A Decade of Integrated Reporting Studies: State of the Art and Future Research Implications

Purpose – Over the past decade, researchers have witnessed an exponential growth in the number of publications on IR. This paper aims to understand the state of the art of the research field and to highlight the areas where further academic research is needed, guiding developments in theory, research, policy and practices. Design/methodology/approach – The authors apply the dynamic literature review method called “Systematic Literature Network Analysis”, which combines systematic literature review and bibliographic network analysis. Furthermore, to overcome some of the limitations connected to the methodology, the authors integrate the literature with a manual content analysis of papers. Findings – IR adoption and practices and their determinants represent the most analyzed aspects of literature. Over time, attention has been paid to more specific issues, such as the relationship between IR and other disclosure mechanisms, IR quality and its assurance, the critical analysis of the IR framework and principles and difficulties in IR adoption. Although the literature on IR can be considered to be in its mature stage, many aspects are still under-researched, so there is plenty of space for future research. Originality/value – The authors propose the following main issues as subjects to be investigated in future studies: IR is not simply an evolution of sustainability reporting, but an innovative communication tool; the debate on who the recipients of value are (shareholders or stakeholders) and on what the definition of value adopted by IR is still remains an open issue; more attention should be given to the role of IR as a managerial tool, which could support strategy formation and communication, and influence internal processes of performance measurement and evaluation; what the future of IR will be in light of recent EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and new ISSB’s standards is still an open question. From a methodological perspective, little is known about structured approaches in accounting studies. The authors confirm how methodologies, such as that of this paper, may be exploited as a tool to support dynamic analysis for setting the agendas for future studies in the accounting field

PEER Testbed Study on a Laboratory Building: Exercising Seismic Performance Assessment

From 2002 to 2004 (years five and six of a ten-year funding cycle), the PEER Center organized the majority of its research around six testbeds. Two buildings and two bridges, a campus, and a transportation network were selected as case studies to “exercise” the PEER performance-based earthquake engineering methodology. All projects involved interdisciplinary teams of researchers, each producing data to be used by other colleagues in their research. The testbeds demonstrated that it is possible to create the data necessary to populate the PEER performancebased framing equation, linking the hazard analysis, the structural analysis, the development of damage measures, loss analysis, and decision variables. This report describes one of the building testbeds—the UC Science Building. The project was chosen to focus attention on the consequences of losses of laboratory contents, particularly downtime. The UC Science testbed evaluated the earthquake hazard and the structural performance of a well-designed recently built reinforced concrete laboratory building using the OpenSees platform. Researchers conducted shake table tests on samples of critical laboratory contents in order to develop fragility curves used to analyze the probability of losses based on equipment failure. The UC Science testbed undertook an extreme case in performance assessment—linking performance of contents to operational failure. The research shows the interdependence of building structure, systems, and contents in performance assessment, and highlights where further research is needed. The Executive Summary provides a short description of the overall testbed research program, while the main body of the report includes summary chapters from individual researchers. More extensive research reports are cited in the reference section of each chapter

Asociación de marcadores genómicos para consumo residual en genes de IGF1 y neuropéptido Y con la conducta ingestiva de terneras Angus en pastoreo

En bovinos, el consumo residual (CR), medido a corral, está asociado a la presencia de alelos particulares en diferentes sitios del genoma con polimorfismos de un solo nucleótido (SNP). La asociación de estas variantes génicas con la conducta ingestiva en pastoreo no ha sido estudiada en ganado para carne. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar si existe una asociación entre la presencia de marcadores genómicos para CR en SNP de genes de IGF1 y neuropéptido Y (NPY) y la conducta ingestiva de terneras Angus en pastoreo.Fil: Milano, G. D.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Nadin, L. B.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Producción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Bakker, Maria Leontina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Producción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, Silvina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Giustina, S.. No especifíca;Fil: Comerio, A.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Herrera, R.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Hoffer, L. W.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Rigueiro, M.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina44° Congreso Argentino de Producción AnimalArgentinaAsociación Argentina de Producción AnimalUniversidad Nacional de Comahu

The Risk of Obstetric Complications and the Effects of Treatment in Women with Low Titer and Medium-High Titer Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies

