bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A positive deviance approach to eliminate wastes in business processes
Authors: Delias Pavlos
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to manifest a method that exploits process analytics to discover critical knowledge for a business process. This knowledge eventually answers to the question if process behavior can suggest which activities should be outsourced to get the performance improved.

Design/methodology/approach

The author linked waste sources to process behavioral patterns, and adopted the positive deviance paradigm to highlight compelling behaviors. Various analytic tools (generalized regression, clustering, etc.) were used to provide recommendations.

Findings

By outsourcing small parts of the process, significant process improvement is expected. Evidence-based process analytics can effectively support the relevant decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The author had no access to the relevant policy makers (process owners).

Originality/value

The author proposed an operationalization of concepts that connects process behavior to waste sources. The author presented the use of positive deviance as a guide for waste elimination projects.
Knowledge sharing and collaborative relationships in business ecosystems and networks
Authors: Wulf Anna , Butel Lynne
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The sharing of knowledge between partners in collaborative relationships is widely accepted to be fundamental to supporting strategic decision making, particularly in relation to innovation management and business sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to focus on how the structure of collaborative relationships in business networks may determine successful knowledge sharing and thus improve decision making and business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Expert interviews were conducted with participants operating in networks and business ecosystem in four different sectors in Italy and Germany, exploring the process of knowledge sharing, organisational learning and decision making within collaborative relationships. A qualitative textual analysis was used to analyse the experts’ responses.

Findings

The research found that an organisation’s network position and the network structure, as well as the governance and richness of the business ecosystem in which it operates, influence its ability to share knowledge, to innovate and therefore to compete sustainably.

Research limitations/implications

The research demonstrates that innovative strategic decision making, based on access to appropriate knowledge, occurs within the context of social and business network relations operating within a broader more diverse business ecosystem. Closer dyadic or small working group ties best facilitate trust and sharing of the most valuable knowledge. Appropriate participation in and management of such structures is therefore essential to support knowledge-based decision making, and critical to sustained competitive advantage.

Originality/value

The research focusses on how interfirm relationships are established and maintained, how firms establish trust and facilitate knowledge sharing forming the basis of organisational learning.
Corporate governance and internal controls over financial reporting in Ugandan MFIs
Authors: Nalukenge Irene , Tauringana Ven , Mpeera Ntayi Joseph
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was cross-sectional and correlational. In all, 70 Ugandan MFIs were surveyed and the data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 to test the nine hypotheses which were put forward. The hypothesized relationships were tested using the ordinary least squares regression.

Findings

The findings based on multiple regression analysis suggest that board role performance, expertise and Association of Microfinance Institutions in Uganda (AMFIU) membership are significant predictors of the ICFR. However, board independence and separation of CEO and chairman roles are not significant predictors. The results also show that the firm-specific control variables (auditor type, size, accounting qualification and age) are also not significant.

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations in that it is cross-sectional, thus limiting monitoring changes in behavior over time and also because the effectiveness of the ICFR was assessed using perceptions.

Practical implications

Efforts by regulators and other stakeholders to improve the ICFR must focus on the corporate governance aspects such as board expertise and ensure that the board performs its roles.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the existing literature on the corporate governance and ICFR by documenting the relationship between the corporate governance and ICFR. The study complements the previous studies on the ICFR by demonstrating that board expertise and board role performance improve the ICFR. Such evidence does not currently exist. The findings also indicate that an MFI which is a member of AMFIU was found to have better ICFR supporting self-regulation.
Intellectual capital disclosure and corporate market value: does board diversity matter?
Authors: Anifowose Mutalib , Abdul Rashid Hafiz Majdi , Annuar Hairul Azlan
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between IC disclosure and the corporate market value (CMV) of listed firms on the main board of Nigeria Stock Exchange and to test the moderating effect of religious and ethnic composition of board members on the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the signaling and upper echelons theories in formulating four hypotheses that guide the results analysis. By employing a two-step dynamic system generalized method of moments and controlling for the possible endogeneity effect on the parameters estimated for a sample of 91 listed firms on main board of Nigeria Stock Exchange, this study investigates the association of IC disclosure with CMV, namely, cost of capital and market capitalization, and the moderating role of religious and ethnic composition on such association using data over the 2010 to 2014 financial years.

Findings

The results show a significant positive relationship between overall IC disclosure and market capitalization and a negative impact on cost of capital, which are in line with the hypothesized propositions. The moderating effect of board diversity is also confirmed. This study contributes to recent evidence concerning the value relevance of IC information to investors and other interested stakeholders and the established moderating role of board diversity in IC disclosure-related studies.

