Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insider Ownership and Dividend Policy in an Imputation Tax Environment

Firms are more likely to pay dividends with higher payout ratios in an imputation environment. The effects of profitability and earned/contributed capital mix on the decision to pay dividends and dividend payout are weaker for firms following imputation tax system than traditional tax system. Insider ownership is positively related to the decision to pay dividends and dividend payout and this effect does not vary between traditional and imputation tax systems. Firms with higher foreign institutional ownership are less likely to pay dividends and have lower payout ratios. The study demonstrates the significance of the imputation tax system upon dividend policy.
Overexpression of EIF‐5A2 predicts tumor recurrence and progression in pTa/pT1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

The authors investigated the status of abnormalities of eIF‐5A2 gene in superficial (pTa/pT1) urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UC), as well as its correlation with clinicopathologic variables and patient outcome. The methods of immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Wetern blotting were utilized to examine protein/mRNA(messenger RNA) expression and amplification of eIF‐5A2 in a cohort of pTa/pT1 UCs. Overexpression of EIF‐5A2 was examined by IHC in 38/112 (33.9%) pTa/pT1 UCs. A significant association of overexpression of EIF‐5A2 with shortened UC patient recurrence‐free survival (P = 0.002), as well as with shortened progression‐free survival (P = 0.004), was demonstrated. Importantly, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that EIF‐5A2 expression provided a significant independent prognostic parameter either in tumor recurrence (P = 0.002) or in tumor progression (P = 0.007). FISH results demonstrated that eIF‐5A2 amplification was detected in 5/59 of the informative UCs; in each of the five cases with eIF‐5A2 amplification, overexpression of EIF‐5A2 was observed. In the remaining 54 UCs without eIF‐5A2 amplification, 16 cases were also observed to have overexpression of EIF‐5A2. In 13 pairs of UC and adjacent normal tissues, eight UCs were examined and showed up‐regulated eIF‐5A2 mRNA by RT‐PCR, while increased expression of EIF‐5A2 protein was only detected in 4/8 UCs by Western blotting. These findings suggest that overexpression of EIF‐5A2, as detected by IHC, may predict tumor recurrence and progression in pTa/pT1 UC patients, and the protein expression of eIF‐5A2 might be regulated not only by gene amplification, but also by other molecular mechanisms. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 896–902)
Prevalence and Psychological Correlates of Postnatal Depression in Rural Taiwanese Women

This descriptive longitudinal cohort study investigated the prevalence and psychological risk factors for depression in new mothers living in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan. Expectant mothers (n = 236) were recruited through antenatal clinics, and 162 participants were followed up at 6 weeks postpartum. The estimated prevalence of probable depression (at a cut-off score ≧ 13 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) was 17.3% before birth and 24.1% after birth. Several risk factors for postnatal depression were identified, including maternal self-esteem, antenatal depression, and psychiatric morbidity. The regression of intention on predictive variables yielded an adjusted R2 of.70. The findings can help clinical nurses effectively recognize and implement risk mitigation plans for the health benefits of rural childbearing women.
Not Merely a Matter of Drawing Arrows: The Empirical Consequences of Measurement Model Specification and Recommendations for Practice

Understanding measurement model specification is especially important for hospitality research due to its cross-disciplinary nature and the prevalence of measures used in the field which are often central to the formative versus reflective debate (e.g., SERVQUAL, socioeconomic status). The current study contributes to this topic by providing empirically based prescriptive advice to drive better measurement model specification. Specifically, the decision-making procedures developed by this study can complement theoretical reasons for a model choice as well as help determine a correct model choice when theories are equivocal or non-existent. This study combines actual and simulated data to show that model fit statistics alone cannot determine which model specification is correct, but also that a correct measurement model will generate more accurate predictions within a model which in turn will offer more accurate managerial recommendations.
Atomic resolution structures of Escherichia coli and Bacillus anthracis malate synthase A: Comparison with isoform G and implications for structure‐based drug discovery

Enzymes of the glyoxylate shunt are important for the virulence of pathogenic organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans. Two isoforms have been identified for malate synthase, the second enzyme in the pathway. Isoform A, found in fungi and plants, comprises ∼530 residues, whereas isoform G, found only in bacteria, is larger by ∼200 residues. Crystal structures of malate synthase isoform G from Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were previously determined at moderate resolution. Here we describe crystal structures of E. coli malate synthase A (MSA) in the apo form (1.04 Å resolution) and in complex with acetyl‐coenzyme A and a competitive inhibitor, possibly pyruvate or oxalate (1.40 Å resolution). In addition, a crystal structure for Bacillus anthracis MSA at 1.70 Å resolution is reported. The increase in size between isoforms A and G can be attributed primarily to an inserted α/β domain that may have regulatory function. Upon binding of inhibitor or substrate, several active site loops in MSA undergo large conformational changes. However, in the substrate bound form, the active sites of isoforms A and G from E. coli are nearly identical. Considering that inhibitors bind with very similar affinities to both isoforms, MSA is as an excellent platform for high‐resolution structural studies and drug discovery efforts.
Neuropsychological impairment in human immunodeficiency virus‐infection: implications for employment. HNRC Group. HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center.

