Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance disclosure in the real estate industry: a case research of analyst reports and corporate financial presentations in Italy

This paper aims to compare the analysts' reports on Italian publicly listed real estate companies with the information disclosed by the same companies in their presentations of business plans. Considering that the European real estate companies have a strong representative professional association that formulates best practices in reporting and accounting, we design a multiple case qualitative research to investigate if the reporting practices supported by the association enable to have benefits in disclosure transparency in the areas of most relevance to investors, even in a context usually not affected by information asymmetry issues. This study provides evidence that a significant coherence between information released by managers and data used by analysts exists, especially in the description of both the key drivers of profitability and financial structure. However, the analysis specifically reveals a partial discrepancy between companies and analysts in the use of information, due to substantially different purposes of documents.
Treatment outcomes and costs of dental sealants among children enrolled in Medicaid.

OBJECTIVES This retrospective cohort analysis of children enrolled in the North Carolina Medicaid program compared the likelihood of restorative treatments and associated cumulative Medicaid expenditures for teeth with or without dental sealants. METHODS We assessed the dental experience of the cohort of 15 438 children from 1985 to 1992 on the basis of enrollment and claims files. We conducted regression analyses for outcomes (caries-related services involving the occlusal surface [CRSOs] of permanent first molars) and cumulative expenditures, controlling for characteristics of the child, the treating dentist, and the child's county of residence. RESULTS Overall, 23% of children received at least 1 sealant and 33% at least 1 CRSO. Sealants were effective in preventing CRSOs, although the degree of effectiveness was highest for children with the greater levels of CRSOs before sealant placement. Estimated cumulative Medicaid expenditures indicated expenditure savings from sealants within 2 years of application for children with 2 or more prior CRSOs. CONCLUSIONS Sealant placement was associated with expenditure savings to Medicaid for certain high-risk children, so Medicaid and, more broadly, society will benefit by providing for sealant placement in these children.
The Effect of Board Capital and Conflict on the Tasks of the Board of Directors

Abstract This study analyzes the effect of directors’ human and external social capital on the monitoring and resource provision tasks of the board. Furthermore, this study examines the moderating effect of cognitive and affective conflicts among the directors on these relationships. Based on a sample of 92 cases, we find that the human and external social capital of the directors is positively associated with board’s monitoring and resource provision tasks. The results suggest that cognitive conflict positively moderates the relationship between directors’ external social capital with the monitoring and negatively with the resource provision tasks. Affective conflict was found to moderate the relationship between directors’ external social capital and the resource provision tasks negatively, and positively moderate the relationship between directors’ human capital and resource provision tasks. This study suggests that the behavioral perspective, which takes into account the dynamics and interaction in the board, has considerable predictive power.
Has the Community Reinvestment Act increased loan availability among small businesses operating in minority neighbourhoods?

The 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) established a bold agenda requiring financial institutions in the USA to serve the credit needs of low- and moderate-income areas, including traditionally excluded minority residential areas. Initially opposed by both bankers and the federal regulatory authorities responsible for enforcement, the CRA has been contentious for decades. This study explores CRA impacts by investigating whether small businesses located in minority neighbourhoods have the same degree of bank-loan access as equally creditworthy firms located in other environs. We analysed both the unmet credit needs of small firms and the outcomes of their loan applications. We found that equality in loan access has been attained in some respects, indicating the CRA has had positive effects on loan availability. Inequality nonetheless persists. Regarding unmet credit needs, firms are penalised if their owners are African American, Latino or Asian American. Since roughly half of owners in minority communities are minorities, our challenge was to disentangle the effects on loan access of small-business geographic location versus owner race. Causal factors underlying our findings were investigated. Did bank regulators take the initiative in lessening traditional discriminatory lending practices? Alternatively, were activist community groups responsible? While the agenda advocated by activist groups coincides closely with actual gains, the overlapping but differing stated objectives of regulators did not.
Reevaluating Public Relations Information Subsidies: Market-Driven Journalism and Agenda-Building Theory and Practice

Public relations practitioners provide information subsidies to the media on behalf of their clients to influence the media agenda and potentially affect public opinion. McManus (1994) stated that news media are using more public relations information subsidies to contain costs and increase profits. Through in-depth interviews and a nationwide survey, this study of editors' perceptions of the phenomenon suggests that increasing economic constraints have led to an increased use of public relations materials only in specific instances that often do not support the agenda-building goals of the sponsoring organizations.
OPTIMAL PAY-AS-YOU-GO SOCIAL SECURITY WITH ENDOGENOUS RETIREMENT

