bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic models of dense or hollow nanoparticles and their scattering properties
Authors: Gommes Cedric J. , Chattot Raphael , Drnec Jakub
Published: May 2020

A family of stochastic models of disordered particles is proposed, obtained by clipping a Gaussian random field with a function that is space dependent. Depending on the shape of the clipping function, dense or hollow particles can be modelled. General expressions are derived for the form factor of the particles, for their average volume and surface area, and for their density and surface-area distributions against the distance to the particle centre. A general approximation for the form factor is also introduced, based on the density and surface-area distributions, which coincides with the Guinier and Porod expressions in the limits of low and high scattering vector magnitude q. The models are illustrated with the fitting of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data measured on Pt/Ni hollow nanoparticles. The SAXS analysis and modelling notably capture the collapse of the particles' porosity after being used as oxygen-reduction catalysts.
Enhanced X-ray diffraction of in vivo-grown μNS crystals by viscous jets at XFELs
Authors: Nagaratnam Nirupa , Tang Yanyang , Botha Sabine , Saul Justin , Li Chufeng , Hu Hao , Zaare Sahba , Hunter Mark , Lowry David , Weierstall Uwe , Zatsepin Nadia , Spence John C. H. , Qiu Ji , LaBaer Joshua , Fromme Petra , Martin-Garcia Jose M.
Published: May 2020

μNS is a 70 kDa major nonstructural protein of avian reoviruses, which cause significant economic losses in the poultry industry. They replicate inside viral factories in host cells, and the μNS protein has been suggested to be the minimal viral factor required for factory formation. Thus, determining the structure of μNS is of great importance for understanding its role in viral infection. In the study presented here, a fragment consisting of residues 448–605 of μNS was expressed as an EGFP fusion protein in Sf9 insect cells. EGFP-μNS(448–605) crystallization in Sf9 cells was monitored and verified by several imaging techniques. Cells infected with the EGFP-μNS(448–605) baculovirus formed rod-shaped microcrystals (5–15 µm in length) which were reconstituted in high-viscosity media (LCP and agarose) and investigated by serial femtosecond X-ray diffraction using viscous jets at an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). The crystals diffracted to 4.5 Å resolution. A total of 4227 diffraction snapshots were successfully indexed into a hexagonal lattice with unit-cell parameters a = 109.29, b = 110.29, c = 324.97 Å. The final data set was merged and refined to 7.0 Å resolution. Preliminary electron-density maps were obtained. While more diffraction data are required to solve the structure of μNS(448–605), the current experimental strategy, which couples high-viscosity crystal delivery at an XFEL with in cellulo crystallization, paves the way towards structure determination of the μNS protein.
Crystal structure of the one-dimensional coordination polymer formed by the macrocyclic [Ni(cyclam)]2+cation and the dianion of diphenylsilanediylbis(4-benzoic acid)
Authors: Gavrish Sergey P. , Shova Sergiu , Cazacu Maria , Lampeka Yaroslaw D.
Published: May 2020

The asymmetric unit of the title compound,catena-poly[[[(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-κ4N1,N4,N8,N11)nickel(II)]-μ-4,4′-(diphenylsilanediyl)dibenzoato-κ2O:O′] sesquihydrate], {[Ni(C26H18O4Si)(C10H24N4)]·1.5H2O}n, consists of the halves of the centrosymmetric macrocyclic cation and theC2-symmetric dicarboxylate dianion and of the water molecule of crystallization. The Ni2+ion is coordinated by the four secondary N atoms of the macrocyclic ligand characterized by the most energetically favourabletrans-III conformation and two mutuallytransO atoms of the carboxylate, forming a slightly tetragonally elongatedtrans-N4O2octahedron. The crystals are composed of parallel polymeric chains of the macrocyclic cations linked by the anions of the acid running along the [101] direction. Each polymeric chain is bonded to four neighbouring onesviawater molecules providing O—H...O hydrogen bonds to the non-coordinated carboxyl O atoms to form a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Crystal structure of a cadmium sulfate coordination polymer based on the 3,6-bis(pyrimidin-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine ligand
Authors: Jiajaroen Suwadee , Chainok Kittipong
Published: May 2020

