bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assimilating accounting innovations: lessons from Italian public universities
Authors: Gigli Sabrina , Mariani Laura , Trivellato Benedetta
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the possible sources of organizational decoupling and their effects in public universities, as they transition from cash to accrual accounting, by assessing the phases of the innovation assimilation process.

Design/methodology/approach

To assess the transition, the authors develop a framework that integrates the possible sources of decoupling with the phases of the innovation process. This framework is then applied to the analysis of six Italian public universities moving from cash to accrual accounting.

Findings

The results point to regulation gaps and adverse organizational conditions as the main culprits of decoupling behaviours in the production and use of information. Delays in the characterization of the legal framework and ambiguities in the definition of accounting standards by the regulator are the first barriers to an effective transition. The organizational barriers, instead, depend on lack of adequate skills, over-bureaucratization, limitations of the IT systems and organizational complexity. Such limitations generate hybrid accounting systems that jeopardize the informative function of financial reporting.

Originality/value

From a theoretical viewpoint, this paper contributes to a conceptualization of accounting innovations and reforms as processes whose impact depends on dynamics that arise and interact differently across phases. From a practitioner’s point of view, it highlights the factors that may produce adverse effects during the implementation process: these may be taken into account during planning, so as to develop the appropriate remedial actions.
The impact of top management team characteristics and historical financial performance on strategic management accounting
Authors: Pavlatos Odysseas , Kostakis Xara
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the top management team (TMT) characteristics and historical financial performance on strategic management accounting (SMA) usage.

Design/methodology/approach

Objective data were extracted from annual financial statements, as well as data from questionnaires in a sample of 94 enterprises were used.

Findings

Data analysis showed that one of the most important factors that influence the level of usage of SMA techniques is lagging historical performance of the enterprises. Those organizations that had low profitability in the past, due to the economic crisis, adopted and used innovative SMA tools more extensively, to improve their financial performance in the future. Based on Upper Echelons theory and Role theory, it was found that TMT characteristics (educational background, tenure, creativity) affect the adoption and the usage of SMA tools.

Research limitations/implications

First, this research was performed on one sector. Second, only a few SMA techniques were included. Third, some TMT characteristics were measured with only one item. As a result, it was not possible to check for reliability and validity of the measurements.

Practical implications

First, TMT characteristics influence the decision-making process and management control. This should be taken into account during the process of the selection of top managers. Moreover, SMA tools can be effectively used not only by CEOs and the managers of the accounting department, but from marketing managers as well. Consequently, a better communication between marketing and accounting managers is deemed essential to improve the performance of the company.

Originality/value

Previous research has studied the effect of CEOs and CFOs characteristics in the design of Management Control Systems. The authors explored for the first time, the effect of the characteristics of one more member of Board of the TMT, that is, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), in the adoption and use of management accounting innovations (MAIs). Second, the authors studied one more characteristic of top level managers from Role theory, that is, creativity. Although many studies link creativity to the adoption of MAIs, this is the first time, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, that creativity is studied as an additional parameter that influences the adoption and use of SMA. Furthermore, this research provides additional knowledge about the effect of historical performance in MAIs usage. For the first time, it used objective data from annual financial statements, it calculated financial ratios, to measure historical financial performance. Moreover, this study provides knowledge about the effect of TMT characteristics in accounting choices in geographical areas, outside the USA.
Assessing the values of living heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley: a community perspective
Authors: K.C. Chandani , Karuppannan Sadasivam , Sivam Alpana
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the heritage values of two case study sites in the Kathmandu Valley using a living heritage approach by emphasising the role of the core community. The core community in a living heritage site is the community that created the site and maintained it over centuries, and will continue to do so into the future while adapting to change. Understanding the value of a site is important for the conservation of heritage because values help shape decisions on conservation. Assessment of heritage values helps to identify the values associated with heritage sites.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was employed for the research. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with the core community and stakeholders. Surveys of the stakeholders looked for any difference in opinion between them and the core community. The empirical data were collected at two living heritage sites located in Kathmandu and Lalitpur in Nepal.

Findings

The findings of the paper provide insights for the conservation of living heritage in the Kathmandu Valley. It shows how the community perceives and assesses the significance of heritage sites. It also shows the values considered important by the core community and stakeholders, and the values that have changed over the years. Aesthetic and architectural values were ranked high by the core community.

