Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Life Adversity Is Associated With Diminished Social Trust in Adults

Social trust is at the center of democratic societies but it varies considerably between individuals and societies, which deeply affects a range of prosocial behaviours. Socioeconomic status has been iden- tified as an important predictor of such variability. Although this association has mostly been reported for measures of socioeconomic status taken in adulthood, recent studies have found unique effects of harsh conditions experienced during childhood on social trust as- sessed decades later. Here, we report a series of three studies that provide further support for the long-lasting association between early childhood conditions and social trust. The first study revealed that higher childhood socioeconomic status was associated with greater so- cial trust in a diverse sample of French participants (N=915), even after adjusting for current socioeconomic status. The second study replicated this result using data from the European Values Study, an independent large-scale survey of 46 European countries (N=66,281). Finally, the last study found a similar association between socioe- conomic status and willingness to invest in a trust game (N=60 in original study, N=75 in replication study).
Towards a Demonstration of Fermat's Theorem

The aim of this paper is to present a simple proof of Fermat theorem using some basic concepts of the number theory. The proof of the theorem is based on a fundamental proposition that will be processed in several cases, only two cases remain open and admitted for further generalization, once these two cases will be proven, then the Fermat theorem will have been demonstrated.
An Assessment of the Elements of Yields and or Returns on Finance Lease Arrangements

Assessment of commercial lease arrangements has developed theoretically than empirically at a quite faster pace. The main disparity regarding the pace it has moved so far has been by virtue of the theoretical development whereas the evidence base is hardly explained due to inaccessible large sized database composed of commercial leasing arrangements. Because of this there has been limited empirical studies on the subject matter. Further preliminary studies have more sophisticated and or advanced insight which thus report descriptive features of the samples as against an assessment of their reliability in respect of data and theory.
Some Basic Aspects of Deep Learning for Applications to Financial Trading

In this treatise, we describe some of the basic and common deep learning architectures amenable to objectives in finance and give heuristic arguments as to which of those seems preferable for applications in financial trading. A specific deep architecture, allowing information cascades and different feature weights for different market environments, is described. Applicable objectives and input feature engineering for this architecture are discussed.
A Study on the Factors Affecting Customer Trust in Mobile Banking Adoption

Purpose – This paper presents a qualitative study on mobile banking technology acceptance by the Malaysian. The number of the mobile phone users has long exceeded the number of people with bank accounts across the world. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors that will affect the customer trust towards mobile banking in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire derived from previous studies and the relevant literature was completed by 100 valid responses of mobile banking customer in Malaysia. The data are analysed by using SPSS-statistical software. Findings – Data collected were analysed using regression model to determine the significance of the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The three variables have a significant effect and predict a good proportion of the variance in customer trust. Research limitations/Implications – Although this research is adopted with questionnaire investigation and concise questions to the best of one’s ability it is still not known whether the respondents can substantially understand the original contextual meaning of the questionnaire to show the results with a true reflection.Originality/value – The paper adopts the experimental methodology to observe what are the factors can influence the mobile banking adoption in Malaysia.
Is Shareholder Primacy a Reality in Brazil? An Analysis of the Duties of Corporate Managers from Multiple Perspectives

I analyze the current prevalence of the concept of shareholder value maximization in Brazil from the normative, case law, and managerial perspectives. On the normative aspect, I show that Brazilian corporate law is much closer to a balanced and socially oriented perspective for the role of managers rather than oriented towards a shareholder-centric view. An analysis of bylaws and mission statements of 150 large listed companies also shows that the vast majority does not point out the maximization of shareholders’ wealth as a core element of its identity. Around 60% of mission sentences identify customers as the main constituencies, while only 10% name shareholders as its central raison d’être. On the case law perspective, I review all 731 proceedings judged by CVM (the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission) from 2000 until 2014. I do not find cases where managers have been indicted for failing to maximize shareholder returns. In all instances, CVM holds that managers owe loyalty to the company as an entity and that its interests should come ahead of stockholders in case of divergence. I analyze the managerial perspective through a survey with 149 senior executives. The large majority do not agree that their mission is to maximize profits or shareholder value. This view differs somewhat in subgroups. Women have a more socially oriented approach to their role, while managers with a background in economics are more likely side with the shareholder value doctrine. However, I also note signs of moral hypocrisy from managers after observing inconsistent responses on an aggregate level to a set of five cases simulating typical corporate dilemmas. Overall, I show that Brazilian managers have great discretion, ensured by the law, company regulations and current jurisprudence, to make decisions that they deem to be socially responsible and in the best long-term interests of its companies. There is no basis other than management theories or ideological reasons, therefore, for managers to run companies in Brazil solely as money machines focused on maximizing shareholder value.
Anti-corruptions and IPO Decision: Evidence from the Chinese Provincial Panel Data

