bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury: Generalization of Prolonged-Exposure PTSD Treatment Outcomes to Postconcussive Symptoms, Cognition, and Self-Efficacy in Veterans and Active Duty Service Members
Authors: Wolf Gregory K. , Mauntel Gregory J. , Kretzmer Tracy , Crawford Eric , Thors Christina , Strom Thad Q. , Vanderploeg Rodney D.
Published: September 2017

Objectives:

To examine (a) generalization of the effectiveness of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in improving postconcussive symptoms (PCSs) and other outcomes in military service members and Veterans (VA) with histories of mild to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and (b) factors associated with PCS reduction.

Setting:

VA polytrauma medical center.

Participants:

Consecutive referrals for PTSD treatment of Active Duty (n = 17) or Veterans (n = 27) diagnosed with PTSD and TBI (N = 44).

Main Outcome Measures:

Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, Key Behaviors Change Inventory, Self-Efficacy for Symptom Management, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, and Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition.

Design:

Post hoc analysis of archival clinical effectiveness program evaluation data.

Interventions:

PE for PTSD.

Results:

There were significant improvements on all outcome measures with large effect sizes (Cohen's d ranging from 0.68 to 2.02). Improvement on PCS (Cohen's d = 1.21) was associated with lower levels of VA service-connected disability and PE treatment completion.

Conclusion:

PE treatment-related improvements for participants with comorbid PTSD and TBI generalize from PTSD outcomes to PCS and other TBI-related outcomes. Positive outcomes were independent of TBI severity, treatment setting, or Veteran status, but dependent upon PE treatment completion and lower levels of VA service-connected disability.
An Automated Medical Equipment Management System Proposed for Small-Scale Hospitals
Authors: Saleh Neven , Salem Abdel Rahman
Published: September 2017

A hospital is a high-technology center that must be superbly organized. Therefore, the existence of medical equipment management program is considered as an essential tool for managing and monitoring medical equipment. In application, many automated systems have been developed with different domains. The purpose of this article is to develop a customized software package using C language for medical equipment management appropriate for small-scale hospitals under the umbrella of computerized maintenance management system. Indeed, the developed program covers different phases of medical equipment management including inventory, preventive maintenance, calibration, and repair. The automated system introduces 8 separate windows for management; every window presents its own data that support overall management system. The validation of the developed program was carried out based on a data set of 235 pieces of medical equipment belonging to 7 departments in a general Egyptian hospital. The results point out the convenience and consistency of the developed program.
Vaccination during pregnancy: first line of defense for expecting mothers and vulnerable young infants
Authors: Bethancourt Casidhe-Nicole , Wang Tiffany L. , Bocchini Joseph A.
Published: September 2017

Purpose of review

Maternal vaccination is a well-tolerated and effective way to protect mothers, their developing fetuses, and their young infants from infectious diseases. Although influenza vaccine and diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine are recommended for all pregnant women, uptake rates in the United States remain low. This review will focus on the rationale, scientific evidence, and perceptions of vaccination during pregnancy.

Recent findings

Recent studies show that administration of influenza and Tdap vaccines during pregnancy is well tolerated and provides protection to the pregnant woman, her fetus, and young infant. Studies have shown that many pregnant women look to their obstetricians to guide their prenatal care. A strong provider recommendation remains the greatest impetus to increase vaccine uptake. Both healthcare providers and expectant mothers should continue to be educated on the importance and safety of the influenza and Tdap vaccines during pregnancy.

Providers play a central role in advising patients and their families about the importance of maternal vaccination. The strong recommendation of providers and the availability of maternal vaccines in OB/GYN offices are keys to improve vaccine uptake. Attention must be paid to further development of intervention techniques that address unique barriers such as vaccine cost, storage concerns, and misinformation about vaccine safety.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms of Food Challenge‐proven Non‐IgE Cow's Milk Allergy Are Dissipated by Early School Age
Authors: Helin Noora , Kolho Kaija‐Leena , Qvist Erik , Mäkelä Mika , Merras‐Salmio Laura
Published: September 2017

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the current well‐being and dietary restrictions in children 6 years after food challenge‐confirmed diagnosis of non‐IgE cow's milk protein allergy, compared to peers with gastrointestinal symptoms but negative food challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic process retrospectively.

Methods:

This is an Internet‐based survey for mothers whose children underwent 6 years ago the double‐blind, placebo‐controlled food challenge for cow's milk (CM) because of gastrointestinal symptoms causing suspicion of non‐IgE CM protein allergy. Concurrent dietary restrictions, overall well‐being, medical history, and retrospective views on the food challenge were queried using a study‐specific questionnaire, the Quality of life using PedsQL general score and parental stress with the Parenting Stress Index questionnaire.

