Random Effects Regression Models Research Articles

A surge in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort in Mexico City.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused tremendous loss of life and health but has also greatly disrupted the world economy. The impact of this disruption has been especially harsh in urban settings of developing countries. We estimated the impact of the pandemic on the occurrence of food insecurity in a cohort of women living in Mexico City, and the socioeconomic characteristics associated with food insecurity severity. We analyzed data longitudinally from 685 women in the Mexico City-based ELEMENT cohort. Food insecurity at the household level was gathered using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale and measured in-person during 2015 to 2019 before the pandemic and by telephone during 2020-2021, in the midst of the pandemic. Fluctuations in the average of food insecurity as a function of calendar time were modeled using kernel-weighted local polynomial regression. Fixed and random-effects ordinal logistic regression models of food insecurity were fitted, with timing of data collection (pre-pandemic vs. during pandemic) as the main predictor. Food insecurity (at any level) increased from 41.6% during the pre-pandemic period to 53.8% in the pandemic stage. This increase was higher in the combined severe-moderate food insecurity levels: from 1.6% pre-pandemic to 16.8% during the pandemic. The odds of severe food insecurity were 3.4 times higher during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic levels (p<0.01). Socioeconomic status quintile (Q) was significantly related to food insecurity (Q2 OR = 0.35 p<0.1, Q3 OR = 0.48 p = 0.014, Q4 OR = 0.24 p<0.01, and Q5 OR = 0.17 p<0.01), as well as lack of access to social security (OR = 1.69, p = 0.01), and schooling (OR = 0.37, p<0.01). Food insecurity increased in Mexico City households in the ELEMENT cohort as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These results contribute to the body of evidence suggesting that governments should implement well-designed, focalized programs in the context of economic crisis such as the one caused by COVID-19 to prevent families from the expected adverse health and well-being consequences associated to food insecurity, especially for the most vulnerable.

Analyzing the Effects of Age, Time of Day, and Experiment on the Basal Locomotor Activity and Light-Off Visual Motor Response Assays in Zebrafish Larvae.

The recent availability of commercial platforms for behavioral analyses in zebrafish larvae based on video-tracking technologies has exponentially increased the number of studies analyzing different behaviors in this model organism to assess neurotoxicity. Among the most commonly used assays in zebrafish larvae are basal locomotor activity (BLA) and visual motor responses (VMRs). However, the effect of different intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can significantly alter the outcome of these assays is still not well understood. In this work, we have analyzed the influence of age (5-8 days post-fertilization), time of day (8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00; 16:00, 18:00, and 20:00 h), and experiment (three experiments performed at different days) on BLA and VMR results (4004 analyses for each behavior) in 143 larvae. The results from both behaviors were adjusted to a random-effects linear regression model using generalized least squares (GLSs), including in the model the effect of the three variables, the second-way interactions between them, and the three-way interaction. The results presented in this manuscript show a specific effect of all three intrinsic factors and their interactions on both behaviors, supporting the view that the most stable time period for performing these behavioral assays is from 10:00 am to 04:00 pm, with some differences depending on the age of the larva and the behavioral test.

The impact of bank’s diversity and inclusion index on profitability: evidence from Indonesia and Malaysia

The impact of bank’s diversity and inclusion index on profitability: evidence from Indonesia and Malaysia

Effect of Capital Structure on the Financial Performance of Ethiopian Commercial Banks

This study aimed to examine the effects of capital structure on the financial performance of Ethiopian commercial banks. The dependent variable, financial performance, is measured by Return on Assets (ROA), while factors such as loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR), asset-to-total equity ratio (ATER), total deposit-to-total asset ratio (TDTAR), capital adequacy ratio (CAD), and asset growth ratio (GA) were used as proxy independent variables to gauge capital structure. Using a quantitative approach and an explanatory research design, this study analyzes 6 years of audited financial reports from 14 commercial banks in Ethiopia. This investigation employs a random effect regression model and Stata 14 software package to explore the relationships among these variables. The result revealed that both the loan-to-deposit ratio and the total deposit-to-total asset ratio have a positive and significant impact on financial performance, while the asset growth ratio showed a negative effect. Based on these findings, this study recommends that bank authorities concentrate on bolstering their deposit base, managing asset growth efficiently, maintaining adequate capital levels, and optimizing leverage levels to improve financial performance and ensure long-term sustainability in the banking sector. Additionally, this research is anticipated to inform policymakers about regulatory frameworks for banks and assist banking managers in formulating effective capital financing strategies within the Ethiopian commercial banking sector, thus enriching the existing literature on the relationship between capital structure and financial performance.

