Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental regulation, the Obama effect and the stock market: some empirical results

Following the signing of the Kyoto protocol in 2005, a new wave of green policies emerged with the intention of protecting our planet. This study explores the effects these policies have on capital markets. In particular, we assess how the risk and return of US industrial portfolios react to the announcement of green policies. Event study methodology and asset pricing models are used to that end. We document negative abnormal returns and increase in systematic risk for the biggest polluters whereas environmentally friendly businesses are affected to a lesser degree. An apparent Obama effect is observed, resulting from the 2008 outcome of the US presidential election.
Managing Nonprofit Organizations: The Importance of Transformational Leadership and Commitment to Operating Standards for Nonprofit Accountability

Using survey methodology and telephone interviews, this exploratory study proposes a framework for nonprofit leaders to promote accountability in their organizations, an important goal for both management and performance in the nonprofit sector. The study relies on Brody's (2001) four-part construct of organizational accountability (fiscal responsibility, good governance, adherence to mission, and program effectiveness) to examine the issue of promoting accountability in nonprofit organizations. We hypothesize that higher levels of nonprofit accountability are related to higher levels of an organization's commitment to operating standards and to higher levels of transformational leadership as exhibited by the organization's leader. Study results indicate that both predictor variables are positively and significantly related to nonprofit accountability, with transformational leadership being the stronger indicator of accountability. The findings of the study have significant implications for nonprofit managers and for nonprofit organizational performance.
Inhibitory Activity of Camptothecin Derivatives Against Acetylcholinesterase in Dogs and Their Binding Activity to Acetylcholine Receptors in Rats

Abstract— A camptothecin derivative, 7‐ethyl‐10‐[4‐(1‐piperidino)‐1‐piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (CPT‐11), shows a potent antitumour activity in experimental tumour models and in clinical trials. However, CPT‐11 induced early diarrhoea and vomiting at high dose levels in clinical studies and showed an acetylcholine‐like action on the guinea‐pig ileum and trachea. In the present study, we investigated the activities of camptothecin derivatives in inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and in binding to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR). CPT‐11 inhibited AChE and binding of the specific ligand to AChR with respective 50% inhibition concentrations of 0·2 and 5 μm. These inhibitions were induced by camptothecin derivatives having an amino group at the C‐10 position (or the C‐4 position of hexacyclic derivatives), but were not or were only slightly induced by the others. Early defecation and vomiting in dogs were observed after intravenous injection of DU‐6596 and DU‐6888, two hexacyclic derivatives having the aminomethyl group at the C‐4 position, and of CPT‐11. DU‐6174, however, which has a hydroxy group at this position, induced no early defecation and little vomiting. Plasma concentrations of CPT‐11, DU‐6596 and DU‐6888 after intravenous treatment at doses causing such early adverse effects were maintained for 1 h or longer at levels sufficient to inhibit AChE. These results suggest that the inhibition of AChE by camptothecin derivatives with an amino group at the C‐10 position (or the C‐4 position) relates to the early defecation or diarrhoea and vomiting.
A land-use system and the challenge of sustainable ago- pastoral production in southwestern Nigeria

SUMMARY The study is focused on land use in agro-pastoral production in Ogun State. Using a combination of data from ethno-social surveys, remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS), the study has characterized the overall agro-pastoral production system, with emphasis on population, land use and herd productivity. It was found that yields of arable crops on agro pastoralists' fields were generally low due, perhaps, to the low genetic potentials of seed varieties used, poor soil conditions and poor land management practices. Livestock productivity was similar on all parameters to levels in similar contexts elsewhere across the West African subregion but generally below possible potentials and research station findings. Much of the land cover had been considerably altered around the areas of pastoral household settlements compared with the situation 20 years ago. Agro-pastoral households currently use between 221 km2 and 523 km2 of land in Ogun State. Pastoral grazing orbits extend beyond the boundaries of the State in the northeastern areas and beyond the boundaries of the country into the Republic of Benin in the northwest. These areas represent potential conflict areas between crop farmers and agro-pastoralists. There was a direct and positive relationship between population density in pastoral household settlements and the area of land disturbed. It was recommended that there was a need for deliberate land-use planning intervention by government to ensure long-term peaceful co-existence of farmers and agro-pastoral producers. It was concluded that further studies should focus on establishing a clear link between the land-use practices of agro-pastoralists and their specific effects on soil conditions, ecological succession and the overall farming systems.
The Lead-Lag Relation Between Spot and Futures Markets Under Different Short-Selling Regimes

