Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relative and incremental information content of earnings vs cash recovery rates

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative and incremental information content of a cash recovery-based measure of performance, the estimated internal rate of return, vs an earnings-based measure of performance, return on assets, in explaining firms' economic performance. Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses the cash recovery rate that is based on continuous time analysis and U-shaped cash flows to derive the estimated internal rate of return and compare it to return on assets. A cross-sectional sample was used over a short interval (year 1993 and year 2005) and a time-series sample (1993-2005) to empirically examine the relative and incremental information content of the competing measures. Tobin's q and stock returns are used as performance benchmarks. Findings - The results of the empirical tests indicate that the estimated internal rate of return provides better relative and incremental information content over earnings-based measures of performance. Specifically, the empirical evidence shows that the estimated internal rate of return is consistently positively related to Tobin's q and stock returns over all measurement intervals. Research limitations/implications - These results imply that earnings-based performance measures are less value relevant compared to cash recovery-based measures. There are some limitations that may apply to this study. First, the systematic measurement error in estimating the cash recovery rate may not be independent of the measurement error in the estimated internal rate of return. Second, the performance benchmarks used in the study are not free from problems. Particularly, the return on assets is influenced by firms' rate of growth and the Tobin's q is not a perfect measure of business performance. Therefore, one avenue of future research is to assess the usefulness of financial accounting data for analysts forecast. Moreover, future research may also examine the role of institutional changes in financial reporting and its effect on the quality of earnings and economic performance. Originality/value - This paper presents extended research on cash recovery-based vs earnings-based metrics as proxies for economic return using improved research designs, larger samples and new sensitivity analyses.
Social and environmental reporting in local authorities

There has recently been a resurgence of interest in social and environmental reporting (SER) in both the private and the public sector; however, its meaning and application in the public sector are relatively new, and it has been little investigated. Our article is aimed at gaining a better understanding of the reasons underlying the adoption of SER by Italian local authorities by applying the concept of management fashion (Abrahamson 1996). Empirical analysis shows that both socio-psychological and techno-economic forces combine to shape the SER phenomenon, and a managerial fashion is currently in place among Italian local authorities. Thus, even when SER is adopted in response to ‘technical’ gaps, its label largely depends on its being driven by the need to signal that LAs are adopting a tool which is gaining momentum in academic and professional discourse. However, both forces are influenced not so much by a concern for sustainability as by the context of public-sector reform processes.
Inhibitory effects of Solanum tuberosum L. var. vitelotte extract on 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene‐induced atopic dermatitis in mice

We aimed to investigate the inhibitory efficacy of Solanum tuberosum L. var. Vitelotte (SV) extract on atopic dermatitis (AD)‐like skin lesions induced by the topical application of 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene in NC/Nga mice.
Effect of ECG signal gain on the detection accuracy of four common QRS detectors

The QRS complex detection methods have been extensively studied over the past several decades, and the current common QRS detection algorithms can achieve high detection accuracy on the open-access ECG database. Although massive of researches exist on the performance of QRS detectors, the effect of the ECG signal gain is usually ignored and did not attract researchers' attentions in the past studies. In this study, the effect of gain (including gain polar and gain value) on four widely used QRS complex detectors were comprehensively tested. Positive/negative gain had a significant effect on the RS-slope method and the difference operation method. Using negative gain, the accuracy of RS-slope method decreased 16.91% and 6.76% for high and low quality databases; the accuracy of the difference operation method decreased 8.86% for low quality database. It suggesting these two methods were not suitable for analyzing the inverted ECG channels such as the chest IV lead. Gain value had a slight effect on the jqrs' method due to the adding of the flat line judging procedure. Using gain value of 1 decreased the accuracy of the jqrs' method for both high and low-quality ECG databases by 2.49% and 0.48% respectively. The Pan-Tompkins method was not influenced by the gain because it was based on the peak energy. The conclusion generated by this study could potentially offer important reference for understanding the effect of ECG signal gain on those methods.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: findings from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being

Background. We report on the epidemiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the Australian community, including information on lifetime exposure to trauma, 12-month prevalence of PTSD, sociodemographic correlates and co-morbidity. Methods. Data were obtained from a stratified sample of 10641 participants as part of the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being. A modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to determine the presence of PTSD, as well as other DSM-IV anxiety, affective and substance use disorders. Results. The estimated 12-month prevalence of PTSD was 1·33%, which is considerably lower than that found in comparable North American studies. Although females were at greater risk than males within the subsample of those who had experienced trauma, the large gender differences noted in some recent epidemiological research were not replicated. Prevalence was elevated among the never married and previously married respondents, and was lower among those aged over 55. For both men and women, rape and sexual molestation were the traumatic events most likely to be associated with PTSD. A high level of Axis 1 co-morbidity was found among those persons with PTSD Conclusions. PTSD is a highly prevalent disorder in the Australian community and is routinely associated with high rates of anxiety, depression and substance disorders. Future research is needed to investigate rates among other populations outside the North American continent.
Tourism And Economic Growth In Kenya: An Empirical Investigation

