Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Household Demand for LPG in Brazilian States

The consumption of clean fuel is a key factor for sustainable development and household welfare. Households use fuel as input to produce energy services, such as cooking. In general, a ordability, accessibility, and the convenience of the fuel in uence the consumption decision of households. However, in developing economies with high penetration of clean fuels, such as Brazil, it is understood that the main determinant is the a ordability. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the household demand for lique ed petroleum gas (LPG), taking into account the recent Brazilian social and economic changes. We apply static and dynamic models for panel data at the states level from 2002 to 2018, the period after the fuel price deregulation in the country. Our results suggest that the own-price, food price, income, and temperature in uence the household demand for LPG. Also, although demand is inelastic, we found that LPG consumption by households is more sensitive to changes in prices than income, both in the short and in the long run.
Extent of Pesticide Use and Application Practices in Small-Scale Farms of Kikome, Makueni County

Pesticides play a key role in agriculture by decreasing crop losses caused by insect pests. They increase crop production translating to national food security and contribute to improvement in human health by controlling disease vectors. Despite their role in controlling disease vectors, pesticides are toxic and have detrimental effects on human health, environment and biodiversity if used improperly. The present work reported findings of an assessment of pesticide use and application practices in Kikome village, Makueni County, Kenya. The major economic activity in this region is farming. Pests are problematic in this region due to high temperature that favors their growth and multiplication compelling farmers to use pesticides in their management. A survey involving 53 respondents, selected by purposive sampling, was carried out to assess pesticide use and application practices. Open ended questionnaires were administered through face to face interviews with the respondents. All the respondents interviewed during the study were using chemical pesticides as the sole method of pest management. Among various chemical compounds in the pesticides used by farmers, pyrethroid (87%), neonicotinoid (69.6%), and carbamate (63%) based pesticides were the most frequently used. Farmers used pesticides more frequently at flowering stage (44%) relative to other phenological stages. Most of the respondents (69.2%) had no access to extension services. This study reported poor farmers’ practices on pesticide use which threatens the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators.
Prognostic and Therapeutic Significance of BTN3A Proteins in Tumors

The Butyrophilin 3A (BTN3A) family is a type I transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. The family contains three members: BTN3A1, BTN3A2 and BTN3A3, which share 95% homology in the extracellular domain. The expression of BTN3A family members is different in different types of tumors, which plays an important role in tumor prognosis. Among them, there are many studies on tumor immunity of BTN3A1, which shows that it is essential for the activation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, while BTN3A3 is expected to become a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer. Recent studies have shown that the BTN3A family is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. Now the BTN3A family has become one of the research hotspots and is expected to become new tumor prediction and treatment targets.
Multiple Stationary Solutions to Gkp Equation with Asymptotically Linear Term at Infinity

In this paper, we study the existence of multiple stationary solutions of Generalized Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (Abbr. GKP) equation with asymptotically linear term at infinity. In this case, the well-known Ambrosetti-Rabinowtz type condition doesn’t hold, hence it is difficult to verify the classical (PS) condition. To overcome this difficulty, we use an equivalent version of Cerami’s condition, which allows the more general existence result.
Sensitivity of Investment to Internal Funds and Its Impact on Asset Sales and Performance: Case of a Developing Economy

This study aims to fulfill three main objective i.e. finding financial constraints using the model that suits Pakistani environment best, determining the impact of asset sales on investment for financially constrained firms and finally determining the impact of investment and asset sales on firm’ performance. Analysis is performed on 223 financially healthy firms for the period of 10 years. This study separates the firms into constrained and unconstrained groups exploiting the techniques of four papers and finds out the best model working in Pakistani environment. Due to the linear relationship and exogeneity of age and size, SA Index is a better alternative. Moreover all the variables of SA Index are statistically significant and well supported by the literature. So, the research accepts hypothesis that SA Index is a better model for financial constraint determination. Applying this model, 98 companies are found to be financially constrained. This paper further investigates the relationship between capital expenditure and proceeds from asset sales. The study gives strong evidence that financial constraints have a significant impact on investment. It therefore, accepts the hypothesis that sales has a significant impact on investment expenditure and that investment decisions of financially constrained firms are sensitive to internal funds. It is also evident that firm’s investment decisions are significantly affected by the firm’s financial constraints. Prior studies on sensitivity of investment also support these evidences. As reported by previous research, this study finds a significant and positive relation between invest decision and firm performance for financially healthy firms. It also finds a positive and significant relation between asset sales and firm performance financially healthy firms.
Rationality of Deviations between Fundamental Valuations, and Market Valuations

