Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exchange Rate Volatility and U.S. Monetary Policy: An ARCH Application

This paper examines the effect of shifts in U.S. monetary policy regimes on the stochastic process that generates foreign exchange rates. To account for the observed behavior of the data record, the author models nominal, dollar exchange rates as univariate autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic processes. He then tests the stability of this process across U.S. monetary policy regimes. For four of the currencies in the sample, accounting for regime shifts improves the fit of the model. Regime shifts also appear to diminish the degree of persistence of variance, making it less likely that exchange rates are integrated-in-variance. Copyright 1989 by Ohio State University Press.
Interactive Effect of Diversification Strategy on Capital Structure and Corporate Performance: An Analytical Evaluation

Whether diversification benefits a corporation and its shareholders have been the subject of relevant discussion and research wherein economist and policy managers are working at different fronts towards gaining sustainable advantage and development. Present paper investigates possible measures to understand the effect of product diversification strategy on capital structure (CS) and corporate performance with respect to Indian context. The study involved database collected from non-financial companies listed in NSE and BSE for determining the relationship between variables- corporate growth, size, asset tangibility and profitability. However, research design using different models have been used to analyse the possible effects and relationships in between and among the dependent and independent variable of the study. In conclusion, study variables are associated and different relationships have been captured, analysed and interpreted using statistical tools (E-Views) and techniques. The results are representing and focussing the importance in line of the context of the study. These findings and results are pertinent for managers and top management assessing diversification strategies for investors, shareholders choosing suitable corporate and for researchers seeking to describe corporate performance differences.
The Effects of Offering Health Plan Choice within Employment-Based Purchasing Groups

Employers may offer employees a choice of health plans either to promote competition among plans or to better cater to employee preferences for different types of products. This article examines whether the relationship between the availability of choice and insurance costs and coverage are consistent with these models of employer behavior. The results indicate that employers who offer choice have lower average premiums, primarily because employees are enrolled in less generous plans, and cover a greater proportion of workers than those who do not. The results are consistent with employers offering choice to accommodate diverse worker preferences.
Design Optimization and Test of a Radially Magnetized Magnetic Screw With Discretized PMs

A magnetic screw is a new type of high force density linear actuator. One of the key challenges for realization of the magnetic screw concept is the manufacturing process of its helical permanent-magnet (PM) poles. Structure simplification and simple assembly process are essential in promoting the development of the magnetic screw. This paper studies several PM configurations employed to realize the magnetic screw and proposes a new structure, which can well approximate the helical magnetic poles in a very simple way. The electromagnetic performances are assessed analytically and by time-stepping finite-element analysis (FEA). Finally, both the analytical model and the FE results are validated by experiments based on a prototype machine.
Outsourcing and financial crisis: evidence from Icelandic service SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the application of outsourcing within Icelandic service companies in the wake of the banking collapse. Design/methodology/approach – Findings are based on comparing surveys conducted in early 2009 (381 answers) and in the summer of 2013 (212 answers). Findings – In general outsourcing did not increase, but most SMEs had extended their outsourcing in almost every area of operation, such as human resource management (HRM), IT and peripheral tasks. Also, more SMEs gave cost-reduction as a reason for outsourcing in 2013, and more respondents in 2013 expressed a positive experience of outsourcing. It is uncommon for companies to outsource human resources or lay off staff. Instead, outsourcing mainly focuses on aspects of information technology as well as administrative and peripheral functions. Research limitations/implications – The research highlights service firms in one country by survey methods. Further research is needed in other sectors and countries, an.
Determinants of technical inefficiency among maize-based farming households in Niger state

Examining the level of farm-specific technical inefficiency of maize-based farming households in Niger state of Nigeria, this study fitted cross-sectional data into a Cobb- Douglass production frontier. Data used for this study were obtained using structured questionnaire administered to 108 randomly selected maize-based farming households. Descriptive analysis and the stochastic frontier production function methodology were used to achieve the research objectives. The mean technical inefficiency is 0.357 (35.7%), implying that about 36% percent efficiency gap from the optimum (100%) was yet to be attained by all Niger State maize-based farming households. The main determinants of technical inefficiency among the households are farm income, crop production intensification and market access. Policy that would promote adoption of hybrid seeds and other inputs as well as facilitate the development of infrastructures such as roads and market facilities among farming households are therefore encouraged. The government policy of subsidizing hybrid maize seeds and fertilizers is consistent with the findings of this study. Keywords : Productivity, stochastic frontier model and crop production intensification.
Twitter Style: An Analysis of How House Candidates Used Twitter in Their 2012 Campaigns