Background/Purpose: The association of low titer anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) with obstetric anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) is increasingly acknowledged, even though some studies have showed conflicting results. To raise further evidence on the relevance of low titer aPL in pregnancy morbidity (PM), we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of pregnant women attending a joint obstetric/rheumatology clinic over the years 2009-2016. Methods: Patients were included when positive in at least one criteria aPL assay, at any titer, in two occasions minimum 12 weeks apart. Statistical analysis was performed using R package. Results: 111 women (338 pregnancies) were identified. 51 women displayed low-titer aPL, with 160 pregnancies. 60 patients carried aPL at medium-high titers, with 178 pregnancies. 4 patients (4%) had thrombotic APS, 27 (24%) obstetric APS, 7 (6%) thrombotic and obstetric APS, 15 (14%) medium-high titer aPL and non criteria PM, 7 (6%) medium-high titer aPL and no PM, 18 (16%) low titer aPL and non criteria PM and 15 (14%) low titer aPL and no PM. Low-titer aPL were significantly associated with pregnancy complications (c2=8.82, p=0.003). Considering 245 untreated pregnancies, a significant difference in PM distribution was noted for low titer and medium-high titer aPL (p=0.003, Table 1). Among patients with low titer aPL, treatment with low molecular weight heparin [LMWH] + low-dose aspirin [LDASA] significantly improved pregnancy outcomes (p<<0.001, odds ratio [OR]=0.07, 95% CI=0.007\u20130.300), leading to a 14.3-fold reduction of obstetric complications. Hydroxychloroquine [HCQ] was not associated with a significant improvement in live birth rate (p=0.079). Among women with medium-high titer aPL, the standard therapeutic approach with LMWH+LDASA resulted in a significant improvement of obstetric outcome (p<<0.001, OR=0.20, 95% CI=0.100\u20130.400). HCQ treatment significantly improved obstetric outcome, carrying a 3-fold increase in the live birth rate (p=0.025, OR=0.34, 95% CI=0.117\u20130.894). Conclusion: According to our data, low titer aPL are significantly associated with aPL-associated obstetric complications, with a lower prevalence of premature birth compared to medium-high titer aPL. Treatment with LDASA+LMWH led to a higher increase of live birth rate in women with low titer aPL compared to those with medium-high titer aPL. Additional treatment such as HCQ were effective in women with medium-high titer aPL but not those with low titer aPL. Table 1. Obstetric outcomes (defined according to Miyakis et al, 2006) in 245 untreated pregnancies in women with low titer and medium-high titer anti-phospholipid antibodies

Minerales con hierro en arcillas vinculadas a la ingresión marina holocena en la llanura costera del estuario del Río de la Plata (Argentina): implicancias paleoambientales

En este trabajo se efectúa la caracterización de los minerales portadores de hierro en arcillas de la llanura costera del estuario del Río de la Plata, incluidas en la Facies Villa Elisa de la Formación Las Escobas (MIS1), con el principal objetivo de contribuir a su interpretación paleoambiental. Además, los resultados permi­ ten hacer inferencias que se estiman de interés para la Pedología y para las Ciencias Ambientales. El trabajo abarca el uso de diversas técnicas (análisis quí­ micos, determinación de propiedades magnéticas, análisis térmico diferencial­ termogravimétrico, difractometría de rayos X y espectroscopia Mössbauer). Los materiales analizados presentan tonalidades gris­oliva y se clasifican como arcillas. Presentan una asociación mineralógica compleja, resultado de la combinación de múltiples factores, que incluyen procesos vinculados a su procedencia, al ambiente de depositación y a los efectos de la pedogénesis. Dominan los argilominerales (aproximadamente 60%), representados principalmente por esmectitas, illita y secundariamente por caolinita e interestratificados illita/esmectita con elevado contenido de capas expansivas. Se identificó también la presencia de cuarzo, plagio­ clasas, feldespatos alcalinos y en menor medida calcita y óxi­hidróxidos de hierro. El contenido de hierro total es considerable (alrededor del 10%), con un claro pre­ dominio de Fe3+ sobre el Fe2+ (92% y 8%, respectivamente). Los óxi­hidróxidos de hierro presentes (goethita y eventualmente ferrihidrita) no constituyen los principales portadores de hierro. De esta manera se concluye que el Fe3+ se en­ cuentra principalmente en los argilominerales, en particular en esmectitas ricas en hierro (Fe­esmectitas), del tipo nontronita/Fe­beidellita. La asociación mineral determinada tiene importantes implicancias para la interpretación paleoambiental. Se concluye que un ambiente de marisma recibió argilominerales a partir de la erosión de suelos loéssicos (principalmente esmectitas e illita) y por corrientes mareales (más ricos en esmectitas y caolinita). Mecanismos propios del ambiente depositacional, vinculados a ciclos de humedecimiento­secado con oscilaciones de Eh en un medio levemente alcalino permitieron la incorporación de hierro en la estructura de las esmectitas. Un aspecto a destacar es que estos materiales pre­ sentan colores glei originados por minerales con Fe3+ (Fe­esmectitas y goethita), lo cual contradice el tradicional supuesto en Pedología, que asocia este patrón de color a minerales de Fe2+. Finalmente, se destaca que la elevada participación de Fe­esmectitas en asociación con óxi­hidróxidos de hierro, contribuye a la adsorción de metales pesados y otros contaminantes de la región, dándole a la Facies Villa Elisa un importante valor ambiental

