bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Board gender diversity and the timing of CEO stock option awards
Authors: Guizani Moncef , Ajmi Ahdi Noomen 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
This study aims to explore the role of board gender diversity in mitigating chief executive officer (CEO) luck. CEOs are “lucky” when they receive stock option grants on days when the stock price is the lowest in the month of the grant, implying opportunistic timing.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a logistic regression analysis and an instrumental-variable analysis. The sample consists of 3,249 firm-year observations from 2010 through 2015.

Findings
The results show that female directors significantly deter the opportunistic timing of option grants. This study finds that gender diversity – as measured by the percentage of women on the board, the percentage of female independent directors and the percentage of female directors on the compensation committee are likely to reduce the odds that CEOs receive opportunistically timed lucky grants. The results are consistent with those in prior research that documents the benefits of board gender diversity.

Practical implications
The research findings are beneficial to policymakers and regulators, as it allows them to assess the importance of diversity on boards in the monitoring of the managers, particularly as it pertains to the design of CEO compensation packages. Furthermore, these findings have implications for Ibero-American countries as they shed light on the importance to undertake measures and reforms to promote board effectiveness by the introduction of gender diversity.

Originality/value
While prior research has examined the effect of board gender diversity on firm performance, the study is the first to investigate the effect of female directors on the opportunistic timing of option grants, using a rigorous empirical framework that explicitly accounts for endogeneity.
Evaluation of dynamic cointegration-based pairs trading strategy in the cryptocurrency market
Authors: Tadi Masood , Kortchemski Irina 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to demonstrate a dynamic cointegration-based pairs trading strategy, including an optimal look-back window framework in the cryptocurrency market and evaluate its return and risk by applying three different scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the Engle-Granger methodology, the Kapetanios-Snell-Shin test and the Johansen test as cointegration tests in different scenarios. This study calibrates the mean-reversion speed of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process to obtain the half-life used for the asset selection phase and look-back window estimation.

Findings
By considering the main limitations in the market microstructure, the strategy of this paper exceeds the naive buy-and-hold approach in the Bitmex exchange. Another significant finding is that this study implements a numerous collection of cryptocurrency coins to formulate the model’s spread, which improves the risk-adjusted profitability of the pairs trading strategy. Besides, the strategy’s maximum drawdown level is reasonably low, which makes it useful to be deployed. The results also indicate that a class of coins has better potential arbitrage opportunities than others.

Originality/value
This research has some noticeable advantages, making it stand out from similar studies in the cryptocurrency market. First is the accuracy of data in which minute-binned data create the signals in the formation period. Besides, to backtest the strategy during the trading period, this study simulates the trading signals using best bid/ask quotes and market trades. This study exclusively takes the order execution into account when the asset size is already available at its quoted price (with one or more period gaps after signal generation). This action makes the backtesting much more realistic.
The Imagination Premium: an anticipative performance metric
Authors: McGrath Rita Gunther , van Putten Alex , Pierantozzi Ron 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The authors offer a new metric for assessing a company's potential for growth that CEO's and leadership teams can actively manage.

Design/methodology/approach
The Imagination Premium metric reflects the value of a company's equity, beyond what can be readily explained by its ability to throw off cash.

Findings
For a CEO, TIP provides support for an argument that investments in future growth are well warranted.

Practical/implications
A negative TIP signals that investors will not even pay for the capitalized value of current cash flow and this usually leads to activist investors, hostile acquisition threats and C-suite turnover.

Originality/value
The article shows executives how to drive the premium investors will pay for corporate growth initiatives. One of the first things strategists can do to manage their company's TIP is a portfolio analysis that looks at how uncertain each current investment is, and whether the whole portfolio is one growth investors will reward with an increased TIP.
Mastering the challenge of business ecosystems
Authors: Denning Stephen 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The author discusses the challenges of implementing a digital ecosystem, a way of transcending the boundaries of a firm to include additional producers to provide more value to customers and also by making customers active partners.

Design/methodology/approach
An ecosystem is intentionally organized to generate, facilitate and benefit from interactions rather than transactions.

Findings
The author explains how firms can make the customers active participants in creating and evolving the network by embracing the dynamic concept of an ecosystem.

Practical/implications
The ecosystem becomes more valuable to users as more users join.

