Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Romanian Hotel Groups Listed at Bucharest Stock Exchange a Survey

Hotel industry is an important component of travel and tourism (T&T) sector. However, less studies are dedicated to hotel industry than to the T&T sector as a hole. Even less studies are available on hotel companies or groups listed on stock exchanges around the world. The present study will focus on Romanian hotel groups listed at Bucharest Stock Exchange, compared with the situation in Europe.
Entrepreneurship among commercial dairy farmers in Maharashtra

Commercial dairy farming has good potential for employment generation both in rural and peri-urban areas besides being a source of liquidity and insurance against crop failure. In other words, dairy provides employment throughout the year. Dairy farming can also be taken as entrepreneurial activity on commercial basis as a main occupation around peri-urban centres, wherein the demand for milk is high. Keeping this in view the present study was conducted to study the Entrepreneurship among Commercial Dairy Farmers in four districts of Maharashtra. A total of 240 respondents comprising 161 small, 56 medium and 23 large dairy farmers were selected by proportionate random sampling technique. The results revealed that majority of the dairy farmers possessed medium entrepreneurial behaviour. The moderate level of traits of entrepreneurial behaviour was possessed by the respondents. Feed back usage, manageability, knowledgeability attributes of entrepreneurial behaviour were found as most important attributes of entrepreneurial behaviour. Entrepreneurial behaviour was positively and significantly related with education, social participation, annual income, mass media exposure, communication behaviour and economic motivation.
New concepts in assessing sickle cell disease severity

Vasoocclusion leads to pain, chronic organ damage, and a decreased life expectancy in patients with sickle cell disease. Therapeutic options for sickle cell disease have usually been evaluated according to their capacity for reducing the frequency of vasoocclusive crises requiring clinical attention. However, the frequency of vasoocclusive crises is not representative for the rate of accumulating organ damage in most sickle cell patients. This implies that the frequency of vasoocclusive crises needn't correlate with disease severity and, although being of importance, cannot solely serve as a parameter of treatment efficacy. Therefore, additional new objective parameters are needed to effectively study the vasoocclusive process in sickle cell disease. Several studies show that intricate adhesive interactions between (red) blood cells, plasma components, and endothelium play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell vasoocclusion, offering new potential parameters to effectively assess disease severity as well as new therapeutical targets in the near future. Whether these adhesive mechanisms involve the causes or the effects of vasoocclusion will be determined if their inhibition, by interventive measures, results in therapeutic benefits. Am. J. Hematol. 58:61–66, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effects of underwriters on the flotation costs of SEOs and the likelihood of investor participation in equity offerings

Underwriting is a key factor in equity offerings and many scholars have sought to shed light on the role that underwriters play in the investment banking industry. My thesis extends existing studies by investigating how underwriters affect the flotation costs of SEOs and the likelihood of investor participation in equity offerings. With the repeal of the US Glass-Steagall Act in 1999, the barrier between commercial banking and investment banking was broken down and commercial banks could also participate in securities underwriting. Given that flotation costs reflect the market perception of a share issue, it is crucial to understand the perceptions that commercial bank co-managers convey to the market. However, most previous studies did not consider that the effects of commercial bank underwriters on SEO flotation costs may vary in the different situation. The first empirical chapter of my thesis will fill this gap. The empirical results support my hypothesis that the market perception of SEOs underwritten by a commercial bank varies in different circumstances. Commercial bank co-managers can increase SEO flotation costs if their behaviour and motivation convey the impression of opportunism to the market. It is widely accepted that investment banking is a relationship-based rather than transaction-based business. Nevertheless, due to technical difficulties, few studies have investigated how the underwriter-investor relationship affects investor participation. Therefore, the research reported in my second empirical chapter (Chapter 5) will fill the gap. The results suggest that: firstly, underwriter–investor networks increase the likelihood of investor participation and such influence is separate from the market function of underwriters; secondly, the underwriter–investor networks are effective not only in pure IPOs and pure SEOs but also interactively; and finally, the relationships built by lead managers are effective, as are those built by co-managers.
Salivary studies in cystic fibrosis.

