Board Characteristics and Corporate Performance: Evidence from Palestine

This paper investigatedthe relationship between board characteristics and corporate performance of firms in Palestine. The degree to which the board iseffective in performing its duties and tasks depends on several factors manifested by certain characteristics. consistent with the stewardship theory where the board plays a supportive role by empowering executives leading to,potentially,higher performance. In this context decisions are executed faster, the ambiguity between the processes and the objectives of the firm is reduced and performance is enhanced. Our results have an implication to any future corporate governance codesetting.The stewardship theory not the agency theory should guide the lawmakers in constructing any newlegislation related to corporate governance. Particularly, this research examinedthe impact of CEO duality, board size, board independence, board gender diversity, board academic background, and frequency of board meetings on the level of corporate performance. The sample encompassedall firms listed in the Palestine Stock Exchange (PSE) with available data for the years 2012 to 2014 with total 141 firm-year observations. The data was manually collected from the audited annual reports downloaded from PSE website. Generalized least square estimators wereobtained for the multiple-linear relationship between board characteristics and firm performance. The results indicate that corporate performance of Palestinian listed firms is positively related to board duality, board gender diversity, and number of board meetings.Meanwhile, board size, board independence and board academic background seem to negatively affect performance. The results ar

Prospective assessment of bone texture parameters at the hand in rheumatoid arthritis

International audienceObjective: Fractal bone analysis (Hmean) is a texture parameter ă reflecting bone microarchitecture. The BMA device (D3ATM Medical ă Systems, Orleans, France) is a high-resolution X-ray device that allows ă assessment of bone texture analysis. We aimed to measure Hmean in ă rheumatoid arthritis patients at the second and third metacarpal bones, ă at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up, and to assess the ă relationship of Hmean and rheumatoid arthritis disease parameters. ă Methods: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis according to ACR criteria ă were included. They were assessed over 1 year, in the context of a ă prospective study conducted in Maastricht. For this substudy, activity ă of the disease was assessed by erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ă C-reactive protein and Disease Activity Score 28 performed at each ă visit. Radiographic bone damage was assessed using hand and feet ă radiographs at baseline and on a 1-year basis. The bone texture ă parameters were evaluated on the second and third metacarpal heads of ă the left hand using BMA device. ă Results: One hundred and sixty-five rheumatoid arthritis patients were ă included in this study. At baseline, Hmean was negatively correlated ă with age [r= 0.22 (13= 0.013)] and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ă [r= 0.16 (13= 0.039)]. No significant correlation was found between ă Hmean and Disease Activity Score, disease activity Visual Analog Scale, ă daily corticosteroid dose and C-reactive protein. There was a ă significant increase in Hmean of second and third metacarpal bones over ă 1 year (1.6% and 1.3%, P< 0.01) except in patients with local second ă and third metacarpal bones erosion. ă Conclusion: The bone texture parameter Hmean is influenced by age, ă inflammation and local erosions in rheumatoid arthritis. (C) 2013 ă Societe francaise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All ă rights reserved

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population