bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortgage credit and bankruptcy chapter choice: a case of US counties
Authors: Desai Chintal Ajitbhai
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– A financially distressed homeowner considers bankruptcy filing, either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, to delay foreclosure. On one hand, Chapter 13 filing takes longer processing time, spreads mortgage arrearages over the debt repayment period, and increases the possibility of loan modification. On the other hand, Chapter 7 filing discharges unsecured debt, which provides additional disposable income for mortgage payments. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author uses fixed-effects (within variation), random-effects, and generalized estimation equation models with time dummies on the panel data of US counties.

Findings

– The results show that mortgage delinquency increases Chapter 7 filings, while it has positive but statistically insignificant effect on Chapter 13 filings. In addition, a county’s mortgage debt to income and proportion of mortgage borrowers increase its Chapter 7 filings.

Originality/value

– The contribution of the paper is to assess the effect of mortgage credit on the bankruptcy chapter choice using the county-level data.
Impacts of FRS139 adoption on value relevance of financial reporting in Malaysia
Authors: Gan Chin-Yee , Chong Lee-Lee , Ahmad Zauwiyah
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of Financial Reporting Standards (FRS)139 adoption on value relevance of financial reporting for non-financial public listed companies in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multiple regressions were applied in this study to explore the value relevance of financial reporting upon FRS139 adoption.

Findings

– The finding indicates that book value of equity and net income after tax are significant in jointly explaining the variations associated with market value for both the pre- and post-FRS139 period. However, the role of the book value of equity and the balance sheet in stock market valuation is becoming increasingly important compared with the role of net income after tax and income statement upon mandatory adoption of FRS139.

Originality/value

– This study provides relevant insights into the potential consequences of FRS139 adoption in Malaysia. This is a significant event in the history of financial reporting in Malaysia. Given the importance and complexity of applying IAS39 in more developed countries, the results of this study add to current literature by providing a comprehensive empirical analysis on the effects of FRS139 adoption on financial reporting in Malaysia, a developing country where the economy is smaller, the financial market less efficient, and institutional settings different from developed countries.
Is there a role for Islamic bonds in global diversification strategies?
Authors: Balcilar Mehmet , Cerci Gozde , Demirer Riza
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the international diversification benefits of Islamic bonds (Sukuk) for equity investors in conventional stock markets. The authors compare the diversification benefits of these securities with their conventional alternatives from advanced and emerging markets. Compared to conventional bonds, Sukuk are backed by tangible assets and carry both bond and stock-like features. Furthermore, the Sharia-based limitations limit the risk in these securities as a result of ethical investing rules. The regime-based model provides insight to possible segmentation (or integration) of these securities from global markets during different market states.

Design/methodology/approach

– Risk spillover effects across conventional and Islamic stock and bond markets are examined using a Markov regime-switching GARCH model with dynamic conditional correlations (MS-DCC-GARCH). Weekly return series for conventional (advanced and emerging) and Islamic stock and bond indices are examined within a regime-dependent specification that takes into account low, high, and extreme volatility states. The DCC are then used to establish alternative diversified portfolios formed by supplementing conventional and Islamic equities with conventional and Islamic bonds one at a time.

Findings

– Asymmetric shocks are observed from conventional stocks and bonds into Islamic bonds (Sukuk). Compared to emerging market bonds, Sukuk are found to display a different pattern in the transmission of global market shocks. The analysis of dynamic correlations suggests a low degree of association between Islamic bonds and global stock markets with episodes of negative correlations observed, particularly during market crisis periods. Portfolio performance analysis suggests that Islamic bonds provide valuable diversification benefits that are not possible to obtain from conventional bonds.

Originality/value

– This study provides comprehensive analysis of volatility interactions and dynamic correlations across Islamic and conventional markets within a regime-based framework and provides insight to whether these securities could serve as safe havens or diversifiers for global investors. The findings have significant implications for global diversification strategies, particularly during market crisis periods.
Measuring intellectual capital performance of Indian banks
Authors: Singh Sukhdev , Sidhu Jasvinder , Joshi Mahesh , Kansal Monika
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to measure the intellectual capital performance of Indian banks and established a relationship between intellectual capital and return on assets (ROA). The paper also compared the intellectual capital performance of public sector and private sector banks.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is based on secondary data from the top 20 Indian banks. Ten banks were selected from each of the public and private sectors on the basis of paid-up equity capital. The analysis was made using the value added intellectual coefficient, the coefficient of variation, exponential growth rates, trend analysis, Yule’s coefficient, the coefficient of correlation, the F-test and the t-test.

Findings

– The study revealed that private sectors have performed relatively better regarding the creation of total information coefficient (IC). However, the ROA was still below the international benchmark of
>
1 percent. The major cause of the lower IC and the reduced ROA is disproportionate to the increase in capital employed and escalating non-performing assets in the Indian banking sector.

