Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EU emissions trading and the cement sector: a spatial competition analysis

An oligopoly competition model is described and used to illustrate the potential effect of EU emissions trading and transport issues on the production decisions and profitability of cement producers in a typical western European country market. The role of geography is introduced from three viewpoints: the existence of regional markets, the fact that EU producers may operate multiple plants across these regions, and the possibility of production capacity constraints. A typical EU state is divided into a coastal region which is initially exposed to international competition, and an inland region which is initially protected. Assuming pure auctioning of EU Allowances and a range of CO2 prices up to €50/t, our model predicts a large increase of imports into the coastal region. Consequences for the inland producers include reduced attractiveness of the coastal market, as well as increased competition from coastal producers and from non-EU imports. The model includes a number of simplifications and therefore does not claim to offer definitive predictions, but our results do suggest that an increase in non-EU imports could feasibly offset more than 70% of the decrease in EU cement sector emissions. The likely impact on producer profits is considered for each region, and the advantages and disadvantages of potential mitigating policy measures are reviewed for either the EU Allowance allocation process or border adjustments on cement products.
Wealth effects and financial performance of cross- border mergers and acquisitions in five East Asian countries

This study analyses the performance of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBMAs) in five East Asian countries using the event study method and key financial ratios. Although the results for average abnormal returns in Indonesia and Korea were inconclusive, the results for Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines suggest that the market had reacted positively by adding value to the target firms upon merger announcements. There was a significant improvement in targets' free cash flow after CBMAs when compared to both before CBMAs and also control firms after CBMAs. The results also reveal that that these five East Asian countries have moved towards more efficient markets.
Restoring the Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio may alleviate HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

AIM To investigate the role of T helper 17 cells (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). METHODS We enrolled 79 patients with HBV infection into the study, 50 patients with HBV-related ACLF and 29 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), from the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College from January 2009 to June 2012. The ACLF patients were diagnosed according to the criteria recommended by The 19(th) Conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver in 2009. Twenty healthy individuals with a similar gender and age structures to the two patient groups were also included as the normal controls (NC). Of the 50 ACLF patients, 28 were subsequently classified as non-survivors: 19 patients died from multi-organ failure, 3 underwent liver transplantation, and 6 discontinued therapy during follow-up because of financial reasons. The remaining 22 ACLF patients whose liver and anticoagulation function recovered to nearly normal levels within the next 6 mo were classified as survivors. The number of circulating Treg and Th17 cells was determined upon diagnosis and during the 8th week of follow-up through flow cytometry. RESULTS The percentage of circulating Treg cells in the ACLF group was significantly higher than that in the CHB group (5.50% ± 1.15% vs 3.30% ± 1.13%, P < 0.01). The percentages of circulating Th17 cells in the ACLF and the CHB groups were significantly higher than that in the NC group (6.32% ± 2.22% vs 1.56% ± 0.44%, P < 0.01; 3.53% ± 1.65% vs 1.56% ± 0.44%, P < 0.01). No significant difference in Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio was observed between the ACLF group and the CHB group (0.98 ± 0.44 vs 1.12 ± 0.64, P = 0.991), whereas those in the two HBV infection groups were significantly lower than that in the NC group (1.85 ± 1.22; both P < 0.01). The percentage of Treg cells in the survivors during the 8(th) week of follow-up was significantly lower than that during peak ACLF severity [total bilirubin (TBIL) peak] (3.45% ± 0.97% vs 5.18% ± 1.02%, P < 0.01). The percentage of Th17 cells in survivors during the 8(th) week of follow-up was significantly lower than that during the peak TBIL (2.89% ± 0.60% vs 5.24% ± 1.46%; P < 0.01). The Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio during the 8(th) week of follow-up was significantly higher than that during the TBIL peak (1.22 ± 0.36 vs 1.10 ± 0.54; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Restoring the Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio during the follow-up phase of ACLF could maintain the immune system at a steady state, which favours good prognosis.
Studies of talent markets

