bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The dynamic impact of inter-firm network agreements
Authors: Pieroni Valentina , Lattanzi Nicola , Riccaboni Massimo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper sheds new light on the dynamic effects of inter-firm network agreements on firm performance and investigates whether the specific combination of partner profiles triggers heterogeneous causal effects. Using a staggered difference-in-differences design, we find that participation in network agreements has a persistent impact on firms’ revenues, value added, and EBITDA that is amplified at least through the third year of collaboration. Our results show that micro firms benefit more from collaboration in network agreements, especially when they enter into relationships with larger partners. In addition, companies benefit more from network ties when most of their partners belong to the same travel-to-work area.
Effects of entrepreneurial heterogeneity within necessity- and opportunity-based entrepreneurs on business performance
Authors: Naiki Eriko , Ogane Yuta 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper examines whether and how heterogeneity within necessity- and opportunity-based entrepreneur groups affects business performance using a survey of 21,532 new firms in Japan. The major findings are as follows. First, business performance is not homogeneous among either necessity- or opportunity-based entrepreneurs. Second, the existing theory that necessity-based entrepreneurs tend to show poorer performance than opportunity-based entrepreneurs does not necessarily hold when considering heterogeneity within the groups. Specifically, among some types of necessity- and opportunity-based entrepreneurs, necessity-based entrepreneurs can even exhibit better performance than opportunity-based entrepreneurs.
When Parties Become Movements: the Movement-ization of Established Party Organizations in Austria, Germany, and the UK
Authors: Butzlaff Felix 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn light of widespread frustration with representative democracy, political parties increasingly imitate social movements—a phenomenon scholars have conceptualized as movement-party hybrids, or movement parties. Strikingly though, research hitherto on the topic focuses on emerging parties and reveals little about movement-ization re-shaping traditional party organizations and, therefore, representative democracy. In 39 qualitative interviews with Social Democratic and Conservative party organizers in Germany, Austria, and the UK, I compare how different established parties experience demands for a movement-ization of their organization. Results show that established parties, too, face pressures to provide social movement-like experiences and de-formalization, yet their adaptation strategies differ as a function of political orientation, organizational heritage, member expectations, and political discontent. Whereas Social Democrats envision a more bottom-up and movement-inspired re-organization yet seriously suffer from the tensions this causes among different member and supporter groups, Conservatives (if at all) embrace movement-ization as a top-down steered strategic re-branding suggesting elevated policy efficacy.
Exploring the link between family ownership and leverage: a mediating pathway through socioemotional wealth objectives
Authors: Muñoz-Bullón Fernando , Sanchez-Bueno Maria J. , Velasco Pilar 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper explores the relationship between family ownership and a firm’s leverage from the socioemotional wealth (SEW) theory. We propose that SEW objectives (i.e., family control, long-term horizon, and family firm reputation) might have a mediating effect on the family ownership-leverage link. In addition, we argue that an internal contingency—such as below aspiration performance—may moderate SEW’s influence on the family ownership-leverage relationship as a result of a shift in focus from non-economic to economic goals. Using a sample of European listed firms from 2011 to 2018, we find that the negative impact of family ownership on a firm’s leverage is mediated through SEW objectives. Moreover, our evidence suggests that a negative performance-aspiration gap weakens the mediating influence of these SEW objectives on leverage. Over all, our study reveals that SEW is a key channel which drives family firms’ reluctance to leverage.
Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide in combination with pitavastatin or simvastatin against breast cancer cells
Authors: Dewidar Samar A. , Hamdy Omar , Soliman Moetaza M. , El Gayar Amal M. , El-Mesery Mohamed 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFighting breast tumors mandates finding different agents devoid of chemotherapy side effects. Repurposing existing drugs, such as statins, presents a promising avenue for the development of novel cancer therapeutics. Based on the different effects of statin members, this study aims to evaluate the effect of two of the most promising lipophilic statins, Simvastatin and Pitavastatin, and their combination with a conventional chemotherapeutic regimen of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide on breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cell lines were used to analyze the effects of Pitavastatin and simvastatin in combination with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide. Cell viability and cell cycle were analyzed and certain apoptosis-related genes such as Bax, Bcl2, and caspase-3, besides cyclin D1 were analyzed using qPCR. The viability of breast cancer cells decreased significantly after treatment with a doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide combination in the presence of Pitavastatin or simvastatin compared with dual doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide with a higher effect in MDA-MB-231 cells than MCF7. In MDA-MB-231, The triple combination of Pitavastatin or simvastatin with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide resulted in an increase in the expression levels of apoptotic markers than treatment with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide combination (Bax (p-value = 0.09& 0.02, respectively), Bax/Bcl2 ratio (p-value = 0.0002& <0.0001, respectively)). However, the increase in caspase3 wasn’t significant (p-value = 0.45& 0.09, respectively). Moreover, the expression of cyclin D1 decreased (p-value = 0.0002& <0.0001, respectively) and the cell cycle was arrested in the G1 phase. Combination of Pitavastatin or simvastatin with doxorubicin/ cyclophosphamide may induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells via upregulation of the Bax/Bcl2 pathway, potentially providing a promising new therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
Stent-on-string. Evaluatie van het vernieuwde protocol in het HagaZiekenhuis
Authors: Oldenburg Philip P. , Buddingh K. Tim , van Dijk Marleen M. , Verhaaf Tim 
Published: December 2023

