Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Price Discovery and the Cross-section of High-Frequency Trading

We quantify the price discovery contributions of high-frequency traders (HFTs) in the United Kingdom equity market and examine how it varies in their cross-section. For this, we group individual HFTs according to their liquidity taking/making activity. HFTs contribute about 14% of all trade-induced information, with aggressive HFTs accounting for two-thirds of this contribution. This suggests that HFTs who pursue strategies that require the use of aggressive trades are most informed, as opposed to passive HFTs who more likely act as market-makers. However, information shares decline with the amount of aggressive volume, suggesting that these trading strategies are not scalable.
Varieties of Regional Integration: The EU, NAFTA and Mercosur

Abstract The closing of the twentieth century witnessed the proliferation of regional trade areas: a reinvigorated EU became one of almost 170 integration efforts. The first comparative analyses have suggested that these RTAs, despite sharing broadly similar objectives, are remarkably different projects. This article contributes to these works by examining two under‐explored dimensions of variation: the laws of RTAs and how organizations – in particular interest groups, businesses and national administrations – have adjusted to their new legal environments. The article then suggests that the observable variation is likely to endure: the legal systems of RTAs reflect institutional realities in the member states, especially local legal traditions and power arrangements. The analysis focuses on the EU, NAFTA and Mercosur, using evidence from three realms: working women, dairy products and labour rights. The article concludes with some reflections on cross‐RTA trade and the possibility of future convergence, competitiveness and the function of regulation in RTAs.
From beggar to partner : nonprofit-business collaboration as a strategic option for nonprofit organizations

Purpose: Nonprofit-Business collaboration (NBC) is widely regarded as a value creation mechanism for society and business. Research, however, has typically overlooked NBC from the perspective of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). The focus of this thesis concerns the means (a guiding framework) to help NPOs engage in NBC. Through being strategically proactive rather than reactive to what businesses might offer, it is argued that NPOs can increase the scale of their cross-sector collaborations and thus enhance their sustainability. This is a timely issue given the fact that NPOs are typically struggling to maintain their viability in the current economic climate. Theory and methodology: The research has been carried out in two phases. The first concerns the conceptualization of a theoretical framework, being underpinned by stakeholder theory, cross-sector collaboration and the nonprofit literature. In the second phase, the framework has been assessed using primary and secondary qualitative data obtained from 26 ‘active in collaboration’ NPOs. In doing so, three data collection techniques have been utilized, namely: semi-structured interviews (n=38), website content analysis of the 26 NPOs, and document reviews. Key contributions: The thesis contributes to the understanding of the NBC phenomenon by developing and initially validating a framework that captures the complexity of considering NBC as a strategy from the viewpoint of NPOs. The framework integrates the factors that are critical in the development of NBC strategy and the interaction between them. Overall, the evidence obtained indicates that the framework is relevant to NPOs, and corroborates the argument that being proactive and strategic are important ways for NPOs to yield successful collaborations with the business sectors.
Institutional diversity, internal search behaviour, and joint-innovations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the innovation performance of R&D collaborations from an institutional perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct an empirical analysis based on 487 joint-inventions developed by 50 US biotechnology firms from 1985 to 2002. Findings – The authors find that institutional diversity between the partners, as reflected by firm-university partnerships, positively affects the value of their joint-innovation. This effect is reinforced by the firm’s behaviour in searching for knowledge broadly (scope) and in the non-commercial realm (science-based nature). Conversely, as the firm searches for knowledge in few domains areas (depth), the positive effect of institutional diversity is reduced. Research limitations/implications – The study contributes to literature on partner selection, university-industry collaborations, balance between exploration and exploitation, as well as to research on the interdependence between firm’s external and internal resources. Practical implications – The study reveals that when firms innovate together with universities, this promotes the development of high valuable innovations. In addition, it emerges that to fully capture the benefits of these collaborations, firms have to develop a wide set of competencies supported by a scientific approach in problem solving. Originality/value – The study sheds new light on the dynamics favouring the joint development of valuable innovations by focusing on the impact exerted by partners’ institutional differences, as revealed by how norms and rules shape innovation’s modes.
The newly qualified teacher in school

