Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Size, Productivity and Exit Decisions in Dairy Farms

The U.S. dairy industry has seen major restructuring in the last few decades. The number of U.S. dairy farms has declined significantly and the decline has been concentrated among smaller farms. In the meantime, average dairy herd size increased from 19 cows in 1970 to 175 in 2010 and milk yield per cow doubled over the same period. Herd size, exit and technical efficiency are related in varied ways. Many farm-level production structures are cheaper to build in large scale while asset use can be more efficient on larger facilities. Economies of scale motivate a link between larger herd size and levels of profitability that would support continued production. Technical efficiency should also affect the intention to continue production and expand scale as the more productive are better motivated and likely better positioned to continue operation and increase in size. These incentives have not been explored for dairy production. The three decisions are likely interrelated and should be investigated in an integrated, systemic manner that accounts for endogeneity. Employing data from the USDA’s 2010 ARMS Phase III, Dairy Production Practices and Costs and Returns Report, we first estimate technical efficiency using Stochastic Production Frontier analysis. The efficiency estimate is then incorporated into a system of equations that includes the exit decision and herd size. The results suggest that smaller and less efficient farms are more likely to exit and more efficient dairy farms tend to expand, results which do seem consistent with theoretical considerations and with current trends in dairy structural change.
Validation of A Model of Total Quality Management Performance Measurement Systems in the UK

The research design based on the grounded theory approach of total quality management (TQM), and using 14 case studies analysis, was found to be appropriate in studying performance measurement (PM). The validation of a model based on the actual performance measurement systems in use at 115 TQM and non-TQM organizations in the UK. Performance measurements in TQM organizations suggest that must be widened to include concepts such as TQM performance assessment, the measurement of team performance, information technology challenge, suppliers-customers satisfaction and relationship, and reward and recognition. Future research is needed to clarify the definitions used, and to gain input from academics and practitioners in the fields of organizational behavior, technology management, strategic management, and all associated disciplines.
Logistics Performance: Definition and Measurement

Concerns the definition and measurement of performance in logistics research. A review of the literature reveals a variety of constraints which make it difficult to draw broad inferences from the literature about the relationship between a given logistics strategy and performance. Discusses low logistics performance has been and could be conceptualized, operationally defined, measured and utilized. The limitations of alternative research designs and performance measures are revealed. Recommendations are made to improve the quality of future research.
Corporate Finance Practices in India: A Survey

The present study surveys 81 CFOs of India to find out about their corporate finance practices vis-a-vis capital budgeting decisions, cost of capital, capital structure, and dividend policy decisions. It analyses the responses by the firm characteristics like firm size, profitability, leverage, P/E ratio, CFO's education, and the sector. The analysis reveals that practitioners do use the basic corporate finance tools that the professional institutes and business schools have taught for years to a great extent. The study also reveals that the corporate finance practices vary with firm size.
Category Spanning, Evaluation, and Performance: Revised Theory and Test on the Corporate Law Market

Studies suggest that category-spanning organizations receive lower evaluation and perform worse than organizations focused on a single category. We propose that (a) these effects are contingent on clients’ theory of value, and that, as clients expect more sophisticated services, they tend to value category spanners more positively, and (b) the evaluation of producers mediates the relationship between category spanning and performance. We test our hypotheses using original data on corporate legal services in three markets (London, New York City, and Paris) over the decade 2000–2010. We find that (a) category spanners receive a better evaluation, and more so when their categorical combination is more inclusive, and (b) evaluation mediates significantly the relationship between category spanning and performance. This study enriches our understanding of how audiences apprehend a whole market category system and why organizations span categories.
Catalytic Performance of MgO-Supported Co Catalyst for the Liquid Phase Oxidation of Cyclohexane with Molecular Oxygen

A highly-efficient and stable MgO-supported Co (Co/MgO) catalyst was developed for the oxidation of cyclohexane with oxygen. The effects of the Co loading and support on the catalytic activity of the supported Co3O4 catalyst were investigated. The results show that the Co supported on MgO presented excellent activity and stability. When the Co/MgO catalyst with the Co content of 0.2 wt% (0.2%Co/MgO) was used, 12.5% cyclohexane conversion and 74.7% selectivity to cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (KA oil) were achieved under the reaction conditions of 0.5 MPa O2 and 140 °C for 4 h. After being repeatedly used 10 times, its catalytic activity was hardly changed. Further research showed that the high catalytic performance of the 0.2%Co/MgO catalyst is attributed to its high oxygen-absorbing ability and the high ratio between the amount of weak and medium base sites with the help of the synergistic interaction between Co and MgO.
Braking the Bandwagon: Scrutinizing the Science and Politics of Empirically Supported Therapies

