Cross-sectional Model Research Articles

Frictional loss and permeability estimation of sediment in salt cavern: A combined approach of mathematical model, experimental validation, and numerical simulations

Harnessing gas storage in sediment voids presents a promising trajectory for the future construction of large-scale underground gas reservoirs in low-grade salt mines. This approach not only augments the effective gas volume but also enhances the stability of the cavern. In contrast to traditional gas injection and brine discharge process, where brine is expelled from the upper pure brine space without involving brine seepage in sediment voids, gas storage in sediment voids entails expelling brine from these spaces, thus necessitating an understanding of the brine seepage characteristics in the sediment, which remains unclear. This study presents a comprehensive approach for estimating sediment frictional loss and permeability in interconnected wells, integrating mathematical modeling, experimental validation, and numerical simulation. The mathematical principles governing sediment behavior during in-situ gas/brine injection and brine discharge tests are theoretically elucidated, accompanied by derived formulas. Experimental verification is conducted in the horizontal interconnected wells (Ha4-5) of the Huaian salt mine in Jiangsu, yielding the sediment frictional loss (0.53 MPa) and permeability (6.9 × 10−11 m2). Subsequently, a 2D cross-sectional numerical model is established using the COMSOL software, considering the measured and predicted well morphologies. The model provides insights into the relationship between sediment frictional losses and permeability, yielding an inverse calculation of the average permeability (1.016 × 10−10 m2). Simulation results depict laminar brine flow characteristics in the cavern during gas/brine injection and brine discharge processes, with frictional loss occurring as brine passes through sediment. Examination of the brine seepage and pressure fields in the sediment reveals consistent brine flow velocity after passing through the sediment. This combined approach focuses on investigating the seepage characteristics of sediment at the bottom of salt caverns, offering valuable insights for estimating frictional losses and permeability in similar salt mines.

Sustainable supply chain management operations: does sustainable environmental disclosure matter for banks’ financial performance in Nigeria?

In recent years, banks have incorporated sustainable development strategies to achieve competitiveness in the financial market. However, the primary concern for banks is the financial pressure to implement sustainable environmental practices. In addition, banks are obliged by different regulators to maintain standards in conducting their business and allocating funds. Previous studies examined the relationship between sustainability reporting, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and firms’ financial performance. Few empirical studies examined the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) operations on firm financial outcomes, yet the banking sector has been ignored in the analyses. To bridge this gap, we examine the dynamic effect of SSCM operations on deposit money banks’ (DMBs) financial performance. We selected seven banks in Nigeria with national, regional and international authorization and data spanning from 2005 to 2023. Based on the panel co-integration test and the Cross-sectional Dependence Autoregressive Distributed Lag model (CS-ARDL) model, we found that SSCM operations have a significant influence on the financial performance (market value and profitability) of the banks. Impliedly, banks’ SSCM operations and environmental consideration in the allocation of funds drive their corporate image and value. Integration of SSCM strategies for a sustainable environment can help enterprises/companies bridge information asymmetry among diverse stakeholders. We offer some policy suggestions in line with the empirical findings.

Do digitalization and green innovation limit carbon emissions? Evidences from BRICS economies

Rapidly evolving innovation and digitalization have captured the focus of policymakers and scholars regarding their potent role in influencing environmental quality. The present research analyzes the impact of these variables on the carbon emissions of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa economies from 1990 to 2021. This research also explores the impact of economic growth, quadratic green innovation, and green energy on carbon emissions. Using several panel diagnostic tests, this research validates heterogeneous slopes, the presence of cross-sectional dependence, and significant cointegration. Due to the mixed integration order, this research uses a cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag model, and the results show that economic expansion and green innovation are significant drivers of emissions in both the short and long run. However, digitalization, quadratic green innovation, environmental policy stringency, and green energy are significant in improving environmental quality and sustainability. The long-term results are tested by employing a series of parametric and nonparametric regressions. This research recommends further investment in environmental research and development, digital technologies, green innovation, and the strengthening of environmental policies to attain sustainable development.

