bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corporate governance and banks’ productivity: evidence from the banking industry in Bangladesh
Authors: Rashid Md. Harun Ur , Zobair Shah Asadullah Mohd. , Chowdhury Md. Asad Iqbal , Islam Azharul 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThough remarkable literature exploring productivity and efficiency has emerged since the last half of the previous century, but dearth studies have been found in showing the impact of corporate governance on banks’ productivity. The study aims to investigate the banks’ productivity and its relationship with corporate governance. For this purpose, the study examines the productivity of 30 listed banks of Bangladesh deploying a Malmquist Productivity Index (an extension of Data Envelopment Analysis) with a panel data covering the period of five years from 2013 to 2017. The empirical results show that the average productivity of the banks is 1.03%. Finally, the ordinary least square (OLS), fixed effect (FE), and random effect (RE) regression were run separately. The research outcomes show that the productivity of the Bangladeshi banks is significantly influenced by financial performance, ownership structure, and board characteristics. The study provides the researchers, academicians, management of the banks, and regulatory body a new insight of how corporate governance influences the banks’ productivity so that they can formulate a better policy to generate more productivity.
On the Effect of Pre-formed Scales in Mitigating Corrosion of Steels in CO2 Environments
Authors: Zekos Iasonas , McMeekin Kristofer , Stack Margaret M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractChromium (Cr) containing steels were tested to analyse corrosion behaviour in carbon dioxide saturated water of varying salinities with extended exposure time. Both potentiodynamic and mass loss data were collected to gain a better understanding of the corrosion mechanisms. It was found that both the high Cr steels displayed degradation in the form of pitting with increasing salinities. However, the low alloy steel reference material showed uniform iron carbonate (FeCO3) precipitation. The use of high salinity precipitated layers to aid corrosion protection in lower salinity seawater environments was then established as an interesting area for greater examination. Subsequently, samples of the low alloy steel previously corroded in solutions of 7, 14 and 28% sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration were then tested in seawater salinities of 3.5% NaCl. It was found that both the 7 and 14% NaCl pre-corroded samples resulted in a significant reduction in the corrosion rate when compared with non-pre-corroded samples. The 7% NaCl pre-corroded sample showed the greatest reduction in corrosion rate, and through SEM analysis of the layer both on the surface and cross-section it was found to display an iron carbonate layer more densely packed and defect free. This indicated the potential benefits of high salinity pre-corrosion techniques to aid protection in seawater environments.
Performing Settler-Colonialism
Authors: Balestrini Nassim Winnie 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis essay brings together conceptualizations of populism in political science with those in literary and cultural studies. Theater historian Elizabeth Maddock Dillon’s theory of a »performative commons« (from 1649 through 1849) are applied to three US-American nineteenth-century plays. The first two examples confirm Dillon’s points regarding strategies of erasing Native Americans from evolving definitions of ›the American people‹. In the third play, which was popular between the 1860s and early 1900s, Native Americans are completely absent, and the populist nostalgia related to the central character and star actor privileges white male entitlement to personal freedoms at the expense of women’s rights within the newly minted New World republic.
The four biggest malware threats to UK businesses
Authors: Reynolds Roy 
Published: March 2020

It's official – cyber criminals are steadily switching their focus from consumers to organisations, with global business malware detection rates up 13% during 2019, and no sign this trend will slow during 2020. Cyber criminals are switching their focus from consumers to organisations, with business malware detection rates up 13% during 2019 and no sign this trend will slow down. Attackers are increasingly bold about the ways they monetise the information they steal. And the UK retains the unenviable honour of being the cybercrime epicentre of Europe, with the UK service sector the most-targeted industry, followed by education, retail and manufacturing. Roy Reynolds of Vodat examines the four biggest malware threats for UK businesses, how they can infect your digital networks and the steps necessary to remain malware-free.
