Strong Positive Impact Research Articles

The value of co-creating a clinical outcome assessment strategy for clinical trial research: process and lessons learnt

BackgroundIn support of UCB pharmaceutical research programs, the aim of this research was to implement a novel process for patient involvement in a multidisciplinary research group to co-create a clinical outcome assessment strategy to accurately reflect the experience of people living with early-stage Parkinson’s. Patient experts were an integral part of the decision-making process for patient-reported outcome (PRO) research and instrument development.MethodsIn partnership with two patient organizations (Parkinson’s UK and the Parkinson’s Foundation), 6 patient experts were recruited into a multidisciplinary research group alongside clinical, patient engagement and involvement, regulatory science, and outcome measurement experts. The group was involved across two phases of research; the first phase identified what symptoms are cardinal to the experience of living with early-stage Parkinson’s and the second phase involved the development of PRO instruments to better assess the symptoms that are important to people living with early-stage Parkinson’s. Patient experts were important in performing a variety of roles, in particular, qualitative study protocol design, conceptual model development, and subsequent co-creation of two PRO instruments.ResultsInvolving people with Parkinson’s in PRO research ensured that the expertise of these representatives from the Parkinson’s community shaped and drove the research; as such, PRO instruments were being developed with the patient at the forefront. Working with patient experts required considerable resource and time allocation for planning, communication, document development, and organizing meetings; however, their input enriched the development of PRO instruments and was vital in developing PRO instruments that are more meaningful for people with Parkinson’s and clinicians.ConclusionsConducting PRO research, in the context of clinical development involving pharmaceutical companies, requires balancing regulatory and scientific rigor with tight time constraints. Incorporating a multi-stakeholder perspective, which included patient experts as joint investigators, had a strong positive impact on our research, despite the logistical complexities of their involvement. Due to the input of patient experts, the innovative clinical outcome assessment strategy and the co-created novel PRO instruments were more relevant and holistic to the patient experience of early-stage Parkinson’s.Graphical abstract

Impact of bacterial admixtures on the compressive and tensile strengths, permeability, and pore structure of ternary mortars: Comparative study of ureolytic and phototrophic bacteria.

The addition of bacterial biomass to cementitious materials can improve strength and permeability properties by altering the pore structure. Photoautotrophic bacteria are understudied mortar bio-additives that do not produce unwanted by-products compared to commonly studied ureolytic species. This study directly compares the impact of the addition of heterotrophic Bacillus subtilis to photoautotrophic Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 on mortar properties and microstructure. Cellulose fibers were used as a bacteria carrier. A commercial concrete healing agent composed of dormant bacterial spores was also tested. Strength, water absorption tests, mercury intrusion porosimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were applied to experimental mortar properties. The photoautotrophic modifications had a stronger positive impact on mortar strength and permeability properties than sporulated heterotrophic modifications due to differences in surface properties and production of exopolysaccharides. The findings provide support for photoautotrophic species as additives for mortars to move away from ammonia-generating species.

Fiscal policy and stock markets at the effective lower bound

We study the impact of fiscal policy at the effective lower bound (ELB) in the stocks markets of the Euro Area, by specifically looking at a government spending shock. To uncover the impact of this shock, we estimate a factor-augmented interacted panel vector-autoregressive (FAIPVAR) model. We find statistically different impacts of the government spending shock across the ELB and non-ELB periods, with relatively stronger positive impact on stock returns under the former. Conversely, the differences are not statistically significant for the United States using a time series data-based FAIVAR. Our findings have important implications from the perspectives of both policymaking and investors.

