Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Liquidity and the Contingent Nature of Bank Credit Lines: Evidence on the Costs and Consequences of Bank Default

I study the impact of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy and resultant inability to honor its obligations as a lender under committed credit lines. Firms that lost access to a credit line committed by Lehman Brothers experienced abnormal stock returns of −3%, on average, on the day of and day after Lehman's bankruptcy filing, amounting to roughly $5.7 billion in aggregate, risk-adjusted losses. These losses were significantly larger for firms that were more financially constrained, firms with less cash, firms for whom Lehman was a lead-bank, and firms that lost access to larger amounts of committed credit. During the four quarters immediately following Lehman's collapse, firms that lost access to a credit line cut their investment spending significantly while simultaneously hoarding more cash than comparable firms. Overall, these findings indicate that firms that lost access to a credit line incurred economically significant costs and real-side consequences as a result of Lehman's default on its loan commitments.
A New Family of Efficient Conforming Mixed Finite Elements on Both Rectangular and Cuboid Meshes for Linear Elasticity in the Symmetric Formulation

A new family of mixed finite elements is proposed for solving the classical Hellinger--Reissner mixed problem of the elasticity equations. For two dimensions, the normal stress of the matrix-valued stress field is approximated by an enriched Brezzi--Douglas--Fortin--Marini element of order $k$, the shear stress by the serendipity element of order $k$, and the displacement field by an enriched discontinuous vector-valued $P_{k-1}$ element. The degrees of freedom on each element of the lowest order element, which is of first order, are 10 plus 4. For three dimensions, the normal stress is approximated by an enriched Raviart--Thomas element of order $k$, each component of the shear stress by a product space of the serendipity element space of two variables and the space of polynomials of degree $\leq k-1$ with respect to the rest variable, and the displacement field by an enriched discontinuous vector-valued $Q_{k-1}$ element. The degrees of freedom on each element of the lowest order element, which is of fi.
A service quality measurement derived from the theory of needs

A literature review has indicated that a majority of researchers tend to define quality as meeting customers' needs. This study therefore attempts to develop a new service quality instrument called SQ-NEED based on Maslow's theory of needs. The results from the empirical analysis suggest that the SQ-NEED not only has a sound theoretical basis, but also possesses a reasonable reliability and validity. Moreover there is significant evidence to show that SQ-NEED performs better in this study than SERVQUAL for services directed at people and providing intangible actions.
Proposed Classes of Morphological Autopsy Findings for Decomposed and Skeletal Remains in Mass Death Investigations

Analysis of mass death events, often involving partial or skeletal human remains, requires investigators to condense information on a large number of victims into a single report. Prosecution of war crimes typically requires that victims be categorized according to the injuries sustained. Reports recognizing only the presence or absence of trauma are misleading or misrepresentative. This study introduces a 4 class system for skeletal remains based on morphologic autopsy findings. Each class corresponds to the lethal potential of the trauma or pathologic conditions evident at autopsy, and the certainty with which cause of death can be determined. Data were extracted from 766 autopsy cases involving decomposed or skeletal remains from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator in which cause and manner of death were ruled. Statistically significant associations between morphology class and the cause and manner of death, positive identification, and natural and non-natural deaths were evident in this study. Intraobserver and interobserver tests revealed excellent replicability and reliability in the assignment of morphology classes to individual cases. In addition to its mass death applications, this classification system offers potential research contributions to physical anthropologists and bioarchaeologists studying human populations in antiquity.
The Analysis of Seasonal Long Memory: The Case of Spanish Inflation

This paper describes semiparametric techniques recently proposed for the analysis of seasonal or cyclical long memory and applies them to a monthly Spanish inflation series. One of the conclusions is that this series has long memory not only at the origin but also at some but not all seasonal frequencies, suggesting that the fractional difference operator (1 - "L"-super-12)-super-"d" should be avoided. Moreover, different persistent cycles are observed before and after the first oil crisis. Whereas the cycles seem stationary in the former period, we find evidence of a unit root after 1973, which implies that a shock has a permanent effect. Finally, it is shown how to compute the exact impulse responses and the coefficients in the autoregressive expansion of parametric seasonal long memory models. These two quantities are important to assess the impact of aleatory shocks such as those produced by a change of economic policy and for forecasting purposes, respectively. Copyright 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Uncertainty and Price Theory

I. Introduction, 116. — II. Cost and uncertain demand, 117. — III. Alternative specifications, 118. — IV. Single period horizon: equilibrium conditions, 119. — V. The fundamental theorem, 122. — VI. Example: constant marginal cost, linear riskless demand, and rectangular distribution, 124. — VII. Rising marginal cost, 126. — VIII. Falling marginal cost, 127. — IX. Multi-period horizon, 128. — X. Conclusion, 129.
Lipid peroxidation and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibitory activities of acidic aqueous extracts of some dietary supplements

