Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Option Volume and Volatility Response to Scheduled Economic News Releases: Evidence of Informed Trading

In this article, we examine the impact of 21 different types of scheduled macroeconomic news announcements on S&P 100 stock‐index option volume and implied volatility. We find that there is a 2‐h delay after the announcement before volume increases. However, there is an immediate increase in volatility, which slowly dissipates over several hours. Further analysis shows that most of the high volume and volatility after announcements come from the announcements that are considered bad news. That is, bad news creates high volatility and high volume, whereas good news elicits lower volume and is not associated with higher volatility. These results are not consistent with the predictions of any one model. We also find that the announcements that cause the largest reaction in the equity option market are Consumer Credit, Consumer Spending, Factory Inventories, NAPM, and Non‐Farm Payrolls. Six other announcements elicit a mild response. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 23:315–345, 2003
Does Risk Seeking Drive Stock Prices? A Stochastic Dominance Analysis of Aggregate Investor Preferences and Beliefs

We use various stochastic dominance criteria that account for (local) risk seeking to analyze market portfolio efficiency relative to benchmark portfolios formed on market capitalization, book-to-market equity ratio and price momentum. Our results suggest that reverse S-shaped utility functions with risk aversion for losses and risk seeking for gains can explain stock returns. The results are also consistent with a reverse S-shaped pattern of subjective probability transformation. The low average yield on big caps, growth stocks, and past losers may reflect investors' twin desire for downside protection in bear markets and upside potential in bull markets. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.
Identifying risk for dementia across populations: A study on the prevalence of dementia in tribal elderly population of Himalayan region in Northern India

Introduction: Studies have suggested that dementia is differentially distributed across populations with a lower prevalence in developing regions than the developed ones. A comparison in the prevalence of dementia across populations may provide an insight into its risk factors. Keeping this in view, a study was planned to evaluate the prevalence of dementia in tribal elderly population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional comprehensive two-phase survey of all residents aged 60 years and older was conducted. Phase one involved screening of all individuals aged 60 and above with the help of a cognitive screen specifically developed for the tribal population. Phase two involved clinical examination of individuals who were suspected of dementia as per the developed cognitive screening test. Results: The results revealed that no individual above 60 years of age in the studied population was diagnosed as a case of dementia. Thereby, pointing out at some unknown factors, which are responsible for prevention of dementia. Discussion: The differences between the prevalence rate in this study and other studies in India appear to be a function of a valid regional difference. Environmental, phenotypic and genetic factors may contribute to regional and racial variations in dementia. Societies living in isolated hilly and tribal areas seem less predisposed to dementia, particularly age related neurodegenerative and vascular dementia, which are the most common causes for dementia in elderly. This may be because some environmental risk factors are much less prevalent in these settings.
Cross-cultural Comparisons of HRM Styles: Based on Japanese Companies, Japanese Subsidiaries in Bangladesh and Bangladesh Companies1

This study presents empirical research findings of the impact of national and corporate cultures on managerial beliefs about employees and on company styles of treating its employees (HRM styles), measured in terms of an autocratic-participative dimension, and based on managers from three different manufacturing entities: Japanese companies in Japan (JC; n=104), Japanese subsidiaries in Bangladesh (JBC; n=102), and Bangladeshi companies (BC; n=114). As hypothesized, BC managers were found to have stronger negative ('work- avoidance') beliefs about employees and to perceive their company's HRM style as more autocratic relative to JBC and JC managers. On the other hand, a positive ('self-motivation') belief about employees was highest among JC managers, followed by JBC and BC colleagues. The participative HRM style was found correlating negatively with the work-avoidance belief across all managers as hypothesized. However, the participative HRM style correlated positively with the self-motivation belief only among JC managers, but negatively among BC managers. National and cultural differences have been discussed to explain this contradiction among BC managers.
Generalization of associations of kidney-related genetic loci to American Indians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES CKD disproportionally affects American Indians, who similar to other populations, show genetic susceptibility to kidney outcomes. Recent studies have identified several loci associated with kidney traits, but their relevance in American Indians is unknown. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS This study used data from a large, family-based genetic study of American Indians (the Strong Heart Family Study), which includes 94 multigenerational families enrolled from communities located in Oklahoma, the Dakotas, and Arizona. Individuals were recruited from the Strong Heart Study, a population-based study of cardiovascular disease in American Indians. This study selected 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 23 loci identified from recently published kidney-related genome-wide association studies in individuals of European ancestry to evaluate their associations with kidney function (estimated GFR; individuals 18 years or older, up to 3282 individuals) and albuminuria (urinary albumin to creatinine ratio; n=3552) in the Strong Heart Family Study. This study also examined the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the APOL1 region with estimated GFR in 1121 Strong Heart Family Study participants. GFR was estimated using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Equation. Additive genetic models adjusted for age and sex were used. RESULTS This study identified significant associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms with estimated GFR in or nearby PRKAG2, SLC6A13, UBE2Q2, PIP5K1B, and WDR72 (P<2.1 × 10(-3) to account for multiple testing). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in these loci explained 2.2% of the estimated GFR total variance and 2.9% of its heritability. An intronic variant of BCAS3 was significantly associated with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio. APOL1 single nucleotide polymorphisms were not associated with estimated GFR in a single variant test or haplotype analyses, and the at-risk variants identified in individuals with African ancestry were not detected in DNA sequencing of American Indians. CONCLUSION This study extends the genetic associations of loci affecting kidney function to American Indians, a population at high risk of kidney disease, and provides additional support for a potential biologic relevance of these loci across ancestries.
ORGANISATIONAL CSR PRACTICES: EMPLOYEES' PERCEPTIONS AND IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