Using data for three publicly quoted firms, all of whom operate within the upstream oil industry, this study provides evidence for feasibility of incidence of contradictions (`contradictions of ranking') between a ranking of fundamental valuations, and corresponding ranking of market valuations. In the specific case of the three sample firms, contradictions of ranking are induced by heterogeneity of investor clienteles, are shown to be rational, and are linked to speculative activity on part of risk seeking agents. More generally, with historical real sector data as inputs, this study develops a formal theoretical rubric that enables arrival at a robust ranking of fundamental valuations. Comparisons of a ranking of fundamental valuations with a ranking of market valuations (a reduced form rubric) are formally shown to suffice for inferring of rational mappings that exist between fundamental valuations and market valuations. Where they exist, the study provides a formal theoretical rubric for inferring rationality of contradictions that subsist between a ranking of fundamental valuations and ranking of market valuations.Availability of frameworks that enable arrival at robust estimates for fundamental valuations, but which do not require assumptions about growth rates or discount rates, frameworks which then facilitate inferences as to presence and sizes, if any of rational bubbles in stock valuations is a long-standing challenge of the financial economics literature. This study provides one such rubric.
El Capital Intelectual Y Gestión Por Competencias, Aplicado a Una Institución De Educación Superior En Torreon, Coahuila (Intellectual Capital and Competence Management, Applied to an Institution of Higher Education in Torreon, Coahuila)

<b>Spanish Abstract:</b> Al promover el desarrollo de las habilidades y destrezas, la gestión por competencias genera mayor conocimiento al capital intelectual que se forja en las Universidades. Los docentes transfieren conocimientos a los alumnos, lo que permite determinar el grado de éxito donde los estudiantes se desarrollan y participan activamente en la empresa, desempeñando posiciones estratégicas, competitivas, y traducidas en variables que les permiten lograr sus metas. La presente investigación está enfocada al grado de cultura, capital intelectual y competencias educativas en una institución de educación superior de Torreón Coahuila. Se lleva a cabo una metodología fenomenológica, considerando además la observación y análisis estadístico. De las variables analizadas, se concluye que la gestión por competencias es una herramienta para desarrollar el capital intelectual; además, marca una diferencia entre capacitación y requerimientos e identifica la influencia que se tiene con respecto a la misión de la Institución. Se busca tener un liderazgo organizacional, donde docentes y personal estén alineados al sistema de gestión de calidad ISO9001:2008, este modelo de gestión de calidad promueve a través de normas la adopción de un sistema, a manera de estrategia de la alta dirección para satisfacer su identificación, las necesidades y expectativas de los clientes, la adopción del sistema de gestión es una decisión estratégica de la Institución. <b>English Abstract:</b> By promoting the development of skills and abilities, competence management generates knowledge to intellectual capital that is created in universities. Professors transfer knowledge to students. This allows determinations of the degree of success. Students develop and participate actively in companies, performing strategic and competitive positions that translate into variables that allow them to accomplish their goals. This research focuses on the degree of culture, intellectual capital and educational competences in a higher education institution in Torreon Coahuila. A phenomenological methodology is carried out, considering observations and statistical analysis. After analyzing these variables we conclude that competence management is a tool that helps develop intellectual capital, shows a difference between training and requirements, and identifies the influence that it has with respect to the mission of the Institution. We expected to have organizational leadership where teachers, professors and personnel are aligned with the quality system ISO9001:2008. This quality management model promotes the adaptation of a system based on norms. It provides a strategy from the executive officers to identify customers and satisfy their needs and expectations. The adoption of the management system is a strategic decision made by the institution.
Digital Insiders and Informed Trading Before Earnings Announcements

While it is widely acknowledged that companies face increasing cybersecurity risk stemming from hackers stealing customer information, a relatively unknown cybersecurity risk is from information leakage and subsequent trading by digital insiders – hackers who target corporations to obtain non-public corporate information for illegal trading. We use a firm-specific measure of cybersecurity risk mitigation based on textual analysis of 10-Ks to proxy for the organization’s ability to reduce the probability of digital insider trading. We find that a larger share of new earnings information is incorporated into prices prior to earnings announcements for firms with low cybersecurity risk mitigation scores. We also find that pre-announcement trading by short sellers is more predictive of earnings surprises for firms with low cybersecurity risk mitigation. Further, on days closer to earnings announcements, firms with relatively low cybersecurity risk mitigation scores experience a larger increase in bid-ask spreads, particularly the adverse selection component. These results suggest that weak cybersecurity risk mitigation provides opportunities for acquisition of private information and that trading by privately informed traders is more likely in stocks of firms with higher exposure to cybercrimes.
From Noun Clusters to Taxonomies on Untagged Corpora

