Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Director's Individual and Family Shareholdings on Firm Performance

The relation between firm performance and shareholding is a critical issue in corporate governance. In this paper, we examine if significant associations exist between firm performance and (1) directors’ shareholdings or (2) directors’ family shareholdings among Taiwanese listed firms. After addressing for possible endogeneity and controlling for firm specific variables, we find a positive association between executive director’s shareholding and firm performance. Consistent with incentive effect in agency theory, this result indicates that executive directors have incentive to maximize firms’ value. Also, we find that executive directors’ family shareholding is positively related to firm performance, which implies that executive directors may be motivated by their family members to improve firm value. The results also imply that the majority-minority agency problem can be mitigated when director’s family welfare is at stake. In addition, we divide research sample into subsets to accommodate the effect of mandatory independent director regulation in Taiwan since 2007.
Solution structure of the octamer motif in immunoglobulin genes via restrained molecular dynamics calculations.

The solution structure of the DNA decamer d(CATTTGCATC)-d(GATGCAAATG), comprising the octamer motif of immunoglobulin genes, is determined by restrained molecular dynamics (rMD) simulations. The restraint data set includes interproton distances and torsion angles for the deoxyribose sugar ring which were previously obtained by a complete relaxation matrix analysis of the two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement (2D NOE) intensities and by the quantitative simulation of cross-peaks in double-quantum-filtered correlated (2QF-COSY) spectra. The influence of torsion angles and the number of experimental distance restraints on the structural refinement has been systematically examined. Omitting part of the experimental NOE-derived distances results in reduced restraint violations and lower R factors but impairs structural convergence in the rMD refinement. Eight separate restrained molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for 20 ps each, starting from either energy-minimized A- or B-DNA. Mutual atomic root-mean-square (rms) differences among the refined structures are well below 1 A and comparable to the rms fluctuations of the atoms about their average position, indicating convergence to essentially identical structures. The average refined structure was subjected to an additional 100 ps of rMD simulations and analyzed in terms of average torsion angles and helical parameters. The B-type duplex exhibits clear sequence-dependent variations in its geometry with a narrow minor groove at the T3.A3 tract and a large positive roll at the subsequent TG.CA step. This is accompanied by a noticeable bend of the global helix axis into the major groove. There is also evidence of significant flexibility of the sugar-phosphate backbone with rapid interconversion among different conformers.
Dose-dependent effects of capsaicin on primary sensory neurons in the neonatal rat

The numbers of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers were counted in dorsal roots of adult rats treated neonatally with capsaicin in doses ranging from 5 to 100 mg/kg. Substance P and somatostatin levels in the spinal cord, dorsal roots, and sensory ganglia also were determined in control and treated animals. Capsaicin administration lead to the loss of both small myelinated and unmyelinated fibers from dorsal roots. However, whereas a near total loss, up to 94%, of unmyelinated fibers was achieved after high doses of capsaicin, the reduction of myelinated fibers, even of the smallest caliber, did not exceed 40%. The degree of fiber loss showed a clear dose dependency, with little detectable damage to myelinated fibers at doses of less than 50 mg/kg and with an ED50 for damage to unmyelinated fibers of 5 to 10 mg/kg. In all of the structures examined, particularly the dorsal roots, a roughly parallel decrease of substance P and somatostatin was found with capsaicin dose. The depletions of spinal cord substance P (55%) and somatostatin (20%) produced by neonatal capsaicin treatment were similar to those produced by dorsal rhizotomy. Capsaicin does not appear to be specific for primary afferents containing either substance P or somatostatin.
Development of Macrovascular Diseases in NIDDM Patients in Northern Taiwan: A 4-yr follow-up study

