Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contrasting Rational and Psychological Analyses of Political Choice

We contrast the rational theory of choice in the form of expected utility theory with descriptive psychological analysis in the form of prospect theory, using problems involving the choice between political candidates and public referendum issues. The results showed that the assumptions underlying the classical theory of risky choice are systematically violated in the manner predicted by prospect theory. In particular, our respondents exhibited risk aversion in the domain of gains, risk seeking in the domain of losses, and a greater sensitivity to losses than to gains. This is consistent with the advantage of the incumbent under normal conditions and the potential advantage of the challenger in bad times. The results further show how a shift in the reference point could lead to reversals of preferences in the evaluation of political and economic options, contrary to the assumption of invariance. Finally, we contrast the normative and descriptive analyses of uncertainty in choice and address the rationality of voting.
Breast Thermography Is a Noninvasive Prognostic Procedure That Predicts Tumor Growth Rate in Breast Cancer Patients

Our recent retrospective analysis of the clinical records of patients who had breast thermography demonstrated that an abnormal thermogram was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and a poorer prognosis for the breast cancer patient. This study included 100 normal patients, 100 living cancer patients, and 126 deceased cancer patients. Abnormal thermograms included asymmetric focal hot spots, areolar and periareolar heat, diffuse global heat, vessel discrepancy, or thermographic edge sign. Incidence and prognosis were directly related to thermographic results: only 28% of the noncancer patients had an abnormal thermogram, compared to 65% of living cancer patients and 88% of deceased cancer patients. Further studies were undertaken to determine if thermography is an independent prognostic indicator. Comparison to the components of the TNM classification system showed that only clinical size was significantly larger (p = 0.006) in patients with abnormal thermograms. Age, menopausal status, and location of tumor (left or right breast) were not related to thermographic results. Progesterone and estrogen receptor status was determined by both the cytosol-DCC and immunocytochemical methods, and neither receptor status showed any clear relationship to the thermographic results. Prognostic indicators that are known to be related to tumor growth rate were then compared to thermographic results. The concentration of ferritin in the tumor was significantly higher (p = 0.021) in tumors from patients with abnormal thermograms (1512 +/- 2027, n = 50) compared to tumors from patients with normal thermograms (762 +/- 620, n = 21). Both the proportion of cells in DNA synthesis (S-phase) and proliferating (S-phase plus G2M-phase, proliferative index) were significantly higher in patients with abnormal thermograms. The expression of the proliferation-associated tumor antigen Ki-67 was also associated with an abnormal thermogram. The strong relationships of thermographic results with these three growth rate-related prognostic indicators suggest that breast cancer patients with abnormal thermograms have faster-growing tumors that are more likely to have metastasized and to recur with a shorter disease-free interval.
Cytokine levels during mild and cerebral falciparum malaria in children living in a mesoendemic area

Cell‐mediated immunity and cytokines are probably involved in the pathogenesis of malaria. To investigate the role and the activity of different immune cells, we measured levels of tumour necrosis factor‐(TNF‐α), gamma interferon (IFN‐γ) and several interleukins (IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6 and IL‐10) in children with mild (MM) and cerebral (CM) Plasmodium falciparum malaria and compared them with those of healthy children from Guadalupe – Lobata District, St. Tomé Island, where malaria is mesoendemic. Both groups of patients had significantly higher levels of IL‐6, IL‐10 and TNF‐α than controls. For IL‐2, IL‐4 and IFN‐γ we found no difference between the groups. However, 24 h after admission the levels of IL‐10 and IL‐6 were significantly higher in CM than in MM patients, although 7 days after treatment they returned to normal levels, similar to those found in control children. Therefore, TNF‐α IL‐6 and IL‐10 increase during Plasmodium falciparum attacks in all children, not only in those with cerebral malaria. This finding suggests the activation of the monocyte/macrophage system during the early stage of clinical malaria.
Commuting effects in Okun's Law among British areas : evidence from spatial panel econometrics

This paper examines Okun's Law using a spatial panel approach on NUTS 3 data for Great Britain over the period 1985–2011. The basic specification used as a starting point for the spatial analysis is the relationship between real output growth and unemployment rate changes. This is extended to incorporate spatial lags, to test for the presence of commuting effects, and to accommodate spatial residuals dependence. We estimate various spatial panel models, controlling for heterogeneity across areas, and find consistent evidence of a significant Okun's coefficient. Results also show that spillover effects from labour mobility and interregional linkages matter and have important implications for the validity of the empirical law.
Heterogeneity within an Industry: Firm Conduct in the U.S. Brewing Industry, 1952-71

