Significant Effect Research Articles

Corporate social responsibility and the likelihood of external financing

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span dir="ltr" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:black">This paper empirically investigates the relation between firm performance in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the need and likelihood of external financing to test the predictions of agency and stakeholder theories. Empirical results from Logit, Linear Probability Model, OLS and Firm fixed effects regressions indicate that CSR is negatively related to the likelihood and level of external financing. Further analysis indicates that CSR has a negative and significant effect on both net equity issued (NEI) and net debt issued (NDI), the two components of external financing. Overall, the empirical results support the predictions of agency theory.</span></span></span></span></p>

Effects of Age on the Frequency Amplitude Ratio of Cervical and Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials.

An increase in the 1000/500 Hz frequency amplitude ratio (FAR) of the cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP and oVEMP, respectively) may serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosing Meniere's disease (MD). However, the aging process can also result in an increased FAR for VEMPs. In older patients, distinguishing whether changes in VEMP FAR are due to MD or aging processes becomes difficult. We aimed to investigate the effects of age on VEMP FARs and establish a FAR-normative range for different age groups. cVEMP and oVEMP were recorded from a total of 106 participants grouped as young, middle-aged, and older adults using air-conducted tone bursts at 500, 750, and 1000 Hz at 125 dB pSPL. The FAR was calculated for the cVEMP and oVEMP for the following frequencies: FAR1 = 1000/500, FAR2 = 1000/750, and FAR3 = 750/500. A significant age-related effect was observed on the cVEMP FAR. Although the oVEMP FAR showed an increasing trend with age, it was not statistically significant. Age-based normative FAR values are provided. Drawing from the normative FAR from this study, there is evidence that the existing MD diagnostic criteria would misidentify a considerable number of older adults. Therefore, to reduce false positives, we recommend a more stringent cVEMP and oVEMP FAR criterion in older adults.

The Effect of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Pollen on the Serum Levels of Testosterone, Luteinizing, and Follicle Stimulating Hormones in Men

Background: Date Palm Pollen (DPP) has traditionally been used to increase sexual ability and fertility. In several animal studies, the effects of this herbal medicine on testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) have been shown. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of this drug on the serum levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH in men. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, a daily dose of 6 g dry powder of DPP in two separate doses (3 g every 12 hours) was administered orally to 30 eligible men for three months. The changes in mean serum levels of hormones were statistically evaluated after the intervention compared to the baseline. The serum concentration of the hormones was assayed through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Results: After recruitment, among 30 participants, 24 men received the intervention and finally were analyzed. The mean (SD) age and body mass index of participants were 32.85 (0.43) years and 26.5 (0.5) kg/m2 . DPP significantly increased the serum levels of testosterone (from 5.31±0.40ng/ml to 6.88±0.71 ng/ml; p=0.019) but did not affect the serum levels of FSH (from 4.31±0.50 IU/L to 4.70±0.61 IU/L; p=0.511). It also significantly decreased the serum levels of LH (from 5.65±0.81 IU/L to 4.52±0.90 IU/L; p= 0.033). There were no reported side effects. Conclusion: The results indicated an increasing effect of DPP on serum testosterone and decreasing effect on serum LH. However, DPP had no significant effect on FSH serum levels.

Self-regulatory-based compliance module improve chronic kidney failure patients condition

Adherence is very important to pay attention to in health management and the quality of life among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, in the fact that adherence is still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the effect of self-regulatory-based compliance modules improving interdialytic weight gains (IDWG), blood pressure (BP), sodium levels, and functional independence. A quantitative research design with a quasi-experiment approach (pre and post-test control study). A total of 28 samples for each group were taken using purposive sampling. Self-regulation based on health promotion was given using module and IDWG, sodium levels, BP measured with laboratories and physical examination, and Functional Independence measured using a questionnaire. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney test were the selected analyses for this study. There was a significant effect on self-regulation-based compliance to IDWG (p=0.012), sodium levels (p=0.001), systolic pressure (p=0.003), and functional independence (p=0.002) in the intervention group. A significant difference was also shown between the two groups (p<0.05). The self-regulation-based compliance module showed improved patient compliance in terms of fluid restriction, taking drugs, paying attention to diet, and managing activities. Adherence to patients increases good outcomes in controlling IDWG, BP, sodium levels, and functional independence in ESRD patients.