ABSTRACT Proponents of empirically supported therapies (ESTs) argue that because manualized ESTs have demonstrated efficacy in treating a range of psychological disorders, they should be the treatments of choice. In this article, the author uses a hypothetical treatment for obesity to highlight numerous flaws in EST logic and argues for common factors as a more clinically relevant but empirically challenging approach. The author then explores how political variables may be contributing to the expansion of EST and the resulting restriction of practitioner autonomy. Last, the author argues that EST is best viewed as 1 component of a more comprehensive evidence-based practice framework. The author concludes with some cautionary statements about the perils of equating the EST paradigm with the scientist–practitioner ideal.
Venture capital and initial public offering

by Weicheng Wang, Ph.D. Washington State University May 2010 Chair: John R. Nofsinger I use the SDC initial public offering (IPO) data to study the role of venture capitalists (VC) and the implications of their presence in the going-public process. I firstly examine the implications of VC reputation for the post-IPO performance of the newly public stocks. I propose a Venture Capital ‘Reputation Index’ that explicitly captures the dynamic nature of VC reputation. The Reputation Index also captures the short-term economic performance and visibility of a VC firm. These two components are important determinants to reputation and are new to the existing literature. The proposed index explains the post-IPO stock return over 1and 2-year horizons within a group of VC-backed IPOs and also within the overall IPO sample that includes VCand nonVC-backed IPOs. After controlling for other existing reputation measures, such as the age of VC firms, total capital under management, aggregate investment in the portfolio companies, the number of portfolio companies, and the number of investment rounds participated, the index still shows strong and robust predictive power. Secondly, I explore the post-IPO ownership dynamics of venture capitalists in the initial public offering backed by VCs. Venture Capitalists (VC) do not always cash out their investment
On the Mechanism of Rhabdomyolysis in Potassium Depletion

A B S T R A C T Rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria occur commonly in men who sustain environmental heat injury during intensive physical training in hot climates. These also occur in patients with potassium depletion. Since physical training in hot climates may be accompanied by serious losses of body potassium, the possibility was considered that performance of strenuous exercise when potassium deficient might enhance susceptibility to rhabdomyolysis.
Influence of Preactivity and Eccentric Muscle Activity on Concentric Performance during Vertical Jumping

The purpose of this investigation was to observe the influence of increasing amounts of preactivity and eccentric muscle activity imposed by three different jump types on concentric vertical jumping performance. Sixteen athletes involved in jumping-related sports at Appalachian State University, which is a Division IA school, performed a static jump (SJ), counter-movement jump (CMJ), and drop jump (DJ). Force, power, velocity, and jump height were measured during each jump type. In addition, muscle activity was measured from two agonist muscles (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis) and one antagonist muscle (biceps femoris). Preactivity and eccentric phase muscle activity of the agonist muscles (average integrated electromyography) was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher during the DJ (preactivity, 0.2 ± 0.11 mV; eccentric phase, 1.00 ± 0.36 mV) in comparison with the CMJ (preactivity, 0.11 ± 0.10 mV; eccentric phase, 0.45 ± 0.17 mV). Peak concentric force was highest during the DJ and was significantly different among all three jump types (SJ, CMJ, DJ). Maximal jump height was significantly higher during the DJ (0.41 ± 0.05 m) and CMJ (0.40 ± 0.06 m) compared with the SJ (0.37 ± 0.07 m). However, no significant difference in jump height existed between the CMJ and DJ. A positive energy balance, as assessed by force-displacement curves during the eccentric and concentric phases, was observed during the CMJ, and a negative energy balance was observed during the DJ. The data from this investigation indicate that a significant increase in concentric vertical jump performance is associated with increased levels of preactivity and eccentric phase muscle activity (SJ to CMJ). However, higher eccentric loading (CMJ to DJ) leads to a negative energy balance during the eccentric phase, which may relate to a non-significant increase in vertical jump height, even with coincidental increases in peak concentric force. Practitioners may want to focus on improving eccentric phase muscle activity through the use of plyometrics to improve overall jumping performance in athletes.
Irish consumer preference for organic meat

