Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Credit Spread Modeling with Regime-Switching Techniques

Tests on Moody's AAA and BAA corporate bond yield data consider the determinants of the excess yield earned on corporate debt over U.S. Treasuries. Cointegration estimation techniques reveal significant long- and short-run relationships. Models that allow for distinct regimes over time generate a better fit to the data, and there are some interesting differences in the key determinants of credit spreads across different regimes. Regimes are assumed to be determined by a first-order Markov process or a self-extracting threshold autoregressive process.
Further Evidence on the Effects of Catholic Secondary Schooling

Education reform is a perennial topic of debate for both policymakers and social scientists. While most education research and related reform proposals deal with strategies for evaluating and improving current systems of financing and delivering public education, some research and a growing number of public and private initiatives focus on privately provided education and its value as an alternative to public schooling. In recent years, Cleveland and Milwaukee have adopted voucher plans that target economically disadvantaged children, and Florida recently adopted a voucher plan that targets children attending public schools that do not meet certain performance criteria. Further, private efforts to fund scholarships, especially for economically disadvantaged students in cities, have increased dramatically in recent years. Currently, at least sixty-five programs provide privately funded scholarships for students attending private schools. In 1999, more than 57,000 students received such scholarships. Of these students, at least 45,000 received scholarships provided by a relatively new nationwide program called the Children’s Scholarship Fund. This program targets lowincome students in cities. The program began by providing scholarships to students in the District of Columbia, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Jersey City, and is now expanding to include other cities. These scholarships may be used at either private or parochial schools.1
Serial echocardiographic-Doppler assessment of left ventricular geometry and function in rats with pressure-overload hypertrophy. Chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition attenuates the transition to heart failure.

BACKGROUND Although chronic pressure overload may progress to left ventricular (LV) failure, the pathophysiology of this transition is not well understood. In addition, the effects of chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on this transition are largely undefined. METHODS AND RESULTS To examine changes in LV structure and function during the transition to heart failure, rats with LV hypertrophy due to banding of the ascending aorta (LVH, n = 22) and age-matched sham-operated rats (n = 6) were studied 6, 12, and 18 weeks after aortic banding. Two-dimensionally guided transthoracic M-mode echocardiograms and transmitral Doppler spectra were recorded for assessment of LV geometry and systolic and diastolic functions. LVH rats were randomized to no treatment (n = 10) or treatment with the ACE inhibitor fosinopril (50 mg/kg per day, n = 12) after the baseline echocardiogram. Six weeks after banding, LVH rats had increased LV wall thickness with normal cavity dimensions and supranormal endocardial systolic shortening. However, midwall shortening was mildly depressed, and a restrictive diastolic filling pattern was present. After 18 weeks of untreated pressure overload, LV wall thickness was unchanged, but cavity dilation, a fall in endocardial shortening, and further deterioration of diastolic filling were evident. In contrast to untreated LVH rats, the fosinopril-treated rats showed no change in LV diastolic cavity dimension, and systolic and diastolic functions did not deteriorate or improved. Closed chest LV systolic pressures at 18 weeks were not different in LVH or LVH-fosinopril rats (197 versus 198 mm Hg), although end-diastolic pressure was higher in the untreated rats (18 versus 11 mm Hg). Calculated LV systolic wall stress was lower in fosinopril-treated than untreated LVH rats. The severity of LV diastolic filling abnormalities correlated strongly with operating LV chamber stiffness (r = .88, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS This model of pressure overload is characterized initially by concentric LV hypertrophy with compensated LV chamber performance; however, markedly abnormal diastolic filling is present. The transition from compensated hypertrophy to early failure is heralded by LV dilation, impairment of systolic function, and progression of the abnormalities in LV filling. Chronic ACE inhibition in rats with supravalvular aortic banding (1) does not change in vivo LV systolic pressure but prevents increased LV cavity size and increased LV wall stress and (2) attenuates impairment of (or improves) both systolic and diastolic functions. The effects of fosinopril could be explained in part by inhibition of an intracardiac renin-angiotensin system.
Optimal Control of Vector‐Virus‐Plant Interactions: The Case of Potato Leafroll Virus Net Necrosis

This paper introduces a new specification to the economic pest management literature designed to optimally manage vector-virus-plant interactions for a single crop. The viral, insect-vector, and plant-host stocks are treated as renewable resources and conjunctively controlled in a discrete-time control framework subject to crop quality standards established in marketing contracts. The result is a conceptual integrated pest management model providing optimal insecticide scheduling and dynamic decision-making thresholds in a novel economic pest management context. Model results are compared qualitatively with those from previous specifications. The model is applied empirically to control potato leafroll virus net necrosis in commercial potato production.
How effective are family-planning programs at improving the lives of women? Some perspectives from a vast literature

