Characteristics of Mendeley Readership for Earth and Planetary Science Articles

The scientific community considers readership analysis of academic artifacts to be a significant endeavor. The reference manager’s readership count is a momentous indication for early research evaluation. In response, this study demonstrates the characteristics of Mendeley readership for EPS articles from twelve narrow disciplines and compares them with citations. The bibliographic and citation data have been collected from Scopus and the corresponding readers’ data from Mendeley. The Spearman correlation was performed among citations and readers for all unique articles for all investigated disciplines. Further, we also looked at the relationships between articles with non-zero readers, as well as articles satisfied by percentile ranking of the top 75 per cent, 50 per cent, and 25 per cen treaders. The result indicates large correlations among citations and readers (avg. 0.669) for all investigated disciplines. If we analysed only non-zero readers, as well as a percentile ranking of articles, the correlation results show a decreasing trend. Around 98.57 per cent of articles have at least one reader in Mendeley and AS (97.53 %) discipline has registered the highest one. The CES discipline had registered the largest MRS of 32.25 and MCS of 12.75. Most of the readers come from post-doctoral students and Ph.D. students. The correlation results indicate that the readership statistics should be used as an impact indicator for EPS discipline.

Abstract MP52: Sex Differences In The Association Between Neighborhood Social Vulnerability And Psychological Distress Among Patients With Heart Disease

Introduction: Psychological stress disorders are twice as prevalent in women with ischemic heart disease compared to their male counterparts. The disproportionate psychological health experience of these women is not well understood. Neighborhood social factors may help to explain disparities in psychological risk by sex. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that in patients with a recent myocardial infarction, living in neighborhoods with higher social vulnerability would be associated with greater psychological distress. We also hypothesized that this association would be moderated by sex, with a greater association among women than men. Methods: We studied 286 patients with heart disease recruited from Emory-based hospitals in the Myocardial Infarction and Mental Stress 2 Study. We used the social vulnerability index (SVI) developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rank patients’ census tracks on 14 social factors, including unemployment, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing, which are further grouped into four themes: socioeconomic status; household composition; minority status and language; and housing and transportation. Census tracts received a percentile ranking (0-100%), overall and for each theme, with higher values indicating greater social vulnerability. We calculated a global measure of psychological distress by ranking each participant on each of six symptom scales (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, anger, hostility, and perceived stress) and then taking an average of all ranks. Multilevel linear regression models were used to account for individuals nested within census tracts. Beta coefficients for mean ranks in psychological distress scores were estimated per 10-unit increase in SVI percentile ranking. Results: The mean age of the sample was 51 years (range: 26-61); 49% were women and 66% African American. Women in higher SVI census tracts had greater psychological distress scores. After adjusting for demographics (age, race, individual-level education and income), lifestyle and medical risk factors, and anti-depressant use, there were significant differences by sex (SVI-by-sex-interaction = 0.01) such that each 10 unit increase in SVI percentile ranking was associated with 4.09 (95% CI: 0.02, 8.08; p = 0.05) unit increase in mean scores for psychological distress among women only. These associations were driven by the SVI themes of lower socioeconomic status and poorer access to housing and transportation. There were no significant interactions by race. Conclusions: We show for the first time that neighborhood social vulnerability is associated with psychological distress among women with heart disease. These findings support the role of contextual influences of the neighborhood environment on the mental health of high-risk women, independent of individual-level measures of income and education.

Improving the Motor Skills of Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Past examinations uncover that the prescient control of developments is weakened in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), most likely connected with shortfall within the inner modelling of movements. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a motor skills training program in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. The study was done at four kindergartens in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan for duration of 10 weeks. All 27 children with DCD who taken part were referred to the research and score at and below the 16th percentile for their age on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC 2). Participants were divided into an intervention group (n=18) receiving 10 weeks of motor skills training program for 40 min twice per week and the control group (n=9) proceeded with exercises of everyday living. Twenty-four children finalized the research, with 14 boys and 10 girls (mean age 5.17, SD= 0.702). All children in the intervention group had a sharp increase in total percentile ranking of MABC 2 but a further decrease was observed in the control group except for one child. The study supports 10 weeks of a motor skills training program which can be a beneficial intervention for physical education specialists to enhance motor skills for children with DCD.

