Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ARE FUNGICIDES, NITROGEN AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS RISK-REDUCING? EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SWISS WHEAT PRODUCTION

The importance of short‐run risk in Swiss wheat production is explored empirically by using the moment‐based approach. Marginal contributions of controlled and uncontrolled inputs to revenue variance are estimated and then used to test the hypotheses that chemical pesticides and nitrogen are risk increasing. Fungicides are shown to have a statistically significant risk‐increasing effect on revenue at low levels of rainfall. There is no conclusive evidence that nitrogen and plant growth regulators are either risk‐reducing or risk‐increasing. Comparison of conventional and organic wheat growers shows that while yield variance is lower, revenue variance is higher for conventional growers. This is because the latter are protected from market risks by guaranteed prices, while prices of organic wheat fluctuate highly. This result supports the hypothesis that chemical pesticides and nitrogen may be risk‐increasing inputs, at least in some circumstances.
The Canadian--U.S. Exchange Rate: Evidence from a Vector Autoregression

A vector autoregression is used to elicit the empirical facts co ncerning exchange rate movements. The author finds (1) the exchange rate, relati ve price levels, and trade balances are closely related;(2) most other lagged v ariables have no perceptible influence in theexchange rate equation; (3) exchan ge rate innovations are negativelycorrelated with innovations in output and pri ces, positively with innovations in the balance of trade, and almost not at all with innovations in money; and (4) impulses in money, trade balances, and govern ment spending are followed by opposing future movements in theexchange rate and the price level. Taken as a whole, the evidence suggests that exchange rate cha nges may be associated with real, rather than monetary, shocks. Copyright 1986 by MIT Press.
Are Good Performers Bad Acquirers

We examine how the market reacts to announcements of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by well-performing acquirers and evaluate the results in light of three hypotheses: 1) managerial ability, 2) empire building, and 3) chief executive officer (CEO) overconfidence. Our results indicate that an empire-building motive drives the relationship between past superior operating performance and M&A announcements. Long-term operating performance drops significantly for acquiring firms with past superior operating performance. Our evidence also indicates that the presence of insider directors helps to alleviate the negative perception of acquisitions made by firms with better operating performance or empire-building CEOs.
The prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in institutionalized childcare clients

The objective of the study was to investigate the gender-specific prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents in out-of-home childcare, compared with patients in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions. The total population of clients in residential childcare institutions in Oslo, Norway, was investigated by the use of standardized questionnaires (Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report) and compared to all same-aged patients residing in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions in the same area at the same time. Boys in residential childcare had emotional and behavioural problem levels comparable to boys in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions, as measured by the questionnaires. Girls in residential childcare did not reach problem levels as high as those found in girls in psychiatric institutions, but problem levels were still well above those found in the general population. It was concluded that institutionalized childcare clients had a high prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems, as measured by Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report.
Managers’ accounts of innovation processes in small and medium‐sized enterprises

Fifty managers from five highly innovative medium‐sized enterprises were interviewed in depth about their experience of innovation. In order to deepen and enrich our understanding of these experiences, respondents were asked to reconstruct their insights in narrative form. Following a careful analysis of the transcripts, it was found that three interlocking themes recurred in each of the cases. First, each of the firms had creatively configured their customer relationships in order to secure long‐term resourcing in both financial and knowledge terms. Secondly, they saw innovation as part of their long‐term organisational evolution. Thirdly, they gave priority to human resource development issues, and they viewed this stance as necessary in order to underpin the other two elements.
Factors inhibiting Japanese firms from zero leverage: financial constraints and bank relationships

The objective of our paper is to clarify the factors that inhibit Japanese firms from being unlevered, focusing on the interactions between financial constraints and bank relationships. Through analysis of variance, logistic regressions, and sensitivity analyses, we conclude that financial constraints and bank shareholdings, which inhibit firms from being unlevered, are more powerful than the presence of foreign investors that encourage unleverage. Based on our panel data on 822 Japanese public firms, we find that among developed countries, Japan has the fewest unlevered firms, with less than 5%. Additionally, we observe reciprocal cross stock holdings between unlevered firms and their banks.
The generation of organizational commitment in a cross-cultural context

This contribution explores the cross-cultural variations in the generation of organizational commitment. Participants were Chinese and Western employees of organizations operating in Hong Kong. Both groups believed that effort should be rewarded. However, Chinese and Western participants were committed to different constituencies within the organization. Westerners viewed interpersonal relationships as a means to the end, with the organization being the object of commitment. Chinese committed to interpersonal networks and saw these relationships as the primary organization-member engagement. Chinese and Westerners defined the organization differently and this influenced the way they generated their attachment to the firm.
24,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Suppresses the Rapid Actions of 1,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Parathyroid Hormone on Calcium Transport in Chick Intestine