Our interest in this paper is in exploring the conduct of firms within a single industry. We chose the U.S. brewing industry over the period 1952-7 I for a number of reasons. One was because during this period the industry experienced major structural changes as a number of publicly held brewing companies increased their market share. Another is because during this period excise taxes and grain prices were relatively stable, reducing the number of variables to be considered. A third is because during the I952-7I period few brewers were diversified to any major extent, a situation which provided an opportunity for us to focus on how firms competed within a 'single' business. Between I952 and I97I, the brewing industry underwent a major transition. In this period the number of breweries declined from 357 to I48 and the market share of the four largest brewers increased from 24-2 % to 48'5%. During this same period, however, the fortunes of many companies, both large and small, shifted dramatically. Schlitz lost its position as market leader to Anheuser-Busch whose market share increased from 7. I % to Ig92 %. Once prominent large firms like Ballentine and Blatz disappeared while firms like Carling, Hamm, Falstaff and Associated Breweries enjoyed a short period of vigorous prosperity and then began to wane. Companies like Coors, and more recently Miller, began to grow. The interesting question is 'why did these different firms experience different degrees of success? ' A simple structuralist view would encourage an hypothesis that the changing market structure of the industry affected each firm, favoring the large at the expense of the small. Yet, this hypothesis
FREQUENCY DOMAIN APPROACH TO HOPF BIFURCATION FOR VAN DER POL EQUATION WITH DISTRIBUTED DELAY

The van der Pol equation with a distributed time delay and a strong kernel is analyzed. Its linear stability is investigated by employing the generalized Nyquist stability and Routh-Hurwitz criteria. Moreover, local asymptotic stability conditions are also derived in the case of the strong kernel. By using the mean time delay as a bifurcation parameter, the model is found to undergo a sequence of Hopf bifurcations. The direction and the stability criteria of the bifurcating periodic solutions are obtained by the graphical Hopf bifurcation theory. Some numerical simulation examples for justifying the theoretical analysis are also given.
Emotional intelligence and emotional labor acting strategies among frontline hotel employees

Purpose – The study aimed to test the antecedents and consequences of emotional labor (EL) acting strategies in the hotel industry. More specifically, the purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of emotional intelligence (EI) on the relationships among EL acting strategies, emotional exhaustion (EE) and service recovery performance (SRP). Design/methodology/approach – The survey was administered in five‐star hotels in Korea. Frontline employees of the hotels participated in the survey and a total of 353 returned questionnaires were used for data analysis.Findings – The research confirmed the importance of EI in the context of EL. The paper provided empirical evidence that EI affected the EL acting strategies and their consequential behavioral outcomes.Practical implications – The study suggests that hospitality managers must find ways to elevate employees' EI level. Performance management processes should incorporate identification and positive reinforcement of EL acting strategies that enhance SR.
Fibula and Its Ligaments in Load Transmission and Ankle Joint Stability

A study was made of the role of the fibula in weightbearing and its contribution to ankle joint stability in 10 anatomic specimen lower limbs. On axial loading of the lower limb, the fibula was found to take an average of 17% of a 1500 N axial load. The proportion of the load carried by the fibula increased with the total loading. It also increased when the line of load was displaced laterally and when the ankle joint was in dorsiflexion and decreased when the line of loading shifted medially or the joint was plantar flexed. With loading, the lateral malleolus migrated distally relative to the medial malleolus, except after fibular osteotomy, when it migrated proximally. There was an approximately inverse relationship between proportional fibular loading and distal fibular migration. Cutting the inferior tibiofibular ligament reduced the proportional load in the fibula and increased its distal migration. The interosseous membrane modified the load distribution between the tibia and the fibula, with the distal fibula carrying a higher proportion of the axial load than did the proximal. Surgical repair of a ruptured inferior tibiofibular ligament, using either 1 or 2 screws, was associated with an abnormal pattern of load distribution and fibular displacement.
Customer knowledge management in the travel industry

Despite the increasing importance of customer knowledge management, the concept appears to be ill-defined by companies across the travel industry. The aims of this research were twofold: first, to determine how some leading companies within the travel industry were managing their customer relationships; and second, to ascertain how they intended to proceed in a changing market environment. Using a qualitative research approach, semistructured interviews were held with a convenience sample of ten respondent companies. Several major issues were identified, including strategic vision, customer knowledge/needs, and the role of technology. While most respondents acknowledged the strategic importance of customer relationship management, they were found to be struggling, to varying degrees, with its integration into service delivery.
Corporate governance rating and financial performance: a Canadian study

