Prior Employment Research Articles

Ministerial Advisers in Slovakia: Profiles and Career Paths, 2010 – 2020

Abstract This study examines the transparency of the regulatory framework under which ministerial advisors exist within the politicized context of a Central and Eastern European perspective. We compare profiles and career paths of ministerial advisers under five different types of coalition governments and examine if variance across government types can be explained by type of party – established vs. new parties. Empirically, the article draws on a cohort of 162 ministerial advisers in Slovakia across five governments from 2010 to 2020. We arrive at multiple findings. Firstly, we suggest the limitation in the availability and reporting of data is an important finding as it highlights accountability gaps and lack of government transparency irrespective of the party in power. Secondly, within the low regulatory environment, ministers appoint multiple types of staff including both formal “visible” ministerial advisers and “invisible” ministerial agents that, if one could accurately measure, would likely demonstrate that the ministerial advisory system is more inflated than we currently present. The ad-hoc nature of the advisory system also creates fluctuations in the size of the ministerial adviser cohort across governments and across different ministries. This would also help to explain the next finding, which is that, contrary to the experience in many countries, the overall size of the advisor population does not grow, probably because executive politicians have other avenues of appointing advisory agents. Fourthly, the advisers have a fairly equal distribution of prior employment from both the public sector and the private sector, but we do see some evidence of more established political parties preferring to recruit from the public sector and newer parties preferring to recruit from the private sector. Lastly, the appointment process appears to be highly controlled by individual ministers, suggesting personal ties are essential (link between ministerial and advisor education) and party-political criteria are a low consideration. The research is conducted using a biographical approach in which freedom of information requests and open source data is scrapped and then triangulated via a dozen interviews with current and former advisers. It argues that regulation is weak, lacking public scrutiny, which provides loopholes for employing ministerial agents in informal ways that could create, at worst, the opportunity for corrupt behavior, or at least, lead to poor practices in good governance. Therefore, future research should focus on both the formal “visible” and informal “invisible” ways that ministers recruit their advisory agents, how their agents function, and whether existing regulatory measures create a transparent and accountable governance framework.

Sales-Orientation and Customer-Orientation on Performance of Direct Sales Executives of Fidelity Bank, Ghana

This study focused on sales-orientation and customer-orientation of Direct Sales Executives (DSEs) on sales performance at Fidelity Bank, Ghana; which was a cross-sectional study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, cross tabulation and chi-squared test of independence. The result showed a strong association between prior sales experience and employment status. DSEs customer orientation was influenced by customer information while the sales orientation was on convincing customers to buy. The customer-oriented culture was based on reliable market and customer information. DSEs sales performance were influenced by complete knowledge of the bank’s products and services, listening skills and empathy. The study suggests that Fidelity Bank must sensitize its DSEs on the bank philosophy on its customer orientation culture. This study appears to be the first of its kind to explore the connection between sales orientation and customer orientation on performance in the Banking Industry in Ghana, thus providing empirical evidence for academics and practitioners.

Efficacy and Safety of Sabatolimab (MBG453) in Combination with Hypomethylating Agents (HMAs) in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (HR-MDS): Updated Results from a Phase 1b Study

Efficacy and Safety of Sabatolimab (MBG453) in Combination with Hypomethylating Agents (HMAs) in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (HR-MDS): Updated Results from a Phase 1b Study

A Phase I Study of the IDH2 Inhibitor Enasidenib As Maintenance Therapy for IDH2-Mutant Myeloid Neoplasms Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

A Phase I Study of the IDH2 Inhibitor Enasidenib As Maintenance Therapy for IDH2-Mutant Myeloid Neoplasms Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Sabatolimab (MBG453) Dose Selection and Dose-Response Analysis in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Population Pharmacokinetics (PK) Modeling and Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy/Safety By Dose

Sabatolimab (MBG453) Dose Selection and Dose-Response Analysis in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Population Pharmacokinetics (PK) Modeling and Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy/Safety By Dose

