bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studying the relationship between managerial ability and real earnings management in economic and financial crisis conditions
Authors: Oskouei Zahra H. , Sureshjani Zahra Heidary 
Published: August 2020

AbstractManagers with different abilities may make various decisions in economic and financial crisis conditions. Real earnings management, as an important issue, is in the centre of attention for many managers in a crisis condition. In this paper, the role of managerial ability in real earnings management is studied in conditions of economic and financial crisis. This study shows that the managers with higher ability take less usage of real earnings management. The results also indicate that managerial ability, economic and financial crisis have significant and negative effects on real earnings management. This negative effect of managerial ability on real earnings management increases in the conditions of economic crisis. Paying attention to the firms' managerial ability, especially in critical conditions, will lead to more accurate decisions by activist investors.
The impact of rent‐seeking on economic growth in the six geographic regions: Evidence from static and dynamic panel data analysis
Authors: Fethi Sami , Imamoglu Hatice 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis paper empirically investigates the impact of rent‐seeking on economic growth by introducing an augmented Solow growth model over the period 2010–2015. Static and dynamic panel regression models are employed to investigate this impact for the six geographic regions, namely, Sub‐Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia according to the World Bank's classification. Results reveal that the impact of control for rent‐seeking on economic growth is found highly significant and positive for most of the regions however, no significant effect could detect on the control for rent‐seeking on economic growth for advanced economies. Results also show that there exists mixed evidence between gross fixed capital as a percentage of gross domestic product, Employment ratio and economic growth for the six geographic regions. The results can be interpreted in favour of the advanced economies that they can relatively handle the rent‐seeking problem compared to the relatively weak economies due to much better political and economic stability, better administrative mechanism, stronger law system, more adequate public services, better health, and education system as well as more advanced infrastructure.
Effects of diamond price volatility on stock returns: Evidence from a developing economy
Authors: Brou Jean Marcelin B. , Mougoué Mbodja , Kouassi Eugene , Thulaganyo Kebaabetswe , Acquah Benjamin K. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHigh diamond price volatility can have significant impact on Botswana's diamond‐driven economy. The global economic crisis of 2008–2009 saw the local economy characterised by heightened commodity price uncertainty, falling stock prices and dwindling international demand for diamonds. In this paper we employ a number of techniques to analyse and assess the effect of diamond price volatility on stock returns in Botswana. Firstly, estimation of a Markov Switching model reveals that high volatility regimes in diamond prices have become more frequent and persistent since the recession. Secondly, a bivariate GARCH‐in‐Mean VAR model is estimated and the results recognize that diamond price volatility has a positive and significant influence on stock returns in Botswana.
Can water mutual funds aid sustainable development?
Authors: Ibikunle Gbenga , Martí‐Ballester Carmen‐Pilar 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe conduct the first comparative analysis of the financial performance of global water mutual funds with conventional, ecology and natural resources mutual funds. Based on a unique sample of 88 water, 198 ecology, 370 natural resources, and 7,437 conventional mutual funds covering the 2008–2017 period, we contrast the financial performance of these four different fund types. On average, water mutual funds perform comparably to conventional mutual funds and outperform ecology and natural resources funds. The performance dynamics is linked to the state of the economy, such that the outperformance by water mutual funds is not observed when markets are bearish. Overall, fund risk‐adjusted performance is predominantly driven by investor activity, especially with regards to their perception of environmental regulatory risk profiles of funds' constituents.
Volatility forecasting revisited using Markov‐switching with time‐varying probability transition
Authors: Wang Jiqian , Ma Feng , Liang Chao , Chen Zhonglu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis study proposes a novel model, Markov‐switching Heterogeneous Autoregressive (MS‐HAR) model with jump‐driven time‐varying transition probabilities (TVTP), to forecast the future volatility in Chinese stock market. The in‐sample results show that MS‐HAR models are more powerful than HAR‐RV‐type models; furthermore, the high‐volatility regime is short‐lived. Moreover, the out‐of‐sample results indicate that the MS‐HAR with TVTP model can achieve a superior forecasting performance and increase the economic value than the competing models including the simple HAR model and the MS‐HAR with fixed transition probabilities (FTP) model. The results are robust to several robustness checks including alternative forecast window, alternative evaluation method, alternative predictive model, sub‐sample analysis and alternative representative index.