In the past 50 years, family-planning programs have been heavily promoted across the developing world. A vast academic literature now tests both the intellectual rationale for these programs, as well as their impact on a wide range of demographic and economic outcomes. In recent years, the availability of new methods and new datasets from the developing world has intensified the academic research on these issues even though the support for family-programs themselves has diminished. This paper examines the economic and demographic literature on family planning programs and summarizes evidence of their impact on fertility as well as additional outcomes such as child mortality, investments in children’s human capital, the economic status of households and the macro-impacts on communities. The goal is to provide policy-makers with an understanding of the strengths, limitations and points of agreement that emerge from this vast literature. PRELIMINARY AND INCOMPLETE DRAFT
ALK‐negative anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma demonstrates similar poor prognosis to peripheral T‐cell lymphoma, unspecified

Aims: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is classically considered a clinicopathological entity separate from other nodal mature T‐cell lymphomas (TCL). Recently, the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein was shown to identify a subgroup of nodal ALCL with an excellent prognosis, whereas ALK‐negative ALCLs are more heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological parameters in relation to clinical behaviour of ALK‐negative ALCL compared with other nodal mature TCL, i.e. peripheral TCL, unspecified (PTCL‐NOS) and angioimmunoblastic lymphoma (AILT).
Transportation–Communication Capital and Economic Growth: A VECM Analysis for Turkey

This paper analyses the short- and long-term relationships between the transportation–communication capital and the output for Turkey. The study applies a Cobb–Douglas production function under the assumption of constant returns to scale and employs co-integration analysis by estimating a vector error correction model (VECM). As a result of the VECM estimation, one co-integrating relationship is detected. The results based on the impulse response function analysis imply that per labour transportation–communication capital appears both to have been a crucial input in the Turkish productive process and to have had a positive crowding in effect on the per labour non-residential total capital formation. Moreover, the results support the argument that the transportation–communication capital has a lagged impact on economic growth. The long-term accumulated elasticity of output to transportation–communication capital has been found to be 0.59. The long-term accumulated marginal product was also calculated. It implies that a 1 Turkish Lira increase in per labour transportation–communication capital results in a long-term rise of 1.45 Turkish Liras in per labour output. All these findings suggest that transportation–communication capital may be a powerful tool for policy-makers to promote long-term per labour real output growth in Turkey.
Stakeholder responses to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act: An agenda setting perspective

Purpose - This paper aimed to explore the submissions made to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) policy paper by corporations and other stakeholders. It also sought to establish whether broader climate change issues were addressed in the context of the submissions. Design/methodology/approach - The agenda-setting framework was utilised to provide the theoretical perspective for the study. This research applied a combination of concept analysis and mapping, and content analysis, of the submissions using the Leximancer software tool. Findings - The study found a divergence in the responses of corporations and other stakeholders, with the former focusing primarily on the NGER policy paper, while the latter presented significant concerns over carbon pollution and climate change, an issue that was not the primary concern of the policy paper. Moreover, corporations also acknowledged the close link between the NGER process and a future emissions trading scheme, and expressed concerns over the development of a mechanism that would put a price on carbon. Research limitations/implications - The paper contributes to the limited literature on carbon accounting and reporting in relation to both the local and international context. Moreover, an agenda-setting perspective provided a suitable lens for understanding the NGER submissions process and its role within the broader climate change policy area in Australia. Practical implications - Policies are influenced by key players and their familiarity with these policies could lead to successful implementation. The establishment of the NGER legislation was deemed successful, despite concerns raised in the submissions. This was because the policy used corporate reporting as a means of assessing accountability for carbon emissions. This finding has implications for other nations seeking to develop mandatory carbon reporting. Originality/value - The paper has built further explanatory potential of the agenda-setting framework, provides direct evidence in relation to stakeholder submissions to prospective environmental legislation, and adds to the use of combination methods that can be utilised for effectively analysing stakeholder submissions on major policy questions and issues.
An Empirical Investigation of Price Competition and Industry Specialisation in NHS Audit Services

The NHS audit market is regulated by the Audit Commission (AC) and has unique features. We develop a model for audit fees that includes rigorous analysis of the type of auditor. Poor financial standing does not give rise to higher audit fees. Despite regulation the study supports the existence of a Big Five price premium on the audit fee, but only one firm has a premium. We found no premium due to industry specialisation. The removal of performance audit from AC regulation will require improved audit fee reporting and control.
The implementation of TQM strategy in Egypt: a field‐force analysis

