The Information Content of Commercial Paper Rating Downgrades: Further Evidence

Nayar received financial support from the Noble Foundation, and the Cooksey and Laird Programs. Both authors also thank the University of Oklahoma Research Council for other financial assistance. Comments from William Kross, Byung Ro, Mike Rozeff, Gregory Waymire, and participants at the University of Oklahoma Accounting and Finance Joint Workshop are appreciated. Eli Bartov (referee) helped to focus and strengthen the paper considerably. Stephanie Farewell, Giri Iyer, Alex Lee, Lori Mason, Karen Nunez, and Scott Whisenant provided valuable research assistance. Address correspondence to the authors at Michael F. Price College of Business, Adams Hall, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019–0450, Tel: (405) 325–5591.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

A Lung Cancer Screening Personalized Decision-aid Improves Knowledge and Reduces Decisional Conflict Among a Diverse Population of Smokers at an Urban Academic Medical Center

Introduction: Few lung cancer screening decision aids have been tested in diverse populations. The study objective was to determine whether the online decision aid www.shouldiscreen.com impacts knowledge of and decisional conflict around lung cancer screening in a diverse population. Methods: Eligible patients had significant smoking histories, were at increased risk for lung cancer (ages 45-80, \u3e20 pack-years, smoking within last 15 years) and had no history of prior lung cancer or screening. Data was collected and analyzed in 2017. Results: 40 patients were enrolled: 80% were female, 62.5% black, 33% white, and 48% had a high school education or less. 80% were current smokers with a mean of 34 pack-years accumulated. 35% were eligible for screening by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria. After reviewing the decision aid, knowledge increased in all categories including risk factors for lung cancer (3.58 to 4.30, p\u3c0.01), benefits of screening (1.58 to 2.30, p\u3c0.01), possible harms of screening (0.93 to 2.08, p\u3c0.01), and eligibility for screening (2.10 to 2.65, p\u3c0.01). Decisional conflict was reduced from 21.25 to 8.65 (p\u3c0.01). After use of the decision aid, more patients expressed a preference not to be screened for lung cancer, such that concordance with USPSTF guidelines decreased among those who were eligible to screen increased among those who did not yet meet eligibility criteria; however, this finding was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Even brief, unguided use of this web-based tool improved knowledge and reduced decisional conflict for a diverse group of smokers considering lung cancer screening

Narcissism and its measurement: A conditional reasoning measure for narcissism

Narcissism, which is broadly defined as a grandiose sense of self-importance (Judge, LePine, & Rich, 2006), is a construct that is associated with many potentially toxic traits and behaviors (Back, Schmukle, & Egloff, 2010; Hogan, Raskin, & Fazzini, 1990; Paulhus & Williams, 2002). Recently, interest in determining the effects of narcissism in organizations has increased (e.g. Blair, Hoffman, & Helland, 2008; Chatterjee & Hambrick, 2007; Judge et al., 2006; Penney & Spector, 2002). Psychometric issues with the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI; Raskin & Hall 1979, 1981) and other measures of narcissism necessitate a more robust measure that can more accurately capture the facets of a complex construct. Conditional Reasoning Tests are designed to indirectly measure implicit cognitive processes (James & LeBreton, 2011), and are especially useful in measuring "socially unacceptable" traits such as narcissism. A 20-item Conditional Reasoning Test for Narcissism (CRT-NR) was created and underwent preliminary validation testing. Results support a 15-item measure to be used in continued validation of the instrument.Ph.D

Plasma inflammatory cytokines and survival of pancreatic cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammation and inflammatory conditions have been associated with pancreatic cancer risk and progression in a number of clinical, epidemiological, and animal model studies. The goal of the present study is to identify plasma markers of inflammation associated with survival of pancreatic cancer patients, and assess their joint contribution to patient outcome. METHODS: We measured circulating levels of four established markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (sTNF-RII), and macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1)) in 446 patients enrolled in an ongoing prospective clinic-based study. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for death were estimated using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Overall mortality was significantly increased in patients in the top quartile of CRP (HR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.82-3.49), IL-6 (HR = 2.78, 95% CI: 2.03-3.81), sTNF-RII (HR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.46-2.72), and MIC-1 (HR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.83-3.50), compared to those in the bottom quartile (P-trend CONCLUSION: Individual elevated plasma inflammatory cytokines are associated with significant and dramatic reductions in pancreatic cancer patient survival. Furthermore, we observed an independent combined effect of those cytokines on patient survival, suggesting that multiple inflammatory pathways are likely involved in PDAC progression. Future research efforts to target the inflammatory state using combination strategies in pancreatic cancer patients are warranted

