Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Banks' Survival during the Financial Crisis: The Role of Regulatory Reporting Quality

We investigate the relation between the quality of bank regulatory reporting prior to and bank stability during the financial crisis that erupted in 2008. Using a large sample of private and public commercial banks in the United States and the incidence of accounting restatements as a proxy for the overall quality of the reporting system, we find that reporting quality is positively associated with stability. We show that lower reporting quality before the crisis is associated with higher non-performing loans and lower profitability at the onset of the crisis. We document that banks with lower reporting quality are more likely to experience regulatory intervention through enforcement actions and bank failures during the crisis. We also find some evidence that higher reporting quality is associated with more effective regulatory enforcement actions. We corroborate our findings using an alternative proxy that focuses on the quality of the loan loss provision. A key implication of our findings is that good regulatory reporting is important for the success of the banking system.
Technology transfer motive of managers in Eastern Asia: empirical results from manufacture industry in Banten province, Indonesia

Empirical results state that large number of Eastern Asia managers in Banten province lack of technology mastery. It causes low employees productivity. The purpose of this study is to search for explanation of causality among variables to assess research hypotheses. Population used in this study is employees in an organization led by foreign managers from Eastern Asia. Purposive sampling technique is used to decide samples. Criteria to determine samples are: 1) operating in Banten province; 2) employing foreign workers, and 3) having at least 300 workers. There are 200 distributed questionnaires in this study, and 138 manageable questionnaires are left. Main results from this study state that technology transfer motive influences the strength of relationship, local employee personal capacity and technology mastery. Also, it impacts the strength of relationship and local employee personal capacity in the enhancement of employees productivity, yet, technology mastery cannot improve employee productivity. It is in line with the results by Argote and Ingram (2000), yet, it contradicts with Nonaka’s study (1994) which states that technology competence influences productivity.
Expression of the Bacillus subtilis trpEDCFBAOperon Is Influenced by Translational Coupling and Rho Termination Factor

ABSTRACT The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) regulates expression of the Bacillus subtilis trpEDCFBAoperon by transcription attenuation and translational control mechanisms. Both mechanisms require binding of tryptophan-activated TRAP to 11 (G/U)AG repeats in the trp leader transcript.trpE translational control involves formation of a TRAP-dependent RNA structure that sequesters the trpEShine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence (the SD blocking hairpin). By comparing expression levels fromtrpE′-′lacZ translational fusions controlled by the wild-type leader or by a leader that cannot form the SD blocking hairpin, we found that translational control requires a tryptophan concentration higher than that required for transcription attenuation. We also found that inhibition oftrpE translation by the SD blocking hairpin does not alter the stability of the downstream message. Since the coding sequences for trpE and trpD overlap by 29 nucleotides, we examined expression levels fromtrpED′-′lacZ translational fusions to determine if these two genes are translationally coupled. We found that introduction of a UAA stop codon in trpEresulted in a substantial reduction in expression. Since expression was partially restored in the presence of a tRNA suppressor, our results indicate that trpE and trpD are translationally coupled. We determined that the coupling mechanism is TRAP independent and that formation of the SD blocking hairpin regulates trpD translation via translational coupling. We also constructed a rho mutation to investigate the role of Rho-dependent termination in trp operon expression. We found that TRAP-dependent formation of the SD blocking hairpin allows Rho access to the nascent transcript, causing transcriptional polarity.
‘He lacks his fatherhood’: safer conception technologies and the biological imperative for fatherhood among recently-diagnosed Xhosa-speaking men living with HIV in South Africa

This paper explores notions of fatherhood and their linkages to fertility desires and intentions among a treatment-naïve cohort of Xhosa-speaking male key informants living with HIV, aged 20–53 in Cape Town, South Africa. Analysis is based on an initial 27, and 20 follow-up, interviews with men who were part of a study that assessed the acceptability of safer conception and alternative parenting strategies among men and women newly diagnosed with HIV to inform an intervention. Grounded theory analysis revealed themes related to the cultural imperative of biologically-connected fatherhood. Certain safer-conception strategies aimed at minimising the risk of HIV transmission were perceived as threats to paternity. These findings suggest that understanding of social and cultural beliefs related to notions of paternity and fatherhood may inform the implementation of acceptable safer-conception options for HIV-positive men and their infected and uninfected female partners in a high-HIV prevalence, low-resource setting.
Intranasal lidocaine for treatment of migraine: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of intranasal lidocaine for treatment of acute migraine headache. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING Community urgent care department. PATIENTS A total of 81 patients (67 women and 14 men; median age, 42 years; range, 19-68 years) with a chief complaint of headache who fulfilled criteria of the International Headache Society for migraine participated. Patients were excluded if headache had lasted more than 3 days or if the frequency of severe headache was more than once per week. INTERVENTION Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive a 4 percent solution of intranasal lidocaine or saline placebo, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was at least 50 percent reduction of headache within 15 minutes after treatment. Secondary measures include reduction in nausea and photophobia, use of rescue medication, relapse of headache, and change in headache disability scores. RESULTS Of 53 patients who received intranasal lidocaine, 29 (55 percent) had at least a 50 percent reduction of headache compared with 6 (21 percent) of 28 controls (P=.004). Nausea and photophobia were significantly reduced (P=.03 and P=.001, respectively). Rescue medication for headache relief was needed in 15 (28 percent) of 53 patients in the lidocaine group vs 20 (71 percent) of 28 controls (P<.001). Among those with initial relief of headache, relapse of headache occurred in 10 (42 percent) of 24 in the lidocaine group vs 5 (83 percent) of 6 in the control group (P=.17), usually within the first hour after treatment. CONCLUSIONS Intranasal lidocaine provides rapid relief of headache in approximately 55 percent of ambulatory patients with migraine. Relapse of headache is common and occurs early after treatment.
On Variability and Genes: Inter-individual Differences in Auditory Brain Function