In this study, we examine the dynamic relationship between tourism sector development and economic growth – using annual time-series data from Kenya. The study attempts to answer one critical question - “Is tourism development in Kenya pro-growth? ” The study uses an ARDLbounds testing approach to examine these linkages and also incorporates trade as an intermittent variable between tourism development and economic growth in a multivariate setting. The results of our study show that there is a uni-directional causality from tourism development to economic growth. The results are found to hold irrespective of whether the causality is estimated in the short run and long run. Other results show that international tourism Granger-causes trade, while trade Granger-causes economic growth in Kenya in both the short and the long run.
So that the poor count more: using participatory methods for impact evaluation

The starting point for an evaluation is to ask why it is being conducted, who will benefit, and what impact the evaluation itself will have and how. Participatory approaches and methods fit in a paradigm that is pluralist, evolutionary, and iterative. They include stakeholder analysis, individual story-telling, participatory social mapping, causal-linkage and trend and change diagramming, scoring, and brainstorming on programme strengths and weaknesses. Well designed and facilitated, participatory methods are rigorous and besides offering qualitative insights can count the uncountable, and generate statistics for relevant dimensions that would otherwise be overlooked or regarded as purely qualitative. They open studies to the voices of those most affected by a project in a way not possible using more conventional methods and can make the realities and experiences of poor people count more.
Sound synthesis and composition with compression-controlled feedback

This paper introduces a method of sound synthesis that is based on the use of automatic gain control (AGC) in a time-delayed feedback loop. The approach, which the author calls “Compressed Feedback Synthesis” (CFS), can be conceptualised as a special expansion of a generalised comb filter, where feedback gain can be unity or greater. The system can be expanded with additional processing in the feedback loop to create a highly flexible and sensually engaging sound materials. The use of CFS in the author’s audiovisual composition Sinus Aestum will be discussed, including specific solutions to the challenging of controlling such a system compositionally.
Left atrial enlargement in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

The present study was designed to examine whether the left atrium is dilated in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or not. Left atrial dimension (LAD) on M-mode echocardiogram was (1) 23.3 +/- 0.7 mm (mean +/- S.E.) in 24 normal subjects, (2) 30.5 +/- 0.7 mm in 58 patients without atrial fibrillation who had hypertension and/or ischemic heart disease, (3) 35.5 +/- 0.9 mm in 27 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation of whom 23 had non-rheumatic cardiovascular diseases and 4 had idiopathic atrial fibrillation, (4) 40.5 +/- 1.1 mm in 38 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation of whom 30 had nonrheumatic cardiovascular diseases and 8 had idiopathic atrial fibrillation, and (5) 53.3 +/- 2.0 mm in 17 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation who had rheumatic heart disease. LAD showed a stepwise and significant increase from the first to the fifth group. LAD of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was not related to either the number or duration of paroxysms. These results indicate that the left atrium is slightly dilated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Diffusion‐weighted hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI in healthy volunteers and subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Given its greater availability and lower cost, 129Xe apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) MRI offers an alternative to 3He ADC MRI. To demonstrate the feasibility of hyperpolarized 129Xe ADC MRI, we present results from healthy volunteers (HV), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subjects, and age‐matched healthy controls (AMC). The mean parenchymal ADC was 0.036 ± 0.003 cm2 sec−1 for HV, 0.043 ± 0.006 cm2 sec−1 for AMC, and 0.056 ± 0.008 cm2 sec−1 for COPD subjects with emphysema. In healthy individuals, but not the COPD group, ADC decreased significantly in the anterior–posterior direction by ∼22% (P = 0.006, AMC; 0.0059, HV), likely because of gravity‐induced tissue compression. The COPD group exhibited a significantly larger superior–inferior ADC reduction (∼28%) than the healthy groups (∼24%) (P = 0.00018, HV; P = 3.45 × 10−5, AMC), consistent with smoking‐related tissue destruction in the superior lung. Superior–inferior gradients in healthy subjects may result from regional differences in xenon concentration. ADC was significantly correlated with pulmonary function tests (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, r = −0.77, P = 0.0002; forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced vital capacity, r = −0.77, P = 0.0002; diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide in the lung/alveolar volume (VA), r = −0.77, P = 0.0002). In healthy groups, ADC increased with age by 0.0002 cm2 sec−1 year−1 (r = 0.56, P = 0.02). This study shows that 129Xe ADC MRI is clinically feasible, sufficiently sensitive to distinguish HV from subjects with emphysema, and detects age‐ and posture‐dependent changes. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endotracheal Intubation Skills of Medical Students

