Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meet the Press: Survey Evidence on Financial Journalists as Information Intermediaries

We survey 462 financial journalists and conduct 18 follow-up interviews to provide new insights into the inputs, incentives, and beliefs that shape their reporting. Our study offers several important findings. For example, when developing articles, financial journalists rely more heavily on private communication with company management than on public sources of information, and they usually interact directly with sell-side analysts—favoring experienced analysts over prominent or award-winning analysts—for insights about the company. We also find that journalists believe monitoring companies to hold them accountable is one of financial journalism’s most important objectives. They believe their negative articles are more impactful than other articles they write, but they often face backlash from management in response to unfavorable articles. Further, financial journalists have strong incentives to develop high-quality articles that contain exclusive content; nevertheless, they also have a taste for controversial topics. Finally, financial journalists’ personal traits shape their approach to journalism and even affect companies’ reactions to their reporting. Specifically, liberal journalists have stronger inclinations toward critical, watchdog journalism; and female journalists face more negative consequences from companies for writing unfavorable articles. We examine a wide range of other topics relevant to the literature on the business press, and our results provide multiple avenues for future research in this area.
Joining Standards Organizations: The Role of R&D Expenditures, Patents, and Product-Market Position

This paper studies collaborative innovation in the context of developing open technology standards coordinated by standards organizations. Using consolidated longitudinal data from the world’s largest R&D performing ﬁrms matched with membership information from 180 standards organizations, we analyze the ﬁrm-level determinants of the extent of participation in standards development. We identify a highly robust positive eﬀect of a ﬁrm’s R&D expenditure on its involvement in standards organizations, and ﬁnd this impact being further bolstered by the ﬁrm’s patenting intensity and/or product-market position. Exploiting exogenous variations induced by preferential tax treatment, we ﬁnd a causal positive eﬀect of patenting intensity on the participation of R&D-intensive ﬁrms in standards organizations. This eﬀect is, however, only signiﬁcant for membership in organizations developing standards potentially subject to Standard-Essential Patents. Our ﬁndings also underscore the signiﬁcant role of the ﬁrm’s product-market position in incentivizing engagement in standards development, as exempliﬁed by trademarking intensity, brand value or number of standard-compliant end product models. Managerial and policy implications are discussed. JEL
Intravenous Clonidine Decreases Minimum End-Tidal Isoflurane for Induction of Electroencephalographic Burst Suppression

The aim of this study was to determine the individual end-tidal isoflurane (ET ISO) threshold concentration for the induction of electroencephalographic (EEG) burst suppression with and without intravenous (IV) clonidine and to evaluate the EEG and cardiovascular response to skin incision during isoflurane/N2 O anesthesia. Thirty-nine patients (ASA physical status I or II, 20-68 yr of age) undergoing orthopedic surgery were randomly assigned to receive IV saline (n = 20) or IV clonidine (3 micro g/kg, n = 19). After detection of isoflurane-induced burst suppression, ET ISO was decreased in 0.1% ET steps until burst suppression diminished. Median minimum ET ISO for induction of burst suppression was 1.4% in the saline group and 0.9% in the clonidine group (P < 0.05). Before skin incision, EEG alpha 2 activity was significantly higher in the clonidine group compared with saline group. Fourteen patients (70%) in the saline group and 12 patients (63%) in the clonidine group showed a cardiovascular response to skin incision. After skin incision, EEG alpha 2 power was significantly decreased in both groups. A significant increase of delta activity was only found in the saline group. We conclude that the known minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration reduction of clonidine seems to be due to a direct cerebral action. (Anesth Analg 1997;85:193-8)
Polyclonal stimulation of resting B lymphocytes by antigen-specific T lymphocytes

