Evidence Of Asymmetry Research Articles

Developmental acquisition of stops by multilingual speakers

ABSTRACT The study aimed to analyse the production of plosive sounds by trilingual speakers of L1 Polish – L2 English – L3 Norwegian. The main objective was to trace any changes in the VOT production of fortis and lenis stops in all three languages (Polish, English and Norwegian) produced by novice L3 learners with a focus on possible cross-linguistic interactions. The investigation was conducted across three testing times throughout the first year of L3 learning. The results show that participants maintained separate VOT patterns in all three languages. What is more, VOT production patterns changed over time, but only in the voiced series of stops. The study also provides evidence for asymmetry between voiced and voiceless stops, as the two series turned out to be affected by CLI in a different manner.

Large-scale Overdensity of Lyman Break Galaxies around the z = 6.3 Ultraluminous Quasar J0100 + 2802

We study the environment of the z = 6.33 ultraluminous quasar SDSS J010013.02+280225.8 (J0100) to understand its association with large-scale structure. Theoretical models propose high-redshift quasars as markers of galaxy overdensities residing in the most massive dark matter halos (DMHs) in the early Universe. J0100 is an ultraluminous quasar with the most massive black hole known at z ≳ 6, suggesting a high likelihood of residing in a massive DMH. We present wide-field (∼522 arcmin2) imaging in the r, i, and z bands from the Large Binocular Cameras on the Large Binocular Telescope, with Y- and J-band imaging from the Wide-field Infrared Camera on the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope, centered on J0100. Applying color selections, we identify 23 objects as i-dropout Lyman break galaxy (LBG) candidates in the J0100 field. We use the deep photometric catalog in the 1.27 deg2 COSMOS field to calculate the density of LBGs in a blank field, and to estimate the selection completeness and purity. The observed surface density of LBG candidates in the J0100 field corresponds to a galaxy overdensity of δ = 4 (at 8.4σ). This large-scale overdensity suggests that the ∼22 arcmin2 overdensity found by Kashino et al. using JWST data extends out to much larger scales. We calculate the angular autocorrelation function of the candidates and find a positive correlation on ≲10′ scales as well as evidence of asymmetries in their spatial distribution, further suggesting the direct detection of large-scale structure in the field of the ultraluminous quasar J0100.

Non-Oil Export Promotion and Manufacturing Capacity Utilization in Nigeria and South Africa: A Tale of Two Countries in Africa

This paper studies the dynamics between non-oil export promotion and manufacturing capacity utilization in Nigeria and South Africa. The empirical analysis applies the asymmetric ARDL cointegration technique proposed by Shin et al. (2011) from 1986 to 2022. The evidence suggests that ignoring the intrinsic nonlinearities may lead to misleading inference. In particular, the results reveal significant differences in the response of manufacturing capacity utilization to positive or negative changes in non-oil export and other explanatory variables in both the long- and short-run time horizons. The evidence of asymmetry could be of major importance for more efficient policymaking and forecasting in the Nigerian and South African manufacturing sectors to grow.

Impact of carbon pricing on comparative advantage in environmental goods export in sub‐Saharan Africa: Evidence of asymmetries from South Africa

AbstractThis paper examines the asymmetric link between carbon pricing and the comparative advantage in environmental goods exports in South Africa from 1995 to 2021. The non‐linear autoregressive distributed lag model is utilized to investigate the effects of both minor and major positive and negative fluctuations in carbon taxes, technological innovation, and energy transition on comparative advantage. The results reveal that carbon taxes have an asymmetric effect on comparative advantage in both the short and long runs, with positive shocks exerting a greater beneficial influence than negative shocks. Specifically, it is found that a 1% reduction in carbon taxes corresponds to a 1.24% decline in the response variable, whereas a 1% increase in carbon taxes is associated with a 2.72% increase in comparative advantage in environmental goods exports, which is twice as large. The study also uncovers evidence of an asymmetric relationship between low‐carbon technological innovation and comparative advantage in environmental goods exports. However, strong evidence of a long‐run asymmetric linkage between the energy transition and comparative advantage is not established. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that a positive shift in energy transition is linked with a 0.32% rise in comparative advantage in environmental goods exports, whereas a negative shift in energy transition corresponds to a 0.11% decrease. The practical policy implications are also discussed.