Originality/value

The approach employed was adopted to assess heritage values by the core community. A living heritage site is dependent on the core community, so their perception of heritage value is important and should be the basis of conservation of living heritage. This paper provides a framework for conserving and managing heritage sites by the core community with support and guidance from wider community members and government authorities.
The value of gift personalization: current insights from the gift recipient’s perspective and future research directions
Authors: Pizzetti Marta , Gibbert Michael
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore gift personalization, i.e. the design of gifts by givers on mass-personalization platforms, from the perspective of the gift recipient.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the exploratory objectives of this study, the qualitative approach was deemed suitable. Two complementary qualitative studies (i.e. semi-structured interviews and critical incidents) have been conducted, and the narratives have been thematically analyzed.

Findings

Gift recipients value gift personalization because of the utility they derive from the product, as well as the ability of the personalized gift to express the giver. Recipients recognize the capacity of the personalized gift to communicate symbolically the giver; they appreciate not only the enhanced attributes of the end product but also the process that led to it, which is imagined as creative and risky. The inherent expressivity of the personalized gift makes it highly valuable in the recipient’s eyes, even when it fails to please him or her.

Originality/value

This research redefines the boundaries of personalization value based on the perceptions of consumers who are not involved in the design process; highlights implications of personalization for firms targeting givers as users of their mass-personalization platforms; and proposes a research agenda to further investigate personalization in marketing.
Bibliometric differences – a case study in bibliometric evaluation across SSH and STEM
Authors: Melchiorsen Poul Meier
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge that there are bibliometric differences between Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) vs Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It is not so that either SSH or STEM has the right way of doing research or working as a scholarly community. Accordingly, research evaluation is not done properly in one framework based on either a method from SSH or STEM. However, performing research evaluation in two separate frameworks also has disadvantages. One way of scholarly practice may be favored unintentionally in evaluations and in research profiling, which is necessary for job and grant applications.

Design/methodology/approach

In the case study, the authors propose a tool where it may be possible, on one hand, to evaluate across disciplines and on the other hand to keep the multifaceted perspective on the disciplines. Case data describe professors at an SSH and a STEM department at Aalborg University. Ten partial indicators are compiled to build a performance web – a multidimensional description – and a one-dimensional ranking of professors at the two departments. The partial indicators are selected in a way that they should cover a broad variety of scholarly practice and differences in data availability.

Findings

A tool which can be used both for a one-dimensional ranking of researchers and for a multidimensional description is described in the paper.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of the study are that panel-based evaluation is left out and that the number of partial indicators is set to 10.

Originality/value

The paper describes a new tool that may be an inspiration for practitioners in research analytics.
A first-person theory of documentation
Authors: Gorichanaz Tim
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to first articulate and then illustrate a descriptive theoretical model of documentation (i.e. document creation) suitable for analysis of the experiential, first-person perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Three models of documentation in the literature are presented and synthesized into a new model. This model is then used to understand the findings from a phenomenology-of-practice study of the work of seven visual artists as they each created a self-portrait, understood here as a form of documentation.

Findings

A number of themes are found to express the first-person experience of art-making in these examples, including communicating, memories, reference materials, taking breaks and stepping back. The themes are discussed with an eye toward articulating what is shared and unique in these experiences. Finally, the themes are mapped successfully to the theoretical model.

Research limitations/implications

The study involved artists creating self-portraits, and further research will be required to determine if the thematic findings are unique to self-portraiture or apply as well to art-making, to documentation generally, etc. Still, the theoretical model developed here seems useful for analyzing documentation experiences.

Practical implications

As many activities and tasks in contemporary life can be conceptualized as documentation, this model provides a valuable analytical tool for better understanding those experiences. This can ground education and management decisions for those involved.

Originality/value

This paper makes conceptual and empirical contributions to document theory and the study of the information behavior of artists, particularly furthering discussions of information and document experience.
Examining the spatial relationship between environmental health factors and house prices
Authors: McCord Michael J. , MacIntyre Sean , Bidanset Paul , Lo Daniel , Davis Peadar
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Air quality, noise and proximity to urban infrastructure can arguably have an important impact on the quality of life. Environmental quality (the price of good health) has become a central tenet for consumer choice in urban locales when deciding on a residential neighbourhood. Unlike the market for most tangible goods, the market for environmental quality does not yield an observable per unit price effect. As no explicit price exists for a unit of environmental quality, this paper aims to use the housing market to derive its implicit price and test whether these constituent elements of health and well-being are indeed capitalised into property prices and thus implicitly priced in the market place.

