bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tax-benefit systems and the gender gap in income
Authors: Doorley Karina , Keane Claire 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe gender wage gap and the gender work gap are sizable, persistent and well documented for many countries. The result of the gender wage and gender work gap combined is an income gap between men and women. A small literature has begun to examine how the tax-benefit system contributes to closing gender income gaps by redistributing between men and women. In this paper, we study the effect of tax-benefit policy on gender differences in income in the EU27 countries and the UK. We use microsimulation models linked to survey data to estimate gender gaps in market income (before taxes and transfers) and disposable income (after taxes and transfers) for each country. We then decompose the difference between the gender gap in market income and the gender gap in disposable income into the relative contribution of taxes and benefits in each country. We also isolate the relative contributions of the gender wage gap and the gender work gap to the overall gap in income between men and women in two of these countries.
Landscape homogenisation and simplified butterfly community structure go on par across Northern Austria
Authors: Habel Jan Christian , Schmitt Thomas , Ulrich Werner , Gros Patrick , Salcher Bernhard , Teucher Mike 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Context
Agricultural intensification has led to strong homogenization of landscapes. Field copses have become larger, the boundaries between habitats became sharper, and land plots have been cultivated more intensively. In parallel, most field copses, ruderal areas and hedgerows were removed. As a result, ecotones and rarely used microhabitats largely disappeared. In consequence, many suitable habitats for species such as butterflies vanished and the permeability of the landscape decreased, with negative effects on biodiversity.

Objective
In this study we analyse land-use and habitat configuration, and butterfly diversity for the years 1953 and 2018 for northern Austria.

Methods
We assessed land cover and landscape configuration for the years 1953 and 2018 on a field-by-field basis across northern Austria, based on aerial and satellite images. We studied butterfly diversity for these two identical periods of time.

Results
Our data show a decrease of the number of field copses over the past decades and a reduction in landscape complexity. The expected number of butterflies per sample unit of an assumed species decreased significantly. Particularly sedentary specialists decreased, while the proportion of mobile generalists increased.

Conclusions
Our study underlines the general trend of landscape and faunal homogenization, which specifically leads to the vanishing of extensively used micro-habitats and the loss of sedentary specialist species.
Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in Namibia, 2018–2019: A Local Approach to Strengthen the Review Process and a Description of Review Findings and Recommendations
Authors: Heemelaar Steffie , Callard Beatrix , Shikwambi Hilma , Ellmies Jana , Kafitha Wilhelmina , Stekelenburg Jelle , van den Akker Thomas , Mackenzie Shonag 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objectives
First objective was to strengthen the national maternal death review, by addressing local challenges with each step of the review cycle. Second objective was to describe review findings and compare these with available findings of previous reviews.

Methods
Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths methodology was used to review maternal deaths. To improve reporting, the national committee focussed on addressing fear of blame among healthcare providers. Second focus was on dissemination of findings and acting on recommendations forthcoming the review. Reviewed were reported maternal deaths, that occurred between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019.

Results
Seventy maternal deaths were reported; for 69 (98.6%) medical records were available, compared to 80/119 (67.2%) in 2012–2015. Reported maternal mortality ratio increased with 48% (92/100,000 live births compared to 62/100,000 in 2012–2015). Obstetric haemorrhage was leading cause of death in the past three reviews. The “no name, no blame” policy, aiming to identify health system failures, rather than mistakes of individuals, was repeatedly explained to healthcare providers during facility visits. Recommendations based on findings of the review, such as retaining experienced staff, continuous in-service training and guidance, were shared with decision makers at regional and national levels. Healthcare providers received training based on review findings, which resulted in improved management of similar cases.

Conclusions for Practice
Enhanced implementation of Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths was possible after addressing local challenges. Focussing on obtaining trust of healthcare providers and feeding back findings, resulted in better reporting and prevention of potential maternal deaths.
Abnormal grey matter structural changes in patients with end-stage kidney disease and mild cognitive impairment: correlations with clinical features
Authors: Yuan Huijie , Luo Zhaoyao , Gu Wen , Ma Shaohui , Li Guangyu , Ding Dun , Ma Xueying , Li Peng , Yang Jing , Xu Xiaoling , Mu Junya , Zhang Ming 
Published: September 2023

