Dynamic Capabilities and their Indirect Impact on Firm Performance

This paper investigates the relationship between dynamic capabilities and firm performance. In particular it addresses the question of whether dynamic capabilities impact directly or indirectly on performance. Using data from manufacturing firms, the paper articulates and measures dynamic capabilities as a multi-dimensional construct with three underlying factors: coordination, learning and strategic competitive response. Then, structural equation modelling is employed to explore the relationships among dynamic capabilities, functional competences and firm performance. Empirical findings suggest that dynamic capabilities are antecedents to functional competences which in turn have a significant effect on performance. Direct effects on performance are found to be insignificant. Furthermore, similar effects seem to hold for both higher and lower levels of environmental dynamism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.Dynamic capabilities; functional competences; firm performance; indirect impact

Policy-driven EU Research Networks: Impact on the Greek S&T System

This paper focuses on the impact of EU-funded collaborative research networks at a national level using a combined method approach, social network analysis and in-depth case study work. First, it examines the participation intensity and role of the Greek organizations in the research network established through the Information Society Technologies priority of the European Community’s 4th, 5th and 6th Framework Programmes. Furthermore, it attempts to assess the impact of the IST research network on the diffusion and deployment of innovation in Greece. Some interesting results with significant policy implications arise: a) Greece exhibits high participation intensity in the EU-funded IST network, b) there are Greek organizations that have assumed an influential role in the network through time, in addition, they are also critical to the connectivity of the more peripheral Greek actors to the IST network, c) the value of the network, lies for the most part in indirect or ‘behavioural’ effects than in immediate project outputs measured in terms of commercialized products or services, d) however, while the knowledge obtained through the network assists organizations to gain better understanding of the market and identify future deployment opportunities this is not always possible due to the lack of sufficient infrastructure and national policies to support market introduction.

An Integrated Model of Condom Use in Sub-Saharan African Youth: A Meta-Analysis

Objective: We tested an integrated social- cognitive model derived from multiple theories of the determinants of young peoples' condom use in Sub-Saharan Africa. The model comprised seven social- cognitive antecedents of condom use: Attitudes, norms, control, risk perceptions, barriers, intentions, and previous condom use. Method: We conducted a systematic search of studies including effects between at least one model construct and intended or actual condom use in young people from sub-Saharan African countries. Fifty-five studies comprising 72 independent data sets were included and subjected to random-effects meta-analysis. Demographic and methodological variables were coded as moderators. Hypotheses of the integrated model were tested using meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Results: The meta-analysis revealed significant nontrivial sample-weighted correlations among most model constructs. Moderator analyses revealed differences in six correlations for studies that included a formative research component relative to studies that did not. There was little evidence of systematic moderation of relations among model constructs by other candidate moderators. Meta-analytic structural equation models revealed significant direct effects of attitudes, norms, and control on condom use intentions, and of intention, control, and barriers on condom use. Including past condom use increased explained variance in condom use intentions and behavior but did not attenuate model effects. There were also significant indirect effects of attitudes, norms, and control on condom use through intentions. Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence to support the integrated condom use model in sub-Saharan African youth. The model provides guidance on potential targets for improving the effectiveness of condom promotion interventions

Complex anatomic variation in the brachial region

Authors describe a case of a complex anatomic variation discovered during dissection of the humeral region. On the right side, brachial artery followed a superficial course. Musculocutaneous nerve did not pierce coracobrachialis muscle but instead passed below the muscle before continuing in the forearm. On the left side, a communication between musculocutaneous and median nerve was dissected. Those variations are analytically presented with a brief review on their anatomic and clinical implications. Considerations on their embryological origin are attempted

A Cross-cultural Study of Psychosocial Factors Influencing Young Peoples' Intended Non-condom Use

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Developing an integrated theoretical model of young peoples' condom use in sub-Saharan Africa

Objective: We aimed to develop an integrated theoretical model of the determinants of condom use in young people from sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations. Model development was informed by research predicting condom use in SSA nations adopting individual-level social-cognitive and socio-ecological theories, and guided by McMillan and Conner's (2007) framework of social-cognitive predictors of health. Method: We conducted a scoping review of research on social-cognitive and socio-ecological predictors of condom use in young people in SSA. The integrated model was developed based on the constructs from the review and guided by McMillan and Conner's framework to classify the constructs and isolate the processes by which the constructs impact condom use. Results: Included studies (N=45) utilised constructs from seven individual-level social-cognitive theories and included multiple socio-ecological variables as predictors of condom use. The integrated model included dispositions to act as a proximal determinant of condom use which mediated the effect of four categories of social-cognitive constructs on condom use: attitudes, control perceptions, norms, and self-representations. Socio-ecological factors were classified into four categories: relational, individual differences, societal/structural, and community and peer influences. Each had direct and indirect effects on condom use in the model, reflecting the non-conscious and conscious pathways to action, respectively. Conclusion: We expect our integrated model to provide an evidence- and theory-based guide to future research examining the antecedents of condom use in young people in SSA. We also anticipate it will assist in developing targets for interventions that will be effective in promoting condom use in this population

Moderators of the effect of psychological interventions on depression and anxiety in cardiac surgery patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cardiac surgery patients may be provided with psychological interventions to counteract depression and anxiety associated with surgical procedures. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether intervention efficacy was impacted by type of cardiac procedure/cardiac event; control condition content; intervention duration; intervention timing; facilitator type; and risk of bias. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing anxiety and depression outcomes, pre and post psychological and cardiac interventions. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review (N = 2718) and 16 of those were meta-analysed (N = 1928). Depression and anxiety outcomes were reduced more in interventions that lasted longer, were delivered post-surgery, and by trained health professionals. Depression (but not anxiety) was reduced more when the experimental intervention was compared to an ‘alternative’ intervention, and when the intervention was delivered to coronary artery bypass graft patients. Anxiety (but not depression) was decreased more when interventions were delivered to implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients, and were of ‘high’ or ‘unclear’ risk of bias. In addition to estimating efficacy, future work in this domain needs to take into account the moderating effects of intervention, sample, and study characteristics