Result:

Mothers of 42 children (23 girls), median age of 6.7 years (range 5.7–8.6), participated in the survey, the response rate was 70%. All children now consumed cow's milk protein. The only food restrictions reported were empirical lactose‐free diets in 7 children (17%). One‐third of the children in both groups were presently reported to have eating‐related issues such as picky eating. Quality of life was good and present parenting stress was average in both groups. The majority of the mothers (87%) felt positive or neutral about the food challenge performed in infancy.

Conclusions:

The non‐IgE CM allergy with gastrointestinal symptoms diagnosed in infancy was a transient condition with good outcome. At an early school age, nearly all children have a good quality of life and a regular diet. The use of the double‐blind, placebo‐controlled food challenge was well‐endorsed.
The Effect of Gluten‐free Diet on Clinical Symptoms and the Intestinal Mucosa of Patients With Potential Celiac Disease
Authors: Mandile Roberta , Discepolo Valentina , Scapaticci Serena , Del Vecchio Maria Rosaria , Maglio Maria Antonia , Greco Luigi , Troncone Riccardo , Auricchio Renata
Published: September 2017

In this prospective study, we evaluated the effect of gluten‐free diet (GFD) in a cohort of 65 children with potential celiac disease. Patients received GFD for signs/symptoms (N = 47) or parents’ choice (N = 18). Most frequent signs/symptoms were low body mass index (36%), recurrent abdominal pain (34%), and diarrhea (19%). Of the 35/47 patients followed‐up on GFD, only 54% (19/35) showed a complete clinical response. In 9 of 65 patients an intestinal biopsy was also performed after at least 1 year of GFD. No significant differences were observed in terms of Marsh grade (P = 0.33), lamina propria CD25+ cells (P = 0.80), CD3+ (P = 0.9), and γδ+ (P = 0.59) intraepithelial lymphocytes density and intestinal anti‐TG2 deposits (P = 0.60). In conclusion, caution is necessary before attributing all symptoms to gluten in this condition.
Acute Upper Extremity Edema in a 10-Year-Old Girl as Presenting Symptom of a Rare Cancer
Authors: McCallin Tracy Elizabeth , Thampi Sheila , Eighmy Stephanie Michelle , Griffin Timothy Cameron , Sorrell April Deon
Published: September 2017

Acute onset upper extremity edema can pose a diagnostic challenge for the emergency physician, with conditions ranging from mild local allergic reactions to deep venous thrombosis to underlying life threatening conditions. We discuss a case of a 10-year-old female with upper extremity edema and the diagnostic considerations, which ultimately led to uncovering a malignant etiology. This case represents a rare presentation of her underlying diagnosis, anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound Could Streamline the Emergency Department Workflow of Clinically Nonspecific Intussusception
Authors: Kim Jung Heon , Lee Jeong-Yong , Kwon Jae Hyun , Cho Hyung-Rae , Lee Jong Seung , Ryu Jeong-Min
Published: September 2017

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for intussusception screening streamlines the workflow of clinically nonspecific intussusception (CNI), an intussusception presenting with only 1 manifestation of the classic triad, and/or vomiting.

Methods

We reviewed 274 consecutive children with intussusception, aged 6 years or younger, who visited a tertiary care hospital emergency department between May 2012 and April 2016. This period was dichotomized by May 2014 (the “PRE” and “POST” groups), starting point of implementation of the POCUS protocol for intussusception screening. All children with CNI who had positive results on or forwent POCUS underwent radiologist-performed ultrasound (US). We measured and compared emergency department length of stay (EDLOS), the sum of door-to-reduction and observation times, and the frequency of POCUS and positive US results between the 2 groups.

Results

Of 160 children with CNI, 93 visited the emergency department since May 2014. The POST group showed a shorter median EDLOS (856 vs 630 minutes, P < 0.001), door-to-reduction time (137 vs 111 minutes, P = 0.002), and observation time (700 vs 532 minutes, P < 0.001). The POST group had a higher frequency of POCUS (12% vs 60%, P < 0.001) with positive US results (33% vs 59%, P < 0.001). The PRE group had a higher frequency of severe bowel edema (16% vs 1%, P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the severity, recurrence, admission, and surgery. One child had a false-negative result on POCUS.

Conclusions

Point-of-care ultrasound could streamline the workflow of CNI via decrease in EDLOS and unnecessary referrals for US.
Epigenetics and Precision Oncology
Authors: Werner Rachael J. , Kelly Andrew D. , Issa Jean-Pierre J.
Published: September 2017

Epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation defects and aberrant covalent histone modifications occur within all cancers and are selected for throughout the natural history of tumor formation, with changes being detectable in early onset, progression, and ultimately recurrence and metastasis. The ascertainment and use of these marks to identify at-risk patient populations, refine diagnostic criteria, and provide prognostic and predictive factors to guide treatment decisions are of growing clinical relevance. Furthermore, the targetable nature of epigenetic modifications provides a unique opportunity to alter treatment paradigms and provide new therapeutic options for patients whose malignancies possess these aberrant epigenetic modifications, paving the way for new and personalized medicine. DNA methylation has proven to be of significant clinical utility for its stability and relative ease of testing. The intent of this review is to elaborate upon well-supported examples of epigenetic precision medicine and how the field is moving forward, primarily in the context of aberrant DNA methylation.
Population-based models of planning for palliative care in older people
Authors: Currow David C. , Phillips Jane , Agar Meera
Published: September 2017

Purpose of review

Health service planning requires demographic, clinical, and health systems data and is unique to each health system. Planning for palliative care in older people must include patients and their carers. This review explores literature from the last 24 months.