Objective— To assess the development of macrovascular diseases and explore major associative factors in NIDDM. Research Design and Methods— A total of 479 NIDDM patients ≥ 40 yr of age were recruited from four community primary care health centers of northern Taiwan in July 1986 for a cohort study with a 4-yr follow-up. No patient required insulin therapy within 1 yr of diagnosis nor had a history of diabetic ketoacidosis. All were able to participate independently in the activities of daily living. BP and ECG were measured, and a structured questionnaire was asked of each patient. Venous blood after overnight fasting was collected every year to measure cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, plasma glucose, and HbA1c. Results— The duration of diabetes was associated with the development of stroke with a relative risk of 1.063 for every 1-yr increment (P = 0.07). As for HVDs, the significant risk factors were serum cholesterol and HbA1c. For every 1-mg/dl increase in mean total cholesterol level, the relative risk of developing HVD increased 1.016-fold (P = 0.04). For every 1% increase in HbA1c, the relative risk of developing HVD increased 1.170-fold (P = 0.01). With regard to leg VDs, sex and cigarette smoking were significant risk factors. Women diabetic subjects had a higher relative risk than men. Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with leg VD with a relative risk of 6.9 for smokers compared with nonsmokers. The most significant risk factor for LVD was the total cholesterol level. For every 1-mg/dl increase in mean serum cholesterol level, the relative risk of LVD increased 1.013-fold. Conclusions— In the prevention of macrovascular diseases, effective intervention of the nondiabetic cardiovascular risk factors may be as important as or even more important than the good control of diabetes.
Molecular dynamics investigation of thickness effect on liquid films

This work applies the molecular dynamics simulation method to study a Lennard-Jones liquid thin film suspended in the vapor and to explore the film thickness effect on its stability. For the accurate estimation of local pressure distributions in the film, an improved method is proposed and used. Simulation results indicate that profiles of the local surface tension distribution vary widely with film thickness, while surface tension values and density profiles show little variation. As the film gets thinner, the two liquid–vapor interfacial regions begin to overlap and liquid-phase molecules in the center region of the film experience larger tension in the direction parallel to the film surface. Such interface overlapping is believed to destabilize the film and the occurrence of film rupture depends on the system temperature and the cross-sectional area of the computational domain.This work applies the molecular dynamics simulation method to study a Lennard-Jones liquid thin film suspended in the vapor and to explore the film thickness effect on its stability. For the accurate estimation of local pressure distributions in the film, an improved method is proposed and used. Simulation results indicate that profiles of the local surface tension distribution vary widely with film thickness, while surface tension values and density profiles show little variation. As the film gets thinner, the two liquid–vapor interfacial regions begin to overlap and liquid-phase molecules in the center region of the film experience larger tension in the direction parallel to the film surface. Such interface overlapping is believed to destabilize the film and the occurrence of film rupture depends on the system temperature and the cross-sectional area of the computational domain.
[Acute myeloid leukemia in children with Down syndrome].

Forty-four children, aged between 0.4 and 16.2 years (median 2.0 years) with Down's syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) including subacute megakaryoblastic leukemia (M7) were diagnosed between 1980 and 1986 (group 1, n = 16) or between 1987 and 1992 (group 2, n = 28). The leukemic blasts from Down's syndrome patients often proved difficult to classify. In group 1 the most frequent diagnoses were FAB M5 (6 pts.), M6 (3 pts.), in 3 patients the morphological diagnosis of M7 can retrospectively be assumed. In group 2, 15 of 28 patients were classified as M7, in 3 patients based on morphology alone, and in the other 12 patients confirmed by immunophenotyping or biopsy. The other children in group 2 were classified as: FAB M0 (3 pts.), M1 (1 pt.), M4 (2 pts.), M5 (2 pts.), M6 (4 pts.), M6/M7 (1 pt.). Initially, the latter and 10 of the patients with M7 presented with < 30% of blasts in the bone marrow. Karyotyping in 12 of 13 children frequently revealed numeric abnormalities, particularly trisomies involving chromosomes 8 (n = 6), 11 (n = 3), 21 (n = 3) and 14 (n = 1) in addition to the constitutional + 21c. Six patients in group 1 received no specific treatment, while 10 children were treated according to the protocols AML-BFM-78 or -83. Four of them are still alive for more than 5 years, two others died from infections in remission after 1.0 and 3.8 years. Fourteen of the 28 patients in group 2 did not receive any chemotherapy (10 with M7), and subsequently died. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Age‐Dependent Demise of GNAS‐Mutated Skeletal Stem Cells and “Normalization” of Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone

