Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of controlling shareholders and information asymmetry on earnings quality of Thai listed companies

This study aimed to examine the effects of controlling shareholders and information asymmetry on earnings quality of the listed companies on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). The research sample consisted of listed firms in all industry groups under SET except financial industry. The data used were secondary data collected during the year of 2012-2014 and were analyzed using the structural equation model. In terms of proxy variables, the percentage of shareholdings was represented for controlling the shareholders whereas the bid-ask spread was a proxy of information asymmetry. Regarding the earnings quality, this study employed two major aspects: 1) discretionary accruals, which the proxy variables were calculated from Modified Jones Model and Francis Model and 2) real earnings quality, which the proxy variable was examined from operating cash index. The results showed that controlling shareholders had positive effect on both earnings quality and information asymmetry. Information asymmetry had negative effect on earnings quality. With regards to information asymmetry as mediation variable, controlling shareholders had negative effect on earnings quality through information asymmetry. Therefore, controlling shareholders provided both direct and indirect effects on earnings quality. The research results also implied that the increase of controlling shareholders led to the increase of information asymmetry, which brought about the decline of earnings quality.
Combining tacit knowledge elicitation with the SilverKnETs tool and random forests – The example of residential housing choices in Leipzig

Residential choice behaviour is a complex process underpinned by both housing market restrictions and individual preferences, which are partly conscious and partly tacit knowledge. Due to several limitations, common survey methods cannot sufficiently tap into such tacit knowledge. Thus, this paper introduces an advanced knowledge elicitation process called SilverKnETs and combines it with data mining using random forests to elicit and operationalize this type of knowledge. For the application case of the city of Leipzig, Germany, our findings indicate that rent, location and type of housing form the three predictors strongly influencing the decision making in residential choices. Other explanatory variables appear to have a much lower influence. Random forests have proven to be a promising tool for the prediction of residential choices, although the design and scope of the study govern the explanatory power of these models.
The Role of Creating Shared Value in the Company

Creating Shared Value (CSV) is a concept yielded from company policy and activities. In this case, company is mandatory in creating economical and social value at the same time, without prioritizing at one side. CSV emerges from the expansive idea of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concept. It only refers to social activity which leads to artificial positive image in terms of company responsibility to community and environment. This study aims to examine the importance of CSV implementation in a company. Profound discussion of CSV was employed by exploring related studies of CSV implementation in a company. Literature review was used as a research method. However, exploration results were demonstrated in a summary and solution suggested by researchers for CSV implementation in a company. According to the methods used, it was expected that this study could give contribution for a company, local community, as well as policy maker. This policy maker who creates the regulation was also expected to create rules and guidance concerning CSV. The policy was about the mandatory for company to implement the concept of CSV. Currently, the rules overlook CSV and only available for CSR. Keywords—creating shared value; corporate social responsibility; economic value; social value
Myotonia congenita and myotonic dystrophy in the same family: coexistence of a CLCN1 mutation and expansion in the CNBP (ZNF9) gene

Sun C, Van Ghelue M, Tranebjærg L, Thyssen F, Nilssen Ø, Torbergsen T. Myotonia congenita and myotonic dystrophy in the same family: coexistence of a CLCN1 mutation and expansion in the CNBP (ZNF9) gene.
Photografting of poly(hydroxylethyl acrylate) onto porous polyurethane scaffolds to improve their endothelial cell compatibility

In order to improve the cytocompatibility of polyurethane (PU) porous scaffolds obtained by thermally-induced phase separation, poly(hydroxylethyl acrylate) (PHEA) was covalently immobilized by grafting copolymerization of HEA by photo-oxidation of the scaffolds and initiation of UV light. FT-IR-ATR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations confirmed the occurrence of the grafting co-polymerization of HEA on the porous PU scaffolds. The measurement of water absorption demonstrated the improvement of the hydrophilicity after grafting with PHEA. The results obtained in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) culture proved that the porous PU scaffold modified with the hydrophilic PHEA had better cytocompatibility than the control. The influence of surface pore size on the HUVEC growth behavior was assessed regarding cell anchorage, proliferation and viability, as well as morphology. An overall increase of cell number and viability with the decrease of the surface pore size was found.
Play Time: Why Video Games are Essential to Urban Academic Libraries

Although there is still some hesitance to accept video games as valuable materials for academic library collections, there is a growing body of research that proves that they are highly beneficial to these institutions. The current conversation indicates that video games are useful to academic libraries, but there are no discussions of their essential role within urban library collections. In this paper, it is my contention that video games are not only advantageous to urban academic libraries, but are indisputably necessary as well. Video games are both effective community builders and catalysts for increased awareness and usage of library sources and services. I underscore the clear reasons why urban academic libraries need to embrace video games as essential materials that are uniquely positioned to aid them in serving their users.
The Influence of Personality on Mobile Web Credibility