Recent findings

The proportion of people living in skilled nursing facilities is increasing and many residents require quality palliative care. Simultaneously, the complexity of care for older people is also increasing. Systematic approaches to improving palliative care in these facilities have shown benefits that are cost-effective.

Although advance care planning is widely promoted, a randomized controlled trial failed to show the benefits seen in nonrandomized trials. This requires a reconceptualization of current programs that seek to increase uptake.

Caregivers take on complex decision-making which can be stressful. By contrast, patients are often very confident that the people who are close to them will make good decisions on their behalf.

Specific subgroups considered in this review include carers (and the challenges they face), the ‘oldest old’ and people with dementia.

Excellent research is being done to improve the care of older people with palliative care needs. Ultimately, how can key findings be incorporated into clinical care?
Hemispheric Dominance for Stereognosis in a Patient With an Infarct of the Left Postcentral Sensory Hand Area
Authors: Moll Jorge , de Oliveira-Souza Ricardo
Published: September 2017

The concept of left hemispheric dominance for praxis, speech, and language has been one of the pillars of neurology since the mid-19th century. In 1906, Hermann Oppenheim reported a patient with bilateral stereoagnosia (astereognosis) caused by a left parietal lobe tumor and proposed that the left hemisphere was also dominant for stereognosis. Surprisingly, few cases of bilateral stereoagnosia caused by a unilateral cerebral lesion have been documented in the literature since then. Here we report a 75-year-old right-handed man who developed bilateral stereoagnosia after suffering a small infarct in the crown of the left postcentral gyrus. He could not recognize objects with either hand, but retained the ability to localize stimuli applied to the palm of his left (ipsilesional) hand. He was severely disabled in ordinary activities requiring the use of his hands. The lesion corresponded to Brodmann area 1, where probabilistic anatomic, functional, and electrophysiologic studies have located one of the multiple somatosensory representations of the hand. The lesion was in a strategic position to interrupt both the processing of afferent tactile information issuing from the primary somatosensory cortex (areas 3a and 3b) and the forward higher-order processing in area 2, the secondary sensory cortex, and the contralateral area 1. The lesion also deprived the motor hand area of its afferent regulation from the sensory hand area (grasping), while leaving intact the visuomotor projections from the occipital cortex (reaching). Our patient supports Oppenheim’s proposal that the left postcentral gyrus of some individuals is dominant for stereognosis.
Phylogeographic separation and formation of sexually discrete lineages in a global population of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Authors: Seecharran Tristan , Kalin-Manttari Laura , Koskela Katja , Nikkari Simo , Dickins Benjamin , Corander Jukka , Skurnik Mikael , McNally Alan
Published: September 2017

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a Gram-negative intestinal pathogen of humans and has been responsible for several nationwide gastrointestinal outbreaks. Large-scale population genomic studies have been performed on the other human pathogenic species of the genus Yersinia, Yersinia pestis and Yersinia enterocolitica allowing a high-resolution understanding of the ecology, evolution and dissemination of these pathogens. However, to date no purpose-designed large-scale global population genomic analysis of Y. pseudotuberculosis has been performed. Here we present analyses of the genomes of 134 strains of Y. pseudotuberculosis isolated from around the world, from multiple ecosystems since the 1960s. Our data display a phylogeographic split within the population, with an Asian ancestry and subsequent dispersal of successful clonal lineages into Europe and the rest of the world. These lineages can be differentiated by CRISPR cluster arrays, and we show that the lineages are limited with respect to inter-lineage genetic exchange. This restriction of genetic exchange maintains the discrete lineage structure in the population despite co-existence of lineages for thousands of years in multiple countries. Our data highlights how CRISPR can be informative of the evolutionary trajectory of bacterial lineages, and merits further study across bacteria.
Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of progenitors of the oligodendrocyte lineage reveals transcriptional convergence during development
Authors: Marques Sueli , Vanichkina Darya , van Bruggen David , Floriddia Elisa M. , Munguba Hermany , Väremo Leif , Giacomello Stefania , Mendanha Falcão Ana , Meijer Mandy , Samudyata S , Codeluppi Simone , Björklund Åsa K. , Linnarsson Sten , Hjerling-Leffler Jens , Taft Ryan J. , Castelo-Branco Gonçalo
Published: September 2017

