Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does employee satisfaction with communication affect trust? Longitudinal evidence from an Australian study

This paper examines the relative impact of employee satisfaction with communication on trust in a work-setting. The data was drawn from an employee survey conducted in two consecutive years in a medium-size food processing organisation operating in Australia. Regression analysis revealed that employee satisfaction with how managers and supervisors communicated with them significantly affected their feeling of trust. The results were highly consistent across the two survey years. More specifically, aspects of communication that most significantly affected trust was the extent to which supervisors, mid-level managers and senior managers were perceived to communicate well with employees. Comparatively, the relative impacts of teamwork, participation and overall job satisfaction on trust were not as significant.
Melatonin ameliorates oxidative organ damage induced by acute intra‐abdominal compartment syndrome in rats

Abstract: Acutely increased intra‐abdominal pressure (IAP) can lead to multiple organ failure. As blood flow to intra‐abdominal organs is reduced by high venous resistance, ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury plays an important role in the pathogenesis of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) following IAP. Melatonin, a secretory product of the pineal gland, is known to have free radical scavenging and antioxidative properties in several oxidative processes. The objective of this study was to examine the potential protective properties of melatonin on the oxidative organ damage in a rat model of ACS. Under ketamine anesthesia, an arterial catheter was inserted intraperioneally (i.p.) and using an aneroid manometer connected to the catheter, IAP was kept at 20 mmHg (ischemia group; I) for 1 hr. In the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, pressure applied for an hour was decompressed and a 1‐hr reperfusion period was allowed. In another IR group, melatonin was administered (10 mg/kg, i.p.) immediately before the decompression of IAP. The results demonstrate that tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO; index of tissue neutrophil infiltration) were elevated, while glutathione (GSH; a key to antioxidant) levels were reduced in both I and I/R groups (P < 0.05–0.001). Melatonin treatment in I/R rats reversed these changes (P < 0.01–0.001). Moreover, melatonin given to the I/R group reduced the elevations in serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen levels and abolished the increase in serum creatinine levels. Our results indicate that melatonin, because of antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties, ameliorates reperfusion‐induced oxidative organ damage. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that the therapeutic value of melatonin as a ‘reperfusion injury‐limiting’ agent must be considered in ACS.
The Dissemination of Results from Supreme Audit Institutions: Independent Partners with the Media?

Maximising media coverage is one way for Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) to account for themselves and it has been argued that SAIs can become independent partners with the media. This strategy may appear appealing in particular when a response to audits is not compulsory. However, based on a case study of the Swedish National Audit Office (SNAO) in the years 2003-2007, this paper shows that several risks follow from a dissemination strategy focused on maximising media coverage. For example, it may result in an overly critical position in relation to the Executive, thereby challenging both SAI neutrality and SAI independence.
Late deaths among five-year survivors of childhood cancer. A population-based study in Piedmont Region, Italy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to analyze late mortality among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer, in Piedmont (Italy), in terms of risk factors and causes of death. DESIGN AND METHODS From 1967 to 1999, the Childhood Cancer Registry of Piedmont recorded 3164 incident cases. Patients identified only by a death certificate (n = 59), lost to follow-up (n = 32), alive with a period of observation shorter than 5 years at the end of follow-up (n = 65) and records corresponding to a second malignant tumor during childhood (n = 9) were excluded from the analyses. RESULTS Within 5 years after diagnosis, 1301 children died, and among the 1698 5- year survivors, 144 children subsequently died. Among 5-year survivors, cumulative mortality percentages increased from 5.1% (95% CI 4.0-6.2) at 10 years after diagnosis to 16.0% (12.2-19.8) at 35 years. Period of diagnosis (p = 0.006), age at diagnosis (p = 0.002), and tumor type (p = 0.003) were associated with late mortality. Most deaths were related to cancer recurrence (62.2%) and treatment-related sequelae (22.4%), including second malignant neoplasms, cardiac diseases and other late effects. Compared to the general population, children included in this study had a 9-fold increased risk of overall mortality, and experienced an absolute excess of 4.4 deaths per 1000 person-years. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS Among 5-year survivors, patients treated more recently (after 1979) had a statistically significant lower risk of late death than those treated earlier. However, long-term survivors still experienced higher mortality rates than those in the general population, and recurrence or progression of the primary tumor was the first cause of death.
Changing the Institutional Framework of Statutory Audit: Internal Stakeholders' Perceptions of the Associated Benefit and Costs

