Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ownership Change, Productivity, and Human Capital: New Evidence from Matched Employer-Employee Data

Empirical studies of the impact of changes in ownership of manufacturing plants on productivity (e.g., Lichtenberg and Siegel (1987, 1990a, 1990b), McGuckin and Nguyen (1995, 2001), and Maksimovic and Phillips (2001)) have provided limited evidence on how such transactions affect investment in human capital and have been based strictly on U.S. and U.K. data. We attempt to fill these gaps, based on an analysis of matched employer-employee data from over 19,000 Swedish manufacturing plants for the years 1985-1998. The sample covers virtually the entire population of manufacturing plants with 20 or more employees and a probability-based sample of smaller plants. We assess whether there are differential effects on productivity for different types of ownership changes, such as partial and full acquisitions and divestitures, and related and unrelated acquisitions. Our results suggest that ownership change results in an increase in relative productivity. This pattern emerges most strongly for full acquisitions and divestitures and unrelated acquisitions. We also find that plants involved in these transactions experience increases in average employee age, experience, and the percentage of employees with a college education. Ownership change also leads to an increase in earnings and a reduction in the percentage of female workers.
Novel control technique for single inductor multiple output converters operating in CCM with reduced cross-regulation

This paper presents an innovative control scheme for single-inductor, multiple-output DC-DC converters operating in CCM. The proposed multi-loop technique exploits both charge control, used for the inner loops related to the different outputs, and average current mode control, used for the external loop that regulates the overall inductor current. This approach provides an independent regulation of converter outputs, thus strongly reducing cross-regulation effects, and it achieves very high efficiency (87 % with a 1 Oz copper board) and output power transfer capability, overcoming the typical limitations of DCM operation. Experimental results are shown to confirm the effectiveness and the high dynamic performance achievable with this solution.
Influence of Donor Blood Temperature on Metabolic and Hormonal Changes During Exchange Transfusion

Measurements of plasma glucose, free fatty acid, glycerol, insulin, growth hormone, and glucagon were made during exchange transfusions performed with blood heated to 36·5 to 38·5 °C or cooled to 10 to 13 °C. Term, normally grown infants suffering from rhesus incompatibility were studied. 10 received warm transfusions and 9 cold transfusions. Cold transfusions caused a progressive fall in rectal, umbilical vein, and skin temperature, whereas warm transfusions caused little change in body temperature. Infants receiving cold transfusions had a greater net positive balance of glucose and a smaller net negative balance of free fatty acids than those receiving warm transfusions. Other metabolic and hormonal responses to exchange transfusion were similar in the two groups. It was concluded that while exchange transfusion performed with cold blood did cause thermal stress to the infant, the metabolic consequences were slight and were mitigated by the glucose in the donor blood. There was no evidence that insulin, growth hormone, or glucagon played a part in the response of the newborn infant to cold.
Sovereign Risk and Financial Risk

This paper examines the relationship between sovereign bond spreads, local economic activity, and global financial risk. We use secondary-market prices of dollar-denominated sovereign securities to construct yield spreads between sovereign bond yields and yields on the appropriately defined default risk-free securities, constructed using zero-coupon U.S. Treasury yields. We use these spreads to construct country-specific sovereign bond spreads for a sample of almost 50 countries over the 1980-2012 period. We then examine the extent to which movements in sovereign spreads are determined by local risk factors, such as fluctuations in exchange rates and local stock market returns, versus global risk factors that arguably proxy for risk-attitudes that prevail in U.S. financial markets. To measure global risk factors we rely on the excess bond premium constructed by Gilchrist and Zakrajsek (2012). The excess bond premium is a measure of distress in U.S. corporate bond markets and comoves closely with conditions in financial markets. According to GZ, the excess bond premium provides a quantitative measure of the risk-attitudes of financial intermediaries. Our results indicate that a substantial portion of the comovement among sovereign spreads can be accounted for by changes in such global risk factors. We also examine the extent to which, during the 2007-09 financial crisis, such global risk factors were related to perceived default risk in the U.S. financial sector. Next, we extend our methodology to construct credit spreads for euro-denominated sovereign bonds for about 40 countries over the 2000-2012 period, and we examine the implications of our empirical pricing framework for comovement among sovereign spreads during the ongoing turmoil in European sovereign debt markets. Lastly, we study the eÂ§ect of various stabilization policy announcements during the recent financial crisis on sovereign bond spreads through the global risk factors. We also compare the impacts of stabilization policy measures during financial crises in the past. Lastly, we construct a general equilibrium model of sovereign debt and default to rationalize the empirical findings. The model features include a risk-averse global investor, optimal default, and endogenous debt dynamics for multiple countries. The sovereign default and bond prices depend on the borrower's economic conditions as well as the lender's risk aversion and riskiness. We quantitatively examine the link between the financial risk that the lender faces and the distribution of sovereign risk.
Polluting Industries and Agricultural Productivity: Evidence from Mining in Ghana

