Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of R&D Spending on Firm Profitability and Stock Market Value

This paper aims to investigate the effect of research and development expenditures on profitability and Stock value in Iran capital market during 2003 to 2008. Our sample contains 86 firms from Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). We employ regression method for test research hypotheses. Findings indicate that spending on R&D in current year cause to earn more profit in future years especially in forth year. Thus, it can be argue that effect of R&D expenditure on firm evaluating measures is significant and positive.
Who should care for our kids? The effects of infant child care on early child development

This paper examines the relationship between various types of child care during the first year of a child's life and the child's language and social development measured at age three. A unique contribution of the paper is the estimation of a general selection-correction model that accounts for non-random selection of children into different types of child care. The analysis uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a birth cohort of children born to predominantly low-income single mothers. The results indicate that compared with maternal care, relative care during infancy has more beneficial effects on a child's language development, while day care centers have more beneficial effects on a child's behavioral development.
The Accrual Anomaly Under Different Accounting Standards Lessons Learned from the German Experiment

Several studies document that investors systematically overreact to accrual-based accounting information. We address the question to what extent this accrual anomaly is related to different accounting standards. We provide empirical evidence that the accrual anomaly is also present in Germany. However, this anomaly seems mainly to be driven by firms presenting their financial statements under IFRS or US-GAAP, while the anomaly is unlikely to exist for those firms complying with German GAAP. It is argued that introducing true and fair view accounting, like IFRS, that relies on difficult-to-verify information, may not be suitable to improve accounting information quality in the context of a weak corporate governance system. Copyright (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Satellite observations of high northern latitude vegetation productivity changes between 1982 and 2008: ecological variability and regional differences

To assess ongoing changes in high latitude vegetation productivity we compared spatiotemporal patterns in remotely sensed vegetation productivity in the tundra and boreal zones of North America and Eurasia. We compared the long-term GIMMS (Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies) NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) to the more recent and advanced MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) NDVI data set, and mapped circumpolar trends in a gross productivity metric derived from the former. We then analyzed how temporal changes in productivity differed along an evergreen–deciduous gradient in boreal Alaska, along a shrub cover gradient in Arctic Alaska, and during succession after fire in boreal North America and northern Eurasia. We find that the earlier reported contrast between trends of increasing tundra and decreasing boreal forest productivity has amplified in recent years, particularly in North America. Decreases in boreal forest productivity are most prominent in areas of denser tree cover and, particularly in Alaska, evergreen forest stands. On the North Slope of Alaska, however, increases in tundra productivity do not appear restricted to areas of higher shrub cover, which suggests enhanced productivity across functional vegetation types. Differences in the recovery of post-disturbance vegetation productivity between North America and Eurasia are described using burn chronosequences, and the potential factors driving regional differences are discussed.
Crime, Space, And Society

List of tables Acknowledgements Preface 1. An introduction to criminological research 2. On proceeding with the analysis of crime and society 3. Concerning crime in the United Kingdom 4. The victims of crime 5. The effects of crime 6. Crime and public policy 7. Social reactions to crime 8. Conclusion References Index.
Investor Sophistication and Patterns in Stock Returns after Earnings Announcements

This study tests whether the observed patterns in stock returns after quarterly earnings announcements are related to the proportion of firm shares held by institutional investors, a variable used by prior research to proxy for investor sophistication. Our findings show that the institutional holdings variable is negatively correlated with the observed post‐announcement abnormal returns. Our findings also show that traditional proxies for transaction costs (i.e., trading volume, stock price) as well as firm size have little incremental power to explain post‐announcement abnormal returns when institutional holdings is an explanatory variable. If institutional ownership is a valid proxy for investor sophistication, these findings suggest that the trading activity of unsophisticated investors underlies the predictability of stock returns after earnings announcements. However, tests evaluating the validity of institutional holdings as a proxy for investor sophistication yield only mixed results. This calls fo.
Cultural interfaces of self-determination and the rise of the neo-Biafran movement in Nigeria

