Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CORPORATE BANKRUPTCY AND CONGLOMERATE MERGER

SEVERAL IMPORTANT ATTEMPTS have appeared in recent literature to extend standard valuation theories to include corporate bankruptcy. Thus, under various assumptions regarding capital market imperfections and bankruptcy costs, Baxter [5], Smith [16], and Stiglitz [17, 18] argue that there is an optimal firm debt to equity ratio when bankruptcy is possible. Similar attempts to extend valuation theory are evident in the area of corporate diversification and conglomerate merger.1 Alberts [1, 2] suggests that the ability of investors to diversify their own portfolios should imply that corporate diversification will produce no added benefits if bankruptcy risk is not present. More recently, Levy and Sarnat [6] show for the single period capital asset pricing model that, in the absence of corporate bankruptcy, conglomerate merger will have no effect on shareholder wealth. Schall [12, 13] shows for the multiperiod case that with bankruptcy risk and without corporate taxes the total value of the firms before conglomerate merger equals the value of the merged firm; the same result holds with corporate taxes if the debt owed by the merged firm equals the total debt owed by the firms before merger.2 However Schall does not examine the separate impact of the merger on share values and on bond values. Lewellen [8, 9], on the other hand, concludes that conglomerate merger between two firms is warranted to the extent that the diversification effect of combining two income streams reduces the probability of bankruptcy. He suggests that shareholders consequently benefit from the merger. Higgins [6] argues that Lewellen's analysis is incomplete in at least two respects: first, Lewellen only examines explicitly the impact of merger on the firms' creditors, and second, if transaction costs of bankruptcy are included in the Lewellen analysis, it is no longer generally sufficient to consider only the probability of bankruptcy. At least two issues, then, are not yet explicitly resolved in the literature. First, with zero bankruptcy transaction costs and markets that are perfect, i.e., competitive and without transaction costs, it is not clear
Strategies to improve self-management in heart failure patients

Background: Heart failure is one of the most common causes of hospitalization, hospital readmission and death. Patients with heart failure have many complications, with multiple co-existing diagnoses which result in polypharmacy. Following instructions provided by many physicians, medication adjustments based on changes in their symptoms are required. Behavioral adjustments concerning diet and exercise regime are recommended. Therefore, the patient plays a crucial role in the management of heart failure. Objectives: To review the available studies on heart failure self-management, and investigate educational, behavioral and psychosocial strategies that plays an important role to improve patient self-management. Method: A literature review was conducted based upon the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidance. The articles identified through an extensive search using PubMed and UpToDate from 1999 to 2016. Conclusion: Improved self-management will increase compliance, promote patient quality-of-life, advance clinical outcomes, reduce hospital re-admission and will decrease hospitalization costs.
Beliefs, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Barriers toward International Involvement among College of Agriculture and Life Science Students

A study was conducted to assess perceptions of potential barriers that might affect students’ perceptions and likelihood of participating in international learning at the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. To conduct the study, an 89 item webbased questionnaire was randomly sent to a sample of undergraduate and graduate students. In all, 256 students responded, for a response rate of 34%. Results showed that the most relevant barriers toward participating included concern about financial costs and overall time involved. Their ratings of a set of attributes related to skills possessed by students involved in international activities was above average, while their rating of the degree to which they possessed the attributes was in the average range. Areas which showed a substantial difference between importance and possession of attributes included “knowledge of the humanitarian issues between the U.S. and other countries,” and attributes relating to exports, marketing and humanitarian issues. Perceived barriers was the most significant predictor of intent and perceptions toward international participation, followed by the perceived degree of importance of a set of attributes typically possessed by students who have engaged in an international experience. Based on these findings, possible strategies that may mitigate potential barriers and enhance students’ willingness to participate in internationalization efforts might include focusing on educating students about specific attributes that may result from international experiences, as well as publicizing and promoting those “student success stories” where this effect is illustrated.
Stock Market Risk Premiums, Business Confidence and Consumer Confidence: Dynamic Effects and Variance Decomposition

This study is to assess the dynamics effects of business confidence and consumer confidence on stock market risk premiums and to determine the relative importance of business confidence and consumer confidence in forecasting the variability of stock market risk premiums though a variance decomposition. The results show that the response of stock market risk premiums becomes positive immediately following the shocks to business confidence and consumer confidence. Based on the variance decomposition analysis, the variability of stock market risk premiums is 95% due to its own shock and the rest is due to the shocks to business confidence (1%) and consumer confidence (4%) for the 3-month horizon. For the 6-month horizon, the variability of stock market risk premiums is 93% due to its own shock, 2% due to business confidence shock and 5% due to consumer confidence shock. The forecast error of stock market risk premiums is 90% due to its own shock and the rest is due to the shocks to business confidence (4%) and consumer confidence (6%) for the 12-month horizon. The results from the OLS time-series regression show that business confidence and consumer confidence jointly explain around 7.42% of the variation of stock market risk premiums.
Infection of Specific Dendritic Cells by CCR5-Tropic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Promotes Cell-Mediated Transmission of Virus Resistant to Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies

