Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disclosure level and the cost of equity capital

The effect of disclosure level on the cost of equity capital is a matter of considerable interest and importance to the financial reporting community. However, the association between disclosure level and cost of equity capital is not well established and has been difficult to quantify. In this paper I examine the association between disclosure level and the cost of equity capital by regressing firm-specific estimates of cost of equity capital on market beta, firm size and a self-constructed measure of disclosure level. My measure of disclosure level is based on the amount of voluntary disclosure provided in the 1990 annual reports of a sample of 122 manufacturing firms. For firms that attract a low analyst following, the results indicate that greater disclosure is associated with a lower cost of equity capital. The magnitude of the effect is such that a one-unit difference in the disclosure measure is associated with a difference of approximately twenty-eight basis points in the cost of equity capital, after controlling for market beta and firm size. For firms with a high analyst following, however, I find no evidence of an association between my measure of disclosure level and cost of equity capital perhaps because the disclosure measure is limited to the annual report and accordingly may not provide a powerful proxy for overall disclosure level when analysts play a significant role in the communication process.
Transcript Profiling in the chl1-5 Mutant of Arabidopsis Reveals a Role of the Nitrate Transporter NRT1.1 in the Regulation of Another Nitrate Transporter, NRT2.1w⃞

Arabidopsis thaliana mutants deficient for the NRT1.1 NO3− transporter display complex phenotypes, including lowered NO3− uptake, altered development of nascent organs, and reduced stomatal opening. To obtain further insight at the molecular level on the multiple physiological functions of NRT1.1, we performed large-scale transcript profiling by serial analysis of gene expression in the roots of the chl1-5 deletion mutant of NRT1.1 and of the Columbia wild type. Several hundred genes were differentially expressed between the two genotypes, when plants were grown on NH4NO3 as N source. Among these genes, the N satiety-repressed NRT2.1 gene, encoding a major component of the root high-affinity NO3− transport system (HATS), was found to be strongly derepressed in the chl1-5 mutant (as well as in other NRT1.1 mutants). This was associated with a marked stimulation of the NO3− HATS activity in the mutant, suggesting adaptive response to a possible N limitation resulting from NRT1.1 mutation. However, derepression of NRT2.1 in NH4NO3-fed chl1-5 plants could not be attributed to lowered production of N metabolites. Rather, the results show that normal regulation of NRT2.1 expression is strongly altered in the chl1-5 mutant, where this gene is no more repressible by high N provision to the plant. This indicates that NRT1.1 plays an unexpected but important role in the regulation of both NRT2.1 expression and NO3− HATS activity. Overexpression of NRT2.1 was also found in wild-type plants supplied with 1 mM NH4+ plus 0.1 mM NO3−, a situation where NRT1.1 is likely to mediate very low NO3− transport. Thus, we suggest that it is the lack of NRT1.1 activity, rather than the absence of this transporter, that derepresses NRT2.1 expression in the presence of NH4+. Two hypotheses are discussed to explain these results: (1) NRT2.1 is upregulated by a NO3− demand signaling, indirectly triggered by lack of NRT1.1-mediated uptake, which overrides feedback repression by N metabolites, and (2) NRT1.1 plays a more direct signaling role, and its transport activity generates an unknown signal required for NRT2.1 repression by N metabolites. Both mechanisms would warrant that either NRT1.1 or NRT2.1 ensure significant NO3− uptake in the presence of NH4+ in the external medium, which is crucial to prevent the detrimental effects of pure NH4+ nutrition.
Production of Cloned Pigs by Whole-Cell Intracytoplasmic Microinjection1

Abstract Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer has been successfully achieved by both fusing of a donor cell with and injecting an isolated donor cell nucleus into an enucleated oocyte. However, each of the above methods involves extended manipulation of either the oocytes (fusion) or the donor cells (nucleus isolation). Additionally, cloning efficiency can be reduced by low fusion rate of the cell fusion method, and specialized micromanipulation equipment and exacting nucleus isolation techniques are required for the nucleus injection method. Here we report a whole-cell injection technique for nuclear transfer in pigs and the production of cloned piglets with comparable, if not higher, efficiency than the other two nuclear transfer procedures. First, we tested the feasibility of this technique with three types of frequently used donor cells (cumulus, mural granulosa, and fibroblasts) and obtained the optimal nuclear reprogramming conditions for these cells. We further improved our protocol by avoiding ultraviolet exposure during enucleation and achieved a 37% blastocyst rate. We then conducted whole-cell injection using skin fibroblasts from the ear of a sow transgenic for two genes, the porcine lactoferrin and the human factor IX, and produced four live-born cloned transgenic piglets from three recipients. The present study demonstrated the applicability of producing normal, cloned piglets by the simple and less labor-intensive whole-cell intracytoplasmic injection.
Service Quality in the Malaysian Fast Food Industry: An Examination Using DINESERV

