Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of impulse noise on distortion product otoacoustic emissions

The aim of this study was the evaluation of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) before and after noise exposure from shooting, and the comparison of DPOAEs with pure-tone audiometry. Thirteen young male police officers were exposed to impulse noise from shooting, without using earplugs. Standard pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, and DPOAEs were performed before exposure and at one hour post- and 24 hour post-exposure. In the one hour post-exposure testing mean pure-tone thresholds were elevated in the 1–8 kHz frequency zone and DPOAE levels were reduced at several frequencies. DPOAEs were more affected at 3 kHz or lower, whereas pure-tone thresholds were more affected at higher frequencies. After the final examination, non-significant partial shifts at high frequencies on both tests remained. Pure-tone audiometry was overall more sensitive, but DPOAEs provided additional information about the cochlear status of certain ears. These data suggest that besides behavioral testing, DPOAEs may play a role as a fast, objective, and easy to perform test for monitoring subjects exposed to impulse noise.
Corporate Cash Holding in Asia

In this paper, we analyze the determinants of corporate saving in the form of changes in the stock of cash for 11 Asian economies using firm-level data from the Oriana Database for the 2002–2011 period. We find some evidence that cash flow has a positive impact on the change in the stock of cash, which suggests that Asian firms are borrowing constrained and that they save more when their cash flow increases so that they will be able to finance future investments. Moreover, we find in the developed economy sample that, as expected, cash flow has a positive impact on the change in the stock of cash only in the case of the smallest firms, which are more likely to be borrowing constrained, and find in the developing economy sample that, as expected, the positive impact of cash flow on the change in the stock of cash declines with firm size. In addition, we find that the cash flow sensitivity of cash declined after the global financial crisis. Finally, we find some evidence that Tobin’s q has a positive impact on the change in the stock of cash.
The Relationship Between Severity of Calcific Aortic Stenosis and Serum Uric Acid Levels

Serum uric acid (SUA) level is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Consecutive patients (n = 64) with normal coronary angiography who demonstrated calcific aortic stenosis (AS) by transthoracic echocardiography were included in the study. The patients were categorized into 3 groups: 23 mild AS (12 males), 21 moderate AS (10 males), and 20 severe AS cases (10 males). Fasting SUA level was significantly higher in the severe AS group than in the moderate and mild AS groups (severe AS, 6.3 ± 1.6; moderate AS, 4.9 ± 1.3; mild AS; 4.6 ± 1.4 mg/dL; P < .001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between SUA level and maximum as well as mean aortic gradient (r = .521, P < .001 and r = .526, P < .001, respectively). There was a negative correlation between SUA level and aortic valve area (r = −.447, P < .001). Levels of SUA were increased in calcific AS cases. In addition, there was a positive correlation between severity of calcific AS and SUA levels.
AUDITOR CHOICE AND AUDIT FEE DETERMINANTS

An analytical model predicts that cross-sectionally (1) the marginal cost of auditor quality is inversely related to the strength of client companies' internal control. (2) In the short run, clients with stronger control, lower business risk, or less complex audits choose higher quality auditors; but whether they pay higher audit fees is indeterminate. (3) In the long run, client companies have both lower quality auditors and weaker controls as risk or complexity increase, so less precise financial reporting is expected from them. (4) The effects of risk and complexity on fees are indeterminate, because the price and quantity components of fees tend to vary inversely as risk or complexity change. The predictions are consistent with findings that have been viewed as empirical anomalies.
Is the Market Biased Against Risky R&D?

