Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate social responsibility and employee attitudes: evidence from a study of Polish hotel employees

This study, based on data collected from low-ranking employees working in Polish hotels, tests a research model that investigates whether there are links between corporate social responsibility (CSR), operationalized as “self-related” CSR experiences and “others-related” CSR experiences, and job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and between both attitudes and work engagement. Structural equation modelling was used to assess these relationships, using a 20 point questionnaire answered by 412 respondents. The results indicate that “others-related” CSR experiences are positively associated with satisfaction and commitment, while “self-related” CSR experiences with the latter variable. Likewise, organizational commitment, unlike job satisfaction, was linked to work engagement. However, contrary to our a priori assumptions and prior research, it turned out that job satisfaction was not a predictor of commitment. The paper discusses theoretical and practical implications of the findings. The study's most important practical implication is that Polish hotel employees attach weight to responsible behaviour: the hotel industry should perceive CSR in terms of strategic significance. Companies that want a committed and engaged workforce – and, by extension, to enhance their competitiveness – should embrace CSR. The paper concludes by highlighting its limitations and suggesting future research avenues.
Asset allocation under disappointment aversion

The present thesis examines one of the non–standard preferences, the theory of disappointment aversion (DA) from Gul (1991), within an asset allocation problem. Related to the area of decision–making under risk, it sheds light on: (i) at the global level, how the risk exposure reduces quantitatively in the presence of disappointment aversion; (ii) given the empirical data, what are the plausible levels of disappointment aversion around different financial markets; and (iii) how disappointment aversion interacts with both inherent risk attitudes (i.e., risk aversion, subjective probability weighting and cultural dimensions) and environmental stimuli (i.e., pleasant or unpleasant odours). In Chapter 2, drawing upon the seminal study of Ang et al. (2005), we incorporate disappointment aversion (that is, extra aversion to outcomes that are worse than prior expectations) within a simple theoretical portfolio choice model. Based on the results of this model, we then empirically address the portfolio allocation problem of an investor who chooses between a risky and a risk–free asset using international data from 19 countries. Our findings strongly support the view that disappointment aversion leads investors to reduce their exposure to the stock market (i.e., disappointment aversion significantly depresses the portfolio weights on equities in all cases considered). Overall, our study shows that, in addition to risk aversion, disappointment aversion plays an important role in explaining the equity premium puzzle around the world. In Chapter 3, we investigate investors’ asset allocation when their utility consists of wealth utility and disappointment aversion utility in which gains and losses are calculated with respect to the expected wealth. We show that optimal investment proportions increase when disappointment aversion on the assets decreases, and that disappointment aversion increases when expected excess returns increase. When decreasing absolute risk aversion holds, disappointment aversion increase with wealth, which is supported by our empirical results with asset allocations in pension funds of 35 OECD countries. We also find that individualism is positively related to disappointment aversion. These results indicate that the overconfidence represented by their individualism leads to more disappointment when losses occur. Chapter 4 aims to investigate the role of odours on DA in a monetary gamble task. We elicited the degree of DA based on an experimental procedure similar to Sokol-Hessner et al. (2009, 2013). Our study shows for the first time that unpleasant odours increase DA in a monetary gamble task. Such odour–related variations in individual DA were associated with hedonic evaluations of odours but not with odour intensity. Increased disappointment aversion while perceiving an unpleasant odour suggests a dynamic adjustment of aversion to losses. Given that odours are biological signals of hazards, such adjustment of disappointment aversion may have adaptive value in situations entailing threat or danger. Chapter 5 concludes this thesis and points out further directions.
REDUCING THE DISPERSION OF RETURNS IN UK REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIOS

Although real estate represents a substantial proportion of the UK investment market, research in this area is extremely limited. This is particularly true of the performance and construction of portfolios. This paper deals with one of the major issues which confronts both investor and advisor; namely, how effective is the diversification of a real estate portfolio as more properties are included. The analysis is undertaken at an empirical level and draws on similar research developed in the stock market. The main findings are that the low correlation between returns on individual properties enable high levels of risk reduction to be achieved. This correlation structure does, however, impose a penalty making it extremely difficult to construct highly diversified portfolios. The problem is exacerbated by the indivisibility of real estate assets.
Trade Liberalization, Exports, and Technology Upgrading: Evidence on the Impact of MERCOSUR on Argentinian Firms