Strategic turnaround: unraveling the impact of CEO power on firm performance during retrenchment

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of retrenchment strategy on firm performance in the context of Pakistani firms while considering the moderating role of chief executive officer (CEO) power. By examining the influence of CEO duality and CEO share ownership on the relationship, this study contributes to strategic management and corporate governance knowledge within the Pakistani business environment. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative approach was used to analyze the relationship using data from annual financial statements. The sample consisted of 76 companies from the KSE-100 index from the year 2015 to 2020. Random effects regression models were used, along with hierarchical regression to explore the moderating effect of CEO power. Findings The findings demonstrate that the implementation of a retrenchment strategy positively impacts firm performance in Pakistani firms. The study also reveals that CEO power plays a crucial role in strengthening the relationship between retrenchment strategy and firm performance. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of considering the temporal sequence, size and age of firms when examining the impact of CEO power and retrenchment strategy on firm performance. Research limitations/implications The study enhances the understanding of the contingent nature of retrenchment strategies and the influence of CEO power in the Pakistani business context. Practically, the research contributes to strategic management and corporate governance dynamics, facilitating the development of strategies that enhance firm performance and sustainability in Pakistan. Originality/value This research provides original insights by specifically focusing on the Pakistani context and analyzing the interplay between retrenchment strategy, CEO power and firm performance. The study adds to the limited literature on the relationship between retrenchment and performance in the Pakistani business environment. Additionally, it highlights the significance of CEO power as a critical factor in determining the success of retrenchment.

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention on Hand Hygiene and Well-Being in Primary Health Care Centers and Schools Lacking Functional Water Supply in Protracted Conflict Settings: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hand hygiene is crucial in health care centers and schools to avoid disease transmission. Currently, little is known about hand hygiene in such facilities in protracted conflict settings. This protocol aims to assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent hand hygiene intervention on handwashing behavior, underlying behavioral factors, and the well-being of health care workers and students. Moreover, we report our methodology and statistical analysis plan transparently. This is a cluster randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel arms taking place in 4 countries for 1 year. In Burkina Faso and Mali, we worked in 24 primary health care centers per country, whereas in Nigeria and Palestine, we focused on 26 primary schools per country. Facilities were eligible if they were not connected to a functioning water source but were deemed accessible to the implementation partners. Moreover, health care centers were eligible if they had a maternity ward and ≥5 employees, and schools if they had ≤7000 students studying in grades 5 to 7. We used covariate-constrained randomization to assign intervention facilities that received a hardware, management and monitoring support, and behavior change. Control facilities will receive the same or improved intervention after endline data collection. To evaluate the intervention, at baseline and endline, we used a self-reported survey, structured handwashing observations, and hand-rinse samples. At follow-up, hand-rinse samples were dropped. Starting from the intervention implementation, we collected longitudinal data on hygiene-related health conditions and absenteeism. We also collected qualitative data with focus group discussions and interviews. Data were analyzed descriptively and with random effect regression models with the random effect at a cluster level. The primary outcome for health centers is the handwashing rate, defined as the number of times health care workers performed good handwashing practice with soap or alcohol-based handrub at one of the World Health Organization 5 moments for hand hygiene, divided by the number of moments for hand hygiene that presented themselves during the patient interaction within an hour of observation. For schools, the primary outcome is the number of students who washed their hands before eating. The baseline data collection across all countries lasted from February to June 2023. We collected data from 135 and 174 health care workers in Burkina Faso and Mali, respectively. In Nigeria, we collected data from 1300 students and in Palestine from 1127 students. The endline data collection began in February 2024. This is one of the first studies investigating hand hygiene in primary health care centers and schools in protracted conflict settings. With our strong study design, we expect to support local policy makers and humanitarian organizations in developing sustainable agendas for hygiene promotion. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05946980 (Burkina Faso and Mali); https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05946980 and NCT05964478 (Nigeria and Palestine); https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05964478. DERR1-10.2196/52959.

