bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meta-analyses of culture’s consequences for acquisition performance
Authors: Rottig Daniel
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a quantitative integration of the existing empirical body of literature on culture and acquisition performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a meta-analytical approach that synthesizes 189 effect sizes from 24 independent samples with a total sample size ofn=5,496 acquisitions.

Findings

This meta-analytical study found a consistently negative and significant relationship between organizational cultural differences and acquisition performance, and a dual effect of national cultural differences (i.e. cultural distance) on acquisition performance. It further identified significant methodological and contextual moderators and discusses the implications for acquisitions in emerging markets.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the nature of meta-analyses, this study is based on existing (i.e. available secondary) data. Future research may collect novel, primary data to further test the conceptual model and respective relationships developed therein.

Practical implications

This study sheds light onto the culture-based performance determinants of acquisitions and the effects of methodological and contextual moderator variables. Given the significant importance of acquisitions across organizational and national cultures, the findings may inform business practitioners when developing sustainable strategies to successfully integrate organizations that are culturally different and/or are located in culturally diverse environments.

Social implications

A better understanding about the culture-based performance determinants of acquisitions may inform public policy makers about how to regulate and set incentives for acquisitions, which constitute a main vehicle through which firms undertake foreign direct investment, and which can be considered a global sustainable growth strategy for multinational corporations and entire economies.

Originality/value

This paper is original in that it provides a large-scale and in-depth quantitative integration and synthesis of the empirical literature on culture and acquisition performance based on a meta-analytical approach and so has important theoretical value and empirical implications for future emerging market research.
Extending the supply chain visibility boundary
Authors: Busse Christian , Schleper Martin C. , Weilenmann Jenny , Wagner Stephan M.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how buying firms facing low supply chain visibility can utilize their stakeholder network to identify salient supply chain sustainability risks (SCSR).

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a design science approach to develop a procedural model for identifying SCSR as a new artifact. A small-scale field-testing study in a food supply chain of a Swiss retail firm demonstrates its applicability and pragmatic validity.

Findings

When stakeholder knowledge external to the supply chain is regarded as a valuable resource, a generic understanding of a buying firm’s supply chain suffices to identify SCSR hotspots without creating complexity for the SCSR management.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to the study of SCSR by identifying mechanisms buying firms can employ to identify SCSR hotspots and fostering the nascent understanding of responsibility attribution by stakeholders. Moreover, the emerging theory of the supply chain is enriched by paving a way to extend the supply chain visibility boundary. The procedural model is presumably most useful in contexts of elevated stakeholder pressure and low supply chain visibility. Future research should seek to validate and improve the effectiveness of the newly designed artifact.

Practical implications

The procedural model is directly applicable in corporate practice to the identification of SCSR. Moreover, its application fosters the understanding of a firm’s supply chain and its stakeholder network.

Originality/value

SCSR is an increasingly important phenomenon in corporate practice that has received only scarce research attention. The design science approach represents a valuable means for generating theoretical insights and emergent solutions to the real-world problem of SCSR identification.
User acceptance of smart home services: an extension of the theory of planned behavior
Authors: Yang Heetae , Lee Hwansoo , Zo Hangjung
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive research model that can explain potential customers’ behavioral intentions to adopt and use smart home services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes and validates a new theoretical model that extends the theory of planned behavior. Partial least squares analysis is employed to test the research model and corresponding hypotheses on data collected from 216 survey samples.

Findings

Mobility, security/privacy risk, and trust in the service provider are important factors affecting the adoption of smart home services.

Practical implications

To increase potential users’ adoption rate, service providers should focus on developing mobility-related services that enable people to access smart home services while on the move using mobile devices via control and monitoring functions.

Originality/value

This study is the first empirical attempt to examine user acceptance of smart home services, as most of the prior literature has concerned technical features.
Why not be “smarter”? Examining the factors that influence the behavioral intentions of non-smartphone users
Authors: Lin Chen-Yu , Chao Yu-Chuang , Tang Tzy-Wen
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Despite the evident and dramatic increase in smartphone usage worldwide, some consumers continue to use traditional mobile phones. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the behavioral intentions of these laggard and non-smartphone users.

Design/methodology/approach

This current study examines the effects of consumer demographics, psychographics, and smartphone characteristics on the intentions of non-smartphone consumers to switch or resist the use of smartphones. Data were collected using a convenience sample of non-smartphone users in Taiwan. The proposed model is tested using the consistent partial least squares (PLSc) path modeling technique.

