Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transaction Costs and the Interest Parity Theorem: Comment

A recent empirical study by Bahmani-Oskooee and Das (1985) concludes that "transaction costs" fail to explain the variation in absolute percentage spreads between actual forward rates and rates implied by covered interest rate arbitrage, denoted by IPI. This strong conclusion is based on a regression that has several problems. First, the data contain both errors and omissions, which we correct. Second, their econometric model does not effectively capture the effect they are seeking to measure and is inconsistent. A more complete statistical model is necessary both for consistent parameter estimation and for drawing inferences that shed light on the condition they attempt to test. Without subscribing to the modeling approach of BahmaniOskooee and Das, this study finds that (i) correcting the errors and omissions in their data changes the regression results significantly, including a significant sign change for the transaction cost effect; (ii) using their variable definitions, one may obtain a zero R2 and zero coefficient for transaction costs even if they explained all the variation in IPI; and (iii) an alternative measure of the effects of transaction costs that is more consistent with the authors' approach and theory suggests that transaction costs may explain up to 60 percent of the variation in IPI. In addition, this study cautions against drawing strong conclusions from data derived from the standard sources employed by Bahmani-Oskooee and Das even after the errors are removed. Section I discusses some of the problems with the data in BahmaniOskooee and Das. These problems are important in an era of heightened awareness regarding the issue of "replicability. " See, for example, Dewald, Thursby, and Anderson (1986) on the Journal of
Comparative Study of P19 EC Stem Cell Differentiation in between Conventional Hanging Drop and the Zebrafish Chorion as a Bio-derived Material

Various materials including glass and polymers have been widely used for stem cell culture due to their biocompatibility. However, the roles of these materials are fundamentally limited because they cannot realize or imitate the complex biological functions of living tissues, except in very simple cases. Here, the development of a bio-derived material suitable for stem cell culture and improvement of differentiation efficiency to specific cell lineages with no stimulating agents by using a chorion obtained from a fertilized zebrafish egg through the removal of the yolk and embryonic cell mass from the egg is reported. Mouse P19 EC stem cells introduced into the empty chorion form a uniform embryoid body (EB) without addition of any inducing agent. It is demonstrated that the zebrafish chorion with nanopores improves efficiencies greatly in the EB formation, cell proliferation, and lineage-specific differentiations compared to those of the conventional hanging drop culture method.
Issues and Strategies Pertaining to the Canadian Governments' Coordination Efforts in Relation to the 2010 Olympic Games

Abstract The purpose of this article was to understand the government stakeholder group's coordination issues and strategies in mega-events, here, the 2010 Olympic Games. The case study was built by means of archival material, interviews, and observations. All three levels of government were included (i.e., the two host municipalities, the host province, and the federal government). Findings highlight five contextual-based issues (time, geography, funding, other resources, and the political situation) and eleven other types of issues (accountability/authority, activation/leveraging, knowledge management, legal, operational, planning, power, relationships, social issues, structure, and turnover). Eight strategies were used to address these issues: communication processes, decision-making frames, engagement, flexibility, formalized agreements, human resource management procedures/principles, strategic planning, and structural framework. The relationships between issues and from issues to strategies are discussed, as are within-group stakeholder heterogeneity and the impact the findings have on public administration theory and practice.
Crystal structure of Pb3(IO4(OH)2)2

The basic building units of the hydrous periodate Pb3(IO4(OH)2)2 are three Pb2+ cations and two IO4(OH)2 3− anions. The octahedral anions are arranged in a distorted hexagonal rod packing, with the cations (each with a coordination number of eight) located in between.
Social impact as a measure of fit between firm activities and stakeholder expectations

Institutional investors are increasingly focusing on firms that prioritise Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In the absence of any objective measure of a firm's CSR Performance (CSP), their investment choices are largely guided by independent rating indices that rank firms according to their social performance metrics. As a result, firms looking to increase their attractiveness as targets of social investment focus their CSR efforts on increasing the visibility of activities that are recognised by such indices. However, the validity of these indices as accurate measures of firms' actual social performance has repeatedly been called into question. This means that the ability of these indices to measure and report on firms' actual social impact cannot be ascertained with any degree of accuracy. The result is that firms are incentivised to engage in activities (whether genuine or 'greenwashing') that cannot be said to improve social responsibility, and may even ultimately harm society. Thus, another method of measuring CSP must be found that enables firms to measure their true impact on society. We propose a new approach to measuring CSP that is integrated with stakeholder theory. Such an approach provides managers of firms with an interest in engaging in real social development for the purposes of ensuring firm survival with the ability to understand their social obligations, and the ability to measure the resulting benefit to society.
A measure of phase randomness for the harmonic model in speech synthesis