Resting B lymphocytes are activated, proliferate, and differentiate into antibody-secreting cells when cultured with long-term lines of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted, antigen-specific T cell in the presence of the antigen for which the T cells are specific. Under optimal conditions, essentially all B cells are activated and approximately 35% enter S phase in the absence of antigens for which the B cells are specific. Activation and proliferation are observed in cells from both normal mice and mice with the xid-determined immune defect. Highly purified B cells bearing Ia molecules for which the T cells are "cospecific" can present antigen to T cells with the resulting T cell stimulation leading to the activation and proliferation of the antigen-presenting B cells. However, B cells that do not bear Ia molecules for which the T cells are cospecific are also activated and proliferate if antigen and a source of antigen-presenting B cells or macrophage-rich cells of proper histocompatibility type are present. Thus, resting B cells, both normal and "xid", can be activated by non-MHC restricted factors without receptor cross-linkage. Experiments are presented that support the concept that local production and action of such unrestricted activating factors may be responsible for the MHC-restriction of T cell-B cell interaction seen in many circumstances.
Is Socially Responsible Investing A Luxury Good

We investigate the time variability of abnormal returns from socially responsible investing (SRI). Using portfolio regressions and event studies on multiple data sources including analyst ratings, firm announcements and realized incidents, we consistently find that "good" stocks significantly outperform "bad'' stocks during good economic times, e.g., periods with high aggregate consumption and market valuation but underperform during bad times such as recessions. This is consistent with a wealth-dependent investor preference that is more favorable toward SRI during good times, resulting in higher temporary demand for SRI---similar to time-varying shifts in the demand for luxury goods.
Prevention of Islet Allograft Rejection with Engineered Myoblasts Expressing FasL in Mice

Allogeneic transplantation of islets of Langerhans was facilitated by the cotransplantation of syngeneic myoblasts genetically engineered to express the Fas ligand (FasL). Composite grafting of allogeneic islets with syngeneic myoblasts expressing FasL protected the islet graft from immune rejection and maintained normoglycemia for more than 80 days in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Graft survival was not prolonged with composite grafts of unmodified myoblasts or Fas-expressing myoblasts. Islet allografts transplanted separately from FasL-expressing myoblasts into the contralateral kidney were rejected, as were similarly transplanted third-party thyroid allografts. Thus, the FasL signal provided site- and immune-specific protection of islet allografts.
Polymorphism in the promoter region of von Willebrand factor gene and von Willebrand disease type 1

The -1185A/G polymorphism in the 5'-regulatory region of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene was associated with VWF plasma levels in a normal population. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether there is a relationship between this polymorphism and type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD), a disorder characterized by a quantitative deficiency of VWF. The association between this polymorphism and plasma VWF levels in normal Brazilian individuals was also analyzed. Control subjects (n = 460) and type 1 VWD patients (n = 41) were studied. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 864-bp VWF promoter region followed by AccII restriction-digestion was used to identify the -1185A/G genotypes. The -1185G allele frequency was 57% in normal individuals and 63% in type 1 VWD patients, this difference was not significant (p = 0.29). No significant association was observed between -1185A/G genotypes and VWF plasma levels in normal individuals, although VWF levels were in the same direction as those reported by another study, with subjects carrying the G allele having the lower levels. These results suggest that -1185A/G polymorphism is not associated with the partial deficiency of VWF in type 1 VWD patients.
Increased turnover of Gc-globulin in patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND A low serum level (< 100 mg/L) of the actin-scavenger Gc-globulin is a prognostic marker of non-survival in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). It is unknown whether decreased production or increased consumption (or both) is responsible for the low Gc-globulin levels. METHODS Ten patients with FHF and four patients with acute or chronic liver disease (AOCLD) with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) grades II-IV were included. Eight patients with cirrhosis (chronic liver disease, CLD) without HE served as controls. Total, free, and actin-bound Gc-globulin were measured in samples from an artery, a central vein, and a hepatic vein. In 12 patients (9 FHF, 3 AOCLD), concentrations were measured before and after high volume plasmapheresis (HVP). RESULTS Total Gc-globulin was reduced to 21%, 40%, and 43% of the normal level in the FHF, AOCLD, and CLD groups, respectively, whereas bound Gc-globulin was within normal range in all patients. The Gc:actin complex ratio was increased 3.8, 2.5, and 1.9-fold compared with normal levels. Total, free, and bound serum Gc-globulin levels did not differ among arterial, systemic venous, or hepatic venous blood. Total Gc-globulin rose to >100 mg/L in all patients after HVP, whereas bound Gc-globulin remained unchanged. The Gc-globulin production rate in FHF and AOCLD patients was increased to 4.1 +/- 1.3 mg/min compared to literature values of 0.6 mg/min in healthy individuals. The estimated half-life of total Gc-globulin was shorter in the patients compared to healthy individuals (127 +/- 56 min and 870 min, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Gc-globulin levels were reduced in patients with FHF and AOCLD because a 7-fold increase of Gc-globulin production rate could not compensate for the accelerated clearance. Bound Gc-globulin was maintained within normal levels in all circumstances studied, indicating a possible regulatory role of this parameter in the clearance of actin.
Application of the Gram-Charlier Approximation for Option Valuation