Studies were undertaken to determine whether 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25(OH)2D3) modulates the rapid effects of 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) on calcium transport in the perfused chick intestine. Perfusion with control media resulted in a transport ratio (treated/average basal) of 1.07 ± 0.06 at t = 40 minutes, while perfusion with 65, 130, 300, or 650 pM 1,25(OH)2D3 yielded ratios of 1.92 ± 0.23, 2.6 ± 0.4, 2.8 ± 0.08, and 3.34 ± 0.37, respectively. Simultaneous perfusion with each of these doses and 6.5 nM 24,25(OH)2D3 reduced treated/average basal ratios to ∼1.4 after 40 minutes of perfusion. Vascular perfusion with 65 pM bovine PTH [bPTH(1–34)] stimulated intestinal calcium transport ratios to 3.0 ± 0.5 after 40 minutes, while the inclusion of 6.5 nM 24,25(OH)2D3 reduced ratios at this time point to 0.56 ± 0.19. To investigate the effect of these agents on signal transduction, isolated intestinal cells were monitored for intracellular calcium changes using the indicator dye fura‐2. After establishing a stable baseline, addition of 130 pM 1,25(OH)2D3 induced rapid calcium oscillations. Intestinal cells exposed to 6.5 nM 24,25(OH)2D3 also exhibited rapid oscillations in fluorescence, which were not further altered by subsequent addition of 1,25(OH)2D3. Incubation of isolated cells with 130 pM 1,25(OH)2D3 was found to increase protein kinase C (PKC) activity within 5 minutes, and protein kinase A (PKA) activity within 7 minutes. Exposure of cells to 65 pM bPTH(1–34) had minimal effect on PKC activity, but resulted in pronounced increases in PKA activity. Stimulation of protein kinases by either secosteroid or peptide hormone was inhibited in the presence of 6.5 nM 24,25(OH)2D3. It is concluded that 24,25(OH)2D3 may exert endocrine actions on intestine.
Do Direct Cash Flow Disclosures Help Predict Future Operating Cash Flows and Earnings

ABSTRACT: Motivated by recent FASB, IASB, and CFA Institute comments, we explore the predictive value of direct method cash flow disclosures. A primary stated purpose of the direct method is to better forecast future performance. To examine this purpose, we first document that direct method line items, such as cash received from customers, are not reliably estimable using income statements and either balance sheets or indirect method statements of cash flows. When these stimation (articulation) errors are included in cash flows and earnings forecasting models, forecasting performance significantly improves. In addition, employing a future ERC (FERC) methodology, we find evidence suggesting that market participants utilize direct method disclosures for their stated purpose: to better forecast future operating performance. After conducting several tests for self‐selection concerns, we conclude that the direct method is valuable to investors when forecasting future cash flows and earnings.
Urbanization, population transition, and growth

This paper analyzes a dual economy consisting of urban market areas and less developed rural areas with or without local markets. Urban areas have better opportunities for earnings and education than rural areas. Rural families choose whether to move to urban areas at costs that differ from location to location. As per capita output grows relative to the moving cost, urbanization proceeds, leading to lower fertility, more investments in human and physical capital per child relative to output per worker, and faster economic growth. These impacts are stronger if rural areas have no access to markets. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Entrepreneurs or Investors: Do Multi‐unit Franchisees Have Different Philosophical Orientations?

Although multi‐unit ownership has become the dominant form of franchising in the United States, the motivations for either franchisor or franchisee to participate in these agreements continue to be the subject of debate. This study looks at the issue from the perspective of the franchisee. It is argued that some multi‐unit franchisees, especially those operating as area developers, are likely to enter the field viewing their franchise as an investment, while others, especially those operating as sequential multi‐unit operators, are likely to view their franchise as an opportunity to fulfill more personal, entrepreneurial ambitions. A study of multi‐unit franchisees of both types found that both were equally investment‐oriented but that the sequential multi‐unit operators were more likely to seek fulfillment of entrepreneurial goals. Implications for practitioners and for future research are discussed.
Novel Discrete Compactness-Based Training for Vector Quantization Networks: Enhancing Automatic Brain Tissue Classification

An approach for nonsupervised segmentation of Computed Tomography (CT) brain slices which is based on the use of Vector Quantization Networks (VQNs) is described. Images are segmented via a VQN in such way that tissue is characterized according to its geometrical and topological neighborhood. The main contribution rises from the proposal of a similarity metric which is based on the application of Discrete Compactness (DC) which is a factor that provides information about the shape of an object. One of its main strengths lies in the sense of its low sensitivity to variations, due to noise or capture defects, in the shape of an object. We will present, compare, and discuss some examples of segmentation networks trained under Kohonen's original algorithm and also under our similarity metric. Some experiments are established in order tomeasure the effectiveness and robustness, under our application of interest, of the proposed networks and similarity metric.
The Inclusion Inventory