A Phase 1 Trial of Regorafenib in Advanced Myeloid Malignancies

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is increasingly known to play a role in pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies, including myeloid neoplasms. Regorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor that targets angiogenic, stromal and oncogenic kinases including VEGF- 1, 2, 3, TIE-2, PDGFR-β,c-KIT, rRET, RAF-1, FGFR-1, BRAF and p38 MAP kinase. As a result of regorafenib's broad inhibition of kinases and its effects on angiogenesis, this drug has the potential to overcome the limitations of more selective kinase inhibitors and may be associated with efficacy in various myeloid neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). METHODS: We conducted a single-center, open-label, dose-escalation and expansion phase I trial in patients with relapsed/refractory AML, MPN, or MDS to assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of regorafenib and identify the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). A 3+3 dose escalation design was used with 2 planned dose levels (120 mg or 160 mg daily in 28-day cycles), as well as 1 de-escalation level (80 mg daily). An additional 10 patients were treated on an expansion cohort. RESULTS: Six patients were enrolled during the dose escalation phase (3 at 120 mg daily followed by 3 at 160 mg daily), with no DLTs, as defined by a Grade >3 toxicity occurring within the first 28 days after initiation of treatment, and unrelated to the myeloid neoplasm. Therefore, the RP2D of regorafenib was identified as 160 mg daily. Ten additional patients were enrolled on this dose during the expansion phase. The median age was 74 (range 36-84), and 13 (81%) patients were male. Diagnoses included 7 AML, 6 MDS, and 3 MPN patients (Table 1). Dose modifications and delays occurred in 5 and 4 patients, respectively. The median duration of treatment was 56 days or 2.5 cycles (range: 5-410 days, 1-15 cycles). Of the 16 patients, the best overall disease response as measured by IWG criteria included partial remission (in 1 patient with AML), stable disease in 12 (2 de novo AML, 2 secondary AML, 3 MPN, and 5 MDS) patients, and progressive disease in 3 (1 MDS and 2 secondary AML) patients. An initial improvement in absolute neutrophil count and/or hemoglobin was observed in the 6 MDS patients, although this did not meet criteria for hematologic improvement by IWG criteria. All patients have discontinued off treatment. The most frequent Grade 3-4 adverse effects (AEs) included liver function test abnormalities (5.1%), fatigue (4.3%), thrombocytopenia (3.4%), and neutropenia (3.4%) (Table 2). The majority of AEs were grades 1-2. CONCLUSIONS: Regorafenib demonstrates an acceptable safety profile in relapsed/refractory myeloid malignancy patients, a population where few treatment options exist. The majority of patients achieved stable disease. Modest improvements in cell counts were observed in MDS patients, and we are performing correlative studies to clarify regorafenib's mechanism of action and identify populations which may benefit from treatment. Disclosures Amrein: AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Brunner:Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Forty-Seven Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fathi:Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Trillium: Consultancy; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Amphivena: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy; Blueprint: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Trovagene: Consultancy; Forty Seven: Consultancy; Newlink Genetics: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Narayan:Sanofi-Genzyme: Other: Current Spouse employment ; Takeda: Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months; Genentech: Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months and prior spouse equity divested within past 24 months. Neuberg:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Madrigak Pharmaceuticals: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Celgene: Research Funding. Chen:Takeda: Consultancy; Magenta: Consultancy; Equillium: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; AbbVie: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy; Actinium: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; Kiadis: Consultancy. Hobbs:Merck: Research Funding; Constellation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Bayer: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Regorafenib was used to assess safety and preliminary efficacy in advanced myeloid malignancies

Variation in organizational practices: are startups really different?