This study addresses calls in the literature for the external validation of Western-based marketing concepts and theory in the East. Using DINESERV, the relationships between service quality, overall service quality perceptions, customer satisfaction, and repurchase intentions in the Malaysian fast food industry are examined. A questionnaire was administered to Malaysian fast food consumers at a large university, resulting in findings that support the five-dimensional nature of DINESERV and three of four proposed hypotheses. This study contributes to knowledge of service quality in developing countries and is the first to examine DINESERV in the Malaysian fast food industry.
Down‐regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor induced by estrogens and phytoestrogens promotes the differentiation of U2OS human osteosarcoma cells

In previous studies on HeLa cells we demonstrated estrogen‐responsiveness of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, as 17β‐estradiol (E2) and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) genistein (G), daidzein (D), and 4‐hydroxytamoxifen (4OH‐T) modulated its transcription in a ligand‐ and estrogen receptor (ER) isoform‐specific way. This study describes further investigations into the role of ERs in mediating the effects induced by E2 and SERMs on EGFR expression, and the relationship between the actions of ERs and EGFR in U2OS osteosarcoma cells stably expressing ERα or ERβ. Cell number and DNA content determination revealed that E2, G, and D inhibited proliferation and cell cycle progression and promoted apoptosis in both cell lines. In parallel, changes in cell morphology typical of osteoblast maturation were observed via optical microscopy. Consistently, quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis showed an up‐regulation of markers of osteoblast differentiation and bone repair, and a decrease in EGFR expression. The transfection of specific antisense (AS) oligonucleotides strengthened our hypothesis that EGFR reduction caused changes in the proliferation/differentiation pattern comparable to those induced by ER ligands. The link between the ER and EGFR pathways was confirmed by treatment with 4OH‐T, which decreased the EGFR level and produced differentiation effects via ERα, but induced both EGFR expression and proliferation effects via ERβ. In conclusion, we show that also in U2OS cells, E2 and SERMs are able to modulate the expression of the EGFR gene and can affect events strictly controlled by its signaling pathway, such as the maturation of osteoblasts. J. Cell. Physiol. 220: 35–44, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
International joint ventures: an examination of the core dimensions

Increasingly, competitive advantage depends both on a firm's capabilities and its collaborative relationships with other firms, with inter-firm collaboration having a significant effect on practising managers. This article examines the core dimensions of international joint ventures (IJVs) which are identified as: strategic motives for IJV formation, partner selection criteria, management control and IJV performance. The findings are based on personal interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Data was obtained from senior managers in all the elements of the IJV: UK parent, European parent and IJV management. Each data source supports the findings of the other, providing confidence in the reliability of the evidence reported.
Implementing Team Based Learning in Large Classes: Nurse Educators' Experiences

Team-based learning (TBL) is an interactive teaching method promoted as an alternative to traditional lectures. TBL was implemented in four large second year classes in a baccalaureate nursing program but the implementation process was found to require much more effort than indicated in the literature. A predominant theme during the implementation phase was the importance of collegial support. Faculty workload increased significantly and they were challenged by occasional student confrontations and technological difficulties. The benefits for students included reduced attrition, reading workloads, and enhanced preparedness for classes, which allowed for more time to be spent in class discussing complex realistic nursing problems. Although TBL was not enthusiastically embraced by all of the students, the majority indicated that they liked and valued TBL, hence commitment to continuing to teach using the TBL method remains.
Pulmonary microvascular fracture in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome*

ObjectiveTo present electron micrographs of lung tissue obtained from a patient exposed to high ventilatory pressures in the context of pulmonary dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. DesignCase report. SettingAdult intensive care unit of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. PatientsA patient exposed to high-pressure mechanical ventilation during support for acute respiratory distress syndrome; the acute respiratory distress syndrome in this case was secondary to septic shock. Measurements and Main ResultsScanning electron micrographs of lung tissue, focusing on the internal alveolar surfaces. FindingsMultiple gross disruptions of the alveolar walls, suggestive of stress fractures. ConclusionHigh-pressure mechanical ventilation may promote fracturing of the alveolar blood:airspace barrier.
Eco‐morphological differentiation in Lake Magadi tilapia, an extremophile cichlid fish living in hot, alkaline and hypersaline lakes in East Africa

