Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mergers and Investment Incentives

Abstract This paper explores the effects of mergers on the investment incentives of the levered firm and on levered firm value. Under a fairly broad set of assumptions, it is shown that most firm combinations “improve” investment incentives, bringing about a reduction in the agency costs of underinvestment associated with risky debt. The effect of the merger on debt and equity claim values is also explored. If not properly anticipated, the merger may create a wealth transfer from equity holders to bondholders. Such a wealth transfer includes, but is not limited to, the “coinsurance effect. ”
Is Training More Frequent When Wage Compression is Higher? Evidence from 11 European Countries

In this empirical paper, I use the 1996 wave of the ECHP dataset to investigate the relationship between measures of wage compression and training incidence in 11 European countries. After controlling for individual factors and country specific institutional differences, I find evidence of a positive and significant relationship between wage compression and training, both firm-specific and general. While the finding for firm-specific training is consistent with both competitive and non-competitive approaches, the result for general training is only consistent with the non-competitive approach.
Youth volunteering policy : the rise of governmentality

Young people are increasingly encouraged to volunteer, perhaps as a panacea to combat personal and social problems (Sheard, 1995). This paper will explore why volunteering policy has developed this instrumental tendency in recent history. It will analyse Michel Foucault’s theories of governmentality, and use these as a frame to consider the advances made in youth policy over the last half century, but with particular regard to volunteering policy in the last 15 years. Using governmentality as a tool of analysis, it will argue that volunteering policy has become a device to responsibilize younger generations; a method to improve the authority of the young over their own lives and their local areas, whilst moulding behaviour which brings about individual and collective wellbeing. It is also argued that this follows a natural progression of youth policies to tackle the ‘problem of youth’.
Urban Residents' Life Satisfaction and Cultural Tourism Development: The Role of Health Perception, Wealth, Safety, Community Contentment, and Cultural Tourism Development

This study examined the relationship between urban residents' life satisfaction and five life domains—health perception, wealth, safety, community contentment, and cultural tourism development—and investigated whether the perceived life domains discriminated between high and low life satisfaction groups. A survey with convenience sample of 364 residents was administered in Indianapolis. The results showed that the five domains were positively related to life satisfaction and that they discriminated between high and low life satisfaction groups with 72% accuracy.
Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, and Intubation Conditions After Priming with Three Different Doses of Vecuronium

The effects of three different priming doses of vecuronium on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and endotracheal intubation conditions were investigated.Forty-two patients were studied in two parts. In each part, 21 patients were allocated into three groups (n = 7/group) receiving 10, 15, or 20 micro gram/kg vecuronium as a priming dose, followed by a 50-micro gram/kg intubating dose 6 min later. In Part I, Train-of-Four (TOF) ratios and serum concentrations after priming were measured every minute up to the sixth minute. Onset time [from injection of the intubating dose to maximum depression of the first twitch (T1)], clinical duration (T1 return from maximum block to 25% of control), and recovery index (T1 recovery from 25% to 75% of control) were calculated and serum concentrations were determined up to 6 h after injection of the intubating dose. In Part II, the intubating dose was injected 4 min after priming, onset time was determined, and intubation conditions were scored. TOF ratio was significantly lower after priming with 20 micro gram/kg at the fifth and sixth minutes (0.59 +/- 0.29 and 0.56 +/- 0.32; mean +/- 1 SD) compared with the first minute (0.95 +/- 0.1). Recovery index was significantly increased after priming with 20 micro gram/kg (13.2 +/- 6.6 min, P < 0.05) compared with 10 micro gram/kg (9.2 +/- 4.8 min) and 15 micro gram/kg (6.7 +/- 1.5 min). Between groups no differences in onset time, clinical duration, and pharmacokinetic variables were found. In Part II, onset time and intubating scores showed no significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, a priming dose of 10 micro gram/kg followed by a 50-micro gram/kg intubating dose 4 min later provides good intubation conditions within 1-2 min. Larger priming doses are not advantageous because they result in higher plasma levels and do not hasten onset time more than the smaller dose. (Anesth Analg 1995;80:538-42)
Principal Role in Strengthening the School Cultureof Vocational High School