We are embarking on a new frontier in human auditory neuroscience, integrating rapidly advancing neurophenotyping approaches to brain research, with genetic and genome-wide studies. A variety of human neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques allows to analyze brain structure, function, and neurochemistry in the same individual. As human neuroscience and genetics/genomics research goals converge, the focus is shifting toward understanding how individual variations in auditory neurobiology are shaped by genes and experience, and how these mechanisms influence normal behavior and disease risk.
A single non‐invasive model to diagnose non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive form of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A liver biopsy is considered the “gold standard” for diagnosing/staging NASH. Identification of NAFLD/NASH using non‐invasive tools is important for intervention. The study aims were to: develop/validate the predictive performance of a non‐invasive model (index of NASH [ION]); assess the performance of a recognized non‐invasive model (fatty liver index [FLI]) compared with ION for NAFLD diagnosis; determine which non‐invasive model (FLI, ION, or NAFLD fibrosis score [NFS]) performed best in predicting age‐adjusted mortality.
Linear Matrix Inequalities In System And Control Theory

Preface 1. Introduction Overview A Brief History of LMIs in Control Theory Notes on the Style of the Book Origin of the Book 2. Some Standard Problems Involving LMIs. Linear Matrix Inequalities Some Standard Problems Ellipsoid Algorithm Interior-Point Methods Strict and Nonstrict LMIs Miscellaneous Results on Matrix Inequalities Some LMI Problems with Analytic Solutions 3. Some Matrix Problems. Minimizing Condition Number by Scaling Minimizing Condition Number of a Positive-Definite Matrix Minimizing Norm by Scaling Rescaling a Matrix Positive-Definite Matrix Completion Problems Quadratic Approximation of a Polytopic Norm Ellipsoidal Approximation 4. Linear Differential Inclusions. Differential Inclusions Some Specific LDIs Nonlinear System Analysis via LDIs 5. Analysis of LDIs: State Properties. Quadratic Stability Invariant Ellipsoids 6. Analysis of LDIs: Input/Output Properties. Input-to-State Properties State-to-Output Properties Input-to-Output Properties 7. State-Feedback Synthesis for LDIs. Static State-Feedback Controllers State Properties Input-to-State Properties State-to-Output Properties Input-to-Output Properties Observer-Based Controllers for Nonlinear Systems 8. Lure and Multiplier Methods. Analysis of Lure Systems Integral Quadratic Constraints Multipliers for Systems with Unknown Parameters 9. Systems with Multiplicative Noise. Analysis of Systems with Multiplicative Noise State-Feedback Synthesis 10. Miscellaneous Problems. Optimization over an Affine Family of Linear Systems Analysis of Systems with LTI Perturbations Positive Orthant Stabilizability Linear Systems with Delays Interpolation Problems The Inverse Problem of Optimal Control System Realization Problems Multi-Criterion LQG Nonconvex Multi-Criterion Quadratic Problems Notation List of Acronyms Bibliography Index.
Bovine Rotavirus Nonstructural Protein 4 Produced by Lactococcus lactis Is Antigenic and Immunogenic

