bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Country‐Level Investor Protection on the Voluntary Assurance of Sustainability Reports
Authors: Herda David N. , Taylor Martin E. , Winterbotham Glyn 
Published: April 2014

AbstractOver the last several years, sustainable (or socially responsible) investing has experienced rapid growth around the world reflecting an increasing awareness by investors of social, environmental, ethical, and corporate governance issues. This heightened awareness among investors has resulted in a demand for sustainability reporting and a corresponding increase in demand for assurance of sustainability information to enhance its credibility. Using an investor‐based view, we examine the impact of country‐level investor protection on reporting companies’ voluntary sustainability assurance decisions. We find that both the decision to obtain voluntary sustainability report assurance and the decision to obtain higher quality assurance are more likely for firms domiciled in countries that have weaker investor protection. Our results indicate that managers in low investor protection countries use voluntary sustainability assurance as a substitute monitoring mechanism.
Competition might produce pair‐wise negative correlations of genetic richness, not of abundance
Authors: Prinzing Andreas 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe co‐existence of closely related species can be explained by lack of competition. But it can also be explained by competition that affects not abundance of but the genetic diversity within the competing species. He & Lamont in this issue show results consistent with this latter explanation. This reminds community ecologists that competition is not a simple process producing simple patterns.
Inaccessible ledges as refuges for the natural vegetation of the high Andes
Authors: Sylvester Steven P. , Sylvester Mitsy D.P.V. , Kessler Michael 
Published: April 2014

AbstractQuestionsHave millennia of human land use fundamentally altered the vegetation of a large proportion of the high Andean puna biome, with natural vegetation now restricted to inaccessible areas? Can inaccessible ledges be used as surrogates to infer the potential natural vegetation (PNV) in heavily impacted areas of the puna ecosystem of the high Andes? Is there a difference in plant community composition and diversity between the potential natural puna vegetation, represented by areas inaccessible to grazing and burning, and the anthropogenically disturbed vegetation found on nearby, but accessible, slopes?LocationAbra Málaga Private Conservation Area, Cusco, southern Peruvian Andes.MethodsFour study habitats were chosen that comprised ledges and slopes from within and outside of the conservation area. For each habitat, vegetation composition was recorded using eight to twelve 2 × 2‐m2 plots studied for species cover and abiotic variables.ResultsAnalysis of species richness using two‐way ANOVAs with Tukey test found that plots from the three habitats inaccessible to anthropogenic disturbance exhibited similar richness levels, whereas plots accessible to grazing and anthropogenic burning had significantly higher species richness. Likewise, CCA separated out plots of the three habitats inaccessible to anthropogenic disturbance from the unconserved slope plots. Species indicator analyses found the three inaccessible habitats to share the largest number of indicator species, with none being shared by the accessible, unconserved slope habitat. The PNV, inferred from the inaccessible vegetation, comprises a mosaic of Polylepis pepei woodland and tussock grassland, dominated by Festuca aff. procera, Luzula gigantea, Valeriana mandoniana and Carex pichinchensis.ConclusionsAs both the conserved and unconserved ledge habitats contain a vegetation that approaches that of the conserved slope, ledges can be taken as a surrogate to infer the PNV in heavily impacted areas where no conserved slopes are available. From preliminary data, the presumed PNV of the study area corresponds to a distinct vegetation assemblage including species previously unknown to science. Adjacent disturbed, accessible land contained a higher species diversity, with a flora that may have originated from localized, disturbed natural habitats.
Determinants of fern and angiosperm herb community structure in lower montane rainforest in Indonesia
Authors: Jones Mirkka M. , Cicuzza Daniele , van Straaten Oliver , Veldkamp Edzo , Kessler Michael 
Published: April 2014

