Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Cost of New Information – ECB Macro Announcement Impacts on Bid-Ask Spreads of European Blue Chips

Bid-ask spreads using intraday data reveal significant sensitivity to European Central Bank (ECB) macro announcements. Effects are strongest for announcements that comprise unexpected information or a change in interest rates, and spreads rise sharply during the minutes surrounding interest rate or other important macroeconomic announcements by the ECB. Both Euro area stocks (of German DAX 30 and French CAC 40) and non-Euro stocks (of FTSE 100) have been used for comparative reasons. All results are robust to changes in specification and when being controlled for normal daytime-dependent frictions or other macroeconomic announcements.
Homophobia, stigma and HIV in Jamaican prisons

Success in addressing HIV and AIDS among men who have sex with men, a key population in the global epidemic, is impeded by homophobia. Homophobia as a barrier to HIV prevention and AIDS treatment is a particularly acute problem in the prison setting. In this qualitative study, we explore HIV and AIDS, stigma and homosexuality in the largest all male prison in Jamaica by conducting iterative in-depth interviews with 25 inmates. Participant narratives unveil a purposeful manipulation of beliefs related to homosexuality that impedes an effective response to HIV and AIDS both in prison and wider society. Findings indicate that homophobia is both a social construction and a tangible tool used to leverage power and a sense of solidarity in a larger political and economic landscape. This use of homophobia may not be unique to Jamaica and is an important issue to address in other low- and middle-income post-colonialist societies.
Analysis of MTNR1B gene polymorphisms in relationship with IRS2 gene variants, epicardial fat thickness, glucose homeostasis and cognitive performance in the elderly

ABSTARCT Genome-wide association studies pinpointed common variants in or near the MTNR1B gene encoding MT2 melatonin receptor to be strongly associated with fasting glucose levels. IRS2 gene polymorphisms impact insulin resistance and epicardial fat (EF) thickness, which in turn is correlated with visceral adiposity, cognitive ability and risk for metabolic plus cardiovascular disease. We aimed to discover the interactions between MTNR1B and IRS2 gene polymorphisms, insulin sensitivity, EF thickness and cognitive performance in the elderly. In 60 subjects aged 60 years and older, we evaluated five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MTNR1B locus (rs10830962, rs4753426, rs12804291, rs10830963, rs3781638), the Gly1057Asp variant of IRS2 gene (rs1805097), biochemical parameters, cognitive performance by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and EF thickness by transthoracic echocardiography. We found that MTNR1B and IRS2 gene variants impacted EF thickness, lipid profile and glucose homeostasis. IRS2 but not MTNR1B variants impacted MMSE scores. In conclusion, MTNR1B SNPs interact with IRS2 gene variant, correlate with the amount of epicardial adipose tissue and impact glucose homeostasis and lipid profile influencing cardiometabolic risk.
Financial Globalization or Great Financial Expansion? The Impact of Capital Flows on Credit and Banking Crises

This paper empirically examines the impact of capital flows on credit growth, credit excesses and banking crises using quarterly panel data from 43 advanced (AEs) and emerging market economies (EMEs). Regressions show that gross capital inflows precede credit growth and credit excesses. Both gross inflows and high private domestic credit precede banking crises. Formalized hypotheses allow us to study whether domestic or international drivers more frequently precede banking crises, and thus to evaluate "financial globalization" and the "great financial expansion" as explanations for country vulnerability to banking crises. Our evidence provides support for both narratives as drivers of country vulnerability; financial globalization seems to matter particularly for EMEs. We also provide some ground for caution on the effectiveness of capital controls and the desirability of very high levels of private credit to GDP.
DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF INSTRUMENTS TO

