Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Hedging Models and Their Relevance in Corporate Finance: A Review

This study is a review of literature for theoretical models that provides alternative rationales for corporate hedging under imperfect market conditions. In models explained, corporate hedging is defined in three ways, as any insurance contract, as an activity reducing the correlation of the firm value with some random variation and as holding derivative financial instruments.There are basically two arguments that these model addresses. First, reducing risk at corporate level is value enhancing. Second, corporate hedging arises as a result of shareholder-manager conflict.
Evaluation of the highest concentrations used in the in vitro chromosome aberrations assay

There is controversy over the highest concentration to which an article should be tested in in vitro mammalian cell assays of genetic toxicity. Until recently, most guidelines specified the use of concentrations of up to 10 mM or 5,000 μg/ml (whichever is lower) when not limited by the toxicity of the test article to the cells used for the test. Several recent publications have called for lowering those limits. We examined concentration/response curves for in vitro chromosome aberrations assays. Data was extracted from two published databases to evaluate the lowest dose at which a positive response was reported. Concentration/response curves were simulated using Monte Carlo procedures on log normal distributions of the data. These curves were then used to predict the loss in assay sensitivity that would be incurred by arbitrarily lowering the highest concentration to which the assay is conducted. The simulations suggest that lowering the current high concentration limit from 10 mM would dramatically impact the sensitivity of the assay. In contrast, lowering the high concentration limit using the μg/ml scale, the most commonly applied scale in regulatory submissions, would not have a similar impact on assay sensitivity until the limit concentration was lowered to more than half of the current 5,000 μg/ml limit. This analysis suggests that the current limits of 10 mM and 5,000 μg/ml are not equivalent to one another and challenges the assumption that lowering the 10 mM limit will not decrease assay sensitivity. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2013. Published 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effects of Test Anxiety, Age, Intelligence Level, and Arithmetic Ability on Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test Performance

This study investigated the effects of test anxiety, intelligence, arithmetic ability, and age on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) performance of 45 participants ages 16 to 54. Level of anxiety as measured by a short form measure of state anxiety and retrospective report during the PASAT appeared to have no significant effect on performance. Intelligence and arithmetic ability, however, together accounted for 46% of the variance on PASAT scores. Although no significant correlation was found between PASAT performance and age, those over 26 years of age performed significantly better on the 2.0 second paced presentation.
Ethics-In-Action: An Application Of Structuration Theory In Professional Service Firms

A theoretical base for studying ethics in action is developed. In previous work, we propose a responsibility ethic, normative stakeholder theory, and discourse ethics as components of ethical decision making within organizational contexts. Here, we argue that structuration theory provides theoretical depth and conceptual integration to the ideas presented in our earlier work. The previous work is briefly discussed and structuration theory is reviewed. Ethically informed action is formulated within the context of structuration theory as a consideration and instantiation of structural features. Ethical action is predicated on the agent’s accountability within the context of an ongoing community. Accountability requires the explication of reasons for one’s actions and the justification, or legitimation (normative grounds) for the reasons given. The question of expert systems applications within a professional service organization is used as the vehicle for illustrating how the theoretical ideas might be implemented in identifying and addressing ethical dilemmas.
The effect of high-flux hemodialysis on renal anemia.

BACKGROUND Anemia is an important predictor of mortality and morbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Erythropoietin (EPO) is an expensive drug, which increases the cost of therapy. In addition, anemia persists in 20-30% of cases despite EPO treatment. In this study, which depended on the idea that the clearance of moderate and high molecular weight erythropoiesis inhibitors leads to an improvement in terms of anemia, we aimed to investigate the effect of high-flux dialysis on anemia and EPO requirement in patients undergoing HD. METHODS The study included 48 patients with ESRD on chronic HD treatment who could not reach the target hemoglobin (Hb) level, despite treatment with at least 200 IU/kg/week subcutaneous EPO. Patients were randomized into two groups and HD was performed with polysulphone low-flux dialyzer (Fresenius F6 HPS) or polysulphone high-flux dialyzer (Fresenius F60) for 6 months. RESULTS Although the EPO doses were significantly lower (p<0.001) in the high-flux dialysis group, Hb levels showed a significant increase (p<0.001). In the low-flux dialysis group, Hb levels showed no significant increase, despite the steady increase in EPO doses. In the high-flux group, the reduction of beta2-microglobulin (b2-MG) and phosphorus levels during dialysis was significantly higher when compared to the low-flux group (p<0.001). During the follow-up period, while b2-MG levels decreased significantly in the high-flux group (p<0.05), there was an increase in the low-flux group (p<0.05). Kt/V(urea) values showed no significant difference throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that high-flux dialysis use is effective and this can be an alternative method in terms of controlling renal anemia and reducing the cost of therapy. These beneficial effects of high-flux dialysis are probably mediated by the improved clearance of moderate and high molecular weight toxins.
Dynamic instability of microtubules

