Independent Effects Research Articles

Suppression of Hop Downy Mildew as Influenced by the Timing of Selected Fungicides

Downy mildew of hop is a disease that is controlled by the implementation of cultural practices along with the application of fungicides, as there are few cultivars with high levels of resistance to this disease. We conducted studies in western Oregon to elucidate the effect of using synthetic fungicides of various modes of action early versus late in disease management programs when rotated with a copper-based fungicide. When analyzed over the 4 years of this study, there were independent effects from both the specific fungicide mode of action and application timing on disease control. The use of cymoxanil + copper hydroxide or mandipropamid in a program reduced the area under the disease progress curve by 66.3 or 59.7 units (17.7 or 19.6%), respectively, as compared with phosphorous acid. Using synthetic fungicides in the first two applications in a program provided better disease control than using the same fungicides in the third and fourth applications, reducing the area under the disease progress curve by 47.8 units (14.4%). By simply applying modes of action found to be more efficacious earlier in the growing season, the severity of downy mildew was reduced as much as 32% without increasing the total number of applications made.

ESG Controversies and Firm Value: Moderating Role of Board Gender Diversity and Board Independence

Despite the growing attention given to environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, little is known about the financial implications of bad social performance. Hence, this article aims to investigate the impact of ESG controversies on firm value and the moderating effects of board gender diversity and board independence on this relationship. This article uses 1205 firm-year observations relating to 119 French companies listed on the CAC All-Tradable Index over the 2007–2021 period and employs fixed effects estimation. The results show a negative and significant relationship between ESG controversies and firm value. The findings also demonstrate that board gender diversity and board independence allow firms to mitigate the negative effects of controversies on firm value. Overall, our findings offer valuable insights to managers of firms engaged in ESG activities and emphasize the difficulty of restoring the relationships with stakeholders.

The Moderating effect of board independence on the relationship between ownership structure and corporate risk among firm: evidence of list firm in Egypt

The Moderating effect of board independence on the relationship between ownership structure and corporate risk among firm: evidence of list firm in Egypt

Yo laboral futuro y proactividad en la carrera profesional, el efecto mediador serial de la pasión académica y la resiliencia

University students develop proactive behaviors for better employability. An image of a future work self can motivate proactive actions in students. Personal resources such as academic passion and resilience may be the way by which the future work self generates proactive career behaviors. This paper aims to study the mediating effects between future work self, academic passion, and resilience to predict proactive career behavior. A total of 802 undergraduate students with ages ranging from 18 to 27 years, (M=23.2, SD=2.7) were recruited for this study. Descriptive analysis, correlations, and reliability of the scales have been performed. Then, a hierarchical regression model was designed to study the effect of interaction in a serial model with passion and resilience using PROCESS. The results showed significant independent indirect effects of future work self through harmonious passion and resilience on proactive career behavior. Furthermore, a serial mediation through harmonious academic passion and resilience was found. These results provide evidence of the role that academic passion plays in generating personal resources such as resilience The future work self may as well be a motivator for proactive career-oriented behavior in students.

Independent biodiversity mechanisms regulate ecosystem multifunctionality and its temporal stability under resource enrichment in a mown grassland

AbstractQuestionsAlthough the relationships between biodiversity and individual ecosystem functions under resource enrichment have been extensively studied, there is limited understanding of how resource‐induced changes affect ecosystem multifunctionality and its temporal stability, along with the underlying biological mechanisms.LocationInner Mongolia, China.MethodsWe investigated the impact of biodiversity mechanisms on ecosystem multifunctionality and its temporal stability through a 3‐year field experiment. This experiment involved augmenting growing season precipitation and nitrogen deposition, conducted in a typical steppe ecosystem of Inner Mongolia alongside regular mowing.ResultsOur findings revealed that the addition of water (W) and nitrogen (N) had varying effects on ecosystem multifunctionality and its temporal stability. The combination of N and W additions enhanced ecosystem multifunctionality, whereas both W and N + W additions promoted the temporal stability of ecosystem multifunctionality. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that the community‐weighted mean height, in response to nitrogen addition, played a key role in enhancing ecosystem multifunctionality. By contrast, increased species asynchrony because of water addition and greater functional diversity in terms of leaf area contributed to heightened temporal stability of ecosystem multifunctionality. Furthermore, the positive effects of community‐weighted mean height on ecosystem multifunctionality exhibited a gradual increase with rising threshold levels.ConclusionsOur study provides the first evidence of the independent effects of selection, exemplified by community‐weighted mean and complementarity, represented by factors such as species richness, functional diversity and species asynchrony on both ecosystem multifunctionality and its temporal stability. This underscores how global change factors can directly influence ecosystem multifunctionality and its temporal stability while also indirectly modulating biodiversity effects in the short term. Overall, our findings underscore the vital role of biodiversity conservation in enhancing grassland management and the delivery of ecosystem services in the context of global change, particularly in regions subject to extensive mowing.

