Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sovereign Debt Issuance and Selective Default

We propose a novel theory to explain why sovereigns borrow on both domestic and international markets and why defaults are mostly selective (on either domestic or foreign investors). Domestic debt issuance can only smooth tax distortion shocks, whereas foreign debt can also smooth productivity shocks. If the correlation of these shocks is sufficiently low, the sovereign borrows on both markets to avoid excess consumption volatility. Defaults on both types of investors arise in equilibrium due to market incompleteness and the government's limited commitment. The model matches business cycle moments and frequencies of different types of defaults in emerging economies and we show our hypothesis is confirmed by the data. We also find that secondary markets are not a sufficient condition to avoid sovereign defaults. The outcome of the trade in bonds on secondary markets depends on how well each group of investors can coordinate their actions.
Determinants of Clothing Repurchase Through Mobile Devices

Purchasing clothes via mobile devices is a growing sector. This paper analyzed the cognitive (reputation, guarantee and security & privacy policies) and experiential aspects (aesthetics, interactivity, enjoyment and personalization) that increase customer satisfaction and trust of the mobile buying process as well as customer intention to repeat buying using this same channel. Our analysis used a sample of mobile purchasers a clothing company’s mobile website. The results indicate that the cognitive signals show greater influence than the experiential in relational variables. Satisfaction, meanwhile, is enhanced by the attractiveness of the mobile website and buyer trust. Finally, both satisfaction and trust are key factors in the customer’s intention to repeat buying clothes via mobile devices.
Evidence-based medicine in HBP surgery: is there any?

BACKGROUND Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has become widely accepted as a basis for clinical decision in many fields of medicine. This review examines the specific role of EBM in hepato-biliary and pancreatic (HBP) surgery. EBM relies on four main sources, including clinical guidelines, meta-analyses, primary information and clinical experience. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) constitute the cornerstone of EBM and a recent study reported that there are relatively few RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of surgical therapies and procedures (1,530 out of 45,342 or 3.4% in five leading surgical journals) and only a few in HBP surgery. Although the effort must be to implement EBM as far as possible in HBP surgery, there are several obstacles to conducting RCTs in HBP surgery, including problems associated with standardization of surgical skills, sham-operations often impossible to perform, and the general applicability of specific findings may be uncertain. DISCUSSION This paper will provide two relevant examples of EBM in HBP surgery in patients with hepatic metastases and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, illustrating some problems but also the potential of introducing EBM in HBP surgery. In the future, our effort must be devoted to implementing EBM in applicable areas of HBP surgery but also remembering that in certain areas accumulated knowledge from observational studies, including drainage of abscesses and surgical treatment of intestinal obstruction, may have similar or even higher clinical value than RCTs.
Bakri balloon effectiveness for postpartum hemorrhage: a “real world experience”

Abstract Introduction: The Bakri balloon has been advocated for management of obstetric hemorrhage, based on several small studies (2–16 patients) where it was over 90% effective. Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of the Bakri balloon for treating postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in clinical practice at academic institutions. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating efficacy of Bakri balloon use in 35 women with PPH, performed as a chart review. Charts were reviewed to determine if balloon placement was deemed a “success” or “failure”, as well as to abstract relevant demographic and clinical factors. Failure was defined as need for another form of hemorrhage control. Results: Success rate was 67.57%. Bakri failure was associated with Cesarean section (67% versus 16%, p = 0.031) and predelivery Pitocin (67% versus 28%, p = 0.003) and had more ICU admissions (58% versus 4%, p = 0.0003), transfusions (5.4 red blood cell units versus 1.6, p = 0.007) and hospital days (5.65 versus 3.75, p = 0.011). Reasons for failure were continued bleeding or balloon extrusion. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the Bakri balloon is useful for treating PPH but not as effective as previously published. When balloon use is effective, however, the maternal morbidity is significantly decreased.
Impact of Doximity Residency Rankings on Emergency Medicine Applicant Rank Lists

