bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Intra-Articular Polynucleotides Associated With Hyaluronic Acid Versus Hyaluronic Acid Alone in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Dallari Dante , Sabbioni Giacomo , Del Piccolo Nicolandrea , Carubbi Chiara , Veronesi Francesca , Torricelli Paola , Fini Milena
Published: April 2018

Objective:

Pain and range of motion loss are the main clinical features of osteoarthritis (OA). Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the infiltrative therapies for OA treatment; however, its effectiveness is a matter of an ongoing debate in clinical practice. Polynucleotides (PNs), a DNA-derived macromolecule with natural origin and trophic activity, were found to favor cell growth and collagen production, in preclinical and clinical studies regarding cartilage regeneration. This study aimed at evaluating whether injection of PNs, in combination with HA [PNs associated with HA (PNHA)], can ameliorate pain and function of knees affected by OA, more than HA alone.

Design:

A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

Patients:

The study enrolled 100 patients, then randomized to receive PNHA or HA alone (3 weekly knee I.A. injections).

Interventions and Main Outcome Measures:

Pain reduction, decrease of proinflammatory synovial fluid (SF) factors, and improvement in knee function were evaluated by Knee Society Score and WOMAC scores, after 2, 6, and 12 months and by biochemical and immunoenzymatic analyses of SF at the end of the treatment.

Results:

Knee Society Score total score and pain item significantly ameliorated in both groups, showing better results in PNHA- than in the HA-treated group. A significant reduction in the WOMAC score was observed over time for both groups. No significant adverse events were reported in either group.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that I.A. injection of PNs, in combination with HA, is more effective in improving knee function and pain, in a joint affected by OA, compared with HA alone.
Permeation Enhancers for Intratympanically-applied Drugs Studied Using Fluorescent Dexamethasone as a Marker
Authors: Li Wei , Hartsock Jared J. , Dai Chunfu , Salt Alec N.
Published: April 2018

Hypothesis:

Entry of locally applied drugs into the inner ear can be enhanced by chemical manipulations.

Background:

Perilymph drug concentrations achieved by intratympanic applications are well below the applied concentration due to limited entry through the round window (RW) membrane and stapes. Chemical manipulations to increase entry permeability could increase the effectiveness of drug therapy with local applications.

Methods:

Dexamethasone-fluorescein (F-dex) was used as an entry marker. F-dex was applied to the RW niche of guinea pigs as a 20 μL bolus of 1 mM solution. After a 1 hour application, 10 samples of perilymph were collected sequentially from the lateral semicircular canal, allowing F-dex distribution throughout the perilymph to be quantified. Entry was also measured with the applied solution additionally containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), saponin, caprate, benzyl alcohol (BA) or poloxamer 407 (P407). Combinations of saponin or BA with P407 were also compared.

Results:

In control experiments, F-dex entered the inner ear slowly at both the RW and stapes. The total F-dex recovered in all 10 samples from each animal averaged 2.1 pMoles for controls, 1.71 pMoles for 17% P407, 3.70 pMoles for caprate, 8.04 pMoles for DMSO, 16.32 pMoles for NMP, 31.0 pMoles for saponin, and 67.3 pMoles for 4% BA. Entry with DMSO, NMP, saponin and 4% BA were all significantly higher than the controls (one-way ANOVA).

Conclusion:

These studies confirm that entry of drugs into the ear can be markedly enhanced with the use of chemical permeation-enhancing agents.
A Comparison of Repeatability and Usability of Semi-Automated Volume Segmentation Tools for Measurement of Vestibular Schwannomas
Authors: MacKeith Samuel A. C. , Das Tilak , Graves Martin , Patterson Andrew , Donnelly Neil , Mannion Richard , Axon Patrick , Tysome James
Published: April 2018

Objective:

Semi-automated volume segmentation tools (SAVST) offer a less time consuming technique compared with manual volume segmentation method. No data exists to suggest which of the available applications are optimal for use with vestibular schwannomas (VS). This study aims to compare repeatability and usability of three different SAVST for measurement of VS.

Study Design:

Experimental comparison of three SAVST.

Setting:

Tertiary skull base unit.

Patients:

Twenty-four patients with a unilateral VS imaged with T1-weighted Gadolinium enhanced MRI.

Intervention:

Repeated measurements made to determine intra and inter-observer agreement. This was repeated using three different SAVST.

Main Outcome Measures:

1) Intra- and inter-observer intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), repeatability coefficients (RC), and relative smallest detectable differences (%SDD).

2) Usability as determined by the mean number of steps and time required per tumor measurement and the proportion of cases where manual editing was required.