The polymeric title compound, poly[aquahemi[μ2-3,6-bis(pyrimidin-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine](μ3-sulfato)cadmium(II)], [Cd(SO4)(C10H8N8)0.5(H2O)]
n
, (I), represents an example of a three-dimensional coordination polymer resulting from the reaction of CdSO4·8/3H2O with 3,6-bis(pyrimidin-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (H2bmtz, C10H8N8) under hydrothermal conditions. The CdII atom has a distorted octahedral coordination environment defined by two nitrogen atoms from one H2bmtz ligand, three oxygen atoms from three different sulfate anions, and one oxygen atom from a coordinating water molecule. The 1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine ring of the H2bmtz ligand is located about an inversion center, with the NH group being equally disordered over two sites. The sulfate anion acts as a μ3-bridging ligand to connect three CdII atoms, resulting in the formation of [Cd(SO4)(H2O)] sheets propagating parallel to the bc plane. Adjacent sheets are interconnected across the H2bmtz ligands, which coordinate the CdII atoms in a bis-bidentate coordination mode, to form a three-dimensional framework structure. The framework is further stabilized by classical O—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the coordinating water molecules and the sulfate groups, and by N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the disordered tetrazine NH groups and sulfate oxygen atom, along with C—H...π and π–π stacking [centroid-to-centroid separation = 3.5954 (15) Å] interactions between parallel pyrimidine rings of the H2bmtz ligand.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 4-bromoanilinium nitrate
Authors: Anbarasan Radhakrishnan , Eniya Palaniyasan , Kalyana Sundar Jeyaperumal , Mengesha Woldemariam Menberu
Published: May 2020

The title compound C4H7BrN+·NO3
− crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with space group P21/c. In the crystal, π-π stacking interactions and strong N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions into layers parallel to the bc plane. The O...H/H...O interactions between the cation and anion are the major factor determining the crystal packing.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, interaction energy and DFT studies of 4-[(4-allyl-2-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole
Authors: Taia Abdelmaoujoud , Essaber Mohamed , Aatif Abdeljalil , Chkirate Karim , Hökelek Tuncer , Mague Joel T. , Sebbar Nada Kheira
Published: May 2020

In the title molecule, C20H21N3O3, the allyl substituent is rotated out of the plane of its attached phenyl ring [torsion angle 100.66 (15)°]. In the crystal, C—HMthphn...OMthphn (Mthphn = methoxyphenyl) hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of (100) layers that are connected into a three-dimensional network by C—H...π(ring) interactions, together with π–π stacking interactions [centroid-to-centroid distance = 3.7318 (10) Å] between parallel phenyl rings. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (48.7%) and H...C/C...H (23.3%) interactions. Computational chemistry reveals that the C—HMthphn...OMthphn hydrogen bond energy is 47.1 kJ mol−1. The theoretical structure, optimized by density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/ 6–311 G(d,p) level, is compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure. The HOMO–LUMO behaviour was elucidated to determine the energy gap.
Structural studies of geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase, a prenyltransferase found in thermophilic Euryarchaeota
Authors: Blank P. N. , Barnett A. A. , Ronnebaum T. A. , Alderfer K. E. , Gillott B. N. , Christianson D. W. , Himmelberger J. A.
Published: May 2020

Archaea are uniquely adapted to thrive in harsh environments, and one of these adaptations involves the archaeal membrane lipids, which are characterized by their isoprenoid alkyl chains connected via ether linkages to glycerol 1-phosphate. The membrane lipids of the thermophilic and acidophilic euryarchaeotaThermoplasma volcaniumare exclusively glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers. The first committed step in the biosynthetic pathway of these archaeal lipids is the formation of the ether linkage between glycerol 1-phosphate and geranylgeranyl diphosphate, and is catalyzed by the enzyme geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase (GGGPS). The 1.72 Å resolution crystal structure of GGGPS fromT. volcanium(TvGGGPS) in complex with glycerol and sulfate is reported here. The crystal structure reveals TvGGGPS to be a dimer, which is consistent with the absence of the aromatic anchor residue in helix α5a that is required for hexamerization in other GGGPS homologs; the hexameric quaternary structure in GGGPS is thought to provide thermostability. A phylogenetic analysis of the Euryarchaeota and a parallel ancestral state reconstruction investigated the relationship between optimal growth temperature and the ancestral sequences. The presence of an aromatic anchor residue is not explained by temperature as an ecological parameter. An examination of the active site of the TvGGGPS dimer revealed that it may be able to accommodate longer isoprenoid substrates, supporting an alternative pathway of isoprenoid membrane-lipid synthesis.
Examining the effectiveness of compensatory adaptation from a consumer's perspective in evaluating products online
Authors: Lim Jaejoo , Wollscheid Jim R. , Ayyagari Ramakrishna
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Consumers often encounter issues of perceived ambiguity and performance risk when attempting to evaluate experience goods being offered online. Sellers try to alleviate this knowledge gap often seen in a medium of low naturalness by engaging in effective compensatory adaptation. This research theoretically looks into three primary aspects of compensatory adaption and their potential in securing communication of high-quality information between the online seller and consumer.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing survey data and structural equation modeling, this study tests the effectiveness of different aspects of compensatory adaption to alleviate the knowledge gap in a medium of low naturalness.