The Hermite polynomials form the basis of a Hilbert space and may be used to get an expansion of the probability density function. Usually, this series is called Gram-Charlier. For practical purposes, only the first few terms of this expansion are taken into consideration. The resulting truncated series may be viewed as the normal probability density function multiplied by a polynomial that accounts for the effects of departure from normality. The Gram-Charlier series uses the moments of the real distribution. The Edgeworth series is similar to Gram-Charlier but uses cumulants instead of moments. Although the series are equivalent, for computational purposes the Gram-Charlier series seems to perform better than the Edgeworth series (Johnson et al., 1994).
Elements d'une theorie du mouvement pour la formalisation du raisonnement spatio-temporel de sens commun

De nombreux travaux ont ete consacres ces dernieres annees a la construction de modeles de l'espace pour des formes de raisonnements fondes sur des informations incompletes ou imprecises et qui seraient plus exploitables que les modeles quantitatifs traditionnels. Ces travaux sont generalement regroupes sous l'appellation raisonnement spatial qualitatif (rsq). Peu d'etudes se sont consacrees au mouvement dans cette perspective, la representation du mouvement en ia etant generalement essentiellement quantitative et cartesienne. Nous proposons une theorie axiomatique de l'espace-temps qui permet d'exprimer certaines classe de mouvement et de raisonner sur ces classes dans un cadre qualitatif. La theorie porte sur des entites de l'espace-temps que l'on peut interpreter comme des trajectoires quadri-dimensionnelles d'objets. En utilisant une topologie sur ces trajectoires ajoutee a un equivalent de l'ordre temporel on peut redefinir un certain nombre de concepts dans cette theorie : les relations de allen, les relations spatiales rcc, et des classes de mouvement de base (dont la justification empirique emerge d'analyses linguistiques). Nous presentons certaines proprietes qui semblent montrer son adequation avec le sens commun, notamment la premiere caracterisation formelle et de la continuite du mouvement dans un cadre qualitatif. Le formalisme utilise permet egalement de representer une partie importante de la semantique des verbes de deplacements et de tester ainsi sa validite cognitive. De plus cela permet de construire un modele pour la representation d'itineraires qui evite certains inconvenients des modeles existants. Le tout est integre comme un module de representation de certaines configurations spatiales sur lesquelles il est possible de raisonner dans un systeme de description de scenes.
The Impact of Information Technology on Financial Statement Quality: A Moderating Role of Internal Control System

Information technology contributes to business efficiency, including the improvement of financial statement quality. This study aims to determine the impact of information technology on the financial statements quality and the moderating effect of the internal control system. The study used sixty village-owned enterprises in Kulon Progo, with 120 respondents. Using moderated regression analysis (MRA), the result showed that information technology affected financial statement quality. The internal control system strengthened the impact of information technology on financial statement quality. The result implies that village-owned enterprises must use information technology to improve their financial statement quality. Furthermore, the internal control system must be well implemented to make sure that the information technology can minimize errors and improve the quality of the financial statement.
The changes in respiration at the transition from work to rest