Results:

Intra-observer ICCs were significantly better for SliceOmatic and OleaSphere than AW VolumeShare (0.998 versus 0.994, p < 0.05). Inter-observer ICCs were also better for SliceOmatic (0.994) and OleaSphere (0.989) compared with AW VolumeShare (0.976), however, this was only significant for SliceOmatic (p = 0.012). SliceOmatic had a poorer usability profile requiring more manual editing, time, and individual steps per measurement but its “watershed segmentation” algorithm was better at measuring cystic or heterogenous tumors.

Conclusions:

This is the first study to compare three SAVST for measurement of VS. While SliceOmatic had the highest repeatability, Olea Sphere combined comparable repeatability with improved usability and a greater degree of automation and was, therefore, deemed optimal for use in routine clinical practice.
Measuring the value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography activity: an opportunity to stratify endoscopists on the basis of their value
Authors: Parihar Vikrant , Moran Carthage , Maheshwari Pardeep , Cheriyan Danny , O’Toole Aoibhlinn , Murray Frank , Patchett Stephen E. , Harewood Gavin C.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

As finite healthcare resources come under pressure, the value of physician activity is assuming increasing importance. The value in healthcare can be defined as patient health outcomes achieved per monetary unit spent. Even though some attempts have been made to quantify the value of clinician activity, there is little in the medical literature describing the importance of endoscopists’ activity. This study aimed to characterize the value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) performance of five gastroenterologists.

Patients and methods

We carried out a retrospective–prospective cohort study using the databases of patients undergoing ERCP between September 2014 and March 2017. We collected data from 1070 patients who underwent ERCP comparing value among the ERCPists at index ERCP. Procedure value was calculated using the formula Q/(T/C), where Q is the quality of procedure, T is the duration of procedure and C is the adjusted for complexity level. Quality and complexity were derived on a 1–4 Likert scale on the basis of American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy criteria; time was recorded (in min) from intubation to extubation. Endoscopist time calculated from procedure time was considered a surrogate marker of cost as individual components of procedure cost were not itemized.

Results

In total, 590 procedures were analysed: 465 retrospectively over 24 months and 125 prospectively over 6 months. There was a 32% variation in the value of endoscopist activity in a more substantial retrospective cohort, with an even more considerable 73% variation in a smaller prospective arm.

Conclusion

In an analysis of greater than 1000 ERCPs by a small cohort of experienced ERCPists, there was a wide variation in the value of endoscopist activity. Although the precision of estimating procedural costs needs further refinement, these findings show the ability to stratify ERCPists on the basis of the value their activity. As healthcare costs are scrutinized more closely, such value measurements are likely to become more relevant.
The Influence of Volume and Anatomic Location of Optic Disc Drusen on the Sensitivity of Autofluorescence
Authors: Loft Frederik Cornelius , Malmqvist Lasse , Wessel Lindberg Anne-Sofie , Hamann Steffen
Published: April 2018

Background:

Optic disc drusen (ODD) are acellular deposits in the optic nerve head. ODD can be diagnosed using different imaging modalities, including enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and autofluorescence (AF). It is unknown which factors determine the sensitivity of AF. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of volume and anatomic location of ODD on the sensitivity of AF.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study.

Results:

A total of 38 patients (75 eyes) with ODD were included. In 12 of 75 eyes (16%) and in 11 of 38 patients (29%), EDI-OCT detected ODD that were not detected by AF. In 24 distinctly solitary ODD, both increase in ODD volume (P = 0.0388) and a more superficial ODD location (P < 0.0001) increased the possibility of AF detection of ODD, when performing a multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

EDI-OCT is superior to AF in the diagnosis of ODD. Volume and anatomic location of ODD have a significant impact on the sensitivity of AF.
Maternal effects impact decision-making in a viviparous lizard
Authors: Munch Kirke L. , Noble Daniel W. A. , Botterill-James Thomas , Koolhof Iain S. , Halliwell Ben , Wapstra Erik , While Geoffrey M.
Published: April 2018

Stressful conditions experienced during early development can have deleterious effects on offspring morphology, physiology and behaviour. However, few studies have examined how developmental stress influences an individual's cognitive phenotype. Using a viviparous lizard, we show that the availability of food resources to a mother during gestation influences a key component of her offspring's cognitive phenotype: their decision-making. Offspring from females who experienced low resource availability during gestation did better in an anti-predatory task that relied on spatial associations to guide their decisions, whereas offspring from females who experienced high resource availability during gestation did better in a foraging task that relied on colour associations to inform their decisions. This shows that the prenatal environment can influence decision-making in animals, a cognitive trait with functional implications later in life.
Mesotocin influences pinyon jay prosociality
Authors: Duque J. F. , Leichner W. , Ahmann H. , Stevens J. R.
Published: April 2018