AbstractQuestionsDo ferns, which are physiologically less well adapted to conserve water than angiosperms but have more efficient propagule dispersal, show different vegetation–environment relationships than co‐occurring angiosperm herbs? We hypothesized that ferns should show closer relationships to local environmental conditions and might be more closely associated with humid and shady microhabitats.LocationPono and Bariri, two sites in lower montane primary tropical forest, Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.MethodsAt each site, all terrestrial herbaceous plants were sampled in 200 plots of 5 m × 5 m. Sixteen environmental factors describing soils, topography and canopy openness were recorded. Correlations were calculated to test the degree of similarity in the species richness and turnover of ferns and angiosperms, and their relationships with environmental factors. Species optima were calculated on each environmental axis and compared between plant groups via randomization tests.ResultsIn total, 184 herb morphospecies were encountered at Pono and 135 at Bariri, of which almost 60% at each site were ferns. At both sites, fern species turnover showed closer correlations with soil variables than did angiosperm turnover. At the more topographically heterogeneous site (Bariri) fern species turnover was also more closely associated with topographic differences than was angiosperm turnover. Habitat preferences of ferns and angiosperms appeared more similar at Bariri than Pono, with both tending towards lower topographic positions and richer soils, but steeper slopes, than expected at random. At Bariri, neither plant group tended towards shady microsites, whereas at Pono ferns were better represented than angiosperms in microhabitats with open canopies.ConclusionsAs expected, ferns showed closer correlations with environmental factors than angiosperm herbs. Ferns did not, however, consistently favour humid microhabitats at both sites, and were not significantly associated with shady microhabitats at either site. Furthermore, it appears that physiological differences in water use do not lead to marked divergence in fern and angiosperm herb distributions in the humid understorey of this lower montane rainforest.
Competition between Judaism and Christianity: Paul's Galatians as Entry Deterrence
Authors: Ferrero Mario 
Published: April 2014

SummaryThis paper sets forth a theory of competition between exclusive religions as an entry deterrence game, in which the incumbent may find it profitable not to accommodate but to deter the competitor's entry by precommitting to sufficient capacity expansion in the event of entry. If entry costs are high enough, deterrence is optimal and the incumbent remains a monopolist, although the entry threat distorts its effort upward. The model is then used to explain the Jews' withdrawal from proselytism in the face of Christian competition in the first century CE. We review the historical evidence on conversion to Judaism before and after the first century and argue that the demise of Jewish proselytism was due not to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE but to the apostle Paul's strategic decision, in his letter to the Galatians, that Gentiles need not convert to Judaism to become Christians.
European Identity and Support for European Integration: A Matter of Perceived Economic Benefits?
Authors: Verhaegen Soetkin , Hooghe Marc , Quintelier Ellen 
Published: April 2014

SummaryEconomic utilitarian theory assumes a relationship between economic benefits, support for European integration and European identity. While the relationship between economic benefits and support for European integration has already been empirically investigated, this is not the case for European identity. Therefore, we test the association between economic indicators and European identity, while performing the same analysis for support for European integration. Eight different objective and perceived economic parameters are tested, covering the whole spectrum of sociotropic, egocentric, objective and perceived benefits. The multilevel analyses on Eurobarometer data show that economic considerations are positively associated with support and European identity. This is especially the case for perceived benefits, indicating that earlier findings about perception of benefits in the study of support for European integration are valid for European identity as well.
Immediate or early skin‐to‐skin contact after a Caesarean section: a review of the literature
Authors: Stevens Jeni , Schmied Virginia , Burns Elaine , Dahlen Hannah 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund recommends that mothers and newborns have skin‐to‐skin contact immediately after a vaginal birth, and as soon as the mother is alert and responsive after a Caesarean section. Skin‐to‐skin contact can be defined as placing a naked infant onto the bare chest of the mother. Caesarean birth is known to reduce initiation of breastfeeding, increase the length of time before the first breastfeed, reduce the incidence of exclusive breastfeeding, significantly delay the onset of lactation and increase the likelihood of supplementation. The aim of this review is to evaluate evidence on the facilitation of immediate (within minutes) or early (within 1 h) skin‐to‐skin contact following Caesarean section for healthy mothers and their healthy term newborns, and identify facilitators, barriers and associated maternal and newborn outcomes. A range of electronic databases were searched for papers reporting research findings published in English between January 2003 and October 2013. Seven papers met the criteria. This review has provided some evidence that with appropriate collaboration skin‐to‐skin contact during Caesarean surgery can be implemented. Further evidence was provided, albeit limited, that immediate or early skin‐to‐skin contact after a Caesarean section may increase breastfeeding initiation, decrease time to the first breastfeed, reduce formula supplementation in hospital, increase bonding and maternal satisfaction, maintain the temperature of newborns and reduce newborn stress.
Fathers' experiences of supporting breastfeeding: challenges for breastfeeding promotion and education
Authors: Brown Amy , Davies Ruth 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIncreasing breastfeeding rates is a strategic priority in the UK and understanding the factors that promote and encourage breastfeeding is critical to achieving this. It is established that women who have strong social support from their partner are more likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding. However, little research has explored the fathers' role in breastfeeding support and more importantly, the information and guidance he may need. In the current study, 117 men whose partner had given birth in the previous 2 years and initiated breastfeeding at birth completed an open‐ended questionnaire exploring their experiences of breastfeeding, the information and support they received and their ideas for future breastfeeding education and promotion aimed at fathers and families. Overall, the findings showed that fathers were encouraging of breastfeeding and wanted to be able to support their partner. However, they often felt left out of the breastfeeding relationships and helpless to support their partner at this time. Many reported being excluded from antenatal breastfeeding education or being considered unimportant in post‐natal support. Men wanted more information about breastfeeding to be directed towards them alongside ideas about how they could practically support their partner. The importance of support mechanisms for themselves during this time was also raised. The results highlight the need for health professionals to direct support and information towards fathers as well as the mother–infant dyad and to recognise their importance in promoting and enabling breastfeeding.
Theoretical models of the influence of genomic architecture on the dynamics of speciation
Authors: Flaxman Samuel M. , Wacholder Aaron C. , Feder Jeffrey L. , Nosil Patrik 
Published: April 2014

