Tree-Ring Growth of Larch (Larix decidua Mill.) in the Polish Sudetes—The Influence of Altitude and Site-Related Factors on the Climate–Growth Relationship

In this paper, the first study of a regional character on the influence of climatic factors on the tree-ring growth of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) growing in the Polish Sudetes is presented. The obtained results indicate the relatively high diversity of the climatic signal observed in the tree rings of larches growing in the Sudetes. The most significant differentiating factor is altitude. The results suggest that the possible influence of local conditions (e.g., summit proximity, soil and bedrock characteristics, and exposure to strong winds) could also be of importance. A positive relationship between tree-ring growth and May temperatures was noted throughout the area; this indicates the principal importance of thermal conditions during the initial stage of cambial activity and tree-ring formation in larches from the Sudetes. The negative effect of the temperatures in the previous summer upon the tree-ring growth of larch in the subsequent year was also observed. The studies also indicate the negative influence of the water stress in summer (particularly in July of the previous year) upon the growth of trees. The negative relationship between tree-ring growth and the previous November temperature could be explained by the need for a late-autumn cooling, which affects the development of assimilation apparatus in spring of the subsequent year, which indirectly affects the tree-ring growth in the same year.

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Corporate Social Responsibility Policy And Brand Value

Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR) ◽

10.19030/jabr.v31i6.9463 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Omar Farooq ◽

Samir Aguenaou ◽

Mohamed Amine Amor

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Brand Value ◽

External Auditors ◽

Brand Values ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Corporate Social

In this paper, we document that corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a negative effect on brand value. Our results show that this negative relationship exists only in firms where investor interest and visibility is high. We show that the negative impact of CSR policies is experienced by firms with high analyst following, larger size, and high earnings. We argue that markets consider CSR activities as a form of corporate charity with no expectations of positive returns. As a result, CSR activities are unnecessary costs incurred by firms. These costs result is adversely affecting current and expected financial performances. Given that current and expected financial performances are important determinants of brand value, firms with more visible CSR activities experience decline in brand values. We also show that certain components of CSR policy – firms who audit their CSR report from external auditors, brands of firms who report their global CSR activities, and brands of firms who publish a separate CSR report – exert more negative influence on brand values than the other components. All of these components are also related to increasing visibility of CSR activities.

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Recent changes in the climate-growth response of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) in the Polish Sudetes

Trees ◽

10.1007/s00468-021-02251-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Małgorzata Danek ◽

Tomasz Danek

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Water Availability ◽

Growth Response ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Temporal Changes ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

European Larch ◽

The Future ◽

Relationship Of

Abstract Key message Recently observed temporal changes in the climate-growth relationship of larch in the Polish Sudetes suggest growth limitations in the future. Abstract Larches in the Sudetes are very sensitive to the currently changing climatic factors, and an extreme negative response to drought is observed. In this study, temporal changes in the climate-growth relationship of European larch were analyzed using moving-window correlation. Change-point detection analysis was performed to determine whether there is a temporal connection between tree-ring growth responses and changes in climatic factors trends. The Random Forest predictor importance determination method was used to establish the set of climatic factors that influence larch tree-ring growth the most and to show how this set changes over time. Additionally, cluster analysis was applied to find spatial growth patterns and to generalize the growth response of larch. The results indicate that the main clustering factor is altitude. Nevertheless, an increasing unification of the larch’s response to dominant climatic factors is observable throughout the whole study area. This unification is expressed in the increasingly positive and recently dominant effect of May temperature. A progressively negative influence of the temperature in the summer and late autumn of the year preceding growth was observed, as was an increasing influence of water availability in the summer months. The study indicates that there is a connection between the observed changes and the recent rapid rise in temperature, which has consequently had a negative influence on water availability. The growth of this tree species in the Sudetes is expected to be very limited in the future due to its sensitivity to drought, the predicted increase in temperatures and thermal extremes, and the decrease of the share of summer precipitation in the annual total.

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The influence of relationship and task conflict on the knowledge-sharing intention in knowledge-intensive organisations

South African Journal of Business Management ◽

10.4102/sajbm.v52i1.2166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Conrad Van Greunen ◽

Elmarie Venter ◽

Gary Sharp

Keyword(s):

Intrinsic Motivation ◽

Knowledge Sharing ◽

Empirical Research ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Task Conflict ◽

Relationship Conflict ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Knowledge Intensive ◽

