Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visuoperceptual-orthographic reading abilities: A confirmatory factor analysis study

The current study examined the psychometric properties of a hypothetical visuoperceptual-orthographic (VPO) reading construct in a sample of nonimpaired college students (N = 152). Participants were administered a battery of standardized and experimental measures of VPO, including Woodcock–Johnson III (WJ-III) Letter–Word Identification (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2001), Visual-Naming Speed (word page of the Stroop), Letter-Identification Task, Same/Different Letter Decision Task, Word Matching Task, Homophone Decision Task, Pseudohomophone Decision Task, and Word Jumble Task. The LISREL 8.54 computer program (Jöreskog & Sörbom, 2003) was employed for confirmatory factor analysis to assess the tenability of a multifaceted, unitary VPO reading construct. Goodness-of-fit statistics indicated that VPO is a hierarchically organized construct with one 2nd-order factor (i.e., VPO) and three 1st-order factors (i.e., perceptual processing speed, prelexical accuracy, and lexicosemantic accuracy). Alternative models were tested but produced unsatisfactory goodness-of-fit statistics. Altogether these findings are in agreement with those of previous cognitive and neuroscientific studies and further support the notion that VPO should be viewed as a unique factor in the assessment, diagnosis, and remediation of developmental dyslexia.
Exchange rate volatility and stock returns for the U.S.

This study attempted to examine the effects of exchange rate volatility, using the squared residuals from the autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models, on stock returns for the U.S. for the period 1980 to 2008. Even though the core variable was exchange rate volatility, this article used several other explanatory variables to explain changes in the stock returns for the U.S. This paper found that exchange rate volatility affects US stock returns. Even though firms engaged in international operations had some methods, such as hedging possibilities, to protect themselves from exchange rate risk, exchange rate volatility might negatively affect firms’ profitability because of increasing cost of covering exchange rate risk under a flexible rate system. Key words: Exchange rate volatility, international trade, US stock returns.
A test of two HIV disclosure theories.

The purpose of this study was to examine two theories of HIV disclosure. The first is a disease progression theory and the second is the theory of competing consequences. Participants were 138 HIV-positive gay men involved in a larger study of HIV disclosure. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze each model, with the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) and the nonnormed fit index (NNFI) used to evaluate goodness of fit. The RMSEA for the disease progression model was . 031 and the NNFI was . 932. The RMSEA for the consequences model was . 018 and NNFI was . 978. Both indices are considered to be a close fit; however, the parameter estimates for disease progression to disclosure in the disease model and disease progression to consequences in the consequences model were nonsignificant, suggesting that disease progression may not play a role in the decision to disclose an HIV diagnosis. Researchers may want to focus on the intentions and possible outcomes from disclosure as predictive factors.
Managing change at national bank of Kenya ltd

Change may be driven by business trends, economic, social, culture, political and environmental factors. To remain competitive, organizations must be able to quickly respond to change. Change is a constant feature of organizational life and the ability to manage it is seen as a core competence of successful organizations. Change management is the application of knowledge, tools and resources to leverage the benefits of change. Further, change management is the adapting and defining of corporate strategies, structures, procedures and technologies to deal with changes from external and internal conditions. It is an organizational process aimed at empowering the employees to accept and embrace changes in their current business environment. The first chapter covers the background of the study, detailed discussion on change management, banking industry in Kenya, profile of National Bank of Kenya ltd, research problem, research objectives; to establish challenges of change management at NBK and to determine change management practices adopted by NBK. The chapter also highlights the value and justification of the study. The second chapter is on literature review which covers organizational change, managing organizational change, models of change management, challenges of change management and managing challenges of change. Chapter three is the research methodology, where the research design is a case study and data collection is from both primary and secondary sources. The case study sought to establish challenges of change management, as well as determine change management practices adopted by NBK. The study observed that numerous challenges were faced in change management process. The research findings show that NBK had embraced reliable change management practices in its change process. A management lesson from this research is that for an organization to successfully implement change there must be planning, constant communication, training and evaluation of the change process.
Maritime target detection using GNSS-based radar: Experimental proof of concept

This paper investigates the feasibility of using the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) as transmitters of opportunity in a passive bistatic radar system for maritime target detection applications. To this purpose, the experimental test bed was developed, and the practical campaign was conducted for maritime data acquisition with the new Galileo satellites and a ferry as the target. By developing and applying the appropriate signal processing algorithm, the obtained experimental results have not only verified the system performance, but also showed the potentialities of a multi-static configuration utilising multiple satellites simultaneously.
Strategic Investments by U.S. Firms in Transition Economies