Double-Adjusted Mutual Fund Performance

Mutual fund returns are significantly related to stock characteristics in the cross-section after controlling for risk via factor models. We develop a new double-adjusted approach that controls for both factor model betas and stock characteristics in one performance measure. The new measure substantially affects performance rankings, with a quarter of funds experiencing a change in their percentile ranking greater than 10. Double-adjusted performance produces strong evidence of persistence in relative performance. Inference based on the new measure often differs, sometimes dramatically, from that based on traditional performance estimates.

Managerial Factors in Investment Risk: Evidence from Polish Mutual Funds

The aim of this study is to examine whether investment risk is related to the managerial factors characterising portfolio managers. The study employs four risk measures and a set of individual manager characteristics, including socio-demographic variables determining a manager profile. The analysis is conducted based on data for 144 portfolio managers from 43 domestic equity funds operating in Poland in the period 2000-2015. The examinations are made possible by using static panel models. The obtained results indicate the existence of a relationship between managerial characteristics and risk measures, such as: standard deviation, beta coefficient, tracking error and bear-market percentile ranking. To our knowledge, it is the first paper to evaluate the investment risk of Polish mutual funds in relation to managerial characteristics.

Determinants of Sea Gypsies School Leavers in the Philippines

The Sea Gypsies (Badjaos) stride in education since a large number of children not taking part in education programmes. This is due to reasons of an unjustified stigma associated with the Badjao people, which cause them to be discriminated against in school and the employment market. This study ascertained the determinants of Badjao school leavers in Cebu City, Philippines. It employed a descriptive method using the adapted survey questionnaire. Sixty-five respondents were identified using purposive sampling. The data gathered were organized and treated statistically using weighted mean, percentile ranking, and multiple regression. The findings disclosed that the Badjao respondents had perceived that personal and family factors could be the determinants why they had left school. Also, the integration and program implementation were not associated with why the respondents had left school. The respondents’ profile and their perceived reasons for leaving school had no significant relationship. Lastly, the respondents perceived reasons for leaving school. Hence, it is highly recommended that the proposed developmental plan of this study be adopted, implemented and monitored in order to help the Badjaos to finish their studies and become more responsible and productive citizens of the country.

Comparing Age- and Grade-Based Norms on the Woodcock–Johnson III Normative Update

There has been a marked increase in accommodation requests from students with disabilities at both the postsecondary education level and on high-stakes examinations. As such, accurate identification and quantification of normative impairment is essential for equitable provision of accommodations. Considerable diversity currently exists in methods used to diagnose learning disabilities, including whether an impairment is normative or relative. This study investigated the impact on impairment classification if grade-based norms were used to interpret identical raw scores compared with age-based norms. Fourteen raw scores distributed equally across the adult range of the Woodcock–Johnson III Normative Update subtests were scored using norms for either age (18-29 years) or grade (13-17). The results indicate that raw scores receive a significantly lower standardized score (and thus percentile ranking) when grade-based norms are used. Furthermore, the difference between age- and grade-based scores increases dramatically as raw scores decrease, and there is a significant interaction between age and grade in the standard scores obtained. This study provides evidence to suggest that using different norms may result in different decisions about diagnoses and appropriate accommodations.

Determinants of disclosures of alternative pay measures and their role in Say on Pay approval

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of the increase in firms’ reporting of alternative pay measures in Pay for Performance disclosures and their role in subsequent Say on Pay approval. Design/methodology/approach This study explores the most common types of supplemental compensation disclosures used in Pay for Performance discussions using a hand-collected sample of S&P 500 proxy statements from 2012-2014. The sample compares key characteristics of firms reporting “pocketed” pay, “market-value” pay, and “peer comparison” percentile ranking pay compared to firms that do not use these alternatives. Findings Results suggest that firms use alternative pay measures in their Pay for Performance disclosures for different reasons. While “pocketed” pay reporters show characteristics of opportunistic disclosures and “peer comparison” reporters tend toward informative disclosure, there is often a significant positive impact of disclosing additional compensation information on Say on Pay approval when combating prior poor Say on Pay support. However, the effect seems most significant for peer comparisons, indicating the value of reporting comparative pay. Originality/value This study provides insights into the increasing use of alternative pay measures, and through these measures, identifies an additional mechanism of firms’ responses to Say on Pay votes. In addition, this study highlights the importance of standardized Pay for Performance disclosures to improve informativeness and comparability in financial reporting across firms. Finally, the study provides additional evidence of opportunistic disclosure by firms in order to preserve executive pay.

