bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dividend Policy and Shareholders’ Value: Evidence from Listed Companies in Ghana
Authors: Ofori‐Sasu Daniel , Abor Joshua Yindenaba , Osei Achampong Kofi 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis study examines the effect of dividend policy on shareholder value of listed companies in Ghana. It analyses the factors affecting dividend policy and how dividend policy affects shareholders’ value. Data from 2009 to 2014 financial reports of listed companies on the Ghana Stock Exchange were used. The data was analysed using pooled OLS panel regression. The findings reveal that ROE, firm age, tax, tangibility, GDP growth and interest rate are statistically significant in explaining dividend policy. The study suggests that firms consider the use of dividend yield as an appropriate measure when making choices in dividend policy. The study finds a positive relationship between dividend per share and shareholders’ value. More so, firms with higher dividend yield tend to reduce shareholders’ value, as confirmed by a negative and significant relationship between dividend yield and shareholders’ value. It concludes that dividend policy has a strong relationship with shareholders’ value. The study recommends that managers should embark on prudent investment activities that would generate higher returns (both dividend and capital gains) to shareholders in order to increase shareholder value.
Does disestablishment lead to religious vitality? The case of Switzerland
Authors: Stolz Jörg , Chaves Mark 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEconomists and sociologists of religion have claimed that religious establishment dampens religious vitality, leading to lower recruitment efforts, low attendance, declining membership within established congregations, and the ‘crowding out’ of non‐established congregations. Conversely, these authors have told us, disestablishment will lead to more religious vitality. Remarkably, even though these claims rest on the connection between establishment and the organizational and membership behaviour of local religious congregations, no research has directly examined that connection. We use the 2008 Swiss National Congregations Study as well as historical data to assess the effect of different levels of religious establishment on both established and non‐established congregations. We find that established congregations do indeed show less religious vitality than non‐established congregations. Contrary to the claims of the economic literature, however, these covariations are not caused by differences in religious establishment on the cantonal level. Both our quantitative and historical analyses show that disestablishment has not led to religious vitality for either established or non‐established congregations. The only clear effect of disestablishment is a dramatic decrease of income for established congregations. Based on quantitative and historical evidence, we suggest that differences between established and non‐established congregations are produced by differences in religious tradition and immigration flows, not by differences in levels of establishment.
Assessment of the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Minas artisanal cheese produced in the Campo das Vertentes region, Brazil
Authors: de Sant'Anna Felipe Machado , Acurcio Leonardo Borges , Alvim Luige Biciati , de Castro Renata Dias , de Oliveira Leticia Goulart , da Silva Andreia Marçal , Nunes Álvaro Cantini , Nicoli Jacques Robert , Souza Marcelo Resende 
Published: June 2017

The microbiota of the Brazilian Minas artisanal cheese, made from raw milk, is not well known and may include probiotic bacteria. This study aimed to assess the in vitro and in vivo probiotic properties of the lactic acid bacteria isolated from these cheeses. Thirty‐six samples of the Lactobacillus/Pediococcus group were selected for in vitro investigation. Pediococcus acidilactici (PA2) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP4) showed the best results and were tested for their ability to protect Salmonella Typhimurium orally infected mice. LP4 showed better probiotic potential than PA2 and allowed higher values of weight gain (P < 0.05). Thus, Lb. plantarumLP4 may have potential use as a probiotic in foods after future technological screening.
Medical scribes have no impact on the patient experience of an emergency department
Authors: Dunlop William , Hegarty Lachlan , Staples Margaret , Levinson Michele , Ben‐Meir Michael , Walker Katherine 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate patient perceptions of medical scribes in the ED and to test for scribe impacts on ED Net Promoter Scores, Press Ganey Surveys and other patient‐centred topics.MethodsExploratory semi‐structured interviews were conducted in the ED during wait times after scribed consultations. Interview results were used to derive topics relating to scribes. Items addressing these topics from validated surveys were combined with items from widely used patient satisfaction questionnaires. Questionnaires were administered in the ED by face‐to‐face approach while patients were waiting for admission/discharge or test results. Patients and doctors were blinded to the purpose of the questionnaire. The survey evaluated for non‐inferiority of scribed consultations, using Net Promoter Scores, Press Ganey questions and questions specific to the presence of the scribe.ResultsPatient interviews did not identify any negative views regarding the presence of scribes during consultations. Thematic saturation was achieved after seven interviews. Two hundred and fifty‐eight patients were approached to complete the questionnaire, and 215 participated (83%); 95 and 118 participants in the scribed and non‐scribed groups, respectively. There was no difference between scribed and non‐scribed consultations on the following measures of satisfaction: the Net Promoter Score, Press Ganey questions, quality of information received from doctors, communication, privacy concerns or inhibition about revealing private information and room crowding.ConclusionWe found no evidence that scribes reduce patient satisfaction during emergency consultations, nor prompt discomfort that might cause a patient to withhold information.
