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This paper examines the effectiveness of the use of executive compensation linked to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals across US firms. Empirical analysis of a cross-industry sample of 746 listed companies for the period 2002-2013 showed that the use of CSR-linked compensation contracts for Named Executive Officers (NEOs) promotes CSR performance. More specifically, we found that linking NEOs' compensation to CSR goals produces positive effects in the 3rd year after adoption. As firms accumulate experience and learn how to use the system over the following eight periods, CSR performance increases monotonically. Furthermore, experience accumulated over time affects the different specifications of CSR performance asymmetrically, by reducing both environmental and social CSR concerns and increasing only environmental CSR strengths. Interestingly, we also found that the simultaneous use of other CSR-focused governance systems moderates the effect of a firm's accumulated experience in using CSR-linked executive compensation on CSR performance: the existence of a CSR committee at the board level and the public release of a CSR report are likely to have a positive moderating effect, while the purchase of a CSR audit has no moderating effect.

Purpose According to the chief financial officer (CFO) of IBM Global Survey (2010), only few integrated finance organizations (IFOs) and only some CFOs’ role (Value Integrators) allow companies to generate value so as to outperform their peers. The purpose of this study is to gather additional insights on how the CFOs and finance organizations effectively promote value creation in for-profit organizations. Design/methodology/approach The authors’ study has been developed through the methodology of case studies. The method, despite its intrinsic limitations, offers a much deeper understanding of the organizational context within which value creation takes place. The authors’ analysis is based on nine selected case studies of Italian industrial companies, selected to assure comparability with the IBM sample. All companies outperform their peers. Findings The authors observed that not only IFOs and value integrator CFOs support the value generation process. The authors’ sample suggests a variety of other relevant and likely alternatives for value creation deriving from both finance functions (FFs) and the roles of CFOs. Their findings indicate that FFs adopt three distinct patterns to add value for the shareholders. The first option involves the FF taking the lead in setting a common language across functions, management processes, management and stakeholders. The second value creation pattern is when the FF establishes a strong and relevant support to business. The third option implies that the FF acts as an advisor assuring independent compliance. The authors also concluded that regardless of the CFO’s roles, influential CFOs are older, with a deep functional company and industry experience. They also observe that some of this influence derives from “proximity” to shareholders, as all the more influential CFOs sit on the Board, enjoying a closer relationship with the shareholders. Research limitations/implications This study was based on clinical cases, the findings can be generalized reliably only for the population studied here. More research is needed for further tests and explorations of these findings, especially in the area of CFO incentives and governance mechanisms. Practical implications This study supports modern advice given to organizations in terms of the array of available alternatives to promote value creation with patterns and processes within the domain of the finance organization and CFO’s personal characteristics. Social implications The paper contributes to untangle some gender issues, as the authors found that more influential CFOs are male. The authors have also contributed to explain some dynamics of the “labor” market development for finance professionals: the authors observed that the promotion for most influential CFOs comes through the ranks of a specific company, and this questions if a market really exits for such professionals in Italy, and more generally in Europe. Originality/value These results provide some useful support of prior findings and some modifications and extensions that further the authors’ understanding in this area of importance both to researchers and practitioners.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study designed to understand how involved controllers are in management decision processes, what causes more or less involvement in those processes, and whether involvement is significantly associate with performance.Design methodology approach - To test the research propositions developed from a review of prior literature, data were collected from large Italian corporations using a questionnaire survey.Findings - The results show that most of the controllers are at least somewhat involved in management decision processes, and some are highly involved. A complex set of factors determine the extent and breadth of controller involvement. Controller involvement in either strategic decisions, operating decisions, or both types of decisions is positively related to some situational variables, including capital intensity, operating interdependency, line managers' financial competence, formalization of strategic planning and budgeting processes. It is negatively related to the use of controller positions as training for line roles. Overall, controller involvement was found to be positively associated with performance.Research limitations implications - This study provides support for some prior research findings and some extension of prior theory. Some findings were not consistent with expectations. This study was based on a small sample - 17 organizations; it used some crude measures and scales; and the findings can be generalized reliably only to the population studied here - large Italian industrial firms. More research is needed for further tests and explorations of these findings.Practical implications - This research supports modern advice given to involve controllers highly in management decision-making processes, but it also refines that advice by showing where high involvement is more (or less) desirable.Originality value - These results provide some useful support of prior findings and some modifications and extensions that further our understanding in this area of importance both to researchers and practitioners.

