Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Code of Ethics versus Annual Report: Analysis of Environmental Disclosures

This paper compares environmental disclosure in Codes of Ethics and in Annual Reports. On the basis of a sample of 197 Italian listed firms, research findings reveal that firm size, capital intensity and industry classification are positively associated with the level of environmental disclosure in both documents. We also examine environmental disclosure by exploring the consistency between the information presented in the two documents. Disclosure consistency is defined as the logarithm of the level of environmental disclosure in the Annual Reports divided by the level presented in the Code of Ethics. It is found that disclosure consistency is positively associated with firm size and capital intensity. Industry classification and ownership dispersion also affect disclosure consistency when firm subsamples are considered. Key-Words: environmental disclosure; code of ethics; annual report; Italian listed companies
The detection of trans gene fragments of hEPO in gene doping model mice by Taqman qPCR assay

Background With the rapid progress of genetic engineering and gene therapy methods, the World Anti-Doping Agency has raised concerns regarding gene doping, which is prohibited in sports. However, there is no standard method available for detecting transgenes delivered by injection of naked plasmids. Here, we developed a detection method for detecting transgenes delivered by injection of naked plasmids in a mouse model that mimics gene doping. Methods Whole blood from the tail tip and one piece of stool were used as pre-samples of injection. Next, a plasmid vector containing the human erythropoietin (hEPO) gene was injected into mice through intravenous (IV), intraperitoneal (IP), or local muscular (IM) injection. At 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after injection, approximately 50 µL whole blood was collected from the tail tip. One piece of stool was collected at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. From each sample, total DNA was extracted and transgene fragments were analyzed by Taqman quantitative PCR (qPCR) and SYBR green qPCR. Results In whole blood DNA samples evaluated by Taqman qPCR, the transgene fragments were detected at all time points in the IP sample and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 h in the IV and IM samples. In the stool-DNA samples, the transgene fragments were detected at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h in the IV and IM samples by Taqman qPCR. In the analysis by SYBR green qPCR, the transgene fragments were detected at some time point in both specimens; however, many non-specific amplicons were detected. Conclusions These results indicate that transgene fragments evaluated after each injection method of naked plasmids were detected in whole-blood and stool DNA samples. These findings may facilitate the development of methods for detecting gene doping.
The Information Content of Accounting Numbers as Earnings Predictors One Year Ahead : The Case of Hong Kong Sam Kit

The study measures the power of non-earnings accounting information released by firms in Hong Kong to predict unexpected changes in earnings and stock returns, thus replicating an experiment carried out by Ou (1990) using US data. Our study shows that Ou’s (1990) methodology is robust, predicting future earnings changes even where substantial decline in economic conditions have taken place.
Numerical Solution for MHD Flow of Micro Polar Fluid Between Two Concentric Rotating Cylinders with Porous Lining

The steady flow of an electrically conducting, incompressible micropolar fluid in a narrow gap between two concentric rotating vertical cylinders with a thin porous lining under an external radial magnetic field is studied. Beavers and Joseph slip condition is taken at the porous lining boundary. The azimuthal velocity, micro-rotation component and slip velocity are evaluated. The effects of Hartmann number, the porous lining thickness parameter, the ratio of the angular velocities of the cylinders, the slip parameter, the porosity parameter, coupling number, couple stress parameters and Reynolds number on azimuthal velocity, micro-rotation velocity, slip velocity and coefficient of skin friction on cylinders are depicted through graphs.
NA GRADILIŠTIMA MAINTENANCE AND EFFECT OF MACHINES WORKED ON CONSTRUCTION SITE

Paper received: 10.04. 2017. Paper accepted: 16.06. 2017. Rad sa konferencije REZIME U radu je pojašnjeno značenje i važnost učinka građevinskih strojeva obzirom na specifičnosti njihove uporabe. Opisani su načini organizacije aktivnosti održavanja strojeva na gradilištima i ukazano je na utjecaj koji to ima na njihov učinak. Naglašene su mogućnosti unaprjeđenja postojeće prakse izvođača građevinskih radova i istaknuta je potreba praćenja ostvarenih učinaka i izrade i kontinuiranog ažuriranja internih baza podataka koji su podloga za planiranje i odlučivanje o realizaciji mehaniziranih radova.
Taking Another Woman as My Mother : The State of Waray Language as Used by Today ’ s Waray Children