Purpose – This paper aims to examine whether the corporate governance rankings published by a market information intermediary are reflected in the values that investors accord to firms.Design/methodology/approach – Panel data from 289 Canadian firms in the four‐year period 2002‐2005 were analyzed using a price model.Findings – The results suggest that the corporate governance rankings published by the market information intermediary are related to not only firm market value, but also to accounting results.Practical implications – This study provides empirical observations that would be useful for various organizations involved in the regulation of corporate governance practices and the standardization of relevant data elements.Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that information published by an information intermediary is reflected in firm market values. Moreover, this information appears to be related to the accounting results. Thus, good governance rankings are .
Analysts' Forecasts of Japanese Firms' Earnings: Additional Evidence

This paper examines analyst forecasts of Japanese firms' earnings during Japan's economic burst period in the 1990s. Using the evidence of analyst earnings forecasts in the U.S. as benchmark, the paper documents the following three findings. First, whereas the forecast accuracy of U.S. analysts following U.S. firms improves over time, the forecast accuracy of U.S. and Japanese analysts following Japanese firms does not. Second, whereas decreases in forecast errors of U.S. analysts following U.S. firms are best explained by decreases in forecast bias of the analysts, increases in forecast errors of U.S. and Japanese analysts following Japanese firms are best explained by increases in the frequency of losses experienced by Japanese firms. Third, Japanese analysts forecast earnings less accurately than do U.S. analysts. These findings reflect the difficulty of producing accurate earnings forecasts during economic downturns. These findings also suggest that Japanese analysts are more bound than their U.S. counterparts by cultural ties that impede forecast accuracy.
Structural and functional damages of whole body ionizing radiation on rat brain homogenate membranes and protective effect of amifostine

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effects of whole body ionizing radiation at a sublethal dose on rat brain homogenate membranes and the protective effects of amifostine on these systems at molecular level. Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley rats, in the absence and presence of amifostine, were whole-body irradiated at a single dose of 8 Gy and decapitated after 24 h. The brain homogenate membranes of these rats were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results: Ionizing radiation caused a significant increase in the lipid to protein ratio and significant decreases in the ratios of olefinic = CH/lipid, CH2/lipid, carbonyl ester/lipid and CH3/lipid suggesting, respectively, a more excessive decrease in the protein content and the degradation of lipids as a result of lipid peroxidation. In addition, radiation changed the secondary structure of proteins and the status of packing of membrane lipid head groups. Furthermore, it caused a decrease in lipid order and an increase in membrane fluidity. The administration of amifostine before ionizing radiation inhibited all the radiation-induced alterations in brain homogenate membranes. Conclusions: The results revealed that whole body ionizing radiation at a sublethal dose causes significant alterations in the structure, composition and dynamics of brain homogenate membranes and amifostine has a protective effect on these membranes.
The Audit Reporting Debate: Seemingly Intractable Problems and Feasible Solutions

While the audit reporting debate has a long history, a number of recent regulatory initiatives and policy reviews increase the likelihood of change in this area. The purpose of this study is to use this momentum and examine whether there is consensus between audit report users and auditors with regard to the form and content of the audit report. This seems necessary because past audit reporting reforms have failed due to a lack of common ground. Based on interviews with users and auditors, we conclude that reaching a level of consensus seems feasible. Using these insights, we propose an alternative audit reporting model that may significantly reduce the information gap between users and auditors and improve transparency on the quality of audit practice.
Tax Calendar Effects in the Municipal Bond Market: Tax‐Loss Selling and Cherry Picking by Investors and Market Timing by Fund Managers

Examining municipal bond returns, bond fund flows and buying activities by fund managers over the period 1990–2009, we find evidence of tax calendar‐related rational opportunistic trading patterns by fund investors and fund managers. Specifically, fund shareholders conduct tax‐loss selling in December and re‐invest in January. In April, June, and September, fund investors rationally cherry pick to sell their shares of short‐term bond funds instead of their shares of long‐term bond funds to raise cash to pay estimated taxes. Unlike fund shareholders, fund managers adopt a contrarian strategy of buying in December and selling in January.
Labour–management relationships in transitional economies: convergence or divergence in Vietnam and Indonesia?

