Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of National Recognition on the Influence of Credit Rating Agencies: The Case of Dominion Bond Rating Service

Much of the influence of rating agencies such as Moody’s and S&P may be attributed to their status as Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSRO). Only ten rating agencies worldwide including Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS), a Canadian agency, have obtained NRSRO accreditation as of 2008. The study is the first attempt to investigate the relationship between NRSRO designation and rating agency influence. We find that ratings for the pre-NRSRO period are distinctly higher than those from the post-NRSRO period. In addition, DBRS sharply increased the frequency of new ratings to non-Canadian firms and expanded unsolicited credit ratings significantly after recognition. We also find that stock price reactions to the announcements of rating downgrades in the post-NRSRO period are equivalent to those in the pre-NRSRO period. While stock prices react significantly to rating downgrades of Canadian firms in both periods, we find no significant price reactions for those of non-Canadian firms for either period. We conclude that NRSRO designation does not amplify the influence of a rating agency.
Measuring the brand category through semantic differentiation

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the cognitive processing mechanisms of concepts and categories by examining the methodologies behind how branded‐product concepts behave in the second of two co‐incident alternative constructs – as a member of a product category, and in some cases, as a category by itself. General proposals for such mechanisms present language as a facilitator in the process. Therefore, linguistic concept assessment models are proposed to confirm the “brand as category” hypothesis evident in an example brand.Design/methodology/approach – The study extended conventional semantic differentiation (SD) methodologies; sets of bi‐polar measures of concept properties describing the concept “semantic space”, to the brand category. Through iteration, the SD tool is refined and the effects of weighted scales understood.Findings – The results provide evidence that some brands do act as categories, with clearly identifiable exemplar positions within the brand‐category “semantic space”. Practical im.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms in 13 Chinese ethnic populations

It has been shown that the polymorphisms of Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are associated with susceptibility to several disorders including hyperhomocysteinemia, vascular disease, birth defect, and certain cancers, and exhibit great diversities among various populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of two common non‐synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (i.e., C677T and A1298C) at MTHFR gene in 13 Chinese populations. A total of 1015 healthy individuals from 13 populations distributed widely from north to south in China were studied. DNA samples were isolated from peripheral blood samples and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism. For C677T polymorphism, the frequency in Chinese of CC homozygous was 42.4%; CT heterozygous was 49.8%; and TT homozygous was 7.9%. For A1298C, AA homozygous was 39.2%; AC heterozygous was 38.6%; and CC homozygous was 22.2%. The allelic frequency of 677T and 1298C was 32.8 and 41.5%, respectively, and each allele frequency had significant variance in 13 Chinese populations. The frequency of the 677T allele among southern populations was 30.7% compared to 38.0% among northeastern and 30.5% among northwestern populations. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The frequency of 1298C mutation in southerns was 58.9% whereas in northeasterns it was 24.0% and 37.6% in northwesterns. This was also statistically significant (p < 0.01). The MTHFR C677T and A1298C sites were in linkage disequilibrium in the Chinese population revealed by our data. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Feasibility of Dual Flip Angle-Based Fast 3-Dimensional T1 Mapping for Delayed Gadolinium-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cartilage of the Knee: A Histologically Controlled Study

