Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal Changes of Airfares Toward Fixed Departure Date

ABSTRACT Despite the existence of numerous published articles that examined the online fares for air-tickets, no prior studies have investigated the issue of temporal changes of airfares toward a fixed departure date. In other words, consumers have no knowledge of when the best time is to purchase their lowest fared air-tickets from the Internet. This study investigated the daily changes of fares for return air-tickets on five online travel agency (OTA) websites with fixed dates of departure during shoulder and high seasons. Empirical findings showed the lowest airfares from Hong Kong to Beijing and Bangkok, representing two most popular short-haul travel destinations, were not found at the initial stage of the data collection period. In other words, consumers should not make online purchase of air-tickets too early.
Agency Problems, Accounting Slack and Banks’ Response to Proposed Reporting of Loan Fair Values

We investigate the determinants of banks’ responses to the United States Financial Accounting Standard Board’s 2010 Exposure Draft that proposes fair value measurement for most financial instruments. Over 85 percent of the 2,971 comment letters were received from banks, with most bank-affiliated letters addressing—and rejecting — one issue: fair value measurement of loans. Interestingly, banks’ resistance to fair value measurement occurred despite the fact that the Exposure Draft explicitly proposed continued reporting of amortized cost information on the face of the financial statements. By proposing that companies report both fair value and amortized cost measures for loans, the Exposure Draft should result in increased levels of loan-related information and improve financial reporting transparency. We propose that agency problems are an important motivating factor for responding banks because banks reaping more private benefits have less incentive to increase financial reporting transparency. Consistent with weak monitoring and risk-shifting on the part of responding banks, we find that our non-accounting-based proxies for contemporaneous agency problems are associated with a higher propensity for banks to submit comment letters. In addition, consistent with banks valuing slack available in current generally accepted accounting principles, we find that banks historically and opportunistically using loan-related accounting discretion are more likely to submit negative comment letters. The narrow scope of banks’ comments and our empirical findings suggest that banks’ responses to the Exposure Draft may be more driven by concerns over reduced availability of accounting slack and accompanying de facto regulatory forbearance than by the conceptual arguments they offered. Our results have implications for standard setters, who must navigate special interests as they attempt to promulgate high quality accounting standards, and for users of financial statements who must consider how political forces shape generally accepted accounting principles.
The Expiration of IPO Share Lockups

We examine 3,217 share lockup agreements that prevent insiders from selling shares immediately after the IPO. In the week the lockup agreements expire, we find a permanent 40 percent increase in average trading volume, and a statistically prominent cumulative abnormal return of -1.8 percent. The abnormal return is not quickly reversed, is stable over our ten year sample period, and is not due to changes in the proportion of trades at the bid price. The abnormal return is much more pronounced when the firm is venture financed, and we find that venture funds sell more aggressively than other pre-IPO shareholders. Prior to the scheduled expiration day, we find that six percent of lockup agreements are abrogated by substantial insider share sales.
A correlated bidding model for markup size decisions

Whereas competitive bidding models have been studied for more than five decades with many factors being considered and statistical methods proposed, the correlation among bids of different companies and its effects on markup decisions have not been explored. Through a multivariate competitive bidding model, the significance of the correlation is investigated in this paper. Mechanistic arguments and probabilistic analysis based on a breakdown of cost estimates show that bid ratios are positively correlated to one another. This fact is then incorporated as a priori information into a Bayesian statistical method to estimate the correlation coefficients from historical data with missing values. The effectiveness of the proposed Bayesian method has been demonstrated through a case study. The proposed bidding model has a flexible mathematical structure, which allows one to better characterize actual varying bidding patterns. It also includes the Friedman and Carr models as its special cases. Moreover, through the use of the streamlined Bayesian method, the new model can be implemented easily in practice.
Hemodynamic and Neuroendocrine Adaptations of the Preterm Lamb Left Ventricle to Acutely Increased Afterload

ABSTRACT: The birth process is associated with dramatic alterations of left ventricular (LV) volume loading, pressure loading, and contractile state. The preterm LV has considerable volume loading reserve. We have assessed neuroendocrine and related hemodynamic responses of the preterm lamb LV at 0.8 gestation during acute pressure loading within the first 2-4 h after birth. We measured plasma catecholamines and hemodynamic and cineangiocardiographic parameters of LV pump performance and contractility at basal levels and during rapid LV pressure loading by partial balloon obstruction of the ascending aorta before and after propranolol. A relatively high level of propranolol (3 mg/kg) was required to produce β -adrenoceptor blockade associated with reduction of heart rate and blood pressure, but after atrial pacing there was no detectable difference of basal LV pump performance or contractility at comparable heart rate, preload, and afterload. The LV pump performance was maintained and plasma catecholamines and LV contractility were increased when aortic systolic pressure was augmented 60% over baseline. The increased contractile state at greater afterload was minimally blunted by propranolol. Thus the preterm LV is relatively hypercontractile soon after birth and is capable of an integrated augmentation of pump performance and contractile state during pressure loading. These findings are relevant to the maintenance of adequate LV performance and successful adaptation to the acute alterations of afterload associated with the transitional circulation at birth.
Urban Development and Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: Too Many Unanswered Questions?