Practical implications

– The study focussed on managers and identified the causes of lower performance. It proposed numerous strategies to improve the aggregate score of IC, which is closely related to bank profitability.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to make a comparative analysis of intellectual capital performance in public and private sector banks in India and in addition to the traditional style of measuring sectoral performance. Further, the study employed new statistical tools, such as Yule’s coefficient of association, to establish the association between performance variables.
Grazing‐induced shifts in community functional composition and soil nutrient availability in Tibetan alpine meadows
Authors: Niu Kechang , He Jin‐Sheng , Lechowicz Martin J.
Published: June 2016

The functional structure of plant communities can be altered by grazing through two main mechanisms: species turnover (i.e. changes in species occurrence and relative abundance) and intraspecific trait variability (ITV), which is driven by phenotypic responses of individual plants and shifts in the relative abundance of genotypic variants within species. Studies of grassland ecosystem function under grazing often focus on community changes induced by species turnover, which ignores the effects ofITVon biomass productivity, soil carbon or nutrient availability. By quantifying the relative contribution of both effects on shifts in community‐wide traits, we highlight the role ofITVin community functional response to grazing and its implications for ecosystem function in Tibetan alpine meadows.

We measured three chemical traits (LC: leaf carbon,LN: leaf nitrogen andLP: leaf phosphorus concentrations) and two morphological traits (SLA: specific leaf area,LDMC: leaf dry matter content) that are critical components of plant production and forage quality in grazed and ungrazed plots. Using variance decomposition of community‐weighted means (CWM) for these foliar traits, we distinguished the relative importance ofITVvs. change in species occurrence and abundance in response to grazing and the associated changes in soil carbon and nutrient availability.

TheCWMfor foliar nutrients andSLACWMincreased in response to grazing together with decreases in soil carbon and nutrient stores, especiallyLPCWMenrichment and loss of available soil P. TheLPCWMwas strongly negatively correlated withLDMCCWM, which was significantly higher in ungrazed plots. These community‐wide trait responses to grazing were generally best captured byITVand not changes in species occurrence and abundance, althoughITVwas consistently correlated with species turnover for all traits.

Synthesis and applications. In response to continuous grazing, plants in Tibetan alpine meadows increase specific leaf area and foliar nutrients but tend to have lower leaf dry matter content, a response consistent with faster growth and regrowth under grazing. This intraspecific trait variability response drives a shift in community function from conservative, slow‐growing resource use in ungrazed meadows to exploitative resource use under grazing. This community‐wide functional response enhances forage quality, in turn favouring the secondary productivity of small herbivorous mammal communities, but also contributes to accelerated depletion of soil available phosphorus. We discuss the implications of these results for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem function and rangeland sustainability in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, especially with regard to managing grazing rotation to strike a balance between favouring secondary productivity of domesticated stock vs. small herbivorous mammals.
Manipulating wetland hydroperiod to improve occupancy rates by an endangered amphibian: modelling management scenarios
Authors: Hamer Andrew J. , Heard Geoffrey W. , Urlus Jake , Ricciardello Jonathon , Schmidt Bernadette , Quin Darren , Steele William K.
Published: June 2016

Environmental managers have the difficult task of ensuring species persistence despite considerable uncertainty about their response to management. Spatially explicit population models provide one solution for simulating the dynamics of species and evaluating alternative management regimes.

We used a Bayesian model to investigate wetland occupancy dynamics of the endangered growling grass frogLitoria raniformisat a wastewater treatment plant in southern Victoria, Australia. We coupled prior information from earlier research on this species with our survey data to quantify the effects of patch‐scale variables and connectivity on the probabilities of occupancy, population extinction and colonization. Hydroperiods of 13 sites were experimentally enhanced to bolster occupancy rates byL. raniformis. We used simulations to assess the extent to which the enhanced hydroperiod regime improved the viability of the focal metapopulation.

Occupancy rate increased by 15% among the enhanced sites in 2013–2014, whereas the rate of occupancy among unenhanced sites fell by 11% in that year. Forward simulation using the dynamic occupancy model suggested that the minimum occupancy rate across the metapopulation would be 18% higher if the enhanced hydroperiod regime was retained over the next 20 years.

Mean posterior effects of patch‐scale variables and connectivity on the occupancy dynamics ofL. raniformiswere consistent with the prior effect in all cases, with only small changes to the size of these effects. There was no clear effect of water chemistry on occupancy dynamics.

Synthesis and applications. This work suggests that managing the hydroperiod of constructed wetlands can be an effective tool for the conservation of amphibians and demonstrates the utility of spatially explicit models for assessing metapopulation viability. We encourage managers to experimentally test the efficacy of manipulating patch‐scale variables to improve occupancy rates within amphibian metapopulations.
Faster and farther: wolf movement on linear features and implications for hunting behaviour
Authors: Dickie Melanie , Serrouya Robert , McNay R. Scott , Boutin Stan
Published: June 2016

Predation by grey wolvesCanis lupushas been identified as an important cause of boreal woodland caribouRangifer tarandus cariboumortality, and it has been hypothesized that wolf use of human‐created linear features such as seismic lines, pipelines and roads increases movement, resulting in higher kill rates.