Findings

Drawing on media naturalness theory and the tripartite model of attitude, this paper identifies three theoretical components that significantly affect the effectiveness of compensatory adaption. They are information retrieval capability from the cognitive/logical aspect, information richness from the affective/audiovisual aspect and interactivity from the behavioral aspect. The effectiveness of compensatory adaptation proves to have a positive impact on perceived information quality.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper in the information systems literature to examine the compensatory adaptation tools for effective transfer of information. This study contributes to the academics by providing three handles to improve effectiveness of compensatory adaptation toward information quality. We focus on three compensatory adaptation tools in cognitive/logical, affective/audiovisual and behavioral aspects, and this compensation perspective leads to three practical factors that affect effective transfer of information between online sellers and consumers. The result of this study complements the nomological network of the enablers and impediments of e-commerce.
Accounting graduate readiness for work: a case study of South East Asia
Authors: Phan Duc , Yapa Prem , Nguyen Ha Thanh
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper compares and contrasts graduate accountant skills and employers' expectations in South East Asia (SEA).

Design/methodology/approach

We analyse the employers' expectation performance gap (EPG) in three countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam – to provide a reflection on current professional accounting development in SEA. The study relies on data derived from multiple sources including job advertisements, CIMA “ready for business” project, Glassdoor website and other secondary data sources.

Findings

The findings indicate that over recent decades, the changing nature of the economy, state, and interest of the business sector (including the “Big Four”) have led to the wider adoption of professional accountancy qualifications. The findings suggest that graduates should be equipped with active learning activities such as project-based and work-integrated training to fill the expectation gaps between local university educators and employers.

Research limitations/implications

Drawing upon a literature review of professional accounting education, we use the results of the documentations and secondary analysis to describe the performance expectation gap of accounting education in SEA.

Originality/value

The study indicates a large discrepancy between the teachings in accounting education and employer requirements in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and propose different methods to fill this employability gap in South East Asia.
Role of learning agility and learning culture on turnover intention: an empirical study
Authors: Tripathi Aastha , Srivastava Rajlaxmi , Sankaran Raja
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of learning culture (LC) and learning agility (LA) on employee’s turnover intention (TI) in connection to information technology (IT) industries in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This research study analysed 258 samples of entry-level and middle-level executives working in IT software companies constituted in Southern India. Data was collected both electronically and in hard-copy. The research model was tested by structural equation modeling technique with the aid of AMOS software.

Findings

The findings illustrate the indirect effect of LC on TI while a direct effect on LA and also a positive and significant effect of LA on TI.

Research limitations/implications

The first limitation is that this study does not cover top-level executives, therefore, it has limited implications and the second is that the respondents filled the questionnaire voluntarily by their beliefs.

Originality/value

This study contributes towards the development of LC, which will help in building LA in employees thereby reduce the employee’s TI.
Do equity incentives for the managements have impact on stock-pricing efficiency? Evidence from China
Authors: Long Yue-e , Huang Xinyi
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of equity incentive on stock pricing efficiency, as well as the institutional investors’ response to equity incentive and its role in stock pricing efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 1,842 companies that announce implementing equity incentive schemes during the period 2009-2018, the authors compare the pricing efficiency between the firms with equity incentive and those without equity incentive, and companies that implement equity incentive before and after the implementation of equity incentive by using multiple regression and propensity score matching -DID (difference in difference) method. In addition, the multiple regression model is built to test the response of institutional investors to equity incentive and its role in the efficiency of stock pricing.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that a company’s stock price is influenced more by firm-specific information than systematic factors after it announces a stock-based compensation scheme. Institutional investors respond positively to companies that implement equity incentives. Among the companies that have implement equity incentive, the higher the shareholding ratio of institutional investors, the higher the efficiency of stock pricing.

Originality/value

The authors innovatively establish a connection between the implementation of equity incentive and the operation of stock market. The results imply that besides alleviating the agency problem, equity incentives can also improve the efficiency of stock pricing, which provide empirical evidence to support the positive effect of equity incentive.
Investigation on thermal comfort of the uniform for workers in tropical monsoon climates
Authors: Xu Jingxian , Liu Huijuan , Wang Yunyi , Li Jun
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the heat transfer mechanism of the uniforms used by people working in hot, humid and windy environments. Furthermore, the effectiveness of an opening structure added to the armpit of the uniforms in improving thermal comfort was comparatively examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of uniforms was tested with the opening at the armpit alternatively zipped or unzipped. Thermal manikin and human tests were performed in a climatic chamber simulating the specific environmental conditions, including wind speeds at four levels (0.15, 0.5, 2, 4 m/s) and relative humidities at two levels (50 and 85%). Static and dynamic thermal insulations of clothing (IT) were examined by the thermal manikin tests. The human bodies' thermal responses, including heart rates (HR), eardrum temperatures (Te), skin temperatures (Tsk) and subjective perceptions, were given by the human tests.