The consumer of today places increased importance on food safety, environmental and health issues and quality, hence some are willing to purchase organic meat. Evaluation models used in previous organic food research have identified variables such as health consciousness, environmental concern, animal welfare and income as important determinants of organic food choice. The objective of this research was to examine Irish consumer perceptions of organic meat. A questionnaire was completed by 250 respondents, which were representative of the Irish population. Three groups of consumers were identified. Respondents who purchased or had intention to purchase organic meat placed higher levels of importance on food safety when purchasing meat, compared to those with no intention to purchase organic meat. Furthermore, purchasers of organic meat were more concerned about their health than non‐purchasers. Purchasers of organic meat also believed that organic meat was superior to conventional meat in terms of quality, safety, labelling, production methods and value. Availability and the price of organic meat were the key deterrents to the purchase of organic meat. Higher socio‐economic groups were more willing to purchase organic meat. Increasing awareness of food safety and pollution issues are important determinants in the purchase of organic meat; but securing a consistent supply of organic meat is paramount to ensuring growth in this sector.
Customer switching behavior in online services: An exploratory study of the role of selected attitudinal, behavioral, and demographic factors

With a quarter of a billion Internet users worldwide and estimates of more than one-half billion people online by the year 2003, growth in the online services industry has been exponential. With this growth has come concern about customer “churn”, a concern that parallels issues of customer switching behavior in services industries in general. This manuscript reports results of two field studies, conducted among two randomly selected samples of online service users, that investigate the degree to which selected behavioral (information that customers used when making the online service decision, their service usage), attitudinal (risk-taking propensity), and demographic (income and education) factors are effective in discriminating between continuers and switchers. The research in Study 1 is replicated in Study 2 and extended to consider additional attitudinal factors of satisfaction and involvement. Implications for managers and researchers are discussed.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Options for Congenital and Acquired Uterine Factors Associated with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as two or more failed clinical pregnancies before 20 weeks' gestation and may be caused by genetic, endocrinologic, anatomic and immunologic abnormalities. Anatomic uterine anomalies include congenital malformations (bicornuate, didelphic, septate and unicornuate uteri) and acquired defects (fibroids, adenomas, adhesions and polyps). Women with septate and bicornuate uteri, intrauterine adhesions, and some adenomas and fibroids are at increased risk of RPL. Data support surgical treatment of all of these lesions except bicornuate uteri. The role of polyps in RPL is unclear. Minimally invasive options for surgical correction of intrauterine lesions include hysteroscopy, laparoscopy with and without robotic assistance and minilaparotomy.
The Asia Pacific Meeting of Vasculitis and ANCA Workshop 2012 Vasculitis in New Zealand

Background The Asia Pacific Meeting for Vasculitis and ANCA Workshop was held in Tokyo in May 2012. This review of vasculitis in New Zealand (NZ) was prepared for the meeting. Methods A review of significant NZ demographic and health data is presented with information from relevant studies on vasculitis originating from NZ. Results Giant cell arteritis occurs in older adults, and has an annual incidence of 12.7/100,000 adults over the age of 50 years in NZ. Kawasaki disease, a rare cause of acquired cardiac disease primarily affecting young children, has an annual incidence of 8.0/100,000 children aged less than 5 years. The prevalence of granulomatosis with polyangiitis varies within NZ, with a 5-year prevalence varying from 29 to 75 cases per million people. Dual anti-glomerular basement membrane disease and ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis is rare, with an annual incidence estimated at 0.47 cases per million people. Conclusions Vasculitis is an uncommon but a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in NZ.
Influence of age on customer dining experience factors at U.S. Japanese restaurants.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of age on customer dining experience levels at Japanese restaurants in the United States and to determine if there are differences in influential factors between customers of different ages when they eat at Japanese restaurants. To address the objectives of the study, customers who patronized Japanese restaurants were asked to rank the importance of 20 dining experience factors. Researchers give recommendations for restaurateurs to bridge the gap between customers of different age groups in order to gain a competitive edge in today’s highly competitive restaurant market.
Enterprise interoperability measurement - Basic concepts

Developing or improving enterprise interoperability implies that the level or degree of interoperability is evaluated and causes identified and analysed. This paper tentatively presents the basic concepts relating to the measurement of the degree of interoperability. The degree of interoperability of an enterprise can be characterized by three types of measures: interoperability potentiality, compatibility and performance. The last two measures are discussed in detail and some metrics are proposed. The proposed approach is rather straightforward using the most salient characteristics known today for each measurement. It is prospective and preliminary. Some discussion and future development are given in the conclusion.
The Effects of Local Government GAAP Regulation on Audit Market Concentration, Auditor Specialization, and Audit Fees

