Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Courting Failure: How Competition for Big Cases Is Corrupting the Bankruptcy Courts

LoPucki's provocative critique of Chapter 11 is required reading for everyone who cares about bankruptcy reform. This empirical account of large Chapter 11 cases will trigger intense debate both inside the academy and on the floor of Congress. Confronting LoPucki's controversial thesis-that competition between bankruptcy judges is corrupting them-is the most pressing challenge now facing any defender of the status quo. "-Douglas Baird, University of Chicago Law School "This book is smart, shocking and funny. This story has everything-professional greed, wrecked companies, and embarrassed judges. Insiders are already buzzing. "-Elizabeth Warren, Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law, Harvard Law School "LoPucki provides a scathing attack on reorganization practice. "Courting Failure" recounts how lawyers, managers and judges have transformed Chapter 11. It uses empirical data to explore how the interests of the various participants have combined to create a system markedly different from the one envisioned by Congress. LoPucki not only questions the wisdom of these changes but also the free market ideology that supports much of the general regulation of the corporate sector. "-Robert Rasmussen, University of Chicago Law School A sobering chronicle of our broken bankruptcy-court system, "Courting Failure" exposes yet another American institution corrupted by greed, avarice, and the thirst for power. Lynn LoPucki's eye-opening account of the widespread and systematic decay of America's bankruptcy courts is a blockbuster story that has yet to be reported in the media. LoPucki reveals the profound corruption in the U.S. bankruptcy system and how this breakdown has directly led to the major corporate failures of the last decade, including Enron, MCI, WorldCom, and Global Crossing. LoPucki, one of the nation's leading experts on bankruptcy law, offers a clear and compelling picture of the destructive power of "forum shopping," in which corporations choose courts that offer the most favorable outcome for bankruptcy litigation. The courts, lured by big money and prestige, streamline their requirements and lower their standards to compete for these lucrative cases. The result has been a series of increasingly shoddy reorganizations of major American corporations, proposed by greedy corporate executives and authorized by case-hungry judges.
Is the export-led growth hypothesis valid for Australia?

The relationship between exports and output is examined using Australian annual data over the period 1900-1993. Cointegration and causality testing fails to detect the existence of a long-run or short-run relationship between the two variables. These results are explained by restoring to the structural time series modelling approach which shows that while the output series exhibits cyclical variation, the exports series does not have this property. It is concluded that the export-led growth hypothesis is not valid for Australia.
Global HRM and the dilemma of competing stakeholder interests

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the meaning of socially responsible human resource management (HRM) in the global business context. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a multiple case study and is descriptive. The study focuses on four case studies of two Finnish multinational companies. The data sources are company documents and web sites, newspapers, financial periodicals and web-based open communication channels. Findings – The study shows the contextual nature of socially responsible HRM and highlights the need to recognise the magnitude of the issues and viewpoints that affect the evaluation of social responsibility from the HRM point of view. The study also reveals the gap between the rhetoric used by top management and the messages given out by the HR function. Research limitations/implications – The four cases examined in this study do not allow for empirical generalisations. Practical implications – The study stresses that the costs and consequences of unethical behaviour cannot be overlooked when aiming to maintain the image of a socially responsible company. Originality/value – This study addresses a research gap in HRM studies by adopting an ethical perspective and suggesting that instead of balancing global integration with responsiveness to local customs companies should find a balance between profitability and responsibility. The study provides rich material for discussion and illustration.
Statistical analysis of length of productive life for dairy cows of the Normande breed.

The length of productive life of 103,214 Normande cows milked from 1979 to 1989 in purebred herds was analyzed using a mixed Weibull model: their probability of being culled, or hazard function, was supposed to be the product of a baseline Weibull hazard function and explanatory variables that were log-linear and time-dependent. Fixed effects that may have an impact on culling rate were successively added to the model. Two random effects, a herd-year and a sire effect, were also included. The dispersion parameter of the log-gamma prior distributions assumed for these effects was estimated maximizing a marginal posterior density obtained after algebraic integration of the corresponding random effect. The other effects and the Weibull parameter could not be integrated out easily. The probability of being culled was not changed by age at first calving but increased with stage of lactation. It also increased for low producing cows and for herds of decreasing size, especially during the 3 mo preceding the end of the period on which yearly milk production is calculated for the European Community quota system. This last phenomenon seems to be crucial for proper statistical and genetic analysis of length of productive life. The estimated variances of the herd-year and sire effects indicated a large influence of these effects on culling rate. Under certain assumptions, the standard deviation of sire effects can be assessed at > . 5 expected complete lactations. This value is not reduced by consideration of differences in milk production of the cows.
Evolutionary Patterns and Coevolutionary Consequences of MIRNA Genes and MicroRNA Targets Triggered by Multiple Mechanisms of Genomic Duplications in Soybean