The idea that new ventures are simple mimetic reflections of the organizational practices of existing organizations contradicts the recognized importance of organizational diversity for innovation. There is an inherent contradiction in the literature between the persistence implied by the inheritance of practices from prior employment, and the experimentation prevalent in the organizational practices contributed by new organizations. This paper first accounts for mechanisms that may drive heritage of practices from parent organizations to their spawns. It then sets out to explore mechanisms that may cause a lower degree of diversity in applied practices among established organizations, and lastly, the conditions that may cause a greater degree of diversity among practice combinations of startups. The reviewed mechanisms suggest that the distribution of organizational and strategic practices among established organizations and startups to be somewhat dissimilar, and that startups significantly contribute to the variation in organizational practices. Using a sample set of Danish organizations, we find evidence of greater diversity in organizational practices among newer organizations, while established organizations are more likely to converge on a set of similar practices. Our results further indicate that strategic disagreements between the entrepreneur and their prior employer are associated with greater differences in strategic orientation. A distinction between strategic and HRM practices provides additional insights.

Prison sentencing increases the risk of unemployment among illegal heroin users in Taiwan

BackgroundPrevious studies have rarely explored the effect of type of sentencing on employment status among illegal heroin users, therefore, we aims to examine the association of the sentencing types and employment outcomes among illegal heroin users in Taiwan.MethodsParticipants with illegal heroin use were identified through the national prison register system and deferred prosecution system: 2406 with deferred prosecutions, 4741 with observation and rehabilitation, 15 compulsory rehabilitation and 1958 sentenced to prison in calendar 2011. Logistic regression models were built to estimate the effect of sentencing type on unemployment status at 2 years after release. Stratification analysis was conducted to determine the effect of sentencing type based on the offender’s employment status before sentencing.ResultsIllegal heroin users receiving a prison sentence were more than twice as likely to be unemployed 2 years later than those receiving deferred prosecution. The unemployment rate was also higher for those with observation and rehabilitation and compulsory rehabilitation than deferred prosecution in the 2 years following sentencing. Males, older users, without a job before sentencing, divorced or widowed and higher prior drug use criminal records were also higher risk of unemployment. Subgroup analysis by prior employment status revealed that being sentenced to prison, observation and rehabilitation and compulsory rehabilitation affected the subsequent employment status only for those heroin users with a job before sentencing. The strength of associations showed dose-dependent relationship between different sentencing types (sentenced to prison> compulsory rehabilitation> observation and rehabilitation) and employment outcomes.ConclusionsIllegal heroin users who receive a prison sentence have a much higher risk of unemployment than those who receive deferred prosecution after controlling potential confounders, especially those who had a job before sentencing. The implication is the stronger freedom of punishment, the higher risk of unemployment outcomes. Our study support that illegal heroin user is legally regarded as a patient before being regarded as a criminal, so giving priority to quit addition rather than imprisonment.

Postcritical illness vulnerability.

Critical illness survivorship is associated with new and worsening physical, cognitive, and emotional status. Survivors are vulnerable to further health set-backs, most commonly because of infection and exacerbation of chronic medical conditions. Awareness of survivors' challenges are important given the anticipated rise in critical illness survivors because of SARS-CoV-2 viral sepsis. Studies continue to document challenges of critical illness survivorship. Beyond the cognitive, physical, and mental health sequelae encompassed by postintensive case syndrome, patients commonly experience persistent immunosuppression, re-hospitalization, inability to resume prior employment, and reduced quality of life. Although recommended practices for enhancing recovery from sepsis are associated with better outcomes, only a minority of patients receive all recommended practices. ICU follow-up programs or peer support groups remain important interventions to learn about and address the multifaceted challenges of critical illness survivorship, but there is little evidence of benefit to date. Survivors of sepsis and critical illness commonly experience impaired health status, reduced quality of life, and inability to return to prior employment. Although the challenges of critical illness survivorship are increasingly well documented, there are relatively few studies on enhancing recovery. Future studies must focus on identifying best practices for optimizing recovery and strategies to promote their implementation.

