bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
JOBS Act eases securities‐law regulation of smaller companies
Authors: Parrino Richard J. , Romeo Peter J.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the principal provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, which was enacted in April 2012 and represents significant legislative reform of securities regulation in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the modified US securities regulatory regime introduced for initial public offerings and SEC reporting by a newly designated class of smaller securities issuers referred to as “emerging growth companies” and summarizes reforms to the regulation of capital‐raising transactions by small issuers and other companies that are intended to facilitate the creation of new jobs by easing regulatory burdens.

Findings

The JOBS Act should meet its objective of providing emerging growth companies, at reduced cost, with an orderly transition from a private existence with relatively few securities‐law concerns to a public one with numerous compliance obligations. Companies also will have greater opportunities to access capital through the availability of additional exemptions from Securities Act registration and the elimination of some restrictions on offering‐related communications with investors. The relaxation or elimination of long‐accepted methods for minimizing fraud and abuse in securities offerings, however, could result in a significant increase in investment scams and other wrongdoing.

Originality/value

The paper provides expert guidance from experienced financial services lawyers.
CFTC's rulemaking on the segregation of cleared swaps customer collateral: LSOC and beyond
Authors: Architzel Paul M. , Walker Petal P.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The paper's aim is to explain the rules the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has adopted for the segregation of cleared swaps customers' collateral as mandated by the Dodd‐Frank Act.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses: the deliberations that led the commission to arrive at the legal separation with operational commingling model (“LSOC”) as the regulatory standard; the characteristics of the LSOC model; and the possible future enhancements to the segregation framework under consideration by the commission, including the guaranteed clearing participant model.

Findings

Although the commission has adopted the final rules that will implement LSOC as the segregation model for cleared swaps, a number of significant issues remain open and are likely to be revisited by the commission. Additional changes to the segregation framework may be proposed as the lessons of the MF Global Bankruptcy proceedings become evident.

Originality/value

Practical guidance from experienced financial services lawyers is provided by the paper.
CFTC and SEC jointly adopt final swap entity definition rules
Authors: Lurton Allison , Bennett Bruce , Massey William , Fleishman Robert , Herman Mark , Sorrell Michael , Hewitt Ronald
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to explain the joint final rules adopted on April 18, 2012 by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) further defining the major categories of swap and security‐based swap market participants, “swap dealer“, “security‐based swap dealer”, “major swap participant”, “major security‐based swap participant” and “eligible contract participant” and to explain the process of evaluating a party's status under the rules.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides the statutory definition of a dealer, and explains the CFTC's and the SEC's interpretive guidance, including four tests and a discussion of the CFTC and SEC dealer trader distinctions, swaps not considered in determining dealer status, and a de minimis exception. It provides the statutory definition of a major participant, along with the four major categories of swaps and an explanation of the “substantial position”, “substantial counterparty exposure” and “highly leveraged” criteria, along with the exclusion of positions held for hedging or mitigating commercial risk from the substantial position analysis. A Dodd‐Frank amended definition of an eligible contract participant (ECP) along with the final ECP rules is provided.

Findings

All swap market participants will need to know whether they qualify as one of these entities because each type of entity figures prominently in the new swap market requirements imposed by the Dodd‐Frank Act.

Originality/value

The paper provides practical guidance from experienced financial services lawyers.
SEC approves MSRB's new underwriter disclosure requirements
Authors: Hardy Callcott W. , Baird Elizabeth H. , Foley Timothy C. , Tyrrell Paul M.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The aim is to explain certain disclosure and other obligations of municipal securities dealers when they act as underwriters to municipal securities issuers, as contained in a Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board interpretive notice regarding MSRB Rule G‐17, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2012.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the basic fair dealing principle; required disclosure by an underwriter; timing, manner, acknowledgement, and substance of disclosures; guidance concerning the role and compensation of the underwriter; disclosures of other conflicts; disclosures required in the case of complex financing structures; guidance concerning underwriter compensation and new issuance pricing; requirements for underwriters to honor retail order periods; and guidance on dealer payments to issuer personnel.

Findings

Although most underwriters have always viewed themselves as having a duty of fair dealing to municipal issuers, the MSRB's notice will require underwriters to formalize their procedures. Underwriters will have to develop mandatory disclosures, checklists of potential conflict disclosures, and procedures for receiving written acknowledgments. They will need to rethink how they approach complex financings.

