bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-financial performance measures and the BSC of multinational companies with multi-cultural environment
Authors: Abdallah Wagdy M. , Alnamri Majbour
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of financial and non-financial performance measurement practices, including the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) and the impact of the cultural values on the use of performance measurement systems (PMSs), in multinational companies (MNCs) operating in the Middle East with a special attention to the Saudi Arabian subsidiaries.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected using a survey mailed to 180 randomly selected Saudi manufacturing subsidiaries in different industrial cities to collect data on their PMSs including the use of the BSC.

Findings

– Financial measures are more widely used by most of the companies included in the sample due to the fact they are common, well known, and the most familiar performance measures in the business practice and they are more standardized measures which can be easily understood, implemented, and quantified. Moreover, the use of the non-financial measures was at a very low rate compared with the use of financial measures. The reasons were the difficulty in finding objective measures of the effect of social factors and the avoidance of any disclosure of social problems that are existed in the society.

Research limitations/implications

– Several variables were not included in this study such as corporate culture, use of information technology, the use of mass number of expatriates in the KSA with completely different cultural values, and several other environmental factors, which might have a significant impact on the choice of multiple performance measures.

Practical implications

– From a practical standpoint, this study demonstrates that increasing levels of external environmental factors and exposure to American best practices could act as forces to adapt more updated and sophisticated PMSs in the Middle East. Moreover, it will contribute to the knowledge of PMSs in the emerging countries, particularly in Middle East countries.

Social implications

– Social variables have significant impact on the productivity of employees and they should be incorporated into the performance indictors in objective and practical models.

Originality/value

– This study illustrates how MNCs in the Middle East are adapting and applying the PMS and the effect of culture on the use of non-financial measures.
Cyber-physical systems integration of building information models and the physical construction
Authors: Akanmu Abiola , Anumba Chimay J.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– In spite of the benefits of virtual models in the building and construction industry, the full potential of these models, especially in the construction and operation phases, remains largely unrealized. With the increasing developments in information and communication technology, a number of attempts have been made to extend the use of these models, through the development of integration approaches and technologies. However, the issue of integrating the virtual model and the physical construction such as to enable bi-directional coordination, has not been adequately addressed. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of a cyber-physical systems (CPS) approach in enhancing bi-directional coordination between virtual models and the physical construction.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research employs scenario development rapid prototyping to illustrate CPS integration in the construction industry, with a particular focus on facilitating bi-directional coordination. The proof-of-concept prototype systems developed were validated using a focus group consisting of industry practitioners.

Findings

– Bi-directional coordination between virtual models and the physical construction has the potential to improve real-time progress monitoring and control of the construction process, tracking of changes and model updates, information exchange between the design office and the job site, real-time documentation of the as-built status of high-value components and improved sustainability practices.

Originality/value

– This paper adds value to the construction industry by demonstrating the application of the CPS approach in enhancing bi-directional coordination between virtual models and the physical construction through the development of system architectures, scenarios and prototype systems.
Community health worker model: its implementation and importance in reaching refugee populations in the U.S.
Authors: Nunnery Danielle , Dharod Jigna
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The community health workers (CHWs) model, which refers to individuals from the same community, sharing the same culture and origin, was used to conduct lifestyle, food and health assessments in the refugee and immigrant communities in the study area. In order to understand the process and effectiveness of CHW model, the purpose of this paper is to identify key characteristics of CHWs; and, describe the major roles CHWs play in reaching and carrying out health-based research among under-served refugee populations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The results of this paper reflect a grounded theory approach that specifically analyzed core categories or themes of the CHW model that were observed and recorded from the process of a larger study examining health and diet habits of refugees. In this study, women from the study community were recruited to be trained as CHWs. Recruitment criteria for potential CHWs included women from the same origin of the study community, live in the study area for several years and have familiarity with the community, and possess basic English reading and writing skills.

Findings

– The results showed that CHWs were most effective when they possessed specific key characteristics. These characteristics included being invested in the community and research project, being objective and non-judgmental and able to understand guidelines of research ethics. The CHW helped to carry out the study by acting as a gatekeeper by building trust among community members and, by acting as a cultural broker by explaining the study questions using culturally appropriate probes.

Research limitations/implications

– The CHWs described in this study represent the key characteristics of effectiveness they possess in reaching refugee and immigrant groups in the USA. The limitation reflects the need for further examination of the characteristics that make for effective CHWs in a US-based refugee resettlement context concerning health-based research and outreach reaching a general low-income, racial/ethnic minority groups in the USA.

