Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Voluntary Disclosure of Profits Forecasts in UK IPOs Prospectuses, Its Determinants and Implications

This study examines the differences between IPOs that voluntarily disclose earnings forecasts in their prospectuses and those that do not. Using a sample of 166 UK IPOs listed between 1992-2002, we investigate whether forecasters have different firms’ characteristics than non forecasters and whether they perform differently in the short and medium term. The results support the hypotheses that forecasters are firms that are closer to their financial year-end, have lower past profit variability, and higher growth prospect than non forecasters. However, the initial and after market returns of forecasters are not better than that of non forecasters. We also find evidence that optimistic forecasters, ceteris paribus, significantly underperform conservative forecasters and non forecasters in the mid term. Moreover, at the time of going public, investors can use earnings predicted by time series models to asses the performance of forecasters IPOs.
Effect on Hepatitis C Virus Replication of Combinations of Direct-Acting Antivirals, Including NS5A Inhibitor Daclatasvir

ABSTRACT Three hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibitors, asunaprevir (ASV; BMS-650032), daclatasvir (DCV; BMS-790052), and BMS-791325, each targeting a different nonstructural protein of the virus (NS3, NS5A, and NS5B, respectively), have independently demonstrated encouraging preclinical profiles and are currently undergoing clinical evaluation. Since drug-resistant variants have rapidly developed in response to monotherapy with almost all direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for HCV, the need for combination therapies to effectively eradicate the virus from infected patients is clear. These studies demonstrated the additive-synergistic effects on replicon inhibition and clearance of combining NS3 protease or NS5B RNA polymerase inhibitors with the first-in-class, NS5A replication complex inhibitor daclatasvir (DCV) and reveal new resistance pathways for combinations of two small-molecule inhibitors that differ from those that develop during monotherapy. The results suggest that under a specific selective pressure, a balance must be reached in the fitness costs of substitutions in one target gene when substitutions are also present in another target gene. Further synergies and additional novel resistance substitutions were observed during triple-combination treatment relative to dual-drug therapy, indicating that, in combination, HCV inhibitors can exert cross-target influences on resistance development. Enhanced synergies in replicon inhibition and a reduced frequency of resistance together lend strong support to the utility of combinations of DAAs for the treatment of HCV, and the identification of altered resistance profiles during combination treatment provides useful information for monitoring resistance in the clinic.
Institutions, Strategic Posture and Performance of Micro, Small and Medum Enterprises

The thesis of this study is that perceptions of formal and informal institutions permeating the business environment in a city in an emerging economy have significant influence on the strategic posture of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and that strategic posture is viewed to have significant influence on the firms' overall organisational performance. The study emphasises the mediating role of strategic posture, being the conduit through which perceptions of sub-national institutions exert their influence on organisational performance. Institutional theory, which considers institutions as 'the rules of the game' that govern human interaction, serves as the study's theoretical foundation. An extensive review of the literature was undertaken in the areas of institutional theory, strategic management, organisational performance, investment or business climates, MSME/entrepreneurial development, decentralisation and local economic development at the city level. The study adopts an empirical-deductive research design through which a survey generated a total sample of 900 MSMEs located in two cities in the south-eastern region of the Philippines. Hierarchical multiple regression modelling, using ordinary least squares method with confirmatory robust technique, was applied to test the hypotheses. Results suggest that all of the five formal institutions and two of the five informal institutions had positive relationships with an entrepreneurial strategic posture, which in turn, was shown to be positively associated with higher levels of product/service, strategic and financial performance. Moreover, strategic posture was shown to partially mediate the relationships between three formal institutions and two facets of organisational performance. However, when the five formal institutions and five informal institutions were aggregated into two sets of indices, mediation analysis revealed that the index of formal institutions - product/service performance relationship was partially mediated by strategic posture. The index of formal institutions - strategic performance relationship was shown to be fully mediated by strategic posture. On the other hand, the index of informal institutions - product/service performance relationship was shown to be fully mediated by strategic posture. Overall, the empirical results offer acceptable level of support to the main thesis of the study.
Improved certificate-based signature scheme without random oracles

