Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Voluntary Disclosure of Pro Forma Earnings: A U.S.- Canada Comparison

This study compares managers' voluntary disclosure of pro forma earnings—an alternative measure to generally accepted accounting principals (GAAP) earnings—in the U.S. and Canada. The results indicate some distinct differences between the two countries in that U.S. managers (1) disclose pro forma earnings more frequently, (2) place greater emphasis on the pro forma earnings number relative to the GAAP earnings figure, and (3) make greater (income‐increasing) adjustments from GAAP in calculating pro forma earnings than do their Canadian counterparts. While we find distinct differences in the use of pro forma between the U.S. and Canada, we do not find evidence that it is used for different purposes. Our evidence suggests that in both countries pro forma earnings is used by some corporations to affect users' perceptions of firm performance. Overall, given the differences in managers' use of pro forma, a form of voluntary disclosure, our results suggest caution in moving to a uniform (cross‐border) system of.
Delayed mating reduces reproductive output of female European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract Virgin females of Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermüller were mated at ages of 1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 16 days and the effect of mating delay on reproductive output assessed. Delayed mating did not affect female mating success but fertilization was reduced in 16-day-old females. Increased mating delays substantially affected daily oviposition pattern and resulted in a significant reduction of both fecundity and fertility, so that mean number of viable eggs laid decreased from 150 to 22 in 1- and 16-day-old mated females, respectively. Heavier females were more constrained than lighter ones by mating delays and female reproductive efficiency (no. viable eggs/female body weight) was also significantly reduced. Female longevity significantly increased and oviposition period gradually declined with mating delay. The number of viable eggs was positively correlated with both female weight and oviposition period; female longevity and female weight were also significantly correlated. However, the significance of these correlations declined with increased mating delay. Results overall indicated that mating delay drastically reduces female L. botrana reproductive output. The implications of delayed mating of females are discussed from an ecological perspective in relation to L. botrana control using mating disruption.
Survival and Failure of Small Businesses Arising Through Government Privatization: Insights from Two New Zealand Firms

Redundancies of personnel arising from the corporatization and even subsequent privatization/closure of several federal departments have contributed to the number of small businesses in New Zealand, a phenomenon that will likely be mirrored at least partially as other nations progressively liberalize their economies. Small businesses with such origins would appear to be especially prone to failure in a progressively liberalized trading environment; their precursors in the parent government departments or agencies would have been cocooned from immediate market conditions through budgetary allocations and a lack of competition. However, the scholarly literature on the behaviour of such small businesses is scant. Accordingly, we report the findings from a comparative investigation of two businesses that arose in the wake of the failure/closure of a corporatized federal service agency in New Zealand; one of the two businesses was much more successful than the other. Our major finding is that a small firm with such origins is likely to survive to the extent it avoids becoming complacent and being 'stuck in the mud' of the legacy of the failed federal parent. A predictor of such ability is the "timing" of small business formation: a small business that is formed by members who depart from the dying federal parent organization when the latter's closure is apparent, is more likely to survive than a business whose formation is precipitated by the demise of the federal parent and whose members remain in the parent organization until its formal closure. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004.
How a Two‐Step Approach Discloses Different Determinants of Voluntary Social and Environmental Reporting

Previous research on the determinants of voluntary social and environmental disclosure assumes that the determinants underlying the company’s decision to disclose and the disclosure level are the same. This paper addresses the influence of this assumption on: (i) the operationalization of the dependent variables; (ii) the estimation method; and (iii) the subsequent empirical results, using both a sample of listed Belgian and US firms. Overall, the findings suggest that not distinguishing between the determinants underlying the decision to disclose and the disclosure level may be misleading.
Updating Systems Concepts in Family Businesses

This article extends and expands current systems views of family business and provides a framework for interpreting family business holistically. The framework extends the definition of family-first and business-first systems and adds three categories that typify the gradations of firms that represent balanced systems emphases. In addition, this article discusses the goals, resource transfers, strengths, and limitations of each type of system and describes how firm adaptability and resource flows influence and change these family business systems; it argues that to understand family business health, one must understand the values and goals that guide the family, business, and ownership systems, as well as the overall family business system; and it presents an inclusive definition of family and business based on systems membership.
Internal market orientation and its influence on the satisfaction of contact personnel

