Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Securitization and risk: empirical evidence on US banks

Purpose - This paper aims to offer a comprehensive comparison of the characteristics between banks that securitize and banks that do not and to provide evidence of the capital arbitrage theory of securitization. Design/methodology/approach - First, the fundamental financial similarities and differences between banks that securitize assets and banks that do not participate in the securitization market are tested. Second, variables that help predict whether a bank securitizes assets are analyzed. Third, the determinants of securitization extent in banks that securitize assets are investigated – for general securitization extent and for specific type of asset securitized. Using a sample of 112 banks that securitize different assets, a matched sample of banks that do not securitize based on entity type and size is created. A quarterly panel data set of these banks dating back to 2001 is used. Findings - The results indicate that bank size is a significant determinant of whether a bank securitizes. Further, overall securitization extent is negatively related to the bank's capital ratio (in support of capital arbitrage theory), but this result is primarily driven by credit card securitization. Originality/value - Utilizing a unique data set of quarterly data from bank Call Reports; the panel data set is large relative to past studies. A matched sample approach was used to test fundamental financial similarities and differences between securitizing and non-securitizing banks. In addition to aggregated securitization, an examination was made of how different classes of assets affect the banks' risk-based capital ratios and test the capital arbitrage theory of securitization.
Is length of service related to the level of job satisfaction

Asks whether academic workers’ length of service is related to their level of job satisfaction. The enquiry is premised on the assumption that the less satisfied workers tend to resign while the more satisfied ones tend to remain in a job, as some literature suggests. The research distinguishes between length of service in higher education (LSHE) as a whole and length of service in present university (LSPU) in order to separate academics who remain within one university since employment from those who hop from one higher educational institution to another. Two‐way analyses of variance confirm the results of the frequency analyses and indicate that, for direct effects and a 0.05 significance level, LSHE is not statistically significant but LSPU is with a p value of 0.022. This means that the overall job satisfaction of university teachers is significantly correlated with LSPU but not LSHE. The implications are explored.
Market efficiency in the ASEAN region: evidence from multivariate and cointegration tests

The aim of this article is to investigate the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) stock markets for the period January 2000 to April 2011. We test whether these markets are efficient individually and collectively using a number of statistical tests. We reject the EMH for the stock markets of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. We find stock markets in Singapore and Thailand are weak-form efficient. We also find that collectively these markets do not follow the same trend; this means that prices from one market are not predictable in terms of information in another.
Benefits of Knowledge Management in Banking

Knowledge management has been increasingly one of the most important practices for organizations to achieve better performance and long-term competitive advantage. This study aims to investigate the relationships of the benefits obtained from knowledge management implementation based on research in a knowledge management implementing banking institution, which is among one of the five largest banks in Turkey. The study is based on one of the specific applications of knowledge management to achieve process efficiency. The results of the study show that knowledge management implementation has provided various interrelated benefits to the instituation, rendering to utilize its resources efficiently and effectively. Although the study is based on a specific application in one instituation, it provides useful insight for understanding the contribution of knowledge management implementation to organizations for improving their performance and competitiveness.
Oxidative inactivation of key mitochondrial proteins leads to dysfunction and injury in hepatic ischemia reperfusion.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a major mechanism of liver injury following hepatic surgery or transplantation. Despite numerous reports on the role of oxidative/nitrosative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatic I/R injury, the proteins that are oxidatively modified during I/R damage are poorly characterized. This study was aimed at investigating the oxidatively modified proteins underlying the mechanism for mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatic I/R injury. We also studied the effects of a superoxide dismutase mimetic/peroxynitrite scavenger metalloporphyrin (MnTMPyP) on oxidatively modified proteins and their functions. METHODS The oxidized and/or S-nitrosylated mitochondrial proteins from I/R-injured mouse livers with or without MnTMPyP pretreatment were labeled with biotin-N-maleimide, purified with streptavidin-agarose, and resolved by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The identities of the oxidatively modified proteins were determined using mass spectrometric analysis. Liver histopathology, serum transaminase levels, nitrosative stress markers, and activities of oxidatively modified mitochondrial proteins were measured. RESULTS Comparative 2-dimensional gel analysis revealed markedly increased numbers of oxidized and S-nitrosylated mitochondrial proteins following hepatic I/R injury. Many key mitochondrial enzymes involved in cellular defense, fat metabolism, energy supply, and chaperones were identified as being oxidatively modified proteins. Pretreatment with MnTMPyP attenuated the I/R-induced increased serum transaminase levels, histologic damage, increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and S-nitrosylation and/or nitration of various key mitochondrial proteins. MnTMPyP pretreatment also restored I/R-induced suppressed activities of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase, 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolases, and adenosine triphosphate synthase. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that increased nitrosative stress is critically important in promoting S-nitrosylation and nitration of various mitochondrial proteins, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction with decreased energy supply and increased hepatic injury.
The Rise and Fall of Political Parties in Russia's Regional Assemblies