The study aims to show how organisation's corporate ethics and social responsibility have influence on satisfaction with management and workers' attitudes and behaviours, especially in terms of organisational commitment (OC), innovative behaviour (IB) and performance. To systematise this reality, was used a self-reported sample of 223 Portuguese individuals. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. On the influence on satisfaction with management, the results showed that employees value the ethical component and also workforce social responsibility practices. Concerning OC, statistical evidence was found on the influence of satisfaction with management, ethical values and also workforce practices. It was also found that OC influences IB, and that this attitude had strong positive relationships with in-role performance. The empirical evidence suggests that organisation's corporate ethics and social responsibility are important to workers, so should be taken in account by managers and be subject of research by academics.
Wages and Unionism in the Public Sector: The Case of Police

ONE of the most important developments in government during the last two decades has been the growth of public employee unions. Because personnel expenditures comprise a substantial portion of the cost of providing public services, there has been considerable concern that unionization has severely exacerbated budgetary problems of governments, especially local governments. Consequently, a large literature on the wage effects of public employee unionism has developed in recent years. 1 In general, these studies have found rather modest union wage impacts in the public sector, with unions raising the wages of municipal employees by about 5%, on average. There are several reasons, however, why these estimates may be misleading. First, much public sector union wage impact research has focused on teachers and the demand for teacher services is considerably more elastic than the demand for other public services such as police protection, fire protection and medical care. Second, previous studies have treated public employee unionism as an exogenous variable, and studies of private sector unionization have shown that the estimated wage impacts of unions change substantially when unionism is treated as an endogenous variable.2 Finally, the earlier studies have not considered how public employee unionism has affected fringe benefits, which represent a substantial and growing component of governmental compensation. This paper attempts to deal with each of these problems. First, we focus on the effects of unionism on the wages of municipal police officers.3 Because police services are commonly thought to be among the most essential of all public services, organized police should be in an especially powerful position when bargaining with local governments. Second, we estimate a system of equations in which wages and unionism are simultaneously determined and compare these results to the estimated wage impacts from a single equation model. Finally, some estimates of the effects of unionism on police fringe benefits are presented.
Mode of delivery after epidural analgesia in a cohort of low-risk nulliparas.

BACKGROUND Although epidural analgesia is widespread and very effective for alleviating labor pain, its use is still controversial, as the literature is inconsistent about the risk of adverse birth outcome after administration of epidural analgesia. The aim of this study was to explore associations between epidural analgesia and mode of delivery. METHODS Data were obtained from a prospective cohort from nine Danish labor wards and comprised 2,721 term nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labor and a singleton fetus in cephalic presentation. Information about epidural analgesia, mode of delivery, and birth complications was obtained by the staff attending labor. Additional information was provided from self-administered questionnaires in gestational week 37. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between epidural analgesia and birth outcomes. Results are presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR [95% CI]). RESULTS Of the total cohort, 21.6 percent required epidural analgesia, 8.7 percent had emergency cesarean section, and 14.9 percent had vacuum extraction. Women with epidural analgesia had a higher risk of emergency cesarean section (adjusted OR: 5.8; 95% CI: 4.1-8.1), and vacuum extraction (adjusted OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.2). In a subgroup of the cohort with a very low overall risk of cesarean section, 3.4 percent had emergency cesarean section and an increased risk of emergency cesarean section was also found in this group (adjusted OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.5-8.2). CONCLUSIONS In nulliparous women of a very low-risk population, use of epidural analgesia for labor pain was associated with higher risks of emergency cesarean section and vacuum extraction.
The Empirical Implications of Electoral College Reform