The botanical supplement market is growing at a fast pace with more and more people resorting to them for maintaining good health. Echinacea, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, Siberian ginseng, grape seed extract, kava kava, saw palmetto and St John's wort are some of the popular supplements used for a variety of health benefits. These supplements are associated with various product claims, which suggest that they possess cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme and lipid s inhibitory activities. COX enzymes are found to be at elevated levels in inflamed and cancerous cells. To test some of the product claims, selected supplements were analysed for their ability to inhibit COX‐1 and ‐2 enzymes and lipid peroxidation in vitro. The supplements were extracted with acidified water (pH 2) at 37 °C to simulate the gastric environment. The supplements tested demonstrated varying degrees of COX enzyme inhibition (5–85% for COX‐1 and 13–28% for COX‐2). Interestingly, extracts of garlic (Meijer), ginkgo (Solaray), ginseng (Nature's Way), Siberian ginseng (GNC, Nutrilite, Solaray, Natrol), kava kava (GNC, Sundown, Solaray) and St John's wort (Nutrilite) selectively inhibited COX‐2 enzyme. These supplements also inhibited lipid peroxidation in vitro (5–99%). The results indicated that the consumption of these botanical supplements studied possess health benefits. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Multiple Roles of the Finance Organization: Determinants, Effectiveness, and the Moderating Influence of Information System Integration

This study focuses on three broad Finance organization roles: reporting, compliance, and internal control/risk management (RCCR); performance management; and strategic partner. Using data from a global survey of 832 firms, we examine the determinants of the various roles’ importance and their relation with Finance effectiveness. While the effects of organizational change, market growth, international operations, firm size, decentralization, and industry on Finance responsibilities vary depending upon the role, we find little evidence of tradeoffs between the various roles. Instead, we find evidence of complementarities between roles, whereby greater emphasis on one role is associated with greater Finance effectiveness in the other roles. Additionally, we find that information system integration (ISI) not only has a positive direct impact on effectiveness in all three roles, but also interacts with the importance placed on RCCR and performance management roles to improve the Finance organization’s effectiveness at carrying out these responsibilities.
Technology Appraisal Programme of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) is responsible for providing guidance to the National Health Service in England and Wales on the clinicaland cost-effectiveness of medicines and medical technologies. After a review of the Institute by the House of Commons Health Select Committee in 2002, NICE commissioned a series of internal reviews on their work, and requested the WHO Regional Office for Europe to carry out an external review on their methods and processes as well as their scientific robustness. The WHO team of experts based their report on the review of a series of technology appraisals, including confidential material, and extensive discussions with NICE staff, Appraisal Committee members, members of the Technical Assessment Groups and other stakeholders during the course of two visits to NICE in summer 2003. The report contains a series of recommendations on how NICE could further develop the technology appraisal process. As NICE is internationally a leading agency in technology assessment, the important recommendations and observations contained in the report will be useful to other countries that are embarking on similar endeavours.
Pheromone discrimination by a pH-tuned polymorphism of the Bombyx mori pheromone-binding protein

Significance Pheromone recognition by insect olfactory organs is critical for the ability of insects to locate mates. The silkworm moth Bombyx mori has long served as a model organism for studies of this process. Key components in the sensory organs have been identified, including the pheromone bombykol, pheromone-binding protein (BmorPBP), ligand-degrading enzymes, and the pheromone receptor, but many details of the mechanism allowing highly sensitive and selective pheromone detection are still elusive. Here, it is shown that a pH-dependent conformational polymorphism of BmorPBP affords highly selective transport of the pheromone, demonstrating an active role for BmorPBP in ligand discrimination. The Bombyx mori pheromone-binding protein (BmorPBP) is known to adopt two different conformations. These are BmorPBPA, where a regular helix formed by the C-terminal dodecapeptide segment, α7, occupies the ligand-binding cavity, and BmorPBPB, where the binding site is free to accept ligands. NMR spectra of delipidated BmorPBP solutions at the physiological pH of the bulk sensillum lymph near pH 6.5 show only BmorPBPA, and in mixtures, the two species are in slow exchange on the chemical shift frequency scale. This equilibrium has been monitored at variable pH and ligand concentrations, demonstrating that it is an intrinsic property of BmorPBP that is strongly affected by pH variation and ligand binding. This polymorphism tunes BmorPBP for optimal selective pheromone transport: Competition between α7 and lipophilic ligands for its binding cavity enables selective uptake of bombykol at the pore endings in the sensillum wall, whereas compounds with lower binding affinity can only be bound in the bulk sensillum lymph. After transport across the bulk sensillum lymph into the lower pH area near the dendritic membrane surface, bombykol is ejected near the receptor, whereas compounds with lower binding affinity are ejected before reaching the olfactory receptor, rendering them susceptible to degradation by enzymes present in the sensillum lymph.
Modeling of Wind Turbines for Power System Studies

