bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Harmonization of multi-site diffusion tensor imaging data
Authors: Fortin Jean-Philippe , Parker Drew , Tunç Birkan , Watanabe Takanori , Elliott Mark A. , Ruparel Kosha , Roalf David R. , Satterthwaite Theodore D. , Gur Ruben C. , Gur Raquel E. , Schultz Robert T. , Verma Ragini , Shinohara Russell T. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a well-established magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used for studying microstructural changes in the white matter. As with many other imaging modalities, DTI images suffer from technical between-scanner variation that hinders comparisons of images across imaging sites, scanners and over time. Using fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) maps of 205 healthy participants acquired on two different scanners, we show that the DTI measurements are highly site-specific, highlighting the need of correcting for site effects before performing downstream statistical analyses. We first show evidence that combining DTI data from multiple sites, without harmonization, is counter-productive and negatively impacts the inference. Then, we propose and compare several harmonization approaches for DTI data, and show that ComBat, a popular batch-effect correction tool used in genomics, performs best at modeling and removing the unwanted inter-site variability in FA and MD maps. Using age as a biological phenotype of interest, we show that ComBat both preserves biological variability and removes the unwanted variation introduced by site. Finally, we assess the different harmonization methods in the presence of different levels of confounding between site and age, in addition to test robustness to small sample size studies.
Human episodic memory retrieval is accompanied by a neural contiguity effect
Authors: Folkerts Sarah , Rutishauser Ueli , Howard Marc W. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractCognitive psychologists have long hypothesized that experiences are encoded in a temporal context that changes gradually over time. When an episodic memory is retrieved, the state of context is recovered—a jump back in time. We recorded from single units in the MTL of epilepsy patients performing an item recognition task. The population vector changed gradually over minutes during presentation of the list. When a probe from the list was remembered with high confidence, the population vector reinstated the temporal context of the original presentation of that probe during study—a neural contiguity effect that provides a possible mechanism for behavioral contiguity effects. This pattern was only observed for well-remembered probes; old probes that were not well-remembered showed an anti-contiguity effect. These results constitute the first direct evidence that recovery of an episodic memory in humans is associated with retrieval of a gradually-changing state of temporal context—a neural “jump-back-in-time” that parallels the act of remembering.Significance statementEpisodic memory is the ability to re-live a specific experience from one’s life. For decades, researchers have hypothesized that, unlike other forms of memory that can be described as simple associations between stimuli, episodic memory depends on the recovery of a neural representation of spatiotemporal context. During study of a sequence of stimuli, the brain state of epilepsy patients changed slowly over at least a minute. When the participant remembered a particular event from the list, this gradually-changing state was recovered. This provides direct confirmation of the prediction from computational models of episodic memory. The resolution of this point means that the study of episodic memory can focus on the mechanisms by which this representation of spatiotemporal context is maintained and, sometimes recovered.
Association indices for quantifying social relationships: how to deal with missing observations of individuals or groups
Authors: Hoppitt William , Farine Damien 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTSocial network analysis has provided important insight into many population processes in wild animals. Constructing social networks requires quantifying the relationship between each pair of individuals in the population. Researchers often use association indices to convert observations into a measure of propensity for individuals to be seen together. At its simplest, this measure is just the probability of observing both individuals together given that one has been seen (the simple ratio index). However, this probability becomes more challenging to calculate if the detection rate for individuals is imperfect. We first evaluate the performance of existing association indices at estimating true association rates under scenarios where (i) only a proportion of all groups are observed (group location errors), (ii) not all individuals are observed despite being present (individual location errors), and (iii) a combination of the two. Commonly-used methods aimed at dealing with incomplete observations perform poorly because they are based on arbitrary observation probabilities. We then derive complete indices that can be calibrated for the different types of observation probabilities to generate accurate estimates of association rates. These are provided in an R package that readily interfaces with existing routines. We conclude that using calibration data is an important step when constructing animal social networks, and that in their absence, researchers should use a simple estimator and explicitly consider the impact of this on their findings.
Forecasting Kansas land values using net farm income
Authors: Featherstone Allen M. , Taylor Mykel R. , Gibson Heather 
Published: March 2017

Purpose
With the decline of US net farm income from $123.8 billion in 2013 to $71.5 billion forecasted for 2016, concern has developed regarding the future path of agricultural land values. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between net farm income, cash rents and land values in the state of Kansas and provides insight regarding future land values.