Mosquito Bed Net Use and Burkitt Lymphoma Incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is one of the most common childhood cancers in sub-Saharan Africa and is etiologically linked to malaria. However, evidence for an effect of malaria interventions on BL is limited. To investigate the potential population-level association between large-scale rollout of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2000s and BL incidence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a search was conducted in the Embase, Global Health, and Medline databases and in cancer registry publications between January 1, 1990, and February 27, 2023. All epidemiologic studies on BL incidence rates in children and adolescents aged 0 to 15 years in sub-Saharan African countries where malaria is endemic were identified by 2 reviewers blinded to each other's decision. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline. Data were extracted independently by 2 reviewers, and quality was scored based on 3 predefined criteria: data collection, case ascertainment, and calculation of person-time at risk. Incidence rates of BL during childhood and mean ITN use in the population. Data were analyzed using a random-effects negative binomial regression model. Of 2333 studies meeting selection criteria, 23 comprising 66 data points on BL incidence were included based on 5226 BL cases from locations with large-scale ITN use in 17 countries. Rates of BL were 44% (95% CI, 12%-64%) lower in the period after ITN introduction compared with before. The adjusted pooled incidence rates of BL were 1.36 (95% CI, 0.88-2.10) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.50-1.16) per 100 000 person-years before and after introduction of ITNs, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, a 1-percentage point increase in mean ITN use in the population in the 10 years before BL data collection was associated with a 2% (95% CI, 1%-4%) reduction in BL incidence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, large-scale rollout of ITNs in the 2000s was associated with a reduction in BL burden among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Although published data may not be representative of all incidence rates across sub-Saharan Africa, this study highlights a potential additional benefit of malaria control programs.

Century of the East and Peaceful coexistence of China and India: Moderating role of Belt and Road Initiative in Emerging Asian Economies

The study focusses on historical perspective, contemporary historical perspective as well as futurologist perspective of Sino-India relations, economic development and bilateral trade. The economic growth has been examined with the interaction effect of Belt &amp; Road Initiative. The purpose of this study is to find out the reasons of correlation between Sino-India economic growth patterns for last two thousand years as well as making recommendations for the optimal level of the relations in the region in the emerging century of East. The study further aims to examine the cross-country impact of infrastructure development on other countries. A total of thirty countries which are a part of Belt and Road Initiative were selected. The data is collected from World Bank Database from 1990 to 2019 (n=900). The data were analyzed using penal data regression models (fixed random effect regression models) to test the effect of macro-economic variables on economic growth, while hierarchical moderated regression analysis was used to determine the moderating effect of Belt and Road Initiative on the economic growth of participating economies. Belt &amp; Road Initiative significantly moderate the relationship of economic growth with its factors. Therefore, we conclude that Belt &amp; Road is pivotal for economic growth of region. In the century of Asia, China and India must understand that trade cooperation and congenial relations with in the region is beneficial for all the stakeholders in Asian Region while West and USA want to utilize India to halt the progress in the region and converting India a leading state to fight with China in the best interest of West. The only resolvable issues in Sino-India relations are border marketing in Tibrt, Arnachal Perdesh and Kashmir which are not only hampering the economic growth of these areas but also deviating the focus from economic growth towards militarization of the region. The limitations of this article is that the idea of Belt &amp; Road was initiated in 2013 and different countries have joined BRI in different years. We have taken only those countries which have become a part of BRI till 2017. Another limitation is that we have selected few macroeconomic and social variables to test their effect on economic growth. We have selected those variables which are important for developing economies since majority of countries in BRI are developing. It is a unique study from the perspective, that it is using the available and estimated GDP of last two thousand years to find out the correlation between China’s and India’s economic growth and based on empirical analysis rather than theoretical one, suggesting the optimal level of relationship between China and India, why active participation of Betl &amp; Road Initiative (BRI) by India is necessary for India’s growth.