&NA; Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus‐Type 1 (HIV‐1), are at increased risk for neurobehavioral impairment, particularly in later stages of the disease. Even patients in the medically asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic stages of infection may show mild deficits on comprehensive neuropsychological (NP) test batteries, although the clinical significance of such deficits remains uncertain. The present study used vocational difficulties as markers of clinical significance of NP impairment. In a sample of 289 HIV‐infected, nondemented men, those who evidenced NP impairment had a higher unemployment rate (p < .001) than did their unimpaired counterparts. In HIV‐positive subjects who remained employed, NP impairment was strongly associated with subjective decreases in job‐related abilities. Neither depression nor medical symptoms could explain the relationship between the NP impairment and employment problems. These results are consistent with previous studies investigating other neuropsychiatric disorders, which suggest that even mild NP impairment can interfere with employment status. From this standpoint, such impairment in HIV‐infected persons may be described as “clinically significant. ”
High‐dose retinoic acid modulates rat calvarial osteoblast biology

Retinoic acid has been shown to adversely affect craniofacial development. Cleft palate and craniosynostosis are two examples of craniofacial defects associated with prenatal exposure to this agent. Although the effects of retinoic acid on cephalic neural crest‐derived tissues have previously been studied, the specific effects of retinoic acid on the cellular biology of osteoblasts remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze in detail the effects of pharmacologic doses of retinoic acid on the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts derived from an intramembranous source. Primary rat calvarial osteoblasts were established in culture and treated with 1 or 10 μM all‐trans‐retinoic acid. Retinoic acid treatment markedly increased expression of osteopontin up to 48 h after stimulation. Consistent with this early stage of differentiation, both mRNA and protein analysis of FGF receptor isoforms demonstrated a switch in predominance from fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (fgfr2) to fgfr1. Analysis of PCNA protein confirmed inhibition of proliferation by retinoic acid. To determine whether these alterations in osteoblast biology would lead to increased differentiation, we examined short term [alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity] and long term (von Kossa staining) surrogates of bone formation in vitro. These assays confirmed that retinoic acid increased osteogenesis, with a 4‐fold increase in bone nodule formation in cells treated with 10 μM retinoic acid after 28 days. Overall, our results demonstrated that pharmacologic doses of all‐trans‐retinoic acid decreased osteoblast proliferation and increased differentiation, suggesting that retinoic acid may effect craniofacial development by pathologically enhancing osteogenesis. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Overview of a crash energy management specification for passenger rail equipment

At the request of METROLINK, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), with the Federal Transit Administration and the American Public Transportation Association, formed the ad hoc Crash Energy Management Working Group in May 2005. This group developed recommendations for crush zones in passenger rail cars for METROLINK to include in its procurement specification. The Volpe Center provided the Working Group with technical information from the research on passenger rail equipment crashworthiness it is conducting for FRA. METROLINK released its specification, including the recommendations from the Working Group, on September 16, 2005, as part of an invitation forbid. The specification includes three levels of requirements: train, car, and mechanism. The train level requirements specify a collision scenario for which there must be no intrusion into the occupied areas and limits on the relative velocities at which the operator and passenger may impact interior surfaces. The car and mechanism level requirements follow from the train level requirements. The car level requirements include specifications for a cab end crush zone capable of absorbing 3.0 million ft-lbs of energy and a non-cab end crush zone capable of absorbing 2.0 million ft-lbs. There are also specifications on the crush zone kinematics and on the target force/crush characteristics. Mechanism level requirements include specifications for the coupling mechanism, the load transfer mechanism, and the principal energy absorption mechanism. The coupling mechanism permits the coupler to push back, allowing the ends of adjacent cars to remain aligned and come together during an impact. The load transfer mechanism transmits the load from the adjacent equipment into the crush zone in a manner that allows the principal energy absorption mechanism to function as intended. The cab end load transfer mechanism can include a deformable LD that acts similarly to an automobile bumper, and resolves eccentric impact loads into loads that can be appropriately reacted by the supporting structure. The principal energy absorption mechanism is the section of the carbody structure intended to deform gracefully and to provide most of the required energy absorption. The specification prescribes performance for the train, the cab and trailer cars, and the mechanisms. Each requirement includes quantitative criteria for evaluation of compliance. The Working Group extensively discussed various evaluation methodologies, including non-linear large deformation finite element analysis and dynamic component tests, and worked to assure that practical evaluation methodologies are available for each requirement. For components critical to the functioning of the crush zone, tests are required. This paper describes the requirements, the associated criteria, and the available evaluation techniques. The technical bases driving the need for each of the requirements are discussed.
Group B Streptococcal Surface Proteins as Targets for Protective Antibodies: Identification of Two Novel Proteins in Strains of Serotype V