We tested if wolves select linear features and whether movement rates increased while travelling on linear features in north‐eastern Alberta and north‐western Saskatchewan using 5‐minGPS(Global Positioning System) locations from twenty‐two wolves in six packs.

Wolves selected all but two linear feature classes, with the magnitude of selection depending on feature class and season. Wolves travelled two to three times faster on linear features compared to the natural forest. Increased average daily travelling speed while on linear features and increased proportion of steps spent travelling on linear features increased net daily movement rates, suggesting that wolf use of linear features can increase their search rate.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings that wolves move faster and farther on human‐created linear features can inform mitigation strategies intended to decrease predation on woodland caribou, a threatened species. Of the features that can realistically be restored, mitigation strategies such as silviculture and linear deactivation (i.e. tree‐felling and fencing) should prioritize conventional seismic lines (i.e. cleared lines used for traditional oil and gas exploration) and pipelines, as they were selected by wolves and increased travelling speed, before low‐impact seismic lines.
Regulatory Unilateralism: Arguments for Going It Alone on Climate Change
Authors: Drahos Peter , Downie Christian
Published: June 2016

Climate change is a collective action problem that has often been analyzed as a Prisoner's Dilemma. States have an incentive to free ride on the efforts of others. Yet around the globe national and sub‐national governments are introducing regulatory measures to reduce emissions that can be fairly characterized as unilateral actions. TheUSand China, the world's two largest emitters, are at the forefront. Indeed the evidence of states beginning to depart from business‐as‐usual behavior raises the possibility that the characterizations of climate change as a Prisoner's Dilemma may apply less strongly to the problem and that something else may be starting to happen. Accordingly, this article considers: (i) to what extent nations are taking unilateral action to address climate change; and (ii) in the context of climate change, which is considered one of the greatest global collective action problems the world has faced, what are the possible economic explanations for nations to act in a unilateral fashion and what are the normative reasons for doing so. We justify regulatory unilateralism on economic, geopolitical and moral grounds, and argue that regulatory unilateralism may offer the best hope of triggering a race to cut emissions. A race rather than prolonged negotiations is what is required at this moment in climate history.
Single embryo transfer for all?
Authors: Miller Laura M. , Hodgson Ruth , Wong Tze Yoong , Merrilees Margaret , Norman Robert J. , Johnson Neil P.
Published: June 2016

Historically to maintain live birth rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), multiple embryos were transferred. Improvements in technology have meant a move to selective single embryo transfer (SET). Do we now have enough confidence in SET to make it mandatory?
Variations in first‐time caesarean birth between Eastern African immigrants and Australian‐born women in public care: A population‐based investigation in Victoria
Authors: Belihu Fetene B. , Small Rhonda , Davey Mary‐Ann
Published: June 2016

Background

Caesarean section (CS) rates are known to vary by country, migration status and social group. However, little population‐based, confounder adjusted evidence exists on caesarean rate for African immigrants in Australia.

Aim

To investigate disparities in first‐time caesarean, mainly unplanned caesarean in labour for women born in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan relative to Australian‐born women in public care.

Methods

A population‐based study of 237 943 Australian and 4057 Eastern African singleton births between 1999 and 2007, was conducted using Victorian Perinatal Data Collection. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analysis by parity, adjusting for confounders selected a priori, was performed for first‐time unplanned caesarean in labour and overall caesarean.

Results

Primiparae born in each of the Eastern African countries had elevated odds of unplanned caesarean in labour: Eritrea adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 2.04 95% CI (1.41, 2.97), Ethiopia ORadj 2.08 95% CI (1.62, 2.68), Somalia ORadj 1.62 95% CI (1.25, 2.10) and Sudan ORadj 1.39 95% CI (1.03, 1.87). Similarly, multiparae from Eastern African countries had elevated odds of unplanned caesarean in labour: Eritrea ORadj 2.13 95%CI(1.15, 3.97), Ethiopia ORadj 2.05 95% CI (1.38, 3.03), Somalia ORadj 2.16 95% CI (1.69, 2.77) and Sudan ORadj 1.81 95% CI (1.32, 2.49). The odds of any first‐time caesarean (planned or unplanned) were elevated for primiparae born in all countries except Sudan and for multiparae born in Ethiopia and Somalia.