Findings

PLSc results indicate that consumer psychographics and smartphone characteristics play more important roles than consumer demographics. Specifically, price consciousness, nostalgia, and perceived ease of use are good predictors of intention to switch, whereas perceived usefulness and ease of use are strong predictors of the intention to resist smartphone adoption.

Practical implications

The results of this study have implications for mobile phone vendors and mobile manufacturers who target non-smartphone users or laggard adopters.

Originality/value

This study is among the few that focus on non-smartphone users’ perceptions of smartphones. Hence, this empirical study could contribute to the development and testing of theories related to the smartphone adoption process.
Evaluation of personal cloud storage products in China
Authors: Dai Debao , Zheng Wenfang , Fan Tijun
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare and evaluate the personal cloud storage products (PCSPs) in China and find the gap among them for promoting their service level. There are five representative products including Baidu cloud, Tencent cloud, Qihoo 360-cloud, Kingsoft cloud and Huawei DBank.

Design/methodology/approach

This study, first, extracts corresponding indicators based on the extant literature to evaluate PCSPs, and then collects the data about each index by investigation and the performance test, finally proposes a model to rank PCSPs, which applies analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to determine the indexed weights and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution-grey relational analysis calculate evaluation score of each PCSP.

Findings

Among them, Qihoo 360-cloud gets the highest evaluation score contributed by large space, file editing and fast transmission speed. The rest are Kingsoft cloud, Baidu cloud, Huawei DBank and Tencent cloud in order. These storage products are all want of the addition or improvement of the online editing service similar as Google Docs.

Research limitations/implications

AHP method is subjective, some of the data is incomplete, and some accidental error and systematic error exist in the actual testing process.

Practical implications

The findings can assist users in selecting more suitable products and offer cloud storage providers (CSPs) a general direction of improving their product performance.

Social implications

Contributing to improve the overall level of the cloud storage services in China.

Originality/value

The study perfects the evaluation index system of the PCSP and fills the research gap in studying PCSPs in China, and expands the application field of the multiple criteria decision-making problems. This evaluation process and results have implied that CSPs in China should provide good services of large capacity, cooperation and security with the good internet environment of economical, high and stable speed by institutions and internet access providers.
Predicting customer churn in mobile industry using data mining technology
Authors: Lee Eui-Bang , Kim Jinwha , Lee Sang-Gun
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the influence of the frequency of word exposure on online news based on the availability heuristic concept. So that this is different from most churn prediction studies that focus on subscriber data.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined the churn prediction through words presented the previous studies and additionally identified words what churn generate using data mining technology in combination with logistic regression, decision tree graphing, neural network models, and a partial least square (PLS) model.

Findings

This study found prediction rates similar to those delivered by subscriber data-based analyses. In addition, because previous studies do not clearly suggest the effects of the factors, this study uses decision tree graphing and PLS modeling to identify which words deliver positive or negative influences.

Originality/value

These findings imply an expansion of churn prediction, advertising effect, and various psychological studies. It also proposes concrete ideas to advance the competitive advantage of companies, which not only helps corporate development, but also improves industry-wide efficiency.
Involving financial service providers in supply chain finance practices
Authors: Martin Judith , Hofmann Erik
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the analysis of reasons to involve financial service providers (FSPs) in the integrated management of supply chain flows through supply chain finance (SCF) practices. In addition, service requirements are derived for FSPs in order to respond to company needs related to SCF practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The selected methodology represents a multi-method approach. First, a survey with 62 companies from Switzerland and ten expert interviews were applied to analyze company needs. Second, the study was complemented with a review of gray press, online offers and 11 expert interviews on the service offer of FSPs for managing supply chain flows.

Findings

The results derive company needs for an integrated management of supply chain flows. The company needs are matched with available service offer of FSPs. Based on this match quality gaps are identified and service requirements are derived. The results describe initial measures to close the quality gaps.

Research limitations/implications

This research primarily focuses on financial flows related to the working capital of companies thereby neglecting fixed assets.

Practical implications

The results provide companies with a structured process to analyze the value added of FSPs. FSPs can use the results to better match their service offer with company needs.