We studied the role of somatic mosaicism in fibrous dysplasia of bone (FD) within the context of skeletal (“mesenchymal”) stem cells by assessing the frequency of mutated colony forming unit‐fibroblasts (CFU‐Fs) from FD lesions, and in some cases, from unaffected sites, in a series of patients. There was a tight inverse correlation between the percentage mutant CFU‐F versus age, suggesting demise of mutant stem cells caused by exuberant apoptosis noted in samples from young patients. In older patients, either partially or completely normal bone/marrow histology was observed. On in vivo transplantation, FD ossicles were generated only by cell strains in which mutant CFU‐Fs were identified. Strains that lacked mutant CFU‐F (but were mutation positive) failed to regenerate an FD ossicle. These data indicate that GNAS mutations are only pathogenic when in clonogenic skeletal stem cells. From these data, we have evolved the novel concept of “normalization” of FD. As a lesion ages, mutant stem cells fail to self‐renew, and their progeny are consumed by apoptosis, whereas residual normal stem cells survive, self‐renew, and enable formation of a normal structure. This suggests that activating GNAS mutations disrupt a pathway that is required for skeletal stem cell self‐renewal.
Evaluation of a temperate climate mosquito, Ochlerotatus detritus (=Aedes detritus), as a potential vector of Japanese encephalitis virus

The U.K. has not yet experienced a confirmed outbreak of mosquito‐borne virus transmission to people or livestock despite numerous autochthonous epizootic and human outbreaks of mosquito‐borne diseases on the European mainland. Indeed, whether or not British mosquitoes are competent to transmit arboviruses has not been established. Therefore, the competence of a local (temperate) British mosquito species, Ochlerotatus detritus (=Aedes detritus) (Diptera: Culicidae) for transmission of a member of the genus Flavivirus, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) as a model for mosquito‐borne virus transmission was assessed. The JEV competence in a laboratory strain of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae), a previously incriminated JEV vector, was also evaluated as a positive control. Ochlerotatus detritus adults were reared from field‐collected juvenile stages. In oral infection bioassays, adult females developed disseminated infections and were able to transmit virus as determined by the isolation of virus in saliva secretions. When pooled at 7–21 days post‐infection, 13% and 25% of O. detritus were able to transmit JEV when held at 23 °C and 28 °C, respectively. Similar results were obtained for C. quinquefasciatus. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that a British mosquito species, O. detritus, is a potential vector of an exotic flavivirus.
A survey of freshwater gastropods in the Microrregião Serrana of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In 1984 we received samples of freshwater gas-tropods from many localities of the State of Rio deJaneiro, sent by Fundacao Nacional de Saude foridentification. In the past three years, aiming toelaborate a chart of planorbids of the State of Riode Janeiro additional collecting was done by theauthors in the area corresponding to theMicrorregiao Serrana of the state: Petropolis,Teresopolis and Sao Jose do Vale do Rio Preto.The survey was extended to the neighbour towns,Guapimirim and Mage, in order to improve theknowledge of that poorly studied area.The molluscs were collected from differentsuitable snail habitats: streams, rivers and marshareas in the Atlantic forest as well as drainage andsewage ditches, wells, flood areas, ponds and irri-gation canals.Live snails were kept at the laboratory for amonth in aquaria containing dechlorinated tapwater and, at the bottom, a thin layer of a 2:1 mix-ture of screened reddish soil and ground oystershells as a source of mineral nutrients. Snails werefed on fresh lettuce leaves. In the meantime speci-mens of Biomphalaria were exposed to artificiallight in intervals of five days to determine possibleinfection with trematode larvae, mainly Schisto-soma mansoni cercariae. The ten larger snails ofeach sample were preserved in Railliet-Henry’sfluid after relaxation in a 0.05% nembutal solutionand two of them were dissected under stereomi-croscope for identification. Technical details weredescribed elsewhere (SC Thiengo 1995 TecnicasMalacologicas, p. 255-265. In FS Barbosa, Topicosem Malacologia Medica , Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro). Samples of taxonomic importance were depositedat the Malacological Collection of InstitutoOswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz.In all, 7 species of planorbids and 10 speciesof other freshwater gastropods were found in 15localities at the studied area (Table): Antillorbisnordestensis (Lucena, 1954); Biomphalariaperegrina (Orbigny, 1835); Biomphalaria stra-minea (Dunker, 1848); Biomphalaria tenagophila(Orbigny, 1835); Drepanotrema anatinum(Orbigny, 1835); Drepanotrema cimex (Moricand,1839); Drepanotrema lucidum (Pfeiffer, 1839);Ferrissia sp. ; Gundlachia moricandi (Orbigny,1837); Heleobia davisi Silva & Thome, 1985; Lym-naea columella (Say, 1817); Lymnaea sp. ;Melanoides tuberculata (Muller, 1774); Physacubensis Pfeiffer, 1839; Physa marmorataGuilding, 1828; Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck,1801); Pomacea sordida (Swainson, 1823). Among the planorbid species B. tenagophilawas the most frequent, occurring in 13 out of the15 localities surveyed. According to WL Paraense(1986 Distribuicao dos caramujos no Brasil, p. 117-128. In FA Reis, I Faria & N Katz (eds), ModernosConhecimentos sobre Esquistossomose Man-sonica, Biblioteca da Academia Mineira deMedicina, Belo Horizonte) it ranges from Caravelas(17
Willingness-to-volunteer versus willingness-to-pay in sports clubs: how organizational capacity affects individual decisions

