Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generational cohorts and new venture creation

This research attempts to decode differences between generational cohorts, especially BBers and Gen-Xers, in the way they use resources to address difficulties at the initiation, preparation, start-up and operations stages of new venture creation. Drawing on generational cohort theory, business stage models and the RBV, we examine differences in the way each cohort addresses difficulties and identifies the most appropriate resources to overcome those difficulties. A sample of 201 Canadian entrepreneurs was surveyed in order to identify significant generational differences in the identification and solution of difficulties at the different stages. More pronounced differences were observed at the more advanced stages, and were mainly associated with financial difficulties. Our study contributes to existing knowledge on generational entrepreneurial performance, and highlights the relevance of exploring how resources are selected and used in order to address different kinds of difficulties.
FeSO4 Amendments Stimulate Extensive Anaerobic PCB Dechlorination

Anaerobic microbial reductive dechlorination of PCBs is important because it removes the chlorine substituents that block aerobic metabolism and it reduces PCB toxicity. Although this process occurs widely in nature, its extent is often limited to dechlorination of some of the chlorines in the meta positions of biphenyl. In this report we demonstrate the ability to achieve nearly complete meta plus para dechlorination of Aroclor 1242. This involves the additions of FeSO4 to PCB contaminated sediments and results in ∼90 mol % of the total PCBs being converted to aerobically degradable ortho-substituted mono- and dichlorinated congeners. We propose that iron sulfate provides two mutually beneficial effects leading to its stimulation of anaerobic PCB dechlorination. Sulfate stimulates growth of sulfate reducing organisms responsible for PCB dechlorination, while Fe2+ reduces sulfide bioavailability and hence toxicity by forming the insoluble precipitate FeS. Ferrous sulfate is an inexpensive, innocuous compo.
Environmental and Synthetic Sulphydryl Group Inhibitors: Effects on Bioluminescence and Respiration in Vibrio fischeri

Elemental sulphur (as S0 and S8) is abundant in anaerobic sediments and soil, and is highly toxic in the Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence test. This mode of S0 action remains uncertain. The objective of this research was the analysis of the toxic effects of S0 on bioluminescence and respiration in V. fischeri, in joint action with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) or 2,4-dithio-DL-threitol (DTT), which are –SH group inhibiting and maintaining synthetic agents, respectively. Non-toxic DTT immediately protected cell bioluminescence against S0 inhibition at low (5.5ppb) and high (55ppb) concentrations of S0, whilst restoration of the inhibitory effect of S0 took up to 30 minutes. NEM (62.5ppb) diminished cell bioluminescence by up to 50% after 5 minutes, but after 60 minutes, the inhibition reached 100%. DTT restored the bioluminescence function inhibited in vivo and in vitro by S0 and NEM. Enhancement of cell respiration by up to 20% and 33% was observed at 2.2ppm of S0 and 36.8ppm of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP; an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation), respectively; whilst NEM (3.1ppm) caused a reduction of up to 40%. This comparative analysis confirmed that S0 has multiple modes of action — it acts as both an –SH group inhibitor and an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in V. fischeri cells.
Thermodynamic analysis of calcium and magnesium binding to calmodulin.

To elucidate some aspects still debated concerning the interaction of Ca2+ and Mg2+ with CaM, the thermodynamic binding parameters of Ca2+-CaM and Mg2+-CaM complexes were characterized by flow dialysis and isothermal microcalorimetry under different experimental conditions. In particular, the enthalpy and entropy changes associated with Ca2+ and Mg2+ binding to their sites were determined, allowing a better understanding of the mechanism underlying cation-CaM interactions. Ca2+-CaM interaction follows an enthalpy-entropy compensation relationship, suggesting that CaM explores a subspace of isoenergetical conformations which is modified by Ca2+ binding. This Ca2+-induced change in CaM dynamics is proposed to play a key role in CaM function, i.e. in its interaction with and/or activation of target proteins. Furthermore, data show that Mg2+ does not act as a direct competitor for Ca2+ binding on the four main Ca2+ binding sites, but rather as an allosteric effector. This implies that the four main Mg2+ binding sites are distinct from the EF-hand Ca2+ binding sites. Finally, Ca2+ is shown to interact with auxiliary binding sites on CaM. These weak affinity sites were thermodynamically characterized. The results presented here challenge the current accepted view of CaM ion binding.
The Ex-Dividend Day Behavior of Stock Prices; a Re-Examination of the Clientele Effect: A Reply