This article analyzes the riskiness of the R&D strategies chosen by firms engaged in a "winner-takes-all" patent race. In contradiction to Dasgupta and Stiglitz (1980) we show that, when the distribution of invention times is symmetric, the market equilibrium cannot be safer and may be riskier than is socially optimal. We identify the economic reason for the emergence but only if there are few competitors.
Distinctive Features of Catalytic and Transport Mechanisms in Mammalian Sarco-endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) and Cu+ (ATP7A/B) ATPases*

Background: SERCA and ATP7A/B are P-type ATPases entailing phosphoenzyme intermediate (E-P) formation. Results: Biochemical characterization, however, reveals distinctive features. Conclusion: A H+-gated Ca2+ pathway coupled to E1-P to E2-P transition is SERCA-specific. Headpiece interactions with an N-metal binding extension (NMBD) and related conformational constraints are ATP7A/B-specific. Significance: SERCA and ATP7A/B mechanisms present significant differences even though they are both P-type. Ca2+ (sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA)) and Cu+ (ATP7A/B) ATPases utilize ATP through formation of a phosphoenzyme intermediate (E-P) whereby phosphorylation potential affects affinity and orientation of bound cation. SERCA E-P formation is rate-limited by enzyme activation by Ca2+, demonstrated by the addition of ATP and Ca2+ to SERCA deprived of Ca2+ (E2) as compared with ATP to Ca2+-activated enzyme (E1·2Ca2+). Activation by Ca2+ is slower at low pH (2H+·E2 to E1·2Ca2+) and little sensitive to temperature-dependent activation energy. On the other hand, subsequent (forward or reverse) phosphoenzyme processing is sensitive to activation energy, which relieves conformational constraints limiting Ca2+ translocation. A “H+-gated pathway,” demonstrated by experiments on pH variations, charge transfer, and Glu-309 mutation allows luminal Ca2+ release by H+/Ca2+ exchange. As compared with SERCA, initial utilization of ATP by ATP7A/B is much slower and highly sensitive to temperature-dependent activation energy, suggesting conformational constraints of the headpiece domains. Contrary to SERCA, ATP7B phosphoenzyme cleavage shows much lower temperature dependence than EP formation. ATP-dependent charge transfer in ATP7A and -B is observed, with no variation of net charge upon pH changes and no evidence of Cu+/H+ exchange. As opposed to SERCA after Ca2+ chelation, ATP7A/B does not undergo reverse phosphorylation with Pi after copper chelation unless a large N-metal binding extension segment is deleted. This is attributed to the inactivating interaction of the copper-deprived N-metal binding extension with the headpiece domains. We conclude that in addition to common (P-type) phosphoenzyme intermediate formation, SERCA and ATP7A/B possess distinctive features of catalytic and transport mechanisms.
How Involvement in African American Student Organizations Supports and Hinders Academic Achievement

The perspectives of 84 African American students attending a predominantly White institution (PWI) were qualitatively analyzed to identify the conditions under which African American student organizations were perceived as assets and liabilities to academic success. Results indicate that involvement in African American student organizations can hinder the academic achievement of students who value hierarchical leadership styles, service toward systemic change, and leadership experiences over grades. Implications for advising African American students at PWIs are provided along with suggestions for modifying Astin’s (1984) theory of student involvement when applying it to African Americans at PWIs.
The Relationship Between Television Viewership and Advertising Content in Australian Football Broadcasts

The traditional view of football fans, especially in a country such as Australia, has often been an unflattering one, with fans cast as being young, male, and with a beer in one hand. This article performed a demographic analysis of television viewership within Australia’s two largest football codes, the Australian Football League and the National Rugby League, to explore the demographics of this audience more closely. This was coupled with an advertising content analysis of corresponding football telecasts to consider the degree of synchronicity between audience and advertising. The article concludes both codes have an older, male-orientated audience skew. However, given that approximately 40% of the audience is female, both codes can lay claim to a more even-gender share of viewership than might be expected, given the highly masculine and physical nature of both sports. Notably, in-game advertising largely reflects its audience, with the majority of the advertisers selling products that appeal to both men and women. Commercial breaks within the broadcasts of both codes were also found to be strongly concentrated towards a small number of leading advertisers.
The Mcgurk effect at various auditory signal-to-noise ratios in american and Finnish listeners

