Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An empirical assessment of the trade facilitation initiative: econometric evidence and global economic effects

Abstract This paper attempts to model trade facilitation in a multi-regional and multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, MIRAGE. It follows Decreux and Fontagné (2009) in modeling trade facilitation and in assuming that administrative barriers are an iceberg cost. I extend their model using more comprehensive measures of ad-valorem equivalents (AVEs) of red tape costs, which are computed from a gravity model, and are introduced in the CGE model. The novelty in using those AVEs is that they take into account the effects of bureaucracy, internet coverage, corruption, and geographical barriers on the time to trade. The paper has four major findings. Gains derived from trade facilitation are more significant for developing economies (especially for the Middle East and North Africa region and Sub-Saharan countries) than for developed ones, whether in terms of welfare gain (either in the short or long run) or increase in trade. Second, long-run welfare effects of trade facilitation are much higher than in the short run. Third, trade facilitation helps boost both intra-regional trade and inter-regional trade. Fourth and most interestingly, it also helps improve export diversification, leading to an expansion in those sectors that are more sensitive to time, such as food, textiles, and electronics.
Dental anxiety, dental health attitudes, and bodily symptoms as correlates of asthma symptoms in adult dental patients with asthma.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between asthma symptoms and dental anxiety, dental health attitudes, and physical symptoms and sensations such as watery eyes, upset stomach, headaches, and nausea in a group of adult dental patients with asthma. These variables are believed to be highly related to stress levels, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms during dental treatment. METHODS Four self-report questionnaires and a demographic information form were completed by 60 adults with asthma in a waiting room of a private dental practice prior to receiving treatment. These instruments assessed dental anxiety, dental health attitudes, bodily symptoms, and asthma symptoms. Bivariate correlations were computed and tested for significance. They were followed by multiple regression analysis to analyze the relationship between the predictor variables-dental anxiety, dental health attitudes, and bodily symptoms, to the dependent variable-asthma symptoms. RESULTS Pearson product correlations between the study variables revealed a statistically significant relationship between dental anxiety and bodily symptoms (r = 0.23, p < 0.05), and asthma symptoms and bodily symptoms (r = 54, p < 0.01). The analysis of variance indicated that the overall regression model (R2 = 30) was statistically significant (F(3,56) = 7.92, p < 0.01). Bodily symptoms was the only significant variable in the model. CONCLUSION Dentists and dental hygienist should be attuned to adult patients who have asthma and exhibit signs of anxiety and/or other physical symptoms, or indicators of stress that can exacerbate asthma during or prior to dental treatment.
Collective efficiency: Growth path for small‐scale industry

This study is concerned with the growth of small local industry in developing countries and explores one particular route for understanding and fostering such growth. It focuses on the clustering of firms and the competitive advantage which they derive from local external economies and joint action, captured in the concept of collective efficiency. Following a conceptual discussion, the article explores the economic and institutional conditions which enhance or hinder collective efficiency. This includes a case study which suggests that responding to opportunity and crisis requires shifting from mere reliance on external economies to joint action and from ascribed to earned trust.
Strategic Credit Line Usage and Performance

This paper uses a unique dataset of corporate credit line usage to examine whether firms draw precautionary balances from their credit lines in anticipation of a decline in future availability. We find that credit line drawdowns precede declines in cash flow. Further, we model predicted drawdowns and estimate unexpected drawdowns as the residual from the predictive regression. We show that unexpected drawdowns predict future cash flow declines, future covenant violations and concurrent ratings downgrades. Consistent with the use of unexpected drawdowns as a proxy for precautionary balances that are not needed for immediate investment, unexpected drawdowns are associated with increases in cash balances. Firms with unexpected drawdowns do not get better terms in renegotiations, but they are more able to finance future capital expenditures following a covenant violation than those firms without unexpected drawdowns. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that firms strategically draw on their credit lines to access cash before their performance deteriorates.
Switching from Single to Multiple Bank Lending Relationships: Determinants and Implications