Practical implications

– The CHW model is key in conducting culturally appropriate research with an under-served and difficult to reach population.

Originality/value

– There is limited published research on the use of the CHW in health-based research in the USA resettlement context and this research study is one step toward closing the gap in our examination of the CHW model.
A comparative study of Turkish-speaking migrants and natives living in Vienna/Austria concerning their life satisfaction – with a particular focus on satisfaction regarding their health
Authors: Özlü-Erkilic Zeliha , Winkler Dietmar , Popow Christian , Zesch Heidi Elisabeth , AKKAYA-KALAYCI Türkan
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The migration background can influence the life satisfaction of migrants. The purpose of this paper is to examine the life satisfaction of migrants and particularly the satisfaction regarding their health in comparison to natives.

Design/methodology/approach

– The life satisfaction of 50 Turkish-speaking migrants living in Vienna was compared with the life satisfaction of 50 native Austrians by the questionnaire of life satisfaction by Fahrenberget al.(2000).

Findings

– Turkish-speaking migrants had lower values than natives in all scales of the questionnaire concerning life satisfaction. Turkish-speaking women reported the lowest satisfaction regarding their health state. In the migrant group the satisfaction regarding health decreased with increasing age.

Research limitations/implications

– The Turkish version of the questionnaire was translated into Turkish by authors but not formally validated. Furthermore acculturation strategies as well as the mental and physical health state of the participant, which can crucially influence the life satisfaction of migrants, were not surveyed.

Practical implications

– Migrants have lower life satisfaction possibly because of their physical and mental health problems. Therefore in countries with a high proportion of migrants the health-care system should be adapted for the needs of migrants, especially for the needs of women and older migrants in order to increase the utilization of the health-care services, primarily the use of the preventive health-care services.

Social implications

– The results of the present study can be helpful to develop strategies for improving the life satisfaction of migrants, especially the satisfaction regarding their health.

Originality/value

– To the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first research project in Vienna conducted to estimate the impact of migration background on life satisfaction.
Digital commerce in emerging economies
Authors: Akhlaq Ather , Ahmed Ejaz
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– More research is needed to understand the online shopping behaviors and intentions of consumers in emerging economies. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which key variables from the Technology Acceptance Model (perceived usefulness (PU) and ease of use (PEOU)), and others theoretically associated with digital engagement (distrust, perceived risk (PR), perceived enjoyment (PE) and legal framework (LF)), accounted for variation in online shopping intentions in Pakistan, focussing on affiliates of a large metropolitan university.

Design/methodology/approach

– Online survey using a convenience sample of university staff, students and alumni recruited through the university’s online network. A questionnaire capturing the above constructs was tested for content validity and reliability prior to dissemination. The survey results were factor analyzed to determine the degree to which the constructs were independent, and regression was used to examine their ability to predict online purchasing intentions. User characteristics were analyzed descriptively.

Findings

– All six independent factors, PU, PEOU, PR, PE, distrust and LF, in the model were independently predictive of intention to shop online and supported the theoretical model by demonstrating the predicted direction of the relationship.

Research limitations/implications

– There are limitations in the generalizability of the findings. Most of the data being collected were only from Karachi, the biggest metropolitan city and the business hub of Pakistan.

Practical implications

– This research may help retailers in becoming e-tailers. The model would also help existing e-tailers to streamline their business according to the research findings. In addition, government may work on policies to provide a better online business environment to the people of Pakistan.

Originality/value

– A new online shopping model has been discovered for an emerging market, Pakistan. Developing countries could take advantage of this model to get real insights of their e-tailing industry.
Purchasing power parity as a long-term memory process
Authors: Triki Mohamed Bilel , Maktouf Samir
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on whether the deviations from the cointegrating relationship possess long memory and the fractional cointegration analyses may capture a wider range of mean-reversion behaviour than standard cointegration analyses.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses a fractional cointegration technique to test the purchasing power parity (PPP).

Findings

– The authors found that PPP held, but very weakly, in the long run between the Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Thailand and Venezuela and US exchange rate during our floating exchange rate period but that the deviations from it did not follow a stationary process. Nevertheless, it is also found that the deviations from PPP exists and can be characterized by a fractionally integrated process in nine out of 13 countries studied.