Pdgfra+oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) arise in distinct specification waves during embryogenesis in the central nervous system (CNS). It is unclear whether there is a correlation between these waves and different transcriptional oligodendrocyte (OL) states at adult stages. Here we present a bulk and single-cell transcriptomics resource providing insights on how transitions between these states occur. We show that E13.5Pdgfra+populations are not OPCs, exhibiting instead hallmarks of neural progenitors. A subset of these progenitors, which we refer as pre-OPCs, rewires their transcriptional landscape, converging into indistinguishable OPC states at E17.5 and post-natal stages. P7 brain and spinal cord OPCs present similar transcriptional profiles at the single-cell level, indicating that OPC states are not region-specific. Postnatal OPC progeny of E13.5Pdgfra+have electrophysiological and transcriptional profiles similar to OPCs derived from subsequent specification waves. In addition, lineage tracing indicates that a subset of E13.5Pdgfra+cells also originate cells of the pericyte lineage. In summary, our results indicate that embryonicPdgfra+cells are diverse and give rise at post-natal stages to distinct cell lineages, including OPCs with convergent transcriptional profiles in different CNS regions.
In-depth characterization of the cisplatin mutational signature in human cell lines and in esophageal and liver tumors
Authors: Boot Arnoud , Huang Mi Ni , Ng Alvin W.T. , Ho Szu-Chi , Lim Jing Quan , Kawakami Yoshiiku , Chayama Kazuaki , Teh Bin Tean , Nakagawa Hidewaki , Rozen Steven G.
Published: September 2017

Background and aims

Cisplatin reacts with DNA, and thereby likely generates a characteristic pattern of somatic mutations, called a mutational signature. Despite widespread use of cisplatin in cancer treatment and its role in contributing to secondary malignancies, its mutational signature has not been delineated. We hypothesize that cisplatin’s mutational signature can serve as a biomarker to identify cisplatin mutagenesis in suspected secondary malignancies. Knowledge of which tissues are at risk of developing cisplatin-induced secondary malignancies could lead to guidelines for non-invasive monitoring for secondary malignancies after cisplatin chemotherapy.

Methods

We performed whole genome sequencing of 10 independent clones of cisplatin-exposed MCF-10A and HepG2 cells, and delineated the patterns of single- and dinucleotide mutations in terms of flanking sequence, transcription strand bias, and other characteristics. We used the mSigAct signature presence test and non-negative matrix factorization to search for cisplatin mutagenesis in hepatocellular carcinomas and esophageal adenocarcinomas.

Results

All clones showed highly consistent patterns of single- and dinucleotide substitutions. The proportion of dinucleotide substitutions was high: 8.1% of single nucleotide substitutions were part of dinucleotide substitutions, presumably due to cisplatin’s propensity to form intra-and inter-strand crosslinks between purine bases in DNA. We identified likely cisplatin exposure in 9 hepatocellular carcinomas and 3 esophageal adenocarcinomas. All hepatocellular carcinomas for which clinical data were available and all esophageal cancers indeed had histories of cisplatin treatment.

Conclusions

We experimentally delineated the single- and dinucleotide mutational signature of cisplatin. This signature enabled us to detect previous cisplatin exposure in human hepatocellular carcinomas and esophageal adenocarcinomas with high confidence.
Isolation and identification of enteroviruses from sewage and sewage-contaminated water samples from Ibadan, Nigeria, 2012-2013
Authors: Adeniji Johnson Adekunle , Adewale Adetunji Oladapo , Faleye Temitope Oluwasegun Cephas , Adewumi Moses Olubusuyi
Published: September 2017

In 2010, we described sewage contaminated water (SCW) bodies that consistently yielded enteroviruses (EVs) in enterovirus surveillance (ES) sites in Lagos, Nigeria. By 2012, we demonstrated the presence and circulation of Wild Poliovirus 3 (WPV3) in these ES sites. Here we describe ES sites that consistently yield EVs in Ibadan metropolis southwest Nigeria.

Twenty-five ES samples were collected by grab method from nine sites between October, 2012 and March, 2013. Samples were concentrated and four (RD, HEp2C, MCF-7 and L20B) different cell lines used for virus isolation from the concentrates. Isolates were subjected to RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PanEnterovirus 5l-UTR and VP1 assays. Unidentifiable isolates were further subjected to species-specific RT-PCR assays. Amplicons were sequenced, isolates identified and subjected to phylogenetic analysis.

Twenty-five isolates were recovered from 8 (32%) of the 25 ES samples collected. Twenty-three of the isolates were identified as EVs by the PanEntero5l-UTR assay. Thirteen (57%) of the 23 EVs were positive for the VP1 assay, and identified as Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) (1 isolate), CVB6 (1 isolate), E6 (2 isolates), E7 (5 isolates), E11 (1 isolate), E12 (1 isolate) and E13 (2 isolates). None and 2 (25%) of the remaining isolates were positive for the EV-B and EV-C assays, respectively. The 2 EV-C positive enteroviruses were isolated on MCF-7.

