The role of R&D and economic policy uncertainty in Sri Lanka’s economic growth

In this paper, we assess the role of investment in research and development (R&D) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU) in Sri Lanka’s economic growth experience. We do this by first determining which endogenous growth theories best explain the evolution of total factor productivity (TFP) in the country. Using historical time series data (1980–2018), we find that semi-endogenous growth theories best explain the evolution of TFP in Sri Lanka. This evidence suggests that R&D is critical to the country’s TFP expansion. We find that, through R&D, EPU has a crucial detrimental impact on TFP growth, although it is short-lived. Our findings are robust and have important implications for R&D investment and for moderating EPU.

Impact of Capital Structure on The Financial Performance of Listed Financial Institutions in Nigeria

The influence of capital structure on deposit money bank financial performance was explored in this study. The secondary data was gathered from the annual reports and accounts of the 14 sampled Deposit Money Banks from 2014 to 2018, and generalized least square multiple regression was used to evaluate the secondary data. According to the findings, total debt to total assets, total debt to total equity, and long-term debt to total assets have little bearing on the financial performance of Nigerian banks. The study also discovered that the ratio of short-term debt to total assets has a considerable influence on a bank's financial success. In light of the findings, it is suggested that bank management strive diligently to reduce the short-term debt to total assets component of their capital structure, since this has a detrimental impact on their financial performance. They also have a tendency to enhance the ratio of total debt to total assets since it improves their financial performance. Long-term debt to total assets ratios should be reduced in capital structure components since they have a negative impact on financial performance.

Modeling of the Point Defect Migration across the AlN/GaN Interfaces—Ab Initio Study

The formation and diffusion of point defects have a detrimental impact on the functionality of devices in which a high quality AlN/GaN heterointerface is required. The present paper demonstrated the heights of the migration energy barriers of native point defects throughout the AlN/GaN heterointerface, as well as the corresponding profiles of energy bands calculated by means of density functional theory. Both neutral and charged nitrogen, gallium, and aluminium vacancies were studied, as well as their complexes with a substitutional III-group element. Three diffusion mechanisms, that is, the vacancy mediated, direct interstitial, and indirect ones, in bulk AlN and GaN crystals, as well at the AlN/GaN heterointerface, were taken into account. We showed that metal vacancies migrated across the AlN/GaN interface, overcoming a lower potential barrier than that of the nitrogen vacancy. Additionally, we demonstrated the effect of the inversion of the electric field in the presence of charged point defects VGa3− and VAl3− at the AlN/GaN heterointerface, not reported so far. Our findings contributed to the issues of structure design, quality control, and improvement of the interfacial abruptness of the AlN/GaN heterostructures.

Greece in the Eurozone: An Evaluation of the First Two Decades

On the 31st of December 2021, the euro celebrated its two decades in circulation. Initially, twelve countries adopted the euro as their new national currency, Greece being one of them. Starting in 2020, euro is the official currency of nineteen European Union countries. This paper aims to examine three issues. Firstly, the paper investigates Greek people’s perception about the euro, using data from the recent issue of the Eurobarometer (December 2021). Secondly, the economic performance of Greece is briefly examined by comparing the Greek Gross Domestic Product (GDP) two decades before and two decades after the introduction of euro. Finally, the Greek participation to the eurozone has been a controversial, political issue. The political developments in Greece during the first two decades of the euro are also studied, emphasizing the dramatic political events after the double elections of 2012. The period of the two decades ends with the detrimental impact of COVID-19. This issue is also mentioned by reviewing some recent publications. Keywords: Eurozone, Greece, GDP, per capita GDP, Eurobarometer, euro, elections, politics

CEO hubris and Islamic banks’ performance: Investigating the roles of Sharia board vigilance and CEO power

The purpose of the study is to thoroughly outline how the hubris behavior of chief executive officers (CEO) is detrimental to Islamic banks’ (IBs) performance. Specifically, this study attempts to examine the role of the Sharia supervisory board (SSB), board vigilance, and CEO power in the relationship between CEO hubris behavior and decreased IBs’ performance. This study observes IBs’ performance during the period from 2014 to 2020 and develops eight models to test their determinants. Empirical testing of all models shows that CEO hubris has a detrimental impact on IBs’ performance. The moderating impact test shows the following results: firstly, the presence of SSB, which is represented by the reputation of its members, reduces the detrimental impact of hubris behavior by CEOs on IBs’ performance, while that impact, which is represented by member expertise, does not have a moderating effect. Second, the size and independence of the BOC both weaken the negative relationship between CEO hubris and IBs’ performance. Third, CEO power as represented by tenure and ownership has no moderating effect.

