Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The use of performance measures: case studies from the microfinance sector in Kenya

Purpose - The intent of microfinance institutes (MFIs) in developing countries is to provide loans to very poor people in order to help them transform their lives. MFIs tend to receive subsidies; sustainability is being sought to free MFIs from non-market dependencies. Sustainability is expected to be achieved with “best practices,” of which management with performance measures is a component. The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of performance measures by three Kenyan MFIs, which are classified as formal and client based, and likely to use rational and explicit performance measures. Clients in these MFIs are placed into self-help groups with two responsibilities: to provide mutual support and advice to the borrowing client; and to provide the MFI with a guarantee that loans of group members will be repaid. Design/methodology/approach - Based on a review of the economics and performance measurement systems literatures, research questions were developed along with an interview guide. Case studies were used to administer an interview guide which was distributed to the respondents prior to the face-to-face interviews. Findings - The study concludes that MFIs have relatively well-developed performance measures that support their particular businesses. There was a good balance between the use of financial and non-financial performance measures. However, output measures were more commonly used than process measures. The nature of the MFIs suggests the importance of performance measurement. The managers of the MFIs are concerned with performance measurement, as expected within a bureaucracy, and a top-down demand is present. In addition, group members or clients are interested in performance measurement as each member guarantees the loans of all fellow group members who have loans with the MFI. Thus, the customers exert a bottom-up demand for performance measurement. Originality/value - The findings support the view that performance measures are a means for managing MFIs and are a likely requirement for sustainability. Furthermore, the findings have identified performance measures (similar to those at banks) that are appropriate for the three MFIs in Kenya. The findings are important since the identified performance measures may be adopted by other evolving MFIs in this relatively new sector. In addition, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the genesis of the less popular results and determinants performance measurement framework of Fitzgerald
Exploring the Ideological Foundations of the Regulatory State

One of the most profound transformations in the organization of the public sector in Europe during the past decades has been the ‘rise of the regulatory state’ (Majone 1994). The institutional manifestation of this transformation is the increased delegation of authority to independent regulatory agencies. Extant explanations stress the need for credible commitment and political uncertainty as major drivers of this trend. By contrast, this paper argues that the establishment of regulatory agencies is strongly shaped by government ideology. Drawing on a data set of agency creations across seven policy sectors in 20 countries between 1980 and 2009, the analysis shows that government ideology has a substantial, yet conditional, impact on the establishment of regulators, with right-wing governments more likely to set up economic regulators and left-wing governments more likely to establish social regulators. In addition, the creation of independent regulators is also influenced by a government’s ideological extremeness and heterogeneity.
Trading Returns for the Weekend Effect Using Intraday Data

The existence of the weekend effect has been documented as early as 1885. This paper examines whether the serial dependence in returns around weekends and the magnitude of negative Friday returns can be used to produce superior trading returns. We find some success for this endeavor after accounting for transaction costs (including the bid/ask spread), especially when trading is confined to weekends for which there are large negative Friday returns and to positions opened on Friday afternoons. The effect of stocks trading ex-dividend on Mondays does not appear to bias our results. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1997.
Prediction β-hairpin motifs in enzyme protein using three methods

The authors use three methods, including matrix scoring algorithm, increment of diversity algorithm and Random Forest algorithm. They are used to predict β-hairpin motifs in the ArchDB-EC and ArchDB40 dataset. In the ArchDB-EC dataset, we obtain the accuracy of 68.5%, 79.8% and 84.3%, respectively. Matthew's correlation coefficient are 0.17, 0.61 and 0.63, respectively. Using same three methods in the ArchDB40 dataset, we obtain the accuracy and Matthew's correlation coefficient of 67.9% and 0.39, 75.2% and 0.51, 83.5% and 0.60, respectively. Experiments show that Random Forest algorithm for predicting β-hairpin motifs is best and the predictive results in ArchDB40 dataset are better than previous results.
Auditor–Provided Consultancy Services and their Associations with Audit Fees and Audit Opinions

This study examines the relationships between non-audit services fees (consultancy fees) paid to auditors and (1) audit fees, and (2) the occurrence of qualified audit opinions. The positive association between consultancy fees and audit fees is shown to be due to certain company specific events that generate a demand for consultancy services as well as requiring additional audit effort. Identified company specific events are mergers and acquisitions, new share issues, new accounting and information systems, new CEOs, and corporate restructurings. When these events are absent, there is no statistically significant relationship between audit fees and consultancy fees after controlling for company size. Companies that have relatively high consultancy fees are more likely to receive a clean audit opinion. This may be due to the non-audit work clearing up problem areas at the client company or it may be due to high consultancy fees impairing auditor independence. With the available data it is not possible to distinguish between these two reasons. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2002.
Subscriber behavior in adopting 3G value-added services