Recent evidence shows that dynamic instability is the dominant mechanism for the assembly of pure tubulin in vitro and for the great majority of microtubules in the mitotic spindle and the interphase cytoplasmic microtubule complex. The basic concepts of this model provide a framework for future characterization of the molecular basis of spatial and temporal regulation of microtubule dynamics in the cell and the function of microtubule dynamics in motile processes such as chromosome movement.
The electronic financial markets of the future : and survival strategies of the broker-dealers

PART 1: EMERGING MEGA-TRENDS: UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE: THE CAUSE AND EFFECT Introduction From Localisation to Globalisation Derived Effects Networked Financial 'Supermarkets' eVolution of Market Structures A Virtual Tour of the e-Markets of Today PART 2: UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE: THE IMPACT! Liquidity: The Rising Tide Balance of Power and the Efficiency of the eXchange Auction Systems Strategic Response of the Traditional Exchanges Emergence of New Forms of Commodities and Risk PART 3: SURVIVAL STRATEGIES Strategic Response of the Broker-Dealers The Quantum Leap in Action Virtual Reality Bytes The Net Strategic Impact of Technology on the Business of Securities Trading Corporate Longevity
Human Resource Management: A Managerial Tool for Competitive Advantage

1. Human Resource Management and Competitive Advantage. 2. Understanding the Legal and Environmental Context of HRM. PART I: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRE-SELECTION PRACTICES. 3. Planning for Human Resources. 4. Analyzing Jobs. PART II: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SELECTION PRACTICES. 5. Recruiting Applicants. 6. Selecting Applicants. PART III: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT POST-SELECTION PRACTICES. 7. Training and Developing Employees. 8. Appraising Employee Job Performance. 9. Determining Pay and Benefits. 10. Implementing Productivity Improvement Programs. PART IV: HRM PRACTICES AFFECTED BY EXTERNAL FACTORS. 11. Complying with Workplace Justice Laws. 12. Understanding Unions and Their Impact on HRM. 13. Meeting Employee Safety and Health Needs. 14. Establishing HRM Practices Overseas. CONCLUSION. 15. Working in the HRM Field. Manager's Guide to the Internet.
Managers’ Beliefs about Measures to Retain Senior Workforce

This paper aims to describe and explain the beliefs of public sector managers regarding measures to promote active ageing within organizations and how these beliefs can relate to their own attitudes, age, gender, organizational roles, and structures. Data were collected by mailed questionnaires from 672 managers on operative and administrative levels in the Norwegian municipal and health sectors. It was found that managers believe in the usefulness of at least seven different measures, identified by factor analyses. Sum scores were calculated from the factors, and five of them showed sufficient reliability. Ranked according to their mean values, the factor-based sum scores were 1) reducing working hours, increasing the number of holidays, and offering flexible part-time schedules without a reduction in wages; 2) reducing workload and demands; 3) increasing wages, pensions, and bonuses; 4) increasing esteem, learning, and job enrichment for the senior workers; and 5) repositioning the workers to other, less demanding parts of the organization. In multiple regression analyses, these sum scores were found to be influenced mainly by the managers’ individual attributes, like age, gender, own retirement plans, beliefs, and attitudes. Organizational and structural factors seemed less important. The findings are discussed within three schools of thought: the ‘Human Relations Model,’ the ‘Market Model,’ and the ‘Age Management Model. ’ A fourth ‘school,’ the ‘Laissez-faire Model,’ is indicated by the 26% of managers who claimed no responsibility for the age management issues.
Outcomes after transhiatal esophagectomies in an eastern-European low-volume center.

BACKGROUND The present study proposes to analyze the results obtained after transhiatal esophagectomies (THE), from the perspective of an Eastern European surgical center with low esophageal resection volume (LV). AIMS Our analysis, which to the authors' knowledge is the first of its kind in Romania, has the purpose of comparing our results with those obtained in higher or similar volume centers, in order to derive conclusions regarding the quality of therapeutic management for patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer in Romania. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective observational study. METHODS In total, 70 patients were included, in whom THE was performed during the period 1997-2013 by six senior surgeons. The majority of our patients had esophageal cancers (n=66; 94.3%); we also performed 4 THE procedures for benign conditions (n=3; 4.27%) and esophageal perforation (n=1; 1.42%). RESULTS The majority of cancer-group patients had T3/N+ tumors. The nodal involvement in the T2, T3 and T4 categories was 9.9%, 21.6% and 35.1%, respectively. Complications were identified in 45 patients (68.2%), with the majority being represented by pulmonary complications (16 patients; 24.3%) and cervical leaks (15 cases; 22.7%). In-hospital mortality was 9.09%. We found a one-year overall survival rate of 58.7% (95%CI: 51.7-65.7%), 27.2% at 2 years (95%CI: 21.2-36.2%) and 10.5% at 3 years (95%CI: 6.5-14.5%). The median survival rate was estimated to be 16 months. CONCLUSION Morbidity and in-hospital mortality after THE was performed in low-volume centers, despite being significantly higher than reported in HV centers, could be kept at reasonable rates. In our opinion, the measures which have the potential to raise the standard of care for patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer in Romania are represented by the standardization of therapeutic and diagnostic protocols for esophageal cancer and the centralization of these major oncologic interventions in surgical excellence centers.
A 1-kW 32–34-GHz Folded Waveguide Traveling Wave Tube