Modern statistical speech processing frameworks require the speech signals to be translated into feature vectors by means of vocoders. While features representing the amplitude envelope already exist (e.g. MFCC, LSF), parametrizing the phase information is far from straightforward, not only because it is a circular data, but also because it shows an irregular behaviour in noisy time-frequency regions. Thus, many vocoders reconstruct speech by using minimum phases and random phases, relying on a previous voicing decision. In this paper, a phase feature is suggested to represent the randomness of the phase across the full time-frequency plan, in both voiced and unvoiced segments, without voicing decision. Resynthesis experiments show that, when integrated into a full-band harmonic vocoder, the suggested randomization feature is slightly better, on average, to STRAIGHT’s aperiodicity. In HMM-based synthesis, the re-sults show that the suggested vocoder reduces the complexity of the analysis and statistical modelling by removing the voicing decision, while keeping the perceived quality.
Firm rebirth: Buyouts as facilitators of strategic growth and entrepreneurship

Buyouts, especially leveraged buyouts, have been perceived historically as an organizational efficiency tool to streamline organizational processes, reduce workforces, and decrease unit costs. This efficiency approach has been especially useful with mature firms, where the structure of debt and limits to managerial spending decrease the downside risk and possible failure of the firm. This article illustrates how buyouts can also create entrepreneurial opportunities and allow upside growth. In particular, it focuses on understanding the aspects and circumstances of the entrepreneurial mindsets of managers who seek upside growth through buyouts. These entrepreneurial mindsets provide a wider view of buyouts as a vehicle for renewal that frequently leads to revitalization and strategic innovation. The article provides insights for entrepreneurs, managers, and financiers by articulating four categories of buyout opportunity--efficiency, revitalization, entrepreneurial, and failure buyouts. We specify the cond.
Hormonal Imprinting of the Microsomal Enzyme System in Adults. Microsomal Activity Change in Response to Estrogen (DES, AE) Treatment during Liver Regeneration

Estrogen (diethylstilbestrol-DES or allylestrenol-AE) treatment applied to rats of both sexes during liver regeneration following subtotal hepatectomy had a long lasting influence on the inducibility by phenobarbital of the hepatic microsomal enzyme system of the females. The enzyme activities of the DES-treated females differed hardly from the baseline two weeks after treatment, but increased almost two-fold over control on induction with phenobarbital 5 and 7 weeks later. The AE-treated females showed a smaller although yet significant, enzyme activity increase only at 7 weeks. The influence of estrogens was negligible, and inhibitory rather than stimulatory, in the males. It appears that, in appropriate conditions, enzyme imprinting can also be induced in adult organisms, since, in all probability, availability for imprinting depends not so much on the age of the organism, as on the developmental state of the target cell.
Precautionary Saving, Insurance, and the Origins of Workers' Compensation

In this article we test whether the introduction of social insurance has led to a reduction in private insurance purchases and precautionary saving by examining the introduction of workers' compensation. Our empirical analysis is based on the financial decisions of over 7,000 households surveyed for the 1917-19 Bureau of Labor Statistics Cost-of-Living study. We find that the presence of workers' compensation at least partially crowded out private accident insurance and led to a substantial reduction in precautionary saving. The introduction of workers' compensation caused private saving to fall by approximately 25 percent, with other factors held constant.
Housing and the Welfare State in the Netherlands: An Application of Esping-Andersen's Typology

Abstract: Esping-Andersen's theory and typology of the welfare state have been widely discussed in international comparative housing research. Most of the debate has been theoretical in nature; empirical applications of the theoretical framework are rare. We have therefore applied Esping-Andersen's typology to the housing system of the Netherlands. The results of this research project are described in this contribution. The paper starts with an outline of the theoretical background of the research project. There follows a description of Esping-Andersen's theory of the welfare state, with its typology of three welfare state regimes. This typology is reinterpreted for the field of housing. The resulting scheme of analysis shows how various welfare state regimes differ on some important housing system aspects. The scheme of analysis is applied to the housing system of the Netherlands. Several relevant aspects of this system, such as the organisation of housing provision, subsidisation, and rent regulation, are analysed. For each of these aspects, the welfare state regime with which it can be best linked is determined. Two epochs are analysed: the 1980s and the 1990s. Consequently, the development in time of the housing system in the Netherlands can be described. Some general conclusions are drawn concerning the applicability of Esping-Andersen's typology of welfare states to the field of housing. We propose a possible modification of this theoretical framework and outline some directions for future research.
Impact of Job Embeddedness on Leave Intention: An Understanding from Higher Education (HE) System