The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States

BackgroundLimited information exists regarding how medical students’ specialty interests evolve throughout medical school, particularly interest in surgical versus non-surgical specialties. Our objective was to identify medical students’ specialty interests before and after medical school and the most important curricular and non-curricular factors that shaped their specialty choice.MethodsAn online 22-question voluntary, anonymized survey was designed to assess specialty interests and factors impacting specialty choice at a single medical school in the United States. The study was pilot-tested with focus groups. The final questionnaire was distributed to final-year medical students from the Classes of 2020 and 2021. Responses were measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strong negative impact to 5 = strong positive impact).Results102 of 184 students (55%) from Class of 2020 and 85 of 174 students (49%) from Class of 2021 participated. Of 187 respondents, the majority (60%) decided on their specialty during third year. 74 of 147 students (50%) pursued a specialty among their initial specialty interests. Students with initial surgical interests were significantly (p < 0.001) less likely to choose surgical specialties (42%) compared to students with initial non-surgical interests choosing non-surgical specialties (79%). Pre-clinical years (3.67 ± 0.96) were perceived to have a significantly (p < 0.001) less positive impact on specialty interests and choice compared to clinical years. Among pre-clinical factors, physician shadowing (3.80 ± 0.83) was perceived to have the significantly (p < 0.001) greatest positive impact. During clinicals, 34% of respondents indicated that order of clerkships impacted specialty choice. 112 of 171 respondents (65%) indicated that mentorship impacted specialty choice. Physicians in the chosen specialty were perceived to have the strongest impact (4.67 ± 0.49). 65 of 171 respondents (38%) indicated that peers impacted specialty choice with classmates (3.98 ± 0.87) and near-peers (3.83 ± 0.74) perceived to have a positive impact.ConclusionsSpecialty interests changed during medical school for a significant portion of students (50%). Those with initial surgical interests were more likely to change their specialty interests. Pre-clinicals were reported to have less impact on specialty choice compared to clinicals. Implementing factors such as shadowing and physician/peer mentorship, which may positively impact specialty choice, into pre-clinical curricula warrants further investigation.

The innovation path of agricultural products e-commerce marketing mode under the background of “live broadcast + short video”

Abstract In order to evaluate the dependability and validity of the scale, this paper first examines the features of farming direct seeding. It then builds a scale that includes charm, expertise, interactivity, spatial presence, perceived value, platform notoriety, and buy intention. The project’s internal coherence and logic are confirmed by extracting the common factors using the principal component analysis method, followed by factor rotation using the maximum variance method. In order to confirm the relationship between anchor characteristics, spatial presence, perceived value, platform reputation, and purchase intention, we conduct an empirical study on the impact of live-streaming media characteristics on consumers’ purchase intentions. We also conduct correlation analysis, regression analysis, adjustment effect test, and hypothesis test. Interactivity has a considerable positive impact on perceived value, as evidenced by the magnitude of the standardized regression coefficient of 0.138 and Sig=0.019005. Professionalism has a strong positive impact on perceived value, as shown by the standardized regression coefficient of professionalism on perceived value, which is 0.292, Sig=0.0000.05. Living agricultural products must combine their own qualities and concentrate on the marketing and selling their wares.

How Do Pharmacy Students Make Career Choices in Genomics? Gender and Other Key Determinants of Pharmacy Senior Students' Intentions to Pursue Postgraduate Training in Pharmacogenomics.

Pharmacists play a pivotal role in pharmacogenomic (PGx) implementation in clinical practice, and their university education is considered a strong driver in holding favorable intentions toward PGx adoption. Using a survey developed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study aimed to evaluate the determinants of senior pharmacy students' intentions to pursue postgraduate training in PGx and personalized medicine (PM), and with an eye to propose interventions to inform pharmacy students' career choices in the field. Students manifested considerably favorable attitudes toward PGx clinical practice and had acquired a relatively satisfactory level of knowledge. However, they conceded of having a hardly moderate level of confidence in PGx clinical application, and claimed to be moderately satisfied with their PGx training. Interestingly, students alleged to have a relatively limited interest to pursue postgraduate training studies in PGx and PM. Gender was a key and significant demographic moderator of the students' intentions to pursue postgraduate training in PGx and PM. We found that the students' attitudes exerted a strong positive impact on intentions for future PGx training, while self-confidence and training satisfaction had a moderate positive effect, respectively. We propose a set of key interventions that include, inter alia, the update of existing pharmacy curricula and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaborations with other health professionals, to reinforce the pharmacists' role in PM and PGx implementation in clinical practice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using the TPB to identify the role of certain factors such as gender, attitudes, self-confidence, and training satisfaction on the final-year pharmacy undergraduate students' intentions to pursue PGx-related postgraduate studies in the future.

Effects of Procurement Strategies on Procurement Performance of Sugar Industry in Pakistan

This investigation aims to analyze the effect of procurement planning, staff competency, and green purchasing on procurement performance in the sugar industry of Pakistan. Procurement planning, staff competency, and green purchasing are independent variables and procurement performance is the dependent variable. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. Primary data was collected using questionnaires targeting employees of sugar industries in Pakistan. The quantitative research method was used to collect data. The study findings revealed that procurement planning had a positive and significant impact on the procurement performance whereas staff competence and green purchasing also had a strong positive and significant impact on the procurement performance of sugar manufacturing firms in Pakistan studied. The study recommends that all sugar manufacturing firms in Pakistan must implement efficient procurement practices to become more efficient in their operations. Particularly the study recommends that the organizations should enhance their planning and also ensure that procurement plans are adhered to, staff employed in the procurement department should be competent, and that there should be training opportunities for the staff.