I am the chosen one: Narcissism in the backdrop of self-determination theory

© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Objective: This theoretical article discusses the relevance of self-determination theory (SDT) for narcissism, a classic topic in self-theory. Method and Results: The trait of narcissism reflects a self-aggrandizing, dominant, and manipulative interpersonal orientation that feeds on exaggerated perceptions of agency, but not communion. The article embeds narcissism in the five mini-theories of SDT (organismic integration, causality orientations, basic needs, cognitive evaluation, and goal contents) and considers research directions that can explore synergies between key constructs from SDT and narcissism. Conclusions: SDT can serve as a foundation for a deeper understanding of narcissism. From the other end, narcissism can enrich SDT by explaining variations in motivational processes

Response distortion and social desirability in high-level executives

The effect of Socially Desirable Responding (SDR) and response distortion on personality and selection measures has been debated for decades (Edwards, 1957b; Messick&Jackson, 1961; Morgeson et al., 2007, Ones, Viswesvaran,&Reiss, 1996). One area of this broad topic that has received less attention over the years has been the effectiveness of the scales used to measure SDR when evidence of potential response distortion is present. Using a MANOVA, this study found significant differences between job candidate and incumbent responses on the scales of the 16PF (Cattell&Cattell, 1995), which can be indicative of SDR (Rosse et al., 1998). However, no difference between the groups was found on the Impression Management scale used to measure SDR. Differences based on the job function of the respondents were also explored.M.S.Committee Chair: James, Lawrence; Committee Member: Parsons, Charles; Committee Member: Roberts, Jame

Prevention, Aging, and Multimorbidity: A Modeling Study of Challenges Facing the Global HIV Response

Background: The global burden of HIV is substantial, with 1.5 million new infections and 38 million people living with HIV (PLWH) in 2021. These PLWH are also aging and becoming increasingly at risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Local policymakers need efficient approaches to better prevent new HIV infections and care for an aging HIV population. Methods: Using a suite of modeling tools, we project the impact of efforts to prevent new HIV infections and care for an aging HIV population. In the United States, we adapted a model of HIV epidemics in 18 cities to quantify the benefits of improved pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage, linkage, retention, and suppression among key risk groups. In Kenya, we first developed a model of HIV transmission to project the effect of demographic shifts and HIV-targeted interventions on the age distribution of PLWH, then developed a microsimulation of NCDs to examine the impact of approaches to integrated HIV/NCD care. Results: In the US, improving city-wide PrEP coverage to 25% reduced ten-year HIV incidence by a projected 49% and improving retention in care to 95% reduced incidence by 39%. Focusing on key risk groups had varied impact across locations. In Kenya, demographic changes and HIV-targeted interventions shifted the age structure of PLWH towards older age groups: the median age of PLWH was projected to increase from 39 in 2025 to 43 in 2040 absent intervention or to 46 with scale-up of HIV-specific interventions. Integrating NCD services within HIV clinics provided a 0.3% and 0.5% reduction in cardiovascular disease events and deaths, respectively; focusing similar efforts in the community provided greater population-level impact (with a 2.9% and 4.3% reduction in events and deaths, respectively). Per person treated, NCD screening and treatment was more efficient within HIV clinics than in the general community. Conclusions: Local decision-makers in the US can utilize the results from this modeling analysis to identify the combinations of interventions and risk groups that will maximize impact with limited resources. In Kenya, new HIV policy must consider the needs of an aging HIV population as a whole—including how best to treat age-associated comorbidities

Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome in India: A State-Level Time Series Model of Relative CRS Burden

Measles and rubella are both acute, immunizing childhood diseases, presenting with a short-lived fever and rash. While measles cases can become serious, cases of rubella are typically mild. However, rubella infection during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy can cause fetal death or a host of severe fetal defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The goal of rubella vaccination should therefore be to minimize the number of susceptible women of childbearing age (WCBA). However, weak vaccination efforts can actually increase these susceptibles (by reducing childhood circulation) and hence increase CRS burden. Thus, though routine rubella immunization is common globally, many countries in the developing world have yet to establish a strong enough vaccination system to support rubella immunization and avoid increasing CRS burden. This paper examines the global burden of measles and rubella, and focuses on one major contributor¿India. Using Indian state-level data to parameterize a 30-year time series model, this thesis projects how the current vaccination levels will affect future CRS burden in each India state. The model found that certain states face the risk of increasing CRS burden through insufficient vaccination, while many states appear to avoid this possibility. These findings should be considered by health policy-makers, as an increased CRS burden would add a heavy cost to the Indian health system

Who holds cash? and why?

Cash holdings of nonfinancial firms range widely, and are related to firm size, industry and access to the public bond market. Cash holdings are positively correlated with agency proxies, suggesting that firms that cannot borrow easily due to agency problems hold greater cash stocks--perhaps as a cushion to prevent shortfalls in cash flow from impinging on investment. However, this correlation holds only for the very highest cash holders, especially small firms. The group of afflicted firms appears to be less than one-quarter of COMPUSTAT firms. Agency proxies are irrelevant for a large majority of firms.Cash management ; Cash flow