Originality/value

The paper provides practical guidance from experienced securities lawyers.
Economic crisis in Greece: risks and challenges for drug policy and strategy
Authors: Poulopoulos Charalampos
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a political commentary on the economic crisis in Greece and to consider the subsequent risks and challenges for drug policy and strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The author considers the effect of the current economic problems on individuals, families and communities. A background on patterns of drug use in Greece is given and then consideration made to the need for service provision. The paper also considers links between addiction and delinquency and crime against a backdrop of legislative reform in Greece.

Findings

The paper highlights the effects of economic crisis on drug related phenomena in Greece.

Practical implications

The risks and challenges presented to drug treatment organizations as a result of economic crisis are discussed together with the new challenges presented by the affected population of drug users in Greece. The paper also gives emphasis to the obstacles to the adoption and implementation of a new Drugs Law.

Social implications

The situation of drug addicts in the correctional system is also presented and the various issues that arise from limited services and access to drug treatment services. It is suggested that a humanitarian approach towards the drug addicted population should be adopted, including de‐criminalization of drug use, together with increased access to physical, mental health and drug services within the criminal justice system.

Originality/value

The paper provides an up to date discussion of drug policy in Greece in the light of the current economic pressures.
Drug policy in the Americas – a new set of Latin American policy proposals
Authors: Metaal Pien
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This article aims to give some background information about the debate around drug policies in Latin America and to provide a view on a possible future direction of the developing debate.

Design/methodology/approach

Recently increasing signs coming from the highest political level indicate that current strategies are perceived as failed, and incentives for a debate on alternatives to prohibition should be discussed. The article reflects on the origin and conditions in which this debate is taking place, and the ideas, options and projection into the political institutions that are designed for that purpose. The article describes the process using existing and new materials and insights produced by scholars and participants in the Latin American drug policy debate.

Findings

The article finds that the impetus given to the drug policy reform debate has now reached a level, that it can no longer be avoided to talk openly at the highest political level, about alternatives to current drug policy strategies, based mainly on prohibition.

Originality/value

The article connects recent drug policy debates into a historical perspective, and helps to underscore the need for these reforms, as a solution for the problems faced by Latin American countries, such as increased levels of violence related to the drugs market.
Maintenance treatment programme for opioid dependence: characteristics of 50+age group
Authors: Raja Badrakalimuthu Vellingiri , Tarbuck Andrew , Wagle Ajay
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics of a group of patients over 50 years old who are entering a substitution treatment programme for opioid dependence and to compare the characteristics of this group with those aged under 50 who are enrolled in the same substitution treatment programme.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a cross sectional survey involving 92 cases in the 50 and above age group and 194 cases in the under 50 age group from community drug and alcohol services. Data were collected on demographic details, substance misuse and treatment history and progress with treatment. All the data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 1.1. Statistical significance between fewer than 50 and 50+ groups were assessed using Fisher's exact test.

Findings

Amongst the 92 in the group 50 years and above, 67 (average dose=63.25 mg) were on methadone maintenance (average dose=63.25 mg) and 19 (average dose=10.37 mg) on buprenorphine. In total, 11 per cent started using opiates after the age of 50. Sixty per cent used other substances out of which 31 per cent used multiple substances. Benzodiazepines, cocaine and amphetamines were the common substances of misuse. Thirty seven were infected with HCV. Comorbid rates for physical and mental illnesses were 64 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively. Nearly 86 per cent achieved good compliance with the treatment programme. Statistically higher rates of being single, lacking stable accommodation, prescription of buprenorphine, high dose prescriptions and lower rates of blood‐borne viruses, physical health and mental health, past forensic history were found in the under 50 age group compared with the 50+ age group.

Practical implications

There are a considerable number of patients above the age of 50 in maintenance treatment and they differ from the less than 50 age group. Old age and substance misuse psychiatrists should be aware of the prevalence of comorbid substance misuse, physical (including blood borne viruses) and psychiatric disorders in this population. Further research is required in this neglected area and a service provision should be based on such robust research.

Originality/value

This is the first study to the authors' knowledge that compares the demographic and treatment profiles of under 50 and over 50 years by age of patients in a methadone maintenance treatment programme. It clearly points to significant differences in the profiles based on age which will have implications for service provision which will have to take into account these age‐related differences in particular related to physical health and social needs.
Psychological effects of ketamine: a research note
Authors: Stirling John , Morris Rohan , McCoy Lauren
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Ketamine intoxication has been mooted as a model of some of the signs and symptoms of psychosis. However, little research has focused on the self‐report experience of ketamine users. The purpose of the current study is to quantify (the frequency of occurrence of) ketamine induced phenomenology in recreational users. The paper also seeks to meaningfully group these experiences into facets and their principal components.

Design/methodology/approach

Respondents completed a checklist of experiences, the Ketamine Experiences Questionnaire (KEQ). Two samples were recruited via opportunity and snowball sampling one in 2009 (n=52) and one in 2010/11 (n=35).