And Task

Purpose: It is well known that knowledge sharing amongst employees contributes positively to an organisation’s competitive advantage, but that individuals are sometimes, for various reasons, reluctant to share knowledge. Although various types of conflict may influence employees’ knowledge-sharing intention, there is a dearth of empirical research in this regard. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of relationship and task conflict on the knowledge-sharing intention of individual employees and to establish whether extrinsic or intrinsic motivation moderates the negative effect that relationship conflict, if any, may have on knowledge-sharing intention.Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 597 respondents employed at knowledge-intensive organisations. The hypothesised relationships in this study were assessed by means of general linear modelling.Findings/results: The results of the study reveal that ‘relationship conflict’ is significantly and negatively related to the dependent variable ‘knowledge-sharing intention’ and that this negative relationship is moderated by employees’ ‘intrinsic motivation’.Practical implications: The results imply that by intrinsically motivating employees, the negative effect of relationship conflict on knowledge sharing can be alleviated.Originality/value: Given the importance of managing conflict in the workplace in general and its potential negative influence on knowledge sharing, as well as the dearth of recent empirical research on the relationship between conflict and employees’ knowledge-sharing intention, this study addresses this gap in knowledge-sharing research. In addition, this makes a practical contribution by providing recommendations on how to manage conflict in the workplace. Understanding and managing different types of conflict in the workplace could increase knowledge sharing amongst employees and subsequently enhance organisational and employee performance.

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The Relationship between Tree-Ring Growths of Pinus densiflora and Climate from Three Mountains in Central Region, the Republic of Korea

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12070878 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 878

Author(s):

Chang-Hyun Park ◽

Ui-Cheon Lee ◽

Soo-Chul Kim ◽

Kwang-Hee Lee

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

National Parks ◽

Central Region ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Pinus Densiflora ◽

Ring Width ◽

Republic Of Korea ◽

Logarithmic Curve ◽

The Republic ◽

The Relationship

To analyze the relationship between climatic factors (monthly mean temperature and total precipitation) and tree-ring growths of Pinus densiflora from the central region of the Republic of Korea, more than 20 trees were sampled from three national parks. The tree-ring chronology of Mt. Bukhan covering the period of 1917–2016 was assessed, as well as that of Mt. Seorak across 1687–2017 and Mt. Worak across 1777–2017. After cross-dating, each ring-width series was double-standardized by first fitting a logarithmic curve and then a 50 year cubic spline. Climate-growth relationships were computed with bootstrap correlation functions. The result of the analysis showed a positive response from the current March temperature and May precipitations for tree-ring growth of Pinus densiflora. It indicates that a higher temperature supply during early spring season and precipitation during cambium activity are important for radial growths of Pinus densiflora from the central region in the Republic of Korea.

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Efficiency loss and support for income redistribution: Evidence from a laboratory experiment

Rationality and Society ◽

10.1177/10434631211015514 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104346312110155

Author(s):

Markus Tepe ◽

Fabian Paetzel ◽

Jan Lorenz ◽

Maximilian Lutz

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Experiment ◽

Group Communication ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Income Redistribution ◽

Point Pattern ◽

Minor Role ◽

Treatment Variable ◽

Efficiency Loss ◽

Tax Rate ◽

Negative Effect

Income redistribution with an efficiency loss is expected to have a twofold negative effect on support for redistribution, as it lowers egoistic support for redistribution and activates efficiency preferences. This study tests whether such a negative relationship exists, increases with the size of efficiency loss and interacts with group communication and the income position. We present a laboratory experiment in which subjects receive a randomly allocated income and must coordinate on a majority tax rate using a deliberative communication tool. The rate of money lost as a part of the redistribution process is manipulated as a treatment variable (0%, 5%, 20%, or 60%). Experimental evidence shows that efficiency loss exerts a robust negative effect on support for redistribution. The effect shows a tipping point pattern, is stronger at the lower end of the income distribution and is not fully explained by egoistic preferences. Inefficiency matters mostly for the chosen tax rate after group communication. At an efficiency loss of 60%, however, group communication does not affect support for redistribution, which implies that inefficiencies tend to play a minor role in the context of redistribution as long as they are within a moderate range. JEL Classification: C91, C92, D63, D72

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Hours of Paid Work and Volunteering: Evidence From Danish Panel Data

Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly ◽

10.1177/0899764021991668 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089976402199166

Author(s):

Hans-Peter Y. Qvist

Keyword(s):

Panel Data ◽

Social Integration ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Time Constraint ◽

Integration Theory ◽

Paid Work ◽

Constraint Theory ◽

The Social ◽

Negative Effect ◽

The Relationship

The nature of the relationship between the time people spend on paid work and volunteering remains debated in the social sciences. Time constraint theory suggests a negative relationship because people can allocate only as much time to volunteering as their work responsibilities permit. However, social integration theory suggests a more complex inverse U-shaped relationship because paid work not only limits people’s free time but also plays a key role in their social integration. Departing from these competing theories, this study uses two-wave panel data from Denmark to examine the relationship between hours of paid work and volunteering. In support of time constraint theory, the results suggest that hours of paid work have a significant negative effect on the total number of hours that people spend volunteering, not mainly because paid work hours affect people’s propensity to volunteer but because they affect the number of hours that volunteers contribute.