The modeling of wind turbines for power system studies is investigated. Complexities of various parts of a wind turbine model, such as aerodynamic conversion, drive train, and generator representation, are analyzed. The results are verified by field measurements made on a stall-regulated fixed-speed wind turbine. The modeling focuses on deriving a representation that is suitable for use in grid simulation programs.
Born global networks: the role of connectors

The nature of born global firms which from inception, seek to derive significant competitive advantage from the use of resources and the sales of outputs in multiple countries remains poorly understood. Given the lack of resources which born globals tend to have compared with larger international competitors the importance of social capital and network ties in addressing their liabilities of newness and smallness have received some attention. However, how these network ties actually operate and the nuances inside of these networks are as yet not fully understood. This paper seeks to address this knowledge gap by attempting to unpack the black box of the social networks and connectors which born globals draw upon in their internationalisation efforts. Based on a study of the indigenous Irish digital, film and TV production industry, our research points to a suite of both weak and strong connectors which facilitate the internationalisation of the firms in our sample.
Exploring a possible route through which training affects organizational performance: the case of a Greek bank

Despite the dithyramb on training found throughout the literature, its impact on organizational performance still remains a ‘black box’ yet to be unlocked. Indeed, neither the intervening process nor the factors that mediate training effectiveness have been substantively explored or linked together in a framework. In this paper, gaining insights from the concept of the balanced scorecard and using the service profit chain as a strategy map, an attempt is made to formulate a casual linkage value chain that highlights one possible route through which training can impact organizational performance. Using a predictive design, data were collected from multiple sources (employees, customers, and the bank's financial records) and raters from a sample of 30 branches of a Greek bank. The findings confirmed a framework illuminating a value exchange process ignited by training. More precisely, the results suggested that a formal, structured, and long-term approach to training, as well as certain pre- and post-training conditions and activities, improve training effectiveness by creating positive perceptions about the training's value. The generated for employees value results to higher levels of job satisfaction which boosts employee loyalty, creating in this sense value for the organization. This value is reflected to customers, in terms of better service quality, and reciprocated to the organization through higher customer satisfaction and branch loyalty leading to improved profitability at the branch level.
Abscisic Acid Regulates Early Seed Development in Arabidopsis by ABI5-Mediated Transcription of SHORT HYPOCOTYL UNDER BLUE1[C][W][OPEN]

This study shows that abscisic acid (ABA) mediates the transcription of SHORT HYPOCOTYL UNDER BLUE1 through ABA signaling component ABI5 and thus regulates early seed development in Arabidopsis. Seed development includes an early stage of endosperm proliferation and a late stage of embryo growth at the expense of the endosperm in Arabidopsis thaliana. Abscisic acid (ABA) has known functions during late seed development, but its roles in early seed development remain elusive. In this study, we report that ABA-deficient mutants produced seeds with increased size, mass, and embryo cell number but delayed endosperm cellularization. ABSCISIC ACID DEFICIENT2 (ABA2) encodes a unique short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase that functions in ABA biosynthesis, and its expression pattern overlaps that of SHORT HYPOCOTYL UNDER BLUE1 (SHB1) during seed development. SHB1 RNA accumulation was significantly upregulated in the aba2-1 mutant and was downregulated by the application of exogenous ABA. Furthermore, RNA accumulation of the basic/region leucine zipper transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5), involved in ABA signaling, was decreased in aba2-1. Consistent with this, seed size was also increased in abi5. We further show that ABI5 directly binds to two discrete regions in the SHB1 promoter. Our results suggest that ABA negatively regulates SHB1 expression, at least in part, through the action of its downstream signaling component ABI5. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms by which ABA regulates early seed development.
Changes in Ice Storm Impacts over Time: 1886–2000

Abstract Ice storms have a variety of negative effects on society. Through an analysis of newspaper accounts of nine exceptional ice storms, the most widespread and longest lasting impact is the loss of electrical power. Power outages also cause secondary effects, such as carbon monoxide poisoning and fire, and they can force people to leave their homes because of a lack of heat. Other impacts of ice storms are transportation disruptions, school and business closings, and economic losses to agriculture and some business sectors. However, some businesses, such as those associated with the hospitality sector, actually benefit from ice storms. Modern power outages have a longer duration than those associated with earlier storms. Rural areas are most likely to suffer from long power outages because utilities prioritize areas with greater numbers of customers and because fallen trees may limit accessibility. Several suggestions for reducing electrical disruption, such as aggressive tree-trimming programs and b.
Ontological and Ethical Implications of Direct Nuclear Reprogramming