Early detection and integrated care for adolescents and young adults with psychotic disorders: the ACCESS III study
Authors: Lambert M. , Schöttle D. , Ruppelt F. , Rohenkohl A. , Sengutta M. , Luedecke D. , Nawara L. A. , Galling B. , Falk A.‐L. , Wittmann L. , Niehaus V. , Sarikaya G. , Rietschel L. , Gagern C. , Schulte‐Markwort M. , Unger H.‐P. , Ott S. , Romer G. , Daubmann A. , Wegscheider K. , Correll C. U. , Schimmelmann B. G. , Wiedemann K. , Bock T. , Gallinat J. , Karow A. 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to investigate whether a combined intervention composed of early detection plus integrated care (EDIC) enhances outcomes in patients with early psychosis compared to standard care (SC).MethodsACCESS III is a prospective non‐randomized historical control design 1‐year study examining the efficacy of EDIC (n = 120) vs. SC (n = 105) in patients aged 12–29 years. Primary outcome was the rate of ≥6 months combined symptomatic and functional remission. Additional outcomes comprised the reduction of DUP and course of psychopathology, functioning, quality of life, and satisfaction with care.ResultsIn observed cases, 48.9% in the EDIC and 15.2% in the SC group reached the primary endpoint. Remission was predicted by EDIC (OR = 6.8, CI: 3.15–14.53, P < 0.001); younger age predicted non‐remission (OR = 1.1, CI: 1.01–1.19, P = 0.038). Linear regressions indicated a reduction of DUP in EDIC (P < 0.001), but not in SC (P = 0.41). MMRMs showed significantly larger improvements in PANSS positive (P < 0.001) and GAF (P < 0.01) scores in EDIC vs. SC, and in EDIC over time in CGI‐Severity (P < 0.001) and numerically in Q‐LES‐Q‐18 (P = 0.052).ConclusionsEDIC lead to significantly higher proportions of patients achieving combined remission. Moderating variables included a reduction of DUP and EDIC, offering psychotherapeutic interventions.
Exploring the Board Structures and Member Profiles of Top ASX Companies in Australia: An Industry‐level Analysis
Authors: Chandrakumara A. , McCarthy G. , Glynn J. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractUsing published data from the top 166 ASX companies and 1244 corporate board members, this paper presents an industry‐level analysis of board structures and member profiles, and assesses them in terms of the ASX (2014, 2003) principles and recommendations. The analysis reveals that the average board size was seven, non‐executive director (NED) representation on boards was 70%, women held 14% of seats on corporate boards, 17% of NEDs were women and 2% of firms had chairperson/CEO duality positions. The Financial, Industrial and Energy sectors consisted of a majority of executive directors from business and the accounting field and NEDs from the engineering field with work experience of 20 to 30 years. A greater degree of diversity in the field of study and previous experience in the same and different sectors was found in relation to board members in the majority of industrial sectors. The analysis reveals that board characteristics such as board size, having a clear majority of NEDs on boards, decreasing trends in chairperson/CEO duality position, board member diversity in terms of qualifications and previous experience in the same and different sectors were largely consistent with the ASX principles and corporate governance practices.
Cutaneous malignancies simulating seborrheic keratoses: An underappreciated phenomenon?
Authors: Chen Tiffany Y. , Morrison Annie O. , Cockerell Clay J. 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundSeborrheic keratosis (SK), a common and benign entity, is generally diagnosed clinically without the need for a biopsy. Given their variable appearance, SK may mimic cancer clinically and require biopsy for clinically equivocal cases. A clinician may also choose to perform biopsies on SK based on other circumstances, such as cosmetic reasons or SK being in an inconvenient and irritative location.MethodsDermatopathology samples from 2015 obtained from private and university locations were retrospectively assessed. Cases included in the study were those with “SK” or “ISK” (irritated seborrheic keratosis) and no other diagnosis in the clinical data. Cases with modifiers suggestive of malignancy such as “SK rule out others,” changing, growing and so on were excluded. A total of 4361 eligible cases were identified and used for analysis.ResultsOf the 4361 cases identified as only “SK” or “ISK” in the clinical data, 3759 (86.2%) were, in fact, SK or ISK. A total of 466 (10.7%) were an assortment of non‐malignancy diagnoses such as dermatofibroma. There were 136 (3.1%) cases histologically diagnosed as malignancies. The majority (9/136 cases; 67%) were in situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma; 24.3% (33/136) were basal cell carcinoma and 8.8% (12/136) were melanoma.Conclusion
SK may mimic cancer even in clinically unsuspicious cases.