Organizational Learning of Cultures: The Spawned Culture Effects in the U.S. IT Industry

Scholars often compare new ventures to babies, but most founders are experienced and enculturated even if their startups are young—a paradox of new ventures. New ventures start in a cultural void, but their founders are often already encultured to the parent organization’s cultural codes. This study investigates whether founders fill the cultural void with the cultural repertoires of their parent organization. Founders enculturated in prior employment are more likely to adopt familiar cultural repertoires, resulting in a spawned startup becoming culturally similar to its parent. This spawned culture effect is stronger when founders are more socialized (have longer tenure), when the parent culture is more legitimate (less atypical) and coherent (has high cultural congruency). Finally, this study explores which cultural repertoires predict better performance and whether those are more likely to be inherited by spawned startups. If less likely to be inherited, this implies that organizational culture can be a source of a firm’s competitive advantage. These ideas are examined in a longitudinal analysis of 3,570 startups in the U.S. IT industry from 2008 through 2019. Implications for the study of organizational learning, organizational culture, and entrepreneurship are discussed.

Factors associated with the employment status of breast cancer survivors: a single center cross-sectional study

Background: Breast cancer survivors constitute a big proportion among all female cancer survivors and the employment status of breast cancer survivors is an important public health issue. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of some demographic properties and the treatment modalities used for breast cancer on patients’ employment status.Methods: This is a single-center cross-sectional study. We assessed 2550 patients with breast cancer for eligibility. Face to face interview was performed with 688 breast cancer survivors. A total of 249 patients who had an income-generating job before diagnosis and completed at least 1 year after surgery and/or adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy for breast cancer were included in the study. The job loss rate of the patients was evaluated according to their demographics, clinical features and treatment methods applied for breast cancer. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used in order to show these associations.Results: The job loss rate of the whole study group was 49.4% (n=123). Adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with continued employment, however, neither adjuvant chemotherapy nor hormone therapy had no association. Higher level of education, higher household income, being a public officer, and having a breast-conserving surgery was associated with continued employment in breast cancer survivors.Conclusions: The prior employment as a private sector employee should not be a determinant for losing job. Therefore, improvements or modifications should be made for this factor in order to keep breast cancer survivors in working life.

Frequent Job Changes can Signal Poor Work Attitude and Reduce Employability

AbstractWe study whether employment history provides information about a worker’s “work attitude”, that is, the tendency to act cooperatively and reliably in the workplace. We conjecture that, holding all else equal, frequent job changes can indicate poor work attitude and that this information is transmitted through employment histories. We find support for this hypothesis across three studies that employ complementary laboratory, field, and survey experiments, as well as in labor market panel data. First, a tightly controlled laboratory labor market experiment demonstrates that prior employment information allows employers to screen for reliable and cooperative workers and that these workers obtain better employment outcomes. Secondly, we conduct a field experiment that varies the frequency of job changes in applicants’ resumes and find that those with fewer job changes receive substantially more callbacks from prospective employers. Thirdly, a survey experiment with human resources professionals confirms that the resume manipulations in the field study create different perceptions of work attitude and that these largely account for the callback differences. Finally, we find evidence consistent with our hypothesized relationships in empirical labor market data. Our work highlights the potential importance of job history as a signal of work attitude in labor markets, and points to a potential cost of frequent job changes.

Of Fogs and Bogs: Does Litigation Risk Make Financial Reports Less Readable?

We hypothesize that firms’ attempts to reduce litigation risk can worsen financial report readability: as firms strive for disclosure accuracy and thoroughness, reports increase in size and complexity. Readability deteriorates with management exposure to securities class actions at the current firm or at another firm connected through, for instance, a board interlock or prior employment. Using an SEC rule change as an exogenous shock, we show adjustments to readability can moderate firm litigation risk. Furthermore, firms respond to exogenous shifts in the information environment, e.g., the impact of brokerage mergers on analyst following, by adjusting readability as circumstances warrant.

Prematriculation Healthcare Employment Predicts Success in Clerkship Environment.