Many species exhibit prosocial behaviour, in which one individual's actions benefit another individual, often without an immediate benefit to itself. The neuropeptide oxytocin is an important hormonal mechanism influencing prosociality in mammals, but it is unclear whether the avian homologue mesotocin plays a similar functional role in birds. Here, we experimentally tested prosociality in pinyon jays (
Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
), a highly social corvid species that spontaneously shares food with others. First, we measured prosocial preferences in a prosocial choice task with two different pay-off distributions: Prosocial trials delivered food to both the subject and either an empty cage or a partner bird, whereas Altruism trials delivered food only to an empty cage or a partner bird (none to subject). In a second experiment, we examined whether administering mesotocin influenced prosocial preferences. Compared to choices in a control condition, we show that subjects voluntarily delivered food rewards to partners, but only when also receiving food for themselves (Prosocial trials), and administration of high levels of mesotocin increased these behaviours. Thus, in birds, mesotocin seems to play a similar functional role in facilitating prosocial behaviours as oxytocin does in mammals, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved hormonal mechanism for prosociality.
A variational approach to niche construction
Authors: Constant Axel , Ramstead Maxwell J. D. , Veissière Samuel P. L. , Campbell John O. , Friston Karl J.
Published: April 2018

In evolutionary biology, niche construction is sometimes described as a genuine evolutionary process whereby organisms, through their activities and regulatory mechanisms, modify their environment such as to steer their own evolutionary trajectory, and that of other species. There is ongoing debate, however, on the extent to which niche construction ought to be considered a bona fide evolutionary force, on a par with natural selection. Recent formulations of the variational free-energy principle as applied to the life sciences describe the properties of living systems, and their selection in evolution, in terms of variational inference. We argue that niche construction can be described using a variational approach. We propose new arguments to support the niche construction perspective, and to extend the variational approach to niche construction to current perspectives in various scientific fields.
An Automated Bayesian Pipeline for Rapid Analysis of Single-Molecule Binding Data
Authors: Smith Carlas S. , Jouravleva Karina , Huisman Maximiliaan , Jolly Samson M. , Zamore Phillip D. , Grunwald David
Published: April 2018

Single-molecule binding assays enable the study of how molecular machines assemble and function. Current algorithms can identify and locate individual molecules, but require tedious manual validation of each spot. Moreover, no solution for high-throughput analysis of single-molecule binding data exists. Here, we describe an automated pipeline to analyze single-molecule data over a wide range of experimental conditions. We benchmarked the pipeline by measuring the binding properties of the well-studied, DNA-guided DNA endonuclease, TtAgo, an Argonaute protein from the Eubacterium Thermus thermophilus. We also used the pipeline to extend our understanding of TtAgo by measuring the protein’s binding kinetics at physiological temperatures and for target DNAs containing multiple, adjacent binding sites.
Validation of a library of cGMP-compliant human pluripotent stem cell lines for use in liver therapy
Authors: Blackford Samuel J I , Ng Soon Seng , Segal Joe M , King Aileen J F , Moore Jennifer , Sheldon Michael , Ilic Dusko , Dhawan Anil , Mitry Ragai , Rashid S Tamir
Published: April 2018

Recent advancements in the production of hepatocytes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-Heps) afford tremendous possibilities for treatment of patients with liver disease. Validated current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) lines are an essential prerequisite for such applications but have only recently been established. Whether such cGMP lines are capable of hepatic differentiation is not known. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the proficiency of three recently derived cGMP lines (two hiPSC and one hESC) to differentiate into hepatocytes and their suitability for therapy. hPSC-Heps generated using a chemically defined four-step hepatic differentiation protocol uniformly demonstrated highly reproducible phenotypes and functionality. Seeding into a 3D PEG-DA fabricated inverted colloid crystal (ICC) scaffold converted these immature progenitors into more advanced hepatic tissue structures. Hepatic constructs could also be successfully encapsulated into the immune-privileged material alginate. This is the first report we are aware of demonstrating cGMP-compliant hPSCs can generate cells with advanced hepatic function potentially suitable for future therapeutic applications.
High-throughput inverse toeprinting reveals the complete sequence dependence of ribosome-targeting antibiotics
Authors: Seip Britta , Sacheau Guénaёl , Dupuy Denis , Innis C. Axel
Published: April 2018

