Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Competitive Costs and Board Reputation Concerns Affect Disclosure: Evidence from Performance Targets

We use a 2006 Securities and Exchange Commission regulation that requires firms to disclose the numerical target for executive bonus plans to examine how firm-specific measures of proprietary costs and board member’s reputation concerns influence a firm’s disclosure decisions. Using a composite measure of board strength we find that in the first year of the requirement, board strength is positively associated with disclosure. This result suggests that board members who are more concerned about their reputation encourage disclosure to increase their standing with the SEC and stakeholders. Using unexpected earnings and the three-year average of industry-adjusted gross profit as firm-specific measures of proprietary costs, we find that both measures are negatively related to disclosure, but that strong boards are more likely to consider newly acquired proprietary advantage as reflected in unexpected earnings. As a result, the two measures appear to capture different aspects of perceived proprietary costs. Overall, our results provide insight into the influence of board members and firm-specific proprietary costs on a firm’s disclosure decisions.
Statistics Notes: Measurement error and correlation coefficients

Measurement error is the variation between measurements of the same quantity on the same individual.1 To quantify measurement error we need repeated measurements on several subjects. We have discussed the within-subject standard deviation as an index of measurement error,1 which we like as it has a simple clinical interpretation. Here we consider the use of correlation coefficients to quantify measurement error. A common design for the investigation of measurement error is to take pairs of measurements on a group of subjects, as in table 1. When we have pairs of observations it is natural to plot one measurement against the other. The resulting scatter diagram (see figure 1 may tempt us to calculate a correlation coefficient between the first and second measurement. There are difficulties in interpreting this correlation coefficient. In general, the correlation between repeated measurements will depend on the variability between subjects. Samples containing subjects who differ greatly will produce larger correlation coefficients than will samples containing similar …
Strategy and Environment: A Conceptual Integration

An elaboration of the concepts of strategy and environment can be achieved by categorizing environment into its objective and perceived states, and by subdividing strategy according to content (outcomes) or process. The objective environment can be further categorized into “task” and “general. ” An alternative subdivision of strategy is primary (domain selection) and secondary (competitive approach). The concepts of strategy and environment are integrated in that primary strategy concerns opportunities in the general environment and secondary strategy involves navigating within a task environment.
Innovative Sources for Development Finance: Over-Arching Issues

In analysing proposals for new sources of development funding, there are several issues that arise across the board. What is the role of new sources in relation to existing overseas development assistance? Should we be seeking new sources that generate a double dividend? Can the key elements of a proposal be achieved by another route? What should be the fiscal architecture? Is there a modern transfer problem? It is with these general concerns that the present paper deals. Its aim is to bring to bear on global public finance the accumulated knowledge in the field of national public finance, and more generally public economics.
Effects of intensification of pastoral farming on greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand

Abstract In 2007, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in New Zealand were 16% higher than in 1990. Agriculture accounts for 48% of GHG emissions in New Zealand, and 10–12% of emissions in most other ‘developed’ countries. Methane (CH4) accounts for 35% of GHG emissions in New Zealand, mostly from ruminal fermentation. Nitrous oxide (N2O) accounts for 17% of GHG emissions in New Zealand, mostly from urinary N, exacerbated by excessive application of nitrogenous fertiliser. GHG are often expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e), and 1 kg CH4 has a similar global-warming potential as 21 kg CO2, whilst 1 kg N2O has the same warming potential as 310 kg CO2. Methane is derived from H2 produced during ruminal fermentation, and losses account for 6–7% of gross energy in feeds. This is about 9–10% of metabolisable energy intake. Methane production tends to be lower when legumes, rather than grasses, are fed, and emissions are greater (per kg dry matter intake; DMI) when mature grasses and silages are fed. There are small differences between individual animals in their CH4 production (g/kg DMI) but there are few profitable options available for reducing CH4 production in ruminants. Emissions of N2O can be reduced by more strategic application of nitrogenous fertiliser, avoidance of waterlogged areas, and use of dicyandiamide in some cooler regions. GHG mitigation should be based on life-cycle analyses to ensure a reduction in one GHG does not increase another. Current and future strategies are unlikely to reduce GHG emissions by >20%. Food production is central to human survival, and should not be compromised to mitigate GHG emissions. Efforts should be directed toward increasing animal efficiency and reducing GHG emissions/unit edible food.
The Impact of Counterfeiting on Genuine-Item Consumers' Brand Relationships

