Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why do Family Firms Pay Cash Dividends in Emerging Markets? Corporate Control and Family Succession in Korea

Following the economic crisis in 1997, the Korean government introduced the enhanced corporate governance and reform policy, which drove family-controlled firms to search strategic reaction for control succession and wealth transfer. This paper explores alternative explanations for why Korean firms choose to pay cash dividends around this corporate reform period. What lead firms to pay cash dividends remains largely unexplained by the reducing agency cost, signaling, or life-cycle theories. This study focuses on relations between the ownership structure and cash dividends payout, seeking effects deriving from (i) controlling shareholder (CS) and (ii) their family members. The logit analysis result shows that firms with large control rights, especially higher ownership of other family members of CS are more likely to pay cash dividends. After adjusting for the characteristics that affect the degree of cash dividends, ownership variables are positively related to payout ratios and dividend yields. CS family membersâ€™ ownership has a statistically stronger effect on payout ratios than CSâ€™s. These results provide the evidence of incentive for corporate control succession within the family with least costs carried by the family members of controlling shareholders who positively influence payout decisions and dividend ratios. JEL Classification: G32, G350.
Endomorphins have orexigenic and anxiolytic activities in mice

THIS study was designed to investigate the effects of endomorphin 1 and 2, recently identified μ-opioid receptor selective peptides, on food intake and anxiety in non-food-deprived mice. The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of either endomorphin 1 or 2 (0.03–30 nmol) increased food intake in a dose-related manner. A significant increase was observed 20 min after i.c. v. injection of endomorphin 1 or 2 and continued for 4 h. In the elevated plus maze test, the i.c. v. injection of endomorphin 1 (30 nmol) significantly decreased the normal preference for the closed arms. These results suggest that endomorphin produces orexigenic and anxiolytic effects, and that the μ-opioid receptor contributes to the regulation of feeding and anxiety in mice.
Growth management priorities of technology-based micro-enterprises in a sparsely populated region

Micro-enterprises represent more than 95% of European enterprises. In the European Union, smaller firms contribute to job creation on a larger scale than larger firms; however, micro-enterprise is only occasionally present as a unit of analysis in the European management literature. In particular, there is a lack of literature concerning the early-stage growth management priorities of micro-enterprises. Furthermore, location is a key factor in business development, and several studies have indicated differences between urban and sparsely populated areas. To address this gap, this multiple-case study aims to answer the following research question: What are the critical managerial incidents that occur during the growth of technology-based micro-enterprises in sparsely populated regions? The study answers this question by analysing and describing in detail the management priorities of the ownermanagers of five technology-based micro-enterprises located in a sparsely populated region.
WHAT IS THE BEST PREDICTOR OF ANNUAL LYME DISEASE INCIDENCE: WEATHER, MICE, OR ACORNS?

Predicting fluctuations in annual risk of Lyme disease would be useful in focusing public health efforts. However, several competing hypotheses have been proposed that point to weather variables, acorn production, or mouse abundance as important pre- dictors of Lyme disease risk. We compared the ability of acorn production, mouse density, and four relevant weather variables to predict annual Lyme disease incidence (detrended) between 1992 and 2002 for Dutchess County, New York, and seven states in the northeastern United States. Acorn production and mouse abundance measured in Dutchess County were the strongest predictors (r $ 0.78) of Dutchess County Lyme disease incidence, but the increase in mouse abundance from 1991 to 1992 was contrary to a decrease in Lyme disease in the following years. The Palmer Hydrologic Drought Index (PHDI) was a significant positive predictor of Lyme disease incidence two years later for three states (0.58 # r # 0.88), but summer precipitation was generally negatively correlated with Lyme disease incidence the next year (20.79 # r # 0.02). Mean temperatures for the prior winter or summer showed weak or inconsistent correlations with Lyme disease incidence. In four states, no variable was a statistically significant predictor of Lyme disease incidence. Syn- chrony in Lyme disease incidence between pairs of states was not significantly concordant with synchrony in any weather variable that we examined (0.02 # r # 0.21). We found that acorns and mice were strong predictors of Dutchess County Lyme disease incidence, but their predictive power appeared to be weaker spatially. Moreover, evidence was weak for causal relationships between Lyme disease incidence and the weather variables that we tested. Reliable prediction of Lyme disease incidence may require the identification of new predictors or combinations of biotic and abiotic predictors and may be limited to local scales.
Alterations of MicroRNA Expression Patterns in Human Cervical Carcinoma Cells (Ca Ski) toward 1′S-1′-Acetoxychavicol Acetate and Cisplatin