Introduction This study investigates the impact of the Doximity rankings on the rank list choices made by residency applicants in emergency medicine (EM). Methods We sent an 11-item survey by email to all students who applied to EM residency programs at four different institutions representing diverse geographical regions. Students were asked questions about their perception of Doximity rankings and how it may have impacted their rank list decisions. Results Response rate was 58% of 1,372 opened electronic surveys. This study found that a majority of medical students applying to residency in EM were aware of the Doximity rankings prior to submitting rank lists (67%). One-quarter of these applicants changed the number of programs and ranks of those programs when completing their rank list based on the Doximity rankings (26%). Though the absolute number of programs changed on the rank lists was small, the results demonstrate that the EM Doximity rankings impact applicant decision-making in ranking residency programs. Conclusion While applicants do not find the Doximity rankings to be important compared to other factors in the application process, the Doximity rankings result in a small change in residency applicant ranking behavior. This unvalidated ranking, based principally on reputational data rather than objective outcome criteria, thus has the potential to be detrimental to students, programs, and the public. We feel it important for specialties to develop consensus around measurable training outcomes and provide freely accessible metrics for candidate education.
Gender differences in self-esteem and happiness among university students

The current research examines gender differences in the self esteem and happiness of university students. A sample of 120 students (60 males and 60 females) was drawn from the various departments of university of Sargodha within the age range of 18-26 years. Convenience sampling technique was used. Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1985) and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (Hills and Argyle, 2001) were individually administered to the participants. The results suggested that the male students reported significantly higher level of self esteem as compared to the female university students (t = 3.78, df = 117, ***p < .001). Moreover, the results suggested insignificant differences in male and female student in level of happiness (t = 404, df = 117, p > .05). Furthermore, significant positive relationship was found between happiness and self esteem of students (r = .22*). These findings have implications for helping teachers and parents.
An experimental determination of the propagation of fluid oscillations in a tube with a visco-elastic wall; together with an analysis of the characteristics required in an electrical analogue.

The work presented here has had two aims; first to determine experimentally the behaviour of oscillatory pressure waves in a rubber tube, when frequency, fluid density and viscosity were varied; and secondly to compare the findings with two theoretical treatments, first the highly simplified electrical transmission-line analogue, and second the more realistic hydrodynamic theory of Womersley. The experimental findings were that as regards longitudinal fluid impedance, the effective density of the fluid (inductance) increased with increasing frequency, as did the effective fluid resistance. The fluid inductance was closely related to its density, and the fluid resistance was in proportion to its viscosity, but had a rather smaller magnitude than expected. The properties of the wall of the tube were found to be determinable independently of the fluid; the dynamic elastic properties, determined in this way, were those of a visco-elastic solid, and varied with frequency in a manner concordant with other independent measurements. The phase velocity and transmission of the oscillations have been found to agree well with the behaviour predicted by Womersley for a visco-elastic, tethered tube. It is therefore suggested that this theoretical approach can be applied with some confidence in the prediction of phase velocity and transmission in studies of the arterial circulation, provided that the dynamic elastic properties of the wall be known. It has been shown that there can be no simple electrical analogue for the perfectly elastic tube, since it cannot take account of the coupling between the fluid- and wall-motion. If the tube has a visco-elastic wall, or is tethered, an analogue becomes in principle possible, but if it is to be faithful over a range of frequencies, its simple elements would have to be replaced by networks having specified frequency-characteristics. On the whole, therefore, it seems likely to be simpler to proceed directly with the hydraulic problem itself, rather than to seek its solution in terms of an analogue.
Melanocortin and Opioid Peptide Interactions in the Modulation of Binge Alcohol Drinking

Abstract : Frequent binge drinking is associated with numerous negative short- and long-term consequences, including an increased risk of accidental injury, violent behavior, depression, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. While illicit drug use and cigarette smoking both decreased significantly in the US military between the period of 1980 to 2002, heavy alcohol use increased. In fact, heavy alcohol use and binge drinking are observed in 27% of the military population. Identifying neurochemical pathways in the brain that modulate binge drinking may provide insight into pharmaceutical treatments that could protect against this dangerous behavior. Recently identified candidates for modulating binge drinking are the melanocortin (MC) peptides, such as -melanocyte stimulating hormone ( -MSH), and the opioid peptide -endorphin which are produced in the same brain neurons. The specific aims proposed below will test the guiding hypothesis that stimulation of MC receptor and blockade of opioid receptor protect against excessive binge-like alcohol drinking and intoxicating blood alcohol levels (BALs) in an animal model of binge drinking. The aims will also determine if MC receptor (MCR) agonists and opioid receptor antagonists interact to protect against binge-like alcohol drinking in a synergistic manner.
Integrating Distributed Work: Comparing Task Design, Communication and Tacit Coordination Mechanisms

