Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stock Splits, Price Changes, and Trading Profits: A Synthesis

Over the years the relationship between stock splits and stock price behavior has been a subject of continuing interest to economists and practical men of affairs. Very little systematic empirical evidence on the subject was available, however, until the recent appearance of two papers. The first paper presented the results of a study of splits made by Keith B. Johnson. ' While interesting and provocative, Johnson's analysis contained, in our opinion, a rather arbitrary assumption concerning the relevant time period over which to study stock splits and price behavior. We suspected that the substitution of different and, possibly, more logical time periods might significantly alter Johnson's conclusions. With the appearance of a second paper by Fama et al.2 (hereafter FFJR), our suspicions received considerable support. After reading their paper, we were sufficiently confident about our tentative hypotheses to want to use a methodology similar to Johnson's to study the relationship between splits and stock price behavior over different time periods. Furthermore, we felt that by doing so we would shed additional light on several issues raised by FFJR, reconcile some surface differences between their results and Johnson's, and, in general, provide a synthesis of the analysis of stock splits. The results of our endeavors are reported in this paper. To place our analysis in the appropriate context, we begin by discussing Johnson's study of stock splits and price behavior and the results reported by FFJR. Following this, we discuss the data on which our analysis was based and the results we obtained. Finally, we attempt to synthesize our results with those of Johnson and FFJR.
Effect of Total Disc Replacement with ProDisc on Intersegmental Rotation of the Lumbar Spine

Study Design. The mechanical behavior of the lumbar spine after insertion of a ProDisc prosthesis was studied using 3-dimensional nonlinear finite element models. Objective. To determine how the mechanical behavior of the lumbar spine is affected by the implant position and height, as well as by removing different portions of the natural disc and resuturing the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL). Summary of Background Data. Little is known about how the affected and adjacent levels of the spine are influenced by the implant height and position or by the surgical procedure. Methods. The artificial disc ProDisc was integrated in a validated 3-dimensional, nonlinear, finite element model of the lumbar spine. The model was loaded with the upper body weight and muscle forces to simulate standing, 30° flexion, 15° extension, and 6° axial rotation. The disc position was varied by up to 2 mm in both an anterior and posterior direction. Three different disc heights were investigated, as well as the influence of removing different portions of the natural disc and resuturing the ALL. Results. Implant position strongly influences intersegmental rotation for the loading cases of standing and flexion. A disc height 2 mm in excess of the normal disc space increases intersegmental rotation at implant level during standing and extension. The values for intersegmental rotation are closer to those for the intact spine when lateral portions of the anulus are not removed. Resuturing the ALL has a strong effect on the loading cases of extension and standing. Conclusions. When implanting an artificial disc, great care should be taken in choosing the optimal height and correct position for the implant. Lateral portions of the anulus should be preserved whenever possible. A perfect reconstruction of the ALL would help to restore the biomechanics to normal.
Acute profound thrombocytopenia after C7E3 Fab (abciximab) therapy.

BACKGROUND Platelets play a crucial role in the ischemic complications of percutaneous coronary procedures. The recent availability of c7E3 Fab (abciximab; ReoPro), a chimeric monoclonal antibody Fab fragment directed against the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, has reduced abrupt closure and other adverse clinical events and lessened the need for revascularization procedures. As experience accrues, rare cases of acute profound thrombocytopenia have been revealed. METHODS AND RESULTS From November 1991 to July 1996, patients at Duke University Medical Center who underwent percutaneous coronary revascularization and received their first exposure to c7E3 Fab were evaluated for the development of acute profound thrombocytopenia, defined as a platelet count < 20 x 10(9)/L occurring within 24 hours of initial treatment. Four patients (0.5%) developed acute profound thrombocytopenia within 11 to 21 hours of receiving the c7E3 Fab bolus. Nadir platelet counts ranged from 1 to 16 x 10(9)/L and occurred within 11 to 26 hours. No patient developed a significant hemorrhagic complication, and each patient's platelet count responded to platelet transfusion. Platelet counts remained depressed for at least 3 days but returned to baseline within 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Acute profound thrombocytopenia can occur after c7E3 Fab administration. Its development was not predictable, and it requires consideration in every patient treated. A platelet count 2 to 4 hours after the bolus would likely have detected these four cases. When indicated, platelet transfusion will raise the platelet count to safer levels without adverse effects. The differential diagnosis (including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia), a plan for management, and postulates as to the mechanism are discussed.
Frequency and Specificity of Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization in Chilean Transfused Patients

