be significant indicators of giving.
Anatomy of the Republic of Korea’s Niche Strategic Engagement in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS): ROK’s Tailor-Made Strategy and its Security Policy Implication
Authors: Ahn Se Hyun
Published: October 2021

Republic of Korea’s engagement in Southeast Asia could be generally understood as its Official Development Aid (ODA) strategy in most academic interpretation. Nonetheless, this article examines not only Korea’s traditional ODA approach toward Southeast Asia but also Korea’s uniquely tailor-made strategy toward Indo-China Peninsula in particular as well as what is to be done. In other words, this article intends to take further step beyond ODA interpretation of this particular subject over this region. This study specifically provides with multi-dimensional analysis of Republic of Korea’s involvement in Mekong River Sub-region as well as its regional and global security policy implication. The main thesis of this study is that Korea had no choice but to pursue Niche diplomacy toward the region because Korea did not possess full capacity enough to compete against Japan or China. In this sense, Korea’s own development experience is very unique and perhaps the only experience that no other country in the world has possessed. This article contends that Korea’s knowledge based capacity building projects toward Greater Mekong Sub-region such as KSP, CIAT, special Master’s degree training projects, local capacity building process, and etc. will continue to increase and diversify in terms of scale and contents. Again, based upon Knowledge based capacity building projects, Korea is in the process of producing a wide range of its unique tailor- made ODA programs for each member states of GMS. Unlike Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korea also tends to put more emphasis on creating exclusive Master’s degree Training Program which is centered on trainees of ODA Recipient countries. In this regard, Korea’s approach is aiming at strengthening discrimination by introducing a systemic evaluation system for training projects. This program will also turn out linchpin of ROK’s new strategy toward Mekong River area.
The Transition of the Presidency, 2020-2021
Authors: Pfiffner James P.
Published: October 2021

The peaceful transition of power from one set of rulers to another is the essence of democracy. The United States has enjoyed the consensus that elections are the means to change leadership of the country for more than two centuries. The 2020-2021 transition of the presidency marks an exception to that consensus. President Trump refused to accept the reality of his 2020 defeat at the polls, despite the fact that Joe Biden won more than 7 million more votes than Trump and won the electoral college by a vote of 306 to 232. Trump declared that he had won the election and that his opponent, Joseph Biden, had conspired to steal the election through fraudulent ballots. This paper will briefly characterize the development of presidential transitions over the past half century. It will then examine the extensive efforts of President Trump to overturn the 2020 election that culminated in the volent attack on the United State Capitol on January 6, 2021. Finally, it will show how Trump tried to thwart the incoming Biden administration. It will conclude that Trump’s actions in 2020 and 2021 presented a serious threat to the American polity.
Government Officials’ Self-Assessed Expertise and Subject Organizational Performance: Does Recruitment Type Matter?
Authors: Oh Seyoung , Kang Hyejin
Published: October 2021

This study verified whether the relationship between self-assessed expertise and subject organizational performance of government officials in South Korea would vary depending on the type of recruitment system—open competitive examination for recruitment (OCER) and mid-career competitive recruitment (MCCR). Multiple regression analysis was conducted using Public Employee Perception Survey data from the Korea Institute of Public Administration. The results demonstrated that self-assessed expertise positively affected organizational performance. However, when the two groups were analyzed separately, self-assessed professionalism was not a significant factor in the MCCR model. Additionally, the mediation effect of work autonomy was confirmed between the two models; the mediation effect was present in the OCER group, but not in the MCCR group. The results suggest that creating conditions for work and personnel management that allow MCCR employees to maximize their expertise is necessary, however, the government’s current personnel management system prevents their expertise from being fully utilized.
Obtaining Educational Rights: Contemporary Views and Challenges of the Bulgarian Woman
Authors: Stoykova Petrana
Published: October 2021