How to disinfect anuran eggs? Sensitivity of anuran embryos to chemicals widely used for the disinfection of larval and post‐metamorphic amphibians
Authors: Ujszegi János , Molnár Kinga , Hettyey Attila 
Published: August 2020

AbstractEmerging infectious diseases are major drivers of global and local amphibian biodiversity loss. Therefore, developing effective disinfection methods to manage the impact of diseases in wild and captive “ark” populations are an important goal in amphibian conservation. While chemical disinfectants have been used safely and effectively in larval and adult amphibians infected with pathogenic microbes, their applicability to amphibian egg masses has remained untested. To bridge this gap, we exposed embryos of the common toad (Bufo bufo) and agile frog (Rana dalmatina) experimentally to three widely used disinfectants: voriconazole, chloramphenicol and chlorogen‐sesquihydrate. For 3 days we exposed portions of egg masses to these disinfectants at 1×, 2×, 5× and 10× the concentration recommended for the disinfection of tadpoles and adults. Subsequently, we recorded embryonic and larval survival, as well as larval body mass and the incidence of abnormalities 12 days after hatching. Application of voriconazole had species‐ and concentration‐dependent negative impacts on survival and body mass, and caused marked malformations in the viscerocranial structure ofB. bufotadpoles. Exposure to chlorogen‐sesquihydrate also resulted in significant mortality inB. bufoembryos and negatively affected body mass ofR. dalmatinalarvae. Chloramphenicol had little negative effects on embryos or larvae in either species. Based on these results, the application of voriconazole and chlorogen‐sesquihydrate cannot be recommended for the disinfection of amphibian eggs, whereas treatment with chloramphenicol appears to be a safe method for eliminating potential pathogens from anuran egg masses and their immediate aquatic environment.
DNA methylation data‐based prognosis‐subtype distinctions in patients with esophageal carcinoma by bioinformatic studies
Authors: Chen Hui , Qin Qin , Xu Zhipeng , Chen Tingting , Yao Xijuan , Xu Bing , Sun Xinchen 
Published: August 2020

AbstractEsophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is caused by the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in esophageal mucosa. Of note, the earliest and the most frequent molecular behavior in the complicated pathogenesis of ESCA is DNA methylation. In the present study, we downloaded data of 178 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to explore specific DNA methylation sites that affect prognosis in ESCA patients. Consequently, we identified 1,098 CpGs that were significantly associated with patient prognosis. Hence, these CpGs were used for consensus clustering of the 178 samples into seven clusters. Specifically, the samples in each group were different in terms of age, gender, tumor stage, histological type, metastatic status, and patient prognosis. We further analyzed 1,224 genes in the corresponding promoter regions of the 1,098 methylation sites, and enriched these genes in biological pathways with close correlation to cellular metabolism, enzymatic synthesis, and mitochondrial autophagy. In addition, nine representative specific methylation sites were screened using the weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Finally, a prognostic prediction model for ESCA patients was built in both training and validation cohorts. In summary, our study revealed that classification based on specific DNA methylation sites could reflect ESCA heterogeneity and contribute to the improvement of individualized treatment and precise prognostic prediction.