The events of 2000 inspired renewed debate in America over the manner in which presidents are chosen, with many critics of the existing system favoring the alternative of direct popular election. These advocates of reform often argue that the strategic environment shaped by the electoral college distorts the democratic process by encouraging candidates to focus on a few politically competitive states while virtually ignoring the majority of the nation. Using empirical evidence, we evaluate the claim that the electoral college is antidemocratic due to its effect on campaign strategy. Furthermore, we consider the possible alternative strategies adopted by candidates under a hypothetical national popular presidential election. We conclude that many of the consequences of electoral college reform, unacknowledged by its proponents, would not necessarily make presidential elections substantially more democratic, and we call for additional empirical research on a topic that has heretofore been dominated by theoretical debate and speculation.
A review of port authority functions: towards a renaissance?

The ever-changing environment in which ports operate has put strong pressure on the traditional role of public port authorities. Market developments have created the need for ports to be part of wider logistics networks and to provide value-added services. Powerful private players who are organised on a global scale, such as carriers, terminal operators and logistics service providers, struggle to gain control over port-oriented logistics networks whereas port authorities very often seem to remain local spectators with limited influence on these market-driven processes. Port authorities are on the other hand, the focal point of criticism from societal interests such as local government, NGOs and citizens for negative externalities related to port development and port operations even if these do not always fall within their direct responsibility. In 1990, Richard Goss questioned, albeit rather rhetorically, the need to have public sector port authorities. Since then scholars have demonstrated a true renaissance or renewed interest in the role of port authorities, recommending repositioning and development of new strategies. Parallel to the concept of the ‘renaissance man’, which is defined as a person who is well educated and excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields, a kind of ‘renaissance port authority’ is emerging from literature which may take on a variety of facilitating and even entrepreneurial tasks. The purpose of this article is to develop a conceptual framework for the various options at hand, based on an extensive literature review of port authority functions. The framework also identifies the principal governance-related factors that may in practice enable or prevent port authorities, particularly in Europe, from assuming the renaissance ambitions advocated by scholars. The hypotheses developed in this article form the basis of a wider empirical research agenda into reform of port governance in Europe and elsewhere in the world.
Proteinuria induces tubular cell turnover: A potential mechanism for tubular atrophy.

BACKGROUND Proteinuria and tubular atrophy have both been closely linked with progressive renal failure. We hypothesized that apoptosis may be induced by tubular cell exposure to heavy proteinuria, potentially leading to tubular atrophy. Apoptosis was studied in a rat model of "pure" proteinuria, which does not induce renal impairment, namely protein-overload proteinuria. METHODS Adult female Lewis rats underwent intraperitoneal injection of 2 g of bovine serum albumin (BSA, N = 16) or sham saline injections (controls, N = 8) daily for seven days. Apoptosis was assessed at day 7 in tissue sections using in situ end labeling (ISEL) and electron microscopy. ISEL-positive nuclei (apoptotic particles) were counted in blinded fashion using image analysis with NIH Image. Cell proliferation was assessed by detection of mRNA for histone by in situ hybridization, followed by counting of positive cells using NIH Image. RESULTS Animals injected with saline showed very low levels of apoptosis on image analysis. BSA-injected rats had heavy proteinuria and showed both cortical and medullary apoptosis on ISEL. This was predominantly seen in the tubules and, to a lesser extent, in the interstitial compartment. Overall, the animals injected with BSA showed a significant 30-fold increase in the number of cortical apoptotic particles. Electron microscopy of tubular cells in a BSA-injected animal showed a progression of ultrastructural changes consistent with tubular cell apoptosis. The BSA-injected animals also displayed a significant increase in proximal tubular cell proliferation. This increased proliferation was less marked than the degree of apoptosis. CONCLUSION Protein-overload proteinuria in rats induces tubular cell apoptosis. This effect is only partially balanced by proliferation and potentially provides a direct mechanism whereby heavy proteinuria can induce tubular atrophy and progressive renal failure.
Maze learning in aged rats is enhanced by phenserine, a novel anticholinesterase.