Practical implications

The regulators may consider development of standards on board composition about religious and ethnic composition in order to curb the domination from same group in the board room. Those charged with governance should be concerned with the disclosure of IC information in the financial statements as it has value relevance to the investors, in line with signaling theory.

Social implications

The ethnic and religious composition of board members is a significant factor within the board room and needs to be given adequate consideration.

Originality/value

This study is the first to consider IC disclosure across whole sectors in the Nigerian economy and looks upon ethnicity and religious affiliation of boards as moderating variables. The study controls for heteroscedasticity and endogeneity issues by adopting two-step dynamic system generalized method of moments.
Auditors’ and accounting educators’ perceptions of accounting education gaps and audit quality in Egypt
Authors: Anis Ahmed
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the auditors’ and accounting educators’ perceptions of accounting education gaps and their impact on audit quality in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a survey of auditors and accounting educators in Egypt.

Findings

The findings indicate a significant negative relationship between deficiencies in specific skills – namely, decision making, information technology, critical thinking, legal knowledge, problem-solving skills, ethical behavior, ambiguity tolerance, presentation skills, written communication, and cost and managerial accounting skills – and audit quality.

Research limitations/implications

The results provide an auditing professionals’ market perspective of the development of students’ skills in the Egyptian higher education system. Specifically, this research provides insights into what skills auditing firms look for and how much these skills differ from those currently developed by public business schools in Egypt.

Practical implications

The results help auditing firms that want to work in the Egyptian market to identify the training needs for entry-level positions. Specifically, accounting graduates from public schools will need training in critical thinking skills, information technology, and writing and communication skills.

Originality/value

This study extends the accounting literature on the relationship between attributes of accounting graduates and audit quality by examining the impact of accounting graduates’ skills development and audit quality in Egypt.
An agent-based model of entrepreneurship
Authors: Newell Graham D. , Holian Matthew J.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an agent-based model that highlights the role of entrepreneurship in the market process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors explore the effect of entrepreneurial alertness and transaction costs on two normative standards: the speed of price equilibration and the level of product diversity.

Findings

Both higher alertness and lower transaction costs lead to faster equilibration, as expected. High alertness contributes to high product diversity, also as expected. However, and counter-intuitively, lower transaction costs actually leads to lower levels of product diversity, as markets equilibrate before entrepreneurs can discover many new products.

Originality/value

The analysis provides new insight into entrepreneurship theory and policy.
Entrepreneurship, corruption and economic freedom
Authors: Dempster Gregory , Isaacs Justin
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the literature on entrepreneurship and corruption by examining the link between productive and unproductive entrepreneurial activities as moderated by economic freedom. Specifically, the authors hypothesize that various aspects of economic freedom are contextual in their moderating effects, so that what matters in terms of economic freedom will depend on other factors such as levels of human capital.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test these hypotheses by incorporating aggregated and disaggregated measures from the Economic Freedom of the World into a model of international entrepreneurial activity.

Findings

The results indicate that not only is economic freedom a major determinant of the level of entrepreneurial activity across countries, as previously verified, but that it also moderates the relationship between human capital, corruption, and productive entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

These findings resolve many of the ambiguities previously identified in the literature on the link between corruption, entrepreneurship, and growth.
Two concepts of community in the Niger Delta
Authors: Okeke-Ogbuafor Nwamaka , Gray Tim , Stead Selina
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to understand what two apparently contrasting concepts of communality and place attachment say about the quality of community life in the Niger Delta.

Design/methodology/approach

The research for this paper relied on extensive qualitative and quantitative data: qualitative data were collected from five oil-rich and three oil-poor communities across Ogoniland, while quantitative data were collected from four of these communities. Thematic content analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data, while the quantitative data were analysed through Excel.

Findings

Most participants from both oil-rich and oil-poor communities strongly reject a social sense of communality and strongly endorse a geographical sense of place.

Practical implications

The wider implication of this finding is that proponents of community development (CD) have a choice between either the cynical option of noting that Ogoni’s strong sense of place means that they will tolerate limited CD, or the noble option of noting that Ogoni’s strong sense of place is a solid foundation on which to build sustainable CD by empowering citizens to create their own future.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is twofold. First, it shows the complexity of people’s sense of community encompassing widely different and possibly contradictory elements. Second, it reveals the strength and persistence of people’s attachment to place despite its physical shortcomings.
Context preparation for predictive analytics – a case from manufacturing industry
Authors: Schmidt Bernard , Gandhi Kanika , Wang Lihui , Galar Diego
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to exemplify and discuss the context aspect for predictive analytics where in parallel condition monitoring (CM) measurements data and information related to the context are gathered and analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on an industrial case study, conducted in a manufacturing company. The linear axis of a machine tool has been selected as an object of interest. Available data from different sources have been gathered and a new CM function has been implemented. Details about performed steps of data acquisition and selection are provided. Among the obtained data, health indicators and context-related information have been identified.

