Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Stock Liquidity Affect Accrual‐Based Earnings Management?

This study investigates the effects of stock liquidity on earnings management. While prior research finds that liquidity has mixed effects on corporate governance, our baseline regression results show that an increase in stock liquidity is associated with an increase in discretionary accruals and revenues. To establish causality, we use two quasi-natural experiments that exploit exogenous increases in stock liquidity resulting from regulatory changes to the minimum tick size. The results of our difference-in-differences approach indicate that stock liquidity increases accrual-based earnings management. Additional analysis suggests that liquidity affects earnings management by magnifying the effects of takeover pressure and equity compensation.
The Spillover Effects of Affirmative Action on Competitiveness and Unethical Behavior

We conduct an artefactual field experiment to examine various spillover effects of Affirmative Action policies in the context of castes in India. We test a) if individuals who enter tournaments in the presence of Affirmative Action policies remain competitive after the policy has been removed, and b) whether having been exposed to the policy generates unethical behavior and spite against subjects from the category who has benefited from the policy. We find that these policies substantially increase the confidence and the competitiveness of the backward caste members. However, we find no spillover effect on confidence and competitiveness once Affirmative Action is withdrawn: any gain in competitiveness due to the policy is then entirely wiped out. Furthermore, the strong existing bias of the dominant category against the backward category is not significantly aggravated by Affirmative Action, except when individuals learn that they have lost the previous competition.
How do service employee's attitudes influence customer perception of service quality?

Little theoretical research has examined possible linkages between affective commitment, job satisfaction and customer perception of service quality. Based on self-regulation of attitude theory, this paper establishes the conceptual framework of the relationship among management commitment to service quality (MCSQ), customer orientation, affective commitment, job satisfaction, service effort and service quality of service employee. Following Person-environment fit theory, we argue that some effects of MCSQ are moderated by service employee's customer orientation. MCSQ is service employees' cognitive appraisal of the level of management's emphasis on service and it may influence service quality directly in service delivery process. Customers can catch the emotion of employees through emotional contagion processes. The mechanism of the influence of affective commitment and job satisfaction on customer perception of service quality is different.
Sensing the Crowds Using Bluetooth Low Energy Tags

Sensing the crowds to understand crowd dynamics can be a challenging task. Passive sensing techniques such as camera-based sensing can provide flow detection, people counting, and density estimation, but they fail to provide accurate identification of individuals mobility patterns. Active techniques such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags given to people require expensive RFID readers deployed to perform sensing. In this paper, we propose to use Bluetooth low energy (BLE) tagging as an alternative method. When low-cost BLE tags are set in advertisement mode, they can be detected by smartphones. In this paper, we design an architecture for sensing the crowds by requiring a large population carrying relatively cheap off-the-shelf BLE proximity tags, and considerably fewer participants to run scanning application on their smartphones to collect data. We performed a large experimental deployment with 600 tags and ten smartphones conducted during the five days of the world largest annual gathering (The Hajj). We were able to achieve ~90% detectability rate while effectively reconstructing the routes of the participants.
Risk-Reward Ratio Optimisation (Revisited)

