Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing cell longevity for cosmetic application: a complementary approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cell longevity is linked to sirtuins (silent information regulators), which belong to a family of enzymes implicated in gene silencing, apoptosis, fatty acid metabolism, and regulation of cellular life spans of organisms. Sirtuins are associated with genes that coordinate and optimize the functions of cells as cells struggle to survive in a stressful environment, as it is the case for skin cells. This study focuses on 1) yeast Kluyveromyces biopetides in stimulating the expression of sirtuin in human cutaneous cells and 2) the benefit for the skin of an active skin care product containing yeast Kluyveromyces biopetides. METHODS Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) was investigated by immunostaining, Westem blotting, and cytometry on normal human skin cells in culture and on healthy skin samples ex vivo. SIRT7 are mammalian versions of the yeast SIR2 gene. Cellular integrity and aging was followed by comet assays measuring DNA fragmentation and beta galactosidase activity (a marker of senescence). The test product was yeast Kluyveromyces biopeptides. Thirty-three female subjects aged 37 to 64 years (mean 51.6 years) enrolled in the study. Subjects applied a formulation enriched in 1% of the yeast biopeptides SIRT1 activator once daily to the face and neck for 4 weeks. Dermatologists used a graded scale (1-9) to score fine lines and wrinkles, hydration, pigment color intensity, complexion radiance, skin density, firmness, complexion homogeneity, and texture of the skin before and after the first application and again after 4 weeks of use. A Pixel Skin method, based on an analysis of the gray-level variance and surface of imperfections (age-related parameters) from numerical pictures of the faces, was used to objectively measure the skin care efficacy. RESULTS The yeast Kluyveromyces biopeptides 1) significantly increased SIRT1 expression in normal human dermal skin fibroblasts in vitro (+172%) and in epidermal cells of healthy human skin ex vivo and 2) decreased cell senescence and DNA fragmentation induced by ultraviolet-B (UVB) stress. At the end of the study, facial improvements could be seen on fine lines and wrinkles, hydration, pigmented spot color intensity, complexion radiance, firmness, complexion homogeneity, and texture. Improvement in hydration was significant immediately after the first application. Skin-pixel measurement and analysis show a significant reduction of the gray variance linked to pixel heterogeneity (-4.2%) and a significant reduction of the surface of skin imperfections (-30.4%). All the indicators from clinical evaluation to the objective measurements of the skin show a significant improvement of the aged skin. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the efficacy of the yeast Kluyveromyces biopeptides in activating SIRT 1 of human skin cells, improving their DNA resistance and senescence, and of a formulation enriched in this ingredient in treating multiple skin aging signs.
Xylem cavitation in Scots pine and Sitka spruce saplings during water stress

Summary Xylem cavitation and sap flow rates, stomatal conductance and shoot water potential were observed in irri gated and drought-treated saplings of Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. ), a drought-suscep tible species, and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), a drought-resistant species. In Scots pine, cavitation rates increased as shoot water potential decreased below a threshold of around -0.55 MPa. In Sitka spruce, cavitation rates were inversely related to shoot water potential in irrigated saplings but not in drought-treated sap lings. Sap flow rates declined sharply in both species as shoot water potential fell during the drought treatment. Thus sap flow rate was positively associated with cavitation rate in Scots pine but not in Sitka spruce. Three days after the drought treatment ended, shoot water potentials, stomatal conductances and sap flow rates in both species regained values observed before the drought treatment. In Sitka spruce, stem relative water content also returned to a value close to that observed before the drought treatment. Even 2 weeks after the end of the drought treatment, however, shoot relative water content of Scots pine remained significantly lower than it had been before the drought treatment.
Long Run Corporate Tax Avoidance and Firm Value: Evidence from Indonesia

: This study examines the level to which corporate tax avoidance activity is valued by investors in a large sample of Indonesian ﬁrms. The risk minimization perspective of corporate tax avoidance suggest that such activities, especially aggressive tax strategies may diminish the firm values, as investors consider them as risky strategies. Under cash flow maximization perspective, however, corporate tax avoidance is considered as a value-enhancing activity as it may increase firm value through tax saving. Based on a sample consisting of 1,023 firm-year observations, made up of 244 unique firms over the period 2006-2015, I find that the tax avoidance strategies – proxied by long run GAAP effective tax rates and cash effective tax rates – are negatively associated with firm value, which lends credence to the risk minimization motive. My inferences still hold after controlling year and industry-fixed effect and a propensity score matching (PSM) test.
Inhibition of Aberrant and Constitutive Phosphorylation of the High‐Molecular‐Mass Neurofilament Subunit by CEP‐1347 (KT7515), an Inhibitor of the Stress‐Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway

Abstract: Previous studies have implicated stress‐activated proteinkinases (SAPKs) in aberrant phosphorylation of the high‐molecular‐massneurofilament subunit (NFH). We now present direct evidence for thisinvolvement using CEP‐1347, a specific inhibitor of SAPK activation.Inhibition by this drug of stress‐induced phosphorylation of NFH and themiddle‐molecular‐mass neurofilament subunit in the perikaryon of dorsal rootganglion (DRG) neurons paralleled the decrease in levels of activated SAPKsand was essentially complete at 1 μM CEP‐1347. In addition, a rolefor SAPKs in the constitutive phosphorylation of NFH was demonstrated.Longterm treatment of unstressed DRG neurons with CEP‐1347 lowered thesteady‐state phosphorylation level of NFH in neurites. No such effect was seenin neurons treated with PD 098059, which blocks activation of extracellularsignal‐regulated kinase 1/2. DRG neurites were shown to contain high basallevels of activated SAPKs. These included a 55‐kDa SAPK whose activation wascompletely abolished at 0.05 μM CEP‐1347 and a 45‐kDa SAPK thatwas not affected by the drug. These results indicate that SAPKs are involvedin both stress‐induced and constitutive phosphorylation of NFH. The differingresponses of SAPKs in neurites and cell bodies to CEP‐1347 inhibition furthersuggest the presence of different signaling pathways in the two neuronalcompartments.
Emotional, linguistic or just cute? the function of pitch contours in infant- and foreigner-directed speech

This study evaluated the relative functions of pitch contours in infant-directed speech (IDS) by comparing it with adult(ADS) and foreigner-directed speech (FDS). The shape of pitch contours derived from target words in speech samples was analysed using two novel algorithmic methods and a standard qualitative approach. Our findings indicate that IDS is very distinct from ADS and FDS, whilst the latter two exhibit a strong similarity to each other. These results suggest that pitch contours in IDS serve an emotional-attentional function rather than a linguistic function.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Psl Is a Galactose- and Mannose-Rich Exopolysaccharide

ABSTRACT The Pseudomonas aeruginosa polysaccharide synthesis locus (psl) is predicted to encode an exopolysaccharide which is critical for biofilm formation. Here we used chemical composition analyses and mannose- or galactose-specific lectin staining, followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy, to show that Psl is a galactose-rich and mannose-rich exopolysaccharide.
The Moderating Effect of Corporate Governance on the Relationship between Earnings Management and Firm Value: Indonesian Evidence

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effect of corporate governance on the relationship between earnings management and firm value. Using a sample of 177 Indonesian listed nonfinancial firms during the year 2015, this paper finds that corporate governance mechanism, as represented by the proportion of independent directors, has a negative and significant moderating effect on the relationship between earnings management and firm value. This finding might indicate that the presence of independent directors reveals more about the opportunistic side of earnings management conducted by firms, and therefore punished accordingly with lower valuation by the capital market. Keywords—corporate governance; earnings management; firm value
EFFECT OF CLAIMS PAYMENTS ON PROFITABILITY IN THE NIGERIAN INSURANCE INDUSTRY

Profitability determines an insurance company’s ability to make claims payments as at when due. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of claims payments on the profitability of insurance companies in Nigeria. Secondary data were generated from the financial statements of the two selected insurance companies, covering the periods 2011 to 2016. Using descriptive statistics and the multiple regression techniques, the data was analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). The result reveals that ROA (profitability) has an indirect relationship with LR (loss ratio) and NC (net claims), but a direct relationship with ER (expense ratio). It further reveals that net claims have a significantly positive impact on loss ratio. The study recommends that the Nigerian insurance industry must effectively manage their claims processes, in order to reduce the amount of claims for every earned premium.
EFFECT OF USAGE OF DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF NON-FINANCIAL FIRMS

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of derivative financial instrument utilization on the financial performance of non-financial firms recorded at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The objectives that guided this study are to assess the impact of use of derivatives in risk management on financial performance of non-financial firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Methodology: The study embraced the regression model. A census of all the 47 non-financial firms listed at the NSE as at December 2017 constituted the target population where only 11 listed non-financial firms were financial derivative instruments users. The study utilized qualitative and quantitative research techniques especially the utilization of descriptive research design. The data for this study was collected using questionnaires, audited financial statements and annual reports of individual firms for the multi year time frame covering 2013-2017 (the two years comprehensive). Results: The study discovered that greater part of the firms (66.67%) utilizes Forwards, 22.22% utilize Swaps and 11.11% utilize Futures and Options for financial risk management. From the study the outcomes were as per the following: presence of debt in the financial structure of the non-financial firms listed at the NSE does not influence its financial performance as estimated by return on assets (ROA), use of derivatives in efficiency in trading influences the financial performance of the firms, use of derivatives in price stabilization is statistically significant and utilization of derivatives in price discovery does not influence the financial performance of the firms. By and large, the performance of the recorded non-financial firms at the NSE amid the time of study was 8.13 with a standard deviation of 10.67. Unique contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that firms should combine both debt and equity in their financial structure. It is therefore incumbent on firms’ managers and financial advisors to continuously study the market and advice on the appropriateness of the proportions of the various sources of finance based on market circumstances at any given time.
Treatment of Constitutional Delay of Growth and Adolescence with Human Growth Hormone