Conclusions

We observed substantial variations in a first‐time CS between Eastern African and Australian‐born women in Victoria, Australia. However, these disparities were unexplained by socio‐demographic and clinical risks, suggesting the potential importance of other factors such as communication difficulties, support systems for immigrant pregnant women and possible differences in care.
Morality or competence? The importance of affirming the appropriate dimension of self‐integrity
Authors: Jessop Donna C. , Sparks Paul , Jessop Laura , Dodds Lauren , Lynch Sarah
Published: June 2016

Objectives

Two studies explored the relative efficacy of a morality‐based versus a competence‐based self‐affirmation manipulation at increasing acceptance of personally relevant health risk information. In accordance with prior theorizing (e.g., Cohen & Sherman, 2014), it was hypothesized that the morality affirmation would be more effective than the competence affirmation in such contexts, as the former targets a different domain to that threatened by the health risk information.

Design

Both studies employed a cross‐sectional experimental design.

Methods

Participants were presented with a morality affirmation, competence affirmation, or no affirmation control prior to reading a message about the risks of (1) not engaging in daily dental flossing (Study 1) and (2) red meat consumption (Study 2). Participants subsequently completed a number of measures assessing acceptance of the message.

Results

In line with predictions, findings from both studies demonstrated that the morality affirmation precipitated greater acceptance of personally relevant health risk information compared to the competence affirmation, as reflected in more positive attitudes (Studies 1 and 2) and intentions (Study 1). Study 2's findings further suggested that the superior efficacy of the morality affirmation in health‐related contexts could not simply be attributed to a general tendency for this affirmation to outperform the competence affirmation.

Conclusions

The nature of the value affirmed may be a critical factor in determining the success of self‐affirmation manipulations in health‐related domains.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Self‐affirmation has been shown to promote openness to personally relevant health risk information across a variety of behavioural domains. The most frequently utilized self‐affirmation manipulation involves participants reflecting on a personally important value; however, participants typically self‐select the value they reflect on. This means that the nature of the value that is affirmed may vary from person to person within a given study, seriously limiting the interpretability of the findings.

What does this study add?

This study manipulated the domain of the value affirmed prior to reading a health risk message.

Findings suggest that a morality affirmation is most effective at promoting openness to the message.

This study highlights the importance of value domain in determining the success of self‐affirmation.
Scaling of Advanced Theory‐of‐Mind Tasks
Authors: Osterhaus Christopher , Koerber Susanne , Sodian Beate
Published: June 2016

Advanced theory‐of‐mind (AToM) development was investigated in three separate studies involving 82, 466, and 402 elementary school children (8‐, 9‐, and 10‐year‐olds). Rasch and factor analyses assessed whether common conceptual development underlies higher‐order false‐belief understanding, social understanding, emotion recognition, and perspective‐taking abilities. The results refuted a unidimensional scale and revealed three distinct AToM factors: social reasoning, reasoning about ambiguity, and recognizing transgressions of social norms. Developmental progressions emerged for the two reasoning factors but not for recognizing transgressions of social norms. Both social factors were significantly related to inhibition, whereas language development only predicted performance on social reasoning. These findings suggest that AToM comprises multiple abilities, which are subject to distinct cognitive influences. Importantly, only two AToM factors involve conceptual development.
Sensory Processing in Rhesus Monkeys: Developmental Continuity, Prenatal Treatment, and Genetic Influences
Authors: Schneider Mary L. , Moore Colleen F. , Adkins Miriam , Barr Christina S. , Larson Julie A. , Resch Leslie M. , Roberts Andrew
Published: June 2016

Neonatal sensory processing (tactile and vestibular function) was tested in 78 rhesus macaques from two experiments. At ages 4–5 years, striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding was examined using positron emission tomography. At ages 5–7 years, adult sensory processing was assessed. Findings were: (a) prenatal stress exposure yielded less optimal neonatal sensory processing; (b) animals carrying the short rh5‐HTTLPR allele had less optimal neonatal sensory scores than monkeys homozygous for the long allele; (c) neonatal sensory processing was significantly related to striatal D2 receptor binding for carriers of the short allele, but not for animals homozygous for the long allele; and (d) there was moderate developmental continuity in sensory processing from the neonatal period to adulthood.
Polymorphisms in STAT-4, IL-10, PSORS1C1, PTPN2 and MIR146A genes are associated differently with prognostic factors in Italian patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Ciccacci C , Conigliaro P , Perricone C , Rufini S , Triggianese P , Politi C , Novelli G , Perricone R , Borgiani P
Published: June 2016

