bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transformational leadership and success of international development projects (ID projects): moderating role of the project team size
Authors: Kabore Somnoma Edouard , Sane Seydou , Abo Pascaline 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate to what extent the project team size influence the relation between transformational leadership and success of international development projects (IDPs). The paper draws on leader-member-exchange (LMX) theory and contextualizes transformational leadership style to temporary project environment particularly that of an official development assistance project in an African context.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on the processing of a primary database collected by questionnaire from 111 coordinators of IDPs in Benin. The structural equation method based on the PLS approach was used to test our hypotheses.FindingsFirst, the preliminary results reveal that, in the context of IDP, projects managers are much more sensitive to the “management” and “visibility” dimensions than to the “impact” dimension of project success. Then, following the hypothesis test, the results show that transformational leadership has a direct positive influence on the success of IDP. Project team size does not play a moderating role in the relationship between transformational leadership and project success. Also, considering the effect of the specific dimensions of transformational leadership on IDP success, only the “idealized influence” dimension influences directly and positively on the latter.Originality/valueResearch calls for examining the role of team size vis-à-vis transformational leadership style and project success and calls in general for studying project manager's leadership styles. This study contributes to literature by answering such calls. In addition, the originality of this study lies in the evaluation of the influence of the specific dimensions because the exclusive use of leadership forms provides an imperfect and oversimplified picture of reality.
Seizing the benefits of age diversity: could empowering leadership be the answer?
Authors: Scheuer Cara-Lynn , Loughlin Catherine 
Published: February 2021

PurposeAcknowledging that only examining the main effects of diversity may be limiting, the authors explore integrating van Knippenberget al.'s (2004) categorization–elaboration model (CEM) of workgroup diversity as a linchpin in the relationship between empowering leadership and performance in age-diverse work groups. While prior research has focused almost exclusively on the impact of transformational leadership in diverse contexts, few studies have found the positive effects of transformational leadership to be diminished in certain age-diverse contexts. Consequently, the authors investigate whether empowering leadership may be a better approach in this context due to its emphasis on accommodating and participative behaviors.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data gathered from work group members across a wide array of industries (N = 214), the authors test for the moderating effects of empowering leadership on the relationship between age diversity and work group performance and its indirect relationship via information elaboration (while controlling for transformational leadership).FindingsEmpowering leadership positively moderated the direct relationship between age diversity and work group performance and the indirect relationship via information elaboration, whereas transformational leadership had the opposite effect. “Coaching” and “showing concern/interacting with the team” drove the positive effects of empowering leadership, and “personal recognition” and “intellectual stimulation” predicted the negative effects of transformational leadership.Practical implicationsThis research offers insights into how managers can lead age-diverse work groups more effectively (i.e. by utilizing an empowering as opposed to a transformational leadership approach, with a particular emphasis on “coaching” and “showing concern/interacting with the team” behaviors).Originality/valueThe study identifies an “alternative” moderating contingency to the age diversity–performance relationship (empowering leadership).
Global meta‐analysis reveals incomplete recovery of soil conditions and invertebrate assemblages after ecological restoration in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Parkhurst Tina , Prober Suzanne M. , Hobbs Richard J. , Standish Rachel J. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Restoration of old fields in agricultural landscapes has become increasingly important for conservation of species and their habitats owing to habitat destruction and rapid environmental change. Studies examining the outcomes of old field restoration predominantly focus on plant, and sometimes, vertebrate communities. Fewer studies have systematically investigated the effects of restoration efforts on soil properties or ground‐dwelling invertebrates and there is limited synthesis of these data.

We conducted a global meta‐analysis of published studies to assess the effects of old field restoration on soil properties and soil invertebrate abundance and richness. We anticipated increased vegetation cover would improve soil properties towards reference condition and in turn, this would promote invertebrate abundance and richness. Studies were included if field sites had a history of cropping or livestock grazing.

We identified 42 studies (1994–2019) from 16 countries that met our criteria. More studies assessed passive restoration methods than active planting, and native species were more commonly planted than exotic species.

Results showed that restoration improved soil conditions with respect to total nitrogen, magnesium, soil carbon, bulk density and porosity when compared to controls; however, conditions similar to those in reference ecosystems were generally not achieved, even 50+ years after restoration had been initiated. Moderator analyses showed few significant tends, however, bulk density improved with age, and in passively restored versus reference ecosystems. Outcomes for soil carbon and bulk density were most predominant in the top soil when compared to the degraded ecosystem. We detected no consistent trends for the effect of restoration on soil invertebrate richness and abundance compared to the control or reference ecosystems.

