The malleability of international entrepreneurial cognitions: a natural quasi-experimental study on voluntary and involuntary shocks

PurposeThe authors investigate the durability of international entrepreneurial cognitions. Specifically, they examine how advanced business education and the Covid-19 pandemic influence international entrepreneurial orientation disposition (IEOD), and subsequently entrepreneurial intentions (EIs), to better understand the psychological dynamics underpinning the drivers of international entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachAgainst the backdrop of emerging entrepreneurial cognition and international entrepreneurial orientation research, the authors theorize that both a planned business education intervention (voluntary) and an unforeseeable radical environmental (involuntary) change constitute cognitive shocks impacting the disposition and intention to engage in entrepreneurial efforts. The authors use pre- and post-Covid-19 panel data (n = 233) and uniquely identify the idiosyncratic cognitive effects of Covid-19 through changes in the OCEAN personality assessment.FindingsFindings demonstrate that when individuals' perceived psychological impact of Covid-19 is low, business education increases IEOD. Conversely, the effects of a strongly perceived Covid-19 impact reduce the risk-taking and proactiveness components of the IEOD scale. The authors trace the same effects forward to EIs.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper contributes to a greater understanding of the resilience of entrepreneurial dispositions through an empirical test of the IEOD scale and shows its boundary conditions under planned intervention as well as unplanned externally induced shock.Practical implicationsThe study offers a first benchmark to practitioners of the malleability of international entrepreneurial dispositions and discusses the potential to encourage international entrepreneurial behaviour and the individual-level dispositional risk posed by exogenous shocks.Originality/valueThe study uniquely employs a baseline measure of all our constructs pre-Covid-19 to discern and isolate the pandemic impact on entrepreneurial dispositions and intentions, responding to recent calls for more experimental designs in entrepreneurship research.

Measuring regional accessibility with public transport – case of Koroška region, Slovenia

Public transport plays a major role in sustainable mobility planning. This is even more obvious on regional level, where distances are often too long for cycling, therefore public transport remains only viable sustainable travel mode. In the process of preparation of regional SUMP, evaluation of accessibility is one of crucial steps. However, accessibility measurement can be a challenging task. In Slovenia, there have been several studies measuring frequency and access to closest stop, ignoring travel speed and destinations that could be reached. However rapid increase in computing power, software development and availability of schedule data in GTFS format, opened an opportunity to evaluate accessibility more precisely. We performed an analysis for Koroška region in Slovenia. Accessibility was measured with OpenTripPlanner with OpenStreetMap data for road network and schedules in GTFS format. Travel times were measured in both directions for all inhabited cells in a grid resolution of one hectare and central settlements of intermunicipal importance. The results of the analysis are important in terms of understanding how many citizens can access settlements of intermunicipal importance with public transport. This will serve as a baseline measure in regional SUMP preparation and will enable future iterations and comparisons. It also enables us to see the gaps in public transport supply and propose improvements. Open-source tools and open data enables this method to be used in other regions as well.

Measuring regional accessibility with public transport – case of Koroška region, Slovenia

Public transport plays a major role in sustainable mobility planning. This is even more obvious on regional level, where distances are often too long for cycling, therefore public transport remains only viable sustainable travel mode. In the process of preparation of regional SUMP, evaluation of accessibility is one of crucial steps. However, accessibility measurement can be a challenging task. In Slovenia, there have been several studies measuring frequency and access to closest stop, ignoring travel speed and destinations that could be reached. However rapid increase in computing power, software development and availability of schedule data in GTFS format, opened an opportunity to evaluate accessibility more precisely. We performed an analysis for Koroška region in Slovenia. Accessibility was measured with OpenTripPlanner with OpenStreetMap data for road network and schedules in GTFS format. Travel times were measured in both directions for all inhabited cells in a grid resolution of one hectare and central settlements of intermunicipal importance. The results of the analysis are important in terms of understanding how many citizens can access settlements of intermunicipal importance with public transport. This will serve as a baseline measure in regional SUMP preparation and will enable future iterations and comparisons. It also enables us to see the gaps in public transport supply and propose improvements. Open-source tools and open data enables this method to be used in other regions as well.

Changing maladaptive beliefs among individuals with coronary heart disease using video information

Many individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) have maladaptive beliefs which might increase anxiety and depression. This study investigates the impact of using video information to convey facts and correct misconceptions about CHD in individuals. 150 individuals with CHD were assigned to either the control group or one of two experimental groups. The participants completed the York Cardiac Beliefs Questionnaire in the baseline measure immediately after first viewing the video (time 1), and after viewing the video for six times within two weeks (time 2). The Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory II were completed in the baseline and at time 2. Multiple repeated measures anova shows that after the intervention, participants’ maladaptive beliefs, anxiety and depression were reduced in both experimental groups. Yet, it did not happen in the control group. It indicates that the video information corrects maladaptive beliefs, and reduces anxiety and depression levels in individuals with CHD.

Keep calm and manage impulsivity: Mood as a modulator of impulsive behaviour

This study investigated how different mood states affect distinct subtypes of impulsivity: motor impulsivity [measured with the Stop Signal (SST) and the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5-CSRTT)], reflection impulsivity [assessed with the Information Sampling Task (IST)], and temporal impulsivity (the Delay Discounting Questionnaire). Eighty healthy volunteers completed two experimental sessions. During session 1, which served as a baseline measure, participants underwent a neutral mood induction procedure. In Session 2, they were randomly allocated to one of the mood-induction groups (Neutral, Positive, Sad, and Anxiety). Mood state ratings included bipolar visual analogue scales on mood (positive/negative), tension/relaxation and arousal (tired/active). No group effect was found on any of the impulsivity measures.24 Correlational analyses between mood changes (following the mood manipulation procedures) and behaviour in the tasks revealed that increased relaxation was related to increased information sampling in the IST (decreased reflection impulsivity). In addition, the more active subjects reported to be, the more likely they were to choose a delayed reward over the immediate one (decreased temporal impulsivity). These results indicate that subjective changes in mood state are associated with behavioural impulsivity levels. Importantly, distinct facets of impulsivity (reflection, motor and temporal) are differently affected by changes in mood state.

