Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Public versus private takeovers of Australian stock exchange listed targets

In this study we investigate the association between bidding firm listing status and the abnormal returns and characteristics of target firms, in the context of Australian takeovers. Similar to the US, target abnormal returns are significantly lower in private bids. However, this difference is only significant when comparing public bidders with private non-operating bidders suggesting the results are driven by a lack of operating synergy available to non-operating bidders rather than public bidder agency problems. We also study how target firm characteristics differ between public and private bidders. The results indicate that different private bidders have alternative motivations for making an acquisition. Private equity targets have a less independent board than targets of public bidders and are more undervalued. In comparison, targets of private bidders without existing business activities are smaller, have higher management ownership, lower growth and lower cash flows than targets of public bidders.
Market oriented reforms of health services: A non-parametric analysis

During the 1990s the UK carried out one of the first experiments at introducing competition for hospital services, on the assumption that this would enhance their efficiency. This paper analyses this assumption by estimating DEA frontiers and calculating Malmquist indexes of TFP in order to measure the changes in productivity and technical efficiency of a sample of hospitals during that reform. The results show an average mild improvement in the frontier accompanied by a worsening of technical efficiency, no positive link between the reform and higher efficiency and a change in techniques not necessarily beneficial to patients.
Power sharing, peace and democracy: Any obvious relationships?

Power sharing, mostly understood as including political opponents in a joint executive coalition government, is today a dominant approach to solving conflict. Almost as a panacea it has been introduced in numerous war-affected countries and is often recommended as a political solution to overcome deep divisions between groups. Researchers, mediators and policy-makers applaud such solutions as forward-looking, peace-strengthening and democratic. However, many have criticized power sharing and its failed ability to create peace and development in divided and conflict-ridden countries. The literature on power sharing can reach such divergent conclusions because there is no consensus on what power sharing is, what the aim of it is and how to study it. Apart from broad inclusion in joint government, the understanding of power sharing varies and recommendations to ‘share power’ give little guidance to policy-makers aiming to mitigate conflict. Therefore, this article reviews 40 years of research on power sharing by elaborating on four central aspects within the literature: (1) conceptualization; (2) domain; (3) causal mechanism; and (4) measurement. While there may be no ‘true’ power sharing or ‘truth’ about power sharing, the article concludes that it is crucial that researchers and policy-makers are clear about which type of power sharing they are discussing in specific situations. Given that power sharing is increasingly recommended and implemented in many fragile and post-conflict societies, it is important to understand what is meant by power sharing in these contexts.
The role of the science park in innovation performance of start-up firms: an empirical analysis of Tsinghua Science Park in Beijing

This study empirically analyses the determinants of start-up firms in the Tsinghua Science Park in Beijing using survey data. More than 50% of firms are software and Internet related with CEOs has a strong technological background. It is found that firms that have their internal innovations grounded in their own competitive advantage show better innovation performance, while formal research and development collaboration with Tsinghua University plays only a marginal role. However, they benefit from informal connections with faculty members and access to students. Human resource management services by the Science Park management company are highly appreciated by tenant businesses. Finally, networking activities among tenants are found to be weak.
The Predictive Ability of Direct Method Cash Flow Information

This research examines the predictive ability of direct method cash flow information for firms that use the direct method in their cash flow statements. We use cross sectional and pooled time series regressions to predict operating cash flow data and assess relative predictive ability. Principal findings are: (1) past period direct method cash flow data predict future operating cash flow better than indirect method cash flow data; (2) past period direct method gross operating cash flows predict future net operating cash flow better than past period net operating cash flow; (3) measurement error exists in estimates of direct method operating cash flows from other financial statement data; (4) past operating cash flows predict future operating cash flows better than earnings and accruals. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2000.
α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist GTS-21 attenuates ventilator-induced tumour necrosis factor-α production and lung injury.

BACKGROUND Mechanical ventilation (MV) induces an inflammatory response that can lead to lung injury. The vagus nerve can limit the inflammatory response through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. We evaluated the effects of stimulation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway with the selective partial α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) agonist GTS-21 on inflammation and lung injury induced by MV using clinically relevant ventilator settings. Furthermore, we investigated whether altering endogenous cholinergic signalling, by administration of the non-specific nAChR antagonist mecamylamine and the peripherally acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine, modulates the MV-induced inflammatory response. METHODS C57BL6 mice were injected i.p. with either the selective α7nAChR agonist GTS-21 (8 mg kg(-1)), the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine (80 μg kg(-1)), the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (1 mg kg(-1)), or a placebo; followed by 4 h of MV (8 ml kg(-1), 1.5 cm H(2)O PEEP). RESULTS MV resulted in release of cytokines in plasma and lungs compared with unventilated mice. Lung and plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, but not of interleukin-10, were lower in GTS-21-treated animals compared with placebo (P<0.05). In addition, GTS-21 lowered the alveolar-arterial gradient, indicating improved lung function (P=0.04). Neither neostigmine nor mecamylamine had an effect on MV-induced inflammation or lung function. CONCLUSIONS MV with clinically relevant ventilator settings results in pulmonary and systemic inflammation. Stimulation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway with GTS-21 attenuates MV-induced release of TNF-α, which was associated with reduced lung injury. Modulation of endogenous cholinergic signalling did not affect the MV-induced inflammatory response. Selective stimulation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway may represent new treatment options for MV-induced lung injury.
Influences on the Supply of Accounting Graduates in Australia: A Focus on International Students

