bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling exchange-driven fish price dynamics
Authors: Xiang Rui , Jones Colin , Mamon Rogemar , Chavez Marierose 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to put forward and compare two accessible approaches to model and forecast spot prices in the fishing industry. The first modelling approach is a Markov-switching model (MSM) in which a Markov chain captures different economic regimes and a stochastic convenience yield is embedded in the spot price. The second approach is based on a multi-factor model (MFM) featuring three correlated stochastic factors.

Design/methodology/approach
The two proposed approaches are analysed in terms of parameter-estimation accuracy, information criteria and prediction performance. For MSM’s calibration, the quasi-log-likelihood method was applied directly while for the MFM’s parameter estimation, this paper designs an enhanced multi-variate maximum likelihood method with the aid of moments matching. The numerical experiments make use of both simulated and actual data compiled by the Fish Pool ASA. Data on both the Fish Pool’s forwards and Norwegian T-bill yields were additionally used in the MFM’s implementation.

Findings
Using simulated data sets, the MSM estimation gives more accurate results than the MFM estimation in terms of the norm in ℓ2 between the “true” and “computed” parameter estimates and significantly lower standard errors. With actual data sets used to evaluate the forecast values, both approaches have similar performances based on the error analysis. Under some metrics balancing goodness of fit and model complexity, the MFM outperforms the MSM.

Originality/value
With the aid of simulated and observed data sets examined in this paper, insights are gained concerning the appropriateness, as well as the benefits and weaknesses of the two proposed approaches. The modelling and estimation methodologies serve as prelude to reliable frameworks that will support the pricing and risk management of derivative contracts on fish price evolution, which creates price risk transfer mechanisms from the fisheries/aquaculture sector to the financial industry.
How inefficient is an inefficient credit process? An analysis of the Italian banking system
Authors: Cincinelli Peter , Piatti Domenico 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThe paper aims to disentangle the physiological credit risk from the credit risk coming from the inefficient screening and monitoring management process. The analysis is conducted on a sample of 338 Italian banks–56 joint-stock banks (SpA), 23 cooperative banks (Popolari) and 259 mutual banks (BCCs)–over the time period 2006–2017.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the maximum likelihood method to estimate the efficient frontier, as a set of best management credit practices, which minimises the credit risk defined on the basis of the level of loans granted, the technical structure of the loan portfolio (such as credit lines, mortgages, consumer loans and other technical loan categories) and the interest rate charges.FindingsThe empirical results show that the increase in non-performing loans (NPLs) is related both to the severe and protracted recession in Italy, which significantly reduced borrowers' capacity to service their debt, and to other factors, such as banks' lending monitoring policies with limited capacity to work-out defaulted loans.Originality/valueThe authors propose a new approach to the study of the performance of the credit process. With the stochastic frontier, the physiological credit risk, assumed by the bank according to its lending activity and management choices, is separated from the credit risk resulting from an inefficient management of the screening and monitoring process. In addition, the authors analyse the determinants of the excess of NPLs. This aspect is considered particularly original because the scientific contributions which consider the causes of NPLs have largely focused on the level of NPLs not considering the physiological part, linked to the structure of the bank's loan portfolio and its operational strategy and therefore not compressible and in any case not attributable to mismanagement or moral hazard.
Modeling view count dynamics for YouTube videos: a multimodal perspective
Authors: Anand Adarsh , Irshad Mohammed Shahid , Dwivedi Yogesh K. 
Published: July 2021

