Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does shareholder myopia lead to managerial myopia? A first look

Shareholder myopia may not necessarily lead to managerial myopia. To the extent that managerial myopia is a problem for some firms, the reasons for this must be sought elsewhere. While institutional ownership has a positive effect on capital expenditures, it appears to have a negative effect on R&D expenditures and no effect on advertising expenditures. The results in this paper also call into question the viewpoint that faults the short-term orientation of financial markets as contributing to long-term competitiveness problems of economies.
The Governmental Composition of the Insurance Costs of Smoking*

The estimated health risks from smoking have significant external financial consequences for society. Studies at the national level indicate that cigarettes are self‐financing since external costs such as those due to illnesses are offset by cost savings associated with premature death, chiefly pension costs. This paper extends this analysis to all 50 states and considers the costs considered in the state attorneys general suits against the cigarette industry. Cigarettes are always self‐financing from the standpoint of costs to each state. The extent of the cost savings is less than at the federal level. However, smokers' higher medical costs are outweighed by reduced nursing home expenditures, lower pension costs, and excise taxes, where each of these factors alone usually exceeds the medical cost effect.
Real-time radio signal mapping using an autonomous robot

A measurement technique for an indoor/outdoor radio signal mapping based on remote sensing through a mobile robot is provided. The robot is autonomous and able to provide its actual location in relation to its initial position. The data are sent in real time to the base station using wireless transmission and the electromagnetic mapping is obtained in real time as well. A real case scenario is considered by measuring the electromagnetic field from our department network. The automated system gives consistent results since it shows highest energy levels next to the sources. This papers shows that a robot can remotely make a precise radio signal mapping of an unknown environment, which is useful for projects with RF energy harvesting purpose.
INCREMENTAL TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS AND THEIR DETERMINANTS

Incremental technical innovation is one of the significant dynamic processes taking place in manufacturing firms. For this study, incremental technical innovation has been classified as material, operations, scale and product innovations and we contend that their source and efforts directed are different and therefore it is imperative to identify the predictors of each. Based on a field study of 83 manufacturing firms in India, the study has found that government policies, customer orientation and formalisation are the predictors of material innovations. Operational innovations are related to inter-functional coordination, process orientation, centralisation and annual demand of the product. Customer orientation and formalisation are the predictors of scale innovations. Finally, incremental product innovations are related to technology planning and R&D intensity.
Focal intrahepatic strictures: a review of diagnosis and management.

INTRODUCTION Focal intrahepatic strictures are becoming more common owing to more prevalent and accurate cross-sectional imaging. However, data relating to their management are lacking. The purpose of the present review was to synthesize the current evidence regarding these lesions and to formulate a strategy for diagnosis and management. METHODS A literature search of relevant terms was performed using Medline. References of papers were subsequently searched to obtain older literature. RESULTS Focal intrahepatic strictures involve segmental hepatic ducts and/or left and right main hepatic ducts during their intrahepatic course. Most patients are asymptomatic while the minority present with vague abdominal pain or recurrent sepsis and only rarely with jaundice. Investigations used to distinguish benign from malignant aetiologies include blood tests (CEA, Ca19.9), imaging studies [ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)], endoscopic modalities [endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)/endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)/cholangioscopy] and tissue sampling (brush cytology/biopsy). CONCLUSIONS A focal intrahepatic stricture requires thorough investigation to exclude malignancy even in patients with a history of biliary surgery, hepatolithiasis or parasitic infection. If during the investigative process a diagnosis or suspicion of malignancy is demonstrated then surgical resection should be performed. If all diagnostic modalities suggest a benign aetiology, then cholangioscopy with targeted biopsies should be performed.
Determinants of Male Aedes aegypti and Aedes polynesiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) Response to Sound: Efficacy and Considerations for use of Sound Traps in the Field

ABSTRACT Understanding the mating competitiveness of male mosquitoes in field settings is essential to programs relying on the mass release of modified male mosquitoes, yet studies on male ecology have been hampered by the lack of a convenient trapping method. An existing promising method makes use of the innate attraction of males to female flight tones. Here, we present laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments on the efficacy of sound traps for the collection of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes polynesiensis Marks, and laboratory experiments with Ae. aegypti on the effects of male age, size, and mating status on responsiveness to a range of frequencies. Age and mating status influenced the overall responsiveness to sound, whereas male size did not. There were no interactions between these factors and sound frequency. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light trap modified to produce a tone of 465 Hz collected 76.2% of Ae. aegypti males in laboratory cages, and 49.7% of males in a greenhouse enclosure. In two sets of experiments in laboratory cages, 50.8 and 46.5% of male Ae. polynesiensis were captured with a trap producing a tone of 440 Hz. In the field, CDC miniature light traps or BG-Sentinel traps fitted with a portable speaker producing tones of 440 or 465 Hz captured significantly more male Ae. polynesiensis when placed near a male swarm than did traps that did not produce sound. When the trap was placed at a distance of 16.5 m from the nearest swarm, there was no significant difference in the number of males caught between control and sound-producing traps. The numbers of Ae. aegypti males captured were low under all circumstances in the field.
gyrA Mutations in Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Bartonella bacilliformis Strains Obtained In Vitro