ABSTRACT Strains of group B streptococcus (GBS) express surface proteins that confer protective immunity. In particular, most strains of the four classical capsular serotypes (Ia, Ib, II, and III) express either of the Rib and α proteins, two members of the same protein family. Here, we report a study of surface proteins expressed by strains of serotype V, which has recently emerged as an important serotype among GBS strains causing serious disease. Two novel GBS proteins were identified, purified, and characterized. One of these proteins, designated Fbs, was immunologically unrelated to other GBS surface proteins. This ∼110-kDa protein was found in 15 of 49 (31%) type V isolates but in few strains of other serotypes. The Fbs proteins expressed by different strains showed limited variation in size. The most common surface protein among type V strains, found in 29 of 49 (59%) isolates, was designated Rib-like, since it cross-reacted with Rib but was not immunologically identical to Rib. Characterization of this Rib-like protein showed that the N-terminal sequence (12 residues) was identical to that of α, although these two proteins lacked cross-reactivity. The biochemical and immunological properties of the Rib-like GBS protein indicate that it is closely related to the R28 protein of Streptococcus pyogenes. Importantly, passive and active immunization experiments with mice showed that the Fbs and Rib-like proteins are targets for protective antibodies. These two proteins are therefore of interest for analysis of pathogenic mechanisms and for vaccine development.
A Comparison of the Structural Factors of the Propensity for Abusiveness Scale for Women and Men in a Domestic Violence Treatment Program

Court-mandated domestic violence (DV) treatment programs across the country have seen a marked increase in female clients. These programs use a variety of measurement tools to assess the needs of their clients. Increased numbers of women in treatment for DV reflect a need to address the measurement of intimate partner violence (IPV) for both males and females. Unfortunately, the reliability and validity of many of measures used to assess IPV and related constructs for women remains unknown. The current study focuses on a particular measure, the Propensity for Abusiveness Scale (PAS). The PAS is not a measure of abusive behavior per se; rather, it assesses risk factors for abuse, including affective lability, anger expression, trauma symptoms, and harsh parenting experienced by the respondent. Specifically, the current study compares the factor structure and the measurement properties of the PAS for males and females in a sample of 885 (647 female, 238 male) participants in a DV treatment program. Findings indicate that the PAS demonstrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance between the female and male samples. These results suggest that it is appropriate for researchers and clinicians to make comparisons between women and men based on PAS factor scores.
Redox Regulation of Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 Activity*

Background: The N-terminal methionine in new eukaryote proteins is removed by methionine aminopeptidases, but how these enzymes are regulated is not known. Results: Methionine aminopeptidase 2 contains a single disulfide bond that exists in oxidized and reduced states and influences enzyme function. Conclusion: MetAP2 is regulated by an allosteric disulfide bond. Significance: This has implications for MetAP2 substrate proteins and other similar enzymes. Protein translation is initiated with methionine in eukaryotes, and the majority of proteins have their N-terminal methionine removed by methionine aminopeptidases (MetAP1 and MetAP2) prior to action. Methionine removal can be important for protein function, localization, or stability. No mechanism of regulation of MetAP activity has been identified. MetAP2, but not MetAP1, contains a single Cys228-Cys448 disulfide bond that has an −RHStaple configuration and links two β-loop structures, which are hallmarks of allosteric disulfide bonds. From analysis of crystal structures and using mass spectrometry and activity assays, we found that the disulfide bond exists in oxidized and reduced states in the recombinant enzyme. The disulfide has a standard redox potential of −261 mV and is efficiently reduced by the protein reductant, thioredoxin, with a rate constant of 16,180 m−1 s−1. The MetAP2 disulfide bond also exists in oxidized and reduced states in glioblastoma tumor cells, and stressing the cells by oxygen or glucose deprivation results in more oxidized enzyme. The Cys228-Cys448 disulfide is at the rim of the active site and is only three residues distant from the catalytic His231, which suggested that cleavage of the bond would influence substrate hydrolysis. Indeed, oxidized and reduced isoforms have different catalytic efficiencies for hydrolysis of MetAP2 peptide substrates. These findings indicate that MetAP2 is post-translationally regulated by an allosteric disulfide bond, which controls substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency.
Impact of Personality on Career Success of the Employees in the Sri Lankan Banking Sector in Western Province

