Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Governance and Dividend Pay-Out Policy in Germany

An alternative explanation of why dividends may be informative is put forward in this paper. We find evidence that dividends signal the severity of the conflict between the large, controlling owner and small, outside shareholders. Accordingly, dividend change announcements provide new information about this conflict. To test the rent extraction hypothesis and to discriminate it from the cash flow signaling explanation, we utilize information on the ownership and control structure of the firm. We analyze 736 dividend change announcements in Germany over the period 1992 to 1998 and find significantly larger negative wealth effects in the order of two percentage points for companies where the ownership and control structure makes the expropriation of minority shareholders more likely than for other firms. The rent extraction hypothesis has also implications for the levels of dividends paid. We find larger holdings of the largest owner to reduce, while larger holdings of the second largest shareholder to increase the dividend pay-out ratio. Deviations from the one-share-one-vote rule of ultimate owners due to pyramidal and cross-ownership structures are also associated with larger negative wealth effects and lower pay-out ratios. Our results call for better minority shareholder rights protection and increased transparency in the course of European Capital Market Reform.
Intra-Daily Volume Modeling and Prediction for Algorithmic Trading

The explosion of algorithmic trading has been one the most recent prominent trends in the financial industry. Algorithmic trading consists of automated trading strategies that attempt to minimize transaction costs by optimally placing transactions orders. The key ingredient of many of these strategies are intra-daily volume predictions. This work proposes a dynamic model for intra-daily volume forecasting that captures salient features of the series such as intra-daily periodicity and volume asymmetry. Results show that the proposed methodology is able to significantly outperform common volume forecasting methods and delivers significantly more precise predictions in a VWAP tracking trading exercise.
Mentoring relationships for collaborative professional development practices in maldivian primary schools

I ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . IV TABLE OF CONTENTS . V LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES . IX CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background to the Study . 1 1.2 Grade Supervisors . 1 1.3 Rationale . 5 1.4 Purpose of the Study . 6 1.5 The Research Questions . 7 1.6 Definitions . 7 1.6. 1 Professional Development . 7 1.6. 2 Collaborative Relationships . 8 1.6. 3 Supervision . 9 1.6. 4 Mentoring . 9 1.7 Organisation of this Study . 10 CHAPTER TWO – LITERATURE REVIEW . 12 2.1 Chapter Overview . 12 2.2 Culture of Professional Learning . 12 2.2.1 On-going Support to Assist Change . 13 2.2.2 Features of a Professional Learning Community . 14 2.3 Problem of Supervision as a Model for Professional Development of Teachers . 16 2.4 Collaborative Practices . 18 2.5 Definitions of Mentoring . 19 2.5. 1 Mentoring for Professional Development of Teachers . 20 2.5. 2 Mentoring Process . 21 2.5. 3 Mentoring Relationships . 22 2.5. 4 Establishing Formal Mentoring . 22 2.6 Benefits of Mentoring . 26
The effects of using a human patient simulator compared to a CD-ROM in teaching critical thinking and performance.

BACKGROUND Military healthcare personnel, including nurse anesthetists, must have the knowledge and skills to care for the extensive, severe injuries incurred on the battlefield. No studies have compared the 2 teaching strategies of using the human patient simulator (HPS) and a CD-ROM in caring for combat injuries relative to critical thinking and performance using nurse anesthesia participants. METHODS A prospective, pretest-posttest experimental, mixed design (within and between) was used to determine if there were statistically significant differences in HPS and CD-ROM educational strategies relative to caring for patients who have trauma. Two instruments were used: critical thinking, which consisted of multiple-choice questions; and a combat performance instrument that measured ability to care for patients. RESULTS A repeated analysis of variance and a least significant difference post-hoc test were used to analyze the data. The HPS group performed better than the CD-ROM and control groups relative to performance (P=.000) but not on critical thinking (P=.239). There was no difference between the CD-ROM and control group (P=.171) on the combat performance instrument. CONCLUSION In this study, the HPS method of instruction was a more effective method of teaching than the CD-ROM approach.
Phase III double-blind placebo-controlled study of farnesyl transferase inhibitor R115777 in patients with refractory advanced colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE To determine whether R115777 improves survival in patients with refractory advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in a multicenter, double-blind, prospective randomized study. PATIENTS AND METHODS Three hundred sixty-eight patients were randomly assigned to R115777 (300 mg twice daily) orally for 21 days every 28 days or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. All patients received best supportive care. The primary end point was overall survival; secondary end points were progression free survival, tumor response, toxicity, and quality of life. RESULTS The two treatment groups were well balanced for baseline demographics, including previous chemotherapy for advanced CRC. The median overall survival for R115777 was 174 days (95% CI, 157 to 198 days), and 185 days (95% CI, 158 to 238 days) for those patients receiving placebo (P =.376). One patient achieved a partial response in the R115777 arm. Stable disease (> 3 months) was observed in 24.3% patients in the R115777 group compared to 12.8% in the placebo arm. This did not translate into a statistically significant increase in progression-free survival. Overall, treatment was well tolerated. There was an increased incidence of reversible myelosuppression (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia), rash, and grade 1 to 2 diarrhea in the R115777 arm. There was no statistically significant difference in quality of life between arms. CONCLUSION Single agent R115777, given at this dose and schedule, has an acceptable toxicity profile, but does not improve overall survival compared to best supportive care alone in refractory advanced CRC.
Global mortality associated with rotavirus disease among children in 2004.