Findings

Multiple sources of relevant contextual information have been identified. Performed analysis discovered the deviations in operational conditions when the same machining operation is repeatedly performed.

Originality/value

This paper shows the outcomes from a case study in real word industrial setup. A new visualisation method of gathered data is proposed to support decision-making process.
Maintenance analytics for railway infrastructure decision support
Authors: Famurewa Stephen Mayowa , Zhang Liangwei , Asplund Matthias
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for maintenance analytics that is useful for the assessment of rail condition and for maintenance decision support. The framework covers three essential maintenance aspects: diagnostic, prediction and prescription. The paper also presents principal component analysis (PCA) and local outlier factor methods for detecting anomalous rail wear occurrences using field measurement data.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used in this paper includes a review of the concept of analytics and appropriate adaptation to railway infrastructure maintenance. The diagnostics aspect of the proposed framework is demonstrated with a case study using historical rail profile data collected between 2007 and 2016 for nine sharp curves on the heavy haul line in Sweden.

Findings

The framework presented for maintenance analytics is suitable for extracting useful information from condition data as required for effective rail maintenance decision support. The findings of the case study include: combination of the two statistics from PCA model (T2 and Q) can help to identify systematic and random variations in rail wear pattern that are beyond normal: the visualisation approach is a better tool for anomaly detection as it categorises wear observations into normal, suspicious and anomalous observations.

Practical implications

A practical implication of this paper is that the framework and the diagnostic tool can be considered as an integral part of e-maintenance solution. It can be easily adapted as online or on-board maintenance analytic tool with data from automated vehicle-based measurement system.

Originality/value

This research adapts the concept of analytics to railway infrastructure maintenance for enhanced decision making. It proposes a graphical method for combining and visualising different outlier statistics as a reliable anomaly detection tool.
Opportunities for auditing research: back to our interdisciplinary roots
Authors: Hay David
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to review potential areas for interdisciplinary research in auditing.

Approach

The paper reflects on the relevance of the findings from auditing research, and discusses an example from medical research. The medical example highlights how unexpected results can lead to surprising research findings. The paper then examines the areas in which further auditing research should be most valuable.

Findings

Auditing research is generally based on practical problems. It can be qualitative, quantitative, use mixed methods or be interdisciplinary. There are examples of each of these, including interdisciplinary research that has contributed to the auditing literature. The paper describes areas in which future research in auditing is likely to be valuable. These include research in developing countries, smaller entities and other settings that have not been widely researched; research in the public sector, including the impact of armchair auditors; research about the place of auditing in corporate governance; and research about the function of auditing in confirming earlier unaudited announcements.

Practical implications

Standard setters are becoming more aware of research and more likely to make evidence-based decisions about auditing standards.

Originality/value

The paper evaluates existing research and provides suggestions for future research.
Electrical and microstructural characterization of doped ZnO based multilayer varistors
Authors: Kulawik Jan , Szwagierczak Dorota , Skwarek Agata
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop fabrication procedure of multilayer varistors based on doped ZnO and to investigate their microstructure and electrical properties.

Design/methodology/approach

Two ceramic compositions based on ZnO doped with Bi2O3, Sb2O3, CoO, MnO, Cr2O3, B2O3, SiO2 and Pr2O3 were used for tape casting of varistor tapes. Multilayer varistors were prepared by stacking of several green sheets with screen printed Pt electrodes, isostatic lamination and firing at 1,050-1,100°C. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) studies were carried out to examine the microstructure and elemental composition of the varistors. Current-voltage characteristics were measured in the temperature range from −20 to 100°C.

Findings

The desired compact and fine-grained microstructure of multilayer varistors and nonlinear current-voltage characteristics were attained as a result of the applied fabrication procedure. The breakdown voltage of the varistors is 33-35 V and decreases slightly in the temperature range from −20 to 100°C. The nonlinearity coefficient changes from 14 to 23 with rising measurement temperature.