ABSTRACT We isolated and characterized mutants of Bartonella bacilliformis that are resistant to the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin, which targets the A subunit of DNA gyrase. Mutants had single point mutations in the gyrA gene that changed either Asp-90 to Gly or Asp-95 to Asn and had 3- or 16-fold higher resistance, respectively, to ciprofloxacin than did wild-type B. bacilliformis. Asp-95 is homologous to Asp-87 of Escherichia coli GyrA and is a common residue mutated in fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of other bacteria. This is the first report of a mutation at an Asp-90 homologue, which corresponds to Asp-82 in E. coli GyrA.
The Effects of Financial Integration on Structural Similarity: Consumption Risk-sharing and Specialization

Using panel data for 17 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for the period 1983-2003, this paper investigates the effects of financial integration on specialization and international structural similarity. Theoretically, financial integration motivates countries to specialize on the basis of their comparative advantages and decreases the structural similarity between them. Our empirical analyses support the hypothesis.
The Importance of Fashion: The Chinese and U.S. Gen Y Perspective

ABSTRACT A cross-cultural study is conducted to examine the perceptions, needs, preferences, influences and fashion buying habits of Generation Y consumers in both China and the United States. Chinese consumers appear to be more fashion-conscious in that the majority of their luxury purchases are fashion products. In this increasingly globalized world, it is important for a fashion marketer to determine if one strategy can be used to reach all Generation Y consumers or if separate strategies are necessary. Specifically, this study examines fashion leadership, need for uniqueness, and attention to social comparison information to determine if there are differences between these two cohorts and how best to reach them.
Prospects for 'Pro-Poor' Growth in Africa

This paper examines trends in income distribution and its linkages to economic growth and poverty reduction in order to understand the prospects for achieving poverty reduction in Africa. We examine the levels and trends in income distribution in some African countries and calculate pro-poor growth indices. Different growth patterns are simulated for Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, and South Africa. We conclude that the balance between policies aimed at growth and measures aimed at redistribution should depend on the elasticity of the growth-equity tradeoff. We also discuss what the appropriate ingredients of a pro-poor strategy would be in the African setting.
Circulating fibrocytes are an indicator of poor prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

RATIONALE The clinical management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains a major challenge due to lack of effective drug therapy or accurate indicators for disease progression. Fibrocytes are circulating mesenchymal cell progenitors that are involved in tissue repair and fibrosis. OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that assay of these cells may provide a biomarker for activity and progression of IPF. METHODS Fibrocytes were defined as cells positive for CD45 and collagen-1 by flow cytometry and quantified in patients with stable IPF and during acute exacerbation of the disease. We investigated the clinical and prognostic value of fibrocyte counts by comparison with standard clinical parameters and survival. We used healthy age-matched volunteers and patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome as control subjects. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Fibrocytes were significantly elevated in patients with stable IPF (n = 51), with a further increase during acute disease exacerbation (n = 7; P < 0.001 vs. control subjects). Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 10) were not different from healthy control subjects or stable patients with IPF. Fibrocyte numbers were not correlated with lung function or radiologic severity scores, but they were an independent predictor of early mortality. The mean survival of patients with fibrocytes higher than 5% of total blood leukocytes was 7.5 months compared with 27 months for patients with less than 5% (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Fibrocytes are an indicator for disease activity of IPF and might be useful as a clinical marker for disease progression. This study suggests that quantification of circulating fibrocytes may allow prediction of early mortality in patients with IPF.
The effect of migration on income convergence: Meta-analytic evidence

See also the article 'The effect of migration on income growth and convergence: Meta-analytic evidence' in Papers in Regional Science (2010). Volume 89, issue 3, pages 537-561. Using meta-analytical techniques, we focus on 11 studies that explicitly measure the effect of a net migration variable in neoclassical convergence models and derive 57 comparable effect sizes. The data suggest that an increase in the net migration rate of one percentage point increases on average the GDP per capita growth rate by 0.13 percent, thus suggesting a net migration impact that is more consistent with endogenous self-reinforcing growth rather than neoclassical convergence. However, studies that use panel models or IV estimation yield smaller coefficients of net migration while the opposite is the case for regressions controlling for high-skilled migration.
Immunohistochemical Expression of p53 and Ki67 in Colorectal Adenomas and Prediction of Malignancy and Development of New Polyps