This paper considers an overlapping-generations model with pay-as-you-go social security and retirement decision making by an old agent. In addition, this paper assumes that labor productivity depreciates. Under this setting, socially optimal allocations are examined. The first-best allocation is an allocation that maximizes welfare when a social planner distributes resources and forces an old agent to work and retire as she wants. The second-best allocation is one that maximizes welfare when a social planner can use only pay-as-you-go social security in a decentralized economy. This paper finds a range of an old agent's labor productivity such that the first-best allocation is achieved in a decentralized economy. This finding differs from that in Michel and Pestieau [“Social security and early retirement in an overlapping-generations growth model”, Annals of Economics & Finance, 2013], which notes that the first-best allocation cannot be achieved in a decentralized economy.
Role of inflammasome genetics in susceptibility to HPV infection and cervical cancer development

Problem: Only a small proportion of HPV+ women develop virus‐associated lesions and cervical cancer, suggesting that other factors are involved in HPV+ keratinocyte transformation. Immune response plays an important role in clearing HPV infection, and host genetic variants resulting in defective immune response have been associated with virus persistence and/or cervical cancer. Considering that genetic variations in inflammasome genes were previously associated with viral infection and cancer development, the present study investigates selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammasome genes as a possible risk factor for HPV infection susceptibility and/or for progression to cervical cancer. Patients and methods: 12 SNPs in seven inflammasome‐related genes (NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRP6, CARD8, IL1B, IL18, TNFAIP3) were genotyped in a Brazilian HPV+ case/control cohort (n = 246/310). Multivariate analysis was performed in case/control as well as in HPV+ women stratified by the presence or severity of histologic lesion, HPV persistence, and type of virus. Results: IL1B rs1143643 was associated with protection against HPV infection in case/control analysis. NLRP1 rs11651270 plays a protection role against HPV persistence and/or oncogenesis. NLRP3 rs10754558 and IL18 rs1834481 exert a beneficial role against HPV persistence. NLRP3 rs10754558 variant resulted significantly associated with a lower risk to be infected with a high‐risk HPV. Conclusion: Our findings for the first time demonstrated that inflammasome genetics could affect HPV/host interaction in terms of virus susceptibility as well as of virus/persistence and cervical cancer progression. J. Med. Virol. 88:1646–1651, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A sequence level latent topic modeling method for sentiment analysis via CNN based Diversified Restrict Boltzmann Machine

Recently, the deep learning based methods, especially the ones based on convolutional neural network (CNN), achieved remarkable progresses in sentiment analysis. However, the CNN based methods do not take the latent topic in text into consideration. In this paper, we propose a CNN based Diversified Restrict Boltzmann Machine (RBM) method to model the sequence level latent topics in the sentences for sentiment analysis. The basic idea is to use CNN mapping the sentences into a sequence level feature space, and then utilize the Diversified RBM to model the latent topics in text. The obtained latent topic features are embedding to improve the performance of sentiment analysis. The evaluations on COAE 2014 and NLPCC 2014 datasets show that our proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in sentiment analysis. Furthermore, based on our knowledge, this is the first attempt to employ the Diversified RBM in sentiment analysis.
Centre for Development Economics

This paper provides an explanation for the observed persistence in income inequality across households in terms limited parental altruism. We postulate that the degree of parental altruism is ‘limited’ by the financial status of the parent. A poor parent not only has less ability, but also has less concern about children’s welfare. This generates a non-linearity in the human capital formation for poor vis-a-vis rich households. With a constant returns to scale technology for human capital formation it implies that initial income differences may perpetuate over time. We also derive the conclusion that the initial distribution of income is important for long run growth – a conclusion that conforms to some of the recent works in this field, notably that of Galor and Zeira.
Partnership Arrangements: Governmental Rhetoric or Governance Scheme?

It has become popular to advocate partnership arrangements. Such partnerships may be seen as new forms of governance, which fit in with the imminent network society. However, the idea of partnership is often introduced without much reflection on the need to reorganize policy-making processes and to adjust existing institutional structures. In this contribution, we discuss the ambiguity of partnerships. An empirical basis is provided by means of an analysis of the policy making on the expansion of the Rotterdam harbor. This case indicates that although new governance schemes are being proposed and explored, they still have to comply with the existing procedures in which they are imbedded. Governments especially are not prepared to adjust to governance arrangements. Policy making continues to be based on self-referential organizational decisions, rather than on joint interorganizational policy making. This raises questions about the added value of intended cooperative governance processes.
The EU Neighbourhood Policy: Implications for Economic Growth and Stability

The article discusses the incentives, economic effects and risks of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The ENP should support growth provided that integration with the EU internal market is concrete and wide-ranging. It should not endanger macro stability but involves two specific risks: over-regulation and fragmentation of the internal market.
A 2-Helix Small Protein Labeled with 68Ga for PET Imaging of HER2 Expression

