Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overview on the Cost-effectiveness of Maritime Safety Policy Instruments

Maritime safety is an issue that has gained a lot of attention in the Baltic Sea area due to the dense maritime traffic and transportation of oil in the area. Lots of effort has been paid to enhance maritime safety in the area. The risk exists that excessive legislation and other requirements mean more costs for limited benefit. In order to utilize both public and private resources efficiently, awareness is required of what kind of costs maritime safety policy instruments cause and whether the costs are in relation to benefits. The aim of this report is to present an overview of the cost-effectiveness of maritime safety policy instruments focusing on the cost aspect: what kind of costs maritime safety policy causes, to whom, what affects the cost-effectiveness and how cost-effectiveness is studied. The study is based on a literature review and on the interviews of Finnish maritime experts. The results of this study imply that cost-effectiveness is a complicated issue to evaluate. There are no uniform practices for which costs and benefits should be included in the evaluation and how they should be valued. One of the challenges is how to measure costs and benefits during the course of a longer time period. Often a lack of data erodes the reliability of evaluation. In the prevention of maritime accidents, costs typically include investments in ship structures or equipment, as well as maintenance and labor costs. Also large investments may be justifiable if they respectively provide significant improvements to maritime safety. Measures are cost-effective only if they are implemented properly. Costeffectiveness is decreased if a measure causes overlapping or repetitious work. Costeffectiveness is also decreased if the technology isn’t user-friendly or if it is soon replaced with a new technology or another new appliance. In future studies on the cost-effectiveness of maritime safety policy, it is important to acknowledge the dependency between different policy instruments and the uncertainty of the factors affecting cost-effectiveness. The costs of a single measure are rarely relatively significant and the effect of each measure on safety tends to be positive. The challenge is to rank the measures and to find the most effective combination of different policy instruments. The greatest potential offered for the analysis of cost-effectiveness of individual measures is their implementation in clearly defined risk situations, in which different measures are truly alternative to each other. Overall, maritime safety measures do not seem to be considered burdening for the shipping industry in Finland at the moment. Generally actors in the Finnish shipping industry seem to find maintaining a high safety level important and act accordingly.
Molecular Biomarkers of Anthropic Impacts in Natural Archives: A Review

Molecular biomarkers are becoming increasingly important tools in paleoenvironmental research, and over recent years have been shown to be useful indicators of human activities. Common indicators of past human impacts include pollen, charcoal, sedimentation rates, and magnetic susceptibility, each of which has its limitations. Thus, the advent of novel molecular markers of human activities provides an additional set of tools to make the difficult distinction between anthropogenic and natural factors that have influenced the environment in the past. Fossil biomarkers preserved in natural archives provide valuable temporal and spatial insights on land use such as cultivation practices and pastoral activities, post-harvesting activities (e.g., retting), and their consequences on the environment and ecosystems. Herein we review the progress that has been made in developing novel biomarkers of human activities, differentiating those indicating environmental changes that can be related to human activities from those unambiguously attributable to human activities. The review ends with a case study highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the biomarker approach and finally summarizes opportunities for future research.
Impact of Corporate Governance Variables on Firm Performance: A Comparison between Pakistan and Some Other Countries

The present study has been conducted to make a comparison between Pakistan and some other countries of the world regarding the impact of corporate governance system. For example, size of board, CEO Duality, Board Composition, Audit Committee etc on the performance of firms. Another objective of our research is to identify the relative importance of difference governance mechanisms and to locate which one is the most significant for better efficiency of organization. To fulfill the objectives of this study, research reviews from different prominent scholars throughout the world have been consulted. On the basis of their findings, we have tried to establish a logical comparison between Pakistan and other countries regarding the effect of governance mechanisms on profitability of firm. The countries studied included in this study are China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Ghana, U.S.A. , U.K., New Zealand, Egypt, Switzerland, Spain andItaly . The findings of our research show that the impact of corporate governance mechanism in Pakistan is almost similar to the other emerging as well as developed countries. It has also been observed that majority of the governance mechanisms have a strong positive affect on firm performance while a few like CEO Duality etc. have a negative effect on the performance of firms. Key Words: Corporate Governance, Board Size, CEO Duality, Board Composition, Firm Performance Jel Classification: G30, G34
A Comparison of Epidural Pressures and Incidence of True Subatmospheric Epidural Pressure Between the Mid-Thoracic and Low-Thoracic Epidural Space