Originality/value

This research contributes to research on SCF by developing a structured process for analyzing the company needs for SCF practices as well as the value added of FSPs in offering these practices.
The Strasbourg Court and Indirect Race Discrimination: Going Beyond the Education Domain
Authors: Möschel Mathias
Published: January 2017

Prohibiting indirect discrimination has been hailed as guaranteeing substantive equality by addressing issues of structural discrimination and inequalities in a way that direct discrimination cannot and will not. However, Article 14, the ECHR's non‐discrimination provision, does not distinguish between direct and indirect discrimination. Only in 2007 the European Court of Human Rights explicitly included the notion of indirect (race) discrimination under Article 14 in DH and Others v Czech Republic, its famous judgment on Roma education segregation. Since then it has applied the prohibition of indirect race discrimination in a limited manner to similar education cases. However, in its recent Grand Chamber decision, Biao v Denmark, the Strasbourg Court started clarifying some unsolved issues in the distinction between direct and indirect discrimination in its case law and finally applied the concept to the much broader area of immigration and citizenship.
Sulfonation and Antioxidative Evaluation of Polysaccharides from Pleurotus Mushroom and Streptococcus thermophilus Bacteria: A Review
Authors: Li Siqian , Dai Shuhong , Shah Nagendra Prasad
Published: January 2017

Human beings are equipped with antioxidant defense systems to neutralize free radicals as free radicals could damage macromolecules, subsequently resulting in serious diseases. Researchers have been attracted to search for potential natural antioxidants to reduce oxidative damage. Pleurotus and Streptococcus thermophilus have been chosen as sources of sustainable bioactive compounds that have been consumed for thousands of years. Polysaccharides are important bioactive components produced by Pleurotus mushrooms and Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria. Additionally, there is a continued interest in sulfonation of crude polysaccharides from both sources, since sulfonation has been found to improve or create new bioactive properties in polysaccharides. Both crude and sulfated polysaccharides with good antioxidant capacities have great potential for the further development as commercial products. This review focuses on characterization, sulfonation methods, and antioxidant capacity evaluations of polysaccharides from Pleurotus and S. thermophilus. Common antioxidant capacity assays, including the mechanisms underlying each assay, and various experimental procedures are also discussed.
Regular mailing of personalized feedback reports improves glycemic control in diabetes: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yin Junmei , Luk Andrea , Wong Rebecca , Chung Harriet , Kong Alice , Ozaki Risa , Ma Ronald , Chow Chun‐Chung , So Wingyee , Chan Juliana
Published: January 2017

Highlights

Patients with diabetes who underwent structured complication assessment and received a personalized report through a web‐based portal showed significant improvement in glycemic and lipid control after 1 year.

Under comprehensive care, those who received additional follow‐up reports had further reduction in HbA1c.

In a post‐hoc analysis, patients with chronic kidney disease who received additional follow‐up reports were less likely to be hospitalized and had shorter length of stay.
Effectiveness of Interventions to Decrease Emergency Department Visits by Adult Frequent Users: A Systematic Review
Authors: Moe Jessica , Kirkland Scott W. , Rawe Erin , Ospina Maria B. , Vandermeer Ben , Campbell Sandy , Rowe Brian H.
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Frequent emergency department (ED) users are high‐risk and high‐resource‐utilizing patients. This systematic review evaluates effectiveness of interventions targeting adult frequent ED users in reducing visit frequency and improving patient outcomes.

Methods

An a priori protocol was published in PROSPERO. Two independent reviewers screened, selected, rated quality, and extracted data. Third‐party adjudication resolved disagreements. Rate ratios of post‐ versus pre‐intervention ED visits were calculated. Data sources were from a comprehensive search that included seven databases and the gray literature. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies included experimental studies assessing the effect of interventions on frequent users’ ED visits and patient‐oriented outcomes.

Results

A total of 6,865 citations were identified and 31 studies included. Designs were noncontrolled (n = 21) and controlled (n = 4) before–after studies and randomized controlled trials (n = 6). Frequent user definitions varied considerably and risk of bias was moderate to high. Studies examined general frequent users or those with psychiatric comorbidities, chronic disease, or low socioeconomic status or the elderly. Interventions included case management (n = 18), care plans (n = 8), diversion strategies (n = 3), printout case notes (n = 1), and social work visits (n = 1). Post‐ versus pre‐intervention rate ratios were calculated for 25 studies and indicated a significant visit decrease in 21 (84%) of these studies. The median rate ratio was 0.63 (interquartile range = 0.41 to 0.71), indicating that the general effect of the interventions described was to decrease ED visits post‐intervention. Significant visit decreases were found for a majority of studies in subgroup analyses based on 6‐ or 12‐month follow‐up, definition thresholds, clinical frequent user subgroups, and intervention types. Studies reporting homelessness found consistent improvements in stable housing. Overall, interstudy heterogeneity was high.

Conclusions

Interventions targeting frequent ED users appear to decrease ED visits and may improve stable housing. Future research should examine cost‐effectiveness and adopt standardized definitions.
Sustaining Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) services in health‐care settings
Authors: Singh Manu , Gmyrek Amanda , Hernandez Amy , Damon Donna , Hayashi Susan
Published: January 2017

Aims

To assess the sustainability of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) services after cessation of initial start‐up funding.