Objective The aim of the study was to validate dual-flip angle-based fast 3-dimensional (3D) T1 mapping for delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cartilage (dGEMRIC) by means of histological analyses in the assessment of the cartilage of the knee in a porcine model. Methods A total of 15 mini pigs were included in this study. The left knee anterior cruciate ligaments of all mini pigs were transected. The mini pigs were divided into 3 groups postoperatively, with 5 pigs randomly assigned to 1 group. Dual-flip angle-based fast T1 mapping for dGEMRIC was obtained in the sagittal planes at 0 week (group 1), 3 weeks (group 2), and 6 weeks (group 3) after operation, using an 8-channel knee coil. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 3T with dual-flip angle-based fast 3D T1 mapping sequence for morphological cartilage assessment of dGEMRIC T1 values. After MRI analysis, histological and biochemical composition (water, collagen, and glycosaminoglycan [GAG]) of the knee cartilage in the medial femoral condyle was quantified ex vivo. Results The T1 values obtained by the dual-flip angle-based fast 3D T1 mapping were positively correlated with the glycosaminoglycan content (r = 0.85; P < 0.05). The values had no significant correlation with the collagen content. The dGEMRIC-T1 values obtained by this method showed the medial femoral condyle cartilage in the anterior cruciate ligament-transected knee after transection decreased with time (P < 0.05). Histological sections of cartilage damage were correlated with MRI data. Conclusions This study demonstrated the reliability of using dual-flip angle-based fast T1 mapping for dGEMRIC for the biochemical assessment of early cartilage degeneration. This technique is a powerful tool for researchers and clinicians to acquire sufficient resolution data within a reasonable scan time.
Differential Resting State Connectivity Patterns and Impaired Semantically Cued List Learning Test Performance in Early Course Remitted Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract Objectives: There is a well-known association between memory impairment and major depressive disorder (MDD). Additionally, recent studies are also showing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsMRI) abnormalities in active and remitted MDD. However, no studies to date have examined both rs connectivity and memory performance in early course remitted MDD, nor the relationship between connectivity and semantically cued episodic memory. Methods: The rsMRI data from two 3.0 Tesla GE scanners were collected from 34 unmedicated young adults with remitted MDD (rMDD) and 23 healthy controls (HCs) between 18 and 23 years of age using bilateral seeds in the hippocampus. Participants also completed a semantically cued list-learning test, and their performance was correlated with hippocampal seed-based rsMRI. Regression models were also used to predict connectivity patterns from memory performance. Results: After correcting for sex, rMDD subjects performed worse than HCs on the total number of words recalled and recognized. rMDD demonstrated significant in-network hypoactivation between the hippocampus and multiple fronto-temporal regions, and multiple extra-network hyperconnectivities between the hippocampus and fronto-parietal regions when compared to HCs. Memory performance negatively predicted connectivity in HCs and positively predicted connectivity in rMDD. Conclusions Even when individuals with a history of MDD are no longer displaying active depressive symptoms, they continue to demonstrate worse memory performance, disruptions in hippocampal connectivity, and a differential relationship between episodic memory and hippocampal connectivity. (JINS, 2016, 22, 225–239)
Nonlinear conduction and surface potential decay of epoxy/SiC nanocomposites

The nonlinear conduction of polymeric insulation may solve the surface charge accumulation, avoiding the distortion of electric field and the flashover phenomenon. As the silicon carbide (SiC) powder is usually used to improve the nonlinear conduction of polymer composites, the epoxy/SiC nanocomposites are prepared and the dc conductivity, permittivity and isothermal surface potential decay characteristics are investigated. The experimental results show that the conduction of high filler loading is field dependent and is attributed to a new conduction mechanism. The permittivity is closely related to the interaction zone around nanoparticles. The isothermal surface potential decay characteristics are greatly affected by the charging polarity, charging level and filler loading. The investigation indicates that the nonlinear conduction plays an important role in the surface potential decay.
High-Performance $\hbox{GdBa}_{2}\hbox{Cu}_{3} \hbox{O}_{7 - {x}}$ Superconducting Film Prepared Using an Advanced Low-Fluorine Solution

An advanced low-fluorine GdBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub> O<sub>7-x</sub> (GBCO) precursor solution was prepared using barium, gadolinium, and copper acetates as starting materials; lactic acid, methacrylic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid as additives; and methanol as a solvent. The gel-film cast from this solution consisted of Gd trifluoroacetate and fluorine-free Ba and Cu salts. The BaCO<sub>3</sub>-free precursor was obtained through the pyrolysis of the gel film. After firing at 820 <sup>°</sup>C, the precursor was finally transformed to a phase-pure GBCO film. The critical current density (<i>J</i><sub>c</sub>) of the GBCO film was measured to reach 3.3 MA/cm<sup>2</sup> (at 77 K, 0 T), and its critical transition temperature (<i>T</i><sub>c</sub>) was 92.6 K. During the pyrolyzing of the film, the relatively small amount of released fluorinated gases resulted in the rapid fabrication of GBCO film.
A 52-Week Study of the Efficacy of Rivastigmine in Patients with Mild to Moderately Severe Alzheimer’s Disease

The efficacy of a centrally active cholinesterase inhibitor, rivastigmine tartrate (ENA 713; Exelon®), in patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease was evaluated in a 26-week open-label extension of a 26-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. By 52 weeks, patients originally treated with 6–12 mg/day rivastigmine had significantly better cognitive function than patients originally treated with placebo.
Water Markets in the West: Prices, Trading, and Contractual Forms