We examine the lead-lag relation between index futures and the underlying index under three types of short-selling restrictions on stocks in Hong Kong. Our results indicate that lifting short-selling restrictions can enhance the informational efficiency of the stock market relative to the index futures. We also investigate the impact of two market characteristics, market conditions and the magnitude of mispricing on the lead-lag relations under different short-selling regimes. Our findings suggest that if we remove restrictions, the contemporaneous price relation between the futures and cash markets becomes stronger particularly in the falling market and when the cash market is relatively overpriced.
Dividends, Taxes, and Signaling: Evidence from Germany

The higher taxation of dividends in the United States gave rise to theories that explain why companies pay dividends. Tax-based signaling models propose that the higher tax on dividends is a necessary condition to make them informative about companies' values. In Germany, where dividends are not tax-disadvantaged and in fact are taxed lower for most investor classes, these models predict that dividends are not informative. However, the authors find that the stock price reaction to dividend news in Germany is similar to that found in the United States. This suggests other reasons, beyond taxation, that make dividends informative. Copyright 1997 by American Finance Association.
fMRI auditory language differences between dyslexic and able reading children

During fMRI, dyslexic and control boys completed auditory language tasks (judging whether pairs of real and/or pseudo words rhymed or were real words) in 30 s ‘on’ conditions alternating with a 30 s ‘off’ condition (judging whether tone pairs were same). During phonological judgment, dyslexics had more activity than controls in right than left inferior temporal gyrus and in left precentral gyrus. During lexical judgment, dyslexics were less active than controls in bilateral middle frontal gyrus and more active than controls in left orbital frontal cortex. Individual dyslexics were reliably less active than controls in left insula and left inferior temporal gyrus. Dyslexic and control children differ in brain activation during auditory language processing skills that do not require reading.
Space vector based PWM of dual full-bridge VSI fed two-phase induction motor drive

Two-phase induction motor (TPIM) can be controlled using a 4-leg voltage source inverter (VSI) topology. A space vector based space vector pulse width modulation (SVM) is proposed in this paper for the 4-leg VSI by decomposing it into a dual single phase full-bridge VSIs. The switching algorithm is envisaged by exploiting the principles of SVM of three-phase VSIs. The implementation of the proposed SVM exploits the use of effective-time period concept and is entirely based on instantaneous magnitudes of the four phase reference voltages corresponding to the actual reference space vector. The use of effective time concept obviates the need for sector identification and reduces the execution time thus making the whole task of modulation fairly simple. The proposed SVM is simulated first using MATLAB/Simulink and are experimentally verified on a 1/4 hp TPIM controlled with V/f control in the linear modulation range.
Empirical research on the factor of ERP's user customer satisfaction based on triadic reciprocal determinism

Extant studies fail to find a significant relationship between information technology investment and firm performance. According to the theory of triadic reciprocal determinism, the determinants of ERP's User Customer Satisfaction include environmental factors (organizational culture, top management support, etc.), user behavior factors (participation in ERP project), and user personal factors (ERP self efficacy, belief on ERP.). By investigating 289 ERP system users, we test various factors on the ERP's User Customer Satisfaction as well as their interactions. The evidence indicates that three factors all have positive impact on the ERP's User Customer Satisfaction, but the mechanisms through which they affect customer satisfaction are different.
The information content of dividends

A. The Problem For years, the term "information content of dividends" has been frequently used in finance literature. The phrase refers to the hypothesis which states that dividends convey information about future earnings -information that enables market participants to predict future earnings more accurately. At present, the information hypothesis is widely recognized, if not accepted, in texts on financial management. ' However, there has been little or no empirical testing of the hypothesis. Such testing is the objective of this study.
The cost of sectoral differentiation in the EU emissions trading scheme

Abstract It is often assumed in the economic literature that the Kyoto Protocol will be implemented through a cost-efficient, comprehensive emissions trading system. However, the general experience from implementation of environmental policies suggests that governments will adopt a more differentiated approach. Emerging evidence on how the Kyoto Protocol will be implemented confirms this: climate commitments will be differentiated between sectors. This article assesses the welfare effects associated with implementing the EU Emissions Trading Directive. It also analyses how differentiation of commitments affects the sectors that have a permit obligation compared with those that are exempted from it. The findings indicate that sectoral differentiation comes at a relatively high welfare cost—almost doubling the cost of implementing the Kyoto Protocol, with only limited benefits to the sectors that are granted concessions.
Bank Concentration and Firm Investment: Empirical Evidence from India