Findings

The “Q‐sort” and principal component analysis (PCA) indicate that there are two factors, factor one representing aversive ketamine experiences (accounting for 48.2 per cent of the variance) and factor two representing appetitive ketamine experiences (accounting for 20.1 per cent of the variance). Ketamine induces a raft of appetitive, aversive and transcendental experiences many of which are illustrated. The data suggest that a decision about whether to continue using ketamine (and if so, how often) depends in part on an intuitive cost‐benefit analysis of the phenomenology that it induces.

Research limitations/implications

There are some notable limitations to the current study; the small sample size to variable ratio necessitated a “Q‐sort” before PCA; the sampling procedure prohibited the generation of a representative sample; and there were no means of independently verifying ketamine use.

Originality/value

This study represents a novel exploration into ketamine phenomenology and the principal components of these experiences.
A six‐year study of substance use and mental health disorders: ascertaining the prevalence of comorbidity
Authors: Man Xiong Lai Harry , Sitharthan Thiagarajan
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Characteristics of substance use disorders (SUDs) comorbid with mental health disorders (MHDs) are not completely clear in early population based studies. The objective of this paper is to examine the association of SUDs comorbid with MHDs and vice‐versa using a large inpatient dataset.

Design/methodology/approach

The data (1 July 2001 to 30 June 2007) were extracted from the New South Wales Inpatient Statistic Data Collection. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS.

Findings

There was a total of 10,211,596 (4,671,243 males (45.75 per cent) and 5,540,353 females (54.25 per cent)) admissions. Over the six years, between 9.4 per cent and 12.6 per cent of the patients with MHDs were diagnosed as having SUDs. Of the patients diagnosed with SUDs, between 42.5 per cent and 57.4 per cent also had a diagnosis of MHDs. Overall, the comorbidity for both MHDs and SUDs was between 8.4 per cent and 11.3 per cent. The odds ratio for either SUDs or MHDs compared to the general population was between 13.0 to 20.8.

Originality/value

Patients with SUDs are highly likely to have a mental health problem. This is the first largest study and the findings imply that different efforts towards the prevention, care and management of comorbidity may be warranted.
Boundary action in construction projects: new collaborative project practices
Authors: Karrbom Gustavsson Tina , Gohary Hayar
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Traditional construction project practice has been based on rigid and impermeable boundaries that have made communication, cooperation and integration a major challenge. However, new collaborative approaches have been developed. This paper aims at adding to knowledge on projects‐as‐practice by interpreting findings from a case study on a contemporary collaborative construction project. The purpose of this paper is to provide knowledge about organizational development in the project‐based construction industry by identifying boundary actions in contemporary collaborative construction practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an exploratory longitudinal case study approach covering both early design phase and the following production phase, including interviews, participant observation at formal meetings and informal gatherings and internal and external documents. Thus, the methodology used is triangulation and the analysis has followed an interpretative process.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights into three examples of boundary actions of a collaborative construction project: stakeholder boundary action, professional boundary action and geographical boundary action. From a project‐as‐practice perspective, these boundary actions turn out to be interesting renewal initiatives, providing increased understanding of where and how renewal can take place.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on a single case study and more research on this area is needed. However, the paper shows examples of boundary actions in a contemporary project and thus adds to the knowledge on contemporary projects‐as‐practice.

Practical implications

The paper provides implications for construction project managers on examples of renewal arenas.

Originality/value

The paper is exploratory and the findings are important for much needed development and renewal of the construction industry.
Transition processes in an interorganizational platform project
Authors: Burström Thommie , Jacobsson Mattias
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and understand challenges related to transition processes that occur between projects and the permanent organisation, as well as the outcome of such processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on an explorative, in‐depth case study of a multi‐project setting. The concept phase of three projects was followed by participative observations and ongoing interviews over a 15‐week period at two sites and in two countries. The empirical material was analyzed through a process‐oriented approach focusing on daily project activities.

Findings

Transition processes are characterized by containing operational complexities. These operational complexities demand project stakeholders to perform multiple translational and transformative activities. The outcomes from these activities are, for example, strategic, operational, and functional fine‐tuning, but also attitudinal turnaround.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on an interorganizational vehicle platform project setting. Therefore, the findings from this study cannot easily be generalized to other settings. However, it is likely that actors in other interorganizational project settings can benefit from the finding, since there probably are a multitude of transition processes in such projects as well.

Practical implications

Managers can learn that it is important to map all related transition processes, analyze the implications that these processes have on the project, and perform a dialog with project members so that the sense of operational complexity and uncertainty can be reduced. This type of action will reduce feelings of frustration and create a sense of readiness to deal with unexpected events.