SamenvattingDe stent-on-string is een dubbel-J-katheter die de patiënt zelf kan verwijderen, als alternatief voor verwijdering met behulp van cystoscopie. Het doel van dit onderzoek is het in kaart brengen van luxaties, verblijfstijd en klachtenpatroon bij zelfverwijdering. Hiertoe is bij 60 patiënten nagegaan hoe en wanneer de stent-on-string is verwijderd en hoe de stent verdragen is. 42 stents (70,0%) werden op de aangegeven dag verwijderd. 46 patiënten (76,7%) deden dit zelf; vijf patiënten (8,3%) lukte het niet. In twee gevallen (3,3%) was een cystoscopie noodzakelijk. Vijf patiënten (8,3%) vermeldden hevige klachten. Inclusie vond plaats in twee fasen, waarbij in fase 2 een evidente aanpassing werd gezien in geïncludeerde patiënten. Het gebruik van een stent-on-string leidt tot een vermindering van het aantal cystoscopieën, een beperkt aantal vroegtijdige luxaties en in de meeste gevallen ervaart de patiënt geen tot milde klachten. Ervaring met de techniek lijkt te leiden tot minder luxaties en meer zelfverwijderingen.
Rekrutierung von Lehrkräften durch Organisationen der Weiterbildung
Authors: Schrader Josef , Büchler Theresa , Kohl Jonathan 
Published: December 2023

ZusammenfassungIm vorliegenden Beitrag gehen wir der Frage nach, mit welchen Strategien Weiterbildungsorganisationen ihr Lehrpersonal rekrutieren. Bezugnehmend auf das Modell der Reproduktionskontexte, das um institutionenökonomische Annahmen erweitert wird, erwarten wir, dass Weiterbildungseinrichtungen je nach Kontext unterschiedliche Rekrutierungswege, Auswahlverfahren und Auswahlkriterien präferieren, um ihren je spezifischen Anforderungen, Zielsetzungen und strategischen Ausrichtungen gerecht zu werden. Auf Grundlage von Daten aus einer Befragung von insgesamt 1000 Weiterbildungsanbietern, die im Rahmen des TAEPS-Verbundprojekts erhoben wurden, lassen sich diese Annahmen überwiegend bestätigen. Mittels bivariater Zusammenhangsanalysen lässt sich zeigen, dass die Wahl der Rekrutierungswege durch die Kontexte beeinflusst wird, in denen Weiterbildungseinrichtungen sich bewegen und spezifische vertragliche Beziehungen zu ihren Lehrkräften aufbauen. Ähnliche Befunde finden sich auch mit Blick auf die Auswahlverfahren und die Wichtigkeit von Auswahlkriterien.
The Impact of Transitory Climate Risk on Firm Valuation and Financial Institutions: A Stress Test Approach
Authors: Schult Alexander , Müller Sebastian , Friedl Gunther , Spagnoli Alberto 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAddressing recent calls by European regulatory and supervisory authorities, we develop a new bottom-up climate risk assessment method to examine the resilience of the European banking industry regarding transitory climate risks. We illustrate our approach by estimating the impact of a 50–100 EUR carbon tax per $$\textit{tCO}_{2}$$