This review provides evidence for the inclusion of cooking activities within adult nutrition education programs. Issues affecting diet-related health behaviors including fruit, vegetable, and sodium intake, barriers to consumption of produce, home fruit and vegetable availability and accessibility, and cooking behavior are examined. Nutrition education interventions are developed within a theoretical framework, and therefore, a review of two theories as applied to nutrition education programs is appropriate. Dietitian-led nutrition education programs that target healthy eating behaviors and cooking skills are assessed, findings indicate that increases in cooking knowledge and skill can lead to improved produce consumption.
Characterization of Humic Acid Fractions Improves Estimates of Nitrogen Mineralization Kinetics for Lowland Rice Soils

Nitrogen mineralization in irrigated lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) soils is poorly predicted by total soil C and N. To improve its prediction, two humic acid fractions were extracted with NaOH from lowland rice soils of Vietnam and the Philippines to evaluate their influence on N mineralization kinetics during 84-d anaerobic incubations. Indicative of young organic matter, the mobile humic acid (MHA) fraction had a smaller C/N ratio and optical density at 465 nm (E 4 ) than did the calcium humate (CaHA) fraction, which was extracted after removal of polyvalent cations from the soil. Nitrogen contents of both fractions combined represented 15 to 30% of total soil N. Nitrogen mineralization followed a two-pool first- and zero-order kinetic model during the incubations. More than 80% of the variation in the size of a rapidly mineralizable N pool (N 1 ) was explained by soil organic C. However, stepwise regressions using whole soil variables explained only 27% of the variation in the rate constant for the rapidly mineralizable N pool and 36% of the variation in the rate constant for a slower steady-state phase. Prediction of the two rate constants was improved to 64 and 75%, respectively, and of N 1 to 97% by including MHA and CaHA properties in the stepwise regressions. All three mineralization parameters were negatively correlated with the degree of humification in these humic fractions. The degree of humification was positively associated with exchangeable polyvalent cations (Ca +2 and Mg +2 ) and negatively associated with exchangeable K + , suggesting an influence of exchangeable cations on the turnover of young organic matter. We conclude that better understanding the contribution of these humic fractions to short-term N cycling will improve our ability to predict N supply in lowland rice soils.
Consumer Behaviour in Social Networking Sites: Implications for Marketers

The objective of this research is to investigate the potential of social networking sites (SNSs) to be utilised as an effective marketing tool in engaging consumers to participate in marketing on SNSs. Qualitative research in the form of focus groups highlights that the main barrier to the effective use of these sites as a marketing tool pertains to how they are used by companies. A different approach is required by companies that ‘pull’ consumers in rather than ‘push’ marketing messages onto them. If the latter approach is adopted, consumers will have an adverse reaction to the marketing message and will express their dissatisfaction to others in their SNS . This can have a negative impact on a company and diminish the potential of SNSs as a marketing tool. As a result, developing the correct approach in using SNSs as a marketing tool is essential.
Carbon input by roots into the soil: Quantification of rhizodeposition from root to ecosystem scale

Despite its fundamental role for carbon (C) and nutrient cycling, rhizodeposition remains ‘the hidden half of the hidden half’: it is highly dynamic and rhizodeposits are rapidly incorporated into microorganisms, soil organic matter, and decomposed to CO2. Therefore, rhizodeposition is rarely quantified and remains the most uncertain part of the soil C cycle and of C fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems. This review synthesizes and generalizes the literature on C inputs by rhizodeposition under crops and grasslands (281 data sets). The allocation dynamics of assimilated C (after 13C‐CO2 or 14C‐CO2 labeling of plants) were quantified within shoots, shoot respiration, roots, net rhizodeposition (i.e., C remaining in soil for longer periods), root‐derived CO2, and microorganisms. Partitioning of C pools and fluxes were used to extrapolate belowground C inputs via rhizodeposition to ecosystem level. Allocation from shoots to roots reaches a maximum within the first day after C assimilation. Annual crops retained more C (45% of assimilated 13C or 14C) in shoots than grasses (34%), mainly perennials, and allocated 1.5 times less C belowground. For crops, belowground C allocation was maximal during the first 1–2 months of growth and decreased very fast thereafter. For grasses, it peaked after 2–4 months and remained very high within the second year causing much longer allocation periods. Despite higher belowground C allocation by grasses (33%) than crops (21%), its distribution between various belowground pools remains very similar. Hence, the total C allocated belowground depends on the plant species, but its further fate is species independent. This review demonstrates that C partitioning can be used in various approaches, e.g., root sampling, CO2 flux measurements, to assess rhizodeposits’ pools and fluxes at pot, plot, field and ecosystem scale and so, to close the most uncertain gap of the terrestrial C cycle.
Corporate Social Performance of Indonesian State-Owned and Private Companies