Our results show that the majority of firms borrow for the first time from a single bank, but soon afterwards some of them start borrowing from several banks. Duration analysis shows that the likelihood of a firm substituting a single with multiple relationships increases with the duration of the single relationship and that firms with more growth opportunities and more bank debt are more likely to initiate multiple relationships. Firms with poor performance, too, are more likely to initiate multiple relationships. The analysis of the ex post effects of the initiation of multiple relationships does not detect an increase in the firm's overall indebtedness and investment, but it finds an increase in its trade credit reliance and no improvement in its performance. Overall these results suggest to us that a potential unwillingness by the incumbent bank to increase its exposure to a firm because of its past poor performance appears to explain better firms' decision to initiate multiple relationships than the hypothesis that they do so to protect themselves against the hold-up rents inherent to exclusive relationships because they have many growth opportunities.
Anthropometric and Physiological Differences Between First Team and Reserve Soccer Players Aged 10-14 Years at the Beginning and End of the Season

Gravina, L, Gil, SM, Ruiz, F, Zubero, J, Gil, J, and Irazusta, J. Anthropometric and physiological differences between first team and reserve soccer players aged 10-14 years at the beginning and end of the season. J Strength Cond Res 22: 1308-1314, 2008-The aim of this article was to identify differences in the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of first team and reserve young soccer players (10-14 years old) at both the beginning and end of the soccer season. Body composition was calculated by measuring weight, height, skinfold, limb circumference, and joint diameter. &OV0312;o2max was estimated by Astrand's test. Sprint and jump tests were also performed. In general, first team players (FTPs) were taller and leaner. However, the most relevant difference that we found at the beginning of the season was that FTPs had shorter sprint times than reserves in the 30-m test (both flat and with 10 cones). Moreover, these differences in sprint time were more marked at the end of the season. In addition, jump test performance by the reserves declined from the beginning to the end of the season. These results indicate that sprint time is an important factor associated with selection as an FTP between the ages of 10 and 14 years. The progression of the FTPs during the course of the season is better than that of the reserves and is associated with a different degree of growth and maturity. These findings should be taken into account by trainers and coaches to avoid a bias against late maturing or younger soccer players.
Testing the Overreaction Hypothesis in the UK Stock Market by Using Inter & Intra Industry Contrarian Strategies

This study mainly supports the Overreaction Hypothesis in the Inter-industry and the intra-sector environment of the UK stock market. Firstly, it contradicts Haugen, (1996) plausible hypothesis that long-term reversals should not exist when value-weighted industry indexes are used in order to find it. Secondly, it is opposite to Kothari et al. (1995) results that long-term reversals are a result of the survivorship bias. Thirdly, our inter-industry results do not support the argument that the size effect is the main reason why long-term reversals occur in the stock market. Fourthly, the volatility tests do not support the claim that the excess profits coming from this inter-industry contrarian strategy are a risk premium. After all, if these excess inter-industry contrarian profits where truly a risk premium then losers should constantly be riskier in all volatility tests we ran. Fifthly and most importantly, our study supports the hypothesis that the inter-industry contrarian strategy using equally-weighted winner-loser portfolios consisted of value-weighted industry indexes leads to lower contrarian profits than these of the intra-industry contrarian strategy that uses equally-weighted winner-loser portfolios consisted of stocks. Possibly, the former strategy captures a lower level of arbitrage risk and a smaller dispersion of heterogeneous beliefs than the latter strategy does. Sixthly, our study supports the hypothesis that the further (less) investors look stock prices in the past, the more (less) they overreact to them creating higher (lower) long-term reversals. Both last hypotheses (five, six) support the main prediction of the overreaction Hypothesis.
Retention Among ART Patients in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea: Evaluating the PAPUA Model

Background:Despite more than 10,000 patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), there remains a dearth of operational research in Papua New Guinea related to HIV service delivery. This study examined the effectiveness of a locally developed model of HIV service delivery called PAPUA (Patient and Provider Unified Approach) in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The model emphasizes coordinated patient and provider support along with decentralized services to rural districts in the Highlands. Methods:We conducted a chart review among HIV-infected adults on ART at clinics in Eastern Highlands Province, where the PAPUA model was implemented in addition to the standard of care, and in Western Highlands Province, where the standard of care was implemented. We calculated yearly retention rates and used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to compare retention rates across the provinces. Results:Data for 2457 patients from the 2 provinces were analyzed. Among patients receiving ART under the PAPUA model in Eastern Highlands, the 12-, 24-, 36-, and 48-month retention proportions were 0.79, 0.73, 0.68, and 0.63, respectively. When we compared retention probabilities across the 2 provinces, patients receiving care under the PAPUA model had a 15% lower rate of attrition from care during the first 4 years of ART (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval: 0.74 to 0.99; P = 0.03), after adjusting for age, gender, and year of enrollment. Conclusions:The PAPUA model seems to be a promising intervention although it is inextricably linked to the limitations posed by a resource-constrained health system.
Hourly Employee Retention Factors in the Quick Service Restaurant Industry