This paper investigates the impact of bank concentration on firm-level investment across firm groups classified according to size, investment destination, and debt maturity structure. Using data of 302 manufacturing firms for the period 2000-2009, we show that elevated financial constraints are associated with small and medium-size enterprises and firms that are dependent on short-term debt and exhibit high levels of sensitivity of investment to cash flow. Our empirical finding confirms that bank concentration exerts a positive impact on firms' financial constraints on investment. This effect is more pronounced for small firms and firms dependent on short-term debt. However, our results are indifferent to domestic versus foreign investing firm groups.
The Effect of Keyboard Key Spacing on Typing Speed, Error, Usability, and Biomechanics, Part 2

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of vertical key spacing on a conventional computer keyboard on typing speed, percentage error, usability, forearm muscle activity, and wrist posture for both females with small fingers and males with large fingers. Background: Part 1 evaluated primarily horizontal key spacing and found that for male typists with large fingers, productivity and usability were similar for spacings of 17, 18, and 19 mm but were reduced for spacings of 16 mm. Few other key spacing studies are available, and the international standards that specify the spacing between keys on a keyboard have been mainly guided by design convention. Method: Experienced female typists (n = 26) with small fingers (middle finger length ≤ 7.71 cm or finger breadth of ≤ 1.93 cm) and male typists (n = 26) with large fingers (middle finger length ≥ 8.37 cm or finger breadth of ≥ 2.24 cm) typed on five keyboards that differed primarily in vertical key spacing (17 × 18, 17 × 17, 17 × 16, 17 × 15.5, and 18 × 16 mm) while typing speed, error, fatigue, preference, forearm muscle activity, and wrist posture were recorded. Results Productivity and usability ratings were significantly worse for the keyboard with 15.5 mm vertical spacing compared to the other keyboards for both groups. There were few significant differences on usability ratings between the other keyboards. Reducing vertical key spacing, from 18 to 17 to 16 mm, had no significant effect on productivity or usability. Conclusions: The findings support the design of keyboards with vertical key spacings of 16, 17, or 18 mm. Applications: These findings may influence keyboard design and standards.
Sentinel node biopsy procedures with an analysis of recurrence patterns and prognosis in melanoma patients: technical advantages using computer-assisted gamma probe with adjustable collimation

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a computer-assisted gamma probe with adjustable collimation could aid in the detection of sentinel nodes (SNs) and to analyse the patterns of recurrence and prognosis in SN-positive and SN-negative cases. We analysed 385 SN biopsies. The SN identification rate was 87.2% using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and blue dye, 93.9% using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, blue dye and different probes, and 100% using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, blue dye and a computer-assisted probe with adjustable collimation. The computer-assisted probe was particularly advantageous in cases where the melanoma was located very close to the SN and in cases of deep-seated nodes or nodes with low uptake, due to the possibility of changing the collimation during the procedure. The SN-positive rate according to the thickness of the primary melanoma was 1.7% for melanomas ≤1 mm in thickness and 27.5% for melanomas ≥1 mm. In 4.9% of cases we identified nodes outside the regional nodal basin. In one case we found a micrometastasis in a blue and hot interval node of the lateral abdominal wall. Analysing the node counts registered by the computer-assisted probe, we verified that the blue-positive node for tumour metastases was not the most radioactive node in the field in six out of 52 positive cases (11.5%). Distant metastases were present in 2.0% of SN-negative patients, and in 24% of SN-positive patients (P<0.001). Highly statistically significant differences were found between SN-negative and SN-positive patients in both the 3 year disease-free survival (86.3% versus 49.2%) and the 3 year disease-specific survival (92.3% versus 77.1%) (P<0.001).
Implications of Family Business Employment for Employees’ Innovative Work Involvement

This study builds on the idea that family businesses perform particularly well in the domain of exploitative innovations and explores a possible source of this strength, namely their employees’ spontaneous involvement in informal innovation activity. Specifically, we develop a mediation model on the interrelationship between family business employment and employees’ innovative work involvement. Analyses are based on a sample of 893 Belgian employees using structural equation modeling. Results suggest that family business employment is positively associated with employees’ innovative work involvement, and that part of this relationship can be attributed to their heightened perceptions of organizational support and work motivation.
How many electrical cardioversions should be applied for repetitive recurrences of atrial arrhythmias following ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation?