Abstract Initial teacher education (ITE) is a central part of the Government's educational reform programme. The location, structure, control and financing of teacher education are all under review, based upon the Government's belief that the existing system is unsatisfactory. What is lacking in much debate about ITE, however, is authoritative evidence. This article presents an analysis of one such piece of evidence, the report by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) on The New Teacher in School. The report presents the findings of Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMI) on the performance of 300 newly qualified teachers in their first year of teaching. In this article we begin by locating The New Teacher in School in the context of debate about educational standards and teacher education policy. We move on to compare the 1993 report with the findings of the 1988 report of the same name. The article outlines the 1993 Report's findings, then develops a methodological and substantive critique. Comparisons .
Creativity in Communication: A Theoretical Framework for Collaborative Product Creation

Most creative acts occur in a collaborative context. Recent research contributions see the relevance of collaborative creativity but they lack a theoretical basis. What exactly is understood by collaborative creativity and above all, how it is examined, appears not to be the focus of well-founded analyses. The key objective of this paper is to present a new model characterizing collaborative product creation. This model describes theoretical essence needed for any creative collaboration. As a result, the phenomenon of communication is crystallized as the driving force for collaborative creativity. The article is divided into three sections. First, the paper focuses on creative collaboration in previous creativity research. It is shown that a different understanding of collaborative creativity exists. Second, four dimensions of the new model are presented: type of communication, course of performance, working style and the relation between the nature of problems and the implication of solutions. Lastly, the relevance of the observations for future research and creativity management is discussed briefly.
Mapping the order and pattern of brain structural MRI changes using change‐point analysis in premanifest Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that progressively affects motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. Structural MRI studies have demonstrated brain atrophy beginning many years prior to clinical onset (“premanifest” period), but the order and pattern of brain structural changes have not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigated brain regional volumes and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements in premanifest HD, and we aim to determine (1) the extent of MRI changes in a large number of structures across the brain by atlas‐based analysis, and (2) the initiation points of structural MRI changes in these brain regions. We adopted a novel multivariate linear regression model to detect the inflection points at which the MRI changes begin (namely, “change‐points”), with respect to the CAG‐age product (CAP, an indicator of extent of exposure to the effects of CAG repeat expansion). We used approximately 300 T1‐weighted and DTI data from premanifest HD and control subjects in the PREDICT‐HD study, with atlas‐based whole brain segmentation and change‐point analysis. The results indicated a distinct topology of structural MRI changes: the change‐points of the volumetric measurements suggested a central‐to‐peripheral pattern of atrophy from the striatum to the deep white matter; and the change points of DTI measurements indicated the earliest changes in mean diffusivity in the deep white matter and posterior white matter. While interpretation needs to be cautious given the cross‐sectional nature of the data, these findings suggest a spatial and temporal pattern of spread of structural changes within the HD brain. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5035–5050, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence and Determinants of Epilepsy among School Children in Aseer Region- KSA

Epilepsy is a heterogeneous collection of neurological conditions and syndromes characterized by recurrent, unprovoked, paroxysmal seizure activity. It is estimated that 10.5 million children under 15 years have active epilepsy, representing about 25% of the global epilepsy population.2 Of the 3.5 million people who develop epilepsy annually, 40% are younger than 15 years, and more than 80% live in developing countries. Epilepsy is an important cause of neurological morbidity in . children. Family history of epilepsy, neonatal complications, perinatal brain damage, congenital cerebral malformations, intracranial infection, neonatal seizures, febrile seizure were found as predictors of childhood seizure disorder in many of the studies. In early onset epilepsy perinatal asphyxia, neonatal meningitis and neonatal seizure was found to be the important predictors little research has been done on childhood epilepsy in Aseer region. Greater knowledge on risk factors of epilepsy in the early years of life could help to improve understanding of epilepsy, can tell us about its prognosis and allow early intervention. Objectives: This research aimed to determine the prevalence of epilepsy among the school children and determine the risk factors associated with epilepsy Methodology: A case control study was conducted among school students aged 6 up to 18 years. Primary , preparatory and secondary schools was randomly selected in Abha and Khamis Mushait. Results: 20 cases of epilepsy was detected among the studied group. The identified major etiologic factors of the epilepsies were cerebral trauma , febrile convulsions, A family history of epilepsy was a risk factor of the cases, and the consanguinity rate among the parents was high. Conclusion :The most important risk factors for epilepsy in this study only head trauma, febrile convulsions, consanguinity and family history of epilepsy were significant Keywords : Prevalence, Determinants, Epilepsy, children, school
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: The causes and management of workplace lying