Design

Descriptive study with quantitative and qualitative data collected from 34 staff participants from six grantees (comprising 103 sites) funded previously through a large, federally supported SBIRT program.

Setting

Primary care out‐patient clinics and hospitals in the United States.

Participants

Thirty‐four grantee‐related staff members, including administrators, evaluators, key stakeholders and SBIRT service providers from six grantees.

Measurements

Changes to levels and types of service delivery activities after federal funding stopped, alternative sources of funding and obstacles to delivery of services.

Findings

Of the 103 original sites in the six SBIRT grantee programs, 69 sites continued providing services in some capacity (same as before, reduced, modified or expanded). Most of the 69 sites (67%) adapted and redesigned the delivery of SBIRT services post‐initial grant funding. In addition, new sites were added after grant funding ended, bringing the total number of sites to 88. Analysis of participant responses identified four primary factors that influenced SBIRT sustainability: presence of champions, funding availability, systemic change and SBIRT practitioner characteristics.

Conclusions

Almost 70% of the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) services in the United States funded initially through a federal program were able to sustain operations after federal funding ceased and some expanded SBIRT services beyond the original sites. The key factors related to sustainability were securing new funding, having champions, adapting and making system changes and managing program staffing challenges.
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT): rationale, program overview and cross‐site evaluation
Authors: Bray Jeremy W. , Del Boca Frances K. , McRee Bonnie G. , Hayashi Susan W. , Babor Thomas F.
Published: January 2017

Aims

Since 2003, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA, CSAT) has awarded 32 Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) grants to states, territories and tribal organizations to enhance services for persons with, or at risk for, substance use disorders. The grants supported an expansion of the continuum of care to include screening, brief intervention, brief treatment and referral to treatment in general medical and community settings. This paper describes the SAMHSA SBIRT program in the context of the scientific research that motivated its development, as well as the two cross‐site evaluations that are the subject of subsequent papers in this Supplement.

Methods

A narrative review of research evidence pertaining to SBIRT and of the cross‐site evaluation design that made it possible to determine whether the SAMHSA SBIRT grant program achieved its intended aims. The 11 programs within the two cohorts of grant recipients that were the subject of the cross‐site evaluations are described in terms of SBIRT service components, performance sites, providers, management structure/activities and patient/client characteristics.

Conclusion

The US SAMHSA SBIRT program is an effective way to introduce a variety of new services that extend the continuum of care for substance‐involved individuals, ranging from early intervention with non‐dependent substance users to referral of more serious cases to specialized substance abuse treatment.
Association analysis of KIT, MITF, and PAX3 variants with white markings in Spanish horses
Authors: Negro S. , Imsland F. , Valera M. , Molina A. , Solé M. , Andersson L.
Published: January 2017

Several variants in the KIT, PAX3 and MITF genes have previously been associated with white markings in horses. In this study, we examined eight variants of these genes in 70 Menorca Purebred horses (PRMe, only black solid‐coloured horses) and 70 Spanish Purebred horses (PRE, different coat colour patterns) that were scored for the extent of white markings. A maximum‐likelihood chi‐square test, logistic regression model and ridge regression analyses showed that a missense mutation (p.Arg682His) in KIT was associated with white facial markings (P < 0.05) and with total white markings (P < 0.05) in PRMe horses. The relative contribution of this variant to white markings in PRMe horses was estimated at 47.6% (head) and 43.4% (total score). In PRE horses, this variant was also associated with hindlimb scores (P < 0.05) with a relative contribution of 41.2%. The g.20147039C>T intronic variant located 29.9 kb downstream from the transcription start site of the MITF gene was associated with less white markings on forelimbs (P < 0.05) in PRMe horses, with a relative contribution of 63.9%, whereas in PRE horses this variant was associated with white facial markings (P < 0.05), with a relative contribution of 63.9%. No significant associations were found for PAX3 variants in these breeds. These results show that KIT and MITF variants are involved in the white marking patterns of both PRMe and PRE horses, providing breeders with an opportunity to use genetic testing to aid in breeding for their desired level of white markings.
Robot‐assisted retinal vein cannulation in an in vivo porcine retinal vein occlusion model
Authors: Willekens Koen , Gijbels Andy , Schoevaerdts Laurent , Esteveny Laure , Janssens Tom , Jonckx Bart , Feyen Jean H. M. , Meers Caroline , Reynaerts Dominiek , Vander Poorten Emmanuel , Stalmans Peter
Published: January 2017

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of robot‐assisted retinal vein cannulation for retinal vein occlusion.