This study describes three very productive ES sites, and documents the presence of CVB3, CVB6, E6, E7, E11, E12 and, E13 in Ibadan, Nigeria. It shows that including other cell lines in EV isolation protocols can broaden the diversity of EV types recoverable.
What’s Up: an assessment of Causal Inference in the Perception of Verticality
Authors: de Winkel K.N. , Katliar M. , Diers D. , Büelthoff H.H.
Published: September 2017

The perceptual upright is thought to be constructed by the central nervous system (CNS) as a vector sum; by combining estimates on the upright provided by the visual system and the body’s inertial sensors with prior knowledge that the upright is usually above the head. Results from a number of recent studies furthermore show that the weighting of the respective sensory signals is proportional to their reliability, consistent with a Bayesian interpretation of the idea of a vector sum (Forced Fusion, FF). However, findings from a study conducted in partial gravity suggest that the CNS may rely on a single sensory system (Cue Capture, CC), or choose to process sensory signals differently based on inferred signal causality (Causal Inference, CI). We developed a novel Alternative-Reality system to manipulate visual and physical tilt independently, and tasked participants (n=28) to indicate the perceived upright for various (in-)congruent combinations of visual-inertial stimuli. Overall, the data appear best explained by the FF model. However, an evaluation of individual data reveals considerable variability, favoring different models in about equal proportions of participants (FF, n=12; CI, n=7, CC, n=9). Given the observed variability, we conclude that the notion of a vector sum does not provide a comprehensive explanation of the perception of the upright.
Unique ATP-cone-driven allosteric regulation of ribonucleotide reductase via the radical-generating subunit
Authors: Rozman Grinberg Inna , Lundin Daniel , Hasan Mahmudul , Crona Mikael , Jonna Venkateswara Rao , Loderer Christoph , Sahlin Margareta , Markova Natalia , Borovok Ilya , Berggren Gustav , Hofer Anders , Logan Derek T , Sjöberg Britt-Marie
Published: September 2017

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) are key enzymes in DNA synthesis and repair, with sophisticated allosteric mechanisms controlling both substrate specificity and overall activity. In RNRs, the activity master-switch, the ATP-cone, has been found exclusively in the catalytic subunit. In two class I RNR subclasses whose catalytic subunit lacks the ATP-cone, we discovered ATP-cones in the radical-generating subunit. The ATP-cone in theLeewenhoekiella blandensisradical-generating subunit regulates activity via modifications of quaternary structure induced by binding of nucleotides. ATP induces enzymatically competent dimers, whereas dATP induces non-productive tetramers, resulting in different holoenzyme complexes. The tetramer forms solely by interactions between ATP-cones, as evidenced by a 2.45 Å crystal structure. We also present evidence for an MnIIIMnIVmetal center. In summary, lack of an ATP-cone domain in the catalytic subunit was compensated by evolutionary capture of the domain by the radical-generating subunit. Our findings present a novel opportunity for dATP-regulation of engineered proteins.
Capitalizing on Competition: An Evolutionary Model of Competitive Release in Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer Treatment
Authors: West Jeffrey , Ma Yongqian , Newton Paul K.
Published: September 2017

The development of chemotherapeutic resistance resulting in tumor relapse is largely the consequence of the mechanism of competitive release of pre-existing resistant tumor cells selected for regrowth after chemotherapeutic agents attack the previously dominant chemo-sensitive population. We introduce a prisoners dilemma mathematical model based on the replicator of three competing cell populations: healthy (cooperators), sensitive (defectors), and resistant (defectors) cells. The model is shown to recapitulate prostate-specific antigen measurement data from three clinical trials for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated with 1) prednisone, 2) mitoxantrone and prednisone and 3) docetaxel and prednisone. Continuous maximum tolerated dose schedules reduce the sensitive cell population, initially shrinking tumor volume, but subsequently “release” the resistant cells to re-populate and re-grow the tumor in a resistant form. Importantly, a model fit of prostate data shows the emergence of a positive fitness cost associated with a majority of patients for each drug, without predetermining a cost in the model a priori. While the specific mechanism associated with this cost may be very different for each of the drugs, a measurable fitness cost emerges in each. The evolutionary model allows us to quantify responses to conventional therapeutic strategies as well as to design adaptive strategies.
The role of a predictive analytics project initiator in the integration of financial and operational forecasts
Authors: Huikku Jari , Hyvönen Timo , Järvinen Janne
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the initiation of accounting information system projects. Specifically, it examines the role of the predictive analytics (PA) project initiator in the integration of financial and operational sales forecasts.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a field study method to address the studied phenomenon in eight Finnish companies that have recently adopted PA systems. The data are primarily based on 19 interviews in the companies and five interviews with the PA consultants.