Synthesis and applications. Our global meta‐analysis found strong evidence that old field restoration in agricultural landscapes had positive effects on soil condition but did not lead to full recovery when compared to a reference ecosystem. We detected few and idiosyncratic effects for invertebrates. Further research is needed to understand effects of restoration on soil invertebrate functional groups and to develop management interventions that accelerate the restoration of soil condition.
Using hidden Markov models to inform conservation and management strategies in ecosystems exhibiting alternative stable states
Authors: Vitense Kelsey , Hanson Mark A. , Herwig Brian R. , Zimmer Kyle D. , Fieberg John 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Successful conservation of ecosystems exhibiting alternative stable states requires tools to accurately classify states and quantify state transition risk. Methods that utilize early warning signals are promising approaches for helping managers anticipate impending state transitions, but they require high‐resolution temporal or spatial data for individual sites, and they do not directly implicate causes or quantify their impacts on transition risk. There is need for a modelling approach that can assess state transition risk with lower resolution temporal data, identify drivers of state transitions and assess the impact of changes in these drivers on the persistence of ecosystem states.

We developed a novel, integrated modelling framework that (a) classifies states in a way that reflects the qualitative dynamics of catastrophic regime shifts, (b) estimates state transition probabilities and (c) uses annual survey data to identify top predictors of state transitions and quantify their effects on transition risk. We applied our model to short time series from 123 shallow lakes that exhibit clear‐ and turbid‐water alternative stable states.

We found that clear lakes were more likely to transition to the turbid state as total phosphorus levels increased or occurrence of submerged vegetation decreased. Additionally, increases in planktivorous or benthivorous fish biomass elevated transition risk. Too few turbid‐to‐clear transitions were observed to identify predictors of transitions in this direction.

Synthesis and applications. Our study will inform conservation and management strategies for ecosystems exhibiting alternative stable states by providing a new tool to accurately classify states, compare state transition risk among sites based on resilience and system perturbations, and identify key variables to target to prevent undesirable transitions. Although we focus on shallow lakes as a case study for our modelling approach, we emphasize that our framework is applicable to any ecosystem known to exhibit alternative stable states.
The long‐run relationship between ODA, growth and governance: An application of FMOLS and DOLS approaches
Authors: Yahyaoui Ismahene , Bouchoucha Najeh 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDespite having received a significant amount of foreign aid for several decades, Africa is among the poorest regions in the world. This study examines the relationship between foreign aid, economic growth and governance in the African region during the period 1996–2014 by fully applying both DOLS and FMOLS techniques. In the first stage of this study, we examine the foreign aid effect on economic growth. In the second stage, we assess the intermediary role of institutions in the relationship between foreign aid and economic growth in the African countries. It was found that foreign aid has a negative effect on economic growth in African countries in both FMOLS and DOLS models. However, empirical results indicate that foreign aid improves economic growth in the presence of good institutional quality only in the DOLS model.
The Information Role of the Media in Earnings News
Authors: GUEST NICHOLAS M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractI reexamine whether media articles with substantive editorial content inform the market's reaction to firms' earnings news. Using variation in earnings announcement coverage because of restructuring at The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), my analyses suggest that WSJ earnings articles improve price discovery and increase trading volume at S&P 500 earnings announcements. Additionally, textual analysis suggests media articles that differ more from the firm's earnings release increase trading volume, and that the differences speed up (slow down) price discovery when they corroborate (contradict) the tone of the firm's news. Such high difference articles are slightly longer, are more readable and specific, include more references to the industry and economy, repeat less “stale” news published in previous WSJ articles, and quote more investor and expert sources. Overall, my paper contributes to research on the role of the media in earnings news by providing evidence that journalists' editorial content helps investors understand firms' earnings, instead of simply entertaining or increasing awareness.
High‐intensity ultrasound improves threadfin bream surimi gelation at low NaCl contents
Authors: Tang Ling , Yongsawatdigul Jirawat 
Published: February 2021