A COMPREHENSIVE examination of the composition of the separately collected parotid and submaxillary secretions affords a convenient means of studying exocrine gland function in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. Deviations in composition could arise from alterations in gland structure (hypertrophy, hyperplasia), function (metabolism, protein synthesis, ion transport, cell permeability), neural regulation, or combinations thereof. Elucidation of the aberrant mechanisms responsible for salivary gland abnormality could provide meaningful clues to the basic pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis. Studies on parotid saliva have yielded conflicting results. Several investigators have reported elevations in sodium, chloride, and flow rate in cystic fibrosis patients.1-5Previous reports from this laboratory on parotid saliva indicated that although "there was a tendency for electrolyte values to be higher in a group of patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas, only in the case of inorganic phosphorus, however, was this elevation statistically significant. "6Parotid glycoproteins were not found
THE IMPACT OF MANAGERIAL OVERCONFIDENCE AND INVESTOR SENTIMENT ON BIDDERS’ ABNORMAL RETURNS

The main objective of this thesis is to investigate takeover gains for UK bidding firms and offer a behavioural approach to empirical analysis. The main issues and key findings of the three empirical chapters are summarised as follows. Chapter 3 empirically investigates the hubris hypothesis for corporate takeovers (Roll (1986)). This thesis examines whether overconfident managers destroy shareholder value (in public deals) or whether their actions generally lead to lower wealth effects (in private deals) relative to rational bidders. Bidders’ short and long-term performance is also examined by employing, for the first time in a UK study, three different measures of overconfidence namely Stock Options, Multiple Acquirers and Business Press proxies. The results indicate that managers infected by hubris fail to generate superior returns than those generated by rational bidders, for all three proxies of overconfidence after controlling for various bidder and deal characteristics. We therefore argue that the well-documented destructive effect upon shareholder wealth of managerial overconfidence is not sensitive to the measure used for this behavioural bias (i.e. overconfidence). The Hubris hypothesis assumes a rational market-irrational manager framework while Shleifer and Vishny (2003) offer rational manager-irrational market framework and suggest that takeovers are driven by overvalued markets. Chapter 4 empirically investigates the proposal of Baker et al. (2007) who claims that ‘the irrational manager and irrational investor stories can certainly coexist’. Findings show that rational managers who announce takeovers in high valuation periods enjoy the highest abnormal returns while overconfident managers who announce takeover bids in low valuation periods cannot hide the poor quality or possible overpayment of their deals ending up suffering the highest losses. Lastly, Chapter 5 offers a behavioural approach to explain short –run bidder gains. Neoclassical theories suggest that the market reaction following the announcement of a takeover bid reflects either synergy or revaluation gains. Chapter 5 suggests that acquirers’ abnormal returns reflect a market overreaction. Results suggest that under conditions of low information uncertainty when investors do not possess private information, the market reaction is complete (zero abnormal returns) for any type of acquisition. On the other hand, under conditions of high information uncertainty, investors overweight their private information and overreact to takeover announcements. Therefore, they generate highly positive and significant gains following the announcement of private stock and public cash deals (considered to be ‘good’ news), positive gains following private cash acquisitions (also defined as ‘good’ news) while investors heavily punish public stock deals (classified as ‘bad’ news)
Simulation, manufacturing, and evaluation of a sonar for a miniaturized submersible explorer - correspondence

Single-beam side-scan sonar elements, to be fitted on a miniaturized submersible, are here simulated, manufactured, and evaluated. Finite element analysis simulations are compared with measurements, and an overall observation is that the agreement between simulations and measurements deviates from the measured values of 1.5 to 2°, for the narrow lobe angle, by less than 10% for most models. An overall finding is that the lobe width along the track direction can be accurately simulated and, hence, the resolution of the sonars can be predicted. This paper presents, to the authors' knowledge, the world's smallest side-scan sonars.
Specialization in tolerance: innate CD4+CD25+ versus acquired TR1 and TH3 regulatory T cells.1

The regulation of immune responses to self-antigens is a complex process that involves maintaining self-tolerance while retaining the capacity to mount robust immune responses against invading microorganisms. Over the past few years, many new insights into this process have been gained, leading to the reemergence of the idea that regulatory T cells (Treg) are key players in immune regulation. These insights have raised fundamental questions concerning the definition of a Treg and what exactly constitutes T-cell–mediated suppression, identification of the signals and the cellular environment that promote the development and differentiation of these cells, and which signals maintain the homeostasis of the immune system. Thus far, the different models where Treg have been characterized cannot fully account for CD4+CD25+ T cells. In this article, the authors propose the coexistence of two specialized types of CD4+ Treg—innate and acquired—that differ in terms of their development, specificity, mechanisms, and sites of action.
Propofol Restores Brain Microvascular Function Impaired by High Glucose via the Decrease in Oxidative Stress