Past studies have documented an ex-dividend day price drop which is less than the dividend per share and positively correlated with the corresponding dividend yield. In contrast to prior work, we show that, without additional information, the marginal tax rates cannot be inferred from this phenomenon which is, therefore, not necessarily the result of a tax induced clientele effect. Despite adjustments for potential biases in earlier work, however, the correlation between the ex-dividend relative price drop and the dividend yield is still positive which is consistent with a tax effect and a tax induced clientele effect. THE EFFECT OF DIVIDEND policy on stock prices is an issue of growing interest and controversy in the financial literature. As Miller and Modigliani [19] show, if capital markets are perfect the dividend policy of the firm, for a given investment policy, does not affect its market value. However, in a world in which dividends are taxed more heavily than capital gains, investors may demand higher before-tax returns to hold securities with high dividend yield. ' Furthermore, in such a world, investors could form "clienteles" each preferring a particular dividend yield.2 In particular, investors in high income tax brackets might find it advantageous to hold low dividend yield stocks, while those in lower income tax brackets concentrate their holdings in high dividend yield stocks.3 Although the notion of a tax-induced clientele effect has intuitive appeal, there are serious questions as to its existence. Long [18] pointed out that the portfolio dividend yield choice cannot be made independently of the risk expected return trade off, since the dividend yield of all mean variance efficient portfolios is a linear function of their nondiversifiable risk. If, for example, dividend yield is positively correlated with risk, and wealthy investors have high tolerance to risk, they may hold high dividend yield portfolios even though they pay a higher tax on dividend income than on capital gains. Furthermore, as Miller and Scholes
The international volunteering market: market segments and competitive relations

The number of nonprofit and social agencies relying on the help of volunteers has grown enormously in recent decades. This has lead to increased competition between these organisations for the limited resources available, and the growing adoption of what have traditionally been considered ‘commercial’ business techniques such as marketing. There have been calls for greater and more sophisticated use of ‘tried and tested’ marketing concepts such as competition, segmentation and positioning to help volunteering organisations manage this pressure effectively. This study shines the spotlight on individuals who volunteer for multiple types of organisations in an effort to determine which organisations are competing for the same volunteers. More specifically: Factor analyses are computed and four segments of volunteers are identified: ‘altruists’, ‘leisure volunteers’, ‘political volunteers’ and ‘church volunteers’; Positioning maps are constructed to illustrate the proximity of each organisation type in relation to key competitors; and Detailed profiles are provided for each segment to provide insight into the nature of the groupings. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reluctant founding father: Placing Jacob Mincer in the history of (labor) economics

Abstract Although Jacob Mincer (1922 to 2006) is usually regarded as one of the most important labor economists of the second half of the twentieth century, his contributions to economics have been scarcely analyzed from an historical point of view. The main purpose of this text is to contribute for better understanding of Mincer's work and his relevance to the history of twentieth-century labor economics. The analysis of Mincer and his contribution to labor economics will also be used to highlight the promises and pitfalls of studying applied fields in the history of economics.
Assessment of Total Lipid Fractions and Fatty Acids Composition in Raw, Germinated Barleys and Talbina Products