Abstract While several studies have investigated the effects of inclusive education on children receiving special education services, less effort has been directed toward assessing implementation of inclusive educational practices. This article describes development of the Inclusion Inventory, a 90-item tool designed to survey educators' perceptions of inclusive educational practices in their school. Administration of the Inventory to 2,763 respondents from 72 schools across a large southwestern state yielded internal consistency reliability coefficients of . 72 and above for the seven subscales. Respondents with experience in inclusive educational practices and those from schools where teams implement inclusive education tended to have higher ratings on the Inclusion Inventory. Implications are considered for educators and others involved in inclusive education.
Design and Evaluation of Event Detection Techniques for Social Media Data Streams

Unprecedented success and active usage of social media services result in massive amounts of user-generated data. A leading player in producing a large volume of data as a continuous stream of short messages, so-called tweets, is the social network platform Twitter. The brevity of tweets, with a maximum of 140 characters, makes them an ideal mobile communication medium. Therefore, Twitters popularity as a source of up-to-date news and information source for current events is constantly increasing. In response to this trend, numerous research works on event detection techniques applied to the Twitter data stream have been proposed. However, most of these works suffer from two major shortcomings. First, they tend to focus exclusively on the information extraction aspect and often ignore the streaming nature of the input. Second, although all of the proposed works provide some evidence as to the quality of the detected events, none relate this task-based performance to their run-time performance in terms of processing speed or data throughput. In particular, neither a quantitative nor a comparative evaluation of these aspects has been performed to date. This thesis mainly describes our research work to fill these gaps and to tackle the posed challenges. In the first part of the thesis, we present a technique for real-time event detection and tracking, which focuses on the streaming nature of the data. Additionally, we describe a technique for event detection in pre-defined geographic areas. In the second part of the thesis, we study the run-time and task-based performance of several state-of-the-art event detection as well as baseline techniques using real-world Twitter streaming data. In order to reproducibly compare run-time performance, our approach is based on a general-purpose data stream management system, whereas task-based performance is automatically assessed based on a set of novel measures. This set of measures is especially designed to support the quantitative and qualitative comparison of event detection techniques. The last part of the thesis describes the design and evaluation of two visualizations to support visual event detection. First, we present “Stor-e-Motion”, a shape-based visualization to track the ongoing evolution of importance, emotion, and story of topics in user-defined topic channels applied to the Twitter data stream. Second, we present “SiCi Explorer”, a visualization that supports analysts in monitoring events/topics and emotions both in time and in space. The visualization uses a clock-face metaphor to encode temporal and spatial relationships, a color map to reflect emotion, and tag clouds to show the events and topics. Finally, we demonstrate the usefulness and usability of the visualization in a user study that we conducted.
Diversifying Rwanda's tourism industry: a role for domestic tourism

Domestic tourism is an undeveloped theme in African tourism scholarship since the planning and promotion of tourism in most African countries is biased towards international tourism. Rwanda's tourism industry, anchored on the attractions of gorilla tourism for international visitors, is now being rebuilt after civil strife and genocide, and diversifying to encompass the promotion of cultural tourism. This paper examines the role of domestic tourism in Rwanda's developing tourism economy and argues that positive benefits can be obtained through the greater promotion of domestic tourism in the country.
Helminth-Conditioned Dendritic Cells Prime CD4+ T Cells to IL-4 Production In Vivo

Dendritic cells (DC) are critical for the initiation of immune responses; however, their role in priming IL-4–producing Th2 cells in vivo is not fully understood. We used a model of intradermal injection with fluorescent-labeled, nonviable larvae from the helminth parasite nonviable Nippostrongylus brasiliensis L3 larvae (Nb), a strong inducer of Th2 responses, together with IL-4–GFP reporter mice that enable a sensitive detection of IL-4 production to examine the contribution of DC to the priming of IL-4–producing CD4+ T cells in vivo. We found that parasite material is taken up by two distinct DC populations in draining lymph nodes: a mostly CD11cintMHC class II (MHCII)hiCD11b+Ly6C− dermal DC population and a CD11chiMHCIIintCD11b+Ly6C+ monocyte-derived DC population. After Nb treatment, these two DC populations appeared in the draining lymph nodes in comparable numbers and with similar kinetics; however, treatment with pertussis toxin blocked the migration of dermal DC and the priming of IL-4–producing T cells, but only partially affected monocyte-derived DC numbers. In line with this observation, transfer of OVA-loaded CD11cintMHCIIhi DC from Nb-treated mice into naive hosts could sensitize OVA-specific CD4+ T cells to IL-4 production, whereas transfer of CD11cintMHCIIhi DC from naive mice, or CD11chiMHCIIint DC from Nb-treated or naive mice, induced CD4+ T cell expansion but no IL-4 production. Phenotypic analysis of Nb-loaded CD11cintMHCIIhi DC revealed expression of programmed death ligand 2, CD301b, IFN regulatory factor 4, and moderate upregulation of OX40 ligand. However, thymic stromal lymphopoietin and OX40 ligand were not required for Th2 priming. Thus, our data suggest that appropriate stimuli can induce DC to express the unique signals sufficient to direct CD4+ T cells to Th2 differentiation.
Long-term Impacts of Droughts on Labour Markets in Developing Countries: Evidence from Brazil