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Financial constraint, trust, and export performances: firm-level evidence from Africa

Journal of Institutional Economics ◽

10.1017/s1744137421000059 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Maty Konte ◽

Gideon Ndubuisi

Keyword(s):

Financial Constraints ◽

Interpersonal Trust ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Financial Constraint ◽

African Countries ◽

Firm Level ◽

Country Level ◽

The World Bank ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Enterprise Surveys

Abstract Several existing studies have documented a negative relationship between firm financial constraint and export activities but do not attempt to examine factors that could attenuate this relationship in Africa. In this paper, we examine the effect of financial constraint on exports in Africa and explore how the level of trust in countries where firms are located shapes this relationship. We combine the World Bank Enterprise Surveys with different measures of country-level personal and interpersonal trust computed from the Afrobarometer surveys of 19 African countries. Our results show that financial constraints negatively affect export activities. However, this negative effect is attenuated for firms that are located in trust-intensive societies. These findings are robust to different specifications. Interestingly, we find that small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa are more likely to be affected by financial constraints but also more likely to benefit from a higher level of both personal and interpersonal trust, while for larger firms only interpersonal trust matters.

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Does Corruption Lead to Lower Subnational Credit Ratings? Fiscal Dependence, Market Reputation, and the Cost of Debt

Business and Politics ◽

10.1017/bap.2020.22 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Maciej Sychowiec ◽

Monika Bauhr ◽

Nicholas Charron

Keyword(s):

Credit Ratings ◽

National Level ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Cost Of Debt ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Sovereign Credit Ratings ◽

Heterogeneous Effects ◽

Federal Revenue ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Using Data

Abstract While studies show a consistent negative relationship between the level of corruption and range indicators of national-level economic performance, including sovereign credit ratings, we know less about the relationship between corruption and subnational credit ratings. This study suggests that federal transfers allow states with higher levels of corruption to retain good credit ratings, despite the negative economic implications of corruption more broadly, which also allows them to continue to borrow at low costs. Using data on corruption conviction in US states and credit ratings between 2001 and 2015, we show that corruption does not directly reduce credit ratings on average. We find, however, heterogeneous effects, in that there is a negative effect of corruption on credit ratings only in states that have a comparatively low level of fiscal dependence on federal transfers. This suggest that while less dependent states are punished by international assessors when seen as more corrupt, corruption does not affect the ratings of states with higher levels of fiscal dependence on federal revenue.

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Evaluation of foam properties of saponin from Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. (Aquifoliaceae) fruits

Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.1590/s1984-82502010000200010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 237-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gizele Scotti do Canto ◽

Janine Treter ◽

Samanta Yang ◽

Gustavo Luís Borré ◽

Maria Paula Garofo Peixoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sodium Dodecyl ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Molecular Surface ◽

Ilex Paraguariensis ◽

Film Drainage ◽

Drainage Rate ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Foam Properties ◽

Saponin Fraction ◽

Film Thinning

Saponins are natural compounds able to form abundant foam, a desirable quality required in some chemical, foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical processes. Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. (Aquifoliaceae) known as mate, is a South American widely cultivated specie due to the preparation of a tea-like beverage from its leaves. Moreover, its green fruits are a rich source of non-toxic and very low haemolytic saponins. In this study, mate saponin fraction (MSF) was evaluated as a foam former, focusing on its foamability, foam lifetime, and film drainage in the presence of different electrolytes (ionic strength I = 0.024 M). Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and polysorbate 80 (Poly-80) were used as reference surfactants. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), the minimum attainable surface tension (γCMC), surface excess concentration (Γ) and cross-section molecular surface (A) values of MSF were comparable to those of Poly-80. The foamability of MSF and both reference surfactants was equivalent. The addition of MgCl2 resulted in a negative effect on MSF foamability. The salts NaCl, KBr, and KNO3 exhibited a negative influence on MSF foam lifetime. Similar behavior was observed for MSF film drainage (order of activity: Na2HPO4 > MgCl2 ≈ NaCl ≈ KNO3 > KBr), where a primary fast film drainage rate was followed by film thinning stabilization after around 5 min. The behavior described above seems to be uncorrelated to the solutions' zeta potential.

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Closer to the state, closer to the polls? The different impact of corruption on turnout among public employees and other citizens

International Political Science Review ◽

10.1177/0192512118795174 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (5) ◽

pp. 659-675 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sabina Haveric ◽

Stefano Ronchi ◽

Laura Cabeza

Keyword(s):

Survey Data ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

The Political ◽

World Values Survey ◽

Public Employees ◽

Relevant Question ◽

Employment Sector ◽

Negative Effect ◽

The Government ◽

Political Success

Research on the link between turnout and corruption has produced inconclusive evidence: while some studies find corruption to be positively related to turnout, others report a negative relationship. This article argues that the relevant question is not whether corruption has a positive or negative effect on turnout, but for whom. We hypothesize that the effect of corruption on the likelihood to vote depends on individuals’ employment sector. Public employees have different incentives to vote in corrupt settings since their jobs often depend on the political success of the government of the day. Hence, while corruption dampens turnout among ordinary citizens, public employees are more likely to vote in highly corrupt countries. Analysis of World Values Survey data from 44 countries, shows that the differential in voting propensity between public employees and other citizens gets larger as corruption increases, partially confirming our expectations.

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