Originality/value

The paper's value is two‐fold. First, the setting “an interorganizational vehicle platform” is largely under studied; and second, the paper pinpoints three unique transition processes and thereby contributes to the sparsely researched area of transition processes.
The project planning myth in international development
Authors: Ika Lavagnon A. , Saint‐Macary Jan
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve understanding and practice of project management by assessing whether two of its core myths also prevail in international development (ID): first, that project managers (PMs) plan fully for project success, including implementation success and end‐user satisfaction; and second, that they can focus on “getting things done”, free of concern for strategic issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of a high‐profile World Bank project and of the policies and rules under which their PMs operate serves as a means to carry out the research. The authors uncover certain “facts” that challenge the myths that prevail in standard project management. Furthermore, they examine how these facts and the corollaries they produce guide the behaviours of PMs differently in the ID field.

Findings

In the ID field, and contrary to the standard practice in project management, it is found that: PMs are not involved in overall planning, and are limited to implementation planning, because they lack the necessary latitude. Hence, they practice project implementation as the art of avoiding making mistakes as they juggle donor procedures and guidelines. Second, PMs are well informed about the overall strategy of their project, which is articulated by the donors and the beneficiary country, but they are limited in their ability to contribute directly to its success. Thus, they may fail to deliver the intended development strategy even if they “get things done”.

Research limitations/implications

This paper argues that these two core PM tenets are convenient myths at best, given the asymmetrical distribution of power, the strong front‐end activity, and the procedures orientation of international development projects.

Practical implications

This paper addresses questions regarding the nature and the content of the work of PMs in the context of ID. In contrast to other sectors, projects are found to be linked more clearly to the higher strategic issues, and yet PMs are less empowered to contribute to them. Thus, all stakeholders may have to revise their expectations regarding what PMs can realistically do in ID. These findings are relevant to scholars and practitioners alike.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in examining the basic question of “what PMs do”. Although ID has been project‐oriented since the 1950s, this question has not received much attention in standard PM literature. In assessing “what PMs do”, the paper also brings into question “what project management is”.
Towards a holding environment: building shared understanding and commitment in projects
Authors: Culmsee Paul , Awati Kailash
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The early stages of projects are often characterised by ambiguity arising from differences in stakeholder views regarding project rationale and objectives. The purpose of this paper is to present a viewpoint on how to build a shared understanding of project goals and thus reach a shared commitment to achieving them. One of the ways to achieve shared understanding is through open dialogue, free from political and other constraints. The authors call an environment that fosters such dialogue a holding environment. The main aim is to illustrate, via a case study: how an alliance‐based approach to projects can foster a holding environment; and how argument visualisation tools such as IBIS (Issue‐Based Information System) can be used to clarify different points of view and options within such an environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a discussion of theoretical background and literature review, an alliancing case study is used to illustrate the development of a holding environment and demonstrate the utility of IBIS in the creation of such an environment.

Findings

It is seen that an alliance‐based approach to projects can provide the foundation for a holding environment. IBIS is seen to facilitate the building of shared understanding by making arguments explicit and capturing decision rationale.

Practical implications

The paper outlines a practical framework for improving the quality of dialogue and achieving stakeholder commitment on projects.

Originality/value

Achieving shared understanding and commitment to action is difficult, particularly in the early stages of projects. The paper outlines the conditions and techniques needed to facilitate this via a non‐trivial case study.
How do you do? On situating old project sites through practice‐based studies
Authors: Hällgren Markus , Lindahl Marcus
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this editorial is to reflect on the growing interest of situated project research.

Design/methodology/approach

The editorial is conceptual and relies on published work and the articles included in the special issue.

Findings

With this special issue it is found that practice‐based studies, also called Projects‐as‐Practice studies, interested in the everyday activities of project practitioners, are multi‐faceted and rich. What may also be seen is that practice‐based studies are not yet a coherent area. However, it is more important that practice‐based studies allow researchers to understand the organization less as an entity and more as a socially‐accomplished task.

Research limitations/implications

Several implications for research are offered, including the need for studies that emphasize the small details of organizing, and that practice‐based studies are not restricted to a certain methodology but depend on what a particular paper tries to accomplish.

Practical implications

With an ever‐growing stream of research focusing on projects the guest editors argue that it is about time to look into the details of organizing. This could be accomplished through a number of ways but in this special issue it is proposed that approaching traditional areas with a conscious naivety when asking the questions may do it. For the practitioner, the special issue offers important insights into how things are done in practice, which may be used as a mirror or reflection upon their own practice.