Studies in international business have considered both theoretical and empirical analyses of investment strategies by multinational firms in transition economies. However, there is scant research on the impact of firm-specific factors on the likelihood, timing, and mode-of-entry decisions in these economies. We provide evidence on three aspects of the strategic decisions by US firms to invest in transition economies. First, we find that firms entering the region have greater advertising intensity and sales growth than industry peers that did not enter the region, suggesting that market-seeking considerations motivate expansion. Second, we find that earlier entry is undertaken by firms with fewer industry competitors and higher sales growth, suggesting that the desire to secure market share ahead of competitors motivates entry timing. Finally, we investigate the choice of entry mode into the region, and find that firms from concentrated industries are more likely to enter the region with high-equity commitment, consistent with market-seeking motives. We also find that firms incorporate the degree of progress with market-oriented reforms in making decisions concerning entry timing and mode. Journal of International Business Studies (2008) 39, 249–266. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs. 8400334
Long-term trends and a sustainability transition

How do long-term global trends affect a transition to sustainability? We emphasize the “multitrend” nature of 10 classes of trends, which makes them complex, contradictory, and often poorly understood. Each class includes trends that make a sustainability transition more feasible as well as trends that make it more difficult. Taken in their entirety, they serve as a checklist for the consideration of global trends that impact place-based sustainability studies.
Continued evolution of HIV‐1 circulating in blood monocytes with antiretroviral therapy: genetic analysis of HIV‐1 in monocytes and CD4+ T cells of patients with discontinued therapy

The role of blood monocytes in HIV‐1 infection is a relatively new field of interest. What happens to HIV‐1 in monocytes and their relationship to CD4+ T cells before, during, and after suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) is largely unstudied. Here, considering that diversity is a good indicator of continued replication over time, we evaluated the effect of ART on HIV‐1 in blood monocytes and CD4+ T cells by examining the diversity of HIV‐1 from 4 infected patients who underwent and stopped therapy. We determined diversity and compartmentalization of HIV‐1 between blood monocytes and CD4+ T cells in each patient in relationship to their ART regimens. Our data indicate that the rate of HIV‐1 diversity increase in monocytes during therapy was significantly higher than in CD4+ T cells (P<0.05), suggesting that HIV‐1 present in monocytes diversify more during therapy than in CD4+ T cells. Increased rates of HIV‐1 compartmentalization between monocytes and CD4+ T cells while on therapy were also observed. These results suggest that ART inhibits HIV‐1 replication in CD4+ T cells more than in blood monocytes and that better treatments to combat HIV‐1 in monocytes/macrophages may be needed for a more complete suppression of HIV replication.
Rho‐mediated cytoskeletal rearrangement in response to LPA is functionally antagonized by Rac1 and PIP2

G‐protein‐coupled receptors signal through Rho to induce actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. We previously demonstrated that thrombin stimulates Rho‐dependent process retraction and rounding of 1321N1 astrocytoma cells. Surprisingly, while lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) activated RhoA in 1321N1 cells, it failed to produce cell rounding. Thrombin, unlike LPA, decreased Rac1 activity, and activated (GTPase‐deficient) Rac1 inhibited thrombin‐stimulated cell rounding, while expression of dominant‐negative Rac1 promoted LPA‐induced rounding. LPA and thrombin receptors appear to differ in coupling to Gi, as LPA but not thrombin‐stimulated 1321N1 cell proliferation was pertussis toxin‐sensitive. Blocking Gi with pertussis toxin enabled LPA to induce cell rounding and to decrease activated Rac1. These data support the hypothesis that Rac1 and Gi activation antagonize cell rounding. Thrombin and LPA receptors also differentially activated Gq pathways as thrombin but not LPA increased InsP3 formation and reduced phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate (PIP2) levels. Microinjection of the plekstrin homology domain of phospholipase C (PLC)δ1, which binds PIP2, enabled LPA to elicit cell rounding, consistent with a requirement for PIP2 reduction. We suggest that Rho‐mediated cytoskeletal responses are enhanced by concomitant reductions in cellular levels of PIP2 and Rac1 activation and thus effected only by G‐protein‐coupled receptors with appropriate subsets of G protein activation.
Determinants and consequences of ethical behaviour: an empirical study of salespeople