Background: Alloimmunization is an adverse effect of blood transfusions. In Chile, alloimmunization frequency is not established, and for this reason the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and specificity of red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies in Chilean transfused subjects. Methods: Records from 4,716 multi-transfused patients were analyzed. In these patients, antibody screening was carried out prior to cross-matching with a commercially available two-cell panel by the microcolum gel test, and samples with a positive screen were analyzed for the specificity of the alloantibody with a 16-cell identification panel. Results: The incidence of RBC alloimmunization in transfused patients was 1.02% (48/4,716) with a higher prevalence in women (40/48). We detected 52 antibodies, the most frequent specificities identified were anti-E (30.8%), anti-K (26.9%), anti-D (7.7%), and anti-Fya (5.8%). The highest incidence of alloantibodies was observed in cancer and gastroenterology patients. Conclusion: The data demonstrated a low alloimmunization frequency in Chilean transfused patients, principally associated with antibodies anti-E, anti-K, anti-D, and anti-Fya.
Impact of leadership and senior management commitment on business excellence: An empirical study in the North East of England

It is now almost becoming a clicheÂ to state that strong leadership through s̀enior management commitment’ is the most critical `enabler’ when introducing change in any organization, be it related to implementing the EFQM Excellence model, lean/agile production philosophies or even in the introduction of E-commerce. There is no real disagreement amongst academics, management consultants and award-givers that without this crucial support, any initiative is very likely to fail. The central role of leadership and senior management commitment in implementing total quality management (TQM) or `organizational excellence’ programmes has been well documented (e.g. EFQM, 1999) and reinforced through numerous examples of role models such as Motorola, Milliken and Rank Xerox. Assessing or benchmarking the leadership process is also well established through the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award (MBNQA) and the European Quality Award (EQA) and best practice in leadership styles been identi® ed (see Oakland, 1993; Zairi, 1995, 1999). However, even though we know a great deal about what best practice is from these exemplar organizations and the world-class standards set by them, little is known of how widespread such practices are in the vast majority of businesses that are trying to emulate such goals. Given the universal agreement of how critical this role is in the successful implementation of cultural and behavioural change (see Oakland, 1999). One would expect to see good to best practice in many if not most organizations. But is this the case? The aim of this paper is to examine to what extent this message is being adopted by senior managers in industry as a whole. In other words, does practice bear out this important relationship? The authors are fortunate in having access to sets of data collected from a recent benchmarking study undertaken in nearly 750 manufacturing and service sector companies in the North East of England. The data are a record of the extent to which they have adopted a range of best management practices and have achieved a high level of operational performance in their development towards becoming world-class.
Tax Incentives on Equity and Firms' Cost of Capital: Evidence from the Quebec Stock Savings Plan

We empirically investigate the impact of the QSSP tax incentive on the issue price of shares of initial public offerings of Quebec-based firms during 1982 to 2002. Consistent with expectations, we find that, after controlling for IPO underpricing, the underpricing of IPOs is significantly negatively associated with the QSSP deduction. However, our results suggest that although issuing corporations benefited from the QSSP program through higher issue prices, Quebec individual investors reaped a much larger proportion of the tax benefit than the corporations. Furthermore, contrary to expectations, our evidence indicates that the presence of non-QSSP eligible investors had no significant effect on the sharing of the tax benefit.
The growth of aggregate wage earnings in Germany, 1810–1989

Aggregate wage earnings are one of the key variables of the German economy. Paradoxically, it is also a little known variable, especially in the long term. Historians have never devoted a synthesis to the subject and, among all the economists who have centred their work on the study of economic growth, Hoffmann (1965) is the only one to have addressed aggregate earnings over a long period. This article follows up his founding work and has two objectives. The first is to measure the movement of wages and wage earners over a long period and use this to make an original estimate of aggregate employment earnings in Germany from 1810 to 1989. Reconstituted sets of statistics are also used to put forward new hypotheses concerning the way is which wages, wage earners and aggregate employment earnings in Germany are linked to the socioeconomic development of the country in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is also sought to detect the temporary and permanent shocks that have affected the German economy since the beginning of the 19th century. Our reflection is in two parts. The first defines the concept of wages, sets out the spatial scope and describes the methodological constraints. The second describes our cliometric results.
Ecotourism: A Consumption Perspective