The importance of the Bulgarian woman in the public space from the Renaissance to nowadays is presented in the article. The woman was restricted to participate actively in the Christian world and school life during the Renaissance. She received equal rights to men in the public sphere only after 1944. The socialistic development in Bulgaria during the period from 1944 to 1989 had a great significance to the enlightenment of the whole Bulgarian nation, which also provided an unrestricted access of the women to the educational system. The development of the Bulgarian education has been marked by reverse process after the democratic changes. The „total crisis“ of the Bulgarian society leads to a significant shortage in the educational system. In comparison to the previous socialist period, lower indicators in overall population literacy can been observed. Gender inequalities in education are being fairly reduced. Bulgarian wоmеn have gradually conquered school environment and are being engaged in educational causes more often compared to men. However, in the contemporary Bulgarian society, the right to education continues to be a challenge in respect of various social groups.
Ecological Guidelines and Recommendations for Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development
Authors: Gole Swati , Gindi Revati , Hingmire Dhruwang , Nulkar Gurudas
Published: October 2021

This paper is a case of urban river Mutha for ecological management.Over the past few decades, condition of river Mutha has deteriorated considerably. The present situation shows less of fresh water flow and lot of sewage water addition,waste dumping and foul smelling water flow. The fresh water contribution by base flow to the main stream is very negligible. The only source of fresh water is sporadic water release from Khadakwasala dam. It is irregular and in small proportion to support ecosystem functioning of the river Mutha.There is a of public debate regarding improvement in the river's condition and to correct its root cause. The disruption in the river's ecosystem is basically by human interventions. The study appeals for interdisciplinary approach with a view of environmental governance and management to solve river related problems. The focus of this study is to assess environmental impact when the river related projects being planned by Municipal authorities. The study included survey of physical changes by human interventions, in the river Mutha channel ,banks and modification of habitats hampering aquatic as well as land biodiversity. The study indicated crucial biodiversity indicators for the health of the river ecosystem. By giving grades based on both the physical conditions and biodiversity of various stretches of the river plan to improve conditions is suggested.The study created guidelines for restoration and management of Mutha river ecosystem, which may be useful for rivers especially in the urban area. This paper is based on the research project .Ecological Guidelines and Recommendations for Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development. conducted by Ecological Society.
Perceptions Regarding Covid-19 Vaccine Among Undergraduate Medical Students In Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Zafar Laraib
Published: October 2021

Background

Studies have shown that physician's advice is among the most important predictors of whether or not a person will take immunizations. The impressions of new COVID-19 vaccinations among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan, and the factors which influence their judgments were investigated in this study.

Methods

A 6-item validated questionnaire was administered to 2500 undergraduate medical students of MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) studying in seven different medical colleges of Karachi between December 2020 to May 2021.

Results

2500 students received the survey and 1464 responded (58.56%). About 60% of those responded said there was no link between vaccines and chronic illnesses. To control COVID-19, all participants said it was critical to vaccinate the broader population. Besides a large number of participants (almost 72%) were optimistic about the safety issue of vaccination. Almost all of the respondents (99.66%) think that it is of top most importance to vaccinate the population in order to control infection spread whereas 75.48% believed that COVID-19 vaccine is safe to use. A large majority (97.20%) were willing to get vaccinated.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that MBBS learners have a favourable attitude towards to the COVID-19 vaccine, with the majority of them willing to promote it to others. Almost two-thirds of them indicated that they would be willing to be vaccinated. It may raise the general public's acceptance rate and better immunization rates which shall help in eradication of Covid-19 from Pakistan.
Institutional Investors’ Shareholding, Control Transfer and Corporate Performance
Authors: Zhao Qiuju , Wang Huiming , Li Dongsheng , Li Wei
Published: October 2021