Whilst there is some debate about the importance of parties in contemporary industrial societies, it is still the case, as McFaul notes, that ‘a party system is an essential attribute of a democratic polity. No parties, no democracy’ (2000, p. 3). Parties are particularly important during regime transitions and the consolidation of democracy where they play a vital role in bolstering system legitimacy at a time of political uncertainty (Pridham & Lewis 1996, p. 5). Scholars in the field have traditionally been divided over which prerequisites are necessary for the creation of a strong party system. One group stresses the external environment in which parties operate, the political culture and the strength of civil society. From this perspective, parties are seen as dependent variables and their ability to develop successfully is determined by these external cultural factors. As Karen Dawisha notes, ‘a strong civil society is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a strong party and system and it is difficult to find examples where parties have been established in states with weak civil cultures’ (1997, p. 55). In contrast, a second group of scholars focus on the internal structures, leadership and operational behaviour of parties. In this second approach, parties are seen as independent variables whose actions can positively or negatively shape civil society and culture. Here as Webb and Lewis observe, ‘parties are far more than passive victims of the vicissitudes of public opinion, and it is widely recognised in the West that they can do much to shape political agendas, voter perceptions and electoral choices’ (1998, p. 256). From this perspective institutions matter: change the institutions, change the culture. Strong cohesive parties can bring about consolidated democracies even in hostile cultural environments. Democratic parties can create democrats. On the other hand, weakly institutionalised parties and party systems can allow authoritarianism to take root. EUROPE-ASIA STUDIES Vol. 63, No. 3, May 2011, 429–448
Does Central Bank Independence and Governance Matter in Asia Pacific

This study examines the relationship between inflation and CBIG in Asia Pacific. It applies an unique CBIG index model to rank central banks and establishes a significant relationship between CBIG (both overall and with sub-indices) and inflation in a pooled regression model. It also finds that improved CBIG after Asian financial crisis in 1997 has helped lower inflation; there is no significant relationship between CBIG and inflation in terms of exchange rate regimes, and found a mixed relationship between CBIG and inflation for low- and high-income countries.
Assembly of nuclear pore complexes mediated by major vault protein

During interphase growth of eukaryotic cells, nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are continuously incorporated into the intact nuclear envelope (NE) by mechanisms that are largely unknown. De novo formation of NPCs involves local fusion events between the inner and outer nuclear membrane, formation of a transcisternal membranous channel of defined diameter and the coordinated assembly of hundreds of nucleoporins into the characteristic NPC structure. Here we have used a cell-free system based on Xenopus egg extract, which allows the experimental separation of nuclear-membrane assembly and NPC formation. Nuclei surrounded by a closed double nuclear membrane, but devoid of NPCs, were first reconstituted from chromatin and a specific membrane fraction. Insertion of NPCs into the preformed pore-free nuclei required cytosol containing soluble nucleoporins or nucleoporin subcomplexes and, quite unexpectedly, major vault protein (MVP). MVP is the main component of vaults, which are ubiquitous barrel-shaped particles of enigmatic function. Our results implicate MVP, and thus also vaults, in NPC biogenesis and provide a functional explanation for the association of a fraction of vaults with the NE and specifically with NPCs in intact cells.
Costs of managing anemia with erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents during hemodialysis: A time and motion study