Originality/value
Essential reading for executives experimenting with corporate digital platforms.
Human cytomegalovirus UL42 protein inhibits the degradation of glycoprotein B through inhibition of Nedd4 family ubiquitin E3 ligases
Authors: Koshizuka Tetsuo , Kondo Hiroki , Kato Hiroki , Takahashi Keita 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a globally ubiquitous pathogen and causes congenital infection as well as opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. The HCMV UL42 gene encodes a membrane protein that regulates the function of Nedd4 family ubiquitin E3 ligases through its PPxY motif. As HCMV envelope glycoprotein B (gB) also has a PPxY motif at its C‐terminal cytoplasmic domain, we examined whether there was any relationship between UL42 protein and gB. Among the Nedd4 family proteins, Nedd4, Nedd4L, and Itch induced the degradation of gB in transiently expressing cells. The degradation of gB by Nedd4 was inhibited by proteasome inhibitor MG132, lysosome inhibitor chloroquine, and the co‐expression of UL42 proteins. Among those Nedd4 family proteins, Itch was relocalized by the co‐expression of gB to the perinuclear region of the cytoplasm. A co‐immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated an interaction between gB and Itch through its PPxY motif. The 150 kDa gB precursor was aberrantly ubiquitinated, and the total amount of gB was quickly decreased in the absence of UL42. Our results indicate that UL42 prevents the degradation of gB by the inhibition of Nedd4 family proteins.
Behavioural change during dispersal and its relationship to survival and reproduction in a cooperative breeder
Authors: Harrison Natasha D. , Maag Nino , Haverkamp Paul J. , Ganswindt André , Manser Marta B. , Clutton‐Brock Tim H. , Ozgul Arpat , Cozzi Gabriele 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

The ability of dispersing individuals to adjust their behaviour to changing conditions is instrumental in overcoming challenges and reducing dispersal costs, consequently increasing overall dispersal success. Understanding how dispersers' behaviour and physiology change during the dispersal process, and how they differ from resident individuals, can shed light on the mechanisms by which dispersers increase survival and maximise reproduction.

By analysing individual behaviour and concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM), a stress‐associated biomarker, we sought to identify the proximate causes behind differences in survival and reproduction between dispersing and resident meerkats Suricata suricatta.

We used data collected on 67 dispersing and 108 resident females to investigate (a) which individual, social and environmental factors are correlated to foraging and vigilance, and whether the role of such factors differs among dispersal phases, and between dispersers and residents; (b) how time allocated to either foraging or vigilance correlated to survival in dispersers and residents and (c) the link between aggression and change in fGCM concentration, and their relationship with reproductive rates in dispersing groups and resident groups with either long‐established or newly established dominant females.

Time allocated to foraging increased across dispersal phases, whereas time allocated to vigilance decreased. Time allocated to foraging and vigilance correlated positively and negatively, respectively, with dispersers' group size. We did not find a group size effect for residents. High proportions of time allocated to foraging correlated with high survival, and more so in dispersers, suggesting that maintaining good physical condition may reduce mortality during dispersal. Furthermore, while subordinate individuals rarely reproduced in resident groups, the conception rate of subordinates in newly formed dispersing groups was equal to that of their dominant individuals. Mirroring conception rates, in resident groups, fGCM concentrations were lower in subordinates than in dominants, whereas in disperser groups, fGCM concentrations did not differ between subordinates and dominants.

Our results, which highlight the relationship between behavioural and physiological factors and demographic rates, provide insights into some of the mechanisms that individuals of a cooperative species can use to increase overall dispersal success.
Evaluation of seasonal dynamics of fungal DNA assemblages in a flow‐regulated stream in a restored forest using eDNA metabarcoding
Authors: Matsuoka Shunsuke , Sugiyama Yoriko , Shimono Yoshito , Ushio Masayuki , Doi Hideyuki 
Published: July 2021

SummaryInvestigation of seasonal variation in fungal communities is essential for understanding biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, the conventional sampling method, with substrate removal and high spatial heterogeneity of community composition, makes surveying the seasonality of fungal communities challenging. Recently, water environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has been explored for its utility in biodiversity surveys. In this study, we assessed whether the seasonality of fungal communities can be detected by monitoring eDNA in a forest stream. We conducted monthly water sampling in a forest stream over 2 years and used DNA metabarcoding to identify fungal eDNA. The stream water contained DNA from functionally diverse aquatic and terrestrial fungi, such as plant decomposers, parasites and mutualists. The variation in the fungal assemblage showed a regular annual periodicity, meaning that the assemblages in a given season were similar, irrespective of the year or sampling. Furthermore, the strength of the annual periodicity varied among functional groups. Our results suggest that forest streams may act as a ‘trap’ for terrestrial fungal DNA derived from different habitats, allowing the analysis of fungal DNA in stream water to provide information about the temporal variation in fungal communities in both the aquatic and the surrounding terrestrial ecosystems.
Airborne and indigenous microbiomes co‐drive the rebound of antibiotic resistome during compost storage
Authors: Liao Hanpeng , Bai Yudan , Liu Chen , Wen Chang , Yang Qiue , Chen Zhi , Banerjee Samiran , Zhou Shungui , Friman Ville‐Petri 
Published: July 2021