BACKGROUND: Differences in epidural pressure (EP) may influence the spread of blockade in thoracic epidural anesthesia. We evaluated if EP and the incidence of subatmospheric EP differ between the mid- and low-thoracic epidural space. METHODS: Patients received an epidural catheter at the T3-5 (MID group, n = 20) or T7-10 (LOW group, n = 20) intervertebral space, respectively. The epidural space was identified using a Tuohy needle connected to a pressure transducer, after which EP was measured. RESULTS: The epidural space could not be identified in three patients who were excluded from the study. EP data are presented as median value (interquartile range). Median EP was 1 mm Hg (−1 to 4.5) in the MID group, and 4 mm Hg (2-7.8) in the LOW group (P = 0.04). The incidence of an EP ≤0 mm Hg was 8 of 17 patients in the MID group and 2 of 20 patients in the LOW group (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that EP is lower, and the incidence of subatmospheric EP is higher in the mid-thoracic epidural space when compared with that in the low-thoracic epidural space. However, median EP was positive in both groups. It remains to be investigated whether this pressure gradient is sufficient to influence the spread of thoracic epidural blockade.
Health and Safety at Work: Within the Family Firm

The family firm organizational form is an important element of even the most modern industrial landscape. The implications of family ownership and management of business enterprises for health and safety at work remain, perhaps surprisingly, unexplored. This study presents and illustrates several key organizational health and safety factors which are likely to be influenced by the family firm form. Additional research is recommended for this relatively un-explored area. INTRODUCTION Dramatic examples of the workplace risks run by family business managers are staple ingredients of the news media. The suicide of German industrialist Dr. Adolf Merckle highlights the specific and ultimate risks faced by family-firm members. “The industrialist's friends and family blame his demise on a complex combination of pride, guilt over what he saw as failing his family, and, perhaps most importantly, loss of control”, as the Telegraph explained (2009). The lawsuits which beset, for example, the Gucci family, or the Hunt Petroleum Empire, are indications of the emotionally-intense conflict which can ferment within a family business. Although little empirical data is available specifically studying this labour market group, nevertheless “anecdotal evidence has long suggested a high degree of chronic stress among the self-employed” (Jamal, 1997: see also Akande 1994; Boyd and Gumpert 1983; Yusuf 1995). Jamal (1997) found that self-employed workers reported higher levels of stress and psychosomatic health problems than salaried employees. Whilst comprising just 7% of the US workforce in 2004, the self-employed made up 20% of workplace fatalities (Pegula, 2004). It thus appears that (small) business owner-managers are an especially vulnerable group, in terms of occupational health and safety. One of the principle elements within the SME environment is that of kin involvement in business ownership and management. The family firm remains a significant economic form across Europe, and beyond, and is not only to be found within the SME sector which it dominates. Many very large businesses indeed exhibit this ownership and management structure. The interactions between family and enterprise create very specific health, safety and stress factors, some of which may be seen to be generally positive, and others quite the reverse. Characteristics of the
Determining of the effective factors on cattle meat preferences: the case of Izmir.

In the recent term, structure of beef consumption has changed for health care. The aim of the paper is to explore the effective factors on beef consumptions in Izmir. The data of the study were randomly obtained from face to face interviews from the consumers. Logistic regression analysis is used. According to the results of this study demonstrate that gender, age, education, income, household size and existing a ill person in house are affective factors on beef consumption. If there are not ill person in house, beef consumption probability is 1.20 times increase. For lowest income group, the odds of beef consumption versus the combined higher are 2.52-8.10 times greater, given the other variables are held constant in the model.
THE EFFECT OF DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT ON STOCK RETURNS OF FIRMS LISTED AT THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE

x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Dividend Announcement . 2 1.1.2 Stock Returns . 2 1.1.3 The Effect of Dividend Announcement on Stock Returns . 3 1.1.4 Nairobi Securities Exchange . 4 1.2 Research Problem . 5 1.3 Research Objective . 6 1.4 Value of the Study . 6 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 2.
Is there a liability of foreignness in global banking? An empirical test of banks' X‐efficiency

When a company operates outside of its home country, it may suffer a ‘liability of foreignness. ’ Does this a priori theoretical expectation hold in the global banking industry? Banks increasingly compete outside of their home countries, and operating environments often differ sharply across countries, both in terms of financial markets and credit risk. In this paper, we report the results of an empirical test of the liability of foreignness in the global banking industry, using Fitch–IBCA BankScope data for the period 1989–96. Our findings strongly support the liability of foreignness hypothesis. Further, the data show some evidence that the X-efficiency of a foreign-owned bank is strongly influenced by the competitiveness of its home country and the host country in which it operates. Lastly, we find that in some environments U.S.-owned banks are more X-efficient than other foreign-owned banks in some environments, but less X-efficient in others. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogen peroxide-enhanced three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography and endoanal magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating perianal fistulas: agreement and patient preference