Methods

Prospective experimental study performed in in vivo porcine eyes. A standard three port pars plana vitrectomy was followed by laser‐induced branch retinal vein occlusion. Consequently, a retinal vein cannulation with the help of a surgical robot and a microneedle was performed. Complete success was defined as a stable intravenous position of the needle tip confirmed by blood washout for at least 3 min. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of intra‐operative complications and technical failures.

Results

Cannulation was successful in 15 of 18 eyes with a complete success rate (duration of infusion of more than 3 min) of 73% after exclusion of two eyes from analysis due to failure in establishing a blood clot. There were no technical failures regarding the robotic device. The intravessel injections of ocriplasmin in two of two eyes led to a clot dissolution. In a subset of five eyes, a second cannulation attempt at the border of the optic disc resulted in a stable intravessel position and infusion during 362 (±138) seconds.

Conclusion

Robot‐assisted retinal vein cannulation with prolonged infusion time is technically feasible. Human experiments are required to analyse the clinical benefit of this new therapy.
Molecular basis for covalent inhibition of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase by a 2‐phenoxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone small molecule
Authors: Bruno Stefano , Uliassi Elisa , Zaffagnini Mirko , Prati Federica , Bergamini Christian , Amorati Riccardo , Paredi Gianluca , Margiotta Marilena , Conti Paola , Costi Maria Paola , Kaiser Marcel , Cavalli Andrea , Fato Romana , Bolognesi Maria Laura
Published: January 2017

Glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has recently gained attention as an antiprotozoan and anticancer drug target. We have previously identified 2‐phenoxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone as an inhibitor of both Trypanosoma brucei and human GAPDH. Herein, through multiple chemical, biochemical, and biological studies, and through the design of analogs, we confirmed the formation of a covalent adduct, we clarified the inhibition mechanism, and we demonstrated antitrypanosomal, antiplasmodial, and cytotoxic activities in cell cultures. The overall results lent support to the hypothesis that 2‐phenoxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone binds the GAPDH catalytic cysteine covalently through a phenolate displacement mechanism. By investigating the reactivity of 2‐phenoxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone and its analogs with four GAPDH homologs, we showed that the covalent inhibition is not preceded by the formation of a strong non‐covalent complex. However, an up to fivefold difference in inactivation rates among homologs hinted at structural or electrostatic differences of their active sites that could be exploited to further design kinetically selective inhibitors. Moreover, we preliminarily showed that 2‐phenoxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone displays selectivity for GAPDHs over two other cysteine‐dependent enzymes, supporting its suitability as a warhead starting fragment for the design of novel inhibitors.
Family‐oriented services in pediatric rehabilitation: a scoping review and framework to promote parent and family wellness
Authors: King G. , Williams L. , Hahn Goldberg S.
Published: January 2017

Family‐oriented services are not as common as one would expect, given the widespread endorsement of family‐centred care, the role of parents in supporting optimal child outcomes, and legislation and literature indicating that parent outcomes are important in their own right. There are no published service delivery frameworks describing the scope of services that could be delivered to promote parent and family wellness. A scoping review was conducted to identify types of family‐oriented services for parents of children with physical disabilities and/or intellectual impairments. This information was then synthesized into a conceptual framework of services to inform service selection and design. A scoping review of the recent literature was performed to capture descriptions of services targeting parents/families of children with physical disabilities and/or intellectual impairments, published in a six‐year period (2009 to 2014). Six databases were searched and 557 retrieved articles were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty six relevant articles were identified. Based on descriptions of services in these articles, along with seminal articles describing the nature of desirable services, we propose a needs‐based and capacity‐enhancing framework outlining a continuum of family‐oriented services for parents of children with disabilities. The framework includes six types of services to meet parent/family needs, organized as a continuum from fundamental information/education services, to those supporting parents to deliver services to meet their child's needs, to a variety of services addressing parents' own needs (support groups, psychosocial services and service coordination). The framework provides pediatric rehabilitation service organizations with a way to consider different possible family‐oriented services. Implications include the particular importance of providing information resources, support groups and psychosocial services to meet parents' needs, enhance capacity and promote family wellness. There is also an opportunity to provide composite parent–child services to address the needs of both parents and children.
A pathway‐based association study reveals variants from Wnt signalling genes contributing to asthma susceptibility
Authors: Barreto‐Luis A. , Corrales A. , Acosta‐Herrera M. , Gonzalez‐Colino C. , Cumplido J. , Martinez‐Tadeo J. , Carracedo A. , Villar J. , Carrillo T. , Pino‐Yanes M. , Flores C.
Published: January 2017

Background

Genetic susceptibility to asthma is currently linked to a handful of genes which have a limited ability to predict the overall disease risk, suggesting the existence of many other genes involved in disease development. Accumulated evidence from association studies in genes related by biological pathways could reveal novel asthma genes.