Findings

Special mechanisms of heat transfer in the specific uniforms used in tropical monsoon climates were revealed. Reductions on IT were caused by the movement of the human body and the environmental wind, and the empirical equations would underestimate this reduction. The opening at the armpit was able to prompt more heat transfer under dynamic condition, with reducing the IT by 11.8%, lowering the mean Tsk by 0.92°C, and significantly improving the subjective perceptions (p < 0.05). The heat exhaustion was alleviated with lowering the Te by 0.32°C.

Originality/value

This study managed to improve the thermal performance of uniforms for workers under unforgiving conditions. The evaluation and design methods introduced by this study provided practical guidance for similar products with strict dress codes and cost control requirements based on the findings from thorough product tests and analysis.
Fourth industrial revolution and India's “employment problem”
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sujatra , Mitra Arup
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims at assessing the impact of innovation on productivity as sustainable development can be attained primarily through non-resource-driven growth. Secondly, it also proposes to reflect on the rising capital intensity in the Indian industries as technology advancement, particularly in the light of the fourth industrial revolution, is expected to reduce the labour absorbing capacity of the industrial sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on panel data for different Indian firms in various groups of industries, this paper estimates TFPG and TE (following Cornwellet al.methodology) and assesses the impact of R&D expenditure on the performance indices. Secondly, it measures the capital intensity across various groups of industries to reflect on the “employment problem”.

Findings

Innovation does not seem to enhance the performance index in a very significant manner across industry groups considered in the study. The lack of extensive evidence on impact of innovation on total factor productivity growth suggests that innovation does not necessarily result in technological progress while the need of the hour is to experience non-resource-driven growth on the one hand and employment growth on the other. The positive impact of innovation on efficiency as seen in the paper can be interpreted as the expenditure incurred to realize the potentiality of the technology which is possibly imported. However, capital accumulation is resulting in rapid productivity growth at the cost of employment.

Research limitations/implications

Capturing technological progress in terms of TFPG can be subjected to criticism.

Practical implications

Policy implications for employment generation and inclusive growth are derived.

Social implications

The study cautions us about the adverse implications in terms of employment growth.

Originality/value

Assessing the impact of innovation on performance such as TFPG and TE is rather rare in the literature, and this paper tries to reflect on this aspect using the Indian firm-level data. Secondly, the trade-offs between productivity growth and employment growth are brought out distinctly in order to highlight the declining labour absorbing capacity of the industrial sector. This enables us to reflect on the adverse consequences of the fourth industrial revolution.
An integrated model for predicting the probability of adoption of green building in South Africa
Authors: Simpeh Eric Kwame , Smallwood John Julian
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the predictable effect of economic and non-economic factors regarded as the most important to stimulate stakeholders’ behavioural intentions to adopt green building.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary data was collected from 106 green building accredited professionals in both the public and private sectors registered with the Green Building Council of South Africa. The data analysis techniques adopted include descriptive and inferential statistics, namely, factor analysis and logistic regression model (LRM).

Findings

The LRM results revealed five predictors and two control variables made a unique statistically signiﬁcant contribution to the model. The strongest predictor to enhance the intention to adopt green building was a financial benefit (FB), recording an odds ratio of 9.1, which indicates that the likelihood to adopt is approximately 9.1 times more if FBs is evident.

Practical implications

It is anticipated that the most significant facilitators/enablers identified by built environment stakeholders will create an enabling environment to enhance the adoption of green building.

Originality/value

This research has contributed to the existing knowledge by developing a decision support model. The decision support model provides predictive indicators for clients, consultants and contractors to harness their resources and identify significant parameters to improve their decision-making in adopting green building.
Mapping the individual and structural theories of financial crimes
Authors: Lokanan Mark Eshwar , Aujla Indy
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue for an integrated explanation of financial fraud. Greater emphasis must be placed on the structural and situational factors that are the elements of fraud risks and fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of the literature on the explanation of financial fraud. Both micro- and macro-theoretical explanations of fraud were analysed to allow for a broader picture of the types of individuals that were involved in fraud, the rules governing their conduct and the types of law they broke.

Findings

The main reason why people commit fraud is that their crime propensity interacts with the elements present in criminogenic environments. Indeed, because most of the research on structural theories of fraud focuses on general criminality, not much has been done in the area of financial fraud. More research needs to be carried out to excavate the subterranean cluster of narrative on fraud risks and fraud.

Research limitations/implications

To address the future contingency of fraud risks, the paper adopted a similar position of prior accounting research on financial crimes. The structural explanation of fraudulent behaviour considers individuals’ actions to be less the result of individual deviance and more the cause of societal forces. Structural theories take into consideration the individual psychology of the offenders and position it to reflect the various realities – institutional, structural and cultural life – they are caught up in. Future research must endeavour to address these concerns.