Clinical features and evolution of the gelastic seizures–hypothalamic hamartoma syndrome
Authors: Striano Salvatore , Striano Pasquale 
Published: June 2017

SummaryGelastic seizures, usually with onset in early infancy, are the hallmark manifestation of hypothalamic hamartoma. This seizure type is directly generated by hamartoma itself, intrinsically epileptogenic because of its anatomofunctional organization. Other types of seizures, focal or generalized, may appear during the evolution, probably resulting from mechanisms of secondary epileptogenesis. Nevertheless, the clinical expression and the severity of the syndrome, ranging from a focal drug‐resistant epilepsy to a catastrophic generalized encephalopathy with severe cognitive and behavioral impairments, depends on the size and the site of attachment of the hamartoma. Early suspicion, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment are mandatory to reverse a potential catastrophic evolution of this condition.
Hypothalamic hamartoma with epilepsy: Review of endocrine comorbidity
Authors: Harrison Victor S. , Oatman Oliver , Kerrigan John F. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe most common, and usually the only, endocrine disturbance in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) and epilepsy is central precocious puberty (CPP). The mechanism for CPP associated with HH may relate to ectopic generation and pulsatile release of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) from the HH, but this remains an unproven hypothesis. Possible regulators of GnRH release that are intrinsic to HH tissue include the following: (1) glial factors (such as transforming growth factor α[TGFα) and (2) γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)–mediated excitation. Both are known to be present in surgically‐resected HH tissue, but are present in patients with and without a history of CPP, suggesting the possibility that symptoms related to HH are directly associated with the region of anatomic attachment of the HH to the hypothalamus, which determines functional network connections, rather than to differences in HH tissue expression or pathophysiology. CPP associated with HH presents with isosexual development prior to the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. It is not uncommon for CPP with HH to present in children at an earlier age in comparison to other causes of CPP, including in infancy. Surgical resection of the HH can be effective for treating CPP, but is reserved for patients with intractable epilepsy, since GnRH agonists are widely available and effective treatment. Other endocrine disturbances with HH are rare, but can include growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency. Diabetes insipidus is commonly encountered postoperatively, but is not observed with HH prior to surgical intervention.
Does climate variability influence the demography of wild primates? Evidence from long‐term life‐history data in seven species
Authors: Campos Fernando A. , Morris William F. , Alberts Susan C. , Altmann Jeanne , Brockman Diane K. , Cords Marina , Pusey Anne , Stoinski Tara S. , Strier Karen B. , Fedigan Linda M. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEarth's rapidly changing climate creates a growing need to understand how demographic processes in natural populations are affected by climate variability, particularly among organisms threatened by extinction. Long‐term, large‐scale, and cross‐taxon studies of vital rate variation in relation to climate variability can be particularly valuable because they can reveal environmental drivers that affect multiple species over extensive regions. Few such data exist for animals with slow life histories, particularly in the tropics, where climate variation over large‐scale space is asynchronous. As our closest relatives, nonhuman primates are especially valuable as a resource to understand the roles of climate variability and climate change in human evolutionary history. Here, we provide the first comprehensive investigation of vital rate variation in relation to climate variability among wild primates. We ask whether primates are sensitive to global changes that are universal (e.g., higher temperature, large‐scale climate oscillations) or whether they are more sensitive to global change effects that are local (e.g., more rain in some places), which would complicate predictions of how primates in general will respond to climate change. To address these questions, we use a database of long‐term life‐history data for natural populations of seven primate species that have been studied for 29–52 years to investigate associations between vital rate variation, local climate variability, and global climate oscillations. Associations between vital rates and climate variability varied among species and depended on the time windows considered, highlighting the importance of temporal scale in detection of such effects. We found strong climate signals in the fertility rates of three species. However, survival, which has a greater impact on population growth, was little affected by climate variability. Thus, we found evidence for demographic buffering of life histories, but also evidence of mechanisms by which climate change could affect the fates of wild primates.