This study examines the effects of financial statement disclosure regulation on auditor market concentration and audit fees. I compare auditor industry concentration rates between municipalities reporting under the Single Audit Act in the state of Michigan, which requires all local governments to follow GAAP reporting, with concentration rates in Pennsylvania, which has unregulated reporting. Using both an interstate comparison as well as examining a policy change in the unregulated environment, I find evidence suggesting that auditor concentration is related to disclosure mandates. Through survey data, I then explore the impact of reporting regulation on audit fees. My findings suggest GAAP mandated disclosure is associated with an overall lower audit fee, evidence suggestive of economies of scale; however, specialist firms in the GAAP setting are able to differentiate themselves and earn a fee premium. The state with unregulated disclosure does not benefit from the same audit economies having a market containing higher overall audit fees as well as specialist auditors who may discount engagement fees where specialist pricing in both markets appears to depend on audit firm characteristics and market share. Collectively, my results provide evidence that disclosure regulation is associated with overall lower fees, but also results in greater concentration and specialist fee premiums.
The Specificity of the hair papilla in the rat

A flap of skin on the dorsum of Long‐Evans rats under anesthesia was turned back, the panniculus was excised and hair bulbs in the growing stage with the enclosed papillae were removed with scissors from a 0.5 cm square area. The flap was returned to its original position and the cut edges were sutured. Depapillated areas were biopsied at intervals following the operation, fixed in acetone and histologically prepared to study the distribution of alkaline phosphatase, glycogen changes, growth and differentiation.
Bioavailability assessment of salbutamol sulfate suppositories in human volunteers

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the bioavailability of three salbutamol sulfate suppository formulations. The formulations were; 2 mg salbutamol sulfate in Suppocire ® NA base containing 6% Eudispert gel (F1), 2 mg salbutamol sulfate in Witepsol ® H15 base containing 3% methyl cellulose gel (F2), and 2 mg salbutamol sulfate in Witepsol ® W25 base containing 3% methyl cellulose gel (F3). The formulations were administered via rectal route in six healthy male adult volunteers. The bioavailability of the three suppository formulations was compared with the oral bioavailability of salbutamol sulfate 2 mg tablets (F4). Six volunteers participated in a four-way crossover study, where each study was separated from the other by an interval of 1 weak. Venous blood samples of 5 ml were taken immediately before dosing and after predetermined time intervals of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 h. The result showed that Cmax ± S.D. observed were 12 . 96± 2.11, 14.87± 2.33, 10.02± 1.42 and 11.51±1.22 ng ml −1 for F1, F2, F3 and F4, respectively. The Tmax±S.D. were found to be 1 . 91±0.20, 1.83±0.26, 2.50±0.00 and 2.67 ± 0.24 h for F1, F2, F3 and F4, respectively. AUC ± S.D. values were 40 . 25 ± 1.88, 42.16 ± 1.55, 28.62 ± 1.98 and 37.63± 1.44 ng h per ml for F1, F2, F3 and F4, respectively. The relative bioavailabilities of the investigated formulations were 112.04, 106.96 and 76.06 for formula F2, F1 and F3, respectively, when compared with the oral preparation (F4). The finding indicates that the bioavalaibility of salbutamol sulfate can be enhanced by delivering it rectally with Suppocire ® NA base containing 6% Eudispert ® gel or with Witepsol W25 base containing 3% methyl cellulose to match that of oral tablets. Salbutamol sulfate can be rectally administered in patients who are less compliant with the oral administration. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Condition and coalition formation by brood-rearing common eider females

Partner choice is important in nature, and partnerships or coalitions within which reproduction is shared are the subject of growing interest. However, little attention has been given to questions of which individuals are suitable partners and why. Common eider (Somateria mollissima) females sometimes pool their broods and share brood-rearing duties, and body condition affects care decisions. We constructed a model in which females, based on their body condition and the structure of the joint brood, assess the fitness consequences of joining a coalition versus tending for young alone. We tested the model's predictions by comparing data on the condition of females in enduring and transient coalitions. Our model showed that the range of acceptable brood arrays in a female coalition decreases with increasing condition of the female, so females tending alone should be in better condition than multifemale tenders. This prediction is in agreement with previous data. The model also predicts that females in good condition should join coalitions with females in poor condition and not with other females in good condition. This prediction was also supported by data: in enduring two-female coalitions, the positive correlation between the better female's condition and the difference in condition between the two females was stronger than would be expected by random grouping of females. In contrast, in transient coalitions of females, this correlation did not differ from the correlation expected under random grouping. Model assumptions seem to fit with eider natural history, and the model may prove to be a useful way to study brood amalgamation behavior of waterfowl in general. Copyright 2003.