ABSTRACT This article examines how House candidates used Twitter during the 2012 campaign. Using a content analysis of every tweet from each candidate for the House in the final two months before the 2012 election, this study provides a snapshot of House candidates’ “Twitter style. ” In particular, this article shows that incumbents, Democrats, women, and those in competitive races tweet differently than challengers, Republicans, minor party candidates, men, and those in safe districts.
Uncovering the corporate brand's core values

Purpose - This paper aims to describe the uncovering of a corporate brand's core values and implications for strategic management of its track record. Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines the specific track records of Volvo, IKEA, IBM, and Scanpump, focusing on core values and how they evolve. Based on multiple sources of evidence, the track records of the case companies emerge as patterns of values that are: perceived externally by customers and non-customer stakeholders; and rooted internally within an organisation. Findings - Four categories of core values emerge, termed true, aspirational, potential, and hollow. Originality/value - The Core Value Grid is proposed as a managerially useful model on "how to build true values and avoid hollow values". In principle, a corporate brand cannot be stronger externally than it is internally. Rooted core values with track records supporting a brand promise represent the essence of a corporate brand, guiding internal and external corporate brand building and management. The foundation of a corporate brand risks being undermined by hollow core values and empty promises.
Design Techniques for a 30-ns Access Time 1.5-V 200-KB Embedded EEPROM Memory

A 200-KB embedded electrically erasable programmable READ-only memory (EEPROM), which operates with a single 1.5-V power supply voltage based on an HHGRACE (Shanghai Huahong Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation) 90-nm EEPROM process, is developed. In this brief, several key design techniques are presented. An improved bit cell with a larger current sensing window is adopted in the split-source EEPROM array. To get high-speed READ operation, a high-performance sense amplifier and a dynamic sensing window tracking reference voltage generating circuit have been proposed. The die size of the proposed EEPROM IP is 1.271 mm2, and the EEPROM cell size is 0.32 μm2. Access time of 30 ns is achieved at 1.5 V and 25 °C.
Get your act together.

When reading the PDF, you can see how the author is very reliable in using the words to create sentences. It will be also the ways how the author creates the diction to influence many people. But, it's not nonsense, it is something. Something that will lead you is thought to be better. Something that will make your feel so better. And something that will give you new things. This is it, the get your act together.
Cross-resistance and associated resistance in 2478 Escherichia coli isolates from the Pan-European ECO.SENS Project surveying the antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens from uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

The antimicrobial resistance profiles, comprising 12 antibiotics, of 2478 isolates of Escherichia coli from the ECO.SENS Project involving women with acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection at 252 community health care centres in 17 countries were determined. Resistance to ampicillin alone (6.3%) and sulfamethoxazole alone (5.4%) were the most common 'single resistances'. Multiple resistance was most common in Spain and least common in Finland. The main associated-resistance profiles involved ampicillin/sulfamethoxazole (8.7%) and ampicillin/sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim/trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (6.4%). The most common profile of multiple resistance was ampicillin/sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim/trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole/nalidixic acid/ciprofloxacin. Twenty-one isolates, half of which came from Spain, were resistant to seven antibiotics or more. Three isolates, one from Spain and two from Portugal, were resistant to nine of the 12 antibiotics investigated.
The Impact on Environmental Kuznets Curve by Trade and Foreign Direct Investment in China

Abstract Based on data of trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic development and environmental conditions in China's 30 provinces between 1990–2002, this paper deals with the impact on Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) of trade and FDI in China. The results show no direct impact on EKC of trade, on the one hand. However, trade contributes significantly to economic growth, and has played a positive role in introducing advanced pollution prevention technology and environmental management methodology to China. Therefore, a proactive trade policy will help solve the environmental pollution problem brought by economic growth. On the other hand, there is a positive correlation between FDI and pollutant emission, which proves that FDI does have some negative influence on environment in China due to hasty introduction of foreign capital and inadequate environmental management system in China.
Effect of innovativeness, risk taking, self confidence and the need for achievement on venture performance: evidence from Switzerland

While prior research has often used psychological characteristics to identify entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial behaviour, little has been done to predict venture performance. This study examines the impact of four entrepreneurial characteristics on venture performance. The findings are mixed with previous research but provide a new insight by exploring the characteristics of entrepreneurs in general and Swiss entrepreneurs in particular from a fresh empirical perspective. In the light of existing literature, limitations and future research directions are subsequently addressed.
Distinct Requirements for Deletion versus Anergy during CD8 T Cell Peripheral Tolerance In Vivo1