Originality/value

New improved formulations of varistor ceramic foils based on doped ZnO were developed using tape casting method and applied for fabrication of multilayer varistors with good electrical characteristics. The influence of temperature in the range from −20 to 100°C on the varistor parameters was studied.
Fatigue behavior and damage analysis by the acoustic emission technique of cross-ply laminates under tensile loading
Authors: Ben Ammar Imen , El Mahi Abderrahim , Karra Chafik , El Guerjouma Rachid , Haddar Mohamed
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the mechanical behavior in fatigue tensile mode of different cross-ply laminates constituted of unidirectional carbon fibers, hybrid fibers and glass fibers in an epoxy matrix; and to identify and characterize the local damage in the laminated materials with the use of the acoustic emission (AE) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The tests in the fatigue mode permitted the determination of the effect of the stacking sequences, thickness of 90° oriented layers and reinforcement types on the fatigue mechanical behavior of the laminated materials. The damage investigation in those materials is reached with the analysis of AE signals collected from fatigue tensile tests.

Findings

The results show the effects of reinforcement type, stacking sequences and thicknesses ratio of 90° and 0° layers on the mechanical behavior. A cluster analysis of AE data is achieved and the resulting clusters are correlated with the damage mechanism of specimens under loading tests.

Originality/value

The analysis of AE signals collected from tensile tests of the fatigue failure load allows the damage investigation in different types of cross-ply laminates which are differentiated by the reinforcement type, stacking sequences and thicknesses ratio of 90° and 0° layers.
Influence of rectangular and parabolic irregularities on the propagation behavior of transverse wave in a piezoelectric layer
Authors: Singh Abhishek Kumar , Kumar Santan , Dharmender  , Mahto Shruti
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to theoretically analyze the propagation of Love-type wave in an irregular piezoelectric layer superimposed on an isotropic elastic substrate.

Design/methodology/approach

The perturbation technique and Fourier transform have been applied for the solution procedure of the problem. The closed-form expressions of the dispersion relation have been analytically established considering different type of irregularities, namely, rectangular and parabolic for both the cases of electrically open and short conditions.

Findings

The study reveals that the phase velocity of Love-type wave is prominently influenced by wave number, size of irregularity, piezoelectric constant and dielectric constant of an irregular piezoelectric layer. Numerical simulation and graphical illustrations have been effectuated to depict the pronounced impact of aforementioned affecting parameters on the phase velocity of Love-type wave. The major highlight of the paper is the comparative study carried out for rectangular irregularity and parabolic irregularity in both electrically open and short conditions. Classical Love wave equation has been recovered for both the electrical conditions as the limiting case when both media are elastic and interface between them is regular.

Practical implications

The consequences of the study can be utilized in the design of surface acoustic wave devices to enhance their efficiency, as the material properties and the type of irregularities present in the piezoelectric layer enable Love-type wave to propagate along the surface of the layer promoting the confinement of wave for a longer duration.

Originality/value

Up to now, none of the authors have yet studied the propagation of Love waves in a piezoelectric layer overlying an isotropic substrate involving both parabolic and rectangular irregularities. Further, the comparative study of rectangular irregularity and parabolic irregularity for both the cases of electrically open and short conditions elucidating the latent characteristics is among the major highlights and reflects the novelty of the present study.
Unification proposals for fatigue crack propagation laws
Authors: Kobelev Vladimir
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the new dependences of cycles to failure for a given initial crack length upon the stress amplitude in the linear fracture approach. The anticipated unified propagation function describes the infinitesimal crack-length growths per increasing number of load cycles, supposing that the load ratio remains constant over the load history. Two unification functions with different number of fitting parameters are proposed. On one hand, the closed-form analytical solutions facilitate the universal fitting of the constants of the fatigue law over all stages of fatigue. On the other hand, the closed-form solution eases the application of the fatigue law, because the solution of nonlinear differential equation turns out to be dispensable. The main advantage of the proposed functions is the possibility of having closed-form analytical solutions for the unified crack growth law. Moreover, the mean stress dependence is the immediate consequence of the proposed law. The corresponding formulas for crack length over the number of cycles are derived.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the method of representation of crack propagation functions through appropriate elementary functions is employed. The choice of the elementary functions is motivated by the phenomenological data and covers a broad region of possible parameters. With the introduced crack propagation functions, differential equations describing the crack propagation are solved rigorously.

Findings

The resulting closed-form solutions allow the evaluation of crack propagation histories on one hand, and the effects of stress ratio on crack propagation on the other hand. The explicit formulas for crack length over the number of cycles are derived.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, linear fracture mechanics approach is assumed.

