Assessing perceived business success as a reflective-formative (Type II) second-order construct using PLS-SEM approach

This paper describes the process of validating “business success”as a reflective-formative construct using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLSSEM) approach. This second-order latent variable has been operationalized with four dimensions, namely perceived financial performance, perceived non-financial performance, perceived business growth and perceived performance relative to competitors. These dimensions do not share a common theme and are distinctly different. Moreover, business success is a phenomenon that occurs with the presence of these constructs. In other words, it is formed by these constructs, thus, it should be measured as a Type II reflective-formative second-order construct. This paper has established the reflective-formative relationship among first-order and second-order constructs. We recommend considering and measuring business success as a reflective-formative second-order latent variable because the misspecification at second-order construct could cause drastic changes in R 2 values and in the values of path coefficients

Sarcopenia in Children With End-Stage Liver Disease on the Transplant Waiting List

Sarcopenia predicts morbidity and mortality in adults with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) and is determined by total psoas muscle area (tPMA) measurement from computed tomography (CT) imaging. Recently developed pediatric age- and sex-specific tPMA growth curves provide the opportunity to ascertain prevalence and impact of sarcopenia in children awaiting liver transplantation (LT). This retrospective single-center study evaluated sarcopenia in children between 1 and 16 years with ESLD and a clinically indicated abdominal CT less than 3 months before first isolated LT. Sarcopenia was defined as tPMA z score less than −2 measured at the intervertebral L4-5 level. Patient demographic, biochemical, and outcome data were recorded. tPMA was compared with other measures of nutritional status using univariate and multivariate logistic analyses. Outcome measures included 1-year morbidity events and mortality after LT. CT images from 25 (64% female) children with median age of 5.50 (interquartile range [IQR], 3.75-11.33) years were reviewed. Ten children (40%) had a tPMA z score less than −2. Sarcopenia was associated with lower z scores for weight (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; P = 0.02), height (OR, 0.32; P = 0.03), and nutritional support before LT (OR, 12.93; P = 0.01). Sarcopenic children had a longer duration of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay (3.50 [IQR, 3.00-6.00] versus 2.00 [IQR, 2.00-3.50] days; P = 0.03). Sarcopenia was prevalent in 40% of children with ESLD awaiting LT, and lower tPMA z score was associated with deficient anthropometrics and need for nutritional support before LT. Post-LT PICU duration was increased in children with sarcopenia, reflecting adverse outcomes associated with muscle loss. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of sarcopenia in children with ESLD