AIMS We aimed to determine how many electrical cardioversions (ECs) should be applied to treat repetitive persistent recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF) following ablation of persistent AF within the early post-procedural period. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 40 patients with >1 episode of recurrent AF in the form of persistent atrial arrhythmias within 3 months following the ablation were recruited from 108 patients who underwent ablation for persistent or long-standing persistent AF. Electrical cardioversions were applied up to six times, if necessary, to restore sinus rhythm at clinical visits at 2-week intervals until 3 months after the ablation. Fourteen (35%) ablation failures defined as recurrences of AF identified from the 3rd month after the ablation procedure were finally diagnosed during the follow-up period (14 ± 4 month). The patients with an ablation failure more frequently required ECs than those without (3.7 ± 0.3 vs. 1.2 ± 0.2 times; P < 0.0001). A receiver-operating characteristic curve identified a number of ECs of ≥3 as the optimal cut-off value for predicting an ablation failure (area under the curve 0.91; sensitivity, 86%, and specificity, 96%; P = 0.0007). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a number of ECs of ≥3 was the only independent predictor of an ablation failure (odds ratio, 11.32; 95% confidence interval, 3.83-58.22; P = 0.0019). CONCLUSION It was difficult to maintain sinus rhythm in patients with persistent AF who required several ECs for recurrences of AF within the early post-ablation period.
Unlocking the relationship between corporate entrepreneurship and performance

Corporate entrepreneurship is the implementation of a value creation process in an organizational setting. Consistent with the Schumpeterian understanding of entrepreneurship, a “new combination” that should directly affect the performance of the firm is formed; and the process of forming this new combination manifests itself as an outcome of a complex social mechanism affected by internal and external factors. However, in spite of the biasing anecdotal evidence, conventional wisdom, and tendency in favor of entrepreneurship, a “black box” between firm-level entrepreneurship and performance has pervaded the relationship. Nevertheless, the model proposed in this study brings a new and distinguishing line of sight into the firm-level entrepreneurship literature: rather than being an equivalent, the entrepreneurial orientation construct is treated as an antecedent of corporate entrepreneurship; moreover the behavioral construct of corporate entrepreneurship is placed in between this strategic posture and performance, to complete “the missing” link between firm-level entrepreneurship and performance. It is proposed that this formulation of roles and meanings attached to both terms, leads to a solid, conclusive, and systematic direct positive relationship between firm level entrepreneurship and performance. Empirical findings confirm this proposal, making this formulation the most important contribution of this study to the firm level entrepreneurship literature.
DEP-based fabrication and characterization of electronic-grade CNTs for nano-sensing applications

Sensing devices using electronic-grade carbon nanotubes (EG-CNTs) as resistive sensing element were fabricated by dielectrophoresis (DEP) manipulation. DEP-based fabrication of EG-CNTs is important as it allows some control of the nominal resistance of the fabricated sensors, which is essential to improve the SNR of CNT sensors. The devices were characterized and the potential of EG-CNTs to serve as a novel temperature and humidity sensing element has been demonstrated. Electrical characterization revealed that the EG-CNTs sensors, which exhibit large linear IiquestV range, have both positive and negative TCR at higher operational temperatures. In addition, its resistance-humidity linear dependency proves its humidity sensing capability. Moreover, the EG-CNTs device is capable of operating in nW range. On the foundation of these measurements, we aim to prove EG-CNTs as a promising material for future applications in nano-sensing.
Environmental and health impacts of poultry manure disposal methods: a case study of Lagelu and Egbeda local government areas in Oyo State, Nigeria

Indiscriminate disposal of poultry manure has been identified as a major source of environmental degradation in production areas through air and water pollution associated with nitrogen and phosphorus emissions and losses from manure. Methods of disposing of poultry manure which might have negative consequences on the environment and the farmers were investigated in two Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria. Data collected using structured questionnaires as well as direct field observations from a random sample of 100 farming households showed that the commonly used methods of manure disposal are burning (87 households) and application on crops (9 households). Almost all of the farmers (99) had no proper manure management facilities. Ammonia is the major air pollutant perceived by 71 farmers in the study area. Farmers suffered from discomforts ranging from various combinations of sneezing (65%), eye irritation (38%), coughing (34%), headache (20%), stomach ache (13%) and diarrhoea (6%). The awareness of farmers and authorities needs to be raised regarding the management of poultry manure and the need for protective equipment during its disposal: 99 farmers had no formal training in safe handling and disposal of poultry manure. There should be stricter enforcement of existing environmental regulations and enactment of new legislation to minimize the threats that the farmers’ current practices pose to their health and to the environment.
Commodity Price Dynamics and Derivatives Valuation: A Review

This paper reviews extant research on commodity price dynamics and commodity derivative pricing models. In the first half, we provide an overview of key characteristics of commodity price behavior that have been explored and documented in the theoretical and empirical literature. In the second half, we review existing derivative pricing models and discuss how the peculiarities of commodity markets have been integrated in these models. We conclude the paper with a brief outlook on various important research questions that need to be addressed in the future.