Impact of Precision Nutrition on Microbiota and Obesity

Abstract: The human body is colonized by trillions of microbes, that contribute to our health and well-being. Many factors influence the composition and functions of the intestinal microbiota, including the host's eating habits, which seem to have a significant effect. A healthy intestinal microbiota is essential for proper metabolic function and homeostasis. Alterations in microbial composition could dramatically cause obesity and diabetes, modifying and influencing host metabolism, homeostasis, and central appetite mechanism. Brain reward signaling is mediated by the dopaminergic mesolimbic system and plays an important role in the development of obesity. Dysregulation of the energy balance causes obesity. Obesity is a serious health problem. The composition of the intestinal microbiota influences various aspects of energy metabolism: digestion, food intake from ingested foods, food components, and accumulation of excess fat. Therefore, the microbial community can contribute significantly to the progression of obesity and its complications. A "tailored nutritional approach" and more feasible and sustainable personalized nutritional strategies must be developed to optimize the gut microbiome and improve host response.

Family support, need for achievement, and entrepreneurial orientation on entrepreneurial intentions in vulnerable groups

This study aims to design and test the goodness of fit of a theoretical model that describes the effect of family support, need for achievement, and entrepreneurial orientation on entrepreneurial intentions with empirical data in the field. Research participation used subjects totaling 66 people from Ngalang village who were female, did not have permanent jobs, and were included in the poor category. Data collection uses four measurement scales: the entrepreneurial intention scale, family support scale, need for achievement scale, and entrepreneurial orientation scale, and is analyzed using partial least square (PLS) via smartPLS 3.0. The results of the study show the formation of a theoretical model of the influence of family support, need for achievement, and entrepreneurial orientation on entrepreneurial intentions that fit with empirical data. Family support has a positive and very significant effect on entrepreneurial intentions, the need for achievement does not affect an entrepreneurial orientation, and entrepreneurial orientation has a positive and very significant impact on entrepreneurial intentions. This research implies that this model can be used as a reference and applied to overcoming economic problems in vulnerable groups.

Strengthening emotional intelligence intervention on behavior changes of mothers in stunting prevention

This study aimed to determine the effect of applying Emotional intelligence reinforcement to changes in stunting prevention behavior at the Kedung 2 Health Center, Jepara. This study employed a cross-sectional approach and data from participants at the Kedung 2 Public Health Center in Jepara. Public Health Center, Jepara. Participants were taken by purposive sampling according to predetermined maternal criteria, and 82 participants were obtained. Quasi-experimental research methods with two groups of emotional intelligence strengthening design, pre-intervention and post-intervention. Data collection used a questionnaire to measure the emotional intelligence of respondents and stunting prevention behavior. The data were then analyzed using the SPSS program. The correlation value shows that there is a strong relationship between the strengthening of emotional intelligence interventions and changes in maternal stunting prevention behavior, with a correlation value of 0.905 and a significance value of less than 0.001. The results of the T-test also showed significant behavioral changes in stunting prevention behavior before and after the application of strengthening emotional intelligence, with a significance value of 0.008. Strengthening emotional intelligence has a strong positive correlation with stunting prevention behavior, and the results of the T-test show that there is a significant effect on the results of stunting prevention behavior between before and after strengthening emotional intelligence. As a result, strengthening maternal emotional intelligence should be a priority to prevent stunting.

Effectiveness of pocketbook as the media of preconception nutrition education

Nutrition improvement in preconception women is a new paradigm in dealing with nutritional problems. Preconception nutrition intervention is a strategic way to break the phenomenon of stunting between generations. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of nutrition education through pocketbooks and lectures on knowledge and attitudes. This study was used as a quasi-experiment with a pretest-posttest control group design. The population in this study were all pharmaceutical students and health analysts at Politeknik Kesehatan Medan. The minimum sample is using Hypothesis tests for two proportions (n=100). Sample selection used a simple random sampling technique. The intervention group was given a pocketbook and the control group was given a lecture. Respondents’ knowledge and attitudes were measured before and after treatment using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by paired t-test and independent t-test. Nutrition education through pocketbooks and lectures had a significant effect on knowledge and attitudes about preconception nutrition (p<0.001), but the pocketbook was more effective than the lecture method in increasing knowledge (p<0.001) and attitudes (p=0.017). Preconception nutrition education by providing pocketbooks is effectively used as a preconception nutrition intervention with a wider target range, and time efficiency, and does not depend on material providers.

