Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current and Future Research Methods in Strategic Management

Early work in strategic management emphasized single case studies, followed by research on corporate diversification strategy, firm heterogeneity, strategic groups, and generic business strategies. Intermediate work added the foci of environmental determinants and strategic choice, often using secondary data from large, multi-industry firm samples. Recently, the most prominent new theoretical paradigm is the resource-based view of the firm, using smaller sample studies. Future research is likely to integrate and contrast multiple theories and to develop more fine-grained and complex models. Quantitative research will emphasize longitudinal data, dynamic analysis, and greater focus on specific strategic decisions/actions. Future research will use more specialized tools such as panel data analysis, dynamic models of partial adjustment, logistic and Poisson regression analyses, event history analysis, network analysis, and structural equation modeling. Nontraditional research designs will also gain popularity, such as combined qualitative/quantitative data approaches and comparison of outliers.
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS IN THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT SECTOR: ARE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COMPARABLE?

Real estate accounting raises a number of issues that accounting standards, such as IAS/IFRS or those issued by most national accounting bodies, usually do not address properly, based on the required comparability of financial data by the users of accounting. This study analyzes four real estate issues under the IAS/IFRS and the Portuguese Accounting Standards and, using a survey methodology, shows that the intent to produce comparable financial statements in the same industry, stated by the Framework for the Preparation of Financial Statements adopted by the IASB, cannot be achieved in the real estate industry, unless the accounting standards take into consideration the specificities of the sector. This study and its conclusions have practical implications for financial analysts and investors, by making them aware of the limitations of the financial statements for comparative analysis, and for regulators, by identifying potential improvements in accounting standardization.
Online/In-Store Integration and Customer Retention

Reducing the risks believed to be associated with product availability can be critical to increasing consumer retention rates. This study considers the role that perceptions of channel integration have on such beliefs and their impact on purchasing decisions. Surveys distributed to purchasers of specific goods both online and in-store provide data used in the analysis of these effects. The findings suggest that firms simultaneously managing both online and in-store channels should not only reassess the repercussions of availability failures but also consider efforts that encourage the transparency of channel integration.
Indian MFIs: The Funding Structure and its Determinants

The decision regarding the funding structure of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) is crucial. Considering the poor financial background of MFIs’ borrowers and the small loan size provided to them, the cost of capital to the lenders matters most. Keeping in view the recent structural and ownership changes of the Indian MFIs, an attempt has been made in this paper to understand the funding status and to find the important influential variables of the capital structure of MFIs. Though across the world the maturity profile, i.e., age, is found to be the important variable, which is explained through the life cycle theory, in a few other cases, the regulatory status of MFIs is also identified. The analysis of Indian MFIs reveals that neither regulatory status nor their maturity influences the capital structure; rather profitability has emerged as the significant variable. Considering this relationship and the importance of debt finance in the capital structure, it is suggested that rather than depending on institutional borrowings, the Indian MFIs need to scout for alternative, market-related, cheap debt sources.
Constraints for flow regimes on smooth fracture surfaces

In recent years, significant advances have been made in our understanding of the complex flow processes in individual fractures, aided by flow visualization experiments and conceptual modeling efforts. These advances have led to the recognition of several flow regimes in unsaturated individual fractures subjected to different initial and boundary conditions. For an idealized smooth fracture surface the most important regimes are film flow, rivulet flow, and sliding of droplets. The existence of such significantly dissimilar flow regimes has been a major hindrance in the development of self‐consistent conceptual models of flow for single fracture surfaces that encompass all the flow regimes. The objective of this study is to delineate the existence of the different flow regimes in individual fracture surfaces. For steady state flow conditions, we developed physical constraints on the different flow regimes that satisfy minimum energy configurations, which enabled us to segregate the wide range of fracture flux (volumetric flow rate per fracture width) into several flow regimes. These are, in increasing order of flow rate, flow of adsorbed films, flow of sliding drops, rivulet flow, stable film flow, and unstable (turbulent) film flow. The scope of this study is limited to wide‐aperture smooth fractures with the flow on the opposing sides of fracture being independent.
Alcohol intake, reproductive hormones, and menstrual cycle function: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND Although habitual low-to-moderate alcohol intake has been linked with reduced all-cause mortality and morbidity, the effect of recent alcohol intake on female reproductive function has not been clearly established. OBJECTIVE We assessed the relation between acute alcohol consumption, reproductive hormones, and markers of menstrual cycle dysfunction including sporadic anovulation, irregular cycle length, luteal phase deficiency, long menses, and heavy blood loss. DESIGN A total of 259 healthy, premenopausal women from Western New York were followed for ≤2 menstrual cycles (2005-2007) and provided fasting blood specimens during ≤8 visits/cycle and four 24-h dietary recalls/cycle. Linear mixed models were used to estimate associations between previous day's alcohol intake and hormone concentrations, whereas Poisson regression was used to assess RR of cycle-average alcohol intake and menstrual cycle function. RESULTS For every alcoholic drink consumed, the geometric mean total and free estradiol, total and free testosterone, and luteinizing hormone were higher by 5.26% (95% CI: 1.27%, 9.41%), 5.82% (95% CI: 1.81%, 9.99%), 1.56% (95% CI: 0.23%, 2.90%), 1.42% (95% CI: 0.02%, 2.84%), and 6.18% (95% CI: 2.02%, 10.52%), respectively, after adjustment for age, race, percentage of body fat, perceived stress, pain-medication use, sexual activity, caffeine, and sleep. Binge compared with nonbinge drinking (defined as reporting ≥4 compared with <4 drinks/d, respectively) was associated with 64.35% (95% CI: 18.09%, 128.71%) and 63.53% (95% CI: 17.41%, 127.73%) higher total and free estradiol. No statistically significant associations were shown between cycle-average alcohol intake and menstrual cycle function. CONCLUSION Although recent moderate alcohol intake does not appear to have adverse short-term effects on menstrual cycle function, including sporadic anovulation, potential protective and deleterious long-term effects of alterations in reproductive hormones on other chronic diseases warrant additional investigation.
Bond Market Entry Around the World: Does Public Debt Discipline Managers?