Use of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs) presents a significant time and cost burden in the management of anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a prospective, observational, activity‐based costing study to estimate the health care personnel time and resulting direct medical costs associated with administering epoetin 3 times weekly to patients with end‐stage renal disease on dialysis. The study was conducted at 5 US hemodialysis centers. The personnel time and costs were derived from time and motion observations. Predicted time and cost savings were modeled for switching patients to once‐monthly ESA therapy. Patients also completed a survey questionnaire to assess their level of CKD knowledge and information needs. Total per‐patient‐per‐year (PPPY) time expended on anemia management with epoetin averaged 608 minutes (range 512–915 minutes), with an average PPPY cost of $548 (range $342–$651). Use of a once‐monthly ESA, compared with epoetin, could decrease average PPPY time expenditure by 79% (127 minutes [range 96–173 minutes]) and reduce PPPY costs by 81% ($104 [range $79–$136]). The patient questionnaire reported insufficient education on CKD. Use of a once‐monthly ESA to correct anemia in dialysis patients may provide substantial time, resource, and cost savings compared with current treatment practices.
Identification of transitional type II B cells in the salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To identify B cell subpopulations participating in the lymphocyte infiltrate of salivary glands from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. A special emphasis was placed on those B lymphocytes included in the ectopic germinal centers (GCs). METHODS The presence of B cells in salivary glands and their polyclonality were ascertained by phenotyping and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in salivary gland samples from 18 patients. Their phenotype was thoroughly analyzed using a number of double-staining combinations. The results obtained in tissue sections were confirmed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of B cells eluted from salivary glands, and these findings were compared with those in tonsils. RESULTS Memory-type B cells were defined as CD20+, CD27+ and were seen in all specimens, whereas GCs were found in only 7 specimens. Furthermore, B cells found in these GCs lacked certain characteristics of centroblasts and centrocytes. Instead, they fulfilled the criteria for transitional type II (TII) B cells and resembled marginal-zone B cells. BAFF (the assistance of which is required for proper transformation of transitional TI B cells into transitional TII B cells) accumulated adjacent to transitional and marginal-zone-like B lymphocytes. Further evidence for the involvement of BAFF came from the expression of its receptors on infiltrating B cells. CONCLUSION These transitional TII and marginal-zone-like B cells are probably instrumental in the local production of autoantibodies and possibly influential in the ensuing destruction of epithelial cells.
Dynamic and Long Run Responses of Import Prices to the Exchange Rate in the Asia-Pacific

Differentials in the estimate of long run import pass-through is investigated for 9 countries of the Asia-Pacific in conjunction with the estimation of the short run dynamics. This is undertaken using the Johansen procedure, which tests for the possibility of multiple cointegrating vectors and then uses this information to estimate a restricted vector error correction specification. The rank tests indicate that 7 out of the 9 countries had long run cointegrating relationships from which estimates of pass-through could be found. The long run import pass-through responses are significantly diverse, ranging from the perverse case of 109% for Pakistan to 26% for Australia. The short run responses also reveal a relatively slow, albeit statistically significant, adjustment of import prices to alterations in the exchange rate, with most of the adjustment in import prices occurring in the periods after the exchange rate shock.
The Perceptions of High School Honor Students on the Academic Skills Needed to Succeed in College Science Classes

High school honor graduates at a rural high school in the Southeastern United States of America have not been as prepared for science classes at the college level as their teachers expected. At the study site, which is located in one rural high school, honor graduates have been struggling with their freshman college science classes although these students were honors students in their high school science classes. The purpose of this study was to understand how well prepared high school honor graduates felt upon entering college. This qualitative case study was grounded in the brain-based theory of Caine and Caine with regard to honor high school students entering college. The research question focused what teachers and administrators can do to more effectively prepare honor students for college science classes. Twenty high school honor students participated in semi-structured face-to-face interviews, and a predominant theme was identified through coding of the interview transcripts by case and research question. The findings revealed what skill sets were most important for success in college.
The Small Saving Tax Exemption and Japanese Household Asset Allocation Behavior

In this article, I estimate asset demand equations for Japanese households using age-group data from a government survey called the Family Saving Survey, and based on the estimation results, conduct a simulation analysis of the impact of the 1988 and 2006 revisions of the Small Saving Tax Exemption for interest income (the so-called Maruyu System) on household portfolios. In the estimation, I define marginal tax rates by age group, taking into account for the first time the amount of principal that is tax exempt and estimate asset demand equations by three-stage least squares to deal with the endogeneity of rates of return, which previous analyses of the revision of the Maruyu System and of household portfolios in Japan have not done. I find that both the 1988 and 2006 revisions of the Maruyu System promote a shift in household portfolios away from Maruyu assets and toward non-Maruyu assets, as expected. However, I also find that although the percentage changes in the case of the 1988 revision are quite considerable, those in the case of the 2006 revision are quite small. Thus, it appears that the 2006 revision hardly affected household portfolio behavior at all.
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: Th is study aimed to determine whether inhaled prostaglandins are associated with improvement in pulmonary physiology or mortality in patients with ARDS and assess adverse eff ects . METHODS: Th e following data sources were used: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, reference lists, conference proceedings, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies selected included randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies. For data extraction, two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts for eligibility. With regard to data synthesis, 25 studies (two RCTs) published over 21 years (1993-2014) were included. The PROSPERO registration number was CRD42014013180. RESULTS: One randomized controlled trial showed no difference in the change in mean Pa o 2 to F io 2 ratio when comparing inhaled alprostadil to placebo: 141.2 (95% CI, 120.8-161.5) to 161.5 (95% CI, 134.6-188.3) vs 163.4 (95% CI, 140.8-186.0) to 186.8 (95% CI, 162.9-210.7), P 5 . 21. Meta-analysis of the remaining studies demonstrated that inhaled prostaglandins were associated with improvement in Pa o 2 to F io 2 ratio (16 studies; 39.0% higher; 95% CI, 26.7%-51.3%), and Pa o 2 (eight studies; 21.4% higher; 95% CI, 12.2%-30.6%), and a decrease in pulmonary artery pressure ( 2 4.8 mm Hg; 95% CI, 2 6.8 mm Hg to 2 2.8 mm Hg). Risk of bias and heterogeneity were high. Meta-regression found no association with publication year ( P 5 .862), baseline oxygenation ( P 5 .106), and ARDS etiology ( P 5 .816) with the treatment effect. Hypotension occurred in 17.4% of patients in observational studies. CONCLUSIONS: In ARDS, inhaled prostaglandins improve oxygenation and decrease pulmonary artery pressures and may be associated with harm. Data are limited both in terms of methodologic quality and demonstration of clinical benefi t. Th e use of inhaled prostaglandins in ARDS needs further study. CHEST 2015; 147 ( 6 ): 1510 1522 [ Original Research Critical Care ]
STOCK RETURNS AND CLASSIFICATION PATTERN OF FIRM‐SPECIFIC FINANCIAL VARIABLES: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE WITH FINNISH DATA