Originality/value

– The findings are consistent with the consensus of the empirical literature, reviewed earlier in this paper, on PPP between Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Thailand and Venezuela and the USA.
Testing three materialism life-course theories in South Africa
Authors: Duh Helen
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– About 80 per cent of consumers in the world reside in emerging consumer markets (ECM). Thus, consumer behaviour theories and models should be tested for validation in ECM such as South Africa (socio-economically and culturally diverse). The purpose of this paper is to test three (human capital, stress and socialization) life-course theoretical perspectives on materialism among South African young adults. Employing the three life-course theoretical perspectives, it was posited that disruptive family events experienced during adolescence will affect materialism at young adulthood directly and indirectly through family resources received, perceived stress from family disruptions and peer communication about consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 300 South African young adults were surveyed. Structural equation modelling was used to test eight hypotheses developed from the three life-course theoretical perspectives on materialism. Independent-samples t-test was first conducted to assess whether the respondents were materialistic.

Findings

– The South African young adults were found to be materialistic and this was explained by peer communication about consumption during adolescence (socialization life-course theoretical perspective). Disruptive family events experienced during adolescence significantly affected family resources negatively, and perceived stress positively, but these outcomes had no impact on materialism at young adulthood as the human capital and stress life-course theoretical perspectives suggest.

Originality/value

– The results reinforce the need to test the validity of western theories in an African context. The test can improve theories and can help advance knowledge about consumer diversity across cultures.
A performance evaluation of Chinese mutual funds
Authors: Kiymaz Halil
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of Chinese mutual funds during the period of January 2000 to July 2013. Emerging market funds provide investors with alternative risk exposure for their portfolios. The Chinese market has developed rapidly and differs from developed markets regarding wide range of market and economic characteristics, including size, liquidity, and regulation. The performance of these funds is investigated by using various risk adjusted measures. The study also compares performances of mutual fund subgroups and explains the factors influencing their performances.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is an empirical paper using various risk performance measures. These measures include the Sharpe ratio, Information ratio, Treynor ratio, M-squared and Jensen’s α. The data comprises 1,037 funds. These funds are further divided into ten subgroup of funds based on their classification: equity (484); aggressive allocation (95 funds); conservative allocation (18 funds); moderate allocation (85 funds); aggressive bond (92 funds); normal bond (52 funds); guaranteed (29 funds); money market (53 funds); and QDII funds (119 funds). A cross-sectional analysis of fund performance is performed using Sharpe and Jensen’s measures as dependent variables and fund-specific variables (Age, Turnover, Tenure, Frontload, Redemption fees, and Management fees), market-specific variables (P/E ratio, P/B ratio, Market capitalization), and fund types as independent variables.

Findings

– The findings show that Chinese funds generate positive αs for their investors. The highest return is provided with aggressive allocation funds followed by moderately aggressive allocation funds. The average Jensen’s α is the highest in aggressive allocation funds. QDII funds do not provide significant positive αs; in several instances αs are negative. Further analysis of sub-periods show that Chinese funds do not consistently provide excess returns and show great variations. The study also finds that older funds, funds with higher fees, high price to book ratio, and smaller funds continue to perform better than other funds.

Originality/value

– This study adds value by focussing on Chinese funds and risk/return characteristics of these funds. The research will further explore factors explaining these returns.
An empirical analysis of funds’ alternative measures in the mean absolute deviation (MAD) framework
Authors: Tavakoli Baghdadabad Mohammad Reza
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an attempt to evaluate the risk-adjusted performance of international mutual funds using the risk statistic generated by the mean absolute deviation (MAD) and promote the ability of portfolio managers and investors to make the logical decisions for selecting different funds using the new optimized measures.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study evaluates the performance of 50 international mutual funds using optimized risk-adjusted measures by the MAD over the monthly period 2001-2010. Using 50 linear programming models, the MAD is first computed by the linear programming models, and then seven performance measures of Treynor, Sharpe, Jensen’s α, M2, information ratio (IR), MSR, and FPI are optimized and proposed by the MAD to evaluate the mutual funds.

Findings

– The empirical evidence detects that the MAD is an important determinant to evaluate the funds’ performance. Using the MAD statistic, this paper shows that new optimized measures are mostly over-performed by the benchmark index; in addition, these optimized measures have close correlation with each other. The results, therefore, detect the importance of using new optimized measures in evaluating the mutual funds’ performance.

