Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CSR report assurance in the USA: an empirical investigation of determinants and effects

Purpose – The authors aims to examine, first, what factors appear to lead those US companies that do obtain assurance on their CSR reports to do so, and second, whether this assurance appears to be valued by market participants. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use logistic regression analysis to determine what factors explain the choice to seek assurance. For the second stage of the analysis, the authors rely on Aboody et al.'s market valuation model to examine the association between CSR report assurance and firm value. Findings – The authors find that industry membership and disclosure extensiveness both appear to influence the choice to attain third-party assurance on CSR reports in the USA. However, the results also indicate that the assurance is not associated with higher market value for report-issuing companies. Research limitations/implications – The authors examine only large firms and limit the investigation to a single year. Further, the authors do not examine market valuation effects.
The Effect of Bank Mergers on Loan Prices: Evidence from the United States

Bank mergers can increase or decrease loan spreads, depending on whether the increased market power outweighs efficiency gains. Using proprietary loan-level data for U.S. commercial banks, I find that, on average, mergers reduce loan spreads, with the magnitude of the reduction being larger when postmerger cost savings increase. My results suggest that the relation between spreads and the extent of the market overlap between merging banks is nonmonotonic. The market overlap increases cost savings and consequently lowers spreads, but when the overlap is sufficiently large, spreads increase, potentially due to the market-power effect dominating the cost savings. Furthermore, the average reduction in spreads is significant for small businesses. The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org. , Oxford University Press.
Impact of Financial Variables on Production in Kansas Farms Efficiencies

This article establishes the cost-efficiency frontier and its variation over time for a sample of 610 farms in Kansas for ten consecutive years, from 1995 to 2004. The primary objective consists of examining how financially constrained firms affect cost efficiency and its components, allocative, technical and scale efficiency. Using a sample from the Kansas Farm Management Association and data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique, each farm is measured against the rest of the sample to calculate the cost efficiency frontier and other measures of efficiency per year. Two DEA financially constrained models, constrained by solvency and level of debt of the firms respectively, are compared to the basic one in which firms are non-constrained. We test whether the debt and solvency constraints are binding, and how much and in which direction they affect the level of cost efficiency, technical efficiency, allocative efficiency, and scale efficiency. Results for the farms and period studied show that financial constraints do not impede farms from achieving their level of cost efficiency. However, in the presence of financial constraints, farms' level of technical efficiency decreases whereas their level of allocative efficiency increases.
Supply, Demand and the Value of Green Buildings

Attention to ‘sustainability’ and energy efficiency rating schemes in the commercial property sector has increased rapidly during the past decade. In the UK, commercial properties have been certified under the BREEAM rating scheme since 1999, offering fertile ground to investigate the economic dynamics of ‘green’ certification in the commercial property market. This paper documents that, over the 2000–09 period, the expanding supply of green buildings within a given London neighbourhood had a positive impact on average rents and prices, but reduced rents and prices for environmentally certified real estate. The results suggest that there is a gentrification effect from green buildings. However, each additional “green” building decreases the marginal effect of certification in the rental and transaction markets by 2 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. In addition, controlling for lease contract features, like contract length and the rent-free period, modifies the impact of environmental certification on rental prices.
The consequence of passive administration of an anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 neutralizing monoclonal antibody before challenge of chimpanzees with a primary virus isolate

The anti-gp41 virus neutralizing monoclonal antibody 2F5 was infused into chimpanzees, which were then given an intravenous challenge with a primary human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) isolate. In two control animals, the infection was established immediately, as evidenced by positive cell-associated DNA PCR and serum RNA PCR tests within 1 week, seroconversion by 4 weeks, and development of lymphadenopathy in this acute phase. Serum RNA PCR tests were negative in one of the two antibody-infused animals until week 8 and in the other antibody-infused animal until week 12; both animals seroconverted at week 14. The peak of measurable virus-specific serum RNA was delayed until week 16 in one antibody-infused animal. Virus-specific RNA in the other animal did not reach levels comparable to those in the other animals through 1 year of follow-up studies. Virus was isolated from the week 16 blood sample from one infused animal. Virus was not isolated from peripheral blood of the second animal but was isolated from lymph node cells taken at week 36. The infection of untreated chimpanzees with this primary isolate appears robust. Use of this isolate should widen the scope of possible experiments in the chimpanzee model. This antibody infusion study indicates that neutralizing antibody, when present at the time of challenge, affects the timing and level of infection and remains influential after it can no longer be detected in the peripheral circulation. It is possible that preexisting, neutralizing antibodies (passively administered or actively elicited) affect the course of acute-phase virus replication in humans. It remains to be established whether these immunologically mediated early effects will influence the course of HIV-1 disease.
Impulsivity in abstinent early- and late-onset alcoholics: differences in self-report measures and a discounting task.