We investigate coordination strategies in the remote delivery of business services (i.e. Business Process Offshoring). We analyze 126 surveys of offshored processes to understand both the sources of difficulty in the remote delivery of services as well as how organizations overcome these difficulties. We find that interdependence between offshored and onshore processes can lower offshore process performance. Investment in coordination mechanisms such as modularity, ongoing communication and generating common ground across locations ameliorate the performance impact of interdependence. In particular, we are able to show that building common ground - knowledge that is shared and known to be shared - across locations is a coordination mechanism that is distinct from building communication channels or modularising processes. Our results also suggest the firms may be investing less in common ground than they should.
House Price Risk in Mortgage Contracts

Research has shown that mortgage default is closely related to house prices. When house prices fall the borrower has an incentive to default. Since default incurs substantial cost to the lender, the borrower and many other market participants, as well as the society, house price is a risk in a mortgage contract. This was clearly demonstrated during the 200709 financial crisis. In this thesis I discuss some (potential) measures to manage mortgage default risk arising from low house prices. Chapter 1 is on mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance is commonly used by lenders to transfer mortgage default risk to an insurer. After a brief introduction of the mortgage and mortgage insurance markets in US and Canada, I specify a simple mortgage insurance contract and a multiple state model for mortgage termination. The contract is then priced under the model. I explore the possibility of hedging house price risk in Chapter 2. If we assume a perfect market where house price risk can be traded exists, and a mortgage contract is a contingent claim on house prices, then the classic delta hedging is useful in hedging house price risk. In chapter 3 I discuss an innovative type of mortgage contract – property index-linked mortgage. The purpose of this contract design is to reduce the borrower’s propensity to default when house price declines. In particular, when house price declines, the mortgage balance and payment are reduced. I analyze this contract from the borrower’s perspective and find that such contracts are effective in reducing default incentives and as a result, the lender may also be better off due to lower deadweight default cost. The last chapter focuses on house price basis risk. House price basis risk refers to the situation where the value of an individual property appreciates differently from the index. This may lead to problems such as suboptimal hedging, underpricing and lower efficiency for financial products involving house price index. In this chapter I develop a basis risk model that can be used to simulate reasonable individual house prices for a given index.
Incomplete Information, Idiosyncratic Volatility and Stock Returns

We develop a q-theoretic model of investment under incomplete information that explains the link between idiosyncratic volatility and stock returns. When calibrated to match properties of the US business cycles as well as various firms and industry characteristics, the model generates a negative relation between idiosyncratic volatility and stock returns. We show that conditional on earning surprises, the link is positive after good news and negative after bad news. This result provides new insights on the nature of stock return predictability.
Unbalanced Credit Distribution in Emerging Economies and FDI

This empirical study shows that an increasing credit distribution to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), to the detriment of private firms, slows the increase in inward FDI in emerging economies. The first approach is global and dynamic; it relies on GMM and Bayesian techniques, utilizing a sample of 40 emerging countries over the period 1988-2008. Then, a sectoral approach is implemented for 1992-2012 and strengthens the negative effect on inward FDI (but the difference of financial dependence between sectors does not have clear effects). Finally, certain policy actions can improve the allocation of domestic and foreign capital in emerging economies.
The link between Corporate Social Performance and Institutional Investors' Shareholdings in Malaysian Public Listed Companies

Despite emerging trends in developed countries, of a positive association between corporate social performance and institutional investors’ shareholdings in business, developing countries are not exhibiting this link. For example Institutional investors are taking a short-term view to investments in Malaysian Publicly Listed Companies (PLCs), focusing on profit maximization only. Their priority stakeholder appears to be their investors who expect high financial returns. When handling Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds, institutional investors tend to rationalize profit maximization. Findings showed that 83 % of PLCs listed on Bursa Malaysia make corporate social performance disclosures, even though these disclosures differ in scope, content and structure across the firms. The diversity in the disclosures is attributed to the contextual nature of CSR. The context of the conflicting interests of the firm and its stakeholders, as well as the culture and personal, religious and ethic values of the managers are considered influencing factors.
Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma responds to rituximab: A report of five cases and a review of the literature