PENGARUH PENDIDIKAN KEWIRAUSAHAAN DAN EFIKASI DIRI TERHADAP NIAT BERWIRAUSAHA DI KALANGAN MAHASISWA UNIVERSITAS DARUNNAJAH

This study intends to perform empirical research on students at Darunnajah University's entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial goals. On the basis of cross-sectional data, the author employs quantitative methodologies. Students at the Darunnajah University's business faculty are the intended audience for the use of random sampling procedures. To get responses from respondents, the author employed a survey questionnaire. The structural equation model (SEM) is employed by the author. The study's findings indicate that the introduction of opportunities and the acquisition of entrepreneurial knowledge, specifically, have a strong positive impact on entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial goals. In addition, the entrepreneurial self-efficacy variable significantly and favourably influences entrepreneurial inclinations.

The social behavior of traveling with dogs: Drivers, behavioral tendencies, and experiences

Increases in dog guardianship and the demand for dog-friendly travel services present an opportunity for tourism providers, but this market can still be undervalued or taken for granted. A better understanding of the social behavior and experiences of traveling with dogs is required to discern what impacts guardians’ behavioral tendencies to travel with their dogs. Built on past literature and the reflective-impulsive model (RIM) of social behavior, a conceptual model was developed based on four social representations/perceptions (human–dog symbiotic relationship, dog well-being beliefs, information acquisition, and perceived risks) that influence guardians’ motivational orientation (intrinsic motivation) and behavioral tendencies (intention and behavioral schema) to travel with their dogs. A mixed methods design, with an online survey ( N = 611) to test the model using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and semi-structured interviews ( N = 34), was used to develop a better understanding of the social representations and experiences of guardians traveling with their dogs. Results from the quantitative analysis show that dog well-being beliefs had the strongest positive impact, while both dog well-being beliefs and information acquisition impacted motivation and behavioral tendencies. Perceived risks had a negative effect only on behavioral schema, while the human–dog symbiotic relationship required intrinsic motivation to drive behavioral patterns. Qualitative findings highlight the lived experiences of those traveling with their dogs, emphasizing that human and dog well-being and enjoyment are important to guardians, while issues persist with guardians finding adequate dog-friendly travel information and concerns regarding risks remain. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided.

Financial distress and stock price crash risk in Egyptian firms

Economic policy uncertainty intensified as a result of the global financial crisis. To overcome these obstacles, firms handle issues with financial distress and crash risk more proactively. This paper offers new insights into the relationship between financial distress and crash risk on the Egyptian stock market during the period of 2014–2021 and presents how managers strengthen the bad news hoarding mechanism to their advantage. Data were collected via financial statements and reports obtained from the Thomson Reuters database using 824 annual observations of 103 Egyptian firms via the generalized method of moments and ordinary least squares. Results show a strong positive impact of financial distress on crash risk using OLS and GMM. Results support the role of managerial opportunism to cover up bad news that undermines a firm’s economic fundamentals. The findings support an agency theory of how financial distress affects crash risk. The findings support conducting robust tests for alternative financial distress and crash risk measures.

PENGARUH DIFERENSIASI PRODUK DAN KUALITAS PRODUK TERHADAP KEPUASAN KONSUMEN PADA PRODUK FASHION THENBLANK DI KOTA BATAM

In almost every business sector, competition is getting tougher. This is commonplace in the fashion sector, especially in the Thenblank ready-to-wear industry in Batam. This study attempts to ascertain the simultaneous or partial impact of product differentiation and product quality on customer satisfaction. The research method uses multiple linear regression analysis with research data collection methods through questionnaires. Using the Slovin formula to determine sampling, a sample of 100 respondents was selected from 28,180 residents of Sagulung Kotan District. The findings show that product differentiation and product quality simultaneously have a large impact on customer satisfaction, and that the two variables also have a strong or significant positive impact on customer satisfaction when tested partially. Companies must continue to focus on aspects of quality and product differentiation. Product differentiation and product quality have a beneficial impact and contribute significantly to Thenblank's customer satisfaction, which increases from both aspects.