Practical implications

Shortening of evaluation time for fatigue crack growth. Simplification of the computer codes due to the elimination of solution of differential equation. Standardization of experiments for crack growth.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the closed-form analytical expression for crack length over number of cycles. The new function that expresses the damage growth per cycle is also introduced. This function allows closed-form analytical solution for crack length. The solution expresses the number of cycles to failure as the function of the initial size of the crack and eliminates the solution of the nonlinear ordinary differential equation of the first order. The different common expressions, which account for the influence of the stress ratio, are immediately applicable.
Effect of corrugation on the dispersion of Love-type wave in a layer with monoclinic symmetry, overlying an initially stressed transversely isotropic half-space
Authors: Singh Abhishek Kumar , Das Amrita , Mistri Kshitish Ch. , Nimishe Shreyas , Koley Siddhartha
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of corrugation, wave number, initial stress and the heterogeneity of the media on the phase velocity of the Love-type wave. Moreover, the paper aims to have a comparative study of the presence and absence of anisotropy, heterogeneity, corrugation and initial stress in the half-space, which serve as a focal theme of the study.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper modelled the propagation of the Love-type wave in a corrugated heterogeneous monoclinic layer lying over an initially stressed heterogeneous transversely isotropic half-space. The method of separation of variables is used to procure the dispersion relation.

Findings

The closed form of dispersion relation is obtained and found to be in well agreement to the classical Love wave equation. Neglecting the corrugation at either of the boundary surfaces, expressions of the phase velocity of the Love-type wave are deduced in closed form as special cases of the problem. It is established through the numerical computation of the obtained relation that the concerned affecting parameters have significant impact on the phase velocity of the Love-type wave. Also, a comparative study shows that the anisotropic case favours more to the phase velocity as comparison to the isotropic case.

Originality/value

Although many attempts have been made to study the effect of corrugated boundaries on reflection and refraction of seismic waves, but the effect of corrugated boundaries on the dispersion of surface wave (which are dispersive in nature) propagating through mediums pertaining various incredible features still needs to be investigated.
The impact of religiosity on corporate loans and maturity structure: evidence from China
Authors: Jia Fansheng , Zhang Yilin , Chan Kam C. , Xie Sujuan
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relation between religiosity and formal financing in the context of long- and short-term corporate loans.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses archival methodology to conduct a multiple regression analysis with the amount of long- and short-term corporate loans as the dependent variable and a measure of religiosity as the key explanatory variable.

Findings

This paper offers four findings. First, when a private firm locates in a high religiosity region, it is more likely to get more corporate loans and the amount of corporate loans is positively correlated with the extent of religiosity. Second, religiosity drives a private firm getting more (less) short-term (long-term) loans. Third, a private firm in a high religiosity region is able to incur lower interest cost associated with more short-term loans. Finally, the results are confined to Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity.

Practical implications

Overall, the findings are consistent with the notion that religiosity shapes the local culture so that individuals, some of them are borrowers and lenders, show the religious traits in the formal lending and borrowing relationship.

Originality/value

Overall, findings of this paper are consistent with the notion that religiosity shapes the local culture so that individuals, some of them being borrowers and lenders, show religious traits in the formal lending and borrowing relationship.
On the disappearance of calendar anomalies: have the currency markets become efficient?
Authors: Kumar Satish
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine the presence of the day-of-the-week (DOW), January and turn-of-month (TOM) effect in 20 currency pairs against the US dollar, from January, 1995 to December, 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

Ordinary least square with GARCH (1,1) framework is used to examine the presence of DOW, January and TOM effect to test the efficiency of the currency markets. The sample period is later divided into two sub-periods of equal length, that is, from 1995 to 2004 and 2005 to 2014, to explore the time-varying behavior of the calendar anomalies. Further, the authors also use the non-parametric technique, the Kruskal–Wallis test, to provide robustness check for the results.

Findings

For the DOW effect, the results indicate that the returns on Monday and Wednesday are negative and lower than the returns on Thursday and Friday which show positive and higher returns. The returns of all the currencies are higher (lower) in January (TOM trading days) and lower (higher) during rest of the year (non-TOM trading days). However, these calendar anomalies seem to have disappeared for almost all currencies during 2005 to 2014 and indicate that the markets have achieved a higher degree of efficiency in the later part of the sample.

Practical implications

The results have important implications for both traders and investors. The findings suggest that the investors might not be able to earn excess profits by timing their positions in some particular currencies taking the advantage of DOW, January or TOM effect, which in turn indicates that the currency markets have become more efficient with time. The results might be appealing to the practitioners as well in a way that they can consider the state of financial market for financial decision-making.

Social implications

The findings of lower returns on Monday and Wednesday and high returns during Thursday and Friday for all the currencies indicate that the foreign investors can take the advantage by going short on Monday and Wednesday and long on Thursday and Friday. Similarly, the returns of all the currencies are higher (lower) in January (TOM trading days) and lower (higher) during rest of the year (non-TOM trading days). During this period, investors in the currency markets could benefit themselves by taking long (short) positions in January (TOM trading days) and short (long) positions during rest of the year (non-TOM trading days).