It has recently become clear that various antibiotics block the translation of bacterial proteins in a sequence-specific manner. In order to understand how this specificity contributes to antibiotic potency and select better antimicrobial leads, new high-throughput tools are needed. Here, we present inverse toeprinting, a new method to map the position of ribosomes arrested on messenger RNAs during in vitro translation. Unlike ribosome profiling, our method protects the entire coding region upstream of a stalled ribosome, making it possible to work with transcript libraries that randomly sample the sequence space. We used inverse toeprinting to characterize the pausing landscape of free and drug-bound bacterial ribosomes engaged in translation. We obtained a comprehensive list of arrest motifs that could be validated in vivo, along with a quantitative measure of their pause strength. Thus, our method provides a highly parallel and scalable means to characterize the sequence specificity of translation inhibitors.
The Relation Between White Matter Microstructure and Network Complexity: Implications for Processing Efficienc
Authors: McDonough Ian M. , Siegel Jonathan T.
Published: April 2018

Brain structure has been proposed to facilitate as well as constrain functional interactions within brain networks. Simulation models suggest that integrity of white matter (WM) microstructure should be positively related to the complexity of BOLD signal—a measure of network interactions. Using 121 young adults from the Human Connectome Project, we empirically tested whether greater WM integrity would be associated with greater complexity of the BOLD signal during rest via multiscale entropy. Multiscale entropy measures the lack of predictability within a given time series across varying time scales, thus being able to estimate fluctuating signal dynamics within brain networks. Using multivariate analysis techniques (Partial Least Squares), we found that greater WM integrity was associated with greater network complexity at fast time scales, but less network complexity at slower time scales. These findings implicate two separate pathways through which WM integrity affects brain function in the prefrontal cortex—an executive-prefrontal pathway and a perceptuo-occipital pathway. In two additional samples, the main patterns of WM and network complexity were replicated. These findings support simulation models of WM integrity and network complexity and provide new insights into brain structure-function relationships.
Endogenous fluctuations of OCT4 and SOX2 bias pluripotent cell fate decisions
Authors: Strebinger Daniel , Deluz Cédric , Friman Elias T. , Govindan Subashika , Alber Andrea B. , Suter David M.
Published: April 2018

SOX2 and OCT4 are pioneer transcription factors playing a key role in embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal and differentiation. However, how temporal fluctuations in their expression levels bias lineage commitment is unknown. Here we generated knock-in reporter fusion ES cell lines allowing to monitor endogenous SOX2 and OCT4 protein fluctuations in living cells and to determine their impact on mesendodermal and neuroectodermal commitment. We found that small differences in SOX2 and OCT4 levels impact cell fate commitment in G1 but not in S phase. Elevated SOX2 levels modestly increased neuroectodermal commitment and decreased mesendodermal commitment upon directed differentiation. In contrast, elevated OCT4 levels strongly biased ES cell towards both neuroectodermal and mesendodermal fates. Using ATAC-seq on ES cells gated for different endogenous SOX2 and OCT4 levels, we found that high OCT4 levels increased chromatin accessibility at differentiation-associated enhancers. This suggests that small endogenous fluctuations of pioneer transcription factors can bias cell fate decisions by concentration-dependent priming of differentiation-associated enhancers.
Combinatorial Approaches to Viral Attenuation
Authors: Paff Matthew L. , Jack Benjamin R. , Smith Bartram L. , Bull James J. , Wilke Claus O.
Published: April 2018

Attenuated viruses have numerous applications, in particular in the context of live viral vaccines. However, purposefully designing attenuated viruses remains challenging, in particular if the attenuation is meant to be resistant to rapid evolutionary recovery. Here we develop and analyze a new attenuation method, promoter ablation, using an established viral model, bacteriophage T7. Ablating promoters of the two most highly expressed T7 proteins (scaffold and capsid) led to major reductions in transcript abundance of the affected genes, with the effect of the double knockout approximately additive of the effects of single knockouts. Fitness reduction was moderate and also approximately additive; fitness recovery on extended adaptation was partial and did not restore the promoters. The fitness effect of promoter knockouts combined with a previously tested codon deoptimization of the capsid gene was less than additive, as anticipated from their competing mechanisms of action. In one design, the engineering created an unintended consequence that led to further attenuation, the effect of which was studied and understood in hindsight. Overall, the mechanisms and effects of genome engineering on attenuation behaved in a predictable manner. Therefore, this work suggests that the rational design of viral attenuation methods is becoming feasible.

