bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of country effects on the performance of service firms
Authors: Elango B , Wieland Jamie R. 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– Understanding the impact of country effect on financial performance is important for service firms as they continue to grow and operate across national borders. The purpose of this paper is to empirically quantify the impact of country and several country-specific variables on firm performance in the service sector by estimating the portion of variation in firm performance attributed to these factors.Design/methodology/approach– Using hierarchical linear models, the authors estimate the proportion of variation driven by country effects. These estimates are obtained from a data panel of 16,051 units from 3,345 service firms across 32 countries over a seven-year time frame (2001-2007).Findings– In the analysis, home country explains approximately 11 percent of the variance in performance. Additionally, the authors find that six country-specific variables, namely, quality of governance, openness to trade, wealth, growth rate, uncertainty avoidance and individualism collectively explain 10 percent of variation in performance or 26.8 percent relative variation of performance.Originality/value– This study extends the literature on country effect by quantifying the impact of country-specific dimensions on performance. It focusses on a single industry within the service sector. This allows for a more reliable estimate of the country effect, as it will not be confounded by cross-industry effects – thus alleviating some of the concerns with earlier research. Understanding the impact of the six specific country variables investigated in this work will allow service firms to better predict and improve the performance of subsidiaries.
Climate vs. topography – spatial patterns of plant species diversity and endemism on a high‐elevation island
Authors: Irl Severin D. H. , Harter David E. V. , Steinbauer Manuel J. , Gallego Puyol David , Fernández‐Palacios José María , Jentsch Anke , Beierkuhnlein Carl 
Published: August 2015

Summary

Climate and topography are among the most fundamental drivers of plant diversity. Here, we assessed the importance of climate and topography in explaining diversity patterns of species richness, endemic richness and endemicity on the landscape scale of an oceanic island and evaluated the independent contribution of climatic and topographic variables to spatial diversity patterns.

We constructed a presence/absence matrix of perennial endemic and native vascular plant species (including subspecies) in 890 plots on the environmentally very heterogeneous island of La Palma, Canary Islands. Species richness, endemic richness and endemicity were recorded, interpolated and related to climate (i.e. variables describing temperature, precipitation, variability and climatic rarity) and topography (i.e. topographic complexity, solar radiation, geologic age, slope and aspect). We used multimodel inference, spatial autoregressive models, variance partitioning and linear regression kriging as statistical methods.

Species richness is best explained by both climatic and topographic variables. Topographic variables (esp. topographic complexity and solar radiation) explain endemic richness, and climatic variables (esp. elevation/temperature and rainfall seasonality) explain endemicity. Spatial patterns of species richness, endemic richness and endemicity were in part geographically decoupled from each other.

Synthesis. We identified several topography‐dependent processes ranging from evolutionary processes (micro‐refugia, in situ speciation, pre‐adaptation to rupicolous conditions, dispersal limitations) to human‐induced influences (introduced herbivores, fire, land use) that possibly shape the endemic richness pattern of La Palma. In contrast, climate mainly drives endemicity, which is connected to ecological speciation and specialization to local conditions. We highlight the importance of incorporating climatic variability into future studies of plant species diversity and endemism. The spatial incongruence in hot spots of species richness, endemic richness and endemicity emphasizes the need for an integrated conservation approach acknowledging different diversity measures to protect the complete spectrum of diversity. High‐elevation islands such as La Palma are highly suitable to study drivers of diversity and endemism, as they offer environmental gradients of continental magnitude on the landscape scale of a single climatic mini‐continent and a large array of in situ‐speciated endemics.
Postmortem Intervals in Mice Submerged in Aqueous Environments at 20°C
Authors: Celata Elizabeth N. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAqueous submersion can impede decay and produce decomposition stages not seen in terrestrial burials. To further understand the variances, fifty‐four mice were submerged in freshwater, marine water, and a control environment at 20°C. The mice displayed sequential stages at differing rates over 6 weeks. Regression plots and comparative t‐tests demonstrated that internal putrefaction, weight difference, and abdominal circumference of the aqueous environments varied significantly from the control group. The aqueous subjects did not vary significantly from each other quantitatively. The postmortem intervals were not consistent regardless of temperature or environment although a clear variance was noted between the control and the submerged groups.
Detection of Clostridium Tyrobutyricum in Milk to Prevent Late Blowing in Cheese by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis
Authors: Panelli Simona , Brambati Eva , Bonacina Cesare , Feligini Maria 
Published: August 2015