Reallocating time between movement behaviors has implications for post-secondary students’ mental health and wellbeing

Objective: Examine the theoretical impact of reallocating time between self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), recreational screen time, and sleep on psychological distress and mental wellbeing among post-secondary students. Participants: 24,742 post-secondary students (M age=24.3 ± 7.72 SD years; 66.4% women) from Cycle 1 of the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey. Methods: Cross-sectional isotemporal substitution modeling. Results: Replacing 20 min of screen time with either sleep or MVPA was associated with lower psychological distress, greater mental wellbeing, lower odds of reporting mild-to-severe psychological distress and low mental wellbeing, except for reallocating screen time to sleep among students who exceed the sleep guideline recommendations. Reallocating time between sleep and MVPA revealed noteworthy patterns: replacing sleep with MVPA was associated with greater mental wellbeing but not lower psychological distress. Conclusions: Findings highlight the potential mental health benefits of replacing screen time with sleep or MVPA as an integrative whole day approach to promote campus wellness.

How Do Institutional Investors Perceive Mandatory ESG Disclosure: Evidence From SEC’s Mandatory Climate Change Disclosure Proposal

This study examines how institutional investors perceive the SEC’s mandatory climate change disclosure proposal, announced on March 21, 2022. The findings show that investors of US public firms with higher institutional ownership react less negatively to the proposal despite overall negative market reactions. Additional tests show that the main results hold even if an endogeneity concern and greenhouse gas contributors’ effect were tested with the cross-sectional regression models. This research sheds light on the lack of consensus on the impact of institutional investors on ESG disclosure for US public firms, providing evidence that institutional investors contribute to the long-term sustainability and value creation of portfolio firms.

How and why to follow best practices for testing mediation models with missing data.

Mediation models are often conducted in psychology to understand mechanisms and processes of change. However, current best practices for handling missing data in mediation models are not always used by researchers. Missing data methods, such as full information maximum likelihood (FIML) and multiple imputation (MI), are best practice methods of handling missing data. However, FIML or MI are rarely used to handle missing data when testing mediation models, instead analyses used listwise deletion methods, the default in popular software. Compared to listwise deletion, the implementation of FIML or MI to handle missing data reduces parameter estimate bias, while maintaining the sample collected to maximise power and generalizability of results. In this tutorial, we review how to implement full-information maximum likelihood and MI using best practice methods of testing the indirect effect. We demonstrate how to implement these methods using both R and JASP, which are both free, open-source software programmes and provide online supplemental materials for these demonstrations. These methods are demonstrated using two example analyses, one using a cross-sectional mediation model and one using a longitudinal mediation model examining how student-athletes reported worry about COVID predicts their perceived stress, which in turn predicts satisfaction with life.

Cross-sectional zero-dimension temperature model for thin-walled circular tubes in space environment

A sufficiently accurate, yet computationally efficient prediction of temperature field is essential for design of spacecraft structures. This paper presents a model dimension reduction method for thermal analysis of thin-walled circular tubes in space environment, which takes into account radiation heat transfer among the internal surfaces besides heat conduction along the circumferential direction and radiative emission from the external surface. Temperature distribution on the tube cross section is approximated by a series of harmonic functions, so that a one-dimensional problem is reduced to that of zero dimension. The relation between average and perturbation temperatures that depend only on time is broadened to fully coupled one. By comparison to the previous model and the plane finite element model, the accuracy and economy of the new model are illustrated. The results show that internal radiation exchange plays an important role in thermal analysis of thin-walled circular tubes used extensively in spacecraft appendages. Furthermore, differences between present and previous models are analyzed and a two-way analysis of variance is performed to determine the effect of various physical and geometric parameters on the temperature distribution and response of the tubes. The work can be further developed to analyze thermally induced deformation and vibration of spacecraft structures.

Internalizing symptoms, negative urgency, and coping motives: Potential pathways to alcohol consequences.

Building upon prior research, the present study tested coping motives as a mediator of relations between both negative urgency and internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress), and alcohol-related consequences using longitudinal data. We also tested negative urgency as a moderator of prospective relations between specific internalizing symptoms and alcohol-related consequences. The study utilized data from a longitudinal study of young adults (N = 448; Mage = 22.27, SD = 1.25). Participants (56.5% male) were evaluated at baseline and at 12-month and 24-month follow-ups. Mood, impulsivity, coping motives, and alcohol consequences were assessed at baseline, and motives and consequences were assessed at follow-ups. Prospective indirect effects of internalizing symptoms and negative urgency on alcohol consequences through coping motives were not observed. However, cross-sectional post hoc analyses indicated that higher levels of internalizing and negative urgency were indirectly associated with greater alcohol consequences through coping motives, with similar patterns observed for depression, anxiety, and stress. Although support was found for mediated effects in the cross-sectional model, no evidence was found for negative urgency moderating the impact of internalizing, stress, anxiety, or depression on alcohol consequences in either cross-sectional or longitudinal models. Findings provide cross-sectional but not longitudinal support for coping motives as a potential mechanism through which a broad range of internalizing symptoms are associated with alcohol consequences. Findings did not support interactions between negative urgency and internalizing symptoms. The results highlight the need for further exploration of mediated effects using ecological momentary assessments. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Impact of Employee Stock Ownership Plans on Capital Structure Decisions: Evidence from China