SummaryComposting is widely used to reduce the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in solid waste. While ARG dynamics have been extensively investigated during composting, the fate and abundance of residual ARGs during the storage remain unexplored. Here, we tested experimentally how ARG and mobile genetic element (MGE) abundances change during compost storage using metagenomics, quantitative PCR and direct culturing. We found that 43.8% of ARGs and 39.9% of MGEs quickly recovered already during the first week of storage. This rebound effect was mainly driven by the regrowth of indigenous, antibiotic‐resistant bacteria that survived the composting. Bacterial transmission from the surrounding air had a much smaller effect, being most evident as MGE rebound during the later stages of storage. While hyperthermophilic composting was more efficient at reducing the relative abundance of ARGs and MGEs, relatively greater ARG rebound was observed during the storage of hyperthermophilic compost, exceeding the initial levels of untreated sewage sludge. Our study reveals that residual ARGs and MGEs left in the treated compost can quickly rebound during the storage via airborne introduction and regrowth of surviving bacteria, highlighting the need to develop better storage strategies to prevent the rebound of ARGs and MGEs after composting.
Status of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 resistance in field populations of Helicoverpa zea in Texas, USA
Authors: Santiago González José C. , Kerns David L. , Head Graham P. , Yang Fei 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHelicoverpa zea is a major target pest of Bt corn and Bt cotton. Field‐evolved resistance of H. zea to Cry1 and Cry2 proteins has been widely reported in the United States. Understanding the frequency of resistance alleles in a target insect is critical for Bt resistance management. Despite multiple cases of practical resistance to Cry proteins having been documented in H. zea, there are no data on the current status of alleles conferring resistance to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 in field populations of this pest. During 2018‒2019, a total of 106 F2 families for Cry1Ac and 120 F2 families for Cry2Ab2 were established using mass mating and light trap strategy. We screened 13,568 and 15,360 neonates using a discriminatory dose of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2, respectively. The results showed that 93.4% and 35.0% of the F2 families could survive on the discriminatory dose of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2, respectively. The estimated resistance allele frequency for Cry1Ac in H. zea ranged from 0.4150 to 0.4975 and for Cry2Ab2 ranged from 0.1097 and 0.1228. These data indicate that the frequency of alleles conferring resistance to Cry1 and Cry2 proteins in H. zea in Texas are high. In addition, our data suggest the resistance to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 in the screened families of H. zea varies from recessive to dominant. The information in this study provides precise estimates of Cry resistance allele frequencies in H. zea and increases our understanding of the risks to the sustainability of Bt crops.
Molecular assays of pollen use consistently reflect pollinator visitation patterns in a system of flowering plants
Authors: James Aubrie R. M. , Geber Monica A. , Toews David P. L. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDetermining how pollinators visit plants vs. how they carry and transfer pollen is an ongoing project in pollination ecology. The current tools for identifying the pollens that bees carry have different strengths and weaknesses when used for ecological inference. In this study we use three methods to better understand a system of congeneric, coflowering plants in the genus Clarkia and their bee pollinators: observations of plant–pollinator contact in the field, and two different molecular methods to estimate the relative abundance of each Clarkia pollen in samples collected from pollinators. We use these methods to investigate if observations of plant–pollinator contact in the field correspond to the pollen bees carry; if individual bees carry Clarkia pollens in predictable ways, based on previous knowledge of their foraging behaviors; and how the three approaches differ for understanding plant–pollinator interactions. We find that observations of plant–pollinator contact are generally predictive of the pollens that bees carry while foraging, and network topologies using the three different methods are statistically indistinguishable from each other. Results from molecular pollen analysis also show that while bees can carry multiple species of Clarkia at the same time, they often carry one species of pollen. Our work contributes to the growing body of literature aimed at resolving how pollinators use floral resources. We suggest our novel relative amplicon quantification method as another tool in the developing molecular ecology and pollination biology toolbox.
Testing branding techniques on species common names to improve their fundraising profile for conservation
Authors: Díaz‐Restrepo Alejandra , Balcombe Kelvin , Fraser Iain , Smith Robert J. , Veríssimo Diogo 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn the search for new ways to bring attention to the conservation of neglected species, marketing is increasingly recognised as offering new insights. Brand creation frameworks provide guidelines to create names or symbols for products that will differentiate them from the competition. In this paper, we examine if species common names that follow these guidelines can improve their fundraising potential. Using a novel choice experiment format that employs a budget allocation task, we evaluate if species common names influence donor preferences, where participants were given real money to donate to the species of their choosing. We model the data collected, which is fractional response data, using a Hierarchical Bayesian Dirichlet regression. Our results indicate that while all attributes are positively related to making a donation, Appeal and Familiarity coefficients are statistically significant but Name is not. There were also no statistically significant interactions between Name and any of the socio‐economic variables. Our results on the importance of Appeal and Familiarity follow past research but contradict past research on the importance of common names, although the latter looked at common names in isolation. This suggests that species traits should not be tested in isolation when trying to understand the drivers of donations to wildlife conservation, as some traits that may appear important when tested separately become comparatively irrelevant when placed in a more realistic context where respondents have to consider multiple species traits. Future research into the influence of common names should investigate the possible impact of name sentiment as well as whether names with geographic references increase support from donors from those areas.