Over the last quarter century, both the supply of and demand for ecotourism have grown significantly. At the same time, ecotourism has, as a particular form of tourism development, become increasingly recognised and legitimised as a means of achieving sustainable development in destination areas. Underpinning this widespread support for ecotourism is the assumption that tourists themselves are demanding more responsible, environmentally-appropriate forms of tourism yet, as this paper argues, there is little evidence to suggest that the growth in ecotourism has been demand led. Emphasising the key role of responsible behaviour on the part of tourists in the achievement of ecotourism, the paper highlights the characteristics of the ecotourist as compared to that of the mass tourist. These are then challenged by an exploration of the motivation, values and consumption practices of tourists which suggests that there is little distinction between the two. It concludes, therefore, that the ecotourist label has become increasingly irrelevant and that ecotourism development remains elusive.
TQM and the Management of Labour

Total Quality Management (TQM) looks like being one of the management fashions of the 1990s. In this respect the academic and prescriptive literature on TQM is reviewed. The factors which have encouraged organisations to introduce TQM are discussed and some of the implications for the management of labour outlined. It is suggested that TQM is consistent with a move towards human resource management.
In vitro evaluation of the efficacy of two bleaching procedures.

OBJECTIVE In vitro comparison of the efficacy of two bleaching procedures, one based on carbamide peroxide (CP) and the other on hydrogen peroxide (HP), simulating clinical conditions. STUDY DESIGN Two groups of 20 teeth in each group were selected. Group A: 22% CP, one hour a day for 21 consecutive days. Group B: 37.5% HP, in 2 treatment sessions with an one week interval between each session. At each session the product was applied three successive times for eight minutes. Colour was recorded before treatment, when it was finished and one week after finishing it, with the Vita EasyShade spectrophotometer. CIEL*a*b* and ΔE were established at each moment in the study. Intra-group data was compared using the paired t-test and inter-group data with the independent groups t-test. Scores from the Vita Classical guide provided with the device were recorded and the colour improvement percentage was calculated. RESULTS In both groups significant whitening was achieved by the end of treatment. Lightness remained significantly high when treatment was finished and one week after in both groups. The percentage of bleaching was significantly higher in group A. CONCLUSIONS Both 22% CP and 37.5% HP were effective for bleaching teeth. Bleaching effect was greater in CP group.
Sildenafil increases chemotherapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin in prostate cancer and ameliorates cardiac dysfunction

We have shown that the potent phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor sildenafil (Viagra) induces a powerful effect on reduction of infarct size following ischemia/reperfusion injury and improvement of left ventricular dysfunction in the failing heart after myocardial infarction or doxorubicin (DOX) treatment. In the present study, we further investigated the potential effects of sildenafil on improving antitumor efficacy of DOX in prostate cancer. Cotreatment with sildenafil enhanced DOX-induced apoptosis in PC-3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells, which was mediated by enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species, up-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities, reduced expression of Bcl-xL, and phosphorylation of Bad. Overexpression of Bcl-xL or dominant negative caspase 9 attenuated the synergistic effect of sildenafil and DOX on prostate cancer cell killing. Furthermore, treatment with sildenafil and DOX in mice bearing prostate tumor xenografts resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth. The reduced tumor size was associated with amplified apoptotic cell death and increased expression of activated caspase 3. Doppler echocardiography showed that sildenafil treatment ameliorated DOX-induced left ventricular dysfunction. In conclusion, these results provide provocative evidence that sildenafil is both a powerful sensitizer of DOX-induced killing of prostate cancer while providing concurrent cardioprotective benefit.
Market Structure and Trader Anonymity: An Analysis of Insider Trading

Abstract This paper examines the degree of anonymity—the extent to which a trader is recognized as informed—on alternative market structures. We find evidence that is consistent with less anonymity on the NYSE specialist system compared to the NASDAQ dealer system. Specifically, when corporate insiders trade medium-sized quantities (500–9,999 shares inclusive), NYSE listed stocks exhibit larger changes in proportional effective spreads than NASDAQ stocks. Taken together, these findings are consistent with Barclay and Warners (1993) contention that stealth (medium-sized) trades are more likely based on private information and insider trades are more transparent on the NYSE specialist system relative to the NASDAQ dealer system. The results support the hypothesis by Benveniste, Marcus, and Wilhelm (1992) that the unique relationship between specialists and floor brokers on the NYSE leads to less anonymity.
Microenvironment and Immunology Human Breast Tumor Cells Induce Self-Tolerance Mechanisms to Avoid NKG 2 D-Mediated and DNAM-Mediated NK Cell Recognition