The Combined Effects of High Temperatures and Ozone Pollution on Medical Emergency Calls - Jinan City, Shandong Province, China, 2013-2019.

Studies have extensively documented the separate and independent effects of extreme temperature and ozone on morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory and circulatory diseases. The study revealed a significant association between elevated temperature, ozone pollution, and the combined effect of high temperature and ozone pollution with an increased risk of all-cause medical emergency calls (MECs) and MECs specifically related to neurological diseases. Interventional measures should be implemented to mitigate exposure to high temperatures and ozone levels. Specifically, during the warm season, it is crucial for relevant authorities to focus on disseminating scientific information regarding the health impacts of elevated temperatures and ozone pollution. Additionally, timely public health advisories should be issued to alert the public effectively.

Study protocol for a 15-week randomised controlled trial assessing the independent effects of high-cholesterol and high-saturated fat diets on LDL cholesterol

IntroductionPrevious research has associated high dietary cholesterol intake with raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and thus increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Emerging research suggests that it is saturated fat,...

Calcium chelation independent effects of BAPTA on endogenous ANO6 channels in HEK293T cells

Selective calcium chelator 1,2-Bis(2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) is a common tool to investigate calcium signaling. However, BAPTA express various effects on intracellular calcium signaling, which are not related to its ability to bind Ca2+. In patch clamp experiments, we investigated calcium chelation independent effects of BAPTA on endogenous calcium-activated chloride channels ANO6 (TMEM16F) in HEK293T cells. We have found that application of BAPTA to intracellular solution led to two distinct effects on channels properties. On the one hand, application of BAPTA acutely reduced amplitude of endogenous ANO6 channels induced by 10 μM Ca2+ in single channel recordings. On the other hand, BAPTA application by itself induced ANO6 channel activity in the absence of the intracellular calcium elevation. Open channel probability was enhanced by increasing the intracellular BAPTA concentration from 0.1 to 1 and 10 mM. Another calcium chelator EGTA did not demonstrate chelation independent effects on the ANO6 activity in the same conditions. Due to off target effects BAPTA should be used with caution when studying calcium-activated ANO6 channels.

An investigation into the determinants of satisfaction concerning varied toll policies on highways using the random forest model

<abstract> <p>To address the insufficient consideration of public satisfaction's impact on the assessment of the implementation effectiveness of differentiated toll collection on expressways, a study was conducted using a satisfaction survey questionnaire from differentiated toll road sections in Yunnan Province in 2022. A random forest model (RF) was constructed under a two-category experiment to analyze the factors influencing satisfaction with expressway-differentiated toll policies. Multiple models underwent five-classification and two-classification experiments using the same training and test datasets. Results revealed that the RF model in the binary classification experiment exhibited a good fit. Notably, the satisfaction level with timely and accurate preferential policies emerged as the most critical factor, contributing 20.35% to the overall satisfaction with expressway differentiated toll policies. Independent effect analysis highlighted that the overall satisfaction with the differentiated charging method for empty trucks ranked highest, while satisfaction with the differentiated charging method for road sections was the lowest.</p> </abstract>

Proposal and clinical validation of a perioperative algorithm enhancing antimicrobial stewardship in substitution urethroplasty

