Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stock Price Responses to the Announcement of Buyback of Shares in India

In this paper an attempt has been made to examine the short term market reaction to the buyback announcement on stock price in India. A number of studies have examined the effect of buyback on share price behaviour and empirical evidence from the prior studies report that negative long run abnormal returns following the buyback announcement in U S, U K and Canada. Market reaction in the UK differs from that in the US for short term market. In this direction an empirical study has been carried out to know the Indian stock markets reaction to Buy-back of shares. This study is confined shares buyback of listed companies for the period 1996 to 2006. The sample consists of 106 companies, which are listed in the BSE. The adjusted daily stock prices and BSE 200 index are collected for each of the firms from day – 331 to + 30. If the share price data is not available due to non-trading, such companies are eliminated. In order to analyze the impact of the announcement of buyback of shares on stock price, the event period is centered on the announcement date of buyback of shares. The announcement date is designated as day “0” in the event period and used 61 days event period, i.e. 30 trading days before the announcement of the buyback of shares to 30 trading days after the announcement of the buyback of shares, 0 being the day of the announcement of the buyback of shares. The methodology of the study involves use of market model which was developed and suggested by Sharpe (1963). The effect of stock prices is measured in an event period using the abnormal return associated with this event. The researcher computed the Expected Returns (ER), Abnormal Returns (AR), Average Abnormal Returns (AAR) and Cumulative Average Abnormal Returns (CAARs) to examine the stock price reaction. To measure the stock price response to the buyback of shares announcement, it is necessary to segregate the returns attributed to the market movement and those that are not attributed to the market movement, but to buyback announcement. This adjustment is made using the market model. The estimation period used was -31 days to -330 days. If there is no trading in the market on the announcement day, the immediate next trading day is considered as event-day for those firms. To examine the statistical significance of the average abnormal returns z–statistic is constructed and the hypothesis that the AAR is equal to zero is tested. The study reveals, buyback announcement have not provided any additional information to the market. Market has not found any news in the announcement as revealed by the continuing trend that started before the announcement. In the nutshell, study shows negative and insignificant abnormal returns for majority of the days in the event period.
Green advertising, green brand image and green awareness for environmental products

The study aims to review the correlation of green advertising, green brand image and customer green awareness on environmentally friendly products. Experiment is conducted to 102 customers of supermarket in Bandung City who have experience on friendly products. The study result is found that green awareness can be improved by implementation of green advertising, it is different case with green brand image that has less attention from customer. It is known that green brand image is not always become the major case in controlling customer behaviour on environmental friendly products.
Zolpidem increases bladder capacity and decreases urine excretion in rats

To clarify the effects of zolpidem, a γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor agonist, on bladder function, and urine production, we investigated the effects of zolpidem administration on bladder overactivity induced by cerebral infarction (CI) and on urine excretion increased by water overloading in Wistar rats.
The Value Relevance and Reliability of Brand Assets Recognized by U.K. Firms

We examine the value relevance and reliability of brand assets recognized by 33 U.K. firms, and the stock price reaction to the announcement of brand capitalization. We find that brand assets are value relevant, i.e., associated with market values. However, the market capitalization rates of brands of firms with low contracting incentives are higher than those of firms with high contracting incentives to capitalize and overstate brand values. Thus, there could be substantial differences in the extent of bias or error in brand valuations of firms with different levels of contracting incentives, i.e., brand asset measures might not be reliable. The stock price reaction during the 21 days surrounding the first announcement of brand recognition is significantly positively associated with the recognized brand amount. However, the brand coefficient is only a small fraction of what would be expected if markets did not impute any value to brands before firms recognized them. Few previous value‐relevance studies h.
Structure and function of gas vacuoles

INTRODUCTION . 1 GAS VESICLES . 2 STRUCTURE OF THE MEMBRANE . 5 Membrane Thickness . 5 Rib Spacing . 6 Subunit Structure . 7 CHEMISTRY OF THE MEMBRANE . 8 Methods of Isolation . 8 Cell lysis . 8 Centrifugation . 9 Chemical Analysis . 9 Relationship of Membrane Structure and Protein Component . 11
OUTSOURCING OR INSOURCING LOGISTICS ACTIVITIES: A BRAZILIAN CASE STUDY

Studies show that logistics outsourcing is a way to reduce costs, enhance performance, increase service quality, and consequently improve consumer satisfaction. However, the decision between outsourcing and insourcing is a highly complex logistics procedure due to several criteria concerning the selection of alternatives. This decision is also not easy to address when we consider the activities of a distribution centre, where the governance structure in Brazil regarding logistics operations must consider a high use of workforce. We apply methods based on multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) to provide a recommendation to the decision-maker on whether to insource or outsource the logistics operations of a Brazilian company. Although there are few differences between the insourcing and outsourcing of logistics operations, benefits based on flexibility, working conditions, risks, reputation, innovation and responsiveness, encompassing much more than only costs, were crucial for the decision-making of sustaining insourcing of logistics activities.
Cholesterol can modulate mitochondrial aquaporin‐8 expression in human hepatic cells