Findings

The authors found that initiators appear to play a major role regarding the degree of integration of financial and operational sales forecasts. The initiators from an accounting function have a tendency to pay more attention to the integration than the representatives from other functions, such as operations and sales.

Practical implications

The study also makes a practical contribution to companies in showing and discussing the important role of the accounting department as an initiator of a project if the target is to achieve a tight coupling of financial and operational forecast figures, i.e., “one set of numbers”.

Originality/value

Even though companies have increasingly adopted PA systems in recent years, we still know little about how the initiation affects the design of accounting information systems overall. The central contribution of the paper, therefore, is to show that if a PA project is initiated by the accounting department, data integration becomes more likely. It contributes also to the discussion related to the appropriateness of data integration in the context of forecasting.
Pensions and household consumption in rural China
Authors: Su Baozhong
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the new rural social pension program’s effect on household consumption in rural China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs field data in Hebei Province and comprehensively applies the ordinary least squares regression model and the difference-in-difference matching method.

Findings

The findings show that participation in the Program may not obviously increase household consumption, rather it significantly inhibits the marginal propensity of young families’ consumption temporarily without an apparent impact on participating households’ consumption.

Practical implications

In addition to maintain the stability of the basic system framework of the new rural social pension program and preserve or increase the value of the fund under the Program, dynamic adjustments to pension levels should be made as and when appropriate.

Originality/value

The study provides a new empirical evidence for the relationship between the new rural social pension program and consumption and gives insight into potential modifications and improvements to the Program.
Housing expenditure and home purchasing behaviors of rural-urban migrants in China
Authors: Tian Xiujuan , Hu Jiankun , Zhang Caiping , Zhao Yang
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the housing behaviors of rural-urban migrant workers in China and the associated socioeconomic determinants.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a model to empirically identify the effects of income in multi-dimension, destination expected to live in the future, local housing policy, and a set of individual characteristics on housing-related expenditure and home purchase of rural-urban migrants. A survey data collected by the Development Research Center of the State Council was employed.

Findings

The results showed that migrants’ expecting place to live in the future is a significant factor influencing their housing-related decisions. Including migrant workers in local housing security system of the host city could also significantly improve their incentive to purchase home. Income jointly with income stability affects migrants’ housing-related expenditure positively, but has an insignificant effect on home purchases in host city. The cost to buy home in city is still far away from migrant’s affordability is a likely explanation.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study aiming to investigate rural-urban migrants’ housing behavior in host city and to empirically identify the associated influencing factors.
R&D effects, risks and strategic decisions: evidence from listed firms in R&D-intensive countries
Authors: Dranev Yury , Levin Albert , Kuchin Ilia
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to look at the effects of research and development expenditures (R&D) on value and risks of publicly traded companies by studying returns on stock exchanges of R&D-intensive economies (Republic of Korea, Finland and Israel).

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical tests of multifactor asset pricing models were applied to demonstrate that R&D intensity could be considered as a pricing factor and affect investors’ risk premiums on those markets. To discover the reasons behind the asset pricing R&D anomaly, this study investigated the nature of R&D risk further by looking into the interactions of R&D and currency risks.

Findings

This study discovered that investors in stock markets of R&D-intensive countries should require a positive equity risk premium. However, the reduction of R&D intensity may increase firms’ risks and firms with higher R&D-intensity are less exposed to currency risks in R&D-intensive economies.

Originality/value

Many researchers have investigated the relationship between a firm’s R&D and stock returns. But nearly all of them focus on the US Stock Market and attempt to determine the reasons for R&D’s impact on firms’ risks and market value. Meanwhile, the role of R&D and related risks for investors could be even more prominent for stock markets in R&D-intensive countries. To bridge this gap, this research studied stock returns on exchanges of three developed countries where the ratio of gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) to GDP is among the highest worldwide. In this study, the methodology of asset pricing empirical studies was adopted and it was further developed to analyze the causes of R&D risks. The new methodology was applied to discover relationship between R&D intensity and currency risk exposure. The interesting findings could be used for development of firms’ corporate strategies in those countries and for elaboration of policy decisions.
Corporate foresight and its effect on innovation, strategic decision making and organizational performance (case study: Iranian banking industry)
Authors: Joneidi Jafari Mahdi , NiliPourTabataba’i Seyed Akbar
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the capability of corporate foresight in the organizations and its impacts on innovation, quality of managers’ strategic decision-making and organizational performance in the banking industry of Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first part, upon introducing corporate foresight from the two process and content perspectives, influential elements in this construct are discussed. Then, corporate foresight’s relationship with innovation and strategic decision-making is examined and its effect on organizational performance is analyzed within a structural model. Using interview and questionnaire, the data research were collected from the banking industry of Iran including 30 banks (state-commercial banks, specialist-state banks, interest-free loan funds and private banks). Through descriptive, inferential statistical analyses and structural equation modeling using SPSS and Smart PLS software, reliability of the measurement model with 576 samples was confirmed.