El repunte inflacionario en España entre 2021 y 2023: evidencia con microdatos

Rationale Analysis of the price micro data used to construct the consumer price index (CPI) allows us to understand how much of the inflationary spike observed in Spain between 2021 and 2023 was attributable to changes in the number of outlets adjusting prices (the “adjustment frequency”), rather than to changes in the size of such price adjustments. Takeaways •The rise in the year-on-year growth rate of the CPI in 2021-2023 was marked by notable increases in the number of outlets that raised their prices from one month to the next, with the size of such price adjustments remaining practically constant. •There is evidence of asymmetries in the upward and downward price adjustments made by outlets: given the same gap between a posted price and the estimated optimal price, the number of outlets making an upward price adjustment towards the optimal price exceeds those outlets making equivalent downward adjustments. This asymmetry has become more marked during the recent inflationary period.

On the Relationship Between Reliability Diagrams and the “Signal‐To‐Noise Paradox”

AbstractThe “signal‐to‐noise paradox” for seasonal forecasts of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is often described as an “underconfident” forecast and measured using the ratio‐of‐predictable components (RPCs) metric. However, comparison of RPC with other measures of forecast confidence, such as spread‐error ratios, can give conflicting impressions, challenging this informal description. We show, using a linear statistical model, that the “paradox” is equivalent to a situation where the reliability diagram of any percentile forecast has a slope exceeding 1. The relationship with spread‐error ratios is shown to be far less direct. We furthermore compute reliability diagrams of winter NAO forecasts using seasonal hindcasts from the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts and the UK Meteorological Office. While these broadly exhibit slopes exceeding 1, there is evidence of asymmetry between upper and lower terciles, indicating a potential violation of linearity/Gaussianity. The limitations and benefits of reliability diagrams as a diagnostic tool are discussed.

Quantifying Muscle Size Asymmetry in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Three-dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

This is a case-control study of prospectively collected data. To quantify paraspinal muscle size asymmetry in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and determine if this asymmetry is (i) greater than observed in adolescent controls with symmetrical spines; and (ii) positively associated with skeletal maturity using Risser grade, scoliosis severity using the Cobb angle, and chronological age in years. AIS is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine which occurs in 2.5% to 3.7% of the Australian population. There is some evidence of asymmetry in paraspinal muscle activation and morphology in AIS. Asymmetric paraspinal muscle forces may facilitate asymmetric vertebral growth during adolescence. An asymmetry index [Ln(concave/convex volume)] of deep and superficial paraspinal muscle volumes, at the level of the major curve apex (Thoracic 8-9 th vertebral level) and lower-end vertebrae ( LEV , Thoracic 10-12 th vertebral level), was determined from three-dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of 25 adolescents with AIS (all right thoracic curves), and 22 healthy controls (convex=left); all female, 10 to 16 years. Asymmetry index of deep paraspinal muscle volumes was greater in AIS (0.16±0.20) than healthy spine controls (-0.06±0.13) at the level of the apex ( P <0.01, linear mixed-effects analysis) but not LEV ( P >0.05). Asymmetry index was positively correlated with Risser grade ( r =0.50, P <0.05) and scoliosis Cobb angle ( r =0.45, P <0.05), but not age ( r =0.34, P >0.05). There was no difference in the asymmetry index of superficial paraspinal muscle volumes between AIS and controls ( P >0.05). The asymmetry of deep apical paraspinal muscle volume in AIS at the scoliosis apex is greater than that observed at equivalent vertebral levels in controls and may play a role in the pathogenesis of AIS.

Rockets and Feathers in the Gasoline Market: Evidence from South Korea

This study analyzes how changes in oil prices are transmitted to gasoline prices in Korea. We attempt to identify the main causes of the observed price asymmetry and offer plausible theories by investigating price transmission at different levels of the distribution process. Retail prices react faster to increases in the Singapore spot market prices than decreases. We also find asymmetry in the price transmission from spot gasoline to wholesale gasoline, but in the opposite direction. Additionally, there is little evidence of asymmetry in the pass-through from wholesale prices to retail prices. Therefore, the observed asymmetry of retail prices is due mainly to the transmission of prices from spot gasoline to retail gasoline, and theories related to the cost of search for consumers seem to be the most relevant in explaining the asymmetry. Finally, the results indicate that the asymmetric pricing results in a substantial loss to consumers.