Impact of organosilanes modified superhydrophobic‐superoleophilic kaolin ceramic membrane on efficiency of oil recovery from produced water
Authors: Usman Jamilu , Othman Mohd HD , Ismail Ahmad F , Rahman Mukhlis A , Jaafar Juhana , Raji Yusuf O , El Badawy Tijjani H , Gbadamosi Afeez O , Kurniawan Tonni A 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDNovel hybrid absorption coupled with membrane filtration technology is proposed for the recovery of oil from produced water. This study aims at developing a low cost superhydrophobic‐superoleophilic kaolin‐based hollow fiber ceramic membrane using phase inversion and sintering technique for the recovery of oil from synthetic produced water. The influence of different organosialanes, such as methyltriethoxysilane (MTES), octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS), 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FAS), trichloro(octadecyl)silane, and chlorotrimethylsilane, was investigated for the modification process.RESULTSField emission scanning electron microscopy results clearly indicated that membrane morphology was altered with coating of the organosilanes. The surface functionality of the organosilanes on kaolin membranes was also confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. From the atomic force microscopy studies, membrane surface roughness was observed to be higher for MTES, FAS, and OTMS coated kaolin membranes. Contact analysis show that the membranes coated with MTES, FAS and OTMS organosilane agents possessed superhydrophobicity of 161.3°, 155.6°, and 150.2° as well as superoleophilicity of 0°, 1.5°, and 2.3°, respectively.CONCLUSIONCrude oil with a concentration of 2 g L−1 displayed a higher oil flux of 80 L m−2h−1 and absorption of 90% for MTES coated kaolin membrane. This study extends the frontier of knowledge in ceramic membrane application for produced water treatment. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
Ammonia capture with biogas purification from anaerobically digested poultry litter
Authors: Witarsa Freddy , Lupitskyy Robert , Moss Andrew , Kulow Anna , Lansing Stephanie 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDPoultry litter (PL) has a high solid and organic nitrogen content that is converted into NH3 during anaerobic digestion (AD), requiring the dilution of PL influent prior to AD. With nutrients extracted from the AD effluent, the water could be reused for influent dilution or for other purposes, while creating a designer nutrient product from the PL matrix. The study goal was to determine the effectiveness of an ammonia (NH3)‐stripping and scrubbing system to remove and capture NH3 from anaerobically digested PL. After NH3 stripping, a novel, patent‐pending dual‐vessel NH3‐scrubber system was designed to simultaneously capture the stripped NH3 while producing higher quality biogas through partial removal of non‐combustible carbon dioxide (CO2) and corrosive hydrogen sulfide (H2S).RESULTSThe stripping reactor reduced total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) by 84.6–90.4% when loaded with an ammonium chloride solution or screened PL digestate after 4 h, while the scrubber captured 73.3–76.2% of the stripped NH3 when proxy biogas streams (59–60% CH4, 40% CO2) with two H2S concentrations (0.1 or 1% H2S) were used. The scrubber reduced CO2 and H2S concentrations in the biogas by 3.9% and 23–29%, respectively.CONCLUSIONThe study demonstrated a novel NH3 stripping‐and‐scrubbing system that successfully reduced TAN in anaerobic digestate, captured the stripped NH3, and reduced CO2 and H2S concentrations in biogas. The novel design can be used to increase the adoption of AD for PL by providing a useful NH3 fertilizer, wastewater with less NH3, and a biogas stream with less H2S. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
Lessons Learned in Nutrition Therapy in Patients With Severe COVID‐19
Authors: Ochoa Juan B. , Cárdenas Diana , Goiburu María E. , Bermúdez Charles , Carrasco Fernando , Correia M. Isabel T. D. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has reached worldwide, and until a vaccine is found, it will continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical presentation of COVID‐19 ranges from that of being asymptomatic to developing a fatal illness characterized by multiple organ involvement. Approximately 20% of the patients will require hospitalization; one‐quarter of hospitalized patients will develop severe COVID‐19 requiring admission to the intensive care unit, most frequently, with acute respiratory failure. An ongoing effort is being made to identify the patients that will develop severe COVID‐19. Overall, patients present with 3 different phenotypes of nutrition risk: (1) the frail older patient, (2) the patient with severe ongoing chronic illness, and (3) the patient with severe and morbid obesity. These 3 phenotypes represent different nutrition risks and diverse nutrition interventions. This article explores the different potential approaches to nutrition intervention in patients with COVID‐19, evaluating, in this process, the challenges faced in the implementation of guidelines written by different societies.