Talbina is a food product with high potential applications as a functional food. Talbina was prepared from two barley varieties namely: Giza126 and Giza130 by adding whole barley flour to water (1:10 w/v) and (1:5 w/v) for ger- minated barley then heating at 80 ° C for 5 minutes with continuous stirring until reaching a porridge like texture. The study included the fractionation and determinations of the compounds of raw, germinated barley, talbina, germinated talbina and commercial talbina oil. Besides, the all treatments recorded rather slight decrease in crude fat content, which ranged from 1.5 to 2.9%. Using TLC technique the total lipids of raw, germinated barley and their talbina products were fractionated to eight fractions and triglycerides showed the highest percentage among lipid fractions (33.92-60.82%) followed by 1,3diglycerides (6.78-20.43%). The fatty acids analysis revealed that there were 11 fatty acids in the studied treatments oil namely: caprylic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and gadoleic. The essential fatty acid linoleic (C18:2) recorded the highest percentage of the unsaturated fatty acids (53.59%) in germinated 130. While palmitic acid (C16:0) recorded the highest value of saturated fatty acids in germinated 126 (17.44%).
Pneumothorax in neonates: Trends, predictors and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To examine rates, trends, predictive risk factors, and outcomes associated with pneumothorax in neonates. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analyses were used to estimate rates and assess trends in pneumothorax among early preterm (GA <32 weeks), moderate-late preterm (GA 32-36), and term (GA ≥37 weeks) neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network™ from 2005 to 2011. For each GA group, multivariable logistic regression models were derived to predict pneumothorax using risk factors with known clinical relevance. Additional logistic regression analyses assessed associations between pneumothorax and mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and intraventricular hemorrhage. RESULTS The study included 71,237 neonates; of them 16,985 (24%) early preterm, 27,709 (39%) moderate-late preterm, and 26,543 (37%) term neonates. The overall rate of pneumothorax by GA was bimodal with estimates of 4.0%, 2.6%, and 6.7% respectively. No significant temporal trends were detected. Risk factors for pneumothorax included: a) for the overall lpopulation- Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology, version II >20, surfactant use, and respiratory distress syndrome; b) for early preterm infants-chorioamnionitis; c) for moderate-late preterm infants-higher birth weight, male sex, rupture of membranes >24 hours, and outborn status; and d) for term infants- male sex, outborn status, and meconium aspiration in term neonates. In early preterm neonates, pneumothorax was associated with mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, and prolonged NICU stay. CONCLUSIONS Pneumothorax rates were higher among term and early preterm neonates admitted to the NICU. Predictors of pneumothorax varied between GA groups. Pneumothorax-associated mortality and morbidity were significantly greater in early preterm infants.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, START-UPS, AND PRODUCTIVITY DURING TRANSITION

The transition paths from plan to market have varied markedly across countries. Central and Eastern European and Baltic countries, which opted for fast and deep reforms including transformation of their business environments, rapidly narrowed the productivity gap with advanced economies. In contrast, in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which embarked on reforms later and with less depth, the productivity gap remains large. Whereas the literature has focused mainly on empirical studies, this paper develops a dynamic search model of firm start-ups that reflects these trends. The model shows that an enabling business climate contributes to start-ups of highly productive firms at an earlier stage of transition, underscoring the importance of early reforms. The role of the state sector as an employer during transition rises in countries where reforming the business environment is particularly costly.
Effect of mild alkali pretreatment on structural changes of reed (Phragmites communis Trinius) straw

