bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Service quality, cash flow volatility, and moderating environmental factors
Authors: Sun Wenbin , Cui Kexiu 
Published: January 2015

Purpose– Service quality is a critical factor leading to firm returns. However, its benefit on the firm risk side metric is not clear. The purpose of this paper is to link firm service quality and firm cash flow volatility (CFV) and further investigates this relationship by incorporating the moderating effects from three environmental variables: munificence, dynamism, and complexity.Design/methodology/approach– This study is based on a secondary data approach. The data are collected from multiple sources such as AMAC and COMPUSTAT. Robust regressions with a panel data approach are adopted to analyze the data.Findings– Corporate service quality level has a strong effect in reducing firm CFV. Its impact is found to have a varied strength when the relationship is moderated by the environmental factors. In particular, it functions more strongly in high dynamism and high complexity environments.Practical implications– Service quality has effects beyond the previous thinking that is mainly concentrated on firm profits. Managers now should know that it is also effective in smoothing cash flow and thus yields benefits for future corporate planning. This is particularly meaningful for companies that operate in a turbulent industry as well as in a highly competitive market.Originality/value– This study is the first attempt that links firm service quality and firm risk factor represented by the volatility of income flow. It extends the role of service quality to an area that is increasingly emphasized by marketing researchers, e.g. the risk aspect of firm market-based assets.
Behavioural biases in investment decision making – a systematic literature review
Authors: Kumar Satish , Goyal Nisha 
Published: January 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature published in past 33 years on behavioural biases in investment decision-making. The paper highlights the major gaps in the existing studies on behavioural biases. It also aims to raise specific questions for future research.Design/methodology/approach– We employ systematic literature review (SLR) method in the present study. The prominence of research is assessed by studying the year of publication, journal of publication, country of study, types of statistical method, citation analysis and content analysis on the literature on behavioural biases. The present study is based on 117 selected articles published in peer- review journals between 1980 and 2013.Findings– Much of the existing literature on behavioural biases indicates the limited research in emerging economies in this area, the dominance of secondary data-based empirical research, the lack of empirical research on individuals who exhibit herd behaviour, the focus on equity in home bias, and indecisive empirical findings on herding bias.Research limitations/implications– This study focuses on individuals’ behavioural biases in investment decision-making. Our aim is to analyse the impact of cognitive biases on trading behaviour, volatility, market returns and portfolio selection.Originality/value– The paper covers a considerable period of time (1980-2013). To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first using systematic literature review method in the area of behavioural finance and also the first to examine a combination of four different biases involved in investment decision-making. This paper will be useful to researchers, academicians and those working in the area of behavioural finance in understanding the impact of behavioural biases on investment decision-making.
Internet banking and customer satisfaction in Pakistan
Authors: Raza Syed Ali , Jawaid Syed Tehseen , Hassan Ayesha 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– This study aims to determine the effects of service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction in Pakistan by using the SERVQUAL model.

Design/methodology/approach
– A survey research questionnaire of 30 items has been adopted, and the data of 400 respondents were collected from the users of Internet banking of different banks located in Karachi city of Pakistan.

Findings
– The reliability analysis shows that all dimensions are reliable. Results of the factor analysis confirm the grouping of adopted questioner. At last, the regression analysis indicates a significant positive relationship between assurance, tangibility, reliability and responsiveness with customer satisfaction. Conversely, empathy shows a positive but insignificant effect on the customer satisfaction.

Practical implications
– It is recommended that the management of online banks has to focus on making the design and content of the Web sites more visually appealing to grab the attention of existing customers, as well as to attract new customers. The management has to take effective measures to further enhance the security and safety of online bank accounts, so that customers can maintain long-term relationships with the usage of online banking. Online banks have to provide more reliable services to the customers at heart to make the customers more comfortable and confident. The management should develop more effective systems to quickly solve the issues of customers.

Originality/value
– This paper makes a unique contribution to the literature with reference to Pakistan, being a pioneering attempt to investigate the customer satisfaction in the banking industry of Pakistan by using a large sample and advance statistical techniques.
Groupon: let's make a deal?
Authors: White Susan 
Published: January 2015

Synopsis
Groupon, an online coupon company, was one of many companies that considered an initial public offering (IPO) during what might be a second technology/internet/social media IPO boom in 2011. Some companies chose to postpone their IPOs, while others took advantage of the media attention focussed on technology companies, and in particular, social media firms. Should investors hop on the tech IPO bandwagon, or hold off to better evaluate the long-term prospects of tech companies, and in particular social media companies? Would the valuation of Groupon justify an investment in IPO shares?

Research methodology
The case was researched from secondary sources, using Groupon's IPO filing information, news articles about the IPO and industry research sources, such as IBIS World.