Clustering nouns can be useful in construction of a set of synonyms for word sense disambiguation, to perform query expansion in a QA system [10], to build ontology from a text, in data mining, etc., especially for languages different to English for which doesn’t exist such hierarchy as WordNet (as in Romanian language case). On the other hand, syntactic analysis provides some potentially relevant information for clustering [11]. In this paper we propose two algorithms of obtaining the taxonomies for nouns. First, , replaces the syntactical analysis by constructing some special context vectors, while second algorithm, , does not consider syntactical relations between nouns and verbs.A comparison between constructing clusters and taxonomies for nouns with the algorithm , and with the algorithm is done as well.The experiments are made using a Romanian corpus from [10].
Mechanism of cement paste reinforced by graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes composites with enhanced mechanical properties

This study presents the enhanced mechanical properties of cement paste reinforced by graphene oxide (GO)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites. The UV-vis spectroscopy and optical microscopy results show that the dispersion of CNTs in the GO solution is much better than in an aqueous solution due to the higher electrostatic repulsion, which allows a completely new approach of dispersing CNTs rather than by incorporating a dispersant. More importantly, the GO/CNTs composite plays an important role in improving the compressive and flexural strength of cement paste by 21.13% and 24.21%, which is much higher than cement paste reinforced by CNTs (6.40% and 10.14%) or GO (11.05% and 16.20%). The improved mechanical properties of cement paste are attributed to better dispersed CNTs and enhanced interactions among CNTs by the GO incorporation. Finally, the space interlocking mechanism of the GO/CNTs/cement paste composite with enhanced mechanical properties is proposed.
Curbing Emissions: Environmental Regulations and Product Offerings Across Markets

Problem definition: In the U.S. auto market, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) implements a stricter fuel economy standard in California than the federal standard implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Trump administration’s 2018 announcement to freeze the EPA standard threatened to widen its gap from the CARB standard and cause a split market where automakers offer differentiated car models in CARB and non-CARB states. Inspired by this crisis, we investigate three research questions: when is market unification (all vehicles meeting a common efficiency standard) attainable? Is unifying a split market likely to reduce total CO2 emissions? If so, what strategies can help unify the market when unification does not occur naturally? Methodology/results: We adopt a game-theoretic model where two regulators with different levels of environmental awareness set efficiency standards in their respective markets, a firm offers product(s) for these markets, and consumers make purchases. We find that there exist cases where the firm offers a unified product for both markets, a different product in each market, or only serves one market, and our analysis suggests that unifying a split market may help curb emissions. We then propose and show that horizontal negotiations (between the regulators) and vertical negotiations (between a regulator and the firm) are potentially effective strategies to unify a split market and reduce emissions. Managerial implications: Our findings show that a more environmentally aware regulator can leverage its market power and reduce CO2 emissions outside its jurisdiction through negotiations. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the regulator should prioritize horizontal negotiations while using vertical negotiations as a back-up option.
Θεόδωρος Σακελλαρόπουλος & Μαρίνα Αγγελάκη (2016), «Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινωνική Πολιτική: Από Την Άτολμη Ανάπτυξη Στο Αβέβαιο Μέλλον», στο: Μαραβέγιας Ναπολέων (Επιμ.), Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Δημιουργία, Εξέλιξη, Προοπτικές, Κριτική, Αθήνα 2016, σσ.421-436 (From Hesitant Development Towards An Uncertain Future)

<b>Greek Abstract:</b> Το παρόν κεφάλαιο εξετάζει τη δυναμική διαμόρφωσης της ευρωπαϊκής κοινωνικής πολιτικής από τη Συνθήκη της Ρώμης έως την τρέχουσα περίοδο και πιο συγκεκριμένα την πρόσφατη προσπάθεια έκφρασης της κοινωνικής διάστασης μέσω του παραδείγματος της κοινωνικής επένδυσης, επιχειρώντας να απαντήσει στο ακόλουθο ερώτημα: σε μια περίοδο που το εθνικό κοινωνικό κράτος υφίσταται ισχυρές πιέσεις για περαιτέρω συρρίκνωση, μπορεί και με ποιον τρόπο να συμβάλει η ευρωπαϊκή κοινωνική πολιτική στην ανάσχεση των πιέσεων αυτών; Με άλλα λόγια, μπορεί η ευρωπαϊκή κοινωνική πολιτική να αποτελέσει στοιχείο ενίσχυσης της νομιμοποίησης της ευρωπαϊκής ενοποιητικής διαδικασίας ή αντιθέτως καλείται να εξυπηρετήσει, για μια ακόμα φορά, οικονομικούς στόχους; <b>English Abstract:</b> The present chapter examines the development of European social policy from the Treaty of Rome until present placing focus on the most recent attempt to articulate a European social dimension through the social investment paradigm. In doing so, the chapter seeks to answer the following question: in a period during which national welfare states are under pressure for the introduction of retrenchment measures can the European social policy act as an effective buffer to these pressures? In other words, can European social policy become an element that contributes to the European integration process or is it simply subordinated to economic goals?
Desarrollo E Integración Financiera En Asia (Development and Financial Integration in Asia)