Design/methodology/approach

A considerable number of studies have used hedonic pricing models by incorporating spatial effects to assess the impact of air quality, noise and proximity to noise pollutants on property market pricing. This study presents a spatial analysis of air quality and noise pollution and their association with house prices, using 2,501 sale transactions for the period 2013. To assess the impact of the pollutants, three different spatial modelling approaches are used, namely, ordinary least squares using spatial dummies, a geographically weighted regression (GWR) and a spatial lag model (SLM).

Findings

The findings suggest that air quality pollutants have an adverse impact on house prices, which fluctuate across the urban area. The analysis suggests that the noise level does matter, although this varies significantly over the urban setting and varies by source.

Originality/value

Air quality and environmental noise pollution are important concerns for health and well-being. Noise impact seems to depend not only on the noise intensity to which dwellings are exposed but also on the nature of the noise source. This may suggest the presence of other externalities that arouse social aversion. This research presents an original study utilising advanced spatial modelling approaches. The research has value in further understanding the market impact of environmental factors and in providing findings to support local air zone management strategies, noise abatement and management strategies and is of value to the wider urban planning and public health disciplines.
Towards formation of dynamic value chains to enhance competitiveness of commercial lighting industry
Authors: Wesumperuma Ashini , Ginige Athula , Gunawardana Upul
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore ways to enhance competitiveness of commercial lighting industry because of the growing digitally connected stakeholder community. Positive responses from stakeholders to recurring business interactions help build trust and formation of a community; value chains being one form of such trusted community. Because of the increasing trust, the effort to search right value chain partners diminishes, business interactions become less formal and transaction costs are reduced, thus increasing the competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, a cross-sectional study of commercial lighting industry domain in Australia was carried out, focusing on two states: New South Wales and Victoria. Based on the findings, an approach and a supporting platform to enhance competitiveness of commercial lighting industry were synthesized.

Findings

Based on the findings from the study, formation of such value chains, namely, “Entrusted Circles” and its two types of formations, fully and partial, were observed. Their further growth was hindered by high transaction costs. To reduce this transaction cost, this paper proposes a platform to create dynamic value chains, among stakeholders of commercial lighting industry, making use of growing digital connectivity leading toward agile formation of Entrusted Circles to enhance competitiveness.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the commercial lighting industry in Australia, which is not tested in any other domain to investigate its wider applicability. However, it is conceptually applicable to be used in industries with compliance and standard procedures.

Originality/value

This paper shows how to identify Entrusted Circles and build, support and sustain such relationships among value chain partners to successfully conduct business transactions in a dynamic value chain.
Court’s intervention on arbitral tribunal’s jurisdiction
Authors: Park Eunok
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze provisions which are related to court’s intervention over an arbitral tribunal’s jurisdiction under the revised Korean Arbitration Act (2016) and the UNCITRAL Model Law.

Design/methodology/approach

The author studies a theory about court’s intervention over an arbitral tribunal’s jurisdiction by studying some scholarly writings and compares the revised provisions in the KAA (2016) with those in the KAA (2010) and the UNCITRAL Model Law (2006).

Findings

There is no clear and internationally unified answer to which theory between the prima facie test and the full review test is appropriate for court’s intervention to arbitration. The analysis of the provision shows that the revised ones in the KAA (2016) will make arbitration to be conducted faster and more efficiently by giving practical answers to issues raised.

Research limitations/implications

It has been just over one year since the KAA (2016) became effective, so it limits evaluation on whether these revised provisions related to court’s intervention over jurisdiction of arbitral tribunal is successful or not.

Originality/value

This study is comparatively new one after the KAA (2016) became effective. So, it is expected to provide a guidance for further studies.
Brand vulgarity
Authors: Griffiths Merlyn A.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of expletives and derogatory terminology in the naming structure for companies, products and brands; a marketing strategy which is growing across a wide range of industries. The author defines this concept as brand vulgarity and explores the practice, as it situates in the midst of irony, as terms commonly held as taboo and societally indecent, are moving into the mainstream.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on the established literature in branding, profanity and ironic marketing to create a conceptual framework through which to understand brand vulgarity.

Findings

Brand vulgarity is intended to capture attention. However, several factors influence consumer receptivity and acceptance. These factors include perceived offensiveness exposure and the reclaiming and reappropriation of vulgar terms. Brand vulgarity not only challenges traditional approaches to nomenclature in branding but the building of brand image as well.