This study aims to explore the critical resisting and driving forces that inhibit or promote the implementation of total quality management (TQM) strategy in Egypt, in an attempt to determine whether TQM can be implemented effectively in this developing country. The domain of empirical study is the Egyptian ex‐public manufacturing firms. A mail questionnaire was used to collect the required data. A force‐field analysis was used for identifying the salient factors affecting TQM implementation in Egypt. Surprisingly, the findings indicated that forces that promote or prohibit TQM implementation obtained in one developing country might be generalizable to another less developed country. The investigation identified some driving forces that promote the implementation of TQM strategy by the Egyptian manufacturing firms. On the other hand, the investigation identified some roadblocks that prohibit the implementation of TQM by manufacturing firms. Managerial implications for the successful implementation of TQM are provided, and finally avenues for further research are recommended.
Dietary differences between phenotypes with symmetrical and asymmetrical pelvis in the stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Differential parasitism among phenotypes within populations can result from intrinsic factors such as immunocompetence or extrinsic factors such as ecological overlap with pathogens. In a recent study of a population of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from Boulton Lake, British Columbia, relative cestode infections were related to pelvic-girdle symmetry. Adult sticklebacks with an asymmetrical pelvis had a higher incidence of infections than fish with a symmetrical pelvis, yet the pattern was reversed among yearlings. In the current study we test whether this unexpected result for yearlings, which is inconsistent with general theory coupling asymmetry with reduced immuno- competence, might be due to ecological factors rather than to differences in immunocompetence. We analyze the diet of 9089 uninfected sticklebacks collected during a 15-year study and show that male and female yearling sticklebacks with an asymmetrical pelvis are more benthic than symmetrical phenotypes. This could reduce the probability of expo- sure to pelagic copepods, the primary hosts of the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, and thereby lead to lower infection rates relative to pelagic fish. This finding would account for the unusual reversal in relative parasitism in this popula- tion and raises the possibility of finding further diet-induced causes of differential parasitism in studies of asymmetry. Resume : Le parasitisme qui affecte differemment les divers phenotypes au sein des populations peut etre attribuable a des facteurs intrinseques tels l'immunocompetence ou a des facteurs extrinseques comme le chevauchement ecologique avec des pathogenes. Au cours de l'etude recente d'une population d'epinoches (Gasterosteus aculeatus) au lac Boul- ton, Colombie-Britannique, les infections dues aux cestodes etaient reliees a la symetrie de la ceinture pelvienne. Les infections etaient plus frequentes chez les poissons adultes asymetriques, mais cette tendance etait inversee chez les poissons de l'annee. Dans cette etude, nous avons verifie si ce resultat inattendu chez les poissons de l'annee, qui ne cadre pas avec la theorie generale qui relie l'asymetrie a une reduction de l'immunocompetence, peut s'expliquer par des facteurs ecologiques plutot que par des differences d'immunocompetence. Nous avons analyse le regime alimentaire de 9089 epinoches saines recoltees sur une periode de 15 ans et nous demontrons que les femelles asymetriques de l'annee ont un mode de vie plus benthique que les femelles a phenotype symetrique. Cela pourrait avoir pour effet de reduire la probabilite de contact avec des copepodes pelagiques, hotes primaires du cestode Schistocephalus solidus, et, de ce fait, donner lieu a des taux d'infection plus faibles que ceux des poissons pelagiques. Ces resultats expliquent le renversement du parasitisme relatif observe chez cette population et laissent croire que des differences dans les regimes alimentaires peuvent etre a l'origine du parasitisme differentiel rencontre au cours d'etudes de l'asymetrie.
Accuracy and reaction time in recognition of facial emotions in people with multiple sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION Facial emotional expression constitutes a basic guide in the social interaction and, thus, the alterations in its expression or recognition imply an important limitation for the communication. On the other hand, cognitive impairment and the presence of depressive symptoms, which are commonly found in patients with multiple sclerosis, it is unknown how they influence cognitive function and depression on emotional recognition. AIMS To consider the evaluation of time reaction and response accuracy of facial expression recognition in people affected by multiple sclerosis, and to assess the possible variables that may be modulating the emotion recognition, such as depression and cognitive functions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study has a cross-sectional non-experimental design with a single measurement. The sample is compound by 85 participants, 45 diagnosed as multiple sclerosis and 40 control subjects. RESULTS Multiple sclerosis subjects reveal significant differences in both reaction time and response accuracy in neuropsychological tests in comparison to the control group. Explanatory models were identified in the emotional recognition. CONCLUSION Multiple sclerosis subjects face difficulties at recognising facial emotions; and differences at attention memory, processing speed and depressive symptomatology were observed in regard to the control group.
Movement related directional tuning from broadband electrocorticography in humans