This thesis consists of three studies of labor markets where differences in talent are associated with very large differences in income. The unifying theoretical feature is the view that the analysis of such labor markets should take into account the scarcity of jobs, which is a natural consequence of the combination of finite demand and positive production costs. In Chapter 1 we propose a model where an industry-specific talent can only be revealed on the job and publicly. Individual inability to commit to long-term contracts leaves firms with insufficient incentives to hire novices, inducing them to bid excessively for the pool of revealed talent instead. This causes the market to be plagued with too many mediocre workers, inefficiently low output levels, and excessive rents for the known high talents. We argue that high wages in professions such as entertainment and entrepreneurship may be explained by the nature of the talent revelation process in those markets, and suggest potential natural experiments for estimating the welfare loss and the excessive talent rents predicted by the model. Chapter 2 is an analysis of the labor market of CEOs. We present an assignment model of managers and firms of heterogeneous talent and scale, and show how the value of underlying ability differences can be distinguished from scale effects using the observed joint distribution of CEO pay and market value. The empirical results suggest that the observed size-pay relation in the US is mainly due to differences in firm characteristics rather than differences in managerial ability. Chapter 3 uses a combination of simple versions of the models of the first two chapters to analyze the role of transfer fees in professional sports. There workers are able to commit to long-term wage contracts, and a transfer fee is the price of a remaining contract. We show that the abolition of transfer fees would reallocate playing time towards older players and increase salaries by more than the current transfer fees. All clubs, including the bigger clubs that are the current net payers of transfer fees, would lose out in the reform. Thesis Supervisor: Bengt Holmstrom Title: Paul A. Samuelson Professor of Economics Thesis Supervisor: David Autor Title: Pentti J.K. Kouri Career Development Assistant Professor of Economics
Comparative Analysis of Travel-Related Characteristics Between Special Event Attendees and Non-Attendees in a Metropolitan City

Special events have received growing attention as a contributing source of economic benefits, as well as being a useful destination marketing component for host cities, regions, and countries. Although many research studies have been conducted related to special events, little research has examined the differences between special event attendees and non-attendees visiting a metropolitan city. The purpose of this study is to explore the different visitor characteristics, perceptions of the host city, spending expenditure patterns, and travel motivations between special event attendees and non-attendees visiting a major metropolitan city. Results revealed that the two groups had significant differences in their perception of the host city, spending expenditure patterns, and their motivation to travel. The key findings lead to implications not only for destination marketers who are willing to use special events as a marketing component of their future marketing strategies, but also for special event planners who are planning events to attract tourists.
Oxidative stress during hemodialysis: effect of heparin.

BACKGROUND Patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) are exposed to oxidative stress. An HD session is used in this study as an in vivo model for studying the influence of heparin on oxidative stress caused partially by activated peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) during a HD session. METHODS Each patient underwent HD once with and once without heparin. Oxidative stress was determined by evaluating both the rate of superoxide release from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated PMNLs and plasma levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), both measured before and after the dialysis session. RESULTS In vitro, heparin reduced the rate of superoxide release from separated PMA-stimulated PMNLs. In vivo, the rate of superoxide release from PMNLs was always increased after the dialysis session, regardless of the presence of heparin. However, in the presence of heparin, this increase was significantly smaller. The augmentation in the rate of superoxide release after the dialysis session without heparin was accompanied by a significant elevation of GSSG, reflecting a preceding oxidation of plasma glutathione. CONCLUSIONS The increase in both parameters, the rate of superoxide release, and the plasma GSSG concentration after HD treatment suggest that heparin in vivo alleviates the oxidative stress induced by the dialysis process. Based on our results, heparin should be the anticoagulant of choice because of its suppressant action on HD-induced oxidative stress.
Effects of Internal Governance Factors on Cross-Border-Related Party Transactions of Chinese Companies

This study investigates the determinants of the cross-border-related party (CBRP) transactions of Chinese firms. Our empirical analysis of companies listed on China's stock exchanges provides insightful findings. First, the size of CBRP transactions is positively associated with concentrated ownership, CEO (chief executive officer) duality, and an imbalance of power among large shareholders. Furthermore, the size of CBRP transactions tends to decrease as the proportion of outside directors rises, but it is likely to increase as the outside directors' compensations become larger. State-owned companies make more CBRP transactions than non-state-owned companies. Finally, the equity incentive for executives produces insignificant effects on CBRP transactions.
Home ground advantage of individual clubs in English soccer

Least squares is used to fit a model to the individual match results in English football and to produce a home ground advantage effect for each team in addition to a team rating. We show that for a balanced competition this is equivalent to a simple calculator method using only data from the final ladder. The existence of a spurious home advantage is discussed. Home advantages for all teams in the English Football League from 1981-82 to 1990-91 are calculated, and some reasons for their differences investigated. A paired home advantage is defined and shown to be linearly related to the distance between club grounds.
Oxygen Free-Radical Scavengers and Immune Destruction of Murine Islets in Allograft Rejection and Multiple Low-Dose Streptozocin-Induced Insulitis