An exploratory pilot study of mechanisms of action within normative feedback for adult drinkers

Background. Normative feedback (NF), or receiving information about one’s drinking compared to peer drinking norms, is one of the most widely used brief interventions for prevention and intervention for hazardous alcohol use. NF has demonstrated predominantly small but significant effect sizes for intention to change and other drinking related outcomes. Identifying mechanisms of action may improve the effectiveness of NF; however, few studies have examined NF’s mechanisms of action, particularly among adults. Objective. This study is an exploratory analysis of two theorized mechanisms of NF: discrepancy (specifically personal dissonance—the affective response to feedback) and belief in the accuracy of feedback. Method. Using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, 87 men (n = 56) and women (n = 31) completed an online survey during which they were asked about their perceptions about their drinking and actual drinking behaviors. Then participants were provided tailored NF and evaluated for their reactions. Severity of discrepancy was measured by the difference between one’s estimated percentile ranking of drinking compared to peers and actual percentile ranking. Surprise and worry reported due to the discrepancy were proxies for personal dissonance. Participants were also asked if they believed the feedback and if they had any plans to change their drinking. Mediation analyses were implemented, exploring whether surprise, worry, or belief in the accuracy of feedback mediated severity of discrepancy’s impact on plan for change. Results. Among this sample of adult drinkers, severity of discrepancy did not predict plan for change, and personal dissonance did not mediate severity of discrepancy. Severity of discrepancy was mediated by belief in the accuracy of feedback. In addition, viewing one’s drinking as a problem prior to feedback and post-NF worry both predicted plan for change independently. Conclusions. Results revealed that NF may not work to create personal dissonance through discrepancy, but belief in the accuracy of feedback may be important. It appears the more one believes the feedback, the more one makes a plan for change, suggesting practitioners should be mindful of how information within feedback is presented. Findings also indicate NF may work by validating a preexisting perception that drinking is a problem instead of creating concern related to discrepancy where none existed. Limitations regarding generalizability are discussed.

An exploratory pilot study of mechanisms of action within normative feedback for adult drinkers

Background: Normative feedback (NF), or receiving information about one’s drinking compared to peer drinking norms, is one of the most widely used brief interventions for prevention and intervention for hazardous alcohol use. NF has demonstrated predominantly small but significant effect sizes for intention to change and other drinking related outcomes. Identifying mechanisms of action may improve the effectiveness of NF; however, few studies have examined NF’s mechanisms of action, particularly among adults. Objective: This study is an exploratory analysis of two theorized mechanisms of NF: discrepancy (specifically personal dissonance—the affective response to feedback) and belief in the accuracy of feedback. Method: Using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, 87 men (n=56) and women (n=31) completed an online survey during which they were asked about their perceptions about their drinking and actual drinking behaviors. Then participants were provided tailored NF and evaluated for their reactions. Severity of discrepancy was measured by the difference between one’s estimated percentile ranking of drinking compared to peers and actual percentile ranking. Surprise and worry reported due to the discrepancy were proxies for personal dissonance. Participants were also asked if they believed the feedback and if they had any plans to change their drinking. Mediation analyses were implemented, exploring whether surprise, worry, or belief in the accuracy of feedback mediated severity of discrepancy’s impact on plan for change. Results: Among this sample of adult drinkers, severity of discrepancy did not predict plan for change, and personal dissonance did not mediate severity of discrepancy. Severity of discrepancy was mediated by belief in the accuracy of feedback. In addition, viewing one’s drinking as a problem prior to feedback and post-NF worry both predicted plan for change independently. Conclusions: Results revealed that NF may not work to create personal dissonance through discrepancy, but belief in the accuracy of feedback may be important. It appears the more one believes the feedback, the more one makes a plan for change, suggesting practitioners should be mindful of how information within feedback is presented. Findings also indicate NF may work by validating a preexisting perception that drinking is a problem instead of creating concern related to discrepancy where none existed. Limitations regarding generalizability are discussed.