Originality/value

The manuscript is among a new stream of literature that addresses the structural elements of financial fraud.
Applying anti-oppressive approach to social work practice in Africa: reflections of Nigerian BSW students
Authors: Amadasun Solomon , Omorogiuwa Tracy Beauty Evbayiro
Published: May 2020

Purpose

As the next generation of social workers in a continent bedecked by oppressive customs, it is cardinal that the voices of social work students be heard. This study aims to share the reflections of Nigerian BSW students about anti-oppressive approach to professional practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted among fourth-year social work students at one of the elite universities in the southern region of Nigeria.

Findings

Results reveal that, although willing to challenge oppressive practices, social work students are ill-equipped to apply anti-oppressive approach to social work practice in Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

This study makes an important contribution to the field and to the existing literature because the findings have broader implications for social work education in Nigeria.

Practical implications

In enforcing the suggestions of this study, it is expected that social work education will become able to produce competently trained students who are only knowledgeable about anti-oppressive social work but are equally prepared to address Nigeria’s myriad oppressive practices that have long undermined the nation’s quest for social development.

Social implications

The application of the anti-oppressive approach to social work practice is integral to ridding society of all forms of overt social injustice and other forms of latent oppressive policies.

Originality/value

Suggestions are offered to Nigerian social work educators toward ensuring that students are not only well equipped in the understanding of anti-oppressive social work but also ready to apply this model to professional social work practice following their graduation.
Overwork and overtime on turnover intention in non-luxury hotels: Do incentives matter?
Authors: Tan Kim-Lim , Sim Pei-Lin , Goh Fu-Quan , Leong Choi-Meng , Ting Hiram
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Given the intense competition in the hotel industry, this study investigates the effect of overwork (OW) and overtime (OT) on turnover intention (TI) as well as the moderating effect of incentives in the context of non-luxury hotels in an emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a purposive sampling technique, a total of 271 front-line employees who are currently working in non-luxury hotels in Sarawak responded to the study. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to perform latent variable and moderation analyses.

Findings

The findings show that both OW and OT have a direct impact on TI. Contrary to the past studies, incentives do not exert any moderating effect on the relationship between OW, OT and TI among the employees working at non-luxury hotels.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to explore the effect of incentives between OW and working OT on TI in the context of the non-luxury hotels in an emerging market and show why incentives might not work. It further advances the understanding of the JD-R theory, demonstrating the necessity for organizations to provide matching resources to address job strains.
Tracing criminal proceeds through fungible mixtures in money laundering cases
Authors: Foo Kenny
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the problem of tracing criminal proceeds through fungible mixtures, in the context of money laundering prosecutions and with a specific focus on whether clean withdrawals can be made from tainted mixtures.

Design/methodology/approach

The question of withdrawing clean funds from a tainted mixture is framed as a problem of proof rather than a problem of impossibility. The tracing rules are then engaged to overcome evidential difficulties, but the rules are shown to operate very differently in civil proceedings and criminal proceedings. The proper application of the tracing rules in criminal proceedings is then illustrated using the facts ofWilliam v R[2013] EWCA Crim 1262.

Findings

Because evidential uncertainties must be resolved in favour of the accused person in criminal proceedings, the tracing rules – properly applied – limit the range of situations in which the Prosecution can successfully trace criminal proceeds through fungible mixtures.

Originality/value

This paper may be useful to law enforcement, those involved in prosecuting or defending money laundering cases and regulated persons assessing their money laundering risks and disclosure obligations.
Geographical proximity and value of corporate cash holdings
Authors: Palkar Darshana D. , Sims Randi L. , Kuvvet Emre
Published: May 2020

Purpose

In this paper, the authors examine the association between a firm's geographical location and the value of its cash holdings.

Design/methodology/approach

Following Loughran and Schultz (2005) and Nielsson and Wójcik (2016), the authors define firms as either geographically remote or geographically proximate based on their distance to areas that are either largely populated or concentrated in financial expertise. We also estimate the marginal value of cash using the model developed by Faulkender and Wang (2006).

Findings

The authors find that the marginal value of cash is $0.10–$0.16 lower in remotely located firms than in geographically proximate firms. The lower marginal value of cash is prominent among remotely located firms with greater severity of information asymmetry. Our findings support the view that the inability of shareholders to closely monitor how managers use of firm cash may increase the perceived conflicts of interest associated with managers' cash spending and decrease the value of cash.