tCO
2

equivalent on the valuation and default risk of STOXX Europe 600 firms. For about 5% of the sample firms, we find asset devaluation shocks larger than 30% and for about 16% of the firms probabilities of default (PDs) dropping below investment-grade level of 3%. At the sector level, our results yield asset devaluations shocks of 15–36% and new PDs of 5–34% for the six most affected sectors. Running a stress test on credit risk based on these results, we find a decrease in capital ratios between $$-1.2$$

-
1.2

and $$-1.6$$

-
1.6

percentage points for key regulatory capital ratios in the most adverse scenario while only addressing 36% of the bank’s total risk-weighted assets. Our analysis sheds light on the substantial transitory climate risk for asset portfolios of banks and contributes to the pressing question how to integrate climate risk into risk management and regulation of financial institutions.
Impacts of sunlight exposure on physicochemical parameters, potential toxic metals, and microbial characteristics of sachet drinking water sold in Calabar metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Umoafia Nikita Elkanah , Edet Uwem Okon , Joseph Akaninyene Paul , Henshaw Okoroiwu Uchechi , Mbim Elizabeth Nkagafel , Obeten Honour , Edet Bassey Okon , Edet Asanga , Ibor Oju Richard , Nkang Nkoyo , Louis Hitler , Nwaokorie Francisca O. , Nkang Ani 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPoor handling of potable water is a well-known route of contamination. Despite this, Nigeria’s most consumed packaged potable water called “sachet” or “pure water” is still poorly handled with long hours of exposure to sunlight which may affect its quality. This study examined the potential deterioration of the sachet water quality (potential toxic metals and bacteriological), and the health implication posed by long-time exposure to sunlight. Collected water samples were subjected to physiochemical analysis, metal analysis, risk assessment, and microbiological examination. Three sachet water brands (n = 4 bags per brand) exposed to sunlight daily for 14, 28, and 42 days were analysed for potentially toxic metals, and health risk assessments (Average daily dose-ADD, hazard quotient-HQ, hazard index-HI, and carcinogenic risk-CR). The physicochemical, and microbiological (total heterotrophic bacteria count-THBC, and total coliform count-TCC) parameters were equally analysed using the Kirby Bauer and pour plate technique. In all brands, the levels of physicochemical parameters (except pH), and potential toxic metals were comparatively higher than the control in an exposure time-dependent fashion. Furthermore, all the exposed samples failed to meet the safety limits of the WHO, and national standards (NAFDAC and NDSWQ) for drinking water. Among the metals, zinc was the most ingested metal in all the brands. The ADD, HQ, and HI evaluations revealed that consuming the exposed water could lead to higher accumulation of Cr, Cd, Pb, As, and Ni in the body following exposure. The CR of Cr, As, and Ni after exposure to sunlight were > than the safe value (10–4), implying the likelihood of cancer after over 60 years. Microbial counts increased with the length of exposure, and all the isolates showed pathogenicity and multidrug resistance. The potential health risk inherent in sachet water after exposure to sunlight has significant health implications for consumers.
Impact of a community-based primary healthcare programme on childhood diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT3) immunisation coverage in rural northern Ghana
Authors: Kanmiki Edmund Wedam , Mamun Abdullah A. , Phillips James F. , O’Flaherty Martin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Child healthcare services such as diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT3) vaccination are known to reduce childhood mortality and morbidity. However, inequalities in access to these services in developing countries continue to constrain global efforts aimed at improving child health. This study examines the impact and equity effect of a community-based primary healthcare programme known as the Ghana Essential Health Intervention Programme (GEHIP) on improving the uptake of childhood DPT3 immunisation coverage in a remote rural region of Ghana.

Methods
Using baseline and end-line household survey data collected from mothers, the effect of GEHIP’s community-based healthcare programme on DPT3 immunisation coverage is evaluated using difference-in-differences multivariate logistic regression models. Household wealth index and maternal educational attainment were used as equity measures.

