Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Firm Expansion and CEO Pay

We study the extent to which decisions to expand firm size are associated with increases in subsequent CEO compensation. Controlling for past stock performance, we find a positive correlation between CEO compensation and the CEO's past decisions to increase firm size. This correlation is economically meaningful; for example, other things being equal, CEOs who in the preceding three years were in the top quartile in terms of expanding by increasing the number of shares outstanding receive compensation that is higher by one-third than the compensation of CEOs belonging to the bottom quartile. We also find that stock returns are correlated with subsequent CEO pay only to the extent that they contribute to expanding firm size; only the component of past stock returns not distributed as dividends is correlated with subsequent CEO pay. Finally, we find an asymmetry between increases and decreases in size: while increases in firm size are followed by higher CEO pay, decreases in firm size are not followed by reduction in such pay. The association we find between CEOs' compensation and firm-expanding decisions undertaken earlier during their service could provide CEOs with incentives to expand firm size.
Income Rounding and Loan Performance in the Peer-to-Peer Market

This paper uses a unique dataset from Lending Club (LC), the largest online lender in the U.S, to analyze the consequences of income rounding in terms of loans performance. We find that rounding of income by a borrower may indicate a bad outcome for a loan. Borrowers with a rounding tendency are more likely to default and less likely to prepay than borrowers with more accurate income reporting. Furthermore, investors are not compensated for the extra risk associated with rounding. Borrowers who misreport income by means of rounding obtain lower interest rates and larger loans with longer maturity than those who do not round. These results are consistent across various specifications and sub-samples.
Dynamic weakening and amorphization in serpentinite during laboratory earthquakes

The mechanical properties of serpentinites are key factors in our understanding of the dynamics of earthquake ruptures in subduction zones, especially intermediate-depth earthquakes. Here, we performed shear rupture experiments on natural antigorite serpentinite, which showed that friction reaches near-zero values during spontaneous dynamic rupture propagation. Rapid coseismic slip (>1 m/s), although it occurs over short distances (<1 mm), induces significant overheating of microscale asperities along the sliding surface, sufficient to produce surface amorphization and likely some melting. Antigorite dehydration occurs in the fault walls, which leaves a partially amorphized material. The water generated potentially contributes to the production of a low-viscosity pressurized melt, explaining the near-zero dynamic friction levels observed in some events. The rapid and dramatic dynamic weakening in serpentinite might be a key process facilitating the propagation of earthquakes at intermediate depths in subduction zones.
TISSUE SITES

51 Int. Cl. A61K 37/02; A61K 31/555; A61K 31/28; A61K 31/315 52 U.S. C. 514/6; 514/18; 514/19, 514/21; 514/494; 514/880; 514/891; 514/893; 514/492; 514/499; 514/500; 514/501; 514/502; 514/505; 514/419, 514/428; 514/399 58 Field of Search . 514/494, 6, 18, 19, 514/880, 893, 891, 419, 428, 399; 424/94, 103, 105, 106, 108, 110, 111
Causes of Low Female Choice of Agriculture Science Programme in Senior High Schools in Ghana: A Study of Afigya Kwabre District

There is low choice of Agriculture Science programme among female Senior High School (SHS) students in Ghana. The study therefore set forth to find out the underlying reasons of this phenomenon. Three hundred and ten non-science and non-agriculture science female students from three SHSs in Afigya Kwabre District were sampled for the study. A self-made questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. It was found out that the underlying reasons for the low choice of the programme were lack of guidance and counselling, lack of scholarships for females to enrol in the programme, lack of female role models in Agriculture, mathematics based nature of Agriculture Science and teaching approaches used by Agriculture Science teachers. The rest were difficult nature of Agriculture, too much practical based nature of the programme, failure in examinations by a lot of females who pursue it and more natural science based of the programme. Recommendations were made to improve upon females’ choice of Agriculture Science programme in SHSs. Keywords : low, female choice, senior high school, agriculture science programme.
Households' Preferences for Plumbing Materials

Consumers’ decisions on plumbing material selection are dictated by various factors, including state and federal regulations, service providers, and individual household preferences. The regulations and standards of the federal, state, and local governments have major impacts on the plumbing material chosen for installation in a private house. For example, the use of plastic plumbing material, such as PEX, has been approved in all U.S. states except for California and Massachusetts, where the material installation requires local jurisdiction acceptance. Similarly, in some parts of Florida, PEX is preferred due to the seriousness of pinhole leak1 problems (NSF, 2008). These regulations influence services provided by plumbers, material producers (e.g. pipe manufacturers, interior coating providers), and water utility companies. For example, general contractors are the primary decision-makers of plumbing material installation in new houses, while utility companies respond to corrosion threats by adding corrosion inhibitors to drinking water treatment. Consequently, all service providers influence consumer decisions, regarding the best plumbing material for private properties.
Microbial Cell Retention in a Melting High Arctic Snowpack, Svalbard