Findings

The results show that the corporate foresight playing three roles of initiator, strategist, and opponent affects the innovation. Moreover, the research results suggest that using the data from the foresight and identifying the weak signals, we can reduce the uncertainty and issue prior warnings in order to enhance the quality of manager’s strategic decision making and promote the organizational performance.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the articles from the sources of the doctoral thesis of Futures Studies as “The relationship between knowledge absorption capacity, corporate foresight and its effect on the performance of the banking industry in Iran”.
Waqf as a framework for entrepreneurship
Authors: Iman Abdul Hamid Mar , Mohammad Mohammad Tahir Sabit Haji
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to add to the existing body of literature on this subject by advocating how waqf-based entrepreneurship can be practiced in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins by presenting an overview of waqf and its role in entrepreneurship and proceeds by proposing a model of waqf-based entrepreneurship which is synthesized from various models existing in the Islamic world.

Findings

The paper concludes by recommending waqf-based entrepreneurship as an alternative socio-economic framework of society’s wellbeing.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to the preliminary aspects of waqf entrepreneurship.

Practical implications

Waqf organization may be able to finance its own businesses through crowdfunding and other methods and also disburse waqf funds to small and large ventures.

Social implications

The waqf system is a social tool that not only finances social development projects but also has social economic alternatives to assist poor and underprivileged groups in the society. This paper is toward such a socio-economic direction.

Originality/value

This paper might be considered the first attempt to detail the practical aspect of waqf entrepreneurship, in terms of enterprises to be financed, and how the funds to be accumulated.
Determinants of household’s education and nutrition spending
Authors: Kousar Rakshananda , Sadaf Tahira , Makhdum Muhammad Sohail Amjad , Ijaz Ayesha
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This study aims to estimate the determinants of household spending on education and nutrition. Education and nutrition are noteworthy elements for human development and welfare. Separate estimates are being provided for male and female as gender determines household welfare and gender-based analysis of household spending evaluates the aptitude of decision power as well as measures their influential role in human welfare.

Design/methodology/approach

Fruits, milk and dairy products are taken as proxy of substantial portion of nutrition. The study used primary urban household-level data that collected from Faisalabad city. The authors used double hurdle model.

Findings

The findings of the study show that females are more likely to spend on education. Household size and number of children negatively determine the household spending on education and nutrition. Number of employed household members, level of income and education are positively associated with household spending on education and nutrition by male- and female-headed households. A very low public spending on education and nutrition have led to upsurge the hurdles of households in Pakistan.

Practical implications

The study recommends that government should provide the employment opportunities, especially for females for stable and increased household income that leads to improve the household welfare.

Originality/value

Several studies have examined the education spending (Mbanefoh et al., 1997; Ichoku and Leibbrandt, 2003; Donkoh and Amikuzuno, 2011; Cisse, 2011), but these studies ignored to investigate the gender role and household spending on nutrition and education. This study is crucial in drawing suitable policy recommendations for household welfare. This study filled the gaps and scrutinized the issues that interrelated with household spending.
Impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on attitudes and behaviors of pharmacists working in MNCs
Authors: Khaleel Muhammad , Chelliah Shankar , Rauf Sana , Jamil Muhammad
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This study aims to find out how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are perceived by pharmacists and how it influences employees’ organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and role of perceived supervisor support in the study.

Design/methodology/approach

Pharmacists of different hierarchical levels from five multinational pharmaceutical industries in Pakistan were selected as study samples. Data were collected from 136 pharmacists working in Punjab Region. PLS-SEM was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results from this study found that CSR was a predictor of affective organizational commitment (AOC) and OCB. AOC fully mediates the relationship between CSR and OCB. While perceived supervisory support did not moderate the relationship between AOC and OCB. Pharmaceutical firms can promote commitment toward organization and OCBs by initiating CSR activities.

Research limitations/implications

This research is one of the innovative studies that empirically examine the predicting role of CSR and moderating role of perceived supervisory support on employees’ attitude and behaviors in the pharmaceutical companies’ context. Moreover, this research will also help the management by adopting CSR activities as core element in shaping employees attitudes and behaviors.

Originality/value

It is a significant study shifting the focus of research into organizational behavior context and further influences employee’s attitudes and behavior because of perceived CSR in the pharmacy industry.
Female labour force participation: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Abraham Abena Yeboah , Ohemeng Fidelia Nana Akom , Ohemeng Williams
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine female labour force participation (FLFP) and their employment choice between the formal and informal sectors after several institutional and social reforms such as Millennium Development Goal 3 aimed at promoting gender equality and empowerment of women by 2015, using data from Ghana’s 2010 Population and Housing Census.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, logit regression and multinomial logit techniques were employed.