Abstract This paper analyses the expected benefits and costs associated with changes to the institutional framework of statutory audits. We focus on five changes: Mandatory external audit firm rotation, auditor appointment by an independent regulator, a general ban on providing non-audit services, a ban on providing non-audit services to audit clients, and mandatory joint audits. We survey supervisory board members and management representatives from German companies to analyse how these changes affect the following beneficial attributes: Client-specific expertise and knowledge, general professional competence and expertise, independence and professional scepticism, and reputation. Our results show that none of the proposed changes is expected to increase the benefit of audits. A ban on non-audit services to audit clients is perceived to have the least disadvantageous effect, followed by a general ban on non-audit services, mandatory external audit firm rotation, appointment by an independent regulator, and mandatory joint audits. Although all changes are expected to increase auditor independence and professional scepticism, this increase is offset by a decrease in other beneficial attributes, particularly client-specific expertise and knowledge. Compared to supervisory board members, management representatives anticipate significantly larger decreases in the benefit of audits and significantly larger increases in costs.
Changes in cognition and behaviour: a causal analysis of single-occupancy car use in a rural community

Research into the theory of planned behaviour has been characterised by cross-sectional and short-term prospective studies in student samples. The principal aim of this study was to conduct a longitudinal causal analysis of the theory of planned behaviour in a representative rural population. Eight hundred and ninety questionnaires designed to measure the key components of the theory of planned behaviour were collected at baseline; an identical questionnaire was completed by 423 people at follow-up, 1 year later. A combination of cross-lagged analyses and bootstrapping demonstrated that changes in attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control were causally related to future intentions, and that perceived behavioural control was causally related to subsequent behaviour. This research therefore provides support for the major tenets of the theory of planned behaviour, although it is notable that intentions were not causally related to behaviour. Further research is required to develop interventions to change perceived behavioural control in relation to pro-environmental behaviour.
Dose–response effect of exercise frequency on bone mineral density in post‐menopausal, osteopenic women

The purpose of this study was to determine the long‐term dose–response relationship of exercise frequency on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in early post‐menopausal women with osteopenia. Based on the 12‐year results of the consequently supervised exercise group (EG) of the Erlangen Fitness and Osteoporosis Prevention Study, we retrospectively structured two exercise groups according to the overall exercise frequency. Changes in aBMD at lumbar spine and proximal femur as assessed by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry technique were compared between a low‐frequency exercise group (LEF‐EG, n = 16) with 1.5–<2 sessions/week and a high‐frequency exercise group (HEF‐EG, n = 25) with ≥2–3.5 sessions/week. Changes in aBMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur were significantly more favorable in the HEF‐EG compared with the LEF‐EG; lumbar spine: (mean value ± standard deviation) 1.1 ± 4.7% vs −4.1 ± 3.0%; P = 0.001, ES: d' = 1.26; total hip: −4.4 ± 3.9% vs −6.7 ± 3.5%, P = 0.045, ES: d' = 0.70). BMD results of the LEF‐EG did not significantly differ from the data of the non‐training control group (lumbar spine: −4.4 ± 5.2%, total hip: −6.9 ± 5.0%). Although this result might not be generalizable across all exercise types and cohorts, it indicates that to impact bone, an overall exercise frequency of at least 2 sessions/week may be crucial, even if exercise is applied with high intensity/impact.
Saving and growth in an open economy

Concern has been raised by an apparent lack of saving in New Zealand. It is often argued that policies which foster savings are important, as higher savings will contribute to higher economic growth. This paper investigates the link between saving, investment and growth. In particular, it focuses on issues potentially important in an open economy such as New Zealand. Theory predicts that increased total saving will lead to higher investment and output. In an open economy, total saving comprises saving by domestic agents (government, firms and households) plus foreign saving. Diversified portfolios, large inflows of foreign investment into New Zealand and investment rates comparable to those in other OECD countries suggest that New Zealand, so far, has been able to access foreign saving to meet investment demands. Domestic saving does not appear to have constrained investment and hence growth.
Taking advantage of social comparisons in performance appraisal: The relative percentile method

Social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954) implies that it may be more efficacious for job performance raters to compare an employee to other employees rather than to use typical “absolute” rating standards. We assessed whether the incorporation of social comparisons into performance appraisals, using the relative percentile method (RPM), would predict criterion variance beyond that predicted by more traditional absolute ratings of performance. A sample (N=170) of managers involved in an assessment center was used, and the center provided criteria by which the relative criterion-related validity of social-comparative versus noncomparative (absolute) appraisals could be assessed. Overall, in consonance with a preponderance of earlier research, social-comparative (RPM) performance appraisals showed incremental criterion-related validity over traditional absolute performance appraisal methods. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Do Fans Want Their Team to be Competitive in the Short-Term (the Next Game) or the Long-Term (the Full Season), and Does the Answer Affect Management Decisions?