Abstract While elution processes of ions and solutes from alpine and arctic snowpacks are well known, the scientific knowledge of the effects on microbial cells and their link to glacial surface ecology during this period is very limited. Here we show that dissolved substances are eluted from a High Arctic snowpack according to previous reports, while the microbial cells are retained and most likely also proliferate. Their retention enhances the interaction between the snowpack-derived microorganisms and microbial communities living on the surface of glaciers, a habitat known for its cell retention, especially those associated with debris known as cryoconite. Microbial biomass is retained during all stages of the summer ablation upon these Arctic glaciers, emphasizing the need to explore the feedback between microbial growth and meltwater biogeochemistry. Furthermore, the snowpack stratigraphy at Midtre Lovénbreen, Svalbard, shows a frequently low abundance of cells, typically corresponding to those of cloud water. However, a few layers show higher bacterial numbers (up to 104 cells mL-1) that occur with an increase of dust particles and most likely originate from local sources.
Currency Crises and Purchasing Power Parity in the Asian Countries: Evidence Based on Second-Generation Panel Unit-Root Tests

This study applies a second-generation panel unit-root tests to determine the stochastic properties of real exchange rates for 14 Asian countries. Based on three popular alternative definitions of a currency crisis, we identify the several important currency crisis episodes in the region. The purchasing power parity (PPP) hypothesis was overwhelmingly supported after accommodating these heterogeneous noisy and unstable observations. Our panel unit-root test that controls for cross-sectional dependence and is robust to structural breaks confirms that the crisis in all the countries fits well with the second-generation models of currency crisis, that is, the root cause of the currency crises may not lie in economic fundamentals. PPP relation emerges when breaks and cross country dependency has been taken into account for these 14 countries.
Strong Ground Motion in the Source Region of the 1984 Western Nagano Prefecture Earthquake. Inferred from Displaced Boulders.:Inferred from Displaced Boulders

Boulders displaced by the 1984 Western Nagano Prefecture Earthquake (MJMA=6.8) were investigated mainly in the eastern part of the source region which had not been fully surveyed. It was found that numerous boulders were displaced over the large extent of the eastern part of the source region. It is inferred that the boulders were not displaced by high-frequency seismic waves with frequencies between 5-10 Hz, but by low-frequency seismic waves of about 1 Hz, which radiated from the smooth dislocation on the fault plane. The boulder which experienced the largest ground motions was discovered in the eastern part. The ground motions estimated from the displacement of the boulder have a velocity of 5.5 m/s and an acceleration of 3.5 g in the vertical direction, and a velocity of 3.2 m/s and an acceleration of 2.0 g in the horizontal direction.
Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

This chapter provides music therapists with fundamental information on how to work with persons who have mild to moderate and severe dementia (stages defined below). This work may take place in longterm care, hospital, or community contexts (e.g., day programs, hospice, or at the client’s home). The reader should note that Chapter 20 (Abbott) also contains some methods that may be modified for this clinical population.
Molecular Characterization and Diversity Analysis of Soybean Varieties Against Soybean Rhizoctonia Aerial Blight Resistance

Analysis of polymorphism among soybean varieties and determination of genetic relationship among soybean varieties differing in Rhizoctonia Aerial Blight (RAB) resistance, using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) marker and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). In the present investigation carried out 20 ISSR primers amplified 174 markers. Out of them 122 loci were polymorphic 70.11% (6.1±0.52 average), while 52 loci were monomorphic 29.89% (2.6±0.27 average) and RAPD primer amplified 78 loci, out of them 61 loci were polymorphic 78.02% (6.1±0.44 average), while 17 loci were monomorphic 21.78% (1.7±0.44 average). A dendrogram was generated by UPGMA clusters analysis based on Jacquard's similarity coefficient. Estimated genetic similarity among 18 soybean varieties using 20 ISSR primers, were 0.71 – 0.95. In this study, observed high level of polymorphism because low level of monomorphic band scored this type of markers system. Out of these 20 primers all of them produce polymorphic bands which represented maximum diversity in between soybean varieties. In these markers system to evaluate the genetic similarity as well as genetic relationships among the soybean cultivars, these were able to differentiate each and every varieties In the used of the ISSR primers which generated genetic similarity in between BRAGG with NRC 37 have 94% genetic similarity and was observed different cluster with NRC 37 and HIMSO 1602 with SL 710 and MACS 756 in between having about 93% genetic similarity, it was clustered with SL 710 and MACS 756 cultivars. In soybean cultivars using of RAPD primers e.g. PS 1374 with BRAGG and NRC 37 having with represented much closed clusters in which differentiate with other varieties.
Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. Ethanol Leaf Extract on Hematology in Phenylhydrazine-induced Anemic Albino Wistar Rats