Importance

Live viral vaccines rely on attenuated viruses that can successfully infect their host but have reduced fitness or virulence. Such attenuated viruses were originally developed through trial- and-error, typically by adaptation of the wild-type virus to novel conditions. That method was haphazard, with no way of controlling the degree of attenuation, the number of attenuating mutations, or preventing evolutionary reversion. Synthetic biology now enables rational design and engineering of viral attenuation, but rational design must be informed by biological principles to achieve stable, quantitative attenuation. This work shows that in a model system for viral attenuation, bacteriophage T7, attenuation can be obtained from rational design principles, and multiple different attenuation approaches can be combined for enhanced overall effect.
Intra-host symbiont diversity and extended symbiont maintenance in photosymbiotic Acantharea (clade F)
Authors: Brisbin Margaret Mars , Mesrop Lisa Y. , Grossmann Mary M. , Mitarai Satoshi
Published: April 2018

Photosymbiotic protists contribute to surface primary production in low-nutrient, open-ocean ecosystems and constitute model systems for studying plastid acquisition via endosymbiosis. Little is known, however, about host-symbiont dynamics in these important relationships, and whether these symbioses constitute mutualisms is debated. In this study, we applied single-cell sequencing methods and advanced fluorescent microscopy to investigate host-symbiont dynamics in clade F acantharians, a major group of photosymbiotic protists in oligotrophic subtropical gyres. We amplified the 18S rRNA gene from single acantharian hosts and environmental samples to assess intra-host symbiont diversity and to determine whether intra-host symbiont community composition directly reflects the available symbiont community in the surrounding environment. Our results demonstrate that clade F acantharians simultaneously host multiple species from the haptophyte generaPhaeocystisandChrysochromulina. The intra-host symbiont community composition was distinct from the external free-living symbiont community, suggesting that these acantharians maintain symbionts for extended periods of time. After selective staining of digestive organelles, fluorescent confocal microscopy showed that symbionts were not being systematically digested, which is consistent with extended symbiont maintenance within hosts. Extended maintenance within hosts may benefit symbionts through protection from grazing or viral lysis, and therefore dispersal, provided that symbionts retain reproductive capacity.
SORLA-driven endosomal trafficking regulates the oncogenic fitness of HER2
Authors: Pietilä Mika , Sahgal Pranshu , Peuhu Emilia , Jäntti Niklas , Paatero Ilkka , Andersen Olav M. , Padzik Artur , Blomqvist Matias , Saarinen Immi , Boström Peter , Taimen Pekka , Ivaska Johanna
Published: April 2018

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is an oncogene targeted by several kinase inhibitors and therapeutic antibodies. Endosomal trafficking of many other receptor tyrosine kinases regulates their oncogenic signaling, but the prevailing view is that HER2 is retained on the cell surface. Here we reveal that in cancer cells Sortilin related receptor 1 (SORLA; SORL1) forms a complex with HER2 and regulates its subcellular distribution by promoting recycling of endosomal HER2 back to plasma membrane. Expression of SORLA in cancer cell lines and bladder cancers correlates with HER2 levels. Depletion of SORLA targets HER2 to late endosomal/lysosomal compartments, impairs HER2-driven signaling and in vivo tumor growth. SORLA silencing also disrupts normal lysosome function and sensitizes anti-HER2 therapy sensitive and resistant cancer cells to lysosome-targeting cationic amphiphilic drugs. These findings reveal potentially important SORLA-dependent endosomal trafficking-linked vulnerabilities in HER2-driven cancers.
Global cities, ownership structures, and location choice
Authors: Asmussen Christian Geisler , Nielsen Bo , Goerzen Anthony , Tegtmeier Svenja
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a more nuanced view of subnational location choice with a particular focus on global cities. It is argued that multinational firms may use global cities to establish bridgeheads-subsidiaries at intermediate levels of the ownership chain that enable further international as well as subnational expansion.

Design/methodology/approach

Beyond those host country subsidiaries that are directly owned by a foreign multinational, the authors go deeper and focus specifically on the multi-tiered – “subsidiaries of subsidiaries” to examine how the geographic origins and destinations of these investments are associated with micro-location choices in a host country.

Findings

The authors find that there are substantial differences between the types, roles, activities and geographic origins of the firms locating in different areas, and in the ownership structures spanning them. The authors propose that this has managerial and theoretical implications which may be understood based on an organizing framework describing a tradeoff between the pursuit of global connectivity and local density on the one hand and cost control on the other.

Research limitations/implications

Empirical work on foreign location choices should take into account ownership structures and take a more fine-grained view of subnational variation.

Practical implications

Managers need to consider the trade-offs between connectivity, density and costs when making foreign location decisions.

Social implications

Policy makers should think about the unique contributions that various subnational regions such as global and ordinary cities can make to global value chains.