Executive Overview Lying is a complex, morally ambiguous occurrence that is part of every manager's life. Although people sometimes lie purely for their own benefit, competitive and social pressures are the precursors to many business lies. However, people vary in their individual propensity to lie in identical situations. Whereas nearly all people lie in bargaining situations, only some people lie when faced with mildly conflicting expectations. People need to rationalize their lies, and organizational cultures emphasizing honesty don't seem to reduce lying so much as they drive lying underground. Suggestions are proffered for managerial action aimed at positively influencing honesty.
Macromarketing: A Social Systems Perspective

The marketing system is a differentiated subsystem of the society, performing functions necessary if society is to adapt to its material environment. In the performance of these functions, the marketing system has an impact on other social systems, the cultural system, and the material environment. This dual relationship is derived from a modified social systems paradigm.
Gender Differences in Business Related Experience amongst Smmes Owners in King Williams Town, South Africa: A Comparative Analysis

This paper aimed at examining whether or not the level of business related experience conceptualised as managerial, industry and prior-business ownership experience differs across gender amongst SMME owners in King Williams Town, South Africa. Questionnaires were self-administered to 109 respondents (56 male and 53 female-owned SMMEs). Data obtained was statistically analysed by making use of the Chi-Square test to determine whether or not a significant association could be found between gender and the level of business related experience in the selected area of study. The findings revealed that a statistically significant association can be found between gender and the level of management experience as well as in the level of prior-business ownership experience. However, the study’s findings further revealed that no statistically significant association could be found between gender and the level of industry experience. On the basis of the findings, it is proposed that private and public firms should therefore set targets for women in senior roles as this would help female employees to acquire managerial and industry experience considered crucial in case they decide to operate their own Small, Medium and/or Micro Enterprises. Further, it is recommend that the business community, government and the community at large should encourage female business owners to work hand in hand with international networks such as the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM) that have the potential for transferring knowledge and business related experience between different continents. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n20p2687
Asset Growth and Firm Performance Evidence from Greece

This study provides evidence drawn from publicly traded companies in Greece on the predictability of assets growth with respect to firm performance. We employ discriminant analysis and a logit specification to test our models. Results indicate that assets growth is predictable at an 85.7% rate in large companies. This rate is high compared those in other prediction studies such as bankruptcy, qualified audit reports and going-concern opinions.
Development of tetracycline-serratiopeptidase-containing periodontal gel: Formulation and preliminary clinical study

The purpose of this research was to reduce the polymer concentration and to obtain reasonable viscosity at a lower concentration of pluronic by the addition of a viscosity modifier. A 20% wt/wt pluronic gel was prepared on a weight basis using the cold method. The effect of the amount of tetracycline and Aerosil on gel properties was studied. The gel was evaluated using different parameters: polarizing microscopy, gelation, gel melting, bioadhesivity, viscosity, drug release, and stability of enzyme. An in vivo study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficiency of the liquid crystalline gel. Addition of Aerosil to the gel favored hexagonal phase formation. Viscosity and bioadhesivity increased with an increase in the concentration of Aerosil. Release of tetracycline was sustained as the concentration of Aerosil increased. Various clinical parameters confirmed the acceptability and efficiency of this gel system.
High-Resolution Mapping of Freeze/Thaw Status in China via Fusion of MODIS and AMSR2 Data