AIMS To test the hypothesis that early-onset alcoholics (EOAs) can be differentiated from late-onset alcoholics (LOAs) by more severe substance-related problems and higher levels of impulsivity and aggression. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS A cross-sectional patient survey with a community comparison group. The European Addiction Severity Index was used to assess substance-related problems and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Dutch version of the Zuckermann Sensation Seeking Scale and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory were used to assess impulsive and aggressive traits. Impulsive decision making was assessed using a delay discounting task (DDT) with hypothetical monetary rewards. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Participants were EOAs (n = 42) and LOAs (n = 46) recruited from an addiction treatment centre and an unmatched, non-substance-abusing comparison group (n = 54). Findings The EOAs had higher levels of impulsive decision making than both the LOAs and the comparison group. The EOAs had higher scores than the LOAs on measures of impulsiveness, aggressiveness and the severity of substance-related problems. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that EOAs are more impulsive and aggressive than LOAs. Further identification of alcoholism subtypes based on dimensions of impulsivity should be considered in the light of their relationship with pharmacological and behavioural treatment interventions.
Market Integration, Efficiency of Arbitrage, and Imperfect Competition: Methodology and Application to U.S. Celery

This paper develops and applies a methodology to test for efficiency of interregional commodity arbitrage. Application of the methodology requires only time-series data on prices for alternative cities, regions, countries, or product forms. Yet, the approach is capable of generating evidence on a number of market parameters including market integration, arbitrage efficiency, the magnitude of marketing margins, product substitutability, and competitiveness of markets. Estimation is based on a switching regression model with three regimes: efficient arbitrage, relative shortage, and relative glut. Results from application of the model to U.S. celery marketing indicated significant departures from efficient arbitrage for both California and Florida celery.
Deindustrialization, Professionalization and Racial Inequality in Cape Town

Scholars argue that persistent racial inequality in Cape Town is caused by deindustrialization, which has led to high unemployment among blacks (Africans, coloreds and Indians) and the polarization of the occupational structure into a class of mostly white, highly paid managers and professionals and a class of mostly black, low-paid service-sector workers. This study shows that deindustrialization has not produced a large class of black low-wage service-sector workers. Instead, it has produced a professionalizing occupational structure alongside high unemployment. Although whites benefited from the growth of the professional and managerial jobs, these occupations have been substantially deracialized. The consequence for the racial geography of Cape Town is that the city is becoming divided into racially mixed middle-class neighborhoods and black working-class neighborhoods characterized by high unemployment.
Vision based robotic person following under lighting variations

The paper addresses the problem of person following using color and shape identification in indoors and outdoors environments with significant light variations. This is mainly achieved by real-time control of camera parameters affecting the light exposure, i.e. camera gain, shutter speed and iris. Several other new strategies are also proposed to recognize and segment the person from the environment, and to reacquire the person when he is lost during difficult walking maneuvers. In addition to the camera exposure control, the camera pan and tilt, and the robot speed and steering are controlled based on the characteristics of the detected personpsilas image such as mass (area), centroid, and shape characteristics. The system has been implemented on a Segway robotic platform that has been equipped with a camera, an onboard computer, loud speakers, game-pad, etc. A video has been prepared that shows indoors and outdoors trials under a variety of conditions.
Effects of Mobile Phones on Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance in Cornea and Lens of Rats