We examined the effects of desferrioxamine (DFX), a potent inhibitor of the formation of oxygen-derived hydroxyl radicals, and nicotinamide (NIC), a poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitor and a weak free-radical scavenger, on two models of immune destruction of murine islets [i.e., allograft rejection and multiple low-dose streptozocin (STZ)-induced insulitis]. Freshly isolated or low-temperature-cultured BALB/cJ islets were transplanted beneath the kidney capsules of C57BL/6J recipients. The recipients were treated with NIC alone (500 mg · kg−1 · day−1), DFX alone (4.2 mg/day × 14 days), or NIC + DFX. Only recipients treated with NIC + DFX, receiving cultured islets, showed a mean graft survival time significantly longer than control mice receiving freshly isolated or cultured islets. Control CD-1 mice treated with multiple low doses of STZ developed insulitis and diabetes. Treatment with NIC alone, DFX alone, or NIC + DFX decreased the severity of hyperglycemia relative to the controls. Treatment with DFX alone was more effective than NIC alone or NIC + DFX. Only the group treated with DFX alone had a lower incidence of diabetes (mean plasma glucose level >200 mg/dl) than the controls after 4 wk. Histologically, islets from control mice showed severe insulitis, islet destruction, and absence of stainable insulin, whereas islets from DFX-treated mice showed only mild peri-insulitis and a relative preservation of β-cell granulation. Our study showed that NIC and DFX partially protect islets from immune destruction in allograft rejection and in low-dose STZ-induced insulitis. Apparently, hydroxyl radicals play important roles in both of these models.
Different time courses for visual perception and action priming

Visual stimuli may remain invisible but nevertheless produce strong and reliable effects on subsequent actions. How well features of a masked prime are perceived depends crucially on its physical parameters and those of the mask. We manipulated the visibility of masked stimuli and contrasted it with their influence on the speed of motor actions, comparing the temporal dynamics of visual awareness in metacontrast masking with that of action priming under the same conditions. We observed priming with identical time course for reportable and invisible prime stimuli, despite qualitative changes in the masking time course. Our findings indicate that experimental variations that modify the subjective visual experience of masked stimuli have no effect on motor effects of those stimuli in early processing. We propose a model that provides a quantitative account of priming effects on response speed and accuracy.
Forecasting Using High-Frequency Data: A Comparison of Asymmetric Financial Duration Models

The first purpose of this paper is to assess the short-run forecasting capabilities of two competing financial duration models. The forecast performance of the Autoregressive Conditional Multinomial-Autoregressive Conditional Duration (ACM-ACD) model is better than the Asymmetric Autoregressive Conditional Duration (AACD) model. However, the ACM-ACD model is more complex in terms of the computational setting and is more sensitive to starting values. The second purpose is to examine the effects of market microstructure on the forecasting performance of the two models. The results indicate that the forecast performance of the models generally decreases as the liquidity of the stock increases, with the exception of the most liquid stocks. Furthermore, a simple filter of the raw data improves the performance of both models. Finally, the results suggest that both models capture the characteristics of the micro data very well with a minimum sample length of 20 days. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Barro on the Ricardian Equivalence Theorem

Is public debt issue equivalent to taxation? This is an age-old question in public finance theory. David Ricardo presented the case for the affirmative.1 Professor Robert J. Barro reexamines the question in his recent paper (1974) without, however, making reference to Ricardo or other early contributors. Although his discussion is carefully qualified to allow for exceptions under specified conditions, the thrust of Barro's argument supports the Ricardian theorem to the effect that taxation and public debt issue exert basically equivalent effects. Barro's central emphasis is on demonstrating that, under reasonable conditions which involve overlapping generations of persons with finite lives, taxpayers will capitalize the future obligations that public debt issue embodies. To the extent that this capitalization occurs, government bonds do not add to the perceived net wealth in the economy. From this Barro infers that the substitution of debt for tax finance will exert no expansionary effect on total spending. There are two questions here. Are the future tax liabilities fully capitalized? And, even if they are, does this necessarily imply that the fiscal policy shift exerts no effect on total spending? To establish the second result, it is necessary to examine the differential impacts of taxation and debt issue, quite apart from the question of the capitalization of future taxes. Barro wholly neglects this necessary part of any comparative analysis of the two fiscal instruments, and, because of this neglect, his conclusion is not nearly so relevant for policy as it seems to be. This neglect may stem from Barro's failure to specify properly the inclusive set of transactions that debt issue represents.
The influence of disulfide bonds on the mechanical stability of proteins is context dependent