The school principal is the key to the success of learning in the Vocational High School. As the holder of the management, he is the creator of the learning process, including the development of school culture. School culture, the best medium of learning to implement character education, is being promoted today. In order for the effective learning process, the principal must be able to develop a school culture adapted to the characteristics of learning in Vocational high School. The components that must be developed by the principal within the school culture called PRIDE that consists of: (1) Policy and personnel, (2) Resource deployment, (3) Incentives and Accountability, and (4) Data and assessment. To develop the PRIDE, the principal may refer to the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) Standards that consists of: (a) Visionary Leadership, (b) Instructional Leadership, (c) Organizational Leadership, (d) Collaborative Leadership, (e) Ethical Leadership, and (f) Political Leadership, For strengthening school culture, the principal must integrate PRIDE with ELCC standard. The principal must be as educational leader and has the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by: (1) facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a school or district vision of learning supported by the school community; (2) promoting a positive school culture, providing an effective instructional program, applying best practice to student learning, and designing comprehensive professional growth plans for staff; (3) managing the organization, operations, and resources in a way that promotes a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment; (4) collaborating with families and other community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources; (5) acting with integrity, fairly, and in an ethical manner, (6) understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.
Innate immune response of bovine mammary epithelial cells to Mycoplasma bovis

Mycoplasma spp. are contagious bacteria, and mycoplasmal mastitis is a serious productivity problem on dairy farms. Bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs) have an important role in the elimination of pathogens, but the effect of Mycoplasma bovis on bMECs has not been fully described. To elucidate the immune response against intramammary infection by M. bovis, we undertook microarray analysis to examine and profile mRNA expression in bMECs after stimulation with M. bovis. We also compared the effects of M. bovis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli on immune-related mRNA expression in bMECs. Transcriptome analysis indicated a significant decrease in the level of mRNA-encoding lysine-specific demethylase 4D, suggesting that the immune response is suppressed by a decrease in histone demethylase activity. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, and TLR4 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in bMECs stimulated with heat-killed M. bovis, but the expression levels were lower than those following stimulation by heat-killed S. aureus or E. coli. Our results suggest that M. bovis weakly affects mRNA expression in bMECs compared to the effects of E. coli or S. aureus. Moreover, live M. bovis may induce suppression of the immune response in bMECs.
Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: International Registry Results of the First 720 Cases

Objective: This study aims to report short-term clinical and oncological outcomes from the international transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (taTME) registry for benign and malignant rectal pathology. Background: TaTME is the latest minimally invasive transanal technique pioneered to facilitate difficult pelvic dissections. Outcomes have been published from small cohorts, but larger series can further assess the safety and efficacy of taTME in the wider surgical population. Methods: Data were analyzed from 66 registered units in 23 countries. The primary endpoint was “good-quality TME surgery. ” Secondary endpoints were short-term adverse events. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of poor specimen outcome. Results: A total of 720 consecutively registered cases were analyzed comprising 634 patients with rectal cancer and 86 with benign pathology. Approximately, 67% were males with mean BMI 26.5 kg/m2. Abdominal or perineal conversion was 6.3% and 2.8%, respectively. Intact TME specimens were achieved in 85%, with minor defects in 11% and major defects in 4%. R1 resection rate was 2.7%. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were 0.5% and 32.6% respectively. Risk factors for poor specimen outcome (suboptimal TME specimen, perforation, and/or R1 resection) on multivariate analysis were positive CRM on staging MRI, low rectal tumor <2 cm from anorectal junction, and laparoscopic transabdominal posterior dissection to <4 cm from anal verge. Conclusions: TaTME appears to be an oncologically safe and effective technique for distal mesorectal dissection with acceptable short-term patient outcomes and good specimen quality. Ongoing structured training and the upcoming randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the technique further.
The Impact of Financial Risk on Capital Structure Decisions in Selected Indian Industries: A Descriptive Analysis

Financing decisions are one of the most critical areas for finance managers. It has direct impact on capital structure and financial risk of the companies. It has always been an area for interest for researchers to understand the relationship between capital structure and financial risk of the company. This paper is a moderate attempt to understand impact of financial risk on capital structure decisions in selected Indian industries. For this purpose, the study used definition of capital structure in scope of book value to market value and measures were assumed for financial performance. In this paper, we applied the data of 59 companies listed on Stock Exchange of India in a 10-year time horizon (1997-2007). For the present study, data were collected through the secondary sources.Industries of the study were selected based on ten years' data availability and if the total assets value of the company were more than Rs. 100 crores, the statistical tools used for analyzing them vary from general descriptive analysis such as Mean, Standard Deviation, Coefficient of Variation, Compound Growth Rate to Linear Growth Rate. Also, parametric t-test for ascertaining the level of significance of both compound and linear growth rates and one way analysis of variance, simply called F-test across selected industry sectors have also been used. Results of our study demonstrated that finance risk variables, particularly risk followed by volatility in ROE have significant effect on determining the additional variation in use of debt financing in business through long-term sources among firms under all selected sectors.
Open Access to Data: An Ideal Professed but Not Practised