A genome-wide analysis and interspecific comparison of MIRNA genes revealed the patterns of MIRNA gene evolution subsequent to the recent whole-genome duplication event in soybean. The evolutionary dynamics of duplicated protein-encoding genes (PEGs) is well documented. However, the evolutionary patterns and consequences of duplicated MIRNAs and the potential influence on the evolution of their PEG targets are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the evolution of plant MIRNAs subsequent to a recent whole-genome duplication. Overall, the retention of MIRNA duplicates was correlated to the retention of adjacent PEG duplicates, and the retained MIRNA duplicates exhibited a higher level of interspecific preservation of orthologs than singletons, suggesting that the retention of MIRNA duplicates is related to their functional constraints and local genomic stability. Nevertheless, duplication status, rather than local genic collinearity, was the primary determinant of levels of nucleotide divergence of MIRNAs. In addition, the retention of duplicated MIRNAs appears to be associated with the retention of their corresponding duplicated PEG targets. Furthermore, we characterized the evolutionary novelty of a legume-specific microRNA (miRNA) family, which resulted from rounds of genomic duplication, and consequent dynamic evolution of its NB-LRR targets, an important gene family with primary roles in plant-pathogen interactions. Together, these observations depict evolutionary patterns and novelty of MIRNAs in the context of genomic duplication and evolutionary interplay between MIRNAs and their PEG targets mediated by miRNAs.
Agent-Based Production Planning Support System

Abstract Production planning is the main aspect for a manufacturer affecting the income of a company. Correct production planning policy chosen for the right product at the right moment in the product life cycle (PLC) reduces production, storing and other related costs. This leads to such problems to be solved as defining the present PLC phase of a product and also determining the transition point – a moment of time when the PLC phase changes. The paper presents the Agent‐Based Production Planning Support system meant for supporting a production manager in his/her production planning decisions. The developed system is based on the analysis of historical demand for products and on the information about transitions between phases in life cycles of those products. The system creates a model and uses it to forecast a transition point for a product that only begins its life on the market. The architecture of the developed system is presented and an analysis of testing on real‐world data results is given.
Do Warrants Matter?

Abstract We examine traditional criminal wiretaps to determine whether the 4th Amendment’s warrant requirement limits law enforcement. We develop a formal model relating law enforcement’s decision to pursue a wiretap to its exogenous cost, probability of yielding evidence, and the expected value of that evidence. We use the model to analyze success rates of all traditional federal wiretaps initiated 1997–2004. We find budget constraints cause law enforcement to pursue only taps that are particularly likely to succeed. Thus, eliminating the warrant requirement for traditional wiretaps would matter little, and the significance of a warrant requirement for new investigative programs, such as the Terrorist Surveillance Program, depends on budget.
The Life Cycle Model as a Framework for Understanding Barriers to SME Growth in Hong Kong

Researchers have not yet arrived at a consensus on the impediments to growth of small and medium-size enterprises (SME). A lack of empirical and statistical research, coupled with mixed or loosely supported findings on SME growth and the major problems to be overcome at different stages has prompted the authors to investigate this topic which is important in terms of the growth and survival of companies. ‘One in every five new ventures fails in the first five years of business’ is among one of the most frequently quoted statements in the area of research into small and medium enterprises. Since obstacles to growth are often not effectively identified and solved (Cowan, 1988), the systematic study of problems which firms experience as they move from one stage to another would provide a basis for linking those obstacles to strategic solutions that can eventually lead to organizational growth. The main objective of the present study is therefore to assess empirically the dominant obstacles associated with distinct stages of SME development, and to share the strategies used by some SME owners to overcome their problems. Findings will contribute both to management practices and entrepreneurship literature.
Preventive Dental Service Utilization for Medicaid-Enrolled Children in New Hampshire: A Comparison of Care Provided by Pediatric Dentists and General Dentists