The determination of the capital structure is a critical component of a company’s financial decision-making process. The question of how to optimize a firm’s capital structure to increase its value has been a significant topic of interest within the financial community. The employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) has developed rapidly in China’s capital market over the past decade, providing a suitable context for studying the impact of employee equity incentives on capital structure decisions. This paper employs cross-sectional ordinary least squares regression models and unbalanced panel fixed effect models to investigate the impact of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) on firms’ capital structure decisions. The analysis is conducted on a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. The research considers both static capital structure choice and dynamic capital structure adjustment. We find that the implementation of an ESOP reduces the level of corporate debt and accelerates the dynamic adjustment of capital structure, suggesting that employee equity incentives play a role in optimizing firms’ capital structure decisions. We also find that the impact of ESOPs on the dynamic adjustment of capital structure is asymmetric. Specifically, the implementation of ESOPs markedly accelerates the downward adjustment of capital structure, yet has no impact on the upward adjustment of capital structure. Further analysis demonstrates that the impact of ESOPs on capital structure decisions is contingent upon the macroeconomic environment, industry characteristics, corporate governance, and ESOP contract designs. First, the optimization of ESOPs on capital structure decisions is more pronounced in an economic boom environment, in a poor market climate, or in competitive industries. Second, the reduction effect of ESOPs on corporate debt is more pronounced in non-state-owned companies, high-tech companies and those with lower ownership concentration. In contrast, the acceleration effect of ESOPs on capital structure adjustment is more pronounced in state-owned companies, non-high-tech companies and those with higher ownership concentration. Ultimately, ESOPs financed by loans from a firm’s major shareholders—or with a longer lock-up period, smaller shareholding size or executive subscription ratio—demonstrate a more pronounced optimization effect on capital structure decisions. This paper not only contributes to the existing literature on the relationship between equity incentives and capital structure decisions, but also provides guidance for listed companies on the reasonable design of their ESOPs and the optimization of their capital structure decisions.

Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: A longitudinal analysis.

Physical distancing and handwashing can be important infection prevention measures during an infectious disease outbreak such as the COVID-19 pandemic. To stimulate these behaviours, knowledge of psychosocial determinants as well as contextual factors is vital. We present longitudinal, within-person analyses of the impact of contextual and psychosocial factors on handwashing and distancing behaviour. We used individual-level data (186,490 participants completing 971,899 surveys) from the Corona Behavioural Unit COVID-19 Cohort, a dynamic cohort study conducted during 26 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Fixed-effects models were employed to estimate within-person associations between psychosocial factors and behaviour, combined with main and moderating effects of contextual factors. Pandemic severity was associated with more handwashing and distancing behaviour, while the duration of the pandemic had little effect. Within-person changes in response efficacy were most relevant for changes in both handwashing and distancing behaviour, while self-efficacy, descriptive norms and perceived severity of infecting others affected behaviour indirectly. These effects were stable over time. Associations were larger in cross-sectional models, indicating that such models tend to overestimate effects. Our study highlights the importance of longitudinal data and within-person models to detect possible causal associations. The results suggest that during an outbreak, government and public health professionals should clearly communicate the severity of the pandemic (e.g., hospitalization rates) and the effectiveness of recommended prevention measures in reducing that risk; and seek to improve people's capabilities and opportunities to adhere to guidelines, for example, by modifying the environment.

Improved decision-making through life event prediction: A case study in the financial services industry