The aims of this study were to investigate the combined effects of a natural compound 1′S-1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) with cisplatin (CDDP) on HPV-positive human cervical carcinoma cell lines (Ca Ski—low cisplatin sensitivity and HeLa—high cisplatin sensitivity), and to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) modulated in response toward ACA and/or CDDP. It was revealed that both ACA and CDDP induced dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity when used as a stand-alone agent, while synergistic effects were observed when used in combination with a combination index (CI) value of 0.74 ± 0.01 and 0.85 ± 0.01 in Ca Ski and HeLa cells, respectively. A total of 25 miRNAs were found to be significantly differentially expressed in response to ACA and/or CDDP. These include hsa-miR-138, hsa-miR-210, and hsa-miR-744 with predicted gene targets involved in signaling pathways regulating apoptosis and cell cycle progression. In conclusion, ACA acts as a chemosensitizer which synergistically potentiates the cytotoxic effect of CDDP in cervical cancer cells. The altered miRNA expression upon administration of ACA and/or CDDP suggests that miRNAs play an important role in anticancer drug responses, which can be manipulated for therapeutic purposes.
Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of clinically and environmentally isolated Cryptococcus neoformans in Nagasaki

We examined clinical (pulmonary cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningitis) and environmental (pigeon excreta) isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans (serotype A) in the southern Japanese prefecture of Nagasaki. The random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles obtained by using three primers revealed six patterns among 21 clinical isolates and three patterns among 8 environmental isolates. Pattern I was the most common (18 of 29 isolates) and was found among isolates obtained throughout the entire Nagasaki Prefecture. Patterns I, III, and IV were found among both clinical and environmental isolates. Patterns I and IV had a characteristic distribution, and in particular, pattern IV was isolated exclusively (five of six isolates) from isolates from Nagasaki City. Two environmental isolates from two locations associated strongly with two patients revealed identical random amplified polymorphic DNA patterns (patterns I and IV) for isolates from each patient. Our results suggest that clinical and environmental isolates belong to the same pool of C. neoformans isolates and that these isolates have certain geographic locations, although the number of isolated strains was limited.
Exploring neural networks in the analysis of variables that affect the employee turnover in the organization

The phenomenon of job satisfaction generates high costs for organizations, as it impacts on the processes of selection, training, and motivation of their human resources, while affecting the productivity and quality of organizations, even impacting on the loyalty of costumers. For this reason, forecasting or controlling the behavior of the staff turnover is of great importance for a company. However, predicting the behavior of turnover is an almost impossible intention due to the number of variables that condition this behavior. The objective of this research was to try to identify, through the use of neural network analysis, which internal variables of the organization, of an objective nature, of a demographic nature and associated with their human resources, showed a relationship or incidence on the employee turnover. For this purpose, the databases were analyzed with the turnover behavior of personnel in business organizations with different characteristics. The analysis through neural networks allowed to establish a significant relationship between variables such as average income, school level, and age; likewise, no significant differences were found in other variables such as the type of sector, years of experience in the sector, years of work in the position or years of work, the hierarchical position occupied in the organization, and the number of dependents.
Overhaul Overdraft Fees : Creating Pricing and Product Design Strategies with Big Data ∗