This paper documents the impact of bond IPOs on the agency costs of equity. We find that bond market entry is received unfavorably when the debt issue is motivated by keeping a lock on control. Conversely, when discipline is expected to increase due to bond market entry (high free cash flow, low dividends), stock price reactions are more positive. Moreover, the strength of these relations is affected by worldwide differences in shareholder protection. Free cash flow has a larger impact when investor protection is stronger, whereas dividends and control locks are more important when shareholder protection is poor.
Do Incentives Matter? An Examination of On‐line Privacy Concerns and Willingness to Provide Personal and Financial Information

The growth of the Internet has allowed marketers to collect personal information from consumers with increased efficiency. However, that practice has led to concerns about privacy among World Wide Web users. The results of an experimental study showed that the participants were concerned about and unwilling to provide financial information, but saw no problem in disclosing personally identifiable information. The benefits of price discounts and personalized service were found to be non‐effective means of gaining consumers' personal information. The respondents were also cynical when both benefits were offered concurrently. The study also suggested that materialistic consumers were more willing to provide personal information.
Current office-based hearing screening questions fail to identify adolescents at risk for hearing loss

Objective There is a rising prevalence of hearing loss among adolescents in the United States. Current paediatric preventive care recommendations by the Bright Futures guidelines and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that clinicians should ask adolescents ten hearing screening questions to identify those who are at high risk of hearing loss for further objective hearing testing. We assessed the utility of these subjective risk assessment questions to distinguish those adolescents with objectively documented hearing loss. Setting A single public high school in Pennsylvania. Methods We compared results from a prospective study evaluating objective hearing assessments with the use of the ten Bright Futures hearing screening questions plus additional adolescent-specific questions to predict adolescent hearing loss. Results In relation to the questions used in this study, adolescents who were referred following objective hearing screens were more likely to report “trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time” and a “past experience of slight hearing loss”. Referrals from sound treated booth testing were more likely to report “trouble hearing over the phone” and have a diagnosis or history of hearing loss. Conclusions Most Bright Futures questions were not associated with adolescent hearing loss. An objective adolescent hearing screen should be considered in the recommended schedule of preventive care, instead of the current risk-based subjective assessment.
Role of fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling in prostate cancer cell survival.

BACKGROUND Expression of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) is increased in a substantial fraction of human prostate cancers in vivo and in prostate cancer cell lines. Altered FGF signaling can potentially have a variety of effects, including stimulating cell proliferation and inhibiting cell death. To determine the biologic significance of altered FGF signaling in human prostate cancer, we disrupted signaling by expression of a dominant-negative (DN) FGF receptor in prostate cancer cell lines. METHODS PC-3, LNCaP, and DU145 prostate cancer cells were stably transfected with DN FGFR constructs, and LNCaP and DU145 cells were infected with a recombinant adenovirus expressing DN FGFR-1. The effect of DN FGFR-1 expression was assessed by colony-formation assays, cell proliferation assays, flow cytometry, and cytogenetic analysis. Key regulators involved in the G(2)-to-M cell cycle transition were assessed by western blotting to examine cyclin B1 expression and by in vitro kinase assay to assess cdc2 kinase activity. RESULTS Stable transfection of the DN FGFR-1 construct inhibited colony formation by more than 99% in all three cell lines. Infection of LNCaP and DU145 prostate cancer cells with adenovirus expressing DN FGFR-1 led to extensive cell death within 48 hours. Flow cytometry and cytogenetic analysis revealed that the DN FGFR-1 receptor led to arrest in the G(2) phase of the cell cycle before cell death. Cyclin B1 accumulated in DN FGFR-1-infected LNCaP cells, but cdc2 kinase activity was decreased. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal an unexpected dependence of prostate cancer cells on FGF receptor signal transduction to traverse the G(2)/M checkpoint. The mechanism for the G(2) arrest is not clear. Our results raise the possibility that FGF-signaling antagonists might enhance the cell death induced by other prostate cancer therapies.
Comparison of δ13C and δ18O from cellulose, whole wood, and resin-free whole wood from an old high elevation Pinus uncinata in the Spanish central Pyrenees*