In the McGurk effect, incongruent visual information alters the auditory speech percept. We studied the strength of this effect as a function of auditory signal-to-noise ratio (SNR: -12, -6, 0, +6 dB, and noise-free) in Finnish adults, American adults and American children (8–12 years). The McGurk stimuli were A/p/V/k/ (auditory /apa/ presented with visual /aka/), A/p/V/t/, A/k/V/p/ and A/t/V/p/. As SNR decreased, proportion of responses based on the auditory component decreased and visual influence got stronger. All participants showed this pattern, though in some instances Finns showed weaker visual influence. Overall, the McGurk effect was very similar in these language and age groups.
DO CORPORATE GOVERNANCE “ACTORS”’ FEATURES AFFECT BANKS’ VALUE? – EVIDENCE FROM ROMANIA

The purpose of our empirical study is to identify and discuss the influences of various features of corporate governance “actors” over strategies followed and performances reached in Romanian banking system. The features considered for analysis refers to provenience, size, independence and gender diversity of executive management and board of directors, as well as to provenience, structure, origin and concentration of shareholders. The research methodology used for achieving our goal is based on econometric analysis using various statistical tools, like correlations for identifying the relationships between independent and dependent variables, and regressions for developing the models revealing how corporate governance characteristics influence banks value and their business strategy. The results of the performed analysis reveal positive correlations between banks’ traditional strategies and performances, and foreign corporate governance (board of directors, executive management and shareholders), made majority by male members, where CEO duality avoidance is ensured, the board of directors is entirely independent and the majority of shareholders are coming from European Union members states. The only negative correlation appeared to be between shareholders structure and banks value, revealing that those banks that still have individuals within its ownership performed lower.
Financial Valuation and Risk Management Working Paper No . 317 Jensen ’ s Alpha in the CAPM with Heterogeneous Beliefs

Jensen’s alpha is one of the most used terms in finance. Yet, the alpha is “mystical” since it has no theory. It is, for example, in contradiction to the standard CAPM with homogeneous beliefs. The purpose of this paper is to show that the alpha naturally arises in a financial market equilibrium when the CAPM is extended to heterogenous beliefs. We show that the hunt for alpha opportunities is a zero-sum game and that alpha opportunities erode with the assets under management. Moreover, it is shown that a positive alpha is not necessarily a good criterion for the choice between active and passive investment. Finally, we argue that the standard CAPM with homogenous beliefs can be seen as the long run outcome of our model when investors’ expectations are linked to the trading success.
Protease-activated Receptors 1 and 4 Are Shut Off with Distinct Kinetics after Activation by Thrombin*

Protease-activated receptors 1 and 4 (PAR1 and PAR4) mediate thrombin signaling in human platelets. Whether these receptors are redundant, interact, or serve only partially overlapping functions is unknown. We report that PAR1 and PAR4 signal with distinct tempos. In transfected fibroblasts, PAR4 triggered substantially more phosphoinositide hydrolysis per activated receptor than PAR1 and was shut off more slowly than PAR1. Shutoff and internalization of PAR1 depends upon phosphorylation of its carboxyl tail upon receptor activation. In contrast to PAR1, phosphorylation of PAR4 was undetectable, and activation-dependent internalization of PAR4 was much slower than that seen for PAR1. Mutation of potential phosphorylation sites in the carboxyl tail of PAR1 enhanced PAR1 signaling, whereas analogous mutations in PAR4 had no effect. Thus PAR4 signaling is shut off less rapidly than PAR1, probably due to differences in receptor phosphorylation. PAR1 and PAR4 also signaled with distinct tempos in platelets. PAR1 triggered a rapid and transient increase in intracellular calcium, whereas PAR4 triggered a more prolonged response. Together, the tempo of these responses accounted for that triggered by thrombin. Thus differences in the rates at which PAR1 and PAR4 are shut off allow thrombin to trigger intracellular signaling with distinct temporal characteristics.
The effect of metoclopramide on the contraction of the human gallbladder.