Most of the researchers have focused on work-related attitudes and employment alternatives to explain leave intension (or turnover intention) of employees. Job embeddedness framework integrates both work and non-work related factors to explain employee’s turnover rather than only work related dimension. This paper presents the results of an empirical survey conducted in higher education institutions to validate job embeddedness construct in a new context. Out of the two types of embeddedness, our findings fully supports that organization embeddedness has a negative impact on leave intension, however, there is no impact of community embeddedness. In addition, job alternative positively relates to leave intention. Some items of community and organization link dimensions of the composite measure have also been improved.
Loss and Sprouting of Nitric Oxide Synthase Neurons in the Human Epileptic Hippocampus

Summary: Purpose: Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in a variety of functions, including the control of synaptic plasticity and sensory signaling. Current evidence suggests that this unconventional neurotransmitter mediates N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor–linked excitotoxicity. This study describes the expression of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) immunoreactivity (IR) in hippocampi from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).
On the Spurious Correlation Between Sample Betas and Mean Returns

Abstract Cornerstone asset pricing models, such as capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and arbitrage pricing theory (APT), yield theoretical predictions about the relationship between expected returns and exposure to systematic risk, as measured by beta(s). Numerous studies have investigated the empirical validity of these models. We show that even if no relationship holds between true expected returns and betas in the population, the existence of low-probability extreme outcomes induces a spurious correlation between the sample means and the sample betas. Moreover, the magnitude of this purely spurious correlation is similar to the empirically documented correlation, and the regression slopes and intercepts are very similar as well. This result does not necessarily constitute evidence against the theoretical asset pricing models, but it does shed new light on previous empirical results, and it points to an issue that should be carefully considered in the empirical testing of these models. The analysis points to the dangers of relying on simple least squares regression for drawing conclusions about the validity of equilibrium pricing models.
Spatial aspects of european airports’ partial factor productivity

Abstract This research is devoted to discovering of spatial effects in European airports’ partial factor productivity (PFP). A set of study PFP indicators includes infrastructural (air transport movements per runway), labour (workload units per employee), and financial (revenue and profit per workload unit) ratios. We utilised a number of appropriate statistical tests (Moran’s I., Geary’s C., Mantel test, and spatial auto-regression) for revelation of spatial relationships between PFP indicator’s values. The tests were separately applied to samples of Spanish (2009-2010) and UK airports (2011-2012) and provided evidences of significant spatial effects in data.
Equivalence of the bioimpedance and thermodilution methods in measuring cardiac output in hospitalized patients with advanced, decompensated chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND An accurate and reliable noninvasive method for determining cardiac output/cardiac index would be valuable for patients with acutely decompensated advanced systolic heart failure. OBJECTIVES To determine whether a correlation exists for cardiac output and index determined by using bioimpedance and thermodilution in patients with acutely decompensated complex heart failure and if differences between results with the 2 methods could be explained by the patients' advanced condition. METHODS Cardiac output and index were determined by using bioimpedance and thermodilution in 33 patients. Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic data were assessed to determine if differences between results with the 2 methods could be explained by the patients' advanced condition. Concordance correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman agreement between methods were calculated. RESULTS Four patients were excluded from analysis because reliable measurements could not be obtained; the remaining 29 patients constituted the study population. Mean cardiac outputs determined by thermodilution and bioimpedance were 5.48 and 5.40 L/min, respectively (rhoc = 0.89, P < .001), and mean cardiac indexes were 2.67 and 2.65 (rhoc = 0.82, P < .001). Mean bias (limits of agreement) between data pairs was 0.08 (-0.18 to 0.35) L/min (P = .52) for cardiac output and 0.03 (-0.097 to 0.16; P = .61) for cardiac index. Six data pairs (21%) had an absolute percent difference greater than 15%. Of these, 50% had a higher thermodilution value. CONCLUSION Determinations of cardiac output and index by both methods were significantly correlated. Mean bias between the 2 methods was small, suggesting clinical utility for bioimpedance in patients with complex decompensated heart failure.
In-Hospital Mortality and Time from Onset of Symptoms of Acute Myocardial Infarction in 540 Patients Undergoing Primary Coronary Angioplasty

The time from the onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction to primary coronary angioplasty was 18 ± 23 h in 386 men and 19 ± 24 h in 154 women (p not significant) and 14 ± 19 h in 27 blacks, 19 ± 23 h in 493 whites, and 13 ± 11 h in 20 patients of different races (p not significant). In-hospital mortality was 6% in 144 patients aged ≧70 years and 1% in 396 patients <70 years (p < 0.005). In-hospital mortality was 2% in 386 men and 4% in 154 women (p not significant). In-hospital mortality was 2% in 493 whites, 4% in 27 blacks, and 0% in 20 patients of other races (p not significant). In-hospital mortality was 6% in 143 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% and 1% in 397 patients with a LVEF ≧40% (p < 0.005). In-hospital mortality was 5% in 223 patients with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <90 ml/min and 1% in 317 patients with a GFR ≧90 ml/min (p < 0.005).
Politics of Counter-assimilation in Japan: Chosun-Korean Immigrant Activism Revisited