Relationship between IPOs and Local political turnover has been disputed and studied (Piotroski and Zhang (2014)). In this paper, we further focus on the anti-corruption and IPOs, since 2012 Chairman Xi announced and conducted a series of action of "hit the tiger" in order to reduce the anti-corruption and pure discipline in CPC. By examining and testing provincial panel data, we found the demotion of provincial officials can affect IPO decisions of Chinese companies that are eligible to list, those who take advantage of the window where companies lose political connections can lead to certain resource allocation inefficiencies. Additionally, firms performance and ownership could also be influenced by such demotion and anti-corruption.
Disclosure of Investment Information in a Vertically Related Industry

This study investigates the strategic disclosure of a downstream firm’s information regarding cost-reducing investment in a vertically related industry. Disclosing information affects an (common) upstream firm’s input price (i.e., vertical strategic effects) and a rival downstream firm’s output level (i.e., horizontal strategic effects). We show that the downstream firm is willing to withhold its information as the products become more differentiated because the horizontal strategic effects decrease with the products differentiation degree. This implies that non-disclosure, rather than disclosure, can convey an aggressive investment (i.e., lower marginal costs) to a rival downstream firm when the products are sufficiently differentiated. Moreover, we show that the downstream firm may disclose its information and pursue its investment at a minimum level when the products are extremely differentiated. In this case, they desire to reveal high marginal costs (i.e., a low investment level) to the upstream firm to reduce the input price, regardless of horizontal market competition.
CSR and Sustainable Development - A Primer

Sustainable development and social responsibility of businesses or corporations have become increasingly an issue of concern since the early 1990s. The basic human activity trade is not always about making money though profit has been associated with it. Business with their products and consequence are essentially more social than economic. Through the marketplace and governmental regulation, social and environmental concerns are related to business. Society and business depend on each other and business must take full account of the societal expectations. Sustainable business looks at how a business can adapt to global social and environmental trends, such as future regulation on carbon output, water shortages, and changing demographics. Social, Economic and environment are the three pillars or dimensions of Sustainable development. Sustainability is a conscious choice on a continuous basis. To move towards more sustainability, all of us need to change our patterns of consumption and production. Principles of Sustainable Development and CSR have close links. Sustainable businesses create the future by creating stronger, richer markets for business. Every business strives to earn maximum profit. However, companies have to shoulder certain responsibilities as a corporate citizen. Corporation need to review and consider new or modified business practices regularly that will improve the quality of life of all stakeholders. Both society and business used to believe that taking care of other social and environmental concerns are the duty of the state or government. Companies have become the main players in creating environmental and social problems; therefore, change must begin with companies that can lead a transition. CSR matters as it mirrors the core values of the society and been instrumental in bringing about Sustainable development. CSR has a complex relationship between business and society and plays an important part of the business environment. Business organizations are accountable to that society for their actions as they are part of the larger society Responsible leaders are concerned with reconciling and aligning the demands, needs, interests, and values of the key stakeholders. CSR expects accountability from all stakeholders. Good Stakeholder relationships can lead to competitive advantage The relationship between Sustainable Development and CSR was not explicit as these concepts progressed separately for a long time. In recent years these two concepts of CSR and sustainable development has strengthened with their interactions. A dynamic and well-functioning business sector, can be driving force of sustainable development CSR is multifunctional in nature. Hence, it is important that integral and broad sustainable CSR is undertaken. This will help in the quest to develop transformational and sustainable CSR practices. **************************
Optimal Checks and Balances Under Policy Uncertainty