The central question of this study is whether or not Waray schoolchildren ages 9 to 14 years old are shifting from their Waray mother language to Tagalog and English. The respondents, through a vocabulary test, were asked to give as many Waray equivalent words to each English term presented. The test focuses on words found in the home domain of the Warays. Purposive sampling technique is used. Respondents are divided into rural and urban respondents. Frequency distribution was utilized to tabulate and analyze the data. The study found out an inverse relationship between the children’s vocabulary competence in L2 and L3 (that is, Tagalog and English respectively, which are taught in school) and vocabulary competence in L1 (Waray). They tend to substitute Waray terms with English and Tagalog vocabularies and forget the Waray words. Distinction of Waray words from English and Tagalog words are blurring among the respondents. Children’s negative or indifferent attitude towards the Waray language was also observed.
Effect of Entrepreneurial Education and Economic Conditionof Parents towards an Entrepreneurship Attitudes through the Entrepreneurship Interest

This study aimed to determine the effect of entrepreneurship education and economic condition of parents towards an entrepreneurial attitude through entrepreneurship interestof students on Economic Faculty, State University of Makassar. The sample in this study as many as 223 students of Economic Faculty drawn from each of the different departments. This research method using a descriptive quantitative, with path analysis. The results of this study show that entrepreneurial education directly affects the entrepreneurial attitude through entrepreneurship interest and economic condition of parents indirect effect on entrepreneurial attitude through entrepreneurship interest.
Pathways of Prevention: A Scoping Review of Dietary and Exercise Interventions for Neurocognition

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) represent an increasingly urgent public health concern, with an increasing number of baby boomers now at risk. Due to a lack of efficacious therapies among symptomatic older adults, an increasing emphasis has been placed on preventive measures that can curb or even prevent ADRD development among middle-aged adults. Lifestyle modification using aerobic exercise and dietary modification represents one of the primary treatment modalities used to mitigate ADRD risk, with an increasing number of trials demonstrating that exercise and dietary change, individually and together, improve neurocognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults. Despite several optimistic findings, examination of treatment changes across lifestyle interventions reveals a variable pattern of improvements, with large individual differences across trials. The present review attempts to synthesize available literature linking lifestyle modification to neurocognitive changes, outline putative mechanisms of treatment improvement, and discuss discrepant trial findings. In addition, previous mechanistic assumptions linking lifestyle to neurocognition are discussed, with a focus on potential solutions to improve our understanding of individual neurocognitive differences in response to lifestyle modification. Specific recommendations include integration of contemporary causal inference approaches for analyzing parallel mechanistic pathways and treatment-exposure interactions. Methodological recommendations include trial multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) design approaches that leverage individual differences for improved treatment outcomes.
Comparison of the Effects of Prenatal Perineal Massage Versus Kegel Exercise on Labor Outcome

Background: Today, the fundamental approach related to pregnancy and childbirth is that they are physiological processes and requires minimum level of medical intervention. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of prenatal perineal massage versus kegel exercise on labor outcome. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted at a private clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the city of Mit Ghamr, Dakahleya Governate, Egypt. Subjects: 118 pregnant women divided into (37 pregnant women in perineal massage group, 38 in kegel exercise group and 43 in the control group). Tools: Five tools were used: Socio-demographic characteristics and previous obstetric history sheet, first stage of labor sheet, second stage of labor sheet, neonatal outcome sheet and post natal sheet 15 days postpartum. The results of the present study revealed that a highly statistically significant reduction in the duration of the second stage of labor of parturient women in the perineal massage group and kegel exercise group compared to those in control group. 27.0% & 23.7% respectively of parturient women in the perineal massage and kegel exercise groups had perineal tears of the first degree type. On the other hand, 14.0% of parturient women in the control group had perineal tears of the second degree type. The mean REEDA scale 15 days postpartum in the three groups was 1.7 ± 1.3 &2.7 ± 1.6 VS. 4.3 ± 0.8 respectively with a high statistically significant difference (P= 0.000). In conclusion, prenatal perineal massage and kegel exercise after 30 weeks gestation are safe non invasive methods of perineal muscle strengthening and pelvic floor muscle training. These methods contributed to a highly statistically significant shortening of the duration of the second stage of labor and reducing the likelihood of episiotomy and degree of perineal tears. Postnatal, they resulted in a highly statistically significant acceleration of perineal wound healing and reduction of perineal pain 15 days postpartum. Recommendations: Heath professionals working in the field of Obstetrics (nurses and physicians) should make perineal massage and kegel exercise training essential components of prenatal care with emphasis on their safety, intra natal and postnatal benefits.
Deep Workpiece Region Segmentation for Bin Picking