Research has shown that the perceived credibility of a website is critical to its success. However, little is known about how individual differences influence this important factor of web design. In this paper, we investigate how personality traits affect the perceived credibility of a website in the mobile domain. Using a sample of 323 participants, we developed a model showing how the Big Five personality traits influence the perceived credibility of a website through its perceived aesthetics and perceived usability. Our model reveals that Agreeableness is the strongest predictor of aesthetics and/or usability, followed by Conscientiousness. This suggests that the more agreeable and/or the more conscientious users are easily more satisfied aesthetically and usability-wise by a mobile websites than the less agreeable and/or the less conscientious users respectively. Consequently, designers of mobile sites may have to do more in user interface design in order to attract the less agreeable and/or the less conscientious users to their sites based on its hedonic (aesthetics-inspired) and utilitarian (usability-inspired) appeal.
Developmental Features of Human Striatal Tissue Transplanted in a Rat Model of Huntington's Disease

Areas of striatal grafts which contain neurons that are characteristic of the striatum are called P-zones. We have investigated whether the paucity of P-zones in human xenografts of lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) tissue in a rat model of Huntington's disease is due (i) to an absence of the appropriate target cells of LGE neurons or (ii) to the persistence of an immature morphology. Striatal tissue from human embryos of varying sizes (21, 24, and 30 mm in crown-to-rump length) was grafted into the ibotenate-lesioned striatum of immunosuppressed rats, which were killed after 15-17 weeks. In most cases, tissue from the LGE and medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) was transplanted together, whereas some rats received grafts of only LGE tissue. Both types of grafts exhibited positive immunostaining for PCNA (proliferating cells), Vimentin (immature astrocytes), and GAP-43 (outgrowing fibers), which indicates that graft maturation is still ongoing up to 4 months after grafting. Graft survival seemed better when MGE was cografted with LGE, suggesting that the MGE may provide trophic support for LGE neurons and can affect the overall survival of human striatal xenografts. However, the extent of P-zone formation was not increased in MIXED, i.e., LGE plus MGE, grafts.
The Influence of Perceived Usefulness, Ease of Use, Attitude, Self-efficacy, and Subjective Norms Toward Intention to Use Online Shopping

Technology development in this era has promoted new innovation in shopping. Nowadays, there are a popular trading forms called online shopping system. Online shopping can become a new medium for buyers and sellers to do a transaction in goods or services. In Indonesia, online shopping has become popular nowadays. This research examines the factors influencing consumers to use online shopping. In this study, the author uses quantitative research method. The data collection method uses questionnaires. The respondents are 300 active undergraduate students from accounting department at the University of Brawijaya. The research data and hypothesis are analyzed using linear regression based on partial least squares (PLS). These research findings indicate that intention to use online shopping is determined by perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitude, self-efficacy, and subjective norms. All those variables have a positive influence towards an intention to use online shopping. It can be concluded that the higher perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitude, self-efficacy, and subjective norms, the higher the effect toward intention to use online shopping.
Broad‐ to fine‐scale population genetic patterning in the smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu across the Laurentian Great Lakes and beyond: an interplay of behaviour and geography

Analysis of population genetic relationships reveals the signatures of current processes such as spawning behaviour and migration, as well as those of historical events including vicariance and climate change. This study examines these signatures through testing broad‐ to fine‐scale genetic patterns among smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu spawning populations across their native Great Lakes range and outgroup areas, with fine‐scale concentration in Lake Erie. Our primary hypotheses include whether genetic patterns result from behavioural and/or geographical isolation, specifically: (i) Are spawning groups in interconnected waterways genetically separable? (ii) What is the degree of isolation across and among lakes, basins, and tributaries? (iii) Do genetic divergences correspond to geographical distances? and (iv) Are historical colonization patterns from glacial refugia retained? Variation at eight nuclear microsatellite DNA loci are analysed for 666 smallmouth bass from 28 locations, including 425 individuals in Lake Erie; as well as Lakes Superior, Huron, and Ontario, and outgroups from the Mississippi, Ohio, St. Lawrence, and Hudson River drainages. Results reveal marked genetic differences among lake and river populations, as well as surprisingly high divergences among closely spaced riverine sites. Results do not fit an isolation‐by‐geographical‐distance prediction for fine‐scale genetic patterns, but show weak correspondence across large geographical scales. Genetic relationships thus are consistent with hypotheses regarding divergent origins through vicariance in glacial refugia, followed by colonization pathways establishing modern‐day Great Lakes populations, and maintenance through behavioural site fidelity. Conservation management practices thus should preserve genetic identity and unique characters among smallmouth bass populations.
Empirical Study on Perceived Value and Attitude of Millennials Towards Social Media Advertising: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