Endophyte Infected Tall Fescue: Plant Symbiosis to Animal Toxicosis

Endophyte-infected fescue is a major cool season forage used for livestock production in the United States and through other areas of the world. A unique aspect of this forage resource is the symbiotic relationship with an endophytic fungus (Epichloë coenophiala) that has detrimental impact on herbivores due to toxic ergot alkaloids. Research over the past 50 years has unveiled details regarding this symbiotic relationship. This review focuses on the origin of tall fescue in the United States and the consequences of its wide-spread utilization as a livestock forage, along with the discovery and toxicodynamics of ergot alkaloids produced by E. coenophiala. The majority of past ergot alkaloid research has focused on observing phenotypic changes that occur in livestock affected by ergot alkaloids, but recent investigation of the metabolome, transcriptome, and proteome have shown that fescue toxicity-related illnesses are much more complex than previous research suggests.

Blazar Variability with the Vera C. Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time

With their emission mainly coming from a relativistic jet pointing toward us, blazars are fundamental sources for studying extragalactic jets and their central engines, consisting of supermassive black holes fed by accretion disks. They are also candidate sources of high-energy neutrinos and cosmic rays. Because of the jet orientation, the nonthermal blazar emission is Doppler beamed; its variability is unpredictable, and it occurs on timescales from less than 1 hr to years. Comprehension of the diverse mechanisms producing the flux and spectral changes requires well-sampled multiband light curves over long time periods. In particular, outbursts are the best test bench for shedding light on the underlying physics, especially when studied in a multiwavelength context. The Vera C. Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (Rubin-LSST) will monitor the southern sky for 10 yr in six photometric bands, offering a formidable tool for studying blazar variability features in a statistical way. The alert system will allow us to trigger follow-up observations of outstanding events, especially at high (keV-to-GeV) and very high (TeV) energies. We here examine the simulated Rubin-LSST survey strategies with the aim of understanding which cadences are more suitable for blazar variability science. Our metrics include light curve and color sampling. We also investigate the problem of saturation, which will affect the brightest and many flaring sources, and will have a detrimental impact on follow-up observations.

Unpacking the Role of Neoliberalism on the Politics of Poverty Reduction Policies in Ontario, Canada: A Descriptive Case Study and Critical Analysis

This paper employs a descriptive case study method to analyze and critically review the emergence of the provincial poverty reduction strategy in Ontario, Canada which was implemented in 2008 and renewed in 2014. The purpose of this study is two-fold: first, it defines the principles of neoliberalism and explores the historical growth of neoliberal thought in Canada, and specifically within Ontario, beginning in the 1980s to the present-day. Drawing on a combination of primary, secondary and grey literature, this paper discusses the ways in which neoliberal ideologies and rhetoric became deeply rooted in political thought and discourse within the province. Employing a critical theory framework, the paper highlights the contrasting ways in which neoliberal values were adopted by the different political parties in power and the detrimental impact this espousal had on individuals living in poverty within Ontario. Second, the paper illustrates the powerful ways in which anti-poverty grassroots movements and social advocacy groups assembled to push for the creation of a provincial poverty reduction strategy. The analysis ends with a critique of the neoliberal influences on the strategy’s recommendations and the future outlook of the poverty reduction strategy based on the current political climate within the province.

Patients’ Perspectives on Qualitative Olfactory Dysfunction: Thematic Analysis of Social Media Posts

Background The impact of qualitative olfactory disorders is underestimated. Parosmia, the distorted perception of familiar odors, and phantosmia, the experience of odors in the absence of a stimulus, can arise following postinfectious anosmia, and the incidences of both have increased substantially since the outbreak of COVID-19. Objective The aims of this study are to explore the symptoms and sequalae of postinfectious olfactory dysfunction syndrome using unstructured and unsolicited threads from social media, and to articulate the perspectives and concerns of patients affected by these debilitating olfactory disorders. Methods A thematic analysis and content analysis of posts in the AbScent Parosmia and Phantosmia Support group on Facebook was conducted between June and December 2020. Results In this paper, we identify a novel symptom, olfactory perseveration, which is a triggered, identifiable, and usually unpleasant olfactory percept that persists in the absence of an ongoing stimulus. We also observe fluctuations in the intensity and duration of symptoms of parosmia, phantosmia, and olfactory perseveration. In addition, we identify a group of the most common items (coffee, meat, onion, and toothpaste) that trigger distortions; however, people have difficulty describing these distortions, using words associated with disgust and revulsion. The emotional aspect of living with qualitative olfactory dysfunction was evident and highlighted the detrimental impact on mental health. Conclusions Qualitative and unsolicited data acquired from social media has provided useful insights into the patient experience of parosmia and phantosmia, which can inform rehabilitation strategies and ongoing research into understanding the molecular triggers associated with parosmic distortions and research into patient benefit.