Directional tuning is the tendency for cortical neurons to exhibit a peak firing rate when a limb is moved in a preferred direction. This phenomenon has been used to underpin decoding strategies in many brain-machine interface (BMI) systems. Although it is well established that individual motor neurons can be decoded using directional tuning, this is not as well understood at the scale of cortical local field potentials (LFPs). This study investigates the directional tuning properties of broadband electrocorticography (ECoG) recorded during a center-out task from two human participants. Selected bipolar ECoG channels demonstrated directional tuning in signal power from 85 - 250 Hz for both subjects. Directional tuning was observed across sensorimotor cortex, as well as frontal areas of cortex. The presence of directional tuning in broadband ECoG suggests the potential use of tuning curves as the basis of a LFP based BMI system.
Strategic Patterns in International Business: Product Differentiation or Complementarity?

ABSTRACT This paper attempts to find out whether, and which, strategic patterns in international business—as represented by two strategies: product differentiation and product complementarity—drive countries' bilateral trade flows. Using a modified version of the gravity model along with features of Porter's National Competitiveness theory (1990), this paper investigates which of the two major trade theories—inter-industry or intra-industry—prevails in the different regions of the world during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Results show that trade transactions were most statistically influenced by product complementarity in the 1970s, but then switched to product differentiation in the 1980s and 1990s, most probably due to the increasing role of globalization. Most regions experienced a product differentiation pattern over all three decades, except for South Asia, Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East (the latter three only in the 1970s), which show a pattern of product complementarity. The estimation of certain pertinent regional blocs reveals that EU, ASEAN, SADC, and APEC seem to create trade, while ECOWAS, GCC, SAARC, and MERCOSUR seem to have insignificant results. Interesting policy implications are discussed.
Alliance Portfolio Management: Dimensions and Performance

Our paper contributes to the understanding of the alliance portfolio management capability by examining the relationships among their different dimensions and their impact on the alliance portfolio performance. The current study proposes and tests a multiple mediating model and tests the mediation. A variance‐based structural equation modelling (partial least squares) has been applied to a sample made up of 144 top Spanish companies. Our analysis on the one hand fosters the importance of the partnering proactiveness and their influences on the alliance portfolio performance, and, on the other, formulates mediation hypotheses, which posit how the relational governance and portfolio coordination dimensions play a critical mediating role in the partnering proactiveness – the alliance portfolio performance link. Results from the data analysis show that the dimensions of alliance portfolio management capability are related in such a way that the relational governance and the portfolio coordination: (1) partially mediate the effect of partnering proactiveness on the alliance portfolio value; and (2) exert significant influences on the alliance portfolio performance.
The Empirical Relationship Between Investment and Financing: A New Look

Since the publication of the work of Modigliani and Miller (MM) in the late 1950s there has been a recurrent controversy in the finance and economics literature about the interdependence of investment and financial variables. The arguments are too well known to recount at any length here. Basically MM would argue that in perfect capital markets, investment is, and should be independent of financing (which we will identify, as they would, with financial variables like dividends and new debt). The opposing view would argue that capital markets are sufficiently imperfect that the firm must consider financing in its investment decision. At least some of the proponents of this other view would argue that the firm must raise funds and allocate these scarce funds between investment and dividends. This view, then, holds that the firm's investment, dividend, and financing decisions are interdependent and must be studied in the context of a simultaneous equation model. There have been many articles discussing the MM position and many attempts to test it empirically. The first to focus directly on the question of interest here was done by Dhrymes and Kurz [1] in 1967. We will attempt to show that, despite several later studies, Dhrymes and Kurz were correct in their assertion that the investment and financing decisions are made simultaneously and must be studied in the context of a simultaneous equation model. To set the stage for our study we shall review the Dhrymes-Kurz study and subsequent related studies and show that each contained some error that affected their results.
Venture capital enters academia: an analysis of university-managed funds

In recent years, a “third mission” pursued by universities, i.e. knowledge transfer to industry and society, has become more important as a determinant of enhancements in economic growth and social welfare. In the vast world of technology transfer practices implemented by universities, the establishment and management of university venture capital and private equity funds (UFs) is largely unknown and under-researched. The focus of this work is to provide a detailed description of this phenomenon from 1973 to 2010, in terms of which universities set-up UFs, their target industries and the investment stages of portfolio companies, which types of co-investors are involved in the deals, and which are the determinants of UFs’ ultimate performances. The picture offers us the opportunity to draw some implications about the relevance of UFs in different contexts (i.e. Europe and the United States) and provide to interested stakeholders with some useful guidelines for future development.