A nutrition intervention study’s effect to hematology profiles on elderly group in social retirement home

The increase in the elderly brings consequences, including a higher risk of disease. Inappropriate nutritional intake is also known as one of the risk factors related to the elderly's non-communicable diseases, and nutritional intervention is essential to improve the elderly nutritional status and quality of life. It was an interventional study with a before-after one-group approach. The study was conducted for three months (October-December 2021) in three social retirement homes. The intervention given was supplementation with additional protein sources and snacks each day. The biochemistry profiles were taken 2 times: before and after three months of intervention, comprised of HbA1c, lipid, transferrin, creatinine, and blood pressure level. The data will be analyzed for its normality before being processed with paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank based on the normality results. The analysis results show that there are significantly lower transferrin levels (p=0.040), an increase in cholesterol level (p=0.000), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level increased from 114.05±32.03 to 125.94±31.41 (p=0.000). There is also a remarkable decrease in hemoglobin (p=0.005) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Conversely, there are an increase in HbA1C (p=0.007) and triglyceride level (p=0.005). There is no significant difference in creatinine level. We conclude that nutrition interventions have a significant effect on elderly blood profiles. However, to achieve an improvement, the study should consider physical activity and other variables that might be altering the results.

Independence through community access and navigation: A supported leisure intervention for individuals with negative symptoms.

Promoting leisure participation requires a collaborative approach that emphasizes personal interests, strengths, and motivations. The purpose of this article was to test the effectiveness of the Independence through Community Access and Navigation (ICAN) intervention on community participation, recreation participation, and positive emotions among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Using motivational interviewing and an individualized placements and support framework, the ICAN intervention focuses on working with participants to identify and participate in personally meaningful leisure activities by connecting with personal motivations and mainstream community opportunities. This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 74 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia with assessments conducted at baseline and posttreatment. Intervention effects were examined with repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Multiple regression analysis was also performed using a change score as an outcome variable and baseline negative symptoms score, condition, and interaction as predictors. There was no significant main effect of ICAN on positive emotions, recreation participation, or community participation; however, among those in the experimental group, those with impairments in motivation and pleasure experienced improvements in community participation. For individuals experiencing greater negative symptoms, a supported leisure intervention may be an effective strategy to explore personal motivations and increase leisure participation. Future research should test the intervention effectiveness specifically targeting a larger sample of individuals with more severe negative symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Business value of IT for small and medium enterprises during COVID-19: a systematic literature review

The article addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the Information Technology (IT) investments made by these companies between 2020 and 2023. The health crisis generated significant economic effects, particularly in emerging economies, exacerbating pre-existing economic fragility and inequality. The study seeks to identify, through a systematic review of the literature, the investments, contributions, and uses of IT by SMEs located in Latin American, Asian, and European countries during the aforementioned period. It is concluded that, during COVID-19, IT investments in SMEs were not only a response to crises, but also a strategic source of resilience and financial stability. IT investment was highlighted as essential for innovation, digital transformation, and business continuity. Although low employee digital skills persist, the trend towards IT investment is positive, allowing SMEs to take advantage of technological and governmental opportunities to face the challenging economic context.

Applying behavioral economics to understand changes in alcohol outcomes during the transition to adulthood: Longitudinal relations and differences by sex and race.

Population drinking trends show clear developmental periodicity, with steep increases in harmful alcohol use from ages 18 to 22 followed by a gradual decline across the 20s, albeit with persistent problematic use in a subgroup of individuals. Cross-sectional studies implicate behavioral economic indicators of alcohol overvaluation (high alcohol demand) and lack of alternative substance-free reinforcers (high proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement) as potential predictors of change during this developmental window, but longitudinal evidence is sparse. Using a sample of emerging adults (N = 497, Mage = 22.61 years, 62% female, 48.69% White, 40.44% Black), this study examined prospective, bidirectional relations between both past-week heavy drinking days (HDD) and alcohol problems and proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement (reinforcement ratio), alcohol demand intensity (consumption at zero price), alcohol demand Omax (maximum expenditure), and change in demand elasticity (rate of change in consumption across escalating price) over five assessments (every 4 months) using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Alcohol problems and HDD decreased across assessments. Significant between-person effects indicated that each behavioral economic variable was associated with increased drinking risk. Change in reinforcement ratio was positively associated with decreases in alcohol problems. Multigroup invariance modeling revealed distinct risk pathways in that change in demand intensity and Omax predicted change in alcohol problems for male participants and change in intensity predicted change in alcohol problems for non-White participants. The study provides consistent support for proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement and mixed support for demand as within-person predictors of reductions in drinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Nutraceuticals: New Perspective and Approach to Prevent Dysmenorrhea