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a standardized antibiotic stewardship protocol on three subsequent endpoints in patients undergoing urethroplasty. MethodsMen undergoing bulbar substitution urethroplasty between January 2009 and December 2016 were stratified by urine culture (UCx) at the time of surgery (sterile vs. nonsterile) and were subjected to a standardized algorithm for urinalysis and antimicrobial therapy. We performed quantitative and qualitative exploration of UCx results and the microbial spectrum. The ability of the algorithm to improve antibiotic stewardship was tested by three endpoints: (a) immediate (UCx 2 days postoperatively), (b) short-term (21-day infectious complications), and (c) long-term (retreatment-free survival [RFS]). Statistical analyses included bivariate comparisons. The Kaplan–Meier estimators were used to compare RFS between the groups. The multivariable Cox regression was used to evaluate the independent effect of UCx status at the time of surgery on RFS. ResultsOf 374 men, 235 (63%) had a sterile and 139 (37%) a non-sterile culture at the time of surgery. The proportion of sterile cultures at the time of surgery (63%) was significantly improved to 82% 2 days postoperatively (p<0.001). There were 16 (4.3%) patients with infectious complications with no difference between patients with sterile versus non-sterile culture (p=0.6). At median follow-up of 29 months, there was no difference in RFS (84%) between patients with sterile versus non-sterile culture (p=0.3). Positive UCx was not a predictor of recurrence after multivariable adjustment (p=0.5). ConclusionA standardized protocol such as the one introduced improves antibiotic stewardship through frequent testing and culture-specific treatment. This is crucial in avoiding unnecessary antimicrobial treatment, and reducing infectious events and adverse effects of a positive UCx on long-term stricture recurrence.

Healthcare-Seeking Delays in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients: The Influence of Gender, Immigrant Status, and Educational Background.

Timely medical attention is crucial for patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS), as delays can significantly impact therapeutic outcomes. These delays are influenced by a combination of socio-cultural, educational, and clinical factors. An in-depth analysis was conducted to assess the prevalence and median duration of healthcare-seeking delays in AIS patients. The study specifically investigated the independent impacts of sociocultural and clinical determinants on these delays, with a focus on immigrant status, gender disparities, and educational levels. Multivariate regression analysis was employed to identify these independent effects while controlling for potential confounding factors. Among 1419 AIS patients, 82.52% (n = 1171) experienced delays exceeding 2 hours from symptom onset of symptoms to hospital arrival. The median delay was 12.3 hours. Immigrant populations encountering longer delays compared to native groups. Younger males (<45 years) and elderly females were more prone to delay in healthcare-seeking. Identified independent risk factors for delay included male gender (OR = 1.65 [95% CI:1.14-2.48]), self-acknowledged diabetes (OR = 2.50 [95% CI:1.21-5.17]), small vessel (OR = 2.07 [95% CI:1.27-3.36]), and wake stroke (OR = 7.04 [95% CI:3.69-13.44]). Educational background (high school and above), GCS score with 3-8 points (OR = 0.52 [95% CI:0.09-0.69]), understanding stroke-related knowledge (OR = 0.26 [95% CI:0.09-0.44]), conscious disturbance (OR = 0.25 [95% CI:0.10-0.62]) and limb weakness (OR=0.21[95% CI:0.21-0.49]) are protective factors for timely treatment. Immigrant populations experienced longer delays from symptom onset to hospital arrival. The crucial roles of education and knowledge about stroke underscore the need for enhanced health literacy campaigns and public awareness, with a targeted focus on younger males and elderly females.

Moderating effect of board independence on the determinants of financial performance in listed non-financial companies of Colombo Stock Exchange

The overarching objective of every business organization is to maximize stakeholder wealth, but various financial constraints can hinder this goal. This study mainly focuses on examining the moderating effect of board independence on the determinants of the financial performance of listed non-financial companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange. There is a lack of research on the factors that determine financial performance at both the national and international levels. Further, there is a dearth of studies related to the moderating effect of board independence on the determinants of financial performance. The present study applied the quantitative approach. This study investigates the relationship between the Quick ratio, Total Assets turnover ratio, Leverage, and Growth in sales as independent variables and their impact on Financial Performance as the dependent variable. Additionally, the study incorporates board independence as the moderating variable. Financial performance is measured using Return on Assets (ROA). The study's population comprises listed non-financial companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange and data was collected from the top 100 companies with the highest market capitalization during the latest period spanning 2020 to 2022, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. This study has observed that total asset turnover and growth in sales have a positive and significant relationship with ROA. However, leverage has an insignificant relationship with ROA. The relationship between quick ratio and ROA is moderated by board independence. Further, the relationship between growth in sales and ROA is moderated by board independence on the other hand, the relationship between total asset turnover, leverage, and ROA is not moderated by board independence. The insights gained from this research will contribute to a better understanding of the determinants of financial performance in the context of listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange.