Association of Calcium Channel Blocker Use With Intradialytic Hypotension in Maintenance Hemodialysis

IntroductionCalcium channel blockers (CCBs) are common anti-hypertensive agents among patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). Despite this, the association of CCBs with intra-dialytic hypotension (IDH), an important adverse outcome that is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, remains largely unexplored. MethodsUsing kinetic modeling sessions data from the Hemodialysis Study, random-effects regression models were fit to assess the association of CCB use versus not with IDH (defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP)<90 mmHg if pre-HD SBP<160 mmHg or <100 mmHg if pre-HD SBP≥160 mmHg). Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, randomized Kt/V and flux assignments, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, blood urea nitrogen, ultrafiltration rate, access type, pre-HD SBP, and other anti-hypertensives. ResultsData was available for 1,838 patients and 64,538 sessions. At baseline, 49% of patients were prescribed CCBs. The overall frequency of IDH was 14% with a mean decline from pre-to nadir-SBP of 33±15 mmHg. CCB use was associated with lower adjusted risk of IDH, compared with no use (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.84; 95%CI 0.78, 0.89). The association was most pronounced for those in the pre-HD SBP lowest quartile (IRR 0.77;95%CI 0.70, 0.85), compared with the highest quartile (IRR 0.86; 95%CI 0.77, 0.97; P-interaction<0.001). ConclusionAmong patients receiving HD, CCB use was associated with a lower risk of developing IDH, independent of pre-HD SBP and other anti-hypertensive use. Mechanistic studies are needed to better understand the effects of CCB and other anti-hypertensives on peri-dialytic blood pressure parameters among patients receiving HD.

Does the education level of the CEO and CFO affect the profitability of real estate and construction companies? Evidence from Vietnam

This article aims to determine the level and trend of the impact of the educational level of CEOs and CFOs on the profitability of real estate and construction companies in Vietnam. Because Vietnam is an emerging economy, insights into the profitability of this market will be lessons learned for other economies with similar characteristics. This quantitative study is based on secondary data collected from audited financial statements, annual reports of 123 Vietnamese real estate and construction companies, and macroeconomic data. Pool OLS, Fixed effect and Random effect regression models and the Hausman test are used to find the appropriate model. The study uses GLS regression to overcome heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation and uses the generalized method of moments (GMM) to overcome endogeneity. We find that the profitability of listed construction and real estate companies with highly educated CEOs is no higher than that of other companies. Furthermore, companies whose CFOs have master's or doctorate degrees are less likely to be profitable. Other findings confirm the heterogeneous effects of operating efficiency, economic growth rate, and financial leverage on different profitability measures. The study also proves that company age, firm size, net working capital, liquidity ratio and inflation rate do not affect profitability.

Obstetric Interventions Among Native and Migrant Women: The (Over)use of Episiotomy in Portugal.

Objective: Episiotomy, defined as the incision of the perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening during childbirth, is one of the most commonly performed surgical interventions in the world. We aimed to determine if migrant status is associated with episiotomy, and if individual characteristics mediate this association. Methods: We analyzed data from the Bambino study, a national, prospective cohort of migrant and native women giving birth at a public hospital in mainland Portugal between 2017 and 2019. We included all women with vaginal delivery. The association between migrant status and episiotomy was assessed using multivariable multilevel random-effect logistic regression models. We used path analysis to quantify the direct, indirect and total effects of migrant status on episiotomy. Results: Among 3,583 women with spontaneous delivery, migrant parturients had decreased odds of episiotomy, especially those born in Africa, compared to native Portuguese women. Conversely, with instrumental delivery, migrant women had higher odds of episiotomy. Disparities in episiotomy were largely explained by maternity units' factors, and little by maternal and fetal characteristics. Conclusion: Our results suggest non-medically justified differential episiotomy use during childbirth and highlight the importance of developing evidence-based recommendations for episiotomy use in a country with a high frequency of medical interventions during delivery.

Working capital management strategies and financial performance: A cause-and-effect analysis

This study attempts to validate whether the working capital management strategies can be considered as the causes of good or bad financial performance of an organization, particularly in Indian cement industry. Whether the decisions of finance managers of Indian cement companies concerning the components of working capital such as account receivables, inventory, accounts paybles, cash holding etc. affect the firm’s performance individually and in total, a sample of 31 Indian cement companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange are being selected and their financial statements are analyzed for a period of 11-years (2010-2020). The findings of Pearson’s correlation coefficient and random effect regression model analysis show that there exists a negative relationship between financial performance measured in terms of return on assets (ROA) and inventory turnover period (ITP) as well as accounts payable period (APP). In contrast, a firm’s performance is not significantly affected by the accounts receivable period (ARP) and cash conversion cycle (CCC). Similarly, it has been observed that liquidity ratios such as current ratio (CR) and quick ratio (QR) have a significant positive association with ROA. Moreover, the size of the firms and leverage are inversely related to ROA but the age of the firms is not significantly affecting their financial performances.