Background: The words "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical" are combined to form the phrase "nutraceutical." Nutraceuticals are foods or dietary components that have an important role in regulating and sustaining normal physiological function in humans. For the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, a variety of pharmacological medications are available, however, they all have significant side effects. Dietary supplements and lifestyle management, on the other hand, were found to have a major influence on the occurrence and control of dysmenorrhea. Objective: The objective of this paper is to study a comprehensive review of the dietary and nutritional supplements with special emphasis on dysmenorrhea. This paper focuses on understanding and interpreting the details of menstrual pain and its effective nutritional diet that can be used as a treatment for avoiding menstrual discomfort. Methods: The selection of data has been done by studying a combination of various research and review papers from different databases like PubMed, NCBI, Science Direct, WHO, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from the year 2000-2022. Results: Based on various papers and literature reviews, we have concluded about various dietary supplements and herbs that can be used to avoid pain during mensuration followed by its all-daily requirement of nutrition on different age groups and efficacy of treatments. Conclusion: According to current evidence, young women should be instructed in the proper use of dietary supplements, nutrition, and vitamins, as well as the inclusion of effective diet and lifestyle changes such as exercise and a well-balanced diet with adequate nutrition, as these are likely to reduce the negative effects of dysmenorrhea.

Emotion regulation training for adolescents with major depression: Results from a randomized controlled trial.

Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) are thought to contribute to the development and maintenance of major depression (MD) in adolescents. In healthy adults, a task-based training of ER has previously proven effective to reduce stress, but no such studies are available for MD. It is also unclear whether findings can be generalized onto adolescent populations. The final sample consisted of n = 70 adolescents with MD, who were randomized to a task-based ER training (n = 36) or a control training (n = 34). Across four sessions, the ER group was trained to downregulate negative affect to negative images via reappraisal, while the control group was instructed to attend the images. Rumination, stress-, and affect-related measures were assessed as primary outcomes, behavioral and neurophysiological responses (late positive potential, LPP), as secondary outcomes. The trial was preregistered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03957850). While there was no significant differential effect of the ER training on primary outcomes, we found small to moderate effects on rumination in the ER group, but not the control group. During reappraisal (compared to attend), the ER group showed an unexpected increase of the LPP during the first, but not during later training sessions. Although replication in large, multicenter trials is needed, our findings on effect sizes suggest that ER training might be promising to decrease rumination in adolescent MD. The LPP increase at the first session may represent cognitive effort, which was successfully reduced over the sessions. Future studies should research whether training effects transfer to daily life and are durable over a longer time period. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Emotion dysregulation and family functioning moderate family caregiving burden during the pandemic.

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, additional risk factors affecting family caregivers' mental health have arisen. Therefore, personal stress coping strategies and family dynamics became important factors in reducing the impact of the pandemic on family caregivers' mental health. The present research aimed to estimate the association between COVID-19 stressors and family caregiving burden. Moreover, moderating effects of emotion dysregulation and family functioning on this association were investigated. This study analyzed data collected in April 2021 from 154 family caregivers (Mage=38.79, SDage=9.36, range=22-64) recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden was tested, and moderating impacts of emotion dysregulation and family functioning were also investigated. Both COVID-19 stress exposure and stress appraisal were positively associated with family caregiving burden. Emotion dysregulation and problematic family functioning were also positively associated with family caregiving burden. A significant moderating effect of emotion dysregulation was found, such that family caregivers with higher emotion dysregulation were likely to feel more caregiving burden when they experienced more COVID-19 stressors. The current research highlighted the role of emotion regulation in reducing the negative impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden. The research also emphasizes the need for intervention programs to improve emotion regulation strategies to decrease family caregiving burden during the pandemic.

Durability of Effects of Cognitive Remediation on Cognition and Psychosocial Functioning in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Cognitive remediation provides substantial improvements in cognitive performance and real-world functioning for people living with schizophrenia, but the durability of these benefits needs to be reassessed and better defined. The aims of this study were to provide a comprehensive assessment of the durability of the benefits of cognitive remediation for cognition and functioning in people living with schizophrenia and evaluating potential moderators of effects. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, and reference lists of included articles and Google Scholar were inspected. Eligible studies were randomized clinical trials of cognitive remediation in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in which follow-up assessments were included. Screening and data extraction were performed by at least two independent reviewers. Cohen's d was used to measure outcomes. Primary outcomes were changes in cognition and functioning from baseline to conclusion of follow-up. Moderators of the durability of effects were assessed. Of 2,840 identified reports, 281 full texts were assessed and 130 reports on 67 studies with 5,334 participants were included. Cognitive remediation produced statistically significant positive effects that persisted at the end of follow-up in global cognition (d=0.23) and in global functioning (d=0.26). Smaller study samples and single-center studies were associated with better cognitive outcomes; longer treatment and follow-up duration, techniques for transferring cognitive gains to the real world, integration with psychiatric rehabilitation, group format of delivery, and more female participants in the sample were associated with better functional outcomes. Cognitive remediation provides durable improvements in cognition and functioning in schizophrenia. This finding corroborates the notion that cognitive remediation should be implemented more widely in clinical and rehabilitation practice.