Hepatocyte mitochondrial aquaporin‐8 (mtAQP8) works as a multifunctional membrane channel protein that facilitates the uptake of ammonia for its detoxification to urea as well as the mitochondrial release of hydrogen peroxide. Since early oligonucleotide microarray studies in liver of cholesterol‐fed mice showed an AQP8 downregulation, we tested whether alterations of cholesterol content per se modulate mtAQP8 expression in human hepatocyte‐derived Huh‐7 cells. Cholesterol loading with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (mβCD):cholesterol complexes downregulated the proteolytic activation of cholesterol‐responsive sterol regulatory element‐binding protein (SREBP) transcriptions factors 1 and 2, and the expression of the target gene 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase (HMGCR). Under such conditions, mtAQP8 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly reduced. In contrast, cholesterol depletion using mβCD alone increased SREBP‐1 and 2 activation and upregulated HMGCR and mtAQP8 mRNA and protein expressions. The results suggest that cholesterol can regulate transcriptionally human hepatocyte mtAQP8 expression likely via SREBPs. The functional implications of our findings are discussed. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(5):341–346, 2017
Determining the Service Quality in Medical Tourism via Structural Equation Model

The attempts of the individuals to be healthier by means of resting, exercising or going to thermal springs resulted with the emergence of a new and different type of tourism as 'medical tourism' within the tourism industry. In the environment of rapidly increasing competition, countries and health service providers make great efforts in order to take more shares from the medical tourism, which is directly related to the quality of the provided service and customer satisfaction. From this point, the aim of this research is to measure the service quality in medical tourism, reveal the current situation, investigate the relationship between service quality, satisfaction and loyalty and make suggestions. In this sense, the servqual scale, widely used in the health sector in particular, was taken as basis and implemented to the medical tourism participants. In this context, the observed result was that the most important service quality dimension for the participants was reliability and the dimension with the least likelihood to meet the expectations was sensitivity. However, it was concluded that there was a positive relation between the perceived service quality and customer satisfaction and that customer satisfaction played an intermediary role in achieving the customer satisfaction.
Characterization of CD8+ Effector T Cell Responses in Volunteers Immunized with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Strain Ty21a Typhoid Vaccine1

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. typhi) strain Ty21a remains the only licensed attenuated typhoid vaccine. Despite years of research, the identity of the protective immunological mechanisms elicited by immunization with the Ty21a typhoid vaccine remains elusive. The present study was designed to characterize effector T cell responses in volunteers immunized with S. typhi strain Ty21a typhoid vaccine. We determined whether immunization with Ty21a induced specific CTL able to lyse S. typhi-infected cells and secrete IFN-γ, a key effector molecule against intracellular pathogens. We measured the functional activity of these CTL by a 51Cr-release assay using 8-day restimulated PBMC from Ty21a vaccinees as effector cells and S. Typhi-infected autologous PHA-activated PBMC as target cells. Most vaccinees exhibited consistently increased CD8-mediated lysis of targets by postimmunization PBMC when compared with preimmunization levels. We also developed an IFN-γ ELISPOT assay to quantify the frequency of IFN-γ spot-forming cells (SFC) in PBMC from Ty21a vaccinees using an ex vivo system. Significant increases in the frequency of IFN-γ SFC following immunization (mean ± SD, 393 ± 172; range 185–548 SFC/106 PBMC; p = 0.010), as compared with preimmunization levels, were observed. IFN-γ was secreted predominantly by CD8+ T cells. A strong correlation was recorded between the cytolytic activity of CTL lines and the frequency of IFN-γ SFC (r2 = 0.910, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this work constitutes the first evidence that immunization of volunteers with Ty21a elicits specific CD8+ CTL and provides an estimate of the frequency of CD8+ IFN-γ-secreting cells induced by vaccination.
The Determinants of Foreign Direct Investments in Real Estate: Turkey Case

The aim of this study is to investigate the key factors affecting foreign direct real estate investment (FDIRE) in Turkey’s economy. A DOLS-FMOLS estimator model was developed to investigate the determinants of FDIRE in Turkey. Data was used between 2003Q1-2018Q2. This study differs from the previous ones in that this particular topic is being researched as regards the economy of Turkey for the first time. The results showed that the most important variables affecting foreign direct real estate investment in Turkey was openness and exchange rate. Furthermore, economic growth also has a positive impact. On the other hand, interest has been found to be the most negative factor affecting investments. Moreover, the increase in building construction costs directly reduce foreign real estate investment. The results show that the gradually increasing openness of Turkey’s economy contributes to the increase in foreign investments in the real estate market.
Reasons for rarity of anal melanocytic naevi

