The compatibility of multicurrency accounting with functional currency accounting

In today's high-tech and global economy, this study introduces multicurrency accounting as an effective tool to manage resources and compares its reporting capabilities with current generally accepted accounting principles. Further, it proposes a means to integrate multicurrency accounting into internal reporting and external reporting as supplemental disclosures. Multicurrency accounting has the merit of reflecting the true exposure position of each hard currency, in addition to the dollar-based consolidated financial statement. It lends itself readily to mark-to-market accounting; its application for external reporting is foreseeable in the near future.     

The Italian way to functional separation: An assessment of background and criticalities

The paper describes the approach to functional separation followed in Italy. The analysis places the notion of functional separation in the context of the reform of the European Regulatory Framework in particular the Access Directive of the European Commission. It concentrates on the two main aspects of functional separation in the Italian telecommunications market: (i) the creation of an Open Access unit and (ii) the undertakings suggested by Telecom Italia and approved by AGCOM with the Decision 718/08/CONS. The paper shows that even if these measures are primarily aimed at fostering transparency, promoting equal access and non-discrimination practices, some doubts remain with respect to the impact of functional separation on incumbency of Telecom Italia. It proposes that the outcome of functional separation will have to be determined by joint efforts of regulation by AGCOM and changes in the strategy of Telecom Italia.     

Non-Existence of the First Moment of the Adjusted Least Squares Estimator in Multivariate Errors-in-Variables Model

The linear normal multivariate errors-in-variables model is considered. The model involves an equation error. It is proved in both structural and functional cases that the first moment of the adjusted least squares estimator does not exist.     

期待可能性论对预防刑罚观之实践问题的消解

期待可能性论与预防主义刑罚观是两个不同范畴、不同功能的刑法理论,二者出现了结合的态势。积极预防刑罚观导致刑法过度化问题,“立法要扩张,司法要谦抑”,需要运用责任论加以限制。责任理论也朝着机能化方向发展。期待可能性是现代责任论的核心。机能责任论作为一种升级版的规范责任论,在其理论框架中,期待可能性概念的地位虽然受到了一定限制,但并没有被完全否定,而是作为决定行为人对法律态度的一个根据被提出来。期待可能性依然具有刑法合理评价的价值,积极的一般预防主义本身也不排斥期待可能性,相反,应借助期待可能性论纠正一般预防观在实践中扩大打击面的弊端。我国立法规定为运用期待可能性论宽恕犯罪人提供了必要的空间,但现行教科书将期待不可能性作为无罪过事件并不科学。只有在刑事责任范畴中确定期待可能性论,才可以有效维持期待可能性论的两种评价功能。对网信犯罪的处理,可以进一步验证该理论的合理性。     

Do supermarkets’ emails have any value for their customers? The effect of emails’ content and interestingness on customers’ attitude and engagement

Supermarkets use relational emails mainly to foster sales and support promotional campaigns, while brands and more exclusive retailers use more non-transactional contents in order to foster a positive attitude towards their brands, but also a better customer mood. Using the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework we study the role of relational email content and interestingness of emails emanating from supermarkets on consumer’s perceived value and on their attitude and engagement towards the supermarket, but also on their mood. Building a dedicated relational email perceived value scale and comparing three types of content, this article highlights the importance of emotional value even in a utilitarian context (supermarket). A few recommendations are offered to help supermarkets to provide value-added content to their customers in order to foster preference and loyalty in a highly competitive market where discounters are gaining shares.     

Building value with packaging: Development and validation of a measurement scale

In the absence of studies that include holistically all the current functionalities of packaging, this research develops and validates at confirmatory level a third-order scale for measuring the functional value of packaging. The measure accounts for protection, convenience, portability & storage, information, branding, engagement, sustainability and economy and considers active and intelligent functions. The psychometric properties of the scale are analysed in a total of 5 studies. Results indicates that protection, sustainability and information are the most relevant functions. This scale amounts to a useful tool that can serve as a framework for managers in numerous sectors.     