Third generation (3G) mobile services have not performed as much as they were expected to do a decade ago due to limited exemplary handset capacity, overlooking subscriber behavior and so on. This paper examined customers’ behavioral intention of adopting 3G value-added services, particularly, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) models. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was developed to analyze the data set which included 233 interviews on customer perception of Secured Handset Enabler (SHE) application. Important factors such as perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use are incorporated into the models. Some useful findings were presented which will help an Application Service Provider (ASP) to correctly analyze and understand subscribers’ intentions and service demand, and the needed strategies to promote their services. Key words: 3G Services, secured handset enabler (SHE), value-added service, theory of planned behavior (TPB), technology acceptance model (TAM).
Sources of Added Sugars in Young Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Low and High Intakes of Added Sugars

High intake of added sugars is associated with excess energy intake and poorer diet quality. The objective of this cross-sectional study (n = 16,806) was to estimate usual intakes and the primary food sources of added sugars across the range of intakes (i.e., deciles) among U.S. children (2–8 years), adolescents and teens (9–18 years), and adults (≥19 years) using the National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) data from 2009–2012. The percent energy contributed by added sugars was 14.3 ± 0.2% (2–8 years), 16.2 ± 0.2% (9–18 years), and 13.1 ± 0.2% (≥19 years), suggesting the highest intakes are among adolescents and teens. However, the primary foods/beverages that contribute to added sugars were remarkably consistent across the range of intakes, with the exception of the lowest decile, and include sweetened beverages and sweet bakery products. Interestingly across all age groups, even those in the lowest decile of added sugars exceed the 10% guidelines. Additional foods contributing to high intakes were candy and other desserts (e.g., ice cream) in children and adolescents, and coffee and teas in adults. Tailoring public health messaging to reduce intakes of these identified food groups may be of utility in designing effective strategies to reduce added sugar intake in the U.S.
Characterizing User Search Intent and Behavior for Click Analysis in Sponsored Search

Interpreting user actions to better understand their needs provides an important tool for improving information access services. In the context of organic Web search, considerable effort has been made to model user behavior and infer query intent, with the goal of improving the overall user experience. Much less work has been done in the area of sponsored search, i.e., with respect to the advertisement links (ads) displayed on search result pages by many commercial search engines. This thesis develops and evaluates new models and methods required to interpret user browsing and click behavior and understand query intent in this very different context. The concern of the initial part of the thesis is on extending the query categories for commercial search and on inferring query intent, with a focus on two major tasks: i) enriching queries with contextual information obtained from search result pages returned for these queries, and ii) developing relatively simple methods for the reliable labeling of training data via crowdsourcing. A central idea of this thesis work is to study the impact of contextual factors (including query intent, ad placement, and page structure) on user behavior. Later, this information is incorporated into probabilistic models to evaluate the quality of advertisement links within the context that they are displayed in their history of appearance. In order to account for these factors, a number of query and location biases are proposed and formulated into a group of browsing and click models. To explore user intent and behavior and to evaluate the performance of the proposed models and methods, logs of query and click information provided for research purposes are used. Overall, query intent is found to have substantial impact on predictions of user click behavior in sponsored search. Predictions are further improved by considering ads in the context of the other ads displayed on a result page. The parameters of the browsing and click models are learned using an expectation maximization technique applied to click signals recorded in the logs. The initial motivation of the user to browse the ad list and their browsing persistence are found to be related to query intent and browsing/click behavior. Accommodating these biases along with the location bias in user models appear as effective contextual signals, improving the performance of the existing models.
The management of epilepsy in pregnancy at the Whittington Hospital: a retrospective audit 2004–2006 and 2007–2010

Background: In the last maternal death enquiries report there were 14 indirect deaths due to epilepsy. Methods: Retrospective case-note analysis of epileptic women seen antenatally over two separate time periods were examined. Care in the routine antenatal clinic (ANC) was compared with that in the obstetric medicine clinic (OMC). Results: 1st audit, 65 epileptic women seen. In OMC 14% had documented preconception counselling, 58% were on anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). In ANC 0% had documented preconception counselling, 34% were on AEDs. 2nd audit, 88 epileptic women seen. In OMC 37.5% of women had preconception counselling, 84% were on AEDs. In ANC, 4.2% had preconception counselling, 31% were on AEDs. Conclusions: Women seen in OMC received care more compliant with Scottish Obstetric Group and Audit Project recommendations. All women with epilepsy should be reviewed in an OMC.
Biochar compound fertilizer as an option to reach high productivity but low carbon intensity in rice agriculture of China