Folded waveguide (FWG) traveling wave tubes (TWTs) are potential sources of wideband, high-power millimeter and terahertz wave radiation. However, low efficiency limits its application. In this paper, we discuss a design strategy to improve efficiency of the FWG TWT meanwhile how to avoid instability is also discussed. The critical factors for the slow-wave structure design and the sever design are analyzed. A phase velocity taper profile incorporating a positive period followed by a negative period is introduced into the design to improve the efficiency. A Ka-band FWG TWT was developed, which demonstrated the output power up to in 2-GHz bandwidth and electronic efficiency up to .
Explaining the forces underpinning grammaticalization paths: The progressive-to-imperfective shift in three varieties of Spanish

We provide an account of the synchronic variation between the use of the Simple Present marker [Verb-a] and the Present Progressive marker [estar + Verb-ndo] in the expression of the habitual reading in Modern Spanish. Results from an acceptability judgment task in three distinct dialectal varieties (Rioplatense Spanish, Iberian Spanish, and Mexican Altiplano Spanish) show: (a) the presence of variation across dialects, (b) that this variation is constrained by a grammaticalization path, the Progressive-to-Imperfective shift, and (c) that a generalization process is already underway in all three different dialects but at different degrees of progress: more conservative in the Rioplatense and Iberian varieties, and less so in the Mexican Altiplano one. Specifically, our results show that whereas the Simple Present is the preferred form to express the habitual reading, the Present Progressive marker is already available to convey this reading in the three dialectal varieties. However, in Rioplatense Spanish and Iberian Spanish, this use is restricted to contexts that independently satisfy the presuppositional content of estar –the auxiliary in the Present Progressive periphrasis [estar + Verb-ndo]–, which requires the existence of alternative situations at which the prejacent does not hold. This restriction appears to be eroding in Mexican Altiplano Spanish, which is manifested as a loss in the context-dependence of the Present Progressive marker.
Do Auditor Sanctions Affect Clients' Accruals?

The purpose of this study is to investigate into the discretionary accruals of the client companies of sanctioned auditors before sanction enforcements and changes thereafter. We find that signed discretionary accruals of the sanctioned auditors' client companies are significantly more favorable to earnings before the sanctions and reduce conservatively afterwards. In essence, the separated discretionary accruals in the income-increasing and income-decreasing groups for clients of sanctioned auditors are significantly favorable to inflate earnings prior to enforcement releases, but shift to the opposite direction following sanction announcements. Our results infer that auditors are sanctioned for lack of conservatism but not for low audit quality, and similar to extant literature findings in auditing litigation, clients' accruals decline conservatively across-the-board subsequent to auditors' enforcement releases.
The prevalence of anxiety and depression among end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Depression commonly overlaps with uremic symptoms, but anxiety is less commonly studied among renal patients. The symptoms of medical illness, along with the psychological and social stresses that often accompany a debilitating chronic disease, are thought to produce deleterious psychological consequences. We sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression among Saudi dialysis patients in Makkah. A cross-sectional study of anxiety and depression among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in Makkah was conducted in November 2011. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to screen for anxiety and depression. Participants’ demographic data, possible stressors and past psychiatric history were obtained. All participants were Saudi ESRD patients on maintenance hemodialysis. According to HADS, 57 (21.1%) patients were probable cases of anxiety and 63 (23.3%) were probable cases of depression. Only 32 (11.3%) were diagnosed with depression or anxiety before ESRD onset. Age was a significant predictor of anxiety and depression diagnoses. Major family problems (p = 0.001) were also a significant predictor of anxiety. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent among ESRD patients in Makkah, and anxiety can be predicted by family factors. Early detection, management and family support might improve clinical outcomes.
Central adjudication of venous ultrasound in VTE screening trials: reasons for failure