Political checks and balances are certainly among the most debated desiderata in the construction of democratic systems and their evaluation. This paper suggests a conceptual framework that could be useful to inform this debate. We propose a model where the pros and cons of a strengthening of checks and balances are respectively the reduction of type-I errors and the increase of potential type-II errors in policy decision-making. Political checks and balances are less desirable for intermediate levels of competence of the political class when in conjunction with high accountability. In policy areas where the welfare effects of a reform are harder to evaluate and effective accountability is low, political checks and balances are always desirable. Positive constitutional design unfortunately reveals the possibility of constitutional traps, with politicians choosing or defending the less desirable regime.
Properties of the Variance-Gamma Process With Drift Switching Component With Financial Applications

We consider an extension of the variance-gamma process implying that the linear drift rate of the process can switch suddenly by a jump. The value of jump is modeled by the multidimensional distribution, the jump time is simulated by the exponential distribution. Together with the simplest properties of the new process, its distribution function is derived explicitly. Applications to the credit risk measurement are supplied. Obtained results exploit values of some special mathematical functions including the generalized hypergeometric ones.
Development of a Model of Sustainable Development of Entrepreneurship in Agriculture

The object of research is a model of sustainable development of entrepreneurship in agriculture. The work considers some theoretical foundations of the process of sustainable development and characterizes the main provisions of the model of sustainable development of entrepreneurship in agriculture. The research methodology is based on theoretical and methodological analysis of scientific literature, characteristics of the process of sustainable development and the formation of a model for sustainable development of entrepreneurship in agriculture. Also, description, analysis and modeling are applied and a combinatorial-logical approach is applied to build a formal model of sustainable development of entrepreneurship in agriculture. <br><br>The research results show that, taking into account the diversity in agriculture and the presence of various forms of management and property, the unifying factor in the process of sustainable development should be a model of sustainable development of entrepreneurship in agriculture. Various forms of farming in the countryside, under the influence of certain institutions and institutions, and using the available land resources, production and human capital, etc., grow agricultural products and ensure the country's food security. The process of sustainable development of entrepreneurship should provide for the use of energy and resource-saving technologies and focus on growing environmentally friendly products with constant social development of the region. This approach, in turn, will provide a multiplier effect, when constant small investments in social and intellectual capital, as a social component of sustainable development, and maintaining the environmental component at an appropriate level, will increase the level of production profitability and the development of the economic component of sustainable development. The practical significance of the research lies in the fact that the research results can be used as a reference material for researchers of entrepreneurship and the process of sustainable development, or for entrepreneurs themselves to plan their activities.
Ethics as a Major USP: The Case of the Co-Operative Bank

This paper which is mainly based on the primary research carried out for one of the author’s PhD thesis. It examines the case of an organisation that has positioned itself in the marketplace as both ethical as well as ideologically green. The Co-operative Bank’s ethical and green policies are investigated in the process, as is its motivation in gaining a niche in the ethical market. A number of interviews were carried out with managers in the bank. The interviews used a number of ethical/green drivers to ascertain these motives as well as to discover other relevant information. The organisation is amongst the minority of companies that genuinely seek to pursue an ethical path and who successfully manage to turn such a philosophy and business strategy into a significant Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
On the Theoretical Foundation of Corporate Finance

Abstract Modigliani and Miller theory forms the theoretical foundation of corporate finance. Yet Modigliani and Miller theory was derived from a very special case of cash flows. Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), which is part of the Modigliani and Miller theory, plays a fundamental role in capital structure decision and asset valuation. Empirically, asset valuation calculated from cash flows discounted by WACC almost always differs from the sum of debt and equity values. We derive asset valuations for more general cashflows. Only when the debt equity ratio is constant over time, valuation by WACC is equal to the sum of debt and equity values.
Consumer Perception Towards Social Media Usage by Using Multidimensional Scaling

Social networking websites (SNWs) have turned into a well known virtual gathering place enabling clients to deliberately post individual data, send and get message, remain associated online with their disconnected companions and new online companions, or offer photographs, recordings, bookmarks, web journals, private messages and join gatherings. Individuals are investing adequate measure of energy in social networking websites, for example, YouTube, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter, Hi5 and so forth. , and this high use has likewise gotten changes the manner in which individuals act. These social networking websites display an assortment of highlights for their clients to encourage socialization.
Does High Performance Bespeak Doping Abuse? A Performance Related Strategy for Anti-Doping Agencies