Practical implications

– The result of this study can be directly used as an initial data for decision of investors and portfolio managers who are seeking the possibility of participating in the global stock market by the international mutual funds.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first study which optimizes the variance of returns in the MAD framework for each fund to propose new seven optimized measures of Treynor, Sharpe, Jensen’s α, M2, IR, MSR, and FPI.
Drug term trends in American hip-hop lyrics
Authors: Inkster Becky , Sule Akeem
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Many young people around the world embrace hip-hop music and culture. Since the genre’s conception in the 1970s, hip-hop music and lyrics have made regular references to drugs. Understanding the relevance of these documented trends is important, especially as adolescence is a period of high risk for substance misuse. The purpose of this paper is to explore how and possibly why different lyrical trends in hip-hop music have emerged, risen and fallen out of popularity by examining word usage frequency of drug terminology in hip-hop lyrics spanning several decades of this genre.

Design/methodology/approach

– Electronic searches were completed using an open source database known as Rap Genius Rap Stats, which contains verified annotations and text. Word frequency was plotted against time using data available from 1988 to 2015. Word frequency was defined as a percentage of the number of hip-hop songs containing a specific drug-term (per year) based on the number of hip-hop songs recorded/produced (that year). Standardized “medical/pharmaceutical” terminologies and common “street” terminologies were plotted independently for time series visualization. Drug terms were represented using the highest frequency search term. Generic “street” terms with multiple meanings were excluded.

Findings

– As might be predicted, the usage of “street” terms in hip-hop lyrics was more frequently observed than the usage of “medical/pharmaceutical” terms. An exception was the term “crack”, which was included in both plots as this word could be referenced as a “street” term and as a “medical/pharmaceutical” term. The authors observed larger fluctuations in “street” term usage across time relative to only slight fluctuations of “medical/pharmaceutical” term usage across time.

Originality/value

– In this study, the authors illustrate several drug terminology trends in hip-hop lyrics. The authors discuss some of the socio-political, socio-demographic and geographical implications that may have influenced these trends, such as the rise of the “street” term molly that emerged when references to molly made by hip-hop artists became increasingly popular and a more suburban demographic transpired. This preliminary work may help to enhance two-way youth-oriented communication between health care professionals and service users, possibly improving the translation of drug-related medical messages. The preliminary work may also inform future research to consider whether such lyrical trends precede or follow changes in population substance use.
Exploring the components and impact of social prescribing
Authors: Kilgarriff-Foster Alexis , O'Cathain Alicia
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Social prescribing are short-term intermediary services that facilitate patients with psychosocial needs to engage in non-clinical support. However, little is known about the components and potential impact of social prescribing. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review was conducted to explore the evidence based on social prescribing including mapping its key components and potential impact. Database, internet and hand searching was utilised to identify relevant studies. Data extraction and narrative analysis was undertaken to explore the issues.

Findings

– In total, 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies were diverse in their methodologies and the services evaluated. Stakeholders such as general practitioners and patients perceived that social prescribing increased patients’ mental well-being and decreased health service use. However, the quantitative evidence supporting this was limited. The only randomised-controlled trial showed a decrease in symptoms and increase in functional well-being at four months. The other non-controlled designs had large drop-out rates limiting their value in determining effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research is needed on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of social prescribing using robust evaluative designs.

Originality/value

– This is the first review of generic social prescribing services focusing on the general evidence base.
Exploring the Facebook Like: a product and service perspective
Authors: Pelletier Mark J. , Blakeney Horky Alisha
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this exploratory study is to expand the knowledge of the current literature stream and to attempt to more fully understand the simple but singularly unique aspect of social networking communication that is the Facebook “Like”. To this end, motivations behind liking a brand are explored, as well as the interactions that occur between the company and consumer as a result of this Facebook interaction. Next, we look at differing levels of interaction for liked product and service brands on Facebook. Specifically exploring if there are differences with how Facebook users engage with liked product and service brands.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors first engage in an exploratory, qualitative-based research to look at the motivations and consequences associated with liking product and service brands, using a sample of 160 Facebook users. Next, an ANOVA analysis is performed using an online sample of 264 respondents recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Findings

– The qualitative analysis reveals differing motivations for liking brands on Facebook and suggests that generating Facebook Likes can indeed have positive, if unacknowledged, outcomes for the firm. Further, while there is no significant difference in perceptions of brand knowledge between product- and service-based brands, there is a significant difference in perceptions of brand connectedness between brand types, with consumers reporting a greater sense of connection to the service brands and higher levels of brand attitude and purchase intention for product-based brands. It is also shown that consumers have a greater intention of reading and liking posts from product-based brands.