This paper examines the influences on the potential supply of accounting graduates in Australia with reference to the personal and social influences on the decision to major in accounting using the Theory of Reasoned Action and focusing on differences between local and international students. Responses from 437 accounting majors’ found that personal attitudes linked to ‘intrinsic interest’ and ‘extrinsic interest’ was influential in choice of major. ‘Reference groups’ were an important social influence for international students. The findings have implications for government policy and the accounting profession in terms of attracting students and particularly international students, who are sufficiently interested in accounting as a career choice to address the skill shortage in Australia.
Continuous auditing for web-released financial information

Purpose - The increasing provision of timely financial information through web-based technology is expected to improve the quality of communication between a company and its stakeholders. However, the information asymmetry problem still exists since almost all “web-releases” usually remain unaudited. The purpose of this paper is to propose conceptual and technical frameworks of continuous auditing to provide a solution for this problem. This solution could also move the traditional auditing forward to the new e-auditing generation. Design/methodology/approach - This paper develops a conceptual framework to present why continuous auditing would dominate other auditing approaches in examining web-based financial information. Using a 3? ×? 2? ×? 2? ×? 1 design, this study compares the economic efficiency of three auditing approaches under the joint-combination of various disclosure types, materiality perceptions and information environments. A technical framework, the external continuous auditing machine, is derived from the conceptual framework to specify the generic procedures to perform the online control testing and the continuous substantive testing over web-releases. Findings - Continuous auditing issues are scrutinized both theoretically and technically. Two main conclusions arise. First, the behavior model simulates various information disclosing and auditing environment and argues that the continuous auditing would be the most appropriate approach for web-releasing assurance. Although the hypothesis derived from that model still needs further empirical supports, the anticipated sustaining is quite reasonable under the emergent web-release practice. Originality/value - Given the new era of online, real-time business reporting, constructing a theoretical model and applying it to develop a technical model for implementing continuous audits for web-releases provide significant contributions to the accounting/auditing professionals as well as researchers.
Decreased iNOS synthesis mediates dexamethasone‐induced protection of neurons from inflammatory injury in vitro

Brain inflammation is accompanied by transection of axons and death of neurons in the acute lesions of multiple sclerosis. We explored mechanisms of inflammatory damage to neurons in vitro using cocultures of rat embryonal cortical neurons with microglia activated by interferon‐gamma (IFNγ) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Previously, we have demonstrated that microglia are highly toxic to neurons and that nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is necessary and sufficient to mediate this toxicity. Here, we show that addition of dexamethasone (1 µM) to activated cocultures provides effective neuroprotection. We demonstrate that dexamethasone down‐regulates NO production of primary microglia by ≈ 50% and reduces steady‐state iNOS protein and mRNA expression by ≈ 70%. These changes were reversed by the glucocorticoid receptor blocker RU‐486. Furthermore, we analysed the stability of iNOS protein and show that whilst inhibitors of the proteasome blocked iNOS degradation they did not reverse the dexamethasone effect. Our results indicate that the main mechanism of corticosteroid activity on iNOS is reduction in protein synthesis, not destabilization as previously suggested.
Characterization of the lactococcal temperate phage TP901-1 and its site-specific integration