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease resulting in chronic inflammation of the synovium and consequent cartilage and bone erosion. RA is associated strongly with the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), and consists of clinical subsets of anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive and -negative patients. This study was designed to evaluate whether relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with RA and other autoimmune disorders are related to RF, ACPA and clinical phenotype in a cohort of biologic drugs naive Italian RA patients; 192 RA patients and 278 age-matched healthy controls were included. Clinical and laboratory data were registered. We analysed a total of 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in signal transducer and activator of transcription-4 (STAT-4), interleukin (IL)-10, psoriasis susceptibility 1 candidate 1 (PSORS1C1), protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2), endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated 3 interacting protein 2 (TRAF3IP2) and microRNA 146a (MIR146A) genes by allelic discrimination assays. Case-control association studies and genotype/phenotype correlation analyses were performed. A higher risk to develop RA was observed for rs7574865 in the STAT-4 gene, while the rs1800872 in the IL-10 gene showed a protective effect. The presence of RF was associated significantly with rs1800872 variant in IL-10, while rs2910164 in MIR146A was protective. ACPA were associated significantly with rs7574865 in STAT-4. The SNP rs2233945 in the PSORS1C1 gene was protective regarding the presence of bone erosions, while rs2542151 in PTPN2 gene was associated with joint damage. Our results confirm that polymorphisms in STAT-4 and IL-10 genes confer susceptibility to RA. For the first time, we described that SNPs in PSORS1C1, PTPN2 and MIR146A genes were associated differently with a severe disease phenotype in terms of autoantibody status and radiographic damage in an Italian RA population.
Early Childhood Development Plus Violence Prevention in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Efevbera Yvette , McCoy Dana C. , Wuermli Alice J. , Betancourt Theresa S.
Published: June 2016

Violence exposure can negatively impact early childhood development (ECD), yet limited research exists in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to determine what effective integration ofECDplus violence prevention (ECD+VP) can look like inLMICs. Seventeen key informants were selected using purposive sampling, representing U.N. agencies, donors, implementers and research organisations. Using open coding of semi‐structured interviews, the authors identify five priority areas for promoting an integratedECD+VPagenda: (i) parenting and parent child relationships, (ii) family systems, (iii) development in an ecological context, (iv) system strengthening and integration, and (v) building and translating evidence.
The incidence of Warthin tumours and pleomorphic adenomas in the parotid gland over a 25‐year period
Authors: Luers J.C. , Guntinas‐Lichius O. , Klussmann J.P. , Küsgen C. , Beutner D. , Grosheva M.
Published: June 2016

Objectives

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is reported to be the most common benign parotid tumour followed by Warthin tumour (WT), but the proportion of these two entities might have changed.

Design

Retrospective file analysis.

Setting

Tertiary referral head and neck centre.

Participants

Patients who underwent a parotidectomy within a period of 25 years (1990–2014).

Main outcome measures

Rate of occurrence of PA and WT as well as the development of the PA/WT ratio over the years.

Results

Overall, 1818 patients with WT (707, 38.9%) and PA (1111, 61.1%) were identified. There was a dominance of PA over WT in all years. An increase in percentage of WT, from 24% in 1990 to 48% in 2014, in comparison with PA was evident.

Conclusions

In our single‐institution hospital‐based material of parotidectomies, the percentage of WT in comparison with PA has significantly increased over the last 25 years.
The Role of Task Uncertainty in IT Project Team Advice Networks
Authors: Keith Mark , Demirkan Haluk , Goul Michael
Published: June 2016

Advice seeking is often the most critical success factor in today's IT project teams. To understand how advice seekers are motivated, we integrate the antecedents of advice seeking—as defined by network theory (Granovetter, 1983)—into a cost/benefit model based on expectancy theory (Vroom, 1964). To contribute to the research on advice network formation, we integrate the role of task uncertainty—one of the defining characteristics of IT projects—into that research (Wallace & Keil, 2004). Based on a controlled quasi‐experiment, this study demonstrates that when task uncertainty is low, individuals with attractive personalities and similar demographics will be sought out for advice more frequently, regardless of their knowledge and resources (i.e., the benefits to the advice seekers). However, when task uncertainty is high, individuals with greater knowledge and access to resources are sought out more often in an advice network. These results provide clarity to prior research that has found mixed results concerning the effectiveness of the traditional antecedents to advice seeking (e.g., knowledge, power, and transactive memory) (e.g., Xu, Kim, & Kankanhalli, 2010a). In addition, project managers may choose to alter their team structure in order to optimize the advice network based on the anticipated level of IT project risk or task uncertainty.
A Measure of Throughput Orientation: Scale Development and Nomological Validation
Authors: Sahi Gurjeet , Gupta Mahesh C. , Patel Pankaj C.
Published: June 2016

Throughput orientation, although a well‐established concept in operations management and well recognized by practitioners, has received limited empirical attention potentially due to lack of a psychometrically validated scale. Based on the tenets of throughput orientation—mindset, methodology, and measurement—we propose and develop a psychometrically validated 26‐item scale of throughput orientation (TO). To lower the possibility of nonfalsifiability between TO and performance, we draw on an unexplored context—bank branches in India—where we expect this relationship to be weaker. Furthermore, as throughput in operations is mainly dependent on market demand, market orientation (MO) is proposed as a nomological moderator strengthening the TO‐performance relationship. Using a sample of 173 branch managers of a major private bank in India, we validate the throughput orientation scale, and find that MO strengthens the relationship between TO and performance.
Trading on Twitter: Using Social Media Sentiment to Predict Stock Returns
Authors: Sul Hong Kee , Dennis Alan R. , Yuan Lingyao (Ivy)
Published: June 2016