This paper studies the impact of a regional free trade agreement, MERCOSUR, on technology upgrading by Argentinean firms. To guide empirical work, I introduce technology choice in a model of trade with heterogeneous firms. The joint treatment of the technology and exporting choices shows that the increase in revenues produced by trade integration can induce exporters to upgrade technology. An empirical test of the model reveals that firms in industries facing higher reductions in Brazil's tariffs increase investment in technology faster. The effect of tariffs is highest in the upper-middle range of the firm-size distribution, as predicted by the model. (JEL F13, F15, O19, O24, O33)
HRM in SMEs: homogeneity or heterogeneity? A study of Taiwanese high-tech firms

This paper presents a study that examines the use of human resource management (HRM) practices and factors influencing the adoption of HRM practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using a multiple-case study method, HRM in SMEs was explored by comparing 12 small and medium-sized and 12 large semiconductor design firms. The findings show that there is considerable homogeneity across the firms in relation to their use of human resources (HR) practices providing support for the insights based on the new institutionalism. The factors leading to the homogeneity HRM are discussed. It is argued that theory-based empirical research on HRM in SMEs within the same industry enable us move towards a systematic understanding and explanation of HRM in SMEs.
Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements in Hospitalized Children with Asthma

Background. The reproducibility of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) measurements performed in pediatric hospitalized asthmatics has not been previously evaluated. Objective. To evaluate the reproducibility of FENO measurements in the hospital; to look for differences between those who were and were not able to perform FENO measurements; and to assess any factors correlated with FENO measurements. Methods. 89 hospitalized pediatric asthmatics performed FENO, FEV1, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) maneuvers in triplicate at the time of discharge. Reproducibility was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). Demographic and measured variables were compared between those who were and were not able to perform FENO measurements. Correlation of FENO with other variables was investigated. Results. FENO measurements showed clinically acceptable ICC and CV values (0.973 and 5.59%, respectively). These values were superior to the values obtained for FEV1 and PEFR. Subjects who successfully performed the FENO measurements were older, had higher PEFR readings, and had a lower asthma dyspnea score. No correlation was found between FENO and traditional asthma factors, though multiple factors did trend towards significance. Conclusion. FENO measurements can be obtained in hospitalized pediatric patients with good reproducibility. While the majority of children will be able to provide such readings, those who are younger and with a more severe exacerbation may be unsuccessful in doing so. Further research is needed to determine how best to incorporate FENO values into the hospital setting.
Comparing complex policies: Lessons from a public health case

Abstract The article presents the methodological approach to a comparative case study in a regional group of countries, comparing a set of public health policies in four European welfare states. The policy problem, fighting the AIDS epidemic, is extremely complex and fast moving. It involves many policy areas as well as important private life dimensions and introduces changes in national as well as sectoral policy making. The results show four distinct policy patterns, but bring together Britain and Germany on the one hand and Italy and France on the other, although France follows a unique path with extensive policy learning and major institutional reforms. They suggest hypotheses on how culture acts in the formation of public policies. The analysis binds together internal case commonalities and the comparative logic.
INVESTIGATING THE PERFORMANCE OF MONETARY POLICY ON MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN NIGERIA: 1980-2009

The main focus of monetary policy in relation to the manufacturing sector has always been the stimulation of output, employment and the promotion of domestic and external stability, while that of fiscal policy has been the generation of revere for the government and the protection of domestic infant industries against unfair competition from import and dumping. This paper examined the performance of monetary policy on the manufacturing index performance in Nigeria. The data collected from the CBN 2010 bulletin were subjected to econometric test procedures such as unit root for stationarity of series, diagnostic test and granger causality to investigate the impact of some macroeconomic variables on the Manufacturing index in Nigeria while VEC and OLS estimation were used to study the models for significance, magnitude, direction and relationship. The study revealed that MS positively affect MANDEX by 0.5% while others played negative impact to the performance of the manufacturing sector over the years. It therefore recommended that expansionary policies are vital for the growth of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria which in turn would lead to economic growth,
Valuation Ratios and Cross-Country Equity Allocation

is managing director ofglobal asset allocation research at Smith Barney Inc. in New York, and heads its global asset allocation team. She h a s j ~ e n years o f experience in the management and development of quantitatively based decision-making tools. From 1990 to 1993, Ms. Hecleman was with Alliance Capital; prior to that she was with Sanford Bernstein and Citicoip. She holds a Ph.D. in statistia and operations researchjom Polytechnic Institute $New York.
Slime factor positivity in coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from nasal samples of haemodialysis patients