Affibody molecules are a class of scaffold proteins being developed into a generalizable approach to targeting tumors. Many 3-helix–based Affibody proteins have shown excellent in vivo properties for tumor imaging and therapy. By truncating one α-helix that is not responsible for receptor recognition in the Affibody and maturating the protein affinity through synthetic strategies, we have successfully identified in our previous research several small 2-helix proteins with excellent binding affinities to human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2). With preferential properties such as faster blood clearance and tumor accumulation, lower immunogenic potential, and facile and economically viable synthetic schemes, we hypothesized that these 2-helix protein binders could become excellent molecular imaging probes for monitoring HER2 expression and modulation. Methods: In this study, a 2-helix small protein, MUT-DS, was chemically modified with a metal chelator, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA). DOTA-MUT-DS was then site-specifically radiolabeled with an important PET radionuclide, 68Ga. The resulting radiolabeled anti-HER2 2-helix molecule was further evaluated as a potential molecular probe for small-animal PET HER2 imaging in a SKOV3 tumor mouse model. Results: The 2-helix DOTA-MUT-DS showed high HER2-binding affinity (dissociation constant, 4.76 nM). The radiolabeled probe displayed high stability in mouse serum and specificity toward HER2 in cell cultures. Biodistribution and small-animal PET studies further showed that 68Ga-DOTA-MUT-DS had rapid and high SKOV3 tumor accumulation and quick clearance from normal organs. The specificity of 68Ga-DOTA-MUT-DS for SKOV3 tumors was confirmed by monitoring modulation of HER2 protein on treatment of tumor mice with heat shock protein 90 inhibitor 17-N,N-dimethyl ethylene diamine-geldanamycin in vivo. Conclusion: This proof-of-concept research clearly demonstrated that synthetic 2-helix 68Ga-DOTA-MUT-DS is a promising PET probe for imaging HER2 expression in vivo. The Affibody-derived small 2-helix protein scaffold has great potential for developing targeting agents for a variety of tumor-associated biomarkers.
THE TIMING OF REAL OPTION EXERCISE: SOME RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

ABSTRACT This paper briefly reviews one recent development in real options modeling. This development aims to extend traditional real options models. We show that previous models are incomplete in that only the optimal action threshold is derived. The new literature aims to provide, further information on optimal option exercise. By introducing the first passage time approach, empirically testable propositions on the probability of option exercise and the expected waiting time before an option is exercised are provided.
Vitamin E and Vitamin C Supplement Use and Risk of Incident Alzheimer Disease

Oxidative stress may play a role in neurologic disease. The present study examined the relation between use of vitamin E and vitamin C and incident Alzheimer disease in a prospective study of 633 persons 65 years and older. A stratified random sample was selected from a disease-free population. At baseline, all vitamin supplements taken in the previous 2 weeks were identified by direct inspection. After an average follow-up period of 4.3 years, 91 of the sample participants with vitamin information met accepted criteria for the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. None of the 27 vitamin E supplement users had Alzheimer disease compared with 3.9 predicted based on the crude observed incidence among nonusers (p = 0.04) and 2.5 predicted based on age, sex, years of education, and length of follow-up interval (p = 0.23). None of the 23 vitamin C supplement users had Alzheimer disease compared with 3.3 predicted based on the crude observed incidence among nonusers (p = 0.10) and 3.2 predicted adjusted for age, sex, education, and follow-up interval (p = 0.04). There was no relation between Alzheimer disease and use of multivitamins. These data suggest that use of the higher-dose vitamin E and vitamin C supplements may lower the risk of Alzheimer disease.
Fiskalischer Wettbewerb und Einkommensumverteilung

Abstract Fiscal competition is supposed to lead to the collapse of the welfare state because, first, it will become difficult for a single jurisdiction to levy a redistribution tax upon the rich and mobile, and second, such a policy, if undertaken in one jurisdiction, will attract poor individuals from other jurisdictions and erode the internal redistribution policy. In this paper, theoretical and empirical studies concerning the impact of taxes and transfer payments on residence decisions of taxpayers are reviewed. The relationship of fiscal competition and the erosion of the welfare state is illustrated with aggregate data on income redistribution in Switzerland.
Definition of the Beijing/W Lineage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the Basis of Genetic Markers