AbstractEnd-stage kidney disease and mild cognitive impairment (ESKD-MCI) affect the quality of life and long-term treatment outcomes of patients affected by these diseases. Clarifying the morphological changes from brain injuries in ESKD-MCI and their relationship with clinical features is helpful for the early identification and intervention of MCI before it progresses to irreversible dementia. This study gathered data from 23 patients with ESKD-MCI, 24 patients with ESKD and non-cognitive impairment (NCI), and 27 health controls (HCs). Structural magnetic resonance studies, cognitive assessments, and general clinical data were collected from all participants. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to compare grey matter (GM) volume differences between the groups. The patients’ GM maps and clinical features were subjected to univariate regression to check for possible correlations. Patients with ESKD-MCI displayed significantly more impairments in multiple cognitive domains, including global cognition, visuospatial and executive function, and memory, compared to patients with ESKD-NCI. Using a more liberal threshold (P < 0.001, uncorrected), we found that compared to patients with ESKD-NCI, patients with ESKD-MCI exhibited clusters of regions with lower GM volumes, including the right hippocampus (HIP), parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), Rolandic operculum, and supramarginal gyrus. The volumes of the right HIP and PHG were negatively correlated with serum calcium levels. ESKD-MCI was associated with a subtle volume reduction of GM in several brain areas known to be involved in memory, language, and auditory information processing. We speculate that these slight morphometric impairments may be associated with disturbed calcium metabolism.
Continuum of Trauma: Fear and Mistrust of Institutions in Communities of Color During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Vázquez Evelyn , Juturu Preeti , Burroughs Michelle , McMullin Juliet , Cheney Ann M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractHistorical, cultural, and social trauma, along with social determinants of health (SDOH), shape health outcomes, attitudes toward medicine, government, and health behaviors among communities of color in the United States (U.S.). This study explores how trauma and fear influence COVID-19 testing and vaccination among Black/African American, Latinx/Indigenous Latin American, and Native American/Indigenous communities. Leveraging community-based participatory research methods, we conducted 11 virtual focus groups from January to March of 2021 with Black/African American (n = 4), Latinx/Indigenous Latin American (n = 4), and Native American/Indigenous (n = 3) identifying community members in Inland Southern California. Our team employed rapid analytic approaches (e.g., template and matrix analysis) to summarize data and identify themes across focus groups and used theories of intersectionality and trauma to meaningfully interpret study findings. Historical, cultural, and social trauma induce fear and mistrust in public health and medical institutions influencing COVID-19 testing and vaccination decisions in communities of color in Inland Southern California. This work showcases the need for culturally and structurally sensitive community-based health interventions that attend to the historical, cultural, and social traumas unique to racial/ethnic minority populations in the U.S. that underlie fear and mistrust of medical, scientific, and governmental institutions.
Boundary corrections on multi-dimensional PDEs
Authors: González-Pinto S. , Hernández-Abreu D. , Pérez-Rodríguez S. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractTwo new boundary correction techniques are proposed in order to mitigate the order reduction phenomenon associated with the numerical solution of initial boundary value problems for parabolic partial differential equations in arbitrary spatial dimensions with time-dependent Dirichlet boundary conditions. The new techniques are based on the idea of discretizing the PDE problem at the boundary points as similar as possible to that of the interior points of the domain. These new techniques are considered for the time integration with W-methods based on approximate matrix factorization. By suitably modifying the internal stages of the methods on the boundary points, it is illustrated by numerical testing with time-dependent boundary conditions that the new boundary correction techniques are able to keep the same accuracy and order of convergence that the method reaches in the case of homogeneous boundary conditions.
Evidence, reasons, and knowledge in the reasons-first program
Authors: Silva Paul , Bernecker Sven 
Published: September 2023

AbstractMark Schroeder’s Reasons First is admirable in its scope and execution, deftly demonstrating the theoretical promise of extending the reasons-first approach from ethics to epistemology. In what follows we explore how (not) to account for the evidence-that relation within the reasons-first program, we explain how factive content views of evidence can be resilient in the face of Schroeder’s criticisms, and we explain how knowledge from falsehood threatens Schroeder’s view of knowledge. Along the way we sketch a reliabilist account of the reasons-for relation (inspired by Alston) and show how it limits the applicability of Schroeder’s arguments.
Relationship between multimorbidity, functional limitation, and quality of life among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the longitudinal analysis of the 2013–2020 Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)
Authors: Wilk Piotr , Ruiz-Castell Maria , Stranges Saverio , Bohn Torsten , Fagherazzi Guy , Nicholson Kathryn , Moran Valérie , Makovski Tatjana T. , Pi Alperin Maria Noel , Zeegers Maurice P. , Samouda Hanen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Purpose
The increased burden of multimorbidity is restricting individuals’ ability to live autonomously, leading to a poorer quality of life. This study estimated trajectories of functional limitation and quality of life among middle-aged (ages 50 to 64 years) and older (aged 65 years and older) individuals with and without multimorbidity. We also assessed differences in the relationship between these two trajectories by multimorbidity status and separately for each age cohort.