It is often assumed that future urban employment will be increasingly dependent on the knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). This underpins much of the current thinking about the development of the English "core cites. " Their example is employed to examine the more general validity of such assumptions, in terms of five critical questions to which research offers only partial and indefinite answers. For any city, how far are these activities really "knowledge intensive"? What markets do they serve? Is their future growth certain? And even when this is the case, how can they make a long-term contribution to local urban economic success? Finally, how far do urban economic institutions and policies need to be adapted to foster knowledge-based activities such as KIBS? It seems that, despite the growth of measured KIBS employment, most of the core cities possess few truly knowledge-intensive KIBS, capable of serving national and international business markets, competitively adapting to future change, and adding to the competitiveness of the wider urban economy. Nationally such activities remain focused into the London region where, if anything, they have increased their concentration is recent years. Copyright 2006 Blackwell Publishing.
Corporate Governance and Merger Activity in the United States: Making Sense of the 1980s and 1990s

This paper describes and considers explanations for changes in corporate governance and merger activity in the United States since 1980. Corporate governance in the 1980s was dominated by intense merger activity distinguished by the prevalence of leveraged buyouts (LBOs) and hostility. After a brief decline in the early 1990s, substantial merger activity resumed in the second half of the decade, while LBOs and hostility did not. Instead, internal corporate governance mechanisms appear to have played a larger role in the 1990s. We conclude by considering whether these changes and the movement toward shareholder value are likely to be permanent.
‘Native-speaker’ varieties of English: Thai perceptions and attitudes

It is important to gauge and explore current Thai perceptions of and attitudes towards varieties of English. Language attitudes are some of the factors that affect language policy direction and institutional practices, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Thailand, are adopting English as their sole official language in 2015, making such an investigation particularly timely. In Thailand little if any prior research had investigated attitudes. For this questionnaire-based study, research questions investigated which varieties 251 Thai learners of English thought they were actually using; which they saw as their target model; and also explored their attitudes towards different ‘native-speaker’ varieties – pre-work had indicated that such varieties still predominated over alternatives such as ‘English as a Lingua Franca’. Responses were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative keyword and content analysis. Findings indicated strong but diverse perceptions of the nature of varieties, and also said something about the dynamic nature of such perceptions and the attitudes of learners in Thailand. We conclude by suggesting how our findings might relate to the realisation of current language policy and practice in Thailand, and how they might serve as a stepping stone towards investigations of perceptions across ASEAN and beyond.
A Predictive Model for Time-to-Flowering in the Common Bean Based on QTL and Environmental Variables

The common bean is a tropical facultative short-day legume that is now grown in tropical and temperate zones. This observation underscores how domestication and modern breeding can change the adaptive phenology of a species. A key adaptive trait is the optimal timing of the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive stage. This trait is responsive to genetically controlled signal transduction pathways and local climatic cues. A comprehensive characterization of this trait can be started by assessing the quantitative contribution of the genetic and environmental factors, and their interactions. This study aimed to locate significant QTL (G) and environmental (E) factors controlling time-to-flower in the common bean, and to identify and measure G × E interactions. Phenotypic data were collected from a biparental [Andean × Mesoamerican] recombinant inbred population (F11:14, 188 genotypes) grown at five environmentally distinct sites. QTL analysis using a dense linkage map revealed 12 QTL, five of which showed significant interactions with the environment. Dissection of G × E interactions using a linear mixed-effect model revealed that temperature, solar radiation, and photoperiod play major roles in controlling common bean flowering time directly, and indirectly by modifying the effect of certain QTL. The model predicts flowering time across five sites with an adjusted r-square of 0.89 and root-mean square error of 2.52 d. The model provides the means to disentangle the environmental dependencies of complex traits, and presents an opportunity to identify in silico QTL allele combinations that could yield desired phenotypes under different climatic conditions.
Controlling the Floor: Parties as Procedural Coalitions in the House*