AbstractClostridium tyrobutyricum has been identified as the main causal agent of the late blowing defect in cheese, with major effects on quality and commercial value. In this work, for the first time, we applied automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) approach to diagnose the presence of C. tyrobutyricum in raw milk before cheesemaking. A species‐specific primer set was designed and used for this original application of the ARISA. Sensitivity of detection, reproducibility of the fluorescent PCR assay, and repeatability of the capillary electrophoretic analysis of amplicons were evaluated using DNA extracted from milk added with known amounts of C. tyrobutyricum genome copies, ranging from 3 × 106 to 3. Results indicated that the sensitivity of the technique permits to detect the bacterium in all the samples. The reproducibility, evaluated by analyzing 3 sets of serial dilutions, resulted satisfactory, with little deviation within PCR reactions amplifying the same starting amount of template (standard deviations ≤ 0.1, coefficients of variation ≤ 3%). The peaks' fluorescence displayed an evident correspondence with the number of genome copies contained in each dilution. The capillary electrophoretic analysis, tested by running a single PCR product per dilution point in 10 repeats, resulted efficient and highly repeatable, with excellent coefficients of variation ≤ 2% and standard deviations ≤ 0.1 in all the sample sets. This application of ARISA gives good estimates of the total C. tyrobutyricum DNA content allowing a specific, fine‐scale resolution of this pollutant species in a complex system as milk. A further advantage linked to the automatization of the process.
Do Firms Use Tax Reserves to Meet Analysts’ Forecasts? Evidence from the Pre‐ and Post‐FIN 48 Periods
Authors: Gupta Sanjay , Laux Rick C. , Lynch Daniel P. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe examine whether firms decrease tax reserves to meet analysts’ quarterly earnings forecasts in the period prior to FIN 48, and whether that behavior changed following FIN 48. We use analysts’ forecasts of pretax and after‐tax income to impute premanaged earnings, or earnings before any tax manipulation. Pre‐FIN 48, we observe that firms reduce their tax reserves (i.e., increase income) when premanaged earnings are below analysts’ forecasts. Specifically, 78 percent of firm‐quarters that would have missed the analyst forecast if not for the tax reserve decrease, meet that target when the decrease is included. Furthermore, we find a significant positive association between the decrease in tax reserves and the deviation of premanaged earnings from analysts’ forecasts. In contrast, post‐FIN 48, we find no evidence that firms use changes in tax reserves to manage earnings to meet analysts’ forecasts. Thus, our results suggest that FIN 48 has, at least initially, curtailed firms’ use of tax reserves to manage earnings.
Honor Among Thieves: Open Internal Reporting and Managerial Collusion
Authors: Evans John H. , Moser Donald V. , Newman Andrew H. , Stikeleather Bryan R. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractFirms have increasingly adopted open work environments. Although openness is thought to have benefits, it could also expose firms to an unanticipated cost. An open (closed) internal reporting environment makes it more (less) likely that managers will observe a colleague's communications with senior executives. This increase in what one manager knows about another manager's communication to senior executives could facilitate employee collusion to extract resources from the firm. To test whether internal reporting openness results in more collusion, we conduct an experiment in which two managers each make separate reports to the firm about cost information they know in common but that remains unknown by the firm. Because both managers face the same truth‐inducing contract, conventional economic theory predicts that they will not collude to misreport costs regardless of reporting openness. However, using behavioral theory involving trust and reciprocity, we predict and find that managers honor their nonbinding collusive agreements and successfully collude more often in an open versus closed internal reporting environment, leading to lower firm welfare in the open environment. These results suggest that firms should consider how the cost of collusion compares to the benefits of openness.
Career Concerns and Management Earnings Guidance
Authors: Pae Suil , Song Chang Joon , Yi Andrew C. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study provides evidence that managers' career concerns affect their earnings guidance decisions. We hypothesize that CEOs who are relatively more concerned about assessments of their abilities have stronger incentives to guide the market expectations of earnings downwards to increase the likelihood of meeting or beating the expectations. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that (i) short‐tenured CEOs, CEOs promoted from inside the firm, and nonfounder CEOs are more likely to provide downward earnings guidance when they have bad news, and (ii) their downward guidance tends to be more conservative. In response, analysts revise earnings forecasts less for the downward guidance provided by more career‐concerned CEOs. This indicates that analysts rationally incorporate these CEOs' stronger incentives to be conservative in their earnings guidance. Consequently, we find that CEOs with greater career concerns are not more likely to beat the market expectations, even when they provide more conservative downward guidance.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: faecal diversion for management of perianal Crohn's disease
Authors: Singh S. , Ding N. S. , Mathis K. L. , Dulai P. S. , Farrell A. M. , Pemberton J. H. , Hart A. L. , Sandborn W. J. , Loftus E. V. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBackgroundTemporary faecal diversion is sometimes used for management of refractory perianal Crohn's disease (CD) with variable success.AimsTo perform a systematic review with meta‐analysis to evaluate the effectiveness, long‐term outcomes and factors associated with success of temporary faecal diversion for perianal CD.MethodsThrough a systematic literature review through 15 July 2015, we identified 16 cohort studies (556 patients) reporting outcomes after temporary faecal diversion. We estimated pooled rates [with 95% confidence interval (CI)] of early clinical response, attempted and successful restoration of bowel continuity after temporary faecal diversion (without symptomatic relapse), and rates of re‐diversion (in patients with attempted restoration) and proctectomy (with or without colectomy and end‐ileostomy). We identified factors associated with successful restoration of bowel continuity.ResultsOn meta‐analysis, 63.8% (95% CI: 54.1–72.5) of patients had early clinical response after faecal diversion for refractory perianal CD. Restoration of bowel continuity was attempted in 34.5% (95% CI: 27.0–42.8) of patients, and was successful in only 16.6% (95% CI: 11.8–22.9). Of those in whom restoration was attempted, 26.5% (95% CI: 14.1–44.2) required re‐diversion because of severe relapse. Overall, 41.6% (95% CI: 32.6–51.2) of patients required proctectomy after failure of temporary faecal diversion. There was no difference in the successful restoration of bowel continuity after temporary faecal diversion in the pre‐biological or biological era (13.7% vs. 17.6%, P = 0.60), in part due to selection bias. Absence of rectal involvement was the most consistent factor associated with restoration of bowel continuity.ConclusionsTemporary faecal diversion may improve symptoms in approximately two‐thirds of patients with refractory perianal Crohn's disease, but bowel restoration is successful in only 17% of patients.
Mental health services for children and adolescents with learning disabilities: a review of research on experiences of service users and providers
Authors: Jacobs Myrthe , Downie Helen , Kidd Gill , Fitzsimmons Lorna , Gibbs Susie , Melville Craig 
Published: August 2015

