Strong Positive Effect Research Articles

Ecosystem‐level decoupling in response to reduced precipitation frequency and degradation in steppe grassland

Abstract Grasslands across arid and semi‐arid regions are predicted to experience reductions in precipitation frequency. Besides, grassland degradation has become a serious problem in many of these areas. Despite increasing evidence suggesting compound effects of these synchronous alterations on biotic and abiotic ecosystem constituents, we still do not know how they will impact the coupling among ecosystem constituents and its consequences on ecosystem functioning. Here, we assessed the effects of decreased precipitation frequency and grassland degradation on ecosystem coupling, quantified based on the mean strength of pairwise correlations among multispecies communities and their physicochemical environment, individual functions and ecosystem multifunctionality, and reported their relationships within a mechanistic plant–nematode–micro‐organism–soil interactions framework. Decreased precipitation frequency led to poorly coupled ecosystems, and reduced aboveground plant biomass, soil water content, soil nutrient levels, soil biota abundance and multifunctionality. By contrast, belowground plant biomass and soil potential enzyme activities increased under decreased precipitation frequency treatment. Severe degradation resulted in decoupled ecosystems and suppressed most of individual functions and multifunctionality. Using structural equation modelling, we showed that coupling had a strong direct positive effect on multifunctionality (standardized total effect: 0.74), while multifunctionality was weakened by greater soil water variation (−0.54) and higher soil pH (−0.53). The great sensitivity of ecosystem coupling to altered precipitation regimes and degradation highlights the importance of considering interactions among biotic and abiotic components when predicting early ecological impacts under changing environments. Moreover, the positive relationship between ecosystem coupling and functioning suggests that restoration of degraded grasslands may be achieved by intensifying ecological interactions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Social Cognitive Model of Academic Engagement

Academic Engagement has received widespread attention in educational research due to its association with multiple positive indicators of positive academic functioning and students’ well-being. Academic engagement is a positive state of mind characterized by students’ active participation and commitment to academic activities, which are critical aspects in the learning process. However, theoretical models that integrate relevant factors and explain how these factors contribute to academic engagement are currently lacking. The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent et al., 1994) proven to be an integrative and useful framework to explain several aspects of academic behavior. In this study, we examined the adequacy of the SCCT model to explain academic engagement. Three-hundred and eleven university students (64% women) aged between 17 to 48 years old participated in the study. Results from structural equation modeling provide support for the SCCT model. Academic self-efficacy had a strong positive effect on academic engagement, as well as positive affect, social support and academic goal progress, although to a lesser extent. These findings confirm the value of SCCT as a heuristic model to explain a wide range of academic behavior, including academic engagement. Practical implications are discussed and avenues for future research are suggested.

The Effect of Social Network Use on Chinese College Students' Conspicuous Consumption: A Moderated Mediation Model.

This study explored the effects of social networking site use intensity, upward social comparison, and optimism on college students' conspicuous consumption and their mechanisms of action using a sample of Chinese college students. A total of 717 Chinese college students (M = 20.08, SD = 1.44; 73.9% female) completed the Social Network Use Intensity Scale, the Upward Social Comparison Scale, the Life Orientation Test, and the Conspicuous Consumption Scale. The results indicate that (1) the intensity of use of social networking sites significantly positively predicts the conspicuous consumption behavior of college students; (2) upward social comparison plays a mediating role between the intensity of social networking site usage and conspicuous consumption; and (3) optimism moderates the second half of the mediating path between the intensity of social networking site use, upward social comparison, and conspicuous consumption. Specifically, the relationship between upward social comparison and conspicuous consumption among college students with low optimism levels is stronger than that among college students with high levels of optimism. Intensity has a stronger positive effect on conspicuous consumption through upward social comparison. It is concluded that the intensity of college students' use of social networking sites can affect their conspicuous consumption behavior through upward social comparison, and this relationship is moderated by optimism. The results of the study help to reveal the influence of SNS (social networking site) use behavior on conspicuous consumption and its mechanism of action and have implications for reducing the negative impact of conspicuous consumption on college students.