Polysaccharide slime seems to be the most important factor by which coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) strains adheres and colonises catheters. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of slime‐producing CNS strains isolated from nasal samples of patients on haemodialysis and of healthy persons as a control.
Stakeholder Governance: Adapting Stakeholder Theory to E-Government

The e-government field, like most young fields, lacks a strong body of well-developed theory. One strategy for coping with theoretical immaturity is to import and adapt theories from other, more mature fields. This study reviews Stakeholder Theory (ST) and investigates its potential in relation to e-Government. Originally a management theory, stakeholder theory advocates addressing the concerns of all stakeholders in a firm, as opposed to concentration on the interests of senior managers and stockholders. Apart from its original profit focus, there is no serious conceptual mismatch between stakeholder theory and government’s objective of providing policy and services for citizens and organizations – society’s stakeholders. Potential problems with adapting a management theory to a government setting are discussed. The paper further discusses how information technology impacts a stakeholder model of governance. Finally, the paper makes recommendations for future work in adapting ST to the e-government context.
School-University Collaboration Initiative: Benefits and Challenges in Uganda

This investigation examined academic staff, school administrators and school teachers’ perceptions of the university-school collaboration. A qualitative research paradigm was followed through a case study of Makerere University’s use of Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa-(TESSA) project materials. The case study focused on gaining a wealth of detailed information on a small sample of academic staff, school administrators, and school teachers while addressing the research questions of the study. Twelve participants were used for data collection from the university (three) and the primary schools (nine). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews organized around the key research questions. Results indicated that the gap between university academics and school teachers is narrowing. Some school teachers have changed their practices that appear to have improved their methods of delivery of content to the learners. The use of TESSA materials is altering teachers’ teaching practices. But, the resources for university-school collaboration are varied and expensive. Teachers’ workload appears to leave them little time to be effectively involved in collaborative activities. Conclusions from these findings were that there are both merits and constraints to university school partnership to the advantage of each institution; teachers are incorporating TESSA materials into their teaching practices. The implications of these findings for the university-school partnership include the increased need for university and school administrators to support school teachers benefit from the collaboration; and to create more time for the involvement of all participating parties so that they can better implement the collaboration activities.
DEPRESSION IN ALCOHOLISM *

Depression is one of the commoner psychiatric conditions, as judged by population s~rveys. ‘ . ~ It also figures rather prominently in studies of hospitalized alcoholics’ and has been found to occur more often among female alcoholic^. ^ Previous reports from a sample of 259 hospitalized alcoholics have described a group of depressive alcoholics, almost entirely female, who developed a depression first in the course of life and only later became alcoholic. ". '^'"^" These individuals, who were labeled “primary depressives,” run a different alcoholic course from alcoholics who have other diagnoses, such as sociopathy. ”,“ The same sample of 259 alcoholics contained a larger number of depressives among the individuals who were first alcoholic and only later in life developed a depressive condition in the context of their alcoholism (secondary depression). The purpose of this paper is to describe these other depressive individuals and to determine if they differed in alcoholic behavior, psychiatric symptoms, psychosocial background, or family history from those who did not have a depressive condition.
Discussion Note: Social and Cultural Dimensions of Air Travel Demand: Hyper-Mobility in the UK?