Data-sharing is an essential tool for replication, validation and extension of empirical results. Using a hand-collected data set describing the data-sharing behaviour of 488 randomly selected empirical researchers, we provide evidence that most researchers in economics and management do not share their data voluntarily. We derive testable hypotheses based on the theoretical literature on information-sharing and relate data-sharing to observable characteristics of researchers. We find empirical support for the hypotheses that voluntary data-sharing significantly increases with (a) academic tenure, (b) the quality of researchers, (c) the share of published articles subject to a mandatory data-disclosure policy of journals, and (d) personal attitudes towards “open science” principles. On the basis of our empirical evidence, we discuss a set of policy recommendations.
The case for professional boards: an assessment of Pozen's corporate governance model

Purpose – Robert C. Pozen, Chairman Emeritus of MFS Investment Management and a long-time scholar of corporate governance, has proposed a model of professional board directorship that responds to the three main factors he believes underpin ineffective board decision making: the large size of boards; the lack of specific industry expertise; and inadequate director time commitment. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The authors critically evaluate the efficacy of Pozen's proposed corporate governance model, addressing the three main factors underpinning ineffective board decision making. Findings – A professional board consisting of retired executives with industry-specific expertise is vulnerable to a groupthink mentality, as well as to the availability of such individuals for board directorship seats. Moreover, while industry-specific expertise is a desired attribute of an independent board director, there are other attributes that firms are looking for, including intern.
ONE-STOP SHOPS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE: THE ADAPTATION OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL FORM IN THREE COUNTRIES

In recent years welfare services in Western Europe have been criticized for poor coordination. In response, ‘seamlessness’ has emerged as a vision for public administration with ‘one-stop shops' viewed as means to reach this. This article conceptualizes the one-stop shop and presents a three country case study to examine its drivers and its adaptation. In all countries the reforms meant mergers driven by hopes for a single entrance to services as well as proximity to citizens. However, the analysis of task portfolios, participant structure, instruments and autonomy reveal important variations in the adaptations. The specific configurations of one-stop shops that emerged were partially a product of compromises and negotiations influenced by the political and performance priorities of central government. The classical trade-off between specialization and coordination persists, but by offering users ICT-based services one can to some extent maintain specialization behind the frontline and still provide services that are coordinated from a user perspective.
Correction: single-drug therapy for hypertension in men.

To the Editor: During further analysis of the data used in our study of single-drug therapy for hypertension in men (April 1, 1993, issue),1 we discovered two errors in the computer program; these errors affected the results that we reported in Figures 2 and 3 of the article. One error permitted a small group of patients who had not completed one year of maintenance therapy to be excluded from the analysis, even though we had planned an intention-to-treat analysis. The second error was due to an unrecognized deletion of an entire line of code that provided the definition of treatment .
Cell wall glucomannoproteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mnn9

Mannoproteins were isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae mnn9 mutant cell walls by laminarinase digestion and purified by affinity and anion‐exchange chromatography. The purified mannoprotein fraction contained three predominant proteins with molecular masses of 300 kDa, 220 kDa and 160 kDa. These compounds were absent in an SDS extrct of cell walls or in a hot‐citrate extract of mnn9 cells.
Permanent visual loss and cerebrovascular accidents in giant cell arteritis: predictors and response to treatment.

OBJECTIVE To assess the features and therapeutic response of visual manifestations and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) in giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) and to identify the predictors for permanent visual loss (VL) and CVA in GCA. METHODS Two hundred thirty-nine patients with biopsy-proven GCA were included in a retrospective multicenter study. Data on demographic, clinical, and laboratory features were collected. The predictors were identified by a forward stepwise nonconditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Visual involvement was observed in 69 patients, and 34 had permanent VL. The diagnostic delay since the onset of visual symptoms was longer in the 11 patients with bilateral VL. The interval to involvement of the second eye was 5 days. The predictors of permanent VL were transient VL, jaw claudication, normal levels of liver enzymes, and absence of constitutional syndrome. Partial improvement of visual acuity was observed in 8 patients. After adjustment for the treatment regimen (intravenous pulse methylprednisolone versus oral prednisone), early treatment (within the first day of VL) was the only predictor of improvement. CVA, observed in 8 patients, involved the vertebral-basilar territory in 4. CVA was more frequent in patients with visual symptoms, appearing shortly after VL (median 7 days) and despite appropriate therapy. Predictors of CVA were permanent VL and jaw claudication. CONCLUSION In GCA, the risk of permanent VL is increased in patients with transient VL and/or jaw claudication, and decreased in those with elevated liver enzyme levels and/or constitutional syndrome. Partial therapeutic success is more probable if treatment is started within the first day of VL. CVA is more likely in patients with permanent VL and/or jaw claudication, often developing despite appropriate corticosteroid therapy.
Isoflurane Prevents Delayed Cell Death in an Organotypic Slice Culture Model of Cerebral Ischemia