The effect of dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on reed straw structural change at 105°C temperature was evaluated in this study. Various concentrations of NaOH (1% to 2.5%) were used for pretreatment of reed straw at 105°C for 10 min. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies showed that 2% and 2.5% NaOH pretreated sample exposed more cellulose fibers compared with other treatments. The cellulose crystalline index was increased by the 1% to 2.0% NaOH treatments and slightly lowered by the 2.5% NaOH treatment due to destructing cellulose fibres. Two per cent NaOH pretreatment caused 69.9% lignin removal, whereas 2.5% NaOH pretreatment removed 72.4% lignin. Besides, reed straw, when pretreated at 2% and 2.5% NaOH, resulted 56.4% and 60.5% hemicellulose removal, respectively. However, the difference in removal of lignin and hemicellulose between 2% and 2.5% NaOH treated reed straw was very marginal. In addition, very negligible increase of cellulose level was estimated, amounting 78.8% and 76.6% in 2.5% and 2% NaOH-treated sample, respectively. Moreover, after 72 h, reducing sugar yield was 81.2% and 83.3% using enzyme loading of 15 FPU (g dry biomass)−1 and 30 IU (g dry biomass)−1 and xylanase 4 FXU (g dry biomass)−1 from 2% and 2.5% NaOH pretreated reed straw, respectively. Reducing sugar yield was increased very marginally when NaOH concentration increased from 2% to 2.5% for reed straw pretreatment. Therefore, 2% NaOH is supposed to be effective for reed straw pretreatment at this mentioned condition.
Forest Products Industry Size and Economic Multipliers in the US South

Abstract The forest products industry (FPI) is an important component of local, state, regional, and national economies. Thus, assessing its economic contribution can provide valuable information to policymakers and forestry interests. IMPLAN, an input–output model, was used to assess the economic contribution of the FPI in 13 US southern states for the year 2009, individually as well as regionally, and to compare it with that in 2001, the last comprehensive study of the industry in the South. Two aspects of economic contribution, direct impacts and associated economic multipliers, were estimated for three primary FPI sectors (lumber and wood products, paper and allied products, and wood furniture). The FPI in the South employed 470,000 individuals and generated $133 billion of gross output. The industry's employment decreased by 33.9 percent while gross output increased by 15.1 percent between 2001 and 2009. Study findings reveal that the FPI reduced employment relative to total industry output to mainta.
SOM BASED STOCK INDEX PERFORMS BETTER THAN NSE-50 INDEX

It is always a difficult task to select stocks that are suitable for a portfolio. The main aim of every investor is to earn maximum possible returns on investment. There are many criteria behind picking stocks like, price-earnings ratio, price book ratio, price sales ratio, price cash flow ratio, and market capitalization. The main issue with any approaches is the proper weighting of criteria to obtain a list of stocks that are suitable for a portfolio. This paper proposes an improved method for stock picking using self-organizing maps. The best of the portfolio constructed by self-organizing maps outperformed the NSE-50 Index by about 14.88% based on one and half month of stock data.
FIRST-MOVER ADVANTAGE: THE OPPORTUNITY CURVE

A model depicting first‐mover dynamics is proposed wherein certain types of strategic barriers activated by the first‐mover strategy figure prominently in preserving benefits in the time dimension. Strategic barriers conferring singularity (i.e. one‐time benefit) are considered to be the most effective preservers of first‐mover advantage. the theoretical model is tested empirically in a study of six major industries. Benefits operationalized as industry share and profit share were found to decline consistently with industry age according to an exponential function designated the opportunity curve.
Preventing second cancers in cancer survivors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To provide a systematic review of the secondary prevention practices of cancer survivors guided by the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior. DATA SOURCES Articles published in peer-reviewed journals from 1996-2007. DATA SYNTHESIS Despite their increased risk for second cancers, few cancer survivors maintain regular follow-up with a clinician knowledgeable of late effects. Cancer screening rates for cancer survivors are below optimal levels recommended for the general population. Multiple antecedents explain survivors' health practices. Few tested interventions are available to promote secondary prevention practices among cancer survivors. CONCLUSIONS Cancer survivors are less likely to adopt secondary prevention practices than individuals without a cancer history. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses can encourage cancer survivors to adopt secondary prevention practices by providing positive reinforcement, support, and education. As more comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for longitudinal care become available, nurses will be able to provide care to survivors with greater confidence and certainty.
Conservatism, Accrual Persistence Asymmetry, and Stock Returns