Results
At end-line, both intervention and comparison districts recorded increases in DPT3 immunisation coverage although intervention districts had a relatively higher coverage than comparison districts (90% versus 88%). While children resident in intervention areas had slightly higher rates than children resident in comparison areas, regression results show that this difference was not statistically significant (DiD = 0.038, p-value = 0.102). There were also no significant equity disparities in the coverage of DPT3 vaccination for both household wealth index and maternal educational attainment.

Conclusion
DPT3 vaccination coverage in both study arms met the global vaccine action plan targets. However, because estimated effects are not significantly higher among treatment area children than among comparison districts counterparts, no equity/inequity effects of the community-based healthcare programme on DPT 3 coverage is evident.
Physicochemical characteristics and seasonal variations of PM2.5 in urban, industrial, and suburban areas in South Korea
Authors: Hwang Kyucheol , Kim Jeongho , Lee Jae Young , Park Jong-Sung , Park Sechan , Lee Gahye , Kim Chang Hyeok , Kim Pilho , Shin Su Hyun , Lee Kwang Yul , An Joon-Young , Park Jungmin , Kim Jong Bum 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAmong countries that are a part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, South Korea is the most exposed to PM2.5. Despite the country having implemented various strategies to limit PM2.5 emissions, its concentrations are still high enough to pose serious environmental and health concerns. Herein, we monitored various physiochemical properties of PM2.5 across different regions in South Korea from January 1 to December 31, 2021. Specifically, the study area consisted of the city center, industrial complexes, and suburban areas. Before analyzing dynamics of emissions specific to each site, the Clean Air Policy Support System data for the three areas were compared to elucidate their respective primary emission sources. The particle concentrations for the three areas were 21.8–26.44 µg/m3, with the highest concentrations being observed in March. All the three areas exhibited high ratios of NO3− across all seasons. The particle number concentrations in the three sites were 1.3–1.5 × 107, and the peak points of the concentrations were different in every site: city center (40 nm), industrial complexes (60 nm), and suburban areas (80 nm). We also conducted potential source contribution function and conditional bivariate probability function analyses. These analyses were conducted to determine the inflow direction of the pollution sources for high PM2.5 episodes. For the episodes that occurred in spring and winter, there were no differences in the PM2.5 concentrations between the three sites. Overall, the insights gained from this study offer a framework for developing air-quality management policies in South Korea, specifically in the context of PM2.5 emissions.
Sensitivity analysis for causality in observational studies for regulatory science
Authors: Díaz Iván , Lee Hana , Kıcıman Emre , Schenck Edward J. , Akacha Mouna , Follman Dean , Ghosh Debashis 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjective:The United States Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act mandating the development of Food and Drug Administration guidance on regulatory use of real-world evidence. The Forum on the Integration of Observational and Randomized Data conducted a meeting with various stakeholder groups to build consensus around best practices for the use of real-world data (RWD) to support regulatory science. Our companion paper describes in detail the context and discussion of the meeting, which includes a recommendation to use a causal roadmap for study designs using RWD. This article discusses one step of the roadmap: the specification of a sensitivity analysis for testing robustness to violations of causal model assumptions.Methods:We present an example of a sensitivity analysis from a RWD study on the effectiveness of Nifurtimox in treating Chagas disease, and an overview of various methods, emphasizing practical considerations on their use for regulatory purposes.Results:Sensitivity analyses must be accompanied by careful design of other aspects of the causal roadmap. Their prespecification is crucial to avoid wrong conclusions due to researcher degrees of freedom. Sensitivity analysis methods require auxiliary information to produce meaningful conclusions; it is important that they have at least two properties: the validity of the conclusions does not rely on unverifiable assumptions, and the auxiliary information required by the method is learnable from the corpus of current scientific knowledge.Conclusions:Prespecified and assumption-lean sensitivity analyses are a crucial tool that can strengthen the validity and trustworthiness of effectiveness conclusions for regulatory science.
Comparison constructions in two Northern Talyshi dialects
Authors: Avchyan Hakob 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis article examines the comparison constructions in two Northern Talyshi varieties: in Anbarāni, used in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and the Northern Talyshi dialects spoken in the Republic of Azerbaijan. These constructions have been poorly studied in previous research dealing with this North-western Iranian language and this article aims to fill that gap. In contrast with a number of Western Iranian languages, Northern Talyshi (and the Talyshi language in general) does not have special morphological markers for expressing the degrees of comparison. The comparative grades are marked syntactically using various adpositions and function words. Having long been under the influence of neighbouring languages such as Persian and Azerbaijani, both Anbarāni and the Talyshi dialects spoken in the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan have been affected by these languages at some level in the ways to make comparison.
The prevalence of vegetarians, vegans and other dietary patterns that exclude some animal-source foods in a representative sample of New Zealand adults
Authors: Greenwell James , Grant Megan , Young Leanne , Mackay Sally , Bradbury Kathryn Erica 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objective:
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of vegetarians, vegans and other dietary patterns that exclude some animal-source foods in New Zealand adults. We also examined socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates of these dietary patterns.