To verify the dimensions, reliability and validity of internal market orientation (IMO) as a scale of measurement of internal marketing, and using it to measure the effect of internal marketing on the satisfaction of contact personnel. Interviews were carried out with all the cashiers of the 16 branches of a small, local credit institution. Because of the small sample size, partial least squares were used in the analysis of the data. The results show the validity and reliability of the IMO construct, formed by four of the five dimensions of the original scale. They also corroborate the causal relationships among the four dimensions, as well as the significant influence of the informal dimension of IMO on the satisfaction of contact personnel. The main limitation of this study is that it analyses a single financial entity, with the characteristics and behaviours that the latter has in its relationship with its employees. To achieve their organisational objectives, firms must adopt an orientation towards the employee, or internal marketing, on an equal plane to the traditional consideration of the external market. Also, the measurability of this internal orientation on the basis of the IMO scale makes available a valuable tool of planning and control in its implementation. This article verifies the validity and reliability of the IMO construct, and its influence on the satisfaction of contact personnel, in a different business sector and with a different research subject from those analysed hitherto by the literature. It also demonstrates the sequential type of relationship among the dimensions that form IMO.
Determining Fair Values of Performance‐Vested and Forfeiture‐Embedded Employee Stock Options

This study provides a new approach to determine the fair value of ESOs by extending the performance‐vested option pricing model. The model developed in this study takes both vesting period and forfeiture rate into consideration to capture characteristics of ESOs. Empirical and sensitivity analyses give evidence for the importance of these two elements. Empirical results also support that the derived model can be employed to increase the accuracy of ESOs’ fair value.
Serial Banking Crises and Capital Investment

Abstract: We find that banking crises have a sizable, multiyear cumulative negative effect on investment in capital. Moreover, in countries that have experienced several banking crises over the years, each additional crisis lowers the ratio of investment to gross domestic product by more than the previous crisis. In addition, the recovery of investment following a banking crisis is conditional on earlier crises in the same country. The recovery is slower in countries that have experienced crises in the past. The results are obtained using data for seventy-five countries for the period 1976–2005.
Staggered Boards, Managerial Entrenchment, and Dividend Policy

Motivated by agency theory, we explore the potential impact of managerial entrenchment through staggered boards on dividend policy. The evidence suggests that firms with staggered boards are more likely to pay dividends. Among firms that pay dividends, those with staggered boards pay larger dividends. We also show that the impact of staggered boards on dividend payouts is substantially stronger (as much as two to three times larger) than the effect of all other corporate governance provisions combined. Overall, the evidence is consistent with the notion that dividends help alleviate agency conflicts. Thus, firms more vulnerable to managerial entrenchment, i.e., firms with staggered boards, rely more on dividends to mitigate agency costs. Aware of potential endogeneity, we demonstrate that staggered boards likely bring about, and are not merely associated with, larger dividend payouts. Our results are important, as they show that certain governance provisions have considerably more influence than others on critical corporate activities such as dividend payout decisions.
Bank concentration and non-performing loans in Central and Eastern European countries

This paper examines the effect of bank concentration on the non-performing loans ( NPLs ) for ten Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The short-run effect of bank concentration is tested with the generalised method of moments system and the instrumental variable approaches, and the long-run effect is tested with the fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) approach. The empirical analysis shows that the bank concentration is an insignificant factor on the NPLs , either in the short or in the long-run of the panel data set. On the other hand, individual FMOLS results reveal that the bank concentration reduces the NPLs in Estonia, Latvia, and Slovakia, and increases the NPLs in Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia in the long-run. According to this evidence, the bank concentration does not reduce the credit risk for all of the CEE countries. Therefore, bank concentration may not affect systemic stability in the CEE countries. These findings are also robust in controlling several factors, including additional control variables. As a result, the relationship between the bank concentration and the NPLs , in regards to the CEE countries, is ambiguous.
CEO Political Affiliation and Firms’ Tax Avoidance

This paper studies the effects of CEOs’ political preferences on corporate tax avoidance. CEOs’ party affiliations are identified by their political donations during election cycles. Using four measures of tax avoidance from the literature (book-to-tax difference, shelter activities, permanent tax avoidance, and total tax avoidance), we find that firms led by Republican CEOs have significantly higher levels of tax avoidance by all measures, as opposed to firms led by CEOs with no obvious political preferences. These differences are particularly true when the CEO’s equity-based incentives are low, suggesting that risk incentives do not drive our findings. On the other hand, Democratic CEOs are associated with higher book-to-tax difference and more shelter activities, especially when CEOs’ risk incentives are high. These results suggest that Republican CEOs’ tax decisions are driven by political preferences and that Democratic CEOs’ tax decisions are driven by risk incentives. We also find some evidence to support a view of Democratic CEOs as aggressive in making tax policies. The results of the firm and CEO fixed-effect regressions confirm that it is the Republican CEOs’ political preference that causes significant changes in terms of firm-level discretionary tax avoidance. A similar pattern does not hold for Democratic CEOs. The robustness analysis of the 2003 dividend tax cut suggests that the significantly higher tax avoidance associated with Republican CEOs is not driven by this policy change. Lastly, the fixed-effect of Republican CEOs on tax avoidance is especially significant among well-governed firms.
Effects of ATP on the Interaction of Ca++, Mg++, and K+ with Fragmented Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Isolated from Rabbit Skeletal Muscle

Fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from skeletal muscle of the rabbit has a cation-binding capacity of about 350 µeq/g of protein at neutral pH. The same binding sites bind Ca, Mg, K, and H ions and, consequently, the selective binding of Ca induced by ATP releases an amount of the other cations equivalent to the Ca taken up. At pH values below 6.2, an increasing number of binding sites are associated with H+, and ATP induces exchange of Ca mostly for H+. At pH values above 6.2, the binding sites exist in the form of Mg and K, and Ca is bound in exchange for these cations. The total bound Ca + Mg + K, expressed in microequivalents of cations bound per gram of protein, is approximately constant at various pCa values, which indicates a stoichiometric exchange of Ca for the other cations. To accomplish the same degree of exchange of Ca for other cations bound, in the absence of ATP, concentrations of free Ca++ of about 1000-fold higher than those needed in the presence of ATP are required in the medium. We cannot distinguish between a mechanism whereby Ca actively transported into a compartment of the microsomal vesicles containing also the binding sites is bound passively to these sites in exchange for Mg, K, and H and another in which ATP selectively increases the affinity of surface-binding sites for Ca. Irrespective of the mechanism of accumulation, the Ca retained does not contribute to the activity of the cation in the membrane fraction. Caffeine (10 mM) has no effect on the binding of Ca, but releases a more labile fraction of Ca, which presumably accumulates in excess of the bound Ca. Procaine (5 mM) antagonizes the effect of caffeine. Acetylcholine and epinephrine have no effect on the binding of Ca.
Focusing the Fuzzy Front-End in New Product Development

Effectively managing the "upfront or fuzzy front-end" (FFE) of the product development process is one of the most important, difficult challenges facing innovation managers. In this paper, we define the FFE as the period between when an opportunity is first considered and when an idea is judged ready for development. We classify the outcomes of the FFE into product definition, time, and people dimensions. We suggest several strategies to manage the FFE by assigning a FFE manager or team; by providing organizational support for FFE activities; by understanding the sources of FFE ambiguity; by building an information system; and by developing relationships with supporters, partners, and alliances.
Coffee intake and incidence of hypertension 1 – 3

Background: The long-term longitudinal evidence for a relation between coffee intake and hypertension is relatively scarce. Objective: The objective was to assess whether coffee intake is associated with the incidence of hypertension. Design: This study was conducted on a cohort of 2985 men and 3383 women who had a baseline visit and follow-up visits after 6 and 11 y. Baseline coffee intake was ascertained with questionnaires and categorized into 0, 0–3, 3–6, and 6 cups/d. Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140 mm Hg over both follow-up measurements, a mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 90 mm Hg over both follow-up measurements, or the use of antihypertensive medication at any follow-up measurement. Results: Coffee abstainers at baseline had a lower risk of hypertension than did those with a coffee intake of 0–3 cups/d [odds ratio (OR): 0.54; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.92]. Women who drank 6 cups/d had a lower risk than did women who drank 0–3 cups/d (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.98). Subjects aged 39 y at baseline had 0.35 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.59, 0.11 mm Hg) lower SBP per cup intake/d and 0.11 mm Hg lower DBP (95% CI: 0.26, 0.03 mm Hg) than did those aged 39 y at baseline, although the difference in DBP was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Coffee abstinence is associated with a lower hypertension risk than is low coffee consumption. An inverse U-shaped relation between coffee intake and risk of hypertension was observed in the women. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:718–23.
Carpal tunnel syndrome in hemodialysis patients as a dialysis-related amyloidosis manifestation – incidence, risk factors and results of surgical treatment

Summary Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common complication of dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) developing in patients on long-term dialysis therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of CTS and identify factors influencing the development of CTS in patients on maintenance hemodialysis, as well as results of its surgical treatment. Material/Methods The study included 386 patients, among whom CTS was diagnosed in 40 patients (10.4%) on the basis of signs and physical symptoms, as well as by nerve conduction. The group of patients with CTS and the group of patients without CTS were compared according to age (mean 54.50 vs. 56.48 years) and duration of dialysis treatment. Initial analysis of CTS incidence by sex, presence of anti-HCV antibodies, and location of arterio-venous fistula (AV fistula) was undertaken. Results Duration of dialysis treatment was the statistically significant risk factor for the development of CTS (16.05 vs. 4.51 years; p<0.0001). Among patients treated for a long period on hemodialysis (20–30 years), 100% required surgical release procedures, while 66.66% of those treated for 15–19 years, 42.1% of those treated for 10–14 years, and 1.6% of those treated for less than 10 years. CTS was diagnosed more often in anti-HCV-positive patients as compared with anti-HCV-negative patients (47.5 vs. 6.9%; p<0.0001). No significant differences were found when comparing CTS incidence by sex or between the development of CTS requiring surgical release intervention and location of the AV fistula. Conclusions Surgical release procedure of the carpal tunnel gave good treatment results in patients with CTS.
Ten-Year Retrospective Study of Delayed Diagnosis of Injury in Pediatric Trauma Patients at a Level II Trauma Center