Originality/value

This editorial and special issue offer insights for any academic interested in understanding projects differently.
Project management, interdependencies, and time
Authors: Söderlund Jonas
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the content and contributions of the book by Sayles and Chandler entitled Managing Large Systems: Organizations for the Future. The paper seeks to uncover the elements of the nature and elements of project organizing presented in the book.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the main ideas in the book, along with a few important issues to organization theory, including interdependence, timing, and the role of project management.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that the book by Sayles and Chandler presents an early attempt of formulating a theory of project organization. The embryonic theory is based on insights about the importance of interdependence and time in understanding different forms of project organizing and the role of project management.

Originality/value

The present paper is especially concerned with the ideas presented in the book that relate to time and timing in project organization. Although these issues are well addressed in the book by Sayles and Chandler, they are currently pressing, yet typically ignored in much project management research. Previous research has given limited attention to the insights presented in this book published more than 40 years ago. In that respect, the ideas presented in the book by Sayles and Chandler seems to have had more impact on organization theory than on project management, although, the book as such is undoubtedly a study of project organizing and the management of projects. This observation thus sheds some new light on the conventional thinking, and somewhat simplified idea, about the unidirectional relationship between organization theory and project management.
The nature of project management
Authors: Dalcher Darren
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the content and contributions of the book by Morris and Hough entitled The Anatomy of Major Projects: A Study of the Reality of Project Management. The paper explores the major findings and contributions in the book and by so doing, highlights opportunities for future research and links the findings to emerging areas of interest.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the main ideas in the book along with a number of important issues to project management theory and the management of large projects, including success, success factors, and the use of case studies to capture the actuality of project work.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that Morris and Hough addressed many of the concerns related to major projects and uncovered the implications of researching the success of projects, offering new insights and understanding related to the dynamics of projects and the temporal nature of success (and failure).

Practical implications

The primary implication is to demonstrate the value of revisiting the classic contributions in project management and re‐reading the findings and conclusions.

Originality/value

The author is especially interested in the ideas presented in the book that relate to success and to major projects, as well as with researching the actuality of projects through case studies. Many of the findings and insights remain relevant and would inform today's debates. Previous research has given limited attention to the insights presented in this book published 25 years ago.
Reflections on Barry W. Boehm's “A spiral model of software development and enhancement”
Authors: Nilsson Andreas , Wilson Timothy L.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the content, contributions and subsequent developments of the seminal paper by Barry Boehm, “A spiral model of software development and enhancement” written in 1988. The relationships of this paper to software development, agile projects, real options and present practice are put into perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Basically an essayist approach is taken. First, the contents of Boehm's paper are reviewed and then associated with subsequent developments.

Findings

Review of the paper as published represents a documentation of cutting‐edge software development as it existed at the time. Fundamentally it suggests the viability of a non‐linear, customer‐influenced, development approach.

Practical implications

This basic approach illustrated in the spiral model of course has found its way into complex project approaches and management.

Originality/value

This paper follows the lines of increasing attention to classics, which is the purpose of this special issue of the journal. In particular, attention is called to the transition of thought on projects and project management from supplier‐oriented, linear processes to customer/client‐influenced, non‐linear ones.
Global careerists' identity construction
Authors: Näsholm Malin H.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a thesis on global careers; a topic relevant to many project managers working internationally. The main purpose of the thesis was to contribute to the understanding of global careers through applying an identity construction perspective on narratives of global careerists' working lives.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a narrative approach, 20 interviews with Swedish global careerists were analyzed and comparison of two types of global careerists was made – repeat expatriates and international itinerants.

Findings

The repeat expatriates and international itinerants are shown to have different patterns in their identity construction and there are differences in their career orientations, in their identifications with the organizations they work for, with their careers and with what they do. They also differ in how they identify with their home country and culture and the countries and cultures in which they live. Circumstances such as the type of location, the time abroad, and if the work abroad is perceived as temporary, are significant in their identity construction.

Practical implications

Both organizations and individuals benefit from understanding the implications of such careers. The results of this study can lead to the development of HRM practices to attract and maintain the relationship with these individuals and draw on their skills.

Originality/value

By considering individuals' subjective experiences of global careers through an identity construction perspective, new understanding can be reached on individuals undergoing multiple transitions over the course of their careers.
Temporary employment in Italy and its consequences on gender
Authors: Callea Antonino , Urbini Flavio , Bucknor Delaney
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to establish whether precariousness of life as determined by temporary employment contributed to anxiety and depression and whether its consequences on daily life were differentiated in relation to gender.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation analysis of anxiety and depression with aspects of precariousness of life as model predictors was explored with t‐test and correlation analyses used to explore gender differences in the study variables.