This article examines the ‘cultural repertoires’ of neo-Biafran separatist Igbo groups in south-eastern Nigeria, pointing to the ways in which cultural repertoires, narratives and emblems are deployed to forge a separatist ethno-political project in a multi-ethnic state. The neo-Biafran movement reveals the robustness of political resistance and the existence of multiple frameworks through which ethno-nationalist groups resist and challenge extant power structures of the state in the quest for self-determination. The article argues that ethnic groups have the capacity to initiate their own ‘cultural repertoires’ in order to construct group identity, identify forms of external identity (the ‘other’) and shore up the boundaries of their own collective group identity. Myths of origin, narratives of the past, images and symbols are rooted in certain cultural repertoires, and are elaborated, interpreted, invented and reinvented to produce political identities that are complex and fluid in the struggle for political power. [Interfaces culturelles d'autodétermination et montée du mouvement néo-biafrais au Nigeria. ] Cet article examine les « répertoires culturels » des groupes igbo séparatistes du néo-Biafra au sud-est du Nigeria, désignant les façons dont les répertoires culturels, récits et symboles sont développés pour forger un projet séparatiste ethno-politique dans un État multiethnique. Le mouvement néo-biafrais prouve la robustesse de la résistance politique et l'existence de multiples cadres au travers desquels les groupes ethno-nationalistes résistent et défient les structures de pouvoir existantes en quête d'auto-détermination. L'article affirme que les groupes ethniques ont la capacité d'initier leurs propres « répertoires culturels » afin de construire une identité de groupe, identifier des formes d'identité extérieure (« l'autre ») et construire les frontières de leur propre identité collective. Mythe des origines, récits du passé, images et symboles sont ancrés dans des répertoires culturels propres et sont élaborés, interprétés, inventés et réinventés pour produire des identités politiques qui sont complexes et fluides dans la lutte pour le pouvoir politique. Mots-clés : culture ; politique ; auto-détermination ; identité ethnique ; Igbo ; Nigeria
Air quality, stroke, and coronary events: results of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study from the Ruhr Region.

BACKGROUND Studies have shown that air pollution is associated with cardiopulmonary mortality, but there has been less research of the possible effect of air pollution on stroke and non-fatal coronary events. The Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) study addressed the question of the effect of long-term air pollution on stroke and coronary events. Ambient acoustic noise was also considered as a risk factor. METHODS The HNR study, initiated in 2000, is a prospective, population-based cohort study in the Ruhr region of Germany. Long-term exposure to fine-particle dust (PM10, PM2.5 and PM(2.5abs) [carbon black content]) and traffic noise at the subjects' home addresses were determined using land-use regression and dispersion models, respectively. Strokes and coronary events were ascertained from patient records by an independent end-point committee on the basis of predefined study criteria. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was calculated using Cox regression analysis for an increase in concentration from the 5th to the 95th percentile for each exposure. RESULTS Data from 4433 subjects were evaluated. The incidence of stroke was 2.03 per 1000 person-years (PY), and that of coronary events was 3.87 per 1000 PY. The highest hazard ratios for stroke were seen for PM10 (HR 2.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-6.00) and PM2.5 (HR 3.20, 95% CI 1.26-8.09). The highest hazard ratios for coronary events were found for PM10 (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.56-2.04) and for PM(2.5abs) (HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.80-2.36). CONCLUSION Long-term exposure to fine-particle dust is associated with a higher risk of stroke, regardless of the subject's exposure to noise at his or her home address. The results for coronary events are less clear, but still suggest increased risk.
Modelling relationship marketing and performance of Nigerian banks

This study determines the effect of relationship marketing on performance of Nigerian banks. This paper presents primary data collected by self-administered questionnaires involving a sample of 472 respondents; 363 bank customers and 109 bank management staffs from the two major cities that house the banks headquarters in Nigeria, i.e. Abuja and Lagos. The data were subjected to correlation, regression and structural equation modelling. This study reveals that relationship marketing has a positive and statistically significant relationship with performance and relationship marketing contributed differently to the variations in the various performance variables. The empirical evidence of this paper affects major aspects of bank management and relevant recommendations are made.
Science Park effects in Sweden - dimensions critical for firm growth

A model to explain and predict relative performance among new technology-based firms is useful to government and regional authorities. In Sweden, science parks new technology-based firms stand out as a special group of small firms in terms of performance (growth: sales and employment). This paper proposes a model for analysing growth (resources and capabilities) to produce technological innovations and economic performance. Firm strategy is an important outcome of firm processes, and it has been shown to be critical for firm performance. For science park firms and entrepreneurship, the most important latent constructions were technological innovation, risk and proactiveness. However, the firms are in different stages. Three incubation stages were then developed. There is a need for a better understanding of the NTBF's development process (and other processes: innovation processes, diffusion processes, etc.) before making an approach as to whether the incubation function can be made more effective.
C16 ceramide accumulates following androgen ablation in LNCaP prostate cancer cells