ABSTRACT The tropism of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 for chemokine receptors plays an important role in the transmission of AIDS. Although CXCR4-tropic virus is more cytopathic for T cells, CCR5-tropic strains are transmitted more frequently in humans for reasons that are not understood. Phenotypically immature myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) are preferentially infected by CCR5-tropic virus, in contrast to mature mDCs, which are not susceptible to infection but instead internalize virus into a protected intracellular compartment and enhance the infection of T cells. Here, we define a mechanism to explain preferential transmission of CCR5-tropic viruses based on their interaction with mDCs and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. Infected immature mDCs differentiated normally and were found to enhance CCR5-tropic but not CXCR4-tropic virus infection of T cells even in the continuous presence of neutralizing antibodies. Infectious synapses also formed normally in the presence of such antibodies. Infection of immature mDCs by CCR5-tropic virus can therefore establish a pool of infected cells that can efficiently transfer virus at the same time that they protect virus from antibody neutralization. This property of DCs may enhance infection, contribute to immune evasion, and could provide a selective advantage for CCR5-tropic virus transmission.
Mapping of a Microbial Protein Domain Involved in Binding and Activation of the TLR2/TLR1 Heterodimer1

The pentameric B subunit of type IIb Escherichia coli enterotoxin (LT-IIb-B5), a doughnut-shaped oligomeric protein from enterotoxigenic E. coli, activates the TLR2/TLR1 heterodimer (TLR2/1). We investigated the molecular basis of the LT-IIb-B5 interaction with TLR2/1 to define the structure-function relationship of LT-IIb-B5 and, moreover, to gain an insight into how TLR2/1 recognizes large, nonacylated protein ligands that cannot fit within its lipid-binding pockets, as previously shown for the Pam3CysSerLys4 (Pam3CSK4) lipopeptide. We first identified four critical residues in the upper region of the LT-IIb-B5 pore. Corresponding point mutants (M69E, A70D, L73E, S74D) were defective in binding TLR2 or TLR1 and could not activate APCs, despite retaining full ganglioside-binding capacity. Point mutations in the TLR2/1 dimer interface, as determined in the crystallographic structure of the TLR2/1-Pam3CSK4 complex, resulted in diminished activation by both Pam3CSK4 and LT-IIb-B5. Docking analysis of the LT-IIb-B5 interaction with this apparently predominant activation conformation of TLR2/1 revealed that LT-IIb-B5 might primarily contact the convex surface of the TLR2 central domain. Although the TLR1/LT-IIb-B5 interface is relatively smaller, the leucine-rich repeat motifs 9–12 in the central domain of TLR1 were found to be critical for cooperative TLR2-induced cell activation by LT-IIb-B5. Moreover, the putative LT-IIb-B5 binding site overlaps partially with that of Pam3CSK4; consistent with this, Pam3CSK4 suppressed TLR2 binding of LT-IIb-B5, albeit not as potently as self-competitive inhibition. We identified the upper pore region of LT-IIb-B5 as a TLR2/1 interactive domain, which contacts the heterodimeric receptor at a site that is distinct from, although it overlaps with, that of Pam3CSK4.
CEO Turnover in Private Equity Sponsored Leveraged Buyouts

Research Question/Issue: We examine the governance role of private equity (PE) firms in post-LBO companies in the USA. We propose and test whether PE firms remove entrenched CEOs or CEOs who cause agency problems. Research Findings/Insights: Using archival data from a sample of 126 PE sponsored LBOs in the USA between 1990 and 2006, we document a CEO turnover rate of 51 percent within two years of an LBO announcement. We find that the boards of directors replace CEOs in companies with high agency costs, as measured by low leverage and a high level of undistributed free cash flow. In addition, unlike the boards of directors in public companies, the boards in post-LBO companies tend to replace entrenched CEOs. Finally, the boards are more likely to replace CEOs if pre-LBO return on assets is low.Theoretical/Academic Implications: According to the agency theory, a PE-sponsored LBO is a new organizational form that reduces agency costs by enhancing corporate governance. This study uses CEO turnover as a setting to test that prediction. We find that PE firms replace CEOs who can cause agency problems, thus providing empirical support for the proposition that PE firms improve corporate governance in LBO companies. Practitioner/Policy Implications: This study offers insights to policy makers who are interested in regulating PE firms. Our results suggest that, in the USA, PE firms provide effective corporate governance mechanisms by replacing incompetent and entrenched CEOs. In addition, our results provide a set of factors for PE firms to consider when they make CEO retention decisions.
Turnover of Village Chickens Undermines Vaccine Coverage to Control HPAI H5N1