Based on the data of listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2013 to 2018, this paper analyzes the impact of institutional investors’ shareholding on corporate performance and discusses the intermediary role of control transfer and the moderating role of management power. The results show that institutional investors’ shareholding and control transfer have significant positive effects on corporate performance. Control transfer plays a partial mediating role between institutional investors’ shareholding and corporate performance. Management power has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between institutional investors’ shareholding and a control transfer. This paper provides a new theoretical explanation and empirical evidence for institutional investors to improve corporate performance from the perspective of control transfer, reveals the mechanism of management power in the process of a control transfer, and provides a theoretical basis for the development of institutional investors.
Comparison of Endoscopic and Microscopic Transsphenoidal Approaches for the Resection of Pituitary Adenoma
Authors: Noiphithak Raywat , Nimmannitya Pree , Tantongtip Dilok , Sanpawithayakul Kanokporn , Thitiwichienlert Suntaree , Punyarat Prachya , Rukskul Pataravit , Yodwisithsak Pornchai
Published: October 2021

Background: The comparative outcomes between endoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal approaches (ETSA and MTSA) for pituitary adenomas (PAs) remain controversial; however, the numerous literatures have been investigated for decades. This study evaluated the effectiveness of these two techniques using comprehensive measurements and rigorous statistical methods. Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for PAs at our institution between January 2010 and December 2019 was performed. We included only cases treated by surgeons who have independently performed more than 30 transsphenoidal surgeries. Patients’ characteristics, surgical outcomes, complications, and recurrence were collected for statistical analysis Results: A total of 210 patients, including 138 ETSA patients, and 72 MTSA patients, were analyzed. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable. ETSA patients showed less intraoperative blood loss (191.9 mL vs. 369.9 mL, P < 0.01), a higher rate of gross total resection (GTR) (84.1% vs. 72.2%, P = 0.04), a higher rate of extent of resection (EOR) (95.1% vs. 87.4%, P < 0.01), and shorter hospital stay (10 days vs. 13.5 days, P < 0.01). These better outcomes of ETSA persisted in multivariable regression analysis. Complications were not significantly different between groups. There was no statistical difference between recurrence-free survival of the two groups (P = 0.06, log-rank test) Conclusions: Our study showed that ETSA provided better outcomes and attained similar complications compared to MTSA for the resection of PAs.
The Action Plan and Strategy Development for the Community Readiness Improvement for Tackling Childhood Obesity (CRITCO) Study
Authors: Niknam Mahdieh , Omidvar Nasrin , Amiri Parisa , Eini-Zinab Hassan , Kalantari Naser
Published: October 2021

Background: Community Readiness Improvement for Tackling Childhood Obesity (CRITCO) study has been developed based on the community readiness model (CRM) to improve the readiness of targeted local communities from two diverse socioeconomic districts of Tehran for tackling childhood obesity (CO) of late primary school children (10 - 12 years of age). Objectives: This study aimed to describe the rationale and process of developing the fourth phase of CRITCO study by developing an intervention package. Methods: The readiness level data was used to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of four intervention sites to guide proper strategies in partnership with key community members. Then, the action plan was developed as a living document to guide a 6-month quasi-experimental community-based intervention around the six dimensions of CRM. Finally, the community engagement process, outcome, and evaluation process were explained. Results: The current report described the action plan and strategy development of the CRITCO study. Expectedly, this study can provide valuable information to guide the public health policymakers in planning and executing relevant interventions.
Intense Impact of Health Alert Due to COVID-19 on Adherence of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Patients to Hospital Therapy
Authors: Martos-Cabrera Luisa , Calvo-Garcia Alberto , Butron-Bris Beatriz , Reymundo Ana , Santamaria C. , Ovejero-Merino Enrique , Dauden-Tello Esteban , Ramirez- Herraiz Esther , Llamas-Velasco Mar
Published: October 2021