The purpose of the article is to provide a comprehensive advertising model, which examines the impact of the identified predictors such as entertainment, informativeness, irritation, credibility, incentives and personalization on social media advertising value (SMAV) and further see the impact of SMAV on the attitudes of millennials towards social media advertising (ATSMA). A quantitative and deductive approach of research was followed, where data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 478 Indian social media users. The model developed was validated using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis followed by structural equation modelling to test the relationships between the identified predictors and SMAV. The results confirm the relationship between identified predictors and SMAV. Also, positive relationship has been found out between SMAV and ATSMA. Further, in the research article, there is a detailed discussion on results, implications, limitations and directions for future work.
Two in one: improving synthetic long peptide vaccines by combining antigen and adjuvant in one molecule

Aiming to increase the potency of synthetic long peptide (SLP)-based cancer vaccines, the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) ligand Pam3CSK4 was conjugated in a chemically defined fashion to SLPs harbouring both cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and T helper epitopes. We recently showed that these SLP-conjugates induce strong antitumor immunity in murine cancer models.
In vivo gene delivery via portal vein and bile duct to individual lobes of the rat liver using a polylysine-based nonviral DNA vector in combination with chloroquine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a bifunctional synthetic peptide as a DNA vector for regional gene delivery to the rat liver by the portal vein and bile duct routes. The 31-amino-acid peptide (polylysine-molossin) comprises an amino-terminal chain of 16 lysines for electrostatic binding of DNA, and the 15 amino acid integrin-binding domain of the venom of the American pit viper, Crotalus molossus molossus. Initial in vitro evaluation demonstrated that polylysine-molossin/DNA complexes were much smaller (approximately 50-100nm versus 500-1300nm), more positively charged, and more stable in isotonic dextrose in comparisons with salt-containing solutions. However, polylysine-molossin/DNA complexes in any solution other than complete culture medium were ineffective for gene delivery in vitro. Vector localization studies demonstrated that both the portal vein and bile duct routes provided excellent access of polylysine-molossin/DNA complexes to the liver. However, complexes delivered by the portal vein were rapidly lost (<15 min) following re-establishment of the portal circulation, whereas complexes delivered by the bile duct persisted much longer. Polylysine-molossin/DNA complexes in various isotonic solutions were delivered to the right lateral lobes either by perfusion through a branch of the portal vein or by infusion into appropriate branches of the bile duct. Two or three hours before gene delivery, rats were given a single injection of chloroquine. We report that the polylysine-molossin vector is much more effective (>10-fold) when delivered by the bile duct route with all isotonic solutions evaluated, and that polylysine-molossin/DNA complexes in isotonic dextrose are much more effective (>10-fold) than complexes in salt-containing solutions.
Largely deformable surface electrode based on PDMS for cortical recording and stimulation

This paper describes a largely deformable surface electrode based on poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate, including its fabrication, electrochemical characterization, adhesion test, and bending test results. The fabricated electrode is made of both PDMS and parylene C layers, which are completely attached to each other. Between the two parylene layers gold patterns are located in the mechanical neutral plane. In the fabrication process, PDMS is supported by parylene layer when the metal layer is sputter deposited, resulting in no cracks. The electrode provides highly deformable neural electrode structure with mechanical integrity and electrical stability. With these advantages, it is expected to be suitable in stable neural recording and stimulation.
Spontaneous Retrieval Deficits in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Case of Focal Event-Based Prospective Memory

Objective: Research on early cognitive markers of Alzheimer’s disease is primarily focused on retrospective recall (of word lists, pairs of items, stories) and executive functions. However, research shows that people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), who are at a higher risk of developing the disease than healthy controls, are particularly impaired in remembering to do things in the future or prospective memory (PM). The aim of this study was to establish which type of event-based PM is particularly disrupted in aMCI, focal PM, based on spontaneous retrieval, or nonfocal PM that relies on strategic monitoring processes. Method: Thirty-eight aMCI individuals and 46 age- and education-matched healthy older adults identified the profession of each famous face presented (ongoing task) and, additionally, responded to certain professions (focal PM condition), or to certain physical features of a person presented (nonfocal PM). Only 4 aMCI individuals could not remember PM instructions at the end of the session, and were excluded from analyses. Results: In comparison with healthy controls, participants with aMCI were significantly impaired in the focal PM task, but not on the nonfocal task. In both groups, monitoring indices were significantly higher in the nonfocal than focal PM condition. Conclusions: The results fully replicate and extend initial findings of Chi et al. (2014) and McDaniel, Shelton, Breneiser, Moynan, and Balota (2011), showing substantial spontaneous retrieval deficits in PM performance of aMCI individuals. Possible brain mechanisms involved in this deficit are discussed and a novel hypothesis of more generic spontaneous retrieval deficits in aMCI is proposed.
Sistemas de controle automático

