Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stock return autocorrelation and institutional investors: the case of American depository receipt

Purpose – Though stock portfolio return autocorrelation is well documented in the literature, its cause is still not clearly understood. Presently, evidence of private information induced stock return autocorrelation is still very limited. The difficulty in obtaining foreign country information by small investors makes the private information of institutional investors in the ADR (American Depository Receipt) market more significant and influential. As such, the ADR market provides a favorable environment for testing the effect of private information on return autocorrelation. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, ADRs are sorted annually into three groups based on market equity capitalization. Within each capitalization group, ADRs are further sorted into three groups based on the fraction of shares held by institutional investors. Each ADR is assigned to one of the nine groups and group membership is rebalanced each year. The return autocorrelation of individual ADR securities and ADR portfolios for each group are then calculated. Findings – The results demonstrate that ADR individual stock and portfolio daily return autocorrelations are positively related to institutional ownership. It is also found that other explanations, such as non-synchronous trading, bid-ask spread and volatility of ADR, cannot explain the positive relation between daily return autocorrelations and institutional ownership of ADR. Originality/value – Since ADR market is more suitable than other markets for testing the role of private information, stronger and clearer results are got accordingly. This paper suggests that trading strategy based on private information of institutional investors can lead to stock return autocorrelation in ADR daily returns.
Measuring The Effect Of Casino-Operated Restaurant Volume On Slot Machine Business Volume: An Exploratory Study

Using data from three different North American casino markets, models designed to explain the variance in slot machine business volume (coin-in) produced a significant and positive effect for a variable representing casino-operated restaurant business volume (covers). Simultaneous multiple regression analysis was used to test the audited, secondary data for significance at the . 05 alpha level. A 200-day period was examined for each casino property. The results of this study contradicted an earlier, counterintuitive finding by Lucas and Brewer that provided the basis for this work. The related literature is scarce, largely anecdotal, and split regarding the nature of the relationship between restaurants’ and casinos’ volumes. This exploratory study adds valuable empirical results to this limited but growing literature base while highlighting important strategic and managerial implications.
APS, ERP and MES systems integration for semiconductor backend assembly

In this paper, the system integration of an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) system with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for a Semiconductor Backend Assembly environment is described. The company is one of the worldwide market leaders in semiconductor packaging technology. SIMTech was responsible for the implementation of the Planning & Scheduling functions through its APS application which is called Gintic Scheduling System (GSS). GSS system has been integrated with the other two key manufacturing software systems, namely ERP and MES, with the CIM framework. This paper emphasizes the system integration between the GSS and the customer's existing ERP and MES systems. The paper starts with a broader overview of the APS, ERP and MES systems with the focus on the linkage of APS with ERP and APS with MES. It then introduces the brief background information of the implementation and the integration methodology. Detailed work of the integration is laid out in the fond of integration model structure and illustrated by the system integration mechanism. Various data types that need to be integrated are also elaborated. Further discussions continue with the practical implementation issue like the required frequency of data integration and also the two approaches of data transfer. Finally the paper shares the experiences and lessons the team has learned through the implementation process and concludes the essence of the system integration work.
Australian Management Selection Practices: Closing the Gap between Research Findings and Practice

Three arguments were made for expecting changes in selection practice over the past decade: 1) time necessary to transfer research findings into practice, 2) evidence that HRM has become more strategic, and 3) the increase professionalism of the HRM community. In contrast to earlier findings, there was strong support for the use of structured interviewing. Interviews were most commonly undertaken by HR and line staff. Typically applicants underwent more than one interview and at each, were interviewed by two to three interviewers. Cognitive tests were more frequently used than personality assessments. There was some support for personality assessments based on the Five Factor Model but there was similar support for measures without published psychometric properties. In general, the government sector made greater use of structured interviewing, conducted a single interview with two to three interviewers present and made use of better quality assessment tools compared to other sectors. Recommendations are made for future studies.
Citrate Sensing by the C4-Dicarboxylate/Citrate Sensor Kinase DcuS of Escherichia coli: Binding Site and Conversion of DcuS to a C4-Dicarboxylate- or Citrate-Specific Sensor