Design/methodology/approach
This study estimates partial adjustment models for cash rent and land values and uses those results to infer long-run capitalization rates and earnings multipliers. These models are used to forecast Kansas land values through 2018 and also the long-run price of farmland given 2016 expectations.

Findings
Land adjusts to changes in Kansas net farm income slowly with a one-year elasticity of 6.7 percent. The long-run elasticity is 96.9 percent which is very close to the 100 percent suggested by the theoretical income capitalization model. The long-run multiplier for income in Kansas is 21.71 which implies a capitalization rate of 4.61 percent. The estimated results suggest that Kansas land values would peak in 2016 and begin to slowly decline. If market conditions were to remain the same, land values would ultimately decrease to $1,171 per acre, a 28 percent decline from current levels.

Originality/value
Declines of the magnitude in estimated land values could negatively affect the financial condition of the sector. Factors such as a change in the long-run capitalization rate or unexpected supply or demand shocks for agricultural commodities globally could certainly alter the long-term prospects. However, current expectations as of March 2016 suggest that farmers will face difficult conditions over the next few years.
A disequilibrium evaluation of public intervention in agricultural credit markets
Authors: Hubbs Todd , Kuethe Todd 
Published: March 2017

PurposeAgricultural producers rely on debt capital to support many functions of their enterprise, yet private credit markets are frequently characterized by an imbalance between supply and demand. As a result, a number of public lending programs exist to mitigate the perceived market failures of private credit markets that serve agricultural producers. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a structural disequilibrium model to examine the potential for excess demand or supply in the private market for non-real estate farm loans between 1978 and 2014.FindingsThe model demonstrates that the market is frequently characterized by disequilibrium, fluctuating between periods of excess demand and excess supply. These disequilibrium periods motivate the discussion of public intervention as a policy proposal within the agricultural sector.Originality/valueThis study uses traditional disequilibrium modeling to evaluate the private credit market for agriculture lending in a manner that has not been attempted previously in the literature. The model uses maximum likelihood methods with non-linear solution algorithms to investigate excess supply and demand in the sector.
Factors affecting risk-rating migration
Authors: Featherstone Allen M. , Wilson Christine A. , Zollinger Lance M. 
Published: March 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirical customer account data from 2006 through 2012 to review the probability of default (PD) rating methodology implemented by a FCS association for production agricultural accounts. This analysis provides insight into the migration of accounts across the association’s currently established PD rating categories with negative migration being a precursor to potential loan default.

Design/methodology/approach
The data set contained 17,943 observations from the years 2006 to 2012 and consisted of various fields of data including balance sheet date, earnings statement date, and PD rating as of the statement date. The methods include analysis on the dynamics of the PD ratings and component ratios. OLS regression was used to analyze the data to see how the current period PD rating and component ratios affected the PD rating one year, three years, and five years out. OLS regression examined the statistical significance of the PD ratings and ratio components for this analysis. The dependent variable, Future PD Rating, represents the assigned PD rating for the observed farm either one, three, or five years into the future. It is expected that the initial PD rating in any given year would have a positive relationship, and be statistically significant in estimating future PD ratings. The independent variables are the current PD rating and the various component ratios of the inverse current ratio (CR), the debt to asset ratio (D/A), the gross profit to total liabilities ratio, the inverse debt coverage ratio, working capital to gross profit, and funded debt to EBITDA.

Findings
Results indicate that financial ratio information gathered today can do a good job forecasting PD ratings up to three years in the future. CR information does not forecast five years into the future very well. Thus, there is an important need to update financial information on a regular basis. The results indicate that the D/A information is very important in predicting risk ratings. As the production agriculture sector has experienced difficult financial conditions during 2014 and 2015, agricultural finance institutions need to obtain up-to-date financial information from their clientele to effectively assess the risk of and manage their financial portfolio.