Social implications

The marketplace has become a brand war demarcated by fierce competition each entity vying for attention. The use of vulgar terminology and the growing ease of consumer receptivity calls to question changes in sociocultural sensitivity and its influence on social acceptance of brand vulgarity.

Originality/value

This work breaks new ground as the first to introduce the concept of brand vulgarity and examine the practice across multiple industries.
Data competence maturity: developing data-driven decision making
Authors: Cech Thomas G. , Spaulding Trent J. , Cazier Joseph A.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to lay out the data competence maturity model (DCMM) and discuss how the application of the model can serve as a foundation for a measured and deliberate use of data in secondary education.

Design/methodology/approach

Although the model is new, its implications, and its application are derived from key findings and best practices from the software development, data analytics and secondary education performance literature. These principles can guide educators to better manage student and operational outcomes. This work builds and applies the DCMM model to secondary education.

Findings

The conceptual model reveals significant opportunities to improve data-driven decision making in schools and local education agencies (LEAs). Moving past the first and second stages of the data competency maturity model should allow educators to better incorporate data into the regular decision-making process.

Practical implications

Moving up the DCMM to better integrate data into their decision-making process has the potential to produce profound improvements for schools and LEAs. Data science is about making better decisions. Understanding the path laid out in the DCMM to helping an organization move to a more mature data-driven decision-making process will help improve both student and operational outcomes.

Originality/value

This paper brings a new concept, the DCMM, to the educational literature and discusses how these principles can be applied to improve decision making by integrating them into their decision-making process and trying to help the organization mature within this framework.
Exploring the individual, social and organizational predictors of knowledge-sharing behaviours among communities of practice of SMEs in Malaysia
Authors: Tan Christine Nya-Ling , Ramayah T.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

To compete in a globally challenging environment, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly pressured to leverage their relational capital to stay competitive. The purpose of this study is to model the KS behaviour of SMEs in an increasingly networked world through communities of practice (CoP).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a survey instrument developed based on prior literature from SMEs operating only in the electronic manufacturing industry. A total of 120 responses were received of which only 100 were valid. SmartPLS, a second-generation analysis software, was used to analyse the model developed.

Findings

The findings indicated that affect, reward, perceived consequences and social factor were all positive predictors of KS behaviour of SMEs in communities of practice. Interestingly, the facilitating conditions were found to negatively influence KS behaviour.

Practical implications

The findings are helpful to SMEs who are embarking on knowledge management (KM) practices in their respective companies and may be used to leverage the drivers of KM to improve more sharing behaviour that keeps SMEs competitive.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, few studies have explored the individual (i.e. perceived consequences, affect), social (i.e. social factor) and organisational (i.e. facilitating condition, reward) predictors of KS behaviour among CoP’s in Malaysian SMEs.
Relationship-specificity and real activities manipulation
Authors: Park KoEun
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether and how product market relationships are related to firms’ real activities manipulation (RAM), which refers to managers’ aggressive operating practices. Given the importance of suppliers’ relationship-specific investments to a firm’s competitiveness, the need for suppliers’ relationship-specific investments is expected to influence a firm’s RAM.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts Nunn’s (2007) proxy for relationship-specificity and four proxies for RAM. It employs an ordinary least squares regression model to test whether a firm decreases RAM when it has greater need for supplier relationship-specific investments. It also uses an instrumental variable approach to address endogeneity and conducts cross-sectional analyses.

Findings

This study finds that, with the exception of RAM through sales manipulation, the importance of relationship-specific investments by suppliers is negatively associated with firms’ aggressive operating decisions. It also finds that the association between relationship-specificity and RAM is less pronounced for firms that have a greater market share but more pronounced for firms that are relatively young, consistent with the notion that a firm is more likely to be under pressure from its suppliers to reduce RAM when it has less competitive advantages. The results suggest that product market relationships play an important role in influencing managers’ aggressive operating decisions.

Practical implications

This study complements earlier work on earnings quality and has important implications for investors, regulators and other stakeholders who are concerned with corporate earnings quality.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on product market relationships and earnings quality and on financial reporting quality and investment efficiency.
Leading toward new horizons with soft skills
Authors: AbuJbara Nida’a K. , Worley Jody A.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the importance of soft skills for leadership and offers recommendations for soft skill development training for the next generation of leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated review of current research literature was conducted on management, leadership and soft skills to develop recommendations for integrating the development of soft skills in leadership development training protocol.