Western labour–management relationships (both formal and informal), their respective rights, obligations and negotiating frameworks, have been well- established, understood, and supported by a complex set of associated legislation for decades. However, in many developing countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia, historical, socio-cultural, ideological or political factors constrained the development of such formalized employee relations until very recent times. This paper explores the different paths taken by Vietnam and Indonesia towards a modern employee relations system, with its concomitant positive and adverse consequences.
Perceptrons revisited: the addition of a non-monotone recursion greatly enhances their representation and classification properties

In this paper we describe a novel type of adaptive system and compare its representation and classification performances with classical solutions. The main feature of our system is that it is based on combining simple perceptrons with a compact and simple to implement nonlinear transform defined as a finite recursion of simple nonmonotonic functions. When such a nonlinear recursion replaces the standard output function of a perceptron-like structure, the representation capability of Boolean functions enhances beyond that of the standard linear threshold gate and arbitrary Boolean functions can be learned. While the use of nonlinear recursion at the output accounts for compact learning and memorization of arbitrary functions, it was found that good generalization capabilities are obtained when the nonlinear recursion is placed at the inputs. It is thus concluded that the proper addition of a simple nonlinear structure to the well known linear perceptron removes most of its drawbacks, the resulting structure being compact, easy to implement, and functionally equivalent to more sophisticated neural systems.
Partner identification and selection of joint ventures in international retailing

Identifying and selecting the ‘right partner’ is one of the key topics in the international retailing literature. Yet, current research provides little knowledge of how international retailers find and select joint venture (JV) partners in foreign markets. We investigate seven cases of British retail multinationals to address this research gap. We find that some retailers initiate formalised partner searches. In other cases, however, JVs arise opportunistically, involving no planned partner identification and selection. Retailer selection criteria revolve significantly around local relationships and market knowledge, specifically concerning local real estate. At the same time, some retailers understand that to leverage these local resources, the relationship and strategic fit with partners are critical.
Endothelin‐1 serum levels correlate with MCP‐1 but not with homocysteine plasma concentration in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objectives: To determine whether homocysteine (Hcy) plasma levels are correlated with molecules indicative of endothelial cell and fibroblast activation, including endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and ‐3 (MCP‐1, MCP‐3), in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: Eighty‐two patients were enrolled in this study; the control group included 75 age‐ and sex‐matched subjects. Plasma Hcy was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography; folic acid, and vitamin B12 plasma levels were determined by a chemiluminescence method. ET‐1, MCP‐1, and MCP‐3 were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Analysis of the 677C→T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digestion with the enzyme HinfI. Results: Hcy levels were lower in patients whereas ET‐1 was significantly higher in patients and correlated with MCP‐1. Stratification of the patients on the basis of Hcy levels was not associated with any statistical difference in the concentration of ET‐1, MCP‐1, and MCP‐3. Patients with diffuse disease presented the highest levels of ET‐1 and MCP‐1. The distribution of the MTHFR genotypes was not different in patients and controls. Conclusions: In SSc, Hcy plasma concentration does not influence ET‐1, MCP‐1, or MCP‐3 levels. On the contrary, ET‐1, a marker of vascular activation, correlates with MCP‐1, a chemokine involved in the fibrotic process of SSc.
Does OPEC Matter? An Econometric Analysis of Oil Prices

We assess claims that OPEC's ability to influence real oil prices has diminished and that the relationship between real oil prices and OPEC production can be used to test competing hypotheses about OPEC behavior. An econometric analysis indicates that there is a statistically significant relationship among real oil prices, OPEC capacity utilization, OPEC quotas, the degree to which OPEC exceeds these production quotas, and OECD stocks of crude oil. These variables "Granger cause" real oil prices but real oil prices do not "Granger cause" these variables. These results imply that OPEC influences oil prices and that previous models cannot be used to test competing models for OPEC production behavior. The effect of OECD oil stocks on real oil prices indicates that there may be an important externality in private decisions regarding optimal crude oil stocks.
Bilateral J-curve between Sri Lanka and its major trading partners

It is widely believed that the short run effect of exchange rate depreciation on trade balance is different from the long run. In the short run, first, the trade balance deteriorates before resulting in an improvement, suggesting a J-curve pattern. Most of the empirical studies have employed aggregate trade data, while recent studies have used bilateral trade data. These studies are mostly between industrial countries, a few developing countries, but none so far for Sri Lanka. Hence, in this study, the impact of real depreciation of Sri Lankan Rupee (SLR) on the trade balance in the short run and the long run has been examined, employing bilateral trade data between Sri Lanka and its six major trading partners using the autoregressive distributed lagged (ARDL) model. The results reveal that the trade balance between Sri Lanka and its trading partners does not support the J-curve phenomenon, and also it does not have any specific pattern in response to depreciation of real exchange rate. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/ss.v39i1. 3154 Staff Studies Vol.39(1&2) 2009 pp.69-85