AbstractEffects of high‐intensity ultrasound (HIU) treatments on gelation of threadfin bream (Nemipterus spp.) surimi at various NaCl contents (0.5, 1, and 2% NaCl) were investigated. Protein extractability at 0.5% NaCl was increased with the ultrasonic intensity (p < 0.05). At all tested NaCl contents, reactive sulfhydryl group (SH) content and surface hydrophobicity of the surimi pastes were increased after HIU treatments and were accompanied by a decrease in the Ca2+‐ATPase activity and total SH content, indicating a greater extent of unfolding and conformational changes induced by HIU at higher NaCl contents. Textural properties and color of the surimi gels at 0.5% NaCl were improved concomitant to an increase in ultrasonic intensity (p < 0.05), whereas HIU treatments resulted in inferior gels at 1 and 2% NaCl. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that HIU resulted in a more orderly gel network at 0.5% NaCl. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy indicated that the α‐helix content of the surimi gels was decreased as the ultrasonic intensity and NaCl content increased, confirming that structural changes induced by HIU were more profound at higher NaCl contents. The results suggested that HIU technology can be applied to improve only the 0.5% NaCl surimi gel.Practical ApplicationHigh‐intensity ultrasound (HIU) improved surimi gel containing 0.5% NaCl due to an increase in protein extractability and protein conformational changes. It is likely to lay a theoretical foundation for utilization of HIU technology in production of surimi‐based products at low/reduced salt levels.
Geographical traceability and multielement analysis of edible and medicinal fungi: Taking Wolfiporia cocos (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden and Gilb. as an example
Authors: Yue JiaQi , Li ZhiMin , Zuo ZhiTian , Liao YiJun , Huang HengYu , Wang YuanZhong 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDifferent geographical environment has a certain influence on the accumulation of fungi elements and chemical components. However, our knowledge is limited to elucidate the fungi elements in response to heterogeneous environmental and the quality differences among different habitats. Here, multielement analysis, FTIR spectrum, and feature‐level fusion technique combined with chemometrics were used to study Wolfiporia cocos from different geographical areas, different sampling sites and different altitude sources. From the results, (1) there is significant difference in element content of samples from different sampling sites and no positive correlation with geographical ranges. (2) There is a correlation between elevation and elements, and relatively low elevation (<1,800 m) is conducive to the enrichment of elements. (3) From the perspective of elements, the W. cocos in Yuxi have relatively better quality. (4) FTIR and feature‐level models can well realize origin identification. The SVM models are better than the PLS‐DA models, and the feature‐level model is better than the single FTIR models. In summary, this study demonstrated that the developed method was reliable and could realize the genuineness evaluation and origin identification of W. cocos. The results have implications for the establishment of the technology system of geographical traceability and the development of high‐quality geographical indication products of W. cocos.
Plasma concentrations of syndecan‐1 are dependent on kidney function
Authors: Hahn Robert G. , Zdolsek Markus , Zdolsek Joachim 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundElevated plasma concentrations of syndecan‐1 and heparan sulfate in studies of trauma, sepsis, and major surgery are commonly assumed to indicate acute glycocalyx degradation. We explored a possible role of the kidneys for these elevations.MethodsPlasma and urine concentrations of syndecan‐1, heparan sulfate, and biomarkers of inflammation were measured over 5 hours in 15 hospital patients treated for post‐burn injury. The renal clearances of syndecan‐1 and heparan sulfate (CLR) were calculated and their influence on the plasma concentration predicted by simulation.ResultsThe urine/plasma concentration ratio was 0.9 (0.3‐3.0) for syndecan‐1 and 2.8 (2.0‐4.3) for heparan sulfate. The CLR varied 250‐fold for syndecan‐1 and 10‐fold for heparan sulfate. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CLR for syndecan‐1 was positively associated with the creatinine clearance (P < .0032) and the urine flow (P < .015). CLR for heparan sulfate increased with interleukin‐6 (P < .003) and the urine flow (P < .01). Simulations suggested that a change in CLR from the mean of the highest 3 to the lowest three values would double plasma syndecan‐1 within 4 hours and cause a 7‐fold rise after 24 hours. A similar change in CLR for heparan sulfate would triple the plasma level within 24 hours, even if no increased shedding of the glycocalyx takes place.ConclusionsThe renal elimination of syndecan‐1 and heparan sulfate varied greatly. A change in kidney function, which is common after trauma and major surgery, might alone induce several‐fold changes in their plasma concentrations.
Comparison of cost and resource utilization between firearm injuries and motor vehicle collisions at pediatric hospitals