ABSTRACT Rotavirus nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) can induce diarrhea in mice. To get insight into the biological effects of NSP4, production of large quantities of this protein is necessary. We first tried to produce the protein in Escherichia coli, but thensp4 gene proved to be unstable. The capacity of the generally regarded as safe organism Lactococcus lactis to produce NSP4 either intra- or extracellularly was then investigated by using the nisin-controlled expression system. Production of recombinant NSP4 (rNSP4) was observed in L. lactis for both locations. In spite of a very low secretion efficiency, the highest level of production was obtained with the fusion between a lactococcal signal peptide and rNSP4. Cultures of the rNSP4-secreting strain were injected into rabbits, and a specific immune response was elicited. The anti-rNSP4 antibodies produced in these rabbits recognized NSP4 in MA104 cells infected by rotavirus. We showed that L. lactisis able to produce antigenic and immunogenic rNSP4 and thus is a good organism for producing viral antigens.
Salinomycin-Induced Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Salinomycin is a carboxylic polyether ionophore which was isolated from the culture super‐ natant of the bacterium Streptomyces albus in 1974 [1]. Structurally, it is composed of a penta‐ cyclic molecule with a unique tricyclic spiroketal ring system and a unsaturated sixmembered ring (Fig. 1). Its lipophilic property enables salinomycin to act in cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membranes as an ionophore with a strong preference for potassium. There‐ fore, it promotes cellular and mitochondrial potassium efflux and inhibits mitochondrial ox‐ idative phosphorylation [2, 3].
Can Social Networks Help Content Websites Predict Traffic and Engagement

Using individual-level clickstreams data, we study if social network information can help predict traffic to a third party content website. The focal content site is a news provider with an online presence independent of that of Facebook (the social network we study). Users can nevertheless register at the site using their social network account and allow access to their social network information. We estimate a flexible individual-level joint model of site visitation and page requests and find that social network information is valuable for traffic prediction. In our study, measures of an individual’s activity on Facebook are predictive of that individual’s actions at the news site. In addition, knowing what a user’s Facebook friends do at the content website provides the greatest benefit in prediction: visitors with active friends view fewer articles (a more directed content consumption) although they are more likely to visit the website. Our study also highlights that visitors' past browsing patterns are important predictors of future content consumption, though social network information significantly improves upon these more traditional behavioral metrics.
Smart working: Rethinking work practices to leverage employees’ innovation potential

We investigate Smart Working (SW), a set of modern and not-conventional organisational models that are characterised by high flexibility in the choice of the working spaces, time and tools, and that provides all employees of a organisation with the best working conditions to accomplish their tasks. Specifically, the paper aims to: (i) identify whether firms adopt different SW models: (ii) explore complementarities between the elements that can lead to choose a SW model, and (iii) figure out whether contingent variables matters in the implementation of a particular SW model. In order to achieve these goals, we have delivered a survey to 100 HR directors of medium and large Italian organisations and accomplished multiple, embedded case studies. Empirical evidence suggest that the managers who aim to fully benefit of SW practices should not only invest in the enabling digital technologies, but also make the complementary transformations in organisational policies and workspace settings, according the contingent conditions under which they operate.
How Do Managers Manage Dividends Growth Rates?

The internal factors that influence the decision to change dividend growth rates include two competing models; the earnings and free cash flow models. As far as each the components of each model are considered, the informative and efficient dividend payout decisions require that managers have to focus on the significant component(s) only. This study examines the co-integration, significance and explanatory power of those components empirically. The expected outcomes serve two objectives. First, on an academic level, it is interesting to examine the extent to which payout practices meet the premises of the earnings and free cash flow models. The latter considers dividends and financing decisions as two faces of the same coin. Second, on a professional level, the outcomes help focus the management’s efforts on the activities that can be performed when considering a change in dividend growth rates. This study uses data for the firms listed in two indexes; Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA30) and NASDAQ100. The data cover quarterly periods from 30th June 1989-31st March 2011. The methodology includes: (a) co-integration analysis in order to test for model specification and, (b) classical regression in order to examine the explanatory power of the components of earnings and free cash flow models. The results conclude that: (a) dividends growth rates are co-integrated with the two models significantly; (b) dividend growth rates are significantly and positively associated with growth in sales and cost of goods sold only. Accordingly, these are the two activities that firms’ management need to focus on when considering a decision to change dividend growth rates, (c) the components of the earnings and free cash flow models explain very little of the variations in dividends growth rates. The results are to be considered a call for further research on the external (market-level) determinants that explain the variations in dividends growth rates. Forthcoming research must separate the effects of firm-level and market-level in order to reach clear judgments on the determinants of dividends growth rates. This study contributes to the related literature in terms of offering updated robust empirical evidence that the decision to change dividend growth rate is discretionary to a large extent. That is, dividend decisions do not match the propositions of the earnings and free cash flow models entirely. In addition, the results offer solid evidence that financing trends in the period 1989-2011 showed heavy dependence on debt financing compared to other related studies that showed heavy dependence on equity financing during the previous period 1974-1984.
Pre‐Clinical Mouse Models of Primary and Metastatic Pleural Cancers of the Lung and Breast and the Use of Bioluminescent Imaging to Monitor Pleural Tumor Burden