This paper incorporates the findings of empirical classification patterns of financial ratios to studies investigating the relation between stock returns and financial factors of a firm. The empirical results indicate that the relevant information of the investigated financial characteristics of a firm can be presented in one factor, with respect to which single financial ratios seem not to have incremental information content in the Finnish stock market. In crossindustry sample this factor is reported to be leverage. However, when studying purely industrial firms, the most important factor consists of ratios representing several a priori characteristics of a firm.
Where Do Unions Add Value? Predominant Organizing Principle, Union Strength and Manufacturing Productivity Growth in the OECD

This article deploys comparative historical data on 14 OECD countries to examine the significance of predominant union structure for the impact of union strength on the (medium‐term) growth in hourly labour productivity in manufacturing. The analysis shows that where craft and general unionism predominates, union strength has a deleterious impact on productivity growth. Where enterprise unionism predominates, union strength is irrelevant. However, where industrial unionism predominates, union strength promotes productivity growth. These effects exist independently of established economic influences on aggregate productivity growth. The findings are interpreted as displaying the importance of the character of the governance that unions provide for their productivity impact.
Pneumococcal carriage results in ganglioside-mediated olfactory tissue infection

Streptococcus pneumoniae cause considerable morbidity and mortality, with persistent neurological sequelae, particularly in young children and the elderly. It is widely assumed that carriage occurs through direct mucosal colonization from the environment whereas meningitis results from invasion from the blood. However, the results of published studies can be interpreted that pneumococci may enter the brain directly from the nasal cavity by axonal transport through olfactory nerves. This hypothesis is based on findings that (i) teichoic acid of the pneumococcal cell wall interact with gangliosides (GLS), (ii) the interaction of GLS with cholera toxin leads to axonal transport through the olfactory nerves into the brain, and (iii) viruses enter the brain through axonal transport into olfactory nerves. After nasal inoculation, we observe high numbers of pneumococci in nasal washes and the olfactory nerves and epithelium. Significant numbers of pneumococci also infected the olfactory bulbs, brain, and the trigeminal ganglia. The absence of bacteremia in this model makes it unlikely that the bacteria entered the brain from the blood stream. Recovery of colony-forming units from the brain, lungs, olfactory nerves, and epithelium and nasal washes was inhibited by incubating pneumococci with GLS before nasal inoculation. These findings, confirmed by PCR and immunohistochemistry, support a GLS-mediated process of infection and are consistent with pneumococci reaching the brain through retrograde axonal transport.
A low-power motion compensation IP core design for MPEG-1/2/4 video decoding

The proposed IP core design design exploits an adder-based quarter-pixel filter optimized by data sharing for low cost consideration. This optimization reduces over 87% of hardware complexity as compared to the quarter-pixel filter in the existing design (Wang, J.X. et al. Proc. IEEE ASIC Conf., vol.2, p.942-5, 2003). In addition, we propose a low-power design technique called dynamic partially guarded computation (DPGC) to reduce the power consumption on pixel interpolation. After applying the DPGC, we obtain 60% reduction in the power consumption of the interpolation operations in the proposed design. Using a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology, the proposed design achieves real-time processing of MPEG-1/2/4 decoding on 4CIF video when operated at 54 MHz. In addition, the proposed design has been integrated into a MPEG-4 video decoder for system verification through a XILINX multimedia FPGA board.