bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corporate performance volatility: a micro-level perspective
Authors: Abaidoo Rexford , Agyapong Elvis Kwame 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThis study examines how specific micro-level macroeconomic indicators influence corporate performance volatility among US corporate bodies in the short run.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs error correction autoregressive distributed lagged (ARDL) model (ECM) to examine how micro-level variables influence volatility associated with corporate performance in the short run.FindingsThis paper finds that disaggregated or micro-level variables examined, tend to exhibit features that are not readily apparent from the aggregate variable from which such variables are derived. For instance, reported empirical estimate suggests that, growth in expenditures on services and nondurable goods tend to lower volatility associated with corporate performance, whereas government expenditures and expenditures on durable goods rather worsens volatility associated with corporate performance, all things being equal. Additionally, presented empirical estimates further provide evidence suggesting that macroeconomic uncertainty and inflation uncertainty significantly moderate or influence the extent to which disaggregated variables impact corporate performance volatility.Originality/valueCompared to related studies in the reviewed literature, this study rather examines volatility associated with corporate performance instead of the corporate performance indicator itself. Additionally, this paper also examines how disaggregated variable instead of aggregate variables impact such volatility. Finally, the moderating role of key macroeconomic conditions in such a relationship is also examined.
Users' attitude and intention to use mobile financial services in Bangladesh: an empirical study
Authors: Himel Md. Tanvir Alam , Ashraf Shahrin , Bappy Tauhid Ahmed , Abir Md Tanaz , Morshed Md Khaled , Hossain Md. Nazmul 
Published: July 2021

PurposeWhile the usage of mobile financial services (MFSs) is increasing rapidly in developing countries, research on users' attitudes and behavioral intention to adopt MFS is limited. Thus, this study aims to investigate customers' attitudes and intentions to adopt MFS from a Bangladeshi perspective.Design/methodology/approachA mixed research design was employed to conduct this study. Data of 196 respondents were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling. For the quantitative part, data collection was conducted using non-probability sampling through a structured survey questionnaire. A focus group discussion with ten MFS users from divergent backgrounds was conducted to validate the quantitative findings.FindingsThis paper integrated both the technology acceptance model (TAM) and innovation resistance theory (IRT) to validate the results. The authors found that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived trust (PT) positively contribute to customers' attitudes toward MFS adoption. Besides, barriers to acceptance had unfavorable effects on users' attitudes and usage intentions. Furthermore, a focus group discussion revealed valuable insights on the constructs used in this study.Practical implicationsThe study results have implications for both MFS providers and researchers. The outputs and recommendations presented in this paper will encourage the MFS practitioners to stimulate users' attitudes and behavioral intentions by ensuring useful, easy to use, credible and risk-free mobile payment platforms.Originality/valueThis is one of the very few studies in Bangladesh that have taken a contemporary and emerging research topic, providing theoretical, methodological and practical contributions regarding the determinants and consequences of attitude toward using MFSs.
Interactive effects of tree species mixture and climate on foliar and woody trait variation in a widely distributed deciduous tree
Authors: Didion‐Gency Margaux , Bachofen Christoph , Buchmann Nina , Gessler Arthur , Morin Xavier , Vicente Eduardo , Vollenweider Pierre , Grossiord Charlotte 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Despite increasing reports of severe drought and heat impacts on forest ecosystems, community‐level processes, which could potentially modulate tree responses to climatic stress, are rarely accounted for. While numerous studies indicate a positive effect of species diversity on a wide range of ecosystem functions and services, little is known about how species interactions influence tree responses to climatic variability.

We quantified the intraspecific variation in 16 leaf and wood physiological, morphological and anatomical traits in mature beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) at six sites located along a climatic gradient in the French Alps. At each site, we studied pure beech and mixed stands with silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) or downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.). We tested how functional traits differed between the two species mixtures (pure vs. mixed stands) within each site and along the climatic gradient.

We found significant changes in many traits along the climatic gradient as conditions progressively got drier and warmer. Independent of the mixture, reduced leaf‐level CO2 assimilation, stomatal size and thicker leaf cuticles, consistent with a more conservative resource use strategy, were found. At the drier sites, higher foliar stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C), thicker mesophyll tissues and lower specific leaf area (SLA) in pure stands suggest that beech had more acquisitive traits there compared to mixed stands. At the wetter sites, trees in beech‐silver fir mixtures had higher chlorophyll concentration, lower δ13C, larger xylem vessels and higher SLA, suggesting a more acquisitive resource use strategy in mixed stands than in pure stands.