Dentinal tubule penetration of gutta‐percha with syringe‐mix resin sealer using different obturation techniques: A confocal laser scanning microscopy study
Authors: Özdemir Olcay , Koçak Sibel , Hazar Ecehan , Sağlam Baran Can , Coşkun Ezgi , Koçak Mustafa Murat 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate dentinal tubule penetration of the root canal filling material using various techniques such as cold lateral compaction, new generation thermoplastic core carrier and continuous‐wave obturation. The root canals of premolar teeth were instrumented, and the teeth were allocated randomly to three groups (n = 15/group). After the obturation with three different techniques, three sections of 2‐mm thickness at 2, 5 and 8‐mm from the apex were examined under a confocal laser scanning microscope. The data were analysed of variance with a significance level of P < 0.05. There was no significant difference between techniques when parameters were evaluated in total (penetration depth P = 0.418, penetration area P = 0.701). The mean value of the cold lateral compaction group for maximum penetration depth was obtained higher than continuous wave (P = 0.004), whilst there was no significant difference between the thermoplastic core carrier and the other groups.
How to Measure Legislative District Compactness If You Only Know It When You See It
Authors: Kaufman Aaron R. , King Gary , Komisarchik Mayya 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTo deter gerrymandering, many state constitutions require legislative districts to be “compact.” Yet, the law offers few precise definitions other than “you know it when you see it,” which effectively implies a common understanding of the concept. In contrast, academics have shown that compactness has multiple dimensions and have generated many conflicting measures. We hypothesize that both are correct—that compactness is complex and multidimensional, but a common understanding exists across people. We develop a survey to elicit this understanding, with high reliability (in data where the standard paired comparisons approach fails). We create a statistical model that predicts, with high accuracy, solely from the geometric features of the district, compactness evaluations by judges and public officials responsible for redistricting, among others. We also offer compactness data from our validated measure for 17,896 state legislative and congressional districts, as well as software to compute this measure from any district.
The Play of Conspiracy and Democratic Erosion in Plato'sRepublic
Authors: Kasimis Demetra 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDoes theRepublicdepict a conspiracy? The ostensible impetus for discussing profound political change behind closed doors is a desire to discuss the meaning of justice, not to replace a political order with a new one. But the dialogue takes place during the Peloponnesian War, when fears of plots sporadically consumed an eroding Athenian democracy. Arguments about political instability and instances of plotting reverberate throughout dialogue that takes shape in this suspicious climate. Whether Socrates makes us privy to a conversation about a political world that does not exist or presents us with a strategy for talking about revolution undetected remains unresolved. I argue that Athenian fears of secret power and revolution express themselves in the style and arguments of theRepublicand suggest that already at the origins of democratic practice, critics like Plato were concerned with theorizing the subtleties of democratic erosion.
Clinical characteristics and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis of different subtypes of bundle‐branch block
Authors: Zhu Tongjian , Chen Mingxian , Hu Wei , Wang Benfang , Jiang Hong 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundRight bundle‐branch block (RBBB) and left bundle‐branch block (LBBB) play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the clinical features and the severity of coronary artery disease associated with different subtypes of bundle‐branch block, according to time of new appearance, is not well characterized in patients with no known CAD.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data pertaining to consecutive patients with RBBB or LBBB who underwent coronary angiography. The severity of coronary lesions was evaluated using the SYNTAX score. The differential effect of new‐onset RBBB, old RBBB, new‐onset LBBB, and old LBBB on the severity of CAD and its association with clinical characteristics was quantified. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of RBBB and LBBB on the degree of coronary atherosclerosis in patients without known CAD.ResultsOut of the 243 patients, 72 patients had old LBBB, 37 had new‐onset LBBB, 93 patients had old RBBB, and 41 patients had new‐onset RBBB. On univariate analysis, age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, creatinine, serum glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin level were associated with high SYNTAX score (p < .05 for all). Patients in the new‐onset RBBB, old RBBB, new‐onset LBBB, and old LBBB groups showed significant differences in baseline characteristics and coronary atherosclerosis (p < .05 for all). However, there were no significant between‐group differences with respect to the degree of coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by SYNTAX score.ConclusionsNew‐onset RBBB, old RBBB, new‐onset LBBB, and old LBBB were not associated with the severity of coronary lesions as assessed by SYNTAX score in patients without known CAD.