PENGARUH PENGALAMAN AUDITOR, INDEPENDENSI DAN KOMPETENSI TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDIT DENGAN ETIKA AUDITOR SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERASI

This research aims to examine and analyze the effect of auditor experience, independence, and competence on auditor quality in FEB UNTAN students who take Auditing 2 courses and examine and analyze the ability of auditor ethics to moderate the relationship between auditor experience, independence, and competence.The population used in this study means FEB UNTAN students who take the Auditing 2 course using a purposive sampling method. The number of samples is 60 students. The sample in this study was determined using a survey method, namely by distributing questionnaires personally to the respondents. The method of analysis of this research uses the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) data analysis technique using the WarpPLS version 8.0 application.The results obtained from this research indicate that auditor experience has a positive effect on audit quality. Independence has no effect on audit quality. And competence has a positive effect on audit quality. For auditor ethics, it cannot moderate the impact of audit experience, independence, and competence on FEB UNTAN students taking Auditing 2 courses.

Exploring the Implementation of Good Governance in Community School: A Case Study

This study examines the implementation of good governance practices in Shree Shitaladevi Secondary School, Pokhara 11 of Kaski District, Nepal. It utilizes a case study design of a qualitative approach. Data collected through semi-structured interview with school head teacher, teachers, students and representatives of SMC as well as PTA and a focus group discussion with the representatives of school stakeholders has explored related themes to good governance such as openness and transparency, accountability, independence, integrity, and school effectiveness. The findings reveal positive practices including information sharing with stakeholders, transparent teacher recruitment processes, and financial accountability. Although students’ participation in policy-making is limited, it has highlighted the involvement of parents, teachers, and students in decision-making. The study emphasizes the importance of good governance in ensuring quality education and identifies areas for further improvement. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of governance in community schools and provides valuable insights for policymakers and educators striving for better educational systems. This study has suggested a comprehensive research based on community schools of Nepal to explore the governance mechanisms through which community involvement can be harnessed to address existing challenges of school governance.

Evaluation of genomic factors and early childhood stimulation on intelligence in children from a Brazilian birth cohort: The primary role of independent factors

BackgroundChildhood cognitive abilities are a predictor of health outcomes and adult income potential. Identifying factors associated with childhood intelligence and their interactions is essential in behavioral research. We assessed the impact of genetic variants and early child stimulation (ECS) on child intelligence and examined their possible interaction as potential modifiers of IQ in a population-based longitudinal study. MethodsParticipants of the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort study (N = 4231) underwent intelligent quotient (IQ) by WISC-III assessment at 6 years of age. At 24 and 48-months, mothers answered five ECS marker questions, whose sum was used to create a score. The polygenic score for intelligence (IQ-PGS) was constructed from the GWAS-weighted estimate of cognition. Association was assessed using multiple linear regression models adjusted for maternal, family, and child confounding variables. To explore the possible influence of skin color and ethnoracial classification, the regression models were stratified according to the skin color variable, as a sensitivity analysis. ResultsIn the adjusted analysis, IQ-PGS (β = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.26;1.31) as well as ECS (β = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.76;2.92) were associated with IQ in this sample. The association between IQ-PGS and IQ was significant only in the white Brazilian group in the sensitivity analysis. However, there was no interaction between IQ-PGS and ECS on IQ (p(IQ-PGS x ECS) = 0.46). ConclusionsECS did not modify the impact of genetic potential on intellectual development during childhood, suggesting that genetic factors and ECS exert independent effects on the IQ levels of children.

Board Independent, Firm Size, CEO Ownership, and Accounting Conservatism: Evidence Banking Company in Indonesia

The aim of this study is to provide empirical findings regarding a range of determinants that may impact accounting conservatism. Specifically, the research will examine the effects of company size, CEO ownership, and independent boards. Secondary data, specifically information derived from annual financial reports, is utilized in this study. Information for financial reports is acquired from the IDX data stream and website. From 2013 to 2022, the population of this study comprises all banking institutions listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Significantly positive effects of board independence and company size on accounting conservatism are demonstrated by the findings of this study. Furthermore, CEO ownership has a significant negative impact on accounting conservatism, according to the findings of this study. The findings of this study present a practical illustration for stakeholders regarding the responsibilities of shareholders, which may prove beneficial in overseeing the organization’s operations. This research demonstrates that when a company is owned by its CEO, its conservatism decreases. The findings of this research have implications for decision-makers who rely on financial reports. Stakeholders can place trust in managers who provide information about the company through financial reports that reflect its condition.