Originality/value

The author provides a pioneer study on the presence of calendar anomalies (DOW, TOM and the January effect) across a wide range of currencies using 20 years of data from January 1995 to December 2014. To the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has examined the presence of January effect in the currency market; therefore, the author provides the first study in which January effect in a number of currencies is investigated.
Organization Capital and the Cost of Equity Financing in Medium‐Sized Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Attig Najah , El Ghoul Sadok
Published: July 2017

We examine the effects of organization capital—evident in management quality practices—on firms’ implied cost of equity. We show that superior management practices decrease firms’ cost of equity capital. This novel finding, robust to a battery of sensitivity analyses and to endogeneity bias, highlights the importance of superior management practices in improving firms’ financing conditions. In sum, this study demonstrates that the quality of management practices maps onto firms’ financing conditions, stressing the value relevance of intangible assets.
Beauty and the beast: how a bat utilizes forests shaped by outbreaks of an insect pest
Authors: Kortmann M. , Hurst J. , Brinkmann R. , Heurich M. , Silveyra González R. , Müller J. , Thorn S.
Published: July 2017

The consequences of different management strategies following natural disturbances are a matter of global concern. In former production forests around the Northern Hemisphere, the abandonment of intervention, such as removal of dead wood, after outbreaks of bark beetles has been increasingly promoted to regain more natural conditions. However, many focal species of conservation, such as the barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus, do not primarily depend on dead wood but might respond indirectly to disturbance‐induced changes of forest structural attributes. We investigated the response of B. barbastellus foraging activity and roost selection by combining acoustic surveys, radio telemetry, and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to characterize B. barbastellus habitat use on different scales. B. barbastellus foraging activity increased with increasing canopy opening. Maternity colonies were recorded exclusively in trees killed by bark beetles. Bats preferred roost trees with a higher volume (m3 ha−1) of live trees in the surrounding, and trees with on average larger diameters than nearby control trees. Our results revealed that outbreaks of bark beetles result in forest structural attributes that are suitable habitat for B. barbastellus. Salvage logging, i.e., the removal of beetle‐affected trees, generally deteriorates the positive effects of bark‐beetle outbreaks on the foraging and roosting habitat of B. barbastellus. We recommend maintaining snags of large diameter if salvage logging is mandatory.
Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Left Ventricular Failure in Beta‐Thalassemia: A Multivariate Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Dimou Niki L. , Pantavou Katerina G. , Bagos Pantelis G.
Published: July 2017

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is potentially a genetic risk factor for the development of left ventricular failure (LVF), the main cause of death in beta‐thalassemia homozygotes. In the present study, we synthesize the results of independent studies examining the effect ofApoEon LVF development in thalassemic patients through a meta‐analytic approach. However, all studies report more than one outcome, as patients are classified into three groups according to the severity of the symptoms and the genetic polymorphism. Thus, a multivariate meta‐analytic method that addresses simultaneously multiple exposures and multiple comparison groups was developed. Four individual studies were included in the meta‐analysis involving 613 beta‐thalassemic patients and 664 controls. The proposed method that takes into account the correlation of log odds ratios (log(ORs)), revealed a statistically significant overall association (P‐value  =  0.009), mainly attributed to the contrast ofE4versusE3allele for patients with evidence (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.19, 4.53) or patients with clinical and echocardiographic findings (OR: 3.34, 95% CI: 1.78, 6.26) of LVF. This study suggests thatE4is a genetic risk factor for LVF in beta‐thalassemia major. The presented multivariate approach can be applied in several fields of research.
Medical and non‐medical expenditure for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in China: a multicenter cross‐sectional study
Authors: Liao Xian‐Zhen , Shi Ju‐Fang , Liu Jing‐Shi , Huang Hui‐Yao , Guo Lan‐Wei , Zhu Xin‐Yu , Xiao Hai‐Fan , Wang Le , Bai Ya‐Na , Liu Guo‐Xiang , Mao A‐Yan , Ren Jian‐Song , Sun Xiao‐Jie , Mai Ling , Liu Yu‐Qin , Song Bing‐Bing , Gong Ji‐Yong , Zhou Jin‐Yi , Du Ling‐Bing , Zhou Qi , Cao Rong , Zhu Lin , Ren Ying , Lou Pei‐An , Lan Li , Sun Xiao‐Hua , Qi Xiao , Wang Yuan‐Zheng , Zhang Kai , He Jie , Dai Min ,   Health Economic Evaluation Working Group, Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC)
Published: July 2017

Aim

We aimed to assess economic burden of breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment in China through a multicenter cross‐sectional study, and to obtain theoretical evidence for policy‐making.