This paper examines the eect of polluting industries on agricultural productivity. The focus is on large-scale gold mining in Ghana which, similar to other fuel intensive activities, releases environmental pollutants with the potential to have negative eects on crop health and key agricultural inputs. Guided by a consumer-producer household framework, we estimate an agricultural production function that incorporates the eects of pollution. We nd that farmers located near gold mines experienced a reduction in total factor productivity of almost 40% between 1997 and 2005, relative to those farther away. Consistent with this result, we document higher concentrations of air pollutants and an increase in rural poverty near mines. We also explore whether mining could be aecting agricultural productivity in other ways, such as by reallocating workers or inducing changes in agricultural practices.
IRS1, KCNJ11, PPARγ2 and HNF‐1α: do amino acid polymorphisms in these candidate genes support a shared aetiology between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Aims: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic disorder primarily triggered by environmental and immunological factors in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite the fact that there are indications of common aetiological features of T1DM and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), variation in genes involved in insulin secretion and insulin signalling has to a large extent been ignored as potential modifiers in the pathogenesis of T1DM. Recent studies suggest, however, that proven T2DM susceptibility gene variants may be involved in the pathogenesis of T1DM. The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of four selected amino acid polymorphisms –IRS‐1 Gly972Arg, Kir6.2 Glu23Lys, HNF‐1α Ala98Val and PPARγ2 Pro12Ala in a Danish population of T1DM families.
Exporter and Non-Exporter Productivity Differentials: Evidence from Australian Manufacturing Establishments

We study the link between exporting and productivity using unpublished establishment level data of the Australian manufacturing from 1994 to 2000. We find there is significant difference in the first moment as well as the whole distribution of productivity between exporters and non-exporters. At the mean level, the average productivity differentials between Australian exporters and non-exporters are comparable to that of, for examples, the United States, Germany, or Taiwan. More importantly, as also found in almost all other countries, we find that the bigger and more productive firms appear to self-select into the export market. In addition, we also find that a higher intensity and longer period of export market exposure is associated with a higher level of productivity, indicating a possible learning-by-exporting effect. JEL Classification: D21; F21
Underpricing of Ipos: The Indian Experience Over the Last Decade

Several papers have identified the uncertainty of the investors and signaling intentions of the issuers behind IPO underpricing. This paper tests the implications of these models for the Indian IPOs over the last decade. The empirical findings show that there exists positive relationship between IPO underpricing and ex-ante measures of risk proxies. It also shows that a subset of companies' decision to raise funds subsequently depended on the initial returns and/or on the aftermarket returns.
The effect of board structure and presence of female directors on corporate risk taking in the UK