Symmetric and asymmetric impact of economic policy uncertainty on food prices in China: A new evidence

The study explores the symmetric and asymmetric impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on food prices in China for the period from 1998M1 to 2020M5. The linear Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) framework is used to evaluate the symmetric effect. However, the nonlinear Autoregressive Distributive Lag (NARDL) model is employed to gauge the asymmetric impact of the EPU on food prices in the short run and in the long run. According to ARDL results, an increase in EPU leads to a significant increase in food prices both in the long run and in the short run. In NARDL short run results, the Wald test statistic confirms the presence of asymmetry. It is found that negative EPU shocks have a positive and significant effect on food prices, while positive shocks have a negative but insignificant impact. In the long run, the Wald test for asymmetry shows that there is no evidence of asymmetry. Also, the impact of positive and negative EPU shocks is insignificant. The dynamic multiplier graph for NARDL shows the adjustment of asymmetry after negative and positive shocks towards long-run equilibrium. The overall impression is that negative shocks of uncertainty have a deeper effect than positive shocks on food prices in China. The overall analysis shows that EPU shocks have an asymmetric impact as they are sudden, unforeseen and disrupt food price stability in the short-run only. Yet it will shift towards equilibrium again in the long-run.

The missing asymmetry in the Polish house price cycle: an analysis of the behaviour of house prices in 17 major cities

This paper investigates the house price cycle in 17 major cities in Poland, analysing separately prices of newly constructed housing and prices in the existing stock. We apply the Andre, Gupta and Mwamba (2019) framework and test the deepness and steepness of the cycles. Deepness concerns the relative magnitude of peaks and downturns, while steepness determines, how fast peaks or downturns are reached. When at least one of those measures is not symmetric, there is asymmetry in the cycle. We apply the triples test and the entropy test and find little evidence for asymmetry, mostly only in small cities. This seems to be intriguing, because usually there are asymmetries, for example slow price increases end in sudden drops. The explanation for the smooth cycle in the Polish housing market are a still not satisfied demand for housing and continuously growing wages. Banks issued mortgages only to the more affluent people, which were able to pay back the mortgage. Additionally, two housing subsidy schemes helped to keep house prices stable, when the situation in the global economy worsened, which might have led to price drops.

27. PREDICTIVE VALUE OF LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE FOR POOR MATERNAL AND PERINATAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH PRE-ECLAMPSIA: A META-ANALYSIS

Background: A large number of studies have reported the relationships between serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and prognosis of pre-eclampsia. However, the result is still controversial and no consensus has been reached. Objective: The aim of the study was to find out the role of serum LDH in prediction of poor maternal and perinatal outcomes in patients with pre-eclampsia. Methods: We performed a systematic computerized search for eligible articles from PubMed, Europe PMC, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar databases from inception to January 2021. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all events of interest and event-free subjects were obtained to assess the predictive value of serum LDH in predicting composite poor outcomes. Results: A total of 11 studies that assessed patients with pre-eclampsia were included. Overall, elevated serum LDH level in pre-eclamptic patients was associated with poor maternal and perinatal outcomes [pooled OR: 7.92 (95% CI = 5.75–10.93); pooled OR: 8.08 (95% CI = 4.40–14.83) respectively]. Subgroup analyses showed that elevated LDH also increased risk of placental abruption, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome. The resulting P-value showed no heterogeneity among articles (P &gt; 0.01). No evidence of asymmetry was shown in the funnel plot, thus no publication bias existed in the included studies. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that elevated serum LDH level is apparently associated with poor outcomes in patients with pre-eclampsia and serum LDH could be a prognostic biomarker for pre-eclamptic patients.

An Empirical Investigation of the Disaggregated Import Demand Function: Non-linear ARDL Framework

The article estimates the disaggregated import demand function for India using annual time series data for the period 1995–2017. The empirical results reveal strong evidence of long-run stable relationship among the variables considered in the study. The disaggregated import demand function is estimated for India using linear and non-linear ARDL model. The estimated linear ARDL model shows that gross capital formation, exports and relative prices affect import demand positively and significantly, both in the short and long run. While the impact of final consumption expenditure was found to be insignificant in the short run, it affects import demand significantly and positively in the long run. On the other hand, the result of the non-linear ARDL model shows the evidence of asymmetry in the impact of relative prices (positive and negative changes) on import demand, both in the short and long run. JEL Codes: F41, B17, B41, C51

Mean reversion in Asia-Pacific stock prices: New evidence from quantile unit root tests

We investigate the stationarity of the daily real stock prices in 12 Asia-Pacific countries over the period 1991–2020. The methodology employed is driven by the need to address three key concerns: (i) the identification of association between the size of shocks and stationarity; (ii) the identification of different speeds of adjustment towards long-run equilibrium; and (iii) the identification of mean reversion and potential asymmetric speed of adjustment before and after the 2008–2009 global financial crisis. To meet these concerns, we examine the time series properties of high frequency data within a quantile unit root testing framework. Our results generally indicate that stock prices are stationary at the higher quantiles. There is also evidence of asymmetries in stock price dynamic adjustments at the upper quantiles, in which larger shocks are associated with faster mean reversion, and conversely, smaller shocks are associated with non-stationarity. Further analysis indicates that stock prices became much more mean reverting and with a faster speed of adjustment after the global financial crisis for all sample countries.