ABSTRACT δ13C and δ18O values from sapwood of a single Pinus uncinata tree, from a high elevation site in the Spanish Pyrenees, were determined to evaluate the differences between whole wood and resin-free whole wood. This issue is addressed for the first time with P. uncinata over a 38-year long period. Results are also compared with published isotope values of α-cellulose samples from the same tree. The differences in δ13C and δ18O between whole wood and resin-free whole wood vary within the analytical uncertainty of 0.3 and 0.5 ‰, respectively, indicating that resin extraction is not necessary for sapwood of P. uncinata. Mean differences between cellulose and whole wood are 0.9 ‰ (δ13C) and 5.0 ‰ (δ18O), respectively. However, further analyses of different species and other sites are needed to evaluate whether the findings reported here are coherent more generally.
Geologic Investigation of a Potential Site for a Next-Generation Reactor Neutrino Oscillation Experiment -- Diablo Canyon, San Luis Obispo County, CA

This report provides information on the geology and selected physical and mechanical properties of surface rocks collected at Diablo Canyon, San Luis Obispo County, California as part of the design and engineering studies towards a future reactor neutrino oscillation experiment. The main objective of this neutrino project is to study the process of neutrino flavor transformation--or neutrino oscillation--by measuring neutrinos produced in the fission reactions of a nuclear power plant. Diablo Canyon was selected as a candidate site because it allows the detectors to be situated underground in a tunnel close to the source of neutrinos (i.e., at a distance of several hundred meters from the nuclear power plant) while having suitable topography for shielding against cosmic rays. The detectors have to be located underground to minimize the cosmic ray-related background noise that can mimic the signal of reactor neutrino interactions in the detector. Three Pliocene-Miocene marine sedimentary units dominate the geology of Diablo Canyon: the Pismo Formation, the Monterey Formation, and the Obispo Formation. The area is tectonically active, located east of the active Hosgri Fault and in the southern limb of the northwest trending Pismo Syncline. Most of the potential tunnel for the neutrino detector lies within themore » Obispo Formation. Review of previous geologic studies, observations from a field visit, and selected physical and mechanical properties of rock samples collected from the site provided baseline geological information used in developing a preliminary estimate for tunneling construction cost. Gamma-ray spectrometric results indicate low levels of radioactivity for uranium, thorium, and potassium. Grain density, bulk density, and porosity values for these rock samples range from 2.37 to 2.86 g/cc, 1.41 to 2.57 g/cc, and 1.94 to 68.5% respectively. Point load, unconfined compressive strength, and ultrasonic velocity tests were conducted to determine rock mechanical and acoustic properties. The rock strength values range from 23 to 219 MPa and the Poisson's ratio from 0.1 to 0.38. Potential geologic hazards in the Diablo Canyon area were identified and described to provide an overall picture of processes that may affect tunnel construction activities. « less
From supply‐chain management to value network advocacy: implications for e‐supply chains

Purpose – To introduce a broader concept for supply‐chain management (SCM), the notion of value network advocacy.Design/methodology/approach – The historical roots and the traditional terms used to describe SCM are explored to show how their meanings have led to specific types of information systems to support SCM. The limitations of these systems are demonstrated with case studies. Then the concept of value network advocacy is introduced to address these limitations, and implications of this term are explored.Findings – The term SCM has its historical roots in the control of fulfillment activities that support the linear physical flow of goods from suppliers to manufacturers to distributors to retailers. Consequently many information systems (IS) applications that support the supply chain have a similar focus. These systems often separate supply from demand management and focus on linear information flows. Often they are implemented without reengineering business processes. A broader concept, value netwo.
Effects of Government Bailouts on Mortgage Modification