Constitutional delay of growth and adolescence is caused by continuous diminution of spontaneous hGH-secretion as was proved by measuring hGH-levels in deep sleep by night. Therefore, treatment by hGH is a replacement therapy. Thirteen patients underwent hGH longterm therapy, 12 with good success. On average we observed doubling of the previous growth velocity, in the most favourable case an increase from 3.5 cm to 14.7 cm per year. Predicted adult height rose in 5 cases.
Intra-hepatic messenger RNA levels for interferons and related genes in hepatitis C virus/HIV co-infected patients

Intra-hepatic levels of mRNA for IFN-a, IFN-y, IFN type 1 receptor (IFNAR-1) and PKR were determined in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients. In co-infected patients, IFN-a mRNA was upregulated and correlated with HIV-1 viraemia. IFN-y, IF-NAR-1 and PKR mRNA were detected in mono-infected, but not in co-infected patients. These findings suggest that in HCV/HIV co-infected individuals the ability to respond to IFN-a is impaired, probably because of the absence of its receptor.
The Effect of Earnings Management on Company’s Performance with Audit Quality and Company’s Size as Moderating Variables

Abstract The purpose of this study was to see how the effects of earnings management on the perfor­mance of companies with audit quality and size of the company as a moderating variable. High Quality Audit demonstrated with large or small public accounting firm. The size of the company can be seen from how many assets owned by the company itself. The sample in this study is based on purposive sampling, with specific criteria that a manufacturing company listed on the Stock Exchange during the period 2011-2014 which publishes annual financial statements (annual report) in complete accordance with the measurement variables to be studied in this re­search, manufacturing company whose financial statements are audited by KAP Big 4 and non- Big 4. So in the get the 22 companies audited by the Big 4 accounting firm and the 28 companies audited by KAP Non Big 4. The results of this study variable Profit Management significant negative effect on the performance effect Perusahaan. VariabelCompany’s Size significantly strengthen the positive relationship between Profit Management with Corporate performance. Variable Audit Quality significant positive effect strengthens the relationship between the Profit Management with Corporate Performance.
A simple explanation for the dispersion anomaly∗

We explain the dispersion anomaly, the tendency of stocks with high analyst forecast dispersion to produce lower future returns, by testing the implied assumption that analysts’bias is distributed equally when portfolios are sorted by dispersion (Johnson, 2004). We find that analysts’bias is not symmetrically distributed across dispersion groups. High dispersion firms contain forecasts that are too optimistic, but the over optimism in low dispersion firms is much less. Given the well-known tendency of analysts to walk-down their forecasts over the fiscal year, this asymmetry produces future negative forecast revisions for the high dispersion firms. These negative cash flow shocks are suffi cient to completely explain the dispersion anomaly. Removing the forecast bias component from dispersion produces a conditional dispersion measure that positively predicts returns, suggesting a positive risk premium to differences of opinion in equities. ∗Comments welcome. We thank Stan Markov and seminar participants at UT-Dallas for helpful comments. Send correspondence to p.irvine@tcu.edu A simple explanation for the dispersion anomaly
Revisiting the Existing Credit Rating Methods of Small and Medium Enterprises

Credit rating of small and medium enterprises is more difficult because most of the SMEs information is not organized like the large corporate organizations. Traditionally used methods for corporate evaluation are not suitable directly for SMEs. For this reason, a comparative analysis is needed to compare the existing methods proposed by the different financial bodies. The aim of this paper is to make a comparative analysis of weight distribution in financial and non-financial factors in SMEs rating for the selected countries and to compare the indicators of proposed SMEs rating methods by ADB, ASEAN a Bangladesh Bank. After completing a comparative analysis, this paper reveals that these three methods give nearly similar weights to financial aspects whereas Bangladesh Bank adds two financial issues in different dimensions named bank relationship risk and financial security risk. Although these three methods have a similar weight for financial and non-financial aspects, there are differences among the indictors of non-financial aspects.
An experimental analysis of the strength of the taper joint.