Decision making is often based on the rational assessment of information, but recent research shows that emotional sentiment also plays an important role, especially for investment decision making. Emotional sentiment about a firm's stock that spreads rapidly through social media is more likely to be incorporated quickly into stock prices (e.g., on the same trading day it was expressed), while sentiment that spreads slowly takes longer to be incorporated into stock prices and thus is more likely to predict stock prices on future days. We analyzed the cumulative sentiment (positive and negative) in 2.5 million Twitter postings about individual S&P 500 firms and compared this to the stock returns of those firms. Our results show that the sentiment in tweets about a specific firm from users with less than 171 followers (the median in our sample) had a significant impact on the stock's returns on the next trading day, the next 10 days, and the next 20 days. Interestingly, sentiment in tweets from users with fewer than 171 followers that were not retweeted had the greatest impact on future stock returns. A trading strategy based on these findings produced meaningful economic gains on the order of an 11–15% annual return.
A health advocacy intervention for adolescents with intellectual disability: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lennox Nicholas , McPherson Lyn , Bain Chris , O'Callaghan Michael , Carrington Suzanne , Ware Robert S
Published: June 2016

Aim

Adolescents with intellectual disability experience poorer heath than their peers in the general population, partially due to communication barriers and knowledge gaps in their health history. This study aimed to test a health intervention package against usual care for a range of health promotion and disease detection outcomes.

Method

A parallel‐group cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with Australian adolescents with intellectual disability living in the community. Randomization occurred at school level. The intervention package consisted of classroom‐based health education, a hand‐held personalized health record, and a health check. Evidence of health promotion, disease prevention, and case‐finding activities were extracted from general practitioners' records for 12 months post‐intervention.

Results

Clinical data was available for 435 of 592 (73.5%) participants from 85 schools. Adolescents allocated to receive the health intervention were more likely to have their vision (odds ratio [OR] 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8–6.1) and hearing (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.0–7.3) tested, their blood pressure checked (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.6–3.7), and weight recorded (OR 4.8; 95% CI 3.1–7.6). There was no difference between health intervention and usual care for identification of new diseases.

Interpretation

The school‐based intervention package increased healthcare activity in adolescents with intellectual disability living in the community.
Enticing the Stork: Can we Evaluate Pro‐Natal Policies Before Having Children?
Authors: Noce Anthony A. , Qirjo Dhimtri , De Silva Namini
Published: June 2016

Aside from immigration, the only meaningful demographic lever available to policymakers attempting to moderate the rate of ageing is the birth rate. This article departs from previous analyses of pro‐natal policies by studying determinants of pro‐natal options ex ante, which represents an advantage for policymakers looking to craft policies with prior knowledge of whether or not a demographic policy will have a significant effect. Our multinomial regression model for a US sample involving college students shows that the preferred choice of pro‐natal incentive is dependent on gender, economic class, number of planned children and migrant status. We find that females are more likely than males to choose any pro‐natal incentive over no incentive. The highest odds for increasing planned number of children are for maternity leave and parental leave options. Respondents associating themselves with the poorest economic class are more likely to choose daycare or government grant as pro‐natal options.
Intergovernmental Organisations and Economic Freedom: Wise Technocrats or Black Helicopters?
Authors: Murphy Ryan H.
Published: June 2016

This article explores the relationship between country membership in major intergovernmental organisations and economic freedom. While it makes no claims to have found any broad theoretically bound, robust causal mechanism, baseline fixed effects models establish relationships amongst economic freedom and membership in the EU, NATO, WTO, UN, OECD, World Bank, and IMF. Though the results are not simple, the strongest findings are negative relationships with the UN, IMF, and WTO, and positive relationships with the World Bank and possibly the EU.
Longitudinal systolic strain profiles and outcomes in peripartum cardiomyopathy
Authors: Briasoulis Alexandros , Mocanu Marian , Marinescu Karolina , Qaqi Osama , Palla Mohan , Telila Tesfaye , Afonso Luis
Published: June 2016

Objective

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of heart failure that develops in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery. Longitudinal systolic strain has been shown to be impaired in HF patients with both preserved and depressed EF, but has not previously characterized in patients with PPCM.

Methods

The purpose of our study was to investigate the prognosis and recovery in patients with PPCM and use 2D strain imaging to characterize regional and global LV strain in patients with PPCM. Between 2009 and 2014, we identified 47 newly diagnosed patients with PPCM and reduced EF (rPPCM), and 14 patients within the first 4 weeks postpartum who presented with signs and symptoms of HF, and elevated BNP/pro‐NT‐BNP, but preserved LVEF (pPPCM). We compared the echocardiographic characteristics of the patients with rPPCM and pPPCM with 14 healthy controls.