Abstract Hourly employee retention in the quick service restaurant industry has long been a major area of concern for both operators and multi-unit restaurant decision makers. While numerous studies concentrated on managers' perceptions on why employees leave, few have explored the employees' perceptions on employment characteristics that kept them from changing jobs. The study employed a self-administered questionnaire and asked 233 quick service restaurant employees in the Midwestern region of the United States to rate the importance of and their experience with 20 employment characteristics of their job. The findings revealed that the most important employment characteristics were nice people to work with, humane approach to employees, and hourly wages. In addition, the study showed statistically significant differences between the level of importance and the level of experience attached to 18 out of 20 employment characteristics, which could explain the high turnover and low retention of employees in the industry. Implications for management are discussed.
No Arbitrage and Valuation in Markets with Realistic Transaction Costs

Abstract One of the most fundamental results in finance is the equivalence of a no-arbitrage condition to the existence of a pricing operator in markets without transaction costs (see Ross (1978)). Garman and Ohlson (1981) extended this to markets with proportional transaction costs. The current paper further extends this result to markets with realistic (and nonproportional) transaction costs. These costs include all investors' market-impact and short-borrowing costs, large investors' institutional commissions, and for small investors only the additional cost of retail commissions. They are functions of the value of the trade and have increasing, increasing, constant, and decreasing marginal rates, respectively, in that value. Garman and Ohlson showed that equilibrium prices in their notion of a “corresponding” cost-free market, plus a certain factor, prevail under equilibrium in markets with proportional transaction costs. The current paper extends this to realistic transaction costs and establishes the functional relation between this factor and the form of such costs.
An Examination of the Free Cash Flow and Information/Signaling Hypotheses Using Unexpected Dividend Changes Inferred from Option and Stock Prices: The Case of Regular Dividend Increases

This paper measures unexpected dividend changes in testing the free cash flow and information/signaling hypotheses using the Bar–Yosef/Sarig method. The empirical findings reveal the following: (i) The association between announcement period abnormal returns and the cash level is significantly positive for low q firms; (ii) The positive association between announcement period, abnormal returns, and the cash level is stronger in low q than in high q firms for most regressions; (iii) Low q firms reduce their capital and research and development (R&D) expenditures during the four fiscal years following dividend increase announcements. Our results are consistent with the free cash flow hypothesis.
Antithrombotics in atrial fibrillation and coronary disease

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia and approximately 18–45% of AF patients have concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). Several studies have demonstrated that oral anticoagulation is the mainstay of therapy for stroke prevention in AF. Similarly, antiplatelet therapy including aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitor is recommended in the management of acute coronary syndrome and stable CAD. Despite the high prevalence of CAD with AF, practice guidelines are scarce on the appropriate antithrombotic regimen due to lack of large-scale randomized clinical trials. The use of direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors for stroke prevention in AF has also complicated the possible combinations of antithrombotic therapies. This review aims to discuss the available evidence regarding aspirin as an antithrombotic strategy, the role of novel anticoagulants and the specific clinical situations where aspirin may be beneficial in patients with AF and CAD.
RAINFALL before RAINBOW-an illusion or reality?

Combination with fluoropyrimidines and platinum-based agents have been used as first-line therapy for metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC) resulting in a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5–6 months and a median overall survival (OS) of 10–15 months. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), significantly improved the OS of HER2-positive GC patients, which consists of around 15% of patients (1). However, other randomized studies failed to show benefits of several molecular targeting agents for GC in first-line (2-7), thus development of more effective combination is important.
Characteristics of audit committee financial experts: an empirical study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the characteristics and qualifications of audit committee financial experts. Specifically, the paper examines if the majority of the financial experts possess accounting or general management experience. Design/methodology/approach – The authors collected the data through survey and use cross tabulation (univariate) and logistic regression to analyze the data. Findings – The results show that accounting certification and audit committee experience are valued positively by the Board of Directors when designating an audit committee member as a financial expert. Prior experience as a CEO results in a lower probability of being designated as a financial expert. Research limitations/implications – Non-response bias may be a factor which should be considered. There are other factors such as stock exchange affiliation of the company that have not been included due to the anonymous nature of the survey. Practical implications – It provides useful information and benchmark to the Board of Directors with respect to the characteristics of designated audit committee financial experts. Originality/value – This is the first paper to examine the characteristics of audit committee financial experts through survey. The paper presents a richer array of factors compared to what is available in proxy statements. Audit committees, financial statement users, policy makers, and researchers will find the results interesting and useful.
Capital Flows to Emerging Market Economies: A Brave New World?