PurposeYouTube allows its users to upload and view videos on its platform. YouTube provides notification to the subscribers whenever a channel uploads a new video thereby making the channel subscribers the potential viewers of the video. And thus, they are the first to come to know about any new offering. But later on, the view count also increases due to virality, that is, mass sharing of the content by the users on different social media platforms similar to word-of-mouth in the field of marketing. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine different diffusion patterns as they can help to inflate traffic and generate revenue.Design/methodology/approachYouTube's view count grows majorly through virality. The pattern of view count growth has generally been considered unimodal in most of the available research in the field of YouTube. In the present work, the growth process due to views through the subscribers and views due to word-of-mouth (virality) is presented. Considering that the impact of virality in view count growth comes later in the video life cycle; the viewing patterns of both the segments have been mathematically modeled; independently.FindingsDifferent models have been proposed to capture the view count growth pattern and how the impact of virality changes the view count growth curve and thereby results in a multimodal curve structure. The proposed models have been verified on various view count data sets of YouTube videos using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), and their ranks have been determined using a weighted criteria–based approach. The results obtained clearly depict the presence of many modes in the life cycle of view counts.Originality/valueTill now, the literature is evident of the video life cycle following a bell shape curve. This study claims that the initial thrust is by subscribers and then the contribution in the view count by people watching via word-of-mouth comes into picture and brings in another hump in the growth curve.
Purpose-driven leadership and organizational success: a case of higher educational institutions
Authors: Hong Paul C. , Chennattuserry Joseph Chacko , Deng Xiyue , Hopkins Margaret M. 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the relationships between organizational purpose, leadership practices and sustainable outcomes for universities in emerging economies. We propose that a strong sense of purpose is a fundamental and defining feature in the leadership practices of these institutions, which ultimately contributes to their success.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present a research model that defines the relationships between a sense of purpose, leadership practices, student success outcomes, alumni involvement outcomes and societal reputation outcomes. Over 200 higher education administrators in India participated in the study.FindingsThe institutions' sense of purpose directly relates to their leadership engagement practices and their student success outcomes. Student success outcomes are a crucial linkage between leadership engagement practices and alumni involvement outcomes to achieve their societal reputation.Practical implicationsAs competitiveness intensifies, educational institutions under resource constraints must differentiate their organizational practices. This paper demonstrates how their core purpose and leadership actions result in achieving effective outcomes and overall sustainable societal reputation.Originality/valueThere is a significant difference between having an organizational purpose and enacting that purpose through their leadership practices. These results highlight the cascading effect from the institution's fundamental sense of purpose to their leadership practices and the positive outcomes of student success, alumni involvement and societal reputation.
Main factors affecting perceived quality in healthcare: a patient perspective approach
Authors: Bellio Elena , Buccoliero Luca 
Published: July 2021

PurposeDelivering patient-centered healthcare is now seen as one of the basic requirements of good quality care. In this research, the impact of the perceived quality of three experiential dimensions (Physical Environment, Empowerment and Dignity and Patient–Doctor Relationship) on patient's Experiential Satisfaction is assessed.Design/methodology/approach259 structured interviews were performed with patients in private and public hospitals across Italy. The research methodology is based in testing mediation and moderation effects of the selected variables.FindingsThe study shows that: perceived quality of Physical Environment has a positive impact on patient's Experiential Satisfaction; perceived quality of Empowerment and Dignity and perceived quality of Patient–Doctor Relationship mediate this relationship reinforcing the role of Physical Environment on Experiential Satisfaction; educational level is a moderator in the relationship between perceived quality of Patient–Doctor Relationship and overall Satisfaction: more educated patients pay more attention to relational items. Subjective Health Frailty is a moderator in all the tested relationships with Experiential Satisfaction: patients who perceive their health as frail are more reactive to the quality of the above-mentioned variables.Originality/valuePhysical Environment items are enablers of both Empowerment and Dignity and Patient–Doctor Relationship and these variables must be addressed all together in order to improve the value proposition provided to patients. Designing a hospital, beyond technical requirements that modern medicine demands and functional relationships between different medical departments, means dealing with issues like the anxiety of the patient, the stressful working environment for the hospital staff and the need to build a sustainable and healing building.
Cyclic thermal fluctuations can be burden or relief for an ectotherm depending on fluctuations’ average and amplitude
Authors: Vajedsamiei Jahangir , Melzner Frank , Raatz Michael , Morón Lugo Sonia C. , Pansch Christian 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Predicting the implications of ongoing ocean climate warming demands a better understanding of how short‐term thermal variability impacts marine ectotherms, particularly at beyond‐optimal average conditions during summer heatwaves.

Using a globally important model species, the blue mussel Mytilus, in a 5‐week‐long experiment, we (a) assessed growth performance traits under 12 scenarios, consisting of four thermal averages (18.5, 21, 23.5 and 26℃) imposed as constant or daily fluctuating regimes with amplitudes of 2 or 4℃. Additionally, we conducted a short‐term assay using different mussel individuals to (b) test for the species capacity for suppression and recovery of metabolic performance traits (feeding and aerobic respiration) when exposed to a 1‐day thermal fluctuation regime (16.8–30.5℃). Using this high‐resolution data, we (c) generated short‐term thermal metabolic performance curves to predict and explain growth responses observed in the long‐term experiment.