Originality/value

– This paper explores and attempts to move toward clarification of the gap that exists between “quality” versus “quantity” valuations of a Facebook Like.
Leadership in evidence-based practice: a systematic review
Authors: Reichenpfader Ursula , Carlfjord Siw , Nilsen Per
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to systematically review published empirical research on leadership as a determinant for the implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) and to investigate leadership conceptualization and operationalization in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

– A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted. Relevant electronic bibliographic databases and reference lists of pertinent review articles were searched. To be included, a study had to involve empirical research and refer to both leadership and EBP in health care. Study quality was assessed with a structured instrument based on study design.

Findings

– A total of 17 studies were included. Leadership was mostly viewed as a modifier for implementation success, acting through leadership support. Yet, there was definitional imprecision as well as conceptual inconsistency, and studies seemed to inadequately address situational and contextual factors. Although referring to an organizational factor, the concept was mostly analysed at the individual or group level.

Research limitations/implications

– The concept of leadership in implementation science seems to be not fully developed. It is unclear whether attempts to tap the concept of leadership in available instruments truly capture and measure the full range of the diverse leadership elements at various levels. Research in implementation science would benefit from a better integration of research findings from other disciplinary fields. Once a more mature concept has been established, researchers in implementation science could proceed to further elaborate operationalization and measurement.

Originality/value

– Although the relevance of leadership in implementation science has been acknowledged, the conceptual base of leadership in this field has received only limited attention.
Perceptions of trust in physician-managers
Authors: Cregård Anna , Eriksson Nomie
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the dual role of physician-managers through an examination of perceptions of trust and distrust in physician-managers. The healthcare sector needs physicians to lead. Physicians in part-time managerial positions who continue their medical practice are called part-time physician-managers. This paper explores this dual role through an examination of perceptions of trust and distrust in physician-managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study takes a qualitative research approach in which interviews and focus group discussions with physician-managers and nurse-managers provide the empirical data. An analytical model, with the three elements of ability, benevolence and integrity, was used in the analysis of trust and distrust in physician-managers.

Findings

– The respondents (physician-managers and nurse-managers) perceived both an increase and a decrease in physicians’ trust in the physician-managers. Because elements of distrust were more numerous and more severe than elements of trust, the physician-managers received negative perceptions of their role.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper’s findings are based on perceptions of perceptions. The physicians were not interviewed on their trust and distrust of physician-managers.

Practical implications

– The healthcare sector must pay attention to the diverse expectations of the physician-manager role that is based on both managerial and medical logics. Hospital management should provide proper support to physician-managers in their dual role to ensure their willingness to continue to assume managerial responsibilities.

Originality/value

– The paper takes an original approach in its research into the dual role of physician-managers who work under two conflicting logics: the medical logic and the managerial logic. The focus on perceived trust and distrust in physician-managers is a new perspective on this complicated role.
Corporate social responsibility practice and corporate financial performance: evidence from Nigeria companies
Authors: Usman Aliyu Baba , Amran Noor Afza Binti
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the nature and trend of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Nigeria. The second objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between the dimensions of CSR disclosures and corporate financial performance (CFP) among Nigerian listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

– To carry out this research, content analysis was conducted to extract CSR and financial data from annual reports of 68 companies listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. Financial data were cross-referenced with the NSE Factbook. CSR indexes and financial performance measures were computed for estimation of the regression analysis equation. The percentages were used to describe the nature and trend of CSR practice in Nigeria. This was followed by the hierarchical multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between CSR and CFP.

Findings

– The results of the descriptive statistics show that the listed companies used CSR initiatives to communicate social performance to their stakeholders. From the regression analysis, community involvement disclosure, products and customer disclosures and human resource disclosures were found to enhance CFP. The results also reveal a negative relationship between environmental disclosure and CFP, which indicates that disclosure of environmental impact information could be value destroying in Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

– The major limitation of this paper is the sample size. Also, failure of corporations to disclose CSR in the annual reports will have a material effect on these findings.

Practical implications

– The findings of this paper have practical implications on the management of Nigerian companies to re-think and re-strategize their CSR policies that incorporate social and economic performance to improve their CFP.