Theory: Partisan control of House organization is contested by ideological cross-party coalitions that vary in strength with the size of the majority party and its homogeneity, as well as the nature of the issues under consideration. Hypotheses: Key House rules are responsive to changes in the balance of power on the floor, even in the face of majority party opposition. Majority party defectors on votes on key rules are unlikely to be sanctioned unless the party has a strong majority and is relatively unified. Methods: An analysis of rules changes since 1919 pertaining to the discharge process, Rules Committee, and committee jurisdictions, and of the conditions under which majority party members are sanctioned for disloyal behavior. Results: The development since the mid-1970s of majority party control over House rules is a substantial departure from prior experience, and appears to be a precarious state of affairs.
The Impact of Restless Legs Syndrome/ Willis–Ekbom Disorder on Quality of Life

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis–Ekbom Disorder (WED), is a condition associated with nocturnal sensorimotor symptoms that can result in significant sleep disruption. RLS is a prevalent condition, affecting an estimated 3.9–14.3 % of the US population. Despite the most recently reported prevalence studies, many experts in the field still believe RLS is a generally underdiagnosed condition. RLS can negatively affect a patient’s quality of life (QoL) across several domains, such as daytime sleepiness, decreased general health, decreased immune function, stress and mood. Of those patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms that require treatment, the currently available therapeutic options (e.g. iron supplements, dopamine agonists, benzodiazepines, opioids and anticonvulsants) can also come with adverse side effects that can further impact QoL. The purpose of this article is to examine the QoL deficits experienced by RLS patients.
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) marks hepatocytes newly derived from stem/progenitor cells in humans

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a surface marker on human hepatic stem/progenitor cells that is reported as absent on mature hepatocytes. However, it has also been noted that in cirrhotic livers of diverse causes, many hepatocytes have EpCAM surface expression; this may represent aberrant EpCAM expression in injured hepatocytes or, as we now hypothesize, persistence of EpCAM in hepatocytes that have recently derived from hepatobiliary progenitors. To evaluate this concept, we investigated patterns of EpCAM expression in hepatobiliary cell compartments of liver biopsy specimens from patients with all stages of chronic hepatitis B and C, studying proliferation, senescence and telomere lengths. We found that EpCAM(+) hepatocytes were rare in early stages of disease, became increasingly prominent in later stages in parallel with the emergence of ductular reactions, and were consistently arrayed around the periphery of cords of keratin 19(+) hepatobiliary cells of the ductular reaction, with which they shared EpCAM expression. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (proliferation marker) and p21 (senescence marker) were both higher in hepatocytes in cirrhosis than in normal livers, but ductular reaction hepatobiliary cells had the highest proliferation rate, in keeping with being stem/progenitor cell–derived transit amplifying cells. Telomere lengths in EpCAM(+) hepatocytes in cirrhosis were higher than EpCAM(−) hepatocytes (P < 0.046), and relatively shorter than those in the corresponding ductular reaction hepatobiliary cells (P = 0.057). Conclusion: These morphologic, topographic, immunophenotypic, and molecular data support the concept that EpCAM(+) hepatocytes in chronic viral hepatitis are recent progeny of the hepatobiliary stem/progenitor cell compartment through intermediates of the transit amplifying, ductular reaction hepatobiliary cells. (HEPATOLOGY 2011)
Semantic Binary Segmentation Using Convolutional Networks without Decoders

In this paper, we propose an efficient architecture for semantic image segmentation using the depth-to-space (D2S) operation. Our D2S model is comprised of a standard CNN encoder followed by a depth-to-space reordering of the final convolutional feature maps. Our approach eliminates the decoder portion of traditional encoder-decoder segmentation models and reduces the amount of computation almost by half. As a participant of the DeepGlobe Road Extraction competition, we evaluate our models on the corresponding road segmentation dataset. Our highly efficient D2S models exhibit comparable performance to standard segmentation models with much lower computational cost.
Effect evaluation of a multifactor community intervention to reduce falls among older persons

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifactor and multi-method community intervention programme to reduce falls among older persons by at least 20%. In a pre-test – post test design, self-reported falls were registered for 10 months in the intervention community and two control communities. After the pre-test registration, participants followed the intervention programme (Information and education, Training and exercise and Environmental modifications) for 14 months. All communities were situated in the Province of Friesland in the north of The Netherlands. The study ran from November 1999 to November 2002. The participants (intervention 1122; control 630) were aged 65 years and older and lived independently. There was no significant decrease in total falls, except outside the home, among women (odds ratio = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30 – 0.98; p = 0.041). The multifactor intervention programme was not effective. The reduction of falls outside the home among women could be due to reduced outdoor physical activity.
Wavelet transform for voltage dips detection in a microgrid with distributed generation