Abstract Climate shocks have well-documented impacts on the short-term welfare of rural households in developing countries. We investigate the impact of droughts on Brazilian labour markets. We find long-term rural wage losses beyond the immediate impact of the drought, with affected workers taking five years to catch up with their peers. Findings are robust to model specification. The severity of the losses varies with the dependence on agricultural income, supporting the notion of diversifying portfolio strategies in rural areas to reduce climate-related income risk.
Return autocorrelation anomalies and the importance of non-trading periods: evidence from Spain, France and Germany

In the last decades an increasing number of papers have investigated stock market anomalies, reporting strong evidence that daily stock returns show empirical regularities that are difficult to explain from asset pricing theories. The investigation of these anomalies has generated conflicting opinions among researchers. The day-of-the-week and the turn-of-the-year effects are two of the best-documented regularities. In the first case, it consists of a negative equity return on Monday and an abnormally high return on the last trading day of the week (usually Friday). The turn-of-the-year or January effect refers to the regular tendency shown, especially by prices of small capitalization stocks, to increase in January. In addition, some papers have found that daily stock returns show a significantly positive first-order autocorrelation, and thus tomorrow’s expected return is not independent of the computed return today. These findings suggest that the use of historical data could be of some help in predicting future returns,y with obvious implications for the efficiency of equity markets. Focussing on return autocorrelation anomalies, researchers suggest two main possible explanations (see, e.g., Boudoukh et al. (1994) or Eom et al. (2005)): market microstructure biases, including non-synchronous trading
A Chemical-Induced, Seed-Soaking Activation Procedure for Regulated Gene Expression in Rice

Inducible gene expression has emerged as a powerful tool for plant functional genomics. The estrogen receptor-based, chemical-inducible system XVE has been used in many plant species, but the limited systemic movement of inducer β-estradiol in transgenic rice plants has prohibited a wide use of the XVE system in this important food crop. Here, we constructed an improved chemical-regulated, site-specific recombination system by employing the XVE transactivator in combination with a Cre/loxP-FRT system, and optimized a seed-soaking procedure for XVE induction in rice. By using a gus gene and an hpRNAi cassette targeted for OsPDS as reporters, we demonstrated that soaking transgenic seeds with estradiol solution could induce highly efficient site-specific recombination in germinating embryos, resulting in constitutive and high-level expression of target gene or RNAi cassette in intact rice plants from induced seeds. The strategy reported here thereby provides a useful gene activation approach for effectively regulating gene expression in rice.
DETERMINANTS OF ACCOUNTING POLICY CHOICE IN THE AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY INDUSTRY: A PORTFOLIO APPROACH

: The objective of this research is to explain accounting policy choice in the Australian property industry by reference to costly contracting theory. This paper makes three departures from the predominant literature. First, instead of focusing on a single policy choice, it focuses on a portfolio of 15 choices. Second, instead of measuring each policy choice dichotomously, it measures the dollar effect of each policy choice. Finally, the research focuses on the impact of policy choices on owners' equity as well as income. The results confirm the importance of compensation arrangements as a determinant of accounting policy choice but fail to provide evidence that debt constraints or political costs are significant determinants of accounting policy choice. These results suggest that including property firms in a more heterogeneous sample may reduce the power of tests on the debt constraints and political costs hypotheses. More generally (when compared to previous research) the results suggest that the determinants of policy choice are likely to be industry specific.
Oil Price Shocks and Stock Markets in BRICs

This paper examines the impact of oil prices on real stock returns for Brazil, China, India and Russia over 1999:1-2009:9 using VAR models. The results suggest that whereas real stock returns positively respond to some of the oil price indicators with statistical significance for China, India and Russia, those of Brazil do not show any significant responses. In addition, statistically significant asymmetric effects of oil price increases and decreases are observed in India. The analysis of variance decomposition shows that the contribution of oil price shocks to volatility in real stock returns is relatively large and statistically significant for China and Russia.
Retail Price Setting in Uruguay

We analyze the behaviour of prices in Uruguay using a unique database of 30 millions daily prices. We find that prices change about 5 times a year with no seasonal patter. Prices changes are highly synchronised and concentrated on the first day of the month. Our paper is the first to present evidence of high synchronization of prices, which in turn could be explained mainly by the data periodicity. Overall the analysis seems to be consistent with state-dependent pricing models, although we found some interesting features of prices that could not be explained by these models.