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease in which lifelong treatment is required. Recently, we faced COVID-19 pandemic where adherence to a prescribed drug could have been affected. Objectives: We conduct a study to assess this statement. Methods: The study was performed in Dermatology Department with Pharmacy database in the Hospital Universitario de La Princesa. A retrospective observational database study was performed, including all psoriatic patients with a biological therapy prescription between March 13 and May 31, 2020, with a paired control group between March 13 and May 31, 2019. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was used to determine the adherence. Results: A total of 244 patients were included in the cohort and 228 in the control group. We observed a decrease in the percentage of adherent patients of 40.0% in COVID-19 period. Overall, MPR was lower in the 2020 period than in 2019. MPRs by treatment and drug family, with the exception of etanercept, certolizumab pegol, and guselkumab, were significantly lower between the 2019 and the 2020 period. Conclusions: Adherence to a prescribed drug can be affected by different factors such as age, sex, income quintile, or stress. We have demonstrated a deep impact on adherence because of the situation created by COVID-19 pandemic. These data are in contrast with previously reported results where adherence was slightly affected, probably due to the different epidemiological situation in different countries. Further efforts are needed to be done to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic influence on the therapeutic adherence.
The Flap Based on the Subscapular Artery: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Nguyen Lam Van , Vo Thi Van , Ly Hung Huynh Vinh
Published: October 2021

Background: The lateral thoracic-lumbar-scapular region is an ideal source to supply flaps. The study towards improving the method of taking flaps towards conserving a part of the muscle needs to clarify the ratio of branching forms of the arteries in the muscle. Objectives: This study was done to describe the typical anatomy, the anatomical and size variations of subscapular and circumflex scapular vessels, the branching and distribution of vascular pedicle supplying latissimus dorsi muscle flap, and serratus anterior muscle flap of circumflex scapular vessels. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 24 corpses of adults of both genders. The flap vessels were revealed through two stages of surgery, including the axillary region and the lumbar-scapular region. We classified the collected information and recognized typical and transformed forms based on statistical data. Results: The subscapular artery was separated by the axillary artery, the general origin of the circumflex scapular artery, and the thoracodorsal artery. Subscapular vessels were found in 40/42 cases, accounting for 95.2%, and the length and diameter were 3.04 ± 0.51 cm and 2.85 ± 0.46mm, respectively. The circumflex scapular artery, which had originated from the subscapular artery, was found in 40/42 cases. It also showed origin from subscapular artery with 2/42 cases. The length of the circumflex scapular artery was 3.14 ± 0.70 cm, and its diameter was 2.46 ± 0.48 mm. Terminal branches of the circumflex scapular artery were very variable. Almost all branching forms of the artery in the latissimus dorsi muscle were external branches, but they might be present or not in internal and recurrent branches. Conclusions: The vascular pedicle’s distribution, size, and presence were influenced by the subscapular artery supply flaps. Due to the diverse blood supply from the flaps’ vessels, the surgeon can use the flaps based on the subscapular artery in many forms. These flaps could be used as a seamless vascular flap or a free flap in orthopedic surgery.
BRAF Rearrangements and BRAF V600E Mutations Are Seen in a Subset of Pancreatic Carcinomas With Acinar Differentiation
Authors: Ghosh Toshi , Greipp Patricia T. , Knutson Darlene , Kloft-Nelson Sara , Jenkins Sarah , Mounajjed Taofic , Said Samar , La Rosa Stefano , Vanoli Alessandro , Sessa Fausto , Naini Bita V. , Bellizzi Andrew , Zhang Lizhi , Kerr Sarah E. , Graham Rondell P.
Published: October 2021

Context.—

Comprehensive genomic profiling has demonstrated that approximately 20% of pancreatic carcinomas with acinar differentiation harbor potentially targetable BRAF fusions that activate the MAPK pathway.

Objectives.—

To validate the above finding by BRAF break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in a large series of pure acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs), evaluate tumors for the presence of BRAF V600E mutations, and compare clinicopathologic features of tumors with BRAF rearrangements with those without.

Design.—

Thirty cases of pure ACC and 6 cases of mixed acinar-neuroendocrine carcinoma (ACC-NEC) were retrieved. A break-apart FISH probe was used to detect BRAF rearrangements. Immunohistochemistry for BRAF V600E was performed.