We study the empirical performance of alternative risk and reward specifications in portfolio selection. In particular, we look at models that take into account asymmetry of returns, and treat losses and gains differently. In tests on a dataset of German equities we find that portfolios constructed with the help of such models generally outperform the market index and in many cases also the risk-based benchmark (minimum variance). In part, higher returns can be explained by exposure to factors such as momentum and value. Nevertheless, a substantial part of the performance cannot be explained by standard asset-pricing models.
The Effects of Sleep Continuity Disruption on Positive Mood and Sleep Architecture in Healthy Adults.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test an experimental model of the effects of sleep continuity disturbance on sleep architecture and positive mood in order to better understand the mechanisms linking insomnia and depression. DESIGN Participants were randomized to receive 3 consecutive nights of sleep continuity disruption via forced nocturnal awakenings (FA, n = 21), or one of two control conditions: restricted sleep opportunity (RSO, n = 17) or uninterrupted sleep (US, n = 24). SETTING The study was set in an inpatient clinical research suite. PARTICIPANTS Healthy, good-sleeping men and women were included. MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS Polysomnography was used to measure sleep architecture, and mood was assessed via self-report each day. Compared to restricted sleep opportunity controls, forced awakenings subjects had significantly less slow wave sleep (P < 0.05) after the first night of sleep deprivation, and significantly lower positive mood (P < 0.05) after the second night of sleep deprivation. The differential change in slow wave sleep statistically mediated the observed group differences in positive mood (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first human experimental study to demonstrate that, despite comparable reductions in total sleep time, partial sleep loss from sleep continuity disruption is more detrimental to positive mood than partial sleep loss from delaying bedtime, even when controlling for concomitant increases in negative mood. With these findings, we provide temporal evidence in support of a putative biologic mechanism (slow wave sleep deficit) that could help explain the strong comorbidity between insomnia and depression.
O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene promoter methylation and lung cancer risk: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter methylation pattern in tumor tissue and autologous controls (plasma, normal lung tissue, and bronchial lavage fluid [BLF]) in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS We electronic searched the MEDLINE and CNKI databases to find the open published studies related to MGMT gene promoter hypermethylation in NSCLC patients. The odds ratio (OR) for hypermethylation in plasma, BLF, and tissue was pooled by fixed or random effect model according to the statistical heterogeneity across the included studies. RESULTS After searching the related databases, we finally included 13 studies in this meta-analysis. The hypermethylation rate of tumor tissue, plasma, BLF, and control tissue of MGMT gene in NSCLC patients were 0.34 ± 0.20, 0.18 ± 0.14, and 0.39 ± 0.23; the statistical heterogeneity across the studies was evaluated by Chi-square and I2-test. Moreover, no statistical heterogeneity was existed in the aspects of hypermethylation for plasma, BLF, and tissue (P < 0.05). Meta-analysis showed the hypermethylation rate in tumor tissue was significantly higher than normal lung tissue (OR = 4.18, 95% CI: 2.76-6.32) and plasma (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.49-3.75) in NSCLC patients. However, for BLF (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 0.88-4.78), the hypermethylation rate was not statistical different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Hypermethylation rate in MGMT gene promoter of cancer tissue was statistical higher than autologous controls which indicated that MGMT may play an important in the cancer development.
Epidemiology of Group C Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Matsuyama, Japan

The epidemiology of rotavirus gastroenteritis was studied in the Matsuyama district from January to May 1988. Among strains of rotaviruses detected 46 showed the group C‐specific PAGE pattern of virus RNA. Group C rotavirus gastroenteritis occurred following an epidemic of group A rotavirus infection, primarily in children aged 4–7 years but rarely in those aged 0–1 years. This was seriologically confirmed after the epidemic. Unlike the previous strains detected in Matsuyama in 1985–1986, PAGE of the RNA showed arrangement of the 5th, 6th and 7th segments at similar intervals, suggesting virologic variation. The symptoms of fever, diarrhea and vomiting were milder than in group A rotavirus infection used as a control.
Formation of Pseudoislets from Human Pancreatic Cultures

We have successfully developed a technique for culturing human islet cells obtained from the cadaveric pancreata of children. Within 2448 h of in vitro culture, collagenase-digested human pancreatic tissue formed epithelioid monolayers. Scattered within these monolayers were insulin-positive cells, as detected by immunocytochemical and dithizone staining. Treatment of the β cell-containing epithelioid-cell monolayers with EDTA resulted in the formation of spherical cellular clusters, i.e., pseudoislets. These pseudoislets differed from isolated islets of Langerhans in that they showed a more peripheral distribution of insulin-positive cells. Our studies have demonstrated that insulin-positive cells can be detected in monolayers obtained from human pancreata 34 weeks after culture. When exposed to varying concentrations of glucose, these cells secreted insulin. The development of this in vitro technique for culturing human pancreatic islet tissue could provide a model for systematically studying in vitro islet function.
Compound-specific carbon isotope analysis of volatile organic compounds in the low-microgram per liter range.