– The main purpose of this research is to gain a clearer understanding of several key determinants and consequences of the ethical behaviour of salespeople. , – Questionnaires were administered during regularly scheduled meetings to a total of 280 financial services salespeople. The salespeople questioned were mainly specializing in selling high‐involvement financial products (e.g. mortgages, life insurance) to final consumers. , – Results suggest that method of compensation and control system (CS) are important determinants of ethical behaviour. Age (AGE) also proves to be a significant antecedent of ethical behaviour. However, education (EDU) is not significantly related to ethical behaviour. Additionally, a salesperson's ethical behaviour leads to lower levels of role conflict‐intersender and higher levels of job satisfaction, but not higher performance. , – To improve generalization of the findings, future research should broaden the sample by including a variety of industries. Likewise, the use of longitudinal data could provide new insights into the antecedents and consequences of ethical behaviour of salespeople and in particular the relationship with performance. Continuing research is needed to further analyse the relationship between ethical behaviour and other relevant behaviours that may take place during the interaction with the customer (e.g. organisational citizenship behaviours and customer orientation). , – This research is, to our knowledge, the first study that simultaneously identifies and analyses several key antecedents and consequences of the ethical behaviour of salespeople. , – This study adds to the literature by reducing the existing gap and showing companies insights into how to foster ethical sales behaviour and the positive consequences that this behaviour has on their salespeople.
Microdialysis Sampling for Investigations of Bioavailability and Bioequivalence of Topically Administered Drugs: Current State and Future Perspectives

Microdialysis (MD) in the skin is a unique technique for in vivo sampling of topically as well as systemically administered drugs at the site of action, e.g. sampling the unbound tissue concentrations in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. MD as a research method has undergone significant development, improvement and validation during the last decade and has proved to be a versatile, safe and valuable tool for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. This review gives an overview of the current state and future perspectives of dermal MD sampling. Methodological issues such as choice of instrumentation, calibration and experimental procedures are discussed along with the analytical considerations necessary for successful sampling. Clinical MD studies in the skin are reviewed with emphasis on pharmacokinetic studies of topically applied drugs with or without impairment of skin barrier function by skin disease or barrier perturbation. A comparison between MD and other tissue sampling techniques reveals the advantages and limitations of the method. Subsequently, an in-depth discussion of the application of MD for the evaluation of bioavailability and bioequivalence of topical formulations is concluded by the current regulatory point of view. The future perspective includes further expansion and validation of the use of MD in the experimental and clinical setting as well as in the optimization of the method for regulatory purposes, i.e. the commercialization of bioequivalent, generic drug products.
Affiliate marketing programs: A study of consumer attitude towards affiliate marketing programs among Indian users

Affiliate marketing has seen fewer studies even being a multibillion dollar industry and one of the most expanding online advertising lead generators for direct marketers. The aim of this survey described in this paper is to evaluate the attitude of respondents towards affiliate programs or affiliate marketing, used as a source of information, advertisement and a connecting link between the online marketer and the customer. In this regard a survey was conducted among 300 Indian internet users to know their attitude towards affiliate programs and the various factors that affect the effectiveness of these programs. The findings of this survey demonstrate a positive view of affiliate marketing. This research also found that the stronger predictor of the consumer attitude of affiliate marketing is the usefulness, informativeness, incentive and perceived trust. In short the future of affiliate marketing is to a greater extent affected by the consumer’s perception of affiliate program usefulness and control over it. This study recommends a need for direct marketers to develop more innovative affiliate links that will elicit a more positive response from the consumers.
Enhanced c-erbB2 / neu Expression in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells Correlates with More Severe Malignancy That Can Be Suppressed by EIA 1

Amplification or overexpression of t-erbÃŸ-2/neu protooncogene, or both, occur frequently in many different types of human cancers and have been shown to correlate with decreased survival in ovarian cancer pa tients. We have previously found that the ovarian carcinoma cell line SK-OV-3 overexpresses c-erbÃŸ-2/neu mRNA. To further study the bio logical effect of c-erbB-2/neu overexpression in SK-OV-3 cells, we in jected such cells i.p. into female nu/nu mice and found that this cell line forms extensive abdominal tumors and ascites. From the ascites in an injected mouse, we established the SKOV3.ipl cell line and found that it expressed 2-fold more c-erfrÃŸ-2/neu-encoded pl85 proteins than the pa rental SK-OV-3 cells. When transformation phenotypes of SK-OV-3 and SKOV3.ipl cells were compared, SKOV3.ipl cells showed higher cell growth and DNA synthesis rates, formed more colonies in soft agar, pro duced larger s.c. tumors, and resulted in shorter survival of nu/nu mice after i.p. injection. These data indicate that the level of c-erbÃŸ-2/neu overexpression may correlate with the degree of malignancy in these ovarian carcinoma cells. Since we had previously shown that the adenovirus 5 EIA gene product can suppress transformation and metastatic prop erties induced by mutation-activated rat neu oncogene in mouse embryo fibroblast cells, we further examined whether EIA can abrogate malig nancy in c-<rAB-2/neu-overexpressing human ovarian cancer cells. We introduced the EIA gene into c-frÃ©B-2/neu-overexpressing SKOV3.ipl cells and found that the ElA-expressing ovarian cancer cell lines had decreased c-erbB-2/neu-encoded pl85 expression and reduced malignancy, including a decreased ability to induce tumors in nu/nu mice. Therefore, we concluded that EIA is a tumor suppressor gene for c-erbR-2/neuoverexpressing human ovarian cancer cells and may be useful in devel oping therapeutic reagents for these human cancers.
Restricted Export Flexibility and Risk Management with Options and Forward Contracts