Disulfide bonds play a crucial role in proteins, modulating their stability and constraining their conformational dynamics. A particularly important case is that of proteins that need to withstand forces arising from their normal biological function and that are often disulfide bonded. However, the influence of disulfides on the overall mechanical stability of proteins is poorly understood. Here, we used single-molecule force spectroscopy (smFS) to study the role of disulfide bonds in different mechanical proteins in terms of their unfolding forces. For this purpose, we chose the pilus protein FimG from Gram-negative bacteria and a disulfide-bonded variant of the I91 human cardiac titin polyprotein. Our results show that disulfide bonds can alter the mechanical stability of proteins in different ways depending on the properties of the system. Specifically, disulfide-bonded FimG undergoes a 30% increase in its mechanical stability compared with its reduced counterpart, whereas the unfolding force of I91 domains experiences a decrease of 15% relative to the WT form. Using a coarse-grained simulation model, we rationalized that the increase in mechanical stability of FimG is due to a shift in the mechanical unfolding pathway. The simple topology-based explanation suggests a neutral effect in the case of titin. In summary, our results indicate that disulfide bonds in proteins act in a context-dependent manner rather than simply as mechanical lockers, underscoring the importance of considering disulfide bonds both computationally and experimentally when studying the mechanical properties of proteins.
Neurotizations by means of the cervical plexus in over 100 patients with from one to five root avulsions of the brachial plexus

In the years 1982–1991, we treated over 100 patients with avulsion of from one to five roots in perinatal (n = 21) and traumatic (n = (81) lesions of the brachial plexus. Based on the clinical diagnosis and the surgical findings, we divided all operated patients into four groups: (1) avulsion of all roots or avulsions and disruption of the rest of the brachial plexus; (2) avulsion and disruption of one to four roots and preservation of some elements of the brachial plexus with fibrotic changes; (3) avulsion and disruption of one to three roots, with some elements showing no macroscopic changes; and (4) children with perinatal brachial plexus palsy. In cases of root avulsion, we performed neurotization from the cervical plexus, the accessory and intercostal nerves. In patients with One to three root avulsions, we have performed selective neurotization for 3 years. The best results were obtained in groups 3 and 4, but some improvement was also noted in the other groups. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
Emerging business models and strategies for mobile platform providers: a reference framework

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to provide a business model design reference framework for mobile platform providers, the platform vendors and technology enablers of the mobile content market. The framework aims at identifying the most critical choices – i.e. design parameters – to be made at a business model design level for a MPP, and at explicitly assessing their strategic implications.Design/methodology/approach – The research design integrates a twofold literature review on MPPs definitions and on business model design state of the art, with an in‐depth analysis of significant cases performed through a multiple case studies methodology: through 72 semi‐structured interviews to top managers, 24 companies were analyzed.Findings – The findings allow to infer that some key business model parameters described by the existing literature – in particular, Osterwalder and Ballon – can be applied to MPPs' business model design process, while other original and actor‐specific building blocks emerge; furth.
Understanding the Benefits and Detriments of Conflict on Team Creativity Process

Intra-team conflict research has shown the different effects of conflict on team output, but it has not fully addressed how conflict influences the team creativity process in different task types of project teams over the project life cycle. Conflict, project life cycle, and project types are important predictors of team creativity. This paper focuses on examining the degree of conflict that the different types of project teams experienced, and more specifically this paper seeks to understand the benefits and detriments of conflict on the team creativity process. Furthermore, this paper shows that the project life cycle is a significant moderator of the conflict-creativity relationship in different project teams.
Optimal Equity Financing of the Corporation

Considerable literature in the investment, growth, and financing of the corporation has developed in recent years. While theoretical studies in this area have contributed importantly to the understanding of the firm's time-optimal decision program, they have generally been limited in scope to the all-internally-funded firm and steady-state dynamics. The well-known analyses of Gordon ]7[ and Lintner ]13[ are typical of this restricted focus. Herein we relax these specializing conditions, both by permitting external equity as a financing alternative and by not a priori requiring the firm to make identical (earnings proportional) investment and financing decisions at every time instant such that it progresses only along a constant, exponentially growing earnings path.
Effect of Fetal Hemoglobin on the Determination of Neonatal Cerebral Oxygenation by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT: Near-infrared spectroscopy has been applied to the study of cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics in the newborn. Fetal Hb is present in high concentrations in these infants. Because spectral absorption curves in the near-infrared range for fetal Hb are not identical to those for adult Hb, there is a potential for the measurements to be affected. This possibility has not previously been investigated. A quantitative analysis of cerebral oxygenation was undertaken in six newborn infants. The analysis used near-infrared spectroscopy multiplier coefficients derived from the absorption coefficients of both fetal and adult deoxygenated and oxygenated Hb. The results of both analyses were compared. It was concluded that the error in near-infrared spectroscopy analysis of neonatal cerebral oxygenation arising from the use of absorption coefficients derived from adult Hb is inconsequential, even in the presence of high concentrations of fetal Hb.