WE have in previous papers called attention to the changes in the physiological state of the body especially regarding the respiratory functions at the transition from rest to work and during the initial stages of muscular work either voluntary or electrically induced (1, 2). In the present paper we propose to deal with another transitional state, namely the transition from work to rest. We have made use of Krogh's bicycle ergometer and respiration apparatus described in detail elsewhere(3). After a working period of variable length and intensity the work was stopped suddenly, and the subject placed his feet on the foot-clamps of the ergometer. Thus the experiments after work were made in the same position of the subject as were the resting experiments made before work began and they may be compared directly with the latter. Usuallv the first respiration experiment began about *2 minute after cessation of work and lasted about half a minute, the later experiments lasted a minute or a little more. In addition to the respiration experiments b-samples of alveolar air were drawn corresponding more or less closely to the former. As however the values for the metabolism calculated from the b-samples and the calculated alveolar ventilation differ some 10 per cent. from the results of the respiration experiments, and as the correction to be introduced is not constant owing to the fact that the b-samples to a certain degree depend on the mechanics of respiration, we do not think it of sufficient interest to deal with the alveolar samples, especially, as the results obtained from these on the whole only differ from the results of the respiration experiments in showing a somewhat greater variability. In the following pages the main -results will be dealt with; some protocols are given at the end of this paper to illustrate the details of the experimenta.
Cash-Plus: Poverty Impacts of Transfer-Based Intervention Alternatives

Can programmatic extensions such as training and mentorship enhance the economic impact of cash transfers, or do they needlessly absorb resources that program recipients could allocate more meaningfully by themselves? Using a randomized trial, we evaluate a program that targets poor Ugandans and offers them an integrated package comprised of lump sum transfers, coaching, and training on microenterprise development as well as savings group formation. We assess its impact and that of its savings component, as well as the impacts of much simplified program variants: one intervention variant that is limited to lump sum cash transfers and another that expands upon transfers using a light-touch behavioral intervention component. The results support the notion that integrated development interventions are sensible poverty reduction tools.
Market Access and the Concentration of Economic Activity in a System of Declining Cities

Market access has been widely used as a measure of agglomeration spillovers in models that seek to explain productivity, economic or population growth at the city level. Most results have shown that having higher market access is beneficial to these outcomes. These results, both theoretical and empirical, have been obtained in a context of population growth. This article examines the impact that market access has on a system of cities that has suffered a negative population shock. An extended version of the Brezis and Krugman (1997) model of life cycle of cities predicts that a system of cities experiencing population loss will see a relative reorganization of its population from small to larger cities, and that higher market potential will make this movement stronger. We test these predictions with a comprehensive sample of cities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We find that having higher market access - when operating in an environment of population decline - is detrimental to city population growth. This result is robust to different measures of market access that use population. Alternative measures that use economic size rather population are tested, and the result weaker. A possible explanation is that using NLs restricts the sample to only using larger cities.
Pregnancy-Related MiRNAs Participate in the Regulation of the Immune System during the Gestational Period

Pregnancy is a wonderful and complex example of immunomodulation. The regulation that occurs during pregnancy involves hormones, major histocompatibility molecules, cytokines and different types of cells. Recent evidence shows a significant role for miRNAs in the regulation of the immune system´s cells during the gestational period. Placental miRNAs, found in both normal and complicated pregnancies, are primarily localized in four clusters. These are the chromosome 19-miRNA cluster (C19MC), the miR-371-3 cluster (also on chromosome 19), the chromosome 14-miRNA cluster (M14MC), and the miR-17-92 cluster. Pregnancy-associated miRNAs may be involved in angiogenesis, trophoblast differentiation, and in the regulation of the immune system. However, their role has not been clearly elucidated. miRNAs hold promise as biomarkers in clinical settings, as altered miRNA expression may be present in pregnancy complications. Several miRNAs can regulate leukocytes because they target genes necessary for their development and/or function. Among them are miR-29a, miR-181, miR-125b, miR-17 and miR-92a. Although many miRNAs related to healthy pregnancies or to pregnancy complications have been identified, there remains a lack of information regarding their target genes and the behavior of different miRNAs from the same cluster, particularly with regards to their ability to modulate immune system cells.
Non‐selective β‐adrenergic blockade prevents reduction of the cerebral metabolic ratio during exhaustive exercise in humans