Scientific breakthroughs rarely yield the potential to engage a foundational ethical question. Recent studies on direct reprogramming of human skin cells reported by the Yamanaka lab in Japan and the Thomson lab in Wisconsin suggest that scientists may have crossed both a scientific and an ethical threshold. The fascinating science of direct nuclear reprogramming highlights empirical data that may clarify the ontological status of cellular activity in the early stages of what could become a human fetus and justify ethical options for research in this controversial field. The ontological and ethical implications that accrue here are connected with the biological or natural potentiality of these cells.
Globalisation and IHRM: partners in comparative perspective?

Heuristically oriented, for pedagogic purposes, globalisation and international personnel management and development trajectories are examined from a comparative perspective. The paper concludes that a normative operational definition of the human resource management (HRM) paradigm may be partnered with attempts to diffuse a neo‐liberal inspired corporate governance regime internationally. However, caution is expressed against uncritical determinism. There is evidence from emergent studies that institutional factors offer scope for diverse interpretations of international HRM (IHRM) experimentation observable across different jurisdictions. Throughout, the paper enquires as to the empirical research questions interrogation of this material give rise to, with implications for those associated with international training and development.
A power analysis based approach to detect Trojan circuits

Because of globalization of the semiconductor industry, the IC fabrication is increasingly outsourced. This poses a significant risk for integrated circuits (ICs) used for security critical applications. Attackers can maliciously alter the ICs during fabrication in untrusted foundries. In the case of ICs bought externally, they may have hidden functions that users would never know. These malicious alterations and hidden functions are also referred to as “Hardware Trojan”. It is extremely difficult to discover such Trojan circuits using conventional testing strategies. In this paper, we propose a nondestructive, power analysis based Trojan detection approach which is able to detect Trojan circuits in the presence of large noise. The approach is validated using 90nm FPGA (Xilinx Spartan-3E) chips. Experimental results with a 64-bit Data Encryption Standard (DES) cipher circuit show that Trojans which are 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the DES circuit can be detected by using statistic signal processing techniques.
Design and operation of a multicommodity production/distribution system using primal goal decomposition

An optimization-based decision support system has been developed and used by NABISCO to manage complex problems involving facility selection, equipment location and utilization, and manufacture and distribution of products such as the familiar Ritz Crackers, Oreo Cookies, Fig Newtons, etc. (all product names trademarks of NABISCO). A mixed-integer, multi-commodity model is presented for the problems at hand, and a new class of goal decompositions is introduced to yield pure network subproblems for each commodity; the associated master problems have several notable properties which contribute to the effectiveness of the algorithm. Excellent quality solutions for problems with more than 40,000 variables (including several hundred binary variables with fixed charges) and in excess of 20,000 constraints require only 0.6 megabytes region and less than one compute minute on a time-shared IBM 3033 computer; average problems (with fewer binary variables) require only a second or two. The solution method has more to recommend it than sheer efficiency: new insights are given for the fundamental convergence properties of formal decomposition techniques. Several applications of this powerful interactive tool are discussed.
Diabetes management in the new millennium using insulin pump therapy

Current goals of therapy of type 1 and 2 diabetes are to achieve near normal glycemia, minimize the risk of severe hypoglycemia, limit excessive weight gain, improve quality of life and delay or prevent late vascular complications. As discussed in this review, insulin pump or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy provides a treatment option that can dramatically aid in achieving all of these goals. In comparison to multiple daily injections (MDI), CSII uses only rapid‐acting insulin, provides greater flexibility in timing of meals and snacks, has programmable basal rates to optimize overnight glycemic control, can reduce the risk of exercise‐induced hypoglycemia, and enhances patients' ability to control their own diabetes. Most important, in adults and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, CSII has been shown to lower HbA1c levels, reduce the frequency of severe hypoglycemia and limit excessive weight gain versus MDI without increasing the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Similarly positive results are being seen with CSII in adults with type 2 diabetes. The effectiveness of CSII and improvements in pump technology have fueled a dramatic increase in the use of this therapy. Practical guidelines are presented for selection of patients, initiation of treatment, patient education, follow‐up assessments and troubleshooting. The recent introduction of methods for continuous glucose monitoring provides a new means to optimize the basal and bolus capabilities of CSII and offers the hope of the development of a feedback‐controlled artificial pancreas. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.