Our work revealed that species interactions are significant modulators of functional traits, and that they can be just as important drivers of intraspecific trait variation as climatic conditions. We show that downy oak mixtures lead to an adaptive drought response by common beech in dry environments. In contrast, in milder climates, interactions with silver fir seem to increase beech resource acquisition and productivity. These findings highlight a strong context dependency and imply that incorporating local interspecific interactions in research on climate impacts could improve our understanding and predictions of forest dynamics.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Oral diadochokinetic rates across languages: Multilingual speakers comparison
Authors: Chu Shin Ying , Foong Jia Hao , Lee Jaehoon , Ben‐David Boaz M. , Barlow Steven M. , Hsu Cristiane 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundIt is unclear whether oral diadochokinetic rate (oral‐DDK) performance is affected by different languages within a multilingual country.AimsThis study investigated the effects of age, sex, and stimulus type (real word in L1, L2 vs. non‐word) on oral‐DDK rates among healthy Malaysian‐Malay speakers in order to establish language‐ and age‐sensitive norms. The second aim was to compared the nonword ‘pataka’ oral‐DDK rates produced by Malaysian‐Malay speakers on currently available normative data for Hebrew speakers and Malaysian‐Mandarin speakers.Methods & ProceduresOral‐DDK performance of 90 participants (aged 20–77 years) using nonword (‘pataka’), Malay real word (‘patahkan’), and English real word (‘buttercake’) was audio recorded. The number of syllables produced in 8 seconds was calculated. Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the effects of stimulus type (nonword, Malay, and English real word), sex (male, female), age (younger, 20–40 years; middle, 41–60 years; older, ≥61 years), and their interactions on the oral‐DDK rate. Data obtained were also compared with the raw data of Malaysian‐Mandarin and Hebrew speakers from the previous studies.Outcomes & ResultsA normative oral‐DDK rate has been established for healthy Malaysian‐Malay speakers. The oral‐DDK rate was significantly affected by stimuli (p < 0.001). Malay real word showed the slowest rate, whereas there was no significant difference between English real word and nonword. The oral‐DDK rate for Malay speakers was significantly higher than Mandarin and Hebrew speakers across stimuli (all p < 0.01). Interestingly, oral‐DDK rates were not affected by age group for Malay speakers.Conclusions & ImplicationsStimuli type and language affect the oral‐DDK rate, indicating that speech‐language therapists should consider using language‐specific norms when assessing multilingual speakers.What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectAge, sex, and language are factors that need to be considered when developing oral‐DDK normative protocol. It is unclear whether oral‐DDK performance is affected by different languages within a multilingual country.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeNo ageing effect across real word versus nonword on oral‐DDK performance was observed among Malaysian‐Malay speakers, contrasting with current available literature that speech movements slow down as we age. Additionally, Malaysian‐Malay speakers have faster oral‐DDK rates than Malaysian‐Mandarin and Hebrew speakers across all stimuli.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?Establishing normative data of different languages will enable speech‐language therapists to select the appropriate reference dataset based on the language mastery of these multilingual speakers.
The Forward March of Devolution Halted—and the Limits of Progressive Unionism
Authors: Andrews Leighton 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe philosophy underlying the creation of the devolved institutions in Wales and Scotland was expansive, leading to a growth in powers over twenty years. That approach is now under challenge following recent Brexit legislation, which marks a sharp contrast with the unionist approaches of the past. The Covid‐19 pandemic provided a visibility boost for devolution, while exposing existing tensions in intergovernmental relations. This article identifies four forms of unionism in operation over the last twenty years—passive, activist, progressive and muscular—and questions whether muscular unionism can now be considered a form of statecraft. Those ‘progressive unionists’ who advocate further devolution should avoid ‘constitutional determinism’—the assumption that muscular unionism will inevitably lead to a breakup of the UK unless further constitutional reform takes place.
From occupational to existential class: How to analyze class structure in hybrid societies (The case of Serbia)
Authors: Cvetičanin Predrag , Tomić‐Koludrović Inga , Petrić Mirko , Zdravković Željka , Leguina Adrian 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this article, we propose a model to analyze the class structure of hybrid post‐socialist societies in South‐East Europe (SEE), using the case of Serbia. We argue that, in such hybrid societies, social inequalities are generated by several mechanisms of similar strength: exploitative market mechanisms (based on economic capital) and different types of social closure mechanisms (based on political and social capital). Their influences are intertwined and cannot be analytically isolated or reduced to a common foundation. Therefore, occupational class analysis in these societies can have only limited explanatory power. In an attempt to overcome these challenges, we were forced to modify the instruments of several established approaches to class analysis. These modifications included (1) a reconceptualization of Bourdieusian notions of political, social, and cultural capital, (2) a different operationalization of social space, (3) identification of specific mechanisms of generating social inequalities, (4) paying attention to both practical and discursive classifications of lifestyles in the establishment of symbolic boundaries, and (5) relying on differential association analysis for identifying class boundaries. Our analysis's final result is a model that enables studying general social inequality, that is, generalized social advantage/disadvantage, in SEE post‐socialist societies.
Patient‐reported outcomes after minimally invasive retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy to treat acute pancreatitis: An exploratory study
Authors: Zelga Piotr , Rees Jonathan , Iaculli Edoardo , Johnson Colin , Jah Asif 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study (abbreviated as QUANTUM) was to assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients who underwent minimally invasive retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy (MIRPN) for acute pancreatic necrosis with or without infection of necrotic tissue collections after discharge and to compare the patient‐reported outcomes (PRO) in these patients with published data in normative population.MethodsPatients with acute pancreatitis who underwent MIRPN between January 2010 and December 2016 were identified and invited to complete the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ‐C30 and EORTC PAN28(CP) questionnaires. PRO were compared using Pearson correlation coefficient and ANOVA (significance P < 0.01) with an age‐ and sex‐matched normative population of western Europe, stratified by age, and also the time duration after MIRPN (<3 y and >3 y). A change >15 points in the PRO score was taken as clinically important.ResultsAmong 52 eligible patients identified, 46 (88%) agreed to participate, 74% returned questionnaires. After the MIRPN all patients had worse physical and social functioning scores with a clinically important (>15 points) reduction in those ≤50 years; while fatigue, pain and insomnia symptom scales had the highest scores (42, 26 and 30 points, respectively). Patients <3 years after MIRPN had similar scores for all functional scales and global health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to the normative population. However, over time their global HRQoL deteriorated and after 3 years their scores for functioning and symptoms were statistically (P < 0.0001) and clinically (>15 points) worse than those in age‐matched controls.ConclusionsDuring the first 3 years after the MIRPN patients have a relatively high QoL but report worse fatigue than the normative population. However, patients should be informed that their HRQoL deteriorates with time, often due to chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic insufficiency. This study supports the use of MIRPN and prospective studies of HRQoL in this setting are indicated.
Measuring reflectance of tiny organisms: The promise of species level biocrust remote sensing
Authors: Baxter Caitlan , Mallen‐Cooper Max , Lyons Mitchell B. , Cornwell William K. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