Methods

This survey was conducted in 37 hospital centers across 13 provinces in China from September 2012 to December 2014. We collected information on the subject characteristics. We then assessed the medical and non‐medical expenditure for BC diagnosis and treatment, factors influencing the average case expense, variations between medical and non‐medical expenditure at different clinical stages, economic impact of overall expenditure in newly diagnosed course after reimbursement to the patient's family, composition of non‐medical expenditure and time loss for the patient and family.

Results

Among 2746 women with BC (72.6% were admitted to specialized hospitals), the overall average expenditure was US $8450 (medical expenditure: $7527; non‐medical expenditure: $922). Significant differences were found among the overall expenditure in the four clinical stages (P < 0.0001); the expenditure was higher in stages III and IV than that in stages I and II, whereas the stage IV was the highest (P < 0.0001). Moreover, a higher self‐reported predicted reimbursement ratio was associated with a less economic impact on the patient's family, and the average time lost was estimated as $1529.

Conclusions

Early detection and treatment of breast cancer might be effective for decreasing the economic burden, because costs escalate as the degree of malignancy increases.
Congenital Long QT syndrome and torsade de pointes
Authors: El‐Sherif Nabil , Turitto Gioia , Boutjdir Mohamed
Published: July 2017

Since its initial description by Jervell and Lange‐Nielsen in 1957, the congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) has been the most investigated cardiac ion channelopathy. A prolonged QT interval in the surface electrocardiogram is the sine qua non of the LQTS and is a surrogate measure of the ventricular action potential duration (APD). Congenital as well as acquired alterations in certain cardiac ion channels can affect their currents in such a way as to increase the APD and hence the QT interval. The inhomogeneous lengthening of the APD across the ventricular wall results in dispersion of APD. This together with the tendency of prolonged APD to be associated with oscillations at the plateau level, termed early afterdepolarizations (EADs), provides the substrate of ventricular tachyarrhythmia associated with LQTS, usually referred to as torsade de pointes (TdP) VT. This review will discuss the genetic, molecular, and phenotype characteristics of congenital LQTS as well as current management strategies and future directions in the field.
The sensitivity of 38 heart rate variability measures to the addition of artifact in human and artificial 24‐hr cardiac recordings
Authors: Stapelberg Nicolas J. C. , Neumann David L. , Shum David H. K. , McConnell Harry , Hamilton‐Craig Ian
Published: July 2017

Background

Artifact is common in cardiac RR interval data derived from 24‐hr recordings and has a significant impact on heart rate variability (HRV) measures. However, the relative impact of progressively added artifact on a large group of commonly used HRV measures has not been assessed. This study compared the relative sensitivity of 38 commonly used HRV measures to artifact to determine which measures show the most change with increasing increments of artifact. A secondary aim was to ascertain whether short‐term and long‐term HRV measures, as groups, share similarities in their sensitivity to artifact.

Methods

Up to 10% of artifact was added to 20 artificial RR (ARR) files and 20 human cardiac recordings, which had been assessed for artifact by a cardiac technician. The added artifact simulated deletion of RR intervals and insertion of individual short RR intervals. Thirty‐eight HRV measures were calculated for each file. Regression analysis was used to rank the HRV measures according to their sensitivity to artifact as determined by the magnitude of slope.

Results

RMSSD, SDANN, SDNN, RR triangular index and TINN, normalized power and relative power linear measures, and most nonlinear methods examined are most robust to artifact.

Conclusion

Short‐term time domain HRV measures are more sensitive to added artifact than long‐term measures. Absolute power frequency domain measures across all frequency bands are more sensitive than normalized and relative frequency domain measures. Most nonlinear HRV measures assessed were relatively robust to added artifact, with Poincare plot SD1 being most sensitive.
Myocardial Protective Effect of Antegrade Cardioplegic Cardiac Arrest Versus Ventricular Fibrillation During Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Immediate Postoperative and Mid‐Term Left Ventricular Function in Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Surgery
Authors: Kim Sang Yoon , Cho Sungkyu , Lee Ji‐Hyun , Kim Jin‐Tae , Kim Woong‐Han
Published: July 2017