Shear Wave Elastography of the Maternal Cervix
Authors: O'Hara Sandra , Zelesco Marilyn , Sun Zhonghua 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesThis work aimed to compare the use of shear wave elastography on the maternal cervix with transvaginal (TV) and transabdominal (TA) ultrasound approaches to assess differences in shear wave speeds (SWSs) obtained for possible clinical use.MethodsIn both TV and TA ultrasound approaches, SWS measurements were attempted at the anterior and posterior portions of the internal and external cervical os on 38 gravid participants.ResultsA larger number of SWS measurements were obtained at the anterior portion of the cervix by both approaches. The numbers of reliable measurements of the SWS obtained at the anterior and posterior portions of the internal and external os were 99, 65, 103, and 77 in the TA approach and 93, 53, 110, and 87 in the TV approach, respectively. The mean difference in −the SWS obtained between the TV and TA ultrasound approaches was statistically significant at the anterior and posterior portions of the internal os, with differences of 0.67 and 0.52 m/s (P < .05). Differences were not significant at the external os both anteriorly and posteriorly, with differences of 0.15 and − 0.07 m/s (P > .05).ConclusionsBoth TA and TV ultrasound approaches may be used to obtain SWSs in the maternal cervix. This study has shown that SWSs obtained by each approach need to be considered independently, as the TV approach produced significantly greater SWSs at the internal os compared to the TA approach, but the values were similar at the external os.
Drivers of In‐Hospital Costs Following Endoscopic Transphenoidal Pituitary Surgery
Authors: Parasher Arjun K. , Lerner David K. , Glicksman Jordan T. , Miranda Stephen P. , Dimentberg Ryan , Ebesutani Darren , Kohanski Michael , Lee John Y. K. , Storm Phillip B. , O'Malley Bert W. , Palmer James N. , Grady M. Sean , Adappa Nithin D. 
Published: August 2020

ObjectiveTo characterize the patient and clinical factors that determine variability in hospital costs following endoscopic transphenoidal pituitary surgery.MethodsAll endoscopic transphenoidal pituitary surgeries performed from January 1, 2015, to October 24, 2017, with complete data were evaluated in this retrospective single‐institution study. The electronic medical record was reviewed for patient factors, tumor characteristics, and cost variables during each hospital stay. Multivariate linear regression was performed using Stata software.ResultsThe analysis included 190 patients and average length of stay was 4.71 days. Average total in‐hospital cost was $28,624 (95% confidence interval $25,094–$32,155) with average total direct cost of $19,444 ($17,136–$21,752) and total indirect cost of $9181 ($7592–$10,409). On multivariate regression, post‐operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak was associated with a significant increase in all cost variables, including a total cost increase of $40,981 ($15,474–$66,489, P = .002). Current smoking status was associated with an increased total cost of $20,189 ($6,638–$33,740, P = .004). Self‐reported Caucasian ethnicity was associated with a significant decrease in total cost of $6646 (−$12,760 to −$532, P = .033). Post‐operative DI was associated with increased costs across all variables that were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPost‐operative CSF leak, current smoking status, and non‐Caucasian ethnicity were associated with significantly increased costs. Understanding of cost drivers of endoscopic transphenoidal pituitary surgery is critical for future cost control and value creation initiatives.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 131:760–764, 2021
UCST‐Type Copolymer through the Combination of Water‐Soluble Polyacrylamide and Polycaprolactone‐Like Polyester
Authors: Kertsomboon Thanit , Agarwal Seema , Chirachanchai Suwabun 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCopolymers of acrylamide (AAm) and hydrophobic monomers are known as non‐ionic polymers to show an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in aqueous solution. By utilizing cyclic ketene acetals and carrying out the radical ring opening polymerization along with copolymerization with AAm, a UCST polymer, poly(acrylamide‐co‐2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane) (P(AAm‐co‐MDO)), is obtained. The AAm/MDO content results in the shift of UCST phase transition temperature. The present work shows how the combination of water‐soluble PAAm and polycaprolactone‐like structured PMDO develops a new type of thermoresponsive polymer which can be expected for bio‐related applications.