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and Ki67 in colorectal adenomas in order to clarify their significance as indicators of malignancy and development of new polyps. Seventy-eight polyps were removed from 51 patients and examined. Twenty-nine patients (56.9%) had adenomas with low-grade atypia (13 of them developed new polyps at 3-year follow-up) and 22 (43.1%) had adenomas with high-grade atypia (6 of them developed new polyps at 3-year follow-up). We tested the association between p53 and Ki67 expression and various clinicopathological variables, and regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for malignancy and development of new adenomas. A significant correlation between the grade of atypia and p53 immunoreactivity was observed. Ki67 expression was not related to atypia and no correlation was found between p53 and Ki67 immunoreactivity. Regression analysis showed that size (p=0.0002) and p53 staining (p=0.0111) were the selected factors related to malignant transformation, whereas the number of synchronous primary polyps emerged as the only predictive factor of development of new adenomas, although without statistical significance. The expression of biological markers may be in future added to the currently examined features of polyps; however, further studies are needed to better define their predictive value.
Association between environmental factors including second‐hand smoke and primary lung cancer in dogs

OBJECTIVES To estimate prevalence of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and other environmental toxins in dogs with primary lung tumours and to analyse association between exposure and lung tumour development. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this case-control study, an owner survey was developed to collect data on patient characteristics, general health care and environmental exposures. Dogs diagnosed with primary lung carcinomas formed the Case group. Dogs diagnosed with mast cell tumours served as Control Group 1 and dogs diagnosed with neurologic disease served as Control Group 2. Associations between diagnosis of primary lung tumour and patient and environmental exposure variables were analysed using bivariate and multivariate statistical methods. RESULTS A total of 1178 owner surveys were mailed and 470 surveys were returned and included in statistical analysis, including 135 Cases, 169 dogs in Control Group 1 and 166 dogs in Control Group 2. An association between exposure to second-hand smoke and prevalence of primary lung cancer was not identified in this study. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Second-hand smoke is associated with primary lung cancer in people but a definitive association has not been found in dogs. The results of this study suggest that tobacco smoke exposure may not be associated with primary lung cancer development in dogs but study limitations may have precluded detection of an association.
Potential ethnic modifiers in the assessment and treatment of Alzheimer's disease: challenges for the future

Objective: Despite numerous clinical trials, it is unknown whether ethnicity affects treatment response to cognitive enhancers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is convincing evidence of ethnic and genetic variability in drug metabolism. This article reviews the available data on ethnicity in clinical trials for AD to answer two questions: (1) what are the challenges to diagnose and treat AD across different ethnic groups, and (2) are there differences in response to pharmacologic interventions for AD across these different ethnic groups? Method: Available data from Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) randomized controlled clinical trials and from randomized controlled industry-sponsored trials for four cognitive enhancers (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and sabeluzole) were pooled to assess the numbers of non-Caucasian participants. Results: The participation of ethnic minority subjects in clinical trials for AD was dependent on the funding source, although Caucasian participants were over-represented and non-Caucasian participants were under-represented in the clinical trials. Because of the low participation rate of ethnic minorities, there were insufficient data to assess any differences in treatment outcome among different ethnic groups. Strategies to improve diversity in clinical trials are discussed. Conclusion: Greater participation of ethnically diverse participants in clinical trials for AD would generate additional information on possible differences in metabolism, treatment response, adverse events to therapeutic agents, and could foster the investigation of genetic variability among ethnic groups.
Stock Picking, Market Timing and Style Differences between Socially Responsible and Conventional Pension Funds: Evidence from the United Kingdom

As far as we are aware, this study presents the first comparative analysis of the stock picking and market timing abilities of managers of conventional and socially responsible (SR) pension funds, and of their use of superior information. For the United Kingdom, the results obtained show a slight stock picking ability on the part of SR pension fund managers (although it disappears if multifactorial models are considered), and a negative market timing ability on the part of both SR and conventional pension fund managers (these results hold for multifactorial models controlled by home bias). In relation to the management styles, both conventional and SR pension funds usually invest in small cap and growth values, although it is the SR pension funds that are the most exposed to these styles. We also observed that, while conventional pension fund managers make certain use of superior information to follow stock picking strategies, managers of SR pension funds use superior information to follow market timing strategies.
Genetic relationships among Escherichia coli isolates causing urinary tract infections in humans and animals