Treatment effect of implant-supported fixed complete dentures and implant overdentures on patient-reported outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To analyze the effect of implant treatment in edentulous patients rehabilitated with implant-supported fixed complete dentures (IFCDs) or implant overdentures (IODs) on dental patient-reported outcomes (dPROs). In January 2022, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed Central, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were screened for prospective clinical studies on completely edentulous patients treated with IFCDs and/or IODs, reporting pre-treatment and follow-up dPROs. Hedges' g effect sizes (ES) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Afterward, meta-analyses were conducted using random effect models. A total number of 1608 records was initially identified. Of those, 28 studies reporting dPROs from 1457 patients were finally included. The applied dental patient-reported outcome measures (dPROMs) included several versions of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) or specific items assessing satisfaction with Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). The overall ES was large for rehabilitation with IFCDs (1.68 [CI: 1.15, 2.20]) and IODs (1.26 [CI: 0.99, 1.52]) with no significant difference (p = .165) between the two. Denture stability was the only factor rated significantly higher for IFCDs (ES difference: 2.37 [CI: 0.21, 4.54]; p = .032). Subgroup analyses revealed moderately higher ES for IODs on two implants relative to one implant (ES difference: 0.73 [CI: 0.34, 1.12]; p < .001). There is a strong positive effect of implant treatment in edentulous patients, independent of the type of prosthetic rehabilitation. In patients seeking high stability, IFCDs may be preferable. In mandibular IODs on a single implant, there was a significantly positive effect of an additional implant on dPROs.

The in vitro digestates from Brussels sprouts processed with various hydrothermal treatments affect the intestinal epithelial cell differentiation, mitochondrial polarization and glutathione level

Brussels sprouts provide bioactive compounds with widely acknowledged health-promoting effects observed in various levels: single cells, organs and tissues, or the whole organism. However, the choice of the appropriate hydrothermal processing is critical to sustain the nutritional values and cytoprotective activities, as Brussels sprouts are rarely eaten raw. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of various culinary methods (boiling, steaming, and sous-vide in comparison to raw plant material) applied to Brussels sprouts on the chosen functions of liver and intestinal cell lines (HepG2 and Caco-2, respectively): the markers of enterocyte differentiation (alkaline phosphatase and sucrase-isomaltase activities and protein level), glutathione store management (total GSH concentration and Glu, Gly, Cys and Met amino acids analysis) and mitochondrial polarization (JC-1 staining analysis). The in vitro digestates from raw Brussels sprouts had a stronger positive effect on the enterocyte marker enzymes in the Caco-2 cultures as compared to the digestates from the hydrothermally processed vegetables (boiled, steamed, and sous-vide). The sous-vide method diminished the intracellular glutathione stores. Hydrothermal processing, particularly steaming and sous-vide had a negative impact on the mitochondrial abundance and polarization as compared to raw vegetables. Our results suggest that shorter processing is more beneficial to retain glutathione and mitochondrial polarization than longer hydrothermal treatment.

Novel QTL for Lateral Root Density and Length Improve Phosphorus Uptake in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The rice root system consists of two types of lateral roots, indeterminate larger L-types capable of further branching, and determinate, short, unbranched S-types. L-type laterals correspond to the typical lateral roots of cereals whereas S-type laterals are unique to rice. Both types contribute to nutrient and water uptake and genotypic variation for density and length of these laterals could be exploited in rice improvement to enhance adaptations to nutrient and water-limited environments. Our objectives were to determine how best to screen for lateral root density and length and to identify markers linked to genotypic variation for these traits. Using different growing media showed that screening in nutrient solution exposed genotypic variation for S-type and L-type density, but only the lateral roots of soil-grown plants varied for their lengths. A QTL mapping population developed from parents contrasting for lateral root traits was grown in a low-P field, roots were sampled, scanned and density and length of lateral roots measured. One QTL each was detected for L-type density (LDC), S-type density on crown root (SDC), S-type density on L-type (SDL), S-type length on L-type (SLL), and crown root number (RNO). The QTL for LDC on chromosome 5 had a major effect, accounting for 46% of the phenotypic variation. This strong positive effect was confirmed in additional field experiments, showing that lines with the donor parent allele at qLDC5 had 50% higher LDC. Investigating the contribution of lateral root traits to P uptake using stepwise regressions indicated LDC and RNO were most influential, followed by SDL. Simulating effects of root trait differences conferred by the main QTL in a P uptake model confirmed that qLDC5 was most effective in improving P uptake followed by qRNO9 for RNO and qSDL9 for S-type lateral density on L-type laterals. Pyramiding qLDC5 with qRNO9 and qSDL9 would be possible given that trade-offs between traits were not detected. Phenotypic selection for the RNO trait during variety development would be feasible, however, the costs of doing so reliably for lateral root density traits is prohibitive and markers identified here therefore provide the first opportunity to incorporate such traits into a breeding program.