Background: Biochar from pyrolysis of biomass amended in soils to improve nitrogen use efficiency for enhancing crop productivity and mitigate climate change in agriculture has been well documented. However, application for soil amendment of biochar at high rates could be challenged with cost-effectiveness for small-scale household farms. Results: This study, by field testing four organic/inorganic compound fertilizers of biochars pyrolysed via different biowastes compared with conventional chemical fertilizer in a rice paddy, evidenced that biochar compound fertilizer application at a much lower rate of N input ensured rice productivity by improving N use efficiency and reduced GHG emission in rice production. Conclusion: Use of biowaste-converted biochars for organic/inorganic compound fertilizer can be an option to achieve high productivity and low carbon intensity along with saving N nitrogen fertilizer use in Chinese rice agriculture.
Sex Buffers Intimates Against the Negative Implications of Attachment Insecurity

Contextual models of relationships and recent theories of attachment system activation suggest that experiences that promote intimacy, such as sexual intercourse, may moderate the negative implications of attachment insecurity. In two independent studies, 207 couples reported their attachment insecurity, the frequency of their sexual intercourse over the past 30 days, their expectancies for their partner’s availability, and their marital satisfaction, and in a 7-day diary they reported their daily sexual and relationship satisfaction and their expectancies for how satisfied they would be with their partners’ availability the next day. Attachment avoidance was unrelated to marital satisfaction among spouses reporting more frequent sex, and attachment anxiety was unrelated to marital satisfaction among spouses reporting more daily sexual satisfaction. Both effects were mediated by expectancies for partner availability. These findings suggest that the effects of attachment insecurity are not immutable but vary according to the context of the relationship.
Pancreatic enhancement and pulse sequence analysis using low-dose mangafodipir trisodium.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate pancreatic enhancement with low-dose mangafodipir trisodium (5 mumol/kg) using three different T1-weighted pulse sequences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifteen patients, six of whom had proven focal pancreatic tumors, underwent T1-weighted gradient-recalled echo imaging, spin-echo imaging, and fat-suppressed spin-echo imaging before and 30 min after injection of 5 mumol/kg of mangafodipir trisodium. Region-of-interest measurements were obtained in the pancreas before and after contrast enhancement. Signal-to-noise ratios were calculated in all 15 patients. Contrast-to-noise ratios were calculated in the six patients with pancreatic tumors. RESULTS The signal-to-noise ratios of the pancreas increased after injection of mangafodipir trisodium on all three T1-weighted pulse sequences (p < .001). Enhanced fat-suppressed sequences (29 +/- 7.7) and gradient-recalled echo sequences (29 +/- 9.6) had the highest signal-to-noise ratios. Contrast-to-noise ratios between normal pancreatic tissue and pancreatic tumor also increased after contrast administration (p < .05) and were highest on the fat-suppressed (-9.6 +/- 4.0) pulse sequence. CONCLUSION Mangafodipir trisodium produced marked pancreatic enhancement at a dose of 5 mumol/kg for all three T1-weighted pulse sequences. The enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo fat-suppressed sequence showed the highest signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios.
Anatomical Variations in the Pseudosylvian Fissure Morphology of Brachy‐, Dolicho‐, and Mesaticephalic Dogs

The purpose of the study is the following: (1) to anatomically characterize the right and the left pseudosylvian fissure (Psf) morphology; (2) to determine Psf variations between both hemispheres and between the three considered groups; and (3) to understand how these variations may influence brain surgery for dogs. Also we sought to determine whether there are any potential differences between brachy‐ (B), dolicho‐ (D), and mesaticephalic (M) dogs. The present study considered 138 brain hemispheres (N = 138) from 69 adult dog cadavers and used bregma craniometric point (b‐ the junction of coronal and sagittal cranial vault sutures) to characterize the Psf location on the superolateral brain surface. For statistical analysis, P values <0.05 were considered significant. The Psf was easily identified in all specimens at both hemispheres. Statistically significant differences for Psf width were registered between the groups, presenting M as the narrowest Psf regions. Fissure body length can be sorted in ascending order as D < M < B in both hemispheres, with the left Psf bigger than the right for all considered skulls. The greatest difference was registered in the B group with the left Psf 25.0% bigger than the right. Bregma has proved to be useful to appoint Psf location as more superior or inferior in the encephalic lateral surface, exhibiting in all groups the left Psf a superior position. For the groups the most inferior location was registered in M and the most superior in D. Understanding the Psf morphology and anatomical variations may provide important information to ensure safer intracranial procedures. Anat Rec, 298:1255–1260, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Usefulness of Direct and Indirect Cash Flow Disclosures