The objectives of this study are to analyze the difference of corporate social performance between State-owned and private companies in Indonesia, and also to analyze the correlation between the corporate social performance (CSP) and the corporate financial performance by using company size, and institutional ownership as control variables. The population of this study is Indonesian state owned and private companies in the year of 2001-2004. Purposive sampling was used in this study, and final samples are 461 companies. The CSP or CSR (Corporate social responsibility) score is measured by content analysis of corporate annual report using seven item developed by Michael Research Jantzi Research Associate, Inc. The data is tested by independent t-test to determine the mean difference and by using partial correlation test to know the correlation between the corporate social performance and financial performance. The results of this study are that there is no significant difference mean of corporate social performance between state-owned and private owned companies in Indonesia. In addition, the correlation test indicates that there is no association between corporation social performance and financial performance both in SOCs and POCs.
Corporate refocusing in the UK : an empirical investigation

It has been widely suggested that since the early 1980s the trend towards ever greater corporate diversification has been reversed in many mature economies; with many diversified firms narrowing the scope of their activities by refocusing on what are perceived to be core businesses primarily, though not exclusively, through major divestments. Whilst recent research, largely in the US context, has started to take place on corporate refocusing there is a paucity of evidence on refocusing in the UK. The aim of this thesis is to address this shortcoming and to examine corporate refocusing activity in the UK. This study uses a specially constructed data set compiled from primary and secondary sources, covering 158 publicly quoted companies over the period 1985 to 1993. The thesis initially examines the extent and nature of refocusing activity in the UK. It is found that refocusing activity is undertaken by a substantial majority of the sample firms. Firms refocused primarily by divesting unrelated businesses and acquiring related activities. The thesis proceeds to examine the characteristics of refocusing firms using cross-sectional OLS and logit techniques. It is found that refocusing firms are characterised by high levels of diversification, low levels of management ownership and to a limited extent by an attractive core business on which to refocus. The thesis next examines the determinants of firms' divestment behaviour using both crosssectional and panel data proportions and count data (Poisson and Negative Binomial regressions) techniques. The results indicate that divestment is a purposeful response to financial, strategic, corporate governance and - to a limited extent - market structure characteristics. In the final part of the thesis, we examine the impact of divestment on firm performance by adopting a dynamic profitability equation augmented with divestment variables. The results suggest that divestment has a positive impact on the profitability of divesting firms. The performance effect is greater for firms operating weak governance mechanisms. It is concluded that corporate refocusing is an important phenomenon in the UK and is not merely an invention of the business press. The determinants of divestment indicate that divestment is not simply a reflection of managerial idiosyncrasies or mean reversion behaviour in the activities undertaken, but a purposeful response to a change in the equilibrium level of diversification. The adoption of a refocusing strategy appears to improve the overall performance of divesting firms.
The Productivity Effects of Profit Sharing, Employee Ownership, Stock Option and Team Incentive Plans: Evidence from Korean Panel Data