Firm performance & effective mitigation of adverse business scenarios

An important question for firm management and markets is whether superior capabilities to mitigate the impact of adverse business scenarios lead to higher firm valuation and performance. We address this question by identifying empirical hypotheses from a new channel of the shareholder value maximization theory of risk management and evaluate them by using a new broadly applicable methodology based on the insight that effective risk management practices (e.g., financial, operational, strategic hedging) and other “unclassified” activities should result in a “hedging profile” with a lesser frequency of “bad” business outcomes relative to “good” outcomes. We measure the hedging profile of 5105 firms across 53 industries from quarterly earnings-based return on assets reported in Compustat, and relate it to firm performance using panel regressions while controlling for critical firm characteristics including median earnings and fixed effects for firm, industry, and year. The estimation reveals a strong positive effect of the hedging profile on Tobin's Q, excess returns, and return on assets (with R-squares above 74%). The study's empirical and theoretical results show that firms that exhibit greater capability to mitigate downside business risk experience higher valuations consistent with a new mechanism for shareholder value maximization theory of hedging based on skewness in firm earnings-based returns.

Environmental Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: Waste Management in Russian Regions

Abstract Russian regions exhibit significant variation in their waste management efforts, despite the urgency of the problem and the importance of waste management for all regional governments. To examine this variation, we apply the concept of authoritarian environmentalism, which suggests that authoritarian governments have distinctive capabilities for tackling certain environmental challenges. Analysis of a regional panel data set for the period 2012-2019 shows that our measure of the degree of authoritarianism – the share of votes for the ruling party United Russia in parliamentary elections – has a strong positive effect on the share of recycled waste in the Russian regions. This result indicates that more authoritarian regions tend to recycle more household waste than less authoritarian regions. However, it could also be the case that more authoritarian governments are simply more likely to manipulate their environmental statistics to show better environmental performance.

Does learning how to use data mean being motivated to use it? Effects of a data use intervention on data literacy and motivational beliefs of pre-service teachers

BackgroundIn times of expanding datafication in education, data-based decision making (DBDM) has become a crucial part of teaching and data literacy and motivational beliefs about data use are important preconditions of teachers’ data use. However, data use is not yet part of most teacher education programs. AimsThe present study investigated the effects of a short and easily implementable online intervention on pre-service teachers’ data literacy and their motivational beliefs about data use. SamplesWe conducted two studies with pre-service teachers: in the pilot (Study 1), the structure of motivational beliefs about DBDM was investigated (N = 34). In Study 2 (the main study), the effects of the intervention were examined (N = 136). MethodsThe study was designed as a randomized controlled trial with a wait list control group. The intervention focused on building the basic concept of data literacy with emphasis on data analysis and different types of data, such as assessment and self-evaluation data. ResultsStudy 1 revealed a three-factor structure of motivational beliefs about DBDM. The intervention in study 2 showed a strong positive effect on data literacy test scores and self-efficacy. On average, pre-service teachers reported positive motivational beliefs about DBDM. However, we found evidence for null effects regarding changes in motivational beliefs in the value components cost and enjoyment. ConclusionsThe intervention has the potential to foster aspects of data literacy and self-efficacy about DBDM but not value components of beliefs about DBDM in general.