Ecological diversification through divergent selection is thought to be a major force during the process of adaptive radiations. However, the large sizes and complexity of most radiations such as those of the cichlids in the African Great Lakes make it impossible to infer the exact evolutionary history of any population divergence event. The genus Alcolapia, a small cichlid lineage endemic to Lakes Magadi and Natron in East Africa, exhibits phenotypes similar to some of those found in cichlids of the radiations of the African Great Lakes. The simplicity within Alcolapia makes it an excellent model system to investigate ecological diversification and speciation. We used an integrated approach including population genomics based on RAD‐seq data, geometric morphometrics and stable isotope analyses to investigate the eco‐morphological diversification of tilapia in Lake Magadi and its satellite lake Little Magadi. Additionally, we reconstructed the demographic history of the species using coalescent simulations based on the joint site frequency spectrum. The population in Little Magadi has a characteristically upturned mouth—possibly an adaptation to feeding on prey from the water surface. Eco‐morphological differences between populations within Lake Magadi are more subtle, but are consistent with known ecological differences between its lagoons such as high concentrations of nitrogen attributable to extensive guano deposits in Rest of Magadi relative to Fish Springs Lagoon. All populations diverged simultaneously only about 1100 generations ago. Differences in levels of gene flow between populations and the effective population sizes have likely resulted in the inferred heterogeneous patterns of genome‐wide differentiation.
Exploring regionalism in public management reforms: the case of the Italian hospital sector

Although comparative research on new public management reforms has identified variable pathways of change between countries, less is known about variations within countries where there has been significant political and administrative decentralisation to regional tiers of government. In this paper we address this concern, focusing on public hospital management reforms in the Italian Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) as an illustrative case. Drawing on a range of publicly available administrative data sources we find that there is a significant regional dimension, with more autonomous regional governments with centre-right political majorities being more likely to adopt corporate-style management practices at hospital level. © Policy Press 2016.
Mutual Fund Trading Costs and Diseconomies of Scale

Trading costs of actively-managed U.S. equity mutual funds average 0.75% per year and are persistent and negatively related to fund performance. We provide algorithms for determining mutual fund trading costs using trade-, stock-, and fund-level characteristics. Larger trades in smaller stocks and low priced stocks incur higher transaction costs. Growth-oriented funds have higher trading costs than value-oriented funds as do funds with higher turnover. Larger funds have lower trading costs than smaller funds despite their larger trade sizes because they endogenously hold and trade bigger, more liquid stocks and trade less frequently.
Consumption pattern of milk and milk products in Ada'a woreda, East Shoa Zone, central Ethiopia

Abstract A survey was carried out between August and November 2007 by using face to face interview to characterize the consumption pattern of milk and milk products and to identify determinants of consumption in Ada’a woreda. One hundred and thirty five households were selected based on their location and income group. In the woreda wives had greater responsibility in managing the household budget. The mean monthly income for the overall households was 3553.2± 591.61 Birr. The mean consumer unit in the woreda was 5.04. Locally processed milk products were dominated in the study area; and the consumption of imported milk products was very low. Even if the majority of the households were consuming milk products frequently, it was observed that some households had zero consumption which was particularly severe for pasteurized milk, powdered milk, hard cheese and ice-cream. Average consumption level of dairy products in the woreda was11.2gLME/head/day. In the majority of the studied households especially the medium and low income groups there was a decreasing trend of milk products consumption due to the increasing trend of the price of milk and milk products. Insufficient household income coupled with religion was found to be the predominant constraints in the consumption of dairy products. Consumption level was significantly correlated with household income, consumer unit (family size) education level of the food budget manager(FBM), age of the FBM, location of the household, ownership of dairy cattle, monthly expenditure on dairy products, average daily milk production per household and price of milk products. Key words: consumer unit, consumption, dairy, household, income group, milk, peri-urban, rural, urban, woreda
MERGER, AKUISISI DAN KONSOLIDASI PERBANKAN RELEVANSINYA DENGAN KEBIJAKAN SINGLE PRESENCE POLICY

Banking liberalization process has begun since ratification of General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Possibly access for foreign investor into Indonesia banking open through such ways as: establishing a new bank, purchasing of bank's share and erecting of bank's branch and representative. According to current regulation foreigners who want to open a new bank should not be in form of bank as formerly regulated, but it can be as individual and as foreign non-bank entity. No more restriction regarding foreign ownership of majority bank's shareholder. Through Government Regulation No. 29 year of 1999 concerning of purchasing general bank's share and Bank of Indonesia regulation No.2/27/PBI/2000 regarding general bank have arranged that maximum foreign ownership over general bank is 99% of the capital paid by general bank. The foreign ownership of bank is not only open through stock market but also by direct purchasing of share. Foreign domination on national bank is now rampant through such ways as acquisition, merger and or consolidation. The question is what the relevancy amongst banking consolidation is policy, single presence policy and foreign domination on Indonesia national bank?
Mechanisms of Action of Ribavirin in Antiviral Therapies