In the last 16 years only seven definite cases of anal melanocytic naevi have been reported in the literature. We describe three new cases, none of which were suspected clinically and were incidentally diagnosed on histological examination of haemorrhoidectomy specimens. The infrequency of these special site flexural melanocytic lesions may be related to changes in the involutionary mechanisms of the anal melanocyte proliferation. However, other factors related to the low detection rates by clinicians and pathologists need also to be considered.
CelluloseAcetateElectrophoresisof AlkalinePhosphatase lsoenzymesin Human Serum and Tissue

We describe a new electrophoretic method for the characterization of human serum and tissue alkaline phosphatases on cellulose acetate plates. Enzymes are localized fluorometrically with the substrate a-naphthol AS-MX phosphate or colorimetrically by coupling the reaction product with Fast Blue RR. Both localization techniques are sensitive enough to demonstrate isoenzyme patterns in micro-scale samples of normal sera. Our electrophoretic studies indicate that sera of children and adults normally contain isoenzymes originating from both liverand bone. The high sensitivity of the method allows the use of normal sera as markers rather than tissue extracts, and isoenzyme patterns may be visually assessed after heat inactivation and chemical inhibition. The method issuitable forthe electrophoretic fractionation of alkalIne phosphatase in large numbers of sera, with equipment and technique familiar to many laboratories.
Coupled nanostructures of ribonucleic acids: developing discrete-continuum models for large time-scale simulations

To describe many biological systems and phenomena it is often necessary to develop computationally feasible structural models that can be applied for large time-scale simulations comparable to the real time scale of biological processes. In this contribution we provide details on our recently developed coarse grained models for coupled RNA nanostructures (nanotubes) consisting of a series of nanorings [1]. With these models, we study here physical properties of RNA nanostructures as a function of the number of nanorings. The sizes vary, going up to 40 nm, and our main results, reported here, have been confirmed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. In the first part of this contribution, we briefly review our earlier results, where a comprehensive analysis of different bead approximations was carried out [2,3]. Based on such an analysis, our focus in this contribution is on a three bead approximation in which a single nucleotide in the RNA nanocluster is treated by three beads. The resulting coarse grained models have been developed from the all atom MD simulation using the Boltzmann Inversion Method. The molecular dynamics simulations for these coarse-grained models have been performed by using DL-POLY. In particular, we have calculated the radial distribution functions, as well as the histograms for the bond angles and the dihedral angles. From the dihedral angles histograms we have analyzed the characteristics of the links used to build the nanotubes. Furthermore, we have also calculated the bead distances along the chains of RNA strands in the nanoclusters. The variations in these features with the size of the nanotube are discussed in detail. Then, we present the results on the calculation of the root mean square deviations for the systems analyzed with the developed coarse-grained models to demonstrate the equilibration of the systems. Finally, we describe a new technique that allows us to move from discrete to continuum modelling in the practically important case of large RNA nanotubes. This technique provides a way to an efficient PDE-based tool for modelling RNA nanostructures, demonstrating promises for large time scales.
Identifying progression‐associated genes in adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma by using oligonucleotide microarrays

Adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is associated with human T‐lymphotropic virus type‐1 (HTLV‐1). To understand the changes in expression that occur in the progression of chronic phase of ATL to acute crisis, the gene expression profiles of fresh ATL cells were compared in 4 pairs of samples (progression of chronic to acute phase in 3 patients, as well as 1 typical chronic phase sample vs. 1 typical acute phase sample) using high‐density oligonucleotide DNA arrays. We identified 203 genes that were commonly upregulated in acute vs. chronic phase samples including ribosomal proteins, proteosome subunits, eukaryotic translation factors, immunophilins, heat shock proteins and genes important for DNA replication. Additionally, we identified 91 commonly downregulated genes including immune molecules related to MHC and a phosphatase. Several of the genes were previously identified to be associated with the Tax protein of HTLV‐1. Some of the upregulated genes were located in amplified regions identified by comparative genomic hybridization in the corresponding chronic/acute ATL sample. Using real‐time quantitative PCR, we confirmed the array‐results in those specimens analyzed by microarray. These results demonstrated that distinct sets of genes that are known to be critical in cellular transformation and/or activation are up‐ or down‐regulated during the transition to the acute phase of ATL. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Attitudes, perceived benefits and barriers, and prevalence of scheduling recess before lunch : a survey of Indiana elementary school principals