Accessible summary

Many policies and initiatives have been developed to improve mental health services for children with learning disabilities.

Children with learning disabilities and their parents, however, experience many barriers accessing mental health services.

Service providers identified a lack of resources as a barrier to meeting the needs of children with learning disabilities.

Current research offers suggestions on what can be improved, but further research is needed to identify what models of service would work best for children with learning disabilities.

AbstractBackground: Children and young people with learning disabilities experience high rates of mental health problems.Methods: The present study reviewed the literature on mental health services for children with learning disabilities, to identify known models of service provision and what has been experienced as effective or challenging in providing good services.Results: Children with learning disabilities and their parents experience barriers accessing mental health services that are related to a lack of information and perceptions of services as being inadequate. Service providers identified a lack of resources as a barrier to meeting needs. Although positive experiences are also observed, many parents have found services to be inappropriate or overwhelming.Conclusion: Research linking population need to available resources, and service models to services users’ outcomes would be valuable to make clear recommendations on how mental health services can address the needs of this group more effectively.
Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Yulan , Deng Tianxing , Zeng Li , Chen Weiqing 
Published: August 2015

AimTo investigate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsAll eligible studies were collected from PubMed, the Cochrane Libraries and Embase. The evaluation indices included overall survival (OS) rate, recurrence‐free survival rate, local tumor progression rate and major complications. All statistical analysis was performed by RevMan version 5.2 software.ResultsThere were 21 studies with 3073 patients included in this meta‐analysis. The RFA monotherapy was associated with higher 3‐ and 5‐year OS rates (OR3‐year = 2.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34–4.05; OR5‐year = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.48–2.85) compared with TACE alone. The combination of RFA and TACE was associated with higher 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year OS rates (OR1‐year = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.28–2.96; OR3‐year = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.19–2.04; OR5‐year = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.13–2.07) compared with RFA alone.ConclusionThe combination of TACE with RFA could obviously improve the short‐ and long‐term survival rates and significantly provide a better prognosis for patients with intermediate‐size HCC. RFA was associated with a higher long‐term OS rate than that of TACE‐treated patients with HCC.
Gender and digital privacy: examining determinants of attitude toward digital piracy among youths in an emerging market
Authors: Tjiptono Fandy , Arli Denni , Viviea  
Published: August 2015