Activation of naive T cells by quiescent APCs results in tolerance through deletion and anergy. The underlying basis for these distinct fates is unclear. Using clone 4 TCR transgenic animals as a source of naive CD8 T cells, we examined the requirements for peripheral deletion in vivo. Our results demonstrate that independent of the amount of Ag used for stimulation, a single dose was insufficient to achieve complete clonal deletion. Instead, further antigenic exposure was required to completely eliminate all of the activated T cells. Additionally, consecutive stimulations with low doses of Ag were highly effective in promoting deletion. In contrast, although stimulation with high doses of Ag initially led to the apoptosis of many of the activated T cells, it induced hyporesponsiveness in a portion of the responding cells, thereby sparing them from further activation and deletion. These data explain why some conditions promote tolerance through clonal deletion whereas others promote anergy. Furthermore, these data provide a framework to devise protocols for effective deletion of potentially autoreactive T cells.
Investment appraisal under conditions of continuous and discrete cash flows and discounting

Purpose – This research furthers scholarly discourse which discusses the most effective way(s) to calculate investment returns under conditions of continuous and/or discrete cash flows with continuous and/or discrete discounting.Design/methodology/approach – Discusses Pogue's work on the methods for investment analysis.Findings – Pogue's article of discrete versus continuous calculation of investment returns discusses limitations of the traditional assumption that cash flows in investment appraisal occur at the end of each period and points to a more realistic assumption that cash flows occur on a continuous basis. Pogue then proposes a formula for managers to use when calculating investment returns. Finds that Pogue's suggested method of calculation is neither supported by prior literature nor sound in its implications.Originality/value – Provides further analysis of discrete and continuous discounting models in investment decisions.
Distribution and differentiation of microglia in the human encephalon during the first two trimesters of gestation

We describe the topographical distribution of microglial subpopulations during development of the human diencephalon and telencephalon. Brains from embryos and fetuses age 5–23.5 gestational weeks (gw) were subjected to single‐ and double‐immunolabeling for lectin RCA‐1 (Ricinus Communis Agglutinin 1), Iba1 (a microglial marker), CD68 (specific of macrophages), CD45 (marker for mononucleate cells of hematopoietic lineage), CD34 (expressed on endothelial cells), and MIB1 and Ki67 (markers for cell proliferation). At 5.5 gw the first intracerebral microglial cells were seen close to the meninges and choroid plexus near the di‐telencephalic fissure. They were amoeboid and positive for Iba1, CD45, and RCA‐1, whereas cells in the deep parenchyma expressed Iba1/CD68/RCA‐1 and constituted clusters. In the developing diencephalon, microglial clusters were located in junctional regions of the white matter anlagen, most notably at the junctions of the internal capsule with the thalamic projections, the external capsule, and the cerebral peduncle. In the cortical anlagen, Iba1+/RCA‐1/CD68+/CD45+ cells accumulated at 10–12 gw, constituting a tangential band at the junction between the cortical plate and the subplate. Between 10 and 16 gw microglial clusters increased markedly in size and cellular density. Contact between Iba1+ microglia and CD34+ blood vessels was clearly visible from 10–12 gw onward, first in microglial clusters of the white matter anlagen and subsequently throughout the parenchyma. From the middle of the second trimester onward microglial cells colonized the entire cerebral parenchyma, developed a ramified morphology, and downregulated their surface antigens, but remained more numerous in the white matter. J. Comp. Neurol. 499:565–582, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How Rational is the Purchase of Life Insurance?

This paper examines whether middle age American households purchase adequate amounts of life insurance. The analysis is based on SRI International's 1980, 1982, and 1984 surveys of the financial positions of American households. Our findings indicate that a significant minority of American wives are highly under-insured with respect to the possible deaths of their husbands. Under the assumption that actuarially fair annuities are available we find that just over 30 percent of wives are inadequately insured, by which we mean they would suffer a loss in their rate of sustainable consumption of at least 30 percent in the event of being widowed. If one assumes that annuities are not available the fraction of wives who are inadequately insured is 24 percent. These findings on inadequate life insurance are even more striking if one focuses on those households in which over half of the couple's present expected value of resources is dependent on the husband's survival. The fraction of wives in such households who are inadequately insured is 41 percent if one assumes fair annuities are available, and 31 percent if one assumes annuities are unavailable. The problem of inadequate insurance is even more significant among households of more modest means. Almost half of wives in such households who are in need of life insurance protection are inadequately insured, and this statement holds regardless of whether fair annuities are available. The results of this paper together with those of the related literature strongly suggest that raising the share of social security benefits that are paid to surviving spouses as well as increasing in employer-provided group life insurance could have a very considerable impact on the alleviation of poverty among widows, especially elderly widows.
MERGER AND ACQUISITION ACTIVITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND A FOUR‐COUNTRY COMPARISON