Summary. Background: The accuracy of screening ultrasound for venous thrombosis in asymptomatic patients is still a matter of debate. The VENUS study evaluated the accuracy of centrally adjudicated venous ultrasound against venography in patients after major orthopedic surgery and found the sensitivity of ultrasound to be poor for both proximal and distal deep vein thrombus (DVT). Objectives: To evaluate whether thrombus characteristics such as location or size influence the diagnostic performance of centrally adjudicated venous ultrasound. Methods: All false negative sonograms of the VENUS study were re‐evaluated against the corresponding venograms. Discrepancies were categorized into types of diagnostic failures. Within these categories, thrombus characteristics such as location, length or size of thrombus were evaluated. Results: One hundred and twelve pairs of discrepant ultrasound and venography documents were compared with 28 pairs with concordant results. Discrepancies were caused by local documentation failure (37.5%), failure of the ultrasound method (43.7%) and failure of the central adjudication process (18.7%). The overall size of thrombi was small, which caused about 40% of all sonographic failures with a detection threshold of five Marder points, a thrombus length of 9.5 cm and a number of 3.5 pathological compression manoeuvres. Proximal or distal location of DVT did not affect thrombus detection. Conclusion: If centrally adjudicated ultrasound is to be used in future VTE screening trials, training of local sonographers and central adjudicators needs to be intensified, because asymptomatic DVTs seem to be small and ultrasound sensitivity depends on the number of pathological compression manoeuvres documented in the ultrasound document. In contrast, distal or proximal thrombus location itself does not influence sensitivity.
The molten globule state as a clue for understanding the folding and cooperativity of globular‐protein structure

For simple globular proteins, all the information necessary for the formation of the native three-dimensional structure is contained in the amino acid sequence. ’ As yet, however, the detailed mechanism by which this “programming” of the tertiary by the primary structure is achieved during the folding process is not fully understood, and the problem has been a major challenge in biophysical chemistry. Because an immense number of possible conformations are accessible to a polypeptide chain of even moderate length, the random search mechanism of folding must be ~ n l i k e l y , ~ ~ and most researchers agree on the presence of nonrandom pathways of folding (see also ref. 6). Major interests in protein folding studies are thus concerned with what types of intermediate conformations between the native and the fully unfolded states are present on the pathway of folding and how they are accessible to real experiments. However, there has been some controversy and confusion as to the nature of the intermediate species present, particularly concerning its stability at an early stage of the folding reaction. The classical two-state theory of the protein unfolding transition seemed to be well e ~ t a b l i s h e d ~ , ~ and seriously influenced the general trend in formulation of a model of protein folding. As a result, some researchers made the assumption that the incipient structures of folding must be very unstable, i.e., essentially unfolded on the average, but stable enough to restrict a conformational space available in a late stage of f ~ l d i n g . ~ ~ The assumption of instability of the intermediates was a logical solution of the requisite of the two-state theory of protein folding or unfolding. On the other hand, other researchers demonstrated that the two-state theory is no longer applicable to the kinetics of folding in native conditions and assumed that the protein folding must occur in a stepwise manner with well-populated
A new simple local muscle recovery model and its theoretical and experimental validation

This study was conducted to provide theoretical and experimental validation of a local muscle recovery model. Muscle recovery has been modeled in different empirical and theoretical approaches to determine work-rest allowance for musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention. However, time-related parameters and individual attributes have not been sufficiently considered in conventional approaches. A new muscle recovery model was proposed by integrating time-related task parameters and individual attributes. Theoretically, this muscle recovery model was compared to other theoretical models mathematically. Experimentally, a total of 20 subjects participated in the experimental validation. Hand grip force recovery and shoulder joint strength recovery were measured after a fatiguing operation. The recovery profile was fitted by using the recovery model, and individual recovery rates were calculated as well after fitting. Good fitting values (r2 > .8) were found for all the subjects. Significant differences in recovery rates were found among different muscle groups (p < .05). The theoretical muscle recovery model was primarily validated by characterization of the recovery process after fatiguing operation. The determined recovery rate may be useful to represent individual recovery attribute.
IEEE 802.11ac Link Adaptation Under Mobility

High fluctuation of signal strength is evident in wireless channel under mobile environment. IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11ac based wireless technologies experience a challenge for selecting link configuration parameters, like number of spatial streams, channel bonding, advanced modulation and coding schemes, frame aggregation etc., dynamically under mobility. Selection of the best possible data rate by tuning link parameters is a challenging issue due to the channel asymmetry in mobile environment. In this paper, we propose an adaptive learning mechanism, HT-MobiRate, for high throughput dynamic link adaptation under mobile scenario. HT-MobiRate is based on Thompson sampling and inspired from multi-armed bandit approach. To the best of our knowledge, this invention is first in the direction of link adaptation for IEEE 802.11ac under mobile environment. We analyze the performance of HT-MobiRate with a practical high throughput wireless testbed built over 6 IEEE 802.11ac supported access points and 20 IEEE 802.11ac clients (both client boards as well as smart-phones). We recognize that it performs considerably better than other competing schemes proposed in the literature for link adaptation in static environment.