Social implications

– This paper has implication on stakeholders in validating the corporate citizenship of corporations based on the level of commitment and participation in CSR initiatives. Also, findings of this paper will alert the enforcement agencies on the status of CSR practices in Nigeria. Government in collaboration with private and public agencies should consider the needs for CSR framework and database to guide social and environmental reporting in the country.

Originality/value

– The paper has examined the relationship between CSR and CFP based on CSR dimensional approach. Aspect of human resource and products/customers CSR has been neglected in the context of Nigerian CSR research. This paper makes valuable contribution by offering new and fresh insight on these dimensions.
Japanese version of the early psoriatic arthritis screening questionnaire (EARP)
Authors: Maejima Hideki , Katayama Chieko , Taniguchi Tomonori , Aki Ryouichi , Nishiyama Hiromi , Yanagita Kenogo , Sato Yuichi , Tinazzi Ilaria , Watarai Akira , Amoh Yasuyuki
Published: September 2015

The early psoriatic arthritis screening questionnaire (EARP) is a simple and fast method for the identification of arthritis in patients with psoriasis. We established the Japanese version of the EARP (J‐EARP) questionnaire, which includes 10 items with two choices for each. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the J‐EARP questionnaire. A total of 90 psoriasis patients, 19 psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and 71 psoriasis patients without joint involvement, were administered the J‐EARP questionnaire. The diagnostic accuracy of the J‐EARP questionnaire for the diagnosis of PsA and early‐stage PsA was compared by receiver–operator curve (ROC) analysis. The J‐EARP questionnaire showed similar ROC characteristics to those of the original version of the EARP (specificity 97.2% and 91.6% and sensitivity 97.2% and 85.2%, respectively) in PsA patients using the cut‐off value of 3 for the J‐EARP questionnaire, which was the same as that used for the original EARP questionnaire. The scores of the J‐EARP questionnaire in early‐stage PsA patients (<1 year from onset) were significantly higher than in those of psoriasis patients, but not lower than in those of later stage (≥1 year from onset) PsA patients. The J‐EARP questionnaire is simple and fast to administer and has been proven to be robust for the identification of PsA. The J‐EARP questionnaire is a useful diagnostic tool for early‐stage PsA patients.
Defending What From Whom? Debating Citizen Disengagement
Authors: Forstenzer Joshua
Published: September 2015

This article constitutes a pointed theoretical intervention in the debate opposing Richards and Smith to Flinders on the question of citizen disengagement. Its main contention is that Richards and Smith offer a straw‐man argument against Flinders by identifying him with positions he does not hold. It thus shows that Richards and Smith falsely identify Flinders with the following positions: (a) there is no need for a major overhaul in the UK's existing democratic and governance arrangements; (b) the problem of citizen disengagement is caused by the public's insatiable demand for democratic participation; and (c) the problem with British politics is that there is too much democracy and accountability. Finally, the article closes by identifying points of genuine tension between the Richards/Smith position and that defended by Flinders.
Retrieval Rapid Emergency Medical Score in retrieval medicine
Authors: Kennedy Marcus P , Wilson Krystle , Gabbe Belinda J , Straney Lahn , Bailey Michael
Published: September 2015

Objective

Prognostic models are commonly used in the clinical setting. The objective of the study is to evaluate the prognostic accuracy of the Rapid Emergency Medical Score (REMS) or alternate models.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of critical care patients who underwent retrieval service transfer to an ICU in a single state‐wide service in Victoria, Australia. All patients aged 18 years and over transferred to an ICU between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2013. Retrieval and ICU datasets were probabilistically linked. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to investigate the capacity of physiological markers and patient characteristics to predict in‐hospital mortality in the ICU population. The prediction performance was evaluated using measures of discrimination (C‐statistic) and calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow [H‐L statistic] ).

Results

There were 1776 ICU patients who were transferred and 1749 (98.5%) had complete data. Of the 1749 patients with complete data, 257 (14.7%) died in‐hospital. The REMS calculated at the time of retrieval referral demonstrated borderline predictive capability (C‐statistic 0.69, 95% CI 0.62–0.76). Following logistic regression analysis of the REMS components, final variables included in the Retrieval REMS model were age, mean arterial pressure and Glasgow Coma Scale score. This model demonstrated acceptable predictive capability (C‐statistic 0.72, 95% CI 0.64–0.79). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) Retrieval REMS for survivors and non‐survivors, respectively, were 7 (5, 10) and 9 (7, 11), P < 0.01.