Prior goal setting of SDGs based on the interaction correlation

For 2030, the Agenda for Sustainable Development sets out 17 goals for sustaining ecological and social growth, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have mobilized countries around the world to integrate these goals into their national development strategies. However, the Agenda does not explain how these goals are interlinked, which limits their implementation. This paper therefore selects indicator data for 17 SDGs from the World Bank website for four groups of countries to estimate the network structure of the SDGs and the synergies and trade-offs between them, based on the Spearman coefficient. Based on this, the paper further uses a VAR model to identify priority targets among the SDGs and to predict the impact of achieving these targets 2 years earlier on other SDGs. It is found that the SDGs interact with each other in different historical periods, showing both synergies and trade-offs. And as the highest priority goal, the predictions in this paper suggest that SDG 6 has a strong positive impact on SDG 4 and SDG 8. This paper can help policy makers to allocate resources more effectively, maximize benefits, coordinate actions, adapt to future challenges and achieve global sustainable development goals.

Does management of working capital enhance firm value? Empirical analysis of manufacturing enterprises in India

The long-term financial health of a corporation is assessed by its capacity to meet short-term financial commitments. Optimum working capital that maximizes enterprise value varies across companies. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether Indian manufacturing enterprises’ firm values are influenced by working capital management efficiency. The data are taken from 2016 to 2022 (a seven-year period) for 223 top BSE-listed manufacturing companies. Firm value (explained variable) is proxied using Tobin’s Q, and the constituents of working capital, which include the net trade cycle, inventory period, debtors’ collection period, and creditor payment period, are taken as explanatory variables. The study also controls for any differences in firm characteristics and economic conditions by employing firm size, age, current ratio, net profit ratio, sale growth and GDP growth rate. Balanced-panel data analysis is conducted by employing a two-step generalized method of moment technique. Net trade cycle, inventory period and debtors’ collection period are found to have a strong and significant positive impact on Tobin’s Q. The findings however did not report any evidence of the significant relationship between creditor payment period and Tobin’s Q. Additionally, the outcomes also evidenced that firm value is positively impacted by company size, net profit ratio, sales growth and GDP, whereas negatively affected by firm age. This paper suggests that manufacturing firms may potentially enhance their firm value by prolonging the net trade cycle, period of inventory and lengthening the credit period to customers till the level of attainment of an optimum working capital.

The Macroeconomic Effect of Access to Credit and Population Growth on the Nigerian Agricultural Productivity: An Empirical Study of 2000 to 2021

The study investigates the macroeconomic impact of population growth and access to credit on the agricultural productivity Nigeria from 2000 to 2021 by employing OLS multiple regression analysis. The study ascertained the stationarity of the time series properties of the variables where Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) was applied. The co-integration test result confirmed the presence of a long-run relationship among the variables, and the result of OLS multiple regression and stochastic production analysis showed a weak positive relationship between access to credit and agricultural productivity and also showed that population growth has a strong negative relationship with agricultural productivity in Nigeria. It was discovered that employment in agriculture decreases as population increases. The result also revealed that human capital and access growth to electricity have a strong positive impact on agricultural performance in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends not only an increase in the budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector but also the need to establish an efficient corrupt-free financial institutions to enhance easy access to credit by farmers and also improve the intellectual capacity of the populace through advanced technological trainings, as it will in turn lead to a higher achievement in the fight for food security and unemployment in Nigeria.

Assessing the Impact of Farm-Management Practices on Ecosystem Services in European Agricultural Systems: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

Many farm-management practices focus on maximizing production, while others better reconcile production with the regulation of ecological processes and sociocultural identity through the provisioning of ecosystem services (ESs). Though many studies have evaluated the performance of management practices against ES supply, these studies often focused on only a few practices simultaneously. Here, we incorporate 23 distinct management practices in a rapid evidence assessment to draw more comprehensive conclusions on their supply potential across 14 ESs in European agriculture. The results are visualized using performance indicators that quantify the ES-supply potential of a given management practice. In total, 172 indicators are calculated, among which cover crops are found to have the strongest positive impact on pollination-supply potential, while extensive livestock management is found to have the strongest negative impact for the supply potential for habitat creation/protection. The indicators also provide insight into the state of the peer-reviewed literature. At both the farm and territorial levels, the literature noticeably fails to evaluate cultural services. Further, disparities between the number of indicators composed at the farm and territorial levels indicate a systematic bias in the literature toward the assessment of smaller spatial levels.

Can wealth taxation fund public investment in a caring and sustainable economy? The case of the UK

Abstract This article develops a theoretical model integrating wealth concentration and taxation to the feminist post-Kaleckian models. We estimate the model econometrically using an instrumental variable-generalized method of moments approach for the UK. We find that an increase in the tax rate on wealth decreases wealth concentration, and has a strong positive impact on output, employment and the budget. An increase in the progressivity of income taxation by increasing the tax rate on profits and decreasing the tax rate on labour income also leads to similar results, but the effects are more modest compared to wealth taxation. Public social infrastructure investment has a high positive effect on output and productivity as well as employment and gender equality in wages and employment. Public physical infrastructure investment has also a substantial effect on output and employment, albeit creating fewer jobs for women compared to the case of social infrastructure, while productivity effects are more modest.