A tetracationic porphyrin with dual anti-prion activity

Prions are deadly infectious agents made of PrPSc, a misfolded variant of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) which self-propagates by inducing misfolding of native PrPC. PrPSc can adopt different pathogenic conformations (prion strains), which can be resistant to potential drugs, or acquire drug resistance, hampering the development of effective therapies. We identified Zn(II)-BnPyP, a tetracationic porphyrin that binds to distinct domains of native PrPC, eliciting a dual anti-prion effect. Zn(II)-BnPyP binding to a C-terminal pocket destabilizes the native PrPC fold, hindering conversion to PrPSc; Zn(II)-BnPyP binding to the flexible N-terminal tail disrupts N- to C-terminal interactions, triggering PrPC endocytosis and lysosomal degradation, thus reducing the substrate for PrPSc generation. Zn(II)-BnPyP inhibits propagation of different prion strains in&nbsp;vitro,&nbsp;in neuronal cells and organotypic brain cultures. These results identify a PrPC-targeting compound with an unprecedented dual mechanism of action which might be exploited to achieve anti-prion effects without engendering drug resistance

Antibodies Against Domain 1 and Domain 4/5 of &#946;2 Glycoprotein I : Clinical Relevance in Obstetric Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome

Background/Purpose: The domain reactivity of antibodies against b2 glycoprotein I (anti-b2GPI) has been investigated in patients with thrombotic anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), leading to the identification of antibodies targeting domain 1 of the molecule (anti-D1) as the most relevant autoantibody subpopulation. Scarce attention has been paid to the domain profiling of patients with pregnancy morbidity (PM). The aim of this study was to characterize the relevance of the fine epitope reactivity of anti-b2GPI antibodies in anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL)-associated PM. Methods: Women with persistent positivity for anti-b2GPI IgG antibodies at medium-high titers, with at least one pregnancy and without systemic autoimmune disease were included. Anti-D1 and anti-D4/5 antibodies were tested using a chemiluminescent immunoassay and a research ELISA assay, respectively (QUANTA Flash b2GPI IgG and QUANTA Lite, Inova Diagnostics). Statistical analysis was performed using R package. Results: 138 women fulfilling the inclusion criteria were retrospectively recruited at 3 referral centres. 49 patients (35%) had obstetric APS, 18 (13%) thrombotic APS, 37 (27%) thrombotic and obstetric APS while 34 women (25%) were asymptomatic aPL carriers. 81 women (60%) displayed triple aPL positivity, 32 (23%) had two positive aPL test and 23 (17%) carried a single aPL positivity. 110 patients had at least one untreated pregnancy, culminating in a live birth in 31 cases (28%). 89 women underwent a pregnancy course while receiving treatment, with 71 women (80%) having a live birth. A significant difference in the distribution of positive anti-D1 antibodies emerged between women with or without PM and with or without thrombosis (p=0.05, c2=2.710 and p<0.001, c2=12.174, respectively); no significant difference was observed for anti-D4/5 antibodies (Table 1). In a multivariate logistic regression model also encompassing treatment, positive anti-D1 antibodies, but not anti-D4/5, were significantly associated with obstetric complications, conferring an odds ratio (OR) of 2.32 (p=0.040 and p=0.724, respectively). Triple aPL positivity corrected by treatment significantly predicted PM (p=0.015, OR=2.78). Conclusion: Our data suggest that anti-D1 antibodies are significantly associated not only with thrombosis but also with obstetric morbidity while positive anti-D4/5 antibodies are not predictive of PM

An interdisciplinary system dynamics model for post-disaster housing recovery

Many previous disasters have demonstrated the need for extensive personal, public, and governmental expenditures for housing recovery highlighting the importance of studying housing recovery. Yet, much research is still needed to fully understand the multi-faceted and complex nature of housing recovery. The goal of this paper is to present a holistic model to further the understanding of the dynamic processes and interdependencies of housing recovery. The impetus for this work is that inequalities in housing recovery could be addressed more effectively if we better understood interconnected factors and dynamic processes that slow down recovery for some. Currently, there is a lack of understanding about such factors and processes. Literature from engineering and social sciences was reviewed to develop an integrated system dynamics model for post-disaster housing recovery. While it is beyond current capabilities to quantify such complexities, the presented model takes a major stride toward articulating the complex phenomenon that is housing recovery