Relevant courses and levels
This case is appropriate for an advanced undergraduate or MBA corporate finance or investment elective. Most introductory finance classes do not have the time to cover later chapters in a finance textbook, where information about IPOs is generally found. It could also be used at the end of a core finance course, where the instructor wanted to introduce this topic through a case study of a hard-to-value internet-based company to illustrate the difficulties in setting IPO prices. The case could also be used in an equity analysis class, an entrepreneurial finance class or an investment class, to spur discussion about valuing an internet company and choosing appropriate investments for pension fund investing. This case could also be used in a strategy class, focussing on the five forces question, and eliminating the valuation question.

Theoretical basis
There is a great deal of literature about IPOs and their long-term performance. An excellent source is Jay R. Ritter's research, http://bear.warrington.ufl.edu/ritter, which has a longer time period and more data than could be contained in this case. IPO puzzles include persistent undervaluing of IPOs; in other words, the offer price is lower than, and sometimes substantially lower than, the first day close price. A second issue is the generally poorer long-run performance of companies after their IPO when compared to similar firms that did not do an IPO.
Effects of experimentally simulated pollinator decline on recruitment in two European herbs
Authors: Lundgren Rebekka , Lázaro Amparo , Totland Ørjan 
Published: January 2015

Summary

Pollinator decline causes great concern because reduced pollinator availability may negatively affect plants' seed production and in turn influence seedling recruitment and densities of plant populations.
We used a novel experimental approach that simulates pollinator decline to assess the effects of a 4‐year reduction in pollinator availability on reproduction and recruitment in two common European herbs, Centaurea jacea and Leucanthemum vulgare.
The experiment strongly reduced visitation rates (by 59%) and seed set (by 23%) in Leucanthemum, but this did not cause reduced seedling recruitment, suggesting that other factors, such as water availability or the existence of a seed bank, are important for recruitment in this population of Leucanthemum.
The experiment also significantly reduced visitation rates to Centaurea (by 33%), but did not affect seed set or seedling recruitment. In this species, however, seed set increased with visitation rates and local recruitment increased with seed production, indicating that a consistent pollinator decline may negatively affect Centaurea population densities.
Synthesis. Our experiment reduced pollinator availability without artificially affecting quality components of the pollination process. Therefore, this approach may represent a realistic simulation of a pollinator decline. To our knowledge, this is the first study that uses an experimental reduction in pollinator visitation to assess its effects on population recruitment in plants. This study shows that a large pollinator decline may affect population densities, but only in populations where seedling recruitment is limited by seed production. Our results also highlight the importance of going beyond visitation rates and seed production to study the impact of pollinator decline on plant populations.
Capturing Desire: Rhetorical Strategies and the Affectivity of Discourse
Authors: Martin James 
Published: January 2015