Much of the policy debate concerning the sustainability of growth in air travel has focused on how the macro-economic benefits can be ‘traded off’ against the associated damage to the environment (Upham et al., 2003). In the UK, this debate has been heightened by the publication of a strategic framework for expansion of airport and runway capacity over the next 30 years. Introducing The Future of Air Transport (DfT, 2003), the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport outlined the environmental consequences with respect to global climate change, local air quality and noise disturbance around airports. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensure that ‘over time, aviation meets the external costs that it imposes’ (Darling, 2003: 1). The UK will also use its EU Presidency (2005) to press for air transport to be included in an ‘emissions trading scheme’; further growth will be offset by technological improvements or by aviation buying emissions rights from other sectors. The Secretary of State stressed, nevertheless, that failure to accommodate growth would have serious ramifications for tourism, the finance sector, and other businesses that rely on world markets. Aviation will thus continue to play an important role in the future prosperity of the UK as a post-industrial island nation. In recent years, the rhetoric of public policy has also given increasing weight to the benefits that the ‘expansion of air travel has brought to people’s lives . [its] increased affordability has opened up the possibilities of travel for many people’ (Darling, 2003: 1). As with increasing car-ownership in the 1960s, such ‘democratisation’ of air travel raises expectations that are difficult to dampen down. Any state intervention to internalise the adverse externalities will raise fares and reduce availability to lower income groups, especially for holidays and short breaks, visiting friends and relatives, educational, cultural, religious and other personal travel. The future cost of air transport thus has important implications for social and spatial equity (Graham, 2002; Grieco, 2002). This paper highlights the transformation of many people’s desire for air travel into a consumer expectation, a norm, or even a ‘right’. JOST 565
From Discovery to Justification: Outline of an Ideal Research Program in Empirical Psychology

The gold standard for an empirical science is the replicability of its research results. But the estimated average replicability rate of key-effects that top-tier psychology journals report falls between 36 and 39% (objective vs. subjective rate; Open Science Collaboration, 2015). So the standard mode of applying null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST) fails to adequately separate stable from random effects. Therefore, NHST does not fully convince as a statistical inference strategy. We argue that the replicability crisis is “home-made” because more sophisticated strategies can deliver results the successful replication of which is sufficiently probable. Thus, we can overcome the replicability crisis by integrating empirical results into genuine research programs. Instead of continuing to narrowly evaluate only the stability of data against random fluctuations (discovery context), such programs evaluate rival hypotheses against stable data (justification context).
Localization of Experimental Calcification in Rabbit Blood Vessels with Particular Reference to Hemodynamics

An observational study was made of the localization of experimental calcification of blood vessels induced by hypervitaminosis D in 15 stock rabbits, in 10 rabbits with arteriovenous fistulae, and in 6 rabbits with experimental saccular aneurysms. An arteriotomy and a phlebotomy were performed on several animals from each group. The pulmonary trunk, aorta, common carotid arteries, and external jugular veins were dissected and stained with silver nitrate to demonstrate calcification macroscopically. The first major bifurcation from 37 renal arteries from these animals was examined by the serial section technique to localize calcification about the arterial forks histologically. There was evidence that early calcification was flow related with a predilection for sites where atrophic lesions occur. Proliferative lesions in which matrix vesicles are abundant exhibited no such predisposition. It was concluded that matrix vesicles do not appear to be susceptible to vitamin D calcification. The topography of the experimental calcification differed from that of diet-induced lipid deposition.
Intellectual Capital, Monitoring, and Risk: What Predicts the Adoption of Employee Stock Options?

We use empirical analysis to analyze company characteristics associated with the adoption and maintenance of broad-based stock option plans. First, a cross-sectional analysis evaluates what company characteristics are now associated the incidence of such plans. Second, a longitudinal analysis examines the company characteristics that predict the adoption of such plans. Our results show that firms with higher levels of intellectual capital and capital intensity are more likely to adopt and maintain employee stock option plans.
Location Choice, Product Proliferation and Entry Deterrence

Within a slightly modified version of Hotelling's model we reconsider the claim that the threat of entry induces existing firms to produce a larger number of products than they would otherwise. We show that entry deterrence, although optimal, need not be achieved through product proliferation. In some cases the incumbent monopolist resorts to an entry-deterring strategy based on location choice rather than product proliferation. We also show that in some cases the number of products chosen by the incumbent facing the threat of entry is strictly greater than the minimum number required to deter entry.
Privatisation in Developing Countries

We survey empirical studies examining privatisation's effects in developing economies. Most of these studies find that privatisation yields improvements in the operating and financial performance of divested firms, and only a handful document outright performance declines after privatisation. Almost all studies that examine post-privatisation changes in output, efficiency, profitability, capital investment spending and leverage document significant increases in the first four measures and significant declines in leverage. The studies examined here are far less unanimous regarding the impact of privatisation on employment levels in privatised firms. Studies that explicitly address the sources of post-privatisation performance improvement using data from multiple non-transition economies tend to find stronger efficiency gains for firms in regulated industries, in firms that restructure operations after privatisation, and in countries providing greater amounts of shareholder protection. Copyright (c) 2006 The Authors; Journal compilation (c) 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.