Compound-specific carbon isotope analysis (CSIA) has become an important tool in biological, archeological, and geological studies as well as in forensics, food sciences, and organic chemistry. If sensitivity could be enhanced, CSIA would further have an improved potential for environmental applications such as, for example, in situ remediation studies to assess contaminated environments, identification of pollutant degradation pathways and kinetics, distinction between degradation/formation mechanisms, or, verification of contaminant sources. With this goal in mind, we have developed methods to determine delta13C values of commonly reported groundwater contaminants in low-microgram per liter concentrations. Several injection and preconcentration techniques were evaluated for this purpose, i.e., on-column injection, split/ splitless injection, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and purge and trap (P&T) in combination with gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The delta13C values of the target compounds were determined by liquid injections of the analytes dissolved in diethyl ether or, in the case of P&T and SPME, by extraction from water spiked with the analytes. P&T extraction was the most efficient preconcentration technique reaching method detection limits (MDLs) from 0.25 to 5.0 microg/L. These are the lowest MDLs reported so far for continuous-flow isotope ratio determinations, using a commercially available and fully automated system. Isotopic fractionation resulting from preconcentration and injection was investigated and quantified for the priority groundwater pollutants methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), chloroform, tetrachloromethane, chlorinated ethylenes, benzene, and toluene. The isotopic fractionations caused by the extraction techniques were small but highly reproducible and could therefore be corrected for. P&T was characterized by a higher reproducibility and smaller isotopic fractionations than SPME. Among the liquid injection techniques, cold on-column injection resulted in slightly better precision compared to split/splitless injection. However, the MDLs determined for liquid injections were 4-6 orders of magnitude higher (i.e., 9.5-2800 mg/L) than for P&T and SPME. Since both of the latter methods are solventless, a better chromatographic resolution was obtained than for the liquid injection techniques. The P&T and SPME methods described here are also applicable for CSIA of D/H ratios, which require 10-20 times higher analyte concentrations than 13C/12C analysis. Finally, the applicability of the described methods is demonstrated for pollutant concentrations of only 5-60 microg/L in environmental samples.
Relationship between rheumatoid arthritis activity and antithyroid antibodies.

INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with a higher prevalence of antithyroid antibodies and autoimmune thyroid disease, but there have been few studies regarding the correlations between the presence of these antibodies and RA activity. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between antithyroid antibody titers and selected parameters of RA activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 75 consecutive hospitalized patients with RA were enrolled into the study. Levels of antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (aTPO), antithyroglobulin antibodies (aTG), and antithyrotropin receptor antibodies (aTSH-R) were measured. The analysis of disease activity was based on the disease activity score with 28-joint count (DAS28), duration of morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) and hemoglobin levels. RESULTS Antithyroid antibodies were present in 13.3% of the patients (n = 10), aTPO in 9.3% (n = 7), aTG in 8% (n = 6), and aTPO and aTG in 4% (n = 3); aTSH-R was not detected in any of the patients. Significant positive correlations (P <0.05) were observed between aTPO and DAS28 (r = 0.35, P = 0.002), aTG and ESR (r = 0.25, P = 0.02), and aTG and CRP (r = 0.23, P = 0.04). There were significant differences in the mean DAS28 between the aTPO‑positive and aTPO‑negative groups (5.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.39-6.3 vs. 4.12, respectively; 95% Cl, 3.81-4.43; P = 0.017) and between the aTG-positive and aTG-negative groups (5.65; 95% Cl: 4.64-6.67 vs. 4.11; 95% Cl: 3.81-4.41; P = 0.005; respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that RA activity may be associated with the presence of antithyroid antibodies. This finding could be useful in the clinical evaluation of RA patients.
Dietary supplementation with α-tocopherol reduces neuroinflammation and neuronal degeneration in the rat brain after kainic acid-induced status epilepticus