Conclusions

The availability of a validated tool such as Retrieval REMS assists recognition of high‐risk patients and consideration of this risk in retrieval mission planning and response.
Cost‐Effectiveness of Maintenance Hemodialysis in Japan
Authors: Takura Tomoyuki , Nakanishi Takeshi , Kawanishi Hideki , Nitta Kosaku , Akizawa Tadao , Hiramatsu Makoto , Kawasaki Tadayuki , Kukita Kazutaka , Soejima Hidehisa , Hirakata Hideki , Yoshida Toyohiko , Miyamoto Takashi , Takahashi Susumu
Published: September 2015

The cost‐effectiveness according to primary disease or dialysis duration has never been analyzed with respect to maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Study candidates were > 20 years of age and had received hemodialysis for at least 6 months. Hemodialysis patients were prospectively observed for 36 months, and patient utility was assessed based on the Euro‐QOL 5‐dimensions (EQ‐5D), from which the quality adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated. Medical costs were calculated based on medical service fees. The cost‐effectiveness defined as the incremental cost utility ratio (ICUR) was analyzed from a social perspective. A total of 29 patients (mean age; 59.9 ± 13.1 years) undergoing 437 dialysis sessions were analyzed. Utility based upon the EQ‐5D score was 0.75 ± 0.21, and the estimated total medical cost for one year of MHD treatment was 4.52 ± 0.88 US$10 000. ICUR was 6.88 ± 4.47 US$10 000/QALY on average, and when comparing ICUR based on the causes of kidney failure, the value for diabetic nephropathy was found to be higher than that for glomerulonephritis (8.17 ± 6.28 vs. 6.82 ± 4.07). ICUR after 36 months observation increased mainly in the patients below 65 years of age (All; P < 0.05, <65; P < 0.01, 65≤; not significant). MHD is a treatment that could improve the socioeconomic state of elderly patients with end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD), but the ICUR for diabetic nephropathy was higher than that for glomerulonephritis.
Explaining Political Leadership: Germany's Role in Shaping the Fiscal Compact
Authors: Schoeller Magnus G.
Published: September 2015

This article examines why and how political leaders emerge and, once in charge, what determines their success or failure. To explore these questions, I present a theory of political leadership that takes into account both the structural and the behavioral aspects of the concept. I argue that the emergence and the impact of leadership represent two different analytical steps. A leader emerges if there is a supply of, and demand for, leadership. While the supply depends on a leader's expected benefits, the demand is determined by the followers’ status quo costs. The second step concerns a leader's impact, which results from the strategies deployed by the leader. While a leader's capacity to employ strategies is determined by the power resources at its disposal, the intensity of strategies needed to influence outcomes depends on the heterogeneity of preferences and on the adaptability of the institutional setting. The theory is applied in the context of the current eurozone crisis by analyzing Germany's role in shaping the European Fiscal Compact.
The Convergence of IFRS and U.S. GAAP: Evidence from the SEC's Removal of Form 20‐F Reconciliations
Authors: Mestelman Stuart , Mohammad Emad , Shehata Mohamed
Published: September 2015

We use the SEC's 2007 decision that eliminates the reconciliation requirement for foreign listed private issuers (FPIs) reporting under IFRS as a natural experiment to examine whether IFRS and U.S. GAAP produce accounting information of comparable quality. We conduct statistical analyses using a sample of 563 firm‐year observations of FPIs during the period 2002 through 2008 for a panel of 70 FPIs that report under IFRS as our treatment group and 46 FPIs that report under U.S. GAAP as our control group. Using a stock‐valuation model and a difference‐in‐differences (DD) analysis of scaled residuals we examine whether the reconciliation values reported by IFRS FPIs prior to 2007 were value relevant and if the elimination of the reconciliation information in the post‐intervention period (2007 and 2008) has adversely affected the information available to investors to make stock‐valuation decisions. The results for the 2002 through 2006 period suggest that the reconciliation values for book value were value relevant. The DD analysis shows that while the residual‐value model incorporating reconciliation information produced comparable scaled stock price residuals for IFRS and U.S. GAAP FPIs prior to 2007, the removal of the reconciliation information did not lead to statistically significant increases in scaled stock price residuals for IFRS and U.S. GAAP FPIs.
Do IFRS‐Based Earnings Announcements Have More Information Content than Canadian GAAP‐Based Earnings Announcements?
Authors: Khan Shahid , Anderson Mark , Warsame Hussein , Wright Michael
Published: September 2015