Originality/Value

The authors bridge the hitherto separate literatures pertaining to subsidiary mandates and subnational dimensions of foreign location choice by investigating the fine-grained roles and ownership structures from a supranational as well as subnational perspective.
The nature and characteristics of Japanese NGOs in international disaster response
Authors: Iizuka Akiko
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the nature of Japanese non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in international disaster response and analyzes their distinctive characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted of secondary English and Japanese sources including peer-reviewed journals, books, and non-academic journals published by government and NGOs.

Findings

First, Japanese disaster response NGOs are relatively young compared to Western ones and they continue to increase in number. Second, the scale of disaster response NGOs is much larger than that of other NGOs in the development field not only because of the availability of government funds but also because of the presence of internationally affiliated NGOs and religious-based organisations with strong fundraising programs. Third, Japanese disaster response NGOs have a long-term engagement with the local community, not only during the emergency phase, but also during the recovery and development phases in various fields. Finally, coordination NGOs play an important role in networking, advocating and supplementing NGOs that often lack financial and human resources.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is the definition of Japanese NGOs in the context of international disaster response; therefore, this paper adopts MOFA’s definition, which includes NGOs engaged in overseas activities through direct intervention.

Originality/value

There has been little research in English on the scale and nature of Japanese NGOs involved in disaster response activities.
Female board participation and annual report readability in firms with boardroom connections
Authors: Ginesti Gianluca , Drago Carlo , Macchioni Riccardo , Sannino Giuseppe
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the female board participation and the readability of annual report.

Design/methodology/approach

Using hand-collected data from a “network-oriented market”, as exists in Italy, which includes 435 annual reports, this study uses a regression analysis to test whether female board participation affects the annual report readability.

Findings

Female board participation is found to have a positive impact on disclosure readability in firms with small boardroom connections but the opposite effect in firms with large boardroom connections.

Research limitations/implications

This paper responds to recent calls in the corporate governance literature by investigating whether the female board participation affects the transparency of the disclosure practices.

Practical implications

This study has policy implications, as it helps to improve evaluations of how, and under which circumstances, female board participation may lead to higher disclosure quality and thus benefit investors.

Originality/value

This paper shows that female board participation has different effects on the disclosure readability at different levels of board positions in inter-firm networks.
Exploring student satisfaction and future employment intentions
Authors: James Melissa , Yun Dongkoo
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that affect higher education student satisfaction and to understand students’ perceptions of their academic success and future employment expectations at a particular institution.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes institutional performance related to students’ satisfaction and their preparedness for future employment endeavours. The questionnaire is designed specifically for students who are eligible to graduate, and the survey is implemented over the institutional website via the student portal and a total of 750°-seeking undergraduate students (target population) are invited to participate.

Findings

The descriptive results of this study suggest that while student satisfaction may be relatively similar for all academic programmes, there are differences in the perception of career expectations based on chosen academic programme. Most notably, the results also indicate students’ expectations for employment did not have a negative effect on their satisfaction with the higher education institution (HEI). In contrast, they were mostly satisfied with their academic and personal development. In essence, they felt prepared for the workplace and satisfied with the skills and knowledge developed at a university, regardless of job expectations. This paper suggests that institutions may wish to heighten their focus on academic factors in their efforts to retain students and improve their student academic experience.

Originality/value

This study is conducted at a small-sized (less than 5,000 students) higher institution in Canada that primarily provides undergraduate courses and focusses on students’ employment expectations and their rating of the academic experiences. This study can assist HEIs in developing policies related to student retention and success. HEIs may find this study useful in developing policies and programmes related to transitioning from undergraduate studies to the workplace.
Trainees' perception of vocational training institutes degree apprenticeship
Authors: Brinia Vasiliki , Stavropoulos Petros , Athanasoula-Reppa Anastasia
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the degree apprenticeship of the vocational training institutes (VTIs) enhances the labor market and enables the trainees to detect the knowledge and skills that are acquired during the training. In addition, this study tries to detect through work-based learning whether the workplace function as a learning place and whether the trainees are satisfied by the experience during the degree apprenticeship.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 129 graduates by various VTIs in the wider area of Patras (Western Greece), who completed the degree apprenticeship, participated in the survey.

Findings

The findings of this study highlighted the difficulties that the graduates of VTIs face when they look for a job in the economic crisis era that Greece faces. However, this study also highlighted the satisfaction that the trainees denoted about the knowledge and the vocational and social skills that they acquired during the degree apprenticeship. Additionally, the trainees are satisfied by the workplace where the degree apprenticeship took place because it became a learning environment.

Practical implications

This study is evidence of a need for developing the degree apprenticeship programs in Greece as a means of enhancing the transition from training to work.