This study explores the politics of counter-assimilation in Japan by focusing on Chosun/Korean immigrant activism: its political dynamics in relation with the political-cultural nexus of assimilation anti-assimilation that has dominated the Japanese politics of immigration as well as Chosun/Korean immigrant identity formations. The Japanese politics of immigration mainly consists of ‘assimilation’ and ‘exclusion’(anti-assimilation), represented in migration policies and through naturalization of immigrants in order to make a homogeneous peoplehood (imperial subjects and Kokumin ) or exclude immigrants from Japanese society. Korean immigrant groups have responded to the Japanese politics of immigration by assimilation, the ‘collective and individual boundary crossing’ in cooperation with Japanese counterparts and state, and ‘anti-assimilation’, the ‘collective boundary fixing against Japanese notions of peoplehood’. This study suggests that the counter-assimilation of Chosun/Korean immigrants for equal treatment and rights h as been a pivotal constitutive part of the politics of immigration in Japan. To understand this political dynamics among assimilation, anti-assimilation, and counter-assimilation, this study utilizes the contemporary debate on the immigrant voting rights for local elections by tracing its process and examining different political positions in the debate.
Can Supply and Demand Parameters Be Recovered from Data Generated by Market Institutions

The relative accuracy of estimators in recovering supply and demand parameters can depend on the market institutions that generate the data. The parameters of known supply and demand functions are estimated with data from laboratory market experiments with human buyers and sellers. Single-equation estimators dominate simultaneous-equations estimators in recovering supply and demand parameters from posted-offer market data. The inaccuracy of simultaneous-equations estimators with posted-offer data can be explained by the implications for error distributions of the inherent properties of this market institution. Simultaneous-equations estimators perform better with closing-price data from double-auction markets.
Equity REITs and the January Effect

Traditionally, the potential benefits of a particular investment strategy are explored using relatively simple risk and return ratios. In fact, a more complete look at the relative performance of the entire return distribution may be offered through the use of stochastic dominance. In this “academic presentation” the authors use stochastic dominance to provide further evidence of the benefits of equity REITs and the existence of a “January effect. ”
Determination of the gene sequence and the molecular structure of the enterococcal peptide antibiotic AS-48

The structural gene of the enterococcal peptide antibiotic AS-48 (as-48) has been identified and cloned by using two degenerate 17-mer DNA oligonucleotides on the basis of the amino acid sequences of two peptides obtained by digestion of the antibiotic with Glu-C endoproteinase. That as-48 gene codes for a 105-amino-acid prepeptide, giving rise to a 70-amino-acid mature protein. Comparative analysis demonstrated that the 16-amino-acid sequence of one of the AS-48 Glu-C peptides, designated V8-5, was composed of a 12-amino-acid sequence corresponding to the C-terminal end sequence (from isoleucine +59 to tryptophan +70 [I+59 to W+70]) of the prepeptide and terminated in four residues forming the N terminus (M+1 to E+4) of a putative AS-48 propeptide. These data, combined with the characteristics of the gene sequence, strongly suggested that the antibiotic peptide was a 70-residue cyclic molecule. We propose that the AS-48 translated primary product is very likely submitted to a posttranslational modification during secretion (i) by an atypical or a typical signal peptidase that cleaves off a 35-residue or shorter signal peptide, respectively, from the prepeptide molecule and (ii) by the linkage of the methionine residue (M+1) to the C-terminal tryptophan residue (W+70) to obtain the cyclic peptide (a tail-head linkage).
Two Different Mechanisms for Determining Effective Work Function (fm,eff) on High-k - Physical Understanding and Wider Tunability of fm,eff

We have experimentally found two different mechanisms characterizing effective work function (Phi<sub>m,eff</sub>) of a gate electrode on Hf-based high-k dielectrics. Interface dipoles induce both positive and negative Phi<sub>m,eff</sub> shifts. The positive shift is almost independent of gate electrode materials, while the negative one is sensitive to Si composition of the gate electrode. Surface densities of the dipoles are estimated to be the order of 10<sup>14</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup>. By making the most of two types of interface dipoles, we can expand a tunability of Phi<sub>m,eff</sub> of gate electrodes on high-k (Phi<sub>m,high-k</sub>)