The average age of the matriculating medical student is increasing as more students take time between college and medical school. Increasing numbers of students are employed in the healthcare field during these gap years. Studies have explored the relationship between matriculation age and medical school performance with conflicting findings. The impact of prior healthcare employment (PHE) on future clerkship performance has not been explored. We hypothesize that medical school performance metrics would be higher for students with PHE than their peers. A retrospective review of four medical school classes at a single institution was conducted. Each student's admission application was examined to identify students with at least 6months paid employment in a clinical healthcare position (i.e., pre-matriculation direct patient interaction, PHE cohort). Multiple medical school performance metrics were obtained for each student. Of the 434 included students, 49 were PHE (11.29%) and percent of students with PHE trended up over time. MCAT scores, USMLE Step 1, and Step 2 CK scores were not different for PHE and non-PHE medical students. PHE students had significantly higher NBME subject exams, clinical clerkship scores, and cumulative year 3 performance. Students who matriculate to medical school with prior healthcare employment outperform their peers in the clinical environment, possibly due to acquisition of knowledge or skills from their prior employment. These findings support students seeking paid healthcare experiences prior to medical school and have implications for pre-medicine advising, admissions, and medical school curricula.

Solving Dementia Mysteries

Solving Dementia Mysteries

116P - Longitudinal changes in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation levels identify early non-responders to treatment in advanced solid tumours

BackgroundAberrant methylation changes are present in nearly all cancers. The goal of this study was to determine if changes in cfDNA methylation patterns during the course of treatment could predict non-response prior to routine imaging. MethodsWe prospectively collected clinical data and blood from 52 patients with advanced malignancies (25 lung, 11 breast, 16 other). Blood was drawn prior to start of a new treatment, after first cycle (median 23 days), and/or second cycle (median 43 days). We performed whole-genome (WG) bisulfite sequencing (median depth 18X) on plasma cfDNA to determine methylation levels. By tracking how methylation levels change across 19,710 regions throughout the genome, from baseline to subsequent timepoints, we classified patients as either progressors or non-progressors. Treatment response at first follow-up imaging (FUI) was determined by RECIST 1.1 or clinical assessment. Study endpoints were agreement with first FUI and progression-free survival (PFS) by cfDNA classification. ResultsThe cohort consisted of 58% females and the median age was 71. Main treatment regimens were immuno- (22), chemo- (20), targeted- (7) or endocrine therapy (3). PFS was significantly shorter (log-rank p=0.003) in patients classified as progressors by cfDNA (N=10; median: 90 days) compared to non-progressors (42, median: 263 days). 6 out of 10 patients classified as cfDNA progressors were later confirmed to progress at first follow-up evaluation (60% positive predictive value). The cfDNA assay for these 6 patients preceded imaging and clinical evaluation by a median of 40 days. For the remaining patients, 39 of 42 did not progress (93% negative predictive value). Thus, sensitivity for the assay for identifying progression was 67% and specificity was 91%. ConclusionsOur results show that WG cfDNA methylation change is a novel cancer signature with potential to identify patients whose treatment regimen is ineffective prior to imaging, and allow switching to a more effective alternative at an earlier time. Moreover, integrating methylation-based changes with information about genomic alterations may increase performance of cfDNA-based response monitoring. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe authors. FundingLexent Bio, Inc. DisclosureA.A. Davis: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Menarini Silicon Biosystems. W. Iams: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses, Clinical Trials Visit: EMD Serono. R. Srivas: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. N. Lambert: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Sequenom. A. Robertson: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Full / Part-time employment, Prior employment: Color Genomics; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, 2015-2018: Counsyl. N. Peterman: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. A. Shah: Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Myriad. T. Wilson: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, Prior employment: Illumina; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Counsyl; Licensing / Royalties: Gen-Probe. J. Close: Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. P. George: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Hologic. H. Wood: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. B. Wong: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. A. Tezcan: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. J.C. Spinosa: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Full / Part-time employment: San Diego Blood Bank; Advisory / Consultancy: Gestalt Diagnostics; Advisory / Consultancy: SonicHealthUSA. H. Tezcan: Leadership role, Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, 2015-2018: Counsyl. Y.K. Chae: Advisory / Consultancy: Foundation Medicine; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Biodesix; Advisory / Consultancy: Counsyl; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Guardant Health; Advisory / Consultancy: Takeda; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Genentech; Advisory / Consultancy: ImmuneOncia; Advisory / Consultancy: Hanmi; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Merck; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Eli Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): Abbvie; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Research grant / Funding (institution): Lexent Bio; Research grant / Funding (institution): Freenome. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