Highly Thermally Stable, Green Solvent Disintegrable, and Recyclable Polymer Substrates for Flexible Electronics
Authors: Chen Linlin , Yu Huang , Dirican Mahmut , Fang Dongjun , Tian Yan , Yan Chaoyi , Xie Jingyi , Jia Dongmei , Liu Hao , Wang Jiasheng , Tang Fangcheng , Zhang Xiangwu , Tao Jinsong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractFlexible electronics require its substrate to have adequate thermal stability, but current thermally stable polymer substrates are difficult to be disintegrated and recycled; hence, generate enormous electronic solid waste. Here, a thermally stable and green solvent‐disintegrable polymer substrate is developed for flexible electronics to promote their recyclability and reduce solid waste generation. Thanks to the proper design of rigid backbones and rational adjustments of polar and bulky side groups, the polymer substrate exhibits excellent thermal and mechanical properties with thermal decomposition temperature (Td,5%) of 430 °C, upper operating temperature of over 300 °C, coefficient of thermal expansion of 48 ppm K−1, tensile strength of 103 MPa, and elastic modulus of 2.49 GPa. Furthermore, the substrate illustrates outstanding optical and dielectric properties with high transmittance of 91% and a low dielectric constant of 2.30. Additionally, it demonstrates remarkable chemical and flame resistance. A proof‐of‐concept flexible printed circuit device is fabricated with this substrate, which demonstrates outstanding mechanical–electrical stability. Most importantly, the substrate can be quickly disintegrated and recycled with alcohol. With outstanding thermally stable properties, accompanied by excellent recyclability, the substrate is particularly attractive for a wide range of electronics to reduce solid waste generation, and head toward flexible and “green” electronics.
ADCY5‐Induced Dyskinetic Storm Rescued with Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation in a 46‐Year‐Old Man
Authors: Eisenberg Hanna J. , Malinova Vesna , Mielke Dorothee , Bähr Mathias , Göricke Meike B. , van Riesen Christoph 
Published: August 2020

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Assessing the performance of GPS tomography at retrieving water vapour fields during landfalling atmospheric rivers over southern California
Authors: Chen Biyan , Yu Wenkun , Dai Wujiao , Wu Hao , Wang Wei 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAccurate monitoring of water vapour evolution is essential to gain a better understanding of the atmospheric river movement, as well as predicting the severity and life cycle of heavy precipitation. The use of hundreds of ground Global Positioning System (GPS) stations in southern California provided a good opportunity to monitor the water vapour changes associated with landfalling atmospheric rivers. Based on a tomographic technique, the 15 min‐resolution water vapour density fields of southern California were reconstructed for February 2019. The assessments by radiosonde and the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts' (ECMWF) Re‐Analysis Interim (ERA‐Interim) database reanalysis show that tomography can retrieve the density profiles with an overall accuracy of about 1.1 g·m–3. In addition, both assessments indicate that the tomographic solutions of altitudes > 6 km are not reliable as relative root mean square error can reach up to 500% in the uppermost layer. Nevertheless, tomographic integrated water vapour is consistent with those derived from radiosonde and ERA‐Interim because their discrepancies are basically < 3 mm. The tomographic density fields were then applied to monitor water vapour evolution associated with two atmospheric river landfalls that occurred on February 2 and February 13, 2019. Results show that both atmospheric rivers made landfall from the northwest and passed over southern California in a southeasterly direction. The series of density profiles reveals that the high‐elevation mountains can block the atmospheric river movement, resulting in the concentration of water vapour at the foot of the mountains.