Certificate-based cryptography is a useful primitive that combines traditional public key cryptography (PKC) and identity-based cryptography (IBC). It not only solves the key escrow problem inherent in IBC, but also simplifies the certificate problem in traditional PKC. So far, several certificate-based signature (CBS) schemes have been proposed in the literature. However, none of them consider the malicious certificate authority (CA) attack. Cryptanalysis shows that two previous CBS schemes without random oracles fail in achieving unforgeability under such attack. To overcome the security weakness in these schemes, the authors propose an improved CBS scheme that can withstand malicious CA attacks. They prove it to be existentially unforgeable against chosen message attacks under the computational Diffie–Hellman assumption in the standard model. Compared with the previous standard-model CBS schemes, the proposed scheme has obvious advantages in both the computation and communication efficiency.
Proximate and Phytochemical Composition of Moringa oleifera Leaves at Three Stages of Maturation

s: The aim of the study is to determine the proximate and anti-nutrient composition of dried leaves of Moringa oleifera harvested at different stages of the plants maturity. The leaves were harvested at three period of time viz: 10th (early stage), 15th (Mid stage) and 20th (late stage) week after pruning. The result of the proximate analysis revealed that the early stage has the highest carbohydrate content (55.14%). Mid stage recorded the highest moisture (6.3%) while the late stage has highest protein content (28.08%), crude fiber (10.11%), ash (9.25%), fat (2.5) and pH (6.27). The Phytochemicals detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts of each of the different stage of leaves maturation were the same except for tannin which was present in aqueous extract but was not detected in methanolic extracts. The detected antinutrients are alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, steroids while phylobatanin and tripertenes were not. All these results indicate that the leaves harvested at the late stage had a higher percentage of imbedded nutrients than others, it was therefore concluded that harvesting at that stage is recommended. The presence of some phytochemicals like saponins and flavonoids explained the medicinal action of the plant encountered in its therapeutic uses.
Delirium superimposed on dementia versus delirium in the absence of dementia: Phenomenological differences

Abstract Objective: To examine differences in the phenomenological characteristics of delirium superimposed on dementia compared to those observed in delirious patients without dementia, based on the rating items of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS). Methods: We conducted an analysis of a prospectively collected clinical delirium database utilized to record and monitor the care of delirious patients treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Sociodemographic, medical variables, and MDAS total score and individual item ratings were analyzed in respect to differences between delirium in the demented (DD) versus delirium in the nondemented (ND). Results: We were able to examine data collected on 100 delirious patients: 82 ND patients and 18 DD patients. Patients in the DD group, compared to the ND group, had significantly greater levels of disturbance of consciousness and impairments in all cognitive domains (i.e., orientation, short term memory, concentration, organization of thought process). Severe symptoms were more common in the DD group compared to the ND group on all the MDAS cognitive items as well as in disturbance of consciousness. There were no significant differences between the DD and ND groups in terms of presence or severity of hallucinations, delusions, psychomotor behavior, and sleep–wake cycle disturbance. Significance of results: Delirium superimposed on dementia has phenomenological differences compared to delirium in the absence of dementia. There are no significant differences in the severity of hallucinations, delusions, psychomotor behavior, or sleep–wake cycle disturbances. However, level of disturbance in consciousness (arousal and awareness) and impairments in multiple cognitive domains are significantly more severe in patients with delirium superimposed on dementia.
Effects of local microwave diathermy on shoulder pain and function in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy in comparison to subacromial corticosteroid injections: a single-blind randomized trial.

STUDY DESIGN Single-blind randomized clinical trial, with a follow-up of 24 weeks. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of hyperthermia via localized microwave diathermy on pain and disability in comparison to subacromial corticosteroid injections in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy. BACKGROUND Hyperthermia improves symptoms and function in several painful musculoskeletal disorders. However, the effects of microwave diathermy in rotator cuff tendinopathy have not yet been established. METHODS Ninety-two patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy and pain lasting for at least 3 months were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University Hospital, Rome, Italy. Participants were randomly allocated to either local microwave diathermy or subacromial corticosteroids. The primary outcome measure was the short form of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH). Secondary outcome measures were the Constant-Murley shoulder outcome score and a visual analog scale for pain assessment. RESULTS At the end of treatment and at follow-up, both treatment groups experienced improvements in all outcome measures relative to baseline values. Changes over time in QuickDASH, Constant-Murley, and visual analog scale scores were not different between treatment arms. CONCLUSION In patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy, the effects of localized microwave diathermy on disability, shoulder function, and pain are equivalent to those elicited by subacromial corticosteroid injections.
The impending death of psychoanalysis.