In 2012, consumers paid an enormous $32 billion overdraft fees. Consumer attrition and potential government regulations to shut down the overdraft service urge banks to come up with financial innovations to overhaul the overdraft fees. However, no empirical research has been done to explain consumers’ overdraft incentives and evaluate alternative pricing and product strategies. In this paper, we build a dynamic structural model with consumer monitoring cost and dissatisfaction. We find that on one hand, consumers heavily discount the future and overdraw because of impulsive spending. On the other hand, a high monitoring cost makes it hard for consumers to track their finances therefore they overdraw because of rational inattention. In addition, consumers are dissatisfied by the overly high overdraft fee and close their accounts. We apply the model to a big dataset of more than 500,000 accounts for a span of 450 days. Our policy simulations show that alternative pricing strategies may increase the bank’s revenue. Sending targeted and dynamic alerts to consumers can not only help consumers avoid overdraft fees but improve bank profits from higher interchange fees and less consumer attrition. To alleviate the computational burden of solving dynamic programming problems on a large scale, we combine parallel computing techniques with a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm. The Big Data allow us to detect the rare event of overdraft and reduce the sampling error with minimal computational costs.
Predictors of Investors’ Participation in the Egyptian Stock Market: Application of Theory of Planned Behavior

Despite the opportunities of growth for the Egyptian stock market, it still offers limited potential to attract investors. This paper explores how various factors related to attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behaviour control as indicted by the theory of planned behaviour affect stock market participation (SMP) in the emerging market of Egypt. The aim of this paper is to study how the influence of factors as financial literacy, risk, influence of others, confidence in the regulator among others, affect consumers’ investment decision to participate in the stock market. A pilot study when combined with literature review revealed eight factors that might affect the investors’ intention and behaviour in the Egyptian stock market. The study then apply TPB to develop a comprehensive model to include the most important factors that may have a strong potential to enhance the equity holding behaviour and explain SMP in the emerging market of Egypt; a market with a lot of potential but rarely studied. This model can be further tested across different developing markets as well. The study concluded that investment intention could predict the actual investment in the stock market (which represents behaviour). Nevertheless, the behaviour is not determined by only those factors tested. Other moderating factors (as change in interest rates, taxes, transaction costs…) can be examined to test the effect on SMP, which opens the room for future research.
Genetic Determinants of Reutericyclin Biosynthesis in Lactobacillus reuteri

ABSTRACT Reutericyclin is a unique antimicrobial tetramic acid produced by some strains of Lactobacillus reuteri. This study aimed to identify the genetic determinants of reutericyclin biosynthesis. Comparisons of the genomes of reutericyclin-producing L. reuteri strains with those of non-reutericyclin-producing strains identified a genomic island of 14 open reading frames (ORFs) including genes coding for a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), a polyketide synthase (PKS), homologues of PhlA, PhlB, and PhlC, and putative transport and regulatory proteins. The protein encoded by rtcN is composed of a condensation domain, an adenylation domain likely specific for d-leucine, and a thiolation domain. rtcK codes for a PKS that is composed of a ketosynthase domain, an acyl-carrier protein domain, and a thioesterase domain. The products of rtcA, rtcB, and rtcC are homologous to the diacetylphloroglucinol-biosynthetic proteins PhlABC and may acetylate the tetramic acid moiety produced by RtcN and RtcK, forming reutericyclin. Deletion of rtcN or rtcABC in L. reuteri TMW1.656 abrogated reutericyclin production but did not affect resistance to reutericyclin. Genes coding for transport and regulatory proteins could be deleted only in the reutericyclin-negative L. reuteri strain TMW1.656ΔrtcN, and these deletions eliminated reutericyclin resistance. The genomic analyses suggest that the reutericyclin genomic island was horizontally acquired from an unknown source during a unique event. The combination of PhlABC homologues with both an NRPS and a PKS has also been identified in the lactic acid bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus plantarum, suggesting that the genes in these organisms and those in L. reuteri share an evolutionary origin.
Ultimate Masticatory Force as a Criterion in Implant Selection