ABSTRACT The histidine protein kinase DcuS of Escherichia coli senses C4-dicarboxylates and citrate by a periplasmic domain. The closely related sensor kinase CitA binds citrate, but no C4-dicarboxylates, by a homologous periplasmic domain. CitA is known to bind the three carboxylate and the hydroxyl groups of citrate by sites C1, C2, C3, and H. DcuS requires the same sites for C4-dicarboxylate sensing, but only C2 and C3 are highly conserved. It is shown here that sensing of citrate by DcuS required the same sites. Binding of citrate to DcuS, therefore, was similar to binding of C4-dicarboxylates but different from that of citrate binding in CitA. DcuS could be converted to a C4-dicarboxylate-specific sensor (DcuSDC) by mutating residues of sites C1 and C3 or of some DcuS-subtype specific residues. Mutations around site C1 aimed at increasing the size and accessibility of the site converted DcuS to a citrate-specific sensor (DcuSCit). DcuSDC and DcuSCit had complementary effector specificities and responded either to C4-dicarboxylates or to citrate and mesaconate. The results imply that DcuS binds citrate (similar to the C4-dicarboxylates) via the C4-dicarboxylate part of the molecule. Sites C2 and C3 are essential for binding of two carboxylic groups of citrate or of C4-dicarboxylates; sites C1 and H are required for other essential purposes.
Is the incidence of psychotic disorder in decline? Epidemiological evidence from two decades of research.

BACKGROUND It is unclear whether the incidence of first episode psychoses is in decline. We had the opportunity to determine whether incidence had changed over a 20-year period in a single setting, and test whether this could be explained by demographic or clinical changes. METHODS The entire population at-risk aged 16-54 in Nottingham over three time periods (1978-80, 1993-95 and 1997-99) were followed up. All participants presenting with an ICD-9/10 first episode psychosis were included. The remainder of the population at-risk formed the denominator. Standardized incidence rates were calculated at each time period with possible change over time assessed via Poisson regression. We studied six outcomes: substance-induced psychoses, schizophrenia, other non-affective psychoses, manic psychoses, depressive psychoses and all psychotic disorders combined. RESULTS Three hundred and forty-seven participants with a first episode psychosis during 1.2 million person-years of follow-up over three time periods were identified. The incidence of non-affective or affective psychoses had not changed over time following standardization for age, sex and ethnicity. We observed a linear increase in the incidence of substance-induced psychosis, per annum, over time (incidence rate ratios: 1.15; 95% CI 1.05-1.25). This could not be explained by longitudinal changes in the age, sex and ethnic structure of the population at-risk. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest psychotic disorders are not in decline, though there has been a change in the syndromal presentation of non-affective disorders, away from schizophrenia towards other non-affective psychoses. The incidence of substance-induced psychosis has increased, consistent with increases in substance toxicity over time, rather than changes in the prevalence or vulnerability to substance misuse. Increased clinical and popular awareness of substance misuse could also not be excluded.
Measuring work-life balance and its covariates

Pressures on work–life balance have grown in modern British society. Concern mounted in the 1990s as more strains arose from job insecurity, work intensification, marital breakdown, a large increase in lone parenting, and demands for parents to be more involved in their children’s education (Burchell et al., 2002; Dex, 1999). Employee absence was costed at £4 billion per year by the Department of Trade and Industry, and employee stress and turnover were also recognized as large business and social costs (DTI, 2000). In 1997 the newly elected Labour government started to formulate family policies to cope with these problems, one being encouragement to employers to adopt more flexible working arrangements. The Work–Life Balance Challenge Fund (DfEE, 2000) offered employers money for consultancy costs to cover plans to introduce flexible arrangements. Britain also adopted the EU Working Hours Directive from 1998, limiting weekly hours to 48, although a large proportion of employees were allowed to opt out. However, it is not clear what measures of success for these interventions should be applied. Work–life balance should provide one criterion, indicating in turn a set of appropriate measures. In the next section we summarize the work–life balance literature at the turn of the 21st century. The report of field research that follows it describes a checklist measure for employees’ work–life balance, analyses data collected using this instrument from a selection of employees in eight organizations, and draws clear conclusions from the analysis.
State Sport Policy and Voluntary Sport Clubs: the Case of the Norwegian Sports City Program as Social Policy

Abstract This article scrutinizes the relationship between state policy and voluntary sport clubs. While the latter development is to consider sport as social policy, the case of the Norwegian Sports City Program (SCP) was initiated by the state and implemented by voluntary and competitively orientated sport organizations. The research question concerns whether the logic of integration in social policy is compatible with the logic of competition in sport. With new institutionalism as the theoretical framework, and based on a case study of multiple methods, the analysis reveals how processes of isomorphism and translation take place in sport clubs. While the general picture shows that sport clubs resemble the competitive script which seems perceived as immanent in sport, the representatives of the SCP clubs respond to requirements in their local communities and—at the same time—translate the incentives of the state. In so doing, the state policy fits the philosophy of SCP clubs’ social work and these clubs get subsidies for implementing sporting activities with a social profile, but the motive for the work of sport clubs representatives is anchored in the local community and is limited only to a degree influenced by state policy.
Systemic toxicity from occlusive therapy with topical 5-fluorouracil: a case report and review of the literature.