Life event prediction is an important tool for customer relationship management (CRM), because life events shift customers’ preferences towards different products and services. Existing life event research mainly uses cross-sectional data, whereas in the CRM field, incorporating longitudinal data is increasingly common. Because longitudinal data can capture the dynamics of customer behavior, opportunities arise to benchmark the power of longitudinal customer data for predictions of cross-sectional versus longitudinal life events. Therefore, this study compares statistical and machine learning (SaML) classifiers, such as logistic regression, random forest, and XGBoost, with long- and short-term memory networks (LSTM), using data represented in both cross-sectional and longitudinal setups for life event prediction. Through a real-life longitudinal customer data set from a European bank, the authors represent the longitudinal data in a cross-sectional data format, using featurization in the form of aggregation. The available data cover 42 end-of-month snapshots for 760,438 unique customers. For marketing decision-making literature, this article (1) introduces three novel life events (i.e., primary, secondary, and rental residence purchases) to life event predictions; (2) offers guidance for how to leverage longitudinal customer data, according to the comparison of various featurization approaches and benchmarking SaML classifiers against LSTM; and (3) clarifies the importance of features and timing for improving marketing decision-making dynamically. The results show that aggregating features over time is preferable as a featurization approach for cross-sectional modeling using SaML classifiers. Furthermore, LSTM can capture behavioral changes over time, unlike SaML classifiers. It also performs significantly better than SaML classifiers on the area under curve and F1 metrics. Insights into the uses of integrated gradients reveal that feature importance changes over time. An integrated gradients method can assist decision-makers in their efforts to plan effective communication with customers in advance, such as by allocating more resources to customers who exhibit high probabilities of a particular life event occurrence.

Structural risks and family adjustment in midwestern Latine immigrant families: Extending the family stress model.

We tested an extended family stress model of economic hardship (FSM; Conger et al., 2010) incorporating structural risks (discrimination, immigration, and COVID-19 experiences) and qualitative data, to better understand the impact of culturally relevant experiences on family stress processes in rural, immigrant Latine families in the U.S. Midwest. Participants were Latine families (N = 307) with a child aged 10-15 (Mage = 12.21 years, 51.0% boys; 71.5% two parent; 93.1% of caregivers and 29% of youth born outside the United States) Mean household income was 25-30K and 65% of caregivers had less than a high school education. We tested a cross-sectional structural equation model in Mplus and analyzed qualitative interviews with a subsample of mother-youth dyads (n = 19). COVID-19 experiences predicted economic pressure, and both COVID-19 and discrimination experiences were linked to caregiver psychological distress. Consistent with the FSM, economic pressure predicted psychological distress, which was associated with interparental relationship problems and parenting. Parenting was associated with youth global health. Unexpectedly, interparental relationship problems to parenting were not significant. The indirect association linking COVID-19 experiences to youth global health via psychological distress and parenting was significant. Qualitative data revealed five themes demonstrating how structural and economic risks contributed to distress, conflict, and maladjustment within the family system. Culturally relevant structural risks exert a negative influence on family processes in rural Latine immigrant families through contributing to economic pressures and parental distress. The additional impact of these experiences should be considered when addressing the FSM in Latine populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Temperature and carotid intima-medial thickness: The coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study

BackgroundFew studies have examined the role of long-term (≥1 year) ambient temperature with quantitative traits of early-stage cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as carotid intima-medial thickness (cIMT). Our objective was to examine associations between temperature and cIMT, a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. MethodsThis study examined data from 3257 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, aged 18–30 years at baseline (1985–1986). We used North America Land Data Assimilation System data to derive 12 metrics of ambient daily temperature: Mean, minimum, maximum, and standard deviation temperature in summer, winter, and year-round. We examined associations with cIMT in separate cross-sectional multivariable models at CARDIA year 20 (2005–2006) as well as stratified analyses by self-reported race and sex. We also prospectively examined cumulative temperature by summing temperature variables from Y0-Y20. ResultsAccounting for study center attenuated most associations between cIMT and ambient temperature exposure, but the winter standard deviation remained associated (overall β = −0.0104 mm/°C, 95 % CI: −0.0150 to −0.0059). Minimum summer temperature was also associated with cIMT in the overall study population (β = 0.0020 mm/°C, 95 % CI: 0.0005–0.0035). Associations did not differ substantially by race, but women had stronger associations than men. Cumulative temperature was not associated with cIMT. ConclusionsOur findings suggest a role of geography, particularly ambient temperature in cIMT. Future research to address potential residual confounding is necessary, but if validated these findings have implications for policy and strategies to mitigate health impacts of climate change.

The price of implicit guarantee: evidence from municipal bond markets in China

ABSTRACT In China, local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) have grown rapidly since the massive stimulus package in 2008. Due to the significant amount of funds allocated to public welfare infrastructure projects, an ‘implicit guarantee’ of debt repayment by local governments has emerged. This paper examines whether and how investors price this implicit guarantee, using a mixed cross-sectional fixed effects model, a generalized DID model, and placebo tests to investigate the hypotheses and identify the heterogeneity and robustness. The findings indicate that implicit guarantees do exist and are influenced by local fiscal capacity and previous guarantee behavior. Tightened regulations on hidden debt have increased the issuance spread of LGFV bonds, with the impact being more pronounced for regions with weaker fiscal and economic strength. Additionally, LGFVs with relatively lower administrative levels, stronger connections to public welfare-related business, higher explicit guarantees, and longer-term LGFV bonds are more influenced by the regulation.