For most industrial bin picking solutions, the pose of a workpiece is localized by matching a CAD model to point cloud obtained from 3D sensor. Distinguishing flat workpieces from bottom of the bin in point cloud imposes challenges in the localization of workpieces that lead to wrong or phantom detections. In this paper, we propose a framework that solves this problem by automatically segmenting workpiece regions from non-workpiece regions in a point cloud data. It is done in real time by applying a fully convolutional neural network trained on both simulated and real data. The real data has been labelled by our novel technique which automatically generates ground truth labels for real point clouds. Along with real time workpiece segmentation, our framework also helps in improving the number of detected workpieces and estimating the correct object poses. Moreover, it decreases the computation time by approximately 1s due to a reduction of the search space for the object pose estimation.
Race Across Mud: The Best Choice for Measuring Credit Risk

This paper considers whether the existing measures of credit risk order and quantify corporate credit risk in the same way. Eight measures of credit risk of different natures are compared: Altman’s Z, Ohlson’s O, Hannan and Hanweck model, Zmijewski model, bond spreads, CDS spreads, Black-Scholes-Merton model and Moody’s credit rating. With respect to the first aim mentioned, we find that the different measures of credit risk do not offer the same ordering, and we even find clusters of measures. The second aim is to study the accuracy of each method with regards to real credit risk. We use information on defaults from Moody’s Default and Recovery Database instead of using other variables of credit risk, as some authors do in the literature. As in previous works, we find that the Black-Scholes-Merton model is superior to the other measures speaking of accuracy, but we additionally show that other measures are relatively poor predictors of corporate failure.
CREDITOR PROTECTION AND FINANCIAL CRISIS 1

This paper analyzes the effect of the protection of creditor rights and financial crises on trade credit provided to customer. Using a sample of firms from 34 countries over the period 1995-2013, we find that firms from countries with stronger protection of creditor rights extend less trade credit to their customers. In addition, our results indicate that the impact of financial crises on trade credit extended varies across countries depending on the protection of creditor rights. Specifically, we find that during crisis periods, firms from countries with strong creditor rights reduce the trade credit offered to their customers, which is driven by a bank credit crunch (supply effect). However, during these periods, the trade credit provided increases in firms from countries with weak creditor rights protection, which may be caused by the accumulation of unpaid credit or delayed payments.
Design , Fabrication , and Characterization of Nano-Photonic Components Based on Silicon and Plasmonic Material

Size reduction is a key issue in the development of contemporary integrated photonics. This thesis is mainly devoted to study some integrated photonic components in subwavelength or nanometric scales, both theoretically and experimentally. The possible approaches to reduce the sizes or to increase the functionalities of photonic components are discussed, including waveguides and devices based on silicon nanowires, photonic crystals, surface plasmons, and some near-field plasmonic components. First, some numerical methods, including the finite-difference time-domain method and the full-vectorial finite-difference mode solver, are introduced. The finite-difference time-domain method can be used to investigate the interaction of light fields with virtually arbitrary structures. The full-vectorial finite-difference mode solver is mainly used for calculating the eigenmodes of a waveguide structure. The fabrication and characterization technologies for nano-photonic components are reviewed. The fabrications are mainly based on semiconductor cleanroom facilities, which include thin film deposition, electron beam lithography, and etching. The characterization setups with the end-fire coupling and the vertical grating coupling are also described. Silicon nanowire waveguides and related devices are studied. Arrayed waveguide gratings with 11nm and 1.6nm channel spacing are fabricated and characterized. The dimension of these arrayed waveguide gratings is around 100μm, which is 1–2 order of magnitude smaller than conventional silica based arrayed waveguide gratings. A compact polarization beam splitter employing positive/negative refraction based on a photonic crystal of silicon pillars is designed and demonstrated. Extinction ratio of ∼15dB is achieved experimentally in a wide wavelength range. Surface plasmon waveguides and devices are analyzed theoretically. With surface plasmons the light field can be confined in a sub-wavelength dimension. Some related photonic devices, e.g., directional couplers and ring resonators, are studied. We also show that some ideas and principles of microwave devices, e.g., a branch-line coupler, can be borrowed for building corresponding surface plasmon based devices. Near-field plasmonic components, including near-field scanning optical microscope probes and left handed material slab lenses, are also analyzed. Some novel designs are introduced to enhance the corresponding systems.
The Term Structure of Sovereign CDS and the Cross-Section Exchange Rate Predictability

We provide novel evidence on exchange rate predictability by using the term premia of the sovereign credit default swap (CDS). Using a sample of 29 countries, we find that the sovereign CDS term premia significantly predict the exchange rate out-of-sample. On average, a steeper CDS spread curve for a country predicts its currency appreciation against the US dollar (USD). Empirically, while the sovereign CDS level mainly reflects global risk, the information in the term structure of the sovereign CDS spreads reveals country-specific risk. Notably, the predictive power of the term premia is robust after controlling for the sovereign CDS level and other conventional macroeconomic factors. Further analysis shows that the information in the sovereign CDS term structure is also helpful for forecasting other important financial markets such as the stock markets in different countries. JEL Classification: F31, G12, G13
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN BRAIN TUMORS IN CHILDREN-RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN CLINIC III PEDIATRICS