Background:Vascular dysfunction induced by hyperglycemia has not been studied in cerebral parenchymal circulation. The current study was designed to examine whether high glucose impairs dilation of cerebral parenchymal arterioles via nitric oxide synthase, and whether propofol recovers this vasodilation by reducing superoxide levels in the brain. Methods:Cerebral parenchymal arterioles in the rat brain slices were monitored using computer-assisted videomicroscopy. Vasodilation induced by acetylcholine (10−6 to 10−4 m) was obtained after the incubation of brain slices for 60 min with any addition of l-glucose (20 mm), d-glucose (20 mm), or propofol (3 × 10−7 or 10−6 m) in combination with d-glucose (20 mm). Superoxide production in the brain slice was determined by dihydroethidium (2 × 10−6 m) fluorescence. Results:Addition of d-glucose, but not l-glucose, reduced arteriolar dilation by acetylcholine, whereas the dilation was abolished by the neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (10−5 m). Both propofol and the superoxide dismutase mimetic Tempol (10−4 m) restored the arteriolar dilation in response to acetylcholine in the brain slice treated with d-glucose. Addition of d-glucose increased superoxide production in the brain slice, whereas propofol, Tempol, and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD[P]H) oxidase inhibitor apocynin (1 mm) similarly inhibited it. Conclusions:Clinically relevant concentrations of propofol ameliorate neuronal nitric oxide synthase–dependent dilation impaired by high glucose in the cerebral parenchymal arterioles via the effect on superoxide levels. Propofol may be protective against cerebral microvascular malfunction resulting from oxidative stress by acute hyperglycemia.
Women ’ s Representation , Stereotype Threat , and the Gender Gap in Political Knowledge

Evidence from social psychology suggests that reminding test-takers of gender differences in performance increases the gender gap in actual performance. The mechanism that explains such effect is called stereotype threat. Meanwhile, recent studies find that stereotype threat also produces gender gaps among surveys respondents that answer political knowledge questions. However, survey research shows overwhelming evidence for the gender gap even when respondents do not receive explicit reminders of gender differences in performance. This paper aims to understand why there is such a gap in the first place. The paper uses an experimental design that manipulates the gender composition of batteries of feeling thermometers towards prominent politicians in order to prime stereotype considerations among respondents. Results show a gender gap in political knowledge when respondents are asked to rate a list of male politicians, while a much smaller gap is found when respondents rate a list containing both male and female leaders. The findings suggest not only a plausible explanation for why surveys may produce gender differences in responses, but also a point out to mechanism regarding the effects of female representation on public opinion.
Trends in frequency and duration of tobacco habit in relation to potentially malignant lesion: A 3 years retrospective study

Background: Oral cancer is one of the most debilitating and disfiguring of all malignancies; it is one of the most frequently occurring cancers in the body. The high incidence of oral cancer in India has been attributed to widespread tobacco usage among the population either in chewable or smoked form. Aim: In the current study, we retrospectively analyzed 191 cases (2007-2009) of potentially malignant oral lesions, which had been biopsied in our hospital, in order to assess their relationship with tobacco usage. Materials and Methods: Based on the histopathology, these lesions were classified as high-risk lesions (HRL), low-risk lesions, and questionable risk lesions. The data obtained were then analyzed to find out the correlation between the occurrence of risk level with various demographic parameters such as age and gender as well as with type, frequency, and duration of tobacco habit. Results: Out of 191 cases, 122 patients reported with tobacco habit (chewers, smokers, and both) and frequency (<5 and >5 packets/day) were seen in 109 cases and duration (<5 and >5 years) seen in 99 cases. These parameters were correlated with histopathological diagnosis and results showed that both the groups came under the high-risk category. Further analysis of decategorized group (age and gender) was also done. Conclusion: Analysis showed that overall histopathologically diagnosed HRLs were seen more in males and smokers compared to female and chewers, respectively.
Heritability of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults

Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. Symptoms often persist into adulthood, with a prevalence of 2.5–5% in adult populations. Twin studies in childhood consistently report high heritabilities of 70–80%, while studies in adult samples show only moderate heritability of 30–40% when estimated from self‐ratings. This review summarizes the available research on the heritability of ADHD in adults. Three key findings are outlined: (i) self‐ratings lead to relatively low heritability estimates of ADHD, independent of age and whether ratings refer to current or retrospective symptoms; (ii) studies relying on different informants to rate each twin within a pair (i.e., self‐ratings and different parents/teachers rating each twin in a pair) consistently yield lower heritability estimates than studies relying on ratings from a single informant; (iii) studies using cross‐informant data via either combined parent and self‐ratings or clinical diagnoses information suggest that the heritability of ADHD in adults could be as high as 70–80%. Together, the reviewed studies suggest that the previously reported low heritability of ADHD in adults is unlikely to reflect a true developmental change. Instead, the drop in heritability is better explained by rater effects related to a switch from using one rater for both twins in a pair (parent/teacher) in childhood, to relying on self‐ratings (where each twin rates themselves) of ADHD symptoms in adulthood. When rater effects are addressed using cross‐informant approaches, the heritability of ADHD in adults appears to be comparable to the heritability of ADHD in childhood. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variation in climate warming along the migration route uncouples arrival and breeding dates