This article: Provides a theoretical exploration of rhetorical persuasion as a practice aimed at ‘capturing desire’. Elucidates the shared interest of rhetorical and psychoanalytical theory in the production of so-called ‘plausible stories’ that mobilise and shape affects. Surveys different psychoanalytical approaches to the rhetorical articulation of ‘symptomatic beliefs’ that support political reasoning. Demonstrates the applicability of psychoanalytical theories to the analysis of a specific example of political speech. In this article I argue that psychoanalytical theory can help us understand the emotional force of political rhetoric. I undertake a theoretical enquiry into the method of interpreting political speeches as strategies of affective persuasion. Both rhetorical and psychoanalytical studies converge in their concern with the production of ‘plausible stories’ that aim to fold psychic investments into political judgements. To capture desire, I claim, political rhetoric must articulate ‘symptomatic beliefs’ in relation to wider situational exigencies. I sketch three distinct psychoanalytical approaches, each of which emphasises a different scenario of unconscious organisation where rhetorical strategies are pertinent: namely Freudian, Kleinian, and Lacanian approaches. These are then applied to the example of a controversial rhetorical intervention—Enoch Powell’s infamous Birmingham speech of 1968—to demonstrate the various potential foci when undertaking analysis.
On interviewing people with pets: reflections from qualitative research on people with long‐term conditions
Authors: Ryan Sara , Ziebland Sue 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThere is mounting evidence that pets are associated with physiological, psychological and social benefits for humans. Much of this research has come from western countries, where there have been consistent calls for greater engagement with pet ownership and health. Drawing on a secondary analysis of 61 in‐depth interviews with people, or carers of people, with long‐term conditions, we explore how pets feature in people's narrative accounts of their experiences. Our findings demonstrate the multifaceted nature of people's relationships with pets, and the embedded and embodied ways in which human–nonhuman interactions are played out in narratives of chronic illness. Our study differs from other work on pets and health in that, by returning to the interview video recordings, we were able to explore the sometimes three‐way interactions, the co(a)gency, between participants, pets and researchers. Pets were often presented as important family members, yet the researchers’ responses to the presence or talk about pets was often markedly different from their reactions to other household members. We conclude with cautioning against the downgrading of pets in narrative health research. Narrative approaches may invite participants to talk about what is important to them, yet they clearly have limitations in practice.
Male combat veterans’ narratives of PTSD, masculinity, and health
Authors: Caddick Nick , Smith Brett , Phoenix Cassandra 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis article uniquely examines the ways a group of male combat veterans talk about masculinity and how, following post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they performed masculinities in the context of a surfing group, and what effects this had upon their health and wellbeing. Participant observations and life history interviews were conducted with a group of combat veterans who belonged to a surfing charity for veterans experiencing PTSD. Data were rigorously explored via narrative analysis. Our findings revealed the ways in which veterans enacted masculinities in accordance with the values that were cultivated during military service. These masculine performances in the surfing group had important effects both on and for the veterans’ wellbeing. Significantly, the study highlights how masculine performances can be seen alternately as a danger and as a resource for health and wellbeing in relation to PTSD. The article advances knowledge on combat veterans and mental health with critical implications for the promotion of male veterans’ mental health. These include the original suggestion that health‐promoting masculine performances might be recognised and supported in PTSD treatment settings. Rather than automatically viewing masculinity as problematic, this article moves the field forward by highlighting how hegemonic masculinities can be reconstructed in positive ways which might improve veterans’ health and wellbeing.A video abstract of this article can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaYzaOP1kAY
Identifying Predictors of Longitudinal Decline in the Level of Medical Care Received by Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Authors: Casillas Jacqueline , Oeffinger Kevin C. , Hudson Melissa M. , Greenberg Mark L. , Yeazel Mark W. , Ness Kirsten K. , Henderson Tara O. , Robison Leslie L. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Liu Qi , Leisenring Wendy , Yasui Yutaka , Nathan Paul C. 
Published: January 2015

ObjectivesCharacterize longitudinal changes in the use of medical care in adult survivors of childhood cancer.Data SourcesThe Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, a retrospective cohort study of 5+ year survivors of childhood cancer.Study DesignMedical care was assessed at entry into the cohort (baseline) and at most recent questionnaire completion. Care at each time point was classified as no care, general care, or survivor‐focused care.Data CollectionThere were 6,176 eligible survivors. Multivariable models evaluated risk factors for reporting survivor‐focused care or general medical care at baseline and no care at follow‐up; and survivor‐focused care at baseline and general care at follow‐up.Principal FindingsMales (RR, 2.3; 95 percent CI 1.8–2.9), earning <$20,000/year (RR, 1.6; 95 percent CI 1.2–2.3) or ≤high school education (RR, 2.5; 95 percent CI 1.6–3.8 and RR 2.0; 95 percent CI 1.5–2.7 for <high school and high school, respectively) were associated with no care at follow‐up. Survivors with severe or life‐threatening conditions at baseline (RR 0.5; 95 percent CI 0.3–0.6) were less likely to report no care at follow‐up.ConclusionsWhile the incidence of late effects increases over time for survivors, the likelihood of receiving survivor‐focused care decreases for vulnerable populations.
Recent Progress of Hyperspectral Imaging on Quality and Safety Inspection of Fruits and Vegetables: A Review
Authors: Pu Yuan‐Yuan , Feng Yao‐Ze , Sun Da‐Wen 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjective quality assessment and efficacious safety surveillance for agricultural and food products are inseparable from innovative techniques. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI), a rapid, nondestructive, and chemical‐free method, is now emerging as a powerful analytical tool for product inspection by simultaneously offering spatial information and spectral signals from one object. This paper focuses on recent advances and applications of HSI in detecting, classifying, and visualizing quality and safety attributes of fruits and vegetables. First, the basic principles and major instrumental components of HSI are presented. Commonly used methods for image processing, spectral pretreatment, and modeling are summarized. More importantly, morphological calibrations that are essential for nonflat objects as well as feature wavebands extraction for model simplification are provided. Second, in spite of the physical and visual attributes (size, shape, weight, color, and surface defects), applications from the last decade are reviewed specifically categorized into textural characteristics inspection, biochemical components detection, and safety features assessment. Finally, technical challenges and future trends of HSI are discussed.
Method to Measure the Force to Pull and to Break Pin Bones of Fish
Authors: Balaban Murat O. , Jie Hubert , Yin Yee Yin , Alçiçek Zayde 
Published: January 2015