Methods
Data originated from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). In Luxembourg, data were obtained between 2013 and 2020, involving 1,585 respondents ≥ 50 years of age. Multimorbidity was defined as a self-reported diagnosis of two or more out of 16 chronic conditions; functional limitation was assessed by a combined (Instrumental) Activities of Daily Living (ADL/IADLI) scale; and to measure quality of life, we used the Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization, and Pleasure (CASP-12) scale. Latent growth curve modelling techniques were used to conduct the analysis where repeated measures of quality of life and functional limitation were treated as continuous and zero-inflated count variables, respectively. The model was assessed separately in each age cohort, controlling for the baseline covariates, and the estimates from the two cohorts were presented as components of a synthetic cohort covering the life course from the age of 50.

Results
Middle-aged and older adults living with multimorbidity experienced poorer quality of life throughout the life course and were at a higher risk of functional limitation than those without multimorbidity. At baseline, functional limitation had a negative impact on quality of life. Furthermore, among middle-aged adults without multimorbidity and older adults with multimorbidity, an increase in the number of functional limitations led to a decline in quality of life. These results imply that the impact of multimorbidity on functional limitation and quality of life may vary across the life course.

Conclusion
Using novel methodological techniques, this study contributes to a better understanding of the longitudinal relationship between functional limitation and quality of life among individuals with and without multimorbidity and how this relationship changes across the life course. Our findings suggest that lowering the risk of having multimorbidity can decrease functional limitation and increase quality of life.
Implied volatility surfaces: a comprehensive analysis using half a billion option prices
Authors: Ulrich Maxim , Zimmer Lukas , Merbecks Constantin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis study delves into the critical aspect of accurately estimating single stock volatility surfaces, a task indispensable for option pricing, risk management, and empirical asset pricing. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset consisting of half a billion daily price observations for options on 499 US individual stocks and the S&P 500, the research investigates the accuracy of diverse methods for constructing volatility surfaces. The comparative evaluation of the three-dimensional kernel smoother by OptionMetrics (IvyDB US file and data reference manual, version 5.2, Rev. 01/27/2022, Computer software manual, New York, 2022), the semi-parametric spline by Figlewski (in: Robert F. Engle (ed) Estimating the implied risk neutral density. Volatility and time series econometrics: Essays in honor, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008), and a refined one-dimensional kernel smoother reveals the distinct superiority of the latter. This method consistently outperforms its counterparts across all moneyness, maturity, and liquidity categories, with markedly lower error metrics. The study further uncovers significant distortions in the extraction of Bakshi et al. (Rev Financ Stud 16:101–143, 2003) moments and skewness spanning induced by the noise-infused three-dimensional kernel smoother, which could potentially mislead derivative pricing and trading decisions. The findings offer valuable insights to traders, risk managers, investors, and researchers, suggesting a robust, one-size-fits-all method for crafting more accurate and less noisy volatility predictions. The research advances our understanding of option-implied information, its extraction, and broader implications for financial markets.
National Culture and Financial Capability: A Global Perspective
Authors: Bialowolski Piotr , Xiao Jing Jian , Weziak-Bialowolska Dorota 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe origins of financial capability assessed at the country level can be traced back to the socio-economic and quality of life factors. However, the role of national culture should be considered equally important. Hence, differences in national culture are hypothesized to correlate with average financial capability levels at the country level. This study attempts to answer an important question: What is the relationship between culture and financial capability at the country level? The data for this study originate from four diverse sources provided by the World Bank (two datasets), United Nations, and Hofstede Insights. The final dataset includes data from 137 countries. As a measure of financial capability, we use an aggregate index combining financial behavior (account ownership) and financial knowledge. Culture is measured using six dimensions of national cultures from Hofstede Insights: Power Distance, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism, Long-Term Orientation, and Indulgence. The results show that certain dimensions of culture are strongly correlated with financial capabilities at the country level even after controlling for the level of economic development. Positive relationships between financial capability and three cultural factors—Individualism, Long-Term Orientation, and Indulgence—are noted. In addition, Uncertainty Avoidance is negatively associated with financial capabilities. The observed relationships are non-linear. Specifically, Individualism and Long-Term Orientation are positive correlates of financial capability up to a certain level (the score of 75 and 50, respectively, on the scale 0–100), Individualism is a positive correlate starting at the score of 25, while Uncertainty Avoidance is a negative correlate up to the score of 75.
Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments
Authors: Khalil Elias L. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis review identifies at least six different kinds of fellow-feeling in Adam Smith’sTheory of Moral Sentiments.The six kinds are (i) the mirroring of emotions; (ii) altruism; (iii) judgment of pitch of emotions/actions; (iv) judgment of merit of emotions/actions; (v) friendship-and-love; and (vi) aspiration that leads to admiration. Smith does not list them side-by-side. This side-by-side listing promises to help thinkers to see how to assemble them to construct a coherent and systematic framework on how to amalgamate three moments of behavior: the emotional, the rational, and the moral.
Seroprevalence and detection of bovine leukosis virus in semen from breeding bulls in Costa Rica
Authors: Chacón Jorge , Leiva Roberto , Romero-Zuñiga Juan José , Navarro Leonel , Dolz Gaby 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBovine leukemia virus (BLV) causes enzootic bovine leukosis, a persistent infection and the most important neoplastic disease in cattle. It is spread primarily by transferring infected lymphocytes through blood from carriers to healthy animals. The present study is aimed at determining the seropositivity of BLV in breeding bulls from Costa Rica and at detecting for the first time in the country BLV DNA in bull semen. Between May 2011 and August 2018, 379 blood and 133 semen samples were collected from bulls distributed in 118 farms. The serum was analyzed by an enzymatic immunoassay and the semen by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. BLV seropositivity was 43.5% (165/379), while 64.4% (76/118) of the farms had positive reactors. Holstein (75.7%) and Jersey (73.0%) breeds showed the highest seropositivity. In addition, Bos taurus bulls (68.1%), older than seven years (50.0%), and those belonging to dairy farms (75.5%) had higher seropositivity compared to Bos indicus (17.7%), younger than seven years (42.2%), and those from beef farms (15.5%), respectively. Moreover, Bos taurus bulls had a higher risk of being seropositive than Bos indicus (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.7–6.8). BLV DNA was found in one semen sample (2.5%; 1/40) from a seropositive bull. The importance of serum and molecular BLV screening in semen samples and the potential role of some risk factors associated with the disease, such as the bull’s age, genotype, and type of livestock productive system, is argued in the present report.
Moving Evidence-Based Mental Health Interventions into Practice: Implementation of Digital Mental Health Interventions
Authors: Liu Michelle , Schueller Stephen M. 
Published: October 2023