Abstract Competitive balance (CB) is arguably the strongest determinant of league profitability in professional sport. The long-standing perspective of CB is encompassed in the uncertainty of outcomes hypothesis (UOH), which notes that consumers/fans are most attracted to a contest if the outcome is uncertain. However, a recent view suggests that CB should be conceptualized in terms of the number of teams that have reasonable hope of longer-term success (i.e., making the playoffs). This study measures both constructs using a random mass-market survey, and addresses the research question: What factors influence one's orientation towards game uncertainty (UOH) versus hope (and vice versa)? Using decision tree analysis, we found that the more involved the sport consumer (fan), the stronger their Hope orientation towards CB. The paper concludes by suggesting different promotional campaigns depending upon the intended target audience (hope or UOH oriented) and highlighting the need for broader based research in the area.
A novel approach to safety stock management in a coordinated supply chain with controllable lead time using present value

This paper considers the management of safety stock in a coordinated single-vendor single-buyer supply chain under continuous review and Gaussian lead-time demand. The lead time is supposed controllable, and shortages are not allowed. We follow the present value criterion by considering both inflation and time value of money. Our aim is to present a novel approach to optimizing the safety stock in such system. Under the conditions considered, the safety stock is typically determined according to the value assigned to the safety factor, which is thus treated as a parameter of the model, and not as a decision variable. In this paper, we take a different perspective by putting the order quantity and the safety factor in functional dependence through the adoption of a specific parameter. More precisely, we express the service level as a function of the number of admissible stockouts per time unit and the order quantity. This allows optimizing the safety stock taking into account the constraint on the number of admissible stockouts per time unit. We present both exact and approximated minimization algorithms. Numerical examples are finally shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the approximation algorithm, and to investigate the sensitivity of the model with respect to variations in some fundamental parameters. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distribution of glutamate‐decarboxylase‐immunoreactive neurons and synapses in the rat and monkey hippocampus: Light and electron microscopy

We have studied the distribution of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons, axons, and synapses in the rat and monkey hippocampal formation by using gluta nate decarboxylase (GAD) immunocytochemistry together with Nissl stairs, electron microscopy, and double‐labeled retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. The numbers of GAD‐containing (putative GABA) neurons and their percentages compared to all Nissl‐stained neurons were calculated throughout all the various fields and strata of the mammalian hippocampus. Although their numbers are greatest in the polymorph region of the fascia dentata (FD) and in the principal cell layers stratum pyramidale (SP) and stratum granulosum (SG), GAD immunoreactive (GAD‐IR) cells are numerous in other strata that contain mostly dendrites and scattered cells. These GAD‐IR (putative GABA) neurons in dendritic regions may be involved in feedforward dendritic inhibition or may directly inhibit nearby neurons. We used a postmortem delay technique, which resulted in apparent diffusion of GAD into dendrites and axons and allowed better visualization of the extensive dendritic domain of GAD‐IR neurons. Computerized image analysis of GAD‐IR puncta indicated that putative GABA terminals were numerous on apical and basilar dendrites of all pyramidal cells but unexpectedly highest in the monkey presubiculum. In the rat, GAD‐IR neurons projected axons ipsilaterally from every region to the fascia dentata and CA1; however, commissural GAD‐IR axons to the fascia dentata arose from GAD‐IR neurons in only the contralateral fascia dentata and subiculum. Electron microscopy of GADstained hippocampus identified GAD‐IR neurons with non‐GAD‐IR (possibly excitatory) synapses and GAD‐IR terminals on somata and dendrites, 80% being the symmetric type and 20% the asymmetric type. In contrast, non‐GAD‐IR terminals were asymmetric 80% of the time.
The Foreign Exchange Exposure of Japanese Multinational Corporations

We find that about 25 percent of our sample of 171 Japanese multinationals' stock returns experienced economically significant positive exposure effects for the period January 1979 to December 1993. The extent to which a firm is exposed to exchange-rate fluctuations can be explained by the level of its export ratio and by variables that are proxies for its hedging needs. Highly leveraged firms, or firms with low liquidity, tend to have smaller exposures. Foreign exposure is found to increase with firm size. We also find that keiretsu multinationals are more exposed to exchange-rate risk than nonkeiretsu firms. Copyright The American Finance Association 1998.
Carrot and Stick? The Role of Financial Market Intermediaries in Corporate Social Performance