AbstractDigital piracy is rampant in developing countries, including Indonesia. Each year, it has caused billions of dollars of loss to many industries, such as software, video game, film and music industries. The present study aims to examine the determinants of attitude towards digital piracy and to explore whether gender matters in explaining the attitude. A convenience sample of 223 university students in Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Indonesia, participated in the research. The results show that males have a more positive attitude towards digital piracy than females. The determinants of attitude towards digital piracy among female consumers are affective beliefs, perceived importance of digital piracy issue and Machiavellianism, while the predictors for the male counterparts include affective beliefs, perceived importance of digital piracy issue and moral judgment.
Residential and occupational exposure to pesticides may increase risk for cutaneous melanoma: a case–control study conducted in the south of Brazil
Authors: Segatto Majoriê M. , Bonamigo Renan R. , Hohmann Clarissa B. , Müller Karen Reetz , Bakos Lucio , Mastroeni Simona , Fortes Cristina 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundIncidences of primary cutaneous melanoma (CM) have risen over the last few decades, mainly among populations of White European extraction. Some risk factors for melanoma have been clearly established, but other potential risk factors, such as exposure to pesticides, are currently under study.MethodsA case–control study on melanoma was conducted during 2012 and 2013 at three dermatological reference centers in Porto Alegre, Brazil. A total of 191 CM patients and sex‐ and age‐matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. Data on domestic and occupational use of pesticides and the risk factors already established for CM were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to study the association between exposure to pesticides and melanoma risk.ResultsSubjects exposed to pesticides had twice the level of risk for melanoma (odds ratio [OR] 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–6.89). When pesticides were used indoors for >10 years, the risk for CM increased further (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.56–5.33). A high frequency of indoor use of pesticides (four or more times per year) was associated with a 44% increase in the risk for melanoma (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11–3.49). The domestic use of pesticides outdoors was not associated with increased risk. Subjects exposed to pesticides at an occupational level were at four times greater risk than subjects who were not occupationally exposed (OR 4.23, 95% CI 1.94–6.31).ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the general use of pesticides, particularly indoor domestic use, frequently and over a long period, may be an independent environmental risk factor for CM.
Multiple cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders showing a retained tumor clone by T‐cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis: a case series of four patients and review of the literature
Authors: Stowman Anne M. , Hsia Ling‐Lun , Kanner William A. , Mahadevan Mani S. , Bullock Grant C. , Patterson James W. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundMycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common primary cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL), followed by CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders, including lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL). The objective was to report on a series of patients with different types of CTCL at different times in their clinical course, with a focus on clonality studies.MethodsFour patients with multiple diagnoses of CTCLs were identified. The clinical information, treatment interventions, and histopathology were reviewed. T‐cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement studies were performed on all available specimens.ResultsThe four patients carried diagnoses of: (1) pcALCL and MF; (2) pcALCL, LyP, and pcALCL; (3) LyP, MF, and pcALCL; (4) LyP, pcALCL, and MF; each with characteristic presentation and histopathologic findings. The results of the TCR polymerase chain reaction showed that all tumors expressed and retained a TCR clone(s) as follows: (1) biallelic clone; (2) single clone; (3) biallelic clone with additional clone; and (4) single clone, respectively.ConclusionWe report a series of four cases of individual patients with coexisting diagnoses of some combination of MF, LyP, and pcALCL, whose lesions presented in nontraditional sequence and demonstrated a retained clone by gene rearrangement analysis.
Effects of tidal height and wave exposure on cirrus and penis morphology of the acorn barnacle Tetraclita stalactifera
Authors: Hoch J. Matthew , Reyes Kevin V. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractExposure to wave action and other environmental factors can alter the morphology of intertidal barnacles. We tested several hypotheses on the causes of morphological variation in the cirri and penises of the barnacle Tetraclita stalactifera at sites differing in wave exposure, at different heights in the intertidal zone, and at different levels of population density. Unlike many other acorn barnacle species, cirrus and penis characteristics did not correspond to differences in wave exposure or crowding. However, barnacles from higher tidal elevations had thicker cirri and thicker penises than those from lower elevations. Because of reduced time submerged at higher elevations, increased thickness may be a means of compensating for reduced feeding and mating opportunity by allowing for continued feeding and mating attempts during periods of greater wave action. Our observations of differences in cirrus and penis morphology suggest that phenotypic plasticity in penis and cirrus characteristics are adaptations shared by the species T. stalactifera and other acorn barnacles, but that T. stalactifera responds differently to environmental stimuli than do other species.