We found that daily high‐amplitude thermal cycles (4℃) improved mussel growth when fluctuations were imposed around an extreme average temperature of 26℃, representing end‐of‐century heatwaves. In contrast, thermal cycles negatively affected mussel growth at a less extreme average temperature of 23.5℃, resembling current peak summer temperature scenarios. These results suggest that fluctuations ameliorate heat stress impacts only at critically high average temperatures. The short‐term assay demonstrated that during the warming phase, animals stopped feeding between 24 and 30℃ while gradually suppressing respiration. In the subsequent cooling phase, feeding and respiration partially and fully recovered to pre‐heating rates respectively. Furthermore, nonlinear averaging of short‐term feeding responses (upscaling) well‐predicted longer term growth responses to fluctuations.

Our findings suggest that fluctuations can be beneficial to or detrimental for the long‐term performance of ectothermic animals, depending on the fluctuations' average and amplitude. Furthermore, the observed effects can be linked to fluctuation‐mediated metabolic suppression and recovery. In a general framework, we propose various hypothetical scenarios of fluctuation impacts on ectotherm performance considering inter‐ or intra‐species variability in heat sensitivity. Our research highlights the need for studying metabolic performance in relation to cyclic abiotic fluctuations to advance the understanding of climate change impacts on aquatic systems.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation complicating diagnosis of ROS1‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer: A case report and literature review
Authors: Woodford Rachel , Lu Michel , Beydoun Nadine , Cooper Wendy , Liu Qin , Lynch Jodi , Kasherman Lawrence 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDisseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare paraneoplastic complication in advanced solid malignancies, with success of treatment and survival dependent on treatment of the underlying malignancy. Best estimates suggest an incidence of 1.6–6.8% in cancer, with risk factors being advanced disease, older age, and adenocarcinoma, especially of lung origin. Few cases, however, have reported on an association between DIC and oncogene‐addicted lung cancers, especially those containing ROS proto‐oncogene 1 (ROS1) mutations, however precedent exists to suggest increased prothrombotic rates in tumors harboring this mutation. We present a young woman with ROS1‐mutant non‐small‐cell lung cancer who presented in DIC and subsequently developed complications of both hemorrhage and thrombosis. Following initiation of targeted treatment, rapid resolution of laboratory coagulation derangement was observed and clinical improvement quickly followed. This event underscores the need for rapid evaluation of lung molecular panels and the dramatic resolution of life‐threatening illness that can occur with institution of appropriate therapy. This case contributes to growing evidence for a possible underlying link between oncogene addicted tumors and abnormalities of coagulation.
Percolation threshold analyses can detect community assembly processes in simulated and natural tree communities
Authors: Quebbeman Andrew , Davis Richard , Thompson Jill , Zimmerman Jess K. , Uriarte María 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Studies of spatial point patterns (SPPs) are often used to examine the role that density‐dependence (DD) and environmental filtering (EF) play in community assembly and species coexistence in forest communities. However, SPP analyses often struggle to distinguish the opposing effects that DD and EF may have on the distribution of tree species.

We tested percolation threshold analysis on simulated tree communities as a method to distinguish the importance of thinning from DD EF on SPPs. We then compared the performance of percolation threshold analysis results and a Gibbs point process model in detecting environmental associations as well as clustering patterns or overdispersion. Finally, we applied percolation threshold analysis and the Gibbs point process model to observed SPPs of 12 dominant tree species in a Puerto Rican forest to detect evidence of DD and EF.

Percolation threshold analysis using simulated SPPs detected a decrease in clustering due to DD and an increase in clustering from EF. In contrast, the Gibbs point process model clearly detected the effects of EF but only identified DD thinning in two of the four types of simulated SPPs. Percolation threshold analysis on the 12 observed tree species' SPPs found that the SPPs for two species were consistent with thinning from DD processes only, four species had SPPs consistent with EF only and SPP for five reflected a combination of both processes. Gibbs models of observed SPPs of living trees detected significant environmental associations for 11 species and clustering consistent with DD processes for seven species.

Percolation threshold analysis is a robust method for detecting community assembly processes in simulated SPPs. By applying percolation threshold analysis to natural communities, we found that tree SPPs were consistent with thinning from both DD and EF. Percolation threshold analysis was better suited to detect DD thinning than Gibbs models for clustered simulated communities. Percolation threshold analysis improves our understanding of forest community assembly processes by quantifying the relative importance of DD and EF in forest communities.
The geodiv r package: Tools for calculating gradient surface metrics
Authors: Smith Annie C. , Dahlin Kyla M. , Record Sydne , Costanza Jennifer K. , Wilson Adam M. , Zarnetske Phoebe L. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

The geodiv r package calculates gradient surface metrics from imagery and other gridded datasets to provide continuous measures of landscape heterogeneity for landscape pattern analysis.

geodiv is the first open‐source, command line toolbox for calculating many gradient surface metrics and easily integrates parallel computing for applications with large images or rasters (e.g. remotely sensed data). All functions may be applied either globally to derive a single metric for an entire image or locally to create a texture image over moving windows of a user‐defined extent.