Investigating the nexus between energy, socio-economic factors and environmental pollution: A geo-spatial multi regression approach

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) and Yangtze River Basin (YZRB) stand as pivotal regions in China, holding paramount importance in both economic development and environmental security. However, the rapid pace of climate change and extensive human activities have dramatically reshaped these areas, leading to substantial alterations in natural landscapes and urban ecosystems. To ensure sustainable socio-economic growth, a profound understanding of the intricate interplay between socioeconomic factors and the emission of fine particulate matter (FPM) is imperative, along with an exploration of the underlying mechanisms governing these relationships. n this comprehensive study, we conducted spatial autocorrelation and spatial panel regression analyses, leveraging panel data encompassing the years from 2002 to 2021, derived from provincial-level administrative units within the YZRB and YRB. By adopting a holistic approach that considers comprehensive features and spatial effects, our research contributes substantively to the existing literature concerning the YZRB and YRB areas. Our analysis unveiled a notable decline in pollutant emissions over the course of the study period, yet it became evident that socioeconomic and energy-related factors continued to exert significant influence on FPM levels. Furthermore, we identified pronounced positive spatial autocorrelations in FPM emissions, suggesting a need for regionally tailored environmental management strategies. Employing various statistical tests, we rigorously examined the spatial autocorrelation patterns among the regions. Results from our random effect regression model and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) approach underscored the significant impact of socioeconomic and natural factors on FPM concentrations. Importantly, the magnitudes of these impacts exhibited variations contingent upon the specific river basin type. Within the YZRB, our findings emphasize the relevance of urbanization metrics, such as urban population, urban green space, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and economic spending, which displayed positive and statistically significant relationships with FPM concentrations. Conversely, in the YRB, the utilization of energy resources and natural assets emerged as pivotal determinants.

Human Papillomavirus-Attributable Head and Neck Cancers in India-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Head and neck cancer accounts for about one third of the global burden in India. Mucosal high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) has been hypothesized as a contributory risk factor for head and neck cancer (HNC) but its prevalence in Indian patients is not well established. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of HPV in HNC in India and their attributable fraction by considering the biomarkers of carcinogenesis, p16, and HPV E6/E7 mRNA. A systematic literature search was done in Medline via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Cochrane to identify studies on HPV and HNC in the Indian population, published between January 1990 and October 2022. Fifty-four eligible studies were identified and relevant clinical information was collected. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of HPV DNA, p16INK4a, and E6/E7 mRNA percent positivity by random-effect logistic regression model using Metapreg, STATA 18. Thirty-four high-quality studies were taken for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of HPV in HNC was 20% (95% CI, 12 to 32) with a high level of heterogeneity (I2 = 90.79%). The proportion of HPV in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC; 22% [95% CI, 13 to 34]) and laryngeal cancer (LC; 29% [95% CI, 17 to 46]) was higher than in oral cancer (OC; 16% [95% CI, 8 to 30]). The HPV-attributable fraction of OPC, considering the E6/E7 mRNA and p16 positivity, was 12.54% and 9.68%, respectively, almost similar to LC (11.6% and 9.57%), while it was much lower in OC (3.36% and 4%). The HPV-attributable fraction is considerably lower for OC, suggesting a negligible causative role of HPV in OC. A significant proportion of OPC and LC are attributed to HPV; however, their exact causative role is unclear because of the presence of other known risk factors.

