Interstitial fibrosis is the common endpoint of end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) leading to kidney failure. The clinical course of many renal diseases, and thereby of CKD, is highly variable. ...One of the major challenges in deciding which treatment approach is best suited for a patient but also in the development of new treatments is the lack of markers able to identify and stratify patients with stable versus progressive disease. At the moment renal biopsy is the only means of diagnosing renal interstitial fibrosis. Novel biomarkers should improve diagnosis of a disease, estimate its prognosis and assess the response to treatment, all in a non-invasive manner. Existing markers of CKD do not fully and specifically address these requirements and in particular do not specifically reflect renal fibrosis. The aim of this review is to give an insight of the involvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in kidney diseases and as a source of potential novel biomarkers of renal fibrosis. In particular the use of the protein fingerprint technology, that identifies neo-epitopes of ECM proteins generated by proteolytic cleavage by proteases or other post-translational modifications, might identify such novel biomarkers of renal fibrosis.
PurposeIn the last 15 years, online sales of second-hand products have grown substantially due to changes in the economy, increasing interest in sustainability and the new opportunities offered by ...the alternative markets. However, little is known about the antecedents of customer retention in this particular online market. To this effect, the aim of this research is to bring new insights about what retains shoppers and creates loyal behaviour in this market by presenting a loyalty model based on expectancy-value theory and building on Olsen's satisfaction-loyalty model.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the above-mentioned purpose, a survey comprised of 507 respondents who had purchased second-hand products via an online platform during 2020 was used to test the model.FindingsThe results validate both the satisfaction-loyalty model and the mediator role of the fulfilment of expectations between perceived quality and satisfaction. The results also indicate that customer fulfilment of expectations depends only on the perception of product quality. Perceived product quality was also the dimension that most influenced satisfaction, followed by perceived vendor quality. Last, the dimensions that contributed most to loyal behaviour were satisfaction with the vendor and with the website.Originality/valueThe originality of this research lies in the validation of the unique satisfaction-loyalty model for online second-hand purchases. The value of this research is that it adds knowledge about effective strategies for platform owners and sellers to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty in online second-hand markets.
In the current changing environment, organizations need to evolve from a profitable perspective to a more sustainable focus. To deal with this change, the implementation of specific quality models ...and principles might help. Thus, the present article aims to study whether sustainable management can be achieved in specific organizations (enterprises, associations, and government institutions) by identifying the EFQM principles. Moreover, it analyses which of these quality principles positively and directly impacts the performances studied (environmental, social, and economic). To achieve these objectives, Ordinal Logistic Regression (ORL) was performed using data corresponding to the sample compiled by the Càtedra Universitària de Responsabilitat Social (RSU) from University of Girona. The research results indicate that implementing specific quality principles all the dimensions improved; thus, the organization becomes more sustainable. The value of this research lies in its contribution to the sustainable management literature; adds knowledge to the ongoing debate about the possible influence of TQM principles on the specific dimensions of sustainable management and highlight the importance of having a clear strategy to obtain the highest sustainable performance.
In the last few decades, universities have engaged in the creation of university-affiliated venture capital (UVC) funds to solve the funding gap of new ventures that emerge from academic research. ...Little is known about their specific characteristics and typology in terms of their role, investment rationale and governance. This study undertakes an attempt to explore the diversity of UVC funds through the lens of an archetype approach. The analysis of 11 European UVC funds suggests that similarities and differences in such issues as governance system, industry focus and the stage of a venture development are the possible elements that define three distinct archetypes of UVC funding. The study contributes to academic research by proposing a categorisation of UVC funds, and demonstrating their uniqueness in terms of institutional hybridity, and dual organisational schemes and structures. It also suggests that UVC archetypes are not isolated and tend to borrow elements from each other, which contributes to creating a more fluid and flexible entrepreneurial university ecosystem.
Companies aiming to increase their firm performance implement specific practices known as High Performance Work Systems (HPWS). Uncertainty remains, however, about the structures included in them. ...The main purpose of this paper is to analysis the difference between implementing specific HPWP separately or as a HPWS, and their effect on performance aspects, using the Spanish subsample of the European Manufacturing Survey. The results show that these firms’ implementation rates are relatively low compared to the European average, despite over 50% of respondents implementing some of the practices studied (individually or as a bundle).
The purpose of this paper is to analyse if and to what extent the relation between implementing new technologies and organizational practices has a direct moderating effect on operational ...performance. Regression analysis technique was performed using data corresponding to the Spanish sub-sample of the European Manufacturing Survey (EMS) 2015 edition containing the responses of 101 manufacturing firms. The results present a positive relation between implementing organizational practices and operational performance. Implementing technologies individually has a negative effect on firm performance, but when this is mediated with organizational practices the effect becomes positive. The present study also brings implications in the direction of separate and joint effect of the impact of digitalisation and organisational practices on operational performance. The value of this research lies in its contributing novel, original data about the importance of applying flexibility enhancing technologies and organizational concepts.
Purpose
Firms innovate and sophisticate their offerings to remain competitive. This sophistication often finds opportunities in servitization. Given that many customers expect the service offering ...from manufacturing companies, it is crucial to research what capabilities drive service offerings and their impact on performance. The purpose of this paper is to test the capabilities–service–performance chain.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual model is proposed and the research hypothesis is tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) performed on a data set corresponding to 205 Spanish and Croatian manufacturing firms.