Background General anesthetics reduce neuronal death caused by focal cerebral ischemia in rodents and by in vitro ischemia in cultured neurons and brain slices. However, in intact animals, the protective effect may enhance neuronal survival for only several days after an ischemic injury, possibly because anesthetics prevent acute but not delayed cell death. To further understand the mechanisms and limitations of volatile anesthetic neuroprotection, the authors developed a rat hippocampal slice culture model of cerebral ischemia that permits assessment of death and survival of neurons for at least 2 weeks after simulated ischemia. Methods Survival of CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus neurons in cultured hippocampal slices (organotypic slice culture) was examined 2–14 days after 45 min of combined oxygen–glucose deprivation at 37°C (OGD). Delayed cell death was serially measured in each slice by quantifying the binding of propidium iodide to DNA with fluorescence microscopy. Results Neuronal death was greatest in the CA1 region, with maximal death occurring 3–5 days after OGD. In CA1, cell death was 80 ± 18% (mean ± SD) 3 days after OGD and was 80–100% after 1 week. Death of 70 ± 16% of CA3 neurons and 48 ± 28% of dentate gyrus neurons occurred by the third day after OGD. Both isoflurane (1%) and the N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist MK-801 (10 &mgr;m) reduced cell death to levels similar to controls (no OGD) for 14 days after the injury. Isoflurane also reduced cell death in CA1 and CA3 caused by application of 100 but not 500 &mgr;m glutamate. Cellular viability (calcein fluorescence) and morphology were preserved in isoflurane-protected neurons. Conclusions In an in vitro model of simulated ischemia, 1% isoflurane is of similar potency to 10 &mgr;m MK-801 in preventing delayed cell death. Modulation of glutamate excitotoxicity may contribute to the protective mechanism.
Feasibility Assessment of a Brief, Web-Based Behavioral Activation Intervention for Adolescents with Depressed Mood

Objective: Adolescent depression is a major public health concern. Efficacious interventions exist, but are underutilized. Novel approaches to improving access are therefore a top priority. Web-based approaches offer a viable treatment delivery solution; this approach may reach adolescents who might not otherwise receive formal treatment. Behavioral activation (BA) approaches have had success in treatment of depressive symptoms in youth. The purpose of this article is to: (1) describe the development process of a web-based, behavioral activation intervention for adolescents; (2) summarize the preliminary feasibility data; and (3) discuss the benefits and challenges associated with development and evaluation of adolescent self-help resources. Methods: The current study is part of a larger NIMH funded study focusing on the development and evaluation of Bounce Back Now (BBN), an evidence-informed, web resource for disaster-affected adolescents and their families. This study is specifically on the development of the BA component of the mood module of BBN, which was evaluated more extensively than other components. We present data from a formal usability evaluation conducted with 24 adolescents, and preliminary usage data collected from 2,000 disaster affected adolescents recruited from the tornado-affected coordinates in Alabama and Joplin, MO. Results: Preliminary data supported the feasibility of this approach: qualitative data with the clinic-based sample revealed favorable reactions to the intervention, and preliminary data from the large ongoing randomized controlled trial have indicated moderate levels of access. Conclusions: Brief, web-based approaches may offer a promising alternative to address access barriers for adolescents with depressed mood.
Total Quality Management and Employee Involvement

Adrian Wilkinson and his colleagues discuss the growing importance of quality management in the UK, outline the basic principles of TQM, and examine its implications for employee involvement. They suggest that there are contradictions between the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ sides of TQM. This can be exemplified in the relationship between TQM and employee involvement which has not been fully explored. Drawing on a major programme of research on employee involvement, three cases are analysed. They argue that the links between TQM and employee involvement are more complex than the TQM literature would have us believe and there are tensions between employee involvement and TQM. Finally, there is a wider discussion of the subject which analyses a number of constraints on the implementation of TQM in the UK. Adrian Wilkinson, Mick Marchington and John Goodman are respectively Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Professor in the School of Management at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Peter Ackers is a Lecturer at Loughborough University Business School.