Design:
The New Zealand Health Survey is a representative rolling cross-sectional survey of New Zealanders; data from the 2018/19 and 2019/20 waves were used for this analysis. Participants were asked if they completely excluded red meat, poultry, fish/shellfish, eggs or dairy products from their diet.

Setting:
New Zealand.

Participants:
Adults, aged ≥ 15 years (n 23 292).

Results:
The prevalence of red-meat excluders (2·89 %), pescatarians (1·40 %), vegetarians (2·04 %) and vegans (0·74 %) was low. After adjustment for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, women (OR = 1·54, 95 % CI: 1·22, 1·95), Asian people (OR = 2·56, 95 % CI: 1·96, 4·45), people with tertiary education (OR = 1·71, 95 % CI: 1·18, 2·48) and physically active people (OR = 1·36, 95 % CI: 1·04, 1·76) were more likely to be vegetarian/vegan. Those aged ≥ 75 years (OR = 0·28, 95 % CI: 0·14, 0·53) and current smokers (OR = 0·42, 95 % CI: 0·23, 0·76) were less likely to be vegetarian/vegan. Similar associations were seen between socio-demographic and lifestyle factors and the odds of being a red-meat excluder/pescatarian.

Conclusions:
Approximately 93 % of New Zealand adults eat red meat and a very small number exclude all animal products from their diets. The Eating and Activity Guidelines for New Zealand adults recommend a plant-based diet with moderate amounts of animal-source foods. A comprehensive national nutrition survey would provide detailed information on the amount of red meat and other animal-source foods that the New Zealand population currently consumes.
Higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is associated with lower micronutrient inadequacy in children: the SENDO project
Authors: Oliver Olid Asier , Fabios Elise , García-Blanco Lorena , Moreno-Villares Jose Manuel , Martínez-González Miguel Ángel , Martín-Calvo Nerea 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objective:
To assess whether the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is associated with lower micronutrients inadequacy in a sample of Spanish preschoolers.

Design:
We conducted a cross-sectional study with 4–5-year-old children participating in the SENDO project. Information was gathered through an online questionnaire completed by parents. Dietary information was collected with a previously validated semi-quantitative FFQ. The estimated average requirements or adequate intake levels as proposed by the Institute of Medicine were used as cut-off point to define inadequate intake.

Statistical analyses:
Crude and multivariable adjusted estimates were calculated with generalised estimated equations to account for intra-cluster correlation between siblings.

Participants:
We used baseline information of 1153 participants enrolled in the SENDO project between January 2015 and June 2022.

Main outcomes measures:
OR and 95 % CI of presenting an inadequate intake of ≥ 3 micronutrients associated with the MedDiet.

Results:
The adjusted proportion of children with inadequate intake of ≥ 3 micronutrients was 27·2 %, 13·5 % and 8·1 % in the categories of low, medium and high adherence to the MedDiet, respectively. After adjusting for all potential confounders, children who had a low adherence to the MedDiet showed a significant lower odds of inadequate intake of ≥ 3 micronutrients compared to those with a high adherence (OR 9·85; 95 % CI 3·33, 29·09).

Conclusion:
Lower adherence to the MedDiet is associated with higher odds of nutritional inadequacy.