This paper shows how liquidity infusions affect loan modification in the mortgage market. The design of pooling and servicing agreements leads mortgage servicers to prefer foreclosure over modification when they are liquidity constrained. Therefore, a positive liquidity shock is expected to boost modification rates. Using a residential mortgage dataset that includes loan-level information, we find that the Troubled Asset Relief Program significantly increased the modification rate. Our findings help us better understand the economic consequences of government intervention and have important policy implications for the renegotiation of distressed mortgages.
Factors Leading to a Satisfying Career in Airport Management: Evidence from Airport Managers in Norway

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence a person to choose airport manager as a professional career and how these factors relate to the level of satisfaction the person experiences with this career choice. By using a correlational methodology with an explanatory design, this study examined the influence of early aviation interests, demographics, health factors, formal education, and other aviation experiences on Norwegian airport managers' career choice and its relationship to their level of career satisfaction. A sample of N = 39 airport managers at Norwegian commercial service airports were surveyed. To assess the relationship, a multiple regression analysis was conducted. The result showed that by knowing a person's early aviation interests, age, gender, family/friends' influence, years of schooling, formal education, and airport size, one has 50% of the information needed to perfectly predict that person's satisfaction in the airport manager profession. Moreover, it was found that females had a significantly higher career satisfaction score than their male counterparts. In addition, managers at large airports had a mean career satisfaction score that was significantly higher than the overall grand mean of all 39 airport managers working at the four types of airports.
PROBLEMS WITH TESTING INBREEDING AVOIDANCE: THE CASE OF THE COLLARED FLYCATCHER

Four year's data on collared flycatchers, Ficedula albicollis, breeding in a nestbox plot on the island of Gotland, Sweden, was used to investigate whether individuals avoid mating with close kin (i.e., parents or sibs). Only one case of close inbreeding (0.5% of all pairs) was observed during the years of study. The observed frequency of close inbreeding was compared to expected frequencies based on two different null models. Assuming no inbreeding avoidance behaviors (e.g., dispersal or kin recognition), but taking into account the fact that mortality, and different arrival and pairing times of individuals reduce the probability of mating with close kin, the expected frequency of close inbreeding is 10% and 15% for female and male recruits (i.e., born in the study plot), respectively. However, assuming mating to be random within the study plot reduced the expected frequency of close inbreeding to 1% or less for both males and females. Consequently, conclusions drawn concerning inbreeding avoidance depend on the null model used. Contrasting estimated costs of tolerating close inbreeding with those of avoiding it (by dispersal to other plots), however, suggests that the costs of avoiding close inbreeding are substantially greater than those of tolerating it. Therefore, although inbreeding avoidance cannot be rejected as a cause of dispersal of this species, it is not the primary cause, and particularly not for sex‐biased dispersal. The general problems of investigating inbreeding avoidance are discussed. It is argued that all previous null models based on random mating in finite populations produce expected frequencies of close inbreeding that in fact include inbreeding avoidance, since they implicitly assume random dispersal within a finite population. Thus, comparisons between observed and expected frequencies of close inbreeding based on random mating are inadequate. The most promising method of investigating inbreeding avoidance is to experimentally study individual movements and mating preferences in the presence and absence of close kin.
Vancomycin dosing in healthy-weight, overweight, and obese pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES With an increase in vancomycin resistance and the prevalence of obesity in children, alterations of vancomycin dosing regimens may be necessary to achieve target serum concentrations. The primary objective of this study was to describe initial vancomycin dosing with resulting serum concentrations in healthy-weight and overweight/obese children. Secondary objectives include comparing vancomycin dosing regimens of healthy-weight and overweight/obese patients that produced target trough serum concentrations and evaluating the likelihood of attaining target concentrations by patient characteristics. METHODS This retrospective review evaluated healthy-weight and overweight/obese patients, aged 2 to 18 years, who had vancomycin trough serum concentrations obtained between 2005 and 2010. Vancomycin dosing, initial trough serum concentrations, pharmacokinetic parameters, and patient demographics were collected for analysis. Target trough serum concentrations were defined as 10 to 20 mg/L. RESULTS The study included 98 patients (48 healthy weight, 50 overweight/obese) of which only 14 patients (14.2%, 6 healthy weight, 8 obese) reached a target trough serum concentration with empiric dosing. No difference was found between the mean daily dosing of vancomycin that produced target trough serum concentrations in healthy-weight or overweight/obese patients (53.63 mg/kg/day vs 51.6 mg/kg/day, respectively). Demographic or clinical characteristics were not found to be associated with the likelihood of target trough serum concentration attainment. CONCLUSIONS Vancomycin dosing in healthy-weight and overweight/obese pediatric patients did not reach target trough serum concentrations most of the time. In obtaining initial target serum concentrations, no dosing difference was identified for overweight/obese patients compared with healthy-weight patients. Alternate dosing strategies, therapeutic monitoring, and clinical outcomes should continue to be evaluated in this population.