We present a theoretical model for performance-based testing. In this model, the doping agency observes either high or low performance from heterogeneous athletes and then decides whom to test. We show that there is an interior equilibrium with a positive testing probability for high and low performers. Counter-intuitively, low performers will be tested more often than high performers. We show that less-able athletes will dope more often than more-able athletes. Furthermore, we show that the overall doping abuse is independent of the distribution of talent, but only depends on the agency’s benefits and costs of doping tests.
Beyond the Technology Frontier

Since time immemorial, quixotic characters have used lodestones to seek touchstones, philosophers' stones and rolling stones, all in search of a quick buck. In the 1967 film The Graduate Dustin Hoffman's character, Benjamin Braddock, is given one word of advice by his father's friend, Mr McGuire, "plastics". In the 70's the word was "computers", in the 80's "internet", in the 90's "biotechnology". Mr McGuire was right, following the trail of Bakelite, any number of plastics were big. Mr McGuire showed that, oddly, you could see the next big thing coming. The next big thing is virtually the "present big thing" and it's always some new technology. <br><br>But can we look deeper for trends in the next big thing? In mediaeval times, the next big thing was religious - the Holy Grail, saintly bones, shrouds, fashionable pilgrimages or challenging quests; or sacrilegious - alchemy, witchcraft or freemasonry. In early modern times the next big thing was the newest spice or exotic land. In more modern times the next big things were socio-political ideas such as Adam Smith's invisible hand as well as in its nemesis communism, let alone fascism, socialism and other ism's. Arguably, it is only in the past two centuries that technology has been accepted as a worthy, and consistent, lode for mining the next big thing. It has been a deep lode, from mass-produced steel to textile machinery to electricity to magnetism to railways to vaccines to plastics to atoms to computers to designer drugs to biotechnology. <br><br>To find the next technological big thing we can easily do the rounds of fanatics - as Churchill said, "a fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject" - and some of them are likely to be proved right at some point. Several next technological generations already exist in research laboratories. It's very small - quantum computers, smart dust, light-emitting organics. It's very large - hydrogen power, space colonisation/power/shading/elevators, the global nervous system. It's cheaper - micro-power, artificial food, disposable and foldable electronic paper computers. It's faster - on-demand layered machinery, real-time chip programming, bio-nano hybrid bugs. It's specific or user-friendly - personalised drug design, mentally-merged machinery, dynamic anomaly and pattern response. Barring the demise of the human race, we must assume these things are likely to arrive simply because they are possible. The necessary business skill is correct application and timing.
Probability Performance Scenarios Are Better: An Efficient Disclosure of Higher Moments Information From No-Arbitrage Market Implied Distributions

The present work proposes a methodology for the representation of performance scenario in Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPS), by the means of a no-arbitrage probability table easy to understand for the retail investor. A statistical reconstruction via the method of moments allows to capture the main properties of the PRIIP market implied distribution by identifying the minimum number of descriptive moments needed. A reasonable quantile partition that is effective for representing to the retail investor the complex distributions of structured products characterized by non-linear pay-offs is then proposed.
A novel six-coordinated ferric ion binding mode of TtFbpA

As a protein-protein complex structure prediction method, we have developed a procedure to combine recently developed two approaches. The first one is a clustering and reranking method named CyClus which performs a fast clustering using a cylindrical approximation of interface and improves results of rigid-body docking. The second one is free energy evaluation through molecular dynamics simulation using the solution theory in the energy representation. Using this method we can calculate binding free energy differences of generated complex models. The clustering using CyClus efficiently reduces the number of candidates to be evaluated and the free energy analysis serves to accurate evaluation.
On the Soft k-Prophet Problem

In the k-prophet problem, a decision maker observes n items sequentially and selects up to k &lt; n items without recourse to maximize the total expected reward of the selected items. We consider a soft version of the problem where the decision maker can select up to k items in expectation rather than almost surely. We show that an optimal solution is a randomized threshold policy that does not benefit from dynamic updates as the stochastic process unfolds. The solution to the soft version requires only the marginal distributions, and is invariant to the dependence structure of the rewards. The total optimal expected reward is independent of the order of the items and is at least as large as that of a clairvoyant prophet that selects the k items with the highest rewards. We show that under mild conditions that there is a joint distribution such that the k-prophet problem and its soft version have the same solution and the same total expected reward. An easy-to-compute method to find such a joint distribution is provided. We extend the results to multi-dimensional constraints, endogenize k and incorporate search cost into the soft k-prophet problem. We also investigate a model that penalizes the variance of the number of selected items.