Abstract Vitamin E (as α-tocopherol, α-T) is proposed to alleviate glia-mediated inflammation in neurological diseases, but such a role in epilepsy is still elusive. This study investigated the effect of α-T supplementation on glial activation, neuronal cell death and oxidative stress of rat brain exposed to kainate-induced seizures. Animals were fed for 2 weeks with a α-T-enriched diet (estimated intake of 750 mg/kg/day) before undergoing status epilepticus. Compliance to supplementation was demonstrated by the remarkable increase in brain α-T. Four days after seizure, brain α-T returned to baseline and lipid peroxidation markers decreased as compared to non-supplemented rats. Status epilepticus induced a lower up-regulation of astrocytic and microglial antigens (GFAP and MHC II, respectively) and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) in supplemented than in non-supplemented animals. This anti-inflammatory effect was associated with a lower neuronal cell death. In conclusion, α-T dietary supplementation prevents oxidative stress, neuroglial over-activation and cell death occurring after kainate-induced seizures. This evidence paves the way to an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective role of α-T interventions in epilepsy.
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Mediates Cellular Activation by the B Subunits of Type II Heat-Labile Enterotoxins

ABSTRACT The type II heat-labile enterotoxins (LT-IIa and LT-IIb) of Escherichia coli have an AB5 subunit structure similar to that of cholera toxin (CT) and other type I enterotoxins, despite significant differences in the amino acid sequences of their B subunits and different ganglioside receptor specificities. LT-II holotoxins and their nontoxic B subunits display unique properties as immunological adjuvants distinct from those of CT and its B subunits. In contrast to type II holotoxins, the corresponding pentameric B subunits, LT-IIaB and LT-IIbB, stimulated cytokine release in both human and mouse cells dependent upon Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Induction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, or tumor necrosis factor alpha in human THP-1 cells by LT-IIaB or LT-IIbB was inhibited by anti-TLR2 but not by anti-TLR4 antibody. Furthermore, transient expression of TLR1 and TLR2 in human embryonic kidney 293 cells resulted in activation of a nuclear factor-κB-dependent luciferase gene in response to LT-IIaB or LT-IIbB. Moreover, peritoneal macrophages from TLR2-deficient mice failed to respond to LT-IIaB or LT-IIbB, in contrast to wild-type or TLR4-deficient cells. These results demonstrate that besides their established binding to gangliosides, the B subunits of type II enterotoxins also interact with TLR2. Although a ganglioside-nonbinding mutant (T34I) of LT-IIaB effectively induced cytokine release, a phenotypically similar point mutation (T13I) in LT-IIbB abrogated cytokine induction, suggesting a variable requirement for gangliosides as coreceptors in TLR2 agonist activity. TLR2-dependent activation of mononuclear cells by type II enterotoxin B subunits appears to be a novel mechanism whereby these molecules may exert their immunomodulatory and adjuvant activities.
Metadherin promotes metastasis by supporting putative cancer stem cell properties and epithelial plasticity in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high metastatic potential. However, the mechanism of metastatic colonization in PDAC remains poorly understood. Metadherin (MTDH) has emerged in recent years as a crucial mediator of metastasis in several cancer types, although the biological role of MTDH in PDAC has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrated the functional roles of MTDH in PDAC progression, especially focusing on the metastatic cascade. In vitro studies showed that MTDH provides cancer stem cell (CSC) properties in metastatic PDAC cells and contributes to anoikis resistance with epithelial characteristics in PDAC cells. We also performed in vivo studies using both orthotopic transplantation and intra-portal vein injection as experimental models of liver metastasis to examine the function of MTDH at the metastatic site. MTDH knockdown dramatically reduced the incidence of liver metastases along with epithelial features in both experimental mouse models. Collectively, MTDH facilitates metastatic colonization with putative CSC and epithelial properties in PDAC cells. PDAC cells were transiently treated with TGF-β1 to investigate the roles of MTDH on epithelial plasticity. Intriguingly, MTDH expression was negatively correlated with Twist1 expression during the Mesenchymal-Epithelial transition (MET) induction in metastatic PDAC cells. These results suggest that MTDH may contribute to MET induction via downregulation of Twsit1. Lastly, immunohistochemistry indicated that MTDH overexpression is closely associated with hematogenous metastasis and predicts poor prognosis in patients with PDAC. This is the first demonstration of MTDH function in PDAC metastatic colonization. Our data suggest that MTDH targeting therapy could be applied to control PDAC metastasis.
Development of a Comprehensive Model and a Multiloop Controller for $Z$-Source Inverter DG Systems