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 remains an enzootic disease of village chickens in Indonesia, posing ongoing risk at the animal–human interface. Previous modelling showed that the fast natural turnover of chicken populations might undermine herd immunity after vaccination, although actual details of how this effect applies to Indonesia's village chicken population have not been determined. We explored the turnover effect in Indonesia's scavenging and mixed populations of village chickens using an extended Leslie matrix model parameterized with data collected from village chicken flocks in Java region, Indonesia. Population dynamics were simulated for 208 weeks; the turnover effect was simulated for 16 weeks after vaccination in two ‘best case’ scenarios, where the whole population (scenario 1), or birds aged over 14 days (scenario 2), were vaccinated. We found that the scavenging and mixed populations have different productive traits. When steady‐state dynamics are reached, both populations are dominated by females (54.5%), and ‘growers’ and ‘chicks’ represent the most abundant age stages with 39% and 38% in the scavenging, and 60% and 25% in the mixed population, respectively. Simulations showed that the population turnover might reduce the herd immunity below the critical threshold that prevents the re‐emergence of HPAI H5N1 4–8 weeks (scavenging) and 6–9 weeks (mixed population) after vaccination in scenario 1, and 2–6 weeks (scavenging) and 4–7 weeks (mixed population) after vaccination in scenario 2. In conclusion, we found that Indonesia's village chicken population does not have a unique underlying population dynamic and therefore, different turnover effects on herd immunity may be expected after vaccination; nonetheless, our simulations carried out in best case scenarios highlight the limitations of current vaccine technologies to control HPAI H5N1. This suggests that the improvements and complementary strategies are necessary and must be explored.
Nitrate turnover in a peat soil under drained and rewetted conditions: results from a [15N]nitrate–bromide double-tracer study

Under natural conditions, peatlands are generally nitrate-limited. However, recent concerns about an additional N input into peatlands by atmospheric N deposition have highlighted the risk of an increased denitrification activity and hence the likelihood of a rise of emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the turnover of added nitrate in a drained and a rewetted peatland using a [15N]nitrate–bromide double-tracer method. The double-tracer method allows a separation between physical effects (dilution, dispersion and dislocation) and microbial and chemical nitrate transformation by comparing with the conservative Br− tracer. In the drained peat site, low NO3− consumption rates have been observed. In contrast, NO3− consumption at the rewetted peat site rises rapidly to about 100% within 4 days after tracer application. Concomitantly, the 15N abundances of nitrite and ammonium in soil water increased and lead to the conclusion that, besides commonly known NO3− reduction to nitrite (i.e. denitrification), a dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium has simultaneously taken place. The present study reveals that increasing NO3− inputs into rewetted peatlands via atmospheric deposition results in a rapid NO3− consumption, which could lead to an increase in N2O emissions into the atmosphere.
Do entrants increase incumbents' innovation activity? Escaping the lock-in, stimulating technological change and the transition towards environmentally friendly vehicles

In the context of technological transitions, the influence of innovative entrants on incumbents is a major driving force. Using worldwide patent data, the present study analyzes this influence for the case of the transition from combustion engine vehicles towards electrically powered alternative technology vehicles (ATVs). Lateral entrants and start-ups play a key role in developing ATV-related patents, whereas automotive incumbents are considered as being less motivated in pursuing this new technology. The empirical results indicate that innovative entrants have an influence on incumbents’ innovation activities, and also underline the importance of cross-country entry. The findings further suggest that entrants stimulate ATV-related innovations in those incumbents that show low ATV-related patent productivity whereas incumbents with high ATV-related patent productivity react with a decrease in ATV-related patenting, which is assumed to be a sign of outsourcing research and development activities.JEL Codes: Q550, O3, Q520, R490, L910, L260, O310
Does Family-Friendly Policy Matter? Testing Its Impact on Turnover and Performance

This study investigates the relative effects of four types of family-friendly policies—child care subsidies, paid leave for family care, telework, and alternative work schedules—on turnover rates and effectiveness in federal agencies. Contemporary social exchange theory predicts that an agency’s average level of satisfaction with a specific family-friendly policy is negatively associated with turnover in the agency but positively associated with overall performance. This analysis differs from common expectations. Only child care subsidies show a positive, significant influence on reducing turnover. Child care subsidies and alternative work schedules reflect positive and significant influences on agency effectiveness. Ironically, an agency’s average satisfaction with telework arrangements proves to be a significant but negative effect on performance.
Equivalence Scale Relativities Revisited

