Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Options Trading and Stock Price Crash Risk

Using a sample of U.S. firms between 1996 and 2011, this paper documents a positive association between options trading volume and future stock price crash risk. This relation is evidently more pronounced among firms with higher information asymmetry, business uncertainty, and short-sale constraints. In a dichotomous cross-sectional setting, we also document that firms with options trading have higher future crash risk than firms without options trading. We further show in a difference-in-difference analysis that firms experience an increase in crash risk immediately after the listing of options. The results suggest that options traders are able of identifying bad news hoarding by management and choose to trade in a liquid options market in anticipation of future crashes.
No effect on central or peripheral blood pressure of systemic urotensin II infusion in humans.

AIMS In rodent and primate studies, urotensin II is an extremely potent vasoconstrictor peptide with effects in the central aortic and arterial vasculature as well as on cardiac function. The aim of the present study was to assess systemic haemodynamic responses to intravenous urotensin II infusion in humans. METHODS In 10 healthy male volunteers, intravenous urotensin II (3, 30 and 300 pmol min-1) and saline placebo were given on separate occasions in a single-blind randomized manner. Systemic haemodynamics and arterial stiffness were assessed by sphygmomanometry, transthoracic bioimpedance, and pulse wave analysis. Plasma urotensin II immuno-reactivity was measured by radio-immunoassay. RESULTS Intravenous urotensin II infusions were well tolerated with no adverse clinical effects and no electrocardiographic changes. Circulating plasma urotensin II immuno-reactivity increased from baseline of 16 +/- 1 to 1460 +/- 82 pmol l-1 (mean +/- s.e. mean) during infusion of urotensin II at 300 pmol min-1 (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant placebo adjusted changes in heart rate (95% confidence intervals: -3.6, + 4.4 min-1), mean arterial pressure (-5.8, + 1.7 mmHg) or cardiac index (-0.1, + 0.4 l min-1 m-2). There were also no changes in augmentation index (-4.1, + 5.2%) or pulse wave velocity (-1.3, + 0.3 m s-1). CONCLUSIONS Intravenous urotensin II infusion did not affect systemic haemodynamics or arterial stiffness, despite achieving an approximately 100-fold increase in plasma immuno-reactivity. We conclude that urotensin II is unlikely to have a physiological role in the short term regulation of vascular tone or blood pressure in man. Further confirmatory studies with urotensin II receptor antagonists are required.
Visual Modeling of Devs-Based Multiformalism Systems Based on Higraphs

This paper presents a graphical modeling method and tool for DEVS model and DEVS-based combined discrete/continuous model specification. In DEVS-based modeling, atomic model behavior specification is organized around different phases which define a partition of the state space of the model. The phase transitions depict the qualitative state changes and naturally lend themselves to be represented by a state transition diagram. Our representation of these phase transitions is based on the higraph extension to conventional graph representations. In higraphs, the area of the diagram is used to represent set enclosure and exclusion and the Cartesian product which leads to remarkable reduction in the diagram's complexity. An interactive modeling tool based on the graphical representation developed is presented.
Accounting students’ need for important generic and technical accounting skills in university education and as accountants in the workplace

i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iii BACKGROUND OF MY COUNTRY, SAUDI ARABIA . x TABLE OF CONTENTS . x LIST OF FIGURES . xvi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Overview . 1 1.2 Background . 2 1.3 Problem statement . 4 1.4 Accounting in Saudi Arabia . 6 1.4. 1 Accounting standards . 7 1.5 Aims and objectives: . 8 1.6 Method . 9 1.7 Rationale of the study . 9 1.8 Scope and limitations of the study: . 9 1.9 Study outline . 10 1.10 Summary . 10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 12 2.
Glomerular deposition of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) indicates a novel mechanism of complement activation in IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND IgA nephropathy (IgA-N) is considered the most common glomerular disease in the world and leads to renal failure in a substantial number of patients. Although many studies have looked at the pathogenesis of the disease, many points need to be clarified, including the mechanism of complement activation. Recent studies have shown that mannose-binding lectin (MBL or mannose binding protein, MBP) initiates activation of the complement cascade (lectin pathway) utilizing two types of MBP-associated serine protease, namely MASP-1 and MASP-2. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the lectin pathway was involved in the pathogenic mechanism of IgA-N. METHODS Forty-five renal biopsy cases with IgA-N, 35 cases with other forms of glomerulonephritis (GN), and normal kidney tissues were collected and an immunohistochemical study was performed using monoclonal antibodies against MBL and MASP-1. Furthermore, clinicopathological and serological features were also analysed in the patients with IgA-N. RESULTS Glomerular deposition of MBL, which was accompanied by MASP-1, was detected in 11 of 45 (24.4%) cases with IgA-N, while it was detected in only one case with other forms of GN. The deposited MBL/MASP-1 was observed to associate with C3b/C3c and C5b-9 but not with IgG, IgM, C1q, C4c, or properdin. Compared with MBL/MASP-1 negative cases with IgA-N, the positive cases with IgA-N were young and the renal biopsies had been performed at an early stage of the disease. No significant correlation was found between glomerular deposition of MBL/MASP-1 and proteinuria, haematuria, creatinine clearance, and serum levels of IgA, C3, or C4 at the time of renal biopsy. There were also no significant differences between MBL/MASP-1 positive cases and negative cases in the plasma levels of circulating immune complexes or soluble C5b-9. CONCLUSION The lectin pathway of complement activation, which is initiated by the MBL/MASPs complex, evidently contributes to the development of glomerular injury in a significant number of cases with IgA-N. In addition, these findings will add insight to the pathogenesis of IgA-N, including its relation to infection, since MBL plays a crucial role in the host defense against various pathogens.
Role of the matrix protein in the virion association of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein

The matrix (MA) protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) forms an inner coat directly underneath the lipid envelope of the virion. The outer surface of the lipid envelope surrounding the capsid is coated by the viral Env glycoproteins. We report here that the HIV-1 capsid-Env glycoprotein association is very sensitive to minor alterations in the MA protein. The results indicate that most of the MA domain of the Gag precursor, except for its carboxy terminus, is essential for this association. Viral particles produced by proviruses with small missense or deletion mutations in the region coding for the amino-terminal 100 amino acids of the MA protein lacked both the surface glycoprotein gp120 and the transmembrane glycoprotein gp41, indicating a defect at the level of Env glycoprotein incorporation. Alterations at the carboxy terminus of the MA domain had no significant effect on the levels of particle-associated Env glycoprotein or on virus replication. The presence of HIV-1 MA protein sequences was sufficient for the stable association of HIV-1 Env glycoprotein with hybrid particles that contain the capsid (CA) and nucleocapsid (NC) proteins of visna virus. The association of HIV-1 Env glycoprotein with the hybrid particles was dependent upon the presence of the HIV-1 MA protein domain, as HIV-1 Env glycoprotein was not efficiently recruited into virus particles when coexpressed with authentic visna virus Gag proteins.
Sex and reproduction: an evolving relationship.

BACKGROUND Although sexual activity has, until very recently, been essential to reproduction, this did not preclude the non-reproductive importance of sexual relationships and non-conceptive copulations. Technological advances, however, now allow for both sex without reproduction and reproduction without sex. This review summarizes social and ethical commentaries on the new relationship between sex and reproduction. METHODS For each main area discussed, a systematic search was made using (depending on the subject) PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, classic books, Google and/or religious websites. The search focused on publications between 1975 and 2009, although some materials from the first part of the 20th century were also utilized. RESULTS The classic picture of sex for reproduction and bonding between mating partners is increasingly being replaced by reproduction separate from sexual activity. Although not every advance in assisted reproduction produced, per se, a further separation from sexual intercourse, these two fundamental human activities are today increasingly carried out independently, as reproduction is possible, not only without sex, but even through the intervention of more than two partners. The possibility of reproduction with only one or even no gametes, although highly controversial and not yet feasible, is nonetheless being investigated. CONCLUSIONS Technological advances in the field of reproductive biology have enabled couples considered infertile to conceive and have healthy babies, causing a revolution in culture and customs. Today the independence of sex and reproduction is established and in the future human reproduction may move even further away from the sexual act, an option definitely unacceptable to some ethicists.
Psychological therapies for the management of co-morbid depression following a spinal cord injury: A systematic review

The evidence about psychological therapies used to manage co-morbid depression after a spinal cord injury is presented here. A comprehensive search of five electronic databases identified nine studies (participants, n = 591) meeting inclusion criteria. Pooled statistical analyses were conducted in combination with narrative synthesis. Overall, multimodal cognitive behavioural therapy was found to be moderately effective (standardised mean difference = −0.52; 95% confidence interval = −0.85, −0.19). Activity scheduling, psychoeducation, problem solving and cognitive therapy may be particularly beneficial therapies within cognitive behavioural therapy. Further high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed to better substantiate these findings.
Theory Issues in the Food Processing Industry