Findings

A one-size-fits-all approach does not work for soft skills development or measurement. Each soft skill is defined differently and should be assessed based on different behavioral actions. Progress in this area of measurement development will make a great impact on the use of soft skills. The development of assessment tools for the different soft skills across professional disciplines is assumed to enhance other aspects of transformational leadership such as coaching and mentoring.

Research limitations/implications

Current strategies for the assessment and measurement of soft skills present an obstacle for including these skills in current leadership training models.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the development of soft skills for the next generation of leaders and offers recommendations for integrating the development of soft skills in leadership training programs.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to study how soft skills can be measured and assessed. This is important given that specific skills vary across professional disciplines and organizational contexts.
Suspicious preoperational activities and law enforcement interdiction of terrorist plots
Authors: Gruenewald Jeff , Klein Brent R. , Drawve Grant , Smith Brent L. , Ratcliff Katie
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a metric for validating the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative’s (NSI) sixteen-category instrument, which is designed to guide law enforcement in the collection and analysis of suspicious behaviors preceding serious crimes, including terrorist attacks.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on suspicious preoperational activities and terrorism incident outcomes in the USA between 1972 and 2013 come from the American Terrorism Study (ATS). Using a mixed-method approach, the authors conduct descriptive and multivariate analyses to examine the frequencies of the least and most prevalent suspicious activities (or SAR indicators) and how they predict the likelihood of terrorism prevention. In addition, the authors contextualize how configurations of SAR indicators are associated with the successful thwarting of terrorism incidents by law enforcement using an analytical method known as conjunctive analysis of case configurations (CACC).

Findings

The study reveals several key findings. First, certain behaviors categorized as suspicious, such as making threats, occur more frequently than others. Second, making threats, conducting surveillance and terrorist recruitment/financing predict law enforcement interdiction in terrorism plots, while misrepresentation (or the manufacturing and use of false documents) is more associated with terrorist success. Third, prevalent SAR indicators operate differently in the context of various combinations of suspicious activities to shape the likelihood for law enforcement interdiction.

Research limitations/implications

The current study’s findings may not be generalizable to other forms of violent extremism and terrorism outside of the USA.

Practical implications

This study illuminates opportunities for the NSI to provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to reduce terrorism risk and prevent future attacks.

Originality/value

To our knowledge, no scholarly work to date has assessed how observable behavioral indicators of suspicious preoperational activities affect the outcomes of terrorist plots.
Crystallite size and microstrain: XRD line broadening analysis of AgSiN thin films
Authors: Mohamad Zaidi Umi Zalilah , Bushroa A.R. , Ghahnavyeh Reza Rahbari , Mahmoodian Reza
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to determine the crystallite size and microstrain values of AgSiN thin films using potential approach called approximation method. This method can be used as a replacement for other determination methods such as Williamson-Hall (W-H) plot and Warren-Averbach analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The monolayer AgSiN thin films on Ti6Al4V alloy were fabricated using magnetron sputtering technique. To evaluate the crystallite size and microstrain values, the thin films were deposited under different bias voltage (−75, −150 and −200 V). X-ray diffraction (XRD) broadening profile along with approximation method were used to determine the crystallite size and microstrain values. The reliability of the method was proved by comparing it with scanning electron microscopy graph and W-H plot method. The second parameters’ microstrain obtained was used to project the residual stress present in the thin films. Further discussion on the thin films was done by relating the residual stress with the adhesion strength and the thickness of the films.

Findings

XRD-approximation method results revealed that the crystallite size values obtained from the method were in a good agreement when it is compared with Scherer formula and W-H method. Meanwhile, the calculations for thin films corresponding residual stresses were correlated well with scratch adhesion critical loads with the lowest residual stress was noted for sample with lowest microstrain and has thickest thickness among the three samples.

Practical implications

The fabricated thin films were intended to be used in antibacterial applications.

Originality/value

Up to the knowledge from literature review, there are no reports on depositing AgSiN on Ti6Al4V alloy via magnetron sputtering to elucidate the crystallite size and microstrain properties using the approximation method.
Exercising professional autonomy: Doctoral students’ preparation for academic careers
Authors: Coso Strong Alexandra , Sekayi Dia
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how doctoral students navigate preparing for an academic career, particularly through instructional professional development, in the context of the entire doctoral program. For doctoral students pursuing an academic position, the dissertation process provides one avenue for developing their skills and identities as independent researchers. Yet, research shows a need to provide support for student’ instructional professional development and to understand how they are shaped into educators and researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study methodology was designed to capture the perceptions and experiences of 21 alumni of an academic career preparation program at a large, public university. In this exploratory, qualitative study, semi-structured interviews and final reports from program coursework were analyzed using a modified analytic induction methodology.