We investigate the ability of disclosed operating cash flow and indirect accruals components to explain annual returns for a sample of Australian firms. Consistent with claims made by accounting standard setters, we find evidence of significant explanatory power for disclosed operating cash flow components beyond aggregate operating cash flows when they also have significant incremental predictive power for future (one year ahead) operating cash flows. Accrual components also have incremental explanatory power for returns. In addition, we find evidence of significant explanatory power for operating cash flow components beyond estimates of the components (based on other financial statement disclosures) for firms with large differences between disclosed and estimated components.
Is the association of subjective SES and self-rated health confounded by negative mood? An experimental approach.

OBJECTIVE Lower subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) consistently shows associations with poorer health with the strongest relationships emerging with global self-rated health. Though often interpreted as reflecting the impact of low SSS on health, the association could also arise from confounding SSS with negative affect. In this research we sought to determine if negative affect confounds, or alternatively, is on the causal pathway linking SSS to self-rated health. METHOD Three-hundred adult participants--recruited from throughout the United States--were randomized to experience sadness, shame, or a neutral mood induction in which they wrote about and visualized a particularly emotionally evocative event. Participants subsequently completed measures of SSS, self-rated health, depression, and negative mood. RESULTS Consistent with predictions, neither SSS scores nor the association of SSS with self-rated health, depression, and chronic negative affect differed by mood induction condition, controlling for demographic factors that covary with SSS (e.g., age, gender, education, income). Moreover, chronic negative affect partially explained the relationship between SSS and self-rated health, independent of manipulated mood. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the utility of the measurement of SSS, and provide evidence suggesting that chronic negative affect is a likely mediator of the SSS association with global health rather than a confounder.
Saving Behaviour in OECD Countries: Evidence from Panel Cointegration Tests

We use recently developed panel cointegration and integration tests, which allow for heterogeneity in parameters and dynamics across countries, to examine the long-run determinants of aggregate private saving rates in a dynamic panel of OECD countries during the post Second World War period. These techniques are more powerful than the conventional tests and overcome the inconsistency problem of the fixed-effect estimator typically employed in cross-country studies of saving behaviour. We employ a number of alternative cointegration methods and also construct a private disposable income series, while previous studies on private savings tend to proxy income with GDP. We find strong evidence for the existence of a long-run equilibrium saving function based on an extended version of the life-cycle hypothesis which allows for the influence of liquidity constraints. Our results suggest a number of significant determinants of saving rates, but the parameter estimates vary significantly across countries. Copyright 2001 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester
Foreign investment and economic growth interactions in Eurasia: 1960 to 2011

This paper examines dynamic interactions between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth using panel-data cointegration and causality tests. We present our results for 34 Eurasian countries for which previous research on this subject has not hitherto been performed. We find that that FDI and economic growth have both short-term and long-term causal linkages to each another and often to other identified variables. Our findings support the notion that donor countries supplying FDI tend to use FDI as an instrument of financial diplomacy. When the recipient countries experience enhanced economic growth through the FDI they receive, goodwill and more cordial relationships are fostered.
Financialisation and the Dynamics of Offshoring in the USA

Imports are linked to higher cost mark-ups and firm profits, and the gains from such non-competitive imports--the result of offshoring--are increasingly associated with the reinvestment of these higher profits. Our regression analysis of 35 US manufacturing and service industries over the period 1998--2006 supports aggregate and firm-level studies showing that offshoring is associated with a higher share of corporate profit in total value added. But the 'dynamic' gains from offshoring have not been fully realised because firms have purchased financial assets--especially share buybacks and higher dividend payments--to raise shareholder value, rather than investing in productive assets that raise productivity, growth, employment and income. Despite the corporate sector's contribution to national savings over the past decade, the offshoring--financialisation linkage reduces the capacity of non-financial corporations to act as a driver of the recovery from the economic crisis that emerged in 2008. Copyright The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Cambridge Political Economy Society. All rights reserved. , Oxford University Press.