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the most frequently diagnosed non‐cutaneous cancer and the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths among men in the United States. The most successful therapies to date for this tumor have involved some form of androgen ablation. However, these therapies become ineffective as the tumor evolves to an androgen‐insensitive state. Ceramide is a lipid second messenger that has been shown to mediate growth arrest or cell death when added exogenously to prostate cancer cells. As a first step toward understanding the events that lead to the transition of prostate cancer cells to an androgen‐independent state, we considered investigating the effect of androgen ablation on endogenous ceramide levels in androgen‐sensitive and androgen‐insensitive prostate cancer cells.
Pseudoalteromonas fenneropenaei sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from sediment of a Fenneropenaeus chinensis pond.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, motile, oxidase- and catalase-positive, non-spore-forming, non-pigmented, aerobic bacterium, designated rzy34T, was isolated from the sediment of a pond containing farmed Fenneropenaeus chinensis Rizhao, China. The strain was able to grow at pH 6-10 (optimum pH 7), 20-40 °C (optimum 30 °C) and in the presence of 1.0-6.0 % NaCl (optimum 1.0-2.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the nearest relative of strain rzy34T was Pseudoalteromonas xiamenensis Y2T, with the highest sequence similarity of 96.09 %. Within the genus Pseudoalteromonas, it showed the lowest similarity of 92.7 % to Pseudoalteromonas donghaensis. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA of strain rzy34T was 45.3 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c). The major respiratory quinone was Q-8. Polar lipid analysis indicated the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain rzy34T represents a novel species of the genus Pseudoalteromonas, for which the name Pseudoalteromonas fenneropenaei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is rzy34T (=CGMCC 1.15325T=KCTC 42730T).
Ki‐67 expression as a prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Ki‐67 expression in tumours has been shown to be associated with prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, primary HCC samples were obtained from 67 patients undergoing surgical resection. None of these patients had been subjected previously to any other form of therapy, such as arterial embolization or chemotherapy. Histologically normal liver tissues from liver resection for metastatic colon cancer were taken as controls (n= 8). Monoclonal antibody against Ki‐67 was used for immunostaining and ﬂow cytometry was used to measure tumour DNA ploidy. The mean Ki‐67 labelling index (percentage of Ki‐67‐positive cells) of the HCC (26 ± 22%; range 0.1–89%) was signiﬁcantly higher than that of the normal controls (39 ± 0.8%, P < 0.05). The mean Ki‐67 labelling index (19 ± 15%; n= 28) of the tumours with diploid DNA pattern was signiﬁcantly lower than those with aneuploid DNA pattern (32 ± 25%, n= 39; P= 0.01). Hepatocellular carcinoma patients (n= 47) with Ki‐67 index >10% had a signiﬁcantly lower disease‐free and overall survival than those (n= 20) with Ki‐67 index ≤10% (P= 0.0009 and P= 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that Ki‐67 expression and tumour node metastasis stage were two independent prognostic factors for disease‐free and overall survival rates. Our results suggest that the expression of Ki‐67 is an independent prognostic indicator for patients with HCC after resection and could be of assistance in the decision‐making of adjuvant therapy.
Temperature-compensated aluminum nitride lamb wave resonators

In this paper, the temperature compensation of AlN Lamb wave resonators using edge-type reflectors is theoretically studied and experimentally demonstrated. By adding a compensating layer of SiO2 with an appropriate thickness, a Lamb wave resonator based on a stack of AlN and SiO2 layers can achieve a zero first-order temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF). Using a composite membrane consisting of 1 ¿m AlN and 0.83 ¿m SiO2, a Lamb wave resonator operating at 711 MHz exhibits a first-order TCF of -0.31 ppm/°C and a second-order TCF of -22.3 ppb/°C2 at room temperature. The temperature-dependent fractional frequency variation is less than 250 ppm over a wide temperature range from -55°C to 125°C. This temperature-compensated AlN Lamb wave resonator is promising for future applications including thermally stable oscillators, filters, and sensors.
Analyses of TCRB Rearrangements Substantiate a Profound Deficit in Recombination Signal Sequence Joining in SCID Foals: Implications for the Role of DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase in V(D)J Recombination1

We reported previously that the genetic SCID disease observed in Arabian foals is explained by a defect in V(D)J recombination that profoundly affects both coding and signal end joining. As in C.B-17 SCID mice, the molecular defect in SCID foals is in the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKCS); however, in SCID mice, signal end resolution remains relatively intact. Moreover, recent reports indicate that mice that completely lack DNA-PKCS also generate signal joints at levels that are indistinguishable from those observed in C.B-17 SCID mice, eliminating the possibility that a partially active version of DNA-PKCS facilitates signal end resolution in SCID mice. We have analyzed TCRB rearrangements and find that signal joints are reduced by ∼4 logs in equine SCID thymocytes as compared with normal horse thymocytes. A potential explanation for the differences between SCID mice and foals is that the mutant DNA-PKCS allele in SCID foals inhibits signal end resolution. We tested this hypothesis using DNA-PKCS expression vectors; in sum, we find no evidence of a dominant-negative effect by the mutant protein. These and other recent data are consistent with an emerging consensus: that in normal cells, DNA-PKCS participates in both coding and signal end resolution, but in the absence of DNA-PKCS an undefined end joining pathway (which is variably expressed in different species and cell types) can facilitate imperfect signal and coding end joining.
Utilizing the balanced scorecard for R&D performance measurement

