Extant literature on foreign entry increasingly recognizes firms' heterogeneity as a potential reason for inconsistency in results on the establishment mode choice, that is, whether and under which ...conditions firms should choose to enter a new country through a greenfield investment or an acquisition. Our study contributes to this debate by identifying family ownership and family involvement in management as potential powerful sources of such heterogeneity. Integrating international business studies with both corporate finance literature on family firms and recent contributions from the Socio Emotional Wealth perspective on family ownership, we claim that, due to greater risk aversion and lower access to information, the family involvement both in the firm ownership and management leads to a higher propensity towards greenfield initiatives (vs acquisitions). However, we also find that such a propensity decreases with international experience especially in family-owned firms given the greater ability of professionalized management to overcome family-related concerns on making acquisitions. Our analysis on 1045 foreign initiatives undertaken by 311 Italian family and non-family firms between 2003 and 2013 confirms our expectations, indicating family ownership as a significant driver of firms' international strategies.
Inland waters (rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) and wetlands (marshes and coastal wetlands) represent large and continuous sources of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, in view of adequate biomass and ...anaerobic conditions. Considerable uncertainties remain in quantifying spatially explicit N2O emissions from aquatic systems, attributable to the limitations of models and a lack of comprehensive data sets. Herein, we conducted a synthesis of 1659 observations of N2O emission rates to determine the major environmental drivers across five aquatic systems. A framework for spatially explicit estimates of N2O emissions in China was established, employing a data-driven approach that upscaled from site-specific N2O fluxes to robust multiple-regression models. Results revealed the effectiveness of models incorporating soil organic carbon and water content for marshes and coastal wetlands, as well as water nitrate concentration and dissolved organic carbon for lakes, rivers, and reservoirs for predicting emissions. Total national N2O emissions from inland waters and wetlands were 1.02 × 105 t N2O yr–1, with contributions from marshes (36.33%), rivers (27.77%), lakes (25.27%), reservoirs (6.47%), and coastal wetlands (4.16%). Spatially, larger emissions occurred in the Songliao River Basin and Continental River Basin, primarily due to their substantial terrestrial biomass. This study offers a vital national inventory of N2O emissions from inland waters and wetlands in China, providing paradigms for the inventorying work in other countries and insights to formulate effective mitigation strategies for climate change.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
The most recent trend manufacturers have embraced to seek operational performance improvements is the use of a wide range of digital technologies typically associated with Industry 4.0. However, few ...studies have investigated the relationship between such technologies and the long-established lean manufacturing domain, and how they, together, influence operational performance. Based on data from a cross-sectional survey of manufacturing companies, this study investigates the relationships between the use of lean manufacturing, factory digitalisation, and operational performance using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. While simultaneously controlling for the effects of production repetitiveness, company size, and length of lean manufacturing implementation, the findings show that both lean manufacturing and factory digitalisation individually contribute to improved operational performance. Furthermore, it is found that when used together, they have a complementary (or synergistic) effect that is greater than their individual effects combined. These research findings provide both theoretical and practical insights into how lean manufacturing and factory digitalisation affect the operational performance of manufacturing firms. In light of the upcoming fourth industrial revolution, these findings suggest that lean manufacturing is not obsolete but rather is more important than ever in order to reap the benefits from emerging technologies and translate them into improved operational performance.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Researchers often use 3-way interactions in moderated multiple regression analysis to test the joint effect of 3 independent variables on a dependent variable. However, further probing of significant ...interaction terms varies considerably and is sometimes error prone. The authors developed a significance test for slope differences in 3-way interactions and illustrate its importance for testing psychological hypotheses. Monte Carlo simulations revealed that sample size, magnitude of the slope difference, and data reliability affected test power. Application of the test to published data yielded detection of some slope differences that were undetected by alternative probing techniques and led to changes of results and conclusions. The authors conclude by discussing the test's applicability for psychological research.
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CEKLJ, FFLJ, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Foreign directors can affect firm value through their advising and monitoring functions. However, the demand for these directors, as well as their effect on firm performance is likely to be ...influenced by firm- and country-level characteristics. In a large sample of non-US firms, we find that foreign directors are more likely to be associated with firms that have more foreign operations and an international shareholder base, and firms that are located in countries with a limited supply of potentially qualified domestic directors – countries with a smaller, less welleducated populace and lower levels of capital market development. We also find that the association between foreign directors and firm performance is more positive in countries with lower quality legal institutions, and when the director comes from a country with higher quality legal institutions than the firm's host country. Our study highlights the importance of considering national demographic factors and levels of capital market development when modeling the supply and demand for foreign directors, and also underscores the importance of institutional quality in the foreign director's home and host country when assessing the effect of that director on firm performance.
The adiponectin is one of the rare adipokines down-regulated with obesity and protects against obesity-related disorders. Similarly, the apolipoprotein M (apoM) is expressed in adipocytes and its ...expression in adipose tissue is associated with metabolic health. We compared circulating apoM with adiponectin regarding their relationship with metabolic parameters and insulin sensitivity and examined their gene expression patterns in adipocytes and in the adipose tissue.