In this study, we compared preventive dental utilization through visits to a pediatric dentist (PD) vs. visits to a general dentist (GD) among Medicaid-enrolled children in New Hampshire (n = 12,964). Dental claims were analyzed using conditional logistic regression models. After adjusting for covariates, children seen by a PD were 51% more likely to have received fluoride treatment, 26% more likely to have had at least two dental examinations, and 19% more likely to have received a sealant than children seen by a GD. Overall, our results suggest that children seen by a PD were more likely to have received preventive services than those seen by a GD. Because Medicaid-enrolled children are at increased risk for poor oral health, policies should be enacted to ensure that high-risk children receive appropriate and regular prevention-oriented dental care.
An App to Support Difficult Interactions Among Providers, Patients, and Families

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article. O ncology advanced practitioners are responsible for effective communication regarding diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. The Institute of Medicine's Report on Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care recommends that patients and their families be provided understandable information and decision aids to per-sonalize information at key decision points along the continuum of cancer care (Institute of Medicine, 2013). One of the most challenging aspects of clinical care is sensitive and timely communication with patients and families. With the explosion of applications (apps) for oncology providers (Doyle-Lindrud, 2014), there is an opportunity for increased technology use to facilitate patient/fam-ily caregiver communication. The range of mobile health, or ''mHealth,'' apps is impressive, spanning care delivery, monitoring , diagnostics, training, and more 2014 study on mobile device analyt-ics finds that device usage has proliferated and that clinicians tend to view mHealth tools positively. Clinicians indicate that future technologies will have a positive impact on their communication with other clinicians and patients (Healthcare Information Management Systems Society, 2014). Health-care technologies and patient care have evolved rapidly, whereas the communication utility and efficacy of mHealth technologies have lagged behind (Nagler et al., 2014). Too little is known about how health-care providers utilize these systems (Barakat, Woolrych, Sixsmith, Kearns, & Kort, 2013) and about how patient/provider communication can be supported with mHealth technologies. Understanding the communication value of these technologies must move beyond a nascent area of research (Sherry & Ratzan, 2012). Communication skills training for providers improves the quality of life of patients and improves patient satisfaction with the quality
Validation of a Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Antibodies against Babesia bovis

ABSTRACT A previously developed competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) based on a species-specific, broadly conserved, and tandemly repeated B-cell epitope within the C terminus of rhoptry-associated protein 1 of Babesia bovis was refined and validated for use internationally. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an assay with a specificity and positive predictive value of 100% and a sensitivity of 91.1%, with various negative predictive values depending on the level of disease prevalence. The cELISA was distributed to four different laboratories, along with a reference set of 100 defined bovine sera, including known-positive, known-negative, and field samples. Pairwise concordances among the four laboratories ranged from 94% to 88%. Analysis of variance of the resulting optical densities and a test of homogeneity indicated no significant difference among the laboratories. Overall, the cELISA appears to have the attributes necessary for international application.
Technical challenges of SoS requirements engineering

Taken by themselves separate aspects of systems of systems (SoS) can be addressed by conventional system engineering techniques. That is, at least to a large degree, we know how to address the problems of distribution, emergence and evolution. The specific challenges posed by SoS arise from their combination. Additionally, we have to deal with independence of constituent systems (CS) of SoS, in particular, managerial independence. In this article we focus on technical challenges of mastering SoS requirements. Based on techniques for systems engineering we sketch problems that appear specifically in SoS engineering if we want to be able to use conventional engineering techniques as much as possible. The ultimate aim of our work is to develop tools that can support SoS requirements engineering.
EFFECTS OF ACRIDINE PLUS NEAR‐ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ON THE OUTER MEMBRANE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract The hydrophobic photosensitizer acridine plus near‐ultraviolet light damages both plasma membranes and outer membranes in Escherichia coli. Two lines of evidence are presented that outer membrane proteins are affected by acridine plus near‐ultraviolet light treatment and that the effect is selective for certain proteins. First, analysis of outer membrane proteins on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gels revealed that some protein bands are diminished upon treatment while others remain unaltered. New bands also appear, suggesting degradation or crosslinking reactions. Second, bacteriophage adsorption studies showed that treatment of E. coli F cells with acridine plus near‐ultraviolet light causes a loss in functionality of the receptor for phage T5. Treatment of E. coli ABU57 cells under comparable conditions has no discernable effect on the functionality of the receptor for phage BF23.
Lower volumes of tear menisci in contact lens wearers with dry eye symptoms.