Although psychoanalysis once dominated psychology, evidence now points to the waning influence of psychoanalytic theory in psychological science, psychiatric diagnosis, undergraduate instruction, and graduate training. In this article I describe 7 self-destructive behaviors exhibited by psychoanalysts that contributed to the precipitous decline of psychoanalytic theory in recent years. I then outline three strategies for retaining those features of psychoanalysis that are scientifically and clinically useful while jettisoning those that are dated and inaccurate. These strategies might enable scientific psychologists and research-minded practitioners to reinvigorate psychoanalytic theory during the 21st century.
Study of T-lymphocyte subsets of healthy and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected cattle

The relative contributions of T-lymphocyte subsets to host defense in cattle infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is reported. The subsets were purified with appropriate monoclonal antibodies and a magnetic bead column separation system, and their purity was verified by flow cytometry. Biological activity of each subset, expressed as lymphoproliferation and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production, was measured in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and an M. avium antigen preparation (A-PPD). IFN-gamma was measured by antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed a correlation between proliferation and IFN-gamma production in response to A-PPD but not to PHA. In response to PHA, CD4+ lymphocytes were the most prolific producers of IFN-gamma. CD8+ lymphocytes produced IFN-gamma to a lesser extent, whereas gammadelta+ T lymphocytes produced little or no IFN-gamma. Differences observed between the amount of IFN-gamma produced by CD4+ versus CD8+ cells and CD4+ versus gammadelta+ cells were significant (P < 0.01), but those between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and CD4+ T cells were not. Similar responses to A-PPD were observed except that PBMC produced higher levels of IFN-gamma than did CD4+ T cells. These data for cattle are similar to observations made for other animal species, where CD4+ cells are the major type of T lymphocytes producing IFN-gamma. They further suggest that whatever the role gammadelta+ T cells may play in paratuberculosis, it is not likely to be mediated by IFN-gamma production.
CGs to FCA Including Peirce's Cuts

Previous work has demonstrated a straightforward mapping from Conceptual Graphs CGs to Formal Concept Analysis FCA, and the combined benefits these types of Conceptual Structures bring in capturing and reasoning about the semantics in system design. As in that work, a CGs Transaction Model or `Transaction Graph' exemplar is used, but in the form of a richer Financial Trading FT case study that has its business rules visualised in Peirce's cuts. The FT case study highlights that cuts can meaningfully be included in the CGs to FCA mapping. Accordingly, the case study's CGs Transaction Graph with its cuts is translated into a form suitable for the CGtoFCA algorithm described in that previous work. The process is tested through the CG-FCA software that implements the CGtoFCA algorithm. The algorithm describes how a Conceptual Graph CG, represented by triples of the form source-concept, relation, target-concept can be transformed into a set of binary relations of the form target-concept, source-conceptnrelation thus creating a formal context in FCA. Cuts though can now be included in the same formal, rigorous, reproducible and general way. The mapping develops the Transaction Graph into a Transaction Concept, capturing and unifying the features of Conceptual Structures that CGs and FCA collectively embody.
Age-related changes in prefrontal white matter volume across adolescence

Past research has suggested that white matter volume increases from childhood to adulthood; however, during adolescence, there is somewhat limited data to support this finding. In the present study, 65 typically developing adolescents underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Using magnetic resonance imaging, prefrontal white matter volumes were examined in relation to adolescent age and sex. Surprisingly, results suggested that prefrontal white matter volume decreased during late adolescence, particularly among the female sex. These findings are inconsistent with past research and suggest that perhaps some developmental processes in late adolescence are not yet fully explained. Possible methodological contributions and implications for the current findings are discussed
Sensitivity of bacteriologic culture for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in bovine feces

The sensitivities of several plating and broth enrichment methods for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in (i) bovine fecal samples directly inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, (ii) fecal samples from cattle in herds previously positive for E. coli O157:H7, and (iii) fecal samples from calves shedding E. coli O157:H7 after experimental oral inoculation were compared. Three enrichment protocols and three plating protocols were evaluated with directly inoculated fecal samples. All broth enrichment methods were superior to direct plating when they were combined with subsequent plating on sorbitol-MacConkey with cefixime and tellurite (SMACct). SMACct was the most sensitive plating medium, and the three alternative broth enrichment methods gave similar improvements in sensitivity. Of 351 fecal samples from known positive herds, 24 samples (6.8%) were positive by one or more methods. By the most sensitive plating method, cultures of 10-g samples were slightly more sensitive (19 of 351 [5.4%]) than cotton-tipped swab fecal samples (14 of 351 [4.0%]); however, this difference was not significant. For samples from calves orally inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, separation by immunomagnetic beads was slightly more sensitive (79%) than broth enrichment followed by plating at two dilutions (10(-3) and 10(-4)) (71%); however, this difference was not significant. The combination of overnight enrichment of swab fecal samples (0.1 g) and plating on SMACct at two dilutions (10(-3) and 10(-4)) appears to be a sensitive method for detection in large-scale studies involving hundreds of samples per week.
Postsecondary Programs for Deaf Students at the Peak of the Rubella Bulge