Subjective Well-Being, Health and Socio-Demographic Factors Related to COVID-19 Vaccination: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Sample Survey Study from 2021-2022 in Urban Pakistan.

Containing the spread of the COVID-19 rests on many people willing to get vaccinated. At the same time, it is important to recognize the various socio-demographic factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination. This paper aims to identify socio-demographic and health factors related to the COVID-19 vaccine and its impact on subjective well-being in urban Pakistan. Pooled cross-sectional sample surveys collected in 2021 and 2022 (n = 4500 households) via a questionnaire provided to household's heads. In each wave, data were collected using the same methodology, sample size and sampling techniques (proportional stratified random sampling). An ordered probit regression model was used to identify the various socio-demographic and health factors related to the COVID-19 vaccine and its impact on subjective well-being. Sample weights were applied to all the regression analyses to improve population generalizability. Besides socio-demographic factors such as being healthy, educated and richer, coronavirus vaccination plays a positive and significant role in overall subjective well-being. However, vaccination has a smaller effect on men or older populations compared to women or younger populations in terms of their subjective well-being. Moreover, as expected, the vaccination has the strongest positive effect on the healthy population and its subjective well-being.

The relative values of big data analytics versus traditional marketing analytics to firm innovation: An empirical study

Although big data analytics (BDA) does enhance innovation performance, it remains unclear whether BDA contributes more or less than traditional marketing analytics (TMA) to firm innovation. This study tests hypotheses based on data collected from multiple sources by using four-wave survey and archival data from 201 firms. The results indicate that BDA has a stronger positive effect on new product development (NPD) performance than TMA, over time. However, TMA, when coupled with exploitative innovation strategy, has a stronger positive effect on NPD performance than if coupled with exploratory innovation strategy. Conversely, BDA, when coupled with exploratory innovation strategy, has a stronger positive effect on NPD performance than if coupled with exploitative innovation strategy.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Injury Events Against Doctors in Guangdong Province by Geographic Information System.

Violence against doctors is a global concern. Violent injuries against doctors occur periodically in China. At least one violent injury event was witnessed by 54% of medical staff against doctors in 2020. Analyzing this phenomenon and establishing preventive measures is a common concern of the medical and criminal communities. This study comprised 712 injury events against doctors in Guangdong Province, China, from January 2019 to October 2022. The spatial distribution and spatiotemporal changes of these events were analyzed using ArcGIS and Excel software. Considering the geographical distribution, the injury events against doctors showed a three-level concentric circle pattern where, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, adjacent cities, and distant cities were ranked as high, medium, and low-risk areas, respectively. In temporal distribution, the periods of high incidence were 9-11, 14-15, and 20 o'clock, and the incidence tended to be similar daily, with the peaks in June and July. We found that the risk level of injury events against doctors was positively correlated with the medical resources level in the areas. The injury event incidence was higher during the daytime working hours. Temperature may have a strong positive effect on injury events against doctors.

Green finance and green innovation: Theoretical analysis based on game theory and empirical evidence from China

By applying evolutionary game analysis and using a panel of Chinese listed companies, this paper concludes that green finance has a significant role in promoting green innovation from both theoretical and empirical aspects. After using alternative measurement and estimation methods of the core variables, the above conclusions are still robust. In addition, considering the endogeneity, this paper regards the establishment of the pilot zones for green finance reform and innovations as a quasi-natural experiment. It analyzes the policy effect of green finance policy on green innovation by applying the Differences-in-Differences model, as the conclusion is consistent with the above. Finally, this paper takes micro-level evidence to investigate the impact of corporate risk-taking on the relationship between green finance and green innovation. Evidence from this study suggests that green finance has a stronger positive effect on green innovation when firms have a lower risk-taking level. These results have certain practical significance for guiding coordinated development and low-carbon transition.