A Retrospective Analysis of Mortality From 2015 Gorkha Earthquakes of Nepal: Evidence and Future Recommendations
Authors: Adhikari Bipin , Bhandari Parash Mani , Neupane Dipika , Mishra Shiva Raj 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTObjective:The aim of this study was to explore the mortality pattern due to Gorkha earthquakes in 2015 and review the response and recovery efforts immediately following the earthquakes.Methods:Data from published reports of the Nepal Police showed over 8000 deaths. These death counts were categorized by gender, ethnicity, and age groups (interval of 5 years). The mortality rate was calculated (per 100 000 population), using the projected population as the denominator as of April 2015.Results:Children < 10 years and older adults > 55 years showed a higher rate of deaths, with similar trends for the most affected districts. Almost 8 more females’ deaths were reported per 100 000 population compared with their male counterparts. There was a higher death rate from Province 3 with a notable gender difference: Nearly 20 more females’ deaths were reported per 100 000 population compared with their male counterparts. There was a higher death rate in mountains (542.4 per 100 000) compared with hills (55.0 per 100 000) and the southern Terai region (0.96 per 100 000) of Nepal.Conclusions:Young and older adults, female, and residents of remote, mountainous regions of Nepal were vulnerable to the earthquakes. Future earthquake preparedness should focus on the vulnerable population by age and gender and the geographical accessibility.
Association between GLP-1 receptor gene polymorphisms with reward learning, anhedonia and depression diagnosis
Authors: Yapici-Eser Hale , Appadurai Vivek , Eren Candan Yasemin , Yazici Dilek , Chen Chia-Yen , Öngür Dost , Pizzagalli Diego A. , Werge Thomas , Hall Mei-Hua 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackground:Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) are widely expressed in the brain. Evidence suggests that they may play a role in reward responses and neuroprotection. However, the association of GLP-1R with anhedonia and depression diagnosis has not been studied. Here, we examined the association of GLP-1R polymorphisms with objective and subjective measures of anhedonia, as well as depression diagnosis.Methods:Objective [response bias assessed by the probabilistic reward task (PRT)] and subjective [Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)] measures of anhedonia, clinical variables and DNA samples were collected from 100 controls and 164 patients at McLean Hospital. An independent sample genotyped as part of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) was used to study the effect of putative GLP-1R polymorphisms linked to response bias in PRT on depression diagnosis.Results:The C allele in rs1042044 was significantly associated with increased PRT response bias, when controlling for age, sex, case-control status and PRT discriminability. AA genotype of rs1042044 showed higher anhedonia phenotype based on SHAPS scores. However, analysis of PGC major depressive disorder data showed no association between rs1042044 and depression diagnosis.Conclusion:Findings suggest a possible association of rs1042044 with anhedonia but no association with depression diagnosis.
The Effects of Heat Exposure on Human Mortality Throughout the United States
Authors: Shindell Drew , Zhang Yuqiang , Scott Melissa , Ru Muye , Stark Krista , Ebi Kristie L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractExposure to high ambient temperatures is an important cause of avoidable, premature death that may become more prevalent under climate change. Though extensive epidemiological data are available in the United States, they are largely limited to select large cities, and hence, most projections estimate the potential impact of future warming on a subset of the U.S. population. Here we utilize evaluations of the relative risk of premature death associated with temperature in 10 U.S. cities spanning a wide range of climate conditions to develop a generalized risk function. We first evaluate the performance of this generalized function, which introduces substantial biases at the individual city level but performs well at the large scale. We then apply this function to estimate the impacts of projected climate change on heat‐related nationwide U.S. deaths under a range of scenarios. During the current decade, there are 12,000 (95% confidence interval 7,400–16,500) premature deaths annually in the contiguous United States, much larger than most estimates based on totals for select individual cities. These values increase by 97,000 (60,000–134,000) under the high‐warming Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario and by 36,000 (22,000–50,000) under the moderate RCP4.5 scenario by 2100, whereas they roughly double under the aggressive mitigation scenario RCP2.6. These results include estimates of adaptation that reduce impacts by ~40–45% as well as population increases that roughly offset adaptation. The results suggest that the degree of climate change mitigation will have important health impacts on Americans.
Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations Impact on El Niño/Southern Oscillation Predictions: Case Studies From the NASA GEOS Seasonal Forecast System
Authors: Hackert Eric , Kovach Robin M. , Molod A. , Vernieres G. , Borovikov A. , Marshak J. , Chang Y. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEl Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has far reaching global climatic impacts and so extending useful ENSO forecasts would have great societal benefit. However, one key variable that has yet to be fully exploited within coupled forecast systems is accurate estimation of near‐surface ocean salinity. Satellite sea surface salinity (SSS), combined with temperature, help to improve the estimates of ocean density changes and associated near‐surface mixing. For the first time, we assess the impact of satellite SSS observations for improving near‐surface dynamics within ocean reanalyses and how these initializations impact dynamical ENSO forecasts using NASA's coupled forecast system (GEOS‐S2S‐2). For all initialization experiments, all available sea level and in situ temperature and salinity observations are assimilated. Separate observing system experiments additionally assimilate Aquarius, SMAP, SMOS, and these data sets combined. We highlight the impact of satellite SSS on ocean reanalyses by comparing experiments with and without the application of SSS assimilation. Next, we compare case studies of coupled forecasts for the big 2015 El Niño, the 2017 La Niña, and the weak El Niño in 2018 that are initialized from GEOS‐S2S‐2 spring reanalyses that assimilate and withhold along‐track SSS. For each of these ENSO‐event case studies, assimilation of satellite SSS improves the forecast validation with respect to observed NINO3.4 anomalies (or at least reduces the forecast uncertainty). Satellite SSS assimilation improved characterization of the mixed layer depth leading to more accurate coupled air/sea interaction and better forecasts. These results further underline the value of satellite SSS assimilation into operational forecast systems.
Chandra Observations of Jupiter's X‐ray Auroral Emission During Juno Apojove 2017
Authors: Weigt D. M. , Jackman C. M. , Dunn W. R. , Gladstone G. R. , Vogt M. F. , Wibisono A. D. , Branduardi‐Raymont G. , Altamirano D. , Allegrini F. , Ebert R. W. , Valek P. W. , Thomsen M. F. , Clark G. , Kraft R. P. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractJupiter's auroral X‐rays have been observed for 40 years with an unknown driver producing quasiperiodic emission, concentrated into auroral hot spots. In this study we analyze an
10‐hr Chandra observation from 18:56 on 18 June 2017. We use a new Python pipeline to analyze the auroral morphology, perform timing analysis by incorporating Rayleigh testing, and use in situ Juno observations to infer the magnetosphere that was compressed during the Chandra interval. During this time Juno was near its apojove position of
112
, on the dawn flank of the magnetosphere near the nominal magnetopause position. We present new dynamical polar plots showing an extended X‐ray hot spot in the northern auroral region traversing across the Jovian disk. From this morphology, we propose setting a numerical threshold of
7 photons per 5° System III longitude
5° latitude to define a photon concentration of the northern hot spot region. Our timing analysis finds two significant quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) of
37 and
26 min within the extended northern hot spot. No statistically significant QPOs were found in the southern X‐ray auroral emission. The Rayleigh test is combined with Monte Carlo simulation to find the statistical significance of any QPOs found. We use a flux equivalence mapping model to trace the possible origin of the QPOs, and thus the driver, to the dayside magnetopause boundary.