Findings

This study employs elements of self-determination theory and transition theory to interpret doctoral students’ transitions into and through the instructional professional development program under study. The participants sought competence in their teaching by participating in this voluntary and supplemental program. These students exercised autonomy in the pursuit of this professional development and in overcoming challenges to relatedness in the form of non-supportive program structures, including curriculum and faculty.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the graduate education literature on the experiences of doctoral students as they prepare for and transition into their future academic careers.
A systematic literature review of the organisational arrangements of primary school‐based reading interventions for struggling readers
Authors: Stentiford Lauren , Koutsouris George , Norwich Brahm
Published: November 2018

This paper presents findings from a systematic literature review that explored the delivery arrangements of school‐based reading interventions for struggling readers aged 5–8 years. Databases were searched for published and unpublished studies from 1970 to 2017, which employed a randomised controlled trial or quasi‐experimental design. Sixty‐four texts that met the inclusion criteria were categorised according to targeted tier based on the response‐to‐intervention model. Findings showed that tier 2/3 interventions targeting pupils who did not respond to whole class teaching (tier 1) were almost exclusively delivered in pull‐out sessions by people other than the classroom teacher. At present, certain delivery arrangements appear to be used more than others in reading interventions conducted with young pupils in schools. This could to some extent reflect practices already used in primary schools and suggests that pupils who are identified for tier 2/3 support might have less access to their teacher's time and expertise.
Contextual Framing and Monetary Incentives in Field Experiments on Risk Preferences: Evidence from German Farmers
Authors: Rommel Jens , Hermann Daniel , Müller Malte , Mußhoff Oliver
Published: November 2018

Recent studies cast doubt on the ability of abstract experiments to predict decision‐making in the field. Thus, scholars have argued for more ‘realism’ by introducing context to field experiments. Yet, such realism may work against the induced values of monetary incentives in economic experiments. It is an open question whether contextual framing works best with or without inducing values, through methods such as the use of monetary incentives. Using a sample of 146 German farmers, we compare experimentally the predictive power of a framed lottery in an agricultural context vs. using an abstract version. For one half of the sample, lotteries are incentivised; for the other half, they are hypothetical. Although risk preferences differ between treatments, all four lottery tasks correlate poorly with farmers’ real‐world use of risk management instruments such as harvest or hail insurance. Subjects who start with an agricultural framing are willing to take significantly greater risks in the lotteries. More generally, our findings cast doubt on the ability of lottery tasks to predict risk‐taking in the field.
RNA interference of a trehalose‐6‐phosphate synthase gene reveals its roles in the biosynthesis of chitin and lipids in Heortia vitessoides (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Authors: Chen Jing‐Xiang , Lyu Zi‐Hao , Wang Chun‐Yan , Cheng Jie , Lin Tong
Published: November 2018

Trehalose‐6‐phosphate synthase (TPS), an enzyme that hydrolyzes two glucose molecules to yield trehalose, plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes. In this study, we cloned the trehalose‐6‐phosphate synthase gene (HvTPS) and investigated its expression patterns in various tissues and developmental stages in Heortia vitessoides Moore (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). HvTPS was highly expressed in the fat body and after pupation or before molting. We knocked down TPS in H. vitessoides by RNA interference and found that 3.0 μg of dsHvTPS resulted in optimal interference at 24 h and 36 h post‐injection and caused a sharp decline in the survival rate during the 5th instar larval–pupal stage and obviously abnormal or lethal phenotypes. Additionally, compared to the controls, TPS activity and trehalose contents were significantly lower and the glucose content was significantly higher 24 h or 36 h after injection with 3.0 μg of dsHvTPS. Furthermore, the silencing of HvTPS suppressed the expression of six key genes in the chitin biosynthesis pathway and one key gene related to lipid catabolism. The expression levels of two genes associated with lipid biosynthesis were upregulated. These results strongly suggest that HvTPS is essential for the normal growth and development of H. vitessoides and provide a reference for further studies of the utility of key genes involved in chitin and lipid biosynthesis for controlling insect development.
Aquifer Responses to Rainfall through Spectral and Correlation Analysis
Authors: Gómez Derly , Melo Davi C.D. , Rodrigues Dulce B.B. , Xavier Alexandre C. , Guido Rodrigo C. , Wendland Edson
Published: November 2018