Abstract An often-overlooked constituent in the debate on counterfeiting is the consumer of the genuine article—a brand manager's primary constituent. These consumers are drawn to premium brands in part because of the exclusivity and connotation of prestige associated with them. These characteristics are also the reason such brands are attractive targets of counterfeiting. When premium brands are counterfeited, which in turn gives a variety of consumers access to them, how do consumers of the genuine items react to the erosion of exclusivity and prestige? An investigation involving premium brands in Thailand and India reveals that consumers of genuine items adopt one of three strategies when faced with the prospect of their favorite brands being counterfeited: flight (abandoning the brand), reclamation (elaborating the pioneering patronage of a brand), and abranding (disguising all brand cues). The author examines these strategies in detail, revealing how the potential loss of exclusivity and prestige can.
Are all ‘sharks’ dangerous? new biotechnology ventures and partner selection in R&D alliances

We examine how new biotechnology firms (NBFs) select pharmaceutical firms as R&D allies as a function of value creation and value appropriation considerations. We develop a theoretical framework to understand partnering decisions accounting for both, a potential partner's ability as well as incentives to appropriate and create value within an R&D alliance. Our empirical findings show that NBFs are more likely to ally with pharmaceutical firms with the ability to create value, as long as these firms have the incentives to use their skills to create rather than appropriate value. Our study highlights the double-edged sword nature of value creation skills and provides a deeper understanding into the contextual factors that determine when potential R&D partners will perceive such skills as increasing appropriation risks. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measuring strategy coherence through patterns of strategic choices

Strategies at different levels need to be coherent to ensure competitive advantage (Hofer and Schendel, 1978). Strategy coherence is the consistency of strategic choices across business and functional levels of strategy. In this paper we focus on strategy coherence. Using patterns of strategy, we develop a measure of the extent of strategy coherence. The relationship between coherence and performance is used to validate the measure. We illustrate the application of the measurement and validation process, in the context of acute care hospitals. The results indicate that our measure of coherence is monotonically related to performance. We also find performance differences between more and less coherent hospitals on the industry specific performance indicator of occupancy. Implications for theory and practice are highlighted.
Multinational Enterprises Are Regional, Not Global

A paradox of international business is that the multinational enterprises (MNEs) – which are the agents of international business – largely operate within their home‐base markets in each part of the “triad” of North America, the E.U. and Japan. Here, empirical evidence is presented across the 500 largest MNEs. It shows that even the 20 most “international” MNEs (those with the highest ratio of foreign‐to‐total sales) are mainly home‐triad based in their activities. We conclude that the strategic management of MNEs needs to be regionally focused, not global.
Large Shareholders, Diversification and Performance: Evidence of Rent Seeking from Malaysia's Manufacturing Firms

The study addresses the argument of agency theory and transaction cost economics in one framework. It examines the interaction effects of large shareholders and diversification contingent on rent seeking environments such as intangible assets and industrial competition on firms' value. Based on an unbalance sample of 256 manufacturing firms from 1996 to 2000, the findings suggest that diversification is able to increase debt capability and enhance firms' value in this economy. However, irrespective of large shareholders' controlling interest, they applied diversification strategy to expropriate shareholders' value in both rent-seeking environments. The benefits of diversification are overwhelmed by the issue of agency problems caused by large shareholders in this economy
A taxonomy of technological settings, with related strategies and performance levels

In this study, businesses were categorized into six groups on the basis of their methods of production, rates of innovation, and product sophistication. Technology, strategy, and performance-related variables were then used to successfully relate these categories to archetypes in three existing conceptual typologies. Although the strategies of the six groups differed significantly, their profitability levels did not.
Analyzing of Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty Based on Brand Image and Perceived Service Quality

Motorcycles market in Indonesia has increased an average of 6.76% per year. However, growth in the number of motorcycles is not matched by the growth of the number of workshops. Motorcycle repair shop in Indonesia consists of two types: public workshops and workshop by sole agent/dealer. Workshops by sole agent are expected to provide standard services as they relate to the brand image and service quality. Based on the results of a pre-survey of consumer workshop Yamaha in Bekasi, there are indications that consumers are not satisfied with the Yamaha workshop in Bekasi, this can be seen from the complaint that are not well served, waiting time is relatively long, the unavailability of certain spare parts and liabilities wearing the official Yamaha oil. Consumer dissatisfaction resulted in consumer disloyal, which moved to another workshop, the consumer is interested in the promotion conducted another workshop and tends not to give recommendation to others. Based on these problems, the objective of this research was to determine customer satisfaction and loyalty based on brand image and perceived service quality. Research data collection by using a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 355 respondents from five Yamaha workshops in Bekasi. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 2.0 to test the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. After a valid and reliable questionnaire, questionnaires were returned distributed to respondents, and questionnaire data were analyzed using LISREL 8.7. Based on the analysis of data, it can be concluded that from the seven hypotheses, five of them are significant hypotheses.
Diaphragm Ultrasonography as an Alternative to Whole‐Body Plethysmography in Pulmonary Function Testing