Recent studies have assessed the impact of choice of equivalence scale on economists' measurement of the equivalent income distribution. One particular study (Coulter, Cowell and Jenkins (1992)) has found that equivalence scales used in the UK official statistics `provide lower estimates of the extent of inequality and poverty than do other scales'. In this paper we demonstrate that these kind of results are dependent on the particular year of data and equivalence scale specification that is used and are not properties intrinsic to particular methodologies. Results are also not robust to the use of more recent UK microeconomic data.
Redefining Vacation Distances in Consumer Minds

As travel-related costs such as fuel and accommodations rise, distance becomes an increasingly important variable in travelers' vacation destination decision-making process. Consumers may use cognitive distance estimates rather than actual distance in choosing a vacation destination, and studies thus far show that consumers' cogni tive distance estimates may be quite inaccurate. Thus, many specific vacation destinations may be placed in a worse competitive position than actually exists vis-a-vis distance.
LIVING IN TIMES OF SOLIDARITY: FAIR TRADE AND THE FRACTURED LIFE WORLDS OF GUATEMALAN COFFEE FARMERS

This paper examines the social effects of fair trade transactions emerging from policies to expand the market around the globe. Focusing on the case of coffee farmers in Guatemala, it examines tensions that are created in local organisational networks linked to production, processing and certification of fair trade organic coffee and how these tensions fracture and fragment the life worlds of these coffee farmers. While the fair trade market has provided positive opportunities for rural producers the research finds that network separation and market exclusion are also social expressions of involvement in fair trade. It is argued that fair trade policies need to reflect a more nuanced understanding of household and community level consequences of production for the fair trade market. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Some Stochastic Processes of Interdependent Demand and Technological Diffusion of an Innovation Exhibiting Externalities Among Adopters

One frequently hears the opinion that as twentieth century society becomes more complex, technological change assumes more significance and occurs at a more r apid pace. Investment in researclh and development results in a myriad of potential innovations. Yet, as the frontiers of technology are pLshed outward, uncertainity about the usefulniess of innovations becomes an increasingly important factor in the decision whether or not to adopt the new innovation. Furthermore, the decisions of individual economic agents tend to become increasingly interrelated. Many recent innovations are such that whether others adopt the device influences the benefits of adoption which accrue to a given consumer or firm. Such externalities may be positive (for example, consider a nation's decision to use the metric system, the wearing of a style by a fashion leader, a merchant's decision to accept a certain credit card, or the purchase of a coinmunication device by someone with whom one desires to communicate) or negative (for instance, imitation in the production of a faddish consumption item for which the potential market is limited, or the puLrchase of a telephone by an obscene caller). Our goal is to analyze techn-ological diffLsioll with interdependencies when uncertainty and informational considerationis are an inherent part of the theoretical model. The uncertainty may be of two types: (a) technological uLncertainty the usefulness or quality of the innovation is at least partially unlknown, and (b) adoption uncertainity incomplete or inaccurate knowledge about who is usinlg the innovation. In our stochastic model, adoptioni is reversible the decision to use the innovation is not permanent, but rather, agents may change their minds. Agents are not able to learn about the characteristics (quality, profitability, usefulness, etc.) of the innovation. This assumption limits the applicability of
Perceptions of Environmental Effects of Pesticides Use in Vegetable Production by Farmers in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Farmers’ pest management practices, awareness and their perception about the effects of pesticides’ use on the environment were discussed in this study. Data were collected from the vegetable farmers who operate along the banks of the rivers, streams and dams at the outskirts of the city. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 128 vegetable farmers who use pesticides in vegetable production. Interview schedule was used to obtain data from the farmers. Frequency, means, percentages were used to describe the data and Chi – square was employed to test the relationships between some selected farmers’ characteristics and their perception. Findings revealed that a wide variety of pesticides were used by the farmers. A high level of awareness on the risks associated with the use of pesticides was found among the respondents. However, majority (85%) of the farmers did not use protective clothes when applying pesticides. Farmers showed favourable attitudes about the risk of pesticide usage. Farmers’ age, education and contacts with extension agent had positive and significant associations with perceived effects of pesticides use on the environment. The intensification of extension services to educate farmers on safe use of pesticides in vegetable production is recommended.
Shaping schemes for diverse data applications in LTE advanced wireless networks

Traffic in wireless networks has become more diverse due to various applications running on smartphones. Moreover, traffic generated by background processes which has small amount of data and widely dispersed in time takes up a large portion of diverse data applications. To reduce signaling overhead due to frequent state transitions of radio resource control (RRC), the evolved nodeB (eNB) tends to keep User equipment (UE) in RRC connected state all the time. However, this approach leads to high UE power consumption and inefficient resource utilization at eNB, especially when UE has only background traffic. To cope with this problem, we propose three shaping schemes which transmit together accumulated background data to reduce both signaling overhead and power consumption at the same time. In addition, we analyze the performance of the proposed shaping schemes. The analytical results are verified with simulations.