Purpose: To investigate the effects of mobile-phone-emitted radiation on the oxidant/antioxidant balance in corneal and lens tissues and to observe any protective effects of vitamin C in this setting. Methods: Forty female albino Wistar rats were assigned to one of four groups containing 10 rats each. One group received a standardized daily dose of mobile phone radiation for 4 weeks. The second group received this same treatment along with a daily oral dose of vitamin C (250 mg/kg). The third group received this dose of vitamin C alone, while the fourth group received standard laboratory care and served as a control. In corneal and lens tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) were measured with spectrophotometric methods. Results: In corneal tissue, MDA level and CAT activity significantly increased in the mobile phone group compared with the mobile phone plus vitamin C group and the control group (p < 0.05), whereas SOD activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In the lens tissues, only the MDA level significantly increased in the mobile phone group relative to mobile phone plus vitamin C group and the control groups (p < 0.05). In lens tissue, significant differences were not found between the groups in terms of SOD, GSH-Px, or CAT (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that mobile telephone radiation leads to oxidative stress in corneal and lens tissues and that antioxidants such as vitamin C can help to prevent these effects.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme DD Polymorphism Is Associated With Poor Coronary Collateral Circulation in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Objectives Although association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and cardiovascular diseases was reported by many studies, the relation between ACE I/D polymorphism and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) has not been studied yet. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible relationship between ACE I/D polymorphism and CCC. Methods Patients who were subjected to coronary angiography in the 2006 to 2009 period and had at least a completely occluded major artery were included in this study. To classify collateral circulation, we used the Rentrop classification. Patients were classified as having poor CCC (Rentrop grades 0 to 1) or good CCC (Rentrop grades 2 to 3). Gene polymorphism was detected through the detailed melting curve analysis of polymerase chain reaction products after amplification using real-time polymerase chain reaction method and LightCycler 1.5 apparatus. Results We prospectively studied 113 patients who had at least 1 totally occluded major epicardial coronary artery. Forty-seven patients had poor CCC and 67 patients had good CCC. There were no differences among groups in age, sex, risk factors, lipid profile, uses of cardiovascular drugs, and number of diseased vessels. Plasma ACE levels were significantly higher in poor CCC group (P < 0.001). The frequency of DD polymorphism was higher in the poor CCC group (P < 0.001). In allele frequency, we found that the frequency of the D allele was higher in poor CCC group than in the good CCC group (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.16–7.38; P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis with CCC development as the dependent variable revealed that the presence of total occlusion of the left circumflex artery (95% CI, 1.29–6.6; P = 0.001), ACE DD genotype (95% CI, 2.55–12.79; P = 0.001), presence of diabetes (95% CI, 1.03–3.16; P = 0.005), and pulse pressure (95% CI, 1.04–1.56; P = 0.045) were independent determinants of poor coronary collateral development. Conclusions This study showed that ACE DD polymorphism is associated with poor CCC. Poor collateral circulation in patients carrying the D allele may be associated with endothelial dysfunction and elevated blood ACE levels in these patients.
Optimal Ordering Decisions with Uncertain Cost and Demand Forecast Updating

We determine the optimal ordering policy for a retailer who has two instants to order a seasonal product from a manufacturer prior to a single selling season. While the demand is uncertain, the retailer can improve the forecast by utilizing the market signals observed between the first and second instants. However, because of the nature of the manufacturing environment, the unit cost at the second instant is uncertain and could be higher (or lower) than the unit cost at the first instant. To determine the profit-maximizing ordering strategies at both instants, the retailer has to evaluate the trade-off between a more accurate forecast and a potentially higher unit cost at the second instant. We present a nested newsvendor model for determining the optimal order quantity at each instant and characterize the conditions under which it is optimal for the retailer to delay its order until the second instant.
Communities of Blogging: Extensions of Our Identities

Writing through a blog is a way of extending ourselves in a virtual world. Our identity is formed and molded as we unveil our thoughts and have others offer comments and feedback. The online environment has a direct impact in creating active social interactions to assist in defining our identity. Most blogs are a personal journal type of entry that deals with the personal experiences and reflections. Our concept of ourself is derived from a perceived membership in a particular blog through the deeper connectivity of the dialog. Most bloggers are under 30 and influenced by the postmodern philosophies. Some of these are discussed and parallels are made to bring more understanding of this fascination with the public broadcast of thoughts and feelings.
Education, equality, and efficiency - An analysis of Swedish school reforms during the 1990s