Transition of freeze/thaw (F/T) affects land-atmospheric interactions and other biospheric dynamics. Global F/T statuses are normally monitored using microwave remote sensing, but at coarse resolutions (e.g., 25 km). Integration of coarse microwave remote sensing data with finer satellite products represents an opportunity to further enhance our ability to map F/T statuses regionally and globally. Here, we implemented and tested an approach to generate daily F/T status maps at a 5-km spatial resolution through the fusion of passive microwave data from AMSR2 and land surface temperature products from MODIS, using China as our study area for the year 2013 and 2014. Moreover, possible influences from elevation, vegetation, seasonality, etc., were also analyzed, as such analysis provides a direction to improve the approach. Overall, our freeze/thaw maps agreed well with ground reference observations, with an accuracy of ~86.6%. The new F/T maps helped to identify regions subject to frequent F/T transitions through the year, such as the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Xinjiang, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Province. This study indicates that the combination of AMSR2 and MODIS observations provides an effective method to obtain finer F/T maps (5-km or lower) for extensive regions. The finer F/T maps improve our knowledge of the F/T state detected by satellite remote sensing, and have a wide range of applications in regional studies considering land surface heterogeneity and models (e.g., community land models).
Small interference RNA targeting heat‐shock protein 27 inhibits the growth of prostatic cell lines and induces apoptosis via caspase‐3 activation in vitro

To evaluate synthetic small interference RNA (siRNA) compounds targeting heat‐shock protein 27 (Hsp27) as an alternative approach to Hsp27 ‘knockdown’ in prostate cancer cells, as Hsp27 expression is highly up‐regulated in prostate cancer cells after androgen withdrawal or chemotherapy, to become uniformly highly expressed in androgen‐independent (AI) prostate cancer.
The role of variance risk premium in predicting excess stock market return: out-of-sample evidences

This paper examines the out-of-sample performance of variance risk premium in predicting excess stock market returns across nine international markets. We assess the out-of-sample predictability through statistical and economic significance tests and find that the variance risk premium has strong forecasting power at the 4-month horizon for most of the international markets considered in this study. In addition, we find the predictability is even stronger during the recent financial crisis period.
Electronic Markets for Truckload Transportation

A wide variety of electronic marketplace formats are used in the Truckload (TL) transportation industry, including combinatorial auctions, private and public exchanges, and electronic catalogs. Combinatorial multi‐attribute auctions are commonly used strategically to populate electronic catalogs, commonly called “routing guides,” with pricing, assignments, and priority logic. Private and public exchanges are used to complement the electronic catalogs in cases where the catalog fails. This paper discusses the TL transportation market, places the procurement of services in the context of electronic marketplace formats, and illustrates how these are currently used.
A Markup Interpretation of Optimal Investment Rules

The authors reexamine the basic investment problem of deciding when to incur a sunk cost to obtain a stochastically fluctuating benefit. The optimal investment rule satisfies a trade-off between a larger versus a later net benefit; they show that this trade-off is closely analogous to the standard trade-off for the pricing decision of a firm that faces a downward sloping demand curve. The authors reinterpret the optimal investment rule as a markup formula involving an elasticity that has exactly the same form as the formula for a firm's optimal markup of price over marginal cost. This is illustrated with several examples.
Activation of protein kinase C inhibits calcium‐activated potassium channels in rat pituitary tumour cells.

1. The regulation of large‐conductance, calcium‐ and voltage‐dependent potassium (BK) channels by protein kinase C (PKC) was investigated in clonal rat anterior pituitary cells (GH4C1), which were voltage clamped at ‐40 mV in a physiological potassium gradient through amphotericin‐perforated patches. 2. Maximal activation of PKC by 100 nM phorbol 12, 13‐dibutyrate (PdBu) almost completely inhibited the voltage‐activated outward current through BK channels. In contrast PdBu had no significant effect on the residual outward current after block of BK channels with 2 mM TEA or 30 nM charybdotoxin. In single‐channel recordings from cell‐attached patches, PdBu reduced the open probability of BK channels more than eightfold with no significant effect on mean open lifetime or unitary conductance. 3. The effects of PdBu on BK channels were not mimicked by the 4 alpha‐isomer, which does not activate PKC, and were blocked almost completely by 25 microM chelerythrine, a specific, noncompetitive PKC inhibitor. 4. PdBu had no significant effect on the amplitude of the pharmacologically isolated, high voltage‐activated calcium current. 5. Inhibition of BK channel activity by PKC provides the first molecular mechanism linking hormonal activation of phospholipase C to sustained excitability in pituitary cells.