Circulating apoM and adiponectin were examined in 169 men with overweight in a cross-sectional study, and 13 patients with obesity during a surgery-induced slimming program. Correlations with clinical parameters including the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were analyzed. Multiple regression analyses were performed on HOMA-IR. The APOM and ADIPOQ gene expression were measured in the adipose tissue from 267 individuals with obesity and a human adipocyte cell line.
Participants with type 2 diabetes had lower circulating adiponectin and apoM, while apoM was higher in individuals with dyslipidemia. Similar to adiponectin, apoM showed negative associations with HOMA-IR and hs-CRP (r < -0.2), and positive correlations with HDL markers (HDL-C and apoA-I, r > 0.3). Unlike adiponectin, apoM was positively associated with LDL markers (LDL-C and apoB100, r < 0.20) and negatively correlated with insulin and age (r < -0.2). The apoM was the sole negative determinant of HOMA-IR in multiple regression models, while adiponectin not contributing significantly. After surgery, the change in HOMA-IR was negatively associated with the change in circulating apoM (r = -0.71), but not with the change in adiponectin. The APOM and ADIPOQ gene expression positively correlated in adipose tissue (r > 0.44) as well as in adipocytes (r > 0.81). In adipocytes, APOM was downregulated by inflammatory factors and upregulated by adiponectin.
The apoM rises as a new partner of adiponectin regarding insulin sensitivity. At the adipose tissue level, the adiponectin may be supported by apoM to promote a healthy adipose tissue.
NCT01277068, registered 13 January 2011; NCT02332434, registered 5 January 2015; and NCT00390637, registered 20 October 2006.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Stress and compromised parenting often place children at risk of abuse and neglect. Child maltreatment has generally been viewed as a highly individualistic problem by focusing on stressors and ...parenting behaviors that impact individual families. However, because of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), families across the world are experiencing a new range of stressors that threaten their health, safety, and economic well-being.
This study examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to parental perceived stress and child abuse potential.
Participants included parents (N = 183) with a child under the age of 18 years in the western United States.
Tests of group differences and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships among demographic characteristics, COVID-19 risk factors, mental health risk factors, protective factors, parental perceived stress, and child abuse potential.
Greater COVID-19 related stressors and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher parental perceived stress. Receipt of financial assistance and high anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with higher child abuse potential. Conversely, greater parental support and perceived control during the pandemic are associated with lower perceived stress and child abuse potential. Results also indicate racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 related stressors, but not in mental health risk, protective factors, perceived stress, or child abuse potential.
Findings suggest that although families experience elevated stressors from COVID-19, providing parental support and increasing perceived control may be promising intervention targets.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Polysaccharides underwent physiochemical and functional changes during preparation.•Their changes commonly occurred in extraction, isolation and dehydration procedures.•Their changes were mainly due ...to degradation and interaction with other compounds.•Their hydrothermal and ultrasonic degradations in preparation may be predictable.
The preparation mainly composed of extraction, pre-purification and dehydration is essential for the research and development of natural polysaccharides. The methods or conditions used in the three procedures had significant effects on the composition, structure and function of the polysaccharides obtained. Temperature, pH, enzyme, ultrasound and microwave were the important factors associated with their physicochemical changes. Molecular degradation and intermolecular interaction were two of the main mechanisms responsible for the changes. The degradations of polysaccharides responding to hydrothermal and ultrasonic conditions could be partly descripted by multiple linear regression model, implying the possibility for the prediction and control of polysaccharide degradation. Moreover, the interactions between polysaccharide and other compounds, forming complexes natively or conditionally, could be selectively triggered or eliminated to obtain polysaccharides under certain functions. This work shows new insights into the preparation of polysaccharides, which could benefit the efficient utilization of their natural and modified properties.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This study aimed to determine the effect of each component of cultivation technology application on the production of rice (Oryza Sativa L.) in South Sulawesi. This research was carried out in three ...rain-type sectors within South Sulawesi Province, namely Maros for the West Sector, Bone for the East Sector, and North Luwu for the Transitional sector. A study was conducted from December 2019 to January 2020 in the form of a survey (study literature, observation, and interviews), with the selection of samples carried out purposively to 90 respondents. Data analysis employed multiple linear regression with SPSS software. The results showed that the average rice production in Maros, Bone and North Luwu regencies, South Sulawesi, was still relatively low, Maros Regency was 7,032 kg per ha, Bone was 5,020 kg per ha and North Luwu was 6,497 kg per ha. The multiple regression equation for rice production in Maros, Bone and North Luwu Regencies, South Sulawesi is Y = 3354,185 -17,751X1 – 4,044X2 +36,839X3 . Factors from the aspect of cultivation technology application can increase rice production. Variables of cropping system, irrigation system, and fertilizer dose had a significant effect on rice production, while the variables of varieties and harvest time did not have a significant effect on rice production.
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