We examine the determinants of net private capital inflows to emerging market economies (EMEs) since 2002. Our main findings are: First, growth and interest rate differentials between EMEs and advanced economies and global risk appetite are statistically and economically important determinants of net private capital inflows. Second, there have been significant changes in the behavior of net inflows from the period before the recent global financial crisis to the post-crisis period, especially for portfolio inflows, partly explained by the greater sensitivity of such flows to interest rate differentials since the crisis. Third, capital controls introduced in recent years do appear to have discouraged both total and portfolio net inflows. Finally, we find positive effects of unconventional U.S. monetary policy on EME inflows, especially portfolio inflows. Even so, U.S. unconventional policy is one among several important factors influencing flows.
Growing the social enterprise – issues and challenges

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of business growth as it applies to the social enterprise. It examines if social entrepreneurs have a growth agenda, how this is achieved and the challenges encountered in achieving firm growth.Design/methodology/approach – This exploratory study involves the completion of a series of four case studies of established social enterprises.Findings – Social entrepreneurs do have aspirations to grow their enterprise, where growth is perceived from multiple perspectives, primarily underpinned by the provision of a perceived social value. Firm growth is predominately measured from the external beneficiary perspective rather than internal financial metrics. Sourcing financing, staff retention adjusting to different roles in managing the enterprise and measuring the scale and impact of their business are the primary challenges encountered. The creation of social value and profit generation are not mutually exclusive in the social enterprise when social .
Financing Infrastructure in Developing Countries

This article develops a theoretical framework to analyse options for financing infrastructure in developing countries. We build a basic model that gives motivations for using a combination of public finance, private debt, and private equity. The model is then extended in a number of ways to examine factors that are important for developing countries. We focus in particular on key institutional weaknesses that are often important for infrastructure investment. Overall, we show that such weaknesses can be key in determining financing choices, but that they do not all push in the same direction. Financing schemes must therefore be adapted to consider the institutional limitations that are most pertinent in any given context.
Does psychological empowerment mediate the relationship between high performance work systems and patient care quality in hospitals

This study investigates the mediation effects of the four components of psychological empowerment on the relationship between high performance work systems (HPWS) and perceptions of patient care quality among hospital employees. To test this relationship 541 hospital employees in a large regional Australian health service were surveyed. Regression analysis findings demonstrated that psychological empowerment fully mediated the relationship between HPWS and the perception of the quality of patient care. Three of the four individual components of psychological empowerment - autonomy, competence and meaning - fully mediated the relationship between HPWS and the perception of quality of care; the fourth - impact - was non-significant. This study demonstrates the need to recognise that the quality of patient care is influenced not only by clinicians but also by allowing all hospital employees to exercise concern through their work. Healthcare managers need to focus on ensuring HRM strategy, policy and processes support the implementation of HPWS at the unit level.
Accuracy and Predictors of Basal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis

background Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in the United States. Therefore, prospective assessment of dermatologists' acumen in diagnosing BCC is important but, unfortunately, is lacking. objective We sought to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) for clinically diagnosing BCC based on how confident the physician is of the diagnosis. We also sought to determine which clinical and historical factors most influence a dermatologist's perception that a tumor is a BCC and to determine which factors are correlated with a lesion being a BCC. methods Dermatology attending faculty at the University of Miami performing biopsies on their patients in whom BCC was a consideration were asked to complete a questionnaire. They recorded how confident they were of their clinical diagnosis of BCC. They also recorded various clinical and historical factors about the patients and the lesions biopsied. results The PPV for clinically diagnosing BCC when the clinician was most confident was 80%. Age (> 64 years) and the presence of pigmentation, telangiectasias, and a pearly border were statistically associated with a greater confidence level and a histologic diagnosis of BCC. Sunscreen use was associated with fewer diagnoses of BCCs. conclusion This is the first study to determine a relevant PPV for the clinical diagnosis of BCC because the PPV was based on clinical confidence level. These results highlight the role of diagnostic biopsies, could improve patient referral, and may help increase the PPV in the future.