Objective. Whole‐body plethysmography is a common method of measuring pulmonary function. Although this technique provides a sensitive measure of pulmonary function, it can be problematic and unsuitable in some patients. The development of more accessible techniques would be beneficial. Methods. A prospective study was performed to validate diaphragm ultrasonography as an alternative to whole‐body plethysmography in patients referred for pulmonary function testing. Diaphragm movement and position were assessed by ultrasonography after standard pulmonary function testing using whole‐body plethysmography. Results. A wide range of lung function was observed. Standard lung volumes were as follows: total lung capacity, 5.57 ± 1.31 L, residual volume, 2.27 ± 0.56 L; and vital capacity, 3.30 ± 0.98 L (mean ± SD). The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity was calculated as 0.69 ± 0.08. Ultrasonography showed that mean diaphragm excursion values were 11.1 ± 3.8 mm (2‐dimensional), 14.7 ± 4.1 mm during quiet breathing (M‐mode), and 14.8 ± 3.9 mm during a maximal sniff (M‐mode). The velocity of diaphragm movement rose sharply during the sniff maneuver from 15.2 ± 5.8 mm/s during quiet breathing to 104.0 ± 33.4 mm/s. Static 2‐dimensional measures of diaphragm position at the end of quiet inspiration or expiration correlated with standard measures of lung volume on plethysmography (eg, a correlation coefficient of 0.83 was obtained with end inspiration and vital capacity). All measures of diaphragm movement (whether by 2‐dimensional or M‐mode techniques) were poorly correlated with any lung volumes measured. Conclusions. These data suggest that dynamic measurements using diaphragm ultrasonography provide a relatively poor measure of pulmonary function in relation to whole‐body plethysmography.
Evidence of increased axillary blood flow velocity without increased handgrip strength and endurance in persons with a fibromuscular axillary arch.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this in vivo study was to compare axillary artery blood flow velocity, and maximal handgrip strength and endurance performance in young subjects with and without an axillary arch (AA). MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and fifty-six young adults were screened for the presence of an AA on their dominant arm side. After physical examination subjects were checked using diagnostic echography for the presence of an AA. Sixteen subjects with an AA and 15 without an AA had their axillary artery peak systolic velocity quantified in 3 different arm positions using Doppler ultrasound. Maximal handgrip strength and endurance performance was quantified in the same positions using a functional rehabilitation system. RESULTS Mean peak systolic velocity was significantly higher in the AA group compared to controls in abduction/external rotation of the arm during muscle relaxation (p = 0.003) and contraction (p = 0.01). No significant differences between groups were found for maximal handgrip strength and endurance performance. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence for a transient axillary artery compression by the AA in a throwing position. This is not reinforced by additional contraction of the shoulder muscles along with the AA. Axillary artery compression does not influence maximal handgrip strength and endurance performance in symptom-free young adults.
A Combined TD–FD Method for Enhanced Reflectometry Measurements in Liquid Quality Monitoring

Measurement and control of the dielectric parameters of liquids play a major role in industrial quality-control applications. Although several techniques are currently available to this aim, none of them is simultaneously accurate, cost-effective, and reasonably quick. On the other hand, reflectometry has become a very attractive method for monitoring applications, mostly thanks to its accuracy and flexibility. In this paper, a combined method based on time-domain reflectometry (TDR) and frequency-domain (FD) analysis is presented: the aim is to substantially improve the measurement accuracy of the dielectric parameters of liquids. Starting with typical TDR measurements, the associated FD evaluation of the dielectric parameters is considerably enhanced through the combined effect of the following: 1) specific data-processing techniques; 2) the implementation of a calibration procedure; and 3) the final modeling and minimization routine. Furthermore, to definitively assess the proposed combined procedure, results are compared with measurements directly performed in the FD through a vector network analyzer (VNA). The ultimate goal of the work is to pave the way for the adoption of inexpensive and portable TDR devices in practical industrial monitoring applications.
Putting on the Thinking Cap: Using NeuroIS to Understand Information Processing Biases in Virtual Teams