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains are highly prevalent in Asian countries and in the territory of the former Soviet Union. They are increasingly reported in other areas of the world and are frequently associated with tuberculosis outbreaks and drug resistance. Beijing genotype strains, including W strains, have been characterized by their highly similar multicopy IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns, deletion of spacers 1 to 34 in the direct repeat region (Beijing spoligotype), and insertion of IS6110 in the genomic dnaA-dnaN locus. In this study the suitability and comparability of these three genetic markers to identify members of the Beijing lineage were evaluated. In a well-characterized collection of 1,020 M. tuberculosis isolates representative of the IS6110 RFLP genotypes found in The Netherlands, strains of two clades had spoligotypes characteristic of the Beijing lineage. A set of 19 Beijing reference RFLP patterns was selected to retrieve all Beijing strains from the Dutch database. These reference patterns gave a sensitivity of 98.1% and a specificity of 99.7% for identifying Beijing strains (defined by spoligotyping) in an international database of 1,084 strains. The usefulness of the reference patterns was also assessed with large DNA fingerprint databases in two other European countries and for identification strains from the W lineage found in the United States. A standardized definition for the identification of M. tuberculosis strains belonging to the Beijing/W lineage, as described in this work, will facilitate further studies on the spread and characterization of this widespread genotype family of M. tuberculosis strains.
Innovation in an old industrial region: the case of Twente

In this paper, we explore the innovative capacities of old industrial regions by studying the case of the former textiles agglomeration of Twente. We argue that the hardware, software and mindware of old industrial regions tend to suffer from path dependency. For innovation in this type of regions a breakthrough is needed. In this paper we study the case of Twente and show how a well-networked university, the University of Twente (UT), has served as a focal point for both industrial and institutional attempts to promote regional upgrading. We conclude that for old industrial regions a university might be an essential driver of regional innovation
Revisiting the Corroboration Effects of Earnings and Dividend Announcements

Using a unique market setting in Hong Kong, where (i) all firms release earnings and dividend information in the same announcement; (ii) corporate transparency is low; (iii) dividend income is non-taxable and (iv) corporate ownership is highly concentrated, we re-examine the corroboration effects of earnings and dividends. We use the control firm approach to avoid the return estimation bias resulting from observation clustering. We also add in variables and use econometric procedure to control for the potential impacts of earnings management, special dividends and heteroskedasticity. Our findings show that there exists a corroboration effect between the jointly announced signals.
Application study of innovative Quality Circle Programme and its Decision Support System in a gear manufacturing company

During the 1980s, the world witnessed the application of Quality Circles (QCs) for problem solving. Due to stiff competition, the world community began to expect innovation in addition to problem solving. As a result, QCs began to diminish in the world. In order to overcome this deficiency, this paper describes a technique called Innovative QC encompassed with innovation and QC concepts. As key decisions are required to be made for successful implementation of innovative QC, its Decision Support System (DSS) was adopted for investigation. The practicality of innovative QC and its DSS were examined in a gear manufacturing environment.
Estimating Expected Price of Vehicles in a Transportation Microsimulation Modeling System

Microsimulation modeling is an emerging approach to activity-based travel forecasting. Household automobile-ownership models are being included in microsimulation travel-demand models more. Implicitly, vehicle price is an important attribute of vehicles in all automobile-ownership models. In order to update prices at each point of time within the simulation, a modeling tool is required to estimate the price of each vehicle at any time. This paper develops a hedonic price model to estimate the expected price of vehicles to be used in a comprehensive urban-transportation modeling system. In this study, the use of a linear hedonic price model was investigated in terms of its application to the market price of automobiles.
Lights, Camera, Action… Spotlight on Trauma Video Review: An Underutilized Means of Quality Improvement and Education

Background: Trauma video review (TVR) is an effective method of quality improvement and education. The objective of this study was to determine TVR practices in the United States and use of TVR for quality improvement and education. Methods: Adult and pediatric trauma centers identified by the American College of Surgeons (n = 102) and the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (n = 24) were surveyed by telephone. Surveys included questions regarding program demographics, residency information, and past/present TVR practices. Results: One hundred eight trauma centers (86%) were contacted, and 99% (107/108) completed surveys. Of the surveyed centers, 34% never used TVR; 37% previously used TVR and had discontinued at the time of the survey, with most reporting legal/privacy concerns; 20% were currently using TVR; and 9% were planning to use TVR in the future. Nineteen percent (14/73) of general trauma centers are using or planning to use TVR compared with 50% (17/34) of pediatric centers (P = 0.001). One hundred percent of current TVR programs report that TVR improves the trauma resuscitation process. Most pediatric emergency medicine (87%), emergency medicine (89%), and surgery (97%) trainees participate in trauma resuscitation at trauma centers. Fifty-two percent of centers using TVR report trainee attendance at TVR process/conference; 38% specifically use TVR for resident education. Conclusions: All current TVR programs report that it improves their trauma processes. More pediatric trauma centers report planning future TVR programs, but the implication of such plans remains unclear. Opportunities exist for expanded use of TVR for resident education.