The objective is to identify significant determinants of performance for food processing firms over the 1992 to 2003 time period, focusing particularly on the issue of family control. Variables measuring firm effects such as asset size, governance, income distribution, and risk are used to explain return on equity. This study builds upon previous research by including a measure of income distribution in the food processing industry. Governance variables are found to be significant determinants of return on equity. The results found no evidence of agency problems in family-controlled firms during this time period.
Changes in Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Death and Dying a Measurement of Curriculum Integration Effectiveness

HERE has been much written regarding the nursing care of the dying patientl23 3 T and the responsibility of nursing educators to integrate classroom and clinical teaching of such care throughout nursing education programmes 45 A review of the literature, however, reveals a near absence of material relating to nursing students’ attitudes toward death and dying,6 and little or no information regarding evaluation techniques for programmes designed to teach nurses methods of coping with dying patients or with those patients exposed to the threat of premature death e.g. drug addicts. Few yardsticks have been used to measure beginning attitudes (i.e. in freshmen), or to measure changes in those attitudes as a result of experience (i.e. in seniors). The curriculum integration in the school of nursing in which this study was done is based on the premise that attitude change and awareness of feelings about death occurs only when students are provided with experiences in which they can didactically learn the basic principles of caring for the dying and have the clinical experience of providing care for these patients, as well as having the opportunity to express and explore their own feelings about their experiences, in group seminar settings. A fuller description of the curriculum in this regard is given below. This study is based in part on the assumption that attitudes toward, and awareness of feelings about, death and dying directly affect the nursing practitioner’s ability to relate to and care for, the dying patient and his or her family. It is our intention to measure the changes in these attitudes in relationship to a specific curriculum designed to affect them, and thus to assess the effectiveness of the
Diurnal variations of post-exercise parasympathetic nervous reactivation in different chronotypes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diurnal variation and chronotype differences, i.e., in morning-types and evening-types, in post-exercise vagal reactivation. Twelve healthy male college students who were classified as morning-type (6) and evening-type (6), based on responses to a questionnaire, participated in this study. Postexercise vagal reactivation was assessed as the time constant of the beat-by-beat heart rate decrease for the first 30 sec after exercise (T30) at an intensity lower than the ventilatory threshold. The subjects performed 3-min cycle ergometer exercise at an intensity corresponding to 80% of the ventilatory threshold after a 1 min warm-up exercise in the morning (7:00 - 8:00) and evening (17:00 - 18:00) to obtain the T30. A significant interaction (chronotype-by-time) effect was found for T30. The morning value of the T30 in evening-type subjects was significantly larger than their evening value and the morning value in morning-type subjects. There was no significant interaction effect for heart rate and oxygen uptake during exercise. These results suggest that diurnal variation in post-exercise vagal reactivation is different between morning-type and evening-type, and post-exercise vagal reactivation in evening-type individuals is sluggish in the morning.
The Relationship between destination personality, self-congruity, and behavioral intentions

The Relationship Between Destination Personality, Self-Congruity, and Behavioral Intentions by Ahmet Usakli Dr. Seyhmus Baloglu, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Hotel Administration University of Nevada, Las Vegas The purpose of this research was to investigate the perceived destination personality of Las Vegas and to examine the relationships among destination personality, self-congruity, and tourist's behavioral intentions. A convenience sample of 382 visitors to Las Vegas was surveyed and 368 usable questionnaires were analyzed. The findings of the study indicate that tourists ascribe personality characteristics to destinations and perceived destination personality of Las Vegas is five dimensional: vibrancy, sophistication, competence, contemporary, and sincerity. These dimensions have a positive influence on intention to return and intention to recommend. The study also supports the self-congruity theory within the context of tourism destinations, indicating that both actual and ideal self-congruity has positive impact on behavioral intentions. The study concludes that self-congruity is a partial mediator on the relationship between destination personality and behavioral intentions. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed within the context of destination branding and self-congruity theory.
An acidic sequence within the cytoplasmic domain of furin functions as a determinant of trans‐Golgi network localization and internalization from the cell surface.