The ability and confidence of clinical medical students to insert endotracheal tubes correctly and quickly and to recognize oesophageal misplacement was evaluated. Ten (33%) of the medical students intubated the trachea correctly at their first attempt but 14 (47%) incorrectly identified the position of the endotracheal tube. However, recognition improved by their second and third attempts (70% and 80% respectively). Ninety-three percent of students intubated correctly on their third attempt. Although medical students can obtain better results at correct tube placement with repeated attempts under optimum conditions — A practice effect — And do better at recognizing correct tube placement there is still a persistent failure to recognize endotracheal tube misplacement, ie oesophageal intubation. It is the ability to recognize oesophageal intubation promptly that is a life-saving skill. This essential skill should be taught during the introductory anaesthesia programme through the use of clinical patients.
DOES EPILEPSY MEAN HIGHER SUSCEPTIBILITY TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

phenytoin serum concentrations below 14 pglml (86 patients). Half of the 34 patients with phenytoin serum concentrations of 30 pglml or more showed side-effects. The tolerance for phenytoin with respect to side-effects increases with the time of administration, as indicated by the more frequent occurrence of side-effects in patients who had been given the drug for less than six months (Buchthal et al. 1960). The increase in tolerance to the hypnotic effect of phenobarbital is still more pronounced (Butler et al. 1954, Lous 195423).
The Dynamics of Real Estate Prices

Several studies of housing price trends recommend combining statistical analysis to repeat sales of residential properties. Recently, price indices derived from these techniques have formed the basis for inferences about the "efficiency" of housing markets. This paper presents an improved methodology which combines inflation on repeat sales of unchanged properties, on repeat sales of improved properties, and on single sales, all in one joint estimation. Empirical evidence, based upon a rich sample of transactions on single family houses in a single neighborhood, indicates the clear advantages of the proposed methodology, at least in one typical application. Copyright 1991 by MIT Press.
Action recognition based on object tracking and dense trajectories

For recognizing human actions in video sequences, it is necessary to extract sufficient information which can represent motion features. In recent years, dense trajectories based action recognition algorithms attract more attention for containing rich spatio-temporal information. However, these algorithms are always faced with cluttered background. To solve this problem, we involve object tracking process in dense trajectories, with detecting object location through online weighted multiple instance learning object tracking and calculating dense trajectories in human bounding box, which suppresses redundant background information effectively. Meanwhile, human actions are classified by the bag-of-words model and SVM approach, which are robust to slight drift problem in tracking process. Involving object tracking improves efficiency as well as accuracy of dense trajectories. Our algorithm achieves superior results on the KTH and UCF YouTube datasets compared to the state-of-the-art methods, especially outstanding 89.0% accuracy on cluttered background dataset UCF YouTube.
Financial instability, political crises and contagion

This paper studies banking liquidity crises under the assumption that the government may have private benefits in bailing-out a collapsing banking sector for reputation concerns. This political distortion feeds political uncertainty, as citizens may not agree with a bailout decision and overthrow the government. This paper shows that higher political uncertainty increases both financial and political instabilities as it enlarges the set of parameters for which bank runs and the dismissal of the government are optimal. Higher political uncertainty may stem from the occurrence of a politico-financial crisis in another similar country. Contagion takes place if citizens update their beliefs on the type of their government. Doing so, they may reinforce their beliefs that the government is self-interested and bank bailouts are not socially optimal. JEL Classification: F3, G2, D8.
Expression of stanniocalcin‐1 in megakaryocytes and platelets

Summary. Stanniocalcin‐1 (STC) is a 56‐kDa homodimeric glycoprotein hormone originally found in fish, in which it regulates calcium/phosphate homeostasis and protects against toxic hypercalcaemia. The recently characterized human STC is 80% similar to fish STC. We have earlier reported a high expression of STC in terminally differentiated human and rodent brain neurones, and found that STC contributes to the maintenance of their integrity. Here, we report that mature megakaryocytes and platelets display high STC content. K562 cells, induced to megakaryocytoid differentiation in vitro, acquired expression of STC, which was not seen in untreated K562 cells or cells induced to erythroid differentiation.
A novel subthreshold voltage reference featuring 17ppm/°C TC within −40°C to 125°C and 75dB PSRR