114P - Dynamic changes in whole-genome cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to identify disease progression prior to imaging in advanced solid tumours

BackgroundLiquid biopsies have potential clinical utility as dynamic biomarkers for treatment response. We analyzed serial changes in whole-genome (WG) cfDNA to identify patients with disease progression prior to routine imaging. MethodsWe prospectively collected clinical data and blood from 93 advanced cancer patients (40 lung, 25 breast, 28 other). Blood was collected prior to initiation of a new treatment and at one or two additional timepoints (median 21 and 42 days). We isolated plasma cfDNA and prepared sequencing libraries for each patient’s series for either WG sequencing or WG bisulfite sequencing. We quantified changes in the fraction of tumor-derived cfDNA over the initial course of treatment to predict progression vs. no progression. Treatment response at first follow-up imaging (FUI) was determined by RECIST 1.1 and clinical assessment. Study endpoints were agreement with FUI and progression-free survival (PFS) by cfDNA prediction. ResultsPatients were treated with chemo- (34), immuno- (33), targeted- (16), or endocrine therapy (10). Patients with predicted progression by cfDNA (16), indicated by an increase in tumor fraction in either post-treatment blood sample, had shorter PFS (median 64 days) compared to patients without an increase (77; median 263 days), with a hazard ratio of 8.0 (95% confidence interval 4.1-15.6, log-rank P=8x10-13). For cases where progression was correctly predicted using cfDNA (14), blood collection preceded imaging by a median of 40 days. Positive predictive value was 88% for disease progression and negative predictive value was 84%. Sensitivity for the assay was 54% and specificity was 97%. These findings were consistent in the subset of patients on immunotherapy (sensitivity 71%, specificity 100%, log-rank P=5x10-12). ConclusionsOur results show the ability to detect early disease progression with high specificity using liquid biopsy prior to first imaging. These findings were consistent across a variety of tumor histologies and types of treatment. This technology may enable early switching from ineffective therapy to a potentially effective alternative, increasing the value proposition of all delivered treatment. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe authors. FundingLexent Bio, Inc. DisclosureA.A. Davis: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Menarini Silicon Biosystems. W. Iams: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses, Clinical Trial Visit: EMD Serono. N. Peterman: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. A. Robertson: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Full / Part-time employment, 2016-2017: Color Genomics; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, 2015-2018: Counsyl. A. Shah: Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Myriad. R. Srivas: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. N. Lambert: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Sequenom. T. Wilson: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment, Prior employment: Illumina; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Counsyl. P. George: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Hologic. B. Wong: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. J. Close: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. H. Wood: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. A. Tezcan: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc. J.C. Spinosa: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Full / Part-time employment: San Diego Blood Bank; Advisory / Consultancy: Gestalt Diagnostics; Advisory / Consultancy: SonicHealthUS. H. Tezcan: Leadership role, Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Lexent Bio, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, 2015-2018: Counsyl. Y.K. Chae: Advisory / Consultancy: Foundation Medicine; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Biodesix; Advisory / Consultancy: Counsyl; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Guardant Health; Advisory / Consultancy: Takeda; Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Genentech; Advisory / Consultancy: ImmuneOncia; Advisory / Consultancy: Hamni; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Merck; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Eli Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): Abbvie; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Research grant / Funding (institution): Lexent Bio, Inc.; Research grant / Funding (institution): Freenome. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