Although ribavirin was originally synthesized over 30 years ago and has been used to treat viral infections as monotherapy (respiratory syncytial virus and Lassa fever virus) or with interferon-α (IFN-α) as combination therapy (hepatitis C virus), the precise mechanism of its therapeutic activities remains controversial. In this review we focus on two main biological properties of ribavirin: its indirect and direct antiviral activities (with particular emphasis on its efficacy against chronic hepatitis C infection). Each property could individually or collectively account for its clinical efficacy against viral infections. First, with emphasis on the evidence for indirect activities of ribavirin, we will review the clinical observations that suggest that the immunomodulatory properties of ribavirin can in part account for its antiviral activities in vivo. We will then describe the mode of ribavirin's direct antiviral activities. These direct activities can be ascribed to several possible mechanisms, including the recently described activity as an RNA mutagen, a property that may be important in driving a rapidly mutating RNA virus over the threshold to ‘error catastrophe′.
JNK-independent Activation of c-Jun during Neuronal Apoptosis Induced by Multiple DNA-damaging Agents*

Activation of the JNK pathway and induction of the AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun are critical for neuronal apoptosis caused by a variety of insults. Ara-C-induced DNA damage caused rapid sympathetic neuronal death that was associated with an increase of c-jun expression. In addition, c-Jun was phosphorylated in its N-terminal transactivation domain, which is important for c-Jun-mediated gene transcription. Blocking c-Jun activation by JNK pathway inhibition prevented neuronal death after stress. In contrast, neither the JNK inhibitor SP600125 nor the mixed lineage kinase inhibitor CEP-1347 prevented cytosine arabinoside-induced neuronal death, demonstrating that the JNK pathway was not necessary for DNA damage-induced neuronal apoptosis. Surprisingly, SP600125 or CEP-1347 could not block c-Jun induction or phosphorylation after DNA damage. Pharmacological inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity completely prevented c-Jun phosphorylation after DNA damage. These results demonstrate that c-Jun activation during DNA damage-induced neuronal apoptosis was independent of the classical JNK pathway and was mediated by a novel c-Jun kinase. Based on pharmacological criteria, DNA damage-induced neuronal c-Jun kinase may be a member of the CDK family or be activated by a CDK-like kinase. Activation of this novel kinase and subsequent phosphorylation of c-Jun may be important in neuronal death after DNA damage.
Role of auditory attention in the real-time processing of simple grammar by children with specific language impairment: a preliminary investigation.

BACKGROUND This study investigates the effects of two dimensions of attentional functioning, sustained focus of attention and resource capacity/allocation, on the real-time processing of simple sentences by children with specific language impairment (SLI) and typically developing (TD) children matched for age. METHODS & PROCEDURES Thirty-six school-age children with SLI and 36 age-matched TD peers completed an auditory continuous performance task (ACPT) as a measure of sustained attention, a concurrent verbal processing-storage task as a measure of resource capacity/allocation, and a word-recognition reaction time (RT) task (index of sentence processing). Correlation and regression analyses were run to determine the association between the two measures of attention and word recognition RT. OUTCOMES & RESULTS Children with SLI were outperformed by the TD children on each of the tasks. For each group, scores on both the ACPT and concurrent processing-storage tasks significantly correlated with word recognition RT. The partial correlations (with the effects of age removed) remained significant, but only for the SLI group. Results of a regression analysis for the SLI group showed that age predicted 12.3% of unique variance in word recognition RT, while ACPT score accounted for an additional significant 45.7% of unique variance and the processing-storage task score accounted for another significant 4.3% of unique variance. CONCLUSIONS The real-time processing of simple grammar by children with SLI appears to involve significant use of sustained focus of attention and attentional resource capacity. In the case of TD children, however, neither sustained attention nor attentional resources appears to be significantly involved in simple sentence processing.
Structures of active and latent PAI-1: a possible stabilizing role for chloride ions.

Serpins exhibit a range of physiological roles and can contribute to certain disease states dependent on their various conformations. Understanding the mechanisms of the large-scale conformational reorganizations of serpins may lead to a better understanding of their roles in various cardiovascular diseases. We have studied the serpin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), in both the active and the latent state and found that anionic halide ions may play a role in the active-to-latent structural transition. Crystallographic analysis of a stable mutant form of active PAI-1 identified an anion-binding site between the central beta-sheet and a small surface domain. A chloride ion was modeled in this site, and its identity was confirmed by soaking crystals in a bromide-containing solution and calculating a crystallographic difference map. The anion thus located forms a 4-fold ligated linchpin that tethers the surface domain to the central beta-sheet into which the reactive center loop must insert during the active-to-latent transition. Timecourse experiments measuring active PAI-1 stability in the presence of various halide ions showed a clear trend for stabilization of the active form with F(-) > Cl(-) > Br(-) >> I(-). We propose that the "stickiness" of this pin (i.e., the electronegativity of the anion) contributes to the energetics of the active-to-latent transition in the PAI-1 serpin.