BACKGROUND As new rotavirus vaccines are being introduced in immunization programs, global and national estimates of disease burden, especially rotavirus-associated mortality, are needed to assess the potential health benefits of vaccination and to monitor vaccine impact. METHODS We identified 76 studies that were initiated after 1990, lasted at least 1 full year, and examined rotavirus among >100 children hospitalized with diarrhea. The studies were assigned to 5 groups (A-E) with use of World Health Organization classification of countries by child mortality and geography. For each group, the mean rotavirus detection rate was multiplied by diarrhea-related mortality figures from 2004 for countries in that group to yield estimates of rotavirus-associated mortality. RESULTS Overall, rotavirus accounted for 527,000 deaths (95% confidence interval, 475,000-580,000 deaths) annually or 29% of all deaths due to diarrhea among children <5 years of age. Twenty-three percent of deaths due to rotavirus disease occurred in India, and 6 countries (India, Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia, China, and Pakistan) accounted for more than one-half of deaths due to rotavirus disease. CONCLUSIONS The high mortality associated with rotavirus disease underscores the need for targeted interventions, such as vaccines. To realize the full life-saving potential of vaccines, it will be vital to ensure that they reach children in countries with high mortality. These baseline figures will allow future assessment of vaccine impact on rotavirus-associated mortality.
Achieving convergence within the European Union: The role of structural funds in the case of Greece

Abstract In the context of the European Union (EU) the process of real convergence is viewed as a prerequisite for economic and social cohesion and particular weight has been put on remedying structural deficiencies in less developed countries, such as Greece. The basic policy instrument for achieving cohesion within the EU is the inflow of Structural Funds, which aim at increasing the physical and human capital of each country. In the case of Greece, the aim of Structural Funds is to gear the economy onto a sustainable development course and, thus, enhance real convergence with other European economies. To capture the impact of Structural Funds’ inflows on the Greek economy, we assume that they operate in two parallel ways: first, they cause a rise in total demand, through domestic expenditure and personal income; second, in domestic supply by inducing a number of productivity externalities. The estimates show that Structural Funds can be of crucial importance for achieving real convergence with the rest.
Minimax on the Gridiron: Serial Correlation and Its Effects on Outcomes in the National Football League

We examine whether the predictions of minimax in zero-sum games holds under highly incentivized conditions with highly informed informed decision makers. We examine data from 3455 National Football League (NFL) games from the 2000 season through the 2012 season. We categorize every relevant play as either a rush or a pass. We find that, despite the predictions of minimax, the pass-rush mix exhibits negative serial correlation. In other words, given the conditions of the play, teams employ an exploitable strategy in that play types alternate more frequently than implied by an independent stochastic process. We also find that the efficacy of plays are affected by previous actions and previous outcomes in a manner that is not consistent with minimax. Our analysis suggests that teams could profit from more clustered play selections, which switch play type less frequently. Our results are consistent with the explanation that teams excessively switch play types in order to not be perceived as predictable.
Spatial and temporal aberrator stability for real-time adaptive imaging

Reported real-time adaptive imaging systems use near-field phase correction techniques, which are desired because of their simple implementation and their compatibility with current system architectures. Aberrator stability is important to adaptive imaging because it defines the spatial and temporal limits for which the near-field phase estimates are valid. Spatial aberrator stability determines the required spatial sampling of the aberrator, and temporal aberrator stability determines the length of time for which the aberration profile can be used. In this study, the spatial and temporal stability of clinically measured aberrations is reported for breast, liver, and thyroid tissue. Cross correlations between aberration estimates revealed aberrators to have azimuthal isoplanatic patch sizes of 0.44, 0.28, and 0.20 mm for breast, liver, and thyroid tissue, respectively, at 80% correlation. Axial isoplanatic patch sizes were 1.26, 0.76, and 1.80 mm for the same tissue, respectively, at 80% correlation. Temporal stability at 80% correlation was determined to be greater than 1.5 seconds for breast and thyroid tissue, and 0.65 seconds for the liver. The effects of noise, motion, and target nonuniformity on aberrator stability are characterized by simulations and experiments in tissue mimicking phantoms.
High-involvement innovation through continuous improvement