Osseointegrated implants often fail because of excessive masticatory forces that cause extremely large stresses in bone tissue. We hypothesized that a proper dental implant could be selected by comparing the ultimate masticatory forces of a wide range of commercially available implants. We determined ultimate oblique masticatory forces for different cylindrical implants, taking into consideration the biomechanical correlation between implant dimensions and stresses in supporting bone. For this purpose, we used the finite element (FE) method and studied von Mises stresses in implant-bone interface areas to evaluate the influence of implant dimensions on stress concentration and on the value of an implant’s ultimate masticatory load. Geometric models of a mandibular segment were generated from computed tomography (CT) images and were analyzed with osseointegrated cylindrical implants. Masticatory forces were applied in their natural direction. All materials were assumed to be linearly elastic and isotropic. Critical point in the peri-implant area of bone was determined. The ultimate value of the masticatory load, which generates ultimate stresses at the critical point, was calculated for each implant. These findings provide correct selection of implant dimensions in clinical cases, because corresponding ultimate values of masticatory force were used as a criterion for assessment of their load-carrying capacity and applicability.
First-Line Treatment in the Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori: where are we now?

Aim: Helicobacter pylori (HP) are the most common human infectious agent worldwide. Approximately half of the patients remain infected after ‘eradication’ treatment with the triple regimen of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin (AMO), and clarithromycin (CLA). In this study, this PPI-based triple regimen was compared to a quadruple regimen, including bismuth citrate (BC), a PPI, metronidazole (MET), and tetracycline (TET), and BPMT. Methods: Total 215 patients who were treated with lansoprozole (LAN), AMO and CLA (LAC); and another 210 patients who were treated with BPMT for 14 days for the purpose of HP eradication between January 2011 and April 2014 were included in this study. The treatment period was 14 days for both groups. Results: Demographic characteristics and endoscopic findings were similar in both groups. The HP eradication rate was % 53.4 in the LAC group, and it was %78.5 in the BPMT group (P< 0.05). The rates of non-compliance with treatment and side effects were higher in the BPMT group (P< 0.05). Among all, 55 patients in the LAC group and 110 patients in the BPMT group were reported to have had difficulties conforming to the treatment (P = 0.020). In the questionnaire on the side effects of the drugs, 30 patients in the LAC group and 90 in the BPMT group gave positive answers (P = 0.006). The most frequently reported side effects were dry mouth and metallic taste. The eradication rates were % 53.4 in the LAC regimen, and %78.5 in the BPMT regimen. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.026). Conclusion: The efficacy of LAC for HP eradication in Turkey has diminished due to high microbial resistance to antibiotics. The BPMT regimen should be considered a first-line treatment because of its higher eradication rate. We suggest that BPMT could be accepted as a firstline treatment for acute HP infection. LAC is an alternative treatment for a select group of patients.
Orthogonal Terrain Guarding is NP-complete

A terrain is an x-monotone polygonal curve, i.e., successive vertices have increasing x-coordinates. Terrain Guarding can be seen as a special case of the famous art gallery problem where one has to place at most $k$ guards on a terrain made of $n$ vertices in order to fully see it. In 2010, King and Krohn showed that Terrain Guarding is NP-complete [SODA '10, SIAM J. Comput. '11] thereby solving a long-standing open question. They observe that their proof does not settle the complexity of Orthogonal Terrain Guarding where the terrain only consists of horizontal or vertical segments; those terrains are called rectilinear or orthogonal. Recently, Ashok et al. [SoCG'17] presented an FPT algorithm running in time $k^{O(k)}n^{O(1)}$ for Dominating Set in the visibility graphs of rectilinear terrains without 180-degree vertices. They ask if Orthogonal Terrain Guarding is in P or NP-hard. In the same paper, they give a subexponential-time algorithm running in $n^{O(\sqrt n)}$ (actually even $n^{O(\sqrt k)}$) for the general Terrain Guarding and notice that the hardness proof of King and Krohn only disproves a running time $2^{o(n^{1/4})}$ under the ETH. Hence, there is a significant gap between their $2^{O(n^{1/2} \log n)}$-algorithm and the no $2^{o(n^{1/4})}$ ETH-hardness implied by King and Krohn's result. In this paper, we answer those two remaining questions. We adapt the gadgets of King and Krohn to rectilinear terrains in order to prove that even Orthogonal Terrain Guarding is NP-complete. Then, we show how their reduction from Planar 3-SAT (as well as our adaptation for rectilinear terrains) can actually be made linear (instead of quadratic).
rTMS STIMULATION ON LEFT DLPFC AFFECTS EMOTIONAL CUE RETRIEVAL AS A FUNCTION OF ANXIETY LEVEL AND GENDER