This paper examines the interaction between operational and financial hedging in the context of a risk averse competitive exporting firm under exchange rate uncertainty. The firm is export-flexible in that it makes its export decision after observing the realized spot exchange rate. However, export-flexibility is limited by certain minimum sales requirements due to long-term considerations. This creates a piecewise linear exchange rate exposure. If the firm is allowed to use customized derivatives contracts, its optimal hedge position can be replicated by selling currency forward contracts and call options. If the firm is restricted to use forward contracts as the sole hedging instrument, optimal output is unambiguously smaller. Introducing currency call options thus stimulates production. An extension analyzes more general types of exchange rate exposure. JEL classification: F31; D21; D81
Running for the exit: : community cohesion and bank panics

Bank panics attract scholarly interest because they reflect distrust of each bank that experiences a run as a result of diffusion of information; rumors about such bank runs trigger additional runs elsewhere. However, the contagion of bank runs is highly selective for reasons that are unrelated to the financial strength of the individual banks. This presents a puzzle that extant theories on institutions and reputations cannot fully explain. To solve this puzzle, we turn to the characteristics of the community in which the banks operate. We develop theory on how communities with diverse affiliation structures and economic inequality have weaker community cohesion and communication, making such communities less likely to experience widespread distrust and hence bank runs. We test hypotheses on the effects of community ethnic diversity, national origin diversity, religious diversity, and wealth inequality using data from the great bank panic of 1893, and we find strong community effects on bank runs. These findings suggest that the contagion of distrust in organizations following adverse events is channeled by community differences as well as organizational differences.
Spoiler Alert

As suggested by the common phrase “spoiler alert! ” many people avoid spoilers for narrative entertainment. However, recent research has found that exposure to spoilers may actually enhance enjoyment. The present study sought to replicate and extend those findings with a multidimensional approach to enjoyment and by examining choice of spoiled versus unspoiled narratives. Comprehension theories suggest that spoilers should improve media appreciation, whereas excitation-transfer theory suggests that spoilers harm arousal and suspense. Additionally, media users’ conventionally held beliefs imply that respondents should choose unspoiled stories. A within-subjects experiment (N = 412) tested these hypotheses. As expected, unspoiled stories were more fun and suspenseful. Surprisingly, unspoiled stories were also more moving and enjoyable in general. No effect of media choice emerged.
Essays on sources of export market knowledge and firms' export behavior

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between grafting export experience, export initiation and market selection. We adopt a behavioral approach to export initiation and question the ease of accumulating organizational knowledge by grafting managerial capabilities. On the one hand, we find that firms hiring managers with previous export experience have a higher probability of initiating export activities in the subsequent year. In contrast with previous evidence we find that knowledge specificity (understood in terms of industry knowledge) does not play a role in identifying the effect of hiring managers with export experience and subsequent export initiation. Both hiring managers with intraand inter-industry export experiences are associated with a higher probability of subsequently initiating export activities. We find though that only smaller firms benefit from grafting experiential knowledge to the management team and that grafting is subject to a window of opportunity after which it has no effect on firms’ internationalization decisions. This suggests that grafting is not unconditionally beneficial in the context of export initiation. On the other hand, we find a positive relationship between the market(s) in which managers have gained their export experience and the market(s) the hiring firm enters, which confirms the relevance of
Subcutaneous granuloma annulare: a review of 47 cases.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to review and provide information regarding characteristic findings, diagnostic work-up, course, and treatment associated with subcutaneous granuloma annulare (SGA). MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical and surgical records of 47 patients with SGA, who were diagnosed and treated at our institution over the past 26 years, were reviewed. RESULTS All patients presented with a painless soft tissue nodule(s) of the extremities or scalp. The mean age at presentation was 4.3 years, with 19% of the patients encountering one or more recurrences. The mean time of recurrence was 10 months. Definitive diagnosis in all patients was made by biopsy, and no patient progressed to any recognized systemic illness or connective tissue disorder. CONCLUSIONS SGA is a benign inflammatory skin lesion that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a subcutaneous nodule(s) of the scalp and/or distal extremities of an otherwise healthy child. Because the nodule(s) are benign and may recur with or without surgical biopsy, reassurance is the best management.