The study was designed to investigate the effect of ethanol leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. in phenylhydrazine-induced anemic albino Wistar rats. Twenty five (25) rats of both sexes were randomly assigned to 5 groups. Group 1 (normal control), Group 2 (negative control) was challenged with Phenylhydrazine (40 mg/kg, i.p.) without treatment. Group 3 received M. oleifera extract at 300 mg/kg. Groups 4 and 5 were challenged with phenylhydrazine (40 mg/kg) and treated with 300 and 600 mg/kg of M. oleifera respectively. All treatments with the extract were per os. All animals were allowed free access to food and water pre and post treatment for 21 days. At the end of the treatment period, blood samples were collected from the rats via the retro-orbital plexus of the eye. The hematological parameters assayed for were red blood cell count, hemoglobin count, white blood cell count, packed cell volume, platelet count, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration and lymphocytes count. Changes in body weight of the rats were also determined. Results showed that there was significant (P<0.05) increase in some blood parameters (red blood cell count, hemoglobin count, white blood cell count). Body weights were also found to increase with increasing doses of the extract in the PHZ-challenged animals. In conclusion, the oral administration of ethanol extract of M. oleifera has the tendency to increase some blood parameters and may be important in the treatment and management of anemia especially hemolytic and hemorrhagic anemia.
Modern Family? Paternity Leave and Marital Stability

We study how relationship stability of couples is affected by an increase in fathers’ involvement in staying home from work with young children. We make use of a parental leave reform in Sweden that earmarked one month of paid leave to each parent in a regression discontinuity difference-in-differences (RD-DD) framework. Couples who were affected by the reform increased the take-up of fathers’ leave but also increased their probability of separation compared to unaffected couples. We argue that the separation effect can be explained by the degree of restrictiveness of the policy in combination with role conflicts in traditional family constellations. (JEL D13, J12, J13, J16, J32)
Are Corporations Reducing or Taking Risks with Derivatives?

Abstract Public discussion about corporate use of derivatives focuses on whether firms use derivatives to reduce or increase firm risk. In contrast, empirical academic studies of corporate dervatives use take it for granted that firms hedge with derivatives. Using data from financial statements of 425 large U.S. corporations, we investigate whether firms systematically reduce or increase their riskiness with derivatives. We find that many firms manage their exposures with large derivatives positions. Nonetheless, compared to firms that do not use financial derivatives, firms that use derivatives display few, if any, measurable differences in risk that are associated with the use of derivatives.
An Analysis of the ENSO Cycle Associated with the Equatorial Tropospheric Zonal Wind Anomalies over the Pacific Basin

Abstract An analysis of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle associated with the vertically-inte-grated equatorial tropospheric (1000–100hPa) zonal wind anomalies (ZWA) over the Pacific Basin ismade in this paper. The data sets used are the monthly US National Center of Environmental Prediction(NCEP) reanalysis wind and the NCEP monthly sea surface temperature (SST) from 1950 to 1998. Thewavelet analysis of both ZWA at different regions along the equator and SST anomaly in the equatorialeastern Pacific (EEP) shows that there are various phase-lag relationships between them in the interan-nual and interdecadal time-scales. In the equatorial western Pacific, the phase of ZWA in most events isearlier than that of EEP SST anomaly (or El Nino event) for about 7–13 months at the interannualtimescale. In the equatorial central Pacific, there is little phase-relationship between them. In the equa-torial eastern Pacific, the phase of EEP SST anomaly mostly is earlier than that of ZWA for about 4–9months while the positive ZWA leads positive SSTA about 18 months ahead. The phase of ZWA in theequatorial South America coast (ESAC) leads that of the EEP SST anomaly about 6 months in advance.In the equatorial western Pacific and ESAC, the El Nino event appears basically when the ZWA trans-forms from westerlies to easterlies while the La Nina event takes place in the reversed situation. The re-lationships are explained using a simple tropical air-sea coupled model (Gill model), which includes apositive/negative feedback scenario that seems to hold during the ENSO cycle. According to these find-ings, a strong El Nino is predicted for 2001–2002.Key words: Pacific basin, equator, troposphere, wavelet transform, zonal wind, ENSO
Why Universities Are Adopting Market Oriented Management Practices