Drivers of hotel employee’s voice behavior: A moderated mediation model

This study developed and tested a moderated mediation model for examining the relationships among person-organization fit (P-O fit), employee voice, employees’ perceived nature of the work and employees’ perceived functional quality of their services. Using 265 frontline employees from several 3 star hotels in Taiwan, the analytical results show that P-O fit is positively related to employee voice, and that employees’ perceived nature of the work mediates the positive relationship between these two variables. The analytical results also show that employees’ perceived functional quality of their services moderates the direct effect of P-O fit on employees’ perceived nature of the work, as well as the indirect effect of P-O fit on employee voice via employees’ perceived nature of the work. Theoretical and practical implications for the hospitality literature and hotel practitioners are discussed herein.     

益生菌和益生元在功能性食品中的应用现状及展望

随着人们的生活水平和健康意识的不断提高,益生菌和益生元产品越来越受到关注。目前,国内外已有许多益生菌和益生元产品实现了工业化生产,并且在我国的发展日新月异。     

The healthcare burden of disease progression in medicare patients with functional mitral regurgitation

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective database analysis estimated the incremental effect that disease progression from non-clinically significant functional mitral regurgitation (nsFMR) to clinically significant FMR (sFMR) has on clinical outcomes and costs.

Methods: Medicare Fee for Service beneficiaries with nsFMR were examined, defined as those with a heart failure diagnosis prior to MR. Patients were classified as ischemic if there was a history of: CAD, AMI, PCI, or CABG. The primary outcome was time to sFMR, defined as pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve surgery, serial echocardiography, or death, using a Cox hazard regression model. Annualized hospitalizations, inpatient hospital days, and healthcare expenditures were also modeled.

Results: Patients with IHD had higher risk (Hazard Ratio?=?1.22 [1.14–1.30]) for disease progression compared to patients without. The progression cohort had significantly more annual inpatient hospitalizations (non-IHD?=?1.32; IHD?=?1.40) than the non-progression cohort (non-IHD?=?0.36; IHD?=?0.34), and significantly more annual inpatient hospital days (non-IHD?=?13.07; IHD?=?13.52) than the non-progression cohort (non-IHD?=?2.29; with IHD?=?2.08). The progression cohort had over 3.5-times higher costs vs the non-progression cohort, independent of IHD (non-IHD?=?$12,798 vs $46,784; IHD?=?$12,582 vs $49,348).

Conclusion: Treating FMR patients earlier in their clinical trajectory may prevent disease progression and reduce high rates of healthcare utilization and expenditures.     

The economic impact of galantamine vs placebo: An analysis based on functional capacity in a Swedish cohort study

Abstract

Objective:

To analyse the economic impact of galantamine, based on basic activities of daily living (ADL).

Methods:

Data were derived from Swedish patients enrolled in a 6-month placebo-controlled trial of galantamine (GAL-INT-1; n?=?80), and from the Kungsholmen–Nordanstig Project, a longitudinal study of 919 elderly persons in Sweden. Basic ADL were assessed using the Katz’ Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (number of ADL lost [dependency in 0, 1–2, 3–4, or 5–6 ADL]). Costs were appraised based on regression analysis and on costs directly linked to ADL. Six-month costs for galantamine and placebo were calculated.

Results:

In the regression analyses, each increase in a Katz stage was associated with an annual cost increase of SEK 81,415–83,683 (～€8000). Results were similar using stage-specific costs. Overall, there was a small, non-significant numerical cost benefit for galantamine indicating cost neutrality.

Limitations:

The small number of Swedish patients in the GAL-INT-1 study, which was not powered for economic outcomes, limits the statistical power of the analysis. In addition, long-term outcomes are difficult to assess in persons with dementia because of practical and logistical problems.

Conclusions:

The benefits of galantamine in patients with AD can be achieved with no increase in cost. Combined with positive effects in terms of outcome, treatment with galantamine can be regarded as cost-effective using a cost–consequence approach.