Originality/value

Previous studies try to explain the cash holdings puzzle by attributing it to CEO overconfidence, external funding constraints, poor corporate governance, difference in corporate financial policy, poor investor protection, lack of firm diversification and large operating losses. This study contributes to the extant literature by offering new evidence of the role of geographic location on the value of cash holdings.
Populism and domestic/international politics: theory and practice
Authors: Metawe Mohamed
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to contend that populism is damaging to both domestic and international politics; not only does it erode liberal democracy in established democracies but also fuels authoritarianism in despotic regimes and aggravates conflicts and crises in international system.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is divided into two main sections. First, it examines how populist mobilization affects liberal democracy, and refutes the claims that populism is beneficial and reinforcing to democracy. Second, it attempts to demonstrate how populism is damaging to domestic politics (by undermining liberal democracy and supporting authoritarianism) as well as international relations (by making interstate conflicts more likely to materialize). Theoretically, populism is assumed to be a strategy used by politicians to maximize their interest. Hence, populism is a strategy used by politicians to mobilize constituents using the main features of populist discourse.

Findings

The research argues that populism has detrimental consequences on both domestic and international politics; it undermines liberal democracy in democratic countries, upsurges authoritarianism in autocratic regimes and heightens the level of conflict and crises in international politics. Populism can lead to authoritarianism. There is one major undemocratic trait shared by all populist waves around the world, particularly democracies; that is anti-pluralism/anti-institutions. Populist leaders perceive foreign policy as the continuation of domestic politics, because they consider themselves as the only true representatives of the people. Therefore, populist actors abandon any political opposition as necessarily illegitimate, with repercussions on foreign policy.

Originality/value

Some scholars argue that populism reinforces democracy by underpinning its ability to include marginalized sectors of the society and to decrease voter apathy, the research refuted these arguments. Populism is destructive to world democracy; populists are reluctant to embrace the idea of full integration with other nations. Populists reject the idea of open borders, and reckon it an apparent threat to their national security. The research concludes that populists consider maximizing their national interests on the international level by following confrontational policies instead of cooperative ones.
A weighted Fama-MacBeth two-step panel regression procedure: asymptotic properties, finite-sample adjustment, and performance
Authors: Lee Kyuseok
Published: May 2020

Purpose

In a recent paper, Yoon and Lee (2019) (YL hereafter) propose a weighted Fama and MacBeth (FMB hereafter) two-step panel regression procedure and provide evidence that their weighted FMB procedure produces more efficient coefficient estimators than the usual unweighted FMB procedure. The purpose of this study is to supplement and improve their weighted FMB procedure, as they provide neither asymptotic results (i.e. consistency and asymptotic distribution) nor evidence on how close their standard error estimator is to the true standard error.

Design/methodology/approach

First, asymptotic results for the weighted FMB coefficient estimator are provided. Second, a finite-sample-adjusted standard error estimator is provided. Finally, the performance of the adjusted standard error estimator compared to the true standard error is assessed.

Findings

It is found that the standard error estimator proposed by Yoon and Lee (2019) is asymptotically consistent, although the finite-sample-adjusted standard error estimator proposed in this study works better and helps to reduce bias. The findings of Yoon and Lee (2019) are confirmed even when the average R2 over time is very small with about 1% or 0.1%.

Originality/value

The findings of this study strongly suggest that the weighted FMB regression procedure, in particular the finite-sample-adjusted procedure proposed here, is a computationally simple but more powerful alternative to the usual unweighted FMB procedure. In addition, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that presents a formal proof of the asymptotic distribution for the FMB coefficient estimator.
Global e-government development: besides the relative wealth of countries, do policies matter?
Authors: Dias Gonçalo Paiva
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether, discounting the effect of the relative wealth of countries, it is possible to observe the relevance of policies for e-government development.

Design/methodology/approach

The deviations of countries' results from what could be expected, considering their relative wealth is calculated by using the residuals of a linear regression using the Gross Domestic Product per capita as the independent variable and the UN E-Government Development Index as the dependent variable. The countries that achieve better and worse results than expected are then identified and their cases are analyzed by resorting to secondary sources, namely, published research referring to their cases. Those research documents were identified by successively searching the Scopus database, the Google Scholar database and the Web of Science.

Findings

The existence of formal e-government strategies and plans and the capacity to implement them can make a difference, allowing countries to achieve better results than expected or, in their absence, to perform worse than expected.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methodology can be useful to e-government researchers, particularly as a basis for deeper and more detailed studies.

Practical implications

Countries should invest in well-developed and focused strategies and continuity of public policies and their capacity to deliver results. For that purpose, political commitment and high-level coordination are key factors. For low-income countries, long-lasting cooperation with external experienced partners is crucial. For high-income countries, innovative thinking is a key enabler.

Originality/value

This study uses an innovative method to look beyond the effect of the relative wealth of countries and investigate the relevance of public policies for e-government development.
Effects of anesthetics on post‐operative 3‐month neuroendocrine function after endoscopic transsphenoidal non‐functional pituitary adenoma surgery
Authors: Oh Hyongmin , Yhim Hyung‐Been , Yoon Hyun‐Kyu , Lee Hyung‐Chul , Hee Kim Jung , Hwy Kim Yong , Park Hee‐Pyoung
Published: May 2020

Background

Anesthetic techniques can affect perioperative neuroendocrine function. The objective of this study was to compare 3‐month post‐operative neuroendocrine functional outcomes between sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia in patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) for removal of non‐functional pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) retrospectively.