The Group Appeal Strategy: Beyond the Policy Perspective on Party Electoral Success

Political parties use policy appeals to change their policy images and increase electoral support. Building on the idea that parties’ group images also matter to voters, this article shows that group appeals can benefit parties as well. Combining manifesto data on policy and group appeals covering 50 years, we revisit the shift from class to catch-all politics in Britain and present three findings. First, a vote share analysis shows that the Labour Party benefited from using not just policy but also group appeals to downplay its class image. Second, consistent with a catch-all strategy, survey evidence shows that this boost in Labour support was most prominent outside the traditional base. Third, while group appeals had independent effects, we show how group and policy appeals also interact and reinforce each other. This suggests that non-policy strategies matter to parties’ electoral success on their own but also in combination with policy strategies.

Internal auditor independence and audit quality: the influence of mediation role of professional ethics investigation (on the example of Gorontalo city inspectorate in Indonesia)

This study aims to examine the effect of auditor independence on audit quality at the Gorontalo City Inspectorate, with professional ethics acting as a mediator or moderator variable. The method used in this study is a quantitative method, with primary data collection. This study uses a saturated sample or census, where the entire population is sampled, totalling 54 respondents consisting of 35 auditors and 19 P2UPD (Supervisors of the Implementation of Regional Government Affairs) in 2023. The data used is primary data collected through a questionnaire. The statistical analysis used is a non-parametric method with Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS Version 4 software. The results of the study indicate a positive and significant influence between internal auditor independence on audit quality through the role of professional ethics. In addition, it was found that the independence of internal auditors also has a positive and significant influence on audit quality at the Gorontalo City Inspectorate, as well as a positive and significant influence on the role of professional audit ethics, which in turn has an impact on the audit quality of the Gorontalo City Inspectorate.

Independent and combined effects of microplastics pollution and drought on soil bacterial community

Global terrestrial ecosystems are simultaneously threatened by multiple environmental pressures, with microplastics (MPs) pollution and drought possibly being the most pressing, both of which may have unanticipated effects on soil organisms. Here, we investigated the responses of diversity, composition and functions of soil bacterial community to MPs pollution (including two MPs types: polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA); two MPs sizes: < 20 μm and <300 μm) and drought in microcosms. We found that only 20 μm PLA MPs significantly decreased soil bacterial diversity by 17.4 % and altered soil bacterial community composition, while PE MPs and 300 μm PLA MPs had no significant effects. The copiotrophic bacteria (i.e., Proteobacteria and Firmicutes) were enriched in the 20 μm PLA MPs pollution soils due to the enhanced dissolved organic carbon contents. Moreover, our results showed that the 20 μm PLA MPs also affected the potential phenotypes and functions of soil bacterial community, increasing the potentially pathogenic, stress-tolerant, containing mobile elements and forming biofilms phenotypes, and promoting membrane transport and signal transduction pathways. These results suggested that the effects of MPs on soil bacterial community varied depending on MPs types and sizes. However, drought significantly increased soil bacterial diversity by 10.3 % and affected soil bacterial community composition in the 20 μm PLA MPs pollution soils. We also found that drought inhibited the levels of potentially pathogenic, containing mobile elements and forming biofilms phenotypes in the 20 μm PLA MPs pollution soils. Taken together, these findings reveal that drought may alleviate the adverse effects of MPs pollution on soil bacterial community, which enhances our understanding of the interactive effects of multiple global change factors on agroecosystem functions.

Combining Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Metastatic Melanoma.

The early detection of melanoma relapse can improve patient survival; thus, there is a great need for easily accessible biomarkers that facilitate the diagnosis of metastatic disease. We investigated the diagnostic effect of blood biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), S100B, and osteopontin in the detection of metastases. Clinical data and peripheral blood samples of 206 melanoma patients were collected (no metastasis, N = 120; metastasis, N = 86). The discriminative power of blood biomarkers, patient demographics, and clinicopathological parameters of primary melanomas were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine the area under the curve (AUC). Plasma osteopontin levels showed a significant and independent effect on the probability of metastasis, similar to serum S100B levels. In addition, the location of the primary tumor on the lower extremities and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) categories pT2b-3a, pT3b-4a, and pT4b were associated with the diagnosis of metastasis. Importantly, the combination of the three blood biomarkers and primary tumor localization and AJCC pT category yielded excellent discrimination (AUC: training set: 0.803; validation set: 0.822). In conclusion, plasma osteopontin can be classified as a melanoma biomarker; moreover, by combining clinicopathological prognostic variables, the diagnostic effect of blood biomarkers in the detection of metastatic melanoma can be improved.