SUMMARY Genetic variation in isolates of Escherichia coli obtained mostly from urinary tract infections in humans and domesticated animals (dogs and cats) was assessed for 16 enzymes using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to characterize chromosomal genotypes. A total of 148 isolates comprised 63 distinct electrophoretic types (ETs) and about half of the isolates belonged to one of 9 common ETs. A bootstrap analysis of genetic distance between ETs revealed three significant groups of strains. Variation in allele frequencies among groups accounted for 40% of the total genetic diversity. The majority of the common ETs fell into a major cluster of closely related strains. The recovery of multiple isolates of the same electrophoretic types and serotypes from unassociated hosts suggests that these bacteria represent uropathogenic clones that are widely disseminated in humans and animals
A Cross-National Analysis of Intention to Use Multiple Mobile Entertainment Services

This research proposes a model for cross-national analyses of intention to use multiple mobile entertainment services using a modified technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behavior. Antecedents of intention to use were examined through a survey of young adult mobile users in Japan and the United States. Our model, based on a modified technology acceptance model-theory of planned behavior framework, fits generally well for cross-national analyses of entertainment services. For the services that were included, all except one path in the estimated models for Japan and the United States were statistically significant. The results indicate that paths originating from perceived value can differ, possibly due to practical considerations such as pricing and regulations. Our results have useful implications for the adoption of global marketing.
Effect of Gentian Violet, Corticosteroid and Tar Preparations in Staphylococcus-aureus-Colonized Atopic Eczema

Background: In atopic eczema (AE), skin colonization with Staphylococcus aureus plays a possible role in the pathophysiology of the disease. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with AE were screened for their cutaneous colonization with S. aureus. The antibacterial and clinical efficacy of topical therapy with the antiseptic dye gentian violet, a potent glucocorticosteroid or a tar solution (liquor carbonis detergens) was evaluated in vivo in 21 patients with a density of >104 CFU/cm2 and in vitro. Skin sites were treated twice daily for 4 days with the active drug or a corresponding control. Quantification of S. aureus was done daily during therapy as well as 3 days thereafter. The severity of the lesions was rated by a regional SCORAD. Results: In gentian-violet-treated skin, bacterial density decreased significantly in lesional (p < 0.001) and unaffected skin (p < 0.001). Bacterial densities did not decrease during therapy with glucocorticosteroid or liquor carbonis detergens but dropped afterwards. All therapeutics reduced the severity score, reduction being greatest for the glucocorticosteroid and lowest for liquor carbonis detergens. In vitro, a high antibactericidal efficacy was demonstrated only for gentian violet. Conclusions: Antibacterial therapy with gentian violet not only reduces S. aureus dramatically, but also reduces the severity of the eczema. Reduction of S. aureus after therapy with glucocorticosteroids and LCD seems to be secondary to improvement of the skin condition.
The Information Content of Earnings Components: Evidence from the Chinese Stock Market

China's listed firms report substantial non-operating revenues and expenses. We argue that these non-core earnings should have different properties and different valuation implications than operating or core earnings. Furthermore, the different types of firm ownership may have differential impacts on the information content of earnings components. Based on data from 1996 to 2008, we find that core earnings are more persistent than non-core earnings. Because of this, core earnings have a greater association with contemporaneous stock returns. However, the stock market does not fully incorporate all the information in earnings; we find that core earnings are undervalued and non-core earnings are overvalued. This effect is much reduced for privately controlled listed firms. We develop an investment trading strategy to exploit these market inefficiencies.
Transboundary water justice: a combined reading of literature on critical transboundary water interaction and ‘justice’, for analysis and diplomacy

By reviewing and blending two main bodies of research (critical transboundary water interaction analysis and centuries of thought on social justice) this paper seeks to improve international transboundary water interaction analysis and diplomacy. Various implications for transboundary analysis and diplomacy are grouped under themes of equitability, process/outcomes, and structural concerns. These include shortcomings of analysis and policy based on unfounded assumptions of equality, and options excluded from consideration by the legitimisation of particular concepts of justice over others. As power asymmetry is seen to enable or disable justice claims and conflict resolution efforts, the importance of ensuring equitable outcomes as a pre-condition for cooperation is asserted. Similarly, water conflict resolution is found to be more fair – procedurally – than is conflict management, and may be supported to a limited extent by international water law. A number of analytical tasks are suggested for future research and policy, including a call to scrutinise the source of legitimacy of strands of justice invoked. Given the very many perspectives on justice that exist in the network of relevant actors, potential bias in research and diplomacy could be reduced if all involved openly stated the morals underpinning their understanding of ‘justice’.