Malignant pleural disease (MPD) results in an estimated 150,000 cases of malignant pleural effusions (MPE) annually. The most common malignancies associated with MPD are primary malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and metastatic lung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. MPM is a rare, regionally aggressive malignancy whose incidence is increasing secondarily to the latency of disease progression. MPD is characteristic of advanced‐stage pleural disease and portends a grave clinical prognosis with a median survival between 3 and 12 months. Preclinical investigations conducted in flank and intraperitoneal tumor models do not fully recapitulate the pleural tumor microenvironment, and the results are not directly translatable to the clinical setting. The protocol described herein provides a mouse model of MPM and MPD from nonhematogenous tumors, resulting in reproducible tumor location, tumor progression, animal survival, and histopathology. Pleural tumor growth in this model resembles the regionally aggressive clinical course and tumor microenvironment of human pleural cancers and provides an optimal animal model to investigate MPD biology and therapies. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 54:14.21. 1‐14.21. 18. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Interest Rate Liberalization and Capital Misallocations

We study the consequences of interest rate liberalization in a two-sector general equilibrium model of China. The model captures a key feature of China’s distorted financial system: state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have greater incentive to expand production and easier access to credit than private firms. In this second-best environment, interest rate liberalization can improve capital allocations within each sector but can also exacerbate misallocations across sectors. Under calibrated parameters, the liberalization policy can reduce aggregate productivity and welfare unless other policy reforms are also implemented to alleviate SOEs’ distorted incentives or improve private firms’ credit access. (JEL E43, E44, G32, L32, P24, P31, P34)
Fixed-point analysis and realization of an adaptive eigenvector algorithm for use in sensor networks

We present a fixed-point analysis of an adaptive eigenvector algorithm. Based on a linearized model, we derive explicit equations for the steady-state mean-square error (MSE) infinite precision computations. Simulation results are given to validate our theoretical analysis and model. Some modifications to make the algorithm fixed-point realizable are proposed and a ring-processor based implementation is discussed.
Evidence that strong Mls determinants are nonpolymorphic.

Gene products of the murine Mls locus elicit high primary mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs). Although this locus is considered to have four alleles, only two of these alleles, i.e., Mlsa and Mlsd, give strong responses in primary MLRs. This paper presents a series of experiments to show that Mlsa and Mlsd are in fact antigenically indistinguishable. Strong Mls determinants thus appear to be nonpolymorphic.
Prolactin in cerebrospinal fluid and dopamine function in man

Evidence from animal studies and limited data in man indicate that plasma prolactin and other neuroendocrine hormones may be under relatively direct influence of biogenic amine transmitters in the central nervous system (Meites, Lu &others, 1972; DeWied & DeJong, 1974). The present study explores the possibility that prolactin concentrations in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (csf) might provide a new source of data on central dopamine function in patients. Based on plasma studies, one would expect that csf prolactin concentration, if reliable, should decrease with central dopamine receptor stimulation (Lal, de la Vega & Sourkes, 1973), and should rise with dopamine receptor blockade (Kleinberg, Noel & Frantz, 1971). In studies of dopamine-active drugs in psychiatric patients, lumbar csf measurements of homovanillic acid (HVA), a major metabolite of central dopamine in man, have provided the most direct index of altered dopamine metabolism (Goodwin & Post, 1975). Drug-induced alterations in csf HVA accumulations have been demonstrated and are thought to reflect feedback control of presynaptic dopamine ‘turnover’-i.e., transmitter synthesis, release, and degradation (Goodwin, Post & others, 1973). To the extent that csf prolactin concentrations reflect alterations in post-synaptic dopamine receptor activity they may represent a more direct index of dopamine function than HVA accumulations. In a preliminary evaluation of this possibility, we have studied the effects of piribedil, a relatively specific dopamine receptor agonist (Corrodi, Fuxc & Ungerstedt, 1971), and of pimozide, a relatively specific dopamine receptor blocker (AndBn, Butcher & others, 1970), on csf prolactin concentrations in depressed patients. Csf prolactin concentrations were measured in depressed patients in a clinical research unit at the National Institute of Mental Health. Patients met criteria for primary affective illness or schizo-affective illness (Spitzer, Endicott & Robins, 1975), were in good physical health, and adhered to a low monoamine diet. Lumbar punctures were made in eight patients following two weeks free of medication, and were repeated in four patients during extended (2-5 weeks) administration of piribedil (up to 240mgday-l), and in four other patients during brief (5-7 days) and extended (2-4 weeks) administration of pimozide (4 mg day-’). Lumbar punctures were done at bedrest at 3:OO pm after administration of probenecid (100 mg kg-l) in divided oral doses. Probenecid inhibits the transport system responsible for the removal of acid metabolites from