AbstractA long‐standing problem in evolutionary biology has been determining whether and how gradual, incremental changes at the gene level can account for rapid speciation and bursts of adaptive radiation. Using genome‐scale computer simulations, we extend previous theory showing how gradual adaptive change can generate nonlinear population transitions, resulting in the rapid formation of new, reproductively isolated species. We show that these transitions occur via a mechanism rooted in a basic property of biological heredity: the organization of genes in genomes. Genomic organization of genes facilitates two processes: (i) the build‐up of statistical associations among large numbers of genes and (ii) the action of divergent selection on persistent combinations of alleles. When a population has accumulated a critical amount of standing, divergently selected variation, the combination of these two processes allows many mutations of small effect to act synergistically and precipitously split one population into two discontinuous, reproductively isolated groups. Periods of allopatry, chromosomal linkage among loci, and large‐effect alleles can facilitate this process under some conditions, but are not required for it. Our results complement and extend existing theory on alternative stable states during population divergence, distinct phases of speciation and the rapid emergence of multilocus barriers to gene flow. The results are thus a step towards aligning population genomic theory with modern empirical studies.
Axial cervical vertebrae‐based multivariate regression model for the estimation of skeletal‐maturation status
Authors: Yang Y.‐M. , Lee J. , Kim Y.‐I. , Cho B.‐H. , Park S.‐B. 
Published: April 2014

Structured AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the viability of using axial cervical vertebrae (ACV) as biological indicators of skeletal maturation and to build models that estimate ossification level with improved explanatory power over models based only on chronological age.Materials and MethodsThe study population comprised 74 female and 47 male patients with available hand‐wrist radiographs and cone‐beam computed tomography images. Generalized Procrustes analysis was used to analyze the shape, size, and form of the ACV regions of interest. The variabilities of these factors were analyzed by principal component analysis. Skeletal maturation was then estimated using a multiple regression model.ResultsSeparate models were developed for male and female participants. For the female estimation model, the adjusted R2 explained 84.8% of the variability of the Sempé maturation level (SML), representing a 7.9% increase in SML explanatory power over that using chronological age alone (76.9%). For the male estimation model, the adjusted R2 was over 90%, representing a 1.7% increase relative to the reference model.ConclusionsThe simplest possible ACV morphometric information provided a statistically significant explanation of the portion of skeletal‐maturation variability not dependent on chronological age. These results verify that ACV is a strong biological indicator of ossification status.
Infant wheeze, comorbidities and school age asthma
Authors: Neuman Åsa , Bergström Anna , Gustafsson Per , Thunqvist Per , Andersson Niklas , Nordvall Lennart , Kull Inger , Wickman Magnus 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundFactors associated with early onset of wheeze have been described, but there is limited knowledge on which of these infant wheezers who will have developed asthma in school age. The aim was to identify clinical risk factors for asthma in the 8‐yr‐old children that wheezed during infancy in a population‐based setting.MethodsThree thousand two hundred and fifty‐one children from a population‐based birth cohort followed prospectively from infancy until age 8 yr were included in the study. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsParents reported any wheeze episode before age 2 yr in 823 subjects (25%). Infant wheezers had an almost fourfold risk of asthma at age 8 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.68, 95% CI 2.74–4.96], equivalent to an asthma prevalence of 14% compared with 4% among non‐wheezers (p < 0.001). After adjustments for sex, exposure to tobacco smoke and indoor dampness/mould, allergic heredity (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.02–2.30), increased frequency of wheeze (aOR 3.41, 95% CI 2.09–5.56 for children with ≥3 episodes compared with ≤2 episodes during the first 2 yr of life), infant eczema (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.52–3.49), and recurrent abdominal pain (aOR 2.33, 95% CI 1.30–4.16) remained risk factors for school age asthma in the infant wheezing group.ConclusionsAmong infant wheezers, allergic heredity, increased severity of wheeze, infant eczema, and recurrent abdominal pain were independent risk factors for asthma at age 8 yr. Among children with three or four of these risk factors, 38% had asthma at school age.
Attraction to attachment insecurity: Flattery, appearance, and status's role in mate preferences
Authors: BRUMBAUGH CLAUDIA CHLOE , BAREN ALISON , AGISHTEIN PERYL 
Published: April 2014