Intense exercise decreases the cerebral metabolic ratio of oxygen to carbohydrates [O2/(glucose +½lactate)], but whether this ratio is influenced by adrenergic stimulation is not known. In eight males, incremental cycle ergometry increased arterial lactate to 15.3 ± 4.2 mm (mean ±s.d.) and the arterial–jugular venous (a–v) difference from −0.02 ± 0.03 mm at rest to 1.0 ± 0.5 mm (P < 0.05). The a–v difference for glucose increased from 0.7 ± 0.3 to 0.9 ± 0.1 mm (P < 0.05) at exhaustion and the cerebral metabolic ratio decreased from 5.5 ± 1.4 to 3.0 ± 0.3 (P < 0.01). Administration of a non‐selective β‐adrenergic (β1+β2) receptor antagonist (propranolol) reduced heart rate (69 ± 8 to 58 ± 6 beats min−1) and exercise capacity (239 ± 42 to 209 ± 31 W; P < 0.05) with arterial lactate reaching 9.4 ± 3.6 mm. During exercise with propranolol, the increase in a–v lactate difference (to 0.5 ± 0.5 mm; P < 0.05) was attenuated and the a–v glucose difference and the cerebral metabolic ratio remained at levels similar to those at rest. Together with the previous finding that the cerebral metabolic ratio is unaffected during exercise with administration of the β1‐receptor antagonist metropolol, the present results suggest that the cerebral metabolic ratio decreases in response to a β2‐receptor mechanism.
Optimization of Hollow Waveguides as Absorption Cells for Spectroscopic Gas Sensing

Flexible and low-loss hollow waveguide has many advantages as an absorption cell for spectroscopic gas sensing. The characteristics of the sensing system are dependent on the parameters of the hollow waveguide cell. In this paper, a mathematical model was proposed to analyze the waveguide cell by considering waveguide loss, effective optical path length, and signal-to-noise ratio of the system. Simulation results show that the gas absorption intensity and system sensitivity are dependent not only on the waveguide length but also on the bore-diameter, signal-to-noise ratio, and the concentration of the target gases. The results provide optimizing methods for the sensing system and algorithms for error compensation. Preliminary experiments on concentration detection of methane gas were carried out and measured data showed good agreements with the simulation results.
IL-13 attenuates vascular tube formation via JAK2-STAT6 pathway.

BACKGROUND Interleukin (IL)-13, which is a cytokine produced by type 2 helper T cells, has pathophysiological roles in allergic inflammation and fibrosis formation. IL-13 shares many functional properties with IL-4, which is known to inhibit angiogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS The effects of IL-13 on angiogenesis were examined using human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), in addition to investigating the mechanism(s) of this action. Using an in vitro assay of angiogenesis it was demonstrated that IL-13, as well as IL-4, significantly inhibited capillary-like tube formation. Migration of HCAECs, considered to be a process of new capillary tube formation, was also significantly inhibited by IL-13. IL-13 activated signal transduction and transcription 6 (STAT6) as a result of the activation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2). The inhibitory effect of IL-13 on angiogenesis was abolished by depletion of JAK2 and STAT6 by RNA interference. CONCLUSION IL-13 has anti-angiogenic activity as a result of activation of JAK2 and subsequent activation of STAT6.