Originality/value
Several previous works have examined and established models to assess risk in agricultural lending. This research adds to this body of work by examining the migration of an account’s risk-rating class over time using actual lender account data.
Heterogeneity in loss aversion: evidence from field elicitations
Authors: Sproul Thomas , Michaud Clayton P. 
Published: March 2017

PurposeProspect theory is now widely accepted as the dominant model of choice under risk, but has not been fully incorporated into applied research because of uncertainty about how to include population-level parameter estimates. The purpose of this paper is to characterize heterogeneity across people to lay a foundation for future applied research.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses elicitation data from field experiments in Vietnam to fit a finite Gaussian mixture model using the expectation maximization algorithm. Applied results are simulated for investment allocations under myopic loss aversion.FindingsThe authors find that about 20 percent of the sample is classified as extremely loss averse, while the rest of the population is only mildly loss averse. This implies a bimodal distribution of loss aversion in the population.Research limitations/implicationsThe data set is only moderately sized: 181 subjects. Future research will be needed to extend these results out of sample, and to other regions.Originality/valueThis paper provides empirical evidence that heterogeneity matters in prospect theory modeling. It highlights how policy makers might be misled by assuming that average prospect theory parameters are typical within the population.
Following beginning farm income and wealth over time
Authors: Williamson James M. 
Published: March 2017

Purpose
The paper examines the evolution of beginning farms’ income statement and balance sheet items over a 15-year period. The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the diversity of beginning farms from a financial point of view.

Design/methodology/approach
Using the USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), the author constructs a synthetic panel of data consisting of age cohorts of beginning farmers and follow them over time. Baseline financial information for the farm income statement and balance sheet is examined in 1999 and again in 2014 for each cohort.

Findings
Overall, there is a marked contrast in the evolution in the income statement between beginning farmers who are under 45 years old and those over 45. The gross cash income of the youngest cohorts grows tremendously, as do their expenses, indicating rapid expansion in production on the part of the youngest cohorts. The change in the balance sheets of the cohorts also provides a glimpse into the changing roles of beginning famers over time. The youngest cohort of beginning farmers increase the current and non-current assets on their balance sheets by a substantial amount, more than doubling both. Furthermore, the youngest cohort is the only group to take on more current liabilities, indicating increased financing of the production expenses.

Practical implications
Differences in the evolution of financial profiles of beginning farms may predict differences in future output, and it could be a predictor of the farm’s operational goals or intentions, as well as predictor of future financial needs and challenges.

Originality/value
Knowing and understanding likely trajectories of beginning farmers may provide an opportunity to better tailor farm programs, outreach, and support to beginning farmers.
The impact of investment on drinking water quality in rural China
Authors: Yue Ai , Shi Yaojiang , Luo Renfu , Zhang Linxiu , Johnson Natalie , Rozelle Scott , Zhao Qiran 
Published: March 2017

Purpose
Although access to safe drinking water is one of the most important health-related infrastructure programs in the world, drinking water remains a large problem in China today, especially in rural areas. Despite increased government investment in water resource protection and management, there is still an absence of academic studies that are able to document what path the investment has taken and whether it has had any tangible impact. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of drinking water investment on drinking water in China.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors make use of nationally representative data from 2005 and 2012 to measure the impact of drinking water investment among 2,028 rural households in 101 villages across five provinces. Both ordinary least squares regression and probit regression are used to analyze the correlates and the impact of drinking water investment.

Findings
The authors demonstrate that water quality was likely a significant problem in 2004 but that China’s investment into drinking water appears to have resulted in initial improvements during the study period. The authors show that the most significant change came about in terms of hardware: villages that received more drinking water investment now have more piped tap water and more access to water treatment infrastructure (disinfecting and filtering facilities). High rates of rural resident satisfaction with drinking water suggest the effects of drinking water investment are being felt at the village level.

Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study on drinking water investment over time in rural China using nationally representative data.
Funding challenges of Latin American women start-up founders in the technology industry
Authors: Kuschel Katherina , Lepeley María-Teresa , Espinosa Fernanda , Gutiérrez Sebastián 
Published: March 2017

PurposeWomen in entrepreneurship can have a significant impact on economic and social development globally and particularly in developing countries. But the challenges entrepreneurial women face are unique and multiple, pressing the need for research and policies to maximize impact. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the challenges women start-up founders face to secure funding in the technology industry. The tech industry was selected because it is a non-traditional industry for women with high potential for role models to bridge an existing gap in information on women start-up founders to secure capital financing to attain business sustainability. It covers venture capital investors’ role, Latin American cultural reasons, and gender.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on an inductive, qualitative approach and in-depth interviews with 20 women entrepreneurs and start-up founders from Latin American countries who received support from the Chilean Government sponsored accelerator “Start-Up Chile.”FindingsThe analysis uncovered ten aspects that impact entrepreneurial women founders’ access to capital in three categories: capital needs, networks, and individual characteristics.Originality/valueThis study identifies factors that affect women entrepreneurs in raising capital and in facing the following challenges: first, working in a non-traditional field for women as it is the technology industry, and second assuming a leadership role as start-up founders. The results offer recommendation with potential to drive public policies in Latin America, which may be scalable to other developing and also to developed countries where market systems prevail. The findings show that women entrepreneurs, but also men, seeking start-up financing and alternatives are a viable source of employment and economic sustainability to mitigate the effects of increasing levels of unemployment worldwide.
The role of citizens in DRR planning exercises: when to inform or consult
Authors: Kornakova Maria , March Alan 
Published: March 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this research paper is to explore the role and effectiveness of particular participation styles that affect the effectiveness of urban planning being integrated with disaster risk reduction (DRR) practices.

Design/methodology/approach
This research was conducted using a heuristic approach to the examination of urban planning and DRR practices focussing particularly upon citizens’ participation in four case studies internationally: the UK floods in 2007; Hurricane Katrina in the USA in 2005; wildfires of 2009 in Victoria, Australia; and Swiss avalanche prevention and preparedness. Desktop research was conducted to analyse cases and identify key findings, confirmed and augmented by interviews with relevant specialists in each country through semi-structured interviews.

Findings
The research reveals some similarities across all four cases studied. It appears that urban planning and DRR approaches, particularly those with a regulatory outcome and based on highly technical tests, are common. Further, it is apparent in the cases studied that circumstances where deeper technical knowledge and/or self-interest are strong factors, that informing and sometimes consulting styles are the most appropriate. While the scope of the paper means that this principle cannot be widely applied, there is a need to investigate these issues further.

Research limitations/implications
The heuristic and inductive nature of this research limits the potential for in-depth analyses of the case studies, but rather provides a base for future research in this area, which currently has limited literature.

Originality/value
This study provides a wide base for future research and partially addresses the gap in the literature on the topic of integration of urban planning and DRR with a focus on the community involvement in it.
Employee workplace representation in Belgium: effects on firm performance
Authors: van den Berg Annette , van Witteloostuijn Arjen , Van der Brempt Olivier 
Published: March 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether works councils (WCs) in Belgium have a positive effect on firm performance, notably productivity and profitability, while taking the role of trade unions into account.Design/methodology/approachThe authors first introduce the typical Belgian industrial relations system, discussing the similarities and differences with neighboring countries. This is followed by a brief overview of the relevant literature. Subsequently, the impact of Belgian employee representation on firm performance is estimated by means of OLS, using a newly developed questionnaire administered among Belgian CEOs. Special attention is given to moderating and mediating effects.FindingsThe authors find that Belgian WCs have a small (direct) significantly positive effect on labor productivity, but not on profitability. The additional results of the mediation test show tentatively that WCs might affect profitability indirectly, through their impact on productivity. Despite trade unions’ dominance in practice, the findings reveal that their impact is insignificant.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough nationwide, rich and representative, as well as statistically valid, the data set is rather small (196 usable observations). The data set offers ample opportunities to further explore what makes effective Belgian WCs different from their non-effective counterparts.Originality/valueThe data set is unique, and combines subjective CEO with objective performance data. The data offer the opportunity to do a first study into the special case of Belgium, which has a distinct union-dominated IR regime. In this study, the focus is furthermore on the rarely studied WC-trade union interaction. In addition, subtle moderation and mediation effects are estimated.