The temperate lactococcal phage TP901-1, induced by UV light from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris 901-1, was characterized. The restriction map was found to be circular, and the packaging of TP901-1 DNA was concluded to occur by a headful mechanism. The pac region was localized on the 38.4-kb phage genome. TP901-1 belongs to the class of P335 phages (V. Braun, S. Hertwig, H. Neve, A. Geis, and M. Teuber, J. Gen. Microbiol. 135:2551-2560, 1989). Evidence is presented that the phages TP936-1 (V. Braun, S. Hertwig, H. Neve, A. Geis, and M. Teuber, J. Gen. Microbiol. 135:2551-2560, 1989) and C3-T1 (A. W. Jarvis, V. R. Parker, and M. B. Bianchin, Can. J. Microbiol. 38:398-404, 1992) are very closely related to or are identical to TP901-1. The lytically propagated TP901-1 phages were able to lysogenize both indicator strains Lactococcus cremoris 3107 and Wg2. Lysogenization resulted in site-specific integration of the phage genome into the bacterial chromosome. Only one chromosomal attB site was found in 20 independent lysogens. The attP region of TP901-1 and the attL and attR regions were cloned and sequenced. The results showed a core region of only 5 bp, in which the recombination occurs, followed after a 1-bp mismatch by a 7-bp identical region, TCAAT(T/C)AAGGTAA. This result was further verified by sequencing of the attB region obtained by PCR. An integration vector was constructed with the 6.5-kb EcoRI fragment from TP901-1 containing attP. This vector also functions in the plasmid-free strains, MG1363 and LM0230 with only one specific attB site, strongly indicating a more general use of the TP901-1-based integration vector in lactococci.
Cognitive impairment is correlated with reduced quality of life in patients with clinically isolated syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and potential QoL determinants in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). METHODS Eighteen CIS patients and eighteen controls were submitted to QoL evaluation with Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis QoL instrument (FAMS). Cognition was evaluated with specific battery tests; Anxiety and depression with Beck Anxiety (BAI) and Depression (BDI) Inventories and Neurological disability with Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS). RESULTS There was a significant difference in QoL between CIS patients and controls. CIS patients had worse performance in Paced Auditory Serial Addition 2 seconds (p=0.009) and fluency tests (p=0.0038). There was a significant difference in BAI (p=0.003), but no significant difference in BDI between patients and controls. There were significant correlations between QoL measure and verbal fluency and Stroop's test. CONCLUSIONS Cognition, but not anxiety, depression and disability, was associated with reduced quality of life.
Competitive Strategy and Voluntary Environmental Disclosure: Evidence from the Chemical Industry

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we investigate the relationship between corporate competitive strategy and environmental disclosure in the voluntary channel. Two major competitive strategies, investment in brand image and investment in research and development (RD conversely, companies emphasizing investment in R&D tend to disclose more when their environmental performance is good. When trying to interpret environmental disclosures, stakeholders should be aware of a company's strategy and adjust their assessment of environmental performance accordingly. Data Availability: Data are available from sources identified in the text.
Introduction to the key issue concerning the use of sustainable development indicators

The concept of sustainable development has become an essential reference, which concerns all public policies and which is becoming increasingly assimilated by actors and firms with respect to their behaviour. At the same time, a profusion of institutional initiatives were implemented by international organisations in order to develop indicators for sustainable development. The aim of this issue is to study this in greater detail, in particular by determining in which conditions it would be possible to develop more integrated or coordinated approaches. After having recalled the complexity of this question concerning the use of sustainable development indicators with respect to their various functions, we successively examine how scientists attempt to identify, to take into account and/or satisfy indicator demand. Finally, we introduce the concept of indicator trajectory which appears to be the most appropriate way for accounting for the diversity of indicator statuses and elaboration forms.
Speech-evoked cortical potentials recognition in cochlear implant users and speech

Processing in the auditory cortex may play a role in the unexplained variability in cochlear implant benefit. P300 and N1/P2 were elicited in post-lingually deaf cochlear implant users wearing a Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant. Four sound contrasts were presented (500-1000 Hz, /ba/-/da/, /ba/-/pa/ and /i/-/a/). N1 and P2 were present in all subjects for all conditions. Prolonged N1, P2 and P300 latencies were found in the cochlear implant group compared to a control group of subjects with normal hearing. Cochlear implant users show smaller amplitudes of N1 for all the speech signals as well as smaller amplitudes of P2 for the consonants compared to the controls. P300 results of the cochlear implant users were compared to behavioural results of speech recognition testing. A relation was found between P300 amplitude and magnitude for the 500-1000 Hz and /i/-/a/ contrasts and behavioural speech recognition in cochlear implant users. The results suggest that P300 measurements are useful and have additional value to speech recognition evaluations in cochlear implant users.
Optimal Fiscal Policy in Overlapping Generations Models

In this article, we explore the proposition that the optimal capital income tax is zero using an overlapping generations model. We prove that for a large class of preferences, the optimal capital income tax along the transition path and in steady state is nonzero. For a version of the model calibrated to the US economy, we find that the model could justify the observed rates of capital income taxation for an empirically reasonable intertemporal utility function and a robust demographic structure.
Labor in the Monopoly, Competitive, and State Sectors- of Production