To understand how ecological communities will respond to global change we need new tools and datasets on species across large spatial and temporal scales. Hyperspectral reflectance ‘spectra’ capture a promising set of traits that show potential to be scaled up in time and space via remote sensing. Thus far, spectra have been shown to distinguish the taxa and trait responses of a substantial number of species within a plethora of vascular plant communities, but not yet for biological soil crust communities (biocrusts).

Here, we assess if spectra can be applied to identify biocrust species and their trait variation. We collected biocrust specimens across an aridity gradient spanning 650 km within drylands of Eastern Australia and acquired their spectra, over 12,700 spectral readings, with a high‐resolution radiospectrometer. A machine learning method (random forests) was used to assess how well the spectra of biocrust specimens could distinguish their species and broader structural and chemical traits.

Spectra were able to differentiate a substantial number of biocrust species (35) with considerable accuracy (~78.5%). Furthermore, spectral features related to chemical traits were found to primarily drive species spectral differences.

Synthesis. Our findings establish that biocrust species hold unique and detectable spectral responses, providing an important basis for remote sensing applications on biocrust species and their trait responses across dryland systems.
Using Rhodamine B to assess the movement of small mammals in an urban slum
Authors: Awoniyi Adedayo Michael , Souza Fábio Neves , Zeppelini Caio Graco , Xavier Bárbara Inês A. , Barreto Ana Maria , Santiago Diogo César C. , Santana Juliet Oliveira , da Silva Eduardo Mendes , Costa Federico , Begon Michael , Khalil Hussein 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

The small mammals, especially rats are pest species that are present in cities world‐wide. The rat moves around and into residences and other anthropogenic structures. It is especially ubiquitous in urban slums and a threat to infrastructure and public health due to the pathogens it carries and transmits. Effective control of rat populations in most urban areas has been unsuccessful, despite several rodent control efforts. Limited information about rat movement distance has hindered identification of control units and effective scales at which to enact control during interventions.

We evaluated the suitability of Rhodamine B, a non‐toxic biomarker, for assessing the distance travelled by rats in urban slums. We tracked rats over two campaigns between 2019 and 2020.

Overall, 27.9% of trapped rats showed signs of Rhodamine B in their whiskers under fluorescence microscope. This shows that our method provides a viable alternative for investigating the movement of small mammals in this area. We found that rats move up to 90 m distance in urban slums, with smaller rats travelling more actively than bigger rats.