Virtual teams are increasingly common in today's organizations, yet they often make poor decisions. Teams that interact using text-based collaboration technology typically exchange more information than when they perform the same task face-to-face, but past results suggest that team members are more likely to ignore information they receive from others. Collaboration technology makes unique demands on individual cognitive resources that may change how individual team members process information in virtual settings compared to face-to-face settings. This experiment uses electroencephalography, electrodermal activity, and facial electromyography to investigate how team members process information received from text-based collaboration during a team decision-making process. Our findings show that information that challenges an individual's prediscussion decision preference is processed similarly to irrelevant information, while information that supports an individual's prediscussion decision preference is processed more thoroughly. Our results present neurological evidence for the underlying processes of confirmation bias in information processing during online team discussions.
Financial development and economic growth in transition economies A survey of the theoretical and empirical literature

Asymmetric information and transaction costs play a central role in the economic literature explaining the importance of financial intermediaries and financial markets for economic growth. Such market imperfections are especially relevant for the countries in Central- and Eastern Europe (CEE), where well-functioning markets and legal institutions are often absent and economic uncertainty is high. As a result, information asymmetries between banks on the one hand and small and medium-sized firms on the other are large, just as the external financing premium these firms are faced with. Also, in many countries, the banking sector is still in the middle of a process of privatisation, while at the same time financial markets are only in their infancy. Furthermore, the lack of adequate "rules of the game" is reflected in perverse incentives such as soft budget constraints for (former) state-owned firms. When firms default, banks are often not inclined to institute bankruptcy proceedings against them. To a large extent, this is the direct result of a lack of effective bankruptcy laws and the absence of collateral. When banks cannot credibly commit not to refinance bankrupt firms, moral hazard behaviour by firm managers will develop. As a result, the allocative function of financial intermediaries will be distorted, as financial funds will flow to loss-making, large (state-owned) firms, while at the same time small and medium-sized firms will fully depend on their internally generated funds to finance investments. The still deficient institutional set-up, as well as the (in certain aspects) poorly functioning financial systems in CEE, may thus hinder economic growth by allocating financial resources to the "wrong" enterprises.
Transferrinuria in Type 2 Diabetes: The Effect of Glycaemic Control

Urinary excretion rates of transferrin, albumin, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and α-1-microglobulin (A1M) were measured in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients at diagnosis and after 6 and 12 weeks treatment. Initially 21 (53%) patients had elevated transferrin excretion rates. The proportion of patients with raised transferrin excretion rates fell to 30% at 6 weeks and 20% at 12 weeks with treatment of diabetes. At diagnosis 11 (28%) patients had elevated albumin excretion rates and 10 of these had elevated transferrin excretion rates. After 6 weeks treatment only six (15%) had elevated albumin excretion rates and by 12 weeks this number had fallen to four (10%). NAG and A1M levels also fell with treatment of diabetes. There were correlations between the transferrin excretion rate and albumin excretion rate (r = 0·86, P < 0·0001), transferrin excretion rate and NAG (r = 0·46, P < 0·0001), and transferrin excretion rate and A1M (r = 0·55, P < 0·0001) at each visit. There were weaker correlations between the albumin excretion rate and A1M and NAG at each visit. The correlations between the transferrin excretion rate and markers of tubular function (NAG and A1M) suggest that tubular dysfunction may play a part in renal loss of transferrin in diabetes mellitus. There were no differences in transferrin excretion rales between patients with and without evidence of complications.
Monetary Policy and Asset Pricing in MENA

The linkage between monetary policy decisions and stock market performance is an important topic. Having reliable estimates of the reaction of asset prices to the policy instrument helps understanding and assessing the stock market channel for monetary policy transmission. The availability of such estimates helps to formulate effective policy decisions. However, relatively little empirical evidence is available on this issue, especially in developing and emerging countries. This paper attempts to fill this gap by analyzing the interaction between monetary policy and asset markets in seven MENA countries by making use of the SVAR methodology. The countries considered in this study are Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey. It has been found that the reactions of monetary policies to stock market price movements are far from homogenous across countries. The paper attempts to put forward some explanations.