Progression-free survival as a surrogate for overall survival in oncology trials: a methodological systematic review
Authors: Belin Lisa , Tan Aidan , De Rycke Yann , Dechartres Agnès 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundProgression-free survival (PFS) is a surrogate endpoint widely used for overall survival (OS) in oncology. Validation of PFS as a surrogate must be done for each indication and each intervention. We aimed to identify all studies evaluating the validity of PFS as a surrogate for OS in oncology, and to describe their methodological characteristics.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review by searching MEDLINE via PubMed and the Cochrane Library with no limitation on time, selected relevant studies and extracted data in duplicate on how surrogacy was evaluated (meta-analytic approach, assessment of correlation and level of evaluation).ResultsWe identified 91 studies evaluating the validity of PFS as a surrogate for OS in 24 cancer localisations. Although a meta-analytic approach was used in 83 (91%) studies, the methods used to validate PFS as a surrogate of OS were heterogeneous across studies. Of the 47 studies concluding that PFS is a good surrogate for OS, for 15 (32%), there was no quantitative argument for surrogacy.ConclusionsAlthough most studies used a meta-analytic approach as recommended, our methodological review highlights heterogeneity in methods and reporting, which stresses the importance of developing and applying clear recommendations in this area.
PRISMS-PF: A general framework for phase-field modeling with a matrix-free finite element method
Authors: DeWitt Stephen , Rudraraju Shiva , Montiel David , Andrews W. Beck , Thornton Katsuyo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA new phase-field modeling framework with an emphasis on performance, flexibility, and ease of use is presented. Foremost among the strategies employed to fulfill these objectives are the use of a matrix-free finite element method and a modular, application-centric code structure. This approach is implemented in the new open-source PRISMS-PF framework. Its performance is enabled by the combination of a matrix-free variant of the finite element method with adaptive mesh refinement, explicit time integration, and multilevel parallelism. Benchmark testing with a particle growth problem shows PRISMS-PF with adaptive mesh refinement and higher-order elements to be up to 12 times faster than a finite difference code employing a second-order-accurate spatial discretization and first-order-accurate explicit time integration. Furthermore, for a two-dimensional solidification benchmark problem, the performance of PRISMS-PF meets or exceeds that of phase-field frameworks that focus on implicit/semi-implicit time stepping, even though the benchmark problem’s small computational size reduces the scalability advantage of explicit time-integration schemes. PRISMS-PF supports an arbitrary number of coupled governing equations. The code structure simplifies the modification of these governing equations by separating their definition from the implementation of the numerical methods used to solve them. As part of its modular design, the framework includes functionality for nucleation and polycrystalline systems available in any application to further broaden the phenomena that can be used to study. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated with examples from several common types of phase-field simulations, including coarsening subsequent to spinodal decomposition, solidification, precipitation, grain growth, and corrosion.
Three-dimensional entanglement on a silicon chip
Authors: Lu Liangliang , Xia Lijun , Chen Zhiyu , Chen Leizhen , Yu Tonghua , Tao Tao , Ma Wenchao , Pan Ying , Cai Xinlun , Lu Yanqing , Zhu Shining , Ma Xiao-Song 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEntanglement is a counterintuitive feature of quantum physics that is at the heart of quantum technology. High-dimensional quantum states offer unique advantages in various quantum information tasks. Integrated photonic chips have recently emerged as a leading platform for the generation, manipulation and detection of entangled photons. Here, we report a silicon photonic chip that uses interferometric resonance-enhanced photon-pair sources, spectral demultiplexers and high-dimensional reconfigurable circuitries to generate, manipulate and analyse path-entangled three-dimensional qutrit states. By minimizing on-chip electrical and thermal cross-talk, we obtain high-quality quantum interference with visibilities above 96.5% and a maximally entangled-qutrit state with a fidelity of 95.5%. We further explore the fundamental properties of entangled qutrits to test quantum nonlocality and contextuality, and to implement quantum simulations of graphs and high-precision optical phase measurements. Our work paves the path for the development of multiphoton high-dimensional quantum technologies.
HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 allele and haplotype frequencies defined by next generation sequencing in a population of East Croatia blood donors
Authors: Tokić Stana , Žižkova Veronika , Štefanić Mario , Glavaš-Obrovac Ljubica , Marczi Saška , Samardžija Marina , Sikorova Katerina , Petrek Martin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNext-generation sequencing (NGS) is increasingly used in transplantation settings, but also as a method of choice for in-depth analysis of population-specific HLA genetic architecture and its linkage to various diseases. With respect to complex ethnic admixture characteristic for East Croatian population, we aimed to investigate class-I (HLA-A, -B, -C) and class-II (HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, -DQB1) HLA diversity at the highest, 4-field resolution level in 120 healthy, unrelated, blood donor volunteers. Genomic DNA was extracted and HLA genotypes of class I and DQA1 genes were defined in full-length, -DQB1 from intron 1 to 3′ UTR, and -DRB1 from intron 1 to intron 4 (Illumina MiSeq platform, Omixon Twin algorithms, IMGT/HLA release 3.30.0_5). Linkage disequilibrium statistics, Hardy-Weinberg departures, and haplotype frequencies were inferred by exact tests and iterative Expectation-Maximization algorithm using PyPop 0.7.0 and Arlequin v3.5.2.2 software. Our data provide first description of 4-field allele and haplotype frequencies in Croatian population, revealing 192 class-I and class-II alleles and extended haplotypic combinations not apparent from the existing 2-field HLA reports from Croatia. This established reference database complements current knowledge of HLA diversity and should prove useful in future population studies, transplantation settings, and disease-associated HLA screening.
Continuous Sub-Irrigation with Treated Municipal Wastewater for Protein-Rich Rice Production with Reduced Emissions of CH4 and N2O
Authors: Phung Luc Duc , Pham Dung Viet , Sasaki Yuka , Masuda Shuhei , Takakai Fumiaki , Kaku Nobuo , Watanabe Toru 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHerein, we introduce continuous sub-irrigation with treated municipal wastewater (TWW) as a novel cultivation system to promote resource recycling and cost-effective forage rice production in Japan. However, both TWW irrigation and forage rice cultivation were previously considered to intensify CH4 and N2O emissions. In the present study, therefore, we evaluate the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and yielding capacity of forage rice between conventional cultivation and continuous sub-irrigation systems employing different water supply rates. Results indicated that continuous sub-irrigation with TWW resulted in high rice yields (10.4–11 t ha−1) with superior protein content (11.3–12.8%) compared with conventional cultivation (8.6 t ha−1 and 9.2%, respectively). All TWW irrigation systems considerably reduced CH4 emissions, while higher continuous supply rates significantly increased N2O emissions compared with the conventional cultivation. Only the continuous irrigation regime employing suitable supply rates at appropriate timings to meet the N demand of rice plants decreased both CH4 and N2O emissions by 84% and 28%, respectively. Overall, continuous sub-irrigation with TWW provides high yields of protein-rich forage rice without the need for synthetic fertilisers and effectively mitigated GHG emissions from paddy fields.
Density of coral larvae can influence settlement, post-settlement colony abundance and coral cover in larval restoration
Authors: Cameron Kerry A. , Harrison Peter L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSuccessful recruitment of new individuals is essential for recovery of degraded coral reefs. Enhancing supply of coral larvae increases initial settlement, however post-settlement survival can be influenced by density-dependent processes. We investigated the influence of larval density on settlement, colony abundance and growth to 24 months for Acropora tenuis in the north-western Philippines, to determine whether larval supply can be optimised to maximise successful recruitment. Thirty different densities of coral larvae were enclosed for five days around settlement tiles and highest total settlement occurred on tiles with highest larval densities. After 12 months, however, colony abundance and coral cover was lower on high density tiles (supplied with ~2,500–5,000 larvae) than tiles supplied with ~1,000–2,000 larvae. Coral cover at 24 months remained highest on tiles supplied with ~1,000–2,500 larvae. Larval density influenced larval substratum selection, with proportionally fewer larvae settling in typically preferred locations as density increased. We conclude that larval density can influence post-settlement colony abundance and coral cover to 12 months, with coral cover trends persisting to 24 months. We show that optimising larval densities can maximise coral recruitment and growth, however oversupply of larvae at very high densities can have negative outcomes for larval restoration.