Formation of the Musca filament: evidence for asymmetries in the accretion flow due to a cloud–cloud collision

Context.Dense molecular filaments are ubiquituous in the interstellar medium, yet their internal physical conditions and the role of gravity, turbulence, the magnetic field, radiation, and the ambient cloud during their evolution remain debated.Aims.We study the kinematics and physical conditions in the Musca filament, the ambient cloud, and the Chamaeleon-Musca complex to constrain the physics of filament formation.Methods.We produced CO(2–1) isotopologue maps with the APEX telescope that cut through the Musca filament. We further study a NANTEN212CO(1–0) map of the full Musca cloud, H Iemission of the Chamaeleon-Musca complex, aPlanckpolarisation map, line radiative transfer models,Gaiadata, and synthetic observations from filament formation simulations.Results.The Musca cloud, with a size of ~3–6 pc, contains multiple velocity components. Radiative transfer modelling of the CO emission indicates that the Musca filament consists of a cold (~10 K), dense (nH2∼ 104cm−3) crest, which is best described with a cylindrical geometry. Connected to the crest, a separate gas component atT~ 15 K andnH2∼ 103cm−3is found, the so-called strands. The velocity-coherent filament crest has an organised transverse velocity gradient that is linked to the kinematics of the nearby ambient cloud. This velocity gradient has an angle ≥30° with respect to the local magnetic field orientation derived fromPlanck, and the magnitude of the velocity gradient is similar to the transonic linewidth of the filament crest. Studying the large scale kinematics, we find coherence of the asymmetric kinematics from the 50 pc H Icloud down to the Musca filament. We also report a strong [C18O]/[13CO] abundance drop by an order of magnitude from the filament crest to the strands over a distance &lt;0.2 pc in a weak ambient far-ultraviolet (FUV) field.Conclusions.The dense Musca filament crest is a long-lived (several crossing times), dynamic structure that can form stars in the near future because of continuous mass accretion replenishing the filament. This mass accretion on the filament appears to be triggered by a H Icloud–cloud collision, which bends the magnetic field around dense filaments. This bending of the magnetic field is then responsible for the observed asymmetric accretion scenario of the Musca filament, which is, for instance, seen as a V-shape in the position–velocity (PV) diagram.

Government spending shocks and economic growth: additional evidence from cyclical behavior of fiscal policy

PurposeThis study examines the asymmetric effect of government spending on economic growth in Nigeria over the period 1980–2017. Specifically, this study investigates whether the response of economic growth to government spending shocks differs according to the nature of shocks on them. In addition, the authors examine whether the stabilizing effects of fiscal policies are dependent on the state of the business cycle.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts the linear fiscal reaction function in addition to the nonlinear regression model of Hatemi-J (2011, 2012), Granger and Yoon (2002), which allows us to separate negative shocks from positive shocks to government spending. Similarly, the authors adopt the generalized method of moments (GMM) techniques of Hansen (1982) to account for simultaneity and endogeneity problems inherent in dynamic model.FindingsThe authors’ findings reveal that there is evidence of asymmetry in the government spending–economic growth nexus in Nigeria over the period of study. Specifically, the authors find that the response of economic growth to government spending shocks differs according to the nature of shocks on them. More specifically, the study established that the stabilizing effects of fiscal policies are dependent on the state of the business cycle.Originality/valueUnlike the traditional method of modeling asymmetry, which adopts the simple inclusion of a squared government spending term or by the inclusion of a cubic government spending term, the model adopted in this study allows us to model shocks and show how the responses of economic growth to government expenditure differ according to the nature of shocks on them.

Global Food Commodity Prices and Domestic Food Inflation: Some Insights from Morocco

This paper examines the world commodity prices pass-through to food inflation in Morocco, over the period 2004-2018, by using Structural Vector Autoregression (SVAR) model on monthly data. Several interesting results are found from this study. First, the impact of global food prices on domestic food inflation is shown significant, which reflects the large imported component in the domestic food consumption basket. Second, the transmission effect is found to vary across commodities. Consumer prices of cereals and oils significantly and positively respond to external price shocks, while those of dairy and beverages are weakly influenced. Third, there is evidence of asymmetries in the pass-through from world to domestic food prices, where external positive shocks generate a stronger local prices response than negative ones. This situation is indicative of policy and market distortions, namely the subsidies, price controls, and weak competitive market structures. Our findings suggest that food price movements should require much attention in monetary policymaking, especially that the country has taken preliminary steps towards the adoption of floating exchange rate regime.