Objective

To reveal novel asthma susceptibility genes by means of a pathway‐based association study.

Methods

Based on summary data from a previous a genomewide association study (GWAS) of asthma, we first identified significant biological pathways using a gene‐set enrichment analysis. We then mapped all tested single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the genes contributing to significant pathways and prioritized those with a disproportionate number of nominal significant associations for further studies. For those prioritized genes, association studies were performed for selected SNPs in independent case–control samples (n = 1765) using logistic regression models, and results were meta‐analysed with those from the GWAS.

Results

Two biological processes were significantly enriched: the cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction (P = 0.002) and the Wnt signalling (P = 0.012). From the 417 genes interacting in these two pathways, 10 showed an excess of nominal associations, including a known asthma susceptibility locus (encoding SMAD family member 3) and other novel candidate genes. From the latter, association studies of 14 selected SNPs evidenced replication in a locus near the frizzled class receptor 6 (FZD6) gene (P = 9.90 × 10−4), which had a consistent direction of effects with the GWAS findings (meta‐analysed odds ratio = 1.49; P = 5.87 × 10−6) and was in high linkage disequilibrium with expression quantitative trait loci in lung tissues.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

This study revealed the importance of two biological pathways in asthma pathogenesis and identified a novel susceptibility locus near Wnt signalling genes.
Müller cells and retinal axons can be primary targets in experimental neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Authors: Zeka Bleranda , Lassmann Hans , Bradl Monika
Published: January 2017

Recent work from our laboratory, using different models of experimental neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), has led to a number of observations that might be highly relevant for NMOSD patients. For example: (i) in the presence of neuromyelitis optica immunoglobulin G, astrocyte‐destructive lesions can be initiated by CD4+ T cells when these cells recognize aquaporin 4 (AQP4), but also when they recognize other antigens of the central nervous system. The only important prerequisite is that the T cells have to be activated within the central nervous system by “their” specific antigen. Recently activated CD4+ T cells with yet unknown antigen specificity are also found in human NMOSD lesions. (ii) The normal immune repertoire might contain AQP4‐specific T cells, which are highly encephalitogenic on activation. (iii) The retina might be a primary target of AQP4‐specific T cells and neuromyelitis optica immunoglobulin G: AQP4‐specific T cells alone are sufficient to cause retinitis with low‐grade axonal pathology in the retinal nerve fiber/ganglionic cell layer. A thinning of these layers is also observed in NMOSD patients, where it is thought to be a consequence of optic neuritis. Neuromyelitis optica immunoglobulin G might target cellular processes of Müller cells and cause their loss of AQP4 reactivity, when AQP4‐specific T cells open the blood–retina barrier in the outer plexiform layer. Patchy loss of AQP4 reactivity on Müller cells of NMOSD patients has been recently described. Cumulatively, our findings in experimental NMOSD suggest that both CD4+ T cell and antibody responses directed against AQP4 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of tissue destruction seen in NMOSD.
Clinical characteristics of autoimmune optic neuritis
Authors: Kawachi Izumi
Published: January 2017

Autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system often involve autoimmune inflammation of the anterior visual pathways. Autoimmune optic neuritis can be categorized as: (i) isolated optic neuritis; (ii) relapsing isolated optic neuritis: (iii) chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy; (iv) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders‐associated optic neuritis; or (v) multiple sclerosis‐associated optic neuritis. Studies of serum‐specific autoantibodies, such as aquaporin‐4 and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, have revealed some underlying mechanisms of autoimmune optic neuritis. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of most cases of autoimmune optic neuritis remain unclear. The following clinical features of autoimmune optic neuritis are profoundly affected by the unique structure of the human anterior visual pathways: (i) vulnerability to swelling of the intracanalicular optic nerve as a result of the limited space within the bony canal; (ii) inflammatory cell infiltration through the subarachnoid space, pia and pial septa; (iii) compartmentalized dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid as a result of the cul‐de‐sac anatomy of the optic nerve; (iv) permeability of the prelaminar optic nerve head as a result of the lack of classical blood–brain barrier characteristics; and (v) retinal abnormalities, which are a diagnostic window of neurodegenerative processes of the optic nerves and/or brain. Future studies are required to configure a systemic nosology for optic neuritis with international consensus, elucidate specific diagnostic biomarkers, carry out clinical trials of the acute and chronic phases of the disease etiologies, and elucidate possible neuroprotective and remyelinating treatments.
Importance of pulmonary artery to ascending aorta ratio in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Iliaz Sinem , Tanriverdio Elif , Chousein Efsun Gonca Ugur , Ozturk Sakine , Iliaz Raim , Cetinkaya Erdogan , Caglar Emel
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Recent articles revealed that an increased main pulmonary artery to ascending aorta ratio (PA/A) in thorax computed tomography (CT) correlated with pulmonary hypertension, and might be linked to a high probability of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations.

