Role Of Funding Source Research Articles

Benefits of foreign direct investment subsidies: The role of funding sources

AbstractUsing a two‐country model with heterogeneous firms, we show that the optimal level and welfare gains of foreign direct investment (FDI) subsidies critically depend on how they are funded. In a setting that resembles tax distortions in emerging markets, we compare the effects of distortionary taxes that are imposed to fund FDI subsidies and examine their cross‐country spillovers. We find that the optimal level of FDI subsidies and the associated welfare gains are much lower than those for non‐distortionary taxes. FDI subsidies funded by distortionary taxes are also found to be beggar thy neighbour, although they generate positive cross‐country spillovers if funded by non‐distortionary taxes.

Analysis of the accuracy and completeness of cardiovascular health information on alcohol industry-funded websites.

The Alcohol Industry (AI), and the Social Aspects/Public Relations Organisations (SAPRO) it funds, has been shown to mis-represent the risk of alcohol with respect to cancer and pregnancy. It is theorized that the AI would position alcohol as 'heart healthy' to further undermine public perceptions of risks from drinking. A comparative analysis (including content, thematic and context analyses) of cardiovascular health information published on the websites of AI-funded (n = 18, such as 'Drinkaware' and the 'Distilled Spirits Council of the US') and non-AI-funded (n = 18, such as 'NHS.uk') organizations based in multiple high-income jurisdictions. Websites of non-industry-funded health organizations were more likely than AI/SAPRO websites to label alcohol as a risk factor for a range of important cardiovascular diseases (such as myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure, hypertension and stroke). Conversely, AI/SAPRO websites were more likely to suggest alcohol was protective in the development of some heart conditions. AI/SAPRO websites frequently referenced the J-shaped curve as proof of benefit from moderate alcohol consumption; suggested a balance between the benefits and harms from drinking; positioned alcohol as consistent with a 'healthy lifestyle'; and framed drinking as a social norm. AI-funded health organizations mis-represent the evidence on cardiovascular effects of moderate alcohol consumption. Healthcare professionals should appreciate the role of funding source in biasing content, and exercise caution when directing patients to content funded by the AI. Tighter regulation of messaging that AI/SAPRO's provide to the public is required, to avoid the dissemination of harmful misinformation.

Benefits of FDI Subsidies: The Role of Funding Sources

Using a two-country model with heterogeneous firms, we show that the optimal level and welfare gains of foreign direct investment (FDI) subsidies critically depend on how they are funded. In a setting that resembles common tax distortions in emerging markets, we compare the effects of distortionary taxes that are imposed to fund FDI subsidies and examine their cross-country spillovers. Our model predicts that the optimal level of FDI subsidies and the associated welfare gains are much lower than those for non-distortionary taxes. FDI subsidies funded by distortionary taxes are also found to be beggar-thy-neighbor, although they generate positive cross-country welfare spillovers if funded by non-distortionary labor income taxes.

The Kaleidoscope of Citizen ScienceCommentary.

The narratives in this issue suggest six themes that merit further exploration: (1) the complexity of citizen science as a concept; (2) the potential to incorporate insights from the literature on team science; (3) the role of power and privilege in citizen science; (4) tensions over standardization, regulation, and quality control; (5) the nature and importance of local knowledge; and (6) the role of funding sources in citizen science initiatives. Taken together, these narratives and themes provide an image of citizen science that is like a kaleidoscope. They portray citizen science as a jumble of different kinds of activities that are in a constant state of flux. One of the most important tasks for the citizen science community going forward is to find ways to harness this energy and innovation while providing appropriate guidelines and standards.

Joint replacement rehabilitation and the role of funding source.

To examine associations between funding source, use of rehabilitation and outcomes after total joint replacement and to evaluate variations based on demographic characteristics. Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based national survey. Participants aged 45 years or older (n = 522) who received either private or public funding for their surgery, were recruited from the New Zealand Joint Registry 6 months after a total hip, total knee or unicompartmental knee replacement. The cohort was predominantly New Zealand European (90%), aged 68 years, with more men (55%) than women (45%). Privately funded participants were younger, had higher levels of education and employment, and lower rates of comorbidities at the time of surgery. Privately funded participants also reported spending less time on the surgical waiting list, were less likely to participate in pre-surgical rehabilitation, but reported more weeks of post-surgical rehabilitation and better patient-reported outcomes in terms of pain, function and quality of life, compared with their publicly funded counterparts. Factors already known to impact on joint replacement outcomes were associated with funding source in this cohort. Socio-economic differences and inequities between private and public systems exist consistent with limited available prior research. In this cross-sectional study, no clinically significant differences in outcomes between the groups were identified. Prospective research will help to clarify whether funding source directly affects joint replacement rehabilitation outcomes.

Clinical Utility of Routine Pleural Manometry During Large Volume Thoracentesis: A Multicenter Randomized Trial