Categorizing Online Climate Change Interpretation Across the National Park System

Climate change effects are evident across the National Park System, and units are encouraged to provide proactive, meaningful interpretation on the issue to cultivate informed partners and encourage collaborative stewardship. But climate change is not currently interpreted across all units of the National Park System. Anecdotal observations suggest some units highly prioritize the topic, while others do not. Thus, we conducted an assessment of current online climate change interpretation across the National Park System as one means of quantifying park engagement. Results suggest that—of the 391 units included in the analysis—37% interpreted climate change in some manner online as of February, 2019. Though our method of analysis does not fully describe park interpretive efforts, our findings provide a baseline measure of online interpretation and help to prioritize future training and support. Furthermore, our work provides a minimally intensive approach for future assessment of online climate change interpretation.

A-69 Baseline Predictors of Longitudinal SDMT Performance in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Objective More than half of persons with MS (PwMS) experience cognitive difficulties during the course of their illness. However, not everyone develops cognitive problems suggesting a role for important moderating factors. The object of the current study was to identify baseline predictors of cognitive trajectories in PwMS. Methods 680 PwMS completed the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and a battery of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures as part their participation in The Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB). Each participant had at least 2 SDMT measurements as well as demographic (age, sex), clinical (EDSS, disease duration, course type), and PRO (fatigue, depression, and quality of life) data. Participants had a concurrent brain MRI scan at the time of the baseline SDMT measurement; intracranial cavity (ICC) was calculated for each participant as a proxy of brain reserve. The association between each baseline measure and the longitudinal change in the SDMT over the course of the follow-up period was calculated using a linear mixed effects model. Results Increased baseline age (95% CI: −0.29, −0.06; p = 0.002), increased baseline EDSS (95% CI: −0.24, −0.01; p = 0.037), and decreased baseline ICC (95% CI: 0.02, 0.25; p = 0.023) were each associated with a greater decline in the SDMT score longitudinally. Although most PRO measures were cross-sectionally correlated with SDMT performance, none were associated with longitudinal change. Discussion Older individuals and those with more clinical disability are likely to experience declines in SDMT performance over time. Individuals with high baseline brain reserve tend to have more favorable SDMT trajectories.

Measuring Catastrophic Costs Due to Tuberculosis in Myanmar

Background: This is the first survey to use the World Health Organization (WHO) methodology to document the magnitude and main drivers of tuberculosis (TB) patient costs in order to guide policies on cost mitigation and to produce a baseline measure for the percentage of TB-affected households experiencing catastrophic costs in Myanmar. Methods: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was administered to 1000 TB patients in health facilities from December 2015 to February 2016, focusing on costs of TB treatment (direct and indirect), household income, and coping strategies. A total cost was estimated for each household by extrapolating reported costs and comparing them to household income. If the proportion of total costs exceeded 20% of the annual household income, a TB-affected household was deemed to have faced catastrophic costs. Results: 60% of TB-affected households faced catastrophic costs in Myanmar. On average, total costs were USD 759, and the largest proportion of this total was accounted for by patient time (USD 365), followed by food costs (USD 200), and medical expenses (USD 130). Low household wealth quintile and undergoing MDR-TB treatment were both significant predictors for households facing catastrophic costs. Conclusions: The high proportion of TB-affected households experiencing catastrophic costs suggests the need for TB-specific social protection programs in patient-centered healthcare. The survey findings have led the government and donors to increase support for MDR-TB patients. The significant proportion of total spending attributable to lost income and food or nutritional supplements suggests that income replacement programs and/or food packages may ameliorate the burdensome costs.

Electrolytes and Nutritional Element Assessment among Iraqi Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

INTRODUCTION: Cancer may lead to abnormalities in electrolyte levels and acid-base disturbances in affected patients that could be induced by the tumor itself or by chemotherapy treatment. Thus, early detection is vital to improve short-term outcome and quality of life. AIM: This study aims to assess the electrolyte and protein changes in cancer patients on chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort study was carried out on 100 newly diagnosed patients with cancer in Al-Amal National Radiation Oncology Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, during the period from January 2019 to July 2019. An assessment of the studied samples was conducted as a baseline measure before receiving chemotherapy and after the third cycle of that treatment. Quantitative parameters included measurements of serum magnesium, calcium, sodium, chloride, potassium, zinc, Hb1Ac, total protein, and ferritin. Data analysis was carried out using Student’s t-test for variable levels. Level of significance of ≤0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The studied sample comprised 77 females (77%) and 23 males (23%). There were significant decreases in the levels of magnesium and zinc while no significant changes were noted in the levels of other electrolytes. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in the level of proteins and a significant rise in HBA1c and ferritin. CONCLUSION: Cancer patients on chemotherapy regimens suffer from major changes in the levels of vitamins, elements, and neurotransmitter that affect their lifestyle, survival, and prognosis. Frequent regular monitoring of such changes is required to harvest a positive impact on the lifestyle of cancer patients lifestyle and their outcome.