We report the first results for Korean firms on the incidence, diffusion, scope and effects of diverse employee financial participation schemes, such as Profit Sharing Plans (PSPs), Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Stock Option Plans (SOPs) and Team Incentive Plans (TIPs). In do doing, we assemble important new panel data by merging data from a survey of all Korean firms listed on Korean Stock Exchange which enjoys an unusually high response rate of 60 percent with accounting data from their corporate proxy statements. Our estimated fixed effect models of production functions reveal consistently that the introduction of a PSP or a TIP will lead to a significant increase in productivity (about 10 percent) whereas no such evidence found for ESOPs or SOPs. We also find that the productivity payoff appears to be more long-lasting for PSPs than for TIPs. Finally, our fixed-effect estimates suggest that PSPs and TIPs tend to be substitutes rather than complements in their productivity effects.
Comment on "Left-handed materials do not make a perfect lens".

In a recent Physical Review Letter [1] Garcia and Nieto Vesperinas (GNV) dispute the claim of perfect lensing made in [2]. The thrust of the GVN paper is that the solutions proposed in [2] imply infinite energy density and are therefore inadmissible. They claim that finite absorption leads to catastrophic collapse of the amplifying solutions vital to focussing and that no useful effect can be achieved. In this Comment I show that, on the contrary, careful consideration of absorption results in solutions that are always well behaved and evolve smoothly and continuously to perfect resolution in the limiting case of zero absorption.
Correlational Analysis of Demographic Factors, Self-concept and Research Productivity of Librarians in Public Universities in South-West, Nigeria

This study examined the correlations among the demographic factors, self-concept and research productivity of librarians in public universities in South-West Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was adopted. A total of 166 copies of questionnaire were distributed and 142 copies were returned and used for the study. Two research questions were answered and 3 hypotheses tested at 0.01 level of significance. Percentages, mean, standard deviation, Pearson Moment Correlation Analysis (correlation matrix), and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The result showed that librarians’ level of self-concept is high, so also their research productivity; there is a significant relationship between self concept and research productivity (r = .474, N = 142, P < .01); and only job tenure was found significant with research productivity among the demographic factors tested. Furthermore, the finding established that the joint effect of demographic factors and self-concept on research productivity was not significant (F (8:133) = 1.866; R = . 318, R2 = 0.53, Adj. R2 = . 101; P < 0.05). It was concluded that self-concept of librarians is high and as a result it has an effect on the high research productivity of librarians. It is therefore recommended that library management should give self-concept training to librarians to further improve their research productivity.
Untangling stability and gain modulation in cortical circuits with multiple interneuron classes

Synaptic inhibition is the mechanistic backbone of a suite of cortical functions, not the least of which is maintaining overall network stability as well as modulating neuronal gain. Past cortical models have assumed simplified recurrent networks in which all inhibitory neurons are lumped into a single effective pool. In such models the mechanics of inhibitory stabilization and gain control are tightly linked in opposition to one another – meaning high gain coincides with low stability and vice versa. This tethering of stability and response gain restricts the possible operative regimes of the network. However, it is now well known that cortical inhibition is very diverse, with molecularly distinguished cell classes having distinct positions within the cortical circuit. In this study, we analyze populations of spiking neuron models and associated mean-field theories capturing circuits with pyramidal neurons as well as parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SOM) expressing interneurons. Our study outlines arguments for a division of labor within the full cortical circuit where PV interneurons are ideally positioned to stabilize network activity, whereas SOM interneurons serve to modulate pyramidal cell gain. This segregation of inhibitory function supports stable cortical dynamics over a large range of modulation states. Our study offers a blueprint for how to relate the circuit structure of cortical networks with diverse cell types to the underlying population dynamics and stimulus response.
Therapeutic effect of ghrelin in the course of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND Protective effect of pretreatment with ghrelin against different forms of acute pancreatitis (AP) has been recently reported. Moreover, the healing properties of this peptide have been proved in AP evoked by cerulein. However, no studies have investigated whether the administration of ghrelin affects the course of ischemia/reperfusion-induced AP. AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ghrelin therapy on the course of necrotizing inflammation of the pancreas and to test its impact on peroxidation of lipids and antioxidant defense system in the acutely inflamed pancreas. METHODS Acute inflammation of the pancreas was triggered by pancreatic ischemia which was then followed by reperfusion of the gland. Ghrelin (8 nmol/kg/dose) was administered to intraperitoneally twice daily, 24h after the initiation of AP. The impact of ghrelin on the course of necrotizing pancreatitis was evaluated between 1 and 21 days, and involved histological, functional, and biochemical analyses. RESULTS Treatment with ghrelin ameliorated morphological signs of pancreatic damage including edema, acinar cells vacuolization, hemorrhages, acinar necrosis, leukocytic infiltration of the gland, and led to its earlier regeneration. These effects were accompanied by an improvement in pancreatic blood flow, enhanced DNA synthesis, reduced serum level of pro- inflammatory interleukin-1β, decreased levels of malondialdehyde and an enhanced superoxide dismutase activity in pancreatic tissue. CONCLUSIONS Ghrelin exerts a pronounced therapeutic effect against ischemia-reperfusion-induced pancreatitis. The mechanisms involved are likely multifactorial and are mediated by its anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-oxidative properties.
Prevalence of Human Herpesvirus-8 Salivary Shedding in HIV Increases with CD4 Count