Opinion statementDigital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer a modern solution to increase access to mental health services, by supporting existing services or providing new services to those who are not as accessible to traditional mental healthcare. DMHIs, however, often face challenges transitioning from research to practice. Implementation science aims to enhance and establish frameworks to help identify barriers and facilitators towards implementing DMHIs in different communities. We analyze the barriers and facilitators towards successful implementation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) domains and summarize the implementation strategies used to enhance the adoption, implementation, and sustainment of DMHIs. Finally, we address the ethical and safety principles that should be followed to protect the consumers/patients. With the growing amount of evidence supporting the effectiveness of DMHIs, this paper provides an overview of implementation considerations for DMHIs and its role in improving mental healthcare delivery. However, the role of DMHIs and their implementation need to be better defined in various settings. Implementation science and its frameworks can offer us a better understanding of determinants to better identify, create, and evaluate implementation strategies.
Face deblurring based on regularized structure and enhanced texture information
Authors: Shi Canghong , Zhang Xian , Li Xiaojie , Mumtaz Imran , Lv Jiancheng 
Published: October 2023

AbstractImage deblurring is an essential problem in computer vision. Due to highly structured and special facial components (e.g. eyes), most general image deblurring methods and face deblurring methods failed to yield more explicit structure and facial details, resulting in too smooth, uncoordinated and distorted face structure. Considering the unique face texture and sufficient facial details, we present an effective face deblurring network by exploiting more regularized structure and enhanced texture information (RSETNet). We first incorporate the face parsing network with fine-tuning to obtain more accurate face structure, and we present the feature adaptive denormalization (FAD) to regularize the facial structure as a condition of auxiliary to generate more harmonious and undistorted face structure. Meanwhile, to improve the generated facial texture information, we propose a new Laplace depth-wise separable convolution (LDConv) and multi-patch discriminator. Compared with existing methods, our face deblurring method could restore face structure more accurately and with more facial details. Experiments on two public face datasets have demonstrated the effectiveness of our proposed methods in terms of qualitative and quantitative indicators.