Anxiety behaviour showed a consistent attentional bias toward negative and aversive memories, induced by a right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) hyperactivation. In the present research, we explored the possible effect of rTMS (repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation) on the left DLPFC in memory retrieval of positive versus negative emotional words, to induce a balanced response between the two hemispheres. Moreover, the gender effect in emotional memory processing was verified as a function of the stimulus valence.
THE INFLUENCE OF PROFITABILITY AND DEBT POLICY TO FIRM VALUE WITH DIVIDEND POLICY AS INTERVENING VARIABLE (A CASE STUDY OF A MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN INDONESIA’S STOCK EXCHANGES 2012-2016)

The company encounters problems where the dividend policy is high and affects the low value of the firm. The purpose of this research is to analyze and prove empirically profitability and debt policy to company value. The population in this study are 130 manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange and the number of samples matching the criteria of 10 companies. Data analysis technique in this research is Gradual Linear Regression and Path Analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, the profitability has a positive effect and the debt policy has a negative and insignificant effect. While profitability to firm value have negative and not significant influence and debt policy have positive effect not significant. Dividend policy has a positive and significant effect on firm value and is able to mediate profitability and debt policy to company value. Keywords: Profitability, Debt Policy, Dividend Policy and Corporate Value
Nursing Students' Attitudes toward Death

This descriptive study tested: 1) whether a change in attitude toward death and the dying was associated with the clinical course, “Nursing of the Adult Patient with Malignant Neoplastic Disease,” and 2) the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, Death Attitude Indicator. Data were collected by pre- and posttesting 40 senior nursing students, half of whom had elected to take the course, within the interval of one semester. Results showed no change in attitude in either group conflicting data raised a question of whether the two groups began the study with similar attitudes toward death. Two factors were found to be associated with the respondent's score on the questionnaire: experience with a family death and indication of a belief in a Supreme Being.
Regulation of the multidrug resistance transporter P‐glycoprotein in multicellular tumor spheroids by hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 and reactive oxygen species

Hypoxia in tumors is generally associated with chemoresistance and radioresistance. However, the correlation between the heterodimeric hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) and the multidrug resistance transporter P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) has not been investigated. Herein, we demonstrate that with increasing size of DU‐145 prostate multicellular tumor spheroids the pericellular oxygen pressure and the generation of reactive oxygen species decreased, whereas the α‐subunit of HIF‐1 (HIF‐1α) and P‐gp were up‐regulated. Furthermore, P‐gp was up‐regulated under experimental physiological hypoxia and chemical hypoxia induced by either cobalt chloride or desferrioxamine. The pro‐oxidants H2O2 and buthionine sulfoximine down‐regulated HIF‐1α and P‐gp, whereas up‐regulation was achieved with the radical scavengers dehydroascorbate, N‐acetylcysteine, and vitamin E. The correlation of HIF‐1α and P‐gp expression was validated by the use of hepatoma tumor spheroids that were either wild type (Hepa1) or mutant (Hepa1C4) for aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), i.e., HIF‐1β. Chemical hypoxia robustly increased HIF‐1α as well as P‐gp expression in Hepa1 tumor spheroids, whereas no changes were observed in Hepa1C4 spheroids. Hence, our data demonstrate that expression of P‐gp in multicellular tumor spheroids is under the control of HIF‐1.