Results

All‐cause mortality was 10.6% (5/47) and rehospitalization for HF rate was 31.9% (15/47) at a median follow‐up of 12.5 months (range: 1–60 months) in the rPPCM group. In 25.5% (12/47) of patients with rPPCM, there was no recovery or worsening of LVEF, while complete and partial (more than 10% increase but less than 55%) recovery was seen in 57.4% (27/47) and 17% (8/47) of patients, respectively. Global and longitudinal strain (GLS) values were not independent predictors of all‐cause mortality or the composite endpoint of all‐cause mortality, rehospitalization, or no LVEF recovery in these patients. GLS and segmental strain were significantly lower in the preserved EF group compared with controls but higher compared with PPCM with reduced EF.

Conclusion

Global and segmental longitudinal strain parameters were significantly reduced in PPCM patients.
Crab spiders (Thomisidae) attract insect flower‐visitors withoutUVsignalling
Authors: WELTI ELLEN A. R. , PUTNAM SAVANNAH , JOERN ANTHONY
Published: June 2016

1. Crab spiders (Thomisidae) indirectly affect insect flower‐visitor and flowering plant interactions by consuming and altering the behaviour of insects.

2. Although one expects insect flower‐visitors to avoid crab spiders actively, some crab spider species are known to attract flower‐visitors. Crab spiders may useUVsignalling to lure potential prey to the flowers they occupy.

3. In the present study, a field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of crab spiders occupying three prairie plant species for the insect flower‐visitor community. Pollinating insects were significantly attracted to inflorescences with crab spiders compared to inflorescences without crab spiders for two plant species, and herbivorous insects were attracted to inflorescences with crab spiders for one of these plant species. The two flowering plant species with increased pollinator visitation showed increased seed weights for plants with crab spiders, indicating crab spider presence indirectly increased pollination.

4. To test theUVsignalling hypothesis, inflorescences with crab spiders of one plant species were observed under both aUV‐blocking plastic and a clear plastic control. Contrary to our prediction, flower‐visitors were not more likely to land on inflorescences under the clear plastic; theUVsignalling hypothesis was not supported. Other unknown explanations underlie prey attraction to inflorescences with crab spiders.
Response of swamp bay, Persea palustris, and redbay, P. borbonia, to Raffaelea spp. isolated from Xyleborus glabratus
Authors: Dreaden T. J. , Campbell A. S. , Gonzalez‐Benecke C. A. , Ploetz R. C. , Smith J. A.
Published: June 2016

Laurel wilt is a devastating invasive disease of members of the Lauraceae plant family. It is caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola, which is a nutritional symbiont of its ambrosia beetle vector, Xyleborus glabratus. In the United States, six Raffaelea spp., in addition to R. lauricola, have been recovered from mycangia of X. glabratus. We compared the response of two laurel wilt suspects, swamp bay (Persea palustris) and redbay (Persea borbonia), to five of these species, another undescribed Raffaelea sp., and R. lauricola. Six weeks after inoculation, only R. lauricola caused significantly greater symptoms than water inoculations. The fungi varied in their ability to move systemically and be recovered from the host at the end of the experiment. Stem hydraulic conductivity was decreased by R. lauricola, but none of the other taxa. Although the roles these fungi play in the life cycle of X. glabratus are not known, they do not appear to be pathogens on these host tree species.
Application of the European‐modified dental clinical learning environment inventory (DECLEI) in dental schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Halawany H. S. , Al‐Jazairy Y. H. , Al‐Maflehi N. , Abraham N. B. , Jacob V.
Published: June 2016

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate undergraduate dental students' self‐perceptions of their clinical dental environment using a valid, concise and more practical version of the Dental Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (DECLEI) questionnaire.

Materials and methods

The 24‐item DECLEI was self‐administered to fourth‐ and fifth‐year undergraduate dental students from public and private dental schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the 2014—2015 academic year. Factor analysis revealed three underlying factors associated with the clinical learning environment. Independent sample t‐tests were used to evaluate any associations amongst the items, the factors, the total DECLEI score and other demographic variables. For the scoring system, 6‐point Likert scale responses were scored on a 100% scale ranging from excellent to poor.

Results

The mean DECLEI total score was 64.1 (good) of 100. Amongst the factors, the highest mean score, 71.3 (good), was obtained for the patient interactions and professionalism, and the lowest mean score, 50.2 (moderate), was observed for all the negatively worded statements in the DECLEI. The instrument exhibited good discriminant validity as it was able to record significant differences between genders and between public and private institutions in the total DECLEI, the factors and most of the items scored.