Findings
Using SEM, this research analyses the causal model between manufacturing, organizational and digital capabilities on base, intermediate and advanced services, and their impact on both service and financial performance.
Research limitations/implications
This study has some limitations: the advanced service construct was mostly developed on case-based research. Some constructs have low convergent validity and reliability. The relative smallness of the data set used and its two-country provenance could raise issues about the international nature and generalizability of the findings.
Practical implications
Digital capabilities are important for the provision of all three groups of services in terms of using digital devices in data acquisition, helping to make the manufacturing company more agile.
Originality/value
The present study also contributes to the conceptual framework of servitization by providing a new and more up-to-date definition of capabilities and services, also considering digital capabilities, which are less explored. It also contributes to being the first to explore the entire manufacturing sector nomenclature statistique des activités and économiques dans la Communauté éuropéenne (NACE) 10–31.
Purpose:The aim of the study is to assess the mediating role of employee engagement and organisational citizenship behaviour on the relationship between employee empowerment (structural, ...psychological) and organisational performance in non-commercial banks in Ghana.Design/Methodology/ approach: SEM (EQS) was used to test the proposed hypothesis based on 304 employees selected from eight non-commercial banks in the Bono Region, Ghana.Findings: Organisational citizenship behaviour was a significant mediator on the relationship between employee empowerment (structural and psychological) and organisational performance. However, employee engagement showed no positive effect on the relationship between employee empowerment (structural, psychological) and organisational performance.Research limitations/Implications: This study assists managers and leaders to understand how employee empowerment influences organisational performance in the current business environment. The study was conducted in a particular area; Ghana, making it difficult to generalise the results across other countries. Practical implication: The study provides practical knowledge to managers and leaders on the role of organisational citizenship behaviour and employee engagement on the relationship between employee empowerment (structural, psychological) and organisational performance that facilitates the decision-making process.Originality and value: The originality of the present study relays on the interaction among structural and psychological empowerment, organisational citizenship behaviour, employee engagement and organisational performance in a developing economy where this research has not been done before.
T-cells are known to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). T-cell activation is controlled by a ...range of intracellular signaling pathways regulating cellular responses such as proliferation, cytokine production, integrin expression, and migration. These processes are crucial for the T-cells' ability to mediate inflammatory processes in autoimmune diseases such as MS. RhoA is a ubiquitously expressed small GTPase well described as a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton. It is essential for embryonic development and together with other Rho GTPases controls various cellular processes such as cell development, shaping, proliferation, and locomotion. However, the specific contribution of RhoA to these processes in T-cells in general, and in autoreactive T-cells in particular, has not been fully characterized. Using mice with a T-cell specific deletion of the RhoA gene (RhoA
LckCre
), we investigated the role of RhoA in T-cell development, functionality, and encephalitogenic potential in EAE. We show that lack of RhoA specifically in T-cells results in reduced numbers of mature T-cells in thymus and spleen but normal counts in peripheral blood. EAE induction in RhoA
LckCre
mice results in significantly reduced disease incidence and severity, which coincides with a reduced CNS T-cell infiltration. Besides presenting reduced migratory capacity, both naïve and autoreactive effector T-cells from RhoA
LckCre
mice show decreased viability, proliferative capacity, and an activation profile associated with reduced production of Th1 pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our study demonstrates that RhoA is a central regulator of several archetypical T-cell responses, and furthermore points toward RhoA as a new potential therapeutic target in diseases such as MS, where T-cell activity plays a central role.
Purpose
Over recent years, firms have been implementing novel human resource practices. The purpose of this paper is to analyse four specific training practices to determine if and up to what extent ...the adoption of such practices affects innovation and financial performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A Spanish sub-sample of the European Manufacturing Survey is used to contain the responses of 162 manufacturing firms.
Findings
The positive relation between T&D practices and innovative performance was partially accepted, as new-to-the-firm products and new services had a significant relation with these practices. Conversely, the hypothesis stating that there is a positive relation between a new-to-the-market product and the aforementioned T&D practices was rejected. Furthermore, the positive relation between these and financial performance was partially accepted.
Research limitations/implications
This research presents the following limitation: the small number of responses restricts the general reliability of the findings. The inclusion of other countries’ data using the same questionnaire would further enrich the analysis.
Practical implications
First, general training and development is not enough; thus, the present study evidences the positive results of specific training practices such as training and development for creativity and innovation (TD4CI) on firm performances. Second, it also reveals a relation between training practices and innovation by differentiating among the three dimensions of innovation (new product to the firm, new product to the market and new services). Moreover, the present research highlights the benefits of implementing these types of practices, not only for innovation performance but also for financial performance. This paper also suggests that not all the training practices have the same impact on firm performance. Consequently, the company should be clear about their main aim to obtain the highest performance. The third contribution is based on the Spanish context wherein training is not considered as an important organisational function. Thus, this study provides positive results showing that TD4CI might enhance firm performance. Last, the degree of detail of the different training practices analysed, the recent nature of the data related to their implementation and the link between implementation and organisation performance are also part of the contribution of the present analyses.
Originality/value
This research offers recent and relevant data about implementing novel T&D practices and their relation with firm performance.
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