Examination of the Mechanism of Fintech Empowerment in Commercial Banks Based on Text Mining

Against the backdrop of financial technology empowering the transformation of commercial banks, this paper uses panel data from 38 commercial banks in China between 2012 and 2020, and constructs a financial technology index using text mining techniques, to investigate the mechanism of fintech empowerment in commercial banks. The study found a significant positive "U" -shaped relationship between the level of bank fintech and profitability. The results of the examination indicate that fintech has a stronger positive impact on the profitability of small and medium-sized local state-owned banks, and that fintech affects bank profitability through risk-bearing, capital structure, and operational capabilities. This paper takes the risk-bearing ability, capital structure, and operational level of commercial banks as intermediate variables in the model, and controls for variables through macroeconomic environment and policy, and internal factors of commercial banks, to make the research results more convincing. This provides new research ideas for the study of systematic fintech theory and financial risk theory.

Electrification of mountainous rural areas and development: A case study of Eastern Pamirs

The present study investigates the nexus between electrification of the mountainous rural areas and selected indicators of socioeconomic development, such as household income, learning hours, and fuel choices in cooking behavior. The empirical investigation is based on the field survey in the recently electrified Yapshor and non-electrified Deh villages of the Rushan district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan. The study reveals a strong positive impact of electrification of these villages on the level of household income and daily learning hours of school-age children. Getting electricity access leads to a 34–48% increase in household income and to 71–95 min of additional daily learning hours for school-age children. Furthermore, electricity access also strongly contributes to the substitution of firewood, coal, or animal manure with clean electricity for cooking. Due to individual taste preferences there is, however, still a substantial percentage of village dwellers who have not shifted to clean electricity for cooking.

Trophic fingerprinting of a pristine but rapidly deteriorating downstream region of a Western Ghats River.

Chalakudy River is renowned for its pristine waters and rich ichthyofaunal biodiversity. The downstream area of the river is confronting a series of risks, including pollution, saline water ingression, sand mining, illegal and intensified fishing practices, and invasion of exotic and alien species. A mass balanced ecosystem model was constructed for the downstream region of Chalakudy River (DCR) using Ecopath with Ecosim (EWE), incorporating 12 functional groups to delineate the food web and network flow indices for the period 2020 to 2021. The trophic level (TL) of the ecosystem network ranged from TL-1 (detritus) to TL-3.4 (birds). High fishing pressure is one possible cause for the high ecotrophic efficiency values as evidenced by the fish groups. Both the grazing food chain and detritus food chain (detritivory: herbivory ratio 0.94) contributed more or less equal to the energy transfer between TL. Network analysis of the model indicated a mean transfer efficiency of 12%, with shares from primary producers (14%) and detritus (11%). A mixed trophic impact analysis demonstrated a strong positive impact of primary producers and detritus groups on most of the other ecological groups at higher trophic levels. The DCR model showed a high system throughput (32,464.7 t km-2 year-1), low system omnivory (0.09), low connectance index (0.36), low Finn's cycling index (4.9), and mean path length (2.8), low relative ascendency (37.5%), and high system overhead (62.5%). These indices propound that DCR is an immature and developing ecosystem with moderate strength in reserve to resist external perturbations.

Service Quality and Students' Satisfaction of Management Campuses of Kathmandu Valley

Service quality is a campus strategic tool for increasing student satisfaction. This study was conducted to examine the service quality of management campus from student's perspectives and to assess the relationship and impact of reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangible dimensions on satisfaction. A total of 314 management students from bachelor (BBS) and master level (MBS) of management program of five constituent campuses of Tribhuvan University inside Kathmandu Valley were taken through using simple random sampling method. Based on SERVEQUAL gap model developed by the Parasuraman et al. (1985, 1988a), a set of 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was administered to collect data. Result of the result found a poor service quality or negative mean gap in reliability, responsiveness, assurance and tangible dimensions. A strong significant negative impact of mean expectation of responsive dimension was found on service quality gap. On the other hand, mean perception of tangible dimension had strong positive impact on service quality gap. Result of the study emphasizes on the improvement of quality dimensions of management campuses so as to satisfy students and get strategic advantage in this competitive marketplace.