Methods

Among 356 patients who underwent ETS for removal of NFPAs under sevoflurane‐remifentanil anesthesia (sevoflurane group, n = 103) or propofol‐remifentanil anesthesia (propofol group, n = 253), 92 patients in each group were selected and their 3‐month post‐operative neuroendocrine functional outcomes (primary outcome measure) were compared after propensity score matching.

Results

Overall changes in post‐operative 3‐month neuroendocrine function compared to pre‐operative baseline did not differ between the sevoflurane and propofol groups (worsened: 32.6% vs 29.3%, persistently decreased: 9.8% vs 12.0%, improved: 12.0% vs 20.7%, normalized: 9.8% vs 12.0%, persistently normal: 18.5% vs 19.6%; P = .400). The incidence of pituitary hormone deficiency at 3 months post‐operatively did not differ between the sevoflurane and propofol groups (adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency: 18.5% vs 17.4%, P = 1.000; thyroid‐stimulating hormone deficiency: 10.9% vs 3.3%, P = .081; gonadotropin deficiency: 54.3% vs 48.9%, P = .555; growth hormone deficiency: 45.7% vs 48.9%, P = .768; panhypopituitarism: 1.1% vs 1.1%, P = 1.000).

Conclusion

In patients undergoing ETS for removal of NFPAs, the effects of both sevoflurane‐remifentanil and propofol‐remifentanil anesthetic techniques on post‐operative 3‐month neuroendocrine functional outcomes were similar, suggesting that propofol and sevoflurane can be freely used in such patients in terms of post‐operative intermediate‐term neuroendocrine functional outcome.
Electrocardiogram and left atrial abnormality: Design of an observational study to clarify diagnostic criteria
Authors: Lacalzada‐Almeida Juan , Izquierdo‐Gómez María Manuela , Laynez‐Cerdeña Ignacio , García‐Niebla Javier , Bruña Vanesa , Bayés de Luna Antonio , Martínez‐Sellés Manuel
Published: May 2020

Background

The criteria applied for diagnosis of left atrial (LA) abnormality using electrocardiogram (ECG) have high specificity but low sensitivity. In fact, some authors have suggested classifying P‐wave anomalies associated with LA abnormality and interatrial block as “atrial abnormalities.” The most widely known ECG criteria for LA abnormality include P‐wave duration, morphology and voltage of P wave in inferior leads, presence of P‐wave terminal force in V1 (PtfV1), and P‐wave axis and area. PtfV1 has also been reported to vary according to misplacement of the V1 and V2 electrodes.

Methods

The objective of this observational cohort study is to determine the degree of correlation between ECG criteria for LA abnormality and left atrium volume and functionality, as determined by speckle tracking echocardiography. The study also aims to investigate the correlation between these echocardiographic parameters and PtfV1 value by placing the V1 and V2 electrodes in the second, third, and fourth intercostal spaces.

Results and Conclusions

Our results could help to clarify whether the decrease in left atrial deformity, which is currently considered a surrogate target of fibrosis, correlates better with ECG criteria for LA abnormality than atrial volumes.
Complement as the enabler of carfilzomib‐induced thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Blasco Miquel , Martínez‐Roca Alexandra , Rodríguez‐Lobato Luis G. , Garcia‐Herrera Adriana , Rosiñol Laura , Castro Pedro , Fernández Sara , Quintana Luis F. , Cibeira María T. , Bladé Joan , Fernández de Larrea Carlos , Tovar Natalia , Jimenez Raquel , Poch Esteban , Guillen Elena , Campistol Josep M. , Carreras Enric , Diaz‐Ricart Maribel , Palomo Marta
Published: May 2020

Carfilzomib has been associated with the development of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients, a severe disease with no currently available aetiological treatment. We evaluated the potential role of terminal complement pathway in four patients with carfilzomib‐induced TMA. Membrane attack complex (C5b‐9) deposition on endothelial cells in culture exposed to plasma from patients during the acute phase of the disease suggests complement overactivation as a mechanism of potential endothelial damage in three out of four patients. If confirmed in larger cohorts, C5b‐9 evaluation will allow early identification of patients who could benefit from complement blockade and treatment monitoring.
A robust image steganography using teaching learning based optimization based edge detection model for smart cities
Authors: Dhanasekaran K. , Anandan P. , Kumaratharan N.
Published: May 2020