We present a comprehensive description of the functions available through geodiv. A supplemental vignette provides an example application of geodiv to the fields of landscape ecology and biogeography.

geodiv allows users to easily retrieve estimates of spatial heterogeneity for a variety of purposes, enhancing our understanding of how environmental structure influences ecosystem processes. The package works with any continuous imagery and may be widely applied in many fields where estimates of surface complexity are useful.
Knockdown of astrocytic Grin2a aggravates β‐amyloid‐induced memory and cognitive deficits through regulating nerve growth factor
Authors: Du Zunshu , Song Yizhi , Chen Xinyue , Zhang Wanning , Zhang Guitao , Li Hui , Chang Lirong , Wu Yan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSynapse degeneration correlates strongly with cognitive impairments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Soluble Amyloid‐beta (Aβ) oligomers are thought as the major trigger of synaptic malfunctions. Our earlier studies have demonstrated that Aβ oligomers interfere with synaptic function through N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Our recent in vitro study found the neuroprotective role of astrocytic GluN2A in the promotion of synapse survival and identified nerve growth factor (NGF) derived from astrocytes, as a likely mediator of astrocytic GluN2A buffering against Aβ synaptotoxicity. Our present in vivo study focused on exploring the precise mechanism of astrocytic GluN2A influencing Aβ synaptotoxicity through regulating NGF. We generated an adeno‐associated virus (AAV) expressing an astrocytic promoter (GfaABC1D) shRNA targeted to Grin2a (the gene encoding GluN2A) to perform astrocyte‐specific Grin2a knockdown in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, after 3 weeks of virus vector expression, Aβ were bilaterally injected into the intracerebral ventricle. Our results showed that astrocyte‐specific knockdown of Grin2a and Aβ application both significantly impaired spatial memory and cognition, which associated with the reduced synaptic proteins PSD95, synaptophysin and compensatory increased NGF. The reduced astrocytic GluN2A can counteract Aβ‐induced compensatory protective increase of NGF through regulating pNF‐κB, Furin and VAMP3, which modulating the synthesis, mature and secretion of NGF respectively. Our present data reveal, for the first time, a novel mechanism of astrocytic GluN2A in exerting protective effects on synapses at the early stage of Aβ exposure, which may contribute to establish new targets for AD prevention and early therapy.
Cumulative effects of low‐height barriers on distributions of catadromous Japanese eels in Japan
Authors: Yokouchi K. , Itakura H. , Wakiya R. , Yoshinaga T. , Mochioka N. , Kimura S. , Kaifu K. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractFish distributions in river systems are known to be affected by large dams and other artificial cross‐river structures such as weirs that prevent their movements and migrations. However, little is known about the cumulative effect of low‐height barriers on fish distributions. Although fishes like eels and lampreys, which include endangered species, have a unique type of ability to climb or attach to obstacles, the strength of their anguilliform swimming locomotion style is generally lower than in other fishes. To investigate the cumulative effects of small barriers irrespective of their distances from the river mouth on riverine distributions of endangered eels, the individual density of Japanese eels and habitat characteristics of five model river systems having differences in numbers, size and positional patterns of small barriers were surveyed and analysed using a generalized linear mixed model approach. The results clearly showed that a continuum of small barriers and the distance from the river mouth affected the riverine distributions of Japanese eels, and that these effects were eel size‐ or stage‐dependent. The density of small eels decreased as the cumulative height of barriers downstream of each station increased, while that of large eels decreased as the distance from the river mouth increased. Small individuals dispersed in a wide range of habitats before the end of their upstream migration phase, suggesting that small barriers have an impact on their ideal distributions, life‐history patterns (becoming residents or nomads shifting growth habitats to estuaries) and sex differentiation. This study and existing information indicate that conservation/restoration actions are needed to maintain or improve riverine connectivity for migratory species, especially those having lower swimming ability and a benthic growth phase in freshwater ecosystems that are at risk even when migration barriers are not very high.