Abstract In light of increasing problems of recruiting and retaining volunteers, non-profit sports clubs might consider providing their members with an option to buy their way out of voluntary work. Using a rational choice framework, this study examines how organizational capacity of sports clubs affects members’ preferences for willingness-to-volunteer (WTV) versus willingness-to-pay (WTP). It uses data from German sports clubs (n = 228) and their members (n = 636). The member survey included a hypothetical scenario supposing that their club needs more resources because of financial difficulties (negative scenario) or service quality improvements (positive scenario). Members were presented with randomized increases in voluntary working hours and membership fees and asked whether they would prefer WTV or WTP under these conditions. The results of probit models reveal that the current voluntary workload and potential increases in voluntary working hours are positively associated with WTV, suggesting that volunteering is a stable construct. Members are more likely to prefer WTV in clubs engaging in strategic planning, while WTP is preferred in clubs that break even and employ paid staff. The findings support the role of organizational capacity, with some evidence that club members weigh benefits against costs when making these decisions.
Measuring the Unbound Concentration Fails to Resolve Analytic Interferences in Digoxin Immunoassays

Therapeutic drug monitoring of digoxin is well established in the clinical management of cardiac patients treated with the drug. Recently, target concentrations have been revised in patients with congestive heart failure to 0.5 to 0.8 μg/L, challenging the sensitivity limits of most immunoassays. These widely used methods are often criticized, particularly on specificity grounds resulting from interference from exogenous and endogenous sources. One solution to remove higher molecular weight interference has been to ultrafilter plasma samples before assaying. The present study included 261 patient digoxin samples and compared two commercial ultrafiltration devices (Centrifree and Micrcon) that share the same separation membrane (YM-30). The results showed widely discordant apparent unbound digoxin concentrations in the ultrafiltrate from these devices with a Deming regression line of Centrifree = 1.31 × Micrcon + 0.042 (95% confidence interval for slope of 1.237 to 1.391) and apparent unbound fractions ranging from 15% to 610% of the unfiltered plasma digoxin concentrations, suggesting that ultrafiltration did not resolve such interference issues. The concept of measuring lower unbound digoxin concentrations as a result of lower therapeutic range for total (bound plus unbound) digoxin will also render most immunoassays insensitive and inappropriately calibrated. There is a strong imperative to review digoxin monitoring practices in the light of current clinical imperatives for both specificity and sensitivity reasons.
Cell-surface Tumoricidal Molecules and NF-kB in the Tumor-burdened Host