Actinically damaged facial skin reliably develops local erythema and irritation over a 2to 3-week treatment period with topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Inflammation occurs less predictably when this medication is applied to the arms and legs. Inflammation helps to gauge the clinical response to topical 5-FU and may be necessary for effective treatment of diffuse actinic damage of the extremities.
Russian health care workers' knowledge of tuberculosis and infection control.

BACKGROUND Lack of knowledge may contribute to a higher risk of nosocomial tuberculosis (TB) among Russian TB health care workers (HCWs). DESIGN Community-based participatory study. Russian TB HCWs at five TB facilities (n = 96) were surveyed to assess knowledge specific to TB and infection control. RESULTS Overall scores were low. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference in knowledge by job category. Physicians scored significantly higher than nurses, laboratory staff and support staff. Nurses and laboratory technicians scored significantly higher than support staff. The biggest area of knowledge deficit was in infection control. CONCLUSION Knowledge level of TB among HCWs could influence the prevalence of nosocomial TB infection.
In vivo study of human skin using pulsed terahertz radiation

Studies in terahertz (THz) imaging have revealed a significant difference between skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) and healthy tissue. Since water has strong absorptions at THz frequencies and tumours tend to have different water content from normal tissue, a likely contrast mechanism is variation in water content. Thus, we have previously devised a finite difference time-domain (FDTD) model which is able to closely simulate the interaction of THz radiation with water. In this work we investigate the interaction of THz radiation with normal human skin on the forearm and palm of the hand in vivo. We conduct the first ever systematic in vivo study of the response of THz radiation to normal skin. We take in vivo reflection measurements of normal skin on the forearm and palm of the hand of 20 volunteers. We compare individual examples of THz responses with the mean response for the areas of skin under investigation. Using the in vivo data, we demonstrate that the FDTD model can be applied to biological tissue. In particular, we successfully simulate the interaction of THz radiation with the volar forearm. Understanding the interaction of THz radiation with normal skin will form a step towards developing improved imaging algorithms for diagnostic detection of skin cancer and other tissue disorders using THz radiation.
A review of website evaluation studies in the tourism and hospitality fields from 1996 to 2009

This paper reviews website evaluation studies in the tourism and hospitality fields published between January 1996 and September 2009. A website evaluation framework that includes evaluation by phases, evaluation by features, and evaluation by features and effectiveness is developed. The strengths and weaknesses of each method of evaluation are analyzed, and research gaps and future research directions are explored.
Ranking the Factors that Affect Occupational Outcomes

By using Theil's entropy measure, which is an additively decomposable measure of inequality, one may rank the various factors that affect occupational outcomes. Using the 5 percent sample of the 1990 U.S. Census, I find that sex and education have the greatest impact on occupational outcomes, followed by full-time work status. Age, race, and ever-married status have little impact on occupational outcomes.
Noncooperative Bargaining Models of Marriage

In this paper we discuss some simple noncooperative models of distribution within marriage in which the equilibria are not necessarily Pareto optimal, in which history and culture can affect which equilibrium is realized, and in which distribution may depend on whether resources are controlled by the husband or by the wife. Recent moves away from single-decision-maker models of the family have permitted economists to address distribution within marriage, and cooperative-bargaining models have played the central role in these moves. The next step is to permit strategic interaction between family members, by modeling distribution within marriage as a noncooperative game. Noncooperative game theory allows great flexibility in specifying the rules of the game and, unlike cooperative game theory, imposes few a priori restrictions on the nature of equilibrium outcomes. In particular, noncooperative models neither assume nor imply that all equilibria are Pareto optimal.
Contribution of Swedish moist snuff to the metabolic syndrome: A wolf in sheep's clothing?

Aim: Combined effects of genetic and environmental factors underlie the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in the metabolic syndrome (MetSy). The aim was to investigate associations between several lifestyle factors and MetSy, with a focus on the possible role of smokeless tobacco in the form of Swedish moist snuff (snus). Methods: A population-based longitudinal cohort study within the Västerbotten Intervention Programme in Northern Sweden. All inhabitants at the ages of 30, 40, 50, and 60 are invited to participate in a health survey that includes a questionnaire on psychosocial conditions and lifestyle and measurement of biological variables. Individuals examined in 1990—94 (n=24,230) and who also returned for follow-up after 10 years were included (total of 16,492 individuals: 46.6% men and 53.4% women). Regression analyses were performed. MetSy was the outcome and analyses were adjusted for age, sex, alcohol abuse, and family history of CVD and diabetes. Results: Ten-year development of MetSy was associated with high-dose consumption of snus at baseline (OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.26—2.15]), low education (2.2 [1.92—2.63]), physical inactivity (1.5 [1.22—1.73]) and former smoking (1.2 [1.06—1.38]). Snus was associated with separate components of MetSy, including triglycerides (1.6, 1.30—1.95), obesity (1.7 [1.36—2.18]) but not hypertension, dysglycemia and low HDL cholesterol. Conclusions: MetSy is independently associated with high consumption of snus, even when controlling for smoking status. The finding is of public health interest in societies with widespread use of snus. More research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this effect.
Professional development in physical education: Introducing the Sport Education Model to teachers in Taiwan