This paper investigates accounting conservatism’s effects on accrual persistence and accrual-related future stock returns. We find conservatism significantly increases accrual persistence and accrual-related future stock returns and more so in high accrual firms. We attribute this to conservatism’s reliability and verifiability requirements. However, the effect is statistically insignificant using only low accrual firms. Therefore, conservatism’s effects on accruals depend on their magnitude, i.e., asymmetrically. Moreover, increases in persistence and stock returns related to conservatism in high accrual firms also exists in recent years during which prior literature has shown the accruals anomaly to have diminished to insignificant levels. Our paper will be of interest to investors because markets do not fully capture how accounting conservatism affects accruals and also to auditors, lenders, and standard setters since collectively our paper finds accounting conservatism to be a positive trait for financial reporting.
Do organisational reform measures impact on global mindset intensity of managers? Empirical evidence from Indian and Chinese service industry managers

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the strength of organisational strategy, technology intensity and entrepreneurial orientation as predictors of managerial global mindset intensity in the Indian and Chinese service industry. Design/methodology/approach - A pluralist research design that captured quantitative and qualitative data from 239 Indian and 210 Chinese indigenous managers was evaluated to test the hypothesised relationships of a conceptual model that was developed from the contemporary relevant literature. Findings - The results of the investigation demonstrate that technological intensity and entrepreneurial orientation were significant determinants of managerial global mindset intensity. Qualitative information that revealed technological intensity and entrepreneurial orientation were dominant drivers from developing and nurturing managerial global mindset intensity. Research limitations/implications - In spite of both study countries having large populations, the evaluated sample sizes were of reasonable magnitude. The evidence of indicators that strongly reform the domain of global managerial mindsets has considerable application for corporations operating in the international marketplace. Originality/value - The rising dominance of the service sector as well as the changing economic, political and social landscape are compelling organisations to more fully understand the dynamics of the dramatic shifts in managerial thinking.
Therapeutic effects of whole‐body devices applying pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF): A systematic literature review

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) delivered by whole‐body mats are promoted in many countries for a wide range of therapeutic applications and for enhanced well‐being. However, neither the therapeutic efficacy nor the potential health hazards caused by these mats have been systematically evaluated. We conducted a systematic review of trials investigating the therapeutic effects of low‐frequency PEMF devices. We were interested in all health outcomes addressed so far in randomized, sham‐controlled, double‐blind trials. In total, 11 trials were identified. They were focused on osteoarthritis of the knee (3 trials) or the cervical spine (1), fibromyalgia (1), pain perception (2), skin ulcer healing (1), multiple sclerosis‐related fatigue (2), or heart rate variability and well‐being (1). The sample sizes of the trials ranged from 12 to 71 individuals. The observation period lasted 12 weeks at maximum, and the applied magnetic flux densities ranged from 3.4 to 200 µT. In some trials sporadic positive effects on health were observed. However, independent confirmation of such singular findings was lacking. We conclude that the scientific evidence for therapeutic effects of whole‐body PEMF devices is insufficient. Acute adverse effects have not been reported. However, adverse effects occurring after long‐term application have not been studied so far. In summary, the therapeutic use of low‐frequency whole‐body PEMF devices cannot be recommended without more scientific evidence from high‐quality, double‐blind trials. Bioelectromagnetics 33:95–105, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Enterprise Multiple Investment Strategy: International Evidence

The enterprise multiple (EM) predicts the cross section of international returns. The return predictability of EM is similarly pronounced in developed and emerging markets and likewise strong among small and large firms. An international portfolio of low-EM firms outperforms a portfolio of high-EM firms by about 1% per month. The EM value premium is individually significant for the majority of countries, remains largely unexplained by existing asset pricing models, is robust after controlling for comovement with the respective U.S. premium, and is highly persistent for up to 5 years after portfolio formation, making it a promising strategy for investors.