The objective of this study is to examine the myocardial protective effect of antegrade cardioplegic cardiac arrest (ACC) versus ventricular fibrillation (VF) on short‐term and mid‐term left ventricular (LV) function in right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) surgery. RVOT operations conducted from January 2006 to December 2015 were reviewed. The numbers of cases using ACC and VF were 71 and 49, respectively. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were compared between the two groups. Before and after propensity score matching, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end‐systolic/end‐diastolic diameter (LVESD/LVEDD) in echocardiography were measured immediately after operation and at mid‐term follow‐up between postoperative 6 and 24 months. There was no perioperative mortality or cerebrovascular accident. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ventricular and atrial arrhythmia. In the overall patient group, LVESD was significantly decreased in the ACC group compared to the VF group immediately after operation (−0.65 ± 3.55 mm vs. 2.99 ± 4.98 mm, P = 0.001). Mid‐term follow‐up data demonstrated that LVEF at midterm was higher in the ACC group than in the VF group (64.80% ± 7.40% vs. 60.24% ± 7.93%, P = 0.022). However, the increased amount compared to preoperative value was not statistically significant (1.94% ± 12.65% vs. −2.94% ± 9.41%, P = 0.059). After propensity score matching, the LVEF was significantly improved in the ACC group compared to the VF group at the mid‐term follow‐up (6.16% ± 6.77% vs. −5.41% ± 9.05%, P = 0.001). Multiple linear regression model demonstrated that lower preoperative LVEF, ACC rather than VF, and exclusion of RVOT reconstruction procedure were positive prognostic factors for the improvement of LVEF at mid‐term follow up. The results of this study suggest that myocardial protection using ACC is safe and may be more beneficial in LV function recovery up to the mid‐term follow‐up after pulmonary valve replacement and other RVOT procedures.
Neovascular age‐related macular degeneration is associated with cataract surgery
Authors: Ho Jau‐Der , Xirasagar Sudha , Kao Li‐Ting , Lin Herng‐Ching
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This retrospective cohort study examines the association between cataract surgery and neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) during 5‐year follow‐up using population‐based claims data.

Methods

We analysed data sourced from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. The study included 3465 patients who had undergone cataract operations and did not have a diagnosis of AMD before or on the surgery date (study group), and 10 395 age‐ and sex‐matched comparison patients selected randomly from the remaining patients without an AMD diagnosis before the index date. We tracked the claims of each patient for a 5‐year period to identify patients with a subsequent diagnosis of neovascular AMD.

Results

The incidence rate of neovascular AMD was 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66–1.14) per 1000 person‐years among all sampled patients, 1.60 (95% CI: 1.04–2.36) among the cataract surgery patients and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.43–0.91) among comparison patients (p < 0.001). Stratified Cox proportional analysis showed that relative to the comparison cohort, the adjusted hazard ratio for neovascular AMD during 5‐year follow‐up was 2.68 (95% CI: 1.55–4.66) for patients who had undergone cataract operation. We censored those who died during follow‐up period and adjusted for patients' monthly income, geographical location, urbanization level, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidaemia.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated epidemiological evidence of a link between cataract surgery and neovascular AMD during a 5‐year follow‐up period.
Long‐term oncological outcomes and toxicity in 597 men aged ≤60 years at time of low‐dose‐rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer
Authors: Langley Stephen E. M. , Soares Ricardo , Uribe Jennifer , Uribe‐Lewis Santiago , Money‐Kyrle Julian , Perna Carla , Khaksar Sara , Laing Robert
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To report oncological and functional outcomes of men treated with low‐dose‐rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy aged ≤60 years at time of treatment.

Patients and Methods

Of 3262 patients treated with LDR brachytherapy at our centre up to June 2016, we retrospectively identified 597 patients aged ≤60 years at treatment with ≥3‐years post‐implantation follow‐up and four prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) measurements, of which one was at baseline. Overall survival (OS), prostate cancer‐specific survival (PCSS) and relapse free survival (RFS) were analysed together with prospectively collected physician‐reported adverse events and patient‐reported symptom scores.

Results

The median (range) age was 57 (44‐60) years, follow‐up was 8.9 (1.5‐17.2) years, and PSA follow‐up 5.9 (0.8‐15) years. Low‐, intermediate‐ and high‐risk disease represented 53%, 37% and 10% of the patients, respectively. At 10 years after implantation OS and PCSS were 98% and 99% for low‐risk, 99% and 100% for intermediate‐risk, and 93% and 95% for high‐risk disease, respectively. At 10 years after implantation RFS, using the PSA level nadir plus 2 ng/mL definition, was 95%, 90% and 87% for low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk disease, respectively. Urinary stricture was the most common genitourinary adverse event occurring in 19 patients (3.2%). At 5 years after implantation erectile function was preserved in 75% of the patients who were potent before treatment.

Conclusion

LDR brachytherapy is an effective treatment with long‐term control of prostate cancer in men aged ≤60 years at time of treatment. It was associated with low rates of treatment‐related toxicity and can be considered a first‐line treatment for prostate cancer in this patient group.