The response time of hydrological components is an important feature for establishing the connections within a hydrological system and for characterizing it. This study proposes a quantitative and qualitative assessment on the response times of river discharge components, especially the baseflow, regarding the impulse provided by precipitation, using time series analyses of time and frequency domains. To this end, a set of complementary methods including correlation and spectral approaches was used, which are: autocorrelation, cross correlation, continuous wavelet transform, and cross wavelet transform. Such framework was applied in multiple and nested basin scales (53, 1,867, and 3,519 km2), located in the Jacaré‐Guaçu River Basin (Southeastern Brazil). Based on a digital filtering technique, it was found the baseflow contributes more than 80% of the annual streamflow, revealing a major role of the aquifer in regulating the river discharge in all three studied basins. In addition, we found baseflow represents a range of 24%–27% of the annual precipitation. The uniform results are mainly due to the similar physical characteristics found in those areas. Overall, our framework indicates a baseflow response time for a precipitation of approximately two years for the smaller basins and three years for the biggest one. Such results can support the water allocation in conjunctive water management, by providing estimates of future surface water availability.
An evaluation of depression, anxiety and fatigue in patients with Behçet’s disease
Authors: Can Sandikci Sevinc , Colak Seda , Omma Ahmet , Enecik Mehmet E.
Published: November 2018

Objectives

Behçet's disease (BD) is a type of systemic vasculitis and inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, which is associated with fatigue and lower quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) and Behçet's Disease Quality of Life (BDQoL), depression, anxiety and fatigue in Behçet's disease.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 155 BD patients and 107 healthy subjects in a single center over a 1 year period. All participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) scale. Disease activity in the BD patients was assessed using the BDCAF, and the physician's global assessment (PGA). BD patients also completed the BDQoL questionnaire.

Results

There was no significant difference in age and gender between the groups. BD patients had significantly higher HADS‐anxiety (HADS‐A), HADS‐depression (HADS‐D) and MAF scores than the healthy control group (P < 0.05). BD patients with active disease had significantly higher MAF and HADS‐A scores compared to inactive BD patients (P < 0.05). MAF scores showed positive correlations with HADS‐A, HADS‐D, BDCAF and BDQoL.

Conclusions

Fatigue and anxiety are common in clinically active BD patients compared with healthy control subjects and inactive BD patients.
Cross‐cultural adaptation and validation of the Korean Version of the Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA)
Authors: Ahn Ga Young , Cho Soo‐Kyung , Cha Sung Joo , Nam Eunwoo , Lee Jung‐Eun , Dreiser Renée Liliane , Maheu Emmanuel , Sung Yoon‐Kyoung
Published: November 2018

Aim

This study aimed to translate the Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA) into Korean, and establish its reliability and validity in Korean patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Method

The FIHOA was translated into Korean (K‐FIHOA) following cross‐cultural adaptation guidelines. The K‐FIHOA was pretested on 40 patients with hand OA. The adapted K‐FIHOA was then administered to 100 consecutive hand OA patients together with the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (mHAQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) for hand pain. The test‐retest reliability of each item and total scores were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The internal consistency reliability was evaluated as Cronbach's alpha. The external construct validity was assessed using the correlation between K‐FIHOA, mHAQ and hand pain VAS.

Results

The test‐retest reliability for the total score was strong (r = 0.87 and ICC = 0.83). Cronbach's alpha was also high (0.88), which suggests that there is strong internal coherence in the test items. We identified significant correlations between K‐FIHOA and mHAQ (r = 0.52, P < 0.01), mHAQ hand function score, (r = 0.57, P < 0.01) and hand pain VAS (r = 0.53, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The K‐FIHOA is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating functional disability in Korean hand OA patients.
Efficacy and safety of oral high‐trough level tacrolimus in acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia with dermatomyositis
Authors: Suzuka Takayasu , Kotani Takuya , Takeuchi Tohru , Fujiki Youhei , Hata Kenichiro , Yoshida Shuzo , Shoda Takeshi , Makino Shigeki , Arawaka Shigeki
Published: November 2018

Objectives

We assessed the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with glucocorticoids and high‐trough level tacrolimus (TAC) for the treatment of acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM).

Methods

Eleven DM‐A/SIP patients were enrolled. The combination therapy with glucocorticoids and TAC was started as early as possible after DM‐A/SIP was diagnosed. We monitored the trough concentration of TAC. In the initial 3 months, we maintained the trough concentration of TAC at relatively high levels within a range of 15‐20 ng/mL. Then, we decreased the TAC doses stepwise to keep the trough concentration at 10‐15 ng/mL in the next 3 months and 5‐10 ng/mL as a maintenance dose.