Preface This report is an English version of the 2003 Report form the SNS Welfare Policy Group (Välfärdspolitiska rådet). This version is slightly more technical than the Swedish version and contains more details on some of the analyses. The initiative to the theme of the report originated from SNS, while the research presented here to a large extent represents ongoing research projects of the individual authors. We are all empirical labor economists. Therefore, we are inclined to focus on the measurable aspects of what schools produce, in part because making sense of the data is our expertise. We also firmly believe that statistical evaluation of school performance can help guide policy and help to quantify the precision or imprecision of our knowledge of specific school reforms. Hence, outcomes such as student achievement as measured by the results on standardized tests will figure prominently in this report. This quantitative focus is not driven by the belief that outcomes that are more difficult to measure – such as democratic values – are unimportant. Nevertheless, we think that student knowledge is mainly what schools should produce. One may, of course, quibble about whether test results accurately measure " knowledge ". Still, they clearly have some informative value. The opposite position is easily falsified by the fact that adult labor market success is predicted by the performance on standardized tests in primary school. This report is a joint product. But since we are economists we believe in the virtues of specialization. Therefore, the work in chapters 2-8 has been divided among the four of us. The division has been as follows: Anders Björklund has been primarily responsible for the material in chapters 7 and 8; Per-Anders Edin for the material in chapter 3; Peter Fredriksson has been mainly responsible for the analysis in chapters 4, 5, and 6; Alan Krueger, finally, has written chapter 2 and contributed with the reviews of the international literature in chapters 4 and 6. The writing of the report has been funded by The Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), The Swedish National Agency for School Improvement, and firms and agencies within the SNS-group (see the Swedish version for a complete list). The underlying research projects are funded by The Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), The Institute for Labour Market Policy Evaluation (IFAU), and Jan Wallanders and Tom Hedelius Research Foundation. We …
The Theory of Software Testing

Software testing is the process of testing bugs in lines of code of a program that can be performed by manual or automation testing. The theory of software testing involves problem definitions of testing such as test team, failure after testing, manual testing, uncertainty principle, participation, and incorrect test case selection. This article shows the details of a critical part of software testing, which is how to test the performance of new software and the entire system. The outcome of this article is the whole picture of three phases for software testing as follows: preliminary testing, testing and user acceptance testing.
European Social Fund in Portugal: a complex question for human resource development

Purpose – This article aims to review the application of the funds awarded by the European Social Fund (ESF) to Portugal, since 1986, from a human resource development (HRD) perspective.Design/methodology/approach – Several variables are analyzed: investment, absorption, people, impact of investment, evolution of skills, main programs, supply and demand for training and the role of the state.Findings – The main conclusion of the paper is that, even if the ESF was extremely important in quantitative terms in Portugal, its qualitative implications were modest.Research limitations/implications – The Portuguese ESF case should be compared with other national cases in the European Union and elsewhere. The ESF patterns should be compared with other cases of international support made by multinationals, non‐governmental organizations or bodies like the World Bank or the United Nations.Practical implications – European monetary stability and integration has to be based on social stability and integration. The ESF.
Active travel to school and cardiovascular fitness in Danish children and adolescents.

PURPOSE Active travel to school provides an opportunity for daily physical activity. Previous studies have shown that walking and cycling to school are associated with higher physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the way that children and adolescents travel to school is associated with level of cardiovascular fitness. METHODS Participants were recruited via a proportional, two-stage cluster sample of schools (N = 25) in the region of Odense, Denmark as part of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS). Nine hundred nineteen participants (529 children, age 9.7 +/- 0.5 yr; 390 adolescents, age 15.5 +/- 0.4 yr) completed a maximal cycle ergometer test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (Wmax x kg(-1)). Mode of travel to school was investigated by questionnaire. Physical activity was measured in 531 participants using an accelerometer. Regression analyses with robust standard errors and adjustment for confounders (gender, age, body composition (skinfolds), pubertal status, and physical activity) and the cluster sampling procedure were used to compare fitness levels for different travel modes. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to assess the odds for belonging to quartiles of fitness. RESULTS Children and adolescents who cycled to school were significantly more fit than those who walked or traveled by motorized transport and were nearly five times as likely (OR 4.8; 95% CI 2.8-8.4) to be in the top quartile of fitness. CONCLUSION Cycling to school may contribute to higher cardiovascular fitness in young people.
Conditions of Radical Transformation in State-Owned Enterprises

This study analyses the key contributors to radical organizational change in five New Zealand state-owned enterprises during their ownership transition between 1985 and 1995. Abrupt government reform policies, organizations' market positions, realization of rapid technological innovation, proactive managerial actions and the new owners' strategic intent are established as key conditions of radical change in state-owned enterprises. We integrate our findings with institutional theory and resource dependency theory to argue that organizational dynamics in times of uncertainty depend on de-institutionalization of old and institutionalization of new patterns of resource dependency.