11 INTRODUCTION . 12 MATERIALS AND METHODS . 13 RESULTS . 15 Cell-surface expression of mTNF-α, Fas, and FasL on Raw 264.7 cells . 15 Cell-surface expression of mTNF-α, Fas, and FasL on NH and TBH macrophages 19 Cell-surface expression of Fas and FasL on NH and TBH T-cells . 25 Cell-surface expression of Fas and FasL on MethKDE tumor cells . 28 DISCUSSION 30 SECTION III: NF-κB IS DYSREGULATED IN TUMOR-BURDENED HOST MACROPHAGES . 33 ABSTRACT . 33 . 33
Omega 3 fatty acids, gestation and pregnancy outcomes

Pregnancy is associated with a reduction in maternal serum docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) percentage and its possible depletion in the maternal store. Since the synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in the fetus and placenta is low, both the maternal LCPUFA status and placental function are critical for their supply to the fetus. Maternal supplementation with DHA up to 1 g/d or 2·7 g n-3 LCPUFA did not have any harmful effect. DHA supplementation in large studies slightly the enhanced length of gestation (by about 2 days), which may increase the birth weight by about 50 g at delivery. However no advice can be given on their general using to avoid preterm deliveries in low or high risk pregnancies. Several studies, but not all, reported improvements of the offspring in some neurodevelopmental tests as a result of DHA supplementation during gestation, or, at least, positive relationships between maternal or cord serum DHA percentages and cognitive skills in young children. The effect seems more evident in children with low DHA proportions, which raises the question of how to identify those mothers who might have a poor DHA status and who could benefit from such supplementation. Most studies on the effects of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy on maternal depression were judged to be of low-to-moderate quality, mainly due to small sample sizes and failure to adhere to Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines. In contrast, the effects of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on reducing allergic diseases in offspring are promising.
Metabolic alkalosis: A less appreciated side effect of Imipenem-cilastatin use

Acinetobacter baumannii is a common nosocomial pathogen in our intensive care unit (ICU) for which we use imipenem-cilastatin as the fi rst line antimicrobial agent. Our fi rst patient was a 29-year-old male having cervical spinal cord injury and the second patient was a 37-year-old male having blunt trauma chest. Both of the patients required prolonged mechanical ventilation and eventually had A. baumannii-associated pneumonia which was treated with imipenem-cilastatin. Both of our patients showed clinical improvement with the treatment, but during the treatment both had persistent metabolic alkalosis (after 3 and 4 days of therapy in patient 1 and 2, respectively). There were no signs and/or symptoms of cardiovascular, hepatic or renal abnormality in any of the patient and their serum cortisol, potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels were within normal limits. The urinary chloride levels were 33 mEq/L and 41 mEq/L in patient 1 and 2, respectively. Apart from antimicrobial agents both of the patients were receiving enteral nutrition and multivitamin supplements only and none received any alkaline solution or massive blood transfusions.
Calibration-free gaze tracking using particle filter

This paper presents a novel approach for gaze estimation using only a low-cost camera and requiring no calibration. The main idea is based on the center-bias property of human gaze distribution to get a coarse estimate of the current gaze position as well as benefit from temporal information to enhance this rough gaze estimate. Firstly, we propose a method for detecting the eye center location and a mapping model based on the center-bias effect to convert it to gaze position. This initial gaze estimate then serves to construct the likelihood model of the eye-appearance. The final gaze position is estimated by fusing the likelihood model with the prior information obtained from previous observations on the basis of the particle filtering framework. Extensive experiments demonstrate the good performance of the proposed system with an average estimation error of 3.43° which outperforms state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, the low complexity of the proposed system makes it suitable for real-time applications.