“Promoting employment, supporting intelligence first”: the impact of digital literacy on non-farm employment of rural labour

ABSTRACT The practical implementation of the employment promotion effect of the digital economy is closely linked to the digital literacy of rural labourers. Based on the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data, this paper uses the Probit model to empirically test the impact and mechanism of digital literacy on rural labour non-agricultural employment. Our findings reveal that digital literacy has significant non-agricultural employment promoting effect, with digital business literacy and digital work literacy having the most significant promotion effect on the impact of non-agricultural employment of rural labourers. The mechanism test reveals that digital literacy promotes rural labour non-agricultural employment by improving rural labour human capital, increasing information accessibility, and decreasing household work time; heterogeneity analysis indicates that digital literacy has a greater non-agricultural employment promotion effect on the rural female labour force. Our findings shed light on the critical issue of Chinese non-agricultural employment in rural China and highlight the importance of improving digital literacy.

Transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behavior: The role of person-job fit and person-organization fit in social exchange perspective

BACKGROUND: Transformational leadership is critical in today’s organizations from a social exchange perspective as it helps create a positive work environment, drives innovation and change, and leads to improved organizational effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to test the direct effect of transformational leadership on person-job fit (PJ fit), person-organization fit (POF), and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). This study also examines the mediating role of PJ fit and POF on the relationship between transformational leadership and OCB. METHODS: This study collects data using a cross-sectional survey from professional lecturers of three selected public universities in Southeast Sulawesi - Indonesia. A total of 221 purposively sampled responses are utilized in the data analysis. A quantitative approach with structural equation modeling (SEM) via Amos 21.0 software is used to test the proposed hypotheses. RESULTS: The findings acknowledge that transformational leadership seems to have a direct positive effect on PJ fit, POF and OCB. Also, this study reveals that PJ fit and POF have significant positive effects on OCB. This study further unveils that PJ fit and POF fully mediate the relation between transformational leadership and OCB. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the more transformational leadership behaviors are demonstrated by leaders within organization, the more PJ fit and POF of followers will accomplish and experience with their organization, which in turn, increase OCB. It further means that transformational leadership can be crucial for recent organizations from a social exchange perspective by promoting healthy relationships and positive outcomes by encouraging followers to engage in behaviors that benefit the organization.

The effect of review quality on purchase intention in cross-border e-commerce: The case of Hungary

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of review quality (a situational stimulus) on consumers' risk perception and purchase intention in cross-border e-commerce based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model. In doing so, quantitative research involving 400 Hungarian respondents was performed. The data were analysed using composite-based structural equation modelling (SEM). The study concludes that an experience created through highly qualified online reviews of previous consumers has a significant effect on mitigating consumers' risk perception while increasing their purchase intentions. The study also differentiates two aspects of risk, including perceived risk and affective risk, and reveals the two-fold mechanism of the decision-making journey. These results enrich the existing literature by supporting the use of the SOR model and introducing review quality as a situational stimulus to explain consumers' risk perception and purchase behaviours in cross-border e-commerce. Additionally, the study also provides valuable guidance in website design that can stimulate purchasing while lowering online perceived risk.

The development and impact of an app for a smart drug interaction reminder system.

Improved access to media and medical knowledge has elicited stronger public health awareness. This study developed a smart drug interaction reminder system for patients to increase knowledge and reduce nurse workload. This study used a single-group pre-test/post-test design and applied mining techniques to analyze the weight and probability of interaction among various medicines. Data were collected from 258 participants at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan using convenience sampling. An app was used to give patients real-time feedback to obtain access to information and remind them of their health issues. In addition to guiding the patients on medications, this app measured the nurses' work satisfaction and patients' knowledge of drug interaction. The results indicate that using information technology products to assist the app's real-time feedback system promoted nurses' work satisfaction, improved their health education skills, and helped patients to better understand drug interactions. Using information technology to provide patients with real-time inquiring functions has a significant effect on nurses' load reduction. Thus, smart drug interaction reminder system apps can be considered suitable nursing health education tools and the SDINRS app can be integrated into quantitative structure-activity relationship intelligence in the future.