Originality/value

This research is the first and serious recording of the trainees’ opinions regarding their degree apprenticeship, during their studies in VTIs. The presented professional and social skills could use as guidelines for the implementation of new practices and educational policies in training during the educational process. Additionally, the degree apprenticeship programs will be further linked to the educational institution and the educational community will benefit from the trainees’ experience. These new degree apprenticeship practices will be implemented in the following years in all the VTIs in Greece.
Climate change and farm-level adaptation: the Brazilian Sertão
Authors: Gori Maia Alexandre , Cesano Daniele , Miyamoto Bruno Cesar Brito , Eusebio Gabriela Santos , Silva Patricia Andrade de Oliveira
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The Sertão, located in the Northeastern region of Brazil, is the most populous semi-arid region in the world. The region also faces the highest rates of poverty, food insecurity and climate risks in this country. Basic economic activities, such as extensive livestock and dairy farming, tend to be mainly affected by the increasing temperatures and recurrent droughts taking place in the past decades. This paper aims to analyze farmers’ responses to climatic variability in the Sertão.

Design/methodology/approach

Analyses are based on farm-level data of the Agricultural Census 2006 and on historical climate data gathered by meteorological stations. The climate impacts and the effectiveness of adaptive strategies are compared between three groups of farms, which discriminate different levels of social and environmental vulnerability. Four production functions are modeled (milk, cattle, goat and sheep) accounting for sample selectivity bias.

Findings

In response to increasing temperatures, farmers tend to shift their activities mainly to cattle and dairy farming. But the overall productivity tends to reduce with the recurrence of droughts. Decreasing precipitation affects mainly the production of milk of smallholder family farmers and the cattle herd of non-family farmers.

Research limitations/implications

Analyses do not account for short- and medium-run productive impacts of extreme droughts, which usually have devastating socioeconomic effects in the region.

Originality/value

Smallholder family farmers are the most vulnerable group who deserve more social and technical intervention, as they lack basic social and technological resources that can greatly improve their productivities and overcome the impacts of decreasing precipitation.
Do people adapt to climate change? Evidence from the industrialized countries
Authors: Korhonen Marko , Kangasraasio Suvi , Svento Rauli
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore the link between mortality and climate change. The focus is in particular on individuals’ adaptation to temperature changes. The authors analyze the relationship between climatic change (measured by temperature rate) and mortality in 23 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries during 1970-2010.

Design/methodology/approach

This study performs the adaptation regression model in the level form as a dynamic panel fixed effects model. The authors use a non-linear threshold estimation approach to examine the extreme temperature changes effect on the temperature–mortality relation. More specifically, the study explores whether the large increases/decreases in temperature rates affect mortality rates more than the modest changes.

Findings

This study indicates that the temperature–mortality relation is significant in early part of the sample period (before 1990) but insignificant during the second part (after 1990). After including controlling factors, as well as nation and year fixed effects, the authors provide evidence that people do adapt to the most of the temperature-related mortalities. Also, this study provides evidence of the non-linear relationship between national temperatures and mortality rates. It is observed that only after 5 per cent increase in the annual temperature, the relation between temperature and overall mortality is significant.

Originality/value

Most studies cover only one specific country, hence making it difficult to generalize across countries. Therefore, the authors argue that the best estimation of the health effects of temperature change can be found by modeling the past relationships between temperature and mortality across countries for a relatively long period. To the authors’ knowledge, previous studies have not systemically tested the adaptation effect across countries.
Closing the delivery gap
Authors: Fiori Kevin Peter , Schechter Jennifer , Gbeleou Sesso Christophe , Braganza Sandra , Rhatigan Joseph , Houndenou Spero , Lopez Andrew , Bensen Emily , Hirschhorn Lisa
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the authors’ experience operationalizing the care delivery value chain (CDVC) as a management and continuous quality improvement (QI) approach to strengthen HIV/AIDS services provided in Northern Togo through addressing gaps across a care continuum.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors led a series of discussions to develop a CDVC specific to existing HIV/AIDS services in Northern Togo. Using the CDVC framework, 28 specific gaps in service delivery were identified and integrated into a strategic QI plan.

Findings

At 12 months, 92 percent of delivery gaps had demonstrated improvement. The CDVC framework proved to be valuable in the following ways. First, it facilitated the first comprehensive mapping of HIV/AIDS services in the Kara region of Togo. Second, it enabled the identification of gaps or insufficiencies in the currently available services across the full continuum of care. Third, it catalyzed the creation of a strategic QI plan based on identified gaps.

Research limitations/implications

This case description is the authors’ experience in one setting and should not be considered comparative in nature. Furthermore, the approach described may not be applicable to all initiatives and/or organizations. As described, the lack of sophisticated and comprehensive data collection systems limited the authors’ ability to collect reliable data on some of the QI initiatives planned.