Findings

The structural equation model produced strong evidence to suggest that precariousness of life was a significant predictor of both anxiety and depression. Women reported significantly higher scores than men on distrust toward the professional future and the emotional consequences on everyday life, anxiety and depression. As hypothesized, the negative consequences of temporary work in personal and family life appear more evident in women.

Practical implications

The results suggest that organizations should promote training courses on coping strategies to prevent the negative impact of precariousness of life aspects on anxiety and depression.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence supporting that temporary employment contributes to health consequences, which apply differently by gender. The study broadens understanding of temporary work management especially in regards to its health impact on female temporary workers. Furthermore, the Precariousness of Life Inventory has demonstrated an ability to tap into the latent factors of precariousness of life, revealing important gender differences and an ability to contribute to anxiety and depression.
Women managers to women employees: helping hands or competitive jerks?
Authors: Graber Pigeon Nancy , Cook Wendy , Nimnicht James L.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference between same vs opposite sex pairings in the mentor‐protégé relationship when it comes to salary and levels within the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 612 manager/non‐manager dyads with all non‐managers being female. The organization was located in the Northwest section of the United States and was a large Fortune 500 manufacturing firm. All levels of the organization were utilized from entry level positions to vice presidents to measure how women fared under female vs male mentors.

Findings

Women with female mentor supervisors earn less than with male mentor supervisors. The disparity is even greater the younger the protégée. If the trend shown in this research continues, wages may drop for women in high levels of the organization with same‐ sex mentees.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of this research is the operationalization of a manager as a mentor. Supervisors were used as the mentor in most examples. Even if the participants in the study had self‐selected their mentors, it would still be expected that the participants would be successful. Another limitation to this research is that there was no direct assessment of the perceptions of the mentor/protégé relationship among the participants. More research needs to be done to understand why these trends were found which might include looking at personality traits, various characteristics, immutable traits, etc. Additionally, experimental longitudinal research should be done to arrive at a definitive conclusion. This research provides the impetus to study the phenomenon cross culturally, outside of the northwest and outside of the USA, etc.

Practical implications

The practical implications for management may be that having women moving up the organizational hierarchy without the appropriate pay increase may save the company money in labor costs. But, as women recognize the disparity in income, they may request opposite sex mentors vs same sex mentors which may be a self‐limiting factor for organizations promoting women into higher level positions in the organization. Therefore, they may promote fewer women which would decrease their diversity efforts.

Originality/value

Many researchers have reviewed the relationship between a mentee and a more seasoned organizational member. Formal and informal mentoring systems have been studied as well reviewing many variables. The research reviewing same vs opposite sex pairings in the mentor/protégé relationship demonstrates conflicting findings. This paper tests the result in salary and organizational level that the female protégé rises to if they have a female mentor vs male mentor.
Thousands of microsatellite loci from the venomous coralsnake Micrurus fulvius and variability of select loci across populations and related species
Authors: Castoe Todd A. , Streicher Jeffrey W. , Meik Jesse M. , Ingrasci Matthew J. , Poole Alexander W. , de Koning A. P. Jason , Campbell Jonathan A. , Parkinson Christopher L. , Smith Eric N. , Pollock David D.
Published: September 2012

Studies of population genetics increasingly use next‐generation DNA sequencing to identify microsatellite loci in nonmodel organisms. There are, however, relatively few studies that validate the feasibility of transitioning from marker development to experimental application across populations and species. North American coralsnakes of the Micrurus fulvius species complex occur in the United States and Mexico, and little is known about their population structure and phylogenetic relationships. This absence of information and population genetics markers is particularly concerning because they are highly venomous and have important implications on human health. To alleviate this problem in coralsnakes, we investigated the feasibility of using 454 shotgun sequences for microsatellite marker development. First, a genomic shotgun library from a single individual was sequenced (approximately 7.74 megabases; 26 831 reads) to identify potentially amplifiable microsatellite loci (PALs). We then hierarchically sampled 76 individuals from throughout the geographic distribution of the species complex and examined whether PALs were amplifiable and polymorphic. Approximately half of the loci tested were readily amplifiable from all individuals, and 80% of the loci tested for variation were variable and thus informative as population genetic markers. To evaluate the repetitive landscape characteristics across multiple snakes, we also compared microsatellite content between the coralsnake and two other previously sampled snakes, the venomous copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and Burmese python (Python molurus).
S‐MDM4 mRNA overexpression indicates a poor prognosis and marks a potential therapeutic target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Liu Ling , Fan Lei , Fang Cheng , Zou Zhi‐Jian , Yang Shu , Zhang Li‐Na , Li Jian‐Yong , Xu Wei
Published: September 2012