In a double blind study 45 patients were given either an i.v. injection of 20 mg Primperan (20 mg metoclopramide, Lundbeck, n = 15), 20 mg Metopram (20 mg metoclopramide, Leiras, n = 15) or a corresponding amount of physiological saline (n = 15) and the effect of metoclopramide on the human gallbladder was studied in x-ray examination of gallbladder. The gallstones do not appear to be a contraindication for the clinical use of metoclopramide as an antiemetic drug. No contraction of the gallbladder was demonstrated, even though metoclopramide has been shown to contact intestinal smooth muscle. Primperan caused more side effects than Metopram. Sedation seems to be the most common side effect of metoclopramide.
Travel motivations of Australian Football League fans: an exploratory study

This paper explores the relationship between the interstate travel frequency and motivations of Australian Football League fans. This paper uses the Motivation Scale for Sport Consumption (MSSC) developed by Trail and James to investigate motivational factors that predict established fans' behaviour to travel to interstate matches to support their team. After controlling for the effects of age, it was found that the motivation to engage with other fans in social settings was the most significant predictor of sport fan travel behaviour. These findings further extend our understanding of the drivers of individual sport fan behaviour and their inclination to travel significant distances to support their respective team.
New syndrome: Focal dermal hypoplasia, morning glory anomaly, and polymicrogyria

Regional skin hypoplasia has been described in several genetic syndromes, including focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), microphthalmia with linear skin defects (MLS), oculocerebrocutaneous syndrome (OCCS), and terminal osseous dysplasia and pigmentary defects (TODP). All but OCCS have been reported to follow an X‐linked inheritance pattern. We describe a 14‐year‐old girl with clinical features overlapping with these disorders. She had mild mental retardation, macrocephaly, microphthalmia, right‐sided morning glory optic disc anomaly, palmar and lip pits, and polysyndactyly. A swirling pattern of skin hypopigmentation, papular hypopigmented and herniated skin lesions reminiscent of FDH most prominent over her face, head, hands, and feet was evident. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed polymicrogyria (most severely in the perisylvian and mesial frontal regions), enlarged left lateral ventricle, partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, and optic nerve tumor on the right. Dermatopathologic examination of the skin lesions was consistent with basaloid follicular hamartomas. The skin and digit anomalies observed overlap with FDH, but polymicrogyria, basaloid follicular hamartomas, optic nerve tumor, and morning glory anomaly have not previously been described in FDH. Skin defects in MLS are linear and the eyes typically have sclerocornea. Polymicrogyria has been described in OCCS, but not in any of the other three syndromes. The limb anomalies in TODP are reductions rather than polysyndactyly. Skin defects are localized to the face, and digital fibromas usually occur. While significant overlap exists between all four of the syndromes discussed, we believe that the constellation of anomalies observed in this girl most likely comprises a newly recognized syndrome. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture

Excellent book is always being the best friend for spending little time in your office, night time, bus, and everywhere. It will be a good way to just look, open, and read the book while in that time. As known, experience and skill don't always come with the much money to acquire them. Reading this book with the PDF cows pigs wars and witches the riddles of culture marvin harris will let you know more things.
Examining the black box between stimulating regions and individual entrepreneurship

This paper seeks to investigate the link between the objective regional opportunity structure (captured by regional data) and individuals’ engagement in different stages in the venture creation process (intention to start a business and engagement in nascent entrepreneurship). We further investigate pathways through which a favourable regional environment could affect entrepreneurial intentions and the propensity to be a nascent entrepreneur. We combine individual level GEM-data for Western Germany with regional level data from the statistical office and use multi-level analysis to test our hypotheses. We find support for our contention that a favourable regional opportunity structure affects entrepreneurial intentions and engagement. As pathways between the region and individual behaviour serve the individual perception of founding opportunities and the individual social capital.
Technological Efforts, Firm Size and Exports in the Basic Chemical Industry in India