Migratory species are of special concern in the face of global climate change, since they may be affected by changes in the wintering area, along the migration route and at the breeding grounds. Here we show that migration and breeding times of a trans‐Saharan migrant, the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, closely follow local temperatures along the migration route and at the breeding grounds. Because of differences in long‐term temperature trends of short within‐spring periods, the migration period and the time interval between migration and breeding dates of this species have extended in SW Finland. Temperatures in northern parts of Central Europe have risen at the time when the first migrants arrive there, facilitating their migration northward. Temperatures later in the spring have not changed, and the last individuals arrive at the same time as before. The timing of breeding has not advanced because temperatures at the breeding site after arrival have not changed. These results show that the pied flycatchers can speed up their migration in response to rising temperatures along the migration route. Our results strongly indicate that the effects of climate change have to be studied at the appropriate time and geographical scales for each species and population concerned.
IS THE PARTIAL MANTEL TEST INADEQUATE?

Abstract A publication by Raufaste and Rousset (2001) questioned the effectiveness of the partial Mantel test, a nonparametric statistical test for association among three distance matrices. By repeated simulations, we calculated the cumulative density functions of the null-hypothesis probability of no correlation, within an explicit model of causal relationships. Results do not support the criticism: in conditions of moderate correlation between the independent matrices, the actual error rate is closely associated to the intended type-I error α.
Impact of acute coronary syndromes on survival of dialysis patients following surgical or percutaneous coronary revascularization in the United States

Aims: We sought to evaluate survival of dialysis (chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5D) patients undergoing coronary revascularization procedures in the context of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared with absence of ACS. Methods and results: CKD 5D patients undergoing coronary revascularization, 2004–2009 (n = 23,033), were identified from the United States Renal Data System. Long-term survival was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and independent predictors of mortality using a comorbidity-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Among ACS patients (n = 12,473; 54%), revascularization procedures were coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, n = 2910), drug-eluting stents (DESs, n = 6566), and bare metal stents (BMSs, n = 2997). All-cause survival rates following these procedures, respectively, were: in-hospital 90%, 96%, 93%; one-year: 66%, 67%, 58%; two-year: 53%, 48%, 43%. Among non-ACS patients (n = 10,560; 46%), procedures were CABG (n = 3268), DESs (n = 5278), and BMSs (n = 2014). Survival rates following these procedures, respectively, were: in-hospital 94%, 99%, 98%; one year: 73%, 77%, 70%; two year: 61%, 59%, 55%. DESs (versus CABG) independently predicted mortality among ACS (hazard ratio 1.08; 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.15) but not non-ACS patients (1.01, 0.95–1.07); BMSs (versus CABG) independently predicted mortality among ACS (1.30, 1.21–1.38) and non-ACS (1.13, 1.05–1.22) patients. Conclusions: Among CKD 5D patients, survival was lower for ACS versus non-ACS indications following all revascularization strategies. CABG (versus DESs) was associated with higher long-term survival in the context of ACS; in the absence of ACS, long-term survival was similar after CABG or DESs. BMSs were consistently associated with worse outcomes.
Diminished Responses to Nifedipine Imply Severe End-Organ Damage in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of end-organ damage (EOD), the initial blood pressure levels, and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) on the blood pressure-lowering effect of nifedipine in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Nifedipine was intravenously administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg. BP was continuously recorded in the conscious state before and after nifedipine administration. BRS was determined before drug administration. Two days after the blood pressure (BP) recording, rats were killed for organ-damage evaluation. Univariate correlation analysis showed that BP changes induced by nifedipine injection were negatively correlated with EOD score and aortic weight/length but positively correlated with left kidney weight/body weight and basal BP levels. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that increase in overall end-organ damage was most significantly related to the decrease in hypotensive effect of nifedipine; increase in aortic hypertrophy was also related to a decreased fall in systolic and diastolic BP induced by nifedipine, whereas increase in initial BP levels was associated with increased hypotensive effect of nifedipine. In conclusion, the severity of overall EOD contributed more than basal BP levels to the diminished responses to nifedipine, and aortic hypertrophy was also involved in diminished drug responses.
Prenatal diagnosis and management of a ranula

A ranula is a mucous extravasation cyst which appears as a swelling in the submental and submandibular regions. We describe a case of congenital ranula or retention salivary cyst diagnosed at 22 weeks' gestation. The fetal growth was normal, as was the amniotic fluid volume. Follow‐up ultrasound scans revealed no changes in the size or the position of the cyst. Surgical treatment was performed two days after the delivery. There were no complications and no recurrences have occurred to date.