This article examines the role of intermediaries in financial markets in fostering corporate sustainability. Responsible investment (RI) indices have been primarily identified as intermediaries that provide information regarding corporate social performance (CSP) for investors and other stakeholders. The authors argue that the role of these intermediaries is not confined solely to information provision, but they may also incentivize high levels of CSP through mechanisms such as exclusion threats, signaling, and engagement. The authors rely on unique access to the archives of the FTSE4Good Index to examine the effects of these mechanisms on CSP. The study shows that companies facing exclusion threats and signaling are more likely to comply with the intermediary’s criteria, and medium levels of engagement leads to higher levels of CSP. The authors contribute to the study of sustainability in financial markets by explicating the mechanisms that intermediaries and other financial actors could employ to foster greater corporate sustainability.
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of the Renal and Adrenal Lesions

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to calculate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of different renal and adrenal lesions to evaluate the ability of diffusion-weighted imaging in characterizing masses and determining malignancy. Methods: A total of 52 patients consisting of 67 renal lesions and 28 patients with 33 adrenal lesions in addition to 50 healthy controls with normal kidneys were enrolled in the study. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed with b factors of 0, 500, and 1000 s/mm2, and the ADCs of the normal kidney and renal and adrenal lesions were calculated. Results: The mean (SD) ADCs of the renal cortex and medulla of the control group were 2.08 (0.22) × 10−3 and 1.94 (0.18) × 10−3 mm2/s, respectively. Focal renal lesions were as follows: simple cysts (2.94 [0.20] × 10−3 mm2/s), hemorrhagic cysts (1.71 [0.38] × 10−3 mm2/s), angiomyolipomas (1.40 [0.21] × 10−3 mm2/s), renal cell carcinomas (1.06 [0.39] × 10−3 mm2/s), metastases (1.50 [0.13] × 10−3 mm2/s), and hydronephrosis (1.54 [0.25] × 10−3 mm2/s). The mean ADCs of all these pathologies were significantly different when compared with normal parenchyma. Diffusion-weighted imaging was also able to differentiate angiomyolipomas and hemorrhagic cysts from renal cell carcinomas. Adrenal lesions were subgrouped as adenomas (1.41 [0.27] × M10−3 mm2/s), nonadenomatous solid masses (1.08 [0.28] × 10−3 mm2/s), and cysts (2.82 [0.24] × 10−3 mm2/s). The mean ADCs of adenomas were significantly different when compared with nonadenomatous solid masses and cysts. Conclusions: Our findings show that ADC measurement has a potential ability to differentiate benign and malignant focal renal and adrenal lesions with the guidance of conventional sequences. When used alone, diffusion-weighted imaging may lead to misdiagnoses due to overlapping ADCs of the lesions.
Understanding legal pluralism in water rights: lessons from Africa and Asia

Water rights, like the underlying resource itself, are fluid and changing; they necessarily connect people; and they can derive from many sources. As water rights are now receiving increasing attention from scholars and policymakers in developing countries, it is useful to examine the differences and similarities between land and water rights—as well as the linkages between the two. Without an understanding of the range and complexity of existing institutions that shape water use, efforts to improve water allocations may be ineffective or even have the opposite effects from those intended. Reforms need to carefully consider the range of options available. This paper reviews the multiple sources and types of water rights, the links between land and water rights, using examples from Africa and Asia. It then examines the implications for conflict and for water rights reform processes.
A Duopoly Model of Political Agency with Applications to Anti-Corruption Reform

Using a theoretical model of political competition between two candidates who could differ in their (unverifiable) ability to produce public good, popularity, and ethics, I study the effectiveness of three commonly discussed anti-corruption reforms (higher salaries, higher penalties, and constitutional constraints on fiscal policy). In the model, each candidate proposes an income tax rate and a public good level. The difference between the collected taxes and the cost of public good is stolen by the elected politician. The voting decision is probabilistic. I show that under certain conditions each reform could increase the level of corruption or reduce the voter's welfare through other channels.
Environmental Management: Testing the Win‐Win Model

The debate over the possibility of seeking competitive advantages through greener strategies versus the scarcity of such opportunities is not yet resolved. This study is an attempt to test the win-win model. The role of the variables at the core of the win-win model, such as the regulatory factors, environmental strategy and environmental innovativeness, was examined. The results validated the positive competitive and financial impact of progressive environmental strategies contingent upon the presence of favourable external and internal conditions. From purely a profitability standpoint, it is important to seek a balance between the environmental measures and market expectations. Comprehensive superiority in relative environmental performance will not necessarily lead to environmental competitive advantage.