Conclusions

The new DECLEI scale identified several areas of strength and some aspects that could be improved. Overall, the dental students rated the clinical undergraduate programme as more positive than negative.
Impacts of warming and elevated CO2 on a semi‐arid grassland are non‐additive, shift with precipitation, and reverse over time
Authors: Mueller K. E. , Blumenthal D. M. , Pendall E. , Carrillo Y. , Dijkstra F. A. , Williams D. G. , Follett R. F. , Morgan J. A.
Published: June 2016

It is unclear how elevated CO2 (eCO2) and the corresponding shifts in temperature and precipitation will interact to impact ecosystems over time. During a 7‐year experiment in a semi‐arid grassland, the response of plant biomass to eCO2 and warming was largely regulated by interannual precipitation, while the response of plant community composition was more sensitive to experiment duration. The combined effects of eCO2 and warming on aboveground plant biomass were less positive in ‘wet’ growing seasons, but total plant biomass was consistently stimulated by ~ 25% due to unique, supra‐additive responses of roots. Independent of precipitation, the combined effects of eCO2 and warming on C3 graminoids became increasingly positive and supra‐additive over time, reversing an initial shift toward C4 grasses. Soil resources also responded dynamically and non‐additively to eCO2 and warming, shaping the plant responses. Our results suggest grasslands are poised for drastic changes in function and highlight the need for long‐term, factorial experiments.
Herbivory and nutrient limitation protect warming tundra from lowland species’ invasion and diversity loss
Authors: Eskelinen Anu , Kaarlejärvi Elina , Olofsson Johan
Published: June 2016

Herbivory and nutrient limitation can increase the resistance of temperature‐limited systems to invasions under climate warming. We imported seeds of lowland species to tundra under factorial treatments of warming, fertilization, herbivore exclusion and biomass removal. We show that warming alone had little impact on lowland species, while exclusion of native herbivores and relaxation of nutrient limitation greatly benefitted them. In contrast, warming alone benefitted resident tundra species and increased species richness; however, these were canceled by negative effects of herbivore exclusion and fertilization. Dominance of lowland species was associated with low cover of tundra species and resulted in decreased species richness. Our results highlight the critical role of biotic and abiotic filters unrelated to temperature in protecting tundra under warmer climate. While scarcity of soil nutrients and native herbivores act as important agents of resistance to invasions by lowland species, they concurrently promote overall species coexistence. However, when these biotic and abiotic resistances are relaxed, invasion of lowland species can lead to decreased abundance of resident tundra species and diminished diversity.
Upslope development of a tidal marsh as a function of upland land use
Authors: Anisfeld Shimon C. , Cooper Katharine R. , Kemp Andrew C.
Published: June 2016

To thrive in a time of rapid sea‐level rise, tidal marshes will need to migrate upslope into adjacent uplands. Yet little is known about the mechanics of this process, especially in urbanized estuaries, where the adjacent upland is likely to be a mowed lawn rather than a wooded natural area. We studied marsh migration in a Long Island Sound salt marsh using detailed hydrologic, edaphic, and biotic sampling along marsh‐to‐upland transects in both wooded and lawn environments. We found that the overall pace of marsh development was largely unaffected by whether the upland being invaded was lawn or wooded, but the marsh‐edge plant communities that developed in these two environments were quite different, and some indicators (soil salinity, foraminifera) appeared to migrate more easily into lawns. In addition, we found that different aspects of marsh structure and function migrated at different rates: Wetland vegetation appeared to be a leading indicator of marsh migration, while soil characteristics such as redox potential and surface salinity developed later in the process. We defined a ‘hydrologic migration zone’, consisting of elevations that experience tidal inundation with frequencies ranging from 20% to 0.5% of high tides. This hydrologically defined zone – which extended to an elevation higher than the highest astronomical tide datum – captured the biotic and edaphic marsh‐upland ecotone. Tidal inundation at the upper border of this migration zone is highly variable over time and may be rising more rapidly than mean sea level. Our results indicate that land management practices at the upland periphery of tidal marshes can facilitate or impede ecosystem migration in response to rising sea level. These findings are applicable to large areas of tidal marsh along the U.S. Atlantic coast and in other urbanized coastal settings.
Using an Evolutionary Algorithm in Multiobjective Geographic Analysis for Land Use Allocation and Decision Supporting
Authors: Masoumi Zohreh , Maleki Jamshid , Mesgari Mohammad Sadi , Mansourian Ali
Published: June 2016

Usually, allocation of resources is an optimization problem which involves a variety of conflicting economic, social, and ecological objectives. In such a process, advanced geographic analyst tool for manipulation of spatial data and satisfaction of multiple objectives is essential to the success of decision‐making. The present research intends to demonstrate the application of a multiobjective optimization method based on NSGA‐II (we call it HNSGA‐II), along with Geographical Information System (GIS) to select suitable sites for the establishment of large industrial units. Having defined the elements of HNSGA‐II for the site selection of industrial units, the method is tested on the data of Zanjan province, Iran, as the case study. The results showed that the proposed approach can easily find a variety of optimized solutions, giving the decision‐makers the possibility to opt for the most propitious solution. Using this method, the achievement level regarding each objective function can be studied for any of the nondominated solutions.