Background: In patients with non-expandable lung, pleural fluid removal can result in excessively negative pleural pressure, associated with chest discomfort, pneumothorax, and reexpansion pulmonary edema. Monitoring pleural pressure during thoracentesis may reduce discomfort and protect against complications. Methods: In this prospective randomized single-blind trial, subjects with large pleural effusions at two academic medical centers were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to symptom-guided (control) versus symptom-plus-manometry-guided (manometry) thoracentesis. All had free-flowing effusions meeting pre-specified criteria suggesting volume of at least 500 milliliters. Subjects, who were blinded to assignment, rated chest discomfort on visual analog scales before, during, and after drainage. Pleural pressure was measured at regular intervals in the manometry group. Drainage was discontinued before complete evacuation for persistent chest discomfort, incessant cough, complication, rapidly falling pleural pressure, or end-expiratory pleural pressure lower than -20 cm H2O (latter two only in the manometry group). We performed a modified intention-to-treat analysis. The primary outcome was overall procedural chest discomfort through 5 minutes post-procedure. Findings: Between March 4, 2016 and September 8, 2017, 191 patients were screened. One hundred twenty-eight eligible subjects were randomized with four excluded from the final analysis of 62 subjects per group due to manometer malfunction (n=2), inability to access effusion due to pleural tumor burden (n=1), and inability to remain seated (n=1). There was no difference in the primary outcome of overall procedural chest discomfort between groups (mean difference 2.4, 95% CI -5.7-10.5; p = 0.78). Six asymptomatic pneumothoraces ex-vacuo occurred in the control group; no serious complications occurred in either group. Interpretation: Measurement of pleural pressure during large-volume thoracentesis does not alter procedure-related chest discomfort. This is the first study to directly assess the impact of pleural manometry on important patient-centered clinical outcomes during thoracentesis, and does not support its routine use. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02677883 Funding: Centurion Medical Products Declaration of Interest: No authors report any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest pertinent to this work outside the declared funding source for this trial (see below re: role of funding source). Ethics Approval Statement: This randomized single-blind trial recruited inpatient and outpatient subjects at two academic medical centers (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA and Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA). Institutional Review Boards of both institutions approved this trial (VUMC IRB number 151492; JHU IRB number 00119664).

Mission drift and ethical crisis in microfinance institutions: What matters?

In recent years, financial interests have increasingly influenced microfinance institutions (MFIs), with financial gain overshadowing service to the poor. This phenomenon, which we can term mission drift, has caused apprehension among academicians as well as policy makers, for its negation of the fundamental social ethos of MFIs and the mandate of sustainable financial inclusion. Hence, this study aims to identify the factors of mission drift, with special emphasis on the role of funding sources. We collect data from a sample of 169 MFIs in Bangladesh from the period of 2009–2014, and deploy static and dynamic panel data estimation techniques. The results suggest that commercial fund is susceptible to mission drift, as average loan size over GNI per capita increases when MFIs use more commercial fund in their operation. The finding also revealed that when MFIs focus more on commercial interest (return on assets and operational sustainability), they tend to depart further from the original aim of serving the poorest of the poor. The findings further suggest that mission drift is influenced by other factors, such as, macroeconomic conditions and regulatory environment. This study underscores the importance for policy to ensure that poor people have viable access to financial services from MFIs, toward promoting long-term sustainable development.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psoriasis: role of funding sources, conflict of interest and bibliometric indices as predictors of methodological quality.

The quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease that severely impairs quality of life and is associated with high costs, remains unknown. To assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews published on psoriasis. After a comprehensive search in MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Database (PROSPERO: CDR42016041611), the quality of studies was assessed by two raters using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool. Article metadata and journal-related bibliometric indices were also obtained. Systematic reviews were classified as low (0-4), moderate (5-8) or high (9-11) quality. A prediction model for methodological quality was fitted using principal component and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses. We classified 220 studies as high (17·2%), moderate (55·0%) or low (27·8%) quality. Lower compliance rates were found for AMSTAR question (Q)5 (list of studies provided, 11·4%), Q10 (publication bias assessed, 27·7%), Q4 (status of publication included, 39·5%) and Q1 (a priori design provided, 40·9%). Factors such as meta-analysis inclusion [odds ratio (OR) 6·22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·78-14·86], funding by academic institutions (OR 2·90, 95% CI 1·11-7·89), Article Influence score (OR 2·14, 95% CI 1·05-6·67), 5-year impact factor (OR 1·34, 95% CI 1·02-1·40) and article page count (OR 1·08, 95% CI 1·02-1·15) significantly predicted higher quality. A high number of authors with a conflict of interest (OR 0·90, 95% CI 0·82-0·99) was significantly associated with lower quality. The methodological quality of systematic reviews published about psoriasis remains suboptimal. The type of funding sources and author conflicts may compromise study quality, increasing the risk of bias.

Falling through the cracks

Depression is the most common mental health disorder among HIV patients, affecting 20–30% of those engaged in HIV medical care.1 In addition to being a serious, costly, and potentially fatal medical condition in its own right, depression poses challenging barriers to effective medical care at multiple points along the continuum of HIV medical care engagement and treatment,2 or what has become known as the “HIV treatment cascade.”3 The HIV treatment continuum shows that for an HIV-infected individual to achieve virologic suppression, the individual must be aware of his or her diagnosis, engage in HIV medical care, remain in care, start antiretroviral therapy (ART), and adhere to ART. Thus high population-level success rates in testing, linking and retaining in care, initiating ART, and maximizing adherence are essential to maximally reduce “community viral load.”4 However, with substantial attrition at each step along the HIV treatment continuum, a recent analysis estimated that only 19% of HIV-infected individuals in the US currently have suppressed virus.2 Attrition along the steps of the HIV treatment continuum is related to many factors, but in particular is strongly predicted by depression. Mounting evidence suggests that effectively treating depression in HIV patients may have benefits for their HIV treatment retention, ART adherence, and virologic suppression, and therefore for community viral load.5,6 However, the response to depression in HIV patients suffers from its own “treatment cascade.” Depression in HIV patients, while highly prevalent, is widely unrecognized.7 When clinically recognized, the condition often goes untreated.8 When treated, providers’ adherence to best-practices guidelines about dosing, duration, and monitoring of antidepressants is low, meaning that many patients fail to receive an adequate treatment course and therefore fail to benefit from treatment.9