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prognostic significance of murine double minute 4 (MDM4) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to characterize the role of MDM4 in the p53 pathway. Full‐length MDM4 (FL‐MDM4), a splicing variant of MDM4 (S‐MDM4) and murine double minute 2 (MDM2) mRNA expressions were detected by quantitative PCR in 140 Chinese patients with CLL, and primary CLL cells were treated in vitro with either fludarabine or Nutlin‐3 to explore the interaction between p53 status and MDM4 or MDM2 expression. A marked increase of FL‐MDM4 and S‐MDM4 expressions were observed in the CLL patients with p53 aberrations (deletion and/or mutation) (P = 0.024, P < 0.001). A high level of S‐MDM4 mRNA expression was associated with short treatment free survival (TFS) (P = 0.004). FL‐MDM4 expression was significantly decreased after fludarabine treatment (P = 0.001) but increased after Nutlin‐3 treatment (P = 0.008) of primary CLL cells without p53 aberrations. Both S‐MDM4 and MDM2 expressions were significantly increased after fludarabine treatment of CLL cells without p53 aberrations (P = 0.013 and P = 0.030). MDM2 overexpression also occurred in CLL cells with p53 wild type after Nutlin‐3 treatment (P = 0.018). FL‐MDM4 and S‐MDM4 overexpression are indicators of p53 aberrations in CLL patients, suggesting that those patients have a poor prognosis. FL‐MDM4 inhibitory effects on p53 can be removed by MDM2‐p53 and saved by Nutlin‐3.
Prognostic value of human papillomavirus and squamous cell carcinoma antigen in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Deng Zeyi , Hasegawa Masahiro , Yamashita Yukashi , Matayoshi Sen , Kiyuna Asanori , Agena Shinya , Uehara Takayuki , Maeda Hiroyuki , Suzuki Mikio
Published: September 2012

To clarify the synergistic influence of human papillomavirus (HPV) status and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) mRNA expression on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) prognosis, HPV DNA presence and SCCA1 and SCCA2 mRNA expression were determined by PCR and quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR, respectively, in 121 patients with primary HNSCC who were receiving curative treatment. HPV DNA was detected in 28.1% (34/121) of HNSCC cases, and only high‐risk types (HPV‐16, HPV‐33, HPV‐35 and HPV‐58) were observed. Positive HPV status showed a significantly better prognosis than negative HPV status (P = 0.022). An elevated SCCA2/SCCA1 mRNA ratio was an independent predictor of disease recurrence (P = 0.004). In addition, HPV‐negative patients with a high SCCA2/SCCA1 ratio (>0.27) had a significantly lower recurrence‐free survival rate than HPV‐negative patients with a low SCCA2/SCCA1 ratio (P < 0.011). Our findings revealed that both HPV status and the SCCA2/SCCA1 mRNA ratio are independently associated with prognosis in HNSCC. Patients with both a HPV‐negative status and a high SCCA2/SCCA1 ratio might need intensified treatment and rigorous follow up after treatment because of the high risk of recurrence.
Hypoglycaemia is associated with increased length of stay and mortality in people with diabetes who are hospitalized
Authors: Nirantharakumar K. , Marshall T. , Kennedy A. , Narendran P. , Hemming K. , Coleman J. J.
Published: September 2012

Diabet. Med. 29, e445–e448 (2012)

Aim  To study the length of stay and inpatient mortality of patients with diabetes who had an episode of hypoglycaemia in a non critical care setting at University Hospital Birmingham, UK.

Methods  Retrospective analysis of routinely available electronic data of 6374 admissions with a recording of either laboratory or point‐of‐care blood glucose value. Based on the lowest recorded blood glucose values, patients were categorized into a group without hypoglycaemia (> 3.9 mmol/l), a group with mild to moderate hypoglycaemia (2.3–3.9 mmol/l) and a group with severe hypoglycaemic (≤ 2.2 mmol/l). Length of stay and inpatient mortality were compared between the three groups, adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, deprivation, admission type, use of insulin and modified Charlson co‐morbidity score.