Practical implications

The operationalization of the CDVC framework is an effective approach to drive continuous QI.

Originality/value

Through the operationalization of the CDVC, the authors developed a new approach for assessing existing services, identifying gaps in service delivery and directing continuous QI initiatives in a strategic manner.
In-kind donations, cash transfers and local procurement in the logistics of caring for internally displaced persons
Authors: Piotrowicz Wojciech D.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate humanitarian supply chains in the context of the Ukrainian crisis as example of complex emergency. The paper focuses on a selection of support modes: in-kind donations, cash-based assistance and local procurement.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a case-study approach and interpretive paradigm. Findings are based on the analysis of primary sources including interviews with three Polish humanitarian organizations, internal documents, and secondary sources such as published reports.

Findings

Findings indicate that in a middle-income urbanized country such as Ukraine non-standard modes such as cash transfer programs and local procurement can be employed, since the necessary infrastructure and market are operational. However, each mode has limitations, so they should match the local context and the needs of diverse social groups.

Research limitations/implications

The findings and recommendations are specific to the case analyzed, Ukraine, and its socio-economic context. The research contributes to discussions about mode selection, stressing the links between mode, stage of the disaster response and local context.

Practical implications

Applying cash transfers and local procurement can reduce supply chain costs, such as transport and warehousing. Shortened supply chains enable faster responses and increased agility.

Social implications

Cash transfers and procurement involve the local community and beneficiaries, and can better fulfill needs maintaining people’s dignity. However, for vulnerable groups and those in conflict zones, in-kind goods are a better option.

Originality/value

The author argues that the much-discussed dichotomy of cash or goods does not reflect reality; local and regional procurement should be added as important support modes in middle-income countries in crisis.
Values, interests and power: the politics of integrating services
Authors: Kaehne Axel
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Differences in professional values, organisational interests and access to resources are key issues to be addressed when integrating services. They are widely seen by service planners and commissioners to be matters of governance. However, they also inform critical debates in political science. In essence they revolve around the question of distribution, or (how to decide) who gets what. The purpose of this paper is to re-frame the subject of inter-organisational governance in integration by conceptualising it through the lens of three prominent politico-theoretical approaches: the liberal, the authoritarian and the radical-utopian.

Design/methodology/approach

A discussion paper that proceeds by utilising political science terms of reference and applying it to a public management problem.

Findings

All three theories provide particular insights into the way in which service planners and commissioners may think about the inescapable plurality of values and interests in integration programmes. Where the liberal perspective places particular emphasis on the purpose and utility of organisational autonomy and self-direction, the authoritarian model highlights the need to produce results within tight timescales. It also accords with the manner in which integration policy is normally implemented, top down. The radical-utopian model is built on the least realistic assumptions but offers researchers a useful framework to assess the rationale and effectiveness of value-based policy in integration programmes wherever robust inter-organisational structures fail to materialise.

Originality/value

Whilst there has been significant research on how to conceptualise integration programmes, scholars have usually championed a public management approach. The potential insights of political thought have not been explored until now. The paper demonstrates that the wider conceptual framework of political theory has significant purchase in the field of integration studies and can help us understand the benefits and limitations of an interdisciplinary approach.
Mitigating influence of transcendence on politics perceptions’ negative effects
Authors: Lawong Diane , McAllister Charn , Ferris Gerald R. , Hochwarter Wayne
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how a cognitive process, transcendence, moderates the relationship between perceptions of organizational politics (POPs) and several work outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants across two studies (Study 1: 187 student-recruited working adults; Study 2: 158 information technology employees) provided a demographically diverse sample for the analyses. Key variables were transcendence, POPs, job satisfaction, job tension, emotional exhaustion, work effort, and frustration.

Findings

Results corroborated the hypotheses and supported the authors’ argument that POPs lacked influence on work outcomes when individuals possessed high levels of transcendence. Specifically, high levels of transcendence attenuated the decreases in job satisfaction and work effort associated with POPs. Additionally, transcendence acted as an antidote to several workplace ills by weakening the increases in job tension, emotional exhaustion, and frustration usually associated with POPs.

Research limitations/implications

This study found that transcendence, an individual-level cognitive style, can improve work outcomes for employees in workplaces where POPs exist. Future studies should use longitudinal data to study how changes in POPs over time affect individuals’ reported levels of transcendence.

Practical implications

Although it is impossible to eliminate politics in organizations, antidotes like transcendence can improve individuals’ responses to POPs.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to utilize an individual-level cognitive style to examine possible options for attenuating the effects of POPs on individuals’ work outcomes.