Objectives To determine agreement between hydrogen peroxide-enhanced three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (3D HPUS) and endoanal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preoperative assessment of perianal fistulas, and to assess patient preference with regard to these techniques. Methods Forty patients (31 males, aged 21–70 years) with symptoms of a perianal fistula and a visible external opening underwent preoperative 3D HPUS and endoanal MRI. The results were assessed separately by experienced observers. Fistulas were described according to the following characteristics: classification of the primary fistula tract according to Parks, location of the internal opening, presence of secondary tracts and fluid collections. Patients were asked to score the amount of discomfort experienced during both procedures and express their preference for either method. Results The median time interval between 3D HPUS and endoanal MRI was 14 days (range, 0–91 days). The methods agreed in 88% (35/40, κ = 0.45) for the primary fistula tract, in 90% (36/40, κ = 0.83) for the location of the internal opening, in 78% (31/40, κ = 0.62) for secondary tracts, and in 88% (35/40, κ = 0.63) for fluid collections. Both methods were associated with similar discomfort, and there was no patient preference for one procedure over the other. Conclusions 3D HPUS and endoanal MRI are equally adequate for the evaluation of perianal fistulas. Both methods are associated with similar discomfort and patients have no preference for either procedure.
Fast beam propagation method for the analysis of second-order nonlinear phenomena

We adopt an implicit scheme to solve both the dispersive/diffractive and the nonlinear step in the beam propagation method (BPM) code. Unlike the Runge-Kutta implementation used in the nonlinear part of the propagation, the totally implicit scheme is considerably fast. Transparent boundary conditions can be also applied to effectively treat radiation problems. To validate the method, numerical examples are given and results compared with analytical solutions.
An Examination of the Random Walk Model and Technical Trading Rules in the Malaysian Stock Market

This paper examines the predictability of technical trading mies on the daily returns of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index for the full sample period from January 1977 to December 1999, which includes both bull and bear periods. The methodology employed includes both the variance ratio test and moving average rules. The results indicate non-randomness of successive price changes. The degree of predictability is supported, as the trading rules examined indicate technical attractiveness with the presence of transaction costs.
The impact of anchor stores on the performance of shopping centres: the case of Sonae Sierra

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of anchor stores on the performance and results of shopping centres and on the prices practiced by other stores. It analyses the customer spill‐over effect of the anchor stores on the Sonae Sierra shopping centres. Incorporated in Portugal in 1989, Sonae Sierra is an international corporation specializing in shopping centres. It is co‐owned by Sonae (Portugal) and Grosvenor (UK) who each own 50 per cent.Design/methodology/approach – The data collection targeted 35 shopping centres in Portugal and Spain with 1,200,000 square feet (or more), for three consecutive years (2005‐2007). The anchor stores provide about 41 per cent of the total gross lettable area and on average pay only 18 per cent of the total rent collected by the developer. The ordinary least squares and Kruskal‐Wallis statistic (in order to avoid ANOVA assumption violations) are used to test the hypotheses.Findings – The empirical analysis shows that a greater presence of anchors .
The nature of training and motivation to train in small firms

This study begins from the premise that smaller employers provide less formal training than larger companies and are less likely to participate in government training initiatives. The study has a number of objectives: to understand the issues small employers face in making decisions about training; to examine training provision for owner-managers, new recruits and established employees; to guage the importance of formal and informal training; to identify employers’ motives to provide training; and to assess whether small businesses’ informal training can be assessed more formally than at present. The first stage of the study provides quantitative data on a sufficiently large sample to be able to generalise the findings to the broader population. The second stage provides qualitative data on employers’ definitions of training, their motives for undertaking training and the barriers to providing training. The report also suggests implications for future policy.
Towards a Model of Sustainability Capabilities and Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence From India

Firms have lately realized the importance of sustainability because of (1) decreasing resources (2) difficulty in getting adequate and skilled resources. Therefore firms are trying their best to include sustainability considerations in their operational, tactical and strategic planning. In this scenario, this paper makes an attempt to operationalize several kinds of resources existing in an organization from a sustainability perspective and tries to investigate which of these can best help the organization in developing sustainability capabilities which will eventually led the firm to gain competitive advantage. Based on the data collected from 204 executives engaged in different sectors, the findings indicate that except accounting resources, all other resources like information technology, finance, marketing and operations are significant in enabling the firm to develop sustainability capabilities. Relatively, operations resources and information technology resources are the most important predictors of sustainability capabilities and hence firms can focus more on these departments while strategic resource allocation. Finally, the study exhibited that sustainability capabilities do help a firm to gain competitive advantage. Towards a Model of Sustainability Capabilities and Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence from India
Denial of Fear of Dying or of Death in Young and Elderly Populations