Rising urban and environmental demand for water has created growing pressure to re-allocate water from traditional agricultural uses. The evolution of water markets has been more complicated than those for other resources. In this paper, we first explain these differences by examining water rights and regulatory issues. Second, we place our research in the context of the economics literature on water marketing. Third, we present new, comprehensive data on prices and the extent, nature, and timing of water transfers across 12 western states from 1987-2005. We find that prices are higher for agriculture-to-urban trades versus within-agriculture trades, in part, reflecting the differences in marginal values between the two uses. Prices for urban use are also growing relative to agricultural use. Markets are responding in that the number of agriculture-to-urban transactions is rising, whereas the number of agriculture-to-agriculture transfers is not. Further, there is a shift from using short-term leases to using multi-year leases of water and permanent sales of water rights. This pattern underscores the need to consider the amounts of water obligated over time, rather than examining only annual flows in assessing the quantities of water traded as is the common practice in the literature. Considering water obligated over time, termed committed water, we find significantly more is transferred and the direction of trading is different than if the focus is on annual flows. Finally, the data reveal considerable variation in water trading across the states.
Trust me, would i steer you wrong? the influence of peer recommendations within virtual communities

This dissertation examines the impact of on-line interpersonal communication that occurs during consumer search processes for specific products on the Internet. While on-line communities have existed for many years, only recently have e-tailers begun to seriously examine the link between on-line word-of-mouth communication and on-line sales. The success of Internet sites such as E-pinions, where consumers share product related information, seems to indicate that communication between consumers can exert significant influence on the search process and the final purchase decision for specific products. The fact that the Internet provides consumers with a vast amount of product information and that there is now a proliferation of online peer reviewers who provide their own product evaluations raises several important questions. Do factors that are relevant to recommender selection within traditional word of mouth communication, such as tie-strength and recommender expertise, influence interpersonal communication within on-line environments? What source related factors influence consumer trust in the peer reviewer and do these vary depending on the purchase goal? We focus on consumer trust as the central construct that mediates the extent to which peer communication influences the decision-making process. Utilizing a three-dimensional conceptualization of trust as comprising of beliefs about competence, affiliation and moral integrity, we examine peer reviewer characteristics that could differentially impact these three dimensions. Specifically, we examine the importance of expertise and tie-strength within the context of trust formation during on-line decision-making. We hypothesize that each of these variables may influence trust more or less depending on the purchase context (e.g., utilitarian versus hedonic consumption). Specifically, we examine how the competence component of trust is related to the perceived expertise of the peer reviewer and how the affiliation component may be linked to the level of closeness (tie-strength) that exists between the consumer and the peer reviewer. We also manipulate the purchase goals of the consumer to show that the influence of peer recommender expertise and tie-strength can vary widely depending on the specific purchase objective.
Genetic Diversity and Tissue Compartmentalization of the Hepatitis C Virus Genome in Blood Mononuclear Cells, Liver, and Serum from Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

ABSTRACT The degree of genetic variability in the hypervariable region 1 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was analyzed by cloning and sequencing HCV genomes obtained in paired samples of serum, liver tissue, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from four chronic hepatitis C patients. Genetic variability in serum was higher than in liver tissue or PBMC at the level of complexity (the number of different sequences obtained from each type of tissue) as well as at the level of genetic distance between all pairs of sequences within each tissue (compared by the Student t test; P < 0.001 for two patients and P < 0.01 for another). The spectrum of viral genomes differed among the three types of tissue, as shown by segregation of sequences according to their tissue of origin in phylogenetic analysis and by statistical analysis of mean genetic distances observed between sequences obtained from different tissues (P < 0.001), but sequences from liver tissue and PBMC were more closely related to each other than to those from serum.
Variation in the perception of quality with lifestage in retail banking

Quality is seen as a key strategic differentiator within the financial services sector, with most major players undertaking some form of quality initiative. Discusses work undertaken within TSB Bank plc to determine retail customer perceptions of those factors which determine service quality and whether or not lifestage affects perceptions of quality. Lifestage is considered important because of the potential conflict between the attraction of new customers in one group and retention of existing customers in other groups. Discusses a number of models of service quality and proposes one based on the three dimensions of process/outcome, subjective/objective and soft/hard. Discusses the effect of lifestage on perceptions/requirements in the context of this model and draws conclusions on the effect of lifestage on customer requirements in retail banking.
Combating Money-Laundering by the Financial Institutions: An Analysis of Challenges and Efforts in Bangladesh

Money laundering and measures to combat it have become the focus of an intense international effort. The effects of money laundering on economic development are difficult to quantify, however, it is clear that such activity damages the financial institutions, reduces productivity in the economy's real sector by encouraging crime and corruption, and can distort the economy's external sector. For developing countries to combat money laundering become more difficult than developed countries because of their inadequate regulatory environment and vulnerable financial system. The paper took a step in pointing out the effects and challenges of Money Laundering to the financial institutions in Bangladesh. The paper moves with elaborating the international developments and control mechanisms to deal with the problem of money laundering in the financial sector. In light of the aforesaid discussion the paper then proceeds to analyze the position of Bangladesh in terms of financial institutions in controlling money laundering keeping up with the mandate of international forum. The last part analyzed the data collected on the basis of questionnaire survey and tries to find out the current initiatives and challenges in the financial sector of Bangladesh to combat money laundering.
Overweight in polycystic ovary syndrome. An update on evidence based advice on diet, exercise and metformin use for weight loss.