Gross regional product in Ukraine: two-dimensional analysis of regularities and territorial features

Purpose. Carrying out an analysis of panel data on individual indicators of the development of the regions of Ukraine in general and their aggregates, distinguished by territorial location and profitability in order to establish the main regularities and specific features of changes in their gross regional product. Methodology. On the basis of a sample of statistical indicators of the socio-economic development of the regions of Ukraine for the period from the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war (2014) to the full-scale invasion, the authors created panel series of data with the separation of regional groups according to territorial and income criteria. For each group panel series of data, random effects regression models were built in order to determine the presence of regularities and specific features of regional development in different groups. Findings. An analysis of scientific developments and practical results in the issue of determining the key factors of the formation of the gross regional product was carried out. Given the uncertainty in views on the key factors of regional development, an attempt was made to determine them using a two-dimensional analysis of panel data. For this purpose, a sample of statistical information on the main indicators of socio-economic development of each of the regions of Ukraine was formed and their grouping was carried out according to two criteria: territorial location and profitability according to the indicator of the gross regional product per capita. In general, five groups of oblasts were formed based on territorial characteristics and four groups of oblasts based on income characteristics, and a panel regression model was constructed for each of these groups, including the total set of regional panel data. The received specifications of the models made it possible to form a list of key regularities in the formation of the gross regional product in Ukraine, as well as to determine specific factors of influence on the resulting indicator for each of the groups of oblasts. Originality. On the basis of the given approach to the panel analysis of factors of regional development and, in particular, the formation of the gross regional product, based on a combination of statistical methods for grouping (clustering) regions according to various criteria and panel regression models, the hypothesis regarding the presence of common regularities of regional development in certain groups of oblasts of Ukraine was confirmed. The key factors and specific features of changes in the indicator of the gross regional product in Ukraine in general and in individual regional clusters are determined. Practical value. The possibility of practical use of the obtained results as key risk factors in the process of forming plans for the economic development of individual oblasts in the long term, as well as the application of the proposed approach to the study on key factors of the formation of other indicators of regional development.

ASSESSMENT OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BANK'S CAPITALIZATION LEVEL AND THE COUNTRY'S MACROECONOMIC STABILITY

A well-capitalized banking system is crucial for maintaining macroeconomic stability, preventing financial crises, and bolstering the economy's resilience to shocks. Governments often strive to ensure adequate bank capitalization to foster stable economic growth. This article aims to assess the relationship between bank capitalization and macroeconomic stability in 34 European countries from 2010 to 2021, based on World Bank statistics.The study utilizes the principal components method to identify relevant indicators of bank capitalization and macroeconomic stability, canonical analysis and regression analyses to detail the interconnections between these blocks. The canonical analysis confirms a link between bank capitalization and macroeconomic stability indicators with a coefficient of determination of 0.617 signifying that 61.8% of the variance in macroeconomic stability is explained by fluctuations in bank capitalization.The article presents one fixed-effect and two random-effect regression models detailing the directions and strength of influence of independent variables (NPL, ROA, ROE - indicators of the bank capitalization level) on dependent variables (INFLATION, UNEMPL, GINI - indicators of macroeconomic stability). The Wald criteria and a p-value less than 0.05 indicated that the models with random effects (UNEMPL, GINI) were statistically significant.The results reveal that a 1% increase in non-performing loans correlates with a 0.25% rise in the unemployment rate, and a 1% increase in return on assets leads to a 0.08% increase in the unemployment rate. Additionally, a 1% increase in non-performing loans raises the Gini index by 0.05%, while a 1% increase in return on equity decreases the Gini index by 0.03%. Notably, the impact of return on assets on the unemployment rate and the Gini coefficient is not statistically significant (p-value greater than 0.05).These results can inform the forecasting of national indicators, the development of tools to ensure sufficient bank capitalization, and the formulation of effective macroeconomic policies, taking into account fluctuations in banks' capitalization levels as key financial intermediaries.

Does practice make perfect? The impact of hospital and surgeon volume on complications after intra-abdominal procedures

BackgroundThere is increasing interest in the regionalization of surgical procedures. However, evidence on the volume-outcome relationship for emergency intra-abdominal surgery is not well-synthesized. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarize evidence regarding the impact of hospital and surgeon volume on complications. MethodsWe identified cohort studies assessing the impact of hospital/surgeon volume on postoperative complications after emergency intra-abdominal procedures, with data collected after the year 2000 through a literature search without language restriction in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. A weighted overall complication rate was calculated, and a random effect regression model was used for a summary odds ratio. A sensitivity analysis with the removal of studies contributing to heterogeneity was performed (PROSPERO: CRD42022358879). ResultsThe search yielded 2,153 articles, of which 9 cohort studies were included and determined to be good quality according to the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. These studies reported outcomes for the following procedures: cholecystectomy, colectomy, appendectomy, small bowel resection, peptic ulcer repair, adhesiolysis, laparotomy, and hernia repair. Eight studies (2,358,093 patients) with available data were included in the meta-analysis. Low hospital volume was not significantly associated with higher complications. In the sensitivity analysis, low hospital volume was significantly associated with higher complications when appropriate heterogeneity was achieved. Low surgeon volume was associated with higher complications, and these findings remained consistent in the sensitivity analysis. ConclusionWe found that hospital and surgeon volume was significantly associated with higher complications in patients undergoing emergency intra-abdominal surgery when appropriate heterogeneity was achieved.