Abstract This study investigates the effects of board structure and the presence of female directors on corporate risk-taking behaviour of UK public firms. The research employs a sample of 589 firms from the non-financial sector and 276 firms from the financial sector listed in the FTSE All-Share Index on the London Stock Exchange over the period 2003-2012. The main objective of this research is thus to examine the effect of board structure characteristics and the presence of female directors on corporate risk taking in UK publicly listed companies. After controlling for three types of endogeneity, i.e. simultaneity, unobserved heterogeneity and dynamic endogeneity, through the application and use of a dynamic panel estimator system GMM, this study finds that board structure and female directors are important determinants of corporate risk taking in the UK. Board independence and CEO/Chairperson duality are negatively related to corporate risk taking in both the financial and non-financial companies. In addition, the findings indicate that larger boards in the non-financial sector result in lower corporate risk taking whereas no impact of board size was found in the financial sector. While analysing the percentage number of female directors on corporate risk taking, it was revealed that the presence of female directors on corporate boards in the non-financial sector increases the corporate risk taking and thus works in line with shareholders’ interests and expectations. Moreover, the study finds that this positive significant effect has a quadratic concave effect on corporate risk taking. However, in the financial sector no significant effect on risk taking is shown by the presence of female directors. After considering the effect of financial crisis, it was found that the non-executive directors work in line with shareholders’ interests and support more risky investments in the pre-crisis period in the non-financial companies. However, the non-executive directors in the financial sector behave in a more conservative way, and negatively affect corporate risk taking in both the pre-crisis and post-crisis periods. Moreover, in both sectors duality is found to be negatively related to corporate risk taking during the crisis period only, with no significant effect found for duality in the pre- and post-crisis periods. Further, the positive effect of female ix directors in the non-financial companies appears only in the pre-crisis period. Overall, the findings of this research would be important for the regulators and policymakers responsible for establishing corporate governance regulations for both the financial and non-financial sectors in the UK.
Adoption of Certified Electronic Health Record Systems and Electronic Information Sharing in Physician Offices: United States, 2013 and 2014.

KEY FINDINGS Data from the 2014 National Electronic Health Records Survey. In 2014, 74.1% of office-based physicians had a certified electronic health record (EHR) system, up from 67.5% in 2013. The percentage of physicians who had a certified EHR system ranged from 58.8% in Alaska to 88.6% in Minnesota. In 2014, 32.5% of office-based physicians with a certified EHR system were electronically sharing patient health information with external providers. The percentage of physicians with a certified EHR system electronically sharing patient health information with external providers ranged from 17.7% in New Jersey to 58.8% in North Dakota.
Molecular force transduction by ion channels – diversity and unifying principles

Summary Cells perceive force through a variety of molecular sensors, of which the mechanosensitive ion channels are the most efficient and act the fastest. These channels apparently evolved to prevent osmotic lysis of the cell as a result of metabolite accumulation and/or external changes in osmolarity. From this simple beginning, nature developed specific mechanosensitive enzymes that allow us to hear, maintain balance, feel touch and regulate many systemic variables, such as blood pressure. For a channel to be mechanosensitive it needs to respond to mechanical stresses by changing its shape between the closed and open states. In that way, forces within the lipid bilayer or within a protein link can do work on the channel and stabilize its state. Ion channels have the highest turnover rates of all enzymes, and they can act as both sensors and effectors, providing the necessary fluxes to relieve osmotic pressure, shift the membrane potential or initiate chemical signaling. In this Commentary, we focus on the common mechanisms by which mechanical forces and the local environment can regulate membrane protein structure, and more specifically, mechanosensitive ion channels.
Dexterous motion recognition for myoelectric control of multifunctional transradial prostheses

Attributed to its superior dexterity, the human’s thumb plays a significant role in the activities of daily living (ADLs). In order to promote the operational capability of the prosthetic hand, state-of-the-art designs tend to integrate multiple degrees of freedom (DOFs) in thumb’s trapeziometacarpal (TM) joint for achieving versatile movements. However, without proper control methods, this fine dexterity of multi-DOF prosthetic hand is hard to be demonstrated. This problem becomes more serious when the control signals, electromyography (EMG), are highly limited on the residual stump of the amputee. Through experiments, the paper examines the feasibility of recognizing 4 thumb motions (flexion/extension and abduction/adduction) together with the other 12 finger- and wrist-related motions under a general surface EMG configuration. After surveying the classification accuracy of several selective motion groups (thumb motions, thumb-involved finger motions, thumb-involved wrist motions, etc.), we report here the current limitations of the prevalent pattern recognition-based EMG control schemes. Considering the severely impaired neuromuscular systems of the amputees, controlling those thumb motions for achieving dexterous operations still faces many challenges. We finally discuss several alternative strategies, including switching, extended physiological proprioception (EPP) and postural synergy, for dealing with this problem. Graphical Abstract
The total intracellular concentration of solutes in yeast and other plant cells and the distensibility of the plant-cell wall.