This paper provides an overview of the merger and acquisition (MA home countries and industries of the acquiring firms and the acquisition methods. The largest twenty mergers and acquisitions in the Middle East during the 1990–2000 period are identified. The paper also compares the M&A activity in four important countries (Egypt, Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia). Learning the M&A activity in the Middle East is essential in identifying target or acquirers, and conducting future M&A transactions.
Species Selectivity of a Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist Is Conferred by Two Adjacent Extracellular β4 Amino Acids that Are Implicated in the Coupling of Binding to Channel Gating

5-(Trifluoromethyl)-6-(1-methyl-azepan-4-yl)methyl-1H-quinolin-2-one (TMAQ) is a novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist with strong selectivity for β4-containing receptors. TMAQ also exhibits remarkable species selectivity, being a potent agonist of nAChRs containing the human β4 subunit but having no detectable agonist activity on nAChRs containing the rat β4 subunit. With the aim of identifying subunit domains and individual amino acids, which contribute to the species selectivity of TMAQ, a series of chimeric and mutated β4 subunits has been constructed. Recombinant receptors containing wild-type, chimeric, or mutated β4 subunits have been examined by radioligand binding, intracellular calcium assays, and electrophysiological recording. Two adjacent amino acids located within the extracellular loop D domain of the β4 subunit (amino acids 55 and 56) have been identified as playing a critical role in determining the agonist potency of TMAQ. Mutagenesis of these two residues within the rat β4 subunit to the corresponding amino acids in the human β4 subunit (S55N and I56V mutations) confers sensitivity to TMAQ. The converse mutations in the human β4 subunit (N55S and V56I) largely abolish sensitivity to TMAQ. In contrast, these mutations have little or no effect on sensitivity to the nonselective nicotinic agonist epibatidine. Despite acting as a potent agonist of human β4-containing nAChRs, TMAQ acts as an antagonist of rat β4-containing receptors. Our experimental data, together with homology models of the rat and human α3β4 nAChRs, suggest that amino acids 55 and 56 may be involved in the coupling of agonist binding and channel gating.
Characteristics of fibrinolytic disorders in acute promyelocytic leukemia

ABSTRACT Objectives: Catastrophic hemorrhage remains the main cause of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treatment failure. This study was aimed to study the pathogenesis of coagulopathy in patients with APL. Methods: Multiple procoagulant and profibrinolytic parameters in plasma and peripheral leukocytes from 24 patients with newly diagnosed APL accompanied by coagulopathy before and after arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment were evaluated. Results: Prior to the treatment, the patients had elevated D-dimer and decreased fibrinogen levels. Plasma urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and plasmin–ɑ2 antiplasmin complexes (PAP) levels, plasmin (Pn) activity, and cell surface levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) were significantly higher; plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels and plasminogen (Pg) activity were significantly decreased; plasma plasminogen activator (PA) activity, uPA and tPA levels; and cell surface levels of uPAR and annexin II were not significantly different from levels in the control group. During ATO treatment, both patients’ plasma PA activity and uPAR on leukocytes gradually increased, annexin II on leukocytes increased initially and decreased afterwards, and tPA and uPA on leukocytes remained consistently higher in the patients than in the controls. Other parameters gradually tended toward normal values. Conclusions: In APL, activated coagulation system activated fibrinolytic system, and increased uPAR levels could contribute to the hyperfibrinolysis. Annexin II might not be involved in the coagulopathy.
DNA Extraction from Soil We used DNA extraction protocol that involves bead beating : a method described previously Griffiths

Recently, studies were initiated to investigate the metagenome, which represents the genomes of cultured and uncultured microbes, as a rich source for isolation of many novel genes. The metagenomic approach originated from the molecular analysis of microbial communities, which revealed that the majority of microorganisms in nature were not cultivable by standard culturing techniques. Therefore, most microorganisms in nature have not been characterized. Although numerous methods have been reported for direct DNA isolation and purification from microorganisms in soil, the sample preparation procedures and experimental conditions used in different studies vary widely. Soils are therefore one of the most challenging environmental matrices from which to obtain microbial DNA that will support PCR. The Papaloapan River is the second largest river basin in México. For the climatic conditions of this region, there is great diversity in plants, animals and microorganisms. In the Papaloapan region different fruits are grown, however, the main crops are sugarcane and pineapple. In this work the extraction of DNA from soils of sugarcane cultivation was performed. We used PCR tests to assess the quality of DNA extracted from soil by amplifying the 16S rDNA gene. Changes in both protocols were performed; satisfactory results were obtained as to the quality of DNA and gene amplification. These results will allow continuing the metagenomic studies, such as sequencing, library construction and identification of enzymes cellulase and amylase activity. It is the first time these studies were performed in the Papaloapan region.