R&D programs are critical for many firms to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Yet, measuring R&D performance over time can be quite complex due to inherent uncertainty. The paper responds to calls in the R&D literature to explore integrated performance measurement systems that capture financial and nonfinancial performance. We integrate the Stage-Gate approach to R&D management with the Balanced Scorecard to present a framework to show how firms can link resource commitments to these activities and the firm's strategic objectives. In this paper, we provide specific examples of how firms can apply this integrated performance measurement system to the R&D function.
Maximizing RNA Yield from Archival Renal Tumors and Optimizing Gene Expression Analysis

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues are widely available for gene expression analysis using TaqMan ® PCR. Five methods, including 4 commercial kits, for recovering RNA from paraffin-embedded renal tumor tissue were compared. The MasterPure™ kit from Epicentre produced the highest RNA yield. However, the difference in RNA yield between the kit from Epicenter and Invitrogen’s TRIzol method was not significant. Using the top 3 RNA isolation methods, the manufacturers’ protocols were modified to include an overnight Proteinase K digestion. Overnight protein digestion resulted in a significant increase in RNA yield. To optimize the reverse transcription reaction, conventional reverse transcription with random oligonucleotide primers was compared to reverse transcription using primers specific for genes of interest. Reverse transcription using gene-specific primers significantly increased the quantity of cDNA detectable by TaqMan ® PCR. Therefore, expression profiling of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue using TaqMan® qPCR can be optimized by using the MasterPure™ RNA isolation kit modified to include an overnight Proteinase K digestion and gene-specific primers during the reverse transcription.
Using Overlapping and Incomplete Time Series for the Estimation of Cost of Living Indices

We address the estimation of cost of living indices from time series which are incomplete, in a way that exploits all available information, while also giving an indication of the uncertainty associated with the estimation. The method used allows for multiple sources of prices for a single item, extending over the same or partially overlapping time ranges. We describe summarily the methodology and demonstrate its use in the estimation of a cost of living index for Biscaye (North of Spain), for the period 1862–1940.
Isolation of human hepatocytes from livers rejected for liver transplantation on a national basis: Results of a 2‐year experience

The offer of liver transplantation to many patients affected by liver failure is limited by organ shortage. Clinical application of human‐based liver cell therapies, such as bioartificial liver and hepatocyte transplantation, might support liver transplantation, allowing more patients to be treated and decreasing mortality in the waiting list. The development of a standardized method of hepatocyte isolation is a mainstay for large‐scale application of liver cell therapy. The aim of this study is to analyze retrospectively a 2‐year experience of human hepatocyte isolation from livers rejected from transplantation at organ harvesting, performed on a national basis in Italy. All the livers judged unsuitable for transplantation were considered for hepatocyte isolation. Macrosteatosis greater than 60% was the most common reason of refusal, followed by nonviral cirrhosis. Fifty‐four organs were used. Human hepatocyte isolation resulted in more that 7 million liver cells/g of tissue digested with 73% ± 14% viability. Steatotic organs gave better results in terms of cell yield than cirrhotic livers. Isolated hepatocytes were able to perform specific liver functions, and evidence of factor IX and albumin messenger RNA (mRNA) production was reported when cells were plated in culture. Modifications of the traditional method of hepatocyte isolation, aimed at reducing ischemia‐reperfusion damage and improving post‐isolation cell conditions, showed improvements in post‐isolation viability. In conclusion, we show that it is possible to use the vast majority of livers not suitable for transplantation on a national basis for human hepatocyte isolation, obtaining a large amount of viable functioning human hepatocytes that might be used for cell transplantation and therapy.
Nominal and Real Wage Rigidities in New Keynesian Models: A Critical Survey

The labour market is receiving increasing attention in the New Keynesian literature. In this paper, I critically survey this literature in order to highlight the role played by wage rigidities in the explanation of fluctuations caused by technology shocks. To this aim, I present a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with sticky prices, nominal wage rigidities and hiring costs. The comparison between this model and that of Blanchard and Gali highlights the non-trivial differences which exist in the way nominal wage and real wage rigidities drive the economy's dynamics. My conclusion is that models incorporating nominal wage rigidities and some degree of price stickiness provide a better account of macroeconomic dynamics than models with real wage rigidities. Copyright © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.