5,867 research outputs found
Biosimilars in Europe
This reprint examines regulatory, pricing and reimbursement issues related to the market access and uptake of off-patent biologics, biosimilars, next-generation biologics and competing innovative medicines in European countries
Writing Facts
»Fact« is one of the most crucial inventions of modern times. Susanne Knaller discusses the functions of this powerful notion in the arts and the sciences, its impact on aesthetic models and systems of knowledge. The practice of writing provides an effective procedure to realize and to understand facts. This concerns preparatory procedures, formal choices, models of argumentation, and narrative patterns. By considering »writing facts« and »writing facts«, the volume shows why and how »facts« are a result of knowledge, rules, and norms as well as of description, argumentation, and narration. This approach allows new perspectives on »fact« and its impact on modernity
The molecular athlete: exercise physiology from mechanisms to medals
Human skeletal muscle demonstrates remarkable plasticity, adapting to numerous external stimuli including the habitual level of contractile loading. Accordingly, muscle function and exercise capacity encompass a broad spectrum, from inactive individuals with low levels of endurance and strength, to elite athletes who produce prodigious performances underpinned by pleiotropic training-induced muscular adaptations. Our current understanding of the signal integration, interpretation and output coordination of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern muscle plasticity across this continuum is incomplete. As such, training methods and their application to elite athletes largely rely on a "trial and error" approach with the experience and practices of successful coaches and athletes often providing the bases for "post hoc" scientific enquiry and research. This review provides a synopsis of the morphological and functional changes along with the molecular mechanisms underlying exercise adaptation to endurance- and resistance-based training. These traits are placed in the context of innate genetic and inter-individual differences in exercise capacity and performance, with special considerations given to the ageing athletes. Collectively, we provide a comprehensive overview of skeletal muscle plasticity in response to different modes of exercise, and how such adaptations translate from "molecules to medals"
How Doctoral Students in a Formal Leadership Program Conceptualize Followership: A Mixed-Methods Study
The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to determine how doctoral students in a formal leadership program conceptualize followership. The methods used to conduct this analysis included distributing a Qualtrics (released in August 2022) survey and conducting one-on-one interviews with a sample of degree-seeking doctoral students within a formal leadership program. The researcher collected quantitative and qualitative data addressing students’ followership style, leadership attitudes and beliefs, and perceptions of followership. These data were analyzed concurrently using a triangulation design. A total of 67 students completed the survey, and seven students were interviewed. The findings revealed that the participants employ an exemplary followership style, exercise systemic thinking, and hold a prototypic and antiprototypic view of followers. As followers, the participants described themselves as actively supporting the leader, organization, and team while taking the initiative to go above and beyond in problem-solving and executing their roles. Further, they emphasized the importance of developing rapport with their leader(s) and colleagues because they view leadership as a collective process that is relationship oriented. Moreover, they believe they add value to that process regardless of the role they hold. Although their perceptions of followership encompass a continuum of negative and positive follower attributes, they assume that most followers are proactive and interactive in their work with the leader(s) and members of the organization.
Keywords: follower, followership, leadership, higher education, mixed-method
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Corporate Governance and Investment Decision-Making in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Nigeria
Adopting Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) has been relatively slow due to corporate governance issues and a limited understanding of investment decision-making processes. This study aims to enhance the performance of REITs by developing a Corporate Governance Scoring Framework and improving the investment decision-making process. A mixed-method research strategy was employed to gather data on investment decisionmaking processes and corporate governance in the UK, SA, and Nigeria from 2014-2019. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured telephone interviews with key decision-makers in the three regimes and analysed using content and discourse analysis techniques. Quantitative data was obtained from the annual financial reports of listed
REITs during the study period and analysed using OLS, fixed effects, and random effect models. The Integrated Corporate Governance Index (ICGI), a self-scoring framework,
was used to measure the quality of corporate governance strength.
The qualitative analysis identified four stages in the investment decision-making process: strategy, search, analysis and adjustment, and consultation or decision and review. The interviews revealed that the board, remuneration, and fee proxies were relevant factors across all three regimes, with audit and ownership also significant in the developing regimes of SA and Nigeria. The board's reputation, experience, and management role were highlighted as crucial during the decision-making process. Performance factors such as 'Operational Stability,' 'Tenant Quality,' 'Experience,' and metrics including 'Rental Income,' 'Dividend Payment,' and 'Yield' were identified. The quantitative analysis demonstrated that adherence to corporate governance codes was highest in the UK, followed by SA and Nigeria. Regression analysis results showed that a higher ICGI score improved return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) in the UK but not in SA and Nigeria. The index did not significantly impact firm value in the UK and pooled country analysis, but it led to better firm valuation in SA. In the Nigeria REIT regime, the ICGI harmed firm valuation. The study concluded that adherence to country-level corporate governance was more predictive of operational performance than firm valuation.
In summary, this study contributes to the existing knowledge by providing insights into the investment decision-making processes of REITs and the importance of corporate governance in improving their performance. The developed Corporate Governance Scoring Framework offers a valuable tool for evaluating the quality of corporate governance in REITs, but further refinement is necessary to keep up with evolving policies
Platform://Democracy: Perspectives on Platform Power, Public Values and the Potential of Social Media Councils
Social media platforms have created private communication orders which they rule through terms of service and algorithmic moderation practices. As their impact on public communication and human rights has grown, different models to increase the role of public interests and values in the design of their rules and their practices has, too. But who should speak for both the users and the public at large? Bodies of experts and/or selected user representatives, usually called Platform Councils of Social Media Councils (SMCs) have gained attention as a potential solution. Examples of Social Media Councils include Meta’s Oversight Board but most platforms companies have so far shied away from installing one. This survey of approaches to increasing the quality of platform decision-making and content governance involving more than 35 researchers from four continents brough to together in regional "research clinics" makes clear that trade-offs have to be carefully balanced. The larger the council, the less effective is its decision-making, even if its legitimacy might be increased. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, the projects demonstrates that procedures matter, that multistakeholderism is a key concept for effective Social Media Councils, and that incorporating technical expertise and promoting inclusivity are important considerations in their design. As the Digital Services Act becomes effective in 2024, a Social Media Council for Germany’s Digital Services Coordinator (overseeing platforms) can serve as test case and should be closely monitored. Beyond national councils, there is strong case for a commission focused on ensuring human rights online can be modeled after the Venice Commission and can provide expertise and guidelines on policy questions related to platform governance, particularly those that affect public interests like special treatment for public figures, for mass media and algorithmic diversity. The commission can be staffed by a diverse set of experts from selected organizations and institutions established in the platform governance field
Recommended from our members
Ensuring Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All Through the Transformation of Food Systems
- …