AIM Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women affecting 5-10%. Nearly 50% are overweight or obese, which result in a more severe phenotype of PCOS. Weight loss is therefore considered the first line treatment in overweight women with PCOS. The aim of this study was to appoint evidence based and clinically applicable advises on weight loss in overweight women with PCOS. METHODS A review of the existing literature on weight loss through lifestyle modification and/or metformin treatment in overweight women with PCOS. The primary outcome was weight loss. The clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism and menstrual cyclicity were secondary outcomes. Metabolic parameters were not included in the present review. RESULTS Weight loss is most effectively achieved through a 12-1500 kcal/day diet, which results in a clinically relevant weight loss. The type of diet has no implications for degree of weight loss. Physical activity has no significant additive effect on weight loss. Metformin combined with a low calorie diet has subtle additive effect on weight loss and level of androgens when compared to diet alone. CONCLUSION Weight loss through life style changes, preferably a low calorie diet, should be the first line treatment in overweight/obese women with PCOS. Metformin can be considered as an additional treatment but has subtle additive effect.
Anniversary Reactions in Medical Patients

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and characteristics of anniversary reactions (somatic symptoms occurring at the anniversary of specific events) in a large sample of 1498 medical patients from different medical settings who underwent the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) and the Structured Interview for Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), which provide definition of anniversary reactions. In 54 (3.6%) of the 1498 patients for whom anniversary reaction was identified, 61.1% had a concurrent DSM-IV diagnosis. Other syndromes related to somatization, abnormal illness behavior, irritable mood, demoralization, and alexithymia were present in 9 of 10 cases. Symptoms of the conversion syndrome were found in 6 (0.4%) patients with the SCID and in 67 (4.5%) patients with the DCPR, 20% of whom also had anniversary reaction. The results should alert physicians to enquire about the timing of symptoms in relation to meaningful personal events.
Mechanism of NGF-induced formation of axonal filopodia

The formation of axon collateral branches is a fundamental aspect of the development of neuronal circuits. Emergence of axonal filopodia from the axon is the first step in the formation of axon collateral branches and pre-synaptic structures. Using embryonic sensory axons as a model system, we have determined that axonal filopodia are formed from transient accumulations of F-actin within the axon, termed actin patches. We found that the branch-inducing factor NGF induces the formation of axonal actin patches and filopodia. NGF signaling, through PI3K, promotes the formation of localized axonal microdomains of PIP3 accumulation. The microdomains in turn drive formation of actin patches. Under basal conditions, only a subset of actin patches gives rise to filopodia, and many patches dissipate without forming a filopodium. Neither NGF nor direct activation of PI3K affects the probability that an actin patch will give rise to a filopodium. Thus, NGF increases formation of axonal filopodia through localized PI3K signaling that promotes the initiation of actin patch precursors to the formation of axonal filopodia. The promotion of actin patch formation by NGF may be mediated through a PI3K-TOR pathway driving intra-axonal protein synthesis. We propose the hypothesis that NGF signaling “turns up the volume” on the mechanism of filopodial formation by increasing axonal levels of the cytoskeletal proteins required for the orchestration of actin patch formation by PIP3 microdomains.
Undergraduate nurse variables that predict academic achievement and clinical competence in nursing Ian Blackman

A hypothetical model was formulated to explore factors that influenced academic and clinical achievement for undergraduate nursing students. Sixteen latent variables were considered including the students’ background, gender, type of first language, age, their previous successes with their undergraduate nursing studies and status given for previous studies. The academic and clinical achievement of 179 undergraduate nursing students were estimated by measuring their performance using two separate assessment parameters, their completing grade point average scores and outcomes of their final clinical assessment. Models identifying pathways leading to academic and clinical achievement were tested using Partial Least Square Path Analysis (PLSPATH). The study’s results suggest that undergraduate nursing student achievement can be predicted by four variables, which account for 72 per cent of the variance of scores that assess academic and clinical performance at the completion of the third year level of nursing studies. The most significant predictors and those that had direct influence on undergraduate nursing student achievement were: (a) grades achieved in topics undertaken at the beginning of their last year of study and (b) those achieved just prior to course completion (c) where the undergraduate nursing students had undertaken their final allocation for clinical experience, and (d) students’ self rated need for clinical supervision at course completion. Measures of performance according the grade point average scores, student gender, age and type of first language used were not directly related to the performance outcomes.