In 2012 the World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA65.21 on elimination of schistosomiasis, calling for increased investment in schistosomiasis control and support for countries to initiate elimination programs. This study aims to analyze prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma mansoni infection in children in Latin America and the Caribbean countries and territories (LAC), at the second administrative level or lower. A systematic review of schistosomiasis prevalence and intensity of infection was conducted by searching at PubMed, LILACS and EMBASE. Experts on the topic were informally consulted and institutional web pages were reviewed (PAHO/WHO, Ministries of Health). Only SCH infection among children was registered because it can be a 'proxi-indicator' of recent transmission by the time the study is conducted. One hundred thirty two full-text articles met the inclusion criteria and provided 1,242 prevalence and 199 intensity of infection data points. Most of them were from Brazil (69.7%). Only Brazil published studies after 2001, showing several 'hot spots' with high prevalence. Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname and Saint Lucia need to update the epidemiological status of schistosomiasis to re-design their national programs and target the elimination of Schistosoma mansoni transmission by 2020. In Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat and Puerto Rico schistosomiasis transmission may be interrupted. However the compilation of an elimination dossier and follow-up surveys, per WHO recommendations, are needed to verify that status. Hence, the burden of subtle SCH chronic infection may be still present and even high in countries that may have eliminated transmission. Heterogeneity in the methodologies used for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the schistosomiasis programs was found, making cross-national and chronological comparisons difficult. There is a need for updating the schistosomiasis status in the historically endemic countries and territories in LAC to address the required public health interventions for control and elimination programs or to verify the elimination of transmission of Schistosoma mansoni. Improved reporting and standardization of the monitoring and evaluation methodologies used are recommended, while using available WHO guidelines. Meeting a regional elimination goal will require additional and improved epidemiological data by age group and sex.

Comprehensive genomic studies have delineated key driver mutations linked to disease progression for most cancers. However, corresponding transcriptional changes remain largely elusive because of the bias associated with cross-study analysis. Here, we overcome these hurdles and generate a comprehensive prostate cancer transcriptome atlas that describes the roadmap to tumor progression in a qualitative and quantitative manner. Most cancers follow a uniform trajectory characterized by upregulation of polycomb-repressive-complex-2, G2-M checkpoints, and M2 macrophage polarization. Using patient-derived xenograft models, we functionally validate our observations and add single-cell resolution. Thereby, we show that tumor progression occurs through transcriptional adaption rather than a selection of pre-existing cancer cell clusters. Moreover, we determine at the single-cell level how inhibition of EZH2 - the top upregulated gene along the trajectory – reverts tumor progression and macrophage polarization. Finally, a user-friendly web-resource is provided enabling the investigation of dynamic transcriptional perturbations linked to disease progression. Transcriptional changes during prostate cancer progression are not yet fully understood. Here, the authors integrate a transcriptomics atlas of prostate cancer and validate it with preclinical models and single-cell RNA-seq, revealing the role of EZH2 and macrophage polarisation in tumour progression.

Background Children suffering from rheumatic disease are faced with multidimensional challenges that affect their quality of life and family dynamics. Symptom management and monitoring of the course of the disease over time are important to minimize disability and pain. Poor disease control and anticipation of the need for treatment changes may be prompted by specialist medical follow-up and regular nurse-led consultations with the patient and families, in which information and support is provided. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led telephone intervention or Telenursing (TN) compared to standard care (SC) on satisfaction and health outcomes of children with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and their parents. Methods A multicentered, randomized, longitudinal, crossover trial was conducted with pediatrics outpatients newly diagnosed with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups TN and SC for 12 months and crossed-over for the following 12 months. TN consisted of providing individualized affective support, health information and aid to decision making. Satisfaction (primary outcome) and health outcomes were assessed with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 and the Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report, respectively. A mixed effect model, including a group x time interaction, was performed for each outcome. Results Satisfaction was significantly higher when receiving TN (OR = 7.7, 95% CI: 1.8–33.6). Morning stiffness (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 0.97–7.15) and pain (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 0.97–7.15) were lower in the TN group. For both outcomes a carry-over effect was observed with a higher impact of TN during the 12 first months of the study. The other outcomes did not show any significant improvements between groups. Conclusion TN had a positive impact on satisfaction and on morning stiffness and pain of children with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and their families. This highlights the importance of support by specialist nurses in improving satisfaction and symptom management for children with inflammatory rheumatisms and their families. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT01511341 (December 1st, 2012).