Optimal treatment of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) is yet to be established. We treated five patients, each with either extensive lesions, severe comorbidities or who refused treatment with radiation therapy, with rituximab given as a single agent for four weekly intravenous infusions of 375 mg/m2. Maintenance therapy, if initiated, was given at 375 mg/m2 once every 2 – 3 months. Objective clinical responses occurred in all five patients. Three patients have ongoing complete clinical remissions with a median follow-up of 17, 19 and 39 months post achievement of complete remission. One patient died at age 87 years from a non-related cause after 5.5 years of complete remission. One patient received local radiotherapy to a solitary cutaneous site of large-cell lymphoma that developed after 3 years in remission from the low-grade CBCL; no recurrences of either grade CBCL have yet occurred. Treatment was well tolerated. Rituximab is safe and effective in treating of CBCL, either primary CBCL or low-grade lymphomas with relapses limited to the skin. Rituximab appears to present an attractive alternative when radiation therapy is contraindicated or unwanted. Additional collaborative studies are needed to assess the role of rituximab in various clinicopathologic presentations of CBCL.
Investors Irrationality in the US Equity Market: The Overreaction Effect

This paper focuses on the equity prices overreaction. Using a sample of all actively traded securities in the US equity markets, this paper assesses the investors’ irrationality by calculating the returns associated with a contrarian trading strategy in different market segments. We utilized an improved methodology for calculating the over-reaction trade, namely, the counter-party swaps. The results show significant levels of profitability in the equity market as a whole, and distinct differences in magnitude and profitability when comparing specific market segments. Equity market segments like the S&P500, with brand name stocks, revert to their fundamental values faster relative to the market as a whole. That means that those segments exhibit less overreaction, which can be justified by the larger number of analysts and investors monitoring these stocks. This paper also offers theoretical justification for the investors’ overreaction, using the expected utility theory’s plunging and dumping.
Beyond virtuality: from engagement platforms to engagement ecosystems

Purpose – Understanding the role and implications of information and communication technology (ICT) in service is the key research priority for service science and the management of service quality. The purpose of this paper is to address this priority by providing insights into the role of “engagement platforms” (EPs), physical or virtual customer touch points where actors exchange resources and co-create value. Despite an emerging body of literature that emphasizes the fit between engagement and technology-enabled service contexts, EPs remain ill-defined. Specifically, little is known about the particular types of EPs, their characteristics, and implications for the performance of service ecosystems and managing service quality. Design/methodology/approach – By drawing on two illustrative case studies, the authors investigate and theorize about the characteristics and dynamics of EPs in virtual/physical contexts, and identify if, how and to what extent configurations of EPs may enhance resource exchange.
Logistics Service Quality as a Segment-Customized Process

Logistics excellence has become a powerful source of competitive differentiation within diverse marketing offerings of world-class firms. Although researchers have suggested that logistics competencies complement marketing efforts, empirical evidence is lacking on what logistics service quality means to customers and whether it has different meanings for separate customer segments. The authors present empirical support for nine related logistics service quality constructs; demonstrate their unidimensionality, validity, and reliability across four customer segments of a large logistics organization; and provide empirical support for a logistics service quality process. Although structural equation modeling offers support for the logistics service quality process across customer segments, the authors find that the relative parameter estimates differ for each segment, which suggests that firms ought to customize their logistics services by customer segments.
Continuous eruption of maxillary teeth and changes in clinical crown length: A 10‐year longitudinal study in adult women

BACKGROUND Continuous physiologic eruption of teeth may become a main aesthetic issue for implants inserted in the maxillary anterior region. PURPOSE To study maxillary tooth vertical changes during a 10 years period by 3-dimensional superimposition of digital dental casts. MATERIAL AND METHODS Alginate impressions were taken at both baseline and at the 10-year follow-up in a sample of 24 adult Swedish women (average age of 48 years at T0). The upper arch plaster casts were digitized with a 3-dimensional scanner and then superimposed on the palate and the palatal rugae. Occlusal and gingival anatomic structures were digitized for each upper tooth from first molar to first molar. The vertical changes of these structures gave an indication of tooth extrusion and apical or coronal displacement of the gingival margin. RESULTS A trend was found for eruption in the anterior region (+0.3 mm on average) while a slight extrusion if not any was found in the first molars and premolars area. Vertical displacement of the gingival margin showed also a positive trend from first molars to incisors. Negative average values, corresponding clinically to gingival recession, were found on first molars (-0.36 mm) and premolars (-0.15 mm), while no displacement was detected in the anteriors. Clinical crown lengths increased in all teeth and it is mainly due to gingival recession for first molars and premolars, while for the incisors the eruption is coupled to a slight equivalent gingival coronal migration. CONCLUSIONS During a 10-year period, continuous eruption takes place in female adult subjects, especially in the upper incisors area while gingival recession occurred in first molars and premolars area leading to crown length elongation. Implant placement in the anterior area of the maxilla may have an aesthetic impact even in mature adults due to the continuous eruption of the adjacent teeth.