Objectives

In this study, our aim was to evaluate the clinical importance of PA/A in patients with exacerbations of COPD and investigate its relationship with the number of exacerbations in 1 year or short/long‐term mortality after hospital discharge.

Methods

One hundred fifty‐six patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations who fulfilled our inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. We recorded the number of exacerbations in 1 year from hospital records, checked mortality status, and calculated the PA/A ratio from thorax CT images.

Results

PA/A ratio positively correlated with the number of hospitalizations for COPD exacerbations and the total number of exacerbations (hospitalized or not) in 1 year, and baseline PaCO2 level during hospitalization (r = 0.376, P < 0.001, r = 0.230, P = 0.004, and r = 0.328, P < 0.001, respectively). There was no relationship between mortality and PA/A.

Conclusion

Our study showed that PA/A was related with the number of hospitalizations and the total number of exacerbations due to COPD in 1 year. However, there was no relationship between PA/A and mortality.
Comparison of Bank Profitability in China and the USA
Authors: Ding Ning , Fung Hung‐Gay , Jia Jingyi
Published: January 2017

This paper examines and compares the profitability of banks in the USA and China. The USA has the largest market‐based banking system and the financial system of China is still bank‐based. Our analysis indicates that in terms of profitability, banks in China outperformed those in the USA during our study period (2008–2014). Real estate loans had an adverse effect on US bank profitability during the financial crisis and no effect after the crisis but consistently improved the profitability of Chinese banks. Interest margins have no effect on US bank profitability but a consistently positive effect on Chinese banks, confirming that China is a traditional bank‐based economy. Interbank loans have a positive and significant effect on Chinese bank profitability, while interbank domestic loans have a negative effect on US bank profitability. Finally, size had a positive effect on US banks after the financial crisis period, confirming the scale economies of large US banks, but a negative effect on Chinese banks, indicating diseconomies of scale.
Health Financing Systems, Health Equity and Universal Health Coverage in Arab Countries
Authors: Alami Randa
Published: January 2017

This article provides an overview of health financing structures in Arab countries in the context of their preparedness for universal health coverage. Current arrangements have left large swathes of the population shouldering high financial burdens and facing hardships when using healthcare, with significant impoverishing and deterrent effects. Health protection schemes are most comprehensive for those who can afford healthcare; they are mainly based on contributions and formal employment and thus fail to cater for the poor and the rural and informal sectors. Financing systems also lack the operational bases and institutional prerequisites for effective resource pooling and risk sharing, with segmentation and fragmentation worsening horizontal and vertical inequities. The neglect of public health systems has reinforced inequities by widening the gap between needs and provision, and by emphasizing the ability to pay as a basis for accessing quality care. In a context of informality and poverty, focusing reforms on health insurance is not a panacea. Rather, moving towards universal health coverage and reducing health inequities will require changes in the level of political tolerance for social injustice, and a paradigm shift to a more equity‐based political economy which views health as an investment and an entitlement.
The patient‐worker: A model for human research subjects and gestational surrogates
Authors: Ryman Emma , Fulfer Katy
Published: January 2017

We propose the ‘patient‐worker’ as a theoretical construct that responds to moral problems that arise with the globalization of healthcare and medical research. The patient‐worker model recognizes that some participants in global medical industries are workers and are owed worker's rights. Further, these participants are patient‐like insofar as they are beneficiaries of fiduciary relationships with healthcare professionals. We apply the patient‐worker model to human subjects research and commercial gestational surrogacy. In human subjects research, subjects are usually characterized as either patients or as workers. Through questioning this dichotomy, we argue that some subject populations fit into both categories. With respect to commercial surrogacy, we enrich feminist discussions of embodied labor by describing how surrogates are beneficiaries of fiduciary obligations. They are not just workers, but patient‐workers. Through these applications, the patient‐worker model offers a helpful normative framework for exploring what globalized medical industries owe to the individuals who bear the bodily burdens of medical innovation.
Can parents provide hand function training for their child with cerebral palsy?
Authors: Eliasson Ann‐Christin
Published: January 2017