Purpose/Objective: Historically, school administrators schedule recess immediately after lunch. Recent research, however, suggests a plethora of benefits if recess is scheduled before lunch, including decreased plate waste, increased consumption of nutrients, and decreased discipline problems on the playground and in the lunchroom. The purpose of this study was to survey Indiana elementary principals to identify practices, perceived benefits and barriers, and attitudes toward scheduling recess before lunch (RBL) in Indiana. Methods: Email addresses of Indiana principals were obtained from the Executive Director of the Indiana Association of State Principals. An anonymous, online survey was distributed via email to elementary principals (fifth grade or lower). The instrument was adapted from previous surveys that examined the impact of recess before lunch. Results were evaluated using frequencies and chi-square analyses. Open ended questions were analyzed for trends. Results: A total of 527 useable surveys were completed from the 1,392 emails that were successfully delivered (37.9% response rate). Results indicate almost one-third (30.7%) of elementary schools scheduled RBL. The most common benefits of RBL included increased consumption of lunch, improved behavior in the cafeteria, and an increased focus on consuming lunch. Barriers that prevented schools from adopting a RBL policy included revising the daily schedule, the need to preserve academic hours, and lack of staffing. There were no differences when recess was scheduled based on location (urban, rural, suburban), type (private or public), enrollment (high vs. low/average) or percent free and reduced lunch (p > 0.05). Schools that offered only one lunch period were significantly more likely to schedule RBL (AR=2.4). Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals: Results of this study delineate the prevalence of scheduling RBL, and identify benefits and barriers to this practice in one state. School Nutrition Professionals can use this information to encourage school administration to consider adopting a RBL policy.
From Local to Global: External Validity in a Fertility Natural Experiment

Abstract We study issues related to external validity for treatment effects using over 100 replications of the Angrist and Evans natural experiment on the effects of sibling sex composition on fertility and labor supply. The replications are based on census data from around the world going back to 1960. We decompose sources of error in predicting treatment effects in external contexts in terms of macro and micro sources of variation. In our empirical setting, we find that macro covariates dominate over micro covariates for reducing errors in predicting treatments, an issue that past studies of external validity have been unable to evaluate. We develop methods for two applications to evidence-based decision-making, including determining where to locate an experiment and whether policy-makers should commission new experiments or rely on an existing evidence base for making a policy decision.
The Impact of Customer-Based Brand Equity on Customer Acquisition and Customer Retention

The topic of marketing accountability is of great interest to marketing researchers and professionals. In this paper, we model the impact of customer-based brand equity on customer acquisition and customer retention which can be used as the basis for calculating customer equity. Using actual purchase data of 39 automobile brands sold in the US between 1999 and 2008 we derive customer acquisition and customer retention from first-order Markov brand-switching matrices. Brand equity is defined by customer mind-set measures for all 39 brands using annual survey data provided by Young & Rubicam which contains responses from over 6,000 panel members. We consider competition by applying a market share attraction model and differentiating different degrees of loyalty. Our results indicate that customer-based brand equity is a predictor of both customer acquisition and customer retention. Furthermore, we can show that brand specific effects on acquisitions and retention can be explained by customer mind set metrics.
Supplier Relationship Management and Operational Performance of Sugar Manufacturing Firms in Kakamega County, Kenya

v TABLE OF CONTENTS . vi LIST OF TABLES . x LIST OF FIGURES . xi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS . xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Supplier Relationship Management . 3 1.1.2 Operational Performance . 4 1.1.3 Sugar Manufacturing Firms in Kakamega County . 4 1.2 Research Problem . 6 1.3 Research Objectives . 8 1.3. 1 General Objective . 8 1.3. 2 Specific Objectives . 8 1.4 Value of the Study. 8
Field strength dependence of the high-frequency viscoelastic relaxation process in polyaniline/silicone oil electrorheological suspensions

Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized via oxidative coupling polymerization in acid conditions and de-doped in ammonia solution. The electrorheological (ER) properties of the PANI/silicone oil suspensions were investigated in the oscillatory mode shear, with particular focus on the high frequency region, where a crossover in G'(ω) and G"(ω) signals the onset of a dissipative relaxation process, presumed to be associated with motion of PANI particles within the fibrillar structures generated by the electric field. The relationship between the crossover frequency, ωc, and the electric field strength (E) was investigated as a function of matrix viscosity and shear strain. We find that ωc increases with increasing electric field strength, and decreases with increases of matrix viscosity and strain amplitude. These observations are in qual- itative agreement with a theoretical model, which relates the relaxation mechanism to the competition between hydrody- namic and electrostatic forces between PANI particles within thick fibrillar structures. At the crossover point, a critical scaling relation is found relating two dimensionless parameters, the Mason number (Mn), and the Peclet number (Pe), viz. Mn~(Pe) 0.09 .