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), which occurs in epidemic form in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-infected individuals. Saliva is the only mucosal fluid in which infectious HHV-8 has been identified, although factors associated with HHV-8 salivary shedding remain unclear. Our study performed PCR analysis for HHV-8 DNA in saliva (and other body fluids) in 66 HIV- and HHV-8-co-infected women without KS so that we could examine predictors for HHV-8 DNA detection. CD4 count was the most significant predictor of HHV-8 salivary shedding, with increased prevalence of HHV-8 salivary DNA at higher CD4 counts. The odds of salivary HHV8 shedding at CD4 counts > = 350 cells/μL was 63 times the odds of shedding at CD4 < 350 (95%CI, 1.3–3078), with an increase in effect size when the analysis was restricted to those with a CD4 nadir > 200. Analysis of these data suggests an increased potential for HHV-8 transmission early in HIV infection, with implications for HHV-8 prevention.
Functional Analysis of the p40 and p75 Proteins from Lactobacillus casei BL23

The genomes of Lactobacillus casei/paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains carry two genes encoding homologues of p40 and p75 from L. rhamnosus GG, two secreted proteins which display anti-apoptotic and cell protective effects on human intestinal epithelial cells. p40 and p75 carry cysteine, histidine-dependent aminohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) and NLPC/P60 domains, respectively, which are characteristic of proteins with cell-wall hydrolase activity. In L. casei BL23 both proteins were secreted to the growth medium and were also located at the bacterial cell surface. The genes coding for both proteins were inactivated in this strain. Inactivation of LCABL_00230 (encoding p40) did not result in a significant difference in phenotype, whereas a mutation in LCABL_02770 (encoding p75) produced cells that formed very long chains. Purified glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-p40 and -p75 fusion proteins were able to hydrolyze the muropeptides from L. casei cell walls. Both fusions bound to mucin, collagen and to intestinal epithelial cells and, similar to L. rhamnosus GG p40, stimulated epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation in mouse intestine ex vivo. These results indicate that extracellular proteins belonging to the machinery of cell-wall metabolism in the closely related L. casei/paracasei-L. rhamnosus group are most likely involved in the probiotic effects described for these bacteria
Dynamic Aspects in Transient Hyperphosphatasaemia of Infancy

ABSTRACT. A 20‐month‐old boy with absence epilepsy was found to have a strikingly elevated serum alkaline phopshatase (AP) at start of treatment with valproic acid. The monitoring of this therapy made it possible to follow the elimination of AP which was shown to be a first order kinetic with a half‐life of 6.1 days. A concurrent adenovirus infection was diagnosed.