Using an event‐study methodology, this study investigates whether the information content of earnings announcements changed for firms traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Canadian Venture Exchange (TSXV) following mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Canada. A priori, it may be argued that the information content of earnings would increase for both TSX and TSXV firms if IFRS earnings provided more value‐relevant information than Canadian GAAP earnings. Increased value relevance of information provided by IFRS earnings would likely reflect increased measurement of changes in net asset values based on expectations as opposed to realizations. Because values based on expectations are subject to greater divergence of opinion than values based on realizations, greater value relevance is likely to be accompanied by higher abnormal return volatility and abnormal trading volume during announcement periods. Consistent with this argument, we find that abnormal volatility and abnormal volume during earnings announcement periods were higher in post‐IFRS announcement periods than in pre‐IFRS announcement periods for firms traded on the TSX. We discriminate across the two exchanges in terms of information quality based on the mix of institutional and retail investors, analyst following, concentration in the oil, gas and mining sectors, and size of firm. We test for a residual difference in information content based on the more speculative nature of the TSXV exchange and find some evidence that divergence of opinion was higher for TSXV firms than TSX firms in the pre‐IFRS period but this residual difference does not carry through to the post‐IFRS period.
Comparative dietary ecology of two congeneric marsupial folivores
Authors: Gloury April Maree , Handasyde Kathrine Ann
Published: September 2015

Knowledge of species diets is critical to assisting our understanding of their ecology. Using microhistological analysis of faecal samples, we described and compared the diets of sympatrically occurring folivorous congenerics, common and mountain brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula and T. cunninghami, respectively). Throughout the 28‐month study period, common brushtails relied heavily on eucalypt foliage, particularly very young leaves, which is consistent with data from captive studies on their dietary physiology. In contrast, eucalypt foliage formed only a small part of the diet of mountain brushtails, which instead relied heavily on silver wattle foliage. The mean number of plant groups per faecal sample was significantly greater for common brushtails than mountain brushtails. No significant differences in diet between male and female mountain brushtails were detected. However, intraspecific differences in diet occurred for common brushtails: the diet of females included significantly less eucalypt foliage and significantly more foliage of the exotic, tree lucerne, than that of males during the Wet Season (April–November), but not during the Dry Season (December–March). Diets varied temporally for both species, with some individuals feeding on seasonally available resources. The diets described for common and mountain brushtails are consistent with those of a dry‐adapted and mesic‐adapted species, respectively. We discuss how our results contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary history of both study species, and more broadly the family Phalangeridae to which they belong. We also consider the diet of our study species in the context of recent advances in our understanding of interactions between plants that produce secondary metabolites, and mammals specialized to feed on them.
Personal best (PB) goal structure, individual PB goals, engagement, and achievement: A study of Chinese‐ and English‐speaking background students in Australian schools
Authors: Martin Andrew J. , Collie Rebecca J. , Mok Magdalena M. C. , McInerney Dennis M.
Published: September 2015

Background

Prior cross‐cultural research with students in different national contexts (Australia and China) has shown consistency in the extent to which individual personal best (PB) goals are associated with engagement at school.

Aims

This study extends this work to a multicultural context, assessing perceived PB goal structure in school and individual PB goals among Chinese‐ and English‐speaking background Australian high school students attending the same schools.

Sample

A sample of 450 students (N = 225 Chinese‐speaking background Australian students; N = 225 matched English‐speaking background Australian students) from 20 schools.

Method

We conducted multigroup path modelling to examine the following process model: Perceived PB goal structure in school → individual PB goals → school engagement → academic achievement.

Results

Findings showed that for both groups, perceived PB goal structure in school is associated with an individual's PB goals (and engagement), individual PB goals are associated with engagement, and engagement is associated with achievement. The indirect effects of perceived PB goal structure in school to achievement (via individual PB goals and engagement) and individual PB goals to achievement (via engagement) were also significant. Notably, there was no significant difference in parameters between Chinese‐ and English‐speaking background students, suggesting generality of the effects of perceived PB goal structure in school and individual PB goals in the engagement and achievement process.

Conclusion

Findings hold implications for educators teaching to culturally diverse classrooms and seeking to optimize students' academic growth within these contexts.