Universities all over the world have come under increasing pressures to respond to the rapidly changing market environment. The unprecedented growth, complicacy and competitiveness of the global economy along with its consequential socio-political changes have been creating pressures on higher education institutions for adopting market-oriented initiatives. Further the expansion of university education without proportionate government budgetary support is creating acute financial pressure and universities are looking toward market for revenue generation. This transformation of the university from a government funding to market-orientation is affecting various aspects of production and transmission of knowledge, which are bound to create a series of conflicts. The advantages, disadvantages and scope of conflicts arise due to market oriented management practices are discussed in the paper.
Larval settlement behaviour in six gregarious ascidians in relation to adult distribution

Settlement influences the distribution and abundance of many marine organisms, although the relative roles of abiotic and biotic factors influencing settlement are poorly understood. Species that aggregate often owe this characteristic to larval behaviour, and we investigated whether this predisposes ascidians to becoming invasive, by increasing their capacity to maintain their populations. We explored the interactive effects of larval phototaxis and geotaxis and conspecific adult extracts on settlement rates of a representative suite of 6 species of ascidians that form aggregations in the field, including 4 aliens with global distributions, and how they relate to adult habitat characteristics. In the laboratory, the larvae were (1) held in light or dark, (2) offered the choice of settling in the light or dark, or (3) held in the presence or absence of adult extract. When confined in either light or dark conditions, all species settled equally in dark and light. Four showed strong geotaxis, 3 settling preferentially on the bottom of experimental chambers, and one on the top. Offered a choice between dark and light, 2 species settled preferentially in the dark with no geotactic preferences and another 2 showed an interaction between light and geotaxis. For 4 of the species, the responses of settlers accorded with, and may contribute to, adult orientation patterns in the field. Adult extracts inhibited settlement of 3 species and failed to influence settlement of the other 3, arguing against conspecific attraction being a cause of aggregation and an explanation of the propensity of ascidians to become invasive.
Google Search, Information Uncertainty, and Post-Earnings Announcement Drift

Financial market investors use Internet searches for information acquisition about corporate announcements. This study examines the relation between Internet search volume for firm earnings information and post-earnings announcement drift (PEAD). Our first finding is that Google search volume index (SVI), a measure of Internet search volume, is associated with higher information uncertainty of firms with impending earnings announcements. Secondly, we find evidence that Google SVI does not predict analyst forecast based earnings surprises, but does predict stock market reaction to earnings surprises. These results support the argument that Google SVI reflects information searches by public or uniformed investors. We also find that higher Google SVI appears to reduce PEAD by improving the flow of information and reducing information asymmetries to uninformed investors, thus increasing market efficiency. Google SVI mitigates PEAD up to 40 days after the announcement. Overall, our findings suggest that uninformed investors can reduce the post-earnings announcement returns anomaly and information asymmetries through Internet searches.
Prospects and Challenges of Communicative Approach in EFL Context

Since 20th century, language teaching approaches and methods have been consistently oscillating from one end to the other following successive changes in linguistic ideologies and learning theories. Grammar translation, direct method, audio-lingual, Suggestopedia, Silent Way, Total Physical Response and so forth had been in application in many countries with slight modifications. However, none of these methods were able to accommodate learners’ diverse communicative intentions, learning needs and interests. Therefore, to makeup the failures of these methods and approaches, the most liberal and eclectic approach, CLT, emerged in to sphere of existence in the early 1970s. Instantaneously, most non native users of English have adopted the approach in to their own context. While, some other countries which felt sceptic about the compatibility of the approach and obsessed with situational language teaching methods were bound to adopt the liberal approach in to their own situation lately. Yet, irrespective of this, empirical literature revealed that there still exists a mismatch between theoretical presumptions and practical implementation of the approach in many countries where English services as a foreign language chiefly because of intricate delusions and lack of vivid conceptual understanding of the approach. Thus, the intention of this article is to elucidate the prospects and challenges detracting the application of communicative approach in EFL context on the bases of varieties of recent empirical and theoretical literature.
Atmospherics : An Investigation of Feeling and Internet Purchase Intention

This study examines the online atmospheric cues of color and music and their impact upon feeling, attitude and purchase intention of consumers in the online environment. The research design was experimental and used data from a questionnaire. A pilot test of the instrument was conducted. The final questionnaire contained 39 items and a demographic section. A total of 200 questionnaires were collected. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Each group of 50 participants was exposed to a specific set of online atmospheric elements. The results indicated that Hypotheses 1, 3 and 4 were rejected while Hypotheses 2 and 5 were accepted. Managerial and theoretical implications are discussed along with future research suggestions.