Continuous improvement (CI) in all aspects of the business is essential for meeting the challenge of today’s turbulent environments. One increasingly popular strategy for enabling continuous improvement is through mobilising a high level of involvement of the workforce in sustained incremental problem-solving. Although the potential benefits of such high involvement innovation are considerable, implementing programmes of this kind is not easy. This paper reports on a five year research programme exploring implementation issues in CI and presents a framework model for the development of CI which draws upon extensive case study work. In particular, it identifies a series of levels of CI performance and the blocks and enablers associated with them.
Simulating the Effects of a Green Payment Program on the Diffusion Rate of a Conservation Technology

The decision to adopt a potentially profitable but unfamiliar conservation technology is cast in a multi-period Bayesian framework. Specifically, dairy farmers who are both risk-averse and susceptible to peer group influence progressively learn about the true impact of adopting reduced phosphorus dairy diets on their income distributions as they repeatedly experiment with this new technology. Empirically calibrated simulations are used to examine the effects of a voluntary green payment program on the rate of technological diffusion. Results suggest that (a) green payments can accelerate learning and produce significant, permanent changes in behavior relatively quickly and for a reasonable cost; (b) shorter contracts offering larger incentives may be more cost-effective when learning plays an important role in behavioral change; and (c) unknown prior beliefs can reduce the efficacy of a green payment program, implying efforts to verify these priors or to ensure against them by increasing the payment level may be worthwhile.
UIP, Expectations and the Kiwi

This paper looks at reduced form descriptions of changes in the USD/NZD exchange rate, with emphasis on the interest rate-exchange rate relationship. In the estimated reduced form equations, high domestic short term interest rates relative to foreign interest rates are associated with continued upward pressure on the New Zealand dollar. This effect is most pronounced for the 6-month forward interest differential, and is reinforced by some "inertia" but moderated by deviations from equilibrium as "over or under-valuation" erodes expected returns. Changes in commodity export prices are estimated to have short term effects. Some aspects of the estimated equations are consistent with forward-looking rational expectations, a standard feature of open economy models. Other aspects of the estimated equations suggest random walk exchange rate expectations consistent with Meese and Rogoff (1983). The cross correlation between interest differentials and the exchange rate may be difficult to reconcile with rational expectations. The forecasting performance of a reduced form equation is also assessed.
Immuno-ultrastructural localization of sodium channels at nodes of Ranvier and perinodal astrocytes in rat optic nerve

Immuno-electron microscopic localization of sodium channels at nodes of Ranvier within adult optic nerve was demonstrated with polyclonal antibody 7493. The 7493 antisera, which is directed against purified sodium channels from rat brain, recognizes a 260 kDa protein in immunoblots of the crude glycoprotein fraction from adult rat optic nerve. Intense immunoreactivity with 7493 antisera was observed at nodes of Ranvier. Axon membrane at the node was densely stained, whereas paranodal and internodal axon membrane did not exhibit immunoreactivity. The axoplasm beneath the nodal membrane displayed variable immunostaining. Neither terminal paranodal oligodendroglial loops nor oligodendrocyte plasmalemma were immunoreactive with 7493 antisera. However, perinodal astrocyte processes exhibited intense immunoreactivity with the anti-sodium channel antisera. Optic nerves incubated with pre-immune sera, or with 7493 antisera that had been pre-adsorbed with purified sodium channel protein, displayed no immunoreactivity. These results demonstrate localization of sodium channels at high density at mammalian nodes of Ranvier and in some perinodal astrocyte processes. The latter observation offers support for an active role for perinodal astrocyte processes in the aggregation of sodium channels within the axon membrane at the node of Ranvier.
Nonfinancial defined contribution pension schemes: is a survivor dividend necessary to make the system balanced?

The survivor dividend, at a specific age, is the portion of participants’ credited account balances that is distributed on a birth cohort basis from the account balances of participants who do not survive to retirement. This article develops a model to show whether it would be justified to include the survivor dividend in the calculation of affiliate pension balances. The main findings are that the survivor dividend has a strong financial basis which enables the macro contribution rate applied to be the same as the individual credited rate, and that including the survivor dividend in the calculation of the initial pension is not irrelevant because the initial pension could rise by up to 21.84%, depending on the mortality scenario used.
Effects of sorafenib combined with chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation for large, unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas

Background The prognosis of unresectable large hepatocellular carcinomas is poor. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of sorafenib combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas larger than 5 cm. Methods The treatment of 22 patients with large, unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas (5.0‐16.5 cm) treated with sorafenib after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation between 2007 and 2011 was reviewed. The local effects, survival rates, toxicity, and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results During a follow‐up of 9‐49 months, 19 patients died and three survived. The median overall survival was 32 months. The overall cumulative 12, 24, and 36‐month survival rates were 85.9%, 66.8%, and 23.5% respectively. Technical effectiveness was achieved in 12 out of 28 lesions (42.85%) at the first CT check. The median time to tumor progression was 21 months. The progression‐free survival rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were 90.9%, 72.0%, and 38.4%, respectively. Combined therapy was generally well tolerated. There was only one major procedure‐related complication, biloma (4.5%). Sorafenib‐related adverse events exceeding grade 3 were hand‐foot skin reaction (2/22, 9.1%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (1/22, 4.5%), and diarrhea (2/22, 9.1%). The absence of vascular invasion before treatment was found to be the best prognostic factor in the univariate analysis. Conclusions Sorafenib combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation is a promising approach to the treatment of large, unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas. However, large‐scale randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the future role of this treatment.
Association of a Common Polymorphism in the Factor XIII Gene with Myocardial Infarction

Summary Factor XIII when activated by thrombin, crosslinks fibrin, however its role in thrombotic disorders is unknown. A common point mutation (G T) in exon 2 of the A-subunit gene which codes for an amino acid change three amino acids from the thrombin activation site (Factor XIIIVal34Leu) is a candidate for a role in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction. Factor XIII genotype frequencies were determined in a case-control study of 398 caucasian patients and 196 healthy controls. Patients had undergone angiography for investigation of coronary artery disease and were evaluated for a history of myocardial infarction. The prevalence of the mutation was lower in patients with myocardial infarction than without (32% vs. 50%), p = 0.0009 and than in controls (32% vs. 48%), p = 0.005. Patients possessing the mutation with a history of myocardial infarction had higher PAI-1 concentrations (mean, 27.9 vs. 16.7 ng/ml, p = 0.004) and the PAI-1 4G/4G genotype was commoner (43% vs. 26%, p = 0.03). There was no difference in PAI-1 4G/4G genotype (33% vs. 32%) and PAI-1 levels (mean, 21.0 vs. 20.9 ng/ml) in patients possessing wild type with MI compared to those without MI. These results indicate that the G T mutation coding for factor XIIIVal34Leu is protective against myocardial infarction and suggest a mechanism whereby elevated levels of PAI-1 may contribute to vascular risk.
Development and Conservation: Indigenous Businesses and the UNDP Equator Initiative

Does indigenous entrepreneurship have distinctive features? We explored resources used, benefits produced and nature of partnerships in 42 indigenous cases in the UNDP Equator Initiative database, mainly involving forestry, agro-forestry, agriculture, NTFPs, ecotourism and protected areas. The cases showed a strong focus on social enterprise and cultural values, and politics of resource access. Many indigenous groups sought control over their traditional lands as essential to rebuilding their societies, and indigenous entrepreneurship was often used as a tool towards self-governance. The cases were characterised by extensive networks, with a large number of partners at the same level of social and political organisation (horizontal inkages). Vertical linkages typically involved three or four levels of political organisation. These connections went far beyond business networking and included, for example, environmental knowledge building. Partnerships for training and institution building often involved NGOs or local-level government agencies or both, but rarely (N=2) non-indigenous joint ventures.
EXTENSIONS TO THE MULTIPLIER DECOMPOSITION APPROACH IN A SAM FRAMEWORK: AN APPLICATION TO VIETNAM

The aim of this paper is to provide an extension of a technique recently introduced by Pyatt and Round (2006) to decompose each element of the ‘global multiplier matrix’ in ‘microscopic detail’ in order to capture the linkages between each household groups’ income and the exogenously injected income of other accounts. The methodology we propose allows dividing the impact of exogenous injections into four different effects: direct-direct effect (D-D); direct-indirect effect (D-I); indirect-direct effect (I-D) and indirect-indirect effect (I-I). Results using the 2000 Vietnamese SAM show that the highest direct effects on the income of household groups are related to exogenous injections into the agricultural sector, while the highest indirect effects result from investing in other agriculture-related sectors such as, for example, food processing. Policy interventions focusing on the agricultural sector and on rural households will thus have the greatest effect on reducing the level of income inequality.
The role of myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic cell rescue in central nervous system germ cell tumors

This review of the experience of high dose chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or refractory intracranial germ cell tumor confirms that sustained tumor control can be achieved with this modality both in germinoma and non‐germinomatous germ cell tumors. Data from cooperative groups in Europe and North America suggest that the success rate is higher among patients with recurrent germinoma. The role of adjuvant radiation in that context remains unclear. These promising results have led some cooperative groups to incorporate in their protocols a high dose chemotherapy component for newly diagnosed patients with high‐risk features or poor response to initial chemotherapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:644–646. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.