Search

This research examines the impact of the COVID-19 on cryptocurrencies' connectedness by employing two techniques: TVP-VAR-based connectedness and causality in the quantiles. First, the TVP-VAR-based connectedness unveils that cryptocurrencies act as a net receiver and transmitter of shocks, with Bitcoin, Ethereum are the highest transmitters among others. Moreover, the causality-in-quantile test shows that COVID-19 significantly causes spillover connectedness among cryptocurrencies, mainly at the quantiles ranging from 0.1 to 0.8, while an insignificant causal relationship is found in few cases. The study has implications for investors and policymakers., (© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We use stock market returns and a new, weekly available, GDP tracker to estimate a structural VAR identified with long-run restrictions. We find that global 'news' contribute more than local 'news' shocks to explaining the recent variance of equity returns from developing and small developed countries. Since data do not (yet) point to an increase in financial integration during the current pandemic, our investigations support the alternative that these markets hold too optimistic views on their prospects and future ties with the global economy., Competing Interests: None., (© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Improper healthcare waste (HCW) management poses significant risks to the environment, human health, and socio-economic sustainability due to the infectious and hazardous nature of HCW. This research aims at rendering a comprehensive landscape of the body of research on HCW management by (i) mapping the scientific development of HCW research, (ii) identifying the prominent HCW research themes and trends, and (iii) providing a research agenda for HCW management towards a circular economy (CE) transition and sustainable environment. The analysis revealed four dominant HCW research themes: (1) HCW minimization, sustainable management, and policy-making; (2) HCW incineration and its associated environmental impacts; (3) hazardous HCW management practices; and (4) HCW handling and occupational safety and training. The results showed that the healthcare industry, despite its potential to contribute to the CE transition, has been overlooked in the CE discourse due to the single-use mindset of the healthcare industry in the wake of the infectious, toxic, and hazardous nature of HCW streams. The findings shed light on the HCW management domain by uncovering the current status of HCW research, highlighting the existing gaps and challenges, and providing potential avenues for further research towards a CE transition in the healthcare industry and HCW management., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We examined the relationship between patient-centered communication and cancer risk information avoidance and estimated the mediating role of self-efficacy in this relationship., Methods: Using nationally representative cross-sectional data from the U.S. Health Information National Trends Survey (N = 2033), this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between patient-centered communication and cancer risk information avoidance via correlation analysis, stepwise regression models, and mediation analysis., Results: Patient-centered communication was significantly negatively associated with cancer risk information avoidance (β= -0.09, p < 0.01) after controlling for gender, income, education, and cancer risk perception. Self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship of patient-centered communication with cancer risk information avoidance., Conclusion: Patient-centered communication can improve patients' self-efficacy, thereby preventing them from avoiding cancer risk information., Practice Implications: The negative relationship between patient-centered communication and cancer risk information avoidance substantiates that improving patient-centered communication is a promising approach to support caregivers in their activities, reduce patients' subjective cancer burden, and even improve their health. To address cancer-related issues, policymakers can consider interventions from the external environment and internal personal cognition perspectives., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This paper examines the causal relationship between crude oil and gold spot prices to assess how the economic impact of COVID-19 has affected them. We analyze West Texas Light crude oil (WTI) and gold prices from January 4, 2010, to May 4, 2020. We detect common periods of mild explosivity in WTI and gold markets. More importantly, we find a bilateral contagion effect of bubbles in oil and gold markets during the recent COVID-19 outbreak., (© 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)