The mammalian endopeptidase, furin, is predominantly localized to the trans‐Golgi network (TGN) at steady state. The localization of furin to this compartment seems to be the result of a dynamic process in which the protein undergoes cycling between the TGN and the plasma membrane. Both TGN localization and internalization from the plasma membrane are mediated by targeting information contained within the cytoplasmic domain of furin. Here, we report the results of a mutagenesis analysis aimed at identifying the source(s) of targeting information within the furin cytoplasmic domain. Our studies show that there are at least two cytoplasmic determinants that contribute to the steady‐state localization and trafficking of furin. The first determinant corresponds to a canonical tyrosine‐based motif, YKGL (residues 758–761), that functions mainly as an internalization signal. The second determinant consists of a strongly hydrophilic sequence (residues 766–783) that contains a large cluster of acidic residues (E and D) and is devoid of any tyrosine‐based or di‐leucine‐based motifs. This second determinant is capable of conferring localization to the TGN as well as mediating internalization from the plasma membrane. Thus, these observations establish the existence of a novel, autonomous determinant distinct from sorting signals described previously.
Examining factors influencing the repurchasing intention of credence products : empirical evidence from Thailand

The purpose of this study is to examine post-purchase evaluation factors influencing repurchase intention of credence products, and develop a model of consumer’s post-purchase evaluation for the repurchase intentions. The credence products in this case are dietary supplements, with a focus on consumers in Thailand. The study classifies a conceptual model and hypothesised relationships into two consumer perspectives: product; and brand. This research assumes that trust, expectations, satisfaction factors may relate to repurchase intention for the consumer product perspective. Also, brand trust, brand experience, expectation, and satisfaction factors are correlated with repurchase intention from the consumer brand perspective. The research adopts a hypothetico-deductive method to enable the testing of hypotheses and also a structural equation modelling (SEM) to measure the constructive relationship and regression analysis that evaluates the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Both simple regression and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were used to examine the effect of postpurchase evaluation factors on repurchase intention. These analyses are based on
Measuring export competitiveness: revisiting the effective exchange rate weights for the euro area countries

This article addresses the competition faced by exporters as a particular motivation to compute an effective exchange rate, discussing some important implications of the simplifying assumptions usually made regarding the selection of competitors and differences in product specialization. Firstly, the selection of competitors is not limited to the countries initially chosen according to their share in exports. Secondly, competition in third markets is evaluated in order to account for the different product specialization of each country. This different approach is then applied to the 12 euro countries using data for 2004.
TECHNOLOGY-BASED SELF-SERVICE KIOSKS IN RETAILING: AN OPTIONAL CHANNEL FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Over the past decade, many retailers have rapidly incorporated a variety of technological applications. One of the increasingly used technologies is the delivery of service through self-service technologies. The current study was aimed at understanding the role of technology-based self-service (TBSS) kiosks, as an optional channel for customer service, within a retail store setting by examining a nomological network of the relationships related to TBSS kiosks. To this end, two studies were conducted; study 1 empirically tested the research model for each type of TBSS kiosks (i.e., self-checkouts and information kiosks) while study 2 investigated whether the patterns of the hypothesized relationships are similar or dissimilar across two TBSS kiosks. The results of this study affirmed that TBSS kiosk usage contributes considerably to retail store patronage through store service quality. This substantiated that retail store patronage is driven, in part, by TBSS kiosk usage, indicating the supportive role of TBSS kiosks in a retail store. This study made significant contributions by extending current theoretical and empirical knowledge on TBSS kiosks in retailing. The proposed model attempted to draw a comprehensive picture of a retail patronage model of TBSS kiosk by investigating a variety of factors relevant to TBSS kiosks in retail settings. Compared to previous studies that were limited to research on consumer acceptance or trial of such forms of service delivery, this study addressed formerly unexplored aspects of how TBSS kiosks contribute to patronage to a retail store. Based on the findings of this study, managerial implications as well as limitations and suggestions for future research were discussed.
CEO Optimism, Analyst Rationality, and Earnings Forecast Bias

This paper examines analysts’ forecast behavior in a setting in which CEOs are optimistic and analysts react rationally to CEO optimism. Using insider-trading behavior to capture CEO optimism, we document that the bias in eight-month-ahead analysts’ consensus forecasts is negatively related to the level of CEO optimism. The negative relation is stronger for small firms and for firms with low analyst followings, consistent with the notion that CEOs of firms operating in a poor information environment exert more influence on analysts. Further, analysts revise their forecasts for next year’s earnings less downward relative to their revision for current year’s earnings for firms with more optimistic CEOs, a result consistent with the idea that analyst forecast bias is an equilibrium outcome in response to CEO optimism. Finally, the stock price reaction to downward forecast revisions is less negative for firms with optimistic CEOs, indicating that investors, at least partially, understand the implications of CEO optimism for analysts’ forecast bias and subsequent revisions.