Authors: Fraser Doh Kiesha , Sheline Erica , Wetzel Martha , Simon Harold K. , Morris Claudia R. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesFirearm injuries are converging with motor vehicle collisions (MVC) as the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Thus we examine differences in hospital cost and hospital resource utilization between motor vehicle and firearm injury.MethodsThis retrospective, cross‐sectional study compares hospital costs and resource utilization of motor vehicle and firearm‐injured children aged 0 to 19 years of age over a 5‐year time frame (January 1, 2013–December 31, 2017) in 35 freestanding children's hospitals that submitted data to the Pediatric Health Information System. The primary outcome was hospital‐adjusted comparative cost per patient presentation. Generalized linear mixed models were used to quantify the relationship between the type of injury and each outcome, adjusting for patient characteristics and hospital.ResultsThere were 89,133 emergency department (ED) visits attributed to MVCs and 3,235 for firearm injury. Of the youths who presented for firearm injury, 49% were hospitalized versus 14% of youths presenting with MVC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.1 to 7.2). Youths with firearm injury were more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit (aOR = 6.7, 95% CI = 5.9 to 7.7) and had longer lengths of stays (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.9 to 2.6) compared to their MVC counterparts. Children admitted for firearm injury had more imaging and ED return visits, along with subsequent inpatient admission within 3 days (aOR = 3.4, 95% CI = 2.1 to 5.5) and 1 year (aOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 2.1 to 2.9). The mean relative per‐patient costs were nearly fivefold higher for the firearm‐injured group.ConclusionsHospital costs and markers of resource utilization were higher for youths with firearm injury compared to MVC. High medical resource utilization is one of several important reasons to advocate for a comparable national focus and funding on firearm‐related injury prevention.
Why are some drought‐affected farmers less distressed than others? The association between stress, psychological distress, acceptance, behavioural disengagement and neuroticism
Authors: Gunn Kate M. , Turnbull Deborah A. , Dollman Jim , Kettler Lisa , Bamford Luke , Vincent Andrew D. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo identify the modifiable psychological and behavioural coping strategies associated with low levels of psychological distress, independent of more stable personality and demographic factors, in a sample of farmers who reported being exposed to a recent stressful event during an extended drought.Design/setting/participantsThree hundred and nine South Australian, drought‐affected grain, sheep and/or cattle farmers completed printed or online questionnaires. Only those who reported experiencing a stressful event in the past month that they rated ≥7 on a scale ranging from 1 (not stressful at all) to 10 (extremely stressful) were included in the analyses (n = 175, 65.06%). Participants ranged in age from 24 to 85 years and 40% were female.Main outcome measuresPsychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and coping strategies were measured using a situational version of the COPE inventory. Five personality factors (extraversion, neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness and agreeableness) were assessed using the Quickscales‐R.ResultsIn the final multivariable model, distress was elevated among individuals reporting higher neuroticism and behavioural disengagement, and lower in individuals reporting greater use of acceptance. These 3 variables explained 44% of the variance in distress.ConclusionFarmers recently exposed to a significant stressor, who used acceptance as a coping strategy, did not engage in behavioural disengagement and scored low on neuroticism, were least likely to experience distress. Given the stability of personality factors, interventions that foster farmers' use of acceptance and prevent behavioural disengagement as coping strategies might assist them with the management of future stressors, particularly in times of drought.
Association between ambient air pollution and development and persistence of atopic and non‐atopic eczema in a cohort of adults
Authors: Lopez Diego J. , Lodge Caroline J. , Bui Dinh S. , Waidyatillake Nilakshi T. , Su John C. , Perret Jenny L. , Knibbs Luke D. , Erbas Bircan , Thomas Paul S. , Hamilton Garun S. , Thompson Bruce R. , Abramson Michael J. , Walters E. Haydn , Dharmage Shyamali C. , Bowatte Gayan , Lowe Adrian J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThere is limited information on risk factors for eczema in adults. Recent evidence suggests that air pollution may be associated with increased incidence of eczema in adults. We aimed to assess this possible association.MethodsAmbient air pollution exposures (distance from a major road, nitrogen dioxide [NO2], fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm [PM2.5]) were assessed for the residential address of Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study participants at ages 43 and 53 years. Eczema incidence (onset after age 43 years), prevalence (at 53 years), and persistence were assessed from surveys, while IgE sensitization was assessed using skin prick tests. The presence or absence of eczema and sensitization was classified into four groups: no atopy or eczema, atopy alone, non‐atopic eczema, and atopic eczema. Adjusted logistic and multinomial regression models were fitted to estimate associations between ambient air pollution and eczema, and interaction by sex was assessed.ResultsOf 3153 participants in both follow‐ups, 2369 had valid skin prick tests. For males, a 2.3 ppb increase in baselineNO2was associated with increased odds of prevalent eczema (OR = 1.15 [95% CI 0.98–1.36]) and prevalent atopic eczema (OR = 1.26 [1.00–1.59]). These associations were not seen in females (p for interaction = 0.08, <0.01). For both sexes, a 1.6 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure at follow‐up was associated with increased odds of aeroallergen sensitization (OR = 1.15 [1.03–1.30]).ConclusionIncreased exposure to residential ambient air pollutants was associated with an increased odds of eczema, only in males, and aeroallergen sensitization in both genders.