Does institutional location matter? The effect of agency type on resource distribution for nonpoint water pollution

ABSTRACT With the rejuvenated emphasis on nonpoint pollution under the Water Quality Act (WQA) of 1987, states seek ways to address nonpoint pollution sources. States can use Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) to address nonpoint needs; these funds are administered by state agencies, and funding decisions are typically made by agency personnel. While some states have aggressively funded nonpoint projects, other states have been much more reticent. Moreover, states have created different administrative structures to administer these funds. Does the nature of the structure impact the distribution of loans? Utilizing a dataset spanning state-level data from 1988 to 2016, we test a novel negative binomial cross-sectional time-series model employing the number of CWSRF loans directed to nonpoint projects as the dependent variable. We find that states where water quality management is buried within a ‘mini-EPA’ agency are the least likely to allocate CWSRF loans for nonpoint source issues, whereas states with ‘super’ agencies or combined environmental/health agencies allocate a higher number of CWSRF loans to nonpoint source projects.

Model simplification to simulate groundwater recharge from a perched gravel-bed river

Gravel-bed rivers are an important source of groundwater recharge in some regions of the world. Their interactions with groundwater are complex and highly variable in space and time, with considerable water storage in the riverbed sediments. In losing river sections, where most of the groundwater recharge occurs, the river can be separated from the regional groundwater system by an unsaturated zone (i.e., perched). The complexity of groundwater–surface water interactions in these environments calls for the use of 3D fully integrated hydrological models to represent them, but their computational intensity limits their practicality for parameter inference, uncertainty quantification and regional scale problems. On the other hand, the simple groundwater–surface water exchange functions currently implemented in regional scale groundwater models are not suited to represent complex gravel-bed river systems such as braided rivers. There is therefore a need for developing groundwater–surface water exchange functions tailored to gravel-bed rivers that can be used in regional scale models.To address this issue, we developed a model simplification framework that combines a 3D integrated surface and subsurface hydrological model, a 2D cross-sectional river-aquifer model and a 1D conductance-based analytical model. We aim at broadly simplifying the 3D model while ensuring the appropriate simulation of groundwater recharge. We demonstrate our modelling approach on the Selwyn River (New Zealand) using piezometric data and groundwater recharge estimates derived from field observations and satellite imagery.Our results indicates that groundwater recharge from this river can be simulated using a simple 1D analytical model, which can easily be implemented in regional groundwater models (e.g., MODFLOW models). However, to represent properly the time variability of groundwater recharge, it is essential to use the groundwater level in the shallow aquifer associated with the river as input to the regional groundwater model. Our approach is generally transferable to other gravel-bed rivers but requires some observations of river losses for proper calibration.

Comparison of complications and degree of correction between the extensile lateral and sinus tarsi approaches in the treatment of calcaneus fractures: a cross-sectional observational retrospective study

Introduction: Calcaneus fractures are a challenge for traumatologists. Their complex anatomy, relative scarcity of surrounding soft tissue, and long learning curve for surgical treatment partly explain the difficulties encountered by surgeons, in addition to contributing to the high rate of complications. Objective: This study aimed to identify the differences in complication rates and degree of correction between extensile lateral access (ELA) and sinus tarsi (STA) approaches by reviewing medical records between 2018 and 2023 of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of calcaneus fractures at a hospital in the interior of São Paulo. Methods: The present study followed a retrospective observational and cross-sectional model (STROBE). The Kolmogorov Smirnov test, Student-t test, Wilcoxon Rank test, Mann-Whitney test, Pearson Chi-Square test, and binary and predictive logistic regression analysis were used, adopting a confidence risk of 0.05. Results and Conclusion: A total of 77 patients were included (52 ELA and 25 STA). It was concluded that no statistical differences were observed after intergroup comparisons (ELA vs. STA). There was also no statistically significant influence of the predictor “age” on the predictors of the responses “Böhler and Gissane angles in degrees” in the final post-procedure phase. In general, STA presented a lower probability of complications with the use of the sinus tarsi route, reaching the same level of joint reduction and control of progression to osteoarthritis. All these results of the present study almost completely confirm the literary findings that appear under discussion.