A global analysis of bank profitability factors

We analyze the factors that explain banks’ profitability globally and by region. With increasing globalization, knowing the different aspects of bank profitability is essential for countries’ financial stability and economic growth. This study used a sample of 2,091 commercial banks operating in 110 countries grouped into major world regions. With random effect regression models, the global results show that the internal factors that explain the bank´s profitability are listed entities, impaired loans, efficiency, gross interest margin, and capitalization. For its part, the most significant external factors are related to the position of the countries in the ranking by assets, inflation, unemployment, interest rates, and economic growth. From a regional perspective, the results allow us to deduce with high robustness the existence of variable sets that determine bank profitability in each region and that regional models outperform global models in most cases.

Dynamic short-term crash analysis and prediction at toll plazas for proactive safety management

Toll plazas are commonly recognized as bottlenecks on toll roads, where vehicles are prone to crashes. However, there has been a lack of research analyzing and predicting dynamic short-term crash risk specifically at toll plazas. This study utilizes traffic, geometric, and weather data to analyze and predict dynamic short-term collision occurrence probability at mainline toll plazas. A random-effects logit regression model is employed to identify crash precursors and assess their impacts on the probability of crash occurrence at toll plazas. Meanwhile, a Long Short-Term Memory Convolutional Neural Network (LSTM-CNN) network is applied for crash prediction. The results of random-effects logit regression model indicate that the flow standard deviation of downstream, upstream occupancy, speed difference and occupancy difference between upstream and downstream positively influence the probability of crash occurrence. Conversely, an increase in the proportion of ETC lanes negatively impacts the probability of crash occurrence. Additionally, there appears a higher likelihood of crashes occurring during summer at toll plaza area. Furthermore, to address the issue of data imbalance, Synthetic Minority Oversampling Techniques (SMOTE) and class weight methods were employed. Stacked Sparse AutoEncoder-Long Short-Term Memory (SSAE-LSTM) and CatBoost were developed and their performance was compared with the proposed model. The results demonstrated that the LSTM-CNN model outperformed the other models in terms of the Area Under the Curve (AUC) values and the true positive rate. The findings of this study can assist engineers in selecting suitable traffic control strategies to improve traffic safety in toll plaza areas. Moreover, the developed collision prediction model can be incorporated into a real-time safety management system to proactively prevent traffic crash.

Systematic and unsystematic determinants of liquidity risk in the Islamic banks in the middle east

Liquidity risk (LR) is a concern in Islamic banks and may lead to major problems if not managed appropriately and planned, due to the lack of external liquidity sources for Islamic banks. However, the purpose of this article is to look at the factors that affect liquidity risk in Middle Eastern Islamic banks. To arrive at a substantial and compelling conclusion, the cross-sectional data from 30 Islamic banks was gathered between 2011 and 2022. The random effect regression model, GMM, and fixed effect regression model were all utilized. According to the report, Islamic banks in the Middle East have safe levels of liquidity. It also demonstrates how the financing-to-deposit ratio, inflation, economic growth, and return on assets all have a favorable impact on Islamic banks' liquidity risks. Furthermore, the study discovered that non-performing financing, capital sufficiency, operational effectiveness, and scale had no bearing on the liquidity issues associated with Islamic banks. This paper provided guidance regarding liquidity risk management procedures and systems in Islamic banks in order to design banking liquidity risk management policies. To avoid liquidity risks in Islamic banks, the optimal level of financing to deposit ratio must be determined, maintaining the quality of financing, reducing the non-performing loan ratio to the lowest possible level, and enabling Islamic banks to benefit from the central bank as a last resort for liquidity.