Results  There were 148 admissions (2.3%) with severe hypoglycaemia (≤ 2.2 mmol/l), 500 admissions (7.8%) with mild to moderate hypoglycaemia (2.2–3.9 mmol/l) and 5726 admissions with no recorded hypoglycaemic episode (> 3.9 mmol/l). After adjustment, length of stay, when compared with those without a recorded hypoglycaemic episode, was 1.51 (95% CI 1.35–1.68) times higher in the group with blood glucose values of 2.3–3.9 mmol/l and 2.33 (95% CI 1.91–2.84) higher in the group with blood glucose values ≤ 2.2 mmol/l. Adjusted odds ratio of inpatient mortality when compared with the group without hypoglycaemia was 1.62 (95% CI 1.16–2.27) in the group with blood glucose values of 2.3–3.9 mmol/l and 2.05 (95% CI 1.24–3.38) in the group with blood glucose values ≤ 2.2 mmol/l.

Conclusion  Hypoglycaemia is associated with increased length of stay and inpatient mortality. Whilst causative evidence is lacking, our data are consistent with the need to avoid hypoglycaemia in our current and continued approach for optimal glycaemic control in people with diabetes admitted to hospital.
Taspoglutide, a once‐weekly glucagon‐like peptide 1 analogue, vs. insulin glargine titrated to target in patients with Type 2 diabetes: an open‐label randomized trial
Authors: Nauck M. , Horton E. , Andjelkovic M. , Ampudia‐Blasco F. J. , Parusel C. T. , Boldrin M. , Balena R. ,   for the T‐emerge 5 Study Group
Published: September 2012

Aims  To compare the efficacy and safety of once‐weekly taspoglutide with insulin glargine in patients with advanced Type 2 diabetes failing metformin and sulphonylurea combination therapy.

Methods  This open‐label, parallel‐group, multi‐centre trial randomized 1049 patients continuing metformin 1:1:1 to taspoglutide 10 mg once weekly, taspoglutide 20 mg once weekly or insulin glargine once daily with forced titration to fasting plasma glucose ≤ 6.1 mmol/l. Sulphonylureas were discontinued before randomization. The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c after 24 weeks.

Results  After 24 weeks, least‐square mean changes from baseline in HbA1c in patients receiving taspoglutide 10 mg [−8 mmol/mol (se 1)] [−0.77% (se 0.05)] or taspoglutide 20 mg [−11 mmol/mol (se 1)] [−0.98% (se 0.05)] were non‐inferior to insulin glargine [−9 mmol/mol (se 1)] [−0.84% (se 0.05)]; treatment difference of 0.07% (95% CI −0.06 to 0.21) and −0.14% (95% CI −0.28 to −0.01), for taspoglutide 10 and 20 mg, respectively, vs. insulin glargine. Taspoglutide was associated with more adverse events (mainly gastrointestinal) and significantly less hypoglycaemia than insulin glargine.

Conclusions  Compared with insulin glargine, taspoglutide provided non‐inferior HbA1c reductions associated with less hypoglycaemia, but more gastrointestinal adverse events.
Factors determining high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein values in the Spanish population. Di@bet.es study
Authors: Rojo‐Martínez Gemma , Soriguer Federico , Colomo Natalia , Calle Alfonso , Goday Alberto , Bordiú Elena , Delgado Elías , Menéndez Edelmiro , Ortega Emilio , Urrutia Inés , Girbés Juan , Castaño Luis , Catalá Miguel , Gaztambide Sonia , Valdés Sergio ,   On behalf of the di@bet.es study group
Published: September 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012

Background  Although high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) is currently used as a risk marker of cardiovascular disease, it has been suggested that genetic, clinical, biochemical or environmental factors could modify hs‐CRP levels. The aim of this study was to investigate sources of interindividual hs‐CRP variability in the Spanish population.

Materials and methods  A representative sample of the Spanish population within the di@bet.es study was used. Study variables included a clinical and demographic structured survey, a lifestyle survey, a physical examination, plasmatic hs‐CRP and other biochemical parameters.

Results  Median and interquartile range of plasma hs‐CRP values were 1·73 ± 2·75 mg/dL. Thirty per cent of the study population had hs‐CRP levels above 3 mg/dL and 38% from 1 to 3 mg/dL. Body mass index was the strongest factor associated with moderate and high hs‐CRP levels. Age, sex, waist‐to‐hip ratio, weight increase, plasma lipid levels, glucose metabolism (HOMA‐IR and abnormal glucose regulation categories), pharmacological treatment (lipid‐lowering agents, psychotropic drugs and levothyroxine), smoking, physical activity, different dietary patterns, quality of life and educational level were all significantly associated with hs‐CRP levels. Interactions were observed between variables. These interactions modulated the effect of previously described factors on hs‐CRP.

Conclusions  Thirty per cent of the Spanish population have hs‐CRP levels considered to represent a cardiovascular risk. Different clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and environmental variables modulate hs‐CRP levels. In addition, multiple interactions between variables complicate the interpretation of hs‐CRP values.