AbstractResearch has shown that people select securely attached individuals as their first choice when asked to choose among secure or insecure partner prototypes. Despite this pattern, not everyone chooses a secure partner in real life. The goal of the reported studies was to examine factors that lead people to select insecure mates. Specifically, the roles of flattery, appearance, and status were assessed. In the first study, we found that flattery increased attraction to insecure partners. Study 2 showed that men preferred physical beauty over security. In Study 3, anxious women were attracted to high‐status insecure men. These findings help explain why people may sometimes end up with insecure partners despite their professed preference for secure companions.
Changing Patterns of Nation‐Building: Educational Reform Narratives in Post‐Socialist Romania
Authors: Szakács Simona 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThrough an investigation of policy documents and reports from post‐1989 Romanian education reform, this article argues that what came to be known in the early 1990s as a ‘post‐socialist condition’, characterized by exuberant nationalism, needs to be rethought. Rather than an exceptional path, Romanian education displays conspicuous synchronization with wider world trends, while some peculiar national narratives in explaining reform failures persist. Instead of becoming more nation‐focused (as predicted by prevalent conceptualizations of ‘Eastern’ types of nationalism), discourses of educational reform opened up to the world, most notably through the mediation of Europe. Since the end of the nationalizing decade of the 1990s, educational texts have consistently invoked global themes of adaptation. Narratives about the mission of mass education and reform priorities encapsulating officially‐sanctioned projections of the nation became outward‐looking, in contrast to the self‐referential rhetoric of socialist times. The changing patterns of Romanian nation‐building are reflective of trends across the world, pointing to a reconsideration of the exceptionalism often associated with Eastern Europe.
Semiparametric Regression Analysis of Longitudinal Skewed Data
Authors: Lin Huazhen , Zhou Ling , Zhou Xiaohua 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we develop a semiparametric regression model for longitudinal skewed data. In the new model, we allow the transformation function and the baseline function to be unknown. The proposed model can provide a much broader class of models than the existing additive and multiplicative models. Our estimators for regression parameters, transformation function and baseline function are asymptotically normal. Particularly, the estimator for the transformation function converges to its true value at the raten − 1 ∕ 2, the convergence rate that one could expect for a parametric model. In simulation studies, we demonstrate that the proposed semiparametric method is robust with little loss of efficiency. Finally, we apply the new method to a study on longitudinal health care costs.
Stock‐outs of essential health products in Mozambique – longitudinal analyses from 2011 to 2013
Authors: Wagenaar Bradley H. , Gimbel Sarah , Hoek Roxanne , Pfeiffer James , Michel Cathy , Manuel João Luis , Cuembelo Fatima , Quembo Titos , Afonso Pires , Gloyd Stephen , Sherr Kenneth 
Published: April 2014

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the relationship between health system factors and facility‐level EHP stock‐outs in Mozambique.MethodsService provisions were assessed in 26 health facilities and 13 district warehouses in Sofala Province, Mozambique, from July to August in 2011–2013. Generalised estimating equations were used to model factors associated with facility‐level availability of essential drugs, supplies and equipment.ResultsStock‐out rates for drugs ranged from 1.3% for oral rehydration solution to 20.5% for Depo‐Provera and condoms, with a mean stock‐out rate of 9.1%; mean stock‐out rates were 15.4% for supplies and 4.1% for equipment. Stock‐outs at the district level accounted for 27.1% (29/107) of facility‐level drug stock‐outs and 44.0% (37/84) of supply stock‐outs. Each 10‐km increase in the distance from district distribution warehouses was associated with a 31% (CI: 22–42%), 28% (CI: 17–40%) or 27% (CI: 7–50%) increase in rates of drug, supply or equipment stock‐outs, respectively. The number of heath facility staff was consistently negatively associated with the occurrence of stock‐outs.ConclusionsFacility‐level stock‐outs of EHPs in Mozambique are common and appear to disproportionately affect those living far from district capitals and near facilities with few health staff. The majority of facility‐level EHP stock‐outs in Mozambique occur when stock exists at the district distribution centre. Innovative methods are urgently needed to improve EHP supply chains, requesting and ordering of drugs, facility and district communication, and forecasting of future EHP needs in Mozambique. Increased investments in public‐sector human resources for health could potentially decrease the occurrence of EHP stock‐outs.