In 1985, 145 postsecondary institutions supported programs specifically for deaf students. Student enrollments, special services, types of programs and degree options at these programs are discussed in this paper. Enrollment patterns are compared with 1982 data, a time just prior to the enrollment in postsecondary programs of large numbers of rubella-deafened young people.During the three years between 1982 and 1985, 37 new programs for deaf students appeared. Gallaudet University, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the regional programs which are also federally-funded absorbed the majority of the 1982-1985 enrollment increases. Availability of support services was directly related to the size of enrollments at the programs for deaf students. The authors also found deaf students are more likely to attend postsecondary programs full time than are their hearing peers.
Financial Counseling, Financial Literacy, and Household Decision Making

In this chapter we review the literature on financial counseling, financial literacy, and consumer decision making and look at a financial counseling/planning program in India where consumers revealed their risk appetite, future financial goals, and current assets and liabilities. The results from India suggest that a vast majority of the respondents appear to be financially literate – they answer the numeracy, inflation, and diversification questions correctly. The Indian financial literacy level is the same as in Netherlands but 20% higher compared to the USA. Indians use about 38% of monthly income to cover monthly expenses – they save or invest 62% of their salary on average. However, we find that most consumers are ill prepared to meet their goals based on their asset, liabilities and risk profiles. The survey of the literature suggests that financial counseling is an important tool in educating consumers in their decision making.
7P. A Preliminary Study of the Use of Software Process Improvement Initiatives in Jamaica

Despite the acknowledged strides that information and communications technologies (ICT) have made, the information systems (IS) community has been plagued with the delivery of low quality information systems (IS). This phenomenon gave rise to a variety of software process improvement (SPI) interventions, aimed at reducing variability in the software production process, as a precursor to improving IS quality. However, SPI initiatives have targeted fairly large organizations and SPI research has been conducted mainly in developed countries, and very little in developing countries and smaller organizations such as those in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean. We sought in this research to ascertain the level of awareness and intention to use SPI programs in Jamaican software development firms. Preliminary indications of our study revealed that a large majority of these firms are not aware of SPI programs; neither do they intend to adopt any form of SPI effort in the near future. Our findings provided the basis to support the claim for future research to explore the underlying causes for this lack of awareness and non-adoption of SPI programs among Jamaican firms.
On the wrong side of the tracts? Evaluating the accuracy of geocoding in public health research.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine the accuracy of geocoding for public health databases. METHODS A test file of 70 addresses, 50 of which involved errors, was generated, and the file was geocoded to the census tract and block group levels by 4 commercial geocoding firms. Also, the "real world" accuracy of the best-performing firm was evaluated. RESULTS Accuracy rates in regard to geocoding of the test file ranged from 44% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 32%, 56%) to 84% (95% CI = 73%, 92%). The geocoding firm identified as having the best accuracy rate correctly geocoded 96% of the addresses obtained from the public health databases. CONCLUSIONS Public health studies involving geocoded databases should evaluate and report on methods used to verify accuracy.
Shifting the emphasis from knowledge to knowing : the hybrid public-private alliance as collaborative membrane

Theories of knowledge management in alliances between competitors highlight the role of the alliance as a vehicle in a competition for knowledge. Vertical publicprivate partnerships face a different institutional framework where competition for knowledge gives way to cooperation. This paper reports on a case study of the evolution of knowledge management practices in a public agency engaged in vertical outsourcing partnerships. The agency evolved its contracting towards alliances as it sought better outsourcing outcomes, this translated into new organizational arrangements where arms-lengths hierarchical processes of knowledge management was progressively replaced by horizontal, democratic processes. Underpinning this evolution was a parallel shift in thinking about knowledge, from a conceptualization of knowledge as an asset to be managed, to a view of knowledge as a tool supporting knowing in practice