Background: The incidence of infections associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and patient outcomes are not fully known. Aim: To provide a contemporary assessment of the risk of CIEDs infection and associated clinical outcomes. Methods: In Italy, 18 centres enrolled all consecutive patients undergoing a CIED procedure and entered a 12-months follow-up. CIED infections, as well as a composite clinical event of infection or all-cause death were recorded. Results: A total of 2675 patients (64.3% male, age 78 (70–84)) were enrolled. During follow up 28 (1.1%) CIED infections and 132 (5%) deaths, with 152 (5.7%) composite clinical events were observed. At a multivariate analysis, the type of procedure (revision/upgrading/reimplantation) (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.38–12.08) and diabetes (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.02–4.84) were found as main clinical factors associated to CIED infection. Both the PADIT score and the RI-AIAC Infection score were significantly associated with CIED infections, with the RI-AIAC infection score showing the strongest association (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.60–3.55 for each point), with a c-index = 0.64 (0.52–0.75), p = 0.015. Regarding the occurrence of composite clinical events, the Kolek score, the Shariff score and the RI-AIAC Event score all predicted the outcome, with an AUC for the RI-AIAC Event score equal to 0.67 (0.63−0.71) p < 0.001. Conclusions: In this Italian nationwide cohort of patients, while the incidence of CIED infections was substantially low, the rate of the composite clinical outcome of infection or all-cause death was quite high and associated with several clinical factors depicting a more impaired clinical status.

Without rescue drugs approved, holistic approach by daily hemodialysis, noninvasive ventilation, anti‐inflammatory medications, fluid assessment by bedside ultrasound, and anxiolytics improved outcomes of a maintenance hemodialysis patient affected by severe COVID‐19. Without rescue drugs approved, holistic approach by daily hemodialysis, noninvasive ventilation, anti‐inflammatory medications, fluid assessment by bedside ultrasound, and anxiolytics improved outcomes of a maintenance hemodialysis patient affected by severe COVID‐19.

Heavy school backpacks, or their incorrect transportation, represent a risk for musculo- skeletal disorders. According to the recommendations of the MIUR and the Ministry of Labor, Health and Agriculture, the weight of the backpack should not exceed 10-15% of body weight. Studies in literature have not shown conclusive data about the effect of the weight of backpack and the duration of its transport on the musculoskeletal system [1]. The objective of this case study is to verify the variation of spatiotemporal gait parameters and pelvis angles walking 10 meters, in a 13-year-old girl (body weight:50 kg, height:155 cm), carrying a school backpack. We performed a clinical and instrumental evaluation with 3 different weight percentages relative to body weight (T1:10%; T2:15%; T3:20%) using a wearable inertial sensor (G-sensor BTS Engi- neer) placed at L5 level. The T0 evaluation without backpack, showed a scapular and shoulder height-right deviation in the frontal plane. Adam test showed dorsal hump 0,4 cm. Different stature triangles (>right); counterclockwise pelvic rotation (10°). Spatiotemporal parameters were symmetrical: right and left propulsion index 8,5; 9; tilt 98; pelvic obliquity 79,2; pelvic rotation 62,8. Data “on both shoulders” modality transport at T1, T2, T3 were respectively: left propulsion index 9,4; 7,5;7,8; right propulsion index 7,6; 8; 9,2; tilt 98,6; 90,4; 93; pelvic obliquity 96,5; 98,6; 86,7; pelvic rotation 79,6; 98,6; 99. Data “on one shoulder” modality transport (T1, T2, T3) were: left propulsion index 9,4; 9,4; 6,1. Right propulsion index:10,1; 8,7; 6,5. Tilt: 68,7; 37,8; 79,2; Pelvic obliquity: 96,7; 97,3; 51,1; Pelvic rotation: 91,4; 59,7; 95,7. Data trolley modality at 20% of body weight showed left and right propulsion index: 12,5; tilt 81,2; pelvic obliquity 98,6; pelvic rotation 99,2. Data of right “one hand” at 10% of body weight were: left propul- sion index 9,8; right propulsion index 8,2; tilt 77,9; pelvic obliquity 75,4; pelvic rotation 57,7. Compared to T0, the best modality seems trolley mode. After that “on one shoulder” and “on both shoulders” show a progressive loss of pelvic movement at 15% of body weight. The worst modality is “one hand” in which pelvis seems fixed. In conclusion, a prolonged period of high weight transport and incorrect modality could produce or worsen postural abnormalities.