Findings

The results show that FLFP has declined marginally from the 2005 figures; education remains the important factor in determining women’s participation in the formal sector. Strikingly 91 per cent of the FLFP is engaged in the informal sector of the Ghanaian economy, a sector with a very low contribution per head.

Practical implications

Interventions such as encouraging female education and retraining of self-employed females to improve upon their efficiency ought to be pursued vigorously; whiles developing rural areas for females to get equal labour opportunities and many others aimed at enhancing the efficiency and by inference earning per head of the informal sector is highly recommended.

Originality/value

The literature on the FLFP is thin in Ghana. The current study uses a census data unlike the previous studies and as such employed a huge sample size that reflects the reality in Ghana. The study contributed immensely to policy having established that 91 per cent of the female labour force is engaged in the informal sectors of the economy, and therefore any intervention targeting at reducing poverty and meeting the MDG 3 should be targeted at the informal sector of the Ghanaian economy.
How deviations from FOMC’s monetary policy decisions from a benchmark monetary policy rule affect bank profitability: evidence from U.S. banks
Authors: Apergis Nicholas , Lau Chi Keung Marco
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to provide fresh empirical evidence on how Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) monetary policy decisions from a benchmark monetary policy rule affect the profitability of US banking institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

It thereby provides a link between the literature on central bank monetary policy implementation through monetary rules and banks’ profitability. It uses a novel data set from 11,894 US banks, spanning the period 1990 to 2013.

Findings

The empirical findings show that deviations of FOMC monetary policy decisions from a number of benchmark linear and non-linear monetary (Taylor type) rules exert a negative and statistically significant impact on banks’ profitability.

Originality/value

The results are expected to have substantial implications for the capacity of banking institutions to more readily interpret monetary policy information and accordingly to reshape and hedge their lending behaviour. This would make the monetary policy decision process less noisy and, thus, enhance their capability to attach the correct weight to this information.
Abnormal returns from joining Congress? Evidence from new members
Authors: Hall Joshua C. , Karadas Serkan , Schlosky Minh Tam Tammy
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Congress passed the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012, vesting the Securities and Exchange Commission with the clear legal authority to prosecute members of Congress (politicians) if they engage in insider trading. This paper aims to investigate whether members of Congress are informed traders even before they get elected to Congress, and thus helps assess whether the STOCK Act was a necessary piece of legislation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study compares the performance of politicians’ portfolios before and after they are elected to Congress using data from the 2004-2010 period. The authors use an event-study method to construct transactions-based calendar-time portfolios and use standard asset pricing models including capital asset pricing model (CAPM) to determine whether these portfolios earn abnormal returns (i.e. outperform the market).

Findings

The authors find weak and inconsistent evidence of abnormal returns in politicians’ portfolios that precede their election. They also find that it takes two consecutive terms in Congress for members to start making informed trades that earn themselves abnormal returns. However, these abnormal returns only accrue to those who serve on powerful committees.

Research limitations/implications

The results in this paper provide support for the STOCK Act of 2012 by showing that members of Congress become informed traders while they serve in Congress. However, these results do not imply any wrongdoing for members of Congress, because the paper uses the pre-STOCK Act data (2004-2010 period).

Originality/value

This study is the first academic work that compares politicians’ portfolios before and after they get elected.
Optimization of material removal rate in ultrasonic machining of polycarbonate bulletproof glass and acrylic heat-resistant glass by Taguchi method
Authors: Singh Kanwal Jeet , Ahuja Inderpreet Singh , Kapoor Jathinder
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, an original research paper, is to study the optimization of material removal rate (MRR) in ultrasonic machining of polycarbonate bulletproof glass and acrylic heat-resistant glass. The machining of these materials is a very tough job. There are so many constraints which need to be taken into account while machining, but without proper knowledge of material properties and machining parameters, machining is not possible. This paper gives basic knowledge about polycarbonate bulletproof and acrylic heat-resistant glass and provides ways as to how these types of materials are processed or machined.

Design/methodology/approach

The Taguchi method was utilized to optimize the ultrasonic machining parameters for drilling these advanced materials. The relationship between MRR and other controllable process parameters such as concentration of slurry, type of abrasive, abrasive grit size, power rating, concentration of HF acid and type of tool material has been analyzed by using the Taguchi approach.

Findings

Through the Taguchi analysis, it is concluded that types of abrasive and HF acid concentrations have a significant role to play in MRR for both materials; in which, type of abrasive have 72.91 and 72.96 percent contribution in MRR for polycarbonate bulletproof and acrylic heat-resistant glass, respectively. Similarly, HF acid concentration has 14.70 and 14.65 percent contribution in MRR for polycarbonate bulletproof and acrylic heat-resistant glass, respectively. The MRR was improved by 34.44 percent in polycarbonate bulletproof glass and 29.25 percent in acrylic heat-resistant glass.

Originality/value

After experimental investigation, the results of the Taguchi modal are validated.