AbstractA texture measurement device was modified to measure the force required to pull pin bones from King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), snapper (Pagrus auratus), and kahawai (Arripis trutta). Pulled bones were also subjected to tension to measure the breaking force. For all fish, the pulling force depended on the size of the fish, and on the length of the pin bone (P < 0.05). In general, larger fish required greater pulling force to remove pin bones. For example, fresh small salmon (about 1500 g whole) required 600 g on average to pull pin bones, and large fish (about 3700 g whole) required 850 g. Longer bones required greater pulling force. The breaking force followed the same trend. In general, the breaking force was greater than the pulling force. This allows the removal of the bones without breaking them. There was no statistically significant (P > 0.05) difference between the forces (both pulling and breaking) from fresh and frozen/thawed samples, although in general frozen/thawed samples required less force to pull. With the quantification of pulling and breaking forces for pin bones, it is possible to design and build better, “more intelligent” pin bone removal equipment.
Standing Gold Nanorod Arrays as Reproducible SERS Substrates for Measurement of Pesticides in Apple Juice and Vegetables
Authors: Zhang Zhong , Yu Qingsong , Li Hao , Mustapha Azlin , Lin Mengshi 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThere is an increasing interest in recent years in using novel nanomaterials as cost‐effective, sensitive, and reproducible substrate for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications. In this study, a novel SERS substrate was developed by assembling gold nanorods into standing arrays on a gold‐coated silicon slide. The standing nanorod arrays were closely packed on the gold film, generating strong electromagnetic field and uniformly distributed SERS “hot‐spots” on the array surface. The as‐prepared SERS substrates were used to detect a widely used pesticide (that is, carbaryl) in acetonitrile–water solution, apple juice, and cabbage. Results demonstrate that the actual concentrations of carbaryl in apple juice and cabbage were linearly correlated with the concentrations predicted by the multiple linear regression models (R > 0.97). The detection limits of carbaryl in apple juice and cabbage were both 2.5 ppm, meeting the maximum residue limits set by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). SERS can detect as low as 0.1 ppm of carbaryl in acetonitrile–water solution. In addition, satisfactory recoveries were obtained for carbaryl in both apple juice and cabbage. These results indicate that SERS coupled with the standing gold nanorod array substrates is a sensitive and reproducible method and can accurately detect pesticides in foods.
Correlation between genetic diversity and environmental suitability: taking uncertainty from ecological niche models into account
Authors: Diniz‐Filho José Alexandre F. , Rodrigues Hauanny , Telles Mariana Pires De Campos , Oliveira Guilherme De , Terribile Levi Carina , Soares Thannya Nascimento , Nabout João Carlos 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe hindcast of shifts in the geographical ranges of species as estimated by ecological niche modelling (ENM) has been coupled with phylogeographical patterns, allowing the inference of past processes that drove population differentiation and genetic variability. However, more recently, some studies have suggested that maps of environmental suitability estimated by ENM may be correlated to species' abundance, raising the possibility of using environmental suitability to infer processes related to population demographic dynamics and genetic variability. In both cases, one of the main problems is that there is a wide variation in ENM development methods and climatic models. In this study, we analyse the relationship between heterozygosity (He) and environmental suitability from multiple ENMs for 25 population estimates for Dipteryx alata, a widely distributed, endemic tree species of the Cerrado region of central Brazil. We propose a new approach for generating a statistical distribution of correlations under randomly generated ENM. The confidence intervals from these distributions indicate how model selection with different properties affects the ability to detect a correlation of interest (e.g. the correlation between He and suitability). Additionally, our approach allows us to explore which particular ensemble of ENMs produces the better result for finding an association between environmental suitability and He. Caution is necessary when choosing a method or a climatic data set for modelling geographical distributions, but the new approach proposed here provides a conservative way to evaluate the ability of ensembles to detect patterns of interest.
Microsomal Transfer Protein Inhibitors, New Approach for Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Review of the Literature, Original Findings, and Clinical Significance
Authors: Kolovou Genovefa , Vasiliadis Ioannis , Gontoras Nikos , Kolovou Vana , Hatzigeorgiou Georgios 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThe genetic causes of cholesterol metabolism disorders usually lead to premature atherosclerosis. The most well recognized genetically caused hypercholesterolemia is familial hypercholesterolemia. Although the disease is well known, as the discovery of low‐density lipoprotein receptor, the classical treatment with lipid‐lowering drugs (statins, fibrates, ezetimibe, colesevelam) is still not adequate and new options are seeking. This review is an attempt to analyze the microsomal transfer protein (MTP) inhibitors as a new approach for treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia, to reviews the literature according to MTP inhibitors and finally to provide original findings.