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 35 to 65. This is mostly due to intertumor heterogeneity and the lack of specific therapies for all subtypes. However, some breast cancers with an unexpected good prognosis are associatedwith enhanced antitumor immunity in situ. We studiedwhether breast cancer subtypes might have different susceptibilities to natural killer (NK) cells' antitumor immunity. We collected a large public set of microarray data for primary breast tumors and determined NK cell ligand expression. We found that despite heterogeneous levels of inhibitory HLA members, NKG2D ligands and DNAM ligands are expressed in virtually all breast tumor subtypes. Functional experiments in breast cancer subtypes expressing various levels of NK cell ligands showed that NK-mediated cytotoxicity is mainly HLA, NKG2D, and DNAM dependent. In parallel, we showed that cell lines and primary breast tumor cells secrete soluble inhibitory factors that alter NK cell functions. Finally, we showed that these mechanisms of escape occur in vivo in the MMTV-Neu model of spontaneous murine breast cancer. Our study shows that breast cancer cells, independent of the subtype, have developed different mechanisms to escape fromNK cells' antitumor immunity. These results emphasize the role of NK cells in breast tumor clearance and underlie the importance of devising future therapy aiming at enhancing NK cell–mediated recognition in parallel with the prevention of the tumor-editing process. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6621–32. 2011 AACR.
An Examination of the Comprehensiveness of Corporate Internet Reporting Provided by London‐Listed Companies

Recent changes in the regulatory environment of the London Stock Exchange are aimed at prohibiting selective disclosure and enhancing the credibility of reporting. Using an innovative 143‐item disclosure checklist, we examine corporate Internet reporting (CIR) comprehensiveness and its determinants within this new regulatory environment. We also extend the literature linking corporate governance measures to CIR. Our findings indicate that despite this new regulatory environment, there is considerable room for improvement in CIR by London‐listed companies. For example, our sample companies provide only 58 percent and 70 percent, respectively, of the credibility and usability items assessed by our comprehensiveness index. After controlling for size, profitability, industry, and high growth/intangibles, we find the CIR comprehensiveness of London‐listed companies is associated with analyst following, director holding, director independence, and CEO duality. Because prior research indicates the U.K. leads Eur.
Transoral robotic retropharyngeal node dissection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Patterns of metastasis and functional outcomes

Assessment of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes is essential in the treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Transoral robotic retropharyngeal lymph node dissection (RPLND) may provide valuable staging information and guide selection of adjuvant therapy in a transoral robotic surgery (TORS) treatment paradigm.
Crisis Management Competencies

Abstract This article seeks to clarify what competencies are needed in the response phase of true crises, and to make important distinctions among related but distinct concepts which are often blurred. That is, to what extent is crisis management, in which there is some degree of systems failure, related to emergency management, change management, and transformational leadership? How are these distinctions illustrated at a competency level? The findings indicate that senior emergency managers in administrative leadership positions do not abandon emergency management practices, but rather adapt them selectively. Change management is important, but it must be targeted and time sensitive. Crises are no time to reorganize adequately operating response systems, much less try to implement wholesale organizational changes. Finally, while some of the commonly associated features of transformational leadership do apply, such as self-confidence and decisiveness, others are conspicuously deemphasized, such as the need for achievement. Fifteen competencies were identified from a field of thirty-seven as the key characteristics or behaviors of effective leaders during crises. This research reinforces our understanding that different circumstances call for different competencies. Identifying specific contexts by environmental demands or industry peculiarities, and then studying the differences will advance the normal science of leadership immensely.
Effects of the position of the simian virus 40 enhancer on expression of multiple transcription units in a single plasmid

We have examined the ability of the simian virus 40 72-base pair enhancer segment to simultaneously activate multiple transcription units with plasmids that contain one, two, or three simian virus 40-based transcription units in various arrangements. After transfection into CV1 cells, the expression of a marker gene, Ecogpt, was determined as a function of the position of that marker gene relative to the other transcription units and the position of the marker gene relative to enhancer elements on the plasmids. Two types of position effects were revealed by that analysis. The first, promoter occlusion, causes reduced transcription at a downstream promoter if transcription is initiated at a nearby upstream promoter. This effect does not involve enhancer elements directly, even though the effect is most pronounced when the downstream promoter lacks an enhancer element. The second effect stems from the ability of promoter sequences to reduce the effect of a single enhancer element on other promoters in the same plasmid. This latter effect is mediated by either promoters adjacent to the enhancer element or promoters interposed between the enhancer element and the other promoters on the plasmid.
Testing the New Economic Geography: Migrations and Industrial Agglomerations in Spain

This paper examines whether access to markets had a significant influence on migration choices of Spanish internal migrants in the interwar years. In it we perform a structural contrast of a New Economic Geography model that focuses on the forward linkage that links workers location choice with the geography of industrial production. The results prove the existence of a direct relation between workers' localization decisions and the market potential of the host regions. This could help to explain the apparently low intensity of internal migrations in Spain until the 1920s as well as its geography.