The purpose of this study was to examine how a physical education teacher in Taiwan might benefit from a professional development initiative that began onsite and was then continued through a long-distance, Web-based platform. The program was based on principles of effective professional development and followed the recommended three-phase approach. A male physical education teacher taught a Sport Education season of volleyball to 11th-grade students in northwestern Taiwan. Seven different data sources were collected and analyzed using the standard interpretive methods and guided by the model of teacher change. The virtual omnipresence of the professional development team allowed for a successful iteration of a Sport Education season and resulted in a new vision about teaching and learning for a physical education teacher. These findings suggest the viability of innovative approaches for professional development albeit situational constraints.
How green is green? Ecopreneurs balancing environmental concerns and business goals

This article's main research objective is to understand more about ecopreneurs with respect to the way they manage their businesses whilst maintaining their commitment to the environment. We conducted a mail survey in 2011, where 350 questionnaires were sent out to ecopreneurs in New Zealand. This article reports on the results of the 84 survey responses that were received (a 24 per cent response rate). This study outlines the motivations for starting the business, the key green aspects of the product or service that the ecopreneurs produce or sell, as well as the degree of greening of their organisations. We also focus on decision-making practices and growth aspirations of the ecopreneurs. Ecopreneurs prioritise the environment over profits whenever practical, and are conscious of doing the best they can to lessen their impact on the environment. Ecopreneurs may offer a win-win scenario for the economy and the environment, as well as enabling the ecopreneurs themselves to fulfil their own personal goals. Ecopreneurs are therefore able to incrementally improve the environment within their own companies, and with their products and services they have the ability to educate a wide audience on the benefits of protecting our environment.
Bank Market Structure and Competition: A Survey

THIS PAPER SURVEYS empirical studies designed to provide evidence on how market structure influences the performance of depository institutions. These studies are divided into two groups. Those in one group estimate the relation between measures of bank market structure and performance. ' The other studies estimate the cost structure of the banking industry. The cost studies are designed to determine whether the type of market structure that is conducive to competitive pricing of banking services is also consistent with efficient production of banking services. These studies have been conducted to provide the regulatory authorities with an empirical basis for evaluating the influence of bank mergers on competition and on the cost structure of the banking industry.2 The studies of bank market structure have changed little in the past twenty years. Consequently, the survey of this literature does not trace its development over time.
Preoperative fasting times in elective surgical patients at a referral Hospital in Botswana

Introduction Adults and children are required to fast before anaesthesia to reduce the risk of regurgitation and aspiration of gastric contents. However, prolonged periods of fasting are unnecessary and may cause complications. This study was conducted to evaluate preoperative fasting period in our centre and compare it with the ASA recommendations and factors that influence fasting periods. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of preoperative fasting times among elective surgical patients. A total numbers of 260 patients were interviewed as they arrived at the reception area of operating theatre using questionnaire. Results Majority of patients (98.1%) were instructed to fast from midnight. Fifteen patients (5.8%) reported that they were told the importance of preoperative fasting. The mean fasting period were 15.9±2.5 h (range 12.0-25.3 h) for solids and 15.3±2.3 h (range 12.0-22.0 h) for liquids. The mean duration of fasting was significantly longer for patients operated after midday compared to those operated before midday, p<0.001. Conclusion The mean fasting periods were 7.65 times longer for clear liquid and 2.5 times for solids than the ASA guidelines. It is imperative that the Hospital should establish Preoperative fasting policies and teach the staff who should ensure compliance with guidelines.
Heterogeneous Investors and Their Changing Demand and Supply Schedules for Individual Common Stocks

Using 550 million limit orders submitted in the Korea Stock Exchange, we estimate demand and supply elasticities of heterogeneous investor types and their changes around the Asian financial crisis. We find that domestic individuals have substantially more inelastic demand and supply curves than domestic institutions and foreign investors. The crisis permanently reduced price elasticities of domestic individuals by 50% but had no effect on those of foreign investors. Institutional changes restricting margin purchases, implemented after the crisis, seem particularly important in explaining the dramatic drop. Information heterogeneity, availability of close substitutes and arbitrage risk also explain time-series variations in elasticities.