BACKGROUND The strength of the taper joint plays a vital role in orthopedics which takes the full load of our body. Till date various techniques has been used for the stem manufacturing and an alternative to all those has been presented in the article. OBJECTIVE This Paper deals with the experimental analysis of the taper connection.The results of the experiment has also been validated during the experimentation process. METHODS In case of our experimentation stems of taper joints were implemented in the hips. RESULTS Microscopy based analysis revealed that there was almost no damage in the stems being developed during the process of experimentation. CONCLUSIONS As a result it could be summarized that the stem developed during the experimental process were more reliable and free from any type of fretting.
Division of responsibility for asthma management tasks between caregivers and children in the inner city.

This investigation examined caregiver and child perceptions of the division of responsibility for asthma management tasks in families. The study sample included 789 children with asthma, aged 6 to 9 years, who lived in the inner city. These children and their primary caregivers completed the Asthma Responsibility Interview. The correlation between the caregiver's and child's ratings of the child's responsibility was low (.19), with children rating themselves as more responsible than their caregivers rated them. Caregiver and child ratings of the child's responsibility increased with the child's age; however, caregivers' ratings of their own responsibility remained constant over the age range studied. Kappa statistics ranged from -. 03 to . 12, with up to 16% of children reporting less responsibility for self-care than was indicated by the caregiver. More than one third of families reported four or more asthma caregivers. The discrepancy between the caregiver's and child's perceptions and the involvement of multiple caregivers raise the possibility of unintentional nonadherence.
Inhibition of c-Jun-N-terminal Kinase Increases Cardiac Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α Expression and Fatty Acid Oxidation and Prevents Lipopolysaccharide-induced Heart Dysfunction*

Septic shock results from bacterial infection and is associated with multi-organ failure, high mortality, and cardiac dysfunction. Sepsis causes both myocardial inflammation and energy depletion. We hypothesized that reduced cardiac energy production is a primary cause of ventricular dysfunction in sepsis. The JNK pathway is activated in sepsis and has also been implicated in impaired fatty acid oxidation in several tissues. Therefore, we tested whether JNK activation inhibits cardiac fatty acid oxidation and whether blocking JNK would restore fatty acid oxidation during LPS treatment. LPS treatment of C57BL/6 mice and adenovirus-mediated activation of the JNK pathway in cardiomyocytes inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α expression and fatty acid oxidation. Surprisingly, none of the adaptive responses that have been described in other types of heart failure, such as increased glucose utilization, reduced αMHC:βMHC ratio or induction of certain microRNAs, occurred in LPS-treated mice. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with a general JNK inhibitor (SP600125) increased fatty acid oxidation in mice and a cardiomyocyte-derived cell line. JNK inhibition also prevented LPS-mediated reduction in fatty acid oxidation and cardiac dysfunction. Inflammation was not alleviated in LPS-treated mice that received the JNK inhibitor. We conclude that activation of JNK signaling reduces fatty acid oxidation and prevents the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α down-regulation that occurs with LPS.
Analisis Pengaruh Corporate Governance Terhadap Kinerja Keuangan Sektor Perbankan Yang Terdaftar Di Bei Tahun 2012-2016

This study aims to examine the effect of the board of commissioner's size, the board of directors, institutional ownership, independent commissioner; and firm size on financial performance. The population used in this study is a banking company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange period 2012 - 2016. The population of this study amounted to 144 companies. Sampling was done using non-random sampling technique. There are 20 companies that meet the criteria as research samples so that the research data amounted to 100. Data analysis is multiple linear regression tests. The results of this study show the board of commissioners, institutional ownernship, and independent commissioner have a positive effect, while firm size has a negative effect on financial performance. n Keywords: corporate governance, financial performance
Organizational Effectiveness and Financial Performance: A Healthcare Study

ABSTRACT Many studies have been conducted on approaches to organizational effectiveness and financial performance in the healthcare industry. The purpose of this article is to study the Relationship Between Measures of Perceived Organizational Effectiveness and Actual Financial Performance in the Medical Group Practice Environment. The population in this study came from an annual survey of U.S. medical practices conducted by the Medical Group Managers Association (MGMA). The evaluation instruments developed are a composite of documented and currently active instruments, including components of organizational effectiveness, general demographics, locus of control, and constituent/environmental influences. Statistical analysis of data includes regression analysis and descriptive statistics measures. The three tested hypotheses in the study are not supported. However, the study does support an understanding of industry relationships and reinforces the findings of former studies. Additionally, a new level of confirmation is established indicating that even under greater levels of environmental control, perceived organizational effectiveness and actual financial performance has no significant relationship. This article provides a concise summary and update of a larger and more detailed body of work.