Background: Published rates of delayed diagnosis of injury (DDI) in pediatric trauma vary from 1.0% to 18%. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term trend of DDI over 10 years, to identify risk factors associated with DDI, and to elucidate patterns of DDI. Methods: All patients aged 14 and younger who were admitted to Parkview Hospital for major trauma between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2006 were included (1100 patients). Data were collected from a trauma registry that is maintained of all trauma admissions. Results: A total of 47 delayed diagnoses of injury were found in 44 patients for a rate of 4.0%. Patients with a DDI were more likely to have been intubated in the emergency department, transported by air, have an Injury Severity Score greater than 15, and have a Glasgow Coma Scale below 8 (P < 0.05). Mean intensive care unit and overall length of stay was longer in the DDI group. Missed injuries resulted in a change in therapy in 80% of cases. There were 5 missed intra-abdominal injuries, 4 of which required surgery. Three injuries were discovered upon outpatient follow-up. There was a trend for more missed upper extremity injuries in older patients and missed lower extremity injuries in younger patients. Conclusions: The rate of missed injuries remained relatively constant over the past 10 years at our institution. More severely injured patients are more likely to have missed injuries. Special attention to the lower extremities of the younger trauma patient may be warranted.
Human resource competencies: An empirical assessment

With data from 12,689 associates of human resource (HR) professionals in 1500 businesses in 109 firms, this research represents an extensive assessment of HR competencies. It extends current HR theory and practice in two ways. First, it proposes specific competencies HR professionals may demonstrate to add value to a business. Second, it offers an empirical assessment of how these competencies affect the performance of HR professionals as perceived by their Associates. The results indicate that when HR professionals demonstrate competencies in business knowledge, delivery of HR, and management of change, then HR professionals are perceived by their associates as more effective. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Response rates in GP surveys - trialling two recruitment strategies.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to examine the efficacy of two strategies for improving general practitioner response to a survey. A secondary aim was to assess GPs' self reported preferred mode of survey administration. METHODS This study aimed to examine the efficacy of two strategies for improving general practitioner response to a survey. A secondary aim was to assess GPs' self reported preferred mode of survey administration. RESULTS Of the 1666 GPs sampled, 52 were ineligible and 500 completed the survey. The response rates obtained in the trial of standard research group letterhead invitations alone (25.8%) versus division of general practice cover letter (32.5%) were not statistically significantly different; nor were the response rates obtained in the trial of a telephone reminder call. When asked about preferred mode of survey administration, 81.1% of respondents nominated mailed survey. DISCUSSION The study failed to identify strategies to improve GP participation in the survey. This survey found no basis for supporting electronic GPs surveys.
Acute operation and preventive nimodipine improve outcome in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Sixty-five patients with ruptured aneurysms were operated upon within 48 to 72 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and were treated with a regimen of intra- and postoperative nimodipine for the prevention of symptomatic vasospasm. The clinical grading (Hunt and Hess) was I to III in 49 patients and IV or V in 16. The SAH was mild in 15 patients, moderate in 27, and severe in 23; 12 patients harbored an intracerebral hematoma, and 6 had intraventricular bleeding. Acute hydrocephalus was observed on preoperative computed tomography (CT) in 19 patients. On CT 3 days postoperatively (i.e., Day 3-4 after SAH), 30 of 65 patients still had subarachnoid blood; however, severe symptomatic vasospasm as the deciding threatening event during the delayed postoperative period was not encountered in this series. Transient symptoms of ischemia were noted in 2 patients (3%) and were accompanied by angiographic spasm in 1. Irreversible neurological deficit occurred in 2 patients (3%); in 1 of these, it was a complication of postoperative control angiography. Of the patients preoperatively graded I or II, 96% had an excellent to fair outcome 6 months postoperatively, and 1 patient (4%) had died because of a surgical complication. Among patients preoperatively graded III or IV, 86% had an excellent to fair outcome, and the remaining 14% had a poor outcome. Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus developed in 7% of the patients. Acute surgical repair of ruptured cerebral aneurysms and preventive topical and intravenous administration of nimodipine reduce management complications and improve outcome; above all, ischemic lesions from symptomatic vasospasm are reduced to a minimum.