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A Dynamic Model of Risk-Shifting Incentives with Convertible Debt

In a one-period setting Green (1984) demonstrates that convertible debt perfectly mitigates the asset substitution problem by curbing shareholders’ incentive to increase risk. This is because claimholders design the capital structure precisely when the risk-shifting opportunity is available. In practice, firms do not alter their capital structure over the life of the convertible debt. Hence, when the risk-shifting opportunity arises, convertible debt design may no longer match with firm asset value to mitigate the asset substitution problem. This leaves room for a strategic non-cooperative game between shareholders and convertible debtholders. We show that two risk-shifting scenarios arise as attainable Nash equilibria. Pure asset substitution occurs when, despite convertible debtholders not exercising their conversion option, shareholders still find it profitable to shift risk. Strategic conversion occurs when, despite convertible debtholders giving up the conversion option value, they are better off receiving their share of the wealth expropriation from straight debtholders. We use contingent claims analysis and the Black and Scholes (1973) setup to characterize the equilibria. Even when initial convertibles debt is endogenously designed so as to minimize the likelihood of risk-shifting equilibria, we show that asset substitution cannot be completely eliminated. Our overall conclusion is that – in contrast to agency theory’s claim – convertible debt is an imperfect instrument for mitigating shareholders’ incentive to increase risk.
Family Business, Employment, and GDP *

We analyze the proportion of family business and its contribution to employment and gross domestic product (GDP). Our analysis adds to the literature by including all listed firms and by investigating a longer period than has heretofore been reported. The main contribution is to extend the analysis to include all firms in the economy using census data. Our study is devoted to the case of Sweden. Family business makes up half of the listed firms, and three quarters of all firms, accounting for one-fourth of total employment, and one-fifth of GDP. Their importance has increased during the period studied.
Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast

Background: Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a rare entity. Most patients are in the sixth to seventh decade of life. The criteria for diagnosis were established by the WHO in 2003, and modified in 2013. Based on the limited number of studies done; this entity is thought to have a worse prognosis compared to the usual type of intraductal carcinoma. Case Report: A 45 year old woman presented in the surgical outpatient department with complaint of lump breast. Fine needle aspiration was performed and the case was reported as suspicious of malignancy. Biopsy was advised for further evaluation. Histopathology showed a cellular tumor exhibiting a sheeting pattern with interspersed rosettes. The individual cells were relatively monomorphic, with a salt and pepper chromatin. Intraductal component was also identified. Based on the characteristic morphology and presence of chromogranin positivity in more than 50% of the tumor cells, the lump was diagnosed as primary neuroendocrine carcinoma, well differentiated. Conclusion: This case has been written up because of the rarity of this entity, its characteristic histopathological features, and the importance of differentiating it from intraductal carcinoma, due to a more aggressive course than invasive ductal carcinoma, with a higher propensity for local and distant recurrence and poorer overall survival attributed to this entity by some researchers.
Investigation of LC-hybrid active power filters in resonances prevention and compensation capabilities

This paper presents the harmonic resonances prevention and compensation capabilities of three-phase four-wire center-spilt LC coupling hybrid active power filter (LC-HAPF). Firstly, a single-phase harmonic equivalent circuit model of the LC-HAPF is deduced and built. Based on the circuit model, the LC-HAPF compensation characteristics are studied and analyzed in details, which shows a superior compensation characteristic compared with its pure passive power filter (PPF) part. Finally, simulation results for the pure PPF part and LC-HAPF are given to verify all the analyses.
The application of steady‐state free precession to the study of very slow fluid flow

An NMR imaging technique sensitive to slow flow (∼ 1 mm/s) using a conventional imaging gradient strength (0.025 mT/cm) is described. Two projections with different spatial magnetic periodicity (determined by the SSFP pulse interval), and thus with different flow sensitivities, are subtracted to give signal from flows in a velocity window. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
Autonomy, Independence, Inclusion

The living environment must not only meet the primary needs of living, but also the expectations of improvement of life and social relations and people’s work. The need for a living environment that responds to the needs of users with their different abilities, outside of standardizations, is increasingly felt as autonomy, independence and well-being are the result of real usability and adaptability of the spaces. The project to improve the inclusivity of living space and to promote the rehabilitation of fragile users need to be characterized as an interdisciplinary process in which the integration of specialized contributions leads to adaptive customization of space solutions and technological that evolve with the changing needs, functional capacities and abilities of individuals.