A new generation of cholinesterase inhibitors is expected to overcome some limitations of the therapeutic use of anticholinesterases. Phenserine is a long-acting and selective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase with a preferential brain uptake. We have assessed the effects of chronic phenserine tartrate treatment on performance of aged Fischer-344 rats in the 14-unit T-maze. Phenserine (1-3 mg kg-1, i.p.) treatment for 5 days significantly reduced the number of errors made in the Stone maze. Other performance variables were also improved. No side effects were noted across 5 days treatment at doses of 1-2 mg kg-1. Phenserine can therefore improve the performance of aged rats in this complex maze task without producing obvious side effects.
Guaranteeing synchronous message deadlines with the timed token protocol

The problem of guaranteeing synchronous message deadlines in token ring networks in which the timed token medium access control protocol is used is discussed. Synchronous capacity, defined as the maximum time for which a node can transmit its synchronous messages every time it receives the token, is a key parameter in the control of synchronous message transmission. To ensure the transmission of synchronous messages before their deadlines, synchronous capacities must be properly allocated to individual nodes. Several synchronous capacity allocation schemes are analyzed in terms of their ability to satisfy deadline constraints of synchronous messages. It is shown that an inappropriate allocation of the synchronous capacities could cause message deadlines to be missed, even if the synchronous traffic is extremely low. The normalized proportional allocation scheme, which can guarantee the synchronous message deadlines for synchronous traffic of up to 33% of available utilization is proposed. <<ETX>>
Does organisational support promote citizenship? The moderating role of market-focused HRM

This paper describes how employment relationships and human-resource management (HRM) functions can influence employees’ citizenship role definitions in service settings. Integrating social exchange and role theory, the paper suggests that contact employees will reciprocate felt obligations of high-quality employee–organisation relationships (i.e. perceived organisational support (POS)) by expanding their role in ways consistent with contextual behavioural expectations. The longitudinal survey of 1387 contact employees and 108 managers in a large supermarket chain shows that POS and several market-focused HRM practices influence employees’ service-oriented citizenship role definitions. In particular, high-quality employment relationships contribute to expanded service-oriented citizenship role definitions when market-focused HRM practices were implemented.
THE INSERVICE NEEDS OF BEGINNING TEACHERS OF AGRICULTURE AS PERCEIVED BY BEGINNING TEACHERS, TEACHER EDUCATORS, AND STATE SUPERVISORS

The purpose of the study was to identify and prioritize the inservice needs of beginning agriculture teachers in the state of Missouri. The target populations for the study consisted of beginning (first- and second-year) agriculture teachers in Missouri during the 1994-95 academic year (N=37) and members of the Joint State Staff in Agricultural Education, which included teacher educators and state supervisors (N=16). Census populations were used. An instrument, using the Borich needs assessment model, was developed to assess the perceived level of importance and perceived level of competence of beginning teachers regarding 50 professional competencies. Twelve of the 50 professional competencies were identified by the beginning teachers as having a greater need for inservice education. The technical agriculture competencies were ranked lower in priority for inservice when compared to professiona l competencies in the areas of instruction, program planning and evaluation, and program administration. In general, the ranking of the inservice needs by the beginning teachers did not correspond with the rankings of the inservice needs as perceived by teacher educators and state supervisors.
Service Innovativeness and Innovation Success in Technology-based Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: An Intellectual Capital Approach

This paper analyzes the influence of the three components of intellectual capital (human, social and organizational) and intensity in collaboration with clients on service innovativeness in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). It also includes a discussion on the impact of both service innovativeness and intensity in collaboration with clients on innovation success. An empirical study is conducted on a sample of companies belonging to two technology-based KIBS industries: software and R&D services. The results suggest that the positive effect of human capital on service innovativeness is moderated by intensity in collaboration with clients, being human capital enhanced by organizational and social capital. The effect of social capital on service innovativeness is partially mediated by human capital and also moderated by intensity in collaboration with clients. Finally, service innovativeness positively affects innovation success, while intensity in collaboration with clients has a higher effect.
Bioflavanoids and Natural Health : An Overview

Bioflavanoids are prominent natural antioxidants, free radical scavengers; in general they have not been associated with any consistent side effects. Excess intake is simply excreted in the urine as they are water soluble nutrients, and they are of recent research interest through its various therapeutic activities, demonstrating antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and a potentially valuable therapeutic tool for the treatment of variety of inflammatory conditions including periodontal diseases. Foods in this category contain natural ingredients that promote health by specific metabolic actions such as modulating the inflammatory response, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic organisms, promoting healing, fortifying tissue integrity and hindering malignant transformation.