Disentangling the Effects of Comorbidity and Polypharmacy on Cognitive Function and Physical Frailty in Individuals With HIV

Objective: To estimate the extent to which comorbidity, polypharmacy, and anticholinergic/sedative burden interrelate to influence cognitive ability, perceived cognitive deficits (PCD), and physical frailty in people living with HIV. Design: Cross-sectional Structural Equation Modeling of data from 824 older people living with HIV in Canada, participating in the Positive Brain Health Now study. Method: Structural Equation Modeling was used to link observed variables, including comorbidity, polypharmacy, anticholinergic, and sedative burden, to cognitive ability and 2 latent constructs—physical frailty and PCD. The model was adjusted for age, sex, education, nadir CD4, duration of HIV, and symptoms of anxiety/depression. Maximum Likelihood with Robust standard errors and bootstrapping were used to test the robustness and significance of the model's indirect effects. Results: Anticholinergic burden had a direct significant negative relationship with cognitive ability (βstd = −0.21, P < 0.05) and indirect effect on PCD (βstd = 0.16, P < 0.01) and frailty (βstd = 0.06, P < 0.01) through sedative burden. Sedative burden was directly associated with PCD (βstd = 0.18, P < 0.01) and indirectly with frailty through PCD (βstd = 0.07, P < 0.01). Comorbidity and polypharmacy exerted indirect effects on PCD and physical frailty through anticholinergic and sedative burden. The model fits the data well (CFI: 0.97, TLI: 0.94, RMSEA: 0.05, SRMR: 0.04). Conclusions: Anticholinergic and sedative burden function as a pathway through which polypharmacy and comorbidities influence physical frailty and PCD. Reducing the use of anticholinergic and sedative medications could help prevent and manage cognitive impairment and frailty in older people living with HIV.

Relationship Between Occupational Stress Level and Readiness Towards Knowledge Sharing Among IT Sector Employees

In the era of a knowledge-based economy, effective knowledge management, including knowledge sharing, is one of the determinants of organizational performance. Therefore, the task of companies should be to optimize the process of knowledge sharing, which is achieved by, among other things, a thorough understanding and use of the factors that affect this process. Aim. The purpose of the article was to study the relationship between the level of occupational stress and readiness towards knowledge sharing among IT Sector Employees. Method. A cross-sectional study model was applied. The study included 98 employees from the IT industry. The study used the Perceived Stress at Work Scale (PSaW) by Chirkowska-Smolak and Grobelny and a self-designed survey including: demographic data, work-related variables and questions about knowledge sharing with co-workers. Results. In the surveyed group of IT workers, greater readiness to share knowledge was found among employees who showed lower scores on the PSaW scale. In addition, significant relationships were found between the study variables according to the selected variables, including that among women with low rates of perceived stress at work, older women showed greater willingness to share knowledge compared to younger women. Furthermore, in terms of work-related variables, the results showed that among men declaring high rates of stress, those with shorter seniority were more willing to share knowledge compared to men with longer seniority. Conclusions: The research findings significantly broaden knowledge in the sphere of the factors influencing the effective organization of the knowledge management process, particularly knowledge sharing under stressful work conditions. This knowledge can be useful especially for IT managers.

Associations of Adipokine Levels With Levels of Remnant Cholesterol: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

The metabolic syndrome phenotype of individuals with obesity is characterized by elevated levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and remnant particles, which have been shown to be significantly atherogenic. Understanding the association between adipokines, endogenous hormones produced by adipose tissue, and remnant cholesterol (RC) would give insight into the link between obesity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We studied 1791 MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) participants who took part in an ancillary study on body composition with adipokine levels measured (leptin, adiponectin, and resistin) at either visit 2 or visit 3. RC was calculated as non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, measured at the same visit as the adipokines, as well as subsequent visits 4 through 6. Multivariable-adjusted linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between adipokines and log-transformed levels of RC. Mean±SD age was 64.5±9.6 years; mean±SD body mass index was 29.9±5.0 kg/m2; and 52.0% were women. In fully adjusted cross-sectional models that included body mass index, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipid-lowering therapy, for each 1-unit increment in adiponectin, there was 14.6% (95% CI, 12.2-16.9) lower RC. With each 1-unit increment in leptin and resistin, there was 4.8% (95% CI, 2.7-7.0) and 4.0% (95% CI, 0.2-8.1) higher RC, respectively. Lower adiponectin and higher leptin were also associated with longitudinal increases in RC levels over median follow-up of 5 (interquartile range, 4-8) years. Lower adiponectin and higher leptin levels were independently associated with higher levels of RC at baseline and longitudinal RC increase, even after accounting for body mass index and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.