Government spending and economic growth in ECOWAS: An asymmetric analysis

This study examines the asymmetry phenomenon in government spending-growth nexus in ECOWAS.The study adopts the System Generalized Method of Moment within the framework of panel data analysis as proposed by (Arellano & Bover, 1995; Blundell & Bond, 1998) which addresses the issue of potential endogeneity of fiscal variables through the use of internal instruments, and follow in the footsteps of Hatemi-J (2011, 2012), Granger and Yoon (2002) to separate negative shocks from positive shocks to government spending. In addition, we adopt Driscoll and Kraay’s nonparametric covariance matrix estimator, to account for cross-section dependency and cross-country heterogeneity inherent in empirical modelling.Our findings reveal that there is evidence of asymmetry in the government spending-economic growth nexus in ECOWAS over the period of study. We find that the response of economic growth to government spending shocks differs according to the nature of shocks on them. More specifically, the cumulative effect of expansionary government spending shocks on economic growth is positive and statistically significant. While the cumulative effect of a contractionary government spending exerts a negative and statistically significant impact on economic growth. Also, we found strong evidence of the existence of an inverted “U-shaped” relationship between government spending and economic growth.

An Updated Evidence About the Role of Timing to Debridement on Infection Rate of Open Tibial Fractures: A Meta-Analysis.

Background and objectivesRecent experimental and clinical evidence supporting early debridement for open fractures has been questioned. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize and evaluate the current evidence regarding the timing of surgical debridement of open tibial fractures.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on studies compared the infection rate following early versus late debridement of open tibial fractures. We performed an online, bibliographic, search through the period from January 2000 to June 2020 in five bibliographic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline via PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO host.ResultsNine retrospective studies and six prospective studies were included in the present meta-analysis study. The pooled effect estimate showed no statistically significant difference between early and late debridement regarding the overall infection rate (RD 0.02, 95% CI [0 - 0.04], p = 0.94); there was no significant heterogeneity in the pooled estimate (I2 = 5%). The subgroup analysis showed that the non-significant difference was consistent regardless of the definition of early and late timing to debridement. Likewise, the pooled effect estimate showed no statistically significant difference between early and late debridement regarding the deep infection rate (RD 0.01, 95% CI [-0.01 - 0.03], p = 0.92); there was no significant heterogeneity in the pooled estimate (I2 = 0%). The pooled effect estimate showed no statistically significant difference between early and late debridement regarding the nonunion rate as well. The funnel lots showed little evidence of asymmetry by visual inspection.ConclusionIn conclusion, the current evidence demonstrates no impact of timing to surgical debridement on the infection rate following open tibial fractures in the adult population. Our results demonstrated that the risks of infection, deep infection, and nonunion were similar between patients who underwent delayed versus early debridement.

Public investment and private sector performance in Nigeria

PurposeThis study explores the asymmetric linkage between public investment and private sector performance in Nigeria. This is due to the presence of nonlinear structures in the behavior of domestic investment series with evidences of structural time breaks, which fall within periods of global financial crises and oil shocks.Design/methodology/approachMain data on gross capital formation, gross fixed capital formation, domestic credit to private sector, domestic credit to private sector by banks are used for the study span through 1986 to 2017. Evidence of asymmetry spurs the study to adopt the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag, asymmetric generalized impulse response and variance decomposition and asymmetric granger causality techniques.FindingsIt is shown that positive (negative) investment shocks exhibit a non-negligible and substantial stimulating (dampening) influence on the long-run performance of private sector in the economy. However, there is evidence that negative investment shocks portend a positive influence on the performance of private sector in the short run. This suggests that negative shocks to investment may not dampen the effectiveness of private sector in the short run, and this thus brings to bear the debate on the tenability of public investment as a potent counter cyclical tool in enhancing short-run private sector growth. The nonlinear granger causality also shows a unidirectional nonlinear causality from public investment to private sector performance. However, there is no evidence of bidirectional nonlinear causality.Originality/valueThis study provides quantitative evidence that Nigeria still depends exclusively on public investment, and as an oil-based rentier economy its economic diversification drive still remains bleak.

Does analysts following impede information asymmetry Evidence from analyst coverage firms

Does analysts following impede information asymmetry Evidence from analyst coverage firms