<b>Spanish Abstract:</b> Los países asiáticos son un ejemplo claro de cómo un Sistema financiero desarrollado puede favorecer el crecimiento económico, suavizar los ciclos económicos e incluso contribuir a reducer los desequilibrios de dichas economías, los elevados superávit por cuenta corriente. En este artículo se analiza la evolución y el desarrollo del Sistema financiero en Asia y se comparan los principals indicadores de profundidad, solvencia y rentabilidad con la registrada en otros paíse. Además, se describen brevemente algunas de las acciones coordinadas que se están tomando para impulsar la integración de sus mercados financieros. <b>English Abstract:</b> The Asian countries are a clear example of how a developed financial system can favor economic growth, smooth economic cycles and even contribute to reducing the imbalances of these economies, the high current account surpluses. This article analyzes the evolution and development of the financial system in Asia and compares the main indicators of depth, solvency and profitability with that registered in other countries. In addition, some of the coordinated actions that are being taken to promote the integration of its financial markets are briefly described.
Wealth Effects Associated with the Compliance with the Code of Best Practice: The Spanish Experience

The Spanish Code of Best Practice, Olivencia Code, contains 23 recommendations regarding the composition, size and operating characteristics of the Board of Directors that aim to increase its supervisory duty. This paper analyzes the market reaction to announcements of compliance with the Code of Best Practice made by Spanish firms. It also tries to determine how different firm characteristics may explain these excess returns. The results obtained indicate that the market reacts positively to firms announcements of compliance with the Code of Best Practice when they imply a major restructuring of the Board of Directors, while no wealth effects are observed for announcements that relate to isolated recommendations of the Code. We also observe that the worse the firm prior performance and the lower the ownership held by large shareholders the higher the observed abnormal returns.
Anticipation and Reaction to Going Concern Modified Audit Opinions by Sophisticated Investors

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether institutional investors: 1) anticipate a distressed firm’s receipt of a first-time going concern modified audit opinion, and 2) react to a first-time going concern modified opinion by engaging in abnormal net selling of firm shares. Using a proprietary database of U.S. institutional investor trades, we find that institutional investors are net sellers of first-time going concern opinion firms beginning six months before the release of the report and remain net sellers through the subsequent three months. We also find that the severity of the reasons auditors modify their opinions is associated with increased trading activity, but only after the opinion is publicly available. Our results support the position that an auditor’s going concern modified opinion is influential in the marketplace by documenting that institutional investors anticipate this price-relevant information and react through increased selling. The finding of increased net selling of firms with more severe reasons for report modifications provides evidence of the incremental informational value of the wording in the modified opinion.
Activist Settlements

Recently, activist investors have been reaching settlements with boards more often than they have been challenging boards in a proxy fight. In this paper, I provide a theoretical framework to study the economics of these settlements. The activist can demand that his proposal be implemented right away ("action settlement") or demand a number of board seats ("board settlement"), which also gives the activist access to better information. I find that the information that will be conveyed by the incumbent's response is a critical strategic determinant of the activist's settlement demand. Compared to action settlement, the incumbent's rejection of board settlement reflects more of its private information, increasing the activist's credibility to run a proxy fight upon rejection. As a result, consistent with the empirical evidence in literature, demanding board settlement leads to a higher likelihood of reaching a settlement, the likelihood of board (action) settlement increases (decreases) with information asymmetry, and the average ex-post shareholder value upon reaching board settlement is lower than upon reaching action settlement. By contrast, the ex-ante value created by demanding board settlement can be higher. Moreover, even though value-destroying projects are typically not implemented following settlements, the existence of settlements may nevertheless destroy shareholder value due to the free-rider problem, and strikingly, making activism more costly may actually alleviate this free-rider problem. Finally, obtaining fewer seats can increase the activist's "real" control within the board.
Surrogate Measures of Operating Cash Flows and Accruals: Problems and Solutions

We examine the measurement error in surrogate measures of operating cash flows and accruals widely used in the accounting literature. We decompose the measurement error into two components, non-articulation error and omission error. We find that the measurement error is large in magnitude and primarily driven by the omission error. Furthermore, we find non-articulation events have little effect on the omission error. We demonstrate that the measurement error produces biased coefficients and incorrect inferences in four common research settings. We also provide a simple correction that eliminates the omission error and show that the correction reduces biases and improves inferences. Importantly, our decomposition and correction can be used by future researchers to identify, understand, and take steps to mitigate the measurement error and the resulting biases that are introduced when using surrogate measures of operating cash flows or accruals.