NLRB Statutory Interpretation and Chevron Deference in the Appellate Courts

What statutory methods does an appellate court use in reviewing decisions of an administrative agency? In doing this review, are appellate judges more likely to cite to the text or legislative history when they expressly cite the Chevron two-step process versus if they apply a different deference regime? And what role does the opinion author’s race, age, gender, and prior employment at a federal agency or Congress, among other demographic attributes, play in both choice of statutory method and deference regime? This Article explores the answers to these questions using an original dataset of all 199 statutory interpretation cases culled from more than 2,500 cases decided in appellate courts reviewing National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) decisions from 1994 through 2018. This analysis concludes that although there are clear partisan trends in which statutory methods Democrat-majority or Republican-majority panels favor, for the most part usage does not differ statistically. Rather, courts regardless of majority party on the court, commonly use text, language canons, substantive canons, legislative history, precedent, policy, and practical considerations to achieve certain aims, such as favoring a particular method when reviewing conservative Board decisions, or when overruling such decisions, or to advance an interpretation that is ideologically consistent with that of the majority. Democrat-majority and Republican-panel differ in their propensity to rule in a pro-employee direction and they are using whatever statutory method is best suited to achieve the end goal, whether it be textual or purposive in nature. The data also reveals that courts specifically citing and using the Chevron two-step process are more cognizant of citing and using the text, language canons, and substantive canons in the writing of the opinion than when they do not specifically cite Chevron, thus suggesting that the choice of the Chevron framework itself may play a role in influencing how judges choose statutory methods. By contrast, those who decline to apply Chevron deference or a similar “reasonableness” standard are more likely to cite legislative history and precedent, perhaps viewing these methods as a substitute to give the opinion greater legitimacy when courts decline to apply Chevron. Further, some interesting bivariate relationships exist between choice of statutory method or deference regime and opinion-author demographic features. White authors sitting with at least one minority colleague are less likely to apply Chevron in overruling liberal Board decisions while judge-authors with congressional experience cite substantive canons more overall. Other insights based on party, race, gender, and prior educational and employment background are discussed in the Article. Although the study is of a single agency — and one of the most politically charged ones at that — it offers fresh insight into how empirical analysis can be used to look beyond the black box of statutory interpretation by federal courts to see what shapes judicial opinions. The Article’s findings also underscore the need for more research on the way that diversity influences judicial decision making on a collegial court.

Predictive factors of quality of life in acquired brain injury

Background/ObjectiveThe sequelae and the disability and dependence that follow an acquired brain injury (ABI) may result in a significant reduction in the quality of life (QoL) of those affected. The objective was to assess the QoL of a sample of Spanish patients with an ABI and analyze the influence of certain sociodemographic and injury-related variables on their QoL. Method: The sample comprised 421 adults (60% male; Mage = 53.12; SD = 14.87). Professionals and relatives assessed the patients’ QoL through the CAVIDACE scale, an ABI-specific tool based on the eight-domain QoL model. Results: Univariate analyses showed statistically significant differences in the QoL scores in several sociodemographic (age, civil status, education level, prior employment status, type of home, level of supports, loss of legal capacity, recognized dependence, and degree of dependence) and injury-related (time since the injury, location of the injury, and presence of post-traumatic amnesia) variables. The multiple linear regression showed that loss of legal capacity, time since the injury, prior employment status, location of the injury, and degree of dependence were significant QoL predictors. Conclusions: These findings provide knowledge for the development of programs aimed at reducing the negative impact of ABI on QoL.

The tortoise, the hare, and the hybrid: effects of prior employment on the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem

Abstract Prior employment imprints nascent entrepreneurs with logics for organizing startups. Within a regional ecosystem, entrepreneurs with different employment backgrounds pursue alternative entrepreneurial pathways, each generating distinct, though complementary, regional impacts. By analyzing diverse pre-entrepreneurial employment experiences, no one pathway leads to superior firm performance; prior industry experience generates strong early performance that tapers off, while prior academic experience engenders slow, steady, long-lasting growth. Our approach is well-suited for theorizing ecosystem development and generating policy recommendations in support of ecosystem diversity.