TO understand the conditions of labor we must have much more information than just that concerning the attributes of workers. We must also investigate the structure of production. In such an analysis we may come to see how outcomes observed at the individual level are the result of underlying societal forces and dynamics. A first step in this investigation is the study of the structure of capital and the differentiated productive sectors corresponding to this structure. Accordingly, the investigation in this paper is based on a classification of productive sectors in terms of the concentration and cen-
Introduction of antisense CD44s cDNA down‐regulates expression of overall CD44 isoforms and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in highly metastatic colon carcinoma cells

We created antisense CD44 transfectants using LS174T, a colon adenocarcinoma cell line and assessed the effects of overall CD44 down‐regulation on colorectal tumor growth and metastasis. The expression of antisense CD44s (the standard form of CD44) cDNA markedly inhibited the overall expression of CD44 variants. In vitro studies showed a significantly reduced ability of the stable antisense transfectants (LS174TAS1 and LS174TAS2) to bind hyaluronate and osteopontin, ligands for CD44. These cells developed tumors more slowly than controls (parental LS174T and mock transfectants) when the cells were subcutaneously injected into SCID mice. However, in vitro proliferation assays demonstrated no significant difference between the antisense transfectants and the controls on a hyaluronate‐coated surface, suggesting the participation of ligands other than hyaluronate in tumor growth in vivo. Intrasplenic injection of parental LS174T cells produced colonies in the liver in 10 of 11 mice, whereas mice injected with the antisense transfectants were completely free of metastasis. In peritoneal dissemination, the weight of nodules and amount of ascites were significantly reduced in LS174TAS1 and AS2 compared with the controls. In vitro adhesion assays between the transfectants or controls and human peritoneal mesothelial cells revealed that the binding of LS174T cells to mesothelial cells was partly mediated by CD44‐hyaluronate interaction. These data suggest that CD44‐hyaluronate interaction plays a crucial role in peritoneal dissemination in colorectal carcinoma. The results of our study demonstrate the possible application of antisense CD44s to the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. Int. J. Cancer 91:67–75, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Subject‐specific modeling of muscle force and knee contact in total knee arthroplasty

Understanding the mechanical loading environment and resulting joint mechanics for activities of daily living in total knee arthroplasty is essential to continuous improvement in implant design. Although survivorship of these devices is good, a substantial number of patients report dissatisfaction with the outcome of their procedure. Knowledge of in vivo kinematics and joint loading will enable improvement in preclinical assessment and refinement of implant geometry. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the mechanics of total knee arthroplasty during a variety of activities of daily living (gait, walking down stairs, and chair rise/sit). Estimates of muscle forces, tibial contact load, location, and pressure distribution was performed through a combination of mobile fluoroscopy data collection, musculoskeletal modeling, and finite element simulation. For the activities evaluated, joint compressive load was greatest during walking down stairs; however, the highest contact pressure occurred during chair rise/sit. The joint contact moment in the frontal plane was mainly varus for gait and walking down stairs, while it was valgus during chair rise/sit. Excursion of the center of pressure on the tibial component was similar during each activity and between the medial and lateral sides. The main determinants of center of pressure location were internal–external rotation, joint load, and tibial insert conformity. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1576–1587, 2016.
State recovery for input/output asynchronous machines using output feedback

In this paper, a control mechanism is proposed for state fault-tolerance of asynchronous sequential machines. A disturbance input may penetrate into the asynchronous machine and provoke unauthorized state transitions. The considered asynchronous machine is of input/output type, where access to the state of the machine is not available. The objective is to design output feedback controllers that automatically counteract unauthorized state transitions. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of appropriate controllers are presented in a theoretical framework. As a case study, the closed-loop system of an asynchronous machine with the proposed control scheme is implemented in VHDL code.
Monitoring peripheral blood CD4(+) intracellular adenosine triphosphate concentration in patients with psoriasis treated with fumaric acid esters.

© 2012 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1266 Journal Compilation © 2012 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Several lines of evidence have demonstrated immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects for fumaric acid esters (FAE). Shortand long-term clinical studies in psoriasis have shown a marked reduction in peripheral and lesional CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes; yet FAE therapy does not appear to be related to an increased risk of infections (1–7). Lymphocytes depend on sufficient import of energy-carrying metabolites and enhanced oxidative phosphorylation. Intracellular adenosine triphosphate (iATP) concentration in CD4+ cells correlates with cytokine secretion and T-cell proliferation and serves as a marker of T-cell activation (8, 9). In patients with autoimmune diseases undergoing different immunosuppressive therapies, decreased iATP correlates with the risk of developing opportunistic infections (10). Hence, we aimed to monitor CD4+ iATP activity in patients with psoriasis undergoing FAE treatment.