SME default prediction: A systematic methodology-focused review

This study reviews the methodologies used in the literature to predict failure in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We identified 145 SMEs’ default prediction studies from 1972 to early 2023. We summarized the methods used in each study. The focus points are estimation methods, sample re-balancing methods, variable selection techniques, validation methods, and variables included in the literature. More than 1,200 factors used in failure prediction models have been identified, along with 54 unique feature selection techniques and 80 unique estimation methods. Over one-third of the studies do not use any feature selection method, and more than one-quarter use only in-sample validation. Our main recommendation for researchers is to use feature selection and validate results using hold-out samples or cross-validation. As an avenue for further research, we suggest in-depth empirical comparisons of estimation methods, feature selection techniques, and sample re-balancing methods based on some large and commonly used datasets.publishedVersio

A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 between Intensive Care Unit and Non-Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study from Iranian Network for Research in Viral

Introduction: To date, little is known about the clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Objective: Herein, we aimed to describe the differences in demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, clinical presentations, and outcomes of Iranian pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU versus those in non-ICU settings. Methods: This multicenter investigation involved 15 general and pediatrics hospitals and included cases with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to these centers between March and May 2020, during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Results: Overall, 166 patients were included, 61 (36.7%) of whom required ICU admission. The highest number of admitted cases to ICU were in the age group of 1–5 years old. Malignancy and heart diseases were the most frequent underlying conditions. Dyspnea was the major symptom for ICU-admitted patients. There were significant decreases in PH, HCO3 and base excess, as well as increases in creatinine, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and potassium levels between ICU-admitted and non-ICU patients. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and acute cardiac injury were the most common features among ICU-admitted patients. The mortality rate in the ICU-admitted patients was substantially higher than non-ICU cases (45.9% vs. 1.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions: Underlying diseases were the major risk factors for the increased ICU admissions and mortality rates in pediatric COVID-19 patients. There were few paraclinical parameters that could differentiate between pediatrics in terms of prognosis and serious outcomes of COVID-19. Healthcare providers should consider children as a high-risk group, especially those with underlying medical conditions

Consumer attention and company performance: Evidence from luxury companies

Previous research has shown that investor attention, measured by Google searches for company tickers, can predict companies’ returns. However, for companies offering luxury goods in consumer-driven industries, consumer attention might be even more important. Therefore, for each company in the S&P Global Luxury Index we construct a measure of consumer attention based on Google searches for brands related to each company. Our findings suggest that consumer attention predicts the stock returns of these companies to a greater degree than investor attention. The economic significance of these findings is demonstrated by highly profitable trading strategies.publishedVersio

Online attention and mutual fund performance: Evidence from Norway

This paper studies whether flows of funds into and out of equity mutual funds depend on investor attention measured as Google searches for company names and on fund’s performance. We find that mutual funds which performed well in the past receive more attention and more inflows. These results hold no matter which measure of past performance is considered. Interestingly, funds which performed well in previous twelve months are also subject to increased outflows, but this relationship is less robust than relationship for inflows. Lastly, longer-term (one year) performance matters more than shorter-term (one month and six months) performance.publishedVersio

Online attention and mutual fund performance: Evidence from Norway

This paper studies whether flows of funds into and out of equity mutual funds depend on investor attention measured as Google searches for company names and on fund’s performance. We find that mutual funds which performed well in the past receive more attention and more inflows. These results hold no matter which measure of past performance is considered. Interestingly, funds which performed well in previous twelve months are also subject to increased outflows, but this relationship is less robust than relationship for inflows. Lastly, longer-term (one year) performance matters more than shorter-term (one month and six months) performance

Cost Components of Treatment Protocols of Haemophilia Patients with Inhibitors Using Bypassing Agents in Iran: Cost Components of Treatment Protocols of Haemophilia Patients

Bypassing agents are the most commonly used medicines for the treatment of hemophilia patients with inhibitors. The aim of this study is to identify the cost components of management of bleeding vents in hemophilia patients with inhibitors in Iran.This study is a cross-sectional study using a bottom-up approach to determine the cost components of treatment of hemophilia patients with inhibitors via ascertaining of all direct medical and non-medical costs.The evaluatiion of cost components of 20 patients with 40 episodes of bleeding showed that the price of medicines used is responsible for more than 96% and 97% of costs in treatment of hemophilia patients using FEIBA® and AryoSeven, respectively. The results of this study showed that cost of treating one bleeding episode in hemophilia A patients with high antibody titer using FEIBA is 376 USD compared to 857.3 USD for AryoSeven®.Despite the small number of hemophilia patients with inhibitor in Iran, due to high cost of treating these patients, it is very important to choose the cost-effective treatment protocol for the treatment of these patients