The paper examines application of wavelet transform for voltage dips detection in microgrids with distributed generation. IEEE13 test grid with added 1.6 MW distribution generators is used for evaluation. Distribution generators are two 0.8 MW doubly-fed induction generators. Matlab/Simulink environment is used for modelling and evaluation of proposed algorithm for voltage dips detection. Six types of fault are examined and conclusions are derived. As a further confirmation of the obtained results, authors utilized the existing laboratory setup at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, in order to get as realistic as possible voltage dips signals from the grid, recorded over distribution transformer (small scale distribution transformer). Voltage dips are produced with grid emulator. These signals are then used for emulation, and analyzed with different wavelet methods. In paper is shown that wavelet is not appropriate solution as part of control of distribution generator grid-tie inverter in order to fast detect voltage dips, if the measurement is performed in place of inverter. None of the wavelets when using highest frequency band can't detect voltage dips fast and accurate at this spot in the grid. Solution to this problem can be to use signals that are measured at the connection point of the generators to the grid.
Information and Extremism in Elections

We model an election in which parties nominate candidates with observable policy preferences prior to a campaign that produces information about candidate quality, a characteristic independent of policy. Informative campaigns lead to greater differentiation in expected candidate quality, which undermines policy competition. In equilibrium, as campaigns become more informative, candidates become more extreme. We identify conditions under which the costs associated with extremism dominate the benefits of campaign information. Informative political campaigns increase political extremism and can decrease voter welfare. Our results have implications for media coverage, the number of debates, and campaign finance reform. (JEL D72, D83)
Two-Way Outsourcing, International Migration, and Wage Inequality

This paper develops a general equilibrium model with a vertical production structure to examine the relationship between offshore outsourcing and international migration,especially emphasizing their effects on the wages of skilled and unskilled workers. Two-way outsourcing (simultaneous insourcing and outsourcing) in skilled-labor intensive services arises due to product differentiation and scale economies, and outsourcing in unskilled-labor intensive processing occurs because of factor endowment differences. The tractability of the model allows us to rank outsourcing and migration, according to the wages of both types of workers. Finally, we also analyze under what conditions outsourcing and international migration are complements or substitutes.
Factor Employment, Sources and Sustainability of Output Growth: Analysis of Indian Manufacturing

The manufacturing sector in India is crucial for two main reasons: It has significant potential to provide modern employment to a growing labour force, especially that of less skilled type and second by its own healthy growth, stimulate and provide a foundation for, organic growth in other sectors of the economy. On both these counts, however, the manufacturing sector has so far not performed to its potential. In an attempt to identify the factors responsible for this phenomenon, the present study examines in detail the main determinants of factor employment, their shares, and output growth. The framework used is a CES production function estimated using ASI time-series data for the organised manufacturing industry spanning a period from 1973/74 to 2001/02. The study also dwells on the subject of sustainability of high growth in output on the back of raising capital labour ratio. [Working Paper No.3 /2009-DEA].
Cultural values in organisations: insights for Europe

With the emergence of multicultural workplaces, understanding the impact of national culture on organisations is essential. This paper examines how the values of the society in which an organisation is nested affect the values of the organisation. We discuss three sources of influence: the value culture in the surrounding society, the personal value priorities of organisational members, and the nature of the organisation's primary tasks. We suggest that the societal culture influences organisational values directly and also indirectly through its impact on members' values and on the nature of organisational tasks. Implications for global management in European organisations are discussed.
Investigating Wagner's Law-Cointegration and Causality Tests for Kenya

Wagner's law is widely held as the first model of public expenditure in the history of public finance. It is an antithesis of the Keynesian postulation that Government expenditure causes economic growth hence taking the former as a policy instrument. This study contributes to the existing literature by assessing the empirical evidence of Wagner's law in Kenya for the period of 1960-2009. It applies cointegration analysis in the investigation of long-run relationship between public expenditure and GDP. The existing literature reveals that Cointegration is a necessary condition to establishing a long-run relationship between public expenditure growth and income. However, in support of the Wagner's law, the required sufficient condition is the existence of a unidirectional causality from GDP to public expenditure. The study employed the Engle and Granger two- steps cointegration test, Granger causality test and time series aggregated data to carry out the test. The findings reveal that two versions of the law meet the necessary and sufficient condition hence, the Wagner's law holds in Kenya for the entire period under study.