Brain tumors in children are the most common solid tumors in pediatrics, occupying the second place among neoplasia after acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In the past 20 years, the mortality of brain tumors (0.8 out of 100,000) exceeded the mortality due to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (0.4 out of 100 000) (1). This shows that tumor management with intracranial location is a challenge to the medical world and requires an interdisciplinary approach with the participation of pediatrician, neurosurgeon and radiotherapist. Our study wanted to be a retrospective analysis of 28 cases of brain tumors selected from the oncological pathology of Pediatric Clinics III of Children's Emergency Hospital, diagnosed and treated for a period of 10 years, seeking an interdisciplinary approach to improve quality of life and an increase in the survival rate of these children.
Habitual Choice Strategy, Poverty and Urban Consumer Demand for Biofortified Iron Beans

Increasing urbanization in developing countries creates current and future challenges for the global food system to deliver high quality nutritious foods and provide equitable access for the urban poor. In this paper, we examine the role of habit, poverty and information in urban consumer demand for nutritious foods in the context of biofortified iron beans as a public health intervention in Africa. We used an experimental auction-like technique (Becker-DeGroot-Marschak mechanism) to elicit consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for the nutritional value of iron beans. The provision of information on the nutritional value of iron translates into significant premiums (13 – 15%) for the iron bean varieties while habit has no significant impact. Eliminating participatory fees, as was done in this study, provides an alternative practical approach for identifying ‘hypothetical bias’ in value elicitations. Results suggest that WTP can be inflated by about 7% when participants have ex ante intentions not to pay out of pocket after getting an opportunity to buy a product in the auction-like experiment. We found that poverty plays a significant role in consumer demand. There is a difference of about 11% in the price that consumers from poor households are willing to pay for an iron bean variety relative to the price that consumers from average households are willing to pay. These results have implications for designing effective and inclusive value chain approach to ensure that urban poor also benefit adequately from biofortification through an equitable pricing system.
Abundance Estimates for 16 Elements in 6 Million Stars from LAMOST DR5 Low-Resolution Spectra

We present the determination of stellar parameters and individual elemental abundances for 6 million stars from ∼8 million low-resolution (R ∼ 1800) spectra from LAMOST DR5. This is based on a modeling approach that we dub the data-driven Payne (DD-Payne), which inherits essential ingredients from both the Payne and the Cannon. It is a data-driven model that incorporates constraints from theoretical spectral models to ensure the derived abundance estimates are physically sensible. Stars in LAMOST DR5 that are in common with either GALAH DR2 or APOGEE DR14 are used to train a model that delivers stellar parameters (Teff, log g, Vmic) and abundances for 16 elements (C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Ba) over a metallicity range of −4 dex < [Fe/H] < 0.6 dex when applied to the LAMOST spectra. Cross-validation and repeat observations suggest that, for S/Npixel ≥ 50, the typical internal abundance precision is 0.03–0.1 dex for the majority of these elements, with 0.2–0.3 dex for Cu and Ba, and the internal precision of Teff and log g is better than 30 K and 0.07 dex, respectively. Abundance systematics at the ∼0.1 dex level are present in these estimates but are inherited from the high-resolution surveys’ training labels. For some elements, GALAH provides more robust training labels, for others, APOGEE. We provide flags to guide the quality of the label determination and identify binary/multiple stars in LAMOST DR5. An electronic version of the abundance catalog is made publicly available.
TrollFinder : Geo-Semantic Exploration of a Very Large Corpus of Danish Folklore

We propose an integrated environment for the geo-navigation of a very large folklore corpus (>30,000 stories). Researchers of traditional storytelling are largely limited to existing indices for the discovery of stories. These indices rarely include geo-indexing, despite a fundamental premise of folkloristics that stories are closely related to the physical environment. In our approach, we develop a representation of latent semantic connections between stories and project these into a map-based navigation and discovery environment. Our preliminary work is based on the pre-existing corpus indices and a shared-keyword index, coupled to an index of geo-referenced places mentioned in the stories. Combining these allows us to produce heat maps of the relationship between places and a first level approximation of the story topics. The heat maps reveal concentrations of topics in a specific place. A researcher can use these topic concentrations as a method for building and refining research questions. We also allow for spatial querying, an approach that allows a researcher to discover topics that are particularly related to a specific place. Our corpus representation can be extended to include multimodal network representations of the corpus and LDA topic models to allow for additional visualizations of latent corpus topics.