Results.—

BRAF rearrangements by FISH were found in 6 of 36 cases (17%), 5 of which were pure ACC and 1 was a mixed ACC-NEC. Follow-up was available in 29 of 36 cases (81%). The median survival was 22 months for BRAF-rearranged cases and 16 months for BRAF-intact cases; the 2-year overall survival was 50% for BRAF-rearranged cases and 35% for BRAF-intact cases. No significant clinicopathologic differences were identified in cases with BRAF rearrangement compared with those without BRAF rearrangement. BRAF V600E mutation was identified in 2 of 34 cases (6%), both of which were pure ACC and were BRAF-intact by FISH.

Conclusions.—

This study supports the finding that BRAF rearrangements are present in approximately 20% of cases and identified BRAF V600E mutations in approximately 5% of cases. These cases may benefit from targeted therapy.
САМОРЕФЛЕКСИЈА ОДЕЉЕЊСКИХ СТАРЕШИНА И ПЕРЦЕПЦИЈЕ УЧЕНИКА О УПРАВЉАЊУ ВРШЊАЧКИМ КОНФЛИКТИМА
Authors: Максимовић Јелена́́ , Јовановић Александра́́
Published: October 2021

Одељењски старешина као модел и ментор у одељењу треба да својим поступцима помогне ученицима да превазиђу проблеме са којима се сусрећу у интерперсоналним односима са вршњацима. Разумевањем, активним слушањем, трагањем за решењима конфликти се могу разре- шити. У раду се бавимо компетенцијама одељењских старешина за во- ђење саветодавних разговора са ученицима с циљем разрешења вршња- чких конфликата, сагледаних на основу саморефлексијa одељењских ста- решина и перцепција ученика. Узорак чине 29 одељењских старешина и 721 ученик средње школе. За потребе истраживања конструисане су скале ИСКЗРВК1 и 2, намењене ученицима и одељењским старешинама, са димензијама: разумевање конфликта; активно слушање; решавање конфликта; емоционалне реакције. Одељењске старешине позитивније вреднују своју компетентност за разлику од ученика. Радни стаж одељењских старешина не утиче на саморефлексију о компетент- ности, док школски успех и изграђено поверење ученика утичу на њихову перцепцију компетентности одељењских старешина. Ученици бољег школског успеха и са изграђеним поверењем позитивније процењују оде- љењске старешине. Резултати указују на потребу постојања крити- чког пријатеља који ће помоћи одељењском старешини да постане објективнији, на потребу професионалног развоја с акцентом на раз- вијању социо-емоционалних компетенција, као и већу сарадњу са уче- ницима слабијег школског успеха.
ПЕДАГОШКО-МЕТОДОЛОШКЕ РАСПРАВЕ: ПУТОКАЗИ ЗА ПРОУЧАВАЊЕ И ИСТРАЖИВАЊЕ ВАСПИТАЊА
Authors: Јоргић Драженко
Published: October 2021

У издаваштву Друштва педагога Републике Српске 2020. године изашло је обимно капитално дјело „Педагошко-методолошке распра- ве“ аутора и редовног члана Академије наука и умјетности Републике Српске академика Драге Бранковића. Аутор је у овој цјеловитој моно- графији на 400 страница текста сабрао седам фундаменталних расправа о најактуелнијим питањима и проблемима унутар педагогије и методо- логије педагошких истраживања. Те педагошко-методолошке расправе је представио у виду седам поглавља монографије, и то: 1. Теорије у процесу научног сазнања у педагогији, 2. Нови токови у развоју педа- гошко-методолошке мисли, 3. Рефлексија у учењу, образовању и истра- живању, 4. Активно и интерактивно учење, 5. Морално васпитање и хуманизација личности, 6. Професионални развој и компетенције на- ставника, и 7. Педагогија пред изазовима слободног времена. Аутор Дра- го Бранковић је уважавајући принцип симетричне заступљености тек- стова, за свако поглавље изабрао и представио по три расправе, тако да је цијелим текстом монографије прожета 21 расправа у виду путоказа за проучавање и истраживање васпитања.