PURPOSE To investigate tear meniscus volumes during short-term lens wear by soft contact lens (SCL) wearers with dryness symptoms. METHODS Three groups of 20 subjects were recruited. Group 1 consisted of SCL wearers with self-reported dryness. Group 2 consisted of asymptomatic wearers. Group 3 was composed of asymptomatic non-lens wearers. Contact lenses were fitted on each eye, and both upper and lower tear menisci were imaged before lens insertion, immediately afterward, and 30 minutes later, using optical coherence tomography. Custom software was used to yield the tear meniscus area, and then the volumes were calculated based on eyelid length. Repeatability was tested 30 minutes after lens wear on two consecutive days. RESULTS There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the volumes measured at 30 minutes after lens insertion on 2 days. In addition, the repeatability between days was similar among the groups. The upper and lower meniscus volumes were significantly lower in group 1 than in either of the asymptomatic groups at baseline, immediately after insertion, and 30 minutes later (P < 0.05). The upper tear meniscus in group 3 was greater than in group 2 at all times (P < 0.05). The lower meniscus volume immediately after insertion was significantly higher in group 3, the inexperienced wearers, than in group 2 (P < 0.05); however, the volumes at baseline and 30 minutes later were similar to one another (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Tear volumes in dry eye symptomatic wearers were lower than asymptomatic wearers at baseline and during lens wear, which may have contributed to the dryness.
Does early intervention improve the prognosis in anorexia nervosa? A systematic review of the treatment-outcome literature.

OBJECTIVE Early intervention has been suggested to be an important positive prognostic factor in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). The treatment-outcome studies conducted thus far were systematically reviewed in search of evidence to confirm this suggestion. METHOD An extensive search was conducted for treatment outcome studies specifically addressing the prognostic value of the duration of the illness. Thirty-three follow-up studies of eating disorders and AN in particular were subjected to nine "best-evidence" criteria for methodological soundness. Six of these studies were found to meet all of the criteria and thus considered in greater detail. RESULTS In four of these studies, the duration of illness was not found to be related to the treatment outcome. This is presumably because of the low variability in duration of illness found in these studies. In the two remaining studies, a negative relation between duration of illness and the outcome of treatment was reported. As a result of methodological shortcomings and a lack of control for potentially confounding variables, however, the prognostic value of early intervention could still not be estimated on the basis of these studies. DISCUSSION The prognostic value of early intervention in AN cannot be estimated on the basis of the treatment-outcome literature. Unfortunately, the duration of the illness and not the occurrence of early intervention is considered in most of the outcome studies of AN. In addition, a number of methodological shortcomings make it impossible to evaluate the prognostic value of early intervention.
Coordinating the Processes of Resource Enrichment and Capability Deployment: Lessons from IT Implementation at a Medium-Sized Accounting Firm

Purpose – The purpose of this paper has been to address the research question of how are the processes of resource enrichment and capability deployment coordinated during information technology (IT) implementation at a small- and medium-sized accounting firm (SMAF)? Increasingly, organizations need to respond to a wide range of IT-based opportunities and pressures. The situation is no different in an accounting firm. Many accounting practitioners have advocated investment in IT to improve accounting firms’ productivity. To date, there are many instances of how IT has radically transformed the nature of accounting practice. Nevertheless, little is known about how IT capability is developed in SMAFs. In particular, the resource enrichment process during IT capability development has been understudied. Design/methodology/approach – The strategy of this paper was to undertake qualitative case research of an ERP systems upgrading project at SMAF. The case study approach is particularly appropriate for this exp.
Inflation, real short-term interest rates, and the term structure of interest rates: a regime-switching approach

This study explores the implications of the expectations hypothesis by examining the implied term premium, in conjunction with an explicit description of processes generating both inflation and short-term real interest rates. , It models inflation and short-term real interest rates using a technique that allows for changes in regimes and generates future forecasts of inflation and real interest rates. , The hypothesis is that persistent shifts in the term premium under the expectations hypothesis might come from forecast errors by econometricians if regime shifts are omitted, shifts which are however observed by the agents. , This study examines whether persistent shifts in the term premium can be eliminated after taking into account the regime shifts in the processes for inflation and real interest rates. , The results indicate that there still exists persistence in the term premium. , However the implied term premium generated from regime-switching models shows less persistence than those from ARIMA models. , Although the regime-switching model does not reconcile the data with the expectations hypothesis, the results suggest that the persistence of the term premium obtained from a fixed-coefficient ARIMA model may be due in part to systematic forecast errors that are eliminated by allowing for regime changes. ,