Results

Seven patients had clinically amyopathic DM. Six patients were positive for anti‐aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetase antibody and two were positive for anti‐melanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 antibody. Ten patients survived for the period of the 24‐week follow up. One patient died under a tentative diagnosis of viral encephalitis at 4 months after the treatment. In the 10 surviving patients, interstitial pneumonia improved in eight patients and was not worse in two patients. Clinical examinations, including the Krebs von den Lungen‐6 levels, % forced vital capacity, and chest computed tomography score, were significantly improved by this combination therapy. Although grade 1 and 2 renal damage occurred in 4 and 2 patients, respectively.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that early therapeutic intervention by a combination with glucocorticoids and initial high‐trough level TAC is effective for DM‐A/SIP although consideration of the risks of infection and renal damage is required.
Group therapy in a cohort study of Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Farah Taifoor Hamad , El‐Makawi Shirin Mostafa , Khalaf Ola Osama , Gaber Wafaa , Eleishi Hatem Hamdi
Published: November 2018

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects many individuals' issues beyond those which are medically treated.

Objective

To study the impact of group therapy sessions on disease activity and functional abilities in RA patients.

Methods

One hundred and two patients with RA were divided into two groups; group A included 52 RA patients receiving their regular medical care in addition to group therapy sessions (cases); and group B included 50 RA patients receiving their regular medical care only (controls). Demographic, clinical and serological data were prospectively evaluated. All patients were assessed by using the Disease Activity Score of 28 joints (DAS28) and modified Health Assessment Questionnaire ‐ Disability Index (mHAQ‐DI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) before, during and after group therapy sessions.

Results

Group A showed a statistically significant improvement in DAS28 at the 3rd and 6th months (P < 0.01 and P < 0.04) respectively, significant improvement in mHAQ score at the 3rd and 6th months (P < 0.02 and P < 0.00) respectively, and significant improvement in HAD scale for depression and anxiety (P <0.001). In group A there was no significant correlation between DAS28 and both anxiety or depression (P = 0.6, r = 0.5 and P = 0.06, r = 0.06) respectively, but on correlating mHAQ to both anxiety and depression, there was a statistically significant positive correlation at 6 months (P = 0.01, r = 0.3 and P = 0.03, r = 0.3) respectively.

Conclusion

Group therapy sessions improve disease outcome, functional disability and psychological well‐being in RA patients.
Polyarticular evolution and late‐onset psoriasis may be associated with cardiovascular disease in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Queiro Rubén , Lorenzo Andrés , Tejón Patricia , Pardo Estefanía , Coto Pablo , Ballina Javier
Published: November 2018

Background and aims

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), and they also show higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to corroborate these findings and identify factors associated with these events in our clinical setting.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 340 consecutive patients seen in a tertiary care hospital. The prevalence of CVRF was compared to that of 600 outpatients without inflammatory conditions. To analyze CVD‐associated factors, odds ratio (OR) values were calculated by conditional logistic regression analysis. Significant variables in the univariate analysis were then introduced in a multivariate analysis with a backward stepwise approach.

Results

Patients with psoriatic arthritis had higher frequencies of hypertension (36% vs 23%, OR 2.4, 95%CI: 1.6‐2.7, P < 0.0001), diabetes (13.8% vs 5%, OR 2.8, 95%CI: 1.7‐4.3, P < 0.0001), obesity (35% vs 22%, OR 2.1, 95%CI: 1.5‐2.8, P < 0.0001) and tobacco use (26% vs 21%, OR 1.4, 95%CI: 1.0‐1.8, P < 0.05). More PsA patients had CVD compared to non‐inflammatory patients (9.4% vs 5.8%, OR 1.68, 95%CI: 1.02‐2.76, P < 0.05). Independent CVD‐associated factors were: an age of onset of psoriasis >40 years (OR 3.4, 95%CI: 1.1‐10.0, P < 0.05), a high number of swollen joints during evolution (OR 2.9, 95%CI: 1.1‐8.0, P < 0.05), hypertension (OR 5.3, 95%CI: 1.6‐17.6, P < 0.01) and dyslipidemia (OR 2.6, 95%CI: 1.0‐7.2, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Cardiovascular risk should be carefully evaluated in patients with PsA whose disease presents a high inflammatory burden and in those with late‐onset psoriasis.