This paper presents the modeling and design of a closed-loop controller for a Z-source inverter. The Z-source inverter is a recently proposed single-stage power converter, and it is capable of operating in both buck and boost modes. Hence, this inverter gives an economical solution for power conversion in distributed generation (DG) applications, particularly by eliminating the need for a two-stage conversion. Moreover, applications such as DG demand quality output waveforms, and additionally, when the system is subjected to input- and load-side disturbances, their effects need to be minimized. This can be achieved with closed-loop controlling. Toward this end, the system is modeled first with large- and small-signal modeling techniques, and relevant transfer functions are derived. The dc-side of the Z-source inverter shows a non-minimum-phase characteristic, and the output voltage of a Z-source impedance network shows a significant overshoot and undershoot, following a step change in the input due to energy resettling. These effects could be transferred to the ac-side, giving rise to the undershoot and overshoot in the ac output as well. Hence, the proposed controllers should be able to minimize such effects. The ac- and dc-sides are considered separately when designing the controllers. An indirect controller is employed in the dc-side, whereas the ac-side controller is designed in the synchronous reference frame. The modulation index, shoot-through time, and saturation levels are appropriately selected so that the dc-side effects are prevented from propagating into the ac-side. The simulation results are obtained using a state-space-averaged inverter model, and an experimental prototype is built in a laboratory to prove the efficacy of the proposed algorithm. Simulation and experimental results show good reference-tracking and disturbance-rejection properties, validating the desired functionality of the proposed controller.
Quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus patients during more and less active disease states: differential contributors to mental and physical health.

OBJECTIVE To identify determinants of mental and physical health as a function of disease state in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS A sample of 129 SLE patients (mean age 42.01 years; SD 11.09) was recruited from 9 immunology/rheumatology clinics across Canada. Patients completed questionnaires assessing psychological distress, social support, coping, stress, and health-related quality of life. Physicians rated disease activity (using the revised Systemic Lupus Activity Measure; SLAM-R) and damage (using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index). Mental and physical health composite scores were derived from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36. Patients were subdivided into more active (SLAM-R > or = 10; n = 38) or less active disease states (n = 91). RESULTS Better mental health was predicted by more education and less emotion-oriented coping in the patients in a more active disease state (P = 0.0001; R2 = 0.46). Better mental health was predicted by less stress, less emotion-oriented coping and more task-oriented coping in patients during a less active disease state (P = 0.0001; R2 = 0.45). Better physical health was predicted by more emotion-oriented coping in patients in a more active disease state (P = 0.04; R2 = 0.11). Better physical health was predicted by less stress and younger age in patients during a less active disease state (P = 0.0001; R2 = 0.20). CONCLUSION The positive association between emotion-oriented coping and better physical health in patients during a more active disease state suggests that this style of coping may be more adaptive in situations that are considered uncontrollable (e.g., SLE flare). Predictors of mental health were similar to those found in the literature, especially for SLE patients in a less active disease state.