Subthreshold voltage references are increasingly prevalent in power-critical applications due to their low-voltage and ultra-low-power attributes. However, the effective temperature range of state-of-the-art subthreshold voltage references remains undesirably narrow for low temperature coefficient (TC) operation and/or their PSRR is low - thereby severely limiting their range of applications. In this paper, we present a novel subthreshold voltage reference embodying a novel paralleled `2-Transistor' structure and a novel auxiliary amplifier. The former serves to facilitate low TC within a wide temperature range, and the latter for high PSRR and low line-sensitivity. The proposed design achieves low TC of 17ppm/°C within a wide effective temperature range of -40°C to 125°C, and high PSRR of 75dB and low line-sensitivity of 0.3%/V with minimum 0.5V supply voltage and 32nW power consumption. Both the TC and PSRR parameters are, at this juncture, the best performance compared to reported subthreshold voltage references, but with a slight power penalty.
Small and medium enterprises' collaborations with universities for new product development: An analysis of the different phases

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can engage in collaborations with universities in different phases of the new product development process, taking into account the peculiarities of SMEs. Design/methodology/approach – This paper combines a qualitative methodology (five SME case studies) with a quantitative one (a survey of 28 SMEs). The quantitative data are used to support the preliminary results obtained through the qualitative analysis. Findings – SMEs engage in collaborations with universities following a progressive model; from the easiest collaborations during the testing phase to more complex collaborations during the research phase. In this way, SMEs establish a trust-based relationship with universities. Furthermore, technology management capabilities and project management capabilities are crucial prerequisites for managing complex forms of collaboration with universities. Practical implications – SME managers should be aware of the d.
Earnings, Business Cycle and Stock Returns

We construct an earnings based zero-investment portfolio that is related to the business cycle. The portfolio, PMN, is long in stocks that have had high earnings changes in the last quarter and is short in stocks that have had low earnings changes in the last quarter. PMN is related to future macroeconomic conditions including growth in GDP, industrial production, consumption, labor income, inflation and T-bill returns and is not subsumed by the Fama-French factors. The results are consistent with the presence of a common macroeconomic factor in stock returns. Both in time-series as well as cross-sectional asset pricing tests, the momentum phenomenon is primarily attributable to PMN. Finally, we show that the post-earnings-announcement drift is related to macroeconomic conditions and that payoffs to trading strategies based on the drift may not be as profitable once macroeconomic information in stock returns is controlled for.
Are Powerful Majorities Inefficient for Parties and Efficient for Taxpayers?

Recent studies examining the relationship between legislative majorities and state budgets have presented mixed results. We provide new insight on this relationship by employing stochastic frontier analysis to model the maximum potential budgets that could be feasibly produced, given a set of economic, political, and voter inputs. This allows us to examine directly how the size of ruling party majorities influences their ability to efficiently produce the maximum feasible budget. At the same time, we are able to analyze the inefficiency in budget maximization. We find that as parties consolidate power with large majorities—regardless of party identity—they are less able to maximize budgets leading to state budgets below the maximum possible size of government as estimated by our model. Our results suggest that parties that do not maximize spending are inefficient at spending but efficient at providing the services that voters want at a low price. Hence, those parties build larger coalitions.
ERIL1, the plant homologue of ERI-1, is involved in the processing of chloroplastic rRNAs.

Proteins belonging to the enhancer of RNA interference-1 subfamily of 3'-5' exoribonucleases participate in divergent RNA pathways. They degrade small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), thus suppressing RNA interference, and are involved in the maturation of ribosomal RNAs and the degradation of histone messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Here, we report evidence for the role of the plant homologue of these proteins, which we termed ENHANCED RNA INTERFERENCE-1-LIKE-1 (ERIL1), in chloroplast function. In vitro assays with AtERIL1 proved that the conserved 3'-5' exonuclease activity is shared among all homologues studied. Confocal microscopy revealed that ERL1, a nucleus-encoded protein, is targeted to the chloroplast. To gain insight into its role in plants, we used Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana plants that constitutively overexpress or suppress ERIL1. In the mutant lines of both species we observed malfunctions in photosynthetic ability. Molecular analysis showed that ERIL1 participates in the processing of chloroplastic ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). Lastly, our results suggest that the missexpression of ERIL1 may have an indirect effect on the microRNA (miRNA) pathway. Altogether our data point to an additional piece of the puzzle in the complex RNA metabolism of chloroplasts.