Studies on the use of two different magnesia-carbon recyclates as secondary raw material for MgO–C refractories

Two magnesia-carbon (MgO–C) recyclates were investigated with respect to their utilization as raw materials for MgO–C refractories. X-ray diffraction and backscattered electron diffraction were used for phase analysis of the recyclate aggregates. In addition, the gas released from one of the recyclates when it came into contact with water was analyzed in a mass spectrometer. MgO–C samples with different recyclate contents were produced. During coking, the samples showed different behavior depending on the recyclate used. Whereas those containing the first recyclate showed a slight shrinkage, a significant increase in volume was observed in the case of the specimens that contained the second recyclate. The volume increase could be reduced by thermal pretreatment of this recyclate at 380 °C. As a result, better bulk density and porosity values were obtained. However, an even stronger positive effect was achieved by replacing the pitch-based binder used in the binder system with a novolak-based.

Fostering pre-service teachers’ technology acceptance – does the type of engagement with tool-related information matter?

Pre-service teachers’ often suboptimal use of technology in teaching can be explained by low levels of technology acceptance. The present study aims to investigate how technology acceptance can be promoted. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model by Davis (1986), we hypothesized that encouraging pre-service teachers to constructively engage with rather than passively reading tool-related information should increase their assessments of the tool’s perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, intention to use and actual use in lesson plans. In an experimental study, N = 53 pre-service teachers were either asked to read a blog post about the potential of a mind mapping tool (passive condition) or to work on small tasks covering the same information as the blog post (constructive condition). Finally, all participants were instructed to develop lesson plans. Contrary to our hypothesis, analyses of variance showed that passive engagement had stronger positive effects on technology acceptance than constructive engagement, i.e., reading a blog post significantly increased pre-service teachers’ perceived ease of use (partial η2 = .15) compared to working constructively on open-ended tasks (p < .01). Exploratory analyses indicated that deeper engagement with the tasks in the constructive condition was associated with lower technology acceptance (r = [–.37; –.27], p < .05). Nevertheless, both conditions yielded a significant increase in intention to use over time, indicating that engagement with information about a tool in general can foster pre-service teachers’ technology acceptance.

Consumer perceptions of sustainability labels for alternative food networks

PurposeSustainability labels play a crucial role in providing consumers with quick and easily accessible information to assess the environmental, social and economic impacts of products. This research examines how different sustainability labels influence consumer perceptions and assessments of alternative food networks (AFNs).Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted three cross-sectional studies to explore consumer perceptions of sustainability labels for AFNs. The authors tested labels representing the three sustainability dimensions, labels of different graphical quality and different awarding bodies.FindingsConsumers did not differentiate between sustainability dimensions but assessed labels in a holistic manner. The overall rating of a label positively influenced perceived sustainability. Self-designed and professionally designed labels had a positive effect on the intention to buy from an AFN. Professionally designed labels also enhanced the perceived authenticity of the networks. Notably, the source of the label, whether self-awarded or awarded by an official body, did not significantly impact consumer perceptions. However, interaction effects revealed professionally designed labels had a stronger positive effect on purchase intention when they were self-awarded.Practical implicationsAFNs can derive benefits from using labels. Self-organized, non-profit AFNs are well advised to have labels professionally designed.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the understanding of the effects of sustainability labels for community-based AFNs, diverging from the traditional focus on individual products.

Comparative effects of relational mechanisms and formal contracts on alliance success

PurposeThe research is aimed at investigating how relational mechanisms and formal contracts affect alliance success under constructive and destructive conflict.Design/methodology/approachWhile relational mechanisms and formal contracts are widely used in strategic alliances to manage a variety of issues among partners, recent research has indicated that effects of these governance mechanisms may change in distinct contexts. Adopting the lens of new institutional economics, this study provides insights on the comparative and interactive effects of relational mechanisms and formal contracts on alliance success, and the differential contingency effects of two types of inter-partner conflict, i.e. constructive and destructive conflict, on the above relationships. The authors use hierarchical multivariate regression analyses through a survey dataset of 392 alliance firms in China with the approach of two key informants.FindingsThe empirical results confirm that relational mechanisms have a stronger positive effect on alliance success than formal contracts and these two governance mechanisms complement each other in driving alliance success. When facing a high level of constructive conflict, partner firms rely to a greater extent on relational mechanisms than on formal contracts to achieve alliance success. When a high level of destructive conflict exists, partner firms depend more heavily on formal contracts than on relational mechanisms to achieve alliance success. Moreover, the complementary effect of the two governance mechanisms is much stronger when partner firms face high constructive conflict than when they face high destructive conflict.Originality/valueThis study discloses the comparative and interactive effects of relational mechanisms and formal contracts on alliance success in distinct contexts by identifying the moderating roles of constructive and destructive conflict.