Area of the Study As an important determinant of career success of an employee, this study is to investigate the impact of personality on career success of employees in Sri Lankan banking sector. There is an empirical and knowledge gap in the Sri Lankan context on this research area. Problem of the Study The major objective of this research study is to examine whether personality has an impact on the career success of the employees in Sri Lankan Banking sector. The research problem of this study: whether personality has an impact on the career success of the employees in the Sri Lankan banking sector in Western province. Method of the Study The data were collected from a convenient sample of 150 employees in commercial banks in Sri Lanka by using a structured questionnaire which consisted of 59 questions. Data was analyzed using univariate analysis, correlation and regression analysis with the SPSS 16.0 (Version). Findings of the Study According to the findings of the study personality has an impact on career success. Extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness relate with objective career success positively and further emphasizing positive relationship between conscientiousness and subjective career success. Justifying the empirical evidences it is revealed that there is a negative relationship between neuroticism and both objective and subjective career success. Conclusion of the Study It is concluded that individual’s personality traits influence the objective and subjective career success. Overall personality has an impact on career success of the employees in the Sri Lankan banking sector in Western province. Keywords: Personality, Big Five Model, Objective Career Success, Subjective Career Success
Serum tumor markers and cyst fluid analysis are useful for the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic tumors

This study was performed to evaluate the utility of serum and cyst fluid analysis for enzymes (amylase and lipase) and tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19‐9, CA 125, and CA 72‐4) in the differential diagnosis of cystic pancreatic lesions.
Modified constraint‐induced movement therapy after childhood stroke

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate feasibility, tolerability, and effect of modified constraint‐induced movement therapy (mCIT) in children with hemiparesis after arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS). Children with chronic hemiparesis and impaired hand function after AIS had mCIT for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Pre‐ and post‐therapy assessments included indices of sensorimotor function, quality of upper limb movement, functional therapy goals, and child and parent interviews. Of eight participants initially recruited, six (one male, five females) completed mCIT (median age 12y 3mo; range 6y 10mo–15y 2mo). Hemiparesis was predominantly spastic in three participants and dystonic in the others; all had severely impaired hand function. After mCIT there were no significant improvements in sensorimotor function or quality of upper limb movement. However, all children improved in individual therapy goals related to functional performance. Children and parents were positive about mCIT. The use of mCIT is a promising intervention for children with chronic acquired hemiparesis. In this severely impaired group functional improvements were seen after therapy despite unchanged sensorimotor measures.
Osmophobia in Juvenile Primary Headaches

This study was planned to investigate the prevalence of osmophobia in juvenile headache sufferers and to analyse the diagnostic utility of osmophobia in order to distinguish migraine without aura from episodic tension-type headache. We examined 305 consecutive patients presenting at our Paediatric Headache Centre. A semistructured questionnaire was given to 275 selected patients affected by migraine or tension-type headache. The prevalence of osmophobia during attacks was 18.5%, mainly in migraine patients (25.1%) vs. those with tension-type headache (8.3%). Osmophobia showed more specificity than phonophobia or photophobia in the differential diagnosis between migraine and tension-type headache. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that osmophobia resulted in a symptom with poor sensitivity (27.1%) but high specificity (92%) that could become a supportive diagnostic criterion even in children for the differential diagnosis between migraine without aura and tension-type headache.
Lymphoepithelioma-Like Cholangiocarcinoma: An Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Tumor

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to carcinomas of several body sites, especially of the nasopharynx, salivary gland, lung, and stomach. We present five cases of lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma, including one that had been previously reported. Two patients were men and three were women. Their ages ranged from 42 to 66 years. Histologically, all five tumors were composed of variable proportions of undifferentiated epithelial cells and glandular components in a lymphocyte-rich stroma. EBV was detected in all five tumors by in situ hybridization for EBER-1 in both lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and glandular parts, but not in 36 cases of cholangiocarcinoma without the LELC component. Taken together, these observations indicate that lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma is strongly linked to EBV. The LELC type of cholangiocarcinoma, like LELC of other body sites, may be more common in areas with endemic EBV infection.