Recently, Internet becomes a most common medium for transferring critical data and the security of the transmitted data gains maximum priority. Image steganography has been developed as a well‐known model of data hiding which verifies the security level of the transferred data. The images offer high capacity, and the occurrence of accessibility over the Internet is more. An effective steganography model is required for achieving better embedding capacity and also maintaining the other variables in an acceptable value. This article introduces a new robust image steganography using Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) edge detection model. The TBLO is basically a metaheuristic algorithm which is inspired from the teaching and learning procedure in classrooms. The former stage indicates the learning from the teacher and the latter phase represents the interaction among the learners. The experimental validation takes place in a comprehensive way under several views and the outcome pointed out the superior results of the presented model.
The relative conservation impact of strategies that prioritize biodiversity representation, threats, and protection costs
Authors: Sacre Edmond , Weeks Rebecca , Bode Michael , Pressey Robert L.
Published: May 2020

Despite exponential increases in the coverage of protected areas (PAs) over recent decades, global biodiversity continues to decline. One explanation for this lack of success is that the efficacy of conservation prioritization strategies is rarely measured in terms of conservation “impact,” which requires comparing proposed PA networks to a counterfactual scenario in which no intervention is applied. This approach contrasts with measuring efficacy using surrogates for conservation impact, such as the extent, total biodiversity value, or representativeness of a proposed PA network. However, implementing an experimental counterfactual scenario is difficult because of time, funding, and ethical constraints. Here, we use an alternative and complementary approach: anex‐postanalysis with counterfactual outcomes measured using historical empirical data on changes in biodiversity in unprotected landscapes. This approach allows for the comparison of different retrospectively implemented prioritization strategies to a real counterfactual outcome. In our analysis, we predict the impact of several alternative PA prioritization strategies in Queensland, Australia, using high‐resolution datasets of vegetation clearing, habitat type, and land acquisition cost. Our results show that achieving conventional conservation targets does not equate to achieving impact, and that alternative, and relatively simple, prioritization strategies can achieve far greater impacts.
Newly diagnosed diabetes is associated with a higher risk of mortality than known diabetes in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Li Huiqing , Tian Shenghua , Chen Ting , Cui Zhenhai , Shi Ningjie , Zhong Xueyu , Qiu Kangli , Zhang Jiaoyue , Zeng Tianshu , Chen Lulu , Zheng Juan
Published: May 2020

Aim

To evaluate the association between different degrees of hyperglycaemia and the risk of all‐cause mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID‐19.

Materials and Methods

In a retrospective study conducted from 22 January to 17 March 2020, 453 patients were admitted to Union Hospital in Wuhan, China, with laboratory‐confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Patients were classified into four categories: normal glucose, hyperglycaemia (fasting glucose 5.6‐6.9 mmol/L and/or HbA1c 5.7%‐6.4%), newly diagnosed diabetes (fasting glucose ≥7 mmol/L and/or HbA1c ≥6.5%) and known diabetes. The major outcomes included in‐hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

Results

Patients with newly diagnosed diabetes constituted the highest percentage to be admitted to the ICU (11.7%) and require IMV (11.7%), followed by patients with known diabetes (4.1%; 9.2%) and patients with hyperglycaemia (6.2%; 4.7%), compared with patients with normal glucose (1.5%; 2.3%), respectively. The multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios of mortality among COVID‐19 patients with normal glucose, hyperglycaemia, newly diagnosed diabetes and known diabetes were 1.00, 3.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65‐16.6), 9.42 (95% CI 2.18‐40.7) and 4.63 (95% CI 1.02‐21.0), respectively.

Conclusion

We showed that COVID‐19 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes had the highest risk of all‐cause mortality compared with COVID‐19 patients with known diabetes, hyperglycaemia and normal glucose. Patients with COVID‐19 need to be kept under surveillance for blood glucose screening.
Effect of baiting gillnets in the Canadian Greenland halibut fishery
Authors: Bayse Shannon M. , Grant Scott M.
Published: May 2020

Catch rates were compared between gillnets with and without bait in the Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum) fishery off Baffin Island, Canada. Two different types of baiting techniques were compared: bait bags where squid were placed into 2‐mm mesh bags, and tied bait where squid were tied into meshes. Both types of baited gillnets significantly increased the capture of the target species, Greenland halibut, with increases of 253.8% and 149.7% for the bait bag and tied bait, respectively. Common bycatch species showed mixed effects, with roughhead grenadier Macrourus berglax Lacépède showing no increase in catch per unit effort (CPUE) for either bait type (p > 0.05), and porcupine crab Neolithodes grimaldii (Milne‐Edwards and Bouvier) only had a higher CPUE with baited gillnets when bait bags were placed on the footrope. Less common bycatch species—but with threatened populations—showed an increase in CPUE, including Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus (Bloch and Schneider) and Northern wolffish Anarhichas denticulatus Krøyer. Baiting gillnets affected the CPUE of gillnets in the Greenland halibut fishery, and management should consider how the increased CPUE of both target and bycatch species are affected by this new fishery trend.