The effects of parental's cultural and economic capital and parental support on being an elite scientists.

Despite the rapid increase in the number of scientists all over the world in recent years, very few scientists can achieve to be part of elite scientist's category. Although there are many studies focusing on elite scientists, these studies generally do not focus on their childhood and parental background. In this study, which attempts to fill this gap, we focus on the cultural and economic capital of the families of elite scientists in Turkey and their parental support in childhood to analyze the roles of these variables in their being elite scientists. First, we assess the impact of cultural capital (institutional, objectified, and embodied), economic capital, parental support, and perceived academic success in basic education on the probability of becoming an elite scientist. Second, we analyze the differences among elite scientists to shed light on the gender gap in academia. We collected the data from 1,966 scientists working at 87 universities in Turkey through an online survey. Some of our main findings are as follows: (a) cultural capital, parental support, and academic success in basic education all have a strong positive effect on becoming an elite scientist; (b) objectified cultural capital has the highest impact in that an increase in this capital increases the probability of becoming elite scientists by 19%; (c) economic capital has no significant effect on elite scientists. Elite scholars have certain common characteristics, but significantly they are different from their average peers in terms of cultural capital and parental support and (d) elite female scientists have higher of cultural capital, economic capital, parental support, and academic success than elite male scientists. This finding supports the existence of the academic inequality and suggests that female scientists need higher cultural capital, economic capital, parental support, and perceived academic success to become elite scientists than their male counterparts.

Wheels to Meals: Measuring the Impact of Micromobility on Restaurant Demand

Dockless shared micromobility services have grown substantially in recent years, but their impact on consumer demand has remained largely unstudied. The authors estimate how the largest and fastest-growing segment of this market—the dockless electric scooter (“e-scooter”) sharing industry—impacts spending in one of the largest segments of the local economy, the restaurant industry. Using data covering 391 companies in 98 U.S. cities, the authors find that the introduction of e-scooters in a city significantly impacts restaurant spending, increasing spending by approximately 5.2% for e-scooter users, driving incremental spending of at least $11.3 million annually across all cities that first allowed e-scooters to operate over summer 2018. Impact varies by restaurant subcategory, with a stronger positive effect on fast-food restaurant spending, and a weaker effect on sit-down restaurant spending. E-scooter entry has a larger impact on companies with higher historical revenues selling at lower prices. It facilitates discovery of new restaurants from prospective customers and repeat business from already-acquired customers.

How broadcasters' characteristics affect viewers' loyalty: the role of parasocial relationships

PurposeThis study applies parasocial relationship theory to identify the role of broadcaster characteristics in the highly interactive business setting of live streaming commerce.Design/methodology/approachA total of 401 online questionnaires were distributed to individuals with live streaming showroom shopping experience, and SmartPLS software was used to analyse the data and test the hypotheses.FindingsBroadcasters' characteristics are positively associated with viewers' parasocial relationships, thus further enhancing viewers' attitudinal and behavioural loyalty towards that broadcaster's streams. Parasocial relationships mediate the effects of most broadcaster characteristics (except for expertise) on attitudinal and behavioural loyalty. In addition, parasocial relationships have a stronger positive effect on viewer behaviours for hedonic products and under high match-up.Originality/valueThe broadcaster is a key indicator of the success of live streaming commerce. This study establishes a well-organized framework to understand how broadcaster characteristics influence viewer loyalty towards that broadcasters' streams based on parasocial relationship theory.