Information obtained from this study should be useful in guiding efficient rodent control initiatives to reduce the risk of household rodent infestation and rodent‐borne disease in urban slums.
Moving‐resting process with measurement error in animal movement modeling
Authors: Hu Chaoran , Elbroch Mark , Meyer Thomas , Pozdnyakov Vladimir , Yan Jun 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Statistical modeling of animal movement is of critical importance. The continuous trajectory of an animal’s movements is only observed at discrete, often irregularly spaced time points. Most existing models do not allow inactivity periods such as resting or sleeping.

The recently proposed moving‐resting (MR) model is a Brownian motion governed by a telegraph process, which allows periods of inactivity in one state of the telegraph process. The MR model, like any other continuous‐time model, naturally handles unequal sampling intervals.

The MR model shows promise in modeling the movements of predators with long inactive periods, such as many felids, but the lack of accommodation of measurement errors seriously prohibits its application in practice. Here we incorporate measurement errors in the MR model and derive basic properties of the model. Inferences are based on a composite likelihood using the Markov property of the chain composed by every other observed increments.

The performance of the method is validated in finite sample simulation studies. Application to the movement data of a mountain lion in Wyoming illustrates the utility of the method.
Addressing gender inequities: Creation of a multi‐institutional consortium of women physicians in academic emergency medicine
Authors: Lee Lois K. , Platz Elke , Klig Jean , Samuels‐Kalow Margaret E. , Temin Elizabeth S. , Nagurney Justine , Marsh Regan , Rouhani Shada , Huancahuari Nadia , Dubosh Nicole M. , Boyle Katherine L. , Stack Anne , Dobiesz Valerie A. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractGender inequity is pervasive in medicine, including emergency medicine (EM), and is well documented in workforce representation, leadership, financial compensation, and resource allocation. The reasons for gender inequities in medicine, including academic EM, are multifactorial and include disadvantageous institutional parental, family, and promotion policies; workplace environment and culture; implicit biases; and a paucity of women physician leader role models, mentors, and sponsors. To address some of the challenges of gender inequities and career advancement for women in academic EM, we established an innovative, peer‐driven, multi‐institutional consortium of women EM faculty employed at four distinct hospitals affiliated with one medical school. The consortium combined financial and faculty resources to execute gender‐specific programs not feasible at an individual institution due to limited funding and faculty availability. The programs included leadership skill‐building and negotiation seminars for consortium members. The consortium created a collaborative community designed specifically to enrich career development for women in academic EM, with a formal organizational structure to connect faculty from four hospitals under one academic institution. The objective of this report is to describe the creation of this cross‐institutional consortium focused on career development, academic productivity, and networking and sharing best practices for work–life integration for academic EM women faculty. This consortium‐building model could be used to enhance existing institutional career development structures for women and other physician communities in academic medicine with unique career advancement challenges.
Global equity fund performance adjusted for equity and currency factors
Authors: Gallagher David R. , Harman Graham , Schmidt Camille H. , Warren Geoffrey J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe present a method for evaluating performance of global equity funds that decomposes excess returns versus market indices into contributions from six equity and three currency factors plus alpha. We apply the method to a sample of institutional fund mandates, and uncover outperformance stemming from stock selection while finding that both equity and currency factor exposures detract from returns. Our methodological contribution is to propose a portfolio holding‐based approach for identifying return sources for funds investing internationally that can account for multiple factor exposures including those arising from currency.
Elucidating the interaction between maternal physical activity and circulating myokines throughout gestation: A scoping review
Authors: Goudreau Alexandra D. , Everest Catherine , Nagpal Taniya S. , Puranda Jessica L. , Bhattacharjee Jayonta , Vasanthan Tarushika , Adamo Kristi B. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPhysical activity (PA) during pregnancy provides both maternal and fetal health benefits. It has been theorized that myokines, peptides secreted by contracting skeletal muscle, may play an important mechanistic role in facilitating the health benefits obtained from prenatal exercise. The objective of this review was to synthesize the current literature on the relationship between maternal PA and myokine response. A search strategy was developed using the terms pregnancy, PA, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐13, and TNF‐α. A systematic search was completed in July 2020, in Medline, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and in November 2020 for unpublished dissertations (grey literature; Proquest). Both human‐ and animal‐based studies of any design were included, while commentaries and editorial articles were excluded. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers and summarized narratively. Data were thematically summarized based on the myokine and whether findings were from human or animal studies. Ten studies were included in this review. Findings from studies that examined IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α suggest a trimester‐specific interaction between PA and myokine levels; no studies evaluated IL‐13. Future research should investigate the PA‐myokine relationship throughout all stages of gestation.