O livro cobre modelagem, analise e projeto tanto de sistemas continuos no tempo quanto de sistemas controlados por computador. E colocada enfase na modelagem de sistemas fisicos atraves de equacoes diferenciais ordinarias acopladas, uma vez que estas constituem o suporte de uma vasta classe de metodos de projeto de controladores. A base necessaria para a utilizacao deste livro consiste no conhecimento elementar de equacoes diferenciais ordinarias e de fisica geral. A obra pode ser usada como livro-texto de um curso basico em controle automatico, quer como manual de auto-estudo para profissionais em exercicio.
DUST IN THE DIFFUSE EMISSION OF THE GALACTIC PLANE: THE HERSCHEL/SPITZER SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION FITTING

The first Herschel Hi-Gal images of the Galactic plane unveil the far-infrared diffuse emission of the interstellar medium with an unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity. In this Letter, we present the first analysis of these data in combination with those of Spitzer GLIMPSE and MIPSGAL. We selected a relatively diffuse and low excitation region of the l ∼ 59° Hi-Gal Science Demonstration Phase field to perform a pixel-by-pixel fitting of the 8 to 500 μm spectral energy distribution (SED) using the DustEM dust emission model. We derived maps of the very small grain (VSG) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) abundances from the model. Our analysis allows us to illustrate that the aromatic infrared band intensity does not necessarily trace the PAH abundance but rather the product of “abundance × column density × intensity of the exciting radiation field. ” We show that the spatial structure of PACS 70 μm maps resemble the shorter wavelengths (e.g., IRAC 8 μm) maps, because they trace both the intensity of exciting radiation field and column density. We also show that the modeled VSG contribution to PACS 70 μm (PACS 160 μm) band intensity can be up to 50% (7%). The interpretation of diffuse emission spectra at these wavelengths must take stochastically heated particles into account. Finally, this preliminary study emphasizes the potential of analyzing the full dust SED sampled by Herschel and Spitzer data, with a physical dust model (DustEM) to reach the properties of the dust at simultaneously large and small scales.
Theory of Foreign Direct Investment and Corruption

In this study a theoretical model is developed to show that there is some level of corruption in the host countries that can be tolerated by foreign investors. Foreign firms will enter a foreign market only if it has some compensating advantages over the local firms since these foreign firms are inherently disadvantaged in the foreign market. These compensating advantages include the ownership and location advantages of transnational corporations. It is expected that these advantages play a role in the investment decision of investors. The theory tries to explore how corruption impact on the ability of these transnational corporations to exploit these advantages. The study deploys the firm production function, individual ﬁrm behavior in producer theory and game theory to analyze the decision of a foreign investor in the choice of a country for investment taking into consideration the quality of institutions in the country. The theory postulates that above certain level of corruption, corruption plays the role of ? sand in the wheels of commerce? and below this level, corruption plays the role of ? greasing the wheels of commerce? This implies that corruption is expected to have a positive impact on FDI at high level of institutional quality and a negative impact at low level of institutional quality. This level of corruption is referred to as Corruption Tolerable Level of Investment.
Worniu, a Snail family zinc‐finger protein, is required for brain development in Drosophila

The Snail family of zinc‐finger transcriptional repressors is essential for morphogenetic cell movements, mesoderm formation, and neurogenesis during embryonic development. These proteins also control cell cycle, cell death, and cancer progression. In Drosophila, three members of this protein family, Snail, Escargot, and Worniu, have essential but redundant functions in asymmetric cell division of neuroblasts. In addition, Snail is critical for early mesoderm formation and Escargot is required for maintaining diploidy in wing imaginal disc cells. In this report, we demonstrate that Worniu plays a role in brain development. We show that alleles of the l(2)35Da complementation group are mutants of worniu. The developing larvae of these mutant alleles fail to shorten their brainstems. The brain phenotype, as well as the lethality, of these mutants can be rescued by worniu transgenes. Moreover, RNAi experiments targeting the worniu transcript show the same nonshortening phenotype in larval brains. worniu is expressed in the neuroblasts of brain hemispheres and ventral ganglions. The results suggest that the loss of Worniu function within the neuroblasts ultimately causes the larval brainstem to fail to go through shortening during development. Developmental Dynamics 231:379–386, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.