255 college students and 71 elderly persons answered 12 items about either death or dying which pertained either to the general case and people in general, or to themselves. If it is assumed that expressing less fear when the item concerns oneself constitutes denial, evidence for denial was found only with fear of dying and only in the younger group. Further, experience with dying by itself did not account for the age difference; 116 nurses' aides in nursing homes also showed denial in their fear of dying.
The end of market power Europe? The EU's failure to include aviation fully into its emissions trading scheme

This article deals with aviation, conflict between the European Union (EU) and (amongst others) Russia and the question of the power of the EU in the 21st century, still it has nothing to do with the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and the EU’s response to this tragedy. This article analyses a conflict belonging more to the sphere of ‘low politics’, and where not Russia stands opposite to the rest of the world, but the EU found itself isolated: the EU’s attempt to tax all flights landing or departing within the EU 2 for their carbon emissions during the whole of that flight. The European Union decided in October 2008 to include the aviation sector in its emissions trading scheme (ETS) from 1 January 2012 onwards. Originally, also foreign airlines were supposed to buy emission permits for all emissions during a flight landing or departing within the EU. However, under fierce international pressure, the EU decided in November 2012 to exempt
Development of a Nurse-Provided Health System Strategy for Diabetic Foot Care

A nurse-provided university health system diabetic foot screening/education/treatment program evaluated 403 patients in the initial 12 months of development. All patients were provided individualized foot-specific patient education, varying in intensity with the magnitude of their risk status. One hundred and forty-five (36%) were categorized as being at risk for the development of a diabetic foot ulcer. Improper footwear capable of producing foot ulceration was recorded in 268 (66.5%) of the enrollees. Seven patients with previously undiagnosed Charcot foot disorder were identified. Eighty-three of the enrollees were seen at least once in follow-up. Sixty-one (73%) used improper footwear at the initial evaluation, which was decreased to 36 (43%) at the first follow-up visit. Nurse-provided foot-specific diabetic screening and education, combined with protective footwear, has been shown to be a cost- and resource-effective method of decreasing the rate of diabetic foot ulcers, and the risk for eventual lower extremity amputation.
An Improved Control Strategy for Full-controlled Single-phase H Bridge Rectifier

In this paper, an improved single-phase H bridge rectifier controller with high power factor, and low DC ripple is presented. After introduction the working principle and electrical circuit topology of single-phase rectifier with the H bridge, the design method of its essential parts of controller, phase locked loop (PLL) and proportional resonant (PR) control strategy, is discussed. These two parts play important role to achieve extremely high power factor and low DC ripple. And via Matlab/Simulink simulation, this conclusion is showed. At the last part of this paper, the physical experiment was carried out on a 10kV rectifier and the result proved the effectiveness of the presented controller.
Aging and Intellectual Ability in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Educated Adults: Preliminary Results from a Sample of College Faculty

52 members of the college community at a small liberal arts university (Ages 25–72) were administered a 60-min. battery of tests measuring different aspects of cognitive performance. Stepwise regression equations detected significant relationships between the predictor variables of age and education and measures of the WAIS-R, the Logical Memory subtests and Trails A. Age predicted performance on Trails A, the Digit Symbol subtest of the WAIS-R, the Logical Memory II component of the Wechsler Memory Scale-R, some measures of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Full Scale WAIS-R IQ. Education was a significant predictor of performance on the remaining WAIS-R subtests and the Failure-To-Maintain Response Sets measure of the card sorting. However, the results of the present study also suggest that over-all cognitive decline with advancing age is not an eventuality, at least among the highly educated, intellectually active individuals.
The Strategic Choice of the Firm with Customization Capability

The needs of customization are increasing gradually. It leads to various and customized products and service. The issue “Mass Customization” also comes out for discussion. We use a game-theoretical model to discuss the competition between the firms with and without customization capability. We assume that the firm without customization capability can adjust the product characteristics by inputting advertising or selecting market location. We find that when the firm with customization capability chooses to customize products, the other firm that selects the market location as competition strategy would make itself more professional. Moreover, the firm with customization capability has the potential effect on decreasing other firms’ profit. We also discuss how the relative size between the cost coefficient of market location and the cost coefficient of advertising input would affect the strategic choice of the two firms.