This paper attempts to examine the role of technological efforts and firm size in determining the export behaviour of firms belonging to the basic chemical industry in India. The basic chemical industry is an important industry that provides intermediate chemicals to firms operating in diverse industries in both India and abroad. In this study technological efforts have been considered in terms of in-house R&D, import of embodied technology, and import of disembodied technology. Three different econometric models, namely, the Tobit, the two-part (Probit + Truncation) and the sample selection (Heckman), have been used for estimation and the results have been compared. The authors find evidence in support of the view that export behaviour of the firm can be modelled in a more appropriate manner using a two-part or a sample selection model rather than the popular Tobit model. The results of the econometric exercise confirm that technological efforts, firm size and other firm-specific characteristics are important in explaining the export behaviour of the firms.
Explaining the Strategic Groups–Firm Performance Relationship: A Multilevel Approach Applied to Small and Medium‐Sized Hotel Companies in Spain

One of the main research questions in the field of strategic management is why firms obtain different performance levels. This paper answers this question from the strategic groups approach. This paper analyzes the linkage between strategic groups and firm performance offering a multilevel analysis about the relative importance of intergroup and intragroup performance differences based on the use of hierarchical linear models. The results show that intragroup differences explain firm performance better than intergroup differences.
Fetal scalp blood sampling in labor – a review

During the 1970s and 1980s, electronic fetal monitoring and fetal scalp blood sampling were introduced without robust evidence. With a methodical review of the published literature, and using one randomized controlled trial, seven controlled studies, nine randomized studies of various surveillance methods and data from the Danish National Birth Registry, we have assessed the usefulness of fetal scalp blood sampling as a complementary tool to improve the specificity and sensitivity of electronic cardiotocography. Based on heterogeneous studies of modest quality with somewhat inconsistent results, we conclude that fetal scalp blood sampling in conjunction with cardiotocography can reduce the risk of operative delivery. Fetal scalp blood sampling can provide additional information on fetal wellbeing and fetal reserves at a time before decisions are made concerning the need for and timing of operative delivery and the choice of anesthesia, and be an adjunct in the interpretation of cardiotocography patterns.
Correlations among Handedness, Eyedness, Monocular Shifts from Binocular Focal Point, and Nonverbal Intelligence in University Mathematics Students

Relationships among hand preference, nonverbal intelligence, and the monocular shifts of binocular focal point were studied in 33 men and 12 women university mathematics students. Ocular dominance was assessed with the Miles test. The monocular shift of binocular focal point for each eye was assessed with a modified Miles test. Hand preference was assessed on the Edinburg Handedness Inventory. Nonverbal intelligence was assessed with Cattell's Culture Fair Intelligence Test. In a prior study, the percentage of left-eye preference had been reported to be greater for mathematics students than for nonmathematics students. In the present study there were positive correlations between hand preference and the sum of the monocular shifts of two eyes. In addition, there was a negative correlation between nonverbal intelligence and the sum of the monocular shifts of two eyes. As these results suggest that the sum of the monocular shifts of two eyes may be related to mathematical ability and nonverbal intelligence, further research with a larger sample including nonmathematics students is needed.
An Examination of Employee Benefits Cost Control Strategies in New Jersey Local Governments

Employee benefits are an essential and costly component of the compensation and human resources management system. This research effort surveyed 118 New Jersey local governments on benefits cost management strategies. The results indicate that the majority of local governments are utilizing displacement strategies that shift or impose costs onto either taxpayers (higher taxes) or employees (outsourcing, higher co-payments) in contrast to structural solutions that address the macro-level financial variables that influence either the demand or supply side of benefits finance (i.e., self-insurance, benefit consortiums, or service regionalization). Only a quarter of the strategies employed entailed structural solutions. Recommendations are provided to enhance the effectiveness of benefits plan cost-control strategies, including systematic needs assessment and technical assistance.