This commentary is on the original article by Ferre et al. on pages 497–504 of this issue.
Contemporaneous Spillover Effects between the U.S. and the U.K. Equity Markets
Authors: Finta Marinela Adriana , Frijns Bart , Tourani‐Rad Alireza
Published: January 2017

We use high frequency data and the “identification through heteroskedasticity” approach of Rigobon (2003) to capture the contemporaneous volatility spillover effects between the U.S. and U.K. equity markets. We demonstrate the relevance of taking into account the information present during simultaneous trading hours by comparing the results generated by our structural vector autoregression with those of a traditional reduced‐form vector autoregression. Our findings clearly demonstrate that contemporaneous relations matter and that ignoring them leads to inappropriate conclusions regarding the magnitude and direction of volatility spillover.
Foreign Institutional Investment, Ownership, and Liquidity: Real and Informational Frictions
Authors: Ding Mingfa , Nilsson Birger , Suardi Sandy
Published: January 2017

The literature widely documents the negative liquidity impact of foreign participation in firms that permit high foreign institutional ownership. This paper employs a unique setting for the limited participation of qualified foreign institutional investors (QFIIs) in China's A‐share market and examines how this impacts on stock liquidity in emerging markets. Contrary to the findings in the literature, foreign investor participation helps enhance the liquidity of affected stocks by promoting trade activities and price discovery. The improvement in liquidity does not occur through the information friction channel, but rather the real friction channel. Our results are robust to endogeneity issue and the possible influence of the global financial crisis, industry effects and the stock exchange. Further, the liquidity improving effects of QFII are even stronger when the analysis is performed on a subsample of QFII firms.
‘DIE VERTHEIDIGUNG VIELER GROßEN DICHTER ALTER UND NEUER ZEITEN’: ZUM ANTHOLOGIE‐VERSTÄNDNIS GOTTSCHEDS
Authors: Lütteken Anett
Published: January 2017

Johann Christoph Gottsched published numerous collections in his lifetime (examples include Herrn Benjamin Neukirchs […] auserlesene Gedichte, Kern der deutschen Sprachkunst and Nöthige[n] Vorrath zur Geschichte der deutschen Dramatischen Dichtkunst […]). These were not only motivated by pedagogical considerations, as was typical for his era, but also had a clear literary and cultural‐political impetus. The following charts the main characteristics of several such collections from different phases of the scholar's life. In doing so, the essay sketches at the very least an outline of Gottsched's anthological thought as it manifested itself across quite different genres. Of primary interest here is the continual change in both his personal criteria of judgement, and the strategies he employed to promote himself and his work. Whereas Gottsched had launched his career as an advocate of ‘Prussian’ poetry, with cultural patriotism as his mission, in later years he increasingly and more powerfully pursued his ambition to secure an equal footing for German‐language literature on the European stage. This essay examines why it was anthologies, in his view, that could achieve this aim. In addition, the following considers the return to pedagogy in his later life, together with his inclination, which became more and more evident as Gottsched grew older, to systematise his wealth of literary knowledge.

Johann Christoph Gottsched hat zahlreiche Sammlungen (wie z. B. Herrn Benjamin Neukirchs […] auserlesene Gedichte, den Kern der deutschen Sprachkunst oder den Nöthige[n] Vorrath zur Geschichte der deutschen Dramatischen Dichtkunst […]) herausgegeben, denen neben dem zeittypischen pädagogischen insbesondere auch ein dezidiert literatur‐ und kulturpolitischer Impetus eignet. Im Beitrag werden die Charakteristika einiger seiner Textsammlungen aus verschiedenen Phasen seines Gelehrtenlebens vorgestellt, wobei das sich in verschiedensten Textgenres manifestierende anthologische Denken Gottscheds wenigstens in Umrissen skizziert werden soll. Der kontinuierliche Wandel seines persönlichen Wertungshorizonts wie auch seine Profilierungsstrategien stehen dabei im Zentrum des Interesses: Während er anfänglich als Verfechter einer ‘preußischen’ Poesie mit kulturpatriotischer Mission auftrat, verfolgte er in späteren Jahren immer häufiger und stärker den Anspruch, die deutschsprachige Literatur als gleichrangige Stimme im Konzert der europäischen Nationalliteraturen zu etablieren. Warum gerade Anthologien aus Gottscheds Sicht dazu dienen konnten, dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wird ebenso untersucht wie der späteren Lebensjahren vorbehaltene Schwenk zur Pädagogik und die immer offenkundiger werdende Neigung zur Systemschau auf der Basis seiner literaturgeschichtlichen Wissensfülle.

In Memoriam Detlef Döring