Decadal changes in habitat characteristics influence population trajectories of southern elephant seals
Authors: Hindell Mark A. , Sumner Michael , Bestley Sophie , Wotherspoon Simon , Harcourt Robert G. , Lea Mary‐Anne , Alderman Rachael , McMahon Clive R. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractUnderstanding divergent biological responses to climate change is important for predicting ecosystem level consequences. We use species habitat models to predict the winter foraging habitats of female southern elephant seals and investigate how changes in environmental variables within these habitats may be related to observed decreases in the Macquarie Island population. There were three main groups of seals that specialized in different ocean realms (the sub‐Antarctic, the Ross Sea and the Victoria Land Coast). The physical and climate attributes (e.g. wind strength, sea surface height, ocean current strength) varied amongst the realms and also displayed different temporal trends over the last two to four decades. Most notably, sea ice extent increased on average in the Victoria Land realm while it decreased overall in the Ross Sea realm. Using a species distribution model relating mean residence times (time spent in each 50 × 50 km grid cell) to 9 climate and physical co‐variates, we developed spatial predictions of residence time to identify the core regions used by the seals across the Southern Ocean from 120°E to 120°W. Population size at Macquarie Island was negatively correlated with ice concentration within the core habitat of seals using the Victoria Land Coast and the Ross Sea. Sea ice extent and concentration is predicted to continue to change in the Southern Ocean, having unknown consequences for the biota of the region. The proportion of Macquarie Island females (40%) utilizing the relatively stable sub‐Antarctic region, may buffer this population against longer‐term regional changes in habitat quality, but the Macquarie Island population has persistently decreased (−1.45% per annum) over seven decades indicating that environmental changes in the Antarctic are acting on the remaining 60% of the population to impose a long‐term population decline in a top Southern Ocean predator.
Academic “Centres,” Epistemic Differences and Brain Circulation
Authors: Ortiga Yasmin Y. , Chou Meng‐Hsuan , Sondhi Gunjan , Wang Jue 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article investigates the factors that shape how migrant academics engage with fellow scholars within their countries of origin. We focus specifically on the mobility of Asian‐born faculty between Singapore, a fast‐developing education hub in Southeast Asia, and their “home” countries within the region. Based on qualitative interviews with 45 migrant academics, this article argues that while education hubs like Singapore increase the possibility of brain circulation within Asia, epistemic differences between migrant academics and home country counterparts make it difficult to establish long‐term collaboration for research. Singapore institutions also look to the West in determining how research work is assessed for tenure and promotion, encouraging Singapore‐based academics to focus on networking with colleagues and peers based in the US and Europe rather than those based in origin countries. Such conditions undermine the positive impact of academic mobility between Singapore and surrounding countries within the region.
On the Road to Emmaus: Together towards Life as Conversation Partner in Missiological Research
Authors: Kaunda Chammah J. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article argues that the Emmaus narrative in Luke 24:13‐40 illustrates a messianic paradigmatic missiological approach to costly discipleship making. The central motif in this approach is critical emancipatory conversation, which is not merely the means to data gathering but an end in itself. Using Luke's story as a paradigmatic approach to missiological research, I demonstrate how Together towards Life as a research tool could creatively and innovatively engage with African theological education.
Case Study on Together towards Life and Ministerial Formation
Authors: Kirkpatrick Clifton 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWhen asked over the years why I believe the World Council of Churches is so important to the life of the church, my response has been not so much because of what its programmes do but because of its work in building a common ecumenical vision and bringing the diversity of the world church around that vision. This has been so valuable in shaping the life and ministry of the church ecumenical at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. Together towards Life gives us a fresh opportunity to do this again in the area of mission and evangelism.
Together towards Life in the Korean Context: Missiological Implications for the Korean Church
Authors: Byun Chang Uk 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis paper examines the implications of Together towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes (TTL) in the Korean context. TTL presents a renewed understanding of mission and challenges the mission activity of the Korean church and mission community. The paper explores some missiological implications of TTL for the once marginalized Korean church, which has become the centre of global Christianity. The world church has begun to recognize the rise of the non‐Western churches and the emerging roles of the Korean church. TTL, with a study guide, and Ecumenical Missiology should serve as helpful resources for teaching and training theology students and field missionaries.
Reading the Document on Mission of the Holy and Great Council from a Missiological Point of View
Authors: Voulgaraki‐Pissina Evi 
Published: June 2017

AbstractPromulgation of the document on mission by the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church in Crete in June 2016 ensures an enduring place for mission in the future shape of Orthodoxy. After discussion of the methodological limitations of the document, this article explores the process by which it was prepared, the range of reactions to it, some problems of language, and changes in the final, approved version, offering some assessments of its meaning and import.
Christian Mission, Politics, and Socio‐Economic Development: The Contribution of Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation
Authors: Kangwa Jonathan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article considers the contribution of the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation to the political and socio‐economic development of Zambia. First, the introduction and growth of Christianity in the mining areas of the Copperbelt are explored. Next, the article traces the formation and development of the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation. In the third place, it analyzes the role played by the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation in the politics and development of Zambia during the first decades of its formation, including its participation in Zambia's struggle for independence. After political independence, the foundation continued to fulfil a major part in facilitating reconciliation between blacks and whites. The article argues that the participation of the church in God's mission in the world cannot be divorced from socio‐economic and political realities.